Friday 1st June 2018

Presidency, APC to Hold Further Talks With nPDP Members on Monday Party: Saraki's case not part of discussion Tinubu's reconciliation panel making progress, says Ajimobi Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Members of the aggrieved new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) will again meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress on Monday as part of moves to iron out their differences.

THISDAY gathered yesterday that the APC

National Working Committee will today begin deliberations on complaints arising from the nationwide congresses.

The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the APC,

Senator Lawali Shuaibu who confirmed the new meeting date also clarified issues over discussions at their last meeting on Monday with members of nPDP saying

that the demand to stop the trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) did not come up at the parley.

Last Monday's meeting with

the nPDP was attended by the Vice President Osinbajo, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami Continued on page 8

NNPC Gets Presidential Approval to Review PSC Agreements… Page 12 Friday 1 June, 2018 Vol 23. No 8443. Price: N250

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Buhari, Saraki, Tinubu, the Media Mourn Wale Aboderin... Page 10

Buhari Signs ‘Not Too Young to Run’ Bill, Charges Youths to Leave Their Mark Beginning for youths inclusion, says Saraki Ekweremadu hails N’Assembly for delivering on promise PDP claims credit Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja signed the "Not Too Young to Run Bill" into law with a charge to the youths to utilize the opportunity provided by the new law to leave their mark on the political space.

Taking advantage of the presence of youths at the ceremony, the president who was probably conscious of the large population of the youths and the influence they could weigh in 2019 polls particularly at the presidential poll should they throw their hats into the Continued on page 10

US Congress Expresses Concern over Killings by Herdsmen, Urges Buhari to Speak Out CAN worries about fate of Christians should Buhari gets second term Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Paul Obi in Abuja The United States Congress has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to publicly condemn attacks on Christian farmers by Fulani herdsmen.

Rep. Chris Smith (RNJ), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and a senior member of the House

Foreign Affairs Committee, who spoke during the week while welcoming the release of the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report, applauded Secretary Pompeo’s announcement of a Ministerial Committee to Advance Religious Freedom scheduled for July 25-26, 2018.

The US report is coming Continued on page 8

POWER TO YOUTHS ...

President Muhammadu Buhari displaying the newly signed “Not Too Young to Run" Act while flanked by select youths from the 36 states during the signing ceremony which held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja … yesterday godwin omoigui

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PAGE EIGHT US CONGRESS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER KILLINGS BY HERDSMEN, URGES BUHARI TO SPEAK OUT just as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday expressed concern that the introduction of Arabic Language as part of examinations in a secular country like Nigeria by the Buhari administration is another brazen attempt to Islamise the country and called for the cancellation of the Nigerian Police recruitment examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) where the Arabic Language was part of the subjects listed in the examination Smith said the federal government under Buhari was indifferent to attacks by Fulani herdsmen on predominantly Christian farmers.

He, therefore, stated that except Buhari spoke out against the killings, the situation would likely worsen in the lead-up to the 2019 general elections.

He said: “Congress is watching the situation in Nigeria with growing concern, as the Nigerian government there appears too often to be indifferent to attacks by Fulani herdsmen on predominantly Christian farmers.

"The confluence of religious, ethnic, economic and political tensions is only likely to be exacerbated in the lead-up to elections next year unless President Muhammadu Buhari speaks out with a clear voice condemning the herdsmen attacks.

"We grieve with the families of those killed, including those of two priests and 17 worshippers who were buried just last week following an attack by herdsmen in Benue state in April. “Getting the facts right on the global state of religious freedom is essential for the shaping of U.S. policy and priorities, and that is why the State Department’s annual report is so important. “I welcome the report’s release and urge concerted action to protect this fundamental freedom. “Religious freedom is under siege globally, challenging U.S. interests. It is no coincidence

that the worst violators of religious freedom globally are also the biggest threats to our nation—those who wish to do Americans the most harm, and those who most want to tear down the pillars of democratic societies,� Smith said.

According to him, a robust religious freedom diplomacy not only reflects American values but advances U.S. national security interests.

Congressman Smith noted the need to take more direct action in certain countries including Nigeria.

While briefing journalists on the report last Tuesday, the US Department of State's Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback said he would travel to Nigeria this month (June) to talk with leaders, government leaders, religious leaders, Christian and Muslim, to talk about what we can do to move forward, to reduce the level of violence, to open the way for religious freedom.

He said: "I have been meeting with a number of different Nigerian leaders, and it's been a very difficult- I met with three leaders, last week. And they said to me - Sunday used to be the day they hated to see coming the most because that is when most of the attacks would take place."

He said that the Nigerian government had the responsibility to protect the right to freedom of religion, adding that the US would continue to push Nigeria to do that. “Our effort is for religious freedom for everybody, regardless of faith, or even if you’re a person without faith, but that you are free to do with your own conscience whatever you choose and that no government has the right to interfere with that", he added.

The report noted that there were incidents of killings and other forms of violence between members of different religious groups in Nigeria in 2017.

The report read: "Many killings occurred between farmers and herders in

the central Middle Belt region, where farmers are predominantly Christians and from various ethnic groups, and herders are predominantly Fulani Muslims.

"This violence included religious differences as a factor, according to scholars and other experts, but also involved ethnicity, politics, and increasing competition over dwindling land resources as a result of population growth, soil degradation, and internal displacement from other forms of violence and criminality occurring in the north."

The report chronicled many of the killings and clashes which had a religious undertone that took place in Nigeria in the year under review.

It stated: "The government continued to detain the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), the country’s largest Shia group, and restrict the activities, free movement, and free association of its members.

"There were no reports of accountability for soldiers implicated in the December 2015 clash between the army and IMN members that, according to a Kaduna State government report and reports from non-government observers, left at least 348 IMN members and one soldier dead, with IMN members buried in a mass graves."

The report also stated that both Muslim and Christian groups said there was a lack of just handling of their mutual disputes and inadequate protection by federal, state, and local authorities, especially in central regions, where there were longstanding, violent disputes between Hausa and Fulani Muslims and Christian ethnic groups.

It said: "In disputes between primarily Christian farmers and Muslim herders, herders stated they did not receive justice when their members were killed or their cattle were stolen by the farming community, which they said caused them to carry out retaliatory attacks. Farmers stated that security forces

did not intervene when their villages were being attacked by herdsmen."

CAN Calls for Cancellation of Police Recruitment Exams The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday called for the cancellation of the Nigerian Police recruitment examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) where the Arabic Language was part of the subjects listed in the examination.

CAN argued that the inclusion of Arabic Language created confusion among Christian students and has the potential of affecting their overall performance in the examination.

According to CAN President, Rev. Samson Supo Ayokunle, "the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is disappointed at the incessant insensitivity of the Federal Government to the clarion calls being made by all right-thinking Nigerians to stop playing religious card at the expense of peace and unity of the country.

"CAN regretted that our several calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the security committee of the government with a view to balancing religious dichotomy have been falling on the deaf ear. His government has also failed to stop the unending killings by the criminal Fulani herdsmen in some parts of the country especially in the Christian dominated North Central.

"In the 2018 Appropriation Bill, the Federal Government reportedly appropriated over N600 million in the 2018 budget for execution of capital projects at the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), just as it has committed N200 million to the rehabilitation of the board's buildings ceded to it by the government.

"The only reason why Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls remain in the captivity of the outlawed Boko Haram

terrorists is because they are Christians. CAN begins to wonder if the Islamization agenda has become a reality or the government is in a hurry to bring the hidden plan into a reality.

"The just concluded Nigeria Police entrance examination using JAMB Computer based test (CBT) where Arabic language ( the official Islamic language) was made compulsory for Muslims and Christians alike is another dirty slap on the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

"To many Christian youths who sat for that examination, the display of the Arabic language questions came as a rude shock. Many could not recover from the setback until JAMB logged them out of the CBT platform. Obviously achieving the aim of the Islamic extremists who are hell-bent on fostering their religion and culture on the Nigeria Police Force.

"While it is true that in some Police examination centers, some officiating officers advised the candidates to ignore the Arabic language questions but that again ran contrary to the examination instructions wherein a candidate was required to answer 180 questions viz- Use of English 60, Arabic language 40, Fine Arts 40, and Agriculture 40 hence summing up the 180 questions each candidate is required to answer."

Ayokunle explained that "this deliberate attempt to undermine Christians in Nigeria leaves so many questions as to the unity of the nation. It goes to confirm the following - that in a country we all call our own because the Inspector General of Police and the President are Muslims, they ensure only Muslims get easy entrance to the force.

"That they ensure that only Muslims find their way into strategic planning positions. If not how come this policy of forcing Christians to write the Arabic language was planned and hatched without any Christian knowing about it until the entire Christian

community in Nigeria were told they do not count?

"It also goes to confirm that the plan to make Arabic language compulsory for entrance to our universities with utter disregard for the principle of secularism of the Nigeria nation will be forced down our throats.

"However, it's important to warn here that the Christians in Nigeria can no longer be taken for a ride. We, therefore, call for the immediate cancellation of the purported police entrance exams and a proper examination conducted.

"The candidates should be informed of the subjects they will be examined on before time so that they will be properly tested as it obtains in every sane society.

"We also find the puerile justification of this very provocative action by JAMB very ridiculous."

Ayokunle also stated that "the JAMB explanation does not hold any water at all.

Other professional bodies like the West African College of Surgeons, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Pilgrims Board use JAMB for the CBT examination and they don't use any dummy questions. They set only Surgery examinations questions or questions relevant to the specific specialty.

"Dummies are used for pretest exams, not actual exams to know if the questions are of good standard. And pretest is performed on very few candidates to gauge the standard of the questions."

The CAN President observed that "at the Port Harcourt centre, it was only a few minutes to the end of the examinations, that the candidates were informed that they should answer only USE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE. The implication is that they were short-changed as there was little or no time to complete the test.

"The JAMB officer is being clever by half, how can you introduce 120 dummy questions in an exam of 180 questions and then claim they are to answer

President."

On the state congresses, the governor said: "there might be violence here and there, it is interesting. You know, people value something that is very good. Anything of good value, people fight for it and it isn't unusual to have people disagree with controlling and owning something.

"So, it is common with our party, it shows the level of democratisation that we have experienced, it also shows the level of how interested people are in the party and the democratic nature of our party.

State congresses, yes there have been reports of violence here and there, it will continue to witness reconciliation and this is what we are doing. I believe honestly that reconciliation should take place."

When asked whether the national convention committee was comfortable about the endorsement of former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole as the next APC National Chairman, Ajimobi said: "Talking about the president’s endorsement of Oshiomhole, I believe that the president has endorsed him, but it doesn't preclude other people from declaring to contest.

"It is a democracy and everybody is open to declare.

I think everybody has a right to

declare and once they declare, we go through the convention and we choose whoever won.

So, it is very competitive and you will still see in the coming days some people will declare their interest."

Continued on page 10

PRESIDENCY, APC TO HOLD FURTHER TALKS WITH NPDP MEMBERS ON MONDAY and Shuaibu who represented the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

A report on the outcome of the meeting between the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and former nPDP political bloc now in the APC had said that the aggrieved members demanded stoppage of asset declaration case against the Senate President as part of the settlement deal.

However, Shuaibu who spoke to journalists on Thursday said nothing of such was discussed at the meeting and that they did not go into any details on the letter earlier sent by the nPDP stakeholders.

Reacting to a media report on the meeting with former nPDP members Shuaibu said: "There was no time during Monday’s meeting the condition was given that Sen. Bukola Saraki’s CCT trial must be withdrawn�.

Shuaibu who represented the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at the talks with the nPDP members disclosed that the meeting agreed to reconvene next Monday with a smaller group of eight which will comprise the Vice President, the Attorney-General, himself (Shuaibu) and five representatives of the former nPDP members.

He said while Monday’s meeting which had in attendance

20 former nPDP members dwelt on ‘general discussions’, the next meeting equally scheduled for next Monday will “go into the business of discussing the [former nPDP] specific demands�, Shuaibu said.

Shuaibu: “When we got to the meeting venue in Aguda House, the Vice President felt we were too many. He said for the meeting to achieve any meaningful result, we needed a much smaller group. On that, there was debate as to how many people. The Vice President suggested that the nPDP brings three representatives, and then himself, the Attorney General and myself to make up three so that we have six. But they (nPDP) insisted that they needed more than three representatives and we finally settled on five.

From there we went into general discussions, nothing specific. “We said when they (nPDP) are ready with their five representatives, then we will sit down and go into the business of discussing the specific demands. There was no time during Monday’s meeting the condition was given that Sen. Bukola Saraki’s CCT trial must be withdrawn. I don’t know where they got that story from.

I have a strong feeling that whoever wrote that story was only being speculative because nobody could have said that.

Shuaibu added that the basis for last Monday’s meeting was the content of the former nPDP’s letter submitted to the Party and copied to the President and Vice President. “The content of the letter which is now public, that is what the basis of their demands are. At the next meeting on Monday, we will go into the specifics. That letter will be x-rayed point by point,� he said.

Responding to whether the meeting touched on the recently conducted ward, local government and state congresses, he said: “The letter did not even bring the issue of congresses because the letter of complaint was tendered after congresses had started.

He, however, said the issue of congresses was raised at the meeting of Monday by House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara but that it was deferred till next meeting.

When asked if he thinks the party can at this point resolve the issues raised by nPDP, Shuaibu said: “When certain issues come up, there are ways we can always address them. Are you saying we can’t make amends?

Yes, we can. Decisions are made and amends of such decisions are always possible. Politics is not madness, there must be a way of accommodating people’s grievances. There must be a

way of carrying people along, especially those who are left behind in any process".

Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has said the presidential panel led by former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, is making progress in reconciling all the aggrieved party members in the ruling APC. Ajimobi, who is the Chairman, Sub-committee on Media, told journalists at a press conference yesterday in Abuja that the Tinubu committee had been working quietly and reporting to President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Those who know the meaning of reconciliation, we must, first of all, realise that it is all-encompassing and the Tinubu's committee is working quietly, reconciling people underground, working with everyone. You will see a lot of people moving around and talking, quietly with the Tinubu group. So, the reconciliation is ongoing.

As human beings, from the beginning of our being in this world until the end, we must continue to reconcile.

"We must reconcile ourselves with the environment, reconcile ourselves with people. So reconciliation is work in progress. I believe that the Tinubu team is working very effectively and reporting to the

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Buhari, Saraki, Tinubu, the Media Mourn Wale Aboderin Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his condolences to the family of the Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin, who passed on yesterday at the age of 60.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu stated that Buhari commiserated with all members of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the media and sports industry in the country on the death of the respected entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Buhari said he believed that Aboderin, who was greatly admired by his peers in the media and sports industry, would be long remembered for his resourcefulness, managerial proficiency and invaluable contributions to the growth of the media and sport sectors.

"The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all who

mourn him and grant his soul eternal rest," the statement added.

The late Aboderin was said to have died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 6.05am after a heart surgery at the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Until his death, he was also the Chairman, PUNCH Commercial Printing Limited and Lukahed Properties Limited.

He attended the Government College, Ibadan; and trained as a pilot in the United States.

A sports enthusiast and philanthropist, he was the founder and chairman of the Dolphins Female Basketball Foundation, and also a former chairman of the Lagos State Basketball Association.

He was a one-time vicepresident of the Nigerian Basketball Supporters Club.

He is survived by his wife, Titilayo, and children.

Also, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, expressed grief over the demise of the Chairman of Punch Newspapers.

Saraki in a statement by his

Late Aboderin Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described late Aboderin, as a philanthropist, sports lover and a businessman who left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

He noted that the deceased lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation and contributed immensely to national development through the media, youth and sports development, among others.

He commiserated with the immediate family - his wife and two daughters, the Punch

Group of Newspapers, the media industry, sports enthusiasts and his loved ones, over the colossal loss.

"It is indeed painful that he left us at a time his rich experience is needed to move the country forward," Saraki said.

"My heart goes out to his wife, Titilayo, his two daughters, the Punch Newspaper Group, the media industry in Nigeria and the government and people of Oyo and Lagos States on the sad incident."

In the same vein, a former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Aboderin.

Tinubu, in a statement that was signed by the head of his media office, Mr. Tunde Rahman explained: "We lost Wale at a rather young age when we still needed him to continue to be with us. At 60, he still had a lot to offer us but within those three scores though, he made appreciable impact and touched and changed lives.

"As Chairman of Punch, taking over from his uncle, the actuary ,Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Wale continued to maintain and sustain the excellent journalism Punch is noted for, ensuring that the newspaper remains where it should be.

"Though he trained as a pilot, he was also a sports enthusiast.

He particularly loved basketball to the point that he floated Dolphins Female Basketball Foundation. He was at one time the Chairman of our Basketball Association in Lagos.

"His death is a huge loss to the Aboderin family, both immediate and extended. The media and sports worlds, which he traversed and impacted positively, have also lost an outstanding partner."

Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), and Chairman & Editorin- Chief THISDAY Media Group/ARISE TV Networks, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, in a statement yesterday, joined other well meaning Nigerians

in mourning the late Aboderin.

According to Mr. Obaigbena, “The NIgerian Press Organisation (NPO), consisting of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), is saddened at the news of the untimely death of the Chairman of the Punch Group of Newspapers, Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin, who died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Adding, ‘Wale , a consummate sport enthusiast, was jovial, amiable and easy going. His death is a big blow, not just to the Punch Group, but to the entire media landscape of Nigeria and Africa. He followed generations of media owners who served the public purpose. ‘We offer our condolences to the Aboderin family and the Punch Group. May his soul find peace. Perfect peace�, Mr. Obaigbena who is also the President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) said.

BUHARI SIGNS ‘NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN’ BILL, CHARGES YOUTHS TO LEAVE THEIR MARK ring, jocularly urged them to defer their ambitions till after the 2019 polls.

Breaking from his speech, the president jokingly turned to his audience including youths and said: "But please, can I ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections," the president stated and thus prompting the entire hall to burst into laughter.

The bill was signed in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in the presence of young men and ladies from various states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

After signing the bill, the president said with the bill becoming law, its proponents had secured a platform to change the country if only they could organise themselves and work hard to achieve it.

He listed components of the Act to include the reduction of the age of eligibility for election into the House of Assembly and House of Representatives from 30 to 25 years and from hitherto 40 to 35 years as the eligible age to seek election into the office of the president.

However, the president expressed surprise that the Act retains 35 years of age for eligibility for election into offices of governors and senators, expressing hope that the provision would be revisited in future.

The president who reasoned that neither agriculture nor oil nor solid minerals constitutes Nigeria's resources was quick to state that the Nigerian youth is actually the country's greatest resource.

According to him, it is the intelligence, talents and energy of the youth that will develop the country after the transition of the current leaders.

Advising the youths to take advantage of provisions of the bill, Buhari challenged them not to wait for paid employment

but to be innovative enough to engage themselves, saying he was confident that the youngsters would transform the country through their respective skills.

He said: "Surprisingly, the age limits for Senators and Governors was not reduced, as originally proposed by the sponsors of this Bill. This is an issue that may need to be addressed going forward.

Nevertheless, your focus and contributions have now successfully increased the quality and maturity of Nigerian democracy and expanded the playing field for youth participation in politics.

"You, the young people of Nigeria, are now set to leave your mark on the political space, just as you have done over the decades in entrepreneurship, sports, art, media, entertainment, technology, and several other fields. You are undoubtedly Nigeria’s most important resource – not oil, not agriculture, not solid minerals – but you and all of us. Your energy, intelligence and talent are what will drive and develop Nigeria, long after we are all gone...

"Thus, it may be tempting for you to think of this as the end of the journey. However, it is only the beginning; there is still a lot of work ahead, towards ensuring that young people take full advantage of the opportunities provided not only by this constitutional amendment but also through Nigeria’s boundless prospects.

"You should inculcate the spirit of self-help. Those who complete their training should not just sit down and wait for government or private sector to employ them. You should be innovative and turn your hands to any legitimate work that will enable you to sustain yourself."

Earlier, the Coordinator of Not Too Young To Run Movement,

Samson Itodo, thanked the president for signing the bill into law, saying by doing so, he had given hope to young Nigerian men and women and made a bold statement that democracy had come to stay in Nigeria.

He disclosed that of the 36 states of the federation, only Kano, Lagos and Zamfara failed to support the bill and consequently lost the opportunity to write their names in gold, adding that with the president's assent to the bill, another journey to rebuild the country had begun.

He implored the president to entrench credible, transparent election and internal democracy in the political system, and also ensure the reduction of the cost of obtaining tickets to run for elections.

Beginning for Youth Inclusion, Says Saraki Reacting to the president’s assent to the bill, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki described the development as a historic moment that young people will look back on someday.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said: "More than half of our over 180 million population is made up of people under the age of 30. Today’s signing of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill represents many years of hard work and signals a new era of youth inclusion and participation in our governance. “Now more than ever, as young people across the country bask at the moment and celebrate the signing of this Bill, they must not see this as the final destination. It is one thing to be able to run, but, it is another thing entirely to be able to serve. “This is why, it is incumbent on our youths to register,

get their PVCs and move on to the next phase of this journey — which is getting their peers elected in legislative and executive positions. You must all take part, to take charge. “Nigeria needs the energy and innovation of our young people. On this note, I congratulate the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), and all other groups that championed this cause for more youth inclusion. I also commend my colleagues in both the Senate and the House for making sure that this Bill passed its first milestone during the Constitution Review Process,�

Saraki said.

Ekweremadu Hails Colleagues In his own contribution, the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, commended the president for assenting to the Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution to reduce the age qualification for some political offices, saying that the National Assembly had delivered on its promise.

Ekweremadu, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the new amendment to the Constitution would open up the political space for the Nigerian youth, urging them to capitalise on it to take their proper place in the scheme of things.

He, however, urged President Buhari to also attend to other Constitution Amendment Bills awaiting his assent, describing them as critical to the good governance of the nation.

He said: “I am happy for the Nigerian youth and congratulate them on this new vista of political relevance and attainments. “We have delivered on our promise and it is my hope that

the youth will capitalise on it to take their rightful place in the governance of the country. As I have always maintained, today, not tomorrow, belongs to the youth. It is theirs to organise and mobilise to take it. “I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the Bill to motivate our youth to start preparations for the 2019 elections. However, I equally urge him to assent to the remaining Bills already transmitted to him, including the Bill seeking financial autonomy for State Houses of Assembly�

Ekweremadu assured that the National Assembly would continue to make laws that would deepen the nation’s democracy and promote good governance.

Not Too Young to Run is PDP Initiative But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had harsh words for the president and his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) for taking credit for a bill that was initiated by the PDP and attempting to parade themselves as the architects of the ‘Not Too Young to Run Act’, which was sponsored and pursued by the PDP members in the National Assembly and State houses of assembly.

In statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in reaction to the signing of the bill by President Buhari, PDP said the president and party "had no input whatsoever in the bill; never showed any support or enthusiasm towards the initiative and had no option than to perform a mandatory constitutional duty of assenting to the bill, as a clear reflection of the mood of the nation, given that the bill had already found an easy passage to the crucibles of the required approval of two-

third of states in the federation".

"This development is indeed a democratic victory for the Nigerian youths over forces, particularly, the APC, that had hitherto disdained and disregarded them as lazy and inconsequential, but had to succumb to the dictates of the law and pressure by the youths and the PDP," it said.

The party commended the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Tony Nwulu (PDP, Lagos), other legislators who supported the process and the resilience of the Nigerian youths in getting the initiative through, in line with the vision of the PDP to allow younger Nigerians to actively participate in elective positions in governance at all levels.

It said that in preparation for the passage of the bill, the PDP had since launched our ‘Generation Next Movement’, which has already put younger Nigerians at vantage positions to participate in elective positions ahead of the 2019 general elections.

"In line with the ‘Generation Next Movement’, the rebranded PDP among other pro-youth incentives, has since approved certain critical clauses and waivers so that the young people will actively vie for positions in the 2019 general elections.

"In line with our dream of providing enabling environment for youths participation in elections and governance, the PDP, after winning in 2019, will further lower the age qualification to entrench our vision that ‘whoever can vote can be voted for’, which is a global standard".

The PDP urged the Nigerian youths to immediately take advantage of the Generation Next platform and incentives already established by the repositioned PDP and actively participate in the collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC.

US CONGRESS EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER KILLINGS BY HERDSMEN, URGES BUHARI TO SPEAK OUT only 60 questions.

"And why Arabic language, even if they claimed it is Alphabetic abracadabra, why not Accounting that comes before Arabic in Alphabetical order? And the statement by Dr Fabian Benjamin, the JAMB Spokesperson published in Punch Newspaper on May 26th,

2019 showed that JAMB doesn't know what Alphabetical order is.

"How can Arabic language come before Accounting and Agriculture. If a national examination body does not understand the simple Alphabetical order, how can they justify their competence

and integrity? And the computer program/software is so versatile that it can be programmed for specific questions, not the so-called JAMB Dummies.

"The most appropriate action is to cancel the exams and conduct a fresh one devoid of controversies.

It will be wrong for the President of Nigeria (who swore to defend both the Christians and Muslims alike) to turn around to allow his appointees seek to divide the nation through their actions.

"If the President can allow this affront now and he is still seeking the vote of Christians

for a second term we do not trust he will keep us alive if he ascends that throne for another four years.

CAN demands evidence of cancellation of the examination and fixing of a date for a retake within 72 hours of this notice.

Else, the Christian community in Nigeria will have no choice

than embark on other measures to seek redress of this national insult.

"We also demand evidence of the withdrawal of Arabic language as a compulsory elective for management science studies in tertiary institutions from National Universities Commission."

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

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NEWS

News Editor Davidson Iriekpen Email davidson.iriekpen@thisdaylive.com, 08111813081

NNPC Gets Presidential Approval to Review PSC Agreements Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had given it the approval to undertake a review of all Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) between it and its various partners to reflect the current realities in the industry.

NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this to the members of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) who were at the corporation’s headquarters in Abuja on an oversight visit.

He stated that a committee to undertake this has been set up, adding that they would soon begin the process.

According to a statement from NNPC’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the senate committee had asked to know why the PSC agreements had not been reviewed

for a long time despite clauses in the agreements that stipulate periodic review.

The NNPC maintains PSC agreements with International Oil Companies (IOCs) which is expected to be reviewed periodically, but had reportedly not been reviewed for a while now.

He, however, disclosed that in the absence of a comprehensive review, NNPC had looked at projects on a project-by-project basis and raised observations which some of the partners had taken permission to present before their managements.

Also, in the statement, Baru stated that the corporation has been faithfully remitting all revenues accruing to it to the Federation Account.

He said allegations of nonremittance of funds had become a recurrent decimal over the years, occasioned in part, to the nature of the corporation’s operations which involved credit lines requiring constant audit and reconciliation.

“While the process of audit

and reconciliation of accounts is on, a lot of accusations of short payments and non-remittances are usually traded, we endeavour to keep our cool on these allegations because we know that we remit whatever is due to the Federation Account,” he explained.

Baru further stated that such allegations usually arose from disagreements over expenses borne by the corporation on behalf of the federal government.

On the efforts by the NNPC to ensure that Joint Venture (JV) and PSC partners do not run excessive bills at the expense of Nigeria, Baru explained that

apart from the establishment of an efficiency unit in the corporation to ensure value for money across all operations, NNPC had also done a lot in renegotiating contracts as well as benchmarking costs in keeping with international best practices.

He added that the effort had yielded significant results in terms of reduction in the cost of crude oil production per barrel in the Industry.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, who led members of the committee on the oversight

visit, said the committee would like to have a month-by-month crude oil production figures for the past two years and crude prices for the period.

He called on NNPC to fully cooperate with the Senate in providing input on the fiscal component of the Petroleum Industry Reform Bill and the other segments of the bill coming up for public hearing next week at the National Assembly.

“We have just come to fulfill another part of our mandate, which is to oversee what NNPC is doing. It’s not a mission to harass anybody, it’s for us to

understand each other, give advice, as nobody is a sole repository of knowledge. Everybody knows that Dr. Baru is very knowledgeable in the Industry, but he can’t know everything, even people who don’t know anything about the Industry may have useful ideas that can be of help,” said Alasoadura in the statement.

The statement noted that other members of the committee who were present at the meeting included Senators Gershom Bassey (Vice Chairman), Sam Egwu, Victor Umeh, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Clifford Ordia, Osinakachukwu Ideozu, Stella Oduah and Biodun Olujinmi.

Brent Crude Oil Hits Largest Premium to US Grade Since 2015 OPEC removes excess 400m barrels of oil from global market Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Global benchmark, Brent crude prices reversed earlier losses to hit their biggest premium to United State futures in over three years yesterday, as the prospect of more inventory increases weighed heavily on the prices of US crude.

This is coming as the Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Mohammad Barkindo has stated that the output cut pact between the cartel and non-OPEC members halted the worst oil market downturn in history, by removing excess 400 million barrels of oil from the international market.

Brent crude futures rose yesterday to $78.42 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $1.1 to $67.11 per barrel, pushing the premium of Brent to WTI beyond $11 per barrel, the largest since March 2015.

Reuters reported that the spread has doubled in less than a month, as a lack of pipeline capacity in the US has trapped a lot of output inland.

The wider premium makes US crude exports more competitive than those linked to the Brent price, such as North Sea or West African grades of oil.

Brent slid to a three-week low below $75 a barrel on Monday after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its non-OPEC allies including Russia indicated they could adjust their deal to curb supplies and increase production.

Saudi Arabia, the effective leader of OPEC, and Russia were discussing boosting output by about one million barrels per day (bpd) to compensate for losses in supply from Venezuela and to address concerns about the impact of US sanctions on Iranian output.

In a related development, the Secretary General of the OPEC, Mr. Mohammad Barkindo has stated that the output cut pact between the cartel and non-OPEC members halted the worst oil market downturn in history, by removing excess 400 million barrels of oil from the international market.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers have committed to cut output by 1.8 million bpd until the end of 2018 to reduce excess inventory in the oil market that led to global glut that crashed prices.

The oil producers will decide at a meeting in late June whether to prolong the output cut pact.

In a keynote address delivered at the 25th International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, Barkindo stated that having removed the huge overhang, “the next critical phase in the whole process is to sustain these accomplishments of market rebalancing, a gradual recovery in investments and the return of confidence in the industry.

“How will we achieve this?

Going forward, through a broader and institutionalised framework of cooperation based on the Declaration’s core principles of equity, fairness and transparency, we will look into developing metrics and designing mechanisms to help govern against future shocks and extreme volatility in the market,” he said.

“One of the greatest and most pressing challenges before us is ensuring that there will be adequate levels of investment in a predictable fashion to meet the world’s future requirements. So far in 2018, the pace of investment has gradually picked up, yet we are still not seeing enough robust investment in long-cycle projects, which are the baseload of future supply, and the foundation of this industry’s future,” Barkindo explained.

WELCOME TO NIGERIA

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (right) and David Pilling of Financial Times, during the Financial Times Nigerian Summit titled: ‘Dispelling Uncertainty and Building Resilience’ in Lagos....yesterday

Nigeria’s Manufacturing Index Grows at Slow Pace CBN directs banks to pledge N1bn govt securities for OTC trade settlement Obinna Chima Activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in May, but at a slow pace compared with the previous month, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released yesterday has shown.

This clearly reflected the slowdown in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2018, to 1.95 per cent, from 2.11 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to enhance efficiency in trading and post-trade activities, the CBN has directed all banks to pledge collateral of N1 billion worth of government or CBN securities for over-the-counter (OTC) transactions.

According to the report released by the CBN, the PMI for May stood at 56.5 index points, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 14th consecutive month, but at a slower rate when compared to the index in the previous month.

Of the 14 sub-sectors surveyed, 10 reported growth in the review

month in the following order: petroleum and coal products; paper products; plastics and rubber products; electrical equipment; food, beverage and tobacco products; cement; chemical and pharmaceutical products; primary metal; printing and related support activities; and textile, apparel, leather and footwear.

On the other hand, the transportation equipment; fabricated metal products; non-metallic mineral products; and furniture and related products sub-sectors declined in the review month.

Also, at 58.8 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the 15th consecutive month in May 2018.

The index indicated a faster growth in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month.

But nine out of the 14 manufacturing sub-sectors recorded increase in production level, two remained unchanged, while the remaining three recorded declines in production level during the review month.

At 54.9 points, the new orders

index grew for the 14th consecutive month, indicating increase in new orders in May 2018.

In all, seven sub-sectors reported growth, two remained unchanged while five contracted in the review month.

“The manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 57.5 points in May 2018, indicating faster supplier delivery time for the twelfth consecutive month.

“Nine sub-sectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, three remained unchanged while two sub-sectors recorded delayed delivery time “The employment level index in May 2018 stood at 55.2 points, indicating growth in employment level for the 13th consecutive month.

“Of the 14th sub-sectors, eight sub-sectors increased their employment level, three remained unchanged while three reduced their employment level in the review month,” it stated.

Furthermore, the report showed that the manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the 14th consecutive month in May 2018. At 58.7 points, the index grew at a slower rate when compared

to its level in the previous month.

In all, 10 of the 14 sub-sectors recorded growth, two remained unchanged while two recorded decline in raw material inventories However, the CBN has directed all banks to pledge collateral of N1 billion worth of government or CBN securities for over-the-counter (OTC) transactions.

The directive becomes effective today.

The CBN explained in a circular posted on its website yesterday, which was signed by its Director, Financial Markets Department, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, that the policy was also expected to build confidence in the financial market.

“The pledge requirement is mandatory for all Deposit Money Banks that wish to participate in OTC trade settlement. Lack of provision of the pledge or failure to top-up a pledge when required will result in exclusion from the market.

“This circular takes effect from June 1, 2018. Please ensure compliance,” the CBN stated in the three-paragraph statement dated May 31, 2018.

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COMMENT

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

SHARIBU: BEYOND RELIGIOUS LINES

True Christians and Muslims should embrace the liberty of Leah Sharibu as a joint project, writes Monday Philips Ekpe

T

he other day, leaders of Nigeria’s two leading religions - Christianity and Islam – had unsettling exchanges. The sore point was the hostage-taking of teenager Leah Sharibu

by Boko Haram. Frustrated by the seeming incompetence or nonchalance of the federal government to negotiate her release when the rest girls who had also been captured regained their freedom, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) threw the first punch: “We are doing a lot of things we cannot be disclosing to the public. Our concern includes the silence of the media and the civil society organisations thinking Leah Sharibu is a CAN affair‌ Let all and sundry rise up against the failure of the security agencies and ask President Muhammadu Buhari to wake up from his slumber before the terrorists and herdsmen finish the country. Leah Sharibu must not die. Her death, God forbid, can spell doom for Nigeria. It can give an open invitation to religious war because Leah is being detained purely because of her religion.â€?

The amiable Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, could not hide his displeasure: “How could that be? Did the Muslims connive with Boko Haram to abduct the girls and release others? No. For them to now make that comment that if she dies in the hand of Boko Haram there will be a religious war is very unfair. How could you start attacking Muslims because this innocent girl happens to be a victim of murderous terrorists? It means they (Boko Haram) are winning the war because that is what they want. If they hear about this and kill the innocent girl that means you are part and parcel of what makes them do that because they want to cause confusion in the country. We are all praying for her safe return and for the safety of every Nigerian irrespective of his or her religion.�

The sad reality is that while it is true that Sharibu is held on grounds of her faith, the insurgents cannot be said to be acting on behalf of Moslems in Nigeria or anywhere else. When they started their campaign years ago, discerning persons saw clearly that they were only foul minds hiding behind their religion to commit criminality. This façade only became clearer to many people when the terrorists moved beyond churches, public institutions and places to also visit mayhem and bloodshed on mosques and fellow Islamic believers.

History is full of instances when groups of people presided over mass destructions and took the lives of others in the name of carrying out divine injunctions.

In Christianity, during the Great Inquisition, protectors and lords of Catholicism pronounced judgments on Protestants for dissent, perceived heresy and blasphemy. Thousands of people were executed as a result. Sadly, all that sacrilege took place on the altar of the same core beliefs but different interpretations given to the letters of the same Holy Book that was supposed to bind them together. When Karl Marx

LUCKILY, THE CENTRAL PERSONALITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH -JESUS CHRIST- IS CALLED PRINCE OF PEACE; AND THE VERY NAME OF ISLAM MEANS PEACE. EQUATION BALANCED

came up with his dictum, “Religion is the opium of the people�, in 1843, a maxim that later gained prominence in the 1930s, it was, no doubt, in relation to the struggle between the ruling and working classes. But it could well refer to something deeper. Religion generally derives its strength from explaining the invisible, the unknown and the eternal. Individuals who lay claims to special insight into those realms could turn that asset into strong instruments, for good or ill. They are usually in a position to convince others to act in certain ways. Extremists who seek to forcefully impose their convictions on others abound in various creeds and different forms.

So, labeling any religion violent is, at best, simplistic and ignorant. A particular religion may be taking its turn today to produce a chunk of such characters but that should not stop us from taking a holistic look at a problem that is potentially apocalyptic.

Martin Luther King was right: “Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself.

It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.�

With the emotions (righteous and unrighteous) of Nigerians that have run riot over and over again, it would indeed be unfortunate to yield to the coercive, paralysing power of hatred and court its tragic consequences. As the Sultan has said, Boko Haram would sing victory songs if the country is plunged into religious wars.

The way out of the present dilemma is not simple though possible. The first step towards avoiding the kind of chaos hoped for by enemies of peace is to come to terms with the fact that we are all faced with the failings and complexities of humanity, irrespective of our spiritual persuasions. Surely, no rational person would deny the right of CAN to be angry under the circumstance. In a nation where sentiments are often relied upon to assess socio-political, cultural and economic developments, venting it may even appear normal. Luckily, the central personality of the Christian faith - Jesus Christ- is called Prince of Peace; and the very name of Islam means peace. Equation balanced. It should, therefore, not be too difficult for true Christians and Moslems to pursue peace by all legitimate means. Through prayer, preaching and teaching – strong features of both religions – more enlightened, peace-loving followership can be achieved.

Henceforth, the champions of both faiths should embrace the liberty of Miss Sharibu as a joint project. Rather than being a stumbling block, it can actually be a golden opportunity to forge unity in Nigeria.

ON THE PATH OF PROGRESS Abdullahi Bego reckons that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has done remarkably well

R

ecently more people in more places are increasingly acknowledging – and lauding – what is now clearly self-evident: that under Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe State has made significant, measurable progress in healthcare despite obvious security and fiscal hamstrings.

It is a view that points to the breath-taking infrastructure upgrade in the healthcare sector and the governor’s commitment to capacity building as demonstrated in the setting up of a College of Medical Sciences for the training of doctors, amongst others, as evidence that the arc of Yobe’s healthcare is bent towards progress.

As we mark Democracy Day and Gov. Gaidam’s third year of his second term in office, it is worth mentioning that Yobe, under the governor, has made significant, albeit less mentioned, strides in other sectors as well - sectors that touch on the lives of everyday people in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Take education for example. This is a sector that has taken the worst hit from Boko Haram’s deadly campaign of condemnable violence. From 2011 until well after the 2015 elections, Boko Haram deliberately targeted and set our education sector back several years. From the coldblooded murder of students in their dormitories to the setting on fire of classrooms and libraries, the degree of harm inflicted by the insurgents is beyond measure.

According to one estimate, Boko Haram has destroyed more than 300 school classrooms across Yobe State from just two years of their monstrous violence. By any stretch of the imagination, rebuilding education infrastructure – and the confidence of students and teachers – from the ashes of Boko Haram’s attacks will certainly not be an easy task and will surely take years to accomplish.

But that’s exactly what Governor Gaidam has repeatedly set himself to doing. With significant investments in primary, secondary and tertiary education and a working partnership with stakeholders, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (ETF) and others, the governor was successful in rolling back the setbacks and placing this vital sector on the path to revival.

Today, classrooms that were set ablaze have been rebuilt, destroyed inventories, such as chairs, tables, books and other basic supplies, have been replenished and expanded and at least five secondary schools in Fika, Gwio-Kura, Nguru, Nangere and Yunusari towns were totally rehabilitated and furnished.

The Yobe State Government now spends around N240 million monthly in student feeding across schools in the state and, for the first time in a long time, teacher awards were instituted to fire up – and incentivise – those who mentor our kids.

Governor Gaidam’s investments in Yobe’s education have also ensured that the state university, with its growing number of academic offerings, has retained its position as one of the fastest growing universities in the North.

The governor has also opened up Yobe State and connected communities with the largest investment in roads development since the state was created nearly 30 years ago. I have said this before – but it bears repeating – that the governor has built more roads within and between towns than all previous governors combined.

The tally of roads that the administration has built now stands at over 1, 100 kilometres – and still counting. It includes the 77-km DamaturuBuni Yadi-Madgza road which was first built by the federal government in the early 70’s and never had any major repairs since. Before it was rebuilt by the governor, an entire swath of the

state, comprising of three local government areas on the border with Borno State to the south, was effectively cut off from the rest of the state; a situation made worse by Boko Haram activity in the area.

Gov. Gaidam’s road intervention also included the 50-km Nguru-Machina road. This was a sandy, impassable terrain where motorists take a whole day in the Sahara for what is supposed to be a 30-minute drive between Nguru and Machina towns.

Today, what used to be a daily logistical nightmare for the people of that area has long since been painted over. The people who ply the road will bear this out. Those who ply the recently built Gashu’a-Yusufari, Bayamari-Yunusari and Gaidam Bukarti roads, among others, will also bear it out.

The capping of it all for Yobe North is the construction of a 300-km long ‘Trans-Sahel’ road stretching all the way to Machina from Kanamma. Now at nearly 50 per cent completion stage, this road will link more communities in more ways than anyone will ever imagine. It will also end the geographic isolation of the area and open vast agricultural communities.

Governor Gaidam’s signature work in restoring confidence in the civil service is also an issue that is widely recognised.

For all the recession that our country went through – and all the bailouts that ensued – Governor Gaidam remains one of the truest of his colleagues in meeting worker obligations. He continues to pay salaries, pensions and gratuities without fail even without the bailout funds. As a result, Yobe is today a reference point for how the civil service can be made more effective by tending to the welfare of workers.

When news broke, over a year ago, that Yobe had signed a deal to build an N11.5 billion cargo airport, some of my friends started to wonder

where all the money was coming from. “Where is Gaidam getting all these billions from? How is it that at every meeting of the state executive council, we hear of these billions in project spending?� one of my colleagues once asked.

Well, the answer is simple. Monies that accrue to the state government are well managed and are being put to good use.

The cargo airport under construction is now at slightly over 50 per cent completion rate and the contractors are determined to ensure that the first cargo aircraft lands at the airport before the year runs out.

When fully operational, the cargo airport is envisaged to prop up economic activity not just in Yobe State but across the Northeast with the likelihood that international trade in livestock and agricultural products will open vistas for businesspeople and bring in much-needed internally generated revenue for the state.

Governor Gaidam is also finishing his third year (of his second term) in office strong with the commencement and continuation of urban renewal projects in the state capital. This extends from the construction and renovation of roads in various parts of the town to improvement in water supply. Everyone who knew Damaturu before the governor came to power knows that the town’s landscape is changing. With even more investments over the coming period, Damaturu’s fortunes will surely keep improving.

All told, Governor Gaidam has set our state on the path of progress.

Of course, it is trite to say that there is still more work to be done. With the governor’s commitment to ensuring that change happens, however, the next 12 months, which will mark his last year in office, will see even more projects and services because, for him, it will be service to the people to the very end.

Bego wrote from Damaturu, Yobe State

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

EDITORIAL THE GROWING MENACE OF CULTISM It is time to deal with cult violence decisively

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rom Plateau to Ogun and Cross River States, the rate at which young men butcher one another in the name of cult killings has become a worrisome development. Last week in Awka, Anambra State capital, there was widespread violence within members of rival cult groups leading to the death of no fewer than 15 persons. The state police spokesman, Superintendent Haruna Mohammed, confirmed that the Command has embarked on an aggressive manhunt for the perpetrators of the killings “following actionable intelligence received about their hideouts.”

That cult wars and gang violence have exacerbated the climate of lawlessness and fear in the polity is no longer in doubt. What is more worrying is that the menace has become so widespread that armed robbers, drug peddlers and other sundry miscreants are now being recruited into the fold. In many states of the federation today, cultists of various stripes act with impunity, killing, raping and maiming victims while causing widespread destruction. Yet the authorities seem helpless in dealWHILE NO PLAUSIBLE ing with this crime.

EXPLANATIONS HAVE For sure, cultism is BEEN PROVIDED, MOST not new in Nigeria.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE From time immemoFACT THAT THERE ARE NO rial, several people CONVICTIONS FOR SUCH have identified with CRIMES ENCOURAGE one form of cultism MANY YOUNG PEOPLE or another either INTO IT for personal/family protection or for the promotion and safeguard of certain interests. But today, cultism has become almost like a status symbol, especially on our campuses while members kill sometimes for reasons as flimsy as being snubbed by a student of the opposite sex. But the menace has moved from the campuses of our institutions of higher learning to the streets and these criminal gangs operate without restraints, perhaps because they have powerful backers within the society.

Four years ago, some prominent personalities were

Letters to the Editor

among 67 suspected cultists arrested and quizzed in Benin City, the Edo State capital, by men of the special squad deployed in the state by the police authorities at the time, to curb the growing killings and cult activities. In the days preceding the deployment of the police team, some criminals said to be members of ‘Eiye’, ‘Black Axe’, ‘Buccaneers’, ‘Aiye’ and ‘Jurist’ confraternities had unleashed hell on the streets of Benin. The body count was 22 dead. Among those arrested for their alleged involvement in the mayhem were 14 Junior Secondary School students between the ages of 12 and 15.

D T H I S DAY

EDITOR IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU DEPUTY EDITORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, JOSEPH USHIGIALE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN

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 NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

uring the last Christmas holiday period, there was hardly a day when some young men and women would not fall victims to this goring spectre of criminal violence most of them as a result of battles for turf between rival cult groups. From Cross River to Edo to Ekiti and several other states, gang wars are now almost a daily fair with several innocent bystanders becoming victims. Besides, members of many of these cult gangs are also involved in armed robbery and kidnappings as the nation has, in recent months, witnessed with the ‘Badoo’ cult group in Ikorodu in Lagos State.

In what the police confirmed as a clash of rival cultists, a man believed to be a student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) was last October in Ado Ekiti shot several times before his assailants dismembered his body with a machete. At about the same period, in what was described as a face-off between two criminal gangs, the ‘Baggars Confraternity’ and the ‘Klans confraternity’, no fewer than 19 persons were killed in one such deadly encounter in Calabar, Cross River State.

In all the foregoing, what is particularly disturbing is that the authorities seem bewildered in tackling the endemic problems of cult wars. While no plausible explanations have been provided, most people believe that the fact that there are no convictions for such crimes encourage many young people into it. And as long as this persists, Nigerians may have to brace up for more gang violence.

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific 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.

INNOSON AND FUTURE OF NIGERIA’S AUTO MANUFACTURING

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efore the emergence of INNOSON as Nigeria’s first automobile manufacturer, the trend was the uncontrollable importation of new, old and fairly-used vehicles into the country. These massive importations also came with a lot of capital flight and rendered our local industries comatose. Apart from the negative implications of importing all manner of vehicles into the country, the survival of local automobile manufacturing companies was heavily threatened.

INNOSON came to Nigeria’s rescue at the right time as he commenced the local production of vehicles ranging from 18-seater buses, trucks, cars and suv’s at affordable prices. The company has also offered employment to thousands of Nigerians including availing the Presidential Amnesty Office the opportunity of training the repentant Niger Delta militants at their factories at Emene, Enugu State and Nnewi, Anambra State.

Today the ex-militants have acquired the necessary skills which have enabled them to be fully integrated into the society. This approach has further made them to focus on other productive ventures rather than blowing up oil pipelines and hampering the country’s economic growth and development.

On the whole INNOSON has been a blessing to Nigeria and the courage they brought to bear in setting up the first indigenous automobile manufacturing plant in Nigeria has enabled other foreign automobile companies to outsource their production plants to Nigeria, hence Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes and others are assembling some range of their vehicles in Nigeria.

It is important that no effort should be spared to support IN-

NOSON Vehicles Manufacturing Company to survive rather than putting all manner of obstacles on their path. In some other countries companies like INNOSON which is focused on helping to develop the country will be given all necessary incentives and encouragement to thrive, but it seems the present travails of INNOSON are deliberately aimed at bringing their efforts to naught.

With the country’s dwindling oil revenues and in line with the federal government diversification programme, there is no doubt that companies like INNOSON can play a significant role in making the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and other noble policies of the President Buhari administration come into fruition. A cursory look at the manufacturing activities of INNOSON will prove that they remain a viable asset to Nigeria in terms of technology transfer, job creation, reduction in capital flight and overall industrialisation of Nigeria.

We cannot afford to trifle with such innovative enterprise that is geared towards putting Nigeria’s name among the automobile manufacturing countries. We should as a people resist any conspiracy or attempt to denigrate the good reputation of the INNOSON Group for in the final analysis they represent the collective aspirations of all Nigerians in the area of technological development.

Through their efforts billions of dollars that could have gone into the importation of foreign vehicles have been saved thereby adding to the incremental rise in our foreign reserve. So the retention and survival of INNOSON as Nigeria’s automobile brand is a win-win for the country. It will also serve as an inspiration for other budding entrepreneurs and industrialists to venture into manufacturing in

various sectors of the economy.

The company is famous for adopting global best practices in its operations and their workforce is highly motivated and remunerated. The group chairman Chief Innocent Chukwuma has through a dint of hard work and innovativeness built a business empire estimated to worth about $5 billion in Nigeria and all these industries have over 10000 Nigerians as employees. It is therefore incumbent on the federal government to ensure that the jobs of these hard working Nigerians are not threatened by the shenanigans of some vested interests.

It must also be borne in mind that these company’s employees have families and dependants to cater for. Already there are clear indications that there is a grand conspiracy to frustrate the company in its patriotic effort to save Nigeria from the stranglehold of dependence on foreign-made vehicles. INNOSON has already broken the jinx and it behoves governments at all levels to encourage the company and see them as partners in progress.

Before their emergence as the first local vehicles manufacturers, Nigeria was flooded with vehicles from all parts of the world with the attendant loss of foreign exchange, loss of jobs and lack of skills acquisition. These are the gaps that INNOSON has filled and some vested interests are hell-bent on reversing the trend. This must not be allowed to happen. INNOSON like Dangote and other big companies has made Nigeria a proud automobile manufacturing country and we have a duty to build and consolidate on this achievement.

Chukwudi Enekwechi (JP), Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

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POLITICS

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

As Buhari Muzzles the Opposition Last week’s arraignment of some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party is a glaring attempt to muzzle the opposition, Davidson Iriekpen writes

L

ast week was particularly bad for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as many of its members were arraigned at the Federal High Court across the country for money laundering offences by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were accused of receiving various sums of money from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to prosecute the 2015 general election.

Those arraigned were former Governor of Kano State and Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the Campaign Director of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mansur Ahmad, former Deputy Governor and Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtari Shagari, Ibrahim Gidado, a former Information Commissioner; PDP state Chairman, Ibrahim Milgoma, PDP Treasurer, Nasiru Dalhatu, as wells as the state PDP governorship candidate in the state in the 2015 election, Abdallah Wali.

Others were former governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, state party Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih; former Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen; a former member representing Esan South East and Esan North-east in the House of Representatives, Tony Azegbemi, and Mr. Efe Anthony.

On a different offence bordering on misappropriation of funds, former Governor of Plateau State and currently a senator, Jonah Jang, was arraigned in Jos and granted bail.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero would be arraigned any moment from now as he is being investigated by the antigraft agency for equally receiving funds to prosecute the 2015 elections.

The clampdown, coming months to the general election in 2019, is already making the opposition party to feel jittery, and observers asking- why now that the general election is around the corner?

Though many observers believe that the arraignments are part of a larger plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate and harass the PDP, others see it as a strategy to keep them busy in order not to have time for the 2019 election. They wondered how a party which is as much guilty, be prosecuting members of the opposition in order to oppress and suppress it.

Recall that as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015, part of his first directive was the investigation of campaign funds doled out by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Alison-Madueke. This led to the arraignment of the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, Dele Belgore (SAN) and former Minister of National Planning, Prof.

Abubakar Suleiman, Femi Fani-Kayode and many others Curiously, however, nobody in the APC has been able to tell Nigerians how they raised funds for their campaign, the rumour mills are rift with news of how a South-south governor in 2014 and 2015 donated billions of naira of his state to the Buhari campaign organisation, not a word is heard from the party. So are the rumours that two South-west governors and a former governor in the region contributed million of naira to the president’s campaign funds which secured them appointments in the government.

Recently, investigations had revealed that the APC asked the 24 governors elected on its platform to contribute a total sum of N6 billion towards its congresses and national convention. The governors are to contribute N250 million each towards the congresses

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secreatry

and national convention.

Even though the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement, described the story as misleading, he ended up lending credence to the report by saying that the directive was meant for the governors who were not up to date in payment of their dues to pay up in view of upcoming party activities.

When the news broke, many observers had condemned the party, especially against the backdrop of the fact that 23 out of the 24 governors are not up to date in the payment of their workers’ salaries. Besides, a recent study of the financial positions of states had shown that only six out of the 36 states in the country are viable. Apart from Lagos State, many of the governors are owing salaries or pensions or both for extended periods ranging between four months and several years.

This is why observers are wondering that given the fact that President Buhari is a man of lean pocket, how will he raise his campaign funds without breaking the anti-corruption code, especially when his monthly salaries and allowances might not take him far in the presidential campaign journey if he were to religiously stick to his stiff posture.

Already, there are allegations of how govern-

The clampdown, coming months to the general election in 2019, is already making the opposition party to feel jittery, and observers asking- why now that the general election is around the corner?

ment agencies such as NEMA, NISTF and many others are helping the government to raise huge funds for the 2019 elections.

Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) issued the 2018/2020 crude export contracts to 50 local and international oil traders. Just like in the past, many analysts believe that this was done in order for the firms to secretly contribute substantially towards the campaign funds of the incumbent government.

This claim, however remains unsustantiated.

While a majority of Nigerians want President Buhari to reduce or totally eradicate corruption in the country, they demand that he faces the battle headl on no matter who is involved.

They also frowned at a situation where APC members are spared and protected.

This is why a public affairs analyst, Francis Agbonta, has described what is happening to the PDP chieftains as a ploy by the APCled federal government to ensure that they are unable to have a voice and contribute meaningfully to 2019 general election.

“As President Buhari continues to get encomium for his acclaimed fight against corruption, one critical missing link which many opponent and proponent of his administration have been silent on is, how did the APC fund his election. We remembered our able president told Nigerians he took a bank loan to pay for his form. Firstly, there is strong ethical question hanging on the action of the president to borrow money from a bank to fund his bid for presidency. I know the president merely sold that to Nigerian as part of the APC’s propaganda to Nigerians to create the impression that its candidate is truly a masses’ man.

“Away from that, the real question as Nigerians look critically into Dasukigate, we also need to ask the questions, what was the source of APC’s funding for the last presidential election? Except the president comes clean on this, there is no way he can convince right thinking Nigerians that he is incorruptible.

“This explains why most politicians in the APC fold will never be probed or punished once Buhari remains Nigeria’s president.

He dare not try it and if he attempts to, the dirty linen of the president will be washed in the open.

“To me, except Buhari can come clean on this, he is deceiving himself, and very soon, the same hawks who joined arms with him and sold his candidacy to gullible Nigerians will soon come back for his jugular very soon if he fails to settle boys accordingly, when times come for them to get their returns.”

Also, the PDP has consistently been demanding that President Buhari make public the accounts of his presidential campaigns in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. Doing this, the party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, would be in tandem with the president’s claim to integrity and incorruptibility.

The PDP described the tag of looters as “hollow and laughable,” saying Buhari and the APC would have no moral standing to fight corruption unless they came clean and public with the accounts, including the donors, of their presidential campaigns. Alleging that the campaign funds were proceeds of corruption from fraudulent government officials and businessmen, the opposition party wondered how the president, who declared that he had no resources to run a presidential campaign in 2015, was able to garner billions of naira to prosecute his election campaign.

The party argued that Buhari ought to have known, particularly as a leader, that the billions of naira deployed in his campaigns were proceeds of corrupt activities of known APC governors and leaders. It said it was particularly interested in the fund allegedly provided by a South-south governor for the 2011 presidential election as well as how the cost of litigation was paid by his campaign organisation.

It said the federal government could not list names of alleged looters and attempt to shy away from the fact that the president and his party were direct beneficiaries of fund allegedly looted by APC governors.

Contending that Buhari and APC leaders had huge confessions to make on how they raked in state allegedly stolen resources to prosecute elections of 2015, the PDP declared: “If the federal government and the APC are serious about fighting corruption and not just out to persecute PDP members, they should have begun with the probe into the source of the billions of naira used for President Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaigns, particularly in the face of allegations that the fund was looted from treasuries of various APC states.

“Can President Buhari in all honesty claim ignorance of reports in the open media that a South-south governor looted several billions from his state accounts and diverted the sums into Buhari’s 2015 campaigns?

“Can the Presidency and the APC inform Nigerians what steps the federal government has taken to investigate this allegation, which has been in public domain and to clarify their roles as beneficiaries of the alleged looted funds?

“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. End false sanctimony and immediately return all stolen funds used to finance President Buhari’s election in 2015 to the Federation Account.

“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, 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.”

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

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POLITICS

As Buhari Struggles to Win Back His Base President Muhammadu Buhari’s style of leadership has alienated many of his supporters, a development that poses a threat for his re-election campaign, writes Segun James

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) is in trouble, in real trouble.

In the first instance, these are remarkable times for politicking in the country. In the smouldering economic and political landscape of Nigeria, the future of the ruling party and the nation lies squarely on the shoulders of one man - President Muhammadu Buhari – and things couldn’t be in worse shape than it is now.

In the second instance, three years after the optimism that heralded the coming of Buhari as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the political situation in the country is frightening and chaotic. And all these are due to the happenings within the APC; now, the party may be heading for a disaster.

When Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29th 2015, he carried a huge burden along based on promises he made to Nigerians.

Three years down the lane and barely eight months to another election circle, the burden has not eased; but more surprisingly, he has offered himself again to contest for a second term in office.

A Nigerian president’s most important power is not the power to veto or override the resolutions of the National Assembly without repercussion. It is the ability to discern the mood of the nation and the thinking of the people. It is this that will determine if he would be judged as a good leader.

The constitution gives the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces so much powers, making him almost a maximum leader, though with some checks and balances.

Few other democratic countries enjoy as much powers as the president.

As the saying goes, absolute powers corrupts absolutely, hence, the President has been at loggerheads with the National Assembly. He disregards the resolutions of the National Assembly and spends money without appropriation. He is beyond the control of the people’s representatives in the National Assembly and cannot be called to order.

Few political relationships are as volatile and important as that between Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Although they were a formidable combination when they teamed up in the past as Minister of Petroleum Resources and Head of State respectively; and more recently to fight the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and political enemies, but today they are at loggerheads.

Obasanjo, who had vowed to stir clear of politics has returned and is now leading the opposition against Buhari. Incensed by the continued activities of Obasanjo, Buhari sent a jab at the direction of his former leader and critic, accusing Obasanjo for wasting over $16bn on phantom power project, an insult that forced the former president to call him an ignorant.

Today, President Buhari’s style of leadership has alienated most of his supporters, a situation which is threatening to break the party as the nation races toward the February 2019 election.

When history comes to assess the president’s response to national integration, it may judge him the moment a battered nation voted him in as president in order to return to the country the values which many believed the president possessed-– anti corruption and zero tolerance for nepotism, but the action of the president has betrayed these values.

In fact, it is unfortunate that the corporate existence of the nation is today being threatened by the very actions of the president. A man who fought to keep Nigeria one in the civil war is now the man whose actions are threatening to break the country.

Six months down the line, this year has turned out to be exciting one for politics.

The political rites of passage have begun and politicians have stated their games; horse trading, names calling and handshakes across political divide have become the order of the

Fouad Oki, challenging the status quo in Lagos

day. Known enemies have suddenly become friends and new enemy lines are springing up.

But it is obvious that, all is not well within the APC. There are crises everywhere and many members are threatening to decamp from the party. If President Buhari knows this, he certainly is not showing it or more precisely, he doesn’t seem to care about who comes and who leaves. Or does he?

But indication of the true reflection of the situation within the APC can be gleaned from the recent uprising against the leadership of the party’s national leader, Chief Bola Tinubu by the party faithful in Lagos State, the most strategic stronghold of the party.

In Lagos state, the coming out of the cold by opposition within the APC to challenge the continued leadership of Tinubu and the second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was the first indication of the crack within the party, a crack which has today snowballed into a national crisis.

Although the crisis within the party had been simmering for some time, it took the

At this time of unprecedented concern about security of life and property and the political system of the country, the crisis in the APC, if not properly handled, may spell a doom for democracy

formation of a group within the party, United Broom Movement (UBM), by Mr. Fouad Oki, to crack open the discontent within the system.

During the last party congresses held across the nation, parallel congresses were recorded in many states.

In Lagos members held two different congresses to elect new executive for the state chapter of the party. A faction of the chapter held its congress at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja and elected Dr. Fouad Oki as the new chairman of Lagos APC. Fouad was the Director General of the campaign organization of Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in the 2015 election.

Also, the other faction of APC which is believed to have the backing of Tinubu held its congress at the APC state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja.

Fouad, was a vice chairman of the state party before he was suspended in March 2018 for his activities. Even though his suspension was never ratified, his action has today polarized the party in Lagos.

A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is holding a parallel congress in the state.

In Nigerian, there are two ways of dealing with aching problems in the polity: one is to blame the opponent or the previous government for every wrong situation, even those that happened before that government came to be. The other is to pretend or fall silent in the hope that the problem will simply go away with time.

These two strategies have been adopted by President Buhari and the APC in the past, but the situation in the party has come to a head that members are now asking critical questions about the goings-on not only in the government but within the party.

Today, members of the new Peoples

Democratic Party (nPDP) a bloc within the APC whose fusion into the party helped swing the 2015 election into APC’s hands are aggrieved. At this critical time, the group has been threatening to pull out of the APC. At the National Assembly and state government level, the internal crisis rocking the party has escalated to the point that the leadership of the National Assembly and some state governors are set to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Also set to defect along with National Assembly legislators is the bulk of membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to a former governorship candidate of the PDP from the southwest, negotiations between the ADP, the leadership of the breakaway newPDP and the PDP is at a final stage; and that the announcement of the outcome of the negotiation is expected within the next few weeks.

The former candidate who sorts anonymity said that the reason why the PDP might collapse into the ADC is because of the ignominy Nigerians associated with the PDP and that the process of registering a new party may take a long time.

He also hinted that most dissatisfied members of the ruling APC in the country were expected to be part of the new party.

“Just wait. The APC is set to implode.

After that, we will unveil plan. APC will die after its national congress I assure you.

We are waiting for the party to conclude its congress. There will be nobody left when we make our move,” he said.

The nPDP, led by a former acting chairman of the PDP and now a chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje had met with the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun to discuss and possibly resolve their differences.

The APC chieftain commended members of his group and concerned Nigerians who share their views and concerns about the plight of the nPDP members in APC, but hinted that the next line of action of his group would be determined by the outcome of meeting with the President and his deputy.

The group, which played a very vital role in the victory of the APC at the 2015 presidential election is aggrieved and has complained of what it described as the lack of patronage and maltreatment of its members by the APC-led federal government.

The group’s complaints which were conveyed in a well-worded protest letter addressed to the APC leadership also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the ruling party for its response.

Before the expiration of the ultimatum, the leadership of APC met with Baraje but could not reach an agreement on how to resolve the issues in contention. They however, agreed to continue the discussions on a future date.

Baraje said that after the group’s deliberations, the group has constituted Committees to take charge of the various issues especially on how to rescue Nigeria from economic, social, political and especially security challenges.

The new PDP members include: Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who has already decamped to the ADC, a move which suggested where the group may be heading; Admiral Murtala Nyako (Rtd), Senators Mohammad Adamu Aliero, Danjuma Goje, John Owan Enoh, Andy Uba, Ibrahim Gobir, Rufai Ibrahim, Ibrahim A. Danbaba, Suleman Nazif, Isa Hamma Misau, Muhammed Ubali Shitu and Shehu Sani.

Others are Senators Dino Melaye, Suleiman O. Hunkuyi, Shaaba Lafiagi, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, David Umaru, Barnabas Gemade, Alhaji Abubakar K. Baraje and several members of the House of Representatives among others At this time of unprecedented concern about security of life and property and the political system of the country, the crisis in the APC, if not properly handled, may spell a doom for democracy in the country.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻ, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Chika Amanze-Nwachuku Email chika.amanzenwachukwu@thisdaylive.com 08033294157, 08057161321

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Quick Takes Air Freight Growth Recovers

ACCOUNTING TO SHAREHOLDERS

Independent Director, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Sola Adeeyo; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Chairman, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Company Secretary, Mr. Charles Ojo, and Non-Executive Director, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, at the 24th annual general meeting of the company in Lagos‌recently

Customs Moves to Bar Retired Officers from Direct Clearing of Cargoes Eromosele Abiodun The Nigeria Customs high command has taken steps to bar retired officers and men of the service from engaging in direct clearing of cargoes at the nation’s seaports and borders.

THISDAY investigation revealed that the move was sequel to barrage of petitions especially by indigenous licensed clearing agents and freight forwarders, who alleged that foreigners and retired officers and men of the service have taken over their jobs, resulting in closure of many of such clearing firms with the attendant loss of job opportunities for teeming Nigerian youths.

MARITIME THISDAY gathered that the office of the Comptroller General of the NCS, Col Hameed Ali (RTD.) is awash with series of letters of complaints and petitions, which alleged that some retired officers and men of the service engage in cargo clearing business, taking undue advantage of the cordial relationships that exist between them and their former colleagues in the service.

THISDAY checks also revealed that the NCS is currently considering the most appropriate actions to be adopted in weeding these retired officers and men

out of the unethical business.

The NCS, THISDAY learnt, is weighing several options, such as baring the affected retired officers and men from accessing the Customs Processing Centre (CPC), which houses the Automated System for Customs Data ASCUDA++, which is the information communication technology (ICT) hub spread across all the customs commands for the clearing of cargo.

Another option, according to a competent source at a Customs command, will be to block any clearing licence used by retired officers and men not minding whether such licences belong to them directly or sub-let for a fee by a licensed clearing agent.

These measures, if implemented, will serve as a deterrent to others that may want to borrow from friends or sub-let for a fee to the officers.

Stakeholders have, over a long period, argued that allowing retired officers and men, who know the nitty-gritty of cargo valuation and other clearing processes might compromise the system, especially given the rapport that exists between the retired officers and men with their serving colleagues, which might lead to massive loss of government revenue.

The National Public Relations Continued on page 20

FG Engages Qatar, Airbus for National Carrier Establishment Chinedu Eze Despite the uncertainties surrounding Nigeria’s plan to establish a national carrier by December this year, Middle East carrier, Qatar Airways has been engaged to be the core investor and Airbus to be the provider of aircraft that would feed the leasing company, which would provide aircraft with fleet.

Although the Transaction Adviser, which was established to chart modalities for establishing the national airline, has advanced in its work, the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika confirmed the development, as government is said to be poised to deliver on its promise.

Sirika recently met with Boeing on similar discussions, but THISDAY learnt from sources familiar with the deal, that Airbus wants to stamp its foothold in West and Central Africa dominated by Boeing

AVIATION aircraft and also wants to use the opportunity provided by the proposed national carrier to do so.

A source told THISDAY that in the interim, Qatar Airways would provide long-haul aircraft for the new airline on wet lease, which means that the flights would be operated mainly by the Middle East airline’s crew and technical personnel till when the national carrier would be able to take over fully.

The source explained that if Airbus succeeds in providing aircraft for the leasing company, it would deploy its short haul aircraft for domestic and West Coast operations, which would be operated by pilots recruited by the new company.

If government succeeds in establishing the national airline, the Buhari administration must have realised a key project in

the aviation industry, which will have reverberating effect in the economy of the country.

The federal government had promised to concession the major airports in the country, establish aircraft leasing company, a maintenance facility and a national carrier and it has instituted transaction adviser to actualise these projects but industry observers say that failing to realise these plans in the last three years, it would be difficult to establish them in the remaining one year of the administration. “As at this moment the new national carrier does not have offices, even interim offices, where it would operate from; perhaps they may use the facility of Skyway Catering Limited, which is still under the Ministry. If the resources are there a company can construct offices for the airline under two months,� a source told THISDAY.

Many industry observers do not believe that the establishment of the national carrier would be private sector driven as initially conceived because the private investor must be convinced that it is on-going concern before they would commit their money in the project. “I don’t think this will be realised now. They may start it and later offer it to the private sector. They may start it with funds from international financiers with government guarantee as Afrexim Bank and African Development Bank have agreed to commit funds for the leasing company and also support the airline,� the source added.

In justifying the need for a national carrier for the country, an aviation consultant and the Chairman of Aso Savings, Ali Mohammed Magashi noted Continued on page 20

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that fright growth rate rose 4.1per cent in April 2018, compared to the same period the year before.

IATA said this was up from the 1.8 per cent growth in annual demand recorded in March 2018, noting that it was the second time in 21 months that capacity growth outstripped demand growth.

After a sharp fall in March 2018, to a 23-month low, global air freight volumes recovered slightly in April 2018.

IATA noted that the pace at which demand is growing, however, remains signiďŹ cantly slower than in much of 2017.

It attributed the weaker growth in air cargo to the end of the restocking cycle, during which businesses rapidly increase their inventory to meet unexpectedly high demand.

The world body said this is consistent with demand drivers moving away from the highly supportive levels seen last year.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing and export orders fell in April 2018 to its lowest level since 2016. A softening of global trade is also evident with containerised freight demand slowing in tandem with air freight demand. Seasonally-adjusted freight volumes continue to track sideways.

Latest Search for MH370 Ends

The private company that has been carrying out an underwater operation to ďŹ nd the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines ight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean is to end the search.

Airwise.com reported that the US-based Ocean InďŹ nity made an oer to the Malaysian government last year that it would restart the search for the Boeing 777 on a results basis. The company would only receive payment for its work if the aircraft was located.

The three months of operational days agreed to by Malaysia has now come to an end without success and the company said it would end the search. “Whilst clearly the outcome so far is extremely disappointing, as a company, we are truly proud of what we have achieved both in terms of the quality of data we’ve produced and the speed with which we covered such a vast area,â€? the company’s chief executive Oliver Plunkett said. “There simply has not been a subsea search on this scale carried out as eďŹƒciently or as eectively ever before.â€?

The Ocean InďŹ nity search covered an area of 112,000 square km (just over 43,200 sq. miles) of the ocean oor, which is almost as much as the previous search achieved in over two years.

The initial search of 120,000 square km (46,300 sq. miles) was carried out on behalf of Australia, China and Malaysia, but was called o in January 2017 after nothing was found.

The latest search for MH370 started in January 2018, in an area considered by investigators as the most likely location for the wreckage.

SA Express Flights Suspended

South African aviation regulator SACAA has suspended all SA Express ights over ‘serious safety risks’.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said it suspended the state-owned airline’s Air Operator’s CertiďŹ cate and its maintenance approvals after an audit “uncovered severe cases of non-compliance that pose serious safety risks.â€?

SACAA said that of 17 ďŹ ndings, ďŹ ve were described as “severe non-compliance or non-conformanceâ€?, causing serious safety threats to the public. Nine of the airline’s 21 aircraft have had their airworthiness certiďŹ cates suspended as a result of the audit. “As the custodian of aviation safety and security in the country, the SACAA cannot turn a blind eye to any operation where there is overwhelming evidence that safety measures are compromised,â€?

Director of Civil Aviation Poppy Khoza said in a statement.

She said SACAA regretted the inconvenience and disruption caused by the suspension, but they were necessary to ensure “that the operator’s safety systems are beyond reproach, and that its aircraft can take-o and land at the intended destinations relatively safely and incident-free.â€?

“ From June 14, 2018, we will seize the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) because it is no longer sustainable and equitable to the passengers�

Executive Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria,

Captain Nogie Meggison

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BUSINESSWORLD CUSTOMS MOVES TO BAR RETIRED OFFICERS FROM DIRECT CLEARING OF CARGOES Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah admitted in a chat with journalists that the office of the CG has been inundated with complaints and petitions by clearing agents alleging that retired officers and men have taken over their jobs.

He, however, pointed out that the service had yet to take any decision on most appropriate way to address the issue, saying that the management of the service was not comfortable with such complaints and petitions and would address them accordingly. Meanwhile, some concerned stakeholders have argued that the decision by retired officers and men to resort to clearing business might be a reflection of the poor welfare package offered by the service at retirement, which might not cater for their needs and those of their family members.

This, they added, might have necessitated resorting to other sources of income by such officers and men to augment their income while in retirement.

FG ENGAGES QATAR, AIRBUS FOR NATIONAL CARRIER ESTABLISHMENT that a national airline was necessary because the airline sub-sector does not guarantee better returns on investment; yet it needs huge capital and that is why the private sector is not enthused in investing in airline business.

Magashi argued that because of the poor return on investment, the private sector may not be able to invest the quantum of funds needed for the sector, but considering the fact that aviation is a critical infrastructure, which facilitates the growth of other sectors of the economy as it provides the fastest movement from one place to another, conveying passengers and cargo, it is indispensable in the economic mix of any nation. “All the airlines that top the world are either owned or still owned by government. The reason is simple; aviation is not competitive in terms of returns, but it benefits other sectors of the economy and that is where government makes its profit.

Group Business Editor

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Computer Village Concessionaire Assures Govt, Traders of Excellent Facilities Emma Okonji The concessionaire for the construction of the proposed world-class Kantagowa ICT Business Park, Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, has assured the Lagos State government and the Computer Village traders of excellent service delivery.

According to Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, the plan to build the ICT park in Kantagowa, a suburb of Lagos for the relocation of Computer Village from its current location in Otigba area of Ikeja as approved by the Lagos State government, is beyond providing another real estate for the relocation of the market.

The company said the Lagos Katangowa ICT Business Park plans to provide a world-class technology incubation platform to give entrepreneurs and businesses the opportunity to create value in development of technology software and hardware development.

In an attempt to expand the market, which is already choked by limited space for business transactions, the Lagos State government gave approval to Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, to develop a world-class market in Kotangowa market that is already occupied by petty traders. The move to relocate the Computer Village market has been ongoing but the Lagos State government has shown commitment to relocating the market, which has turned out to become a beehive of activities for traders and buyers of computer and electronic gadgets, including mobile phones and their

accessories.

The Lagos State government concessioned the Katangowa ICT Business Park, located along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to Bridgeways Global Projects Ltd, for development of the ICT Business Park, as part of its plan to relocate the Computer Village Ikeja to a more befitting and purpose-built location.

Speaking on the grand plan for the ICT Park, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, Jimmy Onyemenam said: “What we are developing in Katangowa will elevate the status of Lagos as a global technology location.

It is far beyond providing real estate for the development of another Computer Village.�

He added: “The Katangowa ICT Business Park will also provide the infrastructure to incubate and accelerate the development of technology solutions that can improve development outcomes on the African continent. “Within the technology developer community, we have found an abundance of curiosity, innate talent and passion in Nigeria.

These developers can do with more infrastructure support to develop more solutions that are development-relevant especially in the areas of Education, Health

and Agriculture.�

Pleased with the development, the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), the body managing the market, Mr. Presley Ibadin commended the Lagos State government for the relocation initiative, but called on Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, to always carry along, the CAPDAN executives in its developmental plans, to enable the body sensitise the generality of the traders who are anxious to get information about the relocation plan.

Ibadin said the relocation plan became necessary because the

traders have expanded beyond the limited space in Otigba and needed a bigger space to transact business.

Onyemena also noted that the Katangowa ICT Business Park would also provide infrastructure for the manufacturing of technology hardware.

He said that with the visionary outlook of Governor Akinwumi Amode, the Katangowa ICT Business Park will also have the capacity to support the manufacturing of technology hardware like Computers, mobile phones, solar panels, health technology equipment, to mention a few.

CONNECTING AFRICA

L-R: Country Manager, Rwand Air, Ms . Ibiyemi Odusi; Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Rwand Air, Silver Munyaneza; Rwanda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Stanislas Kamanzi, a pilot, Captain Joan Obasi; a representative of Minister of State Aviation, Mahmoud Ben Tukur and a staff of Connect Nigeria, Abdulrahman Suleiman Bawa during a dinner with stakeholders in Abuja ... recently

Open Skies Key to Air Connectivity in Africa, Says SAA CEO The Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of South Africa Airways, Mr. Vuyani Jarana has said that the recent implementation of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) would enhance connectivity in the region, especially in West Africa where intercity connection is poor.

Jarana also said that the South African would soon return to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja it suspended flight operations about two years ago.

The South Africa Airways CEO said that open skies would succeed through partnerships. “We have also consolidated

on our operations by trying to make the ease of travel better for the West African travellers.

So, we are partnering with regional carriers like Africa World Airlines to be able to feed our operations either in Lagos or Accra. So, we are strengthening our operations in Accra. We have flights originating from Accra to Washington and that has proven to be a very sustainable operation. We also have flights originating out of Dakar to Washington as well,� he said.

He observed that it was difficult to connect West Africa through air, but noted that the

policy would promote travel and reduce stress air travelers go through on the continent.

On its plan to return to Abuja, Jarana explained that the airline would return services t the route, but was not specific on when this would happen.

He, however, said that the management was working towards this, adding that both governments would need to meet to discuss on the right time for the airline to return to the route.

He said: “What we did was to suspend operations in the use of aircraft we deployed to the route, but we are bringing

in our partners with the right economics. So, that piece of work is being done. I think it is for the two authorities to meet, but I can give you much detail on this.�

On its operations into Nigeria about 20 years ago, Jarana, described the country’s routes as profitable and important to the airline, stressing that the country had gotten consistent service and right customers in terms of business and economy classes.

He explained that as a result of this, the airline would continue to support Nigeria and improve the customer

experiences with the country’s air travellers. “We need to protect the Nigerian market and listen to customers more and make sure that our partners continue to support us. So, it’s one of the routes that we have to maintain and grow. It’s not a route we are facing some challenges,� he added.

He emphasised further that South African Airways was on the path of restructuring and currently looking at its balance sheet, revenue management as well as plan to adjust the market for growth and commercial activities.

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

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Bala-Usman Counsels Women,Youths on Integrity Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman has counseled the youths and women to imbue the value of integrity at the early stage of their lives.

The NPA boss gave the advice while delivering a keynote address entitled: “Becoming a Woman of Significance,� at the 2018 Valedictory and graduation ceremony of Vivian Fowler Memorial College (Girls only) in Lagos.

According to her, “We live in a world with a confused idea of right and wrong but we must not deceive ourselves to imagine that being virtuous goes unrewarded. Virtuous living is a matter of fact, the hallmark of all people of significance.�

Bala-Usman further advised the graduating students to cultivate the capacity for hard work, reiterating that “diligence, commitment and a painstaking attitude to seeing things through, are like fragrances and they will endear you to

people and draw good things to you.�

While stressing that women must shun that sense of entitlement that makes them feel that being a woman is enough to be considered for anything, Bala-Usman implored women to be “hardworking in a comprehensive manner� and “develop a can-do spirit.�

She urged women to make the words of American Businesswoman, Beth Brook, who said that ‘Success is fleeting, Significance is lasting,’ to be their watchword.

She enjoined the girls to emulate the young Pakistani, Malala Yousafzai, who she said was known all over the world but started the journey of significance at a very tender age and won the coveted Nobel Prize for Peace at age 17 and had received several international awards from New York Times and the BBC. “This is an example of a woman of significance. I do not know how much money Malala has, but she has a name that signifies hope to millions of young girls all over the world.

That is what I call significance.

And it is possible for all of us to get there in our own chosen way, let us just be sure about what we choose and pursue it with all our might. History has a place for you young ladies and I pray that you find the grace and courage to step into that place, �she explained.

Highlight of the ceremony was the award of recognition for Corporate Governance and contributions to national development conferred on BalaUsman by the management of the School.

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Ethiopian Marks 100th Aircraft in Active Service Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it would take delivery on June 5, 2018 of its 100th aircraft, a Boeing 787-900, the first for an African airline to operate 100 aircraft fleet in the history of the continent, thus maintaining its pioneering aviation technology leadership role and ascertaining its leadership position in all aspects of Aviation Services in the continent.

On the planned delivery of the 100th aircraft, Ethiopian Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said: “It is an immense honor for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.

Ethiopian was the first to avail jet service in the continent back in 1962, and operated the first African B767 in 1984, the first African B777-200LR in 2010, the first African B787-800

Dreamliner and B777-200 freighter in 2012 and the first African A350 in 2016 and the first African B787-9 aircraft in 2017. “Ethiopian now operates one of the youngest and most modern 100 aircraft, with an average age of less than 5 years. Fleet modernization and expansion is one of the four critical pillars of our Vision 2025 strategic roadmap, in support of our fast expanding network, which has now reached over 110 international destinations covering five continents. Our new and cutting-edge fleet composed of B787s and A350s offer unparalleled on-board comfort to our customers and offer the best possible connections when traveling within Africa and between the continent and the rest of the world. This 100 fleet milestone, which we have achieved ahead of our Vision 2025 targets, compels us to revise our plans with a view to phase in more aircraft and further expand our network so as to meet the growing travel needs of

our continent and support its economic development and integration by facilitating the flow of investment, trade and tourism.�

Ethiopian operates a mix of state-of-the-art aircraft with an average fleet age of five years. The Airline has 5 more Boeing 787-900 and 16 Airbus A350 airplanes on order, among others. Ethiopian was the first African Airline and second only to Japan to operate the B787 Dreamliner in 2012 and the first carrier in Africa to usher with the Airbus A350 XWB in 2016.

Meanwhile, the East African airline has won ‘On-board Experience Achievement Award’ at the Nigerian Transport and Tourism Summit which was organised in collaboration with the federal government of Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Information and other government agencies..

The award was presented by organiser of the Transport and Tourism Summit, Dr. Odusanwo at a well attended event in Abuja.

CPC DG, Others to Speak at LAAC Seminar The Director-General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera, and Chief Executive Officer, Selective Security International Limited Mr. Ayo Obilana, are among the key stakeholders in the Nigerian aviation industry that will deliver papers at the forthcoming 22nd annual seminar of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos.

Irukera, who is a Special Guest at the seminar with the theme: ‘Financing Aviation Development through Private Sector Partnerships,’ will speak on the activities of CPC as it relates to aviation and air travellers’ protection from airlines and even government agencies.

Irukera in a chat with journalists recently said that the Council received the third highest number of complaints

in 2017 from the aviation Sector.

He said that the sector came after telecommunications and banking sectors, which had the first and second highest number of consumer complaints respectively.

The recent intervention of CPC in aviation industry had received mixed feelings from stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry.

While some lauded the council for its role, others alleged that it was usurping the activities of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The forum, would give Irukera the opportunity to shed more light on the statutory role of CPC, not just in the industry, but in the country at large.

Also, Obilana, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certified security personnel has confirmed

participation at the seminar.

Obilana will speak on ‘Funding Perspectives of Aviation Security in Nigeria.’ A former General Manager, Aviation Security, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obilana holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the Whitwort University, Spokane, Washington DC, United States.

In an email to the committee, said it was high time players in the sector focused more on security within the aviation industry.

He explained that his paper would delve on new strategies employed by unscrupulous elements to beat security networks in the sector while also looking at changes in aviation security after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Air Peace Emerges Company of the Year One of Nigeria’s carriers, Air Peace has won the “Company of the Year Award 2017� of Leadership Group.

The airline received the award weeks after it was recognised as a “National Carrier of Repute� at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Umuahia, Abia State, where six of its crew members were also honoured as “Nigerian Crew Member of Repute�.

Speaking at the Leadership 2017 Awards in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of Leadership Group Limited, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah said Air Peace and other award recipients were selected for the honour strictly on merit.

He hailed the carrier and other awardees for making significant contributions to the economic development of the country, urging them to sustain the high standards

they were reputed for.

Meanwhile, Air Peace has dedicated the award to its customers, saying their huge support and patronage had been the pillars of its success since it commenced commercial flight operations more than three years ago.

The airline assured that the award, which was received on its behalf by its Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olajide would spur it to deepen the quality of its flight services. “The award from Leadership Group�, the airline said in a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, “is another proof of the high quality of our contributions to the development of Nigeria’s economy and delivery of excellent flight services.�

It assured: “We are driven by our passion to reward the huge support and patronage of our esteemed guests over

the years. We are not going to spare any effort to make the flying experience of our guests truly great and rewarding.

Soon, we will be announcing dates for the commencement ofthe expansion of our route network to Asaba, Bauchi, Kaduna, Makurdi, Osubi, Nigeria Air Force Base in Port Harcourt, Monrovia, Lome, Abidjan and other West Coast destinations under the third phase of our no-city-left-behind project aimed at having many more people experience our spectacular flight services. “There are challenges, no doubt, but we are working flat out to reduce the impact of these occurrences on the revolution we have continued to spearhead in the Nigerian aviation industry to the barest minimum.�

Air Peace said it was grateful to Leadership Group for recognising its contributions to Nigeria’s economy and rewarding excellence.

AIR WATCH Indigenising Oil & Gas Shuttle Service

L-R: Captain Ofu Ekpenyong, General Manager, Tropical Arctic Logistics (TAL), Wale Adeniji, Chairman of TAL, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe and his wife, Pat at the welcoming ceremony on the arrival of 12- seater helicopter at Muritala International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday

Some years ago, air shuttle service by aviation companies in the oil and gas industry was dominated by foreign organisations like Bristow Helicopters and CHC of Canada under Aero Contractors. However, in the last few years, Caverton Helicopters made an in-road to providing services to major oil and gas companies and actualising the local content policy of the federal government in the sub-sector.

This also opened the door to such companies as OAS helicopters, Toucan Aviation and others.

A new entrant into the sub-sector and the Chairman of Tropical Arctic Logistics (TAL), Emperor Chris Ibe told THISDAY on Sunday that for the Nigerian government to fully achieve the local content policy in the oil and gas sector, Nigerian companies that meet the required standard in terms of quality and safety should get fully involved in providing shuttle service and logistics to the sector, which offers vast opportunity to the citizens in terms of job creation and curtailing the existing capital flight in an industry that is dominated by foreign companies.

Ibeh, who said that before establishing the aviation company, he has put in 28 years in the oil and gas industry remarked that the shuttle service for the oil and gas industry is open to Nigerian companies and commended government for the local content policy and its effort to ensure that the policy is being implemented. “TAL is a company that specialises in aviation services with a focus on offshore services and a little charter for helicopters and executive private jets. We started the company in the US. Shuttle service is a very highly technical and specialised area of business, but it is also a rich market. There is a yawning gap in the Nigerian aviation industry. One of the challenges we have in the aviation industry is compromising quality. Looking at the aviation industry it became very, very evident that we have a gap to fill up and with a population of about 200 million and Nigeria being the 9th largest oil producer in the world among OPEC member nations, we know we have quite a lot to offer in the oil and gas service. So we need to bridge that gap of quality, safety and professionalism,� Ibeh said.

He however noted that the major reason why Nigerian companies in the aviation sector was not doing well in providing service to the oil and gas industry in the past was lack of depth in the technical areas, poor standardisation, poor safety rating and poor customer service, but remarked that Nigerian companies have improved significantly in those areas.

On his entrant into the shuttle service subsector, Ibeh said TAL would provide service with AW139 and S92 type helicopters for offshore service and Gulfstream airplane for on-shore flights. “Our core area for now is oil and gas services. At this moment, we have Bristow and Caverton operating in the sub-sector. The market is so huge and the opportunities are immense. We are coming in with competence, quality, safety and professionalism. This is why we are trying to break into this market. As a Nigerian company we are going to operate differently and this is a wholly 100 per cent Nigerian company. The operation is owned

by TAL with technical partners coming from Ireland, the Rose Aviation, which is going to make sure that we maintain quality and safety in everything we do,� Ibeh said.

The Chairman of TAL also noted that the major challenge Nigerian companies face in the aviation industry is the long time it takes to complete paper work and the drills before a company would be certified to go into operation and remarked that it takes a long time, adding that it has taken TAL five years to go through the process of operating in the aviation sector.

The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Femi Adeniji said that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) needs more technical personnel, especially inspectors so that they would be able to attend to the needs of the airlines. “We are in the drill for five to six years, just to get AOC (Air Operator Certificate) and we are still in the drill but we are not going to give up. The authority needs a lot of support.

Part of the problem NCAA has is that they do not have enough inspectors and they need a lot of inspectors because if the inspectors are there and they are allowed to do their jobs without politics, things will be a lot easier and the aircraft safety will be ensured. We need a lot of incentives from government,� Adeniji who is seasoned aeronautical engineer said.

On how TAL would buffet through the competition in the sub-sector Adeniji said the company has prepared itself for the competition ahead. “Your success stems from the way you service your customers and your safety record.

You should allow your customers to realise that you are there for their service. Bristow has been in Nigeria since 1957; Caverton has been there since early 90s. I was the first African Chief Engineer in Bristow before I migrated to the United States so I am not scared of competition.

The philosophy of TAL is integrity, safety and teamwork,� he said.

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Ending Illegal Fish Importation EromoseleAbiodunreasonsthatNigeriacansaveoverN288billionspentonimportation of fish annually, if the nation’s deep ocean resources are optimally developed On 28 October 2016 in Hobart, Australia, the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources agreed to establish the first Antarctic and largest Marine Park in the world encompassing 1.55 million km2 (600,000 sq mi) in the Ross Sea. Other large Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans in certain exclusive economic zones of Australia and overseas territories of France, the United Kingdom and the United States, with major (990,000 square kilometres (380,000 sq mi) or larger) new or expanded MPAs by these nations since 2012—such as Natural Park of the Coral Sea, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area.

When counted with MPAs of all sizes from many other countries, as of August 2016 there are more than 13,650 MPAs, encompassing 2.07 per cent of the world’s oceans, with half of that area – encompassing 1.03 per cent of the world’s oceans –receiving complete “no-take� designation.

MPAs are protected areas of seas, oceans, estuaries or large lakes. MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural or cultural resources. Such marine resources are protected by local, state, territorial, native, regional, national, or international authorities and differ substantially among and between nations. This variation includes different limitations on development, fishing practices, fishing seasons and catch limits, moorings and bans on removing or disrupting marine life.

In some situations (such as with the Phoenix Islands Protected Area), MPAs also provide revenue for countries, potentially equal to the income that they would have if they were to grant companies permissions to fish. In Nigeria, the absence of MPAs and regular oil spill has almost destroyed the means of livelihood of many in the Niger Delta.

Experts believe that if governments in western Africa could end illegal fishing by foreign commercial vessels and build up national fleets and processing industries, they could generate billions of dollars in extra wealth and create around 300,000 jobs.

Industry watchers stressed that the devastating, social, economic and human consequences of overfishing in western Africa’s coastal waters are well documented.

For instance, they noted that a report, Western Africa’s Missing Fish, by the Overseas Development Institute and Spanish investigative journalists’ PorCausa, lays bare the extent of lost opportunities across African countries.

The N288 billion Loss Following ongoing efforts by the federal government to diversify the Nigeria’s economy, it has emerged that the country can save over N288 billion ($800 million) being spent on the importation of fishes annually, if the nation’s deep ocean resources are optimally developed and harnessed.

Director/Head, Fisheries Resources Department, Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Dr. Parcy Ochuko Obatola, who stated this in a chat with journalists, said Nigeria is naturally endowed with a lot of marine resources, adding that these resources have been left untapped over the decades thereby leading to huge economic loss.

Research, she stated, has it that Nigeria consumes about two million metric tons of fishes every year but can only produce less than 800,000 metric tons domestically thereby necessitating the importation of about 1.2 million metric tons.

She disclosed that over 70 per cent of the fishes domestically supplied are produced by small scale fishermen whose activities litter the coast line.

According to Obatola, “right now when we look at the demand and supply of fishes in Nigeria, there is still a huge deficit. The demand is almost 3million metric tons per annum, the supply is about two million metric

tons and there is still a deficit of over one million including those imported and those produced within this country. We are producing about 800,000 metric tons in Nigeria. So we can see the reason we actually need to carry out activities when it comes to blue economy. “Most of the fisheries that are exploited in Nigeria are done at the inshore waters and have consequently put a lot of pressure on the resources and negatively impacted the ecosystem via indiscriminate pollution, water contamination and other forms of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing otherwise known as IEUs. This has translated into a situation where there are lesser catches and smaller sizes of fishes.�

She therefore, called on the government and other stakeholders to help ensure that the activities of the fishermen are regulated and managed while the deep ocean resources are tapped to help reduce pressure on the inshore waters.

Obatola further explained that various surveys conducted by the institute have shown that some rare species of fishes and other marine resources are in the Nigerian territorial waters especially at the deep oceans revealing that practicable recommendations on how they can be exploited for the economic benefits of the nation have been forwarded to the federal government.

She stressed that Nigeria could be losing about N50 billion yearly to illegal fishing and other unregulated activities of intruders at the deep oceans. “We have carried out surveys and found out that there are resources in the deeper waters that the fishing industry can exploit so that the inshore waters would have a respite, if the pressure on them is reduced. We have other resources out there that can be exploited. As I am talking to you right now, Nigeria as a nation is not exploiting our Tuna resources but that doesn’t mean that people are not exploiting it. People come from other places to exploit them on our territorial waters. “Apart from that, we also have what is called harima-bondi. It is the kind of fish that can replace the imported sardine; in fact it was canned in this institute just to let the industry know what can be done. Tuna was also canned in this institute years back so that the industry can go further to exploit other resources out there,� she said.

Mesopelagic Resource The expert explained that part of the resources present in the nation’s deeper waters is the mesopelagic resource, which is very useful for the production of fish meals, noting that the major problem that has hindered aquaculture from being what it should be in Nigeria is

the input.

She disclosed that fish meals constitute about 70 per cent of the running cost of an aquacultural establishment. “Feed is very pertinent because a crucial component of that feed is fish meal and as we say right now, fish meal is mainly imported to Nigeria. So, that’s another way of getting our money out via capital flight if we are able to substantiate it now that we know we have it.

Our duty is to look at the quantum because another value chain that the fishing industry can go into is getting the mesopelagic resource and turning it to the fish meal that will now be incorporated into the fish feed that the aquaculture sector uses. “We actually have a lot of resources but it is not about just having the resources. We need to work on how we maximize or exploit them so that it will be useful for us in the country and also the artisanal sector. There is enough that can be done and we are playing our own role,� she said.

Obatola also pointed out that part of the challenges confronting deep ocean fishery in Nigeria is the inability of Nigerians to outgrow the quick coin mentality where people expect expedient gains immediately they make investments, an attitude she said would not be applicable in the fishing sector because it is a long term investment that is capital intensive. “I think that has always the major issue with the industry because it is not the kind of trawlers that you use in inshore waters that you use there. You need bigger vessels there and when you talk about bigger vessels, of course you are talking about bigger money,� she said.

While acknowledging that some efforts have been put in place by the government, Obatola believes that more can still be done in terms of capacity building to ensure the sustainable usage of the deep ocean resource for economic growth as the blue economy concept connotes.

FG to Stop Illegal Fishing The nefarious activity may not continue in the long term as the federal government has expressed its readiness to combat illegal fishing and other related fisheries crimes in the Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri stated this during a meeting with members of the Committee on the Implementation of the Harmonised Operating Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Vessels and Persons in Nigeria’s maritime environment led by the Chairman, Air Vice Marshall Ibrahim Shafi’i.

The minister said the document, Harmonised Operating Procedures (HSOP), launched by President Muhammmed Buhari was part of the

efforts in ensuring that the Nigeria’s maritime environment is rid of all illegality including illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

He described the HSOP as timely and important to the ministry, adding that, it would help to combat illegal fishing in the country if properly implemented by relevant enforcement agencies.

Lokpobiri said the fisheries sub-sector was plagued with many challenges ranging from illegal exploitation of the marine fisheries resources, “particularly by foreign vessels; low catches as a result of depleted resources due to obnoxious fishing practice by fishermen and illegal sale of fish at sea by trawlers operators among other things. He said the Committee through its mandates would reduce these problems and boost socio-economic development of the country.�

He informed the committee that as part of its efforts to curb the menace, the present administration had approved the purchase of two patrol vessels to enhance effectiveness of the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Division of Fisheries Department in the ministry, “while an additional six patrol boats were constructed by the Nigeria Navy at the Naval Dockyard, Lagos for similar purpose.�

He commended and assured the committee that his ministry would continue to support its mandates. “I want to say the initiative is laudable, the ministry will continue to give total support. The world is paying more attention to nutrition, people eat more fish, so our demand for fish will be high and we need to produce more fish. We will continue to make use of water resources for the benefit of the masses,� he stated.

Lokpobiri urged the Nigerian Navy and other relevant agencies to improve on collaboration with Fisheries Department of the Ministry to achieve desired objectives of various fisheries laws and regulations in the country.

Chairman of the Committee, Ibrahim Shafi’i said the committee was in the ministry to sensitise the ministry on the need to cooperate and identify with the mandates of the committee to bring illegal activities in the nation’s maritime environment to the barest minimum.

While presenting the HSOP to the minister, he said the committee, which comprises members from other agencies of government such as Nigeria Navy, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police among others, was set up by the federal government to coordinate the arrest and detaining of persons that carry out illegal activities in the country’s maritime environment.

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Larbie: Few Banks Alone Can’t Provide the Capital Required to Develop Nigeria The Managing Director of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, Mr. Michael Larbie reasons that in order to promote economic growth, Nigeria requires significant amounts of capital which a few banks alone cannot provide. He spoke with Obinna Chima Having been around for ďŹ ve years, what milestones have been achieved by your bank over the period?

We opened our doors in Nigeria as a merchant bank in April 2013. Being awarded a merchant banking licence and starting a new business were our first milestones. Every client we have engaged and worked with was, and still is, a key milestone. Emerging from the recent economic downturn stronger than we were before it started, was a milestone.

The annual growth of our balance sheet and profits are others. We are also proud of the number of pioneering transactions in which we have participated over the past five years including; advising GB Foods and Helios on their acquisition of Watanmal West Africa, advising Actis on its acquisition of Sigma, advising the sellers in the sale of Ikeja City Mall to Hyprop Investments and Attacq, as well as the ongoing demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The part funding of Azura Power, a Greenfield independent power producer, is also a good example. We have also availed trade and working capital facilities to key clients such as Unilever, BUA, Dangote, AIG Group, Dufil and Seven – Up. In Oil & Gas, we have participated in the Shell/NNPC, Seplat RBL and Petrobras fund raisings.

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria also acted as joint-issuing house and bookrunner on the African Development Bank’s seven-year medium-term naira note, a notable capital markets intervention. In 2017, the FirstRand Group added RMB Nigeria Stockbrokers to its Nigerian presence reinforcing its long-term vision to be a full-service financial player in this market.

Apart from banking capabilities and relationships, RMB Nigeria takes pride in being a good and leading “banking citizen�.

The bank’s strong corporate governance and conservative approach to risk management and strict compliance with regulations and banking best practice has seen a very measured approach to doing business. We are not trying to necessarily become the biggest bank, but rather aiming at becoming a trusted, reliable and solutionist partner to our clients and other stakeholders. In terms of background, RMB Nigeria is a subsidiary of FirstRand, one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. As a leading African corporate and investment bank, we seek to offer our clients innovative advisory, financing, trading, corporate banking and principal investing solutions.

In Nigeria, we have over 15 years of transacting experience ranging from advising on infrastructure projects to funding various transactions in real estate, oil and gas, manufacturing, telecoms, steel, fastmoving consumer goods, and cement, among others. RMB Nigeria was licenced in 2012 and became fully operational in April 2013.

Prior to that, we had a representative office in Lagos from 2010.

We bring our wealth of global and African experience accumulated over the years to the Nigerian banking landscape both from within the country and from other jurisdictions.

Over the past five years, we have created a core client base of solid local companies, multinationals and financial sponsors. Our very targeted approach has enabled the bank to meaningfully support key clients through different economic cycles and strengthened relationships as a trusted partner.

In which sector of the economy do you have most of your clients and investments, and why?

Our client base cuts across all sectors of the Nigerian economy - fast-moving consumer goods, manufacturing, telecoms, oil and gas, agro-processing, services, and infrastructure. On balance, we are currently

Larbie

more skewed towards manufacturing. In our Global Markets business, majority of our clients are in financial services sector – Banks, Insurance, PFAs and Asset Managers.

How have you handled competition?

Increased competition is a testament to

In Nigeria, we have over 15 years of transacting experience ranging from advising on infrastructure projects to funding various transactions in real estate, oil and gas, manufacturing, telecoms, steel, fastmoving consumer goods, and cement, among others. RMB Nigeria was licenced in 2012 and became fully operational in April 2013. Prior to that, we had a representative ofďŹ ce in Lagos from 2010

the resilience of the Nigerian economy and to the potential for future economic growth.

We embrace competition as we believe there is room for multiple players to fulfill the needs of the broader market and economy. To promote economic growth and development, Nigeria requires significant amount of capital which a few banks alone cannot provide.

Each bank has a limit as to the amount of funding it can supply both to a country and to different sectors; it is therefore wise to diversify exposures. We prefer to partner with other financial services players if it is to the benefit of our clients. Given we are a merchant bank our competition includes other merchant banks, retail and commercial banks and capital market operators. We also see other banks as partners with whom, risks can be shared and deals jointly structured.

What unique beneďŹ ts - products, ideas, skills or services has your ďŹ rm brought to the Nigerian market since you commenced operation?

RMB is an innovative and solutions-driven bank. We believe in building long-term sustainable relationships with our clients by providing them with innovative ideas and solutions to suit their unique circumstance.

We bring hard thinking and a can-do mindset to issues and opportunities.

We are very proud of our diverse talent pool, who do the hard thinking. Our strength is our ability to bring local and international solutionist thinking to the table. We structure the most appropriate financing solutions to meet the needs of our clients, whether extend-

ing project finance, structured lending or plain corporate lending. We leverage the global reach of FirstRand, its higher ratings and access to efficiently priced dollars to support our clients.

What is the outlook for RMB in Nigeria?

RMB Nigeria will continue to leverage its merchant banking license to develop new platforms off which it will grow businesses in future. We plan to introduce a wider range of products to suit our clients’ needs.

We are busy engaging with our clients, regulators and other stakeholders to roll out several risk management and structured products.

RMB Nigeria recently introduced a stockbroking business which we will launch during our five-year anniversary celebrations in June. We are continually looking to invest in the Nigerian economy and are interested in partnering with businesses in various sectors.

The outlook for the country is positive depending on the outcome of the election next year. We anticipate stronger economic growth and a more stable currency in the future and are positive about investments in the country. The steady decline in inflation should ultimately lead to a reduction in interest rates and consequently increase the potential for investments in a variety of sectors thereby aiding the diversification of the economy. We look forward to continuing our partnership with clients and remaining relevant to them.

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Imbibing a Risk Management Culture Risk management knowledge and skills are vital tools for organisations wanting to navigate the complex world of uncertainties, write Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe In order to cope with the challenges of creating consistent and workable processes for managing their businesses, organisations need to ensure that they embrace the principles of risk management at all levels.

In fact, experts have stressed the need for management and staff of organisations to always weigh theeffects of uncertainties on their objectives when making decisions.

In Nigeria, since the last banking crisis that saw the intervention of the banking sector regulators in some of the financial institutions, a lot of them have continued to take measures that would ensure that they remain sound, especially with an increasing number of the banks focusing on growing risk management culture. But beyond the banks, experts have stressed the need for operators in other sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, among others to also imbibe effective risk management culture.

They made this call at a “Fundamentals of Risk Management Training (FoRM),� that was organised by the Risk Management Consulting Limited (RMCIR), in partnership with the UK Institute of Risk Management, that took place in Lagos recently.

To the Managing Partner, RMCIR, Mr. Robert Mbonu, the importance and priority attached to risk management are due to its direct linkage with organisation or business objectives.

He pointed out that every organisation has objectives, just as he noted that risks are the effect of uncertainties on such objectives.

Mbonu explained: “This effect could be positive or negative or a combination of both depending on the circumstances. “Therefore, a sound understanding, and knowledge of risk management, presents users with the tools and skills to manage these uncertainties in a structured way. “This management science has become a competitive advantage used by well managed businesses to lead and outperform peers in any industry. “Risk management maturity in an organisation speaks to how well it is embedded in the culture, and decision-making process. “For its successful implementation, there must be buy-in at board level, and it must be driven from the top.�

On his part, the facilitator at the training, Mr. Joachim Adenusi, who is a Fellow and former Director of the IRM UK, noted that individuals and organisations were becoming more aware of the benefits and importance of risk management. “To take it back a bit, risk management started from where the auditors or the chief financial officer would be concerned about fraud or internal control and so they would set up an audit team to investigate and control things. “But with time, you would find out that the essence of risk management is not to control things but the reason you manage risk is to enable things to happen. “So, you set out your goal as a business, you have a vision to achieve and if in a few months the vision dies and the business dies.

Repeatedly, what happens in Nigeria is that most of the businesses are not sustainable and the reason why they are not sustainable is that sometimes people don’t understand the terrain, contest and the risk and the issues. “So, businesses are beginning to think that they need to understand the issues ahead of time and then are able to put some measures in place or actions to prevent or create backup plan then maybe the business would stand a test of time. “So, it is about survival. In an environment where it is harsh itself, where you can’t get loans easily or infrastructure is available, or the government is backing you. So, most business people are also looking to do something for themselves. Also, in Nigeria, we have seen collapse of financial services companies so many times and the regulator is now saying this cannot happen again. So, in order for that not to happen, we need to bring this skill in.�

Adenusi, who is the chief executive of Conrad Clark, pointed out that presently, financial services

Mbonu

and businesses are waking up to the importance of risk management, just as he pointed out that there was need to also enforce risk management in the public sector. “I think the next phase we are going to get to, is a point where the government would wake up to say we need risk management in government institutionsalso. And when we start getting to that place, you would start seeing human lives being protected, capital being protected, hazards being protected, opportunities being enhanced and innovations. “So, what the government should be thinking of is, if they are making promises to the electorate and to the citizens that they are going to build schools, houses, etc, proactively, they should also be thinking of what theyneed to put in place to ensure that those promises they are making are realised�, he stressed.

He further added: “Risk management would become a vital stool and one of the skill set that would help the government to deliver promises and objectives and the more they deliver on their promises, their backing would get stronger because the public would always react to performance.

“So, the government should start thinking about adding these skills to other skills they have.

So that they help them to proactively prepare not reacting and it would help to foresee threats and opportunities.�

Enterprise Risk Management Also commenting on the importance of Enterprise Risk Management, Mbonu noted that every organisation is faced with different kinds or risk. These come under various headings depending on the area of the business affected, such as market, regulatory, operational, cyber to mention a few. “While each of these risks can be monitored independently, this mode is considered suboptimal and is referred to as dealing with the risk issues in silos. “Enterprise risk management therefore over rides the silo tendency of managing risks. “It is the act of dealing with the entire universe of risks and managing same in a holistic manner under a carefully designed framework. By so doing, all the bases are covered, thereby providing assurance to the business owners that every foreseeable uncertain angle is covered. This is the way to go,� he said.

Capacity Building

This is a programme that everyone should attend. And the great thing about this particular programme and what sets it apart from other risk management programmes is that it is from the IRM, which is one of the globally acclaimed risk management institutes

Clearly, every organisation is in business to make profit, and by so doing, add value to its stakeholders. Adding value can only be achieved if strategic objectives are met.

Therefore, to guarantee that such strategic objectives are met, staff must be equipped with the knowledge and skills of knowing how to identify assess and prioritise the various risks or traps that stand in the way. This takes a measure of learning.

The skills must be ingrained in the operators and drivers of the organisation to the level that it becomes a culture.

The UK-based IRM is a global leader in the risk profession through education and lifelong learning. “RMCIR, working in conjunction with the UK IRM, made it possible to train operators and boards locally in Nigeria, thereby saving delegates the cost of traveling to the UK. “This gives Nigerian operators the opportunity

to learn about ERM at a rate that is cheaper and more affordable. “The Fundamentals of Risk Management course was designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and tools to embrace opportunities, and navigate the risks and obstacles that exist in every enterprise. “The tools and methods learned in a practical easy to understand format, will hone the skills of participants, and that of teams to spend more time chasing the things that matter most for the organisation. “While at the same time being on the watchout for those risks that can prevent objectives from being met, this course can be customised and made bespoke for in-house delivery,�Mbonu said.

Apart from the knowledge gained, the RMCIR boss said participants will benefit from it by having a globally recognised certificate of attendance issued by the IRM UK; automatic affiliate membership of the Institute, with access to a plethora of online risk management resources; join a global network of risk practitioners, among others.

To the Director of Programme IRM, Mrs. Laide Abel, the training was organised in order to strengthen capacity in the area of Enterprise RiskManagement. “To a lot of people, Enterprise Risk Management is still like a black box and they think it is a mysterious thing that only certain people who are the risk officers can understand. “But we realise that risk is something you deal with everyday, so we thought we should bring to the level where everyone can understand what risk is all about, and they can understand how to manage it and how to maximise the opportunities that they come across in their careers and in the personal lives. “This is a programme that everybody should attend whether you are in employment or you have your own business It is programme that everyone should attend. And the great thing about this particular program and what sets it apart from other risk management programs is that it is from the IRM, which is one of the globally acclaimed risk management institutes. “So, we decided that we wanted to bring the quality of an international training here to Nigeria, so that people would be able to afford same quality of training without having to spend a lot to travel to the UK,� Abel said.

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New Delivery Date for Itapke-Warri Rail Project The federal government has given a new August 2018 deadline for completion of the 323km Itapke -Warri rail project. Sunday Okobi takes a look at the feasibility or otherwise, given that the contract terms gave March 2019 as the delivery date

In August 2017, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, conducted a site inspection of the 323km Itapke - Warri rail project that was previously abandoned for over a decade. The Itapke-Warri rail line is important because it is located within the economic belt where a lot of solid mineral prospecting happens.

The minister thus ordered the completion and commercial operations of the Ajaokuta-ItapkeWarri rail line by June 2018. The contract for the rehabilitation of a section of the dilapidated rail track, construction of access roads plus drainages, and building of the rail stations was awarded to China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria limited at $122.6 million but the contract sum may likely change with additional scopes of the job that were not originally part of the contract Amaechi in one of his briefing sessions told journalists that rather than allow the rail facilities decay further with more economic losses, it would be beneficial to covert the rail line, hitherto built to transport raw materials to commercial rail system. To achieve this, 12 stations and 12 access roads had to be designed and built. Also, to be built are cargo shades in some stations, culverts and drainages.

The initial completion period of the project contract that traverses Kogi, Edo and Delta States was 15 months (to end March 2019).

But it was unofficially brought forward to August 2018 by the minister of transportation at one of the meetings with the contractor. But the proposed August date may likely not happen as the contractor, CCECC, is seriously faced with challenges. Some of the challenges are insecurity, harsh weather conditions, community crisis, delayed release of funds, right of way issues and in some cases, lack of station designs.

The rail line has 12 stations and the contract

is divided into two segments - Itapke to Ajaokuta and Ajaokuta to Warri. The Itapke to Ajaokuta (IA) has two stations while the Ajaokuta to Warri (AW) has 10 stations. The stations include: Station IA1 – Eganyi, Station IA2 – Adogo, Station AW1 – Ajaokuta, Station AW2 – Itogbo, Station AW3 – Agenegbode, Station AW4 – Uromi, Station AW5 – Ekehen, Station AW6 – Igbanke, Station AW7 – Agbor,

The work has indeed reached advanced stage and the contractor is working hard to meet the completion deadline, although it is a bit difďŹ cult to estimate in percentage term the general scope of work done so far as work is progressing on majority of the stations.

However, CCECC has completed the clearing of track of overgrown vegetation, de-sitting of the drainages inclusive of Ajaokuta-Warri railway line segment is completed 100 percent

Station AW8 – Abraka, Station AW9 – Okpara, and station AW10 – Ujewu.

Scope of work in the two segments The first segment comprised the rehabilitation of railway line which is about 52km completed except the two stations. The second segment comprised the rehabilitation of some segments of the tracks that are damaged (not included in the initial contract), the building of the 10 stations, access roads, clearing the thick vegetation that had buried the tracks and other works. The work has indeed reached advanced stage and the contractor is working to meet the completion deadline, although it is a bit difficult to estimate in percentage the general scope of work done as work is progressing on majority of the stations. However, CCECC has completed the clearing of track of overgrown vegetation, de-sitting of the drainages inclusive of Ajaokuta-Warri railway line segment is completed 100 percent. Also the company has commenced replacement of damaged rails and sleepers.

The Itakpe-Ajaokuta line laying of tracks at station IA 02 is completed while the profiling of ballast is in progress.

CCECC alone has employed about 700 locals on the Itapke-Warri rail corridor (technical and non technical). Some communities have had their roads paved and one lands leveled.

Challenges The contractor is facing security problems especially around the Ajaokuta end as kidnappings among other crimes happen regularly around that axis. Because of insecurity, CCECC had to sub-contract stations 9 (Okpara) and 10 (Ujewu) to a local contractor – Tinabell Nigeria Ltd to handle. The contractors also complained

that communities around Abraka and Warri sometimes would stop them from working, citing compensation issues. At AW8 (Abraka) for instance, the communities even stopped CCECC from working for days. “At AW6 (Igbanke), they stopped us from working for about a week. At AW9 (Okpara) and AW10 (Ujewu), they even beat up our subcontractors and consultants� one of the workers commented.

Unpredictable weather is also slowing down the pace of work done. There has been recurrent daily rainfall since April.

This has further slowed down the pace of work significantly.

The length of the project (323km) is another issue the contractor is grappling with deploying equipment, tools and manpower has been an issue. Also the sites are remotely located thus making it difficult for staff to work during odd hours.

August 2018 deadline From the extent of work done so far, it’s impossible to complete the entire project by August, 2018. However, the rail tracks can be finished by September 2018 but investigations show that the entire project will be ready by March, 2019. THISDAY gathered from top ministry of transportation officials that the minister has also realised that the project can’t be delivered by August 2018. Thus the ministry wants the contractor to get some three stations ready so the project can still be inaugurated by August or September 2018 while the remaining stations would be completed later. The contractor is said to be working round the clock to deliver the three stations billed for unveiling in with the aim of completing the entire project by March 2019, when the contract life would end.

WEEKLY PULLOUT

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

NEWS| P30

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

'WHY I CHOSE MY WIFE AS BUSINESS PARTNER’

28/COVER

01.06.2018

'Why I Chose My Wife as Business Partner’ For 10 years now, the CEO of Nordica Fertility Centre and Founder, Endometriosis Support Group of Nigeria, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi and his wife, Tola, have been partners in the business of multiplying families and bringing smiles to people’s faces. In this interview with Mary Ekah, Ajayi talks about how he met his wife and why she’s the perfect fit for his business, among other issues There have been a lot of activities ongoing to commemorate Nordica’s 15th year anniversary. Can you talk about this?

We are not really marking 15th anniversary.

Nothing really is being done special for our 15th anniversary because we really want to roll out the drum when we clock 20 years. Actually, we were planning for our Endometriosis gala and coincidentally the date that was chosen for the gala happened to be the birthday of Nordica Fertility. So, we used the opportunity to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Nordica. The date actually was set by the guys, who came from Germany because the only date they could give us was 10th to 12th April, and on the April 13th they went back to Germany. The gala usually follows the conference on Endometriosis and that actually fall on 14th day of April which actually marked our 15th year anniversary as well. And so we had the Endometriosis day/gala night just in a bid to create more awareness on Endometriosis.

The turnout was impressive. We had a walk and a lot of people joined. So the awareness of Endometriosis is gaining ground in Nigeria and a lot of people are getting more and more aware of the disease. We also had a special roundtable, where we invited two doctors from Germany to have a talk with our Nigerians doctors on the current diagnosis and management of Endometriosis. To round it off, we had Endometriosis gala night. We wanted to raise awareness and see if people can donate to the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN), a foundation that provides information, support and friendship for those suffering from Endometriosis.

You create awareness on Endometriosis every year, what would you say has been done differently about this year’s edition?

What is special about this year’s edition of Endometriosis awareness is that probably, we are trying to go to the next level in awareness creation because we started first by making people aware that the condition exists and that it is risky.

And now what we are trying to do is how to improve treatment of the condition and not only creating the awareness that the condition exists and that is why we went into collaboration with the German Endometriosis Scientific Research Foundation and that is why we had a couple of people - Klaus Buhler and Klaus Neis – visit from Germany during the last Endometriosis awareness week held by Nordica Fertility. We hope to continue with that collaboration so that we can get Nigerian doctors trained in Germany and that is what we really want to get from that collaboration - so that we can easily have Endometriosis surgeries in Nigeria.

How do you intend to go about the collaboration?

Once the two foundations can collaborate then one other thing we want to get out of it is to exchange doctors and give them places for training.

Now, 15 years down the line. How has it been so far with Nordica Fertility Centre?

There have been wonderful memories. Some pleasant and some not really pleasant but it has been okay. Long and short, we have been able to contribute our own quota to the development of IVF and reproductive medicine in Nigeria.

For years, you have been working together with your wife on this business. So how has been working with your spouse?

Two good heads, they say, are better than one.

So, I am sure she has contributed her own quota too to the progress we have made today but of course there are so many other people also that have contributed to making us who we are today.

However, there was a need for her to work with me at a point and so I just ordered her to join me and now we are used to working together as husband and wife. Nevertheless, when Nordica started, it was not my idea that my wife and I would work together but of course when the

Dr. Ajayi and his wife, Tola

need arose, we needed to make that decision and here we are now and we have been working together for over 10 years now.

What really prompted you to ask her to come and work with you?

You know when a business is progressing, you need somebody who shares your values and to who you don’t need to explain too many things to before the person understands what you are talking about. I think that was what prompted me. But now, I also have so many people who understand and share my values, but at that point in time, it was very necessary I got my wife to work with me.

How long have you been married to your wife?

We would be married for 30 years this year.

Thirty years is a long time and yet you both are still waxing stronger in your marriage. So what is the secret to the success of this union?

I guess she understands me; I am not the easiest person but we just seem to understand each other and I don’t think she also is the easiest person.

Yes, she knows the things that I am particular about. I think that is just it. We just seem to understand each other and the rest is God. Of all the women you met as a young doctor, why did you choose Tola, to be your wife?

That’s a tough question because I can’t really say why. I don’t know whether it happens to women, but it happened to me. You see a women and you just know this is your wife. I think that was just it. I just saw her and I knew she was going to be my wife. I don’t know how to explain it further.

When you told your parents the first time that she was going to be your wife, what were

their reactions?

It was funny then. You know, my wife is from Modakeke in Osun State and by then, we weren’t as liberal as we are these days. So, I could remember my aunty asking if I was going to marry someone that is not from my town.

My family would have loved me to marry from my own town but of course for me, it was not going to be and once I have made up my mind, I have made up my mind. That is the thing about me. My life has been like that, once I say this is what I am going to do, I am going to do it that way. So I told my family she was going to be my wife that was it.

So how did you propose to her? Did you go on your knees with flowers in your hands and all that?

No, no, no! I am not that kind of person.

African men are not that romantic except these days that people are turning everything upside down and we are now majoring in minor. The important thing in marriage is not the way we propose but your commitment to go through thick and thin with somebody, that is the most important thing, whether it was on aircraft you proposed or while eating beans in a local canteen. Unfortunately these days, these are the things people are taking so seriously. You see so many people who proposed in very grand styles and in few months the marriages are gone. For me, I am an African man to the core and I am unapologetic about that.

But you have not said how you proposed to your wife?

I can’t even remember again. It been 30 years now, please let me be.

What are the things you like about her?

I can’t really say what I like about her because now she is like my second skin. What I actually saw in her was that my weaknesses were her strength and my strength was her own weaknesses.

I don’t really know how that worked out for us.

You have spent about 30 years with her now, is there anything you would have loved to change about her?

She is very stubborn. I guess she has to be because I am equally very stubborn. Seriously, I don’t really know what to change about her. I don’t think like that and seriously I don’t know how to think that way because I try to make the best out of anything I have rather than trying to change it. I look at people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses and then try to make use of the strength. So for me, I seriously do not know what I would have wanted differently in my wife. I have never thought about it.

You have a high taste for fashion and also is your wife. Does your wife have any influence on your dress style?

I think it is the other way round. I have always been a very fashionable person and I think I took after my father. Even at a very young age, I was always conscious of what I put on. But it does not have to expensive; it just needs to be neat.

I think I have a good awareness of what to put on at all times. I have always been like that. It is not right to say that my wife influenced my dressing sense although she makes choices of the fabrics we chose sometimes but then we try as much as possible not to wear uniform - Aso ebi, as they call it. It is, do your own and I do my own. Our attires might look alike but they are never the same thing. Marriage is deeper than what you wear, so it is not the uniform that you wear that tells how deep your marriage is.

What advice would you give to young couples who aspire to have long lasting relationships like yours?

I will tell them to marry for the right reasons, and then make the best of who you have. There is no perfect human being. So make the best of whoever is your spouse.

29/XTRA

01.06.2018

Group Asks President Buhari to Fulfill Campaign Promises Implores Nigerians to engage in election process Ugo Aliogo and Esther Ehoche The Good Governance Group (G3) has stated that the federal government has failed in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, noting that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not lived up to its electoral promises and expectations.

The group disclosed this in Lagos at the Voters’ Awareness Campaign exercise it organised convened by the Senior Pastor, Global Impact Church, Pastor Yemi Davids, the Coordinator of the Group, Joseph Rennaiye, urged government to look inward about their performances and reassess the promises they have made to the people.

He lamented that government has not effectively delivered democracy dividends to the people based on what they have promised, adding that the blame should not be only on the leadership alone, as the followers have a role to play.

Rennaiye explained there is need for increased political education for citizens to properly understand the democratic process and their role in the governance, adding that awareness creation and public engagement would help in playing a key role in providing people the opportunity to participate in governance, “I think sharing knowledge and information is very fundamental.”

He noted that the focus of their exercise was to engage the people in the community on the need to participate in the electoral process, stating that every Nigerian have a role to play in governance.

Buhari

“Today, we set out to create awareness, with the elections around the corner. I believe that as Nigerians we have a stake in the way the

country is governed. Good governance is something that very critical to us. Therefore, today what we want to reach out to Nigerians

Brickhall Embraces a Different Approach to Children's Day Celebration Tayo Olaleye in Abuja The place of family in the learning process of children has been emphasised in the cause of the Children's Day celebration.

Just as children were celebrated across the nation on a day set aside by the federal government for children, an exclusive gathering of desirable experience was enjoyed at the Brickhall School, Abuja which embraced a different pattern to children celebration.

Brickhall School believes the family is key to the joy of any child as their celebration, themed ‘Family Funfair’ encouraged parents to bond with pupils and do the needful under the watch of the founder herself.

The founder of Brickhall School, Senator Joy Emordi, a sitting member of the Senate along with the School Director, Barrister Nneka Emordi- Eze, the Head teacher, Mr. Sampson Akor and other staff of the school, with enthusiasm ensured parents bonded with every child present effectively.

The Head teacher, Akor says the school thought it very important in the life of every student to get a platform where the home front gets involved.

“It is not always work and no play,” he said, as play itself is very important for learning.

Every child here and outside the school is entitled to fun, which is what the school has encoded in the event.

Families from far and near joined in the fun as vendors interestingly utilised the opportunity to showcase items thought beneficial - books of both home and foreign authors to encourage good reading culture, clothing accessories on display for parents interested in picking up one or two things, various dishes, drinks and more engaged the awareness advantage of the event.

Nigeria's educational system, according to Akor had some ups and down.

"Looking at where we are now in terms of the availability of resources, a lot has been done.

on how they effectively engage in the election process because engagement is a critical part in ensuring that we put in place good governance in the country,” he noted.

Rennaiye further stated that the initiative was launched in September 2, 2017, adding that they had a lecture on good governance which was delivered by Mrs. Bucky Shonibare to commemorate the launch.

According to him, “As Nigerians we will say we have not been able to get what we want from this government because when the government came in with high hope and expectations. I think the government needs to look inward because they come from amongst us before being in the government. They need to reassess the promises they have made to the people and take a look at their performance. I think the government has not effectively delivered democracy to the people based on what they promised and I don’t blame leadership alone because it can be very difficult, but followers also have a role play.

“We are still very far from it even those that have been practising democracy for centuries will tell you they have not achieved that because as human beings we face challenges every day.

But rising up to those challenges is one of the things we should be aiming for. Nigeria as a country is very far from it, a lot of things are still not in place. I think one of the things needed in achieving this challenge is education. Today, we want to embark on voter education; people need to know their rights and responsibilities because when there is knowledge, there is some level of liberty that you have.”

Christian Signs Two Years Contract with TW Record Label Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Teachers and pupils of Brickhall School, Abuja

Considering Improvement in technology, school system has grown. The Internet was not there way back when we went to school. Some of us went through school without ever seeing a computer but all of that has changed. Government has almost met the UNESCO standard where every nation is expected to put in about 30 per cent of its annual budget in education," Akor said.

According to him, although, much work still has to be done in terms of infrastructure, there is a huge improvement from education started way back to where it is today.

"On the other hand, we have the downside, where we have some of our current textbooks not up to standard. In the course of trying to review old books, the content has melted. There is also much distraction in terms of curriculum (lots of subjects put together under one umbrella).

There is a huge drop in commitments from students, higher percentage of them have a game consular at home, the Internet is there, social media all over the place, there is a lot of distraction and for that reason many of student are not committed to learning like in the past just as we have parents who now believe in miracle centres where they can pass results."

The solution, he said, is for an educator to look

further than just the grades to what children can offer on the spot. Even when employing teachers, he advised that emphasis should not be on the price of grade presented but what can be offered adequately.

Citing himself as an example, he said: "I read Chemistry in my first and second degrees but I teach English here because for me it comes naturally. It is something I have done over the years. Right from the days in secondary school, I was the best graduate of English Language, I have gone on to read so many books, I have gone on to develop myself even to the point that other graduates of English are scared of me. I did not read English as a course but I know English."

Of three people out there who teach diction, he added, two are likely not be graduates of English Language. What one becomes inherent, according to him, is far more better than what you claim to have by way of elasticity.

Contrary to the ideology of many parents and societal expectation regarding fees of a school that runs British- Nigerian curriculum with large focus on developing all the intellect/skills of children, the affordability is as the fees of one child in other schools paying for four at Brickhall.

An upcoming sensational soul lifting gospel artiste and songwriter, Tayo Christian has signed a two-year contract with TW record label.

Christian, who was born in the rocky city of Jos, the Plateau State capital, while signing the dotted lines recently in Abuja, urged the federal government to come to the aid of young Nigerians in whatever field of endeavours they found themselves.

According to him, government can do a lot more to promote the music industry in the country, because music is global and phenomenal and good songs have far reaching solutions to some salient problems.

The young gospel artiste while calling on the government to create an enabling environment for the indigenous music to thrive, charged it to setup mechanism to curtail piracy which he said is a cog on the wheel of progress.

He said, "Government can create an enabling environment for music industry and Nigerian music is widely accepted and gospel music is the forefront. Other countries now want to do it the Nigerian way and a lot of gospel artistes have done this country proud at the international stage.”

Speaking further, he maintained that, music; be it gospel or otherwise, has been a major contributor to the economic growth of the country.

Fr. George Admike Marks 10 Years as a Priest Peace Obi Rev. Fr. George Adimike celebrated the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a Catholic Priest recently. The celebration took place in Awka-Etiti town, Anambra State, the home town of Fr. Adimike.

Fr. George was ordained a Catholic priest by Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha on

7th July 2007. Since his ordination, Fr. George‘s love for the priesthood together and his avowed commitment in serving God and humanity has remained unshaken. Shortly after his ordination, Fr. George was posted to the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha as an Associate Rector for one year. This served as his first official assignment. Thereafter, he was appointed the Personal

Assistant and the Press Secretary to the Archbishop of Onitsha. At the same time, he was appointed the Director and Chaplain of the Catholic Youths of Anambra State (ANCYON). Based on his competences, commitment, experience and dedication to the service of God and man, Fr. George was appointed to serve in different capacities which includes, as an Associate Director of

Communications of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, the Associate Editor of the Trinitas Newspaper, the Coordinator of the Archdiocesan Projects Office and the Chaplain, Holy Family Society, Onitsha.

On the whole, Fr. George rendered pastoral work in Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese for five years. Thereafter, he was sent to Rome Italy, for further studies.

Christian

30/ NEWS

01.06.2018

Muoka Takes Revival to the North

‘It’s My Desire to be Next Miss World’

Stories by Mary Ekah When the billboard announcing the just concluded Lord’s Chosen crusade in Kano firstly appeared at Sabon-Gari Quarter of Kano State, many residents in this ancient city did not believe the event would see the light of the day. Their doubts stemmed from the fact that the state in collaboration with other Northern parts of the country has a history of religious volatility that can be ignited anytime with little or no provocation. And amidst the political, ethnic and religious tensions pervading the country at this point in time, it was presumed suicidal for any Christian organisation to schedule an open religious meeting in an area strongly dominated by the other religion.

But Pastor Muoka who has told his congregation earlier this year at an international crusade in Mgbidi that God Almighty has directed him to take revival message to the North couldn’t be daunted by the assumed negative perception and opinion of men.

According to him, “God has directed me to move to the Northern states so that the people will benefit from the product of the threefold vision and mandate. And since this is God’s directive, we should not look at the giants and obstacles, for God will make a way.”

Emboldened by this directive from the Almighty, the cleric dared the apprehensive societal position on national security and fixed a crusade at the centre of the North. It therefore became clear that the initial apathy was a consequence of the perception of man, moreover, as more sign posts and banners for the crusade continued to spring up in all the strategic locations of the metropolitan city coupled with approval of the event by the governor after a courtesy visit of the cleric to the State House, it became obvious it was the stroke of the finger of God. As the date of the two-day crusade titled, ‘There Cometh One Mightier Than All’, was approaching, the peoples’ expectation was increasing, and the city began to witness increase in social and economic activities giving the fact that many worshippers from other states were flooding the state for the crusade. A proof of that was the mammoth crowd that filled the 45,000 capacity of the Kano Pillars Stadium. Worshippers started trooping into the crusade ground as early as the sixth hour of the morning and sooner than the official time of 8a.m. there were already overflows.

Before the arrival of the man of God, various choir groups had taken their turns to minister to the congregation. Among them was the Northern chapter of Hausa speaking choristers who thrilled the audience with soothing rendition. As the Pastor took over the stage, a thunderous ovation that reverberated in the stadium, even the atmosphere responded likewise as the temperature that

Adeshina... desiring to be next Miss World

Muoka at the crusade

was very hot with its attendant high humidity few minutes earlier suddenly became cool, dry and soothing.

Not long the Pastor made a short declaration of freedom for all from all afflictions than spontaneous applauses and shout of joy resonated from different sides indicating instant miracles have taken place. Many who came with diverse ailments received instant healings.

One of them was Aminu Mutari, a 51-yearold man, he didn’t know exactly when blindness crept into his eyes, all he could remember was that many years ago when he was still a teenager, he was in the river with some of his peers when suddenly something entered into his left eye and all efforts to blew it out was in vain as he went home crying because of its pain. Not long after this incident, the right eye was affected and the whole thing degenerated into blindness. He said the parents took him to every known herbalist and hospital and spent all for him without any result until they died. Since after their death, he had resigned his fate to God until somebody told him about the crusade titled ‘There Cometh One Mightier Than All’. He said he was assured by the person that invited him that He that is mightier than all will deal with his blindness and restore his sight. And true to his word, as soon as pastor started deliverance prayers, he felt a scale was pulled out of his eyes and he saw himself seeing again.

Preaching at the crusade, Muoka said that his desire since the establishment of the ministry is to make all the ethnic nationalities in the Northern states to partake in the blessing God Almighty brought to mankind by the emergence of his ministry.

He said that the revival train of The Lord’s Chosen was in Kano to draw the attention of the people to the spiritual truth of the hour and revive the heaven consciousness of the people. According to him, the time of ignorance of not knowing that God is the One Mightier than all has come to a stop by this crusade. Thus, having this knowledge no human or Satan can stand against His wishes. He posited that if they are ignorant that God answers prayers and have gone to consult sorcerers, native doctors or diviners, but have managed to come to the crusade, may be out of curiosity they will not go empty handed, because all the prayers and desires of the participants shall be granted for God Almighty shall prove that He is Mightier than all their enemies.

He assured the mammoth crowd that God brought the crusade to give answers to their myriads of problems most of which have defied all known solutions. He said that the programme would mark the end of era of unanswered prayers which has caused many people to subscribe to the deceit of the devil and his human agents such as sorcerers and occult men who knowing that the End Time has come, take advantage of their ignorance to captivate as many as they could and afflict them with different kind of diseases.

He charged participants to be steadfast in righteousness and holiness for in doing so they will retain the blessing of God from the two days crusade. “You should not fear what man can do unto you. Let that man do his worst, let him, plot, persecute and blackmail, what you are sure is that the One mightier than all is on your side and nobody can harm you,” he said.

Healthy Marital Relationship Improves Productivity “Building a healthy relationship begins with love. It develops into a bond that enhances long term commitment between couples. Having a healthy relationship also requires communication.

When there is good communication between couples, they have a romantic fulfillment that enables them to be effective in other areas of life,” Mr Peter Inekwe, the Chief Operating Officer of Greenmeans Healthcare, distributors of Moist Personal lubricant, has said.

Inekwe noted that Moist is very key to building up a healthy relationship between spouses especially in very stressful environment that tends to affect people negatively. “Having healthy relationship helps us to maintain stable emotional and physical health thereby enhancing our productivity in our workplace.

Moist personal lubricant is designed for such purpose”, he noted.

He stressed that a basic approach to having a good relationship stems from discussion on how couples want the family to co-exist otherwise petty issues will bring up unnecessary arguments. “For instance, there should be a schedule on who will take care of the child and at what time during the child’s infancy period. This will go a long way in showing the kind of responsibility each spouse is to take and how they cope in years to come. The

process of building a family with a disciplinary approach is not just between the spouses but with the children as well.”

Furthermore, he said that to keep a relationship healthy, there should be a feeling of romance between the couple. Couples should talk about everything that involves them including how they can sexually satisfy each other. When there is bond between spouses, it becomes a good way to help the individuals focus on productivity on their jobs.

“Making sex a priority is also akin to having a healthy relationship. Sex is key to successful marriage that the Holy Bible admonishes us not to deny our partners. According to health.com, the average married couple has sex 58 times per year or slightly more than once a week. What is most important however is the happiness of the couple. Couples who reported marital intimacy such as holding hands also exhibited lower level of hormones produced by stress.

By living a stress free life, it becomes easier to improve productivity”, Inekwe noted.

He explained further that in the process of love making however, some spouses do complain about arousal especially the female. “The male partner gets aroused due to attraction but it might not be the same for the female due to physiological or external factors. In situations like

this, conscious effort must be made to bring the female to the level of enjoying rather than enduring. Moist personal lubricant, comes in handy at such moments. It is recommended for personal lubrication when vaginal dryness causes discomfort. Apart from being used to enhance pleasurable sex among couples, it is also an excellent lubricant for the insertion of tampons and has an advantage over most lubricants because being thicker it can be used medically in insertion of rectal thermometers, speculum insertion, introduction of catheter etc. It is water soluble, a greaseless clear gel, non-staining and non-irritating. Moist enhances intimacy, spouses can have a healthy relationship which in turn boost their all-round productivity in other areas of life and improve the economy.”

With a good sexual relationship that leads to birth of children, seven sectors of the economy are also likely to benefit from it and they include child care, healthcare, food, life and personal insurance, pets and toys, household products and services. The economy of a country depends on strong families due to its futuristic nature. The families help to provide a future customer base for the sectors producing products useful for families which in turn helps with productivity and economic development.

Damilola Adeshina aka Dammy Adesh, a native of Ijagbo in Kwara State, is a 500 level student of Babcock University studying Accounting.

She has a passion to rule the world through act of modelling. “I see modelling as a platform to be a role model and be influential in my community and I believe I have what it takes to be a top model and it is my desire to be next Miss World.” Adeshina is doing everything physically and psychologically possible to prepare herself against the task ahead. She said, “I have undergone catwalk classes, poise and etiquette grooming and photographic grooming at Steve Ray Modelling and Fashion School.

“I know I am the most beautiful girl in the world. I’ve got a figure and shape with good height and I am an intelligent lady. I have a strong personality with good sense of humour. I love challenges because modelling has always been my dream. I hope to become a brand ambassador for various organisations and companies. I hope to participate in major shows like Mercedes Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week among others.

Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute Awards Scholarship Natures Gentle Touch Hair Institute has awarded a full-tuition scholarship to hair and beauty practitioners for its 2018/2019 training session.

This is in furtherance to the institute’s commitment to empower the African woman through effective and entrepreneurial beauty education.

During the institute’s scholarship ceremony, the Technical Education Manager, Mr. Daniel Komlan, disclosed that the new scholarship beneficiaries emerged after a rigorous multi-level screening.

He added that those that did not sail through can apply next session.

In his words: “We had over 1,000 applicants that went through the screening process, but sadly, most of them could not scale through. So, we selected those with the best potential for the kind of things we do at the institute.”

He also revealed that about 90 per cent of the students in the institute are on scholarship and each of them is entitled to a mobile salon kit, hair and beauty product pack, textbooks and other essential tools for a successful training.

Universal Music Group Dominates 2018 BET Awards Nominations Nominees for the 2018 edition of the BET Awards were announced on May 15th, with Universal Music Group (UMG) artistes dominating the Best International Act category.

Universal Music Africa has one nomination with South Africa’s Distruction Boyz, while Universal Music France has two nominations with Congolese singer Fally Ipupa and rappers Booba and Niska. English singer-rapper Stefflon Don and French singer Dadju of Polydor Records, a Universal owned label, are also nominated in the Best International Act category. Famous for the smash hit, ‘Wololo’, the Durban based DistructionBoyz have pushed gqom music to the mainstream with their Gold selling debut album, ‘Gqom is the Future’, which features another hit single, ‘Omunye’.

The BET nominations which are selected from thousands of submissions across 20 categories, showcase some of the most gifted music makers of the past awards year.

The nominations are selected by BET’s Voting Academy, which comprises fans and an esteemed group of entertainment professionals in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and the creative arts.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

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01.06.2018

GEEP MarketMoni: Creating a Sustainable Economic Impact at the Grassroots Peter Uzoho writes on how the GEEP MarketMoni scheme has helped many people to start up their own businesses Nigeria is a country still struggling with unemployment where a large number of the populace still live beyond poverty level and majority of the population struggle to get the necessities of life needed for survival. Most of these needs can be tackled if a stable economy is achieved and this can be done through diverse means, especially by providing support for enterprises.

Today, there is a Social Investment Programme (SIP) targeting the lower rung of the ladder.

GEEP MarketMoni, a Government Enterprise and Empowerment scheme was established to provide financial aid for Micro-enterprises, which includes traders and artisans. The spectrum of beneficiaries cut across the underbanked and unbanked. This scheme provides easy and quick loans at no interest rate at all. The recipients only pay a five per cent administrative fee. GEEP MarketMoni is being executed by the Bank of Industry and it currently caters for the most basic of businesses; the Micro-enterprises.

GEEP MarkeMoni is perhaps, the most ambitious Social Investment Programme in Nigerian history and the largest in Africa. It provides funding to the segments of society with the greatest difficulty accessing credit.To benefit from the scheme, applicants just need to apply through their registered Market Associations and Cooperatives, have a Bank Verification Number(BVN), and a mobile phone. The loans range from N10,000 to N100,000, tied to applicants’ BVNs, and are expected to be repaid within a six months period without interest.

According to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, reported by Premium Times online news outlet on May 25, 2018, Nigeria currentlyhas over 37 million Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, ranging from agricultural value chains, trade, commerce, artisans and cottage industries, among many others. Out of these, over 36 million are micro-enterprises.

According to the Bank of Industry, a Micro Enterprise is a business that employs less than 10 people, has a total asset of less than 5 million naira, and generates an annual turnover of less than 20 million naira. The Micro-enterprises form the bedrock of labour and enterprise in Nigeria.

They are the real grassroots, and they form the bulk component of the MSMEs. Speaking to journalists during a Social Investment event in Kano, the Special Assistant to the Vice-President on MSMEs, Tola Johnson, saidthat out of the 37million small businesses in Nigeria, 36.9 million are microenterprises.

“This informed the federal government’s attention to this space. Micro enterprises are responsible for almost 50 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and 80 per cent of the workforce,” he added.

These enterprises have sprouted up massively due to the rise in entrepreneurial activities and involvement of more people in self-employment.

The investments of the government and other relevant bodies in human capital development have given rise to more people with good ideas and improved skills in the labor force.

With increase in the number of businesses comes the challenge of funding as most people who are interested in starting up these businesses do not have personal funds to invest in their ventures and some of them cannot access available loans for reasons ranging from high interest rates to lack of collaterals.

This necessitated the creation of funding channels aimed at promoting and developing enterprises in Nigeria. In 2013, the Central Bank of Nigeria launched the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund, with share capital of 220 billion naira. They financed a lot of micro, small and medium sized business that fit the criteria for funding. The key goal was to provide grants whereby the beneficiaries do not have to pay back, or loans with very low and affordable interest rates, and some loans even come with no interest at all, to enable these businesses grow and thrive.

The Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES-Programme) is also a good source of funding for young people with feasible business ideas.Others include the Nigerian Touring Connect Program, SMEDAN Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian N-Power Programme, among others. The private sector is not left out in this as we have the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Funding by First Bank Nigeria, Aspire Nigeria by

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo ( L) admiring the products of beneficiaries of FG’s interest-free loans dubbed GEEP-MarketMoni at an interactive session with the Vice-President in Kano…recently

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor Kano State surrounded by appreciative beneficiaries of FG’s interest-free loans dubbed GEEP-MarketMoni at an interactive session with the Vice President in Kano.

Shell Petroleum Development Company, Diamond Bank old and Groin South Africa, among many other funds created to support Micro, Small and Medium Scale Business.

Perhaps, most of these schemes didn’t penetrate the grassroots because they failed to target specifically, the smallest kinds of MSMEs; the Micro-enterprises.

Since 2016 when the GEEP MarketMoni scheme was rolled out, over 7 billion naira has been disbursed to more than 350, 000 beneficiaries that cut across the country and across over 1400 Bank of Industry (BOI)-accredited market associations, trade groups, and cooperatives.

In Kano, over 12,000Micro-enterprise owners have benefitted from the scheme and their businesses differ. For instance, Musa Shuaibu, a bag and shoe maker got N50, 000 to grow his business. Another beneficiary who makes handwoven leather and rug got N50, 000 last year and upon successfully paying it back, was given another N100, 000 this year when the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo visited the state on May 24, 2018 to supervise another round of disbursement.

In Anambra, 4, 377 businesses have benefitted from the GEEP MarketMoni scheme. In Ondo state,

3, 545 businesses have benefitted from the scheme, making it a nationwide attempt to reposition the economy and provide financial inclusion for those struggling to gain financial footing.

But beyond the provision for micro-enterprises is the fact that in facilitating financial inclusion for those on the outside, women in the country fall into a larger percentage of this. Which is why GEEP MarketMoni pays special attention to women applying for loans under the scheme.

Since the scheme started, 60 per cent of beneficiaries have been women. One of such beneficiaries, Funke Sadiku from Akure remarked that: “Making money is easy when you have helping hands.”

In Ondo state, 55 per cent of the beneficiaries are women-owned businesses. This helps to fulfil the aim of providing financial inclusion for those on the outside using micro-enterprise funding as the driver.

The beautiful thing about these financial aid schemes is that each one caters to a wide range of entrepreneurial options and so, it is not limiting in the least bit. All an applicant needs, is to look for the one tailored to suit their unique financial need and make sure they have the requirements,

which are mostly realistic. Some of them, especially those with grant provisions offer professional trainings for the beneficiaries to curb misuse of funds and equip them with necessary skills for proper business set up.

Growth in the micro-enterprise sector will see a significant growth in the nation's economy, so it is not only targeted at personal financial growth, but the overall improvement of the country's economy.

The creation of these funding schemes has encouraged more people to start up their own business and this has gone a long way in curbing the menace of unemployment, which has been a major problem, especially among the youths. The reduction of unemployment rate affects every other aspect of the lives of the people as the number of people who can afford the basic necessities of life increases, thereby improving the quality of life for the people. The nation's GDP also increases as its economy becomes more viable.

More people, especially youths, should be encouraged to start up their own businesses, taking advantage of the available funding schemes for possible growth into Macro Enterprises in the nearest future.

33/TRAVEL, LEISURE & TOURISM

01.06.2018

A Mission to Redefine Hospitality In an effort to redefine the hospitality business in the country, an entrepreneur of note, Francis Okeke, has inaugurated a hotel with the state-of-the-art facilities in Okota, Lagos. Ugo Aliogo who attended the inauguration, reports The building is an epitome of architectural masterpiece. From the wall paintings, to the fittings in the public wash rooms and the state-of-the-art facilities, everything speaks of freshness. The Fanjane Royal Suites has raised the bar in the business of defining aesthetics. Situated in a conducive atmosphere in the Okota, a Lagos suburb, the hotel was built with a dream to provide world class hospitality in Okota and environs. But importantly, the vision of the Chairman, Mr. Francis Okeke, is to use the hotel as a symbol to redefine hospitality in line with international best practices.

He decided to walk on this path due to some challenges he has realised about hoteling in Nigeria.

One of the issues he discovered is that hotels in the country suffer from proper maintenance culture, a problem which stems from poor management.

Therefore, he is determined to use Franjane to set a precedent for others to follow.

To set the tone for the event was the Lord Bishop, Diocese of Lagos West, Rev. Dr. James Odedeji. His presence at the inauguration gave the event the needed boost and impetus. As a clergy, he has built his pedigree on issues of faith and spirituality. With a deep intellectual lining in the subject-matter of Christian faith, Odedeji has led many to Christ through his teachings.

He is a man with a golden heart whose hardworking hands has not gone to rest for the Kingdom of God. He is soft spoken. The breath of his intelligence is something that continues to make a bold statement in the Lagos West Diocese community and resonates in the Christian community in the country.

His stay at the event was short-lived due to other engagements. But when he spoke to the media, he was precise and not ready to go through the preambles associated with public functions.

He began on a call on Christians to stop looking at the unwholesome aspect of hospitality always in order to appreciate tourism and hospitality which he described as a big business capable of contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any economy.

He remarked that hospitality is a very important aspect of human life; therefore he noted that food, security, and locations are the three key factors that are vital in hoteling.

He also noted that managing a hotel as a Christian should not be seen as sin depending on the angle the individual views it from, adding that to the impure everything is impure, but to the pure everything is pure.

Odedeji further noted that this is a profitable investment which would drive growth and create jobs in Okota and environs therefore commended the chairman of the hotel for establishing such investment.

“Coming to a hotel does not mean you are coming with somebody’s wife or you are coming with the intention of committing adultery or fornication. This is the mistake people make which is very unfortunate. If we have conferences in the Diocese, I can phone the chairman to reserve rooms for my guests. We should not look at the unwholesome aspect of hospitality always. To the impure everything is impure, but to the pure everything is pure. For me, this is a profitable investment and it also requires interest to do this. Establishing this investment is a conviction. Even in the church, we have guest houses and we raise money from it,” Odedeji espoused.

For the guests, that graced the occasion, Okeke has used the hotel to construct a symbol of beauty and excellence that would echo for years. From the pages of his heart, there was an outpouring of emotions and happiness.

Okeke spent much of his time receiving guests who had come to felicitate with him on this remarkable milestone. Dressed in a red colour French suit, Okeke had a physical built which seemed intimidating from the distance, but on a close contact, he is simple and easy going.

Okeke belongs to the class of individuals who believe in keeping a low profile despite their breakthroughs in business and career.

His understanding of aesthetics is something one could say he is divinely blessed with. He is enterprising, astute and brilliant. This is evident in the shrewd principles he has applied in running his businesses. His success story in business is one of love and desire. His passion for breakthrough is like a fire that cannot go out. His legacy is a

Franjane Royal Suites Hotel.jpg

Chairman, Franjane Royal Suites Hotel, Francis Okeke (2nd left) dressed in red French suit, standing with members of the clergymen during the inauguration of the hotel in Okota, Lagos...recently(1).jpg

One of the rooms in Franjane Royal Suites

belief and way of life. Indeed this investment was described by guests as a major milestone.

From his precise remarks, there was a revealing message that Okeke clearly understands the tourism business and what is needed to position it to make it a strong foreign exchange earner for the country. He answered every question with an uncommon confidence. The watchword for his hotel is : ‘Feel just at home’ this is a statement of responsibility which comes with strong demand, however, Okeke is not scared because he has the conviction that he can rise up to the occasion when it will counts.

He noted that the hospitability business in Nigeria is not easy but with the grace of God, they have succeeded, adding that the point of

attraction in the hotel is the state-of-the-art facilities.

He explained that in the business, everyone understands the demands of the trade, therefore he said people employ different skills to ensure that they are able to stand out, “the way one individual operates might be different from the way another individual operates.”

Okeke added: “In hospitality business, everybody is on his own; the way you operate might be different from the way I operate. I have good staff, the team that manages the hotel; I believe they will achieve success. The facilities are the centre of attraction; if you enter the rooms you will see that the facilities are exceptional. If you watch out, you will see that I have done a lot of work here, I have set up street light down to

the bus-stop, this was one of the worst roads in this area. We also have Closed Circuit (CCTV) to watch out activities to ensure safety.

“The reason I built here is because I had a land here and since 2001 I started business in this area so for me to relocate because I want do business in other places is stressful as my major business is in this area. I don’t want the stress of moving to the island every day. We employ professionals to cook the food; we tasted the food before employment. We have more than 40 workers here thereby creating employment opportunities for the youths. I believe in expansion, as I have built this one here I believe before three years I would have established some new places by the grace of God.”

34/XTRA

01.06.2018

Katsina Govt to Partner Donor Agencies on Skills Acquisition Francis Sardauna in Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has assured that his administration will continue to partner with international donor agencies to enhance technical support to the skills acquisition centres established by the state government in the state.

He said the state government recently completed the rehabilitation of five skills acquisition centres in the state, adding that three additional centres are also being given attention to make them functional.

Masari was speaking when he received the United Nations (UN) women's representative in Nigeria, Ms Comfort Lamptey, and Deputy Country Director of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Joerg Kuehuel who paid him a courtesy call at Katsina State government's Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

According to the governor, a UK-based organisation, Department for International Development (DFID), had pledged to fully equip the rehabilitated skills acquisition centres throughout the state.

He expressed happiness with the resolve of the envoys to work in collaboration with his wife, Hajiya Zakiyya Aminu Masari through the NGO, she established, Women, Youth and Children Empowerment Initiative to alleviate the plights of the vulnerable.

Masari

He said the APC-led administration in the state would also support programmes introduced through the NGO to improve the socio- economic well-being of women, youths and children in the state.

Earlier, the UN women's representative in Nigeria, Ms Lamptey told the governor that

the courtesy call was a follow up to a meeting between them and his wife, Hajiya Zakiyya Aminu Masari, the Founder of Women, Youth and Children Empowerment Initiative.

She said during the meeting, the two envoys vowed to collaborate on ways to strengthen support to Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, centre

in Katsina, the launch of HeforShe campaign in the state and support to women political participation towards 2019 elections among others.

While appealing to Governor Masari to provide a skills acquisition centre where they could provide technical support to women, youth and children, Ms Lamptey assured that they would visit Katsina again to finalise documents for enhanced collaborative efforts.

Also speaking, the Deputy Country Director of UNDP in Nigeria, Mr. Joerg Kuehuel told Governor Masari that such collaborative efforts existed between Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states in the North-east as well as Kaduna being the only state in the North-west.

Mr. Joerg Kuehuel therefore expressed hope that the meeting with the governor would cement the initiative started with his wife to enhance the status of women, youths and children in Katsina State.

On her part, the state Director of Schools, Hajiya Halima Usman who represented the wife of the Governor, Hajiya zakiyya Aminu Masari during the courtesy call spoke extensively on the programmes, progress and challenges of the NGO, women, youth and children empowerment initiative in Katsina State.

She assured the envoys that the NGO plans to establish VVF skills acquisition centres in Katsina and Mani local government areas of the state.

Sahara Group Supports Mercy Ships’ Saving Lives Initiative in Geneva In keeping with its resolve to give “wings to aspirations” across the globe, Sahara Group, a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, joined Mercy Ships and other global partners to celebrate the Cargo Day 2018 in Geneva on May 17, 2018.

The Cargo Day is an initiative of Mercy Ships, a corporate responsibility organisation that works with host nations to help fill the gaps in healthcare systems, while serving the dire and immediate needs of their population. Observed in several countries, Cargo Day is set aside to celebrate the partnership between Mercy Ships, shipping and trading communities in the pursuit of facilitating access to quality healthcare, especially in the remote and rural areas of Africa.

Sahara Group’s affiliate in Geneva, Sahara Energy International Pte Limited, is one of the key partners of Mercy Ships and leading trading companies in Geneva. The company is also involved in other initiatives that are geared towards promoting enterprise, environmental protection, economic empowerment and transparency in business. Since 1978,

Executive Director and Founder of the Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole.

Mercy Ships has provided services and materials in developing nations valued at over $1 billion impacting more that 2.5 million direct beneficiaries, through 587 port visits.

Sahara Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Valery Guillebon, said the company was delighted about its partnership with Mercy Ships and the impact of the Cargo Day on

the quest to make quality healthcare available to underserved and indigent populations in Africa.

“At Sahara Group, we are passionate about empowering lives and providing platforms to help people overcome challenges in order to live their dreams. We continue to do this at our locations across the globe and we remain committed to supporting the Cargo Day project.”

Guillebon added: “Our partnership with Mercy Ships is quite special and we derive so much pleasure from seeing smiles on the faces of beneficiaries and hope restored to many beneficiaries with serious medical and surgical challenges. We salute the leadership of Mercy Ships, other partners and pledge Sahara’s willingness to support the organisation and similar life transforming initiatives in Geneva and beyond.”

Speaking on its partnership with Sahara Energy, René Lehmann, Managing Director of Mercy Ships Switzerland said: “From the very beginning of the Mercy Ships Cargo Day initiative, Sahara Energy understood

the value and the potential of their support.

Not only did they contribute financially, but also with resources made available to the Mercy Ships Cargo Day Committee, they actively networked and engaged their partners in order to make the initiative a success this year and the years to come.

We look forward to much more lives changed together!”

Sahara Group’s Corporate Citizenship activities are driven by Sahara Foundation.

The Foundation has a notable pedigree of implementing sustainable interventions in education, health, capacity building, environmental protection, youth empowerment, and extrapreneurship in over 20 countries where it operates, across six sub-continental regions.

Sahara Group plays a global role in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a member of the United Nation’s SDG Fund Private Sector Advisory Board. The Group is also a member of the World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI).

Super Lotto, Beyond Lottery to Charity Supports Nigerian Students Win Conrad Ekwerike that best practices are upheld, our platform has Foundation Spirit of Innovation Challenge Ikenna Imperial Gaming Limited, an online gaming been built taking GLI (Gaming Laboratories

Peace Obi

The Team Neon of Whitesands School has emerged the 2018 Power Pitch Winner of the Smoke-Free World category of the Conrad Foundation Spirit of Innovation Challenge Summit that held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida USA, recently. They also received the Good Citizen Award in the same summit.

The Team Neon from Whitesands School was made up of four junior school students who made it to the 4th Round and final stage of the competition. The students were the only representatives from Nigeria and Africa that participated in the finals. They pitched their idea on a Virtual Farm project which falls under the category for Smoke-Free World.

Established in 2008, the Conrad Foundation honours the legacy of Apollo 12 astronaut, Charles "Pete" Conrad, and his four decade passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Conrad Challenge is an international and multi-phase innovation competition focusing on five areas: Aerospace Aviation, Cyber Technology and Security, Energy and Environment, Health and Nutrition, and recently, Smoke-Free World.

The Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Challenge (SOIC) presents high school students with a very broad challenge to create an innovative product that provides solution

Yves Rocher Store at Palms Mall, Lekki

to a real-world problem such that someone can pay for it, by applying principles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Students were not just asked to complete a science project, they were required to conduct a research to determine their creation's potential market impact and develop a full business plan.

This annual competition challenges teams to use science, technology, engineering and math innovation, as well as entrepreneurship, to create a more sustainable world for today and the future generations.

According to the SOIC organisers, "The global decline of smoking have many positive health impacts, but also brought negative economic consequences to tobacco farmers, many of whom are in developing nations. The students were invited to design 21st century solutions to farmland that is currently used for tobacco production, especially in African countries."

The Team Neon consists of: Afolabi Williams - team leader, Olubusiyi Famobiwo, Menashi Mordi and Osagumwenro Naaman Ugbo. They were accompanied to the summit by their coach, Mr Matthew Omotoso, the junior school ICT teacher at Whitesands.

GTBank in its continued commitment and support for quality education covered the cost of the trip for the boys and their coach.

company which was established to carry out public online lottery businesses in Nigeria is set to launch its online and in-store gaming brand called Super Lotto. The announcement was contained in a press release issued by the company in Lagos, where it pledged to be a system of enriching the public while raising funds to do major charity projects.

The statement also revealed plans to offer exciting E-games similar to those available on mobile devices but will offer cash rewards to players which is the first of its kind in the gambling community.

While affirming Super Lotto’s resolve to offer empowerment, education grants, scholarships and medic Aids as part of its social responsibility, CEO/MD, Imperial Gaming Ltd, Mr. Femi Umar-Lawal, described the product “as an innovative brand that will introduce ethical and elitist gaming through international teamwork to ensure customer satisfaction.”

He continued: “We are big on social responsibility which in the long run will put all punters likewise our partners on the profitable side of life as our offerings are expected to improve punter/partner chances of better living standards.

It promises to be a great experience for anyone who aspires for lofty heights.”

Similarly, Chief Operating Officer of the firm, Mr. Kola Odunayo assured prospective players and partners of utmost security and international best practices. He said: “To ensure

International) Standards into consideration; hence making our lotto software one of a kind in the West African market as at date.

“To go a step further towards fulfilling our mission of becoming the preferred brand of choice within the Nigerian Gaming Industry, we have partnered with leading European Technical Service Providers to offer products such as Live and E-games; whose results are almost instant and give potential esteemed customers variety of truly rewarding and entertaining products from which they can select.”

Mr. Odunayo added that the company was totally committed to the satisfaction and entertainment of their customers in view of which they would continue to pursue innovations and maintain global best standards.

In his own submission, Mr. Abayomi Ayoola, Head, Marketing, Sales and PR said Super Lotto would have “way better odds than any other lotto company.” He noted that lotteries had been in existence for many years across the globe.

According to him, apart from a staggering win of 46 million Naira with as low as 100 Naira spent, the odds for their 5/90 game combination will be the best in the decades-long history of lotto in Nigeria.

The date for the official launch of Super Lotto is set for June 4, 2018. Imperial Gaming has been operating primarily in Lagos State, under the supervision and control of the Lagos State Lotteries Board.

35/LIVING

01.06.2018

FERTILITY WITH DR. KEMI AILOJE

Tel + 2348033083580, Email:Info@lifelinkfertility.com, Website: lifelinkfertility.com

FERTILITY PROFILING: KNOWING YOUR FERTILITY STATUS (PART 1) Life is full of unprecedented challenges, with infertility being one of them hence many people although not ready to start a family or make babies are curious about their fertility status. In today’s society, women often delay childbearing until later in their reproductive years. The reason for this shift is complex but often related to social, educational and economic factors. This trend towards delayed childbearing has resulted in increased number of women seeking fertility treatment in their late 30s, 40s and beyond.

It is not a common trend to do routine fertility check-ups in young child bearing age by people in this part of the world. We often visit our doctor because something is wrong and not necessarily because we want to evaluate our health status and identify factors that may increase our risk for diseases and its prevention.

The fact remains that our health including our reproductive health is our greatest treasure, hence the need for creation of awareness and education is of uttermost importance which brings us to the topic for the today: Fertility Profiling: Know Your Fertility Status.

Why do you need to know your fertility status?

Fertility Profiling is a comprehensive protocol which involves examinations and tests to be done to provide foundation information as they relate to reproductive issues including fertility.

Investigative test carried out during fertility status check-up helps the female to:

v Establish fertility potential v Identify risk factors that may predispose to infertility in the future v Diagnose abnormalities that may need prompt management v Identify causes of infertility that may be prevented. v Individuals with low fertility potentials can be identified and counselled appropriatelc

v Prepare one to face the future with vision and make informed decisions rather than with ignorance, confusion and frustration e.g. women with PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOs) may need some form of assistance to get pregnant but an ignorant woman may never seek help until menopause.

There are strong indicators for fertility status check in females v women with a history of irregular menses irrespective of age v Women with sudden cessation of menses before age of menopause v Adolescents with absence of menses after puberty v Women with a positive family history of Endometriosis, ovarian cancer, fibroids v Women with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding v Women with hormonal alterations and imbalances v Fatigue, moodiness, loss of muscle tone, increased body fat, low sex drive Evaluations done to assess fertility status in women A variety of tests are available for evaluating

female fertility potential, it may not be necessary to have all of these tests done if basic results done are normal v Medical history: A woman's past health and medical history may provide clue to the physician who may ask about childhood development; sexual development during puberty; sexual history; illnesses and infections; surgeries; medications used; exposure to certain environmental agents (alcohol, radiation, steroids, chemotherapy, and toxic chemicals); and any previous fertility evaluations. v Menstrual history: Amenorrhea (absent menstrual periods) usually signals an absence of ovulation, which can cause infertility. Oligomenorrhea (irregular menstrual cycles) can be a sign of irregular ovulation; although oligomenorrhea does not make pregnancy impossible, it can interfere with the ability to become pregnant. v Physical examination: A physical examination usually includes a general examination, with special attention to any signs of hormone deficiency or signs of other conditions that might affect fertility. The physician will also perform a pelvic examination, which can identify abnormalities of the reproductive tract and signs of low hormone

levels. The physical examination may be performed by the patient's primary care provider, gynecologist, or infertility specialist. v Blood Tests: To determine blood level of: Follicle Stimulating Hormone: Is important for women in the production of eggs by the ovaries and Elevated FSH in women indicates reduced egg supply whereas low levels can signal that you are not ovulating or are pregnant. Levels of FSH rise in women as egg production declines; therefore raised FSH often coincides with the onset of the menopause and is a measure of ovarian reserve. it is done on day three of the menstrual cycle Luteinizing Hormone: Raised LH in women can signal that you are not ovulating, that you are menopausal or that your hormones are not in balance (as with polycystic ovaries).

These hormones control the development of eggs, maturation, trigger of ovulation and lactation which must happen if one is to ever get pregnant. Abnormalities in level or ratio may hinder fertility.

Serum Progesterone: Progesterone is a female hormone produced by the ovaries during ovulation.

It causes the endometrial lining of the uterus to get thicker, making it receptive for a fertilised egg.

This test is used to determine if ovulation is occurring. Since progesterone levels increase towards the end of a woman’s cycle, the test is done during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (just before her period starts).

Testosterone (Free and Total) Hormonal test: Testosterone is produced in smalleramounts in the ovaries of women. It is responsible for bone and muscle strength, as well as mood, energy and sexual function. Raised testosterone can result in male characteristics in a female such as body hair, greater bulk, a deeper voice and acne - all symptoms of polycystic ovaries, a condition in which elevated testosterone is commonly seen.

To be continued next week…….

OPINION

THEODORE ORJI: A MAN OF EQUITY Eddie Onuzuruike Gratitude is a great attribute and a greater attitude.

It is like the touch of an Arabian fragrance that lingers long after contact. Taking hard decisions when it matters is a greater attribute especially where it has to do with liberation of human beings and groups. In a big sense, making the world better than you met it. According to Martin Luther King Jr, ‘the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy’.

Jesus Christ who lived doing marvelous works in multiple ways, especially healing incurable diseases, teaching with practical and manifold parables that are prevalent in today’s world took pains through a popular parable and elucidated interestingly by St. Luke, one of the synoptic writers in Luke chapter 17, verse 11 the importance of gratitude. The story of the 10 lepers told it all as Jesus posed the question when one of the cured did a solo act by going back to thank Jesus. ‘Were there not 10 cleansed, but where are the nine?’ It was an act that taught us more than one lesson. Obviously, it reinforced the importance and morality of gratitude but in another sense, it foretold that we are more likely to experience multiple cases of ingratitude since it was a minor percentage that came back to thank him.

Senator Theodore Orji, the third democratically elected governor in Abia State governed Abia for eight years in a two tenure democratic leadership as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Leadership is not a tea party nor a roller-coaster job. Many a time, the leader needs to tell his followers the truth and get them to do the needful. Tax and levies are not always good news to the citizens but they are civic obligations. In governance,

Orji

people should pay tax especially for the needed amenities. Security of lives and property have been the primary reason and origin of the social contract theory. To the criminally minded, the leader will always be a big foe if he takes seriously to protecting the totality of the citizenry.

Abia at a stage in her history, was in the news for the wrong reasons as it was enmeshed in the throes of armed robbery and kidnapping for ransom. It was so rampant that soon after dignitaries including clergies and children were released by the kidnappers, another was abducted in mafia style.

They were rapaciously emboldened by their success to the extent that the criminals established a camp where they sacked a whole community and lived in opulence like potentates. A newspaper report once taunted that Abia is divided into two governments, one by Governor T. A. Orji

and another by kidnappers in Aba and Ukwa.

When Ochendo as he is fondly called by his admirers took the bull by the horns and sent the kidnappers scampering, a traditional ruler now late, Eze Ahuama, in total thankfulness narrated his fame and fortunes as a traditional wrestler in his youth when he was even hired to represent other communities. He raved and reigned but in old age and even as a traditional ruler, a little boy known as Osisikankwu drove him into exile with his wives. ‘Ochendo, if you do not do anything again for me, bringing me back to my kingdom is the biggest and happiest thing you have done for me’.

Back to history, Abia was created from Old Imo State made up then by present Abia and parts of Ebonyi State. While in East Central state and later Imo State, they still experienced some marginalisation where some groups and other ethnic extractions lorded it over others, appropriating the juicy jobs and appointments, and for that the Abia founding fathers who moved for the creation of Abia State put pen to paper and charted a beautiful document called the Abia Charter of Equity to forestall unnecessary dominance by any group. According to Prof. S. N. Nwabara who recorded the events in page 43 of his book God’s Own State, ‘Abia will be a happy state, a model state in the federation of Nigeria. It is to this end that people of the proposed ABIA State have drawn, signed, sealed for themselves what we call the charter of Equity.

‘This is to reassure friends and opponents alike that every one matters; that every community matters; that no part will be neglected; that there will be no domination of any group in the state by the other: that there will be even development of the state. This is what is reflected in the motto of the State: ‘Onyeaghala Nwanneya’. They went further stating that strategic positions like the governor of the state, deputy and Speaker of

the House of Assembly should go to different senatorial zones. Contrary to these efforts, Abia South was neglected. For so many years of power politics, a good chunk of Abia was left barren and revelled in producing deputies.

Ochendo as governor after rereading page by page of the Abia Charter of Equity wondered why 32 years after the adoption of the Charter and 23 years after the creation of Abia State, the power shift hasn’t be completely employed. He resolved that it will be ungodly to continue the injustice. He is from Abia Central, his predecessor came from Abia North, what stops Abia South from touching the crown? A big question that changed the equation.

The rest is history as he employed all instruments of the party and governance to get the Ukwa na Ngwa to get their shot at governance. That was a hard decision that has earned him high accolades with the most recent which held at Ngwa High School being the grand hosting by this large but deprived group that occupies nine Local Government Areas of Abia State.

Spectacularly, this is taking gratitude to the limits as they not only thanked him but endorsed him for 2019. It should be noted that on Monday March 28, 2016, a group known as Umunne Ato, in the three Ngwa LGAs in the Abia Central led

by Prof. D. O. Dike in association with Engr. Leo Ogbonna marched to Ochendo’s community in Ugba Primary School, thanked and honoured him with a befitting title: Opuriche 1. In hot pursuit Omezirimba title bestowed by Ukwa/ Ngwa traditional Council led by Eze Eberechi Dick says it all. Hail the one who restitutes and comforts.

No doubt, a lesson has been learnt, reinforcing the injunction of the great teacher, Our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ!

–Onuzuruike wrote from Abuja

36/COLLAGE

01.06.2018

L-R: Widower, Sir. Rufus Adelusi (rtd) University Administrator and Children Mrs. Opeyemi Oyerinde, Mrs.Adebimpe Abodunrin, Tolulope Akinlua, Miss, Adeyinka Adelusi and Ifeoluwa Adelusi at the burial service for Lady Margret Kunbi Adelusi Deputy Registrar,Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. in Ayedun Ekiti....recently

L-R: Assistant Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Mohammed Alfa;President, Association of Bureau De Change of Nigeria (ABCON), Mr. Aminu Gwadabe;Director, Trade/Exchange Department, CBN, Mr. Mukhtar Gambo Usman; Deputy Manager, CBN, Mrs. Olawunmi Oladipo;and Past President, ABCON, Mr. Tifase Jones, at the official launch of ABCON forex rate publication engine room www. naijabdcs.com in Lagos recently etop ukutt

L-R: Prof. Steve Azieke, Chief of Staff Government House, Hon Talford Ongolo and Commissioner for Sport, Bayelsa State, Hon. Perekiye Buruboyefe, during the official presentation of Coach Samson Siasia as Restoration Cup Ambassador, at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa....recently james agori

L-R: Team Lead, Techspace Ecosystem Business, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Babajide Asegbeloyin; Divisional Head, Transaction Banking, Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe; Bashir Abubakar, Captain of Team LSFlow, winners of the FCMB sponsored “Secure Lagos” Hackathon; Executive Director, Business Development of the Bank, Mrs. Bukola Smith and Group Head, Business Banking, Mr. George Ogbonnaya, during the finals of the competition organised by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) in partnership with FCMB and Passion Incubator in Lagos...recently

L-R: Sadr Majlis Ansarullah Nigeria, Engr. Abdul Waheed Adeoye; Managing Director, Kings-FM Ibadan, Alhaji Muhammed Lawal; The Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, Dr. Mash’hud Adenrele Fashola and General Manager Kings-FM, Pastor Kayode Akinshola, after the Ramadan live programme aired by Kings-FM in Ibadan... recently

L-R: Content & Innovation, Airtel Nigeria, Adedayo Ayobola; Singer & 2017 Big Brother Naija first runner-up, Abisola Aiyeola; Rapper & 2017 Big Brother Naija winner, Ejeba Efe Michael, and singer and songwriter, Abinye David Jumbo at the Airtel Music TGIF - Internal launch at the company's Headquarter in Lagos.. recently

L-R: Assistant Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 44 (CSR), Pastor Ajibola Opeoluwa-Calebs; Principal, Lagos Island Local Government Vocational Educational Institute, Mrs Omowunmi Oyebola; Pastor In Charge Lagos Province 44, Amos Emovon; his wife, Temitope and Assistant Pastor Admiistrationn, Joseph Ehkator, during the church’s empowerment programme, in Lagos…recently

37/THISLIFE

01.06.2018

‘I’m Lucky to Be Born in Africa’ Louisa Alexandra Spyratos is a Greek international artist born in Kenya. She has lived most of her life surrounded by the exotic beauty of the African wildlife, packed with 25 years career in art. Based between Australia and Kenya, Spyratos has made two tranquil corners of the world her base, painting in her studios for exhibitions worldwide. She, alongside a female Nigerian artist - Clara Aden – participated in the one month residency programme under the international programme for artists in-residence by the Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation at Abeokuta. She spoke with Ferdinand Ekechukwu about her works, experience in Africa and the residency programme during an open house exhibition How would you describe the experience during the four weeks residency programme in Abeokuta?

It was challenging. It was a fantastic experience because you got one month of solid painting; but three weeks in the end, few days here and there. But to have that intense time of painting is fantastic because you hardly ever get that even though I paint at home all the time, I have breaks where I go to the beach or I do this and do that so that’s why I have breaks. But there I was painting solidly some days 12 hours. So that’s very tiring, its quite challenging as in you are producing a lot of works so you have to have lots of ideas in your head and dig deep. You know you have to dig deep. But it takes you into new zones and new ideas like the dots some of my new ideas I mean did a lot of dot paintings. So the experience was good one. But I’m a sporty, active person so to stay indoors so much I go crazy. So, I found the sports centre there and I would go and do sports everyday as my break otherwise I go crazy.

Can you give an overview about some of the works you have on display today?

I have come to Nigeria first time ever in my life. I was very inspired by the market place and the colour there and the things people are wearing which are crazy colours and bling and gold and shiny which is my style. So I was very inspired by the people.

So as opposed to African mural life which is what I normally paint, I have begun painting the people of Nigeria. So a lot of them are the people from the market place, the market scenes, the women carrying the big bundles of foods on their heads and the beautiful clothes the men and the women wear and also inspired by the Adire fabrics. I have done some paintings based on the Adire and a few animals of course I have done four African wide life sizes with two of the animals here.

What kind of art materials do you use in your painting works?

I use pure silver 100 per cent. The black converse on my works is actually silver. The rest is copper. So I use copper. I use aluminum, acrylic and pastel cream. I use glitter and all onto canvass.

What defines your artistic style?

It is the colour, it’s the medium I use which is a 100 per cent pure silver that has been dyed an amazing colours and it’s the way I use the metallic; I got to use copper and gold. I use only silver, copper and gold and the dyed silvers as a collage and I think it’s a technique that’s quite unique. I have never seen anyone do this, something that I have developed and I think it defines my art.

You mentioned Adire as part of what inspires the kind of work you do. What other materials can you mention?

Colour, shape, texture and movement; I love movement which is the lot of why I paint wildlife. That you also get that in the people and I often try to captur e that in the people.

Art is a diverse subject with different meanings. What does it mean to you?

Art to me means beauty and beauty makes us happy so art makes happiness. I think if you surround yourself with beautiful pieces of art that you love it’s almost like therapy it makes you a happy person. Every time you

Spyratos

look at that painting it has a reaction into your psychology that makes you happy and I think that’s important and sort of influences a strong veneer of your life.

What area of art do you specialise in?

I specialise in contemporary art. My art does straddle all genres so you see a bit of contemporary a bit of realism in it a bit of abstract in it. My kind of straddle all genre.

But it’s basically contemporary work.

You have spent many years in Africa and you are coming to Nigeria for the first time. What’s your view about African art?

It is very diverse African arts and it depends

on which country you are in. I was born in Kenya. Nigeria is very advanced with their art and the first contemporary artist stayed in back as far 1932. There are really amazing. The art here is much more ingrained into the culture than in Kenya. I think it’s more evolved here and more matured here.

How has the experience been like living here in Africa?

Well, I am born in Africa it is my home so I love the experience of it. I love being surrounded by all the craziness and the colour and the wildlife and the beauty. We are very lucky to be born in Africa. I’m very inspired by the stimulation of the senses. And I think

in places in Africa I think all your senses are stimulated by colour and smells and sound and it’s just crazy lifestyles and it’s fun to live in and very stimulating for an artist.

How affordable are your works in terms of the prices?

The prices vary. I have a 25 years career so I have been careful not to raise my prices really fast through the years. I have gradually gone up slowly because it has being my living. And this is the way I live and get my kid through university and all the rest of it. So, I had to make a living out of it. I have to sell constantly.

So my prices are very affordable and of course they have gone up since.

38/PERSPECTIVE

01.06.2018

Niyi Osundare and the Nexus of Literature and Governance Tunji Olaopa The successful negotiation and renegotiation of human civilisations,through the ages, have been hinged on the dynamism of people, with all necessary human factors at play. Societies have developed and excelled by the blend of diversities.

This has been the strength of humanity, with a stage room for every actor, idea and ideology.

The full complement of humanity is multi-sided and invigorated by varieties of creativity. Creativity, in the scheme of any society, can never be overlooked because this is what humanity is all about. The wheel of continuous human existence and distinction runs on creativity.

It has not been a smooth deal for the humanities in many parts of the world. However, I will be concerning myself with the broader concern of country. That Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources is no news but our performance on the human development scale cast aspersions on our incredible resources, including human gifting. My intention is not to rain on anyone’s parade but for whatever we lay claim to as achievements, there remains a multi fold opportunities and resources that are left to waste.

One of such repressed and unutilised resources is the voice and strength of the creative minds especially those in the humanities and more specifically, the creative elements like the poets, essayists, novelists and playwrights amongst others. My aim in this essay is not to rehearse my known advocacy for disciplinary relevance of the humanities, but to interrogate the nexus between literature, politics and governance.

The relationship between literature and politics has always been a contentious one.

On the one hand, there are those who hold on to what has been called the “singularity” of literature. Literature, for them, has an intrinsic value in and of itself that cannot be reduced to its instrumental value for the society. The inventiveness of literature, for instance, speaks to its capacity to constantly generate new modes of expression and experience to exploit or represent.

Literature has no instrumental function, or any special relationship with truth apart from being a specific way of organising of linguistic production. As one commentator puts it, literature “solves no problems and saves no souls.” This is because a literary text cannot be used as a mere means to serve a non-literary ideological or social ends.Literature’s singularity is solely a matter of form and language—of styles, beauty, genre, Bildungsroman, figures of speech, etc.

It has no utility, if “utility” is taken to mean using literature as an instrument for ideological purposes. The other response to the meaning of literature actively argues for an instrumental relationship between literature and politics.

This is very instructive at this period because one of our best literary minds in this country; Professor Niyi Osundare is being celebrated. So, I am dedicating this piece to Niyi Osundare, global icon, poet, teacher, dramatist, essayist, literary critic and reformer, whose works have been outstanding not just as creative outputs but as commentaries and conscience of the nation.

Osundare, like many other literary icons in this country, and you will agree with me that we have always had them in enviably large numbers, is a phenomenon. Nigeria’s literary figures remain creative giants with huge imprints on humanity with their works and the accolades that have attended to them all over the world.

However, it bothers the mind to ask; if the literatures of our creative enigmas are respected the world over, then where is their place and that of their works in the scheme of things in the country?

The fundamental question that troubles me therefore, is why poets and other literary intelligentsia would often face the wrath of the state for what they see and what they write. Why would the state not also tap into this literary capital that allows it to see what the poet is seeing; to see beyond the humdrum of politicking?

The poet also becomes a critical political actor with a stake in the future of a state. Except that he has a different understanding of what patriotic service to the state means. The poet, like Osundare, relates with truth and justice, rather than filthy lucre. The poet wants to reconstruct and reinvent. With the Word, s/he molds chaos into cosmos, as Thomas Carlyle wrote of Alfred Lord Tennyson. This molding ought to be so easy for anyone—politicians, statesmen, patriots,

Osundare

etc.—to accept and celebrate. Yet, chaos often is productive of profits that undermine the foundation of the commonweal. And this is where the poet, like Osundare, becomes a dangerous possessor of the Word. When John the Baptist thundered the dynamics of sin and redemption, Herod often quaked, and the Pharisees scampered! Why? As Osundare writes: “In the Word was the beginning.”

The poet launches the foundation of newness, and of reform, with words.

It is important to establish the fact that literature is moulded by the political and socio-economic dynamics of a state. Seeing literature in this instrumental sense leads to several questions especially as it concerns the relevance of literature within the context of governance in Nigeria.

Literature is often seen as the works of destabilising factors, with many creative writers cast as anti establishment elements and enemies of the state.

While there is no doubt that literature and the arts can be enjoyed solely for their entertainment and aesthetic appeal, all literatures are conditioned by specific social factors. Literature is a social institution whose forms and styles are moderated by political and ideological concerns. The strength and glory of literature include its capacity to constantly generate new modes of expression and experience to exploit or represent. Literature has no instrumental function, or any special relationship with truth apart from being a specific way of organising linguistic productions.

The other response to the meaning of literature actively argues for an instrumental relationship between literature and politics. This is inevitable especially within the postcolonial context of where these literatures are produced? A poet, novelist or dramatist is born within the confines of specific historical configurations which, it is safe to assert, must influence his literary works in one form or the other. The next reasonable set of question would be; what then is the socioeconomic configuration of development and governance challenges that condition the literary outputs. And must their muse respond to these challenges? What happens to literature and literariness in the environment of poverty, the jackboot of authority and persistent injustice? How does the poet or writer cope with constant power outage that frustrates creative inspiration? How does the literary muse respond to these challenges?

The artists, the poet and the literati in general cannot afford to stand aloof in a context that challenges their creativity in the first place. And the issue goes beyond adapting literariness to something extra-literary. On the contrary, it seems to me that literary forms must necessarily be transformed and reinvented to respond to social anomie. A poet or writer, for instance, who has had to face the disconcerting discouragement deriving from a harsh publishing regime, or even worse, the biting reality of poverty and bad governance in Nigeria, cannot hope to dwell with the pure aesthetic value of a lyrical poem, or the truth-functional dynamics of an epic novel.

The literatures produced by these creative minds see and speak to Nigeria’s governance crisis in terms of a debilitating infrastructural deficit that spells the difference between empowerment and crippling poverty. These sound minds know that deficit is the sole limitation to an efficient service delivery that is the foundation of democratic governance anywhere. Governance everywhere is guided by a moral imperative which insists that government must work for the empowerment of its citizens. Every policy decision must be democratic in the sense that it must be taken within the moral framework which directs the positive consequences of those policies at the well-being of the people.

This governance deficit is a function of Nigeria’s institutional incapacity to handle development and governance matters.

Osundare and other literary minds like him know very well that there is a connection between infrastructural development, human capital development and economic growth. The economic growth of any country depends on the state of her infrastructure. Once the infrastructural dynamics is limited, then a huge constraint is placed on the capacity of human development to achieve any significant development.

The diagnosis, as creatively put forward in the commentaries and other literatures of these patriotic countrymen is that since we have failed to nurture our structures to institutions, we have equally been constrained by a productivity drawback that has continued to affect Nigeria’s hope of good governance. The challenge therefore is to sufficiently confront Nigeria’s institutional renewal in a manner that strengthens them for infrastructural development.

With their poems, essays, plays and novels, they are constantly in the consciousness of Nigerians, asking critical questions that speak to various dimensions of our shortcomings as a people; questions of rule of law, justice, fairness, good governance, accountability, responsive leadership, tolerance and many more.

In the light of all these, the creative minds would not be a cross current once their literatures get the right responses and make over with the populace.

It becomes important that creative writing is accorded its place of honour and significance with insights deepened for critical thinking especially as it concerns the nation, economy, justice system, politics, electoral behaviours and orientations and many more. Literatures would continue to give the populace the right resources to ask questions of those in public office and others aspiring too especially as it concerns their visions and purposes. They would also help to train the people to articulate their arguments Indeed, these works of words are dialogues with future generations who will learn from past and present mistakes, arm themselves with right resources for future masteries.

Furthermore, the literatures that would come from the founts of knowledge of the creative minds would birth new generation of leaders, distinguished by their policy intelligence, professional sophistication and intellectual versatility.

These ones being detribalised, cosmopolitan and unstained in their integrity of purpose would by force of personal example communicate new vision of development. They would be leaders that could and would be trusted to implement them honestly in spirit and in truth. Literature will then be indispensable in this whole dynamics as a tool of development communication that creates better enlightened citizenry who are more critical, more informed and more educated and therefore will justifiably demand a better deal in governance.

– Being excerpt from the Keynote Lecture delivered by Dr. Olaopa, Executive ViceChairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy – ISGPP – at the 2018 Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival (NOIPFEST), held at the Lead City University, Ibadan on Tuesday, 29th of May, 2018

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

39

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 1 , 2018

42

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Global Standard in Banking Education Introduced Nume Ekeghe As part of efforts to promote ethical standards as well as provide the foundation for high-quality and consistent education for bankers worldwide, the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB) has announced the release of the first banking standard for banking practitioners across the world.

The standard, according to the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Seye Awojobi, was made public by the Chair of the GBEStB Education Committee and Chief Executive of the

Chartered Banker Institute, Mr. Simon Thompson.

Thompson was quoted in a statement to have explained that the new standard consists of seven key recommendations, which all GBEStB member bodies must comply with.

“This first standard on Ethics Education and Training for Professional Bankers sets out our expectations of and guidance for GBEStB member bodies in terms of general recommendations and recommendations for the content, delivery and assessment of ethics education for professional bankers,” he said. The recommendations, he added, included the general

recommendations regarding ethics education and training; key ethical principles for professional bankers; content of ethics education and training programmes; delivery of ethics education and training programmes; assessment of ethics education and training programmes; impact measurement (of the Standard) and public declaration.

He further disclosed that a consistent approach in the promotion of ethical standards and education of professional bankers worldwide would help develop a strong ethical culture within the banking industry, thereby improving financial stability.

Sterling Bank PartnersTATA Group Sterling Bank Plc has gone into partnership with Tata Africa Services Limited to unveil an auto loan scheme which offers free spare parts and attractive discounts to business owners in Lagos.

The financing scheme, which has a maximum tenure of three years, will sort out the logistic challenges facing business owners as they strive to get products to customers, complete projects, and transport employees.

The commercial auto loan scheme covers the acquisition of trucks, semi-trucks, compactors, buses, delivery vans, and others. It was envisioned to empower Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) to acquire operational vehicles which will in turn accelerate their growth through timely

and hitch free delivery of products and services to customers.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony by senior officials of Sterling Bank and Tata Africa Services, Executive Director, Retail & Consumer Banking, Mr. Grama Narasimhan said: “We are delighted to partner with Tata Africa Services Limited to improve access to commercial auto loans and best-in-class operational vehicles to business owners in the country. This scheme is close to our heart at Sterling Bank because the efficient delivery of goods and services as well as the development of every aspect of the transport value chain will elevate SMEs, boost trade, create jobs and economic opportunities.”

Encouraging business own-

ers to take advantage of the commercial auto loan scheme to enhance profitability, Narasimhan disclosed that interested customers are expected to contribute a minimum of 20 percent and/or a maximum of 80 percent of the cost of the vehicle while Sterling Bank’s funding is subject to change based on the borrower’s capacity.

He added that the financing arrangement has a maximum tenor of three years depending on the warranty on the vehicle and comes with a discount.

“Tata Africa Services is expected to provide a discount on every vehicle financed by Sterling Bank and deliver the financed asset to the borrower within 24 hours of receipt of advice from the lender,” Narasimhan explained.

Banking Hall

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

MARCH

Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

Osinbajo, Enelamah, Others for RMB Nigeria Business Conference Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria has concluded plan to organise a business conference as part of activities to mark its fifth-year anniversary celebrations.

The keynote speakers at the event which holds next week Thursday are Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Okey Enelamah.

The theme of the conference is: “Connecting the Building Blocks to Drive Inclusive and Sustainable Growth: Investment and Economic Diversification.”

RMB Nigeria is a subsidiary of FirstRand, one of the largest financial services groups in Africa.

A statement from the bank explained that the downturn in oil price over the past five years, coupled with changing global trade policies and the emergence of alternative regional economic destinations, once again highlighted the need for the Nigerian economy to diversify beyond the production of oil.

Therefore, the conference, according to the organisers aims to engage industry participants (investors, corporates and policymakers) in a dialogue on the principal building blocks which drive investment and economic growth in Nigeria, as well as discuss lessons learnt by experienced

AXA Mansard Bags Certification The International Organisation for standardisation has awarded its ISO 9001:2015 award to AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, a member of the AXA Mansard Group and global leader in insurance and asset management.

This was in recognition of the company’s quality management system and conformity with global best practices.

The ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems certification is centered on strong customer focus. It provides a framework that ensures that organisations are able to

captains of industry, which have influenced investment and economic diversification in the country.

There will be two panel sessions at the event. While the first panel session has the theme: “Attracting Investments for Inclusive & Sustainable Growth,” the theme of the second panel session is: “Private Sector Resilience through Economic Cycles.”

The CEO, RMB Nigeria, Mr. Michael Larbie said he was positive the conversations at the conference will stimulate the minds of the participants and stakeholders to support and drive the ongoing diversification efforts of the current administration.

Quality Management

meet customers and applicable requirements consistently. It consists of policies, processes and procedures required for planning and execution that guaranty continuous improvement and operational efficiency in the core business areas of an organisation.

Speaking on the award, the Group Head, Strategy, Planning and Marketing at AXA Mansard Group, Mr. Kola Oni noted in a statement that: “The unwavering commitment of AXA Mansard towards ensuring that our processes across the

Group meets customers’ needs made us upgrade our Quality Management System and the result of these efforts have been proven through our ability to consistently provide products and services that guarantees customer satisfaction.

“We have benchmarked our activities with the leading global standards and we are delighted to have achieved this feat. This upgrade bolsters our already strong quality management system, so we can continue to deliver high-quality product and optimise customer experience.”

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month

MARCH

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55 • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, TUE, MAY 29, 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $72.91 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $73.37 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations..

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Zafiro (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 • FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

43

MARKET NEWS

Finally, Equities Market Slides into Negative Territory after 11-day Bear Run Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

market capitalisation ended at N13.803 trillion. The market has consequently, entered into negative territory with a year-to-date (YTD) decline of 0.31 per cent.

The market, which recovered from a three-year decline to a growth of 42.3 per cent last year, was projected to sustain the growth in the current year.

Although, the market gained 8.5 per cent in first quarter (Q1),

The stock market finally slipped into the negative territory yesterday after 11 days of sustained dominance by the bears. The selloffs, mostly in bellwether stocks, pulled the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index 1.29 per cent lower to close at 38,104.54, while

the bears took control since the beginning of the second quarter as investors reviewed their positions in many oversold stocks. As a result, the months of April and May posted negative performances, with May recording the steepest fall of 7.6 per cent, thereby pushing the market into negative zone yesterday. According to analysts at Meristem Securities Limited,

the month of May has been on a bearish run, with the YTD return slipping into the negative region at the end of the month.

“Profit taking activities on bellwether counters in the consumer goods, banking and industrial goods spaces drove the market down today. This week, the market is on a path to a negative close, given the losses

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

recorded so far on all trading days of the week,” they said.

Also commenting, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited (CCL) said that continued selloffs call for cautious trading among investors in the short term.

“However, falling prices make room for bargain hunting in value stocks, as stillstrengthened macroeconomic fundamentals remain supportive

of gains in the medium to long term,” they said.

CCL in its 2018 outlook economic titled “Nigeria in 2018: Looking Beneath the Surface” had favoured the equities market, saying when compared to the last two years, Nigeria’s macro outlook, wherein there are seemingly more tailwinds than headwinds, is more favourable to equities.

A S AT 3 1 / 0 5 / 2 0 1 8

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1 2 3

BANKING ACCESS BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 300,850.90

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10.40

-4.59

112

8,077,933

369,353.75

10.80

1.89

261

65,561,668

800,610.59

S/N

-0.39

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

33

4 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS

10.15

5.73

371

18,270,019

34

371

18,270,019

35

1,186 219,102,073

36

S/N 5 6 BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS OIL AND GAS S/N 7 EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OIL AND GAS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE S/N 8 9 10 CROP PRODUCTION S/N 11 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 12 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES S/N 13 14 15 16 17 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N 18 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N 19 20 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N 21

815 200,832,054 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

BUILDING MATERIALS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC.

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

MARKET CAP(Nm) 364,337.22

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,089,721.78

240.00

-1.03

38

2,337,956

301,835.30

34.80

-4.92

137 175 175

1,747,143 4,085,099 4,085,099

MARKET CAP(Nm) 437,332.00

PRICE 743.20

%CHANGE 1.16

22 23 24 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS S/N 25 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N 26 27 28 29

TRADES

VOLUME

45

182,144

45

182,144

32

37 38 FOOD PRODUCTS S/N 39 40 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED S/N 41

45 182,144 1,406 223,369,316

42 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES S/N 43

CROP PRODUCTION FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

INFRASTRUCTURE/ HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC.

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

23,477.53

12.50

-

30

85,307

1,167,186.33

1,472.50

-4.38

66

228,488

96

313,795

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,680.31

22.10

-

0

0

3,439.82

3.30

-

19 19

146,892 146,892

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

86,754.92

21.85

-

37

613,738

295,580.53

51.45

5.00

50

695,336

87

1,309,074

920

15,330,021

BANKING

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.26

-

0 0

0 0

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1,403.06

0.53

-3.64

5

191,180

221.82 2,111.93

0.57 3.25

-

4 0

49,464 0

51,216.47

1.26

-0.79

157

16,207,774

42,355.06

14.70

-0.34

31 197 197

415,786 16,864,204 16,864,204

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

S/N 55 56 57 58 59

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

60

4.79

-

0 0

0 0

61

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

36,366.00 165.00

27.55 6.60

%CHANGE -

23 0

73,400 0

23

73,400

62 63 64 65 66

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

5,560.57

2.14

-

29

343,911

29

343,911

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,000.00

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

69

100.00

-

0

0

70

11,300.89

45.20

-

0

0

71

500

72 73

26,682.70

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,431.80

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 15,658.99

10.00

-

1 1

500

53

417,811

67 68

74 PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.30

-

1 1

6,000 6,000

76

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

77

2.00

1.52

15

585,064

242.22

0.89

-

0

0

219,038.28

100.00

-

41

112,495

382,515.86

44.50

-9.64

21

350,903

75

78 79 80

2,610,540

MARKET CAP(Nm)

FOOD PRODUCTS-DIVERSIFIED CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. JAIZ BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC.

PRICE

60

0 6,924,344

S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm)

2.22

364,630

45

3,191,533

2.30

0 361

23,847 1,655,543

1,535,990

878,220

18,239.45

47

1,466,322

33

588,095

52

-

57

106

57

-1.58

-3.06

13 73

VOLUME

2.65

31.10

19.00

-

1,535,990

17.45

127,521.81

13.45

-5.88

33

209,400.00

3,676.41

80.00

TRADES

2,227,859

50,339.33

75.00

-4.94

VOLUME

138

0

76,312.80

%CHANGE

TRADES

3.35

255,000

75,000.00

0.77

%CHANGE

9.25

0

165,374

PRICE

PRICE

46,250.00

7

VOLUME

48

6,629,916

MARKET CAP(Nm)

-

3

49 50 51 52 53 54 BANKING

5,581,454

356

-4.38

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,310.00

279

0.40

-

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

-1.91

6.55

%CHANGE

46

107.90

1,489.00

0.20

47

862,865.73

1,167.21

PRICE

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ARBICO PLC.

FOOD PRODUCTS DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC.

440.00

FISHING/HUNTING/ TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

44 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm)

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N

S/N 31

25.50

BANKING

442 127,192,453

30 BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNIC DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC VERITAS KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 30,803.32

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1.33

1.53

92

10,449,717

357,816.25

19.50

-2.74

93

5,320,435

55,052.11

1.90

4.97

287

20,214,931

1,191,962.76

40.50

-1.22

321

74,004,801

18,857.12 9,716.21 37,427.54 161,620.18 10,169.72 29,316.59

0.64 0.70 1.30 5.55 0.87 0.76

1.59 -1.41 4.00 -4.31 4.11

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,117.00

0.20

-

0

0

4,019.52

0.58

1.72

27

3,028,104

26,250.00

2.50

-

4

28,937

2,310.00

0.33

-2.94

18

1,079,141

14,833.02

1.43

-

4

101,000

24 1,802,291 52 4,535,144 201 29,800,482 37 479,317 11 104,875 16 1,331,359 1,134 148,043,352

5,155.33

0.35

-

2

50,700

2,800.00

0.20

-

1

11,000

2,411.47

0.53

-

0

0

1,913.74

0.50

-

0

0

2,456.00

0.40

-

0

0

539.32

0.42

-

0

0

2,856.14

0.39

2.63

53

9,143,215

4,038.55

0.94

-

1

100

6,640.00

0.83

1.22

9

1,025,583

2,960.00

0.37

2.78

32

5,289,255

13,518.09

2.56

-

14

1,175,926

1,857.48

0.24

-

2

30,000

1,832.36

0.48

-

0

0

1,733.88

0.26

-3.85

13

3,738,100

2,168.61

0.26

-3.70

13

2,157,024

5,422.63

0.42

-

3

3,220

4,483.72

0.48

-

0

0

516.46

0.20

-

0

0

8,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

4,437.33

0.32

-3.03

18

1,099,701

6,691.37

0.50

-

25

1,256,649

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

44

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

d,/^ z &Z/Es ^d ϰϬ KEd/Eh dK KhdW Z&KZD E^ ^/ Θ E^ ϯϬ /E y dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ϭϭ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ĂŐŽ ;:ƵŶĞ ϱƚŚ ϮϬϭϳͿ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŽĨ ϰϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ^ƚŽĐŬ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ͕ ƚƌĂĚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ;ŇŽĂƚͿ ĂŶĚ ƐŝnjĞ ;ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶͿ͘ ŽůůĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵϰ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŽƚĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ ϰϮ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĂďůĞ ŇŽĂƚ͘

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Current Price

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

1.9%

57.1%

19.7%

7.2%

7.1x

0.9x

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,571.32

-0.80% -1.2%

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

5.3%

11.6%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.50

20.9%

-0.6%

-0.1%

32.6%

5.2%

6.6x

2.3x

6.7%

15.2%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

25.50

-0.4%

12.7%

-0.5%

-1.7%

26.3%

3.6%

4.3x

1.1x

10.6%

23.4%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

107.90

-1.9%

7.1%

-20.0%

-20.1%

17.4%

8.3%

27.0x

4.6x

3.8%

3.7%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,472.50

-4.4%

7.5%

-5.4%

-5.4%

73.3%

18.9%

34.4x

21.8x

2.9%

2.9%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

240.00

-1.0%

6.4%

4.3%

4.3%

22.7%

12.0%

20.7x

4.8x

4.4%

4.8%

5.7%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

10.15

6.3%

15.3%

15.5%

6.7%

0.8%

7.3x

0.5x

2.5%

13.7%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.40

-4.6%

4.4%

-0.5%

-1.9%

12.7%

1.5%

5.1x

0.7x

6.3%

19.5%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

10.80

1.9%

4.5%

4.9%

3.7%

15.9%

1.9%

4.8x

0.8x

7.9%

21.0%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

19.50

-2.7%

3.7%

14.7%

19.9%

-14.6%

-1.3%

6.5x

0.7x

3.1%

15.5%

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

743.20

1.2%

3.6%

18.7%

18.7%

22.3%

13.2%

3.8x

0.8x

2.4%

26.2%

-2.9%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

46.10

3.2%

11.1%

12.7%

28.9%

3.8%

8.7x

2.5x

1.1%

11.4%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

51.45

5.0%

3.1%

25.5%

28.0%

19.2%

8.0%

27.5x

3.8x

1.0%

3.6%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

100.00

0.0%

2.4%

6.4%

6.4%

15.4%

6.1%

19.0x

2.6x

0.7%

5.3%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

34.80

-4.9%

1.3%

-22.5%

-22.5%

-36.8%

-7.7%

1.9x

4.3%

-17.7%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.90

5.0%

1.0%

-22.8%

-26.4%

10.4%

1.4%

0.3x

5.8%

67.0%

16

Oando PLC

6.80

-0.7%

1.5%

13.5%

13.5%

10.3%

1.5%

8.4x

0.5x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.45

2.6%

1.0%

-12.8%

-14.3%

45.0%

20.0%

5.2x

1.9x

14.3%

19.3%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

-5.9%

1.3%

18.2%

18.2%

39.7%

29.4%

8.0x

2.7x

3.8%

12.5%

19

International Brew eries PLC

44.50

-9.6%

0.6%

-18.3%

-19.1%

24.6%

7.4%

46.6x

10.6x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

31.10

-1.6%

0.7%

7.2%

7.2%

13.1%

3.0%

6.5x

0.8x

3.0%

15.4%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

13.0%

1.5x

11.8%

2.1%

1.26

-0.8%

0.5%

-13.7%

-14.9%

11.2%

2.5%

7.7x

0.8x

1.6%

-0.3%

0.5%

-13.0%

-13.0%

1.5%

0.6%

23.9x

0.6x

4.4%

-15.3%

-5.8%

-0.7%

-7.8%

25.0%

5.3%

10.3x

2.4x

8.0%

9.8%

43.7%

5.8%

0.9%

4.3x

0.3x

4.4%

23.1%

4.8%

16.9%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

14.70

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.33

1.5%

0.5%

-11.3%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

212.00

0.0%

0.5%

-7.8%

25

FCMB Group Plc

2.27

8.1%

0.7%

26

11 PLC

0.1x

164.50

0.0%

0.4%

-15.5%

-15.5%

38.8%

15.7%

5.9x

2.0x

-9.1%

0.4%

-14.9%

-11.9%

17.6%

1.6%

20.0x

3.1x

4.2% -55.0%

27

Forte Oil PLC

37.00

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

21.85

0.0%

0.4%

6.1%

3.3%

10.7%

5.0%

20.7x

2.1x

2.3%

4.8%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

12.50

0.0%

0.3%

-20.2%

-19.9%

2.0%

0.8%

58.4x

2.0x

1.3%

1.7%

30

Presco PLC

75.00

0.0%

0.4%

9.5%

9.5%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

1.0x

2.7%

32.1%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

19.00

-3.1%

0.3%

2.7%

-1.1%

52.3%

19.7%

9.0x

4.0x

7.9%

11.1%

10.00

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

5.0%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.55

-4.3%

0.2%

-28.8%

-26.1%

5.3%

1.1%

8.0x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

27.55

0.0%

0.3%

-1.6%

-1.6%

17.3%

1.8%

7.6x

1.2x

3.6%

13.1%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.30

4.0%

0.3%

20.4%

15.0%

10.7%

1.0%

3.9x

0.4x

1.5%

25.7%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

9.25

3.4%

0.2%

-23.9%

-23.9%

61.6%

15.8%

3.0x

1.3x

2.2%

33.4%

0.0%

12.5%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.20

0.2%

-11.2%

-11.2%

4.4%

2.8%

30.3x

1.3x

39.1%

3.3%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

36.80

0.0%

0.2%

8.2%

3.1%

66.2%

30.2%

17.2x

11.5x

6.0%

5.8%

39

Beta Glass PLC

87.35

0.0%

0.2%

70.2%

70.2%

18.4%

11.9%

12.3x

2.1x

1.2%

8.1%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

T o p 10 G a ine r s

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 %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

CCNN

26.65

10.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

127.2

-0.4%

FCM B

2.27

8.1%

GUA R A N T Y

74.0

-1.2%

FB NH

10.15

5.7%

UB A

65.6

1.9%

UN ILEVER

51.45

5.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

29.8

4.0%

T ic k er

F ID ELIT YB K

1.90

5.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

20.2

5.0%

ET ER N A

6.03

4.9%

FB NH

18.3

5.7%

WEM A B A N K

0.76

4.1%

J A P A ULOIL

17.5

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.30

4.0%

T R A N SC OR P

16.2

-0.8%

D A N GF LOUR

9.25

3.4%

D IA M ON D B N K

10.4

1.5%

M B EN EF IT

0.37

2.8%

LA SA C O

9.1

2.6%

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

IN T B R EW

44.50

-9.6%

Z EN IT H B A N K

3261.7

-0.4%

FO

37.00

-9.1%

GUA R A N T Y

3008.7

-1.2%

OKOM UOIL

80.00

-5.9%

UB A

700.8

1.9%

LIVEST OC K

0.77

-4.9%

NB

607.7

-1.9%

2.12

-4.9%

D A N GC EM

561.1

-1.0%

34.80

-4.9%

N EST LE

341.7

-4.4%

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

C A VER T ON WA P C O

10.40

-4.6%

ST A N B IC

304.0

-2.9%

1472.50

-4.4%

FB NH

181.7

5.7%

NNFM

6.55

-4.4%

SEP LA T

132.3

1.2%

UB N

5.55

-4.3%

OKOM UOIL

117.2

-5.9%

A C C ESS N EST LE

Friday, June 1, 2018

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Omotola Abimbola | oabimbola@afrinvest.com

45

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Standard Bank Increases Equity Stake in Stanbic IBTC to 64.4% Goddy Egene The Standard Bank Group Limited of South Africa has increased its equity stake in Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc from 53.09 per cent to 64.44 per cent. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, Stanbic IBTC Holdings said the increase came through the acquisition of additional 1.142 billion shares in an off- market transaction.

Standard Bank Group did

the deal through its wholly owned subsidiary, Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited.

“With this acquisition, the total percentage shareholding of Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited in Stanbic IBTC has increased by 11.35 per cent from 53.09 per cent to 64.44 per cent post this transaction,” the company said.

Market operators said the increase by the South African banking group is a sign of confidence in Stanbic IBTC Holdings in particular and the

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

Nigerian economy in general.

But shares of Stanbic IBTC Holdings fell 2.9 per cent yesterday to close at N46.10.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc ended the 2017 financial year with a jump of 70 per cent in profit after tax (PAT) to N48.381 billion, from N28.520 billion in 2016, while a dividend of 50 kobo per share was proposed According to the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Yinka Sanni, the strong performance

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 30May-2018, unless otherwise stated.

was evidence of the positive outcome of the group’s strategy of growing the client base across target and key market segments while maintaining a principled credit process.

“The Group reported its best profitability results since inception. We achieved a 70 per cent growth in profit after tax amid healthy capital and liquidity levels. Our balance sheet grew by 32 per cent to N1.39 trillion and this was funded mainly by customer

deposit growth of 34 per cent,” Sanni stated.

He noted that the various business divisions achieved strong operating results as well as retained market leadership across the various businesses such as global markets, investment banking, pension, stockbroking, asset management, and custodial services, with several accolades received during the year.

Looking ahead, Sanni said the Group remains optimistic that it will sustain

the improved financial performance in 2018 and beyond.

“While we are encouraged by the impressive results, we remain focused on improving risk asset quality, managing our cost base, maintaining our capital strength and increasing our returns to shareholders.

We are positive that the Group will benefit from a more stable macroeconomic environment to drive growth in lending and other business activities,” he said.

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 187.24 188.66 5.55% Nigeria International Debt Fund 244.77 246.23 6.12% 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 0.83 0.84 1.18% ACAP Income Funds 0.64 0.64 6.22% 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 13.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 153.10 155.10 1.23% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.37% 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 13.51% Paramount Equity Fund 11.99 12.29 8.10% Women's Investment Fund 104.02 106.68 3.37% 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 13.60% 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 13.14% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.17 8.96% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.15 7.99% 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 1,159.33 1,160.03 0.98% FBN Heritage Fund 147.38 148.64 5.71% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.01 $113.39 0.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.89 $113.28 0.01% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 172.79 175.42 7.59% 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 1.36 1.39 4.55% Legacy Debt Fund 3.04 3.04 5.49% 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 3,162.46 3,193.97 5.91% Coral Income Fund 2,616.81 2,616.81 6.93% 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 13.42% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 101.95 102.90 1.97% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.18 1.20 3.30% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,069.41 1,069.41 6.07% 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 13.24 13.33 0.89% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.28% 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 1.34 1.36 12.45% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.79 11.86 6.85% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.80% 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 125.31 127.53 -2.69% 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 1.58 1.58 6.42% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A 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 1.34 1.35 0.12% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 5.76% United Capital Equity Fund 0.95 0.97 3.38% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.79% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.06 106.06 3.07% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.14 4.45% 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 13.14 13.33 5.30% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.74 13.89 4.48% Zenith Income Fund 20.23 20.23 6.88% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.18%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 135.41 51.22

1.01% 2.23% 0.77%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.35 150.32 114.00

12.45 153.46 116.09

1.88% 5.22% 4.33%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

4.77 9.10 17.96 19.51 146.39

4.81 9.18 18.06 19.71 148.39

0.72% -4.87% 2.53% -0.81% 6.90%

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.

46

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

47

FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

Kim Jong Un Complains of US ‘Hegemonism’ as Summit Nears US, North Korea to hold second day of nuclear talks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un complained of “US hegemonism” to Russia’s visiting foreign minister on Thursday, as one of his top lieutenants was in New York trying to pave the way for a summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore next month, The Associated Press reported.

Kim told Sergey Lavrov that he hopes to boost cooperation with Russia, which has remained largely on the sidelines in recent months as Kim has made a major diplomatic outreach to the United States as well as to South Korea and China.

“As we move to adjust to the political situation in the face of US hegemonism, I am willing to exchange detailed and in-depth opinions with your leadership and hope to do so moving forward,” AP quoted Kim as telling Lavrov.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and visiting high-ranking North Korean official Kim Yong Chol in a bidto settle nuclear disagreements set up a historic summit between

their leaders, as they held a second day of meetings on Thursday in New York, Reuters reported.

Despite Kim’s recent toning down of his rhetoric against Washington and Seoul, after previously made harsher comments and threats of nuclear attacks, continuing differences between the two countries led Trump to abruptly cancel the planned summit last week, and then quickly announce that it might still be held as scheduled on June 12.

Trump said he was expecting the delegation from Pyongyang to travel to Washington on Friday to deliver a letter to him from leader Kim Jong Un. “I look forward to seeing what’s in the letter,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying as he left Joint Base Andrews for a trip to Houston. Asked if a deal was taking shape, he said: “I think it will be very positive ... The meetings have been very positive.”

“I want it to be meaningful,” he added. “It doesn’t mean it gets all done at one meeting. Maybe you

have to have a second or a third. And maybe we’ll have none.”

On its part, Russia has kept a surprisingly low profile as Kim emerged onto the world stage this year, meeting twice with Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This is despite having a border with North Korea and relatively cordial relations that President Vladimir Putin has seemed to want to develop further,.

Lavrov’s visit to Pyongyang suggests that Russia wants to become involved and make sure North Korea informs it of its intentions and is mindful of Moscow’s concerns.

In their talks, Lavrov relayed Putin’s “warmest regards and best wishes” for Kim’s “big endeavours” on the Korean Peninsula. He also expressed Moscow’s support for an agreement Kim reached with Moon at a summit last month that focused on measures to ease hostilities and increase exchanges between the two Koreas.

CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OMOREGIE GODWIN, now wish to be called and addressed as OMOREGIE GODWIN OSAS . All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ONYEMA EMMANUEL, now wish to be called and addressed as OGOH ONYEMA EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OGBITEBU DAVID MOMDAY, now wish to be called and addressed as OGBITEBU DAVID OGHENAMOOLEGE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHRISTIANA JOHN DASIBEL, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS CHRISTIANA DASIBEL MOEMEKE .

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ŶŽƟĨLJ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů public that the street name formerly known as OGBARU OZUGURU FARM AREA will henceforth be known as SPIFF C. UZOMA street. All documents ďĞĂƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ƐƚƌĞĞƚ ŶĂŵĞ remain valid.

I formerly known and addressed as JOEL OMEZ, now wish to be called and addressed as JOEL OLALEKAN OMIYALE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES.

I, GEFFREY CHUKWUNEKE NWANJAH is the same person as GEFFERY CHINWEOKWU NWANJAH,and the correct date of birth is 18th MAY 1954. All former document remain valid.

I formerly known and addressed as UBOZOR CHIZOBA, now wish to be called and addressed as UBOZOR CHIZOBA FESTUS. All former documents remain valid The General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUSA, now wish to be called and addressed as AKINWUMI IBRAHIM SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid The General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADIGUN MUTIU AYODEJI, now wish to be called and addressed as DAUDA MUTIU AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid The General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINEZE JOY HOPE ANYAEGBUNAM, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS CHINEZE JOY HOPE OJOGBO. All former documents remain valid Zenith Bank and the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIEMELIE OBIOMA EZEOBI, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS. CHIEMELIE OBIOMA EZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OBA ALHAJI AMINU LT AMINU AGBABIAKA OBA, now wish to be called and addressed as AMINU OBA AGBABIAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AKIN AZE LOVETH, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS OGUNDERO AZE LOVETH. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAYEMI TAIWO FAUSAT, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS BALOGUN TAIWO FAUSAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OLAYEMI KEHINDE ISWAT, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS ODENIRAN KEHINDE ISWAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS GRACE UKECHI OBODO, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS NWAKANMA GRACE OBODO . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ORINYA ABOH FRIDAY, now wish to be called and addressed as OGBU ORINYA ABOH FRIDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHINEZE JOY HOPE ANYAEGBUNAM, now wish to be called and addressed as MRS CHINEZE JOY HOPE OJOGBO. All former documents remain valid Zenith Bank and the General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as UGBEKILE OZIOMA, now wish to be called and addressed as DIKENWOSI CHUKWUKA V..

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

48

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Month of the Quran Aslam Abdullah/IslamiCity

B

efore it came to be known as the month of Fasting, the companions of the Prophet knew Ramadan as a month of the Quran, the last and everlasting divine guidance to humanity. “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong). So, whoever of you sights the month, he/ she must observe fasts that month and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not observe fasts must be made up) from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and he does not want to make things difficult for you. He wants that you must complete the same number of days and that you must glorify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.” (2:184).

The revelation began in the month of Ramadan.

The night in which the Quran began to be revealed is referred in the Quran as the blessed night: We sent it (the Quran) down on a blessed night, (44:2) or the night of Decree, Verily, we have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr. (97:1). It was the strength, clarity, simplicity, and universality of the message that the night was described as an extraordinary night.

With its 6332 ayas (sentences) spread in 114 suras (chapters) divided in seven stages and 30 parts, the Quran was finalized and compiled in the life time of the Prophet who alone among human beings knew what it was. Only the Prophet could testify, verify and approve what the Quran consisted of as no other human being in his time shared that experience. He put his seal of approval on the finality of the divine message and gave his instructions on its arrangement. The Prophet ensured that every verse revealed to him was recorded and written at the time of its revelation.

In one of the several ahadiths (statements attributed to the Prophet) mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, one of the companions, Bara’a narrates that when the verse “not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home) except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives, Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home) to each Allah has promised good, but has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home by a huge reward.” (4:95) was revealed, the prophet immediately called one of the scribes of the Quran to bring in the ink, pen, and the tablet so that it could be written down.

It is also mentioned in Masnad Ahmed, Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan Nasai, Jami Tirmdhi, Ibn Habban, and Musdark Hakim that Usman bin Affan, the third Caliph, narrated that whenever a verse was revealed, the Prophet used to call scribes immediately and gave them specific instructions to write it in the sura (chapter) where is was meant to be.

Zaid bin Thabit is reported as mentioned in Sahiah Bukhari, that in the life time of the Prophet there were at least four from Ansar of Medina, Abi bin Kaab, Maadh ibn Jabal, Zaid, and Abu Zaid who had the entire Quran written with them. It is also reported that in Medina Abdullah bin Saeed bin al-As, who was a calligrapher was specially instructed to teach the art of writing the Quran to the citizens of Medina.

Besides other materials, the paper was also used to write the Quran. The scriptures refer to the word paper twice: But even if we had sent down unto thee [O Prophet] a writing on paper, and they had touched it with their own hands - those who are bent on denying the truth would indeed have said, “This is clearly nothing but a deception!” (6:7), “For, no true understanding of God have they when they say, “Never has God revealed anything unto man.” Say: “Who has bestowed from on high the divine writ which Moses brought unto men as a light and a guidance, [and] which you treat as [mere] leaves of paper, making a show of them the while you conceal [so] much - although you have been taught [by it] what neither you nor your forefathers had ever known?” Say: “God [has revealed that divine writ]!” - and then leave them to play at their vain talk. (6:92) The Quran also uses the word Riq, “In a Scroll unfolded; (52:3), a kind of paper made from the skins of animals.

In the books of Ahadith, we come across the names of at least 45 more companions who knew how to read and write the Quran.

The Prophet was so particular about preserving the Quran in writing that even at the time of his migration from Makkah to Medina, he had a scriber with him with ink and pen.

The Quran describes itself as a book (kitab), a word that appears 230 times in various contexts.

Even though there are narrations in many books that suggest that the Quran in the form that we

have it today was compiled during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr at the insistence of Second Caliph Umar bin al-Khattab and later finalized at the time of third Caliph, Usman bin Affan, the verdict of the Quran about its finalization, preservation, authenticity and compilation is overriding. “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).”

(15:17) “And (moreover) We have guarded them from every evil spirit accursed.” (15:17). “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. (5:3).

It is obvious that the efforts of the Caliphs were to make copies of the Quran from the original for wider distribution in the Muslim world. It is evident from the writings of Ibn Hazm in his book Kitab ul Fisl that over 100,000 copies of the Quran were present in the entire world at the time of Umar bin Al-Khattab.

The Quran describes itself as a book that proves the commonality of the divine messages previously revealed to earlier prophets that were not preserved in the original form by their followers. It also asserts that the divine message has essentially been the same revolving around three main principles; 1) monotheism in the sense that the source of all divine messages is Allah, the initiator and the creator of the universe, 2) the guidance from a higher and neutral source is needed by human beings to lead a simple and disciplined life. It is only through following the divine guidance human beings can discipline their lives the same way as everything else in the universe runs in a perfect order.

3) the life is in constant evolution and the death would not end the life but move in a difference stage of existence where individuals and groups would be held accountable for everything that they do and say in their limited life in this world.

The greatest miracle of the Quran is the consistency of this message evident in all its suras (chapters) and ayas (sentences). The linguistic beauty and style are apparent to only those who understand the language but the clarity and consistency of the message is for everyone regardless of their linguistic skills and they are relevant for all times. In other words every sura of the Quran is connected with its overall message with variations in emphasis and every aya is related with a particular aspect of the message within the context of the total guidance.

Thus the month of Ramadan offers the believers a unique opportunity to refresh their understanding of the guidance and live it for an entire month so that the life in coming months could be disciplined around that. Thus, the first task for every believer is to get connected with the divine guidance in a disciplined, consistent, and regular basis.

The fasting enables a person to live the principle of self control and self discipline, which is essential to realize the strength and relevance of the divine message.

Seemingly, a large number of Muslims do not know the Arabic language and hence find it hard to understand when the Quran is recited to them.

Moreover, we have the traditions informing us that the reading of the Quran gives us the reward of reading one letter to the equivalent to the 30 letter reward. The mercy and the divine measurement for good deeds are limitless and this narration should be read in that context.

Besides earning reward for reading the Quran without understanding, we can also make efforts in the month of Ramadan to read it with understanding.

This may even double or triple the reward. It is no harm to read the Quran with translation.

Non-Arabic speaking believers can recite the Quran in Arabic and listen to its pronunciation during the taraweeh prayers, besides reading the translation in their own languages to understand the essence of the divine message. This understanding will enable us to get closer to the guidance of Allah.

Often it is argued that it is difficult to understand the Quran in any other language. The Quran, on the other hand repeats the following verse four times: “And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? (54:17) Besides, the Quran also says: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors: verily in that are Signs for those who know.” (30:22) The reading of the Quran with meaning would give us an opportunity to understand the divine message as is and inspire us to appreciate its relevance for us in our times. Thus in addition to reading the Quran, we can also make efforts to live it.

We spend much of our efforts in correcting our pronunciation of the Quran. This is good and the proper sound of every letter and word must be perfected authentically. However, the main purpose of perfecting the pronunciation must never be ignored: i.e. to understand so that we could live the Quran, the way our Prophet lived it.

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Our Economy Has Recorded Significant Growth in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Says Osinbajo Explains why Nigeria didn’t sign AfCTA agreement Emma Okonji and Ugo Aliogo Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the Nigerian economy has recorded significant improvement in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing, since it came out of recession.

The vice president who spoke at the Financial Times Nigeria Summit, which held in Lagos yesterday, said the current 3.6 per cent growth in agriculture showed that the country has improved tremendously in agriculture and manufacturing.

Osinbajo who attributed the growth rate to government’s initiative to diversify the Nigerian economy, said the federal government would continue to invest and diversify the Nigerian economy in a way that would benefit Nigerians and the Nigerian economy.

“We are diversifying the Nigerian economy in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing. Take rice importation for instance, the volume has reduced. Government is focused in creating the right environment for businesses to thrive hence government signed to executive orders on the ease of doing business in the areas of company registration, taxation among others in order to make life easier for people and businesses.

“All these have improved our world bank rating. This government was able to assemble the right people and once you have the right people in place, the economy grows. We have the population and the market size and so what the government is doing is to prepare the ground to attract investors to the country,” he said.

The vice president also stated that the federal government did not

Boko Haram Kills Five Soldiers in Borno Five soldiers yesterday lost their lives in an ambush by Boko Haram at Pridang– Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Texas Chukwu, confirmed the tragic incident.

In a statement, Chukwu, according to The Cable, said the insurgents engaged troops of 271 task force battalion deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole in a gun battle.

He added that while many of them were killed, some escaped with gunshot injuries.

“While on clearance operation along Pridang – Bitta in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno dtate, fought through an ambush staged by elements of Boko Haram terrorists,” the statement read.

“In the firefight that ensued, the gallant troops fought through the ambush, they neutralised several Boko Haram terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.

“The remains of the deceased personnel have been promptly evacuated to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital.”

sign the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCTA) due to the opinions expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari that it would be much wiser to suspend the signing to such a time that all the necessary engagements have been made to the satisfaction of the private sector.

Osinbajo noted that the government has worked very closely with the private sector, adding that it will be wrong not to satisfy the sector and the complaints that they have raised.

He stated that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other groups felt that the federal government should not go into the agreement without further consultation.

Osinbajo explained that the concern for the administration is not whether they would not sign the agreement, but signing the agreement would depend on how important it would be to the economy and what type of negotiations would go on.

He further stated that government is taking a look at the issues first to consider the framework, understand the nitty-gritty and then work out ways on how it is going to play

out for the private sector partners, industry and trade.

Addressing the issue of security, Osinbajo told his interviewer, the Africa Editor, Financial Times, Mr. David Pilling, that security issues were not peculiar to Nigeria as a country, since other nations are facing different forms of security issues.

According to him, what matters is the way the federal government is tackling insecurity in the country. One of the strong initiatives that government is pushing in the area of security, is community policing, because bulk of the terrorists actions are opportunistic attacks, and we are looking at having community policing to avert such attacks and threats to human lives, Osinbajo said.

He explained that Boko Haram took over local government territories in the North-east and had full control of them, but that government has tactically defeated them and regained such territories from their control.

Delivering a paper on ‘Achieving Economic Resilience and Growth in Nigeria’, the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma

said the Nigerian economy is beginning to pick up and showing some forms of resilience in economic growth.

According to Udoma, although the Nigerian economy largely depended on one commodity, which is petroleum, and which made it difficult to tackle some of her economic challenges, the economy is already showing signs of resilience, based on the initiative of the present government to increase budget and diversify the economy.

“About 90 per cent of the country’s earning was coming from crude oil and the collapse of oil prices started from 2014. It fell to as low as $30 per barrel in 2016 and at some point, it went below $30. Oil production at that time also collapsed as a result of disruption from oil producing communities in Nigeria, and as a result, the economy slipped into recession. There was drop in GDP growth at that time. So the current government had to work round the clock to revive the situation,” Udoma said.

According to him, the first response of government was to come out with an expanded 2016 budget, so that government could

increase spending to enable the private sector spend more money.

The federal government, he said, consulted the state’s through national economic council and it also consulted the National Assembly and the private sector.

According to him, in 2015, N26.6 billion was allocated for power works and housing but when this government came into power we increased it in 2016 to N422.9 billion and in 2017, it was increased to N553.7 billion.

“In the 2018 budget, we further increased allocations in some areas. Allocation for transport was increased from N14 billion in 2015 to N241.7 billion in 2017. Agriculture from N8.8 billion in 2015 to N103.8 billion in 2017. Security is also key to this government as government allocated more money for defence and interior. Defence went up from N36.7 billion in 2015 to N129.3 billion in 2017, and interior, which include the police tripled from N21 billion in 2015 to N63.76 in 2017.

“We did not only increase allocation of money in the specialised areas, but we also released the monies for their implementation,” Udoma said.

House Okays Use of Card Reader, Disapproves of ElectronicVoting James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday considered the report on a bill for an Act to Amend the Provisions of the Electoral Act, to improve the electoral process and other related matters.

Though the report could not be passed as a whole owing to some grey areas which needed to be addressed, several other recommendations were backed by members at the Committee of Whole chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuff Lasun.

The lower House supported the use of smart card reader for the purpose of accreditation of voters during elections but backed down on the use of electronic voting for the 2019 elections as many believed the time was not yet ripe for its deployment.

The 41-clause bill, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku, Hon. Ahmed Babba Kaita and Hon. Eucharia Azodo, essentially seeks to address gaps witnessed in the 2015 general elections.

The lawmakers further tweaked the Electoral Act to ensure that where there are established infractions on the part of a candidate, such individual, rather than the party ,is disqualified from the race.

In that regard, a candidate who made false affidavit is sanctioned by law rather than the political party.

Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) had proposed an amendment to suspend an election

in any polling unit should the card reader fail to function, some lawmakers raised eyebrow over this.

The amended clause states that “The presiding officer shall use the smartcard reader for accreditation of voters. Where the smartcard fails in any unit, the election in that unit will be suspended and conducted within 24 hours.”

Lasun had expressed fears the clause could delay election results.

But Chinda argued that the effect will be minimal in a polling unit except when it affects an entire electoral ward.

According to him, “If that unit’s result will not affect the entire outcome, INEC doesn’t have to go back. But if it will affect the outcome, INEC policy is that they must go back to do the accreditation with a card reader and conduct the election.”

The amendments also sought huge financial punishment on parties whose candidates tender fake documents for election purposes, recommending up to a fine of N1 million against the affected party.

Lasun quipped that such financial burden to run a party aground where many candidates are found to be dishonest in their filings. He said it would be a great deterrent nevertheless.

All dark areas in the amendment bill is expected to be cleared before it’s eventually passed for third reading and sent for concurrence with the Senate before being

RESOURCE PERSONS

L-R: Chairman, ICPC/Representative of Vice President, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen; ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN); Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, during the Faculty of Law, UNILAG 2018 Public Lecture in Lagos.... yesterday Etop Ukutt

Killings: Senate Asks NSA to Submit Request for Funding The Senate yesterday asked the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-General Babagana Monguno (rtd), to submit a request for funding.

The special funding would enable the security agencies tackle the spate of killings, kidnapping as well as terrorism across the country.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, disclosed this after the Senate resumed from a two-and-half hour executive session with the NSA. Earlier, the Senate went into a closed-door session with the NSA and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, for a briefing on the proliferation of dangerous arms, spate of killings and kidnappings across the country.

The Senate had on May 8 summoned all service chiefs; the Director General of the State Security

Service (SSS) Lawan Daura; the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali; and Monguno over the illegal possession of firearms by non-state actors.

The invitation was sequel to deliberations on a motion titled “proliferation of dangerous firearms in Nigeria” sponsored

by Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North).

Humkuyi had called for the invitation of the service chiefs while lamenting the incessant killings in several parts of the country with reference to the most recent killings in Kaduna State on Saturday.

Overtime, Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State and some villages in Maru Local Government of Zamfara State have been terrorised by armed bandits.

Armed bandits have not only killed and kidnapped residents of the villages but destroyed properties too.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, the Director General of Department State Service (DSS), Lawan Daura and representatives of the Comptroller General of Immigration, Inspector General of police and the Comptroller General of Customs appeared before the Senate over the same matter.

Monguno, who was meant to be part of the delegation, did not appear on that day, but sent his apologies.

He appeared before the lawmakers yesterday.

The closed-door session, according to Premium Times, began at about 12.41p.m. and ended at 2.15p.m.

Upon resumption of plenary, Saraki read out the Senate’s resolutions.

“The Senate in a closed committee of the whole, received briefing from the National Security Adviser on the proliferation of dangerous arms, spate of killings and kidnappings by hoodlums across the country.

“He answered questions from distinguished senators bothering on security, insurgences, terrorism, kidnappings, coordination of the security agencies and in general, killings in the country.

“And thereafter, we directed that he submits a funding request similar to that of the security chiefs that have appeared before and also submit consideration for where relevant amendments to existing laws involving security agencies needs consideration,” he said.

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JOHESU Suspends Nationwide Strike Industrial court bars labour, health ministers from negotiations NLC blames Adewole for prolonged strike

Paul Obi in Abuja The Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) yesterday called off its six week nationwide strike to give room for negotiations with the federal government.

The call-off of the nationwide strike came on the heels of the intervention by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the injunction by the National Industrial Court.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Biobelemoye Josiah alongside the Secretary, Ekpebor Florence, said: “Nigerians and consumers of healthcare services will recall that the JOHESU embarked on a nationwide strike on midnight of April 17, 2018, owing to the failure of federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health to honour agreements wilfully signed with the unions on September, 30 2017, after due notice of 66 cumulative days.

“Following series of meetings (8) with the federal government team under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMoL&E) and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) other agencies of Government such as Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF),

Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Department of State Security Services (DSS), and others, we note with dismay the insincerity and unseriousness exhibited at the negotiation table by the government negotiating team which led to the breakdown of further negotiations and unnecessarily prolonged the strike.

“It is on record that it was during the period of late James Ocholi (SAN) who was the chairman of the committee set up

by Federal Ministry of Labour that JOHESU demands were sincerely and passionately looked into with a view to permanently resolving it amicably, but the expectation was short lived due to the cold hands of death. We salute his spirit and dedication to service of his father land.”

Josiah stated that “due to the intervention of the Senate President, Saraki, who through his love for the suffering masses displayed high level of statesmanship and sincerity of purpose by putting some machineries in place with a view to permanently resolving the issues in contention. JOHESU, has considered his intervention after holding just two meetings with it leadership, where serious progress were made.

“The various gains from the

meetings, with the Senate President were presented to the NEC of JOHESU, after an exhaustive deliberations and discussions, the NEC in session approved that the six weeks old strike be suspended this day May 31, 2018, because of the sympathy the Unions have for the suffering Nigerian masses and also to pave way for further negotiations to continue on June 4, 2018.

“We would like to place on record that JOHESU strike is neither ill nor politically motivated but in a bid to save the health sector from imminent collapse. We appreciate the solidarity, support and guidance of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, his Deputy and TUC in seeing to the resolution of this crisis as well as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other well meaning Nigerians for rising up to the occasion while the strike lasted.

“We appreciate our members abundantly for their steadfastness, resoluteness and resilience during

this period of trial.

“JOHESU is not unmindful of the various threats, letters and circulars emanating from the Federal Ministry of Health and managements of hospitals across the country. We, however, urge our members to remain peaceful and law abiding in the face of intimidation and report any form of harassment to the national leadership.

“We appreciate Nigerians for their patience and solidarity during the course of the avoidable strike.

The Nigerian health sector shall witness a paradigm shift for the benefit of health care consumers.”

On the injunction by the Industrial National Court, Josiah explained that “after the failure of the federal government negotiation team to resolve this impasse, an NGO sought and got an ex-parte court order directing JOHESU to suspend the strike within 24 hours and report back to work.

“Our legal team challenged the ex-parte motion at the National

Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and subsequently filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal with a view to quashing the order and taking it away from NICN to the Court of Appeal for adjudication.

“However, at the first hearing where our legal team challenged the jurisdiction of the NICN to entertain the matter filed by the NGO, the presiding judge ruled as follows; court takes over the negotiations between JOHESU and government in its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centre.”

He maintained that the court mandated “JOHESU and government side are to nominate their representatives in the ADR process within 24 hours of the NICN judgment. The Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Labour shall nominate officers that have authority to negotiate on its behalf i.e the Minister of Health and Minister of Labour shall not be part of the committee.

“The agreement reached at the

ADR centre will be registered in the court as judgment binding on both parties. JOHESU is to initiate the process of allowing normalcy to return to hospitals within three days. Both parties were ordered to maintain status-quo ante bellum while negotiation lasts.”

Also, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, who spoke with journalists, blamed the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for prolonging the nationwide strike.

Wabba accused the minister of handling the strike poorly, adding that “he has not handled the issues very well; therefore, I don’t want to discuss his matter. If he has handled it very well, we will not have this quagmire. He is not the minister of only one profession. He is a Minister of Health.

“That is why TUC and NLC have come in. Outside sentiments, the minister must see himself as Minister of the Federal Republic, he is not the minister of only one profession,” Wabba insisted.

Adelabu Resigns as CBN Deputy Gov for Politics Buhari wishes ex-deputy governor well Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Ademola Babalola in Ibadan President Muhammadu Buhari has formally accepted the disengagement of the Deputy Governor in charge of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, with effect from July 15, 2018.

A statement issued by the acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said in a letter dated May 24, 2018 and personally signed by him, Buhari thanked Adelabu for his services to the country and wished him the best in his future ambitions.

Part of the letter read: “While appreciating your services in the CBN since April 9, 2014, I wish you the best in your future ambitions and continued commitment to public service in our country and specifically, as you seek to play a more active role in politics, in your home state.”

Adelabu formally assumed duty as Deputy Governor at the CBN on April 9, 2014 and served at different times as Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS), Corporate Services (CS), and lastly Operations (Ops), before he tendered his letter of disengagement.

For months, rumours were rife that Adelabu had resigned owing to his reported bid to govern Oyo State from 2019.

A grandson of late popular Ibadan politician, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, he is also currently the chairman of Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc (NIBBS).

The one-time First Bank Executive Director is also a board member of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

Meanwhile, President Buhari has accepted Adelabu’s disengagement letter.

A letter dated May 24, 2018 and personally signed by Buhari also appreciated Adelabu’s services in various departments of the CBN since April 9, 2014 when he joined the apex bank.

The president’s letter further read: “While appreciating your services in various departments of the CBN since April 9, 2014, I wish you the very best in your future ambitions and continued commitment to public service in our country and specifically, as you seek to play a more active role in politics in your home state. Please accept my very best wishes.”

With preparations gearing up for the 2019 elections, several interest groups in Oyo State have since come out to back the aspiration of Adelabu, a leading gubernatorial aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead of the 2019 general election, urging him to run for the governorship of the state.

A descendant of legendary Ibadan politician in preindependence Nigeria, Adegoke Adelabu (Penkelemesi), the young Adelabu o is seen by many as a suitable successor to the incumbent Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, judging by his pedigree and contribution to the stability of the Nigerian financial sector.

MARITIME STAKEHOLDERS

Managing Director/CEO Nigeria LNG, Tony Attah (right) and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral I. E. Ibas, at the 62nd Nigerian Navy Week and 2018 International Maritime Conference at the Main Auditorium, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos....yesterday

Magu Tasks Banks’ Compliance Officers on Money Laundering Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has urged compliance officers of banks in Nigeria to be more diligent in their responsibilities, as a way of tackling money laundering and other fraudulent practices in the sector.

Magu in a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made this call yesterday in Lagos during an interactive session with Association of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (ACCOBIN).

“We need to find a common ground to work together. You have a responsibility to fight corruption,” he charged.

He stressed that compliance officers in various banks in Nigeria must also take ownership of the fight against corruption, which he

described as one of the problems bedeviling the banking industry.

Magu said: “The Commission is ready to partner you to ensure a healthy economy.

“We are ready to assist the banks in recovering their debts, but compliance officers must ensure due diligence, especially when giving out loans to customers.

“I know you sometimes need to protect some of your customers. But it is sometimes better that you do without some of these people; otherwise, you will be seen as conspiring with them to steal public funds.”

The EFCC boss further charged banks’ compliance officers to always provide the commission with necessary information to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities, adding that “we must work together to save this country. Most of the banks are

sitting on water. In fact, some of these banks are almost collapsing.

“I know there are questions you can’t ask, particularly if it involves some individuals, but if you give us information on such people, we will move in. If there are fundamental issues that can affect your banks, you can give us the information, especially as another general elections approache.

“I don’t want to be charging banks alongside suspected criminals because doing so can wreak havoc on the economy. It will even discourage investors from coming to the country, ” he added.

The anti-graft boss, who also stressed the need for concerted efforts to save the banking industry, added that “every bank is capable of going distressed, no matter its size. That is why we are battling to see that you stay afloat.”

Magu also expressed concerns about the concept of private banking

in Nigeria, which he said could be abused by politically exposed persons.

He, therefore, urged the group to look very critically into the issue, saying, “There must be due diligence, even in this practice of private banking. There must be accountability; there must be transparency in our transactions. You don’t have to wait until anything goes awry before you begin to find a solution to it.”

In his response, the Chairman, ACCOBIN, Mr. Opeyemi Adojutelegan, lauded the commission for its intervention to save the banking sector.

Adejutelegan also assured Magu of the association’s readiness to continue to work with the commission, saying: “Ours is to contribute our quota to the development of the country.”

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Senate Berates Buhari over Uncomplimentary Remarks Confirms four out of five CBN board nominees Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday chastised President Muhamadu Buhari over his recent comments that National Assembly members who have spent over 10 years as lawmakers are bench warmers President Buhari had last week at the Presidential Villa while playing host to the management team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said lawmakers have been in the parliament for 10 years

with nothing concrete to justify their stay-without sponsoring a single Bill Reacting to Buhari’s statement during plenary, Senator Dino Melaye described the president’s remarks as unwarranted and unparliamentary Melaye, who came under Order 14 of the Senate which deals with members’ privileges, said his privilege as a senator had been infringed upon by the president’s statement

Army Intercepts Three Trucks Loaded with over 300,000 Pump Action Cartridges Chiemelie Ezeobi Three trucks loaded with over 300,000 live cartridges of pump action riffles have been intercepted by personnel of the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in Igbogila Balogun area of Owode Ibese, Ogun State.

The interception as gathered, was made at the early hours of yesterday.

However, no arrest was made as occupants of the trucks with plate numbers AAA 409 ZV, BDG 782 XU and GGE 88 XU, fled when the trucks were stopped for a search.

The ammunition were concealed in an in-built compartment of the trucks.

As at the time of the interception, they were empty, until the in-built boards were removed.

Briefing journalists on the arrest, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Iniobong Udoh, explained that the feat was achieved following calls received by members of the public. Represented by the Commander, 35 Artilery Brigade, Brigadier General Olaniiyi Olatunde, said: “Following calls received from well-meaning

Nigerians, our patrol teams in Anti Smuggling, Anti Pipeline Vandalization, on May 30, 2018, at about 2.58a.m, in conjunction with the police, Department State Service (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other well-meaning Nigerians , intercepted the trucks loaded with cartridges at Balogun village, at Agbogila road, Ilara road. The cartridges were contained in boxes concealed in a way that it will be difficult for any usual patrol or checkpoint to discover.

“When our troops stopped them for stop and search, the occupants took to their heels. We pursued them but didn’t get any of them.

Troops are still on their trail.”

He disclosed that the ammunition were suspected to have been brought from the Republic of Benin but could not state the destination they were being taken to.

Thepack containing the cartridges read Diana 32 Hunting selection.

Appreciating members of the public for availing the army with the information which he described as swift, Udoh, stated that the army would continue the fight against criminality, in order to rid the nation of bad elements.

House Probes $22bn Brass LNG Project James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the expenditure and implementation of the $22 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

It expressed grave concern over the state of affairs surrounding the gas project following several allegations of abuse and mismanagement of funds totaling about $22 billion meant for take off and running of the Brass LNG project.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) on the urgent need to investigate the matter.

According to the lawmaker, the Brass LNG project was originally set up in 2003 with NNPC owning 49 percent and other affiliates namely, Conoco Phillips, ENI and Chevron holding 17 per cent each.

However, he said the project had been stuck in the planning stages for more than a decade, with some

Western partners having pulled out because of tough operating conditions and an unfavorable investment environment.

Chinda, further drew attention to the provisions of Section 88(l) (a), (b)(i)&(ii) and (2)(b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which confers each House of the National Assembly power to conduct or carry out investigations into matter(s) of similar nature.

He further recalled Recalls that the Senate in January 2018, raised an alarm over massive fraud in the NNPC as it relates to the Brass LNG project and voted to investigate same, but nothing happened thereafter.

He argued that the federal government’s investment in the project was too enormous to be treated with kid gloves, swept under the carpet or simply put aside with a wave of the hand.

He said unless the issue was urgently investigated, the essence of the fight against corruption would be defeated and the Nigerian economy, particularly the teeming Nigerian masses would be worse for it.

He said having been a member of the National Assembly since 2007 he has contributed meaningfully to the law making process in the country.

Describing Buhari’s statement as uncalled for, un-parliamentary and unpresidential, Melaye emphasised that two of the bills sponsored by him are awaiting the president’s assent “So I stand here to say I’m not a bench warmer and I know what I’m doing having contributed to motions and sponsored bills since I got to the National Assembly in 2007,” the senator said.

He also accused the ComptrollerGeneral of NSC, Col Ahmeed Ali (rtd), of openly campaigning for the re-election of Buhari during his visit to Aso Rock last week According to Melaye, “It is very wrong for head of Customs to

be involved in politics. Nigeria Customs is a para-military organisation while the CG is a rank and are both supposed to be apolitical “Just like saying the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG) or Chief of Air Staff now mounting the podium to openly campaign for the president.

This is not ideal and should not be tolerated.”

He said lawmakers spent their time and energy to come up with bills “which have impacted positively on the operations of agencies like NCS and others that should not dabble into politics.”

Melaye, who added that he has a disk containing all what Buhari said on the occasion as reported by local television stations, therefore called on the Senate to ask for an apology from President Buhari and stressed that a decisive action needed to

be taken on the matter.

In his comment, Senate President Bukola Saraki, while asking Melaye to lay the disk before the Senate, emphasised that President Buhari may have been quoted out of context, “and as such, we should not rush to any conclusion on the issue.”

He said public institutions such as Customs should not veer into politics.

“We must therefore protect the agencies by calling such agencies and parastatals to order because they have a role to play in the development of the country,” he said.

Melaye, who was sitting at the rear of the PDP wing of the Senate Chambers, thereafter limped with his walking stick and moved to the front and laid the disk before the Senate.

Also yesterday, the Senate confirmed four out of five nonexecutive director nominees for the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) presented to it by its Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions headed by Senator Adebayo Ibrahim.

The confirmed nominees are Adeola Adetunji and three Professors namely Mike Obadan, Justina Odinakachukwu and Ummu Jalingo Saraki directed the committee to re-screen the remaining nominee, Dr. Abdu Abubakar, and report back to the Senate. Abubakar who was screened along with other nominees by the committee last Wednesday was rejected based on avalanche of petitions against his nomination.

Over 25 Persons Abducted in Birnin Gwari John Shiklam in Kaduna An unspecified number of people were reportedly kidnapped yesterday along the Birnin Gwari - Funtua road.

However, sources said more than 25 people may have been abducted.

The incident was said to have occurred at about 3:45p.m. between Kiryoyi and Maganda villages of Birnin Gwari Local Government

Area of Kaduna State.

Five vehicles carrying unspecified number of passengers were said to have been intercepted by armed bandits who ordered them out and took them to the bush.

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Birnin Gwari branch, Taxi section, Danladi Duniya, said in a telephone interview that those abducted were many.

“I am not in a position to say

precisely the number of people abducted, but they are many.

May be 25 or more than that. I cannot not say, but all passengers in the vehicles were abducted.

“They stopped five vehicles, one of the driver who was driving a gulf car managed to escape.

This is what we go through on the road and we are pleading with the authorities to help us address this problem.

“People cannot go to farm and

they cannot travel, this is too bad,” he said.

Last week, 44 passengers travelling in five vehicles were abducted in a similar manner.

Despite an ongoing military operation in the area, “Operation Idon Raini,” bandits have continued to terrorise communities and highways in the area.

Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Aliyu Mukhtar, could not be reach on phone.

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Domestic Airlines Vow to Stop Paying VAT Chinedu Eze Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has vowed that from June 14, 2018, its members will stop paying Value Added Tax (VAT) to the federal government, estimated to be over N15 billion annually.

AON made this known in Lagos yesterday during a meeting of the chief executives of airlines and attributed the short life span of domestic carriers to poor infrastructure, excessive charges and taxes; high cost and inadequate supply of aviation fuel.

The airlines accused the federal government of not being concerned by the above mentioned problems, but insisted that airlines failed due to lack of professionalism in the running of their business.

The Executive Chairman of AON, Nogie Meggison, described the payment of VAT as unfair, and explained that it is only Nigerian airlines that pay the tax, while foreign carriers that operate into the country are excluded as well as other modes of transportation.

“The AON’s position is that the VAT on airline ticket sales for domestic carriers must be removed completely forthwith as road

transportation, rail, marine and international air travel carriers are not subjected to VAT,” he said.

He alleged that the federal government is using taxpayers’ money to fund the proposed national carrier that is supposed to be private sector driven, noting that with government commitment to the national carrier, it is evident that it would not give all airlines equal operating environment.

Meggison also explained that the establishment of this national carrier had been shrouded in secrecy and lacks transparency in its entirety, adding that using tax payers’ money and its apparatus to establish an airline with a foreign core investor was not fair to Nigerian airlines and Nigerians.

Also speaking at the meeting, CEO of Top Brass Airlines, Roland Iyayi, a member of the body, said the government has provided for zero customs duty on commercial aircraft, spare parts and engines but unfortunately, in 2018, the industry was yet to fully benefit from this provision.

This, Iyayi explained, had resulted in airlines having some of their aircraft fleet grounded for days in some cases, thereby resulting

in cancelled flights which in turn results in chaos at the airports to the displeasure of customers, adding that this situation is unacceptable and should be reversed forthwith.

On the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) five perc ent ticket sales/charter sales charge, he said airline operators have always contended that the imposition of a percentage tax model creates a distortion in the industry.

“We have recommended and continue to recommend that the unit tax model preferred and practiced by over 90 per cent of countries globally and as recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) be adopted immediately. It is worthy of note that all the industry agencies, including the NCAA regulator, are established as not-for-profit organisations, essentially designed for cost recovery.

“Unfortunately, over the years, successive governments have encouraged the sourcing and increase in internally generated revenues (IGR) by these agencies, thereby completely negating the primary purpose for which they have been established,” he added.

Ex-Gov Yero, Three Others Remanded in Prison over Alleged N700m Fraud John Shiklam in Kaduna Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, and three others were yesterday remanded in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna for alleged N700 million fraud.

The three other accused persons include former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna, Abubakar Gaiya Haruna, a former, Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wya and former Secretary to the Kaduna State Government during Yero’s tenure, Hamza Ishaq.

They were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four count charge bordering on money laundering, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public fund, and breach of trust.

The N700 million was said to be a share of Kaduna State PDP

for disbursement during the 2015 electioneering campaigns.

The accuse persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Specifically, Yero was accused of directly taken possession of N700 million contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering act; directly taken possession of N700m contrary section 18(d); cash transaction without passing through a financial institution.

Other defendants were arraigned on an additional charge of cash payment without passing through a financial institution.

CounseltoYero,YunusUstaz,aSenior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made an oral application for bail for his clients.

“We apply that in the interest of justice and presumption of innocence, the accused be granted bail.

“Your lordship has absolute discretion to grant bail. The administration of the Criminal Justice Act allows that you grant bail without formal application.

“The first defendant is not somebody to jump bail. We prayed that the accused be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the determination of the bail application because of what some of us had gone through in Nigeria prison,” Ustaz prayed the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Shuaibu.

But counsel to EFCC, Joshua Saidi, while opposing the bail application, said the commission does not have enough detention facility to accommodate the accused persons.

However, Justice Shuaibu noted that though the criminal justice administration Act gave him the latitude to grant bail on oral application, he maintained that a formal application must be brought before him as a matter of procedure.

He therefore ruled that the accused be kept in prison custody pending when the application for bail will be argued on June 6, 2019.

Kachikwu, Usani, Dokubo Can’t Fix N’Delta Problems Alone, Says UNDEDSS Ugo Aliogo The premier coalition of all civil society in the Niger Delta, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), has condemned the attempt by the federal government to impact the region negatively by attempting to pass the Water Resources Management Bill, currently before the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Tony Uranta, after rising from its 12th annual general assembly meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, UNDEDSS (which has been in the forefront of the region’s non-violent struggle for security, stability, justice and development globally for well over a decade) admitted that the federal government has tried to win over

the Niger Delta, but without the expected degree of success, because of an absence of focused sincerity.

“While we commend the efforts of Ministers of Petroleum and Niger Delta, namely: Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Pastor Usani Usani, who are working in tandem with the president’s new Special Adviser on the Niger Delta, Professor Charles Dokubo, to coordinate and expedite development and security within our beleaguered region,” stated UNDEDSS, “these men will never achieve any sustainable progress until the full political will of the federal government is seen to back their efforts to the fullest!”

“We cannot understand, for example, why Mr. President’s SA, Professor Dokubo has not been saved by the presidency, from running a gauntlet, by staffers he inherited, who appear hell-bent on

not letting him operate optimally according to good governance standards,” opined Uranta.

“The Niger Delta has tolerated the government’s inability to fulfill many promises, including not commencing any substantial work regarding the Ogoni clean-up etc.,” the UNDEDSS scribe continued, “but, we cannot guarantee that the region’s peoples will remain calm with the introduction of this obnoxiously irredentist Water Resources Management Bill!”

Finally, UNDEDSS warns that there is a suspicion, even in foreign diplomatic circles, that there may be a very unpatriotic design to provoke the region into exiting its status quo which supports amity, peace and national well-being; and, prays that the federal government will pursue peace as we enter the 2019 elections campaign season.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2018

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018

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Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Amuneke Teams up with Parreira,Van Basten, Bora for Russia 2018 TSG

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Former Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Amuneke, is one of the six ex-internationals appointed to join FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) to provide technical and tactical insights into the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Amuneke who coached Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015, is the third Nigeria to be so appointed into the TSG. Former Eagles coaches, Adegboye Onigbinde and Sunday Oliseh had previously served in the elite group of football technocrats.

Other football greats in the 2018 TSG include former Super Eagles handler BoraMilutinovic who led the three-time African champions to a second round finish at France ’98.

Others include; Carlos Alberto Parreira, Alessandro Nesta, Andy Roxburgh and Marco van Basten.

The group will be headed

by Parreira, a FIFA World Cup-winning coach, who, along with Milutinovic, holds the record for coaching the highest number of five different teams at FIFA’s showpiece event.

Asked about the upcoming World Cup, Parreira said:

“I’m expecting to see football where teams play as teams and defend with as many players as possible, pressing and then breaking forward at speed. Very compact teams, with lots of players behind the ball, closing down space and playing at pace on the attack.”

As indicated in the 2018

FIFA World Cup Regulations, the TSG will be responsible for deciding on the following awards: rBEJEBT (PMEFO 4JMWFS BOE Bronze Boots for the leading goal-scorers (if two or more players score the same number of goals, the number of assists, as determined by the TSG members, will be decisive)

rBEJEBT (PMEFO 4JMWFS and Bronze Balls for the best players rBEJEBT (PMEFO (MPWF Award for the best goalkeeper r:PVOH 1MBZFS "XBSE GPS the best player born on or after 1 January 1997 r'BJS 1MBZ "XBSE UIF TSG will determine the ranking at the end of the

final competition) At the conclusion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the TSG will produce a comprehensive technical report, including detailed statistics, which will be distributed among FIFA’s member associations.

The TSG has been analysing FIFA’s competitions since the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Zidane Quits Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane said yesterday he is stepping down as Real Madrid boss, five days after leading them to a third straight Champions League triumph, claiming the club needs “a different voice”.

Zidane told a news conference that “everything changes” and “that’s why I took this decision”.

He leaves having guided the Spanish club to three successive Champions League titles and one La Liga success since taking over in January 2016.

“I love this club,” he added.

“What I think is that this team needs to continue winning but I think it needs a change, a different voice, another methodology.

“This is the right moment for all involved - for me, for the squad, for the club.”

Zidane, 45, took over after Rafael Benitez was sacked and was in charge for 149 games.

He steered Real to 104 wins and 29 draws, had a 69.8% win rate, and won nine trophies.

However, Real finished third in La Liga in 2017-18 - 17 points behind champions and fierce rivals Barcelona - while they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the quarterfinal stage by Leganes.

Zidane said in February he would walk away if he felt “there is nothing more to give”.

However, the timing of his announcement still came as a shock, just days after Real beat Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final.

That win saw him join Bob Paisley (three at Liverpool) and Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan two, Real Madrid one) as the only managers to have won the Champions League/European Cup three times.

“I had to do this for everyone,” added Zidane yesterday.

Olukokun Dashes Alimi’s Hopes of VAT Wonder Goal Double

Sunshine Stars Sikiru Alimi was coasting to his second win of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) VAT Wonder Goal award but was edged by Nasarawa United’s Najeem Olukokun who secured higher votes on the website platform. It would have been a record win for Alimi this season after he was voted the winner of the Match-day 16 award.

Alimi’s goal secured the highest votes on twitter, polling 187 of the 519 votes while Najeem came second with 156.

Other nominees, Reuben Bala of Plateau United and Seka Pasca of FC IfeanyiUbah ended with 88 votes each.

But it was on the website that attracted more voters that Najeem had his way securing a whopping 3303 votes to Alimi’s equally impressive 1057 votes.

Bala had 50 votes while Seka could only muster 22 votes.

In all, there were 4951 fans who voted across both platform and Najeem clinched the award with 3460 votes with Alimi trailing him in second place with a total of 1244. For Bala, the total votes came to 138 and Seka 110.

Najeem is the first Nasarawa United player to top the awards since it was instituted three seasons ago and will receive a cash reward of N150,000, half of which will be donated to a Charity organization he will nominate from the city where the club is based.

He joins the elite list that includes Rivers United duo of Emeka Ogbugh and Sochima Elum, Alimi, Rangers duo of Kelvin Itoya, and Tope Olusesi and Sikiru Olatunbosun of MFM that have won the award this season.

The award presentation ceremony will hold at the Lafia Township stadium on Sunday when Nasarawa United hosts Enyimba international on Match Day 24.

The VAT Wonder Goal is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) to extend club and community engagement through charity.

It has been supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as part of its tax education campaign to enlighten citizens on the benefits of fulfilling their tax obligations.

Eagles... set for Three Lions challenge at Wembley on Saturday

Eagles, Three Lions in Wembley Showdown Nigeria and England go toe-to-toe in what promises to be a thrilling Russia 2018 World Cup dress rehearsal for both teams at the Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday.

England hosted and won the FIFA World Cup in 1966, but have only gone as far as the semi finals since then, when Bobby Robson steered a squad including Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne to the last four in Italy 28 years ago.

Just like the Three Lions, the Eagles are dreaming of big things to come in Russia, despite both teams being ‘blessed’ differently with intricate opposition in the group stage.

Nigeria must negotiate the obstacles offered by two-time world champions and reigning

world vice champions Argentina, hard-as-nails eastern Europeans Croatia and an Iceland squad that stunned England and world football in the Round of 16 at the 2016 European Championship in France. England must sort matters out with strong African opponents Senegal, Japan and Panama.

They have never won the FIFA World Cup, have never even managed to proceed beyond the Round of 16 at the quadrennial tournament, but the Three Lions must beware of a supremely motivated Nigerian squad aiming for the heights in Russia.

A proactive, diligent and equally ambitious NFF leadership signed a landmark agreement with the team on FIFA World Cup funds as far

back as November last year, and the process is on to credit the account of the players with what is due to them, more than two weeks before their first match against Croatia in Kaliningrad.

“The most important thing about the World Cup is not the money. But I must admit that the fact that the money is there and we know is there gives us extra energy, extra motivation in the preparations,” forward Kelechi Iheanacho said before Eagles departed Abuja for London on Wednesday afternoon.

Defensive stalwart Kenneth Omeruo, midfielders Ogenyi Onazi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Wilfred Ndidi and forward Odion Ighalo also admitted this much in separate interviews with thenff.com.

On Tuesday night, at a brief event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Senate President Bukola Saraki spurred the team on with a cash gift of $50,000, and with a pledge of ‘special package’ for every un-replied goal at the World Cup finals in Russia.

On Wednesday morning, the contingent met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Council Chambers, and his words that they should go and fight with their spirit as the whole nation is behind them, are still ringing in the players’ ears.

After bidding President Buhari farewell, the delegation flew to London aboard a luxury jet and is expected to train for the big match at the Wembley between 5pm and 6pm this evening.

Nigeria’s Basketball Family Mourns Wale Aboderin The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has joined thousands of sympathisers to mourn the sudden passing of Dolphins Women’s Basketball Club Chairman, Wale Aboderin.

The NBBF board yesterday paid a condolence visit to the deceased family after the sad news filtered into town on Wednesday evening which left many people sad.

The NBBF President, Ahmadu Musa Kida while reacting to the news described Aboderin’s death as one that human minds cannot easily

comprehend.

“For a man who was so full of life and energy to just be reported dead will forever remain a mystery. His investment in basketball was unparalleled and the vacuum he left will be impossible to fill.”

Kida said as a devoted Muslim, he will take solace in the fact that death is inevitable for every living soul.

He prayed that his soul will be granted eternal rest and the family, friends and business associates he left behind, the fortitude to bear the loss.

“I will urge us all to take solace in the supremacy of God over the affairs of mortals while we live here on earth.

I am a bit lifted with the comments of people since he died which showed the exemplary life he lived.”

The Vice President, Babatunde Ogunade described the deceased as a true gentleman with a genuine passion for basketball and philanthropy.

“The news of Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin’s demise came as a very rude shock. He was one of the

very few who stood up to be counted in the development of basketball. He did at a great cost to himself. His unflinching interest and support for female basketball was infectious. He was always willing to help.”

“He was with the female national team in Mali 2017,where we qualified for the World Cup in Spain.”

Ogunade who took over from Aboderin as the Chairman of Lagos State Basketball Association said the association and the Nigeria Basketball Federation will miss his support.

Ë&#x153; ÍŻË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ëž T H I S D AY

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FRIDAYSPORTS

William Troost-Ekong: The Other Half of Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Oyibo Wall Sam Dean For William Troost-Ekong, the road to Wembley began only 30 miles away from the national stadium, at a private boarding school in the Hertfordshire town of Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stortford. Since then, it has taken him all the way from London to Holland, Norway to Belgium and Nigeria to Turkey, and seen him represent seven different clubs and two different countries, all before the age of 25. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long way round,â&#x20AC;? he says with a smile. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The longest way round.â&#x20AC;?

The journey comes full circle this weekend, when Troost-Ekong pulls on Nigerian green and trots onto the Wembley pitch to face England in a pre-World Cup friendly. It will feel like a homecoming, and it will provide a reunion with Harry Kane, the striker who once helped Troost-Ekong fill out his registration forms when he was a fresh-faced scholar at Tottenham Hotspur. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was one of the first guys that sat me down and helped me,â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong remembers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s amazing to see how well he has done.â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong and Kane have trod markedly different paths since those teenage days, only five years ago, when they shared a training pitch in north London. While Kane is the local lad who became the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striking sensation, Troost-Ekong is the rugged centre-back who was born in Holland, raised in England and now praised in Nigeria as a leader of a side who could spring a surprise at this summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup. Troost-Ekong, who earlier this year became the third African player to commit one per cent of his salary to charity as part of Juan Mataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Common Goal project, will be one of the more intriguing characters at the tournament.

Born to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, he grew up near Amsterdam but speaks, as a result of his schooling, with a discernible north London twang. He is at once Nigerian and Dutch, but is also at home in England, where his fiancĂŠe is expecting their first child.

This heritage has inevitably presented its own challenges, but it has also shaped his personality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I am in Holland they see me almost as a foreigner because I am not a typical Dutch guy,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And when I go to Nigeria they see me as a foreigner as well, so there has never really been somewhere where I can say: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;OK, this is me.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I have always had a bit of that, but it has become part of me.â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong played for Holland at junior levels but made his debut for the Nigerian senior team in 2015 after an impressive season

Troost-Ekong... enjoying every minute of football since switching to Nigeria on loan at Dutch side FC Dordrecht. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were a lot of doubts over me because I did not play for a big team in Holland before my first call-up,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then, on top of that, being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oyiboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, or half-white, you have to prove yourself even more.â&#x20AC;?

A bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic games was a highlight, but he was stung by criticism from his former manager, Sunday

Oliseh, who once accused the defender of being incapable of coping with the physical rigours of African football. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My partner at centre-back (new Brighton signing Leon Balogun) is half-German, half-Nigerian, so he is the same as me,â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After a game, he (Oliseh) said we were too soft to play against African players. That upset me, because one of my

traits as a player is that I am someone who does not back away from anyone. I am not the most skilful, but I know what I am good at. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of being from different countries, different cultures. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not nice when people try to use that against you. I identify myself as being Nigerian as well, and I feel at home in the team. Not once have I ever looked around and thought â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;this is not for meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. But it spurred me on. I have played against African strikers since then and no one has bullied me. I have proven my point.â&#x20AC;?

He has certainly done that under current manager Gernot Rohr, to the extent that he and Balogun have been affectionately nicknamed the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oyibo Wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Nigeria. Troost-Ekong captained his country for the first time earlier this year, and is a key part of a solid side which he says can be â&#x20AC;&#x153;lethalâ&#x20AC;? in attack.

In Russia, their opponents in the group stage will be Croatia, Iceland and, for the third World Cup in a row, Argentina. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Croatia and Argentina are probably the favourites,â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong says, but with familiar faces such as Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and usual captain John Obi Mikel, Rohrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side have a threatening combination of power, flair and experience.

Both Moses and Iwobi could have played for England, but like Troost-Ekong chose to represent Nigeria instead. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to go where you are loved, where you are appreciated,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is more appealing for younger players. It is opening doors for foreign-born Nigerians, and I think there are going to be more to follow. Nigeria is a giant of African football.â&#x20AC;?

Troost-Ekong is now hoping that the World Cup will provide a platform to impress Premier League clubs. He is happy in Turkey, at Bursaspor, but has unfinished business in England after playing for the junior teams of Fulham and then Tottenham.

He credits his time at Tottenham, and particular the tutelage of academy chief John McDermott, as being crucial to his development, but left the club for Dutch side FC Groningen in 2013 following the appointment of Tim Sherwood as manager. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Me and Tim did not have the best rapport,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He did not really believe in me as a player.â&#x20AC;?

He may have taken the long road back, and may only be here for a few days, but Troost-Ekong is beginning to make a habit of converting those doubters into believers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken a different route,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But if I can get to the Premier League, I will feel like I have achieved a lot.â&#x20AC;? t$VMMFE GSPN 6, T 5FMFHSBQI

Mikel: My Kwese Deal Will Open Doors to Future Generation Last Saturday was another milestone for Super Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi following his unveiling as an ambassador of Kwese, the Econet Mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pan-African broadcast network which is the fastest growing satellite television provider in Nigeria. In this report, FEMI SOLAJA takes a look at what the staggering offer will translate to when the activation gets underway at the World Cup finals in Russia in a fortnight The excitement on the face of the former FC Chelsea midfielder knew no bound during his presentation last week as the brand ambassador of KwesĂŠ. Although both parties were not willing to disclose the financial details of the agreement, a reliable source close to KwesĂŠ told THISDAY that it was, perhaps, the most lucrative deal signed by any sport personality on the continent of Africa. It was speculated that the Tianjin Teda FC player is to earn something in the region of â&#x201A;Ź5 million per year for the next three years! â&#x20AC;&#x153;All I can tell you is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good deal for me and KwesĂŠ. My focus now is how to make the best out of this project and not necessarily the financial rewards that comes with it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a massive deal for my standard as a footballer from Africa,â&#x20AC;? remarked the Super Eagles captain.

When the deal is activated this June, Mikel is expected to represent the dynamic broadcasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services and initiatives across the continent, starting with the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

Mikel will feature in KwesĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upcoming advertising campaigns that will encompass print, television and radio.

The satellite television provider, KwesĂŠ is the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing media business with a diversified offering that includes Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest free-to-air channel, KwesĂŠ Free Sports, a pay TV satellite network, KwesĂŠ TV, mobile services and digital all under one roof. With a strong presence across sub-Saharan Africa through its various platforms, KwesĂŠ is arguably Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most exciting and innovative broadcaster. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In choosing the right personality to partner

our brands we wanted someone who embodies what we stand for as an African broadcaster.

Mikel represents exceptional sporting talent and is loved by fans across the continent.

His commitment to excellence and his work to improve the sporting talent of the next generation of athletes made him the perfect choice for us,â&#x20AC;? stressed the President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Econet Media, Joseph Hundah.

In his response, Mikel said â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am proud to become the face of KwesĂŠ TV globally. I am excited to work with a media network that is redefining broadcasting in Africa, bringing pay as you watch TV, free to air TV and digital programming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As in my football career, it was important to me to represent an organisation that puts fans and/customers first, power, pride, strength and most importantly, a consistent winnerâ&#x20AC;?.

With an annual payment of â&#x201A;Ź5 million, the Mikel Obi African Children Sports Foundation will be a major beneficiary of the deal. Mikel who is one of only two African players to have won Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top two continental club competitions, UEFA Champions League and Europa Cup both with Chelsea explained that the deal will afford him the opportunity to expand the scope with the Foundation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The deal will further allow us widen our scope as we seeks to alleviate poverty by empowering young Africans through sports and specifically nurturing talents in football, rugby, tennis, cycling, basketball, cricket, hockey and athletics. The Foundation will help pull

these kids out of poverty and take them to stardom in their chosen sports,â&#x20AC;? Mikel explained.

The beneficiaries will have access to a range of specialist coaches and teachers providing them with a unique opportunity to hone their skills. Extending beyond athletic support and it will also assists children with an interest in sports sciences, nutrition, physiotherapy and the like to realise their dreams and forge a better future for themselves and their families.

Mikel sees the deal as an equivalent of mega sponsorship top star footballers like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest have signed in the past with top multinational corporation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By African standard, the deal with Kwese is a big thing although it may be far below what top footballers from Europe and Latin America have secured in the course of their career, however we have to start from somewhere. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was growing up, I looked up to Kanu Nwankwo and Austin Okocha as role models and some players are looking up to me too especially as the captain of the national team to the World Cup finals and I hope that tomorrow they can get a better and more lucrative sponsorship that change their lives too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will no doubt inspires players in Africa but more importantly my country Nigeria. My wish is that this deal will open their world. I have paid my due in the national team and I expect all of them especially the younger ones to follow this step and improve on where I am today,â&#x20AC;? he commented.

The two-time recipient of the African Young Player of the Year award (2005, 2006) as well

as the Chelsea Young Player of the Year award (2007, 2008) sees himself as a privileged player that will lead this generation of footballers to the World Cup finals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria will shake the world at the tournament and I am saying this with all sincerity of purpose that the present squad is very unique and with lots of determination in them they do not just want to play and reach the knockout stage, we all have aspiration to go all the way to the final match with God on our side. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most Nigerians seem not to believe in what we can do at the World Cup because Super Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; previous record have placed us among participants but I want to assure Nigerians that we have crossed that path and our mind is set towards being grouped among contenders,â&#x20AC;? he asserted.

While most Nigerians are looking at Croatia and more importantly, Argentina as potential stumbling block to crossing the group stage, Mikel opted for Iceland whom many pundits see as no hopers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can get the results against Croatia in the opening match and Argentina in the last match but my fears is for the second match against Iceland because aside the fact that they are an assemblage of average players, the cohesion in the team is very high and that is what has kept them this far since the Euro Cup in 2016 and the qualifying tournament to the World Cup,â&#x20AC;? he pointed out.

KwesĂŠ viewers can look forward to seeing one of their favourite African footballer on KwesĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screens in due course, starting with the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia campaign.

Friday, June 1, 2018

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MISSILE Afe Babalola to FG “There is poverty in the land . Salaries are in arrears, pensions and gratuities are not paid. Judgment debts remained unpaid for decades, constractors’ dues remained unpaid. Begging at wedding, funeral and birthday parties, churches and mosques have become the order of the day” – Chief Afe Babalola, bemoaning the current appaling state of affairs in the country, as Nigeria marks Democracy Day.

FEMIFALANA A Brighter Future is Possible for Nigeria GUEST COLUMNIST

K

unle Ajibade is lucky to be alive today because he had engaged in many risky ventures in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

When Professor Wole Soyinka said 34years ago that his was a wasted generation Ajibade never believed that his own generation would also be wasted.

But since Ajibade is still alive and active we urge him to team up with other patriots to arrest the imminent collapse of our country.

Through its highly reliable sources, The News magazine had confirmed in 1995 that the maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha wanted to be crowned as a civilian president.

For exposing the plot to rope some retired and serving military officers into a phantom coup in a bid to eliminate any form of opposition the brutal dictator ordered the arrest of the editors of the magazine. Even though he did not write the story that provoked the dictator, Ajibade was the only editor in the office when the security forces invaded the premises of the magazine. He was arrested, detained, tried with three other colleagues, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

But he and others regained their freedom when the dictator died three and a half years later.

As we are celebrate Ajibade at 60 today because he survived the dehumanising prison conditions which claimed the precious lives of many other convicts, a question becomes pertinent: is a brighter future possible for Nigeria?

In spite of repeated assurances of the federal government to ensure the security of life and property of every person living in Nigeria it has been confirmed that not fewer than 1,400 unarmed civilians have been killed in Benue State by armed herdsmen and armed gangs between January and May, 2018. The figures of casualties in Nasarawa and Zamfara states are said to be higher.

Although the satanic Boko Haram sect is said to have been substantially defeated it has continued to massacre scores of people through bomb attacks in schools, markets and mosques in the northeast region. In the same vein, armed bandits have embarked on mass killing of people in some local governments in Kaduna and Zamfara states in the northwest region. Armed robbery and kidnapping are regular occurrences in all the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory.

Contrary to the misleading impression being created by the advocates of state police in the country the Nigeria Police Force is not an agency of the President or the federal government. What has been established

by Section 214 of the Constitution is the Nigeria Police Force. It is a police force, which shall be organized and administered by the Nigeria Police Council. It is pertinent to note that the Nigeria Police Council is constituted by the President who shall be the Chairman, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police as well as the 36 state governors. But for reasons best known to state governors, the President has always been allowed to hijack Police Council. As a matter of urgency

President Muhammadu Buhari

the members of the Council should meet to agree on the funding, organization and supervision of the Nigeria Police Force in conformity with Paragraph L, Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution.

However, it is indisputable that the killings have continued unabated in the aforementioned states due to official negligence and impunity. Hence, the hundreds of murder suspects arrested by the police and the army have not been prosecuted by any of the state governments. I am sure that the criminal elements who murdered some citizens during the just concluded congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will also be treated like sacred cows. Even my recent call on the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to mount pressure on the Attorneys-General in all the states of the federation to arraign the murder suspects in state high courts was ignored. Ours has been reduced to a banana republic where kidnappers, murderers, robbers and rapists are conferred with impunity and licensed

…It is time the National Assembly enacted a law to provide for compulsory military training or military service for citizens of Nigeria without any delay…

This call is in line with the provisions of Section 220 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended

to continue their criminal enterprise.

Since the Government has lost monopoly of violence to criminal gangs and life has become totally cheap and unsafe in the country it is time that the National Assembly enacted a law to provide for compulsory military training or military service for citizens of Nigeria without any delay. And pending the enactment of the law the governments of Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara states should request the President to maintain adequate facilities in some institutions for giving military training to citizens whose lives have become endangered. This call is in line with the provisions of Section 220 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended.

With respect to the killing by herdsmen the federal government knows the solution but has refused to embrace it. As far back as 2016, about 55,000 hectares of land were acquired in about 11 states for ranching.

But instead of implementing the policy the federal government has been toying with the backward idea of “cattle colony.” Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army which has a ranch at Giri in the federal capital territory has offered to establish more ranches in other parts of the country. The offer of the Army has been ignored. The Kano State government which has ranches and grazing zones has also offered to accommodate all herdsmen who have been displaced in Benue and Taraba states. The offer has equally been treated with disdain without any justification. However, to put an end to the violent clashes between farmers and herdsmen all relevant stakeholders should liaise with the Kano State government with a view to establishing a number of ranches.

I believe that a bright future is possible for Nigeria.

However, it is only possible if the members of the political class are compelled to abandon politics of money and the manipulation of ethnicity and religion. Nigerian journalists such as Kunle Ajibade and his colleagues should force all political aspirants to address serious issues during the forthcoming political campaign. In particular, they must extract commitment from the political class to implement the fundamental objectives enshrined in Chapter II of the Constitution.

Section 14 thereof provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. To actualize that political objective it is stated in section 16 that the economy shall be planned and managed by the government to promote national prosperity and happiness.

Furthermore, it is stated that the government shall control the commanding height of the economy and ensure that the wealth of the nation shall not be concentrated in the hands of a few people or a group. It is illegal and unjust to lease oil blocks to a few people who are turned to multi billionaires after subleasing them to foreign investors. Some of them have been honest to disclose publicly that they do not know what to do with the hundreds of millions of dollars made from the sublease of the oil blocks. Thus, by allowing a few people to collect rents from our national assets the government has continued to concentrate wealth in the

hands of a few people. Since it is illegal and unjust to enrich a few people at the expense of the Nigerian people we hereby call on the federal government to stop awarding oil blocks to local and foreign investors.

They should be leased to the federal and state governments in order to have money for development.

The Constitution has provided that the socio-economic rights of the people to education, health, housing, living minimum wage, pension, unemployment benefits are guaranteed while the government shall provide for the aged and physically challenged citizens. Apart from the legal obligation imposed on political parties to comply with the fundamental objectives, it shall be the duty of all organs of government and of all authorities and persons exercising legislative, executive and judicial powers to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of the fundamental objectives. The socioeconomic rights of the Nigerian people have also been enshrined in the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights Act. Therefore, the justiciability of the fundamental objectives is no longer in doubt.

Indeed, through the struggle of the oppressed people in Nigeria the National Assembly has been compelled to enact welfare laws, which shall be funded by the Government. For instance, the Compulsory, Free and Basic Education Act and the Child’s Rights Act have made education free and compulsory from primary to junior secondary school. Parents and guardians who refuse to allow their children and wards to acquire education are liable to be prosecuted. To fund the programme the federal government shall contribute 2% of its Consolidated Revenue Fund while state governments shall provide counterpart fund. But due to the refusal of state government to access the fund not less than N67 billion is lying fallow at the Central Bank while Nigeria has about 11.5 million children of school age who are roaming the streets. Other welfare laws on housing, health insurance, pension, minimum wage etc. are being breached with impunity. Yet if we insist and ensure that the welfare laws are enforced by the governments there will be little or no money left to be stolen by unpatriotic public officers.

Since the 2019 general elections are a few months away it is not enough to urge Nigerian voters to register and collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). They must be encouraged to know what to do with the PVCs. When politicians come around to ask for votes every PVC owner must ask questions on the jumbo emoluments of public officers, unemployment, poverty, infrastructural decay, corruption and abuse of office, human rights violations etc. The harassment of law-abiding citizens by the police and other security agencies should be discussed with political aspirants. The answers to the questions should be noted so that the elected ones can be confronted with all promises made by them.

To assist voters to hold politicians accountable the media must provide relevant information on public affairs.

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