WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2018

Post-Merger Access Bank Eyes $200m Additional Capital With N6.108tn in asset size, Access Bank becomes Nigeria's largest bank Obinna Chima and Goddy Egene Access Bank Plc is planning a rights issue to raise additional capital of about $200 million

next year, when it concludes its deal with Diamond Bank Plc, Financial Times has said.

The proposed fund raising, according to the paper, is to keep its capital well above

regulatory requirements.

Although THISDAY’s efforts to confirm this development were unsuccessful as officials of the bank declined to comment last night, FT quoted bankers

handling the rights issue to have said the move would enhance the new entity’s capital base and business development.

The proposed business combination deal between

the two banks will result to a combined entity with total asset size of N6.108 trillion.

This, according to the third quarter unaudited results of both banks for the period ended

September 30, 2018, means that the new combined entity will have the largest asset size among the banks in the country, Continued on page 8

Oil Price Slumps to $59, Threatens 2019 Budget Implementation … Page 9 Wednesday 19 December, 2018 Vol 23. No 8645. Price: N250

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Former Defence Chief, Alex Badeh, Shot Dead … Page 10

12m Farmers Mobilise for Buhari’s Second Term, Contribute N100 Each Say agric revolution must continue President rejects N488.7bn debts refund to states

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari’s return bid would receive a hefty financial boost this evening as 12 million farmers that benefited from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme plan a grand reception for him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with a pledge to contribute N100 each to the president’s

campaign fund, insisting that the current agricultural revolution taking place at the grassroot across Nigeria must continue.

According to impeccable THISDAY sources, the pledge would amount to a whooping N1.2billion and would be put together by the farmers under the auspices of Anchor Borrowers Farmers’ Association, Continued on page 9

Anxiety in Senate as PDP Alleges Fresh Plot to Remove Saraki

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Palpable anxiety that might put the Senate on the edge emerged yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm over alleged fresh plot to use the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to forcibly remove Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, from office.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr.

Kola Ologbondiyan, said the plot, against Saraki, similar to the last invasion of the National Assembly by the DSS earlier in the year, is to scuttle the success being recorded by the PDP presidential campaign organisation in its consultations and winning campaigns across the nation ahead of the 2019 general election.

Continued on page 9

Defend Your Votes, Atiku, Secondus Charge North-east …

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ON THE HOME FRONT… Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, acknowledges greetings from mammoth crowd of supporters and party enthusiasts, during his North-east homestead rally in Gombe, Gombe State… yesterday

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Defend Your Votes, Atiku, Secondus Charge North-east Tell IRI, NDI to treat Buhari with caution INEC expresses concern over security personnel’s perceived bias Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, have enjoined the people of the North-east region to defend their votes during the election and join the rest of the country in the mission to rescue the nation.

They also called on the party’s supporters in the region not to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police and other security agents to deprive them of their votes.

Atiku and Secondus spoke yesterday at the party’s Northeast zonal rally in Gombe, Gombe State as jubilant crowd drawn from the six states of the zone welcomed them.

The presidential candidate said the situation in the country since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power called for all hands to be on deck to rescue the country’s democracy.

He said PDP was sure of victory, adding, however, that this would depend largely on the people’s resilience in the face of the desperation by the APC to remain in power.

He assured the people that if elected, he would return the country to the path of wealth, security of lives and property and development.

Secondus charged the people to be ready to vote out the APC by coming out on the voting day. “You must not only vote but must be ready to defend your vote, the APC is not preparing for election, they want to rig but you must be ready to resist their antics,� he told the mammoth crowd of supporters and party enthusiasts.

Secondus said APC has destroyed the country, adding that the PDP and Atiku are coming back to power to save the situation.

He said the economy of the country had been destroyed by the APC administration, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari only painted a gory

picture of it recently.

He said Atiku is coming with all the prerequisite experience both in public and private sector to restore the country's lost glory.

According to a statement from Secondus’ Media Office signed by Mr. Ike Abonyi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, also addressed the rally that was attended by top PDP stakeholders, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The national chairman performed the symbolic handing over of flags to the presidential candidate and the six gubernatorial candidates of the party in Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe and Bauchi States that make up the geo political zone.

Other speakers at the rally, which recorded a large turn-out of PDP supporters, include a former national chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali, and former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who called on the PDP supporters to vote all its candidates.

The North-east Zonal coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, told the people of the North-east that the 2019 election would not be about victory for Atiku alone but for the entire region.

He thanked all those that contributed to the success of the rally, which was held despite the bad weather that affected flights’ landing at the Gombe International Airport.

Atiku Tells IRI, NDI to Treat Buhari with Caution Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to give his opponents a level playing ground in the 2019 elections, Atiku has urged the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) not to believe “the president’s deceitful words but focus on evidence adduced by opposition parties that Buhari might not

“Never was Muhammadu Buhari or any of his relative’s accounts frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or any other government agencies under the PDP and never were his running mates, children, friends and family targeted.�

The former vice president added that PDP ensured that INEC was independent and appointed disinterested individuals to its board, including Prof. Attahiru Jega, who the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, had never met.

He added that PDP also ensured that vital government agencies like the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) were not politicised, whether or not their reports favoured the government.

Atiku lamented that since coming to office, Buhari has refused to reciprocate the good treatment meted out to him by the PDP and has instead persecuted, harassed and attempted to intimidate his likely opponents, even before they became candidates.

He stated, “Their businesses have been affected with the

government either pulling out of or attempting to pull out of commercial contractual agreements freely entered into between government agencies and businesses owned or partly owned by perceived presidential opponents. “Also, in a bid to intimidate the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar’s plane was invaded by a crack combined military team on November 11, 2018. That was unprecedented in Nigeria’s history and never occurred even under military rule. “Opposition presidential candidates who participated in peaceful marches have been arrested and are currently facing trial. Others were set up by government agencies including the Code of Conduct Tribunal and were tried until the government’s case collapsed at the Supreme Court. “The account of the vice presidential candidate of the PDP was frozen even as opposition presidential candidates were falsely accused of involvement in armed robbery and when the government’s case was falling apart, their main suspect suspiciously and suddenly died in police custody.�

Atiku pointed out that an opposition candidate on the verge of winning an election was strangely charged for examinations malpractices and his win was overturned.

He stressed that sadly, on Monday, December 17, 2018, in a Freudian slip during a live TV interview, Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s spokesman, revealed that Buhari had ordered the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to forge the latest unemployment numbers seeing that they do not favour the government so close to an election.

Atiku said this is even as Buhari has refused to sign the amended Electoral Act knowing that the Act would prevent the government from rigging the elections.

He added that the most telling action by the president was his attempt to foist his own biological niece as the Chairman of INEC but for the uproar of the opposition backed by the

On their part, analysts at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited, stated that Diamond Bank shareholders stand to benefit considerably from the merger, considering that the offer was at a premium of 260 per cent over the market price as at the date of the final binding offer (December 13) while Access Bank was priced at market price.

The financial advisory firm noted in a report yesterday, that the transaction would be, if it goes ahead seamlessly, a good strategic deal for the shareholders of both entities. “Diamond Bank shareholders apart from getting a premium at the point of merger over current holdings will also in the long term stand to benefit from expected positive synergies from the merger. “Access Bank on the other hand stands to benefit

considerably from Diamond Bank’s strong retail franchise. “Diamond Bank has a strong retail franchise especially on the liability side giving it the lowest funding cost among peers. “A merger with Access Bank, which still has a relatively high funding cost will be positive for Access Bank and in the long run, for the shareholders of the bank,� it explained.

They, however, pointed out that mergers and acquisitions are complex and “we do not expect to begin to see synergic benefits translate into profit in the near term.� “We also expect that integration issues which are not strange to Access Bank, considering its prior acquisition of Intercontinental Bank, will slow down growth of the combined entity in the near term,� the firm added.

Secondus match his words with action.

The president had while speaking to a delegation from the IRI and NDI said, “I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.’’ But, the former vice president in a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, said Buhari participated in several protests and marches, including the ‘Occupy Nigeria Movement’ and the 2014 APC march in Abuja and was not arrested or persecuted by the PDP. He stressed that Buhari ran for the Office of President in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 under a PDP government "and not once during those intervening years was he arrested, molested or persecuted in any way, shape or form".

Atiku said, “As a matter of fact, immediately after his experience with Boko Haram terrorists in Kaduna on July 24, 2014, the then PDP administration bought Buhari a $300,000 dollar armoured and bomb-proof SUV for his protection; Buhari received the vehicle which helped save his life.

international community. “These and other actions completely contradict President Buhari’s assurances and we thus urge the IRI and NDI not to be hoodwinked by the president’s deceptive words, but to focus on what cannot lie - the evidence.�

INEC Expresses Concern over Security Personnel’s Perceived Bias In a related development, INEC has expressed deep concern over perceived lack of neutrality of some security personnel ahead of the 2019 general elections.

To this end, the commission said it was imperative to review the template for the 2019 general elections in order to reassure Nigerians and the international community of its commitment to credible elections and to protect the sanctity of the electoral process.

Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the police/stakeholders’ security summit organised for the Nigeria Police Force.

He noted that INEC would engage with the security agencies, particularly the police, in defining new parameters for the deployment of security agencies in the electoral process.

According to him “As with all elections, security is going to be a major issue in the 2019 general elections. Security agencies have a responsibility to secure the environment for elections. In doing so, there is the overriding responsibility for professionalism and neutrality. “The rules of engagement must be clear to all. Learning from the cumulative experience of the off-season elections conducted into 195 constituencies since the 2015 general election, the conduct of some security personnel has become a major issue of discussion. We are deeply concerned.�

He stressed that the commission would continue to work with the security agencies for the arrest and prosecution of violators of the electoral act.

According to Yakubu, Continued on page 9

POST-MERGER ACCESS BANK EYES $200M ADDITIONAL CAPITAL thereby displacing Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, respectively.

While Zenith Bank reported total assets of N5.618 trillion in its unaudited results for the third quarter of 2018, GTBank’s stood at N3.443 trillion.

Similarly, when the merger deal is concluded, the new institution would hold total customer deposits of N3.543 trillion. This is slightly higher than that of Zenith Bank, which was N3.275 trillion as at the end of September 2018, as well as GTBank’s total customer deposit of N2.239 trillion as at the end of the third quarter of 2018.

In addition, the loan book of the new entity would be N2.703 trillion, higher than that of GTBank, which was N1.270 trillion as at September 30, 2018, and that of Zenith Bank Plc which was N2.066 trillion as at September 30, 2018.

The transaction has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to a statement from Diamond Bank on Monday, it was expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.

The statement added that the proposed merger would involve Access Bank acquiring the entire issued share capital of Diamond Bank in exchange for a combination of cash and shares in Access Bank via a Scheme of Merger.

Based on the agreement reached by the Boards of the two financial institutions, Diamond Bank shareholders would receive a consideration of N3.13 per share, comprising of N1 per share in cash and the allotment of 2 New Access Bank ordinary shares for every seven Diamond Bank ordinary shares held as at the Implementation

Date.

Speaking on Arise TV yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of Cowry Assets Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, hailed the deal. “Diamond Bank had huge non-performing loans (NPLs) which were weighing down the performance of the bank. And when you have huge NPLs, it leads you to lose your liquidity. “Diamond Bank was already having some stress as a result of high NPLs. But this for me was one of the easiest and smoothest ways to resolve an emerging banking crisis. “The reality is that the bank had challenges and took a wise decision, instead of waiting for the central bank to intervene and drive its consolidation. For Diamond Bank, this was a good deal for its shareholders and directors,� Chukwu explained.

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WEDNESDAY, ͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Oil Price Slumps to $59, Threatens 2019 Budget Implementation Ejiofor Alike with agency reports Oversupply in the crude oil market caused by increased production by the United States and Russia, yesterday forced a drop in the price of crude to a 14-month low, threatening the implementation of Nigeria’s 2019 budget to be presented to the National Assembly today by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Apart from the forecasts of record US and Russian crude oil output, a sharp sell-off in stock markets as the outlook for global growth deteriorated, has also impacted on the global oil market.

While the US crude oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), dropped $2.04, or 4.1 per cent, to a low of $47.84, its weakest since September 2017, the North

Sea Brent lost $2.41, or 4.0 per cent, to $57.20, representing a 14-month low.

However, before the end of the trading, WTI recovered to around $49.28, while Brent last traded around $59.01.

With oil price at $80 during the period of the preparation of the 2019 budget, the federal government had ignored the $50 per barrel oil price benchmark proposed in the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP), and proposed a $60 per barrel oil price for the budget.

Though Nigeria’s daily output was about 1.9 million barrels per day, the federal government also predicated the budget on the 2.3 million barrels per day.

Also N305 was proposed as exchange rate to the dollar, with

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu

government planning also to work to keep inflation down after slight increases in the last two months on the heels of 18 months consecutive decline.

However, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, had said the federal government was considering a leaner 2019 budget of N8.6 trillion, against the N9.1 trillion approved by lawmakers for 2018.

But with the drop of oil price from $86 per barrel in October to $58 per barrel, the implementation of the budget is increasingly under the threat.

Both oil benchmarks have shed more than 30 per cent since early October due to swelling global inventories.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers agreed this month to curb production by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), equivalent to more than one per cent of global demand, in an attempt to drain

ANXIETY IN SENATE AS PDP ALLEGES FRESH PLOT TO REMOVE SARAKI

According to him, “Part of the plot is to use the police and the DSS to fabricate spurious charges against Saraki, distract him and destabilise the PDP presidential campaign, a scheme the PDP described as dead on arrival, as Nigerians are solidly behind the PDP in the mission to rescue the nation from the misrule of the APC.�

The main opposition party said it was privy to clandestine meetings by the Muhammadu Buhari

presidency and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on how to derail the PDP presidential campaign by moving against Saraki.

Senators who spoke to THISDAY last night over the party’s allegation, warned that the move might precipitate crisis and could affect the consideration of the 2019 budget. “I do not think that would be a wise move at this time, considering its overall implication for the 2019 budget that is about to

be laid,� a senator that did not want to be named said.

Added another senator, “Surely, we would resist it, and that would not augur well for President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure’s last stretch.�

Meanwhile, the party has also condemned in totality, the continued clampdown, harassment, intimidation, arrest and detention of members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) by the APC-led administration.

The PDP said the development smacks of

scare mongering apparently to intimidate and cow the civil society from criticising the misrule of the Buhari administration. “Of particular reference is the re-arresting and continued detention of a rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, by the police for a matter, which documents in the public domain, show he has been discharged and acquitted by the court,� it said.

Ologbondiyan added that information available shows that the authorities have not been comfortable with

tanks and boost prices.

But the cuts won’t happen until next month and meanwhile production has been at or near record highs in the US, Russia and Saudi Arabia, undermining spot prices.

Russian oil output hit a record 11.42 million bpd this month, an industry source told Reuters.

Oil production from seven major US shale basins is by the year-end expected to climb to more than eight million bpd for the first time, the US Energy Information Administration said.

Inventories at the US storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery point for the oil futures contract, rose more than 1 million barrels from December 11 to 14, traders said.

The US has surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s biggest oil producer, with total

crude output climbing to a record 11.7 million bpd.

With prices falling, unprofitable shale producers will eventually stop operating and cut supply, but that could take some time, and meanwhile inventories keep growing.

Reuters also reported that the world stock markets tumbled yesterday as fears about a slowing global economy gripped investors, just as the US Federal Reserve looked set this week to deliver its fourth interest-rate hike of the year.

Investors confidence is deteriorating with more fund managers expecting global growth to weaken over the next 12 months, the worst outlook in a decade, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s December investor survey showed.

Adeyanju’s criticisms.

He stated, “However, arresting and detaining him on a matter for which there has been a conclusive judicial determination nine years ago is in clear violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and in direct infringement of his right as a citizen under the law. “This is more so as even the spokesperson of President Buhari’s Campaign Organisation Festus Keyamo (SAN), and who was Adeyanju’s defence counsel on

the matter which was before the court between 2005 and 2009, has, in a media report, attested that Adeyanju was discharged and acquitted, and that the prosecution did not file any appeal because it was satisfied with the ruling.�

The PDP therefore demanded the immediate release of Adeyanju, if the police found nothing incriminatory to charge him to court, within 48 hours of his arrest, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

chairmanship of the honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

"Since the BPP is charged with the responsibility of approving contract sums, and there is a need for compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, I wish to request that you forward to us details relating to the amounts approved by National Assembly for the 17 States in excess of what was certified by BPP for necessary certification and approval Furthermore, I wish to request for review of the reimbursements earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba States.

"Meanwhile the federal government shall proceed with implementation on the basis of where the amount approved by the National

Assembly is the same as the amount approved by the Federal Executive Council: The jointly approved amount would be reimbursed. The States are: Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger; " Where the amount approved by the National Assembly is higher than the amount approved by Federal Executive Council: The amount approved by FEC would be reimbursed. The States are: Akwa lbom, Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, lmo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

"Finally where no amount was approved by National Assembly, no reimbursement will be made: The affected States are: Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba".

12M FARMERS MOBILISE FOR BUHARI’S SECOND TERM, CONTRIBUTE N100 EACH whose membership runs across the country, particularly the North-west and the North-east.

Saying one good turn deserves another, one of the leaders of the farmers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were happy with the president for his credit initiatives that had boosted their trade. “Baba Buhari has been so good to us. So we think contributing N100 each will not be too much a way to appreciate him,� he said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had in line with its developmental function established the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) and was launched by the president on November 17, 2015.

The programme is intended to create a linkage between anchor companies, involved in the processing, and small holder farmers (SHFs) of required key agricultural commodities. The programme thrust of the ABP is provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to small holder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilize inputs supply to agro processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food. At harvest, the SHF supplies his/her produce to the Agro-processor (Anchor) who pays the cash equivalent to the farmer’s account.

As at August 2018, about N150 billion had been disbursed to farmers under the programme.

The farmers’ gesture would

be the second of such by interest groups since Buhari declared his intention for a presidential rerun. The first was in September 2018 when a group, National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN), put together N45 million to purchase the All Progressives Congress’ presidential expression of interest and nomination forms for him.

The president had complained loudly that the amount was too much for him to raise, having borrowed N25 million in 2015 to purchase the same forms.

The group came to his rescue, generating in the process, however, a huge controversy over the legal implication of the gesture because of the limitation placed on campaign donations by the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

President Rejects N488.7bn Debts Refund to States Meanwhile, the president has rejected the National Assembly’s approval for refund of N488.7 billion to state governments for projects they executed on behalf of the federal government.

The president accused the lawmakers of padding the N487.852 billion promissory note he sent to the legislature for approval.

In a two-page letter dated December 10, 2018, addressed to Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and read at plenary yesterday, Buhari complained that the National Assembly added N890.537million to the

N487.852billion promissory note he sent to the senators for approval.

The president, who had explained that the promissory notes were meant for settlement of inherited local debts and contractual obligations on refund to state governments for projects executed on behalf of the federal government, said the federal lawmakers also reduced the number of beneficiary states from 25 to 21 despite the N890.537million added to the N487.852billion request.

According to the president, the changes made by the National Assembly in the request are not implementable due to provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

He, therefore, submitted that though the federal government would not release money to any of the states removed from beneficiary list by the National Assembly but the exact monies approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the 21 other states would be paid to them regardless of whether such approvals have been tampered with or not by NASS in its own approval via a letter dated July 28, 2018.

The letter titled, "Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations on refund to State Governments for Projects Executed on behalf of the Federal Government," read in part. " While the Federal Executive Council approved a total sum of N487,852,988,574.74 as reimbursement to state

governments, the National Assembly approved N488,743,526,204.77 implying that the amount approved

by National Assembly was N890,537,630.03 higher than the amount approved by FEC; "While Federal Executive Council approved reimbursement to 25 States, National Assembly approved reimbursement to only 21 States; "National Assembly did not approve any reimbursement for four States (Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba) whereas Federal Executive Council had approved reimbursements for them and note that, the amounts approved by the National Assembly for reimbursement to 21 states are higher than the amounts approved by Federal Executive Council for reimbursement to 25 states.

"The amount approved

by National Assembly for reimbursement to each of the 21 States is higher than the amount approved by FEC for each of these States except for Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

"The Senate may kindly note the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which empowers the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to approve vendors and contract sums. The amounts presented to National Assembly for approval were duly certified for reimbursement by the BPP, before they were approved by the Federal Executive Council.

This was after the projects had been inspected through a programme under the

DEFEND YOUR VOTES, ATIKU, SECONDUS CHARGE NORTH-EAST “Working together with the police, we have successfully prosecuted 42 electoral offenders following violent disruption of the Minjibir State Constituency by-election in Kano in 2016. “Similarly, a number of other prosecutions are ongoing in Rivers State and most recently in Osun State where the police has forwarded nine case files to the commission, out of which three cases involving vote buying and illegal possession of PVCs are being prosecuted. INEC believes that the best deterrence to violations of the law during elections is swift prosecution.

We will continue to work with the security agencies in this regard,� he added.

The chairman also revealed that all Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for fresh registrants have been printed and delivered to the states and FCT for collection at various local government area offices. “The commission plans to devolve the collection to at least the Ward level soon. We will keep citizens informed of the process.

However, the 1,178,793 requests for replacement of damaged, defaced or lost PVCs as well as the 769,917 requests for intra and inter-state transfers are being processed.

The PVCs will be delivered to the states by the end of this week,� he said.

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

Killings by Herdsmen Will Continue If APC Wins 2019 Elections, Says Atiku Ejiofor Alike The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday stated that the killings by herdsmen would continue and ultimately spark series of ethno-religious crises that would be irreversible if Nigerians do not vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 elections.

Atiku also rose in support of Amnesty International whose report on the clashes between herdsmen and farmers indicted the federal government for failing to stop the avoidable killing of 3,641 defenseless Nigerians by herdsmen in the last three years.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, dismissed the response to the report by the presidency as “tepid,” warning that unless Nigerians vote out the APC administration, killings by herdsmen will continue and ultimately spark series of ethno-religious crises that will be irreversible.

“It is now very clear, like Amnesty International said in its report, that the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari has

displayed gross incompetence and has failed in its duty to protect the lives of its population, which has witnessed many preventable deaths and lost many good hands. This situation has put the country on the verge of disintegration,” Atiku said.

Atiku added that it has become obvious that the federal government lacks the capacity to stop the myriad of security challenges currently confronting the country, which have left thousands of Nigerians either killed or maimed and has also scared away foreign investors. ‘’After every attack, either by herdsmen or by kidnappers, the government would vow to get the culprits and punish them.

Then more deaths will occur and the government will repeat its vow. This is not reassuring to the people of Nigeria as well as foreigners who may want to do business in the country.

Therefore, it is now clear that in spite of its best efforts, the Buhari and his party, the APC, cannot stop the herdsmen and other criminal elements currently terrorising the country,” the statement said.

Atiku said it was frightening that the Buhari administration is not doing anything even in the face of a ruinous report by

the World Bank to the effect that Nigeria will soon become the world capital of under age deaths.

“If elected president in 2019,

Atiku Abubakar will implement a robust strategy far removed from and more effective than the inept management of the crisis that the country has

witnessed in the last three years. He will tackle head long the reported cases of welfare of soldiers fighting Boko Haram terrorists, in a way that will

ensure adequate motivation for officers and men who have put their lives on the line in the service of the country,” the statement said.

SIGNED AND DELIVERED...

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Secretary to the State Goverment, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; and Chairman, Ekiti State University Visitation Panel, Prof. Bode Asubiojo; during the presentation of reports of visitation panels to the governor in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday

2019 Budget: N’Assembly Ready to Receive Buhari Today Ex-Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, Shot Dead Lawmakers describe workers’ strike inconsequential

Deji Elumoye and Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday resolved to receive President Muhammadu Buhari in a joint session for presentation of the 2019 N8.7 trillion budget proposals in line with request made to that effect by the president last week.

President Buhari had last Thursday in separate letters addressed to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives , Hon Yakubu Dogara , requested the federal lawmakers to grant him audience today for 2019 budget presentation.

The motion for the approval of the presidential request was moved at the Senate by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan ( Yobe North) and seconded by the Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) .

The motion got overwhelming approval of the entire senators at the session when put to voice votes by Saraki.

At the House of Representatives, only 41 lawmakers out of the 360 members yesterday adopted a motion to receive President Buhari for the presentation of the 2019 budget before a joint session of the National Assembly today The plenary, presided over by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, opted to formalise President Buhari’s proposed budget presentation with a motion moved by the Leader of the House of Representatives, which

was unanimously adopted by lawmakers, irrespective of party affiliation.

The Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, moved the motion to admit President Buhari and his entourage into the National Assembly in consonance with Order 19, Rule 8, 1 – 2 of the Standing Order of the House.

According to him, “In accordance to our rules, I rise to move a motion that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be admitted into the chamber tomorrow (today) to present to us and the country, the 2019 budget.”

Explaining what has transpired in the National Assembly in the last 24 hours and why the sitting was scanty, Gbajabiamila said: “Members of PASAN are on strike. It is right to put it on record that the right to strike is constitutional. They have a right to strike. We will fight for them, but it is important to let it be stated that their strike has no quarrel or anything to do with the legislative arm of government of either of the Houses. I think their issue is with the management and it is important that we set the record straight because we hear stories here and there that this has to do with the presiding officers and the leadership of the House and the Senate.

“While there is a right to strike and which cannot be taken away from them and which we must respect, there is no right; in fact, it is illegal to stop members of the National Assembly from coming to work.”

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd), was yesterday killed by unknown gunmen in Abuja.

Details were still unclear last night as to the circumstances surrounding his death.

THISDAY however, gathered that Badeh was returning to

Abuja yesterday evening when he was attacked by gunmen and killed along the Abuja-Keffi road.

The retired military officer was travelling with his driver who was also shot with an unidentified man.

Nigerian Air Force

spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, confirmed the death in a tweet last night.

“It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who died today, December 18,

from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road,” he tweeted.

Until his death, he was standing trial for alleged diversion of funds meant for arms purchase.

Primary Election Fallout: APC Dissolves Imo, Ogun Excos Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissolved the party’s executives at all levels in Imo and Ogun States, following the outcome of the party’s primary elections, which led the governors of the two states to resolve to work against the party in the 2019 governorship elections.

The decision to sack the party officials in Ogun and Imo States led by Chief Derin Adebiyi and

Mr. Daniel Nwafor, respectively, was taken at the meeting of the NWC held Tuesday evening in Abuja.

THISDAY gathered that the decision will be officially communicated to the affected states’ chapters of the party today.

The two states were among the ones where APC is currently faced with the most protracted post-primary election crisis that has left the party factionalised.

Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and his Ogun

counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, had clashed with the national leadership of the APC led by Adams Oshiomhole over the conduct of the governorship primaries in the two states.

Both governors became estranged to the leadership of the APC following the decision of the party not to support the emergence of their anointed candidates as the party’s standard bearers.

As a result, the two governors allegedly encouraged their

anointed candidates to dump APC and use other platforms to contest the 2019 elections.

For instance, in Imo State, Okorocha’s former Chief of Staff and son-in-law, Uche Nwosu had since dumped APC and joined the Action Alliance along with other loyalists of the governor.

Also, Amosun’s preferred candidate, Abiodun Akinlade had also left APC along with Amosun’s supporters to join the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

Pharaoh, Let My People Go, Agbaje Tells Tinubu Segun James The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, yesterday likened the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), BolaTinubu, to the biblical Pharaoh of Egypt who refused to allow the children of Israel to leave but kept them in bondage until God unleashed 10 plagues on the Egyptians.

Agbaje was responding to Tinubu’s remarks last Monday, where he mocked the PDP governorship candidate for adopting the ‘freedom’ slogan

for his 2019 aspiration.

Tinubu had, while addressing members of the APC supporters last Monday, said: “Those who said they want freedom should go and learn tailoring and vulcanising and we will do freedom for them later.”

But in a statement issued yesterday, Agbaje likened Tinubu to the biblical Pharaoh of Egypt who refused to allow the children of Israel to leave until the 10 plagues forced him to let them go.

“Pharaoh, you must let our people go! Apparently, the APC leader has lost touch with reality,”

Agbaje said in a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Felix Oboagwina.

“Otherwise, he would know that, like the children of Israel, Lagosians are groaning under the taskmaster that Tinubu and his cronies have turned themselves into in this state that should rate as Nigeria’s foremost,” he added.

Agbaje noted that the biblical Pharaoh finally granted liberty to the Israelites only after several vicious plagues, adding that Lagosians would be liberated after the people might have delivered an electoral disgrace to the APC in 2019.

Agbaje said his campaign slogan mirrored the same spirit that moved Nelson Mandela to declare his long walk to freedom in an apartheid South Africa.

“We identify with our vulcanisers, tailors and all craftsmen who have the joy of duly-earned freedom after their apprenticeship.

“But it is apparent that, unlike them, those who have gotten used to filthy lucre and the dividends of corruption cannot savour the joy that comes with the legitimate sweat and labour of hardworking artisans,” Agbaje stated.

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

NBA President, Usoro, Arraigned over Alleged N1.4bn Fraud, Granted N250m Bail Davidson Iriekpen The President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Paul Usoro (SAN), pleaded not guilty yesterday before a Federal High Court in Lagos after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The charges preferred against Usoro border on N1.4 billion fraud.

The anti-graft agency preferred a 10-count charge against the accused, which is pending before Justice Muslim Hassan.

Also named in the charge, is the incumbent Governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom, who is described in the charge as being “currently constitutionally immune from prosecution.”

Others charged are: The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan; AccountantGeneral of Akwa Ibom State, Mfon Udomah; The Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Margaret Ukpe.

The aforementioned accused are said to be at large.

Yesterday, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo appeared for the EFCC, while Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), appeared with six other senior advocates for Usoro.

Oyedepo then informed the court that the anti-graft agency had successfully served the criminal charge on the accused on December 10, and sought leave of court for the plea of accused to be taken.

In response, Olanipekun confirmed service of the

charge on the NBA president, but told the court that after it had directed that the accused be served with the charge at the last adjourned date, the accused was asked to report to the commission’s office for service.

He said that at the commission’s office, Usoro was kept for two hours before the charge was handed to him, while he acknowledged same, adding that he was kept at the EFCC for another two hours.

He told the court that the EFCC had earlier informed the accused that he will be detained, but eventually let him go.

Olanipekun then informed the court that the team of defence counsel has been informed that there is already a letter written to the Chief Judge of the court, seeking a transfer of the case to Uyo, Abuja or any other jurisdiction of the court, apart from him, Justice Hassan.

Based on parity of reasoning and citing diverse judicial and statutory authorities, Olanipekun urged the court to wait for the decision of the CJ, rather than proceeding with arraignment.

In response, the prosecutor argued that the matter was adjourned until yesterday for arraignment of the accused, adding that there is nothing before the court that can be construed as setting aside that purpose.

Referring to provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Oyedepo said objections can only be raised after the plea of the accused had been taken.

Nigerians Residing in UK Top List of Diaspora Remitters, Says World Bank Nigerians in the United Kingdom have emerged the highest remitters of money to their home country with £3.27 million remitted in 2017.

According to a World Bank report, Nigeria was the top receiver of cash from the UK, followed by India, France and Pakistan, Daily Mail reported.

The report added that with the remittances to Nigeria, UK is the fourth largest source of remittances after the US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with a global total of some £483 billion in 2017.

While migrants in the UK were sending large amounts of cash back home, Australia was the

largest sender of remittances to the United Kingdom, with $1.08 million being received from there.

The US, Canada, Spain and South Africa were the next biggest senders to the UK. The World Bank report revealed that, India is the largest receiver of remittances in the world, receiving a total of $68,968 million.

China is the second largest receiver of remittances, after India, receiving a total of $63,860 million.

The US is home to the largest number of migrants from developing countries and is the largest sender of remittances in the world.

According to him, Section 9 governs the place of trial and enquiry, and requires that the charge be filed in the jurisdiction where the alleged offence took place.

He argued that sufficient

facts which would lead to a transfer of the case to Uyo or Abuja, were not available.

Besides, he argued that apart from the letter to the CJ, there was no formal application before the court

seeking a recuse, adding that the prosecution was entitled to join issues on same.

He urged the court to proceed with arraignment.

In a bench ruling, Justice Hassan held: “I have listened

vehemently, to the submissions of counsel, and I have also read the letter written to the CJ. ”The issue in view is narrowed down to whether the defendant can take his plea in the circumstance.”

NEW AMNESTY DEAL…

L-R: Commander of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral AO Suleiman; ex-agitator and leader of the Bakassi Strike Force, Benjamin Ene ; Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade; and Sector Commander OPDS, Commodore JA Nwagu , inspecting arms and ammunition surrendered by the ex-agitators after being granted amnesty by the state government, in Bakassi Local Government Area… yesterday

Buhari Declines Assent to NBC Amendment Bill Ekweremadu says he’s not on travel ban list Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Muhammadu President Buhari has declined assent to a Bill that seeks to amend the law establishing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

This is coming as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said that he is not among Nigerians placed on the travel ban list President Buhari’s letter conveying his position, which was addressed to Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was read at plenary yesterday.

The president explained that his decision to withhold assent to the bill was because

the amendment to the powers of the commission “deletes” existing paragraphs 21(U), which contains an important omnibus clause that grants the commission incidental powers, which are not specifically provided for in other sections of the Act. “Pursuant to Section 58(4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I hereby convey to the Senate, my decision on the November 26, 2018, to decline presidential assent to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Amendment Bill 2018. “I am declining assent to the bill because the amendment to the powers of the commission “deletes” existing

paragraphs 21(U), which contains an important omnibus clause that grants the commission incidental powers which are not specifically provided for in other sections of the Act. “We suggest that a more appropriate approach for the amendment for the creation of a new paragraph (U) as contained in the bill and the renumbering in the current paragraph (U), as a new paragraph Meanwhile, Ekweremadu, has said that he is not among Nigerians placed on travel ban list.

Ekweremadu in a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser , Uche Anichukwu ,

said the news making the rounds that he is on the travel ban list was false and unfounded.

The statement read: “ The attention of the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate has been drawn to a misleading report by the a newspaper that Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s has been barred from traveling out of the country on the request of the Special Presidential Investigative Panel on the Recovery of Public Property.

“For purpose of clarification and emphasis, the Office wishes to restate that Ekweremadu is not in court with the Panel or any other government agency over any corruption case.

Army Pulls Five Generals Out of Service The Nigerian Army yesterday pulled out two Major Generals and three Brigradier Generals out of service at the Nigerian Army Medical Corps in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the generals that were pulled out are Maj. Gen. Abimbola Amusu, Maj. Gen. Patrick Falola, Brig.Gen. Folorunsho Jegede, Brig. Gen. O. Akinyode and Brig. Gen. M. Robbinson.

The pulling out parade of the five generals was witnessed by top military officers, both serving and retired.

Amusu, in her valedictory

remarks, attributed her success to hard work, dedication, commitment to service and divine help.

She admonished serving military personnel to remain focused and resolute, and exhibit total loyalty to constituted authorities.

“Your loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be given through vigilant security consciousness,” she said.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was represented at the event by the Corps Commander Ordinance, Maj.Gen. Joel Unnigbe.

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COMMENT

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

JINGLE BELL ALL THE WAY

At Christmas, we should decorate our hearts with happiness, writes Sonnie Ekwowusi

I

n five days it will be Christmas. Despite the feverish and cacophonous campaigns in readiness for the 2019 elections, the traditional Christmas carol, “jingle bell jingle bell the way...� could still be heard in the horizon. Just take a studied look around you. What can you see? People buying and selling. Christmas parties. Children playing and laughing at the dawn of Christmas.

Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of mankind in a relatively humble town of David called Bethlehem. If there is one feast that throws the whole world into electrifying joy, it is Christmas. At the dawn of Christmas, different people from different climes and social milieu are inclined to outwardly express their happiness. To them, Christmas is hope. Christmas is love.

Christmas is joy. A few days ago, a group of little kids in my office neighbourhood came to my office. When I sought to know their mission, one of them, in fact, the tiniest of them who probably is five or six years old, said: “Uncle, we want you to organize a Christmas party for the childrenâ€?. Guess what happened thereafter. I had to succumb to the request and start making plans to organize the Children’s Christmas Party. Yes, to those kids, Christmas, the Nativity of our Lord, is simply joy. And they are right. When peaceful silence enveloped the earth, and the night had run half of her swift course, God took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and chose to be born in a relatively humble city of David called Bethlehem. That was the way Jesus entered into human history. Jesus came not only to redeem and save us but to be our comforter always. As prophet Isaiah proclaims, “send victory like a dew, you heavens, and let the clouds rain it down. Let the wasteland rejoice and bloom, let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil, let it rejoice and sing for joy. Let the earth open and bring forth the savior‌.â€?

Of course there are people who are not happy at Christmas. They are unhappy either because they are looking for happiness in the wrong places or because they are weighed down by the uncertainties and difficulties of life. If you reflect on the precarious situation of Nigeria today, you will understand that there are many living in fear: fear of their own existence; fear of Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen; fear of being attacked by kidnappers or armed robbers. Besides, there are prisoners who need freedom; the naked who need clothing; those hungry looking for food; the sick in desperate need of medicine and consolation; the homeless looking for housing. Certainly the message of Christmas which is joy is a source of consolation and happiness for the aforesaid afflicted Nigerians. Joy, says St. Josemaria Escriva, “stems from divine filiation, from knowing we are loved by our Father God, who always welcomes us and pardons us�. Writing to the Philippians even while in prison, St. Paul re-echoes, “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord: I repeat, what I want is your happiness�.

Therefore beyond the external Christmas decorations, we should decorate our hearts with happiness. Similarly we should decorate the hearts of our suffering neighbours with happiness. We cease to live when we cease to be happy. Above all, this Christmas provides our political leaders the opportunity of reflecting deeply on the essence of political

IF JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SERVE AND NOT TO BE SERVED, OUR LEADERS SHOULD LEARN TO BRING LIGHT TO THE DARK LAND; HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, JUSTICE TO THE OPPRESSED AND INTEGRITY TO THE WASTELAND

power. The essence of political power is to render selfless service to the people. If Jesus Christ came to serve and not to be served, our leaders should learn to bring light to the dark land; hope to the hopeless; justice to the oppressed and integrity to the wasteland.

U.S. ON NIGERIAN ELECTIONS The United States of America is concerned that the 2019 elections in Nigeria might be marred by gerrymandering, rigging and violence.

Consequently the American House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Africa chaired by Rep Chris Smith organised a Hearing last Thursday to apprise the Sub-Committee on the efforts of the U.S. in assisting Nigeria to organize “free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people�. The title of the hearing was:�Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections�. In his opening remark, Rep Chris Smith who has been to Nigeria several times, regretted that President Buhari who promised to end corruption in Nigeria has disappointed everybody. He regretted the Boko Haram killings, the Zaria massacre, alienation of the Igbos and the killings of the Nigeria’ Shia Muslims in Kaduna State. He lamented the inability of President Buhari’s government to stop the killings, or even, at times, unequivocally condemn the aforesaid killings. In their respective witness statements, Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy Jr. and Ramsay Day of the U.S. Department of State spoke on the concrete ways the U.S. is assisting Nigeria to organize free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in 2019. For example, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is assisting INEC in making key reforms that would bring about credible and accountable electoral processes. INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu was in the U.S. last October for this purpose.

The concern of the U.S. is in order. The signs that the 2019 elections might be rigged are there for everybody to see. For example, the refusal of President Buhari to assent to the Electoral Bill means that we would witness voter suppression, manipulation of election results, voting by under-age and ineligible voters and other gerrymandering during the 2019 elections. Contrary to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Law, INEC has said that it will provide polling booths in Chad, Libya, Niger and probably in Sudan to enable the internally-displaced persons outside Nigeria to vote during the Presidential election. If this happens, it means that many non-Nigerians will massively vote during the Presidential election. The saddest aspect is that we have started witnessing the intimidating and partisanship of the country’s security forces which are supposed to maintain peace during the elections. Therefore perpetual vigilance is called for. Power belongs to the people. The will of the Nigerian people must prevail in 2019. The rigging of 2019 elections especially the Presidential election as was done in the last Osun State gubernatorial election must be resisted by the Nigerian people. Why? Because the rigging of the elections is a recipe for chaos and anarchy in Nigeria.

This column proceeds on Christmas vacation today. Wishing you and members of your family a joyful and peaceful Christmas.

THE HEART BEAT AND THE PEOPLE’S GENERAL Zik Zulu Okafor writes that Great Ogboru is set to liberate Delta State

His mantra is Delta Liberation 2019. Within the belly of this mantra is a well -enunciated manifesto that will give birth to his ultimate vision – A New Delta!

O

lorogun Great Ovedje Ogboru is a familiar face. His name a formidable, if not an intimidating sound. His politics, a mixed bag, a combo of the good and the ugly.

Good, because he has proved himself a political titan with the spunk to turn small political parties into big issues in the Delta bloc.

Not a few still believe that he convincingly won Delta State governorship election at least twice.

But the ugly side is that, twice, he was allegedly denied his victory, what many observers tagged a popular people’s mandate, by men of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that chose to walk the ugly and tainted aisle of history and politics.

Indeed, the political wheel of Delta State’s serpentine politics was halted on Tuesday, November 9, 2010. On that historic date, still joyfully fresh in one’s memory, an Appeal Court Panel sitting in Benin city, Edo State capital, a panel made up of judges with conscience, men who could not sell their soul for American dollar, or brazenly defraud their calling, these noble characters annulled the April 14, 2007 Delta State governorship election purportedly won by Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of the PDP. It was an election reported to have been violently rigged by the PDP in the face of an imminent crushing and embarrassing, defeat

by Ogboru through a hope-inspiring Pineapple Revolution he championed under his little known party, Democratic People’s Party (DPP) with the selfless mantra, Delta First.

Driven by his faith in the acuteness and unsurpassed power of justice and confidence in the Nigerian judiciary, Ogboru challenged the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s

victory. The scion of Abraka expected the Appeal court not only to sack Uduaghan but to make a consequential order that would pronounce him victorious to send him straight to the seat of power in Asaba. The court indeed gave him victory by annulling the election but called for another election to be held within three months.

The annulment was however enough to draw an unquenchable celebration and jubilation in every nook and cranny of Delta State. The people were sure that Ogboru would cruise to an unprecedented victory in the re-run election. The incumbent governor’s performance index had been ludicrous, and Deltans longed for change. The re-run election happened. It was on Thursday, January 6, 2011.

Deltans held their breath as the results started cascading. Ogboru was coasting to victory. Results of elections in 12 Local Government Areas had been officially announced and Ogboru had won nine. Results from other LGAs were turning in as Ogboru’s men and DPP agents were reporting from the collation centres. Clearly the Urhobo-born fish mogul was expected to win 16 LGAs from the results collated. Calls rained in his campaign office, all congratulating him, calls from abroad and Nigeria including from those close to Governor Uduaghan’s cabinet members. They had lost hope.

Ogboru had routed the PDP monstrous machine.

But, at about 9.47pm, INEC suspended the announcement of the result, promising to continue the next day. Ogboru at this point needed victory in just four LGAs to win the election. Udughan was in desperate need of 10 LGAs to win 13 of the 25 LGAs to emerge victorious in the election.

Despite the final results practically in the hands of everyone through collation centres, in spite of drums of celebration of Ogboru’s victory with Ogboru expected to win 16 LGAs, INEC, at 8.35am announced a strange result. Uduaghan was ‘allocated’ 13 LGAs and Ogboru, 12. For a PDP with its mindless rigging machine of the time to

allocate 12 out of 25 LGAs to a candidate of little DPP, told a captivating story of Ogboru’s popularity and the vile desperation of PDP to cling on to power in Delta State. Single-minded, strong-willed and determined to end this crucible of fraud-laden politics in Delta State, Ogboru again challenged this reported voodoo result. But not even the Supreme Court, sadly, could retrieve his mandate given by the good people of Delta State.

It is therefore not surprising that, The People’s General as Ogboru is widely and fondly called is returning in 2019 this time on a Liberation mission under a massive platform, the All Progressives Congress (APC}.

So if you wanted to know why Ogboru is running again, here then, is what may be a first answer- ‘there is a stolen mandate to be recovered; for justice must not be buried in the purgatory. And as Rev. Martin Luther King Jnr put it, “Every step toward the goal of justice required sacrifice, suffering and a long struggle�. But more importantly, there is hardly any political analyst, commentator or close observer that can sincerely speak of any meaningful development in Delta State in the last 19 years of democratic governance. For Deltans, it has been a grim story of giddy corruption and harebrained economic exploitation.

These people seemingly trapped in the Big Heart therefore desperately need someone that enjoys massive followership, a man with the strength of character to retrieve power from the fatal grip of PDP. This man must also have a lucid and indepth knowledge of Delta State’s problems and possible solutions. Therefore he is expected to be a mascot of Deltan’s regeneration and political rebirth.

Today, perhaps one of the very few men that can dare to wear the garb of this expected political emancipator, without any iota of sentiment, is Great Ovedje Ogboru. And that’s why he couched his manifesto with such tonal goals that illuminate his clear understanding of Delta’s problems and the

needed solutions.

His focus on value re-orientation towards restoring Delta State’s values of justice, integrity and hard work, honesty and dignity is to begin the reconstruction of the soul of a withering giant. He is at the same time dealing with the issues of law, and order and the justice system to strengthen public governance, regulatory agencies and the processes of justice to ensure efficiency and efficacy.

With a solid foundation assured he goes into the critical issues of economic and human capital and infrastructural development with cardinal attention to agriculture, manufacturing, IT and a comprehensive and strategic overhaul of Education, Healthcare, Housing and Transportation. He looks to create massive investment opportunities in oil and gas and maritime sub-sectors of the economy while stressing zero tolerance for corruption and ethnic discrimination. Ogboru recognizes the importance of women in government and stresses the necessity of gender equality and special need for the protection of women in his government.

For many followers of the People’s General, he is now fully equipped for triumph over his past vicissitudes, to march straight to the Osadebe House as governor after the elections. For these die-hard fans, their ‘General’ had been deprived for a long while because the PDP used the instrument of state power to perpetually scuttle his reported victories. But now, under the platform of the APC, a formidable party, the party in power, nobody is going to oppress him because he has the power of the state on his palms.

These near- fanatical followers will however be a bit disappointed because Ogboru, a man of iron-cast integrity, given the opportunity, will not illegally deploy the instrument of state power to aid his victory. For him, President Muhammadu Buhari is a glowing symbol of how politics should be played.

But he is sure he has a delightful date to keep with providence, come 2019.

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EDITORIAL The Danger Of Lead Poisoning Lead poisoning is widespread. The country should be better prepared

A

t the recent international conference on lead poisoning held in Abuja, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo spoke on the risks to which artisanal miners and the local communities were being exposed. “In areas where gold contains concentration of heavy metals like lead, exposure to the dust released from these metals as a result of the crude processing techniques, leads to serious health consequences on the persons directly involved in the mining and also for all the neighbouring areas and communities. Children of course are most at risk of “death and disability,” said Osinbajo.

While artisanal gold mining takes place all over the world, it is also a fact that children are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning. In stating that Nigeria is not taking the issue seriously even when lead poisoning is preventable, the Country Director, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Dr Simba Tirima, supported the position of Osinbajo that “children bear the brunt of this problem because their bodies are developing and their central nervous system are extremely sensitive to lead poisoning.”

It is benumbing CHILDREN BEAR that the relevant THE BRUNT OF THIS authorities seem oblivious to this PROBLEM BECAUSE mass killer that has THEIR BODIES ARE already claimed the DEVELOPING AND lives of thousands of THEIR CENTRAL our people in recent NERVOUS SYSTEM ARE years, especially EXTREMELY SENSITIVE since the danger is now everywhere.

TO LEAD POISONING While it is widely assumed that lead poisoning is a sequestered occurrence in some remote villages in north-central Nigeria, or at worst in illegal gold-mining communities, it could indeed take place in virtually every home and, more frighteningly, even in schools.

More troubling is that the air and water around us can be toxic from lead-contaminated paint and dust

Letters to the Editor

in older buildings, furniture, toys and crafts, which are the most common sources of lead poisoning in children. The short-term effects of lead poisoning include acute fever, convulsion, loss of consciousness and blindness, while the long-term effects include anaemia, renal failure and brain damage in children who are the main victims. Many of them are left with very severe handicaps like some form of paralysis while some have severe mental retardation and other disorders.

Unfortunately, lead in water is colourless, odourless and tasteless, making it even more precarious as there is no way of detecting it with physical senses.

This makes it quite insidious as heavy concentrations could be in the water we drink without any ready means of knowing it. But of far more significance is that in the case of illegal miners, majority of them are not only walking corpses, according to experts, they are also silent killers as a result of their ignorance.

Most of these miners take contaminated lead dust or clothes to their houses whereas babies are said to be easily poisoned by inhaling the dust of the lead.

T T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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KWARA COUNTS BLESSINGS OF BUHARI AT 76

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s President Muhammadu Buhari marks his 76th Birthday, Kwarans are counting their blessings under his administration. And, to wit, they are praying he takes them to the Next Level.

Kwara State is a major beneficiary of the infrastructural projects and Social Investment Programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The complete rehabilitation of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa road, strengthening of pavements, repairs of failed sections and general maintenance works along Ilorin-Ganmo-AjaseIpo Road, the ongoing rehabilitation of Tsaragi- Gbugbu-Patigi road that has been bad for over 12 years, rehabilitation of Erinle- Ila Odo Road, the ongoing dualisation of the Michael Imoudu Road, Ilorin- Ganmo Highway, the ongoing rehabilitation of Offa- Ajassepo road as well as installation/ rehabilitation of streetlights on Ilorin-Ogbomosho road are some of the achievements of the APC- led federal government in Kwara State.

Kwarans have also benefitted from the administration’s programmes, including NPower, TraderMoni all of which seek to address the needs of the poor.

Indeed, only 11 days ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Kwara to launch the TraderMoni scheme. The rousing reception he recieved attests to the popularity of the administration in Kwara.

President Muhammadu Buhari has further demonstrated

he Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), Dr Abdulkadir Muazu sounded an alarm on the danger staring us in the face as a nation. “In view of the ongoing exposure of the children to lead and the fact that you cannot eliminate artisanal mining, it is important to put heads together and come up with strategic preventive measures in the form of a national action plan or a national programme”, said Muazu. We concur with his suggestion.

However, the first thing that needs to be done is creating awareness in the various publics: the artisanal miners as well as the parents and guardians in the affected communities. It is also important for the government, at all levels, to commit more resources to research into this problem. Since the potential of lead poisoning is so strong and all of its effects are not yet established, Nigerian researchers should strive to establish if there is any link between it and the rising incidence of cancer about which there has been growing concern lately.

his love for Kwara through the appointment of Kwarans into key positions at the federal level. Today, the Hon Minister of Information and Culture, and a star in the Buhari’s Cabinet, Alh. Lai Mohammed is proudly a Kwaran; the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Is’haq Modibo Kawu is from Kwara; Nigeria’s ambassadors to Japan and Malaysia, Prof.

Mohammed Gana Yisa and Alhaji Nurudeen Mohammed are also from Kwara. Aside that, several Kwarans were appointed by the administration of President Buhari as board chairmen and members in different federal government agencies. I make bold to say that Kwara has never enjoyed opportunities the current administration of Buhari accords it. This is an indication that the welfare of Kwarans is a major priority of President Buhari’s administration.

We may not be where we ought to be but we are certainly not where we used to be. Come February 2019, we are moving to the Next Level with the Buhari administration.

On behalf of the teeming members of the National Committee for Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG), Kwara State Chapter, I sincerely wish the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari, GCFR, a very Happy Birthday .

Many Happy Returns sir.

Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin, State Coordinator, NCBSG, Kwara State Chapter

HOW APC AND EFCC WRECKED THE ECONOMY

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t is good to know that, finally, the real McCoy head honcho of APC and EFCC (Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari) has finally admitted, even if it was through the expected deniable medium of a spokesman that the economy of Nigeria is in dire straits. The whole counsel about “belt-tightening” was a pathetic set-piece that has long lost its patriotic appeal thanks to the virulent politics of the APC political party and the federal government’s Rottweiler known as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The way the government of Buhari went about its business of governance post-May 2015 was the least desirable of any sort of administration of public affairs; the pump price of petrol was almost doubled, the naira lost its value against the dollar in a big tumble, the price of staple rice more than doubled, businesses were threatened by multiple taxation, runaway ISIS terrorists from

Syria perfected disguise by plastic surgery and were duly given Nigerian resident visas, the EFCC menaced account-holders who had more than N50 million naira in their balance sheets, MTN was slapped with an absurd fine of N1 trillion for a spurious rap that sounded like what Amnesty International did to frustrate Goodluck Jonathan and pave the way for Buhari, sundry folks were pilloried left, right, and centre, etc. Ultimately, foreign investors ran away and stayed back because no one wants to earn a trumped-up ire of an uninformed regime in civilian clothing. The APC continued to rant and rave about the PDP until just recently when Nigerians became bored with these rants and raves. Now, the economy is moribund and it would be sheer madness to continue in this fashion for another four years.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

POLITICAL TRIBUTE

For Saraki, It’s 56 Hearty Cheers!

Yusuph Olaniyonu

L

et me do a little review about the history of the nation’s upper legislative chamber, the Senate.

It has so far had 13 Presidents.

Of these 13, three of them, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Dennis Osadebey and Chief Nwafor Orizu, presided when the nation was operating the parliamentary system of government and the Senate was in the mode of the British House of Lords with members appointed while the House of Representatives was the elective legislative chamber. The seat of the parliament then was at the Race Course, in Lagos.

Dr. Joseph Wayas, the fourth Senate President was the first to head the chamber in a presidential system, like we have today. He is also the second longest serving presiding officer of the Senate as he served for four years, three months, which is the total period the Second Republic lasted before a military junta led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari toppled the elected government and imposed military rule on the country.

The Wayas-led Senate also sat in the Senate chambers located in Race Course, Lagos.

Two other presiding officers, Dr. Iorchia Ayu and Sen. Ameh Ebutte presided in the 17 months that the country experimented with what looked like a diarchal system with a military government which had both its executive and law making bodies and the elected legislature by the side at the federal level. Incidentally, Ayu and Ebutte were the first to preside in the present Senate chamber in Abuja. Like the Second Republic, the emerging Third Republic was also overthrown and the National Assembly disbanded by the military led by General Sani Abacha.

In the current political dispensation which commenced in 1999, Sen. Evan Enwerem from Imo State was the 7th Senate President. He was the first to preside over the fourth Senate in another full presidential system similar to that of the Second Republic and the United States. He spent just six months in the office and in the four-year tenure of that Senate, two other presidents, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo and Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim held sway as the eighth and ninth Senate Presidents.

The fifth Senate was led by two Senators, Sen. Adolphus Wabara and Sen. Ken. Nnamani who became the 10th and 11th Senate Presidents. However, the man with the record is Sen. David Mark, a retired army one-star General who was the 12th Senate President presiding over the sixth and seventh senate spanning eight uninterrupted years. Senator Mark also remains the longest serving senator in the history of the country, as he is now in his 20th year in the red chamber.

Now, let us go into current affairs. Today, the Senate has its 13th Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki who, though with six months still remaining before the end of the four-year tenure of the Eighth Senate, is already the third longest serving Senate President. Saraki is 56 today and this is a tribute to the man who among the lot has the longest and most relevant political experience and necessary preparation before assuming that office as the Number Three man in the country’s hierarchy.

As a former aide to an elected president, a two-term Governor of a State, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and second term senator, Saraki appeared to have the best democratic credentials for the post. Also, as in the Second Republic, he emerged with the support of members from his political party and the main opposition party.

The unique manner of his emergence was such that a four-man cabal within the All Progressives Congress (APC) appropriated the constitutional right of the 109 Senators to elect their leadership. The cabal decided to unilaterally decide who became what in the Eighth National Assembly. The revolt

Saraki

against the dictation from outside led to the situation in which Saraki emerged unopposed as Senate President at a time the APC cabal and their acolytes were ensconced in a futile, ill-advised and unusual meeting, far away from the chambers at the time of the election. The Senators in the chamber then chose to exercise their constitutional right and power to decide who constitute the leadership, devoid of any interference from outside.

After the frequent removal of Senate Presidents by the Presidency experienced between 1999 and 2005, the emergence of Sen. Ken Nnamani was perhaps the first time the Senate President was solely elected by the Senators. And that was why at the critical time of the Third-term agenda in 2006/2007, the then Senate President led his colleagues to take a decision in favour of the country instead of in favour of the then Presidency.

In the same manner, what the Saraki leadership in the Eighth Senate has presented to Nigeria is a Nigerian Senate not the Presidency’s or cabal-led Senate. That was why the road to today for the present Senate has been bumpy. The combination of the pseudo-military politicians and other democratic pretenders cannot understand why the legislature should be independent of executive control or dictates from an external clique.

Thus, the first task Saraki had to embark upon was to reconcile his colleagues and rally them behind a legislative agenda which aimed at strengthening the economy, creating more opportunities for Nigerians to become key participants in the economy, liberalize the political space and create credible, free and fair electoral process.

There was serious but challenging reconciliation process which led to the juggling of committee seats and more inclusiveness in the activities of the Senate such that senators who initially were opposed to the Saraki leadership like Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Sen. Kabir Marafa, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, Sen. George Akume and others had a change of mind. The Eighth Senate became a close knit group.

The unity led to the unprecedented legislative achievements like passage of 257 bills in 40 months, double what the fifth Senate which previously had the record as the one with the highest number of bills passed, 159.

Yet, the eight Senate still has six months before the end of its tenure. The eight Senate has equally successfully treated over 200 petitions from members of the public whereas no past Senate treated up to 10 petitions in their respective four years.

The intervention of the Senate in the areas of

drug abuse, illegal human trafficking, national security, developments in the North-east zone, anti-corruption, constitution amendment and strengthening of the budgeting and electoral processes, have come in innovative manners. For example, the present Senate have perfected the idea of hosting Town Hall meetings and public hearings in different parts of the country, outside the confines of the National Assembly complex. This has given more stakeholders the opportunity to make input into legislations, motions and parliamentary advocacy.

It is under this Senate that the idea of public hearing on the yearly appropriation law started. Among the top bills passed by the current Senate to reform the economy are the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill which President Buhari has surprisingly denied assent, Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (EST. Etc) Bill, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, Credit Bureau Reporting Bill, 2015, Secured Transaction in Movable Act, 2017, Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2016, Companies and Allied Matters Act (amendment) Bill 2018 as well as various reforming constitution amendment bills.

It should however be noted that the eight Senate would have achieved a lot more than it has done if not for the external clog usually thrown into its wheels. For example, the Senate President spent the first 30 months of the tenure between answering trumped up charges of false asset declaration and forgery of Senate rules in different courts.

Yet, the courts ended up establishing his innocence on all the charges.

When Saraki’s traduces could not use the court to remove him, they resorted to destabilizing the Senate and undermining the unity of purpose that he instituted. First, they created a shadowy group of Senators called the Parliamentary Support Group for Buhari (PSGB) led by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State. The PSGB became the force for causing disaffection against Saraki and generating constant tension, with a view to removing the Senate President. Following a script written by some anarchists who pretend to be democrats, a group of thugs who were alleged to have followed a senator into the chamber during plenary, unleashed violence on legislative security and administrative staff and seized the mace, the symbol of parliamentary authority, in the full glare of television cameras. It took the concerted efforts of the other Senators and members of the House of Representatives to thwart that move. Till today, no single person has been tried by the security agencies for the offence, despite the arrests made. It was a

grave assault on the parliament that enjoyed official support at the highest level in and outside the executive.

Then came the attempt to rope the Senate President into a case of robbery as a result of which the police laid a siege on his house and that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to prevent both men from appearing in the chamber for the day’s session. Saraki escaped the ambush and appeared unruffled in the Senate while presiding over the day’s session. That particular day, some senators from the ruling party defected into two of the opposition parties, PDP and ADC. Up till today, the Attorney General of the Federation through his Director of Public Prosecution has maintained that the Senate President has no case to answer in the Offa robbery incident as no fact has been adduced to link him to the dastardly attack on innocent people by a group of robbers.

Eventually in their desperation, the antiSaraki elements procured hooded agents of the State Security Services to stage an invasion of the National Assembly with a view to forcefully enthrone a new Senate President. The move also ended as a failed coup against democracy. At every point, this 56 year old has always been a step ahead of his opponents. The talk around town now is that by crooked, violent and out rightly unconstitutional means, some political forces are bent on seizing control of Kwara State from Saraki. The information around town is that those bent on doing this have vowed that they do not care what means are adopted in the process, Kwara State must be taken.

There is no doubt that Saraki is now believed by many Nigerians to be the real Defender of our Democracy in the last three and a half years. Yet, he is not about to go away. He has remained unbowed, unrelenting and irrepressible in the struggle to ensure that Nigeria does not have a dictatorship in the guise of democracy. He has fought against the cabal who constitute a ‘government within the government’ and exercise powers without constitutional responsibility at the federal level. He has spoken out where the oligarchs now in control of the lever of government feel they have successfully procured everybody’s silence.

He has withstood pressure, endured tribulations and remained unshaken in the face of vicious media attacks by people who will not forgive his patriotic interventions to achieve geo-political and religious balance in the APC presidential ticket in 2015. Political rules and etiquette have been thrown to the dogs by those who are afraid that Saraki has ambition and must be cut to size. He has also had to contend with other politicians who cannot live with the fact that for the first time in their game, the man beat them to the number three positions with little effort.

Yet, he is constantly and ceaselessly being attacked by some power mongers who are envious of his background as the first Senator who is one of three senators produced by his nuclear family. His father was Second Republic Senate Leader while his younger sister had been a two-time senator. Only the Adelekes whose father, late Ayoola, his first son, Isiaka and the serving younger son, Ademola, have equaled the record.

There are other political operatives who did not seem to like Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s handsome face, methodical approach, strategic calculations and silent mien even at the midst of unsettling political battles.

However, as he turned 56 today, his friends, family, foes, and distant observers cannot but agree with the comment by President Buhari during Saraki’s 55th Birthday last year, that he is today one of the most influential figures in our nation’s politics.

On that note, I say happy birthday to the 13th Senate President who presides over the eight Senate as he turns 56.

-Olaniyonu is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President

T H I S D AY ˾WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018

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POLITICS

Forum of SDP Chairman Confirm Support for Donald Duke

PT Condemns Clandestine Moves to Impose Two-Party System on Nigerians

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have said that they will continue to respect the decision of majority of delegates of the party that overwhelmingly elected Mr. Donald Duke as presidential candidate of the party.

Addressing the media at its national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the leader of the group, Hon. Oke Idawene argued that the recent court judgment took the party’s presidential ticket from Duke and gave it to Professor Jerry Gana was due to the court’s misinterpretation of Section 15:3 of the party’s constitution 2018 as amended.

Idawene who insisted that the party was not divided, expressed confidence that members of the SDP will abide by the decision of National Executive Committee (NEC). He said that after reviewing the judgment, they discovered that the Judge read what was not in the constitution of the SDP. And that section 15:3 talks about the office of the President and that of that National Chairman.

“We have reviewed the ruling of Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf which nullified the election of Mr. Donald Duke as the presidential candidate of SDP

in line with the Provisions of Article 15:3(ii) of the Constitution of the SDP 2018 as (amended).

And we wish to state that the judgement has no basis considering the fact that, the court has no locus standi to deny and scuttle the inalienable right of a presidential flag bearer who was duly elected and returned as the party’s candidate. It is a well-known fact, and it is also provided for in the electoral Act that a party’s decision on the choice of a candidate is above and supreme to any other claim. Thus, the party has a constitutional prerogative for final decision on such matters.

The Crux of the Matter is Article 15:3(ii)(2) of the Constitution of Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2018 as amended: Rotation and Zoning; which states, “the office of the President and National Chairman of Party shall rotate between the South and North and among the six (6) geopolitical zones. This is the article which the court misinterpreted.

What the overwhelming majority of delegates did on the 6th of October, 2018 was to elect our Presidential Candidate. We did not elect a President, otherwise the only logical consequence of Friday’s Abuja High Court decision would be that Professor Jerry Gana be sworn in as President of Nigeria on 29th May 2019,” he said.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Trust (PT), Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said that his party will resist the attempts by some dominant political forces to turn Nigeria into a two-party state.

His spokesperson, Hassan Ibrahim, said that the party was aware of clandestine moves by certain forces to strangulate emerging political parties and turn Nigeria into a two-party state.

The candidate of the Third Force Movement said that any attempt to turn the hand of Nigeria’s democratic clock backwards and curtail the fundamental rights of the people to freely associate will be resisted.

He said, “There is no democracy in the world where

choices are restricted to two parties. Even in the United States of America, where you have two dominant parties, there is multiplicity of parties that are allowed to participate in the process. The PT is the biggest of all the new political parties according to data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we insist on being allowed to blossom and fulfill the yearnings of the Nigerian people who are certainly fed up with a lack of vision, passion and direction for the development of the country.

“Many of the actors in the political scene today who are outside the two dominant parties fought vigorously to ensure respect for fundamental rights of association of Nigerians.”

He further stated that the forces seeking to return Nigerian to a two-party state had

perfected their acts through the exclusion of several emerging parties at the just concluded Vice Presidential debates held by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

He further stated, “2019 will not be a choice between corruption and ineptitude. The PT is determined that despite attempts to make it look like that, the 2019 election will not be a choice between the PDP, which has been variously accused of corruption and the APC, which symbolises administrative ineptitude and economic failure.

“The vast majority of Nigerians still continue to search for credible alternatives to the two political parties in spite of limited resources at the disposal of the multiple alternative platforms.

“Through massive media propaganda, a gang of Nigeria’s

parasitic elite who have fed fat on the Nigerian state have tried to ensure that political clime is narrowed to the two incompetent behemoth- the APC and PDP. “The PT is at the vanguard of ensuring that the Nigerian electorate gets credible alternative in 2019, as it has instituted the consolidation of various alternative platforms, even as it is daily receiving support from Presidential candidates, aspirants and parties.

“We know as a matter of fact that the corrupt PDP elite and the pseudo democrats of APC are desperate to consign Nigeria into a two party state. Apart from misusing state funds at their disposal to their advantage, they are arrogantly telling the suffering Nigerian people that they are stuck between the two devils.

CLEEN Foundation Trains Police Officers on Election Security Management Udora Orizu A Civil Society Organisation, Cleen Foundation in partnership with European Union and the Nigerian Police Force has trained 80 senior police officers from different parts of the federation on election security management.

In his message to the ‘Train-the-Trainers’ workshop, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris noted that the training was coming at a crucial time in Nigeria, as there were already identified threats likely to trigger violence in the 2019 general elections.

The IGP who was represented by a Commissioner of Police, Mr. Uwem Akpan stated that the training was aimed at enhancing the professional conduct of police officers before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

He revealed that at end of the training, the Nigeria police will work with CLEEN Foundation and the Police Service Commission to transfer lessons from the training to other officers across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. He also added that the training will enhance the conduct of the officers and ensure service delivery for a credible and violent free 2019 general elections.

The Executive Director of CLEEN, Benson Olugbuo while addressing journalists at the workshop in Abuja said the training was for security agencies, especially the Ni-

gerian police that play very important roles in ensuring free, credible and inclusive general elections.

According to him, “The training provided an opportunity to interact with senior police officers and to remind them of their responsibilities under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the electoral act and the bylaws of INEC; that we need free fair and credible elections in 2019.”

“All the officers who are being trained were recommended by the Nigerian police force through the Inspector General of Police.

The people we have in the training are mostly senior police officers, CPs, DCPs, ACPs and so on. Most of them are actually people who will have responsibilities in 2019 general elections.”

He disclosed that the foundation and the Police Service Commission will deploy observers to monitor the 2019 general elections in all local governments.

“It’s important for Nigerians to know that we have a Police Service Commission that actually plays an oversight on what the Nigerian police is doing and even as we go into the election, the Police Service Commission has promised that they will monitor the elections so I think it’s also our responsibility as Nigerians, because at CLEEN Foundation we are going to monitor the activities of security agencies during the elections.”

ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara (middle) presenting car keys to Naziru Bappayo (right) on behalf of Hon. Ismaila Muazu (left) as part of his Constituency Empowerment Programme. With them is Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Hon. Charles Illiya (2nd right) in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State

Former CUPP Members Left the Coalition Out of Wrong Motive, Says Ugochinyere Udora Orizu The National Spokesperson of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere has said that political parties that withdrew from the coalition after signing a MoU to back a consensus presidential candidate were driven by a wrong motive.

Addressing complaints by some members who reasoned that the coalition was formed to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on ARISE News, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, Ugochinyere said, “There was no agreement when

we formed CUPP that the Vice President will come from another political party. Some leaders of the SDP nursed the ambition that its party would produce the Vice Presidential slot of the coalition.

But if you go to the section 143 or thereabout, it says that the presidential candidate and the vice must belong to the same political party. The agreement was that among political parties, 45 at that moment, at the end of the day a presidential candidate from a particular party would be the consensus flag bearer.

That was the agreement.”

Speaking further, he noted

that the withdrawal of some parties would not diminish the status of the CUPP. “When we went through that agreement, SDP was the secretary of selection committee, they were part of the process, they were one of those that drafted the criteria for which we nominated the consensus candidate and everybody participated and voted. You finished the process and a consensus candidate emerged, because you didn’t get what you were looking for, then you say that you are pulling out.”

“It’s not diminishing the

status of the CUPP because the second largest partner of the coalition was the ADC. However, more are parties joining, bringing the coalition to over 50 political parties. The question you ask yourself is when you went into this coalition, what was your interest?

To garner political office or to be part of the people that will rescue the country from the gradual drift in state of economy and political ethics?

If your interest was national, then this will not be happening and the majority of the parties are driven by national interest.”

For Ogun SDP Governorship Aspirant, Free Education Takes Precedence Femi Ogbonnikan Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State, Mr. Rotimi Paseda has anchored his vision to transform the state if he wins the 2019 governorship contest on the provision of free and compulsory education at all levels.

Stating his conviction, he

said, “I got involved in politics, believing that education must be free at all levels. People would have a choice of being educated or not. The situation now is that they are being restricted, because they can’t afford it.

Education must be accessible to all and sundry. The only way you can make it accessible is to make it free, so that everybody, regardless of who you are, can

access it. It would now be a matter of choice. If you don’t want it, fine. If you want it, there will be no limitations. That is what I have been advocating for. I have done my research and I have realised that it can be done and it will be done.

On the very first day of my swearing-in, I am going to declare education free.”

According to Paseda, the

concern about the huge cost of embarking on such a financial and human capital intensive project should not be a deterrent. He explained, “I am talking of providing enabling platforms for the institutions to self-generate incomes by providing services for the local communities. The will help us with policy formulations, help us with research.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08152252325

Addressing Unemployment through Skills Acquisition Hammed Shittu writes on the establishment of the International Vocational, Entrepreneurship and Technical College by the Kwara State government to equip unemployed youths in the state with different skills acquisition

T

he current rate of youth unemployment in the country has continued to give all levels of government serious concern. Expectedly, it's effect continue to take a toll on the people.

According to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report, the rate of unemployed youths in Nigeria stands at a 61.6 per cent. The report also revealed that 58.1 per cent of youths between the ages of 15-34 bracket are underemployed.

Though, the active population in the country increased by 0.5 per cent within the period, over 2.9 million graduates and another five million semi-skilled workers also lost their jobs within this period.

On the gender spread of unemployment in Nigeria, the country has a 5.086 million of unemployed male and 6.46 million of the unemployed female. Also, the figure indicates that 24.2 per cent of employed females are underemployed. Apart from this, there are about 6.8 million unemployed people in rural areas, while urban areas have a pool of 4.7 million unemployed people.

Among the causes of youths unemployment cited by the report include poor supply of electricity, poor standard of education, tribalism and nepotism, lack of employable skills, preoccupation with political ambition, corruption and negligence of agriculture practice.

Some of the workers and management of IVTEC oďŹƒcials in a group photograph with Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, during the maiden graduation ceremony

The Kwara Strategy In Kwara State however, the state government has evolved a strategy to address the ugly situation with the establishment of a world class vocational college tagged the International Vocational, Entrepreneurship and Technical College (IVTEC) to train unemployed youths in the state on different skills acquisition. The maiden edition of the graduation ceremony of the students of the college held recently at Ajase-Ipo town.

The state designed series of positive strategies in order to rise up to the occasion in order to tackle youth unemployment in the country. Apart from creating jobs for its teeming youth in the state through the state's bridge empowerment scheme called KWABES, the administration of governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has put other measures that are capable of changing the present status quo of youth unemployment in the state so as to bring new lease of life to the youths, thereby accelerating the socio-economic growth of the state.

One of other great measures put on ground by governor Ahmed's administration to address youths unemployment in the state is the establishment of IVTEC to train unemployed youths in various skills acquisition, so as to prepare them for future development, thereby making them self-reliant rather than just being job seekers.

Some of programmes taken by the students include; “automotive mechatronics, masonry, furniture and canmbiner making, CCTV, Web application system, security and networking, computer hardware, electrical installation and maintenance and catering and culinary services among others.

Promoting Human Capital Development The main thrust of the college is to train youths in various vocational skills acquisition so as to help them get quality training at the end of the day and prepare them for future attainments. The bottom line this opportunity offers for the youths is to assist them to stay away from social vices like cultism, prostitution, armed robbery and other vices that may be an impediment to their future development.

The college is a non-governmental educational institution with a vision to promote human capital development within the context of evolving national needs. It was also established to provide an array of skills acquisition and upgrading training and certificate programmes for recent school leavers,

One of the students of IVTEC receiving an award from Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed the unemployed and the under employed using the most advanced technology and delivery methods, exceptional faculty and the state of the art facilities.

International Leverage It would be noted further that this college was designed with the world renowned vocational training institution, the City and Guilds International and the trainees from the college will be able to obtain national and international certification for the immediate industrial employment or independent practice.

It is also meant to provide market-driven skilled manpower needed at all levels of economy, thus engendering a skilled workforce that is highly employable and able to contribute to a robust national economy.

The college has undergone rigorous standards to become a nationally and internationally certified testing center by offering programmes like building construction technology, information and communication technology, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, welding and fabrication technology, automotive technology, electrical engineering technology and hotel and tourism management.

Implementation With the full completion of the infrastructures at the college, the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, was the guest of honour that commissioned the edifice at its permanent site located at Ajase- Ipo in Irepodun local government council of the state last year.

Following the commissioning of the college last year, the unemployed youths that included male and female totalling 300 were admitted into the college. The youths were trained in various programmes that would make them to be employers of labour rather than seeking for collar jobs.

Among the programmes taken by the students include; “automotive mechatronics, masonry, furniture and canmbiner making, CCTV, Wsb applicationsystem, security and networking, computer hardware, electrical installation and maintenance and catering and culinary services.

Speaking at the maiden graduation ceremony of the students of the college, the state governor, Ahmed said the desire of the government to establish the college has yielded positive results.

He said that, "the administration is committed to the tackling of youths unemployment and with the first set of the students graduating

from the college today, they will not only be a provider of labour but will also contribute to the economic growth of Kwara."

Prioritising Technical Training Ahmed who was highly elated urged the federal government and other state governments to prioritise technical training as a reliable tool for arresting the worrying scourge of youth unemployment and insurgency in the country.

According to him, "our government recognised the dearth of critical vocational skills and established IVTEC to provide businessrelevant training as a reliable pathway out of unemployment and a means of economic empowerment. We also offer IVTEC as a way of getting more youths employed and minimising the risk of their involvement in criminal activity, insurgency and other social vices.

"It is also established a means of stimulating the economy through informal sector development. We offer IVTEC and its accomplishments as models that other governments can emulate.

Today, tertiary and other training institutions produce graduates at an exponentially higher rate than the public, and private sectors can employ. When you add those youths who do

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FEATURES

Plight of Katsina Contract Workers The recent termination of over 300 contract workers by the Katsina State Government, with more to come, will no doubt dent the federal government's efforts in creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state, writes Francis Sardauna

I

n today’s changing workforce, the use of contract employees, also known as independent contractors, freelancers or work-for-hire staffers, is becoming more prevalent. Governments and companies at all levels often hire these kinds of employees in place of part-time or full-time staff for a variety of reasons, including budgetary concerns and the need for specialised skills.

In Katsina State, the situation is not different as the state government in 2013 during the then administration of Ibrahim Shehu Shema engaged itself in a contract agreement with over 400 workers to teach at secondary schools across the state.

ted by Tanimu Muhammadu Runka's led-man committee, claiming that the affected workers were enjoying monthly salaries with expired contract.

"To further debunk the committees report, we would like to notify the public that some of our members whom the committee claimed were enjoying monthly salaries with expired contract, the principal officers of our members across the state can attest that they have been discharging their assigned duties diligently without any rancour", he added.

Government Reacts

The Contract The contract agreement letter dated August 21, 2013 between the state government and the contract workers, which was made available to THISDAY on December 12, 2018, indicates that the term of engagement of each person is two years, which may be extended as enshrined in clause nine of the agreement.

Some of the agreements read in parts: "Full salary will begin from the date in which the person engaged assumed duty in the state; the person engaged shall be eligible for free transport facilities for himself and his family in accordance with General Orders or Government Regulations at the time in force.

"On the satisfactory completion of the term of the agreement, the person engaged if a junior officer shall be eligible to receive a retiring gratuity calculated at the rate of 20 per cent of the total emoluments, received by him during the term of his engagement.

"In the case of a senior officer, gratuity shall be paid on the satisfactory completion of a tour of residential service, or on the termination of the term of engagement.

"In respect of such completed period of three months service including approved leave. The gratuity, if approved, shall be calculated at the rate of N50 for each such period if the salary is under N2,000 or N75 for each period if the salary is N2,000 over per annum".

The contract scheme, which is renewable at the end of every two years has been in existence since the creation of the state on September 23, 1987, but successive government has failed to implement most of the contract agreement.

Plight The Katsina State Contract Workers Forum, which is made up of mostly secondary school teachers is the umbrella body representing non-indigenes and expatriates offered contract employment by the state government in various MDAs across the state.

The over 300 workers, whose contract were of recent terminated by the present administration of Governor Aminu Bello Masari, accused him of not following due process as stated in the contract agreement before their disengagement.

The affected workers for several decades have beyond any reasonable doubt contributed immensely in educating numerous numbers of Katsina indigenes and have given their lives a meaning and setting them on the right paths.

However, recent government action and decision, has made it practically difficult for the contract workers to train their own children, as most of their entitlements in many fronts are

Governor Aminu Bello Masari not being paid.

The plight of the workers including but not limited to the following; denial of 15 percent monthly contract addition agreed by the government since January 1st 2012 to date; government failure to review the contract gratuity to reflect current realities on ground for over two decades.

Although the cumulative gratuity of a graduate teacher on contract who has toiled tirelessly for the state for over 20 years may hardly amount to N600,000, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have been accused of only deducting their money, but are never there to address their plight.

Already, some of the affected members who challenged government's actions in court and won were not given their entitlement despites court orders, thereby leaving them in total hardship.

Clamour Meanwhile, the affected workers are not against the termination of their contract but are appealing to Governor Masari to apply due process and follow the laid down guidelines as stipulated in the contract agreement letter, such as giving them three months notice or payment of one month salary to the affected officers.

They are also clamoring that the Teachers Salary Structure Allowance (TSS) which is 27.5 per cent of basic salary binding on every state governments of the federation, which the state has denied them since January 2012, should be paid to them to assuage their sufferings.

Due Process Speaking during a media chat with some journalists in Katsina, the State Coordinator of the Forum, Ogalah Ibrahim reiterated that the forum has exhausted all channels to reach the state government under the leadership of Governor Masari to table their complains before him.

He added, "we are constrained to resort to

this medium to seek urgent intervention of well meaning and spirited Nigerians to passionately appeal to Governor Masari regarding the recent lay off of our members in the teaching profession and the non-payment of arrears being owed to them by the state government.

"It is very sad to note that instead of correcting the wrong actions, decisions and policies of past administration that has polarised our nation across ethnic lines and has crippled our development and unity as one indivisible and united people of this great country, we are shocked to note that the Katsina government led by Governor Aminu Bello Masari seems to be complicating the matter. Without regard for due process, our members under the Katsina State Science and Technical Board received a circular notifying them of the disengagement of their contract appointment."

According to him, a couple of his members were served with the letter of disengagement on age grounds and their salary has since been stopped, adding that: "right now, another batch of 217 contract teachers are penciled down for disengagement with immediate effect. The list of the affected officers are available in the office of the staff officer at the state ministry of education.

"Our members across the state before the expiration of their contract within the stipulated time on the contract teachers' agreement applied for renewal of their contract to the appropriate authorities.

"Their applications were approved and they were recommended for reengagement and upgrading by the principal officers of their respecting schools; this was equally approved and endorsed by the respective zonal coordinator of the zonal education quality assurance under the which our members discharge their assign responsibility".

Disclaimer Ibrahim however, refuted the report submit-

However, the state government through the Executive Chairman of the state Teachers' Service Board, Umaru Adi, said its decision followed the inability of the disengaged workers to provide professional papers for teaching in secondary schools.

According to Adi, "sometime last year 2017, we found out that there are over 300 contract officers working in the Ministry of Education, most of whom were working without valid papers for teaching. So, we wrote to the head of service (HoS), intimidating him about the number and what to do next. The matter was passed to the governor and he approved the formation of a five-man committee to settle the case with the view of helping them.

"And the committee was inaugurated by the (HoS) to look into the problems of contract officers. The committee has already submitted its findings and we at the teachers' service board received the copy of the report.

We went through the report and we found out that some of them are working without valid papers for over three years collecting salaries.

"Only those with NCE and those with HND certificates were forced to go. Most of them have worked for over 10 years; 15 years but up till now they have not gone for further studies; they are still with their NCE certificates.

And the state has a number of qualified candidates who had graduated from Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University; Al-Galam University and Federal University Dutsinma and we replaced them."

On why the state government could not pay the disengaged workers' entitlement, Adi said: "If your contract is valid, we have to pay you all your entitlement. We will issue a notification letter showing that your contract is valid. But most of them, their contract had expired for more than a year; some more than three years.

And since their contract expired, they don't need anything from us.

"In the paper that we give to contract workers, there is an agreement. The agreement is that 'the contract officer will serve for two years'.

Government is not longer interested in those who read Hausa; Igbo; History; CRS, Biology; Geography".

While reaffirming that government's priority on science-oriented courses formed parts of the disengagement, Adi said the state is in need of those who read Physics, Chemistry, French, English and Mathematics.

He said: "And that was the term of reference given to the committee. And the committee recommended those who have these qualifications and we are processing for their contract re-engagement".

ADDRESSING UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH SKILLS ACQUISITION not make it past either primary or secondary schools, a vast army of the unemployed confronts us.

"Being a proactive administration, we recognised the dearth of critical vocational skills and established IVTEC to provided business-relevant training as a reliable pathway out of unemployment and a means of economic empowerment."

Ahmed added that they have also leveraged partnerships with globally renowned institutions to benchmark IVTEC against global standards in vocational and technical skills training as well as lay the foundation for making Kwara State the hub of vocational skills.

"These institutions include as the World

Bank, City and Guilds of London, Alfred University New York, and the University of Wolverhampton, National Directorate of Employment, as well as private sector companies".

While calling on the graduands to think outside the box, the governor said the development would go a long way to help them to attain their desired goals in life.

He said that they must strive to identify the gap that exist within the the society and close it on that, adding that, such step would provide them the opportunities to contribute more towards the economic fortunes of the state.

Encomiums Earlier, the rector of the college, Dr. Ade Somide lauded the state government efforts at reducing youths unemployment in the state. He said the efforts have yielded positive results with the graduation of the first set of the students of the college.

Somide however assured that, the management of the institution would continue to work harder to ensure more accreditation of programmes for the institution so as to enable the college award national dipolma courses in the college. He added that the tuition fees of the affected students were subsidised by the state government in order to help them have opportunity to pursue their courses in the college.

He stressed that the management of the college would also expose them to international partnership as a way of helping them garner more talents in their respective chosen careers.

Also, some of the newly graduated students, who spoke with our correspondent at the occasion, lauded the efforts of the state government.

The students therefore pledged yo use the exposure acquired to add values to the socioeconomic growth of the state and the nation in particular.

By and large, with the maiden graduation ceremony of the students of IVTEC, the Ahmed administration has set a new agenda in the effort towards addressing youth unemployment in the State of Harmony called Kwara.

22

5 ) * 4 % ": t WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S

A S

MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A T

REPO 9.96 % 8.07%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078, 08152447875

D E C E M B E R S & P INDEX

26.00% 17.50 % 17.63%

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

1 4 , 2 0 1 8 S & P INDEX

350.84% 0.06% 0.40%

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE 1.02% 6.49%

N306.90/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes PTAD Pays N7.89bn to BeneďŹ ciaries

FUTURE AFRICA AWARDS

L-R: Commissioner for Finance, Cross River State, Asuquo Ekpenyong; Chairman, Troyka Holdings, Biodun Shobanjo; Co-founder, the Future Project, Adebola Williams; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, at the 13th edition of the Future Awards Africa in Lagos....recently

Access, Diamond Deal May Trigger More Mergers in Financial Sector Goddy Egene There are strong indications that the proposed merger between Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc may lead to more business combinations in the banking and insurance sectors.

After weeks of speculations, Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc on Monday confirmed their plan to merge their operations.

Prior to the disclosure of the merger plans, Diamond Bank Plc had been having a bad patch, posting weak financial performance. Hence, some market operators said the decision to merge with Access Bank Plc would finally rescue Diamond Bank Plc. The proposed merger has

INVESTMENT received an endorsement from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which said it had no objection to the planned business combination.

The apex bank in a letter dated December 17, 2018, addressed to the Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank and signed by Director of Banking Supervision, Mr. Ahmad Abdullahi, said it had no objection to the proposal, advising the commercial bank to proceed to obtain other necessary regulatory approvals for the merger.

The CBN, in an apparent response to an application

for pre-merger by Access Bank stated, “We refer to your letter dated December 17, 2018 on the above subject (application for pre-merger) and write to inform you that the Central Bank of Nigeria has no objection to your proposed merger with the Diamond Bank Plc. “Furthermore, you are required to obtain other necessary regulatory approvals for the merger.�

More boosts came from the stock market that reacted positively to the planned business combination as the share prices of both banks surged at the close of trading yesterday.

However, THISDAY checks showed that more banks and insurance companies might follow the route of Diamond

Bank Plc in the very near future.

A senior stockbroker told THISDAY on Monday that there are some banks and insurance firms that have been going through challenges similar to that of Diamond Bank Plc. “The arrangement between Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc will encourage more financial institutions to discuss similar strategy and combine their businesses. There are some financial institutions going through strains but are not having the courage to come out. Now that Diamond Bank Plc has decided to bell the cat, we are likely going to witness more of such development in the financial sector,� the broker said.

Continued on page 24

Report Highlights Risks in DigitalTax CollectionTools A report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has urged tax administrators to manage the risk of imposing restrictive technological requirements on taxpayers.

The latest report by the professional body noted that tax administrations have always looked to the latest technological development to assist in the task of effectively collecting taxes from the population.

It pointed out that the current shift in the digitalisation of the global economy was an opportunity presented to national tax collectors to make a change in the efficiency of their processes. “Just as the digital tools can benefit tax administra-

ECONOMY tions, the development and implementation of technological innovation in the private sector is a constant race to improve performance. “At the extreme regulatory constraints could deprive businesses of the opportunity to exploit the most economically efficient technology, stifling competition and even growth. “Tax authorities face the additional burden that their systems must work for every taxpayer in a stable and predictable fashion. As a matter of sheer practicality, tax systems cannot evolve constantly as businesses do. “A single central authority will implement a single central system, which must balance

the needs of every taxpayer and will by its nature change infrequently in discrete steps,� the report stated.

ACCA’s Head of Business and Tax Law, Jason Piper, while commenting on the report, stated businesses operate independently, adding that each would tailor its digital tools to match its own circumstances. “The constant cycle of technological change means no two businesses will implement identical solutions. Tax authorities may see a benefit in imposing a standardised system which drags the least innovative business into the digital net. “However, there is a risk that enforcing these changes will in some cases do more

harm than good if they compromise other businesses’ ability to explore all benefits offered by digital tools.�

Piper said further: “While most businesses have some level of technological awareness and use technology to an extent, many are by no means fully exploiting the potential benefits of these new tools. There are huge differences around the globe, with some economies “leapfrogging� ahead to mobile communications technology, completely bypassing the fixed infrastructure relied upon in more mature economies. “Many programmes of tax automation and digitalisation are based on evidence that Continued on page 24

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) said it recently paid a total of N7.89 billion as beneďŹ ts to both pensioners and Next of kins of deceased pensioners.

The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor, in a statement to thiseectsaidthesumofN6,314,762,464.60waspaidtopensioners as six months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increment.

She said the payment covered 101,393 civil service pensioners on all gradelevelsand76,310Parastatalspensionersacross186agencies.

Ikeazor, noted that pensioners’ welfare was a priority for the present administration. She said out of N7.89billion, the sum of N1,565,190,623.12 was paid to 500 Next of Kins of the deceased Nitel/Mtel pensioners under the deďŹ ned beneďŹ ts scheme. She said thesewereNextofKinsofdeceasedNitel/Mtelpensionerswhodied afterserviceandwhohavecompletedtheprocessofdocumentation and have been cleared for payment by the federal auditors.

Ikeazor, also said the timely payment was achieved through diligent veriďŹ cation exercise conducted by the directorate to authenticate genuine Next-of-Kins before payment was made.

She assured those who were yet to be paid of the directorate’s commitment to see that all Next-of-Kins receive their entitlement.

PTAD, further said it had fully settled the inherited backlog of the 33% pension arrears of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons as well as Police pensioners in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

The Executive Secretary, assured pensioners that the Directorate is working with its supervisory Ministry of Finance as well as other relevant government agencies to clear the outstanding balance.

Linkage Assurance Wins Award

Linkage Assurance Plc recently clinched the 2018 Pearl Sectoral Leadership Award on corporate excellence in the capital market.

Linkage came tops, having been nominated with NEM Insurance Plc and Continental Reinsurance Plc, at an event held in Lagos with key stakeholder in the country’s capital market in attendance.

According to the organisers, Linkage Assurance Plc alongside other sectoral winners were companies that despite challenges in the economyinthe2017ďŹ nancialyearweatheredthestorm,outperform others, and sustained leadership of the market.

President/CEO of Pearl Awards Nigeria, Tayo Orekoya, said the award has recognised and rewarded over 85 quoted companies for outstanding operational and stock performance since inception.

While commending Linkage Assurance for standing tall amidst challenges undermining growth of insurance business in Nigeria, Orekoyasaid“Aspartnersinprogresswithcapitalmarketregulators, we shall continue to engender healthy rivalry among other initiatives aimed at deepening the vibrancy of the market.�

Also speaking, the acting Managing Director/CEO of Linkage Assurance,DanielBraie,wholedtopmanagementoftheCompanyto receivetheawardthankedtheorganisersforrecognisingtheeorts that the board and management of the company were making to ensure value creation for shareholders.

Braie said, as a company “we are committed to sustaining the rules and regulations of the capital market, ensure regulatory compliance and good corporate governance practice�

Rwanda Secures â‚Ź115m AfDB Loan

The African Development Bank’s Board has approved additional funding support of ₏115 million to Rwanda’s Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program, enabling 1.5 million people to access improved, reliable and sustainable water supply services.

The funding would cover strategic cities and address water and sanitationchallengesinareaswithalowaccessrateof45percent−a ďŹ gure that is way below the national average of 85 per cent The new ďŹ nancing is to scale up the country’s largest water and sanitationsectorinvestmentprogram.Theprogramisco-ďŹ nancedby the European Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development.InNovember2017,theBankapprovedaninitialUS$121 millionloanandUS$50millionAfricaGrowingTogetherFund(AGTF) loan to Rwanda under its Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program.

“I am going to have a moratorium on foreign borrowing. This is because it is unnecessary, it is a lazy man’s’ economics. In Nigeria, we have 200 million people with a big economy, so if you can’t generate income internally, it means you are not doing something right�

Presidential Candidate, YPP,

Prof. Kingsley Moghalu

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ANALYSTS PROJECT POSITIVE CLOSE FOR EQUITIES IN DECEMBER According to him, Unity Bank Plc, which had been shopping for investors to strengthen its capital, may see also some offers within the country, following the news of Access Bank and Diamond Bank deal. “You know Unity Bank Plc has a very strong penetration in the northern part of the country and any bank that is not very strong there can take advantage to combine its business with Unity Bank.

As you know the bank is in dire need of capital injection,� he said.

The Managing Director/ CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun had said the bank would soon finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would lead to the anticipated capital injection in the commercial bank. “All I can say is that one of the parties is the second largest infrastructure finance institution in Asia. Even though we have closed the process, some of the parties we had engaged before are saying they want to invest, because the bank is now looking good. “Two years ago, we were the one chasing these investors.

But we have told them to wait until we close this deal and any other party that wants to join, we can talk under different arrangement.�

INVESTORS URGED TO PREPARE FOR VOLATILITY IN 2019 the population as a whole “use technology�. However, this may not map across to businesses. Even where the owners have bought a computer or smartphone, if a business does not have integrated systems or the national legal or commercial environment has yet to evolve, there will be a limit to the efficiencies tax administrations can exploit.�

The ACCA is a global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

Ogbeh: Farmers to Hold 40% of Bank of Agriculture James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Agriculure and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has disclosed that farmers will hold 40 per cent of total shares in the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) by the time its commercialisation is concluded by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would own 10 per cent of the bank, Ministry of Finance 10 per cent, while institutional investors would buy the balance of 40 per cent.

Speaking when he received members of both the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development, led by its chairmen, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Hon. Mohammed Monguno, the minister, however, lamented the huge N6.70 billion overhead on its personnel in the 2017/2018 budget.

He also indicated that the ministry was unable to achieve 100 per cent budget performance partly because of late releases of capital expenditure.

According to him: “The focus today is 2017/2018 budget performance. In 2017, we have a total release of N48, 140, 990, 891 billion. “On capital we had a total release of N185, 933, 273 million; Overhead on the personnel was N6, 704, 856, 830 billion.�

The minister said: “We had releases in three tranches in 2017 in first quarter, second quarter, third quarter and fourth quarter as indicated because we inherited liabilities from GES

in 2017, which was arriving from 2016, and the minister believed that that would impact negatively the ability to provide inputs for farmers to use a component which was budgeted in the budget to settle that liability.�

This was just as Monguno called for collaborative initiative between legislature and executive to reduce delays in the release of funds and removal of agriculture from traditional budget as issues concerning agriculture is time bound.

He said the ministry should not be made to comply with the Public Procurement Act as it tends, “to constitute a clog in the wheel of fast-tracking delivery of services to farmers.�

Nonetheless, Ogbeh said: “Our performance for 2017 was practically 100 per cent of release. We had very serious issue with overhead as one of the largest ministries we have only N185 million for the whole year, which was just 40 per cent of what was proposed.�

He said: “We did pretty very well in 2017 but because the budget did not perform 100 per cent, and eagerness of the ministry, especially we have to address issues on import substation and value chain expansion and development, infrastructure development and other services, and then other agricultural projects. “For 2018 the budget started to perform mid into the year.

The first release was in September. Agriculture is seasonal and nobody can delay it. That impacted somehow negatively on our performance in 2017, and is till affecting our performance in 2018. “We have received 52 per cent of our approved budget already this year, which is about N52 billion, and out of that we have already performed to the tune of 50 per cent. “In 2018, we have so far received N21, 476, 313, 862 billion representing about 52 per cent. “So far we have performed to the tune in percentage terms 54 per cent. There are lots of provisions in the Procurement

Act that makes procurement delayed and we are happy the National Assembly is looking at and reviewing the Act.�

Ogbeh said: “Our total budget for this year is N98, 961, 267, 654 billion, we have so far received N61, 776, 312, 862, and we have utilised N24, 579, 333, 24 billion. “Still leaving an outstanding balance that we are struggling to spend is N26, 896, 979, 838 billion. This is the summary of our budget performance.�

Adamu said the visit was “in strict compliance with the constitution, and the two committees represent the two chambers because of convenience we decided to meet together.�

WOOING INVESTORS

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce,Trade and Investment, Mr. Ganiyu Rufai; Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Mr. Kayode Pitan; UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Al Faffag and Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Vivmeon Knut, at the LCCI - Dubai trade investment forum held in Lagos‌recently ETOP UKUTT

Otakikpo’s $12m Rivers LPG PlantTakes Off in 2019 Chineme Okafor in Abuja The liquefied petroleum gas plant (LPG) being established in Ikuru Town in Rivers state

by Green Energy International Limited, operators of the Otakikpo marginal oil field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, will be ready for installation by the second quarter of 2019, the Chairman of the company, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, has disclosed.

The 12 metric million standard feet per day (mmscfd) capacity plant which got an approval to construct (ATC)

from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in August this year sequel to its successful submission of the detailed engineering design (DED) is being constructed in China at a cost of over $12 million.

Speaking at the company’s first stakeholders’ interactive luncheon held in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers, Adegbulugbe, said this was one of the unique projects of the company to ensure zero gas flare in the Niger Delta, under its small scale gas utilisation programme (SSGUP).

He equally noted that the host communities will enjoy uninterrupted power supply through the company’s gas to power project, adding that a six megawatts (MW) gas generators already on site for installation process. He said the company has secured a 15MW power generation licence from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and effort are being made to increase to the capacity to 40MW. Reeling out other plans of the company in its second phase development plan,

Adegbulugbe, said the company had just completed a 3D seismic campaign to understand the field with a view to drilling more wells in the area, while an onshore export terminal is also being proposed to be established by 2020.

He explained the company which started production in 2017 was producing 6000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), adding that it planned to ramp up production to 20,000bopd in the next few years.

According to him, the traditional rulers and the

people of the area have been tremendous in their support and cooperation with the company. He said this has helped it achieve tremendous progress and was prove that its unique programme of taking the communities as partners in its development effort was not misplaced.

He said the company and its technical partner, Lekoil have patronised local community contractors since its inception with over N3 billion worth of procurement contracts which has contributed to economic development of the people.

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Ugochukwu Appointed TEF Chief Executive Officer The Board of Trustees of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) recently announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu as Chief Executive Officer.

The appointment takes effect from April 1, 2019. Ifeyinwa would lead the team in scaling the impact of the Foundation which is globally recognised for pioneering a new approach to philanthropy with its USD$100 million commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs.

The Foundation’s mission is

rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the key enabler of economic and social wealth creation in Africa.

Ifeyinwa served as Director of Partnerships of the Tony Elumelu Foundation since November 2017 and succeeds Parminder Vir, who has been elevated to the Advisory Board of the Foundation.

In her new role as CEO, Ifeyinwa would leverage her expertise, experience and network to provide strategic leadership in

realising the Foundation’s goal of transforming Africa through entrepreneurship.

Speaking on the appointments, the founder of the TEF, Tony Elumelu stated: “As Director of Partnerships, Ifeyinwa demonstrated strong leadership and strategic thinking in delivering the Foundation’s mission to transform Africa, securing major partnerships that scale the impact of the Foundation beyond its targeted 10,000 entrepreneurs. She is

the perfect candidate to build on Parminder’s immense contribution. “On behalf of the Board, I also commend Parminder, fondly known as the mother of African entrepreneurs, for her notable achievements, significant sacrifice and commitment to building and empowering the next generation of African business leaders. I warmly welcome her to the Board,� Elumelu concluded.

In response, Parminder said: “In the last five years, we have empowered a generation of young Africans with the training, tools and opportunities to launch the continent into prosperity. As CEO, it has been my profound joy to support thousands of young people whose ideas are transforming Africa. I am therefore honoured to join the Tony Elumelu Foundation Advisory Board to contribute to the many more success stories that will emerge out of Africa.�

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REA: New Solar Power Mini Grids Will Make Communities Prosperous Chineme Okafor in Abuja The new solar power mini grids scheduled to be built by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP) will provide stable electricity supplies to rural communities in Nigeria and make them economically prosperous, the REA has disclosed.

The REA said the NEP which is a private-sector driven project but supervised by it, would provide clean electricity to homes, businesses, schools, health centres and places of worship of beneficiary communities.

REA’s Director of Promotions, Mr. Ayang Ogbe, stated this during a recent consultation meeting with community people at Nselle and Ndo/Nkpanya/ Ngo communities in Ikom local government area of Cross River

State that the NEP solar mini grid project to be deployed to the communities was an initiative of the federal government to increase electricity access to off grid communities across Nigeria.

He explained that the electricity would be safe, clean, affordable and constant for the communities’ homes, businesses, schools, places of worship and health centres, adding that the project would be executed by private companies, with the support of the federal government which he noted was in partnership with the World Bank on the project.

According to Ogbe, while private sector operators would be responsible for setting up and running the power systems, communities will only pay for the electricity they use, thus indicating that supplies would be measured with metering devices.

Ogbe, also took out time to enlighten community folks at the sensitisation exercise about REA’s Electricity Users Cooperative Society (EUCS), stating that it was initiated by the REA to galvanise unity for the NEP. He highlighted that the EUCS would consist of adult member of the communities, regardless of gender or physical disability, adding that the EUCS would work with the private developers for the solar systems to safeguard them from electricity theft and vandalism; help resolve any complaints relating to the project and escalate the complaints to the REA where necessary; help resolve dispute among members; and mediate between the communities and relevant stakeholders in the electricity industry.

CornerstoneTargets Higher Growth in 2019 Ebere Nwoji Cornerstone Insurance Plc has described the outgoing year as blissful, following the growth of its top line by 30 percent from a loss position in 2017.

The company said it recorded improved profit this year, up from the challenging underwriting position it experienced last year. The Managing Director of Cornerstone Insurance, Mr Ganiyu Musa, who disclosed this at a recent media parley organised in Lagos, said however, investment performance has remained a big challenge to

the company just like every other operator in the system.

He said the company has taken a decision to invest more on longer term than short term.

He cited example of such investment, saying the company had embarked on construction of a 12-storey office complex that would cost minimum of N5 billion.

Describing the project as an investment, Musa said Cornerstone Insurance is focusing on group processes and procedures to serve its clients better.

He said there was high expecta-

tion that when the 2018 full year results is out, the company would have performed optimally and would have set high pace for 2019. Speaking on acquisition of fin insurance by the company, the Cornerstone Insurance boss, said his company has benefit a lot from the deal.

On the company’s management, Musa said in a deliberate bid to strengthen its management team, the company recently appointed Mr. Chidiebere Nwokeocha as an Executive Director Institutional business of the Company.

Firm Opens Turbo Charger Service Facility in Nigeria Oluchi Chibuzor ABB Nigeria, a manufacturer of electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, has open its new office in Lagos.

The Country Manager, ABB Nigeria, Hany Abd-Elazim, who disclosed this recently in Lagos, stated that that the company was poised to satisfy its teeming customers.

He pointed out that before now, companies had to take their Turbo Chargers outside the country for repairs and servicing in service centre in Douala, Senegal.

He noted that since the inception of the company in Nigeria, they have been able to spread their operation to some states in the country, in order

to make sure they are closer to their customers.

According to him, with the imminent fourth industrial revolution, the company had been properly positioned to meet the needs of its esteemed customers in Nigeria.

He further said automation would continue to drive future economy, saying robotics was almost taking over various industrial processes, hence the need to establish the turbo charging facility in Lagos.

He said, “As the pioneering technology leader in power grids, electrification products, industrial automation and robotics and motion, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport and infrastructure globally continuing a history of innovation spanning for more

than 130 years. “Before now companies had to take their Turbo Chargers outside the country for repairs and servicing, with the nearest service centre was in Douala, Senegal. “As a forward-thinking company, we decided to open this workshop right here in Nigeria. This means we are saving time and money for our customers thereby making their businesses more profitable.�

He stated. Meanwhile, with Lagos state seen as the centre of industrial hub in Nigeria, the Special Adviser to the Governor, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, said Lagos with about 21 million population and been the fifth largest economy In Africa, the economy of the state is currently greater than that of Kenya and Ghana respectively.

UN Supports Ranching Kayode Fasua The United Nations (UN) has lent its voice to the raging controversies of herders/farmer’s frequent clashes in Nigeria, by recommending ranching as the way out.

The UN and other stakeholders met at the weekend and came up with the panacea that pastoralists should adopt global best practices of ranching as the only path to sustainable peace.

They also recommended that farmers in the Middle Belt region be encouraged in their agricultural pursuit and also grow fodders to augment animal feed for pastoralists. The recommendations were part of resolutions reached in a communiquĂŠ issued at the end of the Benue State Peace Seminar, held in Makurdi, Benue State.

The communiquĂŠ was signed by representatives of government, traditional and religious leaders,

socio-cultural organisations, Nigeria Farmers’ Association; representatives of Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Benue and Nasarawa states, nongovernmental organisations as well as security outfits.

The participants also urged the UN and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), to strengthen the ‘Great Green Wall’ for the reclamation of the semi-arid regions of Northern Nigeria into green areas for pastoralists.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

Time to Brand Nigeria Something I am very passionate about is the fact that we need to urgently brand Nigeria and change the narrative about the country. The majority of us know the bad perception Nigeria connotes in the minds of foreigners. We have heard of the security flags that go up when expatriates are billed to come into the country. Many of them have to go through stringent measures to be given clearance by the security personnel within their organizations.

One country I admire in the way they have rebranded their image is South Africa.

We see their adverts on CNN always ending with “Proudly South African�. Those of us who have travelled on South Africa Airways hear the welcome on board in a local South African language and good bye message, in the same language. Though also translated into English, but the first message is in a local dialect. This portrays pride and nationalism, critical to country branding.

The question I have been asking for some time now is why we do not have a message to the world that brands Nigeria positively? Why can we not change the negative or indifference to the perception of the country’s brand with our messaging?

It is possible it’s been done and I missed it? If I missed it, in my view, it means the messaging was not impactful.

Branding is all about perception and Nigeria’s is not where it should be by a long stretch. We can no longer afford to leave Nigeria’s branding in the hands of anybody with an opinion on the country.

Is it that the government does not know we should brand the country? Do we not know that it has been proven that having a strong country brand, will enhance our respect in the political arena, give us more clout globally, give us a seat at the table to express our opinion on matters we feel strongly about and can enable us influence the implementation of these issues?

Economically, branding the country will attract tourism, foreign direct investments and grow our economy now in the doldrums.

I know the country is currently looking at overhauling the Enabling Business Environment Indices across various enabling business touch points, which should improve its brand perception. Especially, as Nigeria is rated 169 out of 189 in the World Bank Enabling Business Environment ranking.

The country is behind countries like Rwanda, Botswana, Kenya and others which is worrying in view of the fact that some were war torn in recent times. We really need to see improvements in the country’s position compared to other countries in Africa, because some of these ratings are perception driven. Today, Nigeria’s ranking in the Country Brand Index by FutureBrand

I know the country is currently looking at overhauling the Enabling Business Environment Indices across various enabling business touch points, which should improve its brand perception.

Especially, as Nigeria is rated 169 out of 189 in the World Bank Enabling Business Environment ranking

ranks us as 75 out of 118 countries, which some will say is not bad, but why can’t it be good or excellent. You know as a people we like to “manage.�

We have to stop accepting mediocrity and change this perception and ranking.

We must start to manage Nigeria’s brand with the best branding tools and put in the same amount of focus on the country the same way organizations manage their branding and messaging.

A good example by an organization, is Union Bank’s brand story. Its story is not new to many of us. My father banked with the bank throughout his career in the Army and started the relationship with the bank when it was known as Barclays. The bank went through a metamorphosis that in the last few years, I could not identify any individual in my generation with an account in the bank or wishing to open one, except those who wanted to tap into real estate opportunities in Union Homes or Youth Corpers, who compulsorily had to use the bank for their stipends. But when the new management took over, this reality and apathy to the brand changed and many of us noticed this change when the new brand was rolled out.

The First time I saw the refreshed brand image, I felt a connection to the message and contemporary images, which was very pleasant. The management succeeded in making the old new and fresh. You could relate to its history of being bold and strong with the new visual image.

The bank has also succeeded in branding its customer touch points. These can be seen from the branding of their branches, channels and social media platforms. In fact their social media engagement is one I am actively following and can see how their followership is growing. A few weeks ago, they returned a profit, which shows how branding can also have an impact on the bottom line. This was a bank that did not have many professionals saying they would open an account in the bank but has managed to change its story through its brand messaging and positioning.

Nigeria’s story can change positively too.

We need to take a lesson from countries that have succeeded in transforming their brands positively. Many countries in Africa are more socially, economically and security challenged but nobody remembers these issues when they talk about the countries because of their branding.

For us to continue to be able to attract investments, tourism, events and skills to drive exports in an increasingly competitive world we need to upgrade our ranking. To do this, it must be done through consistent and coordinated effort, communication and reputation management locally and globally.

Australia was able to transform itself from a penal country to the most popular property market with a successful economy.

South Korea, a poor rural society before World War II, emerged as a rich economy and became identified with efficiency and quality. The same has happened with Rwanda, Kenya, Botswana and many other African countries. Why can it not happen in Nigeria?

It is imperative that as a nation we all work together and work with the various stakeholders to determine a visionary strategy to upgrade and improve Nigeria’s brand perception everywhere. .

Marie-Therese Phido is Sales & Market Strategist and Business Coach Email: mphido@elevato.com.ng tweeter handle @osat2012

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Otieno: Nigeria Wi ll Benefit Significantly from African Trade Insurance Agency The Chief Executive Office of African Trade Insurance Agency, Mr. George Otieno, in this interview, spoke to journalists on the implication of Nigeria’s signing to join Africa’s only multilateral credit and investment insurer, saying it will assist in providing insurance cover for infrastructure and debt refinancing support. Goddy Egene presents the excerpts: Tell us about African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), and why has it taken several years for Nigeria to join the agency?

ATI was founded in 2001 by African countries with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, to cover trade and investment risks of companies doing business in Africa, providing broad range of investment risk solutions and in particular mitigating against the risks of sovereign and corporate non-payment and contractual breach. It currently has 14 member countries including some of Africa’s strongest economic performers such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda, and nine institutional members including the African Development Bank (AfDB). The agency continues its push to increase West African membership with Nigeria signing to join and Ghana expected to finalise its membership in early 2019. As at 2017, ATI has supported African countries and across sectors with $35 billion in trade and investments in agribusiness, energy, exports, housing, infrastructure manufacturing, mining and telecommunications. We are creating awareness for the Nigerian market with financial assistance from the World Bank.

Another major reason also for setting the agency up was because Africa was seen as a destination where investments are shy because of perceived political risk and trade and investment not keeping pace because of its slow growth. For Nigeria, it indeed took a long time signing up due to the draw backs in parliamentary ratification and the challenges of convincing the government to join. However, thanks to Nigeria’s Commissioner of Insurance, Mr. Mohammed Kari, for helping to fast track Nigeria’s signing to become a member with the commitment of $50 million. We are now at the final stage of signing the treaty as Nigeria has already budgeted its own contributing fund with AfDB, supporting with that part contribution under its window coming with $20 million as plans are afoot to pay $50 million as their contribution which will be 20 percent of their share capital at the moment. This contribution will make Nigeria the highest contributor to the ATI fund. The process of becoming a member involves certain fundamentals which a country must first of all go through and satisfy. It is not because they did not want to join. From the start we made a presentation of business case to the government showing both the public and private sectors what they can benefit from ATI. We started this discussion as far back as when Olusegun Aganga, was the Minister of Finance. He was quite supportive because he knew the product that we were providing because as you are aware Nigeria is member to other affiliate body that we do we provide products for which are in fact World Bank subsidiaries. But of course with the change of government and most times the challenge that we have which is not just for Nigeria alone but for other countries as well is that when the deal is almost complete the Minister or some of the government officials are changed and consequently, we have to start all over again forcing us to go to the drawing board. For instance, the case of Ghana: They were to be given a World Bank loan of $20 million around 2008/2009, the process to finalise did not happen on time because of the three months’ notice that the bank gave and that funding was quite unique compared to the AfDB, because the bank requires that the treaty has to be rectified and signed before three months and if you don’t, you are given another three months and this time if you are not able to do it, the loan is cancelled.

Here, again that loan was cancelled because of political expediencies as elections were going to hold in December of that year

We are now at the ďŹ nal stage of signing the treaty as Nigeria has already budgeted its own contributing fund with AfDB, supporting with that part contribution under its window coming with $20 million as plans are afoot to pay $50 million as their contribution which will be 20 percent of their share capital at the moment

Otieno

and with the change of government there were court cases which dragged on for a long time. After six months the $20 million loan facility was cancelled. However, it is gladdening to note that the new government in Ghana has started discussion with us and we have made considerable progress with a convincing proof in their budget speech that made ATI to include them as one of the instruments that they would like to have to be able to stabilise the economy and attract some other funding from the international financing institutions that will give them good concessionary loans.

What are ATI’s plans for other African countries?

Our ambition is to cover the whole of the continent. We have been able to support trade and investment from inception to the tune of $45 billion of investment across the continent. In 2018 we have done $5 billion of investments in member countries. Our capital base is $250 million and with Nigeria’s entrance, we will hit $300 million. ATI has been insuring and providing guarantees for various sectors of the African economy, for instance in aviation, we have supported Ethiopian airlines with two of the aircraft and also supported the banks credit advancements to countries. We do not, however, compete with banks and insurance companies; we provide additional capacities to them. In Nigeria we have already done some deals though not big ones, through undertaking corporate risk for Dangote Group and NNPC and in some banks where we have done some currency swaps.

What is the relationship between ATI and AfDB and other international agencies?

ATI does a lot of work with these bodies, we just recently supported a $500 million project insurance cover for one East African countries, at this instance we come in to cover some risk. We have cover for the Trade Bank of East Africa, which is one of the biggest risks that we cover in our books.

There are also risks in petroleum imports which is up to about $800 million. But of course we do also have re-insurance in the market because it is difficult to just take a risk of $800 million based on our capital as most of those international reinsurance players will ensure that they feel comfortable to work with us because of our knowledge of the African business. It will be difficult for lenders to just lender funds to African countries because of the increasing perception of political risk and here ATI crowds in with some reinsurance companies like in the case of the $800 million cover a deal in Zambia. All this happened because ATI was there to provide reinsurers risk. For instance, we have covered risk for Dangote Group and NNPC. In these private operation most times, ATI will be approached by domestic banks, international banks or private equity fund wanting to do business in Nigeria with corporate or government sector. Sometimes these entities will approach ATI on their investment motives and will seek guarantee in the event that something happens whether in insolvency or bankruptcy and so ATI will step meaning essentially that ATI will pay

claims in the event that these companies are not able to pay its debts to its financiers or suppliers ATI steps in and that provides that protection. Regarding NNPC, they could put out tenders and suppliers are invited to provide refined products which are imported into the country. These are products which are highly insured in the European markets, so the suppliers will go into the market to seek insurance in any event that NNPC delays or unable to pay for any reason and again here they will come to ATI and they will cover their interest. We also cover domestic and international banks risk and also a lot of international banks will provide lending to other banks or equity within or even in some instances general purpose loans to the governments all these ATI covers. When the banks approach us we will undertake their risk assessment on their ability to recover. As you are aware most big companies rely on banks for financing their projects and these are subjected to risk and for these monies they will need somebody to cover that default or payment risk.

What ATI’s capitalisation benchmark?

Our capital at the moment is $250 million while authorised capital is $1 billion which we hope to hit in the next couple of years because three years we were only about $150 million and with Nigeria joining we have moved up to about $350 million with Nigeria and Ghana joining and so we believe that we should be in the region of $500 million in the next few years. However, what is uppermost in insurance is not entirely the capital, though important but ability to bring reinsurance on the table like the risk of about $800 million which we cover which is far and above our capital. Nigeria is coming with $50 million as their contribution but they have paid $20 million and in the next couples of months and years we believe they will be paying the balance of $30 million. We are making efforts to make them sign and just last week there was a meeting between AfDB and the Ministry of Finance represented by Dr. Aliyu Mohammed who attended. It was agreed that they will fast track the process though the worries are that the election pull a little drawback and so they were not too sure whether that could happen before the election.

ATI wants it to be finalised even before the election, if that is possible, so that they can benefit from the products and services that we offer, however discussion is still ongoing.

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Why Insurance Sector Recapitalisation Failed Ebere Nwoji writes on factors that led to the cancellation of the recapitalisation exercise initiated by the National Insurance Commission earlier this year The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on July 25th 2018, rose from its bi-monthly insurers’ committee meeting and announced a new capital base for operators in the sector.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on July 25th 2018, rose from its bi-monthly insurers’ committee meeting and announced a new capital base for operators in the sector.

The new capital was then hinged on the magnitude of risks involved in the business each firm wants to underwrite as the commission in the capitalisation system which was risk-based, in place of the compliance base capital system.

Initially, the regulator had given a January 1, 2019, deadline for implementation of the new capital system but later changed the deadline to October 1, 2018.

The change in the implementation date had marked the beginning of trouble as some chief executives who were working towards the January 2019 deadline were thrown them off balance.

Moreso, the use of their financial report for 2017 in measuring each firm’s performance did not go down well with the operators.

The industry employees were gripped by fear of losing their jobs to the extent that even the management staff of firms that fall within tier three level were reportedly making secret move to accept lower positions in bigger companies that measured up to tier two and tier one.

On their part, brokers and members of the insuring public were said to have started withdrawing their policies from small scale insurance firms with lower capital to place them with bigger companies that they feel will make tier one list.

In addition, the shareholders of insurance companies who were irked by the policy, dragged the commission to court to stop NAICOM from implementing the October deadline. Indeed, the commission was compelled to put the exercise on hold until the final judgement was delivered, which compelled NAICOM to shelve the policy.

However, NAICOM had explained that the policy thrust of the exercise was to enhance the stability of the financial system, introduce proportionate capital that supports the nature of business conduct of insurers and to specify the capital requirement for each tier level based on risk classification for each tier.

It had said there, “will be no mandatory

the court action taken by the shareholder recalling that recapitalisation exercise in the sector has always been characterised by litigations.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, had noted that this was what kept the industry at its low financial ebb, unlike the banking sector.

He had said the industry needs the exercise at this time to scale up its fortunes.

The Chairman, Progressive Shareholders

Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, agreed with this saying the industry needs to upgrade its capital.

He, however, faulted the timing of the policy.

According to him, the way the commission went about it was wrong as it kept many operators at a cross road.

He also said the policy should not have been implemented now, considering the upcoming elections and the fact that the political environment was not stable to attract foreign investors who would have invested in some of the companies to enable them meet the new capital requirement.

The insecurity situation in the country according to him was another discouraging factor, saying that the fact that many insurance stocks are not attractive, it was not expected that at a time like this, investors would want to stake their funds in the sector.

With this, he described the exercise as a right policy put forward at the wrong time.

Some other shareholders who spoke to THISDAY on the failure of the exercise reasoned similar.

While the debates were ongoing, NAICOM announced the cancellation of the policy.

The commission in a circular titled “Withdrawal of circular on Tier Based Solvency Capital policy for Insurance Companies in Nigeria,� the commission had stated, “Pursuant to the powers conferred by the enabling laws, the commission hereby withdraws and cancels the circular dated August 27, 2018 with reference number NAICOM/DAPCIR/14/2018 and titled Tier Based Solvency Capital Policy for Insurance Companies in Nigeria. This withdrawal and cancellation takes immediate effect.�

This to some chief executive officers was a cheering news and an opportunity for them to put their house in order before the recapitalisation bell rings again.

But in the mist of their joy, insurance firms whose clients withdrew businesses from and taken to bigger firms said the damage has been done as efforts to bring such clients back did not work. The development call for operators to be embark on self-regulation as long as capital base is concerned.

It also serves as a warning note to the regulator on the need to come up with balanced idea on how to execute the recapitalisation exercise next time.

being a member?

The government of Nigeria and private sector investors will soon receive important support that will help boost key industries such as the banking sector as well as providing access to competitively priced credit and loan facilities for institutions in Nigeria. Relief is expected once Nigeria finalises its membership into ATI, which is nearing completion.

ATI is Africa’s only multilateral credit and investment insurer, similar to the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) but with a focus purely on Africa. In order for a country to access ATI’s full slate of investment solutions, it must be a full member and shareholder. We are here to inform the private and public sectors about the benefits that await Nigerian companies, the government and its institutions once membership in ATI is finalised.

Specifically, ATI will help improve Nigeria’s economic outlook in many ways. For the overall economy, ATI’s presence will help to reassure investors, particularly in the current election cycle - an environment that often leads to investors delaying their planned projects in any African country undergoing elections. This risk may already be reflected in Nigeria’s foreign direct investment flows which totalled $1.2 billion in the first half of the year down from $1.7 billion a year earlier. ATI provides investors with political risk and investment insurance to protect

their investments against any unilateral government-related action (including nonpayment) that might negatively impact their investments or projects. ATI will also help the government in its plans to diversify the economy through its support to banks and across a broad spectrum of economic sectors.

ATI provides credit insurance solutions which can act as a form of collateral, therefore freeing up banks’ capital allowing them to lend at greater volumes. With local banks now focusing on decreasing their non-performing loan rates, some are hesitant to lend to the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, where development of both is a major government objective. From a bank’s perspective these are risky sectors with high credit risk. With ATI’s credit insurance solutions, this risk can be mitigated, thus opening up more loans to these priority sectors. There are numerous benefits to Nigeria becoming a member of ATI. First, investors and international lenders will look favourably on this action and second the time couldn’t be better for our solutions. We can support the government to diversify the economy, boost banks liquidity, and even help the government to borrow internationally at more competitive rates. This year ATI’s products will stand behind around 5 percent of all new FDI into Africa so joining ATI literally boosts growth. Lastly, ATI is now paying dividends to shareholder making membership a near budget neutral decision for governments.

Kari

injection of fresh capital by insurers, no cancellation of licences of any operator is anticipated but that it will be subject to solvency control level.�

The commission had also stressed that the exercise was meant, “to open up licencing window to interested investors at higher tier level as well as restructuring of capital resources for improved liquidity and claims settlement in the industry.�

The commission was much disgusted by

OTIENO: NIGERIA WI LL BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM AFRICAN TRADE INSURANCE AGENCY We have very good relationship with AfDB, apart from the fact that they are our client, they are also shareholder as their capital is $15 million which was about 10 percent of our capital then and like as said they want to increase it to $25 million. The new countries now coming like Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe came through AfDB and also with Nigeria coming in through AfDB and also with Ghana coming in their funds from AfDB. The bank is a very strong partner to ATI because of the same interest and that African countries have and common shareholders and destiny.

Can tell us about some of challenges being faced by ATI? One of our biggest challenges is the lack of adequate understanding by governments in the continent to appreciate the benefits they can get from ATI. Some private sector concerns in Nigeria have been enjoying some of the benefits from ATI through their suppliers and banks because we don’t deal directly with these private companies because we deal with banks and financiers who give them money and suppliers who give them equipment to transact business. Though, these benefits may not necessary be revealed to these outfits that they have this insurance policy because of the confidentiality status of ATI which is our policy. When banks sometimes get facilities from international organisations, ATI in most cases makes it happens and

the biggest secret, however, is that this is never revealed, so a lot of people are not even aware of this, because in international transaction you cannot supply or trade to somebody on open account terms without a credible insurance. In Africa, we are still getting to grip with this. If as a country in Africa, you are not a member there is no way we can cover and that is why in the past Nigeria as a country has not benefitted Joining ATI is not just simply signing documents, it requires certain issues which has to do with parliamentary approval and recommendation, and these challenges run through a lot of African countries. We also do have agreement with governments that any event that any deals fail ATI will pay and at the background we will have a discussion with the government on how we can resolve the problem as we have recourse to do as this is not a simple document because if the government must have recourse to us it means that it must have parliamentary approvals and this is where the challenges and so you have to go through applications and approval and once approval is given and then again you will seek the Ministry of Budget for signing and this process is then as its finality stage and these are complex requirements but unfortunately in Africa changes in government disrupts this.

What does Nigeria stand to gain from

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The Product Standardisation Unification Christine Lagarde and Jonathan Ostry Despite some progress, the gaps in labour force participation between men and women remain large. To take just one example, no advanced or middle-income economy has reduced the gender gap below seven percentage points.

This uneven playing field between women and men comes at a significant economic cost as it hampers productivity and weighs on growth.

A recent IMF staff study finds that barriers to women entering the labour force—think of tax distortions, discrimination, and social and cultural factors—are costlier than suggested by previous research and the benefits from closing gender gaps are even larger than thought before.

Policymakers should therefore focus on removing such barriers urgently.

Gender Diversity Matters Our analysis springs from the observation—supported by considerable microeconomic evidence—that women and men bring different skills and perspectives to the workplace, including different attitudes to risk and collaboration. Studies have also shown that the financial performance of firms improves with more gender-equal corporate boards.

Surprisingly, previous studies have not looked at the macroeconomic implications of this micro evidence.

In the standard textbook analysis, the labour force is the sum of the headcounts of male and female workers. Because replacing a man by a woman in this sum does not affect the labor force, there are no gains from gender diversity: men and women are assumed to be perfectly substitutable.

But our evidence—from macroeconomic, sectoral, and firm-level data—shows that women and men complement each other in the production process, creating an additional benefit from increasing women’s employment on growth. In other words, adding more women to the labor force should bring larger economic gains than an equal increase in male workers (reflecting the fact that, in economists’ jargon, the elasticity of substitution between women and men in production is low).

Key Benefits from Narrowing Gender Gaps The implications of this finding are significant.

A bigger boost to growth: Because women bring

new skills to the workplace, the productivity and growth gains from adding women to the labour force (by reducing barriers to women’s participation in the labour force) are larger than previously thought. Indeed, our calibration exercise suggests that, for the bottom half of the countries in our sample in terms of gender inequality, closing the gender gap could increase GDP by an average of 35 percent. Four fifths of these gains come from adding workers to the labour force, but fully one fifth of the gains are due to the gender diversity effect on productivity.

Higher productivity: When interpreting past data in situations where the gender gap has been narrowing over time, the contribution to growth from improved efficiency (or total factor productivity gains) is overstated. A portion of the gain attributed to productivity is actually due to the increased participation of women over time.

Higher male incomes: Our results suggest that men’s wages will also increase as a result of greater inclusion of women in the labor force since productivity will increase. This is important

because these higher wages should strengthen support for removing barriers that hold women back from decent work.

A bigger payoff to reducing gender barriers along development paths: The rise of the services sector driven by economic development brings more women into the labor force. But our work shows that barriers to women’s employment slow this process. These barriers vary across regions and countries, and are very large in some parts of the world—equivalent to tax rates on women’s employment of up to 50 percent.

And the corresponding welfare losses (which take into account consumption and leisure time) are large, even when allowing for the fact that “home production� is reduced when women enter the labor force. For example, we find that welfare costs exceed 20 percent in the Middle East and North Africa region and in South Asia.

Reaping the beneďŹ ts While there is no silver bullet, there are several policies that can help narrow gender gaps. These include enacting laws to ensure that women

have equal rights to own property and access credit. Reforming taxes (for example, by replacing family taxation with individual taxation and providing tax credits) can incentivise labour force participation among low-income earners.

Tackling gender inequality in education and health care, including publicly financed maternity and paternity leave, expanded childcare, and elder care availability can increase women’s participation in the labor market. Improving access to transportation, electricity, and water infrastructure can also help lift women’s participation in the workforce.These are not all new concerns, but there is a renewed sense of urgency.

For years, the IMF has been at the forefront of policy analysis highlighting the economic costs of inequality and possible remedies. We know that the un-level playing field between women and men has substantial economic costs and can impede the economic health of nations. What we are now learning is that these costs are even larger than we thought. Now that we see the full picture, the case for greater gender equity has become even more compelling.

The Product Standardisation Unification Anthony Onu Every industrial revolution has a prologue and an epilogue with the main activity being in the middle. But we need the pre and post intellectual revolution in order to exist and survive.

The first and second industrial revolution that happened in Britain and American respectively were initially preceded by an intellectual revolution.

The post intellectual framework is the law of boundaries. In fact, the absence of this rate limiting boundary conditions was what created world war two, and more especially, the cold war. It was a major culprit in all the economic recessions recorded in the world. The intellectual boundary conditions post recession solutions introduced a lot of standardisation and regulatory policies and frameworks to protect all parties involved in the economic activity of creating and distributing value. This was when the monetary policies, fiscal policies, treaties, consumer protection policies, product standardisation frameworks in terms of quality, uniformity and safety emerged.

This post-epilogue intellectual solution took on a life of its own. It took on a global identity. It is surprising at the level of global uniformity and quality compliance that is being achieved.

What if we can unify all the variables involved in a product life cycle into a quantifiable standardised number? This quest for simplicity which means more power is where the Peso Ratio comes in.

The Unique Peso Number Think of human history as seen by a physicist.

In terms of forces. Using the analogy, the first force to be worked out in the economic universe is the mastery of the factors of production. This released our inner creative energy and immense value was unleashed. But this also created a capitalist bourgeoisie. The second force was the macroeconomic policies and framework. This led

to a better control and regulation. This was when the standardisation and certification revolution emerged. The third force is the mastery of the psychology of the consumers through social media. The final fourth force that is left is a grand unification of all these variables. The absence of this unification is the reason for the lack of effectiveness of regulatory agencies whom only seem to be existing when the problem has been blown out of proportion. This is the source of the triangular antagonism between government, business and the people.

In Nigeria for instance, we have a consumer protection agency who does not have an effective execution framework for carrying out the consumer protection council acts CAP.C25 L.F.N 2004. There is no technical communication loop between them and the people.

As effective as SON has become recently, there is still no available certifications and standards in the service standards group especially a tool for data gathering that affects everyone in the industrial economic chain.

The solution to these problems and more can be found in the simplicity of a number called the Unique Peso Number.

The New Equation The Unique Peso Number is a personalised product standardisation number for a product per customer. It’s a buyer’s remorse avoidance solution. Buyer’s remorse is the sense of regret after having made a purchase.

This remorse is in four categories: Firstly, is the people’s remorse - this remorse is created because of the ignorance of the relationship psychology on why we spend money on certain things. Secondly is the product engineering remorse. This is created as a result of ignorance of engineering simplicity. No matter how complex a product might be, you should understand simply enough to be able to know what to check out

for when making a purchase. How to use and maintain in order to extract maximum value and how to make simple quick fixes and when to take to an expert.

Thirdly, there is the social remorse. This is the remorse created out of institutional ignorance.

And finally, the origin’s remorse, which is remorse of the ignorance of fundamental value.

You have probably heard of a long old forgotten product that someone auctioned for a lot of money. Its not just the economy of demand and supply that made it costly, but the estimated content value. A lot of us actually don’t know that we have a lot of precious metals like gold and platinum studded in our phones.

A Nigerian scientist and mathematician has developed a beautiful and simple analytical approach using the power of math with equations to account for all these variables and come out with a unique number termed “the Peso Number.� The Peso number for a product(s) is created from the Peso Ratio.

Hypothetically, this new equation can be described as “the theory of everything.�

The Peso ratio is still under peer review to be scientifically published as a economic scientific fact in the journal of American consumer research. But have been found to be mathematically accurate.

Analysis Whe Peso Ratio: An informed consumer wants an analytical, rational and sociological reason on why he needs the product. This needs analytics of Δp. HOW: He also wants to know how to use this latest piece of technology. He wants to know about the new innovation it carries and its ease of user friendly capabilities. How it differentiates from every other product that he has had or is out there. He wants to know what might go wrong and how he can fix it.

This needs analytics of Δe.

WHO?: More than anything, he wants to know

who is selling, their identity, values and ethics of the brand that produced it and what they stand for. He wants to know their supporting structures in terms of warranty and guarantees.

He also wants to know the estimated market brand identity that he stands to enjoy. This needs analytics of Δs. WHERE?: He also wants to know the origins and foundation of that technology, in order to have a proper valuation of how to dispose it and not run into problems with environmental agencies and other agencies. He also needs those origins valuation analytics in order to determine whether to resell it later in whole or in parts or even preserve some of the components as a technological fossil. This requires the analytics of Δo.

Conclusion This virtually simple number is the holy grail of Augmented product value. It is built into the fabrics of every other product level. It’s built into the core product of benefit (WHY Δp), the actual product (HOW Δe), and the augmented product (WHO Δs & WHERE Δo). Imagine millions of Nigerians having a PESO Certification which clothes them in standardisation confidence in all the variables and cycles that went into the product they have in their hands. A traceability framework that will help the CPC, SON, NAFDAC and PCC in effectively executing the impact of their policy mandates to the people. The level of big data that will come out of this activity will make the NEIC (economic intelligence), NBS (statistics), NPC (planning), NIA (intelligence) and NIPC (investment promotion) superstars in their intelligence mandates. And the private sector company that will pioneer this revolution will be able to read the mind of God and literally shake the world.

Onu, a scientist and writer is the founder and president of KULENGA Science Initiative

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EDUCATION 2018: Ending in Disputes, Strikes As 2018 draws to a close amidst the disagreement between the federal government and academic staff unions of universities and polytechnics in the country, among other issues, Funmi Ogundare writes that the country’s education sector still leaves much to be desired One of the major challenges that seem to be confronting the country’s education sector is inadequate funding, which has been identified as the major reason for the rot in the sector. The Ministry of Education received N541.2 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditure, up from the N496.9 billion proposed by the president. This is said to be meagre considering the crucial role education plays in the development of any nation.

As a result of poor funding, especially of tertiary institutions, the outgoing year witnessed frequent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and their polytechnic counterpart (ASUP). On November 5, ASUU had embarked on strike over demands of improved funding of public universities based on the agreement it reached with the federal government in 2009. Some of the demands by the union are that the federal government should nominate another chairman of the government renegotiating team of the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government Agreement to replace Dr. Wale Babalakin. The union also lamented the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA); revitalisation of Nigerian universities; implementation of needs assessment report; poor funding of state universities, among others.

Last week, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige had said at a reconciliation meeting with the union that the federal government has reached a partial agreement with the union. He said the parties touched some areas of understanding in implementation from the memorandum of action agreed in 2017.

Perhaps not considering the numerous problems confronting the tertiary institutions, the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and Services is considering bills for the establishment of more tertiary institutions across the country, just as the lawmakers move to amend the acts establishing six existing ones.

The proposed tertiary institutions are Federal Polytechnic, Dukku, Gombe State; Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State; Federal Polytechnic, Abriba Abita, Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State; Federal University of Agriculture, Taraba; Federal College of Education, Akwette, Abia State; Federal University of Technology, Kaduna; Federal College of Education, Monguno, Borno; and National Institute for Education Planning and Administration, Nigeria.

The universities whose acts are billed for amendment are Usman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto; University of Lagos; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Maiduguri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Speaking at a public hearing in Abuja, the Chairman of the Committee, Suleiman Aminu stated: “We deemed it expedient to subject these bills to public scrutiny and elicit inputs from the general public.

You will agree with me that easy access to quality tertiary education is not only desirable but also inevitable. “However, the tertiary institutions in the country cannot adequately accommodate the quests for admissions by Nigerians, which calls for more to address the protracted problem.�

Reacting to the proposed establishment of new higher institutions, the President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi had expressed concern over the state of tertiary education in the country saying, “my heart is heavy that we want to establish new universities when nothing is being done about the existing ones. The federal government is considering the imposition of tuition fees when most Nigerians cannot afford three meals a day, and you are

President Muhammadu Buhari talking of new universities.�

A PDP stalwart, representing Abia, Mr. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta countered ASUU, insisting that the federal character demands that all states should be entitled to a federal polytechnic and shutting some states out of it would amount to abuse of equity. “Federal character entitles every state to a polytechnic. Let us establish them first after which the issue of funding would be addressed.�

Nkem-Abonta’s position was also shared by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB), whose officials lauded the move for new tertiary institutions. “NABTEB is fully in support and even canvass that every state in Nigeria should have a federal polytechnic to enhance technical education, industrial dev and employment generation,� a NABTEB official said.

On the outcome of the public hearing, the chairman promised that the committee would be thorough, fair and objective. “A number of factors will guide our action. But we promise to be thorough, fair and objective; above all, necessity and the co-operation of host states would be the deciding factors.

In the outgoing year, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) released the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result for school candidates recording at least 50 per cent pass rate in the number of candidates that obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The Head, National Office of the council, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, who addressed journalists in Lagos, said a total of 786,016 candidates of the 1,572,396 that wrote the examination had five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics.

He said statistics of the results showed 1,213,244 candidates representing 76.84 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of any five subjects with or without English Language and or Mathematics.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu “858,424 candidates representing 54.59 per cent obtained credits and above Inna minimum of five subjects including English language but without Mathematics.�

Unfortunately, in its November\December diet for private candidates, the council recorded 60 per cent failure.

Adenipekun, who announced the results in Calabar, said 39,557 candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

He said the figure represents 35.99 per cent of 109,902 candidates that sat the examination, adding that 63,037 candidates representing 57.36 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects (i.e. with or without English Language and/or Mathematics.

The council boss noted that the WASSCE for private candidates 2018-second series took place in the five member countries from August 14, 2018 to October 4, 2018, adding that a total of 112,567 candidates registered for the examination in the country, out of which 109,902 sat the examination.

On a cheery note, the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) recorded many achievements in the outgoing year under the management of Professor Is-haq Oloyede appointed by the Buhari administration in 2016.

The board received accolades for taking a number of measures and initiatives driven by technology to restore confidence in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and reduce the time gap between the conduct of the examination and release of result so as to protect its sanctity; remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the federal government, a staggering distance from the N51 million remitted by the board under the last administration between 2010 and 2016; as well as transforming the staff of the board to experts in virtually everything that was hitherto done by service providers from registration to examination.

Oloyede had told THISDAY in an exclusive interview while giving his score card in the past two years that: “It is my desire that JAMB becomes a world class agency and a cynosure for all. This

prompted me on assumption of duty to roll out a five point agenda which form the fulcrum and driving force of our modest achievements. The five point agenda were welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and networking. “The five point agenda are like our code of engagement and guiding principles. What we are doing is leading by example, once people know your motive in an organisation they automatically set their own. Once your motives are transparent, national and inclusive, you will see people following your determination willingly and if it’s otherwise, you would just be deceiving yourself as they would do everything to compromise the system. “Punishment is secondary however, we have equally not shy away from it as the board punishes when necessary and reward in equal dimension. But the turning point in our dream today is technology. We have taken full advantage of technology to put solid security, ensure transparency and create equity, fairness and inclusiveness of all stakeholders to all stages of the process.�

Giving his assessment of the education sector, the Deputy Director, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Ohi Ojo expressed concern about the strikes embarked on by ASUU and ASUP saying that it crippled both key tertiary sub-sectors. “This is quite unfortunate. It is inconceivable that lecturers in this sector should choose strike action so frequently forgetting how these negatively impacts on the nation.�

He said he believes that negotiations could have continued with government without stopping teaching. “Recently we were informed of the increase in the pay package of the police, they didn’t go on strike,� he said, while expressing regret that “many lecturers hardly do their job well too. Several times, students are not aware of their results for the first semester. How can they plan for a test or carry-over? Yet they are the first to criticise the government for failure to keep agreement with their students except those in private universities.�

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EDUCATION

Reintegrating the Girl-child into School System Funmi Ogundare writes that girls who are out-of-school as a result of one form of attack or the other, abuse and poverty, need to be supported, safe and secured to get them re-integrated into the school system Friday November 16, 2018 will remain indelible in the life of Miss Maria Akinlolu (not real name), 13, a junior secondary three student of Emmanuel Academy, Akute, Ogun State. Though from a poor background, she went to school that morning with high hopes just like any of her mates, oblivious of what will befall her.

After school hours, with the excitement of getting home into the warm embrace of her mother, a vegetable seller, being the first child of the family, she was accosted by a group of four boys who threw a powdery substance in her face, dragged her into an uncompleted building where she was gang-raped; deflowered by those she felt could protect her. As a result of the incident, she is scared of going back to school for studies because of the shame and stigma she might face.

She shared her story with THISDAY: “When I was coming back from school on Friday, I was accosted by a certain Sheriff who is my boss’s fiancĂŠ whom I work for as a trainee auxiliary nurse at Baale Akinwusi Street, in Ajuwon. I noticed he was coming behind me and he suddenly held my hand and poured a powdery substance in my face. That was the last thing I remembered. “By the time I regained consciousness, I saw myself in an uncompleted building with blood all over body. I saw four boys standing there beside me and I asked them what I was doing there, they told me not to worry and threatened that if I alert anybody, I would be killed. He gave me another powder to rub my face at that point and mentioned his name as Sheriff Agunbiade.

Though I was very weak, I discovered that they had removed my uniform and shoes and I was left with the singlet I wore under my uniform in the morning. I managed to escape from the uncompleted building. “I am scared of going back to school now because of the shame I might face. My classmates and teachers may think I am a bad girl and may want to stigmatise me.�

Maria’s mother, Mrs. Funke Akinlolu in an emotion- laden voice expressed dismay over the shoddy manner the police handled the case when it was reported at Ajuwon Police Station and wants her daughter to go to the village and live with her grandmother, rather than going back to school because of shame.

She said her daughter had complained of severe body pains after the traumatic ordeal while describing her as a very good and trustworthy girl. She said the school authority had come to sympathise with the family and wants justice done.

Maria is not alone as other girls who find themselves in similar situations are forced to drop out of school due to rape, poverty, early marriage, ethnicity, residence and disability, as well as lack of security and safety measures in schools particularly in places where education has been under severe threat.

For these group of girls, who have been victims of circumstances, apart from a good delivery of quality education and counselling, especially at the basic level to integrate them back into the school system, they need to be educated on their safety and protected in the face of impending attacks.

According to reports, there is no existing model for schools to adopt in relation to safety and security.

Communities are weak and therefore unable to respond appropriately to challenges that threaten the education and future of their children, particularly the girl-child.

The founder of a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Children’s Health, Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE Hope), Mrs. Betty Abah, who took interest in Maria’s case, said her organisation works with marginalised children and young people in excluded and forgotten communities in Nigeria, adding that its biggest programme is on girls’ empowerment through skills acquisition, mentorship and leadership trainings.

She said she is concerned about anything that tampers with the safety of girls and contributes to her quota towards helping them. “We were able to trace the family of the mastermind of the rape case and went to the police station.

By the time we got there, Maria could identify the boys; they live in her neighbourhood in Ajuwon, Ogun State. My staff got on the case and we took her to Mirabel Centre for intervention on HIV/ AIDS test, contraceptive and hepatitis and for her to also get her medications because she could get pregnant through the terrible encounter.

The girl-child needs to be protected from all forms of abuses and conflicts “As we were on the case, I kept communicating with the parents on the phone. We got to know that two of the boys arrested by the police were freed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). He didn’t even listen to parents of the victim, but preferred to dismiss the boys. “So we got the story out in the social media and got Punch Newspaper into it. When Punch did the report, the Ogun State commissioner summoned the DPO. When the story got into the media, they knew that it will not be swept under the carpet.

We want to ensure that justice is done.�

Abah said the biggest threat to girl-child education is poverty and early marriage, adding that when a girl is not educated and protected, she is vulnerable to sexual violence and lacks the confidence that comes with getting education and empowered.

She said parents that are not enlightened think that the best they can do for their girls is to give them up in marriage. “It is poverty that makes a teenager engage in transactional sex to buy sanitary pad, feed and at the end of the day, many of them get pregnant in the process. It is poverty that degrades women and girls in community where I work. It cuts every possibility of a future. “A girl that is not educated and protected is an endangered specie, she is cut-off from getting life- enhancing opportunities,� she said, adding that the girl-child must have access to quality education in good schools with adequate facilities.

In Nigeria, it is common to see more boys going to school than the girls, as some stakeholders confirmed to THISDAY that even the girls prefer to stay at home to assist with family enterprise and also raise their siblings.

According to statistics obtained from the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), there are a total of 239,914 female and 242,571 male pupils in 1,012 public primary schools across the state, meaning that more boys at the basic level are in school in the state compared to their female counterparts.

However, there is still a long way to go to meet the needs of all girls at the basic education level.

Though more girls are enrolled in primary schools today than ever before, yet the majority of children still out of school are girls.

In a report carried out by UNICEF, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school girls and children with about 13.5 million children out-of-school, highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The net enrolment rate for girls at primary level is five per cent lower than for boys, gross enrolment at the junior secondary school level also follows this trend. Both figures hover around 50 per cent.

This falls far short of the target of Education for All (EFA) and the MDGs.

The situation is more disastrous in the northern part of Nigeria, as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) also estimates that more than 80 per cent of the 13.5 million children are out of school, with a larger percentage being girls.

Nonetheless, the importance of educating and protecting the girl-child the world over, cannot be overemphasised as it is good for development; encourages economic growth; contributes to stable and secure communities; reduces maternal and child mortality; raises schooling levels for the next generation; and meets human rights standards.

Some public school teachers and government officials who spoke to THISDAY, confirmed that though there is gender disparity in their respective schools and states due to deep-rooted forms of inequality based on, ethnicity, residence and disability, as well as armed conflict on education, the government is making effort through some programmes to ensure that girls are safe to go to school.

A teacher at New Era Girls Secondary School, Surulere, Mrs. Kafayat Lawal attributed the disparity in gender to ignorance of the parents who do not believe in educating their girl-child, saying that her school is planning to start a campaign within the Surulere community to inform people on the importance of educating the girl-child.

She added that the old girls’ association is also organising a symposium and providing teaching and learning facilities to ensure that the girl-child is in school, adding that learning is not done in abstract. “How are we going to ensure that the girls don’t derail? It does not take anything to get education especially in public schools, we organise seminars to let girls know that they must be educated. We are taking the lead and I believe that after doing this, we will make it a regular programme so that more people can be aware. The old girls are doing marvellously; they are providing more than enough in the area of ICT so that the girl-child does not learn in abstract.�

A teacher at Race Course Model Primary School, Nasarawa State, Mallam Abdulmumim Umaru said the gender parity in his school is 70:30 per cent in favour of the boys, adding that the girls don’t come to school because their mothers want them to face the family business. “Quality education is what will make an individual be on his own and at the same time contribute to the development of the country. My pupils are getting quality education, we have a policy that stipulates that education must be made compulsory for both male and female and we are already enlightening the parents to send their girl-child to school.�

The Deputy Director, Kano SUBEB, Mr. Ibrahim Sale highlighted the factors bedevilling girl-child

education in the state to include culture, religion and poverty, saying that the government is in talk with women associations on the importance of girls’ education and there is a programme on girls’ scholarship of N45,000 per session that covers books, transport and feeding. “We have so many programmes such as sensitisation of community so that they can allow their children to come to school.�

The Chairperson, Edo SUBEB, Dr. Joan Oviawe said the state has made good strides in gender parity when it comes to education. “In our public schools, the difference is not more than five per cent in terms of boys’ and girls’ enrolment. Recently, there was a national report that came out where Edo State has the fewest out of school children in the country. So what that means is that a lot of our girl-children are in school. “We also have the Child Rights Law domesticated at the state level; through sensitisation, our social mobilisation officers go in and around the communities to educate parents on the value of educating the girl-child and what that translates to parents is in terms of their social wellbeing and economic advancement, we see that more parents are bringing their girls to school.�

The Chairman, Lagos SUBEB, Dr. Ganiyu Sopeyin said the board has made education free and compulsory for boys and girls. “It is the right of every child of school age to be in school. This is backed by legislation by government,� he said, adding that state-of-the art facilities are provided along with learning materials, free books and ensuring their security. “The Lagos State Government, under the aegis of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), has been engaging primary and secondary school students on child rights and child abuse, as well as all forms of sexual and domestic violence. The initiative is also geared towards empowering them with their roles and responsibilities in handling and preventing such issues. “The team held an interactive workshop for primary school children tagged: ‘Safeguarding the Rights of a Child’, also known as STRAC, to appropriately sensitise them in age appropriate language on their rights and responsibilities, how to avoid being a victim of sexual abuse, self-defence tips, and how to preserve evidence when physically or sexually assaulted. “There is also the Smart Teens Advocacy initiative, targeted at secondary school students, deployed to fight against the growing trend of rape in secondary schools. The rape prevention workshop is led by trained peer educators to curb incidents of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual molestation among teenagers.�

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5 ) * 4 % ": t WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

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UNILORIN Management Attributes Student’s Suicide to Drug Addiction Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The management of the University of Ilorin has stated that the final year student of the institution, late Mr. Adigun Emmanuel Adewale, who committed suicide recently in Ilorin, was due to eventual culmination of his drug addiction.

The Late Adewale of the Faculty of Agriculture took pesticide to terminate his life recently in Ilorin.

In a statement, the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Alhaji Kunle Akogun said “painstaking investigations revealed that the late Adigun took his own life as an eventual culmination of his pathetic drug addiction, which he must have unwisely adopted to address the prolonged depression he suffered as a result of personal challenges he could not bear. “Some close friends of the deceased revealed that the obviously depressed student had unsuccessfully attempted suicide thrice, having publicly expressed profound regret, on many occasions, that it was his nagging younger sister that was sponsoring his education.�

Akogun added that, “Adigun was further reported to have lamented that it would be too difficult for him to approach the same younger female sibling for the needed finances to complete his extended stay on campus as a result of his failure in several

core courses. “Contrary to the speculations that the deceased, with a CGPA of 2.72 and failed results in seven different courses, which accounted for his non-graduation in the last academic session, could neither be said to be academically outstanding nor on the verge of completing any research project.�

Akogun stressed that the late Adigun, who hailed from Oyo State, never completed the series of enabling experiments that would have given him the data needed for his research and that he took his life while he was expected to complete registration formalities, a prerequisite for the retake of all the courses he had earlier failed.

The statement added: “When a senior academic staff of the deceased’s Department of Agronomy got wind of his psychological problem through their interactions, she offered series of assistance to him to avert the regrettable consequence.�

Akogun said his alleged drug addiction, courtesy of peer group influence, frustrated all the rehabilitative assistances that were rendered to him to the awareness, admiration and appreciation of his family members.

He explained that some of the measures taken by the management and good-spirited members of staff to soothe the nerves of the deceased included a four-week intensive rehabilita-

tion at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, courtesy of the professor, who also adopted him as her mentee; the facilitation of hostel accommodation for him on campus through the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Gbadebo Olaoye; and a soft loan granted him by the same mentor, even while she was in Nairobi, Kenya, some days to the incident to settle his school fees.

“Despite all these rehabilitative efforts to place the deceased in the right frame of mind, Adigun still resorted to the despicable act of suicide to the consternation of all those who assisted him one way or the other.�

Akogun insisted that there is no iota of truth in the media reports that the suicide had anything to do with the deceased’s academic challenges at the university. “It is a manifested testimony

of the increasing danger of drug addiction and peer pressure as it was reliably gathered that a son of his landlady, who was also his friend; schooling in a sister tertiary institution in Ilorin, also terminated his own life in similar circumstance not quite long ago.�

While the university commiserated with the deceased family over the unfortunate incident, Akogun appealed to parents, relations and guardians to be

awake to their responsibilities to their children and wards so that they would grow up to live a decent lives.

While assuring stakeholders of the university’s commitment to the provision of quality education and other forms of services to its students, he urged the media to always verify their stories before publishing and never base their reportage on hearsay so as to prevent misrepresentation of facts.

L-R: The founder, Al-Hikma University, Ilorin, Dr. Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Taofeek Ibrahim; and the

Seek Alternative to Strike, Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of Council, Dr. Muhammad Abubakar at the eighth convocation ceremony of the university, held in Ilorin‌ recently Elelu Tells Poly Lecturers, as 104 Kwara Poly Students Bag Al-Hikmah Varsity Graduates 876 at 8th Convocation Distinction Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Chairman, Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics and College of Technology, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu has urged striking lecturers in the country’s polytechnics and college of technology under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to look for other alternatives instead of using strike all the time to press home their demands.

He said such action is no longer fashionable and acceptable in the country.

Lecturers in polytechnics and colleges of technology in the country embarked on strike since last week to press home their demands from the federal government Elelu, who is also the Rector, Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin, stated this in Ilorin during the 25th convocation programme of the institution, where 104 students bagged distinction. A total of 10,507 obtained various certificates at the event.

The breakdown showed that 5,964 bagged National Diploma, while 4,543 obtained Higher National Diploma.

Elelu, who noted that the convocation ceremony was held with the involvement of the academic staff of the institution because they did not join the ASUP’s strike, expressed displeasure that ASUP embarked on the nation-wide strike.

He said though polytechnic education is confronted with many challenges in the country, an industrial action is not the only way to find solutions to the challenges, adding that ASUP would have taken the option of the strike as the last resort. “If you are going on strike, you should first look at the situation not only of the country but also your schools and other relevant factors otherwise we will all lose out.�

The rector said members of ASUP in his institution did not join the strike not because the institution did not have challenges, but because the union members believe that strike is not the solution and were also alive to the yearnings of the stakeholders who include parents and students.

He also appealed to the federal government not to be adamant on its position, saying, “both parties should look for ways they can avoid going to the extreme.�

He said the polytechnic in the past eight years enjoyed stable academic calendar and was recently rated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the sixth most sought after institution by admission candidates.

Elelu also called for more funding of polytechnic education in the country so as to boost the technological advancement of the country.

Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin recently graduated 876 students, just at 20 of the 798 first degree graduands bagged first class.

Of the total graduands, 61 bagged postgraduate degree, while 17 obtained sub-degree diplomas. Further breakdown of the undergraduates showed that 206 made second class upper division; 421 graduated with second class lower division; 144 made third class; while seven earned the pass degree.

The university also awarded honorary doctorate degrees to three prominent Nigerians: the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and a former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman were awarded Honorary Doctorate of Political Science and Public Administration; while the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Max Air Limited, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal was awarded honorary Doctorate of Business Administration.

In his remarks, the ViceChancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Taofeek, congratulated all the graduands and wished them success in their future endeavors.

He said the 14-year-old university thrives on its motto, ‘Learning for Wisdom and Morality’ and urged the students to be good ambassadors of the school anywhere they find themselves in the nearest future.

He said the institution needs funding for more student hostels, library expansion, lecture theatres, among others.

The Chancellor, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, who is the Chairman/ CEO, MRS Oils Plc, to mobilise philanthropic support for the development of the institution.

While calling on well-meaning Nigerians and government agencies to support the university, he said no amount of money spent on education is too much.

Also speaking, the ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, M.D Abubakar, urged the entire university community to be prudent in running the institution with dedication, honesty and the fear of Almighty Allah.

He added that curriculum of schools should be reviewed, that that universities should start training youths that would not only be self-employed but also be employers of labour. He also appealed to the federal government to include private universities as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

On behalf of the awardees, Masari thanked the institution for the honour and promised to continue to serve as ambassadors of Al-Hikmah University.

He also stressed the need for cooperation and synergy between the public and private sectors to uplift people from poverty and ignorance.

He enjoined the students to recognise the privilege which their association with the institution confer on them and urged them to imbibe the values that the university was built on.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed commended the university management for the achievements it recorded in the past 13 years, saying that the institution has demonstrated potential of an emerging world-class university with a bright future. He pointed out that the future of the university depends on its continued and faithful implementation of strategies like facilities and infrastructure development; merit-based admission; curriculum review and modernisation; sustainable funding, compliance and student-centred approach.

This year’s convocation lecture titled ‘Restructure or Not to Restructure Nigeria’ was delivered

by Professor Munzali Jubril, who emphasised that the country needs devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources from the centre to the federating units. “As Nigerians, we must be accountable and also practice a good democracy system that is not bias or corrupt,� Jubril said, adding that these can be achieved without re-structuring Nigeria into more geopolitical zones which would only take the country fifty years backwards.

The convocation was preceded by the vice-chancellor’s press briefing, where he highlighted the various projects of the institution, including the construction of drainage for international hostel; 17 feet chain link fence at Okoje Male Hostel; equipping the multi-purpose mini labora-

tory; equipping the school clinic; construction of culvert at the main entrance of the International Hostel to accommodate more run off water from Adewole and Mandate Market.

The vice-chancellor also hinted journalists about the new policy on drug test for students. He said the drug test would enable the institution to know the appropriate interventions to adopt.

A friendly football match was also organised as part of for the convocation programme between Al-Hikmah and Summit University Offa. The deputy vicechancellor, registrar and other university staff were present for the football match that ended 1-0 in favour of Al-Hikmah University.

A special prayer also held at the school mosque; it was attended by the founder, the chancellor, vice-chancellor, bursar, the current Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulieman Age, as well as other staff and students of Al-Hikmah University.

The prayer was followed by a book launch in honour of the founder, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji. The book ‘The Unschooled Schooling Leaders’ was reviewed by Prof. Peter Okebukola.

Dignitaries that graced the book launch included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Prof. Suleiman Jamiu; Hon. Justice Abdulahi, Hon. Abdul Fatai; Alhaja Maryam Yasin, among others.

36

5 ) * 4 % ": t WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

37

38

W E D N E S DAY Ëž DECEMBER 19, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NEXIM Reiterates Commitment to Non-oil Sector The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has reiterated its commitment to support the growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

This followed its recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM), under the Nigeria-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme (NATIPP).

The MoU was to support trade and investment flows between Nigeria and other African countries.

The signing of the MoU took place during the Inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair in Cairo,

Egypt, last week.

Under the Agreement, Afreximbank would provide $1bn Line of Credit (LOC), which would be disbursed by NEXIM to qualifying beneficiary projects and transactions in support of Intra-African Trade and Investments.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NEXIM, Abba Bello, the deal would boost access of Nigerian exporters to investment capital and investment guarantee instruments, including the SMEs, thereby promoting intra-African trade and increasing the volume of formal trade.

According to the MOU, the fund is available to support

growth of trade between Nigeria and other African countries with special emphasis on value addition, particularly in primary goods and commodities, with a view to enhancing local earnings and jobs creation.

The fund is also available to support capital and investment flows as well as projects being sponsored by Nigerians in other countries.

In implementing this programme, the Bello also revealed that the Bank would be working with all stakeholders, including exporters/ prospective exporters, investment partners as well as other financial institutions, both domestic and foreign.

GDL Money Market Fund Lists on NSE Nume Ekeghe The Growth and Development Asset Management Limited’s Money Market Fund yesterday got listed for trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The NSE admitted 200 million units of shares brought to the floor of the exchange by the company, at N10 per unit.

At the listing ceremony, the Executive Director of Regulation of the NSE, Mrs. Tinuade Awe, said the company had over the years proven to be one with good reputation and worthy of being listed on the exchange.

In an interview with THISDAY, the Chief Executive Officer, GDL Mr. Kola Ayeye said: “The significant of this event for us at GDL starts with the fact that we

took over this company three and a half years ago. “We acquired it from one of the oldest core houses. And within these period to make our maiden introduction; we are very glad. And it is a start of what will be a fruitful and long association with the market. “Essentially, this fund, being a money market fund Is much more insulated from the economy than equities. Money market is much more a function of monetary policies. “It is not as correlated to the fundamentals of the economy as much as the equity.�

He added: “We went to the market for N1 billion, in a market that has been this soft. We were able to make do with almost N1.2 billion, which is something we are very grateful for. This

is an addition to the market. “You will reckon the market has been a bit north and south this year. But we are glad that this year, we have been able to do a fund that succeeded.

Our contribution to the market by adding these funds to the memorandum listings of the market is significant�.

Also in an interview with THISDAY, the Co-Chairman of GDL, Mrs. Nadu Denloye said, the company had a very successful subscription of N1 billion money market funds which was fully subscribed.

She added that they decided to list on the NSE so as to give opportunities for trading.

Thereby expressing believes “that this will be the first of other funds that we will be able to list in the market.�

L-R: US Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington; National President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Otunba Oluwatoyin Akomolafe; former Chairman, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, at the NACC 2018 annual dinner and presidential inauguration held in Lagos‌recently

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)

Group Funds Education for Indigent Members Ugo Aliogo The Erhurun Uneme Development Association, Lagos branch has provided funds to support the education of indigent members as part of efforts to contribute the growth of the community.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Peter Balogun, said the association basically exists to cater for members’ interest and to get members to contribute in various ways to the development of our community.

He also noted that they gathered to celebrate the journey so far with members

having accomplished their yearly obligation to the community with the presentation of educational materials. “We have come together today to celebrate the journey so far with members having accomplished our yearly obligation to the community with the Presentation of Educational Materials.

Today we shall dance, drink, give Awards and Family Education Support Fund to Beneficiaries,� he noted.

Award of Excellence was presented to some eminent members, traditional rulers and others.

About 10 families who are

members of the association but in need of education support received the sum of N50, 000 each from the association education support trust fund.

The guest of honour at the event, Hon. Peter Akpatason, expressed delight with the growth of the association and the progress they had made thus far, adding that it is a model worthy of emulation. “Today is something else, very unique and well organised. I want to advice those beneficiaries to judiciously use the money for the purpose for which they have been released,� he added.

FG Committed to Railway Concessioning, Says NRC MD Ugo Aliogo The Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to the concessioning of the railway.

According to him, as a corporation, the NRC is fully in support of government efforts to raise the railway to an international standard.

Okhiria, who disclosed this recently at the last quarterly meeting of railway workers for 2018 in Lagos, noted that in order to raise the standard of the railway to an enviable height, there was need for huge financial investment, adding that one of the terms of the concessioning is that the concessionaire would

develop the rail system and make profit. “One of the terms is that the concessionaire will develop Nigeria railway system and as well make their profit. This is why the system was followed tenaciously through due process, knowing what we know about federal government that they would tolerate such. This is why we advertised and people bided.�

He also noted that when General Electric (GE), one of the concessionaires that left, three were left behind, noting that government is following the normal process.

According to him, the federal government has handed over the project to Transnet “and as today, we are still discussing with transnet.�

The NRC stated when the train becomes operational, more engineers and drivers would be employed, the number of trains running on a daily basis might increase from one to seven trains daily.

According to him, “From this discussion, we are hoping to get a better rail service, and up and doing railway industry in Nigeria because they are expected to rise about $2.7 billion investment on the narrow gauge. “Government will provide the enabling environment, if government has the money, they will not search for concessionaire.

It is the fund that we lack that is why we are looking for people to put their money and concession for the rail to run better.

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018

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‹

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 MONDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $58.24 a barrel on Monday, compared with $59.07 the previous Friday, 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

39

W E D N E S DAY ˾ DECEMBER 19, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Diamond Shares Remain Upbeat as Access’Falter at Stock Market Goddy Egene It was mixed performance for the shares of Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc on the second trading day at the stock after the confirmation of the business combination by both financial institutions.

The shares of both banks had surged the first day after the confirmation as investors swooped on the shares at the stock market.

However, on the second day of trading, the shares of Diamond Bank Plc continued to rise while those of Access Bank Plc depreciated. Diamond Bank Plc share price appreciated by 9.62 per cent, higher than the 9.47 per cent recorded the previous day, to close at N1.14. Holders of the stock appear not to be willing to part with their shares as only 2.235 million units were traded at N2.548 million in 27 deals.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

On the contrary, Access Bank Plc share shed 5.52 per cent, compared with a gain of 9.40 per cent the previous day. The stock fell from N8.15 to N7.70 per share as investors traded 22.208 million shares worth N179.122 million in 421 deals.

Market analysts said the renewed demand for Diamond Bank shares is understandable as investors see it as way to buy into Access Bank that has a higher

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

price. The board of Diamond Bank had said on Monday that it had reached an agreement to combine its businesses with that of Access Bank subject to approval of regulators and shareholders.

The proposed merger would involve Access Bank acquiring the entire issued share capital of Diamond Bank in exchange for a combination of cash and shares in Access Bank via a Scheme of Merger.

Based on the agreement

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

reached by the boards of the two financial institutions, Diamond Bank shareholders would receive a consideration of N3.13 per share, comprising of N1 per share in cash and the allotment of two new Access Bank ordinary shares for every seven Diamond Bank ordinary shares held as at the implementation date.

Immediately following completion of the merger, Diamond Bank would be absorbed into Access Bank and it will cease to exist

O F

under Nigerian law.

And some stock market operators said the business combination was a welcome development that seemed to be more favourable to Diamond Bank Plc. Mr. David Adonri of Highcap Securities Limited, said: Diamond Bank Plc has been failing. Merger with Access Bank has finally rescued the bank from imminent collapse. The terms of merger weights heavily in favour of Diamond Bank Plc.”

1 8 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2018

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41

MARKET NEWS

Lafarge Africa Opens N89 Billion Rights Issue to Shareholders Goddy Egene Lafarge Africa Plc has opened its Rights Issue to raise N89.21 billion from existing shareholders. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, Lafarge Africa said, it had received clearance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to open the rights issue on Monday, December 17 and will close on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. The company is issuing

7,434,367,256 shares at N12.00 per share to shareholders on the basis of six new shares for every seven shares already held as at December 4, 2018.

Following the resolution of our shareholders passed at the extra- ordinary general meeting(EGM) held on the 25th September 2018, the board of directors approved the terms of the rights issue.

The board of the company last September got shareholders’ nod to raise additional capital. The

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

directors equally got the shareholders’ approval to increase the authorised share capital of the company from N5 billion to N10 billion by the creation of 10 billion, additional ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, ranking pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the company and that the new shares thus. This was to enable them create shares to accommodate future issuances.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Lafarge Africa Plc,

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 1712-2018, unless otherwise stated.

Mr. Bruno Bayet, had said the company has a refinancing plan that is aimed at preparing it for future development in Nigeria, improving the company’s leverage as well as strengthen its profitability.

Hence, the proposed N89.21 billion right issue subject to all corporate and regulatory approvals.

Speaking at the EGM, Chairman of Lafarge Africa, Mr. Mobolaji Balogun said: “The additional capital to be raised will further help

to deleverage the company’s balance sheet and provide head room for the expansion of our business.�

According to him, the board of directors is mindful of the support of all our shareholders through the difficult but necessary journey to transform the company into a more agile and correctly financed business ready to benefit from the potential opportunities in Nigerian building materials (market).

He also assured shareholders

that restructuring of the capital structure of the company largely completed through the past year would help to significantly reduce the cost of financing and currency translation risk.

The chairman had added that the company was implementing a new routeto-market initiative aimed at supporting the anticipated growth in demand as the country gradually recovers from recession and as foreign exchange rates stabilise.

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 158.96 160.40 -10.33% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 276.29 278.00 19.55% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.83 0.84 0.94% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 7.13% 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 12.80% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.21 2.23 -3.82% 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 16.21 16.70 -11.30% ARM Discovery Fund 351.30 361.89 -9.71% ARM Ethical Fund 28.03 28.88 2.61% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.78% 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 130.15 131.07 -14.20% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.44% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.17% Paramount Equity Fund 11.49 11.79 3.65% Women's Investment Fund 101.23 103.72 0.54% 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 13.17% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 94.92 95.12 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.30 98.72 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 12.46% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.86 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 10.77% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,174.72 1,175.48 11.74% FBN Heritage Fund 140.26 141.44 0.56% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.84% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.13 113.72 3.90% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.85 $113.45 3.75% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 144.58 146.62 -8.90% 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 1.20 1.22 -6.99% Legacy Debt Fund 3.23 3.23 11.76% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.76% 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 2,939.34 2,968.15 -1.55% Coral Income Fund 2,749.54 2,749.54 12.31% 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 12.66% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 106.32 106.72 5.87% 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 12.00%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 1.51% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.44% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.27 124.46 7.97% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.20 1.22 4.48% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,094.47 1,094.47 13.27% 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 11.17 11.26 -13.70% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.95% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.33 1.36 11.96% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.17 12.24 10.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.70% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 128.19 128.62 -1.17% 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 1.70 1.70 14.48% 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 2,303.99 2,317.95 4.82% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 188.70 188.70 8.36% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 -6.44% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 246.35 246.39 14.13% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 159.26 161.08 -11.07% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.05% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,411.08 8,512.56 -11.54% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.10 1.10 7.06% 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 11.05 11.20 -8.70% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.11 12.22 -6.28% Zenith Income Fund 20.69 20.69 12.09% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.46%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

9.00 139.60 51.74

-20.11% 5.39% 1.79%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.14 115.90 87.57

10.24 118.34 89.20

-14.28% -18.86% -19.85%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.99 7.15 14.39 12.09 141.72

4.03 7.23 14.49 12.29 143.72

-15.66% -25.16% -17.50% -38.33% 5.45%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

SPECIALIST FUNDS 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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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

45 Killed in Ethnic Violence in Western DR Congo At least 45 people have died in ethnic violence since Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s west, sparking a massive exodus of refugees

to neighbouring Congo, the governor of the region said Tuesday.

“The violence started on the night of 15-16 December …

the provisional toll is 45 dead and more than 60 injured,” Gentiny Ngobila, the governor of Mai-Ndombe province told AFP.

UK Puts 3,500 Soldiers on Standby for No-deal Brexit British ministers agreed on Tuesday to make no-deal Brexit planning “an operational priority” amid continued opposition to Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft divorce deal, just 14 weeks before the country leaves the EU. Following a meeting of her cabinet — the last before parliament breaks for the Christmas/New Year break — Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said around 3,500 troops would be on standby to help deal with the “any contingencies” from a no-deal outcome.

But Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers still hoped to secure backing for May’s agreement in a House of Commons vote delayed until next month.

He added that any responsible government would intensify preparations for the “default option” of leaving the European Union without a deal on March 29 next year.

“We agreed that preparing for no deal will be an operational priority within government,” Barclay said.

“But our overall priority remains to secure a deal.”

He said departments would step up their advice to businesses on how best to

prepare for the scenario, which many fear could be catastrophic for the British economy.

Businesses will be provided with a 100-plus page online preparation pack and emails will be sent to 80,000 of those most likely to be impacted over the next few days, according to Downing Street.

May’s cabinet is divided between ministers who want the government to embrace a no-deal outcome and those who favour parliament having a final say in a series of votes on potential scenarios for Brexit. One option is the prime minister’s own Brexit deal, but that is hanging by a thread after she was forced to pull a vote on it last week in the face of huge opposition from within her own Conservative Party.

Earlier Tuesday, Downing Street reportedly blocked opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn’s request Monday for a non-binding no-confidence motion in May. That had followed her telling MPs they will not get to vote on her deal this week, but instead in the week beginning January 14.

The delay prompted accusations she was stalling to increase pressure on MPs to

back the plan — and fresh calls for Labour to table a binding no-confidence vote against the whole government.

However, such a move faces likely defeat after Conservative Brexithardliners and the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up her government, both said they would back May. May insisted Monday that she was continuing to seek “assurances” from the EU over elements of her plan, although EU officials said no meetings were planned.

The postponed vote has left members of her own party and Labour opposition politicians infuriated.

“The prime minister has cynically run down the clock, trying to manoeuvre parliament into a choice between two unacceptable outcomes” — her deal or no deal, Corbyn said.

May is also facing calls for a second referendum to resolve the impasse, with dozens of MPs from all sides now supporting another poll and reports that May’s officials are also considering the possibility.

But the prime minister argued that this would betray the 2016 Brexitreferendum result and undermine public confidence in politics.

18 Boys, Others Die in South Africa at Circumcision Camps Authorities on Tuesday said 18 boys and young men have died in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province while attending male circumcision initiation camps.

Mamkeli Ngam, spokesman for the Eastern Cape Traditional Affairs Department, told dpa: “they died from a variety of causes including “dehydration and septicemia.’’

The young men were aged 17 to 20.

“One initiate committed suicide and another was burned to death,’’ he added, noting the cause of the fire

at the boy’s hut is still being investigated.

Every year teenagers from South Africa’s Xhosa tribal group undergo a two-week initiation period, where they are circumcised by traditional leaders. The Xhosa are most numerous in Eastern Cape province.

Local South African media reported that countrywide 21 deaths occurred in connection with the rite.

It is believed to be a boy’s transition to manhood and is steeped in mystique, with the teens painted white and draped in blankets as they

fast and live in straw huts in the wild mountains of the eastern Cape.

Deaths occur every year during the rite, either due to botched circumcisions, accidental amputations or infection and dehydration.

Experts have said that while skilled elders performed the cut in the past, they are now often done by quack doctors for money.

Ngam told dpa police were investigating this year’s deaths, which have all occurred since the initiation season started at the end of November.

Belgian Prime Minister Resigns Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel announced his resignation Tuesday, less than two weeks after his main coalition partner quit in a row over migration, leaving him leading a minority government.

Michel, who took office in 2014, lost the backing of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) over his support for the UN migration pact, a cause celebre for European anti-immigration parties.

The resignation comes two days after demonstrations against the pact in central Brussels descended into scuffles, with

police forced to use tear gas and water cannon to restore order.

After a debate in parliament where opposition parties refused to lend their support to allow his government to keep working until legislative elections in May next year, Michel announced he would quit.

“I have taken the decision to submit my resignation and it is my intention to go to see the king immediately,” Michel said.

The Flemish nationalist N-VA, led by powerful Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever, had made political demands which Michel judged “unacceptable” —

notably on possible constitutional changes.The liberal steadfastly defended the Marrakesh migration pact, saying it presented an “opportunity for better European and international cooperation.

The non-binding UN accord, which would promote a common global approach to migrant flows, was initially supported by all four parties in Belgium’s coalition.

But the N-VA changed its mind in late October and pulled out of the coalition the day before Michel flew to Morocco to sign the deal.

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

51

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Obasanjo, Mahama, Koroma Examine Role of ICT in Electoral Process Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta Four erstwhile African leaders, including Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, converged on Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, at a two-day meeting aimed at proffering solutions to the disruptive use of Information and Communication Technology

(ICT) on electoral process on the continent.

The three other ex-African leaders were a former President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama; former President of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ernest Koroma, and former Prime Minister of Kenya, Mr. Raila Odinga.

Under the leadership of

Abdulsalami, Ooni Task Police, Others on Credible Polls in 2019 Former Head of State and Chairman, National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan, have called on the police and other stakeholders to show more commitment towards conducting credible elections in 2019.

Abdulsalami, who was the chairman of the occasion, made the call at a security summit for stakeholders on the electoral process held yesterday in Abuja.

“The police and stakeholders must show commitment to the 2019 general elections,” he said.

He said the current security challenges in the country should be of concern to all Nigerians, adding that all stakeholders must collaborate with the police to provide security during the elections.

The former head of state also called on the police to discharge their duties in accordance with the law to erase the perception of intimidation Nigerians have about them.

He also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies to put

Nigeria first, adding that the world is looking up to them on the conduct credible elections.

In his remark, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan, urged security agencies in the country to carry out their constitutional mandate in accordance with the law.

He said Nigeria is greater than any individual or group, adding that election was not “a do-or-die affair’’ but a contest where the popular candidates emerge.

“Unity of Nigeria is not negotiable and we should be fair and equitable in all we do,“ he said.

The monarch also advised the youths to shun violence while refusing to be used by unscrupulous politicians.

Prof. Etannibi Alemika of the University of Jos said there could not be credible elections where violence persisted.

He attributed the low level of participation of women in politics in Nigeria to violence which had characterised elections in the country.

The university lecturer said the lucrative native of politics in the country had also contributed to the frequent violence being reordered during elections.

Obasanjo, the ex-leaders met on the theme, ‘High-Level Working Group Meeting on Mitigating Disruptive Applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the Electoral Process in Africa’.

The session, which began last Monday and ended yesterday, also had in attendance, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; Dr. Muthoni Wanyaki and Amir Osman from the Open Society Foundations.

Others were Advocate Pansy Tiakula from South Africa, Dr. Greg Mills from Brenthurst Foundation, and experts on ICT, among others.

In his opening remarks, Obasanjo noted that the essence of the meeting was “to review electoral systems in Africa,

especially inputs, processes and output/outcomes as well as examine the strengths and weaknesses in the use of ICT in electoral systems in Africa and elsewhere in the world.

“To illustrate how ICT can be used to ease the electoral process rather than inhibit it; to document good practices in e-voting across the world and extract lessons for Africa; and to propose models of successful deployment of ICT in electoral systems in Africa for the sustenance of democracy in the region.”

Obasanjo recalled that “about three weeks ago, the Africa Progress Group (APG) which he chaired was formally inaugurated, and it’s delighted that the Secretariat of APG is the venue of the important meeting that has to do with

the progress of Africa.

“One of the pillars of Africa’s progress in my five “P”s as adopted by APG at its inaugural meeting of November 27, 2018, is Politics, while others are Prosperity, Population, Protection and Partnerships.

“This meeting on the election process is within the framework of the pillar of politics. Deficit in the election process will translate to deficit in politics (and vice versa) which in turn will impede sound governance, a much sought-after element in the development of Africa.”

Obasanjo added that,“during the course of this meeting, we will be addressing one of the key issues that is at the heart of credible elections in Africa - Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the election process.

ICT is here to stay, pervading and increasingly impacting all aspects of our lives including the conduct of elections. “But it can be a good servant or a bad master. This is why, I believe, that the outcomes of our deliberations will have far-reaching implications for the quality and credibility of the election firmament in Africa now and in the future.

“It is a subject that has engaged the attention of numerous regional and global organisations, including the African Union. This meeting presents an important addition to those previous efforts. More than an addition, our meeting hopefully will present new and refreshing insights to how ICT can be better used in delivering credible elections in Africa and for the rest of the world.

Atiku Celebrates Saraki At 56, ON THEIR MINDS… Describes Him as Symbol of SECURITY Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu; Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki; representative of the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Emmanuel Inyang; and Chairman, Edo State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Aigboje AigCourage Imoukhuede, at the launch of the Edo State Security Trust Fund and New Security Architecture, in Benin City, Edo State...recently

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has saluted the selflessness, courage and statesmanship of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who clocks 56 years today.

The former vice president in a congratulatory message, signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said Saraki has carved a niche for himself in the annals of Nigeria’s politics and good governance.

According to him, “Saraki is an embodiment of finesse, a

fusion of intellectual fecundity and leadership competence; a brave defender of democracy and symbol of courage; and an adherent to the rule of law and selfless stewardship.”

“I rejoice with a compatriot and political ally as he walks the stage of his golden age.

Bukola is a man of great past, commendable present and promising future. I pray that almighty Allah will continue to grant him greater vision, robust vitality and a wealth of good health, in the service of our nation and humanity at large”, Atiku said.

Oshiomhole: I Stand with Workers on Minimum Wage The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has backed workers on their demand for a new minimum wage.

He said the refusal to pay a living wage amounts to creating poverty for the masses.

The former Edo State governor said improving the purchasing powers of workers cannot be over-emphasised because when people cannot afford goods and services, manufacturers are forced to close shops, leading to loss

of jobs. He said there was no basis for governors to insist on not paying what he described as living wage to workers.

He assured workers that President Muhammadu Buhari will not do anything that will undermine their welfare.

Oshiomhole spoke at a reception for President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, on his election as President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Financial Secretary

of NLC, Safiyanu Mohammed, who was appointed as the Africa regional secretary of the International Transport Federation.

He said if governors of the 36 states receive the same salaries irrespective of their revenue bases, there was no reason why wages of workers should not be the same across the country.

The former NLC president said: “I am sure you must have read some of my comments on the minimum wage. I have told

people that even if I was to become the Secretary General of the United Nations I am a creation of labour and I will never, publicly or privately, do anything that will undermine or do anything that is designed to possibly affect the welfare of Nigeria workers.

“I am a believer Nigeria needs to have a national minimum wage. I do not belong to those who say because we are in a federation, we should have different wages.

Gbenga Biobaku Joins Advisory Board of TAGLAW

At Least Eight People Killed in Car Bomb

The Senior Partner of Gbenga Biobaku & Co., a leading Commercial Law Firm in Lagos, Gbenga Biobaku, was recently appointed to the Advisory Board of TAGLaw. TAGLaw is a global alliance of high quality, independent law firms with 150 member-firms, based in over 90 countries and operating from over 300 offices.

“We are honoured to have

A car bomb killed at least eight people including four civilians near a pro-Turkey rebel post in the northern Syrian city of Afrin on Sunday, a British-based war monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not clear who was behind the blast in the city, which was seized from Kurdish forces earlier this year.

The explosion comes after the

Gbenga join our TAGLaw Advisory Board”, said Richard Attisha, President of TAGLaw and the TAG Alliances.

“We acknowledge Gbenga’s deep commitment to our global multidisciplinary alliance and his support of our efforts to recruit prominent and outstanding firms in the African region to the TAG Alliances,” Attisha added.

Turkish president on Wednesday threatened to launch a new offensive against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. The Observatory said the car bombing wounded dozens, and the toll was likely to rise.

“The car bomb exploded near a position of pro-Turkey fighters” in a market, killing four civilians and four fighters, Observatory chief Rami Abdel

Rahman said.

The city of Afrin was captured in March this year from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) by Turkish armed forces and Syrian rebels supported by Ankara.

Turkey accuses the YPG of being “terrorists”, but the Kurdish militia also form the backbone of a US-backed alliance fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. The YPG are present in

areas along the Turkish border to the east of Afrin.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was planning to launch a new offensive within the “next few days” against the YPG in northern Syria.

A day later, a Turkish soldier was killed in the Afrin region after coming under fire from the YPG, the Turkish defence ministry said.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

52

NEWSEXTRA

50 Govt Agencies Yet to Remit N2.78tn to Federation Account Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja No fewer than 50 GovernmentOwned Enterprises (GOEs) are yet to remit about N2.78 trillion into the Federation Account as operating surpluses in line with the provisions of extant laws.

Some of the GEOs and agencies identified to be owing operating surpluses include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which is said to owe N801.18 billion; Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA),N1.34 trillion; Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), N30.85 million; Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC), N11.99 billion and National Examination Council (NECO),N16.33 billion.

Others are NIMASA,N192.10 billion; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) N8.81 billion, among others.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, mandates any government agency that generates revenue to remit 80 per cent of its operating surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account.

Sections 21 and 22 of the Act state that government corporations and agencies shall, not later than six months from the commencement of the Act and every three financial years

thereafter and not later than the end of the second quarter of every year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the finance minister their schedule estimates of revenue and expenditure for the next three financial years.

Contrary to these provisions, the federal government disclosed yesterday that despite an investment of about N40 trillion in the Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) over the years, they had only been able to pay an “insignificant” amount as operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

The Director General, Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), Mr. Ben Akabueze, who spoke at a town hall meeting with chief executives of government enterprises on the new Revenue Performance Management Framework for GOEs, said the enterprises were yet to remit about N2.78 trillion.

Quoting figures from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, he noted that over 50 companies currently owe about N2.78 trillion to the Federation Account as operating surpluses.

He noted that there could be some discrepancies as some may have offset part of their indebtedness.

However, Akabueze said the situation had resulted to

huge revenue challenges for government, particularly for the provision of basic infrastructure for Nigerians.

He said government is currently under-investing in critical sectors including education and health largely because of paucity of funds.

Akabueze noted that efforts were being intensified towards bridging the infrastructural gaps through borrowing.

Giving an insight into revenue performance of the federation account inflows between 2015 and 2018, he stated that out of the N847.95 billion approved as independent revenue of the federal government in the 2018 budget, actual collection stood at about N302.66billion as at September while performance stood at 36 percent.

He noted that in 2015 when the

approved budget was N489.29 billion, actual collection peaked at N354.03 billion with 72.4 per cent performance.

However, in 2016, when approved federal budget was N1.50 trillion, actual collection was N398 billion with a performance of 26.4 per cent.

Also, in 2017, although approved budget stood at N847.95 billion, actual revenue collection was recorded at N216 billion. The BoF DG also lamented that the country’s revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was less than eight per cent compared to 16 per cent for some countries in Africa.

He said presently, revenue collection by the federal government and the 36 states of the federation stood at 12 per cent of GDP against an average of 22 per cent.

“We have not made the required progress in revenue generation,” he said.

Akabueze further said the present administration’s commitment to diversifying the economy away from oil through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) was being constrained by the “continuous underperformance of the GOEs,” which had “made it difficult to achieve enhanced domestic revenue mobilisation from operating surpluses of the GOEs.” He said a critical element of the ERGP was the improvement in domestic revenue drive through innovation in both tax policies and collection as well as significant turnaround in the performance of publicly owned enterprises.

But he stressed that there had

been concerns about the “financial performance of GOEs which had necessitated the Executive Order 2 of 2017 and the circular ref SGF. 50/S.3/C.9/24 recently issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).”

According to him, going forward, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered that urgent corrective action be taken to reposition the GEOs towards actualising government’s objectives.

He said out of the total projected sum of N807.57 billion independent revenues in 2017, “only N216.66 billion, representing 26.8 per cent was remitted by GOEs and revenue generating MDAs.” “Remittances and collections by government agencies should contribute more significantly to FGN’s revenue,” he added.

SGF: FG Has Released N’Assembly’s 2018 Budget Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, yesterday revealed that part of the budgetary allocation to the National Assembly has finally been released.

He made the revelation that the 2018 budget has been released after a closed-door meeting that lasted about an hour with members of the House of Representatives in Meeting Room 1, White House, National Assembly.

Asked why the 2018 budget of the National Assembly has

not been released, Mustapha hinted that: “It has been released.

I can assure you that for their constituency projects, at least 50 per cent has been released.”

On the purpose of his visit and whether it has anything to do with the protest by National Assembly workers in relation with the budget presentation

by President Buhari, the SGF said: “I have come to attend a caucus meeting with members of the House of Representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has nothing to do with the strike action. We were just discussing party matters, which is germane and important to us.”

FG: Climate Change Document Designed to Tackle N’Delta Devt Challenges Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr.Usani Uguru Usani, has disclosed that the document on “Niger Delta Region Climate Change Programme and Action Plan” was aimed at addressing the social and economic development of the region.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu Bisalla, made the remarks on the sidelines of Cop 24 at the just-concluded Climate Change Conference, Katowice, Poland 2018.

A statement issued by the Deputy Director (Press and Public Relations), Ministry of Niger Delta, said Usani noted that the pace and effects of climate change in the Niger Delta were increasing.

He added that unless the trend is reversed, human as well as physical ecologies were

bound to be seriously impacted as it is being presently observed in many of the communities in the Niger Delta.

The minister disclosed that the document, which was launched in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, last month investigates and reports on the effects of Climate Change in the Niger Delta region, national and available state policies for addressing Climate Change and their relationship with the Niger Delta.

According to the minister, the essence of the document was to guide the Niger Delta region and other stakeholders on the implementation of collective measures to address climate change impacts and causes through adaptation, mitigation and other measures.

Usani disclosed that some of the climate change programmes and projects in the document for poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihood.

FATHERHOOD LAUNCHED...

L-R: Mr. Johnmark Ukoko; Mrs. Magdaline Senemeh; Author of the book, Pastor Patrick Enega; his wife, Joan; and Mr. Sule Hassan, during the public book presentation of Fatherhood in Lagos...recently

Chukwueke: APGA Will Hire Mercenaries to Defeat Boko Haram Tobi Soniyi The All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) has said that it will hire military mercenaries to root out insurgents from the north-eastern Nigeria if voted into power next year.

The party’s vice presidential candidate, Chief Jerry Chukwueke made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja.

According to him, the military contractors will work alongside Nigerian Army and other security agencies to achieve

the desired objective.

APGA also expressed displeasure over its exclusion from the vice presidential candidates’ debate held recently, which was jointly organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group, (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, (BON), saying the organisers were not fair to it.

Chukwueke said the lingering state of insecurity had grossly affected the country’s economy and led to high level of poverty.

He said: “We all know what

is happening with security in Nigeria at the moment. First, we are facing insurgency as an existential threat and then we are also facing poverty as another existential threat.

“Our view is quite straightforward when it comes to insecurity. The gallant men and women we have in the armed forces are doing the very best they can under the circumstances.

We are a divided nation, we know that Nigerians are fighting over scarce resources to be able to survive; it is poverty that is

causing all of these insecurity issues. So, our government is prepared to engage the services of military contractors for short period of time. “Let them bring the equipment and tools and train men and women to fight alongside our armed forces to attack insurgency. You can see where we are.

“The president was clear a few days ago and when he said ‘‘I need to have an emergency meeting with Chad Basin because the Boko Haram threat is getting out of control’.

Obaseki Unveils over N2bn Edo Security Architecture, Trust Fund The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday in Benin City, the state capital, unveiled the Edo State Security Architecture, a new framework that will boost security in the state. The governor also launched the Edo State Security Trust Fund, with the state government committing N2 billion as seed fund.

The components of the state security architecture include: 50 special security cars fitted with modern communication and security gadgets; 30 Toyota Hilux patrol vans; 30 patrol motor

bikes and three Tropicalised Armoured Personnel Carriers; three Ambulances; Integrated Command and Control Centre and five special security check points to be manned at all the entry and exit points in the state.

Others are Special Patrol Units (land and waterways); Integrated Electronic City Surveillance Unit; Establishment of a Special Force unit/antikidnapping squad; establishment of K-9 unit; establishment of paramedics unit; establishment of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme with 3000 trained and kitted workforce

and a community police radio network.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the governor explained that security is central to his administration’s reform agenda, saying, “thanks to the chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede for kickstarting and donating N200 million to the fund. I call on all Edo State citizens to contribute to the Security Trust Fund.”

Stressing that the new security architecture is a comprehensive programme, he said, “apart from the police, military, Department

of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies, we are recruiting 100 young men and women from each ward across Edo State. The first 1,000 of them have been recruited and trained by the Nigeria Police, as they will help in intelligence gathering, and monitoring of government assets across the state. We believe by involving the community, we would be able to obtain enough information as to what is going on in the state.

The effectiveness of our new strategy is based on community participation.”

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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19,, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Appeal Court Nullifies Kashamu’s Ogun PDP List Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Court of Appeal in Ibadan yesterday set aside a court order which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the list of candidates submitted for the 2019 general elections by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Shittu Abubakar of the Federal High Court Abeokuta had, on October 2, ordered INEC to recognise the list of candidates submitted by the Bayo Dayo-led executive loyal to Kashamu.

The applicants in the appeal are the PDP, its National Chairman, Uche Secondus; and Secretary, Ibrahim Tsauri.

The respondents are Dayo-

led Ogun PDP executive loyal to Kashamu on the one hand, and INEC. The three-man appeal panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani unanimously agreed that the lower court was wrong in its decision and consequently set aside the order, saying it was null and void.

Tsammani, however, said the applicants were not properly served the originating summons at the lower court, which would notify them that there existed a case before the judge assumed jurisdiction.

The judge said service of the originating summons was fundamental and a precondition, which would affect and determine the validity of the court ’s proceedings.

“Non-service of the originating summons on the

applicants at the lower court rendered all the order given at the lower court against the applicants a nullity and this is an indication that the applicants were not given a fair hearing.

“In the interest of justice, the order of the lower court is set aside, null and void

and an academic exercise,’’ the judge said.

Tsammani ordered that the case be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abubakar.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, the counsel to the Dayo-led executive,

Ifeoma Esom, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment of the court.

She said her client had directed her to proceed to the Supreme Court.

But counsel to the PDP, Emeka Etioba (SAN), said he was satisfied with the judgment and commended

the judges.

NAN reports that the PDP had earlier submitted the list of candidates, which had Oladipupo Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the party in Ogun to INEC before the October 2 order of the lower court recognising Kahamu’s list.

CSOs Ask FG to Stop Attacking NGOs Tobi Soniyi in Lagos Thirty three civil society organisations yesterday called on the federal government to stop intimidating nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) working in the country.

A statement signed by the organisations cited the recent attacks on Amensty International and UNICEF. They stated that as stakeholders in the human rights community in Nigeria, they were concerned about the incessant attacks and criticisms of human rights and humanitarian organisations by the federal government and its security agencies, particularly, the Nigerian military and other security services.

The statement read: “The latest of such attacks has been the announcement of the ban of UNICEF, later rescinded and the call to close the Nigerian Office of Amnesty International Nigeria, which has become a regular object of attack by the Nigerian military and security services for doing its work of exposing human rights violations.

“We totally condemn threats and intimidation of UNICEF and Amnesty International Nigeria by the Nigerian military and security services, especially as even the Presidency has joined in the fray. That these threats are always issued against Amnesty International Nigeria whenever it issues a report

detailing credible allegations of human rights violations in Nigeria shows that the attacks are aimed at gagging the organization, undermining credible human rights reporting and covering up systemic violations of human rights.

“What is curious is that all the threats and accusations against Amnesty International Nigeria by the Nigerian military and security services have consistently failed to present any empirical evidence that contradicts the reports issued. It is clear to all objective observers that Amnesty International Nigeria is doing a great job of documenting human rights violations in Nigeria and seeking to bring human rights violators to justice. The Nigerian military and security services should prioritize protecting Nigeria and Nigerians instead of throwing laughable accusations at international organisations providing vital lifesaving services to Nigerians.”

They advised government to see the work of Amnesty International Nigeria as a guide to initiate investigation of allegations of human rights violations.

“Throwing denials at allegations of human rights violations raised by Amnesty International Nigeria and other human rights and humanitarian agencies only puts the Nigerian military and security services into global ridicule”, they added.

EMPOWERING LEADERSHIP...

L-R: Executive Vice President/COO of TAG Alliances, Melisa Attisha; Senior Partner, Gbenga Biobaku &Co; Gbenga Biobaku; and President/ CEO, TAG Alliances Richard Attisha, during the TAG Alliances’ 2018 Fall International conference tagged ““Empowering Leadership,” held in Atlanta Georgia, United States...recently

Ringim Hails Buhari over Police Pay Increase Commends NSA for the initiative A retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Uba Bala Ringim, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent upward review of the emoluments of the Nigerian Police.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Ringim said the decision would boost the morale of men and officers of the force, especially at this “turbulent times” of security

challenges confronting the country.

Ringim also gave kudos to the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), who according to the retired DIG, initiated the process of the salary increment for the police force. He said Mungono’s recommendation was timely and commendable, considering the level of dangers confronting police personnel

in the ever-increasing security challenges confronting the country.

“NSA Monguno needs to be commended for the initiative, while President Buhari also deserves special commendation for this lofty gesture to our gallant officers and men of the force. The NSA initiated what the police have been demanding for many years and I want to assure the president that officers

and men of the police force will reciprocate this gesture by doubling their efforts to curbing crimes and criminality all over the country,” Ringim said.

He also felicitated with President Buhari on his 76th birthday anniversary and wished him many happy returns of the auspicious occasion.

He wished the president long life in the service of the country.

Fayemi: I‘II Tackle Fraud in Ekiti Tertiary Institutions Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi , yesterday received the reports of the visitation panels to the stateowned tertiary institutions, with a promise to tackle all forms of improprieties and other existing decadence at the institutions for effective service delivery.

Fayemi said the idea behind the visitation was to provide a guide and make recommendations that would not only revamp the state’s tertiary institutions, but make

them one of the best in the development of knowledge in the country.

Fayemi spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, after receiving the reports of the panels sent to the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti; College of Education, Ikere Ekiti and the College of Science and Technology, Ijero Ekiti.

Also submitted was the report of the state-owned Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, which was suspended from air by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on July 15,

2018, while that of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) will be submitted at a later date.

Fayemi , who commended the painstaking efforts of the panels , dispelled the insinuations that the reason behind the composition of the panels was to victimise some people.

“Permit me to restate here that our intention in setting up these panels is not to witch-hunt anybody but rather to reposition the affected institutions and agency for better performance.

“As a government, vibrancy of our institutions is very essential to drive knowledge economy, which is one of our four-point agenda. We must therefore continuously focus on how to maximise the potentials of government.

“These panels were set up for stock taking. For us to move forward steadily as a government, it is imperative that we know where we were,where we are and where we are going,” the governor explained.

Ondo Govt Bans Commercial Motorcycles The Ondo State Government yesterday announced a partial ban on commercial motorcycles (Okada) across the state.

Under the new arrangement, the activities of commercial motorcycles across the 18 Local Government Areas would now stop at 10 p.m daily.

The state Commissioner for

Information and Orientation, Mr. Yemi Owolabi, said in Akure that the development was to curb criminal activities and maintain law and order.

According to him, any motorcyclist that is on the street beyond 10 p.m. must not carry any load and must show evidence of ownership of such motorcycle.

The commissioner stressed that the ban does not affect private motorcycle owners that may be going to work or attending to emergency.

“It has got to the notice of the state government that some people are perpetrating criminal activities under the guise of operating Okada till late hours of the night.

“This has to stop, as the issue of security of lives and property remains priority of the government,” he said.

Owolabi enjoined the public, particularly commercial motorcyclists to cooperate with the government in flushing out criminal elements from the state.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Apapa Gridlock: NPA Orders Shipping Companies to Remove Empty Containers Within Four Months Eromosele Abiodun Following the gridlock in Apapa ports’ access roads that has inflated the cost of doing business at the ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced measures to redeem the situation.

Among the measures, the NPA has directed shipping Companies to immediately deploy sweeper vessels to evacuate empty containers from the ports to clear the backlog of empty containers littering the

country within four months.

The NPA also directed the shipping companies to use of Onne Ports for such sweeper vessels. The NPA in a statement yesterday stressed that the measures will reduce the attendant financial burden that the congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports has brought on importers.

According to the NPA, effective yesterday, there will be an increase in rent-free period for cargoes housed in the terminals

from the current period of three free days before commencement of rent charges to 21 free days before commencement of rent charges for a period of four months.

According to the NPA, “with effect from yesterday, December 18, 2018, there will be an increase in the demurrage-free period on return of empty containers from the current five days period to 15 days for a period of four months. “The Nigerian Customs Service is urged to immediately

commence the process of auctioning of overtime cargoes.

This is imperative as the ports are meant to be transit and not storage facilities. These auctions should be carried out on the spot at port locations and every buyer would be given a stipulated short period to evacuate the cargoes out of the ports after which they will be re-auctioned.”

It added, “Terminal operators are however encouraged to negotiate and grant waivers to consignees to facilitate the

evacuation of these cargoes to mitigate against the auctioning which will result in a total loss of revenue by the terminal operator and the loss of cargo by the consignee.

“The authority wishes to state that these measures are emergency steps taken to immediately reduce the financial burden of congestion on citizens as the federal government proceeds to permanently resolve the congestion through the following: reconstruction of the

port access road, the provision of trailer park and holding bays with e-call up system, the enhancement of cargo evacuation using rail transportation and inland waterways with barges among others.

“The authority recognises the financial implications of these policies on the terminal operators and shipping companies and will consider a shift in our operational charges to ameliorate the situation of stakeholders, “it stated.

Accord Party Kicks against Exclusion in Vice Presidential Debate

Sanwo-Olu: Ambode’s Health Scheme Will Make My Work Easy as Governor

Hameed Adedeji

Martins Ifijeh

The presidential candidate of Accord Party, Rev. Isaac Babatunde Ositelu, has described as selective, undemocratic, bias, subjective and unabashedly discriminative the decision of the National Election Debate Group (NEDG) to handpick only five out of the 98 presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential election for the presidential debate.

While calling out the organisers of the debate on the discriminative selection of presidential candidates for

the debate, he said that all the candidates ought to have been given open access to the process of ventilating their plans to the electorate.

He said by denying the other candidates the opportunity to present their manifestoes to the Nigerian populace, the NEDG has unwittingly denied other candidates equal opportunity to compete fairly for votes in the coming electoral process.

He said the Accord Party’s presidential candidate ought to have been accorded a dignified recognition in the debate given that Accord Party with over

eleven years of participation in the electoral processes in Nigeria has spread and membership bases across the 36 states and the Federal capital Territory (FCT).

Besides, he said that the Accord Party had previously produced members of the National and State Assemblies and that if such success tractions were the consideration for rating, the Accord Party deserved better recognition by the NEDG. He noted as well that Accord Party is one of the very few parties that could boast of feeding candidates for states and national election in the 2019 general elections.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stated that the launch of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme will make his work easy if elected governor of the state in February 2019.

He said the health interventions tackled through the scheme will be a front burner in his campaigns going forward, and when he eventually assumes the position of governor.

Speaking at the launch of the scheme in Lagos yesterday, he said this represents another first for Governor Akinwumi Ambode, whom he described as a man of many firsts and innovations.

He said: “I am very excited about this launch because I am going to be its biggest beneficiary. It will make my work much easy as governor.

We will work with the players of this scheme to drive it when we come on board, because we are going to be running an all inclusive government.

“Once Lagos gets it right on universal health coverage Africa gets it right, and this a step towards getting it right in the areas of human capital, including healthcare,” he said.

He however, said he understands the enormity of work required to making the scheme successful, hence his resolve to provide all necessary support to the team.

“This will not only be a front burner during our campaigns; it will be very dear to us as a government, God willing,” he said.

54

͚Π˜ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Solskjaer Considered for Caretaker Role after Mourinho’s Sack r1PDIFUUJOP OPU JOUFSFTUFE JO .BODIFTUFS 6OJUFE KPC Manchester United sacked manager Jose Mourinho yesterday after identifying a catalogue of his failings at the club.

Former United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is being considered as likely caretaker manager. Solskjaer scored 126 goals in 366 appearances during his 11 years at Old Trafford and is best remembered for scoring the winner in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999.

The sacked Portuguese, 55, took over in May 2016 and led United to League Cup and Europa League titles, but they are 19 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

The club has made a change after no progress with results or style despite spending nearly ÂŁ400m on 11 players.

United also said the new substantive manager will understand the philosophy of the club, including their attacking tradition.

It is understood players and staff are not happy after a disappointing and unsettling period during which young players were not developed.

United is sixth in the Premier League, but closer to the relegation zone than to leaders Liverpool, who beat them 3-1 on Sunday.

The decision to sack Mourinho, which will cost more than ÂŁ18m (about $24m), has been taken in the long-term interests of United with a view that the club is bigger than any one individual.

Mourinho is understood to have wanted his own structure, but the new manager will be

appointed with a head of football above him reporting to Executive Vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

A United statement said: “A caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the season while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager. “The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.�

The club hopes to appoint a caretaker manager before they face Cardiff City on December 22 but it will not be assistant manager Michael Carrick or academy boss Nicky Butt.

The candidate will be drawn from outside the club, but will not be former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino who was tipped as likely replacement for Mourinho has distanced himself from speculation linking him with the vacant managerial job at United, insisting he is focused on giving his best to the North London club.

But, when asked yesterday about his potential interest in the job at his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s north London derby against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, Pochettino insisted he is only focused on Spurs.

He told reporters: “I want to send my best wishes to (Mourinho). I am so sorry, I know him well, and it’s sad news. It’s not my business what happens at another club, I just want to send my best wishes to Jose.�

United’s haul of 26 points after their first 17 Premier League games is their worst tally at this

stage of a season since 1990-91.

They are 11 points off the top four, which would earn a Champions League qualification place.

The sacking of Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal in May 2016 and signed a contract extension in January, comes after a fall-out with ÂŁ89m record signing Paul Pogba, who was an unused substitute for

the defeat at Anfield on Sunday.

Following a 1-1 draw with Wolves, Pogba said he wanted United to be able to “attack, attack, attack� at home, which led Mourinho to say the France midfielder would no longer be the club’s “second captain�.

After Mourinho was sacked, a post which said “caption this�, along with a knowing expression on Pogba’s face, appeared on

his Twitter account before being deleted Former United Captain, Gary Neville, replied: “You do one as well!�

United later claimed it was a “scheduled marketing post�

by Pogba’s sponsors Adidas.

Mourinho’s third season did not begin well after missing out on key transfer targets in the summer, and two defeats in

the first three league games - to Tottenham at home and Brighton away - meant his side were playing catch-up with the leading teams.

By October, there were reports Mourinho might be sacked prior to the home game against Newcastle, but after the team trailed 2-0, they turned it around to win 3-2 and seemingly buy the former Chelsea, Inter Milan

Jose Mourinho was sacked from his Manchester United role yesterday

M O U R I N H O ’S R E C O R D AT U N I T E D Manager Jose Mourinho Alex Ferguson David Moyes Louis van Gaal

Games played 144 1,500 51 103

Won 84 895 27 54

Drawn 32 338 9 25

Lost 28 267 15 24

Goals for 243 2,769 86 158

Goals against 117 1,365 54 98

Win% 58.33% 59.67% 52.94% 52.43%

WAGT Upgrades into African Tour as Tour Championship Tees off Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Two years after it began, the West African Golf Tour (WAGT) has broken new grounds by evolving into the African Tour with an ambitious plan to organise 16 tournaments in 2019.

The FCT Classic is scheduled to be the inaugural tournament on the African Tour and will take place from February 20 to

February 23, 2019 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

The logo of the new continental tour was unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday, on the eve of the Tour Championship by former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia and the President of WAGT, Emeka Okatta.

Omehia disclosed that the rebranding was a response to

the yeaning of stakeholders that the platform should be renamed as it had gone beyond West African contest considering that since inception, the WAGT had staged 23 tournaments.

He said African nations were excited with the transition as they believed the African Tour can compete with the best Tours in the whole world. “We are proud of our record and will continue to improve

30 Fans to Get Free Decoders at GOtv Boxing Night 17 A total of 30 GOtv decoders will be given out at GOtv Boxing Night 17, holding on 28 December at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. This was announced yesterday by Flykite Productions, organisers of the event.

According to Managing Director, Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, this will be the highest number of decoders given out since the event began in 2014. In previous editions, he recalled, the number of decoders given out ranged between 10 and 20. He explained that the number has been increased by the sponsors in appreciation of the support fans have given to the event and as

a way of celebrating the festive season.

The 30 decoders will be won through lucky dips to be held in between fights. “This is the highest number of decoders the sponsors have given out. That the number has gone up is a sign that the sponsors appreciate the support the fans have given to the sport and to make the festive season more exciting. Don’t also forget that this is the biggest ever edition of the event. It will combine boxing and music, with the latter provided by live performances by Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni Da Entertainer and

Daddy Showkey. This will be a cracking show; a well-rounded entertainment package exclusively for the festive season,� he said.

He added that boxing fans will have the opportunity to watch the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Super Featherweight title bout between Nigeria’s Seun “The Machine� Wahab and Tanzania’s Issa “Peche Boy�

Nampepeche, the biggest of the eight fights lined up.

Alumona explained that with the winner of the fight being eligible for the world title, it is the most high-profile bout staged in Nigeria in a long while.

on the game of golf. I am proud and can confidently tell you that our champions can effectively compete and play in other parts of the world. We will continue with it with the African Tour,� Omehia said.

In his response, Okatta, said that no one reckoned with the Tour when it started with six events two years ago, increased to seven tournaments last year and 10 this year.

Okatta assured that sponsors and players would not be let down with the soaring expectations from the African Tour, saying the proposed 16 events is a mere scratch of the back. He disclosed that the African Tour 2019 will feature six events next year in the South West zone in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ilara Mokin. The Tour Championship, which tees off Wednesday at IBB Club, is the last WAGT

event preceding the African Tour over 72 holes with the players jostling for $50,000.

The size of the field is for the top 30 players on the Order of Merit for the Tour with players also required to have played a minimum of six tournaments in the year to qualify.

The Order of Merit winner wins $5,000 automatically while the rest of the field compete for $45,000.

Barewa Beats Cowrie to Retain President’s Cup A total of 30 GOtv decoders will be given out at GOtv Boxing Night 17, holding on 28 December at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. This was announced yesterday by Flykite Productions, organisers of the event.

According to Managing Director, Flykite Productions, Jenkins Alumona, this will be the highest number of decoders given out since the event began in 2014. In previous editions, he recalled, the number of decoders given out ranged between 10 and 20. He explained that the number has been increased by the sponsors in appreciation of the support fans have given to the event and as a way of celebrating the festive season.

The 30 decoders will be won through lucky dips to be held in between fights. “This is the highest number of decoders the sponsors have given out. That the number has gone up is a sign that the sponsors appreciate the support the fans have given to the sport and to make the festive season more exciting.

Don’t also forget that this is the biggest ever edition of the event. It will combine boxing and music, with the latter provided by live performances

by Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni Da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey. This will be a cracking show; a well-rounded entertainment package exclusively for the festive season,� he said.

He added that boxing fans will have the opportunity to watch the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental Super Featherweight title bout between Nigeria’s Seun “The Machine�

Wahab and Tanzania’s Issa “Peche Boy� Nampepeche, the biggest of the eight fights lined up.

Alumona explained that with the winner of the fight being eligible for the world title, it is the most high-profile bout staged in Nigeria in a long while.

The show will witness another international duel between Victor Kemavor of Ghana and US-based Nigerian, Oluwafemi “The Eagle�

TR

Wednesday December 19, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Jonathan to Presidency

“ Sometimes, when Garba Shehu speaks, he comes across as someone who is unaware of the fact that under our laws, an administration is elected for a tenure of four years within which it is expected to have fulfilled its campaign promises, before returning to the electorate for a fresh mandate.”

–Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, berating the presidency over accusation that he delayed the formation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in 2015

KAYODEKOMOLAFE THE HORIZON

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1974

A Day to Think About Migrants

T

he International Migrants Day was observed yesterday globally by all those convinced that migration “is the great issue of our era.”

The theme of the celebration this year, in which about 3,4000 migrants have died worldwide, is “Migration with Dignity.”

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 2000 making the day that of global reflection on the plight of migrants.

So, the theme has provided a useful background to the discussions of this socio-economic and political issue. It is pertinent to note that regardless of the divergent perspectives on migration, the migrant as a human being is entitled to make the choice of migration within the ambit of the law. In this respect, his or her human dignity should be respected by all concerned.

It is, of course, hard to attribute human dignity to the conditions of some migrants who end up as unfortunate refugees in some dingy places.

Talking about human dignity, you may say that the refugees are even luckier than those who perish in rickety migrants boats in the Mediterranean.

At least, 1, 700 refugees have reportedly died in the attempt to cross the sea to Europe.

Despite warnings from international agencies that the route taken has become deadlier, desperate migrants still get on the boats to cross to Europe.

Two months ago, about 34 African migrants including two children drowned in the Mediterranean. That was after waiting in vain for 36 hours for rescue. Spanish rescue services reported the disaster to the Moroccan authorities. The news of the deeply humanitarian crisis is always laden with grim statistics. Yet more arrivals of migrants are reported at the location of the accident. According to the UNHCR, between January and July one death was recorded for every 18 arrivals. The sharp rise in the proportion of migrants dying has been attributed to the greater surveillance by the Libyan coastguards.

The pull to the Mediterranean comes from different directions. Wars, conflicts, economic adversities are the major ones.

In many respects, it is commendable that the UN recognises the right of the individual to make a choice of migrating to overcome adversity. The various declarations of the world body in this respect would ultimately serve to advance the course of human civilisation.

It is also remarkable that in a fitting coincidence, Olusegun Adeniyi’s important book, From Frying Pan to Fire: How African Migrants Risk Everything in their Futile Search for a Better Life in Europe, was publicly presented last month. In an efficient

President Muhammadu Buhari

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki

manner, Adeniyi humanises the tragic stories of the migrants. As the book admonishes especially young fellows taking the risky path in the “search for a better life,” attention is again drawn to the dignity of the human beings enmeshed in the migration crisis.

The book brings the global crisis nearer home to us in Nigeria and indeed Africa in general with the enlightening anecdotes embodied in it. It is a book worth reading by policymakers and the general public on what the UN posits as the “great issue of our era,” but which is yet to be given sufficient attention in Nigeria. The government should conduct a more “muscular diplomacy,” (to borrow the favourite phrase of the late Foreign Minister Ojo Madueke), in dealing with migrant crisis as it affects Nigeria.

The government and opposition pay attention to the those called members of “the diaspora.” Those who unfortunately get drowned in the Mediterranean or killed in the desert might have ended up as members of this “diaspora” in Europe and America if they had reached their respective destinations. That is why policymakers should continue to focus more

on the problem with the hope of finding humane solutions to it.

Doubtless, the crisis of migration has subjected globalisation to a severe test.

The contradiction is too conspicuous to ignore. The logic of globalisation (or more appropriately global capitalism) is that capital should move freely because the world is said to be in a liberal order. Multinationals are growing more powerful than the states in the underdeveloped world all in the name of foreign investments. But the upsurge of anti-immigration forces in the countries of the north is increasingly restricting the movement of human beings.

Widening global inequality is one of the bitter fruits of the giant tree of globalisation.

The poor countries of the world are being fed with this fruit. Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi eloquently makes the point at the public presentation of Adeniyi’s book in Abuja. The world has to come to terms with inequality, which is a major cause of desperate migrations. Although fewer persons might be making the journey to Europe through the Mediterranean this year, yet the problem has been there for

Despite warnings from international agencies that the route taken has become deadlier, desperate migrants still get on the boats to cross to Europe.

some time.

On Sunday, April 19, 2015, more than 800 persons drowned in the seas when their boat capsized. On that tragic occasion, this reporter observed on this page as follows: “Pundits may have cultural, psychological and other explanations for these happenings.

To be sure, these sad developments are only symptoms of a worsening socio-economic crisis. The attacks and drowning have chillingly brought to the fore, once more, the emptiness of globalisation (or better put, the unjust spread of global capitalism). They also constitute a proof of the monumental failure of neo-liberal policies in Africa and even in the metropolitan centres of capitalism.

Neo-liberalism (despite the rhetoric of its ideologues) has failed to deliver economic opportunities for the majority in Europe, South Africa or Nigeria. Indeed, a majority of humanity is excluded from whatever benefits it has generated. That is the coded message in the tragic waste of human lives being reported in the Mediterranean.

“Those ideologues who conveniently ignore the social injustice and inequality that their policies promote are simply fixated in their ways. For every socio-economic problem they have standard solutions in the shibboleths of privatisation, deregulation, liberalisation etc. The result has been jobless growth. The Nigerian economy has been rebased as the “largest” on the continent; yet millions of its young women and men of working age are not economic players.

Some of them have to migrate to America, Europe, Asia, or South Africa in desperate search for economic opportunities…”

African countries including Nigeria, of course, have no control over the external factors determining the fate of the migrants.

The identity politics in the countries of the north – the ultimate destinations of the migrants - is being mismanaged.

Migration has become an issue of contestation between the anti-immigration and pro-immigration forces in the West.

For instance, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel could muster the humanity to save lives of desperate migrants, American President Donald Trump is bent on stopping the caravan from the crisis-ridden Latin American countries even it means separating families.

While the ultimate resolution of the crisis of migration might be global, the solution to the desperation of young men and women electing to face the risk of drowning in the Mediterranean or being killed by criminals in Libya should be urgently found here at home. Jobs should be created, gates of opportunities need to be opened and social protection has to be instituted. Unfortunately, these ingredients to the solution may not be found in the neo-liberal prescriptions on display in the agendas of the contending political forces in the land.

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