THURSDAY 28TH JUNE 2018

FG Plans Additional $2.8bn Foreign Loan to Finance 2018 Budget Nume Ekeghe with agency report The federal government plans to borrow $2.8 billion offshore to finance its 2018 budget and would explore all options to lower costs, the Director General, Debt

Management Office (DMO), Ms Patience Oniha, disclosed in an interview with Reuters yesterday in Abuja.

The government, according to her, has laid out plans to borrow abroad even as interest rates are rising in the United States, raising fears that the

country could pay a higher premium than its most recent debt sale in February.

The country, which left recession last year, approved a three-year plan in 2016 to borrow more from abroad so that 40 per cent of its loans would come from offshore to

lower borrowing costs. It now has around 23 per cent of its debt from abroad, up from 16 per cent when it approved the plan.

The debt office has sent a request for a proposal to banks for an international bond offering, Reuters disclosed.

“We will explore all options, keeping in mind our twin objectives of extending the tenor of the debt stock and lowering costs,� Oniha said without giving details.

The National Assembly is, however, expected to approve the new borrowing plan.

Oniha in January said the DMO could tap capital markets or concessionary loans from the World Bank and would consider funding options after the 2018 budget had been approved.

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Better Power Supply Beckons as Thermal Stations Connect to New Gas Pipelines‌ Page 6 Thursday 28 June, 2018 Vol 23. No 8470. Price: N250

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Saraki, Dogara Meet Buhari, Hint on Rejig of Security Apparatus Obasanjo urges FG to find root cause of violence Governors to send delegation to Plateau tomorrow MBF seeks arrest of Miyetti Allah's leaders CAN, youths protest in Jos, military parades 17 suspects Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Paul Obi in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Following the massacre of over 100 people in three local government areas of

Plateau State last weekend, strong indications emerged yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari may overhaul the country's security apparatus.

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PDP Asks INEC to Void Oshiomhole, Others’ Election Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to annul the recent election of former Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that it was not held in compliance with the Electoral

Act 2010 as amended.

Oshiomhole was returned unopposed and along with 21 other unchallenged prospective national officers, was elected by affirmation at the national convention of the party held last weekend in Abuja.

But speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from his Kabba Bunu Continued on page 8

Police, Immigration Warn of Potential NO MORE WAR‌ Terrorist Attacks on Viewing Centres‌ Page 8 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (right) and his erstwhile deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, during the Gusau Institute’s meeting on 'A New Era for China-Africa Cooperation' in Abuja‌ yesterday

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Better Power Supply Beckons as Thermal Stations Connect to New Gas Pipelines NNPC: Nigeria targets 10% of global LNG market share Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday declared that all the existing gas-based power generation plants in Nigeria had been connected to permanent gas supply lines through a 600-kilometre new gas pipelines it said it had completed.

NNPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, stated this at a conference in the United States, but did not clarify if gas supply to all of the power plants are permanent and stable.

Operational reports from the Advisory Power Team in the office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, however, indicated that at least 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity were not generated to the national grid every day on account of gas supply constraints.

Baru equally stated that as part of the strategic aspirations of the federal government to derive maximum value from Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abundant natural gas resources, it would target to take 10 per cent of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market share in traded Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

A statement from NNPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Group General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted Baru to have said this while addressing the 27th World Gas Conference (WGC) in Washington DC, United States.

The statement said he spoke on, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The role of gas in power generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; under the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fuelling the Future.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria had completed and commissioned about 600km of new gas pipelines, thereby connecting all existing power plants to permanent gas supply pipelines,â&#x20AC;? he

said, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have also kicked off the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project which, on completion, will deliver gas along these areas, thereby generating additional 3,600MW to the national grid.â&#x20AC;?

Baru reportedly reeled out the enormous potentials of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gas resources and their huge contributions to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy, especially with regards to the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gas-to-power initiatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are focused on jumpstarting and sustaining gas supply to support a rapid growth in power generation, re-positioning Nigeria as the regional hub for gas-based industries such as fertilizer, petrochemicals, methanol, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), as well as leveraging our enormous reserves position to strengthen our

footprints in high value gas export through LNG and regional gas pipelines,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He further explained that there was a huge investment opportunity in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gas sector following the emerging gas markets and the need to generate more power across Africa.

According to him, Nigeria was focused on expanding its existing 22 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas NG (NLNG) plant with a new 8mtpa from its proposed Train 7, adding that this will significantly increase global power generation capacity.

He further noted that towards achieving these gas aspirations, the government recently approved a threepronged reform in the gas sector which included domestic gas supply obligation, gas pricing policy

and regulation as well as gas infrastructure blueprint.

In defence of the planned Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, Baru stated that the project would foster regional economic integration, reduce desertification, and enable accelerated regional electrification. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will contribute significantly to the overall economic development of the region through the emergence of a wide range of industrial clusters around petrochemical, manufacturing, agro-business and fertilizers among others,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

He said the government was on the verge of finishing its construction of the strategic Obiafo-Obirikon-Oben (OB3-East-West) interconnection gas pipeline and doubling the capacity of the existing Escravos to Lagos Pipeline (Western Pipeline System).

The government, he noted,

had intervened by drastically reducing gas flare from 25 per cent down to 10 per cent, as well as stepped up efforts to stimulate gas utilisation and monetisation.

He described gas as fast evolving preferred fuel for power generation, adding that as an economic energy source, natural gas has, today, transformed the economies of several nations.

According to him, Nigeria with its estimated 199 trillion cubic feet (tcf) gas resource base has a tremendous opportunity to compete favourably with other gas-rich countries.

The statement said the WGC which was started in 1931, by the International Gas Union (IGU) as triennial event, is the most important global gas industry gathering of influential leaders, policymakers, buyers, sellers and experts on gas.

strategy, which entails an increase in the external debt stock through new external borrowing and the substitution of high-cost domestic debt with low-cost external debt, is achieving the desired results in several areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of these areas are: the share of the external debt stock in the total public debt, which rose to 30 per cent as of March 31, 2018, compared

to 17 per cent in 2015, 20 per cent in 2016 and 27 per cent in 2017; a decline in market interest rates from 13 to 14 per cent per annum in December 2017, to 11 to 13 per cent per annum in the first quarter of 2018 due to the redemption of N279.67 billion of Nigerian Treasury Bills using some of the proceeds of the $2.5 billion Eurobond issued in February 2018,â&#x20AC;? the DMO had explained.

MBF said that with the leadership of Miyetti explaining the criminal act, there should be no delay on the part of government in arresting leaders of the association.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, said the entire Middle Belt had been under siege for the past two decades, saying states like Southern Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Southern Borno and Plateau had been the theatres of an undeclared war.

The forum called on President Buhari to immediately direct arrest of the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and MACBAN for investigation and prosecution, and also immediately direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to set in motion the process for the proscription of these two organisations.

On its part, CAN said contrary to the policeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report, 218 persons have been confirmed dead as a result of the crisis.

In a graphic presentation of those killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen, CAN President, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, explained that about 37 villages in Plateau State had been under constant attacks from suspected Fulani herdsmen in the last three months.

Listing the number of death, the CAN president named Gashish District, Nhyer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 80; Exland(G/Akwati) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 40; Ruku 34, Kakuruk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; six; Kuzen - five;

totalling 165.

Others include, Ropp District: Gana Ropp â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 34; Razat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one; Kwang Jot Near Gen. Hospital (Takwok) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one; Rakwok â&#x20AC;&#x201C; two, totalling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 38.

In Bachi District: Shonong eight people were killed while Riyom District: Kwi recorded one; Heipang District: Chit Heipang two; Vwang District: K-Vom Vwang Jos South one (OPSH Killing); Zawan District: Anguldi - three (OPSH Killings), with grand total of 218 deaths.

"Apart from the total number of the deaths, there are still missing persons. Many people also sustained various degrees of injuries," CAN added.

The Christian group called on President Buhari to replace all the security chiefs and the

F G P L A N S A D D I T I O N A L $ 2 . 8 B N F O R E I G N LOA N TO F I N A N C E 2 0 1 8 B U D G E T President Muhammadu Buhari last week signed a record N9.12 trillion budget for 2018 into law, aimed at fostering growth in Nigeria before elections next February, in which he would seek a second term.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, while giving a breakdown of the budget last week, disclosed that the deficit was to be

financed mainly by borrowing N1.643 trillion.

Growth rates in Nigeria have bounced back since the third quarter of 2016, when a recession, its first in 25 years, hit bottom.

It exited that contraction last year, largely due to higher oil prices, with the country relying on crude sales for much of its revenue.

However, growth slowed in the first quarter of 2018

for the first time since pulling out of recession as its non-oil sector struggled.

Nigeria raised $2.5 billion through a dual-tranche Eurobond offering in February, selling a 12-year note at 7.1 percent to raise $1.25 billion and a 20-year tranche at 7.7 per cent.

The February deal was the second international bond sale in less than three months, after the debt office raised $3 billion

through an offering of 10- and 30- year bonds in November.

This pushed the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total public debt higher as it increased by 4.52 per cent in the first three months of 2018. Precisely, the public debt increased from N21.73 trillion in December 2017 to N22.71 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The debt figures show that the implementation of the debt management

S A R A K I , D O G A R A M E E T B U H A R I , H I N T O N R E J I G O F S E C U R I T Y A P PA R AT U S The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who gave a hint of possible reorganisation of the country's security architecture without giving details, said the president was putting in place enough security measures meant to prevent a repeat of such magnitude of violence.

Both Dogara and Senate President Bukola Saraki met with Buhari yesterday before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House over the Plateau State tragedy.

State governors also met yesterday in Abuja over the situation in Plateau State and decided to send a delegation to the state tomorrow to condole with the victims of the strife.

Dogara who expressed grave concerns over the rampant spate of violent activities ravaging the country, advised various states and communities affected by the menace to invest in peace building initiatives from the level of traditional rulers to the government.

Dogara said, "The president has taken enough steps. These are security issues. Security matters are not what you can discuss. But we've been briefed on all he's doing, the reorganisation, the plans he's putting in place to ensure that this doesn't happen again.

"My advice to our people, not just the people of Plateau State, but in Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, so many communities in this country faced with this situation especially in the North, I think the issue of security, in

communities, living peacefully, must be taken as a project that each level must invest in, whether as traditional rulers, community leaders, whether we are government, from councillor to chairman, to the government and all strata of the society, we must invest in peace building because that is the only way we can live in secured communities and ensure that we have progress as a country."

The speaker, who said Nigeria must not lose the battle against violence, stated further that once the battle against violence was lost, the country could no longer lay any claim to civilisation.

He recalled the degree of devastation to the North-east

by Boko Haram insurgents, warning that such tragic experience must not be replicated in all parts of the country.

Describing this period as a moment of sober reflection, Dogara said he was in the State House with Saraki to commiserate with the president, the people and government of Plateau State over the Plateau massacre.

Also speaking, Saraki said they had visited the State House to take briefings from Buhari on the steps the federal government had taken so far and how they could be involved in efforts to find a solution to the menace.

According to him, the president briefed them on updates on the development including the steps he's taking to restore sanity to the system and emphasised the need for all

to cooperate with one another with a view to putting the menace under control.

Saraki who said both of them would also visit Plateau State to commiserate with both the government and people of the state, appealed to Nigerians to embrace living in peace and harmony.

He said, "Following the unfortunate incident that happened in Plateau, myself and the speaker came to see the president, first to commiserate and to see what we can do collectively, and how we can give our own support to address the issue on the ground and get a briefing from him on the steps he has taken so far and if there is anything we can do on our part to support so that we can also play our own part.

"He's given us the briefing and we will all work towards it and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ensure that we all work together. Nobody is happy with the situation and we all need to work together and of course, to see that we commiserate with the families affected.â&#x20AC;?

However, the Senate president, who after the meeting with the president left for Jos, called on the nation's security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, fish out the perpetrators of the massacre.

Saraki while condoling with Governor Simon Lalong during the visit, said it was high time the security agencies came together to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

According to the senate

president in a statement signed by his spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the security agencies must ensure that those responsible for the killings are quickly apprehended to help bring an end to killings in the state.

He said, "We must also ensure that all those who are responsible for these killings must account for it. It is part of providing succour and ensuring the peace. You cannot bring back the lives, but finding and prosecuting the perpetrators will go a long way in helping to calm people and ease the pain that they are going through. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Therefore, yet again, we call on our security agents to ensure that they find the perpetrators that have done this and make them account for their detestable actions.â&#x20AC;?

Saraki also stated that working towards peace in the state and Nigeria as a whole, must remain the primary responsibility of all Nigerians.

Middle Belt Forum Calls for Arrest of Miyetti Allah's Leaders Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has called on the federal government to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The call came as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday said 218 persons were killed during the crisis, against 86 reported by the police.

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Police, Immigration Warn of Potential Terrorist Attacks on Viewing Centres Report explains rising violent extremism in West Africa As the World Cup enters

the group of 16 in Russia, the Police and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) have warned of planned attacks on viewing centres across the country by terrorists.

The security services have, therefore, charged its personnel to be vigilant throughout the month-long soccer fiesta.

Separate alerts issued by the Force Headquarters and the NIS, both in Abuja, said terrorists were plotting to attack crowded viewing centres.

The Force Headquarters directed all state police commissioners to ensure â&#x20AC;&#x153;intense patrolsâ&#x20AC;? and give frequent updates on security situations in their respective jurisdictions.

The NIS also directed its command heads across the country to ensure that all properties belonging to the agency are protected from security breach.

The alert could jolt millions of Nigerians who depend on

viewing centres to keep up with the World Cup, relished as the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most-admired football tournament.

It was unclear whether law enforcement agencies like the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Civil Defence put similar warnings in place as at Tuesday night.

The spokesperson for the civil defence did not immediately return requests for comments; while the DSS has no spokesperson.

The precision of the alert may seem difficult to gauge because there were no indications about parts of the country that are mostly at risk, but attacks on football viewing centres had been recorded in the past.

A bomb attack at a viewing centre in Damaturu during the 2014 World Cup left at least 21 people dead.

The viewers had gathered to watch Brazil and Mexico game on June 18, 2014, when a massive explosion ripped through the shed, leaving at least 27 also injured.

In 2012, three people were killed when a bomb went off at a viewing centre in downtown Jos, Plateau State.

Other pockets of security breaches have been reported at viewing centres across the country in recent years.

Nigeria has been battling Boko Haram terrorists since 2009, with tens of thousands killed across Northern Nigeria in terror attacks.

Meanwhile, a new report by the peacebuilding charity, International Alert, has revealed that the rise in violent extremism in the central Sahel is mainly a reaction to statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inability to provide security and services.

It, however, said the rise in violent extremism has little to do with religious ideology.

Drawing on extensive interviews with Fulani communities in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the report looked at why young people may or may not choose to join an armed group.

It found that state abuse and unchecked corruption

are the main factors behind some young peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to join armed groups.

The West Africa Regional Manager at International Alert, Marco Simonetti, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Real or perceived abuse by government authorities, often with impunity, has led to frustrations that violent extremists take advantage of. These groups use criticism of state corruption to incite communities to embrace an alternative political and social model, inspired by the Sharia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In reality, the appeal of global jihad carries much less weight than the unlawful detention of a loved one, the struggle for access to grazing areas or the desire for recognition within the village,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The findings also reveal a complete lack of trust among the communities in the defence and security forces, prompting a stark warning against a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;total securityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; approach to tackling violent extremism in the region.

While poverty and

unemployment are widespread, the report, according to Premium Times, found that improving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s status and recognition within the community, rather than strict material gain, is a stronger motivation for young people to join armed groups.

This is because unemployment is heavily stigmatised across the region.

Belonging to a violent extremist group, however, does not always translate into having more money.

One interviewee from Niger Republic said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youth unemployment is a major problem in our community â&#x20AC;Ś Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the main motivation for young people sympathising with armed groups. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The impunity and partiality of the justice system creates more frustrations than jihadism,â&#x20AC;? said another interviewee from Niger.

In particular, the report warns that the G5 Sahel Joint Force â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the counter-terrorism force drawn from five regional armies and supported

financially and politically by international powers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; risks undermining its aim to reduce violence and could instead weaken regional stability and communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wellbeing.

The report calls on international partners operating in the Sahel region to support national governments to be more accountable towards their citizens, improve access to justice and reduce inequality, which is pushing young people to the margins of society and into the hands of extremist groups.

The report stressed the need to improve supervision of the armed forces and create job opportunities for young people, including through managing migration effectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the escalation of violent extremism in the central Sahel, the international community needs to review its policies on the matter, and to support the Sahel states in understanding and tackling the root causes of extremist violence,â&#x20AC;? Simonetti added.

Speaking with THISDAY on the telephone, NEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Osaze Uzzi, said until the commission gets the report of the convention, it would not make a categorical statement.

Ologbondiyan in his presentation to the delegation that visited him cited Section 85 (3) of the Electoral Act (as Amended) as stating: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The election of members of the executive committee or other

governing body of a political party, including the election to fill a vacant position in any of these bodies, shall be conducted in a democratic manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates to vote in support of candidates of their choice.â&#x20AC;?

He also cited Article 20 of the APC Constitution, which he quoted as providing, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unless otherwise provided for, all party posts

prescribed or implied by this Constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, Provided that where a Candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;noâ&#x20AC;? by ballot shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.â&#x20AC;?

officials, trying to stop them from leaving the premises.

When they failed to stop the fleeing officials, they turned violent, throwing stones and destroying cars and offices including the structure housing the office of the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, and Permanent Secretary Government House and host of other top officials.

14 suspects are those arrested from the scene of protest and blockage of federal highways to protest the attack in Barkin Ladi.â&#x20AC;?

Asked whether the three suspected gunmen have confessed to the crime, Major Umar said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No, we have not got to that level, the investigation is still on, this is a security matter, they are already giving us useful information that may lead us to arrest more suspects linked to the attacks.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The three suspects that were arrested from the scene of attacks are Nigerians, they are not foreigners. The arms we arrested them with are also locally made guns including one AK-47 rifle. These suspects are not the only ones involved in the attacks, we are on the trail of others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to appeal to Nigerians to be patient and cooperative with us in our efforts to get the perpetrators of this killings, people should ignore rumours being circulated on the social media. We encourage the media to reach out to us and verify any rumour before they publish.â&#x20AC;?

P D P A S K S I N E C TO VO I D O S H I O M H O L E , OT H E R S â&#x20AC;&#x2122; E L E CT I O N community in Kogi State, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted the procedure and asked INEC to declare Oshiomhole and othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; election void on the ground that they were not returned through the ballot.

According to the PDP spokesman, INEC had declared similar action null and void when it elected its officers through voice vote in 2012.

He said, "We want to

recall that in 2012 we had a convention which INEC declared a nullity because they said we did not follow the rules. As we speak today, the coronation that the APC conducted at Eagle Square did not fit into any of our electoral laws. And we, therefore, call on INEC to declare it null and void.

"All those who did not go through votes at the convention, all those who were elected by voice votes, INEC

must declare their elections null and void because they did not go through the electoral laws."

Although APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, told THISDAY that the party would respond to the PDPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s query at the appropriate time, INEC said it would only act if a party violated its own constitution or guidelines in the conduct of the business of its convention.

S A R A K I , D O G A R A M E E T B U H A R I , H I N T O N R E J I G O F S E C U R I T Y A P PA R AT U S IG, saying they had overstayed their welcome.

PDP Declares Sevenday Mourning The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, has declared a seven-day mourning for the victims of the gruesome killings, directing that its flags in all its offices and formation at all levels across the country be flown at half-mast during the period in honour of the victims.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party urged the people of Plateau State to exercise their rights as global citizens, work with other public-spirited Nigerians and groups and take President Buhari and his government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague for acting helpless in the face of continuous mass killings in our country.

The PDP said, "The PDP firmly holds that the life of every Nigerian is sacred. All Nigerians must be protected whether they are Birom, Basange, Igbira, Tiv, Idoma, Hausa, Igbo, Fulani, Gbagyi,

Yoruba or from any other tribe whatsoever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fundamental duty of government all over the world is the protection of lives and we can no longer afford to continue to fold our hands while compatriots are daily hacked down by marauders.â&#x20AC;?

Obasanjo Urges Govt to Identify Root cause of Violence Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday visited Jos to commiserate with Lalong and the people over the recent killings, urging the federal and state governments to identity the root cause of insecurity and deal with it so that people would get reprieve from the incessant violence plaguing the land.

He said violence had escalated since he left office in 2007 but said he believed that solutions could still be found to address the challenges.

According to him, I have suggested and I will say it again that we should find out the root cause of this problem and deal with it.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There must be

remote and immediate cause, if we deal with it, we are not going to be multiplying condolence visits. I believe that any human problem has human solution; I do hope and plead with government at the federal level; those of you in states and even local government level to join hands even at the community level to find the causes and deal with them permanently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We offer our condolences to the bereaved families, all we can say is that God knows the best. Even in my time, we had problems but not in this magnitude, we thought we were dealing with them as at that time but the earlier we deal with it, the better. I believe we can find solution, we must find solution.â&#x20AC;?

Responding, Lalong appreciated Obasanjo for coming to pay his condolence, stating, however, that a phone call from the former president would have sufficed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Insecurity is not new to me,â&#x20AC;? he said, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We thought we could handle it. When we came in, we quickly put up a team, including Berom and Fulani. They came out with a

roadmap to proffer solutions, we adopted the recommendations and have implemented some and was in the process of implementing the remaining ones. We have done our best, we have learnt our lessons, and we will be very firm.â&#x20AC;?

Youth Groups, Women Protest Killings As the condolence visits were under way, a peaceful protest embarked upon by the youths and women wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against the wanton killings was hijacked by hoodlums as it turned violent and protesters threw stones, damaging cars parked in the new Government House in Jos, as well some office complexes.

The protesters who had converged on the Old Airport junction and marched to the Government House, were initially prevented from entering into the premises but some climbed the fence, forcing security at the gate to eventually open it.

The situation turned violent when some of the protesters ran after the fleeing government

Military Arrests 17 Suspects The Military Special Task Force in charge of security in the state yesterday paraded 17 suspects allegedly connected to the multiple attacks on villages in Barkin Ladi.

Parading them at the OPSH headquarters in Jos, Media Officer of the command, Major Adam Umar, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;These suspects we are parading here were arrested in connection with last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attack in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area on June 23, 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The suspects are in two categories; three of the suspects Yahuza, Friday and Ahmed were in connection to the attack in Barkin Ladi, and the other

9

THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x161; Ă?ĂĄĂ? Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ejiofor Alike Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

You Must Wield the Big Stick against Herdsmen, Soyinka Tells Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari must raise the big stick against the herdsmen that have been rampaging the country and spreading death in the land through wanton killing of Nigerians, Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka has demanded, yesterday.

Soyinka, who, like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, took to his pen to write the president, wants him to impress it on the herdsmen, whom he accused of carrying out the orgy of killings in order to take away the land of their victims that whatever gains they made in that direction, would be reversed and such land recovered from them.

The literary icon, who saw the entire crisis as nothing more than a scheme aimed at land-grabbing, conveyed his position in the letter, entitled: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;On demand: A language of non-capitulation, non-appeasement.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Soyinka according to whirlwindnews.com, counselled the President to stop complaining of the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s misgiving about his treatment of the situation, saying he had not done enough to dispel their assumption of siding with the herdsmen.

His words: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When President Buhari complains â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s media report, June 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that it is unjust for the public to accuse him of being silent on the killer herdsmen, that is exactly to what they referred â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the erstwhile language of complacency and accommodativeness in the face of unmerited brutalisation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Buhari had yet to speak in the language that these murdering herdsmen understand â&#x20AC;&#x201C; simply, that forceful seizure of land will not be tolerated in any part of a federation under his

governance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That the temporary acquisition of weapons of mass elimination by any bunch of psychopaths and anachronistic feudal mentality will not translate into subjugation of a people and a savaging of their communities. That any such gains are illusory and temporary and will be reversed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The plaint of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;injusticeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a misjudgment of the injustice done directly to the victims, and vicariously to the rest of us who turn to the news with dread every day, wondering what new stomach-churning accounts of the gory agenda on their humanity will replace the normal concourse of humanity,â&#x20AC;?

Soyinka said.

According to him, the present government, had given Nigerians reasons to conclude that â&#x20AC;&#x153;governance had indeed expired, its elected head in a trance. It is not that long ago when I demanded that this declaration of intent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the reversal of land expropriation through mass murder â&#x20AC;&#x201C;be made, and that the triumphalist beneficiaries of such obscene occupation agenda be openly given a deadline to self-evacuate, or be forcefully evicted,â&#x20AC;? Soyinka added.

He stressed the importance of both enforcement and its tempo in handling the situation, whilst acknowledging some commitment, but called for a total remedial package. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Statements of outrage, humane sentiment, empathy, even visitations to afflicted areas are natural expectations from government, and perfectly in order. They are essential indications of concern and solidarity, even of admissions of lapses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They offer glimmerings of eventual measures of equity and restitution â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of which we

must never lose sight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; else community sinks into despair, or enters the interminable spiral of reprisals. Visible pragmatic measures additionally assist in bolstering the optimism of victims, enable them to feel that they have not been abandoned,â&#x20AC;? Soyinka explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such are the relocation of security commands to vulnerable zones, deployment of Special Forces and attack helicopters etc. etc. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; yes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all these are mandatory measures, it is their absence that constitute unpardonable negligence.

Long term propositions, such as establishment of ranches, restriction of cattle movements,

cultivation of fast growth grasses and so on â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they all indicate farsighted planning. They deserve approbation, but they are not exclusively remedial,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certain unconscionable events have taken place, and cannot be ignored. Entire communities have been erased from the national landscape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thousands of family units are in mourning, survivors scarred and traumatized beyond measure. Famine looms in many areas, even in those lodged in acknowledged bread baskets of the nation.

Impunity, gleeful and prideful impunity substitutes for decent self-distancing from once

unthinkable crimes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; let us not even speak of expressions of remorse and human empathy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The instigators, increasingly fingered as directors of human carnage are strutting around, defiant, justifying the unspeakable, daring a nation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there is no other word for it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; daring governments and nation to attempt to reverse their categorisation of communities as culpable, sentenced and deserving of some of the most revolting, onslaughts of ethnic cleansing that this nation has ever undergone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once, when we spoke of internal colonialism, we referred merely to the military seizure of

a peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political will. Today, that phrase has taken on a bruising physicality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; seizures of a peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land patrimony and the abrogation of their centuries old resource of material survival.

What is the ultimate destination of these new imperators? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The answer is unambiguous: Land. The seizure of land either for seasonal grazing, for the lordly passage of cattle, or for permanent settlement.

The rights of passage no matter the cost. This is what makes noteworthy this new language of objective appraisal, one that is indicative of remedial action,â&#x20AC;?

Soyinka said.

TAKE HEARTâ&#x20AC;Ś

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, (right) and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, during a condolence visit to Government House, Jos over recent killings in the stateâ&#x20AC;Ś yesterday

Governors Meet to Decide on Minimum Wage, Stamp Duty NNPC shuns invitation Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Onyebuchi Ezigbo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The governors of the 36 states of the federation and their state Attorneys General and Commissioner for Justice met last night in Abuja to agree on the way forward on the implementation of the proposed new minimum wage and stamp duty.

The governors who met under the auspices of the Nigeria Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum (NGF), were disappointed over the shunning of their invitation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC).

This is coming as the meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the month of May suffered another postponement yesterday over what might not be unconnected with the failure of the corporation to remit appropriate revenue into the Federation Account.

Again, FAAC meeting ends in deadlock

The NNPCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Group Managing Director, Dr. Baru Makanti, was to be at the governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting to explain the alarming fuel consumption volume and the subsidy deductions.

The meeting also explored ways of resolving protracted issue of stamp duty management, which is presently in court.

Speaking to journalists on the agenda of the governors meeting, the Head of Media at the NGF, Abdulzak Bakindo stated that in addition to other issues, the governors would appraise the state of the health sector in the country.

A source said the Chairman of the of NGF, Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, briefed his colleagues on the dispute over the non-remittances by the NNPC, particularly as it affects fuel subsidy payments.

On the issue of the

proposed N58,000 new minimum wage, the NGF source said the governors were pushing for a staggered implementation.

It said the issue of the Paris Club fund did not feature because all the outstanding money has been paid.

Regarding the protracted issue of stamp duty allocation, Bakindo said the governors were worried that the matter had dragged for too long.

In line with the mood of the nation over recent babaric killing in Plateau State, the governors would pay a sympathy visit to the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Governors is also planning a sympathy visit Jos to show solidarity with the families of the victims,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In another development, for the third time this year, the meeting of the FAAC for the month of May suffered

another postponement yesterday over what might not be unconnected with the failure of the NNPC to remit appropriate revenue into the Federation Account.

The FAAC meeting in March this year where the representatives of the three tiers of government had gathered to disburse revenue that had accrued to the account for the month of February had ended in a stalemate due to a shortfall of about N37.7 billion in NNPC remittances for that month.

A similar situation had also played out in February.

Several hours after members of FAAC, including various statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commissioners for finance, account-general counterparts and other top officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, entered a closed plenary session, they emerged from the meeting wearing long faces, indicating that all was

not well.

However, the Director of Information, Ministry of Finance, Hassan Doddo, told journalists that the meeting had been postponed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The meeting has been postponed to a later date to be announced,â&#x20AC;? he said, but declined to provide any reason for the postponement.

The Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners, Alhaji Yunusa Mahmoud, who usually told journalists the reason for such postponements in the past, this time, declined comment when prodded for an explanation.

But a source told THISDAY that the problem arose from the lingering irreconcilable account with the NNPC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole thing revolves around NNPC irreconcilable account. However, President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened. But I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell when the meeting will reconvene. That will

depend on the outcome of intervention by the president.

Feelers that all might not be smooth with FAAC manifested sometime last week.

Although the monthly meeting for distribution of funds accruing to the Federation Account usually hold between 18 and 20 of every month, officials of the Ministry of Finance were not forthcoming with plausible convincing explanations on why the meeting could not hold last week.

In March this year, FAAC experienced a stalemate over allegation that NNPC withheld of portion of federation fund.

It took the intervention of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, to reach out to the governors of the 36 states to direct their respective commissioners for finance to accept February revenue.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

INEC Registers 9.7m New Voters EU spends over €100m on elections in Nigeria Segun James The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed that the electoral body has registered over 9.7 million new voters since April 2017, saying the number will increase if more youths participate in the process.

Also, the European Union (EU) has disclosed that it has spent over €100 million for election processes in Nigeria since 1999.

Yabuku disclosed this yesterday during IENC’s Youth Vote Campus Outreach Programme sponsored by the European Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) at the University of Lagos.

Yakuba stated that even though majority of the registrants are youth, the commission however noticed that few of them are students, a situation which prompted the need for the campus outreach.

According to him, some

Senate, Saraki Shun IG’s Suit on ‘Vote of No Confidence’ Resolution Court fixes Sept 25 for judgment A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed September 25, 2018, to deliver the judgment in a suit seeking to quash the May 9, 2018, resolution of the Senate, which declared the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, “unfit” to retain his position.

Justice John Tsoho okayed the judgement on the matter on a day both Senate and its President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who were cited as respondents, shunned the suit.

Neither the Senate nor Saraki sent a legal representative or filed any brief in response to the suit, which the IG lodged before the court to challenge the powers of the respondents to pass a vote of no confidence against him.

Specifically, the IG, in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/554/2018, prayed the court to bar the Senate from taking further steps with regards to the resolution.

Meanwhile, following the absence of the respondents in court for hearing of the suit, Justice Tsoho gave the IG the nod to adopt his processes, after which he adjourned the case for judgment.

The court said it was satisfied that counsel to the police boss, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), duly served all the relevant processes as well as the hearing notice, on the respondents.

Justice Tsoho had on June 7, ordered that the respondents should be served through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The Senate had in the said resolution it passed on May 9, declared the police boss as unfit for any public office, following his repeated refusal to appear before it to answer questions pertaining to the spate of killings across the country and the inhuman treatment allegedly meted out to the lawmaker representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye.

Insisting that the action of the IG was a threat to democracy, the Senate declared him ‘persona non grata’ and resolved to notify the international community, embassies, the country’s international partners and Interpol of its decision.

However, the IG dismissed the resolution against him as a deliberate blackmail and witch-hunt, insisting he had backing of the law to send a senior officer of the Police of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) or an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) to represent him before the Senate.

In the suit, the IG applied for, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, whether by itself, or through its servant, agents and or privies, whatsoever from acting on the said resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018 or causing same to be acted upon by any person or authority or government agency, or carrying out similar or like resolution against the applicant.”

He equally sought a declaration that the respondents acted ultra vires its Powers under section 88 and 89 of the 199 Constitution (as amended) in the votes and proceedings leading to the resolution contained in the gazette dated May 9, 2018, imposing a penal sanction on the applicant.

Likewise, an order of court quashing the entire votes and proceedings and by implication, the resolution of the Senate that led to the resolution contained in the gazette declaring him as enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.

He argued that the respondents lacked the competence and or jurisdiction to impose penal sanction on him under Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution, adding that the conduct of the respondents throughout the votes and proceedings that led to the said resolution contained in the gazette was palpable of bias, deep rooted prejudiced, visible hatred and disguised contempt for the applicant.

The IG contended that action of the Senate constituted a legislative judgment. In a 15-paragraphed affidavit he filed in support of the suit, Idris told the court that he received the respondents letter dated April 25 inviting him to appear before the Senate.

of the few students that have registered actually did so to use their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) for other purposes, such as banking facilities and identification instead of actual voting, adding that this attitude must change.

He told the students of the university, majority of whom have not registered, that the commission has opened a registration centre in the university in order to encourage them to vote, adding that the Not Too Young To Run Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari has put more powers in the hands of the youth in order to be the change that the country needed.

Yakubu said studies had shown that the youths have been the most patriotic of all Nigerians, telling them that no proper election can take place in the country without the active participation of the youths.

He wondered at the apathy for registration by the eligible student, saying even though they were reluctant to register, they are the ones that the commission have been using to conduct elections in the over 12,000 polling stations in the country.

While calling the most patriotic of Nigeria he regretted that some of them have paid heavy prices in the process of conducting elections in the country.

He told the students that their vote will ultimately count, saying that the INEC has the largest database of citizens in Nigeria, a situation which will soon help ensure that nobody, once registered can vote twice anywhere in the country and that every vote counts.

When asked about the recall process of legislators in the country, Yakubu admitted that the process is not only difficult but very expensive.

Yakubu said that none of the 27 attempts at recalling

any legislator since 1999 has succeeded.

He therefore advised that it’s better to vote in someone who the people believe in, and that will do what the people need and want than to resort to a costly recall process which may not work.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Keti Kalsen, has disclosed that the EU has spent over €100m to support election processes and practice for advancement of democracy in Nigeria in the last 20 years.

He stressed that the money was spent to support Nigerian policies and ideas and not to influence the country in anyway.

Kalsen made it clear that the EU is not trying to influence Nigeria to be like Europe, instead it is more interested in the advancement of democracy the world over.

According to him, the EU believes that what is good for

Nigeria will ultimately be good for Europe.

He urged the students and other youths to come out not only to register but to vote and be voted for, saying that “your are not just the future, you are the present. Take advantage of it.’

Kalsen said the reason EU was sponsoring the campus outreach programme was because it believed very strongly in the Not Too Young To Run policy of the federal government, adding that in most nations all over the world, the youths have indeed taken over and are in charge.

Also speaking at the event moderated by Mr. Seun Okinbaloye of the Channels Television, top Nigerian entertainment celebrities like Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, Ayo AY Makun, Baskemouth, Helen Paul and a student leader in the University, Babtunde Durowoju, urged the students to come out and be the change they want in 2019.

FEC MEETING

L-R: Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Ade Ipaye; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and the SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapher, discusssing during the meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

CCNN, Kalambaina Cement Set to Merge The Board of Directors of Nigeria’s Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) and owners of the 500,000 metric tonnes per annum Sokoto Cement Plant have announced that it has informed the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of its proposed merger with the BUA Cement owned Kalambaina Cement Company Limited (Kalambaina Cement) – owners and operators of the newly built 1.5million tonnes per annum Kalambaina Cement plant in Sokoto State.

The disclosure was made known in filings to regulatory authorities and is subject to various approvals.

If approved, the combined entity would have a total installed capacity of two million metric tonnes per annum.

In its disclosure on the Proposed Merger, Managing Director, CCNN, Ibrahim Aminu, said the proposed merger would position CCNN for better competitiveness within its home market and also enable it utilise the more modern plant and equipment of the Kalambaina Cement Company Limited to boost its market penetration and export potential.

“Over the years, we have always delivered exceptional value to all stakeholders and this proposed merger is in continuation of that. We have consistently outperformed the industry in key metrics such as capacity utilisation but growth has been hampered over the years due to limited expansion and lack of alternative fuel sources. Kalambaina Cement’s

1.5million metric tonnes per annum multi-fuel (coal, heavy oils and gas) powered cement plant solves that issue with limited downtime and further opportunities for growth and expansion.”

According to the statement, CCNN further alluded that the proposed merger provides a compelling opportunity to capture significant synergies and create value for the benefit of the shareholders of both companies in the form of stronger competitive position of the enlarged company, economies of scale, enhanced operations and administrative efficiencies which are expected to accrue.

This is in view of various challenges that had prevented CCNN from maximising the

opportunities present in its local markets where it is hampered by limited access and high cost of heavy fuels which CCNN’s Sokoto Cement factory operates on.

It was also disclosed that the shares of CCNN would be issued and allotted to all shareholders of Kalambaina Cement in exchange for their shares in Kalambaina Cement at an agreed ratio based on CCNN’s 30-day volume weighted average closing price to June 22, 2018, of 25.99 per share.

This move is also expected to put BUA Cement businesses in a stronger position to compete effectively and also explore export opportunities in neighbouring countries.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of Alison-Madueke’s N325m Lekki Land to FG Davidson Iriekpen A Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Babs Kuewumi yesterday ordered the temporary forfeiture of a landed property belonging to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, valued at N325,400,000 to the federal government.

Other defendants in the suit are Mr. Donald Chidi Amangbo and Mez Group Limited.

Justice Kweuwumi granted the order of temporary forfeiture of the property sequel to a motion file and agued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Anselem Ozioko, on a vacant plot of land said to be at Plot 13, Block 11, Oniru Chieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki, Lagos State, after listening to the motion ex-parte filed and argued by the anti-graft commission.

In the motion ex-parte marked suit number FHC/L/ CS/811/18, the commission is seeking an interim order of the court forfeiting to the federal government the assets and properties named and described in the schedule which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

The EFCC in the affidavit is also seeking an order authorising the commission to appoint a competent person (s) or firm to manage the assets named and described in the scheduled to the application.

Ozioko is also seeking an order of the court directing the applicant to notify the person(s) in whose possession the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be forfeited to the federal

government.

In the alternative, it urged the court for an order directing the publication in any national newspaper of the said properties for persons in whose possession they sought to be forfeited are found or anyone who is interested in the properties sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture of the properties should not be made in favour of the federal government.

In the 27 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Abdulrasheed Bawa, a detective of the EFCC, and filed before the court, it was averred that sometime in 2016, a search warrant was executed at the office and premises of one Mr. Donald Chidi Amamgbo (SAN), a known acquaintance of Alison-Madueke.

The commission said during the search, among the documents recovered from Amamgbo’s office was an undated report titled: ‘Highly Confidential Attorney Work Product- August Report.’

EFCC said the report contained a list of 18 companies and several properties located in United Kingdom, Nigeria and United States of America.

It was also averred that in the course of his interview, Amamgbo told the anti-graft agency that he registered the 18 companies to assist AlisonMadueke in holding titles of her properties and that all belong to her.

The anti-graft agency added that among the properties on the list is: A vacant plot of land at Plot 13 Block 11, OniruChieftaincy Family Private Estate, Lekki, Lagos under the name of Mez Group LCC as the holding entity.

The EFCC said it consequently wrote a letter dated May 11, 2016, to the Oniru Chieftaincy Family Property Company for copies of the sales agreement/ Deed of lease and evidence of payment for the property while the Oniru responded by submitting the following: a sub-lease agreement between Oniru and Skye Bank.

A letter dated September 5, 2011, and Paul Osaji to Oniru requesting for the release of sublease agreement between Oniru and Mez Group LCC. Also recovered from Amamgbo’s office is a letter dated September 5, 2011 from Oniru to Mez Group LCC titled collection of deed of sub-lease

of the property.

The commission said enquiries from Skye Bank Plc indicated that the bank bought the property from Oniru sometimes in 2006, but sold it to Exclamation Nigeria Limited in 2008 and that in 2012, the property was purchased by Mez Group LCC through Paul Osaji and Co , Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

The affidavit further stated that Paul Osaji in his response to EFCC’s letter, said among others issue that in 2010, the land was sold to Mez Group LCC for the sum of N325,400,000.

Osaji was also said to have submitted letter which includes sub-lease agreement between

Oniru and Mez Group, copies of 19 First Bank of Nigeria Manager cheque all dated December 24, 2010 with a total value N185,400,000 in favour of Exclamation Nigeria Limited, five Zenith Bank Plc Manager cheques all dated 9th November 9, 2010 with total value of N50,000,000 , in favour of Exclamation Nigeria Limited.

Also recovered were five copies of UBA PlC Manager cheque all dated November 8, 2010 with total value of N90,000,000.

The applicant said among other investigation carried out, the Land Bureau in Alausa, Lagos was written and the bureau confirmed that the land

belongs to Mez Group.

Consequently, EFCC asked that the property be forfeited to the federal government in the interim.

After listening to argument by the counsel to EFCC, Justice Kuewumi granted the application for interim forfeiture of the property to the federal government.

The judge further ruled that the order must be published in a national newspaper for anybody who has interest in the property sought to be forfeited to come forward and show cause why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

EDUCATION SUMMIT

Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, (Left) , and Pro Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin, during an education summit and inauguration of ultra modern Bola Babalakin Hall in Gbogan, Osun State...recently

Joe, Michael Jackson’s Father Dies of Cancer at 89

ARG: Yoruba Won’t Vote for Buhari without Restructuring

Joe Jackson, the father of late king of pop, Michael Jackson, has died of stage four pancreatic cancer at the age of 89, the DailyMail.com has revealed.

Jackson, who was hospitalised in Las Vegas last week, has been battling many ailments, including heart attack, stroke and cancer, which eventually took his life on Wednesday, according to sources close to the family.

Known as the patriarch of the Jackson five, which includes Michael, Janet, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine, late Jackson managed the group in the 60s until Michael later went on to achieve multi-platinum status as a solo artist, followed by his sister, Janet.

Lauded for managing the group’s emergence, Jackson’s reputation suffered after stories emerged in the 1980s of his alleged abusive treatment of his kids, including allegations made

by Michael which were later denied by him and Katherine, the children’s mother.

In a 2013 interview, Jackson

Gboyega Akinsanmi

said he had no regrets about being hard on his kids. “I’m glad I was tough because look at what I came out with, I came out with kids that people loved all over the world,” he said.

Few hours before his death, family members were said to have trooped to the hospital to bid him final goodbye, as it was obvious he only had hours or days before succumbing to the cancer.

According to DailyMail. com, Jackson before his death had given verbal instructions making clear he didn’t want visitors or family members to see him or his medical records.

“It’s understood Katherine, daughters Rebbie and Joh’Vonnie and granddaughter Yashi Brown, did visited the patriach in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday.

“The visit came following a tense standoff during which the Jackson family struggled to gain medical information about, and access to the dying man,” Daily Mail, who got a confirmation from his son, Jermaine, said.

The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday said the people of Yoruba nation would not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari if he failed to restructure the country’s governance architecture to devolve to the federating units.

The ARG, a pan-Yoruba sociopolitical think-tank, warned that the boundaries set by the 1999 Constitution “will be broken anytime soon, to the shame of recalcitrant leaders opposing it” if the Buhari government failed to heed the call for restructuring.

The group gave the warning in a statement its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo, issued yesterday in response to Buhari’s position that all the groups clamouring for the restructuring of the country had their personal agenda.

Buhari had at a meeting with a delegation of Urhobo Traditional Rulers, the leadership of the Urhobo Progressive Union and APC leaders from Delta State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said the proponents of restructuring “have personal agenda.”

At the meeting, the president wondered if the 1999 constitution

would allow such agenda, noting that every group asking for restructuring “has got their own agenda. I hope it can be accommodated by the 1999 constitution.”

In a statement it issued yesterday, however, the ARG described as non-visionary Buhari’s statement that reduced the campaign for restructuring of Nigeria to selfish pursuit.

Specifically, it called on the All Progressives Congress (APC), which recently carried out a survey and consultation across Nigeria to push the frontiers of restructuring, irrespective of the shortsightedness of the executive arm of government.

The ARG, therefore, noted that the APC should ensure implementation of the report of its committee on restructuring if it would remain a party of choice for Yoruba people in 2019.

It argued that even a crude assessment of Nigeria’s socioeconomic affairs “gives credence to the demand by Nigerians to review Nigeria’s governance structure to accommodate nascent issues.

“It is no brainer that Constitutions are neither static nor constant. Every successful political climes stay true

to the maxim that man is not made for the law, rather law is made for man.

“As observed recently at one of our events by foremost legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN, Nigeria may not survive for long under the current governance structure and every objective political analysis supports this assertion,” it said.

At this instance, the ARG noted that Buhari’s position called for visionary political leaders who would ensure that governance “is dynamic enough to accommodate emerging issues that affect the welfare and security of their people.”

The group, however, lamented that Nigeria’s leaders appeared “to have deified the 1999 Constitution almost to the point that even generations unborn must grow to worship it, despite its glaring inadequacies and debilitating impact.”

It thus warned that somehow the boundaries set by the 1999 Constitution would be broken anytime soon “to the shame of recalcitrant leaders opposing it.

The recent events about June 12 and global affairs should teach

discerning observers.”

At a public lecture in Lagos yesterday, Prof. Akin Oyebode, noted that Buhari had failed Nigerians, citing uncontrollable herdsmen killings in some parts of the country.

Oyebode, a professor of international law, added that the president had failed Nigerians in entirety, saying there “is no basis for the government to continue to exist.

“Nigeria is now a failing State and that everybody must acknowledge it. Nigeria is failing state, although it has not completely failed. But it is failing.

We have to quickly address that.

“They say when there is fire on the mountain, the children will run. Things are getting worse and worse in the country all hands must be on deck to safe Nigeria from total destruction. The statistics are very bad,” Oyebode explained.

He lamented that it was so embarrassing that incessant killings were happening in Nigeria that pride itself as the biggest black nation on earth and the giant of Africa, as the government could no longer safeguard the lives of the people.

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COMMENT

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

SONG FOR 60 SONGS AND MORE

In traditional Africa, songs are vehicles for reaching the minds and hearts of many, writes Okello Oculi

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t dusk of Thursday, June 7, 2018 rain fell as writers entered a shrine for honouring one-legged chants hosted by the Abuja Branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Halima Usmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter of invitation announced the occasion as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Celebratory Reading Session with Dr Timothy Okon, Senior Technical Assistant on Fiscals to Petroleum Ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. They say, and believe, that rain falls to bless human events. We got some of that blessing that evening.

In 1986 Major-General Mamman Vatsa invited ANA into Abuja when it was a mere bush dressed in empty roads resembling silent tribal marks. Abuja was a military regimeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baby named after Abu Jah, a Hausa leader who had fled from a revolution against his exploitative and repressive anti-people regime familiar in other Hausa states. Vatsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invitation was honoured by a galaxy of literary minds who write down their art.

Okot pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bitek, a literary genius who splashed his gift as a teacher at the University of Ife â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now Obafemi Awolowo University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had mocked and rebuked those who claim that Songs rent all over Africa are not â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;poetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, while deliciously vulgar wits by Chaucer fit the genre. Assembled authors hosted by Vatsa in Abuja did not include singers Dan Mara-Jos, Mamman Shata or Fela Anikulapo Kuti whose lyrics reached and animated feelings and thoughts of more people who heard them than all the pen-authors put together.

The pen-artists were among the best in Nigeria. Patrick Wilmot, a Jamaican teacher of Sociology at Ahmadu Bello University, was probably Chinua Achebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age-mate as the older generation. Femi Osofisan, Odia Ofeimun, Tess Onwenu and Amma Ogan were a sample of stars among the younger galaxy. They held an election for the executive to run future affairs of their trade. In a fit of impulsive indiscretion they failed to allocate key posts to Vatsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s immediate â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;catchment areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. As an apparent afterthought, a Gaskiya publisher based in Zaria was allocated the post of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Social Secretaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; which a bitter wit labelled as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Literary Almajiriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the team.

As I walked on raindrops at Savannah Suites (in Garki, Area 3, Abuja), on June 7 I recalled Chinua Achebeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excitement over Vatsa offering a plot of land for ANA to build a Writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Village as a maternity space for hosting writers pregnant with new novels, drama skits, poetry and epics. Popular singers were not on the horizon. When in 2012 we met Odia Ofeimun, the Secretary of the national executive of ANA, he was bitter from fighting a cobweb of bureaucratic fraud involving collusion to sell the writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; land to a speculator. Written literature was wrestling with raw reality; and without the power of Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jabs its warriors were weak. Here was the Abuja branch of ANA crouching in a traderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s space:

Hakeem Bello

POETRY IN FELAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SONGS EARNED HIM MORE PRISON PAINS THAN THE ENTIRE PENAUTHORS PUT TOGETHER; EVIDENCE THAT MILITARY AUTHORITIES KNEW THAT POETRY IN SONGS WAS MORE SUBVERSIVE

a room on land most probably acquired after Vatsa and Achebe had locked elbows in the hope of serving literature.

Soon after that camaraderie, Mamman Vatsa was shot totally dead.

His poetry had not been a shield against bullets shot by other political ambitions. In colonial Tanganyika, nationalist fighters had found out after death - that magical water (or Maji) was no proof against German colonial bullets. Alice Lakwenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words also failed against Museveniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guns. Poetry in Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs earned him more prison pains than the entire pen-authors put together; evidence that military authorities knew that poetry in Songs was more subversive. In traditional Africa, songs reached multitudes of hearts and minds.

In the immediate decade of independence, written literature got publicity by their foreign publishers. This publicity did not target the majority of Euro-American audiences but roused a lot of imagination in schools and colleges in Africa. The names that became big, notably: Chinua Achebe, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Wole Soyinka, Ousmane Sembene, Dennis Brutus, Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Aminata Fall, Utamsi Tchaya, Ferdinand Oyono, Ayi Kweyi Ahmah and others have been vigorously patriotic by bashing through gates to make sure that politicians and military thugs did not monopolise voices about how independence governance should be conducted.

Their courage was met with vindictive indifference by political leaders. Okot pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bitek, for example, once played a little joke of inviting to lunch Ugandaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabinet members and permanent secretaries in President Milton Oboteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government at Kampalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top hotel, and while they were enjoying meat steaks and whiskies, he slipped out while assuring hotel staff that the guests will meet the bills themselves.

Furious officialdom hit back by promptly dismissing him from his job as director of culture. Paradoxically, it was President Jomo Kenyatta - a former detainee of British colonial rule at Kapenguria in Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s northern desert - who awarded Okot pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Bitek a prize for his literary work â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;SONG OF PRISONERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. His barbs in his book â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;SONG OF LAWINOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; - in which he compares politicians to human dung in a Kampala night clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toilet - was unlikely to make him a hero to Oboteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s government. Kenyatta had Ngugi run out of Kenya and Daniel arap Moi almost killed him inside a maximum security prison cell.

With a legacy of politicians borrowing constitutions from England and America, ANA might get federal and state governments to get â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NATIONAL and STATE Poet-Singersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to offer guidance at official ceremonies every four years when the president and 36 governors take oaths of office. And get land from which to sing praises and curses to power.

AT 55, FASHOLA GREYS GRACEFULLY

In November 2010, in a tribute to Stephen J. Solarz, a former nine-term New York congressman, Douglas Martin wrote that he was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;torrent of activityâ&#x20AC;? supporting it with a statement issued by the late lawmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office that â&#x20AC;&#x153;during his first six months in Congress, he made 12 speeches on the House floor, co-sponsored 370 bills, held 11 news conferences, made 24 trips to his district and attended 99 events there, visited 23 subway stations, sent constituents 513,720 pieces of mail and took an 18-day tour of the Middle East.â&#x20AC;?

In October 2015, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, was honoured amongst seven distinguished personalities with an award named for Stephen J Solarz by the International Crisis Group.

From his eight-year tenure as the governor of Lagos State to his two-yearplus as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minister of Power, Works and Housing, our own BRF has, as the global conflict-prevention organisation acknowledged in conferring the honour on him, been a â&#x20AC;&#x153;relentless fighter for the improvement of people's livesâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

Barely a month after the global recognition of BRFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;commitment to resolving social, economic and security challenges in one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most challenging urban environmentsâ&#x20AC;?, President Muhammadu Buhari tapped him to join him in tackling the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multifarious infrastructural challenges.

Ever since, the three-in-one ministry has witnessed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;torrent of activityâ&#x20AC;? towards the making life more meaningful for Nigerians of all strata.

Has he lived up to the recognition of the ICG and the confidence reposed in him by President Buhari to deliver?

His 55th birthday on 28 June affords us the opportunity to not only answer that question but also look at The Essential BRF. For BRF, results rather than excuses

should count towards measuring a leaderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gravitas. So, not for him any argument which suggests that , comparing an executive position with an appointive capacity within a complex federation such as Nigeria is like comparing apples with oranges. Not even if you illustrate with the now-common fiasco over the national budget as an example of a barrier to effective delivery of much-expected services to the people.

Any unbiased but informed observer would, unhesitantly, proffer that, within those constraints, and with the unwavering support from his principal, the minister has demonstrated unflinching commitment to reducing Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructural deficit to the barest minimum, one project at a time, across Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36 states.

One thing you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take away from BRF is his penchant for, to use a favourite word of his, dimensioning any problem, no matter how seemingly gargantuan.

He is the master of drilling down. His staff at the ministry will attest to how, from the day of his inauguration, he has been engaging everyone in marathon consultations, sometimes into the night, to be able to put every problem in proper perspective and then ensuring that the job gets done - without any short-cut. Â

A DEVELOPMENT MATRIX

For him, nothing should be done superficially. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take work on roads.

He starts with the premise that good roads will help reflate and grow the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy, reduce travel time, cost of transportation of goods and services, and create jobs which will provide the economic means for the worker to live meaningfully. To achieve this, in the short term, would mean starting with roads which can be quickly completed to facilitate connectivity. This should further be guided by choosing first the roads which connect states together and bear the

heaviest traffic such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and working the way across Nigeria gradually. By sticking religiously to, and developing this plan, enunciated with his team in the Ministry with necessary policy and budgetary support from the Cabinet led by the President and National Assembly, albeit, with all the â&#x20AC;&#x153;constituency complications,â&#x20AC;? Fashola has been delivering on his mandate.

On Power, Fashola believes that predictable supply achieved through incremental, stable, and, ultimately, uninterrupted supply of electricity, availability will be a critical and defining component of our economic renaissance, job creation, GDP growth and reduction of income inequalities.

This has formed the basis of the Federal Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roadmap to Power with the accompanying policies and plans like the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) aimed at strengthening the responsibility of the Ministry as a regulator through the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), so that the GenCos and DisCos can be held to their contracts with citizens; getting the support needed to complete stalled power projects in the generation, transmission and distribution value chains; and improving the liquidity in the sector.

Coming with a practical experience from Lagos, Fashola believes the construction of houses will complement the economic growth drive by direct and indirect jobs in the housing value chain from construction companies, to artisans, labourers, vendors and many more. The Federal Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing project is currently going on in 34 States of the Federation which have provided the required suitable land for the programme, currently at its pilot stage and poised to address the issues of affordability, acceptability and climatic/cultural diversities which have been the bane of the previous housing programmes.

What used to be the standard question about how one man can cope with the leadership of three ministries comes less frequently in its monotony now because Fashola has continually demonstrated that tackling challenges is his second nature.

Never mind that he has had to sleep less than the averagely-required hours and do unusual things - for instance in 2017 during an inspection of projects in the North East, he led the team to drive on the road by the dreaded Sambisa Forest in the thick of the night - whilst greying graciously but achieving results. By the way, Hamza Idris of the Daily Trust, who was on the trip, had asked him what gave him the courage to travel at that time, he answered as only a BRF would:Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it is courage.

I have a job to do and it has to be done well. If you are building and managing roads, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t manage them from slides, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t manage them remotely.

You must at least see how good or bad those roads are. It gives a sense, either of urgency, enthusiasm, or a combination of both, to be able to really deal with it.

The Ministry of Defence is aware that we are here, but the security arrangement is just precautionary. We have seen ordinary Nigerians travelling in their buses. I have seen the Taraba Mass Transit Services, Adamawa Express, Bauchi Express and others. So, life is going on and we just have a job to do.â&#x20AC;?

There is no better way to end this birthday tribute to this quintessential man who is extremely loyal to his principal, political party and his principles, than quoting his answer to another question on that North East inspection trip:    â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am never satisfied with anything I am involved in; I just keep going. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to satisfy me, and if you ask me to assess myself, I would continue to push myself.â&#x20AC;? r Bello is Special Adviser, Communications to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing

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EDITORIAL THE REIGN OF DARKNESS A flawed power reform is prolonging the country’s agony

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igeria’s public power supply system has for years been characterised by unreliable and poor service delivery. This has sadly continued even after the reforms expected to change the situation were introduced and completed in 2013. It is bad enough that a country with an estimated population of 190 million people generates not more than 4000MW of electricity daily. It is worse that the little power available cannot be distributed.

Indeed, despite the huge investments of recent years in the power sector, things are still exceedingly bleak.

Nigerians are grossly underserved, with perhaps one of the lowest energy per-capita rates in the world. Darkness is still an irritating THE EPILEPTIC NATURE companion of most OF POWER SUPPLY Nigerians every day of MAKES THE COUNTRY the year. Individuals ONE OF THE HARSHEST and businesses resort to self-help through an ENVIRONMENTS FOR assortment of genBUSINESS erators. The epileptic nature of power supply makes the country one of the harshest environments for business.

The situation is compounded by repeated cases of vandalism of gas line and transmission facilities which also result to low generation and loss of financial revenues by the sector. For example, a June 22 market report of the advisory power team in the Office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo stated that an average of 3,928MW of electricity was generated and sent out to homes and offices in the country while 1,567.5MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas. It also stated that 83.2MW was not generated due to unavailability of transmission infrastructure, while 2020MW was not generated due to high frequency resulting from unavailability of distribution infrastructure. Another 190MW was recorded as lost power due to water management.

Just recently, the Transmission Company of Nigeria

(TCN) disclosed that the total volume of electricity generated and distributed across homes and offices in Nigeria had gone down considerably. Even though the TCN said the country was not in total darkness then, a loss of 1,087.6MW from 3,827MW was significant and that left it with the option of load-shedding to avoid a complete collapse of the entire system. But this is not the first time the country’s power system would experience such disruptions, as it has so far in 2018 recorded up to seven cases of system collapse, recorded in January, February and June.

R 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

ecords from the sector indicate that on 2 January, a fire incident that affected the EscravosLagos pipeline system close to Okada in Edo State, resulted in the shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin power plant that produces 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP which has the capacity to generate 676MW; another station in Olorunsogo with a capacity for 338MW; Omotosho NIPP capable of generating 450MW; Omotosho with 338 MW and Paras with 60MW. The result of all this was the trip-off of the power grid which inflicted darkness across the country.

However, prior to the experience of 2018, the TCN in 2017 also recorded 15 system collapses, indicating strong evidence of the weakness of the transmission infrastructure to wheel power from the generation companies to the distribution companies.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had warned that the raining season would pose a major challenge to the transmission and distribution arms of the power sector and so it has proven, despite the fact that ordinarily, Nigerians usually enjoy a relatively stable electricity when the hydro stations come up at this period. But if after close to five years of power sector privatisation, the country still has not overcome what many refer to as teething problems, then the challenges of the sector are quite enormous.

Notwithstanding, we feel that since the problems are very well known to both the government and operators, there must be concerted efforts at finding a lasting solution. Nigeria cannot continue to be a nation in darkness.

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SO NIGERIA IS WORLD’S POVERTY CAPITAL?

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ccording to a report by the Brookings Institution, data from the World Poverty Clock show that Nigeria now has over 87 million people living in poverty. Yes, the average Nigerian is a poor man, but Nigeria is a country of riches and poverty all in one; splendid wealth in few hands and abject poverty at most peoples’ doorsteps.

The number of people living in poverty has increased due to rising disparities in the distribution of resources in the country. However, the basic cause of poverty in Nigeria is the absence of an enabling environment that will free the people from the prison of poverty, uplift their living standard and provide ways to assist them turn their dreams into reality. It is a fact that the primary factors that lead to poverty, such as overpopulation, unequal distribution of resources, lack of basic education, absence of employment opportunities, as well as environmental degradation, are quite intractable and not easily eradicated. But the average Nigerian’s living standard can improve once the routes to achieving basic living conditions are smoothened. Who should create these conditions? The three tiers of government. How? By imbibing the political will that propels new thinking within the leadership as well as bringing all-inclusive economic growth.

For the nearly 60 years of Nigeria’s existence, various governments have put in place poverty eradication programmes and policies.

Yet, the average Nigerian is worse off. Most of these policies and programmes are good, but not excellent enough to eradicate poverty.

For example, subsistence farming and low income manual jobs cannot remarkably improve a country’s GDP. A country’s level of poverty

depends greatly on its level of population density and agricultural productivity. Bangladesh, for example, is one of the world’s densely populated countries with 1,078 persons per sq km. A large majority of the people of Bangladesh engage in manual farming, which contributes little to the country’s wealth, therefore the country’s extremely high level of poverty. However, some of the smaller countries in Western Europe, such as The Netherlands and Belgium, have high population densities as well. But these countries practice mechanised farming and are involved in both high-technology and small industrialisation; they therefore have high standards of living.

So what needs to be done? Eradicating poverty can be done through embracing holistic and reductionistic approaches to development.

This is the time Nigeria needs both approaches– approaches that will tackle poverty by uplifting individuals and at the same time develop structures on ground. For example, in recent decades, some nations have become fairly wealthy by developing their economies with small scale industries, simple technologies and more importantly, by creating employment opportunities for their citizens through education, training and reliable micro-finance systems. Nigeria can imitate such ideas.

The hallmark of poverty in Nigeria is the high level of unemployment. If Nigeria can tackle the high rate of unemployment in the country, then one of the most important ways to smoothen the path for prosperity in the land has been found and poverty eradication can be achieved easily. We must acknowledge that even in developed countries, unemployment rates may be high and availability of employment also tends to fluctuate, creating periods of high joblessness. Nigeria

being a country with high population, an unemployment level of only a few percentage means that millions within the working-age will be unemployed and unable to earn an adequate income. This should be an issue of great concern to the political leaders and managers of Nigeria’s economy. Nigeria can create productive employment for its millions of unemployed citizens and those engaged in low income manual jobs through various means. The country has artisans such as shoemakers, fashion designers, carpenters, goldsmiths, woodcrafters, welders and technicians, etc., who have the skills but lack the resources to set up productive and sustainable businesses. Offering assistance to such group of people, by bringing them together as business partners, will have huge impact on the country’s economy. For example, Turkey, Morocco and Iran are enjoying huge foreign exchange from handmade carpets made by small firms owned by individuals living in urban, semi-urban and rural areas of these countries.

Equally, there are thousands of graduates in Nigeria who never dream of a pay-job either from the government or private sector, but their zeal is to be entrepreneurs. Government can assist such groups of young people. The federal government intervention funds designed to boost the operational capacities in the manufacturing industry, small and medium scale enterprises, the power sectors as N-Power programme are good steps toward the empowerment of the citizens.

The accessibility of such funds should be flexible and part of it should be used in developing many sectors including the movie, music, I.T. sport, advertising, farming and technical-development industries.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

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POLITICS

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Courtroom Lawyer in the Race After taking his time to acquire necessary academic qualification and put his professional career on a solid foundation, Dr. Ismail Abiodun Saka-Layonu (SAN), a governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC is convinced it is time to vie for the highest public office in Osun State. Nseobong OkonEkong reports excerpts from his interaction with journalists. current governor who is from the east, will say it should go to the east again? If that happens, there is the possibility of having the east rule for another eight of 16 years. My own concern is that the government of the State of Osun will always continue to be by my party, which is the APC. If you say somebody from the Central Senatorial zone should emerge again, there is the possibility that the Central Senatorial zone is going on for another eight years, which will add up to 24 years. Before you now have the opportunity of the West Senatorial zone producing the governor, if we don’t get it now, it will come in another eight years.

There is widely assumption that the politics of Osun State appears to be dictated from Lagos by the national leader of the APC in Lagos, do you share this opinion?

In politics, you are bound to have a lot of conjectures and speculations. The national leader, everybody acknowledges, is very respected as far as South-west politics of the APC is concerned.

People know how close our governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is to the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I think that is as far as it can go and how far it should go, anything beyond that falls into the realm of conjecture and speculation. That they have a very cordial mentor-mentee relationship is not a secret. The fact that the governor had been in Lagos for several years, and had cut all his political teeth, so to speak, in Lagos is a fact that is generally known. It is a fact also that he was even a commissioner in Lagos State before coming to his home state to work and to live as governor. I believe that is why some people are saying that. Naturally, one would expect that there would be some, at the height of it, ‘influence’; and at the bottom, ‘respect’ for Asiwaju. Beyond that, it is in the realm of conjecture and speculation. Certainly not control. The governor is an independent minded person who operates within the guidelines or the programmes outlined by the party, the APC. What is your background in politics?

That would be linked to my late father, Chief (Hon.) Saka Layonu, a prominent politician in the First Republic. Not out of false pride, but out of what I call history and verifiable facts, I would say that my town, Ede, by God’s grace, was put on the political map by my father. He was a Minister until the collapse of the First Republic. He also played a bit of politics in the Second Republic before Osun was created out of Oyo State. As late as 1983, he was the gubernatorial candidate of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party, GNPP, that was promoted by the late Waziri Ibrahim, who was famous for ‘politics without bitterness’. That was his last outing. After that, he retired from active politics. I have that antecedent. The state hospital that is in Ede today, by the grace of God, was facilitated by my father. For myself, I have, not until recently, been in active political involvement. I have been quietly involved in the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, not in an overtly active capacity. Of course, I have always been politically aware. Since I started voting in 1979, I have participated in all elections, in terms of being politically aware and being a voter. Now, I am a progressive and member of the APC. I am a gubernatorial aspirant. This is the first time I am throwing my hat in the ring for for election.

Don’t you think you should have started your aspiration from trying to become a legislator at state or federal level?

People have their flair for things. In everything you do, you know yourself. For instance, in the legal field where I am really situated, my flair has always been for advocacy. I have been a courtroom lawyer all my life. In politics, I do not see myself operating in any other capacity than in an executive position where I can have the privilege to carry out some of the things I have envisioned for humanity, beginning from my state.

Are you aware of a zoning arrangement within the party that may have put this aspiration beyond your reach?

Some people say that within the party there is some kind of zoning arrangement. Others say it is not provided for in the constitution.

Ede is where the PDP Senator, Ademola Adeleke comes from. Is it correct to assume that your town has sympathy for the PDP? No. There are certain factors that you must not forget. That late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, his brother, was in the APC. He went to the Senate on the platform of the APC, when he died, there were issues of concerning who will take the ticket or where the ticket will go. Anyway, that may be the subject of another interview entirely so that I don’t lose focus. May be when he did not get the ticket from the APC, then he crossed over to the PDP and won the election on that basis. Considering the fact that his late brother was an APC senator, to that extent, you can’t say that Ede is a PDP town. Senator Ademola Adeleke has also declared his intention to run for governor on the PDP ticket.

Dr. Ismail Saka-Layonu (SAN)

I have read it myself. It could actually be

The noblest thing anybody would aspire to or try to do is to have a record of service to the people.

Politics, for me, is not about daily living. It is not a lifestyle. It is not about acquisition of any type of wealth or material thing. I am not saying I am wealthy, but God has given me enough as far as material things are concerned.

Politics is about the opportunity to serve the people

interpreted to say that there must be some understanding geographical spread. The party has actually taken a section of the Nigerian constitution and modified it at the state level.

I would say that there is some recognition that what applies at the federal level, where the constitution says that the government will be arranged in such a way as to give effect to federal character and to give everybody a sense of belonging. It could be said that there is an article in the APC constitution that could be a basis for saying that some principle of zoning or slotting arrangement is recognized in the constitution. Whatever the case, what Osun West is saying is that we should uphold the principle of justice and fair play. If you go back to the history of the state; the first executive governor was the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke from Ede. He spent 22 months before the collapse of the Third Republic. If you take it from 1999, you had Chief Bisi Akande as Governor. He spent four years, he did not have the opportunity for a second term. He is of the Central Senatorial zone. Then Oyinlola (Olagunsoye) came (even though of a different political party-PDP). Oyinlola is from Okuku also from the Central Senatorial zone and he spent almost 12 years before the court nullified his election and Aregbesola came in. Between Baba Akande and Oyinlola, you can account for almost 16 years. Both of them are from the Central Senatorial zone. The current governor is an Ijesha man from the East Senatorial zone of Osun State. He is completing, by the grace of God, two terms of eight years. The West Senatorial zone is saying that fair is fair; even if you go as far back as 1991/92, the West Senatorial zone only had 22 months through Isiaka Adelelke; since 1999, Osun West has not had the opportunity of being governor.

If you say, you want to take it to any other senatorial zone, are you now saying that the

The governorship primary of the APC on July 7 is the hurdle you have to cross, how prepared are you?

If you were to make your findings in Osun or if you were to talk to people who are on ground, I can tell you that I am very much on ground. We have established a movement called ‘Agbajowo’ which is in all the local governments of the state. It has penetrated the entire state. Currently, I am on a tour of the federal constituencies in the state. I can tell you that I have been given very warm reception everywhere we go. I believe that I am much loved and that by the grace of God and the support of the people, I will get the ticket to represent the party in the general election.

And if you don’t, Sir? The heavens will not fall. I will look forward to another day; something better that God has planned for me. My father’s political philosophy was ‘politics without bitterness’. I have inherited that. I do not believe in violence. I shun it. I condemn it and I do not let it reflect in what I am doing. Secondly, I am a disciplined party man. I joined this party of my freewill. I have always been in the progressive fold and I do not see myself jumping from one party to another.

God forbid that we should have the kind of crisis that some other parties are contending with. My plan and my prayer are to remain in the APC. I believe firmly that by the graced of God and with the support of the people, my party will find me worthy of taking that ticket at the primary, but if I don’t get it, life will not end, heavens will not fall. I will remain a committed party man. I believe that there are so many other good things that God has kept for me and they will certainly come my way. It is a privilege to get the support of the people to carry the flag for the party. What is even higher than that is for the APC, as a party, to win. There is no sleep for me until the primary is concluded on July 7.

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

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

POLITICS

Nigeria and the Princess of Kangaba In continuation of his report, Olusegun Adeniyi, who just returned from Mali, reveals how Nigerian traffickers control the prostitution ring in the West African country Continued from backpage What my Malian experience revealed very clearly is an urgent need for the Nigerian authorities to take the issue of human trafficking much more seriously. Available statistics from the Malian government indicates that about 80 percent of victims of human trafficking in Nigeria fall within the age of 8 and 25. There is also a nexus between poverty and the lure of prostitution for many of the girls. Indeed, the story of Loveth is not different from that of many others. She is from a deprived and broken home. Her mother died when she was four, leaving her and a sister. Their father married another woman and abandoned them. She stays with her grandmother so the temptation to make huge money abroad, despite suspecting that it might be through prostitution at such a young age, was too huge to ignore.

By the way the network operates, from what I learnt in Mali, there are recruiters who lure the girls (mostly from the villages or among urban poor) with enticing promises before delivering them to their bosses in Lagos who in turn deliver the girls to the middlemen in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. In that network, there are transporters, security men, clergy men, juju priests, hoteliers and the receivers at destinations before the girls are eventually sold to the ‘Madams’.

For every girl trafficked into Mali on the pretext of taking them to work at a salon in Europe, according to a document from the Nigerian embassy in Bamako, “the trafficker usually pays between FCFA40,000 and 60,000 (USD70 and 110) to criminal organizations (security forces inclusive) for easy passage. They also pay the security forces before selling off the girls to a ‘Madam’ for between FCFA350,000 and 450,000 FCFA (USD625 and 803).” Yet, all these activities could be conducted within a time-frame of between four to seven days.

According to Nigerian embassy officials, the maximum number of girls a trafficker transports at a time so as not to arouse suspicion is 10.

Once these girls are sold, they are usually made to generate FCFA1,500,000 to 1,800,000 (USD2700 – 2900 USD) each for the Madams before gaining their freedom. And because of the demand for commercial sex workers, especially in the mining areas of Mali where they operate, the girls usually pay up their ‘debt’ to the ‘Madams’ within four to six months. “The disheartening fact is that, upon securing their freedom, about 70 percent of these girls also become ‘Madams’ thus perpetuating the same vicious cycle”, an embassy official told me.

Tales of brutality also abound. So callous are the Nigerian ‘Madams’ that once their victims fall seriously sick, they would find a convenient place to dump them. “There was a day we found a girl at the gate of the embassy.

She was HIV positive. She hails from Akwa Ibom and she explained that she was the bread winner for her family. We helped her back to Nigeria”, said an embassy official who also explained that there is a superstition in the gold mining areas that anytime a new mine was to be opened, there must be sacrifices to the ‘god of gold’ with reports that Nigerian girls are used for such rituals, most of them sold by their ‘Madams’.

The need for a sensitisation programme on the danger of human trafficking was explained

by Wonosikou who recounted an unpleasant experience that she said brought her to tears.

“One of the Nigerian girls engaged in prostitution by name Victory died and there were marks on her body to show she had been physically brutalised but there was nothing we could do about that. It took time to get the number of her mother. But when I called to break the sad news about the death of her daughter in Mali, the mother started arguing with me that the girl in question could not be her daughter whom she said was working in Dubai. When I realised how adamant she was, I had to break it down for her as gently as I possibly could that her daughter was doing prostitution in Mali where she met her death” Wonosikou told me.

The sad aspect is that some members of the

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian community are also involved in the illicit business. “You see some so-called Pastors acting as informants and intermediaries for these ‘Madams’ whose bail they most often help to procure when arrested. There are as many as 40,000 Nigerian prostitutes in the gold mining areas in Ginger. These ‘Madams’ subject their victims to oaths, taking private parts like armpits and pubic hair and nails. There was a girl we rescued who started shouting ‘I am going to die, I am going to die’, explaining the oath to which she had been subjected”, said Wonosikou who led the team from the embassy that escorted me to the IOM offices and Brigade de moeurs where I met Malian officials handling the investigations.

Dealing with the menace of human trafficking for which Nigeria has become notorious is almost a full-time job at the embassy as there is hardly a day when no fewer than five girls would either be repatriated back to Nigeria or handed over to the IOM. But Ambassador Ken Nwachukwu and the embassy officials have embraced the task with uncommon diligence.

In his office last Thursday, Nwachukwu who arrived Mali last July shared with me an experience he considers a rude awakening a few weeks after he resumed duty. The ambassador had been invited to witness nine Nigerian girls who had been rescued from a ‘Madam’, majority of them below the age of 18.

“The sight of one shocked me and I enquired whether she was also among the girls who were prostituting and she replied in the affirmative.

When I asked for her age, she said ‘2004’ which would put her age at 13 as at last year when the incident happened.”

That, according to Nwachukwu was the turning point for him. “How could anybody do such thing to children? From their stories, each of them had been lured from Nigeria by relatives and friends of the family before they were sold into prostitution abroad. After directing the embassy to provide them with food and generally take care of their welfare, I knew I was going to fight the ‘Madams’ and their accomplices who are destroying innocent children”, said Nwachukwu who added: “From that day, I try to make the girls understand that the embassy is a place of refuge for them.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali

‘We are your fathers and mothers’, I usually tell these girls”.

While I believe the Nigerian embassy in Mali is doing a wonderful job, they need to be supported. The office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must work with both NAPTIP and the Nigerian embassy in Mali if we are to tackle the problem. And that will take the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari. We need a safe house for the girls and more resources for the embassy.

There is also a need for the federal government to go into negotiations with the Malian authorities on how to tackle the menace just as it is important to work with the authorities of the Benin Republic.

What is particularly worrisome is that there is too much reliance on IOM whose officials are doing a wonderful job. But Nigerians cannot continue to be a nuisance to that organisation.

We must accept responsibility for our people.

There is also a national security issue that is brewing. But the Nigerian government owes a lot to the Consular Clerk, a young Malian by name Oumar Kuolokogon who speaks impeccable English and is well spoken of at the embassy as an intermediary between them and the Malian authorities.

Prosper Abayomi Michael, coordinator for War Against Human Trafficking, Bamako, (a non-governmental organisation he runs with a partner, Victor Ibikunle Olubusayo) who has been collaborating with the embassy, says Nigeria must pay attention to the problem that sullies our image. “NAPTIP is not doing enough. That is my summation although they may have their own constraints since I am not in Abuja but they need to change their strategy and they also need to send their team to understand what is going on here. Sitting down in Abuja will not help fight this problem. We need the political authority at the highest level to be involved.”

The Malian authorities, according to Michael, “take the issue of trafficking much more seriously than we do back home despite the fact that prostitution is legal here. There is a need for a serious campaign in Nigeria because the traffickers are targeting the most vulnerable of our citizens. It is slave trade that is going on because these girls are sold and resold like

commodities until they eventually reach the ‘Madams’ for whom they must prostitute.

Once in the villages where they cannot speak the language and do not know anybody, there is nowhere to run. Body items are taken and then the ‘Madam’ announces what the job is all about. Virgins, I understand, attract higher prices which is why they now target girls from as young as 10.”

The challenge is that because prostitution is legal in Mali, it is difficult to persuade some of the girls to go back home. “If you engage some of them in discussion, according to an embassy official, the usual retort is, ‘what job do you have for me back home?’. At that point, you have nothing to say, even when what they are doing carries enormous risk.”

However, if there is anything that shows the situation is not hopeless, it is in the fact that a recent proclamation by the Oba of Benin seems to be working with a considerable reduction in the number of Edo girls being trafficked along that route. “I believe the Oba’s curse is working and we need more of such interventions”, said Wonosikou, who disclosed that the emerging pattern is that most of the girls being trafficked to Mali these days come from the South-west, South-east and states like Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Plateau.

Embassy officials recommend more public enlightenment on the menace of human trafficking while the federal government should provide biometric machine to our embassies within the West Africa sub-region. It will also help if the security agencies share information about victims and perpetrators of human trafficking within ECOWAS countries, particularly Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger and Cote D’ivoire in a bid to stop them from re-engaging in the trade and there is an urgent need to enact tougher laws against human trafficking.

The Malian police officer with whom I spoke at the Brigade de moeurs told me that the numbers of Nigerian girls are increasing every year while the average age of the victims is also reducing with younger girls now being targeted. “These girls should be made to understand the dangers of the choices they are making or being made for them by some unscrupulous individuals in your country” said the officer.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES

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

Global Tourism: A Call to Action With Africa accounting for a fraction of the global tourism revenue, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has demanded proactive policies by the respective governments to drive tourism statistics and jobs in the continent. Olawale Ajimotokan reports

Pololikashvili with Mohammed during a courtesy visit to Buhari

T

he United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has made a clarion call to Nigeria and other African governments to initiate action-oriented proposals for the development of sustainable tourism in the continent. The appeal was made in Abuja where the 61st UNWTO CAF meeting was held to explore the transformative contributions the tourism sector can make towards national economies.

Tourism ministers from 36 African countries and over 500 foreign delegates attended the technical workshop themed: “Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development”.

After three days of dialogue, the ministers considered how countries could effectively use statistics supplied by UNWTO to initiate sound policies and strategies for the development of a sustainable tourism sector.

“These are guides for producing data that is credible and comparable across countries, across standards and over time.

We are furthering our statistics work as part of our contributions to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063. Strengthening systems for tourism statistics is one of the focus areas in UNWTO’s own Agenda for Africa.

Our agenda intersects with the African Union’s roadmap. We are looking for a harmonisation of statistics on tourism’s contribution to African economies.

Guide During the meeting, UNWTO proposed the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account as reliable guides for producing data that is credible and comparable across countries and standards to facilitate improvement of livelihoods in Africa. According to UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili,

We have an ambitious plan. We want to promote Africa as one of the main and most important tourism destinations in the world

"Because if statistics read the same way everywhere, then policies can be built with a solid base for addressing strategic issues. We also launched work towards MST, a ‘Statistical Framework for Measuring Sustainable Tourism’ in all its dimensions – economic but also social and environmental.

"This MST roadmap is advancing on a global level, but Africa’s participation is key.

Why? Firstly, because if we are to get a true picture of sustainable tourism development then we will rely on innovation. We will rely on finding ways to modernise data sources and collection."

Improvement The ministers, however, noted that tourism receipts by destinations in the region had shown a sustained growth in the past decades. Last year, international tourist arrivals to destinations in Africa grew at an estimated eight per cent to 63 million, representing five per cent of the world total. This strong momentum is expected to continue at a rate of five-seven per cent in 2018.

According to the UNWTO long-term outlook on tourism, the number of international arrivals in Africa is expected to reach 134 million in 2030, though this share

in worldwide tourism does not fully reflect the huge potential of tourism in Africa.

Nigeria on Global Stage After leading a delegation comprising the Regional Director for Africa, Ms Elicia Grandcourt, and Executive Director Zhu Shanzong on a courtesy visit to President Mohammadu Buhari, Pololikashvili affirmed that Africa, particularly Nigeria, could offer more by using its world acclaimed cuisine, music, creative industry and diverse culture as tourism assets. He described Nigeria as a good example for Africa that needs to be promoted as it is one of the most attractive and important tourist destinations in the world.

Pololikashvili said the Abuja summit provided a veritable platform to discuss and articulate concrete steps towards the development of tourism on the continent, adding the commitment shown by the president to tourism development has motivated the UNWTO to renew its interest in Nigeria.

“We had very interesting discussions with ministers and we made very concrete decisions on how to continue and how to work with African continent, which has

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• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

FEATURES full support from our organisation, and we are very glad that we are going in the right way.

“We have an ambitious plan. We want to promote Africa as one of the main and most important tourism destinations in the world,” he said.

Tourism Ambassador Pololikashvili, a former Georgian Ambassador Extraordinary to Spain, said tourism has opened up new destinations in Africa, turning it into a key driver of socioeconomic progress through the creation of jobs and enterprises, export revenues, and infrastructure development while, at the same time, contributing towards the conservation and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

He also underscored the need to build tight links between public and private sectors for tourism to transform growth across the continent and for the benefit of its people.

It was in this light that Nigeria’s richest man Aliko Dangote was named an ambassador for Responsible Tourism for setting up the largest foundation in Africa – the Dangote Foundation – devoted to providing nutrition, health and education to the continent’s most vulnerable people.

Pololikashvili noted that by the addition, Dangote will act as a messenger to UNWTO legacy and vision across the globe.

Cultural display at the gala night/command performance for the 61st Meeting of UNWTO CAF

Data Collection At the summit, the African ministers stressed the importance of accurate tourism measurement in order for tourism strategies to effectively contribute to national economies.

The ministerial dialogue addressed the significance of collecting and compiling quantitative and qualitative data, as well as the importance of commitments from national stakeholders and institutional partnerships for a rigorous tourism statistics system.

Promise Secretary General of the Federation Boss Mustapha represented Buhari at the meeting.

The president stated that Nigeria has great potentials for tourism and investment, further underscoring the relevance of the sector, both regarding its contribution to sustainable development and its role to further diversify the economy and increase social resilience.

He announced the cutting of tariffs on casino, amusement park equipment and import duty on casino machine and amusement park equipment not manufactured in the country and commencement of visa on arrival policy which the federal government introduced last year to drive investment in the tourism sector. He also underscored government’s readiness to grant incentives, including pioneer status to all major tourism projects.

Some of the items he listed to enjoy minimum tariffs include, materials for hotel construction and furnishing, dedicated transportation for tour operators, equipment for restaurants not manufactured in Nigeria, amusement park equipment and minimum duty on casino equipment.

He called on the investors in the tourism sector to consider Nigeria as their second home as government is committed to providing security to all Nigerians, investors and tourists.

The president added that the government was also deepening the legislative and

Investors in the tourism sector should consider Nigeria as their second home, as government is committed to providing security to all Nigerians, investors and tourists

Cultural display

Dangote was invested as Ambassador for Responsible Tourism at the 61st Regional Commission meeting for Africa, in Abuja by Pololikashvili

institutional capacities for the protection of intellectual property rights in Nigeria, saying such will give all investors the assurance of security of their rights especially in the creative industry. He commended the leadership of the UNWTO, CAF and tourism ministers from all over Africa for considering Nigeria worthy of hosting the

event this year.

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said the meeting was an impetus to discuss ways and means to promote intra-Africa travels and tourism. Mohammed disclosed that the federal government used the UNWTO-CAF meeting to test its Visa-On-Arrival policy, which is part of the

efforts to boost tourism in the country. He said many of the delegates to the meeting were issued their visas on arrival by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

The federal government introduced the issuance of visa on arrival for business travellers last year to support ease of doing business in the country.

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IMAGES

Cross Section of petitioners a long side with a comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Woli Arole, Champion, Zero maltreatment day, Dr. Felix King, and Pop star, Harrison Tare Okiri popularly known as Harry Song at the widows’ rights movement tagged Zero maltreatment day campaign held in UNILAG, Lagos recently

L-R: General Manager, Public Affairs FAAN, Mrs. Herietta Yakubu; General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye; General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketumbi; Group Capt. John Ojikutu; (rtd), President, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), Mr. Gbenga Olowo; and Chairman of Moderator, Prof. Anthony Kila and at the back, Former Director General, NCAA, Mr. Fidelis Onyeyiri and Former Managing Director, NAL\V.P, ASRTI, Mr. Andrew Okunuga, during the 2018 second quarterly business breakfast meeting by ASRTI held at Golfview Hotel GRA Ikeja Lagos.

KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R; General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), Mr. Olaniyi Adigun; Acting Managing Director/CEO, SAHCOL, Mr. Basil Agboarumi; and Chairman, League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), Mr. Olusegun koiki, during LAAC Gateway forum /interactive session with acting managing director/CEO, SAHCOL at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos..recently.

KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R Managing Director/CEO, C&I Leasing plc, Andrew Otike- Odibi; Technical Director, Galooli, Kim Fraser; Head, Citracks Telematics Solutions, Frances Ogujawa;and Managing Director, Galooli, Nissim Moshe , at the Telematics conference in Nigeria hosted by Citracks and Galooli in Lagos recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R Partner/ Head, Tax Regulatory and People Services, KPMG Nigeria,Mr Wole Obayomi; Partner /Head, Transfer Pricing and Consumer and Industrial Market,Mr Tayo Ogungbenro; Head, Market Operations,Mrs Nike Oyewolu; Head, International Tax Department, FIRS, Mr Olusanya Gbonjubola; and Associate Director, KPMG Nigeria, Nike Yomi-Faseun,at the KPMG tax breakfast seminar and presentation of the 2018 transfer pricing awareness survey held in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Deputy Consul General of the German Embassy, Alexandra Herr; German Ambassador, Bernhard Schlagheck; Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Knut Ulvmoen and Director General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf, during a courtesy visit of the German Ambassador to LCCI, recently in Lagos.

L-R: Professor of Lagos Business School (LBS), Prof. Olawale Ajai; Vice President, Sahel Capital, Mr Deji Adebusoye; Managing Director,SystemSpecs Ltd, John Obaro;winners, Chief Whip, Executive MBA23B,Closing Government, LBS, Olugbenga Olaoye; Member of Parliament, Kamil Bello,and Oluyemi Obadare,during LBS BGS Debate and Awards ceremony in Lagos,recently

-R: Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victory Chapel Magodo, Adekunle Taiwo; Special Guest/Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan; and President, LP 21 Redeemers Men’s Fellowship, Daniel Adebola, at the 2018 men’s convention held in RCCG Victory Chapel, Magodo,Lagos... recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 2.83 3.58

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

J U N E

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

2 2 ,

S & P INDEX 2.50 9 9.38

INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DAY QUARTER-TO-DAY YEAR-TO-DAY

2 0 1 8 EXCHANGE RATE

354.49 -0.71% -0.98% 2.46% 8.41%

N305.80/1USUS DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Afreximbank Partners ECIC

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (ECIC), have launched the South African-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (SATIPP), a $1 billion financing programme to promote and expand trade and investments between South Africa and the rest of Africa.

The launch took place in in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.

Under the terms of SATIPP, Afreximbank and ECIC would work together to identify, prepare and appraise trade transactions and projects; explore co-financing and risk-sharing opportunities; and share knowledge, with particular emphasis on intra-African trade matters, through technical cooperation, staff exchange, research and joint events.

Commonwealth Forum Urges ICT Devt

PROMOTING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

R-L: MD/CEO Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu; President, CFA Society, Nigeria, Mr.Banji Fehintola; Executive Director, IoD Nigeria, Dr. Nechi Ezeako; CFA Institute President, Mr. Paul Smith; CEO, Synergy Capital Partners, Mr. Akintoye Akindele; General Secretary, CFA Society, Nigeria, Mr. Chuka Maduabum, and CEO, Citibank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akinsowon Dawodu, at the Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting Quality Conference 2018 in Lagos…recently

SMEs Urged to Embrace Digital Transformation Stories by Emma Okonji Dell EMC, a global technology solution provider has advised chief executive officers (CEOs) of large enterprise companies as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to align their operational processes with digital transformation, while ensuring that technology drives their entire business activities.

Country Manager, Dell EMC Nigeria, Mr. Travers Nicholas, who gave the advice during an interview with THISDAY in Lagos, warned that unless organisations align their businesses with current digital transformation, they would find it extremely difficult to remain in business in today’s digital era where competition drives

ICT businesses.

“My candid advice to all CEOs, business owners, small or large, is that digital transformation is the next frontier. Technology is no longer focused only on Information Technology (IT) department as cost centre, because technology itself is now the cost centre and data is no longer something that organisations need to worry about because data is the new currency.

“Today, technology is driving businesses to new heights to open up new channels and can engage people in diverse ways, and that is why technology is the new business. Organisations that have embraced digital

transformation, have used technology to transform their businesses and they are using technology solutions to deliver products to people’s home, thus changing the business modules of old,” Nicholas said.

He added: “So, with basic technology solutions, organisations are able to provide basic services that the customer needs.

“Uber for example, has used basic technology apps to transform the transport business, and this is the type of digital transformation that Dell Technology is driving among large enterprise and SME businesses to enhance competition, business growth and profitability,” Nicholas added.

Therefore, he urged CEOs to

Airtel Restores Family’s Hope

understand that technology is now the business model, saying they need to look into their own business pattern to see how they can use technology to cause positive disruption.

“CEOs need to disrupt themselves. Every company needs to disrupt itself with technology before they are disrupted by others and Dell has a long history of disrupting self in many years,” he further said.

Speaking on the roles of Financial Technology (FinTech) players in the entire digital transformation process, Nicholas said: “FinTech players are key to digital transformation, because they develop solutions that Continued on page 24

HowArtificialIntelligenceWillCreateJobs,ImproveHuman Efficiency Contrary to envisaged fears that emerging technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) will put a lot of humans out of jobs, SAS, a global technology solution company has said the computerised system if well applied, will create more jobs and help improve human efficiency, using data analytics.

The information on the role of AI in business growth was revealed at the SAS Road to Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Workshop, which held in Lagos on Tuesday.

Senior Business Solution Manager, Advanced Analytics and AI at SAS, Mr. Larry Orim-

ICT oloye, argued that emerging technology like AI was actually transforming businesses creating more jobs and enhancing business efficiency.

According to him, in a customer operation centre where humans are responding to customers’ complaints, a lot of training and investment are being put into in to enable the staff respond accurately to customers’ needs and challenges.

However, he pointed out that this is something that machines like robots can easily do because they have been programmed

to do so and they have the intelligence to it accurately.

“So, in such a situation, the robots can take over the jobs while the humans that hitherto do the jobs, can be unskilled into more productive assignment, without loosing their jobs, and add more value to the business of the organisation.

“Again, the information generated from AI, through data analytics will help humans make better and informed decision at the press of a button,” Orimoloye said.

“Today unstructured data has become the corner stone of businesses because there are

The Commonwealth ICT Ministers meeting which took place in London recently agreed that the public and private sectors need to come together to help accelerate ICT development in Commonwealth countries.

Held every two years, the event also included a two-day open conference which provided industry and government leaders with an opportunity to discuss challenges and solutions to ICT adoption in the Commonwealth and beyond.

At the conference, they agreed that Commonwealth countries have to work hard to change business mindsets and increase capacity for collaboration creating sustainable ICT in businesses, especially the SMEs. They also agreed on the importance of blockchain technologies, saying the current attention and energy being used to develop blockchain by the crypto-currency community was advancing the understanding of how blockchain can be built upon. Concerns about crypto-currency maybe well-justified, but this is the cutting edge of an underlying technology that cannot be ignored, they stated.

lots of data to generate from unstructured data that organisations could use to make better and instant informed business decision,” Orimoloye added.

On his part, the Vice President, SAS Africa, Mr. Desan Naidoo, said: “AI sets new target for organisations and helps organisations to make informed decisions based on the outcome of its data analytics.”

He said looking at the challenges of procurement fraud in the financial sector already threatening the operations of banks, the financial institutions Continued on page 24

The second episode of Airtel’s ‘Touching Lives Season 4 (ATL 4),’ which aired June 17, documented how Airtel literally touched the lives of the Olanrewaju Komolafe family; a family of five, battling with a streak of unending tragedies. The episode, which aired on Africa Magic Family, revealed how Olanrewaju Komolafe, a barber and commercial motor-cyclist, was involved in an accident that almost cost him his life.

Although he survived, Komolafe had to spend a protracted period in the hospital as he had fractured bones and had also contracted Tuberculosis from a co-traveller. The accident also made it impossible for him to engage in strenuous physical activities, thus limiting his chances of providing for his family.

“The accident damaged my shoulder joint, both of my hands and my neck bone. I didn’t have money to go to an orthopaedic surgeon; instead I had to use local means; they fixed it, but it wasn’t balanced. Since then, I’ve been unable to do any tedious work,” said a forlorn Olanrewaju.

Freshworks Posts $100m Revenue

Freshworks, a global leader in customer engagement software, has announced that it has reached a revenue milestone by crossing $100 million in annual recurring revenue, led by its flagship support product Freshdesk (Customer Support Software) and continued rapid growth with its Freshservice (IT Service Management Software) and Freshsales (CRM Software) products over the last several quarters.

The company explained that the achievement was fuelled by its ever-expanding user-base of more than 150,000 businesses and organisations world-wide, including both larger enterprises such as Honda, Bridgestone, Hugo Boss, University of Pennsylvania, Toshiba, Cisco, Veeva, OfficeMax, M&C Saatchi and thousands of global SMB customers.

“Government must put in place the relevant ICT infrastructure for the application of adaptable technology in our electoral processes” President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Adesola Aderounmu

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BUSINESSWORLD SMES URGED TO EMBRACE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION drive automation processes that speed up business activities.

“FinTech has done a lot in the financial industry and they have caused a lot of distortions in that sector. Today we talk of successful online transactions because the FinTechs were able to develop solutions that drive it. “Today many banks have become online banks and we operate mobile banking using the mobile phones.

“So, the evolution of banking has been ongoing and the FinTechs are instrumental to the evolution that has revolutionised the baking sector, he further stressed.

HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL CREATE JOBS, IMPROVE HUMAN EFFICIENCY are already looking for solutions that would address all of that. According to him, his firm has the solution that can flag off fraudulent financial transactions before they are concluded and once implemented, banks can prevent procurement fraud.

“What we do at SAS is to analyse data and provide results that will help organisations to make informed decision,” Naidoo said.

Artist and Co-founder, Cyborg Foundation, Mr. Neil Harbisson who spoke on how technology is assisting him to understand his natural world, said he was born colour blind but was able to implant a physical antennae in his brain that allows him to understand the different sounds of colours and make true meaning out of them.

“I decided to merge with technology in order to sense more realities with the natural world. Humans have limited number of sensors, but if we merge with technology, we could have more sensors that will enable us understand and unfold the real beauty of nature,” Harbisson said.

Also, the Senior Industry Consultant, Global Banking Practice at SAS, Mr. Alex Kwiatkowski, stressed the need for financial services providers to collaborate with FinTechs and use more of data analytics to make informed decision that will enhance customer experience.

NEWS

NCC Begins Implementation of Data Roll-over This Week Bassey Inyang in Calabar Barring any unforeseen circumstance, millions of internet users in Nigeria would this week start enjoying the benefit of rolling over unused data which they could not exhaust at the original expiry date following the introduction of the Data Roll-Over policy by the National Communications Commission (NCC).

According to the NCC, the Data Roll-Over policy would come into effect this week following complaints from millions of data subscribers that they were being shortchanged by internet service providers as a result of the non-implementation of the policy in the country.

The official statistics provided by the NCC as at year showed internet users in Nigeria were in the region of between 98.3 million and 149.3 million, connected to mobile telecommunications, with players in the industry predicting steady growth of mobile telecommunications subscribers.

Delivering his address at the 39th edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM), in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, said the Data Roll-Over policy was among the latest in the recent directives introduced by the telecommunications regulatory body to ensure that subscribers enjoy the worth of what they subscribed to.

“As you may be aware, the Commission has been inundated with various com-

plaints such as: Unsolicited text messages and calls; Failure/ refusal to roll over unused data at the expiration and activation/subscription to data and value-added services (VAS), without prior consent of the subscriber, among others.

“In response to the above major complaints, the Commission, as consumer-centric institution has taken appreciate steps such as: Development of 2442 DND Short Code to solve unsolicited text messages/calls; Issuance of directives to Service

Providers on Data Roll-over which now enabled consumers to roll over unused data for period of time, ranging from 1 day to 7 days , depending on your data plan. This takes effect from 26th of June, 2018.

“Issuance of directives to Service Providers on forceful subscription of data and Value Added Services (VAS) which directs Service Providers to resist from forceful/ automatic renewal of data services without prior consent of subscribers. This has taken

effect from 21st of May, 2018.

“The Commission also developed 622 Toll-Free Line through which you can easily lodge complaints for any unresolved service issues to the NCC,” Adedigba said.

Adedigba added that the CTM in Akpabuyo was one in the series of such endeavours lined-up to educate Nigerians and protect consumers from , what the Commission views as “unwholesome practices by some service providers.”

He said the programme was

to enable a “tripartite meeting of the Regulators, Operators and Consumer to resolve pressing consumer issues with respect to provision of telecom services.”

Adedigba said that, so far, adequate steps had been taken to regulate illegalities and violation of consumer’s right by some service providers, and that in future more policies aimed at protecting the customer would be rolled out to further protect telecommunications subscribers.

BREAKFAST MEETING

L – R: Consul - General of South Africa to Nigeria, Darkey Africa; Chairman, Nigerian- South African Chamber of Commerce, Folusho Phillips; CEO, Financial Derivatives Company, Bismarck Rewane, and CEO, Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria & Regional Head West Africa, Michael Larbie, during the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce breakfast session in Lagos…recently

Stakeholders Restate Importance of NIN to National Identity Stories by Emma Okonji Stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, have restated the importance of the National Identity Number (NIN) to the economy.

They also supported efforts of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the government agency charged with the responsibility of registration and issuance of national identity cards, to ensure that Nigerians get their NIN. The stakeholders said the need for all adult Nigerians to register and get their NIN, became imperative, following

the rise in Nigeria’s population, which was recently put at 198 million by the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Eze Duruiheoma, a figure that is up from the initial 180 population as recorded by the Commission. Considering the rapid growth in the country’s population, one of the stakeholders, a data analyst at Media Digest, Obuns Solomon, who spoke at a recent stakeholders’ gathering in Lagos, said having a national identification, through NIN, government would be able to plan for the large families and youthful population that would drive economic growth in Nigeria.

“Aside giving the exact figures of exact population across all social, economic and age brackets, the NIN will also help government in planning well with available resources,” Solomon said.

According to him, to achieve the goal of having the exact number of citizens and legal residents in all economic and age brackets, there must be in place a robust national identification system.

“Having a centralised national identification database therefore has been one challenge Nigeria is yet to deal with,” he added.

Commending the initiative

of government in establishing NIMC, through Act No. 23 of 2007, Solomon however said having a unique identification and achieving the desired goal have remained a tall order, a situation he blamed on government bureaucracy.

According to him, those saddled with the responsibility to deliver on the mandate of the Commission had been up to their task.

Another stakeholder, Mr. Jude Okoro, decried the poor funding of NIMC by government, a situation he said was affecting the issuance of identity cards to Nigerians, after several months of registration with the

NIN number.

“For many Nigerians therefore, the hope of having a national identification that captures them in the system is still but a dream.

“Yet, in the apparent dim hope there exists sparkling of light in the tunnel that requires the action, understanding and effort on the part of the government, which must provide the funding and the citizenry who must come out to take that which belongs to them: their identity.

“To do this, the citizens must go out and enrol to be captured in the national database,” the stakeholder said.

NCC Calls for Collaboration Between Industry, Academia Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Linda Eroke (Labour) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Cap Mkt)

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for strategic collaboration and partnership between the telecoms industry and the academia, through technology innovation.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta who made the call recently in Lagos at the 2018 Academy Technology Dinner/Lecture, organised by the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, said such partnership could be through technology innovation that would impact on the Nigerian economy.

“We are talking about collaboration that will cause disruption through innovation that will usher in new ways of doing things, enhance efficiency and productivity. The NCC realises the importance to this collaboration, which of course is captured in the 8-Point Agenda of the Commission,” Danbatta said.

According to him, in order to drive the industry-academia collaboration, the NCC recently established a department of research and development that will act as an intermediary between the Commission and the universities.

He added that NCC has been very supportive to the members of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering and the universities to facilitate conduct of research that will translate into innovation that will address the challenges of universities and the industry.

“We look forward to seeing the best research results from the universities that could be transformed to drive industry activities,” Danbatta said.

He added: “I feel personally fulfilled as an engineer and as an administrator of human and material resources to be inducted into the Nigerian

Academy of Engineering.

“The recognition by the academy is a testament to our excellent performance at NCC in regulating the telecoms industry that the Commission is well known for. We will continue to roll out flexible regulations that will transform the telecoms industry and the Nigerian economy.”

The keynote speaker at the event, Prof. Mike Faborode, who delivered a paper with the theme: ‘Cracking the Code of Industry-Academia Partnership in Nigeria: Challenge to Knowledge Academies’, said the need

to provide practicable solution to close the gap between the academia, the industry and governance structure, became imperative, owing to the rising rate of unemployment in the Nigerian society.

In his paper, Faborode looked at the generic concept of the innovation value chain and analysed the current state of research and academic-corporate collaboration in Nigerian universities to provide empirical basis of and elucidate the dominant issues that will help achieve better networking for enhanced uptake of research outputs, products and innovation.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Firm Restates Commitment to Lubricants Industry Raheem Akingbolu One of the leading chemicals company, Eunisell Limited, has restated its commitment to develop the lubricants arm of Nigeria’s downstream sector, to bring it up to par with world-class standards.

The Group Managing Director of the company, Mr. Chika Ikenga, who disclosed this, recently, said the company would continue to partner with foreign companies in ensuring that its customers enjoy the best of manpower and technological support in lubricants and allied fluids production.

Condemning the prevalence of inferior lubricants in the country, the downstream industry operators at the event agreed that sub-standard engine oil formulations were deficient in additives, and implored lubricant companies

to intensify efforts in enlightening Nigerians on what makes a good automotive lubricant, so as to avoid buying the fake ones.

Ikenga implored people making poor quality lubricants to improve on quality as their actions have a negative impact on the industry and the economy at large.

He explained that engine oil is basically made up of two components- base oil and additives, adding that the additives which Eunisell provides are of core importance to manufacturing highly effective lubricants, for automotive and industrial applications. The company is the first to market and distribute high-end lube additives locally.

Meanwhile, he emphasised that Eunisell was the largest supplier of lubricant and fuel additives in Africa, adding

that the company provides the solution to most of the big names in the industry.

“We don’t manufacture lubricants; but we are reputed as a company that supplies the most effective additives to lubricant blenders and producers”, Ikenga posited.

He also hinted that Eunisell is a solution-driven company, constantly developing bespoke chemicals for optimising processes in downstream companies, with best-in-class equipment in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Ghana.

Eunisell has been supplying specialty chemicals and key fluids to a wide base of customers since 1996 and has grown to become a big source of lube and fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, polyurethane, oilfield engineering services, water treatment solutions and a broad range of other industrial chemicals.

MTN Sponsors 20 Customers to World Cup Funke Olaode MTN recently sponsored 20 of customers to watch the Super Eagles play live in Russia.

The initiative was part of the telecom company’s effort to reward its loyal customers.

The 20 Nigerians were in Russia to watch the national team play live against Argentina on Tuesday the 26th of June, 2018, The customers were also introduced to key MTN executives at a ‘Meet and Greet session, which held in Lagos before their departure for Russia, a statement revealed.

The lucky customers were chosen from the top 500 spenders of 2017 and they departed the country to return

on Thursday the 28th of June, 2018.

“The customers will not only watch the match but also go on a tour of the city including major museums and shopping centres.

“Over the years, MTN has demonstrated a commitment to supporting the passions and aspirations of Nigerians.

“This commitment has birthed initiatives like the partnership with Arsenal Football Club and the MTN Football Scholar,” the statement added.

Furthermore, the statement added: “We’re very proud of the team, they’re making us proud. We’ve been celebrating them since the competition began and to continue in

the celebration, we’re giving twenty of our customers an opportunity to watch them play live.

“It is not only a celebration but a special way of rewarding and saying thank you to our Highly Esteemed loyal customers.”

Commending MTN for the opportunity, one of the winners and former speaker, House of Representatives, Hon, Chibudom Nwuche extolled the virtue of the company.

“I was in my house when I got a phone call from the MTN that I had been selected to be part of this trip. I love football.

This is the best gift from the company since I got the line when it arrived Nigeria many years ago,” he said.

Vconnect Launches Platform to Address Trust Deficit Peter Uzoho Vconnect, one of the leading service marketplace has launched a new platform, called ‘Market by Vconnect’.

The move, according to the firm, was part of efforts to bridge the gap in trust between service providers and customers as well as help promote effective marketing of small and medium scale businesses.

At the event which took place in Lagos recently, 40 of the professionals on the company’s platform pledged to provide quality service to customers and users on the platform with utmost sincerity and professionalism.

Market by Vconnect is an online mall of customers where qualified service professionals can find and connect with real customers at any given time.

With the platform accessible with internet, businesses can leverage on the power of having an online presence by increasing sales, saving money on adverts and getting more customers than they would have by just an offline store.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Vconnect, Mr. Deepankar Rustagi, said the company

observed that service professionals found it hard to acquire real customers because of trust deficit in their market.

Rustagi added: “So we’re trying to bridge that gap by bringing the right profiled and qualified professionals so that people can hireseamlessly with the help of the internet. That’s what our platform is doing.

And now businesses are given the tools that will enable them to see who the user searching for their service is, to see his requirement, his location and to see if you will want to service that area or not.”

He explained that in profiling the professionals on their platform, four steps were followed starting with completing the profile form with relevant details and pictures; presenting an authentic means of identification preferably the National Identity Card and bank account details with BVN; and ends with direct interaction with the registrant.

According to him, the company collects between N500 to N700 as its charge for connecting a professional with a customer.

NBC Gets Edo Governor’s Support In furtherance of its commitment to empower over

15,000 youths by 2019, the management of non-alcoholic beverage giant, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd, has concluded its 3-day workshop in Benin, Edo State where it engaged over a thousand youths in a bid to improve their fortunes and create viable opportunities for growth.

The workshop in Benin which was held recently was the second location to be visited this year and the fifth in total since the programme commenced in October last year.

According to a statement signed by the Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director of the company, Sade Morgan, the event was attended by several notable mentors, youth leaders, nongovernmental organisations and government officials.

Delivering the opening remarks for the workshop, the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki expressed his delight for the Youth Empowered programme and advised participants to make best use of the skills which the NBC platform has created, promising that he would not hesitate to support participants with the best ideas with necessary funding.

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S BEST FRIEND DEBBIE LARRY-IZAMOJE

Leveraging Your Business for Next World Cup Its not very often the World Cup comes around and it is an event that most brands leverage on to achieve their targets.

This event has a peculiar way of capturing all our attention whether you are a football fan or not. In a world cup year like 2018, we all eat, drink, watch, talk, sleep and dream football almost throughout the year. Everyone, including all the elements of the earth, gravitates towards this timely event.

It is always the major talking point. For instance, Italy couldn’t make the Russia 2018 World Cup, but then AS Roma, a very big football club with an awesome history in Italy adapted Nigeria for support.

Everyone wants to see how their national team will fare at the world cup this year. For instance, Those of us in Nigeria are deeply grossed with the three stages of the world cup event, from the Qualifiers to the Super Eagles preparations, the world cup proper as well as the post world cup outcomes.

Research from the 2014 World Cup revealed that 6 out of the top 12 brands analysed for social buzz volume were not official brand partners. Nike that was a non sponsor generated 232,000 social mentions, compared to 129,000 racked up by official World Cup Sponsors Adidas.

This year, our work with Brila Online resulted in 95% ROI. The team has been able to increase engagement and followership across all social platforms within a short period of time. This is the power working with an effective digital agency during huge events can have on your brand.

So this article is for those of you who don’t have the millions to invest like these multi nationals but still want leverage on this powerful event in the coming years for better visibility and promotions Sponsorship: This is the most veritable way to leverage promote your brand. Being an official partner will give you the right to expose your message and visuals around the world cup elements, but while you might not be able to form a partnership with FIFA during the World Cup due to the paucity of funds, you can still pen some strategic deals with other brands to create iconic campaigns.

Your brand could also partner with former footballers to launch a campaign or co-work with football media houses to grow your brand in a win-win strategic situation.

Emotions/Storytelling: Football is one of the most emotive sports. So, It’s a great idea to try and get your brand to leverage on that added emotion in your cam-

paigns. Football can inspire and create real-life, feel-good stories your marketing campaign can be based on.

Social: Use a social media Influencer to share your brand involvement in the world cup: Social media influencer is anyone who has over a million followers on either Twitter or facebook, Instagram. Such person who is seen as a thought leader in his/her own niche could tweet or blog about what your brand is doing during the world cup.

Per adventure your brand won’t have the capacity to hire or partner a Media Influencer, then jump on it yourself, It’s a relatively cheap (or even free) way of getting your brand seen by the right people.

Tweet your brand with all the Hashtags, join in conversations, make comic graphics and all.

Whether you’re trying to build a community around your brand, or you have an established community you’re if you have the shaped the right content for your channel, the World Cup can see your follower count flying up if used adequately. Or just get in touch with a digital agency like Image Boosters to help Branded Viewing Center: Your brand can set up a large screen viewing center in your city and attract fans to come together like a mini stadium, to watch the world cup matches. It could also be used as corporate services to rural areas and refugee camps participatory during the world cup.

Brands could set up such large screen viewing center and get major media outfit to cover daily events at the center; a kind of real live football fans show Flash sales : Everyone loves a good deal. An event like the World Cup provides the perfect opportunity to go with a themed flash sale, and can really create a nice little profit boost. You can choose how big of a sale you want to go with: a sweeping promotion of 50% off everything in your online store, two for one deal, or simply focusing on a specific product you want to push, customize the sale to work best for your business. Such could be tagged #WorldCup sales PS: Be Careful, don’t get sued... The Fifa World Cup is protected by trademark & Copyright, It’s generally a good idea to refer to the World Cup without making specific mention of the name [FIFA] or its affiliated trademarks. Err on the side of caution and make sure your images, banners, and what nots give the game a nod, while playing it safe.

ABOUT DEBBIE LARRY-IZAMOJE Debbie Larry-Izamoje AKA The Entrepreneur’s Best-Friend holds a BSc in Information management from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, and MSc in management from University College London (UCL). She has also secured certificates in user innovation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Innovation and strategy from Harvard University.

She is on a mission to raise a generation of young established or soon to be established professionals who are more vocal about business difficulties while providing solutions through public speaking, training, workshops and coaching.

She is the founder of the Image Boosters a full service agency with core services in digital marketing, PR, branding and more.

Website: www.imageboosters.com.ng Instagram: @dee_larry @imageboosters_ Email: contactus@ imageboosters.com.ng or debbie@imageboosters.com.ng, 08050464111 (text only)

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E-BUSINESS

Akano:FintechsWillRevolutionisePayment System Managing Director, Upperlink Limited, Mr. Segun Akano, spoke with Emma Okonji on new trends in the financial payment system and how local financial technology solution providers could revolutionise the payment sector. Excerpts: and businesses are still outside the banking system with no bank accounts and they still carry cash around. What is your view on this?

The CBN is working hard to address the situation through its drive for financial inclusiveness. The CBN has put up a lot of resources in this regard through agency banking, which I think will help drive financial inclusion. The infrastructure that the banks need to drive financial inclusion is enormous and the banks cannot do it alone, hence the use of agency banking in rural communities as add on to the cashless initiative drive of the CBN. I understand that CBN is planning to license additional supper agents across the country that will drive agency banking in the country. This initiative will help bring in those without bank accounts into the financial system of the country. There are volumes of money that are outside the financial system of Nigeria and what the CBN is doing is to bring those cash from the unstructured system to the structured system and this will enable government to generate data that will drive GDP.

You founded Upperlink, one of the 11 licenced Payment Service Solution Providers (PSSPs) that developed a local payment software solution that is currently revolutionising the financial payment system. How was this initiative conceived?

We started Upperlink some years ago as a small firm that provides internet connectivity to businesses but later saw a gap in the financial payment system, where systems were run in silos, thus creating delay in financial transactions.

When we saw the existing gap, we decided to develop a local payment solution called PayChoice to address it.

The local payment solution is an infrastructure gateway that offers payment and collection efficiency. It was developed in August 2016, but became commercially viable in January 2017.

Of what benefit is the PayChoice solution to the federal, state and local governments?

I can confidently say that the locally developed software has helped state governments with multiple accounts scattered across several banks in their states that were hitherto unknown to the state governments, to detect such hidden accounts, thus helping state governments to recover lost funds and to block further financial leakages. It is also of immense help to the federal and local governments for financial transactions.

What is PayChoice all about?

PayChoice is a self service solution that gives comfort in financial business. It allows corporate organisations and government agencies with multiple accounts in different banks, to identify all such accounts and operate them on a single platform that is provided by PayChoice. It offers solution for instant payment of salaries and financial remunerations for vendors, merchants and contractors.

Based on its unique operational module, PayChoice recently won the CBN Electronic Payments Incentive Scheme (EPIS) Efficiency Awards. Upperlink won the innovation award for efficiency recently by beating competing brands in the Payment Solutions Service Provider (PSSP) category.

There are three major variables that determine the acceptability of software solutions in the market, which are comfort, speed and security.

If a solution addresses these three variables, it permeates the minds of business owners who want to promote efficiency in business. What PayChoice does is to allow organisations to conclude instant financial transactions before the weekends and public holidays set in, irrespective of the volume of transaction. So it saves the stress of delay in payment transactions.

Having won the CBN’s EPIS award, how do you feel that your solution topped the solutions of other 10 licensed Payment Solution Service Providers (PSSPs) to revolutionise the Nigerian payment industry?

We feel great and thankful to God Almighty because God has a purpose for our business.

What kind of technology innovation was put into PayChoice solution that brought it to national recognition?

We have put in a lot of technology innovation into PayChoice since it was first developed in August 2016, up till when the solution became commercially viable in January 2017 and we are still innovating till date, while building on speed of use and security around the solution.

We built our solution around the Nigeria Central Switch, which is managed by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). It took us about two years to understudy the technology of the Nigeria Central Switch before perfecting it in our PayChoice solution. So what we did was to leverage on the existing infrastructure

Akano

of NIBSS to build the PayChoice solution, instead of building our own infrastructure, which of course is highly capital intensive to do. With PayChoice, we offer 24 hours service, attending to customers’ needs and challenges. The solution is locally developed by our team of young software developers,

“FinTech players are nancial technology service providers that develop nancial solutions that are disrupting the core banking operations and there is need for collaboration between FinTech and the banks. Upperlink is one of the FinTech companies whose solutions are actually helping the nancial sector to better manage their business, so I see the need for collaboration. All payment solution service providers are FinTechs, and they need to be encouraged”

which make us unique in addressing customers’ needs without waiting for foreign expatriates.

Does Upperlink have other software solutions aside PayChoice that is addressing the financial sector?

We have various software solutions that are locally developed that address the needs and challenges of other sectors. For instance, we have EduChoice software solution that addresses that needs and challenges of the education sector. We also have e-Hospital solution that is servicing the health sector. Any hospital that wants to do end to end automation of patient registration, consulting, ward and laboratory management among others, can conveniently do so with our eHospital solution, which has proven to be very efficient.

Having won the CBN EPIS award with PayChoice, what are your plans to sustain the standard of your software app?

We have not stopped innovating despite the award we won. We are still close to our customers to find out new ways to serve them better. We are doing this to sustain the bond that exists between us and our customers.

How secured is the PayChoice solution, and how can it block loopholes to financial leakages in organisations and within government circles?

The development of any software must follow fundamental process. CMMI for instance, is a yardstick for measuring quality in the software industry, which also addresses the issue of security and our PayChoice solution is in line with CMMI standard. It is highly secured and can protect customers’ data any time of the day. Again, the software is developed in such a way that it has high level of interoperability to connect and scale with other software solutions and devices. There are lots of controls in our solution that makes it difficult for few people to cause security breach on it. For CBN to recognise our solution, speaks volume of the high level of security features embedded in the solution.

Your solution is designed to address the gap in financial inclusion, yet lots of people

SMEs are engines of growth in emerging economies like Nigeria. Do you have software solution that is specifically designed to manage SME business?

We have solution for SMEs and NIBSS has a product called MCash, designed for SMEs. It is a financial service product for SMEs, which save them the stress of having to deploy same solutions that enterprise businesses deploy.

The solution will help SMEs to source for funds easily.

Government policies and regulation could make or mar businesses. What kind of policy regulation are you expecting from government in the payment industry?

Our payment industry is highly regulated by government through the CBN and over time the policies and regulation of government have helped the payment industry to grow stronger. So we need more of such regulation and policies that will continue to promote industry success. One of the CBN policies led to the creation of PSSP and the regulation after the creation, has been of high standard that has kept players in the sector on their toes. But one thing I will like government to do in the area of regulation is to cut down on the charges of financial transactions to enable small business owners participate freely in financial transactions. If the transaction cost charged by the banks is high, it will scare small business owners from doing electronic transactions.

What is your view about FinTech collaboration with the banks to drive innovation in the payment space?

FinTech players are financial technology service providers that develop financial solutions that are disrupting the core banking operations and there is need for collaboration between FinTech and the banks. Upperlink is one of the FinTech companies whose solutions are actually helping the financial sector to better manage their business, so I see the need for collaboration. All payment solution service providers are FinTechs, providing financial services to the financial sector and they need to be encouraged.

Do you have plans to extend Upperlink solutions beyond Nigeria?

Yes, our dream is to operate in other countries outside Nigeria and get our business expanded.

Presently we have established Upperlink in Congo Republic and we are currently working to expand further to more African countries.

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Half Year: Telecoms Sector Trudges On The telecoms industry is facing many challenges ranging from low broadband penetration, high cost of bandwidth, insufficient infrastructure, to over-the-top incursions. However, amidst these, the sector fared better in the first half of the year writes Emma Okonji The last six months, which marked the first half (H1)of the year in 2018, appeared to be rough for the telecoms operators who were faced with some challenges that did not only limit the speed of growth in the sector, but also affected their usual revenue streams from voice calls. During the review period, the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), came up with measures to grow the country’s broadband penetration from the current 22 per cent penetration to 30 per cent penetration, as contained in the National Broadband Plan(NBP).

The low broadband penetration, coupled with insufficient broadband infrastructure, resulted in high cost of bandwidth for internet access and connectivity. While battling with these challenges, over the top (OTT) technology providers made things even more difficult for telecoms service providers, by providing free telecoms services through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Imo, Skype, Facebook, among others, via the internet. Ironically, the OTT technology providers riding on the network of the traditional telecoms providers to provide such voice services free of charge. The situation affected the revenue stream of telecoms operators as most subscribers now prefer to make free calls using the social media platform, than patronising the traditional telecoms operators who hitherto provided the voice service at some cost to the subscribers.

Although telecoms operators passed through all these challenges in the H1 of the year, but they were still able to survive them all and even did better as a result of regulatory conduct and commitment of the telecoms operating companies.

The challenges Low broadband penetration, high cost of bandwidth, data price floor, OTT incursions and national backbone infrastructure, were some of the major challenges that the telecoms sector contended with in the H1 of 2018. Telecoms activities are majorly driven by broadband, but telecoms operators have been faced with low broadband penetration, which resulted in high cost of internet bandwidth, a situation that slowed down the growth of telecoms activities across networks. Knowing the importance of broadband availability and penetration, the federal government, in 2013, came up with a five year NBP(2013-2018), with a target of attaining 30 per cent broadband penetration by the end of 2018, up from the 18 per cent broadband penetration the country attained in 2013. As at today, the country has grown its broadband penetration to 22 percent, but still short of the planned 30 per cent broadband penetration by the end of 2018, even though the NCC is still optimistic that the county will surpass the 30 per cent broadband target by the end of 2018 due to the measures the telecoms regulator has put in place to achieve the target.

Data price floor is another area of challenge for the sector in the last six months, but the NCC is working on some measures that would soon be released to address the issue of data price floor in the telecoms sector.

Data price floor in technical parlance, is one of the regulatory safeguards normally put in place by the telecommunications regulator to check anticompetitive practices particularly by the dominant operators. It is a minimum price on data services as stipulated by government or the regulator.

NCC had on November 1, 2016, written to the mobile network operators (MNOs) on the determination of an interim price floor for data services after a stakeholder’s consultative meeting of October 19, 2016. As at November 1, 2016, the industry average for data tariff floor for dominant operators including, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, EMTS Limited (Etisalat), now 9mobile, and Airtel Nigeria Limited, was N0.53k/MB, but the interim price floor as introduced by NCC, which was to commence with effect from December 1, 2016, seeks to increase the industry average for data tariff from 53k/MB to 90k/MB. Considering the new rate of N90k/MB as

Danbatta contained in the interim floor price for data services, MTN went ahead to inform its over 61 million subscribers that it would increase data tariff with effect from December 1, 2016.

The announcement by MTN, raised a lot of dust among subscribers across networks, who started calling on NCC and the operators to rescind the decision of data tariff hike.

Following the complaints from subscribers, NCC decided to suspend any further action in that direction till date. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, however, told journalists last week that NCC was already working on a new tariff plan for data price floor that would be released soon.

The services of OTT technology providers in the last six months, also added its own challenges to the telecoms sector. The OTT services are rendered by social network providers who ride on the infrastructure of MNOs like MTN, Globacom, Airtel, among other GSM operators, to offer free voice and instant massaging services such as: WhatsApp, WeChat, Skype, Facebook, Viber, Imo, at no cost to the subscribers.

Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, had raised concern that social network operators do not invest in infrastructure, but ride on the infrastructure of MNOs to provide free services to customers at the detriment of MNOs who have invested so much to build their infrastructure and are still investing in the maintenance of such telecoms infrastructure.

He said the new development was causing MNOs to lose revenue strings hitherto coming from their voice and data services because subscribers now prefer to patronise the social network operators who provide the services at no cost to the subscriber.

Adebayo had last year, called on NCC to consider the regulation of OTT services but NCC made it clear at that time that it was not ready to regulate the OTT technology in order to avoid a process that would lead to the stifling of technology advancement in Nigeria.

But recent developments have shown that the NCC may be compelled to regulate the activities of the OTT players in order to save the telecoms industry from total collapse. Going by recent developments in the telecoms sector, the NCC may likely set up a regulatory framework for the control of OTT technology services.

This will, however, be made possible if NCC eventually validates the findings of the study carried out by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) on the benefits and challenges OTT services in Nigeria.

The CTO report, which was presented recently to the Nigerian ICT industry, presents key issues

Adebayo and recommendations on OTT services. The CTO report is sequel to a stakeholders’ consultation session organised by the NCC on May 30, and the report is expected to provide the industry with an opportunity to discuss and validate the findings.

Another challenge faced by telecoms operators was the lack a national backbone infrastructure that will transmit broadband capacities from the shores of the country to the hinterlands, where the broadband services are in high demand.

Nigeria has avalanche of broadband capacities from undersea cables berthed at the shores of the country by MainOne, Glo1, MTN WACS, SAT 3, among others. In spite of the abundant broadband capacities at the shores of the country, less than 10 per cent of the total broadband capacity is being utilised because the country lacks the national backbone infrastructure that will transmit the capacities from the shores to the hinterlands. The situation affected telecoms operations in the last six months, leading to disparity in the prices of broadband within Nigeria, which slowed the pace in the rollout of telecoms services across the country.

Success story In spite of the listed challenges the industry players performed very according to industry statistics released recently by the NCC. The statistics showed increased subscriber number and increased teledensity. The increase, NCC said, underscored the reason for improved service quality in the telecoms sector in the last six months.

The Nigerian telecoms sector achieved steady teledensity growth in the last nine months to reach 114.66 per cent in April this year, occasioned by the rise in telecoms subscribers number, which reached 160,524,590 across all networks as at the same April this year.

The growth in teledensity, came after the country experienced a slide in its teledensity between January 2017 and July 2017, before picking up in August 2017 and maintained a steady growth up till April 2018, where it reached its highest peak of 114.66 per cent.

In technical parlance, teledensity is defined as the number of active telephone connections per one hundred inhabitants living within an area and is expressed as a percentage figure.

According to the figures released, after a slide in teledensity between January 2017 to July 2017, from 110.8 per cent to 99.39 per cent respectively, the country’s teledensity picked up again from 99.39 per cent in July 2017 to 99.60 per cent in August same year. It grew to 99.93 per cent in September; and 100.55 per cent in October. Again it grew to 101.66 per

cent in November; 103.61 per cent in December same year; 105.21 per cent in January 2018; 106 per cent in February 2018; 106.64 per cent in March 2018, until it reached 114.66 per cent in April 2018, which is the highest ever since the inception of GSM network rollout in 2001.

According to NCC’s figures, the current 160 million plus subscriber number is a clear indication of a steady growth of subscribers across networks.

Giving reason for the steady growth in teledensity and subscriber number in the last nine months, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, attributed it to better regulation, availability of telecoms services, improved reliability of telecoms services and steady economic growth of the country.

“Regulation is not counter productive, there is availability of telecoms services that have improved over the past months and the economy is showing signs of good growth, which when combined together, gave telecoms subscribers the confidence to patronise telecoms operators more than before,” he said.

Other areas that contributed to the successes recorded in the first half of the year, were the speedy approval on right of way given to telecoms companies for network rollout following the intervention of the NCC. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, engaged with state governors who had before now, refused the approval of right of way to telecoms operators operating in their states, while demanding for exorbitant fees from the telecoms operators before approval on right of way was given. The engagement of NCC with the state governors concerned, opened doors to quick approval of right of ways, which also opened the doors of opportunities for telecoms operators to rollout services in different parts of the state. This helped in no small measures in improving service quality, and also increased subscriber number and teledensity.

The positive disruptions brought about by financial technology (FinTech) players, also contributed to the growth the telecoms industry in the last six months. They were able to develop technology solutions that are not only driving financial transactions in the banking sector, but also driving mobile money payment transactions that ride on the infrastructure of telecoms operators.

The handling of the ongoing sale of 9mobile, which the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria played a major role, helped in stabilising the telecoms sector growth in the last six months, according to experts views.

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E-BUSINESS

Citracks, Galooli Harp on Low Cost Tracking, Power Solutions Stories by Emma Okonji The first ever telematics conference organised by Citracks, a subsidiary of C&I Leasing, in collaboration with its technical partner, Galooli, highlighted how organisations with fleet of vehicles could effectively track and monitor their vehicles and drivers’ behaviours, using latest technology solution that will help organisations save operational cost.

Aside tracking solutions, the telematics conference also highlighted how telecommunications companies as well as oil and gas companies among others, could effectively manage fuel consumption and maintenance of their generators using the best of technology solutions that help save cost.

Managing Director/CEO of C & I Leasing, Mr. Andrew Otike-Odibi, said the company introduced Citracks as one of its business units to address the anomalies and mismanagement going on with fleet and power businesses in the county.

He said the telematics conference was organised to showcase the most effective technology solutions that would help organisations and individuals to effectively manage their fleet of vehicles and generators in the most cost-effective manner that will save organisations as high as 30 per cent in their operational cost. He explained that Citracks has gone beyond transportation business of vehicle tracking and fleet management, to a full technology business company, using telematics to provide technology solutions for organisations. The Managing Director of Galooli, Mr. Nissim Moshe, described the

partnership between Citracks and Galooli as one partnership that has used technology and telematics to change the face of business in Nigeria, since his company entered into the Nigerian market in 2016.

The Chief Technical Officer at Galooli, Mr. Kim Fraser, said the company had integrated its variety of solutions into a single app, which offers several services that meet customers’ needs.

According to him, the app is available on Google Play Store for download on any android device and comes with great ease of use.

“Our app solution monitors mobile assets as well as physical stationery assets, and helps customers to know how those assets are being utilised and managed. For vehicles, we are looking at how the vehicle is utilised and operated and what is the fuel consumption of the vehicle and how the driver is managing the vehicle and its fuel consumption.

“The solution captures information about the vehicle location, usage and its fuel consumption rate.

It captures driver’s behaviour at any point in time. It gives information that will allow the vehicle owner manage the driver and the vehicle in a cost effective way,” Fraser said.

According to him, for the power assets, the solution would help customers manage their generator to get a maximum value and reduce running cost in the maintenance of the generator.

The solution can help customers save between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of running cost. The solution is a complete solution that addresses a variety of issues,

Electronic Payplus Earns PCI DSS, ISO QSM Certificates Bennett Oghifo Electoric Payplus Limited, a payment solutions company in Nigeria, has earned itself the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and ISO Quality Management System (QSM) certificates after nine months and it is set to advance into other payment systems.

The PCI DSS, ISO QSM Certificates were presented to the company in Lagos, recently by Infoprive, a leading information security in sub-Saharan Africa with experience across transaction switching, payment and banking systems. The Managing Director of Electronic Payplus Limited, Mr. Bayo Adeokun, whose company was the first to achieve ISO certification in the country, said attaining the new certificates “has been a very tough journey within the last nine months, October last year till now. We thought at the beginning that we can get it done within three months.

We are the first in this industry that will operate with that certificate.”

“We decided to do this because moving forward,

and as Electronic Payplus Limited, we intend to go into other areas of this business that our colleagues in this business have not gone into.

We also call ourselves the solutions provider, so we are not only into smart card, we also provide payment solutions and that is why this is very necessary for us.”

The MD said the vision is “to build a legacy, a company that will live after all of us and for you to be able to do that you must learn to reinvent yourself.”

On the impact of the company’s payment solutions, he said: “Electronic Payplus has been operating in this market for 13 years now. We started as a POS deployment company and after a couple of years we did a business review and decided to go into smart card production.”

On how secure smart cards could be, he said: “Security is a buzz word in the payment card industry. It can never be eliminated but the most important thing is to guide against it. On the part of providers, of which Electronic Payplus is one, we have the best in class security.”

but customers may not need to buy the entire solution, but could buy part of it, depending

on their needs.

“Our fleet management solution for instance, can be

unbundled into three parts: basic tracking servers, driver behaviour solution, and engine

diagnostic component that manages fuel consumption,” Fraser said.

SMARTPHONE LAUNCH

L-R: Head, Software Engineering, Stephen Okwara; Business Lead, Information Technology and Mobile, Olumide Ojo; Head, Product Training, Solomon Osibeluwo, and Head of Marketing, Olugbenga Awomodu, all of Samsung Electronics West Africa, at the launch of Galaxy J4, J6 and A6+ in Lagos...recently

itel Mobile Smartphones on Operating System

Launches MTN Set to Boost Customers’ Android Experience with ‘CEM’ Emma Okonji

itel, a mobile phone brand has launched three smartphones which run on the Android Oreo operating system into the Nigerian market.

The itel smartphones include P32, A32F and A15, designed to boost customer experience in unique ways. itel became one of the first global mobile phone brands to partner Google on the Android Oreo project, which aims to benefit the brand’s millions of consumers in global emerging markets and empower them to enjoy mobile life at affordable price points. itel P32, A32F and A15 which feature the new Android Oreo operating system, also known as the ‘Go edition’, present a number of benefits to consumers, which include: smooth and fast experience tailored to devices with 1GB of RAM, new and reimagined Google apps for entry-level smartphones including Google Go, YouTube Go, and the Google Assistant for Android, and Enhanced data efficiency.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos recently, the Group Vice President of TRANSSION, the parent body of itel Mobile, Arif Chowdhury said: “We are delighted to launch the first batch of itel smartphones powered by the Android Oreo operating system. We believe that the mobile communication device that has revolutionised human social life should belong to everyone.

Through this partnership with

Google, we will make it easier for consumers in emerging markets, especially in Africa regions, the opportunity to afford an efficient and userfriendly smartphone.”

According to Kamdar, Android Oreo is specifically optimised to bring the magic of Google and Android to smartphones with limited memory and processing power. We are excited to see itel take the next step towards bringing computing to more people by launching Android Oreo phones.

The itel P32 comes with the 5.5-inches IPS 18:9 full screen display with a 5MP/5MP rear dual camera and dual flash lights. The device is packed with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM, powered by MT6580M Quad-core 1.3GHz processor. It houses a 4000mAh big battery with one charge for 3 days, as well as a fingerprint sensor for easy access to the phone.

The itel A32F comes with 5.0-inches big display and 5MP AF rear camera with 1.4μm big pixel and 2MP selfie camera with 1.65μm big pixel.

It supports 1.3GHz Quad-Core MT6580M, 1GB RAM + 8GB ROM and 2050mAh battery.

The itel A15 also comes with a 5.0-inch display screen and 5MP AF rear camera with 1.4μm big pixel, and a 2MP selfie camera with 1.65μm big pixel. It supports 1.3GHz Quad-Core MT6580M, 1GB RAM + 8GB ROM and 2050mAh battery.

As part of efforts to address challenges that impede customers’ experience on the its network, the telecoms company on Wednesday in Lagos, launched the first phase of its Customer Experience Management (CEM) platform.

The platform was designed to boost customers’ experience from any location.

The platform, which is driven by cognitive analytical tool that is based on generated data about the customer, will allow MTN to monitor its network as well as customer behaviour and their challenges, from an operation centre, and moves to address the challenges in a quick response time.

MTN is partnering Nokia, which is the technology company that is providing the software and hardware infrastructure and the technical assistance that is driving the CEM platform.

Speaking at the launch of the solution, CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman, said the initiative was conceived two years ago, to monitor and address customers’ challenges on the MTN network and ensure that customers get the best of experience when on the MTN network.

He said the next phase of the launch of the tool would be the launch of an app, which customers could download on their mobile devices to trace network challenges, their

causes and how to mitigate them seamlessly.

General Manager, Network Group at MTN, Mr. Uche Orsuji, said: “The MTN CEM initiative is a total transformation of how MTN perceived its customers.

“As the telecoms business is evolving, MTN is thinking of new ways to make customers stay on the MTN network without the least challenge from drop calls, inability to recharge phones, data depletion, poor voice clarity, among others.

“The essence is to make our customers satisfied and happy while on the MTN network.

Instead of looking at the challenges of the network and the transmission equipment, we decided to invest in CEM tool that will rather take care of customers’ experience, find out their challenges and address them even before the customers know it.”

Also, the General Manager, Business Intelligence at MTN, Mr. Anthony Obi, said the initiative would help MTN use cognitive analytics to understand customer needs and challenges and address them promptly.

The General Manager, Consumer Affairs at MTN, Mr. Kolawole Oyeyemi, said: “The customers are important to MTN and would do anything that will make customers happy on the MTN network, hence investing in the CEM platform to boost customer experience.”

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ADVERTISING

Dimmed Hope for Marketing Communication Raheem Akingbolu writes that many combining factors, including the late passage of the 2018 budget slowed down activities in the marketing communication sector January 2018 ushered in hope for marketing communication practitioners in Nigeria. With Nigeria exiting the economic recession that almost crippled their businesses in the previous years, players in various fields of marketing communication had predicted a boom in the New Year.

But six months after, the hope is still rising without a clear picture of what the rest of the year would look like.

Though there is stability in the business environment, the fact that economic activities have slowed down have impacted on the marketing industry.

Another major challenge the industry is yet to overcome is lack of leadership and operational board at the apex regulatory body of the industry –the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

However, in terms of industry structure and development, there has been tremendous growth in the last six months. For instance, the advertising community has attracted global recognition with the inauguration of the Nigerian Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA), while other sectoral bodies, like NIPR, PRCAN and EXMAN have also instituted various programmes to promote capacity development.

Looking at the last six months, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Kayode Oluwasona, disagreed that things have been rough for practitioners.

According to him, with the recent passage of the budget, activities will soon kick off smoothly in the industry.

“There is hope rising and at the end of the day, everybody is looking forward for the boom.

If there is anything that gladdens my heart, it is the fact that our members have readjusted their business models very well to fit into the economic reality of the country.

“In the last six months, there have been businesses, there have been planning and there have been realignments. As we approach the second half of the year, I’m not in doubt that things would improve very well,” But for the Publisher of Marketing Edge, a wholly Marketing Communication publication, Mr. John Ajayi, it is not yet uhuru for the industry.

He told THISDAY during the week that the hope of marketing practitioners that this year would be better has remained hanging.

While blaming the late passage of the budget by the National Assembly for the lull in the economy, he called on practitioners to quickly braze up to attract available opportunities in the months ahead.

“It is sad, but the reality is that the high expectation in January has become high frustration because things have not moved the way they should be for practitioners.

“First, the delay in signing the budget into law at the critical period, when it would have been used to invigorate the economy through the real sector cost the marketing industry a lot. “Things have been tough in the last six months because there is no money in circulation, consumers purchasing power have reduced while the manufacturing sector, whose activities would have had cumulative impact on the marketing communication has been in comatose,” Impact of the World Cup Beyond growing sales, many brands, especially those with global clouts are leveraging the ongoing World Cup to further strengthen the equity of their brands.

In the last few weeks, a lot of activities by many manufacturers of goods and service providers have been geared toward the global competition to boost their brands visibility in the market.

Of course, this has also boosted activities in the marketing communication industry as they are relied upon for conceptualisation of promotional ideas and campaigns.

As a global partner of FIFA since 1978, Coca Cola is not left out this year. To identify with

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed

the Super Eagles of Nigeria and its Nigerian consumers, the global soft drink brand domesticates some of its global campaigns and engages local marketing communications practitioners for activations.

In fact, to promote the ideals and strength of the Super Eagles, both Coca Cola and Pepsi launched ad campaigns ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

So far, the campaign for the national team to win the 2018 FIFA World Cup has received quite an overwhelming support from global and indigenous brands as well as the Nigerian government.

At least, six big brands supported the Nigerian football national team with over N6 billion

There is hope rising and at the end of the day, everybody is looking forward for the boom. If there is anything that gladdens my heart, it is the fact that our members have readjusted their business models very well to fit into the economic reality of the country

Acting Registrar, APCON, Ijedi Iyoha

in its campaign to come out top at the 2018 global football event.

Out of these brands are two major beverage manufactures- Coca-Cola Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries plc - funding the Super Eagles campaign with over N2 billion.

Other brands that identify with the team and end up boosting activities in the marketing industry are; Hero, Trophy, Multichoice and Amstel Malta.

Outdoor sector In the out-of-home sub sector of the industry, the last six months have been rough. According to industry source, more agencies have downsized as a result of their businesses that nosedived in the last six months.

To say the last 10 years have been difficult for outdoor practitioners is like stating the obvious. Aside facing challenges of multiple taxation and unfriendly rates, the fear of likely takeover of their businesses by foreign firms has remained a recurring decimal.

In Lagos, where they have the largest chunk of their businesses, the challenges have been tougher than other places, especially since 2006 when the state government decided to create a parallel regulatory agency -the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), to rival the federal government’s owned Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). Despite efforts by stakeholders to mend the wall between the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) and LASAA, the relationship is still a cat and mouse one.

In 2017 when many thought the war was over, the decision of the state government to allocate major sites in the commercial city to a French Company - JCDecaux Group became another cause for concern among practitioners.

Speaking on the performance of the subsector in the last six months, OAAN General Secretary, Femi Ogala, didn’t mince words in stating emphatically that the last one and half years have remained the worst for out-of-home practitioners. Ogala didn’t only blame Lagos State and her agency –LASAA for double standard; he also condemned the agency for introducing unfriendly payment pattern to frustrate local practitioners.

“For outdoor practitioners, 2017 is a bad year and nothing have changed in the last six months, no thanks to LASAA and the Lagos State government that boosted the activities of a foreign firm -JCDecaux Group, at the expense of the local operators.

“As I speak, major streets in Lagos like Ikorodu road, third Mainland Bridge, Oshodi, Ojota and others have been ceded to the foreign company.

“Our members are particularly sad because some areas where the state had initially marked untouchable are now being controlled by the company.

“Besides, the rates being given to us are not friendly, even after the recent reduction. For God’s sake, where do you get money to pay when the campaigns are no more running.

It is when our works add values to clients’ businesses that we will be paid and get money to pay government,’’ he said.

CPC perspective For the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), the last six months have witnessed many activities, especially in the area of stakeholders’ engagement and enforcement. Among other achievements, the council has used the last six months to meet and encourage good and service providers to make consumer Protection a core and not ancillary of their businesses.

The council expects business owners and manufacturers to play prominent role in resolving complaints and consumer education.

In the area of enforcement, the council has consistently clamped down on unruly organisations that promote fake products.

The latest being the caught of eight persons and confiscation of over 1000 re-bagged substandard rice worth millions of Naira in Akwa Ibom state.

In the overall assessment of the various sectoral bodies, it is obvious that the general performance has been below average. But with the assurance from many quarters that the signing into law of the 2018 budget and the opportunities 2019 general election could offer, it is believed that the rest of the would impact marketing practitioners positively.

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Putting Nigeria on the Global Advertising Map Following the success of X3M Ideas at the Cristal Advertising Festival held in Marrakesh, Morocco, where it clinched 12 awards, Raheem Akingbolu writes on the significance of the feat to the nation’s creative industry Since the Cristal Advertising Festival was instituted as a wholly advertising industry competition platform to showcase creativity from Africa, winning in any category of the award has always been a coveted feat.

According to organisers of the award, it was designed to reward the best advertising campaigns created and broadcasted over the African continent on any media with the objective of promoting the African advertising creativity and showcasing a variety of international and regional work from the industry through the meeting of agencies and advertisers in a mixed jury.

In capturing the essence of the 2018 edition which centered on helping agencies grasps the creative, innovative and multi-cultural features of advertising in line with the Africa’s emerging market challenges and opportunities, the organisers divided the award into 21 categories and 11 jury panels.

As evident that the Cristal festival is growing by the year, the 2018 edition witnessed 2,280 campaign entries from agencies from more than 44 countries in Africa compared to 680 campaigns from 31 countries that registered last year. In this year’s edition, DDB Lagos, X3M Ideas and Noah’s Ark were agencies from Nigeria that were grouped among the continent’s creative power house.

In particular, X3M Ideas, has through the platform, reaffirmed its strong desire to place Nigeria on global advertising map as the agency carted home 12 awards.

The X3M Cristal medals haul which becomes the largest units of awards by a Nigerian agency at the 2018 event, establishes the nation’s advertising as coming of age bearing a strong and growing voice on the continental advertising landscape.

The agency’s Chief Creativity Officer/ CEO, Steve Babaeko has been a jury on the South African Loeries Awards, The New York International Ad Festival and the African Cristal Awards to give room and give vent to the Nigerian creative narrative even on these and more international creative platforms.

The winning concepts To carve a niche for itself and Nigeria Advertising in general, the agency’s self sponsored anti – depression social service advertising tagged “Look Beyond” which broke last year to support the Lagos State’s effort at fighting the sudden increase in the rate of suicide, won a remarkable grand Cristal at the just concluded 2018 African Cristal Advertising Festival.

The campaign which featured a series of ads including online is one of the agency’s deliberate attempts at being a social contributor and dependable voice in supporting the Lagos State government in enhancing and keeping a sane and save society for all.

The increasing spate of suicides in the society is considered antithetical to Nigeria’s reputation as globally acclaimed “happiest people” in the world despite all the odds.

This is why we, as X3M Ideas, cannot keep silent in the face of this ugly development the CEO had explained when the campaign broke in May 2017.

The campaign which won a Grand Cristal an equivalent of a Grand Prix in the social/ CSR category, was a major voice that permeated the social media and youth focused TV channels to drum up support for the Governor AkinwunmiAmbode’s battle cry against suicides in Lagos state and the country at large.

Approach to business According to Babaeko, the agency has dutifully pursued its DNA ingrained passion to consistently find the time and resources to churn out campaigns to promote social causes despite its busy work schedules and scarce resources to combat tendencies for the society travelling the descent route.

As a company, X3M Ideas is passionate about youth, the business is positively youthful and the crop of its staff, so when we begin to see

Tranxeon Train Simulation a trend of the odious happening and almost becoming like a way of life, we would not want to keep silent. In fact that is not our way of life. This is the main reason behind this multi awards winning social advocacy campaign tagged “Looking Beyond”, a source in the agency told our correspondent.

In the campaign, the agency explored the ‘huge popularity for social media’ to paint the picture of how depression becomes gets a stranglehold of the victim. The victim hides the “depression” behind written words especially on social media pretending “all is well” either because he has no one to talk to or because

The campaign which featured a series of ads including online is one of the agency’s deliberate attempts at being a social contributor and dependable voice in supporting the Lagos State government in enhancing and keeping a sane and save society for all

he did not know such platforms exist or he simply lose confidence in the people around him.

The short “socialmercial” which was heavy on HipTV also trended heavily on youtube, twitter and other social media platforms, discourage youth from the growing painful decision to “end it all” which had earlier been caused the nation immeasurable loss such as the loss of a young doctor who took a plunge into the lagoon on the popular Lagos third mainland bridge among numerous others.

The video shows the hand of a depressed buddy trying hard to pour out his emotion to his friend on the social media but only succeeded at giving a pretentious impression that “everything is okay”.

The social service campaign tells those trapped in depression casement to escape, “they need not end it all, there is someone or organisation caring and willing to help which victims can to talk to”. The video graciously displays dedicated help-lines to be called by the sufferer.

Between the award and the agency’s CSR The Grand Cristal award justifies the X3M Ideas’ consistent Corporate Social Responsibility support to the society and the Lagos State Government’s efforts.

The agency built a block of six classrooms for the Lagos State’s Opebi Junior Secondary school in 2013; provided computers and other ICT equipment to two government schools in 2014; in 2015, the agency refurbished and provided two modern toilet facilities to the Lagos State home for boys (reformation centre). In 2016, it was the turn of Ikeja Senior Secondary School to benefit from the agency’s milk of humanity through the provision and

equipment of a befitting library for the use of the school while in 2017, X3M Ideas made a daring move as it moved out of Lagos to lend a hand to the Chibok Girls Secondary School as it provided the much needed chairs and tables for easy learning and teaching in the school that has come under national global attention.

With the agency’s unflinching support for social causes which also include the BabatundeRajiFashola’s tenure’s “Horns Free Day”, the campaign to curb violence against women all attest to the fact the reward with a Grand prix award is merited and most deserving of the X3M Ideas.

Apart from the Goodvertising Grand Cristal award, the “Looking Beyond” material won a gold, a silver and two bronze.

The agency also pulled in three medals for Globacom in the Media, telecoms and Brand entertainment and content for tv/cinema; X3M Ideas medal haul also include a Bronze for Friesland CampinaWamco – Peak Milk Heritage campaign winning in the Mass Consumption products category, while the agency’s work for a previous client, 9Mobile also recorded 3 medals in Media; telecommunications; and Brand entertainment and content for tv/cinema categories; to advance the cause of Nigerian advertising on the global arena.

The African Cristal Festival rewards the best advertising campaigns created and broadcasted over the African continent, on any media. The 2018 edition focused on cultural stakes and their implications for brands. The current edition of the African Cristal Festival centered on helping agencies grasps the creative and multi-cultural future in line with the African emerging market.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ojoboh: MFBs Must Invest in Training The Managing Director, Shalom Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Erhi Ojoboh, in this interview with Nosa Alekhuogie, spoke on the state of microfinance banks in Nigeria What is the state of microfinance banks in Nigeria?

We serve customers in the microfinance industry. We are really trying to promote financial inclusion among customers at the bottom of the pyramid, who obviously are people who don’t have access to funding for businesses from the typical commercial banks. So, their businesses are not sophisticated enough or structured enough to approach the bigger banks. These are people at the bottom of the pyramid who have business ideas or who have been in business for some years or even those operating in the informal sector of the economy. We try to help them grow their businesses and make them live out their opportunities and also better their lives and eventually, Nigeria as a whole.

Five years ago, it was really unstructured and even though CBN had come out with regulations and requirements for the sector to be structured, I don’t think the enforcement or implementations of those structures were in place and that led to a lot of MFBs’ licences being revoked at that time. But fast forward to today, it is structured and regulated. I have been in the industry for over a year and I have seen that the CBN is doing what it says it would do in terms of support, regulation and ensuring that the banks out there meet the minimum requirements to operate.

And of course, since you are dealing with money, lots of people had their reservations about MFBs. They were scared. They were not sure about the longevity of the banks, but now it’s better. People are more confident. They can give you their money and be comfortable to open a savings account with you, do business and so on. Now we have seen that there is a lot of structure in the industry and because the CBN also raised the minimum capital requirement for MFBs. So now, there are three tiers of MFBs: there is the Unit MFBs, State MFBs and the National MFBs. Before now, the minimum capital requirement was very low, but now, it has been increased. So, I think that weeded out a lot of people who were not prepared to be in the business for the long run and of course, I think it also brought out seasoned professionals who came together, put money together to form the different tiers of MFBs. I attended a national meeting for MFB practitioners in May and it was well organised. CBN officials were there and they gave us a talk, re -affirmed their support, and also, gave us information about the sector. A lot of practitioners shared their experiences dealing in this sphere and it is ongoing. It is really a structured industry now. So it is much better now.

mean that everything is going to go bad, but the CBN calls it that because it means a customer has not repaid. At Shalom, one of our strategic goals is to put our portfolio at risk at two per cent on a month-to- month basis and we have tried to reach that since the beginning of January. If it is not at two per cent, it would grow to three per cent and we make sure it revolves around that.

Everybody in the bank knows this. So, if you if you do not have the right strategy to the right business, then your NPLs would increase. In the broader view, I think we are doing a lot to keep NPLs low.

What challenges are microfinance banks facing at the moment?

I would say dealing with people at the bottom of the pyramid is a challenge. Of course, it brings a lot of opportunities but in terms of productivity, the things you would use an hour to do would take longer when dealing with these set of people. You have to take more time to cultivate them, manage them and bring them up to speed with what is required as minimum banking requirements.

Another one is access to funding. Although we don’t have that problem here, generally, a lot of microfinance banks struggle with funding in terms of support from the CBN or other financial institutions and at the last meeting I attended, there was a fund meant to support MfBs, but some MFBs who have accessed those funds in the past defaulted in paying back the government and that has affected every other person in the industry. So, to get access to that funding now is quite challenging. In fact, it is non -existent right now. So, we have to look internally to generate funding. I’m coming from a commercial bank, so I understand the dynamics of deposit mobilisation. We don’t only focus on loans here. So, for you to be a sustainable MFB, you have to generate savings with which you give loans to your customers. So, in terms of funding, there is a bit of imbalance right now, but of course we are surmounting the challenge by doing what we need to do. Another thing I would say is human resources. With the level of training and exposure of staff in the microfinance banking space that I have dealt with, shows that we have to train and put in extra work. Some people don’t even meet the basic requirement for a typical entry staff in another industry. The practitioners in the MFB sector have to put in a lot more into our staff so that we can revolutionise the industry. People say our industry is looked down upon and there is a huge imbalance between microfinance bank workers and commercial bank workers.

How are you coping under a tight monetary M.D, Shalom Microfinance Bank, Erhi Ojoboh

The practitioners in the MFB sectorhave to put in a lot more into our staff so that we can revolutionise the industry. People say our industry is looked down upon and there is a huge imbalance between microfinance bank workers and commercial bank workers

policy regime?

Well to be honest, it it is taking a toll on us.

I must confess. For example in a situation where we have had to do more, invest more in making our presence felt in the market, in cultivating new customers, in mobilising savings and deposits. The things customers used to be able to do easily are now a bit difficult for them to do. For example, our loans typically run for 30 days, from the time when you disburse the loan to when the customer is to repay the loan. It depends on the structure you are running. Here, what we typically do is 30 days. Some people do daily collections, it depends on your strategy as a bank. Some people do daily collections, some weekly, while others do monthly. There are customers in different categories depending on the loan and disbursement. So, I would say in the sector where we wait for 30 days for customers to pay, we’ve seen customers who used to even pay before the 30 days now asking for extra time after the 30 day period, blaming it on slow market activities. So, it has affected business in a way that things that could easily happen before are now difficult, So, you now have to bring different strategy to ensure that your money comes

back to you as at when due. So yes, business has tightened but we have to strategise to beat the current situation constantly.

The level of non-performing loans in the banking industry as revealed by CBN is about 16 per cent presently. For an MFB operator that deals with people at the micro level, what has been your experience?

I’ll say it depends on what your strategy is in this space. Like I mentioned earlier, there are different tiers of loans that is: daily, weekly and monthly collection depending on their level of exposure and business as well. So, when the decision is being taken to grant a customer loan, we look at the dynamics of the customer’s business. So as a micro finance practitioner, you have to be able to make decisions. That’s fundamental for you to guard against, first of all, your nonperforming loan (NPLs). From the beginning, examine the type of business. So guarding against NPLs is one thing, but it’s a reality because the business we are in is to create risk assets. CBN has a minimum requirement when we render our reports on a monthly basis of at most, five per cent NPLs and that is what is called portfolio at risk. It doesn’t

What are you bringing to the table that sets you apart from others?

Our vision as a microfinance bank is to be a world class customer-centric bank of choice to our customers. Now a lot of focus is placed on our customers. We find out what they want then we tailor our products according to their needs. So, we have a customer-centric approach and our customers are our most important assets - internal and external.

Internal being our staff and external being our customers. What we do at shalom is relationship management. Once you are our customer, we have a relationship with you, we manage that relationship, we manage your expectations, we manage your needs, we manage your business. We are in your face, we want to get a share of your mind, because what I like to say is, most times, that your friend would find it difficult to hurt you. That is, when you make these customers your friends, when you make them feel important even though they are at the bottom of the pyramid, such that you don’t have to wear agbada before you address them politely. So, we are building relationships with our customers and not just disbursing loans and collecting it back.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Curtailing Rights’ Violations from Pollution How business presence can affect host communities topped the discourse at a recent media training on Business and Human Rights organised by Global Rights Initiatives, an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation. Funke Olaode reports

R

ecently, women in a community in the Niger Delta demonstrated, carrying placards and showing displeasure on how their means of livelihood have been affected; in a display which was televised.

They screamed and wept profusely as they urged the concerned authority in the state to come to their aid. Among the inscriptions on the placards were: ‘Who will salvage our means of livelihood?’ ‘Save us, our children are dying of contaminated water’ and, ‘Who will save our land, our crops have died?’

Daily, human rights are infringed upon consciously or unconsciously by multinational and mining companies. These unpleasant situations have pitted host communities against multinational companies, which have resulted in loss of lives and property. The Ogoni nine debacle still remains fresh in the memories of many Nigerians from during the military era.

Crisis erupted when the host community accused a multinational of taking their resources while they remain impoverished.

The late environmentalist and human rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa led the protest both at home and abroad fighting for his people. He became a thorn in the flesh of the powers-thatbe and he was eventually executed in 2005.

Though the multinational settled the case but the company involved has not returned to the community till date.

Spills Statistics Figures from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) indicate that between 1997 and 2001, Nigeria recorded a total number of 2,097 oil spills incidents amounting to 1,947,600 barrels of crude oil, while thousands of barrels of oil have been spilt into the environment through pipeline and tanks in the country.

While this is going on, enforcement of environmental regulations is still poor as industries continue to discharge untreated waste water into the environment, and the degradation of the Niger Delta region following the explanatory activities of multi-national oil companies has continued unabated. The region’s inhabitants have continued to complain bitterly about mass poverty, hunger, disease, environmental degradation and loss of their traditional means of livelihood. With the onslaught on the land, the cries for the region became imperative to rid it of contaminated soil.

When it comes to environmental degradation, emphasis has always been on oil and mining companies, but there are intervening issues in day-to-day lives of the citizenry, which obviously infringe on human rights.

Such cases include child labour, labour being locked up in factories, allocation of common land to certain powerful individuals, business interference, banning workers from unionism, and poor access to potable water e.t.c.

Often, how everyday business impact human

Pollution from oil spillage in a Niger Delta community lives, governance and future are often ignored.

Analysts are wondering: who are those benefiting and who are the vulnerable?

Advocacy Forum Against this backdrop, a one-day workshop was organised recently for select journalists in Abuja by the Global Rights Initiatives, an advocate for sustainable justice.

Global Rights is a human rights organisation founded in 1978, on the ideas of a just society for all built on universal principles of human rights and guaranteed by access to justice. Its model works and builds impact from broad base of society upwards, teaching and training coalitions, organisations and individual with a participatory approach that fosters long-term transparency and sustainable change.

Learning on how business and human rights have both positive and negative effects, the training enhanced the capacity of Nigerian journalists to cover issues surrounding business and human rights in Nigeria.

There was particular focus on the extractives sector, the intricacies of business and human rights, particularly the human angle and policy stories on the impact of mining activities and its socio-economic costs and how an enabling environment, which promotes compliance with relevant international guidelines on business and human rights, especially the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, through media awareness, and its public enlightenment can be achieved.

Devt Nexus Taking journalists through the extensive training with theme: ‘The Development Nexus: Business, Human Rights, Corporate Social Responsibility and Accountability’, the guest lecturer, Tunde Ajala defined human rights.

According to him, human rights are universal because everyone is born with and possesses the same rights, regardless of where they live, their gender, race, their religious, cultural or ethnic background. Nevertheless, there is inalienability of human rights subject to a number of recognised derogations such as curfew, personal liberty in case of committing crime, trespass and so on.

Ajala also defined business as “any undertaking or form of activity embarked on for the purpose of making profit”. This, he noted is broad enough to involve sole proprietors, artisans, partnerships, companies, local companies, international companies, government owned or government-controlled entities, multinational enterprises, SMEs etc.

“But to what extent do we understand the nexus between business and human rights?”

He threw the question as some critics believed businesses had no relationship with human rights; rather it was the concern of government and individuals. However, irrefutable evidence globally established an undeniable link and showed that business(es) have an ambivalent impact on human rights as it can be a force for good, while promoting enjoyment of a multiplicity of human rights in terms of creation of employment, wealth creation, economic growth and development, provision of services, transfer of

technology, revenue generation, foreign exchange earnings, contribution to GDP, CSR initiatives e.g. (provision of scholarships and amenities like water, roads, schools, hospitals).

While this is a welcome development, Ajala said it can also have negatively impact which cuts across several themes such as development and poverty, discrimination, conflict, labour, child labour, gender discrimination, corruption, rape and sexual issues, and environmental pollution etc.

For instance, 7,000 people died when toxic gas leaked from a Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India in 1984, and a further 15,000 people died in the following years, while around 100,000 people continue to suffer from chronic and debilitating illnesses caused by the gas leak.

Nike was accused of exploiting workers in sweatshops, failing to provide safe work environments and contracting with cotton factories that use slave labour.

And in Nigeria, oil companies in the Niger Delta region (e.g. the Ogoni 9 execution, oil spills, human rights violations by security personnel deployed to secure extractive companies operations), lead poisoning saga in Zamfara which claimed over 700 children, illegal mining by Chinese and Indian companies in Northern Nigeria, pollution of water sources, destruction of the environment, shootings at a cement plant in Gboko in March, 2014, where soldiers deployed to the plant killed six men and one woman.

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

RANDOM THOTS Extreme Poverty To a development analyst, this is not good news. A new report by the World Poverty Clock has revealed that Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty.

According to the report, extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, the highest number in the world. The survey showed that at the end of May (2018), Nigeria had an estimated 87 million people living in extreme poverty; compared to India’s 73

million.

This statistics is even more depressing when one considers that Nigeria’s population is currently 186 million, according to 2016 statistics. On the other hand, India, which is witnessing a decline in its level of extreme poverty, has a current population of 1,353,726,985 as of Monday, June 25, 2018 (seven times that of Nigeria).

From this report, it appears Nigeria’s quest to realise the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)

to end extreme poverty by 2030 may be unattainable. The UN also predicts that Nigeria will become the world’s third largest country by 2050.

With all these damning statistics, one then wonders what effect the huge annual budgets have had on the lives of the citizenry. The same budgets in trillions, which have been described as peoplefriendly by the current administration, have had no appreciable impact; no wonder the average Nigerian is angry and disillusioned with the government

of the day, despite official explanations.

To this reporter, extreme poverty can only breed extreme anger, hunger and desperation; all of which are pointers to discontent. If this administration intends to renew its mandate next year, it has to change its anti-poverty strategies and do something quickly. To feign ignorance of surveys such as this is to invite anarchy from frustrated citizens... just saying -Abimbola Akosile

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT/ISSUESINBOX

A property under investigation, sealed by the EFCC

THE RENAISSANCE

Can Lifestyle Audit Help Curb Corruption?

Recently, the President of Kenya announced that all public servants would undergo a compulsory lifestyle audit to account for their sources of wealth; starting with himself. Public servants would be required to explain their sources of wealth, in an audit which seeks to identify corrupt officials. Can such a lifestyle audit help to curb corruption, if applied in Nigeria?

Abimbola Akosile * Yes it can. All public servants in Nigeria today must undergo a mandatory lavish-lifestyle audit to account for their sources of wealth starting from the top of the ladder downwards.

Corrupt officials will be easily identified and brought to book just like in advanced climes.

To actualise such a giant leap will be a new dawn in Nigeria. God bless Nigeria.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * That was done in the past. Public officers were required to give account of their sources of wealth. I know of some Civil servants who kept postage stamped receipts of the building materials they acquired, even to the blocks used to build the houses they built. All these were done in addition to declaration of assets.

Abandoned houses across the nation should be kept under seal until the owners can show how they acquired such properties.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * To some extent, yes. But knowing us for who we are, it may not really work. Nigerian public servants are very smart in things like this.

- Ms. Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * Not at all; there are things to consider such as the minimum wage of the salary of workers in relation to the present economic situation now in Nigeria. It is not a new thing in such that systems exist, because we have different structures of public declarations of assets in which the 1999 Constitution mandated public officials to declare their assets. The existing structure should be strengthened.

- Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja * It would, because, like the BVN has been able to expose so many corrupt persons and their illegal sources of wealth, an audit would help in making accountability a serious issue in the country.

- Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Delta State * Yes. All ill-gotten wealth whether in Nigeria or in the Diaspora must be audited and culprits duly punished. Advanced nations do this routinely and are enjoying great dividends therefrom.

THE FEEDBACK Yes, it can:

14 0

No, it cannot:

1

Others:

3

Radical tip:

Seal abandoned houses!

Total no of respondents:

18

Male:

16

Female:

2

Highest location:

Abuja (7)

Nigeria must evenly distribute her wealth to rescue citizens from dehumanising shackles of poverty and injustices caused by few thieving moneybags. A stitch in time saves nine.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi. Lagos State * Yes, lifestyle audit can help to curb corruption. There are so many serving and retired public servants in Abuja who are very rich with properties all over the city. I support any policy that will require public servants to explain their sources of wealth.

- Mr. Austine Nwanya, Solid mineral consultant, Abuja * Nigeria can certainly attain that feat, if only our leaders will lead by example to undergo the audit first. True greatness in leadership is not achieved by reducing men to one’s service but in giving oneself in service to them in painful suffering.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State * I agree with the lifestyle audit of public officials.

Just imagine a Deputy Director having 20 houses in Maitama, Asokoro, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ministers Hill. We all know how much public officers earn, but their daily expenditure is far more than what is on paper. Doing this audit will go a long way in curbing corruption, but it shouldn’t be one-sided.

- Mr. Mark Ushie, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja * There is no auditing of lifestyle in our dealings

because auditing is not in our leaders’ dictionary.

That is the reason why corruption is on the increase. Before we can move forward, we must imbibe the spirit of auditing whatever we do in spending.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Auditing the lifestyle of all public officials to some extent will reduce corruption in this country. Today civil servants are sending their children overseas for studies, paying school fees in dollars and buying and building mansions all over the place with money gotten through corruption. However, not only the politicians and the judges are corrupt.

- Mr. Nduanya Egbuna, Political Scientist, Enugu * Yes, it could help to curb corruption, if applied in Nigeria to minimise if not eradicate the high misappropriation of public funds act by public servants in the government departments.

- Mr. Nura Ibrahim, Esq. Ahmed Raji & Co., Wuse 2, Abuja * If we are serious about fighting corruption in our country, we have got to borrow a leaf from Kenya. When that is done and properties gotten illegally are confiscated, the trust that exists between the masses and our leaders will improve. Public office holders will not need a retinue of security guards.

- Mr. JohnKen Ogwuegbu, Owerri, Imo State * Yes, it surely will help curb corruption.

Looting public officials will think twice before displaying their ill-gotten wealth. But the audit may trigger capital flight to overseas havens by greedy looters.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * Since those who come to equity must come with clean hands as demonstrated by Kenyan president, citizen’s welfare will be guaranteed.

However, with Nigeria, it is doubtful if a president whose appointees’ profligate lifestyle is not commensurate with their earning can muster the political will to toe the Kenyan president’s line.

- Mr. Paul Jideofor, Dept. of Languages, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja * A lifestyle audit in the battle against corruption is very intriguing. In our recent past how many Number One citizens here in Nigeria have declared their assets? I believe it’s similar.

Our value system must change first; we all should stop deifying wealth.

- Mr. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R, Apo, Abuja * Lifestyle audit can help curb corruption in Nigeria especially in the public service. It is very sad in this country, where a public servant employed as a cashier would be riding costly vehicles and acquiring landed properties, just six or 12 months of employment. The audit will help curb corruption because you are sure to be arrested if you own anything that your salary cannot buy.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * It’s the right way to go in order to curb the monsters of corruption and bribery in our dear country, Nigeria. Personal example is the hallmark of leadership; as such what the president of Kenya is about introducing is welcome. I believe such a lifestyle audit would keep public officers in check and reduce acts of corruption in our dear country. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Odey Ochicha, Leadership Specialist, Abuja

Next Week: Can Nigeria Truly Tackle Extreme Poverty?

A new report by the World Poverty Clock has revealed that Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world. At the end of May (2018), the survey showed that Nigeria had an estimated 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared to India’s 73 million. To you, can Nigeria truly tackle extreme poverty? If yes, how?

Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (June 28 & Monday, July 2) to abimbolayi@yahoo. com, greatbimbo@gmail.com, AND abimbola.akosile@thisdaylive.com. Respondents can also send a short text message to 08023117639 and/or 08188361766 and/or 08114495306. Collated responses will be published on Thursday, July 5

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Ensuring order: demolition of illegal structures at the Oko-Oba abattoir in Agege, Lagos

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

NHRC Tasks Buhari on Quick Assent to Child Protection Bill Domesticate Child Rights Act, Alhassan urges northern states Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give children a gift by granting speedy assent to the 2018 Child Protection and Enforcement Agency (establishment) Bill.

Ojukwu explained that the bill, when passed, would ensure that the interest and right of every Nigerian child is properly taken care of; especially in the three critical human rights issues of education, children in displacement and children living with disability.

The Executive Secretary made the call at a one-day symposium to commemorate 2018 Day of the African Child (DAC), themed: ‘Leave No Child Behind in Africa’s Development’ organised by the NHRC, PLAN International Nigeria and the Network of Civil society Organisations against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour.

DAC is celebrated every June 16, in memory of children massacred in 1976 in Soweto South Africa as they protested against discriminatory practices within the education system.

Speaking further, Ojukwu explained that the 2018 theme which is in line with the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) emphasises the need to promote and mainstream the rights of children at all levels of budgeting, policy formulation, planning and implementation.

He said: “It is pertinent to note that all the SDG’s 17 and their 196 targets touch on the rights of the children. The theme therefore raises commitment and accountability by calling on states to fully implement the SDGs while prioritising children interest and taking them along in all planning and implementation process.

“To this end, states are called in to develop national strategies to ensure the inclusion and participation of children in issues affecting them broadly and that those farthest behind are taken along and their interest prioritised in National action.”

He also noted that despite the adoption of the Child Rights Act in about 25 states and other legislations legally protecting the child, Nigeria continues to grapple with inherently high incidences of child rights infringement.

“Intersecting with culture and poverty, abuse and relegation of child rights issues is endemic and visible across all the child rights themes ranging from street children, to child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, child trafficking,

child labour and other actions of violence against children,” he said.

To this end, the Executive Secretary called for the adoption of the Child Rights Act by states that have not done so, and also effective implementation of child rights law by states that have adopted the Act. Also speaking, PLAN International’s Country Representative, Dr. Hussein Abdul represented by the Head of Programming and Business Development, Mr. Orji Ogbureke, observed that in the matters of child rights, a lot still needs to be done in Nigeria.

Ogbureke stated that PLAN’s goal is to make sure that children, particularly girls Learn, Lead, Decide and Thrive.

“We say learn because we believe that children must be given the right and access to quality education; they should be provided with life skills to live a fulfilled life.

“We say lead because Nigerian children must participate and be drivers of change; they should not be left behind; they should be given the opportunity to participate and be drivers of change.

“They must live in protective environments in their family, schools, communities and states.

There must be an enabling environment for them to grow and fulfil their potential,” he said.

Also speaking, the UN Women country representative, Comfort Lamptey, represented

by Mrs. Patience Ekeoba, lamented over the increasing cases of child abuse.

Ekeoba said reports showed that over 500 cases of sexual abuse have been reported from January to April 2018 alone. According to her, the symposium is an opportunity to think and reflect on all the affected children.

She also announced that the UN Women, in its commitment to addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV), has launched a spotlight project to address the issue of child marriage. She said UN Women is also working to restore livelihood in the North East for families of these children.

In a related development, Nigerian children’s futures have been described as unsafe and bleak with constant challenges of violence, abuse and maltreatment by the government and society with perpetrators always getting free.

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

FG: Only Commercial Usage of National IPC Prepares Nigerian Media Code of Elections for Waterways’ll be Regulated 2019 Paul Obi in Abuja As controversy continues to trail the National Waterways Bill before the National Assembly, the federal government has said only commercial usage of the nation’s waterways would be regulated.

The bill has continued to face opposition and condemnation, with many accusing the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari of attempting to annex their waterways, similar to the Land Use Act and mineral deposits in their domains.

The South South Governors

Forum in their recent meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State vehemently opposed the bill, warning against the passage of the bill into law.

But according to the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, citizens’ right of access to the waterways would not be denied.

Adamu while making clarification on the bill said: “Everyone’s right to use the water is protected just as it currently is. Only commercial usage will be regulated.

Everyone will continue to enjoy their water as they do now whether for household,

fishing, farming and livestock.

“Commercial boreholes will be licenced because they obstruct so much water and it is necessary to monitor the obstruction so that we don’t drain the underground water sources.”

On why the federal government intends to control waterways intersecting across states, Adamu explained that “if each state has control over water that crosses from that state to another, it is possible to do anything, including dam the water and not allow it to flow into the next state.

“River Niger can be dammed

Oluwafunke Lasisi The International Press Centre (IPC) has prepared the revised edition, 2018 of the Nigerian Media Code of Election coverage for 2019 election, in a quest for journalists’ safety, and to provide fair and balanced report without any compromise.

The revised edition of the media code was disclosed by the Centre at a two-day meeting held recently in Lagos, with journalists drawn from media organisations, professional groups and other organisations to have

their views in the contents provided and use of words.

According to the Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, there are two significant areas to take into consideration which include the use of hate speech and incitement that could lead to violence in the country, and if there is real need to create an enabling environment for peace and safety of journalists during the coming elections 2019.

He advised that the media code should be properly minded of the use of words and language to avoid violence

and bring the development of the country to a level where free and fair elections will hold; leaving the mindset of the political aspirants, politicians and public audience with the good view about the journalism profession.

The media code consists of seven sections with subordinate bodies stating the dos and don’ts of journalists and politicians, including taking political aspirants on same level for balanced report whereas all contestants would have equal rights and privileges to pursue their political aspirations.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Primary healthcare is the cornerstone aimed at creating the conditions that improve the general health of the people, meet the particular needs of patients, families and communities. Similarly, our secondary and tertiary healthcare systems must meet the most complicated medical challenges for our people at affordable rates” - PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SPEAKING IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE RECENTLY

Edo Govt Defrays LG Pension Arrears

Obaseki decries marginalisation of widows Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Guterres Assures Youth of Support at Ife Model UN Abimbola Akosile The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres has assured young people around the world of the United Nations support for a brighter future.

In his message to the first Obafemi Awolowo University Model United Nations (IFEMUN) conference held recently and organised by the University in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), the scribe said, “As you stand up for our shared values, the United Nations stands with you.”

The conference, which attracted over 250 delegates from Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa, was a three-day forum of networking and diplomacy in practice as students assumed roles of Ambassadors of UN Member States, and simulated the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.

In the message read by the National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, Dr. Oluseyi Soremekun, the Secretary General emphasised that “We must do more to enable young people to shape the decisions affecting their lives. Empowering the world’s young people is also an imperative.

Your potential is the world’s potential.”

Guterres, according to a release from UNIC called for less hatred, more dialogue and deeper international cooperation. According to him, “Multilateralism is more important than ever.”

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, reiterated the commitment of the university administration to supporting value-adding activities amongst the students.

The Model United Nations (MUN), according to him, is a platform for students of Political Science, International Relations, International Law and the social sciences in general, to express themselves and manifest their potentials.

He urged all delegates to be diligent in their roles as ambassadors of their assigned countries for the conference. “Make new friends, learn more about diplomacy and enjoy the hospitality of OAU, Ile-Ife,” he added.

The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Prof. Charles Ukeje, in his message, thanked UNIC for its support to the University in organising the first IFEMUN conference and commended the students

R-L: OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ogunbodede and National Information Officer of UNIC in Nigeria, Dr. Soremekun, at the Ife Model United Nations (IFEMUN) conference 2018 in Ile-Ife, Osun State for their commitment and determination to ensuring a successful conference.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on 23 June, Soremekun explained that UNIC Lagos got aggressively involved in Model UN following the launch of UN4MUN by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI), New York, to teach MUN teams how to bring their simulations more in line with the way the UN actually works.

According to him, many MUNs across the world do not follow the actual rules and practices used at the UN. “It, therefore, became imperative for UNIC Lagos, being the field office of UN-DPI in Nigeria, to ensure quality of MUN conferences in terms of adherence to the rules of procedures of how a typical UN General Assembly, for instance, conducts its affairs.

The National Information Officer added that “Model United Nations (MUN) simulations are popular exercises for those interested in learning more about the UN. It is estimated

that more than 400,000 students worldwide participate every year in MUN at all educational levels - from primary school to university. Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts participated in MUN as students.”

Addressing the delegates, the Secretary General of IFEMUN 2018, Mr Patrick Ojunde, expressed his delight about the quality of discussion by the delegates and expressed his expectation of a better IFEMUN conference next year.

The President of the General Assembly at IFEMUN 2018 conference, Mr. Chimezie Udechukwu, brought the conference to a close at about 5 pm on Saturday 23 June and adjourned till IFEMUN 2019.

Other facilitators and Committee Chairs at the conference included Mr. Adama Ugbede; Mr. Kehinde Odanye; Ms Cynthia Akhagbeme Simeon; Ms. Damilola Kehinde; Mr. Daniel Obiyo; and Ms Daberechi Ike-Obioha.

In fulfillment of his promise to defray pension arrears owed pensioners in Edo State, the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has sustained the monthly N264 million payment to pensioners, to ensure the retirees enjoy their status as senior citizens of the state.

Permanent Secretary, Edo State Pension Bureau, Mr. I.D.S Juwobor, explained that notices are published regularly for the pensioners to make themselves available for verification, after which their accounts are credited.

“The payment plan is seamless and hassles-free, in recognition of the status of our pensioners as men and women who have contributed immensely to the development of our state.

“The pensioners appreciate the efforts of the Obaseki administration to clear the backlog and eliminate the cumbersome and analogue pension arrangement, with the introduction of contributory pension scheme, which the governor initiated,” the Permanent Secretary said.

He added that “the recent release of the sum of N1.5 billion for the payment of their pension arrears by the governor to clear eight months arrears of 4,340 local government pensioners in the state, is worthy of commendation and much of the pension burden on government have been defrayed.”

State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai, who assured of the governor’s commitment in clearing all arrears owed pensioners in the state, said “on the 1st of May 2018 during the May Day celebration, the governor made a promise to release N1.5 billion to clear part of the local government pensioner’s arrears in the state.”

Ijegbai explained that after the announcement by the governor, a meeting of the pensioners was called and immediately the screening of the pensioners commenced.

The commissioner said the governor’s gesture was unprecedented in the history of Edo State to release such an amount to pay pension arrears. He noted that since Obaseki assumed office as governor of Edo state, he has not defaulted in the payment of pensioners in the state.

“As at today, we pay N264 million monthly to pay our pensioners in the state and we will continue to pay until we clear the outstanding arrears”.

The President of Local Government Pensioner Association (Edo State) Frank Akinido thanked the governor for keeping to his promise of paying pensioners and express delight to witness the release of the N1.5 billion to this effect.

He assured the governor that pensioners of local government in Edo State are peace abiding citizens. He thanked the governor of the state for remembering the pensioners in the scheme of things especially at this crucial hour of financial hardship.

In a related development, Governor Obaseki has decried practices that exclude widows from socioeconomic activities in some societies.

Obaseki said this on the occasion of the International Widows’ Day, celebrated by the United Nations on June 23, each year.

He lamented that “practices that stigmatise and exclude widows are obnoxious and fuel for poverty.”

He added that “at a time world leaders are designing policies that engender inclusive growth, practices that discriminate against widows are anti-growth and development.”

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

THISDAY Summit: Bringing Healthcare Closer to Nigerians As THISDAY prepares for its third series of Healthcare Policy Dialogue, with a focus on states and emergency medicine, Martins Ifijeh examines how this can bring healthcare closer to Nigerians

W

hen Paulo Coehlo, in his book, The Alchemist, made the now famous quote, “Everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time,” he probably had THISDAY in mind. The newspaper is planning to host the third edition of its healthcare policy dialogue in Abuja.

The first, which focused on Healthcare Financing in Nigeria, in March this year, brought together under one roof, stakeholders in the health sector, policy makers, politicians, development partners, and concerned Nigerians to chat a better model for financing healthcare in the country.

Nigeria has for decades been known for giving little attention to funding of the health sector, an attitude that has seemed to make the country one of the worst places on earth in terms of healthcare.

The second summit brought together the number one medical doctor in the world, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, and high powered delegates from the World Bank, governors, the National Assembly, development partners, healthcare stakeholders, and the general public. They tried to chart a way forward for achieving universal health coverage in the country. This time, a direct impact of the dialogue resulted in the inclusion of one per cent consolidated revenue for funding the Basic Health Care Provisions Fund (BHCPF) in the 2018 national budget, which amounted to N57 billion.

Buoyed by the successes recorded at the last two high powered policy dialogues in March and April this year, THISDAY is now set to hold a broader edition, with a focus on two areas: ‘High performing states in healthcare and emergency medicine in Nigeria’.

The summit is themed “Funding Healthcare for All, Why States Matter,” and “Emergency Medicine: Need for Action.” This third edition will highlight the role 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 measure these, the Save One Million Lives (SOML) Programme performance index is one of the tools used in measuring high performing states in the country. 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 for healthcare interventions.

Among the key states already identified using the performance index are Zamfara, Adamawa, Cross River, Federal Capital Territory, which are best improved states with overall improvement in key Maternal, Newborn and Child Health indicators. Lagos and Anambra are best improved states in terms of immunisation.

According to THISDAY Board of Directors, the set of verifiable and objective indicators provided by the newspaper’s Healthcare Dialogue Team and the SOML initiative programme were used in determining star states in the six geo political zones.

The board said the poor health outcome 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.

“States and local governments are very critical to achieving UHC, but only few states

Adewole

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

This third edition will highlight the role 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

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 said.

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 stabilisation 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 to know what has been done with the fund, and help

in comparing states for a healthy competition.

The minister said, “We intend to give the states more money for healthcare interventions, but knowing 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 were 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.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

NEWS

AdewoleRecommendsTBScreeningasPre-EmploymentTestforNewStaff,Students Martins Ifijeh The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole has recommended Tuberculosis (TB) screening as pre-medical test to newly employed public servants in both federal and state government organisations, and newly admitted students into secondary and tertiary institutions in the country.

This is part of federal government’s strategy to achieve one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets -“to bring an end to the scourge of TB by 2030”.

Adewole, who stated this while chairing the 61st National Council on Health meeting in Kano recently, said that to achieve the goal, government must utilise all opportunities to screen, detect, and treat TB timely in order to interrupt the transmission of the disease.

He said 2017 and beyond has been declared the years of accelerating TB case finding in Nigeria.

“I wish to advocate that

mandatory TB screening be offered to both those who seek health care with or without symptoms/signs compatible with TB and those who do not.”

He further directed that all healthcare workers should as a routine conduct symptomatic TB screening at all Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in all health facilities especially at secondary and tertiary health facilities to ensure prompt diagnosis of TB and eventual treatment of the positive TB cases.

“Mandatory TB screening should be part of preemployment medical tests for the following:Newly employed staff in all Ministries, Departments & Agencies at all levels (Federal, state and LGA); and newly admitted students into Secondary and all Tertiary institutions in the country.

This will enable prompt detection and treatment of TB in Nigeria,” the minister said.

“It is also necessary to inform the Council that in order to further ensure that

Boska Holds Pain Free Day in Agege Major Pain killer Company, Dexa Medica, makers of Boska has taken its Pain Free Day initiative to Agege as part of plans to help consumers stay fit.

Speaking during the campaign, the Senior Brand Executive, Dexa Medic, Tunde Ojedokun said the PFD edition was specially designed to keep consumers healthy given the rainy season, adding that he was confident that Dexa Medica will continue to improve the delivery of quality healthcare for consumers in the months ahead.

“This was an opportunity for consumers to see health

experts who provided full range of health services for free. They gave free eye glasses to those in need as well as prescribed drugs to treat eye, ear and nose defects.”

The event was attended by hundreds of market users and residents from communities of Agege market as attendees were equipped with health tips to stay strong during the rainy season.

“From qualitative findings, we observed that 70 per cent of consumers often catch the flu during rainy season resulting in body breakdown if not attended to,” he said.

Navy Boss Warns Personnel Against Illicit Drugs Given the recent resurgence of drug abuse in Nigeria, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile, has warned officers and men of the command to stay off illicit drugs.

Ofodile gave the warning during his address after the 10km quarterly route march from the command headquarters in Apapa, Lagos to Costain roundabout and back to the base.

He said: “We conduct medical test to find out those who are well and who are not. We go on to do route march like this to find out those who are physically fit and mentally alert and those who are not.

“The purpose is for the service to take care of those who are not well, so that they will fit in because certainly you cannot perform your military duties without being physically fit and mentally alert.

“Generally in Nigeria today,

if you read the newspapers, there are problems of drug abuse by youths of this country which is not limited to civilians alone but all over the place. So once in a while we alert and warn the personnel to keep clear of drugs that are not prescribed by trained medical doctors.”

While congratulating the personnel for seeing the route march through with no casualty he said no fewer than 1,000 personnel of the Nigerian Navy, trooped out to observe the second quarterly route march, which boosts fitness and mental alertness.

According to him, the route march was the navy’s way of assuring the public of its commitment to its duty of defending the territorial integrity of the country.

The route march, apart from ensuring fitness of the personnel for military duties, was aimed at fostering es-prit de corps and providing an avenue to prevent criminality in the command’s area of responsibility.

TB cases are detected among children and their care givers; I have approved the inclusion

of TB response strategies in activities to be addressed under the Saving One Million

Lives Programme for Result (SOMLPforR).” Adewole said.

He called on all Commis-

sioners of Health to ensure compliance in their respective states.

SAFETY FIRST

L-R: Safety Health and Environment Manager, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Folake Odegbami; General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Antonio Ayodele; Sustainable Business Manager, Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Ayodele Alabi; and Head, Ecology & Conservation, LASEPA, Olayinka Omotosho at the presentation of LASEPA ‘Most Green Company’ award to Unilever Nigeria in commemoration of 2018 World Environment Day in Lagos recently

100,000 Babies Born With Sickle Foundation Educates Boys on Cell Disease in NigeriaAnnually Drugs,SexualViolence Expert advocates for voluntary donors Ayodeji Ake A Consultant, Bone Marrow Transplant, Dr. Gaurav Kharya has stated that about 75 per cent of persons living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) reside in sub-Saharan Africa, while Nigeria records at least 100,000 babies delivered with the disease every year in the country.

Stating this in a press conference to commemorate the 2018 World Sickle Cell Day in Lagos recently, he said SCD is the most common genetic disease in the African region, adding that annually, over 300,000 babies are born with severe forms of hemoglobinopathies worldwide.

Guarav said SCD is no more a death sentence as it used to be in the past, and that half-match bone marrow transplant can serve as a cure for the disease. He said: “To many, it is a death sentence; others merely live with it one day at a time. But only a few are aware that sickle cell anemia is no longer as dire as it used to be.

Finally, the long awaited cure is here, with the first-ever successfully reported case of half-match bone marrow transplant performed on a four year old Nigerian boy by doctors at BLK Super Specialty Hospitals”.

“Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder of the blood caused by an inherited abnormal hemoglobin (the oxygencarrying protein within the red blood cells) causing distortion

and diminished flexibility of the red blood cells. Unlike healthy disc-shaped red blood cells, sickled cells don’t flow easily, and can block blood vessels.

And because these cells are fragile and prone to rupture, they often cause a decline in the supply of red blood cells also known as sickle cell anaemia.”

On the first ever successful half-match bone marrow, Gaurav recounted how blood transfusion was administered two months earlier to bring down a patient’s sickle cell level as direct transplant would have increased a chance of rejection.

“The patient’s father (donor) had to undergo high resolution Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) to check bone marrow compatibility. After 14 days, his chimerism (DNA testing) showed 99.45 per cent bone marrow precursor cells from his father.

12 days after transplant, the patient showed very good recovery, and new marrow started working on day 12.

Martins Ifijeh Following a study done by the Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF), which showed that 81 per cent of teenage boys believe a rape survivor is responsible for the abuse because of her mode of dressing; and that nearly 100 per cent of boys are involved in alcohol and substance abuse, the organisation says it has started educating boys on drugs and sexual violence.

The study, which focused on secondary school boys between the ages of 13 and 18 years, also showed that one in four boys are survivors of rape and sexual violence; one in five boys will walk away rather than intervene when they see a girl being harassed; among other shocking revelations.

Stating this during a press conference to commemorate the 2018 World Refugee Day in Lagos, the Founder, WARIF, Dr. Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, said a new initiative, Boys Conversation Café, sponsored by Diamond Bank Plc, has now been launched to address the disturbing discoveries.

She said the initiative is designed to educate young boys on the prevalence of sexual violence in Nigeria, and to change perception and behavioral pattern that exist amongst this group of boys, on violence against women.

“The WARIF Boys Conversation Café took informal dialogue sessions with cohort groups of secondary school boys, while vetted male volunteers were recruited from different organisations to serve as mentors at these café sessions.

She said, “At the end of first session with students of Surulere secondary school, the WARIF Boys Conversation Café, recorded an outstanding outcome with 98 per cent of the beneficiaries strongly agreeing to taking a stand in any case of sexual abuse rather than just be bystanders.

“85 per cent of the boys strongly agreed that consent of a girl to have sex is important and should be respected.

Further results showed that the use of banned drugs like Tramadol and Codeine should be dropped, by a whopping 66 per cent.”

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

38

HEALTH

Faduyile:NMAtoDevelopStandardUniform Operation for Treating Patients Dr Francis Faduyile is the newly elected President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

In this interview with Paul Obi, he bears his mind on the health sector and what government needs to do improve healthcare service delivery run, we should not forget that they can’t be made or totally domesticated in Nigeria. if the white paper from the Yayale Ahmed panel is released, it will calm a lot of nerves and we will see some sanity and positive direction.

We want to appeal that people should always understand that the doctors are fighting for the interest of the patients.

With your election as the NMA President, what should the members and Nigerians expect from you?

The first thing to work on is to see how we will improve professionalism amongst our members, and in doing so, we will also see to it that our hospitals are working effectively. We also want to develop a standard operation practice for all types of diseases in this country so that we can have a uniform way of treating patients.

On the side of the government, we want to see that the Universal Health Coverage is made a reality. We are hoping to see how we can enforce the National Health Act, as it is, we are happy the Senate has passed that one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. That one per cent is going to take care of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the development of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). If these things are taken care of and we have funding, I can assure you the health status of the country will improve.

In what strategic areas is the NMA under your leadership ready to engage the federal government in terms of health care service delivery?

We have in recent times had discussion with the Ministry of Health and the NPHCDA on how NMA can collaborate actively with the agency to see that primary healthcare centers are improved, we want to see how our doctors are more interested in the PHCs by having more employment. And because it’s the PHCs that will take care of majority of Nigerians, we have also shown our interest in working with the NPHCDA on immunization. As we know, the immunisation rate has gone down in recent times to 38 per cent even though it is improving with the current executive director.

You know doctors are all over the country, we want to get all our members to participate actively to see that all the necessary things needed to strengthen PHC are done. In fact we are working with our members to see how we can cover those PHCs that are not well staffed.

Is the NMA ready to monitor the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund?

Certainly, we will continue to monitor the one percent that has been approved from the National Health Act. We have to work with the Ministry of Health to see that the money is directed to where it is expected to be spent. We

Faduyile

are also going to see that the NHIS enrollment is increased. The current percentage is so low and it is only majorly for the federal government staff. We are encouraging other states to embrace their different states’ health insurance scheme. For example, in recent times, Cross River, Rivers and Lagos have joined. We want to do a lot of advocacy and see that the health of Nigerians, which is the paramount reason why we are in the health sector, is improved.

Will the new GAVI funds be included?

We have to first congratulate ourselves as GAVI has decided to come back. They withdrew at first because of our inability to be transparent with the expenditure. But we are confident that with one of our member as the Executive Director of NPHCDA things will be okay. The ED has shown a lot of transparency, hence we are in talk on how to work together.

The NMA is constantly challenging other health workers, are we going to see some difference?

Sincerely I don’t think that statement is totally correct, in the health sector we work as a team,

and even when we have a team, there’s a leader, it’s when you challenge the leadership, that you have the leader now enforcing and making sure to say look, I’m a leader. We have had in recent times where members of the health sector try to show independence. This is not about doctors; it is about patients’ care. Today if you go to the hospital and you have lots of confusing terminology and management, the only group that will suffer it is the masses.

And that is why NMA has been striving to make sure that we maintain sanity. We certainly believe in team work and we have decided that we will engage our brothers and sisters who are practitioners for us to sit down and discuss. In 2013 they set up the Yayale Ahmed Committee that went all over the country to see how the health systems are run in those different countries, they came out with their recommendations and it was at the point of approving and writing it out that our brothers who are professionals started objecting. I must tell you, we have scientists, pharmacists, nurses, doctors who are members of the committee that made those recommendations. You see, when you are talking about how things should be

How will you rate the federal government in terms of healthcare delivery?

Well, it will not be too good for you to look in isolation of this current government because there has been decadence in the healthcare management for a long time. If you want to rate what is on ground I think we have not done well, we have not moved to a position that we can say we have had so many great improvements. And one of the major reasons is the budget that is given to health; it’s ironical that it was in Abuja in 2001 that we had this declaration.

Last year was 4.4 percent, this year I think it is three point something percent and this amount is not enough to take care of the health of Nigerians. You must also understand that sickness is becoming more dynamic, for example, we are having more of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. How much are we ready to take care of.

The drugs for cancers are very expensive, chemotherapy and other things that they need are things that are crucially out of reach. The PHCs government promised to build in each ward in the country is not there. Do we even have personnel to manage them? The project will not make any difference if you don’t have personnel. At a time I heard the minister saying that Nigeria has too many doctors and can’t keep all the doctors, that is why all the doctors are getting out of the country. I think it is not correct. The ratio of doctors to patients in Nigeria is one to 6,000 and the ideal is supposed to be one to 450. You see at every instance we lack nothing less than ten doctors in any area that you find yourself.

Will NMA expand its outreach programmes and other forms of charity?

NMA has always been doing health and medical outreaches every two to three months, and we have some other NGOs that have come around that we are going to work with in other to give free health treatment to Nigerians.

BHCPF: Health Establishments Operate Illegally,Says St. Racheal’s Pharma, HealthPlus Sign MoU to Coalition Promote Life Expectancy in Nigeria Kuni Tyessi, Abuja Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC), a collaboration of civil society organisations under the health sector has revealed that all health institutions in the country have been operating illegally due to failure to comply with the provisions of section 12 and 13 of the National Health Act. The poor health indices which are partially due to poor funding of the health sector has produced 37 per cent of malnourished children, 43.6 per cent under-five who suffer from stunted growth, and a total health expenditure per capita which is $217 compared to a total health expenditure of $2,475 in the best performing country in sub-Saharan Africa.

For accountability and trans-

parency, the coalition has also insisted that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund(BHCPF) which is part of the consolidated revenue fund, be domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria and should be disbursed only when the provisions in the Act are complied with.

The Board Chairman of the coalition, Dr. Ben Anyene made this revelation in Abuja recently, stating that Nigerians need to know and understand that 50 per cent and 20 per cent of the N55.1 billion which was included as the basic healthcare package for the year 2018 are expected to provide basic minimum service package of health services to citizens as well as provide essential drugs , vaccines and consumables.

“15 per cent is expected to be used for the provision

and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for eligible primary healthcare facilities; 10 per cent is for the development of human resources for PHCs and five per cent for emergency medical treatment to be administered by the committee appointed by the National Council on Health.

“It is worth noting that all health establishments in the country are operating illegally as none has complied with the provisions of section 12 (classification of health establishments) and section 13 (certificate of standards).

“The coalition strongly believes that the N55.1 billion in the 2018 federal budget will contribute to solving the intractable and chaotic healthcare delivery systems in Nigeria.

Martins Ifijeh St. Racheal’s Pharma, and HealthPlus Limited have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to improve life expectancy in Nigeria and other African countries by providing access to top quality and affordable pharmaceuticals.

At the signing ceremony at St. Racheal’s African Headquarters in Lagos reently, both companies announced that the collaboration, would ensure that all St. Racheal’s brand of antibiotics get to patients at half the price of innovators in the market through the HealthPlus Pharmacy outlets.

In his remark, the Chairman, St. Racheal’s Pharma, Mr. Akinjide Adeosun said

the agreement, designed to put the patient first, was in line with the company’s goal of helping to improve life expectancy in Nigeria and other African companies.

“Our collection of antibiotics is currently available in all the 50 premises of HealthPlus Pharmacy in Nigeria and there is a commitment to high shelf pressure and pharmacovigilance reportage of our brands

by HealthPlus.

“This significant milestone in the history of our organisations will ensure improved access to medicines and is in tandem with our philosophy of ‘patient-first’.

“Today, by signing this MoU, we have begun a mutualistic relationship put-

ting the patient first. Access to medicine will be improved in communities as HealthPlus pharmacies are situated across the length and breadth of Nigeria thus furthering the ultimate goal of improvement in treatment outcome.”

The Founder of HealthPlus Limited, Mrs. Bukky George commended St. Racheal’s vision to eradicate diseases in Africa and improve life expectancy of patients through the provision of top quality, affordable and available pharmaceuticals.

She noted that the company is committed to global best practices, saying HealthPlus would henceforth purchase St. Racheal’s products for sale in all its outlets.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

HEALTH NEWS

FG to Upgrade Infrastructural Facilities in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Martins Ifijeh The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole has pledged to rehabilitate infrastructural facilities, especially road networks, in the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, as part of plans to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

The minister who made the pledge while on a working visit to the hospital, said AKTH deserves more government support considering the specialised healthcare services it offers like kidney transplant, general renal care, vascular

and endoscopic surgery and the sought after ernomous accident and emergency unit of the 700 bed- facility by patients in Kano and its environs.

Adewole urged the Chief Medical Director, AKTH, Prof.

Aminu Zakari Mohammed to operate the facility as a referral centre rather than a general hospital.

He said: “Let the world know what you are doing here in terms of renal dialysis, so publicise your services. This is the right way to check medical tourism. Funds would soon be released to the hospital to

assist in offsetting the payment of her outsourced services.”

He however advised on the need to centralise revenue collection in the hospital to ensure effective management

and accountability.

Speaking, the CMD said the hospital, equipped with a high number of dialysis machines, with some dedicated to HIV and Hepatitis care,

had successfully carried out 40 Kidney transplant since 2002.

Mohammed however listed some challenges faced by the hospital to include; declining budgetary allocation, staff

shortage and uncompleted capital projects, amongst others.

He commended the minister for his good leadership and support for the hospital.

Being Black Predisposes Africans to Stroke,Says Expert Kuni Tyessi, Abuja A neurosurgeon at Spine Fixed in Abuja, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, has revealed that the African race is susceptible to stroke, which he said is a preventable but silent killer that has been ignored over the years due to little knowledge about its causes and preventions.

Apart from being black, he said other major risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking and sickle cell disease.

In a statement made available to THISDAY recently, Ogungbo reiterated that apart from being a problem that runs in the family, the patient can become disabled and consequently die as a result of a part of the brain not being able to receive blood which in turn affects the arms, legs, speech pattern, face, and in some cases sight and hearing.

He said the most important prevention lies in lifestyle or choices that are made and

these include zero smoking, drinking alcohol and less exercise.

“Stroke is common in Nigeria. It is on the increase and it is something that most Nigerians, perhaps, know little about or appreciate the magnitude of the problem. Stroke has a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding it, which we need to debunk.

“Smoke and alcoholics should stop the habits. Obese persons should lose weight.

Those who do not exercise have to get out and exercise to keep the heart working properly. Anybody who has been diagnosed as having hypertension must continue to do whatever they can to keep the blood pressure under control. ”Someone who has had a small stroke needs to go to hospital and not ignore it because the stroke has gone. If they have sudden confusion, sudden severe headache, then, that essentially is stroke; they need to go to the hospital,” he added.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, St. Racheal’s Pharma, Jide Adeosun; Chief Executive Officer, HealthPlus Pharmacy, Mrs. Bukky George; and Guest Speaker, Taiwo Ajibola, during the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between St. Racheal’s Pharma and HealthPlus on retail pharmacy distribution of St. Racheal’s antibiotics in Lagos recently

ASHHostsWebinartoImproveHealthOutcomesforSickleCellDisease Sunday Ehigiator As part of activities to mark this year’s Sickle Cell Day, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) hosted a webinar designed to raise awareness on the disorder, its treatment and management, as well as what must be done in the years ahead to improve outcomes for those living with the disorder.

At the webinar tagged: “Improving Health Outcomes for Sickle Cell Disease”, the President, ASH, Alexis

Thompson, said the idea was aimed at shedding light on the global state of SCD, in order to help improve screening and early care for children in Africa living with the disorder.

According to her, “One of the greatest hurdles we face in curbing the heartbreaking rate of mortality caused by SCD in sub-Saharan Africa is lack of awareness of the condition and the simple, relatively inexpensive interventions that can save lives. It starts with early recognition, ideally

through newborn screening”.

“The SCD which is an inherited chronic blood disorder affects the red blood cells, causes stroke, organ failure and sometimes, death.”

She said the number of people with SCD is expected to increase by 30 per cent by the year 2050, adding that as a way forward, she believed videos from the webinar can help dispel myths about its treatment and management.

She said that despite the ominous statistics however,

there is a silver lining for persons living with the disorder.

On her part, the MPH Director, Newborn Screening and Genetics at Association of Public Health Laboratories, Jelili Ojodu, said: “Newborn screening will help allow for early identification of the disease, so that simple, costeffective interventions can be carried out. It is important for people to know that SCD is not a death sentence and can be managed”.

Oyesiji: Cornflakes Can Prevent Heart Disease, Weight Loss Rotimi Oyesiji is the General Manager, Marketing, NASCO Group. In this interview with Ayodeji Ake, he said Nigerians can prevent heart diseases and weight loss through cornflakes Why is NASCO championing whole flaked cornflakes?

Firstly, yellow corn, which is the one grown in Nigeria is highly nutritious, much more than any other species of corn. It contains a number of benefits. Overweight persons can have weight loss with the dietary intake of whole flaked cornflakes. This is a proven fact because of the nutritional components it possesses. We also realised that there is rise in the incidence of heart diseases in the country, and intake of this flake can help in reducing issues relating to the heart.

It is rich in protein, vitamins, and can also help in maintaining lung health.

Whole flakes are also very good in addressing malnutrition in children.

In the particular case of NASCO, we use Nigerian corn which is totally organic.

They are not genetically modi-

fied corn and not imported.

So these freshly used corn processed into flakes ensures that nutritional value of yellow corn is retained.

The taste is actually flaked, and that is the reason for the unique taste experienced in the cornflakes.

NASCO cornflakes do not have any colouring, no additives and no preservatives, and that is the taste that Nigerians have come to recognize over the last 35 years that the brand has been delivering nutritional values and quality taste to them. In our thinking, these are some of the reasons why mothers have come to trust the NASCO brand of cornflakes.

the yellow corn is used, (not just any corn). After flaking the corn, it is then toasted and packed, and what you then have is cornflakes. The other method of preparing cornflakes is the modern way which is cheaper. With this, the corn can be extruded. However, this is not our method.

The concept of whole flaked cornflakes means the yellow corn that is flaked whole. We are the only cornflakes brand in this market that is Whole Flaked.

We have made a careful choice to invest more in agronomy and improved production processes just to satisfy our consumers.

What is the concept behind whole flaked?

One of the methods of producing cornflakes is the traditional method, which is why it is called cornflakes in the first place. What this means is that

Kindly explain your assertion that NASCO Cornflakes are 100% real cornflakes?

We are clear that NASCO Cornflakes are real cornflakes, that is, real flaked organic yellow corn. As earlier stated, our

production process is designed to flake the corn whole, so each flake that you get is a flake that is coming from one grain of organic corn. As such, it is 100 percent taste real cornflakes, meaning 100 percent real flakes of organic corn and that is why we are bold to tell the world that NASCO Cornflakes are 100 percent real cornflakes.

Are others not Cornflakes?

We are not saying others are not cornflakes. What we are saying is that ours is flaked corn, traditional cornflakes, the way cornflakes are made; which is you pick the yellow corn, the peak of the crop and flake it. Each flake that you find in NASCO cornflakes is one that is flaked and toasted and that is what then gives us that unique taste. We deem consumer enlightenment necessary to aid informed choices.

As a brand, you must always

educate your consumers. We need to also let consumers know why NASCO Cornflakes are what they are and the reason they have always stuck by it. That is why we came up with this Whole Flaked cornflakes campaign.

Any intention of coming up with other brands?

As most people know, we have always been a consumer marketing company. Many remember that, we are the first to come up with premium biscuits. If you recall, in the late 70s, we were the first to introduce premium biscuits in Nigeria and our premium biscuits are still around till today. As a matter of fact, they are very fast sellers.

Of course in the process, we have also introduced some other biscuit brands, and we shall be coming up with even some more brands. We have always been innovative. Many

people can also recall that in the 80s, we introduced the very popular NASCO Wafers.

Should the market be expecting more innovations from NASCO? The answer is yes, just watch out. We have really exciting times ahead of us because we believe in the consumers, especially the Nigerian consumers.

We believe that the Nigerian consumer deserves the best at all times and we will spare no effort in giving the Nigerian consumers the best.

How long will your ongoing campaign run?

Our communications is not limited to the ongoing campaign. As long as we are in the market, we will constantly communicate with the consumers. As a matter of fact, our engagement with the consumer will even get into high gear now.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; JUNE 28, 2018

40

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Investors Oversubscribe FGN Bond Auction Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; Investors oversubscribed the FGN Bond Auction for June 2018, which held yesterday, at which bonds in three tenors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; five years, seven years and 10 years were offered.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) said in a statement that investors bid for N66.7 billion compared to the N60 billion

on offer.

The debt management agency stated that this was in spite of the sale of US$210 million foreign exchange (FX) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last Thursday, which mopped up over N65 billion from the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, the CBN also mopped up over N200 billion from the system through the

sale of OMO Bills on Monday.

The FX sale and the OMO (Open Market Operation Auction tightened market liquidity and pushed up interest rates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To moderate Debt Service Costs, the DMO adopted a conservative approach by allotting only N31.2 billion at rates between 13.50% and 13.81%,â&#x20AC;? the statement said.

CBN Sensitises Stakeholders on Currency Swap Deal Following its release of regulations for transactions with authorised dealers in Renminbi, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday commenced the sensitisation of exporters, regulators and other stakeholders in three locations across three locations in the country on the details of the deal between the CBN and the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bank of China (PCoB).

The sensitisation exercise, commenced in Kano yesterday,

will move to Aba on Monday, July 2, 2018 and will be rounded off in Lagos next Wednesday.

A statement from the CBN explained that the meetings with the stakeholders were aimed at educating them on the benefits of the currency swap agreement signed by the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the PBoC Governor, Dr. Yi Gang, last month A statement earlier issued

by the CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor had disclosed that the transaction is valued at Renminbi (RMB) 15 billion, or the equivalent of about $2.5bn.

The statement had also explained that the agreement aimed at providing adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and other businesses thereby reducing the difficulties encountered in the search for third currencies.

UP, Banks Launch Hourly Settlement Solution for Merchants Unified Payments(UP), yesterday introduced to the Nigerian market a new solution named the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;UP Hourly Settlement Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (UP-HSS), which is expected to boost electronic payment in the country.

The solution was unveiled in collaboration with Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the United Bank for Africa Plc, while other banks are expected to join the partnership in the coming days. Also, the Artee Group, the promoters of Spar and Park n Shop, was part of the partnership.

The UP-HSS is a unique service that enables merchants to receive monies into their bank accounts hourly for every successful e-payment transactions done at their shops rather than the existing next day settlement after they have parted with goods or services, otherwise known as T+1 or Transaction Day + 1. Speaking at the launch of the payment solution in Lagos, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UP, Mr. Agada Apochi, described it as the first of its kind in Nigeria as well as globally,

adding that it was the first of its kind to be offered by a multi-bank institution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no payment solution provider, processor or switch that offers this service anywhere else that we are aware of. Individual banks may, but that is an arrangement that is internal to each bank. But what we seek to offer is at industry level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a history that is defined by the need to encourage merchants and retailers in Nigeria to adopt electronic payment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will like to say where we are today in terms of electronic payment is less than 10 per cent and the major reason why it is so, is because our attention, resources and time have been devoted more to every other stakeholders but less to the merchants, who are the business owners and retailers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But they do matter, and we have come to demonstrate that they matter. That was what led us to this solution,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

According to Apochi, unlike other instant credit solutions targeted at merchants, the UP-

HSS ensures that merchants get their monies hourly with full settlement reports that aids them in reconciling their daily sales. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is scheme and optionneutral. This means that the settlement can be done for any merchant irrespective of the card brand used to initiate the transaction or the Processor of the card. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any Merchant desirous of benefiting from the service should simply contact any of the participating banks or UP to enjoy the service,â&#x20AC;? he added.

He explained that UP was inspired to develop this service in order to meet the needs of merchants, especially SMEs, for shorter settlement cycle and recycling of their trading capital.

Other reasons why the solution was developed, he said was to support the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cashless initiative aimed at growing the adoption of electronic payments in the country, which studies have shown all around the world helps to increase GDPs of economies that adopts and encourages electronic payments.

Moghalu to Deliver 4th Bankersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Annual Lecture A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Deputy Governor and 2019 Presidential aspirant of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu will be the guest lecturer of 2018 Annual lecture of the Chartered Institute of Banking to hold in Lagos today.

Moghalu will address the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top bankers and finance industry executives on the topic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of Banks and Bankers: Finance and the Challenge of Economic Development in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;?.

Moghalu, a fellow of CIBN, was a Deputy Governor of the CBN from 2009 to 2014.

He led the central bank team that stabilised the Nigerian banking system after the 2008 global financial crisis as deputy governor in charge of financial stability.

He also led the implementation of reforms in the financial sector initiated by then CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the current Emir of Kano. As deputy governor for operations in 2014, Moghalu also superintended the introduction of payment system reforms including the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN).

The political economist and

former United Nations official was appointed Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy of the prestigious Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA after his five-year tenure at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Moghalu returned to Nigeria in November 2017 to start the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET); a think tank with headquarters in Abuja.

The 2018 CIBN annual lecture will be chaired by Mr Kyari A. Bukar, the President of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

L-R: Second Vice Chairman, Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria (ACAEBIN), David Isiavwe; Chairman, Yinka Tiamiyu; Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie and Treasurer, ACAEBIN/ Chief Auditor, Ecobank Nigeria, Felix Igbinosa at the 39th quarterly general meeting of the association in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 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 Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY JUNE 26, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $72.69 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $72.15 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°ÍśË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

MARKET NEWS

Equities Market Remains Bearish on Profit Taking in Banking Stocks Goddy Egene Trading at the stock market remained bearish yesterday as profit taking in banking stocks made the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) to close 0.06 per cent lower at 37,963.93.

Similarly, market capitalisation shed N9.7 billion to close at N13.75 trillion.

Profit taking on counters in the banking sector such as

Zenith Bank Plc, GTBank, Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc led to the negative performance of the market. A total of 35 stocks depreciated while only 12 appreciated.

However, Japaul Oil & Maritime Plc led the price losers with 7.3 per cent, trailed by Eterna Plc with a decline of 5.0 per cent. First Aluminium Plc and Prestige Assurance Plc went down by

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

5.0 per cent apiece.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, May & Baker Nigeria Plc shed 4.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent, while Equity Assurance Plc depreciated by 4.3 per cent.

Regency Alliance Insurance Plc closed 4.0 per cent lower.

On the positive side, C & I Leasing Plc led the price gainers with 4.6 per cent, trailed by Unity Bank Plc with 4.4 per cent. Transcorp

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc chalked up 4.2 per cent.

African Prudential Plc added 3.9 per cent, just as Total Nigeria Plc and Champion Breweries Plc went up by 3.7 per cent and 3.1 per cent in that order.

Meanwhile, the activity level improved as volume and value traded increased 43.9 per cent and 0.4 per cent to 372.2 million shares and N3.2 billion respectively. The

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

most traded stocks by volume were Sterling Bank Plc (172.6 million shares), Zenith Bank Plc (31.5 million shares ) and Transcorp Plc (22.9 million shares) while Zenith Bank (N792.7 million), Presco Plc (N404.4 million) and Guinness Nigeria Plc (N277.9 million) were the top traded stocks by value.

In sectoral terms, three of five indices trended southwards. The NSE Insurance

O F

Index led the decliners with 0.8 per cent, trailed by the NSE Banking Index with 0.6 per cent. The NSE Consumer Goods Index closed in the red, shedding 0.2 per cent.

On other hand, the NSE Industrial Goods Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index appreciated 0.9 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively following gains in Lafarge Africa (+2.4 per cent) and Total Nigeria (+3.7 per cent) .

2 7 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

Ë&#x153; ÍşÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚͜ Ëž T H I S D AY

42

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

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Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Thursday, June 28, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Current Price

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

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

1,582.24

-0.37%

2.6%

58.2%

19.4%

7.0%

7.6x

0.9x

5.2%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.70

-0.7%

20.9%

-0.1%

0.4%

32.6%

5.2%

6.6x

2.3x

6.6%

10.7% 15.1%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

25.00

-2.0%

12.4%

-2.5%

-3.6%

26.3%

3.6%

4.2x

1.1x

10.8%

23.9%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

110.40

-0.1%

7.2%

-18.2%

-18.3%

17.4%

8.3%

27.7x

4.7x

3.7%

3.6%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,500.00

0.0%

7.6%

-3.6%

-3.6%

73.3%

18.9%

35.0x

22.2x

2.8%

2.9%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

230.00

0.0%

6.1%

0.0%

0.0%

22.7%

12.0%

19.9x

4.6x

4.6%

5.0%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

10.85

0.0%

6.6%

23.3%

23.4%

6.7%

0.8%

7.8x

0.6x

2.3%

12.8%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.30

-0.5%

4.3%

-1.4%

-2.8%

12.7%

1.5%

5.1x

0.7x

6.3%

19.7%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

10.50

0.0%

4.4%

1.9%

0.9%

15.9%

1.9%

4.6x

0.7x

8.1%

21.6%

20.00

0.0%

3.8%

17.6%

22.9%

12.9%

1.0%

6.6x

0.9x

650.00

-0.2%

3.1%

3.8%

3.8%

22.3%

13.2%

3.3x

0.7x

2.8%

30.0%

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

50.00

2.0%

3.4%

20.5%

22.2%

30.8%

4.1%

9.5x

2.6x

1.0%

10.6%

Unilever Nigeria PLC

51.00

0.0%

3.1%

24.4%

26.8%

19.2%

8.0%

27.3x

3.7x

1.0%

3.7%

0.1%

2.3%

3.2%

3.2%

15.4%

6.1%

18.5x

2.4%

1.4%

-10.9%

-10.9%

-36.8%

-7.7%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

11 12

15.1%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

97.05

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

40.00

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.29

-1.7%

1.1%

-6.9%

-11.2%

10.4%

1.4%

16

Oando PLC

6.60

-0.8%

1.4%

10.2%

10.2%

10.3%

1.5%

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

19.00

0.0%

1.1%

-5.0%

-6.7%

45.0%

20.0%

5.7x

2.1x

13.2%

17.7%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

92.50

-1.8%

1.5%

36.7%

36.7%

39.7%

29.4%

9.2x

3.2x

3.2%

10.8%

19

International Brew eries PLC

41.00

-0.7%

0.6%

-24.8%

-25.4%

24.6%

7.4%

42.9x

9.8x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

31.05

0.0%

0.7%

7.1%

7.1%

13.1%

3.0%

6.5x

0.8x

2.9%

15.4%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

11.4%

2.5x

0.7%

5.4%

2.2x

3.8%

-15.4%

1.8x

0.4x

4.8%

8.2x

0.5x

55.5% 12.2%

2.3%

1.43

4.4%

0.6%

-2.1%

-3.4%

11.2%

2.5%

8.8x

0.9x

1.4%

0.0%

0.5%

-17.2%

-17.2%

1.5%

0.6%

22.8x

0.6x

4.6%

-2.1%

0.5%

-5.3%

-9.6%

-5.8%

-0.7%

-12.8%

-12.8%

25.0%

5.3%

9.7x

2.3x

8.5%

44.9%

5.8%

0.9%

4.4x

0.3x

4.4%

22.9%

4.4%

15.4%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

14.00

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.42

24

Total Nigeria PLC

0.1x

200.50

3.7%

0.5%

2.29

-0.4%

0.7%

181.00

-0.5%

0.5%

-7.0%

-7.0%

38.8%

15.7%

6.5x

2.2x

4.4% -51.5% 10.3%

25

FCMB Group Plc

26

11 PLC

27

Forte Oil PLC

34.05

0.0%

0.4%

-21.7%

-18.9%

17.6%

1.6%

18.4x

2.9x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

19.85

-0.5%

0.4%

-3.6%

-6.1%

10.7%

5.0%

18.8x

1.9x

2.5%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

12.50

-3.8%

0.3%

-20.2%

-19.9%

2.0%

0.8%

58.4x

2.0x

1.3%

1.7%

30

Presco PLC

75.00

0.0%

0.4%

9.5%

9.5%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

1.0x

2.7%

32.1%

52.3%

19.7%

10.7x

4.8x

6.6%

9.3%

0.8x

7.2%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

22.75

0.0%

0.4%

23.0%

18.4%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

5.4% 5.3%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.15

4.2%

0.3%

-21.2%

-18.1%

5.3%

1.1%

8.8x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

27.50

0.0%

0.3%

-1.8%

-1.8%

17.3%

1.8%

7.6x

1.2x

3.6%

13.1%

10.7%

1.0%

4.3x

0.4x

1.4%

23.5%

1.3x

2.0%

1.42

2.9%

0.3%

31.5%

25.7%

10.25

-2.4%

0.2%

-15.6%

-15.6%

0.0%

0.2%

-12.1%

-12.1%

4.4%

2.8%

30.0x

1.3x

39.5%

3.3%

0.0%

0.2%

2.9%

-2.0%

66.2%

30.2%

16.4x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

0.0%

0.2%

68.2%

68.2%

17.7%

11.5%

10.5x

1.7x

1.2%

9.5%

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.00

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.00

39

Beta Glass PLC

86.30 7.45

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

2.02

4.7%

T ra de s

T ic k er

C ILEA SIN G

0.93 1.43

4.4%

UB N

6.15

4.2%

T OT A L C H A M P ION ST ER LN B A N K

P ric e C hg %

1 72.6

2.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

31 .5

-2.0%

T R A N SC OR P

22.9

4.4%

UC A P

21 .2

0.0%

UB A

1 6.6

0.0%

FB NH

1 2.4

0.0%

4.5%

T R A N SC OR P

A F R IP R UD

by V o lum e

Vo lum e

ST ER LN B A N K

UN IT YB N K

11.3%

4.00

3.9%

200.50

3.7%

1.98

3.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

7.6

-1 .7% -4.0%

1.42

2.9%

R EGA LIN S

7.5

WA P C O

40.00

2.4%

D IA M ON D B N K

6.6

-2.1 %

ST A N B IC

50.00

2.0%

LA SA C O

6.4

-2.7%

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er J A P A ULOIL

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

0.38

-7.3%

ET ER N A

6.41

-5.0%

P R EST IGE

0.57

-5.0%

F IR ST A LUM

0.38

-5.0%

CCNN

T ra de s

by V a lue

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

792.7

-2.0%

P R ESC O

404.4

0.0%

GUIN N ESS

277.9

0.1 %

ST ER LN B A N K

241 .0

2.9%

23.50

-4.9%

SEP LA T

232.0

-0.2%

M A YB A KER

2.34

-4.5%

GUA R A N T Y

1 93.7

-0.7%

EQUIT YA SUR

0.22

-4.3%

UB A

1 75.8

0.0%

R EGA LIN S

0.24

-4.0%

FB NH

1 35.4

0.0%

N IGER IN S

0.25

-3.8%

UA C N

78.0

0.0%

C A D B UR Y

12.50

-3.8%

NB

75.7

-0.1 %

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Eronmosele Aziba | eaziba@afrinvest.com

43

˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Dangote Cement to Raise N150bn Capital Via Commercial Paper Goddy Egene Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) is to raise N150 billion fresh capital through the issuance of a Commercial Paper (CP). In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, the biggest cement manufacturing firm in Africa, said the CP would be either as a standalone transaction or by a way of programme to be executed in tranches, series or proportions.

“The CP that will be issued under the programme will

be deployed towards capital expenditure, working capital and general corporate purpose,” the company said in the notification signed the managing director, Joseph Makoju.

Market operators said this planned capital injection would further boost the performance of the company.

Shareholders of DCP last week commended the board and management of the company for its improved profit and dividend payment performance for the 2017

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

financial year.

The company recorded a profit after tax of N204.2 billion in 2017, up by 43 per cent from N142.9 billion in 2016. Based on that improved bottom-line, the board recommended a dividend of N178.9 billion, which translated to N10.50 per share, up from N8.70 the previous year.

The shareholders of the company at the 7th annual general meeting (AGM) expressed excitement at the dividend, saying DCP had continued to create value for

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 26-June-2018, unless otherwise stated.

them, urging the board and management to maintain that impressive performance.

Chairman of DCP, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the board believed that the recommended dividend was at an appropriate level and was consistent with the company’s aim of delivering superior returns to shareholders, while at the same time balancing the company’s need to invest in growth.

According to him, as a company, DCP was accorded international credit ratings that were actually higher on

a standalone basis than the sovereign country of Nigeria.

“This recognition should assure you, our shareholders, that our long-term view and prudent management are serving us well at a time when others in our industry are facing difficulties that challenge their independence and only serve to erode shareholder value,” he said.

Also speaking, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of DCP, Joseph Makoju said he was pleased with the way the company adapted to marketing

efforts to the challenges in the Nigerian economy in 2017.

Looking ahead, Makoju said the company would return to volume growth, particularly in Nigeria as the economy recovers and the higher oil price brings more cash into the country.

“We will continue to focus on improving sales and logistic so we are well prepared for when the market picks up, which we are confident it will in 2018 as infrastructure investment begins to accelerate,” Makoju 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.85 1.72% ACAP Income Funds 0.65 0.65 7.21% 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 13.14% 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 19.88 19.30 5.63% ARM Discovery Fund 408.55 420.87 5.01% ARM Ethical Fund 29.34 30.23 7.40% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.10% 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 12.96% 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 12.25% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.14 1.17 8.75% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.13 1.16 8.91% 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 1,165.68 1,166.38 7.83% FBN Heritage Fund 147.58 148.84 5.82% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.74% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $111.92 $112.37 1.57% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.08 $112.53 1.60% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 176.26 178.94 9.65% 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 1.38 1.41 5.94% Legacy Debt Fund 3.07 3.07 6.37% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,161.32 3,194.26 5.89% Coral Income Fund 2,643.10 2,643.10 8.00% 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 12.82% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 103.29 104.37 3.36% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.82% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.17 2.19 2.87% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.17% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.54 120.89 4.79%

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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.56 13.67 3.21% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.73% 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 13.07% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.80 11.84 6.80% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.81% 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 132.19 134.31 2.56% 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 1.60 1.60 7.55% 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 2,386.18 2,405.45 6.37% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.10 186.10 5.47% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.05 1.06 4.46% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 239.36 239.42 8.69% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 184.56 186.55 3.03% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.30% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,841.02 9,975.00 1.77% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.58% 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 N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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

11.41 136.22 103.70 51.30

1.01% 2.84%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.30 150.72 111.72

12.40 153.85 113.76

1.46% 5.50% 2.24%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund Union Homes REIT

0.92%

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

4.78 8.95 17.77 19.61 145.52

4.82 9.03 17.87 19.81 147.52

0.77% -6.47% 1.47% -0.31% 6.32%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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INTERNATIONAL

Foreign/Diplomatic Editor: VINCENT OBIA vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com 0805 468 1757

In Brief UlAmerican Independence The 242nd American Independence Day celebration is taking place today. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington, and Consul General, F. John Bray, will host the annual event in Lagos at the U.S. Consul Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residence. The embassy said former heads of state and heads of government, members of the diplomatic corps, business, political, and traditional leaders, serving and former state governors, senior government officials, Nollywood celebrities, senior media executives, civil society representatives, leaders in academia, and other friends of America will be in attendance. Â

Trump-Putin Summit

L-R Former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Walter Carrington; former United States Ambassador to Denmark, Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr; Mrs Sharon Handler Loeb; and President, United Nations Association of Greater Boston, Dr Arese Carrington, at the United Nations Association of Greater Boston Global Citizens Gala in Massachusetts recently

US, UK, France, Italy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Deeply Concernedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; About Sidra, Ras Lanuf Oil Terminalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Handover to Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastern Government Vincent Obia

F

ollowing an announcement this week by the Libyan National Army, commanded by rebel General Khalifa Haftar, that the Sidra and Ras Lanuf oil terminals would be handed over to the eastern governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Oil Corporation, the governments of France, United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States issued a joint statement on Wednesday expressing serious concern about the move.  Spokesman of the LNA, Ahmed Mismari, had said on television, â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the oil terminals controlled by LNA are being handed over to the National Oil Corporation dependent on the provisional government that is headed by Faraj al-Hassi.â&#x20AC;?

The Sidra and Ras Lanuf oil fields had been controlled by Ibrahim Jadhranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Petroleum Facilities Guard, which is sympathetic to the western-based, internationally-recognised Government of National Accord under Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, from the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overthrow in 2011 until September 2016, when they were seized by Haftarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LNA. But earlier this month, Jadhran retook the facilities, but could not retain the terminals when the LNA launched a counteroffensive.

The joint Western statement Tuesday said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The governments of France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned about the announcement that the Ras Lanuf and Sidra oil fields and facilities will be transferred to the control of an entity other than the legitimate National Oil Corporation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil facilities, production, and revenues belong to the Libyan people. These vital Libyan resources must remain under the exclusive control of the legitimate National Oil Corporation and the sole oversight of the Government of National Accord (GNA), as outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions 2259 (2015), 2278 (2016), and 2362 (2017). UN Security Council

Resolution 2362 (2017) condemns attempts to illicitly export petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya by parallel institutions which are not acting under the authority of the GNA.â&#x20AC;?

The four countries said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any attempts to circumvent the UN Security Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Libya sanctions regime will cause deep harm to Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy, exacerbate its humanitarian crisis, and undermine its broader stability. The international community will hold those who undermine Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peace, security, and stability to account. We call for all armed actors to cease hostilities and withdraw immediately from oil installations without conditions before further damage occurs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In September 2016, the LNA supported the legitimate National Oil Corporationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work to

rebuild Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil sector for the benefit of the Libyan people. This action served Libyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national interest. The legitimate National Oil Corporation must be allowed again to take up unhindered work on behalf of the Libyan people, to repair infrastructure damaged after the attack by forces under the direction of Ibrahim Jadhran, and to restore the oil exports and production disrupted by that attack.â&#x20AC;?

However, there is uncertainty about who would buy the oil from the eastern government. In 2015, the government, based in Tobruk, about 150 kilometres from Egypt, failed in a bid to sell 300,000 barrels of oil, as it could not get buyers, banks, or insurers willing to do business with the Benghazi-based NOC. None of the entities wanted to risk cooperation with an unrecognised government due to the legal implications. Â

Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Macron Returns National Service

T

he French government has initiated a plan to reintroduce national service for all 16-year-olds, in fulfilment of President Emmanuel Macronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election campaign promise. The scheme aims to promote a sense of civic duty and national unity among French youth.

But some remain unconvinced of the benefits, according to BBC. The new national service will cover all 16-yearolds, girls and boys, and will be divided into two separate phases.

The first phase is a mandatory one-month placement with a focus on civic culture, which the government says will â&#x20AC;&#x153;enable young people to create new relationships and develop their role in societyâ&#x20AC;?.

Voluntary teaching and working with charities are among the options being looked at, alongside traditional military preparation with the police, fire service or army.

The second phase is a voluntary placement of at least three months and up to a year, in which young people will be encouraged to serve â&#x20AC;&#x153;in

an area linked to defence and securityâ&#x20AC;? - but again, they could opt to carry out volunteer work linked to heritage, the environment or social care.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not quite the programme Mr Macron initially had in mind.

When he first floated the idea, during the 2017 race for the presidency, it was a sort of military service in miniature, with all French citizens forced to have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;direct experience of military lifeâ&#x20AC;? for a minimum of one month between the ages of 18 and 21.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now been softened and broadened into whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s being called a Universal National Service - partly because of concerns that it would cost too much and overburden the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armed forces.

Even now, the programme is estimated to cost â&#x201A;Ź1.6bn (ÂŁ1.4bn; $1.8bn) a year to run, with â&#x201A;Ź1.75bn of investment up front.

The goal of this new-style national service, the government says, is to encourage young French citizens to take part in the life of the nation, and promote social cohesion.

Moscow and Washington Wednesday agreed to hold a long-delayed summit between US President Donald Trump and Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vladimir Putin. The announcement followed a meeting between President Putin and US National Security Adviser John Bolton. Trump said his meeting with Putin could take place after next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NATO summit in Brussels.

The president said the meeting could take place in the Finnish capital, Helsinki. He said he would discuss the war in Syria and the situation in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart.

Trump last met the Russian president in November in Vietnam on the side-lines of an Asia-Pacific summit. The decision to hold a meeting between the leaders was announced earlier on Wednesday by a Kremlin foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov. The summit would take place in a mutually convenient third country, with the date and location to be officially announced on Thursday, Ushakov said.

Iranian Uranium Feedstock  Iran reopened a nuclear plant idle for nine years, its atomic energy agency (AEOI) said on Wednesday, in preparation for increased uranium enrichment capacity if a nuclear deal with world powers falls apart after the U.S. withdrawal. U.S.-Iranian tensions have resurged since President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the 2015 nuclear accord, calling it deeply flawed. Under the deal, Iran restricted its enrichment programme to ease concerns it could not be put to developing nuclear weapons and in return won relief from sanctions.

European signatories are trying to save the accord, which they see as crucial to forestalling an Iranian nuclear weapon. However, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the AEOI this month to start preparations to upgrade enrichment capacity in case the European efforts fail.

The AEOI said on Wednesday that in response to Khameneiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s order and Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renunciation of the deal, a plant for the production of UF6, the feedstock for centrifuge machines that enrich uranium, had been re-launched and a barrel of yellow cake had been delivered there.

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NEWSXTRA

FG to Spend N250bn for Development of Special Economic Zones FEC approves N133m for JAMB infrastructure Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government yesterday in Abuja unfolded plans to spend N250 billion for the development of special economic zones across the six geo-political zones of the country in pursuit of the country’s industrialisation agenda.

Making this disclosure while briefing journalists at the end of a six-hour weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said of the N250 billion earmarked for the projects, N40 billion was contained in the 2017 budget while another N40 billion is contained in the newly signed 2018 budget.

Enelamah said consequently, the council approved two memoranda presented by his ministry, one of which he said sought the council’s approval for the implementation of Projects Made in Nigeria Exports, otherwise known as Project-MINE initiative.

According to him, the

initiative is aimed at developing what he described as world class export oriented special economic zones across the six regions of the country, pointing out that one of the factors leading to industrialisation is the development of special economic zones.

Enelamah who said the council consequently approved N2.655 billion to be paid to some consultants preparatory to the implementation of the projects, listed places where the economic zones would be sited to include Lekki, in Lagos, Aba in Abia State and Funtua in Katsina State.

He also said existing economic zones in Calabar and Kano would be elevated to world class standard. He added that pre-development work meant to herald the development of green field special economic zone will also commence in Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Kwara and Sokoto States.

He said: “The ministry brought two memos. The first one is a memorandum that sought the council’s approval for effective implementation

of Projects Made in Nigeria Exports, something called Project-MINE initiative which is aimed at developing world class export oriented special economic zones across the six geo-political zones of the country. And that memo was approved.

“That memo is anchored on creating the right enabling environment for special economic zones across the country. If you study other countries that industrialised rapidly, you will find out that one of the things they did right was to have these special economic zones and industrial parks that are world class which means that all the infrastructure are there and all the requirements are in place.

And the plan is to begin the development of those special economic zones across the six geo-political zones as follows: “We are going to do one in Lagos State Lekki Free Trade Zone Area, one in Katsina in Funtua Cotton Cluster Zone Area and another one in Abia in Enyimba City. We

are also going to develop to world class standard in the existing two zones that the government has in Calabar and Kano. And in addition, the council also approved predevelopment work to start and develop Green Field Special Economic Zone in Akwa Ibom, in Benue and in Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Kwara and Sokoto State with a further roll out to other locations in phase two.

“As you know, there were budgetary allocations both in the 2017 and also in the 2018 budget. Specifically, council approved today, payments to consultants totalling N2.655,785billion for various projects that would be undertaken by different consultants that would lead to the implementation of these zones.

Actually, that is just for one set of consultants. The aggregate amount which includes another set is N3.172,431billion. But the amount that has been invested in zones is much larger.

The 2017 budget had over N40bilion. The budget also has over N40billlion in 2018.

“The total budget of developing these zones would be in excess of N250billion and it will include partners. This is going to be done through something called The Nigerian Special Economic Zones Company Limited, which is a public private partnership.

The federal government is going to own 20 per cent of that company and Afrexim Bank is going to be a shareholder and other investors like the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and other international investors. It is going to be developed in such a way that it will be world class.

We are going to see rapid implementation now that council approval has been obtained.”

Also briefing, Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said the Joint Adminissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) secured council

approval for the purchase of what he described as one of the CBT test organisations at the rate of N133 million.

According to him, the move was conceived to enable JAMB possess its own infrastructure meant to stop leakages which often characterise its examinations.

“JAMB had run their test for people who seek admission into universities using computer based testing agencies. And this been attended by leakages over time.

And in order to stop that, JAMB has been able to set up their own infrastructure for conduct of these examinations.

“They have realised that they have not sufficiently covered the grounds. They have requested for government to buy up one of the CBT test organisations for N133million. They bought over the infrastructure, equipment and building. The effort is that JAMB wants to take total control of all of these examination processes in order to avoid leakages that had in the past attended their own examinations,” Shehu said.

Court Dismisses Nyame’s Bail Application Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu in Abuja yesterday dismissed an application for bail, filed by the convicted former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, who was seeking to be released from prison, pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.

The judge had on May 30 sentenced the former governor to 14 years of imprisonment for criminal breach of trust, two years for criminal misappropriation, seven years for gratification and five years for obtaining by dishonesty, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Nyame, who was not in court, through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo, on June 27, 2018 approached the court, with the application for bail, on the grounds that his client was hypertensive and diabetic, and pending the determination of the appeal against his conviction, needed to have access to his “traditional herbal medicine.”

“My client has been living with these conditions for about 10 years now, and he had sought permission from the prison authorities in Kuje, Abuja, to be allowed to be given herbal medicine, but his request was rebuffed,” Ojo said.

He further told the court that a June 19, 2018 medical report issued by the Taraba State Hospital indicated that Mr. Nyame could lose his life if he was not released from prison.

In support of the application, he presented medical reports to the court, and the request letter to the prison officials.

“These exhibits are medical

reports attached to the affidavit in support of the application,” he said, notifying the Court that the prison authorities disallowed him access to those who wanted to give him the herbal medicine. Whatever must have been responsible for their decision whether right or wrong, the point is that he was not allowed access to them,” he added, arguing further that ill-health constituted “special and exceptional circumstances” to enable his client be granted bail after the conviction.

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, however, opposed the application for bail, arguing that Ojo failed to support his request with necessary materials.

“Mere medical reasons will not suffice to be granted bail after conviction, because Nyame as a convict has lost the right to medical facility of his choice, but the one that is provided by the prison authorities,” he said.

He further argued that the issue of health could only come into account as an exceptional circumstance, “if the prison authorities say they are unable to provide the medical need of the convict.”

He added that the application lacked “a medical report by a medical practitioner who specialises in the area of medicine that concerns the ailment of the convict.”

Justice Banjoko after standing down proceedings for a few minutes thereafter, refused the application, noting that “the medical reports presented to the court were conflicting and the dates on them are not corresponding with each other.”

CAMPAIGN RALLY

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, addressing a crowd of supporters in Ikere-Ekiti…recently

Nigeria Halts Biometric Visa-On-Arrival Scheme The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has suspended the issuance of biometric visaon-arrival to foreigners arriving into the country indefinitely.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the exercise was suspended because of controversies concerning the charges linked to the scheme.

The exercise, which was introduced on June 12, costs $110.

“It is not true that the NIS is collecting money from foreigners coming into the country for the issuance of biometric visas,” a source said.

“The fees for the biometric visa-on-arrival is being collected

by Online Integrated Services

(OIS) and New Works, who are service providers appointed by the ministry of interior to collect the charges.

“OIS collects $90, while New Works collects $20 for the issuance of the biometric visas. The payment can be made online before coming to Nigeria or with a credit card upon arrival.

“However, there were complaints from people who have already paid to obtain visas before coming into Nigeria and were now also being required to pay for the biometric visa upon arrival.

“The issue was brought to the notice of the CG, who directed that the policy should be suspended until further notice.”

The source said countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, China and South Africa are already issuing biometric visas to foreigners.

He said what Nigeria was doing was simply to reciprocate the fees charged Nigerians visiting these countries, stressing that for instance, Kenya and Nigeria had a bilateral agreement to charge their citizens $25 dollars for visa-on-arrival.

At present exemption from visa, charges apply to people carrying official and diplomatic passports from countries like China, Brazil, Venezuela, Morocco and South Africa, which have bilateral agreements with Nigeria.

The source however, insisted

that the visa-on-arrival policy had improved the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, adding that it was now applicable to all countries of the world.

“It is very good for business purposes. Instead of applying for a visa from the embassy, a foreigner can send an application to the NIS attaching his valid passport, the point of entry, the purpose of visit and the certificate of incorporation of his business partners.

“The person’s return ticket will also be attached and the application is processed and approved by the CG and a visa will be issued to him upon arrival at his point of entry if he meets the requirements.”

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NEWSXTRA

House Ad-hoc C’ttee Accuses NERC, Discos of Extorting Electricity Consumers CBN: N158bn disbursed to power firms James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee set up to probe and curb excessive electricity charges by Distribution Companies (Discos) yesterday accused the latter as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of conniving to extort and shortchange Nigerians.

The committee, chaired by Hon. Israel Ajibola Famurewa (APC, Osun), noted that both NERC and the discos had failed totally in ensuring that Nigerians get value for money spent on electricity consumption.

Essentially, the committee is seeking to curb the exorbitant electricity charges being levied on consumers by discos and believed the distribution firms and prepaid meter vendors are currently managed by “fraudsters” who are masters in shortchanging electricity consumers across the country.

In one particular instance, one Mojeec International Limited, a local pre-paid meter

manufacturer and vendor, was accused of overbilling a customer, who consumed as much as N70,000 monthly.

But following complaints by the affected consumer, the meter was reevaluated and adjusted, bringing the monthly consumption to only about N30,000 presently.

However, the Deputy Managing Director of Mojeec, Mr. Hakeem Balogun, told the committee that the special case of over-billing had been traced to wrong meter installation by the company which had now been corrected.

The committee believed several other electricity consumers in the country are being cheated through illicit methods by the operators.

However, Chairman of NERC, Prof. James Momoh, told the lawmakers that the commission was making efforts to ensure that the billing reflects actual consumption pattern adding that it had fined some discos to the tune N134.1 million due to violations of electricity regulations, and

that the same money was duly transferred to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) account.

He said: “All the reports related to the fines are published annually. NERC is taking measures to improve on the services by discos.”

But the committee, nonetheless, chided NERC for doing little or nothing to curb the arbitrary billing system against consumers.

A member of the committee, Hon. Raphael Nnanna (APC, Imo), said: “With all what NERC said, they’ve not addressed the issue of excessive and outrageous billing. Nigerians are suffering, and they’re not addressing that. All these things NERC said amount to stories. How are you proffering solutions to the issue of estimated and outrageous billing?”

Hon. Muazu Lawal (APC, Zamfara) said: “It appears discos and other stakeholders are not ready for the job before

them. You just go about billing people the way you like without considering the actual power they consume. This happens everywhere in the country and even in Abuja.

“From what’s happening, I think discos are either operated by fraudsters or they’re just extorting money from Nigerians.

If you’re not ready for the job, tell us you’re not ready.”

Also, Hon. Olayonu Tope (APC, Kwara) said: “If Nigerians are to cast their votes on the performance of NERC, it will be that the agency is a complete failure. The failure of Nigeria’s economy today is lack of power. NERC is one of the major stakeholders leading Nigeria to failure. NERC, you’re a failure.”

The lawmakers said Nigerians are tired of excuses and needed results.

However, some of the discos argued that they inherited inaccurate data on the power situation in the country, adding that energy bypass by consumers

remained a big challenge to their survival.

This is as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday disclosed that the federal government had disbursed a total of N158. 74 billion to electricity discos, generation companies (GENCOs,) GASCOs and service providers under the CBN-Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility.

Speaking when he appeared before the ad-hoc committee, he said seven Discos received N49, 841, 913 billion; 18 Gencos got N73, 545,871 billion; six Gascos received N24,892,952 billion while service providers were paid N10,463,904,265 billion.

He said to ensure that electricity become efficient, the apex bank also intervened by providing a payment assurance facility and has so far disbursed N330 billion out of a projected N701 billion.

Represented by CBN Head, Infrastructure Finance Office, Power Intervention, Mr. Boma

Benebo, the bank governor said: “The intention is that power should continue to be supplied while the sector sorts itself out in the following areas: reduce the losses that have plagued the industry, increase collection and arrive at a realistic tariff that phases out shortfalls.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, said: “The House is aware of the financial hardship being experienced by most of our people due to the high electricity charges by Discos.

This has further compounded the difficulty brought about by the economic downturn in the country. We are therefore determined to get all the facts on the matter with a view to addressing it.”

He, therefore, charged the committee to “unravel the veracity of the allegation of the presence of wrongly configured prepaid meters that are overbilling the already impoverished masses of this country.”

60 Suspected Illicit Drug Traffickers Arrested in Kogi Yekini Jimoh ÓØ ÙÕÙÔË The Kogi State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 60 suspected illicit drug traffickers within three months.

The state Commander of the agency, Alhaji Idris Bello, disclosed this yesterday in Lokoja at the activities marking the 2018 United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Bello said the arrested suspected traffickers included 56 males and four females.

“The command also seized within the period, 976.2.

Kilogrammes of various illicit drugs with suspected cannabis sativa accounting for about 974.5 kilogrammes,” Bello added.

According to him; four people have been convicted by the command while 28 are undergoing counseling.

The agency boss noted that

June 26 every year is observed globally to enlighten the public on the dangers of consuming hard drug, maintaining that over 60 per cent of crime and criminality committed globally is attributed to the use of drugs.

He said when drug abuse and its illicit use are curtailed in the country, crime would be reduced to its barest minimum.

On this year theme: ‘Listen first’, Bello is of the view that listening to children and youths is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.

The United Nation General Assembly on December 7, 1987, decided to observe June 26 as the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to express its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

INVESTMENT DRIVE

L-R: Head, Trust Services/Legal, STL Trustees Ltd, Akin Oni; Senior Manager, Network Capital Ltd, Ayodele Otun; Executive Director, Regulations, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Tinuade Awe; Managing Director/ CEO, Lotus Capital Ltd, Ajara Adeola; Managing Director/ CEO, Network Capital Ltd, Dada Oluropo Olubode; and Trust and Legal Services, STL Trustees Ltd, Adeshola Aje, at the listing of Lotus Halal Fixed Fund on the NSE ...recently.

Unusual Praise 2018 Takes Place Again, Court Restrains EFCC, AGF from Halting Aiteo’s July 1 Operations The official unveiling of Unusual Acts such as Sinach, Nicole C Praise will take place on Sunday, July 1. Parishioners of the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy will be treated to a day of unforgettable spiritual connection, singing and worship in order to launch the event and get everyone set for yet another incredible night of praise and worship.

Unusual Praise has quickly grown to become the biggest of its kind within the Catholic Community in Africa- with explosive and spirit filled performances by Megastar

Mullen, Don Moen, Olumide Dada, Frank Edwards, Sr. Agatha Ozah, Steve Crown and a plethora of globally recognised gospel stars in previous years.

This year’s edition promises to take things to another level with surprise International acts you cannot afford to miss, quality content and most importantly a refreshing and uplifting experience in the presence of God. The 8th edition of Unusual Praise is set to take place on Friday, November 30, 2018.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered a stay of action in the case brought againstthe founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters.

In February, the group got an interlocutory injection restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from interfering or obstructing its business operations.

In suit number FCT/HC/

CV0536/17, the court heard that properties belonging exclusively to Peters were wrongfully included in a list of properties allegedly owned by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke.

At the hearing on Monday, Peters asked the court to restrain EFCC and the UK-based agencies from “interfering/continued interference with the properties, either by way of

criminal indictment, charge, interdiction, extradition or in any other manner infringing in the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the said properties.”

Peters also demanded $5 billion in compensation for what he described as a “series of unlawful and fraudulent conspiracies allegedly organised by the EFCC, AGF, the National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service (UK) and individuals, Helen Hughes,

Stacey Boniface, and John Bavister.”

A.T Gazali, counsel to the AGF challengesd the ruling, arguing that the defendants were entitled to the protection of sovereign immunity.

After listening to the arguments of both counsel, the court made an order enjoining the parties to maintain the status quo.

The case was adjourned till a date to be communicated to the parties.

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NEWSXTRA

Osinbajo: FG Will End SARS’ Attrocities Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Ibadan pledged that the federal government would end the many alleged atrocities being perpetrated by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

Osinbajo, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, last night made the promise while fielding questions from young Nigerians at a town hall meeting held on the side-line of the launch of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinics in Ibadan.

According to the statement, Osinbajo said the federal government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised about SARS’ operations was reflected in President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for an immediate review and restructuring of the unit.

He was quoted as saying: “Many people are complaining about the atrocities of SARS, people are saying there should be no more SARS. SARS as you know is anti-robbery squad but several members of the squad have gone rogue and are doing things that are contrary to the very reasons for which they were set up.

“But it is not enough to just say, ‘end SARS’. You know it is an anti-robbery squad. What we need to end is to deal with the atrocities of SARS, we want to end everything that is wrong that they are doing and we must always have in place, a force that is able to protect us against robbery, kidnapping and other crimes.

“The president has already ordered a review of the formation of SARS so that very soon, we would be able to have a responsible SARS.” The statement also said the vice-president spoke on measures being put in place to address the power crisis confronting Nigeria, explaining that “we have a systematic approach to the power solution in the country, but the approach to the power solution in the country, is not to rely on the regular power supply.”

He was further quoted as saying: “We have increased our power generation capacity from about 3000 megawatts since 2015 to about 7000 mega watts. The current situation with power is that it has been privatised and the privatisation was not done properly.”

“The responsibility has fallen on the federal government, and we are doing just that

but the approach is not to rely on the regular power supply. We don’t want to have all our power come from the same sources that

is why we are trying to decentralise power generation and distribution in Nigeria.

“We have also created the Eligible Customer Declaration

which means that industrial hubs or estates can buy their own power so we don’t have to rely on the grid. So, there are now companies that are

licenced to provide power to estates, to provide power for industries on willing-buyer, willingseller basis.”

Education Minister Cautions VCs, Others against Sharp Practices JAMB reduces fees for foreign students Martins Ifijeh The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has called on vice chancellors and other leaders of educational institutions in Nigeria to shun sharp practices that cannot stand the test of integrity.

He said he has evidence that some leaders of educational institutions were not carrying out their job with the integrity it deserves.

Adamu, who stated this during the 2018 Policy Meeting of Tertiary Institutions at the newly opened 4000 capacity Bola Babalakin Auditorium in Gbongon, Osun State recently, said: “Some of you carry out your duties with full understanding and knowledge that some of your actions cannot stand the test of integrity, as some of the infractions you endorse and approve are irregular. I have documentary

evidence of some of these irregularities and they include irregular admissions, skewed fees and refusal to adhere to policy decisions.”

He said they should imbibe transparency, honesty, sincerity, equity, loyalty, integrity and commitment to nation building as cardinal principles in their organisations.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Jamb, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has revealed that as part of government’s plan to include all groups in the process, it has reduced exam fees of foreign students from $120 to $20, while measures have also been put in place to ensure blind candidates are not disenfranchised.

He said a lot of improvements have been made in policies and processes put in place to ensure hitch free admissions for the 2018 academic session.

“There has been an expansion of e-selling points

for mobile money operators, microfinance banks, online payments, POS and ATMS. For the first time also, exam centers can be monitored in real time from JAMB headquarters, thereby minimising incidents of fraud. Exams are now also being synchronised to ensure they begin and end at the same time across the country.”

He also stated that JAMB has launched a mobile app called JAMBMOBILE to aide candidates, adding that the application can be easily downloaded to a phone, and can be used to check the status of an application, matriculation status, and acceptance or rejection of admission.

The Pro Chancellor of the University of Lagos Dr. Wale Babalakin, who built the Bola Babalakin Auditorioum said he was ‘’motivated by a desire to provide an environment conducive to serious intellectual

work.

“It is our fervent believe that Nigeria will only achieve its full potential when the aggregate of our intellectual capacity is developed and harnessed appropriately. We cannot achieve our full potential if we do not reward competence and hard work and simultaneously punish bad behavior,” he said.

He went on to say he hoped other serious institutions will utilise this facility which many have described as one of the most elaborate and We hope as JAMB has done, other serious institutions will now take advantage of what many have said is one of the mostelaborate and comfortable auditorium in Nigeria today, suitable for the sort of large scale intellectual gathering we are having here today.

In attendance were all vice chancellors of all universities, rectors of polytechnics, among others.

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Shell Plant to Deliver 624MW to National Grid Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has said its Afam VI power plant will deliver 624mw electricity into the national grid barring any restrictions from the regulator of the power market.

A statement by its Managing Director, Osagie Okunbor, said the intervention has come at a time power generation has suffered a deep plunge following an outage of some thermal power stations.

He said the Afam VI power plant, located in Afam village in Oyigbo Local Government Area

of Rivers State, uses combined cycle gas turbine technology that burns 40 per cent less gas than plants using older open cycle technologies.

Okunbor, according to TheCable, said this has contributed significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The SPDC Joint Ventureowned combined cycle power plant is ably maintained to consistently deliver its net dependable capacity of 624MW from an installed capacity of

650MW with its three gas turbines and one steam turbine,” he said.

“In 2017 alone, Afam VI supplied approximately 14 per cent of Nigeria ’s grid-connected electricity and the plant has delivered over 25.97 trillion watt-hour of electricity into the Nigerian grid in the last 10 years.

“What is most exciting is that the plant has achieved this milestone, while also touching the lives of community people and helping youths to acquire key engineering skills.”

CJN Orders Magistrates to Inspect Police Cells Monthly The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has ordered chief magistrates to visit police cells on a monthly basis.

A statement from Onnoghen, cited Section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) which states: “The chief magistrate or where there is no chief magistrate within the police division any magistrate

designated by the chief judge for that purpose, shall at least every month conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than prison.’’

The CJN also required that during the chief magistrate’s visit to police cells they should call for and inspect the records of arrest, direct the arraignment of the suspect and where bail has

been refused, grant bail to any suspect where appropriate if the offence for which the suspect is held is within the jurisdiction of the magistrate.

He also issued a directive ordering the chief judge of every state in the country including the Federal Capital Territory to appropriate mechanisms to ensure compliance with the above provisions of the ACJA.

Malabu Oil Deal: Court Grants HEDA Judicial Review against AGF A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the request of a non-governmental organisation, Human and Environment Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre, for a leave for a mandamus for a judicial review against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami in the case of the Malabu Oil and Gas deal.

HEDA had on April 5, 2018, filed a motion ex-parte before the Federal High Court, seeking an order compelling the AGF to revoke the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 on the grounds that the entire Malabu transaction in relation to the OPL 245 is unconstitutional, illegal and void as it was not legally granted, same having been obtained fraudulently vide corrupt practices.

The application by the Resource Centre is pursuant to: Order 34 Rules 1(1)A, 2, 3(1) & (2)a, (b) and (c) Of The Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009 Section 1(1), (2), 2 (7), (3), (4)A & 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, and Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and under the inherent powers of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

In a report of the ruling of the court issued by HEDA and signed by its Chairman, Mr.

Olanrewaju Suraju, the NGO said it instituted the law suit to expose the players in the Malabu scandal in which extant local laws and policies were breached and blatantly ignored.

The NGO said having confirmed that from the response of the Minister of Petroleum Resources that the government is still having some dealings with the said Eni/Shell and also making arrangements to go into a joint venture with it, “The applicant (Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre) responded and reiterated the need to halt and suspend all thorough-going relationships with the said Eni/Shell pending the outcome of the investigations and suits in several jurisdictions with respect to the Malabu deal.”

According to HEDA, Justice M.S Hassan of the Federal High Court, in Lagos on June 13, 2018 granted the leave for the applicant as Mr. R.A.O Adegoke who also appeared with Mrs. Fatima Usman, representing the Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre.

“Before granting the motion to file an application for judicial review as prayed in the motion ex-parte moved by the applicant’s the presence of new interested parties in the case were announced in court.

These parties included Mr. Babatunde Fagbohun (SAN) and two others who announced their appearance for Nigeria AGIP Exploration Limited as an interested party and Dr. C.O Ukata, appearing with Ehimony Oluyori representing Shell Exploration Production as an intervening party.”

According to Suraju, the application is made with a view to enabling HEDA carry out its mandate of fighting corrupt and fraudulent practices involving public institutions, public office holders and their conspiring multinational corporations.

He said this action was part of the organisation’s broad stolen asset recovery project.

“The two interested parties representing Shell Exploration Production Ltd and Nigeria-AGIP Exploration Ltd respectively announced appearance in court and promised to file necessary process before next adjourned date. “The applicant’s counsel, Adegoke having confirmed service on the respondents; the AGF, moved a motion ex-parte seeking the leave of the court to file for judicial review in the form of a mandamus against the respondent.

The applicant has filed the instant ex-parte motion application seeking the following reliefs:

Firm Organises Coaching for Individuals, Institutions Constellation Coaching Group LLC, the Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) licensed international coaching firm, is organizing a two-day coaching fundamentals Training on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1, 2018.

The training programme, which holds at Waterfront Plaza, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, is a first step for participants seeking to becoming an internationally licensed NLP

Coach.

Constellation’s Chief Executive Officer and Licenced Master Practitioner of NLP explained the training programme and said, “People need others to talk to, to help them clarify, focus and execute their goals. To become better is a common yearning.

“Constellation Coaching Group LLC offers three key products. These are Coaching (Executive Coaching & Team Coaching) , Counseling and

Coach Training. The Coach Training is for Corporate and individuals,” she said.

Last month, Joke Coker was at the Lagos Business School where she was a lead discussant on Mental Wellness Initiative Programme with the theme: “What’s on your mind.”

She said Constellation is currently leading the initiative aimed at harnessing the power of the mind to help you be the “best you”.

Ë&#x153; ÍşÎ&#x20AC;Ë&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ëž T H I S D AY

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

WORLD CUP 2018â&#x20AC;Ś

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

WORLD CUP TRAGEDYâ&#x20AC;Ś

Ebonyi Medical Consultant Slumps, Dies of Heart Attack Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki A medical consultant in Family Medicine of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Dr. Chidi Ebirim, was reportedly dead on Tuesday after watching the Argentina versus Nigeria football match.

The late consultant was said to have died out of heart attack.

His corpse has been deposited at the mortuary in the state.

A close source who spoke

to THISDAY on condition of anonymity noted that the deceased was watching the football match but slumped after the last goal against Nigeria.

The source said that late consultant was rushed to the Federal teaching hospital to be revived but later gave up the ghost at the early hours of Wednesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was watching the match at his compound.

Unfortunately, when the last goal was scored against

Nigeria, he unconsciously shout and slumped. He was rushed to the hospital for quick medical attention but he later gave up the ghost. He died of heart attack because he was suffering from cardiovascular diseaseâ&#x20AC;? the source said.

However, the incident also paralysed medical services at the Surgery Unit of the Federal Teaching hospital, as surgical operations slated for Wednesday were disrupted and postponed.

Eagles Depart St Petersburg after Exit from World Cup Mikel remains bitter over refereeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refusal to give a second penalty After exiting the ongoing FIFA World Cup here in Russia on Tuesday night with the 2-1 loss to Argentina, some members of the Super Eagles are expected to touch down in Nigeria today.

Eagles who narrowly lost the Group D second ticket to the Lionel Messi inspired South American nation, left Moscow for Lagos yesterday morning via Dubai on an Emirates flight.

Nigeria Football Federationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (NFF) Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko, accompanied the players on the flight to Nigeria in company with some other top sports officials.

However, it was not all the 23 players who were in Russia for the Mundial that are going to arrive in Nigeria today. Most of the Europe-based players, NFF sources here confirmed left for their respective cities to join their families on vacations before heading to pre-season training camps. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The NFF will meet with the coaches of the team later next week to discuss the programme for the Africa of Nations Cup qualifiers starting next month.

Meanwhile, Captain of the

team, John Mikel Obi, remains very said over the decision of Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir not to award Nigeria a deserved second penalty.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand how that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a penalty, for me it was a clear handball, clear penalty,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mikel said at the post-match press conference on Tuesday night. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;If you watched the Portugal match, that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even close to this, this was even worse, this was open, clear case of a penalty.

The ball hit Marcos Rojoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand,â&#x20AC;? stressed the former Chelsea midfielder.

Mikel said that the fact that Nigeria had been awarded a penalty earlier in the game did not over rule another one if it was a deserved one. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;A penalty is a penalty, if you give the first one, you can still give a penalty, we have seen it again in the dressing room, it was a clear penalty, so there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any way the referee couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give the penalty. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;He (referee) looked at the VAR and told me the ball hit the playerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; concludes the Tianji Teda player in the Chinese Super League.

REACTIONS TO OUSTERâ&#x20AC;Ś GERNOT ROHR Wehaveaveryyoungteamthatstilllacks experience. We will come back stronger in four years.Â

before. Ever since the coach joined us, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a great time. The players listen to him and want to improve, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for Nigerian football.

(On VAR) I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know why the centre referee didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give Nigeria penalty for the ball handled in the box by Argentine Marcos Rojo. It was not different from the same handball that earned Portugal a penalty against Iran.

WILLIAM TROOST EKONG Â Hard to describe in words how that felt.

It was an emotional rollercoaster. We gave everything against Argentina last night. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m grateful and proud to have represented Nigeria and all Nigerians at this World Cup. But most of all I am humbled and thank God for bringing me this far

(On use of Bryan Idowu) When you have  players like Lionel (Messi),  Sergio (Aguero),  Higuain, Dybala etc, you need players who can withstand the pressure without necessarily getting booked. We had two penalties in our first two matches  and tried to avoid having set pieces against us. Previous goals against Nigeria came from purely set pieces. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want any foul in our goal area. (On Continuity) I hope I can still continue to be around.

I have a fantastic team here that can be better with time. JOHN MIKEL OBI  Young team. We did well but was unable to achieve what we wanted. In four years the team will be better and ready for the world. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been part of such a fun squad with such great and sociable players

LEON BALOGUN We showed the world that Nigeria has talented players. We showed that we are a footballing nation, and if the team stays together I hope that we can give an even better account of ourselves in four yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time.

VICTOR MOSES A Sad, disappointing evening. Tough defeat  ODION IGHALO Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sad day for me, the boys and the country because we went out in a bad manner and we deserved more in the game. Nobody criticised me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a teamwork. We are 23 players fighting for a single thing. Even if I am criticised, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take it in good faith.

The duo of Victor Moses and Leon Balogun looking dejected after the match against Argentina on Tuesday night at Saint Petersburg abiodun ajala

Preparations for AFCON 2019 to Start Now, Says Pinnick President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick was still somewhat downcast yesterday, but has assured that heartfelt disappointment over

elimination from the FIFA World Cup finals has given way to fresh determination of ensuring qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles lost

Amstel Malta Embraces Super Eagles Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey at the 21st edition of the quadrennial tournament happening in Russia has come to an end with the Super Eagles losing 2 - 1 to La Albiceleste of Argentina at St. Petersburg stadium. Fans and football lovers have joined the official malt drink of the Super Eagles, Amstel Malta, to show their support and solidarity. The team which was unlucky in its last Group D game will not proceed to the next stage.

The 2018 tournament started June 14, with Nigeria placed in Group D alongside Croatia, Iceland and Argentina. However, Nigeria was only able to defeat Iceland which earned the team just 3 points. This is the sixth time Nigeria would qualify for

the tournament.

Reacting to the outcome of the match, portfolio manager, non-alcoholic drinks, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Ngozi Nkwoji stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are proud of the Super Eagles as they have fought a good fight by putting their best foot forward and Amstel Malta will continue to lend its supportâ&#x20AC;?.

Nigerian Breweries PLC is a big supporter of Sports in Nigeria. In February 2018, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pioneer brewer through its premium malt brand, Amstel Malta, signed a partnership agreement with the Nigerian Football Federation giving it exclusive rights as the official malt drink of all the national football teams including the Super Eagles.

narrowly 1-2 to perennial bogey team Argentina in Saint Petersburg, even when it appeared they were cruising with five minutes left in the encounter. Pinnick said the depression was more about getting so close to a place in the knockout rounds and yet having to go home early from footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest houseparty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was sad losing out when it appeared easier to progress from the group stage. I believe the players did their utmost and wanted to get the better of Argentina for the first time at the World Cup. Losing that way, with few minutes to go, really dampened the spirit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We apologize to all Nigerians from far and near, those who came to Russia to support the team and those who watched on television. Our expectation was for a place in the knockout rounds but that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen.

We will go home and prepare harder for the next finals. In truth, ours is a young and vibrant team capable of learning and getting better, and these attributes hold that the future is bright.â&#x20AC;?Â

Pinnick insisted that elimination from the World Cup would do nothing to unhinge the vision of the present NFF administration to build a sustainable football culture for Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a population that is truly passionate about the game.

It is that wonderful equity that we are happy to engage and build on for the good of the Nigeria game.

Development of the game at the grassroots will proceed apace and our focus on the Future Eagles (U13/U15) competition will become even more painstaking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the moment, we have to start preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which is only 12 months away, as well as intensify the preparation of the Falconets (U20 Women Team) and the Super Falcons (Senior Women Team) for major championships coming up soon.â&#x20AC;? The U20 girls will participate in the 9th FIFA U20 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup taking place in France 7th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 26th August, while eight â&#x20AC;&#x201C;time African champions Super Falcons have qualified for the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations taking place later this year.Â

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

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W O R L D C U P 2 0 1 8 … JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

WORLD CUP 2018…

Defending Champion, Germany Out of World Cup Brazil hit second round in style Defending champions Germany yesterday afternoon became the first football super power to be eliminated from the on World Cup finals in Russia.

The German team lost 2-0 to South Korea in a match they needed to win at the Rubin Kazan stadium in Russia.

While South Korea became the first Asian nation to beat Germany, it is note worthy that German team became the third straight reigning champion to be knocked out in the group stage at the next World Cup -- following Italy and Spain after it was beaten 2-0 by South Korea in Group F. The defining moments started deep into the injury time when Kim Young-gwon’s 92nd-minute goal, awarded after a video assistant referee decision, left four-time winner Germany on the brink of elimination.

Then six minutes into stoppage time, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the opponents’ half, South Korea gained control of the ball, launched it forward and Son Heung-min tapped into an empty net to score the second and seal Germany’s fate.

It is the first time since 1938 that a Germany or West Germany side has not advanced beyond the first section of the tournament, as Joachim Low’s side finish bottom of Group F. The defeat followed their opening loss against Mexico, while it took a dramatic late winner from Toni Kroos to earn them their only points of the group stage against eventual group winners Sweden.

Manager Low, who led Germany to World Cup glory

RESULTS Mexico 0-3 Sweden S’Korea 2-0 Germany Serbia 0-2 Brazil Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica

AITEO Commends Super Eagles after Remarkable Outing in Russia

Sebastian Rudy of Germany attempts to console team mate Mario Gomez after the final whistle went in their defeat yesterday four years ago, will face strong questions over his selections both before and during this tournament.

He left Manchester City forward Leroy Sane out of his squad, despite the 22-year-old playing a major role in helping City win the Premier League title, while Mario Gotze, who scored the winner in the 2014 final against Argentina, also missed out.

Against South Korea, Low made five changes, including recalling Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and dropping Thomas Muller, although the Gunners’ midfielder

could not inspire his side to victory.

Low has been in charge of Germany since 2006, taking them to the final of the 2008 European Championships where they lost to Spain and then that subsequent World Cup glory.

Later in the evening in Rubin Kazan, goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva meant Brazil booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup as Group E winners, knocking Serbia out in the process.

Brazil started the brighter of the two teams in the opening exchanges, although it wouldn’t

be until the 25th minute when Vladimir Stojkovic was forced into the first meaningful save of the game, palming away Neymar’s effort from a narrow angle - that appeared to be heading wide -after some intricate build-up play.

Chances fell for both nations in the ten minutes that followed, before the Selecao took a deserved lead just after the half hour mark.

Spotting the deep run from Paulinho, Philippe Coutinho matched the burst forward with an exquisite pass, giving his Barcelona teammate the simple task of dinking the ball over Stojkovic to break the deadlock.

Africa’s World Cup Hopes Rests on Senegal in Colombia Clash Demola Ojo in St Petersburg Following Nigeria’s exit from the World Cup on Tuesday, despite a valiant effort against Argentina, all eyes will be on Senegal today as they play a resurgent Colombia side for a place in the second round of the Russia 2018 World Cup. With Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are already eliminated from the competition, the continent’s hopes of making an impact now rests solely on the Teranga Lions.

Senegal are on four points after two matches while Colombia are on three. The other match in Group H sees Japan face already-eliminated Poland.

A draw for Senegal will see them qualify for the last 16, regardless of how current group

leaders Japan fare in their match.

Colombia could qualify with a draw as long as Japan lose.

However, if Japan avoid defeat then Colombia need to win to set up a clash with either Belgium

or England from Group G in the last 16.

Colombia started their campaign with defeat by Japan but bounced back with an impressive 3-0 win over Poland.

Senegal opened with a 2-1 victory over Poland before a 2-2 draw against Japan that disappointed head coach Aliou Cisse.

“We were not very good, frankly,” Cisse said. “I think the best team on the pitch was Japan, I have to be honest.”

Despite winning comfortably against Poland last time out, Pekerman has hinted he might make changes against Senegal.

Carlos Sanchez could return to the Colombia starting XI after being suspended for the second match following his red card against Japan.

Senegal and Colombia have faced each other just once before, in a friendly in May 2014, with Colombia taking a 2-0 lead into half-time, only to concede two goals in the second half.

D U R O ’S R U S S I A N OT E . . .

The Party Rojo Denied Eagles in St Petersburg Everywhere you go here in St Petersburg since Tuesday night, what you see on the faces of Nigerians is annoyance and anger. They are yet to get over the Group D loss to Argentina here at the World Cup in St Petersburg.

What you hear mostly from these Nigerians are: If only Odion Ighalo had scored that opportunity that came his way, deep into the second half; If only Turkish Centre Referee, Cuneyt Cakir, had awarded Nigeria a second penalty from the ball handled by Marcos Rojo inside Argentina’s box. Perhaps, Nigeria will not be home-bound now so early in the tournament.

TODAY’S FIXTURES Japan Vs Poland 3pm Senegal Vs Colombia 3pm England Vs Belgium 7pm Panama Vs Tunisia 7pm

The mood of these Nigerians is understandable. Playing second fiddle to the same Argentina, a record fifth time, starting with Eagles debut defeat at the Mundial in USA in 1994, has sort of become an anathema. And in all of these defeats, only one goal separates Nigeria from the euphoria of victory. What makes this particular defeat more painful is perhaps, Nigeria was just four minutes away from making it to the knock out stage.

With the South Americans in the Top 10 bracket of global football and Nigeria in the 49th, nobody expected them to fall so easily. Not with top players like Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Manchester United’s

Rojo, Manchester City’s duo of Sergio Kun Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi, PSG’s duo of Angel di Maria and Gionani Lo Celso, Juve’s duo of Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain, and several other top players too numerous to recall here. The Albiceleste were clear favourites to pick the second ticket after Croatia had topped the group going into the third matches with two wins.

But the never-give-spirit in us gave several Nigerians here in Russia and elsewhere around the world the hope that miracle was possible against the Argies. And they held on to that faith. Not even Messi’s brilliant early goal against Eagles could stop these

incurable Nigerians from dream of a possible berth in the Last 16. Some of them chorused that after all, Nigeria defeated Iceland who held the South American nation to a draw.

And then a part of Eagles’ Oyinbo Wall, Leon Balogun was fouled by former Barcelona defender, Javier Mascherano, inside Argentina box to earn the penalty beautifully converted by Victor Moses. That equalizer reinforced that belief that miracle was on the way. But all that was not to be as the experienced Turkish arbiter stood his ground that it was not a penalty despite television replay showing the ball bouncing off Rojo’s left arm.

AITEO Group, the Official Optimum Partner of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), wishes to commend the players and officials of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the efforts put into their performances at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Despite bowing out of the tournament at the group stage, Aiteo is very proud of how the Eagles won the hearts of Nigerians, and how in this short period, they have been able to magically pull a nation of over 180 million people together, attesting to our belief that football remains a major unifying factor in Nigeria.

Commenting on the outing, The Executive Vice Chairman of Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters says; “The moments of anxieties and excitements shared when our nation plays are priceless and unforgettable. Whilst it is disheartening that we did not proceed to the next round, we are confident that with this same passion and more preparation, victory awaits in coming years. Aiteo is motivated to continue to invest in football, having watched the Super Eagles play their hearts out and fans across the country lay their common defences aside to cheer them. Now is the time to put the World Cup exit

behind us and move towards building a stronger team and a stronger nation together.”

Aiteo notes that the players put in their utmost with patriotic fervour and were so close to getting the needed draw against two-time world champions, Argentina. They epitomized the essence of the Nigerian Spirit: result-driven commitment to excellence and grit in the face of daunting challenges, all hallmarks of Aiteo’s commitment to empowering Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population.

We have only compliments for the Board of the NFF, led by AmajuPinnick which provided effective work tools in the critical areas of: securing sponsorships, high level and adequate preparations, provisions for improvement through modern technology, hiring of quality technical staff and payment of the team’s World Cup bonus long before they kicked a ball in Russia.

Aiteo Group stands committed to fulfilling its bonuses to the Super Eagles in addition to its long-term investment in Nigerian Football. We also remain unquestionably devoted to working with Nigeria’s Football leadership to provide Nigerians with a team that will compete for the global crown by the next World Cup.

GCI Emerges Champions of CCC Cricket League Notore extends sponsorship of the league Government College Ibadan Old Boys Cricket Club, GCI, recently emerged champions of the 2017/2018 Notore Club Cricket Committee (CCC) league Super four . GCI defeated the defending Champions and the league champions, Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club by 7 wickets in a 50 overs game at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval.

Ibeju Lekki won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 103 runs all out in 3.5 overs, Friday Udoh scored 34 runs off 55 balls in 94 minutes , Femi Solebo scored 15 runs off 51 ball in 75 minutes, James Chukwu scored 9 runs off 33 balls in 33 minutes while Elijah Olaleye scored 9 runs off 24 balls in 40 minutes .

From the bowling side of GCI. Isaac Okpe took 4 wickets in 8 overs conceeded 22 runs , Elijah Monday took 3 wickets in 4 overs conceeded 15 runs , GCI captain Chimezie Onwuzulike took 2 wickets in 7.5 overs conceeded 19 runs while Silvester Okpe took 1 wicket

in 8 overs conceeded 13 runs .

In the second innings GCI Cricket Club of Ibadan scored 107 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 21.1 overs to end Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club suprimacy in Super four .

The representative of the Group Managing the Director and Chief Executive Officer of Notore, Mr Onajite Okoloko, Miss Ngozt Mba expressed excitement on the success of Notore CCC Cricket League promising that Notore Chemical Industries Plc would continue to sponsor the CCC league addinfg that Notore’s mission is to revive the game of cricket from the grassroots level in Nigeria.

Miss Mba on behalf of Group Managing Director and CEO Mr Okoloko congratulated Government College Ibadan Cricket Club and Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club on their performance during the championship final adding that colors would be added in continuation of the sponsorship of the League.

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Thursday, June 28, 2018

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MISSILE Tanimu Turaki to Federal Government “There is no cooperation (between the security agencies), there is no synergy. If critical security agencies are not sharing information or working together, then how do you expect them to come up with tight security architecture that will safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerian? And that is what is happening” –Former Special Duties Minister, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, blaming the Federal Government over the mass killing of Plateau villagers.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria and The Princess of Kangaba

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he moment we entered the premises of the International Office of Migration (IOM) safe house in Bamako and the girls saw Mrs Abimbola Wonosikou, the Minister (Consul) at the Nigerian embassy in Mali, they were very excited. Some rushed to embrace her shouting ‘welcome mommy’.

But it also did not escape my attention, as I surveyed the environment, that the young and brutalized girls, who had been weaned from their ‘Madams’ were only putting up brave faces. I picked a particular one and sat beside her. I did not even have to prod before she started telling me her heartrending story of the hazards of being sold into prostitution in a foreign land.

In the wake of the spiral of killings in Benue, Zamfara, Taraba and Plateau States for which there is no coherent response from the authorities amid a new report which places Nigeria as number one among countries with the largest numbers of extreme poor in the world, we should worry about the future of our country. Yet, if majority of our people live below the poverty line and we are witnessing a total breakdown of law and order in a broad section that is tending towards sectarian violence, then we need more from the federal government than some tepid statements and blame-mongering.

It is also important that we all resist the urge to spread some of the hate messages circulating on social media, especially at such a difficult time as this.

Meanwhile, there is a way in which we can connect the killings in the Middle Belt to the poverty report and the rate at which many of our vulnerable citizens practically sell themselves into slavery abroad because there is a class dimension to them all. Anybody who has been following the reportage of the Plateau killings, like that of Benue before it, can only come to one inescapable conclusion: It is the poor of our society that are both perpetrators and victims of the violence on all sides while those supplying the AK-47 and other deadly weapons are secure in the knowledge that they, and members of their immediate families, are far away from the theatres of war they help ignite or inflame.

While we will have to deal with these existential threats to the peaceful co-existence of our country another day, even as I commiserate with those who have lost loved ones to the recent madness in Jos and environs, there are also disturbing challenges with serious international implications that the authorities must pay attention to as I have discovered in the course of my research into the human tragedy dimension of irregular migration for my coming book, ‘From Frying Pan to Fire’. In

NAPTIP DG Julie Okah-Donli Mali last week, I was confronted with another Nigerian emblem of shame which also raises questions about the way we manage our affairs and the prospects for the future. The only good news from my experience in Mali is that we have a very worthy ambassador in Mr Ken Nwachukwu who is leading his officials in dealing with the problem despite limited resources among other constraints.

At the IOM centre in Bamako that houses trafficked under-aged girls, Loveth, who hails from Agbor, recounted how she had been cajoled to abandon secondary school last December by the sister of a friend who promised to take her abroad where she could earn big money working in a salon. But, as it most often happens, the story ended in Djinja Kayes, Southwest Mali where Loveth was sold to a notorious Nigerian ‘Madam’ from Edo State, Ms Kate Justina Agbedion, who immediately introduced the young girl into prostitution after subjecting her to an oath.

Stranded in a foreign country where she knew nobody, Loveth had to sell her body for months to pay the agreed sum so she could regain her freedom but the story took a different turn after fulfilling her obligation. Rather than grant the poor girl freedom, Agbedion was in the process of selling Loveth to another ‘Madam’ (a common practice in the business) when she ran into trouble with the Nigerian embassy officials and the Malian authorities who were already on her trail. “Now, I am pregnant”, Loveth said as she shared with me her harrowing experience in the hands of Agbedion.

Born on 23rd June 1972, ‘Madam Kate’ as Agbedion is addressed, hails from Umopke Village, Esan Uwede Local Government Area of Edo State and is one of the most influential

It is slave trade that is going on because these girls are sold and resold like commodities until they eventually reach the ‘Madams’ for whom they must prostitute. Once in the villages where they cannot speak the language and do not know anybody, there is nowhere to run. Body items are taken and then the ‘Madam’ announces what the job is all about

Nigerian human traffickers in Mali, with several law enforcement agents in the Kayes region on her payroll. According to the information found in her log book after she was arrested, a total of 150 girls make daily payment of 30,000 FCFA (USD 58) to her. Meanwhile, I understand that she has been providing the Malian authorities with information that could also lead to the arrest of more individuals involved in this nefarious trade of young Nigerian girls. But that will only happen if the federal government shows interest in the matter.

Although she specialises in bringing underage Nigerian girls into Mali, Agbedion is not alone; she is in fact just one among 13 Nigerian traffickers that have been arrested in recent weeks by the Malian authorities based on reports from the Nigerian embassy. While one has been sentenced to a ten-year jail term, the others, who are either currently in court or awaiting trial, include Favour Okonkwo, Tina and Anita Johnson, Silvia John Osifoo, Cynthia Okechukwu, Joy Winner Idahosa, Lachi Ohiagikpo, Mariam Madou, Leydiby John, Favour Abubakar, Faith Uche Okechi and Jennifa Agbamo.

Agbamo, who works for ‘Madam Kate’, is the abortion specialist. Whenever any of the girls gets pregnant, it is to Agbama, known as ‘Madam Jennifer’ that everyone turns. She reportedly has an instrument she inserts into the womb of any pregnant girl and once bleeding starts, she knows the job is done. Agbama is such an expert in the dark business, according to reports, that only on rare cases do pregnancies survive after her ‘surgical operations’.

However, the most deadly of the prostitution kingpins who is also in the net is a 38-year old Ms Alice Matthew Mahmoud who hails from Calabar, Cross River State and married to a Malian. Nicknamed ‘The Princess of Kangaba’, Alice had fled from Burkina Faso to Mali in 2005 when the Burkinabe authorities were trailing her for human trafficking-related offences. According to reports by her victims, Alice subjects the girls who work for her to

serious inhuman treatments. For instance, one of her girls, Hope Okafor has a wound on her chin that has refused to heal after Alice poured an unknown (juju) substance on her. Another girl, Faith Atame, has severe skin infection as a result of the concoction she was forced to drink. There are also reports that some of her girls have died and were buried in shallow graves.

While Alice has been arrested, Mr Elvis Moore, her male collaborator and partner in crime, is on the run and has been declared wanted by the Malian authorities. Based in Cotonou, Moore still enters Nigeria to hunt for the girls he lures into travelling with him under false pretenses until he trafficks them to Mali. Some of these victims are currently under the care of the IOM and will be repatriated to Nigeria, once the trial of Alice is concluded. Last Thursday, seven girls were repatriated back home. I also spoke to two girls the embassy put in the custody of the IOM after they escaped from their trafficker while he was negotiating a price for them with a ‘Madam’ on phone.

The case of Florence Isagbe is a pathetic one and it shows the failure of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to effectively discharge its mandate. Born on 4th February 2000, the Edo girl was trafficked into Mali with the consent of her father, Paul Isagbe, who reportedly threatened her not to return to Nigeria. Unfortunately, upon arrival back in Nigeria, she was released by the NAPTIP officials in Lagos, and forced to seek shelter with her co-victim, Ross Bature, repatriated along with her. I have given her Benin address and contact details (including telephone number) to an aide of Governor Godwin Obaseki to help follow up. Although I have been assured that help will come the way of the girl, I also believe there is a need for the father to account for why he would sell his own daughter to prostitution.

NOTE: Continue on page 44

The 2018 Teens Conference

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he third edition of the RCCG (TEAP Zone) Abuja Teens Career Conference will hold on Saturday, 18th August, 2017 with the theme, ‘If you can dream it, you can make it happen!”

The confirmed speakers for this year are: the Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija; popular social media influencer, Mr Japhet Omojuwa and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara.

Those who have spoken in the past two editions of the conference included CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chair, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui Okauru; former PenCom Director General, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu and ace comedian, Mr Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome a.k.a Ali Baba. Last year, we had veteran actor, Mr Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD); former Education Minister, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili; wife of former Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mrs Charity Shekari and wife of the Vice

President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo.

The objectives of the conference, which brings together teenagers from Abuja and neighbouring states, include teaching the young men and women to take responsibility for their future; having their imagination fired through interaction with accomplished Nigerians; making them realize that no matter the odds, they can reach their goals and getting them to understand that God still intervenes in the affairs of men.

Attendance at this conference, which promises to be a day of fun with music, food and drinks, is free. However, preconference registration is mandatory and this opens on Monday 16th, and closes on Monday, 2nd August. Interested participants should visit the conference website www.rccgteapteens.org for the online registration when the portal opens. All duly accredited participants will be sent mails on 11th August that will admit them to the conference. Meanwhile, enquiries can also be sent to info@rccgteapteens.org.

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