THURSDAY 5TH JULY 2018

NEC Directs NNPC, Finance Ministry to Audit Daily Petrol Usage IOCs: Investment confidence back with payment of JV cash call debts Chineme Okafor in Abuja The National Executive Council (NEC) has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Ministry of Finance to undertake an audit exercise to determine the actual volume

of petrol consumed daily in Nigeria.

This is coming as the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the country have disclosed that investment

confidence and appetite were gradually coming back to the industry following the settlement of joint venture (JV) cash call arrears owed them by the NNPC.

NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Downstream, Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, said yesterday at the 2018 edition of the annual Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and

Exhibition in Abuja, that the audit would also include inputs from the World Bank.

Ikem-Obih stated that irrespective of the current high cost of fuel imports,

Macron: France, Europe’s Success Depends on Africa ... Page 8

the country's refineries were currently selling petrol at N103 per litre.

While responding to questions on the current consumption level of the country, he noted that Continued on page 8

Thursday 5 July, 2018 Vol 23. No 8477. Price: N250

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Court Orders N’Assembly to Commence Buhari’s Impeachment I am not aware of it, says Mohammed Shehu: I have not been briefed about the development Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Justice Maurine Onyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo yesterday ordered the National Assembly

to immediately commence the process for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The judge gave the order following a suit filed by two

Nigerians, Kanmi Ajibola, a lawyer, and Sulaiman Adeniyi, a human rights activist, urging the court to compel the National Assembly to impeach the president.

The litigants had three months ago written to the Senate and the House of Representatives, seeking the impeachment of the president, citing alleged breaches of the

constitution, and threatened to go to court if the legislature refused their request.

But when the lawmakers refused, they headed to court and filed a suit, asking for an

order of mandamus to compel both the Senate and the House of Representatives to start impeachment proceedings Continued on page 6

Finally, Ruling Party Breaks as Reformed APC Emerges PDP: We support any move to oust Buhari APC says it awaits details of the development Oshiomhole promises to pacify aggrieved members Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The simmering crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) worsened yesterday as the ruling party split, with a faction that called itself Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC) emerging under the leadership of Alhaji

Buba Galadima, an estranged ally of President Muhammadu Buhari.

THISDAY reported exclusively on Tuesday that aggrieved members of the APC under the leadership of former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, had decided to pull out and form the rAPC, a decision the Continued on page 6

Exporters Hail OGFZA for Ranking Best on Ease of Doing Business... Page 53

HIGHEST FRENCH HONOUR FOR ADENUGA...

French President Emmanuel Macron with Chairman of Globalcom, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr (GCON, CSG), during the conferment on Adenuga Jnr, the highest French National honour, Commandeur ordre national de la Legion d’honneur (Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), at the New Alliance Francaise Mike Adenuga Centre, on Osborne Road, Ikoyi Lagos, where he described the Globalcom chairman as a role model for African entrepreneurs‌yesterday

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PAGE SIX FINALLY, RULING PARTY BREAKS AS REFORMED APC EMERGES newspaper said would be announced by Friday.

Announcing the formation of the faction at a crowded press conference yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Abuja, Galadima said the group had activated its parallel structures from the national to the ward levels, stating that the new leaders at those levels would soon be made public.

The news conference was attended by many APC leaders, including the former National Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, who emphasised that the group remained bona fide members of the APC, explaining that the import of their action was that the party had split into two.

The development, obviously would enable aggrieved members of the APC in the federal and state legislatures to switch allegiance on the grounds that the party had split into factions.

While the ruling party was too dumbfounded to speak yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it was a welcome development, expressing its support for any move that would oust Buhari.

"We have report of a group, which have purportedly described themselves as a faction of our party,” the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, told THISDAY, adding, "We will be able to give our reaction as soon as we get the full details and have the opportunity to review it."

The PDP spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the news of the emergence of rAPC was expected and offered support for the faction.

"Every Nigerian, every political party or group that is interested in ousting the incompetent President Muhammadu Buhari's administration are welcomed on board the PDP,” he said, adding, “We have rebranded and we have brought a new narrative that Nigerians will be happy about."

THISDAY gathered from a reliable PDP source yesterday that Kwankwaso had started meeting with the leadership of the state chapter of the PDP in Kano State as well as the

North-west zone on how to absorb his supporters back into the party.

Speaking at the news conference in Abuja, Galadima said, ‘’Nigeria faces an existential threat arising from three years of near destruction of this country and the exacerbation of our ethnic, religious and divisive cleavages. We will in concert with others offer real change to Nigeria. Not fake change. ‘’It is clear that our party needs a leadership that will live by its founding ideals.

We have, therefore, decided to legitimately lead those members to work to rebuild our nation more firmly on genuine democratic principles, to enshrine good governance and restore the faith of Nigerians in the possibility of the existence of a prosperous, secure and peaceful nation.’’

Calling on all Nigerians not to despair as a rescue plan was in the works and will be unfolded soon, he said the APC government had been a monumental disaster, even worse than the government it replaced.’’

He said the political party that was a vehicle for enthroning the Buhari government was rendered powerless by manipulations and complete lack of due process in its operations.

Galadima added, ‘’You will recall that in the build up to the 2015 general elections, some political parties and groups came together, and formed a brand new political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). This merger was based on the strong belief that Nigeria had come of age, but was severely underperforming and unable to meet its potential for good governance. ‘’The Nigerian people entrusted power to the APC based on its promises and potential. We are sad to report that after more than three years of governance, our hopes have been betrayed, our expectations completely dashed. The APC has run a rudderless, inept and incompetent government that has failed to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people.’’

Accusing the leadership of APC of imposing dictatorship, impunity, abuse of power,

complete abdication of constitutional and statutory responsibilities, infidelity to the rule of law and constitutionalism, the outspoken former National Secretary of defunct CPC, said that APC-led federal government had failed to ensure the security and welfare of the people and had elevated nepotism to unacceptable height.

He added that APC had failed to deliver on its key promises to the nation, saying that there is no evidence of any political will to reverse the decline of our party, while leaders who had created these circumstances continue to behave as if Nigerians owe the party votes as a matter of right.

Galadima explained further that the last straw that broke the party was the congresses and convention of the APC held recently, adding that the congresses were intensely disputed as it was conducted with impunity, total disregard for due process, disregard for the party constitution and naked display of power and practices that have no place in a party they all worked very hard to put in place.

According to him, ‘’There are countless cases in courts all over the country challenging the legality of congresses and even the national convention itself. It is very likely that the judicial decisions on these cases will result in massive chaos, confusion and uncertainties. ‘’The fate of a party in this state with a few months to the elections is best left to the imagination, but it is not a fate we believe our millions of members should be abandoned to. There were parallel congresses in 24 states namely: Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara. ‘’These congresses in wards, local government areas and states all over the federation produced different sets of delegates.

We therefore had an unfortunate situation where the party has been seriously factionalised and divided in not just 24 states but the 36 states and Abuja FCT.’’ He argued that the so-

called national convention of the APC was even worse and ridiculed with ‘’constitutional infirmities’’ that were so glaring and obvious that no fair-minded person can claim that a legitimate and lawful executive emerged from that process.

He accused the Chairman of the convention committee, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State of declaring 18 seats unopposed and uncontested, since only one valid candidate stood at the end of the grossly manipulated nomination exercise for each of the offices.

He added, ‘’He therefore proceeded to declare them duly elected in flagrant abuse and violence to the Constitution of the APC. Indeed, Article 20 of the APC Constitution is very clear and explicit.

It envisages a situation where if at the close of nomination, only one person is nominated, the Convention must vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’, for each candidate before he is declared duly elected.’’

He accused the convention committee of violating the party’s constitution, arguing that Article 20 (1) of the APC Constitution states, “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 ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis. ‘’We all witnessed on live television and at the venue, Eagles Square Abuja, that the Convention Chairman, only put the Yes question to all the delegates, using words to the effect: Do you affirm? Do you agree?

There was no opportunity whatsoever given to the delegates to say whether they are voting ‘No’ for any candidate as the ‘No’ question was never put to them.’’

Galadima added that it may well be that if the convention Chairman put

the “No” Question, the voice vote for the “Noes”, may have been more, saying ‘’we will never know, since it was never done, contrary to the express provisions of the APC Constitution; it is therefore unquestionably clear that the 18 officers of APC that were elected through this process could not have been duly elected.

He reasoned that the ‘’constitutional vice infected’’ the offices of: Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman; Mai Mala Buni - National Secretary; Alhaji Ibrahim Masari - National Welfare Secretary and others.

Galadima, who until the event yesterday was a member of APC Board of Trustees said that even before ‘’illegal’’ national convention that alienated millions of the party’s members, there had been widespread disenchantment with the manner the party had been run, and the conduct and performance of President Buhari-led governments. ‘’The nPDP, a group that has made a major contribution to the emergence of the APC administration has made strenuous efforts to invite attention to inequities, injustice and poor management in our party without any success,’’ he further explained.

Galadima said the rAPC also had National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee and other organs of the Party are properly constituted and functional.

While also speaking at the press conference, Baraje said there was no disagreement among members, saying all the leaders, including Kwankwaso was part of the new group.

Some of the national officers of the R-APC include: Buba Galadima, National Chairman (Yobe State); Bala Muhd Gwagwarwa, National Deputy Chairman, North (Kano State); Chief Theo Nkire, National Deputy Chairman, South East (Abia State); Hon. Eko Olakunle, National Vice Chairman South West (Osun State); and Hon. Hussaini Dambo, National Vice Chairman North West (Kaduna State).

Others include; Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar – National Vice Chairman,

COURT ORDERS N’ASSEMBLY TO COMMENCE BUHARI’S IMPEACHMENT against Buhari.

The presidency and the federal government had measured responses to the development yesterday as they said they were unaware of it.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told THISDAY last night that he had not been briefed on the matter.

The presidential spokesman, however, promised to get the details of the court ruling so that he would comment from the point of knowledge.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also told journalists after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive

Council, FEC, that he had no information on it.

In the suit filed on June 19, 2018, the litigants hinged their arguments on four grounds.

In the motion ex-parte, they claimed that in flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution, Buhari contested the election, won and was sworn in as the president on May 29, 2015 without possessing the basic constitutional requirement, which would have made him qualified for the contest of the election.

They further alleged that the president, in flagrant violation of Section 137 (1) (j) of the 1999 Constitution, presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

for the purpose of the 2015 presidential election that brought him to the office of the president.

“In the light of the 4th respondent’s placement to continue in the office as the president, he has no certificate and basic requirement upon which this placement to continue in the office can be placed,” they said.

Besides, they accused the president of treating the orders of the court with a great disdain and abusing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at will, with particular reference to non-compliance with the federal character principle as contained in Section 14 of the Constitution.

Ajibola and Adeniyi told

the court that Buhari had failed to keep to his oath of office, which mandates him to secure the lives and property of the citizens, citing the ceaseless killings by suspected herdsmen as evidence of the claim.

They accused the president of breaching Sections 80 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution by spending about $496 million on the purchase of Tucano Jets without the approval of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as required by the law.

Contending that the breaches of the constitution amounted to gross misconduct, they asked the court to compel both chambers of the National Assembly to activate Section

143 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers them to impeach the president.

“The 1st to 3rd respondents have closed their eyes to the gross misconduct of the 4th respondent,” they told the court, adding that as applicants in the matter, they had the right and duty to compel the 1st and 3rd respondents to perform their statutory duty of impeachment against the 4th respondent, having breached the Constitution.

Justice Onyetenu in her ruling granted the application and ordered the National Assembly to commence the impeachment of the president.

Further hearing in the matter has been fixed to October 30, 2018.

North Central (Kogi State); Hon. Godwin Akaan, Deputy National Secretary (Benue State); Dr Fatai Atanda, National Secretary (Oyo State); Kazeem Afegbua, National Publicity Secretary (Edo State) and others.

Oshiomhole Assures Senate Caucus of Solution to APC Crisis Incidentally, as the rAPC news conference was going on, the new National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday assured the party's caucus in the Senate of quick resolution of the crisis facing the party nationwide.

Oshiomhole, two-time former Governor of Edo State, who met with Senate APC Caucus alongside members of the party's National Working Committee (NWC), in Senate Committtee Room 301, said his major concern was how to resolve all crisis bedevilling the party.

He specifically mentioned the crisis associated with the conduct of party primaries at ward, local government and state levels and promised that the party leadership would do its possible best to resolve them.

The APC chairman emphasised that in as much as the ruling party is rated as the biggest party in Nigeria and by extension in Africa, it is not interested in dysfunctional bigness or size.

He said what the party under his leadership wanted, was a united one with committed and loyal members.

He said, "This idea of wanting to be seen as the biggest party in Nigeria and Africa without required functionality as a united group with clear direction of destination is not our focus but a party populated by members who are committed and loyal to its desires of taking Nigeria to greater heights.

"Yes, it is good to be big Continued on page 8

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Macron: France, Europe’s Success Depends on Africa Announces €1bn funding support for Africa’s private sector Obinna Chima French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, yesterday urged political and business leaders in Nigeria and other African countries to continue to take initiatives that would develop the continent, saying, “If Africa doesn’t succeed, France and Europe will never succeed.”

He said Africans should endeavour to change the narrative about the continent, adding that it should not allow other continents to decide its future.

Macron said this during an interactive session organised by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in Lagos.

According to him, African leaders must take advantage of the continent’s young population by supporting entrepreneurial development.

He said, “Things are changing in Africa. Africa is young and now has leaders that are trying to reform the continent. You have the market. Africa has to decide its future and create its own world about entrepreneurship and businesses and to explain it to the world.

“Nobody should decide the future of Africa, so you have to take up your responsibility. So, the new Africa has to be built now. I do believe that, that it will be good for Africa.”

According to Macron, entrepreneurship and innovation are factors required to drive Africa’s transformation.

He said, “Smart people, when they are in charge are obsessed with innovation.

But young people should be obsessed by innovation because that is the only way to succeed. You should be ready to disrupt the system.

“Innovation is just about how to create and at the same time to disrupt the system. I am here today, because yesterday I decided to take my risk in political life. I never asked for the permission.

“Guess what, even when I tried to get advice, the first advice was ‘you should wait a little bit.’ Some said not now. So, if you want to change the world, if you want to change your country, if you want to change your environment, you have to do it now,” he explained.

According to him, France is committed to supporting young entrepreneurs in the continent.

He revealed that the French government plans to invest 1 billion euros, in Africa’s private sector through the French Development Agency to start the Digital Africa Initiative.

Macron said, “We need to scale and that means we need to develop some financial ecosystem such as encouraging the developing of venture capital and long-term investors. We will participate with you to strengthen and to frame the financial ecosystem of West Africa.

“Our role is to help the new generation to seize

government had also decided to work with large corporates in Africa as well.

“Private sector is very important. I am a strong believer in the ability of the private sector to contribute to economic transformation.

That is the only way to have inclusive growth.

“That was why we launched an organisation for Africa’s private sector to build this continent. I believe in entrepreneurship and innovation.

“We need more Africans to succeed in Africa, just as

we need more Europeans to succeed, so as to change the narrative about the continent.

We can reform globalisation as people succeed in every parts of the world,” he said.

Furthermore, Macron said entrepreneurs should not be deterred whenever they are confronted with failure.

“Take your risk. There is no amount of risk that is too much for you to take to succeed, the first thing is to be sincere. If you want to be a leader, whether in business, politics, or anything you want to create,

for you to be a front-runner, you must take a risk,” he told his audience which was made up of Nigerian business leaders, chief executives of institutions in the country as well as TEF entrepreneurs.

Also at the event, the French government announced its intention to provide through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, guarantees of up to 70 per cent of the loans under the TEF Entrepreneurship Forum, which is a 10-year, $100 million to train and empower 10,000 entrepreneurs in the continent.

Meanwhile, on the side lines of the event, one financing agreement and two commitment letters were signed between the Agence Franciase de Development (AFD), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, UBA and Access Bank Plc, for a total of €74 million, which is co-financed between the AFD and the European Union.

The fund is to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy investments through the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Energy Finance (SUNREF).

The SUNREF programme was launched yesterday by the Director General of the AFD, Mr. Remy Rioux, the Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, the Deputy Managing Director of the UBA, Mr. Victor Osadolor and the President of MAN, Mr. Frank Jacob.

regardless of the magnitude of crisis that may be afflicting the party at whatever level, the three ingredients of commitment for justice, fairness and courage to stand by the truth, the new leadership

is operating with, the party would come out stronger from such crises.

Responding on behalf of APC senators, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the submissions made

by Oshiomhole were very

promising as regards moving the party forward.

"Party politics and democracy itself is inherent with conflicts based disagreement requiring the form of rapprochement you have brought," he said.

a funding structure that works and assume it will continue to work.”

Confirming the position of Okunbor on the cash call payments, the Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Jeff Ewing, stated, “The government and our partners have done some good things on the JV arrears. The execution of those agreements have gone very well, and it has really boosted our confidence in the JV. “Some of the things that have happened have increased our activities in the JV because we have some confidence.”

Ewing, however, explained as regards uncertainties in the industry, “Right now the oil price is increasing, it is giving the oil companies a little more confidence in investing but we are still very selective in where we send our money and how much capital we have to spend.

“And, so, Nigeria needs to be competitive globally in the fiscal policies and ease of doing business. So, that is the discussion we have been

having with the government and making sure that they understand the implication of the competitiveness of the industry.”

Similarly, the Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Paul McGrath, explained, “To unlock the potentials in the country, we need first of, certainty. The recent work that is being done in the petroleum industry bill and the reform in the national assembly, is an excellent piece of work, but it needs to have an end result.

“We need to have an industry reform bill or set of bills that will attract international investment not push it away. I’ve been very encouraged with the dialogues we’ve had with the national assembly and the technical teams till date.

“They have listened, they are listening and tried to engage the industry and I think that is very interesting but at the end of the day, we need to stop talking about industry reform, have industry reform and then move on and unlock the potential,” he noted

Macron opportunities and rise to the challenge. This is what underpins a new, balanced relationship. Steve Jobs’ father was a Syrian refugee.

Nationality has nothing to do with the ability to succeed.

“If you think that being a Nigerian means you can’t succeed then you won’t.

If you fight and you do succeed you will be a role model! We are facing migration. Helping Africa to succeed is good for Europe and France.”

He also said the French

FINALLY, RULING PARTY BREAKS AS REFORMED APC EMERGES or large in size as a party but becoming too big and dysfunctional is not good for us," he further said.

He, however, distanced the party's national executive from utterances made by some party

chieftains that any aggrieved party member is free to leave the party.

"We do not subscribe to the position of people within the party saying anybody can go anywhere.”

He explained to the APC

senators that the purpose of the NWC visit, was for heart to heart discussions towards finding solutions to whatever problems they have with the party at whatever levels.

According to him,

NEC DIRECTS NNPC, FINANCE MINISTRY TO AUDIT DAILY PETROL USAGE the country’s daily fuel consumption was currently not known because of a number of factors, which he said include, smuggling and the various consumption pattern of the commodity among Nigerians.

“We are presently in a joint project with the Federal Ministry of Finance. We are doing a study around consumption, to determine the actual consumption by the people. We have to determine what we call the daily load out or the evacuation, as against the actual consumption; what people go to the pump every day to buy for their cars, for their generators at home and for other uses of petrol,” Ikem-Obih said.

He explained that in terms of daily truck out from depots around the country and the records of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the NNPC trucked out 48 million litres daily in 2016 and 50 million litres in 2017.

“This is why NEC has mandated that we work with the Federal Ministry

of Finance. We also had meeting with the World Bank about six weeks ago, and we are trying to progress in a global study that would help us get around the actual numbers of what we consume in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the nation was challenged by cross-border smuggling, explaining that Nigeria remained the cheapest source of petrol in the West African sub-region as its neighbours were selling at over 200 per cent higher than its price.

“If you go to Niger, Cameroon, then it is in the 400 per cent region; for the rest of the countries, it is about N360 to N370, as against the N145 per litre that we sell. That is sufficient incentives for those who want to take the product across the border to sell and make a good margin,” he added.

He said, however, that the NNPC was working closely with the customs, the DSS, and other security agencies to ensure the situation improved

significantly.

In a related development, the IOCs have disclosed that investment confidence and appetite were gradually coming back to the industry following the settlement of JV cash call arrears owed them by the NNPC. The NNPC in December 2016 got a discount of $1.7 billion from $6.8 billion cash call debt to its JV partners, and was asked to pay $5.1 billion instead.

It subsequently started paying off the debt, which the IOCs at the 2018 edition of the annual Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition in Abuja acknowledged.

Taking turns to speak on their perspectives about what needed to be done to unlock investment potentials in the industry, the chief executives of the IOCs said they were glad the issue which obstructed negotiations for investments in Nigeria at their boards, was now off.

The Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of SPDC, Osagie Okunbor,

said, “For as long as I have been in this industry, we have been discussing cash call as a never-ending issue, I think that we were able to sit down together as an industry and government to try and tackle that issue and we should not underrate the importance of that.

“What that has done is that it opens up the appetite to have a conversation about investment. Nigeria is competing for capital with every other country in the world and sometimes we forget that and think that we are world unto ourselves, but the reality is that each of these companies operate in 20, 30, 80 countries and people are competing for capital.”

With the JV cash call debts off, added Okunbor, investors would be more confident in stepping forward to drop more funds.

He stated, however, that the industry must insist on making the arrangement work, adding, “We all need to put our hands on the plough to ensure it does not derail. We cannot take it for granted that we have

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COMMENT

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

WANTED: NATIONAL MINORITIES’SUMMIT

Sebastian Ikyegh Agbinda argues the need for a national minorities’ security summit to resolve vital issues

A

dreadful combination of Fulani exceptionalism and triumphalism, similar to Donald Trump’s “America First” xenophobia, has emboldened Fulani herdsmen to unleash terror on their “Northern” siblings and Nigeria, and has rocked the foundation of a decaying so-called “Northern monolith”.

Historically, what fuelled this so-called “monolith” was geographical size, religion, (the North seen largely as Islamic, not minding the huge Christian presence in the Middle Belt especially) but sprinkles all over the North demographic and economic canopies – ISSA, NNDC, New Nigerian Newspaper, Arewa, and such other dilapidating institutional edifices.

What the Fulani herdsmen have done is to remove the Hausa demographic base of the Fulani, the real demographic fulcrum of the Fulani, and left it in the fierce militarised trajectory that no longer applies the compound verb – Hausa – Fulani. The Fulani, in a fit of triumphalism, have left off this base, and are proceeding on the journey for public colonies or ranches for its cattle – guided on by grand-patrons and emirates regulatory body of which few are Hausa, and a military command group called Miyetti Allah.

This Fulani exceptionalism and triumphalism is best captured in their monopoly of the nation security architecture under a Fulani presidency.

Not one of the members of this top – brass is Hausa. It is almost entirely Fulani – Customs – Immigrations, Prisons to DSS and NIA. This is why Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, himself under the security threat, branded this ethno-security monopoly, not xenophobia, not irredentism, but clannishness. Not Hausa, not Northern minorities are taken along in Obasanjo’s characterisation. Fulani ascendancy to the top echelons even while displaying traits of exceptionalism, drew some “monkey dey work, baboon de chop” grumbles from both the Hausa and Middle Belt minorities. These grumbles were generally benign but were there all the same. The Tiv riots, Tarka’s United Midle Belt Congress with its earliest restructuring agenda and Aper Aku’s later day 1983 treatise on zoning and rotation and power shift were eloquent, if not cerebral manifestations of these grumbles. The Obasanjo presidency – a product of June 12th and minority-driven power-shift brought minority presence, in his military top echelon – T.Y.Danjuma (Jukun), Malu (Tiv), Ogohi (Igbira), Alfa (Igalla). The North, meaning largely Fulani elite, let out huge huffs and grumbles. Obasanjo stood his ground emphasising he was not from the North neither were any of these not from the North or from one tribe.

The far – North Fulani elite pointedly reminded him, in fierce and direct language that these were not core northerners – they were not Hausa – Fulani and not Muslims. There were peripheral Northerners!

Signboards sprang up all over the minorities areas of the North indicating a split in the so-called Northern monolith. Obasanjo not sure of the far-Northern elite, was strategically positioning the northern minorities as his alternative base even as he constructed another around my former boss – Chief Bola Ige. Of course, not all northern minorities read Obasanjo clearly. From Malu’s Odi expedition, given his apolitical character, to Iyorchia Ayu’s

THE MIDDLE BELT AND NORTH EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONES ARE ARGUABLY THE ONLY GROUPS THAT HAVE NOT PUT THEIR RESTRUCTURING PRODUCTS TOGETHER. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, IRONIC, BELATED BUT NOT TOO LATE

slide into micro- nationalism and an absence of schooling in minoritism, the Obasanjo opportunity was lost. So was Goodluck Jonathan, himself a product of zoning and rotation and power-shift treatise.

What the Fulani herdsmen have done, especially in their “going for broke” ferocity in Buhari is to go after minority states especially, and the country at large (Wole Soyinka – the Fulani herdsmen have declared war on Nigeria) in such a way that has dispersed and isolated the Hausa, is generating a minoritism, a handshake across the Niger fuelling restructuring and anti-Fulani sentiment nation-wide. Even more critically the Fulani, without the herdsmen peeling off the Hausa and minorities are advertising themselves as a small minority element in the North.

The Northern minority reaction has so far, emerged in a meeting with Southern political stakeholders (South South, South East and South- West). This was straight after the Benue 73, and Taraba 63 burial funerals. There have also been scattered statements, more from CAN than from Paul Unongo, Akume, Suswam, Gemade. There has also been a closing of ranks generally between Ortom and Darius Ishaku across party lines. Also, there has been some rethink and apologies.

Not from Al-Makura who is seen strangely as ally of the herdsmen who alleges Ortom has positioned his state as launch into another minority state (Benue). It is clear that over time, Al-Makura will realise the grave miscalculation of his position, if indeed he is complicit.

The only thing the Northern minority leaders have not contemplated is a meeting, based on a common understanding of the Fulani herdsmen’s threat as beyond agriculture or just a clash of modes of production, but an ethnical and existential threat.

Ethnic exceptionalism and triumphalism generate isolationism.

Today the Fulani are isolating themselves from the Hausa as they are Northern minorities, except perhaps for the Kanuri. They are equally isolating themselves from the Ibo, Yoruba and South-South.

Isolationism emerges as the regional and national response to Muhammadu Buhari and Fulani exceptionalism and triumphalism (FULET). This response is around opposition to open grazing, colonies, public colonies rephrased as public ranches, reactions to Plateau killings, unemployment, poverty. It is also a response to Fulani opposition to restructuring.

The so – called Fulani cattle herdsmen, as readily acknowledged are not in the simplistic business of cattle growing. That is just a vehicle.

They are a product of religion – alliance with the ISWA, Boko Haram, and the Emirate infrastructure, identify them as such. Climate change may be generating their condition, but the Fulani are eminently in a position to develop the Kano-type all seasons farming infrastructure to resolve their southwards drift.

Obasanjo and IBB’s response to Buhari is part of the response – but it also embraces three other impulses: their understanding of the severity of Buhari’s return for another four years; demonstration of the willingness of two former military leaders to break ranks – openly; and more.

A national minorities security summit is the panacea.

KIF AND THE IDEA OF NEW NIGERIA Olusegun Adeniyi writes that the Kashim Ibrahim Foundation fellows is a good initiative by the Kaduna State Government

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atching the videos of the 31 shortlisted candidates each of who made a three-minute pitch on why they should be selected was quite revealing.

But after we had made our recommendations on separate sheets of paper, someone suggested that each of us should also nominate two ‘Must Have’ candidates to ease the work of the steering committee that would select the successful 16 candidates. And in one of those difficult-to-explain ironies for which our country is well noted, it turned out that in nominating two each, all of us picked a particular candidate we felt best represents the new Nigerian we are looking for in terms of education, values, maturity and temperament.

Now, wait for this: That candidate so found worthy by everybody at the meeting in Kaduna State Government House that fateful day happens to be a serving policeman from Imo State!

Last Wednesday, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir el-Rufai announced the names of 16 Fellows for the pioneer edition of the Kashim Ibrahim Foundation (KIF) fellows programme to kick off next month. Speaking at the event, ElRufai said that he was impressed by the quality of many of the candidates. “Their submissions reinforced our conviction that youthful talent abounds, and that we can productively engage these smart young people for the benefit of our country. “Each of the 31 persons that made the last stage of the selection process was superbly qualified,” said the governor.

As one of the members of the KIF governing board in Kaduna on 23rd May this year to grade the nominees, I can attest to el-Rufai’s position.

Chaired by Mr Keem Belo-Osagie, other members are: Mr Dele Olojede, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, Ms Kadaria Ahmed, Mr Iboroma Akpana, Mr Bala Bilya, Mr Japeth Omojuwa, Mr Muhammed Sani Abdullahi, Ms Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Ms Barbara Barungi and Mr Jimi Lawal. At the session that day, we were joined by both the governor and his deputy, Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala.

Before we commenced our assignment, el-Rufai gave a brief background on how the KIF project came about. The main objective, according to the governor, was to prepare promising young Nigerians for leadership roles in governance and nation-building. Kaduna State, he added, is divided along ethnic and religious lines which reflect a wider national problem. The KIF’s pilot programme will commence with 16 Fellows; eight from Kaduna and eight from the rest of the country while reflecting sufficient gender representation.

At the end, 10 male and six female candidates were selected with eight from Kaduna and one each from Imo, Adamawa, Yobe, Oyo, Kogi, Cross River and two from Lagos. While, as you would expect in such a collection, some of the successful candidates attended Harvard, London Imperial College and Boston University, the other candidates who attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ilorin and University of Lagos among other Nigerian universities were no less brilliant and got in by the same standard of merit.

However, the number one pick was ASP Eyinnaya Danjuma Chukwueke. Born to an Igbo father and Nupe mother, Chukwueke has an impressive collection of degrees, including BA

in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Law, York, United Kingdom and LLM in International Law from the University of Law, London Moorgate and the Nigerian Law School after which he was called to bar. The 29- year -old Chukwueke had a brief law practice before he decided, in December 2016, to enlist for training in the Police where he is currently an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

With a ‘practical interest in crime and future of criminal justice system in Nigeria’, Chukwueke is definitely a man for the future.

Meanwhile, the call for applications was made in February for graduates between the age of 25 and 35 years who were requested to submit their CVs along with two letters of recommendation and an essay on “Change and Leadership in Nigeria”. At the end, a total of 1,337 applications were received. After a filter for plagiarism and use of English by KIF’s steering committee, only 271 submissions made it to the second stage.

After further screening, the list was pruned to 66 candidates and by the end of the third review session, 31 finalists were shortlisted for the governing board.

Going by el-Rufai’s plan, successful candidates who will formally be inducted as fellows next month will be assigned to work with top cabinet officials in Government House and MDAs on a rotational basis so as to afford them firsthand experience in public service, leadership and governance. They will also undertake domestic and international policy study trips to study a range of issues such as education, healthcare, security and transportation, energy, economic development, local governance and urbanization, etc.

The calendar for the programme, according to

Olojede who will oversee that aspect, comprises three components: Four seminars over the course of one-year programme modelled after the Aspen Leadership Institute seminars on such themes as the good society, role of the state in the economy as well as the challenge and promise of leadership; a bi-weekly event where thought leaders who have excelled in their areas of expertise and trusted individuals who move and inspire people with innovative ideas would be brought in to share their personal experiences with fellows and community service which could entail a project to assist the poor in a rural area or volunteer teaching/mentoring secondary school students, etc.

Fires, according to Heather Huhman, “don’t start with roaring flames -- they need kindling, logs, access to air and, finally, a spark” and that precisely is what the idea of KIF represents. It aligns with the ‘leadership Pipeline’ theory as espoused by Stephen Drotter, Ram Charan and Ram Charan. Although their thesis is on business management, their position also applies to political leadership. “The most significant benefit of a pipeline is that you don’t need to bring in stars to prime the leadership pump and unclog the pipeline. You can create your own stars up and down the line, beginning at the first level when people make the transition from managing themselves to managing others,” the trio wrote.

By identifying from across Nigeria some diamonds in the rough and helping to shape their perspectives of Nigeria and inculcating in them the right values for public service, I believe the Kaduna State government is on the right track.

May the idea endure!

Adeniyi is Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

EDITORIAL VIOLENCE IN THE HOMES The law prohibiting violence against persons should be enforced

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rom the lady whose policeman-husband regularly threatens her with a gun to the business man who has turned his wife into a punching bag before writing a meaningless apology on social media, cases of domestic violence are increasing by the day in our country. The Bishop of St Paul Anglican Cathedral Church, Omu-Aran, Kwara, Philip Adeyemo, said the problem has become so common among couples that it deserved the attention of the National Assembly under matters of urgent importance.

According to ‘UN Women: General database on violence against women’, gender violence in Nigeria should worry the authorities with lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence put at 16 per cent. While spousal abuse cuts across both sexes, women are predominantly the victims in our country. Yet abused women rarely report the violence, for fear of being stigmatised by the society. Where incidents are reported or noticed by third parties, the advice is usuTHE POLICE NEED TO SEEK ally reconciliation, while our policemen FOR SPECIALISATION and women are IN HANDLING CASES known to actively REPORTED BY THESE discourage reports UNFORTUNATE WOMEN, of assault between spouses, trivialising AND ALERTED TO THE such occurrences as FACT THAT BATTERY ‘domestic’.

AND ASSAULT REMAIN While it is possible FELONIES IN OUR LAW to institute criminal BOOKS action against the abuser, the investigative and prosecutorial capacities of our law enforcement agencies are a huge disincentive for taking such action. Civil suits for damages can be filed where a conviction is obtained, but again, the system takes too long, giving sufficient time for interventions by ‘well-meaning’ relations as well as religious and community leaders to dissuade the abused from seeking solace from the law courts.

The patriarchal interpretations within our various faiths preach endurance as a sure pathway to heaven. So our religious leaders also advise forgiveness, even in the most

bizarre of instances. Inevitably, the victim and the abuser (where summoned) are usually advised to go home and find a way to settle their differences, rather than make public the injury or the violence within. Again, most abused women who opt to remain in the most challenging of marriages claim stability for their children as the excuse for their ‘fortitude’.

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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

he fear of being ostracised, the lack of material and financial resources and the general lack of sympathy and support from the public have contributed immensely to the growth of domestic violence in many Nigerian homes. Curbing these tragic incidents is therefore a collective responsibility. It is also the duty of government, at all levels, to protect the most vulnerable by supporting the establishment of the necessary infrastructure and wherewithal, including safe houses, wherein abused women can be securely accommodated, counselled and enabled to regain some confidence and self-respect.

The police need to seek for specialisation in handling cases reported by these unfortunate women, and alerted to the fact that battery and assault remain felonies in our law books, even where inflicted between spouses. Incidentally, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act not only addresses emerging forms of violence, it provides commensurate penalties for offences whose sanctions had long since become obsolete. Significantly, it provides for compensation for victims of violence, which had never before constituted a part of our laws.

However, vulnerable groups (such as women and children) need to be placed on the concurrent list during the next constitutional amendment exercise, thereby ensuring that consistent and uniform standards apply across board and can be accessed by all Nigerians. This is necessary because incidence of violence is oblivious to ethnicity, faith or culture. Ultimately, it behoves all Nigerians to remain diligent and cast away the complacency that has hitherto been the bane of the victims of abuse in our midst. Ignoring the subtle signals of violence inflicted on our females can only lead to disruption in our families and in our society. It can also lead to violence and untimely death. If we fail to act or report, we are all complicit.

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EBONYI LAWMAKERS’ULTIMATUM TO ANAMBRA GOVT

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he squabble between Anambra State government and Ebonyi House of Assembly is to say the least uncalled for and trivial. The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano renamed the old ‘Abakaliki Street’ in Awka “Club Street’ purportedly to synchronise the master-plan. Consequently, he designated another street the government considered suitable and more strategic for its swap. Unfortunately the development was probably misunderstood, hence offensively rebuffed by the Ebonyi lawmakers leading to a seven-day ultimatum slammed on Obiano to revert to status quo ante or face their sanctions. Since then, it has become a supremacy battle, funnily through press wars with threats of sanctions if unheeded. But the question is, is a trifling issue as this amongst the reasons why lawmakers are elected into offices by the people?

The sanctions reportedly included having all the institutions, streets and monuments named after Anambra indigenous people scrapped or renamed in Ebonyi State. However, the state government through its spokesman, C. Don Adinuba debunked malice but elucidated that the contentious area is over the years notorious as a dungeon; a slum with shanties and illegal structures where prostitution and other illicit activities triumph, and added that the government merely did sensitive restructuring exercise which didn’t erase the state’s name in the state capital as purported but a strategic swap, noting that the two states are brothers and sisters that have maintained harmonious relationship over the years.

Obviously, issues of this nature are best resolved through

channel of communication and dialogue especially for two states under a geopolitical zone, and not by ultimatum as issued by the protesting lawmakers let alone through the media. The simple truth is that Anambra or any other state doesn’t require permission or consultation with another state to embark on restructuring exercise within its landscape especially to restructure its facilities. The appropriate action on discovery of the renaming exercise would have been to send delegation to the state government for firsthand fact-finding, explanations and motives for such action rather than working on assumptions.

In structured system, to pass a resolution directing another state government to comply is alien, aberration and amounts to legislative rascality. The reason is that resolutions at plenary can only be implemented when reasonable, realistic and within jurisdiction. The worst part is the press war adopted to deal with a matter that should be handled by the two state governors without third-parties’ knowledge. Nonetheless, as long as a new place was designated for its swap, apparently, no harm was done except a mischief could be substantiated or it could be established that the area has exceptional interests that characterise Ebonyi and its people which may be jeopardised if altered. Above all, change is always constant.

Thus, it calls for maturity, understanding, mutual respect and cooperation. It is never an issue that should be subjected to open show of muscles or ultimatum but reverence and dialogue. To forcefully demand a reverse is way out. For all intents and purposes, the fight is grossly trivial as it cannot add

any value to the lives of indigenous people of either state. Had the fight been tied to a dispute over control of infrastructural developments or mineral resources in the area that can impact positively on the lives of the people, it would then worth the time and energy more especially sitting allowance of the lawmakers as the people deserve value for their money. Unfortunately, it is naively a fight over mere alteration of designation.

Hence, there’s urgent need for restraint and to sheathe the swords in the interest of peace, unity and stability. The two states are joined at the hip and should not be seen fighting each other without clearly defined purpose. Some communal disputes had in the past originated in comparable manner and degenerated to something terrible. Sadly, the grass-root in all the cases ended up bearing the repercussions.

A legislative house cannot go outside its territory to give orders and ultimatum to another government; instead it should espouse diplomacy and internal dispute resolution mechanism.

In addition, it should embrace protocol by mandating its state governor who is the chief executive officer to liaise with his counterpart when there are external matters to deal with. The ultimatum should have been aptly directed to their governor to find out the reasons for such action by a sister state. Then, on the choice of ‘Club Street’ over a place that is already tainted, the state government may have to reconsider its position as the idea may not be a positive verdict in the long run vis-à-vis values and mores. It is akin to endorsing anomalies, oddities and deformities.

Carl Umegboro, Lagos

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18

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2014

POLITICS

Group Ploitics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG Email nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com (080114495324 SMS ONLY)

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

Carrying a Torch for the People Controversial businessman and politician, Prince Tonye Princewill, fields questions on the political attitude, particularly in Rivers State from a team of hard-hitting journalists including Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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hat were you doing before your name became associated with politics in Rivers State in 2006?

I was a Petroleum Engineering graduate of the University of Port Harcourt who went on to become an Imperial College graduate of Mineral Resources Engineering. I then went further, obtained first class qualifications in Project Management and Information Technology. I was in the UK when my father was made king. I started to come to Nigeria more frequently to help build his Kingdom. I used to think that politicians were broke and honest as they are over in the UK, I came close to the Nigerian politician during the infamous Buguma crises in 2003. I quickly realised that politics was too important to be left to politicians and decided that the survival of the kingdom rested on the survival of our politics. Governors called the shots. So, I decided to run for governor.

Shortly after your entry into the political scene you surprisingly became the flag bearer of the then Action Congress of Nigeria and became the major opposition in the state at that time. How was this possible; considering the fact that you were a new entrant to a field and party which had experienced politicians like Chief Sargent Awuse?

It had to be the grace of God. I was driven. I had my why for doing it. So, I overcame all the hows. I carefully selected the vehicle to use. At the time there was the ACN and the ANPP. ACN had Atiku who was being harassed by Obasanjo.

I liked him for that reason. To get the ticket, I had to face Sargeant Awuse, the bulldozer of Rivers politics. That was all the motivation that I needed.

I can be stubborn like that. ANPP looked too easy.

I had a few meetings with their heavyweights but the test in ACN gave me a reason to choose it.

They were stronger. I wanted to be a governor.

Not a candidate. After that, it was God’s grace in full effect. Asiwaju took a liking to me. So did Atiku. Nobody wanted to face Awuse. On the other hand, I was looking forward to it. My people saw my courage, followed me, and the rest is history.

The intrigues of 2007 election in Rivers State can keep us here all day.

After the 2007 general elections, many saw you as a threat to the PDP as your case in the tribunal was steadily gaining momentum, and it seemed like you had a clear shot at the Brick House. But shortly after former Governor Rotimi Amaechi got his Supreme Court victory, you withdrew your case and threw your support behind Amaechi. What prompted this? Did you have the mandate of the opposition to do that?

Let me summarise what happened. Due to the cases in the courts and tribunal after the 2007 elections, somebody in Amaechi’s camp who was very close to me bumped into me in Abuja. There and then we agreed that if I win, they would support me, but if they won, I would support them. To be honest, I couldn’t see how they would win. I saw the most likely outcome as a rerun. But I agreed. To my surprise, Amaechi won at the Supreme Court and was declared Governor. Since my word is my bond, I supported him. But only after talking to Atiku, Asiwaju and my zonal/state party leaders.

Both Atiku and Asiwaju later denied it. But they all gave the green light. What I failed to do was talk to Rivers people. I didn’t realise the support I had out there. My support for Amaechi was unconditional, but some people interpreted it as selling out. Not me. The sell out would have been if I collected the N1.5 billion that was offered me by the PDP to keep my case in the court. They wanted me to throw Amaechi out. They even offered me evidence to show how the election was rigged against me.

I refused. I couldn’t stand them. I got the support of key people before I made the move.

Princewill

In 2014, you accused Governor Amaechi and the then Rivers State Government, of selling the state assets to fund the presidential campaign of President Buhari. What happened to that assumption? Today you are one of Amaechi’s number one allies, does that mean you are in support of the sales of those assets?

We were in opposing camps and the information was brought to my attention. It appeared credible.

Was I to stay mute? No. I went public. But if the

Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria saw nothing and Wike himself set up a panel and couldn’t indict Amaechi, what can I do? Forget the EFCC and the ICPC, people will say they are biased. What about the other two bodies? I have since marked out my source as unreliable and tendered Amaechi an unreserved apology. He also said a few things about me. But we have since buried the hatchet. Our division is what Wike and all those who can’t see the big picture, will want to exploit. It can’t work.

For the sake of Wike’s removal and the progress of our state, we are a team.

The point I am making is every decision I took, was deliberate, well thought out and was made in consultation with my local supporters. That’s why since 2006, my original team has been with me.

What I have done now is to put my personal ambition on one side, so as to help APC win. I don’t want it to appear that I must be governor. If I were desperate to be one, I would not have sacrificed my ambition for Amaechi in 2007. It has never been about me

Between 2006, when you actively joined politics and now, you have moved from the Action Congress of Nigeria to the PDP then to the Labour Party, and now you are currently in the APC, even when you were quoted to have said the Labour Party would be your last bus stop. Is this your style of politics and why should people take you serious?

It was Martin Luther who was famously quoted about being judged by the content of your character, not the colour of your skin. Add to that the colour of your party. Too many Nigerians equate party with content, when actually the content rests within the man, not his party. Refusing to be blackmailed into silence has been my crime and if I’m punished for it, I will gladly serve my time. I left the ACN because I refused to be blackmailed into bringing money from Amaechi who was in the PDP at the time. ACN leaders could not accept how I was working with Amaechi, yet not bringing money.

Attempts to explain to them that I wasn’t that type of politician fell on deaf ears. Even after I arranged a one-on-one meeting with them and Amaechi, the cash demands kept coming. They said if I didn’t comply, they would hand over the party to Abiye Sekibo and Sargeant Awuse. When I got fed up with them, I used the cover of Atiku moving to PDP to do same and left the party for them. As we now know, it did them no good. Their

performance in 2011 was far worse than mine in 2007. I moved to the PDP, but never attended any of their meetings. My move was just a protest.

The next move was in 2015 when Wike and the Jonathans treated other aspirants in PDP like dirt. Telling us to our face that we can damn the consequences. Wike will be the imposed PDP candidate whether we like it or not. Some took the view that no matter the humiliation they will stay with the party. Not me. I am a team player, but you have to respect my people and I or I will not be a part of that team. That is why I moved to the Labour Party, secured the ticket for governor and showed Nigerians what governance could have been. Again, no apologies. Go and watch the debates. It’s online. I made my point.

After the sham elections, I decided to lie low and focus on other things instead of spewing hate and bitterness. It was God’s will. I was not happy with Amaechi and APC for where we had landed as a state, neither was I comfortable with Wike’s path to the Brick House. But I decided to leave everything in His hands. Two years then passed and it soon became very clear that Wike’s government as presently constituted was not only dangerous to our very survival as a state, it was leading us unchallenged to a big precipice. APC members were being killed and the official opposition to Wike was asleep. It was then I asked myself, get involved or do nothing, which one? I decided to get involved. The Labour Party had by then been thoroughly compromised by Wike and the idea of using that platform proved unappealing. I decided to swallow my pride and return to Amaechi to help with the rebuilding of the APC and make it fit for the purpose. Amaechi had been in touch all the while and it was he who made the transition easy.

The point I am making is every decision I took, was deliberate, well thought out and was made in consultation with my local supporters. That’s why since 2006, my original team has been with me. What I have done now is to put my personal ambition on one side, so as to help APC win. I don’t want it to appear that I must be governor.

If I were desperate to be one, I would not have sacrificed my ambition for Amaechi in 2007. It has never been about me.

At a point in your political career, you were a close ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; what happened to that relationship? Now that Atiku and President Buhari have both declared to contest for the seat of the president in 2019; where will your loyalty lie?

Atiku is someone who I have enormous respect for. As politicians go, he has taught me a lot. He is very intelligent. But the company he is keeping does not sit well with me and anywhere you find Wike, look well. You are not likely to find Tonye Princewill. I know the analog politicians when I see them. His PDP entrenched the corruption that we see today. We have a duty not to support them. If they give him the ticket, they will tie Atiku’s hands.

A President is only as effective as his team. Buhari on the other hand means well and is best suited to rid the political space of the traditional cabal that has brought us where we are. I support him.

Apart from the herdsmen and restructuring issues, he has done well and he still has enough time to address those issues. If he does not, we may not win. No matter what is being done, it is clearly not enough. People like me know that Buhari cannot encourage that which will cost him an election.

But people who don’t like him believe that he is directly or indirectly responsible. He has a duty to prove them wrong. Never mind the hypocrisy many of them exhibit by turning a blind eye to the killings that went on before or still go on today in other lands. He should do it for the neutrals and his conscience and let God be the judge.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2014

POLITICS

What Stands Him Out Segun James engages Iboro Otu, an entrepreneur with interest in media, agriculture and construction, who claims to have what it takes to govern Akwa Ibom State

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hat motivates you to contest for the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State?

Over the years, I have witnessed the continuous yearnings of the Akwa Ibom people for a government that is effective, inclusive, equitable, transparent, accountable, futuristic and respects the rule of law. Past governments have always under delivered because they lacked these qualities.

The people of this great state deserve the best and that is what I am offering them.

I am pleased to tell you that I have been working tirelessly with a great and dedicated team with whom I have diligently formulated strategies, policies and plans that will lead Akwa Ibom to a glorious destination.

We will operate a policy where decisions are made transparently in the best public interest, where the right people are provided with the right tools and motivation for the right jobs; where services are provided without favour, where our children’s futures are guaranteed, where our lives are protected, and where responsibility and professionalism are our watch word.

What difference do you think you can make to the development of Akwa Ibom state?

The world is moving into a new era dependent on technology; from solar energy dependence, digital agronomy to the Internet. We must be part of it. Solutions for food, shelter, security and socio-economic transportation are issues many developed countries are tackling comprehensively. These are solutions we can build upon and dominate in our state. The world is in huge demand for skilled and knowledgeable workforce, so it makes sense that we invest in our key priority areas of education, health, ICT and agriculture.

The rewards are evident, considering the abundance of investment capital worldwide. I am willing to lead the great people of Akwa Ibom state to make this our reality. Given the abundance of talents that in this state, my ultimate goal is to make Akwa Ibom the ICT hub of the nation; a state where everything will be technology driven. It is with this urgency that I therefore seek the people’s mandate so that we can effectively implement strategies to guide and strengthen our people economically and socially.

What will be your priority as governor?

We will be prioritising and will invest massively in health care services. Nigerians spend more than 500 billion Naira yearly on medical tourism, meanwhile spread across Akwa Ibom state are numerous abandoned housing projects we can convert into healthcare facilities and research centres across all local government areas. We can begin to lead the world in medical and healthcare services. We will dedicate 15 per cent of capital expenditure in our budget allocation to healthcare services that will reap rewards in just two years.

Education will get another 15 per cent of our capital expenditure in our budget allocation.

Education is the cheapest route to a secure and prosperous future. If anyone is in doubt, a look at how far ignorance has brought us as a people through the last decade is prove.

Agriculture is a priority sector. Our focus is to create employment through agriculture by servicing the global market with goods and commodities, generating billions in the process and rejigging the state’s economy.

Mechanised farming and agro-based processing will leverage on ICT to serve both local and national markets.

The fourth priority area is ICT. We will invest heavily on ICT so that everything in the state from education to health and agriculture will be driven by technology.

This does not mean security, transportation, housing, sports, culture and tourism, and all the other ministries and parastatals are unimportant. We will invest marginally in those too. What we will do is prop up

Otu

the whole system by investing massively in the four key areas mentioned in order to crystallise activities that will underpin the future we all want to see.

Through our four priority areas of ICT, agriculture, health and education, we will achieve our mandate to bring unparalleled economic development and prosperity to our state. That is our dream. That is the way forward.

What is your impression about governance in the state?

A vicious cycle seems to have befallen us since the dawn of democracy in1999. It seems we gather in ethnic groups, zone-pick our leaders, fight to the death – destroying everything in our path until we get our way- then we start again. This unending vicious cycle has not taken us anywhere. It must stop now.

There is a way we can have a responsible,

I often thought to myself, what if Akwa Ibom sons and daughters were given N100 million each, what would they achieve?

What if our team of advisers were made commissioners? What if our resource persons were investors –local and international?

Whenever I imagine the scale of possibilities, I see a way

lasting, efficient and inclusive government that addresses the need of the Akwa Ibom people. There is a way we can provide adequate employment for our youths and individuals of working age. There is a way we can crystallise a vibrant state economy through a combination of incentives and commerce-friendly policies. There is a way we can provide adequate health infrastructure for ourselves and our children unborn. We have developed that way. That is what will make the difference. That is what I offer.

That is what the people need.

What promises and pledges do you now make to the people?

It is with humility before God that I offer my service to the Akwa Ibom people and I pledge to run an effective, transparent and visionary government that is inclusive, community based and underpinned by the desires of the Akwa Ibom people. I also promise to strengthen the socio-economic base of our state by prioritising commerce, cooperatives and development through citizen friendly policies, laws and investments.

I also pledge to revitalise the God-given entrepreneurial and industrial zeal in every Akwa Ibom citizen, providing the necessary tools, skills and orientation necessary to prepare our people as the workforce of the future for our state, country and continent.

What about youth development?

The youths are very important. I have great faith in our youth. I have over the years studied with great enthusiasm the ability of our youth to develop and run series of projects across the length and breadth of our dear state. This belief in our youth led to my founding ALERT Nigeria (Ambassadors for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Responsibility), a youth-oriented development platform spread across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom state. Indeed, the results we have recorded are milestones.

Right now, in a remote village tucked somewhere in every LGA in the state is a young man or woman with the ardent belief in self, working smart and efficiently towards a better life and effectively contributing their

quota to the development of our communities and society.

Our policy on education, health, ICT and agriculture is primarily targeted at the youths.

We intend to invest in the lives and future of the people by launching and implementing our Ibom Future Plan, a holistic, inclusive and comprehensive community led approach to leadership, entrepreneurship and community development, preparing the youths for the challenges and engagement of the 21st century. If we can do this as private citizen, we intend to do more when elected as governor of Akwa Ibom state.

On the challenges ahead, what do you have to say?

I am aware of the challenges ahead; yet, I believe in the resolve of the great people of Akwa Ibom to seek for a better future for themselves and their children. They deserve the best and that is what I am offering, the best; and knowing that together we will mobilise every resource to meet and counter every challenge and difficulty on our path to development and prosperity. We can do it; we will do it.

On the way forward The way forward begins with us seeing beyond the horizon of ethnic divide in mutual respect and brotherliness. I often thought to myself, what if Akwa Ibom sons and daughters were given N100 million each, what would they achieve? What if our team of advisers were made commissioners? What if our resource persons were investors –local and international? Whenever I imagine the scale of possibilities, I see a way. The way doesn’t have to be big, complex and burdensome; it has to be simple and direct.

I have put together a comprehensive masterpiece that will get us to the place of our dream. Agriculture is a priority sector. Our focus is to create employment for our young men and women; we need to understand that we all have to work together to make our future great. It goes beyond meaningless personal wealth, great speeches, and empty promises. It calls for humanity, self-searching and forgiveness.

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FEATURES

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

Towards a Better Life for Widows In commemoration of the International Widows Day, a Nigerian-based Nongovernmental Organisation, Felix King Foundation, launches a campaign in aid of widows, which challenges the merits of a sexist tradition that perpetuates their illtreatment. Mary Nnah writes

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fter the death of their husbands, many women are saddled with contesting the right to safeguard their social and economic relevance. It has been estimated that there are about 258 million widows around the world, half of them living in extreme poverty and are subject to cruelty and violence. Up till now, a lot of widows face several forms of discrimination; while some of them, who were still young when they lost their husbands, face a lifetime of widowhood.

It is also a known fact that once widowed, women in many countries are often confronted with the denial of inheritance and land rights, degrading and life-threatening mourning and burial rites, and other forms of widow abuse.

Some are dispossessed of their homes and physically abused even by members of their own family.

In many societies, especially Africa, a woman’s social status is intimately linked to that of her husband, so when he dies, a woman no longer has a place in society. To regain such social status, widows are expected to marry one of their husband’s male relatives, sometimes unwillingly. For many, the loss of a husband is only the first trauma in an enduring nightmare.

While some widows are stigmatised and seen as a source of shame in some societies, others are thought to be cursed in some cultures and are even associated with witchcraft. Such misconceptions lead to widows being detested and ill-treated.

The children of these women are not left out of the ordeal, as they are time and again affected both emotionally and economically.

Widowed mothers, now supporting their families alone, are forced to withdraw their children from school and get them involved in some forms of trade to support their mothers.

Such ordeals are often seen as right in terms of tradition and culture.

Cross Section of petitioners alongside comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin aka Woli Arole, Dr. Felix King, and popstar, Harrison Tare Okiri aka Harry Song at the widows’ rights movement tagged Zero maltreatment day campaign held in UNILAG, Lagos … recently

International Widows Day To draw global attention to the plight of widows, the United Nations on December 22, 2010 at its 65th General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to establish June 23 of every year as the International Widows Day (IWD). Worldwide, the IWD works to identify widows and their circumstances. This was a step to empower the widows and help them regain their rights, as they have been neglected and violated for so long.

New Campaign June 23 has been an annual, global day of action to raise awareness about the cultural discrimination against widows, but the founder of Felix King Foundation, Dr. Felix King, would rather that the day be declared a “Zero Maltreatment Day” for widows. He believes that if the maltreatment widows suffer is kept on the front burner, a lot of people would have it on their sub-consciousness as they mark the day every year.

Speaking during an event tagged, "Sign Up for June 23 as Zero Maltreatment Day for Widows", held at the Moremi Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos, to press for a Zero Maltreatment Day, King said, “Our tradition is very unfair to womanhood and that is why today, widows face a lot of challenges and this is not just here in Nigeria but there are lots of countries in the world that have the traditional practices that allow women to suffer a lot of human right violations.

“We are trying to put our voices down and say at this stage that tradition is sexist and we are saying no to that. So we are trying to see how we can strike out a balance whereby

King addressing journalists during the event

there would be equality among all human races."

Consequently, the foundation mobilised

Our tradition is very unfair to womanhood and that is why today, widows face a lot of challenges and this is not just here in Nigeria but there are lots of countries in the world that have the traditional practices that allow women to suffer a lot of human right violations

millions of people cross the world for the sake of the widow’s right to living, for them to sign up for the Zero Maltreatment Day for June 23 every year. King expressed the belief that once that is done; the foundation would put it to the UN and ensure that it declares the day as a Zero Maltreatment day.

He said, "When people know that June 23 is a Zero Maltreatment day, subconsciously you tell your families, friends, colleague and community that this day is Zero Maltreatment Day for the widows and gradually the awareness would grow and the evil practiced against women will gradually fade away."

Thus, in a captivating style at Moremi Hall, University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos, support was in no short supply for widows as the King; Pop star, Harrison Tare Okiri popularly known as Harry Song, rapper MI Abaga and comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Woli Arole among others urged the United Nations to declare June 23 a Zero

Maltreatment Day instead.

The year’s global theme was “Developing Resources and Policies to Empower Widows” and so beyond mere celebration of this day as set aside by the UN, the foundation marked the Widows Rights Movement flag off, a movement that was simultaneously held across some parts of the world in Nigeria, Ghana, US, Canada and the UK. According to King, “The widows’ rights movement is a Felix King Foundation’s organised international movement campaigning for the abolishment of widows maltreatment, while advocating for UN declaration of June 23, as a zero maltreatment day for widows in countries with traditional societies where women suffer human rights violations with membership spread across the world.

“We have realised the essence of direct mobilisation and that is why we are here today to get support for what we are doing online and as we are doing this here today,

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

FEATURES

same thing is going on in America, Canada, and other parts of the world as we try to create millions of people’s movement for this course."

Speaking further he said, “In Nigeria today, we have widows who are comfortable and we also have the disadvantaged widows and so our focus is on the disadvantaged widows. Today we have more than 8 million disadvantaged widows living in Nigeria with estimated 24 million children. So it is really huge in Nigeria and we have a lot of communities up till now that still hold unto those terrible traditional practices on widows.”

He explained that he decided to take the campaign to a female hostel at the University of Lagos, because, “This campaign is not really for widows but it is generally using women because every woman is potential widow and every widow is a potential victim. So the idea is when you mobilise these young people, they are going to use their tools to drive the message and also try to create that new orientation and also posers for people to understand that this why we have to be doing this. So what we are doing is a sort of movement where we are going to bring in millions of people so that June 23 can be declared as Zero Maltreatment Day for widows.”

Speaking on how widows can be liberated from the intersecting discrimination, King said to the UN that the road to total freedom and economic empowerment of widows starts with declaration of June 23 as zero maltreatment against widows, adding, “The ultimate goal of the day is to develop resources and policy to empower widows and allow them to have access to education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse, while enables them to create a life for themselves and their children following the death of their husband and ending a cycle of poverty and abuse.”

King who frowned at continuous victimisation of widows said once widowed, women in many countries often confront a denial of inheritance and land rights, degrading and life-threatening mourning and burial rites and other forms of abuse.

Harrison Tare Okiri aka Harry Song, a pop star who performed at the event to support the movement said widow’s maltreatment in Nigeria and Africa at large should be outlawed.

He said, “I vehemently speak against this obnoxious practice in our society and the UN should take a step forward by declaring June 23 Zero Maltreatment Day. The practice is widespread in developing countries and the appropriate authorities should move to ending it because maltreating our women, mother, daughters and sisters amounts to drawing ourselves backwards."

Apart from performances from Harry Song, Wole Arole and MI, University of Lagos undergraduates also took time to demonstrate the ill of widows’ maltreatment in our society through a drama while Ororo Pattaya directed a short 60 second film with voice over by M.I Abaga which would be aired in both Nigeria and international media.

Woli Arole and Harry Song performing at the event

Participants at the event

Past Collaboration Beyond its campaign for a Zero Maltreatment Day, the foundation has since inception been at the forefront of the advocacy for widows not to be maltreated. They have gone a step further to empower them financially. Recently, in Benin City, the foundation handed off business grants and training certificate through its empowerment initiative to widows; all 96 of them. This was done in conjunction with the Edo State House of Assembly.

Not just in Edo, the empowerment initiative of the foundation has been felt in Lagos too as they have empowered vulnerable widows, police

I vehemently speak against this obnoxious practice in our society against widows and the UN should take a step forward by declaring June 23 Zero Maltreatment Day

University of Lagos undegraduates staging a drama to illustrate the ill of widows’ maltreatment

officers’ widows and awarded scholarship to their children, just as they also provided them with food stuffs and beverages.

At the Edo event, King, who presented the financial support to the widows, said that the foundation was set up to give voice to the challenges of widowhood in the communities and provide support for a better life for these widows through empowerment and skills acquisition initiatives. At the presentation, King had recalled that on June 23, 2016 in Lagos, the foundation began its journey of faith anchored on its understanding of the challenges of widowhood in an environment like Nigeria where superstitions and weak laws of inheritance have through the years conspired to make life very tough for these widows.

As a prelude to the Widows in Farming initiative- WIFARM AID programme scheduled for launch later in the year, they provided business support grants and skills acquisition to 96 widows at the ratio of three widows per constituency and the remaining numbers were selected by Edo State Widows Association.

He said, in subjecting widows to hardship and disinheriting them as is the practice in most areas, “We are trapped by the patriarchal dogma and superstition that tend to lower the status and welfare of widows in particular and women as a whole.

I believe, every woman deserves the right to liberty and the right to succeed."

It was with this belief that they introduced the freedom campaign for widows, using the hashtag #Abolishwidowsmaltreatment, with the coin of liberty as a symbol. They appealed to the legislative arms of government in Nigeria to do more in an attempt to end the menace of widows’ ill-treatment.

For the foundation, above and beyond marking the widows day annually, it’s focal objective is to create a platform that gives every widow an opportunity to get back on their feet again.

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IMAGES

L-R: Executive Director, Investments, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd (SIPML), Mr. Oladele Sotubo; Senior Manager, Benefits / Insurance, National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mr. Louis Henshaw; Chief Executive, SIPML, Mr. Eric Fejemisin; and Head, Business Development, SIPML, Mrs. Nike Bajomo; at the 2018 Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers pre-retirement seminar in Lagos DAN UKANA

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

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

L-R: Group Head, Corporate Communications, Access Bank, Amaechi Okobi; Winner, 2018 edition of ART X Prize with Access, Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola; and Founder/Director, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside, during the prize announcement of the 2018 ‘ART X with Access’ winner, in Lagos……recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R:Global Operations Director, Fueltrax, Mr. John Donovan;Chief Executive Officer, Fymak Marine, Mr. Obinna Nwakweri; Sales/ Marketing Manager, Fueltrax, Votoria Cantu; Chairman/CEO, Greenswift Investment Ltd, Mr. Tari Best; and Sales Director, Fueltrax, Mr. James Slaughter, at the electronic fuel monitoring symposium hosted by Fueltrax in Lagos recently

L-R Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Wolfgang Gostsch; Company Secretary, Mrs. Cecilia Madueke; Chairman, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu; and Vice Chairman, Mr. Heinz Stockhausen, during the company annual general meeting in Abuja...Recently

L-R: Former Acting Secretary General, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Owei Lakemfa; Facilitator/ Founder, Leadership Empowerment And Resource Network (L.E.A.R.N), Dame Abimbola Fashola; former Vice Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Mr. Tokunbo Odutola; and former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole, during a one-day conference, with theme: “Not Too Young To Run”, What Next?, organised by L.E.A.R.N in collaboration with Youth African Leaders Initiative (YALI). in Lagos .......recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Chairman of the ocassion, Bode Emmanuel; Chief Mrs Leila Fowler; Author of Mornings with Mama, Mrs. Olufunke Fowler-Amba;and Execcutive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS),Mr. Babatunde Fowler, at the launch of the book Mornings with Mama by Olufunke Fowler-Amba, held in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

Senator, Representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (middle) flanked by beneficiaries of her Empowerment Programme with sewing machines materials, during her 26th edition of Remi Tinubu Town hall meeting and distributions of GCE Forms/Empowerment materials, in Apapa Lagos......recently KOLA OLASUPO

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͳ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 2.83 % 3.58 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

2.50% 9% 9.38%

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

J U N E 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

354.49 % -0.71% -0.98%

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

2.46% 7.59%

EXCHANGE RATE N305.80/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes Pan African Towers Appoints CEO

PROMOTING INVESTMENT

L-R: Executive Director, Sahara Group, Tope Shonubi; Managing Director, West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL), Roland Omoregbe; Chief Executive Officer, Asharami Synergy Plc, Moroti Adedoyin-Adeyinka; Managing Director, Petroleum Products Marketing Company, Umar Isa Ajiya and Manager, Projects Engineering, LNG Investment Management Services of NNPC, Theophilus Aholu, at a ceremony to mark the delivery of 7,000 metric tons of LPG in Lagos...recently

Advertising Regulation Suffers as APCON Council Remains in Limbo Raheem Akingbolu Players in the nation’s marketing communications industry are confused over the federal government’s seeming nonchalant attitude towards the re-constitution of the governing council of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

The council has been without a constituted board for over three years and this is said to be affecting the growth of the multi-billion-naira industry as many advertising practitioners and operators in other sectoral bodies are showing reluctance in fulfilling their professional responsibilities.

Between 2014 and now, the leadership of various sectoral bodies had explored many op-

ADVERTISING portunities, including visiting the state house and the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, to impress it on the federal government on the importance of the council, but nothing has been achieved in this regard.

As the highest regulatory body in the advertising industry, operations are believed to have become weak in the last three years because of lack of constituted authority to sit down and take decisions on sundry issues.

In 2014, the administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, appointed a non-practitioner as APCON Chairman and the appointment

was rejected by stakeholders in the industry as an affront.

President Jonathan, had immediately reversed the appointment and constituted another one headed by the Group CEO of the SO&U, Mr. Udeme Ufot.

Despite the acceptability of the Ufot led council, it was dissolved again alongside other parastatals’ boards in July 2015. As a result of the strategic importance of the council to the effective operation of APCON, pressures were mounted on the Buhari administration to quickly reconstitute the board, but nothing was done until December last year when another set of non-advertising and marketing practitioners were again appointed into the board.

Those appointed then were

Hon. Jacob Sunday (Chairman), Chief Dayo Abatan, Aloysius Okafor, Sani Tulu, Akor Sunday, Ismaila Umar Sifawa and Murtala Adamu Atiku The appointment was said to have run contrary to the APCON law which demands that council members must be fellows of the regulatory body.

The Nigerian Advertising Laws, Rules and Regulations Act 55 of 1988 (as amended), states that a chairman, who should be appointed by the President, shall be a distinguished fellow of the profession.

Immediately the announcement was made, practitioners in the country were quick to condemn, in strong terms, the Continued on page 24

How 5G Will Impact Digital Transformation, Convergence Emma Okonji Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts have tipped 5G as the next technology that would drive digital transformation and convergence, especially in developing countries.

Drawing from the just concluded 5G World 2018 conference in London, where the impact of 5G on global digital transformation was discussed, the President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola advised the Nigerian govern-

ICT ment and the private sector to invest in 5G technology to fast-track development in digital transformation and convergence. According to him, emerging technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) among others, had closed the gap between Information Technology (IT), broadcast and telecommunication, thereby promoting convergence of ICT through digital transformation.

He commended the private

sector operators in Nigeria for their investment in emerging technology solutions that will support ICT convergence and digital transformation.

5G is expected to lead to changes in the way that networks are built and monetised, with the possibility that there will be a longer time before the introduction of the next generation, industry executives at the just concluded 5G World 2018 conference noted.

Commenting on the initiative, the General Manager of Telco NFV at VMware, Shekar Ayyar, said: “5G is the catalyst for lots

of points of convergence.”

According to him, “We see convergence in wireless and wireline, we see convergence in IT and the network edge, core and potentially radio as well. We also see convergence in cloud. What we find interesting about 5G is it is going to be the point in time where at least some subset of operators will become first-class citizens in the cloud economy.

“Different service providers might attach themselves to different parts of this. Some might Continued on page 24

Pan African Towers Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Wole Abu, as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

The appointment became effective from 1 July 2018, according to a statement that was signed by the Business Development Executive of the company.

Prior to his appointment, Abu, a 1990 Chemical Engineering graduate of University of Benin, served as the Vice President Indirect Sales, Airtel Networks Limited (Nigeria), where he held executive management positions over the years as one of the pioneer staff. While in Airtel, he was responsible for roles that focused on growth acceleration, efficiency optimization and reclamation of market leadership.

Abu,analumnusoftheIndianInstituteofManagement,Ahmedabad, IESE Business School Barcelona, has an MBA from the Lagos Business School and was President of the Airtel Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society from 2011-2015.

In his new role, the new CEO will lead Pan African Towers’ overall strategy in Nigeria with responsibility for growing revenue market share; brand & customer development, human resources as well as managing the company’s capital. Commenting on the new appointment, the Board of Pan African Towers was quoted as stating that the appointment of Abu would further consolidate the company’s achievement for future growth as Africa’s most preferred infrastructure sharing operator.

MTN, Others Support Marketing Edge

From all indications, the 2018 edition of the Marketing Edge National Stakeholders Summit and Brands & Advertising Awards of Excellence promises to be a major rendezvous for top brands, as no fewer than 20 Nigerian brands have signed up in support of the event in one capacity or another.

Some of the brands that have already secured a presence at the event include the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Airtel Nigeria, Arla Foods,Trophy (AbInBev), Mamba Energy Drink, MTN, Chivita. Others are Euro Global, New Crystal, AIT, Fidelity, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Plural Media, TVC, Cool FM, Nigeria Info, Wazobia FM and Rock City FM. The event holds tomorrow in Lagos, with the theme,”Marketing Paradigms in the Age of Digitalisation.” The awards holds at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos same day.

The Marketing Edge National Summit which is now in its sixth year, according to the organisers, offers a major engagement window for brands seeking to connect with consumers through a premium event as part of brand equity building.

It also provides an opportunity for them to activate specific campaigns and consumer promos with a view to building affinity and drive growth.

Nokia 3.1 Arrives Nigeria

HMD Global, the promoters of Nokia phones, has announced the release of new Nokia 3.1, which is now available to buy from accredited dealers for N50,000. The promoters explained that the Nokia 3.1 exudes the quality and craftsmanship “you expect from a Nokia smartphone.”

According to them, by joining the Android One family, the Nokia 3.1 is endorsed by Google as a best-in-class experience across hardware and software for its price point.

TheGeneralManager,HMDGlobalWest,EastandCentralAfrica,Mr. Joseph Umunakwe said, “Nokia 3 has been an extremely successful part of the Nokia smartphone line-up in Nigeria. With so many people enjoying it every day, we have had a tremendous amount of positive feedback and a real motivation to refine our fans’ experience even further.” “Like the original, the new Nokia 3.1 blends a careful selection of materials into a perfect harmony with a stunning design. “Its anodised machined metal frame and sculpted glass display deliver the perfect combination for both stand-out looks and comfortable feel in the hand. Subtle but striking metal accents are matched with dual diamond cuts for a premium finish.

“Africa has for long been held back by its quality of leaders, many of whom are partially analogue due to their age and originating circumstances”

Chairman, Zinox Group

Leo-Stan Ekeh

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ADVERTISING REGULATION SUFFERS AS APCON COUNCIL REMAINS IN LIMBO alleged appointment of nonadvertising and marketing practitioners into the council and move ahead to advocate autonomy for APCON. Top practitioners had stated that the exercise was in clear breach of the Act setting up the institution, insisting that government should not be seen to be flouting the constitution of the country.

The federal government was believed to have goofed for the third consecutive times for announcing names of politicians and non-advertising professionals as nominees for the yet to be reconstituted council which had been delayed for over two years now.

Speaking to THISDAY on the development during the week, the President Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, reiterated the need for advertisers to join other stakeholders to clamour for APCON to be properly instituted.

HOW 5G WILL IMPACT DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, CONVERGENCE go all the way up to offering new services to compete with an over-the-top (OTT) technology, others might offer their network as a service, and yet others might offer really just basic connectivity.â&#x20AC;?

Also, the CEO of Affirmed Networks, Hassan Ahmed, noted that while there are differences in strategies, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the underlying thread that binds all these users or operators together is this desire to transformâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The two things that we think underline a big chunk of transformation in general are two very simple facts: networks have to be able to scale very quickly and economically, so we have to change that, and operators need to be able to innovate at a much quicker pace. Those two drivers are changing the way people not only build their networks, but how they manage them and monetise them,â&#x20AC;? Ahmed said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Labour) Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; (Cap Mkt) Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Energy) Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122; (Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă? (Money Market) Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă? (Maritime)

Nigeria Records $32bn Foreign Investment in ICT Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said the country recorded well over $32 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the last 15 years as a result of revolution in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu who disclosed this in Abuja recently, said such investments inflow came in form of infrastructural development that created an ICT backbone that powered various critical sectors of the economy such as banking, e-Commerce, insurance and oil & gas.

However, as part of efforts to overcome economic challenges facing the nation, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said there was the need to leverage more on ICT skills to achieve industrial revolution through emphasis on digital economy.

Speaking at the opening of a one-day conference with the theme; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa-China Cooperation in ICT and Digital Economyâ&#x20AC;? organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in collaboration with the Embassy of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of China in Nigeria and Huawei Technologies Company (Nigeria) Limited, Osinbajo said improving skills and refocusing our priorities would help to reap more benefits from the ICT sector.

The Vice President who was represented by his Special Adviser on ICT, Mr. Lanre Osibona, stated that there was an urgent need to overcome challenges facing the nation towards leveraging ICT to fuel

the fourth industrial revolution that brings about digital economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa must develop its skills. We must know how to scale workforce and move away from business base outsourcing to knowledge base outsourcing.

Data is the future and new hope.

For us as a country we must invest heavily in capturing data,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Shittu also advocated the need for all stakeholders to strengthen the technology and innovation ecosystem by supporting the development of innovation hubs in partnership with the

private sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This conference provides the opportunity to jump-start the critical game-changing steps needed to make Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objectives a reality in digital economy.

Beyond this conference, we must work to strengthen relationships and knowledge management platforms towards building a better and more digital future that we seekâ&#x20AC;?, Shittu said.

Also speaking at the conference, the ambassador of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhon Pingjian, said China would continue to share its development oppor-

tunities with African countries and that Nigeria is â&#x20AC;&#x153;welcome on board the train of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development.â&#x20AC;?

The Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Tank Li, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A robust ICT infrastructure is the bedrock for digital transformation in Nigeria. In order to unleash the digital economy potential in the country, issues of broadband availability and affordability need to be addressed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In order to foster digital transformation of the economy, policies and programs to increase

ICT infrastructure and ensure wide-spread coverage both in urban and rural areas, should be prioritised to make voice and data services available.â&#x20AC;?

Li added that strategic measures of infrastructure sharing, investment-friendly regulatory framework and preferential taxation policies were needed to reduce sites acquisition and broadband deployment costs in order to bring down the cost for users to really encourage application of ICT across the industries and the whole society.

REWARD FOR CUSTOMER LOYALTY

L:R:ChiefMarketingOfficer,SterlingBankPlc,DapoMartins; winnerofabrandnewcarandcustomerofthebank,EzeVigourandExecutiveDirector, Retail & Consumer Banking, Sterling Bank, Grama Narasimhan, during the handover of the car to the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promo winner in Lagos...recently

Ekeh: Technology Will Resolve Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Infrastructural Challenges Emma Okonji Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital entrepreneur, Leo Stan Ekeh, has assured governments in Africa, Nigeria inclusive that the contemporary infrastructural challenges holding the continent back, would be resolved through the adoption of emerging technologies.

Ekeh, who is the chairman of Zinox Group, gave the assurance during a mentorship programme with African/ International students, which held as part of events marking the Africa Summit organised by

Nottingham University in the United Kingdom (UK), recently.

According to the Zinox Chairman, Africa is a continent on the rise, noting that the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population indices makes it the most promising for smart investors to bet on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa is not only a young continent, but it is one with a booming population that is expected to gross over 25 per cent of the entire worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population by 2050. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interestingly, this is a population that is overwhelmingly dominated by youths, thereby

making Africa more important than ever to the global economy and arguably the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most attractive continent. As an investor, now is the right time to move into Africa,â&#x20AC;? Ekeh said.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa has for long been held back by its quality of leaders, many of whom are partially analogue due to their age and originating circumstances. This is not entirely their fault though, as it is caused by a number of factors beyond their direct control. However, things are changing.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a conscious interest in most African countries in the calibre and status of leaders that take office. Also, the current generation of youths have the benefit of better education and global exposure as a result of the internet-mediated world we live in. With the right leadership in place and technology accorded its rightful place as the driver of its future development, Africa may just be the continent for smart investors to bet on.â&#x20AC;?

He therefore urged potential investors looking to come to

Africa to come in with the mindset to cause positive change and empower the youths of the continent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africa needs investors with the right conscience to help change its narrative for good; investors who are interested in growing the economy, in creating employment opportunities and empowering local talents in the various communities and urban centres and not venture capitalists or angel investors who are only keen on milking the continent for profit and short-term gains,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

Again, Senate Moves to Regulate Social Media Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Following the initial attempts by the Senate to regulate the social media, which was met with a stiff resistance from Nigerians, the Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Abdul Fatai Buhari has warned that if the social media is allowed to go unregulated, it could cause doom for the nation, especially now that Nigeria is going into the election year.

Buhari, disclosed this in

Abuja at the 2018 LegislativeStakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity, with the theme; â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Implications of Disruptive Technologies on National Security and Economy,â&#x20AC;? organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime.

To ensure adequate legislative framework to help Nigeria contend with the challenges of global cybercrime, he said the bill to regulate social media activities had scaled through the first reading at the Senate.

Buhari said the committee

had received a lot of petitions from Nigerians, especially those that have fallen victims of false accusation through social media, calling on the National Assembly to regulate it.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I remember in the beginning of this administration, when we were trying to bring in law to regulate the social media, I could remember what we saw at that time was not palatable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But with this new development that everybody is being attacked particularly on false

information. What they do is to look at your face and age, and go to any of the social media platforms and write rubbish against the personalities of credible people and nothing happens.â&#x20AC;?

The Senator added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even in the developed world, they regulate the social media. We need to face the reality that if we allow the law to go lose without regulating the social media, it is going to cause doom, particularly now that the country is approaching its

election year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If developed country like America is crying that their system was hacked during their election, who are we?â&#x20AC;?

He said Nigeria has an existing Cybercrime Law that was signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, but stressed that the law was inadequate to contend with the current challenges, hence, the amendment in the area of social media to regulate its activities, which has passed its first reading.

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Managing Marine Fuel Consumption with Data Analytics The application of technology solutions in marine vessel business, using data analytics is helping marine operators to save operational cost, writes Emma Okonji Technology is evolving by the day and technology solution providers are thinking out of the box to develop solutions that will drive business development across every sector of the economy.

Nautical Control Solution (NCS) is a technology company that is addressing the challenges and needs of marine operators, using electronic fuel management system (EFMS) technology solution like Fuel Trax to monitor fuel data across marine vessels, ensuring operational cost reduction and improve performance of marine operations.

Fuel Trax standardises the acquisition, secure transfer, tracking and analysis of accurate, reliable fleet-wide performance data, thus reducing the challenges of marine vessel owners and charterers like international oil companies (IOCs), to have competitive advantage and ensure fuel security, assets maintenance and attain as much as 37 per cent total annual savings on their operational cost.

Emergence of Fuel Trax solution The Sales Director, NCS, James Slaughter, who was in Nigeria to address the challenges faced by IOCs and marine vessel owners, said Fuel Trax solution was developed to address fuel theft, inaccuracy in measurement and efficiency of fuel consumption in marine business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been in business for the past 15 years, and in the last two and a half years, we have installed over 80 systems in Nigerian vessels with Fuel Trax, providing transparency, technicalities and data for managing fuel consumption in marine vessels. We service international oil companies (IOCs) like ExxonMobil, Total, Chevron among others,â&#x20AC;? Slaughter said.

How the technology solution works The NCS developed the Fuel Trax technology solution and installed it in marine vessels through their local partners. The solution captures information about marine vessel fuel management and sends such information to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s satellite. The servers pick the information from the satellite, generates data from it, and the data is interpreted, using data analytics, and the result is made available to clients who are the IOCs and the vessel owners to help them make better and informed decision about marine fuel management.

According to Slaughter, clients who use the solution log on to NCS website, via a dedicated password and they could see the movement of their fleet and get updates every 15 minutes on the movement and location of the fleet. As the vessels move in the marine waters, they can monitor it and know the location and direction of the vessel. They can see the level of their fuel from piping to the vessel fuel tank.

Data generation Data has become the fastest growing tool more than anything else. Customers need data and analytics data in a digital era to evaluate and make smart business decisions. NCS, through its technology solution, generates data for marine vessel fuel management. The company uses technology in generating and analysing data, which measures the volume of contents passing through the fuel pipes, unlike what was obtainable in the days of old where the flow-metre was mechanically handled in a most tedious way. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we do with our Fuel Trax solution is to provide real-time information for real time business decision making. So, we measure fuel supply, fuel level in the tank and the information is run through our software intelligence on board and the information captured is sent to our own antennae for data transfer and it goes through a satellite network that is reliable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The information goes to our server in the United States and the information is analysed and passed on to our clients. So the client has the view and the information, just as we do and nothing is secret about fuel management in marine operations,â&#x20AC;?

Slaughter said.

Also speaking on how the solution works with generated data, the Sales and Marketing Manager, NCS, Victoria Cantu said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the information we needed, come from our clients like the vessel owners, IOCs and other stakeholders in the marine business. They come to us and they tell us what they need to enhance their business and we provide the technology solution through the data we gathered from them. Everything that we do is through collaborative efforts with them.â&#x20AC;?

Why IOCs need Fuel Trax

According to Slaughter, IOCs need Fuel TraxL solution for multiple reasons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fuel accountability has become the biggest driver in marine vessel business because there is a culture about fuel piracy to the detriment of IOCs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, such scenario is very difficult to control because IOCs do not know what happens to their fuel consumption after supplying the vessel owners with substantial volume of fuel for the marine trip. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, our solution removes all forms of human factors and provides data analytics that helps the IOCs to make better, informed and instant decision to drive their business to profitability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So significant savings take place by just installing and using our Fuel Trax solution in marine vessels. The solution is an added

The solution captures information about marine vessel fuel management, and sends such information to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s satellite.

The servers pick the information from the satellite, generates data from it, and the data is interpreted, using data analytics, and the result is made available to clients who are the IOCs and the vessel owners to help them make better and informed decision about marine fuel management

security and of great benefit to IOC who invest in fuel for their offshore business, he said.

Value of solution For the vessel owners, the solution helps to manage the fuel in their vessels more efficiently to the delight of the IOC that provides the fuel. According to the company, the solution eliminates errors associated with the manual ways in which they hitherto manage fuel efficiency and consumption.

It also helps to analyse information much easier and better since it is real time. For the IOCs, they enjoy the same benefits as the vessel owners. The great benefit that the solution brings on board is transparency in the marine business for both the IOCs and the vessel owners, in terms of quality of marine fuel, supply quantity and usage among others and that information can easily be shared with other stakeholders in the marine business.

Local installation partner Also, the Head of Citracks Telematics Solutions, one of the local partners of NCS in the installation of Fuel Trax, Frances Ogujawa, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Citracks telematics solutions covers installation for land and sea operations. We install tacking solutions for vehicles, trucks and generators on land as well as installation of solution on marine vessels for fuel monitoring. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For marine vessels, we are able to install Fuel Trax solution from NCS that will help vessel owners and IOCs, monitor and manage fuel consumption in marine vessels. The solution reduces the amount of fuel usage, through data gathering and interpretation through data analytics and optimisation.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beauty of the solution is that we are online 24/7 and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realtime assessment that we carry out on vessels and the reports are online realtime. The maximum time for installation of Fuel Trax solution is seven days before commissioning,â&#x20AC;? Ogujawa said.

Customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience To the General Manager, Marine Operations for C&I Leasing, Mr. Wisdom Nwangwu, who

spoke on the value of the solution to vessels owners, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;For every client we work with, as vessel owner, the client provides the fuel and we manage the fuel for the client. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, the solution helps us to manage the fuel in our custody better. It prevents to a large extent, fuel theft in the system and increases efficiency in fuel management, through various configuration of the engines for better fuel efficiency. So we add value to the IOCs when we manage their fuel very well.â&#x20AC;?

Also, Marine Operations Control Advisor, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Muhammed Oyibo said the technology solution act as deterrent to fuel theft and protection of fuel management system on marine vessel operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since we started using the solution, it has ensured accuracy in our marine vessel operations, cost of maintenance pattern has also dropped from what it used to be. Again, the solution has increased fuel efficiency because it puts vessel owners on their toes to use the vessel in a most appropriate way that will enhance fuel efficiency. The solution has also reduced fuel theft in marine operations. It has led us to move from fuel theft era to fuel efficiency management eraâ&#x20AC;?, Oyibo said .

ExxonMobil, he added, has the largest number of fleet size and we are getting full support of the Fuel Trax solution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a need, however, for the NCS to update the features of the solution and add new features that will further enhance monitoring and management of fuel in marine vessel business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need more accurate reporting and further reduction of fuel theft. Using a risk-based approach, we have since discovered that the solution has significantly helped us to reduce fuel theft to the extent that even when there are still some element of fuel theft in the system, such level is highly insignificant to our business because the larger percentage of the fuel consumption is under our control since we have access to monitor and manage fuel consumption on a real time basis,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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Mitchley: Nigeria, Others Must Encourage Technology Innovation, Start-ups The Senior Director in Digital Solutions for Visa, Geraldine Mitchley, who is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, in this interview, spoke on the benefits of the Visa Everywhere Initiative that was recently launched in Africa and how African countries could take advantage of the initiative to boost technology innovation and start-ups.

Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: Given the advancement of technology in developed countries, especially in the digital transaction space, what is your projection of the African digital market in the next two years?

The sub-Saharan Africa Market has already shown great interest in digital solutions with the region leading the penetration of smart phones market and mobile money. There is significant growth in the uptake of smart phones where there is great penetration of the mobile money and gradually e-commerce too. According to the Mobile Money Economy Report in 2017, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile penetration increased from 53 per cent in 2016 to 84 per cent in 2018. With 40 per cent of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-Commerce ventures located in the country, Nigeria is where most of the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-Commerce start-ups are located, followed by South Africa and Kenya who also have developed e-Commerce markets.

It is expected for the market to steadily grow not in large percentage, but grow in interest, flexibility and loyalty in digital solutions. We also expect a pick-up in innovative fintech solutions as market continues to grow.

Today, global economies are leveraging on ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and Internet of Things (IoTs) to drive engagement in the digital space.

Do you think the African market is ripe for this innovation, given the poor state of infrastructure across several African markets?

AI or VR is slowly getting into the African market, but poor infrastructure and internet access remain the biggest challenges within African markets. The African market is ripe for innovation and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen what technology can do to improve lives across different consumer segments across the continent. Data and predictive analytics provides the opportunity to share and empower value added services from our clients to their consumers and more importantly in the moment that they need them.

When It comes to IoT, we are excited about the possibilities as it means digitally connected access to funds can flow between buyers and sellers without the restrictions of the past such as plastics and point of sales and branches or shops. Today in Nigeria we support many such examples such as enabling mobile to mobile transactions, and globally have rolled out many IoT innovations such as enabling the connected home, car, stadium, events, parking and more.

Technology start-up businesses in Nigeria are on the increase but they are faced with challenges such as access to funding, access to investors and mentors, as well as infrastructure challenges. How will the Visa Everywhere Initiative programme help to address these challenges?

Capital is one of the biggest challenges faced by every start-up, as well as the empowerment and skills needed in running a business.

Through the Visa Everywhere Initiative, Visa is committed to rewarding the winner of each brief, the sum of $25,000 and providing them with best practice and access to a network of innovators and industry mentors. Winners of the prize will also be invited to a working meeting with Visa and may be presented with the opportunity to create a prototype. Visa will then select one overall winner to receive an additional $25,000. Other benefits for the winning start-ups also include digital commerce training and expert support from Visa and exposure to the issuer and merchant ecosystem. Start-ups will be exposed to information, be trained and acquire the skills needed to run their business efficiently and profitably.

Innovation is key for technology start-ups.

How will this initiative encourage innovation in the e-commerce space?

The fintech industry in the sub-Sahara Africa region is on the brink of a transformative breakthrough and now is the time to tap into the creative and innovative minds of the start-up community. Visa is calling on fintech start-ups to develop local solutions as per the assigned briefs which were purposely designed

e-Commerce platforms. Safety awareness information also needs to be shared so that shoppers know what steps they need to take in order to protect themselves from fraud. Visa focuses on solutions that would be of benefit to consumers, businesses and governments â&#x20AC;&#x201C;ensuring a holistic it solution for all parties involved. Accessibility to smartphones has also increased the accessibility to internet. Visa is actively working on implementing digital payment solutions that are easily implemented and an example is M-Visa which is a mobile money transfer facility.

What is Visa doing to address the risks associated with electronic transactions in the digital era?

As a payment solutions company part of Visaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core purpose is to ensure transactions are completed simply and safely. The main risk of electronic transaction is the increase of fraud as smarter systems are developed. There is, however, a greater risk in physical cash transaction which can result in robberies and cash is difficult to track. This is the reason Visa continues to invest in digital systems that are both seamless and secure; convenient and safe; and also guarantee that your money goes where it belongs during digital transactions.

Mitchley

with local challenges in mind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and these three briefs include: How can your start-up leverage Visa Developer APIs to either enable smaller merchants to accept payments in-store digitally or Provide a safe and secure solution for online merchants to drive eCommerce and reduce cash on delivery?

How can your company use Visaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s APIs to

Fintechs in Africa are already making waves, not only to bring more convenience to consumers, but also to enable and connect people who would not otherwise have access to ďŹ nancial services or the formal banking system. As a leading global technology company in payment solutions,Visa is interested in ďŹ nding these solutions and to also empower and work in partnership with innovators who are meeting Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banking and payment challenges

leverage mass reach partner platforms like Facebook to help businesses operating in fast-paced consumer centric environments improve cash flow and receive payments?

How can your start-up leverage technology to provide services that are functional for illiterate customers to provide them with secure transaction experiences that build and enhance their confidence in the banking system? Each participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; entry will be valid once they have taken on one of the briefs and actively innovated solutions to that specific brief.

Has the initiative been deployed in other regions? If yes, how successful is it in those regions and if no, what are the plans to launch the initiative in several regions of the world?

Yes, the initiative was launched for the first time three years ago and has been implemented in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Since its inception in 2015 the initiative has awarded over $1 million and mentorship to 36 winners selected from over 130 finalists in over 40 countries in those different regions.

Over all, more than 2100 start-ups globally have participated in the programme.

E-commerce is an emerging market in Nigeria and it is gradually changing the perception of buyers from shopping in physical markets to online shopping.

As a company investing in technology how will Visa assist to further drive ecommerce business in Nigeria?

Part of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-Commerce market challenges are the consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lack of trust in online shopping platforms and internet accessibility challenges. Consumer trust can be learned through empowering customers with the knowledge to allow them to understand the systems and methods they use when using

What in your view could be responsible for the growth in electronic transactions globally and how can the trend be sustained in the Nigerian market?

According to the EIU report, Nigeria is the most promising country in the region in terms of it is business environment opportunity potential.

Smartphones are a gateway to the internet for Africa, especially in Nigeria, where the mobile penetration is estimated to rise from 103 per 100 in 2016 to 122 per 100 in 2021. The Nigerian market is already part of the leading mobile money markets in sub-Saharan Africa and there is an even greater opportunity to harness the interest in the market by empowering them with more localised innovations. The trend can be sustained through the development of solutions that speak directly to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electronic transaction habits and patterns, and for developers to solve for local payments challenges using the most available platforms such as mobile devices and electronics.

With the exponential growth in global adoption of digital payments, what is Visa doing to protect online transactions from hacking?

VISA is constantly working to simplifying payment process and ensuring both the merchants and consumers have a pleasant shopping experience that is safe for everyone too. According to Visaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent research, Cashless Cities, realising the benefits of digital payments, consumers across the 100 cities could achieve nearly $28 billion per year in estimated direct net benefits from cashless transactions. This impact would be derived from factors including up to 3.2 billion hours in time savings conducting banking, retail and transit transactions, in addition to a reduction in cash-related crime Visa also has the VISA checkout which is an online payments feature that makes online shopping more convenient and safer. This e-Commerce allows shoppers at checkout, to enter their username and password to make their online shopping experiences easier with a single account that can be used across all devices.

This reduces chances of criminals copying the password while one types it into key board and personal devices will be ready for purchase all the time. This is an example of one of concepts aimed making digital payment safe and convenient for all.

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Samsung Unveils Galaxy J4, J6, A6+ Smartphones Samsung Electronics has launched the latest additions to its Galaxy J family, Galaxy J4 and J6, as well as the Galaxy A6+ smartphones in Nigeria.

The devices, which were formally unveiled in Lagos recently, are the J-series, a midrange smartphone series and the A6+ a high-end category of smartphone.

The Managing Director of Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Jingak Chung, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Galaxy J series smartphones blend materials with the most advanced Samsung technology. They have bright and vivid cameras, setting a new industry standard for design, craftsmanship and performance for smartphones in the mid-range category, and redefining the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature Galaxy J series.â&#x20AC;?

Business Leader, Information Technology and Mobile for Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Olumide Ojo, described the Galaxy J4, J6, and A6+ as a testament to Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership and innovation in the Smartphone market and its commitment to developing best-in-class products to meet the ever-changing needs of its consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the introduction of the Galaxy J4 and J6, we took the consumer feedback on our preceding Galaxy J models and

made thoughtful and impactful improvements offering consumers a seamless convergence of style and performance for their everyday lifestyles. Both devices come with 32GB internal storage space; they are powered by 3000mAh battery, and run on the latest Android operating system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Android Oreo. With the Ultra Data Saving (UDS) feature, users can surf the internet longer whilst saving data, helping them stay connected for longer periods,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The Galaxy J series are imbued with Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy for high-performing cameras with an advanced camera system that generates brighter and clearer images.

Whilst the 13-megapixel rearfacing cameras on both Galaxy J4 and J6 enables users take amazing photos; the front-facing 5-megapixel camera on J4 and 8-megapixel on J6 let you take more stunning selfies.

With dual messenger features, users can separate their work messages and personal chats with ease. Users can now connect to two different chat accounts on their favorite messenger apps. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to install and manage the second account from the Settings menu.

Samsung Galaxy J4, J6, and A6+ are designed to make consumer experience more enjoyable and productive.

Ě&#x201C;

NCS Harps on Technology to Achieve Devt Emma Okonji The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has stressed the need for Nigerians to embrace technology that would drive sustainable development in the country.

President of NCS, Prof.

Shola Aderounmu, who made the call in Lagos while addressing the media on the 27th national conference of the computer society, billed to hold from July 17th to 19th in Ibadan, Oyo State, said NCS would use the conference to advocate on the need for Nigerians, especially government, to invest in technology that would enable the country achieve sustainable development.

With the right technology, Nigeria can eradicate poverty in the country and

empower its citizens to do more, Aderounmu said.

According to him, majority of Nigerians, including governments at various levels were of the view that the country lacks enough job opportunities for its growing population.

He, however, disagreed with such widely perceived notion, insisting that there are lots of jobs that people could engage themselves with, especially technology related jobs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What the country needs is a pool of trained personnel that will do the jobs. There is a wide gap between the academia and the industry and we are working towards closing such gap such that the school system should be able to train students in line with industry needs, so that

as soon as students graduate from school, they will be able to fit in with industry requirements,â&#x20AC;? Aderounmu said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These and other issues will be discussed at the conference and possible solutions proffered on how to create jobs for sustainable development, using the right technologies,â&#x20AC;? Aderounmu added.

With the conference theme: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital Inclusion: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategies,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; dignitaries are expected to grace the event from government, private and educational sectors, as well as from the international and global information technology (IT) environment, to proffer solutions to Nigerian challenges, the NCS president said.

According to Aderounmu, the conference would focus on important issues related to the theme and sub themes such as: Poverty Eradication and Job Creation in the rural Economy; Internet and Broadband for All; e-agriculture, e-health, e-education for inclusion. Others are: Software and Local Content; Digital Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; Tech Startup, SME and Youth Enterpreneurship; E-Voting and Election Management, among others.

Chairman, Education and Manpower Committee, NCS, Mr. Rogba Adeoye said through the conference, society and its members would again seize the initiative and play a major role in setting the national digital inclusion agenda.

InďŹ nix Unveils Note 5 Smartphone Powered by Android One Infinix Mobility Limited has launched another premium mobile phone brand, the Note 5 smartphone, designed to bring cutting-edge technology to young generations.

Tagged:â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond Intelligentâ&#x20AC;? the smartphone, which operates on Android One from Google, was launched recently in Lagos and witnessed by an impressive turnout of guests, mainly youth.

With Infinix Mobility joining the Android One programme, the Note 5 will bring young people together and empower them to become trendsetters.

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond Intelligentâ&#x20AC;?

Note 5 smartphone is equipped with an amazing display, which provides users with superb viewing and entertainment experience with an Infinity 6.0â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;FHD screen and an 18:9 screen ratio. The edge-to-edge screen also makes the device look stunning, both from a design and a technological perspective.

The Note 5 device features a perfect 16MP low-light front camera, which allows selfie lovers to take professional selfies even in low light. As for the rear camera, it is supported by a 12MP resolution. Its longlasting battery will provide 3 days on average usage with a 4500mAh battery, built with a 3A Fast Charge, which will keep users fully functional throughout the day.

Managing Director, Trans-

sion, the parent body of Infinix Mobility, Mr. Chidi Okonwo, said the smart phone came with unique features that enables users to do more with it, with better picture quality and latest selfie technology that is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

Infinix Mobility Country Manager, Jay Liu, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Targeting vibrant trendsetters, and young professionals, Infinix Note 5 comes with a state of the art software experience designed by Google, combined with great hardware from Infinix. We empower our users to go beyond the limit with our newest breakthrough technology. All while they enjoy an intelligent lifestyle through the fusion of technology and stylishness. In partnership with Google on Android One, we will provide the young generations with impeccable mobile experience and revolutionise their mobile life with Note 5.â&#x20AC;?

The Note 5 was also launched in conjunction with telecommunication giants, MTN. According to MTN Senior Manager for Data and Services, Biodun Ajayi, the collaboration would enable MTN 1GB free data and up to 100 per cent data bonus on every recharge for the next six months, with every purchase of the Note 5 on the MTN network from any authorised retail shop.

STAKEHOLDERSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ENGAGEMENT

L-R:SenatorLekanMustapha;MinisterCommunicationsandChairmanUniversalServiceProvisionFund(USPF), AdebayoShittu;Chairman,Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Vice Chairman, USPF, Olabiyi Durojaiye; Head, Strategy and Corporate Performance, USPF, Mr. Kelechi Nwankwo and Rector, Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ogun State, Prof. Jumoke Bilesanimi-Awoderu, during the South-west zone stakeholders engagement workshop on information and communications technology utilisation and sustainability in Ogun State...recently

Inlaks Bags ISO CertiďŹ cations Inlaks Computers Limited has been awarded the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 20000:2011 Certifications by the Professional Examination Certification Board (PECB), a Canadian organisation in audit management systems and processes.

These certifications, according to the firm, are the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest accreditations for Quality Management System (QMS) and Information Technology Service Management (ITSM).

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held recently in Lagos, the Director, Infrastructure Business at Inlaks, Tope Dare described the two international certifications as proof of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to provide and deliver the best products and services in the industry.

According to Dare, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quality takes hours, days, months and in some cases years of defining and redefining requirements,

mapping value chains, implementing processes, assessing outcomes and returning to the activity definition phase. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Quality is a continuous process, and delivering quality and increasing the speed, costefficiency, and effectiveness of IT services to our customers is our number one priority at Inlaks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our ISO 20000:2011 certification ensures we maintain our focus to serve our customers better and deliver on our promises, while the ISO 9001:2015 enables our employees to be more productive and reduces risk by enforcing compliance with regulations.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inlaks takes the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 20000:2011 standards very seriously and in enforcing the requirements within our processes, we observed a strong affinity between our organisational values and the requirements set out in the

two standards. Achieving both certifications is a testament to our values of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Excellence and Professionalism.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153; The ISO standard challenges us not only to establish a vision that inspires and motivates our employees but also allows our employees to develop in ways that support the furtherance of the objectives of the organisation in a creative, innovative and sustainable way,â&#x20AC;? Dare added.

According to him, customers have become more discerning of their wants and needs and as such demand more from service providers to meet those requirements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The voice of the customer takes centre stage in our value system and culture.

Therefore, our approach to quality and information technology services management is both deliberate and

founded on globally accepted standards and best practice.

We take great pride in the products and services we consistently deliver to our customers hence, we are very pleased to achieve these internationally recognised standards in recognition of our quality management system and Information Technology Services Management processes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In receiving these certifications from the PECB, we assure our customers that they are dealing with a company that prioritises its customers, and is committed to world-class service delivery,â&#x20AC;? Dare further said.

Inlaks was awarded the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 20000:2011 Certifications after undergoing series of intense implementation exercises and audit processes, which began in April 2017.

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Succour as LASAA Reduces Billboard Rates With the magnanimity of the Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA), to reduce billboard rates as well as agreeing to waivers and discounts on outstanding debts owed by practitioners, better days ahead for out-of-home practitioners. Raheem Akingbolu reports Outdoor practitioners, under the auspices of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, (OAAN) and other players in the out-of-home sub sector of the advertising industry, crossed a major hurdle recently when the Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency (LASAA), approved reduction on vacant board policy percentage from 100 per cent to 20 per cent.

This was said to be the highest of its kind since almost twelve years of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence.

The decision is in line with the determination of the Akinwumi Ambode led administration in Lagos State to create an enabling atmosphere for businesses in various sectors of the economy.

The process began in April when the leadership of LASAA, in collaboration with OAAN President, Tunde Adedoyin, initiated and held a crucial stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting, with the aim of resolving knotty issues between the agency and the association.

At the end, it was discovered that the meeting was not just to talk, but to act as well. At the end of the meeting, they both agreed to setting up of a 15-member committee to resolve their differences and chart a new way forward. The committee met on 12th and 17th of April respectively and agreed on various issues, which included media buyers, rate review and vacant board policy. Others were 12.5 per cent provision in section 39(1) of the Environment Management and Protection Law and outdoor structures general wellbeing issues.

The olive branch However, in a genuine move on the part of LASAA to appease OAAN members and other operators, the leadership of the government agency had offered its olive branch by looking into the recommendations of the committee.

According to a member of the committee, who spoke to THISDAY on conditions of anonymity, the agency, in line with the Ambodeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration stance to create an appealing atmosphere for investors in Lagos State, agreed to reduce vacant board policy percentage from 100 per cent, to 20 per cent. This was said to be the highest of its kind since almost 12 years of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence, which is in tandem with its enabling laws, to take decision capable of moving the sector forward.

The member also revealed that the agency agreed to the 35 per cent downward review of L.E.D structures and gentries as well as 30 per cent on the other structures rate reductions. It was also disclosed that the agency agreed to several waivers and discounts on outstanding debts owed by many practitioners for previous years.

The committee member stated further that all the aforementioned had been passed to OAAN and the agency, in tandem with the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy of constructive engagements with investors.

Meanwhile, a source within the agency also revealed that LASAA had extended its hand of fellowship to Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, (MIPAN) and other stakeholders in the outdoor industry to deepen businesses and collaborations.

OAAN asks for moreâ&#x20AC;Ś In what looked like a subtle pressure on the agency to do more, OAAN was said to have written a letter to LASAA, seeking clarification on some areas covered in the new Santa Claus as agreed upon by the committee, which comprised representatives from both sides.

In a letter dated May 16, 2018, and received

by LASAA on May 17, 2018, in respect of the stakeholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting, OAAN referred to its letter of April 25 in pursuant to the impression that definite agreements were reached on all the issues referred to, in the 15-man committee set up by LASAA. In the letter, the association sought clarification on some issues, especially as it concerns the import of the phrases â&#x20AC;&#x153;designated or redesignated dateâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;20 per cent of annual permit fee on billboardâ&#x20AC;? as stated in the letter.

Through the letter, the association also pressed for explanation of the significance of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;annual permit

fee on billboardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in relation to the issues discussed at the meeting.

In a telephone conversation with THISDAY, OAAN Secretary General, Mr. Femi Ogala, though admitted that LASAA had made some reductions, he however urged the agency to do more as well as work in accordance with the law that established LASAA to enhance better operation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The law that established LASAA is explicit and I think the industry will be better for it if followed accordingly. Yes, LASAA made some reductions but they are very minimal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is our challenge and that is why we will continue to clamour for more friendly rates and waiversâ&#x20AC;?

LASAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responseâ&#x20AC;Ś In a letter dated May 21, 2018, with reference no: LASAA/L/18/05/05, which was sent to OAAN and copied the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Lagos, State, LASAA acknowledged the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter and stated that the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter dated 3rd May, 2018, was explicit and straightforward. It further stated that it reflected the agreement reached by the 15 man committee during its meetings of 12th and 17th

Issues to be addressed by the committee include media buyers, agency rate review, vacant board discount policy; 12.5 percent in the harmonised law, health and safety concerns, structural stability, among others

April respectively.

LASAA stated that it attached with the letter, OAANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response to the committee meetingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; consensus and also the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response, which it claimed give illumination to the ostrich between the association and the agency.

In the letter, LASAA reminded the association that the idea of setting up committee was at the behest of the president of OAAN and supported by the agency with its insistence that the names of the committee members should immediately be announced and the committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report submitted within one week.

Issues to be addressed by the committee include media buyers, agency rate review, vacant board discount policy; 12.5 percent in the harmonised law, health and safety concerns, structural stability, among others.

LASAA also used its letter to explain to practitioners that the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rate has to do with the ability to judge billboards based on their worth, location and size amongst other.

According to LASAA, â&#x20AC;&#x153;On the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s questioning of the power of the agency to revoke structures, we clearly view such as unnecessary and diversionary in a state in which His Excellence has always upheld the primary of the Rule of Law. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The conditions under which outdoor structures can be revoked have been well spelt out and should not be compromised under the guise of â&#x20AC;&#x153;industry relationshipâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Industry relationship from the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nigeria factorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perspective is not sufficient a reason to flout provisions of a duly enacted law of a state House of Assembly which might compromise the regulatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrity if care is not taken. So, the power of the agency, as an objective and focused regulator, should not be sacrificed on the altar of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;industry relationshipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,â&#x20AC;? the letter stated.

LASAA also pointed out through the letter that the environment aesthetic of Lagos State was of utmost importance to government and that it was non-negotiable, adding that any structure not meeting its approval essence or had become perilous to public safety shall have its approval revoke and also be removed where necessary.

The Agency, in accordance with its enabling

laws, said it still reserves the power of revocation at its discretion.

Appraisal Beyond the relief the new development will bring to the outdoor industry, it is believed in some quarters that LASAA has simply demonstrated the ideals of the Ambode led administration. To this end, OAAN members and other stakeholders in the industry have been urged to work with the regulatory body for effective outdoor practice.

Meanwhile, since the day the committee was inaugurated, not a few observers have commended the move, in the hope that it would create a symbiotic relationship for both the regulator and the practitioners.

A Lagos based Lawyer, Mr. Suleiman Salawu, while commenting on the development commended Lagos State Government for being a listening government. He also called on both OAAN and LASAA to see the development as a launch pad for better future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The recent development that led to reduction of billboard rates in the outdoor corridor has simply laid credence to the fact that the current administration in Lagos responds to public yearning. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From what has happened, we have seen stakeholder engagement, we have seen collaboration, we have seen processes and we have seen their positive results. I have no doubt that this will be the beginning of greater days and business boom for both the operators and the regulator,â&#x20AC;? Salawu said.

Also speaking on the development, the Deputy Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, Dr. Jide Johnson, said the reduction will boost business in the outdoor sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Considering the cat and mouse relationship between the agency and LASAA in the years past, the new Managing Director, Mobolaji Sanusi and his team have simply broken a new record by responding positively to the demands of the practitioners. All over the world, business is good when it is carried out in a friendly environment and this appears to be a step towards achieving that,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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The Making of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Brand Africa 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Raheem Akingbolu reviews the ranking of various brands fromAfrica by a SouthAfricanbased Brand Leadership Movement in collaboration with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and reckons that brands from the continent have roles to play in building Africa The popular saying that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rome wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t built in a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aptly captures the process of brand building in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market. From a well thought brand identity that will help in creating a strong brand image to the brand consolidation, a lot of work is required to enhance brand equity using advertising campaigns and promotional strategies.

However, many experts have argued that creating a strong brand may not be as tough as sustaining the tempo, considering the fact that competitions are strategising every seconds to upstage the market leader. To this end, it is believed that brand managers who want their brands to remain relevant should not allow complacency to set in anytime.

This is why handlers of top brands that are ranked in the 2018 edition of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Brand Africa 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, should not relent but rather aspire to push their respective brands beyond the shore of the continent. Again, the way the equity of some brands suddenly fall shows that brand building requires consistent refreshment and stimulation.

Most admired African brand For Nigerians and other Africans that believe in African brands, the cheering news from the 2018 report on the ranking was the announcement of the Dangote Group, from Nigeria as the most admired African brand. The brand was rated as the most admired indigenous brand ahead the telecommunication giant, MTN, by consumers.

The Brand Africa 100 is a brainchild of the South African based Brand Leadership Movement in collaboration with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition, announced in Johannesburg, South Africa is the sixth edition of the awards.

With this development, the Dangote brand, which is also the leading brand in Nigeria, has thus come atop in the fresh ranking of 100 best brands in Africa.

The Brand Africa 100â&#x20AC;? was established in 2010, in recognition of the growth of African brands, which were beginning to challenge global brands in Africa or lead global brands in new categories such as telecommunications.

According to the organisers, the aim of Brand Africa is to identify, acknowledge and promote African and global brands that are catalysts for Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth, reputation and value.

Describing the brand, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dangoteâ&#x20AC;?, The Brand Africa revealed that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigerian industrial brand Dangote is the number one African brand recalled when consumers are prompted about the continent (Africa) of origin while the South African tele-communications brand MTN is the number one African brand spontaneously recalled irrespective of continent of origin.

The United States sports and fitness brand, Nike, is the overall brand in Africa spontaneously recalled by consumers.

The Brand Africa 100 ranking is based on a survey among consumers who are between 18 years and older, conducted in 23 countries across Africa. The countries, representing all African economic regions, collectively account for 75 per cent of the population and the 74 per cent of the GDP of Africa.

Response Meanwhile, the spin doctors behind the Dangote brand, has expressed satisfaction in the announcement, pointing out that it came as a result of relentless effort to build a strong brand that can compete globally.

The Chief Corporate Communication Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, said the management was not surprised at the ranking because the company has continuously deepened and delivered on its core values. The focus of the company, according to him, is to be a world-class enterprise that is passionate about the quality of life of the people and giving high returns to stakeholders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this philosophy is driven by values, which include customer service, entrepreneurship, excellence and leadership. In any of our subsidiaries, the focus is to provide local, value-added products and services that meet the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;basic needsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the populace. Through the construction and operation of large scale

manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa, the Group is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment, prevent capital flight and provide locally produced goods for the people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The expansion of our business especially the Cement which has operations in 14 African countries including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, among others has added to popularity of our company and the products,â&#x20AC;? Chiejina stated.

Importance of the award Through this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the exercise, it has been established that African brands rose slightly to account for 17 per cent of the Top 100 brands in Africa, which indicates that non-African brands retained their firm position in Africa with 83 per cent share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa. Brands from Europe lead the table with 40 per cent, North America at 24 per cent and Asia 19 per cent. It was also announced that West Africa was 6 per cent, with only Nigerian brands and Southern Africa per cent.

The Top 100 is dominated by technology and electronic brands (29 per cent), consumer (non-cyclical) (19 per cent), apparel (15 per cent), automobile (8 per cent), food (7 per cent) and sports & fitness (5 per cent) categories are the top categories. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overall, the 2017/18 Brand Africa 100 list, which started out with over 15,500 brand mentions covering over 2,200 admired brands, illustrates a very diversified portfolio of categories and brands in Africa.

The founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership, Thebe Ikalafeng, captured

These rankings are an important metric of the progress Africa is making in creating home-grown world-class brands that are changing the narrative on African competitiveness, image and reputation and contributing to its socio-economic transformation

it well when he stated that African brands have an important role in helping to build the African brand. According to him, these rankings are an important metric of the progress Africa is making in creating home-grown world-class brands that are changing the narrative on African competiveness, image and reputation and contributing to its socio-economic transformation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is an incredible year-on-year consistency, with 60 per cent of the Top 10 brands common among the Top 10 Most Admired African Brands and Most Admired Brands in Africa, led

by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dangote and Glo, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MTN and Shoprite, Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tusker and Ethiopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anbessa. Out of the 16 African brands in Top 100 in 2016/17, 6 exited and 7 entered the Top 100 in 2017/18. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The major change on the list is the status of the Safaricom/Mpesa brand. Because Vodacom/Vodafone recently became majority owner of the business, in the 2017/18 tables the Safaricom/Mpesa brand was consolidated into the Vodacom/Vodafone brand. Singled out, the Safaricom/Mpesa brand ranked 27, higher than the Vodacom/Vodafone brand, which is at #31.

Collectively, the Vodacom/Vodafone/Safaricom brand is now at #17â&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;&#x153;Safaricom/Mpesa remains a highly recalled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Africanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brand among Financial Services and the Most Admired Brands in Africa.

Zimbabweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Econet made the most spectacular first time entry into the Top 100 at #40. After a long stay on the list despite its innumerable challenges, BlackBerry finally fell off the list as the brand exited the consumer markets. On the other hand, Etisalat, which dropped 31 spots, remains on the list of the Top 100 despite exiting Africa in 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The highest gains are dominated by apparel and lifestyle sport brands Ralph Lauren (+48), Versace (+41) and a resurgent Reebok (+43).

The sports category, led by Nike (#1), remains a strong performer, due to strategic repositioning or expansion in their positioning towards lifestyle and high profile endorsements and partnerships which have freshened and broadened the brandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; appeal, particularly to youthful and young consumers.â&#x20AC;?

Another instructive discovery in the exercise is that the Brand Africa 100 list is still dominated by non-African brands in categories that are largely driven by and require long-term investment, research and access to skills and resources â&#x20AC;&#x201D; electronics and telecommunication (30%), consumer, non-cyclical (19%), apparel (15%),automobile (8%), food (7%), sports and fitness (5%).

Future of African brands Among other things, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report of the ranking has further pointed out that there is

no question that Africans are invested in and admire brands, with a keen consumption of global brands. Throughout its history, the Brand Africa 100 survey is believed to have elicited some interesting insights on brands in the continent.

For instance, it disclosed that when prompted to identify their Most Admired African Brand, some responses listed generic product or category identities rather than the trading brands, with textile â&#x20AC;&#x153;brandsâ&#x20AC;? such as kente(Ghana), kitenge (East and Southern Africa), capulana(Mozambique) and wax, being mentioned. In other instances, people who have a large African following - such as Nelson Mandela or the charismatic Malawiarpastor Major 1 Bushiri - as well as sports teams such a former CAP champions, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Orlando Pirates and English giant Chelsea were also said to have been mentioned as Most Admired African Brands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This indicates a varying conception of what is a brand by market, depending on exposure and level of development. In much of Africa, the brand follows the function unless a brand owns the category and has established itself as a generic or is ubiquitous in its category, such as Coca Cola (#4). Toyota (#8), Samsung (#2) and Nike (#1), which have largely retained their positions.

Other respondents merely stated that their most admired brand is aucuneâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D; any brand (as long as it works),â&#x20AC;? the report stated.

However, with the report, it is obvious that Africa is on the rebound. Already, the World Bank has disclosed that sub Saharan Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth will reach 3.1 per cent in 2018 and 3.6 per cent in 2019â&#x20AC;&#x201D;20.

This, while still below pre-crisis growth levels, is encouraging and premised on expectations of rising commodity prices and sustained reforms.

The 2017â&#x20AC;&#x201D;18 Brand Africa 100 report reflects a steady African brands story with African brands holding a 17% share of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands in Africa consistent with previous years. In terms of the other regions, Europe (40%) declined by 5% and North America (24%) declined by 8%, while Asia (19%) grew by 12 per cent.

In all this, the lesson to learn by brand managers in Africa is that consistency and good value propositions are necessary to build a strong brand. This is necessary considering the process embarked upon by the organisers, who stated that in overall, the unprompted and prompted surveys of the Most Admired Brands in Africa and Most Admired African Brands respectively reveal an incredible consistency, with 60% of the top two brands being present in both tables, led by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dangote and Gb, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MTN and Shoprite, Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tusker and Ethiopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anbessa.

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Nicholas: Emerging Technologies Will Enhance Global Business Transformation The General Manager, Dell EMC West Africa, Mr. Travers Nicholas, in this interview with Emma Okonji, spoke about how the adoption of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning will transform businesses How can technology companies operating in Nigeria take advantage of the global IT transformation?

The world is transforming and organisations, be it private or public or government owned, must leverage the best of technologies to improve on their businesses. Every organisation is looking at new ways they can use technology to enhance their businesses. Traditional banks have a long legacy to keep up with regulations and all the rules imposed on them by the financial regulation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). But with the emergence of financial technology (FinTech) players, they are disrupting the traditional banks.

And Nigerian banks is an interesting case in this regards because banks in Nigeria have this long standing legacy and they are beginning to get out of the curve to adopt to new technology solutions created by FinTech, to drive their financial businesses. So Dell Technology works with most of the banks in the county as well as other organisations to bring the global technology transformation to Nigeria. We are providing them with modern technology solutions to address the new and emerging trends. We help banks and other organisations to lay the foundation of IT that they need to grow and remain competitive in the industry.

At the Dell Technology Would 2018, over 14,000 people participated from different countries of the world including Nigeria. Many of the organisations we are working with including those from Nigeria, are already adopting new technology like private cloud that will help them have better IT capability. We have customers already doing this in Nigeria and many are in the middle of the transformation process and some are just starting the journey. Technology is evolving, and once an organisation reaches its milestone, there is always another milestone to achieve.

What is your view on building modern application on old legacy infrastructure, which some organisations currently indulge in?

The truth is that it is not advisable to build modern technology on old legacy infrastructure.

Organisations need modern infrastructure to build modern application. They need a modern infrastructure that has all the attributes of a modern data centre. Things like converged infrastructure or flash technology, scale-up capability, cloud enabled with high level security, are needed for the modern infrastructure that we are talking about.

Technology is good but it becomes unless if it does not enhance businesses. So once organisations get the modern technology and put it in place on a technical foundation, they must use the technology to do something we call automation.

The technology solution will do the automation processes and speed up development. This will of course reduce the time it takes to deliver new values. Customers want technology solutions that will offer them better business opportunities. So organisations and technology service providers should be able to adopt new technologies that the customers are fast looking for.

New solutions help organistions to modernise the technology, automate it and transform the business and that is what Dell Technology is bringing to its customers globally and locally.

So much has said about ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR) and Machine Learning. Do you see Nigerian businesses taking advantage of these new technologies considering the poor state of infrastructure in the country?

These new technologies you mentioned are some of the hot areas of technology innovation, of which broadband infrastructure is key to the adoption of these technologies. In discussing the infrastructure level and strength in Nigeria, we must be reminded that Nigeria has its own unique challenge when it comes to infrastructure development. For example, there are lots of fibre optic connectivity coming into the county with

from marine plastics.

Start-ups and SMEs are engines of growth of any nation. What kind of solution does Dell Technology has for small businesses in Nigeria?

Dell Technology has shown commitment in growing small business in Nigeria and in other regions were we operate. We ensure that we support our channel partners and encourage their growth.

In Nigeria, over 100 per cent of our business is transacted through our channel partners. So we have a network of business partners in Nigeria that we provide various solutions to and to our end user customers and some of these solutions are targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Some are also tailored for large enterprises, while some of the solutions are targeted at certain verticals like the financial sector, oil and gas sector among others. We understand that the Nigerian business environment has huge chunk of small businesses playing in various sectors and these businesses need technology solutions to drive them and make them competitive. We support our partners, help them to develop the knowledge that they need to grow their business, and the skills they need. We organise free training for our channel partners and most of them are SMEs. Nicholas

lots of bandwidth that are not fully utilised from the different sub-marine cables that have berthed at the sea shores of the country. I think the main challenge that Nigeria has in terms of broadband infrastructure, is about laying the fibre across the country to give access to broadband in the hinterlands where broadband capacities are needed the most. So, a lot of the capacities are lying low at the shores of the country unutilised, and something urgent needs to be done about it.

I think the challenge is about state governments not giving telecoms operators the right of way to lay the fibre cables across the states and country.

But the good news is that the telecoms operators are continually operating their own infrastructure and with the presence of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and the 5G technology, they should be able to address some of the concerns.

Are you saying that telecoms operators should invest in building their own infrastructure?

What I am saying in essence is that telecoms operators have their existing networks and as they continue to expand their networks, the county

Technology is good but it becomes unless if it does not enhance businesses.

So once organisations get the modern technology and put it in place on a technical foundation, they must use the technology to do something we call automation. So the technology solution will do the automation processes and speed up development. This will of course reduce the time it takes to deliver new values

will definitely overcome the issue of infrastructure challenge. Nigeria has recorded tremendous progress in the telecoms sector, from 3G to 4G LTE and the bandwidth are getting more available and stronger.

So we need more connectivity and machine to machine connectivity, and this will be possible if the broadband infrastructure is ubiquitously available. Aside telecoms sector, the oil and gas sector also needs some form of connectivity.

So what is your view about the adoption of machine learning in Nigeria?

In the area of machine learning, there are already many steps that have been taken to boost the process in the country. The first step on the journey of machine learning is about understanding and analysing data, but some organisations in Nigeria are already doing it the way it would extract data from various sources, transform it into a single location and loaded into that location to be analysed for some kind of business intelligence. So, what data analytics does is to create some correlation between some form of data. Such correlation is used to make informed decision about certain variables. We already have machine learning in banks and in the telecoms sector in Nigeria. So machine leaning will help to carry out some form of intelligent investigations within an organisation.

Dell Technology recently came up with a research result where it is investing in recycling of marine plastic waste for the production of computer casings. What value will this bring to the company and its customers?

It is true that Dell Technology is investing in the recycling of marine plastic waste for various reasons. The amount of plastic waste that goes into the ocean every year is incredible, and the waste is toxic to marine creatures, killing them in their large numbers. So, when the idea of recycling marine plastic waste came to Dell Technology, we developed the idea, and today we are investing heavily to save marine creatures from plastic waste and in turn, convert the plastics into computer casings for human use. So what we are doing is to ensure we track the plastics before they get into the ocean and we recycle it and use it as part of our packaging. The initial action we took was to be part of the process to prevent plastics from getting into the ocean, remove the ones we could that have already find their way into the ocean and recycle them for computer packaging.

Our dream is that in the near future, there will be no plastics in the ocean and marine creatures can live healthy lives free from toxic generated

In all of these, what are the security measures that Dell Technology has put in place to protect customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; data and businesses?

At Dell Technology, we have a world leading supply chain, which helps our customers in many ways to build to product, meaning that our customers can customise the products that they like and we will build the products to meet their specifications. As part of our supply chain process, we have implemented security at all levels, and we have the most secured supply chain. Once we supply solutions to our customers, we ensure that the solutions are fully protected.

We also have a strong set of recommendations for our customers on security transformation.

The threats that hit organisations are targeted threats and they find a way to gain unathorised access to computer systems and networks. The virus will be hidden in some parts of the network or system until a time that it is ripe to launch attacks, which could be stealing information or distorting information or even corrupt the entire information in the organisationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; system.

So we help our customers to prevent malicious attacks, monitor them and stop them before they gain access to any system. Our solution helps in monitoring, prevention and response processes. We have solutions that combines the three together, unlike previous years when organisations invest in only one aspect of the solution like prevention only.

We do security analytics and monitor networks and look for anomalies, using machine learning and big data analytics.

How will you advise customers, especially up and coming organisations on the adoption of digital transformation?

My candid advice to any CEOs, business owners, small or large on digital transformation, is to let them know that technology is no longer focused on IT department as cost centre, because technology 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 and that is why technology is the new business.

Uber for example, has used technology app to transform the transportation business. So, CEOs must understand that technology is now the business and they need to look inward into their own business to see how they can use technology to cause positive disruption. Secondly, CEOs need to disrupt themselves. Every company needs to disrupt themselves with technology before they are disrupted by others. Dell has a long history of disrupting self in many years.

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Tackling the Menace of Extreme Poverty Government at all levels need to be genuinely committed to poverty alleviation, writes Obinna Chima A new report released last week by the Washington-based Brookings Institution, which showed that Nigeria had overtaken India as the country with the largest number of extreme poor, clearly rattled policymakers in the country. Even though the federal government has since dismissed the report, saying the indices used in arriving at its conclusion might have been complied when Nigeria was in recession, some analysts believe that the poverty situation in the country has worsened in the past three years.

The Brookings Institution, in its report titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Start of a New Poverty Narrative,â&#x20AC;? pointed out that the Democratic Republic of the Congo could soon take over the number two slot. It said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of May 2018, our trajectories suggest that Nigeria had about 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared with Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 73 million. What is more, extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, while poverty in India continues to fall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, by the end of 2018 in Africa as a whole, there will probably be about 3.2 million more people living in extreme poverty than there are today. Already, Africans account for about two-thirds of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extreme poor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If current trends persist, they will account for nine-tenths by 2030. Fourteen out of 18 countries in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where the number of extreme poor is risingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are in Africa.â&#x20AC;?

But defending the government, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, pointed out that with the present administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructural programmes and its enabling environment for businesses, extreme poverty would soon be a thing of the past in the country.

Enelamah said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think first, we need to understand when we get these reports that there are reports that are lagging in indicators, which means people are reporting on history.

There are reports that are leading indicators, which means that they are forward looking and, of course, there are reports that capture generally what you do which is current. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are actually dealing with what is current. So, when you get reports from Brooking institute or all sorts of people, you need to look at the context. Somebody may have written a report when we were in recession.â&#x20AC;?

Aside the Brookings Institution report, the United Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) report had stated that while the world had managed to slash the number of poor people by half in the last 20 years, there were more people now in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, living in a state of extreme poverty and hunger than ever before.

Similarly, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, had in an article ahead of the 2015 general elections, stated that poverty incidence and unemployment in Nigeria had risen simultaneously to all-time high levels and with the level of job losses in the country, things appeared to be deteriorating.

Unemployment Crisis While the level of poverty remains a source of concern to all, the rising state of unemployment is also worrying. Poverty and unemployment combined are the greatest challenges facing Nigeria. The Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, warned recently about â&#x20AC;&#x153;a looming unemployment crisis in Nigeria.â&#x20AC;?

According to Rewane, the FDC think-tank estimated that fourth quarter unemployment figures would spike to 21.5 per cent.

About 4.07 million Nigerians were unemployed between January and September last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had revealed. The bureau, in the report had stated that the number of Nigerians that became unemployed rose from 11.92 million

in the first quarter of last year to 13.58 million and 15.99 million in the second and third quarters of 2017 respectively.

But the NBS shelved the release of the fourth quarter 2017 unemployment data earlier scheduled for last month.

Rewane estimated a population growth of 3.2 per cent for the country, which is higher than GDP growth in Nigeria.

Commenting on the Brookings Institution report, Rewane, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The solution to poverty is that your GDP growth rate is lower than your population growth rate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are producing 14,000 children every day and what you are producing in terms of output is only about 80 per cent of that.

So, everyday that passes, more and more people are getting poor. That was why the International Monetary Fund said for the next eight years, your income per capita in dollar terms is going to be declining.â&#x20AC;?

According to Rewane, Nigeria has a GDP of $405 billion, compared to Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $2.3 trillion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;India has a population of 1.3 billion people and Nigeria has a population of 186 million. So, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population is one-sixth the population of India,â&#x20AC;? he stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria has a population growth rate of 2.6 per cent, while India has a population growth rate of 1.2 per cent.

Rewane said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;India is a diversified economy

You are producing 14,000 children every day and what you are producing in terms of output is only about 80 percent of that. So, everyday that passes, more and more people are getting poor

and has massive investments in infrastructure, Nigeria is a natural wealth economy where income and revenues are being shared rather than being ploughed back.â&#x20AC;?

Likewise, a former Executive Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Kola Ayeye, pointed out that population growth in Nigeria presently was above three per cent and a substantial number of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population living below poverty line should be of concern to policy makers in the country.

Ayeye, who is presently the Group Managing Director of Growth and Development Limited (GDL), said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The kind of growth rate we should be celebrating should be close to two digits. So, that should give you an indication of how far we are from where we ought to be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where per capita income in less than $2,500 and where a substantial part of the population is still living below poverty line and the population growth rate is more than three per cent,â&#x20AC;?

Confronting Poverty In order to address the rising incidence of poverty in Nigeria, Soludo noted that the Nigerian economy, if properly managed, should have been growing at an annual rate of about 12 per cent.

While proffering solution to the challenge of poverty in Africa, President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, said to achieve the World Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twin goals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity among the poorest 40 per cent in low- and middle-income countries â&#x20AC;&#x201D; â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is more than enough work to go around.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We estimate that the world needs an additional $1 to 1.5 trillion dollars every year to be invested in infrastructure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; roads, bridges, railways, airports, and energy plants. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By 2030, we will most likely also need 40 per cent more energy and face a 40 per cent shortfall of water â&#x20AC;&#x201C; pressures that may well be further accelerated by climate change.â&#x20AC;?

Kim, however, hailed the substantial development progress over the past 25 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with 7.3 billion people -- an estimated 12 present live in poverty. Over the past 25 years, the world has gone from nearly 2 billion people living in extreme poverty to fewer than 1 billion.â&#x20AC;?

However, Kim noted that there are still nearly a billion people living on less than $1.25 a day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Few of us can even imagine what this must be like. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remember what poverty is. Poverty is 2.5 billion people not having access to financial accounts. Poverty is 1.4 billion people without access to electricity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Poverty is also putting your children to bed without food. And poverty is not going to school because everyone in the family needs to earn a few cents each day.â&#x20AC;?

To meet this challenge, Kim outlined a strategy to end extreme poverty, based on the best global knowledge now available, that he summed up in three words: Grow, Invest, and Insure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world economy needs to grow faster, and grow more sustainably. It needs to grow in a way that makes sure some of our vast wealth goes to the poor.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The second part of the strategy is to invest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and by that, I mean especially to invest in people through education and health.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The final part of the strategy is to insure.

This means governments providing social safety nets as well as building systems to protect against disasters and the rapid spread of disease.â&#x20AC;?

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics, Lagos State University, Dr. Ibrahim Bakare, argued that the existence of poverty in a society means individuals and groups are drawn into unequal relations with others who are more powerful or have more privileged positions through which they have an advantage. He stressed the need for human capital development as well as the formulation of sound macro-economic policies to tackle poverty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a global scourge affecting different countries in order of relativity and it is very high in less developed countries than in developed countries,â&#x20AC;? Bakare said.

Clearly, the basis for attainment in society as well as for social and economic mobility has often been access to education. Indeed, quality education is vital in creating an equitable and just society as well as in tackling poverty.

Many believe government needs to create an environment that promotes productivity, improves human capital, and ensures adequate access to finance, in order to end extreme poverty in the country.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Scaling Up Sanitation in Cross River Communities As stakeholders continuously seek the best strategies to improve sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria, Paul Obi writes on efforts by UNICEF through the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme to foster sanitation and sustain clean water sources across communities in Cross River State

U

with good hygiene practice. It would interest you to know that on May 15, 2018 Yakurr attained the ODF status. Now we are working on how to sustain it.”

Sustainability Focus On how to sustain the WASH programme, the Coordinator of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Yakurr, Mrs. Nkoyo Oka stated that the WASH community stakeholders are really working hard to ensure continuity.

Oka added that, “they are always on the watch. Like in the community I come from, WASH community divided themselves with some people who watch the uncompleted buildings where people used to defecate. They watch the area from morning till night.

“Even the Obol Lopon of Ntamkpo has been very helpful; he enforced the law that any person caught defecating in the open would be taken to the court. As the PHC coordinator, some criteria they asked me to put in place is that I should provide toilet facilities and washing facilities in all the health care centres in Yakurr, which I have made compulsory,” Oka said.

gep community, Africa’s acclaimed largest community, is not new to those who traverse Cross River State. Located in Yakurr Local Government Area in the central senatorial district of the state, Ugep Town as popularly known is the heart of the state culturally.

But like other Nigerian communities, Ugep is not isolated from the basic developmental challenges associated with others. The community, in many fronts, also faces the daunting challenges the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to address.

Particularly, SGDs Goal 6, clean water and sanitation remains critical to achieving sustainable community development in many facets. More so, the attainment of SDGs goal 6, through the provision of clean water and improved sanitation also has a corresponding impact on achieving SDG goal 3 - good health and wellbeing and goal 11 - sustainable cities and communities.

WASH Concept It is in the light of the above - to have multisectoral benefits - that the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme was conceptualised.

According to UNICEF, WASH was introduced to ensure the provision of clean safe drinking water across communities in Nigeria, and as well, scale up sanitation. The programme seeks to increase and improve water resources and ensure the availability of modern sanitation facilities.

In the same vein, it is geared towards developing and sustaining water sources around communities in Nigeria. The aim is to reach out to citizens through WASH, thereby, enhancing communities’ water sources, hygiene, sanitation and ensuring that they adapt to the Open Defecation Free (ODF) initiative.

Yakurr Scenario The WASH programme in Ugep Town and other communities in Yakurr has been inaugurated to address such challenges confronting communities.

Speaking to THISDAY during a tour of some of the WASH projects, UNICEF WASH Consultant, Collins Njoku explained that in order to “achieve ODF status in Yakurr, WASH was set up, which comprised members of the community as direct beneficiaries of the project.

“Without casting blames, the community lauded UNICEF for the initiative in sensitising them to the importance of having toilets and discouraging open defecation.” Njoku added that “through our collective effort we achieved the ODF status in Yakurr. Our problem now is to work on how to achieve the sustainability of these current gains.”

Also, the Yakurr WASH Coordinator, Omini Usani, observed that before the setting up of

Water provision in Yakurr council WASH programme, “many people in Yakurr did not have access to running water or toilet.

Open defecation was the norm. Our fields, uncompleted buildings and farms were contaminated with faeces.

“But the establishment of Water Sanitation and Hygiene in Yakurr has transformed our people lives.

Through this WASH programme, UNICEF has rewarded many communities in Yakurr with a borehole and hand pump.

“The Yakurr WASH members used to share themselves to ensure that no child or adult defecates outside the latrines. As a way of enforcing the law and bringing the initiative to fruition, a fine of N5,000 was imposed on any person they caught practicing open

defecation. Our problem now is to sustain the ODF status.”

Stakeholders’ Views According to the Paramount Ruler of Yakurr people, the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRH Obol Ofem Ubana, “sanitation and easy access to water has saved many lives in my communities.

Through WASH, UNICEF has provided good water for my people. There is no more open defecation in my communities.”

Another community stakeholder, Mrs. Joe Ekpata further stated that “in the past, we did not bother about sanitation, but now every household uses soap and ash to wash their hands after defecation. Yakurr WASH ensured that the environment is kept clean

Water Tips As attested by the WASH community stakeholders above, provision of water, introducing hygienic practices and enforcing sanitation remain the best strategies to tackling many challenges facing communities in respect of healthcare, better life and sustainable living.

The good thing is that the singular act of providing water surely has a ripple effect on other critical areas of communities’ lives - and their sustainability. The Yakurr example of WASH clearly shows the zeal of UNICEF to practically provide solutions and remedies to many of the social and developmental ills communities face. Provision of water is therefore an answer in many ways.

But as it is the case with many such projects like WASH, the reality of a perfectly conceptualised programme goes beyond the initiation. Sustaining and improving the WASH programme is therefore key to the intervention itself.

Instructively, the essence is to reach out to more communities and ensure that the programmes and projects initiated are long lasting and not short-lived.

Beyond Yakurr and Ugep communities, the onus is on the relevant government authorities in the federal Ministries of Water Resources and Health and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the SDGs to adopt the template used by UNICEF under the WASH programme to ensure adequate water provision and sanitation to many of Nigerians who previously do not have access to such amenities.

That way, the SDG targets and indicators on water and sanitation can be realised and the vital goal achieved before the deadline year.

RANDOM THOTS Sharing Loot For the poor and the average citizens, the good times are on the way. The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said President Muhammadu Buhari has begun the disbursement of funds recovered from looters under the 2018 federal budget. Fashola, speaking recently at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said the president had approved N120 billion from the funds for the rehabilitation of 36 roads across the country.

Also, according to reports, the federal

government is making final preparation to disburse the $322 million fund repatriated from the accounts of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha in Switzerland to the poorest of Nigerians.

The national coordinator of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Nigeria and special assistant to the President on justice reforms, Juliet IbekakuNwagwu said under a MoU signed with Switzerland, the funds would be paid directly into the accounts of the poor-

est Nigerians.

She said the payment, which will span through for two years, will be paid into their various accounts while identification numbers would be made available on the website being developed by the National Social Investment office and the World Bank.

Although it may be a little difficult to ascertain the poorest of the poor in Nigeria for obvious reasons, the federal government ought to be commended for seeking to lift some citizens out

of the doldrums of poverty, and PMB should be lauded for giving the directive.

But, if truth be told, the funds to be shared were originally stolen from the commonwealth and actually belonged to the citizens in the first place. Such looted funds are also hidden away in Nigeria by some greedy public officials, and if these can be fished out and shared like the above plan, then the anger felt by poor citizens can be slightly mollified...overdue move -Abimbola Akosile

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT/ISSUESINBOX

Poverty has no business in Nigeria!!

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?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

* Yes, persistent poverty is due to income inequality, ethnic conflict, political instability and insecurity. We must develop the agricultural value chain that involves farming, processing, reduce instability and insecurity, and create vocational centres to train people in entrepreneurship development.

- Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

Yes, she can:

11

No, she cannot:

2

Others:

8

Radical tip:

Slash salaries!

Total no of respondents:

21

Male:

17

* Of course yes; if we all love each other unselfishly. All our problems are based on self-centredness; we are too greedy.

- Alhaja Adeyinka Akinjobi, London, UK

Female:

4

Highest location:

Abuja (7)

* All Nigeria needs to truly tackle extreme poverty is political will, sincerity and commitment. Without good strategy, with dishonesty, greed, insincerity and unwillingness to learn, we will continue to pay lip service. It’s time for bright and workable ideas.

- Mrs. Augusta Akparanta-Emenogu, Abuja * Why are we poor? What did Ghana do to eliminate poverty? We need access to affordable credit to create wealth; education & research; infrastructural development in our rural areas; family planning re-orientation and access to healthcare would be a good start.

- Ms. Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * Poor distribution of wealth is the major factor responsible for extreme poverty. Our national assembly is one of the highest paid in the world.

The federal and state governments should immediately reduce the salaries of political office holders in order to reduce extreme poverty.

- Mr. Austine Nwanya, solid minerals consultant, Abuja * Yes, Nigeria can if we get leadership right, with sincerity of purpose and drastic reduction of corruption in public service. The positive multiplier effects of the good policies and programmes of government will be felt.

- Mr. JohnKen Ogwuegbu, Owerri, Imo State * Yes, Nigeria can tackle extreme poverty. There should be more emphasis on acquiring vocational and non-formal education. We should look at other ways of empowering Nigerians aside university attendance. In addition, there should be more credit to the poor.

- Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja * Nigeria cannot tackle extreme poverty because

of the killings going on, where farmers can no longer go to farms for fear of herdsmen with AK 47. The present government has to find lasting solution to extreme hunger quickly.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna state * Poverty is an aberration in a nation as endowed as Nigeria. To tackle poverty, all these political rascals must give space to true statesmen in the mould of Singaporean Lee Kuan Yew. Our leaders must address the abject poverty in the land for their own good.

- Mr. Paul Jideofor, Dept of Languages, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja * Yes. Poverty is quite avoidable. Food, shelter and clothing are the most basic needs of man, yet corruption, avarice, insincerity e.t.c have made life miserable for the hapless poor masses.

Solution is anti-graft war or full justice. We must audit all workers to urgently explain their sources of stupendous wealth.

- Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * Government must provide employment through agriculture, provision of small scale/ cottage industries, soft loans with low interest, and women empowerment through loans for petty trade.

- Mr. Bello S. Shuni, Vice-president, Dynamic Youth Organisation of Nigeria, North-West Chapter, Shuni, Sokoto State * Yes. The factors of greed, insecurity, poor policies, unemployment, and infrastructure are pauperising citizens. Agriculture is best panacea to poverty eradication. Private sector participation, genuine foreign investments in agriculture and agro-allied industries etc must

be prioritised. Monitored soft loans must be accessible for local farmers to succeed.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * With the resources at our disposal, we don’t need to dwell in poverty; if not for the bad leaders we always have in governance. The only way to end poverty in Nigeria is by electing God-fearing people.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Nigeria can truly tackle extreme poverty. It is a shame that Nigeria ranks far worse than India now. Those who stole our money are living large while almost three-quarters of the country’s population are dying. We have not learnt our lesson yet. We have every resource to survive on, if not for poor leadership.

- Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna * Nigeria lacks the political will to tackle extreme poverty. To tackle poverty, a serious government must work with accurate statistical data. Government must remove bottlenecks in doing business, encourage small industry by granting unconditional subsidy, encourage Bank of Agriculture to give true loans, and improve security.

- Mr. Mark Ushie, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja * Government has to revisit the current budgeting process, with a view to placing priority on the grassroots. More money should be spent on education and skills acquisition to spur production. Production of goods and services is the fastest way to empowerment and eradication of poverty.

- Mr. Anonymous, Lagos State * Yes, Nigeria can tackle extreme poverty when governments at the federal, state and local levels work hard to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. Also, all Governors must sponsor the education of children from primary school to JSS3 as specified in section 15 of the Child Rights Act. - Mr. Feyisetan Kareem, Ogwashi-ukwu, Delta State * Yes, Nigeria can truly tackle extreme poverty with sincerity of purpose, sacrifice, patriotism and selflessness. We did it with Ebola; we can do it again. We have the resources both human and natural to reduce poverty to the barest minimum. God bless Nigeria.

- Mr. Odey Ochicha, Leadership Specialist, Abuja

* Government should invest more resources in developing skilled labour. Right from primary schools, a larger part of the school curriculum should focus more on vocational and entrepreneurship practical training. Invest in skills acquisition education, not white collar education that cannot create a productive economy that creates millions of jobs that kill poverty.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Yes, Nigeria can tackle extreme poverty by massively funding cottage industries to empower people at the grassroots and also by providing adequate electricity supply to power these industries. Then, those who flaunt stolen wealth should be punished to encourage honest labour.

- Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * Nigerian has the capacity to tackle any form of poverty. It is just a matter of willpower to fix the infrastructures like light, roads and railway to revamp many industries and create jobs for the unemployed. If all the looted monies kept abroad are brought back and put into the economy, we will not be talking about poverty in the country.

- Mr. Nduanya Egbuna, Political Scientist, Enugu

Next Week: Has Time Finally Come for State Police?

Given the spate of indiscriminate killings around the country, some analysts believe this is the ideal time to have State Police in Nigeria. To them, the need to ensure security of human lives far outweighs any fear of private armies controlled by governors or duplication of federal police duties. To you, is the time finally ripe for creation of State Police in Nigeria?

Please make your response direct, short and simple, and state your full name, title, organisation, and location. Responses should be sent between today (July 5 & Monday, July 9) 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 12

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Addressing stomach infrastructure first, before conducive environment

ETOP UKUTT

AU Heads of Govt Meeting: Obaseki, Okonjo-Iweala Mobilise Support for Nigeria’s Anti-corruption Fight Gov hailed for sustaining adult literacy scheme Abimbola Akosile The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the former Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have made a strong case for Nigerians to support the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari to stamp out corruption in the country.

In separate interviews on the sidelines of the recent 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of Government of the African Union in Mauritania, with the theme: ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation,’ Obaseki and the former minister urged Nigerians to back Buhari’s anti-corruption fight for a prosperous Nigeria.

According to Obaseki, “the African continent has not given up hope on us because they see in our leader someone who has the willingness to tackle this problem, which we have as a country, and so I urge Nigerians to understand that it is not a personal battle.”

He emphasised that the fight against corruption “should not be a solo effort. It is about us, as

we have one more opportunity as a country to deal with this cancer; this cankerworm that has held us down.”

Okonjo-Iweala said: “We are here at the African Union because the AU is very concerned about corruption on the African continent. Obviously, the body has asked our President to lead the fight against corruption. What that means to me is that in Nigeria we also need to strengthen our effort, work very strongly to make sure that we set an example.

“I think all of us should be involved. I want to repeat that fighting corruption is a task for every Nigerian. I believe that majority of Nigerians are honest, hardworking people who just want to get on with their lives. So we must not allow the majority to be overtaken by the minority of people. We must fight them, we must put in place the systems and these should be done by all of us.”

However, Governor Obaseki enlisted the support of the AU in the state’s industrialisation drive, in a spirited effort to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the state.

The governor, who was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government AU, stressed the friendly investment climate in the state and the support structures put in place by the state government to promote and protect investments.

The governor brought his experience as an investment banker to bear in sessions on business as well as other discussions relating to doing business in Nigeria at the AU summit.

Meanwhile, adults enrolled in literacy programmes in Edo State have lauded the Obaseki-led administration for sustaining the adult literacy and non-formal education schemes in the state, noting that the programme has afforded hitherto disadvantaged adults opportunity for a second chance at life.

They disclosed this during the monthly monitoring and supervisory routine of the Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) at Adult Literacy and Skills Acquisition Centres in the state.

An adult student at the Fabiyi Akpata Centre, one of the adult literacy facilities, Mrs. Esosa Imaraibe, applauded the governor for the decision to sustain the programme, noting that she can now read and write after enrolling at the centre.

“We are grateful to the governor for this initiative. This has given people like me hope so that we can get another chance at learning how to read and write and contribute to the development of the society.”

A Director in AANFE, Alhaji L.I Momoh, said the department has a mandate to eradicate illiteracy and expose Edo people to adult education through the state-owned adult literacy centres, which are in every local government area in the state.

“The centres have facilitators, who take the learners through the rudiments of basic education with the aim of ensuring the ability of reading and writing,” he said.

The AANFE came into existence in 1988 with the mandate to eradicate illiteracy from Edo State and is a department in the State’s Ministry of Education.

A’Ibom Gov Emmanuel Promises Women Bagudu Proffers Food Security as Key to Cottage Industries Sustaining Agric Sector Okon Bassey in Uyo For endorsing his second term bid, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has promised to establish three cottage industries in the three federal constituencies of Eket Senatorial District of the state for women.

Women from the district under the umbrella of Eket Senatorial District Women Forum had at a rally announced the adoption of the governor for a second term.

The rally held at the Onna Township Stadium witnessed thousands of women who turned out to praise Emmanuel for effective representation of the district and assured him

of their support in his second term bid come 2019.

The women said they were impressed with the spread of projects including industries, empowerment schemes and appointments across the 12 local government areas of the three federal constituencies of the senatorial district .

They equally praised the Governor’s wife, Martha for her numerous life touching programmes through her Family Enhancement and Youth Reorientation Path Initiative.

The position of the women was sealed through a motion moved by Senator Helen Esuene and seconded by the member representing Eket Federal

Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Owoidighe Ekpoattai. In appreciation, the Governor promised to set up industries in each of the three federal constituencies to generate employment for the women.

He urged the leadership of the women in each of the constituencies to meet and agree on the type of industries they want, which should commence before the end of the year.

He described women as peacemakers and home builders, thanking them for offering to purchase nomination form for his re-election in 2019 and promised to continue providing programmes and policies to improve on their well-being.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu has stressed the need to promote food security in the nation’s agricultural sector.

He made the observation at the ALP Seminar Series organised by Akindelano Legal Practitioners tagged: ‘Transforming Nigeria’s Agricultural and Agro-Allied Sector: Financing Opportunities and Challenges’, which took place in Abuja, recently.

In his keynote address, Bagudu said by ensuring food security at all times, the country would know where the food needs of the populace are going to come from.

“I think our quest should be that of national food security and conscious efforts should be made in that regard to ensure we energise domestic production in a competitive manner which is harmonious with our obligations both regionally and internationally.

“I think what is even more compelling is that for an increasingly growing population, what might be self-sufficient today might not be self-sufficient in the next ten years. So the ability to figure out how to produce competitively and to maintain production competitively is a more legitimate question which would be consistent with objective of providing the

maximum employment possible and generating the maximum produce of agriculture as an economic activity”, Bagudu said.

He also stated that there is need for the financial sector to start recognising the farmers as a proper entrepreneurship unit as they have been ignored for too long by the formal sector.

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for sponsoring the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme which supports local farmers to get the much needed funds for their agricultural practices, adding that the scheme in Kebbi has become so efficient to the extent that the state government no longer has any role to play.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Agriculture has not been a priority for many decades because of the revenue came from oil and so agriculture has not been sustained in Nigeria but it now has to be developed. Nigeria needs to develop its agriculture first of all to feed its people and to reach that, Nigeria has to develop proper agriculture policy” - FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO NIGERIA, MR. DENYS GAUER, SPEAKING IN MAITAMA, ABUJA, RECENTLY

Kwara Spends N11bn on Infrastructures in OneYear Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Sahara Group Moves to Boost Achievement of SDGs 4, 5 & 10 in Africa Abimbola Akosile Energy giant, Sahara Group has appointed Zuriel Oduwole, a globally acclaimed Girl Education advocate as ambassador in its bid to accelerate the achievement of the triad of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on improving the access of children (especially girls) to education, fostering gender equality and creating more opportunities for girls across Africa.

The leading energy conglomerate’s partnership with Zuriel’s Dream Up Speak Up Stand Up (DUSUSU Foundation) will target SDGs 4, 5 and 10 that seek to enhance access to Quality Education, Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities by 2030.

Globally, there are 31 million fewer girls than boys in primary school. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2016), over 9 million girls of primary-school age are out of school in sub-Saharan Africa.

The partnership seeks to promote access to education and economic empowerment through film-making and other activities.

Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma, said the project would be driven by Sahara Foundation, the Group’s Corporate Responsibility vehicle.

“This represents another major step for us at Sahara Group towards promoting the SDGs in Africa and across the globe. We believe the foundation for sustainable development rests on empowerment and access to equal opportunities for all children,” he said.

Speaking at the presentation of Zuriel as Sahara’s Ambassador in Accra, Ghana, Manager, Sahara Foundation, Seyi Ojurongbe, said the partnership reinforces Sahara’s unwavering commitment to promoting equitable and inclusive quality education for all.

According to him, “empowering the youth, especially the girl child, is a goal that Sahara Group supports passionately and we have consistently implemented several educational and capacity building projects to enhance the achievement of this goal in Africa.”

Ojurongbe said Zuriel’s age and widely accepted global campaigns uniquely position her to convey Sahara’s message in a way that is inspirational to other girls around the world.

“We are particularly excited that this is a

L-R: Deputy National Coordinator, Ghana School Feeding Programme, Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah; Manager, Sahara Foundation, Oluseyi Ojurongbe; Film maker & Girl Education Advocate, Zuriel Oduwole; and Country Manager, Sahara Group (Ghana), Tosin Etomi at the unveiling of Oduwole as Sahara Girl Education Ambassador in Accra, Ghana...recently sustainable approach to empowering youth and engendering economic growth and development.

We are hopeful that it would bring greater global attention to state of the girl child in Africa and facilitate engagement on our web portal which provides users with a network of connections, facilitators and platforms through which they can partner to grow talent, ideas and businesses.”

Accepting her ambassadorial role, Zuriel said she was delighted to be given such an important role that will impact millions of girls in Africa and around the world.

“Entering into this partnership with Sahara Foundation gives me a much bigger platform to contribute to global efforts aimed at empowering the girl child. With Sahara’s support, I hope to enhance my film-making classes for girls which have proven to be a strong empowerment medium.”

Country Manager, Sahara Group (Ghana) Energy, Tosin Etomi, expressed his gratitude to Zuriel for accepting to be part of Sahara’s initiative on gender and inclusive education.

“Education is key in the development process and bringing everyone on board, especially the girl child, will lead to a holistic approach to achieving the key goals under the SDGs.”

Etomi added, “Initiatives like the one undertaken

by Sahara and Zuriel at the Tema Manhean Secondary Technical School during which Zuriel took a number of female students through the art of film-making will have positive impact on a whole community.”

Deputy National Coordinator of the Ghana Schools Feeding Programme (GSFP), Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah, who graced the occasion, said she was “encouraged by Zuriel’s role in empowering the girl child and for promoting gender equality”. She commended Sahara Foundation for the initiative and reiterated government’s support and commitment to using education as a development tool to lifting millions out of poverty.

Bubune Mensah, a representative of the Manhean Technical Secondary School Tema, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, commended Sahara Foundation and Zuriel for introducing the students to film making. “Now we are all able to produce our own films and document occurrences in our lives”.

Sahara Foundation has implemented over 150 programmes and initiatives across Africa reaching over two million beneficiaries in areas such as education, youth empowerment, capacity building, health and environmental protection.

Kwara state government has disclosed that it has spent over N11 billion under the state infrastructure project fund (K-IFK) for the infrastructural development of the state between 2016 and 2017.

Among the infrastructural projects embarked upon were roads, education, health and water.

Speaking in Ilorin after the state executive council meeting held at Government House, Ilorin recently, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede said over N4 billion was spent on existing infrastructures before the present administration came into office, while over N7billion was spent on the new projects initiated by the government so as to make life more bearable for the residents of the state.

Akorede, flanked by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Alhaji Muhammed Sabi said the documentation of all the expenses incurred on the infrastructures would put an end to the various insinuations about the money generated and expended on the Kwara Infrastructure projects, popularly called K-IFK. Akorede also said the state government had done review on the ongoing construction on the Geri Alimi split diamond over bridge due to the current challenges being experienced by the contractors and consultants handling the project.

He said the state government reviewed the variation of sum of N708,597,407.33k on the contract sum of the overhead bridge, which, according to him, has increased from N2,930,847.06k to N3,639,444,659.04k.

On the University of Ilorin/Oke Ose road, Akorede said the government has done upward review of the contract sum of the project to the tune of N661,868,826,15k.

The aide stressed that, the variation was based on the need to embark on some shoulders of the road, which, according to him, was not captured in the actual contract sum of the road project.

He also said the government embarked on the contract review of Ilesha-Baruba road project so as to meet the urgent benefit of the completion of the road project.

In the analysis, he said the road project was now increased from N2,156,953,404.886 to N2,361,904,549.71k with just variation of N204,951,144.83k.

He noted that the review would take care of some bridges to be put on the road to make it worthwhile for the benefit of those motorists that will be plying the road.

The governor’s aide also pointed that the ongoing construction works at the campuses of Osi and Ilesha Baruba of the state university have reached over 45 per cent so that the students and other stakeholders of the affected two campuses can make use of them without any hindrances.

He also said the state-owned Kwara Hotel, Ilorin would witness a new rebranding to make it more useful for various visitors coming to the state.

He said the development would make the indigenes of the state both home and abroad to invest in the running of the hotel.

Akorede however said the development would go a long way of making the hotel a three and four stars hotel in the state that would be able to compete with other hotels in the country.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Nightmare for the Elderly

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

Growing old can be as graceful as it can be a nightmare, especially where there is absence of proper health care schemes targeted at age-related diseases, as Martins Ifijeh observes in this report on the plight of aged Nigerians

T

he truth dawned on Pa Salami like twilight in a shuttered room when his body physiology began to fail.

His once bright and sharp eyes grew dim, revealing only murkiness even on sunny days. His once sharp memory and admired intelligence had given way to dementia, which causes memory loss and childhood behaviour in adults. A lot of things have changed. Suffice to say that he is now a shadow of his former self.

These changes are presently the reality for the 83-year-old former civil servant with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, who was once full of life and did everything by himself during his heyday, including driving, to make ends meet for his family.

Age-related Ailments But things had fallen apart with old age and its resultant effects like Alzheimer, arthritis, urinary incontinence, and loss of cognitive ability. All that matters to him now is how to fight for his health, while needing the support of people around him to do the basic things like defecating and moving from one point of the house to another.

In a chat with THISDAY during his youngest daughter’s traditional marriage ceremony in his compound in Auchi, a town in Edo State, even though not as coherent as he used to be, Pa Salami, who spent some of this youthful days in Britain and Germany, explained the frustration that has greeted him since old age began to set in, adding that his greatest hope was to be enrolled in a healthcare scheme that would take care of his failing body, among others.

Salami lamented, “Several years ago, this my house used to be full of life just the way it is now.

My children would run round the compound, visitors were always coming every now and then.

Relations and community people never ceased from here. But with time, my children began to grow up, school took some out of the house, and then jobs and then building their own families finally took them all away from the house. They are all scattered now in different places in this country. And then, the unthinkable happened. I lost my wife 15 years ago. Since then, this house has been the shadow of itself, leaving me and a relation all alone.

“Over time, I discovered I could no longer do the things I used to do. Couldn’t drive anymore due to constant joint pain, couldn’t see far, even moving from one point to the other became the most difficult thing given that I used to play football and run those days for my school. Now, I have a lot of challenges, my body is failing every day. I am always ill these days.”

He explained that the money he gets from his children was not enough to tackle most of his treatments, as cases were being diagnosed on him every now and then, adding that one of his major challenges was not having someone around the house who really understands what he was going through.

Going down memory lane, Pa Salami explained that while in Britain, his aged neighbours had social support from the government that took care of their healthcare needs, wishing there was one in Nigeria that targets the health of the country’s elders.

“We have done a lot for our society and country during our youthful days. Most of our children are not financially okay to support their elderly parents. Can’t our government just establish a health scheme for elders in this country, say from 70 years old and above?” he queried.

Nightmare Pa Salami is among the very few fortunate aged Nigerians who get stipends from their children for health support, even though he complained of the money not been enough to cater for his medical treatments. But the case of many other aged persons in the country depicts sorrier tales.

For instance, Mrs. Modupe Adegoke, who lives in Ayobo area of Lagos, is not a happy woman.

Group of elderly Nigerians

Sickness and hunger are her best friends even at the age of 70. The stench from her room would cause any healthy person to develop instant sickness. Her three children cannot even fend for themselves and their own families, not to mention taking care of her health.

Modupe has been suffering from arthritis for many years, coupled with other pockets of age related illnesses. Meanwhile, she has never done diabetes or blood pressure test, neither, does she know if there are other underlying ailments affecting her, other than arthritis. However, her primary concern isn’t her health. All she wants first is food then healthcare.

When THISDAY visited her one evening, it was not only with a pen and paper to write her sorry tales, but with food. Incidentally, that was her first meal for the day. Asked if she has visited the hospital in recent times, Modupe said she has never visited the hospital in 10 years, adding that the only time she had medical check-up was when a non-governmental organisation did

Millions of elderly Nigerians are suffering from one form of neglect or the other, especially health wise, which ordinarily should be the responsibility of their families, government and the society ...Nigeria has the largest number of elderly people over 60 years of age in subSahara Africa, with majority of them living in destitution and left at the mercy of good Samaritans

a free screening and treatment exercise in her community.

She lamented, “That was where I was told I may have developed arthritis. I am always in pain anytime I try to move my legs, waist and other joints. Moving from one point to the other is very difficult for me. I also constantly have cough and headache, and I am always weak these days. My children have no meaningful jobs; sometimes, their own children come here to see if I have food so they can eat. Who can I run to? My health is failing and my stomach is always empty.”

Destitution Millions of elderly Nigerians are suffering one form of neglect or the other, especially health wise, which ordinarily should be the responsibility of their families, government and the society.

According to available statistics, Nigeria has the largest number of elderly people over 60 years of age in Sub-Sahara Africa, with majority of them living in destitution and left at the mercy of good Samaritans.

In Nigeria, the burden of care for the elderly squarely rests on family members despite the provisions in the 1999 Constitution, Section 14.

2(b), which states, “The security and welfare of its people shall be the primary purpose of the government” and in Section 16, sub-section 2(d) promises, “That suitable and adequate shelter and suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”

Old Age Care The old age care, according to analysts, include welfare package for the old- involving stipends, medical care, special fund for them if needed, and other social schemes that should sustain or improve their quality of life.

In 1982 at Vienna, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of principles for older persons, recommending that all Member States incorporate them in their programmes for the old. This is in recognition that as people age, they become less active, frailer and more prone

to diseases associated with aging. Nigeria is a member of the United Nations.

Speaking with THISDAY, a health expert, Dr. Raymond Olumide, said one thing noticed in Nigerian hospitals was that most elderly people were only brought to the hospital after their cases must have reached critical levels, adding that the society and its government do not take the health of the elderly seriously.

Olumide stated, “Most times, people brush aside the health challenges of elders because they believed since they are already old, it would not be out of place for them to have cases like arthritis, diabetes, stroke, cancer, among others.

But the truth is that, they are wrong. Arthritis and other health issues affecting aged people can be treated, while the elderly live quality lives till God say its time.

“The quality of life we give to the elderly goes a long way in determining their lifespan.

Families, loved ones, and people around aged people shouldn’t wait till their cases have reached a point that cannot be managed before bringing them to the hospital.”

He stated that oftentimes people get too busy with their own families without thinking about the wellbeing of their aged parents. “At such age, the best any family, society and the government can do for them is to make sure there is food on their table, as well as make sure they get proper treatment for health issues that might result due to their old age.”

On the part of the government, Olumide said it was high time the Nigerian government stepped up its game by putting social welfare programmes in place that deliberately targets the elderly, especially in the area of stipends as well as healthcare.

“Nigeria’s elderly are disadvantaged in terms of systemic support from the government, yet the growing size of this supposedly respected group makes it more important that they be given this sense of belonging which they deserve.

“I call on our National Assembly and the entire government to put legislations in place to tackle these issues. The ministry of health should also lay down programmes specifically to address issues relating to the elderly in the country,” he said.

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NEWS

Cancer: Don’t Be Wicked to Your Breast, Oncologist Tells Women Martins Ifijeh Following the high incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria, a Radiation Oncologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Gbadebo Awosanya, has called on women to eschew hash treatment of their breasts, as they are delicate tissues that require utmost care and pampering.

Awosanya said placing the breasts under tight braziers for about 12 hours every day was a disservice, adding that braziers with metallic lining could be among the predisposing factors for breast cancer.

Awosanya stated this in his presentation at the unveiling of Nigeria’s first Mobile Mammography Coach by Lilly Women’s Health in Lagos recently. He said women should wear braziers with cotton fabric, and in most cases they should do without wearing braziers so that their breasts can get enough air and space to flourish.

According to him, “Husbands should make sure their fingers are well cut before they caress their wives’ breasts so that they don’t injure them. Breasts are tissues that must be worshipped and preserved, otherwise the husbands won’t see them to enjoy in the future if they don’t pamper them now.

“Women should do selfexamination often to check for lumps, inverted nipples, injuries or hardening of the breast, and if any of these are noticed, diagnosis should be made as soon as possible.”

He added, “Failure to follow these routines could be regarded as wickedness to the breast.”

Awosanya, who is popularly referred to as “the breast man”, said there were now increased cases of breast cancer in Nigeria, adding that every minute, 10 women die of the scourge in the country, while eight out of nine cases of breast cancer in Nigeria are not traceable to family history, hence factors that

predisposes women to it must be avoided.

“Living under power lines (high tension cables) is a predisposing factor, the erection of masts where people live could also be a factor, poor nutrition, among other factors could dispose women to breast cancer,” he said.

He however decried that despite the alarming rate of the prevalence, Nigeria still lack a model for cancer treatment.

“A senator in Nigeria receives at least N37 million monthly, yet we are unable to buy functional cancer machines to tackle the growing cases seen every day. There are now 3D mammography machines to detect breast cancer cells two years before they even start showing up, but we still don’t have them here.

“Cancer management is zero in Nigeria. We pray our relatives don’t come up with cancer. Who ever really want to treat cancer should go to the United States or other developed countries where they can be managed thoroughly. But how many people can afford it? That is why we keep pushing for prevention and early detection,” he said.

He also emphasised that about one per cent of breast cancers occur in males; hence men with gynaecomastia (developed breasts, as in the case of some overweight men) should also examine their breasts for lumps or access mammography machines.

A Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. Omolola Salako said it was painful that despite over 100,000 Nigerian women suffering from breast cancer at a time, the country only has 16 oncologists with only eight cancer machines, adding that to worsen the situation, many doctors were leaving the country for job fulfilment in other countries.

Salako stated, “For me, I am

Health Minister Urges Rich Nigerians to Contribute to Health Sector Inaugurates 18-bed hospital Paul Obi in Abuja The Minister of Health Prof.

Isaac Adewe, has urged rich Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic gesture of the Sarumi family by contributing and investing in the development of the nation’s health sector.

Adewoleade this known at the weekend while commissioning theAlhaja Wasilat sarumi Medical Ward donated to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Osun State.

The minister noted that what the family had done would go a long way at improving health care delivery in the community which would benefit thousands of Nigerians.

“I have fond memories of Wesley Guild Hospital because I have been a patient here and my interaction while I was very young was part of the reasons why I am a medical doctor today.

“But the last time I was here

I almost wept as facilities had deteriorated but with what the family have done, things are getting better now. We have also promised to assist the Hospital in regaining its lost glory,’ Adewole stated.

Adewole charged other well-meaning Nigerians to also contribute to the development of the health sector in their locality.

Also, Sarumi explained ithat the family decided to build the medical ward as a way of giving back to the society instead of organising needless party to celebrate their mother.

He said the Hospital had served the family well when they were young and that it was time to give back to the facility and humanity in general.

The 18 bed medical ward was built at a cost of over N100 million and the family has also promised to maintain it for the next five years before the hospital management takes over its maintenance.

no longer having job fulfilment because most cancer patients who come to us for diagnosis or treatment often do so when the cancers are in advanced stages.

How do you treat someone with stage four cancer? It doesn’t make sense they present late.

It is unacceptable. It means we have not done enough to sensitise Nigerians on early detection. As an oncologist, I

see patients battling for life, all because they are accessing the right treatment late.

“When presented early, it is most certain that the patient will be treated successfully. But what are we to do when cases are brought in at the late stages.

Nowhere in the world where guarantee can be given for the treatment of stage four cancer.”

While noting that some

Nigerians were involved in championing awareness for early cancer detection, she noted that if Nigerian celebrities lend their voices to the issue, it would go a long way.

“I have been practically pushed out of a market I went to/to preach early diagnosis, because they said I was a bringer of bad news, but three tweets each from our celebrities can

help in sensitising Nigerians on the benefits of early diagnosis,” she said.

She commended Lilly Women’s Health for bringing the mobile mammography machine to Nigeria, adding that this will help reduce breast cancer in the country.

On her part, the Founder, Lilly Women’s Health, Dr. Lilian Ebuoma, who is a Harvard

L-R: Chairman, Agege Local Government, Mr. Ganiu Egunjobi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iyabo Are at a press briefing to signal commencement of second round 2018 National Immunisation Plus Days in Lagos recently

Foundation Creates Medical WHO Announces Cure for Bank for Nigerians Excessive Bleeding After in Nigeria.

Childbirth Rebecca Ejifoma A group of medical experts have created a healthcare marketplace, My Medical Bank, for Nigerians to have easy and cheaper access to healthcare services in the country using technology.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Dr. Ayo Adebamowo, said this at the health symposium and launch of My Medical Bank Home Care in Lagos recently.

“This is to give the common man access to cheaper healthcare services in Nigeria. My Medical Bank Homecare is Nigeria’s first healthcare marketplace to enable health facilities, healthcare professionals and individual users to store essential health information from desperate locations,” Adebamowo said.

He noted that the platform allows the generation of health intelligence, facilitate virtual clinical consultation and enable the exchange of health information securely through any web enabled-device.

Continuing, the CEO said, “The conversation about the Nigerian health sector is anything but encouraging. It’s time we began to consciously shift the narratives to those focused on finding and implementing practical solutions to these challenges.”

Meanwhile, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, urged the government to deploy more medical personnel to the rural areas to assist the doctors in carrying out simple examinations and attend to more patients.

He said: “I will advocate the deployment of health officers who will work under the doctor’s supervision using standard operating protocols as required by the Code of Medical Ethics

“They will help doctors carry out simple physical examinations like checking for polar, dehydration, pulse and blood pressure.

In some cases these medical practitioners are overburdened.”

With the theme, “Improving Healthcare Access for Every Nigerian”, the Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr. Ola Brown, said the only way to provide healthcare to the common man was to make it accessible, cheap and technology-driven.

“The major challenges facing healthcare delivery are uncontrolled population growth and poor funding of healthcare,” she told participants.

According to Brown, the cost of healthcare needs to be reduced while striving to ensure increase in government allocations to the nation’s health facilities.

She added: “One way to improve healthcare to the common man is to make it financially accessible. Healthcare is expensive anywhere in the world. Nigeria can do more and better with less if we can focus on preventive healthcare.”

In her keynote address, Registrar, Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board of Nigeria, Mrs.

Martins Ifijeh The World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with Ferring and MSD for Mothers, has found a cure for PostPartum Haemorrhage (PPH), otherwise known as excessive bleeding after childbirth, which is the commonest cause of maternal death in developing countries like Nigeria.

In a clinical study conducted by the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research including the UNDPUNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), using Ferring’s heat-stable carbetocin, and funded by MSD for Mothers, it was discovered that carbetocin was as effective as oxytocin in the prevention of excessive bleeding following vaginal birth.

According to WHO, the ground-breaking innovation, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently, was conducted on nearly 30,000

women in Nigeria and nine other low and middle income countries.

“Heat-stable carbetocin remains effective at high temperatures, an answer to the limitation of oxytocin which must be stored and transported at 2 – 8°C,” WHO said.

Studies in Nigeria and other developing countries have revealed degradation and loss of efficacy in oxytocin ampoules, which could be due to inadequate storage and distribution conditions, hence the need for the heat-stable carbetocin product.

According to the Chief Medical Officer, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Klaus Dugi, the data show that heat-stable carbetocin maintains effectiveness for at least three years at 30°C and six months at 40°C. Dugi said, “This has the potential to save thousands of women in Nigeria and other developing countries where 99 per cent of PPH-related deaths occur, and where the refrigeration of medicines can be difficult to achieve and maintain.

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NEWS

Private Sector Collaboration Critical to Nigeria’s Public Healthcare, Says ARC Ayodeji Ake To achieve efficient health supply chain, the Africa Resource Centre (ARC) has stated that private sector collaboration is key to delivering essential medical supplies and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Speaking at the maiden ARC Partnership Forum in Lagos recently, the CEO, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq said the private sector has the expertise, resources and capabilities needed by the public health sector to build efficient, effective and resilient supply chain systems.

He said: “Collectively, the private sector possesses both tangible and intangible assets that give it a distinct advantage in tackling specific health issues in the country,” Dr. Muntaqa explained.

On his part, the Regional Director, Africa Resource Centre for Supply Chain, Azuka Okeke, revealed that ARC Nigeria was currently working to build a centralised and regional supply chain resource centre that can provide independent advice, develop partnerships and share experiences across countries to help ministers of health meet their public health goals.

“ARC is focusing on areas that collectively leverage

supply chain expertise, tools and capabilities to support performance improvements in the public health system. These areas include supporting supply chain strategy, advocate for supply chain investments and provide independent advice and expertise; support Ministries of Health to shape investments and align donors and implementing partners; access private sector expertise, tools, methods and capability to improve supply chain transformations and supply chain management as well as broker partnerships to strengthen Ministries of Health capability and build long-term talent for supply chain in Africa,” Azuka explained.

Global Solutions Director, UPS Foundation, Jim Coughlan pointed out that the biggest opportunity is finding ways to engage the private sector given their knowledge level or intellectual capital in supply chain management.

“Supply chain leadership is a skill set that requires development. UPS and Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) worked together on a program called Strategic Training for Executive Programme (STEP) which is currently running in Nigeria. That STEP program is about leadership in supply chain leadership. It also is

a program for mentorship where organizations like UPS can be a part of the mentor program which stays engaged with the

participants and shares that knowledge space.

“The STEP programme is based on a framework of professional competencies

for supply chain managers.

It brings in private sector innovation from logistics leader United Parcel Services (UPS) with the intent

to help participants develop their problem-solving skills and foster effective team building approaches,” Coughlan explained.

L-R: CEO, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq; Global Solutions Director, UPS Foundation, Jim Coughlan; Regional Director, Africa Resource Centre, Azuka Okeke; Founder and Director, MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab, USA, Prof Jarrod Goentzel; and Strategy and Partnership Lead, Africa Resource Centre, South Africa, Bronwyn Timmy, at the maiden ARC Partnership Forum in Lagos recently

More Nigerian Doctors Plan to Leave Chivita Partners Sugar Control Nigeria, UK-based Doctor Warns Foundation for Healthy Living Kehinde Lawal A UK-based Nigerian doctor, Dr Harvey Olufunmilayo, has decried the increasing number of Nigerian doctors s e e k i n g g re e n e r p a s tures abroad. Olufunmilayo, who practices in Leeds, said about 1,000 Nigerian doctors passed the Plab1 examination i n M a rc h 2 0 1 8 t o e n able them practice in the UK. Olufunmilayo stated this during an interview with THISDAY recently.

He said four million Nigerian patients would be denied access to a doctor should the 1,000 doctors leave Nigeria.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had in January 2018 said that there were 4,000 patients to one doctor in Nigeria, describing the trend as unacceptable.

He said, “In March, about 1,500 doctors wrote the Plab1 exam to work in the UK and about 1,000 passed. In

Martins Ifijeh a country where one doctor cares for about 4,000 patients; losing 1,000 doctors means four million Nigerians will find it hard to see a doctor. We are playing with fire as a nation.

“This analysis is based solely on the March 2018 Plab Exams alone. The same exam is written twice a year in Nigeria.

And with more hardship, more doctors will be writing the same exam

by November. That is just for the UK alone, we are yet to talk of those going to other countries like USA or Canada.

“We have a big problem on our hands. There is a big fire burning and everyone is looking away thinking all is well. We largely have under-equipped hospitals with underpaid/ overworked staff and overpopulated patients.

Now with more health professionals’ exit, what will happen?”

He said the country had decided to wait until

hospitals in the country turn to museums with out-dated equipment before it takes action.

“We don’t even have professionals to man the out-dated facilities to help our dying patients.

It may be too late by the time we realise the grave danger being done with the exit of our medical workers from the country, Olufunmilayo stated, adding, “I was having a chat with a younger colleague friend preparing for the exam. She’s part of a WhatsApp group that is already full to the brim – with 256 doctors preparing to take the same exams to leave the country. And she said she knows at least two of such full groups.”

He said with doctors working on their exit out of the country, those who will be affected will not only be the poor, adding that even the rich has relatives who at the end may not be able to get healthcare because of lack of medical workers.

Chivita has entered into partnership with the Sugar and Cholesterol Control Foundation (SACCOF) to support a campaign on health and wellness as well as increase public awareness on the nutritional benefits of 100 per cent fruit juice.

At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Lagos, President of SACCOF, Ademola Adesoye said the collaboration would boost research into sugar consumption and control.

He said the partnership validated the commitment of Chivita to its ‘no-added sugar’ campaign Adesoye, a food technology expert, pointed out that the commitment was not only necessary for raising the awareness level but also critical to correcting the misconceptions about sugar consumption.

He noted: “It is important Nigerians understand that they need sugar to carry out their basic tasks. What is bad is excess intake. And what could be normal for one person may be excessive for another. What determine

the volume of sugar you require are your lifestyle and the amount of energy you need to discharge your responsibilities.

“It is important to get the perspective right. The key message is that the simple sugars contained in fruit juices are mostly fructose which are naturally occurring in the intact structure of the respective raw fruits or vegetables, thereby making them very healthy and nutritional.

Indeed, there have been cases where some people have low sugar level in their system and this is as bad as excess sugar. So, it is satisfying to know that Chivita, the leading juice manufacturing company, is spearheading this campaign.”

According to Adesoye, excess sugar intake without complementary active living, are likely causes of diabetes and associated diseases among many Nigerians.

He therefore called for the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the campaign as well as more investment in researches and public sensitization.

The SACCOF President disclosed that Foundation

had carried out extensive research on Chivita 100 per cent and that the results were commendable, adding that SACCOF was impressed by the company’s compliance to highest food safety standards, which are above industry regulatory requirements.

Also speaking, Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjay Roy said Chivita would, on the strength of the partnership, support the Foundation’s research works and other initiatives aimed at educating Nigerians on healthy living.

Roy said that the company and SACCOF had shared values in boosting the quality of life, through enlightenment and support for consumer’s health and wellness.

“As a sustained initiative, we hope to support independent efforts by experts such as nutritionists and dieticians to show how fruit juice contributes to the health and well-being of consumers. We will also create a sustainable discourse on the truth and science of 100% fruit juice and the No-added Sugar proposition”.

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HEALTH NEWS

GAIN Canvasses Reduction of Postharvest Loss through Capacity Building Postharvest loss reduction strategies to solve malnutrition challenges took center stage as the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) hosted a training/capacity building workshop recently, in Abuja, to educate farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture value chain.

Louis Achi reports Statistics show that Nigeria loses almost 50 percent of its fresh fruits and vegetables annually due to poor handling and poor preservation practices. This figure according to experts is not only alarming, but it is also a major source of discouragement for farmers and makes the nation’s quest to achieve food security a pipe dream.

To address this challenge, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) under its Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) initiative, which is one of the food systems solution approach adopted by GAIN to solve global malnutrition challenges, embarked on a series of training workshops to educate farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture value chain on ways to eliminate or at least reduce postharvest losses in fresh fruits and vegetables from farm to plate.

Speaking in an interview at a training on ‘Proximate Processing of Tomato and Plantain’ held at the Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja, the Senior Project Manager of PLAN, Dr. Augustine Okoruwa, said “This capacity building component is to ensure that those who are interested, or who are currently producing or processing tomato products, will be able to understand the food safety implications, the technology required, the packaging required and the good manufacturing practices necessary. This is why representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control

(NAFDAC) were invited so that the participants can understand that before they can sell their products to people, there are certain regulatory requirements and standards to be met.”

He also stated that “the training workshop is part of PLAN’s three point strategic intervention activities in the fresh fruits and vegetables supply chain which are: cold chain storage and logistics, crating and packaging, as well as proximate processing which encourages the processing of perishable fruits and vegetables close to where they are produced, so that the long distance that contributes to more losses and the wastages from the seasonal nature of these nutritious foods will be eliminated”.

The three-day workshop which attracted participants from different stakeholders in the Agriculture value chain incorporated Financial Services, Regulatory Agencies and Research Organizations. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, farmers, food processors and marketers were not left out of the training.

Similar proximate processing trainings had been held previously in Kaduna and Owerri, respectively.

Dr. Okoruwa further stated that since GAIN cannot cover the entire 36 states of the federation, it has decided to work based on production and market. The essence of what GAIN is doing is to ensure that the food produced gets to the table of the consumer retaining its wholesomeness and that it is available all year round,

thereby achieving a considerable level of food security.

Furtherance to the objectives of PLAN, the Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) was formed and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission with GAIN taking the lead. Dr. Okoruwa said the idea is to show

that cold chain is an integral part of a sustainable food security strategy in Nigeria.

One of the facilitators at the workshop, Mr. Duro Kuteyi, an industrialist and owner of Betamark Foods, who trained participants on innovative ways of processing and packaging tomato and plantain, praised

GAIN for the initiative and pledged his continued support to the programme.

Mrs. Zainab Towobola, Head of Nutrition and Food Safety Division, Federal Department of Agriculture at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) said she was not surprised that GAIN

was taking the initiative this far because the nutrition division has received a lot of support from them. She also acknowledged that more people are beginning to adopt some practices that promote nutrition and reduce postharvest losses due to GAIN’s consistent awareness creation through the PLAN project initiative.

Participants displaying their certificates after the three-day capacity building workshop on ‘Appropriate Processing Methods and Packaging Technologies for Tomato,’ under the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)…in Abuja recently

Falana Calls for Better Healthcare Lagos Immunises 4.6 Million Study: Fasting Can Reduce in Nigeria Children against Polio Multiple Sclerosis-Like Symptoms Rebecca Ejifoma Lawyer and human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, has called on the federal government to create an enabling environment for Nigerians to have good health and a better life. Falana, who made the call at the launch of Upright for Nigeria; Stand against Corruption Campaign, organised by the Center for Communication and Social Impact in Lagos recently, said the government has failed to provide basic healthcare for Nigerians He said: “Our public officers and members of their families access healthcare abroad while our people are left to die in our ill-equipped hospitals. Those who go abroad to have their children do so because they want these children to have better lives.”

While the Upright for Nigeria initiative seeks to build public demand and attitude for anticorruption through strengthened and organised voices, Falana decried the healthcare system further. “The primary purpose of the government is to create an enabling environment for her citizens, which means they should

reduce crime, especially among our youths,” he said, adding, “In our days as students, the government paid us bursaries. At that time, when you graduate there will be jobs waiting for you. We were not thinking of crimes in our time.”

According to him, crime has increased in the present age because government has failed to provide jobs and good education for the youths.

“I call on the authorities to arrest and prosecute parents or guardians who fail to send their children or wards to school,” Falana advised.

As part of its aim to strengthening citizens’ resistance against prevalence of corruption, the Executive Director, Center for Communication and Social Impact, Babafunke Fagbemi, said the campaign is an initiative funded with aid from the United Kingdom government.

“The campaign, which is to help reduce corruption in the Nigerian system, will have national and state specific engagements in AkwaIbom, Borno, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos states to increase citizens’ capacity to resist and fight acts of corruption,” he stated.

Martins Ifijeh Following the second round of the 2018 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) aimed at vaccinating children of between ages zero to 59 months against polio in Nigeria, the Lagos State government has vaccinated 4.9 million children across the state.

The campaign, which started Saturday June 30 to Tuesday July 3, 2018 at designated sites, covered 4859 houses, 752 fixed posts, and 1712 transit teams.

Speaking during the last lap of the exercise in Agege local government secretariat, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga noted that the four day programme experienced massive turn out, as the state ensured there were activities which attracted children and caregivers for the exercise. He said the exercise is aimed at boosting the herd of immunity against poliomyelitis, adding that the children received two drops of oral polio vaccines irrespective of their previous

immunisation status.

“To ensure the success of this year’s polio vaccination campaign, many training sessions were conducted to strengthen the capacity of relevant health workers.

We also did massive media campaigns involving airing of jingles while LGA social mobilizers moved within communities to sensitize and mobilize citizenry effectively,” he explained.

He added, “The responsibility to vaccinate all eligible children against measles is not that of the parents and care givers alone. The responsibility rests on everybody to ensure that children are fully immunised against childhood preventable diseases.

“The state government is particularly interested in the health of the children and as such is prepared to carry out any activity that will ensure that their right to health is attained.

Polio is one of the major killer diseases of children under the age of five years which can be prevented by vaccination.”

Intermittent fasting reduces Multiple Sclerosis (MS)-like symptoms, a study on mice by US researchers has shown.

MS is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) In the study, mice were either allowed to eat freely or fed every other day for four weeks before receiving an immunisation to trigger MS-like symptoms.

Both groups of mice then continued on their same diets for another seven weeks. The mice that fasted every other day were less likely to develop signs of neurological damage such as difficulty walking, limb weakness and paralysis.

Some of the fasting mice did develop MS-like symptoms, but they appeared later and were less severe than in the mice that ate their fill every day.

In addition, the fasting mice’s immune systems seemed to be dialed down.

As compared with mice that took daily meals, those that ate every other day had fewer pro-inflammatory immune cells and more of a kind of immune cell that keeps the immune response in check.

“There are several possible ways fasting can affect inflammation and the immune response,” said Laura Piccio, an associate professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

“One is by changing hormone levels. We found that levels of the anti-inflammatory hormone corticosterone were nearly twice as high in the fasting mice.”

The researchers said fasting also could act through the gut microbiome. A change in the makeup of the gut community could alter whether the immune system has a pro- or anti-inflammatory bent.

After four weeks, the mice that fasted sheltered a more diverse ecosystem in their guts than mice that ate every day.

In particular, the fasting mice had more of the soothing probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus, which other studies in mice have linked to milder MS-like symptoms.

Moreover, transferring gut bacteria from fasting mice to non-fasting mice made the recipients less susceptible to developing MS-like symptoms, suggesting that something in the microbial community was protecting the mice.

40

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DMO: Nigeria Has Subsisting Debt Management Strategy Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Debt Management Office (DMO) has stated that Nigeria has a subsisting Debt Management Strategy which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC ) in June 2013 and due to expire in December 2019. The document, the DMO said, was available its website.

According to the debt management agency, the clarification followed a report that the country lacks a debt management strategy.

However, seven months after the expiration of the DMO’s five-year Third Strategic Plan, the debt office has not been able to produce a new one.

But, in a statement issued

by Chinenye Onu , the DMO pointed out that there was a distinction between its Strategic Plan (an institutional plan) and the Public Debt Management Strategy. According to the agency, the distinction between

the Debt Management Strategy and its Strategic Plan is that the plan is a statement of the institution’s goals and objectives as well as the activities that will enable their realisation.

“It covers issues such as human resources, technology, and market development, amongst others. This contrasts very sharply with the Public Debt Management Strategy which is entirely about the strategies for managing the public debt to ensure that borrowing is prudent and the public debt is sustainable,” the DMO said.

“Furthermore, the public should be assured that the strategy is being implemented in full.

“Preparation of a new strategic plan that will deliver a new, robust and all-encompassing strategy is at the final stage. A robust strategic plan became necessary due to developments in the macro-economy, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan(ERGP) and the need to

come up with creative ways to fund the government in the face of lower revenues.

“Thus, a new strategic plan for the DMO had to be prepared in a holistic manner to incorporate these developments and expectations. The old pattern of preparing the strategic plan would have been grossly inadequate,” the DMO said.

Findings by THISDAY had shown that since the debt office’s 2013 to 2017 strategic plan expired last December it has not been able to develop another one.

Section 6(c) of the DMO Establishment Act 2003 states that the agency must, “prepare and implement a plan for the efficient management of Nigerian’s external and domestic debt obligations at sustainable levels compatible with desired economic activities for growth and development; and participate in negotiations aimed at realising those objectives.”

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bimbo Ashiru; President and Chairman in Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Mr Tony Aganmonman and Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Chief Taiwo Fagbemi, during the institute’s visit to the ministry in Ogun state…recently

MARKET INDICATORS

Moody’s: Nigeria’s Mid-tier Banks Yet to Recover from Recession Martins Ifijeh Nigeria’s mid-tier banks -- Fidelity Bank Plc (Fidelity), Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (Union), First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB), Sterling Bank Plc, and Diamond Bank Plc (Diamond) -- will grow their earnings materially over the long-term, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report published yesterday.

However, the operating conditions of the financial institutions will remain chal-

lenging over the next 18 months, as the economy slowly recovers from the 2016 recession.

“Nigerian mid-tier banks suffered more severely than the top five largest banks from the 2016 recession and are still recovering,”the Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at Moody’s, Akin Majekodunmi said. “Over the longer term, though, we expect their earnings growth prospects to be positive.”

Moody’s viewed Fidelity, FCMB and Union Bank as

best positioned to weather current operating challenges, given their sound capital and liquidity buffers, but “expects Diamond to face greater headwinds due to the bank’s larger stock of soured loans and modest foreign-currency liquidity.”

“Loan performance for the mid-tier banks has deteriorated in recent years but it is likely to stabilise because most foreigncurrency loans and loans to the oil and gas sector have been restructured,” it added.

CBN Woos Importers to Trade ChineseYuan The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is wooing local businesses importing goods from China to use the yuan instead of the US dollar in its effort to support its naira currency and boost reserves.

To this end, central bank officials yesterday held a town hall meeting with businesses in Lagos to introduce the yuan for imports from China ahead of plans to start auctioning the Asian currency later this month.

The dollar is Nigeria’s main trade currency. The OPEC member suffered severe dollar shortages after the price of

crude oil, its top export and main source of FX, plunged in late 2014, prompting it to introduce capital controls in 2015. It now has multiple exchange rates against the U.S. currency and has been selling the dollar on the interbank market to boost liquidity after floating the naira for investors.

“The central bank will encourage users importing goods from China to use the yuan and not the dollar,” officials told Reuters.

“Dollar demand burden arising from trades with China would be lifted from

our FX reserves,” they said, adding that initial yuan trades could be small. Nigeria signed a $2.5 billion currency swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) in May. Officials said the deal was aimed at reducing reliance on the dollar and “as such reduce the pressure on the naira-dollar exchange rate.” Under the swap arrangement, Nigeria’s central bank would hold N720 billion in an account in favour of the PBoC while the Chinese central bank would hold 15 billion yuan, implying an exchange rate of N48 to the yuan.

Mobile Money Operators Urged to Enforce Cybersecurity Levy Nume Ekeghe As part of efforts to raise funds for the National Cybersecurity Fund (NCF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all Mobile Money Operators (MMOs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to charge a 0.005 per cent levy on all electronic transactions. The directive became effective from July 1, 2018.

The Director, Banking and Payment System Department, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, disclosed this in a circular he signed, a copy of which was posted on CBN website. The central bank explained that payment

of the fee is to be made into a Treasury Single Account (TSA) domiciled at the central bank.

The circular which was addressed to MMOs and PSPs in the country stated: “Pursuant to the provisions of Section 44 (S. 1 and 2) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015, all MMOs and other affected PSPs are hereby directed to comply with the statutory provision for the collection and remittance if the 0.005 levy on all electronic transactions by the businesses specified on the second schedule of the act.”

It further stated: “Effectively,

all electronic financial transactions occurring in a bank, or on a mobile money scheme or any other payment platform that have an accompanying charge shall be charged the 0.005 levy.

The levy shall be 0.005 of the service charge exclusive of all tax effects from all electronic financial transactions occurring on in a bank, or on a mobile money scheme or any other payment platform.

All electronic transactions, both inter and intra, that have accompanying service charge shall qualify as eligible transactions. The effective date shall be with effect from July 1 2018.”

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

MARCH

Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month

MARCH

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55 • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, TUE, 3, JULY , 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $74.62 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $75.28 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Equities Market Sheds 2% in Three Days Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

trillion to N13.584 trillion. The bears’ strong grip on the market led to a marginal growth of 0.09 per cent in the first half of the year. And since the second half began on Monday, the market has remained downbeat, leading to 2.0 per cent. Yesterday accounted for 0.30 per cent of the decline as 24 stocks lost value compared with 21 that added value.

The sustained bearish trading at the stock market has led to a decline by two per cent per cent in the past three days.

Specifically, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) fell from 38,278.55 to 37,499.07, while market capitalisation declined from N13.866

Commenting on the market performance, analysts said selling pressure across counters were sustained, as investors continued to sell down on large cap stocks across the market.

“However, the losses were moderated by the buying pressures across the banking sector, as the favoured counters within the sector topped the value and volume charts for

the day,” they said.

Forte Oil Plc and MCNichols Plc led the price losers with 10 per cent apiece trailed by Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc that shed 9.3 per cent. Conoil Plc went down by 8.3 per cent, just as Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc lost 8.2 per cent.

Market analysts said lack of information from Forte Oil Plc regarding its planned business

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

Ghana.“This divestment will reduce finance cost in the group significantly and increase distributable earnings for the benefit of the shareholders.

The finance cost attributable to the businesses to be divested stood at N2.7 billion and N2.2 billion for the year ended 31st December 2016 and the year ended 31st December 2017 respectively.

restructuring was weakening demand for the stock.

According to a stockbroker, after shareholders approved the proposal, nothing has been heard on the issue. The shareholders had approved the company’s to restructure its business by divesting its upstream services , power generating businesses in Nigeria and downstream business in

A S AT 0 2 / 0 7 / 2 0 1 8

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES

S/N 1 2 3 BANKING S/N 4 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N 5 6 BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS OIL AND GAS S/N 7 EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OIL AND GAS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE S/N 8 9 10 CROP PRODUCTION S/N 11 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 12 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES S/N 13 14 15 16 17 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N 18 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N 19 20 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N 21 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N 22 23 24 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS S/N 25 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N 26 27 28 29

BANKING ACCESS BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 299,404.51

PRICE

TRADES

VOLUME

30 BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N

10.35

-0.48

123

5,216,484

359,093.92

10.50

-0.48

181

12,566,746

772,353.75

24.60

-1.60

346

8,779,476

31

650

26,562,706

32

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

33

10.60

-0.47

34

MARKET CAP(Nm) 380,490.10

MARKET PRICE CAP(Nm) DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 3,818,777.71 224.10 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. 355,176.89 40.95

BUILDING MATERIALS

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

382,488.96

650.00

265

23,701,187

265

23,701,187

915

50,263,893

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

-2.14 -

124 32 156 156

1,708,073 112,373 1,820,446 1,820,446

TRADES

VOLUME

35 36

%CHANGE -

8

5,604

8

5,604

8 1,079

5,604 52,089,943

37 38 FOOD PRODUCTS S/N 39 40 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED S/N 41 42 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm) 440.00

43

CROP PRODUCTION FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC

87,759.72 75,100.00

75.10

FISHING/HUNTING/ TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ARBICO PLC. INFRASTRUCTURE/ HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

MARKET CAP(Nm) 2,280.00

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,297.17

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.20

-

0

0

92.00

-

21

125,850

0.13

12 33

205,059 330,909

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4.26

-

0 0

0 0

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.76

-

10

36,434

10

36,434

43

367,343

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

44 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 BANKING

9

5,170

-

2 0

600 0

54,468.31

1.34

-4.29

92

11,620,435

55

40,338.15

14.00

-

22 125 125

202,872 11,829,077 11,829,077

56 57 58

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

59

4.79

-

0 0

0 0

60 61

VOLUME

37,026.00

28.05

2.00

17

649,883

165.00

6.60

-

MARKET CAP(Nm) 4,962.94

S/N

PRICE

TRADES

0

0

17

649,883

62 63 64 65

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1.91

-

7

27,801

66

7

27,801

67

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,900.00

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

95.00

-

0

0

11,300.89

45.20

-

1

2

70

26,682.70

10.00

-

1

10

71 72

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,384.07

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 15,658.99

2

12

26

677,696

69

73

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

74

0.29

-

0 0

0 0

75

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

76 77

2.00

-

11

29,910

0.89

-

0

0

216,957.42

99.05

1.33

16

105,193

364,034.75

68

PRICE

242.22

42.35

-

11

32,141

PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 82,188.87 301,612.78

3,231.35

MARKET CAP(Nm) 31,961.34

DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNA366,991.02 TIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC 63,744.55 GUARANTY TRUST 1,177,247.17 BANK PLC. JAIZ BANK PLC 20,624.97 SKYE BANK PLC 9,577.41 STERLING BANK PLC. 40,306.59 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 174,724.52 UNITY BANK PLC 12,390.70 WEMA BANK PLC. 28,159.36

-

%CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,680.31

45

0.58 3.25

PRICE

HOUSEHOLD DURABLES NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

78 79

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC UNIC DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC VERITAS KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC

-0.96

64

389,218

102

556,462

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

10.10

1.00

65

2,069,622

19.00

-

39

132,669

32.80

2.50

108

1,437,102

2.07

-9.61

97

3,308,463

0.40

-

0

0

6.55

-

2

3,841

22.75

-

39

378,302

13.45

-

FOOD PRODUCTSMARKET PRICE -DIVERSIFIED CAP(Nm) CADBURY NIGERIA 24,416.63 13.00 PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 1,248,433.60 1,575.00

BANKING

0.49

MARKET CAP(Nm)

MARKET FOOD PRODUCTS CAP(Nm) DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS 50,500.00 PLC DANGOTE SUGAR 228,000.00 REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. 134,492.45 HONEYWELL FLOUR 16,415.51 MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTE1,489.00 GRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS 1,167.21 PLC. NASCON ALLIED 60,274.72 INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT 3,676.41 PLC.

S/N

225.71 2,111.93

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. 904,449.62 113.10

PRICE

1

5

351

7,330,004

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

-

18

179,945

-

22 40

13,481 193,426

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

22.10

-

0

0

3.10

-4.32

11 11

409,305 409,305

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

20.70

-

28

90,827

52.50

-

29

145,503

57

236,330

561

8,725,527

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

1.38

-3.50

45

2,288,232

20.00

-

34

1,825,802

2.20

-4.35

82

3,726,578

40.00

-1.23

190

5,924,025

0.70 0.69 1.40 6.00 1.06 0.73

-1.43 -1.64 9.28 1.37

7 15 19 40 9 39 480

166,214 214,437 100,355,111 704,890 191,307 16,895,702 132,292,298

MARKET CAP(Nm)

PRICE

%CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

4,117.00

0.20

-

1

107,000

4,643.24

0.67

9.84

51

8,971,909

29,400.00

2.80

-

7

19,103

1,960.00

0.28

-3.45

4

212,900

15,040.48

1.45

-

3

13,200

4,713.44

0.32

-8.57

6

610,900

2,940.00

0.21

-

5

30,800

2,411.47

0.53

-

0

0

1,913.74

0.50

-

0

0

2,333.20

0.38

-

2

1,200

539.32

0.42

-

1

100

2,636.44

0.36

-

5

72,638

4,038.55

0.94

-

5

11,143

6,400.00

0.80

-

4

30,000

2,720.00

0.34

-8.11

12

930,500

17,161.63

3.25

1.56

12

349,873

2,012.26

0.26

-

9

5,079

2,023.23

0.53

-3.64

7

614,310

1,667.19

0.25

-

3

11,000

2,502.25

0.30

-

0

0

5,422.63

0.42

-

1

500

4,483.72

0.48

-

3

650

516.46

0.20

-

2

107,000

8,000.00

0.50

-

0

0

4,160.00

0.30

3.45

10

397,100

˾ THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

42

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

d,/^ z &Z/Es ^d ϰϬ > ^ d, E^ ^/ Θ E^ ϯϬ /E y dŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ Ă LJĞĂƌ ĂŐŽ ;:ƵŶĞ ϱƚŚ ϮϬϭϳͿ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŽĨ ϰϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ ^ƚŽĐŬ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝƋƵŝĚŝƚLJ͕ ƚƌĂĚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ;ŇŽĂƚͿ ĂŶĚ ƐŝnjĞ ;ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶͿ͘ ŽůůĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϵϰ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚŽƚĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ ϰϮ͘Ϭй ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚĂďůĞ ŇŽĂƚ͘ Ɛ Ăƚ tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ͕ ϰƚŚ ŽĨ :ƵůLJ ϮϬϭϴ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ Ă ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ Ϭ͘ϬϮй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ůŽǁĞƌ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϱϲϰϵ͘ϰϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚƐ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ϭ͘ϰй͘ dŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƐƵƌƉĂƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ Ͳ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ʹϭ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ϯϬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ Ͳ Ϯ͘ϱй͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϮ͘ϱйͿ͕ E ^d> ;Ͳ Ϭ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;ͲϬ͘ϱйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ϭϵ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ džƚĞŶĚƐ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ZƵŶ ŝŶƚŽ ϯƌĚ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ^ĞƐƐŝŽŶ͙ E^ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϯй dŚĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ǁĂƐ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝƌĚ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐŝǀĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ E^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϳ͕ϰϵϵ͘Ϭϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϵй͘ dŚĞ ĚƌĂŐ ŝŶ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJΖƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϮ͘ϲйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϲ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ E ^d> ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϯϴ͘ϰďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ Eϭϯ͘ϱƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϰϵ͘ϵй ƚŽ ϯϴϭ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐůŝĚ ϵ͘ϵй ƚŽ EϮ͘ϰďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ Dh>d/s Z^ ;ϮϬϬ͘ϬŵͿ͕ 'h Z Edz ;Ϯϴ͘ϰŵͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;ϭϴ͘ϴŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ ǁĞƌĞ 'h Z Edz ;Eϭ͘ϭďŶͿ͕ E' D ;Eϭϵϱ͘ϰŵͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;Eϭϲϴ͘ϮŵͿ͘ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ŚĂůƚĞĚ Ă ϮͲĚĂLJ ůŽƐŝŶŐ ƐƚƌĞĂŬ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϲй͕ ĂƐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;нϭ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;нϭ͘ϯйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϭ͘ϲй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ E/' Z/ E Z t Z/ ^ ;ͲϮ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϲ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕ ĚĞĐůŝŶŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϴй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ &KZd ;ͲϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ KEK/> ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ EE ;Ͳϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ t W/ ;Ͳϴ͘ϬйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϰй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ͛ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

Thursday, July 5, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Current Price

Ticker

Price Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin Change Index to YTD g Change Date

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,564.49

-0.02%

1.4%

56.4%

19.4%

7.0%

7.5x

0.9x

5.3%

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.00

1.0%

20.7%

-1.8%

-1.4%

32.6%

5.2%

6.5x

2.2x

6.8%

15.4%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

24.30

1.3%

12.2%

-5.2%

-6.3%

26.3%

3.6%

4.1x

1.0x

11.1%

24.6%

111.00

-2.5%

7.3%

-17.7%

-17.8%

17.4%

27.8x

4.7x

3.7%

3.6%

1,500.00

-0.7%

7.7%

-3.6%

-3.6%

73.3%

18.9%

35.0x

22.2x

2.8%

2.9%

223.00

0.1%

5.9%

-3.0%

-3.0%

22.7%

12.0%

19.3x

4.5x

4.7%

5.2%

0.5%

13.2%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

10.8%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

10.55

6.5%

19.9%

20.0%

6.7%

0.8%

7.6x

0.6x

2.4%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.30

-0.5%

4.4%

-1.4%

-2.8%

12.7%

1.5%

5.1x

0.7x

6.3%

19.7%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

10.30

0.0%

4.3%

0.0%

-1.1%

15.9%

1.9%

4.6x

0.7x

8.3%

22.0%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

20.00

0.0%

3.8%

17.6%

22.9%

12.9%

1.0%

6.7x

0.9x

650.00

0.0%

3.2%

3.8%

3.8%

22.3%

13.2%

3.3x

0.7x

2.8%

29.9%

15.0%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

52.05

0.0%

3.6%

25.4%

27.3%

30.8%

4.1%

9.9x

2.7x

1.0%

10.1%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

51.25

-6.8%

3.1%

25.0%

27.5%

19.2%

8.0%

27.4x

3.7x

1.0%

3.6%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

97.00

-2.1%

2.3%

3.2%

3.2%

15.4%

6.1%

18.5x

2.5x

0.7%

5.4%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

39.00

-1.1%

1.4%

-13.1%

-13.1%

-36.8%

-7.7%

2.2x

3.8%

-15.8%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.21

6.3%

1.1%

-10.2%

-14.3%

10.4%

1.4%

1.7x

0.4x

5.0%

16

Oando PLC

6.50

0.8%

1.4%

8.5%

8.5%

10.3%

1.5%

8.1x

0.5x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

18.35

1.1%

1.0%

-8.3%

-9.9%

45.0%

20.0%

5.5x

2.0x

13.6%

18.3%

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

92.00

0.0%

1.5%

35.9%

35.9%

39.7%

29.4%

9.2x

3.1x

3.3%

10.9%

18

57.6% 12.4%

19

International Brew eries PLC

42.35

0.0%

0.6%

-22.3%

-23.0%

24.6%

7.4%

44.3x

10.1x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

32.75

0.0%

0.7%

12.9%

12.9%

13.1%

3.0%

7.2x

0.8x

3.1%

14.0%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

11.2%

2.5%

8.4x

0.9x

1.4%

11.8%

22.6x

0.6x

4.7%

1.38

3.8%

0.5%

-5.5%

-6.8%

-0.7%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

13.90

0.5%

-17.8%

-17.8%

1.5%

0.6%

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.40

1.4%

0.5%

-6.7%

-10.8%

-5.8%

-0.7%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

210.00

0.0%

0.5%

-8.7%

2.28

9.6%

0.7%

190.00

0.0%

25

FCMB Group Plc

26

11 PLC

0.5%

27

Forte Oil PLC

26.10

-10.0%

0.3%

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

20.70

0.0%

0.4%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

12.30

1.7%

0.3%

0.0%

2.3%

0.1x

4.4% -52.3%

-8.7%

25.0%

5.3%

10.2x

2.4x

8.1%

9.8%

44.3%

5.8%

0.9%

4.4x

0.3x

4.4%

23.0%

-2.4%

-2.4%

38.8%

15.7%

6.8x

2.3x

4.2%

14.7%

-40.0%

-37.9%

17.6%

1.6%

14.1x

2.2x

0.5%

-2.1%

10.7%

5.0%

19.6x

2.0x

2.6%

5.1%

-21.5%

-21.2%

2.0%

0.8%

57.5x

2.0x

1.3%

1.7%

7.1%

30

Presco PLC

75.10

0.4%

9.6%

9.6%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

1.0x

2.7%

32.1%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

22.75

0.0%

0.4%

23.0%

18.4%

52.3%

19.7%

10.7x

4.8x

6.8%

9.3%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.8x

7.2%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.80

-3.3%

0.2%

-25.6%

-22.8%

5.3%

1.1%

8.3x

0.6x

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

28.05

0.0%

0.3%

0.2%

0.2%

17.3%

1.8%

7.8x

1.2x

10.7%

1.0%

4.2x

34 35

Sterling Bank PLC

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

1.40

0.7%

0.3%

29.6%

23.9%

10.00

0.0%

0.2%

-17.7%

-17.7%

19.00

0.0%

0.2%

-12.1%

-12.1%

0.0%

4.4%

2.8%

12.0% 3.6%

12.9% 23.8%

0.4x

1.4%

1.3x

2.0%

30.0x

1.3x

40.8%

3.3%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.00

0.2%

2.9%

-2.0%

66.2%

30.2%

16.4x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

39

Beta Glass PLC

90.45

0.0%

0.2%

76.3%

76.3%

17.7%

11.5%

11.0x

1.8x

1.2%

9.1%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

2.25

9.8%

T ra de s

T ic k er

M A YB A KER

M ULT IVER SE

FCM B

2.28

J A P A ULOIL

by V o lum e

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

200.0

0.0%

9.6%

0.36

GUA R A N T Y

28.4

1 .0%

A C C ESS

1 8.9

-0.5%

FCM B

1 3.9

9.6%

FB NH

1 3.6

0.5%

OA N D O

1 0.2

0.8%

9.1%

SKYEB A N K

0.72

9.1%

M B EN EF IT

0.39

8.3%

ET ER N A

7.00

7.7%

H M A R KIN S

0.31

6.9%

H M A R KIN S

8.8

6.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.21

6.8%

T R A N SC OR P

8.5

3.8%

LA SA C O

0.37

5.7%

ST ER LN B A N K

7.3

0.7%

N EIM ET H

0.60

5.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

7.0

1 .3%

T ic k er FO M C N IC H OLS C ON OIL C A VER T ON

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

26.10

-10.0%

0.81

-10.0%

27.50

-8.3%

2.01

-8.2%

T ra de s

by V a lue

T ic k er

Value

GUA R A N T Y

1 1 28.0

1 .0%

1 95.4

-0.5%

A C C ESS

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

1 68.2

1 .3%

FB NH

1 43.7

0.5%

WA P IC

0.46

-8.0%

NB

1 1 3.0

-2.5%

UN ILEVER

51.25

-6.8%

N EST LE

84.9

-0.7%

P R EST IGE

0.55

-5.2%

OA N D O

66.0

0.8%

EQUIT YA SUR

0.20

-4.8%

UB A

52.1

0.0%

1.51

-4.4%

UA C N

40.5

-0.7%

0.24

-4.0%

M ULT IVER SE

40.0

0.0%

LEA R N A F R C A R EGA LIN S

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

ROA

1

T o p 10 L o s e r s

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ROE

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Eronmosele Aziba | eaziba@afrinvest.com

43

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͽ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ

MARKET NEWS

NSE, Kinabuti Partner to Promote Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is partnering Kinabuti to empower young people with entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy leveraging its ‘Dare To Dream’ initiative across university campuses in Nigeria. The move, NSE said in a statement, is part of its contribution towards building a financially savvy generation.

According to exchange, the partnership will see it engage with about 25,000 undergraduates expected

to be reached during the 2018 edition of the ‘Dare to Dream’ activation by giving them a financial literacy talk, educating them about the various offerings available in the capital market and conducting trivia quiz to test understanding of the learning from the various talks.

Also, the state champions of the programme that will proceed to the boot camp will have the opportunity of visiting the Nigerian bourse and have an experience of the

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

trading floor as well as meet with brokers to better understand how trading is done. NSE officials will further participate in the programme by featuring as judges in selecting the winners of the Dare to Dream project at the grand finale.

Speaking on the initiative, Head, Corporate Communications, NSE, Olumide Orojimi, said: “Only a highly financially literate population can take advantage of suitable financial products and services to achieve

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 03Jul-2018, unless otherwise stated.

sustainable financial wellbeing. This partnership complements our various financial literacy programmes aimed at building a highly financial literate population that is competent to, or confident in choosing and utilising financial products and services to raise their welfare. With about 65 per cent of the Nigerian population as youths, we have carefully chosen this partnership to help raise the financial literacy level of our future leaders.”

According to him,

the exchange, prior to its participation in the Dare2dream project, the platform empowers Nigerian youths by developing talents and skills in fashion and entertainment related industries.

“With this sponsorship, the participants will have an opportunity to learn more about finance and enhance the potential for participation and job opportunities in the capital market,” it said.

Also commenting, CoFounder of Kinabuti the

producer of Dare2Dream, Francesca Rosset said: “We are excited to welcome NSE on board season 5 of the Dare2Dream initiative.

The partnership is key to promote financial literacy amongst the youths, an essential for building an inclusive economy in Nigeria. In addition to the great learnings we have in store for the youths, their being able to better understand the capital market and investment from NSE will play a huge role in preparing them for their future.”

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 184.52 186.26 4.11% Nigeria International Debt Fund 250.83 252.62 8.76% 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 2.11% ACAP Income Funds 0.64 0.64 6.89% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 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 12.69% 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 N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1,175.22 1,175.99 8.04% FBN Heritage Fund 147.16 148.42 4.62% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.22% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $112.33 1.50% $111.90 FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $111.72 $112.16 1.56% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 175.11 177.63 8.98% 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 3.08 3.08 6.59% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.83% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 103.51 104.63 3.60% 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 12.75% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.17 2.19 2.83% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.19% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.69 121.04 4.93%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.19 1.22 4.18% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,079.37 1,079.37 7.00% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 13.28% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.81 11.87 6.99% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.88% 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 133.48 135.88 3.66% 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 7.82% 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 2,386.49 2,406.58 6.40% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.03 186.03 5.43% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.04 1.05 3.47% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 239.90 239.95 8.93% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 184.87 186.97 3.23% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,803.11 9,936.42 1.38% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.73% 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 13.07 13.28 5.06% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.83 13.99 5.63% Zenith Income Fund 20.47 20.47 8.15% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.81%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 136.51 103.70 51.30

1.01% 3.06%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.13 150.65 110.79

12.23 153.78 112.81

0.07% 5.45% 1.39%

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

4.63 9.13 17.65 19.48 144.46

4.67 9.21 17.75 19.68 146.46

-2.25% -4.62% 0.80% -0.97% 5.61%

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.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͳË&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

44

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T H I S D AY Ëž THURSDAY JULY 5, 2018

45

NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL Supreme Court Complex Three Arms Zone, P.M.B 483, Abuja

ADVERTORIAL ENROLLMENT/VERIFICATION OF 2019 FEDERAL JUDICIARY RETIREES UNDER THE CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME 1.

In line with the provisions of Section 12 of the Pension Reform Act 2014 and as part of the implementation process of the issuance of Federal Government Retirement Bonds, the National Judicial Council will th commence an enrolment exercise from Monday, 9 July, 2018 for employees of the Federal Judiciary that will retire from service in 2019 after attaining 60 years of age or 35 years in service, whichever is earlier.

f) g) h) i) j)

Letter of indemnity in case of voluntary retirement stating the amount paid as pension and or gratuity if any; Authenticated past Record of service; Pay Slip indicating grade level and step as at July, 2007; Last Pay Slip indicating grade level and step; Evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator indicating Personal identification Number (PIN); Evidence of Transfer and Acceptance of Service (where applicable).

Two recent Passport photographs Letter of Confirmation of Appointment or Official Gazette.

2. It is important to emphasize that only Retirees who have been enrolled will be issued with the Federal Government Retirement Bond which will be liquidated and paid into their Retirement Saving Accounts with their respective Pension Funds Administrators.

k) l) m)

3. The affected employees would be physically enrolled and are expected to come along with the originals of the under-listed documents for sighting, while photocopies of same would be submitted during the exercise: a) Letter of first Appointment/Gazette b) Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age; c) Letter of Last Promotion th d) Pay Slip indicating grade level and step as at 30 June, 2004. e) Introduction Letter from the Court/Judicial Body indicating date of first appointment, grade level and step as at 30th June 2004, and grade level and step as at the date of retirement.

4. The Pension Desk Officers (PDO) must be available at the designated centers during the period of enrolment to verify/authenticate and endorse the retirement registration forms and all relevant documents of each retiree.

5. Medically unfit affected retirees are exempted from the physical enrolment. The Desk Officers are however advised to come along with the aforementioned documents as well as a letter from a Government approved Hospital certifying that the affected retiree is medically unfit to attend the exercise.

6. Next of kin(s) are to come along with the aforementioned documents, Death Certificate and Letter of Administration.

7. The exercise is scheduled to hold on the dates stated hereunder: -

ITINERARY FOR THE ENROLLMENT OF FEDERAL JUDICIARY STAFF RETIRING BETWEEN 1st January, 2019 and 31st December, 2019 Phase 1: Southern Zones -- 9th to 13th July, 2018 S/N

Geographical Zone

1 2 3

South East South South South West

1st Center Enugu Delta Lagos

Dates

2nd Center

Dates

Venue

9th & 10th July 9th & 10th July 9th & 10th July

Imo Akwa-Ibom Osun

12th & 13th 12th & 13th 12th & 13th

Federal High Court Federal High Court Federal High Court

Phase 2: Northern Zones -- 16th to 20th July, 2018 S/N

Geographical Zone

1 2 3

North East North West North Central

1st Center Gombe Kano Nasarawa

Dates

2nd Center

Dates

Venue

16th & 17th July 16th & 17th July 16th & 17th July

Adamawa Sokoto Kwara

19th & 20th 19th & 20th 19th & 20th

Federal High Court Federal High Court Federal High Court

Phase 3: Federal Capital Territory -- 23rd & 24th July, 2018 S/N 1

Geographical Zone Federal Capital Territory

Center Abuja

Dates 23 & 24th July rd

Venue Federal High Court

8.Note that all the retiring staff can be attended to at any centre that is most convenient for them irrespective of their geopolitical zones.

All enquiries should be directed to:The Ag. Director (Pension) National Judicial Council, Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja Tel: 0803-589-9988, 08033020435, 08037868730 and 08035868498

SIGNED MANAGEMENT NATIONAL JUDICIAL COUNCIL

THURSDAY JULY 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

46

FOREIGN/DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS

Editor: VINCENT OBIA vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com 0805 468 1757

In Brief Egypt’s Appeals Court Overturns Ruling on Morsi An appeals court in Egypt on Wednesday overturned a verdict that placed more than 1,500 people, including former President Mohamed Morsi, on a national terror list. The former democratically elected leader was deposed in 2013. The Court of Cassation returned the case to a lower court for review in response to appeals filed by defendants, many of whom belong to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood organisation. Retired football star Mohamed Aboutrika was among those on the list. He was first placed on the list last year, accused of funding the organisation. He denied the allegation.

US to Keep Gulf Waterway Open despite Iran’s Threats The US military said once again yesterday it will keep Gulf waterways open to oil tankers as the Iranian president appeared to renew threats to close off the region. Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman for the US military’s Central Command, told the Associated Press news agency on Wednesday that US sailors and its regional allies “stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows”. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday hinted Iran could halt regional exports if it is stopped from exporting oil after the US pulled out of the nuclear deal with world powers.

Manuel Lopez Obrador in victory sign, July 1

Mexico: Manuel Obrador Begins a Difficult Presidency The new Mexican president faces the daunting prospect of putting his promise of radical transformation into action and meeting the groundswell of expectations from citizens.

But can he avoid the temptation of getting into a confrontation with Trump and adding an external front to his battles? Vincent Obia reports

L

eft-wing politician and former Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Sunday emerged victorious in Mexico’s presidential election with a stunning 53 per cent of the vote. Obrador campaigned on the platform of a vigorous war against corruption and drug-related violence. He won more than double the votes of his nearest challenger, making his victory the widest in his country since the 1980s.

In his victory speech Monday, Obrador promised “profound change” in the country with some of the worst records of corruption, drug violence, and inequality in the Americas.

But facing up to the country’s powerful drug cartels would be a challenging task for the new president. The cartels are mostly fed by their very close, sometimes inseparable, ties to state institutions.

Almost 30, 000 people were killed last year in Mexico in mainly drug-related violence, making the year the most violent in over two decades. Obrador believes the violence is caused by the rampant corruption in Mexico, hence his decision to make the fight against corruption and violence the central message of his campaign.

The new president has an ambitious plan for his country and he will really have his work cut out to accomplish it. “He has talked about many economic policies that look inwards,” says senior fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, a United States nonpartisan, non-profit foreign-policy think tank, Shannon K O’Neil. “He is going to be looking domestically.”

But he would need a lot of support from his country’s powerful neighbour, the United

States. About 90 per cent of Mexico’s economy is dependent on trade and manufacturing, with the US as its main partner.

Already, Obrador and United States President Donald Trump seem to maintain a warm relationship, despite his initial confrontational attitude towards the US president while campaigning for the presidency.

Obrador said in his victory speech, “We will pursue a relationship of friendship and co-operation with the United States, always rooted in mutual respect and in the defence of our fellow Mexicans who live and work honourably in that country.”

Trump also tweeted a congratulatory message to Obrador, saying, “I look very much forward to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico.”

In another congratulatory message, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement Monday, “The United States and Mexico share a lasting friendship based on strong economic, cultural, and historical ties that bind our nations. The United States looks forward to deepening our vibrant partnership with Mexico on security and prosperity for our citizens and our shared democratic values.

“We look forward to working with the Peña Nieto administration during the transition period, and with President-elect Lopez Obrador when the new administration takes office on December 1, to continue strengthening our partnership and advancing common goals for both our nations.”

However, Trump has said he would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) between Mexico, US, and

Canada and build a wall along the US-Mexico border, which has annoyed Mexico. The US president’s hard-line policy on migration, particularly the separation of migrant families at the US-Mexico border, has caused much annoyance in Mexico and brought widespread condemnation to America.

Obrador says he would make Trump see reason to rethink his hard-line stance. But observers believe he may not have the clout to do that – which seems to put the two men clearly on a collision course.

The two leaders were reported to have discussed immigration, trade and security in their first phone call on Monday.

On the domestic scene, Obrador has promised to tackle corruption, dismantle the power cartel built on drug, and curtail violence.

While successive governments in Mexico have fought the cartels with the full might of the military, Obrador believes such strategy would not solve the problem. He has suggested amnesty for drug cartel leaders if families of their victims’ agree. This has brought him criticism, as some see him as trying to give the drug kingpins a soft-landing.

Obrador is an all-time activist, a left wing social conservative and pragmatic politician.

He is not from Mexico’s traditional elite. In politics, he has fought for indigenous rights and often clashed with the police in the 1990s.

His basic message is that he, as a political outsider, holds the key to fixing Mexico’s broken political, economic, and social system. It would be interesting to see how the new president will combine the intimidating tasks of confront the powerful domestic cartels and managing his relationship with Trump.

EU Lawmakers Back European Investment Bank Work in Iran EU lawmakers on Wednesday voted to allow the European Investment Bank (EIB) do business in Iran, overcoming a blocking attempt and keeping alive plans to save the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran that Washington recently abandoned.

The EIB, the European Union’s not-forprofit long term investment arm, is a key pillar of the bloc’s attempts to maintain business links with Iran in the face of Washington’s decision to re-impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

However, the EU lawmakers’ decision does not oblige the EIB to work with Iran, a move that could jeopardise its ability to raise money on U.S. markets and so have far reaching consequences for its operations.

China’s HNA Chairman Wang Dies in France Chinese conglomerate HNA Group [HNAIRC.UL] Co-Chairman Wang Jian died during a business trip in France on July 3 in what French police said appeared to be an accidental fall from a wall while posing for a photograph.

Wang, 57, is regarded as the architect of an eye-popping $50 billion acquisition spree that saw HNA accumulate assets ranging from a stake in Deutsche Bank AG to high-profile overseas properties.

Under pressure from Beijing, HNA has since sold off many of those assets to slash debt. He was in charge of HNA’s strategy and was alleged to have run the day-to-day operations, while his fellow chairman and co-founder Chen Feng was often the public face of the group.

His death complicates the troubled conglomerate’s efforts to restructure and pay off borrowings, and could increase pressure on HNA to reveal more about its oft-criticized opaque ownership.

THURSDAY JULY 5, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Buhari Warns His Successors Not to Return Stolen Assets to Looters Promises to overhaul judiciary

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned his successors not return the loots and assets recovered by his administration from those who looted the nation’s treasury.

He recalled that stolen assets seized from looters during his military regime were returned to them when he was ousted in 1983.

Buhari said it was in order not to see a repeat of this that the

present administration has been selling off assets recovered from looters and putting the money in the government coffers to forestall the incidents of the past.

The president was responding to a question on Nigeria’s antigraft battle during a joint press briefing at the end of Namibian President, Hage Geingob’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “We are pursuing people who have declared assets. But we find out that they have much more than they have declared. We follow

House Probes Recovery, Utilisation of Abacha Loot, Others James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion seeking to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the total amount so far recovered from the General Sani Abacha loot by the federal government from 1998 to date.

It further sought to establish the sources of the monies; payments to lawyers, if any, and whether procedures were followed in the negotiation process for the release of the loot.

The lower House is also seeking to establish if the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the federal government and foreign countries on the repatriation were in line with constitutional provision and if recovered funds had been utilised for the benefits of the common man.

The probe will also cover all other recoveries made from looted public funds.

The House resolution followed a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi) on the need to stop the federal executive from expending the last tranche of the Abacha loot or any recovered loot at all without parliamentary approval.

His motion originally requested that the sum of $322 million to be released by the Switzerland Government be paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and distributed to the federating units in line with the current revenue sharing formula.

The motion further urged the federal government to come up with a supplementary appropriation bill, earmarking the funds due to it from the Abacha loot for the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

The motion had called on the federal government to immediately present to the National Assembly how much has been released from the recovered loot and how they have been spent.

In his lead debate, Karimi said although the loot had been released to the federation in several tranches in recent times by the Swiss Government, there had been little disclosure to the public by the federal government.

He further picked holes in a recent statement credited to the Special Adviser to the President on Justice Reforms, Juliet IbekakuNwagwu, who was reported to have stated that in line with the MoU signed between the Swiss Government and the Nigerian

Government, the $322 million would be paid directly to the accounts of the poorest Nigerians without recourse to the National Assembly.

The lawmaker noted that by the virtue of Section 12 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended), no treaty between the federal government and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which such treaty has been enacted by the National Assembly.

Therefore, he argued that no agreement or MoU purportedly signed by the federal government with the Swiss Government can have any force of law in Nigeria, except approved and enacted by parliament.

He also said all revenues raised and received by the federal government shall be paid to the CRF by virtue of Section 80 (3) of the constitution, adding that no such monies shall be withdrawn from the account unless the issue of such funds has been authorised by the National Assembly.

According to him, “As a result, no monies can be paid or expended without National Assembly approval.”

He said it was difficult for government to determine who qualifies as a poor family to be able to benefit from its financial handouts, adding that the parliament is closer to the people to know who is impoverished.

The lawmaker added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) “has no power to use Nigeria’s money anyhow they like. Let the constitution be followed: this is impunity...

This parliament must decide what they’ll use Nigerian money for.”

Contributing to the motion, Hon. Hassan Saleh (APC, Benue) said: “I smell corruption in disguise,” adding that the funds cannot be effectively distributed to the poor by the executive, as he pointed to the Sure-P and school feeding schemes of the government where no tangible results have been achieved.

Rather, he said part of the loot could be committed to the completion of Ajaokuta steel company to provide millions of jobs to unemployed Nigerians.

Hon. Nkem Uzoma-Abonta (PDP, Abia) added that with all its noble intentions, the federal government’s decision to keep money “runs contrary to our law.”

them through their bank accounts to the companies they formed to the contracts they got.

“Sometimes they swear to Almighty God that their structures that cannot develop feet and run away does not belong to them.

Then they are confronted with their bank accounts.

“Again, using my experiences when I was arrested and detained, people were given back what they have appropriated. This time around, I said we are going to sell them and put the money into the treasury and I will see whoever comes after that will have the courage to take money from the treasury and give to anybody.”

Buhari also said his administration would soon reorganize the nation’s judiciary to ensure effective fight against corruption in the country.

His administration, he said, plans to dedicate some judges to deal with

corruption cases where all those found wanting in their dealings will be prosecuted. The president added: “We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have questions to answer.

“So that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up. We are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible.”

Buhari who said the country had received the cooperation of other countries in the war against corruption despite the difficulties involved, added that the government was trying to sell recovered stolen assets and return the money to the treasury.

“So we are willing but it’s very difficult under this multi-party democracy system. We are getting the cooperation of countries. We are trying to sell the assets wherever we

found them and bring the money into the Nigerian treasury. This is all I can say at this stage because we are reorganising the judiciary.

“We are going to dedicate some judges to deal with corruption cases and try to put forward and prosecute all those that investigations proved that they have question s to answer. So, that is what I’m telling you that we haven’t given up. We are doing our best and we will recover as much as humanly possible,’’ he said.

In his own briefing, Geingob who thanked the Nigerian government for its support and assistance to Namibia, especially on the deployment of Nigerian volunteers to the country under the Technical Aid Corps, said he was in Nigeria to pay his last respect to the late former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of

Africa (ECA), Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, whom he described as his mentor.

Adedeji, who passed on April 25, this year, will be buried on July 7.

Geingob congratulated Buhari on his efforts in the fight against corruption in Nigeria and beyond, lamenting that corruption in Africa had become a menace, pointing out that strong people like Buhari were needed to put the scourge under control.

The Namibian president also said on his part, he had declared war against both poverty and corruption in his country, adding that he was following the footpaths of Buhari.

“He (Buhari) is taking steps that will encourage all of us. I declared war against poverty and corruption. I declared my assets publicly. I therefore emulate my brother here,’’ he added

PRESIDENTIAL CHAT WITH THE YOUTH

President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron (right), and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, during an interactive session with young African entrepreneurs hosted by theTony Elumelu Foundation, in Lagos…yesterday

DSS: Insecurity Threat to 2019 Elections Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, has identified insecurity as a major threat to the 2019 general election in the country.

Daura made this submission at a presentation he made before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria headed by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Presenting the committee’s 38page report at the Senate Plenary yesterday, Lawan said Daura, while appearing before his committee, raised the alarm over the bleak outlook of the 2019 general election “with all the hate speeches and insecurity prevailing in the polity.”

He quoted the DSS boss as saying “the country is getting more divided like never before due to the lack of synergy between the traditional institutions and the

security agencies, as well as hate speeches that have dominated the political space.”

Lawan further said the other security chiefs who appeared before the committee spoke in the same vein.

He explained that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, on his part, identified the country’s major security challenges to include Boko Haram threats, militancy, cultism, secessionist and extremist groups,inter-ethnic, religious and communal violence.

Buratai was also said to have identified impediments to combating internal security challenges to include absence of governance and ungoverned space, inadequate intelligence information sharing mechanisms among security agencies, inadequate resourcing of security agencies,administration of criminal justice system, porous borders and poor border controls, poverty, unemployment and lack

of opportunities and cultural and social impediments.

Lawan said the committee observed that the security agencies require professional skills, equipment ant technology to contain security issues adding that agencies lack critical equipment and where they exist they are obsolete.

According to him, the Committee thereafter came up with an 18-point recommendation which include identification of poverty as a constant threat to national security and that government should ensure its reduction.

“Nigeria’s growing population will challenge anti-poverty strategies to a point where national security will be severely compromised unless the economy is radically improved at this stage and in future.”

Lawan also stressed that the nation’s basic security infrastructure requires comprehensive review with the political structure being a major factor in the review as well as

the nature of the challenges the nation faces.

Other recommendations include the need to isolate current security challenges from political partisanship, narrow political interests and ethno- religious sentiments. The report also emphasised that the basic structure in the management of national security should be revisited by the Presidency to address weaknesses in co-ordination, collaboration and synergy.

“All the country security assets are dangerously stressed by current security challenges and there is the need to increase the size of of the Nigeria police,the military and other para- military agencies,” he said.

The committee also identified the existence of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North East and millions of young uneducated people as potential threats to the present and future security of the nation.

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Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Flay Adesina over Comment on Ranching Shola Oyeyipo The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has vehemently protested the assertion by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, that it would be better for those that were opposed to cattle ranching to provide lands than to die in the herdsmen’s attacks.

Adesina, while speaking on an African Independent Television (AIT) programme onTuesday, had told the anti-ranching protesters that they would only lay claim to ancestral attachment when they were still alive.

Reacting to Adesina’s comments in a statement signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (South-west), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south), Prof Chigoziw Ogbu (South-east) and Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt),

the forum described Adeshina’s position as “scandalous, reckless, insensitive and vexatious.”

“The attention of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has been drawn to the scandalous, reckless, insensitive and vexatious statement credited to Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media to the President that all communities opposed to Federal Cattle Territories (FCT) misnamed ranches should choose between their lands and their lives.

“Ancestral attachment?

You can only have ancestral attachment when you are alive. If you are taking about ancestral attachment, if you are dead how does the attachment matter?” said Adesina.

“We take this ludicrous declaration as a death sentence on all those who oppose the

imperialist agenda of the federal government to grab lands from communities in Nigeria and hand over to herdsmen for their private business.

“Adesina is close to the heart of presidency to know why it has treated killer Fulani herdsmen with kid gloves in the last three years and the arrogance with which he spoke showed they now

assume their foot soilders have terrorised us into submission .

“This death threat is coming after the president told the governor of Benue State in January to learn how to live with murderers, the Inspector General of Police saying the killers are Nigerians, the Defence Minister claiming that blockage of cattle routes is the reason the herdsmen

are killing and the same Adesina telling us the killings done under Buhari in three years have not equalled the number of deaths that occurred under PDP,” the leaders stated.

According to the forum, Adeshina’s statement is a confirmation of their earlier charge that the role of the president and the duty the

president owes to the terror herdsmen are in conflict, adding that there is greater allegiance to the cows than the country.

“If Adesina keeps his job in the next 24 hours, all doubt would be removed over the statement Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) made that there is a working relationship between the killers and the security forces,” they said.

FEC Approves N206bn for 2nd Niger Bridge Link Road Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday in Abuja approved N206 billion for the construction of 11.9 kilometre-link road to the second Niger Bridge.

Briefing journalists at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in the State House, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the contract was awarded to Julius Berger.

According to him, the project was initiated by the former administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan under the private public partnership (PPP) but collapsed, and now taken over by the federal government.

The minister said whereas the bridge itself is just 1.95 metres in length, the road meant to link the bridge to Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State covers 11.9 kilometres, disclosing that so far, N14 billion had been paid to the contractors.

He also said besides the memorandum on the link bridge that was approved by FEC, the council also re-awarded Oji- AchiMmaku- Awgu- Ndeabor road in Enugu State at the cost of N11.558 billion.

According to him, the contract meant to be executed within 24 months was awarded to Setraco following the failure of the earlier contractor to whom the project was awarded to execute the project.

He said: “There were two memos from the Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola, which were considered and approved today.

The first is the approval for the re-award of the contract for the rehabilitation of the Oji- AchiMmaku- Awgu- Ndeabor road in Enugu State. The contract was approved today (yesterday) at the sum of N11.558,6976 awarded to Mssr Setraco Nigeria limited.

“Completion period is 24 months.

What happened was that the contract was awarded earlier to a company that failed and Setraco that was given other sections of the road performed and had now been awarded the contract while that of the other contractor has been rescinded.

“Also approved today is the

contract for the link road and associated infrastructure for the second Niger Bridge. If you remember, this time last week I was in Onitsha and Asaba inspecting the second Niger Bridge.

“Today, FEC has now approved the award of the link road, the bridge itself is just 1.95metres but the link road is 11.9 km and this contract was awarded to Julius Berger for the sum of N206 billion.

It will include not just the link road but also associated infrastructure and this bridge links Anambra and Delta States.

“Remember that the project was conceived by the last administration under a PPP arrangement which failed and that is why the federal government had to take over this contract. So far, about N14 billion had been paid to contractors handling the bridge and the contract that was awarded is for the link and associated infrastructure that will link the bridge,” he stated.

Mohammed also said the council approved three memoranda from the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. One of the memoranda, he said, sought the ratification of the Multi-lateral Competent Authority Agreement on automatic exchange of financial account information.

He said the memorandum would assist the government in curbing the problem of tax evasion and simultaneously improve revenue collection of government. He also said FEC also approved another memorandum

by Adeosun seeking the approval of ratification of the African Fifty Article Association.

He said: “This particular memo is unique in the sense that both the African Fifty Project Finance and African Fifty Project Development Association are actually two windows which have been created by the African Development Bank (ADB) to allow for bankable infrastructural projects to be financed by subsidiaries of the bank.

He added that the council approved another memorandum presented by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, for a revised estimate total cost of the engineering, procurement and construction of the OB3 gas pipeline project at the cost of $92 million and another N765, 968 million.

EYEING HIGHER OIL PRICES

L-R: OPEC Secretary General, Mohammad Barkindo; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Adewale Tinubu, at Oando’s exhibition booth at the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference in Abuja...yesterday

WAEC Releases April/May Results, Records 50% Pass Funmi Ogundare The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) yesterday released the results of the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates where a total of 786, 016 candidates representing 49.98 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects including English language and Mathematics.

In this category were 389,655 males and 396,361 females, representing 47.32 and 52.92 per cent respectively.

The Head of the Nigerian National Office of the Council, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, who briefed journalists in Lagos, said there has been a decline in this year’s candidates performance by 10 percent compared with 2017 when it recorded 59.22 per cent

for 923,486 candidates.

He said a total of 1,578,846 candidates registered for the examinations from 17,886 recognised secondary schools in the country, out of which 1,572,396 candidates sat for the examination.

Of the total number, he said 1,572,396 candidates that sat for the examination, 823,424 were males and 748,972 were females, representing 52.36 per cent and 47.63 per cent respectively.

An analysis of the statistics of the performance of candidates shows that 1,572,396 candidates that sat for the examination, 1,213,244 candidates representing 76.84 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects ( with or without English language and/or Mathematics).

Adenipekun said a total of 858,424 candidates representing 54.59 per cent obtained credits

and above in a minimum of five subjects including English language but without Mathematics.

“Out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination in Nigeria, 1,470,338 candidates, representing 93.51 per cent have their results fully procesed and released while 102,058 candidates representing 6.49 percent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to errors traceable to the candidates in the course of registration or writing the examination. Such errors are being corrected by the council to enable the affected candidates get their results fully processed and released subsequently,” the HNO stressed.

He noted that a total of 1,328 candidates with varying degrees of special needs registered for the examination, saying: “Out of this number, 251 were visually challenged, 783 had impaired

hearing; 123 had low vision, 88 were spastic cum mentally challenged, and 83 were physically challenged.

All these candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination. Their results have been fully processes and released along with other candidates.”

While appealing to candidates who sat for the examination and have fulfilled their financial obligations to the council to check the details of their performance on its results website, www.waecdirect. org, he said; “The result checker PIN and serial number needed by candidates to check their results online are contained on the candidate’s Smart identity card used during the conduct of the examination. Certificates of candidates whose results have been fully processed and released will be ready in 90 days.”

AfDB Partners African Countries to Bridge Continent’s Investment Gaps Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The African Development Bank (AfDB) is billed to embark on a road-show in Abuja, to mobilise key stakeholders towards putting together a pipeline of bankable projects, ahead of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), which is designed to bridge the continent’s investment gaps, particularly in infrastructure..

AIF represents Africa’s own investment marketplace for accelerated economic transformation.

The Abuja road-show, which precedes the AIF, will hold on July 10,

2018, while the investment forum is scheduled for between November 7 and 9 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Working with multilateral institutions, the private sector, and governments, the AfDB is helping Nigeria and other African countries to develop investmentready projects for investors, fund managers and others managing substantial assets Through the AIF, the Bank, and its partners will screen and enhance bankable projects, attract co-investors, and facilitate transactions to close Africa’s investment gaps,

estimated at between US$200 billion to US$ 1.2 trillion a year.

Infrastructure financing needs alone are estimated at US $130 to $170 billion a year, with total commitments standing at just US$63 billion as at 2016, representing a financing gap of approximately US$ 67 to US$107 billion a year, in just infrastructure.

Nigeria’s National Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) 2014-2044 estimates that the country needs about US$ 3 trillion over the next 30 years to bridge its infrastructure financing gap.

The AfDB is convinced that

traditional fund providers at different levels of government do not have the required resources, and believes that external funding sources are therefore inevitable over the longterm.

The Abuja road show will include a briefing session, interaction with key industry players, and presentations from Nigeria’s senior Presidency and Finance Ministry officials on the country’s development priorities and project pipeline that could benefit from the AIF partnership.

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House to Introduce Bill on State Police Next Week Saraki seeks support of 36 states assembly Atiku backs lawmakers Deji Elumoye and James Emejo in Abuja Finally, a bill for an Act to alter the Nigerian Constitution and transfer the police from the Exclusive to Concurrent Legislative List and other matters related thereto will be introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives next week.

The Senate President , Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has also called for collaboration of the 36 states’ assembly in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to provide for state and community policing in the country.

This is coming as a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has thrown his weight behind the National Assembly’s decision to amend the constitution to provide for state police and community policing to deal with the current deteriorating state of insecurity in the country.

Sponsored by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), the Principal Act is amended in relevant Sections by creating new sections 215 and 216 to give powers to the states to have their police force.

Essentially, the bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Cap. 23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to delete item 45 from the exclusive legislative list, grant the National Assembly and the state Houses of Assembly the power to make laws with respect to the creation, formation and control of Police and other Government security services in Nigeria According to the draft bill made available to THISDAY, Section 217 of the constitution is amended to read that :“There shall be a police

force in each state of the Federation.

“Subject to the provisions of this constitution: a state Police Force shall be organised and administered in accordance with such provisions as may be prescribed by an act of the State House of Assembly; members of state Police shall have such powers and duties as maybe conferred upon them by law.”

Section 218. (1) reads: “There shall be - (a) a Commissioner of Police who shall be appointed by the governor on the advice of the State Police Council from among serving members of the State Police Force; (b) a Head of Police for each state of the Local Government Area of the State to be appointed by the State Police Service Commission; (2) The State Police Force shall be under the command of the State Commissioner of Police; (3) The Governor or such other Commissioner of the Government of the State as he may authorize in that behalf may give to the Commissioner of Police such lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those direction or cause them to be compiled with”.

Furthermore, Section 219 of the draft bill stated that; (1) “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the state House of Assembly may make laws for the further regulation and control of the State Police”.

Continuing, it stated:”The Principal Act is hereby amended by rearranging the existing sections 217 to 320 as sections 220 to 323. The Principal Act is hereby amended

by deleting item 45 from the exclusive Legislative list in part 1 of the second schedule of the Constitution.

“That the entire items on the Exclusive Legislative List in part 1 of the second schedule of the Constitution is hereby rearranged and renumbered as items 1 to 67 with the exclusion of the deleted item under this Bill. The Principal Act is hereby amended by creating new sections 21 in part 2 of the second schedule as follows: However, it continued that: “The National Assembly may make laws for the federation or any part thereof with respect to; a. Police force and other government security services in respect of anything pertaining to internal security and the maintenance of law and order in Nigeria; b. Regulation of ownership and control of Federal Police and other government security services.

“A House of Assembly of a state may make laws with respect to: a. The creation, formation or/and

establishment of Police Force and other security services in respect of any matter pertaining to internal security and the maintenance of law and order within that state and with regard to the enforcement of any law validly made by the House of Assembly of that state; b.. Regulation of ownership and control of State Police and other State Government security services.”

Gbajabiamila had through a letter on July 3, sought the endorsement of House Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on the draft bill for further processing.

Meanwhile, Atiku has commended the National Assembly for its decision to amend the constitution and formally provide for state police and community policing in the country.

He has also condoled with families and colleagues of the seven police officers who were killed by bandits in Abuja in the line of duty.

Atiku said the lawmakers, by

their action, had demonstrated courage in seizing the initiative to intervene in the country’s security crisis. Citing the massacres in Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna States and the murder of seven policemen in Abuja while on active duty, the former vice president noted that decisive action is needed to address the current security challenges.

According to him, given the seeming despair and helplessness of the citizens in the face of frequent deadly attacks, the National Assembly has a responsibility to give legal backing to the creation of state police and community policing in the country.

Atiku called on Nigerians to support the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly in this bold decision to amend the constitution to create state police and community policing.

He extended his condolences to the families and colleagues of the seven policemen killed in Abuja

in the line of duty.

In a related development, Saraki has called for collaboration of the 36 states’ assembly in the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to provide for state and community policing in the country.

Saraki spoke while receiving in audience the 36 States Assembly Speakers, led by its Chairman and Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly,Hon.AbdulmuminKamba, who were on a ‘thank you’ visit to leadership of the Senate, for passing the bill which granted financial autonomy to state legislatures.

He stated that state and community policing in the country has become imperative due to rising security challenges.

Saraki said: “You are all aware of the challenges we are currently facing in this country, particularly that of insecurity.

There is no doubt that the security architecture of this country presently cannot meet the demands and challenges before it.

We Will Dismiss Partisan Police Officers, Says IG Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has threatened to dismiss any officer found hobnobbing with politicians or acting in a way that could vitiate the July 14 election in Ekiti State.

Idris urged his men to be neutral and apolitical in line with the new creed of the Nigeria Police Force to serve Nigerians with dignity and honesty.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a lecture organised for Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state and other officers and men of the Force to sensitise them on the need to exhibit right attitudes for the coming governorship election.

Idris, who was represented by the Commander in charge of Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, said electioneering process and allowing the will of the electorate to prevail on the day of election were parts of the responsibilities of the police under him.

The IG urged the members of the public to report any police found wanting to the PCRRU that will be headed by Shogunle during the election.

He said: “We were not happy with complaints that followed the outcome of the last election in Ekiti State, particularly regarding the conducts of security personnel.

Though, police were not fingered, we need to charge our men on the need to be apolitical.

“We have no business being partisan. Our duty is to provide

security for electorate, election observers and ballot materials on the day of election and nothing more.

“You could recollect that those officers that were accused to have misbehaved in 2014 in Ekiti State have been investigated and punished by the authorities.

“I want you to be professional in your duties and wherever you are posted. The police work is service to the people. Don’t intimidate anybody to please politicians. You must think of your careers in the Force and prevent enjoyment of one day from destroying it.

“I know your salaries are not adequate, but there is dignity in contentment. Don’t allow these moneybags to spoil your names and your future.

“Election will come and go and later politicians shall realign and become friends while you will be in trouble, facing it all alone.

“We are saying that we are going to dismiss whoever is found guilty of misbehavior in this election. If we have strong evidence against you, we will also take legal action against you as well.”

Idris also directed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Bello, to direct his men to destroy all illegal check-points mounted across the state.

“Though, some checkpoints are made to create a defense, those are legal ones permitted to exist. But anyone that is mounted to extort the populace must cease to exist”, Idris stated.

BRAINSTORMING SESSION

National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, during a meeting between Senate Caucus of APC and National Working Committee (NWC) members of the party held in Abuja...yesterday Julius Atoi

2019 Elections: We’re Ready for Mischief Makers, Says INEC May register nine new parties Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is prepared to deal decisively with anyone planning to truncate the 2019 general election.

The commission also gave a hint that it may be registering additional nine political parties before the next general elections.

The Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, assured the leadership of political parties that INEC would continue to maintain its integrity as election managers.

Speaking at a quarterly meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of 68 registered political parties in the country, Yakubu said the commission is aware that as the country approaches the 2019 general election, there would be a lot of interest in its activities “for virtuous and malicious reasons.”

He said INEC had anticipated

the challenges far ahead of the mischief makers.

“Only a few days ago, Nigerians were legitimately outraged by the image of blank PVC advertised by an offshore company for purchase in the open market. Within a few hours, we contacted the online platform responsible for the advert which promptly removed it. What Nigerians may not know is that it was not a single advertiser. A second company was forced to remove a similar advert, and this morning, a third one was also withdrawn.

“We have extracted a commitment from Alibaba.com to stop this unwholesome practice forthwith and will continue to work with the security agencies to track down those responsible for the advert as well as any prospective buyers of which there are none so far. We suspect that many dubious enterprises will keep trying keep operating in openly and in the

dark web.

“We have anticipated these challenges and we are far ahead of the mischief makers. Our security source codes are not only robust but continuously enhanced,” Yakubu said.

The commission boss also assured Nigerians that the electoral processes have gone beyond the capacity of its officials to manipulate.

Yakubu said it is ludicrous to claim that the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to be used in the conduct of any election could be cloned and Smart Card Readers (SCR) pre-loaded.

According to him, “The card readers are only configured to specific polling units 72 hours or less before an election, set to operate only on election day from 8 a.m. and is manually shut down for accreditation after the last person on the queue has voted or automatically by 8 p.m.

“In Ekiti State, where we are deploying the enhanced Smart Card Readers (SCRs), this process has not even commenced. It is impossible to pre-load the card readers let alone do so with cloned PVCs.” He regretted that there is still fixation in certain quarters that INEC officials are involved in perverting the processes and procedures for partisan considerations.

According to him, INEC is not a political party and have no candidate in any election.

Speaking on the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election, Yakubu said the election would hold in 2,195 polling units spread across 177 wards in 16 local government areas, adding that 35 political parties have been cleared to contest in the election.

He said INEC has so far successfully implemented 12 out of the 14 activities leading to the election.

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PDP, APC Bicker over Ekiti Governorship Poll Main opposition party alleges plan to close Akure airport Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ahead of the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All

Progressives Congress (APC) have accused each other of plans to rig the election.

The main opposition party has also accused the APC-led federal government of planning to shut

El-Rufai’s Campaign Director Dumps APC John Shiklam in Kaduna Another Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Jaafaru Abbas Ibrahim, withdrew his membership of the party yesterday.

Ibrahim was Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s zonal campaign director during the 2015 elections.

In a letter addressed to the APC Chairman, Kwabai A ward in Zaria Local Government Area, Ibrahim described the party as a sinking ship, noting that it has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Kaduna State and Nigerians in general.

He said his remaining in the APC will be tantamount to committing political suicide which he cannot risk committing.

He accused Governor El-Rufai of allegedly jettisoning and abandoning the party manifesto and setting new personal goals and objectives, which according to him, are detrimental to the future of the party.

Ibrahim, a legal practitioner who was also appointed by the El-Rufai’s administration

as the Interim Management Committee Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area from June 2015 to December 2015, maintained that “recent developments before, during and after the party congresses in the state are further confirmation of our fears that some of us are not wanted in the party, such that our continuous stay and in-house struggles and skirmishes had not only stagnated but rendered the party comatose due to the fact that the worst elements, crooks, swindlers as well as the most selfish have taken control of both the party and the government, making the future of the APC uncertain”.

According to him, “the state is mired in violence and people are being killed on a daily basis, criminality, rural banditry, cyclical atrocities between political classes, kidnapping and robbery are taking their toll on the lives and livelihood of citizens of the state rendering the constitutional provisions that the governor as the chief security officer should provide for the security and welfare of the people an empty rhetoric.

down the Akure airport in Ondo State on Thursday (today) to stop top party members from attending a campaign rally scheduled to hold in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, who addressed journalists yesterday, alleged that the move to shut down the airport is part of the diabolic plot by the APC to stall the PDP rally.

He stated that all is set for the PDP mega rally but added that information at the party’s disposal indicates that the federal government is planning to use the excuse that they are carrying out repairs to shut down the airport against PDP members.

Ologbondiyan however said that despite APC’s “shenanigans”, PDP is sure of victory at the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state.

“ We are very sure that we will defeat the APC again in all the 16 Local Government Areas just like we did in the last election, “ he said.

The PDP Spokesman also urged INEC to ensure that the election is free and fair and that there is a level playing ground.

Also, while receiving a delegation of the Forum of Serving PDP Local Government Chairmen yesterday in his office in Abuja, the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, warned the federal government and the APC not to manipulate the Ekiti State governorship election.

“Don’t rig Ekiti governorship election; there will be crisis.

There may be no 2019 elections if you rig Ekiti election, “ he warned.

On its part, APC has asked the PDP and Governor Ayo Fayose to be ready for defeat at the governorship election,

insisting that it would ensure that any plot to rig the election by the PDP would be frustrated.

National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, urged Fayose and PDP to be ready to accept defeat at the end of the election.

Oshiomhole stated this shortly after the Chairman of the party’s Ekiti Election Committee and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, briefed members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, about the preparedness of the party ahead of the Ekiti governorship election.

The national chairman who declared that the party was fully ready for the election, added that “We are very impressed with the amount of work that governor Bagudu has done with other members of the campaign council.

“I have fought PDP in

Edo State, just relying on mobilisation and persuasion and we know how to win.

We will fall back on those conventions, tools of winning election and because they are not in that group, they cannot start learning new trick. So, Ekiti is as good as won,” he said.

“We have a candidate who is not new to governance, he has a track record. And we also know that in the last election, which brought Ayo Fayose to office, how it was rigged.

“Money collected from NNPC; the military officers, who were used; the young officer who participated in the misuse of the armed forces, his confessions. All those manipulating tools will not be used this time around.

So Fayose and his candidate will have to learn and prove they were never familiar with rigging. They have to convince the electorate,” he said.

Stop Harassing Our Members, NLC Warns DSS Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ekiti State chapter, Ade Adesanmi, has warned security agencies to desist from harassing and intimidating its members, saying the union would stand against such acts if noticed again.

Adesanmi added that security agencies have the right to invite members for questioning, but explained that members should not be ridiculed for political gains.

He said this in reaction to the arrests of two teachers at Olaoluwa Muslims Secondary School in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged scam connected with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Adesanmi added: “We are saying without mincing words that the political gladiators in Ekiti should stop intimidating our members.

Information at our disposal indicated that some of our members would be arrested and we are saying government agencies reserves the right to invite members for interaction but indiscriminate arrest and intimidation is what the Labour in Ekiti State stand against.

Adesanmi urged workers in to go out and exercise their civic rights during next Saturday’s governorship poll and vote according to their conscience.

Adesanmi, disclosed that all the candidates engaged by the workers had what it takes to lead the state as governor, adding that workers should mobilise adequately and ready to exercise their civic responsibility by

voting for candidate of their choice.

He said: “Let me say without mincing words that Ekiti State is blessed with a lot of potential, there is none of the candidates that interacted with us that cannot govern the state ,hence labour is saying that workers should go out and mobilise their dependants to vote according to their conscience.

“Let me reemphasise here that NLC is apolitical, hence we enjoin all workers to come out and fulfill our civic responsibilities by voting for the candidate of their choice.”

While noting that not all candidates honoured the union’s invitation for interactive sessions,Adesanmi thanked those that turned up for the event for seeing workers as critical stakeholders in the development of the state.

The labour boss said the interactive session with candidates afforded them the chance to critique their manifesto as it addressed the plight of workers and presented the union’s position paper on expectations of workers.

He further reiterated that the labour union would give whoever wins the election three months to clear backlog of salaries, otherwise the workers would mobilise against such government.

“However, it was made clear to the candidates that peradventure, the present administration cannot clear all the arrears of salaries, pension and gratuity, labour will give the incoming administration just three months to clears the backlog of salaries and pension and six months to reduce the gratuity owed appreciably, otherwise, workers will be led against the government,” he said.

FEC MEETING

L-R: Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday Godwin Omoigui.

Akala Joins Oyo APC Guber Race Ademola Babalola in Ibadan A former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday heeded the clarion calls of his numerous political support groups, which recently coalesced under Akala Support Group, to join the array of aspirants jostling for the sole ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of 2019 gubernatorial race.

Two weeks ago, the immediate past Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Bayo Adelabu declared his intention to vie for the same post. The list of those in the camp of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, eyeing the seat also include, Ibarapa-born entrepreneur, Dr. Ayantayo Ayandele; a technocrat, Joseph Tegbe of the KPMG; a former Head

of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN); a seasoned journalist, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan and the Managing Director/CEO of Costain (West Africa), Ayodeji Ismail Karim and a host of others.

But Alao-Akala who ruled the state between 2007 and 2011 after an initial stint on the same position, during the 11months his erstwhile boss, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, was impeached, told teeming supporters who besieged his Bodija residence that he was the most experienced and the one with the milk of human kindness to steer the ship of the state after Ajimobi.

“In the past few months, the political arena in the state has been agog with intense politicking by governorship aspirants jostling to occupy the Agodi Government House.

When I had the privilege of occupying that office several years ago, I endeavoured to put smiles on the faces of the people of the pace-setter state within the available resources.

“I make bold to say emphatically and unequivocally that my laudable accomplishments in virtually all sectors speak volumes and which without mincing words had earned me the sobriquet of “OYATO GOVERNOR”.

“Patriotic people of this state for quite some time now, I have been inundated by telephone calls, text messages from well meaning citizens and subjected to intense pressures by Destiny Group, corporate bodies, political associates and friends alike to stage a comeback to the governorship seat of our dear state.

“Consequently, with all sense of responsibility and

with a view to consolidating and surpass the achievements recorded so far by Governor Ajimobi towards making the state better, I, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala having communed with my Creator, the Almighty God, my immediate family and due consultations with the critical stakeholders, do solemnly offer myself to contest for the governorship seat of Oyo State come 2019. So help me God. “Finally, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to my numerous supporters across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state particularly the Destiny Group. I salute their courage and unwavering commitment to this project. I shall always be grateful to you all. Let us therefore continue to move forward in our collective dreams to build a united, peaceful, politically stable, economically viable and better Oyo State.”

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APC National Convention Appeal Committee Submits Report Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Appeal Committee set up to hear complaints and petitions arising from the recent National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday submitted its report to the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The Appeal Committee chaired by former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, said during the report submission ceremony at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja that it received 24 petitions.

Speaking on how the committee tackled the petitions, Nnamani said : “We treated each case very seriously. It wasn’t our

Police Protest Puts Nigeria’s Security at Risk, Says Melaye Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, has said the recent police protest in Borno State was not just an embarrassment to the country but has further put the country’s floundering security at risk.

Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district of Kogi State, made this known yesterday in a statement issued in Lokoja, the state capital.

According to him, the incident was unusual because policemen, who are deployed to prevent peaceful assembly and legitimate protests

by Nigerians, resorted to the same method to vent their anger over unpaid five months’ allowances.

He said the excuse given by the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Damian Chukwu, that the delay in the payment of the allowances might not be unconnected with the late passage of the 2018 Budget was not tenable.

He posited that the executive arm of government was allowed to spend money to the tune of what was appropriated in the previous year under the same budget line for the first six months of a new budget year. Whereas the protesters claim was that they haven’t been paid for five months, which means since February 2018.

“There must, therefore, be a different reason why these policemen were not paid other

than the purported delay in passing the 2018 budget.

“Obviously, other agents of government, such as ministers, civil servants and the Inspector-General of Police (IG) for instance, have been drawing their allowances within the same timeframe without the budget delay being a hindrance, which gives proof that the excuse offered is nothing but a cover-up for glaring mal-administration.

“It is therefore an act of wickedness to use the excuse of delayed passage of the 2018 budget to deprive these valiant men sent to face death, on behalf of all of us and for our collective security, of their legitimate entitlements,” Melaye said.

The senator further mentioned that it was on record that of Police IG, Ibrahim Idris, when ordered by his Commander-in-Chief to relocate to Benue State in order to effectively deal with issues of insecurity in that state earlier this year, flagrantly refused to comply.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the 2018 budget was delayed because some ministers and Heads of Parastatals failed to come before relevant committees of the National Assembly to defend their budget proposals in good time until the president gave a directive to compel them to do.”

Melaye, therefore, suggested that the executive arm of government should stop passing the buck and faces its duties of administering Nigeria properly.

purpose to add kerosene to already raging fire. We made what we consider to be useful suggestions to the new National Working Committee (NWC) that will give our members a feeling of justice.

“Justice does not mean you must win your case; it means that you will get a level playing field, that you are given the opportunity to make your case. The appellants had tremendous opportunity of presenting their cases, and they did,” Nnamani said.

Oshiomhole who received the report in company of the other members of the NWC, thanked the committee for devoting its time and energy to the assignment.

A statement issued by Publicity Unit of the party, quoted

Oshiomhole as having assured the appeal committee that the NWC will side by the truth and ensure justice in considering the report.

“We will do everything possible to be different from the way the NWC has operated in the past. I am aware having been a former governor and member of National Executive Committee (NEC) that there has been a tradition in the past that committees are set up, work is done, reports are submitted and action is not taken. We will act on every report submitted to us, we will not sit on the fence, we will side with the truth and we will ensure that justice prevails.

“My appeal to those aggrieved is the assurance that under my leadership, we will make our

obvious mistakes but once our attention is drawn we will find courage to make up for our mistakes” he said.

The APC national chairman also used the opportunity to address all party members and leaders over grievances and disputations.

Oshiomhole said: “I am very appreciative of the fact that we were all elected and in the case of some of us, we were even unopposed. That is a huge responsibility that our members have entrusted us, that we can pilot the affairs of the Party at this time. We knew there were challenges when we contested for the various offices to which we have now been elected. So we can’t claim we didn’t know.

“For us it is a huge opportunity to make a difference not only for our Party but to the country. We will do everything possible to sustain confidence, to sustain trust.

For us, everybody is important, everybody matters. We want to run an inclusive Party. But as I said in my acceptance speech, there are no losers. If we run the party efficiently and democratically, those who lost will find that their interests, whatever service they wanted to render are being rendered efficiently and democratically.

“As the saying goes, if God gives you power, may he not deny you wisdom, I pray for wisdom, I pray for courage and I believe we have it and we will deploy it to make peace within the APC family,” Oshiomhole added.

SIGNED AND SEALED

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere; Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Olakunle Alake; Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Joseph Makoju; and Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo, Ayotunde Owoigbe, at the Dangote Cement Plc’s N150 billion commercial paper MoU signing ceremony in Lagos...recently

Group to Sue EKDC over Outrageous Bills

Navy Nabs Illegal Immigrants Allegedly Heading for Ekiti toVote

Martins Ifijeh

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

Residents Association of Pearl Nuga Park Estate in Sangotedo, Lagos, has threatened to sue the Eko Distribution Company (EKDC) over the refusal to provide prepaid meters and the outrageous estimated billings being forced on the estate monthly. They said efforts to obtain prepaid meters were thwarted by top officials of the EKDC who rather forced on the estate, the MD Meter option, which it even failed to read by end of every month.

Stating this in a petition to the Managing Director, EKDC, Marina, and signed by the estate’s legal counsel, Oghenevweta Ojakovo, the association said despite the installation of the MD Meters, officials of the electricity company have continued to issue outrageous estimated billings to the estate.

It said: ‘’The modus operandi of these EKDC officials is that on or before the end of each month, they will issue the estimated billings and then cut off the electricity of the estate to arm twist them to pay in clear violation of Regulation 5

and 9 of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation and Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services 2007 and the Regulation 1 of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission’s Meter Reading Billing, Cash Collections and Credit Management for Electricity Suppliers Regulation 2017.

“The disconnection of electricity supply to the estate more than six times in the last nine months, and the extortion of payment from the residents are contrary to Section 406 of the Criminal Code Act,” the association said.

It added that the estimated billing brought by the EKDC officials for the estate in the last seven months read: December 2017 – N664,787; January – N790,000; February – N782,565; March – N669,465; April – N803,345; May – N803,880; and June – N803,880.

It explained that despite bringing to the attention of the MD through a letter, the complaints and the decision of the estate to install a parallel MD Meter to validate the monthly reading by EKDC, he has refused to respond to their concerns.

Hundreds of illegal immigrants allegedly travelling to Ekiti State to vote in the next week governorship election have been intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

THISDAY reliably gathered yesterday that they were intercepted at Banda in the state last Tuesday night by the Nigerian Navy.

Sources close to Kogi State Command of the NIS disclosed to THISDAY that the Nigerian Navy arrested them on Tuesday night and then handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service yesterday.

The source said some of them confessed during interrogation that they were going to Ekiti State to vote in the forthcoming governorship election as they allegedly displayed their voters’ card.

However, others claimed that they are traders and heading to Okene, where they sell raw food stuffs.

The immigrants who are mainly women, men and children were being conveyed in three different trucks with registration numbers XD 1464 LD, SRZ 148 XA and KMC 514 ZV. When THISDAY visited the Immigration office, it was gathered that they were under interrogation by the officers.

An officer who spoke with THISDAY, confirmed that some of the suspects disclosed to them that they have been mobilised for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.

When journalists visited the Immigration office, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Olasunkami Salami, said they were still profiling the illegal migrants to know where they were coming from and their destination.

Ekiti Accord Party Denies Adopting PDP Candidate Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Accord Party (AP), one of the 46 political parties contesting the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State has denied adopting the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Chairman of the party, Muhammad Lawal Nalado, AP said the purported rejection of the party’s governorship candidate, Jacob Aluko, by some

persons who claimed to be elders of the party in the state is false and unfounded.

Some members of the party in the state had at a press conference alleged that the party’s candidate had stepped down for the candidate of the PDP. The party while dismissing the reported alliance between Governor Fayose and it emphasised that it is solidly backing the candidate of Accord in the election, noting that he has a widespread acceptability

across the state that will give the party victory.

The party urged its supporters in the state to come out en mass and vote for the candidate of Accord in the election, arguing that he has the manifesto to address the economic challenges facing the people of Ekiti.

The party also denied any alleged agreement between the Accord and the PDP for the party’s candidate to step down for the PDP’s candidate.

The statement maintained that the candidate of the party is still very much in the race and heading for a victory.

It lamented the anti- party activities that was carried out by those who were sabotaging the candidate of the party ahead of the election, saying the party’s leadership will certainly take disciplinary action against those involved irrespective of how highly placed they are in the party.

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2019: SDP, 35 Others Unite against APC Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said the party is in consultation with other 35 political parties with pledged support, commitment and dedication to build a better secured and economically viable Nigeria This was made known yesterday by the National Chairman

of the SDP, Chief Olu Falae, and the Chairman of the Committee of Concerned Political Parties (CCPP), Dr. Breakforth Abraham, in Abuja.

Speaking at the end their meeting, Falae said SDP had a very good deliberation with the CCPP, saying they had decided to work together in order to find lasting solutions to Nigeria’s various problems.

Air Peace Operates All-female Flight

He added that all the parties involved would work out a blue print for the way forward and collectively find a way to the issues of insecurity, unemployment and other numerous problems.

Falae added: “Standing before you are chairmen of CCPP. We are 36 and we have been consulting one another since February this year. We are very concerned about the situation in Nigeria-political, economic, social and security.

“We just had a brief meeting in continuation of our dialogue/ consultations then work out a blue print; identify implementable development and effective solutions to the problems confronting our country. We are going to set up a committee to work on a common blue print for the survival, growth, progress and unity.’’

He described as alarming, the security and unemployment crisis in the country, saying: “Where I live,

I’m very worried that the security is much tense; unemployment is frightening; many people have become beggars in well blessed and endowed Nigeria.”

On his part, Breakforth who spoke on behalf of the 35 chairmen, acknowledged what Falae stated, disclosing that when the time is right, they will avail Nigerians of their plans to move Nigeria forward.

“We were initially 42 political

parties but presently, we are 36, as some have left for other coalitions.

And these 36 political parties are committed and dedicated to the course of unity and prosperity of this country.

“SDP is a founding member of CCPP; we are here to discuss, and like he said, we have discussed; we have dialogued and we planned to set up a committee to strategise on common ground on how to move Nigeria forward.

Dana Air condemns whatsapp message Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace has said it would operate all-female flight, including pilots and cabin crew from Lagos to Abuja and from Abuja to Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The airline said the flight is coming few days after it gave command to Sinmisola Ajibola, who made history as the airline’s first female captain and was decorated with her new rank by its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allen Onyema.

This is coming as Dana Air has denounced messages in the social media, especially Whatsapp platform, calling prospective passengers to stop patronising the airline and also alleging that the rice, the sister company of the airline, imported from Pakistan, was not good for consumption.

The spokesman ofAir Peace, Chris Iwarah said the flight was planned in honour of Air Peace’s first female captian, Ajibola.

“Captain Sinmisola’s achievement is a testament to Air Peace’s avowed commitment to gender equality and promotion of Nigerian women in aviation as possessing the requisite skills to distinguish themselves anywhere across the globe in

their chosen career. Although women occupy most of our top positions, Sinmisola’s elevation is a great milestone in our effort to grow capacity for women in the cockpit,” the airline said.

Sinmisola, who would be in command of the four-leg flight, would be assisted in the cockpit by Senior First Officer Quincy Owen.

The airline said the all-female crew flight scheduled to take off from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos at 1310 hours (1:10 pm Nigerian time) is expected to arrive to a water salute at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 1420 (2:20 pm) hours.

In another development, DanaAir’s Media and CommunicationsManager, Kingsley Ezenwa, has explained that there was no truth in the message being spread on social media.

“For the records, the Dana brand has been in Nigeria for over 45 years, contributing positively to the Nigerian economy with quality products in the areas of aviation, steel, manufacturing, automobile, banking, real estate, health, and beverage, just to mention a few,” he said.

NOSDRA to Shell: Obey Court Order, Pay $3.6bn Fine over Bonga Oil Spill Chineme Okafor in Abuja The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) yesterday asked Shell Nigeria Exploration and Petroleum Company Limited (SNEPCO) to speed up the process for the payment of $3.6 billion fine levied against it by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The compensation is to settle over 350 affected communities in the Niger Delta region.

NOSDRA Board Chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, said the oil spillage which occurred on December 20, 2011, due to exploration within OML 118 severely desecrated the oil rich communities, thereby affecting the rural dwellers.

The incident caused about 40,000 barrels of crude oil which equals to 6,400,000 litres of crude oil discharged into the seas.

According to Akinyelure, the sad incident led NOSDRA to levy SNEPCO $1.8 billion as compensation for damaging the environment, the affected communities with additional $1.8 billion, as ‘punitive damages.’

According to him, “SNEPCO in the process instituted a suit against the agency, challenging NOSDRA’s Act and its enforcement functions as contravening the constitution of Nigeria (as amended).”

However, the court, he stated, dismissed the suit, and in the final analysis, all the questions raised by the plaintiff (SNEPCO) were all resolved in favour of the defendant (NOSDRA), and an order dismissing the suit was clearly made by the presiding judge.

“We cannot as an agency remains in court in perpetuity, when our people in the Niger Delta region are dying of hunger on daily basis over the years since the occurrence of Bonga oil spillage. We therefore urge SNEPCO management to obey the court order in the interest of justice and fair play and accelerate the process of settlement of compensation to over 350 affected communities in the Niger Delta region through NOSDRA as the sole regulatory agency without further delay,” he stated.

He further applauded the verdict of Justice CMA OlatoregunIshola, who presided over the proceeding, stressing that it would serve as the last hope of the communities affected by the spillage.

“The people of Niger Delta have great hope in the president.

If this settlement can be made in earnest by SNEPCO management as a partner in progress with the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, we will be glad,” he added.

HONOUR WELL DESERVED

L-R: Chief Information Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Olayinka Oni; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Ruwase Paul, and General Manager, Wealth Management and Financial Institutions, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare, during the 2018 Breakfast Roundtable of the financial service group of the LCCI in Lagos... recently

Bauchi Elders Mount Pressure on Buhari over Dogara Nseobong Okon-Ekong In what may be a political game changer, some political leaders from Bauchi State, including the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Isa Yuguda; serving and former senators, former ministers, and leading stakeholders have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2019 elections, insisting that he must work with their son, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.

In the open letter written to him, the Bauchi elders begged Buhari to take steps to resolve the political misunderstanding between different interest groups in the state.

Some of the leaders who indicated their support for Dogara are Yuguda, three former ministers, namely: Alhaji Muhammad Bello Kirfi, (Wazirin Bauchi), Muhammad Habib

Aliyu (Tafidan Ningi), former Minister of State for Transport, and Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, (Santurakin Bauchi), former Minister of Police Affairs.

The senators who signed the petition included Senators Suleiman Nazif Gamawa, Bauchi North, Isah Hamma Misau, Bauchi Central Senatorial Zone, Salisu Matori (Danmasanin Bauchi) and Senator Bala Adamu Kariya.

Also listed as signatories to the petition are former Speaker Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Noma (Jarman Bauchi); Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf M. Tuggah, and Major General Yakubu Usman (rtd).

In the letter entitled: ‘Expression of Solidarity’, the petitioners commended the Speaker for providing quality leadership and representation.

The letter read in part: “We the undersigned elders and

stakeholders of Bauchi State hereby wish to express our firm solidarity with our worthy son and political leader, the Rt. Hon Dogara Yakubu, Speaker House of Representatives, who has been providing us with quality leadership and representation at the national level.

“We recall how Dogara worked tirelessly deploying enormous personal resources and commitment to ensure President Buhari’s victory during the 2015 general election and of the APC gubernatorial election in Bauchi State.

“We are therefore dismayed and alarmed by the unfolding ugly political tension and unnecessary misunderstanding between the executive arms and the National Assembly.

“Since his emergence as the Speaker in June 2015, Dogara has helped in bringing about the desired stability in the House of Representatives which resulted

in passage of people-oriented legislation that helped the country exit the biting recession.

“The Speaker has helped push every piece of executive communication from the president, including bills and requests which the president, on many occasions, acknowledged publicly.

“We wish to remind the president that Bauchi State is his second home and we have consistently given him 100 percent support in all elections since 2003.”

“Our son, Dogara, has tremendous goodwill in every nook and cranny of the state due to his philanthropic, humanitarian and altruistic gestures over the years.”

The added: “In view of the above, we wish to, on behalf of the entire good people of Bauchi State, passionately appeal to President Buhari to kindly intervene and bring about a quick solution to the political impasse threatening our nascent democracy.”

Rotary Club Provides Credit Facilities for Lagos Community The people of Ita Marun community, a sleepy village in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State, were excited recently as the Rotary Club of Lagos presented cheques for a micro-credit scheme approved by the club to some of the villagers in order to establish or grow their businesses. The cheques were presented by President of the Club, Rotarian Soboma Ajumogobia.

Rotary Club of Lagos’s relationship with the community, which started almost four years ago, has been a source of happiness to the entire community.

Some projects the Club has carried out for the community include, an industrial bore-hole

supplying pipe borne water to all parts of the village, a solar-powered street lighting system, a palm kernel crushing plant, an incinerator and most significantly the revolving micro credit scheme.

The Club usually extends the interest free credits on a revolving basis each year, unlike loans advanced by commercial and micro finance banks. Furthermore, beneficiaries are expected to add value to their businesses so as to improve the quality of their lives and the community as whole.

In a short address at the ceremony, Ajumogobia explained how Rotary Club of Vechta, Germany had facilitated this

latest credit package in making the event of that day possible. : “An active senior club member, Rotarian Olaf Schummueser made contact with Rotary Club of Vechta, Germany and the German Rotary Club expressed interest in what we have been doing for Ita Marun. They decided to partner with us to support our efforts and contribute towards our community development program to foster sustainable livelihoods in this community. We have consequently been able to increase our exposure to Ita Marun beneficiaries and also the number of beneficiaries during the current cycle.” Ajumogobia explained.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Joke Musediku, expressed happiness over the gesture of Rotary Club of Lagos. She said her joy knew no bounds for being one of those who benefitted from the scheme.

“I pray to almighty God to bless Rotary Club of Lagos and may their joy know no end. They will never regret helping Ita Marun community.

I’m so excited,” Musediku said.

Rotarian Olaf Schummueser, in a short speech, expressed his happiness saying that it was a privilege to have been able to make a positive impact on the lives of the people of Ita Marun.

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NEWSEXTRA

Plateau Killings: Four IDPs Die in Camps Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Four Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the recent herdsmen attacks in some parts of Plateau State have died in camp.

70-year-old Dachollom Bature died last Sunday at Riyom Mini Depot camp after battling an undisclosed ailment. The camp allegedly occupies 6,000 persons; 90 per cent of who are women and children, facing poor sanitary conditions.

Although Bature allegedly took ill before getting to the camp, his health was believed to have degenerated in the camp due to inadequate medical care, the camp being one of the most neglected.

The following day, which was July 2, 2018, two persons died in the same camp in Riyom in an accident involving two motorcycles which

had a head-on collision.

A camp official, Mrs. Jane Tok, reported that the two were in a hurry to find means of survival for their families in the camp. She said one was returning from where he had gone to hustle for some money to provide for his family, while the other was going out for the same purpose when their motorcycles had head-on collision very close to the camp.

Both Samson Yohanna, 33, and Gabriel Markus, 35, died instantly, Tok disclosed.

Same day, an 82-year-old woman reportedly slumped and died at an IDP camp in Ban, Heipang, Barkin Ladi council area after a surveillance helicopter flew over the camp with a loud noise.

The deceased, Nandis Ishaku, displaced by the crisis from Nghar village reportedly collapsed and died at the loud sound of the

helicopter. She was however believed to be hypertensive and lacked medical care while in the camp.

Most of the IDP camps in the state are allegedly faced with the worse sanitary, medical and humanitarian conditions for human habitation. The situation, a local nongovernmental organisation, Women and Children in Community Development Initiative in Nigeria (WOCCI), fears could lead to severe disease outbreaks if not checked.

Managing Director of the NGO,

Mrs. Edwina Mang, particularly warned on the health of women and children who constitute the larger populations in most camps.

Mang said: “You could see that they don’t have good sanitation facilities, safe drinking water or even good places to sleep. This is already a threat to human health, especially for the children who are most likely to play around carelessly and use their hands to eat without washing.

Diarrhea is eminent!”

Delivering some humanitarian aids to three camps, Geosciences

Camp at Angle-D, Mang requested the state and local governments to quickly upgrade the camps to forestall any “medical crisis.”

Already, three diarrhea cases have been reported in the Riyom Mini Depot camp. Although the Riyom Local Government Area Health Department has isolated the affected children for treatment, there are other medical conditions that the IDPs have to battle with.

Mang therefore appealed for the establishment of a clinic aside the provision of water and sanitation

facilities for all the IDP camps.

Red Cross last Monday had disclosed that there are nearly 8,000 IDPs in just five camps, and about 15 camps exist across the three council areas affected by the recent crisis in the state.

According to the Red Cross report, all the camps it visited are practicing open defecation due to lack of toilet facilities, except only one. “This is a great challenge as this is likely to result to severe diarrhea, which if not properly managed can result to cholera.”

Exporters Hail OGFZA for Ranking Best on Ease of Doing Business The Association of Nigerian Exporters has commended the leadership of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) on the performance of the parastatal in the 2018 ranking by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

The Director General of the association, Joseph Idiong, said “the ranking of OGFZA by PEBEC as the first among 44 agencies of government in the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the federal government is a reflection of the hard work of the management of the agency in the execution of one of the most critical economic policies of the federal government.”

Idiong praised OGFZA on its spectacular success and noted that the parastatal has earned the distinction less than two years after a new management led by Mr. Umana Okon Umana took control at the agency. “What has happened is the product of right leadership,” Idiong said.

“Where the leader has vision and the capacity to carry through with the vision, the story is bound to be that of success such as we have in OGFZA,” he added.

In his comment on the ranking, Umana commended “President Muhammadu Buhari

for instituting the Ease of Doing Business Policy and for creating the right environment for agencies of government to deliver on the promise of the policy.”

He said the operating environment for doing business in Nigeria has changed for the better, and hailed all the agencies of government polled in the survey for their diligence and commitment to the spirit and letters of the Ease of Doing Business Policy. Umana added that the credit for OGFZA’s performance in the survey should go to the staff of the organisation for their industry, commitment and hard work.

“Without them nothing would have been possible,” he said.

“They have been dedicated to the implementation of our roadmap right from the day it was unveiled in February 2017.” The roadmap is OGFZA’s performance guide which is entirely consistent with the Ease of Doing Business Policy and milestones execution in the agency.

OGFZA moved five places to clinch the top spot in the 2018 compliance ranking. It was ranked the 6th best government agency in compliance with the policy

by PEBEC in 2017. The ranking is in its second year since PEBEC secretariat was set up to oversee the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Policy.

PDP Presidential Aspirant, Nike Roberts Unfolds Agenda A female presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nike Roberts, has unfolded her manifesto and agenda if elected.

Roberts, who recently declared her intention to run for the apex political post of the county under the platform of PDP, said Nigeria would do better under the leadership of a female president.

Roberts, a United States-based professional, identified corruption as impediment to Nigeria’s development. She further stated that “drastic efforts need to be taken to check graft and insecurity caused

by Boko Haram and herdsmen’s wanton destruction and attacks on fellow citizens.”

The PDP aspirant, whose campaign slogan is “Hope 2019” disclosed that her cardinal agenda include,: provision of

uninterrupted power supply, quality healthcare for all, creation of job opportunities through business enabling environment, affordable education and security of lives and properties. “ Roberts noted that Nigeria president in the next political dispensation must have the will to structure the county to true federalism. This is when all Nigerians irrespective of tribes and tongues can realise their potential as a people. “ Roberts also said her agenda were developmentoriented and transformational.

On insecurity pervading the county, where people are being killed freely and capital crime on the increase, she said security of lives and property would be adequately addressed under her leadership.

INAUGURATION

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bimbo Ashiru; Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode; and French President; Mr. Emmanuel Macron, at the opening of The New Alliance Francaise Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre in Lagos....yesterday

Enugu Seals Federal Institutions, Hotels, Banks over N30bn Tax Debt Accuses UNN of owing N12bn Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu At least, two federal government institutions, a filling station, three major hotels, as well as the complex of a telecommunications company were yesterday sealed by the Enugu State Government for alleged failure to remit about N30 billion in taxes to the coffers of the state government.

The affected institutions include the National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Examination Council (NECO), the Micro-Finance bank of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Golden Royale, Brifina and Blue Island hotels, Etisalat office and a filling station.

The state government has also threatened to seal up the University of Nigeria (UNN) campuses in Nsukka and Enugu capital for alleged failure to remit about N12

billion in taxes to the coffers of the state government.

They were sealed at about 6am by officials of the State Board of Internal Revenue who were accompanied by mobile policemen.

Briefing journalists after the “sting operation”, the chairman of the board, Emeka Odo, said the board had obtained exparte orders from the State High Court to seal up the affected institutions.

He said they would remain under lock and key until they remit to the state government all the taxes they had collected and withheld.

He noted that government had encouraged individual tax payers and tax agents to comply voluntarily by paying their taxes promptly, explaining that the process of remittances of government revenues have been

reformed in order to make it easy for institutions to pay their taxes like other corporate citizens.

“In the past one year, we have written the affected institutions severally and held meetings with them on the subject matter but they would rather hold on to government funds illegally. Their actions have been denying the state government of the funds it needs to execute its developmental programmes which would impact positively on the lives of the people.

“We were left with no other option than to invoke the laws by obtaining an exparte order which has enabled us to seal the institutions,” he said.

On the University of Nigeria, Odoh said as the highest employer of labour outside the state government, the University had refused to remit over N12 billion

from deductions they made from workers, a situation he said was not helpful to the state government.

He however, said the agency refused to seal up the institution at the same time with others because of its determination to follow-through with all the procedures.

The BIR chairman insisted that once the necessary court orders were obtained, the agency will not hesitate to seal up the University campuses in the state. He asked the University authority to quickly do the needful before it becomes too late.

He also expressed delight that the agency’s resort to seal up institutions indebted to the state government had continued to yield positive results, adding that the agency recovered over N2 billion last year.

Obaseki Mulls Security Trust Fund for Edo The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed plans to pass into law, a bill to set up a Security Trust Fund for the state, as part of measures to revamp the security architecture.

Obaseki disclosed this when executive members of the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association of Nigeria (RANAO), Edo State chapter, paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

He noted, “As part of the rethinking of the state’s security architecture, we will, very shortly, pass into law the new Security Trust Fund Bill, which is going to be the anchor on which our security architecture will be built on.”

The governor commended members of RANAO for their contributions to the security of the country, noting, “Nigeria has been shaped by your activities as retired security officers and you have fought to keep the country as one.”

He urged the group to provide advice and assistance to improve the security of lives and property in the state, adding that security is a major challenge facing the country, and all hands must be on deck to solve the nagging problem.

Obaseki said, “As a government, we realise that the challenges we face as a country is quite deep and formidable. Without law, safety and order, government will not succeed.

That is why we have tried, as a government, to do our best in

terms of safety, security and order to enable us build a great state.”

Earlier, leader of the group, Major General Paul Edomwande (rtd), commended the governor for the developmental strides recorded since he assumed office as governor of the state.

“We laud your effort in abolishing the CommunityDevelopmentAssociations (CDAs) that had caused carnage in our communities.

“Nothing should be allowed to disrupt the mop-up that is still going on,” he added.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

NBA/AFD INITIATIVE

Macron Assures Nigerian Youths on Basketball Devt Femi Solaja French President, Emmanuel Macron, has assured Nigerians of his desire to assist the country with the growth and development of basketball in the country.

Macron who is on working visit to Nigeria was physically present at the official partnership between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) in Lagos yesterday.

He said France’s inclusive public development bank is committed to financing and technical assistance for projects that will improve the lives of people in developing and emerging economies.

The two bodies (NBA & AFD) announced their plan to jointly promote social inclusion by developing basketball infrastructure and conducting youth basketball programmes, events and initiatives in Nigeria, Côte d’ Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal and other selected

African countries.

The formal announcement was made by the President of France at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur School and also present at the event are AFD Chief Executive Officer, Remy Rioux and NBA Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Global Ambassador, Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA players, Olumide Oyedeji, Ronny Turiaf, Pops MensahBonsu and Obinna Ekezie, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema and the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gauer.

The NBA and AFD plan to collaborate on and expand their mutual and longstanding commitment in Africa by providing basketball equipment and training to youths and coaches and teaching life skills in selected African countries.

They also plan to provide resources to local organisations and community leaders that focus on sustainable coaching, mentoring and leadership

PresidentofFrance,EmmanuelMacron,attemptsadunkwhileotherNBAformerstarsandpersonalities watch with admiration yesterday at the official collaboration between National Basketball Association (NBA) and Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD) yesterday at Lycee Francais Pasteur School in Lagos. development.

“We are thrilled to partner with the NBA in

Africa because sport and sustainable development are a natural match. Basketball

is the second most popular sport on the continent and it can be a powerful driver for

sustainability, addressing unmet needs in urban development, education and creating fresh opportunities for African youths,” the AFD Chief Executive Officer, Rioux remarked yesterday.

In his response, the NBA Vice President and Managing Director for Africa, Gallo Fall said, “we look forward to collaborating with AFD to scale up our existing efforts on the continent and to identify new opportunities to use the transformative power of basketball as a platform for youth empowerment across the continent,” he stated.

The NBA has a long history of engagement in Africa with 12 African-born players featured on NBA rosters at the start of the 2017/18 season.

There are more than 80 current and former NBA players from Africa or with direct family ties to the continent, including Naismith Memorial Basketball, Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo of Democratic Republic of Congo.

Colombian Players Get Death Threats after Losing Penalty Shootout to England Two Colombian players who missed penalties against England have received death threats from furious fans on social media.

Vile messages targeting Mateus Uribe and Carlos Bacca started to appear within minutes of Colombia being knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia following the dramatic shoot-out.

Uribe’s penalty hit the crossbar while Bacca’s attempt was saved by hero England goalkeeper Pickford.

According to UK’s Mirror, mostly aimed at Bacca who fans thought took the worse penalty and played badly, the posts warned the players they were “dead’, urged them to kill themselves and told them not to return to the South American country. The sinister messages were made despite a police investigation into early death threats made towards Colombian player Carlos Sanchez after he was sent off three minutes into the team’s World Cup opener against Japan.

Many outraged football fans pointed out that yesterday was the 24th anniversary of the death of Andres Escobar, who was shot dead after his own goal was blamed for sending Colombia home at the 1994 World Cup in USA. One post by Twitter user David Castaneda warned: “Die Carlos Bacca. Son of a bitch. No-one wants you, gonorrhoea. To this country you don’t return.”

Another, Jhon Duqueismo, wrote: “Thank you to all the players, except to three-time son of a bitch, useless, dead, Carlos Bacca. Don’t come back here.”

HumorFPCosky wrote: “I

hate you Carlos Bacca, I hate all of you, I hate your indifference, your animal surname, and your ass’s game. You’re worse than a cancer, at least with cancer you can go to a doctor and find out what you have.

“Carlos Bacca, get depressed and kill yourself, so you don’t continue living this agony.”

Patricio wrote: “Uribe, you are a piece of shit, I hope you die.”

Another user, INFINITO wrote: “That was Mateus Uribe’s last game, that man is already dead.” But other Colombian fans expressed their shock at the cruel messages.

Brayan Sanchez wrote: “Don’t wish for the death of Bacca and Uribe. Do we wish to repeat what happened to Andres Escobar? Is this Colombia?

Games are won and lost, we are a real country.”

Another, Lois Lane, said: “The anniversary of the death of Andres Escobar and you are calling for the death of Bacca.

I’m sorry, I can’t stand such shit people. Get out of my timeline.”

And MoreJuanSe wrote: “Now they start to insult and threaten Uribe and Bacca. Yesterday was the 24th anniversary of the death of Andres Escobar, please, please! Let’s learn how to lose as well.”

Andres Escobar was gunned down by a gangland figure 10 days after his mistake against the US knocked Colombia out of the World Cup hosted in the USA. Hours before the showdown with England his brother, Sachi, had warned that the tragedy could happen again if Colombia failed to get through to the quarter-finals.

And he pleaded with his country’s passionate fans and gangland figures ensure sure that no other player is hurt or threatened if things didn’t go their way.

He said: “I want to send an important message to those people who think things can be resolved with violence, and with weapons, that they can take someone’s life just because they make a mistake, in this case the

Cavani’s Potential Absence, Star Lager Beer Rewards Super Eagles Fans with Russia Trip a Blow to Uruguay, Says Matuidi Star Lager, the official beer from Anambra State, “I am Edinson Cavani’s potential absence for Uruguay would be a severe blow to their hopes of beating France in the World Cup quarterfinals, according to his former teammate and French midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

While striker Cavani battles to be fit after sustaining a calf injury, Matuidi misses out for France at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Friday because of suspension.

The two used to be teammates at Paris St Germain before the 31-yearold Frenchman moved to Juventus last year.

“I worked with Edinson for a very long time. We have not spoken recently, but I know him well enough to tell you that he is a very generous man, who does not give up on anything, and I know that he will do

everything, right up until the last moment to be on the pitch,” Matuidi told a news conference on Wednesday.

“I do not know if they are bluffing (about the injury).

That’s for the Uruguayans to worry about. But there are injuries that can be quickly healed and others for which there is no miracle cure.”

If Cavani does not recover, Matuidi believes Uruguay will be hampered.

“Uruguay without Cavani is not the same thing. You don’t easily replace one of the best attackers in the world. It would be a handicap for them,” he said.

“But their way of playing and defending, won’t change too much I don’t reckon.”

Matuidi, whose caution in the last-16 win over Argentina ensured an automatic one-game suspension, reckons Uruguay will prove tough opponents.

brand of the Super Eagles, selected five lucky fans to cheer on the Nigerian national team in Russia. The fans, who were chosen from a series of raffle draws at Star activations in different states across Nigeria, got to witness the final group D game between Argentina and Nigeria.

While on the all-expense paid trip, fans were treated to various memorable experiences including visiting the Vodka museum and Saint Isaac’s cathedral, while also getting to meet the legendary Victor Ikpeba who was also in Russia to cheer the team.

The trip to Russia winners experienced the match live in the VIP section of Krestovsky stadium and got to share an experience of a lifetime with thousands of other football fans from across the world.

According to one of the winners, Ochei Chidinma

delighted to be on this trip because it is everything I had hoped for and more.

Star Lager has an amazing way of rewarding consumers and me coming to Russia to watch the Super Eagles live is a dream come true. I am really happy to be a part of this experience.”

Portfolio Manager, National Premium, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Yinka Bakare said, “Star Lager is a consumer focused brand, a listening brand and we care lot about our consumers., Giving fans an opportunity to cheer on the Super Eagles in Russia is just another way of appreciating them and giving them the total footballing experience that they deserve. As the official beer sponsor of the Super Eagles, we will continue to support this great team and keep rewarding the fans with amazing experiences even in the days ahead.”

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TUESDAYSPORTS

WORLD CUP 2018...

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

WORLD CUP 2018...

Andersson Brings Back Sweden’s Team Ethic

Sweden players celebrating after the 1-0 win against Switzerland on Tuesday

Maradona Blast American Ref, Geiger after England’s victory Argentina legend Diego Maradona has launched a scathing attack on American referee Mark Geiger following England’s World Cup victory over Colombia.

The Three Lions came through a feisty encounter on penalties, but the referee has received plenty of criticism from South America in the aftermath.

The latest comments come from Maradona, himself not a saint by any means, who claims he witnessed a ‘theft’ in Moscow.

Speaking on Argentinian television after the game, he said: ‘I saw a monumental theft.

I apologise to all the Colombian people, but they must know the players are not to blame.

‘It is the man who decides who the referee is who is to blame.

A man like that (Geiger) should not be put in charge of a game of that magnitude.

‘With all due respect, Pierluigi Collina, as the man who designates the referees, he is very bad. He must apologise to the Colombian people.’

Maradona went on to explain what he would do better if he worked for FIFA, before claiming that American Geiger knows more about US sport baseball than football.

‘I told (FIFA president) Gianni Infantino that if I worked for FIFA I would change everything,’ Maradona noted. ‘It has to be transparent. That’s why I didn’t

go there.

‘The referee will know a lot about baseball, but he has no idea about football. The Colombian players asked for

VAR and he did not give it to them.

‘Twice the English threw themselves to the ground and he did not admonish them.

WAGs of English Players Are Also Here company Victor Moses’ manager in Europe and others.

The Nation Group Sports Editor, Ade Ojeikere, who is an ardent fan of Liverpool joined Henderson to celebrate England’s victory over the South Americans and even spent time exchanging banters with the senior of Henderson’s beautiful daughters.

Henderson’s missed penalty at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on Tuesday nightalmost extended the jinx surrounding England and shoot out at the World Cup. England has been in four penalty shootouts at World Cup finals. The Three Lions were in similar situations in 1990, 1998 and 2006 before surviving another one against Colombia.

Gary Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt scored at Italia ‘90, but Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to convert their kicks against West Germany.

Eight years later at France ’98 and it was David Batty who missed the crucial kick against Argentina. And in 2006,

a new national team, and his requirements for the players were clear from the start work hard, and always do your best. That was all he asked for: nothing more, nothing less.

That is also exactly what the players have given him, and they have gone on to beat the odds again and again, creating what many believe to be the strongest unity in a Swedish national team ever.

“Janne is very good at maintaining a dialogue with all the players. He shows his commitment to everyone in the squad, making them all feel that they are important, and that they are playing a part,” the team’s sports psychology advisor Daniel Ekvall told FIFA. For starters, he is a man who loves his hot dogs so much that during his time as head coach of Halmstad BK in the Swedish first division (the Allsvenskan), he ranked the opposing teams’ stadiums in terms of who had the best hot dogs (the winner was Stockholm side Hammarby). He is also the all-time top goalscorer of a small club called Alets IK, where he scored 207 goals in 383 matches.

Wozniacki Out of Wimbledon after Defeat by Makarova

DURO’S RUSSIA NOTE...

England players are still in celebration mood several hours after the Three Lions defeated Colombia 4-3 in penalty shoot out to advance to play Sweden in Saturday’s quarter final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup here in Russia. Like it has become the tradition of the senior England team, the players are enjoying the Last 16 victory with their wives and girlfriends (WAGs).

Yesterday, the Three Lions who were given a day off to recover from the stress of the 120 minutes clash with the Colombians, were truly at home in Russia with wives, kids and family members.

I don’t know if ‘Other Room’ matters were allowed please!

At the Hotel Parklane Resort and Spa which is the official FIFA hotel in St Petersburg, Liverpool Captain, Jordan Henderson, who missed England’s third penalty kick was seen enjoying the day out with his beautiful wife and two daughters in the sit out area of the highbrow facility.

THISDAY also noticed that he was not alone as he had in

On Tuesday evening, Sweden reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1994. As they did so, one man’s name was chanted by the thousands of Swedish fans who had made their way to Saint Petersburg Stadium.

“It was a surreal feeling to stand at the side of the pitch, hearing the fans calling out my name,” Head Coach Janne Andersson said during the post-match press conference.

But he was quick to point out that no one, not even himself, is a “star” in this team. “Football is a team sport and this team, for me, exemplifies that. We all work so hard for each other on and off the pitch.”

And yet the man whose name was shouted in Saint Petersburg is largely responsible for Sweden becoming such a hardworking unit.

It has in many ways become a “new” Sweden since Andersson took over as head coach in 2016.

Veteran players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andreas Isaksson, Anders Svensson and Kim Kallstrom all retired from international football.

Andersson was left building

England crashed out against Portugal as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher fluffed their kicks.

It almost happened again here in Russia after Henderson missed his third kick but Jordan Pickford gave the Three Lions a lifeline, saving Carlos Bacca’ s kick and Eric Dier completed the job with the last kick to end the hoodoo surrounding England and spot kicks.

Back at the Parklane, Manchester United’s player, Ashley Young, was also not left out of the day out celebration for the England stars. He was seen with a retinue of family members at the lounge of the hotel with wife Nicky Pike whom he married in 2015, brothers and mom. Although they didn’t spend much time there, Young who spotted an ash coloured short and tee-shirt was obviously in happy mood with his family members in Russia. Earlier, team captain, Harry Kane, was spotted

celebrating England’s victory with family members including his brother Charlie right inside the Spartak Stadium.

Posting a photo on Instagram taken by his brother, Charlie Kane posted: ‘I think this is happening!!! COME ON ENGLAND... well done H and the team,love you all #itscominghome.’

Kane said up the breaking of the penalty jinx thus: “Obviously we’d spoken a lot about being an inexperienced and young team, but we grew up a lot on that pitch.

“There were mixed emotions, highs and lows, even in the penalty shoot-out.

We were behind, and wanting Pickers to save one, and he did. It showed our mentality.

“It showed the togetherness and character. These are the moments you really see that.

It’s a big night for England.

“This will give us more belief than ever, and the fans more belief than ever back home.”

Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki became the biggest name to exit the Wimbledon women’s singles as she lost in the second round.

The 27-year-old, seeded second, was beaten 6-4 1-6 7-5 by Russian world number 35 Ekaterina Makarova.

The Dane’s defeat means five of the top eight women’s seeds have exited the competition before the third round.

Wozniacki, who won at Eastbourne last week, has never been past the fourth round in 12 visits to SW19.

She was plagued by flying ants during the match on Court One and needed insect repellent to get rid of them.

“I did everything I could.

It’s frustrating because I feel like I could have gone and done something really great here,” Wozniacki said.

“I can’t even be mad at myself because I played up to the level that I can.

“She played above her level and really raised it and got a little lucky.

“I would be very surprised if you saw her go far. But with someone playing like this today, I really did what I could. It just wasn’t enough.”

Makarova, who won last year’s women’s doubles title with compatriot Elena Vesnina, led 5-1 in the deciding set and had four match points on her own serve at 5-3.

Wozniacki saved all four to level it up at 5-5, but Makarova, 30, regrouped superbly, holding serve to make it 6-5 and put the pressure back her on her opponent.

This time there was no response from Wozniacki as Makarova set up a meeting with Czech player Lucie Safarova.

“I am so happy I got calm at 5-5 and did my work again,” said Makarova, who reached the quarter-finals in 2014.

“When it was 5-5 I started thinking about those match points on my serve at 40-0, but I told myself, ‘No, you are not going to lose this match’.

I forgot it and started over.”

Thursday, July 5, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Baba-Ahmed to APC “This has been a very difficult decision, to leave a party I helped to form and made my humble contributions to put in power. After three years, however, I need to say that the APC has grossly under-performed and has forfeited any claim to my loyalty and continued membership. I do not believe in all conscience, that it should be trusted and encouraged to continue to govern our great country beyond 2019” – Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, calling it quits with the ruling APC.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

WhereistheBook,MrPresident?

W

hen no fewer than 20 persons were killed by herdsmen in Ukpabi Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, President Buhari promised: ‘I will bring perpetrators to book’; when bandits invaded Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 45 persons, including women and children, President Buhari promised: ‘I will bring perpetrators to book’; when armed bandits attacked Bawon-Daji village in Zamfara State and killed 15 Fulani herdsmen, President Buhari promised: ‘I will bring perpetrators to book’. But where is the book, Mr President?

The foregoing message, one of the numerous of such being hawked on social media, sums up the challenge of the moment as entrepreneurs of violence take over our country while the authorities appear helpless. And with that, the implacable foes of President Muhammadu Buhari impute ethnic and religious motives to his seeming indecision in the face of the tragedies. Yet, as unfortunate as some of the postings on social media—including inflammatory and inciting videos from otherwise respected clergy men—may be, the president has only himself to blame for the manner in which he and his administration are being profiled.

In April this year, while receiving in London the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby who raised the issue of the killings in Benue State at the time, President Buhari said: “The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region. They were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya.

When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram. Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions.”

The import of that statement by the president is that the killings were being perpetrated by non-Nigerian mercenaries.

Yet that statement contradicted an earlier claim on 15th January while receiving a delegation from Benue State led by Governor Sam Ortom. On that occasion, this was what the president said: “Your Excellency, the governor, and all the leaders here, I am appealing to you to try to restrain your people. I assure you that the police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and other security agencies have been directed to ensure that all those behind the mayhem get punished. I ask you in the name of God to accommodate your countrymen.

You can also be assured that I am just as worried and concerned with the situation.”

What that presidential declaration implied is that the killers could be identified and brought to book because they live within the communities and that the challenge is local. That much was reiterated, albeit in an irresponsible manner, by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris and

Buhari Defence Minister, Brig-General Dan-Ali (rtd) both of who made excuses for the killers. “Obviously it is a communal crisis for herdsmen are part of the community.

They are Nigerians and are part of the community; are they not? Let’s use the example of Benue, you know most of these states where you have several languages, you know it is an issue of communal misunderstanding. I think what we should be praying for is for Nigerians to learn to live in peace with one another” said Idris who spurned a presidential directive to move to Benue after the tragedy without any consequence.

Meanwhile, on January 25 this year, shortly after he joined other security chiefs to meet with the president on the Benue massacre, Dan-Ali, another loose cannon, said: “Since Independence, we know there used to be a route whereby these cattle rearers use.

Cattle rearers are all over the nation, you go to Bayelsa, you see them, you go to Ogun, you see them. If those routes are blocked, what happens? These people are Nigerians, it’s just like you going to block river or shoreline, does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes. But

We are living in a period when nine out of ten of the publications being spread on social media are politically motivated fake news.

In the past I used to remonstrate with senders but these days, I simply just delete them

what are the immediate causes? It is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians, we must learn to live together with each other, that is basic. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave, finish!”

When public officials speak so recklessly at a time several families were mourning the victims of a brutal massacre and there was neither a reprimand nor any sanction, why would the president not be accused of partisanship? And to compound the problem, almost on a daily basis, several other silly excuses are being manufactured for the killings with the latest being that the perpetrators are some unnamed corrupt politicians. How can a government be so cynical in treating an issue that is already tearing the nation apart aside the lives of hundreds that are being lost almost on a daily basis?

However, in the course of the debate on the killings in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, a member warned that nobody should use the current crisis to criminalise Fulani people. It is a timely warning. In a Twitter chat at the weekend, I had reason to point out that we have a Fulani family in my church which sounded unbelievable to a respondent until I gave sufficient information to clear his doubts. What I did not add is that, for the first time last Sunday, the matriarch of the family actually gave a testimony. Incidentally, the interpreter was my brother, Bello Bisalla who happens to be very close to the family despite the fact that he is from Southern Kaduna and they are from Sokoto.

Although the essence of what Mrs Umma Abdullahi said last Sunday was to thank church members for the love shown to her, the husband and their wonderful children since they joined about a year ago, it did not escape my attention that her first sentence, said in a solemn manner, was “we all know what is happening to Fulani people in Nigeria today”.

What I get from that statement is that all Fulani people are being criminalised in our country by the action of a few people who ordinarily ought to be brought to book if the security agencies were alive to their responsibility. That perhaps explains why Mrs Abdullahi would be surprised that members of our church are treating them with love rather than hate. Yet, it is the federal government that has unwittingly created this tragic situation that raises serious questions about our diversity and endangers all of us.

Are there people exploiting the tragedy for political purpose by using it to send out all manner of fake and inciting messages about the president and Fulani people, especially on social media? For sure there are and their operational headquarters is WhatsApp. Indeed, we are living in a period when nine out of ten of the publications being spread, especially on that particular social media platform are politically motivated fake news.

In the past I used to remonstrate with senders by directing those who still have doubts to snopes.com and other websites that easily put a lie to such messages. These days, I simply just delete the inciting messages

that have no basis in fact, along with those gory photographs and ‘prophecies’ that do not, any way or form, advance the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The authorities can do more but several herdsmen are actually being tried and sentenced for their crimes which suggest that the law can deal with the problem if we are serious. In May 2016, for instance, a High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State sentenced two herdsmen identified as Hassan Abidu and Yakubu Salem to 20 years in jail over illegal possession of firearms. In August last year, an Ekiti State High Court sentenced a herdsman, Ali Haruna, to two years imprisonment for destroying crops worth N1.5 million in a farm. And four months earlier in April 2017, all the seven herdsmen who kidnapped Chief Olu Falae for ransom on his farm in September 2015 were sentenced to life imprisonment without an option of fine.

For sure, the Buhari administration deserves all the blame for allowing the problem to fester even as the ethno-religious narrative takes hold. The killings in Zamfara State have been horrendous but because it has no religious or ethnic utility, it has not parlayed into the popular narrative. That explains why to deal with the problem, there is an urgency to put new people in charge of our military, law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies if only to signal a new approach but we all have a role to play here. In the final analysis, all Nigerians at risk and should therefore pull together rather than apart, even though the president must lead the charge by rallying the country for peace and prosperity. This is a time that demands leadership.

While the whole Muslim versus Christian narrative and the infantile charge that someone wants to ‘Islamise Nigeria’ are both ridiculous and unfortunate, at the heart of this crisis are two problems. The first is the friction over scarce resources between farmers and herders while the second is the age-old issue of settler-indigene. In the mix is the immediate challenge of restoring law and order. That it seems intractable is because majority of the critical stakeholders in the region do not trust those who currently head the law enforcement and security arm of government because they have, by their words and deeds, shown very clearly that they are not neutral.

While I intend to deal with the wider problem in the region which I believe can be situated within the context of agrarian/ pastoral economy and settler-indigene contention at a more auspicious time, the president must, as a matter of urgency, restore law and order not only in the Middle belt but indeed across the country. And it is clear that he cannot do that with a team that is interested more in regime protection than national security. If he continues with them, then those who accuse him of being complicit in the killings that now define our country will also continue to have a field day to our collective detriment and his own shame.

NOTE: Please see ‘KIF and the idea of a new Nigeria’ on page 14.

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