Friday 22nd June 2018

Oshiomhole Inches Towards Victory as Ebri Withdraws Convention committee in last minute preparations Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja With the withdrawal of former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Clement Ebri, from the race yesterday, the

National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), holding on Saturday would more or less be a coronation ceremony for former governor of Edo State, Adams

Oshiomhole, who now stands unopposed for the position of the national chairman of the party.

Ebri followed the path of two other challengers, former

Edo State governor, Prof.

Osarhiemen Osunbor, and Chief Ibrahim Emokpaire, who had earlier withdrawn from the race.

"Following deep

consultations with my family, friends, associates, party leaders and other stakeholders, in the interest of the progress of our great party, the APC, l have reached the decision

to withdraw my candidacy from the race for National Chairmanship of APC," he said.

Continued on page 9

NNPC Extends $6bn Oil Swaps Contracts to End of 2018… Page 8 Friday 22 June, 2018 Vol 23. No 8464. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Halt Hate Speech, Fake News, Buhari Tasks Journalists Obaigbena advocates robust journalism to tackle security, immigration challenges Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja, tasked media executives to deploy good journalism as the antidote

to prevalent hate speech and fake news in the society.

Buhari threw this challenge to journalists while delivering a keynote address at the opening of the International Press

Institute (IPI) World Congress at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, with the theme: ‘Why Good Journalism Matters.’

According to the president,

in this era of social media, employment of quality media is essential for strong societies, pointing out that good journalism can also help media organisation to survive

competition.

He urged the participants to give due consideration to the issues of hate speech and fake news in the conference.

Buhari also spoke about the

policies of his administration which he said had made the obtainment of Nigerian visa easy for travellers visiting Continued on page 9

2018 Budget: No Security Vote for Presidency, Says Udoma N2.87tn for capital expenditure Power, Works & Housing gets lion share of N715bn FG to borrow N1.634tn to finance N1.95tn deficit Deji Elumoye and Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, yesterday stated that there was no security vote for the presidency, debunking the report by Amnesty International (AI) titled, “Camouflaged Cash: How ‘Security Votes’ Fuel

Corruption in Nigeria, which indicated, in part that the presidency is not only appropriating, but “has increased the number of security votes tucked into the federal budget in the last two years.”

Responding to questions during the 2018 Budget briefing session in Abuja, the Continued on page 8

GOOD JOURNALISM… THISDAY Set to Hold 3rd Healthcare Policy Dialogue, FOR L–R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman, THIDAY Newspapers Limited, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; and the Chief of to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, at the opening ceremony of the International Press Institute (IPI) Conference to Focus on States, Emergency Medicine… Page 9 Staff in Abuja… yesterday godwin omoigui

2

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

3

4

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

5

6

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

7

Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸͚͜ Ëž T H I S D AY

8

PAGE EIGHT

NNPC Extends $6bn Oil Swaps Contracts to End of 2018 Unbudgeted JV, subsidy cut 2017 oil earnings, says World Bank Kachikwu outlines strategies to reposition Africa’s oil industry OPEC meets today to decide crude oil output policy Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Chineme Okafor in Abuja with agency reports The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has rolled over its crude for oil products contracts worth about $6 billion by six months until the end of the 2018, the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, has said.

This is coming as a report from the World Bank, the Nigeria Biannual Economic Update, has shown that two unbudgeted costs incurred by the federal government in 2017 may have contributed to the reduction in oil revenues that it could have earned within the year.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has also laid out plans on how he would lead African oil producers as the President of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).

Also the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meets today to decide output policy amid calls from top consumers such as the United States, China and India to cool down oil prices and support the world economy by producing more crude.

NNPC’s crude swap deals, which were previously referred to as offshore crude oil processing agreements (OPAs) and crude-for-products exchange arrangements, are now known as Direct Sale-

Direct Purchase Agreements (DSDP).

NNPC had in May 2017, signed the deals with local and international traders to exchange about 330,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil for imported petrol and diesel, as part of measures to sustain the supply of petroleum products across the country.

But Reuters quoted Maikanti as saying in Vienna, Austria, yesterday that the deals, which are due to expire by the end of this month, have been extended until the end of this year. “We have rolled it over until the end of December,�

Baru said on the side-lines of the OPEC seminar in Vienna.

Unlike the 2016 contracts, which included only companies with refineries so as to cut out middlemen, the beneficiaries of 2017 contracts include international trading houses, and not just refineries.

Some of the companies that benefitted include Varo Energy, Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage (SIR), Total and Cepsa.

Each of the 10 oil traders/ refineries partnered local Nigerian companies to win 33,000 barrels per day allocations.

According to the list, Trafigura partnered AA Rano to clinch 33,000 barrels per day; Petrocam paired with Rainoil and Falcon Crest to win 33,000 bpd; Mocoh partnered Heyden Petroleum to get 33,000 bpd; Cepsa paired with Oando to win 33,000 bpd; while Sahara

is partnering Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage (SIR) for 33,000 bpd.

Five other groups that also got 33,000 bpd each include: Mercuria and Matrix/ Rahamanniya; Socar and Hyde; Litaso and MRS; Vitol and Varo; and Total, which is partnering its Nigerian subsidiary.

In another development, a report by the World Bank Macroeconomic, Trade and Investment Global Practice Nigeria Team, said an unbudgeted N1.2 trillion joint venture costs paid by the NNPC out of federal government’s oil export revenue, as well as unbudgeted fuel subsidies deducted from oil export revenues by the NNPC, all depleted government’s oil revenue.

The report, which was obtained from the webpage of the Bank stated that about N128.9 billion was deducted by the NNPC as at November 2017 from oil revenues due to the Federation Account, as subsidy payments for imported petrol. “Federally collected revenues continued to underperform in 2017 and fiscal deficits remained high. Only 60 per cent of targeted revenues were realized,� said the report. “Oil revenue performance was particularly low at 53 per cent of the budgeted amount despite rising oil prices and output in 2017. One reason was that the government had not budgeted for N1.2 trillion

in joint venture costs paid by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) out of government oil export revenue, resulting in much lower net oil revenues than budgeted,� the report said. “The NNPC also deducted unbudgeted fuel subsidies from oil export revenues, representing additional revenue losses. Landing and transportation costs for imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol) were higher than the cap on the domestic pump price. By November, the NNPC deducted subsidy payments of N128.9 billion from oil revenues due to the Federation Account in 2017.

Independent oil marketers stopped importing PMS to avoid losses,� it added.

According to the report, the federal government’s 2017 budget implementation was hampered by shortfalls in federally and internally collected revenues, adding that its share of oil revenue was only 53 per cent of budget.

The corporation’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said, “We have not sighted the said report to really understand the content.�

Meanwhile, in a key note speech he delivered at the seventh International Seminar of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, Kachikwu said he planned to work collaboratively with

other APPO member countries to mainstream growth of the continent’s oil industry.

He also stated that he would attempt to reset the investment criteria in the continent’s oil industry to make attracting investments into it easier in the nearest future.

Tweets from the ministry of petroleum resources, which THISDAY monitored contained some of what Kachikwu said in his speech.

He said that for Africa to be prepared for the future of oil, its countries must embrace collaboration and collectivism, adding that this would enable the continent achieve sustainable investment in her oil and gas sector.

Meanwhile, OPEC meets today to decide output policy amid calls from the United States, China and India to pump more oil into the international market so as to reduce oil prices and support the world economy.

OPEC edged closer yesterday towards raising oil output, with Iran softening its opposition to an increase and Saudi Arabia warning of supply shortages and price rallies if production remained stable.

A production rise of about one million barrels per day (bpd) or around one per cent of global supply was emerging as a consensus for the group and its allies, OPEC sources told Reuters, adding that Iran could agree under certain conditions.

Russia, which is not in OPEC, has proposed producers raise output by 1.5 million bpd.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said yesterday the world needed at least an extra one million bpd to avoid a shortage in the second half of 2018.

OPEC and its allies have since last year been participating in a deal to cut output by 1.8 million bpd.

The measure has helped rebalance the market in the past 18 months and lifted oil to around $73 per barrel yesterday from as low as $27 in February 2016.

The price of the global benchmark, Brent crude oil had hit $80 before it dropped to $73.

But unexpected outages in Venezuela, Libya and Angola have effectively brought supply cuts to around 2.8 million bpd in recent months.

Iran’s output is also likely to fall in the second half of this year due to new U.S. sanctions.

Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, has so far been the main barrier to a new deal as it said on Tuesday OPEC was unlikely to reach an agreement and should reject pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to pump more oil.

But on Wednesday, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said OPEC members that had over-delivered on cuts in recent months should comply with agreed quotas.

Senator Dino Melaye, accusing the president of playing to the gallery with his allegation that the National Assembly padded the 2018 budget.

Melaye in a one-page statement yesterday, advised the president to refrain from playing to the gallery and milking the naivety of the masses on the budget issues.

According to the senator representing Kogi West, "I notice that President Buhari is trying to whip up sentiments against the National Assembly again by alleging that the 2018 budget was padded."

He, however, explained that what the president was authorised to do constitutionally was to present the National Assembly with a bill that would be worked upon by the legislature.

"The reason the constitution directs the bill to be submitted to the National Assembly is that it expects the National Assembly to vet it and make inputs into such a bill before passing it as the Appropriation Act. The National Assembly is not just expected to rubber-stamp whatever bill the president presents. If this was the norm then there would have been no need for the constitution to direct that the bill be submitted to the National Assembly in the first place,� he said.

Also reacting, the South-east caucus in the Senate yesterday expressed concern over the slashing of the 2018 budgetary allocation for Second Niger

Bridge and Enugu Airport Terminal.

The Chairman of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, absolved senators of having a hand in the slashing of the allocation by the National Assembly.

He said the caucus was jolted to hear that N2billion allocated for Enugu Airport terminal, which was sustained by both Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Aviation was slashed to N500million "We will like to know at what point were the allocations to both the Second Niger Bridge and Enugu Airport Terminal slashed. We definitely want to know what really transpired," the caucus said.

2 0 18 B UD G ET: N O SECURIT Y VOT E FO R PR E SI D E N CY, SAYS U D OM A minister said it was necessary to state clearly that “there is no line item as Security Vote in the State House budget,� adding that “provisions for securityrelated matters are contained in the detailed budgets of the Ministry of Defence, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Security (DSS) etc.�

He added, “There are also provisions for military interventions in the North-east (insurgency) - Operation Lafiya Dole, as well as other specific operations of the Armed Forces such as Operation Python Dance, Operation Crocodile Smile and very recently, the Operation Cat Race, etc.�

Udoma pointed out that owing to the growing number of internal security issues, a provision of N75 billion was made for these exercises in the service-wide votes, not State House vote, in 2018, stressing: “At appropriate times, the required funds are disbursed by application from the relevant agencies supervising the exercises.�

In the report, the global anti-graft watchdog Amnesty International defined security votes as “budgeted funds provided to certain federal, state, and local government officials to spend at their discretion... They are budgeted separately from planned security expenditures such as personnel salaries, allowances, equipment, training and operational expenses.�

Giving a breakdown of the

N9.12 trillion budget, the minister said that it is predicated on an oil production of 2.3 million per day (mbpd), benchmark oil price of $51 per barrel and an exchange rate of N305/$.

It is also anchored on an inflation rate of N12.4 per cent, a 3.5 per cent real gross domestic product (GDP), as well as N107.96 trillion nominal GDP and N87.95 trillion nominal consumption.

The budget, Udoma noted, has a deficit of N1.95 trillion, N520 billion for statutory transfers, an oil revenue of N2.99 trillion and non-oil revenue of N4.18 trillion (N7.17 trillion).

The sum of N2.01 trillion is also provisioned for debt service, while N3.51 trillion is for recurrent expenditure, just as the capital expenditure component is N2.87 trillion, up from N2.36 trillion in 2017.

According to him, capital spending accounts for 31.5 per cent of total FGN expenditure in 2018.

He disclosed that the budget deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowing N1.643 trillion, putting the domestic component of the borrowing at N793 billion, while the foreign component accounts for N849 billion.

A total of N306 billion is expected from privatisation proceeds and N5 billion from sale of other government property to part-finance the deficit.

He said: “A total of N306 billion is expected from privatisation proceeds and

N5 billion from sale of other government property to part finance the deficit. “We have reflected projected proceeds from oil assets ownership restructuring as revenues for transparency and monitoring as the expected funds have been earmarked to fund critical capital projects,� he said.

The distribution of expected federal government’s revenue include oil revenue – 41.7 per cent, Company Income Tax (CIT) – 9.2 per cent, Value Added Tax (VAT) – 2.9 per cent, Customs – 4.5 per cent, and Independent Revenue – 11.8 per cent.

Others are recoveries – 7.2 per cent, Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS)– 1.2 per cent, Signature Bonus – 1.6 per cent Joint Venture Equity Restructuring – 9.9 per cent, Grants and Donor Funding – 2.8 per cent.

The minister put the recoveries (including looted funds) at N374 billion, also revealed the sectoral breakdown of the allocations for the fiscal year.

The breakdown showed that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing again received the lion’s share of N715 billion (capital and recurrent), followed by Interior (N577 billion), Ministry of Defence (N576 billion), Education (547 billion), and Health (N356 billion).

Others are Transportation (N267 billion), Agriculture and Rural development (N203 billion).

The North-east intervention

programme also got an allocation of N45 billion.

Giving an insight on why the Interior ministry received high allocation, the minister noted that the country still has internal security challenges.

Also giving details of the recurrent non-debt expenditure, Udoma said personnel cost of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) account for 60 per cent of non-debt recurrent spend, while 10 per cent is allocated to Social Investment Programme, seven per cent for overheads, and 10 per cent for pensions.

Others are two per cent to Presidential Amnesty Programme, nine per cent to other servicewide votes and five per cent as provisions for the Power Sector Recovery.

The minister assured Nigerians that despite the odds against the implementation of the budget, the federal government was determined to ensure that the fiscal document is effectively executed.

He called for the cooperation of the National Assembly in realising this, noting that the executive arm of government would articulate a supplementary budget soonest.

Meanwhile, more reactions to President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech during the budget signing ceremony on Wednesday drew more flak from federal legislators yesterday with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT),

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN NASCON 2.05 22.40 JAPAUL 0.02 0.29 CADBURY 0.55 12.05 C&I LEASING 0.07 1.54 LAFARGEAFRICA 1.80 39.80 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN ETERNA 0.36 6.90 CONTINENTAL 0.07 1.43 PRESTIGE 0.02 0.46 RTBRISCOE 0.02 0.46 NIGINSURE 0.01 0.25 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,430.00 Volume: 492.047 million shares Value: N 7.623 billion Deals: 4,726 As at 21/6/18 See details on Page 43

% 10.1 7.4 4.7 4.7 4.7 % 4.9 4.6 4.1 4.1 3.8

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸͚͜

9

PAGE NINE

THISDAY Set to Hold 3rd Healthcare Policy Dialogue, to Focus on States, Emergency Medicine Adewole: Summit will strengthen health services in Nigeria Martins IďŹ jeh Following the success recorded at the two policy dialogues held

by THISDAY on Healthcare Financing and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in March and April 2018 respectively, the newspaper is set to hold a broader edition, with a focus on two areas: High Performing States in Healthcare, and Emergency Medicine in Nigeria.

The Summit, themed, ‘‘Funding Healthcare for All, Why States Matter’’ and ‘’Emergency Medicine: Need for Action,� will hold July 5, 2018 at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 10am.

The two previous editions focused on the chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s health sector, yielding a number of successes, including for the first time, the earmarking of N57.15 billion in the 2018 national budget for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF)

by the National Assembly.

This third edition will bring to the fore roles of states in achieving UHC, identify high performing states and showcase the importance of emergency medicine in tackling primary and secondary healthcare issues in Nigeria.

The Save One Million Lives (SOML) Programme performance index will be one of the tools in measuring high performance states.

The SOML is an establishment of the federal government which aims to support states in the improvement of health outcomes in their various states. Under the programme, the federal government, in 2017, gave $1.5 million to each of the 36 states.

According to THISDAY Board of Directors, it will use a set of verifiable and objective indicators provided by the newspapers Healthcare Dialogue Team and the SOML initiative programme to determine star

states in the six geo political zones.

The board said the poor health outcomes recorded in Nigeria, are chiefly because priority has not been given to the basic healthcare needs of Nigerians, adding that for any country to effectively achieve UHC, all levels of government must be involved.

The Board said, “States and local governments are very critical to achieving UHC, but only few states have charged ahead with increased budgetary allocation of financing to primary healthcare and expansion of coverage of essential priority interventions.

Most states in Nigeria are yet to put in place the required accountability and governance framework required to change the tide for improved health outcomes. However, some states have differentiated themselves and are making efforts towards a better healthcare.�

The board also said with an effective emergency medicine in Nigeria, accident prevention will be strengthened; pre-hospital transport care will be addressed, while hospital stabilization and treatment will be more effective.

THISDAY said it was for these reasons it is holding the high powered summit in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, World Bank, and a host of development partners.

The summit will bring together the presidency, members of the federal executive council, governors, commissioners for health, national and state primary healthcare development agencies, high level dignitaries from the public and private sector, stakeholders and members of the public.

Sharing his thoughts on the Summit, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who described THISDAY as a star in repositioning healthcare

in Nigeria following its interest for a better healthcare, said the dialogue will help emphasise the role of states as primary healthcare providers.

He said while the federal government has given a fixed grant of $1.5 million to each state under the SOML last year, he believed this event will provide a platform for accessing what has been done with the fund, and help in comparing states for a healthy competition. “We intend to give the states more money for healthcare interventions, but accessing what they have done with the one already given is important.

States are very key to addressing healthcare in the country, but many states have been relaxed, thinking the federal will take care of their problems. “I think the issue started when there was so much ‘money’ around. At that time, the federal government created an impression that they could

do it alone, so states relaxed thinking the federal will take care of the problem. But to me, it does not represent the reality on ground. Federal does not have the human and financial resources, so it is time states play active role. The people in the states are primarily indigenes of that state before they are indigenes of Nigeria.�

He said this era of cooperation will help in strengthening healthcare, and will make states viable partners in healthcare delivery in the country.

The minister, who likened the federal government to the roof of a house, said the states are like the walls of a building, while the local government is the foundation. “So we will be deceiving ourselves if we put a golden roof up without good foundation and good walls. We must strengthen all levels of healthcare, and this dialogue is a step in the right direction to achieving that,� he said.

First, President Muhammadu Buhari played a key role in opening the floodgate of endorsements that made Oshiomhole's acceptance possible.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Media Sub-committee of the convention planning committee, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, said all was set for the convention.

Speaking shortly after the planning committee inspected the Eagle Square venue of the event, Ajimobi said the APC was

prepared for the convention.

He said 6,800 delegates were expected to participate in the convention. “We are very happy about all the preparations, everything is in place, you can see what we call a very professional arrangement,� he said.

He added that some aspirants might drop from the race before the convention day on Saturday. “Politics is about conflict and resolution and today we are meeting many of the aspirants, we look at them, we interview them

then there will be give and take so that it’ll be a smooth operation on Saturday,� the governor said.

The screening committee had earlier put the number of aspirants at 179. But after screening exercise, it said that 19 of the aspirants were dropped.

The Chairman of the Subcommittee for accreditation, Mr. Ahmed Yarima, said they would be thorough with the screening and accreditation of the delegates attending the convention from all the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT.

He argued that the world was interested in the wellbeing of Nigeria and hence, the need for the conference to consider security matters facing the country.

Obaigbena said, "Let me first say, as a community of journalists, NPO, NUJ, NPAN, l am glad to welcome you. With regards to the journalist incarcerated, we have a way of engaging and resolving our problems. We will solve that too.

"As journalists in Nigeria, as Uncle Sam says, the press fight for the rights of all Nigerians. We have continued to do that and we have continued to enjoy free press. We also have overzealous security agents. So, should there be any challenges, we 'll resolve that too.

"Having said that, we are here about journalism and why it matters. In the last few days or few weeks, we were witnesses to the overreach of executive authority over immigration in the US and with the role of robust journalism, President Trump was able to reverse such by ensuring that families remain families and never separated.

Immigration remains one central issue all over the world.

In Europe and on the sea of Mediterranean, a lot of Africans are dying.

"If we all can also report it in a robust way, perhaps we can also reverse this. The issue of course, l believe is economic. With $3 or $4 million dollars here in Nigeria, we can keep them here.

That is what we can do, if we report and throw light on the circumstances they face. The issue is purely economic and we can

resolve our problems here. So, we just have to do more and throw light on these issues.

"Yes, Nigeria is facing security challenges and we are trying to deal with it in the panel here but we must also remember where it started. After democracy came, we were not concerned about the size of our security forces with regards to our armed forces, with regards to our police.

"I believe the sizes of our police and armed forces are not enough.

Before Boko Haram set sail, we didn't think of security. Now, we are confronted by a menace and we all have to put our heads together to rebuild our total security infrastructure, bring police team to the communities, to the cities so that we can ensure the safety of our citizens and therefore produce economic growth. The world is interested in how Nigeria fares. I believe this is what we can play about in this IPI conference."

Also speaking, Chairman of IPI, John Yearwood, who said the IPI would be 70 years in existence in the next two years, urged Buhari to look into the issue of the incarceration of a Nigerian journalist in Bayelsa.

He also used the forum to invite the president to IPI conference next year. The IPI chairman also thanked the organisers of the event particularly the LOC chairman and members of the team.

"I will like to urge President Buhari who is the champion of the people of Nigeria to look into the issue of journalists incarcerated. Our hope is that next year, he will be with us.

IPI is a strong organisation and

getting stronger," he said.

In his own speech, Executive Director of IPI, Barbara Trionfi, lamented the spate of attacks on journalists across the world, lamenting that despite the degree of press freedom being enjoyed in Nigeria, journalists still face challenges.

"As we gather here today from different countries to open IPI's 67th World Congress, there is a sense that independent journalism is under attack and press freedom has eroded all over the world.

From Mexico to the Philippines, from Zimbabwe to Turkey, from Russia to Ethiopia, journalists are being imprisoned. They are denied access to justice.

"They are threatened and insulted on social media. They are directly targeted and labeled as traitors and enemies of the state and they are killed, shot in front of their houses, on their way to work, by killers who know that murdering journalists is the easiest way to silence them and ensure that the stories of corruption they were investigating, the wrongdoings they had uncovered will never be revealed.

"At least 43 journalists have been killed so far in 2018 in places like Afghanistan, Mexico, India, Pakistan or the Philippines to mention a few. Also here in Nigeria, a country with a very lively news industry which enjoys a good degree of press freedom, safety has been a serious problem for journalists, not only those covering the areas where insurgents are active but also journalists covering corruption have been targeted," Trionfi stated.

O S HIO MH O LE I NCHES TOWA R DS VICTORY AS EB R I WI T H D R AW S Ebri said he felt that as the APC was preparing for next year’s general election, it was necessary for him to ensure that nothing was done to create division and rancour in the party.

He, therefore, urged his supporters to join him in backing Oshiomhole to emerge as APC chairman.

"We should all render him every support and encouragement he needs as he and his team proceed to rebuild our party into a formidable, unified and inclusive organisation where

every voice counts," he said.

The withdrawal has now lessened the headache of the National Convention Planning Committee, which Secretary, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), said yesterday they were perusing several court rulings arising from processes filed by aggrieved members of the party over congresses that produced the delegates to the convention.

"We have received court processes in respect of some states and we are studying the process and probably, by this

night, we should be able to arrive at something,� he said, adding that the committee would come up with its position on them today.

The journey to the first ever elective national convention of APC has been a tortuous one with false starts. The convention has been postponed a record four times.

Oshiomhole's eventual emergence as the front runner in the chairmanship race was made possible by a number of factors.

HA LT H ATE SPEECH, FAKE NEWS, BU H AR I TASKS J OU R N AL I ST S Nigeria, saying he was glad that participants at the conference were beneficiaries of the ease of doing business policy of the administration.

He added that in this era of social media explosion technology, the theme of the conference is gratifying.

He said: "The changing media landscape, the explosion of the social media and the rapidly evolving new technology have had a profound impact on media business and media practice. It is satisfying, therefore, that you have chosen an appropriate theme for your conference: Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media for Strong Societies.

"In a world where the borderline between hate speech and free speech have become blurred, good journalism matters. In an environment where fake news dwarfs investigative reporting, good journalism matters. For survival in an increasingly competitive field, good journalism matters.

Good journalism promotes good governance. I, therefore, urge participants to give depth to the topic in your discussions and conclusions.

"One of the reform initiatives of this administration is the introduction of visa on arrival policy. The policy is designed to aid ease of doing business in Nigeria. I am glad that international delegates to this conference are beneficiaries of this policy," the president said.

Buhari who thanked the IPI for granting hosting rights for the conference to Nigeria, said Nigeria had a good history of

relationship with IPI since 1963 when the institute established a branch in Lagos.

The president, who said IPI bringing the conference to Nigeria at the time the country was facing the scourge of insurgency, added that it was a reflection of its assessment that Nigeria is safe notwithstanding.

He said, "Our country has a rich history of robust relationship with the IPI; prominent Nigerian journalists and media operators were and continue to be in the leadership of the international body. But perhaps the most significant symbol of this special relationship is the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos established by IPI in 1963. It is our pride that your vision of a professional journalism training institution in Nigeria has taken firm root.

"Your annual congress is holding in Nigeria during a period of global terrorism. Nigeria experiences that scourge through Boko Haram, which has been technically degraded and has no territorial hold anywhere, anymore, in its northeast operational base. The internally displaced persons are gradually returning to their communities in reasonable safety and security.

"It is a reflection of your assessment of Nigeria as a safe country that you gave the country the hosting right for this conference. As you have seen since your arrival, you made a wise and right choice."

He commended the efforts of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for putting together the conference, noting that Nigeria

had the capacity to do great things.

In his own remark, Chairman of the LOC and President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, said the community of Nigerian journalists has its own way of resolving challenges confronting journalists and hence, the current incarceration of a journalist in Bayelsa State would be handled accordingly.

According to him, the press in Nigeria fights for the rights of all citizens as he challenged colleagues to engage in robust journalism. He recalled that through robust journalism, immigration crisis facing Nigerians in the United States had been stopped.

He also said with robust journalism, the press can address immigration crisis leading to the death of so many Nigerians on Mediterranean Sea, describing economic factors as the root cause.

Therefore, he said if the government could budget between $3 million and $4 million to meet economic needs of the people, the menace can be tackled accordingly.

He challenged journalists to lead the way by throwing light into circumstances behind the menace with a view to bringing it to an end.

Obaigbena also spoke on security challenges facing Nigeria, noting that the sizes of Nigeria's security forces are far too insignificant to tackle the security issues confronting the country in view of Nigeria's huge population of about 200 million.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ejiofor Alike Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

PDP: Buhari, APC Jittery over Looming Implosion

Slams FG for arresting Suswan Urges caution over cattle ranches

Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is being haunted by fear of imminent implosion, which will lead to the exodus of its key members.

The opposition party said in its desperation, the APC-led administration was plotting to clamp down on leading opposition figures into detention and keep them out of circulation till after the next general election.

PDP expressed concern over the arrest and continued detention of former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, adding that his arrest was meant to prevent him from attending a PDP rally for the North-central.

The opposition party has also asked the federal government to exercise caution over its plan to establish cattle ranches in some parts of the country and hold adequate consultations so as not to escalate the same problems it claims to be addressing The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, while speaking on the progress being made by the party’s contact and mobilisation committee to woo aggrieved members of the APC, said tremendous inroad had been made, adding that details would be made public soon. “They are working very hard in the interest of Nigerians and I can assure you that very soon, the committee will make returns to the party,� he said.

When asked to explain the committee’s delay in submitting progress report, Ologbondiyan said: “When a fisherman throws his net into the ocean, he does not withdraw it until it is full; I can assure you that our net is capturing and we will

soon make it public.I need to emphasise that PDP is the father of democracy in the country, and we have a moral right to defend democracy whenever it is threatened.

We will also stand on the side of those whose rights are being assaulted. That is why it appears that we speak for all members of the opposition.

They are Nigerians and they don’t need to be our members before we can defend their rights,� he explained.

The PDP spokesman said the party had earlier alerted Nigerians and the international community that the enemies of the country’s democratic process and adversaries of unity and harmonious living as have commenced a desperate clampdown on opposition leaders and perceived opponents of the President Buhari administration. “Today, our dear country, Nigeria, has finally fallen into a perilous time! There are fears and trepidation everywhere. The safety, and personal freedom of Nigerians, particularly, opposition members, are no longer guaranteed. APC, having realised that they stand no chance in the 2019 general elections, are now deploying all wicked machinations to cause confusion, heighten political tension, hounding and arresting of opposition leaders, making spurious allegations and attacking influential Nigerians, including former heads of state, all to instill fear on the polity. “Having failed in their corruption smear campaign against the PDP and many notable Nigerians, the APC and the presidency cabal have now devised a devious machination to rope in, frame, implicate and ultimately incarcerate marked opposition leaders and other dissenting voices over fabricated security charges,�

DSS Arrests ISIS Commanders in Abuja The Department of State Services (DSS) has said it has arrested two commanders of the Islamic State (ISIS) in West Africa in Kukuntu village, Gwgwalada, Abuja.

The DSS said this in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Tony Opuiyo.

Opuiyo said the suspects were arrested on May 5, 2018, after special operations on identified targets.

The statement was issued three days after UK Sun reported that ISIS leaders were sneaking “battle-hardened extremists� from Syria into Nigeria.

After the report, the federal government ordered an intensified screening of passengers and luggage at the nation’s airports.

Opuiyo,according to The Cable, said in a related operation

on April 28, the service also arrested one Umar Dogo, a suspected member of ISWA at Muda Lawal market in Bauchi State.

He said the suspects were discovered to have concluded plans to perpetuate the ideals of the group in the area, and in collaboration with Boko Haram, carry out heinous violent attacks on innocent persons.

The operative also said following intelligence reports, two experts in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Adamu Hassan, aka Bale and Abubakar Abubakar aka Alhaji or Buba, were arrested.

He said two other members of Boko Haram, Mohammed Saleh, aka Azrak and Iliyasu Abubakar, aka Ruwa, were also arrested on April 12 and 19 at at Gassol and Ardo local government areas of Taraba.

he explained.

Ologbondiyan said part of the grand design, as already exposed by the Special Adviser to President Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, on ARISE TV, is to link such opposition leaders and dissenting voices with the widespread killings in various parts of the country.

He said Adesina had forgotten that President Buhari had earlier blamed the attacks on invaders from the late Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, while his Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) blamed it on

herdsmen from neighbouring countries. “Gentlemen of the press, the wicked clampdown has started. Only yesterday, we were made aware of the arrest and detention of Suswam, who has been kept incommunicado without access to his lawyers, while the federal government is not forthcoming with the details of the reasons behind the arrest and detention. “However, we know that his arrest and detention is intended to put him out of circulation, so that he will not take part in the mega meetings

of our party planned for the North-central states,� he said. “There are already fears that other opposition leaders and dissenting voices have been placed under watch and will be framed up on security charges, so as to keep them out of circulation, ahead of the elections. “Only yesterday, an explosive device was discovered at the Ebonyi State PDP secretariat, either planted to blow up our secretariat and kill our members or to set up our leaders,� he added. “These attacks, threats

and intimidation targeted at influential Nigerians, particularly, past leaders, show clearly that the APC and the presidency are very scared of their inevitable defeat in the 2019 general election and now seek to apply all machinations to overheat the polity and ostensibly frustrate the process,� he explained. “The PDP wants the APC and the Buhari presidency to know that despite their machinations, the 2019 general election must hold as

Cont’d on Pg .50

BUDGET BREAKDOWN CEREMONY

L-R: Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during a public presentation and breakdown of the 2018 Budget in Abuja....yesterday

FG to Conduct Biometrics Registration of Migrants Says governors responsible for security in states

Olawale Ajimotokan Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The federal government has unfolded plans to carry out biometrics registration of all regular migrants who have overstayed their visas in Nigeria.

The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau, made this disclosure yesterday, during a panel session at the opening ceremony of International Press Institute (IPI) Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Danbazau, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okey Enelamah, were on the panel hosted by the President of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria ( BON) and CEO of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh.

Danbazau said the biometrics on the migrants, who are resident in the country would provide data and would enable the federal government to monitor the movement of such individuals.

His disclosure was in view

of escalating communal clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country.

He said the process was ongoing, adding that the authority will be able to conclude it as soon as possible.

According to him, the Nigerian Immigration Service will also take charge of all data base of all Nigerians including green cards holders. “The Ministry of Interior has established a situation room that is connected to the border posts that will enable effective monitoring of what is happening at our borders. I will also be able to see what is happening from that situation room,� Danbazau said.

He added that though Nigeria wanted to protect its vast borders against criminal elements, the ECOWAS protocol on free movement was in the interest of the country, as Nigerians constituted more than half of West African population.

The minister accused the Zamfara State Governor, Yari Abdulaziz, of abdicating his responsibility as the Chief

Security Officer of the state, which led to the rising cases of banditry in the state.

He said the solution to the Zamfara killings was good governance, rather than inviting soldiers, adding that the security of state is the responsibility of the governors and not the federal government. “Good governance is the final solution to the security challenges in Zamfara; it is not the number of soldiers.

It is not good governance for the Governor of Zamfara to say he is withdrawing as chief security officer. Even if he is given all the soldiers in the world, he can’t use those forces to deal with those issues,� he said.

He attributed the herders and farmers’ clashes to the fall-out from demographic pressure and criminality , saying more lives were lost to cattle rustling in Zamfara than to pastoralists/farmer strife in Benue State.

He said federal government had in the last year spent $7.5 billion on provision of

infrastructure, including road, railway and power across the nation.

In her welcome remarks, the Executive Director, IPI, Barbara Trionfi, said delegates from 40 countries were attending the 61 IPI World Congress in Nigeria.

She , however, lamented the erosion of press freedom globally, saying independent journalists faced attacks in Zimbabwe, Turkey, Mexico, Russia, Ethiopia and Philippine.

Trionfi said journalists these countries were denied access to justice and were also threatened.

She said murder of journalists is the easiest way to silence them. “As journalists are attacked all over the world, the journalism community are coming together in solidarity as editors, reporters and publishers. If we can’t convince our readers and leaders about independent journalism as path to fight for, it will be very easy for those who want to silence journalists to do so,� Trionfi said.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

11

12

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

COMMENT

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

APC: THIS TIME TOMORROW

Monday Philips Ekpe writes that APC delegates should act in ways that they are prepared to recreate their party beyond one man

T

omorrow, Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its first post national electoral victory convention in Abuja. The occasion is both symbolic and historic. The party is about to test the quality of its muscles and hopefully showcase its capacity for internal cohesion. With just about eight months to the next general election, APC is now face to face with a golden opportunity to convince Nigerians that it possesses the structure that can produce credible and competent political leaders at the various levels of government across the country.

Expectations are high, understandably. The party is young, compared with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that had been in power for 16 years since 1999. A refrain of this APC era is a constant lamentation of how PDP handed over a damaged country to it in 2015. That posture has unwittingly put it in the shadows of PDP which is now in the opposition. As the members gather in Eagle Square, they ought to know that the tasks before them are not light even when some of their leaders sing that all is well. The greatest optimists among them must concede that the unprecedented goodwill and euphoria that ushered in this administration three years ago have virtually disappeared. They have been replaced largely by disillusionment, frustration, anger and also hatred, in some cases. The Change slogan that created hope for a citizenry that needed it badly is despised at the moment. Unfortunately, efforts to communicate the situation to the people are either inadequate or misplaced.

One of the problems many Nigerians have with the leading party and the government it has produced is not only about perception. It has a lot to do with the real issue of dwindling standard of living.

Yes, no rational person would heap all the blame for the numerous obstacles faced in the country today on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Truth is, many of them are traceable to the actions and inactions of the preceding PDP governments in the present republic. But then, what now looks like a tragedy is that Buhari and his team find it difficult to persuade the public that they came prepared to turn the tide. Doing that would require visible zeal, selflessness and capability.

I believe that the president is the most distinctive personality and rallying -point in APC. And there is nothing strange about the phenomenon. Susan Scarrow, Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, USA, made that point in a paper titled, “Implementing Intra-party Democracyâ€? in 2005: “Parties dominated by a single leader generally construct their appeal around the popularity, perceived integrity, and sometimes financial resources, of that individual. This leader articulates and embodies the party’s programmatic aspirations‌ Many successful parties in contemporary democracies fit this description, either originating as or becoming the vehicle for a single dominant leader (for example, Silvio Berlusconi’s

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS MANY NIGERIANS HAVE WITH THE LEADING PARTY AND THE GOVERNMENT IT HAS PRODUCED IS NOT ONLY ABOUT PERCEPTION. IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE REAL ISSUE OF DWINDLING STANDARD OF LIVING

Forza Italia in Italy). In such parties, the leader may be self-selected, may be anointed by an outgoing leader, or may come to the fore as a result of demonstrated electoral appeal. He or she may gain the position with the formal endorsement of a party conference, but in practice the leader can dominate party decisions while holding a variety of formal positions within the organization—or even while holding none at all. Such parties may use local branches and party assemblies to mobilise support, but their main characteristic is that the power to shape the party’s political direction is tightly held at the centre. “In leader-dominated parties, party organisation is often weakly institutionalised, and there may be little concern about promoting intra-party democracy. In the short term, this may not be a concern, because having a charismatic leader gives a party a memorable ‘brand’ that is easy to promote, and such a leader can define the direction of the party. In the long term, however, the lack of formal decision-structures often leads to problems with leadership succession and policy definition. Conflicts among would-be successors may become acute when rules for settling such disputes are absent or little-used. Moreover, the lack of clear paths for advancement may discourage talented individuals from pursuing political careers within the party. Where dissent is discouraged in the name of supporting the party’s leaders, and where there are few formal channels for containing disagreements, disputes are more likely to lead to party splits than to organised factionalism.�

But now, APC delegates need to act in ways that show they are prepared to recreate their party beyond one man. This is not just about winning next year’s polls. It has to do more with establishing an organisation that can oppose any government constructively if it finds itself on the other side of the table. Some key inside and external opinion leaders who stood by the party in the last general race for power have not only distanced themselves from it but now attack it actively. Just waving such persons aside will not help its image, cause or fortunes. Electing the principal officers of APC is critical for its survival and strength and also for achieving enduring democratic cultures and profiles. Taking it to a higher level should, therefore, be the concern of true lovers of stability and prosperity.

Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, a candidate for the party’s National Publicity Secretary, put the challenge thus: “It is apparent that as at today we do not have a party with a distinct identity. APC does not currently have a personality that is defined. So we can excuse those who do not see any difference between our party and the opposition. We are different, even if we have not defined and projected who we are. This we need to do. We are a progressive party, with the right attributes. People must clearly see this. We must evolve an identity based on (the) ideology that we subscribe to. We must use communication to set us apart from other political parties.�

BUHARI AND THE VALUES OF JUNE 12

President Buhari does not embody the values of June 12, argues Sebastian Ikyegh Agbinda

“

In my opinion, Igbo pulled one hell of a surprise. Despite having virtually nothing to benefit from SDP, despite the Muslim/ Muslim ticket, despite the fact that an Igbo, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh, was an NRC Vice Presidential Candidate, despite the age-old animosity towards Yoruba over the Civil War, SouthEasterners voted impressively for Abiola, giving him 49.46% of their votes. Tofa with an Igbo son on his ticket got just 50.54%. Remember also that NRC controlled three of the four states in the South-East�

(Simon Kolawole in THISDAY on “The Meaning of June 12th�, Sunday, June 10th, 2018).

Most debates and analyses on June 12th today are bereft of critical, definitive words like power-shift, zoning and rotation. The general thrust is about MKO Abiola; about the freest and fairest election in Nigerian history; about an outpouring of Nigeria nationalism, about disregard for religion and its sentiments dressed in Abiola’s Muslim/Muslim ticket; about the betrayal of nationalism via the IBB annulment, about the struggle against the annulment, about the betrayal of Kingibe foreign ministerial appointment under Abacha; NADECO and official struggle; about the death of Abiola, Kudirat; about the immortality of June 12th and its resurrection in Obasanjo; about the betrayal of Obasanjo in his refusal to understand that he indeed was the resurrection of Abiola – a betrayal compounded by his refusal to do with June 12th what Buhari is ironically doing with it today – and punishing him in the process. We shall come back to this characterisation.

On the day NADECO was formed in the residence of Major General Adenyinka Adebayo, May 19, 1994, where I went with Rev. Fr. M.O. Adasu, I met for the first time two illustrious Igbo statesmen, both unnerved like Adasu, that June 12th was over ethnicised and should be repositioned. The two were Ndubisi Kanu and former Number two.

They had come understanding the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 was moving into a new

elevated, more militaristic gear called NADECO. So many other Northerners who were with June 12 from inception as a concept and idea were not in Adeyinka’s home but shared the reservation and sentiments being conveyed by the Easters and Northerners e.g, Babarabe Musa, Kangiwa Umar, Jonah Jang, T.Y. Danjuma, etc. Of course, the meeting itself was largely a Yoruba affair – Adesanya, Bola Ige, MKO himself with ZARIA 1, the Mercedes Benz limousine that would last host Kudirat, the only vehicle allowed access in the main yard. There were for those learning, Mr Femi Falana, much younger than today.

The Ibos, Tiv and Yoruba at the meeting and absentee Hausa were all fighting for the actualisation of a concept called power-shift. This was the critical bonding glue that brought all progressives forces across Nigeria in the SDP (and quite a few from the NRC) to align with Abiola – seen as a Yoruba but with a unique friendship infrastructure spanning the length and breadth of Nigeria in business, sports, media, religion (building mosques and churches), philanthropy, agriculture and politics (NPN Chairman Ogun State) where he came face to face with the power-shift philosophy.

So what defined June 12 was indeed power-shift – which connotes progressive change; and antipower-shift which drove the status quo and fuelled conservatism or the NRC. Power-shift was itself emerging from another typically Nigerian political phraseology called zoning and rotation. Abiola’s candidature meant power-shift from the North to the South via the South-West and thereafter moving back North and South in the six geo-political zones carved out for the harbours around where presidential power would be moored. The far-North NPN chieftains themselves had generated the zoning system albeit deceitfully to woo other ethnic groups in the nation. This worked in cobbling NPN victory in 1979.

Under the zoning protocols, the NPN far-North in Shagari had the presidency, while the Yoruba

had the party chairmanship with other positions, Senate president, House of Representatives Speaker, etc., going to the other regions or minorities. In the 1983 re-election, power was to shift to the South-West who would produce the president with the party chairmanship moving in reverse order to the far-North. Problem was the far-North, around which were the Fulani who believed that power, presidential power at that, was their conservative birth-right and should or would not move. This was a perception shared by far-Northern Fulani in civilian and military uniform. When Abiola, who was NPN bankroller, tested the sincerity of the far-Northern NPN by declaring his presidential ambition, he got a riposte from the far-North in Umaru Dikko, Shagari nyanga man who told Abiola “the presidency is not for sale� not on account of Shagari wanting to run another term, but largely interpreted as meaning the far-North would not allow power to shift under the same logic they have towards restructuring today!

The minorities within the NPN, Benue, Cross River, Rivers, etc., also generally suspicious of far-Northern NPN designs, expressed their fears via a codification of the zoning and rotation thesis which indeed first restructured the nation into the present six geo-political zones around which presidential power would shift and rotate. The conservative far-North was infuriated, angered, resonating in the Umaru Dikko’s revelation. The far-North’s resistance to power shift reflected in Dikko’s output and in the hostile reception to the minorities’ thesis on the subject matter, it cast a dark shadow on the 1983 elections defining the difficulties the party had in re-marketing nationwide. The NPN far-North had entirely underestimated the bonding capacities of power shift. This created the tension – soaked NPN victory in 1983, also generating the prospect everybody looked forward to that in 1987, the NPN would explode on failing to deliver on power-shift.

It has been argued, or alleged that the power-shift fears in the civilian far-North was shared by their military cousins. This military wing, allegation goes,

saw the “rigged� 1983 elections and opportunity to pre-empt the power-shift agenda in 1987. A Buhari coup, seen later as a largely Fulani initiative to circumvent power-shift, or June 12 in its pregnantry incubation embryo, would brotherly overthrow the Shagari - Fulani presidency.

The NRC – SDP dispensation after so many ups and downs created by Ibrahim Babangida, would not kill the idea or values created or expected around power-shift. So when almost inadvertently Abiola came back into the mix, even with politically incorrect Muslim/Muslim ticket, he would be forgiven on the higher objectives of power-shift. What goes round comes around. This is why the Ibos, some of them in the NRC, some Hausa even in the NRC, or eternal progressive like Babarabe Musa, Kolawale would think they had nothing to benefit in the SDP. The power-shift principles and values embedded in the protocols of zoning and rotation for all political offices – president, governor, senator, house members, etc., was largely a Tiv or minorities – NPN minority governors’ creation. It emerged from the earlier civil rights and party manifestoes of the United Middle Belt Congress. Its core values were equality, fairness and justice. Anybody and anywhere can spring forth a presidency. Power is not a monopoly of any faith or ethnic group like some conservative groups in the far-North imagined.

Abiola harboured these values – in his Christian and Islamic output..

The values of hope were also available. You had the right to hope to be anything in Nigeria – to not to be poor, you had the right to hope to live anywhere without fear of Fulani herdsmen or not being a Fulani man. Contained in the essential value of hope therefore is the value of national unity and peaceful co-existence. All these values were dressed in the values of struggle against the status quo which Nigerians need to imbibe today and stand against those who are wrongly honoured on account of June 12 like Babagana Kingibe; and for those who should be recognised.

15

T H I S D AY FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018

EDITORIAL DEATH FROM TOBACCO SMOKING The authorities should enforce the National Tobacco Control Act

I

n a March 2018 fact sheet that should worry critical stakeholders in Nigeria, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that the abuse of tobacco kills nearly seven million people annually. It also noted that over the course of the last century, about 100 million deaths were recorded from tobacco use, thus indicating that tobacco smoking is perhaps the single most important cause of preventable and premature deaths across the world.

While it may no longer be news that tobacco kills and harms the health of millions of Nigerians.

Tobacco atlas, an online platform that tracks use and abuse of tobacco in countries of the world, stated that in its 2015 survey, there were more than 2,994,700 men who smoke cigarettes each day in Nigeria, while within the same period, more than 539,100 women smoke cigarettes each day, making it an ongoing and dire public health threat. Further on its survey, the online tobacco tracking platform explained that there were more than 19,500 young boys who smoke cigarettes each day in Nigeria, as well as more than 6,100 young girls. On PROACTIVE MASS deaths recorded from MEDIA CAMPAIGNS CAN REDUCE TOBACCO tobacco abuse, it said that in 2016, tobacco CONSUMPTION BY killed 246 Nigerian PERSUADING YOUNG men every week, PEOPLE TO STOP THE and 64 women every week, thus indicating HABIT that an action is urgently needed from the country’s policymakers.

The impact of tobacco consumption on the health of the country also has a bearing on the wealth of the nation.

Still, many more continue to use tobacco every day in Nigeria, indicating a failure of the system put in place to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 enacted to curb the incessant abuse of tobacco smoking in the country.

Records have shown that most smokers actually

begin at their adolescent years, before growing into the habit to further make it difficult to curb nicotine addiction. And because these young people are heavily involved in tobacco use, the industry subsequently takes advantage of their unique position to keep them trapped with enticing adverts as evidenced in the large percentage of money voted for adverts that would encourage them to smoke more.

I T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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 BOLAJI ADEBIYI, 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

n the face of such complacency which appears to insulate the tobacco industry in Nigeria and subsequently ensures that deaths related to abuse of tobacco continue to rise each passing year, we are compelled to call on the government and advocates of laws and enforcements on controlled use of tobacco to quickly strengthen efforts on this threat to the wellbeing of Nigeria.

Clearly, Nigeria has not done enough to control the abuse of tobacco by its citizens. Every other day, smokers are seen at public places and building puffing out smokes from their cigarettes. New options in the form of shisha - an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing through water, have even opened up to become attractive to young Nigerians especially women. All these point to the fact that the country’s laws on use of tobacco have fallen apart.

Because smokers need help to quit the habit, we are of the view that hard-hitting anti-tobacco advertisements and graphic pack warnings against smoking especially at designated public places could help increase the number of people who quit smoking. We also believe that proactive mass media campaigns can also reduce tobacco consumption by persuading young people to stop the habit. Similarly, bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship can help reduce tobacco consumption, while heavy taxes on tobacco could help cut down the number of smokers especially among young Nigerians.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

T

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.

BUHARI, GOVERNORS AND APC NATIONAL CONVENTION

he forthcoming All Progressives Congress’ (APC), national convention slated for 23 June 2018 will yield some notable outcomes - governors will consolidate their grip on the party structures and further strengthen their influence.

President Muhammadu Buhari will get reassurance of 2019 presidential ticket and also attempt to maintain his difficult stance of non-interference. Some bigwigs in the party will get some temporary relief, as John Oyegun will give way for Adams Oshiomole as party chairman; aggrieved members will become more upset or finally be appeased; lastly, the new national executive will inherit sudden massive fame and power that the APC enjoys, accompanied with the party’s internal crisis.

Governors have powers; this gives them the chance of having control and a say in their political party. Ahead of the national convention, APC governors had met on Wednesday evening in Abuja to decide on a consensus. They were smart to avoid the so-called unity list, rather, consensus – no big party can move smoothly without honest consensus. But consensus built on narrow personal interests always leads political parties to disaster and defeat at the polls. Despite the consensus, the numerous problems

in the APC still exist. Unravelling these issues remains with the president and powerful governors.

President Muhammadu Buhari is not a typical Nigerian politician, but a responsibility of behaving as one has fallen on him. During the concluded local government and states congresses, the game in the APC became messier and personal. President Buhari is known not to interfere in party affairs just as he is not interested in controlling party structures, even at his own ward level. This is mixed blessing for the APC as this has entrenched internal democracy in the APC, as a party and at the same time has created a free-for-all atmosphere where everybody tries to put their personal interests above the party’s.

The new APC national executive that will emerge will inherit old problems - internal squabble and scrabble for ‘who gets what’, but have to proffer new solutions, keeping in mind that the Bola Tinubu Reconciliation committee has not achieved the expected result mainly due to one reason – Bola Tinubu himself is a main actor in the crisis. The new national executive must look for someone with qualities of Tinubu, but with fewer stakes in the internal crisis- this is a painstaking job. President Buhari is the only person that fits.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

I

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND UNROMANTIC INSERTIONS

nsertion! This word entered my offender’s register in 2016. At the time, Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman, house committee on appropriations, was a caterwauler; he cried out, alleging that the leadership of the House of Representatives was involved in impassioned “insertions”.

Jibrin claimed that four principal officers of the House, including Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the lower legislative chamber, were inserting personal projects into the 2016 budget. He said the insertions were brazen, illegal and wanton.

He wailed so loudly at the time, giving inveterate wailers a run for their money. I remember Jibrin went on Channels TV in the heat of the controversy to establish his claim. And I think I saw him use his index finger to describe the “insertions”. He sent a petition to the EFCC and the DSS asking them to investigate his claim and those he tagged the “corrupt quartet”.

But he was a lone prosecutor. He stood alone like a wraith seeking justice. He was suspended.

Disgraced. And politically marooned. He spent months stitching up his shredded raiment.

In the thick of all these, President Muhammadu Buhari kept quiet. In fact, it was reported that he

dismissed the allegations of illegal insertions. He took no action.

In 2018, Buhari has suddenly realised the National Assembly’s knack for “unromantic insertions”. By speaking up now, the president has only given his allegation and motive a political slant.

However, it is unsettling that the National Assembly will open the budget and insert choice projects into it. It is totally abhorrent. Permit my bias, but why did the National Assembly cut the provision for the construction of a terminal building at Enugu airport from N2 billion to N500 million?

Why did the National Assembly increase its own budget from N125 billion to N139.5 billion? This is injudicious.

As a matter of fact, these insertions are becoming too abrasive. And it appears the National Assembly is deviating from its statutory role.

I will not be on the band of the demonisers of the National Assembly, but the legislature must always be above board. It is an institution of check, and as such, it must be prim and proper. With actions like this, the accusations of its traducers are given a verisimilitude of truth.

These insertions are unromantic!

Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

16

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY Ëž , JUNE 22, 2018

18

ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš ÙÖÓÞÓĂ?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ě“

Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ë? Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă‘Ë›Ă™Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù× ͸΀͚͚͟͟Πͽ͝ͺ͟ SMS ONLY

TRENDING NEWS

Hanging In The Balance Less than one year to when the 8th National Assembly is expected to run its course, many senators are unsure of what will happen to them, Nseobong Okon-Ekong, Shola Oyeyipo, Amby Uneze, Okon Bassey, Sylvester Idowu and David-Chyddy Eleke report

Dariye

T

he Nigerian political class are being jolted, the judiciary is receiving accolades from Nigerians over how some delicate political cases have been brilliantly and decisively resolved while the upper chamber of the National Assembly is recording casualties, as hitherto distinguished senators were thrown back to the frenzied crowd.

Nigerians are witnessing startling judgments that affect many senators.

For instance, the senate has lost a member, Senator Joshua Dariye, representing Plateau Centre. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.

Under this dispensation, many senators have suffered varying shocking blows from the judiciary, even if some of them rallied back; bouncing back through the strength of superior courts. A pertinent example are Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba from Anambra State. A third Senator from the state, Uche Ekwunife, was also sacked.

In 2017, the Senator representing Taraba North senatorial district of Taraba State, Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi vacated his seat immediately and was ordered to refund all the salaries and allowances he received within 90 days.

The Supreme Court, in the unanimous judgment of a five member panel read

by Justice Adamu Augie, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Danladi and issue another to Isa Lau. In another decision, a Federal High Court in Uyo, declared that Bassey Etim was the rightful holder of the Akwa Ibom North-east senatorial seat occupied by Senator Bassey Albert. He was recognised as the winner of the primaries conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2014. The court therefore ordered that Etim be sworn-in to replace Albert.

Though the court of appeal sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State, later overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court in Uyo and declared Senator Bassey Albert winner of the PDP primary

Albert

but it is still lingering legal battle that many are awaiting the outcome at the apex court.

Counsel to Mr. Etim, Mba Okweni (SAN), said they are challenging the decision of the appeal court at the Supreme Court. “Sincerely, I feel that the judgment should be tested further until the Supreme Court makes a pronouncement on the issue and some of the points that have been raised, which we feel are not properly placed.

Then, we can have a final statement on it,� he said after the Appeal Court judgment. “We believe strongly that if things continue the way they are going, impunity in our political parties would continue,�

Okweni said.

In December 2017, the Rivers State PDP got a rude shock when the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja pronounced the sack of Senator George Thompson Sekibo representing Rivers East senatorial district and declared Andrew Uchendu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the senatorial election.

The Rivers State elections petition tribunal had sacked Sekibo and as in other judgments, directed INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to him and

The incentive for engaging in bitter, long drawn legal tussles may not be unconnected with the revelation from senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as “running cost

Oduah

issue a fresh certificate to Mr. Uchendu.

Recently, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the immediate sack of a Senator Atai Aidoko as the member representing Kogi East senatorial district.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole ruled that Aidoko was wrongly presented as the flag bearer of the PDP in the December 2014 primaries conducted by the party.

He ordered the PDP and Mr Aidoko to pay Mr. Alfa N750, 000.

With the feats recorded by the nation’s judiciary, the bench received accolades for delivering judgments that are curbing impunity and positively modifying activities in the political arena.

Mr. Babatunde Fashanu (SAN) said the judiciary deserves commendation for its performance in and urged the apex court to sustain the tempo in by maintaining its fearless and its efforts to attain complete independence.

He called for an improvement in the condition of service of judges and court staff. He said facilities in the courts should be upgraded to encourage speedy dispensation of justice.

With the growing trend, it will not be surprising if more unexpected judgments are delivered in months ahead that may ultimately change some permutations in the National Assembly by 2019.

Less than one year to the 2019 general elections, the faith of pre-election litigations between Mr. Bassey Etim and Senator Bassey Albert over the Uyo Senatorial District Election seat (Akwa Ibom Northeast) is yet to be determined. Both Mr. Etim and Senator Albert are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His case has not been looked into by the Senate, perhaps because of the legal tussle still pending in the Supreme Court with Albert still enjoying all the privileges as a senator.

In the case of Senator Athan Achonu, who was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Imo North (Okigwe zone), the tribunal declared his seat vacant and ordered a re-run election was based on the fact that the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) failed to include the party logo of the Accord Party (AP), whose candidate Mrs. Rita Ibemere Okoroafor felt disfranchised and proceeded to the tribunal to press for her fundamental human right. The tribunal ruled in her favour and further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a new election within 90 days of the judgment. Ibemere did not in re-run instead she lent her support to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu.

There was serious politicking prior to the re-run proper, for the fact that it was the only opportunity for APC to let President Muhammadu Buhari weigh the strength of the party in the only APC controlled state in the South-east. Every effort was mobilized to outwit the PDP candidate in the election. INEC had no choice than announce Benjamin Uwajumogu of the APC winner of the re-run Imo North re-run senatorial election thereby denying Senator Achonu the opportunity to complete his term in the red chamber.

Oharisi Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Ighoyota Amori are both illustrious sons of Urhobo dominated Delta Central Senatorial zone of Delta State. They are well respected politicians in that zone and-both belong to what is known as Ibori political dynasty.

But on March 28, 2015, the duo parted ways to express their political aspirations to contest to represent Delta Central as their senator.

Amori then pitched his tent with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Ovie Omo-Agege, having lost the primaries to him, crossed over to Labour Party (LP) for the main elections.

Another powerful politician, Halims Agoda also contested against the duo but under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC). APC was not as strong then as it is in the state now.

At the first round of the election, Amori was declared winner, though elections were inconclusive in some of the local governments, which necessitated a re-run in April 25 of the same year. Ighoyota

19

T H I S D AY ˾ , JUNE 22, 2018

Uwajumogu

Amori also won the rerun. Ovie-Omo Agege came second while Halims Agoda was placed third in the result declared

by INEC. Dissatisfied by the outcome of that election, both Ovie Omo-Agege headed to the Election Petitions Tribunal to contest the emergence of Amori as the winner of the contesting alleging several electoral malpractices.

At the Elections Tribunal, the Justice Muhammed Umar led panel of justices, declared in Amori vs Agoda that the petition of Halims Agoda lacked sufficient proofs, and he had been unable to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and had not satisfied the burden of proof of his case as provided for in the Electoral Act, as amended.

Amori had equally defeated Ovie Omo-Agege at the Tribunal when, in its ruling, the three-member tribunal panel, headed by Justice L I Boufini, held that the petitioner (Omo-Agege) failed to prove the allegations of electoral irregularities, snatching of ballot boxes, financial inducement of voters and cases of over voting contained in his petition, as declared in his petition before the tribunal.

“The allegations of the petitioner, including his eight witnesses, were based on hearsay, and the law does not entertain arguments based on hearsay. This tribunal has considered the arguments of the petitioner and the defence of the respondents”, the Justice Boufini tribunal panel had ruled.

Both defeated challengers however, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment appealed the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Benin, which was the final legal institution and clearing house for National Assembly election matters.

A major political debacle emerged when one Appeal Court ruling read by the Justice H. Barka panel of Appeal Court Judges, gave Ighoyota Amori of the PDP, victory over Halims Agoda of the APC, while another Appeal Court ruling, by the same Justice H.A. Barka led Court of Appeal panel of Justices, a few days later, had upturned the judgment of the lower tribunal presided over by Justice L.I. Boufini and declared the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, as the duly elected senator

Omo-Agege

for Delta central in the March 28, 2015 general elections.

Dismissing the appeal in the case of Halims Agoda, in the unanimous judgment, Justice H. Barka, had held that the use of manual accreditation was legal, adding that card readers were meant to complement manual accreditation. Barka said, over voting could only be said to have taken place if the number of votes cast was more than what was in the voters register and “not card readers.”

On the allegation of violence during the election, the judge said the petitioner could not prove his case and declared that “INEC complied with the electoral law in the conduct of the election of March 28 and April 25 in the Delta Central senatorial district election.”

However, in the case of Ovie Omo-Agege, the Justice Barka Appeal Court panel of justices had held that the appeal filed

by Omo-Agege was meritorious, and therefore ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Amori and give same to the Omo-Agege in the same Delta Central Senatorial election of March 28 and the subsequent re-run on

Under this dispensation, many senators have suffered varying shocking blows from the judiciary, even if some of them rallied back; bouncing back through the strength of superior courts. A pertinent example are Senators Stella Oduah and Andy Uba from Anambra State. A third Senator from the state, Uche Ekwunife, was also sacked

Ubah

April 25, 2015.

Omo-Agege’s claim to the seat, beyond the legal technicality which finally determined the case, may have been granted on two planks viz; he was runner up in the original election beating Halims Agoda to a distant third in the Delta Central Senatorial zone polls.

Secondly, by the legitimate fact that he defeated Amori, who had earlier defeated Agoda at the same Court of Appeal, OmoAgege’s own victory set him aside as the over-all winner of the election, since he had conquered Agoda’s conqueror.

Ironically, while the defeated Amori had gone to great lengths to challenge the emergence of Omo-Agege, via the Court of Appeal, as the winner of the Delta Central Senatorial zone election, it is not clear if Halims Agoda of the All Progressives Congress, APC raised any legal challenge contesting Ovie Omo-Agege’s victory at the Court of Appeal.

Political analysts had argued that it is Halims Agoda, who really should have been the aggrieved and injured party in this debacle, since he also participated in the Delta Central March 28 and the re-run April 25 Senatorial elections, but most of them opined that Halims Agoda shot himself in the foot, and perhaps deliberately too, by not also filing a petition against Omo-Agege as he did against Ighoyota Amori.

In Anambra State, the history of national assembly members have been fraught with litigations. Most members have had their stay truncated by rulings of court, as a result of faulty elections or wrong nomination at the party level.

In Anambra Central senatorial zone for instance, about eight senators have represented the zone in just five dispensations, since 1999.

The situation is not different in the other two senatorial zones of the state, where sitting senators have been sacked from office and fresh election declared, or another candidate out-rightly declared winner.

In Anambra Central for example, the current senator representing the zone, Chief Victor Umeh was only this year, in January 2018 elected in a rerun election, and this is after the sacking of another candidate for the position from the Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, Mrs Uche Ekwunife by the appeal court in December 2015, merely few months after she was sworn -in.

Ekwunife’s sack was at the behest of Chief Victor Umeh, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, who had challenged the nomination of Ekwunife as PDP candidate, alleging that the party held three primary elections, with three candidates emerging from them. His attempt to return to the senate after a rerun election had been ordered by the court led to a fresh round of litigation, which delayed the election until after over a year.

While Anambra South where Senator Andy Uba represents the zone has been relatively quiet in terms of litigations, Anambra North, just like the central constituency has been riotous too. In the past, people like Senator Alphonsus Igbeke, Chinedu Emeka and Margery Okadigbo have continually slugged it out in court, and have succeeded in having a short stay at the upper chambers, before they were removed. Currently, Senator Stella Oduah represents the zone, but has also had her share of litigations as Late Senator Okadigbo’s wife has been with her in court, until her recent triumph, before she moved to the APGA. Speaking with THISDAY on ways of stopping incidences of the wrong candidates being sworn in after elections, a lawyer, Barr Nnaemeka Uzondu said the stipulated period for trial in election matters should strictly be adhered to, as the essence is to ensure speedy conclusion of matters before the swearing-in of elected officials.

The incentive for engaging in bitter, long drawn legal tussles may not be unconnected with the revelation from senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as “running cost.” Mr. Sani said that the running cost does not include a N700,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances which they also receive.However, a legal luminary, Dr. Abiodun Saka-Layonu, SAN, submitted that except in the case of pre-election matters, matters involving the senate should not go beyond the Appeal Court.

He cited instances where the Supreme Court seriously reprimanded a senior lawyer and it eventually led to the loss of his silk gown.

19

T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ ͰͰ, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 4.83 % 5.33%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

4.13% 8.25 % 8.50 %

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078, 08091152219

J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 1 8 S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

357.18 % - 0.20% -0.23%

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

3.23% 8.41%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.95/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes Media Nite Award Holds September 23rd

COURTESY VISIT

R-L: General Manager, China Development Bank, Zhang Yifan; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman and Chief Executive Officer, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nann Nahata,during a courtesy visit to Bala-Usman at the NPA’s corporate headquarters in Lagos...recently

Revealed: Pilots Sanctioned by NCAA Confirmed to Be on Drugs Chinedu Eze Air safety may be threatened as findings have shown that some of the pilots sanctioned by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) indulged in banned drugs while on duty.

THISDAY gathered that random checks carried by the regulatory authority revealed that despite warnings to pilots and stringent regulation against the use of illicit drugs, some pilots still take some of the banned substances, including marijuana.

THISDAY investigation also disclosed that such abuse had led to tragic circumstances in the past, where pilots under such

AVIATION substances took decision that gave rise to tragic accidents.

This is why the NCAA has been very strict in checking and sanctioning any pilot found to have indulged in banned drugs or took alcohol close to his or her flight time.

Despite the relatively low accident rate worldwide, many recent accidents in air travel are attributed to human error because there has been tremendous improvement in the machine in terms of safety and in accurate weather reports.

But human error has

remained the major cause of air crashes and serious incidents globally.

According to NCAA advisory circular on alcohol and drugs to aviation stakeholders, “Alcohol, medication and drugs are the most common causes of worldwide fatal commercial air transport aircraft accidents. “Recent evidence from alcohol and drugs testing programme of aviation safety critical workers in Nigeria and internationally has demonstrated positive rates at levels that have warranted an increase in testing.�

The NCAA recently made a presentation at the Aviation Round Table (ART) breakfast forum in Lagos and disclosed that

from October 2014 to December 2017, it recorded 90 sanctions, which included 15 pilots and five cabin crew members who were sanctioned over infractions against regulations and many of these infractions were intake of banned drugs and use of alcohol.

But informed sources told THISDAY that there might be more pilots that indulge in illicit substances and alcohol because those sanctioned were caught through random checks and were carried out on different airline at any time it is done.

The source said more pilots Continued on page 20

FG Urged to Reform Import, Export Regulatory Procedures Eromosele Abiodun Following Nigeria’s poor showing in trading across borders on Ease of Doing Business ranking by the World Bank, Customs agents in the country have called on the federal government to urgently address the challenges encountered by Nigerians on the process of import, export and transit regulatory procedure that affected the country on the ranking.

The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the umbrella body of customs agents in the country stated this in a letter addressed to President Muhamadu Buhari.

The agents in the letter signed by their National President, Mr. Lucky Amiwero said the federal government must urgently reform the import, export procedure to align with international best practice.

MARITIME The World Bank had in the report rated Nigeria lowest in Africa and 183 out of a total of 190 trading countries examined across the globe on the Ease of Doing in relation to Business Trading Across Borders (TAD).

Nigeria, according to the report, came last among a total of 17 African countries drawn across the various regions of the continent, having also come 183 out of a total of 190 countries in the world.

The World Bank had in its Ease of Doing Business report entitled, “Doing Business 2018: Reforming to create jobs, listed Nigeria on the 145th position out of 190 countries .

The report indicated that Nigeria had moved up by 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145 in the World Bank’s 2018

report.

However, the custom agents pointed out that Nigeria’s import, export, regulatory and transit procedures have lengthy, cumbersome process associated with unnecessary delays, high transaction cost and increase of cargo dwell time, which make our port the most expensive in the globe based on verifiable information.

The custom agents said: “The reform on import-export, regulatory and transit procedures, is to implement an integrated set policies and procedures that is globally accepted, which will ensure effective. “Trade Facilitation by the reduction of transaction cost, cargo dwell time and ensure safety and security of our processes.�

They called on the federal government to, as part of the reforms, address the issue of breakdown of scanners at the ports.

“The three scanning companies, Cotecna, SGS, and Global Scan entered into contract for the provision, installation, operation and management of X-Ray scanning machines and computerised management for examination of goods on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer(BOOT) for a period of seven years from 2006 to 2012 extended for six months, which ended in June 2013. “The federal government subsequently entered in to transition contract agreement, with the service providers on the 1st July to 30th November for transfer of scanners to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with the constitution of the Transition Implementation Committee on Destination Inspection scheme by the then Coordinating Minister of Finance on the 5th of July,2013, with specific mandate to ensure a seamless Continued on page 20

Organisers of Nigerian Media Nite-out Award have announced that all is set for the 12th edition of the award.

The event which would hold in Lagos on September 23, 2018, has the theme: ‘Role of Media in Ensuring Credible Elections and Maintainance of Good Governance’.

The organisers said the event is gradually gathering momentum and attracting rave attention from the socio-economic sectors of the country.

The all-embracing media practitioners’ event which debuted 12 years ago to recognise excellence and achievements by media practitioners (print, electronic/social media) is the brainchild of Solkem Entertainment.

The Nigerian Media Nite-out award was conceived with a view to carrying media practitioners along in appreciation of their invaluable contribution to the development and emancipation of the Nigerian nation.

Now in its 12th year of successive outings, the organisers said this edition promises to be a grander outing than the previous ones and nominations and nominees are already rolling in. “This year’s edition of the Nigeria Media Nite-out Award, 2018 is unique because dignitaries from all walks of life, captains of industry, politicians, top government functionaries, socialites and media groups are expected to grace the ever glamorous event and it is already getting a lot of responses from many Nigerians,�

Solkem Entertainment said.

Etihad Passes IATA Safety Audit

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has once again successfully passed the biennial IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The Abu Dhabi-based airline met all required standards – with the highest possible result of zero ďŹ ndings and zero observations – after the IOSA team examined more than 800 of the airline’s safety procedures and processes in detail. IOSA seeks to ensure that airlines are compliant with safety requirements and recommended practices determined by IATA and is the most important examination of Etihad’s operations.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Operations OďŹƒcer, Richard Hill said: “Safety is Etihad’s number one priority and the IOSA results are testament to our all-encompassing safety culture. “Our highly professional sta continues to implement, enhance and deliver the most exacting safety processes and procedures in everything we do.â€? IOSA is mandatory for all IATA member airlines, reviewing standards in eight operational areas, including operations management, ight operations, cabin operations, maintenance, ight dispatch, ground and cargo operations and security.

AirAsia Group Deny Corruption Charges

AirAsia Group Bhd has strongly refuted all allegations made in a ďŹ rst information report by the police in India, including any impropriety in obtaining government approvals.

The group said it would pursue all legal remedies to address the allegations against AirAsia Bhd, AirAsia India Pte Ltd, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and his Deputy Bo Lingam, which it described as “baseless, unsupported and unjustiďŹ ed.â€?

According to Channel News Asia, media reports in India have widely reported that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a ďŹ rst information report against the parties named above based on information from an unnamed “reliable sourceâ€?. “We question the motives of the unnamed person, persons or organisation that lodged this FIR, but we will co-operate fully with the Indian authorities in accordance with due process provided in law,â€? AirAsia Group said in a statement on Tuesday (Jun 19).

Amongtheallegationsisthatunnamedpublicservantshadengagedin a criminal conspiracy involving AirAsia Bhd, AirAsia India, Fernandes, Lingam, and four other named parties and unknown private persons to expedite the approval process and change in aviation policies to suit AirAsia India. This was by lobbying stakeholders in the Indian government through non-transparent means. The group said all required approvals were secured through normal channels and it took more than a year to get them.

“ Technology alone cannot safeguard worldwide security without an active involvement of the human elements,� �

Former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)

Richard Aisuebeogun

20

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD REVEALED: PILOTS SANCTIONED BY NCAA CONFIRMED TO BE ON DRUGS would have been caught and sanctioned if the checks are carried out regularly, disclosing that some pilots are actually addicted to banned substances but they have not been caught.

THISDAY also learnt that when caught with drugs the pilot is suspended for at least 180 days and under this period, he is expected to undergo rehabilitation and at the end, he is expected to bring psychiatrist report and he would be made to undergo series of tests and examinations to ensure that he has stopped indulging in it; but drugs like marijuana can attract the withdrawal of pilot’s license for up to eight months and possibly permanently, depending on the severity of drug intake.

Also, if a pilot or member of cabin crew takes alcohol, he would not be qualified to fly until after eight hours.

FG URGED TO REFORM IMPORT, EXPORT REGULATORY PROCEDURES transfer of functional scanners from the service providers to NCS, “they stated.

They said government should re-evaluate the scanners to know the present state and update the scanners as recommended by Smith Detection the manufacturers of the scanners. “Look into the main cause of the collapse scanners, and if possible work out a PPP arrangement to maintain the scanners by releasing part of one per cent FOB provided for Inspection under Pre-Shipment Inspection Act 11 Section 3. “The creation of national data sheet, to capture, define, analyse, reconcile, to use one single data element name with common definition or coding reconcile with international standard for a single national data sheet. “In line with global best practice, the single national data sheet will accommodate and harmonised, simplify and minimize duplication and redundancy, which enhance and facilitate trade with the signing of the (MOU) by all federal agencies for a one stop-shop operation,� they added.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

NEWS

Jos Disco Laments Damage on Facilities by Windstorm Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Jos Electricity Distribution Company (Disco) has bemoaned what it described as the monumental damage on its facilities in Bauchi and other states by windstorm, describing it as “a colossal damage� that will take sometimes to resolve.

Addressing a press conference in Jos recently, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Alhaji Mohammed Gidado Modibbo said “the windstorm which lasted for several hours left a lot of havoc on the facilities to the extent that over 500 poles were collapsed, several meters were damaged, and injection substations and communication masts affected.�

He added: “The immediate consequence of this is that electricity supply to a lot of our customers was cut off throwing them into darkness. “This really caught us unaware because we were not prepared for it; it is a natural phenomenon which does not take permission from anyone before it happens; so we were so badly affected.�

Represented by the Executive Director, Marketing and Invest-

ment, Mr. Verr Jirbo, the managing director however appealed to customers for calm, reassuring that the company’s team of engineers were making efforts to restore power to them.

He added: “We have been able to do some upgrade and reinforcement where we can, but this kind of damage will take a couple

of days to fix. “As a responsible company, we felt that the public and particularly our customers should be properly informed and educated. “We have also sent a powerful delegation to the state to engage the operators of the state at the highest level to let them know what we are facing, because the items that were destroyed

are of capital intensive nature and we need a lot of funds to procure these materials and install them. “We have already informed the Federal Structure; the Ministry of Power, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), because we need a lot of collaboration to ensure that the issues are resolved and supply is

restored to the people. “Though our company is a private one, we are open to any form of assistance that the Federal Government may be willing to render.�

He said though it was difficult to quantify, in monetary terms, the extent of damage, a couple of hundreds of customers and companies have been affected.

DISCUSSING FUTURE OF OIL SECTOR

L-R: Business Development Manager, Sahara Energy Resources DMCC, Colin G. Raccah; Chief Executive Officer, Sahara Energy International Pte. Ltd. Singapore (Geneva Branch), Valery Guillebon; Secretary General, OPEC, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo; Director, Sahara Group, Wale Ajibade, and Head Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, at the ongoing 7th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria today, June 20, 2018recently

Group Pledges to Monitor 2018 Agric Sector Budget The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has said that it will begin monitoring the implementation of allocation to the agriculture sector in the 2018 budget.

This, AFAN said would help facilitate accountability.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Vice President of the association, Chief Daniel Okafor, said that the budget monitoring would be done in all the states of the federation.

He was reacting to the 2018 Appropriation Act, which was assented to

by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, saying the monitoring would ensure that real farmers in the rural areas are reached

and also benefit from the implementation.

According to him, “We thank the President for signing the budget but in another way, we are not happy as farmers because farming is time bound. We have farmers that only do rain- fed agriculture. Yes, the budget has been signed but what we are talking about is the implementation. How is it going to be implemented? “Without monitoring the budget, it will be like the budget of previous years where you give the farmers what they need at the wrong time. I believe it is time farmers speak out because it is in their own constituency

when agricultural budget is mentioned. It is not only the Ministry of Agriculture that we are talking about in the budget.’’ The association added that it will monitor the implementation of budget of all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies that concerns agriculture to ensure that the budget is implemented so that farmers will enjoy just like their counterparts in other countries. The National Coordinator, Zero Hunger Commodity Farmers, Dr. Tunde Arosanyin advised the government to avoid gaps during the budget implementation especially as it concerned agriculture.

Arosanyin, who is also the National Technical Adviser of AFAN, said allocation to the agriculture sector was 3.2 per cent which was less than the 10 per cent budget agreed during the Maputo declaration of 2003.

According to him, “The budget of 2018 signed today is rather coming too late.

Agriculture is tied to time and weather so the budget may not be fully released by that time, the rain will be winding down in the north and the middle belt which is the hub of agriculture production. “Nevertheless, it is advisable to avoid leakage at implementation by meeting the farmers at farm gate with

input, credit and market.’’ To Mr Nnimmo Bassey, an agriculture and environmental expert, paucity of fund in the agriculture sector was capable of causing delay in plans of the agriculture ministry.

He called for robust investment to revive and empower extension officers to provide the needed support to our farmers especially smallholder farmers who the masses depended on for food, advising the government to also invest in soil-enriching agro-ecological farming methods to shift away from food production that depended on toxic chemicals, artificial fertilisers and unnatural genetic modified seeds.

Edo Partners Private Sector to Build Digital Village

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The partnership between Edo state government and some members of the organised private sector in various areas of human endeavour has started to yield positive results as the American Tower Company (ATC) Nigeria recently handed over a Digital Skills Village Project it built in Benin City to the Edo state government.

The Digital Skills Village Project sited at Igbesamwan Street, Benin City, was built

by ATC Nigeria as part of its Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) to provide computer training to youths in the area.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Governor Godwin Obaseki assured that training would commence immediately at the Digital Skills Village pointing out that trainees are on ground for the take off.

Obaseki, who was represented by the Head of Employer Engagement and Partnership on Skill Development Program, Governor’s Office, Mr Eseosa Egharevba, said the project was an integral part of the state Innovative Project by the governor.

He also stated that the government was focusing on digital skill acquisition of the youths as it’s imperative in today’s human capital development. “This is an innovation, an integral part of Edo Innovative Project. We already have stuEFOUT UIBU XJMM TUBSU UP USBJOr There is no way a state will develop without focusing on this integral sector�.

While thanking ATC Nigeria for the gesture and for being a responsible corporate citizen, the governor assured that the facility will be protected from vandalism.

Obaseki further assured

that the state government would continue to partner the ATC and Local Government Councils for the maintenance of the facilities in other locations like Ekpoma and Irrua where replicas of the project are domiciled. “I thank the entire ATC Nigeria for this project. We will ensure there is dedicated security patrol to secure the project area and we will also partner with ATC Nigeria to ensure supervision and monitoring of the project. “We will ensure we partner with local authority in various Local Government Councils to ensure these facilities are

used for the purpose it is established for,� the governor said.

Obaseki disclosed that there are legislations in place to ensure continuity and that the project will out live the present administration.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of PEES Electrical Ltd, the contracting firm that handled the project for ATC Nigeria, Mr Peter Balogun, stated that the Digital Skills Village Project was designed to complement the state’s ICT hub which was commissioned in Benin City by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during his visit to Edo State.

21

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Experts Urge FG to Review Minimum Aircraft Requirement for Airlines Stories by Chinedu Eze The Aviation Round Table (ART), a think-tank organisation in the aviation sector made up of industry experts, has advised the federal government to review upward, the minimum number of aircrafts required for commercial airlines from the current two to between 10 and 20.

The body said this would enable the airlines operate with high capacity, economy of scale and ensure their survival, noting that currently Nigerian airlines operate small with minimum of two aircraft capacity that contributes to their short lifespan of average of 10 years.

This was part of the communiquĂŠ issued by the ART after a breakfast meeting in Lagos recently, as the body looked at how airlines could survive, operate safely and profitably.

The experts noted that as the federal government works towards the establishment of a new national airline, a level playing field should be provided for all players in Nigeria’s aviation industry in order to allay the fears among existing airlines that the planned national carrier

would undermine their operations, as government might introduce policies that would promote the national airline at the detriment of the private sector driven carriers.

ART also urged aviation agencies to conduct a study on the role of ownermanager syndrome in the collapse of local airlines over the years, with a view to addressing it.

The body also called on the aviation agencies with technical shortfalls to address them by exploring training opportunities in various fields, saying aviation waits for nobody.

In addition, the agencies were also urged to look inwards where human capacity is insufficient in line with the various executive orders on local content.

On aircraft leasing, ART advised that the NCAA should notify the Nigerian judiciary on the implications of issuing court rulings that defy the Cape Town Protocol, an international agreement to which Nigeria is signatory, which allows lessors to take back their aircraft leased to the airlines when the later failed to abide by the agreement reached before the conduct

of the transaction.

On the lack of airfield lighting at the domestic runway of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, known as Runway 18L, ART called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to expedite action on the repair of night landing facilities as a matter of urgent concern while they also challenged the agency to address the seeming “miscommunication between its marshallers and pilots in command.�

ART said government should as a matter of urgency and critical safety concern address the shortfall in air traffic controllers and engineers because inadequate personnel in the two areas may affect safety of flight operations in the country.

ART also commended the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) for improved technical training, equipment optimisation, international collaboration and the gradual release of accident reports and enjoined the bureau to go further by pushing for the implementation of safety directives as stated in some of these reports.

Investors Jostle for Airline Licences Despite the challenges bedevilling commercial flight operations in Nigeria, more investors are jostling to invest in the airline industry, according to a report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

In a recent presentation at the Aviation Round Table (ART) breakfast forum in Lagos, NCAA disclosed that a total of 32 airlines made up of scheduled and charter operators had been in line since January, 2017 to obtain their Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and have been going through the stringent conditions to qualify for the certification.

NCAA said out of this number, 26 of the airlines have passed some of the five stages to obtain AOC. Currently only seven airlines are on scheduled

passenger service which include Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Overland Airways, Medview Airline, Dana Air, Air Peace and AZMAN. Industry analyst and CEO of Aglo Limited, Tayo Ojuri said the Nigeria was yet to have saturated airline market, saying existing airlines concentrate on the three major destinations of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, leaving some potential busy routes unserved. “We do not have airline market that is saturated.

When people start the airline business, they only focus on the triangle routes. With right pricing, equipment, timing and route analysis, they are able to develop other routes,�

Ojuri explained that 10 years ago, operators only

concentrated on Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, but now airlines fly to more airports.

According to him, there was the need to develop secondary routes like Benin, Kano-Enugu, Calabar-Kano and others. “Look at the demography of those that are outside the country and those that have gone through Benin, you will understand that it is a route yet to be explored.

Before 2015, Benin was the fourth largest passenger traffic airport. We have a lot of people from Edo and Delta State outside Nigeria,� he said.

Ojuri who noted that all the airlines operate about 40 aircraft, however, stressed the need to address infrastructure issues at the airports, high charges and multiple taxations of airlines.

Delta Signs for 20 Bombardier Regional Jets Delta Air Lines has signed a firm purchase agreement for 20 Bombardier CRJ900s to replace older regional jets flown b y i t s D e l t a Connection partners.

Delta will be the launch operator for Bombardier ’s n e w A t m o s p h è re c a b i n for its CRJ Series of regional aircraft, with the order worth around $961 million at list prices.

Airwise.com reported

that the CRJ900s would be operated by Delta Connection in a two-class 70-seat configuration. “ We a re t h r i l l e d t h a t Delta continues to select the CRJ Series as the airline looks into the f u t u re g ro w t h o f i t s re g i o n a l operations,�

Bombardier ’s president of commercial aircraft Fred C ro m e r s a i d .

B o m b a rd i e r s a y s t h e

new Atmosphère interior provides more passenger space, including bigg e r o v e rh e a d b i n s f o r carry-on bags, and a l a rg e r l a v a t o r y. D e l t a would take delivery of its first CRJ900 with the Atmosphère package later t h i s y e a r.

Including today’s order, Bombardier has recorded firm orders for 1,953 CRJ S e r i e s a i rc r a f t .

AIR WATCH Addressing Challenges in Aviation Sector

Mbanuzuo

Domestic airlines have complained so much about their operations. They always accuse government of lack of support, the high cost of insurance premium, the fluctuating prices of aviation fuel and inadequate infrastructure, including having airport runways without airfield lighting, lack of adequate boarding gates at major airports and high airport charges and taxes.

But despite these complaints, Nigerian airlines have continued to operate, airlifting thousands of passengers every month to different domestic destinations. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) last week announced that more airlines are in the process of obtaining Air Operator Certificate (AOC), while others have obtained and may start operation soon.

Possibly, it may be because there are always airlines willing to join the market that make concerned authorities not to bother much about these complaints of domestic carriers.

One airline operator told THISDAY that to succeed in the airline domestic market, an airline ought not to have more than six aircraft because when the fleet increases above that number flight delays become inevitable due to fuelling, lack of enough boarding gates and constraints occasioned by lack of airfield lights at many of Nigerian airports. “If you have about eight aircraft and above you will face the first challenge, which is scheduling. Because you have one boarding gate at most of the airport terminals, if you schedule boarding to different destinations at 30 minutes intervals you will still not be able to process your first flight by the time the second should be taking off. This is because you are processing all the passengers through one boarding gate. “And with that number of aircraft, you cannot create longer intervals between flights; otherwise, the equipment will be underutilised. This is because you have just 6:00 pm window to some airports due to the fact that you cannot fly there in the night, so what you have is 6:00 am to 6: 00 pm window of operation. So, at most, one aircraft can get just eight hours of flight per day, which is grossly inadequate in terms of aircraft utilisation,� the operator told THISDAY. He noted that with more aircraft the airline faces fuelling delay because there are no fuel hydrants that are active (the one at the Lagos airport had since gone into disuse), so airlines depend of fuel bowsers, which criss-cross the airport apron to refuel aircraft.

Sometimes an airline with fully boarded passengers would be waiting for bowser to

come and feed the airplane. In Lagos, the bowser faces traffic gridlock bringing the product from Apapa, which subsequently delays flight takes off.

The Chief Operating Office of Dana Air, Obi Mbanuzuo, recently noted that all the domestic airlines face these myriads of problems and have struggled to wade through them.

He said Dana has been in the market for quite a number of years and would be 10 years in November. “We have had ups and downs and the industry has gone through a lot of changes both for good and for bad. It is no secret that a lot of airline operators, even as a body, complain because we don’t think that we are yet at where we want. Airline operation is a business. People invest in it and it drives the economy. “One thing I think the government has failed to understand is that the industry is a big driver of the economy. It is widely said that aviation contributes 0.4 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product of the country but we believe based on conviction that it is up to four or five per cent,� Mbanuzuo said.

According to him, the industry has problem of policy. A lot of successive governments change policies “though in the last two or three years we have had a Minister who is an aviator and understands the industry. Previously, people have come with ideas that may work in production but not in this industry.� “So, in all over the past 10 years, Dana Air has had its fair share of the challenges in the industry. We are in a country like Nigeria where we don’t produce the smallest bolt in an airplane. So airline operators pay huge import duties to import everything required,� he said.

The Dana COO however conceded that recently, with the help of the current Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the airlines are getting some help with the removal of import duties on spare parts which has helped a lot, noting that the policy was in the right direction; although paying for everything in foreign currency still affects the airlines adversely. “Aircraft are flown and maintained on a schedule and when the time comes, they must be maintained and we still don’t have maintenance facilities. Because of the investment Dana Air made since 2008, and issues post-2012, we do most of our maintenance here but when it comes to heavy maintenance, we fly our aircraft overseas,� he added.

It is hoped that government and the airlines will meet and agree on solutions to these numerous problems.

22

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Tackling Threat of Terrorism at Airports Following reports that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has threatened to bomb flights at different parts of the world, Chinedu Eze writes that Nigeria must reinforce its security apparatus to forestall possible attacks at any of the nation’s airports Aviation experts have posited that terrorists prefer attacking airports and airplanes because it gives them the opportunity to do maximum damage and earn wide publicity.

That is why the recent threat to Nigeria which was confirmed by the federal government in circulars it sent to the Nigeria Customs, Immigration, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), directing the agencies to fortify security at airports and borders, calls for concern.

According to the memo from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), “Available report reveals that AI-Abd al-Faqlr Media, a pro Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (1515) media outlet, on 26th April, 2018, warned that ISIS plans to attack commercial flights and bring “bloodshed to the ’ skies.�

The warning, which was issued in English, French and Arabic was distributed by Telegram and other online fora and was accompanied by an image of a clean-shaven dark-haired white man sitting on the aisle seat of a flight with a knife in his hand. “Statements from ISIS affiliated media groups such as Al-Abd al-Faqir media are often used to advise followers on new attack methods and targets. “The image of a white man with knife in his hand suggest that the attack could be carried out with a knife as was the case during the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001. “It would be recalled that ISIS claimed responsibility for the explosion and death of all two hundred and 224 passengers aboard the Russian Metrojet flight 9268 shortly after take-off from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula in October, 2015. “The ISIS appears to be re-strategising with more focus on the Middle East and Asia, following the loss of most of its territory in Iraq and Syria. “Although Africa of appears not to be on ISIS immediate focus, the return to Africa of former ISIS fighters from Iraq and Syria as well as the existence of ISIS-linked groups such as the technically suave Abu Musab Al-Barnawiled Boko Haram faction call for increased vigilance in the aviation sector, to counter possible new strategies in the 1515 terror campaign.�

Global Terror Threat Last year, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Cancun, Mexico, the Director-General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac, said with the growing spate of terror attacks in different parts of the world, it had become the greatest threat faced by global air transport. “The freedom that is at the core of aviation remains a target for terrorists. That was clear in UN Security Council Resolution 2309. It confirmed that states have more to do in fulfilling their responsibility to keep their citizens secure when travelling by plane. “That is vital to airlines because keeping our passengers and crew safe and secure is our top priority. While that creates a natural partnership with governments on security, the relationship is showing cracks,� De Juniac said.

Nigeria’s Lax Security System Owing to this development, aviation security experts have said Nigerian security system may not be prepared to effectively fight terror attacks because it would need advanced technology to detect possible incendiary devices hidden in electronic gadgets.

The CEO of Scope Centre, Adebayo Babatunde told THISDAY that it has become obvious that cyber security is the new focus in terrorism and the advancement and international dimensions are worrisome. “The extent of breach a tablet or pad or any of such devices can cause is overwhelming and I’m not sure anyone can affirm what maximum damage they can cause.

In response to these threats, the United States of America at a time came up with this prohibition

dimension and terrorism. These have called for reassessment of security measures by all players beyond national, territorial and regional scope,� the former FAAN boss said.

Technology has helped to advance airport security but as the aviation security expert, Adebayo Babatunde once noted, as the world manufactures the latest equipment to checkmate the activities of terrorists, they are inventing new ways to avert such equipment in order to carry out their nefarious activities.

Aisuebeogun remarked however, that it is obvious that technology alone cannot safeguard worldwide security without an active involvement of the human elements, a highly trained and properly motivated professional staff is required at all levels. “High emphasis is therefore placed on the continuing high level professional training of the staff worldwide and this requires that each country must make appropriate resources available,� he said.

Airport Security

Minister of Internal Aairs, Abdulrahman Bello Danbazau

order on tablets, pads and other electronic devices carried on passengers flying to the US from certain airports, this was swiftly followed by the UK government having received the intelligence from the US. But the prohibition was later lifted. “For us in Nigeria, the growing activism and militancy coupled with the tactical shift of the Boko Haram insurgents call for maximum alerts and surveillance. “No proactive measure is too much for threat prevention. It is incumbent on our security managers to measure the threat levels in the different regions and come up with the appropriate measures but as it relates to international aviation,� Babatunde said.

He added that other measures currently in place should be maintained and upgraded if there is advancement in counter technology.

For us in Nigeria, the growing activism and militancy coupled with the tactical shift of the Boko Haram insurgents call for maximum alerts and surveillance. No proactive measure is too much for threat prevention

Terror Attacks Former Managing Director of FAAM, Richard Aisuebeogun in a recent presentation remarked that airports and aircraft continue to offer series of highly attractive targets to terrorists and insurgents for the following reasons: The high value of the aircraft themselves, the concentration of people (often representing different nationalities), the automatic media coverage (breaking news/headlines) generated by aviation related terrorism due to the drama, publicity and psychological effect associated with it and the uniqueness of airlines and airports as veritable instruments of national identity, which makes it targets for terrorist attacks. “It is worthy to note that the protection of civil aviation against global terrorism (Aviation Security) is normally tackled by a two-prong approach: the regulatory framework and the technical/physical protection measures,� Aisuebeogun said. He noted that the regulatory framework for the protection of civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference is established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and domesticated by the Member State Civil Aviation Authority for implementation by service providers. “Since the formation of ICAO, the aviation industry has developed in leaps and bounds thereby requiring oversight and regulation in the interest of security and safety of the stakeholders. The civil aviation regulations have been consequently developed from time to time in response to emerging new threats. “Over a thirty-year period for instance, the industry has experienced major challenges and changes including technological advancement as well as criminal activity of international

The challenge in airport security is the ability of a security programme to avert persons with bad intentions from gaining access to sensitive areas of the airport and the overall prevention of any kind of security breach.

So it is the responsibility of airport managers to ensure that certain security elements are in place and this includes airport perimeter control.

According to Aisuebeogun, African airports within the limit of resources available to them have secured the perimeters of the airports by providing both Perimeter and Operational fences in some airports. The World Bank is also assisting African countries with some perimeter fence work. “We have also provided access control at designated gates / entry points to ensure strict access control to the airside so that only genuine passengers and staff gain access. “African airports are equipped with perimeter roads to enable security patrol and aid emergency operations. All entry points/gates are also manned and access control measures put in place to prevent intrusion; during periods of red alert, aircraft may also be escorted to holding points by security agents. “The introduction of the machine-readable travel document (MRTD) programme by most African countries Immigration Services which became a mandatory global standard by April 2010 is also a vital tool in addressing aviation terrorism. This programme has been acknowledged as one of the most important available tools for enhancing the security of global civil aviation and promoting global inter-operability, and an essential tool for preventing terrorist movement across borders,� Aisuebeogun said.

The major challenge Nigerian airports face in the fight against terrorist incursion is the porous nature of the airports.

However, FAAN said that it is reinvigorated the security apparatus at the airports with the support of the federal government. “We have reinforced our security at the international airports both on passengers and on luggage. We have CCTV at the airside that is working 24 hours and we also have at the terminals. They are all working 24 hours. We also have joint military patrol team, the joint military task force that accompanies aircraft while taxiing to take off and on arrival. We ensure that we monitor every movement at the airport and we have patrol the fences of these major airport,� explained FAAN spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu.

Yakubu said since the memo was received

by FAAN it had tightened its security both at cargo sections of the major airports and on passengers, noting that the CCTV, which is unobstrusive, is closely monitored as every passenger is scrutinized, adding that with technology, there is reinforcement of scrutiny because passengers are physically search, while technology us used to monitor every movement.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Bernard: Travellers Defrauding Passengers as Travel Agents Must Stop President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Bankole Bernard, in this interview, stressed that the organisation under his management would eliminate fraudsters who masquerade as travel agents and rip-off innocent travellers.

Chinedu Eze presents the excerpts: You were re-elected about two months ago for the second-term as president of the association. What was your ďŹ rst tenure in ofďŹ ce like and what are your plans for your second tenure?

The first two years of my tenure was not easy but we were able to focus on one critical issue.

We embarked on creating awareness for the association that has existed for over 40 years; yet it is not recognised by the government or people within the system. So, we needed to create awareness and this we did, not only locally, but also internationally, to the point that the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) work closely together now.

NANTA has built a robust relationship with the Association of South African Travel Agency (ASATA) and Kenya Association of Travel Agencies (KATA). So, within Africa, NANTA has also gained a level of exposure and recognition. Within the two years, it was more of creating awareness and bringing more of our members onboard letting them understand some critical things.

First, is that NANTA is the umbrella body for all travel agencies in Nigeria. Second, NANTA is the downstream sector body that is responsible for all travel agencies in Nigeria. Having known these, it makes it easier for members to start associating more with NANTA. We structured the secretariat and made it more vibrant. We worked on our website such that the payment of membership subscription can be done online without anyone having to come to the secretariat.

We ensured that all the five zones of NANTA – Western, Eastern, Northern zone, Abuja and Lagos – are all empowered and now waxing strong and our membership keep increasing.

We now have close to 7,000 registered members in NANTA and many more are still registering because they believe in the leadership of the association. They have seen that NANTA, as a body, fights their cause with the airlines as well as others within the industry. We had instances where banks have taken over issuance of tickets, which should be the primary duty of travel agencies in Nigeria. But as it stands today, they have corrected that and whole lot of them have stopped it.

Now, passengers are developing confidence in buying tickets from travel agencies. Travel agencies are becoming more of General Sales Agencies (GSAs) in Nigeria to some airlines.

For instance, Kenya Airways is now a GSA in Nigeria and it is being operated by a travel agency who is a member of our association. It is the same thing with Delta Airlines that is a GSA in Nigeria. It is also the same for British Airways. More of the airlines are beginning to convert as GSAs in Nigeria. When you become a GSA, your cost of operations reduces because you don’t need as many staff as things are put in the hands of travel agencies to sell on behalf of the airlines since they see that we have the capacity to distribute on their behalf. All those changes and more are seen happening under this administration.

We have also been canvassing for the ease of getting visa into Nigeria. Now, the country has started issuing visa on arrival and that is really helping. I foresee in not too distant future that visa into Nigeria, for Africans, might become free. That will help the country and promote brotherliness with the African countries.

I heard some days ago that Ethiopia is willing to implement free visa for all Africans. So, if Ethiopia can practice it, then I see more African countries following suit. We have seen Lagos showing concerns that they want to be the choice destination when it comes to tourism.

All of these we have achieved under this administration and they are due to our clamouring for the things that are necessary for the industry. So, by and large, I will say that NANTA has grown.

no member is feeling exploited at the end.

So, the ID card we are introducing and set for launch on June 26, 2018 in Lagos, which we hope the Vice President will honour our invitation to launch, will transform the way things are done among our members. The already existing confidence that the airlines have in us and in this administration of mine, we do not want it to erode. We are ensuring that the ID card will be a means to checkmate fraudulent people that will see that the industry is booming and will want to come and tap into it to derail the good work that has been put into it. We are using the ID card to control what is being done by our members.

You said this is an industry-based ID card. Does it mean that non-NANTA practitioners can apply for this card?

The thing is that is it an industry ID card.

Non-NANTA practitioners can apply for the ID card only after they have registered with NANTA. The travel agency will register first as a NANTA member then the ID card will be issued to individuals of that travel agency.

You must understand that NANTA is the recognised body for all the travel agencies in Nigeria. We are recognised by the NCAA that statutorily regulates and oversees all the activities in the air travel sector in Nigeria.

Bernard

How is the activity of fraudsters a huge problem to NANTA? The truth is that the industry is so porous and there is no entry or exit barrier. So, it has become an all comers’ affair even for fraudsters.

We realised that some are even using travel agency to cover up for human trafficking and defrauding intending passengers, bastardising

The truth is that the industry is so porous and there is no entry or exit barrier. So, it has become an all comers’ affair even for fraudsters. We realised that some are even using travel agency to cover up for human trafďŹ cking and defrauding intending passengers, bastardising our names at the Embassies because there is no record of the real practitioners

our names at the Embassies because there is no record of the real practitioners. Till date, we are having incidences of fraudsters defrauding intending passengers of millions of naira. We went to presidency to solicit support for the new ID card initiative, and we were made to understand that even the office of Presidency was defrauded by travel agency and they later caught the fellow in Benin.

We went to Kano to meet the Emir of Kano, only to found that one of his aides was in fact defrauded. The point is that they are everywhere because no one has made move to arrest them. They have seen that there is a vacuum and that is what we are about to close.

How do you hope to do this and when?

We have looked at the whole matter, telling ourselves that the great work we have done in making NANTA a pressure group, by ensuring that some of the policies of government are favourable to the industry, will be defeated when some of the members within the industry are not being checked. It is based on this that we have introduced an industry Identification Card. It is an industry ID card not NANTA card. It is called the Nigeria Travel Practitioners’ Identification Card (NTPIC).

This card was an idea that we worked closely with all the stakeholders in the industry.

The only difference is that it is NANTA that is spearheading it. On this ID card, we got the foreign and local airlines, the GDS networks, for issuance of tickets also involved. We got the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (their legal and finance team) involved, to ensure that we are in line with what we do, so that

What happens to non-NANTA members that do travel and tour?

They have a choice in this matter. First, let me say that people often mix things up.

When it comes to tour, there is what is called inbound tourism and outbound tourism. Inbound tourists are those coming to Nigeria, to whom we want to sell Nigerian domestic tourism.

Those ones are being handled by some travel agencies and the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) members. Travel agencies have their businesses in different scope. There are some that focus on both inbound and outbound. You must register with NANTA as long as you do inbound and outbound tourism. And if you check the membership of NATOP, 80 per cent of their people are our members. They only join NATOP to be able to participate in domestic tourism. The moment you engage in issuance of airline ticket, then you must register with NANTA and you must possess the ID card.

How are you ensuring that your customers are aware of this initiative to ensure that it serves it purpose?

We have a master plan that we have started rolling out. We have already engaged the media in this direction to fill them in on what the plans are. After that, we are going into full scale publicity that will be on national radio, televisions and social media platforms for us to create awareness. The NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are all carried along and the general public too, so that they can all know what to look out for.

After the launch of this ID card, no intending passenger should buy ticket without first demanding for the ID card of the travel agent to verify that he or she is genuine. The ID card has a barcode that is connected to the holder’s Bank Verification Number (BVN). That way, passengers can tell that the agent is genuine or not. Once you scan the barcode on your mobile device, you will immediately receive a message that is in line with the card that you are holding. So, it is a bit difficult to duplicate.

After the launch, we are going to proceed on mega training of our members because it is very critical that our members are trained, to bring professionalism on board and work the way other travel agencies around the world are doing.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

24

A Ship-owner’s Daring Move Eromosele Abiodun writes on the bold move by Starzs Investment Company Limited in acquiring a new vessel despite refusal by the federal government to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund For several years, shipping has been recognised as one of the catalysts for socio-economic development. It has since the ancient times been at the fore front of opening up the world and thus a major driver in the process of globalisation.

Specifically, container shipping has been both a cause and effect of globalisation.

Container shipping could claim to be the industry, which more than any other, makes it possible for truly global economy to work, connecting countries, markets, business and people, allowing them to buy and sell on a scale not previously possible.

As a matter of fact, it is impossible to imagine world trade, and ultimately our lives as consumers, without container shipping.

Shipping has led to a phenomenal growth in world merchandise trade, which has consistently grown faster than output.

In 2006, goods loaded at ports worldwide were estimated at 7.42 billion tonnes.

The value of total world export increased from $6.454 trillion in 2002 to $40.393 trillion in 2005 representing an increase of 64 per cent.

However, the reverse seems to be the case in Nigeria. It is on record that no fewer than 90 per cent of shipping companies owned by Nigerians have either completely shut down their operations or are barely struggling to survive.

Of all the registered shipping companies in the country, only two can be said to be operating viable businesses while others, representing 83 per cent are either completely dead or are in comatose condition.

Ironically, all the shipping companies based in Lagos are either dead or struggling to survive while the ones in Warri and Port-Harcourt are thriving.

Piqued by the spiral effects of the extinction of indigenous shipping due to lack of funds and unfavourable policies, maritime stakeholders have faulted the federal government’s decision in warehousing over $100 million in the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) while its purpose suffers.

Starzs Takes the Bold Step However, notwithstanding the many problems facing ship owners, Starzs Investment Company Limited (SICL) has continued to expand the frontiers breaking new grounds in the process.

Last week, the company took delivery of a new vessel, MV ‘OSANYAMO’ Damen Azimuth Stern Drive Tug 5114, built and delivered by the Damen Ship Yard of China.

The company had also acquired MV ‘OSAYAME’ which has impressively maintained a record of eight years of zero downtime and lost time injury operations.

Built for Starzs , the new built Damen Azimuth Stern Drive Tug 5114, is presently the first and largest of its class, and genuinely generating excitements in Nigeria. It is primarily and purposefully built to assist in tanker lifting operations alongside FPSOs in the Gulf of Guinea, under a contract with Total Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited.

Industry experts noted that the ASD 5114 is not only the largest in Damen’s tug range to date, at 52.3 meters- length, displacing 800 tonnes, it is also a state-of–the –art tug, being a highly maneuverable vessel, fully equipped, for offshore operation.

Its features include a 268sqm deck space, at five tonnes load per meter, two large fuel and water tanks with transfer capability of 115tonnes astern and 110tonnes ahead.

The double-tier deckhouse provides accommodation for a 14 crew and up to 10 passengers, built in compliance with the requirement of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) which came into effect in 2016.

Propulsion is via two main ABC16 DZC engines delivering 6,700kw powering twin kort nozzle thrusters manufactured by Schottel. Additional capabilities include fire-fighting (FiFI1) and oil recovery operation, with 101m3 of integral oil recovery tanks.

The MV OSANYAMO is also equipped with a

dedicated Pal-finder water jet driven line handling craft to be used for handling hoses and lines for cleaning inspection ad repairs on the aft deck.

The SICL are Ship Owners and Managers, Offshore Marine Services Provider and a Private Maritime Security Provider, who owns and operates a range of vessels including terminal tugs and Security Patrol Vessels.

An official of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who lauded its design and detailed engineering, noted the steel cutting and kneel laying phases. “There is no doubt that this vessel has been constructed to a very high level of quality which is synonymous with Damen Shipyard,� he indicated.

He noted that the vessel would be sailing under the Nigerian flag.

Meanwhile, SICL has built a reputation guaranteeing zero downtime and zero loss time injury in their operations in the Nigerian oil & gas industry thereby exceeding its clients’ expectations without compromising safety, reliability and integrity. With a competent workforce both offshore and onshore, the company is contributing significantly to the growth of the Nigerian maritime industry in the area of seafarers training and employment, local content development and the Nigerian economy in general.

Obaseki, Stakeholders Hail STARZS Speaking at the official christening of the vessel, Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki called on financial institutions in the country to partner investors in the maritime sector to create employment opportunity for Nigerians.

He expressed his desire to see the nation’s capacity building institutions synergise, in the bid to boost employment opportunities and consequently improve the citizens’ present economic conditions.

The governor stated that with the extinction of Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), the country lost and had since continued to forfeit several economic and human development opportunities.

According to him, “I feel really privileged that I am performing for the first time in my life, the Christening, dedication and commissioning of a vessel. I have never done it before�, he said, describing the shipping terrain in Nigeria, not only as “scary� but also, seriously dominated by foreign operators.

He commended the Starz Group Chairman, Greg Ogbeifun for his dedication, commitment and resourcefulness, particularly in mobilising local funds, institutional supports and utilising same, in a very challenging environment, in a bid to lift Nigeria’s flag as well as boost the employment opportunities for other Nigerians. “Overtime, the maritime industry, in spite of

the supports it had received, such as the Cabotage Law, and the Local Content Law, has continued to be dominated like I said, by foreign companies. “Apart from the brief spell when we had the NNSL which offered Nigerians sea opportunities, in the maritime industry as we know, just like most other assets, that endeavour failed, and as a country we lost that opportunity to build the human capacity and resources to go ahead to dominate�, the governor stated.

Obaseki stressed that the country’s weak economic position had seriously affected not only the nation’s balance of trade, but devastatingly also, the well-being and the future of the youths.

He enjoined the financial sector, the Local Content Board and other institutional bodies to synergise, create more opportunities and ensure a more assured future for Nigerians, particularly in the maritime sector, in the immediate future.

Also speaking the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman implored the private sector to take advantage of the enabling environment created by the Muhammadu Buhari administration and invest in the nation’s maritime sector.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman implored the private sector to take advantage of the enabling environment created by the Muhammadu Buhari administration and invest in the nation’s Maritime sector. “This is another testament to the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the improvement of the Nigerian economy, not just by diversification but by providing the enabling environment for the private sector to invest more in the country, �she said. “In addition to its contribution to the development of the Maritime industry in the country, the introduction of MV OSANYAMO has the capacity for oil exploration and production in Nigeria. Said to be the largest Damen ASD Tug range till date, the ASD Tug 5114 model vessel is purpose built to assist in tanker lifting operations alongside FPSOs in the Gulf of Guinea, �she added.

According to the NPA boss, “at 52.3 meters length, displacing 800 tonnes, a 268sqm deck space, at 5 tonnes load per m, 2 large fuel and water tanks; with transfer capability of 115 tonnes astern and 110 tonnes ahead, two main ABC16 DZC engines delivering 6,700kw powering twin kort nozzle thrusters manufactured by Schottel and additional capabilities like fire-fighting and oil recovery, the MV OSANYAMO is state-of-the-art tug, being a highly maneuverable vessel, fully equipped, for offshore operation.�

While congratulating the management of Starzs Investment Limited for the feat and epoch making initiative, she reiterated the commitment of the NPA to all investors in the nation’s maritime sector. “Together, we can work to make the sector

the pride of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole,� she said.

The NPA boss particularly commended the Starzs Investment Limited for its commitment to the Nigerian Content requirement of the federal government to the extent that it can boast of a 100 percent Nigerian crew on its entire fleet of vessels.

On his part, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, said the effort by the company to acquire the vessel is significant because it means that Nigerian are not only owning ships but operating shipping services. “What the company has done is not to reinvent the wheel but a continuation of what has already been done. What is left now is for the federal government to support efforts like this to create employment opportunity for Nigerians,� he said.

Similarly, Chairperson, Ship Owners Forum, Mrs Margret Orakwusi said: “What Greg has done is a proof that Nigerians can do it. He has made us very proud. It shows that Nigerians now have a place in the shipping industry. “Government should support ship owners to acquire ships like this that can last for as long as 30 years. Borrowing cannot do this because shipping is a long term investment, shipping is not oil and gas, it is the future of Nigeria because it has the potential to create hundreds of jobs.�

In his comments, the former Executive Secretary of the NSC, Adamu Biu said the acquisition of the ship is a source of pride to every Nigerian. “Whether you are in the shipping industry or not, there is no doubt that the maritime industry is stronger than the oil and gas industry. The company has taken a huge risk to get to where it is today. The vessel will be used for freight, now is the time for Nigerian operators to move into deep sea freight in the industry, “he said.

The Managing Director, Total E&P, Nicolas Terraz, noted that the acquisition of the vessel is a fruit of the collaboration of stakeholders with one common goal.

Represented by the General Manager, Technical Services, Mr Kennet Umujoro, he said:, “It is an idea formed, developed into a concept and nurtured into a source of pride. The Vessel is specifically adapted to support sophisticated operation.�

Nigerian Content Compliant The Chairman/CEO Starz Group, Ogbeifun stated that from 1986, Starzs Investments Company Limited has grown to be the foremost 100 per cent Nigerian content compliant marine logistics service company in Nigeria, rendering unbeatable services to various international oil and gas companies (IOCs) in the oil and gas industry of Nigeria through value creation in remarkable service delivery. “A valuable combination of knowledge, expertise and experience gained over the years, in swamp operations and upstream sectors of the oil and gas industry projects have played a vital role in placing Starzs at the highest echelon of the Nigerian maritime industry as a world class marine logistics services provider. “During the third African Shipping and Oil Roundtable Investments Forum held in Cape Town South Africa in 2013, Starzs bagged the AME award as the “Best Marine Logistics Services Provider in Africa,�he said.

He added: “Over the years, Starzs has not only grown in experience and fleet size but has also developed in quality standards to an international level, in 2013, Starzs was issued Document of Compliance (DOC) by Lloyds for ISM/ISPS compliance and is currently working towards obtaining the ISO 9001:2008 Certification. “Our vision is to build an enduring and globally renowned frontline organisation that would over time, thrive on value creation for stakeholders in the maritime industry. The company meets the quality standards expected by clients and by classification societies – a typical one is the issuance of DOC by Lloyds Register for meeting both national and international regulatory standards.�

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

25

Clearing Agents Decry Apapa Customs’ Lateness to Examination Bays Stories by Eromosele Abiodun Clearing agents operating at the Apapa Port have accused the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of lateness to the examination of cargoes.

This is coming after VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo recently accused customs officers of not coming to office on time for examination of cargoes, thereby frustrating the federal government’s drive to improve the country’s Ease of Doing business.

The Apapa Chapter Chairman of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Emeka Enwelu, said examination of cargoes at Apapa has gone down from 300 to 200 containers per day due to the officers’ attitude to work.

According to him, “Customs

officers come for examination around 12p.m-1p.m daily. That is the actual time they come for examination and we have discussed so much on the need for them to come early for examination to know what to be done, and for us to get our cargoes out in good time. “Instead, we spend a whole day on examination before coming the next day for release.

That is not trade facilitation, except they can start by 10a.m as advised by the government.�

Enwelu further stated that because of the delay experienced, clearing agents find it difficult to examine and release goods the same day.

He said agents were being forced to return the following day for the release of their consignments, thereby causing increase in storage charges. “If customs conduct examination and write the report, we can get our cargoes, but when they

start late they find it difficult to write the report because the whole day has already been wasted. If they start by 12.00 noon, they can never cover up. “They used to do 300 containers but now it is less than 200 containers per day because of the three-hour delay by customs examination officers,�he said.

Another clearing agent, Chijioke Ebuka, however, urged the federal government to ensure that customs adhere strictly to the implementation of the executive order.

He also stated that delay

experienced at the examination bays affect the number of cargoes released daily.

He said: “Doing away with delay is part of the vision of PEBEC but the Apapa Customs officers are making the gains disappear. We want officers to come in good time so that goods can be released same day after examination.�

He alleged that customs had written to be exempted from the executive order, stating, however, that, “customs cannot be bigger than the country and the law of the land because they

are a creation of the law.�

Meanwhile, the Command Public Relations Officer of the command, Nkiru Nwala, has refuted the claims, stating that for the avoidance of doubts, the examination bays are not owned by the customs but the terminal operators, just as there are other federal agencies involved in the cargo examination process.

She said: “As the custodians of the examination bays, the terminal operators position the cargo for inspection and notifies the customs, which in turn informs other relevant agencies

to assemble for examination.

This has been particularly so since the implementation of the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business at the ports, which empowered customs to coordinate the other examining agencies.�

Nwala explained that there are many terminals in the Apapa Port Complex, wondering how the agents came about the statistics being bandied about that released containers dropped from about 300 to 200 allegedly because customs officials do not arrive early for inspection.

US Film Maker Addresses Nigeria Maritime Issues in Documentary The ‘Price of a Dream,’ a short documentary on the life of late Captain Romeo Itima and the challenges of the maritime industry in Nigeria, has premiered in Lagos.

The documentary, produced by United States based producer/film-maker, Kevin Itima, encapsulates maritime issues of waterways insecurity, piracy, killings, kidnapping of vessels and environmental degradation and despoliation.

It also highlighted the contributions Itima, who gave his all towards surmounting the varied problems and unfortunately had to pay the ultimate price towards ensuring a better and safer Nigeria.

The documentary dwells extensively on the life and times of late Itima, a fulfilled mariner based in the United States who left his comfort zone and returned to Nigeria, his country to help solve the problems of piracy and other associated crimes plaguing the Nigerian territorial waters.

Addressing newsmen at the unveiling event, the Executive Producer of the documentary, Kevin Itima said his father, late Romeo Itima, was an inspiration and an example of a Nigerian who loved his country more than his own life. “He created Global West Vessel Specialists Limited (GWVSL) a privatised maritime security company in 2009 as his contribution towards salvaging Nigeria’s maritime security domain.

The company’s extremely high success rate in eradicating the corruption that poisoned Nigeria’s waterways brought an array of positive and negative attention.

“In the end, the love Captain Itima had for his people along with the vision he attempted to realise for his country sealed his own fate.

Late Romeo was reportedly killed by pirates on the 7th of August, 2012 at Escravos, Delta State,� he said.

He added: “Late Romeo’s unconditional love and dream of a better Nigeria required the price of his life which he paid. Although accomplished, Captain Romeo sought for more. He returned to Nigeria with the incredible amount of knowledge he had gained from his experiences and created GWVSL, a privatised maritime security company comparable to the duties of the Coast Guard in the United States.� “At the time, the issue of waterways insecurity was boiling and Captain Romeo, being an expert mariner decided to establish a company to combat the menace.

It was his own way of contributing towards the development of the maritime industry in Nigeria. Unfortunately, he died a mysterious death while on duty in Escravos, Delta State. “Romeo dared to dream about a better Nigeria and worked towards it even though it cost him his life.

Anybody can dream although the price of a dream sometimes is greater than what people are willing to pay. “The documentary is produced not only to eulogise my father but also to encourage people that they can dare to dream. Ambition is what creates a legend and not circumstances. Though my father is no longer with us, his legacy lives on,� he said.

FACTS BEHIND THE FIGURES

L – R: Executive Director, Regulation, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ms Tinuade Awe, presenting a replica of the closing gong to Managing Director, BOC Gases Plc, Mr. Ayodeji Oseni, during the company’s facts behind the figures presentation at the NSE in Lagos‌recently recently

NCS Seme Command, NAFDAC Destroy N102m Seized Medicaments The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has destroyed expired seized medicament and other items that were deposited in its government warehouse.

The Customs Area Controller Mohammed Aliyu in a chat with newsmen disclosed that the expired and hazardous medicament seized and had been destroyed, had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N102,488,300.

The controller said the destruction exercise was carried out in company of the Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye and Director Ports Inspection Directorate, Prof Samson Adebayo.

He noted that the destruction exercise was in compliance with the service extant laws where the relevant agencies like NAFDAC, NDLEA and SON were principal witness.

According to him, “Some of the medicaments destroyed include: Tramadol caps and tabs, Codeine, Diazepam tabs, Analgen injection, Medik- 55 paracetamol with caffeine, Mosquito coils, Dexamethasone tabs,expired rice, expired fertiliser and expired

seasoning among others.�

The Commands helmsman further stated that he will continue to implement government’s policies of seizing and handing over to the relevant agencies such as NDLEA dangerous and illicit drugs that are smuggled through the land border.

He warned drug traffickers to keep off from Seme border route as any attempt to smuggle such will be discovered by the eagle eyes of the enforcement team.

Aliyu, had recently restated his commitment in combating and confronting the hydra headed monster of smuggling head long that has assume a threatening dimension to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

He reassured genuine stakeholders that they had no course to fear unless the non-compliant ones that have skeleton in their cupboard.

Highlighting further, the professional investigator who combined his investigative skill with enforcement experience to achieve the unprecedented feat restated his uncompromising stand in order not to drag his heard earned reputation and integrity to the mud.

Aliyu insisted that he cannot

stop seizing contrabands and non-compliant goods that refuse to adhere to the law of the land thereby undermining the policies of the federal government of Nigeria that the Nigeria Customs Service stand to enforce at the border.

He disclosed that the command seized over six hundred (600x50kg) bags of rice with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N10 million on the 26th of March, 2018 after destroying a total of over 2800x50kg bags of expired rice the same day with a total DPV of over forty nine (49) million naira.

Another seized truck with Reg. No XE-634-MUS disguised to be empty was arrested based on intelligence and discovered to be carrying about 1514 cartons of imported Tin-tomato with a DPV of N8,175,600.00 on the 24th March 2018.

Commenting on the daily seizures that has become a recurring decimal and a routine in the command, the Customs Area Controller said that a visit to the warehouse of the command which is almost filled up to the bream attest to the fact that the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Command is not resting

in its oars and responsibility of generating revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, suppression of smuggling and protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria through due diligence in the use of the effective and operational fixed scanner machine at the border command.

Restating his resolute stand, he noted that he was not ready to shy away from his responsibility as far as deliberate perpetrators remain recalcitrant violators of the federal government policies.

Aliyu warned that seizure will continue to be the hall mark of the command and his enforcement officers will continue to do the needful against the unrepentant smugglers.

He stressed that all his achievements is attributed to the mutual consultation and cooperation with the host communities who do share intelligence with the Command, and the cooperation of the sister security agencies who synergize and collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service for effective border management.

Aliyu disabused the mind of the public who are quick to mention Seme border to any incident of smuggling seen along Lagos metropolis.

26

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

WEEKLY PULLOUT

WEEKEND Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi... Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

NEWS| P30

COLLAGE | P36

THISLIFE | P37

FILE

A FESTIVAL OF SONGS AND HYMNS

28/COVER

22.06.2018

A Festival of Songs and Hymns In celebration of the centenary of the Marina Cathedral choir, penultimate Sunday will go down memory lane as a watershed in the annals of the church, as music lovers, musicians and critics of quality and timeless hymns thronged the concert. Adedayo Adejobi reports It was a glorious festival with a well-deserved place in history, which held at The Cathedral, Marina, Lagos. The church has stood on this site for about 150 years and is one of the finest mediaeval churches on the Lagos Island. This year’s concert was in commemoration of the centenary of the Cathedral choir, and it took its inspiration from much loved or well-known hymns and original Nigerian composers’ music to interpret their favourite hymns with beautiful sheet music and a huge dose of creativity.

The reporter couldn’t have anticipated the treat which lay in store for him and other congregants behind the grey walls of this ancient church. This was one event which deserves a place in history.

For music lovers, church musicians, ardent lovers of music, critics and students who came on an exchange programme from the Kings College London, Sunday marked the celebrations of what can be termed the nostalgic re-awakening of good music, especially at a time real sound has lost its valour in this age, and even in the church.

World over, hymns are a celebration of who and what God is and of what He has done.

To this end, in celebration of the centenary of the Cathedral choir, sonorous voices, pipe and church organs, songs of praise, thanksgiving, and joy in God rented the air, as choristers, guests, clergymen, Christians, believers and unbelievers sang hymns because truly, God is worthy to be praised.

Seeing the Mass choir sing hymns, an expression of worship in glad and grateful acknowledgement of the "worship" of Almighty God, it no doubt conveyed the confession of man’s creature before its Creator, and bowing before his transcendence.

The ecstatic crowd which thronged the filledto-capacity venue of the performance were no doubt satisfied. It was indeed good time spent in the church hall of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina. Without prejudice, the choir gave good account of its musicianship, as they gave the best tunes, helped worshippers experience the text and true worth of the hymns as the Choir of Kings’ College London, The Choir of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, The choir of the Cathedral Church of Saint Jude, Ebute-Meta and The Choir of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina serenaded the anxious audience in joint performances, rendering classics of Nigerian composers’ music.

Nothing lifts the spirit more than voices coming together in joyful celebration of the rich heritage of the hymnal. With hundreds of voices in a sanctuary singing together, it was a glorious and remarkable experience.

The centenary -themed hymn festival programme featured 26 hymns and lasted a little over four hours, whilst the Nigerian Mass choir were accompanied by 27 students from the choir of Kings’ College, London.

The unique essence of the concert and exchange program was to bring Nigeria to the world and the world to Nigeria through music and the establishment of an alumnus.

The idea was spurred by a Nigerian, Vice President and Vice Principal of Kings College University of London, Professor Funmi Olonisakin, with a view to establishing an alumni in Nigeria.

It is also aimed at creating an avenue to interact and engage Nigerian students. The exchange program no doubt served its unique purpose.

Devout hymns and songs ‘of Human Composure’ For discerning minds and music savvy connoisseurs like the reporter, for everything that constitutes a good hymn, the choir on ground set the norm and the standard on that said Sunday evening, leaving a record to be challenged and surpassed. The thrust of the performance is that the day's hymns were in Nigerian language, idiom, and metaphor, a rarity in this clime.

For songs, hymns and regular Nigerian church songs and hymn covers, written and composed by some living and dead- Ayo Bankole, Godwin Sadoh, T.K E Phillips, Sina Ojemuyiwa, Yinka Sowande Dotun Oluayemi, Ayo Oluranti, Professor Laz Ekwueme,Oguntade Kayode, Derrick Essezobor, Fela Sowande, Obayomi Phillips, Tolu Obajimi,Tunde Sosan,C.N Osinigwe, Tolu Owoaje and Albert Oikelome amongst the long list.

For anyone who knows good hymns which

An evening of Songs and Hymns

The mass choir in an exhilarating performance

The choir serenading the audience with hymns and old Christian songs

no doubt, again display precision and finesse of poetic technique and expression, they are not subjective; they are free from introspection. When man enters the picture, it is to acknowledge the darkness of his own sinful nature in the presence of the one and true God, to seek his mercy, and to grasp more closely his redeeming grace.

These old songs and good hymns which are words of beauty, dignity, reverence and simplicity, doctrinal in content, theologically sound, rooted solidly in the Word of God, have loftiness of concept, adult in word and tone, and have reverence of language - were given new life, new meaning, new signature tunes, appeal and fresh sound.

For anyone in the hall of the event, you couldn’t help but move your body to the rhythm and heavenly sound of sane, non-conformist and pure music.

Kings’ College London students sang through the tides of Nigerian folklore In the spirit of ecumenism and crossdenominational mutual vision, the choir sang its hearts out to an enlightened congregation,

emphasised and perpetuated its peculiarities.

The first few minutes of the performances were not only riveting, it generated strings of rainfall appraisal and applause. While many hymns have been consigned to the dustbin of time, others have been revivified with stunning modern tunes.

Some of the songs rendered were ‘Ninu Agbala Olorun wa by T.K.E Phillips, Oyigiyigi by Dotun Olayemi,Ise Orin by Ayo Oluranti, Ote Nkwu by Professor Laz Ekwueweme, Kini ayo re by Sunday Olawuwo,Iri o wunana Tamona by Oguntade Kayode, Adura fun Alafia by Ayo Bankole and Halleluyah Chimle by C.N Osinigwe.

What the crowd found enthralling were the student’s from Kings’ college, London’s mastery of Yoruba language. In the songs presented, they got spot-on the diction, pronunciations and sol-fa notations of the Yoruba songs they performed.

It was almost unbelievable that the white kids could sing our ‘mother tongue’ with such ease, beauty and believability.

Inside the unique architectural spectacle All over the world, Cathedrals represent some of the finest examples of interconnections

architectural, aesthetic, functional, but also the structural design of the building. The venue of the festival, Cathedral Church of is not an exception.

The reporters’ emphasis on the aesthetics of the whole building is indeed crucial, as it bring to bare historical significance of the earlier Romanesque buildings, whilst pointing to the development of structural elements.

The cathedral is a truly unique architectural spectacle. Its unique exterior is characterised by the Orthodox tradition of vivid patterns and mixes neutral colours such as grey, white with more stark, daring ones. The overall design draws on grand images of renaissance.

The dominant design features of the building is an arresting and idyllic setting in which to relax, worship and explore, and features ornate fittings, beautiful stained glass windows, and a richly decorated interior, despite its old age.

Beautiful artwork adorns the walls here, and you may be lucky enough to wander in during one of the melodic organ recitals, wondrous and grand affairs which occur regularly. In all, the musicians, host and guest choir from London displayed mastery of their craft.

29/XTRA

22.06.2018

Mental Wellness Takes Centre Stage at Young People’s Seminar Olashore International School Mental Wellness Initiative was measured as successful judging by its ability in starting the conversation on a sensitive topic such as mental health in Nigeria. Mary Nnah writes It was a timely discussion on mental health when Olashore International School Mental Wellness Initiative (OISMWIT) organised a seminar at the Lagos Business School, Ibeju-Lekki, to deal with the challenges associated with the illness.

The seminar was born out of the identified need to draw the attention of the general public to issues surrounding mental health and wellness amongst Nigerians and more importantly, teenagers. During the seminar, a lot was revealed as individuals and organisations, particularly schools that have kept mute regarding this so called “taboo” had an avenue to speak out.

The environment was conducive, free of judgement and stigmatisation as there were experts on hand to address attendee’s concerns.

Amongst others on a strong panel of experts, was a medical doctor and a parent that both had first hand experiences living with mental illness and caring for someone living with mental illness respectively.

The panel consisted of Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, the Keynote speaker, a multi-award winning Physician and a Fellow of the National PostGraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych), a Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist with over 15 years’ experience in practice. She is the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Nigeria. Other members on the panel included, Dr. Victor Ugo, a medical doctor with experience in the field of Health Advocacy, with special focus on Mental Health. He is the Founder/President of Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, (MANI), an NGO working to improve the dire state of mental health and access to care in Nigeria and Africa; Mrs. Oyejoke Coker, the Executive officer, Constellation Coaching Group LLC, a licensed Master practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) with 25 years of successful corporate experience as well as Mrs. Folashade Thomas the Olashore International School counselor with over twenty years of experience. She has worked extensively in several schools in Nigeria as a guidance counselor and also special education tutor.

Also included was Dr. Ola Ibigbami a trained Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Advocate. His clinical practice cuts across the management of emotional disorders, addiction and intellectual disabilities. He is also involved in the development of psychiatric rehabilitation programs and Psychotherapy. Last but not least was Barr. Lola Ogedengbe, the Managing Partner of Ola Obileye and Co and Ola Ogedengbe and Co, a multi-professional who is an accountant and lawyer, but most importantly, a mother.

In her keynote address, Kadiri tackled the topic of the day head-on by offering some situations and cases of young Nigerians leaving with mental health issues that her and her organisation, Pinnacle Medical Services had experienced and managed or intervened in. She also got everyone present to take a pledge to promote mental wellness and be a voice against stigma and discrimination.

This set the tone for the conversation as the panelists were subsequently introduced to the stage to be engaged in discussions moderated

by Mr. D.K Smith, Principal and CEO of Olashore International School and Dr. Alexandra Adeyemi, a general medical practitioner and Olashore International School’s resident doctor.

The event was graced with about 300 people in attendance consisting of parents, caregivers and representatives from various schools and members of these school’s parents teachers associations.

The discussion which was richly contributed to by the panelists covered a range of issues such as identifying signs of mental illness in children, when and where to seek professional help, pressing challenges facing children both in school and at home, the effects of parenting styles on shaping the mental health of children amongst others. On the issue of where to seek help, Dr. Ibigbami made a strong point for seeking help in the right place as against the common practice of either ignoring the issue for fear of stigma or going to spiritual homes for prayers and deliverance sessions.

Parental expectations particularly in academics was recognised as major source of pressure on children and Mrs. Thomas counselled parents to pay more attention to their children’s areas of strengths and spur them to excellence in those areas rather than focusing only on academics

OISMWIT Audience

L-R: Dr. Alex Adeyemi, Mr. Derek Smith, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, Mrs. Joke Coker, Dr. Ola Ibigbami, Mrs. Shade Thomas, Prince Abimbola Olashore, Barr. Lola Ogedengbe, Dr. Victor Ugo.

Kadiri

alone.

Dr. Victor Ugo shared his experiences on living with the disorder and how that inspired him to start a non-governmental organization aimed at reaching young people suffering the same.

Barrister Ogedengbe, a mother to a child living with mental illness also shared her experiences on how she copes with stigma and discrimination, while living with the day to day reality of caring for a child. The highly impactful panel discussion encouraged the audience to give testimonials and openly seek assistance in pressing situations by giving personal experience at their place of work and in their personal lives. This was the first step

in removing the effect of stigmatization at the event. By so doing, caregivers and teachers from participating schools were bold enough to stand up and further emphasize the core purpose of #OISMWIT, which is to start the conversation on mental health and to encourage individual and originations to seek help from the right places.

Meanwhile, some individuals raised certain concerns about cases especially in their schools and sought how best to manage these situations.

Members of the panel were passionate in their response and proffered immediate solutions with emphasis on taking swift action, even at the venue. There were various contact centers

setup at the foyer of the Lagos Business School ready to attend to individuals seeking help and direction as regards specific cases.

The organisations and help centers represented on the day include, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI), Constellation Coaching Group LLC., Young Women’s Christian Association of Nigeria (YWCA) – Lagos Branch, Tranquil and Quest Psychiatric Hospital, Pinnacle Medical Services and Concept One Medical Centre.

According to the organisers, anyone seeking contact details for these services or would like to get the full details of the event can visit www. olashoreschool.com/MWIT .

Earlier, the host, the Dean of Lagos Business School, Dr. Enase Okonedo got the seminar underway with the welcome address, while Dr. Lola Dare, President, CHESTRAD International delivered an apt wrap up of the seminar while closing remarks were given by Dr. Olufemi Ogunsanya, the chairperson Association of Private Educators in Nigeria, APEN. OISMWIT was held on May 31, 2018 at the Lagos Business School auditorium and is the first of many. The OISMWIT team lead by Prince Abimbola Olashore, Chairman Board of Governors, Olashore International School said they are committed and will ensure that this is not a one-off event. They also pledged to continue to work with key partners in the media and school to ensure the awareness campaign is a unending activity until mental illness is demystified in Nigeria.

He gave kudos to the OISMWIT team consisting Mrs. Tinuke Olashore, Mrs. Olapeju Sofowora, Prince Taiwo Olashore, Mrs. Chinwe Kalu, Mrs. Ronke Ogunbufunmi, Mrs. Ijewere Mr. D.K Smith, Dr. Victor Ugo, Mr. Oscar Oyinsan, Mr. Gbeminiyi Sofowora, Ms. Tola Aina, Dr. Alexandra Adeyemi and Mr. Ayo Ogundele for their commitment as volunteers to see that this initiative continues to fulfil its purpose of creating awareness about mental health and wellness especially among Nigerian teenagers.

30/ NEWS

22.06.2018

Peaceful Co-existence as Take Home from 2018 Ramadan

Botosoft CSR To Boost Nigerian Technology

Raheem Akingbolu As millions of Muslims globally take a retrospect of how the 2018 fasting in the month of Ramadan influenced and impacted their spiritual lives, Nigerians have been urged to promote peace and shun provocative campaigns that can divide the nation.

According to the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Nigerians can live together in harmony, despite their social and religious differences if they do not fall for cheap blackmail of narrow minded people who want to divide them to achieve their goals.

The NSCIA Scribe, who spoke while delivering a lecture titled: “Achieving Peace, Stability and Good Governance in a Multi-ethnic and Multireligious Society” at The Point Newspaper’s Annual Ramadan Lecture, held in Lagos, stated that overlapping and dynamic identities were at the root of recurrent problems in Nigeria.

According to him, an identity assumed by a person or group of persons in Nigeria is not static but dynamic depending on what is at stake and for how long.

He said: “A person who is a religious champion can within a twinkle of an eye become a socialclass-champion or an ethnic champion. Current or momentary interest dictates the identity and its tenure.

Nigeria is a federation of geo-political entities

Botosoft Technologies CEO, Agbeyo L-r: Editor-in-Chief, The Point, Mrs. Yemi Kolapo; National Amirah, The Criterion, Hajia Fatymah Oyefeso; and Founder, Kudirat Initiative For Democracy, Mrs. Hafsat Abiola-Costello Ayodeji Ake

presently referred to as 'state', they used to be 'Regions'.

"The states are generally not monolithic in terms of ethnic composition. They appear to be generally arbitrary and circumstantial in origin.

Over 250 ethnic groups with over 500 languages have been identified in Nigeria. While it will be wrong to regard ethnic group as a unit of the Nigerian Federation, it is also true that ethnic loyalties are very strong in Nigeria."

Oloyede pointed out that whenever a person or group of persons finds it expedient to invoke the ethnic identity in a struggle for public space, it is speedily employed as if it is the only permanent

identity of the person or group.

According to him, “The truth of the matter is that the ethnic identity is a latent intra-state feature generally employed in a non-official platform because the constitution gives little or no recognition to ethnic identities. Despite this, ethnic partisanship and emotional commitment are understandably and generally more potent than commitment to the abstract 'state'."

Though the former university lecturer admitted that the Qur’an recognises ethnic diversity as labels of identities, he pointed out that the holy book does not regard it as being of much value as piety or consciousness of Allah.

Expert Tasks Parents on More Investment in Education Mary Nnah Founder and president, International Educational Management Network (IEDUMAN), Dr Onyeka Jaivbo-Ojigbo has charged parents to invest more time in the future of education in the country.

Speaking during the 2018 Eduskill Fair held recently in Lagos, she said, “Our message primarily is that parents have crucial roles to play in the advancement of education in this country. They shouldn’t leave it all to teachers.

"They have to encourage their children to acquire a vocation, that is, learn a skill so they would be useful to themselves even after schooling.”

She urged schools to introduce activities that involve creativity and arts, adding, “Those are the area of vocation now that you know people can gainfully be employed when they leave school.”

Jaivbo-Ojigbo, an educational consultant with a doctorate degree in strategic education and school management, also gave a cursory assessment of the ongoing effort to salvage education in the country. She said, “I have gone to programmes on different state government, they are trying to improve the outcomes in the educational system.

We need to do some more, we need to fully get there, not halfway.”

The IEDUMAN president also commented on the call for an extension of tertiary education

Ayobola Task Government on High Rate of Hunger, Poverty

Participants during the 2018 Eduskill Fair

by one year in the country by the minister of education. “It is not a function of years; it is a function of contents––what do you give and what do you get in this number of years. You could do the same thing for three years and you would get better results, you could do it for five years and you still play around it.

"My opinion is this: it is not a function of years but a function of contents and how we administer that content”, she noted.

Meanwhile, improved teacher's welfare, as a panacea to Nigeria's educational malaise, was

also one of the points highlighted at the occasion.

IEDUMAN, an educational network of professionals that promotes global best practices as well as intellectual understanding amongst educational and other professionals, has been at the vanguard of raising the standards of education in Nigeria.

The group’s founder expressed satisfaction at the response to the fair, which was its second edition, noting that the 2018 edition features significantly more vocations and exhibitors than last year.

Participants Cheer As Bi-annual Chosen Crusade Ends Mary Nnah As the two-day bi-annual interdenominational crusade with the theme “….And the Enemies Submitted”, organized by the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement at the headquarters of the church in Lagos came to an end last Sunday with lots of testimonies by participants, it was obvious their enemies had indeed submitted as they rejoiced and praised God. The programme which commenced at 8am daily brought the enemies of mankind as well as that of Nigeria to submit and quit.

Some of the participants testified how God changed their lives and took away their various challenges ranging from paralysis, deafness, dumbness, bareness, stroke, spinal cord injury, insanity, and other afflictions through the prayers and deliverance exercises offered by General Overseer of the church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka.

Among them was a cancer victim billed for surgery that would have cost the sum of N20million. She was said to have received instant healing and all her pains disappeared.

Also present was an ardent hemp smoker and drunkard who quit smoking and drinking after hearing the ministrations at the crusade.

Thanking God for delivering him from such bondage he said, "I thank God for saving me from the spirit of smoking and drinking of alcohol. I was also into secret cult and armed

Muoka addressing the media recently ...

robbery, but after the prayers I received, I decided to change my evil ways."

Also, Mr David Odeh whom God healed of 34 years of arthritis testified how he had suffered but later received healings.

Others who received healing were persons who suffered 25 years of being deaf and dumb, 16 years of bareness and 27 years of paralysis.

Earlier, Pastor Muoka explained that the crusade was the manifestation of God’s mandate to the church not to allow the enemies to torment those who believe and trust in him.

He noted that since the enemies of man fail to rest, there is need to continually fight him through fervent prayers, so that he would not succeed in their mission to conquer the children of God. “As the enemies of man who

In a bid to boost the Nigerian technology sector, Chief Executive Officer, Botosoft Technologies, Tolu Agbeyo, who emerged as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), a global list in support of United Nations International Decade, has pledged to undertake the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of empowering the youths.

Agbeyo noted that the slow pace of development that has plagued technology transformation in the country was as a result of lack of enabling environment and poor infrastructure.

He said the weak technological system has hindered the growth and advancement of the nation especially her locally developed products.

Agbeyo spoke recently in Lagos, after being recognised for his outstanding contributions and achievements in the business technology and entrepreneurship sector, as the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) 100.

MIPAD 100 is a global list in support of United Nations International Decade, to recognise the positive contributions made by people of African descent under the age of 40 in public and private sectors worldwide.

He noted that it's time Nigeria provided the needed infrastructure that would encourage young innovative minds to build technologies that is bespoke to the African continent, rather than receive whatever was thrown at her from other parts of the world.

are responsible for the killings, kidnapping and various crises in Nigeria continue in their acts, we will always fight them through this programme which comes up every two years.

Thereafter, they will submit.”

Muoka also stated that indeed, the programme offered an opportunity for Nigerians to be relieved from their various challenges.

“Fortunately, the enemy who has been walking around like a roaring lion, seeking for whom he may devour has submitted. Also, the enemies of Nigeria as a nation submitted during the programme. Meanwhile, we will continue to pray and cast the devil.”

Muoka who also pointed out that the grace of God abounds in Nigeria and has been sustaining Nigerian amidst the crisis and other challenges that have befallen the people.

Muoka stated that the programme has successfully addressed the problems Nigerians and the entire world are going through.

“The programme handled the affairs, iniquities and perilous times of Nigerians and the entire world which are the results of the end-time prophesy. So, our enemies have submitted.”

The cleric reiterated that the enemies the church is fighting to submit are the devil and human agents who are responsible for the killings, robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, stealing, affliction of various kinds, economic recession and poverty in the lives of the people.

Ayodeji Ake Governor, Lions Club International District 404B2, Chief Ayobola Samuel has lamented the alarming rate of hunger and poverty rate in the country as he charges government on swift intervention.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, yesterda, Ayobola who bemoaned the rate at which poverty and hunger is affecting the society added that it speaks volume and consequently, the masses are dying of hunger. "I may not have the statistic but I can say there are so many poor people, not only in Nigeria but in every part of the world and without food they can’t survive”.

Ayobola who is also a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth & Sports Development Ilorin, Kwara State, said Lion has in it capacity support intuitions with food items and also encourages a skill acquisition programmes to solve the puzzle of poverty.

“We have been devoted to is relieving the people from hunger in our own way we can provide assistance. We go to schools and support with food items and orphanage homes to relieve them of their immediate hunger. We also encourage on skill acquisition too, so they can be able to fend for themselves” he said.

Lion Club District 404B2 Governor, Ayobola

31/ENTREPRENEUR

22.06.2018

‘Working on Cake Gives Me Fulfillment’ In this interview with Peter Uzoho, the acclaimed baker, Mrs Chineze Ibuoka, the Chief Executive Officer of Honeysuckle Cakes, best known for her succulent, honey-tasting cakes capable of setting your taste buds on fire, speaks about the opportunities in the business and her participation at the U.S based International Cake Exploration Society (ICES) as a member of the board, amongst other issues. Here are the Excerpts: products and accessories.

We also have the upcoming cake makers, the medium, and the professionals in the business.

It’s a time of friendship renewal – friends come together and share ideas. There you move around and pick up what your need.

Could you tell us about yourself?

I am a baker, a sugar artist and lover of cake. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Honeysuckle Cakes and Confectionary, a cake outfit located at 68 Ogudu Road, Ojota, Lagos.

We specialise in designing and creating celebration cakes for all occasions, sale of cake accessories, and run a training school where we offer quality and affordable baking classes to young and upcoming bakers.

How did you fall in love with cake baking?

I have baked all my life. My mum was a baker so I grew up baking cake. Initially I wasn’t interested in it because it was a lot of work.

Working with my mum then, we had to cream with our hands – there was no mechanism, no very good oven. We would cream and then take it to a bread factory where we would bake and then bring it home. So it was a lot of work and I wasn’t looking for it. All I wanted then was to finish my university and go and work. But then, along the line, after I had graduated from school, I asked myself what was the best thing to do.

And my first desire was to use my hand to do something instead of roaming the cities in search of job. The only job I have ever done was when I went for Youth Service. So I went into learning tailoring. After that I started baking with some of my friends at the university. I was just doing it in a small scale until I decided to go all out to make it a professional thing. So the first thing I did was to fine-tune. I went fully into the cake business in 1996. There is really nothing that gives me joy than when I finish a cake, and you look at it and it’s a work of art: the way it synchronises together, the neatness, the art itself was of a great interest to me. So after working with my mum I then settled down and I started doing it. From the creaming to the baking to the decoration, I found out that it gives me special joy. Even now my husband will always say when I’m sick all you need to do is just to mention cake and I come alive. There is a passion inside of me that drives me and I enjoy just working on cake. It gives me satisfaction, joy and fulfillment. What else am I looking for than to enjoy and work it.?

Is cake making a profitable business?

It’s a profitable business, though, now things are very expensive, it’s not easy anymore. But if you can manage and do gook cakes it’s really a profitable business. It allows you time to do some other things, probably take care of your family, your husband and children and then, still get income. Above all, there are diverse angles in cake making. It’s just that people think it’s only cake making. You can diversify and be within the same focus of cake making. For instance, you can be making pastries. Everybody eats pastries almost on a daily basis. People use it as snacks. You can supply it anywhere in the world. And, apart from that, it’s something you can do without having to have a big office. A lot of people have cake offices running and they are running from their house kitchens and they are not paying for shop.

So all you need to do is to let people know what you are doing, even if you are in a hole people will come and patronise you. And it’s something that takes little money to start.

As I said earlier, there are different angles to cake making as well as different types of cakes.

There are pastries, there are deserts.

Today people do deserts like Red-Velvet, Black Peres, White Peres, Cheese cakes. Some people don’t bake and decorate, they just concentrate on desert and they are making their money big time.

There are people that work with soft decorations; there are those who concentrate on finishing the flowers – the appendixes that you put on cake, and they are making money. So there are so many angles that you can do and they are within cake.

Also, there are people who do cake modeling.

They don’t need to know how to bake, they just need to model and make their money.

The cake industry seems to be saturated; some people have been into for decades.

How do young entrants in the business still manage to get clients?

How has your business impacted on the Nigerian economy all these years?

Over the years I’ve had to train a whole lot of people. I have people who come back to me to say thank you that their families are eating because of the skill they acquired from me. I have my magazine which I do tutorial from. People use it as their reference point in cake making. Some use it in their kitchen.

I’ve been writing books, though I’ve not published any yet. They are books on cake that people can consult. Above all, I have about 15 people in my employ that I pay; at least they are off the market.

Instead of building up unemployment everywhere, they’re doing something with their hands and they get paid for it.

Apart from cake baking, what other areas of the business are engaged in?

Apart from baking cakes, I’ve diversified into selling cake accessories; I source for cake materials from anywhere in the world, from UK to U.S to Japan and many others. I have an affiliation with a school in England called PME Company at Nice Bridge, UK. They have diploma courses and about two of us in Nigeria are teaching their course there. We teach and issue their certificate. So after you have gone through their modules you become a professional.

The courses are divided into modules. And then, I run other schools that are under Honeysuckle too. Also, we print edibles which is a business on its own and another aspect of cake business. We print characters and post pictures. I supply cakes and pastries to places wherever they areneeded

Ibuoka

Cake business is a client- based thing and everybody is your client.

Everybody does birthday, everybody has friends that are getting married, everybody has relations that are celebrating one thing or the other. And Nigeria is a celebrating country – we celebrate everything, even when we don’t have money we still find money to celebrate. So that one alone makes you have assurance that you already have clients for the business. When you bake for one person he refers you to another and with that you grow.

What informed the choice of your brand name, ‘Honeysuckle’?

When I wanted to make cake a professional thing for me I prayed to have the best name.

And I remember during our honeymoon I gave my husband the name ‘Honeysuckle’.

And then, when I was looking for a name for my business he said the name was nice that I should try the name. So I decided to use the name Honeysuckle Cake and Sugarart, and the name went beyond me. Surprisingly when I got into the cake business I realised there is a flower that is called honeysuckle and, in reading the Bible, somewhere in the book of Psalms, I realised there is a flower called honeysuckle there to, and I loved it. The uniqueness is that I pride myself to make nice, succulent, honey tasting cake – cakes that are really nice. It’s a succulent idea, something that is really tasty.

Not something that you will eat and you spit it out, rather something you will eat and want more. And one thing that I do is that I reduce the amount of sugar in my cake. Sothe tendency for you to want to eat more is there.

What are the challenges bakers encounter?

Obviously the current economic hardship is affecting the business.

Before, it used to be a more profitable business because what peoplepay for is not the amount but the creativity and the wisdom in it. The material then was not that expensive – butter, sugar and the likes, but the economy has made it to increase.

However, the good thing is that food is something you cannot do without. Nobody weds without cake. Somehow you will need my services. So the challenge is there but we just have keep pushing

until things normalise.

What is your affiliation with the International Cake Exploration Society (ICES)?

I am an active member of the organisation. ICES is a cake body based in the U.S. with chapters all over the world. Nigeria is a member of the society and I’ve been representing Nigeria on our behalf in the U.S. It has board of directors majorly made up of U.S. citizens. I was Nigeria’s Rep for four years and handed over three years ago. Recently I ran for the board and won and became one of the board members. So in the board I am the Liaison Officer for the whole world apart from the United States. I am going to be in the board for three years. It’s involving; it means I have to be in the U.S. at least twice in a year.

And apart from that, we do have internet meetings every month which I can do from any part of the world. ICES was founded by a lady, Betty Jo Steinman.

This lady looked at the cake body and saw that people that were baking cakes were so fragmented.

There was no unity, no organisation, what you lacked you wouldn’t know how to get it. Even to build up and train the younger ones was a problem. So she called people together with love. ICES has its motto as: Icing, Caring, Everyone, Sharing. Everything is embedded in that acronym. It’s about icing our cakes; it’s about bringing together everyone; it’s about sharing of ideas. We exchange ideas and knowledge among ourselves.

It’s an embodiment of people of like-minds. We want the art to grow.

We don’t want the younger ones coming into the industry to know the lower part of this art; we want them to have the grip on it. We have exhibitions in the U.S. first week of August every year. Everybody comes from different parts of the world. They bring their arts, manufactured products, and authors in the business to the exhibition ground. We exchange ideas, train new ones, develop new products, everybody learns and we go back home with whatever ideas we garnered there. In Nigeria, we have ICES Nigerian Group. We do have our exhibitions also. At our exhibitions we put samples of cake all over the place.

There are masterclasses where all techniques in cake making are taught. Vendors come in to showcase the products they have and sell.

Then we have manufacturers of different cake

Have you embarked on any further training to improve yourself?

Even though I’ve learnt from my mum when I wanted to be a professional I knew it was not enough because the world is changing. New ideas, new things are coming on board. So I went for classes. I’ve gone to Singapore, I’ve gone to U.S., UK, and France. I’ve gone practically all over the world where there is a knowledge to be gained, and those are the things I bring in whenever I’m teaching. I even did some classes here in Nigeria. Exhibitions hold every year, so anyone I attend I learn new things and improve on whatever I’m doing.

What is your assessment of the quality of cakes in Nigeria compared tothe ones abroad?

We’re doing so amazingly well here in Nigeria.

Nigerians are creative. You know our contemporaries in the West and Europe don’t bake all these giant cakes. They just do those small ones. But Nigeria came out with art in the business. We already have a tradition, so we transported our tradition into our traditional cakes. The Whites do not know what Palm wine gouge is; they do not know what kolanut is, we’re the one that transported these things into the knowledge we got from their land. In fact, there is so much we’re doing in cake business as Nigerians. When they come here during our exhibitions and see our cakes standing, they get amazed because they’re beautiful and they’re work of art. We want to represent ourselves. Even when we go to U.S., we represent ourselves – our flag, our country, our forest zones, our traditions and all we’re known for. I’ve won prizes abroad.

I’ve won a prize at the 2008 NEC Cake Show in Birmingham, England. It was an award for one of the Best Indigenous Cake presentations.

What is your future plan for the business?

I want to build a formal school where people can come and learn which will run seamlessly whether I’m here or not. A school that is well equipped. I want to roll out books a lot that people can consult and use it to build up in life. I want to have a first class business office where any material available anywhere in the world can be found in it here in Nigeria.

32 / ERAVE

22.06.2018

Ayade Plans Big for 2018 Carnival Calabar, Unveils Theme Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State has disclosed that plans are underway to reposition the annual Calabar Festival and transform it into a veritable platform for African discourse. The governor who described the carnival as Africa's biggest street party stressed that he has a burning desire to see Africans speak in one voice.

Ayade was speaking during the unveiling of the theme for the 2018 edition of the Carnival Calabar which included a short video presentation on illegal mining exploitation across Africa by a few rich foreign aristocrats held at the State Executive Chamber, Calabar.

He expressed optimism that this year's edition of the tourism event will go a long way in righting the wrongs done to Africans by foreigners, especially colonial overlords, by portraying the continent and its people as the true owners of the real wealth in the world. "Because Nigeria's foreign policy is Afrocentric, the unification of Africa has become critical, let the carnival speak to power, speak to Africans that the African Union must rise and defend Africa”, he said.

The governor who said he was elated by the theme of this year's carnival, "Africanism" , further remarked that " time has come when Africa must start thinking as a country and provide a shoulder for weaker African countries to lean on."

Ayade

The Cross River state Chief Executive said he made a choice of using the carnival as a platform to tell the African story as well as remind the world that civilization started in Africa and that Africans are the greatest semblance of God.

The governor further disclosed that he intends to bring intellectualism as a more rewarding adventure to the Calabar carnival and indeed African heritage to represent every sector of African structure in the global space.

Ayade charged the band leaders of the 2018

carnival to make Africa proud by talking big about the continent as according to him, "Africa has grown and will war no more", adding "make the streets gliter with things and colours that truly represent Africa as only this will show we have come of age."

Ayade said he was of the view that youthfulness and vitality of Africa must be expressed in their dance, story precession and sub- themes as these will bring about the reverse of immigration to assure young men and women that Africa has realised itself and on the part of restitution and enhanced growth. "Let the carnival tell the reverse hypothesis of these stories and create a new cortosis that create a direction and focus that accentuates and celebrates the African man and let's use this year's platform to tell the true story that the real wealth lies in Africa and that Africa is indeed the leader", Ayade stressed.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Cross River state Tourism Commission, Gabe Onah said the calabar carnival remains the main factor that has changed the narrative about Cross River and put the state and Nigeria on a global map. Onah praised Ayade for introducing international carnival, Baikers' parade, Miss Africa Beauty Pageant among other innovations into the Calabar carnival thereby taking the yearly event to unprecedented height.

‘Sack NCC Boss’, COSON Members Insist Mary Nnah Thousands of members of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) who thronged Lagos Sheraton Hotel Ikeja recently for the COSON Annual General Meeting have resoundingly asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately remove from office Mr. Afam Ezekude, the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).

The conclusion of the COSON AGM is that the creative industry has totally lost confidence in Mr. Ezekude’s leadership.

When the motion came up for debate, not one person from the array of musicians and music industry stakeholders from practically every state in Nigeria that formed a sea of heads at the over flowing Banquet Hall of Sheraton Lagos supported the continued stay in office of Mr. Ezekude. One after the other, they repeated that Afam Ezekude has completely lost the plot and instead of fighting pirates and other enemies of the creative industry, the DG facing serious allegations of fraud by his staff is fully engaged in oppressing his staff and fighting the industry he was appointed to serve.

The COSON members in full voice condemned the purported suspension of the operating licence of COSON, the most admired copyright collective management organization in Africa and a major beacon of pride for the Nigerian nation. They described Mr. Ezekude’s action while the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction as recklessness and impunity of the worst kind. The COSON members at AGM asked the general public to ignore the so-called suspension which has been described by the senior staff of NCC as the personal foible of Ezekude and not the policy of the Management of the NCC. When the motion to request for the immediate sack of Afam Ezekude came up for vote, it received 100% support. Other resolutions passed at the AGM include the following: that all resolutions and decisions made at the Extra – Ordinary General

Okoroji addressing the mamount crowd that tuined up at the COSON 8TH AGM in Lagos

Meeting of December 19, 2017 and all decisions made by the Management Board thereafter be ratified and that the reinstatement of Chief Tony Okoroji, in whom COSON members have full confidence, as Chairman of the Management Board by the General Assembly at the Extra -Ordinary General Meeting of December 19, 2017 be ratified by the 8th Annual General Meeting.

The group also agreed that the COSON management headed by the General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, be commended for forcefully defending the interest of COSON and its members.

About June 12, the Movie. . .

Ferdinand Ekechukwu Whenever the event of June 12, 1993 poll is mentioned, one name that easily comes to mind is MKO Abiola. The reason to that is not farfetched.

He is the acclaimed winner of the presidential election that checkered Nigeria’s democratic terrain till date. Now imagine a feature film about that memorable incident without ‘Abiola’, the protagonist of that political episode, as the central focus of the story.

That might just be the twist of the movie which is set to capture the exigencies, realities and the intricacies that shaped that political period and eventually marked as defining moment in Nigeria’s political history. This the Young Nigerians Against Greed (YNAG), the producing platform of the eponymous ‘June 12’

movie, explained at a press meeting on Tuesday to announce the flag off of the movie project.

According to them, it’s a movie set to capture the pre, during and aftermath of the landmark June 12 election.

Interestingly, the handlers of the ‘June 12’ movie project claimed it is not politically motivated neither is it government sponsored. In their words, “It is about the realities of the Nigerian political situation from the 1993 election debacle.

It brings to clarity the events that marked this historical watershed based on the true life story.”

“This movie promises to cast the finest actors and actresses in the movie industry both local and international”, the producers further noted.

Thus the search for the right crew and cast is on for interested persons should mail info@ june12.website.

COSON also asked that representative capacity of Prof (Sir) Victor Uwaifo on behalf of the members of COSON in the Four Billion Naira action filed by COSON members against the NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude, Mr. Obi Ezeilo, Mr. Mike Akpan, Mr. Efe Omorogbe and others at the Federal High Court, Enugu be ratified and is ratified by the 8th Annual General Meeting while the audited accounts of the society for the financial year ended December 31, 2017 be approved by the 8th Annual General Meeting.

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji whose deep articulate and philosophical address at the

AGM received repeated thunderous ovations was formally presented with his award for exemplary leadership by PMAN, Edo State Chapter. On hand to present the award was the state Chairman, Comrade Willy Eghe Nova.

At the AGM, elections were conducted to fill vacant positions on the Board. At the very peaceful elections conducted by two top journalists, Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi and Mr. Shaibu Hussein, the following were elected to the COSON Board: Sir Shina Peters, Mr. Ras Kimono Onwubayi, Ms. Kenny Saint Brown, Ms. Maureen Ejezie Uso, Mr. Uche Emeka Paul, Engr Sharon Esco Wilson and Evangelist Olusegun Omoyayi.

Ratata Concepts Entertainment Showcases Young Talent Musicians Oluwafunke Lasisi A talent hunt, Ratatainment Concepts Entertainment, Wazobia Radio has showcased young and upcoming musicians, giving them the platform to express their talents.

The show which is the second edition tagged ‘As It Is Written’ in partnership with Don Silver Records was organised and presented by the talent hunt with 17 contestants in Lagos recently.

Top three contestants emerged runner up out of the 17contestants among which Victoria Omofure (a.k.a) Vikky has made the first runner up, Odugo Precious (a.k.a) Precious, second and Marvelous Effiong (a.k.a) De Marvelous, third.

Speaking at the event, the Manager of the talent hunt, Cythnia Emadomi said the show

has the potential to become bigger and better as they planned to notch more partnerships, and ensure winning prizes improve, promised to produce top three winners at every event it holds. She said, they usually hold the event in the last month of last quarter annually, saying this second edition is bigger than the first edition considering the economic situation in the country where sponsorship has been a major challenge.

The judges are Mrs. Fola Folayan from Nigeria Info Radio, Mr. Cornelius Ogap and Mr. Eyekplme Aboyowa Jarrrit. Other sponsorships are Bionic Media Group (BMG), Garium and kwese Tv decoder. Emadomi mentioned that the first runner up got a video shoot, radio and television promotion and be able to record songs in Kwese Tv decoder for a year.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

33

34/FEMALE CORNER

22.06.2018

Marilyn Anona: Why I am Leading a Campaign against Suicide, Anxiety and Depression TV Talkshow Host, Marilyn Oma Anona, is a young woman with many parts. She has successfully initiated various projects and led many campaigns aimed at reshaping societal values and mentoring the young ones. In this interview with Jonathan Eze, the award winning entrepreneur spoke on her new campaign against suicide, anxiety and depression tagged: S.A.D. and other sundry issues‌ Marilyn Oma Anona is a young Nigerian woman with so many talents, cerebral power and passion. She is a woman so eager to contribute her quota in making the world more beautiful than she met it. She is one who is always eager to make a positive impact as can be seen from the things she does. Marilyn Oma Anona is a TV talk show host, social and multimedia entrepreneur.

She is from Abagana in Anambra State Nigeria and the first out of seven children. Here are the excerpts: How did your TV, social and multimedia career begin?

Everyone expected me to become a medical doctor. Again, many times when I talk, I am told I would have made a great lawyer. I was a very special kid growing up. I was so intelligent and versatile.... so I knew there were many things i could effortlessly do! I am multitalented. Ordinarily, I would have chosen the arts. But you know our clime, our parents and school system. Once you are academically brilliant, you are pushed to the Science class and that was how I found myself in the sciences which I have always known I was not interested in. So I did sciences even in the university but was never happy nor satisfied. I wanted out. After my NYSC, I decided to my father's disappointment to follow my natural passion and calling which are the things I am currently doing. But even as a teenager, I nursed the silent dreams and desires of owning a great magazine and writing books because I am a gifted writer and I also wanted to own a photo studio because of my love for photos. So when I turned 18, I made my dad do me a dummy magazine with me on the front cover (laughs out loud). That magazine was named AUGUST MARILYN (AM as abbreviation with some underlying meaning) and yes that magazine is coming back pretty soon.

After NYSC, I could not be trapped so I delved into TV working for many media houses like Media Option, Housing Circuit, MYTV Africa etc. So being multitalented, I was able to do many media related jobs, from voice overs to commercials, hosting, acting and all. On the social aspect, it has always been my thing to lead causes.

I am a fighter and naturally charitable. That is like a second nature to me. So effortlessly, I train, counsel, coach and impact into people in order for them to be better versions of themselves and that means the society ultimately getting better.

You also have a charity foundation, tell us about it?

Yes I do have a charity foundation. Like I earlier mentioned, charity is my second nature. I live for love which has made a lot of people to call me either mother Theresa or mother hen because I love to be a shield and fighter for the vulnerable and needy. And I do these even when I am saddled with enormous personal challenges. So my foundation is called The Right Stage. It officially started in 2015 and has been in operation ever since. We have been able to do a lot and without sponsorship from any organisation or corporate body except for few support from family and friends. This foundation is centred on the kids, teenagers, youths, vulnerable women and the needy generally. My talk show The Omaliving Show is about inspiration and I did not want to be the regular TV host who just talks and lives for glamour. I wanted to be felt, I wanted to really impact into lives. So I thought of those who fit into my target audience but don't have access to the social media, TV etc, then The Right Stage was born. We have gone to four states, more than thirty schools, five communities, done lots of empowerment events and programs and so far, I am happy at how far we have come.

You are currently leading a campaign on suicide and depression. What inspired that?

I already mentioned that I am a social entrepreneur and I love to lead and fight for causes. Since 2015, I have done campaigns every year. 2015 was societal vices, 2016 was rape and domestic

Anona

violence, 2017 was sexual assault and jungle justice and 2018 is suicide, anxiety and depression tagged S.A.D. These campaigns are selected based on nagging issues per time. But this is the only campaign that personally concerns me because I have been down the dark road of depression, anxiety and attempted suicide. And I decided to run this campaign because of the number of people who come to me with these issues not knowing that I am a patient too. Again, in this clime many people are ignorant about mental health. Through this campaign I and my team want to sensitise people, create awareness in a bid to curb these issues.

"They are daily occurrences in Nigeria. The only thing is that we don't have a good Database Management System. But lots of Nigerians are depressed, suicidal and anxious. These are illnesses and clinical. Professionals are in short supply but through love, support and psychotherapy patients can get better. The campaign has been on since April and we have been doing great.

However, we are calling for partnership and

sponsorship from organisations and people to make this really massive and impactful.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

The ability to touch lives in large numbers and help people discover themselves. The ability to solve or at least tackle nagging issues. My successes are the thousands of people that mention me as a link to getting their lives together, it gladdens my heart.

Career milestones?

I am still working, so it is progressive. But so far, I have nine awards to my name which are natural recognition for the things I have been doing. I am grateful. I am constantly working to become a big force though.

What are you major challenges?

The challenges are enormous which were part of the reasons I went into depression and anxiety and became suicidal but thank God I did not kill myself. I ventured into entrepreneurship

very young and trust me, it is not funny. Most of the challenges I encountered were man made from people who dwindled me and put me in a mess to bad workforce etc. But I am happy I am gradually assembling people who love me and what I do and eager to see me succeed.

Millions have gone down the drain but I learn daily and these experiences I am sure I would not have gotten from Harvard business school.

And then we have sexual harassment. Trust me, being a female entrepreneur in this field is not easy.

Especially if you are decent and principled. But I will not throw away my values. Slowly but surely.

What is your advise to young entrepreneurs like yourself?

Oh well, I could spend the entire day talking and advising but I just want to say, keep it real, embrace the process, don't give up, celebrate your small wins, don't be fooled by social media noise, you are not doing badly. Have positive values and always remember that a good name is better than silver or gold.

35/LIVING

22.06.2018

FERTILITY WITH DR. KEMI AILOJE

Tel + 2348033083580, Email:Info@lifelinkfertility.com, Website: lifelinkfertility.com

LIFE STYLE AND INFERTILITY (PART 2) HOW MALE FERTILITY IS r 4NPLJOH DBO OFHBUJWFMZ BGGFDU B NBO T HFOFSBM IFBMUI BOE GJUOFTT DBVTJOH B SFEVDUJPO JO UIF RVBMJUZ BOE RVBOUJUZ PG TQFSN QSPEVDFE *U MPXFST UIF MFWFM PG BOUJPYJEBOU JO UIF CPEZ XIJDI QSPUFDUT UIF CPEZ DFMMT JODMVEJOH UIF TQFSN DFMM GSPN CFJOH BUUBDLFE CZ GSFF SBEJDBMT 4NPLJOH JO NBMFT OFHBUJWFMZ BGGFDUT TQFSN QSPEVDUJPO NPUJMJUZ NPWFNFOU BOE NPSQIPMPHZ GPSNT BOE JT BTTPDJBUFE XJUI B SJTL PG %/" EBNBHF r 4USFTT TUSFTT IPSNPOFT DBO JOUFSGFSF XJUI UIF IPSNPOFT DPOUSPMMJOH TQFSN QSPEVDUJPO 3FTFBSDIFTIBWF TIPXO UIBU NFO VOEFS TUSFTT BU XPSL PS IPNF BSF NPSF MJLFMZ UP IBWF QPPS TQFSN RVBMJUZ r %JFU VOCBMBODFE EJFU IBT OFHBUJWF FGGFDU PO IFBMUI HFOFSBMMZ #BMBODFE EJFU XJUI QMFOUZ PG GSVJUT BOE WFHFUBCMFT JT B HPPE BQQSPBDI UP FOIBODJOH GFSUJMJUZ 0OF PG UIF NPTU JNQPSUBOU OVUSJFOUT GPS NBMF GFSUJMJUZ JT [JOD OFFEFE GPS OPSNBM NBMF IPSNPOF GVODUJPO BOE TQFSN QSPEVDUJPO 5IF NBMF TFY HMBOE BOE TQFSN DPOUBJO IJHI DPODFOUSBUJPO PG [JOD TP GPPET SJDI JO [JOD MJLF GJTI TBSEJOFT FHHT XIPMF HSBJOT CSPXO SJDF BOE OVUT TIPVME CF UBLFO r $BGGFJOF DBGGFJOF IBT B EJVSFUJD FGGFDU BOE UIJT DBO EFQMFUF UIF CPEZ PG WJUBM GFSUJMJUZ CPPTUJOH OVUSJFOUTTVDI BT [JOD BOE DBMDJVN r "MDPIPM FYDFTTJWF BMDPIPM MPXFST UFTUPTUFSPOF MFWFMT BOE TP BGGFDUT CPUI UIF RVBMJUZ RVBOUJUZ PG TQFSN BOE NBZ SFEVDF MJCJEP TFYVBM EFTJSF BT XFMM BT DBVTJOH JNQPUFODF JO UIF MPOH SVO r 8FJHIU CFJOH PWFSXFJHIU PS PCFTF DBO DBVTFT IPSNPOBM DIBOHFT UIBU MPXFS UIF RVBMJUZ PG TQFSN BOE NBLF NFO MFTT JOUFSFTUFE JO TFY 0WFSXFJHIU NFO BSF NPSF MJLFMZ UP IBWF QSPCMFNT HFUUJOH BO FSFDUJPO *U IBT BMTP CFFO QSPWFO UIBU FYDFTTJWF GBU JODSFBTFT CPEZ UFNQFSBUVSF BSPVOE UIF UFTUJT XIJDI DBO BMTP BGGFDU TQFSN RVBMJUZ BT EPFT UJHIU VOEFSXFBS r 4MFFQ MBDL PG BEFRVBUF TMFFQ UFOET UP DBVTF UJSFEOFTT BOE NPSF MJLFMZ UP DBVTF MPXFS TQFSN DPVOU UIBO JO UIPTF XIP TMFQU NPSF .FO XIP TMFFQ MFTT UIBO IPVST B OJHIU XPVME IBWF MPXFS TQFSN RVBMJUZ BOE SFMBUJWFMZ TNBMMFS UFTUJDMFT 1PPS TMFFQ IBTBDUVBMMZ CFFO GPVOE UP JOUFSGFSF XJUI TQFSN QSPEVDUJPO r 0WFSIFBUJOH TFWFSBM SFTFBSDIFT IBWF QSPWFO UIBU QSPMPOHFE FYQPTVSF UP IJHI UFNQFSBUVSF DBO IBWF BOFHBUJWF JNQBDU PO TQFSN QSPEVDUJPO 5IVT NFO XIP XPSL JO IPU FOWJSPONFOU PS VTF MBQUPQT PO UIFJS MBQ NBZ CF JOEVMHJOH JO VOIFBMUIZ SFQSPEVDUJWF

IFBMUI QSBDUJDF "SF ZPV DBVHIU JO UIF XFC -JGFTUZMF NPEJÃ DBUJPO JT POF PG UIF CFTU PQUJPOT HPJOH GPSXBSE WHAT THEN IS LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION? -JGFTUZMF NPEJÃ DBUJPO JOWPMWFT BMUFSJOH MPOH UFSN IBCJUT UZQJDBMMZ PG FBUJOH PS QIZTJDBM BDUJWJUJFT BOE NBJOUBJOJOH UIF OFX CFIBWJPS GPS NPOUIT PS ZFBST 8IZ UIF OFFE GPS MJGFTUZMF NPEJÃ DBUJPO -JGFTUZMF NPEJÃ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Ã DVMU BOE

DIBMMFOHJOHCVU QFSTJTUFODZ BOE EJMJHFODF JT OFFEFE -JGFTUZMFT NPEJÃ DBUJPO BOE CFIBWJPSBM DIBOHFT SFRVJSFT UJNF DPOTJEFSBCMF FGGPSU BOE NPUJWBUJPO 5IFTF DIBOHFT GPS -JGFTUZMF NPEJÃ DBUJPOT JODMVEF UIF GPMMPXJOH r 2VJU 4NPLJOH r 3FEVDF RVJU BMDPIPM DPOTVNQUJPO r .PEFSBUF DBGGFJOF JOUBLF r /VUSJUJPO BOE EJFUBSZ DIBOHFT DPOTVNF GPPET SJDI JO Ã CFST TVDI BT GSVJUT WFHFUBCMFT CFBOT BOE XIPMF HSBJOT QMBOU QSPUFJOT GSPN OVUT BOE CFBOT BSF MPX JO DBMPSJFT &BU NPSF VOTBUVSBUFE GBUT F H DPDPOVU PJM TPZ PJM PMJWF PJM QBMN LFSOFM TFFE PJM BWPJE DPNNFSDJBM CBLFE BOE TOBDL GPPET SFEVDF BOJNBM QSPEVDU

-PUT PG áVJE JOUBLF XBUFS JT OFFEFE BT JU FODPVSBHFT EFUPYJà DBUJPO PG UIF CPEZ r 3FEVDUJPO JO NFBM QPSUJPOT NFBM UJNFT BOE GSFRVFODZ PG NFBMT BWPJE MBUF OJHIU NFBMT r &OHBHJOH JO XFJHIU MPTT JG BQQMJDBCMF

NBJOUBJO B #.* #PEZ .BTT *OEFY PG CFUXFFO LH N :PV DBO Ã OE PVU GSPN ZPVS IFBMUI DBSF QSPWJEFS JG ZPVS #.* JT BEFRVBUF r4USFTT SFEVDUJPO BOE BEPQUJPO PG IFBMUIJFS TUSFTT NBOBHFNFOU UFDIOJRVFT XIJDI NBZ JODMVEF UBLJOH PVU UJNF UP SFMBY QMBZ MBVHI B MPU WBDBUJPO FUD

r*NQSPWJOH TMFFQ RVBMJUZ BU MFBTU IPVST EBJMZ

r .PEFSBUF FYFSDJTF UP NJOVUFT EBJMZ GPS XFJHIU NBOBHFNFOU *O DPODMVTJPO XIFUIFS XF BSF SFBEZ UP TUBSU VQ B GBNJMZ OPX PS MBUFS PVS EBJMZ MJGF DIPJDFT XF NBLF IBWF FJUIFS OFHBUJWF PS QPTJUJWF JNQBDU PO PVS GFSUJMJUZ *O PSEFS UP IBWF UIF GVUVSF XF EFTJSF XF NVTU NBLF DFSUBJO MJGFTUZMF DIBOHFT 'PS UIPTF BMSFBEZ DBVHIU JO UIF XFC PG JOGFSUJMJUZ BWBJM ZPVSTFMG PG GSFF JOGPSNBUJPO DPVOTFMMJOH XIFSF UP CFHJO BOE XIBU UP EP *U NBZ OPU CF BT TUSFTTGVM PS EJGÃ DVMU BT JU NBZ TFFN FTQFDJBMMZ LOPXJOH ZPV BSF OPU BMPOF JO UIJT XBML UPXBSET TVDDFTTGVM QBSFOUIPPE

OPINION

Realism, not Pessimism Samuel Edozie Obasi-Eze #FGPSF XF HP PO JU XPVME CF CFTU XF IBWF B CFUUFS VOEFSTUBOEJOH PG UIF UXP DPOUSBTUJOH UFSNT 3FBMJTN BDDPSEJOH UP UIF 0YGPSE %JDUJPOBSZ JT iUIF BUUJUVEF PG BDDFQUJOH B TJUVBUJPO BT JU JT BOE CFJOH QSFQBSFE UP EFBM XJUI UIF TJUVBUJPO BDDPSEJOHMZ u 5IJT NFBOT UIBU XF TFF MJGF BT JU HPPE PS CBE QBSUJBM PS JNQBSUJBM EFQFOEJOH PO UIF TJUVBUJPO BOE XF EFBM XJUI JU BDDPSEJOHMZ UP FJUIFS DIBOHF UIF TJUVBUJPO PS BDDFQU JU BT GBUF /PX UIJT TIPVME OFWFS CF DPOGVTFE XJUI QFTTJNJTN SFBTPOT TIBMM CF TFFO JO TVCTFRVFOU QBSBHSBQIT 5P UIPSPVHIMZ VOEFSTUBOE SFBMJTN XF BMTP IBWF UP EFÃ OF JEFBMJTN *EFBMJTN BDDPSEJOH UP UIF 0YGPSE %JDUJPOBSZ JT EFÃ OFE BT iUIF VOSFBMJTUJD CFMJFG JO PS QVSTVJU PG QFSGFDUJPOu 5IJT FYQMBJOT UIBU *EFBMJTN OPU POMZ TFFLT BUUBJONFOU PG QFSGFDUJPO XIJDI JT QSBHNBUJDBMMZ JNQPTTJCMF CVU JT BMTP VOSFBMJTUJD *EFBMJTN IBT TZOPOZNT TVDI BT VUPQJBOJTN EBZESFBNJOH XJTIGVM UIJOLJOH BOE TP PO XIJDI QPJOU UP UIF GBDU UIBU UIFZ EPOhU SFGFS UP SFBMJUZ *O QIJMPTPQIZ MJFT B CFUUFS VOEFSTUBOEJOH BT UIF UXP UFSNT BSF SPPUFE JO QIJMPTPQIZ

UIBU PVS SFBMJUZ JT FYJTUFOU JOEFQFOEFOU PG PVS DPOTDJPVTOFTT UIPVHIUT BOE JEFBT *O TVNNBSZ JEFBMJTN TFFLT UP FYQMBJO UIBU PVS SFBMJUZ UFOET UP CF XIBU XF XBOU PS GBOUBTJ[F JU UP CF XIJMF SFBMJTN TFFLT UP FYQMBJO UIBU PVS SFBMJUZ FYJTUT JOEFQFOEFOUMZ PO PVS EFTJSFT BOE JEFB *O PUIFS XPSET JEFBMJTN SFMBUFT UP XIBU XF EFTJSF BOE GBOUBTJ[F BCPVU XIJMF SFBMJTN JT SFMBUFE UP PVS BDUJPOT PS TJUVBUJPOT UIBU NBLF PVU SFBMJUZ *O MBZNBO T QFSTQFDUJWF UIF UXP DPODFQUT DBO CF WJFXFE BT JEFBMJTN GPDVTJOH PO hXIBU XF XBOU JU UP CFh BOE SFBMJTN GPDVTJOH PO hXIBU BDUVBMMZ FYJTUTh 1SBDUJDBMMZ JEFBMJTUT BSF PGUFO QPTJUJWF UIJOLFST WJFXJOH MJGF BT CFJOH GVMM PG IPQF XIJMF SFBMJTUT UFOE UP CF OFVUSBM OFJUIFS PQUJNJTUT OPS QFTTJNJTUT CVU SBUIFS MPPL BU MJGF JO SFMBUJPO UP UIF DMJDIÊ IPQF GPS UIF CFTU CVU FYQFDU UIF XPSTU 1FTTJNJTN BDDPSEJOH UP UIF 0YGPSE %JDUJPOBSZ DBO CF EFà OFE BT iUIF UFOEFODZ UP TFF UIF XPSTU BTQFDU PG UIJOHT PS UIF CFMJFG UIBU UIF XPSTU XJMM IBQQFOu 5IJT EFà OJUJPO * BN DPOWJODFE JT TFMG FYQMBOBUPSZ CVU GPS CFUUFS DPNQSFIFOTJPO XF DBO USZ UP FYQMBJO QFTTJNJTN BT IBWJOH B OFHBUJWF WJFX UP MJGF BMXBZT FYQFDUJOH UIF XPSTU UP IBQQFO *UT BOUPOZN PQUJNJTN

*U JT DMFBS GSPN UIJT EFÃ OJUJPO PG PQUJNJTN UIBU PQUJNJTUT IBWF B QPTJUJWF WJFX UP MJGF " QPQVMBS FYBNQMF UP CFUUFS FYQMBJO UIFTF UXP DPODFQUT JT UIF TUBUF PG UIF OBUJPO /JHFSJB 5IF QPQVMBS TBZJOH UIBU /JHFSJB DBO OFWFS HFU CFUUFS POMZ TIPXT UIF QFTTJNJTUJD WJFX PG NPTU /JHFSJBOT UP UIF EFWFMPQNFOU PG /JHFSJB BT B OBUJPO "O PQUJNJTU JO UIF TJUVBUJPO IPXFWFS WJFXT OPUIJOH BT UPUBMMZ JNQPTTJCMF BOE TUJMM IBT GBJUI JO /JHFSJBO CFDPNJOH CFUUFS POF EBZ "T TUBUFE FBSMJFS QFTTJNJTN TIPVME OFWFS CF DPOGVTFE XJUI SFBMJTN 5IPVHI SFBMJTUT WJFX B TJUVBUJPO NPTUMZ MFTT IPQFGVMMZ XIFO DPNQBSFE UP PQUJNJTUT UIFZ OFWFS SFHBSE B TJUVBUJPO BT UPUBMMZ IPQFMFTT BT TFFO JO UIF DBTF PG QFTTJNJTUT 5IF 3FBMJTU BMNPTU OFWFS WJFXT MJGF BT QPTJUJWF PS OFHBUJWF CVU SBUIFS JT SBUJPOBM JO UIJOLJOH NBLJOH QSBHNBUJD DIPJDFT SBUIFS UIBO QFTTJNJTUT XIP WJFX UIF TJUVBUJPO OFHBUJWFMZ 6TJOH UIF FYBNQMF PG UIF TUBUF PG /JHFSJB BOE JUT QPTTJCMF EFWFMPQNFOU B 3FBMJTU XJMM OFWFS UPUBMMZ DPOEFNO UIF OBUJPO UIPVHI UIJOHT NBZ TFFN CBE CVU UIF 3FBMJTU UIJOLT PG XBZT UP NBLF JU CFUUFS JO B SBUJPOBM NBOOFS )PXFWFS QFTTJNJTUT BT NFOUJPOFE FBSMJFS TBZ UIJOHT DBO OFWFS HFU

#BTJDBMMZ JUhT CFUUFS UP CF SFBMJTUJD JO TJUVBUJPOT UIBO QFTTJNJTUJD 3FTFBSDIFST IBWF GPVOE UIBU CFJOH QFTTJNJTUJD UP MJGF NBLFT POF MFTT QFSTJTUFOU BT XIFO UIJOHT HP CBE 1FTTJNJTUT UFOE UP HJWF VQ CVU 3FBMJTUT UFOE UP CF NPSF QFSTJTUFOU BTTFTTJOH UIJOHT GSPN CPUI OFHBUJWF BOE QPTJUJWF QPJOUT PG WJFX 3FBMJTUT UFOE UP XFJHI UIF PQUJPOT DIFDL UIF PEET CFGPSF NBLJOH EFDJTJPOT XIJDI SFEVDFT UIF MFWFM PG SJTLT UIFZ UBLF )PXFWFS JO TPNF DBTFT UIJT NBZ TFFN MJLF B XSPOH JEFB CVU NPTU PGUFO UIBO OPU JU TFFNT UP XPSL PVU BT UIFZ UBLF B OFVUSBM QPTJUJPO UP MJGF 1TZDIPMPHJDBMMZ JUhT CFUUFS UP CF SFBMJTUJD UP MJGF UIBO CFJOH QFTTJNJTUJD PS PQUJNJTUJD BT QFTTJNJTN NBLFT POF QSPOF UP HJWJOH VQ FBTJMZ XIFO UIJOHT BQQFBS UP CF HPJOH CBE XIJMF CFJOH PQUJNJTUJD NJHIU NBLF POF TFU VOBUUBJOBCMF HPBMT CVU UIF SBUJPOBMJUZ JO SFBMJTN NBLFT POF UP TFU BDIJFWBCMF HPBMT BOE NPTU PGUFO UIBO OPU BDIJFWF UIFN #Z NZ SFDLPOJOH CFJOH B 3FBMJTU JT NVDI NPSF IFBMUIZ CFDBVTF JU DBO IFMQ QFPQMF UP CF QSBHNBUJD HPBM PSJFOUFE XIJDI EP OPU KVTU PGGFS IJHIFS DIBODFT PG TVDDFTT UIFZ BMTP DPOGFS JNQSPWFE QTZDIPMPHJDBM GFFMJOHT

36/COLLAGE

Afetsi Awoonor, son of renowned Ghanaian Poet, Kofi Awoonor with his wife, Adaku Kingsley Ufere, during their traditional marriage in Ndiamazu Uno, Arondizuogu, Imo State……..recently

L-R: Pastor Ayo Omotara; APICP, Lagos Province 14, Pastor Paul Adewunmi; celebrant, Pastor (Mrs.) Orefejo Esther Modupe; Pastor Adetunji Adebiyi and Pastor Jonathan Busuyi, during the celebration of Orefejo's 60th birthday anniversary, at RCCG Overflowing Mega, in Fagba, Lagos.......recently.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Supreme Educational Foundation (SEF), Mrs. Olubukola Adewuyi; Member Advisory Board, SEF, Mr. Femi Fakuade; one of the best graduants, Master Ayomide Adetunji and Pastor Itua Ighodalo, during the 25th valedictory service and graduation ceremony of the foundation at Magodo GRA, Lagos ...recently kolawole alli

22.06.2018

Ifeanyi Ezeobi and his wife, Nonye with their children Emmanuel and Chimidirinma at the dedication of the latest addition to the family, Master Ubamara in Lagos ... recently

L-R: Non-Executive Director,Prestige Assurance Plc, Mr. Sidharth Pradhan; Managing Director/CEO, Dr.Balla Swamy; Mrs Funmi Oyetunji; and Chairman, Mr. Hassan T.M.Usman, at the opening of the company's new corporate head office in, Lagos recently etop ukutt

Coordinator, Wonderland, Mr. Tayo Adeyemo (behind) flanked by pupils of Shalom Schools Ipaja Lagos with winners of various games, displaying their gifts, during the 2018 Tata Foods Children’s Day Carnival, in Lagos………recently

L-R: Bride's father, Sir Chike Akunyili; Groom's Mother, Mrs. Debbie Nash; Couple, Andrew Parr and Chidiogo Akunyili; Groom' s father, Mr. Robert Nash and Parish Priest, Madonna Catholic Church, Agulu, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Chigboka, at the thanksgiving service mass to celebrate the union, at the church's parish in Anambra State……recently

37/THISLIFE

22.06.2018

Aboderin Laid to Rest Amidst Accolades Amidst accolades on a life well spent by colleagues, friends and family members, the remains of the late Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Wale Aboderin was laid to rest last Friday. Mary Nnah who witnessed some of the activities leading to the interment, writes that the funeral rites gave people the opportunity to reflect on life The funeral rites for the late Chairman of Punch, Mr. Gbadebowale Aboderin, kicked off with a wake and celebration of life concert on Thursday, June 14 at the New Haven Events Centre, GRA, Ikeja.

Apparently, the event turned out to be a celebration of life well spent. Late Aboderin, who died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 after a heart surgery at the First Cardiology Consultants, Ikoyi, Lagos, was 60 years old.

Expectedly, friends, colleagues and family members gathered at the venue of the wake keep service held to celebrate a life that had impacted so many lives in the space of 60 years. The event was conducted by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Lagos West.

Encomiums and testaments by friends, colleagues and family members were poured in abundance for a man declared to have lived a purposeful life that influenced so many lives positively.

At the wake, the first scripture reading taken from Eccl. 3:1-15 was read by one of the deceased’s daughters, Miss Nicolle Aboderin, who during her tribute, described her father as an amazing man who taught her so much about life, humility, confidence, hard work and lots more. “I can cry all day to summarise who he was and everything he was to me, but the most important thing he taught me was God and love,” she noted.

The second reading was taken by the second daughter, Cherelle Aboderin, thereafter; prayers were made for the children, the widow of late Aboderin, the family the church, the community, and the nation at large.

Others who also seized the opportunity to give great accolades to the late Punch Chairman included a former classmate, Mr. Shina Fagbenro who represented the Old Students Association of the Government College, Ibadan. He described the late Aboderin as a man who was adventurous, courageous and beneficial to humanity while recalling that Aboderin, popularly called Abod then, made lifelong impression while at school.

Fagbenro said further that he was happy that Aboderin was able to beat the achievements of his late dad, Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin.

Punch Head, Viewpoint and Editorial Page, Mr. Joel Nwokeoma , who spoke on behalf of the management and staff of Punch Nigeria Limited, said late Aboderin worked persistently to improve on the fortune of PUNCH newspapers, noting that he inspired the staff to promote the ideals of truth, justice, professionalism, fairness and mutual development while also paying attention to the wellbeing of employees.

“Everyone who came in contact with him, either in the newsroom or the walkway, always heard encouraging words from him,” he said.

Speaking on the topic, "An Ambassador Returns Home", Venerable James Adekanye of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, said Aboderin was an ambassador and a representative of God. “He preached to the world. He did his bit and we know that when an ambassador has finished his course, the authority asks him to return home.

So Aboderin was an ambassador, not of just the country but of the almighty God. God sent him to this world 60 years ago to the Aboderin family and when he finished his course, God recalled him.

At this time, he has returned to his maker, he has returned to give account of his life to God. He has returned to take his place in heaven”, Adekanye noted.

Reading from the book of 2nd Cor. 5 vs 20, he said, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God”. The cleric said, “We are ambassadors, every Christian is an ambassador of Christ to preach and spread the light of God in the world.”

Reading from 1st Peter 2 Vs 11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul”, Adekanye stressed that, “We are here on a mission and when the time shall come, we shall all return one after the other. The one who sent us can ask us to return at any time. So when our brother, Wale Aboderin finished his own course, he was recalled by God to give account of his life.”

He seized the opportunity to remind everyone that life is a passing phase and that everyone will one day return to their maker to give an account of their stewardship on earth.

Aboderin's family during the interment in Ikoyi.

Wunmi Obe and Chairman, THISDAY Newspapers Limited,/President, Newspaper Proprietors of Nigeria, Prince Nduka Obaigbena

L-r: Mogaji Tunde Aboderin, widow of late Aboderin, Mrs Titilayo Aboderin, daughters, Cherelle and Nicole Aboderin and sister, Angela Emuwa and Vanessa during the funeral service at Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja in Lagos

The cleric said further that having read about the life and time of late Aboderin, it was obvious he was being celebrated and not mourned. “God only called him home and we all know that death is just a means that God calls His own to return to him”, he noted. “I have read a lot about him since he passed on and all I read indicate that while on earth he made great impacts as well as affected lives, so before his maker, it is time to give account because he has cease from work”, he noted.

Calling on Aboderin’s widow and children to be strong he said, “I am trusting God that God will console his wife and children as well as the entire family. “Sister Titi, the Lord will console you and I want you to know that it pleases God to recall your beloved husband at this time.”

On the following day, Friday, June 15, friends and family again, trooped from the lying-in-state of late Aboderin at his residence, Mangoro, Ikeja, from where his remains was moved to the Archbishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church, GRA, Ikeja, for

the funeral service while interment followed at the Ebony Vaults Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Canon Residentiary of the church, Ven. Festus Olowosile, at the funeral service, took his message from 1 Corinthians 15: 19. He encouraged the Aboderin’s family to joyful, having in mind that their loved one had gonehome to rest. He charged the family to be of good courage, knowing that God never leaves His own. Olowosile was also quick to admonish members of congregation that gathered to give their last respects to the late philanthropist, to repent and be of good conduct, stressing that life does not last forever. “You are not alive because you are an expert, you are not alive because of your travel experience, you are alive because God permitted it. Your life is borrowed, the owner will definitely request for it one day,” he said. He warned the congregation further to be conscious of the kind of life they live, as “Death can come to anybody, anytime, adding, “Be prepared at all times.” Dignitaries at the event included former

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Femi Pedro who represented APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu; Editor-in-Chief/Chairman, THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Publisher, Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu and Senior Pastor, Trinity Church, Itua Ighodalo amongst others.

Aboderin who died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 was born on April, 17, 1958 in London, United Kingdom. He was the first child of his parents; Florence Jadesola and James Olubunmi. He attended Corona Schools Apapa and Ikoyi, after which he proceeded to Government College Ibadan (G.C.I).

He also attended School of Aviation, Zaria and later to Burnside-Ott Flying School, Florida United States. A basketball enthusiast, he started basketball coaching with high school female and male players in Norland High, Miami, Florida. He was appointed a member of the Board of Directors on May 21 1984 and became the Chairman of Punch on April 30 2011. He was survived by a mother, wife and children.

38/INTERVIEW

22.06.2018

‘Visibility is Our Next Major Goal’ As Forever Living Products International, Inc. a privately held multi-level marketing company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, manufacturer and marketer of aloe vera-based drinks and bee-derived cosmetics recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in style with week-long celebration in Lagos, the Country Sales Manager, Mr. Daniel Ikechukwu in this interview with Mary Nnah, says there is a need for more visibility to showcase the immense opportunity that the products offer

Forever Living Products health walk in Lagos

Forever Nigeria had multiple events to mark its 40th anniversary in Lagos. Can you talk about it?

We want to sincerely thank all our Forever Business Owners who participated actively in the events of the past few weeks. We are so excited that the events were awesome and value-adding. All the glamours are in line with our 40th anniversary celebration.

There are very few companies in our industry that can boast of being 40. For the over 10 million Forever Business Owners that we have globally, 40 years means 10 million individual Forever stories. For us, it is 40 years of touching lives, 40 years of business excellence, 40 years of putting smiles on peoples’ faces, 40 years of getting it right and above all, it has been 40 years of using Aloe Vera to make people and families look better and feel better.

The founder, Mr. Rex Maughan, must have been excited at these 40 years anniversary activities. Didn’t he?

We are forever grateful to Rex and Ruth Maughan who had this vision 40 years ago and made it available to all of us. Without them, we will not be here today. Despite Rex’s age, his passion for the business and love for our business owners is just the same as it was 40 years ago. Now in Greg Maughan, we have a strong and visionary leader who understands the business thoroughly and knows exactly where he wants us to be. The past 40 years have come and gone, what is key to us is the next 40 years to come. Now we have an identity, we are Forever, we are the Aloe Vera company – the biggest grower and manufacturer of Aloe Vera.

Forever Nigeria has always played a key role in Forever Africa at Global Rallies.

How did it go for your contingent?

Forever Living Products Nigeria actively participated in this years’ global rally. Altogether we had 272 members in our contingent. To me, it is not a question of the number, because we would have loved to go with more people, because countries from the Scandinavian, Japan and Hungary, came with more people.

That is where we want to get to; a point where we will have 1,000 Nigerians at the rally. Our performance was good, however it could be better. Like the name implies, it is a rally. People are happy and excited, countries came with their local drums and the objective is to showcase themselves as a country. Now, when you have 272, you

Ikechukwu

cannot compare their performance in line with excitement, with a country with 1,000 or with 1,200 people. We would have loved to go with more people to create a high level of excitement. With the Chairman's bonus, we were represented though not at all levels. We had 18 people who collected cheques across the different categories. The implication is that, 18 families were financially elevated and came back with cheques ranging from US$5,000 to US$150,000. This is something remarkable. However, this is not where we want to be? We know the difference that more and bigger cheques will make in the lives of our people; this is what we want to achieve. We want more people to see the opportunity that our business presents and run with it.

So what is the significant of the whole 40th anniversary events?

One of the basic principles that our business was founded on is to empower people to

serve one another. The events of the 40th anniversary are quite significant, however amidst the 10 million business owners that we have presently, only about 15,000 made it to Dallas. Therefore, countries were given the mandate to further extend the celebration in their respective countries. So for Forever Living Products Nigeria, we decided to kick-start our celebration in Lagos. Our objective is for the over 25 million people in Lagos to know more about our products and business opportunity. Our dream is to have a Nigeria that will understand and embrace total wellness. With the use of our products, Nigerians can live healthier lives. Hence we started with a Health Walk in the Mainland and another on the Island. We also wanted people to know how it all started. Yes, we are 40 years globally, and 18 years in Nigeria. We wanted our people to know the values that the company is built on. These same values we know will guide them in the next 40 years to come. With a very dynamic business

environment and a continuous boom in the E-commerce marketplace, we felt the need to teach our people how to better protect our brands hence protecting their business. We pride our business as a lifestyle and being something that is willable, we want all to build and protect a business that will outlive them. The cocktail dinner was positioned at presenting to Nigerians the huge possibilities that abound in our business. Irrespective of status in the society, we strongly believe that you deserve a healthier life. We want all to drink in the benefits of Aloe Vera so that they can be alive to do any business of their choice. The dinner presented an opportunity for all business owners to be forever proud and we are happy they all loved it. People are excited because like they said, this is the first time they are doing this. Change is the only constant thing in life. In our rebranding process, our objective is to have value-adding events. In doing this, we have to be open to new ideas and learn new things. We have to present our business the way it ought to be.

Our business concept and idea need to be made visible to the crème de la crème. With a strong focus on healthy living, we want Nigerians to be alive for their families and loved ones. Most importantly, we know we have products that can help them achieve all these. Presently, our visibility is not at optimal level. Therefore, our focus is to create that visibility. With visibility comes increased awareness, hence the need to access and use the products. We are very convinced that every home deserves a bottle of Forever Aloe Vera gel for total wellness.

This plan is huge. Are you ready for the boom that could result from these efforts?

Of course, everything we are doing is deliberate. There is nothing that we are doing that is by chance. Every single step that we are taking is a deliberate attempt at rebranding. And when something is deliberate, it means that we are ready for whatever boom that is going to come. The boom is not going to come overnight. We are not there yet, however one thing is sure, we are going to be very consistent and deliberate in our approach. Therefore, we are physically and psychologically ready for the boom. We are ready to serve the 190 million Nigerians; we are ready to make our products available to them. As we increase our visibility and use of the products, I wish all our business owners a happy 40th anniversary.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

39

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018

42

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

AfDB: Power Regulation Still Poor in Nigeria, 14 Others Chineme Okafor in Abuja The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that the level of regulatory independence in 15 African countries has remained poor even after about two decades of electricity market regulation in those countries.

It said in a new report – “Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa (ERI),” which it launched at the 2018 Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Mauritius, that stronger regulatory independence was required to accelerate investment in energy and power assets in Africa.

According to multilateral institution, the ERI measured the level of development of regulatory frameworks in 15

African countries including Nigeria, and examined their impact on the performance of their respective electricity sectors. It also identified areas in which improvement were most needed in to include: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

According to the report, though the majority of African countries have developed relatively robust institutional frameworks for the regulation of their electricity sectors, much work remained to be done to strengthen regulatory independence of their electricity regulators.

Specifically, the report noted: “On average, well developed electricity regulatory governance systems exist in all fifteen sample countries. However, there is room for improvement with respect to accountability and independence to align with international best practices often necessary to attract future investment into the sector.

“Although many sample countries had established the legal and institutional frameworks for electricity sector regulation, regulators are yet to build an adequate level of capacity and develop appropriate mechanisms to effectively carry out their mandates and make decisions under key aspects of regulatory substance.”

Nigerians Must Look Inwards to Grow Economy, Says Wigwe The Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe has advised Nigerians to patronise locally made goods and services so as to grow the economy.Wigwe said this while speaking at the seventh German-Nigerian Business Forum that took place in Lagos yesterday.

The Access Bank CEO, who featured on a panel session, pointed out that high appetite for foreign made goods in the country leads to imported inflation.

Responding to a question on the high level of interest rate in the country, Wigwe stated that once some structural problems in the country are addressed, the amount of interest rates being charged by banks would reduce

“To resolve the high interest rate issue, there are several things which need to be done.

The first is that we need to resolve some of the inherent cost issues. For instance, power.

“We also need to look at the issue of infrastructure. Resolving power alone can bring down our cost of production by as much as 40 per cent. So, once some of those variables are resolved in the economy, interest rate will come down.

“We also need to focus inwards. There is no need for us to continue to import everything because when you do that, you have imported inflation.

“So, if we basically consume what is produced in Nigeria, what you see is that all of these variables would start coming

down,” he said.

Earlier, Wigwe said Access Bank created a German Desk as part of its strategy to support SMEs. According to him, one of the greatest problems SMEs in the country face is access to finance.

“But what the German desk sets to do is to put Nigerian businessmen who seek to do business in Germany or buy German products, in touch with their German counterparts.

“Secondly, it puts German businessmen in touch with the appropriate Nigerian businessmen who intend to do business in Germany. The third thing it does is that it provides financing at affordable rates to both parties to continue to do their business,” he added.

PenCom Commences Verification of Prospective Retirees Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The National Pension Commission (PenCom) said it has commenced the final arrangements for the verification of prospective retirees from the public service nationwide.

It also said the impending exercise necessitated the need to undertake adequate sensitisation and public enlightenment for would be retirees on the right steps to take towards a hitch free retirement life.

The Acting Director General, National Pension Commission, Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, disclosed this in Benin City,

in her opening remarks at a workshop for those due to retire from the federal civil service next year under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). According to the DG, who was represented by Mrs Ekanem Aikhomu, the verification exercise had been scheduled to take place from 25th June to 17 August, 2018 in 15 centres across the country.

The impending exercise, she said, necessitated the need to undertake adequate sensitisation and public enlightenment in order to prepare prospective retirees on the steps to take towards a hitch free retirement life. She declared:

“I am delighted to welcome you to this important sensitisation Workshop organised for intending retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). We consider contributors who are about to join the CPS retirees as very important stakeholders.

“On behalf of the management and staff of the Commission, I wish to convey our profound appreciation to you for finding it worthwhile to honor our invitation to attend this Pre-Retirement Workshop.

Your presence today heightens the confidence you repose in PenCom as the Regulator of pensions in Nigeria.

FirstBank Organises Counselling for Students Ugo Aliogo As part of activities to commemorate the second edition of FirstBank of Nigeria’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) week 2018 tagged: ‘Touching Lives; You First,’ the bank recently organised a career counselling session for students of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos State.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank of Nigeria, Dr. Adeshola Adeduntan said the week was

dedicated to giving back to the society. Adeduntan noted that the career counselling session would help the students understand themselves and the world in order to choose successful career.

“You cannot reinvent yourself without people. As a country, there is need to invest in the youths, therefore part of our own pillar in corporate social responsibility is counselling and role modelling for the younger generation. “We have a couple of key messages for them. First, professional life is

rewarding, but it also comes with continuous improvement and investment in yourself.

“We also highlighted to them the importance of aligning their passion and interest with their capabilities to them. Also, we advised them on the need to build their personal brand at the stage they are.

“In this week, many of our colleagues are bringing out time to organising career counselling, visiting the orphanage homes, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, widows, and lepers’ colony.

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Omolara Elemide; Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Abdul Bello; and Non-executive Chairman, Mr. Daniel Aghor, at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos... yesterday YOMI AKINYELE

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

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)

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 Inter-Bank Call Rate

MARCH 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, WED, 20 JUNE , 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $72.48 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $71.87 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 22, 2018

43

MARKET NEWS

UAC of Nigeria Shareholders Approve N1.86 Billion Dividend Payout Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

was approved at the annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos yesterday.

The shareholders, who hailed the dividend payout, said they were appreciative of the efforts being made to ensure delivery of increased returns on investments going forward.

Addressing shareholders at the AGM, Chairman of UAC

UAC of Nigeria Plc yesterday assured stakeholders of steady growth in profitability even as the shareholders of the company approved the N1.86 billion dividend recommended for the year ended December 31, 2017. The dividend, which translated to 65 kobo per share

of Nigeria, Mr. Dan Agbor said the company recorded a revenue of N89.1 billion, up from N82.6 billion in 2016. Profit after tax declined sharply from N5.6 billion to N963 million in 2017, reflecting the compression in the margins of operating subsidiaries.

He said: “You will recall that a total of 960,432,193 ordinary shares of 50 kobo

each were issued in this process, at a price of N16.00 per share, and I am pleased to report that as at a result of your strong support, the rights issue was 104.5 per cent subscribed. This reflects the confidence that you still have in your company. You have my assurance that the proceeds of the rights issue are already being applied for the intended

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES S/N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94

COMPANY ACCESS AFRIPRUD AGLEVENT AIICO AIRSERVICE ARBICO BERGER BETAGLAS CADBURY CAP CAPHOTEL CAPOIL CAVERTON CCNN CHAMPION CILEASING CONOIL CONTINSURE CORNERST COURTVILLE CUSTODIAN CUTIX CWG DAARCOMM DANGCEM DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR DEAPCAP DIAMONDBNK DUNLOP EQUITYASUR ETERNA ETI ETRANZACT FBNH FCMB FIDELITYBK FIDSON FIRSTALUM FLOURMILL FO FTNCOCOA GLAXOSMITH GUARANTY GUINEAINS GUINNESS HMARKINS HONYFLOUR IKEJAHOTEL INFINITY INITSPLC INTBREW INTERLINK JAIZBANK JAPAULOIL JBERGER JOHNHOLT LASACO LAWUNION LEARNAFRCA LINKASSURE LIVESTOCK MANSARD MAYBAKER MBENEFIT MOBIL MRS MULTITREX MULTIVERSE NAHCO NASCON NB NCR NEIMETH NEM NESTLE NIGERINS NPFMCRFBK NSLTECH OANDO OKOMUOIL PORTPAINT PRESCO PRESTIGE PZ REDSTAREX ROYALEX RTBRISCOE SCOA SEPLAT SKYEBANK SKYESHELT SOVRENINS STACO

PCLOSE 10.85 4.30 0.53 0.65 4.50 4.79 8.55 87.35 12.50 36.80 3.10 0.33 2.25 26.50 1.98 1.61 32.00

OPEN 10.70 4.30 0.51 0.68 13.00 2.22 2.00 1.68 -

HIGH 10.75 4.30 0.51 0.71 13.00 2.22 1.99 1.68 -

LOW 10.65 4.30 0.51 0.65 13.00 2.22 1.90 1.68 -

%SPREAD 0.93 8.45 4.52 -

CLOSE CHANGE 10.65 -0.20 4.30 0.51 -0.02 0.65 4.50 4.79 8.55 87.35 13.00 0.50 36.80 3.10 0.33 2.22 -0.03 26.50 1.99 0.01 1.68 0.07 32.00 -

%CHANGE -1.84 -3.77 6.15 4.00 -1.33 0.51 4.35 -

TRADES 111 42 5 67 2 2 13 10 12 7 3 2 24 33 26 18 27

1.44

-

-

-

-

1.44

-

-

6

0.35 0.20 5.02 3.14 2.54 0.48 235.80 10.65 19.90 0.48

0.34 3.02 238.80 10.65 20.10 -

239.00 10.70 21.10 -

238.80 10.65 19.50 -

0.08 0.47 7.58 -

0.35 0.20 5.02 3.14 2.54 0.48 239.00 10.70 19.50 0.48

3.20 0.05 -0.40 -

1.36 0.47 -2.01 -

4 1 7 24 3 1 87 54 157 1

VOLUME 2,510,523 49,573,930 279,555 4,099,470 10,000 105 60,524 3,780 138,009 3,539 11,880 5,200 814,862 220,909 1,325,097 318,400 43,272

VALUE 26,889,858.80 213,159,087.97 142,641.84 2,825,249.65 43,000.00 501.80 494,300.60 315,300.00 1,786,399.75 123,865.00 35,640.00 1,664.00 1,806,367.95 5,788,580.15 2,574,394.28 522,426.20 1,380,618.90

14,000

20,490.00

83,709 27,855.06 10,000 2,000.00 157,121 825,441.71 401,342 1,264,754.14 2,600 6,886.72 6,000 2,760.00 2,186,951 522,669,704.70 498,697 5,320,234.55 56,886,870 1,185,035,004.90 100 46.00

1.62

1.60

1.68

1.59

5.36

1.60

-0.02

-1.23

94

6,561,391

0.30

-

-

-

-

0.30

-

-

1

1,666

10,676,824.54 483.14

0.21

0.21

0.22

0.21

4.55

0.22

0.01

4.76

7

1,100,000

240,500.00

6.25 20.00 4.55 10.85 2.40 2.34 6.00 0.40 33.00 37.00 0.20 19.20 41.60 0.38 99.75 0.28 2.31 2.53 1.42 0.76 41.75 3.61 0.66 0.33 27.50 0.55 0.36 0.86 1.44 0.87 0.87 2.49 2.45 0.35 174.30 34.25 0.40 0.20 4.20 24.00 118.00 6.30 0.63 2.50 1,450.20 0.26 1.65 0.48 6.90 82.00 2.05 73.70 0.64 20.75 5.95 0.34 0.46 3.25 711.10 0.76 95.00 0.27 0.48

5.97 11.20 2.33 2.37 33.00 0.20 41.50 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.65 43.70 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.50 0.34 174.30 23.95 117.50 0.63 2.55 1,495.00 0.27 1.68 6.95 2.05 0.61 0.35 745.00 0.79 0.26 -

5.97 11.25 2.33 2.36 33.00 43.60 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.45 0.34 183.00 23.95 117.50 0.63 2.62 1,495.00 0.27 1.72 6.95 2.05 0.61 0.35 769.00 0.79 0.26 -

5.97 10.95 2.30 2.29 32.30 41.00 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 0.34 0.37 0.88 2.45 0.34 174.30 23.10 117.10 0.63 2.55 1,495.00 0.25 1.72 6.70 2.05 0.61 0.35 769.00 0.76 0.26 -

5.97 20.00 4.55 2.67 11.20 1.29 2.30 2.97 2.30 6.00 0.40 2.12 32.30 37.00 0.20 19.20 5.96 41.50 0.38 97.00 0.29 2.35 2.61 1.42 0.76 41.75 3.61 0.66 0.34 27.50 0.55 0.37 0.86 1.44 0.88 0.87 2.49 2.45 0.34 4.75 183.00 34.25 0.40 0.20 4.20 3.55 23.10 0.34 117.10 6.30 0.63 2.67 2.62 - 1,495.00 7.41 0.25 1.72 0.48 3.60 6.90 82.00 2.05 73.70 0.61 20.75 5.95 0.35 0.46 3.25 769.00 3.80 0.76 95.00 0.26 0.48

-0.28 0.35 -0.10 -0.04 -0.70 -0.10 -2.75 0.01 0.04 0.08 0.01 0.01 0.01 -0.01 8.70 -0.90 -0.90 0.12 44.80 -0.01 0.07 -0.03 0.01 57.90 -0.01 -

-4.48 3.23 -4.17 -1.71 -2.12 -0.24 -2.76 3.57 1.73 3.16 3.03 2.78 1.15 -2.86 4.99 -3.75 -0.76 4.80 3.09 -3.85 4.24 -2.90 -4.69 2.94 8.14 1.32 -3.70 -

25 23 1 255 83 139 14 1 82 20 2 6 286 2 32 28 24 19 3 1 21 1 12 28 10 1 14 2 9 4 6 4 28 7 19 25 1 3 13 65 138 1 12 38 32 20 10 1 103 14 5 9 8 14 5 7 1 1 54 35 1 11 1

1,004,783 6,003,633.84 83,589 1,672,135.20 150 652.50 11,299,790 125,459,137.75 4,048,598 9,418,422.90 8,565,372 19,963,618.39 42,500 242,700.00 10,000 3,900.00 667,140 21,885,312.20 42,652 1,538,599.95 14,105 2,821.00 4,553 90,596.20 45,275,658 1,916,920,925.30 120 44.40 2,356,052 228,750,513.30 1,324,553 384,120.37 640,726 1,505,555.41 350,900 936,076.80 200 270.00 100 76.00 67,781 2,846,151.85 50 180.50 158,958 106,550.86 2,515,766 855,360.44 18,087 483,442.20 2,484 1,316.52 276,106 99,465.22 2,200 1,892.00 110,203 160,995.35 261,500 230,120.00 41,700 35,514.20 10,970 27,524.00 1,052,711 2,580,639.13 631,000 214,540.00 54,324 9,646,933.90 86,836 3,021,779.10 2,500 950.00 20,200 4,040.00 85,079 351,479.96 1,583,001 37,050,927.40 541,556 63,604,177.30 400 2,400.00 1,245,208 782,530.80 1,753,192 4,500,561.25 60,494 90,434,922.10 1,469,583 379,588.18 306,270 512,423.10 7,000 3,220.00 2,185,331 14,964,497.15 41,428 3,464,183.65 306,150 627,607.50 14,742 1,049,173.20 315,711 193,625.71 111,181 2,204,225.45 25,090 151,932.50 321,371 111,756.58 12,460 5,482.40 50 154.50 60,322 44,198,197.20 2,520,296 1,938,309.56 20 1,806.00 382,000 99,605.00 300 138.00

purposes and will ultimately improve shareholders value.

I am also pleased to mention that some of our subsidiary companies undertook successful rights issues during the financial year.”

Speaking on the outlook of the company, Agbor noted that the 2018 year is a transitional year, in which the board will begin to tackle the root causes

A S AT 1 2 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 8

of the company’s historical declining performance and implement initiatives to drive future profitable growth.

“Specific area of focus will be on capital allocation and portfolio composition, human capital, operating company strategy and most importantly, reinforcing a group-wide culture of accountability and responsibility.

˜ ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

44

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report: Friday, June 22, 2018

d,/^ z &Z/Es ^d ϰϬ KEd/Eh dK KhdW Z&KZD E^ ^/ Θ E^ ϯϬ /E y

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ Ă LJĞĂƌ 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 Ɛ Ăƚ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ͕ ϮϭƐƚ ŽĨ :ƵŶĞ ϮϬϭϴ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϲϮй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ůŽǁĞƌ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϱϴϵ͘Ϭϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚƐ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ϯ͘Ϭй͘ dŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƐƵƌƉĂƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ Ͳ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ͲϬ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ϯϬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ͳ Ϭ͘ϵй͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;Ͳϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ E/d, ;Ͳϭ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ϯϵ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ zd ZĞƚƵƌŶ dƵƌŶƐ EĞŐĂƟǀĞ ĂƐ ĞĂƌƐ ŽŵŝŶĂƚĞ͙ E^ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘Ϯй dŚĞ ďĞĂƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞ ŝŶ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJΖƐ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ϭ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ϯϴ͕ϭϱϮ͘ϲϬ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚΖƐ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐůŝƉƉĞĚ ďĂĐŬ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ ĂŌĞƌ ƐƚĂLJŝŶŐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ ǁĞĞŬƐ͘ WƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ Ͳ E' D ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ͕ ^ W> d ;Ͳϰ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;Ͳϭ͘ϱйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ĚƌĂŐƐ ƚŽ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJΖƐ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϭϱϴ͘ϬďŶ ŝŶ ǀĂůƵĞ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ Eϭϯ͘ϴƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϳ͘Ϯй ƚŽ Ϯϳϭ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ Eϰ͘ϭďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ & E, ;ϯϳ͘ϯŵͿ͕ &/ >/dz ;Ϯϵ͘ϱŵͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;Ϯϴ͘ϰŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ 'h Z Edz ;Eϭ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E' D ;EϰϵϮ͘ϴŵͿ ĂŶĚ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;Eϰϲϲ͘ϱŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ KŶ ϰͲdƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ZƵŶ dŚĞ ŵŝdžĞĚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƵƌƚŚ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;Ͳ ϰ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ d ZE ;Ͳϭ͘ϰйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž Ϯ͘ϰй ůŽǁĞƌ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐŚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂƉŝĞĐĞ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐŽůĚ Žī ŽŶ 'h Z Edz ;Ͳϭ͘ϱйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ŽŶ Ă ůŽƐŝŶŐ ƐƚƌĞĂŬ ĨŽƌ ϯ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͕ E/d, ;Ͳϭ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ E' D ;Ͳϯ͘ϲйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƌLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ h^dK / E ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ D E^ Z ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ͕ E D ;нϰ͘ϳйͿ͕ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;нϮ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ 'h/EE ^^ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϵdž ;Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϲ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐͿ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘Ϯdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞĐĞĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ : W h>K/> ;нϵ͘ϯйͿ͕ h^dK / E ;нϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E , K ;Ͳϱ͘ϬйͿ͕ ,KEz&>KhZ ;Ͳ ϱ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ EE ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĮǀĞ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ĚĂLJƐ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚĂŬĞ ĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘

¯NjÞŘɚsǣǼ ǢsOȖNjÞǼÞsǣ ĵÞŎÞǼs_ ʹNJN ˥˟ˢ ˢˠˤʺ ʹ ^s ĶÞض ōsŎEsNj Ÿ¯ ǼÌs ŗÞ¶sNjÞ Ř ǢǼŸOĨ rɮOÌ Ř¶sʺ

Current Price

Ticker

Price Previous Current Price Change Price Weightin Change Index to Change g YTD Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,589.06

-0.62%

3.0%

58.9%

19.4%

7.0%

7.6x

0.9x

5.2%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.05

-1.5%

20.4%

-1.7%

-1.2%

32.6%

5.2%

6.5x

2.3x

6.7%

10.8% 15.4%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

25.70

-1.2%

12.7%

0.2%

-0.9%

26.3%

3.6%

4.3x

1.1x

10.5%

23.3%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

112.00

2.8%

7.3%

-17.0%

-17.1%

17.4%

n

28.1x

4.7x

3.7%

3.6%

1,495.00

0.0%

7.5%

-3.9%

-3.9%

73.3%

18.9%

34.9x

22.2x

2.8%

2.9%

230.30

-3.6%

6.0%

0.1%

0.1%

22.7%

12.0%

19.9x

4.6x

4.6%

5.0%

10.60

-0.9%

6.5%

20.5%

20.6%

6.7%

0.8%

7.6x

0.6x

2.4%

13.1%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

7

Access Bank PLC

10.40

1.0%

4.4%

-0.5%

-1.9%

12.7%

1.5%

5.1x

0.7x

6.3%

19.5%

United Bank for Africa PLC

10.70

-0.5%

4.4%

3.9%

2.8%

15.9%

1.9%

4.7x

0.8x

7.9%

21.1%

8

20.20

0.0%

3.8%

18.8%

24.2%

12.9%

1.0%

6.7x

0.9x

685.00

-4.5%

3.3%

9.4%

9.4%

22.3%

13.2%

3.5x

0.7x

2.6%

28.3%

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

48.75

-0.5%

3.3%

17.5%

19.2%

30.8%

4.1%

9.2x

2.5x

1.0%

10.8%

0.0%

3.5%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

11

14.9%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

53.00

3.2%

29.3%

31.8%

19.2%

8.0%

28.4x

3.9x

1.0%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

97.50

0.5%

2.3%

3.7%

3.7%

15.4%

6.1%

18.6x

2.5x

0.7%

5.4%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

40.00

2.6%

1.4%

-10.9%

-10.9%

-36.8%

-7.7%

2.2x

3.8%

-15.4%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.28

4.6%

1.1%

-7.3%

-11.6%

10.4%

1.4%

1.8x

0.4x

4.8%

16

Oando PLC

6.65

-1.5%

1.4%

11.0%

11.0%

10.3%

1.5%

8.3x

0.5x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

19.00

-2.1%

1.1%

-5.0%

-6.7%

45.0%

20.0%

5.7x

2.1x

13.1%

17.7%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

90.20

0.0%

1.4%

33.3%

33.3%

39.7%

29.4%

9.0x

3.1x

3.3%

11.1%

19

International Brew eries PLC

44.00

0.0%

0.6%

-19.3%

-20.0%

24.6%

7.4%

46.1x

10.5x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

31.40

0.2%

0.7%

8.3%

8.3%

13.1%

3.0%

6.6x

0.8x

2.9%

15.2%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

10.9%

0.7%

0.6%

2.7%

1.4%

11.2%

2.5%

9.2x

0.9x

1.3%

-1.4%

0.5%

-14.8%

-14.8%

1.5%

0.6%

23.4x

0.6x

4.5%

-1.9%

0.5%

2.0%

-2.5%

-5.8%

-0.7%

-15.9%

-15.9%

25.0%

5.3%

9.3x

2.2x

8.5%

10.7%

44.3%

5.8%

0.9%

4.4x

0.3x

4.4%

23.0%

4.4%

15.2%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.53

24

Total Nigeria PLC FCMB Group Plc

2.2%

1.50 14.40

25

55.8% 12.1%

193.30

0.0%

0.4%

2.28

4.1%

0.7%

183.00

0.0%

0.2x

4.3% -47.8%

26

11 PLC

0.5%

-6.0%

-6.0%

38.8%

15.7%

6.6x

2.2x

27

Forte Oil PLC

35.80

0.0%

0.4%

-17.7%

-14.8%

17.6%

1.6%

19.3x

3.0x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

19.95

-3.9%

0.4%

-3.2%

-5.7%

10.7%

5.0%

18.9x

1.9x

2.5%

5.3%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

13.00

0.0%

0.3%

-17.0%

-16.7%

2.0%

0.8%

60.7x

2.1x

1.2%

1.6%

30

Presco PLC

73.50

2.1%

0.4%

7.3%

7.3%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

0.9x

2.7%

32.8%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

22.75

0.0%

0.4%

23.0%

18.4%

52.3%

19.7%

10.7x

4.8x

6.6%

9.3%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.90

3.5%

0.2%

-24.4%

-21.4%

27.50

0.0%

0.3%

-1.8%

-1.8%

17.3%

1.8%

7.6x

1.2x

3.6%

13.1%

1.38

1.5%

0.3%

27.8%

22.1%

10.7%

1.0%

4.1x

0.4x

1.4%

24.2%

5.3%

1.1%

8.5x

5.2%

0.6x

11.8%

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

35

Sterling Bank PLC

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

10.50

1.0%

0.2%

-13.6%

-13.6%

1.3x

1.9%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.20

0.0%

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

5.9%

5.8%

39

Beta Glass PLC

86.30

0.0%

0.2%

68.2%

68.2%

17.7%

11.5%

10.5x

1.7x

1.3%

9.5%

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 i n e r s T ic k er J A P A ULOIL

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

0.47

9.3%

C UST OD IA N

5.26

5.0%

M A N SA R D

2.78

4.9%

N EM

2.90

4.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.28

4.6%

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

FB NH

37.3

-0.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

29.5

4.6%

GUA R A N T Y

28.4

-1 .5%

ST ER LN B A N K

1 8.1

1 .5%

P R EST IGE

1 7.0

0.0% 0.7%

FCM B

2.28

4.1%

T R A N SC OR P

1 5.0

SOVR EN IN S

0.29

3.6%

A C C ESS

1 2.3

1 .0%

UB N

5.90

3.5%

C ILEA SIN G

9.2

0.0%

H M A R KIN S

0.30

3.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

8.3

-1 .2%

M B EN EF IT

0.35

2.9%

SKYEB A N K

7.4

-4.1 %

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

NA HCO

3.99

-5.0%

H ON YF LOUR

2.28

-5.0%

CCNN

T ic k er

Value

GUA R A N T Y

1 1 46.0

P ric e C hg % -1 .5%

D A N GC EM

492.8

-3.6%

NB

466.5

2.8%

FB NH

394.9

-0.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

212.7

-1 .2%

SEP LA T

1 88.6

-4.5% 2.6%

24.00

-4.8%

685.00

-4.5%

J A IZ B A N K

0.64

-4.5%

EQUIT YA SUR

0.22

-4.3%

SKYEB A N K

0.70

-4.1%

WA P C O

1 52.9

WEM A B A N K

0.71

-4.1%

A C C ESS

1 25.8

1 .0%

PZ

19.95

-3.9%

N EST LE

1 20.3

0.0%

N IGER IN S

0.25

-3.8%

ST A N B IC

98.0

-0.5%

SEP LA T

ÝŘɚsǣǼŎsŘǼ NJsǣs NjOÌ

DNjŸĨsNj ¶s ɴŸ_sĠÞ rEŸ ʿ sEŸ˔ ¯NjÞŘɚsǣǼʳOŸŎ

NJŸEsNjǼ ŷŎŸǼȖŘ_s ʿ NjŸŎŸǼȖŘ_s˔ ¯NjÞŘɚsǣǼʳOŸŎ

DŸĶ ĠÞ ® ĠsŘɴŸ ʿ E¯ ĠsŘɴŸ˔ ¯NjÞŘɚsǣǼʳOŸŎ

rNjŸŘŎŸǣsĶs ʊÞE ʿ s ʊÞE ˔ ¯NjÞŘɚsǣǼʳOŸŎ

45

˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Dangote Sugar Refinery Increases Dividend Payout by 192% to N21bn Goddy Egene In line with its resolve to reward shareholders with improved returns, Dangote Sugar Refinery(DSR) Plc has increased dividend paid for the 2017 by 192 per cent to N21 billion from N7.2 billion in 2016. The dividend is 175 kobo per share, up from 60 kobo per share in 2016 and would be paid from today.

Speaking at the annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lagos yesterday, Chairman of DSR, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

said the company recorded an impressive performance despite the challenging environment.

According to him, revenue rose by 20.4 per cent from N169.72 billion to N204.42 billion in 2017. Profit before tax jumped by 173.3 per cent to N53.6 billion, from N19.61 billion, while profit after tax grew fast by 176 per cent to N39.78 billion as against N14.4 billion in 2016.

“The board has recommended to shareholders for approval, at this meeting,

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

the payment of a final dividend of N15 billion, being 125 kobo for the year ended December 31,2017. The board had earlier approved the payment of an interim dividend of N6 billion, being 50 kobo per share. This brings the total dividends for the year under review to N21 billion,” he said.

Dangote disclosed that the company had invested N121 billion on equipment, land acquisition, compensation to land owners, consultancy and related services in its

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20-June-2018, unless otherwise stated.

backward integration He said despite the major setbacks like flood, community relations issues and most recently clashes between host community and Fulani herdsmen that hampered progress, Savannah Sugar remained the only company producing sugar from own grown sugarcane in the country with over N30 billion spent to date.

“Negotiations with the government and local communities in Kwara and Niger on land acquisition

processes are ongoing, in line with the backward integration sites plan. Project activities will resume in Taraba State when the rain assuages,” he said.

In his comments, the Acting Managing Director/ CEO of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Abdullahi Sule said the company would continue to pursue its target to achieve 1.08 metric tonnes of refined sugar annually in six years and eventually 1.5 million metric tonnes in 10 years.

“Though the business terrain remains very challenging, we remain resilient in the face of the situation and are focused on increasing our market share and customer base as well as the creation of sustainable value for our stakeholders. Our priority in the current year is the achievement of our Sugar for Nigeria Project goals and sustenance of our leadership position by improving efficiency and growing our markets,” the Sule 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 185.28 186.92 4.51% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.62 247.30 6.52% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.13% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 19.51 20.10 6.80% ARM Discovery Fund 412.06 424.49 5.91% ARM Ethical Fund 29.35 30.23 7.41% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.13% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.38% 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 12.78% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.17 8.72% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.15 8.53% 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 1,166.02 1,166.71 7.86% FBN Heritage Fund 148.28 149.56 6.45% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.88% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $112.02 $112.54 1.67% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $118.87 $112.39 1.63% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 177.05 179.75 10.11% 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 1.37 1.40 5.24% Legacy Debt Fund 3.06 3.06 6.17% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.14% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 103.23 104.28 3.29% 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 1.20 1.22 4.32% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,073.06 1,073.06 6.41% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 12.92% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.78 11.85 6.74% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.12% 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 131.27 133.42 1.87% 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 1.59 1.59 7.24% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,388.84 2,408.24 6.49% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.85 186.85 5.89% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.05 1.07 4.95% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 237.51 237.56 7.85% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 185.74 187.74 3.69% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.34% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,928.75 10,064.13 2.68% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.45% 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 1.32 1.33 -1.59% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 5.74% United Capital Equity Fund 0.96 0.98 4.43% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.51% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.42 106.42 3.42% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.15 5.05% 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 N/A N/A N/A Zenith Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 136.09 103.70 51.30

1.01% 2.74% 0.92%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.47 152.80 113.20

12.57 155.98 115.26

2.86% 6.96% 3.59%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Nigeria Infrastructure Debt 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

4.79 9.02 17.96 19.96 146.21

4.83 9.10 18.16 20.16 148.21

1.02% -5.69% 2.82% 1.47% 6.78%

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 ˾ ͰͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

FRIDAY,JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

47

INTERNATIONAL

email:foreigndesk@thisdaylive.com

US Identifies North Korea Missile Test Site It Says Kim Committed to Destroy The missile engine test site that President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had committed to destroy is a major facility in

the western part of the country that has been used for testing engines for long-range missiles, Reuters reported a US official as saying.

Cuba Slightly Loosens Control over State Media Minutes after a plane carrying 113 people crashed on takeoff from Havana airport, Cuban state media filled with minute-by-minute updates, cellphone video from the accident and an interview from the scene with newly named President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

When Tropical Storm Alberto struck the island later in May, causing nearly a dozen deaths, state television broadcast unusually lengthy footage of meetings among ministers coordinating the response.

Cuba forbids independent print or broadcast media, and reports in the state-run press have long consisted mostly of transcriptions of official Communist Party declarations — triumphal reports on industrial production or lavish praise of the country’s leaders. That turgid style appears to be incrementally changing in the wake of Diaz-Canel becoming president in April.

Cuban journalists tell The Associated Press that the Political Bureau of the Communist Party, one of the country’s most powerful

bodies, recently approved a document known as the “New Communication Policy” that is aimed at giving state media more ability to report news like their colleagues do in other countries.

The new policy was approved sometime in the first three months of this year, when Diaz-Canel was vice president and had responsibility for the country’s media and communications policy. It went into effect around the time Diaz-Canel took over on April 19 from Raul Castro, whose 10-year administration released virtually no information about its operations to the Cuban public or international media.

“Cuba changed a while ago in terms of connectivity and access to information,” said David Vasquez, the former director of Cachivache, an online magazine for Cuban millennials.

“Perhaps people don’t have the access we’d all like, but there’s continuous news consumption and it’s just not true that the country is a dark cave, with no light.”

Trump told reporters after their June 12 summit that Kim had pledged to dismantle one of his missile installations, which would be North Korea’s most concrete concession at the landmark meeting in Singapore.

However, the president at the time did not name the site.

A US official identified it on Wednesday as the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, saying North Korea “has used this site to test liquid-propellant engines

by the stage name pronounced “Ex Ex Ex ten-ta-see-YAWN,” was gunned down Monday, bringing a violent end to a brief music career that was marked by controversy and arrests.

Authorities said the rapper was ambushed by two suspects. They did not give a motive in announcing Williams’arrest but had previously said the shooting was an apparent robbery attempt.

XXXTentacion’s attorney, David Bogenschutz, said Tuesday that investigators told him the rapper had

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara was charged Thursday with fraud and breach of trust after a lengthy police probe into allegations she falsely claimed meals worth $100,000, Agence France-Presse reported the justice ministry as saying.

The move represents the latest legal headache for leader Netanyahu and his family, as the authorities investigate the combative premier over allegations of corruption in a string of eye-catching cases.

The justice ministry announced that “the Jerusalem district prosecutor a short time ago filed charges against the prime minister’s wife”.

The ministry said Sara Netanyahu was accused of falsely declaring there

visited a bank shortly before the shooting and possibly withdrew cash to buy a motorcycle at Riva Motorsports in Deerfield Beach.

Williams is charged with first-degree murder without premeditation, a probation violation and for not having a valid driver’s license. He was being held without bond in the Broward County Jail on Thursday.

He was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, according to Broward County prosecutors.

Confusion Reigns over Fate of Detained Migrant Children The fate of hundreds of undocumented children taken from parents remains unclear a day after President Donald Trump moved to roll back his policy, BBC reported.

He ordered on Wednesday that the children be held with their parents, who are jailed on criminal charges of crossing the border illegally.

But under US law, migrant children cannot be detained more than 20 days by immigration officials.

US officials have expressed mixed messages about what

happens next.

Also, The Associated Press reported that immigrant children as young as 14 housed at a juvenile detention centre in Virginia said they were beaten while handcuffed and locked up for long periods in solitary confinement, left nude and shivering in concrete cells.

The abuse claims against the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center near Staunton, Virginia, are detailed in federal court filings that include a halfdozen sworn statements from

CBS News was the first to identify the site, which is the newest of North Korea’s known major missile testing facilities.

Although Trump has hailed the Singapore summit as a success, sceptics have questioned whether he achieved anything, given that Pyongyang, which has rejected unilateral nuclear disarmament, appeared to make no new tangible commitments in a joint written declaration.

Israel PM Netanyahu’s Wife Charged with $100,000 Meal Fraud

Suspect Arrested in Rapper XXXTentacion’s Shooting Death A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with murder days after the killing of rising rap star XXXTentacion, who was fatally shot in his luxury BMW electric car as he left an upscale motorcycle dealership in Florida, according to The Associated Press.

Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach was arrested shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said in a news release sent Thursday morning. Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, 20, who went

for its long-range ballistic missiles.”

Pyongyang has said its missiles can reach the United States.

“Chairman Kim promised that North Korea would destroy a missile engine test stand soon,” the official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate word on the exact timetable, and North Korea has not publicly confirmed that Kim made such a commitment.

Latino teens jailed there for months or years. Multiple detainees say the guards stripped them of their clothes and strapped them to chairs with bags placed over their heads.

“Whenever they used to restrain me and put me in the chair, they would handcuff me,” said a Honduran immigrant who was sent to the facility when he was 15 years old. “Strapped me down all the way, from your feet all the way to your chest, you couldn’t really move. ...

were no cooks available at the prime minister’s official residence and ordering “hundreds of meals from outside caterers at public expense”.

From 2010 to 2013 Netanyahu, her family and guests received “fraudulently from the state hundreds of prepared meals (each including a number of courses) to the value of 359,000 shekels ($99,700)”, the indictment read.

, E' K& E D

I formerly known as '> z^ hE K'hE /z/͕ now wish to be known and addressed as DZ^ '> z^ hE zKD/͘ All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known as DK, DD >ͳ D E ALIYU, now wish to be known and addressed as MUHAMMAD ALIYU MUHAMMAD. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS OKAKA BEAUTY OBEHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKPUZOR BEAUTY OBEHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

48

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Fall of the Family Abdal Hakim Murad/jamiat.org/ themodernreligion

T

here are already signs that women are rebelling against the feminist orthodoxy that demands an absolute parity of function with men, and that “dropping out� to look after a child is less outrageous in the minds of many educated women than the media might suggest. But much real damage has been done. The campaign to turn fathers into nurturers and house-husbands shows little sign of success; and many houses have become more like dormitories than homes.

Mealtimes are desultory, tin-opening affairs; both parents are too exhausted to spend “quality time� with active children; and the sense of belonging to the house and to each other is sadly attenuated. By the time children leave home, they feel they are not leaving very much.

In such a dismal context, dissolution is almost logical. The stress of the two-career family is greater than many normal people can manage. Increased income and (for some) pleasure at work are poor compensations for the increased scope for fatigue and dispute.

Deprived of the woman’s gift for warming a house, both husband and children are made less secure. The overlap in functions provides endless room for argument. And when the dissolution comes, it is almost always the woman who suffers most. As an ageing lone parent, she finds that society has little interest in her. She has joined the new class of “wives of the state�.

The state, luckily, can afford to be a polygamist. The social unravelment of modern Britain has coincided with a massive augmentation of tax revenue. As long as the rate of social collapse does not outstrip the annual growth in GDP there is little for politicians to worry about. And yet the fate of literally millions of single families is a harsh one. The case for traditional single-income families, in which women are permitted to celebrate rather than suppress their nurturing genius, is increasingly looking more moral than the liberals have guessed.

But the feminists are not the only moths to have been gnawing the social fabric. There are others, some of them even more radical.

The most strident are the homosexualists, the curious but always repulsive ideologues who are forcing on the population a dogma whose consequences for the family are already proving lethal.

As with feminism, the theological case against homosexuality is related to our understanding of the “dyadic� nature of creation. Human sexuality is an incarnation of the divinely-willed polarity of the cosmos.

Male and female are complementary principles, and sexuality is their sacramental and fecund reconciliation. Sexual activity between members of the same sex is therefore the most extreme of all possible violations of the natural order. Its biological sterility is the sign of its metaphysical failure to honour the basic duality which God has used as the warp and woof of the world.

It is true, nonetheless, that the homosexual drive remains poorly understood. It appears as the definitive argument against Darwinism’s hypothesis of the systematic elimination over time of anti-reproductive traits. In some cultures it is extremely rare: Wilfred Thesiger records that in the course of his long wanderings with the Arabian bedouins he never encountered the slightest indication of the practice. In other societies, particularly modern urban cultures, it is very widespread. Theories abound as to why this should be so: some researchers speculate that in overpopulated communities the tendency represents Nature’s own technique of population control. Laboratory rats, we are told, will remain resolutely heterosexual until disturbed by bright lights, loud noises, and extreme overcrowding.

Other scientists have speculated about the effects of “hormone pollution� from the thousands of tonnes of estrogen released into the water supply by users of contraceptive pills. Again, this remains without proof.

But what is increasingly suggested by recent research is that homosexual tendencies are not always acquired, and that some individuals are born with them as an identifiable irregularity in the chromosomes.

The implications of this for moral theology are clear: given the Quran’s insistence that human beings are responsible only for

actions they have voluntarily acquired, homosexuality as an innate disposition cannot be a sin.

It does not follow from this, of course, that acting in accordance with such a tendency is justifiable. Similar research has indicated that many human tendencies, including forms of criminal behaviour, are also on occasion traceable to genetic disorders; and yet nobody would conclude that the behaviour was therefore legitimate. Instead, we are learning that just as God has given people differing physical and intellectual gifts, He tests some of us by implanting moral tendencies which we must struggle to overcome as part of our self-reform and discipline. A mental patient with an obsessive desire to set fire to houses has been given a particular hurdle to overcome. A man or woman with strong homosexual urges faces the same challenge.

To the religious believer, it is unarguable that homosexual acts are a metaphysical as well as a moral crime. Heterosexuality, with its association with conception, is the astonishing union which leads to new life, to children, grandchildren, and an endless progeny: it is a door to infinity. Sodomy, by absolute contrast, leads nowhere. As always, the most extreme vice comes about when a virtue is inverted.

None of this is of interest to the secular mind, of course, which detects no meaning in existence and hence cannot imagine why maximum pleasure and gratification should not be the goal of human life. The notion that we are here on earth in order to purify our souls and experience the incomparable bliss of the divine presence is utterly alien to most of our compatriots. And yet there is a purely secular argument against homophilia which we can attempt to deploy.

Homosexualism represents a radical challenge to the institution of marriage.

Its propagandists will not concede the fact, but it attacks the most vital norm of our species, which is the union of male and female for which we are manifestly designed and which is the natural context for the raising of children. In times such as ours, when nature is no longer regarded as authoritative, and lifestyles are in all other respects an abnormal departure from the way in which human beings have lived for countless millennia, society cannot afford to believe that male-female unions are of only relative worth. The more the alternatives proliferate, the less the norm will be seen as sacred. Every victory for the homosexualist lobby is thus a blow struck against that normality without which society cannot survive.

It is in the context of the struggle to protect the family that the campaign against homosexualism becomes most universally accessible. The screaming fanatics who “out� bishops and demand a lowering of the “gay� age of consent are among the most bitter enemies of the fitra, that primordial norm which, for all the diversity of the human race, has consistently expressed itself in marriage as the natural context for the nurturing of the new generation. That which is against the fitra is by definition destructive: it is against humanity and against God. This awareness needs to be reflected in legislation, which for too long has sought to relativise the family as merely one of a range of lifestyle options. Muslims sometimes hold that the collapse of family values in the West will serve the interests of wider humanity. Decadence, they say, is what it has chosen and deserves; and the inevitable implosion of its society will leave the field open for morally-strong Islam to regain its place as the world’s dominant civilisation. The trouble with this theory is that the implosion shows no sign of leading to total collapse. Technology and wealth allow the creation of surveillance and social-security systems which can deal with the growing number of casualties.

There is certainly an irony in a New World Order policed by a state which cannot keep order in Central Park after nightfall. But unless we are foolishly optimistic, or hope for absolute totalitarianism, we cannot but be anxious about social trends in the West.

The survival of the Western family is a question of immediate Muslim concern, and we must offer our views until the time comes when our friends and neighbours, their doctrines broken on the anvil of reality, are humbled enough to listen.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWSXTRA

Shiites Kill Police Officer as El-Zakzaky Arrives Court in Kaduna John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË A policeman was killed yesterday in Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State, following a clash with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites.

Members of the Islamic group had trooped out in large number during the trial of their leader, Shiekh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, at the Kaduna State High Court.

However, armed security personnel prevented the Shiite members, including journalists, from accessing the High Court Complex along Bida road, Kaduna.

The police were said to have been deployed to disperse hundreds of the IMN members, but the situation became violent around Ibrahim Taiwo Road as the Shiite members started throwing stones and other objects at the policemen who were firing teargas at them.

The deceased policeman, according to the spokesman of the Kaduna State police command, Aliyu Mukhtar, was hit with several stones by the Shiite members.

“It was a large crowd, the

Shiite members as usual were hiding in the midst of people and when our men were trying to disperse them, they started throwing stones at them.

“The policeman was hit with stones several times and he fell down. He was taken to the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital where he died,” Mukhtar said.

He disclosed that 11 of the Shiite members were arrested while the situation had been brought under control.

There was tight security around the court complex as heavily armed security personnel blocked all the major roads around the area.

Journalists who trooped to the court premises to cover the case were turned back by the gun trotting security personnel stationed at strategic places.

Even lawyers were thoroughly searched before they were allowed into the premises of the court complex.

The busy Independence Way, was blocked from the Police College roundabout up to Warf Road junction and motorists had to divert to alternative routes.

Motorists coming from Tafawa Balewa way through the College of Business and Management

Studies of Kaduna Polytechnic were also prevented from accessing Independence way.

Also from Bida road, where the court complex is located, through Yakubu Gowon was also blocked making it difficult for people to access their offices.

The blocking of the road caused serious traffic gridlock as many commuters were literally stuck.

Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since December 2015 when his members clashed with officers of the Nigerian Army in Zaria leading to the death of over 300 of his followers.

He is facing charges of unlawful gathering, criminal

conspiracy and culpable homicide.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the adjournment of the case, counsel to the Shiite leader, Femi Falana (SAN) said the court did not sit.

He urged journalists to insist on being part of the trial as it is a public trial.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you also have a duty to insist on being part of this trial because it is a public trial. It is your right to cover the proceedings” he said.

Falana said: “What happened in court today is that the court did not sit. We were informed by the Registrar of the court that his lordship, Justice Gideon

Kurada is indisposed.

“In the circumstance, we have to take a date, the prosecution and defense counsel have agreed to come back on July 11 to have possibly the arraignment and file an application for bail for our client.

“So that is where we are. We don’t know the reason the Judge is not in court but we were told he was indisposed.”

On the charges against his client, he said: “We are prepared to challenge the charges because as of today, the Nigerian State has been ordered to release our client since December 2, 2016.

They are still being held.

“It is the height of contempt and to compound the contempt,

the government has brought them to court for offences they know nothing about.

“They are charging them with all manners of offences and since those charges have not been read in court. We don’t know whether they are going to change their mind, but as far as we are concerned, we are demanding for justice for our client and for their release and provision of housing for them all to be obeyed before any further step is taken because the rule of law cannot be cowed as its been done.

“They are being detained incommunicado but as their lawyers, we can see them.”

FG Launches Second National Health Plan Health minister, Emir of Kano, Ganduje inaugurate TB Mobile detection facility Paul Obi ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government yesterday launched the second National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) to deepen healthcare service delivery in the country.

The new NSHDP was initiated after the first plan came to an end in 2015 after a five-year period.

Lauching the new plan at the ongoing National Council on Health summit (NCH) in Kano State, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, explained that the five-year plan would help to foster efficient healthcare services across the country.

Adewole said: “I am glad to inform you that the long awaited Second National Strategic Health Development Plan is now ready. Nigeria now has another well-articulated and robust plan, which is the product of vigorous and extensive work by government and all our stakeholders.”

He added that in view of the significance of the NHDP II in the realisation of government’s goal of increasing access, improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage remain strategic in the provision of adequate healthcare around the country.

Also, the government gave official approval for the establishment of traditional and alternative medicine department in the Federal Ministry of Health.

The approval for the establishment of the department, which was given by the Office of the Head of Service (HOS), will for the first time give official

recognition to traditional African medicine in the country.

Adewole informed the council that “the new department will provide leadership in an effort to give prominence to traditional medicine in Nigeria.

According to him, “We encourage the Commissioners to follow through and facilitate the establishment of Department of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine at the state level.”

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Enahire, and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Clement Uwaifo, also made presentations on Universal Health Care (UHC) and health care management.

In another development, the minister alongside the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, and the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, inaugurated TB mobile detection facility in Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital Kano, Kano State.

They also launched Access to Care for Enrollee of Kano State Contributory Health Scheme (KSCHS), Free Breast Cancer Screening Programme for 1,000 women as well as distribution of laptops and internet modems to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Officers in the State.

Speaking about the projects, the minister said: “People like you make my work easy, while some called on me to help them but the message from your governor is ‘come and see what we are doing’.”

He added that the “Wellness on Wheels (WoW) programme on TB was aimed at providing diagnostic facility and treatment to tuberculosis patients at their

STATE VISIT

L-R: Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; his host and Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike; and Director General, Abubakar Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation and former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, during Atiku’s visit to Rivers State to celebrate third year of Wike in office, in Port Hacourt...yesterday

Four Killed in Fresh Attack on Plateau Community CAN raises the alarm over emergence of new deadly sect in Jos Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ Four persons have been killed in Kai village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Confirming the killings, the state police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Terna Tyopev in a statement made available to journalists in Jos, said one Maren Mahan of Kai village reported at the Barkin Ladi Police that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the house of his elder brother, one Dauda Mahan of the same address, shot and killed him and also killed Mangai Agowm, 46, Christian Mangai aged 15, and John Mangai, 10.

The statement added: “On receipt of this information, a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Barkin Ladi Division visited the scene of crime for an onthe-spot assessment. The bodies were recovered to the General Hospital, Barkin Ladi, where they were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty and

the corpses deposited in the hospital’s mortuary.”

The fresh killings came as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state yesterday called on government at all levels, security operatives, elders, and stakeholders in Jos and environs to intensify efforts to ensure that Sara Suka, a deadly sect breeding in Jos, is flushed out, and members apprehended.

The state Chairman of CAN, Soja Bewarang, in a statement made available to journalists in Jos read: “It is with strong dismay that CAN in Plateau State received the shocking news of attacks on motorists, pedestrians and vehicles by a gang called Sara-Suka in Jos North June 18, 2018, at a time the state is enjoying the remaining Eid-el Fitr holiday declared by the federal government to enable Muslims in Nigeria celebrate the end of Ramadan.”

While commiserating with those who sustained injuries in the attack, and those whose vehicles were smashed, CAN

noted that the Nigerian Police has comprehended 33 members of the gang.

He said: “CAN is seriously concerned that the so much efforts being deployed by the Plateau State Government for the restoration of peace in the state, could be further jeopardized if thugs are raised and allowed to be bred in the form of Sara-Suka.

“We knew Sara-Suka to be a group of political thugs raised and bred in Bauchi State by a previous administration in that state for the purpose of winning elections, and has caused a great havoc to the state before its disbandment.

We later heard that the group resurfaced in Jos, Plateau State capital. And having been dealt with by the security, we thought it was gone, but we were proven wrong by its recent nefarious activities exhibited on Monday.

“We are calling on the state government, elders and stakeholders in Jos and its environs to intensify efforts to ensure that all members of the group are apprehended

to stop it from spreading to other parts of the metropolis especially now that we are drawing closer to 2019 general elections, in order not to allow anyone disenfranchise the citizen from exercising their civil rights of voting people of their choice, plunge the state in needless bloodbath and wanton destruction of properties and the return of the callous mutual distrust and religious bad blood which had bedeviled the state for long.

“We are also calling on the politicians to play clean politics and to avoid raising thugs to terrorise the citizens as a means of winning elections.”

Also condemning the recent skirmish in Bassa Local Government between farmers and herders, “We appeal to the state government to redouble its efforts in restoring peace in Bassa by setting up a panel of inquiry to look deeply into the recurring problems leading to crises in some parts of the local government.”

50

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Budget Cut: N’Assembly Committed Crimes against Humanity, Says SERAP Ejiofor Alike The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused the National Assembly of “apparently engaging in crimes against humanity and Nigerians by unilaterally cutting funding for critical

projects such as health, water, education, housing and security, and replacing such projects with their own personal projects totalling 6,403 projects and amounting to N578 billion.”

SERAP’s Deputy Director, Mr. Timothy Adewale alleged in a statement yesterday that

Macarthur Provides $6.5m to Fight Corruption in Nigeria Martins Ifijeh The John and Catherine MacArthur Foundation has stated that it will provide a grant of $6.5 million for the advancement of anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria.

The fund is part of the foundation’s support in reducing corruption by building an atmosphere of accountability, transparency, and good governance in the country.

In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, the Director of MacArthur Nigeria, Kole Shettima, said the grant supports non-profit organisations to inform and empower communities in the fight against corruption and to promote anti-corruption as a national priority in advance of the 2019 presidential and assembly elections.

“These awards build on decades of the foundation’s support for projects to enhance credibility, integrity, monitoring, and security around past elections. They continue our recent support for organisations working to capitalise on the national momentum and increased political will to tackle corruption, with projects ranging from monitoring and transparency measures around the political process to public education about the costs of corruption. Nigeria has begun an important process of addressing the corruption that plagues it on so many levels. It is more important now than ever to keep anti-corruption work front and center on the national agenda, and to empower people and communities with the information and platforms they need to advocate for themselves

and fight for the issues that impact their daily lives,” the statement explained.

He noted that organisations the grant will support include; Accountability Research Centre, which will partner with the Centre for Democracy and Development in Nigeria (CDDN) to assess the success of approaches and strategies to strengthen accountability around the world and in Nigeria;Centre for Information Technology and Development, which will support efforts by civil society organisations to provide platforms and forums for social discourse around accountability and anti-corruption in advance of the 2019 elections; and the Chatham House award, which is to research the efficacy of behavioral change strategies to reduce corruption and promote accountability in Nigeria.

“Other areas covered by the grant are Legal Defence and Assistance Project, which will support efforts by six states to fully implement 15 core elements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act that improves criminal investigation and prosecution efforts in corruption cases; Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, which will support efforts by civil society organisations to galvanise public and political debates on accountability and to keep anti-corruption as an important national issue in advance of the 2019 elections; and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, which will support regional organisations to galvanise public and political debates on accountability and highlight anti-corruption as a broad national issue in advance of the 2019 election.”

PDP: BUHARI, APC JITTERY OVER LOOMING IMPLOSION scheduled, as Nigerians will never be cowed into allowing them to stay a day beyond May 29, 2019, no matter the intimidation, threats and harassment,” he added.

The party has also asked the federal government to exercise caution over its plan to establish cattle ranches in some parts of the country.

The party said the situation has already generated discordant tunes and acrimony among major stakeholders, groups and states across the country, particularly relating to issues of funding and land ownership.

In a separate statement issued by Ologbondiyan, the party said it was particularly

worried by the lack of adequate consultations by the federal government resulting in the disagreements that have trailed the plan, especially along ethnic divides.

“The party calls on the federal government to get its acts together and follow all due processes, as stipulated by the laws and 1999 constitution (as amended) regarding this issue, in order to eliminate the current disagreements being generated,” it said.

PDP noted that the country has witnessed enough disagreements, violence and bloodletting, as such all measures must be put in place to avert fresh crisis.

the lawmakers cut funding for over 4,000 critical projects amounting to N347 billion.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami to open discussions with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to establish whether substantial grounds and the requisite elements exist to warrant the intervention of the prosecutor in this case.

Adewale noted that under the Rome Statute, the prosecutor has power to intervene in a situation under the jurisdiction of the court if a state party, such as Nigeria, refers a situation to the court.

According to him, indicting individual lawmakers suspected to be most responsible for the reduction of funding for critical projects

would provide a much-needed measure of accountability for leaders who have traditionally acted with impunity.

“Cutting funding for essential public services such as health, education and security constitutes a serious human rights violation and potentially rises to the level of crimes against humanity against the Nigerian people,” he said.

“The deliberate and systematic acts of alleged budget padding and cutting of funding by the lawmakers, coupled with the widespread negative consequences of such acts for millions of Nigerians point to not only allegations of corruption but also crimes against humanity, that is, deliberately withholding access of Nigerians to essential and life-saving public services, which is triable at the International

Criminal Court,” Adewale explained.

He also stated that apart from pursuing a possible crime against humanity prosecution before the ICC, President Buhari should also enforce the judgment delivered last month by Justice Mohammed Idris in suit no: FHC/L/CS/1821/2017 ordering the president to ask anti-corruption agencies to forward to him reports of their investigations into allegations of padding and stealing of some N481 billion from the 2016 budget, and to ensure prosecution of suspects.

According to Adewale, it is the failure to decisively address allegations of padding of the 2016 budget that has allowed the practice to continue with almost absolute impunity.

“Crimes against humanity

invoke criminal responsibility.

Although the authorities bear the responsibility for violations of the rights to health, water, education and security, it is possible to hold individuals responsible for massive and grave violations of these human rights through the operation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to which Nigeria is a state party. Nigeria deposited its instrument of ratification on September 27, 2001,” he added.

“Crimes against humanity in article 7 of the Rome Statute are committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack. Crimes against humanity are also committed as “other inhumane acts of similar character intentionally causing great suffering, as described in article 7(1) (k) of the Rome Statute,” Adewale said.

RAISING CONCERNS FOR SICKLE CELL

L-R: Commercial Manager, West Africa, Reform Progressives Sports Media and Father of A Sickle Cell Patient, Mr. Seun Methowe; Vice President, Cerebre Digital Limited, Mr. Wale Ekundayo; Senior Consultant, Artemis Hospital India, Dr. Gaurau Kharaya; and Managing Director, Consultant Poediotrician/GP, Paelon Memorial Hospital, Dr. Ngozi Onyia, after a media briefing on the World Sickle Cell Day, by Paelon Memorial Hospital, in Lagos...yesterday

FG Mulls Implementation of Auto Policy Obinna Chima The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, yesterday, said the federal government is finalising the auto policy and would soon commence its implementation.

According to him, the policy will also be signed into law.

Enelamah said this in his keynote address he delivered at the seventh German-Nigerian Business Forum in Lagos.

He said the federal government had been reviewing the policy to ensure its effective implementation.

For close to four years now, there has been no pronouncement by the federal government on the automotive policy which was introduced in 2013 by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The policy was to encourage auto firms to set up their plants in Nigeria.

But Enelamah, who was responding to a question at the forum, explained: “We are doing a lot in the auto sector.

What we are doing is firstly, trying to make sure that the auto policy which had been worked on previously before this administration is finalised and signed into law.

“We are also working on the various dimensions with respect to the value chain.

For instance, we are setting up auto parks with increased local contents across the country.

“Also, we are working with a number of financial institutions to work out auto financing in Nigeria, which is a problem that has been solved by other countries.

“Finally, we are working

with local stakeholders who are also there to understand where they are and what they need to improve.”

“In services, we are looking for partners. 50 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is services. We are also looking for partners in the productive, innovative and creative sectors,” he added.

Commenting on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) that the federal government declined signing about three months ago, the minister who described the agreement as landmark for the continent, said Nigeria would sign after its ongoing consultation with stakeholders.

“The CFTA represents Africa’s ambition and vision to improve intra-African trade and it is a vision that is shared

by most African leaders, if not all, including Nigeria.

“Having said that, I want to point out that in trying to address the question of the enabling conditions that would make the agreement to be successful, President Muhammadu Buhari said we should hear from the stakeholders and understand the conditions around the agreement.

“That is why we have been consulting and I am glad that those consultations have been going on in the last six weeks and we have gotten a lot of useful information,” he said.

“I believe that ultimately, we would support the agreement. We are not opposed to the agreement as a country, it is just that we just want to do it well, and in a way where we would lead by example,” he added.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

51

NEWSXTRA

FG Inaugurates Aid Working Group to Plug Funding Gap Ndubuisi Francis ÓØ ÌßÔË The Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has inaugurated the Technical Working Group for the Nigeria Aid Transition Plan (TWGNATIP), with a mandate to develop a comprehensive strategy for addressing the funding gap that may arise with the scaling down of development partner funding to Nigeria.

The minister, according to a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Akpandem James, said the initiative was in line with the resolve of the current administration to drive effective planning as the bedrock of its developmental strategy and be pro-active in the face of emerging challenges.

He drew attention to the fact that the country’s relationship with international development partners is evolving because of the graduation of Nigeria to a

Tension as Soldier Kills Fulani Boy in Ondo James Sowole ÓØ ÕßÜÏ Tension has gripped AjowaAkoko community in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the alleged killing of a 13-year-old Fulani boy, Usman Adamu, by a soldier on Wednesday.

Also, one other Fulani man, Abdulahi Kayejo, was injured as a result of the gunshot fired by soldiers from a checking point close to the community.

The incident had forced many residents of the agrarian community to abandon their homes for fear of attack by the kinsmen of victims.

There were three accounts of the incident given separately by the police, the Nigerian Army authorities and the community.

A source in the community said the incident occurred when an argument ensued between the soldiers and some Fulani men.

The source said the argument broke out when the Fulani men were engaging in acrobatic display near the checking point, which did not go down well with the soldiers who ordered them to leave the area.

It was gathered that a soldier beat the Fulani man who also retaliated and this subsequently resulted in firing of gunshots.

One of the gunshots was said to have hit the 13-year- old boy who was returning from school.

The army authorities’ account, which was given by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations at the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barack, Akure, Major Ojo Adelegan, said the gunshots were fired as self-defence when the soldiers were attacked by the Fulani men.

Adelegan said the soldiers went to the Ajowa town following a report that some strange Fulani men just arrived the town.

He said the soldiers were attacked when they got to the town and this made them to defend themselves.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said the command had started investigation into the incident.

He said the preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was sequel to a disagreement between one Fulani man and another one named Adamu Kai, 52.

Joseph said when the crisis ensued between the two men, Kai went to the military checking point and invited a soldier to deal with the other man.

The PPRO said the police have arrested Kai just as the injured person was being treated.

Joseph said the police had begun full investigation into the matter to ascertain the person that fired the shot that hit the two persons.

middle-income country, with the implication of the country being at risk of losing access to some concessionary funding windows.

“The funding gap created by the withdrawal of donor funding to critical programmes of government would therefore require additional government expenditure to cover the shortfall. In view of the potential fiscal and other implications of these changes, including larger debt burden to ensure sustainable development in Nigeria, it is important for us to seek an orderly aid transition,” he explained.

While appreciating the significant amounts development partners have been contributing every year to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, the minister said Nigeria has to be proactive and plan for how to cover the funding gap that might

result following the evolving development.

He commended the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the government involved for the work already being carried out to ensure effective management of development assistant programmes in Nigeria, and charged the TWG to consolidate on the efforts and develop a comprehensive strategy for addressing the challenge of aid scaling down in Nigeria.

Among others, the strategy must recognise efforts already being made by MDAs as well as carry out critical review where there is none; including reviewing all development partners’ funding arrangements and recommending a credible and realistic path towards ensuring a smooth graduation from those under transition, the minister added.

He stated that the strategy

would serve a dual purpose with the inclusion of a credible decision framework for mainstreaming affected programmes into the budget, adding that “it would also serve as a medium to make a case for delay in aid transition where feasible.”

The TWG-NATP, which is chaired by the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, will report to the minister and be responsible for the various tasks related to the development of the transition plan.

The mandates include “documenting an overview of the development partner network in Nigeria; identifying all development partner-assisted programmes with focus on key sectors such as education, health, social development and agriculture “Also, prepare an analysis of the potential impact of

the withdrawal of critical development partner funding on socioeconomic outcomes and fiscal indicators.

“Make a case for delayed transition from development partner programmes utilising the analysis in (b) and other compelling information; and prepare an Aid Transition Plan for Nigeria.”

Members of the TWG are drawn from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Debt Management Office (DMO).

The minister stressed that to accomplish the objectives of NATP, each member must act as a representative of their respective MDA and participate in the relevant activities designed to achieve the objectives of the plan.

CONDOLENCE VISIT

L-R: Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Frances Esohe Ikponmwen; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Wife of the late Justice Timothy Oboh, Bridget; her son, Osabohien; and others, during a condolence visit by the governor and members of the State Executive Council, to the family of the late judge in Benin City...yesterday

NBTI Workers Commence Foreign Minister, Onyeama, Nnamani Endorse Three-day Warning Strike Oshiomhole, Onyemuche Adedayo Akinwale ÓØ ÌßÔË The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI) yesterday commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the re-appointment of the Director General of the Board, Mohammed Jibrin.

The NBTI branch Chairman of ASURI, Mr. Adolphus Ugwu, while addressing journalists in Abuja during the protest to commence the strike, stated categorically that the workers are opposed to the re-appointment of Jibrin due to his poor performance at the agency in his first four years.

According to him, “Having reviewed the performance of the DG/CEO during his first tenure, it is clear that he performed abysmally below expectation, and therefore, deserves no re-appointment for a second tenure. What is the basis for re-appointing somebody who

has performed poorly in his first tenure to superintend over a people who have passed a vote of no confidence on him?”

He explained that the agency whose mandate is to provide an integrated support programme designed to assist budding entrepreneurs in the development of new technologybased firms in Nigeria has lost focus and direction due to mismanagement of the DG Ugwu noted that should the government fail to reverse its decision to re-appoint the DG at the expiration of their warning strike, the workers would not hesitate to take further actions to ensure that their demands are met.

He stressed that the once revered agency was grossly mismanaged by the DG, leading to complete collapse of infrastructure and working materials, stressing that there was no capacity building for staff for over four years.

Christopher Isiguzo ÓØ ØßÑß

Governor of Imo State, Commodore James Aneke Ahead of tomorrow’s National (rtd), and Maj. General Chris Convention of the All Eze (rtd), current Nigeria Progressives Congress (APC), Ambassador to India, and Maj notable party leaders, including Gen. Sunday Ugwu (rtd) have the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. all declared support for the duo.

Geoffrey Onyeama, and former Checks revealed that former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Chimaraoke Nnamani, have and former Governor of old thrown their weight behind the Anambra State, Senator Jim candidacy of former Edo State Nwobodo, may be having soft Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, spot for both Oshiomhole and for national chairmanship the former SSG, but for his position.

(Nnamani’s) membership of They also endorsed former the party’s National Convention Secretary to Enugu State Committee and Nwobodo’s Government, Chief Onyemuche decision to play an elderNnamani, for the National statesman role.

Vice Chairmanship position, The leaders who spoke in Southeast.

Enugu described Oshiomhole Other prominent party leaders and Onyemuche as a great pair who have also expressed support that would lead the party to for the duo are the Senior Special victory in the coming elections Assistant to the President on in view of their wealth of Judicial Reform, Mrs. Juliet experience and grassroots Ibekaku, and the Woman Leader support they enjoy. of the APC in Enugu State, Mrs. “While Oshiomhole, a tested Queen Nwankwo. and trusted administrator, will Also, a former Military effectively take charge at the

centre, Onyemuche, a wellknown grassroots politician, will mobilise support for the APC candidates beginning from President Muhammadu Buhari down the line especially in the South-east zone.

“We are unanimous in insisting that the NWC members from the South-east zone should be dropped for poor performance in view of the very poor election result of less than four per cent they garnered for the president at the last presidential election. The need for a change is imperative if we are to get better results.

“2019 is a different ball game and we need the best hands to mobilise the entire Southeast and get the zone back to the mainstream,” one of the leaders said when contacted on phone.

On the former Senate President, Nnamani, and Nwobodo, indications that they had shifted their support to the former SSG manifested during the inauguration of a factional state exco of the party last week as their

nominee to the executive, Chima Ude, was abruptly dropped as state Organising Secretary.

The factional Chairman, Ben Nwoye, told the audience that “we had agreed that Emma Eneukwu will return as National Vice Chairman but as it stands, the former Senate President has shifted his support to Onyemuche.”

A group of stakeholders and kinsmen of the party’s outgoing National Vice Chairman, Southeast, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, had also last week endorsed the former Secretary to Enugu State Government, Onyemuche, to replace their kinsman.

The APC stakeholders unitedly under the platform of Enugu West Peoples Assembly (EWPA) also backed Oshiomhole for the party’s national chairmanship position.

The leader of the group, Ogbuefi Okey Obasi-Orji, said the zone was disenchanted with Eneukwu’s performance in the last four years, hence their decision to seek a replacement.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

52

NEWSXTRA

Appeal Court Stays Execution of High Court Order on Rivers APC Congresses Ernest Chinwo ÓØ ÙÜÞ ËÜÍÙßÜÞ The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered a stay of execution on the order of the Rivers State High Court which nullified the Ward, Local

Government and State congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The APC had approached the Court of Appeal seeking for amongst others an order of stay of execution on the High

Allowances: Ex-N’Delta Militants Storm National Assembly Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË

Scores of Niger Delta ex- militants granted amnesty in 2011 by the federal government stormed the premises of the National Assembly yesterday to protest the alleged non -payment of their allowances.

The protesters who described themselves as shortchanged members of Berebeghan Group of the Presidential Amnesty Programme accused their leader (name withheld) of diverting monthly allowances meant for them into his private pocket.

The ex-militants in a statement signed on their behalf by Arerebo Napoleon, Evah Joshua and Erekake Clerk, said instead of being rehabilitated after surrendering their ammunitions in 2011, they have been wallowing in abject poverty due to diversion of their survival allowances and denial of any vocational /formal educational training.

They consequently called on relevant authorities to stop payment of their N65,000 monthly stipend through their leader and requested that vocational trainings should henceforth be extended to them.

The statement dated June

21, 2018 and addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives read in part: “ ...Instead of being rehabilitated , we are rather wallowing in abject poverty , the reason is because our leader, decided to divert our monthly stipend for his personal use .

“The federal government stipulated that each member of the presidential amnesty programme is entitled to N65,000 monthly stipend which must be paid directly into beneficiaries account and either vocational or formal education be given to us accordingly.

“But our leader deceived us into opening accounts with EcoBank PLC where he has an insider collaborator cutting our monies to N30,000 or N20,000 on monthly basis and even some denied any payment ever since.”

The protesters in their demands want such payments to be made into their other bank accounts directly, while authentic vocational training/ formal education should be given to them and severance of any further dealings with their leader.

Court order obtained by aggrieved members of the party on May 30, 2018.

Ruling on the matter, Hon. Justices, Isaiah Akeju, Ifeoma Jombo-Offo and Bitrus Sanga, unanimously dismissed all five applications filed by the aggrieved members of the APC. However counsel to the parties differed in their interpretation of the Appeal Court ruling.

Addressing journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the APC, Tunduru Ede, said with the ruling, non-statutory delegates of the party are free to participate in the party’s national convention scheduled to hold on Saturday, June 23.

Ede said, “You all heard clearly what the Court of Appeal said.

The respondents opposed the

appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress; the Court of Appeal said no, the appeal should be entered. They said the appeal should be dismissed but the Court said no and struck out all their applications.

“We applied that the order made by the trial Court should be stayed and should not be executed and the Court agreed. You are all well aware of the orders the Court made. These are very clear issues. The Court directed us to file our briefs in accordance to the rules of the Court of Appeal.

“The APC delegates are to go to Abuja for the convention.

Speaking strictly as a counsel in this matter, all the applications of APC before this Court succeeded.

But on his part, counsel to the aggrieved APC members, Henry

Bello, disagreed with Ede, insisting that despite the ruling of Court of Appeal, only statutory delegates of the party would participate in the convention in line with the ruling of the State High Court on May 30.

Bello said, “The genesis of this matter is an order made by the High Court of Rivers State on the May 11, 2018 after some miscreants had tried to overwhelm the Court. But to the glory of God, the law enforcement agencies were able to restore sanity and the Court was able to sit on that day and delivered an Order asking the APC not to conduct further congresses based on the congress of May 5.

“The party now appealed against that Order. Now what we did here today was ruling

concerning five applications that were moved before this honourable court on Tuesday, June, 19, 2018. The first was a preliminary objection, the Court refused it; the second was a preliminary objection and the Court also refused it.

“The Court stayed execution of the ruling of the lower Court, but the Court did not stay proceedings.

What it means therefore is that proceedings will continue before the High Court of Rivers State.

The matter is adjourned to June 26 2018, in the High Court of Rivers State.

“It is also important to mention that the lower Court had made an Order on 30th of May, 2018, setting aside the congresses conducted on May 19, 20 and 21.

President Buhari Sympathises ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCES with Victims of Windstorm, Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (middle), condoling with his Adamawa State counterpart, Muhammad Bindow Jibrilla (right) over the death of his Chief of Staff during a meeting of governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Imo Governor’s Lodge Asokoro Inferno in Bauchi Abuja. With them is the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (left)

Segun Awofadeji ÓØ ËßÍÒÓ

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sympathised with Bauchi State over the recent windstorm and fire disaster that destroyed lives and property of residents in Bauchi and Azare towns of the state.

Buhari who arrived at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, around 9.30 a.m. immediately proceeded to Azare town about 200 kilometres north of the state capital to commiserate with the people of the area over the fire incident that ravaged the central market last Sunday.

The president was received at the Airport by the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon Shehu Damina; DG National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Muhammad Nadada Umar, and other top officials.

President Buhari extended his sympathy to the victims and families of the devastating fire incident that destroyed over 1,000 shops at Azare central market less than 24 hours after the windstorm incident that wreaked havoc in Bauchi metropolis.

According to him, “The country stands in solidarity with their fellow countrymen in this difficult time as they face the devastation with courage and fortitude.”

The president who was visibly touched by the level of damages caused by the inferno said he was in Azare “to see for myself and access the devastation suffered by traders in the area.

“I am here to personally sympathise with traders in Azare in the aftermath of the unfortunate fire incident in the market last week” Buhari said.

President Buhari had earlier paid a similar visit to the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Faruq Umar ll, where he sympathised with those affected by the fire incident.

He described the fire incident as a natural disaster, expressing federal government’s sympathy.

Speaking while at Bauchi Emir’s Palace, President Buhari expressed shock over the number of structures and buildings affected by the disasters and enjoined the victims to consider the disaster as an act of God. Responding, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Suleiman, described the President’s visit as a clear indication of his love for the people of the state.

Offa Robbery: NGO Queries Whereabouts of the Armourer A Non-Governmental Organisation, Network on Political Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), has expressed fear over the whereabouts of key suspects in the Offa robbery, Michael Adikwe, who was named to have allegedly supplied the ammunition used in the Offa robbery operation and one other Kayode Opadokun, the first and only son of former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition

(NADECO), Ayo Opadokun.

The NGO in a press conference held at the press centre of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alausa, Lagos on Wednesday, noted that “the suspects so far paraded in the Offa robbery incident did not include the alleged chief armourer, a dismissed policeman called Adikwu”.

The National Coordinator

of the group, Okechukwu Nwanguma, explained that the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun a.k.a AY indicted Adikwe when interviewed by journalists, claiming that the dismissed police officer supplied the weapons used for the operation but was not paraded.

According to Okechukwu who commended the police for the success recorded so far in its investigation and

apprehension of suspects, the whereabouts of Ayo Opadokun’s son, Kayode, who was among those arrested, but was not paraded alongside others by the Police should be made known.

“NOPRIN also hinted of emerging fears about the safety of these suspects who were not paraded and called on the police to ensure the safety of Adikwu and Kayode”, he said.

Enugu Govt Sets up Judicial Panel of Inquiry over Monarch’s Death The Enugu State Government has announced its decision to constitute a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to find out the causes of the recent civil disturbances that occurred in Ogbozinne Akpugo Autonomous community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state, which led to the death of the traditional ruler, Igwe Stephen Nwatu, and destruction of property.

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Emeka Okeke, the state

government expressed grave concern over the ugly and unfortunate incident, declaring that it “will not fold its arms and watch lives and property of its citizens being destroyed with brazen impunity.”

Okeke stated that the panel of inquiry would also ensure that the culprits are brought to book as well as “prevent a reoccurrence of this ugly incident.”

According to him, “Government assures the state

that further measures will be put in place to avoid a repeat of this sad incident in the said community or any other community in Enugu State as this is not in accordance with the peace and secure environment which this government has been working for assiduously.”

It would be recalled that the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had during his recent unanimous endorsement for re-election in 2019 by all the traditional rulers of the 450

autonomous communities in the state, observed a minute silence in honour of the slain traditional ruler.

The governor, who regretted the Igwe’s untimely death, disclosed that his administration would set up the panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding his demise to ensure that the culprits were brought to justice, and make recommendations that would deter future occurrence of such dastardly act.

53

FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Fayose Berates Buhari for Signing 2018 Budget in June Accuses FG of withholding Paris Club refund Victor Ogunje ÓØ ÎÙ ÕÓÞÓ Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said President Muhammadu Buhari

should be ashamed that he signed 2018 budget in June instead of blaming the National Assembly for performing its constitutional duties of increasing

Bayelsa PDP: No 2019 Endorsement for Atiku, Others Yet The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is prepared to receive all presidential aspirants under the platform of the party.

The state Chairman of the party, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement last Wednesday that the position of the state chapter of the party as endorsed by the leader of the party, Governor Seriake Dickson, is that the party would receive all aspirants and accord each of them the respect, hospitality and the courtesy they deserve.

He stressed that while it was the position of the party to receive and hold consultative talks with all aspirants, the party in the state would not endorse any particular candidate before the convention.

Cleopas noted that the decision of who to endorse for presidential candidacy of the party would be collectively taken by the state at the convention of the party.

He said: “The Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP will receive all presidential aspirants under the platform of the party. The party in the state will ensure that all presidential aspirants are

treated fairly with the respect and courtesy they deserve.

“However, it is the position of the state chapter of the party that there would be no endorsement of any particular candidate before the convention.

“The position of the state would be decided collectively and expressed at the convention ground.”

Cleopas said it was indeed encouraging that people of integrity with the requisite political clout were aspiring to run for the presidency in the 2019 election on the platform of the PDP. He stressed that the PDP had the strength to wrest political power from the APC in 2019, with its vast spread and visible presence in all the 774 local government areas and indeed every ward in the country.

The party chairman, who stressed that Bayelsa is a PDP state, thanked the leaders and members of the party for turning out en masse to receive one of the presidential aspirants, Atiku Abubakar, at a very short notice and encouraged them to do same for other aspirants as they visit the state.

the appropriation bill in line with its statutory oversight right.

Fayose asked: “The previous budgets that he agreed with the National Assembly, what did he do with them? Where are the impacts of 2016 and 2017 budgets?”

The governor, who described those presenting the president as the only one knowledgeable about national issues as his greatest enemies, said: “In the mindset of President Buhari and his men, all Nigerians are wrong except him. That is the reason he feigned ignorance to the fact that the law did not say that the legislative arm of government must pass the budget as presented by the executive.”

In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti yesterday by his Special

Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “President Buhari has become what can be termed as blame specialist who will always blame his failure on other people.

“As a military Head of State, he blamed former President Shehu Shagari’s government. Since he assumed office, he has been blaming his predecessor. And now that he can’t get ordinary budget passed by the National Assembly for over six months, he is blaming the legislative arm. When is he going to be man enough to stop his blame game?”

Fayose reminded the president of the 2016 ruling of Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja in which he declared that the National

Assembly has the power to add, reduce, and review the budget.

The judge said categorically that the National Assembly can increase or review upward, budget estimates laid before it by the executive. :Trying to use the National Assembly as scape goat for his failure is a disservice to the principle of separation of powers, checks and balances,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fayose has accused the federal government of deliberately withholding the release of the Paris Club refund to states purposely to prevent Ekiti State from using the money to pay arrears of workers’ salary before the July 14 governorship election.

This is just as the governor also warned the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) against stopping the collation of elections results midway, as it was done during the governorship election in Edo State.

Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said Ekiti and other states had been cleared to get the refund, but the federal government refused to release it to the states because of the state election as it did in Kogi State.

The governor said: “If it is released to other states without the inclusion of Ekiti, the people will suspect that the federal government of playing politics with it. The federal government used that tactics in Kogi State to assist the APC candidate to win.”

Oando Sponsors OPEC Seminar Employees bridge blood shortage gap Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas company Oando PLC was a gold sponsor of the just- concluded 7th OPEC International Seminar themed : “Petroleum – Cooperation for a Sustainable Future,” n Vienna, Austria, which was attended by over 800 key sector players and decision makers.

The company also recently commemorated World Blood Donor Day through blood donation drive which enabled employees donate blood to save lives.

The blood drive was organised in partnership with LifeBank, an e-health company connecting blood banks with hospitals in Nigeria, with the objective of bridging the blood shortage gap in Nigeria.

The Group Chief Executive of Oando, Adewale Tinubu, led a Nigerian delegation to the event where he shared the Nigerian perspective in a panel session on the topic: ‘Global Oil Future

Challenges.’

The panel moderated by CNN’s John Defterios included other IOCs and business leaders such as the President and CEO, Saudi Aramco, Amin H. Nasser; Vice Chairman, IHS Markit, Daniel Yergin; CEO, Hess Corporation, John Hess; Former CEO, Schlumberger, Andrew Gould, were present.

The session focused on current and future challenges specific to the oil industry in the medium to long term, including challenges related to the current global supply/demand balance and the impacts of the energy policy and technology on the future of oil supply and demand.

Also present at the event was Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

He led a panel on ‘Energy Cooperation’ in the company of other industry regulators and leaders from India, Iran and Abu Dhabi.

Fire Destroys National Museum, Over 100 Shops in Ondo James Sowole ÓØ ÕßÜÏ Property worth millions of Naira was destroyed by the early morning fire, which gutted the rate office of the Akure South Local Government and over 100 other lock up shops located near the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo.

The inferno, which THISDAY learnt started at about 12:45am, also destroyed the Akure office of the National Museum opposite the Post Office in the state capital.

The affected shops were mainly business centres where different secretarial services were being provided.

EXECUTIVE VISIT

L-R: Delta State State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom, King Joseph Timiyan Torububuo 1, and Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, during the governor’s visit to Ogulagha in the state....yesterday

We Shall Not Be Distracted By Your Antics, NDDC Tells Opposition Group Emma Okonji The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has told its critics that it would not be distracted by their antics, but would rather remain focused on the delivery of projects that would impact on the lives of the people of Niger Delta.

Director, Corporate Affairs at NDDC, Mr. Ibitoye Abosede who restated the commitment of the commission in a statement made available to THISDAY, said the attention of NDDC has been drawn to a dangerous plan by the Akwa Ibom State Government and its paid agents to destabilise NDDC. He alleged that the government has assembled some hatchet-men who operate under the guise of questionable NGOs to throw mud at, and spread malicious lies about the NDDC, its executives and the APC led Federal Government.

“Just yesterday, a photoshopped image of a road project, which had been circulating online for months, was fraudulently and falsely represented as an NDDC project, in a bid to create the impression

that the Commission’s road projects are executed without recourse to basic project standards.

We have been reliably informed that more of these mudslinging, falsehood, mischief and unwarranted and politically motivated attacks, have been planned with increased intensity in the coming days,” Abosede said.

According to him, “Since the current governing board and executive management assumed duties in November 2016, we have received the most sustained and unwarranted attacks from Akwa Ibom State.

While we encourage scrutiny and objective criticism, geared towards ensuring that we offer the best service to the Niger Delta region, these constant, vicious and virulent attacks, deliberate distortions, falsehood and open confrontation, driven by political scheming, have become distractions that the region and our people cannot afford at this time.”

As the Commission has often stated, NDDC, as an intervention agency, is not in competition with any of the nine

state governments of the Niger Delta region. Our mandates are different, but equally important and desperately urgent. We ask that the Commission and its representatives be allowed to focus on the onerous responsibility of developing the region. We believe that there is no reason to poison the chalice, because our people drink from it.

The entire Niger Delta region is in dire need of rapid, even and sustainable development.

That is our core Mandate.

That is our primary focus.

That is why we are more concerned about governance, which impacts positively on the people, than divisive and fraudulent politicking. Through our structures, we have extended our hands of cooperation and partnership to all the nine Niger Delta States, Abosede said.

He further said: “Our footprints in Akwa Ibom State are obvious in keeping with the mandate of the current Board to ensure that the state enjoys the largest share of NDDC projects as the leading oil producing state in Nigeria.

We have extended our hand of friendship to the Akwa Ibom

State Government on many occasions, as we have done with other State Governments.

Indeed, our partnership with other state governments has yielded important projects, such as the construction of the 50-kilometre AkodoAraromi/Ibeju-Lekki Road, connecting Ondo and Lagos States, being funded by the Commission and Ondo State government. We do hope that Akwa Ibom government will see reason why it must open the door to NDDC as a credible development partner, rather than continue to demonise it.

“There’s a lot that Akwa Ibom State stands to benefit from working with the NDDC as partners, just as the states of Edo, Delta, Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Ondo are doing, to address development needs in such areas as infrastructure, education, healthcare and job creation. We have reached out in many ways to the State Government to support its programmes for the benefit of its people. Ignoring such opportunities remains a major loss to the state.”

Ëœ ÍşÍşËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

54

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

WORLD CUP 2018‌

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

‘ B AT T L E O F V O L G O G R A D ’

Eagles in ‘Make or Burst’ War against Iceland If a nation’s population was the yardstick for participating at the World Cup, Iceland will not be here at Russia 2018. The nation of barely 330,000 people (not up to 1/3 of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State) will not even be considered to take part in the qualifying rounds to select the 32 teams to play at the Mundial.

Nigeria, with a population in the excesses of 180 million people is on the verge of joining two other teams from the continent Egypt and Morocco in booking their trips back home.

Iceland has defied bookmakers and is now on the march to joining great football- playing nations of the world. With Iceland’s opening Group D one-all draw with two-time world champions, Argentina, and Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to Croatia, the Nordic nation now stands between Super Eagles ambition of progressing to the knock out stage of Russia 2018. All that will be decided here at the 45,000-capacity Volgograd Arena in the city that holds a special place in the hearts of the hosts Russians.

Going down memory lane, Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) which is 940km to the south of Moscow, was where the unforgettable ‘Battle of Stalingrad’ took place during the Second World War.  About two million persons were believed to have been killed here by German soldiers during their expansionist quests.

But the Russians (formerly Soviets) resisted and succeeded in aborting Adolf Hitler’s push into their territory. As the home team this evening, will the Super Eagles also have the same character as the Russians in aborting

Iceland’s continued drive to join football super-powers riding on the crest of a Nigerian victory?

That is the tasks before John Mikel Obi and his teammates as Coach Gernot Rohr rolls out his tank in this must win or burst clash with the Euro 2016 quarter finalists.

Like they did two years ago in France, Iceland without superstar players beyond Gylfi Sigurdsson who plays as an attacking midfielder with Everton in the English Premiership, have signaled they are not in Russia to see the beaches and landmarks. With Heimir Hallgrimsson, a

they file out this evening against Nigeria. They are also counting on the thunderous clapping of their fans to fire them on.

All through the week at the Super Eagles camp in Essentuki, handlers of the team and the players have used valuable time to review the match against Croatia and corrected those flaws from the set pieces that they struggled with.

Rohr admitted at Eagles last training before departing for Volgograd that the players have worked hard to deserve victory against the Icelanders. “We have worked hard and qualified dentist as head coach, reviewed the match against Iceland frustrated Argentina with Croatia. It will be a tough their compact and hard-working game. We will be at our best collective performance last and be more professional with Saturday. They frustrated Lionel our defending especially from Messi to the point of missing a set pieces,� stressed the Francopenalty that could have won the German gaffer ahead of the game.

Leicester City enforcer, game for the South Americans. Now, the dentist and his Wilfred Ndidi who is one of players that includes goalkeeper the nine players making their Hannes Halldorsson, a film debut  for Nigeria at the World director, are aiming to repeat Cup, corroborated his coach and the deep-lying defence to also went a step further to say that make their progress to the Last the match is a ‘do or die’ one for Eagles.

16, a reality. “The loss (to Croatia) is The only player not fully fit in their squad is Johann behind us, we will die there Gudmundsson, who remains a in the game against Iceland,� major doubt to recover before Ndidi was quoted on the official

Twitter handle of the Super Eagles yesterday morning.

Not much changes are expected in the Nigerian playing personnel beyond the fact that pacy winger, Ahmed Musa, is likely to be in the starting line up from what was observed at the training in Essentuki.

As usual, youngster, Francis Odinaka Uzoho who is growing in confidence will be in goal with likely Tyronne Ebuehi starting ahead of Shehu Abdullahi on the right back. Rohr may retain Bryan Idowu or start Elderson Echiejile on the left back. The ‘Oyinbo Wall’ stays in place with the duo of Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong as partners.

The midfield is where trouble lies. Will Rohr accept Jose Mourinho’s advice of switching Mikel to be in front of the central defenders or stick with him as Number 10? The consensus among informed Nigerian officials and fans here is to start Oghenekaro Etebo with both Victor Moses and Ahmed Musa doing the runs from the wings with Alex Iwobi and Odion Ighalo at the centre.

Ninety minutes stand between Nigeria and Iceland in deciding their fate in Group D.

M ATC H FACT S ‌ HEAD-TO-HEAD (NIGERIA V ICELAND) Ëž Ă˜ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂœĂ“Ă&#x;×ÚÒĂ?ĂŽ ̋͝͸ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ͚Π΀͚ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ–ĂŁË› NIGERIA Ëž Ă–Ă– ʨà Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ë› Ëž Ă’Ă? Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ͚͝ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ě™ ÍťËœ Î ĚšËœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒËÞ Ă Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ¤Ă?Ă‘Ă™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ Ă‹Ăž ĂœĂ‹Ă¤Ă“Ă– ͺ͸͚͟˛ Ëž Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ăš Ă?ÞËÑĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÙÚĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ë› Ëž Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă• Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ?Ăž ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ͚ΠΠ΀ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ͺ͸͸ͺ˛ Ëž Ă‹Ă‘Ă–Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Óâ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ͚͚ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš matches.

ICELAND Ëž Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂœĂ?ĂĄ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ Ă™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš Ă‘Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ ÞÙ Ëà ÙÓÎ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ÙÚĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞåÙ Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ăž Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ëš Ă‹ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ ͺ͸͸ͺ˛ Ëž Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜ĂŒĂ™Ă‘Ă‹Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ?Ă? ËÚÚĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ

Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁËŞĂ Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ă?Ă? Ě™ ÍşËœ ͚̚˛ Ëž Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?ÒÙÞĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‹Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ ËÞÞĂ?×ÚÞ Ă™Ă˜ ÑÙËÖ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ë›

Super Eagles of Nigeria

Saraki, Others to Cheer Eagles in Volgograd Nigeria’s Number Three Citizen, Senate President Bukola Saraki, will attend today’s the second Group D World Cup 2018 clash with Iceland in Volgograd, Russia. Also certain to be on ground to support the three-time African champions include; Ambassador of Nigeria to the Russian Federation, Professor Steve Davies Ugbah, the Permanent Secretary in the Youth and Sports Ministry, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Nigeria’s IOC Member Habu Ahmed Gumel and a full complement of the NFF Executive Committee led by the President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

NFF’s Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, confirmed to Nigerian sports journalists covering the Mundial here in Russia that there will also be distinguished senators and members of the House of

Representatives, members of the NFF Congress, directors in the ministry, NFF management and staff, football stakeholders including former presidents and secretaries-general of the NFF, and a large number of members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club and Nigerians resident in Russia.

Some of the past NFF presidents in Russia include, Gen. Dominic Oneya, Ibrahim Galadima, Kojo Williams, etc.

Also here are past secretary generals like, Drs Tijani Yusuf and Bolaji Ojo-Oba,  Sani Toro and Taiwo Ogunjobi.

Victory this afternoon will be a turning point in Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign as it will give hope to Eagles making it to the knock out stage that has become the country’s benchmark since debuting at USA ‘’94.

Gabriel Jesus Becomes Brazil’s Young Veteran Gabriel Jesus was just 17 when his beloved Seleção suffered their crushing semi-final defeat to Germany at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was pictured back then painting the streets of his Sao Paulo neighbourhood green and yellow, an image that went viral online. Asked to recall that fateful day, Brazil’s current No. 9 was remarkably poised, keeping any emotions he might feel about it well in check. “I’ve been playing football since

I was six,� he said. “I was 17 and I’d been involved in a professional environment at Palmeiras. I knew what football was all about and so I didn’t take it as badly as some people who are outside the game.�

Now 21, Gabriel will be the youngest member of the Seleção side that will take on Costa Rica today in Saint Petersburg. Though as his answer above shows, he already sees himself as something of a veteran.

That mindset is probably the

American Ref, Conger Takes Charge An American residing in New Zealand, Matthew Conger, will be in charge when Nigeria faces Iceland in a potentially fierce battle to cross the group stage of Russia 2018 World Cup. Conger has been assigned the match along with compatriot,

Simon Lount as first assistant referee and Tevita Makasini of Tonga as the second assistant referee.

Conger, a teacher by profession, referees in the Australian A-League and the New Zealand football championship.

reason why he has not been singled out by the squad’s more experienced members for the kind of jokes typically played on new boys. As he himself says, he is no longer a child.

His maturity also explains why the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) asked him to attend a press conference three days before the team’s opening match, when the most normal course of action would have been to send a more experienced member of the squad along. His media appearance came as even more of a surprise after a friend of his attended a closed training session in Sochi the day before and then posted a video of it online. “It’s a good job I scored with the header. If I’d missed, it would have been in the news,� he told the assembled media. “At least he didn’t post anything tactical.

I’d have got a telling-off if he had,� he added to much laughter.

The young striker faces bigger threats to his starting place than

online video, not least as a result of Roberto Firmino’s superb season with Liverpool, which has led to a large section of the Brazilian media predicting a change up front. “Let me be clear about this: it’s a positive thing to have two centre-forwards who are good enough to start,� said Gabriel. “It’s healthy to have competition for places and I’m very happy he’s in such good form. I’ll be cheering him on if he plays.�

Firmino has a compelling claim to a starting place, but then so does the current first-choice front man, not least because of his constant movement in attack and his workrate. As well as pressing opposing defenders, Gabriel also tracks back tirelessly to help out in defence.

Another important factor is the faith that Tite has in him, which the coach has shown since his first game in charge of A Seleção: a challenging trip to Quito, where the striker scored twice on his international debut to help Brazil beat Ecuador 3-0.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018

55

FRIDAYSPORTS

W O R L D C U P 2 0 1 8 … JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

WORLD CUP 2018…

Croatia Dims Shambolic Argentina’s World Cup Hopes

RESULTS

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Denmark 1 - 1 Australia France 1 - 0 Peru Argentina 0 - 3 Croatia

GROUP A

Team Russia Uruguay Egypt Saudi

GROUP B

Team Portugal Spain Iran Morocco Croatian midfielder, Luka Modric struck from a vital area to score the second goal in the 3-0 win against Argentina… last night Lionel Messi and Argentina are facing the very real prospect of an early World Cup exit after 0-3 loss to Croatia in the second group D match yesterday at the Nizhny Novgorod stadium.

The Shambolic night began after a dreadful error from goalkeeper Willy Caballero set Croatia on their way to victory and a place in the last 16.

On a night when so much was expected of Messi, Chelsea reserve goalkeeper Caballero who made the most telling contribution to his team’s fate with an attempted chip over Ante Rebic that backfired badly, allowing the striker to fire

home into an exposed net in the 53rd minute.

Messi - adrift for much of the match, especially during a pedestrian opening half - helped to rally his side after going behind, but neither he nor substitute forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Pablo Dybala could find a way through.

The closest Messi came was a half-chance, a snatch at a rebound from a Maximiliano Meza shot which was blocked by Daniel Subasic and turned behind to safety.

It was a dogged defensive second-half display from Croatia,

illuminated by a moment of magic from their own masterful number 10, Luka Modric.

His curled shot from range drifted beautifully beyond Caballero’s dive to seal a victory that took Croatia through to the knockout stage and left them in a strong position to win the group.

Ivan Rakitic rounded off a miserable evening for Argentina as he rolled in Croatia’s third goal in injury time.

For Argentina, they are no longer in control of their own destiny.

This defeat follows their opening 1-1 draw with Iceland,

in which Messi missed a penalty, and now even a heavy win over Nigeria in their final game on Tuesday may not be enough to send them through to the next round.

Should Iceland beat Nigeria in their second group game today, Iceland would need only a draw against Croatia in their final match.

For Barcelona forward Messi, Argentina captain and a prolific performer at club level, this was just another harrowing chapter in his recent history of pain and disappointment in the international game.

FIFA Slams Allegation on Ref’s Request for Ronaldo’s Shirt FIFA have hit out at Morocco and Watford midfielder Nordin Amrabat for claiming referee Mark Geiger asked Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo for his shirt during Wednesday’s game between the sides.

FIFA released a strong statement yesterday saying it ‘unequivocally condemns the allegations’ and that American referee Geiger ‘has acted in an exemplary and professional manner.’

Amrabat told Dutch TV after Morocco’s 1-0 defeat

by Portugal: ‘I do not know what he (Geiger) is used to, but he was very impressed

by Cristiano Ronaldo, and I hear from Pepe that he asked in the first half if he should have his shirt.

‘What are we talking about?

At the World Cup? It’s not a circus here.’

FIFA’s full statement said: ‘It is with regret and disappointment that, following Wednesday’s Group B game between Portugal and Morocco, FIFA has learnt of reports in the media concerning referee

Mark Geiger.

‘It has been claimed that Mr Geiger asked for the shirt of the captain of Portugal during the half-time interval. Mr Geiger strongly refutes these claims and categorically states such a request was not made.

‘FIFA unequivocally condemns the allegations supposedly made by a member of the Moroccan team.

‘FIFA referees are under clear instructions with regard to their behaviour and relationship with the teams at the World Cup and it can be confirmed that Mr

Geiger has acted in an exemplary and professional manner as an appointed match official.

‘FIFA would like to remind teams of their duty to respect all principles of fair play.’

Morocco’s defeat at the hands of Portugal dumped them out of the World Cup following their 1-0 defeat by Iran in their first Group B match.

They round out their tournament against Spain in Kalingrad on Monday, June 25 while Iran face Portugal looking to book a place in the last-16 of the tournament.

Sanchez Gets Death Threat for Colombia Red Card Colombian police are investigating death threats made against midfielder Carlos Sanchez after his red card in their 2-1 defeat

by Japan.

The former Aston Villa man was sent off for stopping a goalbound Japanese effort with his hand just three minutes into the match, which took place almost exactly 24 years on from Andres Escobar’s own goal at the 1994 World Cup. Escobar was shot dead on his return home from the tournament after his goal led to Colombia’s early elimination. One Twitter user posted a split picture of Sanchez and Escobar with the words: ‘I

propose a dream.’

Another Twitter account posted:

‘If Andres Escobar was killed for scoring an own goal, then Carlos

Sanchez should be murdered and his dead body p****d on.’

The judicial arm of the Colombian police have assigned a special team to investigate the threats made to Sanchez, 32, who is suspended for Sunday’s clash with Poland.

Should Colombia lose they would be staring at an early exit from the World Cup, with Senegal to play in their final Group H match on Thursday, June 28.

The top two teams from Colombia’s group will face the top two teams from England’s group, with the Three Lions favourites to progress along with Belgium.

Olympic Day Celebration Holds Tomorrow The Nigeria Olympic committee (NOC), in conjunction with the Nigeria Sports For All commission under the auspices of the International Olympic committee, has concluded plans for the 2018 Olympic Day Celebration holding on Saturday June 23rd, 2018 across the globe.

In Nigeria, the event will hold in Lagos and Plateau states and will commence exactly 8am with participants engaged in physical exercises that will help them in burning calories thereby promote healthy living and physical fitness.

These including walking,

jogging aerobics, cultural and sports display including demonstration. Last year over four million people took advantage of the opportunity provided to be part of the global exercise by participating while the number is expected to increase this year.

In Lagos participants will jog and walk from the National Stadium car park down to Ogunlana Drive and through Bode Thomas down to Alaka Underbridge and back to the National Stadium Surulere where the event will be rounded off with a brief ceremony.

GROUP C

Team France Denmark Australia Peru

GROUP D

Team Croatia Iceland Argentina Nigeria

GROUP E

Team Serbia Brazil S’land C’Rica

GROUP F

Team Mexico Korea Rep Sweden Germany

GROUP G

Team Belgium England Tunisia Panama

GROUP H

Team Japan Senegal Colombia Poland

Brazil vs Costa Rica 1pm Nigeria vs Iceland 4pm Serbia vs Switzerland 7pm

P 2 2 2 2

W 2 2 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 2 2

GF 8 2 1 0

GA 1 0 4 6

GD 7 2 -3 -6

Pts 6 6 0 0

P 2 2 2 2

W 1 1 1 0

D 1 1 0 0

L 0 0 1 2

GF 4 4 1 0

GA 3 3 1 2

GD 1 1 0 -2

Pts 4 4 3 0

P 2 2 2 2

W 2 1 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 0 1 2

GF 3 2 2 0

GA 1 1 3 2

GD 2 1 -1 -2

Pts 6 4 1 0

P 2 2 1 1

W 2 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 5 1 1 0

GA 0 1 4 2

GD 5 0 -3 -2

Pts 6 1 1 0

P 1 1 1 1

W 1 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 0 0 1

GF 1 1 1 0

GA 0 1 1 1

GD 1 0 0 -1

Pts 3 1 1 0

P 1 1 1 1

W 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 1 1 0 0

GA 0 0 1 1

GD 1 1 -1 -1

Pts 3 3 0 0

P 1 1 1 1

W 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 3 2 1 0

GA 0 1 2 3

GD 3 1 -1 -3

Pts 3 3 0 0

P 1 1 1 1

W 1 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1

GF 2 2 1 1

GA 1 1 2 2

GD 1 1 -1 -1

Pts 3 3 0 0

CAA ASABA 2018

S’Africa Names Senmaya, Mokoena in 65-man Preliminary Squad A full-strength preliminary team has been unveiled by Athletics South Africa (ASA) for the 2018 CAA African Senior Championships to be held in Asaba, Delta State between 1-5 August.

The squad includes the likes of 2017 World Championships medalists Luvo Manyonga, Caster Semenya and Ruswahl Samaai.

Also included in the strong squad are former Olympic medalists Khotso Mokoena and Sunette Viljoen, as well as veteran Hammer Throw athlete, Chris Harmse.

Officials of the Athletics Federation of South Africa explained that they are keen at utilising the biennial continental championships to be staged in Asaba to prepare their athletes for the 2019 IAAF World Senior Championships and other major global events over the next few seasons.

The national Preliminary Team consists of a healthy blend of youth and experience.

Among the talented young stars who are featured in the squad, are IAAF U18 world champions Sokwakhana Zazini, Breyton Poole and Zeney van der Walt, who are some of the nation’s top contenders for titles at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland next month.

Of the 65 athletes in the Preliminary Team, which consists of 39 men and 26 women, a total of 18 individuals are under the age of 21.

The final national team will be announced in July closer to the event.

South Africa won the last two editions of the African Championships in Marrakech and Durban and are now hoping to complete a hat-trick of wins in Asaba.

The Asaba 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championship will be held at the newly-built Stephen Keshi Stadium from August 1-5, 2018 with over 52 countries expected to participate.

Friday, June 22, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Ibrahim to Buhari “Why did he sign? He should have withheld his signature and seen what would have happened. We are no longer interested in all that drama. He shouldn’t have signed. He should have confronted us with those (insertions), called the leadership of the National Assembly and confronted them. The president is playing to the gallery,” he said.”

A member of the Senate Appropriation Committee, Rafiu Ibrahim, criticising President Muhammadu Buhari for raising concern over the National Assembly’s injection of strange projects and sundry irregularities into the 2018 budget.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

The Authentic Penance For June 12

A

t the core of the crisis of the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election crisis (and the allied military dictatorship) is the fear of losing political power at the center. Since the establishment of unfettered Northern political supremacy through the instrumentality of the upper hand the region accomplished in the balance of terror contest of 1966, political power had, largely, remained secure in the custody of the Northern political\military elite. In retrospect, the unintended consequence of the Igbo led January 1966 military coup had proven to be nothing short of a providential boon to the cause of the perpetration of this political lopsidedness. It precipitated and justified the mutinous counter coup riposte of July 1966 and its escalation into a complete political subjugation agenda.

In the power politics interpretation of the January 1966 coup as a regional political agenda, the Eastern region suffered the double jeopardy of losing the initiative to the counter coup rematch and went further to become a collective victim of the ensuing tragedy of the civil war. There are moments in the existence of a people where the unrelieved tragedies of enormous proportions lead victims to doubt the existence of a just omnipotent God. In biblical antiquity and the historical experience of modern humanity the Jews are the archetype of such tragedies. If ever, the January 1966 coup was a product of Igbo conspiracy, the conspirators in the know of such conspiracy would number less than one percent of the ‘offending region’. Yet the consequences of their action would result in the catastrophic chain of events and escalating horror of the July 1966 mutinous decimation of the Igbo officer corps of the Nigerian military, the repeated pogroms and its climax in the resultant civil war-in which upwards of a million Igbo lives were lost.

It was a rapidly unfolding tragedy where all that could go wrong went wrong for the region. The hindsight that it could have cut its losses and avert the subsequent fullness of the tragedy made the recall all the more painful and agonizing. To make matters worse, the rhetoric and the pseudo nationalist ideology on which post-civil war Nigeria was founded criminalized the attempted secession and imputed villainy to the recourse-impervious to the extenuating circumstances of the events leading to the war. To the rule of the observation that history is written by the victors, Nigeria has proven to be no exception. Hence the outcome of the war became self-justificatory-in the imposition of the unitarist-nationalist ideology on Nigeria by the military-which thenceforth became the military tail wagging the Nigerian dog.

To the extent that the unification decree of 1966 was at variance with the logic of the prior Nigerian federalism, the negative reaction of the Northern region (to its promulgation by General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi) was logical. As we all know, Ironsi

Abiola

ultimately paid the supreme sacrifice for this transgression (inclusive of the toxic environment created by the omission and commission of the January 1966 coup). The supreme irony of post 1966 Nigeria is the categorical adoption of a more emboldened version of the same unification decree by precisely those who revolted against it.

What was deemed the cardinal sin of the vanquished protagonist dramatically morphed into an article of faith for the victorious antagonist. Regardless of the might is right philosophy inherent in this nodal piece of Nigerian history, the truth of the indispensability of federalism remains constant-and it is the denial of this truth that has remained the bane of Nigeria’s development.

The agony of the long dark night endured by the Igbo was only matched by the widening vulnerability of the Nigerian playground to the political conquest of their Northern adversary. This vulnerability was further enhanced by the near total absence of the western region in the military equation of Nigeria in 1966. Were the West to be adequately represented in the military, the chances were that it would have served an effective counterweight and arbitrated a political outcome different from the virtual capitulation of Nigeria to the military subjugation of Nigeria heralded by the Northern victors. The moment the federalism predicated constitutional rule was displaced by the usurpation of military rule, political balance and the geopolitical foundation for a thousand flowers to bloom was neutered.

Up until 1993, the received wisdom of Nigerian politics was to take it for granted that the political destiny of Nigeria was as the North wishes-its political wish was Nigeria’s command. The fact that, in 1993, of the twenty seven years of post-1966 Nigeria, military dictatorship was the rule for twenty four years meant that the federalism norm had been commensurately attenuated by the top down command control culture of the military. And so it came to be that the 1979

and the 1999 constitutions were little more than the ratification of the trending unitarist legacy bequeathed by the military regimes that promulgated them. Where, before 1966, the center was of little consequence to the potential of the comprising regions, after 1966, the successor states were little more than vassals of the government at the center.

Compounded by a deepening crisis of socio-economic development failure, the political status quo ante was getting increasingly exposed as non-sustainable and sooner than later it was headed for the (kind of the) challenge of the outcome of the 1993 Presidential election. Against overwhelming odds the outcome of the election could only have occurred in the manner it did-a sneak victory. The annulment crisis was in reality the crisis of the prevailing constitutional structure of Nigeria in which the attraction of the center was of such magnitude as to invite a zero sum, do or die ambition in its pursuit and retention. Recall the apposite lesson of 1960 in which the leader of the Northern Peoples’ Congress, Sir Ahmadu Bello reckoned the Premiership of the Northern region of greater import than the office of the Prime Minister of Nigeria to which he delegated his lieutenant, Tafawa Balewa.

It is ultimately the degradation of the constitutional structure of Nigeria that any Nigerian leader, (especially the vicariously responsible personalities and actors of the 1966 set who played leading roles in the federalism wrecking machine that ensued in 1966 including President Buhari) should make political remedy and atonement. But if we are to extrapolate from his canonization of the late General Sani Abacha, the buhari of today is hardly different from the buhari of the Northern supremacy counter coup of 1966. Tribute goes to Professor Wole Soyinka for exposing the hollowness and contradiction of the ‘political masterstroke’ of feigning identification with the symbolism of the June 12th 1993 Presidential victory of Moshood Abiola while professing loyalty to the legacy of Abacha. It is this contradiction that clarifies the superficiality and the amateurish political calculations behind the sudden seeming course reversal of the course set for Nigeria for the past fifty two years and of which the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election is a symptom.

Nothing of course would make cynics like us happier than to be proven wrong on the attribution of mercenary intent to the political blandishment of the President.

Any sincere atonement for the debacle of the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election must proceed from the premise of the culpable milieu that prompted the annulment and the attendant crisis. That milieu-of fatal attraction to power at the center, desperation to hold on to or win power at the center, has remained with us to this day. It is the reason why the President’s desperation to hold on to power (notwithstanding his conspicuous

disqualifying challenges of fragile health and embarrassing incompetence) is matched by the-between the rock and the hard place resolute repudiation of Buhari’s reelection by the opposition.

It is the reason why electoral umpires have perfected anticipatory institutional rigging of cooking up voters registration figures.

As noted by Femi Aribisala, ‘In 2015, the presidential election between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari was level-pegging until the bombshell of Kano’s result was announced. While we were told 1,678,754 people voted in Lagos, an incredible 2,364,434 people were said to have voted in Kano. On the basis of the 1993 template, this just cannot be true. But it did not stop there. Another 1,153,428 votes came from Jigawa, which was carved out of old Kano. In effect, these two states of old Kano had 3,517,862 votes, nearly 2 million votes more than that of Lagos in 2015. And yet, Lagos is clearly the most populous state in the federation; a fact attested to by the 1993 presidential election results. With Buhari said to have received 1,903,999 votes from Kano, more than the entire votes cast by everybody in Lagos, and another 885,988 votes from Jigawa; making a total of 2,789,987, his lead in the 2015 presidential election suddenly became unassailable’.

President Buhari has the habit of waxing lyrical on the rhetoric of ‘killing corruption before corruption kills Nigeria’.

Never mind the hypocrisy of pointing fingers while the other set of fingers are pointing right back at him in rebuke and your guess is as good as mine on how successful he has been able to translate the prescription of this rhetoric into action in his over three years of anti-corruption stewardship. To be fair to him the fault does not all lie in his stars as it does lie in the dictum of Lord Acton that ‘power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely’.

Following Lord Acton, the seemingly intractable culture of corruption in Nigeria is, in the main, traceable to the humongous unaccountable power at the center ‘the accumulated power and resources that were impounded and diverted from the second tier of government-to the end of assuming the role of a whimsical interventionist agency of spreading national largess’. In specifics, can you imagine the quantum of corruption that would be eliminated by the simple act of the government divestment of its obsessive stranglehold on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC? In the final analysis, if Nigeria remains as it has been in the past three years and as long as we can recall, of what use, would be the recognition and rehabilitation of June 12? Would it address the wanton profligacy, impunity and corruption at the federal and state government levels?

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090, 0811 181 3085. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com