THURSDAY 1ST NOVERBER 2018

NLC Backs Out of Minimum Wage Negotiations Says it's N30,000 or strike

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The stage seems to be set for a major confrontation between workers and government over

new national minimum wage.

While organised labour is insisting on N30,000 as new minimum wage, state governors have offered N22,500 as what

the states would be able to pay.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba,

said that organised labour would maintain its stand on the implementation of N30,000 as new minimum wage and would not accept any move to

negotiate it downwards.

He said barring any change of position by government, workers would proceed with the planned strike on Tuesday.

Wabba also tried to correct the impression that there was a stalemate during the tripartite Continued on page 6

Equities Market Loses N1.8tn in 10 Months… Page 8 Thursday 1 November, 2018 Vol 23. No 8597. Price: N250

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Again, Buhari Appeals to Amosun, Okorocha,Yari, Others Not to Defect Says he did his best to ensure free primaries Cautions politicians on divisive statements

Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday continued his fire-fighting in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), appealing, once again, to aggrieved members, who lost out during the recently

concluded primary elections not to leave the party.

At least four governors of the party, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State), Chief Rochas Okorocha (Imo State), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State) and Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), and Continued on page 6

…APC Considers Tinubu to Chair Campaign Council Amaechi to continue as DG Ahead of the launch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign proposed for the third week of this month, the party's leadership is considering its national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as the chairman of its campaign council.

The council is to serve as

the coordinating organ of the campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a reliable THISDAY source, Tinubu has been briefed on this proposal, and was one of the issues that Continued on page 8

JOLLY GOOD FELLOW… Atiku Berates FG over Public L-R: British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright; former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd); and Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, during a reception for the High Assets Sale to Fund Budget ... Page 6 Acting Commissioner in Abuja…yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

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Atiku Berates FG over Public Assets Sale to Fund Budget PDP rejects Osinbajo’s comment on debt profile

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to sell some public assets to fund 2019 budget as irresponsible.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, had said recently that the federal government might not be able to fund 2019 budget unless some national assets are sold.

Buhari had on Monday while delivering the 75th anniversary/ business lecture of the Island Club, Lagos accused past leaders of the PDP of not building public infrastructure.

However, some of the assets listed for sale in the policy document of the Buhari-led federal government are assets built or established under the PDP administrations that governed Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.

Atiku in a statement by his campaign organisation yesterday said, “The attention of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a policy statement by the Buhari administration evincing a plan to sell national assets to fund the 2019 budget.

“Our first response would be that this action by the Buhari government has the effect of ridiculing their principal. Our question is this: If the PDP did

not build infrastructure, as alleged

by President Muhammadu Buhari, who built these assets that this administration wants to sell to fund their 2019 budget?”

The former vice president said as the head of the Economic Management Committee during the Obasanjo administration, he supervised the successful policy of privatisation.

He explained that privatisation works as a long-term strategy to engender efficiency in the economic system and expand the frontiers of private sector activity.

Atiku stressed that its primary goal was not to raise money for short term stabilisation of what is clearly a fragile fiscal system, adding that government’s planned sale of assets would cause long term pains and only provide short term gains.

He stated, “It makes no sense to sell public assets simply to fund a 'business-as-usual' budget that is essentially 70 per cent recurrent. It is irresponsible to part with valuable assets simply to consume the proceeds—like selling your family house to take a trip overseas on holiday.

“We knew that such a day would come, which is why Atiku has on various occasions made it clear that what is needed at this time is fundamentally fiscal restructuring to eliminate our addiction to oil revenues and strengthen our internal revenue generating capacity and a restructuring of the budget in

favour of capital spending.

“For instance, last month, the PDP presidential candidate questioned the wisdom behind the federal government sharing $322 million Abacha loot to certain Nigerians, only to obtain a $328 million loan from China, allegedly for ICT development.”

Atiku said rather than share that money, the Buhari administration ought to have put that $322 million in an escrow account to be used for funding the 2019 budget.

He said $43 million was found in an Ikoyi apartment, noting the failed promise of the Buhari administration to come clean on who was behind those monies and stated that those funds should equally have been placed in escrow for use in funding the 2019 budget.

PDP Rejects Osinbajo’s Comment on Debt Profile Meanwhile, the PDP has called on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to refrain from bandying figures that he cannot substantiate, saying his claims on legacy debts inherited by the Buhari administration were misleading.

Osinbajo had last Saturday at the ninth Public Lecture of Sigma Club at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, said the Buhari-led administration inherited $63 billion debt and had only

borrowed $10 billion since it took office in 2015.

He had said, “In 2010, our debt was $35 billion, $41 billion in 2011, $48 billion in 2012, $64 billion in 2013, $67.7 billion in 2014, $63.8 billion in 2015, $57.8billion in 2016, $70 billion in 2017 and $73 billion in 2018.

“The nation’s debt as at today is $73 billion, an increment of $10 billion from the $63 billion inherited in 2015.”

He said the nation’s oil earnings was $119.8 billion between 1990 and 1998, $481 billion from 1999 to 2009 and $381 billion from 2010 to 2014, while the present administration had only earned $112 billion from June 2015.

“The earnings from oil from 2010 to 2014 were the highest recorded in the history of the country. This is a period when the price of oil per barrel sold from $100 to $114”, he had said.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said in a desperate attempt to divert attention from the failures of the Buhari administration, Osinbajo falsified financial templates to argue that this government had no blame in the accumulation of debts under its watch.

He stated, “The PDP also wishes to bring to the attention of Nigerians to the deliberate distortion of facts by Vice President Osinbajo regarding

the nation’s debt profile, which escalated to a frightening proportion under the Buhari administration.

“It is an incontrovertible fact that the Buhari administration has accumulated more debts than any other administration in the history of our nation.

“Our dear vice president forgot Nigerians are aware that between 2016 and 2017, under President Buhari, our annual borrowing was about N3.7 trillion as against the N1.04 trillion annual borrowing perimeter between 2008 and 2015. Between 1999 and 2007 the annual borrowing perimeter was as low as N96 billion naira.

“To deceive the public and divert attention to the alarming borrowing spree of the Buhari administration, the APC-led federal government converted domestic debt borrowed in naira under its watch, to the US dollar so that the very high exchange rate will make the domestic debt look smaller in dollars.

“This is a deceptive picture because domestic debt was accumulated in naira and not in dollar.”

Ologbondiyan pointed out that the domestic debts of states were not part of the database until 2013, and therefore, a sincere comparison of debts over the years should have focused on total external debt and federal government’s domestic debt.

According to him, “In view of the above, if Vice President

Osinbajo, a professor of law, was not being economical with the truth, the appropriate comparison should be to have the domestic debt in naira and convert the external debt to naira to get national debt for each of the years, which show that the Buhari administration has accumulated more debts than any other administration.”

The opposition party stressed that an appropriate comparison would further show that the annual growth rate of public debt was only 0.44 per cent under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, 20.14 per cent under the Yar’Adua and Jonathan administration and 29.6 per cent under President Buhari.

PDP stated, “We therefore charge the vice president to refrain from bandying figures that he cannot substantiate in an attempt to score cheap political point. Nigerians have moved beyond the lies, deception, propaganda and beguilement of the APC. It amounts to a huge disservice to our nation if a person of such high office of the vice president will allow himself to be used to distort figures to deceive Nigerians.”

The PDP said that its presidential campaign would be issue-based, as the party would focus on issues that have direct bearing on the welfare of Nigerians who have suffered enough hardship in the last three and half years under an insensitive administration.

Explaining further the processes of negotiation, Wabba said that at the beginning all parties submitted proposed amounts for new minimum wage. He said that organised labour proposed N66,500 while the private sector and at least 21 states also submitted figures.

According to the NLC president, negotiations ensued and at the end everyone settled for N30,000.

According to him, "Through the process of collective bargaining, recognised by our laws, in process of give and

take that N30,000 was mutually agreed on by all the parties at the conclusion of the tripartite negotiations on October 5.”

He said it was clear that a cross section of the stakeholders signed the agreement at the end of negotiations, adding that Labour has resolved to stand by that agreed and to insist that the president should do the needful by endorsing it for the National Assembly to debate it and pass it into law.

The labour leader said as far as NLC was concerned a deal has been struck at the

end of the tripartite negotiations and there was no going back to negotiations.

He also questioned the rationale for the state governors to regroup under the auspices of the Governors’ Forum and to attempt to rubbish the report of the minimum wage committee.

Wabba accused the governors’ forum of insincerity, saying that they had once promised to provide three year audited accounts to labour movement to enable it have better understanding of the financial situation of the states but failed to do so.

He challenged any state chief executive who feels that he is not comfortable with the N30,000 proposal to go home and tell his workers that he will not pay and see what would be their response.

NLC BACKS OUT OF MINIMUM WAGE NEGOTIATIONS negotiations, insisting that the issue of N30,000 minimum wage was conclusively resolved and the report signed He said, "More than 50per cent the stakeholders have signed the report, and there was no disagreement, that is the point I want people to realise. No one can dispute the fact that the signature part of the report document has been signed by members.”

He explained that the reason some other members of the tripartite did not sign on that day was because it was getting

late and they offered to do so later. "We say with confidence, let the president make the report public so that the matter will be laid to rest and so that Nigerians will know who was lying. For us we remain resolute on our position on the issue of new minimum wage,” he said.

He frowned at alleged move to create division within the ranks of organised private sector by getting an insignificant segment to cast aspersions on the diligent work done by the tripartite committee.

"NECA was also there at the

negotiations and I am sure they will issue a formal statement to confirm what we are saying.

So this issue of threatening the organised private sector and trying to divide their rank and file will not work,” he stated.

Wabba said that by law new minimum wage was supposed to be in place every four years and the present minimum wage expired in 2016.

"The legal implications of continued delay in fixing a new minimum wage is that government is already in breach of the law," he said.

AGAIN, BUHARI APPEALS TO AMOSUN, OKOROCHA, YARI, OTHERS NOT TO DEFECT scores of senior members have been up in arms against the National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, calling for his removal over the primaries.

The presidential appeal came three weeks after he asked those who failed in their bid to secure the party’s ticket to emulate the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who lost his re-election bid but did not leave the ruling party.

Buhari pleaded with the aggrieved during a dinner with them at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday night, telling them he did his best to ensure that the primaries process was free and fair.

Those in attendance included gubernatorial, national and state assembly aspirants who failed to secure the party’s tickets in the forthcoming general election.

Buhari urged them to be patient, remain with the party and work for its success during the 2019 elections.

While briefing State House correspondents after the dinner, Alhaji Aliyu Wadada,

a gubernatorial aspirant from Nasarawa State, said the president assured the aspirants that justice would be done as their cases would be looked into.

“Beyond just eating at the dinner as a family, we had discussions over the various experiences that aspirants had during the APC primaries and the president pleaded and pacified the aggrieved aspirants to remain resolute and continue to be loyal and committed to Nigeria’s unity which is the most important thing beyond party politics,” he said.

He added, “The president told us his experiences from the military to civilian eras, adding that naturally it is never easy when your mandate is forcefully taken but whatever it is, we should remain as a family and the needful shall be done where necessary to ensure that those that genuinely won their primary elections are given their stolen mandate but cases that cannot be really proven

will have to bear with the outcome; after all, you don’t just divorce yourself from your family because you don’t get what you want.”

A senatorial aspirant from Kebbi State, Sule Sami, said those at the meeting resolved to work hard for Buhari’s reelection in 2019.

“One important thing coming out of the meeting with our president is our resolve to ensure that the president wins next year; we will stay back and fight to ensure that he is returned next year because we are not going to be campaigning for any person other than our president,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, also said the meeting went well, adding that the aspirants pledged to work for the success of the party.

Enang said the meeting was one of the greatest steps taken by Buhari and the APC to bring every aggrieved person together, thus paving way for

the party’s success at the polls next year.

The president had told his guests that he regularly met and called the Oshiomhole during the primaries to ensure that internal democracy was respected.

Buhari, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, told the aspirants that the primary motivation for election contest should be the desire to improve situations in the country, and not for pecuniary reasons.

It also said the president urged the aspirants who lost out in the primaries to remain faithful to the country and uphold the tenets of integrity, pleading that there would yet be more opportunities for them to serve along the way.

Adesina also said Buhari, who told the aspirants that “those who mismanaged the resources of the country are still very much around, with incredible wealth," warned them to be vigilant and circumspect in

making choices, adding that the future would only be salvaged by those who love the country.

“I spoke with the APC party chairman almost every other day, at least for an hour during the primaries. And sometimes, we met for two and half hours on ensuring internal democracy during the primaries,’’ the president was quoted.

Tinubu Oshiomhole

Backs

Meanwhile, the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday in Abuja threw his weight behind Oshiomhole, expressing opposition to the moves to remove him from office.

Saying every member had the responsibility to respect the supremacy of the party, Tinubu, who highlighted various stages the party went through before the primaries as well as the agreements reached, said those who lost out in the primaries Continued on page 8

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NEWS

Equities Market Loses N1.8tn in 10 Months Goddy Egene The Nigerian equities market has lost N1.766 trillion in 10 months from January to October 2018 and is heading to a negative close contrary to expectations that the gain recorded in 2017 would be sustained this year.

After negative closure in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the market recovered in 2017 with a record gain of 42.3 per cent with projections that the Bull Run would continue through 2018.

However, 10 months after and two months to end of the year, the market has lost N1.766 trillion in capitalisation, which fell from N13.619 trillion in January to close at N11.853 trillion yesterday, translating to 12.9 per cent loss.

The loss is even higher when viewed from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI), angle which has shed 15.1 per cent within the last 10 months. The NSE ASI declined

from 38,243.19 to 32,466.27.

Although the market had opened 2018 with an unprecedented bull run that hit a peak at the end of January, the bears set in as from February following the exit of foreign investors to developed markets.

While many of the emerging and frontier markets were affected by the flight to safety by investors due to increase in rates in the United States, Nigerian case was compounded by sell down by some investors to guide against negative impact of the forthcoming general elections.

However, the decline moderated in the month of October, falling by a marginal 0.9 per cent compared with 5.9 per cent in September. Market analysts said investors’ reaction to third quarter corporate earnings helped to reduce the negative impact in October. But it is believed the market cannot recover in the remaining two months to close the year with

a gain, considering the tension being created in the polity as elections approach.

Stockbrokers had said that whereas some investors have remained confident in the strong fundamentals of the market, such confidence has been challenged by developments in the political scene.

Based on the developments, which include defections and utterances capable of heating up the polity, the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), the umbrella body for the chief executive officers of stockbroking firms, said more investors were exiting the capital market.

ASHON said: “For the umpteenth time, we strongly appeal to the political class that rather than indulge in unwholesome activities, actions, attitudes and destructive utterances, they should support all efforts aimed at creating the much-needed

enabling environment for accelerated economic growth and development.”

According to the association, the unguarded activities and unrestrained utterances of our politicians are heating up the polity with dire consequences on the economy as a whole and the capital market in particular.

“Perhaps we may remind the political class that uncertainties and all sorts of insecurities that currently pervade our country affect investors’ sentiments, asset valuations, market and country risk profile and portfolio allocation decisions. In recent times, trading statistics on the securities markets in Nigeria have been reflecting investors’ apathy to unprecedented level of tension that portends likely breakdown of law and order in the 2019 general elections.”

ASHON explained that it is an unassailable investorbehaviour that bad news trigger market panic and investors over react to such news, adding

CEO, NSE, Oscar Onyema that innocent investors watch helplessly as their investments are plundered by the bearish market exacerbated by prevailing uncertainties in the polity created by the political class.

“As the country’s economic barometers, the securities markets in Nigeria have continued to reflect investors’ apprehensions to instability

in the political and economic landscape through all their indices. This has largely accounted for the inability of our market to fully recover from the effects of the 2008 financial crisis , notwithstanding the efforts made by the regulators and operators to fully revive the market. There is clear and present danger if the trend continues,” it said.

W’Bank Forecasts Oil Prices to Average $74 in 2019 Obinna Chima The World Bank has predicted that oil prices will average $74 a barrel in 2019, marginally up from its projected average of $72 a barrel in 2018.

But metals prices were expected to remain broadly stable in 2019.

The World Bank stated this in its October Commodity Markets Outlook, obtained yesterday.

Nigeria’s federal government recently proposed N8.73 trillion for next year’s budget, which was based on crude oil price of $60 per barrel.

Continuing, the World Bank noted that growing global trade tensions were weighing

on non-energy commodity prices and could be leading to downward revisions to its 2019 price forecasts.

Prices for energy commodities – which include oil, natural gas, and coal -- were forecast to average 33.3 per cent higher in 2018, than the previous year but to broadly stabilise in 2019, the World Bank said.

US oil production growth was expected to be robust whereas oil production losses are expected in Iran and Venezuela. Global demand is expected to hold steady.

Prices for agricultural commodities, including food commodities and raw materials, were anticipated

to decline marginally in 2018 amid ample supply and trade tensions before rising 1.6 per cent in 2019.

The metals index was expected to rise 5.4 per cent this year and decline modestly in 2019. Prices could drop more than expected if global trade frictions intensify.

“Further escalation of trade restrictions between major economies could lead to large economic losses and cascading trade costs through global value chains,” World Bank’s Senior Director for Development Economics and acting Chief Economist, Shanta Devarajan said.

Devarajan added: “Any

setbacks to growth in major economies would have significant negative repercussions for the rest of the world through trade, confidence, financial, and commodity-market channels.”

The Bank noted that imposition of both commodityspecific and broad-based tariffs this year had reduced and diverted trade flows; amplified price differentials between some countries among some commodities including soybeans, steel and aluminum; and more generally led to concerns about weaker global trade and growth prospects.

“The outlook for commodity prices is highly uncertain given

a number of policy-related risks, which include the possibility of additional tariffs or sanctions,” the Director of the World Bank’s Development Economics Prospects Group, Ayhan Kose said.

“In addition, demand for industrial commodities is likely to soften in coming years. A large number of emerging market and developing economies depend on raw materials for government and export revenues and should therefore be strengthening policy frameworks and rebuilding fiscal buffers.”

It noted that over the past 20 years, demand for commodities had surged in large part due

to demand from China. As China’s economy matures and shifts toward less commodityintensive activities, energy and metal demand growth was likely to slow, it added.

“Slower growth in commodity consumption would likely dampen prices.

Further, other factors, such as advances in technology, shifts in consumer preferences, environmental concerns, and policies to encourage cleaner fuels could lead to sharper declines in global use of some commodities than current trends indicate,” Senior Economist and lead author of the Commodity Markets Outlook,” John Baffes added.

return of normalcy in some flash points of the nation, adding that he regretted the recent murder of two young and promising aid workers Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman - by Boko Haram terrorists. ‘‘It is painful that this happened despite all the efforts of government to effect release of the two victims. ‘‘We condemn the callous and cowardly act in its entirety and call on all citizens and friends to forge a united front against this common enemy of our destiny. ‘‘Once more, I extend the heartfelt condolences of the Government and people of Nigeria to the families and friends of these martyrs,’’ the

president added.

Adesina also said Buhari pledged to ensure the continuity of the resettlement and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the war on terror and commended Dangote Foundation for its partnership with government in the rebuilding process in Borno State.

Adesina added that the president was accompanied to the event by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, members of the FEC, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, senior officers and veterans.

AGAIN, BUHARI APPEALS TO AMOSUN, OKOROCHA, YARI, OTHERS NOT TO DEFECT should accept their fate instead of resorting to undermining the party supremacy.

He said, "We all have to respect the party supremacy.

You were all here when we had the congress. We elected the new executives. The convention, we had it. The NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power.

"We surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed

by Adams Oshiomhole that the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections.

“We signed off for it. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it. We gave three options - consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

"The next level is the stakeholders' delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option. The less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the

number, 1,2,3.

"If you win, you win and if you fail, go home. Then, appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there. You cannot turn round against that.

You cannot turn against all of that. No. "Party is supreme. Party must be respected. Abuses will not do it and anger will not do it.

It is party politics. Somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad."

He dismissed the current stay of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Dubai for the perfection of his campaign strategy, saying Nigeria won't return to "the pit" the PDP led the country into for 16 years.

Tinubu who made these scathing remarks while answering questions from journalists after a meeting with Buhari in the State House, described PDP's 16-year reign in the country as an illusion which he said Nigerians would never return to.

"We don't fear, whether he's in the jungle, or he's in Dubai or in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategise in anyway they feel but we are

not going back to the illusion of the PDP. "It is not possible. Nigerians will not do that. They say slow and steady win the race.

We inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people. We can't go back to the pit that we inherited for 16 years. They can strategise from anywhere but a leopard cannot change its skin," he said.

Buhari Cautions Politicians on Divisive Utterances Meanwhile, Buhari yesterday in Abuja cautioned political actors to shun acts of incitement that could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

Speaking when he launched the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration Emblem with N10 million for the welfare of Nigerian veterans and fallen heroes, the President reminded politicians that there would be no country to lead if Nigeria disintegrates.

At the launch which took place before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House, Buhari's media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the president also appealed to political actors

to be decorous in their conduct and utterances with a view to averting the plague of disunity. ‘‘We would have no country to lead if our acts of deliberate incitement lead to the disintegration of our dear nation,’’ he quoted him as saying, adding: "Let us put Nigeria first and realise that in every contest there must be one winner." According to him, Buhari reminded the nation that the celebration was a painful reminder of the perils of war and the need for the nation to avoid a recurrence. ‘‘The celebration forcefully reminds us of the resolve of our citizens to remain in one united country, Nigeria. ‘‘It also points out the fact that we had been through a bitter and unfortunate war that led to the loss of millions of our compatriots and the need to do all within our powers to avoid a reoccurrence of war,’’ he was further quoted to have said.

The statement added that Buhari used the occasion to appreciate the gallantry and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the campaign against insurgency and other internal security operations.

It also said the president noted how the efforts of the armed forces had led to the

APC CONSIDERS TINUBU TO CHAIR CAMPAIGN COUNCIL was discussed during his meeting with Buhari yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the source, is, however, proposed to continue in his position as the director-general of the campaign.

By the time- table of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ban on electioneering for presidential candidates would be lifted on

November 18.

Tinubu, according to the source, is being proposed for that role because of his vast experience in electioneering, a talent he reportedly displayed during the 2015 campaign that brought Buhari to power.

“The president has so much confidence in Tinubu, and feels that he would be best suited to lead the campaign,” the source told THISDAY.

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NEWS Nigeria’s Ranking on World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ Drops to 146th Position

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Obinna Chima Nigeria has dropped on the World Bank’s 2019 ‘Doing Business’ report to 146th position, lower than the 145th position the country was ranked last year.

The World Bank said it tracked 314 reforms by 128 governments across the world.

“Nigeria carried out four reforms which included making Starting a Business easier in Kano and Lagos, the two cities covered by Doing Business. Getting Electricity and Trading across Borders also saw reforms in the two cities.

“In addition, Lagos made Enforcing Contracts easier by issuing new rules of civil procedure for small claims courts, while Kano, in a negative move, made property registration less transparent by no longer publishing online the fee schedule and list of documents necessary to transfer a property,” the Washington-based institution said in the report released yesterday.

The report stated that economies in sub-saharan Africa set a new record for a third consecutive year, carrying out 107 reforms in the past year to improve the ease of doing business for domestic small and medium enterprises.

It noted that the latest reforms were a significant increase over the 83 reforms that were implemented in the region the previous year. In addition, this year also saw the highest number of economies carrying out reforms, with 40 of the region’s 48 economies implementing at least one reform, compared to the previous high of 37 economies two years ago.

“Four of the region’s economies have earned coveted spots in this year’s global top improvers, Togo, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda.

And, Mauritius regained a spot in the world’s top ranked economies, in 20th place.

“Five reforms were carried out in Mauritius during the past year, including the elimination of a sole gender-based barrier. In the area

of Starting a Business, Mauritius equalized the business registration process for men and women and further consolidating the registration process for all applicants. Minority investor protections were strengthened

by clarifying ownership and control structures and introducing greater corporate transparency. Reforms were also carried out in the areas of Registering Property, Trading Across Borders and Paying Taxes.

“Rwanda carried out the most reforms in the region in past year, with seven, and moved up to 29th rank globally. The latest improvements in Rwanda, which has carried out the most reforms since the inception

of Doing Business 16 years ago, included making starting a business less costly by replacing electronic billing machines with free software for value added tax invoices,” the report added.

88m Nigerians Now Living in Extreme Poverty, Says Report Over 1.1 million Nigerians have slipped into extreme poverty in just four months, a report by the World Poverty Clock, a Vienna-based World Data Lab, has said.

The latest report according to The Cable, has brought the number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty - or below $1.90 per day, to 88 million.

In June 2018, the Brookings Institution named Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, with 86.9 million extremely poor people.

Nigeria overtook India as the world poverty capital, despite being six times smaller in population than the Asian country.

According to the World Poverty Clock, created by Vienna-based World Data Lab, 88,011,759 Nigerians are currently living in extreme poverty.

The World Bank, IMF, United Nations, and major development institutions across the world forecast that Nigeria will not attai the 2030 target for ending global poverty.

Police Charge 400 Shiites to Court in Abuja FG to convene religious stakeholders’ meeting to end protests Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday in Abuja said 400 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites, arrested during protests on Tuesday would accordingly be charged to court.

The shiites had since last weekend engaged security operatives in violent clashes in protest against the continued detention of their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been kept in prison by the federal government since December 2016, in sheer disobedience to several court orders for his release.

Several of them have been brutally killed by security operatives since weekend, while 400 others were arrested at various locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during confrontation with the operatives which had made lives unbearable for residents.

Answering questions from journalists in the State House after the launch of the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem, Idris said the federal government

was planning to convene a stakeholders’ meeting involving religious leaders to persuade the shiites to end their protracted protests.

He said, “You know that when we make arrests, the next thing is to take them before the law courts. We are going to take them before the law Court today (yesterday). This could be the Magistrate Court or Federal High Court.”

“We are liaising with major stakeholders, major religious groups in this country. I think we need to do something to end this crises as soon as possible and by the Grace of God we will end the crises soon.”

On criminal and other security challenges ravaging the FCT, ldris said the police authorities had deployed its men to “black spots” in the territory, and called for residents’ cooperation with them.

“We have made some major deployments, and all l can say is that we want to appeal to every body to cooperate with us to end these crises and by the Grace of God, we will bring the protests to an end.” he added

TAKE HEART…

L-R: Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu; National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), when Tinubu paid a condolence visit to Ali over the death of his wife, in Abuja… yesterday

FG Begins New TSA Tariff Regime November 1 Emma Okonji

Abuja on Tuesday.

The federal government will on November 1, 2018, introduce a new Treasury Single Account (TSA) tariff regime, to ensure that the service charge of all payments made to government agencies will be borne by the payer.

Under the new tariff regime, the service charge on all payment to its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), would be borne by the payer.

This development was contained in a statement issued by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, which was the outcome of a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum on TSA, which held in

“In line with the global best practices and amidst dwindling revenues, the federal government has approved a new Treasury Single Account tariff model which mandates that the service charge on payment to its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from November 1, 2018 would be borne by the payer,” the statement said.

The revelation emerged at the recently concluded Oneday Stakeholder Sensitisation Exercise on TSA e-Collection Charges held in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

Under the new model,

according to information emanating from the office the AGF, all funds collection into the TSA would require payers to bear the transaction cost.

The new model would therefore replace the previous one wherein the merchant— the federal government—bore the charges on all transactions to the service providers on behalf of payers.

In the previous tariff regime, the federal government owed the technology service providers and the participating deposit money banks up to two years arrears of service charge.

In 2012, the pilot TSA scheme commenced using a unified structure of accounting for the 217 MDAs for accountability and

transparency in public fund management.

In August 2015, the initiative was fully implemented and covered over 1000 MDAs after a presidential directive.

At commencement, all players, including all commercial banks, System Specs and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), agreed that a fee of one per cent of funds collected is payable.

System Specs is the technology company that designed and is implementing the payment app called Remita, that is currently driving TSA in Nigeria.

The payment app is a single online platform that manages financial payments tags has blocked all financial leakages in the government circle.

House Committee Summons NNPC over Alleged Fraudulent Deal with Chinese Firm Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been summoned to appear before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) to respond to an allegation that it granted unofficial approval to a Chinese firm to lift over 80 trillion metric tonnes of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO).

The summon followed a petition by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) - Chief Ogwu Onoja and Dr. Muiz Banire, in collaboration

with Bola Aidi, alleging in a petition that Nigeria was shortchanged in the alleged shady deal.

Presenting details of the transaction contained in the petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachukwu, and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, before the committee, Aidi, who represented the lawyers, said their client introduced the Chinese firm to NNPC. Alleging that NNPC is feigning ignorance of the said transaction, Aidi told

journalists that “We are the one that brought the petition asking this august House to investigate what is likely to be the missing fund in the accounts of the NNPC. “So, we are asking the House to investigate this on behalf of Nigerians, so that we can know whether some people have constituted themselves to sell oil on behalf of Nigeria without remitting the money.

It is something that involves monumental sum of the money. It is supposed to last for 30 years and they have commenced lifting and they are still lifting.

Reacting to the allegation, the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, harped on the need for NNPC and others involved in the alleged deal to appear before the committee to state their side of the story as Nigerians will be interested in what really transpired.

According to him, “All these allegations cannot be proven if all the stakeholders are not complete before this panel.

We have gotten letter from NNPC asking for another date to appear. We have also got representation from Duke Oil asking for another date because we invited them too.

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Cook Allegedly Murders Badamosi, Chairman, Credit Switch Technology Sunday Ehigiator Residents of Onikoyi Lane, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, were in the early hours of yesterday thrown into mourning over the death of the Chairman, Credit Switch Technology, Chief Ope Badamosi, which they said came

to them as a big shock.

According to Mrs. Badamosi and other sources in his neighbourhood, the Credit Switch Technology boss was allegedly murdered by his cook who is presently at large.

According to the late septuagenarian’s neighbour who

FG Suspends NHIS’s CEO, Constitutes Probe Panel Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government has finally waded into the crisis at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by suspending the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Usman Yusuf and setting up an independent factfinding panel to investigate the alleged fraud levelled against him.

In Yusuf’s absence, a Director of Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Ben Omogo, has been deployed to oversee the affairs of the scheme.

A statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Olusegun A. Adekunle, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of the panel after due consultation.

The seven-man panel, which will submit its report within two weeks, is to be headed

by Dr. Hassan Bukar, a retired Permanent Secretary.

Other members of the panel include Dr. Emmanuel Meribole, Adewale Owolo, Shamsuddeen Bello, Ishaq Yahaya, Dr. Ekanem John Udoh, and Mrs Jummai Idakwo, who will act as the panel’s secretary.

The panel will be inaugurated by the SGF, Boss Mustapha on Friday.

Though government reiterated that it will neither tolerate acts of indiscipline from any appointee nor will it permit corruption, the statement restated that the roles of governing boards of parastatals are prescribed in the statutes, guidelines and extant circulars.

It stated that the position of chief executives of agencies and parastatals are implemented in accordance with their mandate.

The statement vowed it will ensure that due process is followed strictly in trying to maintain discipline and probity in public service.

Among other terms of reference, the panel will investigate the alleged infractions listed by the NHIS Governing Council in a letter dated October 18, 2018, and determine the extent of culpability or otherwise of Yusuf with regards to the allegations.

It is to also investigate the issues that led to the unhealthy relationship between the Board and the CEO, establish the role of staff union in the impasse and examine all governance challenges in the NHIS and make appropriate recommendations.

pleaded anonymity, “I heard a scream from the wife of late Badamosi. So; I ran to their flat where she reported that her husband has been murdered.

When we got inside, we saw the man in a pool of blood with loud music still playing.”

The source stated that they had already called the attention of the estate police before going in and they arrived just on time.

The deceased’s wife said she left her husband very early in the morning to do some transactions in the bank.

On her way back, she said

that she called her husband but couldn’t hear what he was saying as his words were barely cohesive.

According to her, the deceased was just muttering words before the call dropped.

She said she attempted to call him back but he wasn’t answering his call.

On getting home, according to her, the security guard was still asleep and couldn’t even respond to her car horns.

She disclosed that she had to get down from her car, to bang on the security house’s window

before the guard could woke up to open the gate for her.

But unfortunately, on entering the house, she said she met her husband lying in a pool of his own blood and couldn’t find the cook who just resumed work on Sunday.

“That was when I screamed out for help and sent the security guard to help see if he can still apprehend the cook.

Perhaps because of fear, the security guard who was just employed last Sunday as well, also took to his heels upon the news that his new boss has

been murdered,” she narrated.

Meanwhile, the family of late Badamosi is still awaiting official statement from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ikoyi Police Division, SP. Mustapha Tijani.

In a brief chat with THISDAY, the DPO stated that that as soon as the Police conclude investigation, the force will issue an official statement on the death, but right now, “efforts have been intensified towards tracking down the suspected killer - the cook, who is at large.”

SECURITY OF COMMUNITIES IN THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Chief sponsor of the event and Ebere Emere Okori, Eleme of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, His Royal Highness, Dr. Appolus Chu; Chairman of the event and Mingi XII Amanayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, and Coordinator of event and Aidonogie of South Ibie, Alhaji Aliyu Danmesi; during the second Consultation Meeting of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) South-South, South-east Chapter held in Benin City, Edo State…recently

Amnesty International Wants Nigerian Security Forces Held Army Recovers Body of Missing General Alkali Abuja to Bauchi on September 3, other cars were recovered from that those declared wanted in Adinoyi in Jos and Accountable for Killing Shiites Seriki 2018 when his family lost touch the pond. connection with the crime were Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja with him around Jos. The Garrison Commander, 3 brought to book.

Eromosele Abiodun

Amnesty International (AI) has called for the arrest and prosecution of Nigerian security agents responsible for the killing of at least 45 peaceful Shi’a protesters.

In a statement yesterday, AI said it has strong evidence that soldiers used automatic firearms on Shi’a Muslims who were holding religious procession and protest.

It stated that at least 39 protesters were killed, 122 injured in a single day, adding that victims included men, women and children.

“An investigation by Amnesty International showed that the horrific use of excessive force by soldiers and police led to the killing of at least 45 supporters of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) over two days, as the Shi’a Muslim group held a peaceful religious procession around Abuja.

“AI researchers visited five different locations in Abuja and Nasarawa State where wounded IMN supporters were receiving treatment, including two locations where bodies were deposited. Researchers spoke with victims, eyewitnesses and medical practitioners,

and analyzed videos and photographs of those injured and killed during the protests, which took place last Saturday and Monday.

“We have seen a shocking and unconscionable use of deadly force by soldiers and police against IMN members.

Video footage and eyewitness testimonies consistently show that the Nigerian military dispersed peaceful gatherings by firing live ammunition without warning, in clear violation of Nigerian and international law,” Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho said.

Ojigho further stated that “those injured were shot in different parts of the body-head, neck, back, chest, shoulder, legs, arms-and some of them had multiple gunshot wounds. This pattern clearly shows soldiers and police approached IMN processions not to restore public order, but to kill.”

Amnesty International added that it has evidence that the military used automatic firearms during last Monday’s protest, in which at least 122 protesters sustained gunshot wounds and at least 39 were killed, stressing that at least six people were killed during last Saturday’s protest.

The Nigeria Army has recovered the body of the late Major General Idris Alkali (retd), the immediate past Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters Abuja.

The body was recovered from an abandoned well in Guchwet, Shen District of Jos South Local Government Area (LGA).

Alkali was declared missing by the army on September 5, 2018.

He was on his way from

Consequently, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Tukur Buratai, set up an operation to search for the missing general.

The army said that after a thorough search and investigation, they narrowed their search to a mining pond in Dura-Du in Jos South LGA. After two weeks of draining water from the pond, the car of the missing general and two

Division, Nigerian Army, Brig.

Gen. Umar Mohammed, said that they were led to the location of his remains by one of the persons arrested in connection with crime.

He said that the operation was jointly carried out by men of the Nigeria Police and the Fire Service.

Umar said that with the recovery of the body, they were left with one task of ensuring

“The COAS gave us three terms of reference, to get missing senior officer dead or alive, to recover his car and to ensure that those who committed crime were punished.

“We have today fulfilled the second condition; we will not rest until we meet the third.

“We want to assure those that on the run to know that we are on their trail and we must get them,” he added.

Alleged Exam Malpractices: Adeleke Gets Bail on Self Recognisance I ‘ve faith in judiciary, says senator Alex Enumah in Abuja and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recent Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been granted bail on self recognisance by the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

This development is coming as Adeleke has reaffirmed his faith in the Nigerian judiciary, describing the institution as a ‘citadel for justice seekers’ Senator Adeleke; his brother, Sikiru Adeleke, and three others

were yesterday arraigned on a four-count charge of examination malpractices.

The others are; Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal, Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Ojo-Aro Osun State); Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (school Registrar), and Dare Samuel Olutope (a teacher).

Upon their arraignment yesterday by the federal government, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Counsel to Senator Adeleke, Chief Alex Izinyon (SAN), informed the court of a bail

application dated and filed on October 12, 2018.

He informed the court that Senator Adeleke is currently enjoying administrative bail granted him by the police and has not jump bail since, adding that Adeleke is a serving Senator and would always appear in court for his trial if released on bail. Similarly, counsel to the second and third defendants, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), and Abdulsalam Abdulfatah, respectively moved the bail applications for their client, while the court declined attempt by Oke to move an oral application

for the 4th and 5th defendants.

However, prosecution counsel, Simon Laugh did not oppose the bail applications.

In a short ruling, trail judge, Justice I. E. Ekwo who noted that bail is at the discretion of the court, granted the applications as prayed, adding that the prosecution while not opposing the motion admitted that the defendants are all on administrative bail.

Consequently, the judge announced bail for Adeleke in the sum of self recognisance while the 2nd and 3rd defendants are in the sum of N2 million each.

THISDAYt THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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COMMENT

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

2019: CHARACTER VERSUS CERTIFICATE

The forthcoming Presidential election will be decided on strength of character of the candidates, not certiďŹ cates, argues Shehu A. Zuru

I

n recent weeks the political train of deceit appeared to have regained some steam in a renewed ruse to make the certificate of Mr President the bottom line of 2019 Presidential election. Permit me to admit that certification of classroom tutoring is the standard testimonial of its attendance but at the same time, it is only the mischievous political kindergartens that will think that political diatribe has anything to do with it.

In her analysis of the critical attributes of leadership in the book: “Not For The Faint of the Heart: A Lesson in Courage, Power and Persistence,� Wendy Sherman has concluded that courage and integrity are critical attributes that you cannot acquire from the classroom because they are the inert fabrics of human conscience that dictates the power of the negative and power of the positive.

The truth is, I could not agree any better because at the end of the day, those critical attributes are the building blocks of the sincerity of purpose of political leadership. The tragedy of Nigeria as a country is that for decades now our corrupt and inept electoral system and institutions of governance have only managed to produce ‘certificate’ leaders rather than character leaders.

I mean leaders whose exemplary leadership has been legendary in inspiring the next generation of leaders on ethos of governance and responsibility; I mean leaders who are no longer celebrated as community treasures but rather revered as national assets; I mean leaders whose nationalism has conquered clan loyalties and ethnic patriotism. It is sonically despicable that President Muhammadu Buhari, a general of the Nigerian Army, a former head of state whose honour, integrity and exceptional culture of universal humanity has become an international reference point could be slandered in a desperately

THE TRAGEDY OF NIGERIA AS A COUNTRY IS THAT FOR DECADES NOW OUR CORRUPT AND INEPT ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE HAVE ONLY MANAGED TO PRODUCE ‘CERTIFICATE’ LEADERS RATHER THAN CHARACTER LEADERS

dubious game of School Certificate ridicule. I even heard that the choreographed political racism by the Peoples Democratic Party’s social media war machine has alleged that he cannot speak English. Well, I am wondering when poetry of English language and the arrogance of ethnic inheritance of it become the index for evaluating the quality and sincerity of political leadership.

The truth is that throughout history great empires that ruled the world at different stages of human civilisation did not have fraternity of English Language; the Mongols, the Othman, the Japanese, the Germans, the Russians and now the Chinese are recolonising the entire planet without English Language. Dear Mr President, lose no sleep, speak no English, have no certificate, it doesn’t matter, that was not why we elected you. Nigerians elected you to liberate them from the colonialism of PDP whose pedigree in official corruption knew no bounds, we elected you to dismantle the architecture of stupendous state impunity, to restore hope from fatalism of absolute despair, in short, we elected you to pull the country from the brinks and you are doing just that against all odds.

The truth is, the oil sheikhs of our criminal economy have regrouped for a political vengeance but be assured that the Nigerian electorate are wiser, sophisticated and ready. At the end of the day, the 2019 general election will not be decided on the gaffe of poetry of deception but rather on the strength of character and the integrity of example.

Once again, speak no English, have no certificate, it doesn’t matter.

Prof Zuru is the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Abuja

TRANSFORMATION LEADERSHIP AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT Akintola Benson-Oke writes that leadership trainings help nurture future leaders

I

n a piece of advice directed at the management of organisations, Fionnuala Courtney stated that, “the success of leadership training always depends on how it is done. Think back to the best manager you have ever had. I’m sure you can remember the person because good leaders are memorable . . . and excellent leaders are unforgettable. What was it about their leadership that motivated and encouraged you? For that same reason, I bet you can also remember your worst leader. Great leaders move us and inspire us to do our best work. That said, it is important that you have effective leaders in your workplace to empower and influence your people to achieve business and team goals.�

Similarly, the great philosophical thinker, Aristotle, spoke of ‘ethos’ as a type of leadership in which a leader influences others to change their values and thus their performance. ‘Ethos’ is not what a person says or promises, but it is their way of being in the world, their presence and comportment that affects how others follow them and whether they are open to their ideas. Essentially, Aristotle exhorted that the leadership that matters is the leadership that results in productivity and positive change.

The succinct truths stated in the referenced postulates above offer an excellent note on which to begin this address. Permit me to begin by stating that the trainings on ‘Impact of Transformation Leadership on Work Ethics, Innovation & Attitudinal Change,’ are enriching. The training offers participants a unique and valuable opportunity to aspire to the heights of self awareness and self-development that are indispensable for the actualization of corporate and individual goals.

Mr. Peter Reily, the notable organizational productivity consultant and the author of “In the Garden of Hearts,� shared from his rich career experience in an article as follows: “Over my career I have facilitated the development of some excellent strategic plans. A few were successfully implemented; most were not.

The plans did not succeed or fail based on the strength of the ideas and strategies that were contained within them. No, the key element in whether they succeeded. or not, was directly related to the effectiveness of

the leaders who were charged with making them reality.�

Since my assumption of office as the Honourable Commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, I have regarded it as my core mission to pursue the conduct of trainings and workshops aimed at increasing the competencies and productivity of individual officers with a view to contributing to the overall productivity and effectiveness of the Lagos State Public Service.

This core mission is in full consonance with the wider objectives of the government of Lagos State led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. He fully recognizes the enormous value that knowledge and skills training bring to bear on the attainment of the strategic objectives of the government and the public service. Furthermore, he has always been in the vanguard of advocating for the institutionalisation of essential training programmes that benefit the most strategically-placed officers in the public service.

Having perused the contents of the training, I have no doubts whatsoever that you will be greatly enriched. Without doubt, high performances have been known to increase in organizations that expose their human capital to leadership development through training programmes and I am hopeful that the learning outcomes will translate into more dynamism, effectiveness and efficiency for the public service.

The earlier-cited HR expert, Fionnuala Courtney, further stated the good news that “leaders can be created through effective leadership trainings while articulating six of the big benefits that leadership training can offer any organisation. In this address, I will briefly discuss these points.

First, it has been shown that leadership trainings increase productivity. The right, consistent leadership can increase the productivity of the people in an organisation. At its primal level, leadership is about understanding people emotionally. In a book titled, The New Leaders, Daniel Goleman states that emotional intelligence is critical to the success of a leader. Emotional intelligence involves being smart about emotions and using empathy effectively to empower and engage employees. Leadership training that encompasses emotional intelligence can hone these emotional skills

in people, managers and leaders.

Leadership trainings help retain and maximise the capacities of people in organisations such as the Lagos State Public Service. Ms. Courtney stated that 75% of people voluntarily leaving jobs do not quit their jobs but in fact ‘quit their bosses’!

This means that employees leave because of ineffective managers and managers with poor leadership skills. By investing in leadership trainings, an organisation can retain its people and reduce costly recruitment expenses.

Leadership trainings help nurture future leaders. Organisations need to be strategic about developing and nurturing future leaders. Without strategy, leadership roles are often given to the most forward candidates with dominant personalities.

Quality leadership is a combination of the right qualities and the right training.

Identify those who have what it takes and provide them with targeted leadership training. Nurturing future leaders supports succession planning and offers career pathways to employees, further increasing retention.

Leadership trainings increase employee engagement. We all like to know how we are progressing in our roles, receiving praise when it is well-earned and constructive feedback as necessary. In fact, 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week compared to only 18% of those with low engagement. Giving feedback is a skill of successful leaders.

Through leadership trainings, organisations can teach effective ways to give feedback to motivate and increase the skill level of their people.

Leadership trainings implement an effective leadership style. Leadership trainings can assist in implementing the most appropriate leadership style for organisations and the work they do. There are several leadership styles, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. Leadership trainings can also help individual leaders develop their own personal leadership style that their team members will best respond to.

Leadership trainings help people make better decisions. Last, but absolutely not the least: Leadership trainings can result in better decision-making. How? Because leaders functioning at a high level of

emotional intelligence have the perspective to make informed, intelligent business decisions. For that reason alone, organisations can consider their leadership training investments returned.

The six expositions above by Ms. Courtney succinctly articulate the outcomes that the government hopes to realise from training and the many other similar trainings. Indeed, the need for ensuring and assuring the efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions has never been greater than now. In a dynamic age of constant changes, it is widely agreed that institutions must have clearly-defined missions that are relevant to the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders. Following this, the human capital at the helm of leadership in these institutions must have the courage to envision a future that realizes the attainment of the defined mission of the institutions.

In order to actualize the vision, however, leaders must be trained to possess both the hard and soft skills that are fundamental for success.

It is indisputable that organisations will make rapid progress and experience exponential growth when its units and teams and departments are headed by persons who understand what transformation leadership means and who have developed their leadership potential and have enhanced their performance skills.

As I have severally stated at different occasions, to such an organisation, no problem will be too complicated, no task too herculean, no challenge too huge, and no task too complicated for it to confront head-on.

I therefore challenge all to join in envisioning our dear Lagos State Public Service as an organisation where no problem will be too complicated, no task too herculean, no challenge too huge, and no task too complicated for it to confront head-on.

You should therefore regard this training as yet another effort at kick-starting the monumental task of helping every officer of the public service become impactful, influential and productive to such degrees that the output of the public service will inspire our dear citizens.

Dr. Benson Oke is Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Trainings and Pensions

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EDITORIAL ABUJA VIOLENCE AND EL-ZAKZAKY’S CONTINUED DETENTION It is in the nation’s interest to release El-Zakzaky from detention

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iven that the continued detention of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, leader of the Shi’ite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has given rise to repeated protests in Abuja, the federal government should be held responsible for the violence in which innocent bystanders are getting caught. That lives are now being lost in what started as a civil action to compel respect for the rule of law is an indication that the crisis is getting out of hand. That also signposts the security implications of a situation in which El-Zakzaky is allowed to die in incarceration that has been deemed illegal by our courts.

While we deplore all attempts to take the laws into their own hands by the Shi’ite, it is also important to stress that both the military and the police must understand IF THERE IS ANYTHING the nature of the THAT THE CRISIS HAS crisis they are dealing with. Issuing PROVED, IT IS THAT threats of force is WITHOUT JUSTICE, meaningless in THERE CAN BE NO PEACE the circumstance while the authoriAND THAT FLAGRANT ties must work to DISREGARD TO COURT de-escalate the ORDERS IS DANGEROUS growing tension in FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR Abuja.

If there is SOCIETY anything that the crisis has proved, it is that without justice, there can be no peace and that the agrant disregard to court orders which has become the hallmark of this administration is dangerous for the health of our society.

El-zakzaky was arrested and detained on 14th December 2015 following a violent clash by his group and the Nigerian Army during the group’s procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.

During the clash, 347 of his followers were killed by the military. Earlier in July of the same 2015, four of his sons had been killed by the military.

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Notwithstanding these tragic episodes, the federal government has continued to exhibit a penchant for lawlessness by disobeying all the court orders compelling El- Zakzaky release from detention.

It is indeed instructive to note that on 2nd December 2016, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the release of El-Zakzaky and his wife, pointing out that their perpetual detention was not only a violation of the law but also portended huge danger for the country.

He warned that “if the applicant dies in custody...it could result in many needless deaths.�

Against this backdrop, the judge ordered their release within 45 days.

He equally ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay a ďŹ ne of N25 million each to El-Zakzaky and his wife. But the federal government has since opted to ignore this court order thus prompting the same court on 20th January 2017, to hold that the trio of the Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the then Director-General of DSS, Lawal Daura, would be guilty of contempt of court and be liable to imprisonment if they continued to disregard its order of 2nd December, 2016.

However, almost two years after that ruling, El-Zakzaky and his wife are still being held even in the face of local and international cries against their unlawful detention. For instance, the Amnesty International has not minced words in highlighting the danger of this government’s action. Makmid Kamara, Interim Director of Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria had on 16th January 2017, lamented that “if the government deliberately disregards the orders of its own courts, it will demonstrate a agrant – and dangerous – contempt for the rule of law.â€?

It is against this background that we should situate the protests by the IMN members that have practically rendered Abuja unsafe for residents. We therefore call on the government to comply with the court order by releasing El-Zakzaky from detention.

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

ABUJA’S SHI’ITE KILLINGS AND THE MILITARY

he news of the clash between Shi’ites and the Nigerian military in Abuja which led to the death of many and the injuring of many is lamentable.

The clash was as a result of a protest organised by the Shi’ite group demanding the release of their leader Sheikh El-Zakzaky who has been in detention for more than two years, despite the fact that there’s an order of the court granting his bail.

It was a peaceful protest of an unarmed civilian population demanding for the release of their leader, but the military disrupted the peaceful protest and dispersed the protesting civilians by shooting at them.

Every right thinking person must express his abhorrence at the brutal repression of the Shi’ite protest in Abuja by the military through the excessive and unlawful use of force. This is nothing but a case of human rights abuse by the Nigerian military.

Assuming but not conceding that the Shi’ites protesters have violated some laid down rules, their offence in any civilised and right thinking society does not call for awful killings. There’s no justification whatsoever for killing unarmed civilians.

It was an analogous rash action of the Nigerian military that gave birth

what is now Boko Haram. I pray and hoped that the military is not opening a Pandora’s box by extra-judiciously killing the Shi’ites.

After the incident, I continually asked myself these questions: is it criminal for a Nigerian to protest against the government? When does the right to protest become criminal in Nigeria? Today is the Shi’ite, who else could be victim tomorrow? These questions are still extant in my thought begging for answers.

This killing is a clear sign of the failure and ineffectiveness of the government; for the primary obligation and responsibility of every government is the protection of its people. No right thinking government will resort to killing its people for protesting.

For the records, President Muhammadu Buhari himself as candidate, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu and other chieftains of APC in December 2014, literally shut down Abuja, protesting against the Jonathan government. They carried the rally to Aso Villa, Eagle Square, National Assembly and Abuja streets. Heavens did not fall. They were not killed.

It is high time for our government to understand that protests play an important part in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural life of all societies.

Historically, protests have often

inspired positive social change and improved protection of human rights, and they continue to help define and protect civic space in all parts of the world.

Protests encourage the development of an engaged and informed citizenry and strengthen representative democracy by enabling direct participation in public affairs. They enable individuals and groups to express dissent and grievances, to share views and opinions, to expose flaws in governance and to publicly demand that the authorities and other powerful entities rectify problems and are accountable for their actions.

The right to protest is the individual and/or collective exercise that is universally recognised and guaranteed as a human right. Under international law states are enjoined to respect the right to protest: They should not prevent, hinder or restrict the right to protest.

States are equally enjoined to protect the right to protest: They should undertake reasonable steps to protect those who want to exercise their right to protest.

This includes adopting measures necessary to prevent violations by third parties. Similarly, states are enjoined to fulfil the right to protest by establishing an enabling environment for the full enjoyment of right to protest. This includes providing effective remedies for violations of all human rights embodied

in the right to protest.

The right to protest in Nigeria is a constitutional right guaranteed to Nigerians. The 1999 Constitution provides for the right to the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly under sections 39 and 40 respectively.

This has received judicial blessing in the case of Inspector- General of Police V. All Nigeria Peoples Party (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt.1066) 457 C.A. where Adekeye JCA held that “Public Order Act should be promulgated to compliment sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution in context and not to stifle or cripple it. A rally or placard carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognised and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilised countries – it will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.�

Is it that the Nigerian military personnel are lacking in the knowledge of the extant laws that guarantee the right to protest to Nigerians?

Ibrahim Muazzam Musa, Abuja

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

APC Inflated Buhari’s Primary Election Votes, Situation Room Alleges Accuses political parties of faking results Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Civil Society coalition has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly allocating unrealistic votes to President Muhammadu Buhari at its recent presidential primary election.

According to the presidential primary election result announced by the APC, President Buhari

polled 14.8 million votes.

The coalition, which addressed a press conference in Abuja under the auspicesof the Situation Room, urged the National Assembly to urgently transmit the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Buhari for his assent.

The CSOs said having followed carefully the conduct of party primaries in the country, it found the process far below democratic

PDP Alleges Plot to Bomb Obuah’s Hotel, Other Assets Alarm twisted to cover up facts, says APC Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has said it has uncovered moves by people suspected to be members of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use improvised explosive device (IED) popularly known as dynamite to blow up investments belonging to the state Chairman of PDP, Felix Obuah.

In a statement issued yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Special Adviser to Obuah, Jerry Needam, specifically accused members of the APC loyal to the Ojukaye Flag Amachree-led faction of plotting to bomb Obuah’s property around the Go-Round Community in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. He said first on the list of targets of the plotters is the multi-billion naira Krisdera Hotels, located in Omoku.

The statement also said: “Information available also reveals a conspiracy between these satanic agents and some paid security agents to provide the necessary cover while they carry out the attack.

“Mercenaries from among notorious gangsters operating in various parts of the state and outside have also been contracted and paid heavily for the destruction exercise.

“The plot was uncovered when the masterminds whose names will be made public soon approached one of the hatchet

men for the sinister job, not knowing that he had already withdrawn from such evil and who pensively divulged all the plans with striking evidence and particulars of the plotters.

“Shockingly, the devil incarnates also planned to fly a kite after carrying out their plot, alleging that the unholy mission was masterminded by aggrieved ‘boys’ of Obuah in protest against using and dumping them.”

Needam emphasised that Obuah has consistently denied having any link with any kind ‘boys’ or by whatever name called, and challenged anybody with evidence of his relationship with any criminal gang to come up with such evidence.

“It is against this backdrop that the leadership of the PDP in Rivers State wishes to notify the state government, security agencies, the public and the international community of the grand plot by the state APC to set the state on fire just in a bid to take a misdirected pound of flesh on an innocent man who invested in the state to provide employment to thousands of jobless Rivers youths,” he said.

Obuah’s aide warned the suspected plotters to be cautious and desist from any actions that would not be in the interest of the state. “With detailed information and particulars of some of these plotters in the kitty, which will be made public accordingly, it is only wise for all those involved in this devilish plot to thread the path of caution.

Falana to Speak at IPC’s Media Roundtable In commemoration of this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEI) 2018, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria is organising a tweet conference and media roundtable, where a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana will speak.

The event, which is part of the “Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI),” is being supported by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).

The objective is to advance the right to freedom of expression for online journalists in Nigeria.

It is premised on ensuring that internet spaces and online platforms are safe and free of institutional limitations for journalists and other media practitioners to use as mediums

of information and engagement.

Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in his statement said, “The goal of the initiative is to facilitate a free and safe online environment for journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria and ensure that the right to freedom of expression for online journalism in Nigeria is respected, protected and guaranteed.”

“The keynote address is to be delivered by Mr. Femi Falana, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist. The event will also feature Journalists, Bloggers, Media Professional Associations/Unions; Media support groups, CSO groups, human rights/freedom of expression activists from civil society platforms and institutional stakeholder representatives.

standards.

The Coordinator of the Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, who read the position of the CSOs, said they were deeply concerned about the brazen disregard for democratic principles by most of the political parties.

“The outrageous numbers bandied by one of the major political parties as figures for electing its presidential candidate is very worrying. The exceedingly inflated number of millions of votes announced for the affirmation of their presidential candidate has no basis in facts or reality,” he said.

Nwankwo, who said the poor conduct of primaries cuts

across all the political parties, expressed worry that women have been shortchanged in primary elections. “Women have been complaining about how the process undermined their prospects of competing on level grounds.

“There are allegation of intimidation and hostility against some female candidates. The fact that there is no progressive affirmative action for women in political parties is worrying.

“We followed closely the recently concluded primaries by political parties in Nigeria.

Upon a review of the conduct of the candidate selection process of the various political parties in the country, we are very concerned

that the process falls far below democratic standards.

“The Situation Room is concerned that political parties have failed to comply with the spirit and letter of electoral laws and the constitution, consequently also failing to strengthen the democratic space for inclusivity and participation by their members and citizens in choosing candidates for elections.

“The Situation Room is also deeply concerned about the brazen disregard of democratic principles by most of the political parties. Media reports and observation by CSOs across the country show that the political party primaries process was characterised by vote buying,

intimidation, imposition of candidates and violence,” he stated.

Nwankwo further stated that most of the major parties conducted their primaries in ways that raise significant credibility questions, including the use of money.

He said their summation is that most of the party primaries were merely a sham.

THISDAY was not able to get APC’s response to the allegation by the civil society groups.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party could not be reached for his reaction as at last night. THISDAY sent a message to him but did not get a reply.

IMPROVING BILATERAL RELATIONS...

L-R: Managing Director, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Laoye Jaiyeoba; Mr Tarik Bouquoquo; presidential candidate, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby Ezekwewili; Managing Director, OCP Policy Centre , Karim El Ayanoui; and Managing Director, OCP Africa Fertilizer Limited, Nigeria, Mohammed Hariri, at the Morocco-Nigeria relations strategic dialogue held in Abuja…recently

Fuel Subsidy Payment: Senate Committee Gives Ahmed, Emefiele, Others One-week Ultimatum Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) yesterday gave a marching order to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Mrs. Patience Oniha, to meet within one week with petroleum marketers and resolve the issue of outstanding fuel subsidy payments that had lingered on for over two years.

While the federal government claimed it owes petroleum products marketers about N469 billion for outstanding fuel subsidy, the marketers

disagreed, saying they are being owed about N1 trillion. The Senate had in July approved N348 billion for payment to the oil marketers for outstanding fuel subsidy, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabir Marafa, gave the directive after listening to the submissions of the DMO DG, representatives of the CBN governor, petroleum marketers and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on why the marketers were yet to be paid the fuel subsidy approved in July by the National Assembly.

Marafa, after consulting with other members of the committee at the meeting held at Senate Committee Room

231, said the Finance Minister should head the meeting of top government officials, including the CBN governor, DMO DG and executive secretary of PPPRA and resolve in a week the contentious issue of outstanding fuel subsidy payments to petroleum marketers.

According to him, the top government officials must engage and agree with the petroleum products marketers on the matter within the stipulated time.

“The meeting is to look at all the problems vis a vis all the claims of the marketers and let’s know the way forward,” he said.

Marafa said the outcome

of the meeting would be presented before the committee in the next one week, adding that “the Minister of Finance and CBN governor must be on ground then, so we must ensure that it does not fall on a Wednesday which Federal Executive Council (FEC) is meeting day usually attended by the minister and CBN governor.”

He also mandated the Finance Ministry to within two weeks harmonise the position on the balance to be paid to 19 petroleum marketers already paid 65 per cent of their claims.

The chairman emphasised that once that is done, it will be forwarded DMO for necessary action.

James Ibori’s Brother, Williams, to be Buried on Friday Chief James Onanefe Ibori’s elder brother, late High Chief William Boyi Ibori, will be buried in his hometown of Oghara tomorrow, Novermber 2, 2018. The late High Chief

William Ibori, the wellrespected patriarch of the Ibori family of Oghara Kingdom in the Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, died on the night of

July 11, 2018, of heart attack.

He was 76 years old.Tributes to the late High Chief William Boyi Ibori will be given at the Oghara Stadium from 11: a.m. tomorrow, where his body will

lie in state and where guests will be entertained after the funeral rites. Chief William Ibori is survived by two wives, nine children and 18 grandchildren.

THISDAYt THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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T H I S D AY Ëž THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018

POLITICS

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

PERSONALITY INTERVIEW

‘We Have Drastically Cut Down Cost of Road Construction’ Much of the controversies that have pitched the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa Ibom State against the immediate past governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio on one hand; and the Niger Delta Development Commission on another phase have centred on road construction. The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen tells Nseobong Okon-Ekong that his principal has provided more road infrastructure to a wider section of the state than previous administrations With the time left before this administration terminates, how many of the road projects do you think you will be able to take to completion?

Most of the ongoing one particularly, if we look at the dual lane roads, I will be able to complete Uyo-Ikot Ekpene. That I’m very sure.

That will completed before December/January.

We will also be able to complete Etinan-Uyo even with the Cable Bridge at Ekpene Ukpa. We have already finished Ibeno-Eket. Eket-Etinan should be nearing completion. Where we have delays will be areas that are fully built up. There will be restrictions and work may be slowed down because of getting people to leave those locations. For the dual lane roads, we are looking at completing works on on-going projects within Ikot Ekpene, Etinan and Uyo. The tidying up of the bridge front of Eket-Ibeno Road will be done.

We are also sure that Eket-Etinan, if anything, will be very minimal but we have taken Ikot Oku Ikono-Etinan to almost completion. I’m not sure we can complete Airport Road between now and May next year. For the other single lane roads, we will get them done by December, with the present level of funding. The peculiar project in Ini local government, that is in terminating in Arochukwu, by this December the road will be fully ready, so that we can get the bridge done before May and the projects in Oron going on now about 1.82 kilometres is done with additional 500 metres that we are sure we can take. The Obio Akpa campus of the state university where we did over six kilometres internally and external roads will be finish by November and by December, the governor will commission it. In all, it is about 18 kilometres. As at our last visit, we have done nine kilometers, but the contractor has assured me that with the last money we gave him, he will able to take it to 15 kilometers. If that happens, we will be able to almost take that road to completion.

The road between Ewan and Etebi and Eket the entire road stretch will be completed, that bridge is the longest bridge in South-south Nigeria. We are at about 58 per cent completion. It’s not something you will do at will. If we don’t finish the bridge, we will finish the road. For Oron Intervention Two, we just released the money and we will be able to take that place by May. We are finishing Nsit Atai Road. All the interventions in Uyo are about 60. All of them will be commissioned. We will be able to take those interventions because we are funding it. Most of them will be ready

by December. The road at Ika just got awarded.

It is 22 kilometres. The seven kilometer road will be completed, but the 15 kilometre might not be completed. There’s a road between Ukana and Etinan, more than 70 percent has been done and

by December, we will take it. The other roads between Awa, Ikot Edem, Ukam, Asong, Ikot Ebiere the main alignment has been done and will be commissioned in December; Ikot Abasi Road even if we flag it off, it will take one or two weeks, we can’t finish it. If you come back to Uyo that 3.5 kilometre road that takes you from Udo Udoma to Abak Road by Quebec we will clean it up. We will change the pattern. It was 50/50 funded by the government and the contractor.

We will change it to full-funding by government so we will be able to take it by December. It’s

IN THE MIRROR:

r)PMET B #BDIFMPS %FHSFF PG 4DJFODF JO Chemistry from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos r$VSSFOUMZ B DBOEJEBUF GPS B EPDUPSBUF degree in Business Administration from Walden University r#FHBO IJT QSPGFTTJPOBM DBSFFS BT BO Auxiliary Teacher in the then Cross River

Inyang-Eyen almost completed. Eket-Ibeno, before December that bridge that we are building is as good as done. The 13.87 kilometre individual roads in Esit Eket will be completed, the contractor is an indigenous contractor is firing the work from all cylinders. The 13 kilometres road in Nsit Ubium will be completed, so I think that the bulk of the single lane roads, if we have sunshine from now till April, most of them will be done. But for the double lane roads, even if you finish the road, until you are able to get the road completely ready with the street lighting, you wouldn’t say you have completed it. The entire design has to be realised for you to say it’s completely done. If you do a road without drainage, you have not done a good job. That’s what is happening right now on Ikot Ekpene Road. If someone comes to me and says Ikot Ekpene Road is done, I will say, ‘no’. Those additional things are what makes a road what it ought to be. I think if I can get it right, we have attempted to run through almost all the local governments that we have projects and believe me with God helping us and with funding that the federal allocation, if we have consistent funding, we believe that most of the roads will be get to completion level except a few double lane roads.

relocation of electric poles, planting of the electric poles, Bill 2 includes clearing of the place, getting the place ready while drainage works and others is in Bill 3. Bill 4 is the actual finishing of the road while Bill 5 is the bridge. Between Bill 2 and 5 is exclusively for the contractor. What used to balloon our road construction bills used to be Bill 1 that was managed by the Ministry of Works and Governor Emmanuel has drastically cut it down. When we went to new road 2, the governor didn’t permit any Bill 1. He said the compensation has been paid. If you go to new road three, he didn’t allow billing compensation.

When you look at such critical things, he has an idea of these roads. If it’s a new road that there are no houses or farmland, you won’t have Bill 1. If Bill 1 is crashed, that means the construction cost is crashed. This governor has done that.

You may hear stories in Akwa Ibom of how the governor isn’t paying compensation. He’s paying compensation, but he pays compensation within the limit of what the compensation ought to be and to the rightful owner.

Cost of road construction, particularly, in Akwa Ibom in the last administration was said to be more than any other state. What have you done to address this perception?

I have no fear of contradiction. What Governor Udom Emmanuel did was to create a cap on the cost of a kilometre of road. He never allowed it to be more than USD1 million, at a stage, he brought it down to N320 million. If it’s roads in the rural areas, he will bring it further down. I think in southern Nigeria, we have the best roads in terms of quality and price. It’s been brought drastically down. Road construction are in segments. There’s what we call Bill 1, it constitutes compensation,

Is it the true like some people think, that majorly of what you have done in road construction is to ďŹ nish what the previous administrations started?

That’s absolute falsehood. Let’s run through it. The last administration didn’t not do any road in Eket senatorial district except Etebi Bridge.

The two interventions in road construction Oron were carried by the Udom Emmanuel administration. The Etinan to Eket Road was on paper. No work had started. They didn’t do any work. If any money was paid I don’t know where it went to. It’s this government that started Eket-Etinan Road from the scratch.

From Okopedi to Uya Oron, Governor Udom Emmanuel initiated it. So if you comes to Uyo and you look at the massive intervention in road construction, Believers Assembly- all the roads

State Teaching Service Commission where he taught Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at Community Secondary School, Okat in 1982 r*O EVSJOH IJT /BUJPOBM :PVUI 4FSWJDF Corps (NYSC) programme, Ephraim worked as a Chemist with the Nigeria Railway Corporation and on 31st August, 1990, he enlisted in the Nigeria Customs Service as

an Assistant Superintendent of Customs r'PS PWFS ZFBST IF NBJOUBJOFE B HMJUtering and dignified career spanning various key departments of the service r)F JT B NFNCFS PG TFWFSBM QSPGFTTJPOBM bodies including Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA) and the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators

that are being done around that church, it was not the previous administration that did them.

We didn’t inherit any direct road Built and commissioned by Udom Emmanuel in Mkpat Enin. That 14 Kilometrre road in Awa to Ikot Edim to Awa and Asong was initiated by him. He is going to commission it. When the former Deputy Governor, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong sent an SOS that there was not road done by the previous administration in Obot Akara, the children were not going to school, the Nto Edino over six kilometres of road was initiated and completed by Governor Emmanuel. There was no road in Ini local government. The rod from Ini to Arochukwu which is 15 kilometres was initiated and completed by Udom Emmanuel.

The 3.5 kilometre road in Ibiono was initiated by this governor, so that story is absolute falsehood.

The only road we inherited were just about two roads-Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road, which was taken to 15 kilometres and a first phase of asphalt was laid. The real cost, this government bore it. At kilometer 15, there was a three-storey building with N280 million compensation demand on it, this government brought it down to N141 million and took down the building and has taken that road to the completion level. Uyo-Ikot Ekpene was badly handled. How do you design that kind of road without drainage? The major part of that road is flooded. Only 40 per cent of that road was done by the previous administration. The rest has been done by this government. The other one was Ikot Ekara-Ibesit Okpokoro-a road that ought to have long been completed, it was not completed, this government took it at where they had done one kilometer and when the contractor did not do well, we terminated it. My wife comes from there, so I am an indigene in Ibesit Okpokoro. I am not speaking as a stranger. The construction of that road was supposed to last for 18 months.

It lasted more than three years. It was awarded in 2012. We came in 2015, the contractor was still there. So, something was wrong. If you sincerely ask those who say, if two roads, out of the entire lot I have listed were what we inherited and have finished; just like Eket-Ibeno Road, Exxon Mobil said they brought N8 billion. This government did not see that money. The governor raised money from the bank to execute that road. That was why when Exxon Mobil wanted to participate in the ceremony of the commissioning of that road, I did not allow them because we did not see their N8 billion. If you do the total analysis, 99 per cent of the jobs that are ongoing today in Akwa Ibom were initiated by this governor.

That is the honest truth. That is why you can see me drive to those projects and stop and nobody will raise any alarm.

Go to where you have the traditional Uyo council headquarters. All those streets around Bassey Attah and all those roads, it is this administration that started it. If you go to Onna, there was no road previously done by any administration in this state. Every of those roads in Ikot Ebidan, Mkok, Okat and Awa were done by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

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

of Nigeria (IPMA) r#FTU 1FSGPSNJOH $PNNJTTJPOFS PG UIF Year (2017) South-south by the Independent Public Service Award which focuses on Works & Infrastructure Category r.PTU QSP BDUJWF DPNNJTTJPOFS CZ #VSFBV for Investigative nd Balance Reportage r,XBNF /LSVNB -FBEFSTIJQ "XBSE CZ West Africa Student Union Parliament

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018

POLITICS

Why APGA Has Presidential Candidate from the Middle Belt Mr. Ifeatu Obi-Okoye is the Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Political Matters, a former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, he fields questions from David-Chyddy Eleke on the current crisis in the party occasioned by the recent primary election Political pundits believe that the relationship between the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) presidential candidate, Gen. John Gbor and President Muhammadu Buhari informed his choice?

Let’s take the issues one after the other. First is why we choose Gen. Gbor, a presidential candidate from the Middle-belt and the second is about the rumoured relationship of our presidential candidate with President Buhari.

We choose a presidential candidate from Middle-belt for very strategic reasons. There is something going on in the Middle-belt states, namely Plateau, Benue Nasarawa and Taraba. In those states, we have very strong governorship candidates who are all Christians. In fact, all the governorship candidates across the parties are Christians. We have not chosen a Moslem in any of those states, same way our presidential candidate Gen. Gbor is from the Middle-belt.

Today in the middle belt, it is no longer about party politics, it is about survival of the Middle-belt people who are threatened

by Fulani herdsmen. The ordinary Middle-belt man believes that if they do not fight back, they will be wiped out.

To that extent, we have noticed that in all the parties in the Middle-belt have Christian candidates.

Muslims are very small in that area. It is only in Benue State that the Muslims have 50/50 ratio with Christians, the rest are less than 30 per cent. So, all the tribes in the Middle-belt have closed ranks and are fielding Christians.

Before now, the Muslims did exploits, they have always prevailed by manipulating the large number of Christians, but today, because of the threat they have decided to speak with one voice. It will be a total referendum of the desire of the people of the Middle-belt.

So we have fielded our presidential candidate from there, believing that we will be able to

Obi-Okoye gather strong support from the Middle-belt.

What effect will that have?

In the event that we cannot win the presidential election, I can tell you that when we win the Middle-belt, none of the two major parties for the election will win.

APGA will be the party that will determine the presidential election. I make this permutation today, not out of euphoria. The defunct Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) played same role when we controlled the area of the old Plateau and the Gongola area and NPN could not win the presidential election in the first ballot, neither could UPN, so it required the alliance of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and NPP to

form a government at the centre. It has also happened at the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and National Council for Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), so that is what we are exploiting in this election, and mark you, I said if we cannot win the presidential election, then none of the other political parties will be able to do so at first ballot. What it means is that, APGA will be the party to determine who wins the presidential election between All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

I hope that explains to you the reason for picking a Christian/Christian ticket from the Middle-belt and the South-east.

The second issue is the relationship between our presidential candidate and President Buhari.

Before now, you were not aware that Buhari and Gbor had any special relationship. That is speculation. They both come from the military background and they may have known each other, but that does not create any special intimacy. When you look at the background of Gbor, you see someone who has been in education and has served the military without blemish. This is a man who has trust and honour.

That is what we believe we can leverage on.

We have a presidential candidate among the three leading parties and his person is not in question. He has a PhD. The candidates of the PDP and APC cannot say that. Some still have questionable school certificate, but ours, his educational background is unequalled.

One would have expected the Anambra government to congratulate Peter Obi when he was nominated as vice presidential candidate of the PDP by Atiku Abubakar?

Let’s get something clear, I don’t think Obi’s nomination as VP candidate calls for any congratulatory message. If he becomes the vice president, we will congratulate him. We

are running for the presidential election against PDP and we fielded a candidate who we believe can beat the the PDP candidate, so we have no reason to celebrate Obi. If we do that, we are saying we have already acknowledged that they will defeat us. As someone who is from here and was in APGA, if by any chance he becomes the vice president, we will congratulate him. For now, we are planning how we can win the election for APGA. You may not believe that we have chances, so also would you not have believe that a footballer would become the President of Liberia, or would not have believe that the current president of Ghana would have defeated an incumbent.

There are many factors that are coming to play in 2019. We have come to a cross road in this country, where the PDP cannot fulfill its promises, and the APC has performed abysmally low. I have always said that the APC and PDP have failed so the presidential election affords us an opportunity to define a new route for this country. That informed our choice of candidate.

We brought someone who has a humble past and who falls into a new expectation of a new Nigeria. There are so many factors that came to play, the ethnic factor, security factor, the lack of governance, the inability of politicians to keep faith with the people. What we should all watch out for is that the election is not rigged. Few weeks ago, we saw what happened in Osun State. The Dancing Senator clearly won and that was because the people wanted a change in the system. A governor who owed six months salary was bringing in a candidate for election.

These are the things that will come into play in 2019. So we expect that a real change will come next year.

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

‘ Buhari is Running the Country by Proxy’ Basking in the euphoria of his victory at the primary election of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party and hopeful of a to return to the House of Representatives in 2019, Hon. Kolade Victor Akinjo, representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency of Ondo State bares his mind on some trending national and state issues to Olaseni Durojaiye As a federal legislator, What’s your take on the recently signed Executive Order 6, recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari?

I recall that the only time Executive Order was signed was when he was ill and was outside the country. The Vice president, Professor Yemi nOsinbajo signed Executive Order 1,2,3 - as regards tackling the issue nof economy, how to register companies and many other things - before he came back from his sick leave.

So his coming with this Executive Order bordering on foreclosure of assets and banning of people travelling abroad until when their corruption cases are exhausted in court, is an order that is going to be fully tested in court. You will recall that it’s been tested in a High court; the High court has ruled that the president has the power to so do.

I believe it will advance to court of appeal and eventually advance to Supreme Court but I know that constitutionally no one has the right to foreclose anybody’s right to movement and to own property.

You have the right to own property in any part of the country except court of competent jurisdiction says otherwise. I believe a defendant is presumed innocent in any criminal matter except when it is proven. So to rush to the harbour of justice and put the processes in the hands of the executive is wrong. It is only the judiciary that can make an order like that, I believe such an order is reactionary, it is unnecessarily reactive and it is coming from a vineyard that is suffering from trepidation and fears.

Corruption is not something an individual can holistically tackle. You have to deploy rule of law and create institutional mechanism to tackle the issue of corruption so I believe that more than ever before such an order will likely inflict political and socio economic blow on our economy, that is very fragile at the moment.

political anarchy and then colouring it with some kind of dictatorial tendencies. Nigerians who are all products of democracy and who have seen the actions and inactions of military at that time cannot accept that type of Executive Order just like that.

The general perception is that the Executive Order 6 is targeted at people who are opposed to this government especially towards 2019 general elections.

Akinjo The court has stopped some people from travelling in this country before now. The court has also adjudicated over some of these criminal matters and some People’s passports had already been withdrawn.

Even some that are not related to corruption cannot travel. However, in this same country we have seen a case where the then head of pension agency who left the country came back and dramatically rose to become director in another department. I’m not sure his name is on the watch list.

The Minister of Finance who supposedly forged her NYSC certificate and left the country was not stopped. So what people are saying is that the corruption fight of this administration is targeted at opposition; that in itself has watered down the impact or the pursuit of genuine end to fighting corruption in this country.

It is heartbreaking that a man who ought to have deployed the right institutional mechanism to tackling corruption is beginning to hijack judicial powers and then falling back into almost a state of

Nigerians are surprised to witness the division as a results of primary elections some parties particularly the APC. I’m sure your party the PDP will be watching and hoping to capitalise on this cracks Who would have expected that the ruling party will find itself in that state, with all the apparatus and paraphernalia of office will conduct itself in such manner? I am not a member of APC and because of some of their undecided cases one may not be able to speak authoritatively about their internal issues but because I’m a democrat and also and someone who takes pain to analyse and read in-between the lines, it is very clear that there is a lot of gap, crises and cracksn within the All Progressives Congress.

There is crises everywhere, Ogun, Niger, Zamfara states are all engulfed in crises. Ondo state APC is in political turmoil, some part of Delta too and so on. Lot of cases like that. I am aware that they sat in their rooms and nominated cronies for legislative positions.

And I’m also aware that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party did not help matters by saying direct primaries in one state and indirect primaries in the other, so a lot of confusion everywhere.

You cannot get out of such disorganised primaries without being hurt.

I’m very sure that another political party like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will benefit from

the problems in the APC. I’m a member of the PDP and I went through primaries in my constituency, Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal constituency where I emerged as the candidate of my party. It was transparent; it was a delegate election, an indirect primary where people voted for who they wanted.

Yes, it is their internal problem but there is no way you can extricate or disconnect the general public from the political participation and development or habit in the political party. So by and large, I think it is too early for a party which is just barely three and half years to suffer this sort of political blow as a result of unpreparedness, lack of foresight and lack of right leadership to guide the party. It is very sad. From what I have heard from friends, colleagues and other people what is happening in the APC leaves much to be desired.

Unfortunately, a significant number of your colleagues might not make it to the 9th Assembly as things stand today. Talk us through how you scaled the primary election hurdles of your party?

For me, the major stakeholders in democracy are the people. Like I said in one of my theses, people are the oxygen of democracy, so if you want to oxygenate democracy then you oxygenate the people, if you disconnect yourself from the people for three years when you go write democratic or political exams, because party primary is like political exams then you get your result. The more you stay away or the more you are unable to navigate the people through your philosophies and market your programmes to them, the more problems you will have.

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: 08152252325

Leadership Mentoring for Budding Youths Rebecca Ejifoma writes on the recent move by the International Visitor Leadership Program Alumni Association in mentoring about 200 budding youths on acquiring leadership skills

F

or the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association, the need to nurture budding youths on acquiring leadership skills has been a burning passion. Staunch believers in catching them young, they recently mentored about 200 school students on various leadership programmes in preparation for the future.

For the mentorship programme, about 200 students from two government secondary schools in Lagos - Community High School Surulere and Stadium High School, Yaba, were selected for its pilot Leadership and Mentoring scheme, that spanned about eight weeks with the 100 mentors from IVLP. During the mentorship, they were exposed to courses and skills like: career development, handling peer pressure, personal development plans, decision making, time management, self motivation, etiquette and mannerisms, identifying their skills, maximising potentials to succeed and understanding Identifying their skills , maximising potentials to succeed and understanding their study habits, among several others.

Support from US Consulate Speaking at the event, the Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate General, Mr. Russell Brooks, said, “I totally agree that the way to help Nigeria deal with the number of problems is to reach out to young people and encourage them and think of what they can do to improve their society. “Young people have the imagination. they have the spirit. they have the confidence, ambition, they have that thing that's determined the impossible to solve.

"Hence, the US Consulate is supporting the activities of IVLP alumni to mentor children at this age to encourage a sense of community service and prepare them for the future. We try to encourage the children to develop their own plan to what they want to accomplish in life. We are not going to determine that for them, but set a path for them."

Visible Success Speaking also at the graduation ceremony, the Interim President of the IVLP Alumni Association, Omowale Ogunrinde, noted that although the programme ended in July, the IVLP took the children on various other programmes.

She said: "The mentoring and the monitoring have to continue until they are able to stand on their own." According to her, one of the programmes they had with the children was taking them to the US Consulate two weeks ago to participate in the programme, ‘The International Day of the Girl Child'.

Ogunrinde, who expressed joy after several of the beneficiaries shared their experiences on how the programme has reshaped them, said: "The project was a recorded success.

The impact is already visible."

She listed some of the new lifestyles injected into the children as: discipline, improved study habits; defined vision and career plans and most importantly exemplary attitudinal change, which will make their colleagues respect them.

She said some of the participants were also trained in Coding and Robotics.

Mentors One of the mentors, Johnson Chijioke Nwaeze, also an IVLP alumnus, said: “As an alumnus, the whole essence of the programme has always been after attending the programme in the US, you have to give back to the society.

This was an opportunity given to us by the US government. And in continuation of that, we arranged for this intensive leadership programme for two public schools in Lagos.�

He continued that as mentors, they gathered together and taught the students a lot of mentorship programmes in choosing their

Some of the beneďŹ ciaries of IVLP mentorship programme

Public Aairs OďŹƒcer of the United States Consulate General, Russell Brooks (middle), anked by the IVLP Alumni

careers, what to be in future, why they want to be what they are today.

"We shall continue next year with another school. It is an annual programme. Since they are youths, they need to be focused now.

We have created an opportunity for them.

Having that interaction, they now know what a role model is like. Most of them want to be engineers, pilots, attend schools in the US, but don't know how to go about it. So, we taught them what and how to go about it�.

The US Consulate is supporting the activities of IVLP alumni to mentor children at this age to encourage a sense of community service and prepare them for the future

BeneďŹ ciaries One of the beneficiaries, 14-year-old Chijioke Ebuka, could not hide his joy. He said: “The programme was interesting. I learnt so much, how to choose friends, who to hang out with and that I need friends that will help my future.â€?

Another 14-year-old, Abumerem Emmanuel, a Senior Secondary School 2 student told THISDAY, “I benefited a lot. The programme helped me in the academic lines, I also learnt to be focused, the type of friends to keep, the advantages of a situation, the options and the solution to the equation.�

At the end, the beneficiaries were given mini bags and writing materials. The ceremony was cemented with a certificate to further encourage them to achieve their potentials in life.

Meanwhile, reacting the training and certification for the beneficiaries, the principal of the school, Olutoyin Ajala, lauded the organisers and hoped they would come again. “There were over 100 of them that learnt. There was counselling sessions for them and already I can see it in them. Thus, I will recommend other schools to be part of this programme."

Already, as an annual programme, the association is getting ready for the next training for newly selected schools in another part of Lagos State. According to them, the selection will begin next January, adding that the selection would be rotational and is ongoing already.

About the IVLP Each year, about 5,000 international visitors worldwide travel to the United States of America for the IVLP. Already, more than 200,000 international visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government. There is no application for IVLP. Participants are nominated and selected annually by the staff at U.S. Embassies around the world. And they return to the country to give back.

The IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme.

Through short-term visits to the US, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience the country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts.

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FEATURES

Promoting Culture, Tourism in China To promote its culture and boost tourism, a city in South-west China decided to renovate an ancient market, thereby attracting an average of 15,000 tourists each day.

Solomon Elusoji reports

L

iu Yizhen has an appetite for the past. A sombre, simple man in his late twenties, he is not afraid to leave the comfort of his home to seek it. Last November, he took his regular annual leave from his finance work and set out from Jinlu province in North-east China, where he lives, for Sichuan province in the South-west. “I want to explore Chinese history,� he says, “I want to know more about my country’s past.� On this trip, he took his wife with him.

While in Chengdu, Sichuan’s capital city, Yizhen visited China Lane, a famous street in Chengdu composed of three parallel alleys (Wide Alley, Narrow Alley and Well Alley). It is believed that China Lane is where a stranger can go to and grasp the essence of the city’s culture in all its rawness, undiluted. “I am not expecting anything precisely,�

Yizhen, sporting a dark leather jacket and blue pants, says as he navigates the busy shops on the streets. He had just finished lunch nearby – which was comprised of spicy traditional Sichuan cuisine – and was taking a stroll with his partner, inspecting the staggering volume and variety of merchandise all around them. “We are here to have a taste of the culture and of the food.�

Centre of Culture China Lane is a boisterous heaven, a tightly knit coven of Chengdu culture. The narrow streets, with ground made of smooth, rectangular marbles, are hemmed in by shops displaying colourful souvenir, teahouses, bars, bookshops, high-end restaurants, and an avalanche of stands hawking street food. There are also several services such as ear-cleaning and entertainment facilities like opera and theatre houses.

The lane, which is also known as Jinli Street or Kuanzhai Lane, has existed for hundred of years, when it emerged as a trading centre. In 2008, the street re-emerged with a new identity after undergoing heavy renovations and restorations and was opened to the public. Today, it is one of Chengdu’s historical and cultural reserves, together with the Daci Temple reserve and Wenshu Monastery reserve.

Xu Xiansong, a middle-aged Tibetan entrepreneur who came from Anhui province, said it was the promise of Chengdu streetfood that lured him to the street. “Then I will like to go to a bar,� he said, with a modicum of boyish enthusiasm. “The culture is important, there is a special feeling that people get when they come here,� Chen Jin, a local government official added.

Peng Dong works for a cultural company Ji Yi Si Chuan. On the day he spoke to this reporter, he was manning a stand for a calligraphy exhibition, ‘Memory of Sichuan’, being held on the street. Chinese characters printed on large posters were given away, as a mode of promoting the calligraphy culture. “This place is a centre of culture,� Dong, who is 23, said. “And our job is to share the culture of the city with those who gather here from different places. The essence is about sharing and letting more people know about our culture.�

The street hums with life; crowded but not dangerous. Chinese of all ages and gender shuffle along, some carrying with them bowls of food, eating, reflecting joy.

Tourism Tourism has become an important contributor to the domestic economy in China since the beginning of reform and opening in the early eighties. Today, the country’s tourism market is one of the biggest in the world.

According to data from Statista, it was estimated that the number of domestic trips in China would increase to about 2.38 billion trips by 2020, indicating an increase of over 50 per cent compared to the number of trips made within China 10 years ago.

A woman relaxes along China Lane, as she gets her ear picked by a local ear-cleaner

A visitor to the street is introduced to Chinese calligraphy

China Lane is filled with stores such as this one, displaying Chinese cultural artefacts

Stores selling local delicacies are popular on China Lane

A woman pours water into a cup, as she demonstrates how to make Chinese tea The street has a 24-hour library where visitors can go to escape the bustle of on the street city-life

The total revenue of Chinese travel and tourism industry amounted to 3.94 trillion yuan as of 2016, up by 15.2 per cent compared to the previous year. The industry also contributed

2.1 percent to China's gross domestic product (GDP) and provided around 22.5 million jobs.

There are many reasons for this exponential growth. The emergence of an affluent Chinese middle class and an easing of movement restrictions for locals and foreign visitors are both supporting this travel boom. But the infrastructure development of tourism sites such as China Lane can also not be discounted.

The total revenue of Chinese travel and tourism industry amounted to 3.94 trillion yuan as of 2016, up by 15.2 per cent compared to the previous year. The industry also contributed 2.1 percent to China's gross domestic product (GDP) and provided around 22.5 million jobs

Constant Innovation Deng Peng, a marketing official at the street’s management company, told this reporter that the biggest challenge in running the street was the constant need to innovate. The management company, which is under the Chengdu local government, proposes different activities and events according to different seasons. In spring, for example, they often organise tea parties. And there are several headline events to mark special dates like the Chinese New Year and Christmas. “The idea of the street is to promote ‘tianfu’, which is ancient Sichuan culture,� Peng said. “We have done a lot, but we have to continue

to innovate.� The numbers have not been bad.

During the past one week national holiday in China, Peng said the street welcomed more than 500,000 people. On an average day, some 15,000 visit. “Last year, it was about five million roughly,� he said.

Apart from organising events, the company has tried to introduce novel structures on the street, such as a modern bar that has the capacity to hold poetry readings and discussion sessions. A 24-hour bookstore, where you can sip tea while flipping pages has also been built. “We want people to enjoy themselves and try to slow down and enjoy the slow place in Chengdu,� Peng said. “We want to give people a different kind of experience.�

It is a job that gives Peng, who is from Chengdu, some sense of fulfilment, as he feels more connected to the culture, the tradition. “Every day when I finish my job and have some spare time, I can take it all in,� he said. “I am happy I can do something to promote it to more people. For me, it is a kind of self-achievement.�

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Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R Executive Director, Business Development, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Bukola Smith; Managing Director, AGF West Africa, Mrs. Adidjatou Zanouvi; Executive Director, Finance, FCMB, Mrs. Yemisi Edun; Company Secretary/ General Counsel, Mrs. Funmi Adedibu; Group Head, Legal Services, Mr. Tony Ibekwe and Head, SMEs Advisory Services, Mr. Oluyemi Rufai, during the signing of a loan portfolio guarantee between FCMB and AGF in Lagos...recently

L - R: Chief Operations OďŹƒcer, RMB Nigeria, Funsho Odukoya; Senior Relationship Manager, RMB Nigeria,Seyi Soetan; General Counsel, RMB Nigeria, Temitayo Adegoke; Senior Relationship Manager, RMB Nigeria, Hector Okposo and Chief Internal Auditor, RMB Nigeria, Femi Fatobi during their investiture as Honorary Senior Members of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB) in Lagos..recently Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), and Sheikh (Dr) Muhyideen Ajani Bello, during the 68 Years of Daawah, at Felicia hall, Jogor Center Liberty Road Ibadan Oyo State...recently

L-R; Chairman, Brass LNG, Dr. Jackson Gauis-Obaseki; President, Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Mrs. Audrey JoeEzigbo; Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru; Secretary General, International Gas Union (IGU), Mr. Luis BertrĂƒÂĄn Rafecas; Former President, NGA, Engr. Dada Thomas and MD, Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Tony Attah at the 2018 NGA International Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Abuja...recently

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Leader of a delegation from UK-based Jesus House Mission, Dr. Agu Irukwu; his wife, Sola; and Wife of the state governor/Founder, Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation (ABC), Chief Florence Ajimobi, during a visit to the governor, preparatory to the teams’ commencement of free medical mission governor’s office. across the state, at the Governor’s OďŹƒce, Ibadan... recently

Speaker, House of Representatives,Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara(4th left),shortly after receiving his temporary drivers license and a plaque from the Chairman Governing Board of Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC),Malam Bukhari Bello(4th right) and Corps Marshall of FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi(3rd left), with them are members of the FRSC governing board,during Speaker’s visit to FRSC headquarters in Abuja,recently

R-L; INEC, Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu ; INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Zabe Software, Khalil Halilu at the Conference on Electoral Integrity in Nigeria, organised by Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in Abuja...recently

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Quick Takes LCCI Organises Lagos Trade Fair

WORKING GROUP INAGURATION

L-R: Deputy Director, Directorate of Corporate Governance, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Mr. Nelson Anumaka; Executive Secretary/ CEO, Mr. Daniel Asapokhai; Assistant Director, Directorate of Auditing Practices Standards, Mr. Adeshola Amoo and Assistant Director, Directorate of Accounting Standard, Mr. Vincent Mr. Vincent Okhiria, during the inauguration of FRC’s Audit Regulation Working Group in Lagos‌recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Report: Rapid Hotel Expansion Indicates Favourable Business Climate Chris Uba The W Hospitality Group, an international firm which specialises in the provision of advisory services to hotels, tourism and leisure industry in 39 Africa countries, has said rapid expansion in the number of hotel rooms in Nigeria is an indication of a growing economy and favourable investment climate.

Managing Director of W Hospitality, Trevor Ward, whose company is also the host of the forthcoming West African Property Investment (WAPI) Summit & Expo, said in a report that Nigeria’s obvious scale and increasing economic sophistication was fuelling the expansion.

ECONOMY According to him, “with more than 9,603 rooms across 57 hotels planned by the world’s leading hotel brands ,Marriott, Radisson, AccorHotels, among others ,the country has many developers, investors and operators queuing up to strike deals across the country.� “Nigeria has by far the largest pipeline in West Africa, with Lagos and Abuja leading the charge,� he said, adding, “As a megacity, Lagos’ economic diversification, improving infrastructure of an international airport and deep-sea ports are all factors driving hotel growth.�

Despite this transaction-heavy

and deal-making environment over the past few years, the challenge, according to the report was transforming these deals into real rooms, which cater across a broad economic demographic from affordable to high end. “The reality is that only 4,000 of these hotel rooms are under construction,� it added. “The paradox is that while deals have been signed between operators and developers, the funding environment remains compressed and the biggest challenge to overcome. “This is despite the presence of global operators like Hilton, Marriott, and the Radisson rapidly expanding their footprint, but primarily focused on the top end of the market.

“There is no shortage of projects and developers, it is the finance that is in short supply.

It is inconceivable that all the projects in the pipeline could be funded – if they were, and were built, there would be chronic oversupply.�

According to the report, current demand is concentrated in the business and Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sectors, but the biggest opportunity is the economy or mid-scale markets.

However, despite the potential offered by the economy or mid-scale market, international brands are focussed on the high end of the market with smaller brands like South Continued on page 24

Nigeria to BeneďŹ t from UK’s ÂŁ1.2bn Intervention Fund for Digital Inclusion Emma Okonji The government of the United Kingdom (Uk) is collaborating with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on how Nigeria will benefit from the ÂŁ1.2 billion intervention fund, set aside by the UK government to create wealth and posterity in selected countries around the world.

To be part of the intervention fund, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the government of the United Kingdom (UK), have agreed to collaborate on digital inclusion, cybersecurity and capacity building.

The Executive Vice Chairman

TELECOM and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, made the disclosure shortly after he met with a delegation from the UK, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Senior Private Sector Development Adviser and Head Digital Inclusion at Department of Foreign and International Development (DFID), of the UK government, Alessandra Lustrati.

According to Lustrati, “This delegation is here to explore

how the UK government can channel a significant intervention to the tune of ÂŁ1.2 billion to create wealth and posterity in selected countries around the world. “And this creation of posterity will leverage on the power of ICT to provide access to unserved and underserved areas in the country. The intervention is also on cyber security and capacity building.â€?

Lustrati told the EVC that the UK government was hoping to start the implementation of the intervention from as early as April, 2019, noting that the project was deliberately made “country-specific� to enable

countries like Nigeria choose the nature of the interventions they desire.

Danbatta had told the delegation that there were 200 access gaps in Nigeria and that the Commission was looking at different rural technology solutions to plug them in two years, as against the 20 years projected. “With the right rural technology solution, we can do it faster, because at the rate we are plugging the gaps, it will take us about 20 years to conclude. These gaps deprive 40 million Nigerians of access to telecommunications Continued on page 24

Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ù××Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ě™ Ěš Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă’Ă™Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? ÍąÍ°Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› Ă’Ă? ÙÚĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞËÕĂ? ÚÖËĂ?Ă? ĂžĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂœĂœĂ™ĂĄËœ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ Ă‹Ă–Ă?ĂĄĂ‹ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă˜Ă“Ă•Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă–Ă?Ă™Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ͯͯÞÒ Ùà Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă Ă?Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? ĂŒĂŁ ͹Ú× ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—ĂšĂžË› Ă’Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ăœ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ ÞÙÞËÖ Ă™Ă? ÍŻÍŽ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ëœ Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ‹ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ě‹Í°Ě‹ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă–ĂŁ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂœË› Ă&#x;Ăž ÞÙÎËã ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ Ă’Ă™Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă˜Ă“Ă•Ă‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ËŤ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ÓÖÓÞËÞĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă?Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă‹ĘľĂœĂ‹Ă?Ăž Ă‹ Ă’Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹ĘŠĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞËÕĂ? Ă‹ĂŽĂ Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă™ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă™ĂœĂšĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă–Ă™Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ÓÚËÞĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ËŤ Ă˘Ă’Ă“ĂŒĂ“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă“Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ëœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ë› Ëœ Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë›ËŹ Ă’Ă? Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ă? ËŤ ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?Þ̋ Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ËŹ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹ ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ÞÙ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ÓʨĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁË›

UK Delegation Visits ATCON

ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŽĂ™Ă— Ě™ Ěš ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž ĘŠĂ?Ă? Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂŽ Ă™Ă? ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă? Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă“ĂœĂ• Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă™Ě‹ Ă™ĂœĂ?ãÞÒ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ Ěš Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁË› Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÞÙ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ë› ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? Ëœ Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?ÙÖË Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă–Ă‹ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ę¨ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“ĂžËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁË› Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă™Ě‹ Ă™ĂœĂ?ĂŁĂžĂ’Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ Ă’Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÚÖĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă—Ă?Ă?Ăž ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ÞÙ Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŽĂ™Ă— ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂĄĂ’ĂŁ ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂŒĂŁ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ë› Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă–Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ăž ʨÞ ÞÙ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă• ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă?Ë› ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‘Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă?ĂŁĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĘľĂ‹Ă?Ă•Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË›

ITB Supports Digitisation

Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ę¨ĂœĂ— Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ÎÓÑÓÞÓĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂœË› Ë×äÓ Ă’Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁËœ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ ĂĄĂ™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂŁĂ?Ëœ ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă?ĘĽĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă”Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂŽĂ™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ÚËà Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂž ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ÚÙĂ?ÓÞÓà Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă˜Ă?ʨÞĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă’Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă‹Ă?Ëœ ËŤ Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂ?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ÙÖÖĂ?Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?ĘľĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ™Ă– ÞÒĂ? Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓÞã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă&#x;ÚÒĂ?Ă–ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë›

“To protect the local manufacturers, the federal government should closely monitor smuggling, adulteration, counterfeiting and cloning activities in the country with stricter penalty on those found culpable of the offences�

Director General, MAN,

Segun Ajayi-Kadir

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REPORT: RAPID HOTEL EXPANSION INDICATES FAVOURABLE BUSINESS CLIMATE Africa’s Peermont, Southern Sun, City Lodge are “making waves�.

On serviced apartments, it noted that in such an environment, one emerging segment of the hospitality industry poised to break out is serviced apartments. “It is (serviced apartments) coming, but it is slow, even though every major city in Africa has demand for the product.�

The report quoted the Chief executive officer and CoFounder of Amara Suites, Abi Adisa to have said: “As one of Lagos’ first serviced apartment providers, has measured a marked increase in business confidence post-recession and in light of a $70+ oil price.�

Commenting on the impact of the oil and gas sector, the report added: “We see Oil and Gas service companies returning to Lagos. A constant has been the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods companies focused on the increasing size of the middle class.�

Adisa believes serviced apartments are perfect for Africa’s fast-growing economies and urban future. “Serviced apartments are ideally suited for African markets. Significant business traffic headed to Africa is for extended stays, and it’s not easy to get here. “ Folks also tend to stay longer to close on deals or execute projects and we are more flexible and cost-effective than hotels,� he said.

Despite Adisa’s bullish optimism, the sector is not immune to economic pressures and Nigeria’s upcoming electoral period, which he says will result in a softening of the market and then a spike in demand.

NIGERIA TO BENEFIT FROM UK’S ÂŁ1.2BN INTERVENTION FUND FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION services, out of 190 million. “The good thing about getting a solution to the access gap problem is that, we know where the gaps are, we have our access gap map, we can actually point out where the gaps are,â€? Danbatta stressed.

NRC Commences Free Train Service on Warri-Oyibu-Itakpe Railway Line Sunday Okobi

livestock for those in the rural areas. It will also collaborate with the road to make movement of people easier.�

On how the services would be operated, the Deputy Director of Operations, Akin Osinowo, said in order to further ease the movement of people and goods along the train route, NRC would create halt stations in various (smaller) communities connected to the rail line.

He noted that it would also create access for those living in towns a bit farther from the major stops.

He said: “This is because we are looking at potential places for what we call halt stations; they are not permanent stations. You can see that the permanent stations are where they are. “But we would also want to setup permanent stations that are nearer to the communities and closer for access so that when those stations are finished,

people will already have had a feel of what it is like and then it will not be too much of a problem for them to find their way there.�

Osinowo further stated that the train coaches would be fully sanitised for health and well-being of the passengers, as well as lives and goods being protected by armed marshals on-board, adding that “there will be onboard security at every halt station. We will have what is known as train marshals who are armed policemen on every train coach and station.

Basically, everything we have in Abuja-Kaduna train service would be replicated here- sanitation, health services as well as tight security of lives of those onboard and their properties.�

Osinowo, who is also the Chairman of the committee in charge of the train operations, noted that as a sign of

adequate preparation to serve the people, NRC would initially operate a seven-coach train with 88 capacity each free of charge, adding that “the idea is that the train will leave from station 10 Ujewu in Warri in the morning to Itakpe, Kogi State, where it would connect Okpara, Abraka, Owa-Oyibu (Agbor), Igbanke, Uromi, Agenegbode, Itogbo, Ajaokuta and ends the journey in Itakpe, spend an hour there and then return that same day to Warri. So that is our current intention.�

Meanwhile, the people of Owa-Oyibu (major station), Idumuesah and Abavo, whose communities are also connected by the rail line, have expressed delight over the imminent rail services and commended the management of NRC for having the will to finally commence “such vital and marvelous services for the people.�

However, they con-

fided in THISDAY that without accessible road to the railway station in Owa-Oyibu, it would be difficult to access the train services as it would be easier to get a bus going to Warri from Agbor, even as they urged the NRC to consider revamping the farm roads from Oyibu and Idumuesah, and help ease the movement of the potential passengers and their goods.

When this request was put forward to the NRC managing director, he benevolently noted that NRC would look into making thing easier for the people as the corporation is solely poised to serve Nigerians adequately.

Also, a technical officer of TEAM, one of the contractors manning the railway project, called on the Ika North East Local Government Authorities to help repair the adjoining roads to the railway station in Owa-Oyibu and ease the troubles of accessing it.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced passengers’ train services on the Warri-Owa-Oyibu-Itakpe railway line which was initially meant to haul iron sheets from one end to the other.

During the recent tour of the standard gauge line which runs from Delta State and terminates in Kogi State, with various stops in Edo State, by the management of the corporation in Owa-Oyibu, THISDAY learnt that the service would commence in the first week of November free of charge for one month.

The Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Fridet Okhiria, in a chat with select journalists, urged the residents of the adjoining communities to take advantage of the train services provided for them by the corporation in order to attract development to their communities as well as ease their burden on the roads.

According to Okhiria, the “NRC is commencing a free train ride operation from Itakpe to Warri by November which will run for one month. The coaches are super comfortable even for those who want to read, relax and have fun. “The development will also allow the people in the connecting communities to reinvest themselves in small scale businesses and grow the economy of the areas and Nigeria at large. “It will be cheaper because rail services are the cheapest means of transportation because of the huge number of people and goods involved. “The government wants to provide these services affordably for the people and we are not limiting them to the townships L-R: Head of Marketing, Spectranet 4G LTE, Mike Ogor; Executive Secretary, Association of Telecommunications Companies of alone but also for goods Nigeria, Ajibola Olude and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Spectranet, Ajay Awasthi, during the presentation of 4G LTE internet service and services as well as provider of the year award to Spectranet, in Lagos... recently PHOTO: YOMI AKINYELE

REWARDING SERVICE DELIVERY

Uber Partners Lagos to Support Start-ups Emma Okonji Group Business Editor

ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă‹ Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

In a bid to create business and economic opportunities for individuals and provide support for small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, Uber has entered into a strategic partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to boost the initiative.

Tagged UBERPITCH, the campaign which is done in conjunction with LSETF, is an initiative that creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, learn from highly successful business leaders and potentially get capital

to effectively run their business.

Commenting on the on the partnership, Uber ’s General Manager for West Africa, Lola Kassim, said: “In line with Uber’s clear commitment to Africa and our goal of continually creating business and economic opportunities for all, the UBERPITCH campaign sees us supporting entrepreneurs by creating a platform for them to pitch ideas, leverage on relevant advice from business mentors, and potentially receive capital from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to run their businesses.

“Our partnership with the LSETF indicates that we are focused on ensuring that these entrepreneurs build viable and successful businesses.�

Speaking on the initiative and the collaboration with Uber, Executive Secretary/ CEO of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Akintunde Oyebode; said: “LSETF’s mandate of job creation by supporting entrepreneurship and employability, is a vision we share with Uber. “Since its inception two years ago, LSETF has provided funding worth N6 billion to 8,000 businesses, and trained over

3,000 unemployed Lagos residents, with a view to place them in jobs. “Through these activities, the Fund has enabled jobs for over 25,000 people, improved productivity of small businesses statewide, and ensured Lagos State remains on a path of sustainable economic growth.�

Country Marketing Lead for Uber in West Africa, Margaret Banasko, said: “The campaign is divided into two phases. The first phase is where Uber Riders who run tech-enabled businesses submit or “pitch� their ideas; and shortlisted candidates stand the chance of winning Workspace

vouchers of up to N1.8 million. “The second phase involves business owners to pitch their ideas to a panel consisting of the LSETF and globally recognised entrepreneurs, receive mentoring from highly successful business leaders and potentially get capital to effectively run their business.�

As part of activities to reward driver-partners, Uber Nigeria recently presented two brand-new cars and other consolation prizes to driver-partners who participated and came out tops in the uberFREEKICK campaign.

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Jumah: Market-led Policies Will Bridge Financial Inclusion Gap Managing Director, Intermarc Consulting, Jacqueline Jumah, in this interview speaks about the benefit of digital financial services in bridging the financial inclusion gap. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: model. Once everybody has an understanding of what is best placed for them, which I call their comparative advantage, they can really leverage on each other’s comparative advantage to collaborate and push the market forward.

I see the cold war as misinformation that one model will take advantage of the other model.

For example, the banks are thinking that telcos are not trained to manage public funds and therefore there might be issues if they are allowed to drive mobile money in the country. On the other hand, the telcos are thinking that mobile money is largely driven by technology and that they have the technology and the infrastructure to drive mobile money in the country. Both arguments are correct but what is key in all of these, is collaboration between both groups to have a better understanding on how best to drive and sustain mobile money operations in the country, which is geared towards achieving cashless economy where there will be little volume of physical cash in circulation, and where most financial transactions will be done through mobile devices that are connected to bank accounts.

Why is Nigeria still perceived as largely a cash-based economy, despite the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria to make the country a cashless economy?

There are lots of opportunities for Nigeria to become a cashless economy, but Nigeria is still a cash-based economy because a lot of people still prefer to carry cash, and the reason is that the generality of the people were not taken into consideration when policies to drive cashless economy were being implemented. There is need to develop policies that are market-led, which will benefit the generality of the Nigerian populace, rather than formulating boardroom based policies that will not benefit the masses.

It is true that Nigeria has policies to drive cashless, but most of these policies are tilted more towards the corporate and not the masses. So part of my role in the Nigerian digital financial services market is to begin to shift people’s attention to the design of solutions that are needed at the grassroots market. I intend to use my behavioural science knowledge to help the market start thinking in line with those that will use the solution. We should be able to develop policies that are grassroots based, and design solutions that the grassroots people, such as the market men and women and the artisans could conveniently use. So I am already talking with some stakeholders to see how we can together, come up with a framework that will shift attention to the grassroots in the market place, instead of designing policies and solutions that are boardroom based and will only benefit some few segments of the economy.

Nigeria has a wide range of unbankedyou’re your role, how will you help the country get more people into the ďŹ nancial inclusion space, using ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence (AI)?

Using AI in driving financial inclusion is key and to achieve this, we need to design policies and solutions that will address the financial inclusion needs of the general masses, especially petty traders at the grassroots level.

In Nigeria, statistics has it that about 40 per cent of the population is financially excluded, and there is need to address this set of people.

This can be achieved by understanding the data of bankable people and those who are not bankable. Such data needs to be analysed using AI to address what the issues are. Some people are not bankable because of their religious belief and sometimes because of their level of education. So we need the knowledge of AI to generate data and analyse data that will be used to address their challenges and I see more of such opportunities in the northern part of Nigeria and we are working with financial institutions to see how to address these challenges that have impeded the growth of financial inclusion in Nigeria, through the use of AI. How do you intend to generate data that will help drive ďŹ nancial inclusion very fast in the country?

At this stage, we should not be talking about how fast we can drive financial inclusion, but how steady we can maintain the pace in driving financial inclusion. This is because steady drive is more sustainable than fast drive. In the aspect of data generation, I think there are many data points, but we need to first understand what the addressable market is, in order to know the kind of data that will address the market challenges. For instance, looking at the 40 per cent that is financially excluded in Nigeria, let us say about 90 per cent of that 40 per cent financial exuded people are addressable, then we need to segment the market and generate different types of data and observe the data over time, to enable us get the required result.

But this is rather a longer process of achieving results, so I will encourage the industry to make use of existing data and analyse such data to achieve results, and the easiest way to achieve good results is to leverage on the power of the mobile phones, which many Nigerians already

Jumah

have, including those at the grassroots level.

Mobile phone penetration in Nigeria is high and this is a better opportunity in terms of teledensity measurement and used cases of mobile phone data. So existing alternative data at county level, institutional level, and social media data could be used to achieve steady and better results.

Fintechs have developed several digital ďŹ nancial solutions, but they appear running

There is need to develop policies that are market-led, which will beneďŹ t the generality of the Nigerian populace, rather than formulating boardroom based policies that will not beneďŹ t the masses.

It is true that Nigeria has policies to drive cashless, but most of these policies are tilted more towards the corporate and not the masses

faster than the banks. How best do you think the banks can catch up with evolving technology solutions from ďŹ ntechs and leverage on their solutions to serve their customers better?

The banks and fintechs are two different bodies with different ideologies and focus, but both have to complement each other in their various roles. Banks have been in existence for ages but they are yet to have proper relationship in the retail space. They target majorly the corporate space, where they think the money is, and tend to neglect the retail space, which is larger than the corporate space. So the fintechs are coming at a time where they see huge opportunities in the retail space and they are fast developing financial solutions that will address the retail space. So both the banks and fintechs must collaborate and the banks must speed up their processes to catch up with the fintechs and technology evolution. Banks must begin to see that the future banking operations are for the agile and must therefore collaborate with fintechs that already have the agility to move in a much faster pace.

There seems to be a cold war between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the telecoms operators about who drives the mobile money market. While the telecoms operators are thinking it should be telcoled, the CBN appears to be insisting on a bank-led model. What is your view on this?

For me the issue that is going on in the Nigerian mobile money space is a misinformation issue about whether mobile money should be bank-led or telcos-led. A lot of key stakeholders are misinformed about the two models. What I have observed over time and across markets is that both models work and any of the models can work for any country, depending on how they perceived a particular

Most countries make reference to the M-Pesa mobile money in Kenya, which is telco-led, as a good example of what mobile money is all about. What really makes M-Pesa thick in mobile money transactions?

With M-Pesa in Kenya, the telcos made the banks what they are today because mobile money is an open market in Kenya today. In Kenya, mobile money was in existence before agent banking was introduced, and by the time the agent banking guidelines came in 2011, the banks had to partner with telcos and had the entire network of mobile money to be operated by the telcos. So the banks in Kenya realised that when telcos are involved in mobile money translations, the telcos will be doing several low value transactions and thereby pushing high volume of financial transactions, while the banks are driving high value transactions with low volume. So both realised that they can complement each other and today M-Pesa mobile money is doing well in Kenya and most countries refer to M-Pesa as a good model.

But again, we have some markets like India where mobile money is bank-led. So all these depend on understanding and collaboration, because the telcos cannot successfully do it alone, neither will the banks do it alone successfully. I will advise that the banks and the telcos should look at the 3Cs in mobile money, which include character, comparative advantage and competence. In the area of character each should be able to understand its role and play it well. For instance, the banks are good in managing public funds, while the telcos are good in distribution of technology solutions that will further drive the market. In the area of comparative advantage, both the banks and the telcos should know their area of strength over the the other group and play well in that area, while in the area of competence, they should leverage on the group with the best competence and vision to drive mobile money transactions.

So I strongly believe that collaboration has made M-Pesa thick in Kenya, and there is need for collaboration between banks and telcos in other markets. So what makes M-Pesa thick in Kenya is because Equity Bank endorsed it from the very beginning, and there was collaboration from the beginning, even though it is a telco-led mobile money operation.

In the first instance, M-Pesa was designed by telcos as a micro finance loan repayment solution, but they later realised that people were using the platform to send money to their families who were in distant places. At that time, there was the argument why the telco should shift from its core responsibility of telecommunications, to selling baking solutions. But Equity Bank saw the wisdom in it and endorsed it. So in each of its bank branches, especially in the

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Ojo: Digital Marketing Will Boost e-Commerce The Chief Executive Of, Synergimart Digital Marketing Limited, Mr. Muyiwa Ojo, in this interview, speaks about the company’s plan to address challenges in e-Commence business through digital marketing. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: services on the platform.

The second category is the Synergitrust Merchants, who are already in business of any scale, be it large or small. These are people that offer services in exchange for money. By registering on the platform, the world can have access to them and demand for their services, and any category of merchants can be on that platform, provided they have services to offer.

The third category are the agents who operate between the merchants and those at the grassroots.

We have two types of agents, mobile agents and physical agents. While the mobile agents are visible everywhere chasing business, the physical agents are stationary at a place like the office, attending to customers.

What is your take on e-Commerce growth in Nigeria, being an emerging business in the country?

The e-Commerce business in Nigeria is still low, and we need infrastructure such as power and broadband internet connectivity to drive e-Commerce business in Nigeria. Once we have power and broadband, the volume of online transactions will increase and that will be opening more opportunities for online business in the country.

Synergimart recently launched the Synergitrust digital marketing platform, an aspect of e-Commerce business in Nigeria. What is the key motivating factor and what do you plan to achieve with it?

Synergimart Digital Marketing is an Information Technology (IT) driven marketing company that is focused on developing e-Solutions to address the digital market space. We focus on four core areas of our business services, which include e-Commerce, e-Procurement, e-Distribution and Channel Marketing, and we have solutions that are driving these services.

For the e-Commerce aspect of our business, we have a product called Synergitrust.

We looked at the activities of the global e-Commerce industry over the years, including that of Nigeria, where the likes of Konga and Jumia are playing big, and we discovered that they focus more on the affluents and the elites in the society, while neglecting a critical group, which are the masses at the grassroots, who may not know how to read and write, and do not understand the meaning of password and username in online transactions.

These set of neglected people are those we are focusing out attention on, and that is where the niche market lies, yet they have been neglected and excluded over the years.

We discovered that these set of people lack money and education and for these reasons, that have been neglected for years. They operate in local physical markets like the Katangowa market and the popular Asuani and Oshodi markets in Lagos. So what we intend to do with our Synergitrust e-Commerce platform, is to ride on it to take online shopping to the neglected grassroots.

You have another area of interest known as E-Procurement, which you plan to launch soon, but the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) recently decried the lack of adequate technology skills to drive public procurement.

What is your take on this?

By the time we launch our e-Procurement solution, it will definitely address all key issues associated with e-procurement, both in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. We will be coming up with end-to-end solutions that will eliminate too much human interface and address every area of challenge in e-Procurement. We have since discovered that so much human interface has been a stumbling block to the growth of public

How do you address delivery of goods of merchants on the platform?

We have FedEx Courier company as our partner, and as soon as any order is placed, FedEx gets instant notification. On getting notification for any order, FedEx quickly get set to deliver the item. So delivery is not an issue on our platform.

Our system is also a cashless system, such that buyers and sellers do not handle physical cash for transaction, because movement of transactional cash is handled by the bank at the bank end. So what this means is that all merchants and buyers must have bank accounts for easy transaction. On the platform, both the buyer and the merchant, including the agents, make money for every transaction carried out on the network. Even government and the logistics company also make money for every transaction.

Ojo

procurement, and we have technology solution that will address all of that.

Looking at your e-Commerce business, how do you intend to bring the majority of Nigerians at the grassroots onboard the online transaction?

We are taking e-Commerce to the grassroots, in spite of their challenges. We have since identified their challenges to be lack of education and lack of money and we are ready to address those challenges, hence we are focusing on them to include them in our online transaction platform. In the area of education, we looked at existing infrastructure of the banking industry and decided to develop agent banking, using these facilities to reach out to the unbanked. We are converting Computer Business Centres to e-Business Centres which our trained agents will use in reaching out to people in the environment and educate them on how to do online shopping. We have licensed some agents and our

goal is to recruit 5,000 agents and spread them across Nigeria. Our agents will provide computers and attend to those at the grassroots level.

How will you describe the business nature of the newly launched Synergitrust platform?

Synergitrust is the first social marketing network in the world and this is coming out of Nigeria in Africa. As the first of its kind, we have structured it in such a way that it will address every area, while carrying every stakeholder along that are key to the running of the platform. It is divided into three major components, the first being Synergitrust Business Club, which is a platform for everybody, irrespective of the class. Members of the club will form community of buyers on the platform. The Synergitrust Club can be likened to Ikoyi Club in Lagos, where people register to belong and to enjoy the facilities of the club. So with the Synergitrust Club, all members will be mainly business people who are buyers and willing to patronise goods and

People are skeptical doing business online because of the security issues around online transactions. What are you doing to address it?

Security is key to any business, especially the online business. We knew this from the beginning and we developed security solutions that will address all of that. We also partner the best security company globally to ensure that every transaction on our platform, remained secured. Again we have in-built security in our system to complement external security.

Since the online social marketing is new in Nigeria and across the globe, how will you convince Nigerians to buy into the idea?

Yes it is new in Nigeria and in the globe as well, hence we are doing everything possible to persuade people that we cannot be doing the same thing every year and expect different results. Technology is evolving and addressing specific human challenges and we must evolve with technology if we must be part of the digital transformation. In the past, we were known for physical hawking on the streets and in the market places but what we have developed could be likened to electronic hawking system, such that any of our merchants can stay at the comfort of their shops or any space and sell their goods to buyers on the platform to those who have need for such products. Our platform will be strictly for business of selling and buying.

JUMAH: MARKET-LED POLICIES WILL BRIDGE FINANCIAL INCLUSION GAP rural areas, the bank opened M-Pesa counter, encouraging people to send money through the bank and communities embraced it, and that was the genesis of the rapid growth of M-Pesa mobile money in Kenya that is telco led, but in collaboration with the banks. So the bank was working with M-Pesa agents by buying money from them and disbursing same money to the M-Pesa beneficiaries.

How can some of the security issues associated with mobile money be addressed?

The security issues are not tied to either bank-led or telco-led because with any of the models, money is involved, and the money is seated with the banks, even when it is bank-led or telco-led. The banks still have the responsibility to put some measures in place to protect financial deposits and banks take security issues very seriously.

Another concern in the Nigerian mobile money space is the issue of regulation. If there is collaboration between the banks and telcos, who regulates the market?

Regulation should not be an issue because mobile money thrives in other regions of the world and regulation has never been an issue.

What most countries do is to have combined regulation. While the Central Bank regulates the financial aspect of mobile money, the telecoms regulatory authority regulates the distribution of technology solution and the infrastructure through which mobile money is transacted.

What are the beneďŹ ts for small and medium enterprises in this whole process of digital ďŹ nancial services?

SMEs stand to gain a lot from the solutions that are driving digital financial services in Nigeria and across globe. A lot of SMEs have not benefited in traditional banking, probably because of small sizes and weak financial strength.

But this is the time where SMEs are given more attention and solution are developed specifically for SMEs’ growth. Today, SMEs are involved in agency banking because they have a great role to play in that space. The FinTechs have also realised the importance of SMEs and have designed solution that will enable them have access to soft loans, and also have access to online businesses, where they can showcase their products to the entire world.

You were recently appointed as the

managing director of Intermarc Consulting.

What should we be expecting from you and what is your vision for the company?

I am a specialist in Digital Financial Services Marketing and I took up the position of Managing Director in Intermarc Consulting two months ago, precisely in September this year, to further drive Digital Financial Services Marketing (DFS) in Nigeria through Intermarc Consulting. I started my career in the banking industry where I worked for a number of years before I specialised in digital products development.

I was passionate about the entire digitisation process and products while in the banking sector before I moved into the telecoms space and my role was to introduce technology and telecommunications solutions to the banks. I worked with a telecoms company called Mobil Connect in Kenya and later joined Micro Save, a financial consulting company that gave me the exposure to international experiences, while interfacing with several international bodies.

Then I was interfacing with stakeholders within the financial industry space, spanning from Central Banks to money deposit banks and Microfinance banks, telecommunications, and the mobile money space. I had all these

experiences before joining Intermarc Consulting, with a vision to help the company fully explore the intervention areas in the financial services space. Before now, Intermarc was known for research work and event management, but my role is to push a lot of financial services, in line with different trending projects, including the national financial inclusion strategies in Nigeria and other markets.

What has been the impact of Intermarc on the Nigerian economy in the entire process of digital ďŹ nancial services delivery?

Intermarc has existed for quite some time now, focusing on the aspect of the digital financial services, but we are beginning to play more in the e-Commerce space. So we are shifting focus from the initial idea of CardExpo to DigitalExpo, in line with the corrent trend with digital financial services. The impact of Intermarc on the digital economy space in Nigeria has been great through its platform where people have come together to interact and the platform has helped many companies discovered new trends that have helped them in their decision making policy that have kept them competitive over the years.

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Firm Harps on Digital Metering to Enhance Discos’ Revenue Stories by Emma Okonji Worried about the high rate of electricity theft in the country, through illegal connectivity, amounting to over 60 per cent loss in revenue generation to electricity distribution companies (Discos), the CWG Plc, one of the licenced metre asset providers, has said the solution to the revenue loss suffered by the power investors is to ensure that all households, offices and shops have the smart metering system installed in their premises.

The Chief Executive Officer of

CWG, Mr. James Agada, gave the advice during the recent launch of the 1.5 megawatts mini off-grid independent power project in Sura Shopping Complex located in Lagos.

According to Agada, CWG produced and supplied the smart metering systems for the Sura Independent Power Project, which is a mini offgrid power project, called the Energising Economies Initiate (EEI), an initiative of the federal government that targets micro, small and medium (MSMEs), with the objective of supporting

the rapid development of off-grid decentralised electricity solutions that will provide clean and consistent power to economic clusters, through private sector developers.

The project, which is being implemented by Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Solad, comes with smart metering system that is supplied

by CWG, a technology solution company.

Agada said CWG could assist Discos is putting an end to electricity theft and estimated billing, through its

smart metering system. “The metres that we supply are capable of doing both input measurement and consumption measurement, and this will help determine the capacity of power that is being channelled to a particular area and the power consumption capacity on a daily basis in that area. “CWG is one of the licensed metre asset providers, and we are in discussion with Discos, to help them provide metering system for their power distribution and consumption. It will help them understand the measurement of

the power factor and know what each customer is consuming and this can be measured in real time,� Agada said.

According to him, some losses could either be technical hitches from faulty transformer or deliberate loss through illegal tapping and connection of electricity supply.

He however said with the CWG metering system, the Discos can control such losses from the monitoring location which CWG provides, from where they could monitor realtime, the input and output

of electricity consumption.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who commissioned the mini off-grid power station in Sura Shopping Complex, said: “This is a special federal government project and we are happy that we are accomplishing the task.

After Sura Shopping Complex in Lagos, we will focus attention on Ariaria market in Abia State, Sabon Gari market in Kano and Balogun market in Lagos. All these are markets where SME businesses are thriving and government will continue to support them.�

Firm Provides Multicloud to Enterprise Delivering on its promise to empower digital transformation for enterprise customers, Layer3 has expanded its portfolio with a new multicloud orchestration platform designed to simplify deployment of enterprise workloads, managed services and third-party cloud resources.

In advancing this course, Layer3 recently organised a two-day workshop with the theme: “Simplify Your Path to a Secure and Automated Path to Multicloud� for a diverse group of companies from various industries in Lagos. The workshop, which was held in conjunction with Juniper Networks, one of the global leaders in networking, outlined the steps organizations should take when planning their multicloud migration strategies.

Companies are moving more workloads from on-premises to the cloud to keep up with the need for agility and more flexibility. A recent study conducted

by PwC found that a majority of

enterprise workloads currently on-premises are expected to migrate to the public cloud in the next one to three years. As a result, enterprises will need to adopt even greater multicloudstrategies as workloads become more distributed across IT environments.

Layer3’s Head of Engineering, Godwin Michaels, said: “The promise of multicloud is to deliver an infrastructure that is secure, ubiquitous, reliable and fungible and where the migration of workloads will be a simple and intuitive process. “The value proposition justifies the increasing adoption of multicloud infrastructure solutions and some of its advantages are: increase in ROI, superior security, low latency, end-to-end visibility and control, autonomy and less disaster prone. Layer3 will help support the evolution of the operations of organisations smoothly to enable them to be more agile and automated.�

Winners Emerge in NIBSS Hackathon Competition Winners have emerged from the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) 2018 Hackathon Challenge, created to enhance an enabling environment for the Nigerian payment system.

The grand finale, which held in Lagos recently, saw winners go home with N1 million, N2 million and N3 million for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st prizes respectively.

Team Tech Vault, Team Petram and Team PayBeans won first, second and third positions respectively, out of the 13 groups that participated in the challenge.

The Executive Director, NIBSS, Mrs. Christabel Onyejekwe, stated that NIBSS was committed to advancing the payment system structure especially the adoption and application of the globally accepted biometrics technology to ensure a greater drive of financial inclusion and in response to the clamour of customers in the country.

She explained that the end products of the challenge if utilised, would bring about greater ease in the conduct of business at all levels in the Nigerian ecosystem .

Onyejekwe pointed out at the

event which saw winners emerge after developing various software, that the initiative would make payments and fund transfers for both the banked and the unbanked relatively easy and seamless .

The focus, according to her, was on authentication, identification and validation with finger prints due to global adoption of biometrics as a means of accurate identification and accountability in payments .

She further said that the use of biometrics would bring about a friendly system, ease, convenience and versatility in the sector. “The objective is to address unemployment and promote entrepreneurship through the discovery of local talents who will develop software or Apps that would identify and implement different fingerprint authentication, validation and payment innovations using fingerprints.

It is also to promote valuable collaboration with banks, FinTechs and other stakeholders. The initiative which is open to software developers of all ages and gender without restrictions, will help to grow talents,� Onyejekwe said.

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Director, VDT Communications, Umar Abdulahi; newly appointed Chairman of the company, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi; former Chairman of VDT and current Chairman, Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith and MD/CEO, VDT, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi, during a courtesy visit to the former chairman in Abuja...recently

Phase3 Clocks 15yrs in Fibre Optic Service Operations West Africa’s independent fibre optic infrastructure operator, Phase3 Telecom has clocked 15 years in providing Nigerians with quality service that has boosted connectivity in organisations, in line with technology evolution.

Phase3 Telecom, which began operations in 2003 had an auspicious start pioneering optic fiber services on power lines, to provide backbone, broadband, and converged services across Nigeria.

Phase3, with an extended reach beyond country shores through invaluable global partnerships with entities such as PCCW global, rides on expansion projects targeted at transforming the sub-region’s telecommunications landscape using innovative technology as leverage to effectively connect people and businesses that operate in the region with each other, and the rest of the world.

Through its subsidiary, Coverage Broadband, Phase3 in a strategic partnership with Airtel Nigeria recently, announced launch of 3flix mobile TV service, an app designed for smart phones to provide premium television content to Nigerians across the country.

The company’s chief executive officer, Mr. Stanley Jegede, said:

“Phase3’s foresight to focus on the opportunities in emerging markets led to the creation of Coverage Broadband, and the subsequent partnership with Airtel Nigeria, to offer subscribers a distinctive mobile TV viewing service, which requires minimal data consumption.�

According to Jegede, “While Phase3 is not oblivious of Nigeria’s current 360° degree shift in focus of meeting the needs of a rapidly growing and evolving population especially in the area of delivering much more amplified and accessible versions of their connectivity needs, we are very grateful that 15 years of operations has prepared us for a smarter strategic aptitude; refined thought processes, and an unequaled team resilience that is now first nature to us.�

He said Phase3’s decision to take a proactive stance early, was an indication of such record successes and rewards including an ever growing client portfolio, and the opportunity to serve those clients more as an integrator.

He maintained that such decisions also yielded cross sector investment opportunities, joint ventures and partnerships that has seen Phase3 conquer new horizons with operational merits and industry recognition.

Tech Hub to Facilitate Economic DiversiďŹ cation Genesys Tech Hub is planning to diversify the Nigerian economy through the GenesysIGNITE, one of the biggest annual tech convergence show that will explore latest technology trends and the building of national economy.

The technology show, which is designed to proffer professional insight particularly for participating start-ups, as a strategic imperative to realise growth opportunities, seeks to congregate young entrepreneurs and start-ups, industry leaders, visionaries, innovators, chief technology officers, chief information officers, engineers, developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts, with the main objective to explore latest technology trends.

The event also seeks to promote and display the stellar achievements of the country’s young entrepreneurs, with outstanding business solutions, leveraging innovative technologies and digital initiatives.

GenesysIGNITE will expose participating startups to potential mentors and investors during the event; ultimately seeking to become a catalyst for

more innovative solutions. “Graduates, undergraduates and buddingentrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their start-up ideas to a panel. The top innovative ventures will be granted a seed fund of up to $30, 000.00 in cash and support,� the organisers said.

The GenesysIGNITE show, which is in its second edition, has as partners, key stakeholders in the business and technology space, including The Office of the Vice President- responsible for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Federal Minister of Science and Technology; Huawei, Google, HP, Dell/ EMC, Microsoft, and IBM, among others.

The GenesysIGNITE show is scheduled to hold in Enugu next month.

Genesys Technology Hub is a people and business capacity-development initiative designed to drive innovation, productivity and economic output in Nigeria, with the objective to build a sustainable and effective model that would exponentially drive economic productivity in Nigeria through youth development.

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Farmers Lose 70 hecters of Rice Farm to Flood A group of five farmers’ cooperative societies in Umuuzu, Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra, has lamented the loss of about 70 hectres of rice farms to flood disaster.

Mr Christopher Okwuosa, the Chairman of the cluster who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, listed them as Ikedi, Onyedikachi, Chioma, Chukwubuzo and Ofuobi cooperative societies. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had earlier said that the 16 communities in Ogbaru completely submerged were the worst hit of the nine LGAs affected in by this year’s flooding in Anambra.

Okwuosa who is also the Director of Children of the Farmers Club, lamented that the entire rice farm which would have been due for harvest in November were ravaged and washed away by flood. He said the expected yield from the rice farms of about 420 tonnes valued at about N18 million which would have gone to the Nigerian food supply and the farmers had been lost. “Our cluster is made up

of five cooperatives and has about 250 hectres to cultivate, but due to challenges which border on finance, we were only able to cultivate 70 hectres. “But these efforts have been washed away by the flood which hit Anambra in September, just two months to the time we are expected to harvest our rice produce. “We lost all these rice farms when the flood reached Umuuzu, a neighbouring community to Ihiala Local Government Area which was last to be submerged. “Our expected yield is about six tonnes per hectre, which is about 420 tonnes. “This represents a huge shortage in local rice supply and total loss to the farmers; about N18 million is involved,� he said.

Okwuosa said members of the cooperatives were now in serious need of assistance in order to enable them to pay back the loans they took from their various lenders.

The chairman of the cluster called on the Federal and Anambra Governments to come to their aid. He said apart from rice which was the dominant

crop, members also engaged in fisheries and other crops, including yam and cassava which were also destroyed by the flood. “We are supposed to harvest in the first and second weeks of November but that is not possible again. The relevant authorities can also come and see for themselves. “Some members also have fish ponds and other crops which were all equally washed away. “We are now heavily indebted because we obtained loans with the farms as collateral in order to procure inputs and run the farms, but see where we found ourselves now,� he said.

Okwosa expressed fears that if the affected farmers were not adequately taken care of to get over the flood-induced losses, Nigeria might suffer serious food scarcity in the coming years. He said all the achievements of the increased farming population and food output recorded in the recent years would be eroded because there would not be motivation for willing farmers to return to farms.

MaxAir Expands Operation to Port Harcourt, Yola MaxAir Limited, the latest airline to join Nigeria’s domestic air market, has announced its decision to expand operations to Port Harcourt and Yola routes as part of its expansion drive.

Its Executive Director, Mr Harish Manwani, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the airline had shown resilience in four months of operations by adding more routes. Manwani said the airline would commence Abuja-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Yola flights on November 5 in addition to the existing routes. He said the airline added Maiduguri route to its operations in September, adding that Lagos-Port Harcourt route would soon be added when the arrangements were perfected.

He explained that the expansion drive would also involve acquiring more and efficient aircraft, saying that MaxAir

currently operate three B737 for domestic operations and three B747 for Hajj and Umrah.

He stressed that “we are starting Yola and Port Harcourt routes on Monday, Nov. 5, to be followed by Abuja-Yola, Yola-Abuja, Abuja-Port Harcourt and Port Harcourt-Abuja but we have not finalised Lagos-Port Harcourt and Lagos-Yola routes. “Like Lagos-Kano, it is one flight everyday but Abuja-Kano is two flights daily in the morning and evening, while Abuja- Lagos is three flights every day. “We currently operate with three B737 aircraft and three B747 in our fleet of which the 737 are deployed to domestic routes, while the 747 are used for Umrah and Hajj operations. “We are planning to add more but since we are just starting the expansion programme, we

will do that in phases. “So far, business has been going on well because we started with three destinations, namely: Kano, Lagos and Abuja, and we added Maiduguri in September and on Nov. 5: we are adding two more routes: we plan to expand to more routes early next years.�

Manwani said that MaxAir airline was committed to changing the flight experience of air travellers in Nigeria by offering on-time departures and quality in-flight services.

He said the airline had ensured that it controlled the situations that were within its control, saying that passengers flying through MaxAir could attest to its level of on-time performance on all routes. “What we can control, we control and what we cannot control like weather and strike, we cannot control.

LG Introduces Google Assistant TVs Kaside Abone LG Electronics has concluded plans to launch smarter electronic devices with Google Assistant facilities.

The electronic giant said in a statement that the Google Assistant electronic gadgets which would be launched in seven more markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom, would be available on all of LG’s webOS-based ArtificiaI Intellience (AI) TVs in the new markets.

In addition to offering a wide range of features Google Assistant built in, LG’s 2018 AI ThinQ-enabled TVs would also offer accessibility in up to five multiple languages, a

streamlined experience that allows users to manage daily tasks, find answers or control compatible smart home devices.

By simply pressing and holding a mic button and asking for information such as the weather forecast, a nearby restaurant’s hours, the latest sports scores or to dim the lights without interrupting the viewing experience, LG stated that users can also relive their favorite moments by displaying pictures from Google Photos.

Other features of the latest addition to LG family include serving as the center of the smart home, offering access to numerous devices such as robot vacuum cleaners, thermostats, air purifiers and smart lighting.

Besides LG devices, the Google Assistant is also com-

patible with more than 5,000 smart devices across hundreds of popular brands, making it easier to control speakers and other smart home devices connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

LG added that customers in English-speaking markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada can readily connect Google Home devices to LG AI-enabled TVs to send voice commands directly from their smart speakers.

This feature wouod become available to customers in France, Germany, Japan and South Korea by the end of 2018.

Compatibility with Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, currently available in the U.K. and the U.S., will be expanded to Australia and Canada as well.

THE ENTREPRENEUR’S BEST FRIEND

DEBBIE LARRY-IZAMOJE

How to Develop Unique Selling Proposition At the core of every business is a value proposition. Also called the unique selling proposition.

It is a statement that concisely outlines how your business, product or service is different from that of your competition. It identifies what makes your business the better choice and why your target audience should choose you over the competition. It is often expressed as a single sentence that summarizes the essence of your business.

Your unique selling proposition answers the most important question for your customer base ‘why should I buy from you instead of your competition’. The catch is, your unique selling proposition must also provide your potential customers a specific benefit that they see as attractive. It’s not enough to say that your product or service is better or has more value.

Consider for example, some of Nigeria’s most notable brands. While you may not be able to quote their unique selling proposition, you nonetheless know what that company uniquely provides.

Imageboosters is a data-driven digital marketing agency committed to helping brands leverage on digital opportunities in the Nigerian market. Here is a statement of their USP ‘The digital agency for smart brands’ Slot is known for their versatile, functional and innovative repairs of phones and tech devices.

With their proprietary operating system, average sales point and excellent customer service, Slot has a unique status in the Nigerian Market.

A unique selling proposition sets the company off. When you develop and focus on your unique selling proposition, you are starting the engine of your business. It allows you to focus on the key strengths of your business, one thing that you do well and that your customers truly want.

Does your business need a USP? The answer is a yes.

In Nigeria, 58% of businesses today have an established value proposition. For some reason, many companies pay little or no attention to the valuable opportunity provided by a unique selling proposition.

A weak USP can ruin conversion rates, sales and all the other good things that marketers crave.

A strong and customer focused USP will do just the opposite. It would boost conversions, enable sales and lead to customer loyalty.

If want your business to be successful and drive sales, then you must develop a USP. Your USP can be an effective tool that helps you focus your marketing goals and verify that you create marketing goals that sets you apart from the competition. Your USP can be an important part of your branding that is essentially your brand identity.

Below is a four step exercise that will help you write a unique selling proposition for your company.

Step 1 Who are your target audience?

Before you start your business, you may want to ask yourself the ‘who am I selling to’ question.

You must draw up a customer avatar to know your ideal customer. What does your typical customer really want? You need to know who you are targeting. You segment your market by factors such as gender, age, income, religion, education etc.

At the first step, you want to be as precise as possible. Does your customer want a lower price, better customer service, convenience, a particular location etc? For example, if you are an accountant with ICAN expertise, instead of targeting anyone who needs help managing his finances or modifying his finances, you may identify your target client as a small business owner who is looking for accountants with ICAN expertise is help monitoring the cash flow of his business.

Step 2 Explain the problem you solve and list your biggest distinctive beneďŹ ts

At this stage, you might want to put yourself in the customer’s shoe. Look at things from his perspective. From your prospective client’s perspective, what is the individual need or challenge they face that your business can solve for them?

I love to refer to this stage as the fill in the gap phase. In this case, filling in the gap is looking for a space where your customers cannot fill and making it your new home. You may want to list 3-5 of the biggest benefits a client gets from choosing to work with you that they could not get from someone else i.e. what sets you apart from your competition. Again thinking from the client’s perspective, these benefits should explain why your services are important to them and why they would choose you over another provider.

Step 3 DeďŹ ne your promise Abig part of a successful USP is making a pledge to your clients. While this can be implied instead of spelled out in your USP, write down this promise you make to your clients in this step. Identify what makes your business so different. It’s not going to be your logo, your name, or your website. It’s going to be something with more depth. It could be the method, quality or substance of your product.

Your product must ultimately have some unique qualities or it will fail to gain a sit in a competitive market. You probably have some work to do on your business if nothing unique comes to your mind about the product or service you want to offer.

AUSP is something specific. For example ‘Great food’ doesn’t quite cut it for an ideal USP neither does ‘the best food you’ve ever tasted’. The unique selling proposition needs to meet the customer’s desires, while also identifying your business as the sole provider meeting this need. Example of an ideal USP is that of M&M, ‘The milk chocolate that melts in your mouth, not in your hand’.

Step 4 Combine and re-work Once you have completed steps 1-4, think of your business and state your unique traits in a customer focused way. Bring the customer’s wants and your products unique trait together in a single statement. Don’t stress over grammatical perfection. Simply get the sense of the statement right.

Take the words you have you have put together and refine it into a sentence that can roll off your together. Think in terms of power and clarity.

You might want to run your sentence by people who you value their opinion. Pay attention to their feedback, but also listen to your guts. You know your customers, your industry and your company. Ask yourself; does this USP get the job done.

In conclusion, you must remember your USP is not something that you need to publish on your blog, post on your main page or do a press release on. It is rather a force- something that powers the way you do business. While you use it in all of your customer communications, a USP is something that is simply lived out in the way you do business. It will serve as a foundation for future business growth.

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

She is the founder of the Image Boosters a digital agency that connects brands to consumers online and offline in various industries leveraging Digital opportunities in our local market. www.imageboosters.com.ng Instagram: @imageboosters_ Email: contactus@imageboosters.com.ng

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New Power Backup Solution Unveiled Simba Industries, one of the leading companies in the power backup industry in Nigeria, has introduced KStar Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems to the Nigerian market.

The firm has also promised that the device would address concerns of businesses in power related issues.

KStar is recognised for its specialised power backup solutions, capable of handling mission-critical electrical equipment in the health sector, telecommunications sector and the financial sector, among other sectors.

Unlike traditional online UPS systems, KStar products can handle a wide range of applications which have peculiar power needs, such as factory machinery, where power requirements at start up are huge, and where

power failure can often lead to significant cost escalation, as machines need to cool down and be restarted.

Speaking at the unveiling of the latest technology solution in Lagos recently, the representative of Simba Industries, Mr. Prasanna Sridhar, explained that KStar is the sixth largest manufacturer of UPS in the world, offering high quality products and full service support to more than 90 countries.

Sridhar noted that the different ranges of KStar UPS could cater to every power demand and needs across different sectors, including manufacturing, oil and gas, medical establishments, businesses and other key industries. “Hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world depends on reliable power back-up solutions for their critical systems. Downtime is simply not

an option for them, as it results in potentially millions of dollars of losses per second. “The KStar UPS draws on the latest research and development to offer unparalleled power backup solutions for a diverse range of industries� he said.

The Head of Simba Service, Mr. Suresh Kumar, further added that KStar UPS would be supported by Simba Service in Nigeria, which provides power audit consultation, installation, 24-hour customer support, and annual maintenance contracts.

According to him, “At Simba, we believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved, when a good quality product is supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after sales service. Simba Service is at the heart of our value proposition to customers.�

World Bank Approves $1.2bn Grants for Ethiopia The World Bank has approved $1.2 billion in grants and loans to Ethiopia.

The bank said in a statement posted on its website that the funds — a $600 million grant and a $600 million loan — would go towards supporting reforms in the financial sector including improving the investment climate.

In response to the reform pledges made by the government since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

took office in April, the bank is providing new financial and technical support, it said in the statement.

The support would promote public-private partnerships “to improve efficiency in key sectors� including telecom, power, and trade logistics, the bank said.

In these sectors, the bank said its support would also help the government “reduce inefficiencies and operating costs and improve

financial performance� to help Ethiopia attract more foreign direct investment and raise export revenues.

According to Reuters, until Abiy took office and began announcing sweeping political and economic reforms, the country of 105 million had an economy tightly controlled by the state. Investors hope the economic reforms announced in June could significantly loosen the state’s grip on the economy.

Nigeria Can Drive Poverty Reduction in Africa, Says Ezekwesili The Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, has called on the federal government to intensify efforts in lifting citizens out of poverty.

Ezekwesili’s statement was in reaction to a recently released World Bank report, which indicates that by 2030 about nine out of 10 extremely poor people in the world will live in sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the report, the rate of extreme poverty and the number of poor in South Asia, which has been constantly declining, will continue, resulting in a shift in poverty from South Asia to sub-Saharan Africa.

In her reaction, Ezekwesili

noted that Nigeria, which has been described as the poverty capital of the world, “has the potential to lead the rest of the continent out of its present socio-economic reality.�

According to her, the country can only advance by promoting human capital development and implementing sound economic policies. “The Asian nations that have pulled their citizens out of extreme poverty in recent times have done it by facilitating human capital development while maintaining focus on sound, robust policies for rapid economic development,� Ezekwesili said. “The quality of leadership in Nigeria is a key determining factor in lifting majority of

the nation’s poor out of their present state. But what we presently have are leaders who do not have a vision for a better Nigeria, neither do they have the capacity bring about real change. They are incapable of taking us out of the mess they put us in the first place, so we must think beyond them in order to develop,� she added.

According to the World Bank report, by 2030, the portion of the poor living in sub-Saharan Africa could be as large as 87 per cent based on historical growth rates.

It further indicates that stronger economic growth and renewed efforts to resolve violent conflicts will be crucial to speed up the rate of poverty reduction on the continent.

Ivory Coast Rain Boosts Cocoa Production Above average rainfall in Ivory Coast’s cocoa growing regions could improve the crop size next year, farmers have said, although early signs of rain-induced black pod disease worried some.

Soil moisture content is high and farmers said they were confident of an abundant harvest during the October-to-March main crop.

The length and severity of the dry season, which runs from November to late February, will determine how well the crop does in the later months, they said. “It’s nice when you look at the trees in the plantations. They carry many well-formed pods,� said Joel Ambe, who farms in

the southern region of Divo.

Some cases of black pod fungus were reported, particularly in low-land plantations in the eastern region of Abengourou and in the southern region of Agboville.

Farmers there said the impact of the disease was so far limited but that dry weather was needed soon to stem the spread. “It’s raining heavily, which is abnormal in this period,� said Patrice Aka, who farms near Agboville. “If the two weeks ahead are still rainy, crop losses will be significant,� he said.

Data collected by Reuters showed that rainfall in Divo was 28.6 millimetres (mm)

last week, 8.1 mm above the five-year average. Rainfall in Soubre, including Sassandra and San Pedro, was 28.8 mm last week, 9 mm above the five-year average.

Farmers were happy with the weather in the centre- western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of national output.

Rainfall in Daloa, which includes the Bouafle region, was 14.5 mm last week, 0.5 mm below the five-year average.

Rainfall in Agboville was 31 mm last week, 7.3 mm above the five-year average. In Abengourou, which includes the region of Aboisso, rainfall was 25.2 mm last week, 0.9 mm above the five-year average.

FROM THE FARM

Dimieari Von Kemedi

Improving Opportunities for Women in Agriculture is a National Food Security Priority Two weeks ago the reformist Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed constituted a new cabinet with an equal number of women and men. In doing this he set the stage for maximizing the potentials of his country. Like most other countries in the world Ethiopia still has a long way to go in setting standards of equality but it is expected that by establishing an example at the very top of the country the rest of society will catch up.

In a conversation a few days after the announcement an Uber driver expressed fear that supporting women to reach such heights could be a threat to stability of homes and society at large, as they would no longer respect their husbands and may abandon care of the household.

In one community I have worked with women are not allowed to plant rice. They may plant yam, cassava and other crops usually consumed at home but not rice which converts to cash.

Here also a similar illogic is at play.

Many of our political and business institutions have abysmally poor female representation and participation. This weakens society and sustains poverty.

Imagine going into a boxing match with one hand tied behind while your opponent in the ring uses both hands.

In not providing equal opportunities to women in our society this is what we are doing. We are not mobilizing our full arsenal towards nation building.

Many excuses and fears may be expressed based on misinterpretation of religious and cultural norms but the truth is that none of these are correct.

All religions in Nigeria preach equality and mutual respect. If this were not the case women would not practice these religions.

One area we can immediately provide equal support to all our citizens is in the funding and capacity building we

provide for farmers. Going through names of registered farmers for the purpose of institutional support women hardly constitute up to 20% of most lists even though in farms there are sometimes a lot more women than men.

All institutions that support farmers should immediately mandate a new regime of equal opportunity for men and women to qualify for support.

With women earning more there will be an immediate impact on household standard of leaving as they invest in nutrition, education and health care amongst others.

Increasing female participation in farmer support programs may not be easy but there are steps that can be taken to expedite this process. These include appointing more women into boards of public and private companies that support agriculture such as the Central Bank, NIRSAL, Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture, all commercial banks and agricultural production, service, and processing companies.

According to the Food and Agriculture organization agriculture is employs 2/3 of the Nigeria population while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that 75% of the farming population are women.

By these estimates providing equal opportunities in agricultural support for men and women will more than double Nigeria’s agricultural production output and contribution to GDP through improved yield and market opportunities. Therefore improving opportunities for women in agriculture must be an urgent food security priority.

Dimieari Von Kemedi works with smallholder farmers in the Alluvial Agriculture network. kemedi@alluvialtrade.com www.alluvialtrade.com

Ghana Shopping for Airline Investors Ghana is looking for credible private partners to invest in its planned new national air carrier.

The government would not hold more than 10 per cent shares in the proposed company.

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, said the government was not interested in taking huge shares because it does not want the company to be under state control. “What we are looking at is not more than 10 per cent, that is the extent to which the government will be involved,� the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quoted his as saying in Accra. “We will have one or two representation on the board, but the government or the minister will not interfere in the operations of the new company in terms of policy, strategy and operations.�

Adda spoke on the

sidelines of a stakeholder meeting on the establishment of a home-based carrier, with interested companies or potential partners, in Accra.

The event formed part of processes which will lead to the selection of a suitable firm to partner with the government to establish the home-based carrier.

Adda explained that the event was to allow interested companies indicate their interest in terms of how they want to participate; what percentage of shares, the sort of equity they are bringing onboard, among others. “Ghana has travelled the road of having a national airline before. Indeed, more than once, Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines existed before, and we have learnt some lessons, and it goes without the saying that this time around, we would not

repeat those mistakes. “We intend to get it right and the government will not attempt to be involved in owning and running an airline. This is not a government’s business�. “The lessons from the past are very clear and we all know them. Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines were companies set up and dominated by the state, and that made it difficult for the board and chief executives to manage it independently. “The government was always interfering; telling them what to do and that was a real difficulty that we had in the past,� he stated.

He cited abuses, poor planning and misapplication, among others, as some of the lessons, adding: “We lost so much money running Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines but that won’t happen again�.

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Odigbo: Advertising Agencies Should Operate as Creative Business Solution Providers The President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Mr. Ikechi Odigbo, in this interview with Raheem Akingbolu, speaks about the place of digital in today’s advertising and the need for government to institute a strong council for the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, among other issues For over three years now, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has existed without a board, what step is the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) taking to persuade the federal government to constitute the council?

For us, the proper constitution of the APCON council is a very major priority not just for advertising industry but for the entire media and advertising sectors because we are looking at APCON -a body that oversees not just the professionals in advertising sector but also oversees the advertising sector, media sector and the marketing sector.

We see it as a major priority because we believe that for the advertising code to be fully activated; there is a need for us to have properly constituted board. The board has been dissolved for about three to four years now and we believe that it’s not just good for the industry. Over the years, the industry has produced accomplished and experienced practitioners who have been in the industry and who will be able to advance the profession that APCON will oversee.

Having stated this, we are eagerly looking forward to having a properly constituted council for marketing communications industry and we are sure of having a highly competitive board. Therefore, we are only waiting for the nod of government to do the needful at the appropriate time.

We are in the digital and technology era and it’s believed in some quarters that digital poses huge challenge for traditional advertising practitioners, what is your view?

Well, in the past seven to ten years, there has been continuous erosion of value within the advertising industry where most clients have begun to divert most of their marketing styles towards activation and also digital campaigns, but even at that the situation has only complemented the role of traditional advertising practitioners in the country.

Till date, creative agencies still control the space as promoters of other platforms rely on them for contents.

Check it out. It’s the same creativity that is required for your campaign on the mass media that will be required to also be effective in terms of digital advertising. To me, the important thing is that ad agencies need to think even beyond just beginning to dominate the digital space to begin to see their business more for a holistic point of view. Today, the time requires that we begin to see ourselves not just as agencies but as creative business solution providers.

It is when this is done that we will begin to now reposition ourselves more strategically to be relevant to the clients’ businesses in a way that we can engage their problems not from a channel based perspective but from the solutions based perspective.

In today’s market, if it will require a digital platform to meet the marketing needs of a client then advertising agency should be in that position to say ‘yes we can work with eco systems partners to proffer the solutions.’ So I believe the advertising industry is going through an evolution where agencies are beginning to appreciate that they need to change to reposition and become a strategic partner. As a strategic partner, we can now sit down and apply a specific approach to solve the client problems rather than going with the impression of a carpenter that every problem needs a hammer and a nail to be solved instead of looking at it holistically and practically address the challenges.

This is becoming even more imperative when you consider the fact that most of these clients are working with specialist shops or boutiques in the Public Relations space

the agency and its businesses. On the other hand, AAAN, as a body of distinguished professional agencies that have been able to help nurture top marketing professionals, a lot is also expected from me to sustain the tempo. Don’t forget, I’m not alone as I’m surrounded with quality individuals who have also succeeded in their businesses as executive members. My distinguished colleagues on the exco are competent and with their support and support of other stakeholders, I look forward to achieving the goals of the association in the next coming years.

On whether my functions and operations could clash, that is not possible because it depends on how one plans his day today activities. I will say we multi-task as young men and this is the time to do it. By the time we are old, we will slow down and into full time retirement. Now we have full time and energy and it’s time to work and we are doing the work both for our company and our professional body.

Odigbo

and other tools of marketing. Therefore, for agencies to differentiate and stay relevant, they must be in that position where they must draw strategies to client. Not just the impression of creating headlines or coming up with a creative material. This is possible because as a consulting backbone, we have more understanding of our clients and where their businesses are heading.

Some small and medium scale ďŹ rms believe advertisement is for the big and multinational companies and would rather engage low-end outďŹ ts for their promotions. What is your take on this?

The truth of the matter is, in good times and in recession, advertising is critical to business, whether SMEs and micro-businesses or the big companies. Business from the way I see it, is about two things: innovation and marketing, and the ability to offer a distinctive product that satisfies a need or generates demand in the market.

Doing this, the advertising agency is strategically positioned through the creation

Over the years, the industry has produced accomplished and experienced practitioners who have been in the industry and who will be able to advance the profession that APCON will oversee.

Having stated this, we are eagerly looking forward to having a properly constituted council for marketing communications industry and we are sure of having a highly competitive board

of awareness for your product.

It helps build the brand that distinguishes your product for competition and also develops campaigns that not just creates awareness, but creates fidelity; fidelity in the sense of winning the share of hearts and minds of the public.

It is important to achieve success in your first trial, it is also important to sustain demand and doing this involves a whole circle of creating awareness, winning share of mind and top of the mind awareness.

So, in good times you need to take advantage of the available disposable income.

And to continue to win the greater share of the market, you need a greater share of voices out there. Once you lose your share of voices, your competitors will encroach into your share of the market.

In bad times, you also need to advertise because if you do not advertise then as consumers reduce their range of choices, the propensity for them to choose your brand will begin to decline and then go out of the radar of their selection In that wise, advertising is critical to drive momentum in terms of economic prosperity and to maintain stability even in recession.

Having said that, our business environment is populated by SMEs and micro-businesses that probably do not have the resources to engage the services of an advertising agency.

Some agencies have identified that gap and are beginning to look at ways to help such small businesses build their brand, put their products or services together in such a way that will make them have optimal advantage of the market. This is because brand building is not only about business; it is also about the individual. Supposing I am a one-man business, my abilities to access opportunities is not just dependent on me, but also dependent on my personal brand.

You recently assumed ofďŹ ce as President of AAAN, considering your busy schedule as the Managing Director of a creative agency, how have you been reconciling the responsibilities of the two ofďŹ ces?

With my leadership post in DDB, well known not only in Nigeria, but also in West Africa, as the group managing director with a great sense of responsibility that means I’ve taken the task of providing leadership for

What is your vision for the organisation and the industry?

Our industry has been going through significant challenges in recent times with the economic recession, which we are beginning to navigate.

Our members have been severely impacted by dwindling economic fortunes, just like any other sector of the economy, and that implies we need to create a more robust framework for businesses of our members.

One of the ways we believe this can be achieved is by engaging our partners, colleagues in the business sector, especially advertisers most of whom belong to Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN).

We want to create a very strong friendship with ADVAN, with a view to ensuring that engagement between the agencies and their clients is standardised and a win-win posture is adopted, rather than some growing trend of random and arbitrary practices that we are beginning to see.

We see instances of idea theft, where in some instances, pitches are called and an agency comes up with the preferred proposal, but does not have the connection, and the preferred agency is now given the idea that was presented by the other agency to go and improve on; that is becoming very rampart.

We also have scenarios where services of our members are engaged and a few months down the line the clients makes a u-turn and says I cannot afford to pay anymore think what we can afford to do now is 50 per cent of the agreed fees; and it now becomes a question of do I go ahead or do I walk away and go with nothing?

We are looking at this to create the right frame work and standard. We want to put in place a professional and standardized way of doing business.

Can you throw more light on the industry’s professional ethics and the role of AAN in this regard?

The AAAN is not an association for big agencies; it’s a level platform for the advertising community to come together to promote common interest. I can assure you that it is the reason for the existence of the association. Any small agency not fully optimising or taking advantage of the association because of such perceptions is undoing itself. We have a Professional Practice Committee (PPC) that listens to the conduct of member agencies and where such conduct as expressed is found to exist, the necessary disciplinary action would be taken. Also, APCON is a properly constituted association with the necessary structures to promote ethics and standard of advertising in Nigeria.

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Rise of Shopping Malls Crave for quality and shopping experience in serene environments appear to be driving Nigerian consumers towards patronage of various shopping malls across the country.

Raheem Akingbolu reports Following the opening of more departmental stores in major Nigerian cities, especially; Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Kano, the markets are experiencing new purchasing trends as large number of consumers seem to have started readjusting to the new regime with little regard for open market.

While Miniso, Spar, Shoprite and Justrite are some of the leading retailers in Lagos, shoppers in Ibadan have FoodCo, a 38-year-old supermarket brand and Shoprite to contend with in the Africa second largest city. In Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, Shoprite is though a dominance brand; it has many stores, especially Spar to slug it out with.

When Ikeja City Mall was established few years ago, there were mixed feelings on whether the environment was ready for such innovation.

But barely a month after it began operation, the impression changed as the mall suddenly became a Mecca of sort for shoppers.

Reports from Ilorin, Akure, Enugu where malls were recently inaugurated, have also indicated that Shoprite; a major tenant in the cities now realises between N100 million and N150 million sales on daily basis. This is not different from what the operators of similar malls in Port Harcourt and Calabar are experiencing on daily basis.

In fact, a report, carried out recently on the investment opportunities in the retail segment of the Nigerian real estate market, revealed that a survey carried out in just one million households within eight kilometres radius of the Ikeja City Mall spend N18 billion on shopping.

If not for any reason, the strategic location of Lagos and its population has boosted the fortune of the malls located in the commercial city.

Aside the Ikeja Mall, which is currently making waves, there are other brands like Spar, Justrite, Pack ‘N’ Shop in Surulere, Ikorodu, Lekki and other parts of Lagos mainland that are recording high patronage.

Ibadan experience In Ibadan where FoodCo Supermarkets, a diversified consumers’ good company with interests in retail, fast food and manufacturing, based in Ibadan, Oyo State is calling the shots for close to four decades, the situation changed few years ago when Shoprite opened stores on King Road and Dugbe respectively.

Aside from making choices available for consumers, the new development has put existing brands, especially FoodCo on their toes, thereby increasing competition among the players.

Perhaps because of its affinity with consumers and good understanding of the market, it has been extremely difficult to push FoodCo to the back seat.

In line with its vision of maintaining its dominance in the retail chain business in the city, the management of the company

recently inaugurated another outlet of the business in Akobo, a major area in the city.

With the new store, the company now has seven outlets in the highly populated city.

Other areas where its outlets are located include; Bodija, Idi Ape, Jerico, Monatan, Dugbe and Apata.

Feedbacks At the inauguration of its 7th outlet recently, Ibadan people demonstrated their love for the brand as they trooped in their hundred to experience the new shopping pattern in Akobo.

One of the early callers in the store, Mrs. Temitayo Obafaiye, said her visit to the mall was her first shopping experience in any of FoodCo outlets in Ibadan. “As I was on the queue to have my goods calculated and checked, I looked back with nostalgia as I remembered how Kingsway stores were in the early and mid 80’s. In fact, just as a man was taking a cone ice-cream beside me, my memory took me back to when as a young girl I would go to Kingsway with my mum for shopping.

While appreciating the company for giving Akobo a sense of belonging by locating the store in the area, she also noted that the company’s slash sale prices, was a plus for the brand. She further stated that with FoodCo, children would certainly have excellent shopping memories.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new outlet, the company’s Executive Director, Mr.

Ade Sun-Basorun, stated that the decision to open the new outlet in the area was informed by the need to ensure that the company’s array of quality products are made available to more customers in the city, especially the teeming population in the area.

Sun-Basorun explained that the supermarket had, over the years, refined its offerings to meet customer needs and consistently pioneered new offerings, as a way of enhancing customers’ shopping experiences.

He attributed the feats the company had been able to achieve, over the years, to the staunch support it enjoys from all major consumer brands, a development, he added, had committed the company to very responsible and ethical operations.

He pointed out that the supermarket and its fast food arm has been able to serve generations of families residing in the city, adding that the longevity of FoodCo business has allowed the company to serve families for generations. He said: “Now we have almost a third generation of families that are now our customers. So, customers who were young mothers or young folks in the 80s when we started, their children grew up shopping here and more importantly they grew up socializing. Now they have and those children also are shopping here.

According to him, the brand’s longevity has allowed it to build not just professional relationship but also personal relationship with customers. “Affordability, quality products

and convenience are really the elements we are driving on to deliver on this vision. But for us it’s beyond just growing an enterprise.

T’s about what we do for our people and for our communities.

Sun-Basorun added that the company had also established strong partnership with manufacturers of local products as a way of encouraging and helping local businesses grow.

He expressed the hope that the latest outlet would go a long way in enhancing the shopping experiences of the people around the area and further ignite economic activities.

Expressing his delight at the commissioning of the new outlet, Sales Development Manager, Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Olalekan Kayode, one of the company’s major suppliers, stated that the Akobo outlet would further enable the two brands realize their goal of providing more Nigerians with affordable products. “We at Cadbury are delighted to be part of this. It is a partnership that has been built over the years, and we are happy that the company has become one of the most retail chain through which we get to our consumers,� he added.

Another partner, the Territory Sales Manager for Reckitt Benckiser in Oyo state Dayo Omoluyi, said Reckitt Benckiser has been partnering with Foodco since the birth of the food company. She stated that the partnership has been good because the supermarket is good platform for the multinational company to serve the customers.

NCC Calls for Collaboration Between Telcos, Academic Institutions Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for collaboration between the telecoms industry and the academia in order to boost productivity and foster economic development.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, who called for such collaboration during the recent north-east and North-west regional forum organised

by NCC, said the synergy by academia, industry and regulators, would accelerate innovation, industry growth and sustainability.

Danbatta who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services at NCC, Ubale Maska, said: “The academia is a key driver in innovation in all spheres of human endeavour. But in specific terms, the ideas, interventions and improvements that emanate from the academia are required by the industry for improved efficiencies and productivity.�

According to him, the growth of new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoTs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, increased delivery of speed by various broadband technologies like 4G and 5G

technologies, advancement in processor and other electronics technologies have led to huge opportunities and risks.

Hence the need for collaboration between academia, industry and regulators to ensure these technologies can be properly harnessed and standards built in such a way that it is beneficial to all stakeholders. The potential opportunities and important aspect that should be considered by all stakeholders are critical aspects that academia are invited to research and proffer pragmatic solutions. “The future is something we should be ready for, and

adapt to, and we should see the future as something we can create. Three areas are fundamental to the future, which include innovation, industry growth and synergy,�

Danbatta said.

NCC would therefore make a commitment not only to the success of the industry, but also to facilitate the contributions from academia, ensure sustainability and economic growth.

The Commission strives to ensure the engagement of all stakeholders, improving efficiency and impacting consumers positively, Danbatta added.

The telecommunications industry for instance, has enormous potential for enabling environmental, social and economic benefits through broadband connectivity, he said.

Danbatta therefore challenged the academia to study the impact of various practices and issues peculiar to the Nigerian operating environment on the operational efficiency and service delivery capability and performance by telecommunication industry players.

He said such collaboration would help all to appreciate the importance of research, while researchers could gain

first-hand appreciation of commercial application that could drive their research projects.

Earlier in his remarks, Maska said the regional roundtable with academia and other stakeholders would be held annually in order to bring together all stakeholders to the table and discuss matters that affect the telecom sector. “Research and development will drive high-end manufacturing, create more Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications to improve our lives, and fuel Industry growth, hence the need for the collaboration,�

Maska said.

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DEVELOPMENT

Timely Warning about Climate Change Ugo Aliogo examines implication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report on global warming of 1.5ÂşC approved by governments

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educing global warming emission has remained a continuous conversation over the years and mankind has had to deal with the challenges.

At the recently Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea, the issue of global warming was once more brought to the fore.

This time, the focal point of the discourse cantered on limiting global warming to 1.5ÂşC would require rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.

The report noted that with clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5ÂşC, compared to 2ÂşC, could ensure a more sustainable and equitable society.

It was also stated that the report would be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference coming up in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change.

The Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I, Panmao Zhai, said one of the key messages that came out very strongly from the report was that they are already seeing the consequences of 1°C of global warming “through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other changes.�

The report noted that by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C. It explained that the likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C. It added that coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all (99 percent) would be lost with 2ºC. The Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II, Hans-Otto PÜrtner, said every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming of 1.5ºC or higher increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems.

He said limiting global warming would also give people and ecosystems more room to adapt and remain below relevant risk thresholds.

In another reaction, the co-chair of Working Group I, Valerie MassonDelmotte, noted that some of the kinds of actions that would be needed to limit global warming to 1.5ÂşC are already underway around the world, but they would need to accelerate.

The report observed that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reachingâ€? transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. “Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. “This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air. “Limiting warming to 1.5ÂşC is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics but doing so would require unprecedented changes,â€? said Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III, Jim Skea.

Allowing the global temperature to temporarily exceed or ‘overshoot’ 1.5ÂşC would mean a greater reliance on techniques that remove CO2 from

the air to return global temperature to below 1.5ÂşC by 2100.

The effectiveness of such techniques are unproven at large scale and some may carry significant risks for sustainable development, the report noted.

The Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III, Priyardarshi Shukla, noted that limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared with 2°C would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being.

She added that this would make it easier to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Also in his reaction, the co-chair of IPCC Working Group II, Debra Roberts, said the decisions reached were critical in ensuring a safe and sustainable world for everyone, both now and in the future. “This report gives policymakers and practitioners the information they need to make decisions that tackle climate change while considering local context and people’s needs.

The next few years are probably the most important in our history,�

Roberts said.

Timely Warning In his reaction to the IPCC report, the Founder of Lufasi Nature Park, Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi, said any report coming from the IPCC should be taken very seriously indeed.

He further stated that the United Nations has been alerting the world for decades about the inherent dangers of polluting the atmosphere with too much greenhouse gas.

He added that some of the inherent dangers include millions of tons of Carbon dioxide that have driven the Earth’s temperature 1 degree centigrade above average in the past century. “We are now experiencing the effects of this with the emergence of unprecedented rapid climate change that is giving rise to increasingly catastrophic weather occurrences,� he noted.

Majekodunmi explained that the

IPCC sent a stark warning with their latest report, that pushing the earth’s temperature above the 1.5C agreed by all nations including Nigeria at the Paris conference in 2015 would greatly increase the severity of these weather occurrences.

The founder of Lufasi Nature Park, remarked that if pollution is allowed to push the temperature to 2 centigrade not only would these activities become dramatically more catastrophic, but mankind would have breached tipping points that could become irreversible.

According to him, “The earth’s temperature could take an upward spiral with catastrophic consequences and damage to eco systems that could eventually lead to the extinction of a large proportion of species, including the homo sapiens. “The report spells out in graphic detail, supported by charts and graphs, the various effects of the global warming at the current 1C, the 1.5C target and the likely 2C scenario that includes near total destruction of coral, dramatic water and food shortages, vast spread of disease and millions of internally displaced people. “However the most deeply alarming aspect of the report is that humanity, despite our avowed de carbonisation targets, is not currently on track to meet the 1.5C target agreed to at the 2015 Paris COP and that we have only 10 to 12 years to massively reduce the greenhouse gas pollution before the 1.5c target is breached. “In order to avoid this catastrophic scenario the IPCC is saying that humanity will need to make fundamental lifestyle changes, including a very rapid transition away from fossil fuel to clean energy sources, reduction in our consumption of natural resources and developing our urban areas far more sustainably. “We would also need to make dramatic changes in our agricultural practices and even cut back on our beef and wheat consumption due to the disproportionate land and water

resources required by these commodities. A massive global programme of afforestation and very strict forest protection will also need to be implemented immediately. “The challenge facing us is that even though the transition to a green economy is already proving to be quite profitable, in the process some big business interests will be negatively impacted. “Therein lies the crux of the matter. We arrived at this potentially catastrophic scenario by evolving a socio economic system that puts profit ahead of the common good. “If we cannot adopt fundamental scriptural injunction and express genuine love for the creator and each other by caring for his glorious creation, which is our own life support system, then putting this climate change monster in check might prove impossible, with the attendant disastrous consequences for ourselves and our children. “Though the time is running short there is still a small window of opportunity to avert apocalypse and my sincere hope lies in the fact that the overwhelming majority of us do love our children and would spare no expense or sacrifice to protect their lives. The first step in this battle is to fulfill our scriptural mandate and decide to become creation carers. “Here in Nigeria, which is actually one of the more vulnerable countries to climate change, whilst commending President Muhammadu Buhari for making frequent references to climate change in local and international fora, we need to insist that environment issues are put on the front burner and that the great work initiated by the previous Minister of Environment Amina Mohammed which is still being carried out by her successor is fully supported. “We in Africa did not create the problem but we are very vulnerable to the effects. Nigeria as the waking giant of the continent should lead the way in addressing the problem.�

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Idowu: PIND Has Affected over 50,000 Farmers in Niger Delta The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta is a Non-Governmental Organisation focused in addressing socio-economic problems in the region. In this interview, the Deputy Executive Director, Tunji Idowu, speaks on how the organisation contributes to the region’s development. Ugo Aliogo brings the excerpts: Can you give us an overview of the foundation for Partnership Initiatives for Niger Delta (PIND) and what you achieved at the just concluded Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) 24?

PIND stands for The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives for Niger Delta (PIND). By the name I think you can see it focuses on Niger Delta region. It’s a Nigerian NGO, set up with initial funding from Chevron Corporation. The focus of the Foundation is building economic growth and reducing conflict in the region.

Why had a side event at NES 24 2018 because the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is a private sector group that has successfully influenced policy and part of what we do now at PIND under our advocacy and analysis programme area is to see how best to use data to influence economic policies. We realised that NESG has done very well in that at the national level. We had that side event whereby we showcased what we have done, things that we have done along the way to continue building human capacity and growth especially in a sustainable manner.

What makes the PIND’s model unique and different from others?

First, all our four programme areas of economic development; peace building; capacity building; and analysis and advocacy do not function in isolation, they are all integrated. For example, you cannot really have peace where poverty prevails and it would be difficult to boost economic growth where conflict prevails. They are linked. Secondly, we are not engaging in interventions that are one-off, we are looking at things that can become systemic and that others will adopt after piloting. Another thing I would like to mention is that our model hinges on collaboration and partnership. No single entity can take on the issues of the Niger Delta to solve; we need all hands on deck. You need partners from the public and private sectors.

You also need partners in academia, and civil society, so everybody has a role to play. It all works with partnership.

Will you say your model has revolutionised or has the capacity to revolutionise development?

To be modest, I don’t know if we have “revolutionised� but our model has worked and regardless of how much we have achieved there are still large needs and responsibilities to change things in the Niger Delta. We have affected over 50,000 farmers in improving their income and over 5,000 micro, small and medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs). We built the network of peace volunteers which have grown from 120 peace actors to 7,000 today.

Idowu

When we did our last assessment, it showed that we have brought about 60 percent increase in the income of farmers and MSMEs and that is a sign of what is working.

How has the model made your job more efďŹ cient and enhanced results in the life of the people of Niger Delta?

We made up our minds from the beginning that we would use the ‘market systems approach’ which were basically for the poor, although there are other approaches. We follow market systems and sometimes takes a lot of time. It’s just like building a house. The most attractive part of the house is not the foundation. Yet it is the most critical. We would rather not be in a hurry to build it because we want to understand the constraints and work with people who will adopt our interventions.

There are those who desire to key into this model, how exactly can they go about this?

One, you have to train, grow people and build their capacity to take on this approach. That’s why we decided to start offering our training programme that we call CAPABLE M4P (making market work for the poor) training. We made

that available to other development partners as well so that people will understand this approach and grow their capacity in that area.

Secondly, the people have to be able to identify viable sectors that they want to intervene in to get a change. And three, they must invest in a good enough monitoring and evaluation system to know if they are making progress and how much progress you are making.

For you, what has been the most memorable experience since the start of PIND? I think one of the things that I am most delighted about is the recognition of our convening power, we are able to pull different entities together in the Niger Delta. People know we are the rallying point whether it’s in managing conflict, dealing with agricultural value chain issues, dealing with civil society development, we have strong convening power.

What should Niger Deltans be looking forward to PIND bringing forth in the next one or two years?

We will not create a programme or intervention for ourselves but where we see evidence, or a trend, we will see how we can come into those areas that are aligned with our mission.

That said one glaring thing is the issue with unemployment in the Niger Delta and especially among the youth. The figures for the Delta are higher than the figures of Nigeria, and that’s scary. At least 40 percent of youth in the Niger Delta are unemployed. This is something that needs attention, and we are already working with the Ford Foundation in implementing the Niger Delta Youth Employment Pathways (NDYEP) project where we have started off with a pilot in three states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia. The goal is to train 1,000 youths from those three States in ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) Agriculture and construction.

In summary, what’s your dream and vision for the Niger Delta?

What we have always said is that we love to see systemic outcomes in the Niger Delta of reduced poverty and conflict, and not just short term but sustainable reductions in poverty and conflict in the region. On the economic development side, we will like to see people changing their attitude and practices around how they go about economic practices to ensure they are using modern cutting edge good practices that will increase yield and boost outcomes.

Ayade: Why Israelis are Training 1000 Cross River Farmers Ugo Aliogo In furtherance of his desire to make Cross River the leading rice producing state in the country, the State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has signed a pact with the government of Israel to train 1000 rice farmers on modern farming techniques.

Speaking at an orientation exercise for the farmers at the Ayade Industrial Park, Calabar, Governor Ayade stated that the training was to create wealth for farmers through capacity building and access to modern farming techniques and equipment.

He was quoted in a statement to have said: “Today’s exercise

is to announce to the world that Cross River is fully prepared to become number one rice producer in Nigeria with the training and equipping of over 1000 farmers with 21st century farming skills in the first phase of the training progamme.�

Ayade disclosed that the decision to bring Israeli experts to handle the training is to expose farmers in the state to modern farming methods and machines. “I brought experts from Israel to train us and allow us to have the full benefit of our rice factory that we have set up here for maximal benefits to the citizenry.�

He said the training programme was also part of his

administration’s deliberate programme to industrialise the state with a view to decoupling it from over dependence on federal allocations. “By the time we are done training the 12, 000 rice farmers so far identified, Cross River will become number one and self-sufficient in rice production in Nigeria,� he assured.

While urging the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training seriously the governor explained: “I come with all sincerity of purpose because it is not in my nature to play politics with anything I do for the people.

My politics has ethics and in ethics, we have attitude and morality comes first.�

“Today, as a state, we have the highest number of factories and industries set up in Nigeria since 2015. We don’t have the highest allocation, we are actually second to the last but we are number one in everything because we don’t mix politics with what we do here,� he stressed.

On access to finance, the governor hinted that “we are setting up a micro finance bank that will give interest free loans to all farmers and all the instrumentality of the Bank of Agriculture will pass through our bank for easy access to facility.�

As a way of encouraging women to participate in the programme Ayade said: “I

charge those responsible for distribution of the facility to allocate 60 percent to women, youths 30, while the men should be allocated 10 percent respectively.�

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSS Group of Companies, the firm facilitating the training programme, Dr. John Kennedy Opara, extolled Ayade’s foresight for venturing into agriculture. “I am so proud of the Governor because like I said to him, whatever you can picture you can capture and His Excellency is picturing the future he wants to make sure he can capture for Cross River State and we are glad to partner the state.�

While offering advice to the trainees, Okpara said: “I want to encourage you as you come for your training in Abuja. It’s a very intensive two weeks training program, and I believe that you will come back as refined farmers, you will come back great farmers that will add value. “We need to change the system in our country, we need to change our concept, and I believe that this is the opportunity that God is providing for us to do that. Thank God for the Bank of Agriculture in terms of finance. I believe if every Nigerian is comfortable, we don’t need to struggle for federal offices.�

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DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN THE NEWS Increasing Women Participation in Corporate Organisations Women are already actively participating in corporate governance. It just that in this part of the world, it didn’t start early, so it is a gradual process, they will surely hit the zenith. The earlier hiccups were culture, views about female education, poverty and self-inflicted curse from the women folks for perpetually wanting to hid under men. As time goes on, they will get there.

Sunday Okobi, Lagos.

Increase education for girls including in the rural areas. Let roles or ranks at the local government level be made for women. At every level of government and legislature quota systems should be introduced to cater for women involvement.

Also, continuous campaigns, sensitisation and workshops especially at local levels should be commonplace.

Ernest Nwabueze, Ota, Ogun State.

Foundation Launches ‘Corruption Not in My Country’ Media Campaign Oluchi Chibuzor A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Akin Fadeyi Foundation has launched the ‘Corruption Not in My Country’ (CINMC) Television drama skit and ‘Never Again’ Radio Drama series.

The initiatives are part of efforts to encourage accountability messaging and spur community action against corruption.

The Executive Director, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Mr. Akin Fadeyi, disclosed this in Lagos, at the launch of the second season of the CNIMC advocacy drama skits and the unveiling of the new radio drama series, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation.

The director, who was represented by Mrs. Obialunanma Nnaobi, said as an organisation the company doesn’t accept unsolicited proposals.

He also noted that it aims to use the educative

entertainment advocacy against corruption in their current On-Nigeria project centred on fighting the menace, “even to the children in their various schools with current number of Secondary Student participating in the programme.�

Fadayi, noted that dishonesty in many sectors such as power, health, education deserves urgent interventions by the government.

He further stated that many perpetuators were exploiting every situation to smile to banks, especially the possibilities for questionable procurement processes within Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals.

He urged the government to declare a state of emergency in the educational sector, upgrade infrastructure, modernise learning environment and rehabilitate schools to instil a sense of dignity and self-respect.

According to him: “It is not a surprise

that our academic institutions are producing ill-equipped graduates, while our colleges are also so morally bankrupt and infrastructural deficient to the alarming extent that they cannot compete globally. “Recently, we discovered sharp practice online in the educational sector, where students indulge in examination malpractices for JAMB, WAEC and other related examinations, which we have written to Ministry of Education with no reply or have seen step to halt this embarrassment.�

Earlier in his remark, the Country Representative, MacArthur foundation, Dr. Kole Shetima, said there was need for giving incentives to good people and punishment to bad people.

He added that daily experience of Nigerians in terms of corruption; include police officers soliciting for money from motorists on the highway; medical personnel soliciting money from patients to give them hospital cards, among others.

US Group Boosts Anti-Suicide Campaign in Africa Kayode Fasua As an elixir for ongoing campaigns against suicide in Africa, a United States-based organisation-Leadership in Obscurity Network, has officially entered into partnership with the African Project Against Suicide (APAS) in a one-year-long crusades being undertaken by the latter.

Disclosing this on Wednesday, the Overall Coordinator of APAS, Pastor Honey Olawale; South Africa Coordinator, Reholegile Mehlape, and Eastern Africa Coordinator, Daniel Madalanga jointly stated that the terms of the partnership include training of selected African leaders on suicide prevention, and the Leadership in Obscurity Network’s resolve to work as a professional consultant to APAS. The proposed training, which targets African leaders in various endeavours, they said, would hold on a date to be decided soon, at Colorado Springs, next year.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of the APAS is scheduled for November 22 to 24, this year, at

the Association of People with Disabilities Hall, Polokwane, South Africa.

African singers would hold a concert to campaign against suicide in the evening of November 24 at the same venue, while APAS would be officially launched in Nigeria on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Obafemi Awolowo University Conference Centre, Ile Ife, Osun State, Olawale informed.

According to him, 10 countries within Africa are participating in the first phase of anti-suicide project.

The countries are South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gambia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Mauritius.

As for Nigeria, however, cities listed for the waragainst-suicide crusades and concerts are Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Benin, Abuja, Kaduna and Enugu.

Speaking on the philosophy behind the initiative, Olawale said, “Owing to economic challenges and other social vices within the continent of Africa, the rate of suicide has risen very sharply between year 2016 and 2017; and the statistics of this deadly

scourge has reached an alarming rate, hence the need to use training conferences and music as tools of discouragement to suicide.�

He listed the causes of suicide to include loneliness, psychiatric illness such as depression and bipolar disorder, economic recession, domestic conflicts, low self-esteem, unbearable emotion and physical pain, substance abuse, and significant losses in a person’s life.

On the mission of the anti-suicide crusaders, Olawale added, “This project is meant to spread songs of hope across Africa and turn the heart of the downcast and depressed people from suicide, and also, depict the great destiny that is ahead of this continent.�

He stressed, however, that the aims and objectives of the concerting groups were to unite the African people, show the beauty of the continent’s rich cultures, let the people know what they will miss here on earth if they take their lives, and sing songs of encouragement and tell the stories of the people who have endured and stayed alive and are successful.

Detention of Nigerians in Libya Worries Group Kayode Fasua As another batch of 161 Nigerian migrantreturnees recently arrived Lagos under the EU-IOM joint initiative on migrant protection and reintegration, a group, Migration Enlightenment Project Nigeria (MEPN) has renewed its call on the federal government to mount pressure on the Libyan authorities to set free thousands of Nigerians in various detention camps in that country.

A recent report of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) however, indicated that no fewer than 10,000 Nigerians had been repatriated from Libya between April 2017

and October this year.

The MEPN, in a statement by its Co-Project Directors, Kenneth Gbandi and Femi Awoniyi, congratulated the returnees for their safe return, even as it praised the efforts of the Federal Government, the European Union (EU) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for the humanitarian repatriation programme.

But it nonetheless demurred, stating, “The MEPN would like to use this opportunity to note that thousands of Nigerians may still be stranded in Libya and other transit countries. “The case of a group of recent Nigerian returnees who were held captive inside a government-run detention centre in the Libyan

town of Zawiya indicates that many Nigerians could still be in forcible custody in the North African country. “A video recording made by one of the migrants and sent to the international media in July 2018 led to IOM’s efforts that freed the Nigerians, who have since returned home.�

The MEPN added that it believed that many Nigerians could still be held in Libya, not only in official detention centres but also in camps run by smuggling gangs and militias.

It, therefore, called on the federal government to demand from Tripoli, a list of Nigerians being detained in its facilities, and release them immediately so that they can return home.

I think more women should be employed.

Women who are qualified academically. Regards of their marital status, nursery school be built as well within the confines of every company to help nursing mother work as well as take care of their babies.

Chinyere Okoroafor, Lagos.

Women must first see themselves as rightful owners of spaces they occupy in the universe.

When reaching one’s apogee in life becomes a privilege rather than a right, the culture of servitude sets in. So, women must change their mentality as it will drive them to do the impossible especially those things that are tied to certain unpalatable culture. I am always opposed to giving women certain percentages because it tells a different story of patriarchalism rather than the fairness our society intents to justify. Man or woman, we should be given the same latitude to excel. A certain percentage as it affects political calculations inhibits their freedom. Ultimately, the bulk of the job rests on the shoulders of our women.

All over the world, freedom isn’t given but taken. What should be done to increase women participation in corporate governance? What have the men been doing differently? Women should do what the men have been doing.

That’s all.

Sunday Abire, Akure, Ondo State.

I said to promote women involvement in corporate governance, we must first of all, deal with the root. And that is the behavioral perception of “women must be seen and not heard�

When a woman is highly ambitious, the society frowns at it. And that’s when you hear, she’s too ambitious. She is only going to end up in a man’s house. So how do we deal with this menace, by making the process easier of our women?

Esther Adeyanju, Lagos.

Looking at our society now, I think women are evolving and doing much better in their respective fields and even in the society at large. This is quite impressive unlike five years back. Nevertheless, based on my opinions I feel women can still do better than this I’m the society by fostering unity, oneness and peace amongst other women in the Society. Also, the myopic mentality that sees women as incapable to handle some leadership positions especially in politics should be totally eradicated because that mindset is majorly the cause of women being neglected in some sensitive leadership positions.

Joy Ushie, Ekiti.

The Africa governments should promote gender equality between men and women. Abolish most of Africa traditions that restrict women in many areas. The government should raise societal awareness of women leadership. Build capacity of female leaders. Government should close the gaps in productivity and earnings between male and female.

Joy Ukaegbu, Benin City Edo State.

Do you think the School feeding programme is a good measure in addressing the issue of Out of School Children or what other measures will you suggest?

Send feedback to aliogougochukwu@gmail. com or sms to 07030083086.

THISDAYt THURSDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 08152252325

A Depressing Tale from NHIS An effective health insurance scheme will ensure every Nigerian gets better and accessible healthcare. But the present drama in the National Health Insurance Scheme and the inability of the scheme to grow beyond four per cent means citizens might continue to die from preventable and treatable diseases. Martins Ifijeh writes

F

ew months ago, 31-year-old Rita Bassey ran to THISDAY in tears. Her 10 months old son, Nolan, was going to die within weeks because of a hole in his heart. They desperately needed at least N3.5 million for surgery if he must live. As typical with THISDAY, a cry for help story was published and she got support from kindhearted Nigerians. Nolan did the surgery in Tristate Heart Centre in Babcock University, Ogun State. Today, little Nolan is healthy and full of life.

In another instance, 25-year-old teacher, Serah Osabuohien, came with her mother to THISDAY with a customised bag in her hand. She was desperately fighting for her life, but saw the media as the last hope, having done all she could to raise money for surgery and chemotherapy.

She was suffering from colorectal cancer. That customised bag was her mobile toilet. It collects faeces at will. It was obvious Serah was going to die if she does not start treatment immediately.

She needed N10 million. Again, THISDAY did another report on her and she was able to raise around N700, 000. Within days of commencing treatment, the money was exhausted. THISDAY ran another story, and few other monies trickled into her account, but it was not enough. On October 18 2017, Serah died from a disease that could have been treated if there was money. She died from what clearly shouldn’t be an out-of-pocket cost for her, especially considering her class as a poor citizen. Serah was a poor Nigerian living in Nigeria, but did not benefit from Nigeria.

Donald Nwosu is a medical doctor suffering from non-hodgkins lymphoma, a rare type of cancer. He needed N30 million for treatment, and no hospital was willing to start treatment on him until deposits were made. He had exhausted the resources in his circle of families and friends, and had started a Go-Fund- Me account. He got in touch with THISDAY for help, and a story was published. While what he got through the publication was not close to the needed amount, he was able to start treatment. He is clearly still battling to manage the scourge. As usual, being a Nigerian is not enough for him to access healthcare funding by government. He is not rich or a government official, hence he is not that important.

Just few days ago, the very emaciated 15-yearold Abubakar Abdulazeem was on Television Continental (TVC) soliciting for funds so he could live. At four, he drank caustic soda which damaged parts of his internal organs, and since then life has been unbearable for him and his poor parents. He has now been withdrawn from school so he can wait on God because there is no money to fix his health. If Abubakar gets the medical atttention today, he will live. But as usual, there is nothing to differentiate that Abubakar living in Nigeria is benefitting anything more than a visitor or a foreign resident in Nigeria. He has been left to suffer from innocently drinking caustic soda for the past 11 years. And all his family does now is move from one media house to the other, soliciting for funds from kindhearted Nigerians.

Bassey, Serah, Nwosu and Abubakar are not the only ones who run to the media, philanthropists or nongovernmental organisations for financial help, there are clearly several millions of Nigerians who are running helter-skelter to get funds for treatment.

On the average, THISDAY receives at least three of such cries every month; same with other media houses, philanthropists, nongovernmental organisations, corporate organisations and hospitals, even though it is clearly government’s responsibility to take care of the health of its citizens, especially the poor ones who cannot afford it.

While cases of cancer, hole in the heart, kidney failure, and heart diseases have prompted many poor Nigerians to solicit for fund from anywhere, millions of Nigerians have died because the country has refused to provide the basic

Yusuf

healthcare services they need. For instance, lack of effective primary healthcare services in rural and sub urban corners of the country have led to high rate of maternal and child health, deaths due to pneumonia, malaria, and typhoid fever, among others.

To prevent occurrences like these and ensure every human has the right to basic healthcare, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global health bodies commenced campaign for universal health coverage, so that all classes of humans, whether rich or poor, have accessible, affordable and qualitative healthcare. This led to global campaigns for health insurance and the drive for universal health coverage globally.

Establishment of NHIS Bringing this home, the then Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, saw reasons with the campaign and then perfected the legal framework for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 1999. In 2005 the scheme kicked off under the supervision of the then Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo who immediately began to grow it in trickles.

For instance, Nigeria is currently the worst place on earth to be born. It is also the worst in many healthcare indices. According to UNICEF, preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of about one million under-five deaths in Nigeria

By the time Obasanjo’s tenure ended in 2007, it appeared the passion and vision to grow the scheme left with it, and what seemed like a beautiful idea to save poor Nigerians from health disaster began to evaporate into thin air.

The poor unemployed father in Ifueko Island in Edo State will no longer have his healthcare paid for by middle or rich Nigerians; the petty trader in Riyom in Plateau State will most likely die from kidney disease for lack of financial power to treat it, same with the poor mother in Igbese area of Ogun State, who developed complications while having childbirth.

Decline in Growth While it is now 13 years after the establishment of the scheme, only four per cent of Nigerians are enrolled in the scheme, where as 11 years ago, when the world thought the country had gotten it right with seven per cent of the population already registered to it. Ghana and Nigeria however started at about the same time, but the neighboring country recently celebrated its 45 per cent mark, leaving behind Nigeria; a country which often prides itself as the giant of Africa.

Renewed Hope When President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Professor Usman Yusuf as the Executive Secretary (ES) of the scheme, there was renewed hope that soon, the scheme would live up to its billing and grow. But as Nigerians continue to wait for a turnaround, the scheme continued to drag behind due to inconsistency in policies, scandals, and lots of drama.

In fact, of the 180 million Nigerians, only about six million persons are enrolled in the scheme, many of whom are the federal government workers.

This, no doubt has contributed to the several abysmally poor healthcare indices the country has lately been notorious for. For instance, Nigeria is currently the worst place on earth to be born. It is the worst in many healthcare indices.

According to UNICEF, preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of about one million under-five deaths in Nigeria.

NHIS Drama While healthcare observers, both globally and locally, have been hoping that the APC led administration will hit the ground running in the provision of universal health coverage and grow health insurance in the country, the body saddled with driving this responsibility seemed to have suddenly become the new Nollywood platform. A good movie producer could possibly run a movie on the true life story of NHIS and the movie will become a blockbuster.

First, there was a cold war between the Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) and the executive secretary few months after his resumption. He was accused of having a mindset to undermine the Health Management Orgaisations (HMOs) with a malicious disposition. On his part, he accused the HMOs of corruptly amassing wealth for themselves.

In June 2017, the ES was suspended by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, over allegations of corruption. A committee was set up to investigate him, but Buhari, who was away on medical leave when the suspension was announced, reinstated him in February 2018 against the Ministry of Health and panel of investigator’s stance. He was at the time accused of corrupt expenditure to the tune of N292 million, which he allegedly spent on healthcare training without recourse to any appropriate approving authority. But when THISDAY reached him few months back, he said those complaining about his style of leadership were corrupt, because he has blocked loopholes for stealing.

Eight months after his reinstatement, the NHIS council suspended him again for what they termed corrupt practices. While many Nigerians thought the drama would finally go down, Yusuf surfaced last Monday with policemen, and forcefully resumed, insisting that the council had no power to suspend him. Protests by some staff of the scheme however did not prevent him from defiling the suspension order.

Dissenting Opinions over Suspension The recent suspension of Yusuf has no doubt elicited several reactions, while some say the council has the right to suspend him, others believed only the president can suspend or sack the ES. For instance, frontline lawyers, Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana have said the council simply exercised its power by suspending him. HMCAN and some other health bodies have also toed this line. But earlier this week, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, said governing boards of federal agencies or parastatals have no power to remove Chief Executive Officers appointed by the President.

He said such boards may, however articulate infractions, investigate wrongdoing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory ministry.

A staff of NHIS, who does not want to be named, said with the stance of the SGF, it means the president is strongly backing the actions of Yusuf, but at the same time, does not want to openly counter the council in other to avoid the outcry from Nigerians like when he reinstated the ES after Adewole previously suspended him. “Do you think if Buhari didn’t back him he would have forcefully resumed with the aid of the Nigerian police?” the source said.

Citizens as Victims of Tussle As cliche as the saying ‘when elephants tussle, the grass suffers’ might be, the bottomline remains that Nigerians are paying dearly for this. While this drama seems not to be ending anytime soon, the effect since 2016 has continued to have a drastic toll on the scheme and Nigerians who deserve better healthcare. Just like Serah who died because the society refused to provide her better healthcare, the millions of Nigerians currently battling to live will continue to have their hopes dashed in the present circumstance.

T H I S D AY ˾ ,NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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NEWS

‘Exclusive Breastfeeding Will Save Nigeria N6.9B Annually’ Martins Ifijeh Exclusive and adequate breastfeeding practice by Nigerian mothers will not only help in improving the mental capacity of babies when they grow up, it will also save the country at least N6.93 billion spent every year, Health Expert with Alive and Thrive, Dr. Sylvester Igbedioh has said.

He said inadequate breastfeeding will on the long run take a toll on the health of babies at their infancy and

during their adult life, while huge cost would then be spent on treatment of various diseases that could have been prevented with simply practicing exclusive breastfeeding.

Stating this at the two-day workshop for health journalists in Lagos, tagged: ‘Skills in Utilising Media for Social and Behavioural Change with Focus on Infant and Young Child Feeding,’ he said parents who desire to see their children grow in good health, do well in school, and eventually become

successful adults, should give them the basis for that – which is exclusive breastfeeding.

The workshop was organised

by Alive and Thrive, a nongovernmental organisation, managed by FHI 360.

He said: “Exclusive breastfeeding provides all of the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antibodies needed to grow and thrive in the first six months of life. This should continue as a pivotal part of their diet up to the age of two years or beyond “Breast milk is safe. It is

always in the right temperature and requires no preparation.

Whether a mother is in an environment with poor sanitation or in places with unsafe water, the quality of breastmilk does not change.”

Ogbedioh said as infants grow, their nutritional needs grow as well, adding that, “to keep up with these growing demands, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that infants begin eating solid, semi-solid or soft foods at six months of age

to ensure that their nutrient intake is sufficient to fuel their developing brains and bodies”.

He said the foods consumed between six months and two years of life are called complementary foods because they ideally complement an already breastmilk-based diet, and that the 18-month period between six months and age two years is referred to as the complementary feeding period.

“During this period, it is

recommended that children eat a frequent and diverse diet of nutrient-rich and hygienically prepared complementary foods in addition to breastmilk. Evidence has shown that a diet comprising at least four food groups a day is associated with improved growth in young children,” he added.

He also called on mothers to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, adding that they should also ensures that the infant receives the colostrum, or “first milk”, which is rich in protective factors.

Flying Doctors Founder Pens Book on Healthcare Improvement Ferdinand Ekechukwu The Founder, Flying Doctor Nigeria, Dr. Ola Brown has published her book on how to address Nigeria’s healthcare system, Titled: ‘Fixing Healthcare in Nigeria.’

The book, which she said was a guide to some of the key policy decisions that will provide better healthcare service to all Nigerians, is available online for downloads.

The trainee helicopter pilot has published two medical textbooks ‘EMQ’s in Pediatrics’ and ‘Pre-Hospital Care for Africa’, as well as articles in the British Medical Journal, New York Times and the Huffington Post.

“With my years of experience working within Nigeria’s healthcare system, I felt I had to offer some practical solutions to the problems that are holding us back,” she said during a pre-press review of her book recently.

“While our challenges are more economic than they are clinical, I think much can be accomplished through organisational restructuring, task shifting, and a re-prioritisation of public and primary healthcare services.

“But let me also say that I don’t minimise the need for additional funding and I suggest several paths that need to be explored in order to upgrade financing.

“It’s my hope that my book

will get the discussion going and prompt leadership to look at some new ways to approach healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” Brown said.

The book looks at the current healthcare system in Nigeria from several points of view.

Brown also examined how some commercial enterprises have achieved success in Nigeria and suggests that those in charge of delivering healthcare adopt some of the ideas that have proved successful in private enterprise.

One of the examples she holds up is the success of Dangote’s Cement Company.

Dangote’s Obajana factory is one of the most advanced and largest cement factories in Africa.

Much of the company’s success is due to its ability to reduce its costs while at the same time increasing its output. Central to this is Dangote’s massive network of small distributors spread out through Nigeria’s communities.

Dr. Brown contrasts the success of Dangote’s decentralised system to the problems found in the Chinese cement industry, where large centralized plants are located far from where the cement is actually used.

She sees a parallel with healthcare in Nigeria, which she believes is overly dependent on large centralised hospitals and has too few decentralised primary care units.

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

L-R: Executive Director, Global Fund, Peter Sands; Chief Executive Officer, Carepay, Kees Van Lede; and Country Director, Pharmaccess Foundation, Njide Ndili, during the visitation to Subol Hospital, Lagos for the Proof of Concept of Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme...recently

‘Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Intake Can Cause Eye Problem’ r"T 8".$0 HJWFT GSFF FZF USFBUNFOU UP "KJEP DPNNVOJUZ The Chief Executive Officer, Apple Green Consult, Tony Onwugbaramuko has stated that smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, and frequent exposure to light are risk factors for vision impairment.

He said for Nigerians to maintain good vision and generally live healthy, they should avoid factors that predispose them to preventable health conditions.

Stating this at the free eye care treatment for residents of Ajido community in Badagry area of Lagos recently, and organised by WAMCO Nigeria Plc, he said

it was in addressing the high prevalence of eye conditions in the country, and especially in rural areas, that WAMCO decided to embark on free eye care services, especially in such rural communities, where residents are unable to access healthcare.

He said: “As typical with WAMCO, they did their survey, and then realised that the commonest condition in this community is eye condition.

We want to use this exercise to reduce the prevalence of the scourge in the community.

“Eye conditions are becoming

more prevalent in Nigeria. That is why we are calling on the government and philanthropic organisations to help create awareness.”

The External Relations Manager, WAMCO, Kofi Mensa, said he believed every Nigerian deserves accessible, effective and qualitative healthcare irrespective of financial level, adding that the gesture from the organisation was part of its corporate social responsibility He said: “Over the years we have been involved in free healthcare services in various communities. This is just one

among many of the places where we put smiles on the faces of the people.”

In his response, the King of Ajodi, Aholu Abioro Sedonu, who welcomed the initiative, said he believed many of his subjects who were having eye difficulties would no longer have cause to worry.

While thanking WAPCO for the gesture and for building a primary health centre for the community, he called on other corporate organisations, philanthropists and the federal government to take a cue from WAMCO.

Psychological Imbalance Prevents Girls from Attending School, Says UNICEF

World Diabetes Day: Hospital, Pharmacy Partner to Slash Cost of Goods, Services

Kuni Tyessi ÓØ ÌßÔË

Martins Ifijeh

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has revealed after a research, that one major reason responsible for the inequality in ratio between boys and girls in school attendance is tied to psychological imbalance.

It further said that cultural and traditional stereotyped practices which favours the boys against the girls is the catalyst to the inequality, which is often not understand in several quarters.

Education Specialist for UNICEF, Ms. Azuka Menkiti, who disclosed this in Kano during a two-day media dialogue on the theme “promote equity in education for children”, said the girl child who is physically

weaker than her male counterpart is often made to do double domestic chores at her own expense.

She said the family responsibilities which are expected to be shared for both gender in the home front is usually carried out by the girls alone, whom after being physically and mentally strained will lack the capacity to do their school or homework.

She said:” The girls are expected to cook, wash plates, sweep and clean up, while the boys are busy watching television. By the time the girl finishes, she’s already tired and can hardly do her homework, which was also given to her male counterpart.

“He has more time than her

and is able to concentrate and do his homework, unlike the girl who is already spent and yet they are expected to be in the same class.

“By the time the girl goes to school, she will be asked to stand up in the class and the teacher who has no idea of what has happened and how her time was spent will begin to rain abuses at her.

“Most often than not, it will be observed that tears are rolling down her face. Sometimes it will be erroneously analysed that the reason for her tears is as a result of the shame attached to her inability to do her homework, but in truth, she is actually reminiscing about the chores that took away all of her time.”

As Nigerians gear up for the World Diabetes Day (WDD) marked globally on November 14, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, a private hospital with focus on the management of diabetes and other endocrine and metabolism conditions, has announced plans to partner Bydow Pharmacy, Lekki, Lagos, to provide diabetes goods and services to Lagosians at discounted prices.

A release signed by the Medical Director, Rainbow Specialist Centre, Dr. Afokoghene Isiavwe and the Managing Director, Bydow Pharmacy, Pharm Adenike Adenuga, said the offer which takes

effect from November 1 till December 31, 2018, is aimed at assisting more Nigerians to achieve control of the disease with regular and effective self-monitoring and strict adherence to regulations on management of the disease.

The offer, they said, is designed to ensure that more Nigerians living with diabetes, especially those in Lagos, have access to monitoring devices, management and services at an affordable cost before, during and after the World Diabetes Day. Isiavwe said: “Every year, Rainbow Medical Centre conducts free blood sugar screening throughout the month of November to

members of the public to mark the World Diabetes Day. We are extending this to focus more on people living with diabetes in line with the theme for this year’s edition tagged: ‘The Family and Diabetes’.

“In our practice we are aware that many persons living with diabetes have difficulties in achieving control because they cannot afford the basic monitoring kits and the routine drugs needed to manage themselves.

“As we mark this year’s World Diabetes Day, we want persons living with diabetes to know that it can be controlled and should not be allowed to result in the numerous complications associated with it.”

T H I S D AY ˾ ,NOVEMBER 1, 2018

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HEALTH

US Based PhysicianTasks FG onAccess to Healthcare Peter Uzoho A Physician Assistant with the HCDH Community Medicine in Houston, Texas, and President of the US Virgin Island Academy of Physician Assistants, Ms Trisha Michelle Harris, has called on the federal government to take urgent steps towards improving access to medical care, especially for the teeming poor masses in the country.

Harris made the call in Lagos in an interview with THISDAY, during a one-day medical outreach organised by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) in conjunction with the company’s business partner, XT Monitor Limited, for its customers at Abule-Egba.

The Physician Assistant, who was part of a-six man medical team from the US Medical Mission Group, brought by the IKEDC for the programme, stated that failure of the Nigerian government to provide health insurance to many of the citizenry is contributing to the poor health condition of the majority of the people

in the country.

She also stressed that because the government is not addressing most of the essential needs of the people, they have been forced to take care of those needs, a situation she explained, has made them to relegate the issue of their health to the background.

She said: “So their major challenge is access to healthcare. They don’t have a regular doctor that they go to; a lot of time they go to a pharmacy and they are self-treating.

“One thing is that it’s different in a state where majority of the people have insurance like the Obamacare in the US. So even if you don’t have a job, you have some way of payment for medical care.

“So to the US people, access to healthcare is not a problem. So sometimes, you address people from where they are – help with the food, help with the housing; they now become less stressed so they can take care of their health.”

Lack of Equipment Causes Maternal, Newborn Deaths in Nigeria, Says Experts Omolabake Fasogbon A significant number of maternal and newborn deaths in the country have been traced to equipment deficit in health institutions.

As a way out, stakeholders have stressed the need for adequate, functional and healthy maintenance culture of equipment to prevent 90 per cent of maternal and infant mortality.

They emphasised this at a stakeholders workshop sponsored by Coca-Cola in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals and Medshare International Inc, towards enabling safe birth in Nigeria.

Worried by the situation, Consultant & Head of New Born Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Prof.

Chinyere Ezeaka, pointed out

that Nigeria is not making the needed progress in combating the scourge of maternal and infant death, which was part of why it missed the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

She identified leading causes of maternal death to be sepsis, obstetric haemorrhage or bleeding, unsafe abortion, obstructed labour and pre-eclampsia complications and in new born to be preterm birth and low-birth-weight, infections such as sepsis or pneumonia and asphyxia.

She said: “Sadly, Nigeria has the highest number of maternity death in Africa, losing as many as 576 women per 100,000 childbirths and 37 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births.

“This is a statistics that we are committed to changing.

To achieve this, we need to strengthen the system, put right leadership and technology in place while effort should be directed at women to empower and educate them on health

Cross section of participants at the 2018 Lagoon Hospital Breast Cancer AwarenessWalk, held in Lagos ...recently

Lagoon Hospital Raises Awareness on Breast Cancer Martins Ifijeh As part of plans to raise awareness on the rising incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria, Lagoon Hospitals, one of the country’s leading healthcare facility, recently conducted a breast cancer walk in Lagos to commemorate the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Nigerian women die of breast cancer due to lack of access to accurate information, affordable screening, and treatment options.

Breast cancer is currently one of the leading causes of death among women and late detection is a major factor.

Every year, the month of October is used for breast cancer awareness to support women battling with breast cancer.

Women are also educated and advised on early detection with free cancer screening done for all women The 6.8km walk held last weekend started and ended at the Lagoon Hospitals Ikoyi facility.

After the Walk, a medical outreach was conducted with a short talk on breast cancer and the essence of early detection by the Clinical Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Dr. Ajibike Oyewumi.

Participants had the opportunity to examine breast moulds, and free breast cancer screenings were conducted for the women participants.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lagoon Hospitals, Mr. Rajeev Bhandari, said: “We are delighted to hold such an

event in honour of the breast cancer awareness month and to create awareness about the disease.

“Early detection is key, and as the leading healthcare service provider in Nigeria, we take it as our duty to educate the public, while also encouraging people to get screened.”

The Head of Business Development, Lagoon Hospitals, Mr. Franklyn Ovbigbahon, said the walk was a powerful and inspiring opportunity to unite with the community to educate and raise awareness in a fun but intentional way.

He said: “We understand breast cancer screenings can be costly and we felt the free breast cancer screenings conducted after the walk, would

be a great way to make the screening more inclusive and accessible.

“Whatever your age it’s so important to get to know your breasts, and if you do spot anything unusual – be it a lump or redness – it is important to get it checked out by a doctor immediately.

Currently, to make the service even more accessible, we have a 50 per cent discount on our Mammogram and Breast Scan services running till the end of November.”

He said Lagoon Hospitals has successfully pioneered groundbreaking medical achievements, most recently with a free surgery provided for a young boy with subdural empyema as part of its CSR activities.

Pharmacists Seek Creation of More Spaces for Pharmacy Interns Martins Ifijeh Members of the newly elected National Executive Committee of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), led by the National Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Amibor, have called for the creation of more spaces for interns.

Stating this during a courtesy call on the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Elijah Mohammed, in his office in Abuja recently, Amibor said pharmacy graduates now roam the streets of Nigeria in search of nonexistent spaces for the mandatory one year internship, which has assumed

a worrisome dimension in the recent past.

He said: “While we commend the PCN for authoring the document for central placement of interns, we wish to observe that the process has not commenced yet, resulting in untold hardship for graduates and parents alike, who are compelled to keep catering for their children and wards several years after leaving school.”

“We believe the PCN is in a position to enforce legislation that will compel industries and employers of labour in the country to absorb more interns in their various establishments for their training programme.

“The council should also

bring pressure to bear on the management of tertiary and other health institutions to increase the number of internship slots for pharmacy and other interns from other disciplines.

“The council is also encouraged to increase the number of community pharmacies accredited to train pharmacy interns in their various community outlets.

“And of course, universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical industries should be allocated a minimum number of slots for internship placement.”

The association further urged the council to put her feet down as it concerns accreditation of healthcare institutions intending

to establish pharmacy departments in their hospitals.

“What we are simply saying is that the PCN should put her feet down and insist on following specifications when it comes to inspection or accreditation of health care institutions, since pharmacy practice would be better off for it.

“Similarly, we are aware that most private hospitals in Nigeria do not have pharmacists in their employment. I had the privilege of visiting one such big private hospital, and asked for the pharmacist on duty, only to be told that the pharmacist does not work during the weekends.

So who covers the pharmacy at such times?” I asked.

TRIBUTE

Adadevoh: Remembering the Nigerian Angel at 62 Martins Ifijeh Angels come to mankind in many ways. Some come with wings and shades of orchestras to give sweet melodious sounds to any being that crosses their way. Some come as unseen guides to nuture and nurse each being to parts of freedom and happiness.

But there are others who come in human form to save mankind from destruction. They are born just like humans, lives amongst men, but in the end, deliver their messages and leaving this sinful world. Hardly do such angels stay on the planet in earth’s energy field for very long

at a time.

One of such angels was Stella Adadevoh, the late medical doctor who stopped the spread of Ebola in Nigeria, by paying the supreme price.

When her mission was complete, she graciously left for heaven.

Adadevoh died in August 2014, after she came in contact with a Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, who although diagnosed of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), still willfully travelled to Nigeria for a conference.

When he was taken to First Consultant Hospital where the late Adadevoh worked, she ensured that he was quarantined despite threats from the Liberian government to let him go.

The late doctor’s heroic move helped curb the massive spread of the virus, thereby saving millions of Nigerians. But it been four years since she finished her divine job and left, yet it looked just like yesterday.

Her supreme sacrifice has continued to be part of the narrative when discussions about the 2014 Ebola plague are discussed. She was 58 years old at the time.

But few days ago, the world again remembered her. It was her birthday, as she would have been 62 years on October 27. But as typical of the maker of the universe, he only takes the best. Adadevoh was the best amongst men. She was too good to be here

after what she did to save Nigeria.

She is now with her maker.

First, Google, world’s biggedst search engine honoured the icon on her 62nd posthumous birthday with a doodle. A doodle is the temporary replacement of the Google logo on its homepage to celebrate holidays, events, achievements or people.

President Muhammadu Buhari also eulogised her in a statement posted on his Twitter page, using the handle, @MBuhari.

Buhar said: “Dr Stella Adadevoh would have turned 62 today. Today and always we celebrate her dedication and sacrifice. As part of our efforts to build on her legacy our

administration has put great effort into strengthening the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).”

Also, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Twitter, said “Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh was a true Nigerian #hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation and all its people. We join all Nigerians to celebrate her life today, on the commemoration of her posthumous birthday.”

Dr. Stella Adadevo is said to be the grand-niece of Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe and also, a great grand-daughter of Herbert Samuel Macaulay, a prominent Nigerian nationalist.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ,NOVEMBER 1, 2018

HEALTH

Preventing Diseases through Handwashing Mary Nnah writes that the commemoration of the annual Global Handwashing Day held on October 15, has again brought to the fore the need for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of handwashing as an imperative for the prevention of diseases

Handwashing can prevent diseases

T

he Global Handwashing Day marked every 15 October, is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. It is usually an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people, especially children, to wash their hands at critical times.

The theme for this year’s commemoration, “Clean Hands – a Recipe for Health”, focused on the links between handwashing and food – including food hygiene and nutrition.

The theme portrayed the fact that handwashing is an important part of keeping food safe, preventing diseases, and helping children grow strong. It also served as a reminder that handwashing with soap is a vital part of cooking, eating and feeding others.

To this end, Saponaria Industries a fast moving consumer products company with an array of market leading brands across personal care, home care, beauty and cosmetics categories, took the handwashing campaign to the Ilupeju Primary School, in Lagos, where it sensitised the children on the need to wash their hand regularly with soap and water.

The company also distributed its Sanitol brand of cleansing products - soaps and hand wash - to the children and to the school at large. This was in a bid to inculcate in the children the habit of washing their hands as often as they can.

Speaking during the exercise, the Managing Director, Saponaria Industries Nigeria Limited, Ashish Misra, said handwashing with water and soap is a ‘do-it-yourself’ vaccine because with just water and soap, handwashing cuts the incidence of diarrhoea

by nearly half.

Misra explained further that the purpose of the exercise was to inculcate among the children, teachers and their families the handwashing habit, while underlining the importance of washing hands with soap and water as a way of reducing illnesses and halting the spread of diseases.

Calling on Nigerians to take advantage of the annual Global Handwashing Day, Misra enumerated ways in which people could improve on their personal hygiene.

“Wash your hands with soap at critical times, especially before eating, cooking, or feeding others; model good handwashing behavior and remind and help others to always wash their hands before eating”, he noted.

Speaking further, he said, people should establish places to wash their hands in the household, communities, schools, workplaces and in health facilities as well as promote effective handwashing behaviour change in research, policy, programmes and advocacy.”

Stressing that inadequate sanitation is a major cause of disease worldwide, Misra noted, “we at Saponaria Industries believe that improving sanitation in Nigeria will have a significant beneficial impact on health across households and communities.

“Therefore, we are committed to helping build better awareness in the community to drive home the need for good hygiene and sanitation. Our Clean Nigeria Initiative is a multi-pronged mission that is founded on a strong sense of corporate social responsibility and manifests in several ways.”

Misra disclosed that the Ilupeju Primary School in Lagos was the second school the company has visited within the last two months, adding that it hopes to cover at least 500 schools across the country during the period of one year.

Emphasising on the significance of the

Global Handwashing Day, he said, “October 15 is a global advocacy day, which looks to inculcate the habit of using water and soap for the cleaning of hands. Inadequate hand washing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to spreading diseases and illnesses.

“Phones, computers and other devices have bacteria causing diseases. The way we prepare food and use the bathrooms may also cause bacteria to breed in our bodies. So we are basically communicating the idea of clean hands and the use of soap and water as prevention to diseases. We hope that these small steps will go a long way to help attain disease prevention and a healthy Nigeria, which is our interest.

“While we are a business entity, we believe that if we share, communicate and inculcate these habits among young Nigerians, it will be good for their health, the economy and also good for our business,” he noted.

Reinforcing its commitment to reduce diseases caused by bacteria, the company, Misra said, has remained consistent in its initiative to ensure one million students across Nigeria imbibe the culture of washing their hands regularly in a bid to reduce diseases.

He explained further that with the Sanitol range of soaps, handwash and hand sanitisers, the company wishes to place Sanitol products in at least 100 schools over the next six months and educate teachers and children on the far reaching benefits of a simple act of washing hands with soap and water.

“Keeping hands clean through improved hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others – and stop the spread of many diseases. Many and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water,” he

said.

The Sanitol range of products, Saponaria’s Managing Director, revealed further, is available in regular Medicated, Aloe Vera and Cool variants, adding, “personal hygiene and sanitation has to be a focus for both Nigeria and Saponaria. People must know that washing hands with soap and water is the first line of defence against disease and illness”.

The Million Clean Hands programme, he said will target schools in lower income communities so that the Sanitol product and message reaches the most vulnerable group of people. “We own some of the most sought after brands catering to a cross-section of consumers. Today, Zenta, Sanitol, Kampe, Riya, Brite dish wash and Power toilet cleaner are category leaders with a strong brand loyalty across Nigeria’s socio-economic classes.

“Washing your hands properly is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent and control the spread of many illnesses. Good hand hygiene will reduce the risk of things like flu, food poisoning and healthcare associated infections being passed from person to person”, he added.

Head Teacher, Ilupeju Primary School, Evelyn Omokhaye, commended the initiative, adding that the children will be more conversant with the habit of hand washing “With the availability of sanitisers and washing materials provided by Saponaria, it will perfect the habit of hand washing practice we have in the school already.

The advice I have for the children is that they have to make good use of what have been given to them. Anytime they go out to play, we will always remind them to wash their hands when they get back,” Omokhaye added.

40

T H U R S DAY Ëž NOVEMBER 1, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Nigeria’s Manufacturing Index Expands in 19th Consecutive Month Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) expanded to 56.8 points in October.

The present position of the manufacturing PMI, indicated an increase for the 19th consecutive month.

The CBN disclosed this in its October PMI report that was posted on its website.

The index grew at a faster rate when compared to the index in the previous month.

However, of the 14 subsectors surveyed, 13 reported growth in the review month in the following order: electrical equipment; petroleum & coal products; printing & related

support activities; cement; chemical & pharmaceutical products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; furniture & related products; transportation equipment; plastics & rubber products; food, beverage & tobacco products; fabricated metal products; nonmetallic mineral products; and paper products.

But, the primary metal subsector declined in the review month. Also, at 58.9 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the 20th consecutive month in October 2018.

The index indicated a faster growth in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month.

In all, 11 of the 14 manu-

facturing sub-sectors recorded increase in production level, two remained unchanged while one declined.

In the same vein, at 56.8 points, the new orders index grew for the 19th consecutive month, indicating an increase in new orders in October.

Nine sub-sectors reported growth, two remained unchanged, while three contracted in the review month.

The manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 56.4 points in October 2018, indicating faster supplier delivery time for the seventeenth consecutive month.

Thirteen sub-sectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, while one reported unchanged delivery time.

Nosak Group Partners Edo on Job Creation Nosak Group, a Nigerian industrial conglomerate with diversified interest, recently hosted a team of Edo State Government officials.

The government delegation was led by the Secretary to Edo State Govt, Mr. Osarodion Ogie.

A statement explained that the Chairman of Nosak Group, Dr. Toni Ogunbor, took the officials of the state government on a facility tour of the company’s business outlets in Apapa and Amuwo Odofin local government.

The facilities included Nosak Farm Produce Limited, Nosak Distillers Limited and Grand Petroleum Limited.

The company offers services in various sectors of the economy which includes: retails, manufacturing, logistics, finance, agriculture, haulage, real estate and petroleum.

Speaking during the tour, the Chairman of Nosak Group stated that the company was seeking partnership with Edo State in the area of investment.

The company, according to him, intends to open business offices in Edo State as a way of supporting the state in job creation.

“With unemployment rate rising in the country, Nosak Group hopes to play its own part by replicating its successful business venture in Lagos to Edo state,� the statement added.

Speaking further, Ogunbor stated that Nosak Group has a total direct investment of about N30 billion, mostly in Lagos and partly in Edo state. “In the past three years, the Group has fine-tuned its investment strategy and wants to focus more on the agro allied sector,� he said.

Consequently, the Group has chosen to rapidly grow three of its subsidiaries: Nosak Farm Produce Limited – Palm Oil Plantation, Milling and Refining, Saturn Farms Limited – Palm Oil Plantation and Milling and Premier Plantations Limited/ Nosak Distillers Limited – Cassava Plantation and Conversion to ethanol.

On the projects being undertaken by the Group, Ogunbor stated that it required land for plantation.

According to him, “Nosak Group has negotiated with three communities for land leases and crop compensation at mutually agreed terms. They

are: Obagie Community - 10,000 hecters, Igieduma Community – 7,000 hecters and Evbueghae in Orhionmwon local government – 5,000 hecters.�

He further stated that the leases were for about 60 years and that the businesses that would be located in the communities would bring development closer to the people.

On Ethanol production, Ogunbor stated that recently, the Group embarked on a tour of China, Thailand and Vietnam to learn how those countries were able to convert cassava to ethanol.

This measure was aimed at embracing Backward Integration Policy as a way of reducing costs of production while ensuring efficient utilisation of the Nosak Group’s resources.

In his remarks, Ogie, thanked the management of Nosak Group for inviting them on a tour of their facilities. “The Edo state Govt will do its best to support Nosak Group in acquiring more lands in Edo state for the ultimate benefit of Edo people,� he said.

He commended Ogunbor for the good work he was doing.

Deputy Team Lead, Recovery Department, C24 Limited, Mr. Samuel Adebambo; Managing Director, Mrs. Gbadunola Sokunbi; Mrs. Amnia Ashiru and Team Lead, Recovery Department, Mr. Goddey Victor, at an event to celebrate the company’s third anniversary in Lagos‌ recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS 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)

“When it comes to meeting their financial goals, more than half (54%) of the emerging affluent in Nigeria say they invest with a target and a strategy to achieve it. “Despite this, when describing the financial products, they use to meet their goals the most basic savings approaches came out on top: 59 per cet use savings accounts. By comparison, less than one-fifth use fixed income investments (19%), equity investments (13%) and mutual funds (12%); however, a quarter use property investment making this the second most popular method for this market. “This could explain why currently more than half (54%) of Nigeria’s emerging affluent feel far away from achieving their top financial goal. The emerging affluent in Nigeria recognise that a lack of financial understanding may be stopping them from meeting their financial goals: more than a third (35%) say they feel held back in their aspirations by their lack of financial knowledge; and 58% believe financial education would help them reach their financial

goals faster,� the report added.

The study also revealed that more than two-thirds (70%) of Nigeria’s emerging affluent believed effective wealth management holds the key to greater social mobility, so addressing the financial knowledge gap could play a crucial role in helping them to keep moving up the ladder.

Furthermore, the report stated that nearly two-thirds (64%) of Nigeria’s emerging affluent say their familiarity with digital tools has been vital to their personal success. Almost the same number (65%) said online banking makes them feel that they have more control over their money and investments, and 55 per cent said digital money management has helped them get closer to achieving their financial goals.

Commenting on the survey findings, the Head, Wealth Management, Standard Chartered, Simpa Adaba said: “It’s exciting to see that social mobility is booming among the emerging affluent, and that they are outstripping their parents’ success in education, careers and home ownership.

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

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

5,433,209.43

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

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Report Highlights Opportunities in Nigeria’s Markets More emerging affluent consumers in Nigeria plan to start a business to increase their wealth than in any other market, according to a new Standard Chartered study.

The Emerging Affluent Study 2018 – ‘Climbing the Prosperity Ladder,’ – examined the views of 11,000 emerging affluent consumers – individuals who are earning enough to save and invest – from 11 markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In Nigeria 41 per cent of emerging affluent consumers said starting their own business was a strategy to meet their financial goals and increase their wealth.

This compares to an average of 27 per cent.

The study revealed that the number one financial goal for Nigeria’s emerging affluent was saving towards their children’s education, with 14 per cent stating this. It was also the top savings priority across the markets in the study (16%).

For more than one in 10 (11%) setting up a business is the top savings goal; this is higher than any other market - the average figure is just seven per cent.

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $75.51 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $76.07 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

41

T H U R S DAY ˾ NOVEMBER 1, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Nestle Records 44% Profit Growth, Recommends N20 Interim Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of Nestle Nigeria Plc are to receive an interim dividend of N20 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The dividend is 33.3 per cent higher than the N15 per share the shareholders received in the corresponding period of 2017.

Directors of the company recommended the interim dividend at their board meet-

ing held on October 29, 2018 to consider the nine months results.

According to the results, revenue rose by 9.7 per cent to N203.135 billion, from N183.242 billion in the corresponding period of 2017.

Cost of sale increased to N116.984 billion, from N109.362 billion, bringing gross profit to N86.149 billion compared with N75.881 billion in 2017.

Marketing and distributive

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

expenses jumped from N25.26 billion to N29.739 billion, while administrative expenses fell from N7.535 billion to N7.050 billion in 2018. Net finance cost recorded a major decline of 85 per cent from N8.606 billion to N1.271 billion.

Hence, profit before tax stood at N48.088 billion, up from N34.479 billion, while profit after tax increased by 44 per cent from N22.979 billion to N33.118 billion in 2018.

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

The company explained that the growth is the result of its disciplined execution and investments in the expansion of its route to market.

The Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Mauricio Alarcon, said: “Our marketing initiatives focused on nutrition awareness, as our consumers continue to trust us to deliver high quality, affordable, nutritious food products every day.

All of this is well supported

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

by the dedication and professionalism of our people.”

He added that to sustain “our performance, we will continue to focus on creating an environment where our people can grow to their potential while delivering their best performance.

Driven by our purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, we continue to create value for all stakeholders

O F

across our value chain as we source and deliver products adapted to local preferences.”

The company paid N42.50 per share dividend for 2017 financial year. While the shareholders said the dividend was a significant jump from N10 paid the previous year, they had urged the board to consider giving them a bonus issue in the coming years.

3 1 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

42

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43

˾ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Flour Mills of Nigeria Posts N269bn Revenue in Six Months Goddy Egene

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN), a leading manufacturer of food and agro-allied products has announced a revenue of N269.737 billion and profit after tax(PAT) of N5.069 billion for the half year ended September 30, 2018.

The company said it increased its market share in some product categories, in a somewhat challenging environment with lower consumer spending.

FMN recorded a 49 per cent

increase in selling and distribution expenses to N4.13 billion, compared to N2.77 billion of the same period last year, as it increased its marketing spend.

Administrative expenses rose to N9.852 billion, compared with N8.352 billion, while finance cost fell from N16.267 billion to N11.229 billion in 2018.

The reduction in finance cost came as a result of settlement of overdraft facilities and replacement of high interest yielding loan facilities with cheaper loan facilities.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

Investment income grew by six per cent to N290 million, from N270 million of the same period as last year. The increase was due to short-term investments.

However, profit before tax fell to N8.392 billion, from N13.477 billion while PAT stood at N5.069 billion as against N9.355 billion in 2018.

Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director of FMN, Paul Gbededo, said: “In the face of persistent economic challenges and a difficult operating

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 3010-2018, unless otherwise stated.

terrain, we continue to pursue our growth strategy to gain market share in all key product segments.

Operations in Apapa continues to suffer major setbacks in traffic and logistics challenges, impacting in a marginal drop in our volume and top line activities.

With improved marketing and promotional activities for most of the key food businesses, we envisage new gains in the remaining part of the year, as we continue to focus on innovative products that deliver on great

consumer experience.”

Gbededo had said that the company’s focus remained on growing and building long-term value for stakeholders, following the successful raising of N39.9 billion through a right issue early this year.

FMN made a Rights Issue of 1,476,142,418 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N27.00 per share on the basis of nine new shares for every 16 shares to shareholders in January. The issue was well received by its broad retail and

institutional shareholder base with a subscription level of 111 per cent.

Gbededo had said the strong appetite exhibited by shareholders was a vote of confidence in the company.

“The Rights Issue is aimed at strengthening our balance sheet and positioning the Company for sustainable growth. We value the strong level of support shown by our shareholders and our focus remains on growing and building long-term value for all stakeholders,” he said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.84 1.60% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 6.30% 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 12.00% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.21 2.23 -3.87% 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 135.68 136.63 -10.56% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.03% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.08% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 99.57 99.57 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.87 99.87 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.52% Coronation Balanced Fund Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.11 4.13% 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 100.00 100.00 11.82% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.12% 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 1,157.90 1,158.64 10.46% FBN Heritage Fund 144.34 145.56 3.49% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.09% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.42 $113.50 4.23% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $113.18 $113.50 4.12% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.79 152.93 -5.27% 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 1.24 1.26 -4.20% Legacy Debt Fund 3.19 3.19 10.34% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.02 1.02 1.60% 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 3,006.17 3,036.21 0.69% Coral Income Fund 2,737.60 2,737.60 11.83% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.02% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 105.49 105.66 5.45% 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 100.00 100.00 11.92%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.15 2.17 2.06% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.21% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 122.40 122.62 6.36% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.19 1.22 4.25% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,076.24 1,076.24 11.56% 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 11.43 11.54 -11.82% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.51% 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 1.34 1.36 12.24% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.97 12.02 8.41% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.35% 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 127.98 128.39 -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 1.67 1.67 12.35% 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 2,300.93 2,315.86 4.71% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 186.44 186.44 7.08% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.96 0.97 -4.46% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 244.19 244.23 13.15% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 161.95 163.79 -9.57% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.55% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,553.18 8,658.12 -10.06% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 6.23% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.29 11.45 -7.22% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.15 12.25 -6.08% Zenith Income Fund 19.75 19.75 7.10% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.40%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

9.00 138.69 51.55

-20.11% 4.70% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.77 121.06 93.82

10.87 123.63 95.58

-9.17% -15.24% -14.12%

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

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

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

SPECIALIST FUNDS*

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.20 7.31 15.42 14.55 143.45

4.24 7.39 15.52 14.75 145.45

-11.33% -23.52% -11.71% -25.90% 6.60%

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 manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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47

FOREIGN/DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS

Austria Pulls out of UN Global Migration Pact Austria on Wednesday backed out of a United Nations pact on migration over concerns that it will blur the line between legal and illegal migration.

The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was approved in July by all 193 UN member nations except the United States, which backed out in 2017.

Hungary also backed out of the pact.

Hungary’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a hardliner on immigration, has said it will not sign the final document at a ceremony in Morocco in December.

Poland, which has also clashed with Brussels by resisting

national quotas for asylum seekers, is considering the same step.

“We have decided that we will not join the pact,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, a conservative and an immigration

hard-liner who governs in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party, told ORF radio.

Austria will not send an envoy to the signing ceremony in Morocco and will abstain from a UN vote on the pact next year,

ORF and news agency APA said, citing Kurz and far-right Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, adding that the cabinet would formally approve the move on Wednesday.

“We will therefore abstain in

the vote at the U.N. General Assembly in the year 2019,” Kurz told ORF. He and Strache expressed concerns about the pact this month, saying it could restrict sovereignty.

1.4m People Migrate to Cities Weekly, Says UN The United Nations has said no fewer than 1.4 million people migrate every week to cities around the world.

Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the weekly migration could contribute to “disasters”.

The UN chief said the development “can strain local capacities, contributing to increased risk from natural and human made disasters”.

In his message for World Cities Day, celebrated annually on Oct. 31, Guterres stressed that “hazards do not need to become disasters”.

“The answer is to build resilience – to storms, floods, earthquakes, fires, pandemics and economic crises,” he said.

Guterres explained that cities around the world were doing just that, forging new ways to increase resilience and sustainability.

He noted that the capital of Thailand, Bangkok has built vast underground water storage facilities to cope with increased flood risk and save water for drier periods.

In Quito, the capital of Ecuador in South America, local government has reclaimed or protected more than 200,000 hectares of land to boost flood protection, reduce erosion and safeguard the city’s freshwater supply and biodiversity, he noted.

The UN chief also indicated that the city of Johannesburg in South Africa “is involving residents in efforts to improve public spaces so they can be safely used for recreation, sports, community events and services such as free medical care”.

Guterres said a range of UN-backed international agreements provided “a

roadmap for a more sustainable and resilient world”.

The agreements include the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the New Urban Agenda World Cities Day was established by the UN to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanisation, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanisation, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

Maimunah Sharif, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), flagged the importance of investing in resilience or face growing “economic, social, political and human” risks.

“It has been estimated that without action on climate change – which accounts for just one facet of resilience – some 77 million urban residents risk falling into poverty,” she warned.

Sharif elaborated that human-made and environmental threats ranged from droughts, floods and fires to economic shocks, disease outbreaks, war and migration.

“Investing in resilience is a wise investment,” the UN Habitat chief said.

The theme of the 2018 commemoration, ‘Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities’, focuses on the need to preserve human life and limit damage and destruction while continuing to provide infrastructure and services after a crisis.

Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Liberia Inmates at Liberia’s largest rural prison have gone on hunger strike over a number of concerns, including lack of meals and poor sanitation, state radio reported Wednesday.

The inmates at the prison in the east of the country are quoted as complaining that their meals have been reduced from three times to once a day, with each person now getting just one spoon of rice.

Inmates who fall sick are made to pay for fuel to be transported to hospital, the report said.

They are also required to pay for their medication.

The inmates wants the prison’s director replaced and have resolved to remain on hunger strike until the situation is corrected.

State radio could not get regional prison authorities to comment and efforts by the BBC to speak to the ministry of justice on the matter also proved unsuccessful.

Liberian prisons are crowded with pre-trial detainees who do not get a speedy trial because of a lack of adequate funding for the justice system.

US Secretary of Defence, Jim Mattis (right) welcoming South Korean National Defence Minister, Jeong Kyeong-doo, during a full honour arrival at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia…yesterday PHOTO: AFP

Indonesian Plane Search Team Detects Black Box A signal from the black box of the Lion Air plane which crashed on Monday with 189 people on board has been located, Indonesian rescuers believe.

Indonesia’s military chief said divers were trying to check the location some 30-40m (100-130ft) down in the Java Sea but had to battle strong currents.

Flight JT610, a Boeing 737, went down shortly after take-off from Jakarta. No survivors have been found.

Meanwhile Lion Air has sacked its technical director.

The company said its dismissal of Muhammad Asif had come on the orders of the transport ministry.

Representatives from Boeing are meeting Indonesian officials on Wednesday as part of the

investigation.

There is no indication so far of what caused the plane to go down 13 minutes after taking off, though a log obtained by the BBC showed the plane had encountered technical problems while flying from Bali to Jakarta the previous day.

Search teams have been using an underwater drone, as well as underwater “pinger locators”, to try to pick up the sonar signals from the flight recorders.

On Wednesday, armed forces head Hadi Tjahjanto said rescuers believed a “ping” first detected the previous day came from one of the recorders. He said divers had tried to retrieve it and would make fresh attempts shortly.

“I am sure we will find a

black box given the strong indication, and, not far from there, the main body of the plane,” he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

Efforts to find parts of the plane have been hampered by strong currents and the presence of oil and gas pipelines in the vicinity, said search and rescue agency chief Muhammed Syaugi.

He added that, if found, the plane’s main fuselage would be lifted by crane.

A large number of bodies was expected to be trapped inside, he said.

Body parts, debris and personal belongings have already been collected from the water, and body bags are being taken to Jakarta for identification.

The cause of the crash is not known, although a

technical log from the plane’s previous flight on Sunday showed one instrument was giving “unreliable” airspeed readings and the captain had to hand over to the first officer. Altitude readings also differed on the captain and first officer’s instruments.

Lion Air chief executive Edward Sirait said on Tuesday that the plane had had technical problems, but had been repaired before being allowed to fly again.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, is heavily reliant on air travel but many of its airlines have a poor safety record.

The country has had issues of safety and poor management in the past and its airlines were banned from flying into European airspace until 2016.

Khashoggi was Suffocated, Istanbul Prosecutor Says Istanbul’s chief prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday that Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, was suffocated as soon as he entered Saudi Arabia’s consulate on October 2 in a pre-planned killing.

According to prosecutor, Irfan Fidan, Khashoggi’s body was then dismembered and disposed of.

The prosecutor, in a statement said that no concrete results were reached in talks between him and Saudi public prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb.

Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor held talks overnight with Turkish intelligence officials over the investigation into the killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Demiroren news agency said.

It said Saud Al Mojeb left his hotel shortly after midnight and went to the Istanbul regional offices of Turkey’s National Intelligence Agency (MIT). It did not say how long he stayed there before returning to his hotel.

Khashoggi’s death has

escalated into a crisis for the world’s top oil exporter, which at first denied any knowledge of, or role in, his disappearance four weeks ago.

On October 27, Mojeb contradicted previous Saudi statements, saying Khashoggi’s killing was premeditated. Riyadh says it has arrested 18 suspects, including a team sent to Istanbul hours before Khashoggi’s death, but has rejected Turkey’s call for their extradition.

President Tayyip Erdogan,

who has demanded more information from Saudi Arabia, said on Tuesday Istanbul’s chief prosecutor had asked Mojeb to disclose who sent the team from Riyadh which is suspected of involvement in the killing.

The killing of Khashoggi, a critic of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has put into focus the West’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia – a major arms buyer and linchpin of Washington’s regional plans to contain Iran.

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51

NEWSEXTRA

Baru Charges Petroleum Explorationists to Find More Oil Tasks engineers on renewable energy development

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikati Baru, has charged members of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) to deploy their wealth of knowledge and experience to find more crude oil to meet the 40million barrels reserves target.

Baru gave this charge

yesterday when the leadership of NAPE paid him a courtesy visit at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

This is coming as Baru, has also challenged Nigerian engineers to come up with technologies to help deepen the development of renewable energy in the country.

The GMD who described the group as the foundation of the oil industry on account of the

141 Nigerians Return from Libya No fewer than 141 Nigerians, including 11 pregnant women have voluntarily returned from Libya to Nigeria with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) and the European Union.

Chief Planning Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Segun Afolayan confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.

Afolayan said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, at about 10:45pm on Tuesday aboard a chartered Al-Buraq aircraft with registration number UZ189.

He said that “After profiling, we have 71 female adults, three female children and three female infants.

“Also, there were 53 male adults, six male children and five male infants; among them were two medical cases and 11

pregnant women.”

According to him, the majority of the returnees are from Tripoli, the capital of Libya which has become volatile in recent times.

Afolayan advised the returnees to become more focused in life and not allow the unfortunate experience to have negative impact on their lives.

“Truly, you have had bad experiences, collectively and individually, but these should be the motivation for you to make a positive decision to see the brighter future ahead of you.

This is because no one can tell the story more than you and making better use of your lives is essential.

“The federal government is urging you to be ambassadors of positive change by taking the anti-irregular migration campaign to those still aspiring to take the dangerous journey.

You can talk to them in the language they will understand most,’’ he added.

critical role of its members in the oil and gas value chain, urged members to go beyond convention and search deeper and wider to ensure the sustainability of the barrel by “finding more, producing more, and doubling production reserve ratios on a yearly basis”.

He disclosed thatthe NNPC was involved in extensive exploration work in the inland basins with a view to finding more oil to grow the nation’s crude oil reserves.

Speaking on the purpose of their visit, President of NAPE, Dr. Andrew Eyayeriese, informed Baru of the group’s upcoming conference scheduled to hold this month in Lagos and invited the NNPC boss to

participate as keynote speaker at the event.

He expressed gratitude to the NNPC for the corporation’s support over the years, especially in areas of sponsorship of events and staff participation in conferences and seminars.

In another development, Baru, has challenged Nigerian engineers to come up with technologies to help deepen the development of renewable energy in the country.

The NNPC helmsman threw the challenge during a courtesy call on him by members of the executive committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja Branch, led by its Chairman, Mr. Chinasaokwu

Okolie.

He highlighted some of the corporation’s strides in the development of renewable energy across various states of the country using abundant natural resources like palm oil, cassava, and sugarcane.

He said the projects would help create the much needed linkage between the energy and agricultural sectors and urged members of the NSE to come up with technologies and strategies to enhance the integration process for the growth of the economy.

He congratulated Engr.

Okolie on his emergence as chairmanand commended the branch for its good work in training members and making

engineering attractive especially at the grassroots.

He said NNPC was committed to producing clean hydrocarbons in an environmentally friendly manner for the benefits of all Nigerians.

On his part, Okolie, commended Baru for his purposeful leadership which has led to greater investor confidence and growth of daily crude oil production from about 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) to the current 2.3mbpd.

The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a plaque to the GMD in recognition of his efforts in the development of the oil and gas industry.

INEC Merely Complied with Court Orders, Says Ogun PDP Faction Femi Ogbonnikan In Abeokuta Adebayo Dayo-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has debunked claims issued in a press statement by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in which he condemned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with the orders of court in respect of the crisis the party’s primaries in the state.

The state executives committee loyal to the embattled Ogun East lawmaker, Senator Buruji Kashamu, in a press statement issued by the state chairman, Mr. Adebayo Dayo, pointed out that INEC did not accept the list of candidates from any state chapter.

Rather, he said the Commission merely complied with several judgments and orders of court in FHC/L/ CS/636/2016; FHC/L/ CS/1556/2017 and FHC/ABK/ CS/114/2018, respectively.

“We make haste to add that the appeal against the over two and a half years old judgment in FHC/L/CS/636/2016 has since been dismissed by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal (precisely, on May 4, 2017).

“A further attempt to have the appeal relisted was struck out on July 11, 2018 and a cost of N200, 000 awarded against the applicants. Therefore, there is no pending appeal against the substantive judgment in FHC/L/ CS/636/2016.

“What is presently before the

Supreme Court is an application asking the apex court to review the decision of the Court of Appeal not to relist the dismissed appeal.

“Clearly, the decision of the electoral body is in conformity with established norms and standards all over the world.

It is in the interest of our democracy and the course of justice for everybody to obey court decisions. The Supreme Court has stated and restated this duty in several decisions beyond any iota of doubt.

“To re-emphasise and underscore the importance of the duty to obey court judgments and orders, we recommend the national leadership of our party and the general public on the decision of the Supreme Court in F.A.T.B. v. Ezegbu (1992) 9 NWLR (Pt. 264) 132 at 146, which relied on the decision of the English court in which it was held as follows: “A party who knows of an order, whether null and void, regular or irregular, cannot be permitted to disobey it…

It would be most dangerous to hold that suitors or their solicitors, could themselves judge whether an order was null and void – whether it was regular or irregular. That they should come to the court and not take upon themselves to determine such a question; that the cause of a party knowing of an order which was null and irregular and who might be affected by it was plain. He should apply to the court that it might be discharged.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR COMMON GOOD…

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, during a meeting at Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja...recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

Fayose Raps Ekiti CJ over Comment on New Judiciary Complex Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti For allegedly describing the new court built by the administration of former Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose as a ‘hybrid of absurdity’, the immediate past governor has told the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola to stop making comments that could portray him as being political, In a statement issued yesterday

by Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi in Ado Ekiti, the former governor said the new state-of-the-art High Court complex remains a masterpiece that can’t be despised by the criticism of his detractors.

“Reproach and bad-belle apart, the high court complex built by Fayose is world class. It is also the first of its kind since the creation of Ekiti state in 1996.

“If Daramola cannot commends me , he could as well shut up his mouth and stop behaving like a baby,” Fayose said.

Daramola had during the commencement of Legal Year

by Ekiti judiciary on Tuesday, described the high court as a

‘hybrid of absurdity’ on the premise that it was wrongly designed, adding that this had prevented the judiciary from putting the complex named after the first CJ of Ekiti, Justice Ademola Ajakaiye, into use.

Also on the same day, the Council of Traditional Rulers through its Chairman, Oba Ademola Ademolaju, alleged that his members allegedly had a raw deal under Fayose in terms of welfare and patronage.

But Fayose described the statement as an after-thought and an exercise in futility, saying “It is shameless pull-him-down syndrome at work.

“Daramola was there at commissioning; he should have spoken there and then or is he a coward? Disparaging Fayose now is an act of cowardice.

“Speaking now after Fayose has left office is tantamounts to back-biting and stabbing the former governor in the back” “Justice Daramola has never hidden his displeasure towards Fayose, dating back many years.

He had time and again allowed himself to become willing tool in the hands of some politicians

to be used against the former governor.

“Throughout the four years of Fayose’s administration, Justice Daramola never attended state functions personally and on the day when the foundation of the new high court complex was being laid, Justice Daramola openly expressed doubt of Fayose completing the project.

“In this regard, what does any right-thinking person expect Justice Daramola to say of one of Fayose’s legacy projects?”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, has described as “irresponsible, fallacious and ill-informed” the claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that cases of assassination had soared after Governor Kayode Fayemi was sworn in on October 16, 2018.

Following last week night shooting of Ekiti State lawmaker, Hon. Michael Adedeji, that resulted in his death on Monday, the state Chairman of PDP, Gboyega Oguntuase, had in a statement accused the Fayemi’s two-week administration of encouraging assassination

without response to check the trend.

But in a statement by APC Publicity Secretary, Ade Ajayi, the party said PDP was “irresponsibly distorting facts and history” by claiming that the state had never witnessed the spate of assassinations like in the two-week administration of Governor Fayemi.

He said: “The list is endless, including Dr Ayodeji Daramola and Tunde Omojola in 2006 while the murders of Kehinde Fasuba and Omolafe Aderiye were allegedly linked to the activities of armed gangs allegedly working for PDP leaders.

“Also a day after this incident, Wale Adeniyi, a graduate entrepreneur in Ikere-Ekiti, was found dead along Iju-Ikere road after an encounter with gunmen.

“In fact, the killings in the northern axis of the state around Oke-Ako were as a result of Fayose dismantling of a wellfunded security system put in place in that area by Fayemi, resulting in herdsmen’s threats that claimed the lives of some residents.

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2019 Elections: Traditional Rulers Express Concern over Security in Local Communities Mary Nnah As Nigeria prepares for the 2019 general election, traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria have raised concerns on ensuring free, fair and violence-free polls, mostly as they relate to safety and security of lives and property in local communities during and after the election.

Arising from the second consultation meeting of National Council of Traditional Rulers of

Nigeria (NCTRN) South-South and South-east chapter held on October 30 in Benin-city, Edo State, the monarchs arrived at a common ground that if local communities are secure, Nigeria at large would be secure and save too.

Speaking at the event, the chief sponsor of event, the Eleme of Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, Dr. Appolus Chu, said the meeting was a platform where the traditional rulers from the

South-south and South-east regions would come together and speak with one voice on policies that would move the country forward mostly on security issues.

According to him, “Today, the main issue will be to look at ways of ensuring a violence-free 2019 general elections. Aside that, we are going to look at other areas of common interest and

grounds where the traditional rulers from the Southern part of Nigeria would come together and rub minds.

“We have touched the area of violence-free election as well as collaborations among our various communities. The whole essence is to ensure that traditional rulers rise up to their responsibilities to ensure that live are protected in our communities and that things

are done the right way during the forthcoming general election.”

He called on government and other stakeholders to provide conducive environment for people to vote during the elections, charging Nigerians in their various communities to conduct themselves properly during the voting exercise.

Chairman of the second consultation meeting, the

Amanayanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Dr. Edmund Daukoru, also said the meeting was particularly convened to consider the security situation in the country particularly at a time when the elections are the corner “as this period is usually tensed, and also, as traditional rulers, we felt we should get together and look at the matter from the grassroots point of view.

ADC: Lanlehin Remains Our Governorship Candidate in Oyo State Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin remains the governorship candidate of the party in Oyo state in the forthcoming general elections.

This laid to rest the speculation in the media about the authenticity Lanlehin’s candidature at the poll.

The National Chairman of the Party, Chief Ralphs Nwosu disclosed this yesterday in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

“In line with our earlier press statement on the issue of ADC’s gubernatorial Candidate in Oyo State,the National Working Committee of our great Party wishes to announce that Senator Olufemi Lanlehin remains the gubernatorial Candidate of ADC in Oyo State “We have had to revisit the issue to ensure that we accommodate all concerns from various quarters. We have had meetings with all

the stake holders of our great Party, including all the aspirants at all levels of elective positions “This was to ensure that the choice of Senator Lanlehin satisfied the aspirations of all Party leaders, members and stake holders of our party,” he added. The party chairman assured party members and stakeholders that the party was positioned to take over the government House of Oyo State come 2019.

He also warned that the party would not condone acts capable of destabilising the impressive progresses already recorded in the state,while also stressing that all the contentious issue and the grievances of all other aspirants had been ammicably resolved.

On his part, the Oyo State Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Ahmed Ayinla commended the leadership of the party over the amicable resolution of the matter, saying that it further served as moral booster for the members of the Party in the State who have been waiting patiently to hear from the National leadership of the Party on the issue.

Court Should be Circumspect in Giving Orders, Says INEC Adedayo Akinwale and Mercy Apollos in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pleaded with the courts to be circumspect in terms of the orders and judgments they give ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The commission said that conflicting court order and judgments create more problem for the commission.

INEC’s National Commissioner on Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye told THISDAY yesterday that the policy of INEC and the law and the constitution mandated INEC to only accept the list submitted and signed by the national chairman and national secretary of the political party.

But, he also stated categorically that the policy of the commission is to submit to the rule of law and due process at all times, stressing that the electoral body would always give effect to the judgments and orders made by properly constituted rule of law.

Okoye stated: “In relation to the PDP in Ogun State, the court made very specific

orders that the INEC should accept only the list submitted by a particular faction of the PDP in Ogun State. That order was served on the INEC; there has not been any vacation; no court has vacated that order and since no court has vacated those orders.”

“The INEC as a law abiding institution will accept that particular list. We are accepting those lists based on the orders of a properly constituted court of law and that’s where we stand in relation to that.”

“I believe that as we move to 2019 elections, our plea is that the court should be slightly circumspect in terms of the orders and judgments they give,” he added.

Okoye explained that the commission was ready to obey every court judgement and also to give effect to every court order.

He said, “When court grants ex perte applications and make pronouncements to the effect that the status quo should be maintained as at the date of the filing of the matter or as at the date of the giving of the order, it creates very serious challenges for the commission.

CONDOLENCE VISIT...

L-R: Senator Ifeanyi Araraume; former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememe, and Tony Anenih (junior), during a condolence visit to the PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE family of late Chief Tony Anenih, in Abuja…recently

Owhoko Unveils Nigeria’s Future in United States The future of Nigeria has been unveiled in the United States of America by a renowned author and journalist, Mr. Michael Owhoko, with a clear indication of a damning threat to the collective aspirations of the people, responsible for the current surge of influx of Nigerians fleeing the country in droves to take refuge in foreign countries owing to injustice in the political system and economic administration of the country.

The future of the country which Owhoko encapsulated in a book published in the United States of America contains a comprehensive analysis of the

past and the present, throwing up a compelling revelation of the country’s future, which shows that except the political leadership takes earnest and urgent actions to forestall the looming watershed, the country will continue to be plagued by discontent, ethnicism, disunity and unpatriotism, leading to eventual de-amalgamation and balkanization of Nigeria.

The book which is entitled, The Future of Nigeria, is expected to be released to the public next week.

It was published by BookVenture Publishing LLC, and is available in major bookstores worldwide,

including Amazon, Banes and Nobles, BookVentures.

“The political system of government does not guarantee economic equity, prompting the various ethnic groups to engage in unhealthy competition for political power, leaving the people with nothing to hope for but frustration, depression, corruption and diminishing trust for successive administrations which have run the country from bad to worse”, Michael Owhoko specifically revealed in the new book.

The author has therefore proposed a Referendum to enable the people decide the

system of government that is capable of meeting their aspirations, advising that unless the country restructures into a proper federal or confederal system of government, the national question, injustice, insincerity and corruption that have held down the country will be difficult to address, leading to sustained agitation for breakup of the country.

Indeed, the book is a must read not only for the leadership and political class, but for all Nigerians to set the tone for resolving the aged-long political darkness that has enveloped the country, pushing it closer to the precipice.

Kashamu: INEC Has Recognised Leke, Abati, Daniel as Ogun PDP Candidates Martins Ifijeh The senator representing Ogun East senatorial district of Ogun State, Buruji Kashamu, has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised list containing the names of Prince Leke Shitu and Dr. Rueben Abati as the Ogun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively, while a former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, will be representing Ogun East as its senatorial candidate for the 2019 elections in the state This was following INEC’s recognition of the Bayo Dayo-led executive committee of the PDP as authentic executive in the state.

In a statement made available

to THISDAY yesterday, and signed by Kashamu, it said other candidates on the list of the state executives, including other senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly seats were equally accepted and duly acknowledged by the electoral commission.

He said: “Any rumours being peddled around by our national chairman and national publicity secretary through a purported press release should be disregarded as the duo are deliberately acting unlawfully and beyond their powers to which they’ve refused wise counsel to tow the path of rule of law.

“The guarantee of our democracy under established regulations and rule of law is

that no party official, no matter how highly placed could use the office for selfish preservation/ promotion of his own interests and legacy at the detriment of the interests and legacy of other party members. This resolve to act with unchecked impunity shall be fully resisted in a fight to finish battle to strengthen our party’s internal democracy.”

He said ignorantly, the national chairman was unaware that where there is dispute resulting into a judicial resolution as in Ogun State matter, the state chairman and secretary could sign in place of national chairman and secretary when backed by validly subsisting court judgments.

“Whatever makes our chairman to be this resolute

at challenging the constituted electoral regulatory body, INEC and also dwelling in nauseating impunity against Nigerian court judgments out of unexplainable desperation to install Ladi Adebutu as PDP Ogun governorship candidate should as well have forced him to create his own INEC and conduct elections inside his office.

The PDP as a Nigerian creation by law is for all Nigerians by established regulations and National statue; nobody can as such intimidate us in our democracy,” he added.

The senator said all state elders, leaders and party faithful were again enjoined to remain focused on the ongoing aggressive mobilisation and reconciliation efforts of the party.

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Kogi Govt Seals MTN, Airtel’s Offices, Others over Unpaid N470m Tax Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The facilities of MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Forte Oil and Bank of Agriculture have been sealed off

by Kogi State Internal Revenue Service over their alleged refusal to pay N470 million tax to the state government.

The Director in charge of Legal Services and Enforcement at the agency, Mr. Jamil Isah,

who led his team yesterday to seal off the critical facilities of the two telecom service providers at Mount Patti, Obajana and other places in Lokoja, disclosed that Airtel owed over N321 million while MTN also refused to meet its obligation of over N140 million to Kogi State Government.

He added that Forte Oil and Bank of Agriculture are owing

N5 million and N3 million, respectively.

According to him “For quite some time , we have diligently approached the two telecom service providers the MTN and Airtel to pay some of their tax liabilities to the state government and they refused to cooperate with us.

“We then proceeded to the state High Court of Justice , and

the court having looked into the case, granted us an order , authorising us to seal their facilities until those obligations are discharged by the affected organisations and that was what we have done to ensure that they pay the tax” The director lamented that Airtel has refused to pay their annual rent for the laying of fiber cable on the soil of the

state. He also pointed out that the service provider paid their obligations in other states.

The director vowed that the revenue service will continue to take a decisive action in order to compel them to pay their taxes .

“Pursuant to the directive of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to have a listening ears to the complaints and

challenges of the tax payers in the state , we met with them from time to time and make amend where we can.

“Sometimes, we staggered their tax payments; we do some waivers and we reduced the tax payers’ liabilities in view of the challenges they presented before us. All of these to enable them pay the tax as at when due” he added.

Senate Committee Commends ITF over Projects, Capacity Building

Lagos Chiefs Decry Rising Wave of Political Thuggery

Jonathan Eze

Segun James

The members of the Senate Committee on Industry have lauded the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) over its prudent use of budgetary allocations, especially in funding new projects and completing abandoned ones.

The committee led by its Chairman and a former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, told THISDAY, that the oversight tour was to supervise the ongoing projects to ensure that the appropriated funds are properly utilised.

According to him, the oversight visit is in pursuant of the constitutional responsibility spelt out in section 88(1) and (2), 89(1) and (2) of the constitution of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

“The purpose of this visit is to conduct assessment on the level of budgetary implementation particularly the 2017/18 approved appropriation.” He affirmed that the vist was the second embarked by the committee.

“The first visit to the funds was at the headquartres in Jos, Plateau State, which was in June 2017. The committee would ask questions as regards to the funds provided for the completion of ongoing projects in area offices as well as the industrial training centres in Lagos.”

He added that the visit would allow them identify with the areas that require more attention

in the upcoming 2019 budget.

However, the Senate committee assured the management and staff of ITF of their continuous support in the areas of law making and appropriation, adding that, the committee would not entertain lack of financial prudence, leakages or inefficiency in the midst of paucity of funds in the country.

Egwu commended the conducive industrial training centres for N-power graduate trainees and other skill acquisition centres in ITF for boosting productivity, manpower develop-ment and entrepreneurial skills to make them impactful, trainable and create more Jobs.

Following the rising tide of thuggery which has become a threat to law and order, titled chiefs in Lagos state have asked the government to find ways to stem the tide.

The chief under the aegis of the Association of Lagos Titled Chiefs (ALTC), a nonpolitical association of chiefs and prominent members of the Lagos Community who have served the state and the country, condemned the current political situation which is threatening law and order in Lagos State.

The association, in a statement by its President, Chief Iyabo Foresythe, Iya Abiye of Lagos, noted that residents of Lagos

while going about their legitimate duties are daily being harassed by political thugs and miscreants, stressing that this level of political brigandage is at its peak.

ALTC insisted that the route to democracy is not brigandage but respect for the rule of law and due process, which it regretted is not been respected anymore.

The associated said that Lagos State is the economic nerve centre of the country and seventh largest economy in Africa which controls over 70 per cent of economic activities in Nigeria.

“With a population of over 21 million people, eight million registered voters, Lagos is a true

reflection of a national giant of democracy which cannot be allowed by us, key stakeholders, to go without a check on the unfortunate violent scenes threatening law and order.”

“Therefore, the poser to residents of Lagos is how did our cosmopolitan and politically vibrant communities fall into the hands of the current political players, whereby social forces keep throwing up a galaxy of do or die political opportunists, whose current fixation is breeding political thugs and miscreants, while ignoring and making nonsense of politics as a contest between lofty ideas, values and principles in the public realm?

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ÍšË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Î&#x20AC; Ëž T H I S D AY

THURSDAYPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Akinwunmi Heads NFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reform Committee r(JWFO UISFF NPOUIT UP DPNQMFUF SFTUSVDUVSJOH PG /JHFSJB GPPUCBMM Duro Ikhazuagbe Amaju Melvin Pinnickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire to bequeath a sustainable football culture for the country got a boost yesterday with the naming of a first-of-its-kind Reform Committee for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The committee is a fulfilment of the promise made by Pinnick when handed a fresh four-year mandate at the NFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elective Congress in Katsina last month.

He said in his acceptance speech then that the administration of the game in the country would be reformed to bring it in line with global best practice.

First Vice President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, is saddled with completing the restructuring the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s football in three months.

The constitution of the committee whose membership cuts across a broad spectrum of football stakeholders was endorsed at the 74th Annual General Assembly of the federation in Asaba last week.

NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko will serve as Vice Chairman, with other Board members Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Chidi Ofo Okenwa also in, as well as NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

There are also Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi (Chairman, Osun State FA), Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen (Chairman, Benue State FA), Porbeni Ogun (Chairman, Bayelsa State FA), Nasiru Saidu (Chairman, Sokoto State FA), Alh.

Garba Mohammed (Chairman, Yobe State FA), Dr. Kweku Tandoh (Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission), Godwin Dudu Orumen (Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission), Alh. Farouk Yarma Adamu (Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, Gombe State), Chief (Mrs) Dilichukwu Onyedinma (Director of Sports, FCT), Alh. Abba Yola (Chairman, NFF Technical Study Group) and Isaac Danladi, Chairman of NPFL Club Owners).

Others are Alh. Shuaib GaraGombe, business mogul Yemi Idowu, Sampson Ebomhe and sports journalists Tony Ubani, Felix Awogu, Osasu Obayiuwana, Godwin Enakhena and Chisom Ezeoke, as well as one representative each of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Nigeria Referees Association and the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers.

Already, the committee has appointed George Etomi and Partners as independent Secretary/Legal Adviser (with liberty to seek other legal advice). The law firm will do all the collation and categorization of data. The Chairman, Akinwunmi who is an attorney, has also appointed leading journalist, Mr. Colin Udoh, as his Special Assistant with specific responsibilities for research and social media enablement.

Akinwunmi revealed yesterday that the committee will have a dedicated website and relevant

Arsenal players celebrating their 2-1 defeat of Blackpool in the Carabao Cup last night

email addresses (@Nigeriafootballreforms), â&#x20AC;&#x153;for people in every nook and cranny in Nigeria and also in the diaspora to be able to contribute to this debate and reform, as we will post all and any relevant document for review and general discussions.

There could even be scheduled Q and A session on particular topics to be handled by specific persons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In line with FIFA and CAF best practice, of these members shall be selected a 9 (nine) - Member Bureau that will serve as the engine room to drive the committee work and manage the day to day activities

of the committee. There will be a minimum of six meetings (twice a month) and a 2-3 Day retreat at the end of the exercise. All other interactions would be done online.â&#x20AC;? It was further gathered that the committee will visit each of the geopolitical zones (not all the members) to have town hall discussions and meet specific groups, as well as engage a permanent media team to cover every meeting and interaction across the country on a retainer basis (ultimately, materials would be produced and archived for posterity).

The NFF Reform Committee

has the following terms of reference: (a) Provide the most stable and sustainable foundations for football in Nigeria. (b) Ensure a commitment to the principles of good governance, inclusion and transparency in all areas of its operations which also requires its member associations, officials and employees to meet the high standards set in this regard. (c) Adapt to the latest development in the world of football to ensure that its operations and values adhere to the best governance

standards possible. (d) Progressively adopt a wide range of reforms that reflect the views of the Nigerian and International Football Community in order to meet the evolving needs of the modern game. (e) Ensure that the principles enunciated by the Committee and its recommendations which are accepted by the Executive Committee are incorporated into an amended version of the NFF Statutes and pave the way for further significant and much-needed changes to NFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governance structure, electoral procedures and dispute resolution mechanism.

48-Team World Cup Possible in Qatar, Says FIFA Boss The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams could be brought forward from 2026 to 2022, says FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The change would require

Qatar to share 2022 hosting duties with other countries in the region.

The decision has already been taken to expand the tournament in 2026, when it will be held in

CapeVerde Ready for AfricaYouth Cup, Says Semedo r*OWJUFT 1JOOJDL BT 4QFDJBM (VFTU President of Cape Verde soccer federation, Mario Semedo, has declared that his country would early next year host the maiden edition of the Africa Youth Cup in grand style.

Semedo who spoke exclusively to newsreporters.ng a Lagos based online publication said finishing touches are already being put to preparations for the event with about six months to the youth soccer fiesta billed to take place in Praia.

The Africa Youth Cup is an international soccer tournament for both male and female teams to be held annually in Cape Verde (Cabo Verde). The maiden edition is slated to run from April 19-27 2019. The tournament is open to all teams from around the world, offering both African content and a blend of Western,South American and Asian flavors.

Semedo said Cape Verde is putting forward her best facilities for the tournament which is Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of Iber Cup, Gothia Cup and other such big international youth tournaments

in Europe and Latin America. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want the Africa Youth Cup to become a world-class youth soccer fiesta. The government of Cape Verde through the Sports Ministry is involved in it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Mayor of Praia, the municipality of Sao Domingos, the management of Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, our Olympic Committee are all involved in it and as a soccer federation we are driving it with Serahanasports serving as our partners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Serahanasports is an outfit that has been involved in several youth tournaments and knows what to do to deliver a memorable event. We are going to make our visitors see and enjoy the beauty city of Praia and our country Cape Verde. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are already training local and international volunteers that would make our visitors feel at home,â&#x20AC;? Semedo said.

He stated that the first Vice President of CAF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has been handed a special invitation for the opening ceremony.

the USA, Canada and Mexico, and Infantino is now considering doing the same for 2022. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it is possible, why not?â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to see if it is possible,

if it is feasible. We are discussing with our Qatari friends, we are discussing with our many other friends in the region and we hope that this can happen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And, if not, we will have tried.

We will have tried because we always have to try to do things in a better way.â&#x20AC;?

Speaking at the opening of the Asian Football Confederationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new headquarters in Kuala

Lumpur, Infantino also reiterated his plans to expand the Club World Cup. He said he wants to make it a â&#x20AC;&#x153;real competitionâ&#x20AC;? that â&#x20AC;&#x153;every club in the world can targetâ&#x20AC;?.

Final SixTeams to EmergeToday in Abuja, Enugu The ongoing Zenith Bank Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball League which is currently abridged for the 2018 edition will today produce the Final Six teams for the final phase slated for Lagos.

In Enugu, First Bank, the defending champions, and Dophins have enjoyed an

ZENITH BANK LEAGUE unbeaten run and certain to make the finals but the last round of games will produce the last qualifier.

Only on Wednesday, newcomers Mountain Of Fire Women team lost 55-50 to Dolphins in

one of the games decided in Enugu.

From Abuja, Nigeria Customs and Plateau Rocks have also enjoyed a splendid run so far in the race for the final phase.

The Final Six teams will

compete at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos between November 3rd and 7th.

Winner and 1st runners up will represent Nigeria at the FIBA Zone 3 Women Champions qualifiers in Cotonou between November 12th and 15th.

Ikeja Saddle Club Holds 51st Anniversary with Games The Ikeja Saddle Club will December 8, 2018 hold its 51st anniversary celebration and this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Equestrian Games in Ikeja.

The club, which organises gymkhana for members, will use the occasion to showcase knowledge in equestrian sports to beginners and seasoned riders,

and it is expected to be graced by at least 400 participants.

The 2018 Equestrian Games, according to the Club Horse Member, Riad Boulous, is the 3rd since inception, and will include jumping, agility exercises on horseback, horseback archery competition, and mini polo

tournament, among others.

He said there will also be various stands and booths with food vendors including bar session for adults. Boulous said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our focus is to create family-oriented fun that involves all member of the family; as such we always have events that will allow all, from the youngest to

the eldest, to join in the fun. We want to showcase horsemanship in all its forms, and to share that with all who attend. The Equestrian Games is a club project with all members of the club actively involved â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether they are training as participants in the games or involved in the planning and preparation,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Teams Battle for Mega Prize as Betway 5s League Playoffs Continue Following a successful end to the regular season of Betway 5s League, a first of its kind fivea-side football competition, international sports betting platform, Betway, on Saturday, 27, October 2018, treated soccer fans to a day of drama and thrilling football action as the

league headed into the playoffs.

Matches on the day were held at Opebi Primary School Ikeja, Gbaja Boys Junior High School, Surulere, Pitch & Court, Lekki, and Greenfield School, Lekki 2.

At the end of the preliminary stage, 189 goals were scored in 60 games, with teams from both the

Island and Mainland divisions having produced exciting football action.

Four teams emerged as group winners in their various divisions. Ikeja All-Stars topped the Mainland division (Ikeja), while TNF 2 reigned supreme at the Island division (GFC Lekki).

VIC FC dominated the Surulere group and G12 FC emerged winners at P&C Lekki. The winners of each group have automatic qualification into the finals and will not participate in the initial stage of the playoffs, which features only the 2nd and 3rd placed teams.

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MISSILE President Buhari to Nigerians “There is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining advantage, and learn to commit to resolving differences through peaceful means. I observed that more than 75 people were killed in Kaduna alone and it did not attract any (global) attention. It means we are pushing ourselves as a nation and a people towards irrelevance” – President Muhammadu Buhari on the violence in Kaduna State

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Of China, Africa and ‘Colonial Master’ The 2018 edition of the Media Cooperation for Belt and Road ends tomorrow in Beijing after spending the past four days in Boao, Hainan Province of China. This year, there are 221 media practitioners from several countries across all continents. At the opening session on Tuesday, I was one of the guest speakers and the only African (it was me and an Egyptian last year).

Below is my presentation which was well received, especially by participants from other African countries who said I spoke their minds.

U

nder the auspices of the African Initiative for Governance (AIG) Advisory Board which he chairs, and of which I am also a member, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on 8th January this year delivered a lecture on leadership at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University. During the question and answer session that followed his presentation, Obasanjo recounted an experience while on a visit to the United States last year, when a top American politician asked him: ‘How are you coping with your new colonial master in Africa?’

Although Obasanjo said he disputed the claim, it is not only in Washington that there are whispering campaigns about the nature of the Chinese relationship with Africa, there also concerns within the continent. That perhaps explains why a few weeks ago, at the Forum on China – Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in Beijing, many African leaders had to speak to this growing insinuation on which I intend to lend my perspective this morning. “In the values that it promotes, in the manner that it operates, and the impact it has on African countries, FOCAC refutes the view that a new colonialism is taking hold in Africa, as our detractors would have us believe,” said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who co-chaired the event with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Exactly two years ago, at the invitation of the Chinese government, I spoke at the China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum held in Dares Salaam, Tanzania. On that occasion, Haiwainet-Africa Online was launched by People’s Daily. Mr Wang Yongfu, the Deputy Editor in Chief for Overseas Edition, who spoke that night reminded us that in 2015, President Xi Jinping gave them a mandate to “tell Chinese stories well, spread Chinese voice well, and try to be the bridge of confidence-building, doubts-clearing and strength-uniting”.

There is no doubt that People’s Daily has been very effective in carrying out that mandate and the annual Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road is a clear testimony while the theme for this year, ‘Contribution

by All, Benefits for All’ is particularly apt.

On a personal note, let me also state that at a period when journalists are disappearing inside the embassies of some countries, it feels good to enjoy a measure of presidential treatment here in the Hainan Province of China, even as a reporter. So, I thank People’s Daily for the rare hospitality extended to some of us since arrival yesterday.

If there is anything that affirms the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative, it is the recent launch of the $20bn Hong

Chinese President XI Jinping

Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, a huge testimony to Chinese ingenuity. I understand that the bridge, which is by far longer than any other anywhere in the world, has some unique safety features like monitoring the heart rate and blood pressure of anybody who drives past just as yawning more than three times in 20 seconds could trigger an alert from the “yawn cam”.

While a bridge that captures yawn is farfetched in the society I come from, where majority of our people actually yawn as a result of hunger, let me attest to the fact that we have also seen the impact of the Belt and Road in critical sectors of the economy. Indeed, in the course of his bilateral meeting with the Chinese president on 5th September in Beijing, President Muhammadu Buhari of my country solicited support for the Mambilla hydropower project which remains a key priority for his government with the hope of funding it with a $4.923 billion concessionary loan from the China Exim bank.

Meanwhile, there are already many Chinese-funded projects in Nigeria and I will highlight some of them before I speak to the issue of ‘colonial master’. In December 2011, $362 million was expended on the NigComSat 1- R project, a space satellite which serves as backbone for large parts of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Between 2014 and 2015, the sum of $399 million was spent on the installation of 2000 CCTV cameras for Abuja and Lagos while the Abuja-Kaduna rail project received about $500 million in July 2016. Also, the Abuja light rail project phase I, which commenced in November 2012, received $500 million for its completion.

The Galaxy Backbone project loan agreement signed in January 2013 was completed last month after receiving an initial amount of $117 million with a counterpart funding of $17 million provided by the federal government. The $984 million loan agreement for the Zungeru hydropower plant project, expected to be completed

in 2020, was signed in September 2013.

Two months earlier, a loan agreement was signed for four airports terminal expansions in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Kano.

The initial funding was $500 million with a counterpart fund of $100m provided by the federal government.

The Lagos-Ibadan railway project has received $1.26 billion. The loan agreement was signed on 18th August 2017 while that of the Greater Abuja water supply project costing $460 million was signed on 29th May 2018. On the same day, an agreement for the supply of rolling stock and depot equipment for the Abuja light rail phase 1 project worth $165m was signed alongside the upgrading and rehabilitation of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia road project, worth $460 million.

Other loan agreements that are currently undergoing due diligence at the Chinese Exim Bank include the Ibadan-Kaduna segment of Lagos-Kano railway modernization project worth $5.389 billion; the Kano-Kaduna segment worth $1.355 billion; the coastal railway project worth $12.421 billion; the Galaxy Backbone phase II project worth $328 million; the Abuja rail mass transit phase II project worth $1.252 billion; the four airports terminal expansion project phase II, worth $209 million as well as the ancillary works on four Airports terminal expansion, worth $184 million. The sum of $846 million has already been earmarked for the dualization of 9th Mile (Enugu) – Otukpo-Makurdi road section II of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi aside the approval for the sum of $800 million for the Niger Delta east-west road.

Similarly, the sum of $1.063 billion will go to the Gurara II multi-purpose project while the NTA digitalization project which is awaiting the federal government approval is worth $500 million along with the power transmission project worth another $500 million. Others in the pipelines: The Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe carriageway project worth $1.333 billion; the Kano urban light rail project (Phase I) that will cost $673.2 million; the e-border solution project costing $175.5 million with an additional $127.45 million for the e-prison project and $81.7 million for the e-post project of NIPOST. There are also financial expectations from the Chinese Exim Bank for the construction of the Gelegele River Port in Edo State at $371 million while the Oyo State light rail project will cost $275 million. In addition to these projects, there are a number of collaborative efforts between Nigeria and China, including the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement (BCSA) with the CBN and the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) deal with Ruyi Group, the largest Chinese cotton, wool, textile and garment company to transform Nigeria’s cotton value chain.

From the foregoing, it is easy to see that the Chinese authorities are investing a lot of money in the Nigerian economy. Even those who are envious of China-African relations agree that it is beneficial to the continent where there is a huge infrastructural gap.

As has been demonstrated by the Chinese themselves, a major key to lifting the people out of poverty is through rapid infrastructure

and human capital developments.

However, there are also concerns in many African countries that these monumental projects are not translating into jobs for the teeming population of young people.

Although domestic governments in Africa should be held responsible for this problem, the fact that the Chinese government is close to these governments and has, in most instances become their enablers, is increasingly alienating them from the people.

That is also why the narrative of the new colonial master is becoming popular.

While the Chinese government has been able to lift millions of their citizens from poverty on an annual basis, the reverse is the case in most of the African countries. In Nigeria, for instance, more and more people are actually falling below the poverty line, due in part to an uncontrolled population growth and a succession of inept leadership. Yet, it is in the face of this growing hopelessness that there is a corresponding feeling by many young people that the Chinese are just piling up debts that they would have to settle in future. That accounts for the colonial master narrative.

Of course, we must make a distinction between the colonialism of physical occupation and exploitative extraction of resources that we had in the past and the indirect control or neo-colonialism that the Chinese are being accused of. The latter is not physically controlling and more supportive of trade and infrastructural development on the continent but it is nonetheless viewed with distrust and apprehension. While we can argue that this feeling is being fueled by the West, which has a real competition for sphere of influence, there are also genuine concerns about how Chinese companies are using cheaper products to squeeze out, and even killing, domestic companies in textile and other sectors aside the accusation of land grabbing in certain parts of Africa. This morning, I shared the breakfast table with my friend from Zambia and it’s obvious that there are serious misgivings about the Chinese takeover of the airport being built in their country.

Your excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, if I make anybody uncomfortable this morning, it is because I believe we should use forums like this to share some inconvenient truths as genuine friends must always do. China has provided significant resources for the advancement of Africa so it is in her interest that the relationship be seen as one based on shared humanity and prosperity, not as a new colonial master coming under the guise of loans and lopsided trade.

As I thank People’s Daily for inviting me again this year, let me also add that as we continue to enhance ties with Beijing to boost and modernize our roads, ports, railways and telecommunication networks in Africa, forums like this are also important so that we can continue to share our development experiences in the bid to enhance the quality of what Belt and Road delivers on our continent and secure the buy-in of all critical stakeholders.

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