WEDNESDAY 12TH JULY 2018

NLNG Shops for $7bn to Build Train 7 Repays $5.45bn loan used to build six trains Buhari lauds NNPC, NLNG, Shell, Total, Agip for MoU on gas production Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Chineme Okafor in London The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) yesterday said it was shopping for $7 billion from the global financial markets to expand

its operations and increase its production capacity from 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA. The company also said it

had fully paid without default, the $5.45 billion taken from its shareholders to build its six existing LNG trains.

The company’s expansion

loan search report was preceded yesterday by a pat on the back by President Muhammadu Buhari for it and its collaborators, the Nigerian

National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, Total and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, for signing a deal in London to ensure the attainment of the

Immortalise Ciroma, Senate Tells FG… Page 6

30 MTPA output.

The Managing Director of the NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, revealed at a ceremony in London to commemorate the repayment of the loan, that the Continued on page 6

Thursday 12 July, 2018 Vol 23. No 8484. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

rAPC Writes INEC, Demands Annulment of Oshiomhole, Others’ Election… Page 8

Buhari Pleads for Patience as Bandits Kill 32 in Sokoto

Says security team racking its brain on ending violence Tambuwal calls for overhauling of security system CAN holds national prayers session Omololu Ogunmade, Paul Obi in Abuja, Segun James in Lagos and Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him over the protracted killings ravaging different parts of the

country, saying his security team was racking its brain on how to end the violence.

The president made the appeal in reaction to the killing

of over 32 people in Gandi, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State by bandits on Monday.

A grieving Governor

Aminu Tambuwal in a statement yesterday called for the overhauling of the country’s security architecture, saying it had become

overwhelmed by the massive violence being perpetrated by non-state actors.

Continued on page 6

Immunity Teargassed: Fayose Weeps, Cries Out Police: He is play-acting Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Shola Oyeyipo in Lagos and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday wept publicly, claiming that policemen slapped him and exploded teargas canisters on a crowd of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters that were gathering in front of Government House, Ado Ekiti, for an address by him.

“I was slapped and beaten by mobile policemen in my own state. They shot at me.

As I speak with you, I am in severe pains. How can a state governor be treated like this?” the governor told

members of his party at the Government House.

But the police in a swift reaction by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, dismissed Fayose’s claim, saying the governor was play-acting.

The police boss said the governor’s claims was the normal antics of politicians who play to the gallery, explaining that the alleged blockade of the Government House was not intended to ridicule the governor.

However, Fayose claimed to have sustained injury on his neck Continued on page 8

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose being revived after police teargas attack on a crowd of Peoples Democratic Party supporters at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti… yesterday

UN Scribe: Nigeria Needs More Funds to Fight Boko Haram… Page 10

2

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

3

4

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

5

6

˜ ͯͰ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE SIX

Immortalise Ciroma, Senate Tells FG Carpets executive for human rights abuse Deji Elumoye and James Emejo in Abuja The Senate yesterday asked the federal government to immortalise the late former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Adamu Ciroma, by naming a national monument after him.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly took the decision after debating a motion moved by Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South) and seconded by Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) on the demise of Ciroma.

The Senate after observing a minute silence in honour of the former CBN governor, agreed to send a seven- man delegation to be led by Adamu to commiserate with the deceased family and the Fika Emirate in Potiskum, Yobe State.

Hassan while moving the motion, recalled the death of Ciroma on Thursday, July 5 in Abuja after serving the nation meritoriously in various capacities, including pioneer Editor and Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspapers, Governor of CBN, Minister of Industry, Agriculture and Finance.

According to him, Ciroma would be fondly remembered as a seasoned journalist, astute administrator, daring politician and one of the leading Nigerian elder statesmen who always took

strong emulative positions on national issues.

Adamu in seconding the motion, recalled vividly his political interactions with the deceased especially in the Fourth Republic.

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East), described Ciroma as a disciplined politician who at a particular time when he (Murray-Bruce) was working for President Olusegun Obasanjo, came to the Villa with his walking stick with a threat that he was there to flog Obasanjo with the walking stick.

Senate Carpets Executive for Human Rights Abuse Also yesterday, the Senate accused the executive arm of government of flagrant violation of fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.

It specifically mentioned the violation to include rights to dignity of human person and right to personal liberty as guaranteed under sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The Senate, while debating a motion on the alarming rise in cases of alleged human rights violations and consistent assault on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution by the Executive sponsored by Senator David Umaru(Niger East) mentioned instances of human rights violations by the executive to

House asks Buhari to suspend executive order on assets forfeiture

include continuous detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), for over two years "in total disregard of four court orders including that of the ECOWAS court which granted him bail pending his trial over money laundering charges."

It also frowned at the continuous incarceration of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaki, for over two years despite court orders for his release since 2016.

Senator Umaru, who is Chairman of Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in his motion emphasised the lack of accountability for human rights violations by security agents and other militant elements, including armed herdsmen and gradual descent of Nigeria into anarchy and despotism due to indiscriminate arrests, unconstitutional detention of citizens as was the fate of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who arrested and kept incommunicado for six days in June by DSS operatives.

The motion also expressed concern that democracy was being threatened by Executive actions like the recent enactment of the controversial Executive Order No. 006, which permits security agencies to freeze the assets of persons standing trial without recourse to court order.

The Senate subsequently

resolved to summon the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, to appear before it to explain the constitutional basis for the controversial Executive Order No. 006 and the other Executive Orders, which have been issued by the president in clear usurpation of the law making functions of the National Assembly.

It urged the executive to urgently set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate all cases of human rights abuse allegedly committed by both the police, army and other security agencies in the course of discharging their duties with a view to identifying the culprits and victims and offering redress where necessary.

Senate further called on the federal government to desist from further violation of the sacred principle of separation of powers and adopt the rule of law as the guiding principle of government actions.

House Asks Buhari to Suspend Executive Order on Assets Forfeiture After an exhaustive debate which almost divided lawmakers, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a motion urging President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend and discontinue the application and implementation

of Executive Order 006 of 2018 in view of its controversial nature and its conflicts with relevant provisions of the law.

It further invited the AGF Malami as well as Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), to appear before the House and submit a detailed list of all subsidiary legislation in the country, which are published in the Federal Gazette within two weeks.

In addition, it resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to scrutinise and investigate subsidiary legislation and executive orders in Nigeria and report back within four weeks.

The lawmakers further agreed that the House resolutions on the issue be transferred to the Senate for concurrence.

It followed a motion moved under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) and 23 other members on the urgent need to investigate the constitutional compliance of all subsidiary legislation and executive orders by the executive.

He noted that the said executive order signed into law by the president on July 5, appeared to hijack and usurp legislative and judicial powers by the executive.

He further observed that the Order among other things empowers the executive to restrict dealings in suspicious assets subjected to investigation

or inquiring bordering on corruption.

But he said Section 44 (2) (k) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) restricts the application of compulsory acquisition of moveable property in any part of the country except on the temporary takings of property for the purpose of any examination, investigation or inquiry.

Ossai expressed concern that Section 315 (2) of the constitution is to the effect that appropriate authority may by order make such modification on an existing law as it considers it necessary and in conformity with the provisions of the constitution.

He noted that the National Assembly shall not enact any law that ousts or purports to oust the jurisdiction of the rule of law, recalling that executive powers extend to the execution and maintenance of the constitution and all laws made by the National Assembly.

The lawmaker, while leading the debate on the issue, further argued that the Executive Order 6 represented a clear usurpation of legislative and judicial powers and a replication of subsisting legislation including Section 8 of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act of 1983; Section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 and certain provisions of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act.

B U H A R I P L E A D S F O R PAT I E N C E AS B A N D I T S K I L L 3 2 I N S O KOTO In a statement last night, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari warned that his administration would not allow any group of barbarians and criminals hold the country hostage and destroy life without consequences.

"I wish to assure all Nigerians that their security is receiving the greatest attention from this administration and there is no compromise in this commitment. I appeal for your patience while my security teams crack their brains to put an end to this horrendous violence," he quoted

the president as saying.

The statement added that Buhari condemned the killing of several people, including a district head, in and around the village of Gandi by bandits, threatening that the wanton violence against innocent people won't be tolerated by his government.

“We are working round the clock to identify the people sponsoring these heartless attacks," the president reportedly said, adding, “It is curious why any group of mass murderers would be targeting and killing innocent people for no just reason."

He added: "Make no mistake

about it, my administration remains committed to security as one of its core objectives, and any attempt to test our will by any group of anarchists and trouble makers will be met with equal force."

According to the statement, Buhari assured Nigerians that, "Identifying and defeating these

callous killers is receiving priority from this administration, and we shall spare no effort in tracing the root of this evil, especially their sources of funding and arms."

It also said Buhari promised that although the hit and run gangs of mass murderers were

to retain a good share of the global LNG market, it needed to be quick about the Train 7 project, adding, “Train 7 is the next big deal, we are coming back straight to the market.”

In his speech, the Chairman of the NLNG board, Dr. Osobonye LongJohn, said, “Today, our sense of pride is fuller by the demonstration of excellence, integrity and loyalty in the full and complete repayment of over the $5 billion loan. This is inspiring.”

He commended the shareholders for believing in the board and congratulated the workers and management of the company.

“We on the board of the company remain fully committed and will provide the necessary momentum to deliver its future plans,” he said.

The Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, stated that NLNG had contributed immensely to Nigeria’s economy since its inception when the first LNG cargo was loaded in October 1999.

He said the company had paid over $33 billion in dividend, adding that payment to Joint Venture (JV) feed-gas suppliers

by NLNG from inception till date amounted to some $24 billion.

Meanwhile, the company has awarded the contracts for Front End Engineering Design (FEED) of the Train 7 project to B7 JV Consortium and SCD JV Consortium, thus inching closer to realising its expansion goals of increasing output from 22MTPA to 30MTPA. The award of the FEED contract to the consortia and signing of the contract documents were done shortly after the loan repayment commemorative meeting.

NLNG said a completed FEED process would pave the way for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) pricing and bidding processes which are preconditions for FID on Train 7.

The consortia, B7 JV Consortium, comprised American company KBR Inc., Technip of France and Japan Gas Corporation (JGC); as well as SCD JV Consortium, made up of Saipem of Italy, Japan’s Chiyoda and Daewoo of South Korea.

NLNG indicated they would participate in a dual FEED process and produce a Basic Design Engineering Package

(BDEP) that would determine their EPC pricing, and eventually their bids to construct the train.

president also described the signing of the contract for the plant expansion project after an eight-year delay was a sign of irreversible commitment by the joint venture to enter a Final Investment Decision (FID).

He said the president also described it as a clear indication that the confidence of investors was coming back to Nigeria following the good governance practices instituted by his administration.

Continued on page 8

N L N G S H O P S F O R $ 7 B N TO B U I L D T R A I N 7 funds being sought would cover the company’s expansion programme, construction of Train 7, and investment in Nigeria’s upstream gas sector to ensure the sustainability of feed-gas supply to its existing trains 1 to 6 and the new Train 7.

“Let us get this very clear.

NLNG is a mid-stream company that has monetised over 5.96 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of associated gas, which would have otherwise been flared thus helping to build a better Nigeria.

However, what we are doing is not just looking to fund the expansion of the plant but also to ensure sustainability of feedgas supply to the plant, for the continued success of NLNG. All of these align with our belief that gas is a catalyst for industrial and economic transformation which will position Nigeria to become a leading gas producing country,” Attah said.

He said the success story of the NLNG project was due to the shareholding and governance structure of the company that had made it an independent incorporated joint venture, guaranteeing an independent board of directors, effective decision making as well as funding for its projects, which

he added was critical for the sustenance of the project.

According to him, “Over the decades, the company has raised funds for its projects, from a combination of shareholders loans, internally generated revenue and third party loans.

In all of these financial ventures, NLNG demonstrated financial discipline and character by abiding by loan covenants, terms and conditions without a single breach or default, and we believe this positions the company as a lenders delight.”

Attah said the company’s financial credibility was selfevident, explaining it would be testing the financial market once again with its sustainable and expansion projects estimated at $7 billion.

“Raising $7 billion is no small feat; anywhere in the world, this will be a major event. Therefore, we will be seeking support from the local and international financial institutions, our shareholders and the Nigerian government in bringing to reality the dreams of our founding fathers and achieving our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria,” he said.

He argued that for Nigeria

Buhari Congratulates NLNG, NNPC, Shell, Total, Agip Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, yesterday stated that President Buhari had congratulated the companies and also welcomed the signing of the memoranda of understanding (MoU) between NLNG, “B7 JV Consortium” and “SCD JV Consortium."

According to him, Buhari also welcomed the support of the stakeholders to his administration's move to launch “gas revolution” in Nigeria by ensuring the realisation of Train Seven, which he said had been stalled for many years under previous administrations.

According to Shehu, Buhari was optimistic that this significant step would culminate in a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the much-awaited multi-billion dollar Train 7 expansion programme by the end of 2018.

Shehu added that the

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN CUSTODIAN 0.57 6.27 MCNICHOLS 0.08 0.89 DOUBLE ONE 15.5 180.5 EQUITY ASSUR 0.02 0.24 WAPIC 0.03 0.48 TOP LOSERS NGN NGN JULIUS BERGER 3.00 27.0 THOMASWY 0.03 0.31 LINKASSURE 0.07 0.73 SOVREITRUST 0.02 0.22 JAPAUL OIL 0.03 0.33 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦ 1,500.00 Volume: 287.085 million shares Value: N 3.745 billion Deals: 3,526 As at 11/7/18 See details on Page 41

% 10.0 9.9 9.4 9.1 6.7 % 10.0 8.8 8.8 8.3 8.3

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

UHZDUGV

7

ZLWK

(QMR\ D VWUHVV IUHH KROLGD\ ZLWK DQ\ RI RXU 6XPPHU &DUGV :LWK \RXU 1DLUD 0DVWHU&DUG 3ODWLQXP 'HELW 0DVWHU&DUG DQG ([SUHVVLRQ RQ FDUGV \RX JHW D 0RQWKO\ 6SHQG /LPLW RI SOXV 1DLUD HTXLYDOHQW RI RI \RXU WUDQVDFWLRQV EHWZHHQ DQG 1DLUD HTXLYDOHQW RI RI \RXU WUDQVDFWLRQV EHWZHHQ DQG HYHU\ PRQWK RQ 326 :(% )LUVW%DQN &RQWDFWOHVV 1DLUD 0DVWHU&DUG DQG &RQWDFWOHVV 3ODWLQXP 'HELW 0DVWHU&DUG ZRUN RQ ERWK FRQWDFW DQG &RQWDFWOHVV UHDGHUV 326

7KH FRQWDFWOHVV IHDWXUH ZRUNV DFURVV WKH 8. DOORZLQJ \RX WR SD\ IRU ORZ YDOXH LWHPV L H WUDQVDFWLRQV RI 1 DQG EHORZ IRU &RQWDFWOHVV 1DLUD 0DVWHU&DUG DQG 1 DQG EHORZ IRU WKH &RQWDFWOHVV 3ODWLQXP 'HELW 0DVWHU&DUG ZLWK D VLPSOH WDS 9LVLW DQ\ )LUVW%DQN EUDQFK WR JHW DQ\ RI RXU &DUGV WRGD\ &DPSDLJQ UXQV IURP -XO\ WR 2FWREHU 7HUPV DQG FRQGLWLRQV DSSO\

8

˜ ͯͰ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT

rAPC Writes INEC, Demands Annulment of Oshiomhole, others’ Election APC: It’s not possible Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Chairman of the reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invalidate the election of the new National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the former governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

Galadima, in a letter to INEC said the June 23 national convention that produced Oshiomhole as national chairman, among other officers, was “very flawed and

undemocratic.”

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by THISDAY, the rAPC leader also claimed that there were irregularities in the election conducted at the convention.

“Yes I was the one who wrote the letter," Galadima told THISDAY on phone yesterday.

However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the spokesman of INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said he could not confirm the receipt of the rAPC's letter as at last night.

But APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed Galadima’s request to INEC as invalid,

saying the outcome of the national convention could not be voided.

Abdullahi told THISDAY in telephone conversation, "I will like to point out that the action is ill-conceived and therefore futile.

"INEC has no powers to cancel an election it did not organise.

Secondly, the man calling for the cancellation of the convention did not contest for any position at the convention, therefore, has no locus to complain about its outcome.

"Besides, if candidate was not happy with the election process at the convention, they should petition the appeals committee.

INEC cannot help them".

Galadima's letter read: “I write as a foundation member of the APC, a member of its Board of Trustees, National Caucus and an automatic delegate at its National Convention, to bring to your notice that on June 23, 2018, the APC purportedly held a very flawed and undemocratic convention for the purpose of electing its national officers following the disputed congresses held in various Wards (May 2, 2018), local governments (May 5, 2018), state congress (May 8, 2018).

“These congresses leading up to the national convention of the party were marred with serious

irregularities and manipulations to the extent that in at least 22 states, parallel congresses were held and different set of delegates and officers emerged.

Some of the states includes: Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara."

The letter quoted the relevant section of APC's constitution as stating that: “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.”

It stated the rAPC demand, "We respectfully, therefore, request INEC to intervene, following precedents established over the years, to declare invalid and unlawful and not to accord any form of recognition to officers purportedly elected at the APC convention of June 23, 2018."

even those constitutionally charged with the responsibility of protecting our lives and property have, themselves, become vulnerable targets of criminals?”

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday held national prayers session to express anger against the barbaric killing of Christians in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country by suspected herdsmen.

The prayers came after CAN was believed to have come under undue pressure from powerful quarters to stop a proposed nationwide protest against the killings.

The prayer session, which attracted Christian leaders across the country witnessed outpouring of prayers and emotions over the killing of Christians in Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Taraba States and some states in the south.

Speaking at the event, CAN President, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, said the increasing cases of killings in the country

had almost made Nigeria a deserted land, adding that they were already becoming an embarrassment to the country.

"The church is one and wants the carnage to stop," Ayokunle said.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said despite the divisions, there was need for the unity of Christians in the country, particularly, as it concerns the killings by suspected herdsmen and other socio-political issues.

According to Onaiyekan, “There is no need to allow divisions to make it difficult for us to work together for things that are good.

"At the higher level, efforts are been made for Christians to come together and unite with one voice."

Also speaking Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Ministry, Dr Paul Enenche said expectations were high for the federal government to live up to its responsibility, stressing, "The primary objective of government is the protection of lives and property, and all we can say is that the leadership of the country should do more in securing lives and property."

out on election day and vote for candidates of their choice, and not to intimidate them.

He said, “I am appealing to the security agencies deployed in Ekiti State for the governorship election to carry out their duties according to the laws of the land by securing the state in a manner that will enable a peaceful electoral process.

“If it is true that Fayose was assaulted as reported in the media, my appeal is that such should not be allowed to happen again, since the governor’s constitutional immunity guarantees that he should be given official protection to freely conduct the business of governing the state.”

The former president further charged the security agencies not only to strive to protect the laws of the land, but to also seek to prevent any development that could negatively impact on the process of deepening the nation’s democracy.

Afenifere in its reaction called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene

in the state to avoid outbreak of violence.

Warning all politicians vying for elective positions ahead of Saturday governorship election to eschew violence capable of causing breakdown of law and order, the group, in a statement signed by its National Publicity, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said it was worried over alleged involvement of security agencies in perpetrating violence three days to the election.

"We call on the president to rise to the duty of his office as the leader of the country to stop the violence and bring perpetrators of this dastardly act to book. It speaks no well of him that security forces are turning the state to a battleground 24 hours after he campaigned in the state," Afenifere stated.

The body expressed fears over the deployment of 30,000 police personnel for the election while the government was unable to mobilise a quarter of that number to secure the lives of Nigerians under savage attacks in different parts of the country.

B U H A R I P L E A D S F O R PAT I E N C E AS B A N D I T S K I L L 3 2 I N S O KOTO using unconventional tactics, they would eventually be defeated, adding that the president extended his condolences to the government, families of the victims and the people of Sokoto State at large over what he called "this incredible losses of lives at the hands of these enemies of humanity."

"He assured that the federal government will give all possible assistance to the state in dealing with the tragic incident," the statement added.

Bandits Kill 32 in Sokoto, Zamfara At least 32 people, including a village head, were killed by bandits in four villages of Sokoto and Zamfara States.

Although the killings occurred on Monday, they did not come to light till yesterday because the villages attacked were in the remote parts of the states.

THISDAY checks revealed that the bandits invaded the villages in over 100 motorcycles, shooting people at sight.

The affected villages were Alliki, Dankilawa, Birwanga, Tabbannin Gera in Rabah local government area of Sokoto State, and Kozi village in Maradun

local government area of Zamfara State.

Among the people killed by the attackers were the village head of Tabanni Gera, the chief Imam as well as women and children.

It was also gathered that 32 corpses were given mass burial at Tabbanni Gera in Gandi district of Rabah local government area yesterday with the governor in attendance.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Cordelia Nwawe, said the state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Murtala Mani, had gone to the area to assess the situation.

She said details would be made available as soon as possible.

A resident of Tabbani Gera, Malam Ali Na-Huro, said the gunmen attacked the community on Monday evening, killing people and also setting all the houses ablaze.

"I was in the farm working when the attack occurred. I counted more than 30 dead bodies while trying to escape.

Many people were killed in my community including the village head," he stated.

The Sarkin Rafin Dan Tassakko, a village in Goronyo local

government area, which is very close to the affected communities, Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu, said hundreds of people had been displaced by the attack in the area.

Aliyu disclosed that over 200 farmers in his village had abandoned their farms this year because of the threat of bandits.

He said over 70 people had been kidnapped by bandits in the 17 villages under his district in the last two years.

Governor Tambuwal condoled families of the victims who were taking refuge in a school in Gandi town in Rabah local government area.

Addressing the victims at Gandi Model Primary School, the governor described the situation as unfortunate, saying government would continue to support security agencies to tackle the situation.

"Government will continue to work with all security agencies to ensure the safety of the people especially at this difficult time,” he said, adding, “Our presence here is in order to sympathise with the victims of this unfortunate incident and give them the necessary relief materials in order to ease their suffering most especially

at this difficult time."

Tambuwal Calls for Overhauling of Security System Later yesterday, the governor in a statement called for the total overhauling of the nation's security system, saying the spate of killings all over the country was becoming frightening.

He said the killings have remained persistent.

According to him, "The growing spate of mindless shedding of innocent blood, especially of policemen and other security personnel on their lawful duty posts, has brought a new dimension to the reprehensible state of insecurity in the country.”

He added, "Last May, three policemen were shot dead in Sokoto State by kidnappers, who abducted a Syrian national they were escorting. A few days later, four police officers were ambushed and killed in Benue State. Last week seven policemen were reportedly gunned down in cold blood in Abuja, and their arms and ammunition taken, by unknown persons.”

He said the question from every law abiding citizen today was, "Who will protect us, when

CAN Holds National Prayers Session

I M M U N I T Y T E A R G AS S E D : FAYO S E W E E P S , C R I E S O U T from alleged battery on the order of a Commissioner of Police in charge of MOPOL Unit.

The alleged incidence drew the condemnation of the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who at a press conference in Abuja said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government was endangering democracy by its intolerance of opposition politics.

The party in statement by its National Organising Secretary, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), later yesterday directed its branches nationwide to march on the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commands to submit a letter of protest of the incidence to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, through the commissioners of police.

It said, “The National Working Committee has directed all our state chairmen to mobilise our members to embark on peaceful protest in the state capitals.

“The chairmen are to mobilise former NWC members, BoT members/ former governors, all state executives members, executive members of the party

at all levels and stakeholders along with our teaming supporters, to embark on peaceful procession to the state police command in their respective states to protest the police brutality that happened today in Ekiti State.”

But denying Fayose’s account of the incidence, Joshak told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti that the Government House was never blocked nor attacked by the Police, clarifying that the policemen only restricted movement on some roads leading from Fajuyi Square area of the capital and the State Secretariat.

Joshak said: “We are not here to usurp the authority of Governor Fayose. We are not here to rubbish him because he represents the people. But we are not going to allow unauthorised rally that can trigger violence in the state. You can see that the state is tensed up. As law enforcement agents, we must be proactive and take actions that can prevent crisis rather than trying to quell it after it might have broken out.”

Fayose and his deputy, Prof.

Kolapo Olusola, who had earlier addressed PDP members in the Government House, said they were hit with the butt of guns, leading to the injury the governor sustained on his neck.

Recounting his ordeal, the governor, who appeared in a neck brace, wept profusely while addressing the party members who had earlier been dispersed by policemen in front of the Government House where they had converged for a rally.

Fayose said, “I am passing through these pains because of my people. I will go back to the hospital after addressing you for further medical treatment.

In the last few days, they have arrested PDP members, teachers, and civil servants. People of good conscience should come and save Ekiti.”

The senator representing Ekiti South, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, said the federal government should call the police to order, adding that Ekiti people would never resort to violence in spite of the intimidation and harassment of PDP supporters.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information,

Hon. Samuel Omotoso, said the PDP office in the state capital had been occupied by policemen, describing the action as a return of the country to military era.

The party’s state Chairman, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, said democracy was in danger under IG Idris.

Jonathan, Afenifere call for caution Reacting to the incidence, former President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, called for caution over the activities of security agencies deployed in Ekiti ahead of Saturday’s scheduled governorship election.

In a statement yesterday by Jonathan’s spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, the former president enjoined security personnel deployed in the state to act within the ambit of the laws of the land, adding that the presence of armed security operatives was meant to give voters the confidence to come

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

9

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

10

NEWS

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

Ramaphosa: Nigerians Not Deliberately Targeted for Killing in South Africa Says South Africans have no hatred for Nigerians Ndubuisi Francis, Omololu OgunmadeÂ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Udora OrizuËżĂ“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, yesterday in Abuja denied the impression that South Africans deliberately target Nigerians for killings, stressing that the killings involving Nigerians are rather perpetrated by criminals against all foreign nationals.

Ramaphosa who made this comment in the State House, Abuja, during a joint briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari after a closed-door meeting, said his government was determined to come down hard on such criminals.

Killings of Nigerians have been a recurrent tragedy in South Africa in recent times, thus prompting a belief that it was a xenophobic act being deliberately perpetrated against Nigerians by South Africans.

But Ramaphosa who said it was not true that South Africans have elements of hatred for Nigerians, added that there had rather been quite a number of incidents involving the killings of foreign nationals, including Nigerians “as a result of criminal activities among our own people which we are focusing on from a criminal element point of view.�

He attributed the criminal acts to prevalent of high levels

of unemployment among young South Africans, as well as the appalling state of poverty in the country, which he said was caused by several years of apartheid in the country. He added that inequality between the rich and the poor among South Africans also goes a long way in fueling crimes in the country.

He added: “I want to state here and now that South Africans do not have any form of negative disposition or hatred towards Nigerians and there are many Nigerians in South Africa and in a number of places, in our country, they live side by side (with South Africans). They cooperate very well and some are in the corporate structures of our various companies and some are traders and some are into a number of things. “So, I want to dispel this notion that when a Nigerian loses his or her life in South Africa, it is as a result of an intentional action by South Africans against Nigerians.

That is simply not true. “You will know that South Africa has a number of challenges, one of which is criminality and which is all pervasive. We have over a number of years been bringing down a number of crimes in our country and we are working on a concerted basis to ensure that crime does come down. And the

criminality that we have is borne out of a number of factors - one of those is unemployment among people. “Twenty seven per cent of South Africans are unemployed which amounts to about nine million and most of these are young people. Poverty is still all pervasive in South Africa and this emanates from our very sad history of apartheid misrule. “There is still inequality in South Africa, a few people are extremely rich and majority of our people are very poor and all these factors and other social factors have contributed to the high levels of crime. And criminality is something like I said that we are focusing on, doing everything to bring it down. “And on top of everything else, people in various parts of the country who get engulfed in acts of criminality, majority of them are South Africans and some of them will be foreign nationals and will either be Nigerians and other people

Buhari promises to sign AfCTA soon

from other countries. “These are acts of criminality and I want to end by saying that, when we were involved in our struggle, we said that the South Africa that we are fighting for is the South Africa which will regard everyone who lives in South Africa on the basis of equality, respect for human rights. And we said that South Africa belongs to all the people who live in it. “So, Nigerians who are in South Africa are also part of our community. They can never be targeted on an intentional basis as people who must either be attacked or killed and when that happens, l will like all of us to see that as an act of criminality which in the main affect many South Africans in the various parts of our country.

In that regard, and we will like that you should never think that it is being done against Nigerians intentionally. “It is an act of criminality and our government is determined to bring the levels of criminality down and also to go after those

who perpetrate these acts of criminality so that anyone who attacks anyone in South Africa will be pursued with the might of the law to make sure they are brought to justice.�

Ramaphosa who said Nigeria was the first African country outside the Southern African region that he would be visiting because of its importance to South Africa, said the visit was meant to deepen relations with Nigeria.

He also said both countries would focus on Bi-National Commission that was set up between them, disclosing that he had invited Buhari to the next Bi-National Commission meeting in South Africa. On his part, Buhari while responding to a question from a South African journalist on why he failed to sign African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA), added that he was always cautious in signing documents, especially when they involve states or nations.

Disclosing however, that

he would sign the agreement very soon, Buhari said he was only careful not to hastily sign an agreement that would hamper the interests of industries in Nigeria. “I am very careful about what I sign whether it is my cheque book or agreements especially when it involves nations, states. As your president has said, we are so populated and have so many young unemployed citizens and our industries are just coming up. “So, in trying to guarantee employment, goods and services in our country, we have to be careful with agreements that will compete maybe successfully against our upcoming industries. I was presented with the document, Iam a very slow reader maybe, because I was an ex- soldier.

I didn’t read it fast enough before my officials saw that it was all right for signature.

I kept it on my table. I will soon sign it,� he stated.

Buhari Signs Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill Omololu Ogunmade Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday  signed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill into law.

Making this disclosure, while briefing journalists in the State House, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said NFIU was the Nigerian arm of the global Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), which he said, was hitherto domiciled in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an autonomous unit operating in the African region. The NFIU has the duty to ensure a country’s compliance with international standards on matters bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing. It is also mandated to check suspicious transactions.

Enang, who added that the unit, which also had the responsibility to receive, request, analyse, and disseminate financial intelligence to relevant agencies, would henceforth be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “The Act establishes the NFIU as a central body in Nigeria responsible for the receiving, requesting, analysing

and disseminating financial intelligence to agencies and other relevant authorities to enable the institutions act on same.

The agency is an independent and operationally autonomous institution domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria,� he said.

The passage of the NFIU Bill and its eventual signing by the president followed the suspension of Nigeria from L-R: Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Idowu Adanumoku; former Governor of Anambra State, Egmont group last year over the Mr. Peter Obi; Chairman of Fortre Oil Plc, Mr. Femi Otedola and Author of the book/Publisher, Ovation Magazine International, Mr. Dele country’s failure to separate the Momodu, during the public presentation and launch of a book written by Momodu in honour of Bashorun MKO Abiola in Lagos ...yesterday

unit from EFCC and accord it the required independent status. Its earlier emergence was predicated on the requirements of Recommendation 29 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Standards and Article 14 of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) NFIU had been admitted in funds, money-laundering and Executive Secretary of the UN terrorist organisations such as 2007 into the Egmont Group, Gboyega Akinsanmi tax evasion, which he said, could Economic Commission for Africa Boko Haram “means that these a global body responsible operations are not involved in for setting standards on best The United Nations Secretary- hamper Africa’s development (UNECA), Ms. Vera Songwe.

As contained in the traditional peacekeeping.â€? practices for FIUs in over 131 General, Mr. AntĂłnio Guterres, agenda. yesterday lamented the sudden If Africa must win war against These were contained in a communique, UN chief dissected FIUs from 131 jurisdictions. The Egmont group was rise of armed groups and communique issued after the the “dramatic crisesâ€? in Africa, terrorism, the UN scribe canvassed reportedly founded in 1995 to international terrorist organisations second annual UN-African Union where the UN had deployed the need for more funding, foster international collaboration across Africa, noting that more conference held in Addis Ababa, peacekeeping missions in four particularly in enforcing peace and in the exchange of intelligence funds would be required to fight Ethiopia between July 9 and 10 countries: the Central African countering terrorism, especially by member states, support and Boko Haram in Nigeria and other to strengthen the relationship Republic (CAR), the Democratic in Nigeria and the Sahel.

He said: “We need to Republic of the Congo (DRC), influence the work of FATF in terrorist groups on the continent. between the UN and AU. Guterres also lamented an understand that when African The conference was equally Mali and South Sudan. relation to the mandate of FIUs He also noted that the rise of under FATF Recommendations annual loss of $50 billion moved attended by the Chairperson of Cont’d on Pg .51 out of Africa through illegal AU, Mr. Moussa Faki, and the armed groups and international 29 and 40.Â

BOOK LAUNCH

UN Scribe: Nigeria Needs More Funds to Fight Boko Haram Says Africa already moving towards peace, security Laments continent’s loss of $50bn to money laundering yearly

11

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Dangote Advocates Stern Policy on Milk Importation To pull back from his business Obinna Chima Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has advised the federal government to introduce “draconian policy to stop people importing milk, just like they did with cement.”

Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times of London, Dangote decried the fact that Nigeria still imports a lot of things that could be produced locally.

“What Nigeria needs is to produce locally what we can produce locally. Nigeria still imports vegetable oil, which makes no sense.

“Nigeria still imports 4.9 million tonnes of wheat, which does not make sense. Nigeria still imports 97 or 98 per cent of the milk that we consume.

“The government needs to bring out a draconian policy to stop people importing milk, just like they did with cement,” he was quoted to have said.

Speaking about his $12 billion oil refinery project expected to become operational in 2019, he said, “when we finish this project, for the first time in history Nigeria will be the largest exporter of petroleum products in Africa.”

When it is up and running, — the refinery will process 650,000 barrels of oil a day, a third of every drop Nigeria produces and approaching one per cent of planetary production.

That will make it the biggest oil refinery of its type in the world.

It will pump out all the

plastic Nigeria’s 190 million population needs, as well as three million tonnes of fertiliser a year, more than all its farmers currently sprinkle on their fields.

The project requires sinking 120,000 piles, on average 25 metres in length. But, no port in Nigeria is big enough to take delivery of the massive equipment, which includes a distillation tower the height of a 30-storey building, and no road is strong enough to bear its weight.

Dangote disclosed that he had to build both, including a jetty for which he has dredged the seabed for 65m cubic metres of sand.

There is not enough industrial gas in the whole country to weld everything together, so Dangote also revealed that he will build his own industrial gas plant. There aren’t enough trucks, so he’s producing those in a joint venture with a Chinese company, he added.

The plant will need 480 megawatts of power, about one-tenth of the total that electricitystarved Nigeria can muster, he further hinted.

Dangote is building his own power plant too.

For years, and absurdly, Nigeria has exported all its oil as crude and then reimported refined petroleum, such as petrol and benzene.

That has been a lucrative racket for the middlemen who scheme over import contracts and who concoct ways to scam a system distorted by subsidies.

“I’m sure you know about this game,” Dangote said. Because of its reputation for skulduggery, he

said, he has shunned the oil trade.

“It is very simple to destroy a name,” he added, referring to a family business that stretches back to his greatgrandfather on his mother’s side, Alhassan Dantata, a prodigiously wealthy merchant who imported kola nuts from Ghana and exported groundnuts from Nigeria.

“But it’s very difficult to build it.”

Dangote reiterated his desire

Few months after it sized 1,101 guns of various sizes and designs, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Command, has intercepted another 40-feet container with several ammunition.

The ammunitions included: 150 rounds of live ammunition; 28 pieces of various sizes of Jack knives; 149 rounds of 38mm calibre live ammunition; 92 rounds of 9mm calibre live ammunition; two rounds of 7.62mm calibre live ammunition; 11 cartridges of live ammunition; 12 expended empty shells of various calibers and one empty magazine.

The Public Relations Officer, Tincan Island Command of NCS, Uche Ejesieme, who confirmed this yesterday, said the ammunition were intercepted in two separate operations carried out on July 9 and 10.

Ejesieme said the three suspects that were arrested in connection with the consignments; the vehicle and the ammunition are currently detained at the enforcement unit pending further investigation.

According to him, the first incident, which happened at the Terminal ’C’ II (Ports & Cargo), involved 1 x 40ft container No. TGHU 60143419, which on scheduled examination was found to contain live

ammunition and Jack Knife.

According to him, “Following this discovery, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Musa Baba Abdullahi, directed the transfer of the suspicious container to the Enforcement Unit, where it was examined and found to contain 150 rounds of live Ammunition and 28 pieces of various sizes of Jack Knives. These items contravenes schedule 4 Absolute Import Prohibition List item 17 of the Common External Tariff and Section 46 of the Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004.”

On the second operation, he said: “The command during routine operations, while vehicles were being discharged from Vessel MV Glovis Courage Voyage NO. 036, at 0330hrs of July 10, 2018, at Five Star Logistics Terminal, a black bag was found in one unpacked ford edge with Chassis No. 2FMDK48C98BA05947”.

The NCs had recently discovered a container laden with 440 guns of various sizes and designs, five months after it seized over 661 pump action rifles at the command.

Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Monday Abuse who addressed journalists while displaying some of the rifles, said the offensive cargo was shipped into Nigeria from Turkey.

he needed to screen his calls.

“Tony said he only makes three phone calls a day,” Dangote said, adding that each day scores of emails come rat-tat-tatting in.

“You try to be polite and reply but they come back to you with a longer email, not minding that here is a very, very busy person,” he said.

He reckoned that he takes more than 100 calls a day. “ Look Aliko’,” he said Blair had told him, “the

world is not going to fall apart if you don’t answer your phone.’”He, however said his ambitions were changing as he is considering pulling back from the business, concentrating on strategy and letting others run things day-to-day.

“I’m trying to step back from some of the boards.”

Commenting on leadership in Nigeria, he said “Nigeria has always had a lack of visionary leadership.”

Court Jails Kabiru Mohammed, 112 Boko Haram Members Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË The special court designated to try terrorism related cases sitting at the Wawa Military Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, has sentenced 113 Boko Haram members to jail over their involvement in act of terrorism.

The defendants who were sentenced to various jail terms were arraigned by the federal government, on various charges ranging from membership of the proscribed Boko Haram group, concealing information vital to security agencies, providing support to the sect, participating in acts of terrorism which resulted in the deaths of many persons and murder.

Those sentenced include, one Kabiru Mohammed from Kaban-Magadan, in Funtua, Katsina State. He was accused of receiving training in the use

Customs Arrests 40-feet Container of Ammunition Eromosele Abiodun

to acquire London-based Arsenal Football Club, saying “I love Arsenal and I will definitely go for it.’

He reckoned that the football club is worth about $2 billion.

Speaking about his daily schedules, he said, “people call me in the middle of the night to tell me about their problems.”

According to him, Tony Blair, a former British prime minister and his friend had told him

Abueh who refused to name the importer for security reasons, said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the importation of the arms.

According to the Assistant Comptroller of Customs, the consignment was declared as POP cement to cover up the illicit import.

He explained that the container with number : PONU 210024 was picked up based on intelligence stressing that investigation into how and who is behind the import is ongoing.

Specifically, he said, “Right in my hand is a sample of pump action which has various designs. Based on intelligence report, this command identified the container and the container was intercepted even before declaration”.

“On opening the container, we discovered that they used Plaster of Paris (PoP) powder to conceal the importation but based on intelligence report we were able to know that the container was laden with arm. The particulars’ of the consignee is still being kept under wraps for security reason.”

The ACG commended the command for the seizure and their contribution to the success of the leadership of the service.

of explosive and other terrorism items.

He was also accused of participating in series of attacks in Bama, kunduga, baga in Borno State and Damaturu in Yobe State, which resulted to lots of deaths in the two states.

According to him, he joined the sect in 2013 and rose to become a leader. He was said to have led others in carrying out attacks as well as instructing them to carry out attack on people and communities.

Mohammed, who disclosed that he voluntarily joined Boko Haram, said that at a time he became tired of the kind of live he was leading and threw away his gun and ran

to Katsina State, his home town.

He was arrested in 2015 at a motor park in katsina.

He pleaded guilty to all the 7-count charge and was consequently sentenced to 30 years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the counts, which are to run concurrently from the day of his arrest.

Next is one Adamu Mohammed, 22 years old from Gombe State, who was charged with the murder of six people as well as throwing a bomb at a market place. While he admitted to killing six persons through the use of a short gun, he however claimed he threw the bomb in a

river and not in a market place.

He was sentenced to 25 full calendar years with hard labour in a maximum prison and without an option of fine.

Banzana Yusuf, from Kano State, on his part bagged 20yrs for his role in the planning and kidnapping of the Chibok School girls in 2014.

So also is 25 years old Shetima Modu, arraigned on a four-count charge of engaging in terrorism activities.

He admitted participating in attacks on a church in Mala village as well as another attack in Gonuri village where seven people were killed.

12

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

13

14

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

COMMENT

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

LITERATURE IN NATION-BUILDING Literature provides a window for national development, writes Okello Oculi

S

outh American countries have a tradition of affirming their national dignity by sending their most accomplished writers as ambassadors to European and North American capitals, notably: Rome, Paris, London, Berlin and Washington D.C. They wished to assure the ‘’civilised’ world that those in the ‘’backlands’’ also knew classical literature and music. Che Guevara noted that in Argentina and Brazil weekend leisure for elites combined hunted African rebels and native Aztecs and Mayas with rifles; and attending opera performances. Culture is part of creating a nation clothed with barbarism and injustices.

Africa’s colonial elites suffered alienation from cultural creation by communities when locked away in school dormitories and classrooms. Colonial social engineers compelled them to read literary works written for societies and histories they knew nothing about; and punished them for speaking their languages. One governor expressed fear of what he called ‘’a strange power in the beat of African drums’’.

Reading books was intellectual terrorism. Political leaders treat libraries as malnourished orphans: few in urban areas; and lacking in rural communities. Both Soviet and American diplomacy ignored exporting libraries to local communities as breeders of revolution and democracy.

It is against this background that Dr Emman Usman Shehu and his team of promoters of literature, the ABUJA WRITERS FORUM, held an ‘’ABUJA LITERARY FESTIVAL’’(from Thursday June 28 to Saturday 30, 2018), at Nicon Luxury Hotel, in Area 11, Abuja.

Their offer was diverse in content, ranging from poetry recited and written by children; poetry-with-photographs; the impact of cartoonists, to discussion about, and screening Nigerian films. Also of interest were roles of columnists; dramatists; illustrators who build enthusiasm for reading in children, and building public support for the value of literature in the growth of Nigerian nationalism. ‘’MAGANA JARI CE’’, a television series, was introduced by Ms Debrah Ogazuma who directed 41 weekly episodes of one hour duration each. It was discussed as part of NTA putting into film quality literature by Nigerian authors. She chose the 41 weekly episodes from three volumes of literary work by Abubakar Imam; and insisted that that the film director must do intensive research about the subject she or he is shooting a film about. The ignorant film director cannot produce a work of value with a significant message for the public.

By showing respect for her artists, she won brilliant acting by Kassimu Yero and Ibrahim Abba Gana; and high quality camera work by Abdul Ibrahim. The pair had flares for creativity that was a great stimulus and demands on, the production team to render weekly works of excellence. Both star actors have died; and were ignored by Lagos-based art reviewers, and the media.

Paradoxically, Ms Debrah Ogazuma was invited to talk about the

THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT THE BLOOMING PUBLICATION OF LITERARY WORKS

BY NIGERIANS, IS MATCHED BY A FLOURISHING OF LITERARY CRITICISM IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

series at the 1990 annual conference of America’s African Studies Association.

Ms Ujuaku Akukwe-Nwakulor screened a film titled ‘’AFIA ATTACK’’ on the role that Igbo women played in the Biafra war. She chose that angle because books written by men remain silent about vital roles played by women. Women travelled long distances on foot and traded behind ‘’enemy lines’’ (Nigerian troops) for food without being arrested. Often it was Biafran troops who looted their goods. Stock-fish and salt were precious items. When asked about the absence of information about women in military roles in her documentary she revealed that she could not afford to pay $100,000 for every second of visuals on tape available in the library of United Press International.

She had not been able to raise that amount of money. Moreover, wealthy Igbo men were hostile to the subject matter.

The section on the role of literary critics was dominated by a vigorous, lucid and brilliant presentation by Dr Al-Bishak on the roots of drama, poetry and novels in ancient Egypt when it was ruled by Black Africans. He was impatient with Nigerian scholars of Literary Criticism who continue to promote the myth that modern literature was invented by Greeks. Al Bishak, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, teaches at Nasarawa State University. There was, however, a consensus that the blooming publication of literary works by Nigerians, is matched by a flourishing of literary criticism in Nigerian universities.

Mallam Ibrahim Sheme, a journalist who has worked with Weekly Trust; Citizen, and Blue Print newspapers was happy with the quantity of literary publication in Hausa language; while Chido Onumah recalled his imprisonment by General Sani Abacha’s regime for being a hostile Columnist. Carlton Lindsay Barret, a Jamaican with 52 years stay in Nigeria and Sifa Asani Gowon -with Congolese-American parentage - with 30 years stay, both warned against dangers of Nigerian writers, musicians, fine artists and dramatists fanning ethnic, religious and skin-colour prejudices. Sifa is angry about foreign companies fanning flames of conflict in Africa.

A growing body of columns, published as books, was welcomed. There was silence over where funds would come from.

There was mention of writing about Africa’s liberation wars which cleansed the 20th Century of ‘’crimes against humanity’’ across Southern Africa, Algeria and Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. This sector of history cries out for literary research by Nigerian authors and film producers. PAN AFRICA Club (at Anglican Girls Grammar School; and Mock-OAU Summits (at Ahmadu Bello University), do dramatised simulations of African diplomacy. They are novel efforts that deserve broadcasts across Nigeria and Africa as diplomacy holds hands with literature and pedagogy.

QUESTIONS ON THE RETURNED ABACHA LOOT Ayibakuro Matthew argues the need to ensure that the money gets to the poorest Nigerians

O

ver the last week or so, there has been heightened interest amongst Nigerians about the use of the most recently repatriated $322.5 million Abacha loot. The questions raised around the issue include the choice of using the money for the conditional cash transfer programme of the Federal Government, the choice of states benefitting from the programme, the usefulness of a monthly transfer of N5, 000 to poor Nigerians and concerns about the re-looting of the funds.

It is significant to note at the onset that the concerns of most Nigerians about the use of the $322.5 million for the conditional cash transfer programme, instead of a legacy project with more visibility and impact, is both valid and understandable. However, the use of the funds for cash transfers is an outcome of months of negotiation that enabled the repatriation of the funds in the first place.

The court order in Switzerland that commenced the repatriation process was made conditional on the involvement of the World Bank in supervising the use of the funds to prevent their mismanagement and re-looting, as has been the case in the past.

To enable the mandatory involvement of the World Bank in the process, the money had to be used in a subsisting programme of the Bank in Nigeria to enable it to use its existing monitoring and broader institutional resources to monitor the use of the funds. Since the Bank already had a social investment programme running in the country, the decision was taken to channel the funds to the cash transfer component of this programme. This

would also mean that the funds would be “used for the benefit of the people of Nigeria”, which was another condition in the MOU. The use of the funds for the cash transfer programme is therefore largely a result of the pre-conditional involvement of the World Bank. The conversation now needs to move beyond this to ensuring a transparent, accountable and equitable use of the funds for the designated purpose; providing safety nets for the poorest amongst us. It is worth noting that this objective to use the funds transparently and accountably would be no less expedient if the funds were used for a legacy project, especially in the light of the issues of corruption that continue to plague such projects in the country.

The beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme are households contained in the National Social Register which is developed by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in collaboration with and support from the World Bank. This register is built employing three targeted mechanisms to identify poor and vulnerable people across the country. These include Geographical Targeting (using a poverty map of existing classifications of poverty across all states of the Federation), Community-Based Targeting (using community members and leaders to decide local eligibility for the poorest and vulnerable households in their communities) and Proxy Mean Test (using observable household individual characteristics such as location and quality of the household’s dwelling, education and occupation of its adult members).

It is the households identified through

these processes and included in the National Social Register that are eligible to receive the cash transfers from the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO). Available information indicates that about 20 states are currently benefitting from the cash transfer programme and that plans are in place to ensure that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are included by the end of July 2018. The inclusion of States in the programme is dependent on the readiness of the social register for each state following the processes described above, and the state government providing basic infrastructure and manpower for the implementation of the programme in the State. Unfortunately, certain states have been slow in fulfilling the latter condition, whilst the NASSCO has also been unable to complete the process of getting the social registers for all states ready in satisfactory time. More work and advocacy is obviously required in this regard.

The question of the usefulness of N5,000 to help poor households is one that has been of major concern to many Nigerians since the introduction of the cash transfer programme.

The relevant institutions of government implementing this programme such as the NCTO and the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) have rationalized this amount by reference to empirical research which informed the choice and the real impact being made by the amount on the ground. Reference has also been to other donor-funded cash transfer programmes in certain parts of the country with similar sums that have had an obvious positive impact on poor people.

Whilst this question appears logical in the light of the economic realities in the

country and the rate of inflation, it is equally important to have a cautious and openminded approach towards a programme of this nature. Since these funds are supposed to be transferred to the poorest in the country, it is important that, rather than viewing the potential impact from our own perspectives, we consider the perspective of the targeted beneficiaries themselves. In the midst of all these issues, the most important factor that has led us here is the lack of an established legal and institutional framework for the recovery and management of looted assets.

Exerting our efforts in trying to undo most of what has been done so far with regard to the current tranche of repatriated $322.5 million will achieve little if a framework built on transparency and accountability is not established.

Going forward therefore, our interest as Nigerians will be best served in proactively monitoring the use of these funds for the purpose for which they have been appropriated to ensure that the money actually gets to the poorest Nigerians. Our role as citizens and civil society in monitoring this process is prominently recognised in the MOU signed for the repatriation of the funds, providing a strong foundation for doing so. Furthermore, we should leverage on the awareness and momentum created by the return and use of these funds to advocate for the passage of the Proceeds of Crime Bill and other complementary legislation that will establish the requisite institutions and enhance the overall framework for the recovery and management of looted assets in Nigeria.

Dr. Matthew is Research and Policy Director, ANEEJ

15

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

EDITORIAL A NATION AND ITS READING CULTURE The authorities should invest in public libraries

S

ince poor reading habit is causative of the poor performance of most students in school assessments and examinations, we endorse the decision by the National Librarian, Professor Lenrie Aina, for the National Library to promote reading culture among school children in the country and distribute books to pregnant women in some hospitals. As we have said on this page repeatedly, there is a connection between the reading culture of a people and the development of their society.

In most countries, public libraries are a serious component of the education curricular based on the recognition that without such resources, it is practically impossible to improve on literacy. A functional library helps in providing information to the society in A WELL-READ MIND IS different formats ASSERTIVE, ARTICULATE in the bid to AND SEEKS INFORMATION encourage TO HELP SOLVE DAILY and promote a CHALLENGES good reading culture which is a sine-qua non to personal and indeed national development.

But in Nigeria today, public libraries, often named “the poor man’s university,” are kept unattractive and poorly maintained while in most cases, the infrastructural facilities are inadequate.

Besides, the books in stock are dated just as it is a rarity to stumble on new and current journals.

Indeed, reference materials, where they exist, are old and dusty.

We have neglected this vital aspect that can help extend knowledge to a vast majority of our people. A reading culture cannot evolve until we resuscitate public libraries across the country so that those who want to read would know where to access such relevant materials.

It is rather ironical that in an information and knowledge-driven world, those in position of

authorities in our country are still not conscious of the importance and the need for libraries in our public space. A way out of this malaise is for government and private organisations to establish after school book clubs, where youths can borrow books, read and learn. By inculcating the culture of reading, youths will overcome the threat and overbearing influence of the social media and computer games that are hindering their development. Failure to invest in them through a virile and well-nurtured educational foundation will compromise and imperil the nation.

A

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

book club is like an educational resource centre that will curb the idleness of our children and enable them to deploy their free time toward self-development by acquiring skills that will prepare them for life in a rewarding environment. It will cure their phobia for bulky books and nurture their interest for reading poetry and literature. In addition, by forming reading clubs, youths will be split into groups where they will discuss, critique, analyse and hone their public speaking skills. We implore government to provide functional libraries in our public schools and ensure that are manned by trained librarians.

Again and again, UNESCO has harped on the fact that functional libraries are very important to the development of any society, arguing that “a well-read mind is assertive, articulate and seeks information to help solve daily challenges.”

This is because people who read are more alert and empowered while a good reading culture improves the academic performance of children and students and also helps their mental development outside the classroom environment. In a knowledge-driven world, the relevant authorities in Nigeria will do well to invest in public libraries and make them attractive to meet the informational, educational and the recreational needs of the people.

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

Letters to the Editor

TO OUR READERS Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (9501000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

DANGERS OF FOOD AND WATER IN PLASTICS

M

any Nigerians did not understand where the Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh was coming from when sometime ago he warned his compatriots against the use of cellophane in their food regime. He was speaking from a scientifically informed position we should align with for the good health of society.

The minister raised the alarm that Nigerians who are eating beans pudding (‘moinmoin’) cooked in cellophane (nylon) bags risk serious health challenge as the product is poisonous. According to him, cellophane bags contain large doses of dioxin that are harmful to health. Let me also add that liquid milk tin is also dangerous for packaging ‘moinmoin’ when cooking as leaching of chemical from the milk tin into the content will still occur. The healthy alternative for packaging or wrapping ‘moinmoin’ when steaming is the use of local green leaves which do not contain poisonous substances. These leaves rather add flavour, antioxidants and aroma to the ‘moinmoin’.

Plastics, no doubt, have become a part of our daily lives especially in the kitchen. The role of plastics as packaging and storage containers for our food cannot be overemphasized. Plastics are light-weight, readily available and cheap, hence their heavy demand in the kitchen. Plastics like PET bottles also become handy for packaging water in various sizes. Cooking oil is also packaged in plastic kegs, jerry cans and bottles of different sizes. Some electric jugs, insulated food warmers, food flasks, food serving spoons (for staple and swallow foods) – spatula and ladle for

soup, sieve and many other kitchen utensils are made of plastics.

Plastics can however be hazardous to human lives depending on the plastic type, how it is used and what it is used for.

Sadly, we hardly can do without plastics touching in our food chain–from production, preparation, processing up to packaging, plastics are involved. In addition, storage and reheating of leftover foods are done mostly in plastic containers. Findings have also revealed that almost all plastic packaging materials used for food contain substances that can leach into the food. Leaching, in this context, is the release of harmful chemicals from plastics or cellophane (nylon) bags into the contents it carries, be it food or liquid when heated.

On the basis of recycling symbol or code, plastics can be grouped into seven. It is also on this basis that plastics are regarded as harmful or safe and eco-friendly. You may not have noticed this – every plastic bottle or container has a recycling symbol. The symbol is a number which ranges from one to seven and written in a triangle drawn with a chasing arrow symbol. Just look around the bottom of any plastic product, imprinted somewhere on the underside is a number inscribed in the arrow-chasing triangle and with acronym or symbol just below the triangle.

Plastic products labeled code #1 stands for PET (Polyethylene terephthalate); code #2, HDPE (High-density Polyethylene); code #3, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride); code #4, LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene); code #5, PP (Polypropylene); code #6, PS (Polystyrene) and code #7, PC (Polycarbonates).

Food safety experts and toxicologists say plastic products with

recycling codes #3, #6 and #7 are toxic and should be avoided particularly if using them for food and drinks because they leach harmful chemicals. Some experts have argued that plastics labelled code #1 are not safe because they leach antimony trioxide (a possible carcinogen) when heated, while others believe PET bottles are safe. Other plastics with recycle codes #2, #4 and #5 are likely to be free of Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other dangerous chemicals of concern. The consumption of sachet and bottled water exposed to sunlight with temperature over 28 degrees celsius is hazardous and can damage the immune system, lead to failure of kidney and liver.

In order to live and lead a healthy life, avoid eating hot food from plastics. Also remember to use plastics with recycle codes #1, #2, #4 and #5 only for food and drinks purposes, while plastics with codes #3, #6 and #7 should be avoided when it comes to food. However, to play safe and be extra cautious, avoid taking hot food from any plastic irrespective of the recycling code under it.

Those in the habit of buying food in cellophane bags and then eating from it should desist from such practices as large doses of dioxin enter the body through the food. Same is also applicable to people who buy and drink freshly prepared hot antimalarial herbal concoction (“agbo iba”) from road side sellers inside nylons or plastic cups. Taking hot coffee or water from Styrofoam (disposable) cups is similar as well.

Kayode Ojewale, an Industrial Chemist, wrote from Idimu, Lagos

16

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

17

18

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

I Have Qualities To Be Nigeria’s Next President His political associates see him as a ‘true democrat’ and an ‘extremely loyal party man’. Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) was the former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs (2013 -2015); former Supervising Minister, Ministry of Labour and Productivity (2014 - 2015) and current Chairman of PDP Former Ministers’ Forum. He was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue with the Insurgents. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Tanimu wants to be President of Nigeria under the platform of PDP. He spoke with Iyobosa Uwugiaren And Onyebuchi Ezigbo What inspired you to join the presidential race?

Before I finally made up my mind to join the race, I embarked on wide range consultations with the stakeholders. I have consulted with the traditional rulers, religious and political leaders, including some that are not politicians.

The idea was to examine all possibilities. I was encouraged in the course of those consultations; that indeed, there are strong reasons to enter the race. What has been more encouraging is that since the declaration of my interest for the party’s ticket, the response has been so amazing and encouraging. I have received a lot of messages of solidarity and support from influential leaders that any politician who aspires to any office in our party, PDP, must take seriously. The consultations have been very inspiring and encouraging, and that has further strengthened my desire to get the nomination of my party for the presidential election.

Tell us the real reason why you are in this race?

I am encouraged by people who think times have changed. It is not just about getting the ticket of a political party. Any serious political party that wants to win election in 2019 must get a candidate that has certain qualities. People have convinced me that I have these qualities needed to convince Nigerians to win the next presidential election. These qualities are integrity, credibility, knowledge and experience, dedication, sound mind, robust health and dynamism to carry out the strenuous activities of governance.

The person should be able to start the activities from day one. He should be able to build a strong relationship across the divide because of the weak foundation we have now and the divisive tendencies that the APC-led government has brought across the landscape and also the fear of God. We need a president that is godly and a president that won’t tell a lie to Nigerians. He must be one who will keep his promises and one who understands the dynamics of what we have now and also has a fair idea of how to solve problems affecting Nigerians. On this basis, I pledge that I have what it takes, not only to contest election, but indeed to defeat the incumbent president and win the election for PDP. The first stage of this contest is the inter-party election; you need to get through the primaries before the general elections. There are other aspirants, within your party; one is a former vice-president, and some are former governors.

What makes you different from these aspirants?

There are a lot of aspirants. All of us are eminently qualified to become Nigeria’s president, and do hundred times better than what the APC is doing now. I think the strong point that will give me an edge over others is that I have no excess baggage that will pull me down. I am not fighting anybody and nobody is fighting me. Eventually, if I am chosen I will rally others around me in the interest of the party. Moving forward to confront the presidential candidate of APC, which is likely to be President Buhari, you must have what President Buhari has or what people think he has on issues surrounding credibility. APC said our candidate has credibility and we must be able to say ours also has credibility. These are issues that our delegates will be looking for when examining our aspirants. It isn’t just about getting a candidate to represent your party. You must also take into consideration the strength and weaknesses of the possible opponents, which other political parties are likely going to field. We won’t want

Kabiru Tanimu (SAN)

to get a candidate that won’t measure up to the other contenders. I am sure the PDP’s delegates and electorate will be looking at not only who has credentials amongst us but who would be able to beat the candidates of other parties. I am well educated; I have experience in the

We have been in office for 16 years and been in office for longer periods in some states in the country. We have been able to achieve a lot. We have been able to create strong institutions. We have been able to build on infrastructure across the country. We that relationship and we have a long-standing history

private and public sectors. I have experience at managing the relationships in government; all the three arms of government. With these wealth of experience, I will ensure that there is strong synergy in the way the three arms of government relate with one other. We do not need a person that will come and overheat the system and create uncomfortable relationship between the executive and the legislature; or between the executive and the judiciary or even divide the executive like we have in the country today. When all candidates are examined holistically, I think I have what it takes to give me an edge at the primaries.

The PDP has received a lot of bashing; following its defeat in 2015, with some people regarding the party as corrupt, and that it did not deliver good services to Nigerians in 16 years of its administration. Do you think PDP still stands a chance?

I strongly believe PDP has a chance of winning this election decisively. Don’t forget we have been in office for 16 years and been in office for longer periods in some states in the country. We have been able to achieve a lot.

We have been able to create strong institutions.

We have been able to build on infrastructure across the country. We that relationship and we have a long-standing history, as far as working for Nigerians and working with Nigerians is concerned. No political party has that kind of history. What happened was that as a result of well-orchestrated propaganda and campaign of calumny, APC hoodwinked Nigerians into looking at the few faults that some minimum numbers of individuals have done in PDP to make Nigerians not to look at its landmark achievements. PDP will never claim that we are God, we made our mistakes as individu-

als, but we have learnt a lot of lessons from those mistakes. We have realised that when we came into government that there were a lot of problems. After the long rule of the military in government in Nigeria, we had the problem of economy, which was in shambles. We grew Nigeria’s economy, which we made number one in Africa and the fastest growing economy in Africa; we made it the most sought after hub for investors, immediately after China and Qatar. These are our achievements. We built the critical infrastructure in virtually every unit of every ward and local government in this country and they are there for people to see.

We have been able to build strong institutions even, the war against corruption, it was PDP that built the institution and strengthened them. Look at the building and rebranding of airports, we did it. We were able to create the middle class in Nigeria. We provided a lot of opportunities for Nigerians particularly, the younger Nigerians. Look at how we were able to support the entertainment industry. There were a lot young Nigerians who were doing well in sports during the PDP-led federal government. Look at even the health sector; today every state in Nigeria can boost of a teaching hospital or a Federal Medical Centre.

Look at the education sector, today every state can boost of one federal university. The PDP-led federal government of President Jonathan created 14 federal universities and these universities have become functional and most of them are on the verge of graduating students. Look at the program we brought for nomadic children; look at the program we brought for Almajiri children. As they are pursuing their animals, they have an opportunity to study Islamic education.

One of the fundamental issues that worked against your party in 2015 was the issue of insecurity created by Boko Haram. Almost three years to another general election, the issue of insecurity is still very pronounced in the country. Tell us how you intend to tackle the challenges?

It is important to know from that I was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue with the Insurgents. As a result of the work we did another Presidential Committee on Continuous Dialogue was created to continue to dialogue with the leadership of the insurgents, and I was again saddled with the responsibility of chairing the second committee. I can tell you we have been able come up with wide range and comprehensive solutions -- that if it had been applied, if the PDP-led government had the time of implementing these recommendations by now Boko Haram would have been history in this country. We spoke with the insurgents, not only Boko Haram; we spoke with Al Shabaab, which is another terror group that wasn’t as prominent, but a break-away group of Boko Haram. We sat down with experienced security operatives and we came up with a template that could decisively control the issue of insurgency.

Can you share those things in the template with us?

I won’t. They are top secret. The report of the committee had been classified, and it will be very unfair of me to come on a national newspaper to begin to say those recommendations. Second, the present government hasn’t been able to add value to what we have done because this government is operating with security agencies that are working at cross purposes,

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

POLITICS level with the Naira. What happened? Today Naira is at its weakest level ever.

more often tackling themselves and fighting themselves instead of sharing information and intelligence. You may have an agency that is good at information gathering; you may have another that is good at filtering that information for implementation, but what we have today under this APC-led administration is that the agencies are fighting themselves, and this fact was admitted to by the National Security Adviser about three weeks ago, when he appeared before the Senate. Security agencies that fight themselves will definitely not be able to come up with a strong security architecture that would be able to tackle the insecurity in the country.

Even if there is security architecture, they won’t be able to work together because they are fighting one other. So part of what I will do, is to ensure that I get experienced hands to man the security agencies we have, those that would be able to work together and bring synergy; those that would be able to come up with a strong security architecture that would be able to ensure that the lives and properties of Nigerians are protected. When I become president, I would take decisive decisions. There are a lot of skilled security men and women in Nigeria that will assist me in doing that. I will bring them together to ensure that the issue of security is confronted frontally.

In the history of this country, Nigerians have not been so divided along ethnic/religious lines as today. Is it still possible for us, as a country to resolve the issue, where every Nigerian will see himself as Nigerians and not just Muslims or Christians; Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa?

We have lived together before, and we can still live together and have a united entity. But, you need a government that is responsible. You need a government that is serious-minded. You need a government that ensures that there is justice, fairness and equity in the way the citizens are treated. Not a government that will look at the citizens and say ‘you gave me five per cent of your votes, you gave me 95 per cent of your votes, so I will treat you differently’: the one that gave me 95 per cent I give you 95 per cent; and the one that gave me five per cent I give you five per cent. Certainly, you are setting the agenda of dividing the people. A government that openly discriminates against their citizens, that access to opportunities is contingent on the person you know or the person you have, then, certainly it won’t be one that will strengthen our bond or strengthen our unity. A government that will begin to create problems of insecurity itself will certainly not be strengthening our unity, and I will give you an example for that. it was late President Umaru Yar’Adua that was able to address the issue of agitations in the Niger Delta, and then came up with a very strong roadmap that was accepted by the communities, including the youths and the government; and which has been implemented holistically. Part of the roadmap was that youths who were not doing anything were sent to school to be educated; those that couldn’t go to school were being sent for vocational and skilled training, so that at the end of the day they would be able to learn some form of trade, so that they would become not only useful to themselves but productive members of the society. This government has come to say that they wouldn’t continue with that program. The resultant effect is that some of the students that have gone to the final year in universities and other high institutions have to withdraw.

People that have gone to advance level of training and vocation couldn’t be sponsored again. I see you not as a Nigerian but as a member of a certain ethnic group and you see me like that and people who have previously lived together and worked together have now been set against each other. On top of this, you see people that have issues with one another.

Instead of government to come in to intervene honestly and fairly to resolve those issues, they are playing politics with the lives of the people. I will give you an example, people will go and kill and when they kill - because they are seen as certain ethnic groups they are left to go unpunished, while other people are treated differently. There is no way you will treat my people and I differently as second-class citizens and you will expect me to be happy.

I know there is injustice and unfairness in the land; certainly those that are not favoured will have some grudges against those that are favoured and this is what has contributed largely again in dividing us, setting us against each other and attacking the foundation of our unity. We use to live in a situation where

What do you think can be done right?

I will first create a very robust environment for the growth of the economy and I will diverse the economy. I will look at other areas, rebuilding of confidence is important because we are at a point were Nigerians are trooping out in hundreds because they don’t believe in Nigeria and Nigeria’s economy. We had a situation under PDP where Nigerians were beginning to believe in themselves and believe in their country and so they were coming back home to invest their hard earned money; and we received billions of Naira coming into Nigeria as foreign direct investment. Because Nigerians believed in their country and in their economy, other people also believed in Nigeria and the economy; so, the first thing any serious minded individual will do - when coming into government as a president, is to rekindle that confidence. Nigerians must be made to believe once again that Nigeria can survive and that Nigeria’s economy can survive. We are going to invest in the economy; so that others can come and invest.

Do you believe in restructuring?

I believe in restructuring.

Kabiru Tanimu (SAN)

we admitted that though tribes differ but we stood in brotherhood and sisterhood, but that has been destroyed.

What are your economic ideas to take Nigeria out of the woods?

At the point of changing over of government on the 29th of May 2015, Nigeria had the strongest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Nigeria was the third most sorted out for investors in the world but, today Nigeria’s economy has been destroyed. There are a lot of promises that the APC made during the campaign -some of which they now came to deny and because of policy summersault, even when they eventually came into government that a lot of investors and major players in the economic sector had to divest their investment, fold up and then

People will go and kill and when they kill - because they are seen as certain ethnic groups they are left to go unpunished, while other people are treated differently.

There is no way you will treat my people and I differently as second-class citizens and you will expect me to be happy.

I know there is injustice and unfairn

move out of Nigeria. I will give you some examples; the first policy summersault when they came in was that they brought restriction on the use of domiciliary account; whether individuals or companies that had domiciliary account, they were prevented from operating normally, you could only withdraw money and you couldn’t pay any money into it. Another problem I will give you as an example is that some international businesses that were operating in the country were finding it difficult to repatriate their profit from dividend that they had earned and made legitimately because of what was happening. About three airlines then had to withdraw their activities in Nigeria and two scaled down their activities here and by the time the government brought another change in that policy, a lot of harm and damage had been done to the Nigerian economy. Now, gradually because of this lack of focus, because of this lack of clear policy focus and statement by the government, a lot of people lost interest in Nigeria and so it was no longer an investor’s haven and indeed, instead of investors coming to Nigeria they were divesting and leaving Nigeria. Now they brought policies that were anti-growth and because of that a lot of businesses collapsed; a lot of employers were sacked workers. In the banking sector, the telecommunication sector, in construction industries, a lot of people were sacked; and instead of creating additional jobs like they said, a lot of jobs were lost. The youths that were being encouraged to start their own business and grow wealth and grow the economy were also placed in a situation where their businesses were collapsing, because most of the programs that the government brought for them to access funds at minimum interest rate were now being done away with by government. Look at the history of Nigeria since independence to date, this is the only government that doesn’t have an economic team. This is the only government that doesn’t have an economic adviser. This is the only government that brought a Finance Minister that never had any experience globally or with any international agency or forum that has had a lot of millage that would be able to make policies globally and international and bring policies to Nigeria. So when you look at all these things, certainly, the economy will go down not even talking about the fake promises that they were going to bring dollar on the same

How can you restructure Nigeria?

A lot of people speak about restructuring in an ambiguous manner. A lot of people say restructuring because they love to speak jawbreaking grammar. Restructuring means looking at the order of things and changing them for the better; to strengthen our bonds, to create greater progress and prosperity in the country. Society is dynamic and there are a lot of things in this dynamism, where you get to a point where things that worked before wouldn’t work now; and of course needs to be changed. I believe in restructuring, whether you are looking at restructuring from the perspective of resource control or looking at it from the perspective of true federalism or you are looking at it from the perspective of devolution of power or from the perspective of state police. And the situation today, more than ever, has brought out the need for the issue of state police. So I believe in restructuring from whatever perspective you want to look at it; but I believe that it must be done in such a way and manner to ensure fair play and justice, done legally and properly. To do it legally and properly, you must look at the regulations and laws of our country including our constitution.

Laws are made to serve as facilitators for a better relationship for the progress of the society; but the moment they begin to act as a hindrance in the wind of progress, they have to be amended. So, more than any other person, as a lawyer, I stand a better chance than any other person to work out a holistic plan on how to amend existing laws to make it possible for the true restructuring of Nigeria to take place.

I will give you an example; the constitution gave the state power to create additional local government areas, but that power has been taken away by the same constitution. You create local governments but they would be incomplete until they go through other processes that have to take place in two third of the states in the country, and so it means that the power that has been given to the state House of Assembly is not existing. So, to ensure there is peace you must come up with means and ways of ensuring that the power that has been given is utilized by the state House of Assembly and in the state for the benefit of the people of that state -- so that any state that thinks they want to add more local government areas for the development of the state and for the purpose of bringing the government closer to the people, can do it. So that isn’t there and there are a lot of laws like that.

So if you talk of restructuring I believe in restructuring, but I don’t speak of restructuring in the terms that others do, in vacuum without understanding the process that will take you to the promise land. For instance, the issue in the South East; every zone in this country has six states, indeed my zone has seven states; why should South East have only five? There is no basis from whatever context you look at it; it is unfair and unjust and this is something I can do. When I become president I certainly will ensure that an additional state is created for South East and we then look at the needs of other zones. I will recognise the National Assembly. Everyone will live happily within the country, feeling a sense of belonging.

20

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Leveraging ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Law Trying to appraise the ‘Not Too Young to Run’ law recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Leadership Empowerment and Resource Networking in partnership with the Youth African Leaders Initiative recently organised a conference to brainstorm on the next move. Sunday Ehigator reports

The speakers during the interactive session

“A

fter the rain, comes the sun,” as the saying goes. For the Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) supporters, this saying has become a focal point in recent times following President Muhammadu Buhari's assent to the NTYTR bill on May 31. Despite the landmark law, which gives every young person a chance to aspire to elective office, to make an impact, young people must strategise and try to answer the question, what next?

After signing the bill in Abuja, Buhari had told those present, which included representatives of young persons from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, “You can aspire for president but, please, postpone your campaign till after 2019 election.”

For the team, the gesture was like giving and taking back candy from a little child.

The Bill The new law, which is aimed at relaxing some of the stringent and discriminatory provisions of the 1999 Constitution, was passed by the National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, and 177 of the constitution. It reduced the age qualification for presidents from 40 to 30; governors from 35 to 30; senators from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

The president, however, said in the bill presented to him for assent, there was no reduction in the age requirement for the office of senators and governors, indicating that age would still be left at 35, and said he hoped it will be looked in eventually.

Although, lawmakers also approved independent candidature in the new law, as part of a wider constitutional amendment process which the National Assembly carried out last year, that did not see the light of day.

SUNDAY EHIGATOR

Brainstorming A few weeks after the bill was signed, Leadership Empowerment and Resource Networking (LEARN) in partnership with Youth African Leaders Initiative (YALI) organised a one day conference tagged “Not Too Young to Run, what next?”

The primary focus was to brainstorm on how young aspiring Nigerians can take advantage of the new law to occupy leadership positions across board. At the conference, youths and speakers from different walks of life, divulged their diverse opinions on whether or not, the youths are ready for leadership positions.

Another factor that was considered was whether the youths intending to occupy the political space are truly leveraging on the provisions of the bill, as statistics showed that since its passage in July 2017 by the National Assembly, about 25 states, representing more than two-thirds of the country’s 36 states, had adopted the bill as at March 2018.

Speakers at the conference were Mr. Tokunbo Odutola, Mrs. Ayisha Osori, Hon. Damole, Mr. Japheth Omojuwa, Mr. Owei Lakemfa, Hon. Rotimi Oye, Dr. Taofeek Folami, Mrs. Adeola Afum, DCP Yetunde Modupe, representative of the Nigerian Police force, and Mr. Olugbenro Osaze.

In her opening remarks, Chairman of L.E.A.R.N and wife of Minister of Power, Works and

It is your right and there is time for you to get your PVCs; go and collect your PVC now.You do not get what you want until you prepare yourself for it. The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare

Housing, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, lamented poor voters’ registration among youths. Fashola lamented that less than 10 out of over 50 youths at the conference had obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). She said, “I am taken aback that not up to half of the people in the conference have their PVCs. It is your right and there is time for you to get your PVCs; go and collect your PVC now.

“You do not get what you want until you prepare yourself for it. The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. Let the community you are know you. Let them know what you stand for; your principles that are non-negotiable. I am talking about your values.

Who are you? What are your characters? What attitude are you made of? Choose the right things according to your ability. You must know the qualities that you have and you are able to serve with them, because everything about politics is all about service and nothing more.

"So don’t get it twisted. Don’t end up with the criticising group that asks what a leader has done; you yourself, what have you done to change the situation, what are you sowing?

I don’t know why people don’t want to go for councillorship or chairmanship positions, everybody wants to be president. We can only have just one president. So I will be sincere, why don’t you look at those places that are even very important than that presidential seat?

"You have to look at the chairmanship of the local governments, and that is very important because you are meant to be serving, you are meant to be doing some roads around your area, you are meant to ensure that the community is safe and all that. Nobody is looking at that, and that is the most important aspect of government as it deals with those at the grassroots. And the moment you can conquer that, you are going upward.

"You can only start from the bottom to the top not otherwise. However, you must know that you get what you prepare for and not what you want. Work towards your dream and prepare!

Make sure you do not compromise and the

result would be very rewarding.”

Expressing her appreciation for the speakers, she also thanked the sponsors, the media, supporters and all the working committee who contributed to the success of this program.

During the interactive session, some of the speakers identified the power of money as the major hindrance for youths getting fully involved in the leadership space of Nigerian politics. According to them, politics in Nigeria is capital intensive and most youths that are legally employed can’t afford it even with the presence of the not too young to run bill.

This was further depicted as a major reason why godfatherism still thrives majorly in Nigerian politics, and why corruption would always have its way as he who plays the piper, dictates its tune. In his submissions, Oduntola, the former Vice Chairman of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State said, “Godfatherism is in Nigerian politics. If you don’t know somebody in the political sphere and you just want to come out as a fresh candidate, it’s your money that must speak for you. If your money doesn’t speak for you, then you must align yourself with the ‘who is who’ in the party.

"If you don’t align yourself with the ‘who and who’ in the party, they will not even vote for you.

Most of those who are your ward chairman and representative, probably maybe your pedigree or your position in the society is better than theirs, but you have to stand to conquer, you have to bow down for them. And when they come for meeting, they want to return back with some little gifts. When you have delegate election and there are eight delegates, eight delegates expect money from you. So nothing is free.”

Leveraging on the bill On the way forward for youths to leverage on the bill, he said “I want them to come together and be participatory first. Belong to a political party, have your own ideology. But then, we have two different types of youths in Nigeria; the rich and those who are into fraud populary known as 'yahoo-yahoo' who have their money

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

FEATURES

to dominate the system, the youths who are into the road transport association who will now dictate the terms for the youths who have graduated from Harvard. If they bring out their guns, naira or machete, the rich youths will run away, and then they will dominate the system?"

On the push for the approval of the bill for independent candidacy as a hope for youth’s involvement in leadership, he said, “I don’t believe in independent candidacy as a means to solve our problems. Let us make that political office less attractive. Everybody including the youth gunning there, it is for the money and the perks of the office that gets Nigerians interested. If you want to really know who has the passion, let’s make that position; National Assembly, presidency and all other offices less attractive.”

Past Order Former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole, in his contribution, said, “If we want to talk about not too young to run; what next, we have to start from what has being in the past, How has it been, what is it now, and how it ought to be? It’s only when you know that, that you can know where we are. When this problem of age limitation came into play was in the 1999 constitution. Before then, the young people come into politics and they are relevant, because money was not the dictates of that time.

"In those days, you have to be a member of the party with a membership card and you have to be paying your dues. But these days, the party pays you to be a member. The chairman of the party, the secretary, everybody at the ward level, they have no visible means of livelihood. But before now, everybody, even as the legislator, you must have a visible means of livelihood, even before you can be considered for any appointment.

"So youths need to rededicate themselves, then relate with their communities. What we need to do is to create a movement, instead of trying to run. A movement that would change the system to favour you, but if you want to run, start crawling. You don’t know the past; you don’t even know the language of politics.

Because politics is a business in itself, it is an enterprise you need to learn from the scratch.”

“The youths have to start at the level where they can; which is from the local government.

But most of us are not concerned because we have to go to work. Most of us are not concerned about who becomes our councillors. The issue of nominating the councillors now becomes the job of somebody under public employment.

Somebody who has the quality doesn’t want to contest for councillor, and the councillor determines what happens in your area. Most of the councillors we have in some areas are people who are looking for one job or the other to do but no employment. They have not done anything before.

"But now that we have youths who are clamouring, you can start from there. You cannot say because you are a graduate, you cannot go so low. There is underman in the US that is sometimes retired people and those with good qualifications. Underman is councillors. From there, you show the people what you can do, people would see you. And once people know what you can do, they would stand up for you.”

“The youths have always stood a chance in government. It’s because money is the most important factor in any business in Nigeria.

Not only in politics. To get a job, you need to know somebody or give somebody money.

To start a business, you need money. To talk to a leader in the community you need to put some money in your pocket. And to be known

The youths already have the participation in politics; it’s just that they are vying for positions. So when you are vying for positions, I don’t really think you should just go straight. I am from the school of thought that you don’t need a title to do whatever you want to do in life

L-R: Dame Abimbola Fashola, Chairman LEARN; Mr. Adetokunbo Oduntola, former Vice Chairman of Surulere LG and Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole, former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture

Array of speakers at the event

politically, you need to give money to some people. That is the situation we are in Nigeria.

We have created the situation for ourselves, and our youths have really taken it, even beyond the unit. Because most times, revalorises that we see around today, are being carried out by our youths because they want money.

"In Lagos we have a lot of people between the age of thirty and fifty who are in charge of government today. They are there; as council chairmen, leader of the council, honourable members, between that age. Let all youths pick a clue from them and follow suit."

Starting Small On the need for youths to vie for positions from the lowest to the highest, Fashola told journalists after the conference that it was pertinent they affect their environment before aspiring for the office of the state governor or even presidency.

She said Nigerians are fond of apportioning blames when truly they don’t take the pains to know the tools and rudiments of whatever they are going into. She said, "It is something I have always wanted to do aside from this platform to say that; let’s call our leaders to order, for good source of accountability. The youths already have the participation in politics; it’s just that they are vying for positions. So when you are vying for positions, I don’t really think you should just go straight. I am from the school of thought that you don’t need a title to do whatever you want to do in life.

"And if now you are saying that you want a title, you must work that talk. You must do

those things that you need to do. You must be known in your grassroots and within your community. Your attitude, your character and the value you stand for must always speak out for you.

“I don’t believe in the school of thought about the not too young to rule law being a gimmick for the old brigade to still be in power.

Because one, you should understand that even this dispensation that we are, we have youths who are already in the House of Assembly, who are in various leadership positions as well.

So that’s not it. I think it’s because people are yearning for it, they have asked that they should do that, and that’s why they have done it for them. But really, it is not your age that determines the positions that you should go for, it is what you have in there, what you can deliver; your tools, your skills, your values, that would not be negotiable that you are taking to the board.

"In fact, forget about the age, anybody can be a leader. In fact, you are a leader from your home, school and within your community. Now, what we see is that, people believe its title that makes you a leader.

“If you are talking about working in a place where you earn a living to prove your competence to me you don’t need all that statistics. It’s just because in our culture, we are so tied down with academic qualification. For you to be able to have that experience; you can have experience in anything. It can be on volunteerism. I encourage that a lot because, when you volunteer, you already have experience, and that is a plus for you.

"But how many of our youths are ready

to volunteer these days? They don’t even see volunteerism as the beginning of whatever they want to canvas for. So one, they need to encourage the youths to volunteer, so that their CV’s would be up and they would be able to compete to say that; yes they have tested me, and I can do this. And then secondly, we should always see that the youths themselves must try as much as possible to live by whatever they said they want to do. So many people are not doing that. So your value must speak for you as well, and your contribution within the society where you come from.

"If they don’t know you on your street and within the community you come from, what are you looking for in the larger platform of the state or the country? What have you contributed to that small place you come from? What have you done within the compound and even your street? What actions have you taken? So those are the things they talk about when they say tested and trusted.

"It’s not about political position, it’s about; what have you done when you didn’t have a position? Because what you didn’t do when you didn’t have a position, I doubt if you would do it when you get any position.”

As the conference ended, the participants went away with one burning and salient question: have young people in Nigeria really made enough impact in their immediate environments before they can effectively launch out to the wider political arena? Observers say this is a question young people for whom the new law is meant would need to seriously ponder as the 2019 election nears.

22

IMAGES

L-R: President/Founder, Nigeria-Canadian Police Foundation, Pastor Sunday Adebamiro; President, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, Nigeria (AES), Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu; Member, AES Business Club, Pastor Paul Umukoro and Chairman of the Occasion and former Minister of Commerce & Industry, Dr (Mrs) Nike Akande, during the 9th AES Annual National Conference with theme: ‘Nigeria’s Economy: Challenges & Opportunities’, at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos…..recently KOLA OLASUPO

L-R: Most Outstanding Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Officer of the year 2018, Olukunle Akande; Most Dedicated Officer of the year, Junaid Ajadi; Executive Director, Fatgbems Group, Adebayo Gbemisola and People’s LASTMA Officer of the year, Rita Omobovbude, at the 2018 Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series, in Lagos…..recently

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (middle) flanked by the Yeye Olokun Agbaye and Heritage Ambassador, Princess Latifat Wuraola Momodu (right) and Member, Heritage 2018 Summit Media Committee, Mr. Kola Olasupo, after a brief meeting with the former president on the forthcoming Heritage summit slated for August later this year, in Abeokuta.......recently OLAJIDE OLASUPO

Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (right), receiving Distinguished Community Service Award from the outgoing Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mrs. Atalabi, at the NMA 2018 AGM Dinner and Awards Night, at Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan….recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Head, Regulatory Services, MainOne, Ifeloju Alakija; TLcom Capital, Lead Partner, Omobola Johnson; Country Manager, Accenture, Niyi Yusuf; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Ibile Holdings Limited, Omowunmi Idowu; Internal Auditor, Olusegun Babarinde and CEO, ACT Marketing, Adebowale Sangosanya, during the Inaugural Meeting of the Industry Advisory Board for the Yaba ICT Cluster Project, at the Accenture office, in Lagos…… recently

L-R: Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Chairman, Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Anegbe and Human Rights Activists Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, during a meeting with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, in Abuja……recently

L-R: Product Manager, GSK Pharma, Pharm Adesola Fadiora; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm Ahmed Yakasai; Marketing Manager (Access Portfolio) GSK Pharma, Pharm Sunday Afonja and Prof Julius Ihonvbere, at the 37th Annual National Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), in Benin…..recently

L-R: Director, Finance and Supply, Kwara State Ministry of Works, Afolayan J.F; Contractors Haider Hammound; Abbas Hammound and Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, during an inspection of Share-Oke Ode Road project.....recently

23

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

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

Íś Ëœ Í° ÍŽ ÍŻ Íś MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 2.83 % 3.58 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

2.50% 9% 9.38%

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 ͹͎ͳ˛͎͜˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes VDTCommunications Gets New Chairman

VDT Communications Limited has appointed Mr. Tokunbo Talabi as the new chairman board of directors of the company.

Talabi, took over from the erstwhile Chairman, Alhaji M. A. K Smith, owing to his recent appointment as the Chairman Police Service Commission and subsequent resignation from the board of VDT Communications, after ďŹ ve years of meritorious service.

The appointment of Talabi was announced during the 2018 board meeting and annual general meeting (AGM) of the company in Lagos.

Talabi is a Physiotherapy graduate from University of Ife, Nigeria, a holder of an MBA degree from University of Lagos, and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School.

He was a pioneer sta of Guaranty Trust Bank. During his 8-year stint, he served and headed various positions in the bank, such as corporate banking, retail banking, corporate services and banking operations.

He is the President/CEO of Superux International Limited, a security printing ďŹ rm in Nigeria, providing specialist secure print solutions to sub-Saharan Africa.

Winners Emerge in Star Lager Promo

PROMOTING TRADE

L-R: Executive Director, Finance, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Vice Chairman, Nigeria, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Banking Commission, Dr. Omolara Akanji; Secretary General of the ICC, Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi and President, Dr. Raymond Ihyembe, during the ICC Nigeria Banking Commission meeting, hosted by FCMB in Lagos‌recently

Telecoms Operators Threaten to Shut Down Operations over Attacks Emma Okonji Following this week’s attack on MTN facilities and staff across different locations by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), coupled with other attacks on telecoms facilities emanating from government agencies across the country, telecommunication operators have called on the federal government to intervene in order to avoid collapse of the country’s telecoms system.

They equally threatened that if such unguarded attacks persist without control, they may be forced to shut down their facilities across the county before they are invaded and destroyed.

The Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms

ICT Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, gave the warning in a statement, following the picketing of various MTN offices around the country, leading to destruction of telecoms facilities and inflicting of injuries of various degrees on MTN staff.

He said it was inappropriate to attack telecoms facilities across the country with impunity, regardless of the implication of telecoms service disruptions.

He therefore called on the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to intervene quickly to save the country’s telecommunications system from total collapse.

According to him, “attempts have been made to disrupt the network operations of some of our members through the shut down and vandalisation of critical network activities.� “The implication of such disruption will lead to severe poor quality of service with attendant natural security implications and far-reaching implications on other services that are dependent on the telecommunication industry. “We hereby strongly request government and its law enforcement agencies to intervene expeditiously, otherwise we will advise our members to consider preventive shut down in order to avoid further damage to network facilities,� Adebayo said.

He added, “We trust parties

will respect each other’s constitutional rights in the interest of our nation Nigeria.�

MTN, whose facilities were affected in the recent picketing on its facilities by the NLC, alleged that members of NLC vandalised its facilities and inflicted injuries on its staff members during the picketing on Monday this week.

Narrating the MTN’s ordeal, its Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo, said officials of the labour congress were at the MTN offices on Monday this week to picket the telecommunications company, but that the telecoms company in a civil manner, invited the officials into its headquarters in Ikoyi, Lagos, in order to reach Continued on page 24

Survey: 72% Nigerians Identify Trust as Key to Business success Raheem Akingbolu Nigeria has been ranked seventh among 10 African countries in a study on the most trusted governments in Africa.

Also, the survey revealed that 72 per cent of Nigerians ranked trust in organisations as number one consideration above other factors when buying a product or relating with an organisation.

According to the first 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer Report unveiled in Lagos, which focuses on Nigeria

ADVERTISING and its businesses, the country scored 60 percent in the survey.

The report showed that Nigeria was able to beat Ethiopia which scored 57percent, Cote d’ Ivoire, 40 per cent and South Africa 14 per /cent.

The presentation of the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer in Nigeria by Edelman was organised by Chain Reactions Nigeria, Edelman’s Exclusive Nigerian Affiliate and the Preferred West African Partner with the theme, ‘The Battle

for Truth’.

According to the report, the most trusted African government is Tanzania which scored 97percent. Tanzania was closely followed by Egypt which scored 77 per cent, Angola 76 per cent, Ghana 69 per cent, Morocco 62 per cent while Kenya scored 61 per cent.

Speaking on the process of conducting the survey, the Managing Director of Edelman, South Africa Jordan Rittenberry, means that the people believe in their governments or not. “Over time, trends have shown there is low trust in

business and non-governmental organisations, so it is important that people in these institutions pay more attention to how the citizens trust them�, he stated.

Rittenberry added that globally “media is now least trusted institution� as a result of the menace of fake news which he noted has moved from being just a phenomenon to a key factor in shaping perception. “People define media as both content and platforms, so nearly seven in 10 worry about false information Continued on page 24

A total of 20 new winners have emerged in ‘Star Lager United We Shine Millionaires Promo.’ The winners have been presented with their prizes of N1 million at a ceremony held recently in Enugu and Ibadan respectively.

This followed the previous week’s presentation event in Abuja, where 11 people were awarded their prizes. The recent winners include Promise Nnabuo, a 27-year-old trader based in Ibadan, Michael, a 38-year-old driver, and Adewale, a 50 year old mechanic.

The 20 new winners, who couldn’t hide their joy and happiness were ecstatic all through the evening, while meeting with the Star Lager teams in Ibadan and Enugu during the presentation event.

After the emotional presentation, Nnabuo said: “I’m still in shock to be honest because everything still feels like a dream to me. I just bought my usual bottle of Star and I only wanted to chill with my friends, but I looked under the crown cork and couldn’t believe my luck. I’m grateful to Star Lager for this promo and the prize.�

Heineken Takes Parties to Bars

International premium lager beer, Heineken, which recently launched a 192 countries campaign with limited edition Shazamable bottle labels has now introduced its world party series set to hold across major states in Nigeria.

The world party series is an oshoot of Heineken’s ‘192 countries’ campaign, which celebrates the beer’s unrivalled presence in 192 countries, making it the world’s most international beer brand.

The world party series is a sequence of countries-themed premium events which was billed to hold across nine cities in Nigeria - Abuja, Owerri, Ibadan, Enugu, Onitsha, Calabar, Port-Harcourt, Benin and the nightlife capital of Africa’s most populous nation, Lagos.

The parties debuted in Lagos with a Latino themed party recently. with top-notch hype man and Cool FM OAP, Do2dtun to deliver an incredible experience spiced with an electric mix of Latino music.

According to Senior Brand Manager, Heineken, Obabiyi Fagade, “The world party series was put together to encourage consumers to be open to new experiences and get a feel of the various countries across the world, how they party and of course enjoy Heineken while at it.’

Facebook, Afrinolly Roll Out Initiative

Aimed at empowering creative communities across Nigeria, Facebook and Afrinolly have announced the start of its new ‘Facebook for Creators’ training programme, designed to equip the next generation of content creators with the skills to thrive in a digital world. Focused on creative entrepreneurs and journalism students, the multi-city creative training also aims to help artists, photographers, designers, ďŹ lmmakers and other creatives leverage digital tools to gain more visibility around their work, engage with and grow their audiences.

“Customers want technology solutions that offer them better business opportunities. So organisations and technology service providers should adopt new technologies that the customers are fast looking for�

General Manager, Dell EMCWest Africa,

Mr. Travers Nicholas

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

TELECOMS OPERATORS THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS OVER ATTACKS unified decisions and prevent any form of violence. “However, the protest became violent and disorganised in different locations as property within MTN premises were vandalised. “Doors and gates were destroyed and alleged officials of NLC breached the fences to gain forced entry into the premises. In Ikoyi, MTN flag was lowered and the NLC flag was hoisted in its place. “Numerous staff of the company were injured in the process of the protests and many assumed the roles of human shields over their colleagues, protecting them from the angry protesters,�

Okigbo said. According to him, “The violence and the needless destruction of property are deeply saddening. As always, our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our employees, some of whom were attacked by supposed NLC operatives, and sustained injuries.�

SURVEY: 72% NIGERIANS IDENTIFY TRUST AS KEY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS or fake news being used as a weapon�, he declared.

The report also established that in the country, trust for religious leaders stood at 62 per cent in the survey findings, while trust on celebrities was put at 28 percent in spite of huge money brands spend engaging them.

Since 2001, Edelman, a global media agency has been measuring trust in countries but this is the first time Nigeria was one of the focused countries in the report.

The report by Edelman report was conducted in 28 countries around the world with 33,000 respondents.

Other global institutions measured on trust were NGOs which had 53 per cent trust level. Businesses scored 52 per cent trust level, governments had 41 per cent trust level globally while media had least score of trusted institutions of less than 40per cent.

FG Parleys Volkswagen, BMW, Uber, Others on Automotive Policy Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

ficulties with the implementation approach, but this is the time we have considerable political will. If we can get the individual components right, we should be able to fly with this policy,�

Osinbajo said.

Enelamah described the visit of the car industry investors as an encouraging expression of confidence in the leadership of the country and its spirited efforts to exploit the socio-economic potentials of the automotive sector in the

country to the fullest for the benefit of all Nigerians. “We are excited by the role the automotive industry plays in the strategic and catalytic economic development of countries and we are committed to developing the sector speedily to facilitate the economic diversification of the country,� Enelamah said.

Thomas Schaefer, who led the delegation and doubles as the Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group

South Africa, said that their business intention in Nigeria was to domesticate aspects of their manufacturing and supply value chain. “The plan is to have short, medium and long-term approaches that target growth in the manufacture of cars in Nigeria, similar to the over 60,000 cars produced per annum in South Africa,�

Schaefer, said.

He also asked Nigeria to pass its new automotive

policy into law, saying it has the potential to activate investments and unlock the growth of Africa’s automotive sector.

It will be recalled that in 2016, the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), held meetings with the Economic Management Team (EMT) and President Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to contribute to the development of viable automotive assembly sectors within key African economies.

countries of the Bank, Nigeria continues to support the Bank’s capital mobilisation by reinvesting its dividends in the Bank’s capital. “Since inception, the bank has been very active in Nigeria. This is reflected by the institution’s consistent support to corporate and government entities through financing and advisory services, and significant financial and technical supports to Nigeria, with the country’s

share of total loans averaging more than 40 per cent of the Bank’s aggregate,� Adeosun said. The minister expressed optimism that the construction of the Regional Office complex would also create job opportunities for Nigerian youth, generate business opportunities for entrepreneurs to venture into the bank, and by extension, financial support to our private sectors.

The federal government has held discussions with 20 investors and consultants from some of the leading global car makers in a bid to give the Nigerian automotive sector a boost.

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo hosted the automotive industry stakeholders from Volkswagen, Nissan, Bosch, BMW, Uber and representatives from Standard Bank of Africa, International Finance Corporation, Graffitti, Deloitte, Actis.

The vice president and the Minister of Trade and Investment Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, engaged the investors recently on the federal government’s economic priorities.

A statement by the Strategy and Communications Adviser to Minister Trade and Investment, Bisi Daniels, said the investors visited Abuja, Lagos and Edo State to gain insight of business opportunities and investment environment in the Nigerian automotive sector.

They will also assist in the shaping of national policy to support industry overall and domesticated manufacturing for the automotive sector.

At separate meetings, Osinbajo and Enelamah, discussed economic priorities with the investors and gave assurance of federal government’s the political will to implement L-R: President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Clare Omatseye; Chairman, Act Foundation, Mr Tunde Folawiyo; Managing Director, Act the auto policy.

Foundation, Osayi Alike and Executive Vice President, Unilever Ghana/ Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh, at the second Act Foundation breakfast “There have been some dif- dialogue in Lagos‌recently ETOP UKUTT

HEALTH SECTOR DIALOGUE

Afreximbank Invests $17bn in Nigeria Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) disclosed yesterday that its investment in the Nigerian economy stands at over $17 billion .

Afreximbank President, Dr. Benedict Oranmah, who spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Anglophone Regional Office, in Abuja, stated that the decision to invest in

the Nigerian economy was in appreciation of the critical role the nation played in the bank’s formation, and the demonstration of a strong support by strengthening its capital base. He said, “Approvals to various corporate organisations including indigenous oil firms and banks and government entities, are in excess of $17 billion.� According to Oranmah, the Regional Office would

strengthen closer and continuous relationship between the bank and Nigerian government entities and businesses.

In her address, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said Nigeria invested an initial $50 million, becoming one of the largest shareholders of the Bank which helped to attract the interest of others in the equity participation of the Bank. “Just like many other member

Ambode Inaugurates Ultra-modern Furniture Factory Bamidele Famoofo

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has described the citing of a new ultra-modern furniture company named ‘Home and You’ in Ibeshe, a suburb of Ikorodu, as a key driver for the economy of the state and the country at large.

Ambode, while delivering a goodwill message at the unveiling of the factory in Lagos on Tuesday, said it will create employment and increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “This is the first furniture company of its kind in the Ikorodu axis and it’s a clear indication that the efforts of Lagos Sate government to provide security and infrastructure is beginning to

yield positive fruits�, he said.

Ambode, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Physical Planning, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, said the made in Nigeria furniture would compete favourably with foreign products. He disclosed that the government of Lagos State had been supportive of the company and promised to continue to support it for growth. Representative of the financiers of the project, Executive Director of Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju , on the occasion, said the Bank supported the furniture company for about 13 years. “What’s being commissioned today is an expansion. Home and You is a role model for others to emulate�, he enthused.

Olagunju added: “By every standard, this factory is one of the best in the world and if the owners come again, we will give them loan�.

He eulogised the management of ‘Home and You’ for their policy of providing good welfare for staff, noting that the company takes care of feeding and shelter for its workers.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Home and You, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, said passion and undying crave for success was the reason she was able to weather the storm in the early days of the 21 years old business. “But for the support from BOI, we won’t be here today.

They gave us the first facility in 2006 to get us running. We acquired world class machines

from Italy. “And when we needed to improve on our quality and expand the capacity of the business, we approached them again for another facility which was granted in 2017�.

Also, the pioneer chairman of the company, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, described the firm as a young adult going places.

Cybersecurity: Defence Staff Moves to Secure National Infrastructure Ahead of 2019 Elections Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja In lieu of the electronic security challenges confronting the nation, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin has called for a secured national information infrastructure as the country prepares for the 2019 general elections.

Olonisakin made the call in Abuja at the 2018 Legislative

Stakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity, with the theme; “The Implications of Disruptive Technologies on National Security and Economy�, organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime.

Describing the theme of the conference as apt and well thought-out, Olonisakin said there was no better time to brainstorm on the implications of disruptive technologies on the country’s national security than now.

According to him, “In view of the diverse range of electronic security challenges that is currently confronting our nation, it compels the need for a secured critical national information infrastructure as the country prepares for a free and fair general elections in 2019.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Ě“

Tech Innovation as Driver of Govt Institutions As cashless economy and paperless assembly take centre stage in the digital era, innovation based on technology evolution is already driving government institutions and organisations, writes Emma Okonji Driven by technology innovation and the need to extend its benefits to Nigerians, especially in the area of financial inclusion, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the cashless policy some years back.

Since the introduction of the cashless policy, the central bank has been able to reduce the volume and cost of producing cash, a situation that has enhanced financial inclusion.

In the same vein, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), the umbrella body of computer professionals in the country, has initiated a paperless assembly for its annual Information Technology (IT) Assembly.

For the first time ever, CPN introduced paperless communication in its 2018 IT Assembly, which held in Abuja recently. According to the group, the initiative was borne out of its zeal to align its operations with technology innovation that will benefit all members of the computer profession.

The CPN ‘s tech innovation For the first time in the 22 years history of the annual IT Assembly ‘Paperless Communication’ was used. Brochures and programmes of events were not printed. Instead, participants got computer tablets already pre-loaded with the programmes of events and other necessary information. The introduction of tablets added colour and glamour to the event.

During the event, registered members who were given computer tablets, were seen communicating with them and sending information relating to the conference and the computer profession, across boards.

The beneďŹ ts Just as the CBN is saving huge money from the reduction in the printing of cash, following the introduction of cashless initiative, CPN said it was able to save cost of paper printing since every information about the conference, including paper presentation was passed electronically. “It costs us so much to pay for printing jobs for every annual conference and most times the printed materials are delayed. But with the electronic copies, we were able to pre-load them into the tablets and made them available at the point of registration during the conference,â€? the conference organisers said.

The highpoint of this event was the setting aside of March 31st every year, as the National IT Day in Nigeria. It is set aside for the recognition of the role of IT in the country.

The assembly is a yearly gathering of IT professionals and practitioners in Nigeria and the Diaspora with the objective of discussing and strategising on emerging issues in IT and generating recommendations and decisions that impact positively on the industry and the nation.

As it was with past editions of the programme, this year’s was preceded with the induction of 290 members into the profession.

Speaking at the conference,ny, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Acting Director, Procurement, Research and Statistics,

Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Emmanuel Ogunmefun, said governments all over the world were increasingly becoming smart, efficient with the adoption of appropriate technologies to drive governance and create the requisite enabling environment for national change and the much needed transformation.

He said as agency of government established to control and regulate the practice of IT profession in Nigeria, the role of CPN in the scheme of developmental goals of government could not be over-emphasised.

In addition, he noted that IT remains a critical sector and the flagship of other professions, and one that is viewed seriously in the course of the nation’s drive for sustainable national developments. According to Mustapha, the establishment of CPN, was government’s way of demonstrating its commitment to the development and deployment of IT in Nigeria.

He expressed confidence that the Council would keep aligning itself to the federal government’s developmental goals, especially in science, technology and innovations.

Also speaking on issues confronting the country, which could be addressed through technology innovation, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Director, ICT, Federal

ALTON Raises Alarm over Decommissioned Telecoms Site Stories Emma Okonji The Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body of all telecoms operating companies in Nigeria has raised the alarm over the decommissioning of a telecoms site located in Onna community, the home town of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, on the order of the governor.

But the state government said it took the action to enable it to relocate the site that was causing obstruction to road construction. Listing the dangers of decommissioning a telecoms site that is already serving Onna community and its environs, the Chairman of

ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said it would would adversely affect the quality of telecoms service in the entire community and its environ, leading to incessant drop calls, poor reception quality, inability to recharge and to browse the internet.

Adebayo therefore called on the federal government and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to come to the rescue of telecoms operators and protect telecoms service offerings in the state for the benefit of subscribers in the state. Adebayo alleged that said the governor gave the order for personal reasons.

Adebayo said such action should be discouraged, since the intention to decommission the site was allegedly for

personal gains rather than of public interest such as building of school or hospital.

But in a quick reaction, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem who confirmed the decommissioning of the telecoms site said it was not because for personal vendetta as claimed by ALTON, but explained that the action was taken to because it was causing obstruction to road construction that had been mapped to pass through where the site was initially located. “I was surprised to hear that the Governor decommissioned the site because he wanted to acquire the site for his personal use. I know that the governor is a man of integrity and will never do such a thing.

Ministry of Education, Mr. I. K. Oji, said the federal government recognised the critical role of IT in its developmental agenda, and has therefore made technology a priority.

The minister decried the poor state of IT in the country, and called on the council to work with government towards the attainment of the national goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He urged the participants to discuss how the nation Nigeria can facilitate technology–enabled learning as a way of preparing the youths for the future workplace.

Adamu assured the group of government’s continued support to promote the CPN’s course for national development.

The President/Chairman of CPN, Prof. Charles Uwadia, said the 2018 edition of the assembly was the first since his election, adding that it coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the council.

He said the choice of the theme for this year’s assembly involved an assessment of the progress that IT practice had made in the past 25 years in the country in its drive to bridge the digital divide as well as to enhance the deployment of IT. CPN progress report The Registrar, CPN, Mr. Allwell Achumba in his 2018 AGM annual report said the council

was being repositioned for increased relevance, visibility, profitability and sustainability. “We live in a world driven and powered by intellect and technology, a world where we see nations rise and fall as a result of its embrace or neglect of IT. “Therefore, we need to intensify our efforts at developing the IT profession in Nigeria.

We should not pay lip service to our efforts at building a solid and highly respected IT profession in Nigeria. “It is for the good of the profession, the nation as well as the professionals and practitioners, who will be reaping the dividends of their sacrifice. IT profession has lots of prospects in Nigeria. “Therefore, we should not be tired of making more efforts and sacrifices especially in terms of effective regulation of the IT profession as well as discharging our financial obligations to the profession in order to make it what it should be in the country,� he added.

Other speakers dwelt more on technology evolution and the need for organisations, government bodies and individuals to take advantage of technology innovation to beaks innovative in providing solutions that will address the pressing needs of individuals, organisations and the Nigerian economy.

Airtel Pledges Support for Mental Health Advocacy Airtel Nigeria has announced its partnership with She Writes Woman, a non-profit organisation with a focus on mental health issues, to rehabilitate a mental health facility in Lagos as well as provide a strong advocacy platform for mental health matters.

In the fourth episode of the on-going Airtel Touching Lives (ATL) Season 4, Airtel met with the leadership of She Writes Woman to discuss how the company would support the NGO in providing solutions for a variety of mental health challenges plaguing many Nigerians. The founder, She Writes Woman, Hauwa Ojedo, said she was excited about Airtel’s support, saying that she was determined to offer

succour and comfort to more mental health patients, especially women. “I find this initiative very purposeful, with my story and journey with mental illness; I wouldn’t want to see other women go through mental health illness in silence. She Writes Woman is a movement of love, hope and support,�

Ojedo said. A mental health patient, Oyindamola Fakeye, said through the initiative she was able to triumph over depression and other bout of mental health problems. “Losing my mum at about nine years was really devastating. It was even worse because I couldn’t express myself and I didn’t even know how to. So, I bottled up these feelings inside,

and soon these feelings began manifesting themselves through anxiety and depression. “Coming for a group support session at She Writes Woman helped me figure out what triggered the feelings, took me on a journey towards healing and now I am here,� she recounted A Psychiatrist and a member of the She Writes Woman initiative, Dr. Fisayo Momodu, provided insights into the methodology the NGO adopts in assisting persons with mental health issues. “We have a help-line where people call in and when they do, we run a quick assessment test, after which we fix a meeting time where honest conversations are made and the journey to healing begins,� she said.

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Adegbiji: Lots of Sensitive Data in Nigeria Hosted Abroad The General Manager, MDXi Data Centre, a subsidiary of MainOne, Mr. Gbenga Adegbiji, spoke on the European Union General Data Protection Regulation compliance, in this interview captured by Emma Okonji. Excerpts: With the recent European General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) law compliance and other data domiciliation trends, how do you think this can impact Nigeria?

The rise of data domiciliation policies globally is due to the increasing spate of cybercrime, cyberwarfare, hackers and the like. Data domiciliation is purely a preventative strategy to mitigate cyberattacks. Nigeria and Africa as a whole can be hugely affected because today, most of our critical data is hosted abroad. In Nigeria, for instance, a lot of our sensitive data such as our financial records, citizens’ information and telecoms data are currently not hosted here. Should these data get to the wrong hands, access to the data will be dangerous and this can make us extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Those countries where we host our data will not allow their own data to be hosted outside their shores because they understand the security and economic implications of it. Now that Nigeria has world-class data centre facilities in-country, government should as a matter of urgency, enforce the data domiciliation regulations to ensure we are all protected. I think the push by the lawmakers to enable localisation of data and operations by telecoms operating companies in the country, is in the interest of national security and it is a good start.

More than ever, this will foster competitive practices with service quality and eventually price becoming the differentiator. With this policy, more companies will build data centres to serve the demand and this will eventually democratise colocation services. With new technologies such as block chain, cryptocurrency and the internet of things becoming the norm in Nigeria, specialised and edge data centres will evolve, new digital services will also emerge that will further deepen the market.

These will ultimately broaden the ecosystem and ultimately create more jobs and business opportunities in the country.

Talking about developing a digital economy, what are the things you think the Nigerian government should focus on?

We should continue to support data residency policies with government taking the lead with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government and private sector.

Government should also support indigenous players. Sadly, it is only in Nigeria that you have to be advocating for this. Most of the other countries of the world, even some West Africa countries, have these protections entrenched in their laws and will not compromise it for anything. We should begin to emulate more developed countries including China, and most countries in Europe that have data domiciliation laws. We must identify and host critical national data in-country. For example, before the Chinese government allow global players to operate in their country, they are mandated to either construct a manufacturing plant or employ 1000 local staff. They also encourage knowledge transfer and promote local companies who compete with global players. These are conscious efforts by the government to promote their industries and develop their economy. This was the case with Alibaba, Wechat, among others in China, some of which now have annual revenues that are more than the GDP of some countries. Nigerian government should pay serious attention to these developments globally and ensure that best practices are adopted in the country.

MDXi recently achieved the Tier III CertiďŹ cation of Constructed Facilities (TCCF) certiďŹ cation. What is the certiďŹ cation about?

We received the certification following a performance-based evaluation of our data centre infrastructure. It is a test that ensures that every component of the infrastructure is concurrently maintainable and has been installed in accordance with the original certified design documents. For us, because we have built the data centre in accordance with the certified Tier III designs ab-initio, the over 90 different tests and demonstrations validate what we have been doing in the last three years and the achievement of the certification was very seamless. TCCF is a progression from Tier Certification of Design Documents (TCDD) and goes beyond the review of paper designs to rigorous on-site testing to root out discrepancies

Adegbiji

between the actual installation and design. The multiple certifications of MainOne’s MDXI demonstrate compliance to globally accepted standards on high availability, commitment towards the security and protection of the information assets of the company and its customers and provides assurance of the quality of the data centre’s infrastructure and ability to react to disruptions due to unplanned activities.

MDXI’s 600 rack facility in Lekki is the premier commercial data centre in West Africa built to meet the rapidly growing demand for co-location, managed hosting and cloud services within the region.

So, what exactly were the criteria for achieving the certiďŹ cation?

The two major criteria for Tier III data centre specification are redundancy and concurrent maintainability for all capacity and line equipment including power, cooling and distribution systems. We built the facility in line with the certified designed documents and in some cases, have provided more than

Those countries where we host our data will not allow their own data to be hosted outside their shores because they understand the security and economic implications of it

what is required because of the understanding of the Nigerian operating environment.

So, because of this, we were initially not keen on re-certifying to the TCCF until our customers started requesting. For instance, we already invested significantly in power, with a direct private connection to the national grid through the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, ahead of TCCF. This was a capital investment of hundreds of millions of naira in substation equipment and dedicated power lines, which bypass most of the ‘last-mile’ challenges encountered in electricity distribution in Nigeria. We did this because we knew power alone is a differentiator in data centre operations and possibly the biggest albatross for Direct Connection (DC) operators. With our direct connection to the national grid, we have an average of 22 hours of public power availability per day which translates to operational stability and cost savings for us and our customers.

What does the TCCF mean to you, your customers and of what value is the certiďŹ cation to the Nigerian economy?

Let me say it this way, it is an attestation to the fact we are able to continually provide uninterrupted data centre and cloud services to our customers in the face of planned and unplanned maintenance. It is an endorsement of what we have already known and what we have been delivering since 2015 when we launched MDXi data centre operation in Nigeria. Our facility was designed to these specifications, our design documents were certified to the standards and our construction was purpose built in line with the approved documents and international best practices.

Prior to the construction, we also went through numerous design audits to ensure alignment of all applicable international standards and best practices in all areas of the infrastructure.

The TCCF is now a reassurance to our existing and prospective customers that we will be

able to deliver the services we promised them in all ramifications, no matter the situation. Again, when you add the TCCF to the other data centre certifications which we already have; for instance, the SAP Infrastructure Services license, which certifies that we can run SAP applications and infrastructure; the ISO 27001 which certifies us for information security compliance; the ISO 9001 that certifies us for quality management; and the PCI-DSS certification which places our data centre as the only co-location data centre in Nigeria that can securely process payment card information, you can see that we have done due diligence and ensured compliance with international benchmarks. Being compliant with PCI-DSS means that we are doing our very best to keep customers valuable information safe and secure and out of the hands of people who could use that data in a fraudulent way. It is a global security standard for protecting card data and was created by the world’s biggest card companies; Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and JCB. Not sure any certification is as stringent and detailed as that for card chip data and we already have that. With these certifications and endorsements, MDXi has placed Nigeria on the world map of countries that are prepared for the digital economy and we are happy to be at the forefront of this.

Now that you have TCCF certiďŹ cation, what next?

We will extend our services across West Africa, providing the same services to enterprises, governments and individuals across the region.

As you may know, we are currently building our Sagamu Data Centre, to boost information and communications technology (ICT) development in Ogun State and to serve as a disaster recovery option for our existing customers. We will also announce the commencement of our Cote d’Ivoire data centre soon and Ghana should follow almost immediately. Like I said earlier, our objective is to enable the digital ecosystem in the region and we are strongly committed to this.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

27

Dell Partners Marvel Studio Dell Technologies has announced its collaboration with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man and The Wasp� this summer. With similar fan bases, the two companies will come together to bring excitement around technology into pop culture.

From Ant-Man’s and The Wasp’s suits to Hank Pym’s Lab, technology plays a lead role throughout the film.

Announcing the collaboration, Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships and Marketing, Mindy Hamilton, said, “What’s great about this partnership is that it allows our on-screen tech to become a bit more tangible to viewers. “We might not be able to replicate Hank Pym’s advancements quite yet, but we hope that the film inspires people to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible just like our heroes do.�

This collaboration extends behind the camera, where Dell hardware plays a vital role in creating the visual effects in the film.

Marvel Studios enlisted VFX vendors, several of which utilised a breadth of Dell technologies, including Dell EMC PowerEdge servers, and Dell Precision workstations, as the core infrastructure to provide the immense computing power and storage capacity necessary for visual effects designers to bring the movie’s characters and places to life. “Technology plays an integral

role in Marvel Studios’ “AntMan and The Wasp,� so it’s fitting that fans will be able to see the new Dell G5 15, a powerful gaming laptop that enables great in game-performance and stunning visuals, and the award-winning XPS 13, on the big screen when the film hits theatres this summer. In the film, Dell devices make several appearances in settings like Hank Pym’s lab and at the X-CON security offices,�

Hamilton said.

Senior Vice President, Client Solutions Marketing at Dell, Gerri Tunnell, said, “We are thrilled to team up with Marvel Studios on Ant-Man and The Wasp and demonstrate the super powers of technology. “There are a lot of similarities between our brands and fan bases. For example, our goal is to empower our customers, from gamers to visual effects artists, with high-performance technology to drive human progress just like Ant-Man and The Wasp rely on tech to make the world a better place.�

Based on Dell’s 2030 research findings, Computer Science and Computational Thinking will be a needed skill in the workplace, however, Dell sees gaps in supply to meet this demand. To support the next generation, Dell has committed more than $50 million to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives globally since 2014.

Ě“

Konga Foresees Boom for e-Commerce Stories by Emma Okonji In its bid to uplift ethical standards in the African ecommerce space and raise the bar in customer satisfaction, e-commerce firm Konga has pioneered the launch of Konga Compliance– a feedback/ compliance e-mail through which customers can directly reach out to the chairman of the board and executive management at Konga on issues affecting various aspects of its business relationship with the consumer.

Konga Compliance, which will also incorporate a dedicated phone line for calls/SMS, is set to go live immediately and lead to a boom for the entire e-

commerce business in Nigeria.

Feelers from within the company indicate that feedback, complaints or enquiries generated on the email platform will be monitored directly by the chairman and other management executives for immediate resolution.

As such, the platform will present a useful mechanism for customers to report errant drivers and delivery men who over-speed or flout traffic rules in the course of duty, wrong or improperly delivered items, product quality concerns, instances of poor customer service online or at any Konga retail store, collection centre or touch-point, late deliveries, pass comments/

suggestions on new product lines/innovations or likely improvements they would like to see and other issues affecting stipulated service level agreements or areas of compliance.

Bearing in mind the need to lay a framework for its ideas and innovations for the e-commerce market, the new management at Konga decided to institute ethical standards and compliance within the company which will not only boost user experience and satisfaction but help create a closer bond between the company and its ever-increasing customer base.

Konga is keen to revolutionise the e-commerce space in

Nigeria and beyond - a factor that has seen the new management of the company work round the clock behind the scenes to put in the requisite structures and infrastructure needed to elevate standards in the sector.

According to sources within the organisation, the initiatives which are set to be unveiled early August will see the new Konga, which emerged after the merger with Yudala in May 2018, leverage its composite structure and fusion of online and offline to ensure an unprecedented level of world class customer experience, improved standards and growth in the Nigerian and African e-commerce eco-system.

Truecaller Reintroduces Market Innovation for Pro Subscribers With over 100 million daily active users and a growing number of Truecaller Pro subscribers, the company has reintroduced the much requested ‘Who Viewed Your Profile’ feature for its Pro subscribers.

The feature allows users to see who has viewed their profile, keeping them prepared for which calls to expect and from whom.

Speaking on how the technology solution works, the management of Truecaller said it’s Pro users will receive a notification when another user has viewed their profile using Truecaller.

It was, however, clarified that if someone is simply searching for another person’s and come across a similar profile, such will wont trigger a Who Viewed My Profile notification, unless they tap on the profile.

Depending on the user’s privacy settings, contact information such as phone number

or additional information that a user may have added, could be hidden. Users will still have to send a contact request for their details.

Users can always control who views what information on their own profile by going to the ‘Privacy Center’ in the settings of their Truecaller app.

When a user becomes a Pro subscriber, they can toggle on or off private mode, which means that the other user will not be notified that you have looked at their profile.

This is a first of many new Truecaller Pro features that the company will be releasing. In the coming weeks, the Pro feature will be rebranded to premium and the company will be adding more features to make communications safe and efficient.

People use Truecaller to stay ahead. It helps them know who’s getting in touch, filter out unwanted calls and SMS, and focus on what really matters.

CLOSING GONG CEREMONY

L–R:GroupHead,EnterpriseRiskManagement,NigerianStockExchange(NSE),TunjiKazeempresentingareplicaoftheclosinggongtothePresident, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, AhmedYakasai, during a closing gong ceremony at the NSE in Lagos‌recently

Varsity Staff Union Congratulates Danbatta The Bayero University, Kano (BUK’s) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has congratulated the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (EVC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta on two major recognitions he received recently.

Danbatta was recently inducted as Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, the apex engineering body in the country, and he also received the honorary Doctorate Degree

of Science (D.SC) from the University of Jos. Speaking during a courtesy call on the NCC boss, the Chairman of BUK’s chapter of the SSANU, Haruna Aliyu, who led a delegation of the leadership of the association, described the honours as a recognition not only for Danbatta but the entire BUK community in particular and the nation’s university community in general. “You have always made us proud. And the recent honours you received are, no doubt,

so remarkable and hence the reason to pay this courtesy visit to felicitate with you and the entire staff of the NCC,� he said.

Responding, Danbatta hailed the contributions of the members of the association toward the development of the university. “I held many strategic positions while in BUK. I have seen what the management is doing. It has transformed the university into a world-class university. Surely, it must be with the support of various as-

sociations like ASUP, SSANU, and others. “The achievement the university recorded in the past years would not have been possible without the harmony in unionism and active partnership between management and the various unions of the University,� Danbatta said.

He vowed to remain a good ambassador of the university at the federal level with more telling contributions toward the development of telecommunications sector in the country.

set mandate.

He also promised the NIG of the commission’s willingness to collaborate with the group to foster internet growth as a way of expanding synergies with stakeholders in the telecoms ecosystem.

In his contributions, NIG

Vice President, Bayero Agabi, reiterated that the NIG was committed to using the internet to build capacity and ensure job creation, hence a close working relationship with the NCC was critical The NIG team, which was led by the President, Destiny Amana, appealed

to the commission to revisit the existing MoU between the NIG and the NCC on the Internet for Jobs Initiative (I4J), which he recalled gave birth to organisations like BudgIT, that are today contributing their quota to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

NIG Seeks Stakeholders’ Support As part of efforts to reposition the Nigeria Internet Group, the new executive council of the group recently began courtesy calls on some heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government. Among the agencies visited included the Nigerian

Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

While at the NCC, the President of the group gave the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar

Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, New Media and Information Security at NCC, Haru Alhassan, a brief insight into the essence of the visit.

Alhassan assured the group of NCCs commitment to explore such partnerships that will help the Commission to achieve its

28

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Adejola: Nigerian Businesses Must Pay More Attention to Safety Chief Executive Officer of Surveillant Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jumade Adejola, laments the huge sums lost to fire accidents every year by businesses in the country and calls on government and corporate bodies to prioritise safety and ensure the installation of efficient fire fighting equipment in their premises. Adejola speaks with Raheem Akingbolu. Excerpts: Every year, Nigeria loses property running into billions of naira to fire incidents, how can this be reduced?

Let me start by saying that this national destruction can be reduced drastically if Nigeria ensures efficient firefighting equipment brands that are imported and sold in the market rather than taking issues related to safety with levity. Beyond this, more importantly, if Nigeria implements its fire prevention laws things will be improved in this regard. For instance, the Lagos State government recently said that the state lost 84 people and N12.8 billion worth of properties to fire in the last one year alone and this is one state in Nigeria that pays attention to this area more any other government in the country. I can link the huge loss in private and commercial properties annually to fire nationwide to weak regulation of fire fighting laws, poor fire prevention practices, poor awareness and fake or inefficient firefighting equipment.

You just mentioned the need for efficient brands in the country, how can we control the influx of fake ones?

On fake products for fighting fire, there is nothing anybody can do without government regulation. Strict regulation will discourage people that are bringing in fake products. A situation where NAFDAC and SON go from shop to shop identifying fake products is an aberration instead of stopping it at the port of entry. There should be strict regulation that whoever that brings substandard product is either jailed or punished severely. Then unscrupulous people will withdraw from it.

I have been in business of selling firefighting equipment for over 20 years and I believe that Nigeria has trusted and qualified engineers that can identify fake products from genuine ones at the ports before entry. In the alternative, I can also advise consumers that price is not a determinant of fake or genuine product, especially extinguishers.

In fact, some extinguishers being paraded in the market cannot put out fire when it happens.

But most of the fire extinguishing brands in the country are also imported, does it mean some of those imported ones are fake?

Look, some business owners here and even foreigners operating in Nigeria, who deal in these products, are so desperate in their desire to sell fake products. For instance, our company imports genuine products from a Dubai company, but we were surprised to see that the Dubai Company’s name has been registered in Nigeria by some people with intention to import different products in the brand name of the same company. No doubts, this will mislead the consumers.

Again, ignorance plays a major role as some properties, including vehicles lack firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers. We need to clear the ignorance in the society about protection against incidents such as fire. Many homes don’t have fire extinguishers and many people have died due to lack of fire extinguishers.

We also need to educate people about safety laws. There is also poor implementation of firefighting codes in the country.

Aside Dubai, we also import from UK, US, Dubai and Singapore. From day one, we decided that we will not compromise quality. Every product we sell is not just quality but approved products. These are products that have been approved by the

us when planning their policies. It is not about paying premium alone. We are supposed to be training their loss adjusters.

It is about the risks involved and how are you going to really handle things when issues arise. Let me give you this example. You insure a building, but proper fire protection equipment was not used.

The whole building is at risk. And it is not proper equipment alone but approved one. Most of these products we see outside are refurbished products. If you use fire extinguisher that the cylinder is expired, because it is a compressed extinguisher, by the time open, it can injure your jaw and that is death. So, what you are buying as safety equipment can also be risk equipment unknown to you. So, you have to approach qualified companies that are doing the business.

Adejola

quality approval institutions such ISO. Why we are interested in quality is that any thing that concerns life and property no mistake is accepted.

Before we embark on a job, we first design.

It is from this design that we know where to mount fire prevention equipment, and then we select the appropriate products.

We don’t just design for our clients, but we provide after sales services.

What are other challenges the operators face aside issues related to substandard products?

First, the epileptic electricity in Nigeria has caused the delay in sitting power-consuming firefighting assembly equipment plants in Nigeria, but we must commend Lagos State government’s efforts in fire fighting and prevention in the state.

Apart from procuring equipment and trucks for fire fighting, Lagos is organising a

There should be strict regulation that whoever brings substandard product is either jailed or punished severely. Then unscrupulous people will withdraw from it

conference to further create awareness on its Vision Zero which means zero tolerance to accidents or mishap in especially workplaces.

Your company keeps a low profile.

Why? It has been a deliberate policy. But now, we want to be the number one fire protection company in Africa. We have opened offices in Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya and we have offices in Port-Harcourt, Abuja and our head office is in Lagos. Very soon, we will be moving to our ultra-modern new office complex because as you can see, this place can no longer contain us.

We wanted to get to certain level. Most of our clients know us and they know we can deliver at the shortest notice. Besides, we were not ready for the pressure that would come with too much noise. When we promise, we deliver even if it costs more than what we billed you. We believe in quality service and consistency. If we say three months, it will be three months. Our engineers are competent, and they know their onions. And let me also add that I am not an office or arm-chair chief executive.

I go to sites to supervise and take charge where necessary to deliver the quality we promised the client. If you look at the issue of fire and its prevention and protection, it is a matter of life and death. So, when people begin to use fake products, what you are protecting is at risk. Look at insurance companies. They are supposed to involve

You just stated that regulation is poor and that this puts the works of professionals like you at risk. How do you deal with this?

Yes, regulation is poor. I am not disputing that but there is a building code now that has been passed into law and it is being pursued and being enforced. Most of the time, you will discover that if you don’t apply these rules, they won’t be enforced.

That is at the federal level. In Lagos State, the state government is very committed to safety. We are consultants to the Lagos State Safety Commission and let me tell you that what they are doing is great. The state does not joke with lives of citizens and the state is even organising a conference on Vision Zero and this is about zero tolerance to fire, accidents and mishaps in any place. And that is why, in most of the construction sites, if you don’t take safety seriously, the place will be shut down.

We don’t take safety serious in this part of the world.

That is taken. We were at the Abuja airport one day and we alighted from the plane and we had to trek to the arrival lounge. That was unacceptable and that was risky. Countries don’t do that again.

No matter the short distance, you don’t do that. In our company, our engineers are well trained when it comes to installations of fire detection system, fire fighting system and FM 200, which us fire suppression system for critical areas like server room of telecommunication companies or server room of banks and most of places that need protection. FM 200 puts out fire automatically either you are there or not.

How do you deal with quacks? Do you have an association?

Fire protection operators don’t have an association for now. We belong to quite a number of bodies but no association.

So, how do you deal with quacks?

It is a tough job especially for people like us who represent genuine OEMs. At Surveillant, we will never give you substandard products. And that is why we always tell our clients to go to people that will give them genuine products. Some people may pick up old and expired products, repaint it and even put the name of the original OEM that manufactured it and they will resell. It is that bad. We have our website and check products and you will get what you need. We don’t source for products; we always have products in stock. When we give you time, we adhere to it.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

29

Promoting the Creative Industry Raheem Akingbolu, who witnessed the ‘French Season of African Cultures 2020’ at the African Shrine in Lagos, writes on the need to support the growth of the culture and creative industry in the continent One week after the visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to Nigeria, the economic importance of the visit is still reverberating, especially as it concerns the boost it would give to the creative industry and appreciation of African culture. The event, entitled ‘A Celebration of African Culture’, was organised by TRACE and sponsored by Ecobank at the African Shrine in Lagos.

The relevance of the event was aptly captured by the Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Charles Kie, who stated that Ecobank was delighted to be sponsoring the showcasing and celebration of the growing universal impact of African culture because of its potentiality to further position the continent. “Sustainable economic growth is essential to increase our continent’s global competitiveness thereby improving standards of living and prosperity for all Africans. “It is fantastic to see that Africa’s burgeoning creative industries are playing their full part in doing this by entertaining and attracting the global audiences that will in turn help increase both international interest and investment in African nations and businesses to the benefit of all,� Kie who has announced his decision to step down from his position said.

Kie pointed out that Africa has a growing population, with an average age of around just 19, and a burgeoning middle class. “By 2040 it is projected to be one of the few continents where its youth demographic will be the largest. It is no wonder that we enjoy a rich and varied taste for food, fashion, music, arts and culture generally,�

On the strategic role the bank wants to play in the continent, he said Ecobank want for all Africans to have a share in prosperity. “To be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour, to be successful and to realise their dreams.

In Africa we have an innate entrepreneurial spirit, and this has bred literally millions of business start-ups,�

According to him, businesses need access to finance in order to grow; they need banking to be convenient and efficient to allow them to put their energies into their businesses.

He admitted that some of today’s small business start-ups would be the multi-nationals of tomorrow and that the bank has a thriving commercial bank that meets the funding needs of businesses. “It’s fitting that Africa’s strong heritage in dance and music also brings so many together by integrating them through entertainment and sheer interest.�

Place of technology in music Speaking on the impact of technology in the music industry, he made reference to the work of Femi Kuti – who also entertained the visiting president and other guests at the event, pointing out that one could access the work easily on mobile phone from anywhere in the world, especially Africans in diaspora who want to stay in touch with their homeland.

“What isn’t so great for expatriate workers is the charges that they incur when sending cross-border remittances to their dependants or relatives back home. “These charges can take huge bites out of what they send – the World Bank found that remittance services in Sub-Saharan Africa are the costliest in the world at an average cost of 9.4 per cent. “Inter-regional remittances can be even more expensive, with the payment corridor connecting Angola to Namibia costing as much as 21.4 per cent of the remittance amount – that’s over a fifth of what is sent. This reduces the living standards of the dependants which in turn impacts negatively on the local economy.

in the world with 2,000 productions every year, generating more than US$4 billion.

He pointed out that the recent Black Panther film has achieved phenomenal success, adding that it was one of the highest grossing films ever. “Africa’s arts, culture and creative industries are realising their potential and are a testament to the potential of Africa as a whole. Ecobank is determined to support the cultural industries to further develop, to exchange and share views, and to secure the growth that will benefit their sector and Africa as a whole. “It is heartening to see international recognition for African culture through the presence of President Macron and let me assure him that Ecobank shares a modern view of Africa: we Acceptability of African Culture are not a continent to be defined by our past, While commending Macron for believing in we have a bright future, fashioned by Africans Africa, he said African culture is enjoying growth for the benefit of all Africans. and widespread attention globally. “We welcome his commitment to embrace “We are witnessing large sums paid for African and work with the whole of Africa, and not art recently. just our Francophone brothers and sisters. We “Sales of African art at Christies in Paris join him in his desire to deepen Africa’s global raised â‚Ź6.1 million in June and just over a year economic relationships,â€? ago Sotheby’s inaugural sale of modern and To this end, he announced that Africa is contemporary African Art generated ÂŁ2.8 million open for international investment to drive trade in aggregate sales. Nigeria’s British-based artist development, and to continue to industrialise and Yinka Shonibare MBE’s ‘Crash Willy’ sold for improve the continent’s infrastructure, so that ÂŁ224,750. I wonder how much was charged for they can grow their regional and global value remitting the proceeds if they were sent overseas.â€? chains as well as diversify their economies and According to him, in the film world, Nigeria’s grow trade and economies. ‘Nollywood’ is the second biggest film industry In what looked like a showcase of the creative

ingenuity of Africans, the bank was also commended for impacting an 11-year-old boy, Kareem Waris Olamilekan, who was invited to sketch a portrait of the visiting president to the delight of all, in two hours.

On the empowerment, the bank’s CEO said: “As a pan African financial institution, we are glad to have empowered Olamilekan to achieve his dream. This is what we stand for. We will monitor his progress and support him to realise his potentials.�

President Macron explained the rationale behind his decision to visit the African Shrine, describing it as an “iconic place for African people and culture.�

The French president disclosed that having worked in Nigeria for about 15 years ago, the visit was a good opportunity to return to the African Shrine, noting that apart from the personal pleasure derivable from it, the African Shrine showcases the importance of African culture.

He said he had fond memories of African Shrine.

Macron said: “First, I think that it is such an iconic place for a lot of African people and African culture. And I think very often, when you speak of the African culture in Europe, those who are successful in Europe and in France, which is different most of the times are not dramatically very famous in Nigeria or in Africa. And there is a bias because you know people are not the same.

Global Advertising Body Seeks UN Approval of World Communication Day The International Advertising Association, (IAA), a global umbrella body of all individuals and organisations in the business of advertising, marketing, branding, communication, PR and related disciplines has inaugurated its Nigerian chapter.

The body has stressed the need for United Nations to recognise a day for World Communication Day. The Group CEO of Verdant Zeal, Tunji Olugbodi, was however voted as the President of the Nigerian chapter.

Global President of the body, Felix Tataru from Romania, who supervised the inauguaration,

commended the founding fathers of IAA for the great idea of putting together agencies, media and clients at the same table to work together for the overall interest of the industry.

In an interview with THISDAY, to establish that local chapters will continue in that direction, he added that IAA support the need for the UN approval of World Communication Day because there is urgent need to increase the equity of the marketing communication industry. On the relevance of the local chapters, he said it is for every chapter to be connected with the best practices within the world.

“It is most important thing for progress as we have a lot to learn from African experiences and I am sure African countries have a lot to learn from other experiences in the world. The most important thing is that when we are meeting, we share experiences. “Secondly, the main role of IAA is to raise standards of marketing communication industry in any territory we are in. This means externally and inside the industry we have to raise the level of people working in the industry. “But more importantly it’s raising standard in relation with consumers. Our industry needs image improvement for the

consumer and to show that we are much more responsible. “We have the power to make the world a better place for everyone. You need inspiration, tools and courage to express it.

We need to understand what is happening in the market as we are here to serve the consumer.

The industry needs forum to get inspiration and learn. In this time of dynamism and changes you need a compass�, he said.

Assessing the importance of Africa and dominant Nigerian economy on the continent, Tataru regretted that IAA Nigerian chapter did not come earlier.

He however said “The importance of your market

within Africa is clear. It will be an interesting partnership between IAA global and Nigeria on how to help expand in to Africa, for us it is a priority�.

Looking at the issue of dearth of talents in the marketing communication industry, Tataru said the association was addressing it from different levels.

He said: “Five years ago we launched a project called the Apprentice. It is designed for the students and we are bringing students from all over the world for 2 days in one place because they need to be connected to the world reality. We have Africa Rising. We have a lot of forums for debate and events which put

us together�.

The country chapters of the global body are seen as significant, especially in Nigeria where there is segmentation of associations representing various players in the marketing communication industry. In Nigeria, there have been attempts to bring representatives of all associations under one roof to highlight and address myriads of challenges confronting the industry which one segment of the association cannot handle alone. They believe that the associations are interconnected with the challenges such as media debt, unhealthy competition and multiple taxations.

30

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Achieving Economic Diversification through Agriculture Ugo Aliogo highlights the critical role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economic diversification drive The issue of economic diversification as a panacea for driving a sustainable economy has continued dominate public discourse.

Experts have expressed the view that a shift from oil and gas to agriculture sector would bring about substantial growth in the Nigerian economy, attract foreign direct investments, create jobs and harness the potential of the country’s arable land.

They also argued that government over the years, not shown enough commitment towards developing the agricultural sector, especially from the angle of investing substantially in agricultural businesses and strengthening the progress of the value chain.

They further posited that supporting the sector requires huge agricultural financing, public private partnership and commitment from the financial services sector.

Clearly, that is why FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has increased its focus on the sector.

As part of efforts to contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification, the bank in 2017 began organising the annual agriculture expo, with a focus to lead national discourse on the economic benefits of sustainable agriculture value-chain as an alternative source of economic development and foreign exchange through export.

Speaking at the 2018 edition of the programme with the theme, ‘Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy,’ that took place in Lagos recently, the Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria and Subsidaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, noted that the event was indicative of the bank’s commitment to increasingly collaborate with the public and private sector partners to fully restore the prime role of the agricultural sector as the mainstay of the national economy.

Adeduntan said FirstBank has a large base of existing small, medium and commercial agribusiness clients across the country operating in all segments of the agricultural value chain covering primary production, storage, processing, packaging and agro export, and others.

The First Bank MD further stated that in partnership with public sector institutions, the bank had supported several State Governments on Agricultural Development Trust Fund Scheme (ADTF), which he noted is an initiative designed to provide credit facilities to small scale farmers who do not have collateral.

According to him, “Under the federal government’s Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme for long tenured credit facilities to commercial

agricultural enterprises - at single digit interest rate – First Bank has supported over 23 per cent of all the enterprises supported by all the banks put together. “The projects spread across input supplies, primary production, processing and marketing.

Obligors include small, medium and large scale enterprise in the agricultural value chain. “The Anchor Borrower Programme was an innovative product developed by First Bank, as it was then known as ‘Industrial End Users Out-grower Scheme’, which is now improved for enhanced delivery. “With these experiences, FirstBank worked immensely to support the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in actualising the efforts of reviving all the value–chains as envisioned by the federal government of Nigeria.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, expressed the desire of the federal government to partner with the private sector especially the banks in rolling out a new agricultural policy initiative known as Agriculture Inputs and Mechanisation and Management Scheme (AIMS) aimed at marketing agro-inputs.

Ogbeh noted that through the partnership, the ministry would position three distributors in every Local Government Area across the country to market agro-inputs, stating that the distributors would be registered with the Federal Ministry of

Agriculture and their details would be registered online. Ogbeh further stated that the ministry would also have their Bank Verifications Number (BVN), noting that it would be their duty to make sure that they sell seeds, agricultural inputs and fertilizers to farmers.

The minister maintained that through the new initiative, the government would be able to track what the farmers are selling, adding that if they sell wrong commodities, farmers would have the opportunity to complain and they would apprehend the individuals responsible.

Ogbeh added: “We are doing a lot of soil testing and we are investing in seeds and proceeds.

Our research institutes are doing a great deal of work. We are investing more in extension services to teach the farmer how to farm. “We are also watching the value chain development from the farm to the factory and the processing line to the table. The assurance I want to give you is to strengthen your portfolio for investment in agriculture because better days ahead. “We will need your partnership in two areas: one is a programme called AIMS which stands for Agriculture Inputs and Mechanisation and Management Scheme (AIMS). “We will need three distributors in every Local Government Area across the country to market agro-inputs. They would be registered with us and they would be online. We will have their

BVN and it is their business to make sure that they sell seed, inputs and fertilizers to farmers.�

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, noted that as part of the commitment of the federal government to achieve the objectives of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the administration has approved a memorandum directing the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to follow through on executive order one in order to adopt a 72 hour rule in terms of whatever complains that come through the online portal.

He also stated that countries that have worked on the Ease of Doing and enabling business initiatives to have realised that there is a correlation between the enabling environment and economic prosperity. He explained that his ministry has taken a cost -cutting approach, adding that the singular responsibility of the administration is to create the right enabling environment whether for trade, investment, industry and others.

According to Enelamah, “We are committed to the enabling environment and we want to get it right. Recently, we had a stock taking meeting in Abuja where we invited a number of stakeholders to discuss how the country has gone in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. “When it comes to trade, we trade a lot in agricultural produce. We will like to see value added locally; we will like to make it easier for those that will export. “One of the things we are working on is to avoid the rejection as our products go abroad.

Partnering with the banks helps us get to the problem-solving end of our effort because people need to have something at stake. “It should not be about government having its own policy or its own speculation. “Somebody should be at the other end benefitting from the work we do, and I think that is where the buyer comes in and play that intermediation role, working with our customers on one hand and government on the other hand.

I hope that this connection will grow. “The banks and the government can work together in the areas of investment. For a lot of investors, they find Nigeria attractive. The real issue is what lies beyond the fundamentals such as the bottlenecks; we have talked about the long gestation. We must work together to define what exactly are these problems and solve them systematically.�

Tackling Unemployment amongYouths Francis Sardauna The Katsina State Songhai initiative is an agricultural scheme that was designed to alleviate and tackle unemployment among the youths and to guarantee food security and self-sufficiency among the general populace.

The scheme situated at Makera village of Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area is to provide training on modern techniques of both production and processing of cash crops and other crops including maize, sorghum, millet, beans, cassava, rice, wheat and different kinds of fruits by adding value to them. This, it is believed, will be a base for earning more income from agriculture.

Three selected farms were established at Zobe, Mairuwa and the Sabke dam on over 5000 hectares of land. Structures were built and instructors deployed to teach and guide prospective farmers towards embracing agriculture as a business by

Dangote

the previous administrations.

The motive of the scheme then, also centred on honey production, honey processing, honey packaging, fisheries production, fishery management, poultry and livestock production, animal husbandry, crops and cereals production.

Other areas of the initiative included training on modern techniques of breeding and rearing of different animals, including sheep, cows, goats, guinea fowls, grass cutter and turkey.

The scheme which was designed in such a way that over 50,000 youths all-year round are to be engaged in agriculture-related activities to earn a living has Conference Hall, accommodation, restaurant, staff quarters and students’ hotels was established by the Former Governor of the state, Ibrahim Shema in 2014.

The project, which draws its inspiration from the Songhai Regional centre in Porto Novo, Benin Republic, was said to gulfed N3.4 billion by the previous administration.

No fewer than 60 youths were said to be sponsored by the previous administration to Port Novo in Benin Republic to undertake training from the mother institute, serving as the beginning of the seed it sowed towards using agriculture to address peculiar challenges of the state.

Unfortunately, the project which functioned only for some

years was, however, abandoned by the present administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

Masari, who visited the site of the project when he assumed office as the governor of the state had said, “Government cannot maintain the place because it has no enough money for such capital-intensive project. There are some facilities that are not supposed to be here.�

Interestingly, however, the Dangote Group, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to take over the project for the production of tomatoes within the period of 10 years and is expected to cover other agricultural activities.

The hitherto comatose facility will be maximally utilised as the business mogul intends to inject N500 million this year, take over the staff, recruit additional staff and commence planting of tomato in preparation for

the would-be Dangote world largest tomato production and processing plant.

The company, which is currently operating out-grower scheme in rice production in a number of states, has Africa’s largest sugar refinery in Lagos and a sugar cane plantation in Numan, Adamawa State, among others. The project, according to the President of the Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will generate employment opportunity for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and bring about a complete economic turn-around for the state and its neighbouring state. The N500 million pact would see the company producing tomatoes and other agricultural products on 10,000hectares of land at Makera in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area through an out-grower scheme.

He said, the initiative would succeed in mass production of tomatoes with a view to

boosting food production, enhancing the economic position of the state, thereby reducing unemployment and engendering industrialisation.

According to Aliko Dangote, “Today is one of my happiest day to see that we have finally concluded and signed this agreement so that we can really move into action. We are not only going to do tomatoes here as we promised. We want to make people of Katsina state to used their arable land and put it into use. “We also want to use outgrowers to support them and make sure that this tomatoes project become a reality. Not only a reality but for it to become a bedrock of doing tomatoes in Nigeria. “We give the state government all the support that is needed from an entrepreneur.

We will do our best to make you proud as a governor of this state�, Dangote added.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

31

32

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

ADF: Charting New Vistas in National Devt Abimbola Akosile examines the various gallant strides made by the Aliko Dangote Foundation to bring development to the doorsteps of the average Nigerian citizen

O

nce upon a time, it was cool to give back to the society in the name of corporate social responsibility. But when this fad gradually faded out in the face of prevailing economic challenges, only few organisations remained behind to sustain the tempo.

It takes great commitment to empower lessprivileged citizens. But when this is done on a consistently exemplary basis, then it raises the bar in development funding and makes the provider worthy of emulation.

Standing tall among such committed organisations in Nigeria is the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which is the private charitable foundation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man.

Solid Foundation The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is the private charitable foundation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote. It was incorporated in 1994 as Dangote Foundation, with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.

Twenty years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.

The primary focus of ADF is child nutrition, with wraparound interventions centred on health, education and empowerment, and disaster relief.

The Foundation also supports stand-alone projects with the potential for significant social impact.

ADF, according to widespread reports, works with state and national governments and many highly reputable international and domestic charities, non-governmental organisations and international agencies to advance its humanitarian agenda.

In its biggest collaboration to date, in 2013 Dangote Foundation started working in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and key northern State Governments to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunisation in Nigeria.

Ensuring Health ADF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation partnered to eradicate polio in Nigeria by strengthening primary health care and making provisions for routine immunisation across Northern Nigeria.

The initial project commenced in Kano and Bauchi states. In January 2016, Sokoto, Yobe, Kaduna and Borno States were added to the partnership, in a process which has reportedly gulped over $10 million so far.

To complement government’s effort in providing access to quality healthcare services to the grassroots, ADF has spent a total of N127 million in construction of units of Primary health care centres across LGAs in Kano (N72million) and Yobe (N55million) states.

In Kano, the PHCs were built across Fagge, Kano Municipal, Kura, Gwale, Bichi, Dala and

L-R: Executive Director Dangote Industries Ltd, Fatima Aliko Dangote; Wife of Nasarawa State Governor Hajiya Salamotu Almakura; Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Almakura; Founder/Chairman, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Trustee, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Halima Aliko Dangote; and Managing Director/ CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, at the launching/disbursement of N130 million to 13,000 vulnerable women in Nasarawa State ...recently

Gezawa Local Government Areas while in Yobe the Foundation built the PHCs in Gujba and Gulani Local Government Areas.

THISDAY gathered that the Primary Healthcare Centres have been completed and handed over to the respective states government for utilisation.

All the facilities were built in accordance with the Type 2 Model of the newly revised minimum standards for Primary Healthcare Centres in Nigeria as approved by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abuja.

In line with its efforts of providing potable water supply to rural communities, the Foundation has reportedly constructed more than 220 boreholes in 220 rural communities across Northern Nigeria to complement its polio eradication and other health initiatives.

Also, the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano (MMSH) is the largest governmentowned hospital in northern Nigeria with over 1.5 million patient visits per annum and growing.

The Foundation is building three new specialist units covering maternity, accident & emergency and surgery & diagnostics, as well as improved water supply, drainage, and electricity systems.

Its intervention also includes the supply and installation of critical equipment, tools, fittings, and consumables for the operations of the new builds, as well as capacity development within the affected departments and units on the use of these elements.

In March 2017, the Foundation handed over the completed renovation works for nine existing maternity wards (complete with mattresses, bedding, furniture, as well as vital medical equipment and aids), a new blood bank and

laboratory, 2 new boreholes, and medical supplies as part of a temporary assistance pending the completion of the main works; at a total project cost of N7 billion.

Nutrition Boost In 2016, ADF launched a community-based nutrition programme in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

It used proven interventions linked to behaviour change, fortification of staple foods with essential micronutrients, the community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) as well as local production of nutrition ready to use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and nutrition foods.

In 2017, Dangote announced the new flagship programme for the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the $100 million Aliko Dangote Foundation Integrated Nutrition programme (ADFIN) at the 2017 UN Global Nutrition Summit. “Nigeria’s high malnutrition rate is undermining progress towards improving child health and survival and putting the brakes on economic development,� said Managing Director and CEO of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou. “By investing in nutrition, we aim to directly improve the lives of Nigerian families and to empower our citizens to reach their full potential.� “The global malnutrition crisis endangers the physical and mental wellbeing of present and future generations� said Kofi Annan, speaking at the summit in his capacity as Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation. “Progress in tackling both under-nutrition and obesity is possible with targeted commitments, like those made

here today. We need further urgent investments so that people, communities and nations can reach their full potential.�

With the $100 million commitment, the Foundation will promote scalable and cost-effective nutrition interventions such as breast feeding, healthy sanitation practices, disease prevention, food fortification and supplementation.

These activities complement other long-term programs on education, empowerment, food security, water, sanitation and health care. “We recognise nutrition as a cross-cutting issue which affects other critical development goals, that is why nutrition has become our core focus.

We want to reach one million malnourished children in Nigeria by 2021 and we know that for every dollar invested in nutrition, the nation as a whole will reap huge economic dividends,� said Aliko Dangote.

Feeding Programme The Foundation supports a daily feeding of approximately 10,000 people in and around Kano metropolis, at a cost of N1.2 billion per annum. It also made a contribution of $1 million towards collaboration with AfDB and Big Win Philanthropy on Malnutrition in Africa that will boost economic returns from the AfDB’s $33-billion investment portfolio by reprogramming suitable investments in sectors ranging from agriculture to education, to generate nutritional benefit for children.

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

RANDOM THOTS Corruption Emergency The corruption pendulum keeps oscillating by the day. As the current administration continues to battle corruption on different fronts, so also the scourge keeps fighting back via other routes.

Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ ĂŽĂ“Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă&#x;Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ&#x; Ă&#x;Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ“ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂ˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ÞÒĂ? ʨÑÒÞ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ÑËÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÚÓÖĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• ÚÖĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ—Ă™Ă“Ă–Ë›

Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? ĂœĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ù˛͞ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ’Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă“Ăž Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ ËŤ Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂœĚ‹Ă™ĂœĚ‹Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă•Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ë›ËŹ ËŤ Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ&#x;Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ě‹ Ă•Ă“Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?̋ÞÙÙÖ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? ÞÙ Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĚ‹Ă‹ĘľĂ‹Ă?Ă• Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ÞËÞĂ?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă–ĂŁËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–

Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– åÓÞÒ ÞÒËÞ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă?Ë› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ĂœĂŽËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ě‹Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă•Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒËÞ Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÓĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă™Ă–Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËœËŹ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒÓĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂĄĂ?ËÖÞÒ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ?×ËÞÓĂ?Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă“ĂšĂ’Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÚÙĂ?Ă•Ă?ĂžĂ? Ùà Ă?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëž Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽ ÚÙà Ă?ĂœĂžĂŁËœ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?-

Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă?ÓÞÓäĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Π͸ ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÞÙÞËÖ ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ–Ă‹Ă?Ă• Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽË› ÖÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ó×ÚÖã Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ăž ĂŒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ™Ă˜Ă? ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ ÞÙ ÞË×Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂœË› Ă&#x;Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă?Ă˜Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ÞÓÖÖ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ù×Ă? ÞÙÚ ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă?ĂžËœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ‹ĘľĂ–Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ùà Ă?ĂœË›Ë›Ë›Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă‹ĂŁĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ -Abimbola Akosile

33

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Ëš

Nigeria needs State Police to stop killings

THE RENAISSANCE

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?

Abimbola Akosile

THE FEEDBACK

r4UBUF 1PMJDF JT HPPE CVU XF TIPVME CF DBSFGVM UIBU HPWFSOPST EPO U TUBSU SVOOJOH UIFN MJLF civil service where they owe salaries for months.

0VS MBXNBLFST TIPVME TUVEZ IPX TUBUF QPMJDF operates in America before passing it into law.

Lastly, it means no more security votes for governors to embezzle. – Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, OgwashiUkwu, Delta State

Yes, it has:

18

No, it cannot:

2

Others:

3

Radical tip:

Multiple Policing!

r5JNF IBT DPNF GPS TUBUF BOE DPNNVOJUZ policing. The idea of a federal system means decentralisation of governance. Those who fear about funding and control of state police are not sincere. The same federal Police budget that is not transparently and accountably spent should be shared to states.

- Mr. Anonymous, Lagos State

Total no of respondents:

23

Male:

17

Female:

6

Highest location:

Lagos (9)

r4UBUF QPMJDF JT MPOH PWFSEVF CFDBVTF PG LJMMJOHT but can state governors pay their salaries as at when due? Security agencies should be overhauled to better fight insecurity.

- Mr. Gordon Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State

r4UBUF 1PMJDF XPSLT JO PUIFS BEWBODFE DMJNFT The real fear should be the abuse of autonomous power once instituted. Much more, can these states afford the resources to maintain these personnel?

- Ms. Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State

r *U JT PWFS SJQF OPU POMZ UIF DSFBUJPO PG 4UBUF Police, but also for vigilante groups be recognised for their vital services in rural areas, as these communities are prone to attacks by herdsmen, Boko Haram e.t.c. No one is safe.

- Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State

r:FT (JWFO UIF TQBUF PG JOEJTDSJNJOBUF LJMMJOHT nationwide today, territorial security is imperative.

Some political big-wigs, cabals e.t.c employ thugs to unleash mayhem on others. USA, France, Germany, USSR, even Lagos state e.t.c already enjoy dividends of state police.

- Mr. Apeji Onesi. Lagos State

r 4UBUF QPMJDF JT UIF SPBE UP HP CVU XJUI DBVtion. We must check proliferation of arms in the country and it will be naive to think that mere creation of state police will ameliorate the present security challenge.

- Mr. Paul Jideofor, Dept. of Languages, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja r8FMM XJUI DPOTUBOU LJMMJOHT CZ IFSETNFO XJUIPVU solution, it is time to have state police. But can state governors afford to pay their salaries and equip them to fight crime and other vices?

- Mrs. Ijeoma Nnorom, Lagos State

r*U JT MPOH PWFSEVF *U T XPSLJOH GPS $BOBEB and other countries that adopted it. The Federal Government and state Governors should adopt the idea to help curtail incessant killings in Nigeria.

- Miss Janet Adeyemi, Calabar, Cross River State

r %VF UP UIF IFJHIU PG JOTFDVSJUZ JO /JHFSJB BOE the helplessness of the present government, it is high time we got a state police system. Thank God the National Assembly has kick-started the process. r :FT UIF DSFBUJPO PG UIF 4UBUF 1PMJDF JT PWFSEVF - Mr. Sonny Okobi, Media Practitioner, but some states may find it difficult in funding Lagos State their Police Forces. Governors must be accountable for the personnel and equipment. Policing is r5JNF IBT Ă OBMMZ DPNF GPS TUBUF QPMJDF " DPVOUSZ BT MBSHF BT /JHFSJB DBO U BEFRVBUFMZ a serious security issue.

- Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder Michael be protected by one central police. The only Adedotun Oke, Foundation, Federal Capital problem I foresee is funding. States with enough resources should go ahead while those without Territory, Abuja should wait a while.

- Mr. Austine Nwanya, Solid mineral consultant, Abuja

killings across the country. The earlier this scales through at the National Assembly, the better for us all and for our safety. r4UBUF 1PMJDF IBT BMXBZT CFFO OFDFTTBSZ JO - Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State Nigeria because it is a big country, in land mass and population. State Police should have been r4UBUF QPMJDF JT PWFSEVF JO /JHFSJB 0VS DPVOUSZ in place since the return to civil rule in 1999. is too vast to have a single police structure. In - Mrs. Ada Agina-Ude, Lagos State fact, we need council, municipal, state and federal police e.t.c as it operates in federal systems like r:FT UIF DVSSFOU IBQQFOJOHT JO PVS DPVOUSZ Nigeria. The earlier we adopt multiple policing justify the calls for State Police, which can help system, the better for us. God bless Nigeria. check insecurity. The governors are presently - Mr. Odey Ochicha, Leadership Specialist, IBOEJDBQQFE UIFZ BSF KVTU $IJFG 4FDVSJUZ 0GĂ DFST Abuja in name.

- Mr. JohnKen Ogwuegbu, Owerri, Imo State r * EPO U UIJOL TUBUF QPMJDF JT OFDFTTBSZ $PNmissioners of Police should answer to Governors r/P CFDBVTF PWFS BNCJUJPVT (PWFSOPST BOE BT $IJFG TFDVSJUZ PGĂ DFST PG UIFJS TUBUFT BOE OPU mischievous money-bags can hijack them for the federal government. It is unconstitutional selfish purposes. Political instability, insecurity, for the federal government to keep usurping corruption, poverty, weak civil society organisa- the authority of governors, and yet blame them tions e.t.c. are all at the whims of ambivalent for the security breaches within their domains. governors and overlords.

- Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State - Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos r4UBUF QPMJDF JT MPOH PWFSEVF JO /JHFSJB UP IFMQ stop all these killings all over the country. I r*OEFFE UJNF IBT Ă OBMMZ DPNF GPS 4UBUF 1PMJDF believe the state and the community police will who will know all their areas and protect the help checkmate insecurity in Nigeria, headed people. Those of us who witnessed the National by the native people who know the terrain very Assembly Police back then saw how diligent well and without federal interference. they were. State Police is overdue.

- Mr. Nduanya Egbuna, Political Scientist, - Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna Enugu r4UPSNZ DMPVET PG JOTFDVSJUZ BSF HBUIFSJOH and the alarming acts of terrorism are not felt by the executive chiefs of security. But now some selected cabals are feeling the pinch of insecurity, so the time is ripe for state police in Nigeria.

- Mrs. Roseline Ncharam (JP) Owerri, Imo State r5IF DMBNPVS GPS 4UBUF 1PMJDF JT HFUUJOH EFBGFOJOH But, we need to conduct pilot programmes in each geopolitical zone, say, one state per zone PWFS B UXP ZFBS QFSJPE -FU T CF TVSF XF XPO U get any bitter after-taste. Then we decide!

- Mr. E Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R. Apo, Abuja r8F PGUFO VTF UIF 64" BT B NPEFM PG EFNPDSBDZ BOE USVF GFEFSBMJTN BOE JU IBT UIF /FX :PSL 1PMJDF %FQBSUNFOU /:1% 8IFO BSF XF HPJOH UP HFU UIF -BHPT 4UBUF 1PMJDF %FQBSUNFOU -41% Nigeria is too big to be run from Abuja. Let there be devolution of power.

- Mr. Anthony Ororho, Lagos State r 5IF OFFE GPS 4UBUF 1PMJDF IBT BTTVNFE B MBSHFS than-life dimension in the face of widespread

Next Week:Is Emergency Declaration on Corruption Enough? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂŒĂ“ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ“Ă‘Ă‘Ă?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă?ĂžĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă• ÞÙ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă&#x;Ăž Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂ?ĂžĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?ÞãÖĂ? Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ăž Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? ÙʊĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ë› Ă™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;ĘŠĂ?Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ÞËĂ?Ă•Ă–Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ‘Ă?ËŁ Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžËœ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ó×ÚÖĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÞËÞĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ëœ ÞÓÞÖĂ?Ëœ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙÎËã Ě™ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í’Í“ Ęś Ă™Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í’Í—Ěš ÞÙ abimbolayi@yahoo.com, greatbimbo@gmail.comËœ Ă‹bimbola.akosile@ thisdaylive.comË› Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ?âÞ Ă—Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă? ÞÙ 08023117639 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËš Ă™Ăœ 08188361766 Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËšĂ™Ăœ 08114495306Ë› ÙÖÖËÞĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŁ Í’Íš

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Lull in fishing business on Majidun River, Ikorodu, Lagos

EMMANUEL ONUMAH

WPD: Obaseki Urges Global Action to Ensure Devt Surpasses Population Growth Charges social groups to uphold peace in rural communities Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on world leaders to take decisive action to ensure development efforts meet and surpass the pace of population growth; to reduce inequality and engender inclusive growth across the world.

Obaseki, who said this in commemoration of the World Population Day, marked every July 11, noted that growing population shouldn’t be seen as a curse, but a challenge for developing countries to articulate innovative pathways that will drive inclusive and sustainable development.

According to him, “The World Population Day reminds us of the need to be circumspect in a number of policy issues, especially as it affects population growth and its implications for economic development and social cohesion.

“On a day like this, it is imperative to make the case for planned parenthood and family planning, so as to ensure that the world’s population doesn’t become untameable.”

Noting that this year’s theme for the day, ‘Family Planning is Human Right’, makes it

imperative for families to determine the size and spacing of their children, he said it behooves government to provide structures for individuals to dream and actualise their dreams.

“Due to its economic implications, growing population has been a double blessing for developing countries, such that many are still struggling to articulate policies to manage the growth and the attendant socio-political as well as economic fallouts of a bulging population.

“However, we cannot wish away the import of human life. Hence, even as the debate and policy actions are tweaked to contain population growth, governments and world leaders should take critical actions to ensure that development meets needs of people, in such a way that they would be assured of support structures to carve out their destinies and live happy, fulfilled lives,” Obaseki added.

The governor said the state government has undertaken a number of development initiatives to help in delivery of affordable, accessible healthcare, quality basic education and to expand the space for wealth creation so as to deepen inclusive growth and development.

Institute, Stakeholders Call for Better Public Service Paul Obi in Abuja The Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) and other stakeholders have called for better public service in order to enhance national development.

PSIN Administrator and CEO, Dr. Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo stated this in Abuja after a recent tour of Malaysia and Singapore.

According to Obayoyinbo, the tour, which was led by the Head of Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita yielded positive results with regards to the knowledge gained during the tour.

He listed workers’ commitment, dedication and implementation of extant rules as part of measures to enhance

the mandate of public service in the country.

The PSIN boss maintained that there is no other way to make the nation’s public service effective, except that Nigerians see themselves as change and development agents.

“We all have to support our leaders, be committed and believe in our country. We have to see ourselves as change agents. We discover that most of our legislations are outdated and we have to review and update the public service rules.

There are also some policies that need to be reviewed to meet modern contemporary needs and challenges.

“There is also the need for periodic training and fine-

tuning of the curriculum. Every civil servant must attend the training for at least seven days and it is compulsory under the nation’s law.

“This study tour would not be a jamboree as it has the buy-in of President Muhammadu Buhari. Also, we have all the heads of service of all the states, and we all see things for ourselves. We all need to imbibe the spirit of patriotism to fast-track the developmental processes,” Obatoyinbo said.

Also, the Kogi State Head of Service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola observed that explained that the Malaysia and Singapore civil services developed because their people are committed.

He added that the state government would not relent in its efforts in industrialising the state, attracting investments to open up new vistas for economic expansion and deepening reforms to ensure that people have opportunities to express themselves and earn decent wages.

Meanwhile, Obaseki has also urged sociocultural groups to focus on meaningful deliberations that would foster peace, reconciliation and harmonious living among members of local communities.

He made the submission while delivering an address themed: “The Role of Social Clubs in Fostering Peace and Reconciliation in a Community,” at the 2018 Annual Retreat/ Convention organised by Usagbe Club of Nigeria, in Benin City, recently.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Hon. Yakubu Gowon, said peaceful coexistence in local communities is instrumental to Nigeria’s growth and development.

He noted that, “through meaningful deliberations, social clubs like the Usagbe Club of Nigeria will continue to provide practicable

solutions to sustainable peace and reconciliation in various communities across Nigeria.”

He said: “I strongly believe that it is possible to curb the state of unrest amongst people of different tribes, communities, religions and political groups through concerted efforts by stakeholders such as yours to engender peace.”

According to Obaseki, “Such deliberation would go a long way in driving and stabilising the framework through which other social clubs can become veritable platforms for sustaining peace and seamless process of reconciliation among various communities that make up Nigeria.”

He urged members of the Club to work in unity towards attaining set goals as such clubs are ideal platforms to foster harmonious living.

President of Usagbe Club of Nigeria, Mr. Tony Akiotu, commended the governor for the plans to establish a School of Aquaculture and Marine Technology in Agenebode as part of the promise to reposition the College of Agriculture in Agenebode.

Senate C’ttee, ERA Launch Energy Initiative Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have launched ‘Just Energy Transition’, an initiative targeted at driving Nigeria’s economy from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources.

The initiative, they said, was a call to action to all, adding that Nigeria can transit to become the hub of renewable energy development for Africa, but it cannot be achieved unless concerted actions are taken.

Speaking at the event in Abuja recently, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate change, Senator Buka Abba Ibrahim, said energy

issues are very important to the whole of humanity, adding that he would ensure that the bill is passed by the Senate.

According to him, “Just Energy Transition for Nigeria is a must; we cannot run away from it. With all these documents, I now have the particular task of presenting it to the Senate for a bill to be passed and signed into law by the President so that we can now have a law backing what we have been talking about for so long.”

“I will lead this battle to its logical conclusion so that we will be better of energy transition for our country.”

Earlier, the Executive Director, ERA, Dr. Godwin Ojo, said one fundamental challenge that is facing this country is its oil

dependency; hence the country lacks a blueprint to transit from fossil fuel driven economy to renewable alternatives.

He stated that this manifesto launches Nigeria forward on the pathway to Just Energy Transition, pointing out that this understanding is presently lacking in government operations and citizens’ sensitisation in this regard has been lacking.

Ojo said there was need for divestment from fossil fuel development to pave the way for decentralised energy systems in mini-grids, off-grids and non-grid systems in ways that individuals and communities participate as prosumers (producers and consumers) in the energy production and supply chain as well as share in the benefits.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

35

36

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Normal Life for Children with Down Syndrome Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that has caused many children to be isolated by their families and society, generally, but experts say with proper management, children living with such condition can lead normal lives. Martins Ifijeh reports

I

t was a beautiful experience for Ada and her husband, Reuben, as they expected their first child after a year of marriage.

Like most newlyweds, they already had the picture of a perfect home with their kids. When the gift of pregnancy was bestowed on them, their joy knew no bounds.

The picture of their home was falling into place.

Few months before delivery, they did a scan and learnt the baby was going to be a boy.

There was no cause for alarm, as the doctors had told them that the baby was kicking fine in the womb with no noticeable health challenge.

According to Ada, “The moment we left the antenatal ward that day, we both agreed we were going to name him Collins - a name Reuben had always said he was going to give his first son. It was a dream come true for him to name our unborn child Collins.”

While the two months before delivery seemed like eternity, as the couple were eager to have Collins join the family, they prepared for him in a special way. Aside the baby shopping, they went ahead to plan the type of school he would attend, while playfully arguing whether he would love to be a medical doctor or lawyer when he grows up.

“In fact, Reuben had concluded Collins was going to love watching football, just like him,” Ada added.

Then the long wait was over. Collins was born. The couple was finally going to have all their wishes come true. “One of the nurses cleaned him up and placed him in my arms.

I just couldn’t take my eyes off him. His tiny little hands, feet and face were mind blowing.

I was star struck as I couldn’t handle seeing him for the very first time,” she said. “But I noticed the medical team was talking in hushed tones while looking at Collins in my arms.

And then they opened up. Collins has trisomy 21, which remains the most common form of Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality condition associated with intellectual disability, with a characteristic facial appearance, and poor muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy.

“The doctor told me he had studied my baby keenly, and that he noticed he has small mouth, slanting eyes, flat face, small ears, etc., which he said were some of the major signs that Collins has a condition known as Down syndrome.”

Ada further stated, “I was too happy to notice all these features. To me, he was the cutest new-born I have ever seen. I only noticed what the doctor talked about after he mentioned them.

“Truly, when I looked keenly, I noticed he was different. He wasn’t like the other children we know. We left the hospital a day after knowing that our love for Collins will not die off, but that our new task has just began, which is how to manage his condition throughout his childhood, enhance his life and ultimately make sure he grows up to achieve his life’s dream as an adult.”

It is two years now since Collins was born.

Ada and Reuben have continued to show him love and attention, as they hope to enhance his God-given ability even in disability.

“Though it is not easy, but we made a decision not to first stigmatise him. We take him everywhere we go, because we believe it is only when we love our child that neighbours and the society will love him,” she said.

Ada and Reuben are among the very few couples who have children with Down syndrome but still try to give them the needed attention, while also believing such kids can grow to become that which Mother Nature has planned for them.

For many parents, the condition means the child is half human and he must be kept in the house, away from public eyes. They often consider it a shame for their children with such condition to be seen interacting with other children, or even taking them along with them to parties.

Others even believe the condition means you cannot amount to anything in future; hence no need spending money on his or her schooling and other capacity building programmes.

With such neglect, many children living with the condition in Nigeria end up not seeing the four walls of the classroom. In fact, many even die before they reach adulthood, especially in cases where the parents or guardians do not

Down syndrome can be managed

pay proper attention to their health, because persons with such condition are often said to be defective.

Reports say about half of all affected children have heart defects, eye and dental diseases and digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine. Worse still, many of the children are seen as witches and wizards.

But experts believe the best way to raise children with Down syndrome is to give them all the love and attention they need, while giving

The best ways to manage children with Down syndrome is to prioritise early medical intervention, education, vocational training and early social integration

Photo: Google

priority to their health, social, psychological and mental interaction, as this would go a long way in helping them.

For President, Down Syndrome Support Group of Nigeria (DSSGN), Dr. Philips Orhue, the best ways to manage children with the condition is to prioritise early medical intervention, education, vocational training and early social integration.

Orhue said if these were not put together, a lot of them might not be able to live, because their condition predisposed them to lots of medical issues, which if not corrected could lead to death at a very young age.

He said with the medical issue being addressed, such children should be exposed to education and social interaction, adding that for many who were unable to go through the formal education, they can be exposed to skills acquisition. “All these will make them useful to the society. None of them should be written off. They can be nurtured into their full potential,” he said.

Orhue called on parents and the society, in general, to stop stigmatisation of children with the condition, adding that, that was the first thing that must be taken away.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, referred to as Trisomy 21, which therefore means individuals with the condition have 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.

Orhue said this might be caused by an error in cell division called non-disjunction, which leaves a sperm or egg cell with an extra copy of chromosome 21 before or at conception. He said Trisomy 21 accounted for about 95 per cent of Down syndrome cases, with 88 per cent originating from non-disjunction of the mother’s egg cell.

He said, “Additional genetic material alters the course of development and cause the characteristics associated with the disorder. This makes it somewhat difficult to differentiate people with Down syndrome if a large number of them converge in the same venue due to the physical characteristics they share.

“The remaining five per cent of Down syndrome cases are due to conditions called mosaicism and Robertsonian translocation.

Mosaic Down syndrome, experts say, results when some cells in the body are normal while others have Trisomy 21.

“Robertsonian translocation occurs when part of chromosome 21 breaks off during cell division and attaches to another chromosome (usually chromosome 14). The presence of this extra part of chromosome 21 causes some Down syndrome characteristics. Although a person with a translocation may appear physically normal, he or she has a greater risk of producing a child with an extra 21 chromosome.”

He emphasised that Down syndrome was not linked to social or economic status, nationality or religion, stressing, “In addition to other traits unique to individuals with the disorder, a few of the common traits are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the centre of the palm. These cause delay in physical and intellectual development.”

Orhue said the government and stakeholders should pay attention on persons with the condition. “Just as it applies in most developed countries, the government can support persons with Down’s syndrome in several capacities, including policies that would stop them from being discriminated against both in their homes, place of work, among others,” he said.

37

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

NEWS

Fertility Expert Advises Husbands to go for Regular Genital Check-ups Mary Nnah Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, has appealed to men to go for periodic genital check-ups since they are active players in cases of infertility in marriage.

Ajayi made the call against the backdrop of a general tendency to blame women for infertility when childlessness occurs in marriages. He stressed that most saddening was the fact that the woman took the blame when in actual fact it was the male that is at fault.

He said, “A lot of times, men don’t come out to be tested and then they keep blaming the woman until it becomes a major issue in the marriage. The notion that women are always the culprit when it comes to delay in childbearing should be dispelled.

“Males have a 50 per cent

chance of being responsible for infertility in marriages as there were a lot of activities and things they get involved with and indulge in which have a way of depleting their sexual and productive capability.

“There is therefore was an urgent need for men to begin to come out early enough for genital check-ups before their wives grow beyond childbearing age.

“We have realised that a lot of women are so angry that by the time they find out that it is the man that actually has the problem; the woman has grown beyond childbearing age, when she would have gotten pregnant with donor sperm when she was still very young.

“Interestingly all these advancements for fertility are available in Nigeria, so it is your fault if you don’t get knowledge and seize the opportunities available.

“Of course, we are all aware that male infertility appears to be on the increase all over the world. We looked at our own figure here too from a study we conducted four years ago and we found out that when we compare the sperm count of men 10 years before now with sperm count of men three years ago and to the present time, we found a decline of about 30 per cent.

“So we said sperm count appears to be declining at three per

cent per year. And because we are so interested in male fertility, we also looked at our figures again in the last five years and what we also saw again was that 12 per cent of our men had no sperm at all while 38 per cent present had low sperm count.

“Out of every two sperm samples that we took, one had a problem. And therefore we thought that we needed to further ensure that men were aware, so that they can quickly

make decisions that will help them out.”

Ajayi added, “You may see a man with a fine body physique but after examination you realise that he has no sperm at all.

“This is rampant these days, so we thought it is our responsibility to continue to put it on the front burner so that you don’t waste valuable time doing the stupid things within that period.”

Enumerating probable causes of sterility in men, Ajayi said, “We

do not know precisely what is responsible for low perm count in men but we know some contributing factors part of which is genetic, environment, the way that the men these day spend their time - drugs and anabolic steroids have become something that you get everywhere and I see some young men go to clubs and drink all sorts of concoctions and through this singular act, they do a lot of damages to their reproductive organs.

NAFDACWillStopRegistration of Alcohol in Sachets, Says DG Martins Ifijeh Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has said due to the ease of accessibility of alcohol in sachets to children, the agency will start holding back further registration of alcohol in such packaging. Adeyeye stated this at the 41st session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held recently in Rome.

She said harmful use of alcohol was a major obstacle to sustainable development, adding that it has an adverse effect on the health and well-being of the drinkers, their friends, family, and colleagues, and can damage the social and economic fabric of the society.

CAC is the central part of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) Food Standards Programme established to protect consumer

health and promote fair practices in food trade.

According to Adeyeye, “The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions, affecting maternal health and child development, non-communicable diseases and conditions such as cancer, violence, road safety, mental health and infectious diseases such as TB and HIV/ AIDS.” On behalf of Nigeria, she agreed with other member states that CAC should follow the procedural manual with respect to safety of food additives, while also taking into cognisance new scientific data to support standards, realising that science is dynamic.

“We are also in support of the inclusion of standardised daily intake of food additives in the manual, while emphasis should be made on use of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in review of CODEX standards,” she said.

Foundation Offers Children, Widows Free Medical Treatment Martins Ifijeh As part of efforts to address poverty and poor healthcare in Nigeria, the Chinwe BodeAkinwande (CBA) Foundation has provided free medical treatment as well as skill acquisition training to underprivileged children and widows of Iberekodo community in Lagos State.

Speaking during the exercise, founder of CBA Foundation, Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, said widows in the country need to be empowered so that they can take care of themselves and their children. She said, “Our aim is to teach widows how to fish, and that is why we kicked off with the skill acquisition training. We have trained them on how to make liquid soap, design clothes, make small chops, and many other things.

“Beyond skill acquisition, money, and food items given to the widows, we also ensured that nurses and doctors were available to treat any who were sick.

“It may be a big deal for them to go to the hospital for treatments, hence the reason we decided to bring with us medical doctors and nurses

who have helped in diagnosing those with ailments with accompanying medications.

“Those with referral cases were sent to the nearest government health facilities for proper treatment.”

On the agenda of the foundation, Bode-Akinwande said the organisation went round Nigeria to help the underprivileged widow in the society, adding, “Today, we are at Iberekodo community. We do collaboration and partnership with organisations and we are still reaching out to government and individuals to assist us, so that we can reach out to a larger number of widows and underprivileged in the society.”

She commended the Lagos State government for its support, saying, “Few weeks ago, Lagos State wrote us to send five widows from our profile.

They had a seminar where they talked to the widows, gave them money, food items and lots of goodies, which to me is quite applaudable and I am very expectant that many more opportunities would come for this underprivileged widows. We are also hoping that organizations would come in to assist us also.”

FIGHTING INFERTILITY STIGMA

Chairman, Kenya Fertility Society, Prof. Koigi Kamau; Fertility Specialist, Nairobi, Dr. Wanjiru Ndegwa-Njuguna; Chief Executive Officer, Merck Foundation, Dr. Tasha Kelej; and President, Africa Fertility Society, Nigeria, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, at the Merck More Than A Mother Media Photo: Martins Ifijeh Award/Training in Kenya recently

UNICEF Encourages Girls in Northern Nigeria to Speak Out Against Molestation Introduces G4G Kuni Tyessi in Gusau To get rid of sexual predators in the Nigeria, especially in the northern region, a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) initiative, known as Girls for Girls (G4G), has encouraged the girl- child to speak out in the face of sexual molestation.

The G4G is targeted towards increasing school attendance and enrolment, particularly for girls, as well as reducing the spate of street hawking during school hours and improving feminine hygiene.

The Programme Officer, UNICEF, Katsina State, Ms. Aisha Abdullahi, who made this revelation during her presentation at a two-day media dialogue in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, said young girls who were usually timid and docile have begun to have a voice of their own and speak out in the face of sexual violation.

While recalling a case of sexual abuse where a ‘well respected man’ in the society fondled the breasts of a girl, Abdullahi said the girl was able to report the matter which was further taken up by the school authorities and investigated upon.

She said: “We have had cases of sexual abuse in two of our communities in

which one of the girls was able to confide in her friends.

They all, including the victim, reported the matter to their mentor who in turn reported to the school authorities. The abuser was invited and when he came, he accepted that he was guilty.

“Before the introduction of the G4G, such case were hardly reported by the girls and when done, actions were usually not taken due to the adverse effects of stigmatisation and the attendant consequences.

“The issue of rape and other kinds of sexual molestation have been reduced to a very large extent and most of the girls have stopped hawking as we have realised that hawking is one of the things that exposes them to vulnerability and rape. We have also decided to work hand in hand with their mothers, women organisations and groups.”

Other key ground-breaking milestones include greater interest in enhanced learning, sensitisation and enlightenment of mothers, greater awareness in girl- child education in various communities as well as strong state involvement through dynamic leadership of the state education board, among others.

Pharmacy Plus Launches WhiteHouse Apple Cider to Promote Healthy Living Martins Ifijeh As part of plans to address healthcare issues and promote healthy living in Nigeria, Pharmacy Plus Limited has launched WhiteHouse Apple Cider Vinegar during the 37th annual national conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria in Lagos. Speaking at the launch, the Chief Operating Officer, Pharmacy Plus Ltd, Chukwuemeka Obi said Apple Cider Vinegar is an ancient folk remedy, and has been used for various household, natural health remedies and cooking purposes.

Obi said the WhiteHouse Apple Cider Vinegar, which has been in existence since 1908, is very popular among the natural health community because of its acclaimed benefits, which includes weight loss, reduced cholesterol, skin rashes, lower blood sugar levels and improved symptoms of diabetes, amongst others.

He stated, “WhiteHouse Apple is a widely accepted drink in the United States owing to its long standing tradition of serving American homes with their brand of organic, raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar with

‘Mother’ since 1908.

“Through this launch, we’re keen on making it the choice health drink for health conscious Nigerians considering the numerous benefits to be derived from the product.”

The deliberation featured contributions from community pharmacists, who harped on abuse of drugs and medications, and its attendant harmful effects.

Leading the discussions, Chairman of ACPN, Dr. Alkali Kelong appealed to stakeholders to support collaborations and put stringent measures to curb drug abuse in Nigeria.

He said, “As the technical group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, we’re miffed by growing cases of drug abuse in the country.

Youths are the major culprits of this act as they throw caution to the winds just to satisfy their dangerous obsessions as against healthy living.

“Thus, we selected this theme to bring to the forefront challenges of addressing drug abuse.

Through collaborations among stakeholders and more stringent measures, we can curb drug abuse to the barest minimum in Nigeria.”

38

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

NEWS

NGO Raises Alarm over Alleged HIV Prevalence in Kogi Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja A non-governmental organisation has raised the alarm over reports about increasing prevalence of HIV in Kogi State.

The Kogi State coordinator for Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood Empowerment (SMILE), Mr. Kehinde Arowosegbe, made this known during an advocacy workshop for ministries, departments and agencies of governments on the right of children, their welfare and their protection from abuse. He said the NGO was working very hard to sensitise the public on the need to tackle HIV epidemic because when the parents die, the society would be left to carter for a retinue of orphans.

Arowosegbe said, “Against the misgivings that HIV pandemic has dwindled, it has not abated even though so much has been done to curtail its prevalence.

There is danger posed by the activities of trailer drivers at trailer parks in the State with female hawkers especially in Lokoja, Okene and Obajana at night.”

He alleged that Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area, where the biggest cement factory in Africa is situated, was taking the lead in the incidence of HIV in the state.

He said one of the popular cement factories located in Obajana had the biggest trailer park where these activities also take place.

“These female hawkers are exposed to the dangers of the dreaded disease by engaging in sexual acts with these drivers.

And you know if treatment is not initiated within 72 hours against the disease, it may become difficult to overcome,” he stated, adding, “Kogi is the only state that shares boundaries with nine states including the FCT. Because of inter border transmission of the disease, Kogi is vulnerable. If we don’t tackle it now it will affect many children as the activities of trailer drivers at their pack will have a multiplier effect.”

He said a lot needed to be done by stakeholders to support the ministry of health to tackle the HIV pandemic in the state.

“Thank God for the Child Right Act in Nigeria which was signed to law in 2002 and was domesticated and signed into law in Kogi State in 2009. Children are being abused and their rights being denied. It could be sexual abuse or harassment.”

Arowosegbe said ActionAid, SMILE and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) were working seriously to protect children from every abuse.

He called for stakeholders to

New Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Assumes Duty Paul Obi in Abuja The new Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Mashi, has assumed duty. Mashi, who addressed directors and management staff of the ministry on his resumption in Abuja earlier in the week, emphasised the need to improve on service delivery at hospitals, particularly, the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments, in order to address the current worrisome situation experienced by patients across the country.

He urged the Servicom Department in the ministry to occasionally pay unscheduled visits to hospitals to monitor activities with the aim of ensuring proper work ethics and improvement in service

delivery.

The new permanent secretary said with the high calibre of staff at the health ministry, he was at home and willing to learn quickly in order to acclimatise to his new office.

Mashi also sought the cooperation of members of the labour union of the ministry, which he said was necessary for a peaceful working environment.

The directors took turns to welcome the new permanent secretary and pledged their support and commitment to the success of his tenure.

According to the Director of Press in the ministry, Mr. Boade Akinola, the new PM is an accountant by profession and an indigene of Katsina State, who was deployed from the Federal Ministry of Communication.

Health Minister Launches Document to Address Family Planning Issues Martins Ifijeh The Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, has launched three key reproductive health documents aimed at encouraging family planning in Nigeria. Launching the document in Abuja recently, Adewole said the template will help improve decisionmaking in the health sector, particularly in the area of family planning.

The minister, who was represented by the Director, Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, said: “I am sure that they will contribute to reduction in maternal morbidity and

ultimately improve the health of our women and girls.”

The documents include the National Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA-SC), Accelerated Introduction, and Scale-Up Plan 2018-2022.

Adewole said the documents were developed to ensure that contraceptive information and services reached women and adolescent girls who might have wanted to avoid pregnancy, space or limit child birth.

It provides the modalities for coordinating the activities of various stakeholders involved in introducing and scaling up Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.

prioritise healthcare of children and their welfare, adding that there was need to build capacity for collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS), as well as meaningful engagement of

stakeholders especially by the MDAS in the process of tackling the HIV epidemic in the state.

Arowosegbe also commended Kogi State for being one of the few states in Nigeria that has functional family court

system.“A child cannot be tried in a conventional court because they are supposed to be referred to juvenile courts or family courts.“In other states children languish in prison not meant for them because they don’t have

the proper courts to address their issues,” he added.He said Kogi has family courts in more than 10 local governments, adding that such juvenile courts has made it easy for cases relating to children to easily be dispensed with.

L-R: Assistant Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Ummulkhairi Boiboi; Deputy Director, Food and Safety Division, NAFDAC, Mrs. Eva Edwards; and Deputy Director (rtd), NAFDAC, Mrs. Patricia Moneyband, during a media sensitisation workshop organised by NAFDAC, Alive and Thrive FHI 360 in Lagos, recently Photo: NAFDAC

GT Bank Rallies Support for Children with Autism Foremost African financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, will hold the 8th edition of its Annual Autism Conference July 17 and July 18, 2018 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Themed “Raising a Child with Autism, the Role of Family and the Community” the two-day conference is part of the Bank’s Annual Autism Program, which brings together globally renowned medical specialists, parents, caregivers, health practitioners and concerned members of the public to share ideas on how to support children and adults living with Autism.

According to the World Health Organisation, one in 160 children live with Autism

Spectrum Disorders (ASD) worldwide. In Nigeria, the condition is hardly diagnosed, rarely understood and children with ASD often suffer stigmatisation.

According to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, GTBank, Segun Agbaje, it was in response to these challenges that the bank launched the Orange Ribbon Initiative to support children and adults living with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

He said, “Through this initiative, the bank has, over the last seven years, offered more than 14,000 people training on how to manage ASD, provided free one-on-one consultation services to over 3,200 children and led a sustained campaign to tackle

the stigma facing people living with Autism.

“Like every other child, children with Autism have big dreams and amazing talents to contribute to our society, but they need all our support to rise above their present difficulties.

“As an institution that is passionate about helping young people achieve their dreams, we will continue to lead initiatives and create programmes that ensure that every child, regardless of their challenges, has all the support they need to reach their full potential.

“This year, we will begin with the 2018 Autism Conference which is free to attend and open to the general public.

The conference will also be streamed live on facebook.

com and people across all social media platforms can join the conversation by using the hashtag #BeAVoice.”

He said the conference will present an opportunity for a one-on-one consultation for children with Autism and other developmental challenges as well as counselling of their parents and guardians.

“There will also be sessions for speech and physical therapy, behavioural analysis, audiology, clinical psychology, developmental psychiatry, physio therapy and occupational therapy.

“These sessions will hold from Thursday July 19 to Monday July 23, 2018 at Digital Village, Alausa, Lagos,” he added.

NAFDAC Calls for Compliance to Breast Milk Substitute Marketing Code The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for compliance to the Marketing Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) Code, because it was affecting infant nutrition. Stating this during a sensitisation workshop in Lagos recently, tagged; ‘Compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes’ the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojishola Adeyeye said this would protect optimal infant and young child feeding through promotion, protection and support for exclusive breastfeeding.

Adeyeye said: “The importance of appropriate infant and young child feeding and its resultant effect on national economic development cannot be overemphasised. However, there are various challenges hampering its actualisation.

“One of such is the continued violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (BMS) and national regulations by manufacturers of BMS products.

“The knowledge and lack of awareness of stakeholders including the media, has also contributed to the gravity of violations currently being practised in Nigeria.

“This has necessitated the need for the regulatory agency in collaboration with relevant partners to aggressively address this unpleasant situation through interventions including effective sensitisation of all stakeholders.’’

She said for better code compliance, it is essential to note that the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981 (WHA 34.22; 1981).

Adeyeye, who was represented by a Deputy Director with NAFDAC, Eva Edwards, noted that with the provisions of Act 22 of 1999, NAFDAC was specifically designated as the regulatory agency concerned with Code implementation, enforcement and monitoring in Nigeria.

On her part, a retired Deputy Director of NAFDAC, Patricia Monwuba said that breastfeeding was the natural and normal way to provide optimal nutritional, immunological and emotional nurturing for the growth and development of infants.

Monwuba said, “No artificial baby milk is the same as breast milk in terms of nutrients, enzymes, growth factors, hormones, immunological and anti-inflammatory properties or in infant growth and development outcomes.

“Breastfeeding also contributes to women’s health by reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and it also helps to increase the spacing between pregnancies.

Breastfeeding provides social and economic benefits to the family and the nation.”

According to her, information to health workers should be scientific and factual, adding that all information on artificial infant feeding, including the ones on labels should explain the benefits of breastfeeding and the costs and hazards associated with artificial feeding.

“Unsuitable products, such as sweetened condensed milk should not be promoted for babies. Manufacturers and distributors should comply with the code’s provisions even if countries have not adopted laws or other measures,” she said.

39

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

HEALTH NEWS

Include Family Planning Right in Constitution, Group tells NASS Martins Ifijeh The Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) has called for a constitutional amendment that would ensure family planning is listed as a basic and fundamental human right of Nigerians so they can determine freely the number and spacing of their children.

In a statement issued in Abuja recently and signed by the Executive Director, CCSI, Mrs. Babafunke Fagbemi, to commemorate the 2018, World Population Day with the theme: “Family Planning is a Human Right,” she insisted

that the right to determine the spacing of children and access to information and availability of the full range of safe family planning methods are fundamental to saving the lives of women and adolescents.

She said Nigeria still has 16 percent unmet needs for family planning and that “this is a result of inability of many Nigerian women to access free and effective family planning method even though they would have wanted to,” adding that, “other factors which lead to the increase in unmet needs include limited choices of contraceptives and

lack of support from partners and even the community.

“These are the factors that have limited the vast majority of Nigerian women to access this right, that is why we are calling on the National Assembly to look into the First Proclamation made at the United Nations International Conference on Human Right in 1968 which states that ‘Parents have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children,’ and enshrine same into our statue laws.

“The theme of this year’s World Population Day is speaking to the many myths and misconceptions about modern family planning methods, it is a direct attack on norms and cultures that seek to criminalize or ridicule those who have chosen to plan their family.

The government and our lawmakers must rise up and play a key role in ensuring the well-being of Nigerian women and ensuring their human right to family planning is one way to go,” Fagbemi said.

Stressing further, Fagbemi said to enjoy this right, correct

information in appropriate language and education about the various choices available to women to be in control of their own fertility must be made available nationwide.

“We need to let people know that modern family planning method is safe and people can actually return to their fertility once they are ready.

The United Nations Population Fund said the best way to ensure sustainable development is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s

potential is fulfilled, this is the goal we should work towards. But above all, we must tell them that it is their fundamental human right,” she said.

The World Population Day is celebrated every July 11 since 1989 with different themes every year. The commemoration is targeted towards increasing awareness on world’s population explosion against provision of basic infrastructure and calling attention to the importance of reproductive health and the well-being of women.

Stakeholders Brainstorm on Roadmap for UHC Ayodeji Ake Stakeholders in the health sector have called for sustainable healthcare as a roadmap to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

Speaking at the just concluded 2018 Healthcare Conference in Lagos, organised by Hygeia Health Management Organisation, themed ‘ Sustainable Healthcare, the Roadmap’, the Chief Executive Officer, Hygeia, Mr. Obinnia Abajue, stated that the current day reality of healthcare system was no longer sustainable, noting that a new and immediate executable action plan at the level of operator s or participants in healthcare value chain was necessary.

He said: “The challenges we face as a people due to sanitation driven diseases combined with the explosion of incidence of non communicable diseases and high maternal and infant mortality requires corporate and individual action to see increase in life expectancy of average Nigerians.

“We can already see corporate action towards reducing medical tourism through micro health

insurance in Nigeria while the medic credit fund by PharmAccess Foundation has developed innovative financing solution for expanding access to quality care and medicine across the country.”

Obinnia added that “our goal is to evaluate the impacts of our earlier conversations while also looking at other critical issues affecting the healthcare value chain in the country with the aim to proffering practical solutions on how to provide accessible, affordable and good quality healthcare” The CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, represented by NPHCDA Coordinator, Osun State, Dr. Modupeola Olayinka Oyesiji, noted that primary healthcare is the first point of contact in achieving Universal health coverage.

She said: “Primary healthcare must be scientifically based and made accessible to individuals and families in the community through full participation. It must also have Universal Health Coverage, which simply means getting access to healthcare without having any financial hardship” Oyesiji said.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu (m); flanked by members of the Public Health England and staff of NCDC, during a visit of PHE team to Nigeria recently Photo: NCDC

HLA, Others Urge Health Providers to Prioritise Patient-Centred Care to Improve Indices Ayodeji Ake Experts have charged healthcare providers in the public and private health facilities on improved Patient-Centred Care (PCC) to increase Nigeria’s health indices.

They gave the submission at the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) Patient-Centered Care (PCC) training programme, designed for front-line clinicians across all cadres and disciplines including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists and pharmacists, which according to the Executive Director, HLA, Dr. Hala Daggash is aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and tools required to provide improved patient-centered care and offer optimal healthcare services.

She said patients are the first point of contact of healthcare providers, adding that to improve better outcomes in hospitals, there must be “developed communication skills; understanding of

patient safety, core medico-legal and ethical principles, understanding of quality improvement as well as increasing accessibility to service points within the hospital.”

The Medical Director, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos, Dr. Madewa Adebajo stressed that healthcare providers should show empathy to their patients and meet their expectations, adding that after several surveys carried out, it was found that the average patient needs quality care, friendly atmosphere total cure for their illnesses.

“The word hospitality is from the hospital and people come to the hospital expecting some of hospitality, we as healthcare providers need to meet the patients and find out their challenges, and when we do, we need to sit down and postulate how we can meet those challenges.

When we reduce the waiting hours of patients in receiving care, patients would be happy, so PCC is about finding out what the patients expect from you and

you equipping yourself to be able to give the patients that service they want and also meet their expectations,” he said.

Speaking on improving Nigeria’s health indices, the Assistant Director, Pharmaceutical service, Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Pharm. Abimbola Ajayi said if healthcare providers and facilities should improve their patients care data base, put patients at their top most priority, the country’s health indices would improve.

“I want to enjoin the general hospital setting that we should treat our patients as kings and Queens because they are the source of our livelihood. If we go to work and don’t find a single patient there, that means we have lost our jobs. In PCC, for you to know if a change is leading to an improvement, there should be a measurement and in doing this we are gathering and analysing our data, which will show if the health indices is improving or not,” she added.

Pharmamax Plans Massive Investment in Cardiovascular Therapies Pharmamax Nigeria Limited, a pharmaceutical generic marketing giant in Nigeria, says it will invest in a broad range of cardiovascular remedies before the end of the year to enhance patients’ accessibility to anti-hypertensive medicines.

The pharmaceutical marketing giant also says it has concluded arrangements to partner faculties of pharmaceutical sciences in select universities across the country to institute an annual Pharmamax Cardiovascular Academic Awards.

The company’s Head of Public Communication and New Media, Morgan Nwanguma, stated these in Lagos recently.

Nwanguma said the company was spurred by encouragements it received from numerous physicians and drugstores across the country on account of efficacy of its Pharmamax brands of Amlodipine and Lisinopril therapies in restoring health and saving lives of patients across the country.

“The testimonies we are getting, especially from physicians in major hospitals across the country on Pharmamax Amlodipine and Lisinopril, is encouraging and provide insight into what we need to do next,” he said.

He said with the acceptability

of Calcium Channel Blockers and ACE inhibitors range of anti-hypertensive molecules by patients in the country, Pharmamax, was committed to invest in broad ranges in order to provide physicians with wider options in prescriptions to varied heart related conditions and also to ensure that the greatest majority of Nigerians in need of these essential medicines are covered.

Nwanguma said the company was building on a remarkable track record of achievement and was willing to fulfil the letters of its mission statement, which is anchored on increasing access to a unique range of high quality products for those who need them most.

He also disclosed that Pharmamax provided access to a wide range of high-quality patient-centric essential drugs in nearly therapeutic areas numbering over 50 generics at affordable rates.

On the Pharmamax Annual Cardiovascular Award, the KCH spokesman said his organisation was desirous of encouraging students in pharmaceutical sciences in Nigerian universities, especially those with interest in contributing to on-going research and discussions in cardiovascular

related conditions to achieve resounding successes.

He explained that the award, which is planned to take effect from next year, was designed to recognise outstanding pharmacy students in their final year that distinguished themselves in providing unique answers to test questions relating to cardiovascular health conditions.

The overall best student, he disclosed, would be rewarded with mouth-watering a cash prize for outstanding performance.

Similarly, the dean of faculty of pharmaceutical sciences of the recipient university will smile home with a cash reward for his distinguished contribution in moulding excellent mind, Nwanguma said.

According to him no less than six outstanding students will be rewarded each year primarily to spur pharmacy students into taking more interest in achieving high academic performance and excellence in the field of pharmacy.

Headquartered in Lagos, KCH Group comprises Pharmamax Nigeria Limited, KCH Laboratories Limited, the pharmaceutical production company, and Pharmatimes Nigeria Limited, the health publishing institution.

40

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Digital Economy: FG Targets $88bn Revenue in Three Years Nosa Alekhuogie The Nigerian government is resolute in creating an enabling environment where digital economy opportunities are not just theoretical, but real, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okey Enelamah has said.

According to the minister, the digital economy had been projected to generate $88billion for the country and create up to threemillion jobs in the next three years.

A statement from the Strategy and Communications Adviser, Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Mr. Bisi Daniels, yesterday, quoted Enelamah to have said this at the “Invest in Nigeria,” Summit in California, USA, “That is why we are here,” the minister added.

The Nigerian delegation led by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, includedsenior government officials, regulators, companies leading the charge of innovation in Nigeria and some of our leading technology talents.

Enelamah disclosed that the technology sector hadrecorded some good strides - more than doubling in size over the past nine years, now accounting for nine per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He recalled some recent landmark investments in the sector, saying, “From the $20 million fundraise in Andela, to $10 millionfundraise in Flutterwave, to the $7 million in SureRemit via a blockchain ICO, $1.1million in Piggybank.

There are easily scores of these today and counting.”

He assured the investors that

there was no question about the entrepreneurial spirit of young Nigerians, saying the future is now.

“Today we have brought you some of our best: from the government, from the private sector, technology companies, local finance, policy makers. I hope this leaves no doubt as to our commitment to establishing a winning partnership with you in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem,” he added The primary purpose of the visit was to attractinvestments into Nigeria’s burgeoning tech space. It followed the Vice President’s inauguration last month of the Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity, established by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of an effort to boost industrial policies and competitiveness for the country.

SONTraining Services Get Recognition Jonathan Eze The Standards Organisation of Nigeria Training Services (STS) Centre has received certification by the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) and the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA) as an Approved Training Partner (ATP).

The SON Training Centre can now offer certified courses by the two international institutions.

A statement from the office of the Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, in Abuja disclosed that the certification was a precursor to the international accreditation of

the STS courses and part of the overall repositioning of the agency’s services for global competitiveness.

Aboloma stated further that the certification was to ensure that appropriate systems and processes are in place and continuously maintained to provide effective and efficient management, development and operational delivery of CQI and IRCA certified courses to industry, government and non-governmental organisations as well as private individuals in Nigeria.

He explained that the recognition was attained following provision of huge resources at the SON Ogba training facility, concerted efforts of the staff of

the STS as well as a rigorous assessment to establish that CQI and IRCA Certification criteria were met.

CQI and IRCA certified courses offer some of the best trainings for quality, environment, services and auditing professionals in the world, given its global recognition and approval by employers and industry.

They also provide a boost to practitioners’ employment prospects, he said.

The courses to be offered according to the statement will be at three levels, namely Foundation, Internal Auditor and Transition as well as Lead Auditor and Conversion courses.

GTBank Launches CSR Initiative As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) has announced the launch of a social impact challenge that would fund dozens of innovative ideas designed and executed by members of the public.

Tagged #SimpleChangeBigImpact, the initiative invites individuals and groups to pitch ideas with the potential to enrich the lives of those in their communities and receive funding from the bank to execute the change.

This, according to a statement from the bank, was the latest

in a long line of CSR initiatives

by GTBank designed to foster socio-economic development across the country.

The bank explained that its Adopt-a-School initiative and Football Education Programmes had helped thousands of young students excel in and outside the classroom, while its Autism advocacy had remarkably raised the social consciousness and societal support for people living with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Now, with the social impact challenge, the bank stated that it hopes to invest directly in the

social infrastructure of at least 20 communities nationwide.

To participate in the initiative, interested person(s) are expected to pitch their idea in a one-minute video which they will share using the dedicated hashtag. “The video pitch should contain the potential of the idea, how it will be executed and the budget required to get it done.

“The ideas must be executable within 120 hours and will be chosen by a combination of public endorsements on social media and expert assessments by the Bank.

AOS Orwell CompletesValve, Actuator Assembly Indigenous oilfields service conglomerate, AOS Orwell, has announced its significant achievement in the expansion of local content footprint in Nigeria by locally assembling and delivering 16 Actuator Valves for use in the Abo Floating, Production, Storage and Off-loading, (FPSO) unit on behalf of BW Offshore.

According to a statement by the company, this feat was achieved in conjunction with AOS Orwell long standing strategic partners and original equipment manufacturers (OEM), Emerson – Bettis and KACE Valves. The Abo FPSO Life Extension Project (LEP) operated by BW Offshore on behalf of ENI Energy - Nigeria

Agip oil Exploration (NAE) was designed to ensure extended operational design life for the facility. The project includes upgrades to the existing topside laterals, exterior, accommodation and marine systems. AOS Orwell was contracted for the provision and supply of Actuated Valves – Shut down Valves (SDV) and Blowdown Valves (BDV) in the Main Gas Compressor (MGC) Trains B and C of the Abo FPSO. The scope of work comprise project management, design engineering documentation review, Valve and Actuator mechanical assembly and integration, customer witnessed Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), and delivering of assembled

Valve and Actuator to the customer on schedule.

General Manager, Services, Process Management Division (PMD), AOS Orwell, Mr. Abumenre Odigie, said: “This is a significant achievement in the vista of our operations and speaks to the position of our company as pioneers in the industry.

“The assembly of the 16 Valves and Actuator locally, apart from saving time and money, has brought this activity closer to the customer to witness the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) first-hand, the assembly, integration and functional tests of the Valves and Actuators while complying with global standards.”

L-R: Corporate Communications Executive, African Alliance Insurance Plc, Ms. Stella Osanebi; Representative of the winner, Mrs. Olabisi Adekola; Executive Director, Finance/HR/Admin,African Insurance Plc, Ms. Victoria Ebije and Chief Risk/Compliance Officer, Mrs. Ayo Osisanya, during the presentation of a cheque won by Mr. Nnamani Emeka to mark 58th Anniversary of the insurance company in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

MARCH

Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month

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, 10, JULY , 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fifteen crudes stood at $76.34 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $75.23 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), Djeno (Congo), 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, JULY 12, 2018

MARKET NEWS

All-Share Index Closes 0.45% Lower as Equities Markets Further Goddy Egene and Nosa Alekhuogie

to 2.59 per cent.

A total of 25 stocks, still dominated by bellwether counters, shed value, while 17 appreciated. Heavy weights such as Dangote Cement, GTBank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc were among the price losers. However, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc recorded the highest price loss of 10

Nigeria’s equities market fell further yesterday as the bears tightened their hold after regaining control yesterday.

Consequently, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index depreciated by 0.45 per cent to close at 37,253.25, driving down the year-to-date decline

per cent to close at N27.00 per share, trailed by Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc with 8.8 per cent to be at N0.31. Linkage Assurance Plc and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc went down by 8.7 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.

Other top losers included: Japual Oil & Maritime Services Plc (8.3 per cent); DN Tyre Plc(8.0 per cent); Mutual

Benefits Assurance Plc (7.5 per cent); Unity Bank Plc (7.2 per cent) and Skye Bank Plc (7.1 per cent).

On the other hand, Custodian Investment Plc led the gainers, chalking up 10 per cent to close at N6.27 per share. MCnichols Plc appreciated by 9.8 per cent.

Double One Plc and Equity Assurance Plc advanced 9.3 per cent and 9.0 per cent in

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED AS OF

traded declined by 0.4 per cent to N3.7 billion.

But the most traded stocks by volume were Access Bank Plc (116.0 million shares ), Zenith Bank Plc (41.1 million shares) and Transcorp Plc (23.7 million shares) while the most traded stocks by value were Access Bank Plc (N1.2 billion), Zenith Bank Plc (N1.0 billion) and GTBank Plc (N0.6 billion).

that order.

Other top price gainers were: WAPIC Insurance Plc (6.6 per cent); Forte Oil Plc (4.8 per cent); Capital Oil Plc (3.1 per cent); AIICO Insurance Plc (3.0 per cent) and UAC of Nigeria Plc (2.6 per cent).

Meanwhile, activity level was mixed as volume traded increased by 34.7 per cent to 285.1 million shares while value

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

˜ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

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 ŽǀĞƌ 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 ϭϭƚŚ ŽĨ :ƵůLJ ϮϬϭϴ͕ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ʹϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϱϱϳ͘ϭϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƌĞĚƵĐĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϵй͘ dŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐ ĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ƐƵƌƉĂƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ϯϬ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂƌĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŽĨ ʹϮ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ʹϯ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ 'h Z Edz ;ͲϬ͘ϭйͿ͕ E' D ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;Ͳϭ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϯϭ͘ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ WƌŽĮƚ dĂŬŝŶŐ KŶ >ĂƌŐĞ ĂƉ ^ƚŽĐŬƐ WƵůůƐ ^/ ƚŽ >ŽǁĞƐƚ WŽŝŶƚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϴ͘​͘​͘ E^ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϰϱďƉƐ dŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ Ŭ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŽŶ ůĂƌŐĞ ĐĂƉ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ʹ E' D ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ͕ /Ed Z Z t ;Ͳϲ͘ϱйͿ͕ t W K ;Ͳ ϱ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ h ;Ͳϭ͘ϬйͿ ʹ ĚƌĂŐŐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ Ϭ͘ϱй ůŽǁĞƌ ƚŽ ϯϳ͕Ϯϱϯ͘Ϯϱ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ůŽƐƐ ĚĞƚĞƌŝŽƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϲй͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ EϲϬ͘ϴďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ Eϭϯ͘ϱƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ ϯϰ͘ϳй ƚŽ Ϯϴϱ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϭ͘ϰй ƚŽ Eϯ͘ϳďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ^^ ;ϭϭϲ͘ϬŵͿ͕ E/d, ;ϰϭ͘ϭŵͿ ĂŶĚ dZ E^ KZW ;Ϯϯ͘ϳŵͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ^^ ;Eϭ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ E/d, ;Eϭ͘ϬďŶͿ ĂŶĚ 'h Z Edz ;EϬ͘ϲďŶͿ͘ DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ Ϯ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ dŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘ϳй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ DK /> ;нϵ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ &KZd ;нϰ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϭďƉ ŽŶ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ďƵLJ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ h E ;нϭ͘ϳйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϯ͘ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E' D ;ͲϬ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ t W K ;Ͳ ϱ͘ϮйͿ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌŵŽƌĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ϭ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ E D ;Ͳϱ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ /Ed Z t ;Ͳ ϲ͘ϱйͿ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϳdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϱdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ϭϳ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ ĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ǁĞƌĞ h^dK / E ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ D E/ ,K>^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ DK /> ;нϵ͘ϰйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ : Z' Z ;ͲϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ d,KD ^tz ;Ͳϴ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϴ͘ϳйͿ ǁĞƌĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚŽƉ ƵŶĚĞƌƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ ĞƐƉŝƚĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ŶŽƟĐĞĚ ƐŽŵĞ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ͘ ,ĞŶĐĞ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŝŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŚƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶƐ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Thursday, July 12, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Current Price

Ticker

Price Previous Current Price Change Price Weightin Change Index to Change g YTD Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,557.19

-0.04%

0.9%

55.7%

19.3%

7.0%

7.4x

0.9x

5.4%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

40.05

-0.1%

20.9%

-1.7%

-1.2%

32.6%

5.2%

6.5x

2.3x

6.8%

10.9% 15.4%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

24.40

0.8%

12.3%

-4.8%

-5.9%

26.3%

3.6%

4.1x

1.0x

11.1%

24.5%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

111.00

0.9%

7.4%

-17.7%

-17.8%

17.4%

27.8x

4.7x

3.7%

3.6%

1,500.00

0.0%

7.7%

-3.6%

-3.6%

73.3%

18.9%

35.0x

22.2x

3.0%

2.9%

225.00

-0.9%

6.0%

-2.2%

-2.2%

22.7%

12.0%

19.4x

4.5x

4.7%

5.1%

0.0%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

10.50

6.5%

19.3%

19.5%

6.7%

0.8%

7.6x

0.6x

2.4%

13.2%

7

Access Bank PLC

10.40

-1.0%

4.4%

-0.5%

-1.9%

12.7%

1.5%

5.1x

0.7x

6.3%

19.5%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

10.20

-1.0%

4.3%

-1.0%

-2.0%

15.9%

1.9%

4.5x

0.7x

8.3%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

20.60

0.0%

4.0%

21.2%

26.6%

12.9%

1.0%

6.8x

0.9x

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

635.00

0.0%

3.1%

1.4%

1.4%

22.3%

13.2%

3.2x

0.7x

2.8%

30.8%

0.0%

3.5%

22.9%

24.7%

30.8%

4.1%

9.7x

2.7x

1.0%

10.3% 3.6%

22.2% 14.6%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

51.00

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

51.70

0.0%

3.2%

26.1%

28.6%

19.2%

8.0%

27.7x

3.8x

1.0%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

97.05

0.0%

2.4%

3.2%

3.2%

15.4%

6.1%

18.5x

2.5x

0.7%

5.4%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

33.90

-5.2%

1.2%

-24.5%

-24.5%

-36.8%

-7.7%

1.9x

4.4%

-18.2%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.12

1.4%

1.1%

-13.8%

-17.8%

10.4%

1.4%

1.7x

0.3x

5.2%

16

Oando PLC

6.55

2.3%

1.4%

9.3%

9.3%

10.3%

1.5%

8.1x

0.5x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.50

0.0%

1.0%

-12.5%

-14.0%

45.0%

20.0%

5.2x

2.0x

14.3%

19.2%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

92.00

0.0%

1.5%

35.9%

35.9%

39.7%

29.4%

9.2x

3.1x

3.4%

10.9%

19

International Brew eries PLC

38.35

-6.5%

0.5%

-29.6%

-30.3%

24.6%

7.4%

40.2x

9.1x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

30.75

-0.8%

0.7%

6.0%

6.0%

10.4%

2.8%

6.7x

0.9x

3.3%

14.9% 13.3%

60.0% 12.3%

2.5%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.23

0.0%

0.5%

-15.8%

-16.9%

11.2%

2.5%

7.5x

0.8x

1.6%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

13.55

2.7%

0.5%

-19.8%

-19.8%

1.5%

0.6%

22.1x

0.6x

4.8%

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.37

-2.1%

0.5%

-8.7%

-12.7%

-5.8%

-0.7%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

200.00

0.0%

0.5%

-13.0%

-13.0%

25.0%

5.3%

2.10

-2.3%

0.7%

32.9%

5.8%

0.9%

4.0x

0.2x

4.8%

24.9%

180.50

9.4%

0.5%

-7.2%

-7.2%

38.8%

15.7%

6.5x

2.2x

4.4%

15.4%

0.1x 9.7x

4.5% -53.4%

2.3x

8.5%

10.3%

25

FCMB Group Plc

26

11 PLC

27

Forte Oil PLC

31.30

4.9%

0.3%

-28.0%

-25.5%

17.6%

1.6%

16.9x

2.6x

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

19.00

0.0%

0.4%

-7.8%

-10.2%

10.7%

5.0%

18.0x

1.8x

2.8%

5.6%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

12.30

2.5%

0.3%

-21.5%

-21.2%

2.0%

0.8%

57.5x

2.0x

1.3%

1.7%

30

Presco PLC

73.50

0.0%

0.4%

7.3%

7.3%

35.8%

24.8%

3.1x

0.9x

2.8%

32.8%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

20.65

0.0%

0.4%

11.6%

7.4%

52.3%

19.7%

9.8x

4.3x

7.3%

10.3%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

0.8x

7.6%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.00

1.7%

0.3%

-23.1%

-20.1%

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

27.00

-10.0%

0.3%

-3.6%

-3.6%

17.3%

1.8%

7.5x

1.2x

3.7%

13.4%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.46

0.0%

0.3%

35.2%

29.2%

10.7%

1.0%

4.4x

0.4x

1.4%

22.9%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

10.00

2.0%

0.2%

-17.7%

-17.7%

1.3x

2.0%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

19.00

0.0%

0.2%

-12.1%

-12.1%

4.4%

2.8%

30.0x

1.3x

39.5%

3.3%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.00

0.0%

0.2%

2.9%

-2.0%

66.2%

30.2%

16.4x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

39

Beta Glass PLC

90.00

0.0%

0.2%

75.4%

75.4%

17.7%

11.5%

10.9x

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

5.3%

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

6.27

10.0%

1.1%

T ra de s

T ic k er

C UST OD IA N

A C C ESS

M C N IC H OLS M OB IL

0.89

8.6x

5.9%

0.6x

11.6%

by V o lum e

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

1 1 6.0

-1 .0%

9.9%

180.50

Z EN IT H B A N K

41 .1

0.8%

T R A N SC OR P

23.7

0.0%

GUA R A N T Y

1 4.7

-0.1 %

FB NH

1 2.4

0.0%

FCM B

6.7

-2.3% 3.0%

9.4%

EQUIT YA SUR

0.24

9.1%

WA P IC

0.48

6.7%

FO

31.30

4.9%

R EGA LIN S

0.26

4.0%

A IIC O

6.4

C A P OIL

0.33

3.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

4.9

1 .4%

A IIC O

0.68

3.0%

UB A

4.5

-1 .0%

UA C N

13.55

2.7%

SOVR EN IN S

4.5

-8.3%

T o p 10 L o s e r s

T o p 10

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

J B ER GER

27.00

-10.0%

T ra de s

by V a lue

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

A C C ESS

1 206.6

-1 .0%

T H OM A SWY

0.31

-8.8%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.73

-8.7%

SOVR EN IN S

0.22

-8.3%

J A P A ULOIL

0.33

-8.3%

D UN LOP

0.23

-8.0%

N EST LE

M B EN EF IT

0.37

-7.5%

UN IT YB N K

1.02

-7.3%

SKYEB A N K

0.65

C ILEA SIN G

2.31

Z EN IT H B A N K

999.0

0.8%

GUA R A N T Y

588.9

-0.1 %

D A N GC EM

21 6.9

-0.9%

FB NH

1 29.8

0.0%

1 1 1 .2

0.0%

B ET A GLA S

63.1

0.0%

ET I

48.7

0.0%

-7.1%

UB A

45.9

-1 .0%

-6.5%

NB

30.4

0.9%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Eronmosele Aziba | eaziba@afrinvest.com

43

˾ THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Makoju: Dangote Cement Yet to Decide on International Listing of Shares Goddy Egene Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) is yet to finalise decision on the listing of its shares on an international stock exchange. There were reports that Africa’s biggest producer of cement may carry out its long-planned listing of shares in London after Nigerian elections early next year.

However, in a filing to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the Managing Director of DCP, Joseph Makoju said

while the company was considering all strategic and financial options, at the present no decision had been finalised.

“DCP continues to consider all strategic and financial options for the company including a possible international listing of its shares. At present, no decision has been finalized on such a course of action,” he said.

DCP had an impressive 2017, growing profit after tax by 43 per cent to N204

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

billion, from N142.9 billion in 2016. Given the improved bottom-line, the company paid a dividend of 178.9 billion to the shareholders last month.

The shareholders commended the board and management for the impressive performance despite the challenging operating environment at the annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

In his address to shareholders, Chairman of DCP, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

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 10-July-2018, unless otherwise stated.

said the board believed that the recommended dividend is at an appropriate level and was consistent with the company’s aim of delivering superior returns to shareholders, while at the same time balancing the company’s need to invest in growth.

He said as a company, DCP was accorded international credit ratings that were actually higher on a standalone basis than the sovereign country of Nigeria.

“This recognition should assure you, our shareholders, that our long-term view and prudent management are serving us well at a time when others in our industry are facing difficulties that challenge their independence and only serve to erode shareholder value,” he said.

Also speaking, Makoju said he was pleased with the way the company adapted to marketing efforts to the challenges in the Nigerian economy in 2017.

Looking ahead, Makoju said the company would return to volume growth, particularly in Nigeria as the economy recovers and the higher oil price brings more cash into the country.

“We will continue to focus on improving sales and logistic so we are well prepared for when the market picks up, which we are confident it will in 2018 as infrastructure investment begins to accelerate,” Makoju said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 185.62 185.66 4.25% Nigeria International Debt Fund 248.75 248.78 7.50% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.83 0.84 0.39% ACAP Income Funds 0.65 0.65 7.16% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.91% 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 148.78 149.83 -1.92% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.36% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.60% Paramount Equity Fund 11.89 12.20 7.26% Women's Investment Fund 104.30 106.97 3.65% 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 12.77% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.63% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.16 1.19 10.65% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.17 9.69% 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 1,167.04 1,167.75 8.00% FBN Heritage Fund 146.41 147.66 4.98% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.18% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $112.52 $113.00 2.11% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.33 $112.81 2.11% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 171.21 173.65 6.69% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.36 1.39 4.55% Legacy Debt Fund 3.08 3.08 6.82% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,133.58 3,166.29 4.97% Coral Income Fund 2,652.87 2,652.87 8.39% 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 12.31% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.17 2.19 2.83% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.20% 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 1.21 3.88% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,083.80 1,083.80 7.42% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 13.32 13.44 1.58% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.36% 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 1.38 13.38% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.84 11.90 7.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.84% 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 8.09% 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 2,370.26 2,390.04 5.67% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 187.03 187.03 6.00% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.04 1.05 3.47% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 240.47 240.53 9.19% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 180.92 182.95 1.02% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.26% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,695.81 9,827.42 0.27% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 3.86% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.32 1.33 -1.56% United Capital Bond Fund 1.67 1.67 6.75% United Capital Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 2.68% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.14 1.00 11.50% United Capital Eurobond Fund 106.87 106.87 3.86% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.14 1.14 4.54% 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 12.95 13.16 4.13% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.63 13.78 4.05% Zenith Income Fund 20.51 20.51 8.38% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.10%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 136.57 108.56 51.39

1.01% 3.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.95 147.91 109.85

12.05 150.84 111.83

-1.41% 3.48% 0.52%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund Union Homes REIT

1.10%

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

4.69 8.86 17.47 18.91 144.66

4.73 8.94 17.57 19.11 146.66

-1.14% -7.37% -0.20% -3.86% 5.74%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

45

46

˜ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN/DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS

Editor: VINCENT OBIA vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com 0805 468 1757

In Brief US First-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom From July 24-26, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will host the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. The ministerial will convene government officials, representatives of international organisations, religious leaders, rights advocates, and members of civil society organisations from around the world to discuss challenges to religious freedom, identify concrete means to address persecution of and discrimination against religious groups, and promote greater respect for religious freedom for all.

Poland Decries War-time Killings by Ukraine

Pompeo

Pompeo: Why US is Cutting Back Support for Armed Groups in Syria

U

nited States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on the Trump administration’s Middle East policy, particularly as it relates to Syria and Iran, in media interviews during his latest visit to the United Arab Emirates. Below are excerpts from an interview with Sky News as published by the State Department on Tuesday.

The United States is reinforcing various sanctions on Iran. We’ve heard statements over the last few days coming from Tehran that basically amount to threats – some went as far as threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz.

How would the United States respond?

Well, it all starts with Iranian bad behaviour, the kinds of things that threaten the people here in the Emirates – missiles being launched from Yemen that strike real risk to the people of all of the Gulf states. And so American policy is aimed to deter that. I’ve seen these remarks about their threats. The world should know that America is committed to keeping sea lanes open, to keep transit of oil available for the entire world. That’s the commitment we’ve had for decades. We continue to honour that commitment.

Aside from the nuclear issue with Iran, Iran is involved in many destabilising activities in several countries in the hemisphere: Yemen, Syria. What will the United States do in order to limit these activities?

Well, one of the great things is we have wonderful partners like the Emirates, the Saudis, many countries, the Bahrainis are all working alongside us to push back against Iranian malign behaviour, whether it’s their activity underwriting the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Syria and in Lebanon, in Iraq and Syria Shia militias that are inflicting real harm on ordinary citizens. So we intend to do a number of things, though one that we are most focused on today is ensuring that we deny Iran the financial capacity to continue this bad behaviour. So it’s a broad range, a series of sanctions aimed not at the Iranian people, but rather aimed at the singular mission of convincing the Iranian regime that its malign behaviour is unacceptable and has a real high cost for them.

Iran has said several times that they intend

to stay in Syria for the long term. How does the United States view this?

Iran needs to get out of Syria. They have no business there. There’s no reason for them to be there. There’s been Iranian influence there for a long time. Iranian forces, Iranian militias must leave the country.

Also on the issue of Syria, south of Syria today. The armed groups that were supported at one time by the United States are losing ground.

How are you looking at this?

It’s a very difficult situation. From the United States perspective, we need to achieve a political solution in Syria, one that reflects the diversity of the Syrian nation. We are aiming to set the conditions for a political resolution. We’re prepared to continue the conversations often led by the UN in a way that takes down the violence, de-escalates the threats to the people of Syria, allows the some six million displaced persons from Syria to begin to return and to rebuild, and that ultimately achieves a constitution and a political resolution that’s consistent with what the Syrian people truly want and deserve.

Are you in agreement with the Russians on what’s going on in the south of Syria today?

No, we had an agreement with the Russians that they would not move in the south. There was a de-escalation zone that the Russians had agreed to. They now have clearly violated that and we are working with all parties concerned to get each party – the Russians, the Syrians, the Iranians, everyone – to honour the commitments that they’ve made in the various political processes that have been undertaken with respect to Syria.

You had a tweet a few days ago saying that Iran’s activities in Yemen, the prolonged suffering of the Yemeni people will not be tolerated. What will Washington do?

Well, we’ve done a lot of things. We’ve done work to push back against the threat of al-Qaida in Yemen. We’ve worked with the Saudis and with the Emiratis to reduce the risk from the Iranian threat there in Yemen through identifying transit of weapons that are moving in and around the region so that the Houthis don’t have the material to conduct these threats. We think it’s important that every place Iran attempts to use its force we raise the cost for them such that the Iranian people will ultimately reject that use of force.

The U.S. allies in Europe that were part of the 5+1 agreement with Iran are in talks with Iran right now in order to salvage what’s left of this agreement. How are you talking to the Europeans about this and how are they responding?

Yeah, it’s a great question. I’ll actually leave here and head for Brussels. I’ll meet with my European counterparts to talk about exactly this set of issues. Frankly, we agree in large part. The Europeans understand the threat that Iran poses.

Indeed, just this past week, there were Iranians arrested in Europe who were preparing to conduct a terror plot in Paris, France. We’ve seen this malign behaviour in Europe. The Europeans understand the threat. We are working through a difference. The American people concluded that the JCPOA made no sense, that it was truly a pathway for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. So we are attempting to stop that. We’re working now with the Europeans to develop a plan and a path forward to continue to stop Iran from its nuclear program, but also to push back against its missile system and its terrorist behaviour.

Some countries in Europe and other parts of the world intend to keep on getting oil from Iran even after the sanctions are imposed. How would you look at this?

Well, that will violate the sanctions that we put in place. Come November 4th, there will be a U.S. sanction that prevents crude oil from passing from Iran to other countries. It will be sanctionable activity. We will enforce those sanctions. There will be a handful of countries that come to the United States and ask for relief from that. We’ll consider it. But make no mistake about it, we are determined to convince the Iranian leadership that this malign behaviour won’t be rewarded and that the economic situation in their country will not be permitted to be rectified until such time as they become a more normal nation.

There is an upcoming summit between President Trump and President Putin in Helsinki soon. Will Syria be a major topic to be discussed?

Oh, I’m confident that there will be a broad range of issues discussed. The issues in Ukraine with the Russians and this topic of Russian involvement in Syria will also be part of the conversation between the two leaders.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday reconciliation with neighbour Ukraine could take place only when Kiev accepts responsibility for the “genocide” of Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War Two. Morawiecki stated this during the anniversary of the 1943-45 killings in Wolyn, an area that was part of Poland before the war and is now part of Ukraine. Soviet and Nazi troops both rolled through the fertile lands in the tumultuous years. Poland says 100,000 Poles were killed in the area during the Nazi occupation by Ukrainian nationalists hoping to set up an ethnically pure state. It says smaller numbers of Ukrainians were killed in reprisals. But Ukraine says large scale killings took place on both sides, and tends to avoid comparing numbers.

Congo Accuses Uganda of Killing Fishermen Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday accused Ugandan forces of shooting dead 12 Congolese fishermen last week on a lake straddling their shared border, but Uganda’s army denied the allegation. One Ugandan soldier was killed when the countries’ navies clashed on Lake Edward. Oil exploration near the lake has raised the stakes along the border, with each side periodically accusing the other of encroaching on its territory. Reuters quoted a spokesman for Congo’s fishing ministry, Obed Kambale, as saying Ugandan forces killed 12 fishermen last Friday following the previous day’s naval clashes. He said Ugandan troops arrested 92 fishermen last week. “In the coming hours, a significant government delegation composed of the relevant ministries ... will go to Kampala to begin talks with Ugandan authorities,” Kambale said.

NATO Leaders Urge Sustained Pressure on North Korea NATO leaders on Wednesday called on all nations to maintain “decisive pressure” on North Korea by, among others, fully implementing United Nations sanctions, to persuade it to give up its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The allies also expressed concern about Iran’s intensified missile tests and said the alliance was committed “to permanently ensuring that Iran’s nuclear programme remains peaceful”.

The summit declaration signed by the 29 NATO leaders reiterated the alliance’s full support for the goal of “complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.” It welcomed recent talks with North Korea by the leaders of South Korea and the United States “as a contribution towards reaching the final fully verified denuclearisation of (North Korea) in a peaceful manner”.

The statement said, “We call upon (North Korea) to fully implement its international obligations; to eliminate its nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare capabilities and ballistic missiles, and abandon all related `programmes.”

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

47

NEWSXTRA

Don’t Cover up for Adeosun, PDP Tells NYSC You don’t apply for exemption certificate, says ex-corps director FG: we have spoken on Adeosun’s certificate saga, approves N35.613bn for roads Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to allow the presidency to coerce it into covering the certificate forgery case against the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, with a purported investigation.

This is coming as a former Director of Mobilisation at the NYSC, Mr. Anthony Ani, yesterday said it was not proper to apply for exemption certificate from the scheme.

The federal government has however, said it had stated its position on the alleged forgery of NYSC certificate by Adeosun.

But the PDP said it was instructive for NYSC to note that all the issues in the news report that Adeosun forged her NYSC Exemption Certificate as well as reports that the presidency was mounting pressure on NYSC to cover up for the minister were already in the public domain.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said Nigerians were closely monitoring the issue, adding that the public was already aware of pressure on the NYSC leadership to announce a misplacement of relevant files and other excuses to achieve a dead end in the investigation.

“The NYSC must, therefore, know that its reputation is highly at stake as Nigerians are already agitated over the questionable delay by the Corps in coming out with an answer on a direct issue that requires a simple computer or even manual file check at its headquarters.

“Indeed, a simple process of matching the serial numbering, date and authorising signature on Adeosun’s certificate does not require a lengthy investigation or the current shenanigan going on at the NYSC headquarters,” he said.

“NYSC is advised to have in

mind that in this age of global Information Communication Technology (ICT), there is nothing anybody can do to suppress or distort facts, even in the public service.

Any attempt to cover up will invoke the wrath of Nigerians and irredeemably rubbish the integrity and respect the Corps has earned over the years,” the party said.

PDP further said the NYSC must not allow its reputation to be dragged in the mud by the discredited All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration that has become notorious for concealment of fraud and sharp practices by its officials.

In a related development, a former Director of Mobilisation at the NYSC, Mr. Anthony Ani, yesterday said it was not proper to apply for exemption certificate from the scheme.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, Ani said prospective corps members only present their credentials.

He said it is the corps that determines if a graduate would be exempted or undergo the one-year programme.

Ani said applying for any certificate from NYSC is alien to the corps.

When asked under what circumstances, first, can you apply for exemption (from youth service)?, Ani said: “First and foremost, I have to comment based on what I saw, the documents I saw, and if those documents were the documents claimed to have been submitted, I want to emphatically say no, they wouldn’t have emanated from the NYSC. One is that it is important for Nigerians to know the process of mobilisation in the NYSC,” he said.

“Section 2 of the NYSC Act, which incidentally is embedded

Glencore to Cooperate with US on Corruption Investigation Glencore Plc said yesterday it would cooperate with the US authorities after they demanded documents about the mining firm’s business in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela and Nigeria as part of a corruption investigation.

The company said it had set up a committee of board members, including Chairman, Tony Hayward and independent non-executive directors, Leonhard Fischer and Patrice Merrin, to oversee its response to the subpoena from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“The company will cooperate with the DoJ, while continuing to focus on our business and seeking to maximise the value we create for our diverse stakeholders in a responsible and transparent manner,” Hayward said.

“Glencore takes ethics and compliance seriously throughout the group,” the chairman said.

Reuters reported that the Switzerland-based Glencore received a subpoena from the DoJ last week requesting documents and records on compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money-laundering statutes.

The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it a crime for companies to bribe overseas officials to win business.

The DOJ has so far not commented on the request.

Glencore shares had fallen 4.2 per cent to 313.29 pence by 0921 GMT, down 20 percent since the start of 2018 and close to one-year lows. The stock suffered its biggest oneday fall in more than two years after the subpoena announcement last week.

Responding to the share fall, Glencore announced a buy back worth $1 billion in an effort to soothe investors.

in the constitution, under Section 315, states categorically that once you graduate, you are supposed to make yourself available for mobilisation. And you don’t apply for either NYSC certificate or NYSC certificate of national service or certificate of exemption, you present yourself for mobilisation,” he added.

But answering question from journalists in the State House after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday, the Minister of Information,

Lai Mohammed, said in as much as the NYSC, which he described as part and parcel of the government had spoken on the matter, the government had equally spoken and had nothing more to add.

“The government has spoken. NYSC is part of government and I have nothing to add to what the NYSC has said,” he said.

Meanwhile, the FEC yesterday approved N35.613 billion for various road and

bridge projects in different parts of the country.

Briefing journalists at the end of FEC meeting, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said N8.9 billion was approved for the construction of Ikom road and bridge in Calabar, Cross River State.

According to him, both the road and the bridge which he said would be completed within 24 months, would create access to the port and also enhance free

movement of trucks and containers.

Fashola also disclosed that N11.78 billion and N8.6 billion, respectively, were approved for road projects in Yobe State and Kwara State.

The minister also said N5.4 billion was approved for road projects in Abia State while another N933 million was approved for automatic meter reading equipment for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

CONGRATULATIONS

L-R: Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and the new Permanent Secretary, Local Government Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Tola Akinsanya, after Akinsanya’s swearing-in at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, ...yesterday

FG to Unveil Logo, Name of National Carrier in UK Chinedu Eze In line with its move to establish its planned national carrier, the federal government will next Thursday unveil the logo and name of the airline, at the Farnborough Air Show in the United Kingdom, THISDAY has gathered.

The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had earlier said that by December 19, the first five aircrafts of the airline would be delivered.

This will kick-off the operation of the national carrier, which would replace the defunct

Nigeria Airways that was liquidated in 2003.

The unveiling of the airline logo and name in Farnborough Air Show is significant because the conference is the meeting place for aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, lessors (aircraft leasing companies), aviation consultants and marketers.

THISDAY learnt that the federal government would hold a high level discussion with aircraft manufacturers and lessors and major aircraft maintenance organisations.

Officials of the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the committee on the establishment of national carrier set up by the minister and that of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) are billed to depart to the UK this weekend for the meeting.

The minister had earlier insisted that the airline would be fully managed by private concerns; although government would commit funds to its management.

In 2016, the federal government inaugurated

Transaction Adviser to spell out modalities for the national carrier.

In justifying the need for a national carrier for the country, an aviation consultant and the Chairman of Aso Savings, Ali Mohammed Magashi, noted that a national airline was necessary because the airline sub-sector does not guarantee better returns on investment.

Magashi argued that because of the poor return on investment, the private sector may not be able to invest the quantum of funds needed for the sector.

PDP: Gov Al-Makura Not a Legislative Material Emmanuel Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË The Chairman of the Nasarawa State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Francis Orogu, has said the state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is not a legislative material to represent the Nasarawa South senatorial zone at the National Assembly.

Recently, Governor AlMakura declared his intention to contest for the senatorial seat

of the zone in 2019 general election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But the state PDP chairman said that the governor did not deserve to be elected to represent the Alago ethnic nationality at the red chamber because he did not attract any project to Alago nation as a governor of the state.

The chairman therefore wondered why out of the seven cattle ranches the governor

approved for the commencement of the federal government’s cattle ranches programme in the state, four were located to Alago.

“Nasarawa people know that Governor Al-Makura is not a legislative material. He (Al-Makura) knows that he is contesting for the zone’s senatorial seat predominantly against the Alago people. I will use everything under the armpit of the constitution to

fight and win the senatorial seat for PDP,” he said.

On the allegation that the incumbent senator of the zone, Suleiman Adokwe, has not performed, hence the call for his replacement, Orogu said: “If Adokwe has not performed, he wouldn’t have gone to the senate for three terms; that is what is encouraging him to recontest again.”

48

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Bakare Challenges Media to Play Pivotal Role in 2019 Nseobong Okon-Ekong ËØÎ Segun James One of Nigeria’s foremost preachers and former running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has challenged all stakeholders in the Nigerian project, especially the media and the intelligentsia, to play a pivotal role in setting the agenda for the polity in 2019.

Bakare who is the Serving Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly and Convener, Save Nigeria Group, made this plea at the launch of three books, ‘PENdulum 1 & 2’, written by Chief Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and a columnist with THISDAY Newspaper, and ‘Fighting Lions’, which chronicles Momodu’s aspiration as a candidate in the 2011 presidential election written by his Campaign Manager, Ohimai Godwin Amaize.

He commended the Nigerian press for deploying their skills against tyranny, while counseling the people to resist the temptation to resort to violence in the face of frustration.

“The people of our nation who want their fair share, and to young people running out of patience, the lesson from Dele Momodu is very clear and simple: spill the ink, not the blood; paint an indelible picture of the nation you desire, and work tirelessly to ensure its realisation, knowing that the greatness of our nation depends on it,” he said.

Expressing optimism in the future of the country, Bakare said though the country is in the throes of violent agitations, Nigeria must rise from the ashes of failure to greatness for the sake of the coming generations.

‘He said the books, which were in honour of Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, were a testimony to the saying that ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’, adding that the phrase was at the heart of this notion that the course of a nation

or people can be determined at the stroke of a pen.

“Nations can be built, and nations can be ruined; generations can be made great, and generations can be rendered wasted; civilisations can be birthed, and civilisations can be buried – at the stroke of a pen!

“We have seen frameworks become supreme law and proposals become policies that make or break nations; we have seen elections validated or annulled; we have seen presidents sworn in, some by convention, others by the doctrine of necessity – all at the stroke of a pen. Families are consolidated or dissolved, enterprises are incorporated or liquidated, convictions are obtained or upturned, and life and death could hang on a simple but weighty sentence, held in the balance by a pen waiting to be wielded, particularly when the ink that runs through the pen is propelled by the force of the state.

“The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, armed with no other weapon, mobilised the Queen’s language in the struggle for independence from the Queen. They fought their battles through such media as West African Pilot, Accra Evening News and The Tribune.

Decades after independence, when free, fair and credible elections were annulled, and a tyrannical dictatorship held sway, the Nigerian press took up the baton and contended against the sword of oppression by deploying the armoury of vocabulary. I am so glad that the labours of these pen warriors and all others who fought for the democracy we enjoy today have not been in vain, after all.”

Lamenting the monumental destruction brought on Nigeria by the annulment of the June 12 presidential election, Momodu regretted that Nigeria died the day June 12 election was annulled, saying it was the day Nigerians really came out as one to vote

Kaduna Court Adjourns El-Zakzaky’s Case to August 2 John Shiklam ÓØ ËÎßØË

Kyom, counsel to the Islamic cleric, said the matter had to be A Kaduna State High adjourned to August 2 because the court yesterday adjourned the case other respondents in the matter instituted against the leader of the were yet to be served.

Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), He, however, declined to mention Ibraheem El-Zakzaky to August 2. the names of the two respondents The presiding Judge, Justice saying, their names cannot be Gideon Kurada, adjourned the mentioned in the matter until matter to enable the prosecution they are served. serve the 3rd and 4th defendants Kyon said “in a criminal matter in the case. you cannot proceed until all the Zakzaky and his wife are accused are served. That is part of standing trial on eight- count charge, the reason we have not been able to bordering on culpable homicide, make much progress, all the while unlawful assembly, and disturbance and since the matter was instituted of public peace, among others. the third and fourth defendants Journalists were prevented from have not been served,” he said. accessing the court premises by He said further that a bail security agents and had to wait application had been filed before at Independence Way, Kaduna the court with the hope that the for interviews with counsels of application could be entertained. both parties in the case after the “The bail application could court sitting. not be taken today because not The prosecution counsel, Chris withstanding that we filed it Umar told journalists after the court over a month ago, the state only session that the adjournment was responded yesterday (Tuesday) to enable them serve the 3rd and evening, so we asked for a 4th respondents in the charges. short time to respond” Kyon Also in an interview, Maxwell said.

for the person of their choice.

He said the kind of leaders the nation need at this critical time are those that have made success of their lives, insisting that “you cannot give what you don’t have.”

Recalling his encounters with Abiola, multi-billion businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, said the late politician was an inspiration to him since he met him as a young secondary school student and classmate of his son, Kola.

The three books were reviewed separately by Mr. Segun Adeniyi,

Mr. Simon Kolawole and Ms. Ijeoma Nwogwugwu.

Reviewing of PENdulum 1, Adeniyi disclosed that one of the greatest strength of Momodu was his consistency and loyalty. He said most of the things Momodu wrote over 30years ago were still relevant today.

Taking a look at PENdulum 2, Kolawole insisted that there are two sides to Momodu- the socialist and the socialite. To him, Momodu has been able to carry himself creditably in applying both personalities.

He described him as a consummate writer whose writings are fluid and have never departed from the ideas and ideals that he had set out to achieve.

Nwogwugwu who reviewed the third book, traced the writing life of Momodu from the days when he stated writing in 1988 as a student at the University of Ife. The event witnessed the presence of notable names in the media and politics, including the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, former Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Eniola Bello, Akin Osuntokun, Dr. Doyin Abiola and the Abiola family, led by his first daughter, Mrs. Lola Edewor, National Conscience Party presidential aspirant, Tanko Yinusa, Mrs. Esther Ajayi, Chief Rasak Okoya, Mr. Dare Babarinsa, Chief Tunji Alapinni, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo, former director general of the Department of State Security (DSS), Col. Kayode Are (rtd) and Hajia Bola Shagaya.

FEC MEETING

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), confers with National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chamber in Abuja...yesterday

Niger Delta Leaders Insist on Restructuring Shola Oyeyipo Critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region yesterday insisted that despite the good intention behind the federal government’s amnesty programme, it is not the final solution to the challenges of the region.

This was the collective position taken by notable leaders from the region yesterday during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos at the behest of the office of the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Prof.

Charles Dokubo.

Leaders, including former military governor of Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Gbobo Bobmanuel, former Nigerian ambassador to Scandinavian countries, Dr. Godknows Igali, Prof. GG Darah of the Literature in English

Department, Delta State University and evironmental rights activist and Convener, Niger-Delta Self-Determination Movement (NDSDM), Ann Kio-Briggs, noted that the amnesty programme is not the solution to Niger Delta problem.

Earlier, Dokubo had urged the people to actively take possession of the federal government’s amnesty as a vehicle to facilitate peace, security and development in the region.

Noting that his predecessors had completed aspects of the disarmament and demobilisation of ex-agitators, Dokubo said the most important task before him is the integration of the disarmed persons.

“Before I assumed office, the disarmament and demobilisation of ex-agitators had been completed in three phases. I am however privileged to continue with the

very critical reintegration phase of the programme. The reintegration phase largely entails providing the ex-agitators with either vocational training or formal education,” he said.

He said out of the 30, 000 persons enlisted in the presidential amnesty programme, 11, 297 persons were still in the queue, waiting to be placed in either vocational training facilities or sent to tertiary institutions for formal education.

On the Ondo State issue, he said the state would only be captured on the programme after a proclamation from the president .

While appreciating the amnesty programme and also observing that the Niger Delta region is being deprived on its legitimate rights, Diete-Spiff was rather unhappy about gas flaring in the region.

Another reputable traditional

ruler, King Bobmanuel, said: “Restructuring is the way to go as it will entail finding the better ways to do things. It never meant the breaking up of the country but rather, it is a way to get things done in a better manner and I think everybody should come on board and find ways and means for us to do things better so that we can progress.”

On her part, Briggs said the amnesty programme was not what the Niger Delta people really required, stressing that “The amnesty programme cannot answer the demand of the Niger Delta people.”

Describing the amnesty programme as one of the processes of resolving conflicts in the Niger Delta, Prof Dara insisted that “It does not have capacity to resolve the essential problems in the region, which has to do with resource ownership and controls.”

Channels TV CEO Emerges National President of Unilag Alumni Association Ugo Aliogo ËØÎ Oluchi Chibuzor The Chief Executive Officer, Channels Television Group, Mr. John Momoh, has emerged the National President, University of Lagos Alumni Association in preference to three other candidates.

According to a statement issued to THISDAY, by the National

Publicity Secretary, Regina Chris-Ogbodo, it was noted that at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Momoh emerged president in preference to three other candidates.

The statement also noted that other candidates who were elected included the First Vice President, Chief Fassy Yusuf; the Second National Vice President, Mr. Ejiro Edeki, the National Secretary,

Dr. Aaron Akinloye; National treasure, Mr Kola Kalejaiye; National Financial Secretary, Mr Ojo Stephen Olajide; National Social Secretary, Dr. Abdul Gbadamosi; National Legal Adviser, Mr. Olajide Olakanmi and National Internal Auditor, Mr. Imran Adesina “Four others were elected as Ex-officio members; they are Dr. Ronke Lawal-Are, Mr. Tunde

Fadahunsi, Mr. Taiwo Akinfolarin and Mr. Kunle Adeleke. The newly-elected national executives committee members have been charged to take the association to greater heights and the new president has highlighted his ten-point agenda. The new National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to swing into action with the ten-point agenda,” the statement said.

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

49

NEWSXTRA

Abacha Loot: How Cash Transfer Programme Will Work, Says Osinbajo EFCC recovers N20bn, secures 42 convictions in Lagos If I were Buhari, I would have thrown in the towel, says Sagay Senator Iroegbu ÓØ ÌßÔË ËØÎ Ugo Aliogo ÓØ ËÑÙÝ The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday disclosed that the cash transfer programme involving the recovered $322 million Abacha loot will be stringently monitored to ensure transparency.

This is coming as the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itsey Sagay, has said that owing to the lack of appreciation from the citizenry, he would have given up on Nigerians if he was to be in the shoe of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it recovered N20 billion from corruption suspects in Lagos State alone this week.

Osinbajo said monitors would visit the individual households that have been identified through “deliberate targeting.”

The vice president spoke in Abuja when he launched the Monitoring of Recovered Assets through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA) Project.

It was at a roundtable organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) to mark the First African Day of AntiCorruption.

The roundtable had the theme: “Enhancing Domestic Resources

for Sustainable Development Goals by Improved Asset Recovery and Asset Return”.

Special Adviser to the President on Social Protection, Mrs Maryam Uwais, who represented the vice president, said the beneficiaries of the cash transfer are households contained in the National Social Register that was built using targeted machanisms to identify poor and vulnerable households.

PACAC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, speaking on the sidelines of the roundtable, said cash transfer programmes are done globally.

“It’s a temporary thing to bring people out of poverty and including them in social welfare. The register being used was developed by the last administration, working with the World Bank. It’s not being done on political party basis.

Ekiti, Oyo and Kwara States had the framework, and that’s why they had a head start.

“Monitors go there directly to check. It’s not by calculation. If it were left to politicians, they’d put people they want. But that is not happening. The media should go and check it out.

Conditional cash transfer was going on before Abacha money was returned.

“Do you know there are people who have never held N2,000 in their hands? The Swiss judgment is clear: the money should be

used for Nigerian people and should be monitored by the World Bank. Based on the parameters in the MoU, nobody can steal the money unless the World Bank is complicit,” Owasanoye said.

Speaking on the message titled: “Fight Against Corruption and Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals Under the Buhari Administration”, Sagay said the Buhari administration had made tremendous progress in the anti-corruption war, including

the recovery of assets valued at N1 trillion.

He however, regretted that despite these enormous achievements, some Nigerians, especially the elite are pushing a contrary narrative to frustrate the efforts for the simple fact they no longer have access to easy money, unlike under the past administrations.

To this end, he said either Buhari call the bluff of “ungrateful Nigerians” who are complaining

or thrown in the towel and allow them to suffer the consequences of his failure to carry on with his anti-corruption projects.

“So a lot is going on and I said the elites, and I will always emphasise the elites, because the ordinary Nigerian is appreciative.

The elites are pretending not to know what is going on; they are pretending that they are not seeing the change. They are pretending as if we are carrying on in the way, the wasteful and turbulent

way this country used to be run, because they are beneficiaries of the bad system. Easy money is no longer coming to their pockets; they are now having to work for their living and therefore, they are agrieved and pretending that they don’t know that anything is happening.

“This government is a very patient government. I, personally, I am an impatient man. What if

Cont’d on Pg 51

FG Launches National VISIT Campaign against Fake News COURTESY Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting a gift to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, during a courtesy visit to the governor by the High Commissioner at the State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo ...yesterday

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has launched a National Campaign Against Fake News, calling the phenomenon a time bomb that could detonate with deadly consequences if left unchecked.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja yesterday, the Minister also described fake news as a global epidemic that could be worse than all the plagues that the world had recorded put together, adding that it is a danger to global peace and security, and a threat to democracy.

He said the fake news phenomenon is capable of undermining confidence in the media, adding: ‘’Once the people lose confidence in the media, the media and the society are in trouble.’’

Mohammed said the essence of the campaign is to ‘’sensitise all Nigerians to the dangers posed to the peace and security, and indeed the corporate existence of Nigeria by the phenomenon, and the fact that each and every Nigerian has a role to play in curtailing the spread of fake news’’.

Senate Receives Report Confirming Smith as PSC Chair Deji Elumoye ÓØ ÌßÔË The Committee on Police Affairs yesterday laid its report before the Senate at the plenary for the confirmation of Mr. Musiliu Smith as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

Presenting the report, the Committee Chairman, Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South), tabled the report before the Senate on the confirmation of the nomination of Smith as chairman and six other members of the PSC in compliance with the provision of Sections 153(1) (m) and 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria

(as amended).

The other nominees are Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd) and a retired Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of police, Lawal Bawa. Others include: Dr. Nneka Jombo-Ofo; Rommy Mom; Braimah Austin and Muhammad Najatu, members.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, asked Senator Ibrahim to lay the report before the Senate with a reminder of the need to comply with provisions of the Constitution in constituting the PSC.

Falana Accuses NNPC Boss, Baru of Insubordination Segun James A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, has accused the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, of insubordination, following his refusal to comply with the directive of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, to supply the

information requested by Falana pertaining to the importation of fuel into the country.

Falana said while other departments and directorates had complied with the minister’s directive, Baru has not.

He said the reason given by Baru is that the NNPC is not a public institution, hence, it cannot supply the materials requested.

“Last month, the minister had directed the NNPC,

Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and Directorate of Petroleum Resources to supply the information requested by me under the Freedom of Information Act. But while DPR says that it is not in a position to address the issues raised in the letter, Baru has refused to comply with the directive of the minister on the grounds that it is not a public institution! Consequently, we sued the NNPC at the federal high court praying for an order

of mandamus to compel the management to supply the requested information. However, the DPR has just complied with the minister’s directive by making the information available to us,” Falana explained.

Falana stressed that “even though we are currently studying the bundle of documents sent to us by the minister, we commend the minister for ensuring compliance with the provisions of the FOI Act.

Truck Drivers’ Strike: NPA to Sanction Erring Shipping Companies Eromosele Abiodun In response to the protests by truck drivers around the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said shipping companies whose actions were responsible for the industrial action would be sanctioned.

The NPA in a statement yesterday said it had held several meetings with unions between July 5 and 11, 2018.

According to the NPA, “Some of the issues raised by the protesting drivers include the: Operation of

the call-up system introduced by the NPA as part of our traffic management strategy; alleged extortion by security agencies and the; utilisation of holding bays by Shipping companies and terminal operators as defined in an agreement in November, 2017.

“The authority recalls that it consulted widely with all stakeholders including shipping lines and terminal operators before the introduction of the call-up system, which has proved to be the most effective way of managing traffic in the Apapa axis till date,” he said.

“The current situation results from the reported failure of some of the shipping companies and terminal operators to comply with the agreement on the usage of holding bays reached in November, 2017,” he added.

“We have consequently launched an investigation into the level of compliance or non-compliance to agreements reached between the authority, Shipping Companies and Terminal Operators on the immediate use of holding bays for trucks and containers until such trucks were called into the ports through

the call- up system adopted in November 2017.Any company found to have contravened this agreement will be sanctioned.

“As the authority also investigates allegations of extortion by officials of the Nigerian Navy, The Nigeria Police Force and NPA security personnel by the truck drivers with assurances that culprits will be made to face the laws of the country, we appeal to stakeholders to give chance for a peaceful resolution of the issues at stake,” he explained.

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

50

NEWSXTRA

Plateau Assembly Impeaches Speaker, Majority Leader Imo assembly committee submits report on deputy governor Amby Uneze ÓØ áÏÜÜÓ ËØÎ Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi, representing Jos North West state constituency and the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Henry Yenkwap, representing Shendam state constituency, were yesterday impeached by the House.

Twenty out of the 24 members of the House voted for his ouster in a signed document.

This is coming as the seven-man ad-hoc committee set up by the Imo State House of Assembly to investigate the allegations gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, had submitted their report within 24 hours, against the six days given to them to submit their report.

The impeached speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the majority leader were immediately replaced with Mr. Joshua Madaki representing Jos East state constituency, who was a former chief whip, and Mr. Daniel Nanlong representing Mikang constituency, respectively.

Earlier, the member representing Barkin Ladi state constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr, Peter Gyendeng presented a signed

document of the 24 members, citing incompetence and lack of leadership qualities as they passed a vote of no confidence on the duo.

Azi had to step down from the speaker’s seat to allow the Deputy Speaker Saleh Yitmong preside over the sitting and ask for nomination from members of the House to elect his replacement.

Mr. Yusuf Gagdi representing Kantana state constituency nominated Madaki as the new speaker, which was unanimously accepted through a voice vote.

In their acceptance speeches, Madaki pledged his unflinching support to the House and promised to play key roles in ensuring the business of the House moves forward, while Naanlong said a new page had been opened in the House as APC members would see the change they deserved.

Meanwhile, the ad-hoc committee appointed to investigate the allegations against the deputy governor of Imo State has submitted its report in less than 24 hours, against the six days given to the committee to submit the report.

The report, which was signed by Kennedy Ibeh (Obowo) as Chairman, Chinedu Offor (Onuimo), Ikechukwu Amuka (Ideato South), Lloyd Chukwuemeka (Owerri North),

Chika Madumere (Nkwerre) and Ngozi Obiefule (Isu), as members, recommended further investigation of the deputy governor.

According to the three-paragraph report, it urged the House to resolve by motion to investigate the deputy governor and requested the speaker to requests the chief judge of the state to appoint a panel of seven persons to investigate the allegations

in accordance with constitutional provision.

In a phone-in programme in the local radios monitored in Owerri, callers descended heavily on the governor and members of the Imo State House of Assembly as they rained abuses on them for failing in their duties to legislate good laws for the state.

Some of the callers called for

the impeachment of the governor who they accused of contravening the constitutional provisions bothering on not applying due process into governance, disrespect to the rule of law, and conniving with the House of Assembly to stifle the other arms of government.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor, has alleged that he

was yet to receive the copy of the impeachment notice as he is currently outside the state on an official assignment.

A statement issued by his chief press secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa stated that the response issued yesterday was issed by Onwuchekwa, in his own capacity and not that of the deputy governor

MACABAN Expresses Surprise over S’East Governors’ Rejection of Ranching David-Chyddy Eleke ÓØ áÕË The South East chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says it is surprised by the announcement of the South-east governors that it would not donate land for ranching.

The South-east governors had last weekend in Enugu, after its meeting, agreed that no part of the zone would be ceded to cattle breeders for ranching.

MACBAN said its surprise stems from the existing cordial relationship between the people of the South-east and themselves, which it said does not warrant such outright rejection.

A statement signed by the leader of the group, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, and made available to THISDAY in Awka, Anambra State, conveyed its surprise.

Siddiki said Miyetti Allah has consistently appreciated the commitment of the South- east governors in ensuring their safety and harmonious coexistence with their host.

According to Siddiki, “It is evident that our organisation’s advocacy for peaceful coexistence among indigenous farmers and herdsmen is increasingly making successes in the South-east.

“This explains our surprise at the latest stand of the governors, which, if implemented, would

not only frustrate our people from carrying out our legitimate livestock rearing business in this part, but might be suggestive of a kind of suspicion that might undermine the mutuality of the claim of brotherhood.

The group further said; “We are mindful of the various negotiations and consultations still going on in respect of the contentious issues of ranching, colonies and grazing areas across the country, we are hopeful that these issues are considered dispassionately in the interest of Nigeria and the generality of its citizens.

“We of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders of Nigeria, consequent upon the existing understanding

we enjoy with our hosts, and in response to the latest stand by the south east Governors forum, wish to reaffirm our confidence in the capacity of our host governors to encourage the growth of our legitimate trade in their geo-political zone.

“It is a very trying period in the history of Nigeria and it is our candid view that the South-east whose citizens are the major bonding elements among the people of Nigeria, would provide exemplary leadership in accommodating other Nigerians in their midst, in so far such persons are legitimately engaged in their economic pursuits,” it said.

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

51

NEWSXTRA

Killings: Purge Yourselves of Bad Eggs, Gowon Tells Military Says there has never been so much bloodbath in Nigeria Seriki Adinoyi ÓØ ÙÝ Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has charged the military to ensure that the bad eggs in the service accused of complicity are shown the way out and prosecuted to exonerate it from such accusations.

A statement by the palace spokesman, Alex rwang’Pam said General Gowon gave the charge when he paid a visit to the the Chairman of Plateau State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba in his palace in Jishe to condole him over the loss of lives as a result of recent attacks

UN SCRIBE: NIGERIA NEEDS MORE FUNDS TO FIGHT BOKO HARAM troops are fighting terrorists in the Sahel, they are not only protecting the citizens of the Sahel. They are protecting the whole world. And the world must be in solidarity with Africa, as African forces are protecting us all.”

The UN chief equally called for greater support for the UN Agenda 2030 and African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which address longterm economic development.

However, the UN chief said recent developments in Africa indicated that the continent “is increasingly moving in the direction of peace and enhanced security. But we need to collaborate in such areas as peace and security.

“We feel a wind blowing in the direction of peace,” he said, referring to recent developments such as the historic visit by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister to rival and neighbour Eritrea, as well as peace talks on South Sudan, where conflict has raged since 2013.

“All this gives us hope that the African continent will be moving more and more in the right direction in peace and security.

The UN cannot afford to fail in its dealings with the continent.

On illicit transfers, Guterres lamented an annual loss of $50 billion that oozed out of Africa through illegal funds, moneylaundering and tax evasion, which he claimed, was a huge threat to Africa’s development agenda if the trend was not checked.

He urged the international community “to take action against the flow of illegal funds, moneylaundering and tax evasion, which cost Africa $50 billion every year.

“This is a responsibility for the international community to support Africa to make sure that African resources remain in Africa to support African development.”

Also quoted in the communique, Songwe noted that the ECA, through the High Level Panel on Migration in Africa “is already addressing the migration agenda in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

by herdsmen in his domain.

The Gbong Gwom Jos is the highest traditional title in Berom tribe in the state, which was massively attacked recently.

The former head of state described the attacks as horrific and inhuman, especially as the people attacked and killed were defenceless and innocent, stressing that he received the news of the attacks, while in London and

had earlier under-estimated the magnitude of loses until he was shown the gory images of the aftermath of the incidents.

While praying for comfort of those that lost their love ones in the attacks and the wounded persons in the hospital, and also in the displaced persons’ camps, Gowon lamented that after the gory sight of the civil war in the 1960s, he had never seen such large-scale

deaths as being witnessed today in Nigeria.

Responding, the Gbong Gwom Jos expressed appreciation for Gowon’s concern, insisting that the core issue behind the continuous killings and displacement of his people was a strategic plan to take over their land.

The royal father appealed to Gowon to add his voice to prevail

on the federal government to ensure the return of all displaced persons to their ancestral homes and land, adding that land is the only asset of economic value to the common man.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the government at all levels to ensure that such assets are not illegally and forcefully taken away by any individual or terror groups.

Wike: Attack on Fayose Unwarranted, Designed to Intimidate Ekiti People Ernest Chinwo ÓØ ÙÜÞ ËÜÍÙßÜÞ

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has described the attack on Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, as unwarranted and designed to intimidate the people of Ekiti State ahead of Saturday’s election in the state.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday night, Wike called on the people of Ekiti State to resist any attempt s by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to intimidate them.

He also called on the people of

Rivers State to see the development in Ekiti State as a rehearsal by the APC-led federal government of what it intends to do in the state in 2019.

His words: “I therefore join wellmeaning Nigerians to condemn this brazen attack on the inalienable rights of the people of Ekiti State to a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the strongest possible terms and warn the perpetrators of the grave danger such actions pose to the survival of our democracy.

“I wish to also draw the attention of the people of Rivers State to the fact that what is

happening at Ekiti State is clearly a foretaste of what the APC-led federal government has planned to unleash in our state and in deed, the entire country, in their desperate attempt to rig 2019 general elections and retain or return to power having performed woefully and lost the support of the generality of Nigerians.

“As a matter of fact, people did not quite believe me when I told the world that the APC-led federal government has plans to assassinate me to enable them capture Rivers State because they know they have no electoral

foothold in the state.

“Today, the whole world has seen how Fayose was barely lucky to have escaped the state-sponsored attempt at his life with a fractured hand and bruised face because, with him around, hale and hearty, they will never win the Saturday election free and fair in Ekiti.

“In the face of these challenges therefore, I wish to call on the people of Rivers State to be prepared to fight and defend their rights to freely and democratically elect their leaders in the 2019 general election,” he said

Third Mainland Bridge: Commuters Advised to Stay-off Roads Bennett Oghifo The Chairman of the Traffic Committee and Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Hyginus Omeje, has appealed to Lagos residents and vßsitors who do not need to be on the road during the schedule closure of the bridge for assessment tests to stay off the roads because of the expected heavy traffic.

The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has said its engineers would conduct tests on some sections of the Third Mainland Bridge and that this would lead to its closure from midnight of Thursday, July 26 to midnight of Sunday, July 29.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr. Adedamola Kuti, said the tests results would enable the government know the extent of work to be done and its duration.

The Sector Commander of FRSC said the major roads that would be used as alternative routes are Ikorodu RoadWestern Avenue-Apongbonfor those going to the Island and that people moving from Ikoyi to the mainland would go through Carter Bridge to connect Ijora–Olopa- Western Avenue or Carter Bridge to

Oyingbo-Yaba.

Omeje said his committee, which includes officers from the FRSC, LASEMA, LASTMA, Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police, would embark on alternative routes analysis today to ensure these roads are free of obstacles and good to drive on.

He said palliative repair work would be done on identified bad sections and that broken down vehicles would be towed away from the roads before the bridge is shut to traffic.

Also, the route analysis, he said would enable them identify where to put signs to redirect traffic, where to block and which areas would require traffic control by their personnel.

According to him, those who must be on the road should consider using park and ride, advising that they commute on BRT or share rides, instead of one person per vehicle, to prevent road congestion.

“We are not unmindful of the situation on the Funsho Williams Avenue (former Western Avenue) with trucks occupying one lane. We have been managing it, but we will streamline it further to enable other vehicles use the other lane with ease.”

STERLING LEADERSHIP SERIES L-R: Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Yemi Odubiyi; Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman;

Executive Director, Institutional Banking, Emmanuel Emefienim; Company Secretary, Justina Lewa, all of Sterling Bank Plc, and Nobel Laurate, Professor Wole Soyinka, during the maiden edition of Sterling Leadership series held in Lagos… yesterday

ABACHA LOOT: HOW CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME WILL WORK, SAYS OSINBAJO I were the head of state, I would have thrown in the towel and tell Nigerians ‘go and suffer the fate you deserve. Go and suffer the fate you were experiencing before 2015’, so that they can go back to that system of bribery, corruption, rottenness, which we have seen this country to a state of total destruction,” Sagay said.

Sagay added that “contrary to the narrative being pushed into the media, both regular and social, by the aggrieved beneficiaries of corruption, the war against corruption under the Buhari Administration has been a huge success”.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft agency has said it recovered N20 billion from corruption suspects in Lagos State alone

this week.

EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, said it also secured 42 convictions in the state between January and July.

Magu, who was represented

by EFCC Zonal Head in Lagos, Akaninyene Ezima, spoke in Lagos yesterday during an anti-corruption walk to mark the African Anti-Corruption Day with the theme ‘Africa unite against corruption.’

The walk was organised in collaboration with civil society organisations including Women Arise for Change Initiative and Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) among others.

Women Arise president, Joe Okei-Odumakin, urged Nigerians to speak out against corruption and keep the faith that the country would get better.

Also, a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday authorised the EFCC to sieze N200 million allegedly kept in several commercial banks by two military officers and their three firms.

Justice Sule Hassan ordered that the sum be forfeited to the federal government, pending the conclusion of investigation as to their origins.

The officers are: Adamu Bello Argungu and John Onimisi Ozigi, while their firms are: Falsal & Co Global

Services Nigeria Ltd; Diamond Head Ventures & Development Company Ltd; and Sweetex Bureau De Change Ltd. In a related development, Magu has urged Nigerians to take ownership of the anti-corruption war to ensure maximum success and ensure a better society.

He made this call yesterday in Abuja during anticorruption walk across the country, as part of activities to mark the 2018 African Anti-Corruption Day Led by Magu, the walk which took-off from the EFCC’s Old Head Office, Wuse 2, Abuja en route Unity Fountain terminated at Eagles Square, Abuja.

52

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͰ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 12, 2018

53

˜ ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸͹΀ ˾ T H I S D AY

54

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

WORLD CUP 2018…

JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

NFF Leadership Tussle: FIFA’s Hammer Eminent, Says Keyamo The counsel to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Festus Keyamo (SAN), yesterday said Nigeria was at the risk of a FIFA ban following the latest developments in the NFF. A Jos court failed to deliver judgement on the case between the embattled NFF President Amaju Pinnick and his challenger, Chris Giwa.

The four year-old case was expected to be resolved at the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday but it was adjourned to September 25.

Pinnick has been the NFF president since 2014 but a Supreme Court ruling two weeks ago gave Giwa the mandate, and he has since assumed office. Justice Musa Kurta, the presiding judge in the case between Yahaya Adama and Aminu Maigari, had, on June 5, given an ex-parte order granted Giwa and others, pending the determination of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case. Instead of finally resolving the case, drama ensued on Tuesday as both sets of lawyers failed to agree on certain processes and Justice Kurye adjourned to September 25, as he noted that the court was on vacation.

Keyamo told NAN in an interview that an imminent ban loomed for Nigerian football if the right steps were not taken by the parties involved.

“The grave implication of the adjournment and failure to resolve this case is that Giwa will continue to claim leadership of the NFF in defiance of his lack of recognition

by FIFA and the global body could ban the country.

“The only NFF recognised by FIFA is the one headed by Pinnick, who is also the Vice-president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

“I have pointed out to the court that the FIFA hammer is eminent.

Let us not pretend that this is not happening.

“This is not for myself, Pinnick or Giwa but for the future of our country. It is for the future of our children who earn a daily living from football.

“The loss and catastrophe will be so colossal that even our local league will be affected. So, I am just sounding a note of caution to everyone involved that the earlier we dispose of this, the

Pinnick better,” he said.

He noted that FIFA had already reacted in a letter written to NFF, stressing that the world football governing body did not mince words in the letter.

“It clearly stated that what is happening in Nigeria is seen as an interference in the affairs of football because the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) had decisively given its verdict on this matter.

“Giwa and Co. lost in CAS and were given a worldwide

Dalung ban and as such FIFA noted in the last paragraph of the letter that if the case was not rescinded, it could lead to severe sanctions on Nigerian football,” he said.

On the issue of the appearance of a new counsel, Samuel Shankyula, who announced that he now defends Maigari and Ahmadu with an affidavit deposed to the effect, the senior advocate said: “We are going to confer with our clients with regards to the latest developments in the case.

“The new counsel showed up from nowhere because he did not contact us previously. We were not informed by Maigari and Ahmadu of any development in this matter.

“We had previously defended Maigari and Ahmadu from the court in Jos to the Court of Appeal, all the way to the Supreme Court and back to the court in Jos and they did not raise any objection.

“All of a sudden because of

certain intrigues in the football family, they appeared in court on Tuesday to say they were no longer willing that we represent them.

“It also clear that the new lawyer in question has taken sides with Giwa… so, these are all the intrigues going on,” he said.

Keyamo has been defending the trio of Maigari, Ahmadu and Plateau State Football Association as well as the 36 states and the

FCT associations until the latest development.

In his reaction, Giwa noted that there were no issues with regards to who the legitimate president of NFF was, adding that he was fully in charge of the Nigeria football house as things stood.

“Most importantly is the fact that the new counsel to the case clearly admitted that the election that produced Pinnick was marred by some

Courtois Blasts France Victory as ‘Shame for Football’ Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said his team’s defeat

by France in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday was a “shame for football”, criticising Didier Deschamps’s side for a defensive style of play.

Centre-back Samuel Umtiti’s 51stminute header from a corner gave France a 1-0 win, as they defended deep to close it out and reach a third World Cup final.

“It was a frustrating match.

France didn’t play at all, they defended with 11 players within 40 metres of their goal,” Chelsea goalkeeper Courtois told Belgian TV channel RTBF. “They played on the counter-

attack with (Kylian) Mbappe, who is very quick. That’s their right. They know when an opponent plays very deep, that’s where we have problems.

“The frustration is there because we didn’t lose to a team who are better than us, we lost to a team who play nothing, just defend.

“Against Uruguay (in the quarterfinals) they scored with a free-kick and a goalkeeping error.

Today, a corner. It’s a shame for football that Belgium didn’t win today.”

France, the 1998 champions, will face either England or Croatia in Sunday’s final at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Volunteers Are the Heart and Soul of Russia 2018, Says FIFA Scribe The official FIFA World Cup song is ringing out of the speakers, the ceiling is bedecked with the flags of all 32 competing nations and alongside there is a poster with information on score-line predictions for the first of the two semi-finals, between Belgium and France. The Volunteer Centre at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow is a happy, welcoming place full of laughter, impromptu dancing and table tennis matches – and on Media Day, it even has VIP guests.

FIFA Secretary, General Fatma Samoura, along with FIFA legends Michel Salgado and Julio Baptista, came to visit the helpers and express their enormous gratitude for all that they have been doing.

“You are the heart and soul of this World Cup. You are the ones who have enabled this tournament to become a reality,” the General Secretary said, to thunderous applause from all present.

17,040 volunteers are working at the FIFA World Cup all across Russia in 20 different capacities.

They were selected from a record

Keyamo

number of candidates – no fewer than 176,870 in total! The volunteers come from a variety of different backgrounds and include the captain of an oil tanker, a former footballer and even a world champion dragon boat racer.

What unites them is a love of football and the willingness to show a real sense of commitment over a number of weeks.

Thirty-six per cent of volunteers are men, 64 per cent women. They include a grandmother and her grandson, couples and indeed entire families. 93 per cent of them come from Russia while seven per cent came specially from 112 different countries just to take part.

One such person is Hiba from Morocco. “It is an incredible experience to be part of this tournament and to come into contact with people from all around the world,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “We’re one big family.”

It is a family that Samoura, Salgado and Baptista were delighted to spend some time with, playing table football with the volunteers, listening to excited

stories of the tournament to date and even showcasing their dancing skills during a flash mob.

Umtiti, Les Bleus’s Latest Hero France have so many potential match-winners at their disposal that every one of their matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia has ended with a different hero. Taking his turn to step into the limelight against Belgium on Tuesday night was Samuel Umtiti, whose flashing header powered Les Bleus into the Final.

The man of the moment was still high on emotion when he stepped off the pitch: “I’m not going to get much sleep tonight,” he said. “It’s going to be hard

to nod off. But I don’t need to anyway; I’m not tired. I don’t care.” France’s win recalled their 1998 semi-final triumph against Croatia, when another defender was the hero of the hour: Lilian Thuram. “I hope it’s a sign,” smiled the Number 5, before adding: “It is different, though.

Let’s take one thing at a time.

We need to rest up for Sunday now.”

Umtiti’s winner came just minutes after his misguided clearance gave Romelu Lukaku a clear-cut opportunity to give

Some of the volunteers of Russia 2018 World Cup finals, happy to have delivered the tournament

Belgium the lead. Asked if such mistakes can impact on a player’s performance, he said: “No, not in my case anyway.

When you’re a footballer, you know that a thousand different things can happen in a match.

As soon as one thing’s gone, you have to move on to the next, no matter whether you got it right or made a mistake.”

Just as in their quarter-final defeat of Uruguay, it was Antoine Griezmann’s dead-ball skills that set Les Bleus on the way to victory. The striker has been involved in 13 of their last 20 tournament goals. As the Barcelona centre-half explained, a lot of effort has gone into making that stat happen: “We work on a lot of set-pieces with Antoine, and my job is to run in front of the defenders and go to the near post. He hit a fantastic corner, I got round (Marouane) Fellaini and buried it.”

“Yes, the aim was to hit the front post with Piochy (Paul Pogba) in front and Sam (Umtiti) coming in behind,” said Griezmann. “I can’t remember in the end if Paul was in front, but Sam was definitely there.”

Still unbeaten at Russia 2018, Les Bleus continue to impress with their all-round firepower, which seems to grow with every passing game. Their hope now is that they can be equally clinical in their next outing, the most important one of all.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018

55

THURSDAYSPORTS

W O R L D C U P 2 0 1 8 … JUNE 14 TO JULY 15

WORLD CUP 2018…

Bet King Gives Reasons for Partnering GOtv Boxing Night Croatian players celebrating with the match winner, Mario Mandzukic yesterday in the 2-1 win against England in Moscow… yesterday

Croatia Sends England Back Home England’s bid to reach a first World Cup final since 1966 came to an end in the last four as they lost in extra time to Croatia in Moscow.

FC Juventus striker, Mario Mandzukic was the hero of the night after he scored the match winner in the 109th minute, connecting from left side from Ivan Perisic’s flick-on into the area.

Perisic’s volley sent the match into extra time after Kieran Trippier had given England a fifth-minute lead with a sublime free-kick.

Unfancied before the competition, Gareth Southgate’s young side defied expectations by reaching the semi-finals, but

were undone by an experienced Croatia side.

England, playing in their first World Cup semi-final

since 1990, got the perfect start through Trippier’s brilliant freekick and Croatia were finding it extremely difficult to deal

with England’s high-tempo game.

Harry Kane could have doubled the lead but was denied by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and Jesse Lingard placed a shot wide from a good position.

Croatia grew into the game in the second half and equalised through Perisic, and the Inter Milan winger hit the post with a low drive shortly after.

In extra time John Stones saw a header cleared off the line, while Pickford made a brilliant save from Mandzukic’s close range effort - but the Everton man could do nothing about the winner.

England will now play Belgium in Saturday’s third/fourth place play-off in St Petersburg.

Anderson Dumps Federer Out of Wimbledon Defending champion Roger Federer is out of Wimbledon after eighth seed Kevin Anderson fought back from two sets down in a gripping quarter-final.

Top seed Federer, who was aiming for a record-equalling ninth singles title, missed a match point in the third set.

It proved pivotal as the South African recovered to win 2-6 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-4 13-11 in four hours and 13 minutes.

The 2017 US Open finalist plays John Isner, who beat Milos Raonic, in a first SW19 semi-final for both men.

Eight-time champion Federer has already won more Wimbledon

singles titles than any other man, but was aiming to equal Martina Navratilova’s all-time record.

Defeat also ended the Swiss’ chance of a romantic reunion in the final with second seed Rafael Nadal in the final. It would have happened on the 10th anniversary of their epic meeting in the 2008 final.

Federer, who turns 37 next month, had been utterly dominant on his way to the last eight, swatting off Dusan Lajovic, Lukas Lacko, Jan-Lennard Struff and Adrian Mannarino in a combined total of little more than six hours on court.

But Anderson finally made the

20-time Grand Slam champion look human in unfamiliar territory on Court One, where the Swiss had not played in three years.

The 32-year-old became the first opponent to win a service game, and then a set, against Federer at this year’s Championships.

Anderson continued to grow in confidence and stature as the match wore on, holding his nerve to earn his first win over Federer in five attempts.

“He played the match of his life,” said former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker.

It was an absorbing battle full of surprise, suspense and swings of momentum - unquestionably

the match of the men’s singles tournament so far.

Nobody could have predicted the trouble that lay ahead for Federer after he cruised to the opening set, taking Anderson’s serve in the first game and again in the seventh.

Federer’s serve had been untouched in the tournament until Anderson, who won just one receiving points in the opener, took it in the second game of the second set.

It was the first time in 85 games that Federer had lost his serve - the previous occasion being against Tomas Berdych in last year’s Wimbledon semi-final.

Braimah Heads Edo Cycling Tour 12-man LOC Organisers of the Edo state Cycling Tour have named a 12-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the championship slated to hold in the state next month, spokesman of the event, Osaretin Emuze sad last night.

According to Emuze, the CEO of Neo Media, Mr Ehi Braimah is the Chairman of the LOC and he will be supported by two Vice Chairmen, the Edo state commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Osaze Osemwegie-Ero as first vice chairman and his Sports, Youth and Special Duties counterpart, Mika Amonokhai as second vice.

Other members of the Committee are Bashir Mohammed, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, CFN, Shama Alitu Makpa, secretary general of CFN, Osaretin Emuze, Patrick Omorodion,

Vincent Braimah as well as three others to be nominated

by Edo state.

The 5-day cycling extravaganza which will hold from August 18-23 is expected

to attract over 200 cyclists from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

L-R The Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi, Corporate Communications and Brand PR Manager, Patrick Olowokere, Sustainability and Regulatory Relations Manager, Edem Vindah and the Human Resources Services Manager, Eric Olalaye at the Super Eagles Dome during one of the matches of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Top betting firm, Bet King, has explained why it teamed up with pay television service provider, GOtv, to sponsor GOtv Boxing Night. Speaking at a press conference to announce the 15th edition of the event on Tuesday, Mr. Neil Bothma, Chief Operating Officer of Bet King, said the company took the decision to support the event because boxing is a non-discriminating sport that has the potential to take young people off the streets and teaches them discipline.

“Boxing is an equalizer in the sporting world. Anybody can win on any day. It is the same at Bet King; anybody can win on any day. By supporting boxing, Bet King can take the sport to many homes and teach young people discipline,” he said.

GOtv Boxing Night 15 will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo (formerly Liberty) Stadium, Ibadan, on 29 July. The event will feature seven fights, including an African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight title defence between Nigeria’s Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph and Ghana’s Nathaniel Nukpe.

There will also be an international light middleweight challenge duel featuring

Nigeria’s Akeem “Dodo” Sadiku and Franc Houanvoegbe of the Republic of Benin. African Boxing Union light welterweight champion, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi, will equally be in action when takes on Kazeem “Iberu” Ariyo in a national challenge duel. Idowu “ID Cabasa” Okusote will take on Michael “Lion Heart” Godwin in a cruiserweight challenge bout, while Prince “Lion” Nwoye will fight Ridwan “Scorpion” Oyekola in a lightweight challenge duel.

The light welterweight division will equally see Vincent “Dada” Essien face Segun “Showboy” Olalehin, while Daniel “Big Shark” Emeka and Sulaimon “Olags” Adeosun will lock horns in a heavyweight clash.

The event, sponsored by GOtv and Bet King, is supported

by MultiChoice, Paragonis Multimedia Limited, KSquare Security, Brila FM, Bond FM, Complete Sports and Newsbreak. ng It will be beamed live on SuperSport in 47 African countries. The best boxer at the event will win a cash prize of N1million along with the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy.

Sports Ministry Signs 10-year Sponsorship Agreement for NSF The Ministry of Youth and Sports has signed an agreement with Greenfield Assets LTD to sponsor and promote the next five editions of the National Sports Festival.

At the event which took place yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung said that the Ministry approved Greenfield’s proposal following the unwillingness of states to take up hosting rights of the National Sports Festival.

“The prevailing low capacity and motivation of states to host the National Sports Festival is affecting its sustainability and value to the extent that the NSF is gradually getting moribund. It was against this background that Greenfield’s proposal for sponsorship and promotion of the NSF for the next five years was approved.

“It is a realistic and strategic option to leverage on private sectors’ capability to mobilize resources that will not only revitalize the NSF but make it more marketable, efficient, innovative and more profitable”.

Dalung called on Greenfield Assets to bring their experience to bear on the successful sponsorship, promotion and hosting of the 2018 edition and subsequent editions.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Greenfield Assets Mr Paul Obanua expressed delight in the partnership

with the Sports Ministry to give greater impetus to the National Sports Festival.

He pledged his commitment to make the NSF an African touchstone in sporting events, a unifying factor and a national pride.

“Through this patriotic partnership, the NSF will serve as a vehicle for discovering, exposing and nurturing talents that can take our country’s sporting profile to the next level. This PPP initiative promises a win-win outcome for all stakeholders in the Nigerian sports industry.

“With this partnership, we shall create a bigger, wider and more inclusive festival open to mature and professional athletes, with robust management, marketing, sponsorship and promotion support base. This will ultimately make the project rival the best sports festivals anywhere in the world”.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Olusade Adesola however explained that the ownership of the NSF will still reside with the Ministry which will also be in charge of the technical, organisational and host selection aspect of the games.

The 19th National Sports Festival is scheduled to hold from December 6-16, 2018 in Abuja. 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to participate.

TR

Thursday, July 12, 2018

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Tambuwal to Federal Government “The worst part is that these deaths are avoidable and the killings preventable.

It boils down, at the end of the day, to failure of leadership. Nigeria cannot progress and be part of a 21st century forward looking world by creating new batches of mourner every other day. That is not what Nigerians voted for in 2015” – Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, blaming the killings across the country on leadership failure.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of Ciroma, Abimbola and Adeosun

I

had planned to devote my column today to paying tributes to two great Nigerians of the same generation: Alhaji Adamu Ciroma who died last week at 84 and Prof. Wande Abimbola, who recently marked his 85th birthday. But against the background that Nigerians are unwittingly being told that it doesn’t matter if those who preside over our affairs break the law to secure personal advantage—the ultimate corruption—I am sure my readers will also want me to wade in on a vexatious issue that will not go away no matter the underhand dealings going on in Abuja to cover the scandal. We will come to that shortly.

In the late Ciroma we lost a national icon. Although I had known him from distance, having covered the transition to civil rule programme of General Ibrahim Babangida in which he was a major actor, my association with him started following a column I did in 2003 or thereabout where I illustrated my point with the story in Prof Kole Omotosho’s book, ‘Just Before Dawn’ on how he (Ciroma) was appointed Central Bank Governor (CBN) by ‘mistake’. That day, I got a call from a distinctive voice I couldn’t immediately place. “Segun, I am surprised and disappointed that even you would rely on a work of fiction to base your argument.”

Without being presumptuous, I asked, “Who is speaking please?” to which came the reply: “My name is Adamu Ciroma”. He took time to explain the circumstances that led to his appointment as CBN Governor from New Nigeria Newspaper on the same day Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, a chartered accountant, was appointed Daily Times Managing Director. The late Ciroma said it was just a coincidence as he had been a member of the CBN Board prior to his elevation to becoming governor. I believed him.

In subsequent years, I would have several opportunities to interact with Ciroma whose daughter, Fatima, happens to be my very good friend. But what endeared Ciroma to me is that for him, and incidentally many members of his generation, material things count for little. For instance, Ciroma was appointed the pioneer editor of the New Nigeria Newspaper at age 31 in 1966, became its Managing Director at age 35 in 1969 and was appointed CBN Governor in 1975 at age 40 (the youngest Nigerian ever to hold that position which he voluntarily resigned two years later to contest for the membership of the Second Republic Constituent Assembly).

Ciroma was also a member of the federal executive council, manning different portfolios between 1979 and 1983—all of these before the age of 50!

Despite occupying such important public offices which in the parlance of today would be deemed very ‘juicy’, Ciroma never allowed the trappings to affect him as he lived a disciplined life that was devoid of any scandal. He was to the very end of his life a very simple and contented man and we don’t breed many of them in Nigeria today. Meanwhile, as I was reflecting on Ciroma’s life and times last week, I got a

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun mail from Harvard Professor, Jacob Olupona, containing a tribute he wrote on the former Obafemi Awolowo University Vice Chancellor, Professor Wande Abimbola, who recently turned 85.

Abimbola, Senate Majority Leader in the ill-fated Third Republic, once shared an experience which sheds light on how public expectations impact negatively on politics and governance in Nigeria and tells of his own character. “…I had two Mercedes Benz cars that were at home for 15 years before I gave them out. I was using taxis to go out.

I went to Lagos twice in Danfo (commercial bus) as a Senator. On one occasion, I sat in the front seat. In the bus, people were talking about me. They said that I went to Abuja and I returned a poor man, taking taxis each time I went out. When the bus stopped, I looked back and greeted them.

I introduced myself to them and they were shocked. The people make the politicians thieves. I don’t cherish material things. My father built the house I live in 1918 after he returned from the World War. I only built more houses in the compound to be comfortable. That is all I have.”

Born and raised in the tradition of ‘Orisa’, Abimbola is one of the greatest scholars in Yoruba culture and traditional religions and he is also of the old school—the vanishing clan of Nigerians for whom public service is about making a difference in the lives of others without self-enrichment. Incidentally, as Vice Chancellor at Ife in the eighties, there were insinuations that Abimbola was deploying his knowledge of Ifa to remotecontrol the campus and while there may be no evidence to prove such things, there was no doubt that the students loved him.

The popular song on campus whenever he needed to address us in those days was, ‘Babalawo mo wa bebe, alugbinrin’.

The song itself comes from one of those moonlight tales for which the tortoise is the protagonist. But it also has a moral side which speaks to two issues: One, the choices we make as individuals have consequences and two, there are ethical mores that guide every society which, once

broken, would attract severe strictures. In so many ways, that tortoise song provides an understanding of the scandal involving the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun for which neither she nor those who gave her the position of trust can afford to keep silent, especially against the background that this administration is already notorious for punishing bad behavior only when it concerns the opposition.

To put into proper context that tortoise song, ‘Babalawo mo wa bebe, alugbinrin’ and the embedded message therein, I enjoin readers to Google Pius Adesanmi’s November 2012 seminal lecture, ‘Reparations: What Nigeria Owes the Tortoise’ which interrogated the complex tortoise persona and the greed that pushed him into eating a preparation (‘aseje’) meant for his wife, before he had to make the supplication in that famous song. Although Adesanmi used the tale to illustrate the ‘Banana fall on me’ greed that defines public office in Nigeria today, we can also look at it from the context of the consequences that follow when those who ordinarily should uphold the law willfully break it.

According to an investigative story published by Premium Times last weekend, Mrs Adeosun graduated at age 22 in the United Kingdom where she was born.

But to work in Nigeria as a Nigerian, anybody who had their first degree before age 30 must undertake the NYSC scheme.

Apparently to get around that problem, Mrs Adeosun in September 2009 procured what the newspaper says is a forged NYSC certificate of exemption. Also, according to the Premium Times story, members of the Senate were well aware of her predicament at the confirmation hearing but chose to look the other way by deploying the information (of her alleged forgery) as an instrument of blackmail.

Five days after the publication, Mrs Adeosun is yet to defend her integrity. For a matter that borders on criminality, you expect the authorities to wade in but this is an administration that finds it difficult to do the right thing when one of its own is involved. We saw it with the manner in which ‘Mr grasscutter’ was defended and protected by the presidency until the issue became almost an international embarrassment. Now, some hired guns in the media are obfuscating the real issue with their preachments: Nobody is querying the competence of Mrs Adeosun, the question is: did she forge her NYSC certificate without

which she could never have been appointed a Minister in the first place?

Unfortunately, when a government allows its friends and allies to make justifications for their wrongdoings, bend rules to suit predetermined ends and excuse egregious unethical behaviour from those who ordinarily should be held to the highest standards, any claim to fighting corruption is but a big joke. And that is where the Buhari administration is today, regardless of all the pretences and deceits. The question that should worry critical stakeholders therefore is: If the Finance Minister of a country could forge a certificate, as being alleged, what else would she not forge?

As things stand, Mrs Adeosun has a moral burden which is ordinarily easy to discharge. The fair assumption would be that she indeed obtained exemption from the NYSC scheme and that the certificate in her possession is in fact genuine. We are waiting for her. For the Buhari administration, this is the time to prove wrong the assumption that those in the inner circle can get away with any crimes. But the hedging by the NYSC and Mrs Adeosun’s prolonged silence on the matter point to the ugly conclusion that both parties are hiding something from the public.

On the whole, the Adeosun NYSC saga raises many important issues. The first is the tardiness in pre-appointment screening by relevant security agencies. The second is the question of fit and proper persons to occupy public offices as a matter of deliberate state policy in our country. The third is the place of individual integrity in the anti-corruption scheme of the current administration, given the number of senior officials alleged to be parading dodgy credentials. The fourth is the question as to whether political loyalty should override transparency in the assessment and tenure of senior public officials.

On the matter at hand, Mrs Adeosun is not qualified for NYSC exemption certificate so there is a problem if she indeed got the one displayed by Premium Times. If she got it in error, her position still remains untenable.

A good test for her: If this happened in the United Kingdom, where she was born and grew up, would she still be on her seat as Finance Minister? Finally, at the level of individual morality, public decency should dictate that when otherwise good people are found wanting, the only path of honour is to take responsibility and spare the system of needless stress.

Fayemi for Ekiti

I

am not from Ekiti so it can be easily argued that I am not a stakeholder in the gubernatorial election that will hold in the state on Saturday. But as a firm believer in good governance, especially one that will advance the interest of the people, I am rooting for Dr Kayode Fayemi to win. If our society is to advance, governance should be based on

the interplay of ideas and the promotion of public good. And I can attest to the fact that in his first term as governor of Ekiti State, Fayemi demonstrated that.

What he failed to understand was the operating environment and how local politics can make or mar even the best of ideals. I hope he has learnt his lessons. I wish him success at the poll on Saturday.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com