FRIDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2018

Wigwe: Diamond Bank to Write off NPLs Before Merger Reassures staff of job security Nume Ekeghe Following its business combination deal with Diamond Bank Plc, the

Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, yesterday said the former would write off its

non-performing loans (NPLs) before the deal is finalised.

This, he said, is necessary to protect the health of the new entity.

Wigwe said this when he appeared as a guest on 'The Morning Show,' programme of Arise TV, a broadcast arm of THISDAY.

He maintained that the merger would be of great benefit to all stakeholders, saying that concerns about NPLs in the tier II bank were

fully considered before they entered into the business combination agreement.

Continued on page 10

Senate Confirms Owasanoye, Eight Others as ICPC’s Chairman, Members… Page 48 Friday 21 December, 2018 Vol 23. No 8647. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Tumbling Oil Price Fuels Concerns for 2019 Budget Implementation Ejiofor Alike with agency reports

THE FARMERS’ FRIEND...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; President, Rice Farmer's Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the presentation of an award to the president in Abuja... yesterday

The implementation of the 2019 budget presented to the National Assembly on Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari faces further threat as oil prices fell more than four per cent yesterday.

Oil price hit their lowest in more than one year on worries about oversupply and the outlook for energy demand as a United States interest rate rise knocked stock markets.

Reuters reported that equities dropped worldwide after the US Federal Reserve raised Continued on page 48

ASUU Strike May Injure 2019 Polls, Warns INEC Says absence of lecturers, students may affect conduct of election

Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the federal government and the Academic

Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve the lingering strike by university teachers, which has brought academic activities across the country to a halt, warning that failure to do so could adversely affect

preparations for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, who raised

the alarm at a one-day seminar on media and gender-sensitive reporting of elections organised by the commission in collaboration with the support of UN Women, stated that students

of federal tertiary institutions should and must be in school at least a month before the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said, "For the 2019 elections, INEC will recruit

and deploy over one million ad hoc staff made up of lecturers in federal tertiary Institutions, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and

APM, Others Endorse Buhari, Akinlade in Ogun… Page 10

Continued on page 10

2

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

3

4

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5

6

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

7

8

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

9

10

FRIDAY, ÍşÍšËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

PAGE TEN

APM, Others Endorse Buhari, Akinlade in Ogun Olawale Olaleye A tumultuous crowd yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State witnessed the start of the campaign of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), a political party preferred by some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the aftermath of the APC primary election crisis.

However, the highlight of the campaign was the adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate for the 2019 elections.

The governorship candidate of the APM, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, also shed more light on why he and a few others left the APC, saying it was as a result of the injustice meted out to them by people he described as desperadoes

in the APC. Consequently, no fewer than 60 other political parties in the state also adopted Akinlade as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election as the APM formally presented Akinlade and his running mate, Princess Adepeju Adebajo, to the Ogun electorate.

Speakers at the event confessed that they had never seen such a huge crowd at the Moshood Abiola Stadium just as many groups and associations took turns to deliver goodwill messages, while announcing their adoption of Akinlade as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election.

Some of the groups were the Progressive Obas of Ogun Central Senatorial District, the National Association of

Nigerian Students (NANS), National Union of Roads Transport Workers (NURTW), the Association of Commercial Motor Cycle Riders of Nigeria (ACCOMORON), representatives of 60 political parties as well as the Hausa, Igbo and non-indigene associations.

The traditional rulers, in their message, said as leaders of Ogun Central Senatorial District, they supported a governor of Yewa extraction in 2019, because it would promote unity and fairness in the state.

Members of the NURTW and ACCOMORON expressed support for APM because its government would continue the infrastructure development programme of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, which they claimed has

ASUU STRIKE MAY INJURE 2019 POLLS, WARNS INEC students of federal tertiary institutions. “These categories of ad hoc staff will serve as returning officers, collation officers, supervisory presiding officers and assistant presiding officers.

The bulk of assistant presiding officers should be drawn from students of federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria. “INEC is currently organising training for serving National Youth Corps members that will be deployed as presiding officers and wants to begin the conduct of ROOT training for students in the various tertiary institutions in Nigeria. “And it is imperative that these categories of students are in school at this point in time."

He lamented that should the strike persist, it would be near impossible for the members of NYSC to provide all the ad-hoc staff needs and requirements of the commission and over 70 per cent of the ad-hoc staff requirements in some states of the federation which are drawn from students of federal tertiary institutions.

Okoye said, "We, therefore, call on ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria to quickly and genuinely resolve the lingering impasse that has led to uncertainty in the education sector. “The national interest, the interest of our democracy and the reputation of Nigeria demand the immediate resolution of the issues that led to the strike and we so urge. “It is therefore important that students of federal tertiary institutions should and must be in school at least a month before the February 16 presidential and National Assembly elections.

They are a critical resource and their absence will have an adverse effect on ad hoc staff requirements of INEC." He noted that the commission is not the only stakeholder in the electoral process, adding that the media is also a crucial component of the electoral process and its actions and inactions have important bearing on the electoral process before, during and after elections.

According to him, "For the media to cover, disseminate election activities in an objective and professional manner to deepen our democracy, it is imperative for INEC to constantly interact with, explain and be upfront in providing information to the mass media to avoid speculation, suspicion and rumour-mongering especially at this critical election year.

"INEC is wrapped around inclusivity and believes in the doctrine of not leaving any segment of the Nigerian society behind and this workshop on media and gender sensitive reporting of elections is part of the daily policy of the commission, aimed at encouraging and underpinning the equitable participation of all segments of the society in elections and providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in all stages of the electoral process."

He said the rationale behind the commitment is based on the understanding that equality and equity are cardinal principles of electoral democracy, noting

enhanced their businesses in the state.

The students, on their part, said they support Akinlade, because he and his running mate represent the faces of youths in the government.

Akinlade, in his speech, expressed joy at the massive turnout for the kick-off and expressed his commitment to continue the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State started by the Amosun administration.

The APM candidate said his government would continue the infrastructure development programme of Amosun and identified what would be priorities of his government to include quality free education, healthcare service delivery, value-chain agriculture, integrated rural development and youth development driven by

ICT, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

He boasted that a government headed by him and his running mate, Adebajo, would ensure even development and unity of all parts of the state.

Tracing the origin of the APM in the state to the injustice meted to him and other winners of the primary elections in the APC by “some forces outside Ogun State,� whom he said were desperate to hijack the government of the state and use it for their selfish purposes, Akinlade said the APM move was to salvage the situation.

He, therefore, singled out Buhari as a leader, who stood for truth and justice, adding that same forces in the party frustrated all efforts at making the choice of members of the

party in the state count.

He said the achievements of President Buhari, which included removing Nigeria from the list of pariah states due to corruption in official circles among others, account for the decision of the APM in the state to adopt him as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

Confident about his victory, Akinlade said members of the party in the state would knock at every door to campaign for the president as they would campaign for other candidates of the party in the state.

To this end, he urged members of the party and their supporters to prosecute the campaign in peace and avoid violence regardless of the provocation from any quarters.

that addressing the issue of inequality in politics demands that the media support the advocacy for gender equality in politics by making media reportage of electoral activities more gender sensitive and responsive.

The representative of UN women, Mr. Lansana Wonneh, in his goodwill message, noted that when politics is inclusive and women participate the results are better.

"Nigeria leads Africa in almost anything but in exception of female participation in governance and politics. We are several weeks away from the general elections and this seminar could not be more appropriate. At UN Women, we are working with INEC to make sure that there are efforts in making elections free and fair and inclusive, especially gender inclusive," he said.

While listing the objective of the seminar, the Deputy Director, Gender Division, INEC, Mrs. Blessing Obidegwu, said it was designed to sensitise the media

on the need to take conscious steps in mainstreaming gender in their reportage of the electoral activities in the 2019 general elections and beyond.

She lamented that male politicians tend to receive more media coverage at the detriment of their female counterparts who sometimes get displaced for want of exposure.

She added that the seminar speaks three of INEC's gender policies which aim to mobilise the support and cooperation of other stakeholders (in this case, the media) in making electoral system more gender-sensitive.

Also, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee for INEC, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, in his remarks, said in building an inclusive and gender-balanced democracy, INEC was concerned about gender discrimination in the aforementioned roles of the media in elections.

According to him, "The media functions as a transparency watchdog that

ensures that all players in the democratic space adhere to the electoral laws governing activities in accountable and transparent manner. A look at the media with the gender lens supports the point that men are more visible and dominant in media than women during elections.

"Therefore entrenching gender stereotypes which further impedes women's political visibility and success in elections. Promotion of women's participation in politics as voters, candidates, politicians, civil society activists and in other roles is important because it allows women to exercise their fundamental human rights. “Gender stereotypes are damaging to both men and women because they constrain individuals and society as a whole. As a tool for social reengineering media reportage of political events can be tweaked to promote inclusivity in the electoral process by highlighting gender issues with a view to engaging responses that will improve women's political visibility."

payments get easier. “Together, what we have created has 29 million customers, which is more than any other institution on the continent. You can say that there might be some duplication and if you go through that and the margin of duplications is probably around two to three million.

So, if you call it 25 million customers, it is still a very large size of customers. “And embedded in this, is about 10 million mobile customers. So, it is a great opportunity that cannot be compared to in other part of the continent.�

Continuing, he said, “It is a great time and it is a great opportunity, and the assurance I want to give all stakeholders, staff, shareholders and customers most importantly is the fact that this is a brand new world and there is something in it for everybody particularly our customers.

“Those who did not get enough of what they wanted in Diamond Bank now have a larger platform and it remains a safe institution. And for staff, obviously I am communicating with everybody and we are not asking people to go, it is certainly not on the table. “All we seek to do is to create a value accretive enterprise. And for our regulators, what is important and what is critical is that we create a safe institution that is adequately capitalised and that is already happening. “And I think for the government, the best way to look at it is that we have created an institution that would support the growth of our Gross Domestic Product, and an institution that would support SMEs that would lead to greater financial inclusion, greater financial deepening and all of those things which are required to propel an economy.�

WIGWE: DIAMOND BANK TO WRITE OFF NPLS BEFORE MERGER He reiterated that there won’t be job losses even as he restated Access Bank’s plan to raise $250 million fresh tier II capital.

Responding to a question on the effect Diamond Bank’s NPLs would have on Access Bank, he said, “We are fully cognisant of all of those things, and one of the things we are doing is that Diamond Bank is determined to write off all of those loans before the date of legal merge. “They would do so on December 31 and whatever the residue is from next year, that solves that problem permanently. “So, we have enough capital to support the enlarged franchise which is important. Now all the benefits of recovering bad loans now become a plus because we have cut out what becomes a cancer and taken it out totally. “So, we have a fresh, clean brand new franchise that is

adequately capitalised. So, that concern people had of what is going to happen to the NPLs is taken out decisively and we have enough capital to go on. “Even if we don’t recover any capital from it, it is a brand new world. We have gone through this many times before and we have recovered money.�

He also said the move to shore up the bank’s capital was to create a substantial capital adequacy ratio.

He said, “We have traditionally determined what our minimum capital ratio should be and it has nothing to do with what exists right now. “We always create adequate capital buffers. For example, the Swiss Banking model, their regulator insists that they keep 19 per cent capital adequacy level not to talk of an emerging economy with risks like Nigeria.

“So, we have a determination to ensure that our capital adequacy level is north of 20 per cent and because we are a systemically important financial institution with presence across several continents and as a group, a bit more than that.�

In terms of the benefits of the deal, Wigwe maintained that Diamond Bank is bringing in its expertise in retail banking.

He said, “The benefit of this merger is that we are going to keep all of those unique things about Diamond Bank.

They have an incredible mobile banking application; they have a way of reaching the mass market; we must ensure that we keep that emotional connect of that Diamond Bank’s retail customer which is very critical, so nothing would change. “If anything would change is the fact that they would be more touch-points and for that woman in the market,

TOP GAINERS NEMINSURE UNITYBANK BERGPAINTS DIAMONDBANK JAIZBANK TOP LOSERS UNIONDAC UNIONBANK CCNN

NGN NGN 0.23 2.53 0.08 0.88 0.70 7.85 0.12 1.37 0.04 0.50 NGN 0.02 0.24 0.40 5.60 1.25 17.80 UACN 0.70 10.00 ACCESSBANK 0.50 7.40 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,460.00 Volume: 545.980 million shares Value: N4.089 billion Deals: 3,224 As at yesterday 20/12/18 See details on Page 43

% 10 10 9.7 9.6 8.7 % 7.6 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.3

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

11

12

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

COMMENT

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

A TOAST TO THE REFORMIST

Adams Abonu pays tribute to Tunji Olaopa, renowned bureaucrat and scholar, at age 59

W

hen Pope John XXIII remarked about United States’ President John Kennedy in 1961 that â€œâ€Ś men are like wine. Some turn to Vinegar, but the best improve with age,â€? the papal authority delved deeply into the pattern of the outcome of the lives of humans. While the passion for life lessens its grip on the lives of most men (and women) as age takes its toll, others adjust to the evolution and make better meanings for their lives in terms of contributions and endeavours. This latter category of humans tends to wax better with the days. Great American presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt spent their advancing years in better service to their country and the world.

Professor Tunji Olaopa, reputable bureaucrat and scholar of renown, unarguably, belongs to the category of men that exude the energy for distinction as they add years on their sojourn on mother-earth. Born some 59 years ago on 20 December, 1959, in Awe town of Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, the story of how a young and yearning mind evolved into fertile ground for intellectual nurturing is an inspiration for another generation. The near-perfect blend of a burning zeal to make a difference and an accompanying drive of ambition and hard work defines the character of the still emerging icon from infancy to present day.

While it could be said that his early days in Awe High School, where, owing to his delight in deep readings, he was nicknamed “Advanced Level� and at Olivet Baptist School, Oyo, prepared the appropriate foundation for future strides. Olaopa developed his passion for public service reforms at age six upon coming in contact with one of the many excesses of ‘Operation Wetie,’ a manifestation of the failure of leadership in Nigeria’s first republic. His days at the prestigious University of Ibadan prepared his mind for the intellectual rigour his life now embodies. Writing in his book, “Reforming the Reformable: Post Retirement Reflections on the Nigerian Civil Service, Professor Olaopa stated that “a political science education at the University of Ibadan furnished me with a solid and rigorous social science training that enabled me to commence a deep interrogation of my growing awareness of Nigeria’s floundering progress.� How better for a young man to discern his purpose? He was to be tutored by outstanding scholars like Professors Tunde Adeniran, Femi Otubanjo, Eghosa Osaghe, among reputable others.

A Bachelor of Science degree in July 1984 and subsequent Masters degree in Political Theories from same university in 1987 was the needed rudiments for Olaopa, who had thought out an academic career in the university where he could prescribe corrections to mortal failings from a vantage point. But providence had another plan and path for the young and aspiring ‘academic.’ In obedience to necessity - catering for the needs of an immediate family with an infant daughter and other crucial demands of responsibility- the ‘Aawe boy’ had to take up a beckoning opportunity at the defunct Directorate of Social Mobilization as Principal Research Officer in 1991 after stints at jobs at the University of Ibadan Consultancy Services “that barely kept body and soul together.�

Between 1992 and 1994, Olaopa served at the Presidency as Policy

PROFESSOR OLAOPA SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN CIVIL SERVICE BETWEEN 1994 AND 2015. IN ALL OF THESE POSITIONS, HOW TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE REFORMS TARGETED AT IMPROVING THE PUBLIC SERVICE WAS HIS UTMOST PREOCCUPATION

Analyst and Speech Writer, and in the meantime got exposed to the corridors of Nigeria’s public service and it’s myriads of shortcomings.

Olaopa once confessed that the rot and inadequacies that confronted him almost made him ran back to continue his search for safety in the ivory towers. It was at this point in the inspiring life of Tunji Olaopa that Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, an authority in Economics whom Tunji’s father fondly called “genius,� entered and encouraged him to stay with the civil service and be a change agent.

Any tale about the times of Tunji Olaopa in the Nigerian civil service without the word “reform� would be incomplete. “Reform is my life,� he once stated, and he never hesitated to bring into the works what he read in Plato’s ‘Republic’ and his philosophy classes at the university.

He committed himself towards reforming the civil service and got appointed as Deputy Secretary of the White Paper Panel on Ayida reforms. That particular post gave the vantage into the mechanism and shortcomings of dysfunctional Nigerian bureaucracy. This was the motivation behind his doctorate with the thesis titled, “Nigerian Civil Service: A Framework for Reforms,� which he meritoriously earned from the Commonwealth Open University in 2006.

Professor Olaopa served in various capacities in civil service between 1994 and 2015 when he retired from the civil service at the pinnacle of a permanent secretary. In all of these positions, how to ensure effective reforms targeted at improving the public service in Nigeria was his utmost preoccupation. At the twilight of his career in civil service the cerebral character was moved around various ministries as permanent secretary to bring his wealth of experience to bear.

Though Professor Olaopa’s meritorious service was recognised at many local and international fora, the National Productivity Order of Merit award conferred on him by President Muhhammadu Buhari in August 2015 comes must be particularly noted. The much coveted merit award was a testimony to his noble contributions to nationbuilding.

With the coming of President Buhari’s dispensation, several dynamics came to play and Professor Olaopa was retired along a dozen other permanent secretaries even when he had considerable time before his due retirement. He took the retirement in good faith and prepared to unleash more arsenal of knowledge on the intelligentsia. He founded the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), a public policy think-tank in the mould of Chatham House in London, to offer policy advice to government and corporate organizations. ISGPP is an enduring legacy of a commitment to making a difference that is the hallmark of Tunji Olaopa’s life. Little wonder that the Lead City University, Ibadan after having conferred on the revered intellectual an honorary doctorate, appointed him as Professor of Public Administration earlier this year.

Assuredly, the best part of Professor Olaopa’s life is still unfolding and his well-wishers and admirers can prepare for more episodes in distinction. As one who has had the privilege to closely study this great life, I wish the ‘Aare Boy’ who took Nigeria by the storms many more blessed returns of his birthday.

Abonu, a journalist wrote, from Abuja

OBI, SOUTHEAST AND 2019 POLL Jude Atupulazi canvasses support for the PDP vice-presidential candidate

W

ith some two months to the presidential election in Nigeria, one cannot but feel encapsulated in the frenetic build up to that day. Although for now, there seems a situation that can be likened to the calm before a storm, political watchers know for sure that it is all about the calm before the final push. But despite the slow motion build up, things have been happening, right from the moment the identities of the major gladiators and their running mates were known.

There is no doubt that one which caused ripples across the country, was the announcement of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as the running mate of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.

The ripples that announcement triggered were twofold. The first was pure excitement at the choice of Obi by Atiku by the generality of Nigerians who have been following the exploits of Obi, both as governor and as a resource person. The other kind of ripple was what appeared to be a strange reluctance by Obi’s brother governors in the Southeast to accept his choice.

Of the five governors of the Southeast, three are of PDP, Obi’s party. One is of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); while the remainder was then of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While it could be understood why both the APGA and APC governors did not show any sort of excitement at Obi’s emergence, being that they had and still have their own presidential candidates, the response of the remaining three governors who were/are of Obi’s party, was difficult to fathom.

Indeed, one of the Southeast PDP governor’s chief press secretary had rushed off to congratulate Obi on his boss’s behalf, believing that his boss

would naturally be happy that somebody of Obi’s calibre had been nominated. But the CPS suddenly found himself staring down the barrel of a gun and having to explain his action to his boss who strangely enough did not share in his employee’s enthusiasm. So what then could account for his boss’s action and the actions of the remaining two Southeast PDP governors?

What they told Nigerians in the aftermath of angry reactions to their lukewarm attitude to Obi’s nomination was that they were not consulted by Atiku before Obi was nominated. On one hand, it could have meant that they had someone else in mind and were therefore jolted by the choice of Obi. On another hand, it could mean that they were envious of not just Obi, but of the fact that Anambra had seemingly been enjoying the lion’s share of big offices, especially regarding the office of the Vice President.

In the Second Republic, an Anambra man, Dr Alex Ekwueme, was the Vice President under Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Much later, another Anambra man, Chuba Okadigbo, was chosen by Muhammadu Buhari as his running mate, although that ticket did not work out. And now, another Anambra man, Peter Obi, has been nominated as the running mate of Atiku; something that the naysayers can’t seem to swallow.

Indeed, while the above sentiments were not openly canvassed by the Southeast PDP governors, it is an open secret that some people view Anambra as unduly dominant, even when those occupying whatever position are well suited to it.

This seems to have been well exemplified by Obi. There’s little doubt that in terms of qualification, suitability, influence, acceptance and popularity, Obi, without doubt stands out among his peers from the Southeast Zone.

As governor of his state, Anambra, he acquitted himself well, developed his state and left billions in the coffers of the state while leaving office. Indeed, in terms of development indices, there’s little doubt that Anambra has developed the fastest under him and it’s all down to Obi’s Midas Touch and legacies.

And this was when his contemporaries handed over near empty treasuries to their successors.

Even outside of office, he remained very relevant, certainly more relevant than any other ex-governor in recent memory. He is seen by many Nigerians today as an example of a good leader. This is why he is always being invited to speak at one forum or the other. Thus when his name was announced as Atiku’s running mate, Nigerians went into hysterics; the first time the choice of a running mate would elicit such a celebration. Interestingly, those celebrating him are not limited to his geographical zone. The celebration simply cuts across the entire country. But while others were ecstatic about the development, discordant tunes were emanating from Obi’s very own people because of issues that can be said to be more laughable than serious.

Now, let’s take the example of Ogun State in the Southwest. This state has produced and is producing many people who have occupied exalted positions in the country or contested for big positions, including the incumbent Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Before him had been the likes of Obafemi Awolowo, Moshood Abiola, Olusegun Obasanjo, Babatunde Osotimehin, Dimeji Bankole, among others.

The rest of the Southwest states never protested each time any of the above names came up. What sufficed for them was that they were their people.

But then, when it was the turn of the Southeast which has been almost boring the rest of the country with cries of political marginalization to

produce their own man, they changed the cry from marginalization to non-consultation.

I’m sure the rest of the country must have been both shocked and puzzled, especially when the choice of the personality being debated was as good, if not better, as could be found anywhere.

One wondered what manner of consultation was needed when it is the prerogative of an aspirant to choose a person they feel they could work best with. Atiku, perhaps, only owed his party, the PDP, explanations over his choice, at least because of the political dynamics of the country such as the zone to produce the Vice President and the person’s religion. These two are ever present in any political calculation in the country.

For the Southeast leaders to therefore raise any kind of objection based on non-consultation smacks of political naivety. Perhaps, the village from which any of the governors chooses an appointee will tomorrow lead a delegation to such a governor to protest against the governor’s choice, knowing that a governor has the right to appoint anyone based on qualities they see in the person.

Maybe it would have been understandable if Obi was some unaccomplished personality or some crook who cannot be trusted with public office. But when Atiku’s choice is somebody who has proved himself in the business world, politics and leadership, any objection based on such trifling matter as to the state he is coming from certainly portrays the complainants as mere rabble rousers.

No doubt, the events following Obi’s nomination may seem to have been overtaken by time, but there is a need to remind these Igbo leaders as often as anyone can that they shouldn’t play the spoiler role in a deal that will benefit them and their people.

Mr. Atupulazi is the Editor of Fides Newspaper, Awka

15

T H I S D AY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

EDITORIAL The Port Harcourt Building Collapse Efforts must be made to ensure that stipulated regulations are adhered to

T

he recent collapse of an uncompleted seven-storey building in Port Harcourt where no fewer than 16 persons lost their lives has once again raised serious concerns not only about building regulations in Nigeria but also about the response to emergencies. According to reports, many construction workers were on site when the building collapsed and help did not come for them on time. We can only imagine the trauma and the agony the victims were subjected to in the unbearable condition of being trapped between fragments of broken bricks, concrete and mangled rods for several days.

While we commiserate with the families of the dead, it is important to state that unless drastic steps are taken, the nation will continue to experience this kind of tragedy. We therefore endorse the position of the River State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike that appropriate sanctions be meted to those who may be found guilty of the criminal negligence that led to this tragedy. Beyond that, we also call for a complete overhaul of the nation’s building and construction regulations so as to THERE IS A GLARING stop what has beFAILURE OF THE come a serial disaster REGULATING AGENCIES with the attendant TO PROPERLY PERFORM avoidable loss of innocent lives.

THEIR SUPERVISORY Meanwhile, we ROLES, GIVING RISE TO hope the authorities A SITUATION WHERE will not treat the Port QUACKS HAVE TAKEN Harcourt tragedy as an isolated incident.

OVER THE BUILDING It is not. All over the SECTOR country, there is a glaring failure of the regulating agencies to properly perform their supervisory roles, giving rise to a situation where quacks have taken over the building sector. Quite naturally, most of these characters seem interested only in how to cut costs, even if it means circumventing laid down regulations. Such a state of affair can only breed the kind of disaster we experi-

Letters to the Editor

ence from time to time.

It bears repeating that in other climes buildings don’t just collapse every other day. That is because such constructions are managed by qualified professionals, including structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, architects and quantity surveyors, among others. All these professionals are usually supervised by site engineers and inspectors whose duty it is to ensure that everything is done in accordance with approved plans and standards.

But above all, they are expected to pay attention to all the necessary details, including the quality of materials being used.

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

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

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

2019 ELECTION AND THE HARD CHOICE

W

ith the 2019 election fever in full pitch, we must be concerned with the question of whom to trust with the nation’s treasury for the next four years, and how he will manage it.

As responsible citizens, we have every right to know where our resources could end up, and how they would be spent by the next person to be elected to head government. We also reserve the right to the information about whether or not the current government spends the wealth of the nation for the benefit of whom it rightfully belongs.

Such typical and valid concerns occupy our minds simply because of our desire to prosper both socially and economically; the higher the integrity of leaders, the better the nation’s prosperity.

In this regard, the integrity of the leaders we elect as well as that of the government they form, play a key role in our national pursuit of social and economic prosperity.

The universal concept of integrity is however not exclusive to whom one leads. In fact, it is a moral value that each of us must internalise in our heart and manifest in our daily lives. For one thing, each of us is a leader, and internalising the concept of integrity which is closely connected to trustworthiness, and manifesting it through our ballots may bear success in the future direction of the country.

People or leaders of integrity will practice integrity in everything, and will act consistently with due diligence, prudence, full

nfortunately, the kind of tragedy witnessed in Port Harcourt had occurred in Lagos, Abuja, Aba, Benin and Kano, among other urban centres in the country but no lessons seemed learnt. Indeed, watching on television gory scenes of buildings where several people are trapped and killed in the mangled debris of iron rods and concrete slabs is now becoming a routine occurrence in our nation.

Several reasons are responsible for the incessant collapse of buildings in Nigeria. These causes range from violation of safety measures when erecting the structures, to the use of untested products and materials as well as lack of adequate regulations and sanctions against offenders. It is therefore important that there be a synergy between government and professional bodies to minimise the occurrence of these tragedies. This can be accomplished through the imposition of regulatory control and enactment of laws to guarantee that buildings are designed and constructed in such a way that is conducive to public safety and welfare.

From the architectural design stage to civil and structural engineering, actual construction and completion of a project, efforts must be made to ensure that stipulated regulations are strictly adhered to and there are no shortcuts aimed at minimising costs. Until we begin to do that, buildings will continue to collapse in our country like packs of cards with the attendant loss of lives.

accountability and responsibility in any situation.

As such, a person of integrity will only cast his vote for a candidate of integrity, for he knows that a nation can only excel if it is headed by a trustworthy leader.

On the other hand, a corrupt leader will only look out for his own personal interest rather than that of the public, and will draw around him people of his ilk, resulting in the proliferation of corruption in the society.

With all the intensity currently focused on 2019, the function of the concept of prudence and accountability becomes all the more apparent, demanding that we should utilise our voting rights responsibly.

This is in the hope that the severity of the consequences of corruption can be mitigated by exercising our electoral rights in voting for only leaders with integrity for a nation can only progress further if leaders are trustworthy and upright.

The coming election process can, in fact, turn out to be a concerted effort for Nigerian citizens to detoxify corrupt practices from our country, to thrust it forward in a more holistic manner.

The fall of ancient and modern governments could serve as a good lesson for us to learn. In recent history, the Arab Spring has revealed that countries with leaders who let self-interest and personal greed precede their good sense of integrity would only jeopardise the chance of the nation to grow to its full potential.

Such a scenario is definitely something we neither want, nor need in Nigeria.

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Abuja

MBAKA AND HIS WORLDLY WAYS

A

s I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say, I just watch what they do. Sir, permit me to express my feelings over the unhealthy action of Rev, Fr Ejike C. Mbaka, recently during the 2018 Harvest and Bazaar celebration in Enugu, which became a political platform to endorse or disqualify politicians who were not financially suitable to his desired amounts.

From the latest developments and Mbaka’s antecedents, we expected by now he should have been wiser, to start a good fight and run a good race.

How many times will one fail before you will check the cause of your failings? Why is Mbaka still on this bitter and painful error and blunder? Why are you speaking with the two sides of your mouth? Is it for personal interest or greed? Or simply

because PMB donated N2m and promised to build a world class hospital for you? Let me remind you sir, to own a world class hospital across Nigeria is our right, not privilege. We are highly disappointed in your priesthood.

Why not practice what you preach?

No wonder the Bible says, by their fruits ye shall know them.

Too much of everything is bad, history is a teacher to those who want to learn. Whatever you are, be a good one and stop seeing yourself as God. You can’t serve two masters at a time. It’s only God’s plan for Nigeria that will stand, not your prophecy. For the ear that hears, the eyes that sees and the mind that thinks and meditates, it is high time we called a spade a spade and join hands to make Nigeria work again and move forward.

Ifeanyi Everestus, Anioma Avenue, Delta State

16

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

PERSPECTIVE

Advocating Peace of the Grave Yard ‘Wale Oluwade

T

he recent activities of the National Peace Committee of Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami are on my mind. I recall the role the group played in the weeks leading to the 2015 presidential elections and how it brokered a peace accord between then incumbent Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Many have commended the smooth transition after the defeat of the incumbent. Fast forward to now, and the eminent body is out again repeating the same noble activity. But, I’m wondering why this committee has not found it worthy to intervene in the many crises of elections post 2015. Are we to conclude that its interest is only in the presidential polls?

This is germane because, I’m wondering where were they where the ‘cash and carry’ charade that was Edo, Anambra and Ekiti governorship elections happened? This question is all the more imperative as well because despite the shame of a nation that took place on October 27 in Osun state, there was not a whimper from this body. Does it mean that this was unimportant and not a threat to national peace and unity? By their deafening silence, we can rig elections so blatantly in states, such as the Kano local government elections where children freely and fairly voted in the glare of the world, but only when it comes to the presidency, there can be no rigging?

In my view, I find this position absurd. For many reasons, but I will mention just a few instances where the National Peace Committee should have spoken and enunciate my reasons.

The peace committee should have spoken and condemned the deployment of soldiers to the NASS that led to the sacking of the former DG SSS. The elders ought to have condemned all the sham elections aforementioned in the respective states. They should have, in unambiguous terms, slammed the brazenly partisan and divisive role the security agencies, most notably the Police, DSS and EFCC demonstrate in muzzling and hounding opposition on behalf of the federal government. They ought to have risen and strongly condemned the ignoble atrocity of October 27 in the Osun governorship rerun elections.

The elders ought to have; above all else they have failed to do, convened a world press conference and admonished the President

Abubakar

Kukah

Gowon

for his refusal to sign the 2018 Electoral Amendment bill sent to him by NASS. Why? For the clear and present danger his refusal of assent poses to the 2019 general elections.

For the manifest duplicitousness in the entire episode, going back and forth four times, all the while knowing he was not going to sign.

For the simple fact that it is obvious even to the blind, the APC and its federal government, are hell bent on rigging next February elections, particularly in the so-called stronghold North West region of President Buhari.

One, the declared results from the 2015 presidential elections in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Bauchi, and Zamfara states, where President Buhari got extremely high votes of those accredited to vote has been allegedly attributed to the use of ‘Incident Forms’ in place of the Smart Card Reader device, deployed by INEC thereby ensuring voting by aliens, underage and unregistered persons.

Two, the recent local government elections conducted where children were seen voting on live TV with glee while being egged on by adults, security men and SIEC officials in Kano state. Three, the most credible and indubitable evidence yet are the just conducted affirmative primaries of the APC, where the party declared that its sole aspirant, President Buhari garnered a whopping 14.8m votes from party members across the states to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate in 2019.

Many enlightened commentators have questioned and knocked the bottom off this dubious and patently false figure. The best commentary I read on this was written in this paper on October 26, 2018 by Shaka Momodu titled; “How APC, INEC Would Rig 2019 Elections.” Every interested Civil Society Organisation, foreign and local election monitors/observers, security agencies, etc., should read this piece for their education. To my mind, the APC presidential primaries’ declared results, is the single most potent evidence that what this party and the federal government is banking on to win in 2019 is blatant rigging. In addition to the critical analysis done in Shaka Momodu’s piece, I ask the following questions; where is the APC membership register affirming that it has bona fide, verifiable and biometrically proven membership totaling or exceeding this number? How and when did the ‘party’ achieve this humongous feat being less than five-years old? Can this membership list/data be opened to public scrutiny and forensic audit?

We all saw the APC primaries both on television and live. We are all witnesses to the large scale fiasco that has trailed the monumental farce that most of the primaries in the states produced. There are at least 300 cases in the courts consequent upon these primaries. As I type these, the courts have begun overturning some of these travesties so-called primaries.

Major players, including governors of not less than three states are at loggerheads with the party and its hierarchy over the primaries.

Thousands of party faithfuls have decamped to other parties in many states consequent on these primaries. Some NASS and state lawmakers have decamped as well. A serving federal minister is threatening to work against the party at the polls and so forth. And biggest of all, the President’s spouse has come out to denounce the primaries as not more than a huge scam set up to defraud unsuspecting persons of their hard earned monies.

The Absurdity of the Peace Agreement My specific grouse with the peace committee is that what it seems to have unwittingly done is to say to the presidential contestants; “You’re going into these elections which in all probability, will be rigged, however, and despite this, you can’t make or foment trouble. Simply accept the outcome and move on. Look up to the example of President Goodluck Jonathan, who though had many grounds to challenge the election results at the courts but chose to forgo that right for the sake of peace and to debunk the prediction that 2015 was the year of Nigeria’s unraveling.”

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

‘Peter Obi, Ghost of the Past and Reality of Today’ Valentine Obienyem

W

ith great disappointment and distaste, I read the above-titled piece supposedly written by one Abdullahi Haruna. It was indeed like a tour of a lunatic asylum.

What were his contentions? It was clearly sponsored by those who are dismayed that the Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi has no common fault that are observed among many Nigerian politicians and in desperation concoct tales, which defy all logic.

The unidentifiable Haruna submitted falsely that as Governor of Anambra State, Obi “bundled some northerners” back to their home-states. He is intensely annoyed that Obi uses his life-style to explain certain actions he took as governor; making reference to the controversy over Buhari’s age; and attempting to resurrect the N250 million issue.

Those of us from Anambra State are wondering when the bundling of Hausas from the area or any other group for that matter, took place during Obi’s tenure. There was absolutely nothing like that. On the contrary, Obi championed and fought against the deportation of any group of people from any part of the country, insisting that even the mentally-unstable should be rehabilitated

in the state of domicile; and he did exactly that in Anambra State. The records of the several destitutes from across the state that were catered for by the Obi administration at Nawfia Psychiatric Hospital are there for anybody to see.

From many indications, millions of Nigerians across the country have embraced the choice of Peter Obi as the running mate to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. They objectively assessed him from his records in the private sector, his performance as two-term Governor of Anambra State, and his conduct and public-spirited pursuits since he left Government House. In fact, hardly anything -- even a major sporting victory – can compare to the joy expressed by millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. Of course, it is normal that the opposition should become jittery and they are. After many “strategy meetings”, as they termed their scheming sessions, they decided that the best way to present Obi in a bad light is to lie that he demolished mosques in Anambra State and sent Hausas packing from Anambra State.

It is gratifying to note that among other concerned citizens, three former Police Chiefs of Northern origin, who variously served as Commissioners of Police in Anambra State under Obi’s tenure, have expressed their disgust and exasperation with the lies against Peter Obi. Putting the records

straight,Alhaji Amusa Bello – Anambra CP from 2006 to 2010 -- described the allegation as laughable at best and a figment of the author’s imagination. He also advised rumourmongers and purveyors of falsehood to desist from such acts and support who God anointed to showcase what modern politics, leadership and management should represent. He observed that it was unthinkable for anyone to associate Mr. Peter Obi with violence or rascality as Obi never demolished any mosque nor asked anyone, aside from criminals and kidnappers, to leave the state.

Similarly, retired Deputy Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha said: “I am from the North and I know what I am saying. Northerners are among the people holding the economy of Anambra State and in what circumstances could a governor have sacked them? Numbering millions, they are practically everywhere in the state, including Awka, Amansea, Onitsha, Nnewi and many other towns and communities. Let Nigerians be assured that the allegations are lies. Anybody spreading that kind of rumour is not being fair to the man and that is not the way to go for our national development”.

On his part, Gwary Usman, who retired as an AIG described the allegations as “false and wicked”. In his words, ‘’It is not true; the allegations are false. I was in the state as CP and I was better placed to know the truth.

Throughout the time I was in Anambra, nothing like that ever happened. Peter Obi is a detribalised citizen. I can tell you authoritatively that even if I wake of from slumber and you ask me this question, I will tell you that Obi did not and can never hate any Northerner. I am surprised that our people are being deceitful.”

What else could be said about the allegations?

The said Abdullahi Haruna also tried to resurrect the issue of N250 million. Many Nigerians may recall that when it came up, the then Governor Peter Obi waived his immunity, which nobody has ever done before and even since then. A thorough investigation was carried out by Mr. Solomon Arase who later became the Inspector- General of Police; and the findings are clear for anybody to see.

The money in question was for payment for vehicles already procured. The procurement documents were duly presented to the then Commissioner of Police of Lagos State, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo who later retired as a DIG. All this happened when Sir Mike Okiro was the Inspector-General of Police. The principal actors are all still alive, well and accessible for confirmation of the facts.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

19

PERSPECTIVE

Still on the Debt Profile of Gombe State Muhammad Baba Gombe

A

fter elections, the only thing that makes sense to the ordinary man who spent donkey hours on the queue to cast his vote is to enjoy the dividends of his democratic investment. Since, we are practicing democracy, the search for good governance is compulsory. To ensure that the leaders do not sway off the lane of providing the basic things that sustain the grassroots, the founders of democracy have hardwired political tools to cut the excesses of governance as a way of keeping political leaders in check, so they don’t end up as ‘emperors’ in a democratic setting. This is one of the major factors that separates democracy from military rule. Today, world over, everyone celebrates democracy because of what it can offer and what it offered in the past. However, in Gombe State what we have as driven by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is nothing but an ‘emperor in democracy’. The PDP neither listens nor gets checked by the political tool of the legislature in the state.

This is a very toxic trend that has made the PDP, a friend to bad governance or better yet an enemy of good governance. In view of the leadership mandate in its hand, the PDP has befriended Gombe to bad governance.

The people of Gombe must shine their eyes to kick the PDP out in 2019, before they annihilate the common hope that we share in the future of democracy in the state. When you talk of the PDP administration in the state in the last seven years, there is always a ‘devil in the detail’. Not sounding immodest, the PDP with its actions and unrepentant desire to put the state not just in debt but to entrench poverty, I can tell you, is at war with good governance in the state.

In recent times, many articles have been written on the level of financial recklessness, wasteful spending, unchecked power of the government of Gombe, misplaced priority projects, propagation of fake achievements and the massive debt burden which when combined serve as an encumbrance to the development of the state and in a decent democratic make-up, enough to instigate a legislative check and subsequent impeach-

Dankwambo

ment of the governor, if guilty as charged. A coalition of writers from Gombe have written a lot on the abysmally poor performance which have drawn concerns from Nigerians across board on the true state of events as against the self-exhortatory performance that the Gombe government feeds to the world, yet the legislative arm of government in Gombe State controlled by the PDP has kept a ‘zipped lips’ and allowed the ‘emperors in democracy’ to feed on the collective wealth of the state. The PDP-led legislature has proven to all in Gombe that party loyalty, as well as, self-interest is more a priority than good governance. Hence, since they form the majority in the house, they have decided to keep silent even when the debt profile of the state is hitting an all-time record high. The problem is not the legislative arm of government in Gombe state but the PDP members in the house who have not allowed checks on the recklessness of governance by the state’s executive arm.

On May 30, the All Progressives Congress (APC) released a statement accusing Gov.

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of committing an impeachable offence by sending a supplementary Budget of Local Government Areas, for the year 2017, on May 15, after the passage of 2018 Appropriation Law, seeking the approval of the house for an additional funds of N800 million. The loyal members of the APC were said to have resisted the illegality and gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution, which the APC house members say was against their ideology as a party. The APC members have done a lot in their own right to resist illegalities of the state government.

The only APC member then: the minority leader who went in defence of the governor to support illegality, has been ‘moneyed’ out of the party as his consolations, to where his heart lies. I am not surprised though, that the PDP had attempted to violate the constitution of the country. Even the constitution of their party has been violated in times that make counting a problem as evident in their just concluded unconstitutional primaries that was held in Government House, were Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna was denied the

ticket for fear that he will jettison the old lane of corruption and subject many of the bigwigs of the PDP to serious financial probe to recover the wealth of the common man whose geographical location stretches the North, South, West and East of Gombe. If not for the leadership of the APC, in the house, N800 million would have gone down the drain. Little wonder, Gombites have resolved to supplant the PDP government with the APC at all levels of governance in the state.

As far as I am concerned the PDP majority status at the legislative level is nothing but a political collusion to bring wealth to their members and the party at the expense of good governance, thereby depleting the resources of the people. The PDP members in the house have failed in their democratic responsibilities in terms of bringing the political tyranny of the executive to an end. Instead of protecting the citizens and providing what was promised to the people during election, the PDP-led administration has chosen to abuse the political power which has become the key feature of ‘Peoples (Un)Democratic Party’ as it ought to be, based on their style of leadership.

When efforts are made to put in public domain, the debt profile of the Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’ s administration, to keep the people of Gombe State abreast of the debt-driven style of leadership of the current administration; it looks as if someone was trying to blackmail the government of Gombe though the facts were presented. There are more recent evidence by The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) when it announced on Dec, 10, that Gombe airport will be grounded, listing it as one of the four airports, with a debt profile of N2.6 billion.

Surprisingly, Gombe state, was allegedly having a debt profile of N607 million. This led to the threat of withdrawal of services by FAAN. If nothing is done, the destruction of the current tentacles of good governance in Gombe, would be a minor trauma compared to the catastrophe that will herald the continuity of the PDP in state.

-Muhammad Baba Gombe, a public commentator can be reached via muhdbaba@ yahoo.com

Building a New Niger State Mohammed Mohammed

A

common saying among politicians and their foot soldiers is that “One good term deserves another.” This saying, to a large extent, reflects the good performance of elected officials especially governors who have been able to transform the lives of the people that elected them through delivery of dividends of democracy.

For us in Niger State it is no longer news that the administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello inherited a state that was bastardised by previous administrations a situation that was made worse by the last Peoples Democratic Party government.

Apart from the inability of that government to execute people-oriented programmes and projects it went on the expedition of leaving behind white elephant projects which have no direct bearing the needs of the people of this state.

Some of these projects are the Minna City Centre Tower, the multi billion five-star hotel the Three Arms Zone.

These projects among others are now relics depicting the financial mismanagement and profligacy of the previous government as a result of which the state has been plunged into huge debt that the present administration is contending with.

The immediate past administration also left pensioners in abject poverty and penury, some even died prematurely while waiting for their pension and gratuity whereas that government compulsorily deducted from these workers salaries most of whom were registered under the contributory pension scheme.

As at the time the government left office in May 2015 it had bequeathed a whopping N6 billion debt which was the contribution by workers.

This amount disappeared into thin air leaving the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led administration to contend with how to source for funds to settle the pensioners and reduce their plight.

These problems coupled with very poor township and inter-state roads which hinder easy movement of goods and services and the huge debts occasioned by the over N27 billion bond collected by that administration made the new regime to “start slowly but surely.”

By putting square pegs in square holes especially the appointment of Alhaji Zakari Abubakar as the Commissioner for Finance the state started finding its feet. It is on record that Alhaji Zakari Abubakar has been able to find the appropriate vaccine for the pension virus in the state in addition to ensuring regular payment of salarg and allowances of workers.

Interestingly, within a spate of three years the government has been able to settle all backlog of pension and gratuity.

Some relations of dead workers who had waited for over 10 years for the gratuity of their departed loved ones were also made to smile as they received their cheques. It is now the policy of government to pay pension and gratuity to retirees before other workers.

Due to the prudent management of the lean financial resources of the state put under the watch of the Commissioner for Finance, the government made history by being the first administration in the state to increase workers pay by 25% without the organised labour making

such request. Similarly while workers in other states are owed several months of salary, government employees in the state receive the bank alert for their salary on or before the 25th of every month.

No wonder the organised labour had to throw their weight behind the second term bid of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and the APC. The organised labour made this pledge at a recent solidarity visit to the governor at Government House where the state chairman of the NLC Comrade Yahaya Idris Ndako said workers in the state will vote massively for the governor and his party.

Ndako Idris told the governor “ we will surely work for your reelection, we the workers of this state are happy with you and your government.”

There is no doubt also that the ability of the state government to regularly and promptly pay workers and pensioners salaries has had and is still having positive effect on the general economy of the state. As a result of this, prices of goods and other services have remained stable in the market.

The government of Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has also been exploring other avenues to boost the income of the state which is mostly dependent on money from the federation account.

Several Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, have been signed with reputable local and international investors among them the Dangote Group, the African Finance Corporation AFC among others.

The Dangote group alone is to invest billions of naira into sugar cane production which would lead to the employment of more than 100,000 people directly and indirectly.

The government has also been able to boost rice production by more than 60% by bringing into the cultivation of the crop new set of educated farmers and providing them with modern farming tools and agro chemicals.

The state chapter of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria through its chairman Alhaji Adamu Abini recently attested to this when he said the state intervention in rice cultivation will soon make Niger state to become the largest rice producing state in the country.

With the establishment of the Koica and Onyx rice mills in Bida area of the state Adamu Albini said more people will be engaged in farming rice which will translate to bumper harvests and improved income for the state and the farmers.

The administration has also been laying a good economic foundation for the state using agriculture as the catalyst that will move the state to the next level economically.

Within a spate of a little over three and half years Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has laid a solid foundation for the economic and industrial growth of this state. What is left is to consolidate on these modest achievements.

This is where the people come in. We have to believe in the government and its plan for our state. This is the time to give our action governor a resounding ovation. Continuity should be our decision so that in another four years our state will arrive the destination that other states have already reached.

-Mohammed Mohammed, the immediate past chairman of the NUJ Niger State Council sent this piece from Minna Niger state

20

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

21

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻ, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 8.07 % 9.96 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

26.00% 17.50% 17.63%

D E C E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

350.84 % 0.06% 0.40%

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078, 08152447875

1 4 , 2 0 1 8 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 1.02% YEAR TO DATE 6.49%

EXCHANGE RATE N306.90/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Dana Wins Passenger Facilitation Award

Dana Air has won the award for the ‘Best Domestic Airline on Passenger Facilitation,’ at the 2018 edition of the Nigerian Aviation Awards (NIGAV), held recently in Lagos.

Spokesman of the airline, Kingsley Ezenwa, said the Nigerian Aviation Awards is Nigeria’s most prestigious air transport development award which has become the benchmark for excellence in promoting best practices and innovation among foreign and domestic airlines, service providers and aviation agencies in Nigeria.

The Head of Planning and Event Committee, of the Nigerian Aviation Awards, Mr Fortune Idu, in his opening remarks said over 100 recipients have so far been honoured in various categories for their performance, excellence, innovation and professionalism and “we will continue to recognise them as this is the only way to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence.’’ The Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr Akin Olateru, while presenting the award to Dana Air, described the airline as vibrant and always doing great things. The AIB Chief, who also won the Aviation CEO of the year award, encouraged the airline to continue oering its guests the best of service.’’ Ezenwa, while speaking to newsmen after the award described it as an end of the year brace.

He said the airline keeps innovating for the sake of its passengers and the award was a good way to end the year 2018.

STOCK TAKING

R-L: Managing Director/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Unity Bank Plc, Tomi Somefun; Chairman, Board of Directors, Aminu Babangida and Company Secretary, Mohammed Shehu, at the bank’s 12th Annual General Meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State...recently

Don’t Make NCAA Revenue Generating Institution, Experts Warn FG Chinedu Eze Airline operators and industry experts have warned that air safety would be jeopardised if the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which regulates the industry is recognised by the federal government as a revenue generating agency. Since the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA), the NCAA has been paying 25 per cent of its budgeted revenue to the federal government and since then, has paid about N17 billion to government coffers.

The experts posited that ideally the NCAA should utilise revenues at its disposal

AVIATION for manpower development and regulation of the industry, warning that safety standard might be compromised if the authority begins to target revenue instead of consigning itself to strict regulation of the sector.

The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY that in the bid to generate revenue, the NCAA over charges airlines, saying this leaves the operators with poor liquidity, as they have to pay for the inspection of training facility, maintenance facility and aircraft inspection

overseas.

All these, Sanusi said, are done to make NCAA earn more revenue despite the fact that it already collects five per cent ticket sales charge and cargo sales charge from the airlines.

He said it was expected that the NCAA should fund its aircraft inspection overseas from the money it generates from the five per cent charge or government may decide to device funding mechanism for the regulatory authority, which would at the same time guarantee its autonomy. “When a regulator becomes profit making organization, the aim of sustaining safety and

promoting the growth of the airlines would be defeated.

The agency would no more care if there is growth in the industry as long as it is making its own profit. That will be counterproductive to safety.

This will endanger the airlines and defeat professionalism in the industry,� Sanusi said.

He said the NCAA should be fully funded by the federal government, suggesting that government could set out one per cent of the ecological fund or funds should be made available by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to fund Continued on page 22

Nigeria Loses N600bn Monthly to Apapa Gridlock Eromosele Abiodun The umbrella body of terminal operators in the country, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has called on the federal government to take urgent steps and resolve the protracted Apapa gridlock, stressing that the economy is losing over N20 billion daily as a result of this avoidable situation.

The Chairman of STOAN, Vicky Haastrup, who decried bad roads and the menacing Apapa gridlock in a chat with newsmen, described the situation as a monumental national disgrace.

Haastrup said terminal operators are working under the harshest business environment in spite of the huge investments they have made towards developing the ports.

ECONOMY The STOAN chairman wondered why successive governments in the country allowed the port access roads to progressively degenerate until they became impassable.

She said: “The situation in Apapa particularly as it relates to access to the port is a monumental national disgrace. How can a sector that has such huge potential and that generates billions of naira for government be left to so degenerate? Government is looking for oil but we have a sector that has the capacity to give you all the revenue you need yet the sector is suffering.

Why has it not been attended to?�

The STOAN chairman said the large number of tank farms located within Apapa has

also compounded the chaotic gridlock.

She also asked the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing to urgently reopen the bridge exiting Apapa at Leventis/Area B, which has been shut down for several months without any visible sign of work being carried out on it. “Without reopening that bridge, the inflow and outflow of trucks will remain a major challenge in Apapa,� she said.

Also speaking, the Africa Communication Manager of Maersk, Augustine Fischer, said the poor condition of roads in and out of the Apapa area of Lagos State remains a major blight on port operations in Nigeria.

He argues that the two seaports in Lagos handle more than 60 per cent of

goods imported into country.

While the volume of cargoes imported into the country has been on the rise —increasing from about 35 million metric tonnes in 2006 to more than 80 million metric tonnes 12 years later —the roads through which these goods are taken out of the port to their final destinations have worsened. “The poor road condition coupled with a lack of parking lot for trucks and proliferation of tank farms in Apapa, means these trucks have to spend days – sometimes as much as 10 days – to cover a short distance of less than 5km to enter the port to drop off, or take delivery of cargo. “The resultant effect is a backlog of cargoes at the port.

Cargoes that should ordinarily Continued on page 22

Arik Air Recognised in Accra, Lagos

Nigeria major carrier, Arik Air got double recognition as the airline won awards in Accra, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria. In Accra, the airline bagged the award of the ‘Most Recognizable Airline Brand’ in Nigeria at the African Travel Times 2018 Awards held at the Accra City Hotel. The Africa Travel Times Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the West Africa. Similarly, in Lagos, Arik Air won the award of the Best Cabin Crew (Domestic) at the 9th Nigeria Aviation Awards.

Speaking at the presentation of the award in Accra, Publisher of African Travel Times, Lucky George, stated that Arik Air had proved to be a leading brand in Nigeria with its modern aircraft and relatively newer eet which is among the youngest in the region.

Arik Air’s Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu commented on the double awards, “We are proud of these achievements, which is a reward to the hard work of the entire sta and management of our airline, and an indication of our leading position in Nigeria. “We will continue to strengthen and ensure we oer safe and secure excellent travel experience to our customers. We thank our customers for their continued patronage and for believing in us “.

Air Berlin Administrator Sues Etihad

The administrator for failed carrier Air Berlin is seeking damages of up to â‚Ź2 billion ($2.26 billion) from former shareholder Etihad Airways.

The Landgericht Berlin regional court in a statement said the insolvency administrators are seeking payment of â‚Ź500 million and “a declaration that the defendant is under an obligation to pay further damages. The Chamber has provisionally ďŹ xed the amount in dispute at up to â‚Ź2 billion.â€?

Airwaise.com reported that Air Berlin’s administrators maintain that Etihad “violated its obligationsâ€? agreed to in a document conďŹ rming its intention to provide the airline with necessary support “in any event.â€?

An April 28 letter promised Etihad’s support for an 18-month period to enable the German carrier to meet its ďŹ nancial obligations, but contrary to the commitment, it withdrew ďŹ nancial support from the airline in August 2017 resulting in Air Berlin ďŹ ling for insolvency, the administrators argue.

American Adds New Routes

American Airlines is launching 18 new domestic routes and adding extra ights to two international destinations for summer 2019 travel.The new domestic routes include a new destination: Kalispell, Montana’s Glacier Park Airport, with service from Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Chicago O’Hare.

According to airwsie.com, American said it is also returning to Nova Scotia’s Halifax StanďŹ eld Airport, with service from Philadelphia and New York LaGuardia to the Canadian city. “With 18 new routes, we are committed to providing the most choices for our customers across the US,â€? the airline’s network and schedule planning VP Vasu Raja said.

“NCAA wishes to assure all passengers that all aircraft operating in Nigeria are airworthy (fit to fly),�

Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,

Captain Muhtar Usman

22

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD DON’T MAKE NCAA REVENUE GENERATING INSTITUTION, EXPERTS WARN FG’

NCAA. “If such funds cannot be set aside, government should device another mechanism of funding, whereby a new policy should be introduced that would direct every passenger to pay N1000 per ticket, instead of the current percentage charge,� the Aero CEO said.

He noted that when an airline pays for first class ticket and provides accommodation for the inspector from NCAA going to inspect the airline’s aircraft overseas, it is highly likely that the inspector may be influenced by those overtures.

Speaking in the same vein, a Managing Director of an airline that is into charter operations who craved for anonymity, told THISDAY that if NCAA begins to target money making, regulatory procedure would not become the focus anymore and this would be dangerous for the industry. “Therefore it would be necessary that NCAA is restricted to its regulatory job than running as profit making organization. It should be left to function as regulator.

Commercial enterprise cannot go hand in hand with strict regulation,� he said.

The operator who is also a seasoned pilot, said it might be in the bid to make profit that prompts NCAA to deploy inspectors to inspect a facility for an airline, which it inspected two weeks ago for another airline, for example.

NIGERIA LOSES N600BN MONTHLY TO APAPA GRIDLOCK

exit the port within three days after discharge from the ship could remain in the port for as long as 21 days, waiting for trucks. “The best solution to the Apapa traffic congestion is to fix the roads and seek alternatives to cargo evacuation. The port has increased in efficiency and capacity but the port access roads have deteriorated progressively since they were built,�Fischer said.

Group Business Editor

ĂŒĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă‹ Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă‹ AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

NEWS

FG Upbeat about Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government has said the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail project is gradually coming to an end, even as it revealed that Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is set to inspect the project from Lagos-Abeokuta in the first week of January.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, gave the hint during the monthly inspection of the on-going Lagos-Ibadan rail project, Odeda, in Ogun State.

The minister said the rail-line would have been completed by the end of December 2018, up to Abeokuta, when Osinbajo would inspect the volume of work done so far.

According to him, “We are gradually coming to the end of the project. Today, we are 6km from Abeokota. I have been assured that we will be able to ride from Idu to Abeokuta by the first week of January. “The idea is to bring the Vice-President and some Ministers to join us in the ride. And so far, we have installed anti-theft track to guide again theft. “I will tell CCECC to concentrate on the track for now by focusing on one rail track to the end because work will be faster that way while they can continue with the other lane. “When one is on use, work will continue on the second lane. Building two at the same time slow construction period.�

Speaking further, he said: “One of the gains of the project, the minister said no fewer than 9,000 Nigerians

are on the payroll of the counterpart funding of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project of the federal government and the Chinese contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Amaechi revealed that Nigerians working on the project, includes engineers and casual workers are well over 9,000. “While we congratulate the Chinese contractor for their technology. We are now saying Nigerians must learn on how to build good roads and railway for ourselves like other countries did it.

We cannot continue to rely on other people’s technology the earlier we learn that, the better for us. “ Commenting on the manmade challenges faced, he said vandalisation of bolts and brazes on the rail-lines, particularly on Kaduna axis are quite alarming in Kaduna axis.

He said Government and the contractor. China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC and the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) had to device means to prevent further theft by procuring anti-theft rail lines to prevent further theft of

the ongoing project.

The minister, however, expressed displeasure over a certain portion of the ongoing project from Abeokota to Ibadan, insisting that the contractors had concentrated more on Lagos to Abeokuta. “I think they are maximising profit, they don’t want to buy additional equipment for the job. Their argument is that, they are still within the contract time line, but, we want them to use the same speed they used on Lagos to Abeokuta on Abeokuta to Ibadan. I requested for a meeting with the management of CCECC

in January to review the terms,� he said.

Also, the House Committee Chairman on Lands &, Transportation, Hon. Jubril Abdulmumuni, said he had to join in the inspection with his committee members to inspect the project and be able to relate to the House about the volume of work done.

Abdulmumuni said, “I just told my colleagues that I will personally go and see Mr President and tell him what we have witnessed and Nigerians should know that lots of work is going on here.�

ANTI-SUBSTANCE CAMPAIGN

L-R: Directors MTN Foundation, Dennis Okoro; Prince Julius Adebisi-Adeluyi and National Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Samuel Adekola, at the launch of the MTN Foundation multi-stakeholder Anti-Substance Abuse Programme held in Lagos‌recently PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN

Zwinkels: Tough Regulation Required to Sanitise MFBs James Emejo in Abuja The Chairman, Baobab Microfinance Bank, Mr. Bernardus Zwinkels, has said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) needs to apply tougher rules and regulations to the microfinance sub-sector for its sustainability and integrity.

He said microfinance institutions must deploy depositors’ funds in a prudent manner to sectors where “you can really produce and develop businesses.�

Speaking in an exclusive chat with THISDAY, Zwinkels while

commending the central bank’s recent moves to sanitise the sector, called for more vigilance in ensuring microfinance banks comply to regulations- and not to breach guidelines in order to enrich themselves.

He said integrity was crucial for sustaining the microfinance business.

The CBN recently announced that it planned to revoke the operating licences of 182 other financial institutions (OFIs) including 154 microfinance banks, six primary mortgage banks and 22 finance companies.

The apex bank also directed the operators to shore up their capital, saying the move became necessary following evidence that 62 microfinance banks had already “closed shop� while 74 other were “insolvent�, 12 were “terminally distressed� and six others “voluntarily liquidated�.

To this end, the Baobab Microfinance Chairman, commended the CBN for being “on top of the game�, and “really playing an important role in bringing sound financial institutions on a higher level.�

He said: “You know it’s

not easy running a financial institution, using the money of depositors but also using the money of international development finance institutions.�

Backing the move to revoke their licences, he added: “You need to control yourself, you need to be very professional and efficient to run an organisation and to lend money to people who can comply with using the money in a correct way by bringing business into the country, developing the business but and also rate cash flow to repay the money in a

correct way because of course that is integrity. “Integrity is the most important thing needed to sustain a business. Now, the CBN is stimulating it, controlling it and being very tough; but you know even in my organisation, I am demanding to be very tough in order to comply with our targets and our ambitions.�

He, also tied the success and sustainability of major deposit money banks operating in the country to compliance with extant regulations and encourage other finance institutions to follow suit.

Dangote Cement Distributors Pledge Increased Patronage Key distributors of Dangote Cement have lauded the management of the company for its rewards system and support to its distributors which enable them to maximise sales and increase profit.

The commendation came just as the company rewarded its top 20 key distributors with sport utility vehicles (SUV) in the second batch of presentation of the vehicles to its leading distributors at the organisation’s head office in Lagos recently.

The distributors who expressed delight at the gesture

said the management of Dangote Cement had indeed shown that they were the leaders in the market not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.

Speaking on behalf of others, Mr. and Mrs. Taiye Fajana of the Twins Faja Nigeria Limited, a leading distributor was quoted in a statement to have said they were surprise at the decision of the management of Dangote Cement to give them vehicle shortly after they have been paid mouth-watering bonus for the sales recorded during the year.

According to them no other cement company has been so supportive of their distributors like Dangote cement saying the company was first to initiate promo in the cement industry with cash and other items given out freely.

They recalled the last promo during which many of their customers and dealers, across the country participated and were rewarded with free quantities of cement which were resold to make money and containers which have been serving a very crucial purpose

of storing of the commodity.

The distributors then urged other cement companies to take a cue from Dangote Cement’s sales model and reward system that guarantees sales increase and maximum profit for its distributors and dealers, adding that they would sell more Dangote cement in 2019.

The Group Managing Director of Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Kunle Alake, who made the presentation on behalf of Chairman of Dangote Cement, Aliko Dangote, congratulated the

customers and expressed the appreciation of the management of Dangote cement to them for their unalloyed loyalty to the Dangote cement brand.

He promised that the company would continue to meet the yearnings and aspiration of the dealers and end users of Dangote Cement products saying that it was in this regard that the company has introduced new products citing the newly introduced falcon and Blocmaster varieties in a bid to satisfy various needs of the customers.

23

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Immigration Lauds FG’s Ease of Doing Business Policy Stories by Chinedu Eze The Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, Mr. Dikko Yashe, has commended the Ease of Doing Business policy of the federal government, saying that it has boosted foreign investment in the country.

Yashe said investors who found it very difficult in the past to come to Nigeria due to visa hurdles have benefitted from the policy, which makes it easy for them to come and do business in the country.

He made this known in Lagos recently, during a ceremony organised for retirees and presentation of awards of excellence for deserving officers of the Command.

According to Yashe, since the policy was introduced in 2017, it had further improved the visa-on-arrival policy of the government as more potential investors visit the country more regularly without the rigours of visiting the embassies.

He emphasised that the airport command had keyed into the policy of Mr. Mohammed Babandede, the Comptroller General of NIS by reducing the contacts of its officers with travellers.

He explained further that on the average, the command issues 150 visas for travellers weekly, stressing that most of the travellers preferred the new

policy to the former.

Yashe, however, pointed out that some of the travellers don’t want for the approval of the Comptroller-General of Immigration for their visa applications before embarking on journeys to Nigeria, stressing that in the past 10 months, no fewer than 278 foreigners had been sent back from the Lagos Airport for lack of entry visas into the country.

He said: “I know that visa-onarrival policy has tremendously increased travellers through the Lagos Airport Command. On the average, we issue about 150 visas on arrival or more, it depends on the influx of passengers. “We observe that most of our passengers prefer to get their visas on arrival, but the challenge we have is that some of the passengers don’t wait for approval from the CG. That is why we keep on returning people. “Within my few months at the airport, I have returned over 278 people without visas in the past 10 months.�

On retirees, he said 13 officers of different cadres retired from the command in recent time, while other seven officers were recognised for discharging their duties professionally.

He urged the recipients of the awards to continue to be professional in their duties and challenged others to emulate their conducts.

Yashe insisted the service

would not promote mediocrity among its officers, rather would reward hard work and dedication. “What we are doing is what the CG wants. If the leadership is transparent, you expect the followership to follow suit. So, that is the key success and we have a very good synergy with other security agencies and other key stakeholders in the aviation industry. We do our best to minimise interface with passengers as directed by our Comptroller-General. That has really helped in sanitising our airports, improve relationship and I am proud of that. “We know it is not easy to start a career and end it either at the mandatory age of 60 or 35 years in service. Some of our colleagues died along the line.

It is a thing of join that that they are alive to receive their honours themselves and not through any next-of-kin. “I am also happy that two of my officers at the MMIA Command were recognised by award of excellence. The recipients represent the whole command. The awards are for them as individual, but it was for us collectively. I am indeed proud of all of them.�

Also commenting at the occasion, Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Udeje Usman (rtd), who acted as the Chairman of the day, commended the conducts of officers of the command.

NDLEA Commends Presidential Task Force on Drugs The National Drug Law on Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has commended the federal government for its declaration of a state of emergency on drugs and substance abuse by President Muhammadu Buhari.

NDLEA noted that the craze for substance abuse in the country was worrisome and had reached a level where a presidential intervention is inevitable.

NDLEA official, Mitchell Oforyeju, described the new policy as welcome development and as one legacy that would continue to speak in favour of this administration for many generations.

He said the unprecedented dimension of drug and substance abuse in the country had thrown many families in disarray as they scamper for elusive solutions.

“The words of Mr President that this is a situation of emergency that deserves urgent solution is absolutely comforting to parents and observers of the alarming state of drug abuse in the country. “To most stakeholders the inauguration of the two-tier ministerial and presidential advisory committee on the elimination of drug abuse is timely. The use of drugs particularly by youths constitutes a major public health and social concern. As rightly observed by the President, Nigeria has moved from a transit country to a user nation,� Oforyeju said.

The NDLEA described drug abuse as a multifaceted problem affecting both the young and old people of different backgrounds.

On one hand, is the debilitating

health condition of people using drugs particularly the mental health implications.

The agency said additionally, the numerous socio-economic problems of school dropout, increase in crime rate, as well as low productivity, are challenges demanding immediate solutions.

It also remarked that the committee must, however, bear in mind that in spite of the strategic role of the agency in national security; it is one of the most neglected in terms of budgetary allocation. Principally the committee is expected to provide funds to lubricate the machinery of the agency by providing operational logistics as well as provide funds to address the welfare deficit of officers thereby restoring their morale.

Airbus Appoints New Head for Airframe Commercial Division Airbus has named Philippe Mhun to replace “mission impossible� man Didier Evrard at the airframer’s commercial division.

Mhun, currently Head of Customer Services at Airbus, will take up his new position as Chief Programmes and Services Officer on January 1, 2019.

Airwise.com reported that Evrard, who Airbus chief executive Tom Enders referred to as programme manager “par

excellence�, is due to retire at year’s end after 41 years at the company.

Mhun joined Airbus in 2004 as A380 Programme VP, becoming Customer Services VP soon after.

He will report to Enders until his retirement in April, then to his replacement as CEO Guillaume Faury after the Airbus AGM (annual shareholders meeting) on April 10, 2019.

Prior to joining Airbus Mhun held various positions at French

airline UTA between 1986 and 2004, and subsequently at Air France.

Enders paid tribute to Didier Evrard saying it was largely due to his determination and programme management skills that the A350 XWB has become “the widebody of choice for 45 of the world’s leading airlines.�

He said the A350 programme was affectionately known as “mission impossible� in its early stages of development.

Yuletide and High Travel Demand

Chinedu Eze It is likely that passengers who are travelling by air this Christmas season on domestic destinations w i l l h a v e t o p a y m o re .

THISDAY gathered that as at October, travellers had started booking for December flights and by mid-November, most airlines had fully booked flights for Christmas holidays.

But for the airlines to meet passengers’ demand they would have t o re s c h e d u l e f l i g h t s b y p u t t i n g m o re f l i g h t s a t t h e a i r p o r t s t h a t have higher passenger traffic during the season.

For example, flights to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar, Enugu, Uyo and Benin are high at the end of the year, while those to Yola, Kaduna, K a n o , M a i d u g u r i a re n o t a s h i g h .

So airlines deploy more aircraft t o t h e b u s i e r ro u t e s . B u t t h e re i s still a challenge; the airlines can only give what they have. Currently there are limited operating aircraft i n t h e c o u n t r y, b u t i n t h e l a s t t w o weeks, some of the airlines have re c e i v e d t h e i r a i rc r a f t b a c k f ro m maintenance overseas.

Earlier in the week, Medview Airline announced add i t i o n a l f l i gh t s to some domestic destinations, Air P e a c e h a s s t a r t e d re c e i v i n g s o m e of its aircraft from checks overseas and Dana Air has welcomed back o n e o f i t s a i rc r a f t f ro m c h e c k s overseas too.

S o t h e re i s i n c re a s e d o p e r a t i n g a i rc r a f t f o r t h e Yu l e t i d e b u t t h e high demand for flights have jerked u p t h e f a re s .

T H I S D AY s p o k e w i t h t h e C o rporate Communications Manager, Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, who said the airline would deploy enough a i rc r a f t t o m e e t t h e d e m a n d o f the season. He also said that the airline still graduates its fares but i t i s o b v i o u s t h a t a s m o re p e o p l e book for flights, the system would c o n t i n u e t o i n c re a s e t h e f a re . “Our airfares have remained the same for a long time. Our flights a re f u l l y b o o k e d f o r t h e s e a s o n b u t w e a re g o i n g t o c re a t e m o re f l i g h t s . I n 2 0 1 7 t h e f a re s o n o u r domestic routes ranged from N21, 000 to N41,000 for the economy c l a s s . B u t i n 2 0 1 8 a n d c u r re n t l y i t r a n g e s f ro m N 2 3 , 0 0 0 t o N 4 2 , 0 0 0 for economy class. Although as m o re p a s s e n g e r s d e m a n d t i c k e t s t h e a i r f a i r i n c re a s e s b u t w e p u t a c e i l i n g t o t h e f a re s ; i t s t a r t s f ro m t h e m i n i m u m b u t a s m o re p e o p l e continue to buy ticket, the system continues to increase the fare. For example, the minimum fare could go for only 40 people who first bought tickets; then the system

would increase the fare for the next people that would buy tickets. “Our booking peaked by midNovember, but we are creating more flights as more aircraft arrive from ma i n t en a n c e. We usua l l y sc h ed ul e f l i g h t s a c c o rd i n g t o t h e a i rc r a f t a v a i l a b l e . F ro m N o v e m b e r 1 7 w e are creating more flights. This year people booked ahead of time. Some started booking in October and those who did at that time bought the t i c k e t s a t re l a t i v e l y l o w p r i c e s , �

Iwarah said.

H e n o t e d t h a t t h e t i c k e t s a re n o t a l w a y s s o l d a t t h e s a m e f a re s e v e n when it automatically goes up because the airline’s agents sell at different prices and anyone buying t i c k e t f ro m o v e r s e a s w o u l d b u y a t a price determined by the exchange rate, which is decided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For example, a passenger in Ghana buying ticket for domestic f l i g h t s i n N i g e r i a w o u l d p ro b a b l y buy at a higher fare than a Nigerian in Nigeria who is buying the same type of ticket.

On how Air Peace plans to operate when the Harmattan haze disrupts flight, Iwarah said that the airline follows weather reports and when it is not safe to fly, it suspends flights b u t i t h a s s t a n d b y c re w s o d u r i n g crew time out, the airline has other s e t s o f c re w t h a t w o u l d t a k e o v e r f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s i m m e d i a t e l y. “In this way we maximise the opportunity at the time it would b e s a f e t o f l y. F ro m O c t o b e r w e experience more flight disruptions due to inclement weather but we a re p re p a re d t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f the windows when it is safe to fly,�

Iwarah said.

THISDAY also spoke to the Media and Communications Manager of D a n a A i r, K i n g s l e y E z e n w a , w h o s a i d t h e a i r l i n e ’ s f a re s a re “ p o c k e t friendly� even during the peak of the Yuletide season when flight tickets are in high demand, but noted that the prices for tickets would increase a s C h r i s t m a s g e t s c l o s e r. “ We l o o k a t t h e v a r i a b l e s . F o r now, airfares are still low; although traffic is massive now, particularly flights to Owerri, Abuja and Port H a rc o u r t . W h a t w e d o i s t o c re a t e m o re f l i g h t s t o m e e t t h e d e m a n d of our customers. But the fare may b e h i g h e r, b u t w e w i l l c re a t e m o re flights to the destinations where is h i g h e r d e m a n d a n d re d u c e f l i g h t s o n t h e ro u t e s w h e re t h e d e m a n d i s l o w, � h e s a i d .

A i r P e a c e , A r i k A i r, D a n a A i r, M a x A i r, M e d v i e w A i r l i n e , A e ro , A z m a n a n d O v e r l a n d A i r w a y s a re t h e a i r l i n e s i n t h e d o m e s t i c m a rk e t , o p e r a t i n g c u r re n t l y a b o u t 2 4 a i rc r a f t .

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Jarana: We have Operated 20 Years in Big Nigerian Market Group Chief Executive Officer of South Africa Airways, Vuyani Jarana, in this interview with journalists described Nigeria as very important market for aviation in Africa after operating in the country for 20 years. According to him, to make the airline profitable, management must implement policies to rejuvenate the airline. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts: How many passengers have you airlifted in the last 20 years you have been operating in Nigeria?

There are things we need to take into context.

When the Bi-lateral air service agreement was first signed, it was two frequencies per country. So, we were only allowed to fly two frequencies and that restricted the number of passengers that we could carry. Even when the Bi-lateral air service agreement was reviewed two years later, we were allowed to do four frequencies but it was also seat restricted.

So, each country was allowed to carry a maximum of 300 passengers per week in each direction, obviously, that also restricted the number of passengers that we could carry. The current Bi-lateral agreements have given us 10 frequencies each country which is not seat restricted. With this we have now been able to carry up to a maximum of over three million passengers since 1998 in Nigeria. Could we have carried more?

Definitely, we would have carried more. It is not just about Lagos-Johannesburg; it is about traffic behind the gateways.

What passengers would we have carried from other countries within the West African sub-region? What passengers would we have carried beyond Lagos in the sub-regions of 15 countries? So, there are quite a number of other complexities that can happen behind the two gateways. In the same vein, if the complexities of doing business in Nigeria are compared with other continents; which is one of the reasons why the low cost carriers operate very well in Europe.

This is because you hardly ever see these low cost carriers operating out of traditional gateways like London-Heathrow and Frankfort, amongst others; they always use secondary or third tier gateways.

In the 20 years of operation, what challenges peculiar to Nigeria did SAA experience?

We fly daily from Johannesburg to New York.

We uplift fuel out of South Africa into New York and we also uplift fuel from New York back to Johannesburg. We compare the price that we pay for our fuel in South Africa and in the USA. You have to be clever on how you apply your procurement. If we are seeing that the load factor from Johannesburg to New York is slightly less, so we come in with more fuel because we know that we are paying for that fuel in our local currency. When we refuel in New York, we are going to uplift much less; then it means the economics of the flight to and fro are not much. That is what cleaver procurement does.

USA uses few amounts to pay for fuel much less that we pay out of quite a number of oil producing countries in Africa.

So, the African Airline Association (AFRAA) should bring the region’s airlines together and say, you are oil producing countries, how can you continue to sell jet fuel at a much higher price than countries that don’t produce jet fuel? The Boeing B747 was a beautiful aircraft and I can tell you the number of Nigerians that came to me when we stopped operating the B747 complaining. I could see people who were so in love with the Boeing 747 aircraft. We were the first achieving test airline for the Boeing 747-200, the special performance aircraft.

We flew it out of Johannesburg to London as the first airline in the whole world, specifically designed for South Africa conditions but the economics come in because it is a four-engine aircraft. So, we say when we are uplifting so much fuel in such a high altitude at such a cost.

How profitable is that operation going to be? So, we discontinued using the B747-400.

Considering the current state of SAA, what is your plan for the airline to return to proďŹ tability?

It is well known that SAA in recent years have gone through difficult times in terms of profitability and lack of profitability. There have been a lot

because of the market. The focus is on quality and really looking at great service. So, we are responding to the market appropriately and we will continue to do so. Our big focus is to make sure we are consistent in service, so that customers’ expectations are met almost 99percent of the time.

What is the actual state of SAA now?

We have said it is going to take us three years; from now to 2021 to make the company break even, which means it becomes profitable. When you own a company that is not profitable today, shareholder capital costs and debt financing becomes the instrument to support working capital. So, that is where we are. The government of South Africa injected another five billion rand to support SAA. Our commitment is to implement the breaking even of SAA in three years.

Jarana

of initiatives and strategies developed in SAA to turn it around. Any business that has to succeed has to be able to carry its own operations. There is nothing wrong with shareholder injection as it is normal in any business especially if you are trying to grow or facing difficult times. The case of SAA has been slightly different. We have come in as a new management and the big focus has been turning around SAA. If you look at the history of SAA, it hasn’t lacked strategy and the strategies are not bad. However, what has been missing is that if you write a strategy without implementing it, you will not achieve success.

The difference between the current board and the management team that we have put in place and will continue to beef up is the willingness to execute on the strategy. This is really rolling off your sleeves and getting things done. The biggest dimension of strategy is timing. Strategy is not static; it continues to evolve. It is not necessarily that there are too much new ideas but the difference is the willingness to implement. So, we are implementing the strategy. We have pulled back a lot in the domestic market. A lot of the routes were negative at the gross profit margin ladder.

Our own strategy has brought back margins at gross profit ladder as well as in the rest of the continent. The next thing is to take out the costs, the fixed costs in the organisation. On contracts which we feel we will have negotiated better, we have put in teams to look into that. We need to take out the costs so that we can get back to profitability. As we do so, we have to keep our eyes on the market. Customers must be served better. Instead of flying two frequencies a day, where we are making losses on both, we are consolidating on one where we can come out with better margins. We are also putting good services on-board so that customers must choose SAA flight ahead of the other competitors.

We are achieving being the most sought after airline. We will continue to improve. Therefore, what it does is that it allows you to command a price premium in that market because of the differentiated service. We are balancing skills and profitability. Some South Africans may be a little bit impatient about what we do. What we are relying on are the evidences of what we do; showing them progress and where we are. With time, they will see that it is a different team that is executing on the strategy and that is our commitment. There is a chosen path by the government and we are doing everything in

our hands to make it work. These are practical things that we are doing and some of them take time but some of them are easy to execute on the commercial side.

What are the particular efforts you have made to enhance visa facilitation and tourism in Nigeria?

When you talk about visa, when I am here I meet with the Consulate General and the ambassador. When we go back home, we talk to the minister looking at ways how we can improve the processing of visa in Nigeria. So, I must say that with the stimulus package that the president announced, in there is the promotion of tourism, which talks to the review of visa processes. The consulate general spoke earlier saying there are efforts to look at longer term visas because what is important is that if you are a frequent traveller to Nigeria and South Africa, it doesn’t make sense to be given single entry or one-time visa because you are going to apply many times. So, once you have gone through the profiling and you go there often, why should you not be given a longer term visa? What you see in the changes that are coming through is that possibility. So, once you see more and more people qualified getting longer term visa, then the ability to process the new comers, then you spend lot more time on the right people. Then, we will get volumes coming through. When we have volumes coming through, then we can look at whether we are serving the market adequately because once we have more volumes of people coming to South Africa, it creates an opportunity to expand the services.

How is the Nigerian market to your operations compared to other markets where you operate?

The difference is the size here. There is only one Nigeria, if you are not in Nigeria, then you are not in the world cup in terms of business.

However, doing business in Nigeria is not a tea party. It is a lot more complex, you need to understand it and have a lot more temperament to work with the environment. So, hopefully, with the team that we have on ground and our own understanding of the market, we should be able to make success out of the market but of course.

Nigerians are looking for great service and they always ask for proper service. So the services must talk to their tastes and preferences. That is why our priority was to put a newer aircraft here

Twenty years gone for SAA in Nigeria, what is the next big step?

We understand that the Nigerian market is big. There should be possibilities to look at other opportunities in the market. It could be Nigeria outbound to other continents or other countries whether it is London or United States. So, we need to understand how we can participate in those opportunities. We are putting teams in place to study the market and understand the revolutions of the market. We understand that opportunities are a lot bigger than Johannesburg and Lagos routes that we currently have. That is the ambition. Ambitions like this take time because we need to do the frameworks; we need to get all approvals and a lot more before starting. We have ambitions but as we go through them, we begin to see where we are and the next thing we need to do.

The strategy of SAA is using the airline to drive tourism. Are you now changing that strategy with your emphasis on proďŹ tability?

We have not abandoned the issue of increasing tourism but we also understand that you have to balance these things. You can’t drive tourism without sacrifice. We don’t want to fly all over the world when we are not making money. We want to make sure we are on routes that we’ve got plans to make them profitable. Some routes will take time to turn profitable; some others will be a lot quicker. That is the focus. We are working at driving tourism, which is critical but also we see ourselves as a Pan-African airline. There is a lot of city pass we are doing with Johannesburg.

We need to look at East, West Africa connectivity.

The tourism strategy still exists but not at the detriment of other strategies. We have to look at what the market wants and we must do what the market wants not necessarily what we want.

So, it is a balanced approach.

What is the situation with some of the subsidiaries of South African Airways?

Mango Airline is a very successful subsidiary of SAA. It is a low cost airline and very strong in the domestic market. It does a few regional routes but predominantly, low cost. What we have seen in the domestic market is that there is a huge appetite for low cost carrier services.

Mango has grown significantly in that area, so we made that decision to ensure that they continue to lead in that market. We put more aircraft in the beginning of this year in Mango to ensure that they continue to continue to be a leader in the region.

So, that part of the business is working very well. We’ve also got the technology organisation that maintains aircraft. Where we have to fix a lot of things is within SAA overall cost structure; how we buy things, how we operate, really making sure we optimise business processes. Business process automation will save a lot more cost for us. Looking at how you buy parts. So, these are the modern ways of doing business in technology.

We have to evolve to that tech organisation so that the cost to serve is lower.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

A Pass Mark for NIMASA Eromosele Abiodun posits that the commendation of NIMASA by the United States Coast Guard for its efforts to improve security and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime domain is a welcomed development With over 90 per cent of African states’ imports and exports conducted by sea, international trade is critical to many African economies. This is because the population of Sub- Saharan Africa is forecast to double by 2050.

Safe and secure maritime transport is therefore key to successful trade and growth in Africa and fundamental to the sustainable development of African states’ economies.

It is therefore necessary to address the long-time challenge of piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. At the same time, the coastal states of West and Central Africa are facing a range of equally pressing concerns in their maritime domains, all of which, like the challenge of piracy, will benefit from increased capacity to monitor territorial and international waters and to enforce relevant laws both ashore and at sea.

African states’ share in world trade stands at about three per cent on average, while intra-African trade averages around 10 per cent of Africa’s total trade.

The continent’s share of exports to the world has declined over the years -standing at an average of 2.5 per cent, a net decline from 10 per cent in the 1950s. In addition, African States attract only 2-3 per cent of global foreign direct investment (FDI) and contribute another one per cent to world gross domestic products (GDP).

International shipping in itself also presents a substantial employment opportunity. Today, there are approximately 1.5 million seafarers worldwide, and this number is expected to rise in the future.

Given that seafarers from African countries are currently under-represented, there is considerable room for growth in this area.

Moreover, ancillary services in ports as well as operational and managerial tasks based on land also provide employment opportunities.

Opportunities also exist in the related industries that supply goods and services to the maritime companies, which together, comprise the entire maritime cluster. However, most of these opportunities have eluded Nigeria over the years as a result of maritime insecurity If there is a country where the fear of ports and maritime security is very high, that country is Nigeria. This is because of the volatile nature of the Niger Delta as a result of youth restiveness that often lead to kidnappings and wanton killings.

However, Nigeria is not alone. Acts of insecurity, lack of safety consciousness and threats of terrorism have dominated the global maritime landscape in recent years.

But dishonesty and fraud-like tendencies, which have bedevilled activities in the maritime industry in Nigeria, have complicated perceived threats of insecurity in our ports. The cases of Somali pirates have also dominated the global maritime industry in the last few years with European and America shipping companies at the receiving end of terrorists kidnapping ship captains and crew members for ransom.

The need to ensure maritime security did not become topical until September 11, 2001 when the world witnessed the bombing of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York by terrorists, resulting in the death of over 3,000 persons.

Consequently, fear were expressed that if the air can be so vulnerable to terrorist attack, engaging the ports and other maritime facilities on land would be a simple job. It was at this juncture that world leaders decided to tinker with the 1974-1988 convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to create awareness to maritime nations on the need to put in place certain measures that would shield maritime facilities such as ports from terrorist attacks.

This was what gave birth to the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code to which every port is to comply with in order to ensure safety of international trade, persons transiting the ports and other critical facilities. The ISPS Code outlined preventive measures against the likelihood of terrorist attacks on ships and ports facilities worldwide. The ISPS Code came into force in 2004.

ISPS Code Objectives Some of the objectives of the ISPS Code are to: establish an international framework involving

Peterside co-operation between contracting governments, government agencies, local administrations and the shipping and port industries to detect/assess security threats and take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade.

Others are: to establish the respective roles and responsibilities of all these parties concerned, at the national and international level, for ensuring maritime security, ensure the early and efficient collation and exchange of security-related information, provide a methodology for security assessments so as to have in place plans and procedures to react to changing security levels and ensure confidence that adequate and proportionate maritime security measures are in place.

According to the terms, the objectives are to be achieved by the designation of appropriate security officers/personnel on each ship, in each port facility and in each shipping company to prepare and to put into effect the security plans that will be approved for each ship and port facility.

However, the code does not specify measures that each port and ship must take to ensure the safety of her facilities against terrorism because of the many different types and sizes of these facilities. Instead it outlined, “a standardised, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities.�

For ships, the framework includes requirements for ship security plans, security officers, company security officers and certain onboard equipment.

For port facilities, the requirements include port facility security plans, port facility security officers and security equipment.

In addition, the requirements for ships and for port facilities include monitoring and controlling access, monitoring the activities of people and cargo and ensuring that security communications are readily available. Since 2004 when the ISPS Code came into operation, Nigeria has made unsatisfactory efforts to comply with the security code.

Implementation and Enforcement Meanwhile, upon being appointed the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) stated that the effective implementation of the code in Nigerian ports would involve a continuous year- to- year exercise with committees mandated to periodically inspect Port Facilities (PF), in order to ensure that required standards are achieved and maintained.

NIMASA has focused not only on PF listed in the United States Coast Guard (USCG) report but on the generality of PFs in the nation’s maritime

domain which were placed on the watch over a period of time.

The appointment of Dr. Dakuku Peterside as the Director General of NIMASA has, in no, small measure reinforced the action to ensure that the ISPS code is fully implemented.

When he assumed duty, he promised to ensure the full implementation and enforcement of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) code in the nation’s ports.

Peterside had stated that skilled, efficient and talented workers are critical to the growth of the maritime sector assuring NIMASA will continually equip its staff with new knowledge, skills and technologies necessary to ensure compliance with the ISPS Code. “Our people and values are hallmarks of a good and strong organisation. Recognising that our greatest asset is our people, the leadership of the maritime industry in Nigeria, is committed to building a skilled, talented and effective workforce.

That is why we take advantage of every training programme to equip our people and prepare them for new challenges that come up daily in the course of carrying out their assignments.�

He also disclosed that in pursuit of its vision to reposition the maritime industry, NIMASA has developed an in-house training initiative to continuously update the skills of its staff and keep them in tune with various developments in the industry.

Peterside said that the agency as the designated authority for the implementation of ISPS Code, will work with local and international stakeholders to develop quality industry specific training for its staff, to enhance their performance and productivity in the line of duty.

U.S. Coast Guard Validation The collaboration seems to be yielding results if the commendation given to the agency by the United States Coast Guard is anything to go by.

Late last week, the United States Coast Guard commended the NIMASA for its efforts to improve security and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The commendation was given by a visiting coast guard team led by Lt Commander Janna Ott. The delegation was in Nigeria to inspect facilities and ports.

Ott, a representative of the US Coast Guard in International Port Security Programme, said NIMASA had taken laudable steps to improve Nigeria’s compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code. “You do have a really great team here. They were very helpful. I thank them for their frank and open discussion in allowing us to give them our

observations. Hopefully, they can take whatever we have given them to heart and start working on them right away,� she said.

She, however, urged greater vigilance in terms of access to the ISPS zones at the ports. “It’s very important that you know in your port facilities who is gaining access and they are authorised to be there before they go through those gates of the ISPS zone, �Ott stated. “You also need to be consistent with the proficiencies of all the security personnel in holding people accountable that are coming through those port facilities. We already had a very good discussion with NIMASA, �she added.

Responding, the DG of NIMASA, Peterside, said the country had made significant progress in addressing the issue of access control around the port areas.

Peterside, who spoke through NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Bashir Jamoh, said: “The issue of access control is one of the paramount areas. The access road, access control, those are very important areas.

Similarly, on access control, we just introduced stickers to the ports. We started implementing it early this month.�

He said the federal government had taken measures in partnership with the private sector to ensure that all port facilities in Nigeria were easily accessed.

He said NIMASA had recorded steady progress in its implementation of the ISPS Code, stressing that Nigeria has moved from implementation to enforcement.

He told the US Coast Guard team, “The issues you mentioned, we are dealing with them. One of the things we have introduced is training. We are aware that some of the facilities have these issues. Right now, most of them are going into biometric access control, which you observed in some of the terminals, like MRS, Five Star Logistics, etc. “We would do more in training and continuous visit to these facilities and create better awareness for them to implement effective access control strategies. We will be consistent in the things we do because we have our executive management’s buy-in and support to do our job. “In fact, we have gone from just implementation to enforcement, where after several engagements and if facilities do not comply with those required standards, we start to sanction them and even get them shut down.�

The United States Coast Guard is Nigeria’s peer review partner towards ISIS Code implementation compliance. They regularly visit Nigeria to monitor implementation of the ISPS in Nigeria.

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Banking with Convenience As part of efforts to improve its digital banking operation, FirstBank Nigeria Limited recently launched the What Chat Banking platform, writes Ugo Aliogo “We have optimised our digital banking offerings to ensure ease of banking and convenience; our FirstMobile app, Firstonline, FirstMonie and USSD banking are some of the channels we have put in place to make this happen. “FirstBank Chat Banking on Whatsapp is our latest addition. We have gone Live with this product and I am pleased to formally introduce this product to our media partners today.�

When the Chief Executive Officer, First Bank Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, gave the above statement, he was not trying to chronicle an episode in movie, but to tell the success story of his financial institutions in the country in the digital banking space.

The excerpt was part of his presentation during the WhatsApp Chat Banking Launch in Lagos recently.

The WhatsApp chat banking platform is a recent innovation introduced by the bank to drive excellent financial services to their esteemed customers.

Adeduntan, explained that the FirstBank chat banking on whatsApp is another significant milestone in the bank’s mission to provide convenient and fast payment solutions to their customers.

He said: “FirstBank Chat Banking on WhatsApp is another significant milestone in our mission to provide convenient and fast payment solutions to our customers. “It is one of the ways FirstBank puts You First and enables you stay connected with your contacts, loved ones, friends and finances all on the GO whilst you chat with them because at FirstBank we are driven to bolster relationships on all fronts anywhere and anytime.�

The FirstBank boss further noted that the WhatsApp platform is one of the ways the bank is putting the customer first.

He also said the platform enables the customer to stay connected with your contacts, loved ones, friends and finances all on the go, adding that whilst the customer chats with their contacts, “because at FirstBank we are driven to bolster relationships on all fronts anywhere and anytime.�

Adeduntan added that it was a new channel for customers to access their services; a convenient way to make payment and an easy-to-use banking application.

He expressed confidence that banking with FirstBank on WhatsApp is secure, accessible and convenient, noting that customers can carry out basic banking transactions such as inter and intra bank funds transfer, pay bills, buy airtime, buy data and check your account balance on your WhatsApp platform.

According to him, “You will be able to generate a WhatsApp banking PIN and all your transaction

Adedutan

authentications will be done using a safe link, thereby ensuring the security of your banking details. “What is our rationale for doing this? We will be 125 years celebration anniversary of our bank.

There is something unique about our institution. It is the ability to reinvent ourselves continuously, as the market in which we operate also continuous to evolve. “You will recall that not only are we the oldest bank, we are the longest existing cooperated entity.

Engrained in the DNA of our bank, the ability to rapidly reinvent ourselves and ensure that as far the developments in the market are concerned, we are in the forefront of those changes. “Since the advent of digital technology, we have been playing a very pivotal role in this space. Today, I state with a lot of pride our achievement when it comes to the USSD Code, where we currently have 6.3 million customers and we are clearly number. “When you look at the volume of businesses that we process on our USSD platforms, it is second to none. Not only do we have customers, we also have the fund and capital. When I look at the breakthrough achievements we have made in the

area of agency banking, it is also second to none. “This is an area where a lot of banks in the country have attempted to make headway, but has not been successful, as speak today, First Bank agents are spread all over the country, we are in 754 local Government Area, which is almost 90 percent of the 774 Local Government Areas. The only Local Government Areas where we are not available are places where they have security issues. “Again, for us at First Bank, staying at the cutting edge of innovation and technology are synonymous with our DNA. First bank digital lab is integral part of our business and we will give all the resources that is needed to strive.

This is the first and among the many innovative products that we are working on. “Our strategic is that on a regular basis, there will be new things that we will be introducing to the market that will keep our customers very happy. The entire customer journey ensures that the quality of experience whenever the customers come in contact with us is excellent. We stand here and commit to exceeding our customers’ expectations from time.

In his remarks, the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Francis Shobo, said there are various segments

of the market, adding that for convenience, it was important to focus on the youths, who are on WhatsApp always.

He stated that they are consistently looking for what their customers are doing and the channel that are most convenient for them to do transaction. “You don’t want them to leave one channel and go to another channel; you want to encourage them to use the channel they are used to start doing banking transaction. We are consistently looking for what our customers are doing and the channel that are most convenient for them to do transaction,� he noted.

Also speaking, the Team Lead Product Design, FirstBank Digital Lab, Munachi Duru, said with WhatsApp platform, customers would be able to make couple of transactions, check their balance, buy airtime, send to both first bank and non-first bank accounts, and buy data.

He also noted that they have also introduced a much secured process for customer’s accounts for digital transactions by ensuring that customers’ pin are entered secured securely that way, “the pin is not exposed to anyone who may pick up your phone.�

Duru explained that what the bank has done using the platform is that instead of going through the lists of all the banks, all the customer needs to do is to enter their account number, select the bank they are transferring, select the amount transferring and then click on the link to authenticate the process.

According to Duru: “With the WhatsApp platform, you will be able to make couple of transactions, check your balance, buy airtime, send to both first bank and non-first bank accounts, and buy data. “We have also introduced a much secured process for our accounts for digital transactions by ensuring that your pin is entered secured securely that way, the pin is not exposed to anyone who may pick up your phone. “What we have done here is that instead of going through the lists of all the banks, all you need to do is to enter the account number, select the bank you are transferring, select the amount you are transferring and then click on the link to authenticate the process.�

From the event, it was learnt that the WhatsApp being the most used and informed messenger platform in the country, informed the bank’s decision to invest it to drive digital banking.

The platform has helped the bank to take that banking businesses down to the place where the customers are having discussion about the money.

The bank is concerned about the security of customers as a result; the platform is vested in the security of customers to ensure that the transactions, starting from on-boarding process is secured end to end.

NCS Pledges to Combat Smuggling, Urges Nigerians to Pay Duties

Maritime Workers, Operators Sign Agreement on Dockworkers Welfare

Stories by Eromosele Abiodun

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and stakeholders have signed the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), aimed at improving the welfare of dockworkers in the country.

Supervised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),the newly signed agreement, which is for a period of two years, is intended to ensure and sustain industrial harmony in the industry.

The agreement also encompasses fair treatment of dockworkers, by ensuring that every employee gets their retirement benefit.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Chairman of STOAN, who are the major emp loyers of dockworkers, Vicky Haastrup said the importance of dockworkers to port operations cannot be over emphasized.

Specifically, she said: “If there are no dockworkers, there are no ports because if you have a

The Customs Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Comptroller Olusemire Kayode has stated that the unit will continue to do what it can to out an end to smuggling appealing to Nigerians to be patriotic and pay appropriate duties and taxes.

Kayode made this appeal at a press briefing in Benin on the successes of the Unit’s anti smuggling activities.

Showcasing expensive cars that were intercepted by his officers for failure to pay duty, he decried a situation where people import exotic cars and do not pay duty on them.

He added that most of the cars in the government warehouse in Benin are smuggled. “We are here to showcase the agility of our officers and our ability to work. But we are not here just to showcase seizures but to appeal to Nigerians who travel abroad to buy cars worth millions and not pay duty on

them. Why will someone bring in a car without payment of duty? We cannot continue like this,� he said.

He added, “Three out of the cars intercepted were armoured vehicles and the CAC explained the reason for their interception. “The importation of armoured cars is controlled. It should have an end user certificate so that they do not get into the wrong hands.

The end user certificate is obtained from the office of the national security adviser. “I wonder why someone will go abroad and buy a car worth millions and not pay duty on them. Stop wasting your hard earned money. If you buy a car worth N100 million, N15 million, please be prepared to pay duty on them. If you are buying cars from a dealership ask for the C number of the vehicle and confirm the status of the duty payment at any customs formation before you pay for the car.�

He called on Nigerians to support the local rice industry by buying locally grown rice.

He explained that the government had invested a lot in the local rice industry and advised Nigerians not to sabotage the efforts to boost the rice industry. “In Calabar we have 675 bags of rice in the warehouse. In Enugu we have over 1,000 bags of rice.

I appeal to you to do the right thing. We are prepared to make the country great. People are given loans to go into farming and others want to sabotage the economy by bringing in rice. We appeal to you. These things are inimical to the country. Please stop the desperation in bringing in rice; it is not as good and as healthy as the one grown in Nigeria. Some of the imported rice has been stored for years before importation and sometimes under very unhygienic conditions. “If you want to know anything about importation go to our help desk and website. All prohibited items are listed there. Watch our programmes on television and listen on radio and get information on what to bring and what not to bring in,� he said.

port and you do not have the dockworkers to help discharge the vessels, we cannot operate.�

Haastrup added that since the ports were concessioned, terminal operators have shown unflinching commitment to the welfare of dockworkers through improved wages compared to what obtained in the pre-concession era.

The STOAN boss commended NIMASA and the leadership of MWUN for driving the process, which led to the signing of the agreement and for ensuring industrial peace and harmony exists in the ports.

According to her, “Over the years, dockworkers’ interests have not been well protected particularly under the hazardous conditions in which they worked.

We recognise that it is important for us to maintain and see to it that their interests are well protected. Before 2006, the average income of a dockworker then was about N5,000 that is why when we took over we ensured that they are adequately compensated for the work they are doing.

“In 2008, we had the first negotiation and ever since till now, every two years, we have always sat down and that is why we call it collective bargaining agreement. Since we took over in 2006, we discover that most critical area for peace in the industry and to have a smooth sail operation in the Nigeria port is to maintain absolute peace with the dockworkers. In the last couple of years, we have not heard of stoppage of operation, it has become a thing of the past in our port and I commend the leadership of the union.�

Also speaking, the President General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, expressed appreciation to the terminal operators for signing the agreement to improve dockworkers’ welfare despite the economic situation affecting the operators.

He said with the signing of the agreement, which will translate to a 60 per cent increase in the wages of dockworkers, will also entitle them to terminal and retirement benefits.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08152252325

Fun Spots for Xmas

28

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

COVER

FUN SPOTS FOR XMAS Away from the bustle and hustle of work, CHIEMELIE EZEOBI and MARY NNAH, chronicle some fun spots where people can hang out with family and friends to relax thisYuletide All work and no play, they say makes jack a dull boy. This cliche which has stood the test of time, is certainly observed almost religiously by Nigerians who often take out time to unwind and relax either with their family members at home or at in many of the picnic spots that dot the different parts of the country. This Christmas is no different as many have put plans in place to enjoy their groove. In Lagos alone, the picnic spots which keep cropping up in their hundreds, are a must-visit for the teeming funlovers.

Here alone in Lagos, we have the National Theatre and Museum, the Silverbird Galleria, Casa Illashe, Terra Kulture, Freedom Park, Kamp Ikare, La Campagne Tropicana amongst several others, where fun seekers can go and enjoy themselves this Yuletide.

and remains one of nature’s best in Lagos with its white shorelines and foamy bubbles.

Jhalobia Recreation Park and Gardens This recreational centre is located along the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road, Lagos and is tucked between Hajj Camp and Ajao Estate. Designed and built in 1998 as a multi-purpose park and a unique events centre by Mrs. Veronica Adepoju and her two daughters, who are landscape designers, the centre boasts of a lush garden, sculptures and fountains, gazebo and also trees and flowers. It also has a room for children with a safe- playground with toys and other recreational objects. Already, the centre has become known for hosting weddings, events and picnics and this Easter, the recreational centre cannot be discounted in terms of holding its own.

Terra Kulture

This is fun spot tilted towards arts aficionados. Over the years, it has filled a niche for art lovers who want to appreciate art, particularly African art. Tucked at the Victoria Island area of Lagos, the privatelyowned centre boasts of a library and is fully equipped with Internet facilities with an art shop that displays traditional crafts including batik materials, pottery, tie and dye and mat weaving. A visit to the centre offers one the rare but pleasurable opportunity to see and appreciate Nigerian arts and crafts. Also an attraction is the food court which serves Nigerian and African dishes in abundance and so for fun and art lovers who wish to pay a visit to the centre to see the exhibitions or do excursions for school children, Terra Kulture promises to be this and more.

Silverbird Cinemas in Abuja Apart from the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, fun seekers in Abuja are not left out as it occupies a large space with a 12-screening and 8 VIP lounges at Silverbird Entertainment Centre (SEC).

Lekki Leisure Lake

Kajuru Castle in Kaduna Kajuru Castle in Kaduna State has been declared a top spot for fun lovers. The castle is a medieval structure built by a German about 30 years ago, who was said to have settled in the state afterwards. The cost of booking the castle per night is about N300,000 as it accommodates 10 guests at a time. A tour of the castle costs 20,000 per hour for a group of 10.

La Campagne Tropicana

Coated with white sands and long coconut trees endowed by nature itself, La Campagne Tropicana, is just some hours drive away from Lagos. Hidden in the belly of Ibeju-Lekki, the unique selling point of this centre is its traditional feel. With cabins made from bamboo to monkeys swinging from one tree to the other, the name tropicana really best suits the recreational centre.

As at three years ago, the forest inhabits over 7000 monkeys, with a mangrove forest.

The cabins each have a talking drum which serves as a doorbell and are all en-suite with a clear view of the ocean. But one of the most attractive spots is a mini restaurant serving locally made dishes such as yam fries and akara amongst others. Also is the ‘Bole Kaja’, a funky spot which promotes relaxed eating spot. Right in front is the Yoru’ Bar. In this a la carte meals are made to the delight of the visitors and freshly made palm wine is served as drinks. Halemson Beach Resort One of the top resorts in Lagos, Halemson offers an environment away from the bustle of Nigeria. Located 30 minutes away from Victoria Island, the beach overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and offers pure air for its teeming visitors.

Whispering Palms A conference resort centre is the Whispering Palms occupying about eight acres of land located in Iworo, Badagry.

Lying on the shoreline of the lagoons, the palms offers the beach experience with uninterrupted sounds of the breeze and the gentle waves on the beach.

Hermitage Garden Resort With its gleaming beach front, one of the selling point of the Hermitage Garden Resort is its luxurious mini-villas which offer a beautiful view of the ocean. Located at Lekki/Ajah Penninsular area of Lagos, it has become a top site for vacation. It also boasts of a nature trail for nature lovers who want to commune with nature.

National Museum Touted as one of the oldest tourists centre in Nigeria and Lagos in particular, the National Museum, located at Onikan, Lagos, which was established as far back as 1957, is one great fun spot that never ceases to appeal with its great collections in archaeology, ethnography and traditional art.

Eko Tourist Beach Resort The resort is a privately-managed beach

Lekki Leisure Lake The Palms Shopping Mall

located along the Lagos-Epe Expressway.

Otherwise called the Akodo Beach, the beach has chalets, amusement parks, swimming beach, as well as good furnished rooms and suites.

Kamp Ikare

Another awesome fun spot is Kamp Ikare, a beach resort, which offers a home away from home services. Located at Ikare Village in Lagos, the attraction is the rustic environment and it’s only accessible by boat.

Surrounded by miles and miles of sea, although the resort has a main communal beach house, it also has a six-duplex cabin for visitors and a fully stocked bar.

Silverbird Galleria in Lagos

Although it does not boast of an ancient pedigree like the National Museum and other older fun spots, the Silverbird Galleria, however is a must spot for fun lovers.

Equipped with a modern cinema, shops, boutiques and recreational centres, the galleria, has all the packages of all round entertainment where you can see the latest movies, live concert and shows. Established in 2004, the five screen-cinema in Lagos has continued to provide Nigerians and fun lovers with entertainment in a package.

Casa Ilashe

A 12-bedroom private beach, Casa Ilashe, as exotic as the name sounds, boasts of a perfect place for fun. Located at Ilashe, a village along Badagry Creek, the area is one of the fun spots that visitors throng regularly.

From either Ikoyi or Apapa, the ride is a 20 minutes or 10 minutes move with speed boat and boasts of beach bikes, nature walk trail, sandy beach and coconut trees.

La Manga Luxury Beach

From the name, what comes to mind is villas set upon the beachfront. This is not far from the truth as the La Manga Luxury Beach Villas located at Ilashe, boasts of beach villas designed with Spanish architectural in mind.

The villa and its bedrooms are suited with rooftop Jacuzzi, private lounge, swimming pool, massage room, beachfront living room with open lounge, furnished kitchen, bar and poolside barbecue grill area. Other facilities to thrill fun lovers this Easter include an

open-air gazebo for dinning and lounging, beachfront bamboo canopies for relaxation, mini-golf course, beach volleyball court, and quad bikes, with room for jet ski and boat cruises.

The National Arts Theatre Also one of the old structures that has continue to be a tourist site, the National Arts Theatre which was constructed in 1976 to host the popular Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.

The multi-purpose national monument, which has continued to serve as a preservation and promotion of Nigerian arts and culture, is located in Iganmu and is the primary centre for the performing arts in Nigeria. With two cinemas, food court, bars, a 3000-seat capacity auditorium, and a large expanse of green grass, the National Theatre is here to stay.

Freedom Park

Although its practically a newcomer, Freedom Park has certainly come to stay.

Located on the site of the colonial prison where prominent Nigerians were jailed then during the colonial era, this site has now been turned to a public space where people throng to relax.

Established by Theo Lawson, the park which is located in the Lagos Island, Lagos, he worked out his vision to transform the colonial prison to a symbol of freedom, as the prison had in times past been used by the British colonial masters to torture and hang in the gallows those that opposed colonial rule of Nigeria. Determined to ensure that the labours of the heroes past are not forgotten, Lawson designed and built the park in such a way that it would preserve the Lagos colonial heritage and history of the Old Board Street prison.

Takwa Bay White sands, whispering pines, and crystals clear water comes to mind once the name Takwa Bay is mentioned. It’s the true wonders of nature displayed. Located at the Atlas cove, the island lives up to the ideals of fun and pleasure.

For fun lovers who want privacy, Takwa Bay is the place to be because it is cut off by a huge wave breaker, which shields the people of the beach. Although primitive in nature, the beach’s attraction is that it is still unspoilt

Lekki Leisure Lake is a place to relax and enjoy the ambience of the ocean waves in Lagos with some friends, devoid of miscreants and noise, without having to travel too far. The resort overlooks the Atlantic in the Lekki peninsula area. It is the best destination authentic outdoor fun in Lagos. The resort is a safe and tranquil destination suitable for a family outing, a group adventure or even a fun day out with your significant other.

There you can partake in thrilling adventurous activities like quad biking, jet skiing, zip lining, floats, water crafts and much more! The resort is operated and managed by Optima Leisure, a leisure and hospitality company based in Lagos.

Although the resort management doesn’t permit external food on the premises, this isn’t really a problem because all the food and drinks you might want are available for you.

Ndubusi Kanu Park Ikeja Ndubuisi Kanu Park is a public park, named after a former military with massive space for the kids to run around. You can come with your own scooters and bicycles.

Rides and horses for a fee are available. The park has recreational facilities for relaxation and reliable, free public Wi-Fi to access your email and browse. So if you want to have a family quality time, Ndubusi park serves you with so many games and fun activities!

The park is a nice place to visit this Christmas with lots of interesting activities for the children like the ice skating, lawn tennis training for kids, Gusto statue and it has a very beautiful ambience. It is a wellmaintained park, quiet enough for one to have a picnic or just relax to clear one’s head.

GET Arena Located off Lekki – Epe Expressway, Lagos, GET Arena is the top Go-Kart destination in Lagos. It’s ideal for a family outing or a group hang out. GET Arena also boasts of arcade games and a bar/ restaurant that serve delicious meals. You can create your own racing league; enjoy corporate competitions or tournaments for the adults and the kids. After an exhilarating ride, you can feast on a salivating spread of fine dishes and most sumptuous cocktails. Activities at the arena run from Tuesday to Sunday but most fun seekers prefer weekends.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

29

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

XTRA

SPAR Nigeria Unveils Xmas Gift Cards Peter Uzoho In order to ease the challenge of buying the right gifts for friends, families and business associates during the festive season, SPAR Nigeria has unveiled a Christmas Gift Card alongside other themebased gift cards to suit every occasion.

The Head of Marketing, SPAR Nigeria, John Goldsmith, who disclosed this in Lagos, said research has shown that many people have challenges in choosing the perfect gift for people during festive seasons and special occasions like

birthdays, weddings and anniversaries, etc.

He said the company has created these gift cards as a means of helping people to give valuable and flexible gifts to celebrants according to their choices.

Goldsmith said the gift cards are available at the cash counters of SPAR stores across the country, stressing that “SPAR Gift Cards are a gift of choice.

The choice of over 10,000 products to choose from SPAR hypermarket stores across the country. “Apart from choice, SPAR Gift Cards has multiple advantages; it can be loaded with any amount above N 5,000,

can be used to buy any products from the SPAR Stores, and can be used for multiple transaction. “It can also be used across all SPAR stores, convenient to carry, and can be bought at one location and delivered across the country; no extra change for the card to name a few. “Based on the demands of our teeming customers, we have designed these hassle-free gifting solutions in accordance with different celebrations such as Christmas, birthdays and other celebrations. “The receiver has access to over 10,000 products available in the hypermarket chain across

the country and the cards can be used for multiple transactions to make purchases. “The card is available and can be used at all SPAR stores nationwide and can be loaded with any denomination above 5,000. Another important feature primarily targeted at large organisation in SPAR Gift Cards can be co-branded with logo, brand name or organisation name. We are willing to partner with any corporate organisation that is willing to co-brand the card for its own use as well.�

Samson Itodo Emerges The Future Awards Africa 2018 Young Person of the Year

Hadiza El-Rufai:The Girl Child Needs Role Models to Aspire to Greatness Olawale Ajimotokan and Udora Orizu in Abuja The African Writers Conference and awards, an annual event by African Writers Development Trust (AWDT) held its maiden edition in Abuja with the theme, Re-imagining African Literature: new voices, new narratives in the fight for the girl child.

The conference’s theme was aimed at ensuring how the narrative of the girl child can be changed so that the girls can have a role model they can look up to.

It had the First Lady of Kaduna State, Hajia Hadiza El-Rufai and Tanzanian author Nahida Esmail, Kenya’s Faith Mutheu and Nigeria’s Sandra Etubiebi, among several others in attendance. “We as writers in particular, we need to be able to help women that have achieved and bring them out. The female journalists have a role to play, blow the trumpet of women that have done very good thing in the society so that the girl christen will have role models and have somebody to aspire to. They will see people that are like themselves in positions of authority and they will aspire to be that�, noted El-Rufai.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), Anthony Onugba, the aim of the conference is to inspire African writers. “The whole idea is to create a unified African literal space, currently we have writers doing

their thing, we want a situation where we can bring all of them together so they can network, to spark African Writers Network. “What usually happens is until you get one big award then people start promoting you but that’s not supposed to be the case. “We want to direct the flow of writing, we want to write for a cause and not awards, that’s the only way to change the African landscape.� Onugba said.

Also Esmail, said education is the key which government has unfortunately not been stepping up towards uplifting it.

She said: “We need to blow the trumpet of women by all writers across Africa, this is the first step in empowering the girl child and that is what we want from this conference. “We want people to go out and read and write so people will have the choice to have the girl narrative, get to know more role models which are not being known. “Research has shown that when a girl is not educated, she suffers all kinds of problems, such as early marriage, pregnancy and so on. If you look at the same results and statistics you will see how much benefit there’s for a woman that is educated. Education is the answer, We hope from this conference people will realise it, one person can make a difference.�

The conference awards categories included African writer of the year short stories, African writer of the year for poetry, African writer of the year flash fiction and African writer of the year children’s literature.

Ministry, ChurchTake Handwashing Campaign to Students Uchechukwu Nnaike The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 8, has inaugurated a 20-unit modern hand washing station, donated by the church L-R: Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget, and Development Partnerships, Anambra State, Mark Okoye; Chairman Troyka Holdings, to Gbagada Comprehensive Biodun Shobanjo; Winner of The Future Awards Africa Prize for Young Person of The Year, Samson Itodo; Cofounder of The Future Project, Adebola Junior High School, Lagos.

Williams, Portfolio Manager, Non-Alcoholic brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Ngozi Nwonji at the 13th edition of The Future Awards Africa in Lagos.

The project is part of the get involved and create real church’s Christian social academic, Nemitari Ajienka, youth participation in NiAyodeji Ake gerian politics, challenging and scientist, Dr. Mahmoud impact in their communities. responsibility and mandate “The 2019 elections are very to affect its community post-Independence laws that Maina.

Samson Itodo, sponsor of preclude citizens under the Receiving his award, Itodo important, because we cannot positively, show love and the ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run age of 30 from participating emphasised the importance create true change in Nigeria be a blessing to others.

Speaking during the bill emerged The Young Per- in Federal, State and Local of active youth participation without electing leaders who son of the Year at the 13th Government elections. in the electoral process espe- intend to develop the country. launch of the facility at the edition of The Future Awards Itodo took the top prize in cially the upcoming elections So when we go out next year, school premises, the AssisAfrica held on Sunday in a category made up of several in 2019. He advised young I beg you to look around you t a n t P a s t o r i n c h a rg e o f Lagos. The ground-breaking inspiring Nigerians including Nigerians to leverage on the and search for true leadership the province, Pastor Joel bill, which was finally signed author, Tomi Adeyemi; artiste, opportunities provided by the – those who actually have the A m o re , s a i d t h e c h u rc h in 2018, sought to advance David ‘Davido’ Adeleke; Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill to integrity and intention to lead. decided to provide a hand w a s h i n g s t ation to affect the future. “When you are healthy, then you can fulfil your mandate. We are affecting the future of the nation by cater to your wardrobe, beauty as well as experience, is usually a beehive of The Palms Shopping Mall activities and it offers you a perfect spot helping people to fulfil their those of the kids amongst the variety of The Palms Shopping Mall located at dreams and helping the for relaxation. stores that you will find in the mall. various parts of Lagos and other states education sector to achieve Every meal at the Hard Rock Cafe is in Nigeria has so many stores and fun its purpose.�

Hard Rock CafÊ an experience. Its classic menu consists spots that one can have an unforgettable He said the church also Here is something for everyone! This of the American cuisine, Barbeque, experience this Christmas. The mall looked at the environment place is a combination of cafe, hotels Burgers, Dessert, Grills, and Steak. is the place to be with the family and to see what will benefit not and casino among others. If you are These are part of the factors that make friends this season. There is a store for just few individuals, but looking for where to have a great time, this nightclub/bar stand out. It is a each member of the family - shopping majority of the people, good food and good music, Hard Rock great place to relax this Christmas. The for the adults, food and treat shops adding that the hand washserves up amazing experiences that poolside area outside is gorgeous. In for the kids, movies for all and a food ing station would serve the rocks! Hard Rock Cafe Lagos showcases the event that you want to visit Hard students, staff and parents court for everyone to grab a bite. The when they visit the school. a good miscellany of live music and Rock Cafe, it’s best that you make your large display screens will show you The cleric urged other dining. This two-floor; 650-square-meter reservations three days before you go what movies are presently showing (or individuals and religious cafe which includes indoor and outdoor there in order to get a very good place coming soon) at the Genesis Deluxe organisations to understand seating for over 250 guests, an inside/ to sit.

Cinema. You can pick something from the essence of living, which outside bar, a spacious outdoor terrace snacks, ice cream, pizza, chicken to is giving. “When you know overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and t"EEJUJPOBM JOGPSNBUJPO XFSF full meals. Some household and office a swimming pool area where adults TPVSDFE GSPN IPUFMT OH QSJODFTTBVEV the essence of living, which shopping can be done at Shoprite or is giving, nobody should DPN BOE NZHVJEFOJHFSJB DPN Game. There are a number of shops that and kids can enjoy a unique dining be compelled to give;

FUN SPOTS FOR XMAS

and you don’t have to be exceedingly rich, it is just the desire to be a blessing to others so that the world will be a better place for all of us.�

In her remarks, the Federal Controller of Environment, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Agbenla, stated that hand washing with soap and water was instituted since 2008 and October 15 of every year has been dedicated as its commemoration with different themes.

She commended the church for heeding the ministry’s call for donors of hand washing stations in schools, adding that hand washing with soap and water remains the single most important means of preventing the spread of infections especially among the clustered children in schools. “The theme of this year’s celebrated Global Hand Washing Day was ‘Clean Hands, a Recipe for Health’, which means that clean hands are foundation of health.�

Responding, the Principal of the school, Mr. Anthony Adegbemi, stated that hand washing helps in creating a healthier community by stopping the spread of germs and diseases.

He stressed that if children are healthy and study in a healthy environment, they will perform better in schools.

While thanking the donor and those who facilitated the project, he promised adequate maintenance and proper usage of the hand washing station.

30

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

‌Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Creatives Who Made Headlines in 2018 The outgoing year, 2018 has been an interesting one for the creative industry with the number of celebrities whose feats and disappointments hugged major headlines. They spinned interesting narratives that questioned their characters as well as fetched them admiration and empathy. As the year slowly rolls to an end,VANESSA OBIOHA chronicles creatives who gave us an inspiring, nostalgic and OMG moments LINDA IKEJI Even as 2018 is pulling its curtains, the famous blogger is still making headlines.

Earlier this year, Linda’s sisters announced that she was getting engaged, a piece of news that caused a frenzy as many anticipated who the lucky guy was. The 38 year-old blogger had in recent times voiced her concerns over settling down. In her sly manner, details of that engagement never surfaced in the public, giving room for a whirlwind of speculations.

Just as fans were trying to solve the mystery lover puzzle, Linda broke the internet again with her pregnancy announcement in May. Again, it triggered a snowball of criticisms that questioned her moral stance since the identity of the supposed father was still a secret.

There were also rumours anchored by another critic of the blogger, Kemi Olunloyo that the pregnancy was fake. Whether Olunloyo was right or wrong, Linda Ikeji in September put to bed a baby boy. The controversy surrounding the identity of the father of the child again heightened as the rumour mill churned out different stories about her ‘baby mama’ status.

But the news that capped the whole mystery lover drama was the revelation of the father’s identity last week who turned out to be Sholaye Jeremi, an oil and gas mogul.

In a long epistle, Linda shared her love story which was filled with holes that critics have begin to fill with their own theories. For

FEMI ODUGBEMI

instance, the so-called engagement that never materialised. The revelation is perceived as a desperate attempt by the blogger to save her reputation. Since the news of her pregnancy, Linda who has always positioned herself as the ideal role model to young girls with her high moral standing has been pilloried for preaching what she doesn’t practice.

Who knows what headlines Linda would make before the year finally takes a bow.

TAJUDEEN ADEPETU Known as a pathfinder, the helmsman at the Consolidated Media Associates created a first-of-its-kind lifestyle award this year.

Called the Spice TV Lifestyle Honours, the awards celebrated and rewarded African fashion brands and icons and was part of the series of events lined up for the yuletide season XChange, a consortium of event promoters spearheaded by Adepetu. A fusion of fashion and music, the maiden edition had awardwinning singer A a as its main headline act of the evening. Winners of the night included Dubai Tourism, OC Ukeje, D’banj, Dangote Foundation among others

WIZKID Tiwa Savage was not the only rumoured love interest of Wizkid. When the CEO of Starboy Entertainment walked the runway alongside international model Naomi Campbell for Dolce and Gabbana in Milan, it was speculated that they were involved romantically. Another picture of the artiste accompanying the model to a GQ Men of the Year Awards increased the tempo of the rumours. There were even jokes about how his romance with Campbell would affect Tiwa who at the time was rumoured to also be in a relationship with the artiste.

Apart from his interesting love angles, Wizkid recorded quite a few feats this year.

He partnered international brand Nike for a new collection of Star Boy jerseys. The jerseys supposedly sold out in ten minutes after its

GENEVIEVE NNAJI

The Battleground producer had an interesting year. In June, he was among the few Nigerians inducted as a Voting Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Organisers of the annual OSCAR awards) in the United States. That same month saw him being appointed as the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Director for West Africa.

To cap the year, he was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nigerian Film Corporation under the auspices of the Nigerian Film Society.

DAVIDO

TIWA SAVAGE Toke Makinwa

Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji was in the news this year for all the right reasons. She made history as the first Nigerian to seal an exclusive acquisition deal with the international online streaming service, Netflix. In September, Netflix acquired Nnaji’s debut directorial film, Lionheart for an undisclosed sum, making it the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.

The film had its premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

OMOTOLA JALADE-EKEINDE One of the milestones the sexy actress achieved this year was her induction as a Voting Member of the Oscars. This year also saw the actress carting away her first AMVCA for Best Actress in a Movie, Drama or series.

Her speculated love affair with Star Boy, Wizkid returned the spotlight to her. Tongues started wagging about a possible romance between the two when Tiwa featured Wizkid in her track Ma Lo. Their affair took a different turn when the visuals for their latest collaboration ‘Fever’ saw the two artistes in a very intimate setting that got social media fans questioning the decency of Tiwa. While none of the artistes has publicly confirmed their relationship status, the two seemed to be basking in the feverish publicity spotlight the song had fetched them.

The OBO boss achieved quite some musical feats this year. He won the award for Best International Act at the BET Awards and clinched the award for Artiste of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

What really got Davido in the headlines this year was the release of his song ‘Assurance’ where he introduced the world to his sweetheart, Chioma Rowland.

To cap the year, he recently announced his plans to launch a music talent show ‘Plugged’ in Rivers State during a visit to the governor of the state, Nyesom Wike. The artiste who has become politically vocal since his uncle lost the Osun elections, pledged to support the governor’s re-election bid.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

31

32

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

E-TRENDS SMALL DOCTOR

TOSYN BUCKNOR The sudden death of OAP and entertainment entrepreneur Tosyn Bucknor threw the creative industry into a plaintive mood. Tosyn who was a sickle cell anaemia patient gave up the ghost on November 19. She was reportedly found dead by her husband, Aurelien Boyer. Known as the ‘Voice of Lagos’, there was an outpour of emotions by celebrities who remembered the deceased for her cheerfulness and vivacious personality

An ambassador of the Nigerian Police Force, the ‘Penalty’ crooner made news this year when he was arrested by the police for illegal possession of firearms and harassing a police officer. The news spread like wildfire, with different angles explored by fans and detractors. A magistrate court however found the artiste innocent of the accusation levelled against him, though he was given a stern warning to stay off violent actions for a year.

The leniency of the judgement irked many who thought it was biased. However, the ugly incident did not prevent his fans from attending his concert at Agege last weekend.

D’BANJ 2018 was an emotional year for the entertainer who lost his son to a domestic accident in June. News of his son’s drowning in his residential swimming pool filtered the air while the artiste was in Los Angeles for the BET Awards.

The singer and his family have somewhat coped with the loss. He was among the list of Nigerian entertainers who performed at the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa as well as the Born in Africa Festival (BAFEST).

TOKE MAKINWA n April, OAP and Vlogger Toke Makinwa told the world how she underwent a fibroid surgery after visiting different prayer houses for miracles. But when the miraculous increase of her rear side emerged in her Instagram photos in August, the fashion icon kept mute.

Critics on social media however wouldn’t let her be.

They accused her of having low self-esteem and seeking attention through plastic surgery.

Some even mocked her, saying that the surgery was not professionally done. If those words pierced the heart of Toke, no one could tell.

Only one thing is certain, she is still posting sexy photos on Instagram.

Kelly Anthony Motivates With ‘Elevate’ Vanessa Obioha

In the new visuals for his latest single ‘Elevate’, the Toronto-based Nigerian artiste Kelly Anthony sings about the high and lows of his life, regarding friendships and his success.

A hybrid of dancehall and pop, Anthony in an interview said he wrote the song to motivate others who have been betrayed by friends. “Elevate is all about life growth. It’s like people don’t like to see others succeed and grow in life.

The song is mainly about me. “ I lost a lot of friends in my life as God blessed me.

People became extremely envious of me as things started to change in my life for good, but i couldn’t understand why anybody would be upset when their friend is doing good in life. “ It’s quite sad actually because I’ve never felt that way about anybody.

I’ve never felt anger and animosity towards anybody that was succeeding in life.

So I went to the studio one day and got the inspiration for the song. I wanted to create something people can relate to.�

Elevate is the latest single from the artiste, preceding

Kelly Anthony

other hits like ‘Unstoppable’ and ‘Maye’ which were released this year. Shot by a Canadian-based Nigerian director Seeds Visuals, the video is void of obscenity, a deliberate effort by the musician. “I’ve never been a fan of flaunting scantily dressed vixens in my music videos because my music is my art and my videos has

to be able to explain my thoughts. “I wanted to show life as a successful musician from all my hard work.For a man to become successful, he must restrain from women and focus on one woman.�

He concluded that his overall goal is “to motivate others to focus on their art, goals and keep pursuing their dreams.�

Ash Plans Major Move into Nigerian Music Scene Abdul Sammir Hamman, better known as Ash to his friends, is one of those rare artists that appeals to all ages, genres and tastes.

He threads the fine line between cuttingedge verve and allencompassing appeal, embracing pop and hiphop whilst retaining his

R&B roots.

The Nigerian-born singer, songwriter, dancer and entrepreneur, raised in the UK and US and Nigeria is bringing fresh air to the Dubai music scene.

As C.E.O and president of Immaqul’8 Entertainment (pronounced immaculate),

he came to the attention of the music scene back in 2003 with the Booker T revamp of his club smash Bounce 2 This, which reached top 20 in the national charts whilst retaining the number one spot on the UK Garage and Club.

Ash performed live at the Miss World beauty

Amstel Malta Brings Fun to FitFam Fest Vanessa Obioha

FALZ BANKY W The artiste and music executive joined the league of entertainers who are pursuing political ambitions. In November, he declared his interest to run for the Lagos Eti Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the Modern Democratic Party (MDP).

That announcement was greeted with mixed feelings. Nonetheless, his close pals in the industry such as rapper M.I and comedian I go Dye, have pledged their support to him.

This year saw the entertainer churning out fresh hits, but the one that made him a hot topic on mainstream and social media was his ‘This is Nigeria’ video. Inspired by the American rapper Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’, Falz released a provocative visual that addressed the conundrums facing the country.

From insurgency, corruption to unemployment, the video drew the ire of a Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) group. The group demanded a retraction, stating that the rapper promoted drag negative stereotype against Fulanis, Chibok Girls and Muslim.

Falz received wide acclaim for his boldness.

The video has been viewed 15 million times on

The ‘Like to Party’ crooner will be joining Wande Coal, Teni da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey for the GOtv Boxing Night 17, which is tagged ‘Boxing Jams Music’.

Scheduled to hold on December 28 at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, the occasion will feature a heavyweight clash between music and boxing.

According to Flykite Productions, the organisers, the event is the ultimate entertainment package for the festive season.

“Music and boxing are major sources of entertainment. It is why we have contracted four of the country’s top musical acts to add plenty of spice to the show, which will feature eight bouts, including the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental super featherweight title bout. “Our aim is to provide a well-rounded, yearend entertainment package for Nigerians,� said Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Productions.

He added that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure fans

feel safe in and around the event venue. “Security is very important. One of our partners, KSquare Security, is a leader in the subsector. The firm is vastly experienced in handling events of this magnitude.

In addition, we will also have government security personnel. There is nothing to fear. “ Since the event began in 2014, there has not been a single untoward incident in and around the venues we have used. This event is conceived with the family in mind,� he explained.

Reekado Banks Officially Quits Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records Sunday Ehigiator Popular Nigerian singer, Ayoleyi Solomon, better known as Reekedo Banks, has officially parted ways with Mavin Record, a music company owned by Don Jazzy.

The singer took to his Instagram account to announce his departure from Mavins Records.

Solomon, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Thursday announced his departure just a day afterwards, while also

thanking Don Jazzy for the opportunity he gave him when he signed with the record label in 2013.

The post read: “Today I write in tears, not from a place of pain, but of joy and gratitude. A place of bliss and satisfaction because, I am more than contented with how far this opportunity has brought me. “The last five years have been the most blissful years of my career. The journey has been extremely wonderful and filled with the best experiences. “I have learnt that family

is not just about blood ties but about the love, sacrifices and friendship that exist amongst its members.

The relationships I have fostered have proved to me that love is thicker than blood. “Joining the @ mavinrecords family was the best thing to have happened to me in the last decade. @donjazzy took me in and treated me like his own son. I’ll be eternally grateful to him for sacrifices he made towards the growth of my career.

33

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

Jingle Bells for Oba Esugbayi drama Yinka Olatunbosun reports that the Christmas period is loaded with theatrical performances especially one that tells the Lagos story, Oba Esugbayi

T

he holiday bells are jingling as they signal Lagos’s immersion in a series of theatre productions this season. One of them is the much-anticipated stage drama titled, “Oba Esugbayi� - set to be a special treat starring Chico Chukwuma Aligwekwe, a popular on-air-personality at Classic FM. Aligwekwe was born in London and perhaps, unknown to many, he studied Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt before returning to the United Kingdom to study several courses in film, media and television.

Upon his return to Nigeria in 2003, he had written short stories, plays songs and scripts for some movie producers. He was featured in a DSTV series, Battleground amongst others.

He replaces Femi Branch in the lead role for this show which begins on December 23 and runs till December 25, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre.

Following the success of the Isale Eko play, this

Yinka Olatunbosun

A scene from Oba Esugbayi

sequel show tells another Lagos story, in a very captivating musical, using top-notch technical details.

For the producer, Joseph Edgar, the lead role is demanding and requires an actor who can sing in order to project the core message of the drama. “For us, our vision is to tell

Producer, Joseph Edgar

our story through performance. We are happy that there seems to be a reawakening in not only our history, but also in our culture as a people. “The prayer is for a continued and sustainable interest so that we can better redefine ourselves as a people,’’ he said.

Edgar also

revealed that Oba Esugbayi will fuse experienced and promising actors who demonstrate exceptional talents.

One of them is a UK based actress, Ayobami, the daughter of Yemi Sodimu, while another is Chantal Edgar.

Also, he declared that the show is suitable for family and the cast is very

inclusive with the youngest being 10 years old. Directed

by William Benson, the performance is arranged as two matinees and one evening show on a daily basis. “It’s a total experience with deep historical and pre-modern narrative spiced with wonderfully sequenced song

and dance routines carefully designed to give the audience an experience of a lifetime,’’ he said while dropping hints that the show may be repeated in Abuja, Lagos and Accra.

The show is sponsored by MTN Foundation with support from the Lagos State government.

Seventy Years of Samuel L. Jackson Yinka Olatunbosun pays tribute to the legend of the screen, Samuel Leroy Jackson, the highest all-time box office star, who turns 70 today Blame it on the roles he is cast for, his name is synonymous with vengeance, justice and anger. Like many in the acting business, Samuel L. Jackson sharpened his skills at the theatre- “Just Us Theatre’’ which he co-founded as a student at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in a racially segregated America, attending segregated schools. He played several musical instruments including the French horn, trumpet and flute.

After the assassination of one of the leaders in the civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Jackson was buoyed by the desire to affirm his humanity. Hence, he joined equal rights protest, engaged in activism at the college to demand for a reform in the school’s curriculum and governance. He faced charges for unlawful confinement- a felony and was later suspended for two years due to the criminal records.

He returned to the college to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 1972.

His stint with stage drama includes performing in plays such as The Piano Lesson and Two Trains Running while his early years in film was characterised by minimal roles such as Coming to America.

He was mentored by Morgan Freeman and in the early 80s, he was introduced to Spike Lee, a famed film director.

The 90s were marked by his battle against drug dependency, as he overdosed

HoldingTalks onPublic Museums, Private Collections

Samuel L. Jackson in the movie, Rules of Engagement

on heroine repeatedly and eventually, substituted it with cocaine. After checking into a New York rehabilitation clinic, he worked on several film projects such as the Jurassic Park and Pulp Fiction which generated international reception, critical reviews, awards and nominations.

His status as the king of villainy grew with movies such as Die Hard with a Vengeance and a movie based on John Grisham’s Bestseller, A Time to Kill wherein he took the role of a father who is put on trial for killing two men

who raped his daughter. With this, he earned a Golden Globe nomination for a Best Supporting Actor.

In the movie, Changing Lanes, he acted as a recovering alcoholic, determined to win the custody of his children and the battle of wits with coactor, Ben Affleck who bashed his car while on the way to the family court. Through, his central character in The Rules of Engagement, the court-martial questions the use of judgment after his orders led to the killings of civilians outside the US em-

bassy in Yemen. The movie is a juxtapose of logic against sentiments. He had co-starred with the “bad boys of Hollywood’’ such as Vin Diesel, Bruce Willis, John Travolta, Ice Cube, amongst others. From Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones to Coach Carter, Jackson is comfortable with oscillating from a high voltage character to a mild but tough one.

Married to actress, LaTanya Richardson with whom he has a daughter, Jackson’s roles seem to draw a lot from his personal experiences. Emo-

tional recall provides him with the reservoir of a wide-range of motions to tap from when interpreting his roles. A good lesson from his life story is that he made a good comeback from his drug battles, and for a man who is always angry in movies, his deep sense of loyalty to his wife in real life is a charm.

He has inspired many and is tipped to have a role in the upcoming movie, Captain Marvel. Samuel L. Jackson’s net worth is $220million.

A panel discussion was held recently in Lagos on the new directions for public museums and private collections and it was an opportunity for some art enthusiasts to vent- yes, vent their displeasure over the sustained practice of curating arts and artefacts at our public museums.

Being an initiative of the German cultural organisation, Goethe Institut, Lagos and SMO Contemporary Art, the special panel discussion had as theme, “Public Museums Vs Private Collections: Synergy or Competition?’’ Moderated by the manager, SMO Contemporary Art, Nneoma Ilogu, the session was held at Esther’s Revenge, Freedom Park Lagos. In her introductory remarks, Ilogu acknowledged the function of the museum for pedagogic purpose while offering statistics on the number of private museums in the US, UK and South Korea to give perspective to the global economic relevance of museums.

In his submission, the Obi of Onitsha and Founder, Chimedie Museum, His Majesty, Nnameka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, observed that funding plays a significant role in the status of a museum, which can transform from private to public entity.

While commenting on permanent collections as knowledge archives, the Director, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art, South Africa and Founder, LagosPhoto Festival, Azu Nwabogu stressed the need for museums to offer genuine cultural engagements and expressed optimism in the future of collaborations between the public and private museums.

On the repatriation of the Benin arts, Nwabogu was of the view that the works should be “returned with interest.�

Edith Ekunke, an official of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, extolled the priceless collections at the public museums adding that with the artefacts, Nigeria can “interpret the past, in conjunction with the present and postulate the future.’’ She later faced the audience’s criticism for the lack of website or social media presence for the National Museum.

For the collector and philanthropist, Dr. Adhiambo Odaga, the public museums are largely under-funded to a state’s own detriment.

She observed that many are oblivious to the economic value that the museum has inspite of its importance in telling the true African stories.

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

34

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Ă?ĂŒĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ?Ë? lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

WHAT MEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUTTHEIR SPERM (Part 1)

T

he natural reproductive process which gives rise to the formation of a baby can only happen when a normal motile sperm deposited at the vagina swims through the womb into the fallopian tube to meet with a matured ruptured egg of the women. A ruptured egg simply explains that the woman has ovulated or released her egg(s) ready to meet with a sperm. This meeting results in the fertilization of the egg.

Fertilized egg undergoes further development to form an embryo which eventually moves along the tube back to hatch and implant in the inner baby bed called the endometrium.

Basically abnormality with any of this factor may result in infertility. This week we would be looking at the parameters of the sperm cell. How should a normal sperm look like and what are its functions and possible abnormalities.

What is sperm?

We were told in elementary Biology that cell is the unit of life. True! All humans were formed from the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell. Sperm is the male reproductive cell. Sperm is commonly confused with semen but they are technically different from one another. Semen (also called ejaculate or “cum�) is the name of the entire body of fluid that is expelled from the penis during ejaculation, while sperm is one of the many components of semen. Although sperm may be considered the most “important� ingredient of semen because it is necessary for pregnancy, it makes up less than one percent of the volume of a man’s ejaculate.

Sperm is created in the testicles in a process called spermatogenesis, and then stored away until the sperm have matured and are ready to leave the body. Some people use the terms sperm and semen interchangeably, but sperm cells are only one component of semen.

When a male ejaculates, the mature sperm (combined with the rest of the fluids that make up semen) is expelled out of the urethra, located at the tip of the penis. The fluid in semen contains sugar to fuel the sperm through the vaginal canal and chemicals to activate the sperm to facilitate pregnancy.

Not all of the sperm in semen are “activated�, or moving, immediately upon expulsion from the penis because the sperm would lose energy too quickly.

Where is sperm produced?

Sperm production occurs in the testicles.

Every male have two testes located outside the body inside the scrotum behind the penis. This location of the testes is to help maintain cooler temperature as compared to the inside of the body. On reaching puberty, a man will produce millions of sperm cells every day, each measuring about 0.002 inches (0.05millimeters) long.

How long does it take sperm to regenerate?

Males produce sperm every day, but a full sperm regeneration cycle (spermatogenesis)

takes about 60-64days. During spermatogenesis, your testicles make several million sperm per day about 1500 per second. By the end of a full sperm production cycle, you can regenerate up to 8billion sperm.

This may seem like overkill, but you release anywhere from 20 to 300 million sperm cells in a single milliliter of semen.

Your body maintains a surplus to ensure there’s a fresh supply for conception.

Spermatogenesis is the complete cycle of sperm production and maturation. It constantly supplies your body with sperm able to travel through the vagina to an unfertilized ovum in a woman’s ovaries to conceive.

What’s the cycle for sperm production?

The sperm regeneration cycle includes: r 4FSJFT PG DFMM EJWJTJPO JO XIJDI B TQFSmatid is formed. Spermatids are immature sperm cells that can carry genetic data. r " GVSUIFS TUBHF PG TQFSN NBUVSBUJPO JT JO the testicles, specifically in the seminiferous tubules. Hormones help spermatids through this process until they become spermatozoa.

Sperm then remain in the testicles until they are almost mature. A mature sperm has a

with LEKAN FATODU

Overscenes

I

head containing genetic material and a tail to help the sperm travel through the female body for fertilization. r 5IF NBUVSF TQFSN UIFO NPWFT JOUP UIF epididymiswhere it is stored. The epididymis is a long coiled tube that stores sperm and transports it from the testis. The epididymis preserves sperm until ejaculation.

This is also where they gain motility, or the ability to move. This enables them to travel when released in sem inal fluid (semen) during ejaculation.

What does this mean for me?

In the past it was thought that couple trying for babies should undergo some days of abstinence as it was believed that waiting a few days between ejaculations can increase your chances of conception.

Recent studies have proven that more frequent ejaculation can improve sperm parameter. For couple trying to conceive there are a few tricks to optimize the number of healthy sperm that you ejaculate that can help increase your chances. Here is a quick breakdown of how frequency of ejaculation affects sperm count and volume: r 'SFRVFOU FKBDVMBUJPO JT B TJHO PG B healthy sex drive r*U QSPNPUFT UIF QSPEVDUJPO PG OFX TQFSN cells r *U JNQSPWFT UIF RVBMJUZ BOE RVBOUJUZ PG the sperm r *U QSPNPUFT UIF QSPEVDUJPO PG IFBMUIJFS seminal fluid Actually the longer a man abstains from ejaculation, the more sperm he is likely to accumulate in the epididymis. It is not advised to store them for long if you are trying for a baby. Motile sperms are like tiny engines they produce a molecular form of exhaust called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). ROS has been known to damage sperm cells and can impair their ability to swim or to fertilize an egg. Due to this factor long period of abstinence are associated with poor sperm health.

lekantodu@yahoo.com 08060140882

The International Scholarship of Hardship Again!

hope some people or a group will make it known in strong terms to state governments and agencies of federal government of Nigeria that offer international scholarships to Nigerian students, which often lead to hardship, that they are doing more damage to human development and progress.

In the time past, an offer of scholarship, given based on the outstanding academic performances of some select students to enable them pursue higher education without any financial constraints, was an opportunity for a life of self-realisation, excellence and fulfilment.

But reverse is unfortunately the case now.

Given the evident lack of capacity by the sponsoring institutions, mostly the federal and state governments, who always send students on scholarship abroad, the fate of many brilliant Nigerian students has been altered adversely.

Sometimes ago, this column expressed concern on the agony of young Nigerians who were offered scholarship by their state and federal governments to study abroad and abandoned to sorry fate thereafter. It also called on relevant government entities to rise to this preventable challenge of intellectual loss.

Yet again, it’s recently been in the news that some Nigerian students in Poland are struggling to cope with academic life and living in the European country due to the failures of the government agencies that offered them scholarship to fulfil the scholarship terms.

This ugly situation has made it necessary to revisit this dangerous development. The following is the view, in part, once shared on this matter.

Some Nigerian students on scholarship to

Egypt and Sudan recently forwarded protest letters to Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano, their state of origin, over their predicament in the foreign lands where they are studying.

Before this latest episode hit the news, we have heard about street protests organised

by Nigerian students, on state governments’ scholarships to foreign countries, whose active academic curriculum has become ‘organised agitation’. As such, they are consistently disturbing the peace of their host countries over their various state governments’ failure to fulfil the terms of

their scholarships to study abroad.

This charade and international embarrassment honestly needs to come to an end as soon as possible. It’s purely senseless to send an army of students to cold and unfamiliar territories in the name of foreignscholarships and later abandon them to cruel fate due to lack of necessary provision and care.

One actually wonders how most state governments struggling to pay the salaries of their workers at this time would have enough financial resources to convert to

foreign exchange for the schooling of their citizens abroad.

It’s never by compulsion to embark on this flight of fancy and potentially distressing situation when it is evident that such demanding academic needs can hardly be met. Therefore, governments across board must do more to improve the standards of education at home and find better means of selecting a few that deserves further study abroad instead of leading a legion of promising citizens out to suffer and subsequently alter their dreams

35

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

COLLAGE EVENTS ‘StylebyZenith’DebutsinLagosDecember29 Peter Uzoho

Celebrant, Mrs. Mercy Ikemefuna cutting her birthday cake anked by Mrs Omolola Ajoje(left) and Mrs. Idongesit King at the Mercy’s birthday in Lagos...recently

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Founder, Living Zenith Bank Plc is set to light up the social and entertainment scene this December with the launch of its fashion and lifestyle show, ‘Style by Zenith’. ‘Style by Zenith’, a flagship Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Accessories and Entertainment fair, powered by Zenith Bank in conjunction with Fashion One, a foremost international lifestyle and entertainment company, would hold in Lagos on Saturday, December 29 and Sunday, December 30, 2018 at the Open Ground by Four Points Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two-day fair is a potpourri of Lifestyle activities featuring runway modelling by leading Nigerian and international models accessorised by top designers, beauticians, beauty and lifestyle products manufacturers, accessory makers, food and confectionary, entertainment for adults and children as well as performances by top Nigerian artistes, amongst other activities.

Speaking on the launch of the platform, the General Manager, Zenith Bank Plc., and Coordinator of the event, Mrs. Adaobi Nwapa, noted that “‘Style by Zenith’ is a unique platform through which the bank will connect with and create value for its customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle.�

Nwapa said: “It is an all-inclusive fair that seeks to engage and entertain both the young and old during this festive period. “Style by Zenith’ is geared towards engaging the lifestyle ecosystem and connecting the consumers to every aspect of quality and affordable living, thereby helping them live their best lives in their own interest. “It is a holistic event aimed at connecting the SMEs and retail segment to a multiplicity of clientele through multiple factors which dictate and direct their everyday lifestyle choices ie; beauty, fashion, entertainment, food and general lifestyle (travel, automobile, houses), thus facilitating the growth of the individual retail and SME businesses.�

Mama Onyeubani Eunice Ukagwu for Burial December 22

L-R: Divisional Police OďŹƒcer, Ilasa Division, CSP Oriyomi Oluwasanmi, receiving her Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria Award from Managing Director, Protection Plus Security, Dr. Ubong King, in Lagos, recently

L-R: Cherie Blair QC and Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN, with Tony Blair in the background at the Omnia Strategy LLP cocktail which took place in London recently

The Ukagwu family of Umuete Village in AhabaUkwu Autonomous Community Ikwuano LGA Abia, has announced the burial of Mrs Onyeubani Eunice Ukagwu (Nee Anyanwu), who passed on to glory on recently at age 86.

She was a devout Christian, a member of the United Evangelical Church, Ahaba. During her lifetime, she served God fervently and was a successful group leader in the church. Ukagwu never relented in church attendance even at old age, which made the church council give her an award as the oldest regular member.

She was also a member of the Christian fellowship that meets weekly in her compound for spiritual refreshment. She was born into a noble family in her time, her late father was a court clerk and a proficient interpreter to the colonial masters in the native court. She was then forced to follow the steps of her mother and grand mother’s vocation –farming and petty trading.

Her versatility attracted the admiration of Chief Levi Ukagwu, who saw her as a veritable material for marriage, hence he betrothed her for his kid brotherlate Samuel Ukagwu.

In her later days, She was never bed-ridden at anytime. She tried to perform some of her chores as her ability could carry. She ate

and bathed herself regularly until that fateful day when the call that no one resists to answer sounded. According to her son, Chief Okezie Ovinus Ukagwu, the burial arrangement for the deceased will commence on Friday, December 21, 2018. Her body leaves Subservient Mortuary Awomukwu at 8.00am on Friday to stop- over at her maternal home, Ajagba’s compound in Umuokoro and at Anyanwu’s compound in Umuikeoha both in Ahaba Ukwu Autonomous community.

Lying in state will be at her husband’s compound at 10 am, while the funeral service will be at Ahia Orie-Ukwu Market Square, Ahaba Ukwu by United Evangelical Church , Ahaba, Oloko-Ahiake Superintendency.

Interment follows at 2.00pm.

Late Mama Onyeubani Ukagwu

BurnaBoy,WandeCoal,Teni,DaddyShowkeyForGOtvBoxingNight17

L-R: Grooms Father, Mr. Olabanji Oladapo; Bride Mother, Mrs. Edna Obaze; newly weeded couple Mr & Mrs Goriola and Iyesogie Oladapo; Grooms Mother and Director of Press and Publication, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Toro Oladapo and the Brides Father, Mr. Sam Obaze, during the holy matrimony wedding ceremony, in Lagos.......recently

The Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, will on 28 December, host the heavyweight clash between music and boxing. The occasion is GOtv Boxing Night 17, which is tagged “Boxing Jams Music�. Performing live at the show are Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey.

With its combination of boxing and music, the event, according to Flykite Productions, the organisers, is the ultimate entertainment package for the festive season. “Music and boxing are major sources of entertainment. It is why we have contracted four of the country’s top musical acts to add plenty of spice to the show, which will feature eight bouts, including the World Boxing Federation Intercontinental super featherweight title bout.

“Our aim is to provide a wellrounded, year-end entertainment package for Nigerians,� said Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Productions.

He added that adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure fans feel safe in and around the event venue. “Security is very important.

One of our partners, KSquare Security, is a leader in the sub-sector. The firm is vastly experienced in handling events of this magnitude. In addition, we will also have government security personnel. There is nothing to fear. “Since the event began in 2014, there has not been a single untoward incident in and around the venues we have used. This event is conceived with the family in mind,� he explained.

36

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

NEWS

Bumper Christmas for BIC Shaver Loyalists Mary Nnah It’s sure going to be a bumper Christmas for the regular users of the BIC Shaver brand as many of the lucky winners in the just concluded promo smiled home with bountiful prizes.

The prizes were won during the grand finale of the raffle draw for BIC Shaver “Shave and Win�

Promo held last weekend in Lagos.

Being the second and the last draw for the year, many winners have emerged so far. A lot of people won instant airtime, while many others won great prizes through a previous raffle draw and the grand finale held recently.

Prizes won included washing machine, home theatres, bedside fridge, table top gas cooker, mobile phones, Plasma TVs, generator set and cash prizes ranging from N250,000 to N1million.

Product Manager for Lighter and Shaver, BIC West Africa, Ms Bigue Diouf, who came all the way from Dakar, Senegal, to attend the grand draw of the BIC Shaver national consumer poromotion in Nigeria, said, “It is a very big event for us at BIC�.

She explained that the aim was to reward loyal customers, noting, “BIC Shaver is a leading disposable shaver in West Africa and we have a huge amount of consumers everywhere in West Africa. So it is important for us to reward the royal customers by doing this kind of promotion that would enable them to win great prizes and also to give op-

BIC Country Business Development Manager, Adeyemi Ojo; Business Development Manager, BIC West Africa and Central Africa, Mr. Groues Guillaume; Product Manager, Shavers and Lighters, BIC West Africa, Bigue Diouf and DGM Commercial NIPEN, Adedamola Adelabu during grand ďŹ nale draws for the BIC Shaver “Shave and Winâ€? Promo held in Lagos recently

portunity for non-user to try it for the first time. “So, the promo is nationwide and the team has visited every region in Nigeria giving the consumers the opportunity to participate in this promo.�

Expressing gratitude to the numerous BIC Shaver consumers for their loyalty, Diouf noted that it is because of them that the BIC Shaver brand has remained in the leading position in Nigeria all along. “BIC Shaver is easy to find in all neighbourhoods in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa and it remains the best value added product, so we can guarantee the quality of our BIC Shavers. “So, because we are very serious in investing a lot of time and efforts to test the quality of our products and that is why we have a lot of consumers in West Africa�, she said.

She revealed further that the BIC Shaver promo has had a great impact on the sale of the product during the promo, noting however that, “as a

product manager, I am much more concerned about the long term impact in terms of brand equity. “So, for me, it is more important to access the impact in terms of adoption by consumers. We want to be closer to consumer to increase affinity with them�.

Business Development Manager, BIC West Africa and Central Africa, Mr. Groues Guillaume, said Nigeria is the company’s biggest market in the region, revealing that the company has been distributing BIC lighter and shavers in Nigeria for the past 50 years out of the 70 years that the company has been in existence.

Guillaume who came all the way from Dakar, Senegal to attend the event said, “It is a honour for me to be here to witness the reward for our loyal consumers and to meet with some of them. “BIC as a group is focusing on Africa and we have very strong brand equity in Nigeria but we need to ensure that the quality

always stays the best. “BIC stands for quality product but good value for money, so you can buy a good product at an affordable price everywhere for everyone. “That is really our vison and we want to ensure that we give best products to Nigerians and of course the whole of Africa.�

Deputy General Manager Commercial, NIPEN, partners to BIC, Adedamola Adelabu said the sales in Nigeria has been quite interesting. “Within the year that we are reviewing, despite the challenges with the economy, around the liquidity with our partners and the consumers’ disposable and discretionary income that is quite under pressure, we have been able to weather the storm�, he noted, adding that the promo goes beyond the brand to the experience that people have by using the number one shaver brand in Nigeria.

BIC Country Business Development Manager, Nigeria, Adeyemi Ojo, explained why the focus has been on one of the company’s products, BIC Shaver. “The BIC Shaver is one of our biggest and most important brands and so we felt we should reward our loyal customers and also to say thank you, especially now that Christmas is coming.

We wanted to put smiles on their faces�, Ojo noted.

Mr. David Isabemoi, National Sales Manager, CFAO/ NIPEN, the company in charge of the redistribution of BIC products in Nigeria, said the promo has been exciting, being a way to reward loyal consumers.

Felix King Bags President Trump’s Lifetime Achievement Award in the US Mary Nnah For an umpteenth time in 2018, the Africa rising entrepreneur-cum-philanthropist, Dr. Felix King Eiremiokhae, has been honoured with the lifetime achievement award by the United States of America President, Donald Trump.

Eiremiokhae was decorated with the honour in America recently.

According to the letter to the Honoree from the White House and signed by President Trump, the US President said: “Congratulations on receiving the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “You have served as a model of the American spirit. Your many hours of service have strengthened the bonds of cooperation and trust that bring people together, while helping to address some of the greatest challenges of our time. “One of our nation’s greatest strengths remains the compassion of our everyday citizens, who give so willingly of themselves and their lives for the benefit of others. “Thank you for your enduring commitment to serving your

Felix King Eiremiokhae displaying his award

community and our nation. I trust that you will continue to work for the betterment of others and even stronger future for the people.�

Eiremiokhae who had brought back to conscious of the people in Nigeria, the International Widows Day through the Felix King Foun-

dation, works in empowering indigent widows across Africa and has won several awards and honours in that regards.

After receiving the award, Eiremiokhae stated that the least he could expect this year was an honour from his mentor and president of the US.

“It was delightful to be one of the African entrepreneurs and philanthropists to earn this award. This will only invigorate me to do more and help the indigent women across Africa,� he added.

Eiremiokhae started his foundation in 2015 without enlisting the support of people and institutions, but with key objective of giving hope to the poor and vulnerable widows and their children in communities across Nigeria through different programmes such as business start-up initiatives, farm aids programme, free food distribution, educational grant and medical aids are in line with the principles the people of Georgia live by.

In the process, the foundation has helped more than 1000 women and 3000 children.

In 2016, Eiremiokhae through his foundation presented a bill to the Edo State House of Assembly, to help more widows.

He is the founder of Mayor Biscuit Company (MABISCO), a growing biscuit brand in Nigeria, Oracle Experience, the number one 360 experiential marketing agency in Nigeria with capacity to compete globally.

FoundationScalesupScholarshipstoTrainMoreProfessionals Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Lively Hope Outreach Ministries has kept faith with its philanthropic activities by helping so many indigent people to become professionals in various fields of human endeavour over the last 14 years.

This it has consistently done through its foundation which awards scholarships to bright but indigent undergraduates

who needed such lifeline to graduate and become core professionals in such fields as medicine, law, accountancy, architecture, law, pharmacy, nursing and science education.

Chairperson of the scholarship board, Lady Elizabeth Uhuegbu told journalists in Umuahia that the scholarship scheme has been expanded to accommodate undergraduates from all parts of Abia state although the beneficiaries were

originally limited to people from Ubakala community in Umuahia South Local Government.

To this end she stated that the 2018 edition of the scholarship programme would accommodate victims of the pipeline explosion in Osisioma as four slots would go to them.

Explaining the genesis of the scholarship programme, the board chairperson said the founder of the foundation, Rev Benson Ezem, who is an architect

decided with his wife, Patricia, to give back to the society by embarking on human capital development and skill acquisition programmes, among others. “It is a ministry of giving, and touching lives that God has given them,� she said, adding that “the scholarship awards lifts up the burden from parents who desire to give tertiary education to their children and wards but find it very difficult to cope with the financial burden�.

ChurchtoTakeXmasFiestatoKirikiri Prison,LessPrivileged Mary Nnah The Prisons Ministry of The Elevation Church (TEC) has embarked on a special Christmas development project for prisons in Lagos State that includes providing a borehole and perimeter lighting for the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison.

The ministry will also be donating basic supplies to hundreds of inmates as part of TEC’s initiatives for the Christmas season.

Other initiatives of TEC this Christmas season includes providing food packages and medical care for several people in the Lekki area in Lagos.

According to the lead pastor of TEC, Godman Akinlabi, in the midst of all the pomp and glamour of Christmas, the less privileged are oftentimes neglected with little or nothing to celebrate with.

One of the initiatives the fast-emerging church has planned for this Christmas season is called “Christmas Jollof�, a nod to the popular jollof rice, a staple in Nigerian homes during festive times.

Christmas Jollof is focused on providing families with food supplies to last them through the festive season.

Bags of care packages filled with rice, beans, oil, salt, milk, sugar, tomato puree and other foodstuffs will be handed to indigent families in the neighbourhood. The church aims to support at least 1000 families this December.

Another initiative, “The Soup Kitchen and Medical Outreach� is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 which is Boxing Day. This is a double outreach covering medical and feeding interventions for indigent residents of the Oniru beach communities as well as the homeless.

The first two hours of the event will be used to offer medical aid and advice while meals will be served to the people afterwards.

Also, various charitable donations of the church members which include clothes, household items, and toys for children and foodstuff will be shared.

The Soup Kitchen, which is the eight soup kitchen in the church’s history, will hold behind the Lifepointe Church, which is an extension of The Elevation Church, located at 3 Remi Olowude Way by the Lekki second roundabout, Lagos.

The LifePointe Church will hold a special carol service on December 23 while the Creative Arts department of TEC will also have a special Christmas production on Sunday December 23, 2018 at the island and mainland centres.

To wrap up the year, the Crossover Service will hold from 7pm to 10pm on Monday, December 31, 2018.

The service will hold at the island, mainland and Greater Lekki centres of the church and will also be live-streamed via the ElevationNG YouTube channel.Finally, as the New Year approaches, The Elevation Church is set to launch a new extension to cater to the outer areas of Lekki leading up to Epe. This will cater to those living in the Ajah-Sangotedo-Ibeju Lekki environs. The new expression will hold its first service on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at T&T Events Centre, KM 44 Lekki-Epe Expressway, opposite Crown Estate, Lagos.

Winning Teams Unveiled at EmergeOndo Innovation in Governance Hackatho Mary Nnah The EmergeOndo “Innovation in Governance Hackathon� took place over a three-day period from Thursday, December 6, to Saturday, December 8, within the three innovation hubs located in Akure, Ondo State - Akure Tech Hub, Curators Hub and Premier Hub Innovation Center.

The EmergeOndo Hackathon focused on four thematic areas, namely, agricultural accessibility, business linkages, education and renewable and clean energy.

The “Innovation in Governanceâ€? Hackathon was born out of a unique partnership between the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Make-IT in Africa programme and the Ondo State Government.

Make-IT sponsored the Hackathon and provided technical support while the Ondo State Government provided the experts across the thematic areas, that served as jurors and judges.

The hackathon sought to explore creative solutions and policy recommendations within the thematic areas that the State government could adopt and implement.

The hackathon hosted an array of over 220 Nigerian software developers, programmers, data specialists, designers, agricultural experts, education experts, policy experts, as well as business and sales professionals who were distributed into 28 teams.

After three days of working on solutions and policies, four teams emerged as the winners across the four-focus thematic areas of the EmergeOndo “Innovation in Governance� Hackathon.

Serve Consulting supported the event by giving each winning team USD 1,000 in prize money. Four other teams also went home with winning USD 250 each for the solutions with the highest social impact, most innovative use of technology, best pitch, and the highest overall score in the pitch competition.

The winning teams were: Team Gadges, who emerged winner in the clean and renewable energy category, cashing home USD1, 000 with their solution, which is to provide access to affordable solar solutions.

Team Psyche emerged the winner in the Education category cashing home 1, 000 dollars with their solution, which is a device to monitor students’ psychological state as it directly, correlates to academic performance.

Team FarmCred emerged the winner in the Agricultural Accessibility category, taking home 1, 000 dollars with their solution, which is an application that improves access to agri-finance by creating credit profiles for smallholder farmers.

Team Dunalinks emerged the winner in the Business Linkages category, taking home 1,000 dollars with their solution designed to link small scale technicians with contractors for better jobs and growth opportunities.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

37 ADVERTORIAL

38

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

METRO

‌Your city life in print

Lingering Impact of The Experience The 13th edition of The Experience Gospel Concert might have come and gone, but its impact lingers, Sunday Okobi writes

O

n December 7, 2018, The House on the Rock and its leader, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, hosted their annual gospel concert, tagged: The Experience. The event which was reported to have attracted an estimated crowd of over 700,000 Nigerians to the historic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos, with overflow sitting areas around the venue, has been described by Adefarasin as unarguably the most anticipated gospel music event on Africa continent among Christians and non-Christians alike.

It was learnt that The Experience, said to have started as a thought inspired by God in the mind of Adefarasin, averages a yearly attendance of over 500,000 people at the venue, with millions more watching online from all over the globe. The event has grown to become the largest gospel concert anywhere in the world.

Much of the allure of The Experience is its interdenominational stance and penchant to unify people of all nationalities, faiths, gender, status or political biases. With all these in mind, of what importance is the concert to Nigeria and Nigerians? Can the event be recognised as a significant contributor to both Lagos, the host state, and Nigerian economies through tourism and other associated businesses? What contributions has The Experience made in the entertainment sector of the economy over the last 12 years since it started? These are some of the questions in the mind of far and near watchers At the press conference to herald the musical event held at the Eko Hotels in Lagos with all local and foreign performing artistes and organisers, Adefarasin revealed that the organisation has seen entrepreneurs developed and various enterprises substantially contributing to the economy in areas of human capital development, hospitality, commerce and industry. Speaking further, Adefarasin gave examples of how the concert has helped the indigenous gospel artistes featured on The Experience platform.

He noted that they have become highly sought-after internationally, with significant changes in their personal economies.

The cleric also added that some of them have gone on to collaborate with several international gospel artistes due to the networking opportunities provided for artistes through the concert.

Explaining that homegrown gospel music now enjoys significant airplays in both the mainstream and alternative media, Adefarasin said: “As a result of the vast improvement in quality, several gospel songs now compete favorably with secular music, often times debuting at the number one spot on music charts. Before now, American gospel songs were the norm in our services.

Today, our indigenous songs are favorites in many American Churches.�

He however added that “while we do not take all the credit for the growth of the gospel industry, we are proud to say that The Experience has played a very prominent role in this regard. The socio-economic impact of this mammoth occasion is evident and lends credence to scriptures in the Psalms which attest that God blesses and causes the earth to yield its increase to His people whenever He inhabits their praises�.

With the themed; ‘Jesus our Peace’, Adefarasin stated that The Experience 2018 is significant in the area of national unity as it precedes a crucial election year. According to him, the inspiration behind the 2018 theme is to highlight who Jesus is, especially in the world we live in today – the Prince of Peace.

Speaking further on the theme, Adefarasin emphasised that regardless of the outcome of the forthcoming elections; peace is the ultimate candidate that we should all support, and must be the candidate that wins. “Peace (as I know it) is not the absence of tension but the presence of Justice,� he said, adding that the 2018 concert, according to him, will be a continuous reminder “that the God of Peace is with us�.

Teeming crowd at The Experience 2018

Conveners: Co-pastor of House on The Rock, Ifeanyi Adefarasin with Senior Pastor of all House on the Rock Churches, Paul Adefarasin join thousands in worship at The Experience gospel concert in Lagos

Noting that tough times are facing many in the country, he went on to encourage Nigerians that “despite many challenges Nigerians may face, we cannot afford to lose faith in God’s ability to turn things around for our good, choosing to see a bright future, the Nigeria of our dreams, one that we can proudly bequeath to the ‘next-generations’.�

Drawing inspiration from Sir Abubakar

While we do not take all the credit for the growth of the gospel industry, we are proud to say that The Experience has played a very prominent role in this regard.

The socio-economic impact of this mammoth occasion is evident and lends credence to scriptures in the Psalms which attest that God blesses and causes the earth to yield its increase to His people, whenever He inhabits their praises

Tafawa Balewa’s Independence Day Speech on October 1, 1960, the clergyman took the opportunity to state politically that “our elected representatives can no longer afford the selfish luxury of focusing on their own interests; rather they must be fully capable of managing our affairs. The populace can no longer sit back and complain of a lack of clear direction. It is time to become change agents, nation transformers and the solution that Nigeria has long awaited�.

According to the organisers, The Experience 2018 was an evening of edifying enjoyment, fulfillment, unity, love and peace. As has been the norm since the first edition, they said: “The Experience had a phenomenal line up of performing artistes on the bill�.

Renowned indigenous and international gospel artistes who grace the concert and wowed the crowd included Don Moen, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Timi Dakolo, Travis Greene, Nathaniel Bassey, Vicki Yohe, Chioma Jesus, Tope Alabi, Eben, Tim Godfrey, Mike Aremu, Glowreeyah, ONOS, Eno Michael, the Lagos Metropolitan Gospel Choir, Chee, JJ Hairston, first timers in the concert, Planetshakers and Ada whose explosive performance kept attendants on their toes dancing from dusk to dawn.

Nigeria’s own Timi Dakolo left attendants and viewers at home with strong feelings of hope and a deep sense of

patriotism with a powerful rendition of his hit song, Great Nation alongside a creative drama interpretation from the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN).

Tope Alabi and Chioma Jesus ensured that fans of indigenous worship weren’t disappointed, when they got everyone singing in their native dialects of Yoruba and Igbo respectively during their individual sets. Award winning American artiste and choir director, Kirk Franklin, closed out the concert with an energetic performance that got every sleepy eye and tired body ready to go on another 24-hour praise ride; singing till about 6am on Saturday morning. Viewers at home weren’t left out as The Experience was streamed live on the House on The Rock YouTube channel to viewers from all over the world. The concert was also broadcast on a special event channel on DSTV to millions of subscribers in 50 countries across Africa. Social media was also not left out ablazing with comments on the concert, which made The Experience the most talked about event on social media with #TE13 #JesusOurPeace, #TheExperience13 and several topics and names associated with the event occupying the trends list from top to bottom.

Although the highly anticipated 2018 edition of The Experience has come and gone, the phenomenal impact it made on various lives still lingers on. Just as the name implies, The Experience is an event that would not be forgotten in a hurry.

39

F R I DAY ╦╛ ═░═п╦Ь ═░═о═п═╢

CRIME&SECURITY

Air Force Commander Urges Parents to be Vigilant ╚К ┬К┬Ы┬Ф┬Ь╚▒┬О┬Ч┬Н╚▒┬Ш┬П╚▒┬Э┬С┬О╚▒┬в┬О┬К┬Ы╚▒┬П┬Ш┬Ы╚▒ ╚▒┬М┬С┬Т┬Х┬Н┬Ы┬О┬Ч╚▒ 5IF /JHFSJBO "JS 'PSDF /"'

JO -BHPT XFFLFOE VSHFE QBSFOUT UP CF WJHJMBOU BOE XBUDIGVM EVS JOH UIJT GFTUJWF QFSJPE BT NBOZ EJTBTUFST IBWF CFFO LOPXO UP IBQQFO EVSJOH UIF ZVMFUJEF QFSJPE 5IF $PNNBOEFS /"' $BNQ "JS $PNNPEPSF 3BTBR 0MBSFXBKV NBEF UIF TUBUFNFOU BU UIF /"' FOE PG UIF ZFBS DIJM ESFO T QBSUZ IFME JO 7JDUPSJB *TMBOE -BHPT )F TBJE i" MPU PG CBE UIJOHT IBQQFO EVSJOH UIJT GFTUJWF TFBTPO NZ BEWJDF UP QBSFOUT JT UP XBUDI PWFS PVS LJET BOE XF TIPVME DPOUJOVF UP BEWJDF UIFN OPU UP JOUFSBDU XJUI TUSBOHFST i5IFZ TIPVME OPU BMTP CF DBSSJFE BXBZ XJUI HJGUT GSPN TUSBOHFST CFDBVTF UIFSF JT B MPU PG LJEOBQQJOHT HPJOH BSPVOE UIF TPDJFUZ u 0O UIF QBSUZ PSHBOJTFE CZ /"' IF TBJE UIF JEFB CFIJOE JU XBT UP CSJOH BCPVU JOUFSBDUJPO BOE JOUFHSBUJPO BNPOH UIF DIJMESFO XJUIJO UIF /"' DPNNVOJUZ JO -BHPT XIP GPS PCWJPVT SFBTPOT NJHIU OPU CF BUUFOEJOH UIF TBNF TDIPPMT CVU OFWFSUIFMFTT BSF QBSU PG UIF MBSHFS BJS GPSDF GBNJMZ )F TBJE i*U JT BMTP UP DFMFCSBUF UIF IBSEXPSL BOE BDIJFWFNFOUT

PG PVS DIJMESFO UIJT ZFBS BOE FODPVSBHF UIFN UP BJN IJHIFS OFYU ZFBS i0VS HSBUJUVEF UIFSFGPSF HPFT UP "MNJHIUZ (PE GPS NBLJOH VT UP XJUOFTT UIJT PDDBTJPO XIJDI JT UIF GJSTU PG JUT LJOE JO /JHFSJBO "JS 'PSDF $BNQ -BHPT u )F GVSUIFS UIBOLFE UIF /BUJPOBM 1SFTJEFOU /JHFSJBO "JS'PSDF 0GGJDFST 8JWFT "TTPDJB UJPO /"'08" )BKJZB )BGTBU 4BEJRVF "CVCBLBS XIP XBT UIF DIJFG IPTU GPS GJOEJOH UJNF PVU UP CF XJUI UIF DIJMESFO *O IFS TQFFDI /"'08" QSFTJ EFOU XIP XBT SFQSFTFOUFE CZ .ST 4IFJMB -BS TBJE UIFSF XBT OFFE UP FRVJQ DIJMESFO XJUI TLJMMT 4IF TBJE i5IFSF JT OP EPVCU UIBU XF OFFE UP FRVJQ PVS DIJMESFO XJUI MJGF MPOH TLJMMT UP QSFQBSF UIFN GPS BEVMUIPPE "T XF HVJEF BOE NPVME UIFN JOUP MFBEFST PG UPNPSSPX XF TIPVME OPU GPSHFU IPX TQFDJBM UIFZ BSF BMTP 8IJMF BEWJTJOH QBSFOUT UP UBLF DBSF PG UIFJS LJET TIF TBJE i* BN WFSZ BXBSF UIBU UPEBZ JT BMM BCPVU PVS DIJMESFO BOE BT TVDI NZ GPDVT JT UBSHFUFE BU UIJT TQFDJBM ZPVOH QFPQMF TFBUFE IFSF UPEBZ i4UBDJB 5BVTDIFS TBJE A8F XPSSZ BCPVU XIBU B DIJME XJMM

CFDPNF UPNPSSPX ZFU XF GPSHFU UIBU IF JT TPNFPOF UPEBZ "T QBSFOUT BOE UFBDIFST XF EP QVU B MPU PG UJNF BOE FOFSHZ JOUP QSFQBSJOH PVS DIJMESFO GPS UIF GVUVSF GPSHFUUJOH UIBU UIFZ BSF BMSFBEZ TPNFCPEZ UPEBZ i5IFSF JT OP EPVCU UIBU XF OFFE UP FRVJQ PVS DIJMESFO XJUI MJGF MPOH TLJMMT UP QSFQBSF UIFN GPS BEVMUIPPE CVU BT XF HVJEF BOE NPVME UIFN JOUP MFBEFST PG UPNPSSPX XF TIPVME OPU GPSHFU IPX TQFDJBM UIFJS UPEBZ JT UPP i:PV IBWF BMM XPSLFE WFSZ IBSE UISPVHIPVU UIF ZFBS BOE OPX JT UIF UJNF UP DFMFCSBUF ZPV XIJMF ZPV QMBZ XJUI ZPVS GSJFOET 8F BSF JOEFFE QSPVE PG ZPV GPS BMM ZPV IBWF BDIJFWFE UIJT ZFBS BOE JNQMPSF ZPV UP FWFO EP CFUUFS OFYU ZFBS i"T ZPV DPOUJOVF ZPVS FY USBPSEJOBSZ KPVSOFZ UPXBSET BDIJFWJOH ZPVS HPBMT BOE BT QJSBUJPO JO MJGF * XBOU ZPV UP LOPX IPX WFSZ QSPVE XF BSF PG ZPV UPEBZ BOE IPX CFBVUJGVM ZPVS UPNPSSPX DBO CF JG ZPV XPSL IBSE u "U UIF QBSUZ DIJMESFO XIP EJTUJOHVJTIFE UIFNTFMWFT JO WBSJPVT TVCKFDUT XFSF SFXBSEFE XJUI HJGUT UP UIF BENJSBUJPO PG BMM QSFTFOU

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

SECURITY TIPS (PART 37)

For theYuletide season (i) r5IF *( *CSBIJN *ESJT IBT PSEFSFE $PNNJTTJPOFST PG 1PMJDF BOE "TTJTUBOU *OTQFDUPS (FOFSBMT PG 1PMJDF UP CFFG VQ TFDVSJUZ OBUJPOXJEF r "*(T $1T BSF EJSFDUFE CZ UIF *( UP SF HJSE $SJNF 1SFWFOUJPO BOE %FUFD UJPO 4USBUFHJFT BOE .FBTVSFT UP FOTVSF BEFRVBUF TFDVSJUZ UISPVHIPVU UIF QFSJPE PG $ISJTUNBT BOE /FX :FBS $FMFCSBUJPOT r5IF *( IBT PSEFSFE UIF JNQMFNFOUBUJPO PG SPCVTU BOE FMBCPSBUF TFDVSJUZ BSSBOHFNFOU UP FOTVSF B IJUDI GSFF $ISJTUNBT BOE /FX :FBS $FMFCSBUJPO r 5IF DPNQSFIFOTJWF DSJNF QSFWFOUJPO BOE EFUFDUJPO TUSBUFHJFT BOE PUIFS PQFSBUJPOBM NFBTVSFT XJMM JODMVEF UIF DPNNFODFNFOU PG JOUFOTJWF SBJET PG JEFOUJ├аFE DSJNJOBM IJEFPVUT CMBDL TQPUT BOE ├бBTI QPJOUT BDSPTT UIF DPVOUSZ r 5IF *( GVSUIFS EJSFDUFE $1T BOE UIFJS TVQFSWJTPSZ "*(T UP CF PO HSPVOE UP FOTVSF BEFRVBUF TBGFUZ PG MJWFT BOE QSPQFSUZ PG BMM /JHFSJBOT EVSJOH BOE BGUFS UIF QFSJPE r 5IF *( SF FNQIBTJTFE TBNF EJSFDUJWFT UP BMM DPNNBOEFST PG 1PMJDF .PCJMF 'PSDF 1.' $PVOUFS 5FSSPSJTN 6OJU $56 BOE 'FEFSBM 4QFDJBM "OUJ 3PCCFSZ 4RVBE ' 4"34 UP FOTVSF EFQMPZNFOUT PG UIFJS QFSTPOOFM VOEFS UIF TVQFSWJTJPO PG $1T JO UIF TUBUFT BOE UIF '$5 UP ├бBTI QPJOUT BOE DSJTJT TQPUT JO UIF WBSJPVT DPNNBOET BDSPTT UIF DPVOUSZ Source: Police Force Headquarters, ABUJA.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND B 1PMJDF $POUSPM 3PPN /PT PS C $PNNJTTJPOFS PG 1PMJDF D %FQVUZ $PNNJTTJPOFS PG 1PMJDF "ENJO

E %FQVUZ $PNNJTTJPOFS PG 1PMJDF 4$**% F %FQVUZ $PNNJTTJPOFS PG 1PMJDF 0QT

G "SFB $PNNBOEFS 0XFSSJ H "SFB $PNNBOEFS 0SMV I "SFB $PNNBOEFS 0LJHXF J 1PMJDF 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 0G├аDFS *NP 4UBUF Source: Imo State Police Command

LAGOS CITIZEN COMPLAINT HOT CENTRE

Source:The Lagos State Police Command

KNOW YOUR POLICE OFFICERS (7) -The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Logistics and Supply r 5IF %FQBSUNFOU PG -PHJTUJDT "OE 4VQQMZ JT B NJY PG UFDIOJDBM CVTJOFTT BOE BENJOJTUSBUJWF DPODFSOT PG UIF FOUJSF /JHFSJB 1PMJDF 5IF EFQBSUNFOU JT IFBEFE CZ %*( "HCPPMB $MPWFS 0TIPEJ 5IF EFQBSUNFOU DPNQSJTFT PUIFS TFDUJPOT VOEFS JU OBNFMZ 'PSDF 2VBSUFS .BTUFS "ENJOJTUSBUJPO $PPQFSBUJWF 1SPDVSFNFOU 8PSLT )PVTJOH #PBSE PG 4VSWFZ BOE &ORVJSZ Source: Police Force Headquarters, ABUJA

Commander 055 NAF Camp, Air Commodore Rasaq Olarewaju and representative of NAFOWA president Mrs. Sheila Lar, ямВanked by guests and NAF kids

Mrs. Sheila Lar (middle) presenting a gift to one of the kids

Oshodi-Glover

40

F R I DAY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

LIFE

Let Them Know it’s Christmas

Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha write that the Senior Pastor of The Rock Cathedral, Paul Adefarasin through his charity, Project Spread is putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society, especially at Christmas

A

s early as 7:00 am, a motley crowd were convened at Christ Cathedral Church School on Broad Street, Lagos Island. Mostly middle aged women with children, these women came from different parts of central Lagos to benefit from the largesse of the Rock Cathedral.

In its usual tradition, the church through its charity arm, Project Spread donates food items and health supplements to the less privileged in various communities across the country where the church operates. It is one of the ways the church is putting smiles on the face of the poor and needy in the society, who ordinarily may have been subsumed in gloom during the festive period due to their disadvantaged situation. ually held a week after the church’s largest musical concert, The Experience, Project Spread is beginning to take a life of its own, as the good news of the gifts handed out to less privileged spreads like wildfire. Both old and young struggle to gain access to the charity.

That particular Saturday morning, the security guards had to deploy all manner of disciplinary measures to keep the crowd from being chaotic. Despite their efforts, the crowd became rowdy and restless. They shoved one another, holding up their access cards. Project Spread was initiated to the true meaning of Christmas, through preaching the gospel and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, which Christians consider as the ultimate gift of God to humanity.

Those who gained access earlier were already in worship mood. They sang their hearts to the Supreme One, thanking Him for his blessings throughout the year, and of course, the ones they were about to receive. Little children milled round the Santa Claus grotto, where they would later be handed their Christmas gifts and allowed to play with toys. Their puzzled look betrayed it was a first time experience. They had no familiarity with the bulky, white-bearded figure, better known as Father Christmas.

Some of the women tried to persuade the

Pastor Adefarasin with one of the beneďŹ ciaries

church health personnel present to give them access to the medical care before its scheduled time, but their request was declined, as the officials insisted the women must wait for the planned commencement.

On arrival, the Senior Pastor of The Rock Cathedral, Paul Adefarasin in the company of his wife, Ifeanyi, addressed the gathering, urging them to give their lives to Christ. He cited himself as an example of God’s grace and prayed that none of them will remain in their pitiable situation next year. The charity was simultaneously run in other communities across the state. This year, the communities visited include Mushin, Ikeja and Elegushi.

Going by the large turnout, the poverty rate in Nigeria seems to show no sign of declining.

Part of the reason can be attributed to the over reliance on government to curb poverty. Adefarasin thinks wealthy individuals, the church and similar institutions should demonstrate love for the less-privileged. “We can’t rely on government to do everything.

Government is supposed to create enabling environment, then faith based-organisations, NGOs, not-for-profit organisations are to take the responsibility to care for the needy. They have to be good corporate citizens. Nigeria is not an easy place right now. All hands have to be on deck to alleviate the suffering and pain of the

underprivileged in the society. It has to be more than food. It is about creating opportunities for enlightenment and education,� he said.

He added that the church has other initiatives that address the needs of the less privileged. “You can’t reach the spirit of man until you first touch their lives. We want to go further than giving them fish. We want to teach them how to fish. We have Operation Feed which is feeding, empowering and enabling people to take them to their destinies. We give skills acquisition across different fields because we want them to have a meaningful, productive and a life that they can afford to educate their children�, he added.

Bidding a Loved One Goodbye Only those who have had to bid their loved ones goodbye would truly understand the pains of the Oladapo Selesis, who laid their father to rest at 78, while reminiscing about his life, Rebecca Ejifoma writes

R

ight at the concentric cathedral of the Daystar Christian Centre at Oregun Ikeja, the hall boomed with nostalgia. Families, relatives from both far and near, wellwishers among other dear ones gathered to bid the late Olakunle Oladapo Selesi, his final farewell.

He died on July 7, 2018, following an illness that started in 2013.

Thus, it was a blend of sober reflection and grateful hearts as the congregation sang out their hearts through hymns like ‘Great is thy Faithfulness’, ‘In Christ Alone’, ‘Through the Love of God our Saviour’ and ‘We Shall Gather at the River’. These songs opened the service and set the atmosphere.

The officiating ministers were the senior pastor, Sam Adeyemi; Kenny Folarin and Boluwatife Oluyomi alongside the Life Changers Ministers, E.O. Daniels (senior pastor); Mrs. V.B Daniels, Henry Olufemi and Solomon Israel, who read the set verses for the occasion.

They recited audibly while the congregation echoed Psalm 90 verse one through 12. The ministers first described God as the hiding place of the saints in all generations. “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever, thou had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,� the senior pastor, Adeyemi read on.

Speaking still, he harped on verse 12, which beckons on God to teach them to number their days that they may apply their hearts to wisdom.

He went further to quote first Thessalonians four verses 13 through 18.

Having given them these encouraging portions to digest, the instrumentalists and the congregation unanimously chorused the song, ‘Through

the Love of God our Saviour’. Adding that all will be well, the bereaved family vocalised soberly over and over again, “all will be well�.

Indeed, the massive turn up was evident of his life before death. “It is difficult to describe my father. But he was great man. He was a man of the people, very dedicated, focused and entrepreneur by heart. He loved his children and his family and he wanted to leave a better family behind,� his first son, Mr. Dipo Selesi, enthused.

Then he admitted how much he already missed him. “I miss him because he was a man that touched lives. He was kind and generous, he had godly attitude and patience. He was a family man that wanted the best for his children, which he accomplished.�

For Dipo, who is the first son and second child, there is hope that some day, he would see his father again to really tell him how much he missed him. Now, the late Otunba, as he was fondly called, was born into the family of Pa Daniel Oyebola and Salamotu Selesi on June 10 in 1940. He was the second of four children.

He attended African Church Primary School in Abeokuta in in 1946 then to the African Church Grammar School in 1952, where he was made the Labour Prefect.

Upon graduating from Grammar School in 1957, he worked as a clerk in Tabolt Industrial Ventures before he travelled to London to further his education in 1962. There, he clinched the job of a postman and also Transport for London as a Bus Ticket Inspector and Clerk to save up for his tertiary education.

Swiftly on the heels of his menial job, the late Otunba enrolled for a degree in Business Administration at the Kingston Polytechnic London now Kingston University, Kingston Upon Thames Surrey and graduated in 1966.

Grappling every opportunity, he went on to do

a part time course at North Western Polytechnic London and the Institute of Marketing and Sales Management English, where he bagged a Higher National Certificate in Business Studies and a Diploma in Marketing.

It was while in school that the late Selesi got married to Mrs. Paulina Wuraola Selesi (nee Lashore) in 1966. The union had seven children.

Having completed his studies, he worked as a management consultant for a few years before relocating to Nigeria in 1972.

Indeed, with his many international and local expertise, the late Selesi had enhanced his penchant to lead, a drive that inspired him register Deluxe Markings Ltd before returning home to Nigeria. The company started with the marketing of Romanian tyres, number plates among others. He also delved into Penguin Diaries, an ice-cream factory.

He was said to have lived and fulfilled many dreams including those of his children who couldn’t run out of words to portray his person before the cold hands of death touched him.

Today, however, his company has metamorphosed into more due to his undying entrepreneurial spirit. He owns Selabab Nig Ltd, Deluxe Colour Productions Ltd, Ospal Global Resources Ltd, Miller Buckley Nigeria Ltd and Variables Building Systems Ltd. And in the mid 80s, the late Otunba, had a union with Mrs. Ejinma Winifred Selesi (nee Anozie-Onyeagocha).

They had two children. Fortunately for the late astute businessman, he had about nine children and eight grandchildren to pay him last respect and perform the final rites at his funeral.

They all had heartbreaking eulogies for him in their various ways. His first daughter and first child, Mrs. Olayide Adeoshun, had beautiful things to say about her father.

She said: “He was loving and caring; very

quiet. He was one of those men that believed in the spirit of excellence. He believed and wanted his children to strive in life to become giants in their different professions. He was a man who did a lot for so many people. He was very compassionate and assiduous. He aspired for greater heights. “I miss him. But I thank God he lived a good life and left a good legacy. I couldn’t have asked for a better dad. Obviously, he made some mistakes here and there. But who doesn’t make a mistake?

May his soul rest in peace. “He was hardworking. Always wanting to set the pace. He was liberal. When I told him I wanted to study graphic design since I was good at fine arts in school, he made a funny comment, ‘Layide, all those doing arts act crazy. However, if this is what you want to do, I’ll support you’.

He did. He never imposed on his children. Each of us chose our professions and he backed us up. He never used condescending words. He was super quiet in the house, the exact opposite of my mum and he never spanked�.

Having passed on, the late Otunba did not only bequeath material things to those he left behind, but he also successfully injected his trademarks into them. “Till date, I’ve learnt to be compassionate, respectful and sympathetic to people’s situations.

I thank God for the grace to be able to give just like my father did in his time,� she added.

In all, the late Otunba was celebrated rather than mourned as songs of thanksgiving and rejoicing shook the hall rather than songs of dirge.

Finally, the entire family laid him to rest with the hymn ‘We shall gather at the river ‘, while his remains on the shoulders of the pallbearers was lowered for the last time, thus returning him to the dust, as his loved ones blew kisses into the air to say goodbye.

41

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

Adegboye: Govt’s Policies Must Support Business Stability in 2019 The Managing Director, BCX Nigeria, Mr. Ayo Adegboye, spoke with Emma Okonji on the need for government to support small and medium enterprises by developing policies to ensure stability of businesses corporate organisations and SMEs.

As the year winds down, how will you describe the activities in the technology sector in 2018. What were the challenges and prospects?

Let me begin with business activities in 2017 that was characterised predominantly by economic recession, which ushered us into 2018, where businesses driven by technology, enjoyed relative stability as a result of exchange rate that normalised in 2018. The federal government in her wisdom, tried to stabilise the naira to dollar exchange rate and that helped in business stability to some extent in 2018. The stability in exchange rate allowed for predetermined business decision among organisations. Although it was still rough for businesses at the beginning of 2018, but towards the end of 2018, the measures earlier put in place by government, started manifesting, which helped businesses to become relatively stable towards the end of 2018.

Do you see stability in businesses in 2019, given the fact that it’s going to be election year?

I see such business stability still playing out in 2019, provided the federal government will be ready to develop and maintain policies that will ensure relative stability in business in 2019, especially businesses driven by technology. If the government does not maintain policies that will ensure business and economic stability, then our foreign direct investment (FDI) will be adversely affected and what that means is that business and the economy will suffer.

So we need stability in our social political and business environment in 2019, and this is the dream of drivers and owners of businesses. Again, the candidate that will emerge winner of the presidential race, will determine the economic outlook of our great country Nigeria in 2019 and beyond. We need leaders that can drive the economy to profitability so that businesses will thrive.

2019 is around the corner and it is an election year, where as usual, government at all levels mop up money for election campaigns. Do you see this situation affecting technology businesses in 2019?

From past experience, election years always affect general businesses, not just technology driven businesses. But as a technology company with flare for business, we will always try to mitigate the effect of election year on businesses. The truth is that during election year, it is not only the businesses that feel the heat, the customers also feel the heat, because the ripple effect will definitely extend to the customers and the entire business chain is affected. But like I said earlier, BCX Nigeria is a technology company, providing technology solutions to companies, so we are fully prepared to mitigate the adverse effect that the 2019 election year will bring to businesses, through the development of the right technology solutions for businesses. But as we do our part to mitigate the effect, we are hopeful that government establishment like the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), should be able to take up its responsibility to help and protect technology companies like BCX Nigeria and others to remain in business.

As a technology solution company, how your ďŹ rm cope in the outgoing year.

Can you share some of your prospects and challenges?

For us, we tried to carry our customers along in 2018, and we have a belief in BCX that doing business is not about making profit alone, but it is also about upholding business integrity and making the customers satisfied. Our priority is to give customers value for their money and that was our strategy for 2018. Again in 2018, we were

Is BCX considering partnership with government in 2019, as a way of business expansion?

Part of our strategic roadmap for 2019 is to look at more ways of doing business with government through the public-private partnership arrangement. We are also open to Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement as long as the project is profitable.

What are some of the identiďŹ ed solutions you plan to release that will drive customer business in 2019?

In 2019, we will be looking more in the areas of business analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Leaning (ML) through the use of robotics. The idea is to engage customers in a more profitable way, and help them take informed business decisions that will further drive and sustain their businesses. We will also be looking at developing solutions around Internet of Things (IoT) and increase our Business-toBusiness (B2B) and Budiness-to-Customer (B2C) strategies for business growth and continuity.

Adegboye

able to sit closely with customers as trusted advisors and helped them optimise their operational expenditure (OPEX) to enable them remain competitive in business.

What are your projections for 2019?

We have good plans and business projections for 2019, which include the plan to reach out to more customers in 2019, while still maintaining our existing customers. We plan to improve on our service offerings in 2019, and we are beginning to look at how we can make good investments on behalf of our customers in such a way that they will have economy of scale in their businesses.

We are also looking at increasing our service offerings for financial institutions in 2019, whereby we will help them reduce the cost

So we need stability in our social political and business environment in 2019, and this is the dream of drivers and owners of businesses.

Again, the candidate that will emerge winner of the presidential race, will determine the economic outlook of our great country Nigeria in 2019 and beyond.

We need leaders that can drive the economy to proďŹ tability so that businesses will thrive

of doing business in all their branches. So we are coming up with innovative solutions in 2019 that will drive businesses to more profitability. Cost of running a successful business in Nigeria is relatively high and we are looking at how we can reduce the cost in 2019, though technology the appropriate solutions. Again, in 2019, we will be expanding our service portfolio in order to reach out to more customers. Having signed on Cannon in 2018 to provide them with the best technology solutions, we plan to have more signups in 2019.

What are the expected government policies that will drive businesses in 2019?

In the area of government’s policies that drive businesses, I will say that government has done a lot in this regard, but we want the government to do more in terms of developing policies that will make business a lot better in 2019. Government needs to do more with the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in Nigeria as currently been championed by the federal government. Government should come with policies in 2019 that will address the issue of multiple taxes in business, especially for the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). There is need for government to take a deeper look at the informal sector and come up,with policies that will address their issues. Government should de-emphasise the idea of ‘Trade Money’ where certain amount of money was given periodically to market women.

The focus for government should be on sustaining livelihood because the ‘Trade Money’ will not solve the challenges of the market women, since it is temporal and short-lived. Another policy area that government should focus on in 2019, is on the barrier that exists between large corporate organisations and small organisations, especially when they are doing business together, which is not noticed when two large corporate organisations are transacting business. The 90 days and 120 days payment window policy should be reviewed downward in 2019, especially with business transactions between large

The federal government is keen about job creation. How will your ďŹ rm key into this intuitive to create more jobs for Nigerians?

We have different solutions and service offerings as well as initiatives that will boost job creation in 2019. In terms of staff strength, we have been able to add 30 per cent to our staff strength this year and we hope to increase the number next year, going by out business plan for 2019.

For example we will be announcing our technology competition in 2019, where we will be inviting over 5,000 software application developers, out of which about 100 will get to the final stage and we are willing to hire some of them, partner with some of them and others will become gainfully employed by organisations that need their services, based on their skills.

What is your projection for 2019 and beyond?

Technology is evolving and we are growing businesses with technology evolution.

Although technology adoption is still low, but those that have embraced technology to drive their businesses, are already reaping from the gains of technology, which are quite enormous. For example, adoption of cloud computing is still low among businesses in Nigeria. I want to use this channel to commend government for the data sovereignty policy that is driving the way we consume technology. So I see a lot of business opportunities coming to Nigeria, when data are hosted and domiciled in Nigeria as against hosting of critical data aboard.

As managing director of BCX Nigeria, what are your plans and vision for BCX Nigeria business?

As managing director of BCX Nigeria, I want to reach out to more customers in 2019 and beyond. I am looking forward to increasing customer satisfaction index in 2019 and beyond. We will be commissioning customer satisfaction index next year to get feedback from customers in order to serve customers better. I have equally set up an in-house call centre, from where we can interact with our customers to know how they are doing in their various businesses.

The essence is to understand customer challenges and prospects, in order to serve them better. I have several other initiatives and strategies to move the company and our customers forward but I will like to keep those ideas close to my chest at the moment.

42

F R I DAY Ëž DECEMBER 21, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Charges Finance Houses to Imbibe Risk Mgt Principles Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised operators of Finance Houses to ensure that they implement risk management principles in their firms.

Deputy Governor, Financial Sector Surveillance, CBN, Mrs Aishah Ahmad, gave this advice in a keynote addressing at the biannual conference of Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN) held in Lagos recently.

According to her, a robust enterprise risk management framework would help identify and proactively prevent and mitigate inherent risks (interest rate, currency risks, et al) in debt capital financing. “This cannot be over-emphasised. We urge operators as they navigate the landmines of the debt market to, in local parlance, ‘shine your eye,’ she said.

Ahmad noted that despite apparent odds that hinder finance companies’ operations,

notably access to finance, there are lead players in the sub-sector who can, not only tap the local market, but also attract funding from foreign development agencies committed to the MSME sector as a potential engine of economic growth and development. “Therefore, the challenge for finance companies lies, not only in expanding own ability to access funding but, more significantly, in translating same into enhanced access for their MSME customers. “Only then is the purpose of intermediation truly fulfilled. “Referring to the issue of the finance company licences that were recently revoked, the breaches of regulations by these companies ranged from poor corporate governance, negative capital to relocating business addresses without prior approval by the CBN as required by the guidelines. “Thus, in order not to fritter away any finance raised and

deliver sustainable returns to investors and the economy, there is no substitute for strong corporate governance practices,� she added.

According to her, while the subsector has made progress as evident in increased shareholders’ funds and risk assets, “operators are barely scratching the surface in terms of large untapped market available to them.�

Represented by the Director, Other Financial Institution Supervision Department, Mrs Tokunbo Phillips, Ahmad added: “This is a sub-sector that has great potentials and by extension responsibility to stimulate growth of the Nigerian economy. “The theme of the conference, which is, Access to Finance: Exploring opportunities and navigating the landmines for local and foreign institutional debt, couldn’t have come at a better time.

L-R: Divisional Head, Retail, Fidelity Bank Plc, Richard Madiebo; Regional Bank Head, Victoria Island, Chinwe Iloghalu; Star Prize Winner of N3 million, Odyo Stephane and Executive Director, Shared Services & Products, FidelityBankPlc,ChijiokeUgochukwu,duringthesecondmonthlyandbi-monthlyprizepresentationceremony of the Fidelity Get Alert in Millions Savings promo (GAIM 3) held in Lagos‌onTuesday

MARKET INDICATORS

CartierVisits Polo to Strengthen Business Relationship Nigeria’s foremost luxury goods company and authorised retailer of the Cartier Brand, Polo Luxury Group, recently hosted the executive team of Cartier from Geneva, Switzerland led by its Managing Director, Africa and Israel, Alessandro Patti, on the official visit of the brand to Nigeria.

The initiative was to boost business relationships between both brands.

Known for its giant strides in delivering artistic and creative pieces which has stood the test of time, the Cartier brand has a history of over 171 years of timeless and consistent delivery of quality and antique pieces, which has positioned the brand as one of the most important jewellery and luxurious timepieces brand in the world.

Welcoming the team to Nigeria, the Group Managing Director, Polo Luxury Group, John Obayuwana, expressed delight at the visit of the Cartier executive team, stating that such visit by a strategic partner of the Polo Luxury group highlighted the importance of the Nigerian luxury market in the African continent.

He stated that the visit would further solidify business relationship between both Polo luxury group and the Cartier brand whilst also praising the efforts of the Cartier brand in pioneering creativity, innovation and uniqueness in the manufacturing of high-end timepieces.

Speaking during the visit, a statement quoted Patti to have thanked the Polo Luxury Group for the success of the Cartier brand since it came into the Nigerian market over 15 years ago as the partnership with Polo Luxury Group in Nigeria is one which was born out of shared values of creativity, art and passion for luxury goods.

Patti said: “The Cartier brand has maintained its strong positioning due to its unique timeless pieces, creativity and innovation in meeting client’s needs all over the world and ensuring they are satisfied when they wear their unique Cartier timepiece with a sense of pride and fulfilment at any time.�

Speaking on the viability of the Nigerian Luxury Market in recent years, Patti stated that, “the partnership with Polo luxury group is one anchored on a long

term shared vision of growth which has been evident over the years with Polo Limited’s experience of the Nigerian Luxury Market as well as its passion for creativity, immense sense of luxury and business strategy which has been vital for navigating the Nigerian market with huge opportunities and potential.�

Unveiling the Santos de Cartier watch, Patti reiterated that, what differentiates the Cartier brand from other luxury brands, is its promise of timeless pieces, as despite the fact that the Santos watch is over a 110 years old, the brand has maintained its unique style as Cartier creations of today are treasures of tomorrow.

The 2018 update of the Santos watch has focused on improving ergonomics and the comfort of the wearer, while maintaining the timeless allure of the design.

Subtle changes have been made to create a sleeker shape and improve legibility – changes that might not immediately be apparent to the untrained eye – which highlight the brand’s luxurious approach to adapting its iconic designs to the modern lifestyle.

Taxify Expands to Benin Ride-hailing service, Taxify is expanding its Nigerian operations to its fifth city – Benin, Edo State.

This continues Taxify’s recent expansion across Nigeria, following its launch in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and Ibadan.

The ride hailing service had said in June 2018, that it had completed an investment round of $175 million, and that it intended to use the investment to expand its services worldwide - particularly across Africa. “Adding a new city to our Nigerian network emphasises our continued focus on launching ride-hailing services in more towns and cities across the country, outside of the obvious main centres,� the Country Manager for Taxify in Nigeria, Uche Okafor, was quoted to have

said in a statement.

Having started operations in Nigeria with its first city launched in November, 2016 in Lagos, the ride-hailing service has grown exponentially year on year. Taxify will now operate in five cities across the country, and is available in more Nigerian urban centres than any other ride-hailing platform. “What this expansion means for us is that more riders can enjoy the safety and convenience of the service, but more importantly, more Nigerians have access to earning a decent living by joining the platform as drivers,� he added. One of Taxify’s key success factors in its rapid expansion has been the fact that drivers utilising its platform receive 85 per cent of all fares paid by riders - a

significantly higher percentage than what drivers using other similar platforms receive. “We intend to expand our footprint even further in 2019, as we believe that all Nigerians can benefit from the convenience and cost-efficiency of ride-hailing,�

Okafor said. “Furthermore, providing appropriately licensed drivers with a platform through which they can earn a sustainable living continues to drive us forward.�

Launched in 2013, Taxify connects millions of passengers and drivers around the world to make travel easier, quicker and more reliable.

Taxify’s efficient and tech-enabled business model benefits both drivers who pay a smaller commission as well as passengers who end up paying less for their ride.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

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

5,433,209.43

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

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 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 WEDNESDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $55.13 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $56.08 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

F R I DAY ˾ DECEMBER 21, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank Seeks Shareholders’Approval for N75bn Rights Issue Goddy Egene The directors of Access Bank Plc are seeking shareholders’ approval to raise additional equity capital of up N75 billion via Rights Issue next year.

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, the Access Bank is convening an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) for February 1, 2019 in Lagos, where it hopes to get shareholders’ approval.

Specifically, the directors want to be authorised to raise additional equity capital of up to a maximum of N75 billion by way of a Rights Issue in the ratio, on such terms and conditions and on such dates as may be determined by the directors, subject to obtaining the approvals of the relevant regulatory authorities.

Also, the directors want the bank’s authorised share capital

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

be increased from N20 billion made up of 38 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each and two billion preference shares of 50 kobo each to N35 billion by the creation of 30 billion ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.

The directors are equally proposed to the shareholders that pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement executed between Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc on the merger of the two entities, if the Rights Issue

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

contemplated is undertaken prior to the implementation date of the merger, they be authorised by way of a Placing and subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals, to offer to Diamond Bank shareholders shares in Access Bank to be purchased after the implementation date on the same term as the Rights Issue and in the same proportion that they would be entitled to as if they had already become shareholders

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

of Access Bank Plc. The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, had on Monday disclosed that disclosed that it had finalised terms and obtained regulatory approvals for it to raise fresh $250 million tier II capital.

Wigwe had also confirmed that Access Bank has obtained a “no objection” from the Central Bank of Nigeria

O F

(CBN) to undertake a rights issue to raise up to N75 billion before the end of first of 2019.

He, however, pointed out that shareholder approvals and other regulatory approvals would be obtained before the offer opens.

“Let me let you know we have actually concluded with some of our partners to raise tier II capital. That would be ready for drawdown before the end of January and that is about $250 million.

2 0 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

44

Friday, December 21, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ThisDay Afrinvest Index slips by 0.29% Yesterday, the ThisDay Afrinvest 40 Index shed 0.29% to

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

close at 1282.09 points. The index performance was dragged

Current Price

Ticker

by ZENITH (-0.2%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-0.6%) and NESTLE (-Ϭ͘ϳйͿ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ǁĞŝŐŚ Ϯϵ͘Ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price YTD Index to Weighting Change Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1,282.09

-0.29%

-16.9%

28.2%

20.8%

7.4%

6.0x

0.7x

6.7%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

34.70

0.3%

22.0%

-14.8%

-14.4%

34.1%

5.6%

5.2x

2.0x

7.8%

12.9% 19.3%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

22.55

-0.2%

13.8%

-12.1%

-13.0%

23.7%

3.4%

3.9x

0.9x

12.2%

25.8%

Buying Interest in Bellwethers Upturns Performance in

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

Local Bourse͙ ASI Up 32bps

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

78.00

-0.6%

6.3%

-42.2%

-42.2%

13.8%

6.4%

26.1x

3.7x

4.8%

3.8%

1,460.00

-0.7%

9.1%

-6.2%

-6.2%

85.8%

26.3%

26.4x

20.6x

3.2%

3.8%

190.00

2.2%

6.2%

-17.4%

-17.4%

20.1%

9.8%

19.8x

4.2x

5.7%

5.1%

7.60

0.0%

5.7%

-13.6%

-13.5%

6.6%

0.8%

5.4x

0.4x

3.3%

18.4%

5

Dangote Cement PLC

The buying interest in bellwethers - SEPLAT (+6.8%),

6

FBN Holdings Plc

DANGCEM (+2.2%) and GUARANTY (+0.3%) - upturned

7

Access Bank PLC

7.40

-6.3%

3.8%

-29.2%

-30.2%

14.1%

1.7%

3.1x

0.5x

8.4%

32.5%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

7.50

-3.2%

3.8%

-27.2%

-28.0%

15.4%

1.8%

3.4x

0.6x

11.0%

29.4%

yesterday's ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ as the NSE All Share Index

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

14.25

-5.0%

3.3%

-16.2%

-12.4%

12.1%

1.0%

4.5x

0.5x

(ASI) appreciated Ϭ͘ϯй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϯϬ͕ϴϬϮ͘ϵϬ points.

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

593.00

6.8%

3.5%

-3.0%

-5.3%

25.9%

15.3%

2.6x

0.6x

3.1%

38.7%

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

46.00

0.0%

3.9%

10.8%

12.5%

35.7%

4.6%

6.8x

2.2x

2.2%

14.7%

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

37.00

0.0%

2.8%

-9.8%

-8.0%

24.7%

11.5%

17.2x

2.6x

1.4%

5.8%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

72.00

0.0%

2.1%

-23.4%

-23.4%

8.8%

5.0%

19.3x

1.8x

2.6%

5.2%

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

11.75

0.0%

0.5%

-73.0%

-73.1%

-53.7%

-7.9%

0.8x

12.4%

-53.6%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

1.90

-0.5%

1.2%

-22.8%

-26.4%

11.3%

1.5%

2.5x

0.3x

5.7%

16

Oando PLC

4.75

0.0%

1.3%

-20.7%

-20.7%

10.9%

1.7%

4.0x

0.3x

Consequently, ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ N35.8bn to N11.3tn while YTD loss improved to -19.5%. However, ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ by 171.5% to 546.0m units while value traded reduced by

22.5%

40.4% 25.3%

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

14.00

5.3%

1.0%

-30.0%

-31.2%

32.6%

16.4%

5.6x

1.6x

12.5%

17.9%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

73.00

0.0%

1.4%

7.8%

7.8%

39.3%

29.7%

7.0x

2.4x

3.9%

14.4%

UNIONDAC (274.2m units), ACCESS (61.9m units) and

19

International Brew eries PLC

30.50

0.0%

0.5%

-44.0%

-44.5%

24.6%

7.4%

31.9x

7.3x

ZENITH (37.3m units) while ZENITH (N838.5m), GUARANTY

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

21.00

-3.9%

0.6%

-27.6%

-27.6%

7.6%

2.3%

7.2x

0.6x

4.8%

13.9%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.26

2.4%

0.6%

-13.7%

-14.9%

13.6%

3.0%

6.0x

0.8x

1.6%

16.7%

22

UAC of Nigeria PLC

10.00

-6.5%

0.4%

-40.8%

-40.8%

0.4%

0.2%

78.7x

0.4x

6.5%

23

Diamond Bank PLC

1.37

9.6%

0.6%

-8.7%

-12.7%

-5.8%

-0.7%

24

Total Nigeria PLC

192.00

-1.5%

0.5%

-16.5%

-16.5%

34.6%

7.5%

6.7x

2.2x

8.9%

14.9%

25

FCMB Group Plc

1.73

-0.6%

0.7%

9.5%

6.7%

1.0%

2.3x

0.2x

5.8%

44.4%

168.00

4.8%

17.8%

0.2% and to N4.1bn. The top traded stocks by volume were

(N711.8m) and ACCESS (N473.3m) were the top traded stocks by value.

0.1x

26

11 PLC

0.0%

0.5%

-13.7%

-13.7%

38.0%

16.8%

5.6x

1.9x

27

Forte Oil PLC

25.95

-1.0%

0.3%

-40.3%

-38.2%

84.6%

8.3%

10.6x

2.0x

Performance across sectors was largely bullish as 3 of 5

28

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

10.50

0.0%

0.2%

-49.0%

-50.4%

indices under our coverage trended northwards. The Oil &

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

-36.2%

-35.9%

4.7%

1.9%

30

Presco PLC

62.15

0.0%

0.4%

-9.3%

-9.3%

37.0%

24.8%

47.0%

17.5%

Bullish Sector Performance

3.1%

1.3% -51.2%

9.4%

1.0x

1.4%

34.9x

1.6x

1.6%

2.9%

2.5x

0.8x

3.2%

40.7%

8.9x

4.0x

8.8%

11.3%

0.6x

7.6%

Gas index appreciated the most, up 3.1% due to bargain

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

17.00

0.0%

0.4%

-8.1%

-11.6%

ŚƵŶƟŶŐ

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

6.60

-9.6%

0.3%

-34.0%

-34.0%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.60

-6.7%

0.3%

-28.2%

-25.4%

5.3%

1.0%

10.2x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

20.10

0.0%

0.3%

-28.2%

-28.2%

17.3%

1.8%

5.6x

0.9x

4.9%

18.0%

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.81

0.0%

0.5%

67.6%

60.2%

10.6%

1.1%

4.8x

0.5x

1.1%

21.0%

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

6.90

0.0%

0.2%

-43.2%

-43.2%

0.0%

0.0%

0.9x

2.9%

in

SEPLAT

(+6.8%)

and

CONOIL

(+3.7%)

while the Insurance and Industrial Goods indices gained 2.6% ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ in

CONTINSURE

(+5.1%),

LAWUNION

(+7.8%), and DANGCEM ;нϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Banking and Consumer Goods indices shed 1.6% and 0.3%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

14.50

0.0%

0.2%

-32.9%

-32.9%

12.1%

7.2%

11.6x

2.0x

53.8%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

34.85

0.0%

0.3%

2.5%

-2.4%

66.2%

30.2%

16.3x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

39

Beta Glass PLC

68.30

0.0%

0.2%

33.1%

33.1%

17.7%

11.5%

8.3x

1.4x

1.6%

12.0%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

6.10

0.0%

0.1%

-15.4%

-15.4%

6.9%

3.8%

11.9x

0.8x

2.0%

8.4%

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ in UBN (-6.7%), ACCESS (6.3%), NESTLE (-0.7%), and NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-0.6%).

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϴdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž recorded yesterday as 17 stocks appreciated against 22 decliners. The top performing stocks were NEM (+10.0%), UNITYBNK

(+10.0%),

and

BERGER

ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ /Ŷ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ some buying interest in bellwethers which drove market performance

in

yesterday's

trading

session.

We

therefore expect this bullish performance to be moderated ďLJ ƐŽŵĞ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ Ă ĐĂƵƟŽƵƐ ŽƵƚůŽŽŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315) (A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

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

8.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

UN IT YB N K

0.88

10.0%

N EM

2.53

10.0%

B ER GER

7.85

9.8%

D IA M ON D B N K

1.37

J A IZ B A N K

0.50

LA WUN ION NA HCO SEP LA T

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

274.2

-7.7%

A C C ESS

61.9

-6.3%

Z EN IT H B A N K

37.3

-0.2%

9.6%

WA P C O

24.4

0.0%

8.7%

GUA R A N T Y

20.8

0.3%

0.55

7.8%

UB A

17.3

-3.2%

3.60

6.8%

FB NH

16.5

0.0%

593.00

6.8%

UC A P

10.0

-4.8%

D A N GSUGA R

14.00

5.3%

WEM A B A N K

9.2

-4.9%

C ON T IN SUR E

1.85

5.1%

FCM B

8.0

-0.6%

(+9.8%)

while UNIONDAC (-7.7%), UBN (-6.7%) and CCNN (-6.6%) led

9.8%

T ic k er UN ION D A C

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

UN ION D A C

0.24

-7.7%

UB N

5.60

-6.7%

CCNN

17.80

-6.6%

UA C N

10.00

-6.5%

A C C ESS

7.40

-6.3%

A F R IP R UD

3.52

ET I

14.25

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

838.5

-0.2%

GUA R A N T Y

711.8

0.3%

A C C ESS

473.3

-6.3%

D A N GC EM

380.4

2.2%

ST A N B IC

336.1

0.0%

-5.9%

WA P C O

288.3

0.0%

-5.0%

N EST LE

165.8

-0.7%

WEM A B A N K

0.58

-4.9%

F LOUR M ILL

140.7

-3.9%

UC A P

2.75

-4.8%

UB A

131.3

-3.2%

R ED ST A R EX

4.20

-4.5%

FB NH

124.4

0.0%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde |

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Jolomi Odonghanro | jodonghanro@afrinvest.com

romotunde@afrinvest.com

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍşÍšËœ ͺ͸͚͜

45

MARKET NEWS

The Carlyle Group Invests $40 Million in Wakanow.com Goddy Egene Global alternative asset manager, The Carlyle Group, yesterday announced that it has agreed to invest $40 million in Wakanow. com Limited, an online travel agency focused on West and East Africa, with principal operations in Nigeria. The company said in a statement that the equity came from Carlyle’s Sub-Saharan Africa fund.

Founded in 2009 in Nigeria, Wakanow is one of West Africa’s

largest full-service online travel companies, providing its customers with a one-stop online booking portal for flights, hotels, holiday packages, and other travel services and ancillaries. Complementing their online offering, Wakanow also operates a network of traditional brick-and mortar travel centres and has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Wakanow enjoys strong

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

brand recognition and a scale advantages in its local markets.

Commenting on the investment, Co-Founder and CEO, Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie, said: “We are excited to partner with Carlyle as we continue to grow and expand in Africa and beyond. Carlyle’s global footprint and scale as well as its extensive experience and network in the online travel sector will help us to further develop our offerings and broaden our customer base.�

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 1912-2018, unless otherwise stated.

Also speaking, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, Idris Mohammed, said: “Wakanow has experienced incredible growth since inception, disrupting the travel market and taking market share both online and offline.

We believe that this strong growth trajectory will continue as Wakanow benefits from an expanding middle class across the continent in addition to increasing internet penetration and mobile connectivity, which is

driving increased online traffic.

We look forward to working with Wakanow’s management team to help them deliver on their vision for growth and expansion.�

In the same, the Chief Investment Officer, Platform Capital, one of Wakanow’s lead investors, Mayowa Ayodele, said: “We are happy to partner with Carlyle and look forward to working together with them to strengthen Wakanow’s market position, accelerate innovation,

deepen its systems and processes to realize the vision of a truly world class online travel agency with African roots.�

This investment adds to Carlyle’s experience in the online travel sector, where it has invested in companies such as C-trip, one of the major online travel agencies operating across China, the Latin American travel and tour operator CVC Brasil, and Vasco Turismo, one of the largest travel operations groups in Peru.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.83 0.84 1.25% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 7.18% 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 -3.87% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 16.27 16.76 -10.94% ARM Discovery Fund 351.97 362.58 -9.53% ARM Ethical Fund 28.00 28.84 2.48% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.79% 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 99.51 100.21 -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 13.90% Paramount Equity Fund 11.49 11.79 3.65% Women's Investment Fund 101.05 103.64 0.42% 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 13.21% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 95.09 95.31 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.40 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 12.35% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.86 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 10.84% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.14% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.51% 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 1,175.28 1,176.04 11.74% FBN Heritage Fund 140.60 141.78 0.80% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.96% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional $113.20 $113.62 3.96% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail $112.93 $113.35 3.82% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 145.72 147.78 -8.23% 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 11.83% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.81% 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 2,939.80 2,968.59 -1.53% Coral Income Fund 2,751.38 2,751.38 12.38% 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 12.56% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 106.57 106.98 6.14% 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 12.58%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 1.54% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.44% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.40 124.59 8.08% 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 4.68% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,095.02 1,095.02 13.32% 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 11.21 11.30 -13.46% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.98% 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 11.82% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.17 12.24 10.31% 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 2,299.13 2,313.03 4.61% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 188.89 188.89 8.47% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 -6.44% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 246.42 246.46 14.16% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 158.76 160.58 -11.34% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.05% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,357.75 8,457.82 -12.10% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 7.09% 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 11.08 11.23 -8.36% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.19 12.31 -5.44% Zenith Income Fund 20.70 20.70 12.15% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.61%

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

10.23 116.38 87.83

10.33 118.82 89.47

-13.55% -18.53% -19.61%

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

4.01 7.17 14.43 12.21 141.19

4.05 7.25 14.53 12.41 143.19

-15.43% -24.97% -17.27% -37.75% 5.09%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND 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.

46

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Ethnic Violence Claims 82 in Western DR Congo Sunday’s presidential election postponed About 82 people have been killed in ethnic violence since Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s west.

George Kapiamba, head of the Congolese Association for Access to Justice (ACAJ) told newsmen that “There are 82 confirmed dead,” The figures Kapiamba cited were according to witnesses,

they were backed up by one man who escaped the violence.

The survivor in speaking to AFP said, “according to what I’ve learnt, there are 80 people dead”.

On Tuesday the governor of the western Mai-Ndombe province, where the violence broke out, put the provisional toll at 45 dead with more than

60 injured.

Meanwhile, earlier in December, seventeen people were killed in two attacks by the ADF militant group in the troubled Benin region of eastern DR Congo, a local mayor said Friday.

Twelve civilians died in Mangolikene on the outskirts of Beni city in North Kivu on

Eight Killed Following Protest Over Bread Price Hike in Sudan Eight demonstrators have been killed in eastern Sudan on Thursday, officials said, during clashes with riot police on the second day of protests over the rising price of bread.

A government decision to raise the price of bread this week from one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) sparked protests across the country on Wednesday.

The protests spread on Thursday to the Sudanese capital Khartoum, where riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators near the presidential palace, witnesses said.

“Six were killed and a number of people were wounded” in the eastern city of Al-Qadarif, Al-Tayeb al-Amine Tah told local broadcaster Sudania 24, without providing further details.

The toll included a university student whose death during

demonstrations in Al-Qadarif had been reported earlier in the day.

“The situation in Al-Qadarif is out of control and the student Moayed Ahmad Mahmoud was killed,” said Mubarak al-Nur, a lawmaker in the city 550 kilometres (340 miles) from Khartoum.

Nur called on authorities “not to use force against demonstrators, who are asked to peacefully exercise their right” to protest.

Two other protesters were killed in the city of Atbara, around 400 kilometres east of Khartoum, governorate spokesman Ibrahim Mukhtar said.

Police in Atbara fired tear gas to disperse protesters just hours after authorities imposed a curfew on the city because demonstrators had torched the

headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP).

Angry protesters on Thursday set fire NCP headquarters in two other locations, witnesses said Demonstrators in Al-Qadarif “threw stones at banks (in the city centre) and smashed cars,” resident Tayeb Omar Bashir told AFP by phone.

They then “moved to the ruling party headquarters near the market and torched it completely”, he added.

Demonstrators then moved towards the police station where they called for “freedom” and chanted “the people want the fall of the regime.”

Protests in Dongola, 500 kilometres north of Khartoum, “started with university students who were joined by others when they reached the city centre”, an eyewitness told AFP by phone.

Thursday while another five were killed overnight in the Paida area, mayor Nyonyi Masumbuko Bwanakana told AFP. Explosions were heard overnight in Paida, according to local civil society representative Kizito Bin Hangi. The regional army’s spokesman said the five killings in Paida happened during an attack on barracks in the city.

“We are searching for ADF (fighters),” Captain Mak Hazukay said.

The government has often blamed the group for killings, robberies, and kidnappings, but sometimes it is unclear who the true assailants are.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is a shadowy armed group rooted in Ugandan Islamism that has killed hundreds of people since 2014.

ADF was forced out of Uganda and now the group operates in the border area in the DRC’s North Kivu province, an area where other armed groups are also active.

On Tuesday 11th of December, the group reportedly struck again killing nine civilians.

The massacre occurred overnight in the town of Oicha, in the Beni region, local administrator Donat Kibwana told AFP. The assailants were

suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group blamed for hundreds of killings since 2014. “They entered Oicha late at night, they pillaged and made off with farm animals. We lost nine people in the attack,” Kibwana said.

The toll was confirmed separately by military spokesman Mak Hazukay.

“The ADF got around our position and carried out their dirty work in eastern Oicha… there are nine civilians dead,” he said.

Local teacher Prospere Kasereka said “the ADF arrived in my area around 7.30pm. They started looting, smashing down doors and firing guns.”

He added: “I fled when they got in my house. I saw the bodies of nine inhabitants this morning.”

Meanwhile, the election board has postponed a presidential vote scheduled for Sunday by one week until December 30 after a

fire destroyed voting materials.

Already delayed repeatedly since 2016, the poll is meant to choose a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who is to step down after 18 years in what would be Congo’s first democratic transition.

After a meeting with candidates in the capital, the electoral commission (CENI) said it had not been able to provide sufficient ballot papers for Kinshasa after a warehouse blaze last week destroyed much of the capital’s election material.

“We cannot organise general elections without the province of Kinshasa, and without the Kinois voters – who represent 10 percent of the electoral body,” CENI president Corneille Nangaa told journalists.

“The presidential, legislative and provincial ballots will take place on Dec. 30 2018.”

The decision may stoke already high tensions after several government crackdowns on opposition rallies.

I formerly known and addressed as MR

I formerly known and addressed as

OLUWABUSAYO OLUFUNSHO ABEGUNDE, now wish to be known

as MR OLUWABUSAYO OLUFUNSO ABOLUWADE. All former documents remain valid. Governmental bodies, Embassies, Nigerian Immigration Services and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as YSOBEL OMO OMUETI, now wish to be known and addressed as OGHENETEGA OMO OMUETI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as YETUNDE OLASUNKANMI OKE now wish to be known and addressed as YETUNDE OLASUNKANMI SEGUN-FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI SOLOMON SAMSON, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBISI SAMSON SPENCER. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AUGUSTA CHINWE AWIAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEKWEODIRI SYLVIA NKEM, now wish to be known and addressed as NWANGWA SYLVIA NKEM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEJUYIGBE ISAAC SINA, now wish to be known as

AROMOLARAN ADEJUYIGBE ISAAC. All former documents

remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DAMILOLA JULIANA

To Obtain Citizenship, Denmark Makes Handshakes Compulsory Effective from January 1, 2019, Denmark will require anyone who takes Danish citizenship to shake hands at the naturalization ceremony.

Lawmakers say the law, passed on Thursday (today), is aimed at Muslims who refuse on religious grounds to touch members of the opposite sex, NYT reports.

The law has prompted strong reactions from some of the mayors who must conduct such ceremonies, and who are upset that they will become the faces and fists of a policy they call awkward, “purely

symbolic” and irrelevant to an applicant’s qualifications.

They say the Danish Parliament, which approved the measure, has artificially elevated a social custom to a national value.

But Denmark is not alone.

Authorities in Switzerland and France have recently cited “lack of assimilation” in rejection of citizenship to foreigners who refuse to shake hands with officials. “If you arrive in Denmark, where it’s custom to shake hands when you greet, if you don’t do it, it’s disrespectful,” said Martin Henriksen, a lawmaker

who has been critical of Islam and is the right-wing Danish People’s Party’s spokesman on immigration.

“If one can’t do something that simple and straightforward, there’s no reason to become a Danish citizen,” Henriksen contends.

He said the law, which will take effect on January 1, was required because of “Muslim immigration to Denmark over a long time,” and added that he hoped it would be followed by a ban on Muslim women wearing veils at citizenship ceremonies. The country’s

integration minister, Inger Stojberg, wrote on her Facebook page that a handshake was a “visible sign that you’ve taken Denmark to heart.”

Some Muslim and Jewish groups prohibit or discourage their faithful from touching members of the opposite sex outside their immediate families.

The handshake requirement, which includes a provision that the wearing of gloves is unacceptable, is the latest in a series of Danish anti-immigrant measures that critics say are symbolically charged but serve little purpose.

remain valid. ICAN and the general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AROMIRE AZEEZ TIMMY, now wish to be known and addressed as AROMIRE AFEEZ. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

AUGUSTA CHINWE ONYENEKWE.

Some civilians fleeing crisis in DR Congo

MISS BLESSING ONIZE EHINLAIYE, now wish to be known as MRS BLESSING ONIZE ERUOTOR. All former documents

OLUKOTUN,

now wish to be known and addressed as DAMILOLA JULIANA INEGBES. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NGWU LUCY CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MBAMALU LUCY CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MERCY ESSIEN, now wish to be known and addressed as MERCY

NDIANABASI JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWAGBARA CHIDIMMA MIRIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEMELUKWE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHRISTIANA INEGBENOSE , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS

CHIDIMMA MIRIAN.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as YOSIF TASIU GACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as YUSUF

SULEIMAN GACHI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHRISTIANA BADRU .

This is to notify the general public that my name was wrongly written as MONDAY NWOFOKE UDUMALI in my BVN, My correct name is and now wish to be known and addressed as MONDAY NWIBO UDUMALI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

47

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Quran’s Message for Humanity – 1 Aslam Abdullah/IslamiCity

I

s Quran relevant to Muslims only? What about the humanity.

Is the Quran only for Muslims? If God is the Lord of the worlds (Quran 1:2) and the Prophet is described as the messenger for the worlds (Quran 21:107) and the Quran is introduced as a reminder to the worlds, (Quran 68:52) then what is the relevance of the Quranic message to the world? How can the world, Muslims and non-Muslims, alike, benefit from the universal message of a universal and compassionate God? Can non-Muslims practice divinely revealed values without acknowledging their original source and without adhering to the total divine call?

Introduction The Quran, Muslims believe is the final testament God revealed for human beings through Prophet Muhammad , in the seventh century. They believe that that the Quran affirms everything that was revealed to all the previous messengers in the past including Prophets Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus. The Quran recognizes the principle of inclusiveness when it says: “I have come to you, to attest the Law which was before me.

And to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.” (Quran 3:50) The Quran also acknowledges that divine message has been sent to all in all languages and the Quran affirms the continuity of the divine message. “O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you, before We change the face and fame of some (of you) beyond all recognition, and turn them hind wards, or curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers, for the decision of Allah Must be carried out.” (Quran 4:47) The Quran acknowledges the common thread in all the divine messages when it says: “The same religion He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which you call them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him). (Quran 42:13) The Muslims believe that the guidance in the Quran is for all time, and all people. Even though many Muslim scholars have often differed on the issue of giving a copy of the Quran to non-Muslims, quoting the Quranic verse that says “none shall touch but those who are clean,” (Quran 56:79) yet more serious among them believe that the verse refers to the purity and sanctity of the divine message emphasizing the fact that it is revealed by the one who is absolutely authentic (Allah) and delivered by the one who is sacred and pure (Angel Gabriel) and delivered by the one (Prophet Muhammad ) who is innocent from committing any wrong in communicating the message.

In fact, the Quran addresses human beings as “Ya aiyuhal Nas” (O Humankind) directly 306 times and indirectly more than two thousand times in its over 6,000 verses. In contrast the Quran specifically addresses Muslim men and women (Ya aiyuhal Muslimun/Muslimat/Muslimatun/etc) by name only 49 times. How can anyone refuse to share a copy of the Quran with non-Muslims? In fact, the first revelation that the prophet received was first recited by the Prophet to non-Muslims.

Regardless, the Muslim scholarship, by and large, has inadvertently turned the Quran into a manifesto for Muslims only making the argument that Quran is a book of guidance for Muslims primarily. On top of this the use of the Quran has been limited to ceremonial recitation. Is there nothing for the non-Muslim creation of God in the book Muslims attribute to a Merciful and Compassionate God of all. Can a non-Muslim make use of the guidance of the Quran while still remaining outside the fold of Islam? Can Islam be practiced by non-Muslims in its normative sense without adhering to its form ritual structure?

Contrary to what some Muslims might believe the fact is that many human beings, regardless of their relationship with Islam, have on their own reached conclusions that the Quran introduced to the world through revelation. In a way, many non-Muslims have shown a better understanding of the message of the Quran even without fully identifying with Islam than shown by many Muslims.

For instance, the empiricism 1 in modern natural and social sciences is a known reality of our epistemology. The Quran announced this maxim clearly when it said: “And pursue not that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of hearing, or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be inquired into (on the Day of Reckoning). (Quran 17:36) In other words one must use all methods of inquiry to come to a conclusion and decisions in all aspects of life must not be based on superstitions and hearsay.

There are five major divine ideas expounded in the Quran that human beings have now begun to realize as the essence of their humanity. They were there in other religious scriptures and they are defined in detail in the Quran, yet, humanity as a whole waited for almost 7,000 of its recorded human history to acknowledge their legitimacy and validity.

These ideas have constantly provided guidance to reformers and idealists regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds all over the world for centuries.

What is ironic is that while acknowledging the supremacy of these ideas many Muslim groups and leaders in the Muslim world have often negated them through their writings or actions. Those five ideas are: oneness or unity of humanity, dignity of human beings, universalization of natural resources, justice and peace. No human society can live in a state of stability and progression without accepting these ideas and making efforts to live by them.

Oneness of humanity The Quran places emphasis on the oneness of human beings. It introduces the idea of common human origin and ancestry at four different places and says that humans have their origin in a single cell or soul.

“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single soul, created, of like nature, the mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;- reverence Allah, through whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (That bore you): for Allah ever watches over you.” (Quran 4:1) “It is He Who hath produced you from a single soul: here is a place of sojourn and a place of departure: We detail Our signs for people who understand.” (Quran 6:98) “It is He Who created you from a single soul, and made the mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her (in love). When they are united, she bears a light burden and carries it about (unnoticed).

When she grows heavy, they both pray to Allah their Lord, (saying): If Thou gives us a goodly child, we vow we shall (ever) be grateful.” (Quran 7:189) “He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?” (Quran 39:6) Thus the purpose is to ensure that the unity of humanity is never compromised and the differences that exist among people are resolved through a process of mutual understanding on the basis of ideas that are divine revealed.

“Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy.

Allah by His Grace guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He wills to a path that is straight.” (Quran 2:213) The Quran acknowledges the diversity in humanity but described it as a functional aspect of existence and not structural.

“To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that has come to you. To each among you we have prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which you dispute; (Quran 5:48) The Quranic assertion about the oneness of humanity is a powerful message for all those who still want to live in their own tribal, national and ethnic cocoons without any respect and regard for the other. The Quran does not want a person to cancel one’s identity by birth but wants that identity to enhance inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness.

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.

And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran 49:13) The idea that despite differences in our DNAs and fingerprints, we all have a common origin and can relate with each other accepting every human as part of our extended family whether we are able to trace our bloodlines or not is in itself a powerful unifying idea, an idea whose time has finally come in a world that is shrinking every day.

To Be Continued

48

FRIDAY, ÍşÍšËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Senate Confirms Owasanoye, Eight Others as ICPC Chairman, Members Abba-Aji gets nod as Supreme Court justice

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday adjourned plenary to Wednesday, January 16 after confirming the nomination of Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye and eight others as chairman and members of the Board of the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The 25-day adjournment was sequel to a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, and seconded

by Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda.

The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Justice Umani Abba-Aji of the Court of Appeal as a justice of the Supreme Court.

The confirmation of Owasanoye (South-west) and eight other board members of ICPC was sequel to a motion moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) requesting that the nine nominees be confirmed and was seconded by Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South).

The other confirmed nominees, whose nominations were sent to the Senate by the

Executive since August 2017 are Yahaya Dauda (North-central); Abdullahi Saidu (North-central); Hannatu Muhammed (Northwest); Justice Adamu Bello (rtd) (North-west); Dr Grace Chinda (South-south); Okolo Titus (South-east), Obiora Igwedebia (South-east) and Mrs Olubukola Balogun (South-west).

Lawan had earlier told his colleagues that he has the assurances of the executive that three more nominees (two from North-east and one from South-south) will be sent shortly to the Senate for approval for the 12-man ICPC Board to be complete.

The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Justice Umani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

The confirmation was based on the Senate consideration of the report of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru (Niger East) for the confirmation of Justice Aji as Justice of the Supreme Court.

Presenting the report, Senator Umaru said the nominee has been screened and satisfied all requirements as justice of the Supreme Court. ‘’This appointment was made

Owasanoye pursuant to Section 231 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires that the appointment of a person to the Supreme Court Bench shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such nomination by the senate. ‘’After deliberation on the Executive Communication, the Senate referred it to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative action and to report back with its recommendations’’.

Umaru disclosed that the petition filed by a legal practitioner, Dr S.S. Nwawka against Justice Abba-Aji’s nomination to the apex court

bench had been faulted by NJC as lacking in merit, just as the council said that no act of misconduct was disclosed against the nominee.

The committee, according to Umaru found Justice Abba-Aji as a fit and proper person for appointment as a justice of the Supreme Court. ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to observe that this appointment satisfies the constitutional provision of Section 231 (3) which stipulates a minimum of 15 years post call experience to qualify for appointment as a justice of the Supreme Court. ‘’It should be stated that this appointment became necessary following the retirement of Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, JSC (North-east) , after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years on February 27, 2018. ‘’By virtue of paragraph 13 (a) (ii), Third Schedule to the Constitution, the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) is empowered to advise the NJC in nominating persons for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court and the FJSC indeed kick-started the process as required by the above constitutional requirement. ‘’The Senate Committee on

Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, having screened the nominee and being satisfied about her integrity, experience, performance, qualifications and consequence, hereby recommends that the Senate do confirm the nomination of Justice Abba-Aji, appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court,’’ Senator Umaru stated.

Consequently, the lawmakers approved the nomination after unanimous voice vote in her favour.

Speaking after the confirmation, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, lauded members of the committee for their speedy consideration judging by the fact that the request came from the executive on December 6, 2018 He specifically stated that Justice Ogunbiyi which Justice Abba-Aji would replace had retired since February but the executive did not send in a request until December, thereby letting the apex court bench to be short by one justice since then.

The upper legislative chamber also yesterday urged the federal government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex

Badeh.

Senator Binta Garba (Adamawa North) had in a motion co-sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na'allah (Kebbi South) noted the gruesome murder of Badeh and requested the Senate to look into the level of insecurity across the nation.

Contributing, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, while condoling with the family of the late senior officer, urged government to go to the root of the matter by ensuring that the killers of Badeh are brought to book.

On his part, Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, said Badeh was a victim of assassination and urged government to henceforth take security issues very seriously.

He stated that Badeh's assassination must be thoroughly investigated "so that it won't go the way of unresolved murders of late Bola Ige, Harry Marshal, among others".

The Senate presided over by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, apart from observing a minute silence in honour of the late Marshal Badeh, urged the security agencies to search and rescue Badeh's personal staff abducted by the assailants.

PDP Accuses Presidency of Fleecing Farmers N1.2bn Opposition party jealous of farmers' support for Buhari, says APC Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to fleece poor beneficiaries of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, to fund the president’s 2019 re-election bid.

The main opposition party, which also accused the ruling party of sundry corrupt activities, alleged that the Buhari Presidency has been secretly diverting huge part of various social intervention funds to fund his campaign, while handing paltry sums to Nigerians.

But in a swift reaction, the ruling party said the main opposition party was only being jealous of the support President Buhari is getting from the farmers.

No fewer than 12 million farmers across the country are reportedly contributing N100 each to aid Buhari’s re-election bid.

The PDP, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, strongly condemned such acts of corruption, particularly the attempt by the Presidency to draw financial kick-back from poor beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrower’s Programme, in violation of the country’s financial regulations.

He stated, “Information at our disposal also reveals that the Anchor Borrower’s scandal is yet another scheme by the Buhari Presidency to siphon public funds and surreptitiously route same to Mr. President’s campaign. “To achieve this ignoble scheme, the Buhari Presidency and the APC shamefully constituted a

phony Anchor Borrowers Farmers’ Association, which they claimed has 12 million members, and through which they plan to siphon and launder money from public coffers to fund President Buhari’s campaign. “Our check reveals that no such association exists and that the membership figure is just a ruse, another fabrication and attempt at procurement of fake endorsement by the Buhari Presidency, to create an impression that Nigerians are supporting President Buhari and the APC,� the PDP said.

The main opposition party has also challenged the Buhari government to speak out on the alleged fleecing of Nigerians to the tune of N2.6 trillion through hidden illegal N48 tax per litre of petrol, which it said motorists in the country have been bearing since the fuel price increased from PDP

subsidised cost of N87 to presumably unsubsidised cost of N145.

Ologbondiyan said investigation has also revealed how the Buhari Presidency has been secretly diverting huge part of various social intervention funds to the Buhari campaign while handing paltry sums to Nigerians.

He noted, “This is in addition how agents of the Presidency carrying out APC’s vote-buying project, particularly the Trader-moni scheme, have been illegally collecting 10 percent kickback from beneficiaries, “Now that Nigerians have refused to contribute to the president’s re-election bid, due to his failure in office, the Buhari Presidency and the APC are seeking ways to legitimize their stealing of public funds to finance their campaign and service the wasteful lifestyles

of their leaders.�

The PDP therefore challenged Buhari to speak out and not continue to feign ignorance of these allegations bothering directly on corruption in his Presidency.

The party said that the president should know that keeping quiet would not help him.

Meanwhile, the ruling party has denied PDP’s allegation, saying the main opposition party was only being jealous of the support President Buhari is getting from the farmers.

National Pubilicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday, said the farmers were not coerced but were merely responding to agricultural policy of the Buhari-led administration, which has made them comfortable in their profession.

"They want to show appreciation by donating to

Mr. President's campaign. It is the agricultural policy of this government that has empowered them to improve on their standard of living to the extent that they are now grateful to donate to the president's campaign.

On the PDP's charge that President Buhari is coercing farmers, Onilu said the president is a democrat who doesn't need to force people to support him.

He said due to the acceptability of President Buhari by the people, he has always been well received everywhere he goes.

"If they think this government has the capacity to coerce 12 million farmers, then they have not weaned themselves of the military era.

Our president has shown that he is a true democrat, in all actions he has taken since he was sworn in on May 29, 2015 so he doesn't coerce anybody�.

Khalid al-Falih said on Wednesday he expected global oil stocks to fall by the end of the first quarter, but added that the market remained vulnerable to political and economic factors as well as speculation.

OPEC is also planning to release a table detailing voluntary output cut quotas for its members and allies such as Russia in an effort to shore up prices, according to a letter by the cartel’s Secretary-General Mohammad

Barkindo, which was seen

by Reuters yesterday.

The drop in US inventory has however, offered some support to OPEC’s efforts to curb the volume of oil in the market.

US crude inventories reportedly fell by 497,000 barrels in the week to December 14, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Analysts had predicted a smaller decrease of 2.4 million barrels.

TUMBLING OIL PRICE FUELS CONCERNS FOR 2019 BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION rates and maintained most of its guidance for additional hikes over the next two years, dashing investor hopes for a more dovish policy outlook.

United States light crude oil fell by $2.35 a barrel, or 4.9 per cent, to a low of $45.82, before recovering some ground to around $46.45.

Brent dropped by $2.60, or 4.5 percent, to $54.64 a barrel, its lowest since September 2017, and last traded around $55.54, down $1.70.

Both major oil futures

contracts rallied sharply on Wednesday but are now at or close to their lowest levels for over 15 months, more than 30 per cent below multi-year highs reached at the beginning of October.

Global benchmark crude, for instance, hit this year’s high of $86 per barrel in October before it slumped to $55 yesterday.

With oil at $55 per barrel, the implementation of Nigeria’s 2018 budget is under threat as the

N8.9trillion budget was predicated on oil price of $60 per barrel.

The Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) had proposed $50 for the 2019 budget but this was ignored as oil price hovered around $80 during the budget preparation.

The federal government also predicated the budget on the 2.3 million barrels per day even though the current output is still around 2 million barrels per day.

In order to drain the excess crude oil at the international market and boost prices, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers including Russia agreed this month to curb output by 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd).

But the cuts will not happen until next month, and production has been at or near record highs in the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Energy Minister

49

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

25 Killed as Bandits Sack Three Communities in Zamfara Hammid Adedeji Suspected armed bandits on Wednesday sacked three communities in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, killing at least

25 residents.

Some of those killed were said to be working on their farms when they were attacked.

Sources said the heavily armed bandits opened fire on the farmers who were harvesting

FG Releases N1.1tn for 2018 Capital Budgets To reduce stakes in JV assets to 40% $1bn withdrawn from ECA to quell insecurity James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, yesterday said the total funds released for the implementation of capital projects across the country would hit N1.1 trillion by the end of this month.

President Muhammadu Buhari has also ordered for the restructuring of the country’s joint venture with the international oil companies (IOCs) to reduce the government’s stake from the current 55-60 per cent to 40 per cent within the 2019 fiscal year. This is coming as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, also disclosed that a total sum of N820.57 billion had been released for capital projects as at December 14, 2018.

Both spoke in Abuja at the breakdown of 2019 budget proposal.

Ahmed said:”Let me first of all say that the N820 billion that has been released is just MDAs capital because we have releases also that go to the statutory transfer agencies that is released to them in block and that amount includes both their personal recurrent as well as capital.

“There are also capital releases that are done as part of the capital supplementation; that is to say it is service- wide that is not in the N820 billion.

According to her:”The N820 billion is 43 per cent of MDA capital; we are working to push this to N1.1 trillion by the end of December and that would be including the statutory transfers, the service-wide as well as the rest of the MDAs whose capital we are currently processing.”

On why the Excess Crude Account (ECA) had been depleted by about $1.68 billion in the last three weeks, she said the withdrawal reflected from the $1 billion approved for security operations on the North-east.

She said: “If you recall that the NEC (National Economic Council) had authorised the use of $1 billion from the excess crude account for security.

So, the performance of that instruction is what has produced what we have in the excess crude account “So, it’s been largely depleted but we are still saving into it and this is the third month that we have been saving consistently into the excess crude oil account.”

On the issue of the fuel subsidy owed to oil marketers, the finance minister said the sum of N177 billion had been released to the marketers, adding that before the end of this

year, another tranche would be disbursed.

Meanwhile, Udoma further explained that spending on capital had been prioritised in favour of critical ongoing infrastructural projects in the power, roads, rail and agriculture sectors.

He said the implementation of the 2018 capital budget would continue into 2019 until the 2019 budget is passed into law.

He said as at the end of the third quarter of the year, the federal government’s actual aggregate revenue was N2.84 trillion, which was 40 per cent higher than the 2017 revenue.

He said oil revenue stood at N1.51 trillion, which was 101 per cent higher than 2017 estimates while Company Income Tax (CIT) was N500.37 billion.

He said the sum of N100.37 billion was collected as ValueAdded Tax (VAT) while the Customs’collections totalled N229.62 billion.

The minister said the overall revenue performance was only 53 per cent of the target in the 2018 Budget “largely because some one-off items such as the N710 billion from oil Joint Venture (JV) asset restructuring are yet to be actualised and have He noted that of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion, N4.59 trillion had been spent as at September 30, 2018 against the prorated expenditure target of N6.84 trillion, representing 67 per cent performance.

He said debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions were on track.

He further emphasised that provision had been made for the proposed new minimum wage in the 2019 budget.

Udoma added that a highpowered technical committee has also been set up to advise on ways to ensure that the attendant wage adjustments can be funded without increasing the level of borrowing.

According to him, the committee will also advise on the implementation of the consequential adjustments in such a manner as to minimise their inflationary impact.

He said the recommendations of the committee will be captured in the Finance Bill to be presented to the National Assembly together with the Minimum Wage Bill.

Among other key initiatives of the present administration, he said, was that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed that immediate action be commenced to restructure Continued on page. 53

sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu community.

A resident said, “The armed bandits came around 1p.m. and opened fire on some youths harvesting sweet potatoes at Garin Haladu community and killed ten people.”

He added, “they came back in the evening and ransacked some villages around.”

The source said in the attack, 12 people were killed at Garin Haladu community. At Nasarawa Godal community, four persons were killed, while at Garin Kaka community, nine people were killed, he said. The three communities are in the same LGA. “Many youths from Nasarawa Godal community ran to Garin

Haladu to help the neighbouring community fight the attackers.

Four persons among them were killed by the armed bandits and their corpses were discovered today (yesterday),” the source said.

The source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, named those killed from Nasarawa Godal community as Kurma Garba, Sunusi Mairoba, Ibrahim Yahuza and Haruna Dangodal.

According to the source, those four have been buried.

Many were also injured and are receiving medical treatment at Nasarawa Godal hospital, he said.

He added that some injured ones whose situations worsened, according to Premium Times, were referred to Kaura Namoda hospital

in the state.

The affected LGA, Birnin Magaji, is the hometown of the Minister of Defence, Brig. General Mansur Dan Ali (rtd).

Most of the villages surrounding Birnin Magaji LGA such as Ballaka, Tsalle, Gidan Kare, Katsinawa, Garin Boka and Garin kaka were deserted due to repeated attacks by the bandits.

Residents of such villages are taking refuge at the council headquarters and some other places in the state.

The source stated that residents are now searching for corpses in the bush and there is the fear that the death toll will rise.

Soldiers reportedly came in three vehicles to the area, hours

after the armed bandits had finished their operation.

Many local government councils in Zamfara State are battling armed bandits and cattle rustlers with Tsafe, Zurmi, Shankafi, Maradun, Maru and Birnin Magaji LGAs most affected.

When contacted for comments, the police spokesperson in Zamfara State, Muhammed Shehu, did not pick his calls, neither did he respond to the text message sent to him.

Hundreds of people have been killed by bandits in attacks in Zamfara State in 2018.

The attacks have continued despite the deployment of thousands of security officials to the state

MOBILISING FOR 2019….

National Chairman, Allied People’s Movement (APM), Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, Ogun State governorship candidate of APM, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade and deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, at the flag- off of the APM campaign and endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the party, at the MKO Abiola International stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta...yesterday

Saraki: 2019 Budget Presents No Hope for Nigerians Adedayo Akinwale and Mercy Apollos in Abuja Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has declared that the 2019 budget proposal presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly on Wednesday presents no hope for Nigerians.

Saraki who is also the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign made this assertion yesterday at an interactive session between the presidential and vice presidential candidate of the party and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja .

According to him, “ yesterday, we all heard the 2019 budget; that is a budget that has no hope for anybody, because if you look at the statistics and

the figures, there is poverty. If you look at the figures based on revenues that are coming in, there is nothing left so where’s the future”.

He expressed belief that the PDP’s campaign organisation cannot be successful in the campaign if it does not have the CSOs as partners fighting a cause, in order to ensure that the party and Nigerians are victorious during the February 16, 2019 presidential poll.

Saraki declared that Nigerians have serious business at hand in deciding the destiny of this country in less than two months.

“Today, it is not being sentimental; the facts speak for themselves; we have a country that is not secured as it used to be in 2015. That is the reality and we must ensure that we have a government and a president

that will be able to do that.

“We want a country that will fight this poverty, fight this hunger that is in the land.

I will want you today to sit with our vice presidential candidate and listen to him and ask him the questions that will convince you that he has the capacity and ability to deliver. “Does he have the capacity to revamp Nigeria?

Does he have the ability to create jobs for you the youths and create a booming economy “How is your life going to be better? Which party offers you a better future because we see you as those who are patriotic and committed.

It is not about what you will get today. It is about the great country a lot of you have been passing that sacrifice over the years.

“In 2015, a lot of you played

a key role in bringing the government in because you believed that they were going to do something good.

“The 2019 election is a referendum - simple question, did they do those things you believed in, those things that made you match and get up, those things that made you stand up and say no, this is where I’m going . If they give you those things, they will begin to show Nigerians that it is you that is in charge of this country, not a few people in power who believe that because they head agencies of authority, they can trample over the choices of millions of people.”

Saraki stressed that the Atiku/ Obi ticket would secure Nigeria, and also unite Nigeria, as well as fight the poverty in the country and bring a bright future.

IG Taskforce Allegedly Arrests Boko Haram Leader in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi The Inspector General of Police Taskforce known as the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), yesterday allegedly arrested one Umar Abdulmalik, purportedly one of the most wanted Boko Haram leaders, in his hideout in Lagos.

Although the information filtered out to the social media

space through the Instagram handle of one of the operatives, the police are yet to officially confirm the arrest.

According to the operative known as Otunba Koko, the suspect, who was the mastermind of the Kuje and Nyanya, Abuja bombings of 2015, was also the gang leader of Galadimawa Roundabout killing of seven police officers.

He was also accused of being the mastermind of the death of police officers at Lugbe and Gwagwalada, both in Abuja.

He is touted to be the overall commander of bandits responsible for multiple bank robberies in Edo and Ondo State, as well as several killings in Okene axis of Kogi State. The IRT operative also claimed the suspect was the grand commander of the attack

and prison break in Niger State early this year, where he lost one of his eye during the operation, although he helped over 100 prisoners escape.

Attempts to reach the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, proved abortive as repeated calls put across to him got no response, neither did the follow-up text message sent to his phone achieve better results.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

50

NEWSEXTRA

Amnesty Report Careless, Mischievous, Says Presidency Report outdated, inaccurate, Lai Mohammed insists Berates Atiku for playing politics with the crisis Omololu Ogunmade and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The presidency yesterday described the report of the Amnesty International (AI), which accused the military of human rights abuses and equally knocked the presidency for allegedly showing no will to curb violence by herdsmen, as careless and mischievous.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has also described the report as largely outdated and inaccurate, and berated the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for allegedly playing politics with the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement, acknowledged the submission of the rights group that the violence by herdsmen was not caused by religion.

Shehu, however, argued that the report, with the title, “Harvest of Death: three years of bloody clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria,” was in contradiction to Global Terrorism Index Report, which he said had acknowledged improved security particularly in the fight against terrorism since 2015.

The statement also dismissed AI’s report that the administration had failed to bring perpetrators of violence to book, saying assailants had been arrested while relief materials had also been distributed to victims.

“It is careless and mischievous to misrepresent the facts and thereby mislead the public.

“Our security forces are not going to be deterred, neither will their morale and effort be affected by any tendentious report that mischaracterises the important sacrifice they make to protect citizens at great risk of injury or death.”

“It is the global norm and custom that assessors and commentators are fair and factual

in their reportage and accounts of incidents and situations so that they do not endanger the lives of security personnel or worsen conflicts.

“Nonetheless, our security forces will continue to intensify ongoing and new multi-pronged approaches to conflict resolution.”

The statement highlighted some of the steps the government had taken in recent times to curtail insecurity. “As part of a more comprehensive intervention and response to the violence and conflict, the Federal Government deployed security forces to affected areas, empanelled factfinding missions, and repeated visits and engagement by the most senior government and security officials/special forces including the President as well as relocating command and control apparatus to such areas.

“Further, the National Economic Council established a 10-man Committee on farmers/ herdsmen clashes, headed by the vice president.

“These high-level security operations and attention have led to the arrest of many people responsible for perpetrating violence. As a result, relative calm and peace have been restored to many communities.

“There have been 500 arrests, with many convicted and as a result, relative peace and calm have been restored in many of the affected areas. Of particular note was the arrest and conviction of Alhaji Tashaku Aliyu and others who were apprehended in connection with the killing of two priests and 17 worshippers at St. Ignatius Catholic Church on April 24th, 2018 in Benue State.

“In addition, seven herdsmen that were involved in the kidnapping of a farm owner have been sentenced to life imprisonment by an Ondo State High Court.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has also faulted the report and berated Atiku for claiming that the killings will continue if President

Labour Gives FG December 31 Deadline to Submit Minimum Wage Report to N’Assembly The organised labour yesterday handed down December 31, 2018 deadline to the federal government to send the tripartite committee report on N30,000 minimum wage to the National Assembly.

The three labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) took the decision after a joint meeting in Lagos.

They gave the ultimatum following President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement during Wednesday’s budget presentation that a “high powered technical committee” would be set up to device ways to ensure that its implementation did not lead to an increase in the level of borrowing.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who address journalists after the meeting, said setting up a technical committee could not be a condition for passing the minimum wage report to the National Assembly.

According to Wabba, the organised labour would not guarantee industrial peace and harmony in the country if the wage report was not passed for implementation on or before December 3, 2018.

We reject in its entirety the plan to set up another `high powered technical committee’ on the minimum wage. It is diversionary and a delay tactics.

“The national minimum wage committee was both technical and all-encompassing in its compositions and plan to set up a technical committee is alien to the tripartite process. “It is also alien to the International Labour Organisations’ conventions on national minimum wage setting mechanism,’’ he said.

The labour leader said issues on payment of minimum wage was a law that was universal, citing that other African countries like, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa had increased their minimum wage this year.

Muhammadu Buhari is reelected in February next year.

Briefing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Mohammed, said the report was largely outdated and full of inaccuracies.

“Everyone knows that the killings resulting from the farmers-herders clashes, and

indeed killings from cattle rustling and other causes, have gone down drastically.

This didn’t happen by accident, but by a concerted and determined efforts by the Buhari Administration, “Mohammed said.

He revealed that many

suspects had also been arrested and prosecuted in 11 of the largely affected states.

The states are Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Yobe, Bornu, Katsina and Kogi.

Mohammed gave the total number of offenders facing

trial for their role in the killings in those states at 570, while Inspector General of Police Response team had also arrested 123 people, while 121 of them were facing prosecution.

“You can now see that the alleged government inaction is not true,” Mohammed said.

CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE...

Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; and his wife, Bolanle, during the 2018 Christmas Carol Service with the theme “Light of The World”, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja...recently

Nigeria’s Unemployment Figure Frightening, Says Obi Rise in unemployment not same as job losses, Udoma insists Ndubuisi Francis and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, has described the report of worsening unemployment situation in the country as very saddening.

He said what is required at the moment is a complete change of approach to economic policies and a more aggressive effort to provide jobs for millions of Nigerians.

This is coming as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has explained that although the unemployment figures released recently by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated an increase in the unemployment rate, it is not the same thing as job losses

The former Anambra state governor who spoke to some journalists in Abuja yesterday said the present All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration has not done the right thing to arrest the surge in unemployment rate.

He said base on the latest report released by NBS, the number of Nigerians that are employable is now 115 million and the number working is about 70 million.

“So, there is a gap of about 40 million that are supposed to be working that are not working.

“For me the first expression is sadness. You know that I have always said that this election will be strictly about issues that concerns ordinary Nigerians; issues about the voiceless 87 million poor people living in Nigeria, issues about the millions of unemployed people in the

country.

“I think the most critical issue for Nigeria today is how do we start pulling those 87 million people out of poverty and how do we ensure that millions of unemployed Nigerians to get jobs,” he said.

“The economic architecture is faulty. There are areas you need to focus; there are areas you need to sincerely support which is not happening.

“I said the other day during the political debate that in 2014, the overall unemployment and under employment is under 24 per cent but now it’s 40 per cent.

Then unemployment was 12 per cent, it moved to 18.8 per cent and now it has gotten worse.

So we need to do something aggressively to start turning it around,” Obi added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of

Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has explained that although the unemployment figures released recently by NBS indicated an increase in the unemployment rate, it is not the same thing as job losses. The minister said the increase in the unemployment numbers was not because jobs have not been created by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, but was as a result of the shortfall in the rate of new job creation opportunities vis-a-vis the rate of new entrants into the job market.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the minister, Mr. Akpandem James, Udoma said employment growth usually slows down during a recession and takes some time to ecover.

Badeh: Substantial Progress Made on Investigation, Says NAF Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Nigerian Air Force said it has made substantial progress on the investigation into the death of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was killed by unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening along Keffi-Abuja Road.

NAF said contrary to some reports, Bardeh’s driver survived the attack and was recovering in a NAF hospital.

It maintained that the former CDS had full complement of security details.

In a statement issued last night and entitled “spreading of

misinformation on circumstances surrounding the death of former CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh”, NAF said it was working closely with other security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.

“NAF is working closely with other relevant security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of the former CDS with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act are brought to justice.

“Substantial progress has already been made in the ongoing investigation and details would be

communicated at the appropriate time”, the statement read.

The statement signed by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, stated: “the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has noted, with dismay, some erroneous reports and comments in the media regarding the unfortunate incident that led to the death of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, on December 18, 2018.

“Some of these reports erroneously state that the driver of the late former CDS, who was also shot during the incident, is dead. Other reports allege

that adequate security was not provided for the deceased Air Chief Marshal.

“The NAF wishes to state categorically that nothing could be further from the truth. Firstly, all are please requested to note that the driver is alive and recuperating extremely well at one of our NAF hospitals.

“Secondly, Air Chief Marshal Badeh has always been provided with the full compliment of personal staff and security personnel commensurate with his status as a former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), CDS and a four-star general in the Armed Forces of Nigeria”, he said.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

51

NEWSEXTRA

Oshiomhole: God will Not Allow PDP Return to Power Emmanuel Ukumba in Lafia National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that God will not allow the return of the opposition Peoples Democratic Power (PDP) to power in 2019.

He accused the former ruling party of looting the country throughout its 16 years in power.

Oshiomhole said only President Muhammadu Buhari can salvage the country and return it to prosperity.

The APC helmsman spoke yesterday in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa State while flagging off the 2019 state-wide campaign of the party.

He urged the people of Nasarawa State to vote massively for President Buhari and other APC candidates in the 2019 general elections.

He also presented the party’s flag to the governorship

candidate, Abdullahi Sule and all other APC Senate, House of Representatives and state Assembly candidates.

Oshiomhole said he knew that the Nasarawa APC made the choice of Sule as the party’s govenorship candidate because they have known his track record.

He said: “I am not really the one to introduce him to you.

Mine is to present this symbol of our commitment, of our unity, of our determination to enable him not to only contest and win the governorship, but to ensure that after victory the office is used to promote and deliver the greatest good to this great number of citizens and residents of Nasarawa State.”

He explained that God healed the president to shame the PDP, which he said wished him dead.

Buhari, according to him, will win the 2019 general elections with landslide votes.

He lauded the giant strides

of Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura in the state and his policy of inclusiveness and urged the APC governorship candidate to follow the footsteps of the outgoing Al-Makura when elected.

He explained that he has painstakingly followed the developmental achievements of the governor in all sectors of

the state and appealed to the people of Nasarawa South to reward Al-Makura by voting him to represent them at the Upper Chamber.

Al-Makura urged the people of the state to return President Buhari in 2019 and all other APC candidates in the state.

He said the president has done a lot for the state by

providing 33 KVA electricity and award of contract for the dualisation of Keffi- Makurdi, Abuja road among many other achievements.

He thanked all the governorship aspirants of the party in the state for accepting to work tirelessly for the victory of the party in the state.

Sule promised to use his

experience in the private sector to bring development to the state.

He noted that he will continue from where Al-Makura stopped and take the state to the next level, adding that he will hit the ground running immediately he takes over from Al-Makura because he has already set the template.

Buhari Advocates Genuine Reconciliation of APC Members Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country to work for genuine reconciliation of members in the interest of Nigeria and the overall benefit of the people.

This is coming as the Governor Kashim Shettimaled Committee on Peace and Reconciliation of APC members in the South-west yesterday submitted a report to the Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari made the appeal on Wednesday night while receiving a group of APC members, including a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, who returned to the party after his initial exit.

He said Buhari welcomed the party leaders back to APC, saying the house was large enough to accommodate everyone.

“The president promised to speak with the leadership of the party and Kano State Government to accommodate and work with the returnees.

“Besides Hafiz who is a

staunch ally of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and resigned as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s deputy, other returnees included a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Aminu Dabo; the immediate past National Treasurer, Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa; Security Adviser to Kwankwaso, General Danjuma Dambazau (rtd); Mu’azu Magaji, and Senator Isa Zarewa.”

According to him, they were led to the president by the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.

The statement added that Ganduje in response to presidential directive welcomed the party stalwarts to APC and assured them that he was ready to work with everyone preparatory to another historic victory in the 2019 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Kashim Shettima- led Committee on Peace and Reconciliation of APC in the South-west yesterday submitted a report to Oshiomhole.

The 60-page report, according to the secretary of the committee, Mallam Isa Gusau, contained analytical findings and farreaching recommendations on how to resolve the crisis.

Gusau, in a statement emailed to THISDAY yesterday, said Shettima sent copies of the report accompanied by a formal letter.

Sonny Obienu is Dead A lawyer and former oil company executive, Chief E. Sonny Obienu, 73, is dead.

A law graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he attended the Nigerian Law School in 1973. He began a long and prolific career, first at Mobil Oil then at Mobil Producing Nigeria. After 28 successful years, he retired and started his own consulting firm, Obienu & Obienu Solicitors in Lagos.

Obienu was born on November 18,1945, to Emmanuel & Priscilla Obienu (of blessed memory), in Oba, Anambra State. He was the last of eight children. He did his primary and secondary schooling in Onitsha and then went on to Madonna High School for his Higher School Certificate.

He passed away, at his Lagos, home on November 23rd,

2018, at the age of 73. He is survived by his wife, Ngozi and three children, Charles, Sean & Andrea. A beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend…he will be sorely missed.

ROYAL ENDORSEMENT…

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Emeka Okeke; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, during governor’s interactive meeting with the royal fathers, in Enugu…yesterday

Stop Taking Credit for PDP Projects, Atiku Tells Buhari The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to focus on its core mandate and desist from propaganda.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the presidential hopeful said most of the developmental projects so far inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari were started and mostly fully paid for by the past PDP administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, stressing that the ruling APC can’t take the credit for them.

Atiku who was reacting to the inauguration of the new

terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja said the new terminal, like many others were conceived, signed, awarded and paid for by the Jonathan’s administration, hence the APC government should give credit to the previous administration when it is necessary.

“It needs to be emphasised that new terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is among the many projects conceived and started by the immediate past PDP administration of Jonathan.

The last administration had obtained a $500 million facility from the Chinese Exim Bank, with additional funding of $100 million from Nigeria to build four international terminals in Port

Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja and Kano.

We understand that governance is a continuum and that’s why there should not be unnecessary orgasms by sympathisers of the Buhari’s administration in trying to change the narrative that the new terminal and the one earlier commissioned in Port Harcourt were achievements of the Buhari administration,” Atiku said.

He mentioned projects like the completion of Kaduna-Abuja railway line, and the Abuja metro line as among other projects that were at advanced stages before the expiration of Jonathan’s tenure in office.

Atiku challenged President Buhari and the APC to list the projects conceived, started and inaugurated by the current administration in the last three

and a half years of its being in office.

“Isn’t it strange that the APC is now resorting to projects conceived and executed by PDP as its achievements in office after spending almost four years in office with nothing to show for it?,” Atiku asked.

The former vice president said anytime a government resorts to blaming the opposition for its failure to deliver on its mandate and responsibilities to the people, it is a clear sign that those running that government have accepted that they have outlived their usefulness.

He said the PDP will continue to expose the lies of the propaganda-propelled APC administration being led by President Buhari.

House to Investigate Nigeria’s Rising Debt Profile Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The House of Representatives has mandated its committees on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Capital Market and Institutions and Banking and Currency to carry out investigation into Nigeria’s alarming debt profile.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen (Kogi, PDP), who noted with concern that the alarming rise of Nigeria’s debt profile

has led to growing economic instability, stifled growth and stunted development which is impacting negatively on various sectors of the economy.

According to Tajudeen, “The aim of the motion is to bring to fore the alarming Nigeria debt profile,” noting that there is need to always tag borrowing to specific projects.

“N13trillion in three years is humongous. If we have borrowed 13trillion in three years, we must be sure we are delivering on the doable,”

Tajudeen said.

The lawmaker noted that there have been continued controversies about the true state of Nigeria’s debt profile, such that there is glaring disparity in the figures given by the federal government and some fiscal policy monitoring organisations.

He said: “While Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Economic Council, stated that the country’s debt profile stood at $10billion in the last three years, the figures

given by economic and budget experts as well as economic policy monitoring bodies range between $13billion and $47billion from May 2015 to June 2018.

“Further analysis of Nigeria’s external and domestic debt reveals that the external debt grew to $17.83billion in June 2018 from $10.49bi11ion in 2015, while domestic debt which was N8.39trillion in June 2015 has risen to N12.15 trillion as at June 2018 (representing an increase of N7.6 trillion in 3 years).”

FG RELEASES N1.1TN FOR 2018 CAPITAL BUDGETS

Sonny Obienu

the Joint Venture oil assets so as to reduce government shareholding to 40 per cent and that the exercise must be completed within the 2019 fiscal year.

According to him, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) will within three months, complete the

collection of past-due oil licence and royalty charges.

He emphasised that following the president’s directive, the Ministry of Finance, working with all the relevant authorities, had been authorised to take action to liquidate all recovered, unencumbered assets within six months.

He said given the improved oil prices and production levels, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to immediately commence the recovery of all outstanding obligations, including those due from Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) (a subsidiary of NNPC), which

it had agreed to pay since 2017.

Also speaking at the budget breakdown, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, said several MDAs are currently owing taxes to government, adding that some had commenced payments in installment.

52

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

TraderMoni Not Vote-buying, Osinbajo Insists James Emejo in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has refuted insinuations that the ongoing TraderMoni programme facilitated by the federal government and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to empower petty traders, was a covert ploy to buy votes for President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s re-election, ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Speaking after an inspection and demonstration of the command centre of the Trader Moni programme at the BoI headquarters, he argued that there was no way the programme could have been set up primarily

to secure votes as being alleged, adding that it was approved by the National Assembly before its implementation across the country.

According to him, “anybody who calls Trader Moni votebuying is absurd. You can see it for yourself that this is a programme that has affected millions of lives.

“In any case, it was approved by the Senate and the entire National Assembly. If a programme is duly approved by the National Assembly and we are going out and implementing that programme and doing it as vigorously as possible; I don’t understand where anyone will

get that kind of notion from. It is very weird notion” Osinbajo disclosed that over 1.5 million petty traders had benefited from the programme, which targets to capture at least two million traders before the end of the year.

He described the programme as the largest currently running in Africa.

While noting that petty traders were the largest network in the commercial value chain, he revealed that Trader Moni was an offshoot and extension of President Buhari’s earlier project under the Katsina foundation, where petty traders were empowered with N2,000 to

Court Affirms Victor Abang’s Candidature for Ikom/Boki Constituency A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept the name of Victor Abang, as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for election into the House of Representatives’ seat for Ikom/Boki constituency of Cross River State.

The court gave the directive while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Abang to challenge the substitution of his name for that of Hon. Cletus Obun, by the party as its candidate in the election.

APC, Obun and INEC were

joined as co-defendants in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/ CS/1270/2018.

In his judgment, Justice Dimgba held that Abang was the winner of the primary election conducted by the APC and that he is entitled to have his name forwarded to INEC. “A declaration is hereby made that the submission of the name of the 2nd defendant (Obun) instead of the plaintiff (Abang) as candidate of the 1st defendant (APC) for the House of Representatives seat of Ikom/Boki Constituency of Cross River State for the 2019 general election by the 1st

defendant to the 3rd defendant (INEC) and the acceptance of same by the 3rd defendant is illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever”, the judge held.

Justice Dimgba also restrained Obun from parading himself as the APC’s candidate for election into the House of Representatives seat of Ikom/Boki Constituency of Cross River State.

The judge consequently directed APC to submit Abang’s name to INEC as its candidate for election into the House of Representatives seat of Ikom/Boki Constituency of Cross River State.

boost their businesses.

He said: “We intend to ensure that as many petty traders as possible get into this programme.

It is a very important programme for us and the single reason is that petty traders are the largest number of people in our commercial value chain, and we want to be able to touch them.

“Nobody really wants to give petty traders loan; banks don’t want to give them loan; so, with the very innovative programme developed by the bank of industry, in association with the social investment programme

by the federal government, we now have a huge opportunity to enrich a large number of petty traders in a systematic, credible and monitorable way that we can monitor and evaluate what is going on; this is exciting.

“I am very happy about the programme for the fact that it really does in essence what the president would want to do himself. He was chairman of something called the Katsina foundation giving very small traders N2000 as loans from the foundation.

“For him this was very

important and he felt that it could be replicated in a national scale to find that people pay back and get more. What BoI has done is to give us a professional and commercial way of doing it in such a way that it will work and we will get the payment and millions of people will benefit.

“This is the largest of its kind in the whole of Africa, I don’t know if there is anything larger in the world - may be India. We are looking at something about 20 billion. We hope we will be able to spend that but a lot depends on availability of funds,” he added.

House Adjourns Plenary Till January 16 Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday adjourned plenary till Wednesday, January 16, 2019.

However, before the embarking on the recess, the lawmakers extensively discussed issues relating to non-release of the 2018 budget of the National Assembly

and blamed the industrial action by members of staff under the auspices of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on the federal government.

Adopting a report of Hon. Babangida Ibrahim-led Committee on Finance, titled: ‘Need to Ensure Implementation of the National Assembly Budget Particularly,

on Staff Matters,’ the lawmakers expressed displeasure that funds to the credit of the legislature and the judiciary have been reduced.

Debating the report, Ibrahim told the lawmakers that they were being paid N10 billion monthly as against N11bn as provided in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

Kashamu: I Remain PDP Governorship Candidate in Ogun Akinwale Akintunde The Ogun State governorship candidate of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has said he remains the party’s candidate despite the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, which set aside an order by the Federal High Court, Abeokuta,

that had favoured his faction of the party.

Kashamu, who spoke to journalists in Lagos yesterday, explained that the Court of Appeal judgment, which many have misinterpreted to have sacked him as the PDP candidate in Ogun State was not a pre-election matter, adding that the court could not have pronounced on the nomination

of candidates, let alone sacking him or anyone for that matter.

The governorship candidate, who expressed dismay about the reports of a section of the media, interpreting the judgment to have sacked him and other candidates, explained: “The Court of Appeal said in its judgment that the matter before it was not a pre-election matter.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

53

NEWSEXTRA

House Urges Buhari to Sack Obono-Obla Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to discharge Chief Okoi ObonoObla of his responsibility as Special Adviser and Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP).

This followed the adoption of the report of the Hon. Aliyu Ahman-Pategi-led ad-hoc Committee, which indicted the presidential aide for forgery and misrepresentation.

In an amendment to the report by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Edward Pwajok (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris

was also asked to investigate and prosecute Chief Obono-Obla for the alleged crime.

Also, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), President, NBA; Director-General, Nigeria Law School and the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, were all enjoined to investigate the matter and ensure that Obono-Obla is prosecuted.

Other recommendations contained in the report was that President Buhari should be urged to dissolve the Panel in view of the arbitrary use of powers and abuse of Office by the Chairman and that the Code of Conduct Bureau should be utilised to perform the function

that the panel sought to perform in the current anti-corruption drive.

The report also recommended that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should investigate the allegations

of corruption contained in the Audit Report of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation on the financial transactions of the panel and prosecute the culprits.

The House also recommended that the Law

Degree of Chief Okoi ObonoObla, having been allegedly obtained fraudulently, should be withdrawn by the University of Jos. The lawmakers therefore urged the Council of Law

Education to withdraw the Law School Certificate awarded to Ofem Okoi Ofem (now known as Chief Okoi Obono-Obla) as it was based on the degree which he obtained from University of Jos through fraud.

FG Inaugurates 15m Passenger -capacity Abuja Airport Terminal Kasim Sumaina in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Abuja, formally inaugurated the newly- built 15 million passenger-capacity terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), with an assurance that the government was committed to developing Nigeria into a regional air transportation hub, to enable it assume its leadership position in the aviation sub-sector in Africa.

Buhari in his keynote address at the event, disclosed that his administration recognises aviation as a catalyst for economic growth and will continue to encourage and support the actualisation of projects that will place Nigerian airports among the best in the world.

He stated that with the commissioning of the terminal, Nigeria is moving towards achieving and meeting global aviation standards in facilitation, passenger processing and service delivery in tandem with international best practices.

The formal commissioning of the new terminal, he said, represents yet another significant milestone for international air

travellers in and out of the Federal Capital Territory.

He said, “you will recall that on the October 25, 2018, I commissioned Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal.

During the event, the Minister of State (Aviation) stated that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal, Abuja would be completed and ready for commissioning before the end of the year. Today, that promise has been kept. I wish to commend the minister and his team for a job well done.”

He stated that the event was a reflection of government’s deliberate policy to sustain the development of Nigeria’s infrastructure, noting that the country was gradually closing the infrastructural deficit bedeviling it.

Buhari said, “I am happy to note the progress being made in both the airports and seaports on the implementation of the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business. Government officials manning these gateways are to sustain the momentum and ensure travellers in and out of the country have the best of experience as a necessary complement to the ultra-modern terminal.”

International Breweries Empowers Young Entrepreneurs International Breweries Plc (Kickstart) youth empowerment Initiative for 2018 has come to a thrilling climax with 27 outstanding youths rewarded with varying amounts in grants totaling N29 million.

The beneficiaries cut across states of the South-west of the federation.

With this gesture, the organisation demonstrated its dedication to developing the next generation of outstanding Nigerians and African entrepreneurs who would shape the economy and political landscape.

The Country Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Micheal Daramola, said “this crop of entrepreneurs will contribute to the needed economic growth that will change the face of the region, Nigeria and the continent in the coming years”.

He also added that “with the empowerment comes big responsibility and the 27 KICKSTART beneficiaries should use the opportunity well”

Guest of Honour, Chief Babajide Agbeja, admonished the winners to be committed and to make prudent use of the grant given them.

According to him, this empowerment initiative since its commencement in 2015, has received accolades for empowering 76 young businesses.

The event also witnessed the formal inauguration of the International Breweries Plc KICKSTART Entrepreneurs Forum, which is all about getting entrepreneurs together, finding synergies and creating a tribe.

“The main aim is to engage as much as possible while exploiting on specified channels of publicity to create the needed impact by targeting the right audience. “ The Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs. Folashade Omole, expressed appreciation to the attendees that made the event a success. She emphasised the need to build and sustain the initiatives so that more youths would benefit.

TOWARDS PEACEFUL POLLS...

L-R: Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna (rtd); Chairman of the occasion and Director General of Nigerian Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Segun Runsewe; and Director of News (NTA), Alhaji Baba Barau, at an events organised for peaceful 2019 election in Abuja...recently

Buhari Receives Presidential Committee Report on AfCFTA January Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Chris Uba in Lagos President Muhammadu Buhari will in January 2019, receive the report of the Presidential Steering Committee on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Impact and Readiness Assessment.

The committee was set up on October 22, 2018 at the Presidential Villa, with a charge to assess the extent to which Nigeria is ready to join AfCFTA as well as the likely effects of such move.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu,

He said the committee, which was given 12 weeks to conclude its assignment, had held wide consultations with industry groups and stakeholders, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

On March 21, 2018, when 44 of the 54 African countries signed the AfCFTA agreement in Kigali, Rwanda, Nigeria withdrew at the last minute, saying it needed to carry out more extensive consultations, particularly with the country’s business community.

The agreement, according to Shehu, seeks to remove all forms of restrictions to trade and investment flows within the African continent.

The statement, which also said no fewer than 49 countries had signed the AfCFTA agreement as at December 2018, added that 13 other countries had already ratified it.

It also said once 22 states ratify the agreement, it would formally become binding and implementation would begin.

The statement further said whereas opinion was still divided in Nigeria on both the merits and demerits of the agreement as well as the proper time for Nigeria to join the AfCFTA, the committee had commissioned a study to give further insight into the public debate on the issue following the recent report of MAN. Giving insight into the report,

the presidential spokesman said MAN reported that if Nigeria ratified the agreement, import would rise from 27.6 per cent for textile, apparel and footwear sub-sector to 180.7 per cent for chemical and pharmaceutical products during the three phases of liberalising tariff lines with five per cent tariff rates.

He added, “according to MAN, in contrast, the import surge will be as high as over 2,000 per cent in motor vehicle assembly sub-sector over 15 years when 10 per cent tariff rates are liberalised. This will instantly spell doom for the automotive aspect of Nigeria’s National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

Court Stops N’Assembly Workers from Going on Strike Deji Elumoye in Abuja The National Industrial Court has restrained the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) from engaging in acts that may lead to the closure of the National Assembly.

Justice Sanusi Kado, who gave the order in Abuja also restrained the leadership and members of the Parliamentary Staff Association from embarking on total strike.

Senate President Bukola

Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, had dragged PASAN members to the National Industrial Court seeking an order to restrain the workers from closing down the National Assembly.

Saraki and Dogara, in their motion exparte filed on December 18, sought the order of the court to restrain PASAN members from proceeding on strike pending the determination of the motion on notice before it.

A lawyer in the office of the Senate president, Mr. Sambo Ndahi, deposed to an affidavit in support of the motion on notice.

The motion on notice sought “an order of interim injunction restraining all the defendants/ respondents, particularly their agents, servants and others, however called from taking steps to proceed on strike, pending the determination of the motion.

“An interim injunction

restraining PASAN, their agents, proxies and servants from giving directives to their members to proceed or proceeding on strike.”

After reading the affidavit and the submission of the counsel to the defendants, A.P Ameh, Justice Kado, in his ‘order of interim injunction’ on suit: NICN/ABJ/360/2018, directed the leadership of PASAN and their agents to refrain from proceeding on strike.

Malami: I Did Not Support FG’s Continued Detention of Dasuki Alex Enumah in Abuja Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has described as false the allegation that he supported the continued detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, by the federal government.

Dasuki, who is standing

trial on allegations of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms both at the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court in Abuja, was admitted to bail and was released after perfecting conditions attached to the bail but he’s still held in custody by the federal government.

Also, the federal government refused to obey the order of the

ECOWAS Court of Justice, which had ordered it to recognise Dasuki’s bail.

However, following allegations that he (Malami) had in an interview he granted to an online media outfit, insisted that Dasuki, would not be allowed to enjoy any form of freedom, in view of the gravity of offence levied against him, an Abuja based constitutional

lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, consequently dragged Malami to court seeking the removal of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank.

The plaintiff had in his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/807/2018, predicated his prayers on the grounds that Malami by that singular act have conducted himself in an unprofessional manner.

54

ÍşÍšËœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Eagles End 2018 as Fourth Best Team in Africa

By Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s senior national soccer team, the Super Eagles ended 2018 as the fourth best team in the continent.

In the end of year ranking released by FIFA yesterday, the three-time African champions maintained their last month’s 44th ranking at the global level.

Gernot Rohr’s men did not add to their 1,427 points amassed last month due to their inactivity and will hope to improve on their standing when the next FIFA World Ranking is released on February 7 next year.

Senegal maintained her hold as the top ranked African football nation with Tunisia and Morocco in the second and third positions respectively. Democratic Republic of Congo ranked behind Nigeria completed the Top Five teams in Africa. Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Burkina Faso and Mali occupied the rest spots in that order to complete the Top 10 positions in the December standing. Despite already picking the AFCON 2019 ticket, Nigeria’s next opponents in a competitive match, Seychelles, was ranked 189th in the global standing.

Other countries in the Group

G standing like South Africa and Libya were placed 72nd and 104th respectively.

At the world level, Belgium will begin 2019 at the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, having preserved their single-point lead over France at the table’s summit and emerged as the Ranking’s ‘Team of the Year’.

Les Bleus’ stellar 2018 does not go unrecognised though, with the world champions established as the year’s ‘Best Mover’, having gained more

points (165) since December 2017 than any other nation. The French lead that particular table from Uruguay (7th, unchanged).

World champions France is

second followed by Brazil, Croatia and England.

The outgoing year has been a good one in general for Europe, which now accounts for 31 of

the top 50 teams – two up from December 2017. Asia has also boosted its top-50 numbers from two to three, with these rises coming at the expense of Africa,

which saw its representation drop from eight to five.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 7 February 2019.

A F R I CA’S TO P T E N 1) Senegal 2) Tunisia 3) Morocco 4) Nigeria 5) DR Congo 6) Ghana 7) Cameroon 8) Egypt 9) Burkina Faso 10) Mali Prince Charles (left) decorating Anthony Joshua with the OBE medal at the Buckingham Palace in London‌yesterday.

Anthony Joshua Bags OBE at Buckingham Palace British heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua has been awarded OBE by Prince Charles in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

The 29-year-old currently holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles after winning his March unification clash with Joseph Parker and was honoured for his services to sport back in June.

Yesterday’s ceremony marks

the latest accolade Joshua has collected. He was also given an MBE in 2013 after claiming an Olympic gold at London 2012.

Prince Charles also awarded Joshua his MBE back in 2013.

When the imposing fighter, who is 6ft 6in, shook hands with the Prince after the presentation five years ago, he said Charles joked with him, saying: ‘Shouldn’t you be playing basketball?’

National Sports Festival: Gov Dickson RewardsTeam Bayelsa with N150m Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Government yesterday splashed over N150m cash awards on the state’s contingent to the 19th National Sports Festival which ended in Abuja last Sunday. Governor Seriake Dickson made the pronouncement when he received the contingent at the Government House in Yenagoa. Bayelsa finished fifth at the Games with 32 gold, 56 silver and 49 bronze medals.

The governor announced cash rewards of N1million for each of the 32 gold medalists and N500,000 each for the 56 silver medalists. The 49 bronze medalists each got N300, 000 for their efforts in Abuja while those who failed to make it to the podium were also given N150,000 each as consolation largesse to encourage them to put in more efforts at the next Games to be hosted by Edo State in 2020.

Each of the 70 coaches and 20 organising secretaries also got

N500,000 while the 25 support staff got N300,000 while members of the state’s Organising Committee to the festival in Abuja also got N500,000. “On behalf of the good people of this state, I want to congratulate and appreciate all of you including the victorious athletes, those who did not win, the coaches, support staff, secretaries and also the Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr. Perekiye Buruboyefe, for leading the team to decent finish at the Festival. “Bayelsa is a state of champions, a state of good people, where good things start from.

This is to encourage you all and to further demonstrate that we appreciate greatness and excellence. “This cash gift is not intended to pay for what you have done. No amount of money can be enough for your sacrifice and commitment and for the glory you have brought to our state but to underscore our appreciation,� the governor stressed.

Dressed in a black suit jacket and grey trousers, Joshua once again beamed with delight on his visit to the Palace as he accepted the honour from the Prince of Wales.

The pair were photographed shaking hands and then in discussion in front of the packed audience.

Joshua continues to enjoy some time away from boxing as he

waits to see who will be the next to challenge him at Wembley.

Promoter Eddie Hearn wants his client’s next fight to be signed and sealed by early January as the clock ticks down on the heavyweight’s proposed return to the ring.

Joshua is due to fight at Wembley on April 13 but the controversial draw between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury in

Los Angeles earlier this month has thrown his plans into disarray.

Hearn insists a clash with WBC champion Wilder for the undisputed crown remains their No 1 priority. But with the American expected to face Fury in a rematch, the winner of Saturday’s rematch between Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in London is the current frontrunner.

There have been reports in recent days that AJ is ready to ditch his return to Wembley in exchange for a US debut.

Hearn has also admitted American heavyweight Jarrell Miller is now a ‘viable option’ for the unified champion’s next fight, with New York’s Madison Square Garden and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center considered potential venues.

Over 4,000 Runners from 42 Countries for 2019 Access Bank Lagos Marathon Over 4,000 runners from 42 countries around the world have registered to participate in the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

This figure does not include the over 200 professional elite cast mostly from Asia, Europe, America, Kenya, Ethiopia and other East, Central and South African countries.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Head of Communications and Media, Olukayode Thomas, revealed that Americans are the highest number of foreigners that will be coming to Lagos for 2019 race slated for February 2, 2019.

Japanese are a close second.

Other countries whose citizens have registered for the 2019 race include Holland, Germany, Israel, Poland, England, New Zealand, Canada, Egypt, Austria, Tunisia, Norway, Denmark and others.

Thomas is optimistic that the number will increase before the close of entries in January 2019.

In the first edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in 2016 about a hundred runners from 15 countries participated, in 2017 there were over a thousand runners from 20 countries and the 2018 edition had over 2,000 runners from 30 countries.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Consultant, Bukola

Olopade, attributed the increase in the number of tourists coming to Lagos for the race to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s several initiatives and beautification of Lagos State since he was elected governor and has made the state tourist friendly. “We thank Governor Ambode for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon which is driving a high number of tourists to Lagos annually but apart from the marathon his beautification of Lagos and other laudable projects like the One Lagos Fiesta and others have turned Lagos State into a tourist destination,� observed

the former commissioner for sports in Ogun State.

Olopade assured stakeholders that the 2019 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will be better than the previous editions in several areas. “This year, we are expecting about 150,000 runners, I can assure you that we are planning for more than figure, we have expanded the recovery areas and medals and certificates that will go round all the runners, entertainment, as usual, will be world-class, this edition will be an experience of a lifetime for runners and spectators,� Olopade boasted.

Top Seeds Hold Sway at O’Trafford SquashTourney Top ranked Nigerian squash players cruised to victories in their respective games at the ongoing O’Trafford PSA National Closed Satellite Tournament at the 82 Division of the Army Officers Mess, Marina, Lagos.

Nigeria’s women’s Number One player Yemisi Olatunji sailed

through to the semi-finals of the tournament after defeating Omolola Ajayi to set up clash with Taiwo Ebifemi in what is expected to be a showdown in the semi-final today.

Olatunji, fresh from the just concluded National Sports Festival, where she won gold

for Lagos State is confident of booking a place in the final as she aims to clinch the $500 prize money at stake. “This tournament is indeed another opportunity for me to prove my mettle in the game of squash,� she said.

Her opponent, Ebifemi

who sustained an injury in a 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 strenuous quarter -final contest against Udeme James, also looks forward to the cracker against Olatunji, hoping to make a point by stunning bookmakers with a remarkable upset.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018

55

Friday, December 21, 2018

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Agbaje to Tinubu “Pharaoh, you must let our people go! Apparently, the APC leader has lost touch with reality.

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 the state that should rate as Nigeria’s foremost” – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, likening the national leader of the 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.

FEMIFALANA The Whistle was Blown, But Ignored T GUEST COLUMNIST

wo years ago, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration adopted the Whistleblower policy as a component of the fight against corruption. The introduction of the policy was sequel to the deliberate refusal of the national assembly to pass the Whistleblower Bill sponsored by some legislators in 2007. Like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Bank Verification No (BVN) the Whistleblower policy is said to have assisted the federal government to recover huge public fund which had been cornered by a few corrupt individuals and corporate bodies.

But apart from beating its chest for the success recorded so far in the implementation of the TSA, BVN and Whistleblower policies the trillions of naira which have been saved or recovered by the federal government have not been deployed to arrest the increasing wave of poverty in the land.

However, in marking the second anniversary of the Whistleblower policy it is pertinent to point out that what has been recovered so far is a tip of the iceberg as the Buhari administration has not acted on the information at its disposal in respect of the billions of dollars being withheld from the federation account.

On March 8, 2016, I requested the Minister of Finance to embark on urgent and decisive measures to recover not less than $200 billion. Apart from assuring me, rather politely, that my request was receiving attention the detailed information contained in my letter has not been processed either by the federal ministry of finance or federal ministry of justice. Since my letter was widely published in the media it has generated reactions from some

Buhari quarters. With particular reference to the allegation that the Central Bank of Nigeria gave out a bail out of $7 billion to 14 commercial banks in 2006, Professor Charles Soludo who was then the governor of the bank, said it was not a bail out but a deposit. Since the fund was illegally removed from the nation’s foreign reserves without appropriation by the national assembly and placed as a deposit in the banks it ought to be recovered together with the accrued interests. And based on

information which I had obtained from the National Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), I reported that the NNPC had withheld the sum of $20 billion from the federation account. From the 2015 audit exercise conducted by NEITI the figure has increased to $22 billion and N376 billion.

In a petition which I sent to the Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property last year, I accused Exxon Mobil of paying $600 million out of the $2.5 billion fixed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation for the renewal of 3 oil blocks in 2009. Even though the oil company claimed to have paid the outstanding balance of $1.9 billion there is no evidence of such payment.

It is hoped that the presidential panel will pursue the matter to a logical conclusion However, the most interesting reaction to my letter came from Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Petreum Resources. He concurred with me that the nation had lost not less than $60 billion due to the failure of some public officers to implement the provisions of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act. Section 16 of the Act provides that the royalties paid by oil companies shall be adjusted upwards whenever the price of oil rose beyond $20 per barrel. Since there was no reason adduced for not enforcing the law for 18 years the authorities of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers State governments dragged the federal government to the Supreme Court to justify why it has refused to implement the law. In a judgment delivered by the apex court on October 18, 2018 the federal government was ordered to take urgent steps to recover all revenues lost to oil and gas exploring

and exploiting companies due to wrong profit sharing formula termed as the Production Sharing Contracts since 2003. It is hoped that the federal government will proceed to recover the sum of money estimated to be in the region of $1 trillion.

I must not fail to acknowledge that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigation into the allegation of crude oil stolen from the country by well known international oil and shipping companies. For instance, it has been confirmed that 60.2 million barrels of crude oil stolen from Nigeria between 2011 and 2014 were discharged at Philadephia port in the United States. If the investigation can be painstakingly conducted it is estimated that not less than $300 billion could be realised as the costs and penalties for the oil stolen from Nigeria and discharged in several ports in the United States, China, India, United Kingdom, France, etc.

Finance to proceed to recover the huge funds highlighted in my letter. I can assure the federal government that I do not intend to demand payment of any percentage from the fund to be recovered based on the whistle that I have blown which has been ignored. Having regards to the fact that the public and private organisations that have been fingered in my letter are very powerful and vested the federal government cannot muster the political will to recover the fund that has been withheld from the federation account. Therefore, the Nigerian people who stand to benefit from the judicious deployment of recovered loot should be mobilised by the progressive extraction of civil society organisations to take over the fight against corruption.

Connecting the Dots in the Atiku Corruption Hoax Magnus Onyibe There is the hoax that the People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar was wanted in the USA for money laundering charges hence he could not visit that country also constituted itself into a dark cloud on the political horizon and therefore a distraction as well as a campaign dampener.

But the motive behind the lie that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was banned from visiting the USA on account of corruption charges was before now,foggy.Not a scintilla of fact to support the allegation except that the pdp presidential candidate was investigated as it is routinely done in the USA when large sums of funds are tracked after the terrorist bombing of iconic structures/institutions in New York and Washington,USA now infamously referred to as 9/11.

The source of the rumour against Atiku remained unknown until the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, weighed in last week and inadvertently removed the veil by whining about the USA embassy’s move to issue the PDP presidential candidate a visiting visa.

Following the complaint by the minister, it became manifest that the rumor was political as it would appear that the govt in power does not fancy the rumor being dispelled.

According to him, granting Atiku a visa would create the impression that the USA was endorsing the PDP presidential candidate.

What manner of minister would be dissuading another country from granting a compatriot a visiting visa? It could have been justified if the victim were to be a felon or fugitive, but a former

no 2 citizen which no court of law has indicted or convicted. By maligning and stigmatizing a fellow citizen simply because he is a presidential flag-bearer of an opposition party in a political contest, if you ask me, is cruel, distasteful and inelegant.

Such a negative predilection reflects desperation and hypocrisy on the part of the ruling party because only a few months ago, President Buhari was hosted by president Donald Trump in the White House, the USA seat of power.

Assuming Mohammed’s line of argument is to be adopted , did that visit by President Buhari not also suggest an endorsement by the USA president which is obviously disadvantageous to other candidates and parties ?

But other presidential candidates recognized that they were handicapped by Nigerian president’s visit to the USA but they appreciate that it is part of the benefits of power of incumbency, so there was no need to gripe about it.

But our minister of information deemed it necessary to publicly throw a tantrum over the proposed granting of USA visa to the pdp presidential candidate which would end the speculation and spread of a wicked lie that he is barred from that country.

That’s after our president basked in the glory of the fact that he was the first African President to be hosted by president Trump?

Ideally, since it was an opportunity to debunk the wicked lie against the Waziri Adamawa, the PDP flag bearer that he was not welcome in the USA, Mohammed could have applauded the the embassy. But owing to the fact that he is used to playing partisan politics, he railed against the idea because the embassy’s decision effectively exposed the lie from the pit of hell concocted to

handicap the PDP presidential candidate.

Ideally, in a world where equity and fairness are the most prevalent values or currency, the aphorism ‘what’s good for the goose is good for the gander’ would be expected.

But in the world of jungle politics, where the Machiavellian principle of the end justifies the means takes precedence, the nihilist mantra ‘black mail is a legitimate weapon of war’ is holding sway.

However, at least for now, the proverbial log seem to have been removed from the eyes of Nigerians who had been hoodwinked by craftily packed fake news that the PDP candidate is corrupt hence he could not visit the USA. With the USA embassy offering to grant Atiku visa , the whole world now know that the claim of criminal culpability in the USA is pure falsehood spun by villains from the deepest recesses of the devil’s chambers.

Obviously, the patently selfish and jaundiced case that the minister was trying to make with that complaint against the USA embassy is reminiscent of the gaffe that he recently made when he reportedly claimed that the federal govt was on monthly basis spending N3.5m to feed the Shiite cleric, El Zakzaky and his wife currently being detained for nearly three years by the federal govt on allegation of breach of public peace in kaduna. If politicians claim that politics is war without guns, and blackmail is a legitimate weapon, who are the main victims of the blackmail? Isn’t it the electorate that would be deceived and hoodwinked by the lies and as such are unable to make the wise decision of electing the correct candidates?

To correct the foregoing unacceptable past bad behavior , let’s resolve to take election 2019 to

the next level by drastically reducing , if not eliminating lies as the main currency of our politics.

To achieve that objective in these last few weeks and days to the elections, establishing fact checking agencies to separate facts from fiction in the manner that credit bureaus were licensed by the central bank of Nigeria, CBN to track bad debtors, would help introduce sanity into the system. Fact checking and public debate are integral part of USA Democracy from where we adopted the presidential system of governance,so it would be a natural progression for us to adopt those practices in Nigeria.

The non governmental agencies, NGOs which have been engaging in the advocacy of enlightening Nigerians on their civic responsibilities via voter education, should take up that responsibility in partnership with the media industry.

We can’t forget how after taking over the reins of governance in 2015, the current ruling party debunked at least 90% of the promises attributed to it during the run up to the 2015 election.

For instance, was it possible to make Nigerian currency, the naira equal to one dollar when the country is just a mono product (crude oil/gas ) exporter to earn foreign exchange? Compare that single product oil/gas which Nigeria has no control over its price to the USA which has a basket full of products exported to the world to earn foreign exchange and you can see how wool was pulled over the eyes of the electorate by the opposition party in 2015. r .BHOVT 0OZJCF B EFWFMPQNFOU TUSBUFHJTU BMVNOVT PG 'MFUDIFS 4DIPPM PG -BX BOE %JQMPNBDZ 5VGUT VOJWFSTJUZ .BTTBDIVTFUUT 64" BOE B GPSNFS DPNNJTTJPOFS JO %FMUB TUBUF HPWFSONFOU TFOU UIJT QJFDF GSPN "CVKB

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090, 0811 181 3085. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com