THURSDAY 26TH JULY 2018 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

CBN’s New Credit Initiative May Boost Private Sector Liquidity Apex bank moves to lend directly to real sector at single digit Obinna Chima and Ndubuisi Francis

N E W S A N A LY S I S

Following commercial banks’ growing reluctance to extend credit to the real sector, the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may intervene directly to provide the much needed

funds to boost private sector liquidity. This is one of the fresh initiatives of the apex bank that was sanctioned by Tuesday’s Monetary Policy

Committee, a move to tackle the dwindling flow of banking sector credit to this critical segment of the economy. Figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

showed that credit to the private sector fell in May 2018 to N22.207 trillion year-onyear as against the N22.254 trillion it was in April. The CBN report had shown that

industry gross credit recorded a 3.63 per cent decrease in April 2018, the lowest since January 2017. Continued on page 6

After Initial Slowdown, Buhari’s Administration Set to Fly, Says Fashola…

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Thursday 26 July, 2018 Vol 23. No 8498. Price: N250

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More Troubles for APC as Ortom Finally Defects to PDP Buhari meets 40 ruling party’s senators, Saraki absent Ararume, Madumere, Izunaso prepare to leave in Imo PDP Hails Benue gov, urges others to join Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and George Okoh in Makurdi The gale of defections continued to sweep through the yard of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday as one of its governors, Dr. Samuel

See tables on the state of the National Assembly on page 51 Ortom of Benue State, left its rank to rejoin his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Benue situation is likely Continued on page 8

Saraki: I Have Replied to Police’s Enquiries We will apply the law, insist police Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday explained why he did not have to go to the Guzape Police Station in Abuja to respond to police’s enquiries over alleged links to the April robbery

incident in Offa, Kwara State. Saraki said he had responded formally in writing to all the questions and issues raised by the police invitation letter same Tuesday hence there was no need for him Continued on page 6

NAICOM Raises Capital Base for Insurance Sector… Page 10

FEEDBACK TO THE PEOPLE…

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and state Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tunde Balogun, during the 3rd Quarter 2018 Town Hall meeting at the Community Primary School, Iberekodo, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos… yesterday

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PAGE SIX

After Initial Slowdown, Buhari’s Administration Set to Fly, Says Fashola Explains power, transport sectors need over N1tn investment Chineme Okafor in Abuja Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said that after an initial slowdown, due to circumstances beyond its control, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has eventually hit the performance mode, delivering on its programmes. Speaking on ARISE TV, a THISDAY Newspapers sister broadcast network monitored in Abuja, Fashola explained that with the ministers and other senior officials of the government settling into their offices, they had become more equipped to increase the pace of performance at their duty posts. Comparing them to a football team, Fashola said they needed time to understand the business of governance and what was expected of them. He, however, said that as soon as they found their rhythm, they have now become unstoppable and committed to live by their electoral promises to Nigerians. “I know how much team work required to evolve a plan. We are ready to make that explanation and defense. Ministers of government, heads of agencies are not different from a football team, they are a team in government, and some of them are just coming in, they’ve never worked in government before. They’ve never worked at federal level before,” said Fashola, in response to questions thrown at him during the feisty interview.

He further stated: “It requires time for everybody to understand what everybody feels and consult, because if you don’t have that team rolling, government is a very slow burning but deliberate fire. “We were going to bring change, but anybody who doesn’t know that government is a very slow but deliberate fire and that because of its size, it is a behemoth that takes some time to start and when it gathers momentum, it is unstoppable. “We have momentum, we are unstoppable, we will deliver on what we have committed to do, and the signs are in the right direction,” the minister added. Fashola, equally made excuses for Buhari’s delayed appointment of ministers and officials into his cabinet, stating: “If you have run government as I have, you will look at what the president set out to do - he wanted to reduce the number of ministers - you cannot reduce what you don’t know. “If you want to reduce 42 ministries, you meet with the ministries and that is 42 days, about one and half months done. During that period, he was travelling, trying to contain the crisis in the northeast, meeting with presidents on a regional basis. “After meeting and taking a brief, you have to reconstitute into 24, after that you have to consult each of the states. He wanted 24 and he said so, you have to balance national interests otherwise, he would

have all sorts of accusations. “The screening took a couple of weeks, and if you factor all of that, you will fairly account for about four months that is reasonably defensible but that is not the point.” He further took time to defend the government he serves in, claiming the policy decisions it took within the first months of being in charge could not be blamed for the huge job losses the country recorded then. However, data from the National Bureau of Statistics at that time, put the number of unemployed Nigerians as at the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2016 at 11.55 million, up from 11.19 million in Q3 2016 and 8.08 million in Q4 2015. The NBS data equally noted that between October 2015 and September 2016, about 3.67 million Nigerians were out of jobs, Fashola, nevertheless insinuated the government could not be largely held responsible for such job losses. He said in this regards: “I don’t pretend that things cannot be better. It doesn’t mean that jobs are not created but that they are not created at the rate at which we are producing graduates into the market and every capital markets such as ours, there are unemployment figures going up and down. “Not all of them can be attributed, they are simply attributable to the number of people who are entering the job market from universities for example, number of people who are graduating from skills centres, who have skills but the

jobs are not coming that fast. “What we need to do is to ramp up what we are doing, increase the budget size; expand infrastructure needs; mining and agriculture.” Asked why it took the government more than two years to come up with an economic roadmap, and if that delay was not responsible for the unsteady economic situation the country found itself, the minister said it normally took governments and countries a lot of time to come up with comprehensive economic plans. “The growth plan has to go through the parliament and that doesn’t happen overnight. People had been laid off before we came, construction companies were laying off people before we came. It was a matter of time before it happened. “At the time this government came in, the oil prices had drastically tumbled, and that is 90 per cent of Nigeria’s earning. Agriculture hadn’t kicked in, tax hadn’t. The point to then make is that of your major source of revenue had gone and you have states who could not pay salaries. No president comes in with cash, and you see all of the processes it takes,” he explained. Speaking on how the government had managed the country’s infrastructure sector – road, works, housing, and electricity which he is charged with, the minister claimed they had done well but said the country would need to steadily invest about

N1 trillion annually to upgrade its electricity and transport infrastructure to a point they would be able to provide comfort for investments and economic growth. “It is important to decide whether you want to see angels or devils. Roads are bad, we haven’t finished fixing them but I can say confidently that in every states of this country there is one road project or the other, I have been around them, there has been progress. “People vote for a government for many reasons and people who voted for roads will tell you that unlike before, there has been some visible deployment of the nation’s resources to critical road networks. Of course those roads are very extensive and long roads, they get built some in two or four years, 500 kilometres, 320 kilometers of four, five, six, and in some cases 10 lanes, and that is man-hour by man-hour,” he said. “As far as power is concerned, I think those who consume the product will tell you contrary to the intro, their circumstances have somewhat improved. Is it going to be a silver bullet? No! There is no big bang theory to solving a nations problems but I think that if you look at the nation’s growth recovery and economic plan, there are not enough platform to engage rudimentary focused debates in elections and I am happy you have created such a platform, and hope you will use it to inform and educate

voters.” According to him: “The journey that we have undertaken to make Nigeria’s business environment competitive will be massively assisted if my ministry and transport ministry were getting nothing less than a trillion naira over the next few years. “It is not enough because we met contracts in the region of about two trillion that had paid only about N500 billion and everybody is asking for one new road or the other. “So, we need to continue and that is why the government has adopted some innovative solutions like expansion of the tax credit scheme; the Sukuk and lately approval by the president that some of the projects in the budget should be funded by funds from crimes and also green bonds that we have done to fund power projects in universities. No nation has enough money to spend anyway. It is making hard and sensible choices.” He equally said he was confident Buhari would be lauded for his stewardship to Nigerians when he perhaps finished his term in 2023, adding, “When I was governor, nobody gave me the impression that they love me. They held my feet to fire until the finish line. The point I am making is that perhaps when President Buhari ultimately finishes in 2023, all of the Nigerian people will come round in full circle to say this really was a good steward.”

of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation had written a legal advice dated June 22, 2018, in which he stated on page 5, paragraph (f) that "For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects." "The police have obviously corrupted and politicised their investigations into the Offa robbery incident. They have turned it into an instrument for the party in power to suppress perceived opponents, witch-hunt issue for blackmailing people from freely choosing which platform on which they want to pursue their ambition and a matter for harassing the people whose exit from APC would harm the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections. "I want to make it apparent that I have no hand in either the robbery incident or any criminal acitivity. The police in their haste to embarrass me

sent the invitation to me at 8p.m. and requested that I report to the station by 8a.m. tomorrow morning. This obviously demonstrated their desperation as I do not see why they are now in a hurry. "They also stated in today's letter that because in my response of June 7, 2018 to their own letter written on June 4, 2018, I stated that I was responding simply to the contents of the letter and that the full text of the statement made by the arrested suspects which they claimed indicted me was not made available to me, they were now including the suspects' statements in the current letter. Yet, instead of including the suspects' statements, they only attached two copies of my own letter to the invitation. No suspect statement was made available. "This plot aimed at compelling me and my associates to stay in a party where members are criminalised without just cause, where injustice is perpetrated at the highest level and where there is

no respect for constitutionalism is an exercise in futility and it will fail.”

S A R A K I : I H AV E R E P L I E D TO P O L I C E ’S E N Q U I R I E S to appear personally at the police station. The police had invited the Senate president to its Guzape station on Monday, warning on Tuesday that if he failed to honour the invitation, he might be compelled to report. But the Senate president in a statement by his media adviser, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, said his response to the police invitation, which was dispatched on Tuesday was duly acknowledged. According to him, all the issues and questions raised in the police invitation letter were answered, and sent to the police authorities on Tuesday. He noted that after answering all the questions raised by the

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police in his letter, he did not think there was any need for him to go to the police personally. The Senate president added that his letter to the police was self-explanatory hence there was no need for him to go personally to the police for the same issue. The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, had on Monday invited Saraki to appear before the Police Special Anti-Robbery Unit in Guzape police station to answer questions over his alleged involvement in the Offa robbery incident. Saraki had stated in an earlier response on Monday that the invitation to him by the police to report to a station in Guzape over the Offa robbery investigation was “a mere afterthought, which is designed to achieve political purpose.” He had stated then that he had it on good authority that the police had already decided on the suspects to arraign in court in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday based on the advice of the

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed U.E., and that the turn around to invite him was a ploy aimed at scoring cheap political points. According to him, "I have been reliably informed that the police invitation was planned by IG as a ploy to stop an alleged plan by some senators and House of Representatives members from defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was also said that if I was detained between Tuesday and Wednesday, that will abort the so-called defection plan. "While I continue to maintain that the issue of my position on the 2019 elections is not a personal decision for me alone to make, it should be noted that all these concoctions and evil plot cannot deter me. Those behind this fresh assault will fail as I have nothing to do with the robbery incident or any criminal matter for that matter. "I am aware that following a request made by the police on June 13, 2018 to the Director

We Will Apply the Law, Insist Police But the police insisted yesterday that it would take appropriate measures to compel the Senate president to appear before it. The Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), Jimoh Moshood, who would not confirm Saraki’s claim that he had responded to the police’s queries in writing, told THISDAY that the force’s earlier position on the matter subsisted. "We have already said that police will take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law. We still stand on our earlier statement," he said. When asked what Police would do if Saraki failed to comply as it was over 48 hours since their ultimatum expired, he said the message was clear enough as they would "take appropriate actions within the ambit of the law."

CBN’S NEW CREDIT INITIATIVE MAY BOOST PRIVATE SECTOR LIQUIDITY To stem this, the CBN has proposed a direct lending to the private sector at single digit, using the purchase of commercial papers at the same single digit. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, unfolded the new approach, which would be tied to the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) mechanism.

Addressing journalists at the end of the third Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of bank for the year, he stated that lending to the real sector had declined in recent times, prompting an innovative approach to encourage the DMBs to boost credit to the sector. He disclosed that at the MPC

meeting, a new arrangement that would make loans available at single digit with a minimum tenor of seven years and two years moratorium was considered. He said, "At this meeting, we found a somewhat improvement which is gratifying but we feel that we must still do what we need to do. Two approaches

were considered. "The first approach, where we said, in order to achieve the objective of lowering interest rate particularly to those priority sectors-- manufacturing sector, agric sector-- that we will encourage large corporates to issue commercial papers to the market and there will be a memorandum that will detail

explanations of what they are going to do with that money. "In order to complement the effort of the banks, we will expect that these commercial papers will come at low rate at single-digit of nine per cent or below that, and for long tenor at a period of seven years with Continued on page 8

T H I S D AY Ë¾ THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

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Again, Oil Prices Rise after US Crude Inventories Fall Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Crude oil prices rose for a second day yesterday after data showed United States crude inventories fell more than expected, easing worries about oversupply that have dogged the oil market in recent weeks. Following the drop in the US inventories, the global benchmark Brent crude rose by 40 cents, or 0.55 per cent, from 73.43 per barrel to $73.84 per barrel, after gaining 0.5 per cent on Tuesday. The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also rose by 20 cents, from 68.52 to

$68.72, having risen nearly one per cent in the previous session. US crude and fuel stockpiles fell more than expected last week, the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported late on Tuesday. The country’s inventories fell 3.2 million barrels in the week to July 20 to 407.6 million barrels, compared with the projected decrease of 2.3 million barrels. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, the country’s delivery hub, fell by 808,000 barrels. The publication of the official figures from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration was being

expected yesterday. Reuters reported that oil prices have come under pressure this month as a trade dispute between the US and China, as well as other major economic blocs, has raised the possibility of slower economic growth and weaker global energy demand as higher tariffs stifle imports. But the global economy is still growing strongly and it is not clear how the trade dispute may impact business. Reports that China will increase infrastructure spending have also helped reduce concerns that US-China trade tensions would dent Chinese demand for oil.

Crude price had hit $80 per barrel this year before it dropped to this level. But the production disruptions in Norway, Libya and other producing countries added to supply worries and led to the rise in crude price. Venezuela’s production collapsed due to a lack of investment and Iranian exports have suffered due to US sanctions. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has little capacity to fill the gap as demand for oil quickens. Libya’s national oil production fell following recent oil port closures.

The United States said it wanted to reduce oil exports from Iran, the world’s fifthbiggest producer, to zero by November, which would oblige other big producers to pump more. President Donald Trump said in May that he would pull the US out of an international accord under which Tehran had agreed to limit its nuclear development in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump said he would reintroduce sanctions and Washington later told some countries that they must stop buying Iran’s oil from November 4 or face financial consequences. To reduce a global supply

overhang that dogged oil markets since 2014, OPEC, together with Russia and a group of other producers, embarked on output cuts that removed 1.8 million barrels per day from the global market. The cartel had at their November 30, 2017 meeting agreed to extend the oil output cuts until the end of 2018 as part of the global efforts to eliminate excess oil supply in the international market. But following concerns raised by President Trump that OPEC was causing price hike, the cartel and Russia have resolved to pump one million barrels per day into the market.

were recently warned against the huge legal implications of the fresh congresses in the Imo State chapter, which was said to have been organised last week. In a letter addressed to the party’s national chairman by K. C. Nwufo (SAN) on behalf of APC’s stakeholders in the state, he warned that it would be ‘’contemptuous of the court for any congress to be held in Imo State, let alone appointing any caretaker committee during the pendency of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction pending the determination of the appeal against the judgement in suit no: FHC/OW/CS/69/2018.’’ Relying on the judgement of the Federal High Court, sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, dated July 6, 2018, which ordered fresh congresses in Imo State chapter of the party, the national secretariat of APC had scheduled to commence the congress tomorrow. The APC had been under pressure for weeks as dissatisfied members threatened to leave the party. On Tuesday, the party lost 15 senators and 37 House of Representative members. More we are expected to abandon the party in coming weeks.

Twenty-four hours after the defection of 14 senators from the APC, President Buhari met with other APC senators in the Presidential Villa last night with the Senate president conspicuously absent at the meeting. However, a mild drama played out when Senator Olanrewaju Tejuosho (Ogun Central) who was one of the 14 senators who had dumped APC on Tuesday, made a surprise return to the party, telling Buhari at the opening of the meeting, "your son is back." Of the assumed 53 senators left in APC, 40 of them, led by the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan made it to the meeting that was also attended by the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole. Also present at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha,

Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Senior Special Assisant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, and some other presidential aides. Tejuosho who had on Tuesday admitted his defection from APC, was quick to dismiss reports that he defected with others to the PDP, saying he was yet to decide on the party he would align himself with after leaving APC. But his re-appearance in APC caucus meeting last night took participants by surprise as his coming was accompanied by a round of applause from those in attendance including the president. During his self-introduction, Tejuosho, whose presence excited others in the meeting, looked at Buhari and said, “Mr. President, your son is back home.” In response, Buhari retorted with excitement, “what would I have told Kabiyesi?" The president was apparently referring to his father and the monarch of Oke Ona Egba, in Ogun State, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho. Other senators present at the meeting were, Adamu Aliero, Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Aliyu Wamako, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Marafa, Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Gaya, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Gumel, Shehu Sani, Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abubakar Kyari, Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru, and Abdullahi Adamu. Others were George Akume, Francis Alimikhena, Andrew Uchendu, Magnus Abe, Ovie Omo-Agege, John Enoh, Nelson Effiong, Andy Uba, Sunny Ugboji, Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu, Yusuf Yusuf, Oluremi Tinubu, Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Tayo Alasoadura, Soji Akanbi, Ajayi Boroffice, Yele Omogunwa, Fatima Rasaki, and Yahaya Abdullahi. Other APC senators who were absent at the meeting were Olusola Adeyeye, Tuani Kaura, Sani Yerima, Umaru Kurfi, Sabo Muhammed, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Mustapha Mohammed, Danjuma Goje, Binta Garba, Ahmed Abubakar, Gbolahan Dada, Babajide Omowarare and Abdulfatai Buhari. The meeting was still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

“So, the idea is to encourage corporates not only to get liquidity, but get it at a very cheap rate. Today, a lot of the corporates are not comfortable with the rates at which the commercial banks give out their loans. That is where the CBN comes in to bridge the gap. “Most importantly, what the Commercial Paper would do for a lot of corporates is to provide access to fund for expansion,” he said. On his part, the chief executive of Nova Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Chinedu Ikwudinma, who welcomed the move by the CBN, explained that, “commercial paper offers

corporates a wider pool of funding.” “It is different from a bank making a bilateral loan to you. And there is a rate on that commercial. In commercial paper, the rate is known. “So, on a medium-term basis, it is a cheaper way of sourcing funds. The renewed interest is because of the spike in interest rate,” he added. In all, it is expected that with these measures that have rolled out by the central bank, the private sector would be given the impetus to contribute to high and inclusive growth while still generating the profits needed to succeed and grow.

M O R E T R O U B L E S F O R A P C AS O RTO M F I N A L LY D E F E CT S TO P D P to be replicated in Imo State, where the Deputy Governor, Mr. Eze Madumere, and some other key members, including Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, immediate past National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, and Senator Ben Uwajumogu, are said to be under pressure to join the ship. President Muhammadu Buhari, THISDAY gathered, felt bordered enough yesterday, summoning a meeting of the party’s senators, many of who are said to be planning to leave the APC. At the meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, only 40 senators turned up, suggesting that the party’s rank might have been further depleted, even as Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was conspicuously absent. The presidential parley was in progress at press time. Ortom, whose action was hailed yesterday by the PDP as a right move to entrench democracy in the country, said he was moving away from the APC with 14 of the 23 council chairmen in the state and majority of the councillors in the 276 wards. He made the declaration at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi during a meeting with the chairmen as well as leaders and other members of the legislative councils across the state. The governor stated that he took the decision after due consultations with major stakeholders in the state. His announcement came a few hours after a coalition of Benue youths stopped him from travelling to Abuja to attend a scheduled meeting with the national leadership of the APC to resolve his differences with the leadership of the party in the state. The governor was leaving Government House, Makurdi for the trip when they blocked his route, carrying placards. Some of the placards read, ‘Ortom don't go back to APC,’ ‘We don't have land to donate for ranching,’ ‘APC is Miyetti party,’ Our farms are not for cows,’ You must leave APC," Ortom is our party,’ and ‘2019: On Ortom we stand.’ Their spokesmen, Terrence Kuanum and Pastor Dave Ogbole,

advised the governor not to make the trip for further discussions with the APC leadership on his membership of the party but to rather look for an alternative platform. They threatened that if he attended the meeting they would vote him out in 2019. To underscore their anger, they ordered that the APC flag should be removed from the governor's official car immediately and the governor's driver complied. The governor announced his decision to rejoin the PDP after displaying his resignation letter from the APC, which he said had been tendered to the ward chairman of the party in his ward. While briefing newsmen shortly after his declaration, he described the PDP as familiar terrain, which was a better platform that would protect his interest and that of the Benue people. Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state and Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Anthony Shawon, and several of his colleagues, as well as 10 of the forum of legislative councils, Mr. Tom Hanmakyur, with many of his colleagues all pledged support for the governor's decision. Shawon noted that public opinion was in favour of the governor leaving the APC.

PDP Hails Ortom's Defection The PDP expectedly welcomed Ortom back into its fold, saying he was welcome back home to help salvage the nation. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said the return of the governor to PDP confirms the fact that Buhari’s administration and the APC do not have the welfare of Nigerians at heart, as they had continually offered flimsy excuses over the mindless killings that had caused untold sorrows across the country, particularly, Benue State. The party said that the Buhariled federal government has failed in its basic responsibility of protecting live, property and the territorial integrity of Nigeria. It said, "Painfully, Nigerians

are being slaughtered in Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, nearly on daily basis.” PDP commended the governor for standing firm by the people of Benue State and refusing to mortgage their welfare to a government that has consistently demonstrated cluelessness. According to the party, "We urge the governor to be rest assured that he will be accorded his dues and rights as a member of the PDP. "The return of the Governor Ortom to our party, which is a reflection of his people's desires, further confirms the rejection of the Buhari -led APC administration by Nigerians. "It also buttresses the fact that PDP remains the viable platform for all Nigerians that are desirous of rescuing our nation from the gross misgovernance and authoritarianism exhibited by the APC-led administration".

APC Stunned by Ortom's Defection Ortom’s defection took the APC top hierarchy by surprise as THISDAY learnt yesterday that spirited efforts were being made to avert the defections. The governor was scheduled to attend a reconciliatory meeting with the leadership of the APC yesterday, but failed to showed up. While confirming the flopped meeting with the governor, a reliable source at APC headquarters in Abuja told THISDAY that Ortom called in to say that he was unable to make it because rampaging youths blocked his convoy in Makurdi, Benue State capital, thus preventing him from coming to Abuja. "Ortom sent a message to us that youths have blocked his convoy from leaving for Abuja for a meeting,", one APC said. Meanwhile, there was protest at APC National Secretariat in Abuja yesterday by a group against alleged move by the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade to join the party. The group, which came with placards to protest at the party's headquarters, claimed that there

was a plot to have the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade defect to the party. The group's Sankara Unung told journalists that the party stakeholders in the state were not comfortable with the antics of the governor and as such is kicking against his proposed entry. "Ayade is a man with grand scale skimming techniques. APC does not have any space for him and his ilk. "For a man whose party has roundly and unprecedented rejected for his very poor and abysmal performance, APC cannot be and should never be his safe haven,” they said.

Ararume, Madumere, Osita, Prepare to Leave APC In Imo State, leading members of the party are preparing to leave following the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole's, directive for a fresh congress in the state. THISDAY gathered from the national headquarters of the party in Abuja last night that some chieftains of APC from state, including Ararume, Madumere, Izunaso, Uwajumogu and others are under suffocating pressure from their teaming supporters/ followers to leaving the party, following irreconcilable party dispute with Governor Rochas Okorocha. The source said that the ‘’pressure is predicated on the strong feeling’’ that Oshiomhole is working with the state governor to chase them out of the party. According to the source, ‘’But for Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, who obviously, is deeply rooted in President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term project, they would have announced their movement from the party this week. ‘’And unless the President personally intervenes, our party will be crippled in the state. Ararume and his people control APC in the state. If they leave, that will be the end of APC in the state.’’ The National Chairman of APC and the National Legal Adviser, Oshiomhole and Barrister Babatunde Ogala respectively,

Saraki Stays Away as Buhari Meets 40 APC Senators

C B N ’S N E W C R E D I T I N I T I AT I V E M AY B O O ST P R I VAT E S E CTO R L I Q U I D I T Y a specific purpose for that loan. "If the central bank sees those kind of notes in the market, we will complement the effort of the banks through a mechanism to support that bank that lends to that corporate at single digit rate. "It is not meant to bring competition in the money deposit banks; it is meant to complement their efforts. The most important thing is that we want to see to it that we achieve a single digit rate." The second approach, he disclosed, works in such a way that any bank that lends money for new projects and planned

expansion that are verifiable (not refinancing), for seven years (inclusive of two years moratorium) at nine per cent interest rate, would compel the CBN to go into that bank's CRR and release equivalent of that financing from its CRR at zero kobo spread. Emefiele said, "We feel this is novel; it is something that we should give a chance. In the past, we had reduced CRR and released liquidity into the market, but the liquidity was not channelled properly to the high impact corporations - we mean employment-generating sectors or ouput-improving sectors of the economy.

"So, we decided we should approach it through this note. We believe this will work because rather than the banks keeping the money in the reserves, they can key into this and promote these transactions as long as they meet the terms and conditions. "More details on this will be provided soon for the banks and everybody to know," he said. Commenting on the development, the Head, Investment Research at Afrinvest Securities Limited, Mr. Robert Omotunde, stressed that the fiscal authorities have to do a lot to complement the efforts of the MPC so as to realise

the objective of reflating the economy. According to him, Nigeria has a lot of structural issues that must be resolved in order for the real sector to thrive. On his part, an analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ezun, who welcomed the initiative by the MPC, said the move would support the growth of the Nigerian economy. “The idea is that for you to drive growth, you need the banks to lend. Most of the banks today are exposed to foreign currency loans and as such they have huge non-performing loans that is constraining them to give out credit to corporates.

T H I S D AY Ë¾ THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

NAICOM Raises Capital Base for Insurance Sector Life, N6bn; businesses, N3bn; oil and gas, N9bn Ebere Nwoji The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has raised the capital base for firms from N2 billion to N6 billion operating in the insurance sector, with effect from January 1, 2019.

The new recapitalisation exercise is a three-tier recapitalisation system, whereby firms were graded as tier-three, tier-two and tier-one. The commission disclosed this in Lagos yesterday, at the insurersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; committee meeting. According to the insurance sector

Five Dead, Five Rescued as Boat Capsizes in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi About five persons drowned yesterday, while five others were rescued when a 20-passenger boat capsized mid-way from Ebute Terminal, along the Lagos Ikorodu Expressway. The boat was said to have capsized by the Ferry Terminal, Ipakodo, Ebute, as the passengers were heading from CMS to Ikorodu. As at press time, rescue operations were still ongoing as only 10 persons- the dead and the rescued, were accounted for. THISDAY gathered that the bodies of the dead persons were brought to the jetty at Ipakodo located in outskirts of Lagos for onward movement to the nearest morgue. Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, said the agency received the distress call late in the evening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The agency received the

distress call and on arrival at the incident scene, it was observed that a 20 capacity passenger boat belonging to Blue Sea capsized mid-sea enroute Ikorodu from Lagos Island. Investigation carried out by the LRT revealed that the immediate cause of the boat mishap was unknown at time of report. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately five persons (four adult females and one adult male) were confirmed dead as a result of the incident and their bodies were deposited at the morgue at Ikorodu General Hospital. Meanwhile, five persons - four females and one male were rescued alive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The exercise was carried out by the combined efforts of LASEMA, Lagos State Waterways Agency (LASWA), and the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS). Figures of other rescued victims cannot be ascertained as they were brought to the jetty with various passing boat. Recovery efforts still on-going at time of this report,â&#x20AC;? Tiamiyu explained.

regulator, the new capitalisation system tagged, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recapitalisation of insurance companies, the tier-based minimum solvency capital,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; would be based on risk-based supervision model. Releasing the modalities for the new capital base, the NAICOM Director of Supervision, Mr. Thompson Barneka, operators of life insurance business whose current minimum required capital is N2 billion and who want to continue underwriting businesses that fall under tier-1 category, they would have to shore up their capital to N6 billion, effective from January 1, 2019. Similarly, life underwriters who want to underwrite businesses, which fall under tier-2 will have to shore up their capital from the present level of N2 billion to N3 billion, while those who want to underwrite businesses that fall under tier-three category will retain the existing N2 billion. On the other hand, for non-life operators whose existing minimum capital is currently N3 billion,

operators who want to underwrite businesses that fall within the tier-1 level, which include oil and gas and oil related projects, explorations and production and aviation, will have to shore up their capital from the present level of N3 billion to N9 billion. For those that will write businesses that fall within tier-2 level, which includes engineering , marine, and bonds credits guarantee and suretyship insurances, they would be expected to shore up their capital base from the present level of N3 billion to N4.5 billion, while those that wish to underwrite businesses that fall within the tier- three level, which include fire, motor, engineering, general accident and agric policies, will remain within the minimum capital base of N3 billion. However, for composite insurance firms consisting of insurers underwriting both life and non-life businesses, those under tier-one level will have to shore up their capital from the present level of N5 billion to N15

billion, those in tier two level will move up their capital from N5 billion to N7.5 billion,while those on tier-three will remain on N5 billion minimum capital. The commission said the essence of the risk -based capital classification was to encourage firms to specialise on businesses and risks level they have the capital capacity to underwrite and leave those businesses they do not have the financial capacity to underwrite. Before now, some insurance firms used to engage in underwriting risks they do not have the capital to shoulder. This was prevalent among underwriters of oil and gas and aviation businesses. But NAICOM said effect from January 1, 2019, this will cease to be. The commission, said in classifying and spelling out the new minimum capital, it was encouraging insurance companies to limit themselves to risks they have the financial muscle to carry and for mergers and acquisitions in the sector.

The last recapitalisation exercise in the industry was carried out in February 2007. However, NAICOM explained that the policy thrust of its current exercise was to enhance the stability of the financial system, introduce proportionate capital that supports the nature of business conduct of insurers and to specify the capital requirement for each tier level based on risk classification for each tier. It said there â&#x20AC;&#x153;will be no mandatory injection of fresh capital by insurers, no cancellation of licences of any operator is anticipated but that it will be subject to solvency control level.â&#x20AC;? But the commission, however, stressed that the exercise was meant â&#x20AC;&#x153;to open up licencing window to interested investors at higher tier level as well as restructuring of capital resources for improved liquidity and claims settlement in the industry.â&#x20AC;? The guidelines for the new capital base would be released next month, while implementation takes effect from January 1, 2019.

Police: 27 Electoral Offenders Arrested in Ekiti â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;II Be Prosecuted I have no reason to fail Ekiti people, says FayemiÂ Victor Ogunje Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2122; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C; The 27 suspected electoral offenders arrested in Ekiti State in the recent election would be prosecuted, the state police command has said. This is coming as the state Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has declared that his government has no reason to fail the people of the state in view of his experienceÂ as a former governor of the state. The 27 suspects were arrested for alleged various offences during the July 14Â governorship election in the state. They are presently being detained at the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. Speaking with journalists in Ado EkitiÂ yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Ahmed, said the Legal Department in the commandÂ had perfected the charges against the suspects, adding also that their cases have been mentioned in court. Ahmed, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Caleb Ikechukwu, revealed that the culprits were charged with conspiracy, disruption of public peace,

unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause disruption of electoral process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to prosecute them diligently. We are going to workÂ with INEC in this regard. Election is a very serious issue in the life of a country that must be taken with seriousness. Our duty as a security agency is to ensure that the votes of the electorate count and that was what we did in Ekiti State election and that we shall continue to do,â&#x20AC;? he said. Meanwhile, Fayemi has declared that his government has no reason to fail the people of the state in view of his deep knowledge of the state as a former governor. Fayemi also expressed the fear about the possibility of the Debt Management Office(DMO) under -declaring the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt under Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying he would probe into the issue to be able to get first hand information about the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiscal strength to guide him when he assumes office. He spoke yesterday after inaugurating the Kayode Fayemi / APC Governorship Transition Committee, headed by Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi in Ado Ekiti.

YOU ARE WELCOME

President Muhammadu Buhari (right), receiving the President of Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Transparency International Indicts Govs, Security Chiefs in N250bn Security Votes Ademola Babalola Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Governors and top security chiefs in the country are hiding under the security votes to siphon monies to the tune of about N250 billion yearly, a report by the Transparency International (TI) has revealed. TI, the world leading nongovernmental anti-corruption organisation yesterday stated further that the affected public officers are using the issue of insecurity in the land to hide under the security votes and use same as a conduit pipe to divert the public funds. Mr Adeolu Kilanko, of the Transparency International (Defence and Security Unit) in a report titled: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Camouflaged

Cash - How Security Votes Fuel Corruption in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;? presented at the Zonal Official Launch of the security vote report in Nigeria organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital yesterday stated that among average Nigerians , the words â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;security voteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are synonymous with official corruption and abuse of power . Kilanko called for a legislation to abolish security vote, stressing that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Transparency International estimated that these secretive and unaccounted cash expenditures add up over N241.2 billion annually. He said â&#x20AC;&#x153; in just one year , these extra budgetary expenditures add up to over

nine times the amount of US security assistance to Nigeria since 2012 ( $68.6 million) and over twelve times the $53.5 million (40million pounds) in counter-terrorism support the UK promised Nigeria from 2016 to 2020 . â&#x20AC;&#x153; Looking at it from another angle , security vote spending exceeds 70 per cent of the annual budget of the Nigeria Police Force , more than the Nigerian Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual budget , and more than the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual budget combined,â&#x20AC;? he said. Though top security chiefs and governors were indicted in the slush cash , TI commended some state governors for transiting from security vote

to Security Trust Fund (STF) , especially , Lagos State shifting towards using a public private Security Trust Fund to provide supplementary funding to security services . According to him, it is noteworthy that Security Trust Fund established in Lagos was typically set up by legislation and managed by a board of trustees drawn from government and the private industry. As part of its recommendations to tackle the growing corruption , TI called for a ban on the use of security votes to be accompanied by legislation specifying budgetary procedures and criteria for security expenditures to meet international best practices.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FEC Considers $14.5bn Proposal to Save Lake Chad

FG ‘ll settle Oshiomhole, Ngige’s rift, says Lai Mohammed Amaechi denies attacking party chairman Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday in Abuja considered the report of an international conference held on Lake Chad earlier in the year, which proposed $14.5 billion for the rescue of Lake Chad from extinction. This development is coming as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has promised that the battle of wits between the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the Minister of Labour, Employment, Chris Ngige would be amicably resolved. Also the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the comment credited to Ngige could be fake news, stating that only yesterday, there was fake news on the social media credited to him, where he was quoted as attacking Oshiomhole, which he said he never did. Briefing journalists at the end

of the weekly FEC meeting in the State House, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, recalled that the Lake Chad conference was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari along with Gabon and Angolan presidents. According to him, it was resolved at the event that the only way Lake Chad, which has been progressively drying up, could be rescued from totally vanishing is to transfer water to the lake from Congo Basin at the cost of $14.5 billion. “Many presidents have always been abreast of issues and updates on what we are doing on the proposed inter-basin project which was the highlight of the conference, whereby there was a consensus to save Lake Chad from extinction and there was a consensus that inter-basin water transfer from Congo basin is the most viable option that we have at the moment. We have an estimate of $14.5 billion for the implementation,” Adamu said. Adamu also said the council approved a memorandum

from his ministry seeking the augmentation of the cost of an irrigation project from the initial N122 million to N977.7 in Mangu, Plateau State, with an additional duration of six months for its completion. Also yesterday, the Minister of Information, Mohammed, promised that the battle of wits between Oshiomhole and Ngige would be amicably resolved. Answering questions on the rift while briefing journalists at the end of the FEC meeting, Mohammed said if it is confirmed that both men are indeed engaged in a fight, the matter would be accordingly resolved. Both Oshiomhole and Ngige have engaged each other in a

battle for supremacy over the failure of the latter to constitute the board of the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) meant to be chaired by Oshiomhole’s friend, Frank Kokori. Oshiomhole accused Ngige of flouting the earlier directive of President Buhari that all boards of parastatals should be constituted, and consequently gave him a seven-day ultimatum last week to carry out the directive or face the music. Upon the expiration of the ultimatum this week, Oshiomhole threatened to expel Ngige and any other minister found culpable in a similar act from the party and equally force them out of the cabinet.

But in a swift reaction, Ngige described Oshiomhole as an ignorant person who was only exposing his ignorance. Ngige spoke yesterday with the State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said he was not afraid of suspension. The minister gave an indication that he was part of those who founded the party before bringing the likes of Oshiomhole in. Ngige maintained that the board of the NSITF was yet to be inaugurated because of reports of diversion of funds to the tune of N48 billion. When asked when he was going to comply and if he was not afraid of suspension from

the party, Ngige said, “How? In a party that we formed and brought them in? “The man (Oshiomhole) is talking out of ignorance. I am not afraid of suspension.” When asked about the reaction of the government to the trend, Mohammed said the accusation ascribed to the minister could be fake news but if found to be true, the rift between them would be settled. “Two weeks ago, we launched a campaign against fake news and it’s one of the most dangerous phenomenal we have today. We don’t know who said what until we know and the ministers confirm these

Cont’d on Pg .49

Offa Bank Robbery: Court Grants Kwara Gov’s Chief of Staff Bail Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, has granted Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab, the Chief of Staff to the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, bail in the sum of N10 million. Abdulwahab had been held in police custody in Abuja since June 2, 2018, after he responded to police invitation over his alleged link with the suspects of the armed robbery attacks on commercial banks in Offa on April 5, 2018. Justice MO Adewara granted the bail upon carefully considering the oral application for bail made on behalf of the governor’s aide by his counsel, Mr. Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) and the response of the counsel for the respondent, the Inspector General of Police. The Chief of Staff had initially filed a motion on notice before a Federal High Court in Abuja, praying for an order granting him bail from police custody on the grounds that he had been detained for longer than 24 hours allowed by law, without charge. But the presiding judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri, rejected the bail application on the grounds that the subject matter of the case was outside the jurisdiction of his court. He therefore, ordered the transfer of the case to the High Court of Kwara State for hearing and determination. The case was thereafter assigned to Justice Adewara, who issued a hearing notice to the respondents, and initially fixed hearing for July 17, 2018.

However, according Adelodun, no one represented the IG or filed any process on the said date of the hearing. Adelodun then moved the court to grant his client’s bail application. The court then adjourned the case till July 24, for ruling. However, on July 19, the officer in Charge of Legal for the police filed three processes, seeking time to file a response, a notice of preliminary objection to the case and a counter affidavit to the application for Abdulwahab’s bail. As a result, the ruling which was scheduled for Tuesday could therefore, not be delivered. Consequently, counsel to the Chief of Staff, made an oral application for his interim bail, pending the determination of the main application. According to Adelodun, counsel to IG did not object the application and left it to the discretion of the court. The IG’s counsel however, sought to move a motion for extension of time, which was granted by the court. Thereafter, Justice Adewara in his ruling, granted the Chief of Staff bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties each in like sum. The judge also ruled that the sureties must be persons of means and should swear to an affidavit of means and deposit in the court, their respective certificates of occupancy of houses or lands located anywhere in Kwara State. He then adjourned the case to October 15, 2018 for hearing of the motion.

CONDOLENCE VISIT

Former President Goodluck Jonathan signing condolence register when he paid a condolence visit to the family of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, with the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), John-Kennedy Opara in Abuja ....yesterday

FG Arraigns Melaye over Allegation of Attempted Suicide, Granted Bail Alex Enumah ÓØ ÌßÔË The federal government yesterday arraigned the Senator representing the Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a sixcount charge, bordering on attempted suicide, attempt to escape from custody and damage of police’s property. Counsel to the federal government, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 24, 2018 The offences, according to the federal government,

contravene the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code. Izinyon alleged that Melaye, while being conveyed on a police vehicle to Lokoja, the state capital, forced his way out and escaped. The prosecution claimed that the defendant after jumping out of the vehicle sat on the ground, holding a substance in one hand threatening to drink it to kill himself, so that he can put the police officers in trouble. The senior advocate, in addition, told the court that

Melaye broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police’s property. Melaye however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when read. Following his not guilty plea, his counsel moved his bail application, submitting that the offences of the defendant were bailable. He also informed the court that Melaye is currently on bail granted him by an Abuja Magistrate Court over the same matter. He therefore, urged the court to release his client on similar conditions given by the Magistrate Court.

Prosecution counsel however urged the court to decline the application, though he admitted that bail is at the discretion of the court. In a short ruling, Justice Oriji admitted Melaye to bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties, who must be directors in the civil service, are to be residents of the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means. Justice Oriji however, hinted that the case file would be forwarded to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court to be assigned to another judge for trial after the vacation period.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

THEME: FUNDING HEALTHCARE FOR ALL: WHY STATES MATTER The THISDAY editorial board is happy to announce the third edition of its high-level health policy dialogue. The two previous editions have focused on the chronic underfunding of the health sector as a major cause of poor health outcomes. The efforts have been part of the successful advocacy towards the appropriation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in the 2018 budget by the National Assembly. The editorial board however believes that state governments, responsible for most of the service delivery, are held accountable for their performance and will use this policy dialogue to honor high performing states as well as those states with potential to spring surprises.

SUB-THEME: EMERGENCY MEDICINE: NEED FOR ACTION SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR

CHIEF HOSTS

Prof Isaac Adewole

Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dr Osagie Ehanire, Min. of State, Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria

GUEST SPEAKER

GUEST APPEARANCE

Benjamin Loevinsohn Chief, Health, Nutrition and Pop. World Bank Nigeria.

Dr. Ola Orekunrin Founder, The Flying Doctors, Nigeria

SPEAKERS

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso Chair. Sen. Cmtt., Health

A.M Abdulahi Perm. Sec. FMOH

Clare Omatseye Pres. Healthcare Fed. Nig.

HONOUR’S ROLL

Prof. B.B Shehu VC, FUBK

DELTA STATE

ZAMFARA STATE

LAGOS STATE

ADAMAWA STATE

H.E Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa

H.E Yari Abubakar

H.E Akin. Ambode

H.E Jibrilla Binddow

CROSS RIVER STATE

KANO STATE

ANAMBRA STATE

FCT

H.E Ben Ayade

H.E Umar Ganduje

H.E Willie Obiano

Mohammed Bello

Prof. Aliko Ahmed Chatham House, U.K

WHO WOULD BE THERE?

Mohammed M. Fall Abdulwahab Ahmad, Representative UNICEF Snr Health Adv., NGF

Trina Haque World Bank Group

DR. Yemi Johnson, Cardiologist, U.S.A

Dr. Ibrahim Kana Prog. Manager SOML

This high level policy dialogue will have in attendance State Governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, state Commissioners of health, SPHCDAs, development partners, high level dignitaries from the public and private sector, stakeholders and members of the general public.

For enquiries please email: hello@thisdaylive.com For participation, please call any of the following: Lagos: Ayo Arowolo Tel: 09067059433; Ronke Macaulay: 09065827737 Abuja: Iyobosa Uwugiaren Tel: 08033143902

Date: Fri. 27 July, 2018

Venue : Musa Yar’Adua Conference Center, Abuja

FMOH

Time: 10:00 am

T H I S D AY Ë¾ THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

COMMENT

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

YOUNG GIFTED AND OROMIAN-ETHIOPIAN Tola Adeniyi argues that the president has not done enough to protect the people

thiopia’s new leader, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, was born on 15th August, 1976: two years after Emperor Haile Selassie fell to a military coup. The literary historian, Michaela Wrong, claims that Selassie was buried by Mengistu Haile Mariam underneath a newly constructed toilet so that human waste would always be flushed over his body. Vindictive contempt for him ran deep in hearts of Mengistu and his fellow soldiers. The military regime, named the ‘’Derge’’, also responded to a rumour that America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), planned a release of top government officials - from districts to imperial aristocracy - by hurriedly shooting all of them totally dead. One of those slaughtered was a personal aide to the emperor with the delicious title of ‘’Minister of the PEN’’. He recorded all Haile Selassie’s utterances and reactions. It was a most dangerous job for an emperor known to have a photographic memory. Abiy Ahmed missed that history, but grew under Mengistu’s tumultuous military rule which wiped out brutal landlords and rural life as impoverished serfdom for the downtrodden predominantly Muslim OROMIA people to which his father belonged. It is probably also the case that, with the fall of Christian Amhara rule to Mengistu’s Marxist revolution, his culturally despised father was able to marry his Christian Amhara mother. That revolution may also have opened gates to education up to a doctoral degree in Peace and Security studies at Addis Ababa University; and a Masters degree at Greenwich College of London University, as well as a rise to the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1995, he serves in a United Nations Peace Keeping contingent in Rwanda during the dusk of a tragic genocide. As a teenager he joined the armed struggle against Mengistu’s ‘’Red Terror’’ in which revolutionaries from among university students and schools were slaughtered after the regime had sent to rural areas to redistribute land seized from former landlords to their ‘’liberated’’ serfs. That armed struggle was spearheaded by the Tigray People’s Revolutionary Front. Abiy Ahmed fought under the wings of the ‘’Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation’’. A Tigray emperor had once ruled over the Amhara people whose imperial dynasty, under Haile Selassie, had fallen to guns of Marxists. Unlike the Oromia people, Tigrays were fellow Orthodox Christians with the Amhara and rejected being treated with contempt. Tigray revolutionary armed fighters had joined hands with ‘’Southern Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement’’ who, at a little over 50%, were the bulk of the over 80 ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Population statistics of Ethiopia show the Oromo at 34.6%; Amhara at 27.1%; Tigray at 6.1%; Somali at 6.1% and Sidamo at 4%. The other 74 ethnic groups constitute a number which, if

HE IS QUOTED AS NOT OFFERING ETHIOPIANS THE OPTION ‘TO KILL EACH OTHER’; PREFERRING: ‘TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER, HEAL OUR WOUNDS TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP OUR COUNTRY’

united, would be third after the Amhara. These mathematical figures became convulsive when fighters for liberation began blowing winds of struggle for a better life. The Tigray played the extra card of joining guns with those of their brothers in Eritrea who, for several decades, had been at war with Amhara-controlled Ethiopia. Their ethnic and ideological share of the liberation struggle legitimated a claim to succession to power. The Amhara held the largest share of bitterness following their loss of an Imperial hegemony and its economic and cultural benefits. For them the fall of Mengistu was only the dawn of a potential ‘’restoration’’ to yesteryears; not a glorious march to socialist convulsions commanded by a Tigray-led coalition. They could not accept the logic of majority arithmetical democracy which favoured their former ‘’slaves’’. Following the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawe, the Oromo crossed clenched fists and roared with throats smoking with hunger for political power. In 2010, Abiy Ahmed jumped into this rumbling convulsion dressed with his academic and military medals. By 2015, he had become a member of the ‘’Executive Committee’’ of the ‘’Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation’’. He injected military tactics and strategy into a lake of cries for freedom and dignified inclusion. A combination of stories he heard about the brutalities of Ethiopia’s rejection of Eritrea’s quest for separate sovereignty and Mengistu’s roasting his challengers before flight to safe shelter in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, plus raw contact with smouldering ashes of genocide in Rwanda must have shaped his politics. He is quoted as not offering Ethiopians the option ‘’to kill each other’’; preferring: ‘’to trust one another, heal our wounds together and work together to develop our country’’. His release of thousands of political prisoners; ending protracted state of emergency and unblocking websites, must worry Tigray coalition partners who suspect that Amhara feudalists are itching for a resumption of their domination. Refusing to accept the humanity of former Oromia ‘’serfs’’, they might see his ‘’healing’’ measures as stupidity; and windows for plotting revenge politics. Harsh blows by security managers of the coalition government had multiplied grief. Rigging elections eroded collective participation in building a better society. The gigantic achievements of Meles Zenawe’s government hastened anxieties by politicians fearful of development weakening their capacity for manipulating the masses with slogans about ‘’human rights and rule of law’’. Beneficiaries of Zenawe’s rule are, however, numerous enough to stop efforts to derail them. This should be a legacy that Abiy Ahmed should build his legitimacy and avoid Oromia chauvinism. His creative handshake with Eritrea will save funds formerly wasted on military idiocies; for financing development based on blooming talents among all Ethiopians.

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORMS AND WORKERS’IMAGES The present administration is committed to ensuring that corrupt practices are eliminated, writes Ofem Uket

ompliance with Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) by all federal civil servants, structured to eliminate ghost workers and curb corrupt practices in the public service forms an integral part of the federal government reforms contained in the strategy implementation plan of 2017-2020. Recall that one of the issues in the front burner of the reforms is to make savings through cleaning of human resource data to improve overall transparency in administration, including annual savings from digitising content, memos, files that will result in improved content sharing and enhance performance structure in public service. The present administration is committed to ensuring that corrupt practices and fraud is flushed out to return the country to the path of greatness and openness within and in the eyes of the international community, if Nigeria must reap from the direct foreign investments (DFI) through public- private partnership (PPP) of the federal government. Digital transformations require changes to both processes and IT systems that are more challenging to implement in the public sector than in the private sector. A joint study by McKinsey and Oxford University found that public-sector IT projects requiring business change is six times more likely to experience cost overruns and 20 per cent more likely to run over schedule than such projects in the private sector. The public sector must cope with additional

management issues, including multiple agencies, a range of organisational mandates and constituencies, longer appropriation timelines, and the challenge of maintaining strategic continuity even as political administrations change. Therefore, it is important that private sector companies supporting public IT transformations understand that the public sector operates in a different context. For example, it can be challenging to set a specific target, build consensus, align on a leadership structure, secure funding, and meet implementation timelines. Similarly, when systems and data are owned by different departments and functions, on a range of platforms and with differing taxonomies and access requirements, it can be difficult to invest at scale and generate sufficient economies. Silos, fragmentation, and the absence of a central owner for nationwide IT infrastructure and common components can make it hard to connect the internal “plumbing” to create a seamless experience for the end user, be it a government worker, a business user, an average citizen, or another intergovernmental office. It doesn’t make the task easier when the complexity of large-scale digital projects requires specialised skills and expertise that come at a high price and are often in short supply. In consequence, many e-government efforts fall short of their promise. In accordance with the current federal civil service structure poised to digitise the entire process of governance in Nigeria, the federal

government has commenced a two-week physical verification exercise of all employees of the federal government on the IPPIS for workers who have completed their update on the online verification portal. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita made the disclosure in Abuja to kick-start the IPPIS verification exercise, which according to her is an image capturing to ascertain the identity of civil servants in the federal payroll and those whose appearances are not made and images not captured in the porter seizes to function as federal civil servants. The head of civil service revealed that the physical verification exercise is geared towards achieving the implementation of the ‘Accelerate Roll-Out of the Human Resource Model of the IPPIS as outlined in the 2017-2020 Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan to reposition the Federal Civil Service. It is expected to be completed in two weeks. She explained that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System is one of the initiatives of government which commenced in 2006 with a view to training transparency, accuracy and reliability in the management of personnel records in the service while also curtailing avoidable excesses in personnel costs. Reiterating the imperative of the exercise, the head of service said: “In fulfilment of one of the cardinal principles of the introduction of the IPPIS programme which is blocking loopholes and discouraging corruption in the administration of personnel records, it is

important that the human resource information on the IPPIS portal be cleaned up with a view to having credible data for both payroll and personnel administration and analysis”. Mrs. Oyo-Ita further said that the upcoming verification exercise is to authenticate the documents of the individual employees of the federal government and the procedure is that every employee will present themselves for screening and their document scanned into the system. However, as at the end of June, 2018 the total number of 486 MDAs have been enrolled on IPPIS with over 330,820 employees being paid salaries through the IPPIS platform, which by estimation may have covered a reasonable percentage of the federal workforce. All concerned MDAs are to cooperate with the verifiers by providing enabling environment for the successful conduct of the exercise according to the circulated time table drawn with strict implementation guidelines, though warned that failure of any eligible employee to partake in the verification exercise would have great consequence and the consequence of non-compliance is having your data deleted from the federal government employee database. We expect to see a new face of civil service at the end of two weeks after the closure of the verification exercise, having a situation room online where anyone could log in to determine the number of verified workers in the civil service. Uket wrote from Abuja

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

EDITORIAL THE TRIUMPH OF HUMAN SOLIDARITY The Thailand rescue operation holds lessons for Nigeria

or 18 days, 12 boys between the age of 11 and 16 who were playing football and their coach were trapped inside a flooded Tham Luang Cave in Thailand. Initially counted for dead after being lost for days amid torrential rains that flooded the six-mile maze of caves, the rescue team eventually found them 10 days later, after using maps provided by a British cave explorer who knew the terrain. With that, the whole world watched as efforts were made by the Thai authorities, supported by several governments across the world, to ensure that the boys were brought out alive. At the end, all of them were successfully rescued though one of the divers died in the process. We heartily salute the uncommon courage, altruism, selfless service of the Thai military men and cave divers as well as social workers who teamed up to rescue the 12 young soccer players and their 25 years old coach. What they did underscore the significance of respect for human dignity. Above all, it reaffirms the value and inviolabilIT CHALLENGES US IN NIGERIA TO CONSTRUCT ity of human life, a lesson that we are AN ETHIC OF HUMAN yet to fully imbibe in SOLIDARITY FOR Nigeria. PROMOTING THE In an age of WELFARE OF OUR unbridled individualism, it was remarkPEOPLE, ESPECIALLY able to see volunteers WHEN THEY ARE IN DISASTER SITUATIONS from different countries converge in Thailand for the sake of 12 boys and their coach. The most poignant lesson from that is simple: at the end of the day, we are all members of the human community. The role of the media in the rescue efforts was also significant. By drawing global attention to the tragedy and staying on the story, it was difficult for the Thai authorities to abandon the boys to their fate.

Letters to the Editor

For us in Nigeria, there are numerous lessons to take away from the whole episode. One, it challenges us in Nigeria to construct an ethic of human solidarity for promoting the welfare of our people, especially when they are in disaster situations. Two, it teaches us that human life is too precious to be wasted as casually as it has become the norm in our country today. Three, the government must be accountable to the people, no matter their status in the society. Four, we learnt from the Thailand rescue operations that the welfare of the human person occupies a central place in all developments.

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

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.

DEFECTORS, BUHARI AND APC

hen general election nears, defections and realignments are normal- they add salt and pepper to the game of politicking. Most of the senators that defected on Tuesday July 24, 2018 have different reasons for doing so - some for losing the control of party structures at their states. For some, it is the only way to secure a return ticket, while for others it is a show of loyalty to their Godfathers. That’s the game. You can’t blame the senators, they need a political survival strategy that works for them. Let us also reflect: most of the senators that defected were members of the nPDP- one leg in APC, the other in PDP. They were in APC for a reason, and the reason is no more. However, to be fair to the majority of the defectors, they don’t have personal grudges with President Muhammadu Buhari, except few of them. President Buhari also said: “None of the defecting federal lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither did I harbour anything against any of them.” 2019 presidential/parliamentary elections will be exciting in some parts of Nigeria, parliamentary candidate in PDP may ask his supporters to vote a

iven the foregoing, the death of fellow human beings ought to diminish our own existence. Unfortunately for us in Nigeria, we have got accustomed to shedding of human blood. It has become a new normal that a group of barbarians goes about murdering innocent citizens and setting their houses ablaze with impunity. And that brings us to another lesson on the role played by the authorities in Thailand. During their interview after the successful rescue of the young footballers, the cave divers said that even though they knew they were risking their lives, it was their responsibility. Taking responsibility rather than offering excuses is what those who preside over our affairs in Nigeria are yet to learn. Beyond the role of the government, the citizens also have their own role to play as we saw in Thailand. If we are to develop as a nation, we must establish formidable blocks of social institutions to alleviate human suffering especially in emergency situations such as witnessed in Thailand. That will involve a collaboration of both the government and the people. We cannot continue to live in our little cocoons unmindful of the plight of others. To build an inclusive society that works, we must go beyond a situation in which only very few people are interested in rendering pro-bono social services to the helpless and the needy.

presidential candidate in APC. What happened at the National Assembly is not new and will not be the last. In fact, the green chamber has witnessed its own version. Similar, at local and state levels same scenarios have happened and will continue to. Furthermore, it will climax after party primaries, we will witness more defections across the two major political parties - PDP and APC. It is a honey-bitter game, depending on how political parties utilise it and how the voting population defines it. Some defections will be costly mistakes while other will yield fruits. The APC as a political party with sudden fame and power with diverse political blocs found itself in a catch-22 situation - succumb to pressure from a senator or a member of the House of Representatives and then lose a sitting governor. It is either of the two. The APC went for sitting governors but mismanaged the crisis at local and national levels. The die is cast - best option now for the APC is to let it be, but manage the remaining crisis politically and scientifically. Not also forgetting that with the current political setting in Nigeria, same problem will happen to any political party in power. Nevertheless, the political tension will only settle after the 2019 elections. But it is something interesting for students of politics. Zayyad I.Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

EKITI ELECTION: MATTERS ARISING

HE Ekiti gubernatorial election held on 14 July has come and gone. As usual, a winner and losers emerged. In effect, euphoria and wailing enveloped the polity. The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi floored other contestants with Professor Olusola Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as closest contender. Unfortunately, democracy presently, bids nothing for the second position. By the development, Ekiti is ecstatically warming up to fly the APC flag in the government house like other five states in southwest geopolitical zone. So far, the outgoing ruling party, PDP in the state and fans across the nation has not been able to swallow the bitter pill. Neither did the House of Assembly that is a PDP assemblage; 23 out of 26 members. At a plenary, the lawmakers unreservedly rejected the poll as a sham and embarked on impromptu protest-recess. Nonetheless, sportsmanship remains the hallmark of democracy. According to Chuck D, “never let a win get to your head, or a loss to your heart”. To digress, it is despicable that politics in the country is grossly characterised by hostility and barbarism rather than values. It is indeed an absurdity for Nigerians to unremittingly ridicule the nation to the international community rather

than celebrating our progression. A credible election cannot lose credibility because a particular group lost out. For emphasis, President Muhammadu Buhari was historically, recently singled out amongst world leaders to address International Criminal Court in Netherlands; a clear indication that the nation’s hitherto tainted image is speedily recuperating, yet, opposition censured and politicised it. It’s imperative that Nigerians should study extensively about nation-building against utilising any available opportunities or external forces to selfishly paint the nation black. Certainly, PDP wouldn’t have mobilised international observers to condemn the credible election if the party had won. Politicians must therefore do away with do-or-die politics. Presently, most elections across the world are voted online without any supervision. What is paramount is the free-and-fair manner, and therefore pertinent that political orientation to sensitise the electorate on the implications of choosing wrong leaders is given priority and not who collected money. Nobody monitored online-voters during previous U.S. election, yet everyone adjudged it credible. Again, over the years, it is a mantra at campaigns that “if politicians offer money, collect it but vote for your choice candidate”. All political parties freely use the axiom at rallies. Carl Umegboro, Abuja

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY Ëž THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

Education Advisory Services International Fair 2018 EAS International Fair From 21st to 28th July 2018 Interact with international delegates from Ireland, UK, Canada, Australia, and USA. Ask questions and get instant answers.

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

‘Vote Out Leaders that are Not Good for You’ Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs a governorship aspirant in Rivers State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently fielded questions from Shola Oyeyipo on good leadership and development

ow do you intend to tackle the issue of unemployment in Rivers State, especially among the youths? There are those who go for jobs they wanted because they are very qualified and there are people looking for anyhow jobs because most of us have become unemployable. We need re-orientation, which is very key. We need to equip our people with the skills they need to survive in this highly competitive environment. In education, we need to make sure people acquire skills that will get them get jobs. You must be educated with the skills the industry needs today so that employers are attracted. The leader will have to identity those skills that can get the jobs. We derive a lot of money from oil and gas, but I got a team together, which says the biggest source of revenue for Rivers State is not in oil but in tourism and agriculture. We have huge potentials in this state. We just need a government which is purposeful - that will harness these and teach the people the skills to make effective. Opportunities abound. We need a government that knows what has to be done. It is said that a people deserve the kind of leader they get. Is this the case with Rivers State, at this time? I think what the person is saying is that you made them leaders and that is what you deserve. Leadership at personal level means you define goals for yourself. If you have a potential leadership that does not meet those goals, you have to enforce your right to vote them out of office and choose people that can work for you. I think when someone says that he is saying that the attitude of those who are led is also important. You can vote out a leader that is not good for you. You can reject that which is bad for you. You have the capacity to do so. You just have to set your mind to it. I used to say even when God promised Israelites Canaan, they had to work their way to the place. Hard work is essential and courage too is essential. The journey to Canaan could have taken 40 days but it took 40 years because people who were told to move from one point to another doubted. We are where we are today because we don’t have the courage. We have

We need a leader that understands the issues, who has the capacity and is able to live in a transparent manner. He must be a visioner who is able to get stakeholders to the table. People will listen. Once you have the people behind you

Dumo Lulu-Briggs

to be driven by our conviction.

politics and governance.

Do you think enough has been done to inspire women into leadership? I think affirmative action is too low. They are asking for 35 percent. We don’t have to set benchmarks for women. It is outdated. We should look towards a time when 60 percent of our leaders are women. I think women should not ask for 35 percent, women should ask for equal percent. Women have been integral part of the society. For me, the most important persons in my life have mostly been women. My parents have touched me in different ways. My mother was looking up to me. My mother did a lot for me. She prayed. She cried for me. She told me I could do a lot with my life than I was doing at the time. Women are important. I have three daughters and one son. So, even in my house, I have four people that control me. Three of those people are girls, one of them is a man. In our organisation, of course, women are given opportunities that suit their talent. The head of finance in my company is a woman and she is next in line to being the managing director. And she is delivering. There is no point seeing an opportunity and not taking it. I know she would be able to add to our balance sheet. So, why not take her? Women are important and we encourage them to participate in business,

What do you think should define leadership? We are in a situation in this country that requires that we be prayerful and sincere. There has to be a consensus but unfortunately the elites are taking advantage of the issues to make something out of this terrible situation. We do not love ourselves. We need a leader that understands the issues, who has the capacity and is able to live in a transparent manner. He must be a visioner who is able to get stakeholders to the table. People will listen. Once you have the people behind you, then you will be able to raise opportunities within the system. But you must be able to live in a way that people allow you to lead them. We must have shared aspiration and encourage the leadership to do right. They must be ready to fulfill your vision. You said sometime that you don’t have to have to be in public service to discharge your obligation to society, by joining the governorship race, have you changed your mind? The statement you are quoting is not exclusive: that I do not need elective position to do what I have to do does not mean I cannot seek elective position. What I said was that everybody who has an opportunity should find ways to impact

on the lives of those who don’t have the opportunity. Do you think it is reasonable to receive several awards for philanthropy? The truth of the matter is that I have avoided awards as much as possible. Nothing can be truer. Everyday I am inundated by people who want to give me awards, and I say that is not the essence of life, for me. I do things I do because I believe those things can help humanity. Charity is something I like to do and the awards are things that just come and because of the pressure that come with it, you just have to go and take these awards. For me, I like to do what I do quietly. How do you advise people to set their goals for business success? I think it is first to understand what you want to do. Then you must sit down and put yourself in a certain position. You must visualise how to get to that point. What are the things you need to do? What are the sacrifices you have to make. Who are the people you have to talk with? First, you must have a business in mind that you want to do and as you go on you may get some other opportunities that you may have to do something else but you must first have what you want to do in mind.

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

POLITICS

‘Hoodlums Have Taken Over Apc Offices In Imo’ Imo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hilary Ekeh was once state chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), a party founded by Chief Rochas Okorocha, Goveornor of Imo State before it went moribund. Ekeh fields questions from AMBY UNEZE on why the party will not participate in the local government elections ordered the governor and what led to the emergence of a group called APC Allied Forces in the state

our re-election as the Imo State Chairman of the APC was opposed by Governor Rochas Okorocha, but you still won. How did it happen? The journey of APC in Imo state is a long story, but I will cut it short. It is the Lord’s doing. I never believed that I will come back as the chairman because the Governor did not want me back. It was not because I committed any crime, but it was due to his ambition to foist his son-in-law on every member of the party. Maybe, he felt that by being chairman of the party, I will not grant him that request. Be that as it may, the will of God prevailed. To God be the glory, I am the chairman of the party today. I want to use this opportunity to thank Imolites and the APC family in particular for finding me worthy to return as their chairman. I want to put every other thing behind me and I am appealing to everyone to come back so that we will work together to move this party forward. I have already declared my winning as ‘no victor no vanquished.’ Is there any division or parallel APC State Exco in Imo State? There is no division or parallel leadership in the state APC. We have hoodlums that are occupying our office and we don’t want to join issues with the scavengers. We only want to be on the side of the law. The law says ‘status quo ante’. They are disobeying the order of the court; because they went to court on May 18, and got order that says ‘status quo ante’ meaning that ‘let everybody remain as they were before coming to court, and on May 24, they appointed another person as chairman, brought him into the office and disregarded the court order. We are not joining issues with them. For the fact that we are keeping quiet does not mean we are weak. We can also move there but we don’t want to do that. We advise the governor to ask those ‘touts’ in the office to vacate in their own interest.

The issue of endorsement is not in our constitution. The Allied Forces are saying ‘let there by a level playing ground’ for all APC members who are aspiring for any position to have an equal opportunity to aspire and contest; so that if a person wins he knows he won honourably and if he fails he also knows

Hillary Eke

What is APC doing about the impending local government elections? APC is a law-abiding party. If there is no court injunction or order stopping the government from conducting fresh local government elections, we will participate, but if there is an order anywhere in this country stopping government from conducting LG elections, we will not participate. For now the matter is still before the Supreme Court and it has not been finally disposed of. So we will not do anything contrary to the rule of law. What about the APC coalition’s plan towards 2019? The APC coalition or what we call the Allied Forces are just Imolites in APC who saw that the party was drifting towards losing the 2019 elections and they came together to work to stop it and say ‘enough of the aberration by just one man to bring the party down in the state’. The Allied Forces want

the right thing to be done in the party. They want due process to take place in the party so that the party can win elections in 2019 in the state. The issue of endorsement is not in our constitution. The Allied Forces are saying ‘let there by a level playing ground’ for all APC members who are aspiring for any position to have an equal opportunity to aspire and contest; so that if a person wins he knows he won honourably and if he fails he also knows. In other words, let the people choose who will governor or represent them. We will make sure that whatever election APC will be involved in the state – local government, state or national, there will be a level playing ground for all contestants. How prepared is your party towards holding successful primaries for 2019? With the Allied Forces, we are happy because right now the party can speak with one voice, we will follow the constitution of the party to hold our primaries. We are very much

prepared for 2019 elections. APC is better now and we are glad. We want to use this opportunity to thank President Mohammadu Buhari for his support for democracy, instead of doing whatever he likes as the leader of the party in the country, especially in Imo State where the party at the national level sent those who conducted the congresses and wrote their reports and they party accepted it because they did a very good job. I give kudos to Mr. President for allowing democracy to prevail. I have no doubt that he will lead this country to greatness and I wish I have the powers I would have asked him to continue to lead this country until God decides. On zoning in Imo State what is your opinion? In the constitution of APC, it is enshrined that whatever we are doing we should consider geographical spread which is zoning and gender balancing. We will ensure that gender balancing and geographical spread are considered.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018 • T H I S D AY

FEATURES Innovation for Social Enterprise

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

Maduabuchi Ubani writes on Google’s practical approach to innovation and promotion of efficiency among innovators and social entrepreneurs

he Google Impact Challenge train is presently sweeping through Africa; from Nigeria to Kenya and then South Africa. For the beneficiaries, it is particularly exhilarating because this is the first time it will be brought home for Africans to participate in the training for social enterprise and innovation, with thousands of dollars up for grabs by the resilient and innovative. The workshop, which is a recent project by Google across Africa, is aimed at helping organisations in social works, alongside innovators and developers to fully understand the nitty-gritty of writing proposals when looking for funding, how to pitch their ideas to receive funding, and ways of building strong solutions that will stand the test of time. This goes to explain why Google has moved one step from just instructing people to go online and fill out forms for funding, into helping them through practical workshops to fully understand what is expected of them when filling out the forms and pitching their ideas. The challenge, which currently includes participation from African countries like Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, will have 12 ideas from Nigeria alone. The participants will receive $125, 000 each to work on the projects they pitched to Google. But it only gets more interesting. Two out of the 12 winners will again get a separate $250, 000, which is an addition to the $125, 000 earlier received. This by every means is a win-win situation for organisations involved in building applications or bringing to the table innovative ideas to change the present condition of the communities where they are in operation. Impact At the workshop held recently in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, the room was filled with innovators, developers and social entrepreneurs. Executive Director of Open Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD), Ms. Okiyi Juliet, who was one of the participants at the Google Impact Challenge, said she was impressed by the turnout of persons from different states. Juliet said it was an exhilarating, yet humbling experience. For her, the event presented a grand opportunity to bring active players in the development sector together and have pragmatic talks meant to encourage a proactive approach to issues faced in the different communities. Juliet said, "The reason I decided to come is because I want to make a change and impact in the life of young girls. I am privileged to be here, because it has, indeed, given me another dimension of how to do things differently and efficiently.” In the hall filled with participants from nearby states where the event could not hold, Ndifreke Patrick who works with a foundation focused on youth, leadership and community development in Calabar, told THISDAY that he was present because he wanted to upgrade the level at which he operated. Patrick said, “I came all the way from Calabar because we want to take our work to the next level by the level of impact for the target audience we serve. It is an opportunity to advance the cause that we do. “What you have here today is a conglomerate of people from different states with mind blowing ideas that would help you even in your area of development. We have people that are passionate about the social issues in this country, and our gathering here is because we are looking for solutions and how to bring about succour.” Patrick believed that the workshop was

Participants in a group session at the Google Impact Challenge

an ample opportunity to actively interact,

There will be 12 ideas from Nigeria alone, and they will receive $125, 000 each to work on the projects they pitched to Google. But it only gets more interesting. Two out of the 12 winners will again get a separate $250, 000, which is an addition to the $125, 000 earlier received

share viewpoints and proffer solutions to prevalent issues in the different. According to him, “So far the workshop has been good. But for me, because the development sector is one that we have been into, we will continue to seek ways to make the solutions more impactful. This is because, it’s a problem when you are doing something, but it still seems as if the issue keeps increasing. It makes you feel as if you are not really doing anything. “This is an opportunity to improve in the areas we are functioning so that we can have measurable impact that we can be proud of at the end of the day. For those that are here, it is paramount we take the lessons we are getting from the programme seriously, and apply them accordingly.” Partnership In Nigeria, Google is not working alone. They are partnering an organisation called the Paradigm Initiative, which in turn is holding the workshops across major cities of the federation where they enlighten the applicants on what is rightfully expected of them in order to make it to the top 12 persons that will emerge from Nigeria. “At the end of the programme, participants are expected to leave with skills to be able to make quality applications for the Google

Impact Challenge,” L.I.F.E Programme Officer at Paradigm, Initiative Ihueze Nwaobilor, the told THISDAY. Nwaobilor has been travelling to the different centres where the workshops are expected to run across the federation. He is hopeful that applicants will go home with the skills to be able to make a quality application for the Google Impact Challenge Africa, because the whole idea is to prepare the organisation and answer any question in any grey areas where they are having challenges in the course of the application. He said, “Google is partnering Paradigm Initiative to help interested organisations across Nigeria to be part of the Google Impact Challenge. The workshop we are holding across Nigeria is what we call the Application Workshop, where we get to teach NGOs how to send in quality applications. “Google Impact Challenge has been running before, but this is the first time it’s coming to Africa and its taking place in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. It's going to run for six months, from June to November 2018. "The challenge is meant for social enterprises, non-governmental organisations and innovators, who are expected to come up with ideas that can change their community

• T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

FEATURES

PHOTO: MADUABUCHI UBANI

The challenge is meant for social enterprises, non-governmental organisations and innovators, who are expected to come up with ideas that can change their community and beyond

Some of the participants

and beyond." Nwaobilor understands the hurdle that many organisations go through while trying to scale the hurdle of applying

for funds, which in most cases does not even go through. He said, “Most times what we see is that

when things like this come up, people are only told to go and apply online. But this time around, Google has organised it in a

way that they will give applicants support through the application process till the time that winners will emerge. The workshop is preparing people even before they apply and also showing them how to apply. “What Google is trying to do is to also help NGOs and persons creating economic opportunities with what they are doing and that is why you see people from other states coming, making out time from their strict engagements to be here today.”

IMAGES

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

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

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) with the Chairman of “Enugu Tyre Dealers Association”, Mr. Chukwujekwu Agusi, when the group visited the governor a solidarity visit at the Government House, Enugu...recently

L-R: A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Iyiola Oladokun; state Deputy Governor. Chief Moses Adeyemo; a former Governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Akin Oke, during a meeting of the APC leaders in the state, at the party’s secretariat, Oke Ado, Ibadan...recently. Photo: Governor’s Oﬃce

L-R Osaro Eghobamien; Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria Dr. Joseph Okwu Nnanna and Managing Director, Nigeria Export Import Bank, Abba Bello. during the Afreximbank Annual Meeting and 25th Anniversary of the Nigerian Factoring Round Table in Abuja....recently Photo; kingsley Adeboye

L-R; Guest Speaker, Mr. Andrew Omomehin; Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers Victoria Island Branch, Mr Rose Madaki; President, NSE/Chairman of the occasion, Mr Adekunle Mokuolu; and the Past NSE, President, Mr. Mustapha Balarabe Shehu at the 10th Year Anniversary and Public Lecture of Nigerian Society of Engineers Victoria Island Branch in Lagos…… recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

L-R;Director, Registration and Regulatory, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),Dr. Monica Eimunjeze; Executive Director, Corporate Planning & Strategy, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Pharm Valentine Okelu; Director General, NAFDAC, Prof Moji Adeyeye; Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc , Pharm Nnamdi Okafor; Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC, Mrs. Ijeoma Nwankwo and , Executive Secretary, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), Dr. Obi Adigwe during the visit of the NAFDAC DG to May & Baker’s pharmaceutical factory in Ota, Ogun State...recently

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (left) presenting sourvenir to the representative of the President, Omupo Descendant Union, Prof Raphael Dele Olarinoye during courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Ilorin...recently

L-R: Leader and Chieftains, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos West Senatorial District, Cardinal James Odunbaku; Senator Representing Lagos West in the Red Chamber, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan; Chairman, Lagos West Senatorial District, Chief Rabiu Oluwa and the South West Women Leader, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson, during a meeting and formal emdorcement of Senator Adeola Olamilekan to contest for second term, by the leaders of the Party in the Lagos west senatorial district, in Lagos.....recently KOLA OLASUPO

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BUSINESSWORLD

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

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Quick Takes LASG To Deploy Drones

The Lagos State government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Zipline International Incorporated, operators of drones, to oďŹ&#x20AC;er a drone-enabled supply chain solution in the health sector. While signing the MOU, the Honourable Commissioner for Science andTechnology. Mr. Hakeem Fahm, noted that the new partnership was based on the health care initiatives of the state government. Fahm said the partnership with the state government would leverage technology to improve the supply chain of critical medical supplies, reduce waste and save lives. He noted that drones would be used to ensure secured, reliable and timely deliveries of essential health care products to publiclyowned hospitals and other health facilities in the state. Representative of Zipline, Mr. Diekoye Oyeyinka, who signed the MoU on behalf of his company said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lagos state will be the ďŹ rst mega city in the world to have an autonomous instant delivery system, when it is fully deployedâ&#x20AC;?.

Konga Celebrates Customers

RECOGNITION

L-R: Principal Partner, African Achiever Award, Tonye Idaminabo presenting an award to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, in Abuja...recently

Report: Mobile Phone Subscription in Nigeria, Others to Hit 634m by 2025 Stories by Emma Okonji The recent mobile economy report of GSM Association (GSMA), has predicted that more than half the population of sub-Saharan Africa would be subscribed to mobile phone by 2025. The report, which was published at the just concluded GSMA â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mobile 360 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; event in Kigali, Rwanda, estimated that there would be 634 million unique mobile subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa by 2025, equivalent to 52 per cent of the population. This, it stated would be up from the 444 million (about 44 per cent) recorded by the country at the end of last year. The report also estimated that the mobile ecosystem would add more than $150 billion in value to sub-Saharan Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy by 2022,

ICT equivalent to almost 8 per cent of regional GDP. Analysing details of the report, the Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA, John Giusti, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;For many citizens across the region, particularly those living in rural areas, a mobile phone is not just a communications device but also the primary channel for getting online and a vital tool for improving their lives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More needs to be done to extend connectivity to the remaining unconnected and underserved populations across sub-Sahara Africa, but this will require a focus on long-term industry sustainability that can only be achieved through investment-friendly policies and supportive

regulatory frameworks.â&#x20AC;? Meeting the affordability challenge of a youthful population, sub-Saharan Africa had been the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest-growing mobile region in recent years, but subscriber growth was slowing down as the industry faces the challenges of affordability and a youthful population. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current mobile penetration rate, which is put at 44 per cent of the population, was significantly below the global average of 66 per cent. Furthermore, according to the World Bank, around 40 per cent of the population in the region are under the age of 16, a demographic segment that has significantly lower levels of mobile ownership than the population as a whole, the report said. However, despite these

challenges, smartphone adoption continues to increase rapidly thanks to lower device costs, which was serving to accelerate migration to 3G/4G mobile broadband networks and services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report predicts that mobile broadband will account for 87 per cent of mobile connections in sub-Saharan Africa by 2025, up from 38 per cent in 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moreover, nearly 300 million new subscribers are expected to use their devices to access mobile internet services over the next seven years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By 2022, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile economy is forecast to generate more than $150 billion, about 7.9 per cent of GDP of economic value as countries continue to benefit from improvements in productivity and efficiency, particularly due to the increase Continued on page 24

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Internet Gateway Porous, Expert Warns The Chief Executive Officer of FPG Technologies Limited, Mr. Rex Mafiana, has attributed the increased rate of cybercrime activities from within and outside the country to the porous nature of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Internet Gateway. He, therefore, called for urgent government intervention to curtail the excesses of online fraudsters. Mafiana, who spoke with journalists on the porous nature of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cyberspace, expressed concerns about the situation. According to him, Nigeria has no national framework on cybersecurity, in terms of digital supremacy, despite the presence

ICT of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cybercrime Act of 2015. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today in the digital world, countries do no longer have physical boundaries because boundaries have become virtual. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our online security system is porous, giving room for hackers to attack websites and key data of organisations in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of them even launched attacks from countries outside Nigeria and hide in disguise under a link that could be traced to Nigeria, thus giving the world the impression that the attacks are coming from Nigeria.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;All these are happening in our cyberspace boundary because we have a porous Internet Gateway system. The situation has made Nigerian cyberspace boarders very vulnerable and the government has to rise to the challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Organisations must also sit up to address the situation, but in Nigeria, most organisations and business owners do not pay enough attention to technology,â&#x20AC;? Mafiana said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today, cybercrime has become a core business risk that should be discussed at the board level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is need to sensitise business owners on cyber insecurity and advise them

on the need to make the right investment in cybersecurity,â&#x20AC;? he added. Proffering solution to cyberattacks, Mafiana said some of the best solutions to cyberattacks are about awareness creation and the need for organisations to invest in cybersecurity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The board members of any organisation understands the risk associated with cyberattacks, and should begin to put their houses in order and invest in the right technology that will mitigate cyberattacks and its attendant risks,â&#x20AC;? Mafiana said, adding that cybercrime Continued on page 24

Konga, one of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading e-commerce giant, turns six this month. To this end, the ďŹ rm would be celebrating its customers than had done business on its platform, over the years. In line with eďŹ&#x20AC;orts to commemorate its numerous outstanding stridesandinnovationsintheNigeriane-commerceeco-system,the company would be celebrating customers with a mega promotion tagged- The Big 6. The week-long promotion scheduled to run from Monday July 23rd, till the end of the month will see millions of products from Kongaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s massive inventory go on sale at unbeatable prices for its teeming customers online at konga.com and oďŹ&#x201E;ine in every Konga retail store nationwide. Interestingly, Konga has added a unique dimension to the promotion with a bold declaration of best prices unmatched anywhere else in the market for the wide range of genuine products on its platforms, with the company ready to refund customers who ďŹ nd a better price for a genuine product sourced from its manufacturers.

MTN Empowers Oyo State Youths

In fulďŹ lling its commitment to improving the qualities of lives, MTN Foundation recently trained 500 youths on ICTand Business Skills in Oyo state. The two-day training from technology experts was used to empower the participants. The session which was held recently at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, had dignitaries like the Special Adviser on ICT to the Executive Governor of Oyo, Mr. Niyi Ajao; Head of Digital Communications, Oyo State Government, Babajide Fadoju and Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu.The training was organised by MTN in collaboration with it ecosystem partners - KPMG, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI); IBM and Oracle. Senior government oďŹ&#x192;cials, industry leaders and other dignitaries present commended the MTN Foundation team for the successful completion of the inaugural edition of the MTNF ICT & Business Skills Training in Oyo State. The foundation further revealed its intention to continue to train young and aspiring entrepreneurs around Nigeria.

Marketing Edge on TV Debuts

One of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading brands and marketing publications, Marketing Edge is set to expand the frontiers of brand and marketing reportage with the premiere this week on TV. The 30-minute programme which airs onTVC between 12-12:30pm, promises to oďŹ&#x20AC;er a potpourri of happening and development in the integrated marketing communications sector in Nigeria. The programme will feature top players, gladiators and professionals in the competitive business of brand management and management of brand business in Nigeria. It will also oďŹ&#x20AC;er brands and brand owners a great opportunity to connect with their target audience with a view to gaining brand loyalty and patronage.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government at all levels must adopt digital technology and implement it to enhance good governance and policy formulation that will create jobs for Nigerian youthsâ&#x20AC;? Oyo State Governor

Senator Abiola Ajimobi

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

REPORT: MOBILE PHONE SUBSCRIPTION IN NIGERIA, OTHERS TO HIT 634M BY 2025

in mobile internet adoption. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobile ecosystem also supported 3 million jobs in 2017 and contributed almost $14 billion to the funding of the public sector in the form of general taxation as well as sector-specific levies on the consumption of mobile services, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the report added. The report also included examples of how mobile networks and services are playing a key role in delivering the UNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs), as well as supporting a fast-growing tech start-up ecosystem. Many tech start ups in Africa now use mobile as the primary platform to create solutions that address a range of socioeconomic challenges, the report further said. NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INTERNET GATEWAY POROUS, EXPERT WARNS was like any other crime that needs to be given the attention it deserves. Other solutions, according to him, were the first line of defence and last line of defence in cybersecurity. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter the security that is put in place, insider attack must be addressed as the first line of defence, and we have solutions to address that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Security awareness is also key to address cyber insecurity. The last line of defence is encryption. Organisations must learn to encrypt data, because once encrypted, it will be extremely difficult for anyone who steals such data to have unauthorised access to the data. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perimeter security, network segmentation are other ways to address cyber insecurity in organisations,â&#x20AC;? Mafiana said. He however said the cybercrime law of 2015 remained a step in the right direction but insisted it was not enough to address the rising rate of cybercrime in the country. He therefore called for the need to review the law and empower it to address the issues of insecurity in the cyberspace.

Digital Identity Necessary to Access Social Services, Says NIMC Emma Okonji

vibrant digital economy. citizens, Aziz called on inforHe listed the benefits of digi- when the internet made steady Emphasising NIMCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in mation and communications tal inclusion to include social progress.â&#x20AC;? Digital identity has been He explained that redefinidentified as a critical factor offering digital identification technology experts as well as interaction and cohesiveness, for individuals to access social through the enrolment and government and private sectors well-being, personal health, ing the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;digital divideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; economic and life changes, self- as consisting of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;multiple benefits including subsidies issuance of a unique identifier to be prepared at all times. National Identification Number He also advised them to efficacy, skills and capabilities dividesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, namely: an access and entitlements. The Director-General of the (NIN), Aziz said beyond the construct robust high-speed as well as civic engagement divide, a skill divide, an economic opportunity divide, National Identity Management term digital inclusion, are issues broadband networks, create and participation. The NIMC boss explained the and a democratic divide, alCommission (NIMC), Aliyu about quality of life, democracy, incentives for investment exclusion and who gets in new technologies, build term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;digital divideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as â&#x20AC;&#x153;pat- lowed researchers to study Aziz, disclosed this in his keynote paper entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Digital what, when and under what required human capital for terns of unequal access to ICT the experiences or attitudes productivity growth, and based on income, race, ethnicity, of the disadvantaged groups Inclusion: Opportunities, circumstances. To actualise digital inclusion rethink curricula to emphasise gender, age and geography that in relation to intervention Challenges and Strategies,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; surfaced during the mid-1990s programmes. which he presented at the with attendant benefits for the digital skills. 27th annual conference of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) held recently in Ibadan. According to Aziz, since public and private sector agencies require proof of identity as a prerequisite for providing services to individuals, failure to prove identity, would form a major barrier barring people from accessing social benefits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inability to prove identity is one of the biggest barriers preventing access to benefits, subsidies, exercise of basic rights as well as claiming entitlements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Without knowing who the people are, no government or private sector will be able to effectively deliver important services such as social safety net, elections, agriculture,pension and education, among others,â&#x20AC;? Aziz said. He added that identity would remain a pre-requisite for a countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic, social and political progress and development, since good identification works together L-R: Head of Marketing Transsion Holdings Nigeria, Mr. Eric Wang; General Manager, Mr. Chidi Okonkwo; Country Manager, Android with greater use of internet, Partnerships, Google Nigeria Ms. Teju Ajani; Country Manager, Infinix Mobility Nigeria, Jay Liu; Marketing Commuincations Manager, payments and skills for a Infinix Mobility Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Odunowo at the launch of Infinix Note 5 Smartphone in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śrecently.

PRODUCT LAUNCH

NigComSat Partners Others on Capacity Building Emma Okonji In line with the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roadmap and objectives of the federal government, the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and Sawtel Technology Limited have signed a tripartite agreement for the implementation of an e-learning management system for both civil and public servants in Nigeria. The agreement, when implemented would see the public-sector productivity boosted by improving their skillset using broadband. Announcing the collaboration and its impact on both the civil servants and the public servants,

the PSIN Administrator, Dr. Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo, highlighted the importance of ICT in manpower development, stressing that the agreement will see the institute deploying ICT to train civil servant simultaneously regardless of their location using cutting edge technologies to achieve this objective. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a known fact that without ICT in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world you cannot make impact. Public service has the mandate of training and we cannot achieve that without ICT. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will definitely need ICT infrastructure to execute these training because we cannot bring everybody out physically. But we are here to achieve the target that we want to in all our economic industries, which includes the

ease of doing business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ICT is key, even the strategic plan approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as projected by the government, it shows that ICT is the central key,â&#x20AC;? Obatoyinbo said. He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We strongly believe that by the time this infrastructure is in place in about six weeks we should start seeing some immediate regulation. I am confident that by the time the e-business rating is carried out under the next assessment Nigeria would have risen up to about 50â&#x20AC;&#x201C;60 ranges. So, that only happens when capacity building is in place because you train a staff you get the results.â&#x20AC;? Also, the Managing Director of NigComSat, Abimbola Alele,

revealed NigComSatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness to partner PSIN and Sawtel to take the institute to greater height. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I congratulate you because you are expanding the horizons of not just only the civil servants but the military, paramilitary and so many other agencies that want to push governance, and you are utilising the best instrument available right now globally, ICT, to train them because ICT is currently the main driver in the world today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are not only being ICT compliant but you are also saving lives of people travelling long distance to come here, and also saving government resources because people would pay per diem to come here but with this agreement people

can remain at their location, receive the same content, same information for training and seat for exams simultaneously,â&#x20AC;? she added. On the importance of such agreement, the Executive Director, Marketing at NigComSat, Samson Osagie said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The tripartite agreement is all about realisation of the policy objectives of the ICT roadmap in Nigeria. It is our own way in advancing this ICT roadmap in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our contribution is to assist in developing the capacity of the public civil servants in Nigeria through our critical ICT infrastructure. We would provide the critical infrastructure through the optimisation of satellite services to the MDAs.â&#x20AC;?

While urging the management of the institute to put sustainable programs in place to ensure that the Hub was adequately utilised, Pantami implored it to come up with a strategic roadmap and operational plans for the Hub and liaise with NITDA through the Office of ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) while implementing the plans. He, however, applauded the state government for providing an enabling environment that encourages strategic partnerships on initiatives that attract investments in ICT and other sectors of the economy. Commissioning the project, Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the institute was expected

to be a veritable platform for socio-economic upliftment of the teeming unemployed youths who will venture into competitive global entrepreneurship in ICT. Masari, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, said the state government was committed to exploit the new wave of ICT for development of the society and has for long recognised the importance of ICT and has given it adequate attention. Earlier, in his welcome address, the Rector of the institute, Babangida Abubakar Albaba assured that the project would be judiciously utilised and properly managed.

NITDA Inaugurates ICT Hub in Katsina Francis Sardauna in Katsina Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

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As part of efforts to complement the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for reducing unemployment among Nigerian youths, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), disclosed it has established Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Innovations Hub in six geo-political zones of the country. The ICT centres, according to the agency, were set up to encourage and promote digital innovation among the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria. The Director General of the agency, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, who disclosed this

while handing over the first ever ICT Hub, established by the agency in Katsina to the state government on Tuesday, said the move was to support the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment of addressing unemployment by making ICT tools available for the youths. He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The country under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is seeking to minimise its dependency on oil by diversifying the economy to evolve entirely new industries and enable the existing ones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We strongly believe that the main driver of these industries is ICT. Therefore, we must encourage and empower our pool of young talented youths to take advantage of the digital

era.â&#x20AC;? Pantami, explained that NITDA was saddled with the responsibility of implementing the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and general ICT development and regulation in the country, through the formulation of standards, policyframeworks, developmental programs and initiatives. According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an agency, our responsibility is to encourage and coordinate ICT innovations that can transform our dear country. We believe that critical drivers of the digital economy and engine room of economic growth are the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) that are empowered with ICT tools.â&#x20AC;?

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Improving Internet Connectivity Emma Okonji writes on the connectivity challenges faced by internet users across platforms and the efforts being made to fix the issues through data revolution The recent shift from voice to data communication, occasioned by technology evolution, has changed the telecommunications landscape, where majority of the subscribers do more of data than voice communication. Although the move from voice to data is a global phenomenon, increasingly, subscribers in Nigeria are having difficulties in accessing the internet, due to poor internet connectivity, caused by poor infrastructure. In spite of the connectivity challenges, Nigeria no doubt, recorded a remarkable shift from the era when people used to queue at cybercafes to surf the internet, receive or send mails. Thanks to the introduction of Global System for Mobile (GSM) telecommunications in 2001, as Nigerians now enjoy affordable and faster internet connectivity provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other service providers. Data usage Measured against what obtains in many other countries, Nigeria is still lagging in terms of data utilisation, adjudged by the percentage of its population with internet access. This is largely due to poor internet connectivity that persists in the country, which in turn is attributable to inadequate infrastructure.It is also due to discouraging operating environment and unfavourable policies for telecommunication companies such as multiple taxation, right of way requirements, and access to capital. Another contributory factor is low penetration of smartphones. However, a reality today is that customers sometimes face difficulty in connecting online or spend endless hours online without accomplishing tasks they set out to achieve because of network buffering. Those that require high-speed data connections for browsing and streaming, subscribe to two or more networks or acquire multiple modems/SIMs to get reliable internet connectivity. The issues Due to the poor internet connectivity, customers have lodged several complaints, while calling for a lasting solution to the issues. Bulk of the complaints are centred around intermittent disconnection from the internet, especially at a time when they needed the service the most, a situation that is said to have grounded the businesses of many who relied on the internet. Some of the customers, who spoke to THISDAY, said they paid so much for monthly subscription, yet they do not get the full value of their monthly subscription. Some said they had to leave their former Internet Service Provider (ISP) because of poor internet service that they were getting only to experience the same poor internet

connectivity service with the new ISP. According to them, they get frustrated the more when at the end of the month, the ISP would cut them off completely from the internet if there was little delay in renewing the monthly subscription, without considering compensation for the downtime suffered by their customers. The customers have called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCS), the industry regulator, to compel ISPs and MNOs to compensate for any downtime suffered and to ensure that they deliver unhindered internet access , especially those that are using it for business. Customers have accused most of the ISPs and MNOs in the country of offering epileptic internet service, especially at peak periods when demand for the service is high.

segments. These include: Cliqlite, an educational platform for students that helps them excel in their academic pursuits, and SME Arena, the dedicated platform that helps small and growing businesses to become profitable ventures. As a result of the quality data services, the telco has become renowned for the internet experience it offers in the country. Accusations of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;snail speedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;crappyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;disappointingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; internet connectivity levelled against some other operators are low in 9mobile because of the relatively better browsing services it provides. For example, its 4G LTE service is offered seamlessly to Nigerians that have eligible 4G LTE devices within LTE coverage areas at no extra cost, while customers do not need to swap their SIMs before they enjoy the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4G LTE service.

MNOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention But in living up to their ratings as an enablers of advancement for individuals and businesses, MNOs who were already licensed by the NCC to provide internet services such as data services along side voice offerings, are making efforts to address the situation through data revolution. One of the leading telecommunications company in innovation, 9mobile, has been at the forefront of promoting socio-economic development in Nigeria by increasing access to dependable data offerings for different consumer

The commitment In continuation of its commitment to giving its customers quality data services, and in the consolidation of its leadership of the data segment, the company recently reloaded its all-encompassing data package, Moreblaze, which enables subscribers to enjoy a much richer and much faster online browsing and streaming experience 24-7. Available as data plans, smartphone offers, and time-based plans, Moreblaze offers tremen-

dous benefits for individuals and businesses that rely on data to do more. It also gives customers true value for their money through consistent and reliable internet experience. Industry watchers were not too surprised when the TVCs for the reloaded Moreblaze, showcasing its practical functional benefits, won three top awards at the recently held African Cristal Awards in Marrakesh, Morocco. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other Moreblaze offerings including video streaming plans to complement regular data plans, and smartpaks that enable subscribers to share content with their friends on social media sites and apps at cheaper rates, are no less popular. Aside from enabling individuals and businesses to do more, the telco is equally a key stakeholder in the NCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest to increase broadband internet penetration in the country from the 21 per cent it was in 2017 to 30 per cent by the end of this year. Affirming the telcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to making internet services accessible and affordable to all Nigerians, Vice President, Marketing at 9mobile, Adebisi Idowu, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;At 9mobile, our overarching goal is to out serve our customers with innovative offerings; because they deserve the very best. That is why we always ensure that the services we offer enrich customer experience at every touch point.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;With 9mobileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s data, customers are assured of getting the best online browsing experience, and outlive crappy internet connectivity,â&#x20AC;? Idowu added.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Consumersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Interest in e-Commerce on Increaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

11 Students to Represent Nigeria in World Robotics Competition

How Oracleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blockchain Service Will Speed Global Transactions

Emma Okonji

Three among 11 Nigerian secondary school students have qualified to participate in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Adolescent Robotics competition, which holds this month in China. The China Association of Science and Technology has reached out to the three students who will be representing Nigeria at the competition. The students, Tawakalitu Giwa, Oluwaseun Omotayo and Ayomide Adetunji, were members of Team Nigeria to the First Global Robotic Olympics in Washington DC, in the United States(US) in 2017 and they were sponsored by Aramex and Doculand Nigeria. Their performance at the Washington competition earned them the opportunity to be invited by the China Association to participate in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition. The students were picked based on their outstanding performance at the First Global Robotic Olympics where Nigeria placed 25th

Businesses around the world have been deploying an early adopter version of the Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service. The service allows organisations to easily build blockchain networks to drive more secure and efficient transactions and to track goods through supply chains on a global scale. The Nigeria Customs and other global Institutes like Arab Jordan Investment Bank, CargoSmart, Certified Origins, Indian Oil, Intelipost, MTO, Neurosoft, Sofbang, Solar Site Design and TradeFin, are among the many global organisations that have already adopted the Oracle blockchain platform. Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service provides customers with a development platform to build their own networks, and to quickly integrate with Oracle Software as a Service (SaaS) and third-party applications they already use, as well as other blockchain networks and Oracle Platform as a Service (PaaS). It also enables users to

Vendors to Jumia Nigeria have attested to the rapid growth of e-Commerce in Nigeria. They attributed it to the rising interest of Nigerians in e-Commerce business, coupled with the flexibility and technology innovation with which Jumia Nigeria is driving online trade in the country. Most of the vendors, who spoke during Jumiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sixth anniversary celebration in Lagos, commended the company for the opportunities it gave them to grow their business, the Nigerian economy and to impact on the lifestyles of online consumers. Speaking on the business growth, one of the vendors, Mr. Chinonso Olejeme, who trades on household electronics, said prior to joining Jumia, he makes sales of about N300,000 monthly, but that since he joined Jumia three years ago, sales have increased and he makes as much as N2 million profit in a month. According to him, the sales can grow to as much as between N26 million and N32 million during promos like Jumia Black

Friday Promo sales. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prior to joining Jumia, I had offline stores in Ejigbo and Alaba, selling household electronics, but Jumia has boosted my sale to over 300 per cent in the last three years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With Jumia Nigeria, the issue of struggling to make good sales is no longer a challenge for me but the challenge for me now has been the ability to meet up with sales demands that have increased since I joined Jumia. Before joining Jumia three years ago, I also had a small online shop called Zit.ng but the sales was very small compared to what we presently sell on the Jumia platform. I reluctantly joined Jumia in 2015, but today the narrative has changed as sales volume has increased tremendously,â&#x20AC;? Olejeme said. Speaking on the support level from Jumia, he said he had been getting support from Jumia through Jumia loans, which he said helped him to buy more goods to meet up with the sales and supply demand. Another Jumia Vendor who is the Managing Director, 21 Attire, a fashion design company, Mr. Trust Osunde, said he had been in

out of the 163 teams from 157 countries, emerging third out of the 41 African countries in attendance. The three students left Nigeria for China recently. Similarly, five secondary school students will be representing Nigeria at the next First Global Robotic Olympics coming up in Mexico City this August, while another three students will be representing Nigeria at the Pan African Robotic Competition holding in Senegal this week. Founded by philanthropic inventor, Dean Kamen to inspire a passion for science and technology leadership and innovation among the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than two billion youths, FIRST Global provides the framework for an Olympics-style robotics event that drives home the importance of obtaining the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills needed by future leaders to overcome the greatest challenges facing the world today and tomorrow.

provision blockchain networks, join other organisations, and deploy and run smart contracts to update and query the ledger. Oracleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blockchain platform leverages the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decades of experience across industries and its extensive partner ecosystem to reliably share and conduct trusted transactions with suppliers, banks, and other trade partners through blockchain The Executive Vice President, Oracle Cloud Platform, Amit Zavery said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blockchain promises to be one of the most transformative technologies of our generation. We are excited to announce the availability of Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the result of years of research and development alongside our valued partners and customers. With Oracleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s platform, enterprises can enhance their business, eliminate unnecessary processes, and transact with their distributed networks more easily, transparently and securely than ever before.

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BromďŹ eld: Emerging Technologies Will Enhance Businesses Across Sectors Territory Manager, Autodesk Africa, Mr. Simon Bromfield, who was in Nigeria for the Autodesk Future Forum, spoke with Emma Okonji on the need for different sectors of the economy to adopt emerging technologies for business growth. Excerpts: infrastructure is not yet in place to drive 3D printing in the country? 3D printing is an evolving technology at the moment and majority of people do not understand the business imperative that could be unlocked, using 3D printing. The truth is that 3D printing allows people to model out things from its original state of manufacture and use same anywhere in the world, and today, 3D printing is unique technology that is exploding and used across various sectors. It reduces cost of production as well as cost of building. Everyday we experience innovation as technology is evolving. In infrastructure, it is a clear fact that sufficient infrastructure and putting the right infrastructure in place, will help drive evolving technology like 3D printing. The software in 3D printing gives developers enough insight on how to handle building projects a lot faster in the most efficient way. So it is a great opportunity for companies to look at how infrastructure could be redesigned to meet the demands of evolving technologies. Autodesk, for instance, has software designed to help builders design their workflow system in the most efficient and cost-effective way. We have big opportunity in the infrastructure space, which organisations and governments could take advantage of, and we have the technology that helps developers to build better and faster.

What is your view about Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing industry? One of the challenges about Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing industry is the issue of doing things in silos instead of through collaboration and integration. Everyone wants to control his or her business and they do not want to share ideas with others. Nigerians need to work together to build better projects and that is the secret of global industries because they share ideas and build on existing ideas that are workable. The more people share contents and ideas, the more they expand their ideas and ways of doing things, which is the best form to achieve growth faster in business. Looking at technology for the future, what will be your advice for individuals and organisations that are using technology to drive their businesses? There is need for Africans and Nigerians to leapfrog technology to grow businesses. My candid advice is that individuals and organisations must not go back to relearn everything. The best way to leapfrog is to study what other developed countries have done with technology like Russia and China among others and use them to move ahead. Nollywood is a fast-growing industry in Nigeria in the area of entertainment. Do you have technology solutions that could make the industry address its challenges as it develops rapidly? We have solutions for the entertainment industry like the Nollywood industry. We produce 3D modelling and modelling technology. Nollywood being a fast-growing entertainment industry in the world, is something that Autodesk is interested in helping to further develop, while addressing its challenges. There are lots of jobs that could be generated from the use of 3D animation and we will like to encourage the Nollywood industry to take advantage of 3D modeling and animation. We have companies already employing thousands of people through the use of 3D animation in the entertainment industry. It is an opportunity for Nollywood and for Nigeria to take advantage of it to further grow the entertainment industry. Autodesk recently organised a forum in Nigeria. What was it all about? The Autodesk forum is an event that we take around the world and the essence is to educate people about the future of business and the future of the industry that they operate in. So, we look at industry trends and latest products in such forum. We decided to bring the forum to Nigeria to educate the Nigerian people on how they can use technology to leapfrog their business and grow the Nigerian economy. So much was said about Machine Learning (ML) and ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence (AI) in driving businesses. How can Nigerian businesses tap into these emerging technologies to grow rapidly? Different slides were shown at the forum, how the construction industry in Nigeria for instance, have not evolved technology enough to grow their business, yet there is a lot of ways that technology can help grow the construction industry faster. We have since discovered that most businesses do the same thing over and over, thereby achieving the same result, using the same process over the years. But there is need for business automation to achieve new results. There are software designed to achieve organisational tasks and organisations need to adopt such software to enhance their businesses. In the construction industry for instance, putting substances into concrete, and mixing it up to get the right setting takes a longer time to achieve, but there are software developed

BromďŹ eld

to address all of that in a faster and more efficient way. So how does the technology play out to achieve efďŹ cient results? The concept of the technology is about bringing the power of the cloud and using cloud technology to do work faster, better and at lesser cost. What percentage of value will the technology solution bring to businesses,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;3D printing is an evolving technology at the moment and majority of people do not understand the business imperative that could be unlocked, using 3D printing. The truth is that 3D printing allows people to model out things from its original state of manufacture and use same anywhere in the world, and today, 3D printing is unique technology that is exploding and used across various sectorsâ&#x20AC;?

when adopted? For the construction company, the technology adds a lot of value to the sector and to the developers, this is because a lot of money go into building construction, but when the right technology is adopted, it helps reduce the waste of materials to about 30 per cent and at the same time reduce the cost of building. If we can reduce the cost of building by even five per cent, that will translate to a whole lot of cost savings for the developer. The technology also reduces the amount of time it takes to complete a particular building. If it takes a builder two years to complete a building, the adoption of the right technology will actually reduce the building time to less than two years and that means saving cost of building, and these are some of the things that excite building owners and developers. Building Infrastructure Modelling (BIM) is a concept in construction engineering. How has Autodesk been able to use technology in driving this concept? BIM is a concept that is not new, it has been around since the 60s, but we have been able to use emerging technologies like ML and AI to redefine the concept to enable developers and those in the building construction to build intelligently and faster, using the BIM concept. There is a lot of information that are going into building construction, but what matters is how to manage that information and use them appropriately, which technology is helping us to do today. For example, in modern buildings, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find cables running on the surface of the walls and this is about applying technology in building construction. So, BIM, driven by technology, allows builders to make three-dimensional (3D) representation, using the available data. 3D printing in Nigeria has not been fully explored. Could it be that the right

How will Autodesk address the issue of manufacturing in Nigeria, where most of the equipment needed in the manufacturing of computer systems are imported before they are assembled in the country? So our software products are used to design everything that is manufactured in the manufacturing industry, be it computer parts and accessories, mobile phone parts, and building parts. Even the assembling of computer parts needs software solution that will help Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to assemble well. So what Autodesk is focused at is to help customers to use our software during local manufacturing and assembling, across sectors. We have software solutions for both manufacturing and assembling. In all of these, data generation and analysis, using data analytics, are key to businesses. Do you have solution that will help organisations analyse generated data for faster business decision making? All our products and solutions come with inbuilt intelligent sensors that help users analyse data fast for instant decision making. So, the generated data belongs to the individual organisation and we have the software tools that will enable the customer analyse the data in the most efficient way. You spoke so mush about business collaboration and integration for business growth. Do you see the collaboration and integration working out in Nigeria, vis-a-vis the nature of projects in the country where contractors and engineers prefer to go solo in project handling? One thing that people must know is that they do not need to get big projects before they consider collaboration and integration in their business. I say this because the projects that people get more value from, through collaboration, are small projects. The idea of working in silos will not do business owners any good because the chances of growth is retarded when compared with collaboration in projects, be it big or small projects. Collaboration is crucial to the future of making things. If we are able to empower people to collaborate even in their own business, the better for the industry because it will be able to save more. We have a lot of companies delivering projects in Nigeria using the collaboration and integration in business.

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MarketResearch Debbie Larry-Izamoje

ĂĄĂĄĂĄË&#x203A;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ë? ĚśĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ě° Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ë? Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x;Ă?ĚśĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x203A;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;

The Importance Of Market Research Most people wake up with a business idea and the next thing theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve launched a new product. And although this works initially, you make money and maybe make a name for yourself and brand, with time you might realize that there are loopholes in your business that should have been treated in the first place. In Nigeria now, most people a lot of people admit to launching products and services because they think it will earn them quick cash and therefore do not any form of market research... In marketing the customer is king and therefore you must understudy your customer to know what exactly their needs are. A market research tells you what products and services consumers are looking for and the direction to take your brand. So starting a business without a market research is almost like ordering a meal at a restaurant without looking at the menu! In doing a market research you can choose primary or secondary research. Primary research is usually less unbiased and your chance to understand the buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; decision. Primary research can be done through a survey, phone interviews and more. It involves contacting potential consumers themselves. The beauty of primary research is that you can study the psychology of the customer, direct your research objectives and much more. Secondary research, on the other hand, is using data or records out there to make the best conclusions for your business. The only issue is that the major details you require might not be available. So how do you do a market research? 1. Define Your Objective: You must start each marketing research with an end goal in mind. So what exactly are you trying to achieve? And what is the time frame to achieving this? Setting precise goals will help you achieve a substantial market research. If your business already exists, you must ensure that you understand the problems in your business and focus your research around it. 2. Research Method and Design: In many ways, research starts with a problem that management is facing or will most likely face. This problem needs to be understood, the cause diagnosed, and solutions developed. However, most management problems are not always easy to research. A management problem must first be translated into a research problem. Once you approach the problem from a research angle, you can find a solution. For example, â&#x20AC;&#x153;sales are not growingâ&#x20AC;? is a management problem. Examine the expectations and experiences of several groups: potential customers, first-time buyers, and repeat purchasers. We will determine if the lack of sales

is due to: 3. Prepare Your Research Questions: Conducting Professional marketing research should be handled carefully, questionnaires can provide you with valuable information about your competition. Consider using a marketing research firm so as to save you time and legwork. Much of the information you need in order to profile your competitors is readily available to all business owners. As your business grows and expands, you should consider supplementing your own research efforts with some formal research conducted for you by an outside firm. Before you begin seeking out the sources listed below, keep in mind that you need to obtain answers to the following questions: r 8IP BSF NZ UPQ UISFF DPNQFUJUPST r0O XIBU CBTJT BN * BCMF UP DPNQFUF r8IBU JT UIF SBOHF PG QSPEVDUT BOE TFSWJDFT they offer? r"SF UIFJS QSPEVDUT PS TFSWJDFT BJNFE BU TBUJTGZJOH similar target markets?

r"SF NZ DPNQFUJUPST QSPĂ UBCMF r"SF UIFZ FYQBOEJOH 4DBMJOH EPXO r)PX MPOH IBWF UIFZ CFFO JO CVTJOFTT r8IBU BSF UIFJS QPTJUJWF BUUSJCVUFT JO UIF FZFT of customers? 4. List Your Primary Competitors: Whether you want to admit it or not, your competitors are out there and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hungry for your customers. While it might seem unfair given everything else you need to keep on top of in building up your business, you might want to consider devoting the time and energy to keeping tabs on your competition. In doing these, you must go and do beyond Google Search, do more of Product reporting, tap into the social media, ask your customers questions, attend conferences, Conduct surveys, and try to hire your competition 5. Summarize Your Findings: Once you have completed your research into the wants and needs of your target market, you will be

able to make any necessary adjustments to your product, as well as your marketing plan moving forward. Without prior research, your company risks introducing a product that costs valuable resources to produce but ultimately sits on a shelf collecting dust. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Debbie Larry-Izamoje AKA The Entrepreneurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best-Friend holds a BSc in Information management from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. And MSc in management from University College London (UCL). She has also secured certificates in user innovation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Innovation and strategy from Harvard University. She is the founder of the Image Boosters a digital agency that connects brands to consumers online and offline in various industries leveraging Digital opportunities in our local market.

Uber Unveils New Advert Firm Makes Case for Herbal ENYO Retail IntensiďŹ es Campaign to Commemorate Drinks Station Rollout Across To ensure Nigerians get quality agencies for the development Anniversary natural herbs, Ruzu Herbal of the health sector, adding Nigeria Product and Services has that it has supported Federal Raheem Akingbolu

To commemorate its fourth year of operations in Nigeria, Uber has unveiled a fresh campaign to reinforce its brand essence. The global technology brand disclosed this during an interactive breakfast session that had members of the media in attendance. Tagged â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moments that Matter,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the campaign highlights creative collateral across different mediums like television, cinema, radio and digital. Going down memory lane, Uber General Manager for West Africa, Lola Kassim, said the brand was launched in Lagos in 2014, with the mission to redefine transportation within Lagos metropolis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Uber commenced operations in Lagos 4 years ago, it was the 4th city in sub-Saharan Africa to be launched and was already present in over 140 cities in 40 countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Four years later - Uber is available in thirteen cities in SubSaharan Africa and is available globally in over 600 cities in over 75 countries including spanning 6 continents. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of

expansion that is aiding urban mobility and bringing movement to cities all around the world.â&#x20AC;? Speaking on the campaign, Country Marketing Lead for Uber in West Africa, Margaret Banasko said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The key objective of this campaign is to Re-inforce Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment as a collaborative, supportive partner that gets customers to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;last mileâ&#x20AC;? in more ways than one. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Uber supports in moments that matter - whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getting to and fro work, picking up your mom from the bus park, or even having a night out with friends, Uber is at the centre of establishing emotional connections and supporting personal milestones.â&#x20AC;? As part of activities to reward its fans and customers, Uber Nigeria recently hosted lucky Riders on an exclusive boat cruise with Uber Brand Ambassador, Banky W.The lucky riders selected from a competition, joined Banky W and other celebrities for a night of fun, food and fabulousness. The event which was hosted by the fashionable OAP Folu Storms, had guests enjoying an exclusive boat cruise on the Lagos Lagoon, with lots to eat and drink.

opened a distribution centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Also, to support federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local contents policy, the company disclosed that it sources its raw material locally, thereby, boosting the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy and empowering Nigerians. Called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Ruzu Placeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the centre, according to its Managing Director, Dr. Robert Onyemaechi, was committed to meeting the need of Nigerians, hence the need to expand its reach. He said the distribution centre was borne out of the deluge of logistics complaints received from existing and prospective distributors, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously, this place is central for every of our distributor to access the products,â&#x20AC;? he stated He further disclosed that plans were on ground to establish other centres across the country. This will enable the company reach out to most of the existing and prospective end-users of its products. He said the company has collaborated with government

College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM), during the National Council on Health Meeting (NHC). Onyemaechi, noted that the company had received up-to-date recognition awards as a result of the efficacy and quality of its products and services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the course of our research work, we have discovered some herbal drugs that could effectively manage prostrate cancer and kidney stone respectively,â&#x20AC;? he said. Another highlight of the event was the presentation of a car and other incentives to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loyal and committed distributors in all its range of products in the second quarter of the year as promised. He, however, commended the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distributors and consumers of its range of products as well as reassures its commitment towards providing quality and efficient products to meet the needs of Nigerians.

Raheem Akingbolu

ENYO Retail and Supply, an operator in the oil and gas sector has graduated its first batch of trainees from its Mechanics & technicians training academy called Mechtech. The training academy commenced in 2018 with the mandate to improve the functional and entrepreneurial competencies of identified mechanics and supports their ability to improve their value proposition to their customers whilst at the same time improve their income and grow their businesses. Whilst congratulating the 50 pioneer graduates of the program, the Chief Executive officer of Enyo Retail and Supply, Mr. Abayomi Awobokun, expressed the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in the development of skills in the auto-mechanics sector evidenced by their investment not only in training of mechanics but also in

the provision of tools and working capital to the participants of the scheme. Awobokun thanked the Lagos State Chairman and the executives of the Motormechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), the umbrella body for all the participants in the Enyo MechTech program for their keen interest in the development of their members and their support for the programe MOMTAN, he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;will pioneer the emergence of a highly competent group of male and female automechanics across the country known for their professionalism and discipline and Enyo is very proud to be part of their success journey.â&#x20AC;? MechTech 1.0, the pioneer class of participants, had 46 men and only 4 women and this was pointed out by the CEO of Enyo Retail & Supply for correction in future batches of the training and development program.

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Deepening Friendship through Consumer Engagement As the World Celebrates the United Nationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World Friendship Day, Raheem Akingbolu reviews the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;City of Friends,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; an event which was recently unveiled to commemorate the 2018 edition of the day Of all the special days recognised globally for celebration, the World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship could be said to be unique because of its tone of generality. Unlike the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day or the Fathersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day, the International Day of Friendship is neither gender bias nor targets of a section of the society. That is why some analysts often describe it as the only day that unites all, regardless of sex, race, age or status. Clearly, friendship today, is the greatest possession of life because it involves mutual affection between two or more persons. More than ever, the world today is in dire need of friendship to address challenges such as poverty, violence and human rights abuse. Perhaps, Joyce Clyde Hall an American businessman, founder of Hallmark Cards, who started Friendship Day in 1930, did not know that his business strategy would create a marketing opportunity for so many brands. But today, right from FMCGs, to media houses an e-commerce players â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everyone has turned to Friendship Day as a lucrative marketing opportunity. As a result of its significance in bringing friends together, business owners with hindsight on how best to position their brands do leverage on the occasion to connect with consumers. The connection between brand positioning and the International Day of Friendship could be linked to William Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definition of a friend. According to the literary giant, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows you to grow.â&#x20AC;? However, marketing experts have since tweaked this to mean, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A brand is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still gently allows itself to grow over you.â&#x20AC;? To this end, the World Friendship Day has thus become a marriage of convenience between brands and consumers. At the beginning The original idea for a day of friendship came from Hallmark cards in the 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Originally celebrated on 2nd August, the day was largely viewed cynically by the public as a money making exercise, sales of friendship day cards did not take off in Europe and by the mid-1940â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the day had faded into obscurity in the USA. The idea of a day to honour friendship was, however, adopted by a number of countries in Asia where it remained a popular custom to reserve a day for celebrating friendships and the exchange of gifts between friends Today, with the way brand owners are falling over one another to use the event to deepen relationship with consumers, in no distant future, the International Day of Friendship, would become a convergence of all consumer engagement activities. Setting the pace Unlike other memorable days, the World Friendship Day is given but little prominence in Nigeria and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the kind of following the February 14th Saint Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day enjoys in some countries. However, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition will be different as promoters of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, have thrown their weight behind an initiative that will help friends bond together for good. The event which is titled, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;City of Friends,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; was said to be in line with â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Exportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand positioning as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost friendship beer. Widely reputed for its strong friendship credentials, â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Export was said to have consistently deepened friendship across the nation by organising several consumer activities that seek to promote the culture and spirit of friendship and conviviality. According to its promoters, the premium

beer brand has taken great pride in creating unique friendship experiences for consumers across the country. Addressing journalists on the plans in place for the event, the Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries, makers of â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Export and other premium beer brands, Mr. Franco Maria Maggi, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Export brand is dedicated to building friendship moments. We believe that Friendship should be celebrated every day. Hence, all our brand activities are geared towards celebrating friendship. ...To this end, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Export brand, is poised to continually participate in activities that will unite us along these lines,â&#x20AC;? Though this is not the first time the company would be rolling out the drum in celebration of the global event, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition appears different because of its extension to

Unlike the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day or the Fathersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day, the International Day of Friendship is neither gender bias nor targets of a section of the society. That is why some analysts often describe it as the only day that unites all, regardless of sex, race, age or status

the grassroots. Maggi captured it when it declared; â&#x20AC;&#x153;2017 was no different as we celebrated the event in a grand style with our friendship beer. Our plan is to surpass our own best efforts in 2018! Come July 30th,2018, we will join the World again to celebrate friendship in a grand style. I say grand because this time we are taking the celebration to the grassrootsâ&#x20AC;?, he said. Reward for Journalists For Nigerian journalists and bloggers, the organisers have also created a window of opportunity for them to share in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of â&#x20AC;&#x153;City of Friendsâ&#x20AC;?. As disclosed by the promoting company, among other notable events, the event would see the brand extends its value proposition and introduce a writing competition tagged, â&#x20AC;&#x153;PenDown For Friendship,â&#x20AC;? which will reward winners with training grants to study at a media and communications school in Nigeria. It was indicated that entries must be published works on any media platform both online and print and are required to be in English with a minimum of 500 words and maximum of 1,000 words. Explaining while the writing competition was incorporated into the event, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Emmanuel Agu, said much as the company was delighted in bringing the best in music and entertainment to Nigerians, it also recognised the need to celebrate creative writing amongst our media partners. Agu also disclosed that the organisers have appointed three Nigerian top writers as jurors. In addition to the writing competition, he also disclosed that there would also be the City of Friends party in Lagos and Calabar which would be an enclosed funfair, and pilgrimage of sorts for friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the party, great memories will be shared, friends will be entertained as the brand hopes to be a part of the beautiful friendship memories that will be created on that day,â&#x20AC;? he added. Consumer engagement activities As it happens globally for brands to ride on the World Friendship Day to connect with their patrons, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City of Friend in Nigeria

will also feature a consumer engagement activity tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;That One Friendâ&#x20AC;?. It was designed to be a clarion call to all â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;? Export consumers to also share their Friendship memories. To bring it close to all, the organisers have indicated that these can be in pictures, text or videos and that it will be published on their (consumers) social media page â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tagging the â&#x20AC;&#x153;33â&#x20AC;?Export brand. Again, it has been disclosed that Top 10 consumers with the most shared (and liked) posts will get high-end mobile phones at the venue in Lagos or Calabar. Beyond Nigeria, brands are quick to use the day to reach their patrons through activation, sponsorship and campaigns. For instance, in keeping with the spirit of Friendship Day in 2016, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite chocolate, spread the joy with new limited edition flavours â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cadbury Dairy Milk Honey Nut Crunch and Cadbury Dairy Milk Coffee Almond. The limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk was supported by a 360-degree communication campaign that included a new TVC, as well as outdoor, print and digital campaigns targeting the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core target audience â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the youth. On the social media front, the brand leveraged this occasion to bind friends through a Twitter #Madfie contest, which went viral and grabbed eyeballs. Through its Twitter handle and Facebook page, the brand asked friends to get their crazy bunch together, take a mad selfie and post it on their Twitter handle using #Madfie. The chosen best #Madfie was then featured on Cadbury hoardings or cover page. Besides, on-ground activations at point of sale in select modern trade and traditional trade outlets also formed part of the campaign to drive awareness for the product. Brands like Caprese, high-fashion woman accessories brand from the house of V.I.P. Industries, had last year launched a heartwarming digital campaign that cherished the true spirit of friendship. Presenting the latest collection of Caprese crafted in chic designs, the campaign featured four friends who were in different countries and were planning their reunion for Friendship Day.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

The Beat Goes on for Nigerian Brands The latest ranking of Globacom as the 4th most admired African brand has reaffirmed the determination of the promoters of the brand to break the global record as well as sustain its vast brand equity, Raheem Akingbolu reports Since 2003, the story of the Globacom brand has continued to attract analysts in Africa. From the first day it berthed in the Nigerian market, it has always thrown up surprises. The first surprise was the determination by the founder of the telecommunications brand to enter the boxing ring with multinationals. The latest news about the brand, which is currently trending is the outcome of a survey carried out by Brand Africa, which ranked Glo 4th among the Most Admired African brands. In the 2017/2018, Most Admired Brands survey conducted by Brand Africa, Globacom was ranked fourth in the Top 10 Most Admired African Brands (unprompted). In the same vein, the company was also rated fifth in the Top 25 Most Admired African Brands (prompted). With this development, the Glo brand, which is also one of the leading telecoms brands in Nigeria, has thus come atop in the fresh ranking of 100 best brands in Africa. The Brand Africa 100 wasestablished in 2010, in recognition of the growth of African brands, which were beginning to challenge global brands in Africa or lead global brands in new categories such as telecommunications. According to the organisers, the aim of Brand Africa is to identify, acknowledge and promote African and global brands that are catalysts for Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth, reputation and value. The Brand Africa 100 ranking was based on a survey among consumers who are between 18 years and older, conducted in 23 countries across Africa. The countries, representing all African economic regions, collectively account for 75 per cent of the population and the 74 per cent of the GDP of Africa. Decisive Factors The report noted â&#x20AC;&#x153;an incredible consistency among the companies that featured in the survey with 60 per cent of the top brands being present in both the unprompted and prompted surveys.â&#x20AC;? The brands included Globacom, Dangote, Shoprite, Safaricom and Tusker of Kenya and Ethiopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anbessa. Brand Africa founder and Chairman, Thebe Ikalafeng, said the study was conducted by Brand Africa partners, GeoPoll, leading research firm in emerging markets, with analysis and insights by Kantar TNS, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest insight information research firm, and Brand Leadership, Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier branding advisory firm. Ikalafeng explained that Brand Africa 100 is a valuation and ranking of the Best Brands in Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The valuation is a multi-tier royalty relief methodology that blends a brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial performance and consumer admiration to create a unique index and ranking. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the primary drivers of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth lies in stimulating and growing thriving African and global businesses and brands in Africa. Consumers are the ultimate arbiters of that success. Thus, the Brand Africa 100 signals, which brands are getting it right on the continent,â&#x20AC;? he explained. Other African brands that made the Top 25 included Jumia and UBA of Nigeria, MTN, DSTV, Tiger Brands and Amarula of South Africa, Econet and Kwese of Zimbabwe, Ankara Clothing of Ghana, Tusker of Kenya, Africell of Gambia and Ecobank of Togo.

The Brand Africa survey also showed that Nike of the USA emerged as the Most Admired foreign brand in Africa. The Sports and Fitness company was followed by Samsung and Adidas of Germany, Coca-Cola of USA and Apple also of USA. Import of the Award Through this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of the exercise, it has been established that African brands rose slightly to account for 17 per cent of the Top 100 brands in Africa, which indicates that non-African brands retained their firm position in the continent with 83 per cent share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa. Brands from Europe lead the table with 40 per cent, North America at 24 per cent and Asia at 19 per cent. It was also announced that West Africa was 6 per cent, with only Nigerian brands and Southern Africa per cent. The Top 100 is dominated by technology and electronic brands (29 per cent), consumer (non-cyclical) (19 per cent), apparel (15 per cent), automobile (8 per cent), food (7 per cent) and sports & fitness (5 per cent) categories are the top categories. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overall, the 2017/18 Brand Africa 100 list, which started out with over 15,500 brand mentions covering over 2,200 admired brands, illustrates a very diversified portfolio of categories and brands in Africa.

Ikalafeng captured it well when he stated that African brands had an important role in helping to build the Africa brand. According to him, these rankings are an important metric of the progress Africa is making in creating home-grown world-class brands that are changing the narrative on African competitiveness, image and reputation and contributing to its socio-economic transformation. Another instructive discovery in the exercise was that the Brand Africa 100 list is still dominated by non-African brands in categories that are largely driven by and require long-term investment, research and access to skills and resources â&#x20AC;&#x201C; electronics and telecommunication (30 per cent), consumer, non-cyclical (19 per cent), apparel (15 per cent), automobile (8 per cent), food (7 per cent), sports and fitness (5 per cent). In all this, the lesson to learn by brand managers in Africa is that consistency and good value propositions are necessary to build a strong brand. The Glo Brand Globacom has in its 15 years of business built a reputation as an authentic African brand with its extensive network across West African countries where it operates including Nigeria and Ghana. The operator is renowned for its innovative and affordable offerings as well as investments in telecoms infrastructure in Africa such as the

Glo 1; its wholly owned submarine cable, which links over 14 countries in Africa with Europe and North America. Perhaps, the greatest surprise over the years lies in its survival, despite the odds and early-comer advantage the competition had over it. Today, the story is no more about how it weathered the storm, but how the brand has continued to put competing brands on their toes. When the first players rolled out the first batch of lines in 2001, the initial battle they fought, albeit acrimoniously, was that for the soul of the subscriber. From any angle one chooses to look at the result of this, they succeeded, though relatively depending on who was spending what. As at then, in terms of market share, there was no operator that could say it was having an advantage over the other player. Both came in at the same time and had virtually a virgin land to till in terms of the marketing drive. What then mattered was what each was offering in terms of services to sway a rather gullible subscriber and by extension, how deep the pocket of campaign funds was. And this played a very major role in the advantage a particular operator had over the other. In terms of positioning and battle for brand equity, there is nothing that presented challenges for the brand manager than pushing through a market, a service such market was never aware of.

EXMAN Enhances Disciplinary Code, Reviews Constitution Raheem Akingbolu The members of Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), one of the sectoral groups within the integrated marketing communication sub-sector undertook a major review of its ethics and disciplinary code as well as constitution at the 5th annual general meeting in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

During the AGM, the association complied with its constitutional provision to elect Mr. Olurotimi Rhodes of Voyance Marketing as publicity secretary to fill the void left behind by Gil Kimani. According to the participants, the just concluded 5th AGM of EXMAN, in Calabar was the best and was described as an engaging workshop with several far-reaching decisions. The associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President, Mr. Kehinde Salami, said,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;the AGM had its highest turnout in the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history with 42 participants and it was adjudged to be the most engaging, with several notable achievements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The executive team achieved 80 per cent of its set objectives to date with a promise to go further in line with its AGM theme, Moving Forward,â&#x20AC;? he said. Specific highlights at the AGM included a comprehensive constitution review, ethics and disciplinary code enhancement

which will now be infused into the existing code of conduct document, bye-election for a new Publicity Secretary with Mr. Rotimi Rhodes of Voyance Marketing Limited emerging as the winner. Auditors, Gbenga Badejo & Co was also on ground to render account of the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books, while all Chairmen of committees gave account of their stewardship over the past one year. Having served its constitutional provision of one year in office, the Executive

Management team was reelected to continue in office for another term of one year. Salami said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a commitment from all members to accelerate the drive for the EXMAN certified brand ambassadors program as well as actively support the special projects committee on the Somewhere in Naija initiative, a unique online platform that promotes identified local talents on a single portal.â&#x20AC;? Recording another first, the Salami led executive

team inducted one out-ofLagos agency and three new members into the association bringing the total number of certified agencies to 42 members. The four new members are Tricom Marketing Communications Ltd, Stiinos Marketing Ltd, Multi-NZ Nigeria Ltd and Communication Facilitators Ltd. The AGM rounded off with a gala night event dinner and dance.

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

EROTON E & P COMPANY LIMITED Operator of the OML18 Asset

RC1137060

TENDER OPPORTUNITY FOR PROVISION OF COILED TUBING SERVICES IN OML 18 (EEP17-0011) NipeX Tender Number: 1000003178 as well as assembled goods of Nigerian origin which shall include a breakdown of all materials and consumables to be utilized and identifying those that are found locally, finished products and materials that will be procured from Nigerian manufacturing and assembly plants, finished goods that order can be placed from outside Nigeria through Nigerian authorized vendors and accredited agents and those that would be directly imported

1. Introduction EROTON E&P Company Limited; the operator of NNPC/Eroton JV invites interested and reputable contractors with suitable equipment and relevant experience to tender for the provision of coiled tubing services in OML 18. The Company plans to initiate a field development programme in OML 18 which will necessitate drilling and completion of thirty-six new and workover wells within a three-year period (2018-2021).

Details of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate organizations, overall human resources structure (management, supervisors, senior and junior skilled officers, etc.), identifying positions manned/occupied by Nigerian nationals with evidence of type of employment in-country and identifying the positions manned/occupied by other nationals

Where the bidding entity lacks capacity, genuine alliances with other Nigerian companies or multinational companies for the purpose of technology transfer shall be encouraged. The alliance/joint venture shall be executed with binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by chief executives of both entities stating clear work-share ratio among the parties and time frame for growth or transfer to be achieved.

A detailed description of the location of in-country committed facilities and infrastructure (assets, equipment, technical office, and administrative space, storage, etc.) in Nigeria to support this contract.

Tenderers to submit a detailed training plan which shall provide sustainable training and development (including certification as applicable) for Nigerians in line with the Human Capacity Development Initiative Guideline of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (NCDMB). The training plan will include contract-specific training and estimated man-hours. Tenderer is required to submit MOA with Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) trainers to support their training plan, which shall be 10% of the project Man-hours or 3% of the total contract sum.

Provide evidence to show that a minimum of 50% of the equipment to be deployed for the work is owned by the Nigerian subsidiary if international or multinational company is working through the Nigerian subsidiary including equipment list (Tenderer to provide verifiable evidence (purchase receipt, bill of sale, etc.) of ownership of equipment in executing this contract.

Provide evidence of approved Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate or status of the application submitted to NCDMB for the certificate for the procurement of all equipment, systems and packages to be supplied on the contract (where applicable). Where Tenderer intends to use subcontractor(s)/supplier(s), Tenderer shall provide same information for the nominated supplier(s)/sub-contractor(s).

2. Scope of Work The Service includes the provision of personnel and equipment required for the execution of coiled tubing services aboard a drilling rig (and/or any other potential unit) operating in OML18 swamp Nigeria, for field development or any other additional Permit Area in which COMPANY has the right to conduct petroleum operations within Nigeria. The contractor shall be responsible for the provision of the following: t

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The contract duration shall be for a period of two (2) firm years plus one (1) year optional extension.

3. Mandatory Requirements t

5P CF FMJHJCMF GPS UIJT UFOEFS FYFSDJTF JOUFSFTUFE DPOUSBDUPST BSF SFRVJSFE UP CF pre-qualified in the 3.04.18 Well Overhauling/Stimulation Services category of the NipeX Joint Qualification (NJQS) Database. All successfully pre-qualified suppliers in this category will receive Invitation to Technical Tender (ITT).

5P EFUFSNJOF JG ZPV BSF QSF RVBMJĂśFE BOE WJFX UIF QSPEVDU TFSWJDF DBUFHPSZ ZPV are listed for: Open http://vendors.nipexjqs.com and access NJQS with your log in details. Click on Products/Services Status tab to view your status and product codes.

*G ZPV BSF OPU MJTUFE JO B QSPEVDU TFSWJDF DBUFHPSZ ZPV BSF SFHJTUFSFE XJUI %13 UP do business, contact NipeX office at 8, Bayo Kuku Street, Ikoyi Lagos with your DPR certificate as evidence for verification and necessary update.

5P JOJUJBUF UIF +24 QSF RVBMJĂśDBUJPO QSPDFTT BDDFTT XXX OJQFY OH DPN DMJDL PO services tab followed by NJQS registration.

5P CF FMJHJCMF BMM UFOEFSFST NVTU DPNQMZ XJUI UIF SFRVJSFNFOUT PG UIF /JHFSJBO 0JM and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010. Non compliance shall result in disqualification from bidding for this opportunity.

10. Detailed specific programmes in place to transfer technology and skills to Nigerian businesses 11. Provide evidence of completed registration on NCDMB NOGICD JQS portal.

4. Closing Date t

0OMZ 5FOEFSFST XIP BSF SFHJTUFSFE XJUI /+24 1SPEVDU DBUFHPSZ (3.04.18 Well Overhauling/Stimulation services) as at August 16, 2018 being the advert close date shall be invited to submit Technical Bids.

Note: Land and Swamp operations are exclusively for Nigerian indigenous service companies that have a minimum of 51% equity shareholding.

6. Additional information t

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'VMM UFOEFSJOH QSPDFEVSF XJMM CF QSPWJEFE POMZ UP DPOUSBDUPST UIBU IBWF CFFO successfully pre-qualified in NJQS.

5IJT BEWFSUJTFNFOU TIBMM OFJUIFS CF DPOTUSVFE BT BO *OWJUBUJPO UP 5FOEFS *55 OPS a commitment on the part of EROTON to award a contract to any supplier and/or associated companies, subcontractors or agents.

5IJT BEWFSUJTFNFOU TIBMM OPU FOUJUMF QSF RVBMJĂśFE DPNQBOJFT UP NBLF BOZ DMBJNT whatsoever and/ or seek any indemnity from EROTON and/ or its partners by virtue of such companies having been pre-qualified in NJQS.

"MM DPTUT JODVSSFE JO SFHJTUFSJOH BOE QSF RVBMJGZJOH GPS UIJT BOE PUIFS QSPEVDUT services categories in NJQS shall be borne solely by suppliers.

4VQQMJFST UIBU BSF QSF RVBMJĂśFE GPS UIJT QSPEVDU TFSWJDF DBUFHPSZ JO /+24 NVTU ensure that the name and contact details (physical address, email address and telephone numbers) of their company and authorised/responsible personnel is up to date in their company profile in the NJQS data base.

&3050/ TIBMM DPNNVOJDBUF POMZ XJUI UIF BVUIPSJTFE SFTQPOTJCMF QFSTPOOFM PG pre-qualified companies and not through unauthorised individuals or agents.

5. Nigerian Content Bidders are to note that they will be requested during the technical tender to give full details of their relevant strategy to ensure that they fully comply with provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010. Consequently, biddersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; submissions shall be evaluated strictly with the minimum evaluation criteria defined in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Actâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Failure to meet the Nigerian Content requirements is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;FATAL FLAW.â&#x20AC;? In line with the above, Tenderers responding to this advertisement are required to submit the following in compliance with the Nigerian Content Act, 2010: 1.

Demonstrate that the entity is a Nigerian-registered/owned company. Submission of certified true copies of CAC forms 10, 02 & 07 (or its equivalent; CAC 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, etc.) including company memorandum & article of association and other evidence of entityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incorporation, shareholding & ownership structure in Nigeria. Develop a Nigerian Content Plan that demonstrates the full utilization of Nigerian labour and services with detailed description of role, work scope and man-hours in order to achieve the minimum target as set out in the requirements of the NOGICD Act 2010 (75% man-hour; Coiled tubing Services) for this project. Where in-country capacity is inadequate, propose innovations to bridge the gap A plan of how it intends to give first consideration to materials, manufactured

Please visit NipeX portal at www.nipex-ng.com for this advert and other information

T H I S D AY Ëž THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

EROTON E & P COMPANY LIMITED Operator of the OML18 Asset

RC1137060

TENDER OPPORTUNITY FOR PROVISION OF SLICKLINE SERVICES IN OML 18 (EEP17-0005) NipeX Tender Number: 1000003176 materials and consumables to be utilized and identifying those that are found locally, finished products and materials that will be procured from Nigerian manufacturing and assembly plants, finished goods that order can be placed from outside Nigeria through Nigerian authorized vendors and accredited agents and those that would be directly imported

1. Introduction EROTON E&P Company Limited; the operator of NNPC/Eroton JV invites interested and reputable contractors with suitable equipment and relevant experience to tender for the provision of slickline services in OML 18. The Company plans to initiate a field development programme in OML 18 which will necessitate drilling and completion of thirty-six new and workover wells within a three-year period (2018-2021).

2. Scope of Work The Service includes the provision of personnel and equipment required for the execution of slickline services aboard a drilling rig (and/or any other potential unit) operating in OML18 swamp Nigeria, for field development or any other additional Permit Area in which COMPANY has the right to conduct petroleum operations within Nigeria. The contractor shall be responsible for the provision of the following: t

4MJDLMJOF FRVJQNFOU BOE UPPMT OBNFMZ KBS TUFN QVMMJOH UPPMT HBVHF DVUUFS SVOOJOH tools etc.

1FSTPOOFM NBUFSJBMT DPOTVNBCMFT BOE TQBSFT

3FBM UJNF SFQPSUJOH

The contract duration shall be for a period of two (2) firm years plus one (1) year optional extension.

8IFSF UIF CJEEJOH FOUJUZ MBDLT DBQBDJUZ HFOVJOF BMMJBODFT XJUI PUIFS /JHFSJBO companies or multinational companies for the purpose of technology transfer TIBMM CF FODPVSBHFE 5IF BMMJBODF KPJOU WFOUVSF TIBMM CF FYFDVUFE XJUI CJOEJOH Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by chief executives of both entities stating clear work-share ratio among the parties and time frame for growth or transfer to be achieved. 6.

Tenderers to submit a detailed training plan which shall provide sustainable training and development (including certification as applicable) for Nigerians in line with the Human Capacity Development Initiative Guideline of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (NCDMB). The training plan will include contract-specific training and estimated man-hours. Tenderer is required to submit MOA with Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) trainers to support UIFJS USBJOJOH QMBO XIJDI TIBMM CF PG UIF QSPKFDU .BO IPVST PS PG UIF UPUBM contract sum.

Provide evidence of approved Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate or status of the application submitted to NCDMB for the certificate for the procurement of all equipment, systems and packages to be supplied on the contract (where applicable). 8IFSF 5FOEFSFS JOUFOET UP VTF TVCDPOUSBDUPS T TVQQMJFS T 5FOEFSFS TIBMM QSPWJEF same information for the nominated supplier(s)/sub-contractor(s).

3. Mandatory Requirements t

5P CF FMJHJCMF GPS UIJT UFOEFS FYFSDJTF JOUFSFTUFE DPOUSBDUPST BSF SFRVJSFE UP CF QSF qualified in the 3.04.20 Slickline services category of the NipeX Joint Qualification (NJQS) Database. All successfully pre-qualified suppliers in this category will receive Invitation to Technical Tender (ITT).

5P EFUFSNJOF JG ZPV BSF QSF RVBMJĂśFE BOE WJFX UIF QSPEVDU TFSWJDF DBUFHPSZ ZPV BSF MJTUFE GPS 0QFO IUUQ WFOEPST OJQFYKRT DPN BOE BDDFTT /+24 XJUI ZPVS MPH JO details. Click on Products/Services Status tab to view your status and product codes.

5P JOJUJBUF UIF +24 QSF RVBMJĂśDBUJPO QSPDFTT BDDFTT XXX OJQFY OH DPN DMJDL PO services tab followed by NJQS registration.

4. Closing Date t

0OMZ 5FOEFSFST XIP BSF SFHJTUFSFE XJUI /+24 1SPEVDU DBUFHPSZ (3.04.20 Slickline services) as at August 16, 2018 being the advert close date shall be invited to submit Technical Bids.

Develop a Nigerian Content Plan that demonstrates the full utilization of Nigerian labour and services with detailed description of role, work scope and man-hours in order to achieve the minimum target as set out in the requirements of the NOGICD Act 2010 (45% Spend; Wireline Services_ Slickline) GPS UIJT QSPKFDU 8IFSF JO country capacity is inadequate, propose innovations to bridge the gap

Details of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corporate organizations, overall human resources structure NBOBHFNFOU TVQFSWJTPST TFOJPS BOE KVOJPS TLJMMFE PĂłDFST FUD JEFOUJGZJOH positions manned/occupied by Nigerian nationals with evidence of type of employment in-country and identifying the positions manned/occupied by other nationals

10. Detailed specific programmes in place to transfer technology and skills to Nigerian businesses 11. Provide evidence of completed registration on NCDMB NOGICD JQS portal. Note: Land and Swamp operations are exclusively for Nigerian indigenous service companies that have a minimum of 51% equity shareholding.

6. Additional information t

*OUFSFTUFE TVQQMJFST NVTU CF QSF RVBMJĂśFE GPS UIJT QSPEVDU TFSWJDF DBUFHPSZ JO /+24

'VMM UFOEFSJOH QSPDFEVSF XJMM CF QSPWJEFE POMZ UP DPOUSBDUPST UIBU IBWF CFFO successfully pre-qualified in NJQS.

"MM DPTUT JODVSSFE JO SFHJTUFSJOH BOE QSF RVBMJGZJOH GPS UIJT BOE PUIFS QSPEVDUT services categories in NJQS shall be borne solely by suppliers.

&3050/ TIBMM DPNNVOJDBUF POMZ XJUI UIF BVUIPSJTFE SFTQPOTJCMF QFSTPOOFM PG QSF qualified companies and not through unauthorised individuals or agents.

A plan of how it intends to give first consideration to materials, manufactured as well as assembled goods of Nigerian origin which shall include a breakdown of all

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

2018: Devt Tips for a Better Second Half Abimbola Akosile examines some crucial factors which can make or mar overall development in Nigeria, in the second half of a watershed year

evelopment in the past six months in this country throws up various perspectives and viewpoints, depending on who is involved. To a layman like this reporter, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development process has been marked by false starts, stalls and jump-starts. Persistent Corruption On one hand it is easy to feel elation at the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s declaration of emergency on corruption in a half-year which followed the recent visit of the Chair of Transparency International, Delia Rubio to a recent high-level workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre headed by Auwal Musa Ibrahim in Abuja. But it is also sobering to discover that in 2017 Nigeria slid down 12 places on the global ranking of the Corruption Perception Index of the same anti-corruption agency (TI) with 28 marks out of a possible 100 marks, which was released earlier this year. And while anti-corruption crusaders are busy jubilating over the recent conviction and 14-year sentences passed on two former governors who were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corrupt practices while in office, many citizens still believe the current administration has not totally purged itself of corrupt individuals, with some bad and corrupt eggs still operating in its uppermost ranks. The best thing to do in the second half of this year is for the federal government to walk the talk and make the emergency declaration on corruption count by purging its ranks of corrupt individuals or those who have strong allegations of corruption hanging over their heads. This will serve to pacify the disappointed citizens and neatly fit into the profile of PMB as a national, continental and global anti-corruption crusader. State Police The strident calls for the creation of State Police gathered steam in the first half of the year, mainly because of the incessant killings caused by marauding herdsmen, ritual killers and kidnappers. Although the President directed the federal Police hierarchy to hire 10,000 new personnel, many view that as a drop in the ocean and just a temporary stop-gap measure which cannot successfully check the widespread killings and insecurity in the land. This brings into play the need for State Police and even Community policing to complement the federal forces, which are reportedly currently less than 400,000-strong and which cannot adequately police Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated population of 186 million citizens. Incidentally, the National Assembly, especially the Upper chamber is spearheading the move for creation of State Police and they are powerful stakeholders in the quest to restore security in the country. Their efforts must not be allowed to flag in the second half, and the legislators should by supported by the Executive on this matter, for the benefit of all. That is not too hard to ask for. Budget Implementation The 2018 budget of N9.12 trillion was delayed for more than seven months by both the executive and legislature before the President finally signed the final copy into law in June. The budget figure, which is the highest ever in the history of the country, has been described

Nigeria has to get its development process right this time by the current administration as a pro-poor and people-friendly document, has a huge chunk allocated to capital expenditure and projects which are expected to benefit the general populace in a trickle-down style. However, the ripple effect of the budget has not been fully felt by the citizens, and this second half of the year presents a golden opportunity for the federal government to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians. Although the President initially accused the National Assembly of tampering with the budgetary allocations, he however signed the budget because, according to him, he â&#x20AC;&#x153;didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to further slow down the pace of recovery of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economyâ&#x20AC;?. He also pledged to work with the national assembly on the budget process and to bring a supplementary budget to re-capture the cuts made by the legislators during their oversight. To the budget monitor, although the final passage of the budget was delayed, it is better late than never. The Ministry of Budget and National Planning and concerned players now have a good chance to effect some of the budgetary provisions in the second half of this year, and to finally put smiles on the faces of the long-suffering citizens. Nigerians are watching and waiting. Agric Revival On the agricultural front, Nigeria has recorded landmark results in the area of local rice production and market capture, which has reportedly reduced importation of foreign rice products by more than 90 per cent, despite efforts of smugglers. Agricultural processing has also gone up several notches in the first half of the year, with the President commissioning some huge projects and

processing plants around the country, which can only bode well for the economy and help reduce unemployment in the second half of the year. With the active involvement of giant organisations like Dangote Group, Olam Nigeria and Flour Mills Nigeria in the agricultural sector, the private sector has shown a remarkable capacity to drive investments and profitable ventures in the industry, and the ripple effect is being felt around the country. But to effectively raise the bar to make agriculture revenue a viable alternative to oil revenue, the federal government has to lead the struggle by granting some tax holidays, concessions and incentives to players in the vital sector, and the second half of 2018 presents a good chance to boost an already important industry. In this present agricultural revival, everyone is a winner and the positive trend is a welcome development. Poverty Ranking The first half of the year witnessed Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emergence as the country with the highest level of extreme poverty, overtaking India in the process. According to a report, the number of those living in extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, while the May 2018 survey by the World Poverty Clock also showed that the country had an estimated 87 million people in extreme poverty; compared to Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 75 million. Ironically, the population of those living in extreme poverty is going down in India, which has an estimated population of over 1.3 billion, while Nigeria has an estimated population of 186 million. The latest poverty ranking struck a blow to the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to lift more citizens out of poverty, but it also presents a good opportunity

for the current administration to re-jig its antipoverty strategies in the latter part of this year. If the number of people living in extreme poverty in Nigeria can be reduced considerably through government efforts and interventions, it would be a strong point in the favour of an administration which seeks to stage a comeback to power at the general elections next year. That, to this reporter, is a valid development yardstick. Political Instability Politics and development are interwoven in the quest for good governance, and one cannot be sacrificed at the expense of the other in any country that wants to move forward. However, the problem is that Nigeria is going through a hybrid period of political instability, which also has its ripple effect on the economy and her development process. This year has particularly witnessed upheavals in the political space and being so close to the election year, which is just a matter of months away, the present administration has to calm the troubled political waters in the most adroit way so as not to upset the gains recorded so far in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relative progress. Although carpet-crossing and horse-trading cannot cease in politics, each camp owes it to the citizens who elected them into power to maintain peace and decorum devoid of rancour and acrimony, with a ripple effect on peaceful development and harmony. If this current administration can manage to get along with its foes in the political space through matured compromise in this volatile second half of the year, that can only bode well for the citizens and for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development. That is a worthwhile goal.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Ëš

Soldiers on patrol in the North-east to curb insecurity

Your Devt Priorities for Second Half? Nigeria faced lots of development challenges in the first half of this year, with negative reports on poverty, insecurity and unending killings from suspected herdsmen, beside emergency declarations on corruption, water and sanitation. To you, which of these challenges should form priorities in the second half of the year, to help realise the SDGs? Abimbola Akosile * For me, governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development priorities for the 2nd half of the year should be security, education and infrastructure. We need adequate security to stop the wanton killings of innocent citizens. Second priority is sound education for all Nigerians because education is the best gift any government can give to its people; and third priority is world-class infrastructure to make life comfortable for the people. God bless Nigeria. - Mr. Odey Ochicha, Leadership Specialist, Abuja * Priorities should include effective security of life and property, economic and political instability, among others. - Ms. Nkeiruka Abanna, Lagos State * The first development priority is for the government to alleviate poverty that has been ravaging Nigerians, with new friendly economic blueprint that will focus on the empowerment of citizens, through equal distribution of wealth, employment generation, social welfare packages e.t.c All these will increase the per capital income and purchasing power, payment of outstanding of salaries, which should also be paramount. There should be introduction of a new policy that will curtail the various security challenges, which Nigeria is currently facing. - Mr. Michael Adedotun Oke, Founder Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja * I would like the Federal Government to grant financial aid for local government autonomy before 2019 elections for governance to be closer to people at the grassroots. - Mr. Feyisetan Akeeb Kareem, Coordinator, Human Rights Crusaders, Aniocha South, Delta State * Poverty and insecurity should form priorities in the second half of the year. On poverty, government at all levels should ensure prudence in management of public funds, because poor distribution of wealth is the major cause of poverty. I have started noticing scarcity and high prices of food items as a result of insecurity around the middle-belt region. Government should focus more on these two challenges, because they are still aspects of SDGs. - Mr. Austine Nwanya, solid mineral consultant, Abuja

THE FEEDBACK Top priority:

Check insecurity

Second:

Tackle high poverty

Third:

Ensure power supply

Radical tip:

Better card-readers!

Total no of respondents:

Male:

Female:

Highest location:

Abuja (5)

* My development priorities for second half are peace and sufficient food for the citizens. How can development be achieved without peace? Government properties today are being vandalised daily due to poverty in the land, for a hungry man is an angry man. Let us develop the stomach first and then peace for the second half. - Hon. Babale Maiungwa, U/Romi, Kaduna State * My SDGs development priorities for this dispensationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second half of the year are mounting poverty, electricity general distribution, insecurity, herdsmen mysterious killings, emergency declaration on corruption etc. Arms possession and abuse must be specially checked for possible violence in identified dark spots. God bless Nigeria. - Miss Apeji Patience Eneyeme, Badagry, Lagos State * My development priority is to stop killing all over the country. There are daily reports on unending killings, insecurity, abject poverty, hunger, unpaid pensioner benefits for over 12 years. Despite the budget vote and 2019 general election, which is around the corner, can Federal, States, and Local Governments salvage the plight of these senior citizens before their untimely death due to lack of money for medical, electricity bills, rent, school fees e.t.c?. - Mr. Dogo Stephen, Kaduna State * The first half of the year has been a nightmare

to most Nigerians in almost all indices of human development. For the second part of the year to be meaningful, Government must tackle the worsening insecurity, address the mass poverty and above all, PMB must do all in his power to ensure national reconciliation. - Mr. Paul Jideofor, Dept. of Languages, FCT COE, Zuba, Abuja * What Nigerians need at this moment is solution to the constant killings that are going on now around the country. It is becoming embarrassing to the nation and a threat to our democracy. Something has to be done because investors will not like to invest under this condition of insecurity. Let us not deceive ourselves; investors are not coming until we find solution to this ugly trend. Power sector is another problem; government needs to look into and find solution to it. - Mr. Chika Nnorom, Public Commentator, Umukabia, Abia State * Government priorities for 2nd half of 2018 should include ensuring top-quality card readers are available nationwide (for elections); making sure locally-produced rice is sold at half (or less) the price of the foreign brand; and spending Budget 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital vote judiciously so that everyone gets desired succour. - Mr. E. Iheanyi Chukwudi, B.A.R., Apo, Abuja * In the second half, this administration must remain on her toes and prioritise improvement on genuine implementation of our laws on electricity distribution, arms proliferation and abuse, hunger and food security, smuggling, inflation and high cost of living, electoral fraud and violence, poverty, insecurity, killer herdsmen, emergency declarations on corruption, water and sanitation, in this order. These challenges are numerous but equally vital to the citizens and so deserve equal and urgent attention. - Mr. Apeji Onesi, Lagos State * Comparing our government with the civilised ones, experience has shown education with high degree of proficiency in skill acquisition is very vital in nation building. So education is one, application of indigenisation policy in appointment, create conducive environment for business to thrive, regular supply of electricity and water. There should be good road and

housing budget too. - Mrs. Ncharam Roseline .E. (JP) Owerri, Imo State * The issue of insecurity ought to be addressed aggressively. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been this problem over the years but this issue of mercenaries sacking and occupying villages must be tackled by the government if the public perception is to have any hope of being salvaged. Nigerians would also want to see those arrested prosecuted speedily this time unlike the past where they are taken to Abuja and released. Infrastructure is always a constant particularly leading up to elections where a decent scorecard is expected. God bless Nigeria. - Mr. Buga Dunj, Jos, Plateau State * Governments at all levels must simply tackle poverty, which affects majority of the citizens. An emergency declaration on poverty backed with regular power supply to boost the small-scale industries will go a long way to promote development in Nigeria in the second half of this year. Secondly, insecurity must be tackled urgently to allow safety and free movements of citizens across the country. - Mr. Olumuyiwa Olorunsomo, Lagos State * It is sad that all over the third world countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pre-election year is always a troubled time and Nigeria is not an exception. Governments donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the needful talk less of improving or embarking on any new projects. To me, I would want this APC-led federal government to concentrate on rehabilitation of all the federal roads in the country for easy movement of people and goods which will reduce peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suffering on the highway. Enugu to Port, a journey of about two and half hours now takes about five hours. This is what you see in all the federal roads. Once that is done, it will save lives on the highways and evacuation of agricultural products will be fast and easy. Secondly, I will call on the federal government to concentrate and improve on security situation in the country especially as we are going towards elections. In any elections year, there are always high rates of crime ranging from political killings to armed robbery. These two areas are where I want the government to give priorities. - Mr. Nduanya Egbuna, Political Scientist, Enugu State

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Daily struggle to keep Lagos metropolis clean

PHOTO: ABIMBOLA AKOSILE

CBN Empowers Women in Business with 60% SME Loan UNICEF develops new programme to tackle women, children health issues

Amby Uneze in Owerri bThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has moved to encourage women in business by setting aside 60 per cent of the N220 billion CBN loan set out for small and medium scales enterprises (SMEs) so that they can be gainfully involved in the private sector of the economy. The remaining 40 per cent of the loan goes to other micro business entrepreneurs such as vulcanisers, hair salon owners, bakers, tailors, as well as other medium-scale businesses that help to promote production of goods in the country. The apex bank also has decried the growing abuse of the naira through squeezing, selling, spreading and treading under-foot while dancing at public functions, hoarding by some Nigerians and those hawking the Naira. The bank gave the clarification through its acting Director of Communication, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor at a recent two-day sensitisation / enlightenment workshop organised for industrialists, manufacturers, hairdressers, bakers, members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), tailors and mechanics among others, with a theme ‘Promoting financial stability and economic development’ held in Owerri, capital of Imo State.

Okoroafor said the nationwide sensitisation exercise, which second phase had already taken place in 34 states of the federation, was meant to inform, educate and enlighten farmers and members of the business community on ways and means to promote and sustain their business outfits. He warned that henceforth those who are fond of abusing the Naira would be liable to a 6-month imprisonment sentence or a fine of N50,000, or both in accordance with the Bank’s Act of 2007 when caught. Insisting that the nation’s currency should be accorded equal respect and dignity with her national flag, the apex bank explained that the nation spends more than N100 to mint one single N100 note. According to him, the issuance of legal tender currency, financial price stability and maintenance of exchange rate stability, developmental functions as well as commercial agricultural credit scheme and accelerated agricultural development schemes in addition to micro, small, medium scale development fund, natural collateral register now enjoy pride of place in the league of functions of the Bank. During the workshop which featured lectures on Protection of the rights of bank customers, the bank’s Assistant Director Consumers Protec-

tion Department Othniel Tukur Nuhu spoke on the rights to privacy and confidentiality, right to redress, right for enquiry from bank officials when the need arises, duties of bank customers, knowledge of statement of accounts, knowledge of customers obligations, account officers and duty to protect bank instruments, among others. According to Nuhu, the department stands on the three pillars of market conduct division, consumers’ education and complaint management division. Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in her bid to capture effectively and solve ravaging health-related challenges that confront women and children in the society, has developed another five-year programme. This was announced by the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, during the FGN/UNICEF country programme review /Planning meeting held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, recently. Conteh explained that the review meeting was meant to look at what had been achieved in the first half of the year (January – June) and plan ahead to achieve positive result for the second half (July – December). The UNICEF boss said the meeting was also intended to take count of how much had been

done, and to arrange how best to achieve the remaining targets in the Field Office, Enugu. He noted that in order to achieve effective result of the target, the States in the Field Office, were divided into two groups made up of Anambra, Benue and Enugu States in group one, and Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States in another group. Executive Secretary of Enugu State Economic Planning Commission (ESEPC), Mr. Dan Onyishi said the major objective of the meeting was to review the 2018 work plan of implementation with a view to achieving better results in the next tranche. “We intend to identify opportunities and strategies for accelerating progress in implantation in the second half of the year, July to December. We hope to identify bottlenecks and obstacles and their remedies”, he stated. After interactive and group sessions, the meeting resolved that for improved implementation of programmes, there was need for improved funding of programmes in the states. They commended UNICEF for concerted efforts in improving the health of women and children, and called on states to be more committed to such life-impacting programmes by prompt payment of counterpart funds.

Obaseki Slashes Market Levy by 40%, as NURTW HIV Prevalence among Pregnant Women in Katsina Drops to 1.4% Lauds Devt Strides Francis Sardauna in Katsina

Paul Obi in Abuja To boost the profit margin of traders in the state, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reduced by 40 per cent the levy paid in selected markets. Obaseki announced the cut when he received members of the Market Women Association led by Madam Blackie Ogiamien, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State recently. In a related development, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state have thrown their weight behind Obaseki for delivering dividends

of democracy to the people. According to the governor, traders who would benefit from the cut are those whose businesses are not viable in Agbado, Oliha, Ogiso and Uwa markets in Benin City, the state capital, and traders who were paying N5,000 before the announcement will now pay N3,000. He assured market women that his administration has made double ticketing and touting history in the state, noting that he would give priority to Edo citizens on job creation. He said in the coming months, the state government would ensure that power,

water and sanitation issues receive the desired attention in all the markets within Benin metropolis. Obaseki said traders who trade in densely populated areas would have access to health care services. He urged the traders to support his administration’s effort to eradicate child labour in the state by reporting suspected cases to the appropriate authority. Earlier, the leader of the traders, Madam Ogiamien, commended the governor for the steps taken to spread development across the state, adding that Obaseki’s governance style is worth commending.

The Katsina State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KATSACA) has said the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence rate among pregnant women in the state has declined to 1.4 per cent. The agency also disclosed that the rate of the transferable disease among the general population in the state had declined from 3.5 per cent to 0.7. The current status, according to health expects, had removed the state from the HIV emergency states. This was contained in a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Governing Board of the agency, Dr. Muntari Hassan and made available to newsmen in Katsina, the state capital, recently.

It commended Governor Aminu Bello Masari for the purchase of test kits, reagents and other consumables to be used in already scaled up HIV/AIDS service delivery points across the state. The statement read, “We commend the governor for increasing budgetary provision and release to the agency and the provision of milk supplements to children of HIV/AIDS infected mothers.” It however, appealed to the state government to implement the N250,000 monthly local government contribution to Local Government Action Committee in each of the 34 LGAs in order to implement LACA activities. KATSACA as an agency is responsible for monitoring HIV and AIDS epidemic and

behaviours driving the epidemic in the state. Although the national prevalence of the HIV and AIDS diseases have dropped in recent years, experts believe the situation can still be better, and that a lower overall prevalence rate is possible with greater awareness on health and sexual education. To them, this awareness creation and sensitisation should be backed by counselling and adequate and accessible medication for affected persons, while stigmatisation should be eschewed so that people living with HIV/AIDS in Katsina and other states of the federation can be allowed access to improved medicare and health conditions without any discrimination.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Nigerian youths are not currently maximising the potential that social media has for stimulating entrepreneurship in many areas, including those that were unheard of just a few years ago. I would like to see younger Nigerians put what they learned in the university to impactful use by leveraging on the social media’s abundant opportunity for business ventures” - SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI, SPEAKING ATTHE 4TH CONVOCATION OF ADELEKE UNIVERSITY IN EDE, OSUN STATE RECENTLY

Create Human Rightsfriendly Business Environment, FG Urged Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

RMRDC Presents Improved Safflower Seeds to Farmers ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As part of its mandate of boosting agricultural raw materials for industrial use, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has presented improved safflowers seeds to the members of Saffron/ Safflower Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, for the first phase of wet season trial of the programme The Director General, RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim, while speaking at the event in Abuja recently, said the initiative was aimed at increasing the pool of industrial agricultural commodities in Nigeria through the introduction of an exotic plant of proven industrial and economic importance. Ibrahim, who was represented by the Council’s Director, Technology Development Department, Dr. Abimbola Ogunnusi, said a number of companies are importing the flowers and seeds of the plant in substantial quantities due to the increasing use of the flowers in herbal medicines, teas and for extraction of dyes. He also revealed that the drought-tolerant plant can grow in various parts of the country and can be cultivated as an oil crop, even under poor environmental conditions Ibrahim noted: “Interestingly, a Chinese company, Kong Associates (Shanghai) Co. Ltd has introduced the plant species to the Nkoranza Region of Ahafo District in Ghana for multi-locational trials. “As a result of the collaboration between the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and Kong Associates, the seeds of the plant species were brought to Nigeria and planted on trial plots in Zaria, Kaduna State; Jos in Plateau State and Benin in Edo State. “The plant performed well in these locations, making Kong Associates in collaborating with the Council to carry out multi locational trials through improved seeds developed in China. This wet season trial is the first phase of the programme.

Saﬄower plant

The second phase is planned for dry season cultivation under irrigation for comparison purposes,” he said. The Director General added that to complement this and to encourage participating farmers to plant the seeds, the Council plans to give farmers a stipend for land preparation and for other inputs. “In our opinion, if this initiative is adequately harnessed, it will open up avenues and opportunities for farmers growing safflower for local industrial use and for the export of its seeds and flowers. The Council has put in place plans for a buy-back arrangement of the seeds and flowers for further development purposes, he explained. Ibrahim also explained that the plant can

be cultivated as an oil crop, under poor environmental conditions, adding that the optimum temperature for germination is about 15.5°C, while the day temperatures in the range of 24-32° are congenital for higher yields. The crop, he noted, is however not fit for tracts of heavy rainfall, but grows well in areas having rainfall between 60 and 90cm, adding that waterlogging due to poor drainage or prolonged rain can cause substantial reduction in yield. He explained further that the crop grows well in a variety of soils such as sandy loams, clay loams and alluvial shallow and light textured soils, but however requires moderate to high fertile, fairly deep moisture retentive and well drained soils for maximum yields.

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been enjoined to create a safe, enabling and secure environment that will enhance business and at the same time ensure that such business does not violate basic human rights. This was the highlight of a National Business and Human Rights Roundtable on ‘The role of Governance Stakeholders Engagement on Business and Human Rights’, organised by the Global Rights, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in partnership with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in a bid to avert business-related human rights infringement in Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja recently, the Country Director of Global Rights, Mrs. Abiodun Baiyewu-Teru, explained that on a daily basis there are cases where human rights are being violated in the course of doing businesses. Baiyewu-Teru noted that over the course of time business activities have impacted negatively on the rights of Nigerians. She urged that businesses should be properly scrutinised in their operation to ensure that they are pro-human rights rather than antihuman rights. She said: “There is the case of more than 700 children that died in Zamfara state and the 27 children that died in Niger state as a result of gold mining-related lead poisoning. On daily basis, children on our streets are selling things rather than going to school. “You need to look at the conditions of service in a lot of companies where people don’t even get a day off and the hours, conditions of service are very poor, even the cases of the herdsmen versus farmer crisis.” Bayeiwu-Teru added that the deaths of the children and other violations such as security infringement, women’s right, child labour, toxic waste disposal, community health, and consumer rights among others, could have been prevented if there was a strong framework with guiding principles to protect, respect and to remedy. “Nigeria was one of the 12 countries that supported the development of the UN Guiding Principles. Till date, however, the country is still in the early stages of adopting a National Action Plan (NAP),” she said. She noted that the key holders in the implementation of this action plan are government agencies and the Parliament. She also stressed that government is mandated by the constitution to secure, advance the protection and welfare of the citizenry, adding that they must also work to advance their economic growth. “Nigeria’s prospects of economic prosperity have been attractive to business investors in diverse sectors both local and international. Unarguably, business has been a force for our good job creation, revenue generation, transfer of technology, production of goods and services, contribution to gross domestic product and economic growth. However, if we must do business right, human rights must be contextualised, thus this is where government comes in,” she remarked. Also speaking, the representative of Executive Secretary of NHRC, Mrs. Pwadumui Okoh, emphasised that human rights cannot be guaranteed without a sense of livelihood. “You can’t bring businesses to states, communities without providing enabling environment. Standards also have to be out in place, so that when they are breached, you give remedy to the citizens,” Okoh noted.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Gains of Family Planning As many Nigerian women continue to embrace family planning as a way of enhancing their children’s quality of life, Martins Iﬁjeh examines the experiences of mothers who are using birth control methods to choose the number and timing of children born into their homes

orenike Lawal had no inkling that her fourth pregnancy would result in complications. The 32-year-old mother of three and trader resident at the Ijesha area of Lagos State had taken it for granted that the seamless births that transpired during her previous pregnancies would play out again. Her earlier pregnancies were near perfect, as she never experienced any health challenges apart from the normal pregnancy blues. But Lawal had issues throughout the fourth pregnancy. For medical practitioners, this was not really surprising. In five years, she had taken in four times. Expectedly, in this fourth conception, all the bottled ill health she had battled over the years due to back-to-back pregnancies that did not give her body time to heal properly before another pregnancy, surfaced. Already, her first child was five years old; the second, three years and three months, while the third was almost two years. For this fourth pregnancy, her Expected Delivery Date (EDD) was in March this year. Her reason for rushing the childbearing processes without proper spacing was so that she would “hang her boot” (a terminology sometimes used to depict a desire to quit the child bearing process). But that was same thing she said during the third delivery. Lawal developed several complications and five months into the pregnancy, she was diagnosed with anaemia, which the doctors said could spell doom for her and the unborn baby if unchecked. She said, “The doctor told me he wasn’t so sure why I am increasingly losing strength and becoming pale but that if not treated urgently, it could affect both me and the baby. He however said it may be due to my body not having enough time to build up my stores of crucial nutrients from previous pregnancies.” Lawal eventually lost the baby due to anaemia and other complications. She narrated, “Immediately I lost the pregnancy, I was advised to start a family planning method that would enable me get my body back, while I concentrate on giving my three little babies a good quality life and care. My husband agreed to this since we never planned for the fourth pregnancy after all. I am currently on Implant – a type of family planning, which they say would last five years.” Lawal said since she started the birth control method, she, alongside her husband, had focused on providing quality care for their children, adding that they decided to stop having more babies. She might have learnt the hard way, but she is now among the millions of Nigerian women who have embraced family planning as a child spacing method and a proven model for parents to give quality life to their children. Another testimony to the gains of family planning is 32-year-old Kareem Balikisu, a happy mother from Ogun State, who is building her career while also caring for her well-spaced two children and husband. Balikisu, who spoke to journalists at the Mascara Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Agboyi-Ketu during a visit by the Family Planning Media Working and Advocacy Group (FPMWAG), learnt about family planning early in her marriage, and because of that, she was able to go to the university and graduate in Home Economics right in her husband’s house, while also operating a fashion designing shop at Ketu. “Considering that it is more expensive to take care of children than adults, especially with the economic situation we find ourselves in this country, I and my husband decided

Family planning has enormous beneﬁts

from the beginning that we were going to have only two children,” she said. Balikisu, who was not a university graduate at the time she got married, says she plans to train her two children up to university level, while ensuring that the family resources are well spent on the children and the home generally. “If not for family planning, the time I am using to make some money for myself and improve my educational level would have been spent taking care of children, while I solely depend on my husband for money. But now, I have time for myself and everyone in the home,” the fashion designer noted. She called on husbands to support their wives in making family planning choices,

Family planning can also help you and your partner enjoy sex more, because you are not afraid of unwanted pregnancy. Using contraception can help to avoid unwanted pregnancies and space births; protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/ AIDS; and provide other health beneﬁts

adding that many women have had to endure the pains of getting pregnant back-to-back because their husbands bluntly refused family planning methods. Sharing her family planning story with journalists at the Ogudu Primary Health Centre in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos, also, Akerele Deborah Olubunmi, a 46-year-old mother of four said contrary to the myths and misconceptions raised by people about family planning, she had been using it for 14 years without any side effects. Olubunmi says she is presently reaping the several benefits of the decision to adopt the method. “I gave birth to my first two children back to back. They were not spaced, but my third and fourth were spaced, and that is the saving grace I had because my first two children are in the university. Imagine having all four of them at about the same. How would I have been able to pay all their school fees at once,” she said. Olubunmi advised parents who want to give quality life to their children to consider family planning. According to the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stood at 5.5 per cent, which family planning experts said would undermine the growth of the nation if not urgently addressed by authorities concerned. In Lagos State alone, reports state that 48 out of every 100 women use at least one method of contraception. The state has done quite well with uptake of family planning commodities among married women. According to health experts, family planning offers unlimited benefits to every woman who adopts any of the methods so that mothers and babies will be healthier, and risky pregnancies avoided. Family planning methods include longacting reversible contraception, such as the implant or intra uterine device (IUD); hormonal contraception, such the pill or the

Depo Provera injection; barrier methods, such as condoms; emergency contraception; fertility awareness and permanent contraception, such as vasectomy and tubal ligation. Reports also show that not less than 40,000 women die every year in Nigeria due to issues relating to pregnancy or childbirth. Specifically, it means every day, about 111 women and girls in Nigeria die due to preventable pregnancies and child birth-related complications (that is five women die every hour in the country). Statistics also show that Nigeria accounts for one in nine maternal deaths worldwide. In an interview with THISDAY, Senior Programme Officer, Palladium Technical Support Unit, Dr. Moriam Olaide Jagun, said 30 per cent of such deaths can be prevented by increased access and uptake of family planning. Jagun said family planning had been proven as a tool for reducing maternal and child mortality by reducing abortions, averting unintended pregnancies and chances of complications, and enabling birth spacing. The reproductive health expert who spoke at the three days Pathfinder International/ Media Dialogue on Family Planning in Lagos recently, said with family planning, mothers and babies become healthier, because risky pregnancies are avoided, adding that fewer children means more food for each child. She added, “Family planning can also help you and your partner enjoy sex more, because you are not afraid of unwanted pregnancy. Using contraception can help to avoid unwanted pregnancies and space births; protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS; and provide other health benefits. “It decreases abortion, and advances individuals’ rights to decide their own family size. It also improves women’s opportunities for education, employment and full growth at the family, community and national levels, as well as mitigates the impact of population dynamics on natural resources and state stability.”

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

NEWS

WFA: Poor Cancer Awareness in Nigeria, Leading Cause of Death Says cases still high at 72,000 deaths annually Senator Iroegbu in Abuja The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (TWFA), a non-profit organisation on health issues founded by the Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, has expressed worry over the poor level of attention and awareness on cancer in Nigeria despite the high number of cancer causing deaths recorded yearly in the country. The CEO, TWFA, Mrs. Amy Oyekunle, at the Nigeria Cancer Alliance Meeting in Abuja, said that the poor attention is a leading cause of cancer deaths. Oyekumle advocated that Nigeria needs to urgently give cancer the attention it deserves, adding that the needed attention will boost awareness and information on cancer, thereby reducing cases of cancer. “According to World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world globally. “ In Nigeria, the statistics is very bad. 72,000 people die from cancer in Nigeria every year. Also, many people present their cancer at a very late stage, some of these things can be preventable if they get the proper attention and information from the beginning,” she said.

Oyekunle explained that the Cancer Alliance meeting was borne out of the need to create a better ecosystem for cancer care. “We felt that it is necessary to bring together the different players working on cancer to create an effective strategy on handling cancer care, basically from creating awareness, nutrition, and the auto palliative care of cancer. “The Cancer Alliance essentially combines different partners from civil societies, governments, research and academic institutions, and those working in the field of cancer in Nigeria. The meeting also hopes to create a proper structure of alliance to ensure cancer gets the attention it deserves” she explained. She also lamented that lack of fund to treat patients, adding that total lack of equipment in hospitals is worrisome and needs to be looked into. In the same vein, Dr. Fraser Kaura of Amref Social Enterprise, notes that the biggest problem of cancer across sub Saharan Africa is the lack of early diagnosis, screening and treatment. Kaura stressed that it is critical for communities to give early education on preven-

tive measures.Also speaking, representative of Takeda, Ms. Susanne Weissbackev, explained that cancer is not

a death sentence as certain types of cancers can be cured if diagnosed early. “The alliance will try to

improve diagnosis, awareness of patients to catch them as early as possible before the cancer gets worse. We want

to increase the chance of every one while enhancing diagnostics in an early stage” she said.

President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, ﬂanked by other healthcare stakeholders during a presentation of portrait to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...recently PHOTO BY NMA

VAPP Act: Underfunding of Women, Health Programme is Violence Kwara Spends N1.1 Billion on AgainstWomen,Says NAPTIP “We can’t afford to say, oh on the effective implementa- be the first violence against Community Health Insurance Kuni Tyessi, Abuja we can’t come to your rescue tion of the VAPP Act. The the female gender. She said: “The fact that because we don’t have money. Scheme For the effective implementation stakeholders meeting was Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Government at the weekend, said it has spent N1.1billion towards funding and implementation of community health insurance scheme to low income rural dwellers in the state. Under the scheme, the government said about 139,174 persons who were low income earners have so far enrolled in the 11 local government councils as at the end of 2016. The scheme started in 2007 under former Governor Bukola Saraki at Shonga in Edu, Asa and Ilorin West Local Government Councils. The present administration in the state under Abdulfatah Ahmed has decided to ensure the spread of the scheme to all other local government councils so as to make it a universal scheme for the people of the state. Governor Ahmed disclosed this in Ilorin during the official launch of universal community health insurance scheme to people of the state. According to him, “Between 2007-2016, the Kwara State Government had partnered the government of Netherlands (through the Dutch Health Insurance Fund and PharmAccess Foundation) and Hygeia Health Management Organisation in the implementation of the scheme. “The Dutch government funded the larger portion of the subsidies while the Hygeia HMO provided the administrative framework for the participation of both

public and private healthcare providers. “Based on the urgent need to improve access to universal healthcare, it became necessary to expand CHIS, which was considered narrow in scope due to its selective focus. “The old scheme, therefore, had to be replaced with a wider-spread, comprehensive, better-funded and managed scheme. Consequently, I signed Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Bill into law in November 2017. The law sets up the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme, which makes contributory health insurance mandatory for all residents of Kwara State. “This law replaces the Community Health Insurance Scheme and ensures universal health coverage to all citizens and residents of the state for a low annual premium. “Following the launch of the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, all citizens and residents of Kwara State are expected to enroll in the program as required by the law establishing it. “No more will citizens and residents of Kwara State be unable to access critical treatment because they cannot afford to pay hospital fees or buy prescribed drugs”. The governor therefore urged all Kwarans and residents in the state to comply with the law and register for the scheme in order to have access the ongoing healthcare initiatives to access quality healthcare.

of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, the federal government, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP), has been called upon to invest more money in the cause of women, as well as their mental and psychological health. The Assistant Director,Legal and Procurement Department, NAPTIP, Ijeoma Amugo, made the call in Abuja during the national stakeholders workshop

themed “VAPP Act 2015: The journey so far and the way forward.” She revealed that there’s no funding for NAPTIP in the implementation of the Act and the agency will not rest on its oars as there are a lot of gaps to be filled. While stressing that it is important that the issue of non-funding is put out there, she noted that government underfunding of womenrelated programmes, which includes their health and well being, must be understood to

there’s no funding for NAPTIP in the implementation of VAPP is the first sign of violence against women and their entire well being in this country and we have to take it up. There must be adequate, full funding for all causes of women. “When there’s enough funding to care for women causes, children will be involved. So if we care about children in this country, we will make the mothers very comfortable and safe. So if VAPP has to work, we have to pump money in the implementation.

That’s obscene because we are pumping money into other sectors of the society, we have to pump money into causes meant for women or else, we can accuse government of violence against women. Pumping of the money should start from the ministry of women affairs.” The VAPP Act which was signed into law in 2015 is not strictly a law prohibiting the abuse and degradation of women, but is all encompassing of the down trodden which includes persons with disabilities a well as children.

NGO Wants Government to AveryNigeriaPartnersSOFItoDeSubsidiseBreastCancerTreatment worm 1500 Children in Lagos James Sowole in Akure A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) has called on government to subsidise treatment of breast cancer in view of the inability of many patients to afford the cost. The Chairman of BRECAN in Ondo State, Mrs Toyin Ayimoro, made the call at a news conference on Crowdfunding for Breast Cancer Patients in Akure, stating that it costs not less than N1.5 million to treat a patient. BRECAN was founded by the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu. According to BRECAN chairman, about 40 women suffering from breast cancer have applied to BRECAN for the funding of the dreaded disease treatment at the Federal

Medical Centre (FMC), Owo and other health facilities in the country. Ayimoro said funding remained a major impediment for the treatment of breast cancer. Ayimoro who was flanked by a consultant m on Breast Cancer, Dr. Katung Aba said many families could not afford the money needed for treatment of the disease of the diasese due to the present economic realities in the country. “There is no how a family can successfully treat cancer because of the economic situation of the country. Many people with cancer have no fund to get medical attention, this has led to the crowdfunding initiative. She appealed to people of the state to contribute as low as N200.00 for the treatment of many people suffering from cancer in the state.

Martins Iﬁjeh Avery Nigeria and Vitamin Angels, associates of WHO and UNICEF have partnered Save Our Future Initiative (SOFI) to de-worm over 1,500 children in Lagos recently. The health outreach programme which took place at Makoko and Ibasa Beach communities of the state, saw mothers bringing out their children en masse to benefit. The elderly also were not left out in the exercise as food stuffs, mosquito treated nets and other items were also distributed. At the occasion, the Managing Director of Avery Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Ebisan Onyema said the health programme is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to the com-

munity, adding that there was a grave need to de-worm the residents. She said, the programme was the second of its kind as Avery alongside SOFI had earlier distributed exercise books to some secondary and primary schools in the state. The company also paid a visit to motherless baby’s homes where they donated cartons of food items and toiletries. Also speaking, member, Board of Trustees of SOFI, Mrs Ngozi Uche-Oji said, “Those de-wormed were within the age of six to 59 months. It was Avery’s way of contributing to the society”. They equally called on both public and private parastatals to assist the government by contributing their own quota to the society.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

INTERVIEWS

Edu: States Need Technical Assistance to Improve Primary Healthcare Dr Betta Edu, a postgraduate degree holder from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is the Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, entrusted with the responsibility of addressing challenges confronting primary healthcare in the state. In this interview with Paul Obi, she stressed on the need for technical assistance for PHC, healthcare workers training, among others sent to the top and help, would further help health planning at the national, state and local government levels. The ability of even the staff to deliver quality healthcare to the client that walks through their door, all of these need some form of technical assistance, they can be technical assistants for on the job delivery of services, they can be technical assistants for M and E, they can be technical assistants for even the laboratory processes, data compilation, analysis and all of that. They all need technical assistants. So when those who are going to be trained are sent to the states they will do a step down training and then those trained will be sent to local governments to cascade this training down to their health facilities where the frontline health workers are and need the training.

How critical is the challenge of lack of technical assistance and support for Primary Health Care in Cross River State? We have a lot of technical gaps both at the state, local government and even at the national level. We have places where people have come from the national to the state as state coordinators but are not able to help the state when it concerns technical assistance to improve primary healthcare, which is like the basis of the health system in Nigeria. So we hope that they can truly build the capacity of staff of NPHCDA to offer technical assistance and build the capacity of state management team to be able to offer leadership at the state level. Also, very important for me is the fact that the basic healthcare fund is about to start. So how would Cross River State implement the healthcare fund? We are about to start implementation and also direct health finance in one of the models which will be used for the basic healthcare fund. So a lot of capacity building, technical assistance at the state and local government level is needed. This will be like the first time that people will be managing funds directly at the primary healthcare facilities, so you need to build even the capacity of those in charge of that facility to be able to manage our funds. This is really innovative and we welcome it and we’ll support it as much as we can. Generally, Cross River State is taking the lead in vitalisation of primary healthcare in Nigeria. A lot has been done from improving the human resource angle, to improving our infrastructure and the quality of service delivery. Recently, I think as close as last week, about 54 health workers were sanctioned because they

Edu

were collecting monies under the table and were doing a lot of sharp practices which should not be with this. We have people who we have to throw off our pay roll because they were ghost workers and they were not coming to deliver services to our people while the government went ahead to employ new ones. So a lot is being done to improve primary health care. So how impactful is technical assistance to healthcare service delivery in the state? It is very important. Healthcare is about quality of service, and for you to deliver that service you need some level of technical know-how. For instance, the ability of a Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) Officer to do a proper job in the field and the ability of frontline health worker to input the right data which will be

You appeared to be so passionate about improving primary healthcare, what are the efforts your agency has put in place to improve the scale and reach of health services across the state? A lot like I said, we have identified the gaps going forward. We have worked in each local government in Cross River State to make them hundred percent functional. As we speak, we have also improved our services our community out and our reach. We are working towards universal health coverage in Cross River State, we want to ensure that every woman has access to skilled attendant. We want to ensure that every child has access to vaccine, and immunization coverage has also been worked out so that we can improve it. All of these sectors which I’ve described all need technical assistants and that’s where today’s business play a role.

What efforts are on ground to make health workers in the state become more efficient and effective in rendering health services to the people? We are increasing our monitoring at the facility level and local government level. Beyond that, we are about to introduce an E-system where people go to work, clock in with their thumb; which is a kind of biometrics verification to show that they have come to work. When they are leaving they clock out, so that we can be sure that they are at work, with the monitoring, other sharp practices will definitely and gradually fizzle out because when they know that you never can tell who’s going to walk through their doors in the next ten minutes to check up what they are doing, they will sit up. How ready is Cross River in order to properly benefit from the healthcare fund? Well, my state meets all the criteria for the basic health care fund. One of the criteria that you should have is a primary healthcare development agency. We have had that for two years now. Another criteria is that you should have a start up insurance scheme which we already have and it has been launched. We also have every other criteria which has been rolled out for is to access basic health care functions. Cross River meets those criteria. I think the Governor, Prof Ben Ayade is very pro-health and he has been concerned about delivery and how to improve it, so we are already ready for the basic healthcare fund. All we need is just the technical assistance. It is a learning process for everyone, every Nigerian is learning right now, so we too, we are ready to learn, we are ready to run with it and produce results.

Brown: Emergency Medicine will Reduce Mortality Rate in Nigeria Dr. Ola Brown is the Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria with over 50 medical doctors in its employ and several air ambulances. She will make a guest appearance at tomorrow’s THISDAY Healthcare Policy Dialogue, where she will be talking on why emergency medicine is crucial in addressing healthcare issues in Nigeria. In this interview with Martins Iﬁjeh she emphasised the importance of emergency healthcare in Nigeria How is Flying Doctors Nigeria addressing healthcare challenges in Nigeria? Flying Doctors ferries patients from areas of low care to more suitable levels of care. One of the crucial factors in emergency medicine is time. If a patient needing emergency medical care is not transported on time, it may be deadly. So a lot of evidence shows that the time a patient can see a specialised doctor is one of the most pertinent issues and most important factor in a patient living or dying. We have been in operation since the past 10 years, covering 11 countries across Africa. We presently have over 50 medical doctors as staff across Africa. Do you have your own air ambulances for the healthcare services you provide? Yes we have our own plane and helicopters. You know helicopters are the most flexible type of vehicle for medical transport because they can land almost anywhere, and they are also quick. They cover a long distance in a short amount of time. This is exactly what a patient needing emergency medical care needs. In Nigeria, we don’t have as many airports as we would have loved to, so this makes helicopter more versatile. For instance, transporting patients

Brown

from certain places could take days or long hours, but with helicopters, it could just be few minutes. We are providing an essential service. There are millions of people dying because they cannot get the right specialist, so I believe this is something needed, especially in Nigeria. How can poor people access this kind of healthcare? The poor people cannot access anything on their own in Nigeria, not even food. That is

why we need government policies in place to ensure essential services are provided for them. For special cases we do charity evacuation. For instance, recently we evacuated a man in a rural village who had sickle cell crisis. We needed to go from a distance between Sokoto and Lagos, and of course he was on oxygen. So it was logistically impossible to transport that kind of person by road. We evacuated him with our helicopter for free. But we cannot do every evacuation for free. That is why, in terms of access to healthcare, there needs to be policies by government to make it more affordable and accessible. Is the government doing anything to address Emergency Medicine in the country? I recently saw that the National Assembly has passed the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). 50 per cent of that fund will go into Primary Heath Care (PHC), 45 per cent will go into the Ministry of Health, while five per cent will go into Emergency Medicine. Why are you involved in THISDAY Healthcare Policy Dialogue? Healthcare is a big passion of mine. Having

this summit is a crucial step to reforming our healthcare system. Glad one of the focus of the dialogue is on emergency medicine, because this provides a rescue, as it will help us reduce mortality rates in the country, as well as provide emergency care en route to the hospital. I am looking forward to the conference and the panel sessions. This is an opportunity to discuss on reforming our healthcare, and adding value to the billion lives in Africa. Are you partnering hospitals in Nigeria, especially in rural areas? We partner with a number of hospitals in the country. Rural areas are generally where we move patients from, then to urban or specialised facilities. Just yesterday here, we moved a patient from Liberia into Lagos. So we move people into large cities like Lagos and Accra where there are hospitals adequate enough to take care of their needs. Also recently, we had a Italian patient who was volunteering in a rural area in Mali, and she started having an asthma attack. Within a few minutes we took off from Nigeria, retrieved her from Mali in a remote airstrip. She was put on life support till we got to Lagos .

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

HEALTH NEWS

Stunting, Wasting, Underweight Prevalence Increases in Children Says MICS Kuni Tyessi, Abuja The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in its most recent report on childhood malnutrition has pegged Nigeria’s stunting rate at 43.6 per cent, wasting at 10.8 per cent and underweight at 31.5 per cent. Also, the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2013, the latest health survey after every five years, states that more than five million new-borns lack essential nutrients and anti-bodies that would protect them from diseases and death, as they are not being exclusively breastfed. Secretary-General of Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Mr. Yinka Lawal, disclosed this at a project inception media round-table on the Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS). He said the latest National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS) puts exclusive breast

feeding rate at 25 per cent, adding that these negative results indicate an alarming rising trend in Nigeria’s malnutrition burden, which continues to further impede the nation’s economic development if not checked. Lawal who was represented by the organisation’s executive secretary, Beatrice Eluaka, said other nutrition challenges which continue to occur unabated, include ineffective coordination to nutrition activities, inadequate fund allocations and releases for planned implementation, lack of visibility of nutrition issues, as well as low uptake of preventive measures for combating nutrition. He said these challenges and several others should be a wake-up call for government at all levels and relevant stakeholders to scale up and smoothen operations in the provision of nutrition- related and health interventions across the country.

Advert Ban, Poor Economy Crippling Medical Practice in Nigeria,Says Expert Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Abuja based oncologist and anti-ageing physician, Dr. Estelle Mbadiwe has urged the Medical Council to lift ban prohibiting medical doctors from advertising, as it cripples the success of private medical practice in Nigeria. Mbadiwe who is the CEO of Life Medical SPA revealed this in an interview with THISDAY, explaining that most Nigerians have been deprived of certain medical facilities available in Nigeria as the means to communicate same to them is not provided. At the end, she said, they end up going outside the country to get services that are available in Nigeria. “We, medical doctors need to have a way of telling people what we have, because they are not spirits and can’t find out on their own where these things are. “The medical council should allow doctors to advertise. They allow these Indian doctors come here to advertise to us, so we need to let people know that the services are here in Nigeria,” she noted. The encologist also lamented over the situation of Nigerian economy and it’s rippling effects on Nigerians which has continued to affect success rate compared to medical practitioners outside Nigeria like the US. “The economy of Nigeria is so painful that people can’t have access to treatment. Most patients can’t afford the treatments. Sometimes, I end up treating them free of charge. “The money a practitioner in other countries will make in three months, it will take a medical doctor here in Nigeria a whole year or more to make. So you see, the success rate is really poor. The Federal Government needs to do something about it and

help us”, She said. Speaking on general wellness, the physician noted with regret that most Nigerians don’t fully understand what good health entails, and therefore go about it the wrong way. She emphasised that good health must come from the inside, adding that most diseases suffered today comes from the inside as being healthy transcends looking physically fit. She explained: “Most of the time, people do great things for the exterior of the body like washing, scrubbing, brushing, applying creams, gels and sprays, soaking in hot tub and saunas and steam baths, getting massage, pedicure and manicure and hair done. “All these are necessary for the health or beauty SPA but the medical SPA treats, cleanse, detoxify and rejuvenate the internal health “Our bodies have become virtually a dumping ground for hundreds of thousands of toxic compounds and minerals that invade our air, water and foods. Its important to cleanse our inner body on a regular basis, just as we clean our outer body, because most diseases suffered today comes from the inside. “If you do not remove waste from your body, your body becomes very toxic and you reabsorb the toxins thereby re-intoxicating yourself.” “Medical SPA detoxifies and purifies our body system. It rids it of these harmful toxins. The colon, the liver, kidneys, the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system. “Medical SPA services are available in Nigeria, such as ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, angel of water colonic irrigation, detoxifying facials and body treatment etc.” Mbadiwe also stressed the need for internal well-being which is the crux of good health.

He said: “Also, the MICS puts stunting rate at 43.6 per cent as against 32.9 per cent in 2015, wasting in 2017 at 10.8

per cent as against 7.2 per cent in 2015 and underweight at 31.5 per cent as against 19.4 per cent in 2015.

“Malnutrition remains a key contributor to infant and maternal mortality and morbidity, poor cognitive

development, increased severity of diseases which adversely affects productivity in Nigeria.”

L-R: Programme Manager, Save Our Future Initiative (SOFI), Mrs. Chibuzo Onyemaobi; Executive Director, SOFI, Mrs. Ngozi Uche Oji; Managing Director, Avery Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Ebisan Onyema; Admin/Human Resources Manager, Avery Nigeria Ltd, Gloria Aiyemomi; and Technical Support Manager (Marketing), Avery Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Agwo Edward, during the de-worming of 1,500 children by SOFI in Lagos recently

Foundation to Stage 20KmWalk against DrugAbuse Kuni Tyessi, Abuja The Tagwaye Charity Foundation, in collaboration with Elizabeth Jackrich Aid Foundation, will on August 4 organise a 20 kilometres walk against drug abuse in Abuja. The convener of the walk, Prince Ingawa, said the walk will start at the Unity Fountain before culminating

with a sensitisation workshop at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre on August 6. Bemoaning the unhealthy exposure of Nigerian youths to substance addiction, he said it is threatening the resource base of the nation on daily basis. Last year, the Senate raised alarm about the prevalence of drug abuse across the 19

states of Northern Nigeria, stating that over three million bottles of codeine syrup were consumed daily in the region. “Statistics also shows that over 40 per cent of our youth are either users, abusers, addicts or have become totally dependent on drugs and substance. Our schools, motor parks and civil centre are all overtaken by a generation

of youths who find solace in drugs,” Ingawa lamented. He said drug abuse was the root cause of crimes in our society, adding the foundation intends to replicate in Abuja its engagement in Katsina State, where with the support of the state government, it organised sensitisation programmes in the media in all the senatorial zones of the state.

Nigeria in Dire Need of Resident Firm Warns against Product Doctors,Say Experts Abuse Olawale Ajimotokan An Abuja-based neurosurgeon and consultant, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, and his counterpart, Dr. Iyore James, have said Nigeria is in urgent need of the services of resident doctors. In a paper titled “Ring My Bell”, the two experts said resident doctors had formed a formidable force within the health sector and were important members of the health care team and should be coveted. While criticising religious practices which discourages people from seeking medical attention, they eulogised the effort of the President Muhammadu Buhari in signing the residency bill into law, reiterating that doctors are fighting for improvements. The paper read, “You know we are short of doctors. You know we are short of trained specialists. You know resident doctors become specialists and they do massive amounts of work in the hospitals. “President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Residency Bill into law which is a welcome development. Resident doctors are the work horses in hospitals and

Peter Uzoho are young doctors training to become consultants and specialists. “They are very important members of the health care team and should be coveted case in Nigeria. Raise your voices. We will not be used and abused. “As often, we will write to inform and educate healthcare practitioners, the public and the government. Some religious leaders pose major healthcare dilemma for our population. “We need more voices. We need more people talking and more people educating both the public and the government. “We must come together and collaborate in increasing the volume of the discourse. We need to disrupt the status quo in our healthcare system, explode it and rebuild it from the ashes. “After all, has God not given man the knowledge to make advances in medicine and technology? Our traditional healers and herbalists must recognize the limits of their therapy, set ego aside, be honest and advise patients to seek medical help. There are many more to inform and educate.”

A leading beverage manufacturing company, Tasty Time Limited, has warned the public against using some of its products for substance abuse. Speaking against the background of the recent arrest of some youths in Lagos for cultism and substance abuse, the firm said its premium Tasty Time mix-to-drink blackcurrant flavoured product was not in any way associated with the infamous ‘scoochies’. In a statement signed by its legal counsel, Mr. Ayodele Kusamotu, Tasty Time noted that it was not into the production of alcoholic or intoxicating substances and warned youths against using its products for wrong purposes. The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Tasty Time Limited has been drawn to a media campaign aimed at evoking negative perception of one of its leading products in the market. “During the parade of some arrested cultists in Lagos last week, police authorities had displayed Tasty Time mix-todrink blackcurrant flavour product container and referred to it as ‘scoochies’.

“As a responsible company with track record of adherence to quality standards, we make clear to state that Tasty Time flavoured mix-to-drink blackcurrant is not in any way associated with ‘scoochies’. “Our products, which are non-alcoholic, are produced under a strict hygienic condition and certified by NAFDAC. While our esteemed customers reserve the right to mix our products with any other thing, other than the recommended liquids, we state emphatically that we are not into the production of alcoholic or intoxicating substances. “We urge those desperate to tarnish our reputation to desist from doing so as we may be compelled to explore legal means to address such sinister action. “While we restate our commitment to our loyal customers, we urge the public to disregard images being circulated through the social media where the content of Tasty Time ready-to-drink blackcurrant flavoured product is referred to as ‘scoochies.’” The company noted that the relevant regulatory agencies had been notified of the development.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; JULY 26, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Only Committed States Qualify for $400m World BankYESSO Programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ndubuisi Francis Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2039; The federal government has revealed that only states that demonstrate readiness, commitment and willingness to contribute 10 per cent counterpart fund are qualified to access the $400 million World Bank Youth Employment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) programme. The seven-year-long programme, which commenced in 2013, was designed to increase access of the poor and vulnerable, using improved safety net systems to youth employment opportunities in all participating states and to provide targeted grant transfers to the poor, vulnerable and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-east.

YESSOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Acting National Coordinator, Hajara Umar Sammi, who spoke in an interview, on the sidelines of the second quarter progress review meeting of YESSO in Abuja, stated that states desirous of partaking must not only show interest and commitment, but be ready to contribute 10 per cent counterpart fund. She said: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;For states to benefit from this programme, it must show interest, commitment and be ready to pay a counterpart fund of 10 per cent of the total costs, presently, only 15 states are benefiting across the country.â&#x20AC;? Sammi expressed gratitude that the holistic data already collated by YESSO on the very poor in the society as well as for the IDPs is now being used by the federal and state govern-

ments in selecting and getting beneficiaries for conditional cash transfers because of its credibility. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;The YESSO objective is basically to increase access to poor people from their households , poor individuals to employment strengthening social safety nets system and also the other part is to provide targeted grant transfer to the IDPs, so the intention are in three categories. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;There is component one, two and three manned at the federal level and also at the state level where we have a coordinating unit that is in charge of strengthening the social safety net system; ensuring that there is a community development or target-based mechanism is used to identify where these communities are mobilised.

STL Trustees ReafďŹ rms Commitment to Innovation Ugo Aliogo The Chief Executive Officer, STL Trustees, Funmi Ekundayo, has reaffirmed the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment drive innovation to ensure that it meets clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs in the area of trust transaction. According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the dynamics of a trust transaction of today might be different from the same type of transaction tomorrow.â&#x20AC;? Ekundayo, who stated that this in a statement made available to THISDAY by the company, noted that trust transactions involve a lot of documented provisions that needs to be implemented within stipulated timelines and on an ongoing basis. She also stated that the firm realised that the training and retraining of its staff was imperative for the company to remain outstanding, adding

that its major focus remains to deliver, not only quality service, but quality service with the desired speed to excite our clients. Ekundayo further stated that the company was actively involved in the debut Sukuk issue in Nigeria; debut FGN Sukuk issue in Nigeria, debut local contractors refinance bond in Nigeria, debut Infrastructure and ethical funds in Nigeria; and other project finance debt issues for sub-sovereign and corporate bodies in the country. She explained that as part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to assist clients navigate the complexities of increasing economic uncertainty, the company would be offering a number of customised retail products designed to meet a variety of investment goals and risk profiles. These include Controlling You Retirement Voluntarily

(STL CRV), STL Child Education Trust (STL CET) and STL Target. The STL Trustees CEO stated that with strong footprint in bond trusteeship, the company was also highly rated in the offering of superior trusteeship services to corporate entities (As Security and Notes Trustees), trusts of real estate transactions as well as private trust services to high networth individuals (HNIs) and individuals falling within different income brackets. She added that the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial position was in excess of N35 billion and sits on business size of over N1 trillion. According to Ekundayo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The STL Trustees was a delegate trustee to the first Sukuk Issuance in Nigeria, the State of Osun Sukuk Al-Ijara which was issued by the government of the State of Osun to finance the construction of modern elementary, middle and High schools in the State.

Labour Tackles FG Over Botched Promotion Examination Ugo Aliogo Worried by the cancellation of promotion interview organised by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) for workers in the Directorate Cadre in Abuja, the organised Labour under the auspices of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has demanded that the officers affected should be adequately compensated in order to avert industrial crisis. In a statement signed by the ASCSN Secretary-General,

Comrade Alade Lawal, it noted that 100 senior civil servants in the directorate cadre were invited from different parts of the country for promotion examination fixed for June 25-28, in Abuja, but the examination was cancelled after they had completed accreditation. Lawal, said it was sad that senior civil servants were made to risk their lives, pay transport fares and accommodation in Abuja, arrived at the venue of the promotion examination only for it to be canceled.

The statement further noted that such an action could create the impression that some top government officials were sadists who take delight in inflicting sorrow on innocent civil servants. Lawal expressed displeasure with the development, calling on the FCSC and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) to take necessary steps to pay the officers concerned double their Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for the trauma and anxiety caused them.

Stakeholders Seek Capital Market Recovery Nume Ekeghe

The Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria (AACN) recently held its seventh annual investor conference in London, where key stakeholders in both the private and public sector gathered to deliberate on ways to drive the recovery of the capital market. A statement from the associa-

tion quoted the acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk, represented by the Head of SEC Lagos Zonal Office, Mr. Emeka Okolo, to have opened the event with a panel discussion on key regulatory developments and changes in the Nigerian market, and the impact on Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).

Also present at the event were Africa Economist, Standard Chartered Bank, Ms. Sarah BayntonGlen, who made a presentation on the topic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sustaining the Nigerian Capital Market Recovery,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; while FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ) Associate Executive Director, Ms. Kaodi Ugoji, spoke on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Engendering Transparency and Liquidity in the FX and Fixed Income Securities Marketsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

L-R: Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited, Mr. Funso Akere; Chairman, Novare Real Estate Africa, Prof. Fabian Ajogun; Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chinyeaka Ohaa and Chief Judge, FCT, Mallam Ishak Bello, during the opening of the Novare Central in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY JULY 24, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $72.01 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $71.85 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), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

MARKET NEWS

Union Bank Grows Half-year Proﬁt after Tax by 25% to N12bn Goddy Egene Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has released its financial results for the half year ended June 30, 2018, showing improved performance indicators. The lender recorded gross earnings of N83.3 billion, indicating a growth of 16 per cent. Net interest income rose 14 per cent from N30.1 billion to N34.3 billion, driven by an improvement in net interest

margins from 7.9 per cent to 8.2 per cent on the back of lower cost of funds. Non-interest income grew by 37 per cent to N21.1 billion, from N15.4 billion following enhanced treasury trading income, recoveries and 311 per cent growth in alternate channel revenues. Credit/other impairment charges went up by 26 per cent from N3.7 billion to N4.6 billion. The bank ended the period with a profit before tax (PBT)

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

of N11.7 billion, up 23 per cent compared with N9.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2017. Profit after tax (PAT) grew faster, rising by 25 per cent from N9.2 billion to N11.5 billion in 2018. A further analysis of the results show that Union Bank is attracting more patronage as customer deposits rose three per cent to N826.7 billion, compared with N802.4 billion in 2017. However, loans and advances to

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

customers fell by nine per cent from N560.7 billion to N508.5 billion in 2018. Non-performing loan ratio improved from 19.8 per cent to 10.8 per cent. Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank said: “In the first half of the year, we have continued to see positive results from our efficiency and productivity drive. Across all our business lines, we witnessed strong underlying performance, trans-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

lating into improved earnings. We continue to focus on the recovery of non-performing loans. With the resolution in Q2 2018 of the large real estate exposure which was impaired in December 2017, the Group NPL ratio is down to 10.8 per cent from 14.9 per cent at 31 March 2018 and 19.8 per cent at 31 December 2017.” Also speaking, Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Oyinkan Adewale said: “We are

O F

pleased that for the first time since 2012, the group’s retained earnings moved from a negative to a positive position, thus eliminating a major technical impediment to the payment of dividends. Operating Expenses for the period were affected by some one-off items, as well as a combined 25 per cent increase in NDIC premium and AMCON levy. For the rest of the year, we will intensify our cost rationalisation initiatives.”

2 5 / 0 7 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˜ ͺ;˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

Nigeria Daily Stock Market Report:

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THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price Weightin YTD Index to Change g Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1,485.10

0.04%

-3.7%

48.5%

18.7%

6.7%

6.7x

0.8x

5.9%

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

38.80

-0.5%

21.2%

-4.8%

-4.3%

32.6%

5.2%

6.3x

2.2x

7.0%

15.9%

Zenith Bank PLC

23.25

0.6%

12.3%

-9.3%

-10.3%

26.3%

3.6%

3.9x

1.0x

11.6%

25.7%

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

104.50

-0.9%

7.3%

-22.5%

-22.6%

17.4%

26.2x

4.4x

3.9%

3.8%

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,450.00

-0.1%

7.8%

-6.8%

73.3%

18.9%

33.8x

21.5x

2.9%

3.0%

Dangote Cement PLC

235.00

0.0%

6.6%

2.2%

21.7%

9.9%

24.0x

5.6x

4.5%

4.2%

11.6%

FBN Holdings Plc

9.40

2.2%

6.1%

6.8%

6.9%

6.7%

0.8%

6.8x

0.5x

2.7%

14.8%

Access Bank PLC

10.05

0.5%

4.5%

-3.8%

-5.2%

12.7%

1.5%

4.9x

0.6x

6.4%

20.2%

8.9%

United Bank for Africa PLC

9.50

3.8%

4.2%

-7.8%

-8.7%

15.9%

1.9%

4.2x

0.7x

Ecobank Transnational Inc

20.50

-0.7%

4.1%

20.6%

26.0%

12.2%

1.0%

6.7x

0.8x

650.00

0.0%

3.3%

3.8%

22.3%

13.2%

3.3x

0.7x

2.8%

29.9%

48.50

-0.1%

3.5%

16.9%

18.6%

30.8%

4.1%

9.2x

2.5x

1.0%

10.9%

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

23.8% 15.0%

Unilever Nigeria PLC

52.55

0.9%

3.4%

28.2%

30.7%

20.4%

8.7%

29.0x

3.8x

1.0%

3.4%

Guinness Nigeria PLC

96.00

0.0%

2.4%

2.1%

15.4%

6.1%

18.3x

2.4x

0.7%

5.5%

Lafarge Africa PLC

27.50

-6.0%

1.0%

-38.7%

-54.0%

-10.1%

1.7x

5.4%

-32.7%

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.85

7.6%

1.0%

-24.8%

-28.3%

10.4%

1.4%

1.5x

0.3x

5.9%

Oando PLC

4.80

-4.0%

1.1%

-19.9%

10.3%

1.5%

6.0x

0.3x

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

15.50

-8.0%

0.9%

-22.5%

-23.9%

45.0%

20.0%

5.2x

1.7x

15.6%

19.1%

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

83.00

0.0%

1.4%

22.6%

39.7%

29.4%

8.3x

2.8x

4.0%

12.1%

International Brew eries PLC

37.50

9.8%

0.6%

-31.2%

-31.8%

24.6%

7.4%

39.3x

8.9x

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

28.70

-3.4%

0.7%

-1.0%

10.4%

2.8%

6.3x

0.8x

3.5%

15.9% 17.2%

68.8% 16.8%

2.5%

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.13

-2.6%

0.5%

-22.6%

-23.6%

12.9%

2.8%

5.8x

0.7x

1.7%

UAC of Nigeria PLC

13.20

0.0%

0.5%

-21.9%

1.5%

0.6%

21.5x

0.6x

4.8%

Diamond Bank PLC

1.22

-6.2%

0.4%

-18.7%

-22.3%

-5.8%

-0.7%

-13.0%

25.0%

5.3%

9.7x

2.3x

8.5%

10.3%

13.9%

5.8%

0.9%

3.4x

0.2x

5.5%

29.1%

4.8%

16.6%

Total Nigeria PLC

FCMB Group Plc

200.00

7.5%

0.5%

1.80

-0.6%

0.6%

0.1x

4.7% -60.0%

11 PLC

167.50

-6.9%

0.4%

-13.9%

38.8%

15.7%

6.0x

2.0x

Forte Oil PLC

23.00

-8.7%

0.3%

-47.1%

-45.2%

17.6%

1.6%

12.4x

1.9x

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

15.15

0.0%

0.3%

-26.5%

-28.4%

10.7%

5.0%

14.4x

1.5x

3.3%

7.0%

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

10.70

1.9%

0.3%

-31.7%

-31.4%

2.0%

0.8%

50.0x

1.7x

1.5%

2.0%

8.1%

Presco PLC

59.55

0.0%

0.3%

-13.1%

35.8%

24.8%

2.5x

0.8x

3.4%

40.5%

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

20.00

-0.5%

0.4%

8.1%

4.1%

62.4%

20.6%

9.5x

5.4x

7.5%

10.5%

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

9.00

0.0%

0.3%

-10.0%

0.8x

8.4%

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.60

-2.6%

0.3%

-28.2%

-25.4%

5.3%

1.1%

8.1x

0.6x

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

24.30

0.0%

0.3%

-13.2%

17.3%

1.8%

6.7x

1.1x

4.3x

Sterling Bank PLC

1.43

2.1%

0.4%

32.4%

26.5%

10.7%

1.0%

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

8.70

-2.8%

0.2%

-28.4%

0.0%

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

16.40

-1.8%

0.2%

-24.1%

4.4%

2.8%

Chemical and Allied Products P

35.00

2.9%

0.2%

2.9%

-2.0%

66.2%

30.2%

Beta Glass PLC

78.00

7.0%

0.2%

52.0%

17.7%

11.5%

9.5x

Transcorp Hotels Plc

7.45

0.0%

0.1%

3.3%

5.3%

2.9%

19.5x

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďǇ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱǆ ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϲǆ ƉŽƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϵ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǇĞƐƚĞƌĚĂǇ ǁĞƌĞ , DW/KE ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ s ZdKE ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ hd/y ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ǁĞƌĞ >/s ^dK < ;Ͳ ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ : W h>K/> ;Ͳϵ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ D E &/d ;Ͳϵ͘ϭйͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚŽĚĂǇ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞǆƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƚƌĞŶĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵƚ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ƌƵůĞ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ ŽĨ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂǇ͕ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ Ͳ ƚŚĞ ZĞůĂƟǀĞ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ /ŶĚĞǆ ;Z^/Ϳ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůǇ ƐƚĂŶĚƐ Ăƚ Ϯϵ͘Ϯϳ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌƐŽůĚ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͘

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

Current Price

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

Thursday, July 26, 2018

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

2.09

10.0%

C A VER T ON

2.09

14.9% 23.3%

0.4x

1.4%

1.1x

2.2%

25.9x

1.1x

45.7%

3.9%

16.4x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

1.6x

1.4%

10.6%

1.0x

1.8%

5.1%

T ra de s

T ic k er

C H A M P ION

12.4% 4.2%

by V o lum e

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

FB NH

88.1

2.2%

UB A

51 .7

3.8%

A C C ESS

39.2

0.5%

Z EN IT H B A N K

20.4

0.6%

D IA M ON D B N K

1 8.0

-6.2% -0.9%

10.0%

C UT IX

3.99

9.9%

F ID ELIT YB K

1.89

9.9%

B ET A GLA S

78.00

7.0%

P R EST IGE

0.52

4.0%

T R A N SC OR P

1 5.1

H M A R KIN S

0.27

3.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

1 3.9

9.9%

UB A

9.50

3.8%

GUA R A N T Y

7.8

-0.5%

WEM A B A N K

0.77

2.7%

FCM B

6.9

-0.6%

FB NH

9.40

2.2%

ST ER LN B A N K

6.5

1 .4%

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er LIVEST OC K J A P A ULOIL

T o p 10

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

0.63

-10.0%

0.28

-9.7%

M B EN EF IT

0.30

-9.1%

R OYA LEX

0.30

-9.1%

D A N GSUGA R

15.50

-8.8%

UN ION D A C

T ra de s

by V a lue

T ic k er

Value

FB NH

820.0

P ric e C hg % 2.2%

UB A

482.0

3.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

473.3

0.6%

A C C ESS

394.2

0.5%

D A N GC EM

368.1

0.0%

0.21

-8.7%

GUA R A N T Y

305.5

-0.5%

23.10

-8.3%

1 93.6

-0.9%

J A IZ B A N K

0.56

-8.2%

N EST LE

1 25.1

0.0%

SOVR EN IN S

0.23

-8.0%

WA P C O

92.4

-6.0%

T H OM A SWY

0.26

-7.1%

D A N GSUGA R

55.1

-8.8%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Eronmosele Aziba | eaziba@afrinvest.com

˾ THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Presco Records N25bn Profit after Tax, Pays N2bn Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of Presco Plc yesterday approved the payment of 200 kobo dividend per share amounting to N2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017. Endorsing the dividend payment at the 25th annual general meeting (AGM) held in Benin, Edo State, the shareholders also commended the board, management and staff for remaining on the path of profitability amidst

the challenging environment. Addressing the shareholders, Chairman of Presco Plc, Pierre Vandebeeck, said the company witnessed successful year with revenue growing by 42.3 per cent N15 billion in 2016 to N22.3billion in 2017. He said the company posted profit after tax was N25.40 billion as against N21.74 billion in 2016. The Chairman explained that fresh fruit bunches harvested in 2017 was 169,325 tons compared with 164,313 tons in 2016. According to the chairman,

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

crude palm oil produced was 37, 637 tons as against 35,555 tons while , “refined, bleached and deodorised oil 23,330btons (2016:28,505 tons) and clean produced was 37,637 tons.” Vandebeeck said: “We have put our hands to the plough and cannot go back. We achieved achieve a record oil palm planting of 3,600 ha in 2017 and are focused to continue the increase in our palm plantation with the plan to plant an additional minimum 3,500 ha in 2018.

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 24-July-2018, unless otherwise stated.

“Work on the new refinery and fractional plant, palm kernel crushing plant and increase in installed capacity of the palm oil mill are expected to near completion by the end of 2018. Before now, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Felix Nwabuko had explained that with the cultivation of over 8,000 hectares in two years, it will take just another year to get the full plantation ready. According to him, , the company has cultivated its new 3600 hectares in Orhionmwon

Local Government. “This year we intend to plant on 4000 hectares. If we can do 100, 000 hectares in Edo State, we will do it. The company’s 15,000 hectares expansion project is as a result of the far-reaching reforms being implemented by the Edo State Government in the agriculture sector. The deliberate effort and reforms initiated by the Godwin Obaseki led-administration and the federal government, to prioritise agriculture as an alternative means to derive

economic growth, are highly commendable,” he said. He lauded Governor Obaseki’s initiative to make land available for investors, who are ready to invest in the people and other resources in Edo State, saying “I am excited that the state government is mapping out land through the Geographic Information Service (GIS) initiative, for allocation of land for investors who mean business in the state. We expect that state government would speed up the process.”

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 178.26 178.48 0.17% Nigeria International Debt Fund 245.97 246.18 6.36% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.84 1.58% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 3.95% 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 12.50% 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 18.38 18.94 0.60% ARM Discovery Fund 392.55 404.39 0.90% ARM Ethical Fund 28.65 29.52 4.88% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.62% 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 146.35 147.38 -3.52% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.17% 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 10.64% Paramount Equity Fund 12.01 12.32 8.33% Women's Investment Fund 103.38 106.03 2.73% 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 N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,179.98 1,180.69 9.16% FBN Heritage Fund 144.72 145.83 3.68% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.10% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.56 $113.86 3.18% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.73 $114.04 3.13% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 163.17 165.46 1.98% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.30 1.32 0.00% Legacy Debt Fund 3.10 3.10 7.25% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.37% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 102.09 103.46 2.31% 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 12.41% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 1.34% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.21% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.92 121.25 5.12%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.18 1.20 3.31% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,061.77 1,061.77 5.35% 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 12.57 12.68 -3.75% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.00% 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 1.33 1.35 11.42% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.74 11.80 6.38% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.06% 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 128.23 128.90 -1.04% 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 1.61 1.61 8.63% 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 2,321.42 2,340.25 3.48% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 185.68 185.68 5.23% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.00 1.01 -0.50% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 241.44 241.49 9.63% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 173.11 175.04 -3.35% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.88% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 9,331.01 9,456.40 -3.51% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 4.11% 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 1.16 1.16 -2.35% United Capital Bond Fund 1.52 1.52 6.90% United Capital Equity Fund 0.77 0.78 -0.25% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.54% United Capital Eurobond Fund 103.99 103.99 3.97% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 3.72% 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 12.59 12.79 0.89% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.29 13.43 1.98% Zenith Income Fund 20.59 20.59 8.80% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.23%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41

1.01%

136.73

3.22%

51.39

1.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.95 138.75 105.74

12.15 141.63 107.68

-0.99% -2.88% -3.23%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.48 8.49 16.92 17.89 145.43

4.52 8.57 17.02 18.09 147.43

-5.37% -11.21% -3.29% -9.00% 6.26%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

REUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) CONSULTANCY SERVICES– FIRMS SELECTION

SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE Federal Republic of Nigeria

KǇŽ ^ƚĂƚĞ ZƵƌĂů ĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů DĂƌŬĞƟŶŐ WƌŽũĞĐƚ ;Z DWͿ Project ID: P163353

ƚŚĞ KǇŽ ^ƚĂƚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŶŽǁ ŝŶǀŝƚĞƐ ĞůŝŐŝďůĞ ĐŽŶƐƵůƟŶŐ ĮƌŵƐ ;͞ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ͟Ϳ ƚŽ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ Issue Date: 23rd July, 2018 /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƟŶŐ CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR DETAILED CONCEPT DESIGN, ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƋƵĂůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, PREPARATION ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS AND PROCUREMENT SUPPORT FOR REHABILITATION OF 500 KM PRIORITIZED RURAL ROADS UNDER DESIGN AND BUILD CONTRACTS IN OYO STATE. /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ǀĞƌŝĮĂďůĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůĮůůŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ ŝŶ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ƉƌŽĮůĞ ƐƚĂƟŶŐ͗ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ŶĂŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐůŝĞŶƚͬďĞŶĞĮĐŝĂƌǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ŶĂŵĞ ;ƐͿ ŽĨ Reference No: RAAMP/PROC./5/OC/05/2 ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ Įƌŵ ;ƐͿ ŝĨ ĂŶǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚƵƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ŽĨ The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ĂŶĚ Ă ďƌŝĞĨ ŶĂƌƌĂƟǀĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐĞ ŚĂƐ ĂƉƉůŝĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĮŶĂŶĐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ;/ Ϳ ͲdŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ ĂŶĚ &ƌĞŶĐŚ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ŐĞŶĐǇ ; & Ϳ ĂŶĚ ŽŶͲůĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝŶŐ ƚŽ KǇŽ ^ƚĂƚĞ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ <ĞǇ ǆƉĞƌƚƐ ǁŝůů ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĞǀĂůƵĂƚĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚůŝƐƟŶŐ ƐƚĂŐĞ͘ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟǌĞĚ ƌƵƌĂů ƌŽĂĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŝǀĞƌ ĐƌŽƐƐŝŶŐƐ͕ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶͬƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ĂŐƌŽ dŚĞ ƐŚŽƌƚͲůŝƐƟŶŐ ĐƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǆƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ; Ž/Ϳ ĂƌĞ ůŽŐŝƐƟĐƐ ŚƵďƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶĂů ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ZƵƌĂů ĐĐĞƐƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂŶŶĞǆ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚƌĂŌ dŽZ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů DĂƌŬĞƟŶŐ WƌŽũĞĐƚ ;Z DWͿ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĂƌƚ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͗ www.ramp.gov.ng ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞĞĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝŶŐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂƉƉůŝĞĚ ƚŽ ĞůŝŐŝďůĞ ƉĂǇŵĞŶƚƐ dŚĞ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ ŝƐ ĚƌĂǁŶ ƚŽ ^ĞĐƟŽŶ ///͕ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƐƵůƟŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͘ ƉĂƌĂŐƌĂƉŚƐ͕ϯ͘ϭϰ͕ ϯ͘ϭϲ͕ ĂŶĚ ϯ͘ϭϳ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ͛Ɛ ͞WƌŽĐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚ ZĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ /ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ WƌŽũĞĐƚ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝŶŐ ;/W&Ϳ ŽƌƌŽǁĞƌƐ͟ :ƵůǇ ϮϬϭϲ ;͞WƌŽĐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚ ZĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͟Ϳ͕ ƐĞƫŶŐ ĨŽƌƚŚ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ͛Ɛ dŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƵůƟŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ;͞ƚŚĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͟Ϳ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ͗ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ŽŶ ĐŽŶŇŝĐƚ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͘ ŝͿ WƌĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ŽŶĐĞƉƚ ĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ŝĚĚŝŶŐ ŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ ŵĂǇ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĮƌŵƐ ƚŽ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ for about 500 KM of mostly rural roads in Oyo State, under design ƋƵĂůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ďƵƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞ ĐůĞĂƌůǇ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůĚ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă ƐŚŽƌƚ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ ŽĨ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͘ dŚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ Ă ũŽŝŶƚ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ Ă ƐƵďͲĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶĐǇ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ďŝĚŝŶŐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ƐŚĂůů ďĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ũŽŝŶƚ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ͕ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ũŽŝŶƚ ǀĞŶƚƵƌĞ ƐŚĂůů ďĞ ũŽŝŶƚůǇ ĚĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ďŝůů ŽĨ ƋƵĂŶƟƟĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŝƐƐƵĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂůůǇ ůŝĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ͕ ŝĨ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ͘ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ďŝĚĚŝŶŐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ͘ ŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ĂĐĐŽƌĚĂŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ Y ^ ŵĞƚŚŽĚ ŝŝͿ WƌĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů /ŵƉĂĐƚ ƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ; ^/ Ϳ͕ ƐĞƚ ŽƵƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ WƌŽĐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚ ZĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů Θ ^ŽĐŝĂů DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ WůĂŶ ; ^DWͿ ĂŶĚ ďďƌĞǀŝĂƚĞĚ ZĞƐĞƩůĞŵĞŶƚ ĐƟŽŶ WůĂŶͬ ZĞƐĞƩůĞŵĞŶƚ ĐƟŽŶ WůĂŶƐ ; Z WͬZ WͿ͖ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ŽďƚĂŝŶĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ďĞůŽǁ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ŽĸĐĞ ŚŽƵƌƐ ΀ŝ͘Ğ͘ ϬϴϬϬ ƚŽ ϭϲϬϬ ŚŽƵƌƐ΁͘ hƉĚĂƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĂŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌŝƟǌĞĚ ƌŽĂĚ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŝŝŝͿ ĐŽƐƚ ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĸĐ ĨŽƌĞĐĂƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ďǇ ĂƉƉůǇŝŶŐ ǆƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ǁƌŝƩĞŶ ĨŽƌŵ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚŚĞ ZŽĂĚ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ;Z Ϳ DŽĚĞů ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉƌŝŽƌŝƟǌĞ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ďĞůŽǁ ŝŶ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ͕ Žƌ ďǇ ĐŽƵƌŝĞƌ ŵĂŝů ŽŶ Žƌ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ϭϮ ŶŽŽŶ ŽĨ DƵůƟ ƌŝƚĞƌŝĂ ŶĂůǇƐŝƐ ĨŽĐƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ ;ŝͿ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĂŶĚ ĂŐƌŝďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ϯϭƐƚ ƵŐƵƐƚ͕ ϮϬϭϴ͕ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ͗ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů͕ ;ŝŝͿ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟǀŝƚǇ ƚŽ ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ ;ŝŝŝͿ ƉŽǀĞƌƚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƌĞŵŽƚĞŶĞƐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ Mailing address:;ŝǀͿ ƌŽĂĚ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟǀŝƚǇ͖ ĂŶĚ OYO STATE RURAL ACCESS AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING PROJECT’ OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, ŝǀͿ WŚĂƐĞ ϮͲ WƌŽĐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ĂƐƐŝƐƟŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůŝĞŶƚ ŝŶ ƉĂĐŬĂŐŝŶŐ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůĚ ďŝĚĚŝŶŐ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ROOM 124, MINISTRY OF ESTABLISHMENT ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ƌŽĂĚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ůŽƚƐ͕ ĂƐƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ /ŶŝƟĂů BUILDING, OYO STATE SECRETARIAT, AGODI, ^ĞůĞĐƟŽŶ ŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ tŽƌůĚ ĂŶŬ ĨŽƌŵĂƚ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƐƐŝƐƟŶŐ ŝŶ IBADAN ƚŚĞ ďŝĚͬƉƌŽƉŽƐĂů ĞǀĂůƵĂƟŽŶ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͘ dŚĞ ĚƵƌĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŝƐ ϲ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘ dŚĞ ĚƌĂŌ dĞƌŵƐ ŽĨ ZĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ;dKZͿ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ŵŽĚŝĮĐĂƟŽŶ Θ Telephone/GSM:ĮŶĂůŝǌĂƟŽŶ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ŝƐƐƵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ZĞƋƵĞƐƚ ŽĨ WƌŽƉŽƐĂů ;Z&WͿ͕ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞƐ͗ ǁǁǁ͘ƌĂŵƉ͘ŐŽǀ͘ Email Address:ng dŚĞ KǇŽ ^ƚĂƚĞ WƌŽũĞĐƚ /ŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ hŶŝƚ ;^W/hͿ ŽŶ ďĞŚĂůĨ ŽĨ Contact Person:-

+2347062801129, +2348125403414, +2347052544944 oyostateraamp@gmail.com Dr. ‘Yode Ayanlowo

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Editor: VINCENT OBIA vincent.obia@thisdaylive.com 0805 468 1757

America in the Middle of a Battle over In Brief the Meaning of Words Like ‘Diversity’

S/Sudan Government, Opposition Group Sign Peace Deal

What comes to mind when you hear a word like ‘diversity’? Photo credit: AP PHOTO/RICK BOWMER. Jennifer Mercieca

ou might think that the culture war over race and immigration primarily transpires in dramatic events, like the woman who climbed the Statue of Liberty to protest Trump’s child detention policy or the events in Charlottesville last summer. But it also exists in the banal and everyday ways that we communicate. It involves battles over the dominant meaning of words, and how we use those words to describe our values and construct our policies. For example, on July 19, House Speaker Paul Ryan urged conservatives to engage in a rhetorical battle over what he called the “hijacking” of traditional conservative terms like “Western civilisation” by the alt-right. Ryan asked conservatives to notice that a key term that they take for granted as universally understood had recently become contested. In a 2009 speech Ryan explained, “Western civilisation” was “rooted in reason and faith”; it was a tradition that “affirms the

high dignity, rights, and obligations of the individual human person.” Now Ryan fears that it is being construed to mean “white identity politics,” which is more like “racism” and “nationalism.” Because we’re so immersed in our own culture and social networks, these rhetorical battles can be easy to miss; you have to look at them from the outside, which is a tricky thing to do. One way to take a peek inside a culture’s discourse is to examine what rhetorical scholars like me call a culture’s “enthymemes,” which we can think of as the ways that words, phrases and ideas are understood in a particular community. In the fourth century BCE, Aristotle coined the term “enthymeme” to explain how different words and arguments resonate in one community but not in others. Technically, an enthymeme is a “rhetorical syllogism” – an argument made with a premise that’s assumed or taken for granted, and so goes unsaid. For example, when you hear someone say, “the states,” you know they’re referring to the United States of America. They don’t need to actually say

it. More confusing is when people say “the city” because depending on where you are, “the city” could be San Francisco or Chicago. The difference between how we understand “the states” and “the city” is the difference between a commonly shared enthymeme and one that’s specific to a region. If you want to persuade a group of people, then you need to understand what they understand, see the world the way that they do and use the words that they use to describe objects and ideas. Otherwise, you’ll just talk past them. As Aristotle pointed out, what was persuasive in Athens might not be persuasive in Sparta. He thought that we could be most persuasive when we argue using commonly understood enthymemes and examples. It can be difficult to see how enthymemes operate in a culture when you’re on the inside. It can help to look at how your culture is perceived by an outsider. As part of my research for a book that I’m completing about the 2016 election, I’ve spent the past few months reading the message boards and websites of white nationalists, a group that exists on the fringes of American culture. It’s been fascinating to learn the white nationalists’ enthymemes and to see how they understand discourse about race. I perused the now-banned white nationalist website Daily Stormer and read content like neo-Nazi Andrew Anglin’s article “A Normie’s Guide to the Alt-Right.” I learned that white nationalists believe that racism is normal and that everyone else is a racist too. They are avowedly pro-white and believe that “diversity” is the dominant American culture’s code for a systematic program of promoting what they call “white genocide.” According to white nationalists, a conspiracy exists to exterminate white people “via mass immigration into white countries which was enabled by a corrosive liberal ideology of white self-hatred, and that the Jews are at the centre of this agenda.” With that basic understanding in mind, let’s turn to a seemingly innocuous July 4th tweet from former President Bill Clinton celebrating the nation’s diversity. Many of the responses to Clinton’s tweet understood his comment as a celebration of fundamental American values. Americans might disagree about how much diversity is best, but it has been generally understood that America is a “melting pot” and that diversity has made the nation stronger. But not everyone accepted Clinton’s enthymemes. If you believe that there is a conspiracy in the dominant culture to exterminate white people through immigration, you would read Clinton’s greeting claiming that the result of “diversity” is “deeper strength” as a call to unite all non-white people in the conspiracy of white genocide. You would read Clinton’s celebration of “we the people” as “us versus them.” For example, one respondent decoded Clinton’s tweet from the white nationalist perspective, noting that “diversity” is “anti-White, anti-America, antiWhile [sic] male.” Another respondent rejected Clinton’s enthymeme, arguing that calls for diversity are calls for the eradication of white people: Imagine attempting to have a productive conversation about issues of race or diversity with someone who holds completely different enthymemes from you. When one side understands “diversity” as America’s strength and another side understands “diversity” as a conspiracy to exterminate white people, there is little common ground to discuss policies such as building a border wall, affirmative action, or whether to abolish ICE. Without shared enthymemes, problem solving is almost impossible. While white nationalist beliefs and rhetoric represent an extreme version of how different groups understand “diversity,” it’s possible to see how the meaning of the word is contested in attacks on university diversity initiatives. To one group, diversity initiatives mean allowing unqualified people to get an easy pass. To another, it fulfils an educational ideal of bringing people of different backgrounds and circumstances together. These different understandings make it that much harder to have a real debate.

South Sudan’s government and the main rebel group inked a power-sharing deal in the Sudanese capital on Wednesday, which they hope will end years of conflict, a Reuters witness said, but smaller opposition groups have refrained from signing. Riek Machar, a former vice president who will be reinstated into his old post under the deal, was in the room when the agreement was signed by representatives of the government and his group at a security compound in Khartoum. The agreement, which was reached earlier this month in talks in Uganda, provides for creating a new 35-member government comprising 20 ministers from the current government of President Salva Kiir. Machar’s SPLM-IO rebel group will have nine portfolios and the rest will go to other opposition groups. Apart from Machar, Kiir will have four more deputies during an interim period under the agreement that was guided by Sudan and other east African nations.

Scores Killed in ISIL Attacks in Syria A series of suicide bombings and attacks in southwest Syria have killed scores of people, with state media blaming the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) for the violence, Al Jazeera reported. The head of Syria’s health authority on Wednesday said the number of fatalities from the blast was more than 90, after initially claiming that 38 had been killed in the attacks. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which relies on a network of sources on the ground, put the death toll to 110. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a busy vegetable market in the city of Sweida, some 120km south from the capital Damascus, early on Wednesday, as ISIL fighters mounted attacks on several villages to the northeast, state news agency SANA said.

Counting Under Way after Pakistan’s Historic Elections Polls closed Wednesday evening in key Pakistan parliamentary and provincial elections that were marred by violence, with first results expected to start coming in by 7pm local time (14:00GMT). Millions of Pakistanis flocked to polling stations starting at 8am local time to elect the next government. At least 29 people were killed in a suicide attack on Wednesday in western city of Quetta near a polling station. Up to 800,000 police and military forces have been deployed across 85,000 polling stations in elections that will see the second civilian-tocivilian handover of power in the country’s history. Early projections from four local TV channels have put Imran Khan’s PTI in the lead, estimating it would win between 94 and 102 of 272 elected seats available, according to Al Jazeera. However, those projections were based on only about 10-15 per cent of votes counted.

Arab Gunmen Shut Down Mali’s Timbuktu Days before Vote Armed protesters from Mali’s Arab community fired shots into the air, burned tyres and torched vehicles in Timbuktu on Wednesday, bringing the desert city to a standstill days before an election seen as a test of stability across the country, officials said. The Arab youths, mostly petty traders, were protesting against worsening insecurity and alleged ill treatment by security forces in northern Mali, which has been plagued by Islamist violence, Tuareg separatists and ethnic tensions ever since armed groups took over parts of the region in 2012.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Ambode: Apapa Gridlock Threat to Federal Allocations Gboyega Akinsanmi Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday revisited the perennial traffic congestion undermining socio-

economic activities in Apapa and its environs, noting that the gridlock could drastically reduce federal allocations if not promptly addressed. Ambode also lamented that

Sterling Bank Appoints Two New Directors Sterling Bank Plc has announced the appointments of Mrs. Folasade Kilaso and Mr. Michael Ajukwu to its Board of Directors. According to a statement by the bank, Kilaso was appointed to the board as a non-executive director, while Ajukwu joined as an independent director in June, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Welcoming the senior business leaders, Chairman, Board of Directors, Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo, said: “ Ajukwu and Kilaso are respected business leaders with proven track record of performance and a very welcome addition to our board. They bring with them invaluable experience, expertise and passion that will help the business deliver on its vision and commercial goals. I look forward to working with them at this exciting time as Sterling Bank breaks new grounds.” A solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, Kilaso, is a subject matter expert in the areas of corporate and regulatory affairs in sectors that include banking, asset management, energy, real estate, insurance, immigration and risk management. She has delivered on cross-border transactions for both local and international

clients. Currently serving as Principal Partner, Berkeley Legal and Managing Director of Berkeley Training and Recruitment Services Limited, Kilaso is a qualified solicitor in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Nigeria. She studied Law at the University of Kent, Canterbury, and holds an Masters degree in law from the University of Cambridge, specialising in International Corporate Law and Finance. Prior to setting up the Berkeley Group in 2014, Kilaso was Executive Director, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria. She has served on the board/committee of various institutions such as the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS), Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria (CIBN) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – Sub Committee for Women Economic Empowerment. On his part, Ajukwu holds a B.Sc. in Finance from the University of Lagos and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from New York University. He worked for 21 years in the banking industry before retiring in 2002 as an executive board member of United Bank

Orji Kalu: I Have No Case to Answer A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, who was charged with an alleged fraud of N7.65 billion, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he had no case to answer. His lawyer, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN), urged Justice Mohammed Idris to dismiss the entire 39-count charge filed against his client by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The lawyer contended that despite tendering several exhibits and calling a total of 19 witnesses, the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor. He urged the judge to discharge Kalu and let him go. Similar applications and arguments were canvassed by Messrs Solo Akuma (SAN) and KC Nwofor (SAN) on behalf of Ude Udeogu and Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, who were joined in the criminal lawsuit as the second and third defendants respectively. Akuma, in his arguments, said despite alleging that Udeogu, who was the Director of Finance and Accounts of the Abia State Government House during Kalu’s administration, aided the former governor to lodge funds in the accounts of Slok Nigeria Limited, the prosecution

did not present any bank teller endorsed by Udeogu to back up its claim. On his part, Nwofor contended that the statements of accounts tendered as exhibits by the prosecution were bound to be dismissed, having not been signed by the bank, contrary to the provisions of the Evidence Act. But the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the defendants’ no-case submissions, insisting that the prosecution had proven its allegations against them. Jacobs urged Justice Idris to order the defendants to proceed to open their defence if they had any. The prosecutor said Udeogu had, in his statements to the EFCC, clearly admitted “taking several millions of naira, while he was Director of Finance and Accounts, on the instruction of the governor to lodge for the purchase of Okrika (fairly-used clothes) in Aba. “How can they now turn around and say this does not call for questioning?” Jacobs queried. After listening to the two sides, Justice Idris adjourned till August 31, 2018, for ruling.

there were 68 tank farms located within Apapa Central Business District alone, noting that such facilities should no longer be located within Lagos metropolis due to the danger they could cause human lives and the environment. Ambode expressed these concerns yesterday at the 12th quarterly town hall meeting held at Iberekodo, a community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area (LGA), where he challenged the federal government “to bring about permanent solution to the

perennial traffic congestion in Apapa.” The meeting was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tunde Balogun; Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, and the Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district, Gbenga Ashafa, among others. At the meeting, Ambode recalled the recent public disorder, which

the state witnessed in Apapa and its environs, saying what happened in the area was beyond traffic issues, which required concerted efforts to resolve. Specifically, Ambode said the issue of tankers queuing up “to lift petroleum products from tank farms in Apapa is a major issue causing gridlock and damaging road infrastructure in the area.” He, therefore, observed that Apapa’s traffic congestion crisis “is more than traffic issues. According to him, “Apapa

is where all states depend on for revenue through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) because the revenue is shared at Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). “If anything goes wrong in the ports, whatever other states get from the FAAC can reduce drastically if we collectively fail to work out permanent solution to perennial traffic congestion in Apapa and its environs.”

DESERVED RECOGNITION

L-R: Former Minister of Industry, Mrs. Nike Akande; President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Mrs. Felicia Agubata; Mr. Dele Adetiba, his wife, Mrs. Mayen Adetiba; and Mr. Ibitoye Adeniran, during a recognition reception in honour of Mrs. Adetiba by APWEN in Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

Oshiomhole Reconciles Delta APC’s Leaders Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has reconciled the warring leaders and members of the party in Delta State. THISDAY gathered that at a reconciliatory meeting held last Tuesday night, Oshiomhole stressed the need for full reconciliation, so as to achieve victory in the forthcoming 2019 general election. A statement issued by

Oshiomhole’s Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem, said as part of the arrangement to ensure lasting peace and reconciliation in the party in the state, Jones Ode Erue, would be retained as the state chairman of the party. The statement said the other positions in the state Exco would be harmonised to accommodate the interest of all the parties. Oshiomhole who further urged the party leaders to embrace the Erue-led leadership in moving the party forward, however,

condemned what he described as unwarranted attacks on his person and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party by some party members in the state, admonishing that they should rather make comments that would reconcile the party and not one that would further inflame the crisis. The meeting was attended by the leaders of APC in the state, including the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu; Chief Great Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege,

Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Cairo Ojougbou, Victor Ochei, Olorogun Cyril Abeye Ogodo, Dr. Miriam Nneamaka Ogoh Ali, Frank Kokori and many others. Oshiomhole who expressed his resolve to ensure that the party wins the state, admonished the leaders not to allow their ambitions to over-ride the general interest of the party, stressing that the issue of the governorship candidate of the party must not be allowed to destroy the party in the state.

Nigeria, Benin Republic to Constitute Joint Committee to Combat Smuggling Omololu Ogunmade ÓØ ÌßÔË President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja received President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin during which the two leaders agreed to constitute a joint committee to combat smuggling. A statement by the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Niger Republic would also be consulted in the workings of

the committee, which he said would be a transit point in the concentric circle of smuggling of commodities, particularly rice, into Nigeria. Adesina quoted the president as saying “we have succeeded in cutting the importation of rice into the country by about 90 per cent,” noting however, that smuggled parboiled rice still finds its way into the country and consequently vitiating the

efforts of the government and discouraging farmers. He further quoted Buhari as saying: “When I got into office in 2015, the first thing I did was to visit all our neighbours - Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic. It made both economic and security sense because if you are in good terms with your neighbours, you ultimately spend less on both physical and food

security.” According to the statement, Buhari observed that the activities of smugglers are hindering Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency, particularly in rice production, adding that more sinister side to the smuggling menace is the influx of small arms and ammunition into the country which he said was increasing the spectre of insecurity.

FEC CONSIDERS $14.5BN PROPOSAL TO SAVE LAKE CHAD statements credited to them. It is really difficult to comment on it. What I can assure you of is that if there is any problem between the party chairman and any of our ministers, it will be resolved,” Mohammed said.

Also reacting to the question, Amaechi denied attacking Oshiomhole. “How do you know that it’s true. I saw on social media this afternoon (yesterday) where they said l said that the chairman

is a bad luck. I never said so. I have never said any such thing. They quoted me that l was attacking the chairman,” Amaechi said. It was gathered that President Buhari was not

happy with the comment credited to his party’s national chairman where he said that if the president was condoning indiscipline f r o m his cabinet, he was not going to condone it.

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Regulatory Issues Delay Outstanding Payment for 9mobile Emma Okonji Facts have emerged that lingering regulatory issues are causing serious delay in the payment of the outstanding sum of $251 million by Teleology to take full control and ownership of 9mobile. Teleology, which is said to have sourced the full amount and kept same in escrow account awaiting the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said it is fully prepared to make payment, when the regulatory approval is given. Barclays Africa, the Financial Adviser handling the sale of 9mobile had in February 21,

2018, announced Teleology Holdings Limited as the preferred bidder for the acquisition of 9mobile and Smile Telecoms Holding as the reserve bidder. Barclays Africa had directed Teleology to make an initial nonrefundable cash deposit of $50 million within 21 days, which expired on March 21, 2018, and then pay the balance of $251 million within a deadline of 90 working days from March 21, which was supposed to expire yesterday. However, Teleology came up to explain that the actual expiration date to make final payment was June 30, but that it had been given additional 20

working days to make payment, following the delay in getting an approval letter from the NCC. NCC is expected to transmit a letter of approval, after carrying out due diligence on Teleology, but the delay in transmitting the letter, led to the extension of the date payment, a source from Teleology said. When contacted to know

if Teleology had made payment before the close of work yesterday, the Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tony Ojobo said he had no update on the payment and declined further comment. NCC had earlier said it would carry out due diligence on Teleology Holdings to

ascertain its financial strength and technical capabilities to take over 9mobile before it would approve the use of 9mobile licence by Teleology, but the NCC is yet to release its findings on the due diligence carried out on Teleology Holdings. NCC had on Tuesday this week, met with the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) and other

stakeholders, including 9mobile, to discuss the 9mobile issue, but sources close to NCC said the meeting which did not start until 5p.m., was inconclusive. The meeting however, continued yesterday, but as at press time, the meeting was ongoing and Ojobo declined to discuss any update on the meeting with the press.

Shagari Declares Interest in Sokoto Governorship Race Mohammed Aminu ÓØ ÙÕÙÞÙ Former Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, yesterday declared his interest to contest in the state governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying his agenda is to transform the state. Shagari made this known to journalists, shortly after addressing party supporters at the PDP head office in Sokoto. He said his reason for declaring to contest for the governorship ticket of the PDP was borne out of the desire to enhance the lives of the people

of the state. Shagari maintained that he had the requisite experience to bring the desired change, having served as a commissioner and deputy governor in the state, as well as a minister. “I joined politics for societal development and I have always worked for the progress of my people. I served in various capacities as a commissioner, deputy governor and minister. I do not know of any candidate in Sokoto that has my experience. So, I have what it takes to bring the desired change and progress in the polity. People will see real transformation in Sokoto, if they give me the mandate come 2019,” he said.

INEC: 50, 000 PVCs Await Collection in Bwari Area Council The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said over 50,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said this during the sensitisation meeting with stakeholders in Bwari. Bello said the council had so far registered 160,000 voters, but had over 50, 000 PVCs lying in INEC office in the area. He called on the Chairman of the council, Mr. Musa Dikko, as well as all political party executives in the area to do more sensitisation campaign, on the need and use of the cards before the 2019 general elections. “You cannot allow this to happen without properly sensitising the people on the collection of the cards, who will vote for you, how can they vote for you. “You are the beneficiaries of the PVCs and not INEC; you should be more enthusiastic than us on this sensitisation. “We do not want to continue keeping these cards, INEC is not the one voting, without these cards, electorate cannot vote. It is your duty as stakeholders to urge them on the collection

of the cards’’, he said. Bello said while the distribution of the cards would continue until one week to the general elections, the registration would however, be suspended as from August 17 until after the 2019 general elections. The electoral commissioner explained that the development was to enable the commission produce more cards for the general elections, assured those who registered before the suspension that they would get their cards before the general elections. He commended the residents of the council on their positive response to the on-going voter registration and urged them to show the same spirit and come out en-masse to vote during the general elections, in peace. “We assure you that your votes would count but we cannot do it in isolation as we want the elections to be peaceful. “We urge all religious leaders, traditional heads and political representatives to preach peace and violent-free elections to the people. “When you conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner as stakeholders, the people will emulate your good conduct and this attitude will simplify the work of the security agents too.”

ENDORSEMENT

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left) , being entertained by the students of Early Dew High School, G.R.A, Enugu, when residents of the area organised a civic reception to honour and endorse him for a second term in office...recently

My Appointment as AMCON Chairman Doesn’t Require Senators’ Approval, Says Banire Chinedu Eze A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former legal adviser of the party, Dr. Muiz Banire has reacted to the opposition to his appointment as the Chairman of the Board of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) by the three senators representing Lagos State, explaining that his nomination was not a quota appointment that would require the senators’ special approval. President Mohammadu Buhari recently appointed Banire as chairman of AMCON board but the confirmation of his appointment by the Senate was objected to by the three Senators representing Lagos

State at the National Assembly. BUT Banire said in a statement he made available to THISDAY that such opposition would not undermine his political prospects or his source of livelihood and reminded the senators that empires do not last forever. “Recent developments relating to my nomination as Chairman of Board of Directors of Asset Management Corporation have opened a new page in my public life, necessitating some sort of public engagement. However, except for the agitation of my teeming supporters and wellwishers, I would have kept mute and ignored the objection raised by the three Senators, Mrs Remi Tinubu, Mr. Olamilekan

Solomon, and Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos State on the floor of the Senate arm of the National Assembly,” he said. “In the first place, let me recognise the constitutional right of the three Senators to express their views without let or hindrance. It is part of the democratic tenets we all cherish and strive to protect at all times. Equally, because of the respect I have for the offices of the Senators, I will not join issues with them, particularly when it has become traditional and conventional for them to be objectors on occasions such as this. All I can say is that I wish them well and remind them that no dynasty or empire lasts forever. Whatever has a beginning will have an end,” he said.

Banire, however explained that the nomination was not a quota appointment requiring the Senators special approval to deal with. “I was nominated simply as a Nigerian in whom the appointer has a lot of confidence and who is prepared to give his all in service of his fatherland. In view of this, I urge all my well wishers to remain calm in the face of this provocation as I am optimistic that the proper thing will ultimately be done by the Senate as has been done in the past,” Banire said. He said beyond politics and public office he has other means of livelihood and the wherewithal to help his community without political appointment.

AAAN President Outlines Direction for New Leadership The new President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Ikechi Odigbo has outlined the new direction for the body under his leadership. Odigbo, who is the Managing Director of DBB Lagos and the immediate AAAN Vice President, was elected last Saturday at the body’s 45th Annual General Meeting/Congress in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Under the association’s new leadership, Odigbo said the major objectives would be the promotion of performance, professionalism and prestige of the AAAN.

“There is a dire need to reposition AAAN as a thought leader in the creative industry, improve our brand assets and social media platforms as well as drive the visibility, appeal and strategic relevance for the Association through disciplined execution of the PR/Media plans. As brand builders we must pay quality attention to the image of AAAN in order to foster confidence and pride in our distinguished profession among all relevant stake holders,” he said. To surmount the challenges being faced by the association, Odigbo said the new

leadership would adopt a more entrepreneurial approach, which has the potential to yield greater value to members, protect and advance collective strategic interests with clients and improve the reputation of the association. “We will embark on value adding initiatives by leveraging on the strength of our corporate collective. As an association, we will negotiate discounted rates for software licenses, so that member agencies can have access to work ware at reduced cost. This could be extended to other areas of common need,” he added. He said the new leadership

would also strive to raise the financial profile of the body, optimising the delivery of its revenue generating activities such as the LAIF Awards, training programmes and Annual General Meeting (AGM) events. According to him, there are plans to push for the proper constitution of the Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON) Council and push strongly for reforms through intense lobby and leveraging influencers with the regulatory ministry and other relevant government institutions.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱʹ˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ

NEWSXTRA APC MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90.

Sadiq Ibrahim (Adamawa) Namdas Abdulrazak Sa'ad Hon. Buba Yusuf Yakubu Hon. Gutuwa Philip A Hon. Shuaibu Abdulrahman Abubakar Abubakar Lawal Garba Ukoette Emmanuel Isaac (Akwa Ibom) Hon. Muhammadu Sani Abdu (BAUCHI) Shehu Aliyu Musa Yakubu Dogara Lawal Yahaya Gumau Haliru Dauda Jika Ahmed Yerima Tata Omar (APC) Mohammed Garba Gololo Hassan Isa Mohammed Adamu A. Gurai Ibrahim Mohammed Baba John Dyegh (BENUE) Dorothy Mato Wayo Benjamin Iorember Jibrin Satumari (BORNO) Mohammed Nur Sheriff Mukhtar Betara Aliyu Muhmud Lawan Maina Asabe Vilita Bashir Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu Mohammed Tahir Monguno Mallam Bukar Gana Abdulkadir Rahis Ayuba Mohammed Bello Akpatason Peter Ohiozojeh (EDO) Shuaibu Philip Agbonayinman Johnson Ehiozwa Aisowieren Patrick Iriase Pally Isumafe Obokbuiame Angulu Zakari (FCT) Jisalo Bitrus Zaphaniah Barambu Umaru Kawawa (Gombe) Yunusa Ahmad Abubakar Ahmed Khamisu Milantarki Aisha Jibril Dukku Igbokwe Raphael N. (IMO) Chike John Okafor Chukwukere Austin Ikechukwu Muhammadu Adamu Fagen Gawo (Jigawa) Magaji Dau Aliyu Abubakar Hassan Fulata Yuguda Hassan Kila (APC) Usman Ibrahim Auyo Saidu Yusuf Miga Rabiu Garba Kaigama Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure Hon. Muhammed Gausu Boyi Ibrahim Abdullahi Dutse Samaila Suleiman (Kaduna) Abbas Tajudeen Muhammad Musa Soba Muhammed Abubakar Yusuf Bala Mohammed Usman Lawal Muhammed Rabiu Hassan Adamu Shekarau Garba Datti Muhammed Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya (Kano) Suleiman Aliyu Romo Abdulmumin Jibrin Garba Ibrahim Mohammed Badamasi Ayuba Mustapha Bala Dawaki Tijani Jobe Abdulkadir Alhassan Ado Garba Nasiru Babale Ila Munir Babba Dan'Agundi Mukhtari Mohammed Chironmawa Nasiru Ali Ahmed Aminu Suleiman Bashir Baballe Ali Wudil Muhammed Sani Umar Bala Amiru Tukur (Katsina) Kabiru Shaaibu Ahmed Safana Dayyabu Ashiru Aminu Mani Saidu Sani Fago Mohammed Danlami Kurfi Murtala Isah Muntari Dandutse Ahmad Usman Babba Kaita Suleiman Salisu Salisco Babangida Ibrahim Z Male

91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180.

Bello Sani Mashi Ibrahim Danmazari Murtala Nasiru Sani Zangon Baura Hon. Aliyu Sani (APC) Sulaiman Hussieni Kangiwa (Kebbi) Bello Dantani Abdullahi Hassan Suru Abdullahi Umar Faruk Muhammed Umar Jega Salisu Garba Koko Aliyu Danladi Mohammed D. Dantani Ajanah Muhammed Kabir (Kogi) Idirisu Lawal Muhammed Jibril Umar Buba Egwu Emmanuel Adaranijo Taofeek Abiodun (Lagos) Adebanjo Olufemi Bandele Joseph Ayodeji Adebayo Bamgbose Joseph H. Raji Tasir Olawale Akinloye Hazeez Babajide Ayeola Abayomi Abdul -Kadir Faleke James Abiodun Babajimi Adegoke Benson Agunsoye Oluwarotimi Ojo Badru Enitan Dolapo Hon. Yakub Abiodun Akanni Balogun Jimoh Abdulraheem Olajide Ayinla Bolaji Yusuf Diya Oyewole Babafemi Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila Faruk Muhammadu Bala Shadafi Salihu Adamu Mohammed Umar Bago Abdullahi Abubakar Ahmed Abu Saleh Shehu Garba Abdullahi Idris Adamu Abubakar Chika Mohammed Abdulkadir Mahmud Umar Muhammed Rofia Mukaila Olayiwola Kazzem (Ogun) Williams Olusegun Samuel Jimoh Olusola Ojugbele Kayode Oladele Adekunle Abdulkadir Akinlade Isiaka Ayokunle Ibrahim (APC) Odeneye Kehinde Olusegun Olemija Stephen Friday (Ondo) Babatunde Gabriel Kolawole Olowookere Ajisafe Baderinwa Bamidele Samson Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun (Osun) Ajayi Adeyinka Ayantunji Fakeye Julius Olufemi Famurewa Isreal Ajibola Akintayo Gafar Amere Omidiran Ayo Hulayat Alabi Mojeed Olujinmi A. (APC) Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi (Oyo) Olatoye Temitope Sugar Ayoade Olugbenga Ojoawo Olatunbosun Olajide Boladale Oladele Olatubosun George Lam -Adesina Adedapo Akinade -Fijabi Saheed Awoleye Abiodun Dada Suleiman Yahaya Kwande (Plateau) Pwajok Edward Gyang Ahmed Idris Aminu Sani Isa (Sokoto) Balarabe Abdullahi Salame Mohammed Sa'adu Nabunkari Abubakar Hassan Bala Shehu Aliyu A Sarkin - Adar Musa Kaffe(APC) Hamman-Julde Garba Chede (Taraba) Malle Aminu Ibrahim Zakariyau M. Galadima (Yobe) Goni Bukar Lawan Khadija W. Bukar Abba Ismail Ahmed Gadaka Sidi Yakubu Lawali Anka (Zamfara) Abdumalik Zubairu Bungudu (APC) Lawal Mu'azu (APC) Hon. Yahaya Chado Gora (APC) Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (APC) Hon. Isah Ibrahim (APC) Hon. Abubakar Hussaini Moriki (APC)

PDP MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44 . 45. 46 . 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76.

Hon. Nkole Uko Ndukwe (Abia) Hon. Nnenna Ijeoma Elendu Ukeje (PDP) Hon. Darlington Nwokocha (PDP) Hon. Onyejeocha Nkiruka (PDP) Hon. Solomon Adaelu Ezinwa O. (PDP) Hon. Onuigbo Samuel Ifeanyi (PDP) Hon. Nkem-Abonta Uzoma (PDP) Hon. Kamale Adamu Dali Usman (Adamawa) Hon. Ekon Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) Hon. Ekpoattai Owodighe Ime (PDP) Hon. Ikon Smauel Okon (PDP) Hon. Ekanem Iboro Asuquo (PDP) Hon. Uduyok Francis Charles (PDP) Hon. Akpan Emmnauel S. (PDP) Hon. Archibong Henry (PDP ) Hon. Okon Micheal (PDP ) Hon. Ekpenyong Nse Bassey (PDP) Hon. Chuba Ikpeazu (Anambra) Hon. Chukwuka Onyema Wilfred (PDP) Hon. Azodo Eucharia (PDP) Hon. Anayo Nnebe (PDP) Hon. Okechukwu Nnamdi Eze (PDP) Hon. Obinna Chidoka (PDP) Hon. Anohu Chukwuemeka Reginald (PDP) Hon. Chris Emeka Ifeanyi Azubogu (PDP) Hon. Ben Nwankwo Hon. Salisu Zakari (Bauchi) Hon. Jephthah Foingha (Bayelsa) Hon. Agbedi Frederick Y (PDP) Hon. Sadungo A. Festus Omoni (PDP) Hon. Daniel Ofongo Henry (PDP) Hon. Diri Duoye (PDP) Hon. Saleh Hassan Anthony (Benue) Hon. Adamu Ochepo Entonu (PDP) Hon. Tarkighir Dickson Dominic (PDP) Hon. Gbillah Mark Terseer (PDP) Hon. Udende Emmanuel Memga (PDP) Hon. Okwu Samson (PDP) Hon. Ezekiel Adaji Awalu(PDP) Hon. Asuquo Daniel Eﬃong (Cross River) Hon. Aigbe Chris Ngoro (PDP) Hon. Edin Etta Mbora (PDP) Hon. Ayi Essien Ekpenyong (PDP) Hon. Idagbo Ochiglegor (PDP) Hon. Etaba Micheal Irom (PDP) Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP) Hon. Ewa Bassey Eko (PDP) Hon. Onyemaechi Joan Mrakpor (Delta) Hon. Mutu Nicholas Ebomo (PDP) Hon. Pondi Julius G. (PDP) Hon. Idisi Lovette (PDP) Hon. Nwokolo Victor Onyemaechi (PDP) Hon. Ogor Leonard Okuweh (PDP) Hon. Oboro Evelyn Omavowan (PDP) Hon. Ahwinawhi Solomon (PDP) Hon. Reyenieju Daniel Oritsegbubemi (PDP) Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (PDP) Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga (Ebonyi) Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (PDP) Hon. Anayo Edwin Hon. Ogbe Lazarus N. (PDP) Hon. Linus Okorie (PDP) Hon. Nwazunku Chukwuma (PDP) Hon. Ogun Serguis Oseasochie (Edo) Hon. Ogbeide- Ihama Omoregie (PDP) Hon. Igbinedion Omosede Gabriella (PDP) Hon. Edionwele Joseph E. (PDP) Hon. Oladimeji Ayodele (Ekiti) Hon. Segun Adekola (PDP) Hon. Awodumila Akinyeye Julius(PDP) Hon. Aina Thaddeus Akinola (PDP) Hon. Oni Olamide Johnson (PDP) Hon. Agboola Emmanuel Kehinde (PDP) Hon. Okechukwu Toby (Enugu) Hon. Ebenyi Kingsley Sunny (PDP) Hon. Oji Chime Agu (PDP) Hon. Amadi Oguerinwa Dennis (PDP)

77. Hon. Ngwu Stella Uchenwa Obiageli (PDP) 78. Hon. Agbo Dennis Nnamdi (PDP) 79. Hon. Ujam Chukwuemeka (PDP) 80. Hon. Asadu Patrick Oziokoja (PDP) 81. Hon. Ali Isa JC (Gombe) 82. Hon. Binta Bello Maigari (PDP) 83. Hon. Bede Eke Uchenna (Imo) 84. Hon. Nwawuba Henry Ugochukwu (PDP) 85. Hon. Onyereri Chukwudi Victor Jones (PDP) 86. Hon. Onwubuaria Kingsley Obinna (PDP) 87. Hon. Alagbaoso Jerry (PDP) 88. Hon. Onyewuchi Ezenwa Francis (PDP) 89. Hon. Opiah Goodluck Nanah (PDP) 90. Hon. Mohammed Sani Zorro (Jigawa) 91. Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba (Kaduna) 92. Hon. Yakubu Umar Barde (PDP) 93. Hon. Shehu Nicholas Garba (PDP) 94. Hon. Gideon Lucas Gwani (PDP) 95. Hon. Simon Yakubu Arabo (PDP) 96. Hon. Sunday Marshall Katung (PDP) 97. Hon. Rufai Chanchangi (PDP) 98. Hon. Lawal Rabiu (PDP) 99. Hon. Ahmed Garba Bichi (Kano) 100. Hon. Sani Mohammed Aliyu (PDP) 101. Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP) 102. Hon. Sule Nasiru Gazo (PDP) 103. Hon. Danburam Abubakar Nuhu (PDP) 104. Hon. Shehu Usman Aliyu(PDP) 105. Hon. Musa Adotsamiya (PDP) 106. Hon. Garba Umar Durbunde (PDP) 107. Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP) 108. Hon. Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen (Kogi) 109. Hon. Omale Hassan Atayoma (PDP) kogi 110. Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve (PDP) 111. Hon. Yusuf Tijani Ahmed (PDP) 112. Hon. Benjamin Ikani Okolo (PDP) 113. Hon. Razaq Olatunde Atunwa (Kwara PDP) 114. Hon. Zakari Mohammed (PDP) 115. Hon. Abubakar Amuda Kannike Garba (PDP) 116. Hon. Princess Olufunke Adedoyin (PDP) 117. Hon. Olayonu Olarinoye Tope (PDP) 118. Hon. Ahman Pategi Aliyu Bahago (PDP) 119. Hon. Rita Orji (Lagos) 120. Hon. Oghene Emma Egoh (PDP) 121. Hon. Obasa Tajudeen Adekunle (PDP) 122. Hon. Shadimu Mutui A. (PDP) 123. Hon. Soyinka Olatunji (PDP) 124. Hon. David Emmanuel Ombugadu (Nasarawa) 125. Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (PDP) 126. Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (PDP) 127. Hon. Adekoya Adesegun A. (Ogun) 128. Hon. Adebutu O. Oladipupo (PDP) 129. Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel (Ondo) 130. Hon. Micheal Adeniyi Omogbehin (PDP) 131. Hon. Akinjo Kolade Victor (PDP) 132. Hon. Iranola Akinlaja Joseph (PDP) 133. Hon. Olabode Ayorinde (PDP) 134. Hon. Oke Busayo Oluwole (Osun) 135. Hon. Albert Abiodun Adeogun (PDP) 136. Hon. Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun (Oyo) 137. Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi (PDP) 138. Hon. Gyang Istifanus Dung (PDP) 139. Hon. Solomon Bulus Maren (PDP) 140. Hon. Golu Timothy (PDP) 141. Hon. Beni Lar (PDP) 142. Hon. Johnbull T. Shekarau (PDP) 143. Hon. Apiaﬁ Betty Okagua Jocelyn (Rivers) 144. Hon. Nnam -Obi G. Uchechukwu (PDP) 145. Hon. Brown Randolph Iwo Oruene (PDP) 146. Hon. Boma Goodhead (PDP) 147. Hon. Gogo Bright Tamuno (PDP) 148. Hon. Abiante Awaji - Inombek Dagomie (PDP) 149. Hon. Nbina Jacobson B. (PDP) 150. Hon. Eke Jerome Amadi (PDP) 151. Hon. Dekor Dumnamene

PDP SENATORS

APC SENATORS

1. Mao Ohuabunwa - Abia 2. Theodore Orji - Abia 3. Enyinnaya Abaribe - Abia 4. Abdulaziz Nyako - Adamawa 5. Goodwill Akpabio - Akwa Ibom 6. Bassey Akpan - Akwa Ibom 7. Stella Oduah - Anambra 8. Ben Murray- Bruce - Bayelsa 9. Emmanuel Paulker - Bayelsa 10. Ogola Foster - Bayelsa 11. David Mark - Benue 12. Barnabas Gemade – Benue 13. Hamman Misau – Bauchi 14. Suleiman Nazif – Bauchi 15. Rose Okoh-Cross Rivers 16. Gershom Bassey - Cross Rivers 17. James Manager -Delta 18. Peter Nwaboshi- Delta 19. Clifford Ordia- Edo 20. Matthew Urhogbide- Edo 21. Ike Ekweremadu – Enugu 22. Gilbert Nnaji – Enugu 23. Utashi Chukwuka- Enugu 24. Sam Egwu - Ebonyi 25. Sunny Ogbuoji – Ebonyi 26. Sunday Oji- Ebonyi 27. Fatima Raji- Rasaki- Ekiti 28. Duro Faseyi – Ekiti 29. Biodun Olujimi - Ekiti 30. Philips Aduda - FCT 31. Usman Nafada – Gombe 32. Joshua Lidani - Gombe 33. Hope Uzodinma- Imo - Pro APC but not formally defected. 34. Samuel Anyanwu - Imo 35. Achonu Nneji - Imo 36. Dino Melaye –Kogi 37. Abdurrahman Abubakar – Kogi 38. Abdulsalami Ohiare – Kogi 39. Muhammad Shittu – Jigawa 40. Shaaba Lafiagi – Kwara 41. Rafiu Ibrahim - Kwara 42. Suleiman Hunkuyi – Kaduna 43. Danjuma La'ah- Kaduna 44. Rabiu Kwankwaso – Kano 45. Philips Gyumka – Nasarawa 46. Salihu Egiye - Nasarawa 47. Monsurat Sunmonu- Oyo Central 48. Lanre Tejuoso- Ogun 49. Jonah Jang- Plateau 50. Olaka Nwogu – Rivers 51. Mohammed Hassan- Yobe 52. Abubakar Danladi – Taraba 53. Emmanuel Bwacha- Taraba 54. Ademola Adeleke- Osun 55. Burunji Kashamu- Ogun 56. Jeremiah Useni – Plateau 57. Abdullahi Danbaba -Sokoto

1. AdamuAileru-Kebbi -ProSaraki APC 2. Yahaya Abdullahi - Kebbi 3. Bala Ibn Na'allah - Kebbi - Pro Saraki APC 4. Aliyu Wamako - Sokoto -Pro Saraki APC 5. Ibrahim Gone - Sokoto 6. Ahmed Yerima - Zamfara -Pro Saraki APC 7. Kabiru Marafa - Zamfara 8. Tijani Kaura - Zamfara 9. Abu Ibrahim - Katsina 10. Umaru Kurfi - Kaduna 11. Kabiru Gaya - Kano 12. Barau Jibrin - Kano 13. Abdullahi Gumel - Jigawa 14. Sabo Muhammed - Jigawa 15. Shehu Sani - Kaduna 16. Ahmed Lawan - Yobe 17. Bukar Ibrahim- Yobe 18. Ali Ndume - Borno 19. Abubakar Kyari - Borno 20. Baba Garba - Borno 21. Sabi Abdullahi - Niger 22. David Umaru - Niger 23. Mustafa Muhammad- Niger 24. Abdullahi Adamu - Nasarawa 25. George Akume- Benue 26. Joshua Dariye- Plateau (In Kuje Prisons serving a 14-year jail term for corruption) 27. Francis Alimekhina- Edo 28. Andrew Uchendu - Rivers 29. Magnus Abe - Rivers 30. John Enoh - Cross Rivers 31. Nelson Effiong - Akwa IboM 32. Andy Uba- Anambra -Pro Saraki APC 33. Ben Uwajimogu - Imo 34. Danjuma Goje - Gombe -Pro Saraki APC 35. Binta Garba - Adamawa 36. Ahmed Abubakar - Adamawa 37. Yusuf Yusuf - Taraba 38. Oluremi Tinubu - Lagos 39. Gbenga Ashafa - Lagos 40. Solomon Adeola - Lagos 41. Tayo Alasoadura- Ondo 42. Gbolahan Dada - Ogun 43. Soji Akanbi - Oyo 44. Ajayi Boroface - Ondo 45. Tele Omogunwa - Ondo 46. Abdullahi Buhari - Oyo 47. Babajide Omoworare - Osun 48. Sola Adeyeye- Osun 49. Bukola Saraki- Kwara -Pro Saraki APC

APGA Victor Umeh – Anambra

VACANT 1. Bauchi 2. Katsina PDP APC APGA Vacant Total

57 49 01 02 109

PDP MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS Robinson (PDP) 152. Hon. Emerengwa Boniface Sunday (PDP) 153. Hon. Chinda Kingsley (PDP) 154. Hon. Chikere Kenneth Anayo (PDP) 155. Hon. Nsiegbe Blessing Ibibia (PDP) 156. Hon. Barry mpigi (PDP) 157. Hon. Achinda Kabiru Marafa (Sokoto) 158. Hon. Bashir Isah Salihu (PDP) 159. Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP) 160. Hon. Dasuki Abdussamad (PDP) 161. Hon. Kwekum Rimamnde Shawulu (Taraba) 162. Hon. Hosea Danasabe Charles (PDP) 163. Hon. Baido Danladi Tijos (PDP) 164. Hon. Sabo Garba (Yobe) TOTAL – PDP 164

ADC MEMBERS 1. 2. 3. 4.

Hon. Akintola Taiwo Micheal (Oyo) Hon. Sunday Adeyemi Adepoju (ADC) Hon. Olasupo Abiodun Adeola (ADC) Hon. Samson Olusunbo Olugbemi (ADC)

TOTAL– ADC – 4

UPP MEMBERS 1.

Hon. Nwulu Tony Chinedu (Lagos, UPP)

APGA MEMBERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Hon. Ossy Prestige Chinedu , (Abia, APGA) Hon. Madubueze Peter Obiano (Anambra, APGA) Hon. Onyewife Gabriel (Anambra , APGA) Hon. Anayo Edwin (Ebonyi, APGA) Hon. Shiddi Usman Danjuma (Taraba, APGA)

ACCORD MEMBERS 1.

Hon. Are Abayomi Dauda Kako (Lagos, ACCORD)

APC PDP ADC APGA UPP ACCORD VACANT TOTAL

180 164 004 005 001 001 005 360

THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Dangote Decries N1.5tn Spent Yearly on Food Importation Ademola Babalola ÓØ ÌËÎËØ Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, yesterday

decried the whopping N1.5 trillion Nigeria spends yearly to import food into the country. Dangote stressed that such expenditure put a heavy

pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange, adding that up to 80 per cent of the inputs in most manufacturing processes in Nigeria still rely on imported

PDP Members Urged to Shelve Differences, Support Adeleke The leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, have been urged to put behind them, the differences occasioned by the last Saturday’s governorship primary election in the state and work towards ensuring a victorious outing for the party and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in a statement in Osogbo, the Osun State capital yesterday, said the party could not afford to be divided at this time and stressed the need for a united front. Odeyemi also called on members of the party to rally

APC Chieftain Lauds Aregbesola over Oyetola’s Emergence as Guber Candidate A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Adebisi Gbolagade and a former Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government in Osun State has appreciated Governor Rauf Aregbesola for a transparent gubernatorial primary election that produced his Chief of Staff, Chief Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola. He also appealed to all contestants in the primary election to forge a common front in order to win the September 22 governorship election. Although, Gbolagade expressed optimism on the victory of APC being the only party that is solidly on ground in Osun State. The former local government boss showered appreciation on the members of the Primary Election Committee as well as Governor Aregbesola for ensuring credible and transparent process that eventually produced Oyetola. Gbolagade effusively appreciated Aregbesola for his unprecedented performance in the state. He likewise thanked the delegates of Ifelodun local government for casting their votes for Oyetola. The APC chieftain has counselled members of his party in the state not to go into the governorship election with a divided house. He also took time to describe Oyetola as the best candidate that is robustly equipped to build on the achievements of Aregbesola.

round the PDP candidate in September 22 governorship election, Adeleke, saying the people of the state are waiting for PDP to “rescue them from the misrule of the last eight years.” According to him, PDP has realistic chance of returning to power in Osun in the forthcoming election, but warned against division, saying in the interest of the people of the state, the party must approach next election as a united entity. “I deem it necessary to call on our members to shelve all differences they harboured before the governorship primary and work together to

ensure that PDP have victorious outing on September 22. “We should all rally round our candidate, Senator Ademola Adekele, and work towards winning Osun back from the present set of people managing its affairs. We cant afford to fail. We need everyone to back our candidate and canvass for votes across all nooks and corners of the state”, Odeyemi said. Reminding all governorship aspirants of the party and their supporters about an undertaken signed in which they all promised to abide by the outcome of the PDP primary, Odeyemi said with unity of purpose, Osun PDP is government in waiting.

components. He noted that Dangote’s backward integration policy had birthed economic advantage for the country. According to him, Nigeria had not taken advantage of its huge population for economic growth, wondering why the country relegated local content while relying heavily on importation. Dangote, who was represented by the Group Executive Director at the company, Ahmed Mansur, spoke on the topic; ‘Industrialisation-Backward

integration as a strategy for national development: The Story of the Dangote Group’, during the inauguration ceremony of the University of Ibadan Business School Complex. “With an enviable population and natural resources, not many countries have the advantages that Nigeria offers to manufacturers. Corporations, like Dangote Industries that long ago embarked on backward integration are now starting to reap the benefits. Backward integration is when a business exerts control over sources of raw materials or other

business that are part of the overall manufacturing process. For example, a cement trader becomes backwards integrated when he takes ownership or control of bagging, cement grinding, and limestone mining. “It increases control and efficiency because companies are able to control quality and coordinate the delivery of raw materials or other supplies. Costs control, competitive advantages, diversification of talent and competencies are some of the other advantages of backward integration,” he explained

Ayade Vows to Rid Cross River of Crimes, Seeks FG’s Support Determined to rid his state of all forms of crimes and criminalities, the Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has restated his administration’s commitment to leave no stone unturned in other to retain its status as the most peaceful state in the country. Ayade gave the commitment yesterday shortly after the weekly Security Council meeting with all security and service commanders as well as the Commissioner of Police held in his conference room, Government House, Calabar, the state capital.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, Ayade pointed out that “part of the measures the council adopted was to get the state capital, particularly Calabar South Local Government Area (LGA), sufficiently lit,” disclosing that the contract for the revitalisation and expansion of the existing street lighting network has been awarded. The governor also disclosed that the state security outfit, Homeland Security, will be overhauled and more energy

injected with complementary logistics and financial support, as well as more personnel drawn from the armed forces and other security operatives in the state to enhance their operation. Decrying the impact of the ongoing crisis in Southern Cameroon on the state, the governor narrated: “Let me bring to the knowledge of Cross Riverians and indeed Nigerians that 80 percent of security issues we are dealing with is a as result of the war just by our borders.”

T H I S D AY Ë¾ THURSDAY JULY 26, 2018

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱʹ˜ ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

THURSDAYSPORTS

ÜÙßÚ ÚÙÜÞÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ Duro Ikhazuagbe ×ËÓÖ duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

French Star Beats Ahmed Musa to ‘Goal of the Tournament’ Femi Solaja with agency reports The dream of Nigeria’sAhmed Musa to win the ‘Goal of the Tournament’ of the just concluded Russia 2018 World Cup finals has vanished into thin air following the announcement of French star, Benjamin Pavard as the overall winner. In the final coalition of the votes from fans all over the world and announced yesterday, Pavard’s stunner against Argentina wins the Hyundai Goal of the Russia 2018 World Cup. The 22-year-old netted sublime equaliser for France in 4-3 comeback win over South American football power house. The defender’s effort pips 17 other sublime World Cup goals, including that of Nigeria’s Musa Ahmed, to top accolade. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia treated football lovers to 169 goals in 64 matches. In an online poll where over three million FIFA.com users cast their votes, Pavard’s outsideof-the-foot rocket for France against Argentina, in which the 22-year-old displayed marvellous technique, has been voted the best at the tournament. The winner now describes the goal: “The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn’t even think about it. I just tried to get over it and keep it down,” Pavard told FIFA.com after France’s Round of 16 thriller with Argentina. “I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me. I didn’t think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy.” Pavard’s goal saw off stiff competition to win the accolade, including Juan Quintero’s delightful low freekick for Colombia against Japan in the group stage which finished

second, and Luka Modric’s long range stunner against Argentina, also in the group stage, which came third in the voting. Pavard becomes the first European player to win the Goal of the Tournament accolade since its creation in 2006. At Brazil 2014, it was bestowed on eventual adidas Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, whose venomous, dipping volley also later earned him the 2014 FIFA Puskas Award. Other previous winners include Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina) and Diego Forlan (Uruguay) winning in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Ahmed Musa, who was voted ‘Man of the Match’ his his two goals win over Iceland in the second group D match had also wished his second goal effort wins the prize following his twit after the shortlist; ahmedmusa718-”it is honor to be nominated for Goal of the Tournament. One of my best football memories so far! Go to FIFA.com and cast your vote before 23rd July. Your love and support is always appreciated #NaijaAllTheWay” he twitted shortly after the announcement and urging Nigeria football fans to stand behind him for the priceless award. Musa’s goal which was short listed along with 17 others for the best goal of the tournament eventually ranked eighth behind those of Benjamin Pavard of France, Colombia’s Juan Quintero, Croatia’s Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Russia’s Denis Cherysev and Belgium’s Nacer Chadli. Ahmed Musa’s goal is however rated above those of Ricardo Quaresma of Portugal and Germany’s Toni Kroos among the top 10 goal.

Ex-volleyball Legends Begin Developmental Programme in Ibadan Nigerian volleyball legends from Europe and America, who go by the name South West Volleyball Legends, will on August 4, 2018 at the Lekan Salami stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo state start the Under-12 volleyball programme tagged Operation Catch Them Young. The legends led by Wasiu Ojuolape, Lola Aina and four others will storm Ibadan to give back to the society that discovered them. Other members of the group are Shakirat Afolabi Badmos, Edosa Aye, Anthonia Akpama-Oloyede and Tunde Omisore with long standing sports writer with the NTA, Kehinde Lamidi as their anchor man. The spokesperson for the

group, Aina, former captain of the national women’s team, said their aim is to catch young talents and prepare them for the future, adding that the group will be donating Mikassa branded balls to the Oyo state volleyball Association as well as the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF). She added that men and women who have contributed meaningfully to the growth of volleyball in the country in the past will be honoured during the programme. Among those to honoured, she said, are Engineer Habu Gumel, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC and former president of the NVBF. Professor Tunde Morakinyo, Osaretin Emuze and Tony Oghuma.

Kwesé TV to Exclusively Air Whyte Vs Parker Bout Satellite pay-TV network, Kwesé TV, will on Saturday, 28 July exclusively air two massive international heavyweight encounters on its premium sports channel, Kwesé Sports 1. Kwesé Sports 1, the home of international heavyweight boxing, which has delivered world class boxing action including Anthony Joshua’s victorious fights against, Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker, Amir Khan vs Lo Greco and David Haye vs Tony Bellew rematch, will once more captivate boxing fans with the bout between Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker. British international former heavyweight champion, Dillian Whyte, is taking on New Zealand’s

former WBO heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker, in a 12-round heavyweight title contest at the O2 Arena in London. Both Whyte and Parker have only lost one bout during their entire boxing career, to the current unified heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua. On the same night, Dereck Chisora, a former WBA and WBO international heavyweight champion, will battle Carlos Takam in another 12-round mouth-watering heavyweight contest leading up to the main fight. Takam’s bout with Chisora will be his first since losing to Joshua in the tenth round of a rather controversial technical knock-out back in October 2017.

Ahmed Musa’s second goal against Iceland that failed to be world best. Insert is the Benjamin Pavard of France’s stunner against Argentina that won the best goal award

Future Eagles to Play Morocco in AYG Football Final Champions Nigeria cruised into the final of the football event at the 3rd African Youth Games in Algiers on Wednesday evening after beating the host nation 2-0 at the August 20 Stadium. Adeleke Tobi put the 2014 gold winners ahead from the penalty spot before John Mark Shirsha solidified the advantage to take the Future Eagles into what promises

an interesting final match against familiar foes Morocco. The Moroccans, who edged Cameroon in the other semi final played at the Sidi Moussa Stadium, will be angling to avenge their 2-3 opening match loss to the Nigerians when both teams clash in the final at the same venue on Friday evening. It would be recalled that

the Future Eagles came from two goals down to defeat the Moroccans with a brace from Divine Nwachukwu and one by Chidera Ejiofor on Thursday last week at the P. C. Bab Ezzouar Stadium, before a commanding 5-0 win over Djibouti at the same venue on Saturday. Nigeria won the football gold at the last edition of the African Youth

Games in Gaborone, Botswana four years after winning four of five matches and drawing one, in what was a round –robin format. Apart from last Thursday’s explosive opener, Nigeria and Morocco faced off in two friendly matches in Marrakech a year ago, with the Moroccans winning the first 1-0 and both teams drawing the other 1-1.

Ex-champion Eager to Reclaim ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open Finland top table tennis star and winner of 2016 edition of ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, Benedek Olah, yesterday declared his intention to rule at the forth coming edition which comes up next month in Lagos. Last year his quest to retain the tittle short lived when he failed measure up with his podium place in debut appearance. However, Olah has indeed enjoyed every of his visit to the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, Lagos and the 27-year-old is always willing to return. “The audience during

the matches is something to always look forward to and enjoy. Also the fans are willing to show emotions and make some noise during competitive rally in matches. Nigeria Open is special compared to what obtains in Europe. The lack of backhand by the players is heavily compensated with forehand with a lot of spin coupled with good footwork. Also I see that their backhand services are also different to what we were used to in Europe,” Benedek Olah admitted. With the qualities of players

heading to Nigeria this year, the Finnish said: “I am in better form than last year but this year the tournament seems harder with better players which I find super cool. Also the hotel accommodation is very amazing with good food. The audience is always lively, while the venue is always full to capacity from the first day and this is what you don’t see in Europe.” With a firm belief in his ability to reclaim the title, Benedek Olah said: “The Nigeria Open is very special to be because it was there I won my first international title. I

am always willing to return because the condition is good for me to win and it is not the same like other tournaments. I also meet some new friends and it is always nice to come back and see them.” “It is always very hard competition but it is a good atmosphere for any player to excel, I must also admit that Europe is nothing compared to Nigeria in terms of the atmosphere at the venue,” he added. Benedek Olah is hoping to clinch two titles this year but said: “It is never the same every year but anything can happen.”

Okpekpe Road Race Gets Clean Bill of Health The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has given the sixth IAAF silver label Okpekpe International 10km Road Race held last May in Okpekpe, near Auchi, Edo State, a clean bill of health following the negative dope tests recorded at the one-day meeting. Disclosing this in Lagos yesterday, the race’s spokesman, Dare Esan, said that the result of the doping control carried out on race day (May 12) has returned an all negative result. In an email sent to promoter

of the race Mike Itemuagbor, the AIU,which sits at the heart of the IAAF’s integrity reforms confirmed that none of the samples taken at the event tested positive for the use of performance enhancing drugs. ‘’I am pleased to inform you that the analyses of the doping control samples collected at Okpekpe Intl 10km Road Race, performed at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm, did not reveal the presence or use of a substance or method

prohibited under the current WADA Prohibited List,’’wrote Virginie Ocquidant,the AIU In Competition Testing Coordinator. This development, according to Esan is a big pat on the back for the organisers of the race. “This is not only a good development for the sport, it is equally a big plus for the organisers of the race,’ said Esan who believes the clean bill of health the race has been receiving since its inaugural edition in 2013 is a testimony

to the zero tolerance organisers of the race have for doping. “When we decided to make Dr Akin Amao who retired as the head of the Medical Unit of the Ministry of Sports and one of Nigeria’s foremost sports medicine practitioners as our head of the anti-doping unit for the race,it is because we wanted to ensure everthing about the race has a touch of excellence and integrity.This has given Edo state and Nigeria a positive image that money cannot buy.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE President Buhari to Decampees As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the distinguished and honourable lawmakers have issues with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies— President Muhammadu Buhari responding to the defection by some senators and House of Representatives members from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

OLUSEGUNADENIYI The Expressway to Anarchy THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

et nobody be deceived, none of the actors in the game of political brinksmanship going on within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is thinking about the people of Nigeria: It is all about retaining powers and privileges. Has anybody, for instance, wondered why neither the executive nor the legislative arm of government has intervened on the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate scandal involving the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun? That is simply because their interest is the same on that sordid matter. Therefore, no matter the pretensions to the contrary, the ongoing power struggle is not about the people and their welfare. At a period the population keeps growing amid shrinking opportunities and pervasive poverty even as the number of out-of-school children is increasing by the day, the only response from many of the politicians who now command national attention is to produce Nollywood video to celebrate their ‘home my home’. I am just going to sit by and enjoy all the drama while taking some notes that could prove useful one day. However, I am also aware that when Nigerian politicians get desperate, as APC leaders on both sides of the divide are right now, danger is not too far away for the polity. When adjournment of a federal legislative house becomes a cynical political weapon, when public officials who are supposed to be fighting corruption begin to wear the campaign lapel of the president as part of their daily uniform to beam searchlights only on regime opponents and when leading ‘transmission’ agents behave like muscle men for Aso Rock, democracy is definitely imperilled. As an aside, I find it particularly amusing that when a similar drama is staged and restaged at different times in our country, the actors never improve on their performances. In June 2011 when a new session of the National Assembly was to commence, President Goodluck Jonathan did not want Hon Aminu Tambuwal to be speaker so it was felt that the easiest way to achieve that was for the police and other security agencies to prevent the current Sokoto State governor from accessing the National Assembly on inauguration day. At the end, Tambuwal still beat hundreds of security men to arrive at the House of Representatives and the rest, as they say, is now history. When, in 2014, some members were to decamp from the then ruling PDP to the APC, efforts to prevent the House from sitting failed rather spectacularly. Now fast-forward to June 2015. In an attempt to prevent Dr Bukola Saraki from becoming the Senate President, both his residence and the premises of the National Assembly were invaded by the police and other security outfits. Yet, Saraki managed to find his way into the Senate chambers to achieve his ambition. And despite the early morning drama of Tuesday, the Senate still had their session where some APC members decamped to the PDP.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen The question then is: How can security outfits that serially bungle simple operations like keeping politicians in their bedrooms to prevent them from mischief handle complex national security challenges? That is why a dead and ‘fatally wounded’ Abubakar Shekau has ‘reincarnated’ again and again to threaten our peaceful existence even as sundry criminal cartels are now on the prowl, turning our country into a huge killing field. While these are issues for another day, it would appear that some people are playing the Peruvian Fujimori script of the nineties but students of history also know how that misadventure eventually ended. It is therefore in the interest of President Buhari to call to order those who may be abusing their powers in his name. Meanwhile, the real danger to our democracy today is not the shenanigan of politicians jumping from one political party to another but rather the disobedience to court order and the justifications being provided by the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN. From the continued detention of Sheikh Ibraheem Elzakzaky and his wife despite the order of the Federal High Court for their release to the consistent disobedience of no fewer than six successful bail application rulings on the former NSA, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), it should worry critical stakeholders that our courts are being rendered impotent. With the example set by the federal government, it is also becoming increasingly common for state governments to ignore court orders they consider unfavourable. Yet the greater implication is that when those who swore to uphold the law treat the court with contempt, they are only unwittingly sowing the seeds of anarchy because what they encourage is for citizens to resort to self-help in settling disputes. Besides, no rational investor will bring their money to an environment where court judgements are treated with scorn so the implications for the economy are also enormous.

It may be useful at this point to put the whole issue within the context of an ongoing global debate. We are at a period in history when the age-old issue about strong man and strong institution is resurfacing, especially given what is happening in the United States. In a 6th February 2017 piece titled, “Will Donald Trump be the one to put rogue courts in their place?”, following a temporary stay against the ban of foreigners from seven countries granted by a federal judge in Seattle, popular American radio talk-host, Mr Steve Deace, advocated that President Trump should disobey the order. “Despite his dominant personality, Trump officially became just another Republican president this week. Handcuffed from doing the people’s will by a pernicious lie whose bluff should’ve been called a long time ago”, wrote Deace. Incidentally, it is not only people like Deace who believe an American president could act above the law, there are also respected politicians who rationalise such viewpoints. “We have had an executive branch that has emasculated itself by surrendering constantly to the idea that once the court says something, that’s it; it’s the law of the land,” argued Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, on Fox News before he added that he was “glad to see” Trump attacking James Robart, the Seattle judge who had blocked key parts of his executive order. At the time, Trump had actually commented wryly: “We’re going to see what happens. You know, some things are law, and I’m all in favour of that. And some things are common sense. This is common sense.” I am making the foregoing point not only to highlight the tension between those who believe a president has absolute power to infringe on individual liberty under the guise of national security and those who argue that the court is the final arbiter in such matters but also to show that even the America that most of us see as the ideal is not a perfect system. The difference between us and America is that there are several layers of checks to the excesses of the president that are sorely lacking here with the most significant being the subordination of the military and security agencies to the Constitution and not the man in the White House! In Nigeria, the primary responsibility of those who superintend those critical institutions of state is regime protection for whoever is in Aso Rock. That is why we cannot afford a situation in which the president and his enablers will also render our courts prostrate. Unfortunately, in an incoherent interview with the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service last week, Malami rationalized the disobedience to court orders in the Dasuki case on grounds that the former NSA, who is yet to be convicted of any offence, was “instrumental to the death of over 100,000 people” because “there was massive mismanagement of funds meant for military hardware which the military could not access and that led to the death of many.”

What that says quite clearly is that Dasuki has already been convicted by the federal government so you wonder what role the court still has to play in his case. Incidentally, it is the same disposition that the administration has adopted on Elzakzaky as well as in the war against corruption. Once you are accused of an offence you are deemed guilty, regardless of whatever the courts say and notwithstanding that they may even not be able to produce any credible evidence beyond the nebulous blackmail line of “corruption is fighting back.” According to Mr Femi Falana, SAN, it is the height of contempt which smacks of official impunity for any public official to justify the disobedience of a valid and subsisting order of a properly constituted court of law. “Even under the defunct military dictatorship in Nigeria, detainees were released from illegal custody once the detention orders issued pursuant to the obnoxious State Security Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984 were set aside by the law court”, said Falana. He is not alone. At a public lecture at the faculty of law, University of Lagos, on 31st May this year, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen warned about the possible effects of disobeying court orders. “Any government that is against the enthronement of the rule of law is by implication inviting anarchy into the system. A democratic government must not only obey the law but also courts’ orders,” Onnoghen said. Against the background that so much song and dance was made of a recent invitation of President Buhari to The Hague by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the 20th anniversary, one wonders whether this administration worries about its predilections for hypocrisy. At the ICC event, President Buhari said the co-operation of Nigeria with the Court “is borne out of our strong belief in the respect for the rule of law and human rights, and in our firm commitment to the sanctity of fundamental freedoms at international and domestic levels as ingrained in the objectives for establishing the Court.” On the Dasuki and Elzakzakky cases, it is not enough to cite the usual higher national security excuses. If indeed these excuses have substance, they should be canvassed in court. A situation where government casually undermines the very foundation of democracy under excuses hinged on ‘the reason of state’ is a ready escape into the realm of autocracy. Considerations of ‘national security’ cannot be a leeway for government to cherry-pick which laws to obey and which to arrogantly disregard. Equality of the government and the governed, irrespective of circumstance, is the highest aspiration of all democratic culture. The private whims of an individual leadership must therefore not in any way be disguised as national security nor should we allow autocratic flirtations to undermine this fragile democracy even with all its imperfections.

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