THURSDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2018

FEC Approves N6.07tn for Revamp of Health Sector Grants additional N1.097bn for Abuja-Lokoja road Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday in Abuja approved

whopping N6.07 trillion for a thorough and comprehensive revamp of the health sector.

Briefing journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the

State House, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the amount was approved for the implementation of the second health sector plan earlier approved by the National Health

Council meeting on June 21, this year in Kano.

According to him, the first health sector plan conceived by the last administration was meant to be implemented

between 2010 and 2015 with 52 targets, pointing out that of the 52 targets in the plan, only two were achieved at the end of the day.

He said the inability to

meaningfully implement the plan, resulted in the conception of this second health sector plan which he said would be Continued on page 8

Nigeria-China Trade Now $7.2 Billion, Says Envoy ‌ Page 8 Thursday 6 September, 2018 Vol 23. No 8541 Price: N250

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Contrary to Electoral Act, Group Buys N45m Nomination Forms for Buhari S91 (9): “No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (1,000,000) to any candidate“ Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Contrary to the provision of Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which pegs individual and group contributions to election expenses of a candidate to N1million, a group, yesterday, bought the All Progressives

Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms for President Muhammadu Buhari for a hefty N45.5 million.

The group, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network, led by its National Coordinator, Mr. Sanusi Musa, presented a symbolic cheque for the huge sum to the

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 6

THISDAY Editors Urge President to Reject Forms For its clear abuse of law and repudiation of his avowed commitment to the fight against corruption and moral decadence, President Muhammadu Buhari must reject the N45.5 million All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential nomination forms bought for him yesterday by a shadowy group called Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors

Network.

When the president was sworn in on May 29, 2015, he was obligated not only to defend and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic, but also to avoid any conflict between his personal and official interests.

The Electoral Act 2010 as Continued on page 6

PDP: Six APC Governors, 27 N'Assembly Members Talking to Us ... Page 6

AIDING INDIGENT PRESIDENT‌ L-R: National Coordinator, Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network, Mr. Sanusi Musa; National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; and National Secretary, Mr. Mai Mala Buni, during the purchase of the presidential nomination forms on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja‌yesterday

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PDP: Six APC Governors, 27 N'Assembly Members Talking to Us Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon be thrown into another turmoil as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday claimed that it is concluding discussions with six state governors and 27 members of the National Assembly elected on the platform of APC ahead of their defection to the party.

The opposition party revealed that discussions on control of party structures in the affected

states and senatorial zones had also reached advanced stage and would be completed in a couple of weeks after which the governors and lawmakers would announce their defection to the PDP. The National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

He stressed that in line with decisions reached at the discussions, the members of the National Assembly defecting to

the PDP would cross-carpet at the reconvening of session in the two chambers, which will increase the PDPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numbers in both chambers.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;PDP has already concluded discussions with six APC governors and 27 APC members in the National Assembly, who have also drawn their consultations and secured the mandates of their constituents to move to the PDP ahead of the 2019 general election. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The party assures that all grey areas of the agreement,

including issues of waivers and accommodation for participation in primaries, are being smoothened out by the former governor Liyel Imoke-led PDP Contact and Integration Committee, which has been galvanizing our alliances among stakeholders across other parties, including those from the APC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These interests and movements from the APC to the PDP are indicators of the consensus by Nigerians to rally on the platform of the PDP to end the economic

hardship, bloodletting, violence and infrastructural decay that have become the hallmark of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, and return our nation to the path of unity, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which the PDP is known for.â&#x20AC;?

The party expressed its readiness to take back power at the center, as well as in its traditional states of Plateau, Niger, Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Jigawa, Zamfara,

Imo, Edo as well as South-west states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Lagos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PDP, therefore, charges all members and supporters to remain steadfast and wary of the gimmicks of the deflated APC, which has resorted to sponsoring spurious publications filled with deceptions, fabrications and lies against our party,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He also commends the spirit of tolerance, dialogue, accommodation and oneness of purpose that pervade the alliance among members.

C O N T R A RY TO E L E C TO R A L AC T, G R O U P B U YS N 4 5 M N O M I N AT I O N F O R M S F O R B U H A R I National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, at the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national secretariat in Abuja and picked up the forms on behalf of the president.

The groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gesture, which was an apparent response to the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complaint that the forms were too expensive for him to purchase with his salary, may, however, turn sour as acceptance of the goodwill may land Buhari in trouble, THISDAY learnt last night.

According to lawyers THISDAY contacted, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gesture offends S91 (9) of the Electoral Act which states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (1,000,000) to any candidate.â&#x20AC;?

By this provision, the lawyers said, the group is in contravention of the electoral law, warning that if the president accepts the forms he would be liable to the punishment stipulated in S91 (10) (a) of the Act. It states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section commits an offence and on convictions shall be liable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; (a) in case of presidential election to a maximum fine of N1,000,000.00 or imprisonment of 12 months or both.â&#x20AC;?

Buhari was said to have complained loudly that the expression of interest (N5million) and nomination (N40million) fees for the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential ticket for the 2019 general election, were too high for him, stating that his salary could not sustain the burden.

Speaking at the form purchasing ceremony yesterday, Musa said he and his colleagues decided to raise the money to support the president and exhibit the enormous goodwill Buhari

has with the people.

With the group's purchase of the form, the president becomes the first aspirant in the party to obtain the ruling party's presidential nomination form.

The group, which THISDAY could not ascertain its legal status, as it could not be confirmed, at press time, if it is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), was specially received by the Oshiomhole, who led other National Working Committee (NWC), members to present the form to it.

Musa told Oshiomhole, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although the president is not a multi-millionaire cash wise, he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form."

His claim was perhaps a response to whispering speculation that the money might have come from a North-central governor, who had wanted to pay for the forms directly before he was advised to device other means in order to avoid any backlash from the public.

According Musa, the group embarked on the project based on the recognition that the president has started laying a good foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains so far made.

He said, "We have no doubt that Mr. President has both in actions and words been working to lay a foundation for greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generation will be proud of. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Under his administration, Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world; Nigeria has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but the world.

"Today, Mr. Chairman, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state in Nigeria that does not have several major federal government infrastructure projects either completed or being, executed under President Buhari.

"It is for this reason Mr. Chairman, that we have decided to pool our meager resources together and purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms for President Buhari as he presents himself to our party members to be chosen as its candidate for the 2019 general election."

Presidency to Atiku: Buhari Uncompromising, Not Power Drunk In a related development, the presidency yesterday reacted to an allegation by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that President Muhammadu Buhari is not only uncompromising but also a power drunk, "who will not be ready to leave power without a fight."

In a swift reaction to the allegation, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, challenged Atiku to stop using the name of Buhari as a tool to get the presidential ticket of his party.

He insisted that whereas the "President is truly uncompromising, but only when it comes to looting the common patrimony of Nigerians, and squandering their riches."

Arguing that the president is committed to the war against corruption without fear or favour, the presidential aide added that Buhari is equally resolute in ensuring that Nigeria is no longer a mono-product economy.

However, he said the claim

that the president was drunk with power was untrue, saying instead, the president handles power with a sense of decency, adding that the ex-vice president's choice of words did not portray him as a statesman.

While advising him to borrow a leaf from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whom he said responded to his (Atiku) allegations against him (Osinbajo) like a statesman, Adesina said Atiku's claim that the president would not leave power without a fight only showed that the former vicepresident already saw defeat staring him in the face.

He said, "Power drunk? No! And being a man 'who will not be ready to leave power without a fight' Never! Not President Buhari, who has demonstrated in many ways that he is a committed democrat, though also a retired military general. He has no apologies about that. Through a sterling military career, he served Nigeria with his heart and might, before venturing into partisan politics.

"In many ways, President Buhari has wielded power with decency, and as a means of serving the people, rather than for personal ends. If there's one person not intoxicated by power, it is President Buhari, and scores of millions of Nigerians know this. That is why they will invest him with power again next year, knowing that he won't misuse or misapply what has been entrusted to him.

"Former VP Abubakar may want to borrow a leaf from the decorous language employed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in answering his recent press statement on the restructuring debate. That is the hallmark of statesmen, and not crying wolf where none exists, which is

what the allegation of being uncompromising and power drunk truly is.

"President Buhari is actuated by service to country, and nothing else. So, there couldn't be anything like "not ready to leave power without a fight."

"Indeed, the insinuation of a fight is the mindset of a man who is either undemocratic, or has seen defeat staring him, and his party, in the face. Let the former Vice President rest assured that there will be no 'fight' over power in Nigeria.

Not under President Buhari's watch. The people don't want a fight. It is some political leaders we must beseech to eschew pugnacity, and mind their language."

be covered by the law on election expenses. But we hold that our anti-corruption president ought not to be within the vicinity of any doubtful act that could in the fullness of time be found to be unlawful.

Besides, accepting a gift of N45.5million forms would gravely offend the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, which restrains public officials from accepting gifts which exceed certain limit that is capable of compromising the performance of their official responsibilities.

This point is significant, because in his presentation, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Coordinator, Mr. Sanusi

Musa, said they put the money together to assist the president in appreciation of his good works.

This, no doubt, amounts to gratification, an act the code seriously frowns upon and prescribes stern punishment for.

Our charge, therefore, is that the president should err on the side of caution and distance himself from this potential political time-bomb that is bound to explode shortly. He should reject the N45.5 million nomination forms bought for him by this group, whose integrity no one except the political jobbers around the Presidential Villa can vouch for.

APC Challenges Saraki to Show Scorecard Meanwhile, the APC has asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to prove to Nigerians his readiness to run for the presidency by pointing to his past achievements as governor of Kwara State.

In a statement by the acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabene, the ruling party said while it welcomes Saraki to the race as it is his right to do so as a Nigerian Citizen, "there are, however, many issues that border on his integrity, antecedents, competence and capability to preside over the affairs of the country."

It said the party was not unaware of reports that Saraki's presidential declaration was his tactics to deflect attention from the deluge of issues he deals with particularly ahead of the 2019 General Elections especially the pressure to reconvene the National Assembly.

It also said that Saraki needed

T H I S DAY E D I TO R S U R G E P R E S I D E N T TO R E J E CT F O R M S amended, being a creation of the Constitution, provides in S91(9) that no individual or other entity shall contribute more that N1million to the election expenses of a candidate, stipulating a fine of N1million or 12 months imprisonment for any candidate, who knowingly violates this provision.

By the guidelines of the APC on its nomination procedure, the president, being the aspirant, is the one required to purchase the forms. In his characteristic Spartan approach to life, he had openly protested the exorbitant nomination fees, saying as a salary earner, he could not

afford it.

It would be cynical to argue that the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention is a goodwill gesture meant to bail out an indigent president.

However, the hefty sum of N45.5m used to purchase the forms amount to nothing but a contribution to the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s election expenses, which abundantly infringes on the law that pegs individual and group contribution to N1million.

Law apart, the development threatens to smear the moral credential of the president as the exhibited profile of members of the group cast a large shadow of doubt on their capacity to raise

the huge amount in question.

Certainly, none of them is known to be of any visible business or vocation, giving credence to the speculation that they might be fronting for a lousy North-central governor, who had earlier proposed to purchase the forms for the president.

Should our president, who has spent the last three years and more, expressing his disapproval of graft, be associated with this kind of doubtful transaction? We think not.

We appreciate that it could be argued back and forth, whether the nomination process being a pre-election exercise is intended to

Barkindo Projects Crude Oil Demand to Hit 100mbpd Ejiofor Alike The Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Mohammadu Barkindo, has stated that the world crude oil consumption will reach 100 million barrels per day (bpd) later this year, much sooner than previously forecast.

Speaking yesterday at the Africa Oil and Power Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Barkindo noted that a stable environment was needed to encourage oil industry investment to meet the rising demand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world will attain the 100 million barrels a day mark of consumption later this year,

much sooner than we all earlier projected. Therefore, stabilising forces which create conditions conducive to attracting investments are essential,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The priority is on ensuring stability is sustainable, spreading confidence in the industry and encouraging an environment conducive to the return of

investments,â&#x20AC;? he added.

OPEC with Russia and other producers have implemented a deal since January 2017 on cutting 1.8 million bpd from global output to prop up prices that fell below $28 a barrel in 2016 from over $115 in June 2014.

With the success of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Declaration of Cooperation,â&#x20AC;?

as the output cut deal is referred to, the global benchmark Brent was trading at just below $78 per barrel yesterday.

Barkindo said oil industry confidence was returning and OPEC was exploring ways of institutionalising cooperation between OPEC and its nonOPEC allies on their production levels.

to contend with the fast shifting political order in Kwara State, among others. On Saraki's antecedents, the party said it would align itself with the popular axiom, â&#x20AC;&#x153;By their fruits, we shall know them.â&#x20AC;?

It said, "By virtue of Saraki's antecedents, he is an abysmal failure and is totally incompetent to offer himself as a candidate for leadership of Nigeria.

"Saraki was a two-term Governor of Kwara State and Senate president in the last three years. What were his performance records in these two assignments?â&#x20AC;?

Saraki Has No Credibility Problem, Says Aide Saraki's Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, responded to the APC yesterday and said his boss had no credibility problem to resolve.

The Senate president's spokesman in a statement in Abuja was emphatic that "Dr. Saraki does not have any credibility issues except the ones concocted by these putative demagogues to whom the Senate president has become a nightmare".

He went further to ask, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What is APC's business with an aspirant of another party?â&#x20AC;?

The truth, Olaniyonu posited, is that APC is scared stiff of the possibility of a Saraki candidacy, adding, "Fortunately, they have no role in deciding that."

He further emphasised that his principal will not be distracted by â&#x20AC;&#x153;the antics of an upstart who lives in Abuja but waits to sign press statements composed for him from Lagos.â&#x20AC;?

Olaniyonu added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When his masters show their face, we will debate all the issues they have raised and the ones they may wish to even concoct.â&#x20AC;?

Describing Nabena as a faceless person, Olaniyonu challenged him to a public debate on any independent television station.

He said, "Here is an opportunity for him to come out of his hiding and come on a national television to debate all the issues he has raised with one of the aides of the Senate president.

"We hope he will take up this challenge and stop behaving like a masquerade. He is free to choose any independent TV station of his choice."

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Nigeria-China Trade Now $7.2 Billion, Says Envoy Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The China Commercial Consular to Nigeria, Mr. Hongliang Gao, has put the present value of trade between Nigeria and China at $7.2 billion, making China the third largest trading partner with Nigeria.

However, with the increased interest in investments and trade between both countries, the value is expected to surpass Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trade with India, which is presently the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest trading partner.

Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2018 China-Nigeria Trade Fair in Lagos, Gao said the Chinese government was committed to a sustainable mutually beneficiary relationship with Nigeria.

Gao said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria is Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first population country and the largest economy. It is rich in natural resources, fertile land and huge market potential. In recent years, the friendship between China and Nigeria have been further strengthened, highlevel exchanges have become closer, political mutual trust has deepened, bilateral economic and trade cooperation have achieved fruitful results, and the scale of trade has continued to expand.â&#x20AC;?

He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;From January to June this year, the bilateral trade volume between China and Nigeria reached $7.2 billion.

It increased by 7. 6 per cent year-on-year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At present, Nigeria is Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third largest trading

partner in Africa, the largest engineering contracting market and an important investment destination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The continuous and in-depth development of China-Nigeria economic and trade relations is in the common interest of the two peoples.â&#x20AC;?

He further spoke on the just concluded China Africa Summit, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yesterday, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully concluded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chinese President Xi Jinping shared the friendship and discussed the plans with the leaders of African countries. The Beijing Summit of the ChinaAfrica Cooperation Forum is a major event in the historical development of China-Africa relations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has established a historical monument of China-Africa friendly exchanges, played a strong voice of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and point out the future development direction of China â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Africa relations.â&#x20AC;?

Furthermore, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The China-Africa Cooperation Forum closed successfully yesterday.

Today, the 2018 China -Nigeria Expo has entered Lagos and was grandly opened. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is just the right time. The Expo is an important measure for the organisers and exhibitors to actively respond to the national interest. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One Belt and One Road,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; initiative, explore emerging markets in African countries, and optimises the layout of

the international market. In this exhibition, nearly 100 companies from 13 provinces and cities in China participated, 200 booths and 4,000 square meters of exhibition area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The products exhibited include building materials, home appliances and consumer electronics, textiles and clothing.â&#x20AC;?

Also, the Secretary General of International Silk Union, Mr. Jianming Fei, in his opening remarks said findings on Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demand for silk had doubled in the past three years which he anticipated would establish a manufacturing base in Africa in no distant time.

Sign $328m Agreement, Seeks Chinese Support for Mambilla Projects Meanwhile, Nigeria and China yesterday as part of Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, signed $328 million agreement for Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone Phase II (NICTIB II) project.

This came as President Muhammadu Buhari also sought the support of Chinese President Xi Jinping, for the building of 3050 Megawatts Mambila hydroelectric power project in Taraba State.

In the same vein, the statement said a Chinese firm announced its decision to invest $200 million in an industrial park in Kano State, cotton farms in Funtua, Katsina State and textile and garment manufacturing

establishments in Aba, Abia State and Lagos.

In a statement, Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said the $328million concessional loan agreement between Galaxy Backbone Limited and Huawei Technologies Limited (HUAWEI) was signed by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister of Finance, Kemi Adesoun and Wang Xiaotoa, Director-General of International Development Agency and witnessed by Buhari and Jinping.

He said Nigeria and China also signed a memorandum of understanding for One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR).

According to him, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Director, Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Development and Reform Commission, He Lifeng, signed OBOR, which he described as an initiative of Jinping, which focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.

Shehu said during his meeting with Jinping, Buhari commended the Chinese government for successfully hosting FOCAC and solicited its support for Mambila hydropower project.

He said Buhari noted that Mambilla project remained a key priority matter to Nigeria and also sought additional Chinese funding for four airport terminal projects as well as the Abuja light rail project.

He also said the president

thanked China for accepting to support the international efforts to recharge the Lake Chad Basin, quoting him as saying, "the inclusion of this project in the FOCAC Action Plan 2019 to 2021 will go a long way in supporting our efforts to rehabilitate and resettle the conflict-impacted North East region."

The statement also said Buhari noted that easy movement of citizens of both Nigeria and China would complement the currency swap agreements recently signed by the central banks of both countries. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Since our last meeting two years ago, Nigeria has relaxed its visa requirements to Chinese citizens. Today, I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that Chinese citizens receive Nigerian visas in less than 48 hours. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Another measure that will improve our trade volumes will be to introduce import duty waivers on Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commodity exports to China.

Today, our commodities such as sesame seeds, hibiscus and cassava amongst others attract import duty in China,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Buhari was quoted.

The statement also said Buhari lauded Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support for two permanent seats for Africa at the United Nations (UN), noting that the reform of the Security Council would ensure equitable representation for the continent.

It added that in his remarks, Jinping who commended Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight against terrorism and the progress that has been made so far, promised Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

support in capacity building and intelligence sharing.

It also said he pledged 50 million Chinese Yuan support to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military, saying â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Buhari is as decisive in dealing with terrorism as China.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Furthermore, it said the Chinese President said China would import more agricultural products from Nigeria and expressed gratitude to Buhari on Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest to participate in the forthcoming Chinese Import Fair.

On Mambilla, the statement said the Chinese leader said, "we understand how critical the project is to your country and we will take a serious look at it and ensure that it succeeds because of its social and economic benefits.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Shehu also said on the sidelines of FOCAC summit, Ruyi Group, a leading Chinese company met Buhari with a plan to invest $200 million in an industrial park in Kano State, cotton farms in Funtua, Katsina State and textile and garment manufacturing establishments in Aba, Abia State and Lagos.

He said the proposed investment would cover the entire cotton value chain, farming, ginning, spinning, weaving and power generation to support the processes.

He added that Ruyi Group Chairman, Mr. Yafu Qui told Buhari that they settled for Nigeria because of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, abundant human and material resources and a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;strong leadershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that has diversification agenda for the country.

MPC Member Warns of Excess Banking Sector Liquidity Obinna Chima A member of the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, has warned that the Nigerian banking system continues to harbour excessive liquidity with industry liquidity ratio far above the prescribed requirement.

Specifically, Isa-Dutse put the average industry liquidity ratio as at June 30, 2018, at 46 per cent, compared to the minimum prudential requirement of 30 per cent.

This was reflected in his personal statement at the July 2018 MPC meeting posted on the CBN website.

In his contribution at the meeting, Isa-Dutse, pointed

out that industry data and complaints from real sector operators indicated weak lending by the banks, directly contributing to the weak economic recovery.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slowed to 1.50 per cent (year-on-year) in the second quarter of the year (Q2, 2018), compared to the 1.95 per cent rate recorded in the preceding quarter, according to a recent data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The liquidity overhang in the system is likely to worsen in the immediate future on account of 2018 budget execution, election spending and the new minimum wage proposals if approved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All hands must, therefore, be

on deck to accelerate the rate of growth to a much higher level to enable us achieve the targets set in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).â&#x20AC;?

He pointed out that as a result of the liquidity overhang in the banking sector, the gains in the fight against inflation could be vulnerable to reversal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inflationary pressures are actually building up already as data indicate a deceleration in the rate of decrease in yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;onâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;year inflation and actual increase in the monthâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; onâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;month inflation figures for June 2018,â&#x20AC;? he said.

On his part, while the CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr. Okwu Nnanna, pointed out that economic growth in the country remains weaker than expected,

he noted that the persistent high rate of unemployment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; especially, among the youth remains a challenge.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though inflation has moderated downward owing to stable exchange rate, month-on-month data shows evidence of incipient inflationary pressures. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The anticipated deficit financing of 2018 federal government budget and 2019 election spending including review of salaries and wages in September 2018 constitute upside risks to inflation in the near-term. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite the growth in the monetary aggregates and improved liquidity conditions in the banking system, contraction in credit to the private sector has continued to linger.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, the banking industry continues to grapple with a high ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs). â&#x20AC;&#x153;While the recovery in oil price offers hope to the banking industry, this may not likely impact on lending and asset quality in the near term. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consequently, the combination of rising oil price, settlement of federal government contractual obligations to the private sector creditors including stronger economic growth may reduce NPLs, improve asset quality and sustain financial system stability,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Also, another MPC member, Dr. Mike Obadan, said the CBN should continue to ensure that banks embark on aggressive debt recovery drives; realise collaterals of non-performing

credits as well as get the insurance companies to settle claims relating to insured debts.

He also called for the strengthening of risk management practices and strictly enforce the CBN restrictions on payment of dividends by banks with high NPLs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The financial system remains sound based on various measures of financial soundness. The few cases of high non-performing loans in the portfolios of a few DMBs have negative consequences on the banksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; earnings and capital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, the problem is being addressed by the CBN with corrective actions to prevent spill over to other institutions or adverse impact on financial system stability,â&#x20AC;? he said.

financing.

"In total, this new plan has 15 thematic areas, 48 strategic objectives and 282 interventions that will help us to really improve the healthcare delivery that will offer our people. What is important is the stakeholder and strong health sector wide participation of states in the presentation.

"We went through a five-stage process. The states went to develop their plans. The federal developed ours. We came together, harmonised all the plans and we brought everybody together to validate and adopt the plan and then moved on to Kano for implementation.

"The entire projects meant for

over five years will cost us over N6.071 trillion and we believe that if this funding is done, if the plans are implemented faithfully, we will achieve a 31 per cent reduction in maternal mortality. We will achieve 33 percent reduction in horizontal mortality and we will achieve under five percent mortality reduction of 29 per cent.

"We are quite confident that this plan will usher Nigeria into a new era, and council in its wisdom, approved this plan for implementation. So, the next thing now, will be to ask the states to commence implementation. Federal will commence, and we will go to NEC and Governors' Forum

to secure the buy-in of the governors so that this plan can be faithfully implemented," he stated.

Also briefing, Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, said FEC approved N5 billion for the construction of a 48-kilometre Abak-Eket road in Akwa Ibom State.

He also said FEC approved N1.097 billion for the argumentation of the cost of constructing N28 billion AbujaAbaji-Lokoja road section one, adding that the council also approved N78 million for the design, finance and operation of 750 kilowatts of power generation facility.

F E C A P P R OV E S N 6 . 0 7 T N F O R R E VA M P O F H E A LT H S E CTO R implemented between 2018 and 2022 with 15 themes, 48 strategic objectives and 282 interventions.

Adewole who said the plan was meant to improve healthcare delivery in the country, added that its implementation would result in 31 per cent reduction in maternal mortality, 33 percent reduction in horizontal mortality and 29 percent reduction in under five percent mortality rate.

The minister also said the plan includes: overhaul of the primary healthcare system, upgrading of existing hospitals across the nation and infrastructure development.

Disclosing that the plan would involve all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), the minister said the plan includes 15 priority areas as well as five strategic pillars.

He listed such strategic pillars to include: enabling environment for our attainment of health sector good, increased utilisation of essential package of healthcare services, strengthening our health system, and protection from health emergencies as well as health financing.

"There was an attempt to come up with a plan between 2010 and 2015. That plan had 52 targets but regrettably, we were only able to achieve two of the 52 targets. So, we spent a long time, trying to put in place the second plan.

"So, it took us about two

years to get this second plan done. It involves all states of the federation. It includes the Federal Capital Territory, and our development partners participated in the presentation and the approval of the plan.

"The plan was approved at the National Council on Health meeting that took place in Kano on June 21, 2018. The plan essentially has five strategic pillars and 15 priority areas.

The five strategic pillars include: enabling environment for our attainment of health sector good, increased utilisation of essential package of healthcare services, strengthening our health system, and protection from health emergencies as well as health

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News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Saraki Demands Probe of Police Raid on Clark’s House Police apologise to Ijaw leader North Central PDP leaders meet Senate president Deji Elumoye and Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an investigative panel to probe last Tuesday’s police invasion of the Abuja residence of the elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.

This is coming as the police yesterday apologised to Clark and paraded the alleged informant, one Ismail Yakubu, a native of Waru village in Apo district, Abuja, for giving false information to the police that led to the search of the Abuja residence of Clark.

Saraki in a statement yesterday described as unwarranted the police search of the home of the nonagenarian, and called for an open and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The incident, he said, was an “unwarranted harassment of the statesman,” who is known for being very vocal in expressing his views on national issues.

He added that the incident must not be be covered up without the public knowing all the details, particularly concerning the officer who gave the order, who signed the police search warrant and the officers who executed it as well as what the objective was meant to serve.

According to him, “Chief Edwin Clark, a former minister in the General Yakubu Gowon administration, is not just anybody. Yes, he is not above the law. If there is a genuine reason for his home to be searched by law enforcement agencies, nobody will object to it. However, as it now appears, for the police to conduct a raid on the home of a man of that age on the pretence that they were looking for arms and eventually, the claim turned out to be a hoax, then something must be amiss.”

Saraki, while further condemning the police action, also described it as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

“This type of action by the police coming at this time when we are preparing for election is not reflecting well on the country. Such actions constitute a threat to democracy.

They represent gross abuse of state institutions. Now that the Inspector General of Police (IG) has denied that the raid was never authorised, the next move should be a thorough, transparent investigation into the Clark’s incident to prevent future occurrence.

“This kind of ugly development must stop. This country experienced peaceful change in 2015 because the government in power allowed democracy to work. If the government had allowed the flagrant abuse and misuse of state institutions to be the norm, we would not have had the change that occurred,” the Senate president stated.

Saraki further reminded the government of its recent commitment to world leaders on the need to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere necessary for credible, free and fair elections where citizens can freely exercise their franchise, devoid of intimidation, suppression and abuse of their fundamental human rights.

The police yesterday paraded the alleged informant, one Ismail Yakubu, a native of Waru village in Apo district, Abuja, for giving false information to the police that led to the search of the Abuja residence of Clark.

Speaking during his parade by the police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the informant gave a detailed accounts of how he got information that there were arms in Clark’s house.

Gunmen Kill Five in Plateau The police have confirmed the killing of five persons by gunmen at a mining site in Gana-Ropp village of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Terna Tyopev, disclosed this yesterday in Jos. “On Tuesday at about 12:30p.m, we received distress call from Da Gyang Pam, the village head of Gana-Ropp village in Barkin Ladi, saying that there had been sporadic gunshots at a mining site around the area.

“A team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Barkin Ladi Division was dispatched to the scene of crime.

“On arrival, it was

discovered that five persons were shot by gunmen who fled the scene before the arrival of policemen “Our men immediately moved those with gunshots to the General Hospital in the locality but were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, “Tyopev said.

Tyopev, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that corpses were released to the families for burial.

He said investigation was ongoing to arrest those behind the dastardly act.

The police spokesman called on members of the public with useful information on the killings to make it available to the security agencies for prompt action.

Yakubu, 45, said he was on his way last Monday to receive a consignment from an anonymous caller around the ECOWAS area in Asokoro when the taxi he boarded ran into a blockade around Haile Selassie street in Asokoro, Abuja.

He said on enquiry, he was told by the taxi driver that the blockade was caused by a truck entering house number 43 Haile Selassie street.

He added that the driver of the taxi categorically told him that the truck contained arms, and being a citizen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and going by the relative peace in the FCT, he took it upon himself to report the matter to the police.

“I did not have access to the STS to report the matter that Monday evening, so I

came on Tuesday and report the matter to Inspector Sada,” he said.

Yakubu insisted he was innocent of any crime, adding that as a citizen, he was bound to give information to security agencies that would help curtail or prevent the commission of crime.

But, the police who condemned the raid, particularly due to the involved officers’ failure to follow due process of the law in carrying out such search, said the police officers, who are currently under investigation, would be punished according to the law if convicted of any misconduct.

Force Public Relations Officer, acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Moshood, said: “Notwithstanding, the facts

that on daily basis the Nigeria Police Force across the country receives series information from members of the public which are promptly used to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities, the Force will not condone misconducts by any of its personnel that runs contrary to the rule of law.

“The Police, therefore, have the statutory rights to execute a duly obtained search warrant in any premises where it has actionable intelligence or information that incriminating items or exhibits used to commit crime or about to be used for crime with the aims of recovering them to prevent the commission of such crime or to detect the crime that have been committed.

“Any officer who is to carry out the execution of

search warrant must follow the laid down procedures within the law. Where such is not followed, such an officer must be made to face the consequences of violating the rule of law.

“The officer who led the team has been queried, and the three Inspectors are currently undergoing orderly trial for the appropriate punishment to be meted out on them.”

Moshood, while reiterating the position of the police over the embarrassment the search has caused, added that the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, had already sent a high powered delegation led by a DIG and other senior police officers to apologise to the elder statesman over the search.

Cont’d on page 51

ON THE MOVE...

National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (left); Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola on arrival in Oshogbo, Osun State...yesterday

Nigeria to Repatriate 56,000 IDPs from Niger Republic, Says NEMA The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday said it had concluded plans to repatriate 56,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), from Difa, Niger Republic.

The Northeast Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Bashir Garga, disclosed this during a humanitarian and development coordination forum organised by the agency in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

Garga said the IDPs were those who escaped Boko Haram onslaught in the last seven years in Mobbar and

Abadam Local Government Areas of Borno State.

He said all arrangements had been made with the government of Niger Republic to ensure that they are brought back to Nigeria.

“There were serious concerns on insecurity in some of the liberated local government areas.

NEMA is working with the security agencies toward ensuring that the liberated LGAs are safe and habitable for the returnees.

“But much still need to be done. So we are urging the

humanitarian organisations to give attention to developing the liberated communities.

“This is because some of the IDPs, after going back home, return to where they were because their homes are not habitable.

“We need to encourage them and reassure them of their safety all the time,” he said.

In his remarks, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, Ahmed Bello, who gave update on the security situation, said proactive measures had been adopted to protect the IDPs.

Bello said the force had deployed no fewer than 50 mobile police units in communities liberated from Boko Haram to enhance law and order.

He said the force also trained some personnel on conflict resolution techniques to curb issues of land grabbing, cattle rustling and other menace arising in the liberated communities.

He explained that the command was working with traditional leaders, civilian JTF and other partners in the state to check crime.

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Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau APC Adopt Indirect Primary Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja, Emmanuel Ukumba in Lafia and James Sowole in Akure The Kogi, Nasarawa and Ondo States chapters of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) have adopted indirect primary for the selection of the party’s candidates in the 2019 elections.

Also citing the security situation in Plateau State, the state chapter of the ruling party has also adopted indirect method of electing candidates for the 2019 elections.

The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who made the position of party in the state known yesterday during stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Lokoja, the state capital, also assured the members and aspirants seeking various elective positions on the platform of APC that he does not have any anointed candidate for the primary election of the party.

The stakeholders meeting of

the party was conveyed by the governor to discuss and resolve the method to adopt for the primary election of the party.

Governor Bello reaffirmed that he was for all the aspirants vying for various elective positions on the platform of the party, saying whoever emerges at the primaries will be the candidate of APC. He assured members that the party would sponsor all the candidates for the general election to ensure that APC wins the contestable positions.

“I have never anointed any aspirants for any position.

Forms are already on sale; any interested member of the party who is willing to contest elective positions on the platform of APC in Kogi State should go and buy their forms. The party will create a level-playing ground for all the aspirants so that we can achieve our set objectives,” he said In a related development, the Nasarawa State chapter of the ruling party has also opted

for indirect primary election for the election of its candidates for governorship and other elective positions in the state.

The decision was taken during the state APC stakeholders meeting presided over by Governor UmaruTanko AlMakura at the Government House, Lafia.

The meeting also had in attendance APC governorship aspirants and arrays of other aspirants seeking elective positions on the platform of the party as well as its state officials.

However, Senator Abdullahi Adamu was absent at the meeting.

In his address at the meeting, the Nasarawa State governor assured members that there would be justice and fairness during the conduct of the state APC primary elections, especially that of the governorship.

Also, the Ondo State chapter of the ruling party yesterday declared that it would adopt indirect primary to elect its candidates for the 2019 elections.

The decision was reached after the extensive stakeholders, meeting of the party held at the party secretariat on Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital.

The meeting, which lasted for about three hours, was attended by various stakeholders including Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; his deputy, Hon Agboola Ajayi; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Oloyelogun, and state commissioners among others.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Senator Representing Ondo Central senatorial district, Omotayo Alasoadura, said the stakeholders of the party in the state had settled for indirect primary system of electing candidates.

Alasoadura said the adoption of the system in the state was in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution, which allowed for both direct and indirect form of primaries.

“We unanimously adopted that any election that will be conducted in the state shall be indirect exercise, because party has no documents to back up the direct primaries and that’s why we arrived at indirect primaries in Ondo State,” he said.

Also, the Plateau State chapter of the APC has adopted indirect primary method of electing candidates ahead of 2019 general election citing the precarious security situation in the state.

Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Latep Dabang, briefed journalists in Jos yesterday after an enlarged party stakeholders’ meeting that comprised the Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden; local government areas

chairmen of the party; top party chieftains and elders of the party held at Yelwa Club, Jos, the state capital.

“Our main concern on the Plateau is the issue of security; we have been battling with a lot of security challenges here, and we believe that the indirect primaries will give us a smaller number of people to manage, and you will be able to get them to a location that security operatives will easily police.

“But if you have election going in 207 wards in the state, there will be security threats and you cannot guarantee when the party primaries will begin and end, coupled with the attacks going on in quite a number of local government areas; we don’t want to put people lives at risk. These are some of the issues we are considering along with other issues,” he said.

Cholera Outbreak Hits Borno Borno State Government yesterday raised the alarm over an outbreak of cholera in the state.

Briefing journalists, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, said the eight samples sent for laboratory tests proved positive, indicating an outbreak of the disease in the state.

He said though 14 persons have reportedly died in areas where acute water diarrhoea has been diagnosed, he could not confirm if the deaths were due to cholera as no autopsy was carried out. “With the laboratory confirmation of samples of eight suspected cholera cases sent to the National Diseases Control Centre (NCDC) laboratory in Abuja, the Borno State Ministry of Health officially declares an outbreak.

“This official declaration has become important to enable state, partners and NGO to mobilise adequate resources for a timely and comprehensive response to the outbreak which presently concentrates in Madinatu and El-Miskin IDPs camps and Bolori

ward in Maiduguri and suburbs.

“Suspected cases have also been reported from Kaga with 28 cases, Konduga (36 cases), Magumeri (139 cases), Old Maiduguri (67 cases), Chibok (78 cases), Damboa (8 cases), Shani (6 cases) and Jere (18 cases),” he said.

Mshelia said the state government has activated the full scale emergency operations for concerted response to an outbreak of this nature.

“As of today, September 5, 2018, a total of 380 cases of suspected cholera have been reported with 14 deaths. Over 250 cases have been treated and discharged. As additional efforts, active case search is ongoing as the World Health Organisation (WHO) engages nearly 200 community Health champions who are currently searching for cases in each household, reporting and referring them to appropriate treatment centres.”

He noted that the local government affected by acute water diarrhoea has grown from 10 to 13.

Police: ISIS Terrorists Have Links in Borno IDP Camps The Borno State Police Command yesterday said the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), a faction of ISIS, had its spies operating from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the State.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, Ahmed Bello, disclosed this while giving update on security situation at a Humanitarian and Development Coordination Forum in Maiduguri.

Bello, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, said it was established that three among the 22 ‘Boko-Haram’ insurgents arrested two months ago were members of ISIS. He disclosed that the terrorists usually stationed their stooge at the IDP camps to perpetrate chaos without being noticed.

“We had launched radio programmes aimed at sensitising the larger society on the need to

be sensitive of their environment.

“It will interest you to note that some of the affected victims in camps were not IDPs. We have our ways of rating them to the classes of A.B.C. “So if you find any suspicious person, do not just send him away, but arrest him because the terrorists have their sympathisers; they are the people that are giving them information,” he said.

He explained that the arrest of the culprit had led to drastic reduction in cases of bomb blasts perpetrated by the insurgents, using Improvised Explosive Device in Maiduguri metropolis.

In his remarks, NEMA Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Bashir Garga, commended the police and other security agencies for providing protection to the IDPs and creating safe working environment for humanitarian aid workers in the Northeast.

MEMORIAL LECTURE

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Prof. Ibiyinka Afuwape; Co-Founder, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru; Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies of Montana Technology, Butte, United States /guest speaker, Prof.Beverly Hartline; Pro- Chancellor of the university, Prof. Peter Gbewa Hugbo during the second annual memorial lecture of the late Olorogun Michael Ibru in Delta State...yesterday

2019: APC Has No Business Presenting Governorship Candidate in Rivers, Says Wike Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to even contemplate presenting a governorship candidate for the 2019 election in the state shows that something is fundamentally wrong with the party.

Speaking in an interview at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike stated that aside the plot to rig, the APC

has no platform to campaign upon in Rivers State.

“For the APC to even think of bringing up anybody against me in this state to challenge whether, I have done something or not, then you know that something is fundamentally wrong.

“What has the Federal Government done for the APC in Rivers State? What has Rivers APC achieved? Mention one thing.

Is it in terms of the roads, the airport or seaports? Tell me,”

he queried.

He expressed regret that the APC does not believe in credible polls, noting that rigging and fraud is in the DNA of the party.

“All their meetings, all their gatherings at the Federal Level, whether by hook or crook, they must have Rivers State. They want to use soldiers, SARS, DSS. All cries by the international community do not matter. Just take Rivers State first”, he said.

Wike said as a Minister of State

for Education, his contributions to the development of the State are scattered across the state.

He wondered why the current Minister of Transportation has, in his words, failed the people of Rivers State by refusing to attract a single project to the state.

His words: “When I was a minister and he was in APC, I brought development to the state.

For example, I brought Faculty of Law to the University of Port Harcourt.

El-Rufai Restates Commitment to Creative Industry Peter Uzoho in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has reiterated his administration’s commitment and support to the development of the art and creative industry, through creating veritable platforms for youth to develop and showcase their creative potentials.

El Rufai stated this yesterday in Kaduna while declaring open the 2018 edition of the Kaduna

Book and Art Festival (Kabafest), organised by the Book Buzz Foundation.

The governor who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bala Bantex, stressed that the festival was not only meant to celebrate the art and literary world but was also intended to change the perception of the world about Northern Nigeria.

El Rufai also noted that the

state government intended to institutionalise Kabafest as a fixture on the cultural calendar and a fitting platform for the existing talents in the north, explaining that the annual programme was an initiative for nurturing, promoting and celebrating creative potentials.

“It is delivering on this government’s commitment to support the arts, creativity and the creatives. As one of

the largest states in a diverse country, Kaduna is an epitome of diversity, from cultures and languages to landscape.

“This variety is a blessing, and the interaction of these cultures and languages enriches us all.

Literature and other arts make a major contribution to helping us understand each other better, explaining to us where we are, and pointing out where we could go.”

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Falana: No Serious Restructuring without Equitable Wealth Redistribution Ugo Aliogo Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), yesterday said any restructuring of the country can only be meaningful if wealth is equitably distributed.

To him, merely restructuring Nigeria would not guarantee unity and political stability without the redistribution of wealth.

Falana was of the view that while the country needs power devolution, only the democratisation of powers and equitable redistribution of the commonwealth along egalitarian lines would engender unity.

In a paper delivered at the 19th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture in Lagos, the Senior Advocate said: since the rich were united in exploiting the country’s national resources, the exploited poor and oppressed should unite to free themselves from poverty.

Falana said, “A leading People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has become one of the leading proponents of restructuring, but his support for restructuring has not addressed the crucial issue of the redistribution of

the national wealth.

“After all, in his capacity as the nation’s Vice President and chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, Alhaji Abubakar presided over the restructuring of the nation’s economy through the liquidation of public assets and the privatisation of the commanding height of the economy.

“The policy led to a situation whereby all major public enterprises and assets including oil blocks were sold to the socalled ‘core investors’.

“Such official transfer of the commonwealth to a few local and foreign corporate bodies will have to be reversed in the interests of the people.”

According to Falana, the country cannot be seriously restructured without equitable redistribution of wealth.

“Therefore, those who have cornered the commonwealth should not be allowed to talk of restructuring in vacuo.

“In other words, the campaign for restructuring should encompass the decentralisation and democratisation of political and economic powers which have been privatised by all factions of the ruling class,” he said.

The leading rights activist referred to the constitutional provision that the welfare and security of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

He said Nigerians must therefore demand an end to a policy that allows political office holders and civil servants who constitute less than one per cent of the population to continue to allocate 70 per cent of the nation’s resources to themselves.

Falana said: “If the federal government could withdraw $12.4 billion from the foreign reserves to pay questionable external debts and subsidise the local bourgeoisie with intervention funds running to trillions of naira, it cannot turn round to complain of lack of fund to fix collapsed social infrastructures, education, health, transportation and agriculture and create jobs for our army of unemployed youths.

“The recovery of the stolen wealth of the country from foreign and local thieves should be a collective battle while the fund recovered from corrupt public officers and their privies is spent on job creation and fixing of hospitals and schools as well as the provision of other social services.”

Court Stops Coronation of New Monarch in Kogi Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

A Lokoja High Court has ordered the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, not to proceed further with the planned coronation of Chief Solomon Owoniyi as the new Obaro of Kabba next week, pending the determination of the case.

The court also stopped Owoniyi from parading himself as a paramount ruler of Kabba, pending the determination of the suit.

When the motion on interlocutory injunction came up at the court last Tuesday, counsel to the claimant, Chief Haruna Rabanah (SAN), drew the attention of the court to the fact that the first defendant (Owoniyi) went ahead to carry out some traditional rites inspite of the court’s order restraining him from parading himself as the new Obaro, saying the act amounted to contempt of court.

But counsel to the first defendant MA Aliu (SAN), quickly objected to the submission of the counsel to the claimants, saying his client did not at anytime disobey the court order restraining him.

According to Aliu, the said traditional rites had long been carried out before the court order actually came.

Ruling on the motion, the trial judge, Justice Gwatana, said the status quo should be maintained and ordered that Owoniyi should not parade himself as the new Obaro of Kabba pending the determination of the suit.

He also directed the state counsel to write a memo to the governor through the office of the Attorney- General intimating him of the court decision by stopping the governor from carrying out the planned coronation next week until the final determination of the suit.

The judge also urged the

Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, to re-assign the case to another court who will in turn fix another date for hearing as he was on vacation.

Governor Bello had on July 27 approved the selection of Owoniyi as the new Obaro of Kabba following the death of Oba Michael Olobayo in May 2016. The Ilajo royal family, consisting of three ruling houses, vehemently rejected the choice of Owoniyi as the new Obaro on the ground that he is not from the royal family but just “a commoner in a suburban community of Kabba “ and therefore, not fit to become the paramount ruler.

The Ilajo royal family who accused the governor of playing politics with the sensitive issue of tradition and cultural values of Owe- Kabba kingdom through the appointment of the new Obaro, thereafter approached the court for redress.

Gwadabe Picks APC Senatorial Form for FCT Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ahead of the 2019 general election, the senator who represented the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 1999 and 2003, Khairat AbdulrazaqGwadabe, has decried the poor living condition of residents of the territory despite hosting the seat of government.

Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe, who promised to reverse the trend, lamented this in Abuja that when she formally declared her ambition to vie for the senatorial seat in the National Assembly.

She recalled how the FCT

has been unable to occupy its pride of place since 1985 that she first came to the city.

According to her, “FCT has not been able to get the full benefit of having the government at the top because the FCT APC does not have a senator in the National Assembly. So, the level of recognition of our chapter of the party by other states is very poor. They look at us as if we are beggars. Now, are we going to continue this way for the next four years without an APC senator in the National Assembly? Not anymore.”

Recollecting her stewardship

in the Senate between 1999 and 2003, Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe said: “As a senator in 1999, I had four years to do as much as I could.

I did things in two categories: One for my constituents and the other for Nigerians at large in accordance with my oath of office.

“The first project I attracted after I had done a survey of water supply and sewage system, I found that the water supply to the people may not last more than five years with the growing population of FCT, and that was in 1999. The survey suggested two things: building a new dam or doing a water transfer system.

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COMMENT

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

SONG FOR Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NAVY AFRICANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Okello Oculi canvasses the need for the navy to do more for the continent

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n a book of poetry by Brigadier General Hassan Mamman Lai (published in 2010), a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;good soldierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; is described as: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;A sweet melody that is hardly sungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Those who moan over Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure in the race for development by non-European countries following Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independence in 1947, blame a pandemic of military seizures of governance from civilian leaders who fought for freedom.

Somalia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Bukina Fasso , Central African Republic make a tragic garland of victims of stuccos of guns by their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;good soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The soldier of liberation wars was, indeed, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;sweet melodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; that silenced guns of colonial militaries. In Angola, Algeria, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique soldiers fighting liberation wars were loudly celebrated by their peoples in songs of hope.

Some charismatic leaders redeemed the militaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s image. Nasserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s socialist policies endeared him to poor Egyptians. Murtala Muhammed gave Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth a sense of mission and officialdom freed from corruption. Thomas Sankara in Burkina Faso rattled ECOWAS and France with rare and thrilling creativity in economic and social imagination. Jerry Rawlings gave Ghanaians new glimpses of the Kwame Nkrumah. Both Mobutu Sese Seko and Muammar Gaddafi exhibited bold experiments in social engineering with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;authenticityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; for creating bold African/Arab societies. Idi Amin in Uganda combined deliciously rude anti-colonial diplomacy and raw brutalities against his own people.

The soldiers have, however, held a disproportionate share of power and visibility in the popular imagination all across Africa; while impoverishing African discourses about their future in global history. For a start, the land spaces that challenge soldiers are smaller than nautical ones that naval ratings and officers have to grapple with. The overland space from Cape Town to Cairo is 7242 kilometres while the nautical distance between Lagos and New York is 8,479 kms. The overland road between Dakar (Senegalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital) and Addis Ababa (Ethiopiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital) is 6137 kms long, while the distance that naval officers on Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coast have to worry about from Mombasa to Perth (in Australia) is 8472 kms.

Territories below these vast expanses of water are being intensively explored by Euro-American researchers for mineral resources. On Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coast the power in surging waves is being harvested for generating electricity. China and India have joined the scramble for hosting satellites in space. This is matched by claims for depths of oceans and seas. Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s naval capacity continues to attract little imagination â&#x20AC;&#x201C; far below rap music - and shares of national budgets.

Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north-east probably broke away from the Bight of Benin.

The mass of Stone Statues with African features on the Caribbean coast of Mexico were by African explorers who crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

In a book titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;They Came Before Columbusâ&#x20AC;?, researchers suggest that African explorers had crossed the Atlantic as early as the times of ancient Egypt, ancient Zimbabwe, ancient Kongo and ancient Benin. In-

AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NAVAL CAPACITY CONTINUES TO ATTRACT LITTLE IMAGINATION â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FAR BELOW RAP MUSIC - AND SHARES OF NATIONAL BUDGETS

digenous Black Africans populated Australia (strangely dis-Africanised as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aboriginesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;); India and Papua New Guinea. Their links with Africa must fuel naval intervention in Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign policies.

Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s province on her Pacific Ocean coast holds inhabitants whose genes are without intermingling with Europeans. Her telemovies, however, share with Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bollyhood the total exclusion of peoples of African descent from their casts. The vigorous surge into Africa by Indian and Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movies as purveyors of cultural diplomacy is clearly pre-emptive.

Like Argentina, they suggest a determination to convey the big racist falsehood that there are no persons of African descent among them. The power of this denial was shown by immigration officials at the airport in Buenos Aires refusing to accept a passport by a black Argentinean woman civil society activist who was travelling out of Argentina to attend a conference. A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NAVY AFRICANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; must explore these coastal countries.

Brazil is vigorously investing in Angola, Namibia, Ghana, Sudan and Nigeria: including oil sectors. In the 1970s, her airline VARIG started flights into Nigeria, while effectively using those whose ancestors returned from slavery in Brazil to promote tourist trips to Brazil.

This example of a productive trans-Atlantic economic diplomacy should be matched by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s navy.

The navies of South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Cameroun, Nigeria, Senegal and Mauritania have rich colonial legacies in trans-Atlantic and trans-Indian Ocean naval entrepreneurship. Britain built her economy by horrendous armed robbery on seas (or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;piracyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;) against commercial shipping by Spain, Portugal, Holland and Scandinavia countries. Pirates like Francis Drake and John Hawkins earned their peerage from this violent economic diplomacy. History lessons glorified them to school children in African colonies without urging pupils to also build â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;NAVY AFRICANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to promote African economic power in world affairs.

From Moroccoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coastline in the north to Namibiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coast in the south, warm ocean currents support rich fisheries. Lack of collective African naval power has allowed fishery-robbers from Japan, South Korea in the east to Britain, France, Poland and Norway in the west, to harvest this vast nutritional resource without effective opposition.

The leadership of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starved navies has failed to arouse public anger over this food robbery and insecurity being inflicted on national economies. Somaliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pirates lacked support from a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;NAVY AFRICANAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;; and were not celebrated for using naval guerrilla warfare for enhancing African economic nationalism. Times must be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a-changingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

FIFA has beaten African navies in revealing the African presence in football teams of the Americas from Peru, Panama, and Honduras to Colombia. NAVAL AFRICANA must lobby for bi-yearly AFRICAAfrican Diaspora Football Fiesta.

GETTING IT RIGHT

Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto governor, has what it takes to win the 2019 presidential election, writes Sulaiman Okpako

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t is a registered fact that the military conducted the affairs of Nigeria for about 16 years, 1983-1999. During this period, Nigerians felt frustrated. They expressed their anger for not being treated fairly as citizens of the country by the military. They groaned, and there were agitations and protests in virtually every part of the country. To change the narrative, they demanded for a democratic system of government which was actualised in 1999 after a keenly contested general election. The 1999 Presidential election was won by former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He ruled from that time till 2007, and handed over to late President Umaru Musa Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Adua, of the same party, who unfortunately died in 2010 after a protracted illness.

After Yarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aduaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death, the then Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, took over and completed his tenure. In 2011, Dr. Jonathan contested for the position and won. He ruled from 2011 to 2015.

We can understand that the PDP ruled the country from 1999 to 2015, 16 unbroken years. Its problem started when the former President, Dr. Jonathan, was trying to go for a second term. That was in 2015.

A large number of Nigerians, who believed that the party was not doing well, teamed up against the party. They blackmailed Jonathan and the party to the brim, and also applied other measures.

Actually, many Nigerians were against the PDP and its candidate, but what weakened the PDP was the coming together of some political parties. The leaders and stakeholders of those political parties quietly dropped their individual interests and formed a coalition which metamorphosed to a platform better known as the All Progressives Congress (APC). They aimed at using the platform to wrestle the ruling party to the ground which they achieved at the end of the day, as the APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, defeated former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP in the 2015 contest. This was how the PDP lost out.

Obviously, many Nigerians felt that the PDP

government was corrupt and insensitive, and called for change of government. On noticing the feelings of the people, the APC quickly adopted a â&#x20AC;&#x153;changeâ&#x20AC;? mantra which helped them to capture the mind of many Nigerians. They promised to take the country to a greater height, stabilise the economy, improve on its security, provide infrastructural facilities and many other things.

But unfortunately since the past three years the APC took over power, nothing serious has been done to promote the image of the country and also improve the living standard of the people. The economy has collapsed, the security situation is nothing to write home about, as people are being killed like fowl on daily basis. In all, no sector is working under the President Buhari administration, meaning that the APC has failed to fulfil its campaign promises. The party failed to the extent that a greater percentage of the electorate are calling for its removal in 2019. The truth of the matter is that the failure of the APC-led government has provided an ample opportunity for the PDP to rise again. The PDP stands better chance of taking over power in 2019, as the majority of the electorate who voted the party out in 2015, are calling for its return in 2019.

However, with this development, the PDP leadership and stakeholders should rise to the challenge.

They have to wake up and understand that their fortune in 2019 lies in their hands. They should also understand that the role they play now will determine their future, as the electorate are not only watching them, but also waiting for them. They are looking forward to seeing the PDP coming up with a credible candidate, a candidate that has the capacity to defeat the ruling APC in 2019.

The question remains: Who, among the litany of Presidential aspirants in the party has the capacity to give it victory in 2019? This question appears to be very difficult to answer, but to political watchers and analysts, it is very simple, in the sense that they know the politicians, their antecedents and political credentials, which are among the major factors to be considered.

Really, a good number of the Presidential aspirants in the PDP are capable of giving the ruling party a straight fight. One cannot dismiss this claim with the wave of hand. But, a critical look at the situation shows that Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, the former Governor of Sokoto State, has brighter chances. He has better political credentials, the type that can easily lure the electorate into submission.

His unbeatable and intimidating profile has already created a good impression about him, the impression that he will do well if given the opportunity to serve as president of the country.

From what I gathered, Bafarawa is the kind of leader that thinks less of himself and more about his people. His emergence as president of Nigeria will definitely usher in democratic values that will accelerate unprecedented development in the entire country.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draw examples from what he did when he was the governor of Sokoto State. He served for two terms. Within his first tenure, he completed more than 1000 kilometres of roads. Obasanjo, who was then president of the county was so amazed when he visited Sokoto State. He christened Bafarawa â&#x20AC;&#x153;Road masterâ&#x20AC;? in appreciation of a good work.

Unarguably, one of the major problems facing the country today is bad roads. Virtually all the federal roads in the country are in a state of dilapidation. The problem stems from the inability of our leaders or those in power to effect positive changes in society. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel affected over the sufferings of the people they are ruling. So, for Bafarawa to fix over 1000 kilometres of roads within four years, simply means that the story of bad roads will become a thing of the past if he takes over the leadership of the country. He will take it as a priority and ensure that the dilapidated federal roads in the six geo-political zones of the federation are reconstructed to international standard. As a servant-leader, Bafarawa opened up Sokoto State from a rural capital to a truly urban one, thereby making the city a cynosure of all eyes.

Above all, Bafarawa is largely known as a good

manager of resources. He believes in prudent management of resources. The people of Sokoto State know this. By the time he was leaving office in 2007, that was at the time many governors were leaving their states with a huge debt overhang, but Bafarawa left N12 billion in the coffers of Sokoto State.

With the above, one can easily understand the stuff the Sokoto State-born politician, Bafarawa, is made of. It shows that he is not only a performer, but also a lover of his people. These rare qualities have made him more popular in Nigeria, as people from every part of the country are backing his presidential ambition, knowing full well that he will replicate what he did in Sokoto State in the entire country if he becomes the president in 2019.

Strictly speaking, Bafarawa is a presidential material. He possesses all the notable imprints of an accomplished leader, and he remains the strongest contender to beat any candidate produced by the APC in 2019. It is a fact because among those jostling for the position, he is the only one accepted by people from the six zones of the country. What earned him this is the kind of politics he plays.

Unlike others, he presents himself as a detribalised Nigerian, thereby promoting peace and unity in the country. Of course, the causes of the major problems in the country today are religion and tribal sentiments. These have affected the progress of the country to a large extent, so any Nigerian, particularly a candidate of a political party that tries to shun such lifestyle the way Bafarawa is doing, will definitely be appreciated by Nigerians.

Again, from what we are seeing, Bafarawa has what it takes to win the 2019 presidential election if given the ticket. He is one man that enjoys the support of his people. It is interesting to note that the people of Sokoto State and North West where he comes from are strongly rallying round him. This shows that he is really on ground, because if your people do not support your aspiration, the possibility of making it will be narrow.

Okpako wrote from Warri, Delta State

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

EDITORIAL THE FUMES OF DEATH

There is need for more enlightenment campaign on the use of generators

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he rising death toll through carbon monoxide poisoning across the country can be attributed to the fact that most Nigerians generate their own energy, but some without the necessary precautions. Yet, as we have repeatedly warned, exhaust from power generating sets contains carbon monoxide, a dangerous invisible and colourless gas. When inhaled, the tell–tale signs on the victim are dizziness, nausea, headache, even confusion - symptoms mistakenly attributed to too much alcohol or sun; or something else. And it has led to far too many fatalities in recent years.

That there is need to enlighten the public more on the use of generators is an understatement. Just two weeks ago, a family of six in Igboetche community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State lost their lives to generator fumes. It was learnt that the family had put on the generator and left it in the bathroom before IT IS ALWAYS SAFER TO going to bed. The only survivor, a PUT THE GENERATOR 13-year-old later OUTSIDE, AND AWAY FROM A WINDOW, AND died in the hospiTwo months NEVER IN AN ENCLOSED tal. earlier in Egor SITUATION Local Government Area of Edo State, another family of six was similarly wiped out after inhaling generator fumes all night.

Reports of death through generator-related accidents have indeed become a daily staple in Nigeria. That is because there is hardly a home, particularly in urban areas, without a generating set. Despite the noise and pollution

they emit, they provide “emergency” power for lights, fans, fridges so that stored food items don’t get bad, and to television, video games, and such alike. Perhaps because nobody seems to be paying attention, it is difficult to put a figure to the number of Nigerians that has died as a result of generator fumes. What makes it even more tragic is that in most cases, it is the entire family that is wiped out.

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he carbon monoxide fumes emitted by generators are fatal and most often, the victims, who are almost always asleep, never realise the danger until it is too late.

Carbon monoxide gas, when inhaled, replaces oxygen in the body tissues and that prevents blood from carrying out its functions, including transporting oxygen around the body, thus leading to death.

Even for those who survive, inhaling such fumes on a continual basis has long-term hazards, especially since it is a possible cause of lung cancer and heart disease.

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

That then explains why experts advise people “to never run a generator indoors or in any area where ventilation is limited and people or animals are present.” In effect, it is always safer to put the generator outside, and away from a window, and never in an enclosed situation. Indeed, most of the deaths recorded were as a result of unsafe generator use in badly ventilated environments.

Therefore, we feel the general public should be adequately enlightened on the danger of using generators, and how they can be safely used, mostly at homes. This should be the responsibility of the health and environment authorities at both the federal and state levels.

By so doing, we will be able to save our people from painful but cheap deaths.

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

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THE DISEASE CALLED‘I AM NOT AWARE’

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scrum of police officers invades the residence of a respected Ijaw leader – Edwin Clark. The invaders claim they are acting on the order of Ibrahim Idris, Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

These invidious executers of tyranny spend more than two hours rummaging through the “boxers, socks, hats, bead necklaces, soup pots, cellar and cutlery” of the Ijaw chief, but they find nothing.

They had presented a search warrant to legitimise their illegality. But the invasion turns out a botched attempt to “frame” a voice of dissent.

The police claimed the search was initiated because they had information that Clark was stockpiling weapons in his Asokoro residence. But the scoop turns out a hoax.

To save face, IGP Idris says he is “not aware” of the invasion. Who gives the orders?

The claim of the police chief is risible because the invaders showed a search warrant and acknowledged that they were sent by him. And they even spent more than two hours poring through the crevices of Clark’s residence. Why was the search not called off?

What if an incriminating item was found on the property, would IGP Idris have claimed he was not aware of the intrusion? Or would he clench is fist in glory and announce to citizens that “weapons have been found in the house of one influential politician, and we suspect he is sponsoring attacks in the country”?

However, does this reckless invasion have anything to do with Clark’s open support for Senate President Bukola Saraki? Maybe my imagination is running wild. Or perhaps I have been so mentally tasered by the government that I suspect every action taken by its agents. The fact is, the search on such a high-profile individual could not have been carried out without the authorisation of the police leadership. In all, this embarrassing security misfire reveals once again the content of IGP Idris’ character.

By the way, the culture of not taking responsibility for actions – when they provoke citizens’ angst – was trended by President Buhari. In fact, he has the copyright to the clause, “I am not aware”. Is it then surprising that IGP Idris is toeing the same path? I would say he is only being a good student. He is learning well from his master.

And a few weeks ago, the DSS invaded the National Assembly, causing much uproar and cacophony. The presidency claimed it was not aware.

But Lawal Daura, the sacked DSS Director General, shattered that glass of deception. He said the invasion of the National Assembly was a “collective decision”.

In conclusion, the I-am-not-aware slant is reminiscent of the military era, where soldiers would kill, maim and torture people, but the leadership would blame it on “unknown soldiers”. This is the democracy version of “unknown soldiers”, perhaps.

Anyway, I am not aware.

Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

KADUNA, APC AND DIRECT PRIMARIES

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he All Progressives Congress is now operating very well like a house divided upon itself, but no one is gloating because this is the real deal, the real hard reality check that this party has refused to face. The resort to direct primaries for the forthcoming APC congresses is, from all indications, a fail-save action to salvage the deluge of internal dissent and rancour that is about to hit this ruling party. One of the states of the federation considered a crown jewel in the APC presidential crown is Kaduna, but Gov. Nasir El-Rufai and his ilk have surely alienated the key power players of this state; the embarrassment and snub that the El-Rufai and others dished out to the Emir of Zaria at the launching of Olams Feeds plant just outside Kaduna because he supported Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 has not quite been forgotten. Added to this memory yoke for the El-Rufai camp is the sack of native chieftains, schoolteachers, and the alienation of popular and progressive politicians like Shehu Sani, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Ramalan Yero, and a host of others.

In reality, APC seriously desire for Comrade Shehu Sani to remain in its fold but Mallam El-Rufai would have none of this and this governor is miffed stiff even at the risk of revolt against him and his party at the polls. Moreover, APC now dreads a Sarakisque defection by this diminutive and popular senator and thus we have been hearing that figures at the highest echelons of APC are actually gunning for Mr. Sani as the next APC gubernatorial candidate of Kaduna so as to calm frayed political nerves in that state.

Now that it appears that Gov. Rufai is politically extirpated and he would only be trouble in 2019, Comrade Sani may well sit on the lap of President Muhammadu Buhari and get rocked to-and-fro and enjoy some candy offers for the moment.

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

17

18

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

‘I’m Part of the Success Story in Ogun State’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Femi Ogbonnikan interact with Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who flaunts his achievements as the trump card that should help him clinch the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress Why do you have the conviction that you have what it takes to contest for the office of Governor of Ogun State?

I spent close to 30 years in the banking industry, where I served in different areas. I am the longest serving Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. And my people have said, ‘you have done very well in government in the last seven years’. Ogun State was a civil service state, but now, Ogun State is the industrial hub of Nigeria, because 25 percent of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) that comes to this country, berths in Ogun State. These are the things you need to look at. Even if you look at the succession plans that we have, I am most qualified. Chief Olabisi Onabanjo was governor of this state between 1979 and 1983.

He left the throne as a result of a military coup. Chief Olusegun Osoba too, came in and after sometime the military took over.

Again, Osoba was returned into the office in 1999 through the ballot box. In 2003, Otunba Gbenga Daniel came in. He met a hostile environment because we were from another party. We were not going to allow Daniel remain in power or have his stooge as the governor. In Ogun State, there was no continuity, like Lagos, where Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the governor and Fasbola took over from him and Ambode is there now. So, you could see the trend of continuity.

I am the right person to continue the good work of Amosun. It is true that Ogun west has never produced a governor. What we have now is a bi-polar situation. The people of Egba/Egbado are clamouring for the office of governor. We, in the Ijebu/Remo, are saying that, it is our own turn to produce the next governor. But we are not going to fight the governor over that. He has done very well.

He is a visionary man. At the same time, our leaders are saying he should consider us too.

He should let us have a level-playing field and let everybody can go to the primary and then, let us choose the best among all of us.

The track records are there. It is not that, someone wants to be governor because of the glamour of the office. I want to leave a legacy. I don’t see it as a matter of life and death. I have a good relationship with my governor. He is my friend. He is my brother.

He is my boss. There is no way I am going to confront him.

In terms of visibility or actual achievements, can your ministry enumerate some tangibles that may be accredited to you?

There are tangibles. When we came, Ogun State was rated 35 by the World Bank, in terms of doing of business. We were a state that was not friendly. I led the delegation to meet with the World Bank team on the February 14, 2014, to tell them of the reforms that we have done, which clearly showed a lot of improvement. We moved from number 35 to one of the best five in the country. It is a landmark achievement. When we came in here in 2011, Ogun State was a civil service state. Today, Ogun State is the industrial hub of Nigeria. Over 300 companies have opened shop in the last seven years and many of them must have invested in excess of 100 million Dollars. We have been able to create that wealth and jobs for our people.

Is that a function of your ingenuity or your proximity to Lagos?

It is the function of creating that environment. If you come to Ogun State and you are frustrated, you will look at other alternatives. We are not an option. We are the alternative. It is not because we are close to Lagos. Someone can leave Lagos and go to Ibadan (Oyo State) or go to Ondo State. An average businessman is looking for areas where his business will

am put in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, I will still make my own reforms there. I will make the best out of the situation there.

Your ministry is one of the first contacts for people who want to business in Ogun State, what are these reforms you are talking about?

We introduced a one-stop-shop. When business people come here, they probably go to Lands Ministry. They are looking for land to locate their business.

IN THE MIRROR

Ashiru

prosper. Look at the Nigerian Sea ports, the congestion would still put them off, but by the time we put Olokola in place, people will go to Olokola. Bbusinessmen are looking for comfort, where they can do their businesses. When we came in here, banks were shut because armed robbers had sent them

For a better continuity, it is good to have somebody who has been part of the system. You don’t want to bring in somebody else that would come in and start finding his way for the next two to three years and that is one of the problems that we have in this country. Somebody who has been part of the success story can settle down easily to continue the good job of Governor Ibikunle Amosun

packing to Lagos. They (armed robbers) were in Ogun State and they were having a field day. I was part of the committee that met with the bankers’ forum. We brought in 14 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles and put them at different locations in the state. That is why Ogun State is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria today. It is just like saying, you are from a rich family, if you don’t utilise the wealth, judiciously, you will not find the money anymore. If you come from a poor family and you can make the best of a bad situation, you can change your bad fortune to good. Whether we are closer to Lagos or not, it is not the reason. We cater for the businesses that are attracted here, by creating that enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.

We made Ogun State a construction site because building industries must go with development of infrastructure. It is important for companies to move goods and services from one place to the other. If the journey that should take between 10 and 20 minutes is taking you three to four hours, you will be distracted and discouraged. You would not want to do business in that place. If you want to build a company and they don’t have good roads and proper infrastructure, you will look elsewhere. Every businessman is looking at the protection of his assets and investments. It is not just that we are close to Lagos, we have also identified lapses that we need to seal. When I was in the banking industry, I hated going to ministries because I knew that, they would frustrate me; that they would want to take advantage of me.

These are the loopholes and leakages that we have blocked.

Is that within your ministry?

Yes, in my ministry. In most cases, in the past, especially in this state if the governor was not happy with you, he sent you to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. I am the 23rd Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. I tell people, it is the character that determines how you will run your show. If I

• He is the Honorable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State.

A position he has held since 2011 after being re-appointed to the same ministry in 2015. Under his stewardship, the business environment of the state developed beyond imagination with over 1,279.84% increase in internally generated Revenue of the State. More than 120 new companies established their presence in Ogun State with a cumulative investment profile of about N691.77 billion in 2014, compared to N377 Billion in 2013. This placed Ogun State in first position in Nigeria, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

During his time, approximately 75% of Foreign Direct Investment into the country between 2011 and 2016 came into Ogun State.

• During his tenure, the World Bank Group, in its ‘Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 Report’, ranked Ogun State as one of the best five States in term of ease of doing business against the 35th position in its 2010 report. He also facilitated the creation of a One-Stop Shop Investment Center (OSSIC) which sits within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to assist potential investors with procedures for investment and documentation processing.

• Holds a degree in Marketing, Purchasing & Supply, and a Masters’ Degree in Strategic Management. With this background, he entered the services of the then Chartered Bank in the year 1989. In asuccessful career that has spanned two decades and taken him to various institutions, he has served in various capacities of Management (Head, Private Banking Unit; Branch Manager; Head, Institution & Professional Banking; Regional Coordinator; Country Director, Personal and Business Banking; Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Investments; until his last position of Group Head, Public Sector with Stanbic IBTC Bank. He was the pioneer head of the department.

• Representative of the Awujale of Ijebuland on the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR).

He has distinguished himself in this field and represented his people favorably to the best of his ability. He was also on the Technical and Communications Committees of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit (2011).

• He is a member of The Metropolitan Club, Ikoyi Club 1938 and a member of the Ijebu Heritage Group and Ijebu Renaissance Group.

• He is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria; National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN) and Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria.

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

19

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

POLITICS

‘Niger Delta States Deserve Better’ Femi Adekanmi, the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties, Culture and Tourism in Ondo state during the administration of former Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko mirrors the developmental situation of the Niger Delta states, while commending the performance of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani and his counterpart, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Claudius Daramola

H

has done creditably well and they deserve all the commendations that must can extended to the presidency. The Minister of Niger Delta achieved a lot within three years, in terms of road construction, like the East-West road, in addition to other projects.

ow will you describe your service under Governor Mimiko?

It was splendid. It afforded me the opportunity to be exposed to politics, human development and virtually every aspect of life.

I am happy that I truly served the people of Ondo state.

What can you make of the pollution that has been the lot of Ogoni land?

You are aware that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo went to commission it recently. There are procedures to sanitising Ogoni land and the federal government is almost at 75%-80% completion of that process.

How will you rate the performance of Dr. Mimiko while in office when compared to this present government of Arakurin Akeredolu?

You may like or hate Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, but he performed creditably well. I doubt if this present government surpasses his achievement in Ondo state.

What do you then make of the notion by some that he performed below expectation?

It is mere politics of bitterness and an intention to drag his name in the mud. No government either past or present can achieve what he achieved as a former governor. Even the incumbent Governor Arakurin Akeredolu himself attested to Mimiko’s excellent performance. Unfortunately, towards the end of his second term, the revenue accruable to Ondo state became very low and the issue of not being able to pay salary came up. At a point, Ondo state got N700 million per month. This government is getting N30 billion in a month. During Mimiko’s tenure, there was a time we got less than N1 billion in a month and at that point he needed to pay between three and four months salary. How did you expect him to manage?

Ondo state is part the Niger Delta states, what is your view on the state of that region at present?

When you go across the Niger Delta states, you will see suffering. As a stakeholder from that region, it is sad to see our people not living

Adekanmi

a communal life like other parts of country do. Sometime, I ask if we are still part of this country. Apart from the fact that they have been disappointed by their people, the federal government has disappointed them as well.

This has been the case right from the era of military dictatorship till now. Except the late President Yar’ Adua’s administration, Obasanjo and Jonathan’s administration equally tried their best but the people were suffering terribly.

Seventy five per cent of Nigeria’s wealth is from that part, but when you move across the area, you feel sad that they have not benefited much.

Are you of the view that this Buhari led administration has left the Niger Delta the way it met it?

This administration has done well in Niger Delta. When you talk about developmental projects, it does not take two or three years to manifest. The ministry of Niger Delta under the watch of Usani Uguru and Claudius Daramola

Why are you particular about the Ministry of Niger Delta?

It is necessary because the ministry is working silently and achieving laudable results. They have being commissioning roads, houses, health centers that have being of great benefit to the people of that region. What I admire about the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Claudius Daramola is that he is a silent achiever and does not shout about his achievement on completed projects. Although Orubebe the former Minister for Niger Delta tried his best by setting the basis for what this minister has achieved. But Daramola has recorded huge successes in massive projects. What he has achieved across the nine states of Niger Delta is highly commendable.

Are you of the opinion that the Niger Delta states have now had their fair share of the nation’s wealth?

When you consider the 13% derivation, I don’t think so. It is absolutely low. I am in support of resource control. If the Niger Delta can control their resources like what is obtainable in other parts of the world, you will see quite a lot of developmental projects springing up everywhere in the Niger Delta.

But unfortunately, it is sad to have allowed other states to enjoy the wealth of the Niger Delta to its detriment. For instance, in Lagos state they collect tax on alcohol but in other states where Shariah law is practised, they don’t collect alcoholic tax and these states still benefit when the money is shared. That is sad.

Until we allow absolute resource control in our constitution, developmental project will elude most Niger-Delta communities. In other words, our own restructuring of Nigeria falls largely on resource control. For instance, if there is resource control, the Northerners will be able to control their resources as well and remit taxes to the federal. California for instance is the 6th largest economy in the world. The system of resource control is what is obtainable in America. Until we have such a system, we are going nowhere in Nigeria. The Minister of Niger Delta and the Minister of State of Niger Delta have performed creditably well on developmental projects, despite the meagre 13% derivation fund accruable to these region.

Does Daramola’s performance justify President Muhamadu Buhari’s rerun come 2019?

I don’t want to go into that. It has to be the personal decision of the people of Niger Delta.

President Buhari has done well along with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Useni Uguru and Minister of State for Niger Delta, Claudius Omolaja Daramola respectively. They have performed creditably well because they are committed to the development of the Niger Delta. I am one of those handling one of the projects in Ondo state and Daramola once told me frankly that he was going to jail me if I don’t see to it that the project is executed on the said date.

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

‘Bauchi is Being Upgraded on All Sides’ Segun Awofadeji engages the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Sade on the activities of his principal, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, particularly his efforts to take the state to greater heights Your party, the APC won the Bauchi South Senatorial by-election, is it a pointer of things to come in the 2019 general elections?

We thank the Almighty Allah for the victory.

The Bauchi South senatorial by-election showed Governor Abubakar’s overwhelming grip on Bauchi Politics. He was vindicated that the people of Bauchi are for the APC. The people of Bauchi South senatorial district in particular have spoken their mind, and it clearly showed that our people are satisfied with the efforts of Governor Abubakar towards the development of the state, and he has repelled all the negative commentary against his administration. The election served as a litmus test for the APC and it gave us hope for the 2019 elections, which by the grace of Allah, Bauchi people will vote for APC. I believe our governor will not fail the people of the state that gave him their votes in order to better their living condition. Our people understood the zeal and vision of our amiable governor to take development to all nooks and crannies of the state despite its lean resources.

The opposition insists that the election was marred by irregularities?

All these allegations are ranting of losers.

Do you think that if the electoral body had declared any of the complainants as winner of this election under any circumstance, they will reject the results? They lost, so they are trying to hang on to something in order to show their supporters that they are still relevant.

Sade

The election was conducted peacefully without any rancor. Their agents signed all the election results, you journalists were at the headquarters of INEC when the returning officer invited all the representatives of the political parties to sign the final result submitted. If they had any genuine complaints, there is a tribunal and other avenues to seek redress.

Some people have accused the administration of not doing enough in the provision of infrastructure, what is your reaction to this?

Who are these people? Are they people of Bauchi State or our political opponents? Even the blind and hypocrites know that there is a silent revolution that is putting Bauchi State on a proper path through rejuvenation of abandoned

sectors. Whenever you enter Bauchi, you will know that you are entering an upgraded state capital because of the dualisation of road networks across the city. Before this administration, we don’t have such roads in the state. During his electioneering campaign, the governor went to rural areas. Majority of our people are peasant farmers, and they are looking for good roads to enable them transport their farm produce to markets and the agitation of our people and their quest for development prompted the governor to prioritise construction of roads to open up these communities and also boost their socio-economic development.

The government also paid attention to agriculture, education, health care and addressing the problems of youths restiveness inherited from the previous administration. A lot has been done to boost the economy of the state by resuscitating the Bauchi Fertilizer Plant, Bauchi Furniture Company and Yankari Games Reserve.

This government has other good things going for it like prudent management of resources, blocking leakages in governance and above all jerking up the state’s IGR. There has been a remarkable improvement in revenue generation.

We are committed to reposition the state in all aspects. That’s the focus of the administration.

Has government achieved anything in the areas you have listed?

Government has achieved a lot. Government always set aside 25 per cent of its budget to

education, and it collaborates with federal government agencies in education and constructed many class rooms in all the 20 local government areas of the state, school lab projects. You may wish to visit Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic and see what government is doing. We gave it a facelift, most of their courses have been accredited. You may wish to see the FM station of the institution, it is the only institution that has campus radio in the entire northern Nigeria.

Bauchi State University, Gadau and other tertiary institutions benefitted from the government’s effort to provide modern infrastructure in the schools. This effort is extended to secondary Schools, as well. Many students from Bauchi State pass their NECO and WAEC exams because we provided the right learning environment and paid their exam fees.

In the area of agriculture, you may wish to ask farmers, they will tell you that they get fertiliser and all other farming inputs every year. Our fertilizer company is working now.

We even sell the commodities to neighboring states. In the area of road construction, the administration has achieved a lot despite all the challenges involved in doing a quality job. Go round Bauchi metropolis even a blind person knows that something called quality road construction is ongoing everywhere.

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

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FEATURES

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

Enhancing Combat Capability through Partnership To tackle contemporary security challenges, the Nigerian Army is exploring ways to effectively enhance combat support capabilities through Public Private Partnership.

Kingsley Aliamaka reports

L-R: Commander, Nigeria Army Ordnance Corp, Major General Joel Unigbe; Head of Service, Edo State, Mrs. Gladys Idahor and Commader, Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Ademoh Salihu, at the event

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nwarfare, logistics is key. For a military prosecuting a war against insurgency, militancy and other forms of crime, the inaccessibility of such logistics portends doom. The Nigerian Armed Forces is trying to avoid such fate. In the face of daunting challenges occasioned by insurgency in the North-east, farmers/herdsmen clashes in the Middle Belt and parts of the North, and militancy in the Niger Delta, it is apparent that without adequate military hardware, insecurity will continue to thrive.

Although many options have been explored by the military, including buying fairly new hardware instead of brand new, Public Private Partnership (PPP) seems to be the way out.

How is this so? With credible PPP, funding the military becomes a form of cooperation between the authorities and the private sector to finance or manage acquisitions and military platforms. And the crux remains that the PPP will also involve some form of risk sharing between the authorities and the public private sector to provide what is needed.

Partnership At the 20th edition of the Combat Service Support Training week recently hosted by the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, this was crux of the meeting. Held in Benin City, Edo State, the theme was pegged as: "Enhancing Combat Service Support Capability through Public Private Partnership to meet the Nigerian Contemporary Challenges."

Held at the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport in Benin City, Edo State, some of the high profile guests include the Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele; Commander, Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps, Major General Joel Isokpehi Unuigbe; Representative of Edo State Governor and Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor; representative of the Chief of Army Staff and Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Ademoh Salihu.

At the event, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS),

Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai, while commending the Combat Service Support Corps of the Nigerian Army (NA) for its sacrifice and commitment in counter-terrorism operations, said the army will continue to provide facilities to its officers and men, that would facilitate their utmost performance in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

Represented by the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Ademoh Salihu, Buratai said logistics, to a large extent, determines the capability of the army in performing its constitutional duties, adding that the delivery of basic needs of all officers and men is as important as fighting in the field.

He said, "It is my desire that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Combat Service Support Training week fashions out ways of enhancing capacity of the officers.

The training was designed to enhance leadership skills of the participants because Nigerian Army is involved in several operations, while tackling various security challenges."

He added that the army's continued dependence on importation of military hardware has had adverse effect on their operations, especially in the fight insurgency in the North-east.

In tackling contemporary security challenges

Logistics, to a large extent, determines the capability of the army in performing its constitutional duties, given that the delivery of basic needs of all ofďŹ cers and men is as important as ďŹ ghting in the ďŹ eld

in the country, he further stressed that the army requires a more robust logistics plan, adding that the need for a more efficient and effective logistics model for the army through PPP has become expedient.

Obaseki's Recommendation In his address, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki also called for the adoption of the PPP model in logistics support for the Nigerian Army to enable it tackle the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s security challenge. Obaseki maintained that for the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight against terrorism and other crimes to succeed, all hands must be on deck to support the Nigerian Army and related security agencies.

The governor, who spoke through the Head of Service of the state, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, at the opening ceremony emphasised that government alone cannot provide all the logistics need of the Nigerian Army, especially in the face of new security challenges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The academia and organised private sector need to share ideas on ways of meeting the contemporary needs of the Nigerian Army,â&#x20AC;?

Obaseki said.

He noted that the theme of the training: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enhancing Combat Service Support capability through Public Private Partnership to meet Nigerian Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Contemporary Challengeâ&#x20AC;? is apt, and commended the security outfit for its planned medical outreach to people in selected communities in the state.

He added that regular training of security officials is important in the face of new threats to national security and said Edo Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current status as the most peaceful state in the country, is due in part, to the partnership with the Nigerian Army.

Projects The event featured exhibitions by vendors, display of equipment by the Logistic Corps, free medical eye test, presentation of awards to officers and commissioning of some projects executed by the 4 Brigade Headquarters, at the

Ekehuan Cantonment in Benin City, Edo State.

The projects commissioned were threekilometre perimeter fence with two main gates, the 4 Garrison Quarter Guard, two Guard Houses and two blocks of non-commissioned officers blocks of 24 flats.

Earlier in his remarks, the 4 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Ibrahim Garba said the execution of the projects became necessary considering the central role they have on the welfare and wellbeing of officers and men of the brigade.

Garba while thanking the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Fidelis Azinta, for his support in the actualisation of the projects, assured the COAS that the brigade will continue to add value to its men and materials, so as to provide the enabling environment to professionally discharge their constitutional roles.

Combat Service Support On the last day of the conference in Benin, at the Combat Service Support Corps, Buratai commended the commanders of the support corps for successfully hosting the 20th edition of the training week. Buratai, who was represented

by Major General Adekunle Shodunke of the Nigerian Army Standard and Evaluation, said the army had been able to explore how the Combat Service Support Corps could utilise the PPP arrangement in the provision of various supports to tackle contemporary security challenges.

He added that the training had also improved relationship between the army and the civilian populace. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pragmatic and lucrative ideals that came out of this training week will be practiced,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he assured.

To draw the curtain on the event, there was presentation of awards to officers who had excelled in the performance of their duty.

But that was after the army chief expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, Obaseki, and the traditional ruler of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for their support.

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FEATURES

L-R: Academy Director West Africa, Femi Odugbemi; Acting CEO, M-Net SSA, Nkateko Mabaso; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, and Video Entertainment CEO, MultiChoice General Entertainment, Yolisa Phahle, at the event in Lagos

A Commitment to Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creative Industry To reinforce commitment to nurturing Africa's growing creative industry, MultiChoice Talent Factory was borne to train beneficiaries on theoretical knowledge and handson experience in cinematography, editing and audio production to aid African story telling. Rebecca Ejifoma reports

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frica is rich in history and culture. But the inability of some Africans to identify with their rich history has led to cultural misappropriation by foreigners. However, times are changing and a new breed of story tellers and producers are emerging to tell the African story.

The need to tell such African stories gave rise to the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF).

MultiChoice says the initiative is as an indication of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to growing and developing the African creative industry.

At a recent press brunch hosted by MultiChoice on the eve of the sixth Africa Magic Viewersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Choice Awards (AMVCA), to engage with Pan-African media and stakeholders on their role in creating shared value for the industry, the company said they were investing in local content while igniting the future of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative industry through MTF. The session was led by a panel, which included members of the MultiChoice leadership, including Yolisa Phahle, Video Entertainment CEO, MultiChoice General Entertainment; John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, and NkatekoMabaso, Acting CEO, M-Net SSA. Other MultiChoice top shots and experts in attendance at the session included Wangi Mba-Uzuokwu, Channel Director, Africa Magic; Njoki Muhoho, Academy Director East Africa and Femi Odugbemi, Academy Director West Africa.

Production of African Stories In his remarks, Ugbe said that the MTF was established to ensure better production of African stories, which will not only resonate with Africans but also with audiences around the world, because there is a need to take African content to the rest of the world.

Developing Film Makersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Skills On her part, Cheryl Uys-Allie, Director, MultiChoice Talent Factory, explained that the initiative is about developing the skills of local filmmakers and the growth of the local film industries. She explained that the initiative was launched in May 2018 in Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya, the three countries that will host the MultiChoice Academies. Each

academy she said will provide 20 students with a full-year academic programme in various aspects of filmmaking. The 60 students, who resume in October, were selected from 3,108 applicants from across the continent.

Berry Lwando, Academy Director, Southern Africa, explained that the selection was done in conjunction with experts in local film industries.

In an earlier release sent by the company, the MTF Academy said the candidates were chosen after a two-month long process of shortlisting candidates from over 3,000 entries from Nigeria and Ghana, adding that this was followed by a rigorous interview and adjudication process by a group of film and television industry experts and MultiChoice regional Academy Director, Femi Odugbemi.

The MultiChoice Talent Factory was established to ensure better production of African stories, which will not only resonate with Africans but also with audiences around the world, because there is a need to take African content to the rest of the world

The Future The 20 future filmmakers were selected based on their industry-related qualifications and skills, as well as their passion to narrate Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique stories. Those selected include Idongesit Amba, Allen Onyige, Gilbert Bassey, Precious Iroagalachi, Nanret Paul Kumbet, Akpera Mnena, Ummâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;salma Saliu, Ugwu Uchenna Eileen and Sonia Nwosu.

Others were Moses Akerele, Metong Minwon, Bolaji Adelakun, Joseph Adeniyi, Kemi Tamara Adeyemi, Tochukwu Nwaiwu, Blessing Bulus, all from Nigeria.

The Ghanaians that made the cut include Edmund Kobby Asamoah, Henry Konadu Denkyira, Irene Dumevi Yaamoakoa and Patience Esiawonam Adisenu.

They are all expected to represent the West African region at the Nigeria-based MTF Academy from 1 October, during which MultiChoice will sponsor the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tuition, accommodation and stipend for the duration of their training in each academy.

Echoing similar sentiments, Phahle said the MTF is MultiChoiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of contributing to the countries in which the company operates, as well as a way of magnifying the opportunities for African storytelling, adding that the world is ready to embrace African storytelling in an unprecedented way.

Ugbe said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a company that is deeply rooted in Nigeria, we understand that many young, aspiring filmmakers have the capacity to learn and strengthen their skillset to give back to their communities, but may not be financially equipped to do so.

"The MultiChoice Talent Factory focuses on making sure that those gems are nurtured, and their talents developed to contribute meaningfully to Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative industry.â&#x20AC;?

The students will be provided with skillsets to develop their talent, connect with industry professionals and tell authentic African stories through a comprehensive curriculum comprising theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the thousands of applications received, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evident that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a strong desire to learn from and work with other African creatives. Not only will the MultiChoice Talent Factory be a springboard to a career in the entertainment industry, but it will also create a closely-knit community of African professionals with a willingness to narrate Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stories to the world,â&#x20AC;? said Odugbemi.

Expectation During the programme, the students will produce television and film content that will be aired on local M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platform including Africa Magic, Maisha Magic East, Maisha Magic Bongo, Zambezi Magic, M-Net and SuperSport to reach African audiences on the DStv and GOtv platforms.

Upon graduation from the academy, the students will leave with the knowledge and skills to contribute professionally to Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film and television industry.

22

IMAGES

L-R;Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Cecelia Ezeilo; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin; Founder, Spiritan Self-awareness Initiative, Reverend Father Charles Ogada and Zonal Head, Enugu, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Chike Okeke, during the Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s donation of prosthetic artiďŹ cial limbs to the physically challenged in Enugu State...recently

L-R Director/ Consultant, Verit Herbal Ltd, Isaac Adeola Odeyemi; Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group (PMG Man), Dr. Oke Akpa; Director- General, National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye; Convener, Association of Nigeria Veterinary & Allied Industry ANVAI, Tunji Nasir; and Niropharm, President, Femi Soremekun during the Stakeholders meeting of all Products regulated by NAFDAC in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Oyo South Senatorial District Chairman, All Progressives Congress , Mr. AdeďŹ oye Adekanye; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; and state Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, during the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senatorial district meeting, held at LaďŹ a Hotel, Ibadan...recently

L-R: Chairman, Throne Group of Companies, Mr. Olalekan M. Ilori; Managing Director, Mr. Oladimeji Oladapo and Chief Operating OďŹ&#x192;cer, Vintage Options Limited, Mr. Deji Oso, during the press brieďŹ ng to acquit Nigerian citizens on how Throne Autos Limited eliminates the bottlenecks Nigerians undergone in buying cars abroad and Nigeria at Ajao Estate, Ikeja, Lagos ...recently.

KOLAWOLE ALLI.

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Director- General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, (right) and Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Mr. Chille Igbawua, during the Public complaints commission delegation working visit to BPP OďŹ&#x192;ce, in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Ś..recently

One of the participants at the 2018 Ondo State Summer Tennis Clinic, receiving his certiďŹ cate from the ďŹ rst lady of Ondo State, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, during the closing ceremony in, Akure stadium,Ondo State...recently

L-R: Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts & Culture, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson; Mobee of Badagry, Chief Patrick Yevenu Mobee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, inspecting a Coconut exhibition stand, during the 7th Coconut Heritage Festival tagged AGUNKEFEST in commemoration of World Coconut Day at the Suntan Beach Front, Badagry...recently

L-R: Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Executive Director, Bank of Industry, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji; Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi; and Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer, GDM Group, Mr Victor Afolabi, during the inauguration of TraderMoni at Abattoir, Iwo, Osun State.....recently

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

A U G U S T

REPO 6.00 6.83

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

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

3 1 ,

2 0 1 8

S & P INDEX 5.10 5.25 5.50

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

EXCHANGE RATE 345.87% -0.72% -2.60% -2.35% 4.89%

N306.15/1US DOLLAR AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes PoS Summit Holds in Lagos

Industry stakeholders are set to discuss evolving technology solutions and their benefits within the payment space at the third quarter edition of the Point of Sale (PoS) Innovation Summit, scheduled to hold September 19 in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The event, which is expected to drive innovation in the PoS cashless payment sector, will also highlight the various opportunities available to retail merchants for payment processing in light of the various ingenious solutions being rolled-out almost on a daily basis.

Themed: “Expanding Retail Merchants’ Possibilities”, the organisers of the summit, Global Accelerex Limited, a leading payment terminal service provider and payment solution service provider, revealed that the Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH) of all banks operating in the country, has given its support as co-hosts.

The newly-elected CeBIH Chairman, Mr. Stanley Jacob, who expressed delight at the opportunity to partner Global Accelerex on this edition of the summit, said: “Global Accelerex has been spearheading the move to improve service delivery in the PoS business sector and CeBIH is thrilled to be in this collaboration that provides an avenue where criticaldiscussions are encouraged for the progress of our industry.”

Enelamah for CICAN Public Lecture

DISCUSSING LEADERSHIP

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Community Energy Social Enterprise Limited, Dr. Patrick Tolani, Group Head, Strategy and Innovation, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Shina Atilola; Prof. Patrick Utomi; Head of African Operations, Common Purpose, Dr. Elsbeth Dixon and a guest, Mr. Nnymfi Ikejofor at the Africa Ventures Programme hosted by Sterling Bank in Lagos...recently

Report Highlights Global Growth in Blockchain Technology Despite Regulatory Barriers Stories by Emma Okonji Emma Okonji A recent research report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational professional services company has revealed the rapid growth of Blockchain Technology, despite regulatory barriers which tend to stifle its growth.

The research survey which was carried out on 600 executives in 15 countries of the world, provided one of the clearest signals yet of organisations’ fear of being left behind

ECONOMY as blockchain developments accelerate globally opening up opportunities including reduced cost, greater speed and more transparency and traceability.

A quarter of the executives surveyed, reported blockchain implementation pilot in progress. Almost a third, which is about 32 per cent have projects in development and a fifth, about 20 per cent are in research mode.

The US with 29 per cent penetration in blockchain

technology, China 18 per cent, Australia seven per cent, are perceived as the most advanced currently in developing blockchain projects.

However, within three to five years, respondents believe China would overtake the US with 30 per cent penetration, thus shifting the early centre of influence and activity from the US and Europe.

The survey reflected the early dominance of financial services developments in blockchain with 46 per cent, identifying it as the leading sector currently and 41 per

cent in near term of between 3-5 years. Sectors identified by respondents with emerging potential within 3-5 years include energy and utilities 14 per cent; healthcare 14 per cent and industrial manufacturing 12 per cent.

Analysing the report, the Advisory Partner and Chief Economist at PwC Nigeria, Dr. Andrew S. Nevin, said: “What business executive tell us is that no-one wants to be left behind by blockchain, even if at this early stage of Continued on page 24

FG Urged to Revisit Policies on Local Content Devt Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry stakeholders have called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency, revisit the country’s policies on local content, with a view to enhance local content in the country.

The stakeholders, who spoke at a recent event in Lagos organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA), with the heme: “Local Content Development In Nigeria’s ICT Sector: Stimulant for National Economic Recovery,” called on the federal government to take urgent steps in the implementation of its local content policies, which

ECONOMY they said was necessary for economic recovery and national development.

The Executive Director at StstemSpecs, Dr. Emmanuel Eze, called on ICT sector players, especially fintech developers, to develop solutions that have more of local content and can address challenges that are peculiar to Nigerians and organisations operating in Nigeria.

He equally called on the federal government to develop national ICT policies that would protect locally developed solutions.

Citing Remita as an example

of locally developed payment solution, Eze said the solution was able to block financial leakages and had helped in directing all government revenues into a Treasury Single Account (TSA).

This, he stressed had helped the federal government to have good knowledge of its generated revenues scattered in several known and unknown accounts, and as well save trillions of naira.

Eze said such was made possible because of the recognition given to Remita payment solution by the federal government.

Speaking on the need for a true local content policy and implementation order, the CEO of Mobile Software Solution,

Mr. Chris Uwaje said, “True local content is any content developed locally without the involvement of international remittances.” He called for collaboration among industry stakeholders and a true value chain on the part of government to ensure better funding of local content solutions, adding that the Nigerian technology space is grossly underfunded.

The Chairman of the ICT Stakeholders’ forum, who doubles as the second Vice President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Muyiwa Ogungboye, said Nigeria as a nation Continued on page 24

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, My Okechukwu Enelamah and other stakeholders are expected to speak at the Commerce & Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) public lecture, theme: “Beyond 2019: Leveraging Politics for Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation”.

The forum is an annual workshop of CICAN that is organised every year as part of the association’s efforts to contribute to the development of the nation’s economy.

The keynote address is expected to be deliver by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

According to a statement signed by the association’s chairman, Toba Agboola, experts in the real sector would gather on Friday, September 21, in Lagos, to discuss how to make the industry contribute more to the growth of the economy, most especially as the country approach 2019.

ITU World Holds in Durban

The world will next week, gather in Durban, South for this years’ International Telecoms Union (ITU) conference, where latest technologies and their benefits to national development will be discussed.

With the theme: ‘Leapfrogging to the Future: Digital Development in Africa Infrastructure And Beyond’, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and some government delegates will be in attendance.

With a speaker line-up including tech experts from governments and industry, the conference would feature high quality debates around the theme of innovation for smarter digital development. Highlights include the high-level forum summit on digital everyone, moderated by Euronews, Ministerial Roundtables on Government enabling smarter digital development, and addressing the risks of a smarter world and financing digital development.

Other highlights include influential host country sessions on African investment or promoting ICT opportunities for women empowerment, the ITU, UN Broadband Commission and Huawei session on rethinking broadband: from national asset to civic right, and the rise of the MVNOs: leveraging MVNOs in an everything “connected” world.

The conference opens Monday September 10 and ends Thursday September 13.

“Despite possessing a large pool of lecturers who are able to play on the global stage, Nigeria lags behind in technological innovations, thus creating wider gap between department’s capabilities and world-class standard”

CEO, MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD REPORT HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL GROWTH IN BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY DESPITE REGULATORY BARRIERS its development, concerns on trust and regulation remain.

“A well designed blockchain doesn’t just cut out intermediaries, it reduces costs, increases speed, reach, transparency and traceability for many business processes.

The business case can be compelling, if organisations understand what their end game is in using the technology, and match that to their design.” Blockchain’s biggest benefits would be developed and delivered through shared industry wide platforms.

But the study noted that this won’t happen without industry specific companies, including competitors, agreeing common standards and operating together.

Despite the technology’s potential, respondents identified trust as one of the biggest blockers to blockchain’s adoption. About 45 per cent identified it as blocker to blockchain adoption, but 48 per cent believe its regulatory uncertainty.

FG URGED TO REVISIT POLICIES ON LOCAL CONTENT DEVT embarked on indigenisation policy many years ago to increase the stake of Nigerians as well as solve the challenge of unemployment but expressed dissatisfaction over the policy that did not last because of lack of tenacious vision and dogged implementation on the part of the federal government.

“To reduce the continuous unemployment of Nigerian youth there is an urgent need to reintroduce the indigenisation policy in the form of local contents policy and our government should as a matter of urgency encourage knowledge and ICT skills transfer,” Ogungboye said.

He called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Office of the Nigerian Content (ONC) to come up with short and long term plans that would enable the entire ICT ecosystem to know the area where they can invest, in order to drive local content development.

NEWS

Nigeria Lags Behind in Technology Innovation, Says MainOne CEO Emma Okonji Nigeria has been described as a country lagging behind its peers in terms of technological innovation.

The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke, made the disclosure, while presenting a paper, themed “The Role of Electronic Devices and Instrumentation in National Development,” which she delivered at a public lecture of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, recently in honour of Professor Lawrence Kehinde and Professor Gabriel Adegboyega, that retired from the department recently.

Opeke, stated that despite possessing a large pool of lecturers who are able to play on the global stage, Nigeria was still scratching the surface in terms of technological innovations.

She added that the gap in the department’s capabilities and world-class standard have grown within the past thirty years. According to Opeke, who was the keynote speaker at the programme and an alumnus of the university, the leadership of the department in i-Labs was a testament to the continued yearning to provide students with relevant laboratory or practical experience in a university environment where funding is no longer available to keep pace with technological developments.

Speaking further at the occasion, which was attended by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope

Ogungbenro Ogunbodede, as well as other prominent scholars, Opeke advocated for partnerships with leading companies, foundations and other research-intensive institutions.

She said the partnerships go beyond transferring knowledge from lab to practice but also provides critical funding for talented faculty and students

to pursue foundational research on technologies that can solve local problems.

“These problems include unfavorable climatic conditions, low cost e-learning devices, power, security leading to spin-offs or patents which can be commercially exploited in the immediate market.

“It will also enable students

and faculty to exchange ideas with the very best minds inside and outside the academy and, most importantly, help to prepare students to be citizens of a rapidly changing world,” Opeke said.

Opeke charged the government to set up infrastructure, policies, incentives and grants for universities to encourage

research and development, facilitate the growth of industry and improve national competitiveness as seen in several developed countries whose tech industry is driven by publicly funded research such as National Science Foundation (NSF) and United States Department of Defense (DoD).

REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

L-R: President Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD), Dr Bayero Agabi; Head, SME (Lagos Zone), Globacom, Maria Macfoy; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative; Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin; Acting Head of Unit, Call Centre, Globacom, Kemi Fadipe and Director, NCC, Mrs Iyabode Solanke, at the presentation of the Best Women Enterprise Support (Company) award to Glo by CECAD in Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

Expert Calls for Increased Investment in ICT to Stimulate Growth Emma Okonji The Administrator, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, has called on African governments to invest more in the ICT sector to boost digital skills, stimulate economic growth and youth employment.

Adinde, made this known during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Digital Bridge Institute Regional Human Capacity Building Workshop, held in

Abuja recently.

The three days workshop with the theme: “Strengthening Capacity on Internet Governance in Africa,” stressed the need for the growth of digital literacy across African countries in the 21st century.

“Indeed, policy makers and governments in Africa ought to launch aggressive intervention into the ICT industry by investing in skills development to stimulate economic growth and tame the rising tide of youth joblessness and associ-

ated insecurity in the region,” Adinde said.

He lauded the ITU for establishing training centres but expressed his displeasure that “only a few of our youths have the wherewithal to enrol for some of the human capacity training opportunities provided by the ITU centres of excellence and other tertiary institutions,” a situation he said, has made the case for intervention even more imperative.

According to the DBI boss, there is a convincing argument

that if Africa wants to transform and become a global player, it must transform its human capital.

Adinde said Africa must open access to quality education and training for the young population by deliberately creating funds that will increase access to acquisition of digital skills.

He cited the example of the Smart Africa Scholarship Fund launched during the Transform Africa Summit 2015, which hosted over 2,500 delegates

from 81 countries.

“The Fund aims to provide financial support to our youths who are seeking post-graduate and certification- level training at the continent’s best ICT centres of excellence.

“I am a keen advocate of the digital skills initiative by the ITU Centres of Excellence Network for Africa, which recommends the reservation of a certain percentage of the Universal Service Fund for universal access to digital education,” he said.

Computer Village Relocation Gets Stakeholders’ Backing Nosa Alekhuogie Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

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

The long-term plan to relocate the Computer Village market at Ikeja, Lagos, to the Katangowa area of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, a suburb of Lagos, has received a major boost following a successful stakeholders’ meeting where issues affecting the take-off of the project were resolved.

The relocation plan had since been designed to address the challenges of market congestion faced by the market, believed to be the largest concentration of computer devices and accessories, including mobile

phones and accessories.

The meeting attended by heads of plazas, officials of trade associations and representatives of the ethnic groups at the market, was able to resolve the internal wrangling that had essentially slowed down the movement to the new site since 2016 when the agreement was signed between the Lagos State government and Bridgeways, the market developer.

Apart from endorsing the project, the stakeholders also appointed Mr. Ademola Olaifa as interim chairman and Osy Ijeomah, a legal practitioner as secretary of the committee, which was

setup at the venue to act as bridge between Bridgeways Global Projects Limited, and the village community.

Olaifa who is also the Public Relations Officer of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), the elected body that manages the market activities, expressed delight to be involved in the new arrangement, describing the project as “a viable one, a lifesaving project that everybody that is alive want to identify with. It is a thing we have been struggling for over the years. We are grateful to God Almighty for sparing our lives to witness the taking off of

the project.”

He added that the project is a laudable one that would benefit the Computer Village, Lagos State, Nigeria as a whole, and Africa generally.

The CEO of Bridgeways, Mr. Jimmy Onyemenam, said the whole essence of the meeting was to establish an all- inclusive vehicle that would serve as coordinator through which the developer could interface with the residents of the market.

According to him, “At the moment the project is at the verge of flagging off, with the state government commencing a lot of expansion work, by clearing of the site and to hand

over the site to us.

“We expect that to commence anytime from now. On Monday, we had a meeting with the squatters on the site and they are on standby to move.

Fortunately, the state government is putting a human face to all of these and efforts are being made to make their relocation as painless as possible for all there is going to be a lot of movement but not as gruesome as experiences of the past.”

Onyemenam gave a simplified account of the project, its scope, and size and the facilities that would be provided at the computer village.

25

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD

E-BISINESS

MTN in the Eye of the Storm The recent order given to MTN Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria to refund $8.134 billion illegally repatriated between 2007 and 2015 and the allegation of $2 billion tax evasion has continued to generate debate, writes Emma Okonji The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week slammed a fine of N5.87 billion on four banks over the violation of extant laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, and the Foreign Exchange Manual, 2006.

Also affected was MTN Nigeria, which the CBN directed to immediately refund $8,134,312,397.63, which was illegally repatriated by the telecoms company, to the coffers of the bank.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had on Tuesday, confirmed that MTN Nigeria would refund the money at the exchange rate at which they were remitted and not the current rate, leaving the telco with the potential loss of over $4 billion in exchange rate.

However, exactly a week after the central bank’s directive, the federal government through the Attorney General of the federation wrote MTN Nigeria, directing the company to pay $2 billion as taxes that it failed to remit to the government in the past 10 years.

Although MTN has distant itself from any wrong doing in the transactions, as well as the tax evasion, telecoms industry stakeholders are worried about the development and called for proper investigation into the financial transactions. According to them, if the rules guiding funds repatriation from the country were violated, then those involved should be held responsible for such lapses.

The issues An insider of the telecoms company who preferred to remain anonymous because of the non-disclosure and non-compete clauses of his termination benefits, claimed “there is a lot more with the payments than the MTN and banks want the public to believe, while calling for a forensic audit” that will uncover much more.

He also chided the financial institutions involved in the matter over what he described as their failure to adhere to the Know-YourCustomers (KYC) policy of the apex bank.

The source alleged that of the original $402 million investment upon which the $8.1 billion profit was remitted over a few years, a sizable chunk of it was treated in the books of MTN as “equipment finance”, and quarried the said equipment finance and the vendors.

The source also alleged that the capital inflow the telecoms company claimed to have brought into Nigeria as equipment finance were “over invoicing.”

The source insisted, “The invoices from the transactions were from third parties and subcompanies related to some of MTN directors.

Some of the invoices were not directly from MTN itself.”

The source pointed out that investors in the MTN Private Placement, which took place in February 2008, obtained foreign exchange loans from local banks for the purpose of investment in the telecoms company, only for them to subsequently repatriate foreign exchange as though they were foreign investors for FX which they sourced from Nigeria, at the official exchange rate. According to the source, investors took dollar loans from Nigerian banks to invest in MTN and eventually repatriated the money out of the country as if they were part of the capital importation originally.

The source also said: “Most of the monies MTN took out were not sent to MTN accounts in South Africa. Rather, the monies were sent to sub-accounts in Mauritius, and other safe havens.”

Also, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele said he was aware of all sorts of documents being paraded by different people with a view to misinform members of the public on the MTN Nigeria matter, saying the investigation of the telecoms company spanned over a period of 30 months, on several issues and not just on the illegal capital repatriation.

According to Emefiele, the central bank always held the view of supporting the telecoms

Emefiele

company and indeed all foreign investors in the economy.

He said owing to that, MTN Nigeria was in the past pardoned in a number of infractions that it was involved in.

“However, the latest hammer came when they (MTN Nigeria) clearly took liberty for licence in flouting Nigeria’s foreign exchange laws in the manner of the funding of their equity investment into MTN and subsequent capital repatriation that resulted thereafter,” he said.

“They brought in $402 million and said about $350 million of that was equity and the balance was loan, and they were issued CCIs for the equity. They later reversed that position when they reaslised that the loans will not attract the kind of taxation equity investiment will attract.

And they altered the structure of their funding in a clear violation of the spirit and intent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange regulations,” the CBN Governor explained.

Emefiele disclosed that other infractions by MTN Nigeria with regards to shares by local shareholders and whether CCIs were issued within 24 hours were some of the contraventions

by MTN Nigeria that were forgiven earlier, stressing that on this matter, MTN Nigeria manipulated the regulations for maximum

Exactly a week after the central bank’s directive, the federal government through the Attorney General of the federation wrote MTN Nigeria, directing the company to pay $2 billion as taxes that it failed to remit to the government in the past 10 years

profit and tax avoidance, without regards to the laws when they embarked on unauthorised conversion of loans to equity so as to game the system and exploit loopholes.

Allegation of Tax Evasion On the issue of tax evasion, the Attorney General notified MTN in a letter that his office made a high-level calculation that MTN Nigeria should have paid approximately $2 billion in taxes relating to the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years and requested MTN Nigeria to do a self-assessment of the taxes.

The Attorney General intends to recover up to $2 billion of tax relating to, inter alia, import duties, VAT and withholding taxes on foreign imports/payments, the government said.

But reacting to the latest allegation of tax evasion, MTN in the statement insisted that it had cleared all outstanding taxes within the said period, saying it would continue to reject the findings of the Attorney General’s investigation because it believes it had fully settled all amounts owing under the taxes in question.

Speaking on the Attorney General’s ‘demand notice for historical tax obligations, MTN Corporate Relations Executive, Mr. Tobe Okigbo said: “MTN has conducted a detailed review of these claims and provided evidence of tax remittance to the Attorney General’s office.

The Attorney General’s notice indicates that he is rejecting this evidence. We believe that all taxes due to the Nigerian government have been paid and these allegations have not been raised by any of the revenue generating agencies that MTN engages with regularly, and from whom MTN has received numerous awards for compliance.”

Stakeholders React President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola argued that the law does not frown at repatriation of funds generated as revenue and therefore insisted that repatriation of funds by MTN should be allowed, irrespective of the size of the funds.

“The only thing to be worried about is if such repatriation is not consistent, not transparent and not in line with the rules of the CBN. “If it is true that the repatriation was not transparent, then we have a challenge with our

financial system to have allowed such amount to be repatriated without CBN approval. The situation will raise a lot of doubts in the mind of foreign investors who are willing to do business in Nigeria,” Teniola said.

He, however, said the CBN’s order was untimely and harsh, coming two years after the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had investigated the same issue and exonerated MTN of any wrong doing.

Also, the Chairman of the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo said he would not want to apportion blames on the CBN for its directive on MTN to refund repatriated funds.

He explained that the burden of proof that there was an infraction on the MTN financial transactions with the four banks over funds repatriation, lies on the CBN, based on the earlier report on the investigation of MTN by Senate on the same issue, which freed MTN of any complicity.

Reacting to the CBN order on MTN over refund of $8.134 billion to the CBN coffers, MTN had in a statement said it got the approval of the CBN for all dividends it had declared in the past, and that the Senate investigation on alleged funds repatriation had since exonerated it from any complicity in illegal funds transfer.

“MTN Nigeria strongly refutes these allegations and claims. No dividends have been declared or paid by MTN Nigeria other than pursuant to CCIs issued by our bankers and with the approval of the CBN as required by law.

“The issues surrounding the CCIs have already been the subject of a thorough enquiry by the Senate of Nigeria. In September 2016 the Senate mandated the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to carry out a holistic investigation on compliance with the Foreign exchange (monitoring and miscellaneous) Act by MTN Nigeria and others. In its report issued in November 2017, the findings evidenced that MTN Nigeria did not collude to contravene the foreign exchange laws and there were no negative recommendations made against MTN Nigeria,” the statement said.

“MTN Nigeria, as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria, is committed to good governance and to abiding by the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The re-emergence of these issues is regrettable as it damages investor confidence and, by extension, inhibits the growth and development of the Nigerian economy,” the statement further said.

Implications of MTN fine Speaking on the implication of the MTN fine, Adebayo said it could discourage willing investors who would be afraid of recouping their investments in Nigeria. He warned that care must be taken not to send wrong signals to potential investors who are willing to invest in Nigeria. He called on the CBN to consider inviting MTN to a meeting to resolve the issue.

Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe, told Reuters that he expected a resolution on the matter.

Earlier fines The recent CBN fine on MTN, came at a time when MTN is still struggling to complete payment of the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on it in 2015, by the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for violation of SIM card registration order.

Aside that, MTN, along side other telecoms operators, had in the past, fined for delivering poor quality of service rendered to its subscribers.

The NCC had in October 2015 fined MTN a whopping N1.04 trillion for its failure to disconnect 5.2 million improperly registered SIM cards on its network within the prescribed deadline. After much plea on the part of MTN management for a reduction, the fine was subsequently reduced by 25 per cent to N780 billion, and further reduced to N330 billion, out of which MTN has paid N165 billion and it is due to pay another N55 billion by December this year and complete the balance payment by 2019.

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Awasthi: Investment in Customer Service, Key to Business Growth Chief Executive Officer of Spectranet, Mr. Ajay Awasthi, speaks on the benefits of investing in customer service as well as the need for investments that will further drive broadband penetration. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: should be a cultural issue. If the culture is not properly communicated from the front desk to various departments of the organisation, we would never succeed. We would never be up there. A serious-minded organisation yearns to offer the best in terms of customer service.

We have created channels for customers to express themselves. We have eased the process of customers’ communication with the organisation.

The world is in a digital era and in this era, we felt it was imperative to revamp our website.

We had to redesign our website to make the customer express himself/herself freely, and as well purchase and get solutions without stress.

Also, we thought our customers would like to engage with us while on the go. Most times, they are always with their smartphones. We have created an app to address this. I am happy to share that the feedbacks we have received so far are encouraging. Customers are pleased and happy with the simplicity of the app. In this era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we also felt it was important to infuse elements of AI into our website and app. This led to the introduction of Eva, a chatbot we created to interact with customers. Eva provides answers, solutions and responses to questions and inquiries anytime of the day, 24/7.

Licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) are playing important roles in terms in rolling out broadband infrastructure across the country. Are these roles helping Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to deploy their services?

The biggest challenge of rollout at this point in time is the cost of bandwidth. We can carry traffic from Lagos to London at one-quarter of the cost we have to spend to carry the same traffic from Abuja to Lagos or Port Harcourt to Lagos. And this is so because we lack sufficient broadband infrastructure in the country.

If we consider moving into Kano or Kaduna, practically there is no infrastructure. There are no lease lines. The ones that are available are too expensive. The cost of renting space from the tower of InfraCos is prohibitive. More infrastructure should be provided for ISPs to function effectively. Bringing down the cost of using infrastructure is equally important.

These suggestions will boost the viability of the industry and ISPs. Internet service customers are clamouring for reduced cost of bandwidth. What could crash cost of internet bandwidth in the country?

It is true that the cost of internet bandwidth is still high in Nigeria and one of the ways to crash cost is for more companies to come on board and erect more towers and make prices to be more competitive. Certainly, we will witness a surge in the number of viable ISPs if this is achieved.

Telecoms operators were able to come together to erect infrastructure like telecoms masts.

Today we have companies whose major duty is to build telecoms mast and lease them to telecoms operators. Why is it difficult for ISPs to do same?

The cost of laying fibres is quite expensive.

Getting permissions is another limitation.

However, there are companies renting out fibres to ISPs at the moment. But we need more of them in the market to create infrastructure for ISPs to roll out much faster.

Recently, NCC stated that 40 million Nigerians don’t have access to internet even though mobile internet penetration is growing in millions. What are you doing to bring in people who are outside the internet space?

One of the key drivers of internet penetration is availability of compatible devices at affordable prices. So, if more numbers of smartphones enter into the country at affordable rates, more people will get connected. If import duties are reduced, prices will come down. Government should help us in bringing in these devices at cheaper rates so that we can make them affordable to customers. It is our desire to bring the remaining 40 million Nigerians without internet access to speed, and ensure that all Nigerians have internet access, but we also need government intervention and support to achieve this.

Nigeria has 30 per cent broadband penetration target by December 2018. The regulator said it has put the necessary machineries in place to achieve it, but insisted that ISPs like Spectranet must play their roles to achieve the target.

What are you doing to achieve the maximum broadband target by the end of 2018?

Yes, we have our deferent roles to play in achieving the country’s broadband target, and we at Spectranet are doing so much to ensure that the target is met. However, the regulator must understand that we are in business to make reasonable money whilst we offer internet solutions to our customers. If we don’t achieve this, investors wouldn’t bring in the required capital. That is a fundamental point. Spectranet is working towards this targeted goal but the infrastructure required to support this is in short supply. Rate of tower rentals in Nigeria is one of the highest in the world and the cost

Awasthi

of bandwidth is high too. This implies that the core structure critical for driving this goal is completely unfavourable.

On the other side, we have telecoms operators offering data at rates which are below cost, and these rates are adversely affecting the ISP market. Due to the absence of data floor price, it is practically difficult for ISPs to match up with the pricing of telecoms operators who offer both voice and data services to customers in the same data internet space where we operate as traditional ISPs. Going by the scenario of pricing you just painted, what do you expect the regulator should do to address the situation?

The industry regulator, the NCC has been quite sensitive in regulating the telecoms industry. I am sure they understand this issue very clearly.

But even at that, NCC should step in urgently to announce floor prices for data. There is a delay in releasing the standard rates for data floor price for the industry. Once this is achieved, it will address the issue of pricing and further stabilise the data internet market so that smaller operators can co-exist with bigger operators in the market space. This is critical to the survival of ISPs considering some of the activities and data promotions of telecoms operators.

At the moment, KPMG is carrying out a study on understanding the core structure of providing data services to customers. I urge them to do a good research on the study and

It is true that the cost of internet bandwidth is still high in Nigeria and one of the ways to crash cost is for more companies to come on board and erect more towers and make prices to be more competitive

come up with possible solutions that will address the challenges of the industry.

Spectranet has continued to invest in new solutions that will enhance customer services, especially with the recent investment on Express Shops. Could you please shed more light on the Express Shops and what they mean to the consumers?

Differentiators in the internet service market are not restricted to product and pricing. Customer engagement is important to us because it is critical to us as a brand. The introduction of Spectranet express service outlets is hinged on the importance of customer engagement. We believe it is very important for the company to excel in that regard. Spectranet embarked on this journey six months ago to uplift our customer service offerings from good to being the best-in-class in Nigeria. We want to be up there as the best-in-class in addressing customers’ concerns. In the last six months, we have done a lot in terms of expanding arms-length service footprint. We are ensuring that there is a Spectranet shop resolving customer service issues, just within 2-3 kilometres. In Lagos, we have a couple of shops created and operated by the brand. It is a reflection of the business terminology, Company Owned Company Operated (COCO). We have about 12 of them scattered across Lagos. On the other hand, we have Franchise Owned, Franchise Operated (FOFO) outlets. There are about 13 of them run and operated by franchisees approved by Spectranet. This puts the total number of express outlets at 25 at the moment. By December this year, we should have 35 outlets. It is going to be the way forward. We are keen on spreading them evenly across the state.

How will this initiative improve service delivery and customer experience?

The definition of customer service extends beyond addressing customer’s complaints.

As a responsive organisation that responds fast to customers’ needs, we always ensure that we meet customer’s demands, which of course is the basic for us, being the fundamental level of customer service. We regard customer engagement as a journey, thus we started working on what we refer to as improving the Customer Service Quotient (CSQ) of the organisation. CSQ simply means how responsive and sensitive an organisation is towards the customer. It is not restricted to the customer service department only, as it cuts across all departments, including the office of the CEO and the office of the Head of Marketing. CSQ

The brand is concentrating more on customer service than growth. Could this mean that growth is shrinking?

It is not exactly so. I think the philosophy here is about service business. If you do well with customer service, sales will automatically increase. We believe that there is a bigger space out there and we just want to occupy that space by excelling in customer service. I am optimistic that once we have done that, we will have meaningfully engaged customers and business would be on the path of growth. That is why we are doing so much with creating sales and service outlets located within arms-length.

You have used some catchy words to drive this, are they connected to security investment made so far in upgrading the system and service experience?

We are quite mindful of the fact that customer service quotient is important. It is not just about the creation of solutions. One of the major enablers of IP networks is the 4GLTE advance technology because they are internet based in that sense.

4G LTE is a victim of cyber-attacks and threats.

It is ideal to put up firewall to protect your systems. The purpose of the firewall is to keep on detecting those threats.

Across the world, there are automated bots. People do mischiefs; they meddle with your networks and then gain access to your customers. You would have experienced this with mails. At times, your mail box gets infected with embarrassing mails. These bots constantly search for vulnerabilities.

We understand that it is important to be one step ahead of those bots. This influenced the upgrade of firewall protection for our systems.

We brought in the latest generation of firewall, Firepower 9300 to secure our customers. It is the first of its kind in Nigeria. The firewall is intelligent, it detects viruses and threats in data packets transmitted in large quantities from our systems.

We have made huge investment in networks so far. We are almost through with our optimisation while we are focusing on Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) which can prevent sophisticated level of threats. Safeguarding our customers and business interests is important to us as a brand.

We understand that some of our customers have websites that deserve the right kind of protection. We have invested significantly in this regard. That is why we have put in place the latest kind of firewall to guarantee safety.

But your industry seems to be shrinking with the number of ISPs in the market at the moment. What are the factors behind this development?

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Group Recognises Glo’s Support Firm, Facebook Harp on ICT Knowledge Transfer for Female Entrepreneurs ment representatives drawn ment for innovation to thrive university embedded business Stories by Emma Okonji Globacom has been celebrated at the Nigerian Women Digital Agenda Summit and Awards (NWDAS) for its support for female entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The telecoms company was recognised with the Best Women Enterprise Support (Company) award at a recent summit convened by the Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD).

President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Odumakin, while presenting the award on behalf of CECAD, said: “There is no way anyone can deny the fact that in terms of data, Globacom has broken the ceiling and the company is not only about talk, it has done so much in terms of investment, empowerment and development of women enterprise in Nigeria and so this award is well deserved”.

Explaining why the network was deemed worthy of the award, President of CECAD, Dr. Bayero Agabi, disclosed that while telecoms operators “are the engine rooms for digital liberalisation, Globacom stands out in its support for women in ICT. The company recognises that women are critical to the digital development the nation craves for and goes ahead to support women in the industry”.

Acting Head of Unit, Call Centre, Globacom, Mrs.

Kemi Fadipe, who received the award on behalf of the company, said it is top on the list of progressive companies which are silently contributing their quota to empowering Nigerian women.

She pledged the company’s preparedness to promote gender equality and fair access to ICT in Nigeria in greater dimension.

“Globacom believes that women empowerment is a necessary step if a country is to overcome the obstacles associated with poverty and development and one way to empower women is to bring innovative ICT products and services within the reach of all regardless of age, tribe or gender. Globacom since inception has demonstrated that it is committed to liberalising access to telecom services by making them affordable to all classes of Nigerians”, Fadipe said.

According to her, Globacom has been a pillar of support to a good number of female entrepreneurs, having enhanced their operations with cutting-edge solutions to enable them to compete favourably and develop in their preferred areas of business interests. “Globacom is also, today, the greatest supporter of entertainment and entertainers, many of whom are women,” she added.

Roar Nigeria, a private sector led incubator, situated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which recently partnered Facebook under the NG Hub programme, last week, hosted Facebook Stakeholders’ Roundtable, where the need for knowledge transfer in information and communications technology (ICT) discussed.

The roundtable, which was designed for the South east and South-south region of the country, also focused on policy issues, technology commercialisation, academic research, mentorship opportunities and the engagement strategy for the technology giant, Facebook.

The roundtable had the academia, private and govern-

from across eight states of the South south and South east Nigeria, including innovation hub, business leaders, investors, technology community, members of the SSE Angel Network (SSEAN), and other national technology leaders.

The Public Policy Director for Facebook Africa, Ebele Okobi led the team who visited Roar Nigeria Hub for a stakeholder’s roundtable.

Participants were first received by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, before a brief tour of the Lion Laptop Assembly Plant and the Lion Science Park.

Okobi, in her remarks, appreciated the university management for its effort in creating an enabling environ-

in the academia.

“We realise the critical role of policy in creating an environment that maximises the potential for technology to drive forward economic, social and academic advancement”, she said.

She shared details of some of the partnerships Facebook had launched in Nigeria while stating that the visit was to explore better ways of partnering African institutions and organisations such as Roar Nigeria at the policy level.

The University of Nigeria boasts a lot of firsts in the technology and innovation space, among which are the Lion Laptops being assembled locally in the university, the Roar Nigeria Hub, which is West Africa’s first full-fledged

and technology incubator, and very recently the Lion Science Park.

Addressing participants, a director of the Lion Science Park, Charles Emembolu, said: “I consider this engagement a milestone in our journey to bring academia to the forefront of technology and innovation advancement in Nigeria. The significance of this roundtable has been the ability to have top level policy makers and influencers from institutions such as Facebook, State Governments, Regional Businesses, Student Leaders, Chambers of Commerce, Investors and Universities discussing research, technology, innovation, commercialisation as tools for national development. It helps us to reimagine Africa.”

9ijakids Urges Schools to OptimiseTechnologyInvestment 9ijakids, an educational technology company that specialises in the design and production of educational games for children, has called on schools to optimise their technology investments in order to equip the 21st Century children who are the digital natives, with modern technology tools that will help them become familiar with evolving technologies from mobile phones, tablets and the internet. Co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi, who made the remarks in Lagos recently, said 9ijakids games cover subjects like Mathematics, Science, English, Geography, History, among others like values and the Nigeria financial literacy.

According to him, to actively engage children in every aspect of learning, educators must understand how best to keep the children interested in learning by understanding how to channel technology into the teaching and learning environment.

“This advanced exposure to technology and lots of visuals makes engaging them with traditional methods very difficult. Technology is a powerful tool that enables learning to be limited by only one thing – imagination,” Adewusi said, adding that technology tools come with various benefits, which include providing students access to digital resources that are more current and compelling, with visual and audio support; making students understand and visualise complex and abstract

concepts; making students more engaging in class; helping teachers to get fast feedback on students’ work by having access to quick sites, softwares that provide questions/answers linked to topic taught in real time.

“Other benefits include helping to save time in designing teaching materials and learning plans, and additionally, overtime materials used over a period can be reused and tweaked to meet the need of current students saving huge amount of time for planning and hunting for resources. It also helps prepare students for a real-world environment, “Adewusi said.

Schools around the world ranked outstanding understand the importance of merging teaching with technology to deliver the best teaching standard to their children therefore giving their children a leg up in their future career paths.

“These schools have jumped on the technology bandwagon and made significant investment in technology - from purchase of computers, to interactive whiteboards, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs and access to the internet,” Adewusi added.

Adewusi, however, explained that despite the investment, a lot of teachers are not optimising the use of technology in the classroom, while stressing the need for schools to optimise their investments in technology for students.

STAKEHOLDERS’ CONFERENCE

L-R: Director Roar Nigeria, Charles Emembolu; Facebook Africa Public Policy Director, Ebele Okobi and Facebook Engineer, Barbara Mbanefo, during the Facebook stakeholders’ roundtable conference on ICT at Enugu State…recently

TD Partners OEM Electronics Market Sub-saharan Africa’s foremost distribution company, Technology Distributions Ltd (TD) has signed a partnership deal with original equipment manufacturer (OEM), as the national distributor of Samsung Electronics in the open market channel. The development is expected to deliver better pricing and availability of Samsung products across the country and beyond.

The landmark partnership was unveiled at an official dealers’ event held last week in Lagos. Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Jingak Chung disclosed that the decision to Partner TD was based on its reputation as a technology products distribution company. According to him, TD’s nationwide reach, wide database of resellers and long-standing status as the largest supplier of technology to the Sub-saharan Africa

to Boost

marketplace are factors that made them an undisputable choice as partners.

“Through this partnership with TD, we are optimistic that the wide range of cutting-edge products that we are rolling out for the Nigerian market will be readily available nationwide for resellers and other end-users, with attractive pricing as well,” he said.

Managing Director, TD Mobile, Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, expressed her delight at the partnership with Samsung Electronics, even as she reaffirmed TD’s commitment to its over 2,000 resellers.

“Samsung is a credible global OEM and we are delighted to be working with them, particularly on Samsung Electronics because we know how well they are doing in Nigeria. We have gotten a lot of reactions based on pricing and our interest is to make the products affordable and accessible, thereby developing the local market,” Ijogun said.

Signal Alliance, Microsoft to Deepen Cloud Adoption Signal Alliance (SA) and Microsoft have launched the FastTrack Partner Programme in Nigeria. It is an exclusive group of partners across the globe approved by Microsoft to accelerate the migration of its platforms to the cloud. This is a customer success service designed to help them realise business value faster with the Microsoft Cloud.

Signal Alliance is one of two partners from the West, East and Central Africa to join the other 200 partners from across all parts of the world. With the explosion of Microsoft Cloud business, these partners will help customers successfully move their workloads to the cloud. The Microsoft FastTrack services is a free direct onsite support to help a licensed user organisation onboard, migrate, and drive adoption of Office 365 and other Enterprise Mobility Suite. Such as; exchange online, SharePoint online, Skype for business, Yammer enterprise, Office 365 ProPlus, Intune,

Azure AD among others.

SA FastTrack Manager, Kenneth Ufomba, said: “Signal Alliance is a Microsoft Fast Track Partner. We assist with various onboarding activities using a combination of tools, documentation, guidance, and carry out configuration tasks where applicable. The objective is to drive adoption of workloads to ensure the following; increased productivity of employees, maximized return on Microsoft Cloud investments, drive Technology Change management within the organization and ensure better business outcomes.”

Ufomba added; “Many organizations who are early adopters that engaged us, have come to realize that there are many areas where additional help is needed.”

In the last few months Signal Alliance has worked with several organizations and provided assistance to customers as they engaged with the SA Microsoft FastTrack team.

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CONSUMER

Olugbode: Inauguration of Lagos Consumer Protection Body Timely General Manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mrs. Olugbode Oluwakemi, in this interview, speaks on the agency’s activities in the last eight months and how it has helped consumers to address disagreements with many manufacturers and service providers.

Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts. to their promos and when it was time for compensation, they did not get. In fact, I was also a victim. They redressed the matter, gave the customers two/three months of free viewing and apologised for the situation. So, the complaints cut across every segment of the market you can imagine.

The inauguration of a consumer protection council body was strange when Lagos mooted the idea last year. Eight months after commencing operation, can you take us through how the agency was able to demonstrate its relevance?

The first thing we did after our inauguration on January 3rd was to educate the public through a road show. Immediately after the roadshow, we started receiving complaints from consumers, on different issues. From someone who purchased recharge cards valued at N200, 000 and discovered they were used cards. In fact, that was the very first matter that we treated here. We intervened and after mediation, the person that gave him the cards refunded his money. Let me point out that the level of response from Lagosians has been very encouraging. People walk in here to lodge their complaints, and sometimes those complaints are lodged online too. In fact, we just printed out some of such complaints, today. People have been coming, but we are hopeful that this will increase very soon as they begin to get wind of our activities and existence What is the nature of complaints you get, and which sector attracts more?

We received various complaints; some against the Discos, some against banks and other players in the other sectors of the economy. Interestingly, all complaints that we had received in the nation’s financial sector is just against one big bank, one of the first three in that sector in the country.

Some also dealt with matters that had to do with purchase of spare parts.

There was a particular incident when somebody purchased a Mitsubishi Van Bus spare parts, valued at about a hundred thousand naira. He actually handed over the money to his mechanic and lo and behold when the thing was mounted, it didn’t work. It was smoking. So, he lodged a complaint here against the trader and we intervened. We actually went to Ladipo Market. It wasn’t easy, though. But we went. They co-operated with us and at the end of the day, the engine was replaced and the complainant was happy.

Another was complaint was against a motor company. The complainant said his vehicle was taken there for repairs and the thing was not satisfactorily done. We intervened, and at the end of the day, he was happy.

He commended our efforts, telling us that after our intervention, the thing had been fixed. Also the Discos, especially the IKEDC, they wrote to us about them. Surprisingly, they responded. They even follow us on our Twitter handle, and we are working on the issues. Essentially, the complaints we received on the Discos have to do with estimated and outrageous bills, some complained that the discos ripped them off and that the situation was not rectified. But we are hopeful that we’ll be able to resolve the matters that have to do with the Discos. The nation’s insurance sector too is not left out. Two weeks ago, someone complained his policy was due and his insurance company gave him a dud cheque. We wrote to the insurance company, though they didn’t reply us, the man came back to say the matter had been resolved, that they had withdrawn the cheque and paid him off We’ve also received complaints against some soft drinks-making companies and paytv brands.

What is your mode of operation?

When complaints are received, we write to the respondent, and the law says we should give respondents 14 days to respond, maximum 21 days. Within that period, many have co-

Does the Lagos Consumer Protection body have the power to prosecute?

Yes, we have the power to prosecute. We have three core units here. One is the consumer education. They do all kind of sensitisation here. We have the monitoring and enforcement unit. Their own is to go into retail outlets, supermarkets and all kinds of stores to ensure that they don’t give substandard products to consumers. And when they find out that some of those stores some of these expired products on their shelves, we tell them that it is wrong. Many have co-operated, they immediately removed the expired products.

For those that are expiring, we advise them on what to do, such as asking them to keep the products aside and indicate clearly that the items are expiring soon, so that the consumers will know.

Olugbode

operated. Many companies replied. Their response usually determines our next line of action. For instance, after the response, we

We received various complaints; some against the Discos, some against banks and other players in the other sectors of the economy.

Interestingly, all complaints that we had received in the nation’s financial sector is just against one big bank, one of the first three in that sector in the country

invite both parties for mediation session, and so far, this has succeeded, except one matter where we are filing an action in a newly-created small-claim court. Somebody collected money from someone, and only brought part of the money. He admitted collecting the money, he didn’t deny. He was supposed to give the woman accommodation, he didn’t, and he never refunded her money. When we intervened, he admitted to the fact and promised to refund the money. He came back with part of the money. Since he deposited the amount, he has not paid up. So, we’ve gone to file a case against him at the small-claims court.

We’ve also received complaints from the soft drinks-making companies. So, we invited them to mediation session and after mediation, they promised to go back to resolve the matter and then they gave complimentary drinks to the customer. But there was a particular case which mediation has not resolved. The customer says he’s not accepting the complimentary drinks. He is claiming N5 million as damages.

But, the company said their policy is not to give money. He complained about the way they treated him as a customer when he went to lodge the complaint. He said at one point they were threatening him, telling him he could go to court if he liked. Then we invited them to a mediation session, we had to point out that as big as the brand is, it is expected to know that the customer is always right. So, we advised the team that came to go back to their management and look at the possibility of doing something better than two packs of drinks.

We also dealt with a big operator in the pay tv market segment. We received complaints from people who said they responded

Can you remember any of those memorable cases?

An incident in Ogudu comes to mind here, the owner of a store did not give the agency’s monitoring team access to the store, and the law says you can file compliance notice for any kind of infringement of the provisions of our law. After filing the compliance notice, their lawyer ran here and said he had read the law and apologised on behalf of the client. We were invited to come back, and interestingly, the man was very co-operative. Incidentally, all his goods were fit for purpose and of quality. There was another in Surulere that kept the monitoring team waited for hours and didn’t give them access. We therefore filed a compliance notice, and the person that had gone to serve the notice came back this morning to say they didn’t accept the notice. In that case, we ill escalate actions on the issue.

The agency appears to be taking ‘soft approach’ Is this deliberate?

The idea is that since it is a new agency and its operations are basically new, we want to educate the people. Let people know that we are coming on a friendly note for now. Like I said earlier, the law empowers us to prosecute anybody that contravenes any provision of the law and give a fine of N750,000 or jail term.

If the infringement continues, the court can impose further a fine of N20,000 per day, as the long as the infringement lasts. We have the power of enforcement, but because we are still new, we want to educate the people first.

That is why we are parleying with traders in the different sectors of the market. Procedure for lodging a complaint Quite simple. You come in here and complain. Our doors are open to every consumer, and don’t forget, we are all consumers, in one form or the other.

We don’t close till after six and the agency not for the elites alone. Definitely, we are not for the elites alone. We’ve made provisions for the barely literates, who might have one complaint or the other to lodge. If you come here and you are unable to express yourself, we’ve designed form where the details of the complaints will be filled. If the person is not literate enough to write, we have people here who understand different languages. They will listen to the complainant and help him or her fill the form. So, we are for everybody.

And so far, the agency has not rejected any complaint. As long as the issue is not more than six weeks before it is reported

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BUSINESSWORLD MultiChoice Deepens Commitment to Creative Industry The MultiChoice Talent Factory initiative has been described as an indication of the company’s commitment to growing and developing African creative industries. This was said during an interactive session hosted by MultiChoice on the eve of the 6th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards to engage with Pan-African media and stakeholders about their role in creating shared value for the industry by investing in local content while igniting the future of Africa’s creative industry through MultiChoice Talent Factory.

The session was led by a panel which included members of the MultiChoice leadership including Yolisa Phahle, Video Entertainment CEO, MultiChoice General Entertainment; John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria and Nkateko Mabaso, Acting CEO, M-Net SSA. In his remarks, Ugbe said the MTF was established to ensure better production of African stories, which will not only resonate with Africans but also with audiences around the world, because according to him, there is a need to take

African content to the rest of the world.

Echoing similar sentiments, Phahle, said the MTF is MultiChoice’s way of contributing to the countries in which the company operates as well as a way of magnifying the opportunities for African storytelling, adding that the world is ready to embrace African storytelling in an unprecedented way.

On her part, Cheryl UysAllie, Director, MultiChoice Talent Factory, explained that the initiative is about developing the skills of local filmmakers and the growth of the local film industries. She explained that the initiative was launched in May 2018 in Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya, the three countries that will host the MultiChoice Academies. Each academy will provide 20 students with a fullyear academic programme in various aspects of filmmaking.

The 60 students, who resume in October, were selected from 3,108 applicants from across the continent. Berry Lwando, Academy Director, Southern Africa, explained that the selection was done in conjunction with experts in local film industries

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NGO Launches Mobile App on Governance Stories by Raheem Akingbolu In a fresh move to galvanise Nigerian youths towards participating in process of governance, a non-governmental organisation, Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) has launched a mobile game, which seeks to help them understand their civic rights.

YAF produced the 3D civic mobile game app, the first of its kind in Nigeria and known as: “Your Excellency” with support from Innovation Spread the Word Fund (ISWF),

an arm of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Your Excellency is an adventure civic mobile game app which is a learning tool for young people on governance.

It is expected to build capacities of young people to engage in governance.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Agboola Dabiri, lauded the innovation at the launch.

He urged the youth to make good use of the initiative.

“It is a wonderful concept.

For the youth to come up with such a laudable project, they need to be appreciated and supported.

“The youth are resourceful; Lagos State does not underrate any youth because we know they are the future.”

Dabiri urged the youth to shun violence and vote wisely in 2019.

A representative of USAID, Charles Abani, said Nigeria would improve through good governance.

The YAF Executive Director, Mrs. Uduak Okon, said that the game launch was apt fol-

lowing the enactment of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill.

“Young people do not really know the rudiments of good governance; this game equips them with the civic capacity to be able to engage in governance effectively and build leadership skills.

“We want to encourage the youth to do something about governance and effect positive changes in the society,’’ she said.

She urged them to make proper use of lessons from the game to contribute meaningfully to the society.

Oando, Nestle, Others Lead Conversation on Heritage Branding Oando Plc, a leading indigenous oil and gas energy solutions provider, led conversations on building a heritage brand at the recently concluded Mitsubishi Motors Anniversary and Heritage Week.

The week-long event was a celebration of Mitsubishi Motors Nigeria’s101 years in business. It included a series of engaging events that showcased the evolution of Mitsubishi Motors and the various ways in which Mitsubishi identifies as a heritage brand.

Recently, Mitsubishi Motors in partnership with Aspire Luxury Magazine held a panel session on ‘Building a Heritage Brand.’

The panel consisted of the brand managers of heritage brands including Mitsubishi, Oando, Nestlé and Union Bank.

These brands came together to discuss their approach to building a heritage brand, intentional steps they are taking to differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded market and their storytelling process to create long-term, sustainable competitive advantage.

Head of Corporate Communications at Oando Plc, Alero Balogun, spoke extensively on her experience working with the Oando brand.

When asked about Oando’s deliberate steps towards building the brand, she responded.

She said: “For us at Oando, it has always been about creating a world class brand. We benchmark ourselves against international standards and strive to be world class in everything we do.

“A bold spirit, leadership and being proudly African form, our brand essence and these traits are evident in all our marketing communication

endeavors.

“We see ourselves as more than players in the energy sector; bearing in mind the challenging terrain we operate in, we see ourselves as solution providers. We are focused on proffering innovative solutions that address the nation and ultimately Africa’s energy needs, and our brand essence and values have been instrumental in our success.

“This same spirit forms an integral part of brand storytelling and other marketing communication efforts.’’

With beginnings in 1956 as ESSO Africa (a subsidiary of the Exxon Corporation of the United States), evolving into Unipetrol Nigeria and then an alliance with Agip Nigeria formed Oando Plc, the company that we all know and love today.

Balogun spoke of how the firm had taken it upon itself to change the international narrative about Nigeria and Africa, to this end they pride themselves on a history of consistently innovating and paving the way across the energy value chain showing that indigenous companies can create positive change on a large scale.

Also speaking at the event was Nwando Ajene, Head of Marketing Services at Nestlé Nigeria. She spoke extensively on how the company works to build a heritage brand.

She said: “We are clear on our target market and how we communicate with them. When we worked on our new Maggi product, ‘Naija Pot’, we went to local markets and restaurants and conducted focus groups and surveys to create a product that was authentically Nigerian.

SUPPORTING INNOVATION

L-R – Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Union Bank, Lola Cardoso; Director of People, Co-creation Hub, Toun Tunde-Anjous; first prize winners, Tomisin Kolawole and Eri Morenikeji, at the finals of the campus innovation challenge held in Lagos…recently

Promasidor, CDC Unveil Microcredit for Children with Disabilities Promasidor Nigeria Limited, in partnership with Children’s Development Centre (CDC), has unveiled a low-interest microcredit scheme aimed at empowering parents of children living with developmental challenges. The scheme tagged, ‘We Too Can Grow’ takes off with a grant from Promasidor, manufacturers of Cowbell Milk, Top Tea, Onga seasoning and other quality food products.

Five groups in Lagos and Ogun States, where the programme is taking off, have already signed up for the facility being disbursed through cooperatives.

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Social Development, Mrs. Joyce Onafowokan, said at the launch that the state government would partner CDC and Promasidor to deepen the programme’s penetration. She commended Promasidor for its support towards uplifting the living standard of the target group.

She said: “Most people don’t know the pains parents of those children go through.

Some of the parents do not have academic degrees. So, they need to be empowered and trained

in skills to help them take care of their children. Medications of some of the kids are costly.

“The programme will boost the self-esteem of the parents.

When you have a child with a disability and somebody steps up to say, ‘I will support you,’ the journey is easier. I feel very excited that this is coming from a corporate entity.

“It takes a community to raise a child, and this includes individuals, corporate entities and the government. Through this initiative, Promasidor has demonstrated that it is sincerely concerned about the total development of the country.”

Head of Legal and Corporate Communications, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Andrew Enahoro said the grant was motivated by the company’s desire to support the wholesome development of Nigeria and its special interest in the future of the youths.

“At Promasidor, we believe that no segment of the society should be ignored in building a nation. ‘We Too Can Grow’ is a way of saying that we recognise that children with special needs are bona fide members of the

society. They have the right to pursue their dreams like

other members of the society do,” he said.

ADVAN Repositions, Inaugurates Committees The Advertisers Association of Nigeria has inaugurated some members of its working committees, comprising stakeholders in different fields.

At the inauguration, the association said the committee would be the engine room for the association’s programmes for the next two years The committees inaugurated include the public sector, stakeholder engagement and advocacy, membership and value, data insight and content, education and capacity building committees.

The first Vice President of the ADVAN, Mr. Wasiu Abiola, while speaking on the agenda of the committees, said; “The committees will drive the association’s agenda of creating an empowered future in Marketing Communications (Marcomms) today for advertisers and the industry as a whole.”

Abiola further added that the committees would work with the Executive Council of the association to provide and implement strategies for increased membership value, strategic stakeholder engagement, as well as source for the most relevant data to aid effective marketing planning.

The Chairperson of the Education and Capacity Development Committee, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, while speaking on the focus of the committee, said a key focus for his committee would be to provide needed education for marketing professionals not just in the marcomms field, but rather a holistic capacity development approach that would help ADVAN members gather the right skills to function in any capacity of a C-level Executive and even beyond.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Transforming Rivers Economy

Emma Okah

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike met an economy that was on halt by the time he took over as governor on May 29, 2015. All he has done since that day has been to unlock the economic potential of Rivers State and attract investors back to their once-beloved Garden City. He has deliberately created ‘sugar-policies’ to sweeten the city to the taste of businesses and investors.

There may be need to remind businesses how it was by the time Wike came into office three years ago. Rivers State was in economic comatose. No investor was happy because there was total insecurity, the courts had been shut, meaning that all cases that needed judicial intervention had to grind to a halt.

The thousands of lawyers that make a living in the Rivers State jurisdiction had to shut down their offices. Some joined their wives in other businesses while others simply relocated.

The number of executive kabu-kabu taxis increased. The crowd that mills around the Rivers State High Court area for numerous services such as restaurants, typing, affidavits and other notary services disappeared. That sector of the economy crashed and stopped.

It was sad that the state government was no longer able to pay salaries. This is a key economic booster because when the state releases between N7bn and N9bn in any months to the economy, this automatically boosts the economy of the region as buying peaks. Parents pay their landlords who use the revenue to solve their personal problems and leave the government alone. The failure to pay salaries and pensions simply stifled a major sector of the economy of this state.

There was gloom and apprehension all through that period, making the populace to wait in high anxiety for rescue which came on May 29, 2015.

It was so sad that the state government was no longer in a position to discharge its obligations to the industrial sector. Business owners were faced with impassable roads, near total absence of power supply, water, social services, security, etc. Industries were fleeing and unemployment reached its peak.

The economy had simply stopped functioning.

This needed pragmatic approach, determination and focus; which Wike came to represent and to reproduce.

Wike started by launching several wars to liberate the economy of the state and to attract fleeing enterprises, and this needed sweeteners. He began to clear the blocked roads everywhere. He created the Operation Zero

Pothole which began to fill all potholes and repair short patches of roads in all parts of Port Harcourt. This was meant to free businesses to be on the move. It is clear that stagnant businesses result to a stagnant economy.

Between then and now, the governor has been repairing roads, completing abandoned ones, initiating new ones and creating easy passages for businesses, goods and services.

All roads leading into or out of state capital have been rescued. The most recent is the commissioning by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of the International Airport Link Road, popularly called Obiri Ikwerre road. Many visitors including leaders of the organized private sector (OPS) especially the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have often hailed the action.

Roads leading to Etche, the food basket of the state, have been built, freeing massive food produce into the city. It has also provided alternative routes to Imo State and other eastern states. Saakpenwa – Bori road is ongoing, internal roads in Isiokpo, Okochiri, Elele Alimini, Omoku have all been constructed and commissioned.

The governor has equally boosted business and created leisure for business people by building the world class Pleasure Park on Aba Road between the Bori Camp (Army) and Airforce Base. The Rex Lawson Cultural Centre

Wike is also boosting businesses in a bottom-up approach. His policy is to strengthen the purchasing power of the lower segment of the society by creating several loan packages to different groups

in the town area has also been commissioned with a theatre described as one of the best in Sub-Sahara Africa. He has thus continued to fill the infrastructure gap in the state so that businesses and investors can face their own task. It has been said time without number that government does not create jobs but creates the enabling environment that creates jobs.

In that regard, the most important aspect is provision of infrastructure. This, the governor is pursuing with every energy in his sinews.

Wike wasted no time in stepping into the rotten Trans-Amadi Industrial Area. This was the pride of Rivers State, the garland in the Garden City. He targeted Trans –Amadi and brought it back to life, being a major hub of economic activities. What did he do there? Knowing it is the centre of attention for investors, he began building all the roads that inter into Trans-Amadi. The most important ones include the Garrison-Slaughter Road that transverses the industrial estate into two. It is from this nerve road that all other roads take off into other sections of Trans-Amadi. It is also from this road that other services are delivered to companies in the estate. If you knock out this road as it was for years, you knock out the entire State economy. This could account for why many businesses ground to a halt there, the others fled to the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone and other places.

The Nkpogu road and bridge has been completed and it links LNG and Trans Amadi.

Wike also linked Trans-Amadi to Trans-Woji area that takes it to Akpajo and Eleme Road by completing and opening the Woji Bridge.

He also completed the road that extends from Peter Odili Road through the housing estate that hopes to link RSTV Road in Elelenwo and down to Akpajo and East West Road.

The exit through Elekahia road was also constructed and traffic from Trans-Amadi now flows freely to other parts of the city and out to other parts of the state. This is very important and very strategic to investors because of the need to move heavy items in and out of your business base.

Those who would want to visit TransAmadi today would know that Wike has cured 90 per cent of problems of the business community in that area. What it implies is that the traffic problems in the area, the inconveniences suffered by trucks and lorries, the security problems that made banks unsafe, the reluctance of security agencies to patrol Trans-Amadi, and all of those factors that drove away a lot of businesses from their places have been removed. Today, businesses are returning. Now, go and see how the gigantic

new Next Supermarket recently opened in Trans Amadi area. It is one of the best in Nigeria. That is an endorsement of confidence in the economy of Rivers State. The banks in Trans-Amadi are now booming. Nothing can be a bigger bribe to any investor than this alone.

Wike now gives land certificates between 30 and 90 days. So far, he has given 2093 certificates (C/Os) and about 1070 consents when his predecessor gave less than 600.

This gives a lot of leverage to businesses.

Wike is also boosting businesses in a bottom-up approach. His policy is to strengthen the purchasing power of the lower segment of the society by creating several loan packages to different groups. There is the N200 million per month revolving loan to civil servants, N200 million monthly interest free loan to businessmen and young entrepreneurs, N500m to boost private healthcare participation, N500 million grant to market women groups, and other packages to other groups. The state government began in this direction by working hard to draw down the CBN N2Bn SME loan which Rivers State obtained through RIMA and disbursed to about 35,000 micro, small, and medium scale businesses. The objective is to boost economic activities at the bottom level so as to make them economically active and boost purchasing power to engage the medium level entrepreneurs that produce fast moving goods and services.

Tax reforms are another area where the governor is working hard. Tax holidays have been created to boost virgin investors. Rivtamis is now online, multiple taxation is over, tax papers are processed with minimum delay.

There is constant intervention in problems of businesses. Now, business groups are happier. There is the tax appeal tribunal which addresses grievances on issues of revenues and levies.

There is a one-stop-shop for questions related to investments and businesses to ensure that start-up is fast and encouraging. There are incentives for partnerships that allow them to take their controlling shares while our equity contributions may just be land.

In some situations, we waive all statutory levies and charges relating to land acquisition, urban and regional development levies, etc, within the legislative purview of the state.

This is how Gov Wike is bribing investors back to the state, back to the Garden City and the bribe is working magic.

Okah is the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State

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ANALYSIS

CSR: Doing Business the Responsible Way Nosa Alekhuogie The essence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) came to the fore recently as experts gathered to discuss the subject at the 2018 Public Relations Forum/Corporate Social Responsibility Awards and Exhibition organised

by AS+A Communications in Lagos.

The theme of the programme which was sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc was “The nexus between the public and private sector involvement in CSR.” The theme highlighted the notion in public relations that encourages doing good and telling people about it. It also celebrated how forward-looking corporate bodies in Nigeria have fully embraced the idea that their relationship with their respective host communities is of utmost importance. Indeed, many businesses have, sometimes through the hard way, learned that they cannot be successful when the community around them is failing.

This explains why many of them are now assuming responsibilities which should ordinarily have been that of the government by providing pipe-borne water, electricity, roads, hospitals, schools and, in some cases, security for their host communities.

This show of good corporate citizenship that is gradually becoming the norm has been variously described as CSR, sustainable development, corporate accountability, creating shared value or social responsibility.

Henry David Thoreau, an American writer, captured the essence of CSR when he wrote that, “Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”

According to a study conducted by market researchers Nielsen, the proportion of consumers willing to pay more for goods and services from companies engaged in CSR has increased to 50 percent globally.

The Nielsen Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility also found that 43 per cent of global respondents have spent more on products and services from companies that have implemented programmes to give back to society.

The figure represented just seven per cent fewer than those expressing willingness to do so and comes amidst signs of a rising trend of goodwill towards socially responsible brands.

Leading the discussion at the 2018 Public Relations Forum/Corporate Social Responsibility Awards and Exhibition was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar.

According to him, the bank is making giant strides in CSR through its Sterling Environmental Makeover (STEM) campaign which has evolved into a movement seeking to keep the environment in communities across Nigeria clean, safe and secure.

He said the bank has committed more than N500 million to the STEM programme in the last five years, adding that this covers partnership with state agencies responsible for waste management and the national cleaning exercises across the country.

He observed that the programme also entails the planting of trees to discourage deforestation, remove carbon dioxide and enhance the environment, especially in the light of the impending reality of climate change

and its impact on the environment.

The chief executive said the bank has also aligned its business model to offer financial and non-financial solutions to key areas of the economy which are at the heart of the bank.

The key areas which would drive investments by the bank are health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation (H.E.A.R.T.).

Also speaking, the Chairman of Omolayole & Associates, Dr. Michael Omolayole, who chaired the event notes in his opening remarks that the topic is not only current but also as old as the hills.

He said the point to be emphasised is for corporate organisations to understand that they have definite responsibilities towards their many stakeholders.

The management guru lists the major group of stakeholders as shareholders, employees, customers/consumers, suppliers, transporters, government authorities/regulators, trade associations and communities in which the companies operate.

“It is a special responsibility for companies to give back something to those communities. It is a kind of ‘love your neighbour’ in action and this is the essence of corporate social responsibility in the private sector,” Omolayole said.

The chairman observes that on the other hand, the public sector is entirely set up to carry out actions devoted towards helping all the citizens that make up the nation, through governance procedures.

He said social responsibility was the main

purpose of government and the public sector, adding that the public sector exists solely to serve the citizens and the society.

“There is something discretionary about the obligations of the private sector towards corporate social responsibility where it is absolutely compulsory in the public sector by laws and statutes. The conventional wisdom in approaching corporate social responsibility in both the private and public sectors is that every organisation must perform very well, its assignment under its mandate,” Omolayole said.

Also, Managing Director of AS+A Communications, Mrs. Adenike Shobajo, explained that the forum which has held over the years was intended for pioneers of CSR in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, various functionaries as well as other key players within the business sector as it has been for 17 years.

She said the focus has always been for attendance to come from federal, state and local governments, the National Assembly, ministries and parastatals, including public relations and corporate affairs managers, marketing communication experts, media practitioners, other professionals, NGOs, CBOs, the youth from tertiary institutions and the organised private sector from the real sector of the economy.

Others are the airline industry and bilateral chambers and high net worth individuals who have positively impacted the society in areas of education, health, tourism, urban and rural development, poverty alleviation and economic empowerment, human development, sports

promotion, human disaster relief and others interested in corporate social responsibility.

Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi said CSR is what is expected from a good corporate citizen, adding that if one is a citizen of any nation, he was expected to contribute to make it work.

According to him, the reverse was the case in Nigeria because majority of the citizens always commend a government that is not doing well rather than drawing attention to areas of needs in a constructive manner.

“As a citizen, the more you can contribute to the economy, the better it will be for all.

But unfortunately, in the country, the citizens hardly say the truth.

“You can hardly see a citizen telling a governor, for instance, that you are not well.

I am urging all of us to be involved in the governance of the country so that we can have better economy.”

Shobajo said as a public relations firm, AS+A aims to work with organisations to build sustainable relationships between themselves and their stakeholders through various programmes and other focused vehicles, using a deployment of interdisciplinary teams of seasoned public relations and other associated professionals to render an embraced, efficient and satisfactory packaging of the complete needs of their clients.

“We commend Sterling Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and we enjoin other corporate bodies to emulate this for the overall improvement of the Nigerian economy on a sustainable basis.”

Tizeti Secures $3 Million Series A Facility Vincent Obia Nigerian ISP start-up, Tizeti, and its consumer facing brand, Wifi.com.ng, have closed a Series A round of $3 million, led by 4DX Ventures, with participation from existing investors, Y Combinator Continuity, Lynett Capital, Social Capital, Western Technology Investment, Friále, and Golden Palm Investments. This follows on from the company’s seed investment of $2.1 million in 2017.

Tizeti plans to use the new investment to expand

operations outside Nigeria, with the launch of a new consumer-facing brand, Wifi.

Africa, later this year, starting with neighbouring West African country, Ghana.

The company will also make additional investments in operations, product development, and overall customer experience, with a view to growing profitability rapidly.

Tizeti, which operates widely as “Comcast for Africa”, builds and operates solar-powered towers in Nigeria, while also providing residences, businesses, events and conferences with un-

limited high speed broadband internet access, covering over 70 per cent of Lagos.

Since graduating from ‘Y’ Combinator’s Winter 2017 batch, Tizeti has installed over 7,000 public Wifi hotspots within Nigeria with 150,000 users and in November 2017, announced a partnership with Facebook to offer Express WiFi in the country, to roll out hundreds of internet hotspots across Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

CEO and co-founder of Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi, said, “Tizeti was built to tackle poor internet connectivity

not only in Nigeria, but on the continent as a whole, by developing a cost-effective solution from inception to delivery, for reliable and uncapped internet access for potentially millions of Africans.

We have grown rapidly in the Nigerian market in the last 12 months and expect to continue on this trajectory, as millions more Africans come online. This Series A investment allows us to continue providing a peerless service in Nigeria, building out our customer base there, as well as scale across Africa, starting with Ghana.”

Through its innovative use of solar-powered base stations, Tizeti has significantly reduced operating costs, which allow the company to be very competitive when it comes to subscription packages, with a Wifi.com.ng unlimited plan in Nigeria currently costing $30/mth [NGN9, 500]. This, alongside the company’s extensive coverage reach, has given Tizeti a competitive edge in the ISP sector, establishing the young company as an ICT and tech infrastructure leader.

As part of the latest financing round, Co-Founder and Manag-

ing Partner of 4DX Ventures, Walter Baddoo, joins Tizeti’s Board of Directors. Baddoo said, “Reducing the cost of data in Africa is a critical step in accelerating the pace of internet adoption across the continent. Tizeti, driven by a stellar company culture, has built a world-class network that delivers data to users at a fraction of the current cost.

Tizeti makes it easier and cheaper to connect Africa to the global digital economy and we are excited to partner with Kendall and his team on this mission.”

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DEVELOPMENT

Tackling Economic Inequality Economic inequality is a serious challenge among countries in Africa. In this report, Ugo Aliogo focuses on the Nigerian situation Economic inequality, also known as income inequality, is the unequal distribution of a country’s wealth. The issue, unfortunately, is not assuming a positive narrative in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa.

Oxfam International in a report stated that economic inequality in Nigeria has reached extreme levels, despite being the largest economy in the continent. The country, it noted, has an expanding economy with abundant human capital and the economic potential to lift millions out of poverty.

The report further stated that the combined wealth of Nigeria’s five richest men, which is at $29.9 billion, could end extreme poverty at a national level, but demurred that in the face of such stupendous wealth, five million Nigerians face hunger.

It added that more than 112 million people are living in poverty in the country, yet the country’s richest man would have to spend $1 million a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune.

At her recent visit to Cape Town, South Africa, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, noted that most of the world’s poorest people are Africans, adding that increasing wealth has brought rising inequality, both between and within nations.

country is on the high side, considering that the indicators show the male dominate the female in the political and economic space.

He called for recognition of the rights of women in the political and economic settings as a key measure to promote gender equity and justice.

His argument on the issue is that there is a gender gap in favour of males against females in the labour market, and women are usually discriminated against.

He said for women, relocation, marriages, and pregnancies are also other factors responsible for the issue of gender inequality.

The University lecturer remarked that the gender inequality concept establishes the relationship between male and female in terms of how they are situated in the economic and social systems.

Bakare espoused that economic inequality could be seen as the bigger picture that affects males and females on a general note, The Ag. HOD posited that it would not be wrong to assert that economic inequality between genders could be said to be the leading cause of economic inequality; “whereas, inequality between social classes could be said to be larger causes of inequality.”

May explained that much of Nigeria is thriving, with many individuals enjoying the fruit of a resurgent economy, but stated that 87 million Nigerians live on less than $1.90 a day, “making it home to more very poor people than any other nation in the world.”

According to Africa Renewal, a United Nations publication, many countries in Africa such as Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritius and Rwanda have registered remarkable economic performance over the past decade, lifting millions out of extreme poverty and making schooling and health care available to larger shares of their populations; whereas others have lagged.

It also noted that when the international community adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, their focus shifted more towards anti-poverty measures and improvement in social well-being.

The report further stated that poverty subsequently fell in many African countries that were experiencing economic growth. Yet despite the generally robust growth, nearly half the continent’s people still live on less than $1.25 a day. Studies have shown that where there is less inequality, the benefits of growth reach wider sectors of the population. In more unequal nations, however, the rich garner the biggest share and the poor get little.

It added that this realisation underlay the 2015 negotiations over the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The global goals call not only for ending poverty, but also for reducing inequalities within and among nations. The UNDP terms this a “radical shift” intended to address the “last mile of exclusion” that prevents many people from improving their lives.

“In analysing income inequality in Africa, the UNDP report focuses on 29 sub-Saharan countries (which account for 80% of Africa’s population) for which there is adequate data on household consumption. It also shows that between 1991 and 2011, 17 of those countries managed to reduce their degree of income inequality. But the remaining dozen registered an increase in income inequality over the same period,” it noted.

To understand the issue properly from a development perspective, THISDAY spoke to the former Governance Adviser/Regional Coordinator, Department for International Development (DFID), Dr. Sina Fagbenro-Byron.

In assessing the issue of economic inequality, Fagbenro-Byron stated that it was an aftermath of post-independence conflicts, which he noted include military regimes and coup d’etat. “Conflict situations results in displacement, and an erosion of accountability in governance,” he stressed.

He added that the second cause of inequality is social exclusion and could be in terms of attitudinal, environmental and institutional exclusion. He observed that the major people suffering from this exclusion are the youth, women, the disabled, and the elderly.

Recommendations In suggesting the necessary recommendations to address the issue, Fagbenro-Byron, said citizens’ participation and access to governance are strategic, adding that there are two sides to governance: the demand and the supply side.

He said the citizens would provide the demand side and noted that only an enlightened citizenship can provide the demand side of good governance. “Where you have a mass population that is illiterate, they will only reinforce that poverty,” he noted.

According to Fagbenro-Byron, “there is the need for zero tolerance for illiteracy.”

“There is also the need for the strengthening of certain laws, especially the ones relating to gender. We have to make sure that the Nigeria Gender Policy of 2014 is enforced and adapted in all States. There is also Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law which has to do with gender, but it is protective of certain populations. We should make the tax system more equitable.

“Presently, those benefitting from the tax system are the rich, while the small companies are suffering at the state government levels.

At the state government levels, they are very irrational with the way they handle their tax regimes and they attack the informal sector and small businesses.

“We have to put in place, anti-trust laws.

We have to empower small holder farmers’ in order to increase food production. We have to go back to micro financing. Micro-financing deals with small holdings and small areas.

Our economy can only be diversified when those who have the creative elements to run the economy has access to finance.”

In his recommendations, Bakare urged government to put in place proper institutions necessary for correcting the mistakes of the past and the institutions should be no respecter of the ruling class.

According to him, “In Nigeria, we need an enabling law where the effect of all and sundry will be documented.

“We also need a justice system that will allow Nigerians to be treated equally.

“Government should put in place necessary fiscal policy measures whereby the rich is tasked more and whatever that is realised is used to provide basic amenities for the poor.

“Here, what I imply is that there is need for a progressive tax system. It is a type of income distribution mechanism. Government should do a lot in providing the enabling environment where entrepreneurial efforts and innovations will strive.

“Government should also ensure that corruption is reduced, because in fighting inequality, the illicit wealth in the hands of most Nigerians should actually be taken through due process.

Government should not focus on the opposition in fighting anti-corruption; it should be balanced,” Bakare counselled.

Buhari He said the government had failed in constructing an inclusive society, where everyone has equal access to social and economic amenities; political structures, and administrations.

Fagbenro-Byron who expressed displeasure with the situation, said that the country had at least 112 million people that were living below the poverty line as at 2010-2011. He added that it becomes very unacceptable, especially when the risk of economic growth itself in Nigeria might have been increasing from 2003, 2004.

“So, you have an economic growth that is increasing without the impact of the economic growth being felt by the poor, which simply means that the minority, which is a very small population, is either responsible for or is benefitting from the economic growth,” he noted.

He explained that the situation the country is faced with is growth without development, noting that the fact that country’s economy is

So, you have an economic growth that is increasing without the impact of the growth being felt by the poor, which simply means that the minority, which is a very small population, is either responsible for or is benefitting from the growth

growing does not reflect that growth in the well-being of the larger population.

Another individual who shed light on the issue with the purpose of bringing deep insights and understanding into the topic, is the Acting Head of Department, University of Lagos, Dr. Ibrahim Bakare.

He noted that every economy generally focuses on economic disparity in three metrics: the wealth, the income, and consumption. He said that the issue of economic inequality is relevant to the quality of outcome and opportunity.

Bakare explained that economic inequality in the county is on the higher side; because there is a rich minority, which constitutes less than one percent of the population structure, in possession of the income of the country. “The gap between the rich and the poor will be very wide, given the prevalent poverty situation,” the don emphasised.

He argued that in an economy where poverty is prevalent, it is impossible to rule out a situation where the ‘have-nots’ would be more relative to the ‘haves’, adding that some of the factors responsible are corruption, economic problems, political instability, institutional failures, and gender inequality.

Gender Inequality Another major issue under this subject-matter is gender inequality. According to UNDP publication on Africa Human Development Report 2016, titled “Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa”, gender inequality is costing sub-Sahara Africa, on the average, $US95 billion a year, “peaking at US$105 billion in 2014—or six percent of the region’s GDP, jeopardising the continent’s efforts for inclusive human development and economic growth.”

The report highlighted that in sub-Sahara Africa, household income disproportionately favours adult males and gender discrimination is acute and endemic.

The report correlates gender equality with human development, noting that Mauritius and Tunisia have low levels of gender equality and high levels of human development.

“Conversely, Chad, Mali and Niger have high levels of gender inequality but low levels of human development,” it observes.

Bakare said the gender inequality in the

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DEVELOPMENT

Developing Water Transport Infrastructure To ease the worsening traffic situation in Lagos State, the state government is trying to develop the water transportation sector, writes Kayode Fasua A few months ago, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) received a distress call at about 5:30pm that a boat had capsized at the Ebute Terminal in Lagos, drowning five persons. The entire office of the agency was thrown into quandary.

Swiftly, rescue workers were mobilised to the scene of the incident, to at least, see what could be salvaged.

On arrival, it was observed that a 20-capacity passenger boat had capsized mid-sea, enroute Ikorodu from Lagos Island. ”Unfortunately, five persons (four adult females and one adult male) were confirmed dead as a result of the incident. ”Their bodies were deposited at the morgue at Ikorodu General Hospital, while five persons (four female and one male) were rescued alive,” a LASEMA bulletin stated.

It added that the rescue was carried out by the combined effort of LASEMA, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).

Way back in May 2016 too, one person was confirmed dead and 27 others injured when a 30-seater commercial boat identified as HMS 1, capsized on Ikorodu waterways.

The boat, according to reports, capsized about 400 meters away from its take-off point-Origin Jetty, at Ikorodu, when it collided with a log abandoned on the waterways by sawmill operators.

Residents in the area blamed the accident on over-loading and over-speeding on the part of the operator, stressing that the fatality could have been averted if the boat was not on high speed.

Confirming the disaster, the General Manager of LASEMA at the period, Mr. Michael Akindele, warned boat operators to avoid over-speeding and to always comply with safety regulations on the waterways, to avoid loss of lives. He also noted that proper investigation would be conducted on the incident.

Lamenting the disaster too, the Managing Director of LASWA, Mrs. Abisola Kamson, noted that the rescue operation started immediately, saying, “27 passengers were rescued from the incident, but one passenger was confirmed dead at the scene of the incident.”

She, however, reiterated that LASWA and NIWA had issued out new guidelines and standards to boat operators in Lagos, aimed at sanitising and improving the waterwaysincluding a minimum double-hull standard, among others. Kamson added that the state government would continue to intensify efforts to speed up the implementation of new reforms in the waterway sector, “so as to prevent any unfortunate future occurrences.”

A few months ago also, the Lagos State Government announced the rescue of 19 persons in a boat mishap, which occurred in Oworonshoki end of the popular Third Mainland Bridge. A passenger, however, died.

The Managing Director of LASWA, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, relating the incident, said the 19 persons were rescued alive by the agency, while one of the passengers on board the boat “was unfortunately lost.”

The passenger boat identified as SEALINK was said to be travelling from Ikorodu to CMS when the incident occurred at about 9:30am in Oworonshoki, after hitting a submerged object.

Emmanuel said the 19 persons rescued were taken to Ebute Ero Jetty from where they were transferred to the hospital.

He said, “A passenger boat named SEALINK with 20 passengers and two crew onboard coming from Ikorodu to CMS ran over a submerged wooden boat close to Third Mainland Bridge.

Nineteen passengers were carried to safety to Ebute Ero Jetty.

“The LASWA emergency response team recovered a female body (identified as a police officer attached to Zone Two police station) and handed over the corpse to the Marine Police.

Her husband is an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

“The submerged SEALINK Boat has been

salvaged and towed to a secure location, off the waterways. Salvaging Operations is also taking place to get the submerged wooden boat off the navigable channel.”

Emmanuel added that the crew members of the said SEALINK Boat had been taken to police custody as investigation was in progress.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the LASWA boss assured that the state government would not relent in coming up with policies and programmes aimed at ensuring safety on the waterways.

Arising from all these, however, the excesses of speedboat operators on the Lagos waterways may have sufficiently worried a state government that is deploying water transportation as one of the escape routes from the city’s daily traffic logjam, beyond the sure prospect of revenue generation. Experts contend that impossible delays on Lagos roads arising from traffic snarls will ultimately force the government to improve on water transportation, especially along the coastal areas of Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.

An engineer, Mr. Sunday Boluwaji, said, “The state government has come to the full realisation of the fact that apart from creating more access roads, it also has to show more than keen interest in water transportation, especially for those who work on the Island and Apapa.”

Corroborating him, a civil engineer, Mr. Raphael Chinedu, tasked the government to conduct proper training for all speedboat operators on safety measures, on quarterly basis.

“This way, they willflow with the thinking of government and see themselves as stakeholders in maritime transportation and not just see government involvement as a way of ending their source of income.”

Only recently, the LASWA warned boat operators to always ensure that their passengers use life jackets before embarking on any voyage, saying failure would henceforth attract severe sanctions. The warning came as LASWA conducted a simulation exercise on rescue of victims of boat mishap at Ebute-Ero Jetty, Lagos Island, as part of safety campaigns across jetties in the state.

The simulation exercise conducted to enlighten water users on what to do in case of a boat accident, was done by LASWA in collaboration with members of LASEMA. After the exercise, the state government gave all operators on waterways two weeks

to comply with safety guidelines and laws, particularly, the compulsory use of life jackets by passengers.

Besides, the Lagos State Government recently distributed over 2,500 life jackets to boat operators for their passengers to use.

But in what appeared as a way of announcing its poise to closely monitor water transportation and improve on its operations, especially with regard to safety of lives, the Lagos State Government, recently inaugurated an ultra modern ferry terminal and the headquarters of the LASWA in Falomo area of the state.

The state governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, on the occasion, restated that no effort would be spared to harness the potentials of the water transport sector for the overall benefit of residents.

Ambode, who was represented by the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, also inaugurated a multi-level car park within the same premises, noting that unveiling the edifice which was delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with MTN Nigeria, emphasised the readiness of the state government to take full control of its waterways, for effective operations.

Ambode, also said the completion of the project, which started seven years ago, was a clear demonstration of the commitment of the state government to ensuring the overall development of water transportation in the state.

Alluding to the fact that water transportation had been proved, worldwide, to be an effective and efficient transport system, the governor said despite its potentials, the sector had remained largely underdeveloped; as it only accounted, rather abysmally, for less than one per cent of the overall traffic in the state.

Such a situation, the governor noted, necessitated the massive investments and reforms of his administration in the sector.

“In furtherance of our commitment to develop the water transportation system which is an integral component of the Lagos State Multi-Modal Transport System, we have invested significantly in the provision of water transportation infrastructure, especially, the rehabilitation of existing and construction of new jetties; purchase of two clearing machines with navigational equipment to tackle the challenges posed by water hyacinth, and the ongoing installation of safety signs for routes demarcation, among others.

“In addition, we have concluded plans for the procurement of seven high-capacity passenger ferries to complement the existing ones, while we also plan to assist commercial ferry operators to acquire new standard boats.

“All of these are with the intent of encouraging more private-sector investment in water transportation. The long-term objective is to reduce the pressure on our roads as our people increasingly embrace water transportation system,” Ambode said.

While reiterating the commitment of his administration to continue to protect the interest of those using the waterways especially in the area of providing the entire residents of the state with quality and affordable water transport services, the governor also reinforced the determination of his administration to ensure that waterways in the state were safe and secure.

Besides, he commended MTN Nigeria for joining hands with the state government to bring its aspiration in the water transportation sub-sector to fruition.

He therefore, urged other private sector stakeholders to take advantage of the emerging investment opportunities in the Lagos water transport projects.

Emmanuel commended the governor for “his unparalleled commitment and support towards the upgrading, construction and equipping of waterways infrastructure in the state.

“This terminal is expected to attract new investors, boost water transportation and reduce vehicular traffic on Lagos roads and also complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government toward promoting Inter-Modal Transport System in the state, thereby increasing the efficiency of government interventions in the sector.

“On our part, LASWA remains committed to delivering an enabling environment to all waterways users. We are deepening and broadening or capacities to surpass all expectations in this regard,” Emmanuel said.

Reacting, however, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman, said the telecom company was delighted to partner with the state government to deliver another milestone that would lead to a better transport system and improved quality of lives for millions of the state’s water transportation users

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T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

UNFPA Educates Girls on Sex Education in Lagos Community Ugo Aliogo The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has organised sexual reproductive health education for young girls in Ajeromi Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Speaking at the UNFPA Youth Participatory platform in collaboration with the Lagos State government, recently, the Reproductive Health Officer of UNFPA, Dr. Esther Somefun, said the event was part of activities to commemorate the International Youth Day among out-of-school girls.

She also stated that the education the girls had received about sexual reproductive health was aimed at helping them make informed decisions.

Somefun, said other activities which they embarked on was to teach the girls about women values, take them through menstrual hygiene and have practical demonstrations and also teach them vocational skills.

She added that the total number of girls they were focusing on was 500.

“We are looking at two communities; 300 for Ajeromi and 200 for Agege.”

Somefun, explained that they were working in collaboration with the medical officers, “who after this programme would follow up to track the girls to see the progress they are making.” The UNFPA Reproductive Health Officer said that as part of their follow-up, they had an adolescent youth-friendly centre

which had kicked off, adding that the centre would be a way of following up the girls and encouraging them to go the centre for continuous counselling, information and services.

She added, “International youth day is celebrated every year: 12 of August. But as part of the UN initiative which is to leave no one behind, we know that most young people in hardto-reach areas are always left out in programming and that’s why we decided to embark on the initiative in this area.

“Depending on the theme that is put up for each of the programme, we have always wanted high attendance and apart from having high attendance, we have also wanted young people being sensitized, know their rights, and seek for information and service.

“The local communities helped in mobilising the young girls in the community and we provided the technical expertise with the sessions.”

In his remarks, the Baale of Dankaka, Ajeromi Local Government Area, Kareem Oluwa, said this is a platform to teach them about their future, the need to pursue their dreams in life, and how to stand out.

He commended the Lagos government for this initiative.

He also advised the UNFPA to continue to train and support the girls in areas of need that they have identified; “while on the part of the girls, I want them to adhere to everything that is being taught here.”

C’River to Partner Firm on Agric Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Cross-River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has expressed readiness to partner Contec Global Agro Limited (CGAL), in making the state Nigeria’s agricultural hub as well as to boost food security.

Ayade, in making the resolve, underscored the company’s huge capacity and investment in research, using science biotechnology to drive large-scale commercial organic agriculture.

Speaking immediately after touring the tissue culture and organic fertiliser laboratories in Abuja and accompanied by the company’s management team, Ayade said, “For me, this investment is at the core point of food security in Nigeria, as it is just the easiest way to cultivate varieties that are needed for the nutritional values and thus improve on the food security concern in Nigeria.

“My administration would not hesitate to sign up partnership and agreement with Contec Global Agro, as I’m quite impressed with the facilities here assembled by Dr. Benoy Berry for food production on a large scale.”

While acknowledging the role of private sector investors in Nigeria’s agricultural development, the governor said, “It is not just for federal government alone, state governments too should key into this because they have more direct impact to make at all levels.

“For me, deploying research

for agricultural development is at the very core of food security of this nation, because this is just the easiest way to actually get the organic cultivates and varieties that are needed for the nutritional value that can address the issue of food security in Nigeria.

“Like I said, Cross River State would not hesitate to sign up partnership with Contec Global Agro limited to produce food for Nigerians and create jobs for our youths.”

The governor, who was impressed at the facilities, stressed that he had witnessed the deliberate commitment of Dr. Berry and his company to the development of agricultural industry in Nigeria.

He added, “I see a team that is really focused on a research laboratory akin to the University standard in my days when I was in the University. I therefore think there is a sincere commitment from the part of this management and I’m really impressed with what I have seen.

In his remarks, Berry said it had always been the company’s desire to use its core competence to use research, science biotechnology and ICT for the cultivation of more healthenhancing, more nutritious and more productive organic agricultural practices; stressing that the company was using a cutting-edge technology in secure ICT through its AfriOne handsets that were imbued with software application, to empower Nigerian farmers.

Shonubi for African ‘Energy Coalition’ in Cape Town Sahara Group Co-founder and Executive Director, Temitope Shonubi is one of the speakers at this year’s Africa Oil and Power conference scheduled to hold in Cape Town from September 5 - 7, 2018.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Energy Coalitions,” focusing on the importance of greater collaboration and partnerships within and across oil and

power sub-sectors.

High level stakeholders including oil ministers, regulators and CEOs from international and indigenous oil and gas companies would deliberate on the best way to drive Africa’s energy sector forward ‘through energy coalitions, from regional cooperation at government level and private companies coordinating on development and financing deals to how

the private and public sectors can collaborate to transform the sector.

Temitope will speak on oil trading trends within West Africa on a panel which also features Torbjorn Tornqvist, CEO, Gunvor and Russel Hardy, Group CEO, Vitol.

The panel is expected to address topics such as price volatility in oil trading and the peculiarities of market

forces from one trading hub to another.

They will also discuss how financial models are being re-examined to suit the new business paradigm.

Describing stakeholder collaboration as the “lifeline of oil and power in Africa,” Temitope said this would boost capacity and intra-African trade in light of untapped opportunities on the continent.

$60bn Investment in Africa: FG, Edo Govt in Talks with Chinese Investors Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Edo State is poised to clinch part of the $60 billion penciled down as financial support by the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for the African continent, which was announced at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in China recently.

In his keynote speech, Xi Jinping said in the next three years, China would float eight major initiatives with African countries, to realise a closer China-Africa community of shared destiny.

He noted that the fields of interest for China include industry, investment, trade, infrastructure, health, culture, environmental protection and security.

Governor Godwin Obaseki with representatives of the federal government in Beijing on Monday, engaged the Chinese government’s representatives and top officials of the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited in China, in a move described as the last lap of talks to secure final investment decisions and commence full-scale development of the Benin River Port project, the Benin Industrial Park and the Modular Refinery.

On the Edo State Government’s side were Obaseki with some of his aides; the Director-General of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Yewande Sadiku, acting Director General of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Secretariat, Alhaji Abdullateef Shittu, amongst others.

The project was expected to open the state up for foreign trade and boost lo-

cal production, leveraging the state’s strategic location to attract investment and grow manpower.

Before leaving for China, Obaseki had approved the release of N700 million for the Benin Refinery project, which the state government is executing in partnership with a Chinese consortium.

With the initial investment capital approved, experts say the state government is well placed to seal the deals for the projects so that development work can commence in earnest.

The governor said the investment drive was to steer the state away from dependence on oil and set it on the path of prosperity anchored on a solid industrial base.

According to him, “we are excited about the Modular Refinery project and are certain that with our Chinese partners, we will begin work on the project in no distant time.

“The project is going to transform the state’s economy and position us as a hub for fabrication of refinery parts with the setting up of SIPS fabrication yard to groom local capacity in that sector.

“The Chinese government also made commitment to establish the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in China. The country fully supports the goal of basically achieving food security before 2030 as proposed by African countries, and will provide one billion yuan ($146.3 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to disaster-affected African countries.”

Meanwhile, the governor recently dispatched a team of officials, headed by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Yakubu Gowon, to take a tour of areas affected by flash floods,

occasioned by the heavy and persistent rainfall in the state.

The assessment, according to the government, was to ascertain the degree of destruction caused by the flood and deploy intervention to mitigate the impact of future rainfall.

Places visited by the government’s team included: Erediauwa Road linking Upper Sokponba and Sapele roads in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area; Ivbiotor, and Ehigiamusoe streets also in Ikpoba-Okha LGA. Others are: Akugbe and Edebiri in Ikpoba-Okha as well as Idumwunowina on Auchi Road.

Speaking to residents in areas hit by flood, Gowon explained that the governor shares in their pain and loss and assured that relief materials would be delivered to them to

cushion the effect of the disaster.

He explained that some roads and drainage systems in the state had been awarded to contractors for reconstruction and called on all those affected to stay calm as the government would surely come to their aid by providing relief materials.

The Chairman of IkpobaOkha Local Government Area, Eric Osayande, commended Obaseki for his prompt response to their call for help. He assured that the local government administration would ensure that the people dispose their waste properly and clear the drains.

The governor’s aide was accompanied on the assessment tour by officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Ministry of Environment and Sustainability officials.

Relief for IOCs as Oil-Rich Community Crowns Monarch JSylvester Idowu in Warri International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in oil-rich Obotobe community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State have heaved a sigh of relief following the peaceful installation of a monarch for the kingdom.

The kingmakers, chiefs and people of Obotobe kingdom successfully and peacefully crowned a new Paramount Ruler, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Wareweimi Arikawei as the Ebenanawei of Obotobe kingdom.

Prior to the ceremony, there was apprehension amongst the IOCs that any crisis in the process of installation of the

monarch by the host community might hamper their operations.

Their fears were however allayed with the historic coronation, where the monarch was selected, crowned and subsequently introduced to the entire people of Obotobe kingdom by the duo of Pa. Aretekumo Bibai and Pa. Officerowei Kuruboke, who are Amakosuowei and Egede-Okosuowei respectively.

Both Bibai and Kuruboke conducted the selection and crowning. The Bolouwei (Traditional Prime Minister) of Obotobe kingdom, High Chief Tunde Smooth presided over the event on behalf of the Regent, Chief James Yeinamagnegha, who was not able to attend the ceremony.

T H I S D AY •THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Promoting Sustainable Irrigation by Focusing on Ecosystems There is a direct link between human development and water. This is especially true for rural communities where access to water is a necessity to undertake subsistence agricultural production and to attain a minimum health standard.

Many of the world’s rural poor are incredibly reliant on ecosystems in which they inhabit.

About 2.5 billion people depend, directly, on farming as a livelihood worldwide, providing food for the world.

The world’s agriculture uses 70 per cent of this rapidly disappearing resource. Over utilisation of water and poor water management, by agriculture, have been linked to depleting groundwater resource and reduced water quality, leading to damaged ecosystems.

According to a report by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the effects of this are visible as the world is going through an unprecedented heatwave and drought condition now. Farmers throughout the world are struggling for freshwater sources.

In a study published in May 2018, NASA scientists found significant shifts in global freshwater resources with high groundwater depletion.

Lack of empowerment of farmers to make decisions in rural areas of developing countries when it comes to water management remains an issue, especially for women.

Changes in climate adds to their daunting task in many regions of the world. Research and development projects have shown women empowerment can ensure they are better enabled to maintain their water resources and ecosystems.

The target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 is to secure sustainable and resilient agricultural production practices that maintain ecosystems by 2030.

However, the task is not an easy one. The ecosystems, in many cases, are highly degraded which restricts the resources and processes communities rely on.

The global population will be nearing nine billion by 2050 and will require a 50 per cent boost in agricultural production and a 15 per cent increase in water removals. Meeting the water needs of the agricultural sector requires a sustainable approach towards water use.

From 1991, every year World Water Week has been convened to discuss global water issues with government and non-government agencies, local and global institutes.

This year’s World Water Week is focusing on “Water, ecosystems and human development,” with more than 400 organisations sharing knowledge and resources. The interconnectedness of water brings in diverse proponents, like IFAD, into this week-long collaboration.

IFAD is leading the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation, UNWater, which brings together and utilises the forces of several United Nations agencies and international organisations. Water is fundamental to IFAD’s mandate.

The effects of climate change are mostly visible through water; either long droughts or floods, both of which have a significant impact on IFAD’s cross cutting areas: youth, gender and nutrition.

IFAD understands investing in innovative

technologies and projects, policies and local institutions on sustainable management of water resources can increase water security for rural women and men.

Sustainable water resource management will remain a challenge for agriculture until and unless we can utilise local resources to their full potential.

The value chain of wastewater recovery and reuse will require time and commitment from international agencies to showcase the potential to its proponents.

Access to information, finance and training will enable the rural poor to explore transdisciplinary options to develop capacity and rural livelihood connected to water and wastewater resources.

Rural development measures that promote investments for improving rain water management and efficient irrigation systems has been a priority for IFAD since its formation.

These investments actively promotes on farm

rainwater harvesting, conjunctive use of water, waste recycling and reuse and reclamation of degraded soils, covering SDGs 2, 6, 7, 12 and 15. IFAD is determined to promote the sustainable farming in the global South through increased productivity of rainfed and irrigated areas and strengthening local capacity to manage water resources. IFAD investments targets to prevent degradation of three core dimensions of water resource management connected to ecosystem: quantity, quality and disaster risk management.

During the World Water Week, IFAD will be focusing on water security, agriculture and the value chain of recycled water. On 30 August, the book Resource Recovery from Waste will be launched, which looks at the business models that can increase reuse of water from different sectors. The publication comes with the support from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), IFAD and the CGIAR

W’Bank Prices First Global Blockchain Bond, Raising $110m The World Bank has launched bond-i (blockchain operated new debt instrument), the world’s first bond to be created, allocated, transferred and managed through its life cycle using distributed ledger technology.

The two-year bond raised A$110 million, marking the first time that investors have supported the World Bank’s development activities in a transaction that is fully managed using the blockchain technology.

The World Bank mandated

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) as arranger for the bond on August 10.

The announcement was followed by a two-week consultation period with the market, with key investors indicating strong support for the issuance.

Investors in the bond include CBA, First State Super, NSW Treasury Corporation, Northern Trust, QBE, SAFA, and Treasury Corporation of Victoria.

CBA and the World Bank will continue to welcome

investor interest in the bond throughout its life cycle, and inquiries from other market participants in relation to the platform.

The bond is part of a broader strategic focus of the World Bank to harness the potential of disruptive technologies for development.

In June 2017, the World Bank launched a Blockchain Innovation Lab to understand the impact of blockchain and other disruptive technologies in areas such as land administration, supply chain management,

health, education, cross-border payments, and carbon market trading.

World Bank Treasurer, Arunma Oteh said she was, “delighted that this pioneer bond transaction using the distributed ledger technology, bond-i, was extremely well received by investors. We are particularly impressed with the breath of interest from official institutions, fund managers, and banks.

“We were no doubt successful in moving from concept to reality because

these high-quality investors understood the value of leveraging technology for innovation in capital markets.

“Our painstaking work, over the last year, and in partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, was equally instrumental to the success of the transaction. Commendation also to our other service providers, King & Wood Mallesons, IHS Markit, Microsoft and Toronto Dominion Securities.

“We welcome the huge interest that this transaction

has generated from various stakeholders and will continue to seek ways to leverage emerging technologies to make capital markets more secure and efficient.”

The bond-i blockchain platform was built and developed by the CBA Blockchain Centre of Excellence, housed in the Sydney Innovation Lab. The project builds on the leadership and experience of CBA’s dedicated blockchain team, which has taken a lead role in applying blockchain technology to capital markets.

S’Asia’s Transport Corridors Can Become Engines of Growth Transport corridors offer enormous potential to boost South Asia’s economic growth, reduce poverty, and spur job creation, provided the new trade routes spread their benefits broadly and limit negative environmental impacts, a new World Bank report has stated The report titled: “The Web of Transport Corridors in South Asia -- jointly produced with the Asian Development Bank, the United Kingdom’s

Department for International Development, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency – argues that the many transport corridors proposed across Asia would cost trillions of dollars to implement, far exceeding the financing resources available.

Hence, countries need to prioritize the most promising corridors that will deliver transformative impacts on economies and people – or, in the terms of the title of

the report, will offer wider economic benefits. And while engineering designs and geopolitical considerations are important factors in the decision, sound economic analysis is key to designing truly successful corridors, the report notes.

“The largest economic gains from investing in transport corridors may arise from urbanization and job creation around this new infrastructure, rather than from many more

vehicles using it,” said one of the report’s authors, World Bank lead economist Martin Melecky, who added: “Corridor investments involve significant tradeoffs and are not all equally successful in creating large economic surpluses that spread fairly throughout society.”

The report reviews the international experience with economic corridors, from the Pacific Ocean Belt in Japan in the 1960s to high-speed

train networks in Europe more recently. It also analyses the impacts of the Golden Quadrilateral highway system in India and finds positive effects, including higher economic activity and better jobs for women.

However, air pollution rose in parallel and gains in household consumption were not equally shared across connected districts.

Ultimately, the ability of transport corridors to spur

structural transformation along the way depends on complementary factors to improve local conditions for the new infrastructure to boost job creation and to generate tax revenues that can cover the cost of the investments.

Considering the international evidence and specific analyses for South Asia, the report advocates for a holistic design of corridor programs that actively manages tradeoffs and closes financing gaps.

T H I S D AY ˾ , SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

36

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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Pneumonia: The Silent Killer in Nigeria

As pneumonia continues to ravage lives in Nigeria, killing at least 20 children every hour, more than the malaria scourge, with 6.7 million cases recorded yearly, Martins Ifijeh writes on need for stakeholders to step up preventive measures and efforts to manage the silent killer disease

W

hile Nigeria battles high maternal and child deaths, malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and other lethal health issues, another silent killer is slowly sending an increasing number of children to their early graves. Often referred to as one of Nigeria’s most misunderstood diseases, pneumonia is now killing children more than malaria in the country, going by the report of the International Vaccines Access Centre (IVAC).

The report shows that in 2015, about 17 per cent and 10 per cent of under-five deaths were caused by pneumonia and diarrhoea, respectively, suggesting that malaria is now third placed among child killer diseases in the country.

Ignorance With most Nigerians wrongly believing that pneumonia is caused by exposure to cold weather, food, and water, experts say ignorance may be a major part of the factors fuelling the prevalence of under-five deaths in the country caused by pneumonia.

Available statistics show that pneumonia kills a staggering 1.6 million people globally every year with children under the age of five bearing the brunt of the crisis, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries like Nigeria.

According to the World Health Organisation, even though pneumonia is preventable and treatable, a child somewhere in the world still dies of pneumonia every 20 seconds, making it the number one infectious killer of children across the globe, especially in Africa where even malaria is known to be the commonest of diseases.

Statistics Africa is known to be badly affected by pneumonia. According to reports, Nigeria takes the lead in the prevalence rate on the continent.

Reports say among five children in Nigeria that die of childhood killer diseases, two die from pneumonia.

Statistics from the United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF) also shows that an estimated 6.7 million cases of childhood pneumonia are recorded in Nigeria every year, with about 200,000 under-five deaths recorded annually; which means every hour, 20 children die from pneumonia in Nigeria.

Stakeholders Experts say stakeholders and the governments at local, state and national levels must scale up awareness campaign about the disease, as is currently being done for malaria, polio and HIV/AIDS. They are also calling on Nigerians to put measures in place to prevent the disease from taking away their loved ones.

Symptoms Project Head, Perfect Health Initiative, Dr. Omons Okumale, says most people do not know about pneumonia and how it can be prevented, adding that the lack of awareness is largely responsible for its prevalence, especially among children whose immunity is not as strong as that of adults.

“Pneumonia is a severe disease, because the body gets oxygen through the lungs and once the brain does not get oxygen in three minutes, death occurs. That is why it is a very fatal disease,” Okumale explained.

He said although pneumonia was more prevalent in the Western world, “It is not the most common cause of death for them, because they know how to deal with their issues, they have preventive measures in place to tackle it, unlike us over here where it is a growing concern.”

On why children are more prone to the disease, Okumale said it was because their immune system is very low. “Apart from children, others also at high risk are the immune compromised people.

I mean persons with Human Immuno Virus (HIV) and those on drugs like corticosteroids.

20 children die every hour from pneumonia in Nigeria

Also prone to it is the elderly because at their age their immunity is low,” he said.

He said pneumonia was caused by bacteria, fungi, and virus infections, as well as other types of germs. “Chemical causes should not be left out also. Assuming one mistakenly drinks kerosene, a quantity of it could go into the lungs causing chemical pneumonia,” he said.

“The cause of pneumonia determines the treatment. Before treatment, one must first do a diagnosis to know which of the germs is the remote cause, so that the physician can know exactly which medication to use.”

On the symptoms of pneumonia and how they manifest, Okumale said the most common symptom included cough, fever and shortness of breath. “God gave everyone cough as a defence mechanism to push out foreign bodies from the respiratory tract. Also, shortness of breath is understandable because since there is infection in the alveoli, there definitely will be difficulty in exchanging gases with the blood, vice versa,” he said.

To compensate for the inadequate oxygen to the blood, he said the lung breathes faster and shorter so as to make up for the fact that each breathing during pneumonia does not deliver enough oxygen to the blood. “There could be loss of appetite as well as weakness. Even when the person eats, there is not enough oxygen to

Report shows that in 2015, about 17 per cent and 10 per cent of under-five deaths were caused by pneumonia and diarrhoea, respectively, suggesting that malaria is now third placed among child killer diseases in the country

metabolise the food, hence the body becomes weak. There could sometime be chest pain,” he added.

Myths Okumale said regarding the misconception that cold weather caused pneumonia that the disease was caused by germs. According to him, “If it was due to cold, all the children in cold regions abroad would have contracted it by now.

When this bacteria or virus gets into the body either through the mouth or other openings in the body, it goes to the gut and contaminates the blood and goes into the respiratory apparatus to cause problem there. That is pneumonia.

“People should understand that the most viable way pneumonia is transmitted is through germs contracted under poor sanitation and hygiene. It is not prevented or treated by wearing clothes that cover every part of the body or being in a warm environment.”

He said children exposed to cigarette smoke, those who do not participate in routine pneumonia programmes and those exposed to smoke from charcoal or firewood were more at risk of the disease.

Okumale, however, said the myth about cold being a causal factor may not be totally discarded, as the assumption could have an element of fact, adding that the germs causing the disease thrives more in cold weather. But he noted that because the disease thrives more in cold environment does not mean cold is the source of the disease.

“That is why it is a very common disease abroad.

Even at that, it is not the most common cause of death over there because they sure know how to take care of themselves. They have vaccines against it. The reason people are still dying of malaria today is because it is an African problem.

If it was the advanced countries’ problem, they would have developed vaccines against it. Warm environment is a little bit not conducive for pneumonia virus to thrive,” he stated.

Tackling Causative Agents Okumale said there were different bacteria or viruses responsible for pneumonia; hence the need to identify which kind of germ causes a

particular pneumonia before treatment can be initiated.

He stated, “There are anti-bacterial drugs for the pneumonia caused by bacteria, which usually is administered over a long period of time. But with the new drugs developed, the medication might last just few days. If the pneumonia is severe and the person is having fast and short breathe, it is necessary to put the person on oxygen as a temporary measure before treatment.

Vaccine Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Odom Ebizimo, believes most Nigerians do not know there are vaccines available against pneumonia, stressing that it is necessary they take advantage of it to prevent undue illnesses and deaths in the country.

According to him, awareness is the major factor that can reduce the high number of deaths due to childhood pneumonia.

Ebizimo said, “In advanced countries, there are a lot of vaccines for various respiratory infections and their citizens know about them.

So it’s easy to access such facilities, unlike here in Nigeria where most people may not be aware.

The prevalence of pneumonia is not as high in western countries compared to ours.

“Recently, the Nigerian government added two new respiratory vaccines to the one they give to children at six weeks or 10 weeks. Even on individual basis, these vaccines can be sourced from private hospitals, but they will be of course more expensive. Pneumonia is preventable in Nigeria if vaccines are taken.”

Ebizimo who said clean environment had a major role to play in the prevention of pneumonia, stressing that a situation where over 10 people sleep in one room, especially in cities like Lagos, presents a breeding ground for pneumonia.

“Government has been doing awareness for Nigerians to immunise themselves against diseases like polio, measles and tuberculosis, but more awareness should be created, especially for pneumonia. Nigerians should be encouraged to immunise themselves against pneumonia. People should also live in a well-ventilated place. Offices and other closed rooms should be well ventilated as well,” he added.

37

T H I S D AY Ëž , SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

NEWS

Study Shows Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Present Malnutrition Burden Worse Than 2015 Martins Ifijeh In what may have been a clue to why Nigeria is known as one of the worse places on earth for children to survive beyond their fifth birthday, a report by the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) has provided a link.

According to its latest report on malnutrition burden in Nigeria, the study shows that stunting, wasting and underweight rates have worsened in the country when compared to the same survey in 2015.

MICS in 2017 puts Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunting rate at 43.3 per cent, as against 32.9 per

cent in the 2015 survey. It shows that in 2017, the rate of wasting was 10.8 per cent, while in 2015; the figure was 7.2 per cent. The study also shows that underweight rate in the country was at 31.5 per cent in 2017, while in 2015, the rate was better off at 19.4 per cent.

Global records recently showed that while stunting and other forms of malnutrition have reduced worldwide, from 198 million to 151 million people, the burden is presently increasing at an alarming rate in West and Central Africa, from 22.8 million to 28.8 million people.

The study by MICS has now

shown that Nigeria is playing a major part in the increased burden of malnutrition in West Africa, and by extension globally.

Stunting, according to health experts, is referred to as low height for age and it is caused by long term insufficient nutrient intake.

Its effects after age two are irreversible.

Wasting on the otherhand, is referred to as low

weight for height and it is usually the result of acute significant food shortage.

An earlier report by the United Nations Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund (UNICEF) showed that about six million children are stunted in Nigeria, with more than half of them severely malnourished. UNICEF says children from rural areas are twice as likely to be stunted as children from urban areas, adding that

a child whose mother has no education is four times most likely to be stunted than a child whose mother has secondary or higher education. It also noted that children from the poorest 20 per cent of households are also four times more likely to be stunted than children from wealthiest 20 per cent of households.

This survey has shown that the Nigerian government,

states and local governments, healthcare stakeholders and the citizens still have a lot to put into eradicating malnutrition in the country, if indeed the country wants to improve on its health indices, as well as its economic development.

This is because global bodies have established that there is a correlation between the healthy nutrition indices of a nation and its economic prosperity.

Commissioner: Niger Spends N4B on Health Services in Three Years Laleye Dipo Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039; The Niger State government says it has spent about N4 billion on the provision of health services to the people since the inception of the administration over three years ago.

The government also disclosed that it had employed over 1,000 health workers to close the gap of inadequate manpower in the health sector.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Mustapha Jibril, disclosed this in Minna at the weekend, while exchanging views with a Media Strategy and Communication Committee, which paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He said over 1,500 health facilities inherited from the last administration were undergoing renovation, rehabilitation, and remodeling, adding that some of the facilities were also being upgraded.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The political will, passion for health, coupled with unscheduled visits to health institutions

by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, has made it possible for Niger State to secure a N1.5 billion health grant from donor agencies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The current government had made healthcare delivery a top priority.

The administration would continue to source for funds

to enable it execute all its programmes and projects so that we can take healthcare services to the door steps of everybody.â&#x20AC;?

Jibrin explained that government had embarked on training and retraining of workers in Nigeria and abroad to improve their productivity, noting that the state now has 20 medical consultants and specialists, thereby reducing cases of patients being referred to other health institutions.

He hinted that Niger State doctors, nurses and other health workers earned same salaries with their federal government counterparts due to the 100 per cent implementation of CONTISS salary structure for health workers by the government.

According to him, the present government has spent millions of naira as medical assistance to many Nigerlites, while about 486 people has benefitted from seed money of N15 million and N20 million respectively to provide health services to the people free of charge.

He stated that the full accreditation of Nursing School Bida after 40 years, School of Midwifery Minna and the establishment and accreditation of College of Health Sciences, Kontagora, would go a long way to provide health services to the people of the state.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Minister of Health, Mozambique, Dr. Nazira Karim Vali Abdula; and MD Country Programme, GAVI, Hind Khulib-Othman, during the 68th meeting of WHO Regional Committee for Africa, in Dakar, Senegal ...recently FMOH

WHO: 18 Nigerians Die Every Hour from Tuberculosis Martins IďŹ jeh The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that with 18 persons dying every hour from tuberculosis in Nigeria, the country now has the second highest burden of the disease in Africa, and the seven highest globally.

Stating this at the Public Private Mixed Summit for Tuberculosis Control in Nigeria held in Lagos recently, and organised by WHO in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Country Representative, WHO, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu said not less than 420 Nigerians die on a daily cases to the highly preventable and curable disease.

Alemu, who was represented by Linda Ozor of WHO, said the high burden is fueled by large undetected and missed cases in Nigeria, adding that for every 400, 000 cases in Nigeria, only 100, 000 is detected, while the remaining 300, 000 are missed.

Ozor in her address futher said that for every three cases in Lagos, two are missed, adding

that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;in most cases, the highly infectious disease is transferred from these undetected cases because those that have been detected have the potential to be successfully treated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each missed case has a potential to infect 15 other persons per year. That is why we must intensify efforts to find all missed cases in Nigeria for proper management. That way, the prevalence of the disease and the high death rate from it will greatly reduce. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While millions of Nigerians access healthcare in private hospitals, it is still surprising that only 14 per cent of private health institutions collaborate with the National Tuberculosis Programme to tackle the disease. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If our private establishments wake up to this reality, we will have more people accessing treatment. As stakeholders, we must continue to create awareness on prevention and treatment of the preventable disease.â&#x20AC;?

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris said for the country to collectively address the

burden, every state should have a strategic health plan, while the private sector should be fully involved in its control.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In Lagos, we have narrowed the plan down to strategically strengthening tuberculosis case detection, access to quality services, and the promotion of demand for cases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But for the disease to truly be controlled, the private sector would have to play a bigger role than what we are seeing at the moment. You know the private sector takes care of over 60 percent of our people; what that means is that once they are fully involved, progress will be rapid,â&#x20AC;? the commissioner said.

He also noted that the state was continuously working to address the issue, adding that in the health insurance billed to commence anytime soon, the state will work to include tuberculosis care in the package.

Presenting a paper on behalf of Agbami Social Investment on Tuberculosis Management, a public health physician, Dr. Chinwe Okala said Agbami has in a space of 10 years built 25

Chest Clinics in 25 states across Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s six geo political zones, to the tune of over N2.2 billion.

She said the oil conglomerate has identified tuberculosis as a major burden to Nigeria, and by extension the global community, hence their interest in addressing it across the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As part of our efforts, we have developed capacity of several medical practitioners and other healthcare providers in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Also, since 2015, over 50, 000 presumptive cases have been registered, and over 63,000 cases reached.â&#x20AC;?

She thanked the federal Ministry of Health and states ministries of health for their continuous partnership with Agbami in addressing tuberculosis prevalence in Nigeria.

The organisers also used the occasion to call on Nigerians who may suspect they have tuberculosis or among their family members, to call the toll free line (08002255282) for direction, counseling and treatment, adding that all general hospitals across Nigeria treats tuberculosis free of charge.

FG Restates Commitment to Improve, Sustain Immunisation Coverage Martins IďŹ jeh The Nigerian government has joined other members of the Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) to restate its commitment towards improving routine immunisation and sustained coverage across the country.

Stating this at the sideline of the 68th Meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, holding in Dakar, Senegal, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said the recently conducted Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Nigeria

gave a clearer picture of the immunisation status as against the administrative data, thereby helping the government in declaring a public health emergency on immunisation, as part of plans to enable the country close all identified gaps.

He said the government came up with several initiatives to address some of the challenges, such as the establishment of National Emergency Routine Immunisation Center (NERIC) which primarily aims to revamp the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Routine Immunisation (RI) Programme.

Adewole said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of the major challenges were poor coordination, accountability, weak service delivery and inaccurate data among others. In addressing these, the country now adopted zero tolerance for data falsification. NERIC has developed a strong coordination and accountability structure, with reward and sanction for actors at the federal, states and local government levels. And conduct daily progress monitoring meetings to immediately identify gaps and deal with them appropriately.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The GAVIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to extend the transition period to 10 years as against the earlier five year deadline has helped the country in mapping out funding plans to ensure sustainability after the withdrawal of GAVI support for immunisation in Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government of Nigeria has an annual funding plan of 10 per cent increase in immunisation budget, which will enable the country take full responsivity for immunisation of its citizens by the end of the transition programme in 2028.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, the country has a target of 80 per cent immunisation coverage soon, adding that the government was very grateful to GAVI for the extension. He said the country would â&#x20AC;&#x153;keep faith to our commitments to GAVI and all our other development partnersâ&#x20AC;?.

Other African countries at the meeting also shared ideas and challenges similar to Nigeria and as such the meeting agreed on the need to adopt measures of doing things differently to achieve better outcomes, increase in political commitment

of state actors especially in the areas of strong leadership and transparency, ensure community and group participation which also targets women and youths, have a strong data integrity regime, and strong commitment to right recruitment which targets human resources with right profile and invest in capacity building.

The GAVI Alliance Group comprises of donors and beneficiary countries who come together to advance immunisation and jointly contribute to funds for their activities.

T H I S D AY ˾ , SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

38

INTERVIEW

Pate: Investment, Basic Healthcare Fund Key to Nigeria’s Growth, Development Muhammad Ali Pate is a Professor at Global Health Institute, Duke University, North Carolina, United States. He was Senior Leadership Fellow at Harvard University and a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos Switzerland. Between 2008 and 2013, he served as Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and later became Nigeria’s former Minister of state for Health. In this interview with Martins Ifijeh, he spoke on the need to invest in healthcare, among others. Excerpts: The primary health care system has to be peoplecentred. It should be designed for the people, taking into account their voices and what their needs are and ensuring that they have a say in holding people accountable at the front lines

Recently, Ondo State University of Medical Sciences established a department of public health in your name, what strategic role do you think the institution will play on public health?

The Ondo State University of Medical Sciences is the first of its kind in West Africa and they established the School of Public Health, and in their generosity decided to name it after me; Mohammed Ali Pate International School of Public Health. That, to me, is a tremendous honour because I am neither from Ondo State nor from the South-west. I am from another part of the country. I served in government a few years back, but on merit, they decided to do that to honour me. That is very remarkable and I appreciate.

Ondo was one of the worst performing states in the country, but really transformed within 10-15 years to be the best performing state. It was the only state that achieved the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria and was ranked number one by World Bank and by many others in terms of performance, community health care, Primary Health Care, maternal and child care. It is one state that is a positive deviant that is a good example. I am pleased to be associated with the school and we will certainly do our best to contribute in building it to be one of the leading institutions of public health that will influence public health practice and research policy on the continent.

Are you worried over the resurgence of polio virus in Borno two years ago after all efforts, particularly, as it concerns funding and public health?

Ten years ago, Nigeria was almost a barrier in the global polio eradication. You remember there was a World Health Organisation (WHO) resolution that specifically condemned Nigeria because at that time, we had almost 27 states in Nigeria that had polio. Every week there were cases of children paralysed by polio.

We were the last in the continent and were exporting virus to other parts of the world.

The late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua tackled it and a lot of efforts went into it, we played out role as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency with the Minister of Health. The then President Goodluck Jonathan continued with the effort and he promised that he will not hand-over polio to his successor and he did not because the last Type 3 polio in the whole world was in November 2012, from then there was no remaining Type 3 polio.

The only remaining one was Type 1 Wild Polio Virus (WPV). Nigeria was able to interrupt the virus, although the security situation in Borno limited the ability of the programme and those who followed us to be able to reach some children in the security challenge areas. So that led to some reversal, but was localised to some areas in Borno. So, from where we had 27 states to where we had only one state. I think Nigeria made a remarkable turn around and broke the back of polio in this country, by implication in Africa. Since the reversal two years ago, I know that this government has tried to build on what has been done by the previous administration to continue to improve surveillance, improve the quality of the programme even though the security challenge in Borno have not allowed all the children that needed to be reached, to be reached. However, the last two years there was no child to have been discovered to be paralysed by WPV. I know that over time, an independent certification

Pate

body will have to verify if it is true. One year from now, Nigeria stands the chance of being considered to have eradicated polio.

It has been a tough struggle, but we don’t have to judge the entire country by just one state that has not been completely out of the woods. Still on polio, there is the issue of routine immunisation which is important to even guard against reversal in the future if polio is completely eradicated.

So, how would you rate Nigeria’s performance on immunisation?

In the last few years, Nigeria has been able to introduce new vaccines. If we raised immunisation to a certain level, children in Nigeria should not have widespread measles epidemic because such diseases are vaccine preventable. I am hoping that the resources will be provided and the government will continue to prioritise immunising our children from vaccine preventable diseases because that is the most cost effective public health intervention. If we cannot immunise our children against simple diseases, whatever we do, the most complicated things will be difficult.

To what extent can Primary Health Care be used to fast track Universal Health Coverage?

I think we, as Africans, are very fortunate to have Dr. Tedrus as the Director General of the WHO at this time, and we have to reciprocate his presence with national leadership to make as much progress in improving and ensure that our population get the health care they need as a matter of right. It is not just a choice and it should be for everyone. But it will take time. Primary health care is the foundation for achieving universal access to

healthcare- the basic one and even the most sophisticated ones. The building block for it will include not only the infrastructure in terms of availability but the people- human resources. When we were in government a few years back, the Midwives Services Scheme (MSS), the Community Health Workers, the Village Health Workers and the communities were important elements of that.

How then should challenges relating to primary health care be tackled?

The primary health care system has to be people-centred. It should be designed for the people, taking into account their voices and what their needs are and ensuring that they have a say in holding people accountable at the front lines. UHC will not happen by just rhetoric. We have to invest in it. Now that we have the basic health services funds, if it is released and used, it will take much more than that, but it will be making a contribution in Nigeria’s progress to UHC. It is a key to our healthcare growth.

In what critical area should health insurance be approached?

Formalising the health insurance programme such that wider pool is brought to bear to finance health service will reduce the risk for families, individuals from catastrophic health expenditure and that is an avenue that will grow the private sector and even help the public sector. There should be health sector regulation and standard setting to ensure that there is minimum standard that ought to be provided by practitioners and providers. We have to also attend to the quality of healthcare itself. UHC will not be achieved by just expanding access. Access alone may not improve the health of the

people; we also have to attend to the quality of care. This is paramount for our leaders to pay attention to, because healthcare affects everyone. If you sample people’s opinion, almost everybody gets affected by the issues of health and yet our political leaders have not paid the needed attention, in terms of faster progress. Other countries have done it and we can do it. As we move on the UHC agenda and building the PHC, we also have to ensure that the core capacities in the public health system are built and also promote research so that we can understand within our localities the pattern of disease to know if there are things that are out of the realm. So, the Ondo state University of Medical Sciences and department of public health that has been established is to build a generation of visionary leaders that are going to be innovating, that will generate evidence and also influence both policies and practice and public health in Nigeria and also in Africa.

How do you think global institutions like Duke University can intervene in setting up a template that will assist Nigeria in addressing public health challenges?

You see, there is global solidarity but there is also national responsibility. Global universities-Duke and many others partner universities in Nigeria mostly on research and training. All of that will make sense if you have focused leadership in-country that is responsible to the people. No one can come from outside Nigeria and care for the health and well-being of Nigerians more than the elected or appointed representatives of the Nigerian people. They have to stand up first.

That requires transparency and competence so that the institutions can have the partner they consider reliable and work with. Its two sides, no one will just come from outside and build our institutions for us. Now, with the school of public health in Ondo, what we are sensing is that there is a lot of willingness from many external partners to see how they can help to grow the school because they feel they have a partner.

Quick Takes

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39

T H I S D AY Ëž , SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

HEALTH NEWS

CS-SUNN Calls for Action to Increase Policy, Malnutrition Funding, in Lagos Martins IďŹ jeh As part of plans to tackle high malnutrition burden in Lagos State, the Executive Secretary, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Beatrice Eluaka, has called on the state government to increase funding and improve salience of nutrition policy.

Stating this at the media engagement on Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition System (PINNS) Issues, held in Lagos recently, she said the state was one of the places with high burden of the health challenge, hence the need for the

state government to prioritise interventions.

She said for every investment made in tackling malnutrition, the return on investment will ensure the health of the people improves, while it will also give a positive outlook to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. The nutrition advocate said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;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. â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2013, more than five

million newborns in Nigeria lack essential nutrients and antibodies that would protect them from diseases and deaths as they are not being exclusively breastfed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS) 2014, puts exclusive breastfeeding rate in Nigeria at 25 per cent.

For Lagos State, the Multiple Indication Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017 puts stunting rate at 11.4 per cent, wasting at 11.4 per cent and underweight at 14.5 per cent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These negative results indicate an alarming rising trend in our malnutrition burden, which will continue to further impede the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic development if not checked as globally, stunting is currently

an indicator for measuring a countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development.â&#x20AC;?

She however commended the Lagos State Government for extending maternity leave for female civil servants to six months and introducing a 10-day paternity leave for fathers.

According to her, such policy was a step in the right direction towards promoting exclusive breastfeeding, which ensures optimal physical growth and brain development of children, prevents malnutrition, engenders them to thrive well and live up to their full potentials at adulthood. She therefore called on other states to emulate Lagos as this will contribute to encouraging the practice

of exclusive breastfeeding, especially among working mothers, thereby boosting Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive breastfeeding rate and contributing to a reduction in malnutrition in the country.

Eluaka said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Recently, at the just concluded Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja to commemorate the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week, the Honorable Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole revealed that the Ministry of Health was working closely with the Ministry of Labor to extend maternity leave in Nigeria from four to six months. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are urging the ministers and other key stakeholders involved in the process of implementing this policy to

fast-track it, as it will go a long way to encourage and boost Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EBF rates which will contribute to a reduction in malnutrition.â&#x20AC;?

She said PINNS, a product of consultations between a donor and CS-SUNN was targeted at strengthening the Nigeria nutrition systems to be more result-driven, effective, serviceable, efficient and transparent in delivering on their mandate, adding that it also aims at holding government accountable on commitments made to allocate, release and use transparently funds for implementation of high impact Nutrition interventions in Nigeria through evidence-based advocacy.

NAFDAC DG: Compendium Will Empower Nigerians against Counterfeit Drugs The Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof.

Christianah Adeyeye, has stated that the published compendium of registered products by the agency will empower Nigerians against counterfeit drugs and food products.

She said the compendium, which has over 50,000 registered products and companies, has been hosted on the NAFDAC website.

Stating this in Lagos at an event tagged: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A date with the DGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to provide a platform for discourse and exchange of information between NAFDAC and other stakeholders in the industry, she described the compendium as a directory

of registered products and companies consumers can fall back on in terms of gathering product information.

She said Nigerians can now have access to all the regulated registered products â&#x20AC;&#x201C; food, water, cosmetics, and chemicals and traced origins of the compendium to the era of former NAFDAC DG, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, who collated the maiden edition to deal with fake and substandard products.

It was gathered that the Compendium would be out in three or four weeks, and Adeyeye who assumed office nine months ago, said she thought it necessary to do a revision and dissect it into product lines for easy access by consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can either have the CD or

FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Residents of Ilorin receiving free health screening and treatment, during the Pain Free Day Initiative, organised by Dexa Medica, makers of Boska, in Kwara State recently

Study Shows Children with Developmental Disabilities on the Rise in Nigeria Martins IďŹ jeh A recent research sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and published last week in the prestigious Lancet Global Health Journal has revealed that the number of Nigerian children with developmental disabilities has risen by two thirds (66.7 per cent) from 1.5 million in 1990 to 2.5 million in 2016.

The research noted that more than 53 million children under the age of five years worldwide have developmental disabilities in 2016.

It also showed that whereas under-five mortality in subSaharan Africa declined by 20.8 per cent from 3.4 million in 1990 to 2.7 million in 2016, the number of children with epilepsy, intellectual disability, hearing and visual impairments, autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder alone rose by 71.3 per cent from 8.6 million in 1990 to 14.7 million in 2016.

Developmental disabilities are a group of life-long health conditions that affect the ability of children to develop, grow and function optimally.

They include conditions such

as hearing loss, vision loss, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, intellectual disability and downâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s syndrome.

The top three leading contributors to the global prevalence of developmental disabilities were India, China and Nigeria.

The research was conducted by the Global Research on Developmental Disabilities Collaborators (GRDDC), which is made up of experts in child disability from different world regions supported by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, USA. According to a worldrenowned expert in global health and leader of GRDDC, Dr. Bolajoko Olusanya, this data is troubling when viewed within the context of the challenges typically encountered by children with disabilities and their families in a developing country like Nigeria.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;These children often require more help to communicate, play, learn, understand or use information than others every day. They require a great deal of support to be as independent and successful compared to children

without disabilities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Failure to provide necessary assistance to these children in the first five years of life especially when the brain is most amenable to stimulation has a great deal of adverse consequences on their educational and vocational attainment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perhaps of greater concern is the seemingly dire future that awaits these children in many communities largely due to unfavourable cultural beliefs, discrimination and family stigma which place the children at higher risks of neglect, maltreatment, violence, family disintegration, exclusion from formal education and full economic participation and even premature death compared to children without disabilities.â&#x20AC;?

He said its direct impact on family is diverse, including but not limited to frequent frictions among family members, threat to family cohesion, high risk of divorce or parental separation, and unavoidable intrusion by third parties.

He explained that it is not uncommon for disability to be attributed to an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;evil forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, supernatural causes, or linked

to some superstitious beliefs, adding that on such occasions, often out of ignorance or frustration with available (or lack of) services, mothers resort to either â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;spiritual healing or appeasementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or traditional medicine that entails unorthodox and potentially harmful therapies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A child that is accepted is more likely to be hidden from public view or sent away to live with the extended family members in villages because of the stigma and the stress of parenting. The very thought of these challenges frequently compels some families to consider disability as worse than death,

and view infanticide (killing a child in the first year of life) as an escape route to freedom.â&#x20AC;?

He said Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require policies and intervention to ensure that no child is left behind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SDG 4.2.1 specifically mandates all countries to identify and monitor the proportion of children under-five years who are at risk of not attaining their developmental potential. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The findings from this research should therefore challenge the relevant authorities, especially in the health and educational sectors to consider a three-pronged strategy namely:

interventions to curtail the incidence of avoidable disabilities, community-based programmes for the early detection of children with disabilities from birth, and provision of support services for children with disabilities and their families. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The needs of these children and their families must be explicitly recognised in the maternal and child health policy for the country. As a first step, an inter-ministerial technical team should be established to address this issue in greater detail in consultation with relevant stakeholders,â&#x20AC;? he added.

40

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Nigeria’s Exposure to Commercial Loans Rises by $7.3bn in 3 Years Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Nigeria’s exposure to commercial foreign loans rose by $7.3 billion or 486.67 per cent in the last three years, data from the Debt Management Office (NBS) has shown.

From $1.5 billion as at June 30, 2015, commercial loans stood at $8.8 billion by June 30 2018. The nation’s foreign debt component also posted an increase of $11.77 billion during the same period. Nigeria’s external debt, the DMO stated, grew from $10.32 billion as at June 30, 2015 to $22.08 billion as at June 30, 2018. This translated to a growth of 114.05 per cent in the last three years.

According to the DMO figures posted on its website, while multilateral debt accounts for $10.88 billion or 49.28 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign debt profile, the greatest chunk of the increases in the last three years were traceable to commercial loans. Commercial foreign loans, which stood at $1.5 billion as of June 30, 2015 recorded a $8.8 billion increase as at June 30, 2018, an indication that in the past three years, Nigwria’s exposure to commercial foreign loans posted a $7.3 billion or 486.67 per cent rise.

The World Bank accounted for 38.36 per cent of the nation’s foreign debt portfolio, with a commitment of $8.47 billion, even as the country is exposed to other multilateral organisations, including the African Development Bank (AfDB’s) $1.32 billion and that of African Development Fund

($843.47 million).

Nigeria is also indebted to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the tune of $159.44 million; the Arab Bank for Economic Development ($5.88 million); the EDF Energy (France) with a portfolio of $64.96 million and the Islamic Development Bank with a portfolio of $16.92 million. However, Nigeria’s bilateral debt account for $2.39 billion or 10.87 per cent of the country’s external debt exposure.

Such bilateral agencies include the Export-Import Bank of China ($1.91 billion); Agence Francaise de Development ( $274.98 million), Japan International Cooperation Agency ($74.69 million); the EXIM Bank of India ($4.76 million); and Germany (KFW),$132.24 million). The latest debt statistics point towards a marginal decrease in the domestic component of the country’s total public due to efforts to rebalance the local/ foreign debt ratio in the ratio of 70:30.

The DMO stated that there was a decrease in the federal government’s domestic debt, from N12.59 trillion in December 2017 to N12.58 trillion in March 2017 and N12.15 trillion in June 2018.The reduction in the FGN’s domestic debt stock, the DMO explained, arose from the redemption of N198 bn Nigerian Treasury Bills in December 2017 and another N639 billion between January and June 2018.

A total of $3 billion was raised through Eurobonds to refinance maturing domestic debt as part

of the implementation of the debt management strategy for the purpose of substituting high cost domestic debt with lower cost external debt to reduce debt service costs for the government, the DMO said. The implementation of the Public Debt Management Strategy, whose overall objective is to ensure that Nigeria’s debt is sustainable, the DMO noted, is already yielding positive results. Meanwhile, the federal government has offered for subscription two-year savings bond at 11.36 per cent and three-year savings bond at 12.36 per cent, the DMO has said.

The offer circular pasted on the DMO website showed that the two-year bond will be due in September 2020 while the three-year bond mature in September 2021. The DMO disclosed that the maximum subscription was N50 million at N1,000 per unit, subject to minimum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000.

According to the DMO, the bond is fully backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government, with quarterly coupon payments to bondholders. The savings bond issuance is expected to help finance the nation’s budget deficit as well as part of the federal government’s programme targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and also earn more income (interest), compared to their savings accounts with banks.

According to the circular, the offer closes on Friday.

Sterling Bank Partners AfricanVentures Nume Ekeghe Sterling Bank Plc has announced plan to partner with 500 indigenously promoted African enterprises, with a view to make 50 of them globally competitive in the next five years.

The Group Head, Strategy and Innovation, Sterling Bank, Mr. Shina Atilola, who disclosed this while addressing participants at the African Ventures Programme hosted by the bank in Lagos recently, explained that the Africa Venture Programme is an annual pan-African leadership event that brings together exceptional emerging leaders from government, businesses and non-profits across Africa.

In a statement, Atilola added

that the programme enables the transfer of knowledge, know-how and inspiration across generations and attracts some of the most inspiring leaders in the world today as participants.

“It creates a new generation of African leaders who have the cultural intelligence to work fluidly and flexibly across the continent, who have the analytical and creative skills to use diversity to spark innovation, and who have extraordinarily broad African networks,” he said. Atilola stressed that Africa needs leadership in every sector of the economy and not only in government, adding that: “We need leaders that can see wider and deeper than others

can see. We need leaders that are willing to take the risk. We need leaders that are willing to leave their comfort zones.”

“Leadership is about service, not an entitlement. Leadership is about what you are willing to give and not what you are expecting to receive.

“Leadership is about denying yourself just because you want to achieve a greater purpose.

It is not about solving your problems, but it is about solving other people’s problems,” he added. He said leadership determines the values of the society and if one set an effective tone for culture, man will continue to make progress and part of the challenge man has is how leaders imbibe culture.

Automobile Firm Gives Out Car in Promo Judith Obaze In its bid to make car ownership affordable and accessible, Throne Autos has given out a Toyota Corolla Car to a lucky winner in its promo.

The Chairman, Auto Group, Mr. Olalekan Ilori, presented the winner to journalists at a media briefing held in Lagos.

Ilori, who said due to the unpleasant experiences and difficulties in buying car by the majority of Nigerian citizens, the company decided to use its dealership agreement with car manufacturing companies in the United States of America (USA) and

Canada to ensure that Nigerians benefits irrespective of their economic status in the society.

“The Throne Auto Giveaway season one, is part of our commitment to the general public, that irrespective of their economic status in the society, dream of owning a car of their choice is possible.

“Also it is our corporate social responsibility as we continuously grow our market share, which is a reflection of the positive contribution to complement the consistent quality performance of our distinct services,” he said.

On his part, the Manag-

ing Director, Mr. Oladapo Oladimeji, noted that the initiative was the brainchild of the leadership of the organisation, whose foray in auto sales industry stemmed from the continued short changing of the Nigerians by local and foreign dealers.

“The hidden charges, delayed delivery and other untidy acts employed by unlicenced auto dealers, make buying car from the USA and Canada difficult for those seeking for western automobiles.

Earlier the winner, Mr. Abimbola Kazeem, thanked the company for the kind gesture bestowed on him.

Adeosun

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA) 2018

Month

MARCH

Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

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

5,433,209.43

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

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 • Source - CBN

MANAGED FUNDS Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

MARCH 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55 • Monetary Policy Rate - 13%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT, TUE, 4, SEPTEMBER , 2018 The price of OPEC basket of fifteen crudes stood at $76.32 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $75.77 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H I S D AY â&#x20AC;¢THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Stock Market Year-to- Date Decline Hits 10% as Bearish Sentiments Resurface Goddy Egene The year-to-date (YtD) decline recorded by the stock market hit 10 per cent yesterday, following profit taking in bellwethers which depressed the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index (NSE ASI) by 1.5 per cent.

The NSE ASI ended the

day lower at 34,414.37, while market capitalisation shed N190.5 billion to close at N12.6 trillion. The negative performance was contrary to a rebound the market witnessed the previous day.

After opening the month on a negative note on Monday, the stock market rebounded on Tuesday, with the NSE ASI

rising 0.28 per cent. However, the bullish trading could not be sustained yesterday as investors booked profit in bellwether counters such as Dangote Cement Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. In all, 26 stocks lost value as against 20 that appreciated.

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, which is shopping for N2 billion via Rights Issue, led the price losers with 10 per cent. It was followed by Learn Africa Plc with 9.8 per cent, just as Chams Plc and Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc fell by 9.6 per cent and 9.5 per cent in that order.

Niger Insurance Plc and

AIICO Insurance Plc shed 9.0 per cent apiece just as Universal Insurance Plc and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc depreciated 8.3 per cent and 8.0 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, C & I Leasing Plc led the price gainers with 8.5 per cent trailed by Jaiz Bank Plc with 8.1 per cent. Sterling Bank Plc

P R I C E S F O R S E C U R I T I E S T R A D E D A S AT

and Forte Oil Plc garnered 5.8 per cent and 5.2 per cent in that order.

Other top price gainers included: Wema Bank Plc (5.0 per cent); Regency Alliance Insurance Plc (4.5 per cent); Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Transcorp Plc (4.1 per cent each) and Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc (3.7 per cent).

05/09/2018

Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR PREMIUM BOARD SECURITIES FINANCIAL SERVICES

S/N 1 2 3 BANKING S/N 4 OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL GOODS S/N 5 6 BUILDING MATERIALS INDUSTRIAL GOODS OIL AND GAS S/N 7 EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OIL AND GAS PREMIUM BOARD TOTALS Price List (Equities) PRICES FOR MAIN BOARD SECURITIES AGRICULTURE S/N 8 9 10 CROP PRODUCTION S/N 11 FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING S/N 12 LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES AGRICULTURE CONGLOMERATES S/N 13 14 15 16 17 DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES CONGLOMERATES CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE S/N 18 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION S/N 19 20 INFRASTRUCTURE/HEAVY CONSTRUCTION S/N 21 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT S/N 22 23 24 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSUMER GOODS S/N 25 AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS S/N 26 27 28 29

BANKING ACCESS BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FBN HOLDINGS PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 266,137.34

TRADES

VOLUME

30 BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS S/N

9.20

-1.60

122

2,817,513

273,595.37

8.00

-0.62

218

22,483,737

673,454.79

21.45

-2.05

200

2,379,421

31

540

27,680,671

32

TRADES

VOLUME

33

186

5,847,203

34

186

5,847,203

726

33,527,874

TRADES

VOLUME

21 32 53 53

91,077 286,657 377,734 377,734

TRADES

VOLUME

39

60

431,977

40 FOOD PRODUCTS--DIVERSIFIED

60

431,977

60 839

431,977 34,337,585

MARKET CAP(Nm) 323,057.64

MARKET CAP(Nm) DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 3,800,033.15 LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. 199,922.52

BUILDING MATERIALS

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD

PRICE %CHANGE

MARKET CAP(Nm) 354,832.07

PRICE %CHANGE 9.00

-1.64

35 36

PRICE %CHANGE 223.00 23.05

-3.04 -1.91

PRICE %CHANGE 603.00

-7.23

37 38 FOOD PRODUCTS S/N

S/N 41 42 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES S/N

MARKET CAP(Nm) 440.00

CROP PRODUCTION FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC FISHING/HUNTING/ TRAPPING ELLAH LAKES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 511.20

LIVESTOCK/ANIMAL SPECIALTIES LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC.

DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ARBICO PLC. INFRASTRUCTURE/ HEAVY CONSTRUCTION JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITS) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST

43 PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.20

-

2

6,110

76,217.41

79.90

-

24

87,984

60,050.00

60.05

-

8 34

2,588 96,682

TRADES

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,890.00

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,058.92

PRICE %CHANGE 4.26

-

PRICE %CHANGE 0.63

-

PRICE %CHANGE

44 PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CONSUMER GOODS FINANCIAL SERVICES

73,100 169,782

TRADES

VOLUME 100 1,877 0

51,216.47

1.26

4.13

100

9,917,715

55

32,270.52

11.20

-

42 145 145

319,133 10,238,825 10,238,825

56

TRADES

VOLUME

59

0 0

0 0

60

TRADES

VOLUME

61

12

22,215

-

165.00

6.60

-

MARKET CAP(Nm) 4,079.48

S/N

57 58

25.00

PRICE %CHANGE 1.57

-

62 63

0

0

12

22,215

64

TRADES

VOLUME

65

1

1,890

66

1

1,890

67

TRADES

VOLUME

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,900.00

95.00

-

4

1,050

11,300.89

45.20

-

0

0

70

24,014.43

9.00

-

0

0

71 72

AUTOMOBILES/AUTO PARTS DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC

MARKET CAP(Nm) 954.53

BEVERAGES--BREWERS/DISTILLERS CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 14,093.09

PRICE %CHANGE

4

1,050 25,155

TRADES

VOLUME

74

-

1 1

20,000 20,000

75

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

76 77

73 0.20

1.80

-

4

20,293

242.22

0.89

-

0

0

197,134.45

90.00

-

36

119,388

283,663.44

68 69

17 PRICE %CHANGE

33.00

3.13

-3.64

74

378,230

1.59

-

16

146,747

1,340.10

0.36

-

0

0

1,158.30

6.50

-

0

0

52,988.77

20.00

-

18

159,510

3,676.41

13.45

-

MARKET CAP(Nm) 1,680.31 3,377.28

MARKET PERSONAL/HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CAP(Nm) P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA 52,211.77 PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA 287,250.27 PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 29,182.09

73,100

2 0

33,000.00

21.20

12,609.01

VOLUME

1

PRICE %CHANGE

86,928.05

7

-

MARKET CAP(Nm)

559,612

TRADES

-

-

249,781

39

46

7

15

1,532,579

78 79

INSURANCE CARRIERS, BROKERS AND SERVICES AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AXAMANSARD INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE PLC SUNU ASSURANCES NIGERIA PLC. UNIC DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC VERITAS KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC

VOLUME

-

0 0

41

TRADES

15.10

0 0

49 50 51 52 53 54 BANKING

725,981 2,398,241

181,200.00

DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNA358,733.73 TIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC 49,836.65 GUARANTY TRUST 1,078,652.72 BANK PLC. JAIZ BANK PLC 15,616.05 SKYE BANK PLC 7,217.76 STERLING BANK PLC. 41,746.11 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. 170,356.40 UNITY BANK PLC 8,650.11 WEMA BANK PLC. 24,301.91

48

PRICE %CHANGE

81 136

43

45 47

0.54

-

FOOD PRODUCTSMARKET -DIVERSIFIED CAP(Nm) CADBURY NIGERIA 18,875.93 PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. 1,188,984.38 HOUSEHOLD DURABLES NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

93.50

7.95

VOLUME

0.58 3.25

4.79

MARKET CAP(Nm) 39,750.00

BANKING

0.40

PRICE %CHANGE

FOOD PRODUCTS DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. NASCON ALLIED INDUSTRIES PLC UNION DICON SALT PLC.

747,710.34

S/N

225.71 2,111.93

MARKET CAP(Nm) 711.32

NIGERIAN BREW. PLC.

MARKET CAP(Nm) 4,117.00

PRICE %CHANGE

1

5

191

1,493,885

TRADES

VOLUME

10.05

-

23

70,065

1,500.00

-

26 49

5,187 75,252

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

22.10

-

1

42,800

3.24

-

6 7

14,665 57,465

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

13.15

-2.59

29

151,663

50.00

-

26

253,325

PRICE %CHANGE

55

404,988

439

4,449,831

TRADES

VOLUME

1.26

0.80

33

1,912,484

19.55

-2.25

32

764,617

1.72

1.18

83

9,484,791

36.65

-1.08

148

7,284,621

0.53 0.52 1.45 5.85 0.74 0.63

8.16 -5.45 5.84 5.00

76 112 61 37 15 29 626

13,332,165 18,503,956 6,625,076 251,087 345,662 881,762 59,386,221

PRICE %CHANGE

TRADES

VOLUME

0.20

-

0

0

6,237.18

0.90

-9.09

132

15,234,108

24,150.00

2.30

-

4

850

2,660.00

0.38

8.57

7

629,580

15,559.12

1.50

-

4

417,533

3,682.38

0.25

4.17

6

112,886

2,411.47

0.53

-

0

0

1,913.74

0.50

-

0

0

1,964.80

0.32

-

1

358

487.95

0.38

-

0

0

2,270.26

0.31

3.23

17

1,164,865

2,835.58

0.66

-9.59

5

696,000

5,440.00

0.68

-

2

20,050

2,160.00

0.27

-10.00

40

5,846,200

17,425.66

3.30

-0.30

58

5,132,136

3,095.79

0.40

-9.09

19

1,173,000

1,832.36

0.48

-

0

0

1,533.81

0.23

4.55

10

670,001

1,918.39

0.23

-8.00

12

3,139,824

4,518.86

0.35

-

2

550

4,483.72

0.48

-

0

0

2,800.00

0.20

-

2

36,072

516.46

0.20

-

0

0

5,280.00

0.33

-8.33

1

1,000,000

3,882.67

0.28

3.70

2

158,300

˜ ;˜ ͺ͸͹Ͷ ˾ T H I S D AY

42

,745(%: )36)0&)4 THISDAY Afrinvest 40 Index Declines by 1.2% Yesterday, Wednesday 4th September 2018, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 index fell 1.2% lower to 1,400.35 points while YTD loss stood at –ϵ͘Ϯй͘ The ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ losses in GUARANTY ( 1.1%), ZENITH ( 2.1%) and DANGCEM ( ϯ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ 39.8% of the index.

WƌŽĮƚ dĂŬŝŶŐ ƌĂŐƐ ĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ /ŶĚĞdž͙ ASI down 1.5%

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/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐŽŌĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϴdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ ĂƐ ϮϬ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ Ϯϲ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ were CILEASING (+9.9%), HMARKINS (+8.6%) and JAIZ (+8.2%) while D E &/d ( 10.0%), LEARNAFRCA ( 9.8%) and CHAMS ( ϵ͘ϳйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͘ 'ŽŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁŝůů ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ƐŽŌ͘

:(7(49> "7:89 (41

ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ /ŶĚĞdž ŵĞƌŐĞƐ >ŽŶĞ 'ĂŝŶĞƌ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ŽŌĞŶƐ

At the end of yesterday's trading session, the ďĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ 1.5% ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϯϰ͕ϰϭϰ͘ϯϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ŬĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŝŶ DANGCEM ( 3.0%), ZENITH (+2.3%), GUARANTY (+1.5%) and SEPLAT ( ϳ͘ϯйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ǁŽƌƐĞŶĞĚ to ϭϬ͘Ϭй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ EϭϵϬ͘ϱďŶ ƚŽ EϭϮ͘ϲƚŶ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ϭϲ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ ϰϬ͘Ϭй ƚŽ ϮϬϬ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ EϮ͘ϮďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ h (22.5m), ^d E / (19.3m) and & D (19.1m) while ^d E / (N904.2m), GUARANTY (N268.2m) and SEPLAT ;EϮϲϬ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ

^ĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϱ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ǁĞ ƚƌĂĐŬ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĞŵĞƌŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƵƉ Ϭ͘ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ interest in /Ed Z t (+3.1%) and NIGERIAN Z t Z/ ^ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ SEPLAT ( ϳ͘ϯйͿ͕ DANGCEM ( 3.0%) and t W K ( ϭ͘ϵйͿ ĚƌĂŐŐĞĚ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ϯ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϯ͘ϯй ůŽǁĞƌ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ // K ( 9.1%) > thE/KE ( 9.6%), ZENITH ( 2.1%) and GUARANTY ( 1.1%).

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43

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; ÍžË&#x153; ͺ͸͚͜

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Shops for N39bn to Finance Asset Creation, Working Capital Goddy Egene Access Bank Plc is currently shopping for N38.5 billion through Commercial Paper (CP)under its N100 billion CP programme to finance asset creation and working capital. The CP has a tenor of 182 days, effective yield of 13.3 per cent and discount rate of 12.50 per cent. The offer opened on September 4 and is expected to close today, September 6. It was gathered that the minimum subscription if N5 million and

multiples of N1, 000 thereafter.

Market analysts are bullish on CP offer, saying the funds would further enhance Access Bank Plcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance going forward. The lender last week declared an interim dividend of 25 kobo per share to shareholders for the half year (HI) ended June 30, 2018.

Access Bank Plc ended the H1 2018 with showed gross earnings of N253 billion, up from N246.6 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2017 with interest and

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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the

non-interest income contributing 74 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.

Interest income grew by 15 per cent from N161.9 billion to N186.7 billion, while non-interest income fell to N66.1 billion in 2018, from N84.4 billion in 2017.

Impairment charges reduced by 29 per cent from N10.363 billion to N7.34 billion while profit after tax was flat at N39.5 billion.

Commenting on the results, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Herbert Wigwe had

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 0409-2018, unless otherwise stated.

said:â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Group reported top line earnings of N253 billion, up three from the corresponding period in 2017, demonstrating the implementation of our strategy, notwithstanding the challenging operating environment. We recorded strong growth of 15 per cent in our interest income to N187 billion from N162 billion in H1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17, and an increase of 21 per cent in transaction banking income to N30.1 billion from N24.8 billion, as we continued to penetrate and deepen our

market presence in the retail space. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, the growth in interest and transaction banking income did not compensate enough for the significant decline in trading and foreign exchange income, which suppressed operating income for the period.

Thus, consolidated profit before tax for the half year ended June 2018 came in at N45.8 billion, from prior yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s figures of N52 billion.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, the bank

continued to deliver on cost, capital and credit quality, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operating expense reduced by six per cent from the corresponding period to N98.2 billion from N105.1 billion highlighting the effectiveness of our effort to systematically reduce our cost profile. Cost of risk came in at 0.6 per cent from 1.1 per cent in H1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;17, and we remain financially robust, as underlined by our strong capital and liquidity ratios of 20.8 per cent and 43.2 per cent respectively.â&#x20AC;?

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 167.88 168.47 -5.56% Nigeria International Debt Fund 264.71 265.34 14.40% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.83 0.84 0.94% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 4.97% 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 12.30% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 138.70 139.67 -8.57% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.00% 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 10.68% Paramount Equity Fund 11.79 12.09 6.32% Women's Investment Fund 102.54 105.17 1.90% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.37% 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 EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 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 1,184.84 1,185.58 9.50% FBN Heritage Fund 141.98 142.96 0.69% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.93% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $114.08 $114.54 3.49% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.86 $114.3 3.40% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 159.96 162.25 -0.10% 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 1.26 1.28 -2.80% Legacy Debt Fund 3.13 3.13 8.56% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,029.98 3,059.87 1.48% Coral Income Fund 2,697.04 2,697.04 10.18% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.73% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.13 2.15 1.06% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.19% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 121.49 121.76 5.58%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@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 141.98 142.96 1.32% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,184.84 1,185.58 10.50% 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 11.86 11.96 -8.81% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.77% 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 1.32 1.35 11.21% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.86 11.94 7.55% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.00% 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 127.90 128.45 -1.34% 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 1.64 1.64 10.19% 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 2,296.66 2,312.62 4.54% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 185.00 185.00 6.26% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 -2.48% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 239.17 239.21 10.87% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 168.50 170.42 -5.91% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.61% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,848.18 8,955.52 -7.02% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.09 1.09 2.43% 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 1.17 1.18 -1.13% United Capital Bond Fund 1.54 1.54 8.20% United Capital Equity Fund 0.74 0.75 -3.59% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.54% United Capital Eurobond Fund 104.70 104.70 4.67% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.07 2.54% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.52 11.70 -7.58% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.37 12.50 -5.28% Zenith Income Fund 20.17 20.17 6.63% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.68%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

11.41 137.71 51.52

1.01% 3.96% 1.36%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.52 126.99 98.46

11.62 129.69 100.32

-3.00% -11.09% -9.87%

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 GrifďŹ n 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

SPECIALIST FUNDS*

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.25 7.98 16.17 16.66

4.29 8.06 16.27 16.86

-10.33% -16.56% -7.52% -15.22%

141.71

143.71

5.44%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

105.44

17.63%

FOR HNI & PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS ONLY

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

44

T H I S D AY ˾ Í´Ë&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

45

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

GOVERNMENT COLLEGE UGHELLI GCU CL ASS OF FRIENDS

Celebration of Life “The only time a GOODBYE is painful is when you know you will never say HELLO again” We commiserate with our friend , Mariner UFO EKPRUKE as he lays his very loving dad to rest .

PA TIMSON EKPRUKE (1939 - 2018)

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5: SERVICE OF SONGS ; Sapele , Delta State .

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 7: 8am REQUIEM MASS at St Jerome’s Catholic Church , Otogor Ughelli, Delta State.

11am INTERMENT at his Country Home, Otogor, Ughelli, Delta State.

1.30pm. GRAND RECEPTION for Guest at Ogor Technical College , Otogor , Ughelli , Delta State.

L ATE PA TI M S ON E K PRU K E

May His Soul Rest In Peace - Amen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CYRIL OGUDE ESIMAJE BRIKINN KEVWE OKPUBULUKU CHINEDU OBI SAM ADJOGBE FESTUS KEYAMO JUDE ALELE OVIE ETARERI

AMBROSE OKONKWO OSARETIN ALUYI BERNARD OKUMAGBA OMATSEYE NESIAMA ANTHONY OKUGO JULIUS ETO AGHOGHO OKOR IVIANO OSSUETTA.

URIEL KENEKUEYERO DAFE AKENE LEO OSOWA JOHNNY ESIKE OBRUKIE OTEMURE JOSEPH AJUWA ANDREW UVIASE SUNNY OKPODU

PERE KENIYE ANTHONY BOBORI OKOROSOBO DAVIES JRN. EDWIN ADIOTOMRE TUNDE EHIZOJE MONDAY OVUEDE FRANCIS PESI EMEKA OSSAI

ORODE OYIKI

HENRY ERHIAGANOMA

SIVBONE EDU

GODWIN ADOGHO

T H I S D AY Ëž Í´Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

46

PDP

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) Power to the People...

Motto: Justice, Unity and Progress

National Secretariat: Plot 1970, Wadata Plaza, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse zone 5, Abuja. Tel: 09-7822806, 09-7822781

Special Announcement State Screening And Appeal Committees The Electoral Guidelines for Primary Elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stipulates interalia, â&#x20AC;&#x153;there shall be, for the purposes of the primary elections, a state Screening Committee whose duty shall, among other things, include the screening of aspirants from that Stateâ&#x20AC;?.

Similarly, there shall be a Screening Appeal Panel whose duty will be to consider appeals arising from the screening excercise.

In compliance with the provisions of the Guidelines, the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party has approved the nomination of the following Party members for the Screening Exercises.

SCREENING DATE: 7TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2018 SCREENING APPEAL: 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2018 ABIA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Sylvester Iboko 2.

Dr. Remi Ayodele 3.

Rt. Hon. Chief Enyiekere 4.

Alh. Aminu Bala 5.

Dr. Baraka Sani SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Engr. Ashante Bekewe 2.

Idris Ibrahim 3.

Mr. Paul Agbo Augustine ADAMAWA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Barr. Chibuike Nwakenwa, SAN 2.

Dora Shonupe 3.

Comr. Jude Imagwe, MON 4.

Hon. Aisha Aliyu (Gombe) 5.

Hon. Yahuza Abdullahi SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Adm. Chinwe I. Nnorom 2.

Alh. Umar Ali (Borno) 3.

Barr. Hessinton C. Okoro AKWA IBOM STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Mr. Chia Waya 2.

Prince Amobi Edeh 3.

Robinson Ndukwu 4.

Chief Bonnyface Odey 5.

Barr. Sunny Uddey SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Asuquo Ekpo Ada 2.

Adai Edwin 3.

Mrs. Helen Anthonia Okoli

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN -MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

BAUCHI STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Col. Aminu Isa Kontagora 2.

Alh. Abdullahi Ohiomah 3.

Halima Tojo 4.

Peter Uche Terwase 5.

Barr. Saratu Umar SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Isiyaku Barau 2.

Alh. Lamu Sale 3.

Mr. Sunday Adeniran

-CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

BAYELSA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Barr. Joe Gborogbosi 2.

Barr. Mathias Adeyemi 3.

Mr. Leke Osikoya 4.

Ekebhamhen Ekinaduese 5.

Chief Foluso Craig

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Elder Segun Aroyewun 2.

Barr. Tonto Jack 3.

Elder Stephen Ekoja BENUE STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Mrs. Laurentia Mallam 2.

Arch. Baba Isimi 3.

Mr. Innocent C. Ezekiel 4.

Uche Christian Onyebuchi 5.

Barr. Shedrach Anyalewechi SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Mrs. Hadizat A.A. Umoru 2.

Barr. Philomena Ihenyen 3.

Hon. Chucks Wabara

-CHAIRMAN MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY

PDP

BORNO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Amb. Umar Damagun 2.

Yahaya Imam 3.

Hajiya Binta Kuraye 4.

Umar Sauda 5.

Barr. John Mathew SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Aliyu Yushau 2.

Abubakar Usman 3.

Ibrahim Haliru Inyas

-CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Valentine Akwuba 2.

Beluchukwu Enwere 3.

Hon. Cyril Uzodinma EDO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Diran Odeyemi 2.

Mrs. Tessy Torru 3.

Mr. Ubong Attia 4.

Hon. Abdulraham Badeir 5.

Chief Uche Achugbuo SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Chidiebere Osoagbaka 2.

Joseph Ehase 3.

Dr. Elizabeth Ugoh EKITI STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh 2.

Hon. Labey Austin Medaiyedu 3.

Rt. Hon. Linus Umoh 4.

Joseph Onuh 5.

Hon. Ali Gaya SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Rt. Hon. Dr. Matoh Dogara 2.

Hon. Charles Okechukwu 3.

Barr. Remi Olatubora

CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

CROSS RIVER SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Aniekan Umanah -CHAIRMAN 2.

Chief Chris A. Nwabende - MEMBER 3.

Chief Bonny Ehili â&#x20AC;&#x153; 4.

Mrs. Aisha Aliyu â&#x20AC;&#x153; 5.

Hon. Barr. Anthony Akpomiemie-SECRETARY SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. C.S.L Nwosu -CHAIRMAN 2.

Patience Ofovwe -MEMBER 3.

Hon. Thompsom Akpan Samuel -SECRETARY

ENUGU STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Barr. Theodore Azodo -CHAIRMAN 2.

Christopher N. Thomas - MEMBER 3.

Mr. Ibrahim Ayoola â&#x20AC;&#x153; 4.

Dr. Okey Mbionwu â&#x20AC;&#x153; Phillip Nwafor -SECRETARY SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Rt. Hon. Barr. Ajibola Muraina -CHAIRMAN 2.

Ms. Miriam Ogueri -MEMBER 3.

Elder (Dr). Asuquoanwan Attah Jp.-SECRETARY

DELTA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Dr. Tony Okam 2.

Chief Benji Uduezor 3.

Chinedu Iwuanyanwu 4.

Prince Kazeem Ashade 5.

Mr. Uyi Daniel Amadasun SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Nusa Amagbor 2.

Kingsley Jackson Akai 3.

Mr. Ilesanmi Oki EBONYI STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. John. Egbem 2.

Mr. Uche Onuoha 3.

Mr. Vincent Emebolum 4.

Mr. Sunday Egenti 5.

Barr. Tony Ezebuiro

GOMBE STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Chief Regis Uwakwe 2.

Hon. Auwali Rawayar 3.

Hon. Mrs. Grace Eneh 4.

Yemi Adebowale 5.

Barr. Sima Musa Istifanu SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Phillip Assoshi Kundila 2.

Hassan Mohammed 3.

Barr. Nnenna Obewu

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY

IMO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Barr. Uzo Azubuike 2.

Ms. Josephine Splendor 3.

Hon. Kehinde Bamigbede 4.

Barr. Gogo Saturday Minanyo 5.

Mrs. Anthonia Nwankwu

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153; -SECRETARY

47

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

PDP

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Henry Balogu 2.

Mrs. Debora Salemn 3.

Godwin Osigbeme JIGAWA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Maj-Gen. K. Kwaskebe 2.

Hon. Bishir Tanimu 3.

Hon. Ibrahim Dankaba 4.

Umar Shuaib Sadauki 5.

Rt. Hon. Joseph Dimobi SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Lawal Usaini 2.

Hajia Ladi Musa Aji 3.

Barr. Ibrahim Khaklid KADUNA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Sen. Emmanueal Nwaka 2.

Barr. Mbet Okpongette 3.

Dr. Kehinde Mohammed 4.

Mrs. Cyril Amonu 5.

Rt. Hon. Gambo Sallam SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Rt. Hon. Inuwa Garba 2.

Mrs. Nkem Ogbechi 3.

Hon. Steven Asukwuo KATSINA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

H.E. Ramallan M. Yero 2.

Sule Ya'u Kanabis 3.

Rt. Hon. Titus Alams 4.

Hon. Rahila Dominique 5.

Hon. Afam Nnaji SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Dr. Eddy Mbadiwe 2.

Olivia Dazyam 3.

Hon. Dr. Rabiu Abdulkadir

-CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

KEBBI STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Alh. Ado Datti -CHAIRMAN 2.

Bolaji Mbang - MEMBER 3.

Mrs. Helen Ndago “ 4.

Mahmud Mu'azu “ 5.

Amb. Mohammed Jabbi Maradaun-SECRETARY SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Prof. Viola Onwuliri 2.

Alh. Bala Dogara Ibrahim Michika Abraham KOGI STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Kayode Akinmade 2.

Engr. Udenyi Akoji 3.

Hon. Aliyu D. Aliyu 4.

Chief I. Onyema 5.

Barr. Deshi Dougak SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Ayo Fadaka 2.

Tony Chigo Mere 3.

Barr. Fidelis Zaatpo

-CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

SCREENING DATES: 13TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2018 SCREENING APPEAL: 15TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2018 ANAMBRA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Timi Agama 2.

Ezeh Emeka 3.

Kehinde Oluwafemi 4.

Lawrence Okazogie 5.

Barr. S.J. Onu SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Benedict Ndudi Osakuni-Izuejbu2.

Mr. Moses Ogbonna 3.

Chris Okeji KANO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Dr. Chris Aseloka 2.

Barr. Ibrahim Abdullahi 3.

Mrs. Rhoda Yisa Doko 4.

Col. Sani Depsia 5.

Mr. Andrew Musa -

CHAIRMAN MEMBER “ “ SECRETARY CHAIRMAN MEMBER SECRETARY CHAIRMAN MEMBER “ “ SECRETARY

LAGOS STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu 2.

Chief Chuck Osundu 3.

Mrs. Jiritmwa Goyit Morgak 4.

Chief Sunday Onos 5.

Barr. Ifeanyi Ibelegbu SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Mark Jacob 2.

Mrs. Ada Fredrick Okwori 3.

Dr. Ogunlade Rotimi

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

1.

Alh. Babangida Umar Maina

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Jideofor Ebe

-

MEMBER

3.

Mrs. Bunmi Adebiyi

-

SECRETARY

OYO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Chief Okey Ezenwa

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Amb. Jodi Frank

-

MEMBER

3.

Otunba Mohammed Ilupeju

-

“

4.

Ibrahim Dauda

-

“

5.

Chief Ekeleme Chima Ikeije

-

SECRETARY CHAIRMAN

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL

NASSARAWA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Col Bala Mande (rtd).

2.

Ahmadu I. Tsauri 3.

Hon. Mrs. Stella Okeke 4.

Duro Olusegun 5.

Barr. Munir Dahiru SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Oloye Jumoke Akinjide 2.

Genevieve Edu 3.

Barr. Baba Aliyu

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY -CHAIRMAN -MEMBER -SECRETARY

NIGER STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Amb. Bashir Yuguda -CHAIRMAN 2.

Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed Bachaka- MEMBER 3.

Mallam Gambo Maman “ 4.

Benjamin Idoko Agbo “ 5.

Hon. Sunday D. Zoaka -SECRETARY SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Ali Kano -CHAIRMAN 2.

Hon. Sulaiman Idah -MEMBER 3.

Hon. Nasiru Barau -SECRETARY OGUN STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman -CHAIRMAN 2.

Bright Nebedum MEMBER “ 3.

Hon. Mohammed Balga Abdullahi4.

Barr. Koyejo Oyetunde “ 5.

Chief Okey Nwanna -SECRETARY SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Princess Agboola Fisher-Thomas-CHAIRMAN 2.

Barr. Tewogbola Taofiq -MEMBER 3.

Ibelechi Christian Ibelechi -SECRETARY ONDO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Rt. Hon. Stanford Onyimba -CHAIRMAN 2.

Mr. Arole Azeez Bello - MEMBER 3.

Prince Albert Amachree “ 4.

Mrs. Blessing Ijebuwon “ 5.

Barr. Mary Erijo -SECRETARY

1.

Hon. Osita Igbe

-

2.

Barr. Idowu Mafimisebi

-

3.

Barr. Nnonye Nwangwu (mrs) -

MEMBER SECRETARY

PLATEAU STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

AVM. Dickson Dilimono (rtd). -

CHAIRMAN

2.

Uche Ejiogu

MEMBER

3.

Barr. Jidauna Tula Mbami

-

“

4.

Capt. Bishop Johnson

-

“

5.

Mr. Dan Boshe Azumi

-

-SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Rueben Ochi

-

2.

Mr. Akin Adeyinka

-

MEMBER

-

SECRETARY

Hon. Bitrus Kura

CHAIRMAN

RIVERS STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Hon. Tony Abel

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Dr. Daniel Umezurike

-

MEMBER

3.

Chief Smart Onyirinba

-

“

4.

Ms. Abigail Wasse

-

“

5.

Mr. John Ewa

-

SECRETARY CHAIRMAN

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Dr. Sandy Onor

-

2.

Hon. Oluwasola Gbenga

-

MEMBER

3.

Barr. F.O. Nwankpuma

-

SECRETARY

SOKOTO STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Umar Abdulkakir

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Alh. Muhammed Bashir Ali

-

MEMBER

3.

Ambrose Obioha

-

“

4.

Prince Yahaya Mafara

-

“

5.

Usman Abubakar Gombe

-

SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Alh. Danjuma Musa Garkuwa -

CHAIRMAN

2.

Haruna Labaran Kagara

-

MEMBER

3.

Ba Aba Ejembi

-

SECRETARY

TARABA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Chief Ndidi Okereke

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Mrs. Agape Kramer

-

MEMBER

3.

Ms. Divine Amina Arong

-

“

4.

Mr. Richard Ihediwa

-

“

5.

Barr. Sarah Sadji Marcus

-

SECRETARY CHAIRMAN

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Chief Mrs. Ngozi Elizabeth Orji -CHAIRMAN 2.

Mrs. Ebun Adeyemi -MEMBER 3.

Barr. David Iroh -SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL

OSUN STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Chief Tunde Olusunle 2.

Armstrong Agbo 3.

Pharm. Uba Agadaga 4.

Chief Ebisiko Okengwu 5.

Mrs. Lydia Makkah-Bala

SCREENING COMMITTEE

1.

Sen. Grace Bent

-

2.

Hon. Abdullahi Ogboji

-

MEMBER

3.

Mr. Dan Ochu-Baiye

-

SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN

YOBE STATE

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Lawal Amah 2.

Hajia Hauwa Ibrahim Gana 3.

Chika Okafor KWARA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Mr. Bode Ojomu 2.

Alh. Waheed Alapoti 3.

Mrs. Christy Wokoma 4.

Mrs. Akudo Ojobo 5.

Barr. Sunday Olowolafe SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Isiaku Magaji 2.

Lady Victoria Akanwa 3.

Barr. Nnandi Chinelo

-

-CHAIRMAN - MEMBER “ “ -SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN MEMBER SECRETARY

-

CHAIRMAN MEMBER “ “ SECRETARY

-

CHAIRMAN MEMBER SECRETARY

1.

Hon. Ado Dogo Audu

-

2.

Lamu Sale

-

MEMBER

3.

Alh. Usman Abba Baba

-

“

4.

Hassan Disina

-

“

5.

Chief Raphael Ajuzieogu

-

SECRETARY

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Hon. Dr. Ahmed Salik

-

CHAIRMAN

2.

Alh. Ahmadu Alkali

-

MEMBER

3.

Barr. Rueben Ochu

-

SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN

ZAMFARA STATE SCREENING COMMITTEE 1.

Barr. Hassan Yakubu

-

2.

Hajia Fatima Umar Kamba

-

MEMBER

3.

Nasiru Aliyu

-

“

4.

Salisu Ali

-

“

5.

Hon. Sera Yusuff

-

SECRETARY CHAIRMAN

SCREENING APPEAL PANEL 1.

Barr. Liman Ahmed Bello

-

2.

Hajia

-

3.

Hon. Usman Mohammed Dan Yaro-

Zainab Ibrahim

MEMBER SECRETARY

Signed: Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtd.) National Organizing Secretary

48

T H I S D AY ˾ Í´Ë&#x153; ͰͮͯͶ

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

49

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

50

FOREIGN/DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS

In Brief

Rival Libyan Factions Agree Ceasefire

Rival militia factions that had been fighting in Libya’s capital Tripoli for the past week agreed a ceasefire, the United Nations said. At least 47 people have been killed and 1,800 families internally displaced by the violence, officials said, according to BBC. Last week, a ceasefire deal announced by officials from western cities only held for a few hours. A UNbacked government is nominally in power in the capital, but militias occupy much of the rest of the country. “Under the auspices of [UN envoy Ghassan Salame], a ceasefire agreement was reached and signed today to end all hostilities, protect civilians, safeguard public and private property,” the Unsmil mission said on Wednesday. The ceasefire also provides for the reopening of the capital’s only functioning airport, Mitiga, which has been closed since 31 August due to the clashes.

Ethiopian Commercial Ship Docks in Eritrea for First Time in 20 Years Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) shakes hand with Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, prior to their meeting in Islamabad, Sept. 5, 2018. Photo credit: Press Information Department

Pompeo Visits Pakistan Days after Cancellation of Military Aid US Designates Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin as Terrorist Holds counterterrorism dialogue with Qatar Organisation Vincent Obia

U

.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Pakistan on Wednesday, where he met the new prime minister, Imran Khan. “New leader there, wanted to get out there at the beginning of his time in an effort to reset the relationship between the two countries,” Pompeo told journalists during his flight over. He was expected to double down on long-standing U.S. demands that Pakistan do more to fight extremism, domestically and in Afghanistan. The meeting came days after the Trump administration cut $300 million in military aid to Pakistan.

While in Pakistan, Pompeo also met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. After his meeting with Bajwa, Pompeo said, “We talked about their new government, the opportunity to reset the relationship between our two countries across a broad spectrum – economic, business, and commercial, the work that we all know that we need to do to try and develop a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan, which benefits certainly Afghanistan but also the United States and Pakistan. And I’m hopeful that the foundation that we laid today will set the conditions for continued success as we start to move forward.”

Dunford said regarding Pompeo’s visit, “My job was to help support the Secretary as he – as he sought to reset the relationship. When we talked to General Bajwa on the military-to-military level, we agreed that – we listened to the prime minister very carefully, we listened to the Secretary very carefully. Their objectives were very consistent between the Secretary and the prime minister, and General Bajwa and I agreed that we will leverage the military-to-military relationship to support the Secretary and the prime minister, and more importantly, President Trump’s South Asia strategy.”

Answering a question, during a press briefing, on whether he got any firm commitments from the Pakistanis that would potentially merit the resumption of military security assistance, Pompeo stated, “We’ve still got a long way to go, lots more discussion to be had, but the relationship military to military is one that has remained in a place where some of the other relationships haven’t, frankly.

They’ve still continued to have relationships, worked on lots of projects that are important together, and I hope we can use that as one of the foundational elements as well.”

On the possibility of increased punitive action, Pompeo said, “We made clear to them that – and they agreed – it’s time for us to begin to deliver on our joint commitments, right. So we’ve had lots of times where we’ve talked and made agreements, but we haven’t been able to actually execute those.

And so there was broad agreement between myself and Foreign Minister Qureshi, as well as with the prime minister, that we need to begin to do things that will begin to actually, on the ground, deliver outcomes so that we can begin to build confidence and trust between the two countries.

That was the focus of the gathering.”Pompeo will visit India on Thursday, where he will be attending the US-India “2+2” Dialogue in New Delhi.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin as Terrorist Organisation The US has designated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to a release on Wednesday by the State Department.

The Department has also designated JNIM as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. “Today’s designations seek to deny JNIM the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks,” the statement said. “Among other consequences, all of JNIM’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with JNIM. It is a crime to knowingly provide, or to attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to JNIM.” JNIM has described itself as al-Qaida’s branch in Mali, and has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks and kidnappings since it was formed in March 2017. JNIM carried out the June 2017 attack at a resort frequented by Westerners outside of Bamako, Mali; several deadly attacks on Malian troops; and the large-scale coordinated attacks in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on March 2, 2018.

JNIM is led by Iyad ag Ghaly, a U.S.-designated SDGT. Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, said, “Al-Qaida and its affiliates like JNIM remain deadly threats to the United

States and our allies. These designations are part of our continuing efforts to squeeze al-Qaida’s finances, denying it the resources it needs to carry out attacks.”

The state department said Wednesday’s “designations notify the U.S. public and the international community that JNIM is a terrorist organization. Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments.”

U.S.-Qatar Counterterrorism Dialogue The Second U.S.-Qatar Dialogue of Counterterrorism and Terrorism Financing was held in Doha on Wednesday. Chairman of Qatar National Counter Terrorism Committee, Major General Abdul Aziz al-Ansari, led the Qatari delegation, while the U.S. delegation was led by the U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Alina L. Romanowski.

The delegations of both countries included counterterrorism and countering the financing of terrorism specialists. Special Envoy of Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Conflict Mediation, His Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Mutlaq al-Qahtani, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the meeting. The five sessions focused on a review of the latest counterterrorism and counterterrorism finance efforts since the signing of the Counterterrorism Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on November 7, 2017, and the achievements in implementing the 2018 action plan.

The two delegations also agreed on future steps to advance counterterrorism efforts and the actions intended to serve this purpose. Discussions also touched on sharing U.S. experiences with Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. “The sessions were marked by an optimistic spirit of cooperation and agreement on the different topics,” according to the state department. “The U.S. delegation welcomes the measures and actions taken by the Government of Qatar to cooperate with the international community in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing, and acknowledged that work remains to be done in our mutual counterterrorism efforts. The Qatari delegation also thanked the United States for its support of Qatar as a strategic ally in the fight against terrorism.”

An Ethiopian commercial ship docked in an Eritrean port for the first time in two decades on Wednesday, stateaffiliated media said, in a concrete sign of a stunning rapprochement between the neighbours and former foes. The Mekelle entered the Red Sea port of Massawa and was due to carry 11,000 tonnes of Eritrean zinc to China, Ethiopian broadcaster Fana Broadcasting reported, according to Reuters. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed offered to make peace with Eritrea after taking office in April as part of a series of reforms that has turned politics on its head in his country and the region. Landlocked Ethiopia has said it wants to make the re-opening of two roads connecting it to two of Eritrea’s ports a priority in the reconciliation process. Eritrea’s information minister, Yemane Ghebremeskel, said on Twitter that Abiy had arrived in Eritrea on a twoday working visit.

Typhoon Jebi Leaves Trail of Destruction across JapanArg

At least 10 people have been killed

by Typhoon Jebi, the worst storm to hit Japan in 25 years, BBC reported. Jebi left a trail of destruction across the west of the country, hitting major cities like Kyoto and Osaka. Flights, trains and ferries were cancelled but thousands of passengers stranded at Osaka’s international airport have since been evacuated. As the winds slow down and move north, people were being urged to stay alert for landslides and floods.

At least 300 people have been injured as a result of the typhoon, according to government spokesman Yoshihide Suga.

As of Wednesday morning, evacuation advisories had been issued for more than 1.2 million people.

Donald Trump Condemns Bob Woodward Book as ‘Con’

US President Donald Trump has condemned a book on his White House by renowned Watergate journalist Bob Woodward as a “con on the public”.

Trump’s chief of staff and defence secretary, in responses posted by the president on Twitter, described the book as “pathetic” and “fiction”. In the book, senior aides are quoted as saying they hid sensitive documents to prevent Trump signing them. They are quoted as calling him an “idiot” and a “liar”. The book, Fear: Trump in the White House, scheduled for release on September 11, reveals a chaotic administration having a “nervous breakdown of executive power”. Woodward is a widely respected and veteran journalist who helped expose President Richard Nixon’s role in the Watergate scandal in the 1970s.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

51

NEWSEXTRA

British, Portuguese, Turkish Envoys Laud NLNG’s Proposed Train-7 Plant Chineme Okafor in Abuja The decision of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to push forward with the planned expansion of its production capacity to 30 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) has elicited some excitement from the United Kingdom, Turkey and Portugal.

The three countries indicated their excitement with the Train-7 project when their ambassadors paid a joint diplomatic visit to the facility in Bonny Island, River State.

During the visit, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright; Ambassador of Turkey, Melih Ulueren; and his counterpart from Portugal, António Da Silva, said they were excited about the prospects of an additional LNG production train by the NLNG. NLNG had in July this year announced that it was shopping for about $7 billion from the global financial markets to expand its operations and increase its production capacity from 22mtpa to 30mtpa.

Speaking on the sidelines of the visit, the ambassadors stated that the gas project would employ more people

and eventually support the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

Arkwright specifically said: “The benefits to the country, including employment opportunities of this facility, are so huge. It’s been an eye opening experience and it is a great example of a Nigerian company with British and international involvement that is really benefiting Nigeria.”

He further stated: “I am very excited to hear about the prospects of Train 7, which is a new train. I am happy that the decision will be taken soon so that even more people can be employed here in the construction phase of Train 7.

So, it is a good example of a great company and I’m really proud to have been here.”

On his part, Ulueren said: “Is a great experience to be here as a new comer to Nigeria, and it is exciting to see what this country has achieved through the Nigerian management of the NLNG. It is my pleasure to be here.”

Equally, in his comment, Da Silva, described the plant as being incredible. He stated: “We are excited about what has been achieved here as well as the target of adding another train to the already six existing ones.”

In his remarks, the

Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, stated that the British had some stakes in the company while Portugal and Turkey were its customers.

Attah explained: “For us, it is a great privilege to have three ambassadors visiting the plant in one occasion.

It is actually a testament of

what Nigeria LNG means, not only to Nigeria, but indeed to the world in terms of our vision of being a global player and helping to build a better Nigeria as well as bringing energy to the world.

“You heard the speech of the British High Commissioner in terms of his wishes to us

on Train 7 and our growth. As he mentioned to you, Shell is a big player here and that is a British link. We also have Total, Eni and of course, the federal government through the NNPC with 49 per cent.

“With the other ambassadors, it is important to state that we do big business

with Turkey and Portugal.

And so essentially, they represent countries that underpin our existence as a company and also as part of the business. And as you heard, the future for us is Train 7 and we look forward to that investment decision.”

No Hiding Place for Defecting ARTS FESTIVAL L-R: Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Odubiyi, Deputy Governor, Kaduna State, Yusuf Politicians, Magu Insists Barnabas, Counselor for Public Affairs, American Embassy, Nigeria, Aruna Amirthanayagam, at the opening ceremony of the Kaduna Book The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has said politicians defecting from one party to another would not be shielded from prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

There have been allegations that some politicians joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid being prosecuted by the commission.

But speaking during a parley with editors in Lagos yesterday, Magu said there is no hiding place for such politicians in the fight against corruption by EFCC. “The fact that a politician jumps from one party to another will not stop EFCC investigation; we don’t stop investigation until it is concluded.”

“It is only the courts that have the powers to decide on whether to exonerate or convict any indicted politician,” the EFCC chairman said.

Responding to alleged interference by the ruling APC, Magu, according to TheCable, said he had never received any instruction to stop any investigation.

“I am not the type you’ll ask to stop any investigation,” Magu said.

The EFCC chairman said it had become fashionable for anyone being investigated for corruption by the commission to scream political persecution.

“With the general election fast approaching, the resistance has assumed even frightening dimension with political motives imputed to

most of our activities,” he said.

According to Magu, the media owes Nigeria a duty not to allow the corrupt to deploy their ill-gotten riches to corner the machinery of government.

The EFCC chief, therefore, urged the media not to lend their platforms to helping the cause of the corrupt that were “shedding crocodile tears.”

“We must all do what is right for our country, which is ensuring that those who steal our common patrimony are brought to justice,” Magu said.

According to him, the EFCC has so far revealed only about 10 per cent of the monumental corruption perpetrated in the past and urged all security agencies to prioritise anti-graft fight.

“You have not seen anything yet, we have not even touched 10 per cent of corruption perpetrated in the past,” he said.

The EFCC chairman advised banks to strengthen their internal control and urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to re-appraise regulatory and ethical conduct of banks in order to win the fight against corruption.

On assets recovery, Magu said EFCC had recovered a total of N106.5 billion, $1.63 million, 629,000 British Pounds and 25,575 Euros this year.

He expressed the hope that EFCC would surpass the record of 189 convictions achieved in 2017, going by over 158 convictions secured between January and August this year.

and Arts Festival sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc...yesterday

Be Vigilant, Makarfi Urges Nigerians Tobi Soniyi A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has condemned the raid by personnel of the Nigeria Police on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.

With the 2019 general election drawing nearer, Makarfi called in Nigerians to be vigilant and

should not allow the federal government to turn the country into a police state.

In a statement signed by his media assistant, Mr. Mukhtar Sirajo, the PDP presidential aspirant said he considered the assault on a respected national leader, a former federal minister and a nonagenarian, as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state.

According to him, the raid on Clark’s house was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of the country’s constitution and international conventions, as the 2019 elections approach.

Makarfi said he identified and sympathised with Clark over this assault on his privacy.

He, therefore, called on Nigerians to be vigilant and “resist attempts at constricting

our democratic space and fundamental human rights, using agencies of state.

The statement further read: “even though the police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Makarfi urges that they go beyond ordinary disclaimer by instituting a genuine investigation into this with a view to unraveling the sordid act as well as bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

SARAKI DEMANDS PROBE OF POLICE RAID ON CLARK’S HOUSE (IG), Ibrahim Idris, had already sent a high powered delegation led by a DIG and other senior police officers to apologise to the elder statesman over the search.

Meanwhile, Saraki yesterday met with the leaders of the North Central zone of the party in Abuja.

The zone has also resolved to produce a consensus candidate among the three aspirants jostling for the number one position in the country.

They also mandated the zonal leaders to engage leaders of the two other zones- North-east and North-west The meeting, which was part of the consultative meetings embarked upon by Saraki in the last one month towards the realisation of his presidential ambition, took place at the Banquet hall of Ibro Grand Hotel in Zone 5 area of Abuja.

Sources told THISDAY that the close-door meeting which lasted from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. was presided over by PDP National

Vice Chairman, North Central, Mr. Theophillus Dakas-Sham.

Saraki, who is from the North Central zone like two other PDP presidential aspirants- former Senate President David Mark and former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang- used the forum to intimate the party’s zonal leaders on why he is running for president and the need for the zone to give him total support.

At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that the zone will produce a consensus candidate among the three jostling for the number one position bearing in mind that the zone has all it takes to produce the next president.

They also mandated the zonal leaders to engage leaders of the two other zones- North-east and North-west-on the need for them to back the consensus candidate of the North Central zone.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Dakas-Sham said although the zone is regarded as a conglomerate of minority groups,

it has always been powerful with an array of performing sons and daughters. He specifically mentioned the achievements of Senator Mark when he held sway for eight years as Senate president from 2007 to 2015 and the leadership prowess of Saraki since he became the Senate president in June 2015.

Dakas- Sham emphasised that the time is ripe for the zone to produce the next President of the country having assisted other zones in the past in this regard.

Also speaking, Saraki said 2019 poll is all about winning the soul of Nigeria, saying nothing will be more important to Nigerians now than to rescue the country.

He promised that collectively the country’s democracy would not die at this particular time.

The aspirant also promised to improve the standard of living of Nigerians and also bring development to the country if voted in as president in February, 2019.

Those at the consultative

meeting include former National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali; Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, (BoT), Senator Wadil Jubril; former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida, and his Kogi State counterpart, Captain Idris Wada, and former Minister of Sport, Mr. Simon Sango.

Others were Senators Jeremiah Useni, Dino Melaye, Ahmed Ogembe, Atai Idoko and Philip Dunka.

Two members of the House of Representatives namely Hons Rasaq Atunwa and Tajudeen Yusuf, were also at the meeting.

Saraki who made public his presidential ambition last Thursday had within a week, held consultative meetings with all the PDP governors in both the South-east and South-south and Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

Earlier before his declaration, Saraki had in the last one month held consultative meetings with three former Presidents- Ibrahim Babangida, Olusegun Oba.

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Enugu APC Vows to Stop Ekweremadu’s Fifth Term Senate Bid Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday boasted that it has capable aspirants that would defeat the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his bid to return to the Senate for the fifth term.

The party also dismissed as cheap blackmail the statement credited to Ekweremadu to the effect that he gave APC N5million during its

membership registration in 2014.

Chairman of the party in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, who addressed journalists at the APC secretariat in the state, challenged the senator to name the person he gave the money.

Nwoye said the party at the moment has three credible aspirants that are jostling for the party’s ticket to contest for Ekweremadu’s Enugu West senatorial seat.

According to him, “Today,

Imo 2019: Ararume, Izunaso in Closed-door Meeting with APGA Chairman

we have Mr. P.C Eze, Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu, which are all formidable forces prepared to take over from him. Any of these persons is more than capable to win him whenever the votes are cast in 2019.”

Nwoye said the party received “with total dismay, the report that Ekweremadu gave N5million to facilitate APC membership registration.

That is the biggest political blackmail of the century.”

“I was elected chairman of APC in April 2014; I have never as a chairman met with Ekweremadu one on one other than meeting him in public place, in church, where we exchange pleasantries, and by 2014, Ekweremadu was and is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) so one wonders why a member of the PDP will be funding registration of members in APC. “The report attributed to him indicated that he was doing so to help foster

democracy; the unfortunate thing is that he never made mention of who he gave the money or where the money exchanged hands; instead, he refers to a minister, who at that time, was a senator, Dr. Chris Ngige. As a democrat and a patriotic citizen, we respect the deputy Senate president, he is a statesman, and he knows that his comments will be taken seriously and those comments, if made, are capable of destroying the democracy

we all worked for.”

He added: “Assuming, but without admitting that Ekweremadu somehow, somewhere, funded the registration of members of the opposition party in 2014, it is awkward that he helped the APC to defeat his own party; but our record shows that it is a blackmail, it is falsehood that is geared towards causing disharmony and to undermine our great party by suggesting that our party had no money to conduct its own registration.”

Ifeanyi Ubah picks senatorial form Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Ahead of the 2019 governorship election in Imo State, a leading aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and immediate-past National Organising Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Izunaso, yesterday held a meeting with the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Victor Oye, in Abuja.

The two politicians, who are currently engaged in a running battle with the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, for the control of APC structure in the state arrived at the APGA secretariat in Abuja at about 1.30p.m. and headed straight to the office of APGA’s national chairman.

After the meeting that lasted for two hours, both men left the secretariat without stating their mission.

However, when THISDAY approached Ararume to inquire about what transpired, he declined comments, saying it was a private meeting.

Izunaso also told journalists that consultations were still ongoing and that another meeting has been slated for Friday.

“I can’t talk now. I have already said that. After our final meeting, I will talk. I am going to have another meeting next Friday and we will talk after that,” he said.

Although Ararume did not state the outcome of the meeting, it was however gathered that the former senator may pick

the nomination form to contest for the governorship seat in the state on Friday.

A source said both Ararume and Izunaso had registered as members of APGA last week in their wards in Imo State.

Meanwhile, aspirants seeking APGA’s ticket have besieged the national headquarters of party in Abuja.

The aspirants, predominantly from Imo, Anambra and Abia States, came to pick nomination forms to contest various positions.

So far, Imo state is leading with over 30 aspirants, gunning for governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives seats. Imo State is followed by Anambra State.

One of the leading figures in the race for the Anambra South senatorial seat, and Chairman of Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Ubah, was among those who were at the party secretariat yesterday to pick his senatorial form.

Addressing supporters who accompanied him, Ubah said he would work to ensure favorable business environment for his kinsmen from the Southeast.

He said one of reasons for the youth restiveness and other vices in the land was because the existing policies have not encouraged youth enterprise.

When asked to speak on his chances against the wife of late APGA leader, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Ubah said he would not be drawn into any fight with the woman because traditionally Bianca is his wife.

Akwa Ibom: Ex-minister, Uduedehe Picks APC Governorship Form Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akpan Uduedehe, has formally purchased nomination form to contest for the ticket of the party.

The aspirant who spoke to journalists after collecting his nomination and Expression of Interest form from the National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibediro, said the interest of the party was very paramount, adding that he is ready to accept the result of the primary election.

According to him, “The primary has to be free, fair and credible. If you defeat me in

a free and fair primary, I will work for you and the party, but if you win in a primary that is not free and fair, you are on your own.”

He also assured the party that as a firm believer in the principles of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari, he will not stop supporting the programmes of the party, stressing that the party in Akwa Ibom State will use the direct option for its primary.

He said he was confident of the APC forming the next government in the state in 2019, stressing that with the right candidate and right approaches, the APC has what it takes to defeat an incumbent governor.

CONGRATULATIONS...

Managing Director/CEO, Midwestern Oil and Gas, Mr. Charles Odita (right), receiving the The Guardian Award of ‘The Marginal Field of the Year,’ during the award ceremony by The Guardian Newspapers Limited in Lagos...recently

Fake News Doing Colossal Damage to Nigeria, Okowa Warns Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday expressed worry at the colossal damage the propagation of unfounded or ‘fake news’ was causing in Nigeria’s polity and its economy, charging journalists and other media professionals to focus on reports as well as holding accountable those in various positions of authority in the country.

Okowa stressed that it is only when reports are factual and focused on holding leadership accountable that fake news would cease to

thrive with misleading and damaging consequences for both the fabricators and the unsuspecting recipients or consumers of the fake news.

The governor made the remarks while declaring open the fifth annual conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) in Asaba, the state capital.

The theme of the twoday conference was ‘Media Narratives-Hate Speech, Fake News and Political Stability in Africa’.

Represented by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr.

Charles Aniagwu, the governor said fake news was thriving in Nigeria because “we have abandoned the unity, development and peaceful co-existence of our people as our collective focus.”

He lamented that we have, as a people, embraced the agenda of promoting only individuals and political interests.

Okowa further said: “What that has done to us is that instead of focusing on how to make Nigeria grow bigger and better, we are focused on how individuals would grow.

“As long as we continue to

look at individuals and relegate Nigeria to the background, fake news will continue to be the order of the day because such news will only just move the interests of those persons which may not be in consonance with the interests of the entire country.

“Until we get back and begin to realise that Nigeria is our country, and that what we need to do is to make it work as a country, we will continue to chase shadows. I want to plead with journalists to realise that we don’t have any other country; the only country we have today is Nigeria.”

Court to Hear Suit on Saraki, Dogara, Deputies’Removal Process Today Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court Abuja will today commence hearing on a suit seeking court’s pronouncement on the process of removing presiding officers of the National Assembly.

The suit, filed by a newly registered political party, the United Peoples’ Congress (UPC), is specifically seeking a declaratory action to guide the party following, “several confusing interpretations being given to the issues raised for determination.”

However, when the matter came up last Tuesday, a vacation Judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, after granting prayers of the plaintiff that the matter be heard during vacation, ordered the plaintiff to serve the court processes on the defendants through substituted service.

Justice Dimgba subsequently adjourned today for hearing of the originating summons.

The UPC in the suit dated and filed on August 31, by its counsel, Chief M. A. Igwe, among others, is praying the court to determine between

members of the National Assembly and political parties who have the power to elect and remove presiding officers of the National Assembly.

The plaintiff further wants the court to determine whether by provisions of the constitution the presiding members can only be removed by a two-third majority of the House and not two-third of those present at the sitting.

In an 11 paragraph affidavit deposed to by the UPC National Chairman, Kenneth Ibe-Kalu, the plaintiff claimed that the

determination of the suit would guide persons seeking election on its platform into the National Assembly as to their rights when elected as legislators as well as the rights of their party.

Ibe-Kalu disclosed that the plaintiff is already planning a retreat, which will be regular for all its candidates for the 2019 elections in order to make their candidates understand their rights and powers, including their rights and powers as sought to be declared by the court.

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FG to Rehabilitate Enugu Airport’s Runway Chinedu Eze The federal government yesterday said it has concluded plans to carry out comprehensive rehabilitation of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

This was disclosed by the Director General of the

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, who noted that the runway has gone through a lot of short term repairs but to ensure that it continues to meet international standards, the government has to embark on comprehensive rehabilitation of the airport.

The director general made

PDP Unites Ogunbiyi, Adeleke Ahead of Osun Poll Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ahead of the Osun State gubernatorial election scheduled for September 22, 2018, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has moved to put its house in order as it reconciles the runners up at the primary election in the state, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, and the party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, while speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), said the reconciliation among the PDP stakeholders in the state was a show of unity within the party.

He said: “What just happened is the signing of MOU between not just the two aspirants of the Osun State gubernatorial primaries of PDP, but between all the PDP stakeholders in the state, especially between two state PDP gubernatorial primaries who a lot of people thought could not come together. Today what you saw was the unity of the PDP in Osun State.

“The two aspirants who contested in an intensive primary are now together finally, this will enable us to present a united party for the forthcoming election.

“We are very happy with what we have seen today; the credit goes to two of them, Adeleke, and more particularly, Ogunbiyi. Because we have

all gone through election and we know what is like to lose an election, but he puts the party first and they have come together in the interest of the people in state and how to rescue them.”

On his part, Ogunbiyi said he was very delighted that a compromise could be reached in the interest of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

He said he believed that Osun State must be taken in order for the people to be able to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, assuring them that PDP members are going to work together for the party’s victory in the gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile, Adeleke said he was happy that God has answered PDP’s prayer, saying: “For us, the PDP victory is assured, and by the grace of God, we are going to win the gubernatorial election on September 22.”

He commended the leadership of the PDP, especially the Senate president, and all the party leaders who organised the reconciliation meeting. “The electorate is waiting for us, I believe that they want us and this is what they have been waiting for, because after primary election, there should be reconciliation.

And with this reconciliation, everybody is happy, the electorate is waiting for us, so victory is ours,” he said.

Police Deploy Technology to End Illegal Detention by SARS David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris has stated that the ongoing reforms of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) will include the installation of a device - Custody Management System to check abuse by men of the squad in the area of illegal detention.

Idris who spoke to journalists yesterday in Awka, Anambra State, during a tour of the state police command, said the device would be configured to alert relevant offices once a suspect is detained, and also when the detention exceeds the permitted 48 hours.

Idris who was represented by the coordinator, IG’s X- Squad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Amaechi Elumelu, said the police force had fine-tuned several strategies that would help it perform better, devoid of previous complaints by the public.

Elumelu warned the operatives sternly that any act of misconduct could lead to outright dismissal.

“The FSARS has been

remodeled to serve the public better and also combate crime.

Let me say it clearly that the squad will only deal with robbery and kidnap cases. It will not dabble into land and other civil matters because that is not our scope.

“Training and retraining of personnel will be even more regular. I am not promising that the men would be sent overseas for training, because of the large number of men involved, it would be easier to bring men from outside the country to train them here.

“Besides all these reforms, we are also exploring technology to ensure the efficiency of our men. The Custody management system is one of them, and that device will help us monitor the abuse of detaining people illegally without charging them to court.”

He added that another of such is the development of an application that all phone users can download on their phones, and which could help them send complaints directly to force headquarters and have them tackled immediately.

this known yesterday after inspection tour of the facility and other safety critical infrastructure at the airport.

Usman said NCAA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) were prompted to visit and inspect the airport facilities following the call by the governors of the Southeastern states for urgent action on the runway.

The governors described the runway as death trap.

But Usman said the runway is safe and that is why the regulatory authority allowed flights at the airport,

noting that Ethiopia Airlines operates international flights three times a day from the airport.

“If maintenance has not been done according to standards and renewals have not taken place as and when due, we certainly will have some failures like this.

Last year, Abuja runway was closed down as a result of similar problems.

“Short time maintenance has been going on for the past two years to ensure that the safety level is maintained. In the runway, we just passed

through, and there is nothing major in terms of safety. We came here by air and we landed, but there is a lot that can be done to improve on the riding quality.

“Plans are on the way to carry out similar works that took place in Abuja runway. To ensure longer life, better riding quality for the runway, we have some international flights coming to Enugu, some are three times a week. Dreamliner lands here, Boeing 777 also lands here, especially for cargo. Generally speaking, we will say the

runway is still very safe to operate. This is in line with the government’s policy to ensure that whatever is done is in line with the international standard. Arrangements are being made to rehabilitate the runway,” he stated.

The acting Managing Director of FAAN and Director, Engineering Services, Salisu Daura, also added that the agency plans to install airfield lighting, approach light and other safety critical amenities in order to make the airport operate longer hours into the night.

MEDIA CHAT...

L-R: Project Consultant, Sub-saharan Africa Oil, Gas and Energy Summit (SSAOGES) 2018, Mr. Kayode Olamoyegun; Event Manager, Dalapo Ogunlana; Co- convener, SSAOGES 2018, Mr. Oladeji Olawale, and Project Manager, Mr. Femi Elebiju, at the media briefing on Subsahara Africa Oil, Gas and Energy summit 2018 held in Lagos yesterday PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

N’Assembly Members Absent as Niger APC Adopts Direct Primary Kano’s ruling party endorses direct method Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Laleye Dipo in Minna All the three senators and four out of the nine members of the House of Representatives were absent at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday night at the secretariat of the Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where the party adopted the direct primary method to elect candidates for the 2019 general elections.

This is coming as the Kano State chapter of the ruling party has endorsed the adoption of direct primary as a means of selecting candidates that will fly the party’s flag in all elective positions.

The Niger APC’s meeting was called to decide the method to be used for the election of candidates for various elective positions in the state in next years’ election.

THISDAY gathered that all the aspirants for various positions under the platform of the party were invited to the meeting but

these federal lawmakers were absent.

The reasons for the absence of the federal lawmakers were not known but there were speculations that they would defect from the ruling party because of the way and manner the executive and the party leadership were running the party and the state.

While the stakeholders’ meeting was ongoing, it was learnt that Senator David Umaru was distributing empowerment tools and scholarships to some youths in his senatorial zone.

Also in the last couple of months, the affected federal lawmakers have not attended the APC expanded caucus committee meeting.

It was also gathered that some of them were even absent at the rally held at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna where Governor Abubakar Sani Bello was endorsed for a second term last February.

Senator David Umaru who appeared to be the spokesman of the federal lawmakers rejected

the endorsement describing it as illegal.

It was learnt that at the stormy stakeholders’ meeting which the Governor Bello attended briefly, the issue of adopting direct or indirect primary method dominated the discussion.

According to a source privy to the meeting, those opposed to the indirect primary method lost out.

He added that most of the aspirants, especially the state legislators who spoke at the meeting, supported the direct primary because the executive would not have “ too much influence over the voters”.

The state Chairman of APC, Alhaji Jibrin Imam confirmed yesterday the direct primary method would be used for electing the party’s candidates.

In a related development, the Kano State chapter of the ruling party has endorsed the adoption of direct primary as a means of selecting candidates that will fly the party’s flag in all elective positions.

Rising from a meeting held on Tuesday, the state Executive Committee of the party said the decision would improve the chances of APC in the 2019 elections.

A press statement signed by the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas Sanusi said APC would adopt direct primary for selecting candidates for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections.

According to him, the decision was unanimously endorsed by the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; two Senators -Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and Senator Barau Jibrin;13 members of the House of Representatives led by the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado Doguwa; 33 members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Kabiru Al Hassan Rurum; 53 state Executive Committee members of the party; 44 elected chairmen of the party and 44 local government party chairmen, as well as secretaries of the party in the 44 LGAs in the state.

Monarch Holds National Leadership Prayer Summit His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Ilufemiloye, Telu 1, the Oluwo of Iwo Kingdom has concluded plans to organize the second edition of the national leadership prayer day on Sunday September 16th, 2018 in the ancient Yoruba city of Iwo. A statement signed by the first class monarch stated that

the national leadership prayer initiative which will hold on the premises of the monarch’s palace is aimed at uniting the political elites in the country irrespective of party affiliations, religious beliefs, and social backgrounds so as to collectively get involved in the task of building and developing the country.

The Oba said he was inspired

by God to flag off an “Annual Leadership Prayer Day” (which is inter-faith and interdenominational) for Nigeria’s leaders-political, royal, religious, corporate etc across all levels of government and across all the strata of the Nigerian society, adding that the maiden edition was held August last year.

According to him, “The

prayer which had respected religious clerics across the various faiths as well as political leaders and royal fathers in attendance was quite timely and auspicious; and, it is to our national joy and pride that the prayers were answered by the Almighty God as testimonies abound to that effect across our national landscape, thereafter.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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

NFF’s Ethics Committee Bans, Fines Salisu Yusuf Duro Ikhazuagbe

As reported by THISDAY yesterday, Super Eagles Chief Coach, Salisu Yusuf, has been handed a one year ban from all football related activities and $5,000 fine by Nigeria Football Federation’s Ethics and Fair Play Committee.

The punishment is the fallout of the coach’s involvement in a sting operation in which he was filmed receiving $1,000 from undercover reporters posing as players’ agent.

The committee headed by former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, Nuhu Ribadu, indicted the former Kano Pillars gaffer for accepting the cash gift of $1,000 offered

by Tigers Player’s Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco.

It also found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Coach Salisu Yusuf

Salisu Yusuf... banned

but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of $1,000 from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the Committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players.

“That the two Players could have made the team to 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco on the basis of their talent and performance.

“That Coach Salisu Yusuf did not accept the offer of 15% of the anticipated transfer fees of the said players, as there was no follow-up action on the promise.

“That the act of the Coach, which was widely published on the British Broadcasting Corporation, has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian Football, as he ought to have conducted himself more professionally in line with the Code of Conduct signed alongside his Contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models,” observed the NFF committee.

As also reported by THISDAY, NFF’s Integrity Unit headed by Dr Christian Emeruwa commenced preliminary investigation into the matter when the documentary showing Yusuf receiving the $ 1,000 was first aired by BBC.

FIFA Extends Nyantakyi Suspension FIFA has extended its ban from all football activities on former Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi by an additional 45 days, He was initially suspended on June 8 for 90 days by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee.

The committee is carrying out a formal investigation into Nyantakyi after he was filmed apparently accepting a “cash gift”.

The extension of the ban will commence on September 6, 2018.

He was filmed in undercover investigation by controversial Ghanaian journalistAnasAremeyawAnas taking $65,000 from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman.

Some of the footage fromAnas’ film was later broadcast by the BBC World

Service’s investigation’s programme Africa Eye. Soon after the ban on June 8 Nyantakyi resigned from the posts he had held with football’s world governing body, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

He left his role on the FIFA Council and stepped aside from his roles with CAF including as 1st vice-president, the most senior figure at the confederation after its president, Ahmad.

As well as the FIFA suspension Nyantakyi also resigned as president of the GFA on June 8following an executive committee meeting Nyantakyi has always denied any wrongdoing.

U-17 AFCON ZONAL QUALIFIER

Eaglets in Must-win Clash against Cote d’Ivoire Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will play their second game of the Under-17 AFCON zonal qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire this afternoon in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The Manu Garba led Eaglets lost their first game to Burkina Faso 3-2 and must win today to stay alive in this qualifying tournament.

Yesterday, hosts Niger were again held to a goalless draw

by Ghana after they failed to score in a second straight game of the zonal qualifier.

The home boys were also held to a 0-0 draw in the opening game of the competition by Togo.

The highlight of the first half was Ghana failing to convert a penalty just before the break when their player fired his kick over the crossbar.

In the second half, Niger goalkeeper denied Ghana in the 51st minute, before his Ghanaian counterpart also produced a big save thereafter.

Niger also had another chance to get on the scoreboard but poor finishing let them down right inside the six-yard box.

Emeruwa’s report formed the basis for the banning of the coach by the Ribadu-led Ethics Committee.

Yusuf was assistant to Gernot Rohr at the recent World Cup in Russia and led Nigeria to the final of this year’s Championship

of African Nations (CHAN) in Morocco.

Other members of the Committee include; Alhaji

Mainasara Illo (Member), Reverend Justin Chidi Okoroji (Member) and Joshua Onoja (Secretary).

Nigeria’s male team defeated Egypt 3-1 to emerge champions of the 2018 ITTF African Championships in Mauritius… yesterday

Nigeria, Egypt Pick 2019 World Team Cup Tickets Nigeria and Egypt will fly Africa’s flag at the 2019 ITTF World Team Cup in Tokyo, Japan after emerging champions at the 2018 ITTF African Championships holding in Mauritius.

It was Egypt who first confirmed her spot in the global tournament after defeating Nigeria’s women team 3-1 in the final but few hours later the Nigerian team led by 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open Champion, Aruna Quadri dethroned Egypt as the new continental champions for men.

In the last three editions of the World Team Cup, Egypt

men and women teams have featured in the tournament and the last time Nigeria’s men team competed was in 2010 in Dubai.

But with the 3-1 win over Egypt in the final, the West African side will return to the global championship comes November 2019 in Japan.

The tournament is a test run for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The trio of Dina Meshref, Farah Abdel-Aziz and Yousra Helmy defeated Nigeria’s trio of Edem Offiong, Olufunke Oshonaike and Janet Effiom to retain their title in the continent.

In the men’s final, it was a different scenario as the experience of Segun Toriola counted for the West African team when the seven-time Olympian fought from 1-2 down to beat youthful Khaled Assar 3-2 in the third game to give Nigeria a 2-1 lead after Aruna Quadri had put Nigeria ahead with a 3-2 win over Ahmed Saleh while Bode Abiodun fell 0-3 to Mohammed El-Beiali.

Like a true champion, it was Aruna Quadri who saved the day for Nigeria with an explosive encounter against Mohammed El-Beiali who made the spectators

to be on the edge of their seats during the tie.

Having fell behind 1-2, Aruna Quadri fought back to beat the Arab Cup Champion 3-2 to throw the Nigerian camp into frenzy celebration.

A disappointed Ahmed Saleh told reporters that it was a painful loss especially the loss by Assar to Toriola.

“I am so disappointed that we could not retain our title because we had thought we could pick the third game against Toriola. I am not too happy but that is table tennis and we will come back to fight again,” Saleh concluded.

Victor Moses Unveiled as Binomo Brand Ambassador Nigerian and Chelsea footballer, Victor Moses, has been appointed as official Brand Ambassador of world leading forex trading company, Binomo.

As part of the company’s plan to infiltrate the African and Asian market, Moses would be the face of the Binomo brand, an online platform where users earn on rises or falls in currency exchange rates and prices for shares or commodities. Moses, who was named by the Nigerian Football Federation as the 2018 Footballer of the Year and represented the country at the World Cup in Russia, is to help boost Binomo’s integral marketing campaigns.

He is to also help the brand encourage Nigerians to bid for financial independence and success by being open to the possibilities that online trading can proffer. Delighted with the offer and happy to be on board, Victor Moses explained his relationship with Binomo: “Trading with Binomo is secure, accurate, and delivers superior customer service. I am happy to be involved with such a leading brand and a global leader in online trading.” While speaking on the partnership, a representative of the company echoed similar sentiments: “Victor Moses is one of Africa’s most talented

and successful footballers who perfectly personifies the ideals of the Binomo brand.

“We are truly excited to work with him as we bring Binomo’s unbeatable service offerings closer to the Nigerian and African market.” Binomo has won awards as Best Broker for Beginners (2015 Forex Expo Awards), Broker of the Year (2016 IAIR Awards) and rated ‘Category A’ by Financial Commission, an independent self-regulatory and external dispute resolution (EDR) body, dedicated specifically to Forex. The trading company offers its users access to the most traded financial assets with helpful tips

Victor Moses and free trainings to aid optimised performance. The platform also provides users the opportunity to enter into trades with as low as N360 ($1), a chance to participate in tournaments, technical support and a wide range of bonuses for new customers and active traders.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Serena Set for Bruising Battle with Sevastova Nadal to play Argentine 3rd seed del Potro in Friday’s s’final US OPEN 2018 Serena Williams Tuesday night passed her toughest test so far at the 2018 US Open to beat Karolina Pliskova and reach the semi-finals for a ninth consecutive time. She faces Latvia’s 19th Seed Anastasija Sevastova in the semi final today.

Williams, seeded 17th, trailed 4-2 in the first set but hit back to win 6-4 6-3 against the Czech eighth seed.

The American, 36, is seeking her first Grand Slam trophy since giving birth to daughter Olympia last September.

If she wins it would be her 24th major title - equalling Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record.

“I don’t think I have another 10 years of having opportunities to be able to play and win championships,” said former world number one Williams.

“Every match really means a lot to me. I kind of go out there and I just do the best that I can.”

Williams faces Sevastova, who knocked out American defending champion Sloane Stephens earlier on Tuesday, in the last four today.

Six-time champion Williams has reached the semi-finals in her past nine appearances at Flushing Meadows, although missed the tournament in 2010 with a foot injury and last year because she was pregnant.

Williams is only playing her eighth tournament since becoming a mother, but had only dropped one set - in her last-16 match against Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi - on her way to the last eight.

However, having lost to Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final, there were question marks how she would fare against another high-calibre player.

After a slow start against the big-serving former number one, Williams grew into the match as she responded to

some vociferous backing from Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The six-time US Open champion won eight games in a row - four at the end of the first and four at the start of the second - to help her secure victory in one hour 26 minutes.

It was her first win over a top-10 ranked player since beating Britain’s Johanna Konta at the 2017 Australian Open.

“I feel like I’m at a level where I can play and try to compete against these amazing women in the top 10,” said Williams, who had lost her three previous matches against top-10 players.

Williams suffered a chastening defeat by Pliskova, who had a brief spell as world number one last year, when they last met each other in the 2016 US Open semi-finals.

And it looked like she could face more trouble when 26-year-old Pliskova threatened to go a double break up in the first set.

The tall Czech was unable to convert either for a 4-2 lead with her service game next - and that was the momentum-changing moment in what had promised to be an engrossing match.

Williams upped her number of winners as Pliskova’s unforced error count grew, a pattern which continued in the early part of the second set.

Little danger seemed apparent for Williams when Pliskova clawed one break back for 4-1, only for the tension to grow when the world number eight moved 40-0 ahead on the American’s serve in the seventh game.

Williams responded with some huge serving to see off four break points, averting danger for a 5-2 lead and allowing her to wrap up victory in her next service game.

“I played much better two years ago,” Pliskova said. “I was able to hold the serve much better this time - but

Osaka Beats Tsurenko to Reach Her First Grand Slam S’final Naomi Osaka reached her first Grand Slam semi-final yesterday with a dominant victory over Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko at the US Open.

The 20-year-old dropped just two games winning 6-1 6-1 against her unseeded opponent in 58 minutes.

She becomes the first Japanese woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Kimiko Date at Wimbledon in 1996.

“I was freaking out inside,” Osaka said. “My entire body was shaking, so I’m glad I was able to play well.”

The Japanese player also explained, during her on-court interview, why she did not celebrate after the winning point.

“The other time I cried a little bit (after the win over Aryna Sabalenka) and there was a lot of people making fun of me,” the Indian Wells champion said.

Both Osaka and Tsurenko were

competing in their first Slam quarter-final but the Ukrainian failed to settle and looked physically drained on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Osaka, who is regarded as one of the best young players in the game, broke in Tsurenko’s first service game and powered to the first set in 26 minutes before racing into a 4-0 lead in the second set.

Tsurenko then held serve and brought up three break points in the following game but failed to convert and double-faulted twice in the final game to hand Osaka victory.

The Ukrainian said that poor health meant she was not in peak condition for the match.

“I just woke up with a viral illness or whatever it is,” the 29-year-old said. “I don’t know what happened, but my throat is not well. I’m not breathing well.”

Osaka will play American Madison Keys or Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in the last four.

Serena roars on her way to the semi finals on Tuesday night I think maybe Serena’s back on the level where she was.

“It doesn’t matter that she’s (seeded) number 17 or 18 now.

I think she’s still the strongest.”

Earlier, men’s Defending champion Rafael Nadal dug deep to win the longest match of this year’s US Open in a classic five-set quarter-final against Dominic Thiem - which finished at 2:03am local time.

World number one Nadal lost the opening set 6-0 after being outpowered by the Austrian ninth seed in New York.

However, the 32-year-old Spanish top seed recovered to lead two sets to one before Thiem levelled in a tie-break.

Nadal edged a tense fifth-set tie-break to win 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5).

The 17-time Grand Slam

champion clinched victory when Thiem hit an overhead smash long on the first match point, the drama continuing until the last shot in an epic encounter lasting four hours and 49 minutes.

Nadal jumped over the net to console his Austrian opponent at the end, the pair embracing as those left inside Arthur Ashe Stadium rose

to their feet to give them a thunderous ovation.

“I said to Dominic: ‘I’m very sorry and keep going.’ He has plenty of time to win. He will have his chances in the future without a doubt,” Nadal said.

Asked about how he got through the tense moments, Nadal added: “Suffering is the right word. It was a great battle.”

Europe’s Top Coaches Want Away Goal Rule Scrapped Europe’s leading managers have called for an end to the away goals rule, which has been a staple of UEFA’s competitions for over 50 years.

The annual gathering of top coaches in Switzerland heard that top bosses want the rule scrapped, citing that football has moved on since it was first introduced in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho and Arsenal’s Unai Emery were both in attendance at the summit, along with Napoli’s Carlo Ancelotti, PSG boss Thomas Tuchel, new Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and Emery’s Arsenal predecessor Arsene Wenger.

“The coaches think that scoring goals away is not as difficult as it was in the past,” UEFA’s Deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti stated while addressing reporters.

“They think the rule should be reviewed and that’s what we will do.”

He added that the managers now

Call for uniform transfer window

Manchester United’s Manager, Jose Mourinho (seated, middle), and former Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger (seated 2nd right), were among the coaches who want the away goal rule changed see the rule counter-productive as it encouraged home teams to play defensive football to try and prevent a costly away goal.

The rule was initially introduced 53 years ago to prevent the staging of multiple replays when matches were deadlocked, and as a fairer way to decide games at a time when matches could

also be decided by the toss of a coin.

The summit also heard that coaches would like to see European transfer windows close at the same time, prior to the start of the season.

Both England and Italy’s topflights closed their windows before the start of the 2018/19

season, but Spain, France and Germany proceeded until August 31.

“The coaches are of an opinion that there should be a unified window and the window should close before the competition starts,” said Marchetti.

“The idea would be to try and bring them into line.”

Thursday, September 6, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Atiku Abubakar to Yemi Osinbajo “My advice to the Vice President is that he should choose whether he is for restructuring or whether he is against it and stick to his choice. This continuous prevarication, this approbation and reprobation, helps no one, least of all true progressives who know that Nigeria needs to be restructured and restructured soon – former Vice President Atiku Abubakar replying current VP Yemi Osinbajo on the raging debate over the need to restructure Nigeria

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Migration, Modern Slavery and Buhari

O

lusegun Adeniyi has done a fascinating work in documenting and spotlighting the predicaments of people of Africa caught in the web of unsafe migration and human trafficking. He exposes the travails of those who attempt to access Europe by road through the Sahara Desert before crossing the Mediterranean Sea. This book is also touchingly personal to the author who shared an extraordinary life story of Agboola, his younger brother, who for six years was caught in irregular migration web in the hands of both migrant smugglers and human traffickers. The story is like a fiction that could have been a Hollywood, Bollywood or Nollywood movie thriller but unfortunately it is a lived reality for not just Agboola, a survivor, but for many victims of this shameful modern trade in human beings that disturbingly gets re-victimized, re-trafficked, re-smuggled several times over whilst in search of livelihood and supposedly better life outside their country that they think holds not much future for them…

—Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, OON, Dean of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking I have excerpted the foregoing from the foreword to my coming book on ‘irregular migration’ against the background of the wasted opportunities by President Muhammadu Buhari to speak forcefully to one of the most depressing challenges confronting the continent and perhaps the number one issue on the global agenda today.

Both British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, two European leaders with contrasting positions on migration, were in Nigeria last week but unfortunately, President Buhari did not prepare ahead for an appropriate response to their messages.

It is instructive that on the eve of her arrival in Nigeria, a press statement from the British Prime Minister’s office had stated that “Nigeria is the fifth-largest country of origin of modern slavery in Britain. Men, women and children are tricked into journeys to Europe that can lead to abuse, prostitution, forced labour and death.” Quoting May, the statement said further that the UK is stepping up its partnership with the Nigerian authorities “to find traffickers and bring them to justice.”

Modern slavery and human trafficking are problems the authorities in Nigeria are yet to come to terms with and I believe President Buhari needs around him people who understand all these associated issues, especially as they relate to migration, so that he can appreciate the challenges and show more empathy whenever he needs to talk about the young men and women who risk their lives across the desert and the Mediterranean Sea. During the joint press conference he had with Mrs Merkel, the German leader who has shown a far more humane disposition to the underlining issues, even at great political cost both at home and in Europe, President Buhari repeated his unhelpful but rather familiar lines.

Buhari After restating his opposition to “those my countrymen and women that illegally travel to Europe”, the president added, “as an administration, agreeing with those who continue to defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean because they feel there are greener pastures there, whether they are prepared for it or not…anybody who feels this country does not offer him what he should be offered as a citizen, and decides to defy the desert and the Mediterranean, is doing it at his own risk.”

What the president has failed to understand is that the migration issue goes beyond the desperation of the young men and women who travel through those treacherous routes.

Besides, we can also not discount the poverty that is driving the desperation because people do not just wake up to risk their lives in the desert. Most of the migrants move mostly for economic reasons and it is not peculiar to our country or continent. For instance, with falling oil prices, plummeting currency rates and acute food shortages, Venezuela (another mismanaged oil producing country with the largest proven reserves in the world) is now engulfed in a serious economic crisis that has turned hundreds of thousands of their nationals into migrants. “The migratory wave in Roraima (a region in Brazil) is the result of the terrible living conditions to which the Venezuelan people have been subjected,” Brazilian President Michel Temer said last week while signing a decree to deploy the armed forces to the border town to protect the Venezuelan migrants who were being maltreated by Brazilians.

From the Middle East to Africa to Latin America, migration is driven principally by the quest for better life on the other shores.

If we will be honest, it is no surprise that many of our nationals are voting with their feet out of the country and the authorities will do well to look beyond the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea. When a population is growing at an alarming rate while economic development stagnates and both physical and social infrastructures are in total decay, it is natural for people to gravitate towards an environment they

believe would offer a more secure future for themselves and their families. That explains the growing pattern of many members of the Nigerian middle class moving abroad, mostly to Canada. These are mostly skilled professionals who seek a saner environment to live in and the best possible public education for their children but nobody seems to be paying attention to this new wave of brain drain, a consequence of the way we have mismanaged our country.

Meanwhile, it is the same desire for a better life that is pushing the ‘irregular migrants’ who risk their lives in the desert and on the sea and I as I said earlier, it is a global challenge. Together with Pius Adesanmi, I watched a chilling documentary last Thursday on ‘France 24’ channel titled “From Brazil to Canada: the new odyssey for African migrants” in which for five months, some reporters followed a family from Democratic Republic of Congo on a journey by road across ten countries, including through a vast stretch of jungle called the Darien Gap that was littered with dead bodies. “During the five months that we spent with Rosette, her husband Godet and their daughters Maria and Pauline, we saw many other migrants heading north to Canada. On this route, where a human life is worth just a few handfuls of dollars, Congolese, Malians, Senegalese, Nepalese and Bangladeshis try to blend in with the flow of South American and Caribbean migrants. But some will never reach their destination”, said the narrator.

However, beyond the pathetic stories of the desperation, ignorance and criminality pushing many of our young men and women on the continent into perilous journeys, there is also the issue of a not-so-subtle attempt at denying mobility to a certain people which is what the current global debate about immigration is all about. Incidentally, the British Prime Minister who was grandstanding in Abuja is one of the European leaders who believe in criminalising the mobility of people, especially from our continent.

Yet, we still don’t know who gave visa to Mr Mungo Park and all those do-gooders from her country that ‘discovered’ all the rivers from which our great grandparents used to fetch water.

On my flight from the United States yesterday, I read “Can we solve the migration crisis?” a fascinating new book

by Harvard Professor, Jacqueline Bahbha, where she borrowed from the famous thesis of Benedict Anderson to argue on why nations are “imagined communities”. As the author stated, many of the countries in the world today are “cultural products of individual human endeavor and collective organizing rather than about any inherent or permanent link between place and people. They are also recent inventions, as are the borders that define them.”

In that 1983 book, “Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism” that has in recent years become topical for obvious reasons, Anderson introduced the concept that is now being used to challenge the ultra-nationalists who seek to criminalise immigration. But Bhabha’s

book went further to provide interesting insights. “Our species, Homo sapiens, first emerged from Africa about 150-200,000 years ago. Genetic and archaeological scholarship now confirms that an ‘African Eve’ was the ‘mother of all humanity’. The movements of early human groups were determined by the evolving ability to exploit two large clusters of natural resources, those generated by water (lakes, rivers, seas, oceans) and those generated by soil. The imperative to secure means of survival and to adapt to changes and opportunities in one’s environment has always been a fundamental driver of human mobility” she wrote.

As I highlighted in my coming book, perhaps the only African leader who has shown a serious appreciation of the migration issue is the President of Ghana, Mr Nana Akufo-Addo. In his Kukah Centre Lecture delivered in Abuja in February this year, the Ghanaian leader argued that many European and American politicians have temporary amnesia, “for they appear to have conveniently forgotten that 19th century European history was marked, largely, by the large flow of European migrants, particularly Irish and Italian, into the Eldorado of America’s green pastures, at a time when the political economies of Ireland and Italy were in dire straits. Significant improvements in their economies have put an end to the emigration of their nationals.”

Akufo-Addo’s intervention, which I referenced in my book, is particularly important because he is not in denial about the challenge we face on the continent for which leaders must accept responsibility.

“Anyone, everybody, in a position of leadership in Africa today has his work cut out. I do not suggest that we lock up our young people to prevent them from embarking on these hazardous journeys. The urgent responsibility we face is to make our countries, our continent attractive for our youth to see as places of opportunities. It means we must provide education, education and education. It means our young people must acquire the skills that run modern economies”, said the Ghanaian President who then added: “There will always be those amongst our young people, who would want to try their luck in foreign countries. When they are skilled, they would not have to risk drowning in the Mediterranean Sea, they would be head hunted and treated with dignity.”

NOTE: I must express my appreciation to Ford Foundation for providing the research grant that facilitated my trips both to Europe and across the continent. Specifically, I must thank my brother, Innocent Chukwuma, Director of their West African Office and his assistant, Ms Chidinma Ayaku as well as Ms Tamila Vatcharadze, the Global Portfolio Advisor, Institute of International Education (IIE). Regrettably, much as I tried to rush the publication, Mr Bankole Olayebi of Bookcraft, a very meticulous publisher, says the book will not be out until mid-November. But I can assure readers that it is a book worth waiting for.

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