FRIDAY 4TH JANUARY 2019

Weak Dollar, Saudi Supply Cuts Push Oil Price to $55 Ejiofor Alike with agency reports After early slide, crude oil prices rebounded yesterday as dollar weakness and signs of production cuts by the world’s top crude exporter,

Saudi Arabia, eased concerns about excess supply in the global market.

The dollar was said to have added support as it slipped against a basket of currencies, making dollar-denominated oil cheaper for holders of

other currencies.

Before yesterday’s swing in oil prices, President Donald Trump, on Wednesday took credit for driving down oil prices, saying the drop amounted to a tax cut for Americans.

“People see that gasoline (petrol) is way down and the reason it’s way down is because I called up some of the OPEC people,” Trump reportedly told reporters.

“I made calls, I said you better let that oil, that

gasoline flow, and they did,” he added.

However, despite Trump’s intervention, the price of international benchmark crude, Brent crude futures rose by 94 cents at $55.85 per barrel, while the United

States US West Texas Intermediate oil futures rose 65 cents to $47.19 a barrel.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), led by Continued on page 8

Poor Liquidity May Threaten Aviation Sector, Analysts Say ... Page 20 Friday 4 January, 2019 Vol 23. No 8661. Price: N250

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PDP Kicks as INEC Names Buhari’s Niece Head, Presidential Election Collation Centre Rash of criticisms greet retention of incidence form APC: We'll back commission’s lawful innovations

Adedayo Akinwale, Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday instigated what a political observer described as ‘’harsh and rash conversations’’ about doubts over its neutrality

in the forthcoming general elections with the appointment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s niece, Mrs. Amina Zakari, as the chairperson of the Presidential Election Collation Committee.

The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party Continued on page 8

Yari Offers to Step Down over Banditry in Zamfara Police deploy more units in Katsina Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Barely 24 hours after 18 persons were killed in two communities by bandits in Zamfara State, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, yesterday in Abuja reiterated his support for call for declaration of state of emergency in the state, saying he was willing to vacate his seat if it would

end insecurity in the state.

The offer by Yari is coming as the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, approved the deployment of additional police units and manpower to beef up security in Katsina State, following the alarm raised by Governor Aminu Masari that Continued on page 10

SET… President Tells Labour Not to Distract GETTING L-R: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; National Commissioner, Mrs. May and Chairman, National Collation Centre Committee, Mrs. Amina Zakari, during the inauguration of Him from Fixing Infrastructure … Page 8 Agbamuche-Mbu; Electoral Logistics Committee and National Collation Centre Committee in Abuja... yesterday Julius Atoi

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FRIDAY, ÍźË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT

President Tells Labour Not to Distract Him from Fixing Infrastructure Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja appealed to organised labour to allow his administration concentrate on its efforts to fix infrastructure in the country and avoid distracting it.

Labour had threatened to embark on nationwide protest next Tuesday over the refusal of the president to send National Minimum Wage Bill with the provision of N30,000 minimum wage to the National Assembly for legislation.

Buhari made the appeal while receiving the Executive Committee of the National Association of Nigerian

Students (NANS) in State House.

Buhari said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;In three and a half years, we have improved tremendously on what we met. We are trying to do infrastructure. No matter which part of the country you come from, you will see the efforts we are making in terms of roads "We are trying to fix rails.

We are trying to do power, through the use of gas and solar. If you note what we have done in these three and a half years, you will not regret voting this administration into power.â&#x20AC;?

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in

a statement, said Buhari also stated that Nigeria was doing very well in agriculture and consequently, the country was about to attain food sufficiency and security.

Adesina said Buhari who advised the students to continuously plead with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its strike, equally assured them that he would speak with the union â&#x20AC;&#x153;so that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t encroach on your efforts to qualify in time.â&#x20AC;?

He also said Buhari disclosed how he had explained in details in his 2019 budget speech the nation's earnings and expenditure and consequently expected

the elite to understand the position of the government on certain issues.

According to the statement, it is the responsibility of the government to look after both the employed and the unemployed.

The statement also said the president urged the youths to start preparing themselves to lead the country, with the admonition that â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is a tendency for you to think that you can do better than anybody but it is very good for you to know the facts that leadership entails."

It added that the president assured labour leaders that having been in positions of leadership at various stages

in life, and acquired a lot of experience, he meant well for Nigerians as well as workers, and hence, should be allowed to fix infrastructure so that more Nigerians could be taken out of the poverty cycle.

He was quoted as saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am totally loyal to this country. Whatever I do is in the interest of the ordinary people especially those who do not have the benefit of being educated like you, and are just trusting whoever is leading them."

The statement added, "President Buhari expressed gratitude to the students for appreciating some of the things his administration has been able to put in place and called

PDP KICKS AS INEC NAMES BUHARIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NIECE HEAD, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COLLATION CENTRE (PDP), and some other stakeholders immediately described Zakari's appointment as an outright manipulation, challenging the president to excuse his niece if he is actually committed to free, fair and credible elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, who had consistently maintained that he was committed to credible elections, disclosed the appointment of Zakari while inaugurating two adhoc committees, as part of the commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determination to ensure seamless preparations for the general election.

He said the commission decided to set up the committees to drive important component of the electoral process, adding that the first committee would be responsible for logistics, while the second committee would be responsible for collation of presidential election results.

Yakubu noted that the commission was aware that the conduct of general election is the biggest and the most complex logistics operations that a nation could undertake.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sensitive and non-sensitive materials procured by the organisation must be delivered to almost 200,000 locations nationwide, ranging from the polling units, to the various wards, to local government, states and the national collation centres for the 1,558 constituencies in which elections will be conducted.â&#x20AC;?

The chairman stressed that for the general elections, the electoral logistics committee would be responsible for coordinating logistics, as

well as the clearance and transportation of electoral materials to various locations nationwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the end of the elections, sensitive materials will be retrieved from the same locations. The same process will be repeated for each of the two phases of the 2019 general elections; namely the Presidential and National Assembly elections holding on 16th February, and Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area council elections holding on the 2nd of March,â&#x20AC;? the INEC boss said.

Yakubu said the committee includes relevant security agencies whose roles are clearly defined in section 29(3) of the electoral Act 2010 as amended.

The composition of the electoral logistics committee include some national commissioners, AVM Hamed Muazu (rtd), Engr. Abubakar Lamuche, and Mallam Muhammed Haruna.

Others include, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, Director Electoral Operations and Logistics Department of INEC; Director Estate Works and Transport, INEC; Director Procurement, INEC; and Director Stores, INEC, as the Secretary of the committee.

Yakubu added that the second ad-hoc committee

which is entirely internal to the commission, which does not include external members, shall be responsible for the national collation centre where result of the presidential election will be announced.

He explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will serve as the secretariat for the collation of results and venue for briefing of international observers, as well as the media. It will also be responsible and accessible to all the agents of the 73 political parties fielding candidates for the presidential election. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That committee, which is entirely internal to the commission is made up of the following, National Commissioner, Amina Zakari, Chairperson; Mr. Festus Okoye; Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, members.â&#x20AC;?

The chairman also noted that as was the case in 2015, the commission would use International Conference Centre, Abuja, for the collation of result of the presidential election, reassuring Nigerians that the commission was on course to deliver credible elections this year.

He also revealed that the commission would meet with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday by 4.00p.m, noting that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the on-going strike by the union but only in relation to the election.

Yakubu stressed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are concerned that the bulk of the critical election duty staff are drawn from our universities.

We are determined to ensure that the processes are not affected by the union's

industrial action. ASUU remains a critical partner to the commission on delivering credible election. We look forward to the meeting and confident of a positive outcome. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;The commission has similarly contacted another critical partner the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The commission plans to meet with the leadership of NLC next week.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile the major opposition party, PDP, said that Zakariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment was part of what it called the machination by the presidency and INEC to subvert the will of the people and rig the February 16, presidential election.

The Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said that the appointment of Zakari, who had been openly accused in various quarters as being the link person between INEC and the presidency, constitutes a direct violence against the presidential election, insisting that the PDP would not, in any way, whatsoever, accept it.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You will recall that we have been raising the flag on how the Buhariled presidency, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some individuals at the echelon of INEC have been seeking ways to compromise our electoral processes and open the way for the allocation of fictitious votes to President Muhammadu Buhari, having realized that he cannot win in a credible, free and fair poll. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PDP Presidential

Campaign Organisation out-rightly, vehemently and unequivocally reject, in its entirety, the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, President Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blood relation, as the head of the collation of results, in the same election in which his uncle, President Buhari, as a candidate, has displayed a huge desperation to win.â&#x20AC;?

In appointing Zakari to head the presidential election collation centre, Ologbondiyan said Yakubu has confirmed that he has been compromised and that he has already succumbed to pressure by the presidency and APC to open the way for the self-succession of President Buhari.

He emphasised that there is no way Zakari would not allocate votes to her blood relation, Buhari, whom Nigerians have indicated clearly that they are not ready to return to office as president.

Ologbondiyan said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the same Amina Zakari, who headed the ICT Department of INEC at the time that department was accused of manipulating the INEC voter register to accommodate fictitious, underage and alien voters, particularly, in remote areas where they plan to allocate and announce conjured votes for President Buhari and the APC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will interest Nigerians to note that this is the same Amina Zakari that was alleged to have played some roles in the 2018 governorship election in Osun State, where the electoral processes were flagrantly abused. With Zakari at the head of results collation, there is no way votes cast by

December 2018 exports at 3.73 million bpd versus 3.37 million bpd in November.

Both Brent and US crude were down more than a third in the last quarter of 2018, the steepest decline since the fourth quarter of 2014.

However, for most of 2018, oil prices were on the rise, driven up by healthy demand and supply concerns, especially around the impact of renewed US sanctions against major producer Iran, which were introduced in early November.

Brent rose by almost a third between January and October 2018, to a high of $86.74 per barrel, the highest level since late 2014, the start of a deep market slump amid bulging global oversupply.

Many leading analysts and traders at the time said they expected crude to hit $100 per barrel again by the end of 2018. Instead, Brent prices have wiped out all of 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gains, plunging by almost 40 per cent from the $86 yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high, in what has been one of the steepest oil market sell-offs of the past decades.

WEAK DOLLAR, SAUDI SUPPLY CUTS PUSH OIL PRICE TO $55 Saudi Arabia, alongside other producers led by Russia, agreed last year to rein in supplies starting from January after oil tumbled from above $86 on worries about surging output.

Before OPEC and other producers took a decision to lower output, Trump had made it clear that he did not want oil prices to rise.

Many analysts had thought Saudi Arabia was coming under US pressure to resist calls from other OPEC members for lower crude output.

Trump had praised Saudi Arabia for helping to lower oil prices as pressure intensified to impose tougher sanctions on the Middle East ally following the murder of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.

In a tweet when oil price was $63, Trump had thanked Riyadh for the drop and called for prices to go even lower, likening it to â&#x20AC;&#x153;a big tax cutâ&#x20AC;? that could boost the United States and global economies.

The swing in the oil price, which fell as much

as two per cent in earlier trade, mirrored volatility in other markets after tech giant, Apple, cut its sales forecast, citing a slowdown in China.

This has added to concerns about a slowing global economy, which weighs on prospects for oil demand.

More broadly, oil markets have been sliding with rising production from top producers, the United States and Russia.

Supply from Iraq, the second biggest producer in OPEC, has also climbed, with

on them to mobilise support for government, as it strives to make Nigeria a better place.

"Earlier in their remarks, the students, led by the president, Danielson Bamidele Akpan, had expressed appreciation of the efforts of the administration, especially in the transformation of the transportation sector as well as the decimation of terrorists in the Northeast.

"They, however, requested the government to intervene in the incessant strikes in the education sector; involve more youths in governance; and look into the plight of students in different institutions who have been expelled for 'political' reasons."

Nigerians will count. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We, therefore, call on all Nigerians and particularly the National Peace Committee to note that with the appointment of Zakari, as head the collation of presidential results, the INEC chairman is setting the stage for a very huge political crisis, which is capable of derailing our democratic process.â&#x20AC;?

The party also urged the United Nations and other global democratic institutions to take copious note of this noxious appointment by the INEC chairman, adding that if he wants a peaceful presidential election, he should, with the speed of light, reverse himself on this appointment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, the PPCO reiterates its position that for us to have a peaceful election, Mrs. Zakari should not be seen anywhere near any of the 2019 election processes, not to talk of being involved in the collation of presidential resultsâ&#x20AC;?, he added.

Also reacting, one of the spokespersons of the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidential campaign council, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said Zakariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment would go to confirm that the 2019 election is programmed for rigging.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldn't believe this; but if it turns out to be true, it will go to confirm our fears that the 2019 election is Continued on page 10

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FRIDAY, ÍźË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

NEWS PDP KICKS AS INEC NAMES BUHARIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NIECE HEAD, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COLLATION CENTRE programmed for rigging. We have raised series of concerns over the unholy strategic roles that Amina Zakari had played in previous election and why we had accused INEC of working from answer to question. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;This new position if confirmed to be true, is a further confirmation of the subterranean plots being masterminded by INEC to ensure that votes figures are manipulated in favour of President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), reason why the APC has not been campaigning.â&#x20AC;?

CUPP, SDP, Others Oppose INEC Retention of incidence Forms

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and ADP have condemned the proposed use of incident forms by INEC for the general elections, as indicated in the INECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revised guidelines to be released next week, which was exclusively reported by THISDAY yesterday.

The commission's National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, had confirmed to THISDAY on Wednesday that the revised guidelines was ready and would be unveiled for the consideration of the political parties next week.

THISDAY had obtained a copy of the guidelines from a reliable source, which revealed that the rules, among others, retained the use of smart card reader and the controversial incidence form.

The opposition parties, however, said they did not

agree with INEC on the use of incidence form for the general elections.

The national spokesperson of CUPP, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, while speaking with THISDAY last night, said the decision by INEC to make such announcement, makes the process suspicious.

According to him, "The answer is no on retention of incidence form. The chairman is avoiding meeting with key stakeholders, including the party chairmen; the decision to make such announcement makes the process suspicious and doomed to fail. We will soon disown the chairman as he has carried out activities without consultation with electoral stakeholders."

Ugochinyere also raised the alarm that INEC Chairman had tampered with accreditation method to favour APC. He said, "The chairman is refusing demands by parties for retention of the 2015 accreditation method since the president refused to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018 and wants retention of the 2015 election law. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;We want the retention of the accreditation of 2015, which allowed accreditation and then voting after all accreditation have been completed; but the chairman is working on a new plot to do accreditation and voting at the same time, giving room for few people to be at the polling unit and thereby making manipulation easy for the APC and the police."

Also, Ologbondiyan noted that INECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan to introduce incidence form in the forthcoming election would not be accepted by

the PDP, explaining that the electoral body was trying to introduce incidence form by calling it another name.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;trader moni' is simply vote buying. The incidence form is what they intend to use to collate votes of Nigerians that they reached while sharing trader moni. We think the process is not genuine and we are not going to accept this process as a party.â&#x20AC;?

On its part, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said that with what the INEC told the political parties present at the Senate Electoral Committee's Public Hearing on Vote Buying, the issue of incidence forms won't be as it was before now.

The Secretary, IPAC Media Committee, Mr. Akinloye Oyeniyi, said INEC chairman told everyone in the committee room that there won't be incidence forms again, but a kind of biometric form with columns for thumb printing, names and photographs of registered voters whose accreditation could not be completed properly.

Oyeniyi told THISDAY, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though the usage of incidence forms was in place up to the 2015 election, but the current leadership of the IPAC, the umbrella body of the entire 91 registered political parties in the country is putting all necessary plans in place not only to make sure all its member parties are given same treatment, but as the links between the government and the people, to also make sure citizens' aspiration, goal formation and interests articulation and aggregation are well

coordinated.â&#x20AC;?

On its part, the Action Democratic Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (ADP) National Chairman/ Presidential Candidate, Mr. Yabagi Sani, described the retention of incidence form in the new guideline as an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;unfortunate situation,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; saying the development had confirmed the real reason why Buhari refused to sign the amended electoral bill into law.

He advised Nigerians to rise up and condemn the move

by INEC and Buhari, while demanding for free, fair and credible elections.

Also reacting, the National Publicity of SDP, Mr. Alfa Mohammed, advised all opposition parties and Nigerians in general to resist the plot by the president and the APC to rig the elections, saying the plan to use incidence form is an attempt to rig the elections for APC. However, senior lawyers, Prof.

Joash Amupitan and Charles Edosomwan agreed that the electoral umpire is empowered by the constitution to make regulations that would enhance its conduct of free, fair, credible elections, they, however, differ on the implications of INEC's retention of the Smart Card Reader and the Incidence Form for the general elections.

Amupitan said, "The president did not accent to the amendment of the Electoral Act, so as a result we have reverted back to the pre 2015 election situation.

"Based on the decision of the Supreme Court in Rivers and several other states that the issue of card reader was

not specifically mentioned under the 2010 Electoral Act, the implication is that the use of card reader and its reliance on it would be problematic on its own."

Amupitan, who noted that the regulations made by INEC through the electoral guidelines should suffice.

He said the umpire would have to face a similar situation as that of 2015 where it had to abridged card reader inadequacies with manual accreditation.

"So as it is now, it is going to be an admixture of both the electronically and manual accreditation. So the two would still have to go together that is why we are still talking of incidence form," he added.

On his part, Edosomwan commended INEC for the deployment of the technology, stressing that through the card reader the electoral umpire has been able to checkmate some malpractices associated with the conduct of elections in the country.

"The card reader, as we have all seen has helped the elections a lot. It has helped in screening; it has reduced double voting because the data from the card reader would prevent you from voting twice. I must commend INEC for going ahead with it,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said it would not oppose any legally backed instrument introduced by INEC to ensure that the forthcoming general election is peaceful, free and fair.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu said the party will wait for INEC to issue approved guidelines for the elections before taking a position.

Onilu, who was asked

by THISDAY yesterday to comment on the election guidelines, said the party will always support any measure aimed at improving the conduct of the elections as long as it has legal backing.

On the use of electronic device to transmit results of the general elections, the APC's spokesman said, "It will be hypothetical; if we had not objected to it as at today that means we are not opposed to it. I think we should just wait to see the approved guidelines by INEC; then we can state our position.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; He said since INEC had previously applied similar guidelines without any objection from the party, there may not be such objection this time around.

According to him, "But as far as incidence form is concerned, INEC has been using it before, and we have not asked whether we like it or not; but we don't want to jump the gun, if they come up with guidelines, then we look at them item by item.

"If INEC is going to unveil the election guidelines on Monday, it will not be nice to start pre-empting it. We will rather wait for the guidelines to come before we can make comprehensive assessment of the situation. We will sit down as a party and then look at things holistically before making our view known.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

discharge the responsibility of that office.

He had also called on the federal government to save the lives of his people.

According to him, he had no control over security machinery in the state.

Yari had last week expressed support for the declaration of state of emergency to tackle the widespread killings in the North-west state, saying some politicians had suggested the idea on the assumption that he was afraid to lose his office.

boundaries with Zamfara State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have the IG Special task forces on the ground, to take the fight to the bandits inside the bush.â&#x20AC;?

Isah maintained that the police and other security units in the state were doing their best to curtail banditry, kidnapping and other security challenges.

He agreed that there were security challenges in the eight frontline councils with Zamfara State, insisting that many councils in the state have not recorded cases of armed robbery and other security challenges in recent times.

The police spokesman added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Commissioner of police here, CP Muhammed Wakili, takes the issue of security of the state seriously and times without number he has personally led the patrol of grey areas. On Wednesday night, for instance, a few minutes after midnight, he personally drove himself from the police headquarters and went around town before retiring home that night, just to monitor the security situation. This, he carries out on several occasions.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; It was also learnt that as part of strategies to fully tackle the banditry and kidnappings, over 500 conventional policemen in the state recently underwent a one-month combat training at the 27 Mobile Police headquarters.

Isah disclosed that recent police efforts in the state had led to the arrest of over 100 suspected kidnappers and

the recovery of 30 assorted weapons among, which were 10 AK 47 rifles.

Governor Masari had on Wednesday conveyed an extraordinary security meeting in Katsina where he disclosed that the state was under the siege of banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The citizens are on daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers that are on rampage in the state,â&#x20AC;? he told the bewildered participants, adding, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Katsina Government organised this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer solutions to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current insecurity challenge.â&#x20AC;? He stated for emphasis, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits, who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our state is in a dangerous situation. Travellers are afraid of being stopped on the highway and arrested by kidnappers who demand ransom.â&#x20AC;? Masari said the situation was so bad that some thieves stole some electrical equipment near the Government House at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Katsina. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am calling on all stakeholders to come out with solutions that will assist the security agencies to discharge their duties,â&#x20AC;? he said

APC: We'll Back INEC's Lawful Innovations

YARI OFFERS TO STEP DOWN OVER BANDITRY IN ZAMFARA gunmen were overrunning his domain.

Yari, who is also the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), made this declaration after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House.

He denied insinuations that his earlier declaration of support for the state of emergency was a mere political statement.

According to him, such expression of support for emergency declaration in Zamfara State was not politically-motivated, saying inasmuch as human lives are at stake, undertaking such adventure would be worthwhile if that would provide solution to the protracted banditry which had claimed several lives in the state.

The governor said, "Yes, we are there as a government because it is the lives of people we are talking about.

If there are no lives, we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be there. So, therefore, I did not make that statement out of politics because the way some other people are looking at it is political.

"Since my inception, I have never taken insecurity as a political affair, but I look at it as criminality and I approach it in the way that it can be solved.

"Some other politicians have been calling for state of emergency since three years ago. Then I said to myself if state of emergency would solve the problem then Yari is ready to vacate my seat."

On why he visited the

president again yesterday, Yari said he was in the State House to brief Buhari on security update in Zamfara State.

He also said he had come up with security report on events in the state in collaboration with stakeholders, which he said could be useful to security agencies on the crisis rocking the state through the intervention of the president.

He said, "You are aware of what is happening in Zamfara State, and some parts of the neighbouring states on the issue of banditry, abduction and insurgency.

"So, it is important that I come forward to brief Mr. President on the situation on the ground, which I just did. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We sat down as head of security in the state along with all other stakeholders, where we reviewed the situation and came with the report that we think will help the security agencies there through Mr. President to strategise so that they can curb the problem."

Asked to comment on security situation in the state, Yari said there was relative calm, pointing out that with all the support given to security agents so far, the crisis could be nipped in the bud if only they are willing to live up to their responsibilities.

According to him, "The situation is calm now. As a state, we are putting our best to ensure normalcy returns. We have started getting results.

"We believe strongly with what we have on ground in terms of the number of

security personnel, if they take their job seriously, within a short time, we will get out of this situation and we hope with encouragement from the president, we believe with no time, the issues will be a thing of the past."

Asked whether he discussed the declaration of emergency with Buhari, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not at all.â&#x20AC;?

According to him, if the security agencies were serious, the insecurity in Zamfara State would be easily brought under control. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no place being occupied by the armed bandits in Zamfara State.

They live and operate in the forest. They strike and run. Most of the camps are known by locals,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Lamenting the lack of presence of police in many parts of the state, he said policemen redeployed from the state following Buhariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directive had not been replaced.He said the president had directed that policemen who had spent three years and above be redeployed as a strategy to address crime in the state.

Bandits have held sway in Zamfara State for months killing and maiming hundreds of innocent citizens, whose livestock are rustled with little opposition from law enforcement agencies.

The bandits have continued to elude security measures put in place by both the state and federal governments.

Months earlier, Yari resigned as Chief Security Officer of the state, saying he had become powerless and could no longer

Police Deploy More Units in Katsina

Meanwhile following the alarm raised by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State that gunmen were overrunning his domain, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has approved the deployment of additional police units and manpower to beef up security in the state. The approval was secured yesterday according to the state police commandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spokesman, Mr. Gambo Isah.

He told journalists at the state police command headquarters in Katsina, â&#x20AC;&#x153;As I am talking to you now, an additional three units of mobile police are on their way to Katsina State. The approval was given by the Inspector General of police. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The units will be in addition to the three counterterrorism units that are already on the ground and who have been deployed in the front line local government areas in the state that share

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

NAF Confirms Deaths of Pilot, Co-pilot, Three Others in Crashed Helicopter Military chiefs pay condolence visit

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The pilot, co-pilot and three other crew members of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter that crashed on

Wednesday while providing air support for ground troops in Damasak, Borno State, were confirmed dead yesterday.

NAF had issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the helicopter gunship and its

Gunmen Kill Six in Fresh Plateau Attack Seriki Adinoyi in Jos A former local government council lawmaker, Mr. Sunday Bulle, and five other persons were on Wednesday night shot dead by gunmen who attacked Kwata Community in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

Bullet recently relocated to Kwata community to escape the series of attacks in his native Lobirin Community of Barki Ladi Council Area, where he was a legislator before he was shot dead by the gunmen A resident of the community, Mr. Solomon Dalyop, who confirmed the attack, said several others were also injured during the attack.

Dalyop added, “On Wednesday, gunmen arrived at Kwata community around 7p.m. Before you knew what

was happening, they just opened fire on the people while shouting ‘Allahu AK’hubar’ during the operation.

“When they finished and ran away, six people laid dead, including a former Councilor who relocated to the community from Barki Ladi Local Government Area. What we are witnessing in various communities in Plateau State is a new form of unprovoked aggression against the people and the government and the security agents must rise in defence of the communities before the gunmen wreck more havoc on innocent civilians.”

The Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, through his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yakubu Dati, in a statement, said he has directed the security agents to arrest the recent resurgence in the state.

crew members were missing in action.

But the deaths of the crew members of the aircraft were confirmed by the NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, have paid condolence visit to the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri.

An Air Force statement said the remains of the fallen crew members have been recovered.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of

the five crew members who were on board the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Mi-35M Helicopter ,which crashed in combat yesterday, while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion, Damasak in Borno State.

“The deceased personnel, whose remains have been recovered to Maiduguri, are: Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob - Pilot in Command; Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas - Co-Pilot; Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim - Flight Technician; Lance Corporal Adamu Nura – Gunner; and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael - Gunner.

“These gallant fallen heroes made the supreme sacrifice in the service of our fatherland, for which the nation, owe them an unending debt of gratitude.

“The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the families of the five fallen heroes and prays that the Almighty grants their souls peaceful repose.

“The CAS was in Maiduguri today, (yesterday) to convey the condolences of the Commander-in-Chief of

the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammed Buhari, to personnel of the Air Task Force Operation Lafiya Dole over the unfortunate loss.

While in Maiduguri, the CAS also received a condolence visit from the Chief of Army Staff, Lietenant General Tukur Buratai.

“The NAF appreciates the overwhelming support shown by the public to the Service over the sad incident.

“We continue to solicit your understanding and support as we daily strive to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians,” NAF said in a statement.

Miyetti Allah Accuses Atiku of Trying to Destabilise Nigeria Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has accused the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of trying to destabilise Nigeria using the latest Amnesty International (AI)’s report on the killing of farmers by herdsmen.

The Fulani herders therefore, urged Nigerians to reject Atiku in the February16 presidential election. The National President of the Association, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, made the call yesterday at a press conference in Abuja.

In the AI’s report released in December 2018 and entitled, “Harvest of Deaths: Three Years of Bloody Clashes Between Farmers and Herders”, the international organisation said the clashes claimed 3,641 lives in the past three years.

The organisation said the killings were fuelled by the “failure of authorities to investigate communal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice”, an allegation that the federal government has dismissed.

“Atiku weighed in on the report to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for failing in its duty to protect the lives of its people who have witnessed many preventable deaths.”

Miyetti Allah came down hard on the former vice president, describing his reaction as “a naked dance in the market place”.

“We totally condemn the desperate vituperation of Atiku for lashing on the false Amnesty International report with the hope

of garnering political capital from the farmers/herders conflict.

“We call on our members and peace-loving Nigerians not only to condemn him for the naked dance in the market place but to totally reject him as a presidential candidate.

“This is because his intentions are inimical to progress, development and peaceful co-existence of the country.”

The association’s leader said former President Olusegun Obasanjo should be blamed for “hoisting a shadowy character like Atiku as vice president on the nation, and now trying desperately to bring him back as president.”

The PDP’s candidate, he further alleged, “is surrounding himself with ethnic irredentists and hate speech merchants that have been profiling the Fulani race and calling for their genocide”.

Bodejo called on Buhari to direct the security agencies to place Atiku under surveillance for his alleged inciting statements against the herders.

“His statement as a presidential candidate is capable of destabilising the country, especially considering that he is currently surrounded by anarchists and hate speech merchants feeding on the lucrative industry of fake news and ethnic irredentism.”

The association also condemned AI for releasing a “substantially false” report, which it said was intended to satisfy the organisation’s paymasters and further stoke the conflict.

WOMEN TAKE CENTRE STAGE…

L-R: Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari; and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the inauguration of APC Youth and Women Campaign Team, at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Obasanjo: I am the Watchman of Nigerian Politics Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described himself as the watchman of Nigerian politics due to the role he now plays in the country’s polity, and urged all Nigerians to engage in participatory democracy in order to vote for credible leaders who are patriotic.

Director of Media and Publicity of the Action Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign

Organisation, Mr. Pam Ibrahim, quoted Obasanjo as saying this while addressing the presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Yabagi Sani, who visited him in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasanjo was said to have described as undemocratic, the attitude of some politicians who heat up the polity by undermining and denigrating other Nigerians through thuggery and harassment of innocent citizens.

Describing his role in Nigerian politics as a “watchman who is

expected to be vigilant and raise the alarm whenever it is necessary”, the former president added that Nigeria is on a journey that has three phases.

He expressed the hope that ADP, as an emerging political force, will key into this journey to nationhood and provide good leadership, in view of the calibre of its members, especially as Nigerians are yearning for responsible leadership.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and presidential candidate of the ADP, Sani,

informed the former president that his decision to run for the number one office in the country was borne out of the fact that Nigerians are frustrated with a directionless leadership, where hopelessness and insecurity have become the order of the day.

“We are in a country where the security of citizens is no longer guaranteed, giving the crime rate we experience on a daily basis, especially insurgency, armed robbery and kidnappings across the country”, he said.

Shehu Sani Urges Nigerians to Vote Out Buhari John Shiklam in Kaduna

The senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, has urged Nigerians to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next month’s elections.

Sani was elected on the platform of the APC but defected from the party when he was denied a controversial automatic ticket.

He later joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) where he is seeking re-election.

Addressing members of the Igbo Youth Peace and Unity Initiative in Kaduna, yesterday, Sani said the APC government has wreaked havoc on the people in the past three years, adding that Nigerians have a date with history on February 16, to vote out Buhari.

“We must not deceive ourselves, we must tell ourselves the truth, the country is sick, the state is sick.

“Nigerians expected a better deal than what we are having today. People who begged you three and half years ago to vote them have turned themselves to demi gods” Sani said.

He said the poor were being oppressed, retrenched from work, marginalised and evil perpetrated against them.

“We have seen how poverty has ravaged the lives of Nigerians in the last three and half years, we have seen the killings, the level of bloodshed and violence, we have seen the

division, the hopelessness, we have seen how a governor of a state has sacked thousands of people out of their work.

“How on earth do we give another opportunity to a man who has no human face, who has no human heart” he said.

According to him, the powers that be, want to unseat him to continue to enslave the masses.

“They want the seat of Shehu Sani in order to continue to enslave you. We are moving out of Egypt.

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I Won’t Disappoint You, Buhari Tells Nigerians Inaugurates women, youth presidential campaign team Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said he appreciated the confidence reposed in him by Nigerians from different walks of life, assuring that “I won’t disappoint.”

The president has also inaugurated the newly constituted Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team with a charge to drive his re-election campaign and be loyal.

President Buhari, according to a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, made the pledge in the State House while being decorated as the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) by the Board of Trustees of this prime media awards organisation in the country.

Adesina said the president described the investiture as “a timely honour,” pointing out that he had known a good number of members of the NMMA board, “since the time I didn’t even know I would be here.”

According to the statement, the Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Vincent Maduka, who led the delegation, said Buhari was qualified to be the board’s grand patron,”because you respect the rights of the media to practice, without any hindrance.”

President Buhari yesterday said his administration would soon recognise the contributions of worthy Nigerians to national development through the award of National Honours.

The award would be the first of its kind since 2015 when he

ascended the seat of power.

A separate statement by Adesina, said Buhari made the disclosure while receiving a delegation of members of Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC) in the State House.

According to Adesina, the president said the intention of his administration was to “leave a better country for our children, and for coming generations,” by ensuring that those who had made notable contributions to national goals are duly rewarded with National Honours.

He further quoted the president as saying, “Many

people are qualified for such honours. We are looking at it, and we will appreciate the contributions of such people.”

Also yesterday, President Buhari inaugurated the newly constituted Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team with a charge to drive his re-election campaign and be loyal.

During the inauguration at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said the gathering once again reminded him of his political struggles over the years and the support he enjoyed from members of the team.

The president who said his

association with the group had been characterised by loyalty to the cause of change, charged them to sustain the loyalty they showed to the campaign cause in 2015.

Meanwhile, the president last night sympathised with the victims of Wadata Market fire incident in Makurdi, the Benue State capital on Tuesday.

In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari was greatly saddened by the unfortunate incident.

According to the statement,

the president said “regardless of our status in life, we are bound by our common humanity and, therefore, I share the pains of the victims with a sincere sense of sympathy and empathy.

It also said the president prayed God “to replenish their losses and multiply their blessings as they try to pick up their lives once again from the ashes of economic ruins.”

The statement added that Buhari commended the immediate response of the government of Governor Samuel Ortom through the provision of relief materials to the victims.

Ex-Governor of Kano, Hamza Abdullahi, Dies Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano A former governor of Kano State, Air Vice Marshal Hamza Abdullahi (rtd), is dead.

Aged 74, Abdullahi died in a German Hospital after a brief illness.

Hadejia Emirate Council spokesperson, Talaki Mohammad, confirmed his death to journalists yesterday.

Abdullahi was governor of old Kano State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Muhammadu Buhari.

After Ibrahim Babangida took power, he was appointed Minister of Works and Housing, and later Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He was born in Hadejia, Jigawa State.

He attended the Nigeria Air Force Tactical Training Wing, Kaduna in 1964. He completed the Aircraft Technical Officer’s Course in West Germany (1964–1966), and studied at the Royal Military Training

Centre in Chichester, England in 1974.

In July 1975, Abdullahi was air provost marshal and assisted in the coup that removed Yakubu Gowon from power.

Abdullahi was appointed the Governor of Kano State in January 1984.

He announced in January 1985 that his government was revitalising the expanded programme on immunisation, targeting children and pregnant women at risk from preventable diseases.

As Minister of Federal Capital Territory from 1986 to 1989, Abdullahi oversaw the construction of Phase 1 of Abuja.

He described the new city as “a symbol of our unity” then. He was promoted air vice-marshal in October 1988 and retired from the Nigerian Air Force two months later.

He left behind three wives, undisclosed number of children and grand children.

Complete Lagos-Abeokuta Rail Project in Two Weeks, FG Tells Contractor Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The federal government yesterday gave the contractor handling the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a two-week ultimatum to deliver the Lagos-Abeokuta axis of the project for commercial purposes.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr.Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, gave the charge in Lagos, during this month’s inspection of the project.

Amaechi, who decried the pace of work at the particular section of Iju, in Lagos to Agbado in Abeokuta by the contractors, stated that though the stipulated period for completion is three years, the project should not be delayed unnecessarily.

“I want the project delivered.

Though, we cannot say that CCECC isn’t trying but, for commercial purposes, they have to complete the section so that, passengers can board train to Abeokuta.”

According to him, “Getting

to Abeokuta you will see that there’s an improvement but the problem they have now is the civil work between Agbado and Iju which is critical to me because I don’t think passengers will go to Agbado to join the train.”

He added, “I believe that the closer we are to Lagos the better for the rail and that is why I had to tell them to tell me what they will do about this before the next two weeks; although there’s a huge improvement up to this point. I want them to speed up the construction from Iju to Agbado.”

He observed that, “Part of the solution to the congestion around Lagos sea port is an efficient rail line. You can argue that the narrow gauge is there but it is not efficient. But the moment you fix this then those goods will be transferred to the rail and then the logjam will disappear.

“The moment we do the section from Iju to the sea port, then most of those goods, especially the ones going to Ibadan will be on the rail lines.”

RUNAWAY SHOW… …

L-R:Deputy Managing Directors of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and Ms. Adaora Umeoji; Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia; and Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Amangbo, during a ‘Runway Show’ at the “Style by Zenith” Fair held in Lagos... recently

Court Declines to Order Police Out of Melaye’s Residence Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court yesterday turned down the request by embattled Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye, to order the Nigerian Police Force to vacate his residence.

The Force had since December 28, 2018, laid siege to No: 11 Sangha street, off Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja, residence of the senator in a bid to arrest him over alleged attempted culpable homicide.

But Melaye had in an ex-parte application citing breach of his fundamental rights, urged the court to order the police out of his premises.

The application dated and filed on December 31, 2018, was

brought pursuant to order 4 rule 3 and 11 of the fundamental rights enforcement rule and section 33 and 35 (1) of the 1999 constitution.

In the motion argued on his behalf by his lawyer, Nkem Okoro, the Senator prayed the court to order the Police to vacate his premises and to remove all blockade to his entrance so as to allow free entry and exit into and out of the premises.

He also prayed the court for an interim order restraining the respondents from further threatening the life of the senator or throwing his life in jeopardy.

In addition, Melaye asked the court to restrain the police from taking further steps to arrest him or further infringe upon his rights to free movement.

Arguing the motion, Okoro, submitted that under section 23 to 30 of the Police Act, the police lacked the powers to block the premises of the applicant.

The motion was supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit attached with seven exhibits and a written address.

However, the court after listening to the submissions of the plaintiff’s counsel, refused to grant the exparte application.

Justice Maha instead ordered for accelerated hearing of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 1632/2018.

The court also ordered that the process be served on counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), who was in court.

He said, he was in court

upon receipt of a hearing notice, which was erroneously served on his client.

She subsequently adjourned to January 14, 2019 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Justice Maha however, ordered that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati for re- assignment in view of the fact that her sitting as a vacation Judge ended yesterday.

Meanwhile, the police have continued to maintain that members of the force deployed to effect the arrest of Melaye at his Abuja residence would not retreat until the senator who is wanted by the police for alleged attempted culpable homicide turns himself in to the police for investigation.

CUPP Accuses Presidency, APC, Security Agencies of Plotting to Rig Election Udora Orizu in Abuja The Coalition of United Political Parties has raised the alarm over an alleged unholy collaboration between the Presidency, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the security agencies to rig the 2019 presidential election and deploy lethal force to quell the expected popular resistance.

This allegation was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the

national spokesperson of CUPP, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

He said the plot came to light with the unprecedented move of the Nigerian Army to hold a nationwide military exercise codenamed Operation Python Dance III. He said the exercise, which began from December 28, 2018 and to end on February 28, 2019 is to put the entire country on a military lockdown.

In his words: “We hold

that by law, it is only the President and Commanderin-Chief that can deploy the military. We wonder why the president acknowledges that failure and inability of the Inspector General of Police to maintain law and order by deploying the military in one breathe and yet in another is neck-deep in the plot to extend the tenure of the IG. If there was really any genuine desire to checkmate those plotting violence during the

elections, why was the exercise not extended to after the governorship elections. The desire of the Presidency is just to use the security forces to foist an unpopular President Buhari on the people.”

The coalition warned that the 1983 electoral crisis will be a child’s play if the Presidency and the cabal that has hijacked it go ahead with the plans to announce fake results in favour of unpopular candidates.

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COMMENT

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

PATH TO NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REBIRTH

The combination of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi will make a meaningful difference, writes Yakubu Isa

T

he economic and political development of every country depends largely on the ability of its leadership to make use of the best brains devoid of sentiments. It is on that premise that Nigeria can be rescued from its multi-faceted quagmire.

In a very specific terms, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice of the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate in the forthcoming presidential election has demonstrated that the party is well-prepared to steer the ship of the nation again.

That being said, there is also some talk, especially in the southeast geo-political zone that Atiku Abubakar ought to have consulted stakeholders in the zone before picking Peter Obi as his running mate. According to them, such consultations could have helped minimize the grievances of some parties who might be interested in the position of the vice-president. While that view could be accepted in principle, reliable sources reveal that Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice of Obi was in the overall interest of the nation even as Obi enjoys nationwide goodwill.

In all fairness, Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision on Obi justifies the desire of millions of Nigerians for a Number Two citizen who would competently guide and direct the rebirth of the economy, which is the very basis of our collective survival as a people. Many would agree that Peter Obi is the right choice for that position, though he is somewhat of an enigma.

Obi enjoys national and global acclaim as a successful manager of human and material resources, and with a track record of impressive achievements in the public and private sectors. Such have been his achievements that he is considered way ahead of most of his peers who, in their own right, are also high achievers.

There is thus no better person to team up with Atiku Abubakar to rescue Nigeria from its current economic and political trauma and also initiate a process of genuine reconciliation and unification of its diverse peoples.

Unlike the few dissenters among the political class, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has whole-heartedly endorsed the Atiku-Obi ticket as the path to Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic and political rebirth. They also specifically debunked the misleading insinuation that the south-

OBI ENJOYS NATIONAL AND GLOBAL ACCLAIM AS A SUCCESSFUL MANAGER OF HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES

east is divided on the choice of Obi as Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s running mate, describing it as a false and mischievous machination of enemies of the zone to sow the seeds of discord among the people.

From whatever perspective, Atiku Abubakar deserves commendation for choosing Peter Obi against contending sectional interests. Those who understand the realities on ground would agree that the decision was a process of addressing issues of equity and fairness, among other national considerations. Atiku himself has maintained that his choice of Peter Obi as his running mate â&#x20AC;&#x153;was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert; experience which Nigeria is in great need of at this point in timeâ&#x20AC;?.

With Peter Obi as vice-president, Atiku and millions of Nigerians know that we have a man who would reinvigorate his official role as Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), which is the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest economic-decision-making body. The banking sector which has not been performing to optimum levels will also enjoy a new lease of life. Atiku further reminds Nigerians that: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In every other sector such as education, health, security and infrastructure, Obi as governor left tangible and verifiable worthy legacies in Anambra State. Development partners such as the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme and UNICEF adjudged the state as one of the best in development partnerships and commitment to reforms for good governance under himâ&#x20AC;?.

On the whole, Obi has an impressive track record of tangible achievements in governance and in his private sector life; which signifies that he is a thinker who can deploy ideas to change the value-frame of the people to achieve sustainable goals. As the choice remains a great one and for the overall interest of Nigerians, the economic and political growth will not only reposition the country but usher in employment and good governance.

The combination of these two men of proven competence and value-added records is what Nigerians need to make meaningful progress. With their electoral victory, they possess the vision, strategy, commitment and will to take Nigeria to a deserved place in the comity of nations.

Yakubu Isa, Jalingo, Taraba State

IN PURSUIT OF QUALITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS Public procurement practices are a major determinant of the effectiveness of public expenditure, argues Akintola Benson-Oke

T

here is the need to reconcile two seemingly irreconcilable purposes: to keep pursuing quality in procurement decisions; and to keep cost down and controlled in the face of daunting economic challenges. It is a theme with far-reaching ramifications for both the medium and long-term health of the government of Lagos State. I will be emphasizing the need to maintain and pursue quality and, briefly, to examine how procurement decisions can not only be creatively tailored to fit into available lean resources in a depressed economy, but could also be used as an instrument to chart the course out of economic depression.

In arguing for the pursuit of quality even in the face of a depressed economy, I proceed on the basis that the delivery of value to citizens is the fundamental objective of any democraticallyelected government and that, in contemporary times, the delivered value must be delivered to the highest possible standard because citizens have become sophisticated and exposed to the standards of governance in other climes such that their expectations have been conditioned to demand and insist on compliance with global trends in governance and public administration at all levels of governance. Meeting these expectations is the central challenge for governments in contemporary times, even in the face of lean resources.

In an article titled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Government by Design,â&#x20AC;? Diana Farrell and Andrew Goodman of McKinsey & Co. argued that one of the strategies for improving government perceived performance, including procurement decisions and activities, is by becoming better at collecting and analyzing relevant data. According to them, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Governments must decide what to measure and how, always with an eye on the overall goal of the programme or initiative.â&#x20AC;?

For one, a critical examination will reveal how civil servants can creatively utilize data to generate ideas and communicate government actions and performances in order to ensure positive perception (or, in the least, accurate perception) of government procurement decisions by the citizens. I therefore challenge the Lagos State Public Service to come up with data-backed and data-inspired ideas that will

ensure and assure the quality of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s procurement activities.

Another advocated strategy for ensuring the delivery of quality services by the public service including in the area of procurement, is to innovate to make government services more customer-centric. This is one of the subjects that have been previously explored in the trainings organised by the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions. In the article by McKinsey & Co. earlier referenced, the point was made that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the private sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsiveness to customer demands has led to heightened public expectations of government. Because people can do their banking and shopping online, for example, they expect to be able toâ&#x20AC;? conclude transactions with government agencies with similar ease and speed as well.

In essence, procurement decisions would only be regarded as being of acceptable quality when they are made with the end-user in mind. In a recent publication, PwC, United States, asked and answered a germane question as follows: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What does a customer-centered organization look like? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an organization that considers the customer in everything it does, from procurement to deployment to the entire customer experience. It also speaks to its customers in their own language and makes it easy for them to align their goals with the mission at hand.â&#x20AC;? Thus, I dare say that, even in procuring items that would be exclusively used by public servants, the sole question should be whether the procured items would help the public service better serve its customer, the citizens.

The third strategy I want to highlight is that of actively soliciting citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; input to improve public services, including procurement activities.

As noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Innovative governments are creating new ways for citizens to make their voices heard, giving them the ability to provide input into regulations, budgets, and the provision of services.â&#x20AC;? It has been further noted that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Other governments are going even further to solicit citizen feedback: Iceland in 2010 chose 950 citizens at random to participate in the drafting of a new constitution, a significant example of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;deliberative democracyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at work. And the city of Cologne, Germany, has used participatory budgeting: residents helped decide how to

allocate a portion of the municipal budget.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to the foregoing, the cultivation of the following skills will also aid the attainment of the pursuit of quality in procurement decisions even in the face of a depressed economy: One, the possession of conceptualisation skills. Business magnate, Chester I. Barnard argued the importance of conceptualisation skill when he wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Ś the essential aspect of the [executive] process is the sensing of the organisation as a whole and of the total situation relevant to it.â&#x20AC;? The purport of this is that officers of the Lagos State Public Service must always be able to see how any procurement action or decision affects every part of the service and its service offerings.

Two, paying attention to details. This is an important skill expected of civil servants who will pursue and deliver quality services. As important as it is for officers to see the big picture and think strategically, it is equally important for them to pay attention to the details. This does not mean that officers have to be involved in every minor decision, or undermine the decisions of subordinates and colleagues; rather, every officer must remain aware of the activities of the other officers and the status of projects, thus allowing autonomy whenever possible.

Three, effective delegation of responsibilities and duties and collaboration with the private sector. This is also an art and skill that public servants must acquire and master. There is a fine line between delegating tasks to staff and shirking from responsibilities, knowing subordinates and colleagues will take up the slack. The Lagos State Public Service must navigate this distinction by assigning not just tasks, but clearly defined spheres of influence where officers have authority to make procurement decisions and to collaborate with the private sector.

Having set forth the foregoing, the pursuit of quality, as the ultimate objective of the procurement process even in a depressed economy, let me quickly examine the importance of the public service procurement functions in order to show how they may be utilized to respond to economic challenges.

According to Aigheyisi and Edore, good â&#x20AC;&#x153;public procurement practices, according to the IEG World Bank (2014), are a major determinant of the effectiveness of public expenditure, and

governments all over the world typically spend 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on procurement of goods and services.

According to European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD), public procurement accounts for at least 15 per cent of global GDP, and it is the largest share of government spending besides wages. Public procurement accounts for an average of 15% of GDP in OECD countries and 25-30% of GDP in developing and emerging market economies (Roos, 2012). In 2011 it accounted for 12% of GDP in the United States and 17% in the EU. The quoted statistics above thus clearly show that procurement as a public service function must be given exceptional attention especially when there is paucity of funds and economic depression.

Thus, as noted by Angel Gurria, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Public procurement can have a significant impact on policy outcomes . . . Until only a few years ago, public procurement was perceived as an administrative, back-office function. Today however, it is seen as a crucial pillar of services delivery for governments and a strategic tool for achieving key policy objectives: from budget accountability, to spending efficiency, to buying green and improving outcomes in health, and promoting socially responsible suppliers into the global value chain.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Strategic public procurement can also significantly support a more circular economy and transform supply-chain business models, given the magnitude of its size in government spending and its predominant role in delivering some of the most resource-intensive public services such as infrastructure. This calls for an approach that not only enables efficiency, growth and value for money, but also accomplishes strategic goals linked to a broader understanding of sustainability, cutting across both environmental and social objectives.â&#x20AC;?

Indeed, there are a number of challenges that are faced when rolling out strategic public procurement. For instance, a lack of understanding of the benefits of sustainable procurement amongst politicians and budget holders is a challenge.

Public procurement is subject to many pressures, from cutting costs to meeting the demands of internal users and the public.

Dr. Benson-Oke is Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019

EDITORIAL Putting An End To Gas Explosions There is a need for enlightenment campaigns to reduce incidence of gas explosions

D

espite the recent warning by the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) on the need for stringent enforcement of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) standards in the country, the harvest of death continues as more and more Nigerians fall victims to gas explosions. In October of the year just ended, no fewer than 11 persons in Abuja suffered various degrees of burns from a gas explosion. A month earlier in Lafia, Nasarawa State, dozens were left dead with hundreds injured when a gas tanker exploded and started a blaze.

Three years ago there was a gas explosion when a chlorine cylinder exploded at the Plateau State Water Board treatment plant at Lamingo, Dogon Karfe, Jos South Local Government Area, leaving eight people dead, among them a pregnant woman and children. Dozens of others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Dr. Philemon Golwa, the Chief Medical Director of Plateau State THE RELEVANT Specialist Hospital, AUTHORITIES NEED said that a leakage TO ORGANISE at the plant was SENSITISATION responsible for the PROGRAMMES TO ALL deaths as residents GAS RETAIL OUTLETS around the area inhaled the poisonON HOW TO OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS WITH ous gas which enveloped the entire MINIMAL RISK neighbourhood.

Also of increasing concerns are gas explosions of the domestic kind.

Incessant domestic gas explosions as a result of leaking cylinders are on the rise across the country.

Ironically, this is coming amid intense campaigns on the need for Nigerians to drop kerosene for gas as a cheaper and cleaner means of cooking. In last few weeks alone fatal explosions had been reported in Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Jigawa states, killing no fewer than 15 people. In one of the incidents,

Letters to the Editor

the gas escaped into the air and got to a fire point where a lady was operating a restaurant, killing and injuring many people.

Another gas explosion at Arakale market in Akure, Ondo State last year was traced to an illegal gas re-filling plant which wounded many and razed many shops. But perhaps the most sensational was the explosion in an Abuja suburb which claimed the lives of two sisters, aged 31 and 25. The two young ladies were trying to put out the fire when the gas cylinder exploded, killing them instantly. There are several of such tragic stories.

I 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.

LAGOS AND FADING SOUND OF FIREWORKS

F

ireworks are not new to Lagosians. Since the 90’s they have been integral parts of almost every festivity. December is usually the month for knockouts and fireworks. From December 1 to almost midJanuary, kids would throw knockouts on the streets, adolescents would shoot fireworks in the air. The more we get towards Christmas the louder they become. Some areas on the mainland become war zone with blasting sounds, while those on the Island maintain their superficial calm.

Lagosians amidst several reasons are considered as elite, with distinctive traits that ordinarily separate them from people living in other part of the country. These characteristics have been tagged as “survival hints”, “Lagos way”, among many others, but in this seemingly unity there is a very huge dichotomy that affects how people living in different parts of Lagos are supposed to react to issues. “The Lagos Mainland and the Lagos Island Life”, also affects their reaction when the issue like fading fireworks is raised.

The climax is usually expected to be December 31st both in Lagos Island and Mainland with a more propelling sound from every quarters. Like a war territory, those who keep vigil this night would usually find it so harmful to access their homes.

Teenagers who can handle the knockouts well use them often to terrorize passersby.

The sound of fireworks is fading in Lagos. Today the narratives are different. It has not been a one-sided growth,

n an incident that is typical of the carelessness often associated with many homes, a female domestic help in Epe, Lagos, turned on the gas and left to chat outside. By the time she returned to light up the gas, the kitchen was suffused with chemical. The resultant fire and explosion sent her and neighbours scampering for safety. At least 24 people suffered various degrees of burns.

In yet another, a retail outlet was discharging gas from a big cylinder without safety measures.

In all this, it is clear that much more has to be done to ensure that the metal components are in good form just as the need to abide by safety procedures at all times. The relevant authorities need to organise sensitisation programmes to all gas retail outlets on how to operate their business with minimal risk.

Similarly, it is also important to educate households on the need to gradually replace their metal gas cylinders with fibre cylinders, said to be highly fire- resistant. The promise to phase out and replace the gas cylinders in circulation with more advanced ones should be hastened.

It will also help if distributing and marketing firms own the cylinders as against individuals as Mr. Joseph Odumodu, Director–General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) once hinted. Some households have been using the same cylinder for upwards of three decades. That practice could be very dangerous.

but a holistic one taking its strength from various factors and incidents. In 2012, a building that stored firecrackers, knockouts and fireworks in Lagos Island was gutted by fire. It led to the death of an 11-year-old boy. The then Govenor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola was remembered to have tagged it as “another self-inflicted tragedy”. This incident is one out of many others that never get to be reported.

Several measures have been taken to enforce and discourage the use of uncoordinated fireworks. In 2015, Lagos State Government charged parents and guardians to caution their children to desist from using fireworks popularly called ‘banger’ during the festive period. Law enforcement agencies have been mobilized to arrest offenders within the ambit of the law. The ban has been functional along other bans to compel a better Lagos. More needs to be done to further sustain this effort and bring more defaulters to book.

Lagos is changing. When statements like this are made, you are tempted to ask in what aspect? Can there be uniformity in how people from diverse origin behave? The gravity of this change is a slow and steady one with many actors playing active roles. Beyond these statutory efforts, there is an obvious fact that the fading sound of fireworks in Lagos can be traced to the changes experienced in the state, with social equalizers like education, and the internet creating a uniform sense of responsibility that reflects in almost every sector of Lagos today.

Jegede Joseph, Lagos

RESOLUTIONS FOR A NEW NIGERIA

I

t is a well-known fact that in January there is a big increase in new diets and gym memberships.

The beginning of the New Year fills everybody with such motivation and a heap of positive energy and many use this time to make resolutions, promising themselves to live a better life.

You make a resolution when you feel there is something seriously wrong, something you want to change and even need to change. It’s the feeling of the possibility of a fresh start, a change just around the corner, that pushes people to make these commitments.

Which brings me to our current political situation. Finally, the campaigns of the various candidates are taking off. Even though President Buhari is, as usual, joining the party a bit too late, we are in full swing. It is refreshing to see that even in times of deep crisis as we are witnessing right now, there are alternatives. Change is possible.

And that’s the main part of any New Year’s resolution – drastic change is needed now. We need a resolute leadership ready to bring peace and security to Nigeria. We need smart leadership that can save our economy and assure a prosperous Nigeria for our children. We need honest leadership that will once and for all relieve us from the evil of corruption. We need listening leadership that will overcome tribal divisions and unite Nigerians of all different creeds and ethnic backgrounds.

We need to make a resolution for change, and luckily, we have the power to collectively change the path our nation has been on in just a few weeks.

This path has only benefited the few; the masses, on the other hand, suffered.

We need to choose a different path, a more promising one. This might be the most important New Year’s resolution each and every Nigerian can make, for himself and for his children.

Lawrence Gemade, Abuja

FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

16

NEWS

Falana: No Federalism in Minimum Wage Says Melaye should end siege to his house Segun James Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has said there is no federalism when it comes to the payment of living wages to workers in the country, stressing that it is wrong for state governments to insist that each state should be allowed to pay what they can afford as minimum wage.

The senior lawyer has also urged the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to submit himself to the police for arrest without further delay so as to end the needless drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family members and neighbours have been subjected for the past six days.

Speaking yesterday on Arise News, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspaper, Falana argued that even in the United States of America where Nigeria copied its type of democracy, the Congress prescribed the national minimum wage from which the states can only add but not reduce.

According to him, “Section 16 of the Nigerian Constitution does not talk of minimum wage alone, but a living minimum wage payable by the government of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the labour movement has generous in asking for just N30,000 considering the living standard in the country today.”

He said that it was wrong for states to want to determine whatever they want to pay as minimum wage, saying this is not done in any civilised society.

“There must be an irreducible minimum wage payable by employers of labour, otherwise if you say you are going to liberalise the payment of minimum wage, many people would be paid what you may call a starvation wage.”

Falana added that the Minimum Wage Act of 2011 has to be amended, stressing that the National Assembly should not wait for the president to send the bill.

He said there is nowhere

in the world where the state governments or the local governments determine what they want to pay. “In the US, which is a bastion of our form of federalism, and normally our reference point, has a national minimum wage act enacted by the Congress, not by individual state governments.

“Today the minimum wage in America is $7.25 per hour. But not less than 29 states pay higher!

So when you set the minimum standard, state governments and local governments can then pay higher, but nobody can pay below the minimum wage,” Falana explained.

Meanwhile, the senior lawyer has urged the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to submit himself to the police for arrest without further delay so as to end what he described as the needless drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family members and neighbours have been subjected for the past six days.

Falana acknowledged in a statement yesterday that the fundamental right of every citizen to personal liberty is guranteed by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

He however, added that the right may be violated by the State if there is reasonable suspicion that any citizen has committed a criminal offence. The rights activist recalled that the Nigeria Police Force recently announced its plan to arrest Melaye on the allegation that he committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide.

He also noted that the senator did not respond to the invitation of the Police on the grounds that the permission of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was not sought and obtained.

“Convinced that the senator has decided not to submit himself for investigation, a team of police personnel has surrounded his residence with a view to effecting his arrest. The siege

ASUU: We will Not Be Distracted

by General Election The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday declared that it would not be distracted by next month elections in its struggle to revitalise public varsities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, had said the planned ASUU strike might affect the general election.

The Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Deji Omole, stated this yesterday in an interview with journalists in Ibadan.

Omole said the union was ready to pursue the strike to a logical conclusion irrespective of whether there would be election or not.

He added that INEC could recruit ad-hoc staff from eligible Nigerians “who are in their millions’’.

“We are not part of INEC; therefore, INEC can look elsewhere for ad-hoc staff to conduct the election.

“What Nigerians are only interested in is a credible election and not participation of lecturers.

“Even when we were not on strike, not all our members are interested in participating in the elections, because it is a voluntary thing.

“Whoever that feels like participating in the elections can go ahead to participate.

“If you check in the letter addressed to individuals that have participated in the election in the past, the letter is addressed to individuals and not to ASUU,” he said.

He said the demand of the union that the MoU of 2017 be implemented was sacrosanct.

Omole said once the union saw the commitment of government, the leadership would bring it back to them at chapters, where it would be taken to their congresses and redirect to national for necessary action.

The UI ASUU chairman urged Nigerians to continue to put pressure on the government to do the needful by investing more in funding education.

He said private education was not an alternative to public schools and called on all Nigerians to support the strike to salvage the university system in Nigeria.

to the house by the Police has needlessly lasted for six days. It has been reported that the supply of electricity and water to the house has been disconnected by the Police. Such action cannot be justified in law. There is no doubt that the Nigeria Police Force has itself to blame for the sensationalisation of the planned arrest of the senator. The Police ought to have effected the arrest of the senator under the relevant provisions of the Administration

of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which empower the Police and other law enforcement to break into any house to arrest if there is evidence that any criminal suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by any court has absconded or is concealing himself or herself so that the warrant cannot be executed,” Falana explained.

The lawyer insisted that by sending over 60 armed police personnel to arrest a citizen, the

police are exposing the federal government to ridicule.

Falana added that contrary to the misleading statement credited to the leadership of the Senate on the procedure for the arrest of legislators, the Nigeria Police Force is not required to seek the consent or obtain the permission of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives before arresting a member of the National Assembly who is alleged to have committed

a criminal offence in any part of the country.

“Since legislators are not entitled to immunity under section 308 of the Constitution they are liable to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted if they are linked with the commission of any criminal offence. However, the arrest, investigation and prosecution must be conducted in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the penal statutes and the Constitution,” he said.

CONDOLENCE VISIT…

L-R: National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, APC Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Lawal Shuaibu and APC National Welfare Officer, Mallam Ibrahim Masari, at Sadiq Abubakar 111 International Airport, Sokoto, when Tinubu paid condolence visit to the family of the late former President Shehu Shagari in Sokoto... yesterday

Azman Aircraft Suffers Engine Failure NCAA relocates headquarters to Abuja Chinedu Eze Passengers on-board Azman Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt yesterday morning were petrified when one of the two-engine aircraft failed while the aircraft was mid-air, at over 20,000 feet above sea level.

The flight was operated by a Boeing B737 with the registration number 5N-NAS, which had departed the Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal (MMA 2), Lagos to Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Port Harcourt, with 114 passengers on-board before the incident occurred.

THISDAY learnt that the incident occurred at about 10:57 a.m. when the flight was

approaching the Port Harcourt airspace.

According to informed source in the industry, the aircraft had already flown for about 35 minutes when the pilot-in-command informed the Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) at Port Harcourt Airport of the breakdown of one of its engines and declared emergency immediately.

It was gathered that the ATC approved the emergency status for the pilot, but the pilot in an attempt to land, missed the approach light and had to re-position again.

Within this period, it was learnt that there was panic among the passengers who were already informed of the incident.

An unconfirmed report claimed that one of the wings of the aircraft had caught fire mid-air before one of the two engines failed.

The General Manager, Public Affairs, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye, confirmed the incident on the phone.

Adurugoboye said the airline had alerted the regulatory agency of the incident and that its inspectors would check the aircraft to ascertain its level of damage.

He, however, said the airline had sent in another aircraft to airlift some of its passengers out of Port Harcourt to other cities.

He said: “It is a safety issue.

The airline has alerted us of the incident. The fact is that

the aircraft had an engine issue mid-air, but it was able to land safety at Port Harcourt Airport.

After the incident, the airline had sent in another aircraft to airlift its passengers from Port Harcourt.”

When contacted, the Managing Director of the airline, Mr. Faisal Munaif, refused to pick the call to confirm the incident.

In another development, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman, has confirmed that the federal government has directed that the regulatory agency should relocate its headquarters from Lagos to Abuja.

Usman told THISDAY that the agency would begin phased movement to the federal capital territory.

NNPC Security Guards Protest Non-payment of Salaries Private security guards attached to the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) and who protect oil pipelines from Lokoja to Kaduna yesterday staged a peaceful protest against the non-payment of 22 months’ salary arrears.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the protesting workers blocked the entrance to the NNPC Depot at Awawa, Abaji Area Council, FCT, and denied members of staff, petrol tankers and visitors entry.

The security guards, who are employees of MRS Limited, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Pay us

our 22-months salaries, “We are not slaves” and “We will block Abuja-Lokoja Road if we are not paid.”

The spokesman of the protesting workers, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaja, lamented that when they were working directly under the NNPC, they were paid as and when due and received other benefits until MRS Limited took over.

“Other security guards doing the same work at Warri, Port Harcourt and Katsina, have been paid, but we at Lokoja-Kaduna axis have not been paid.

“When we were working directly under the NNPC, our

salaries were constant and we worked under good condition.

“But when MRS Limited took over, there is no provision for even torch lights, raincoats and rain boots to enable us work properly.

“All we want is our salaries paid; as well as going back to work directly under the NNPC and not MRS Limited,” Kaja said.

He urged the government to intervene in order to resolve the dispute and forestall any breakdown of law and other.

Other protesters, Muhammed Hassan and Umar Isa, said the action had exposed them

to hardship and unbearable conditions.

Hassan accused the management of MRS Limited of being insensitive to their plight, alleging that the management had turned deaf ears to their demand for payment of their salaries.

When NAN sought to speak with Alhaji Sani Mohammed, the Abaji NNPC Pumping Depot manager, he declined comments on the situation.

Mohammed said MRS Limited was responsible for the security guards and was in a better position to respond or address the media.

17

FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Abe: Amaechi Trying to Play God in Rivers Politics Wike lacks moral right to seek second tenure, says Cole Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt and Segun James in Lagos The senator representing Rivers East senatorial district, Magnus Abe, has accused the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, of trying to play God in the way he imposed Mr. Tonye Cole as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

This is coming as the spokesman for the campaign organisation of the governorship candidate of APC in the state, Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, has said Governor Nyesom Wike has no moral right to seek a second tenure.

Speaking yesterday on Arise News, a sister broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspaper, Abe said it was the way Amaechi imposed the Cole candidacy on the people that was primarily responsible for the crisis that led to the party not having a recognised governorship candidate for the February election in the state.

He insisted that Cole was a total stranger to the party when he was imposed on the party faithful, adding that there was no decency or respect for the people the way it was done.

“If we overcome this struggle internally, I believe the party

will be stronger for it. At the core of the challenges in the APC Rivers state is that people actually want alternative they know will work. So, we must be able to convince them that the alternative we are offering is one that will bring something different from what they have had in the past.

“I believe that at the end of the day, the party will emerge stronger. The legal and moral foundation on which the Cole candidate is based is faulty. And if leaders of the party like us keep quiet, and allow the party to proceed in a manner that at the end of the day will leave the party totally shortchanged in every aspect, then we are not working for the party.

“So, people must be able to speak up and must be able to stand for what will help the APC in Rivers State. People have suffered so much in the state for us to leave them with no option.”

Abe said what led to the crisis in the party was the refusal of some party leaders to allow due process and internal democracy, saying that was the reason over 16,000 members who were denied their rights headed for the court to fight the process.

“Over 16,000 members of the party who were denied opportunity to participate in the

party’s primary process headed to the courts to enforce their rights. That was the beginning of the crisis. This was still lingering when the primary took place.

“Following this, the national chairman decided that Rivers State was one of the states where direct primaries must take place because of issues arising out of the exclusion of these people.

“Those of us who are lawyers know that you cannot put nothing on something and expect it to stand. But just as they feared, the High Court dismissed the entire exercise that produced Mr. Cole. The Court of Appeal has also affirmed the decision of the lower court.”

Abe said there was no truth in the assertion that he had insisted that the party should field him

or nobody else.

“I have never said that. I’m a loyal party man, but at the same time, the party belongs to all of us and we cannot stand by and allow the party to crash.”

Reacting to the claim that Amaechi was in his house to plead with him to drop his gubernatorial ambition and accept a senatorial ticket, Abe said this was not the true position. “As at the time the minister came to my house, nobody was running for governorship. So, the issue of him offering me a senatorial seat did not even arise and it was never discussed.

“The minister did come to my house, but what he did was to order me not to even think about it, saying that if I

try it, this and that will be the consequence. So it is not true that the minister came to my house to plead with me.

“The day he came to house, we were together all day. But he said he came to my house because he wanted to warn me and to let my wife be aware that I should not try to run for governor. I thought that was not right or necessary.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke, has said Governor Wike has no moral right to ask the people of the state for a second tenure.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, Nwuke said, “Governor Wike has no moral right to approach the Rivers State people for a second

tenure in office. What is he really coming back to do?

“Rivers people gave him a chance to serve them in 2015 after the abracadabra that took place. Rather than work for them, Wike turned against them and chastised them from day one.

“Rather than keep the people safe, heads of innocent and defenceless persons were gruesomely cut off - whole families were wasted by hit squads, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed in several parts of the state.

“Three years down the line, the governor who has squandered the opportunity to write his name in the history books, wants a second chance,” Nwuke added.

INEC: 309,000 PVCs Still Unclaimed in Plateau Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Ahead of the February elections, the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Plateau State has disclosed that a total of 309, 000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) are yet to be claimed by registered voters in the state.

The electoral body has also said the best it could do would be to prevent vote-buying at polling centres, adding that it will not follow voters and politicians to their closets to prevent them from selling and buying PVCs. Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Plateau State, Mr. Hussaini Halilu Pai, disclosed this yesterday in Jos while holding stakeholders’ meeting with chairmen of political parties in the state.

He said without the PVC no

voter will be allowed to vote.

He said, “Plateau State INEC had successful registration of over 500,000 electorate between April 2017 and August, 2018, out of which 150,000 have so far collected their PVCs, while the remaining 309,000 are yet Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (left), being presented with ‘Ofo’ by the traditional rulers of 21 autonomous communities of to be collected.”

Pai also said INEC will go Awkunanaw clan in Enugu South and Nkanu West Local Government Areas as a symbol of their endorsement of his re-election bid in extra mile to move from local Enugu…yesterday government headquarters to registration areas for the distribution of the remaining PVCs. He urged the political parties Alex Enumah in Abuja narrative of pervasive corruption continue to rid the country of Justice Walter Onnoghen, for to ensure that electorates collect in the system is changed for the economic and financial crimes the success recorded in the their PVCs before the election, Acting Chairman of the better, as well as altering the and effectively coordinate the past year, he stressed that saying INEC will not use the Economic and Financial perception that some persons domestic efforts of the global the judiciary remains key to incident form during the 2019 Crimes Commission (EFCC), are above the law. fight against money laundering winning the corruption fight. general elections.

A statement by the Acting and terrorism financing”, Magu He said: “Let us have it at Ibrahim Magu, has expressed He said, “Cards readers will determination of the Commission Head of Media and Publicity, was quoted to have said. the back of our minds that we perform better, adding that there to ensure that it secures more Tony Orilade, said Magu who According to Orilade, the are only prosecutors; without will be no more card readers’ convictions against looters and made the declaration while on acting chairman stressed that the support of the Judiciary, led failure in 2019”. other offenders of the law in a working tour of the Lagos the EFCC remains committed by the CJN and other Heads office of the Commission to carrying out its duties “in of Court across jurisdictions, 2019.

Magu stated that with 312 yesterday, noted that the conformity to best international we could not have been able convictions in 2018, the anti- EFCC has already secured practice within the ambit of to achieve the much we did in 2018. Therefore, to be able graft agency is strategising three convictions in 2019, the Law”.

While commending the to double that feat in 2019, let to redouble efforts in 2019, as which he described as a good exemplary leadership of the us know that we cannot do part of concerted efforts aimed beginning. in the state.

“The Commission shall Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), without the judiciary.” at ensuring that the negative He indicated that the desire of the youths for proper participation in governance would be enhanced by the appointment of more youths Femi Ogbonnikan In Abeokuta of the Caretaker Committee, Mr. politics for good. How such an members across the state”.

Tunde Oladunjoye. ingrate now turns around to He added that Amosun in positions of leadership and According to Elegbede: speak for Ogun APC should deserved the respect of every encouragement of improvements The state executive committee in skill training, adding that of a faction of the Ogun State “Tunde Oladunjoye lacks the baffle the understanding of member of the party in Ogun State, except pretenders who the ongoing industrialisation chapter of thea All Progressives integrity and does not possess every reasonable man”.

“For the avoidance of doubt, have nothing to offer to the programme would open more Congress (APC) has risen in the pedigree to castigate the opportunities in private sector stout defence of the statement governor, Senator Ibikunle the State Executive Committee development, progress and partnership of training the youths credited to the state governor, Amosun. If he is truly a member of Ogun APC is currently unity of the party.

“Some people came to join Senator Ibikunle Amosun, of APC in Ogun State as he and effectively discharging within and abroad.

Emmanuel said the describing the members of wants us to believe, then he its responsibilities under the or rejoin the party through the investments of his administration the caretaker as interlopers should not have spoken constitution of our great party, back door. So, they may not thoughtlessly to the leader hence the supreme law of appreciate what it takes for in agricultural revolution are major and confusionists.

The faction, in a statement of our party in Ogun State Nigeria. Any other body, which Senator Amosun to build the steps to tackling food shortage in sustaining the primary purpose issued and signed by the the way he did. It could be pretends to carry out those party and make it strong. These of feeding families, hoping that Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wole recalled that Oladunjoye was functions is a contrived body are the elements that are painting youth groups would continue to Elegbede, yesterday, reacted recently disgraced out of Ogun unknown to the constitution, the governor in bad light and demonstrate expected peaceful to a statement issued on APC after which he wrote an the Exco of our party and the bent on destroying the party Wednesday by the spokesman epilogue that he was quitting generality of our dedicated in Ogun State”, Elegbede said. situation in the state.

ROYAL ENDORSEMENT… …

Magu: We are Determined to Secure More Convictions

Emmanuel Empowers Akwa Ibom Youths The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has pledged to uphold the tenets of social contract entered with the generality of the youths in the state.

Emmanuel made this pledge during the end of the year 2018 get-together with the youths of Uyo Senatorial District which took place at the Christ the King Primary School ground, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo. The governor, accompanied by the speaker, State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke and the state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Paul Ekpo, said the social contract would not deviate from the provision of basic necessities of daily living and the promotion of indices of sustainable development

Ogun APC Caretaker Members Are Interlopers, Says Party

18

T H I S D AY Ëž FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

PERSPECTIVE

Making the Role for Atiku/Obi Clearer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wale Oluwade

lessons for the uninitiated in the potency and deviousness of the dark forces at work in the city where essentially the wealth of the nation is daily shared by enemies of state. Many derided Reuben for the article, but not me. I believe him.

I

n my article last week, I endorsed the Atiku/Obi PDP presidential ticket and gave my reasons. I mentioned why I believe they are best for the job at this material time. I listed the strengths and weaknesses of both of them and why it was a critical necessity they manage adroitly their character and personality differences for the good of the nation. Now, this piece is about suggestions on a feasible and necessary governance agenda for the duo.

General Guide to Political Governance For a start, the office of president is way beyond being a policy wonk or technocratic guru. This is where many in the race get it wrong. The office and the occupier need much more than capacity for numbers and statistics.

The number one skill required is an abundance of emotional intelligence. Successful politicians the world over possess this. The ability to connect and communicate with the different strata of a multi-complex society, and to empathize almost reflexively. The capacity to assemble superior teams of strong individuals, to think strategically, to rigorously deliver on promises, the courage to take risks and make audacious decisions, to compromise and relentlessly forge win-win relationships. To succeed in a modern democracy you need the foregoing skills without which failure is definite.

The above is the role assigned to Atiku Abubakar. He is a consummate politician, perhaps, the best there is currently. He brings to the ticket the capacity to be a unifier, healer and father figure to a badly divided, polarized and hurting nation. He should use the bully pulpit of the presidency to bring every disparate views, ethnicity, religion and ideology together.

He should communicate regularly as he did at the Port Harcourt convention victory speech, when he spoke extempore and connected even with hitherto implacable foes. Atiku is the master-politician; let him do the political business with the NASS and other critical non state actors whose buy in are essential for peace and order needed for growth and development.

An Agenda for the VP Some more specific responsibilities assigned to the Vice-President in the 1999 Constitution includes being the agent of the President in his exercise of the executive powers conferred on him by the Constitution; (section 5(1)(a)) responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government previously assigned to him by the President; 148(1) presiding over the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC); to be the Deputy Chairman of the following Federal Councils established by section 153 of the 1999 Constitu-

Abubakar

Obi

tion, namely; the Council of State, the National Defence Council and the National Security Council. This office is not merely ceremonial as imagined, for in the Umaru Yar â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Adua debacle, the VP had to assume Acting Presidential role, and on more than three occasions under the current administration, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has had to step in as Acting President also.

Importantly, the VP can only be effective to the extent that the President allows him/her to be.

This is why I wrote last week of the necessity that these two develop mutual trust and confidence between each other. Critically, this mutual understanding must be hinged on the foundation that national interest at all times will override all other considerations in their governance activities. Essentially, I pray and hope Atiku if elected will allow his vice, superintend and accomplish the following tasks; r* IPQF "UJLV "CVCBLBS BT 1SFTJEFOU XJMM allow Peter Obi confront the historic injustices in our public service where elected officials live like lords while the rest citizens resort to feeding from the dustbins. Government officials at all levels, but especially at federal and state governments, must realize that they are called to serve the nation and not milk it to death. The wasteful expenditure incurred in needless foreign travels, attending useless and meaningless meetings, conferences and seminars must stop now! The purchase of new automobiles, equipment and other items, in every budget cycle while the old still serves the purpose, must stop forthwith. The benefits and allowances paid to a few workers at the NNPC, CBN, PENCOM, NCC, NAICOM, BPE, NPA, NIMASA, SEC, PTDF and PPPRA is ungodly, unjust, iniquitous and corrupt. This has to stop immediately. Nigeria cannot be borrowing to sustain the obscene lifestyles of a tiny elite while the rest live in penury. r* IPQF "UJLV XJMM BMMPX 1FUFS 0CJ DPOGSPOU

our opaque, corrupt and inefficient public procurement system designed to fail and which is rigged against the interest of Nigeria. I hope he is allowed to engage with the NASS and cause them to see the need to reduce their gluttony and penchant for corruption and grand theft of our corporate wealth. I hope he will be allowed to preach to them the necessity to tame their bloated and unbridled sense of personal entitlement. I hope he educates state governors on the art of serious governance and not frivolities and demolition of opponentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s houses. The massive hemorrhaging of the economy due to the insatiable appetites of a tiny cabal ensconced in our public service at both federal and state tiers of government must stop now. r* IPQF UIF 71 XJMM CF BMMPXFE UP IBWF EJSFDU oversight over the key revenue generating government owned enterprises; FIRS, NPA, NCS, NNPC, SEC, CBN, PPPRA, NAICOM, and PENCOM. This is to ensure that all revenues are dutifully accounted for, that proper and up-to-date accounts and audit of management activities in these are maintained, that operational efficiency of these are established in line with their strategic objectives, that embedded wastes and corruption are eliminated or reduced substantially, and critically, to deliberately build up our Sovereign Wealth Fund to not less than $200 billion in four years. r* QSBZ UPP UIBU 1FUFS 0CJ XJMM MFBSO UP be more flexible and stoop to conquer in certain instances. Abuja is different from rural Anambra. The powers, principalities and wickedness in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;high placesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Abuja are not those kindergarten demons in Anambra (Chris Uba & Co) you easily steamrolled. The Abuja powers and principalities are stark illiterates and very mean. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe me, ask Reuben Abati. He once wrote an interesting piece awhile back titled; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Spiritual Side of Aso Villaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hilarious piece, but full of vital

Personal Agenda for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;President-tobeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Now, let me offer free consultancy to HE Atiku Abubakar: r%PO U DPNNJU BOZ VOGPSDFE FSSPST /JHFSJans are not voting for you because we think or believe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a saint, but rather that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll put in a capable shift in office. Whatever mud and vitriol the opposition hurls at you, as much as possible, maintain calmness and composure.

Let your handlers deal with it while you keep your eyes firmly on the ball. We know you and we know them too. r%PO U NBLF VOOFDFTTBSZ QSPNJTFT ,FFQ JU simple; (i) Re-structure our governance model. (ii) Eradicate unemployment (iii) Restore security (iv) Diversify the economy (v) And slay the dragons of ungodly cost of governance. r:PV OFFE FWFSZ WPUF %PO U DPNNJU UIF TUSBtegic blunder of Hilary Clinton in the 2016 US Presidential elections. There are a small group of electorates who will vote on the basis of what they think you can deliver, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t alienate them.

Every ballot counts. r%PO U CF 1FUSPMFVN .JOJTUFS 5IF :PSVCBT say if they call someone a thief, he shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be seen playing with his neighborâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goat. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great thing you already promised to privatize the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Secret Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; called NNPC; please hurry and do so. r,FFQ ZPVS DIJMESFO GBS GSPN ZPVS QSFTJdency. Those burly looking and mustachioed hunks following you around should go and find work to do elsewhere. r(JWF BMM ZPVS NJOJTUFST TNBSU HPBMT BOE demand accountability from them. Commit them to clear performance management standards. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to show any of them the way out for non-performance. And promptly make example of them when they break the laws. Same applies to all heads of strategic parastatals. r/P JNQFSJBM QSFTJEFODZ /JHFSJB DBOOPU afford it. Reduce substantially, your personal aides, motorcade and presidential air fleet. This is leading by example. r%P OPU NBLF FYDVTFT GPS DSJNJOBMT XIFUIFS terrorists or herdsmen. Be they kidnappers, armed robbers, looters, or gangsters; be brutal and decisive in dealing with them all.

If you can do these, you would have written your names in gold and ensure your place in the credit side of history. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to pay me Wazirin. This is a patriotic duty to my fatherland.

This writer can be reached at @WaleOluwade

Why Wike Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Get a Second Tenure Ogbonna Nwuke

S

pokesman for the Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation, Ogbonna Nwuke says Governor Nyesom Wike has no moral right to ask Rivers people for a second tenure.

Nwuke said in reaction to the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Year address that the present PDP government has squandered whatever is left of its goodwill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Governor Wike has no moral right to approach the Rivers people for a second tenure in office. What is he really coming back to do? Rivers people gave him a chance to serve them in 2015 after the abracadabra that took place. Rather than work for them, Wike turned against them and chastised them from day one. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rather than keep the people safe, heads of innocent and defenseless persons were gruesomely cut off. Whole families were wasted by hit squads, while property worth

millions of naira were destroyed in several parts of the State.

Three years down the line, the Governor who has squandered the opportunity to write his name in the history books, wants a second chance. Even members of his party who have seen how bad he is, are not looking forward to a Wike second term.â&#x20AC;?

Chief Nwuke said the Rivers people, pushed to the wall by Wikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administration, can not afford to gamble with the future. He stressed that it was time to hold leaders accountable for their deeds as this is not about party. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We challenge the Rivers Governor to tell Rivers people what he has done with billions of Naira belonging to them. Before asking for a second tenure, Wike should tell Rivers people where he kept N117 billion that the EFCC says has been stolen from the coffers of the Rivers State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wike should tell Rivers people where he is getting billions of Naira that he is using

to buy them out of their land and acquire palatial structures all over Port Harcourt.

He should tell us why we have the highest unemployment rate in the country despite billions of Naira that are flowing into the state. He should tell them why we the state is No.1 in all the wrong places- insecurity, waste mismanagement, occurrence of HIV and the national misery index.â&#x20AC;?

Urging Rivers people to say no to looting, Nwuke said the score card of the Wike administration has not been encouraging. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He (Wike) has failed woefully in improving the health sector; failed to deliver in the education sector; failed staff of the Rivers State Civil Service and failed pensioners who worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for the growth of our dear State,â&#x20AC;? Nwuke emphasised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What he has is a bag full of colossal failures. Unlike Wike, Pastor Tonye Cole who has a clear plan, will not allow the heads

of Rivers people to be severed from their bodies and used gruesomely to decorate roadsides in order to induce fear. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unlike Wike, Cole understands the need to create an appropriate environment for investments and understands the place of bureaucrats and technocrats who work in the State Civil Service. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cole knows that the greatest task of any responsible government is to protect lives and property. This is why Rivers people should ignore Wikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal for a second tenure and vote APC,â&#x20AC;? the gubernatorial spokesman stated.

He promised that the Tonye Cole government will bring back security, investment, jobs and empowerment and restore the garden city status with the greening and cleaning of the state and the decimation of black soot.

-Ogbonna Nwuke is the spokesman, Tonye Cole Campaign Organisation

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019

19

PERSPECTIVE

PDP Warns Nigerians of Another Plan to Rig the Presidential Election Kola Ologbodiyan

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oday, we want to alert Nigerians of another heinous machination by the Buhari Presidency and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to subvert the will of the people and rig the February 16, presidential election.

You will recall that we have been raising the flag on how the Buhari Presidency, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some individuals at the echelon of INEC have been seeking ways to compromise our electoral processes and open the way for the allocation of fictitious votes to President Muhammadu Buhari, having realized that he cannot win in a credible, free and fair polls.

Today, we have been informed that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, apparently in furtherance of the plots to rig the Presidential election, has appointed Mrs. Amina Zakari, a blood relation (niece) of the APC candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Chairperson of INEC Advisory Committee and Presidential election Collation Center Committee.

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) vehemently and unequivocally rejects, in its entirety, the appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, President Buhari’s blood relation, as the head of the collation of results, in the same election in which his uncle, President Buhari, as a candidate, has displayed a huge desperation to win.

The appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, who had been openly accused in various quarters as being the link person between INEC and the Buhari Presidency in their schemes to rig the election for President

Buhari

Yakubu

Buhari, constitutes a direct violence against the Presidential election and the PDP will not, in any way, whatsoever, accept it.

This is the same Amina Zakari, who headed the ICT Department of INEC at the time that department was accused of manipulating the INEC voter register to accommodate fictitious, underage and alien voters, particularly, in remote areas where they plan to allocate and announce conjured votes for President Buhari and the APC. It will interest Nigerians to note that this is the same Amina Zakari that was alleged to have played some roles in the 2018 governorship election in Osun state, where the electoral processes were flagrantly abused.

In appointing Mrs. Amina Zakari to head the collation of this Presidential election, Prof.

Yakubu has confirmed that he has been compromised and that he has already succumbed to pressure by the Buhari Presidency and APC to open the way for the self-succession of President Buhari.

The fact remains that there is no way Amina Zakari will not allocate votes to her blood relation, President Buhari, whom Nigerians have indicated clearly that they are not ready to return to office as President.

With Amina Zakari at the head of results collation, there is no way votes cast by Nigerians will count.

We, therefore, call on all Nigerians and

particularly the National Peace Committee to note that with the appointment of Amina Zakari, as head the collation of Presidential results, the INEC Chairman is setting the stage for a very huge political crisis, which is capable of derailing our democratic process.

We also urge the United Nations and other global democratic institutions to take copious note of this noxious appointment by the INEC Chairman.

If the INEC Chairman wants a peaceful Presidential election, he should, with the speed of light, reverse himself on this appointment.

In fact, the PPCO reiterates its position that for us to have a peaceful election, Mrs. Amina Zakari should not be seen anywhere near any of the 2019 election processes, not to talk of being involved in the collation of Presidential results The PDP remains committed to a peaceful and credible process, but we will never, in any way, allow anybody to use any means, under any guise whatsoever, to rig us out in this election. Not after it is clear that Nigerians have attained a consensus to rally behind our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as their next President.

All we ask for is a free, fair, credible and transparent electoral process in which the votes of Nigerians will not only count but will be seen to have counted.

Like Mr. President said during his 2019 budget presentation at the National Assembly, the world is watching us.

-Kola Ologbondiyan is the Director, Media & Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organization

The Elevation of Incompetence Continued from the back page All the economic reforms initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) have been killed by Buhari. He refused to sign the historic Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which was conceived to liberalise the governance structure of Nigeria’s oil industry and was one of the four bills that formed the omnibus PIB. His excuse for rejecting the PIGB was that it whittled down his powers.

Meanwhile, the Buhari government is still neck-deep in endless turnaround maintenance of the nation’s obsolete refineries that are not still working with all the attendant corruption.

I have had to deal with doubts that crept into my understanding of the meaning of integrity, applying less scholarship and more common sense and ancient wisdom to find some meaning. But on both scores, I have come out empty-handed and more confused because scholarship and common sense have failed to situate or explain Buhari’s supporters’ blind endorsement. The problem is what a great black American activist, Martin Luther King Jr, called “conscientious stupidity”.

It is impossible to reason with the president’s supporters. They are dismissive of obvious evidence. Show them the facts and data to prove that things have progressively gone from bad to worse under Buhari, and they respond with tired, recycled lies. A common denominator runs through them: they love lies. Indeed, the more lies Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Lai Mohammed, Babatunde Fashola spew to the public, the more energised Buhari’s supporters become. The more Buhari hunkers down on his nepotistic and clannish disposition, the more his supporters gyrate in thunderous applause for him as the messiah who is fixing Nigeria’s problems.

I for one do not believe that our democracy can function for long on lies, especially on lies of achievements. If we allow facts to become negotiable by Buhari and his supporters, we would have acquiesced in the erosion of the one thing that is constant for all ages: truth.

This is precisely one of the areas Buhari and his governments are deficient in. Telling lies is second nature to this government. First, immediately he assumed power, he repudiated all the campaign promises that won him the election. His supporters hailed him and told us it didn’t matter. He refused to appoint ministers immediately, claiming that

they were “noisemakers” and his supporters hailed the move, stating astonishingly that ministers were not needed since that would save the government huge money.

It was therefore dishonest and grotesquely preposterous to say the least for one of the spokesmen to the president to carelessly claim that the delay in the appointment of ministers was because former President Goodluck Jonathan did not give Muhammadu Buhari handover notes until 48 hours before his departure from office.

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Martin Luther King seemed to have Buhari’s supporters in mind when he made that immortal statement. Indeed what we are seeing from this government and its supporters is beyond fidelity to stupidity.

Now, is Jonathan also responsible for his inability or delay in appointing ministers to the vacant cabinet positions?

The truth was and still is that the man came to the table of leadership with nothing to offer. He lacks capacity for the job he was elected to do. For six good months, he was groping in the dark trying to figure out what exactly his job description was as president.

He was utterly clueless and has remained so thus far. This government is limping on towards the 2019 presidential election on barefaced lies, intimidation of opponents and false claims of achievements. We have all seen the consequences of his provincial mindset to governance. His contempt for safeguards of national unity is legendary.

Indeed, this is a man the nation “cannot call to order”.

Indeed, Albert Einstein was right when he stated that “no problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it”. Buhari is at the heart of the problems plaguing Nigeria. He cannot be part of the solution. More so, he lacks the mental capacity to rise higher, above the status quo and visualise a great nation. He is a tribal lord with courtiers and sycophants - right from the vice-president down the line to ministers, state governors and members of civil society who have been praising him for “saving Nigeria” despite the grim reality staring us all in the face that the country is gradually losing relevance amongst the community of nations.

Many supporters of the president’s don’t give a damn about the implications of another

four years of Buhari so long as he is in office just enjoying the perks. It’s all about their candidate winning the election willy-nilly and the preservation of their self-interest.

The national interest has no meaning to them. They will choose Buhari over Nigeria as demonstrated by their utterances. To them, the atrocities reigning under Buhari are being perpetrated by either former President Jonathan or the PDP. They cheer him on when he is directly or indirectly implicated in acts of corruption. They make excuses for him and blame others for his clear leadership failures and hail him as the deliverer.

Now let’s look at Buhari’s record on corruption where he derives his mythical integrity.

Buhari’s integrity first took a dive when he appointed the former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, a man who was then facing multiple criminal charges of fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and outright corruption in court, as co-chairman of the Transition Committee. It was a body blow to the acclaimed anti-corruption posture and integrity of the “no-nonsense anti-corruption czar”. I pointed out that disturbing contradiction then but either many were too soaked in celebrations of Buhari’s victory, or they saw it but simply didn’t care. Curiously, the charges against Sylva were dismissed a few months after and the 48 houses he acquired during his four-year reign as governor were returned to him.

Buhari’s anti-corruption war has since moved on to reveal a less-than-noble intent and a reputation far more tainted than Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and Fashola wanted us to know. His war on corruption is a targeted war on opposition elements while shielding and protecting his party men, close aides and friends. While his supporters continue to force-feed us with tales of his integrity and honesty, the evidence on the ground points to the contrary.

Buhari appointed the ex-secretary to the government of the federation Babachir Lawal, indicted and sacked for corruption and embezzlement of IDP funds as his campaign coordinator in Adamawa State. He has also just appointed Godswill Akpabio, a man under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the national coordinator of his presidential support committee. Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, a staunch ally of Buhari, was caught on several videos receiving dollar

bribes from contractors. What did Buhari do?

He sang Ganduje’s praises. Lest we forget, Ganduje promised to deliver five million votes to Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. Where is the integrity in all of these?

Does integrity now mean hobnobbing with suspected thieves and even benefiting from them? There is a time honoured adage that says, show me your friends and I will tell who you are.

Under Buhari, $25 billion contracts were awarded by Maikanti Baru, GMD of the NNPC without following due process. The Senate set up a committee headed by Senator Aliyu Wamakko to probe the transactions. Pronto, Buhari invited Wamakko to the Presidential Villa for a meeting. That was the end of the probe. Mr. Integrity my foot! The train has since moved on. What a country!

What about the astronomical consumption of petrol that is riddled with fraud and subsidy payments that are shrouded in secrecy?

Baru has given multiple figures of the daily consumption of petrol. Under Jonathan, we were told 33-35 million litres. Under Buhari, it has been a revolving door: 60 million, 70million and as high as 80million litres a day, in a difficult economic environment with no corresponding purchasing capacity by Nigerians. These are the figures Baru, the sole importer of petrol, collects subsidy on. From 35million litres under Jonathan to as much as 80million in some months under Buhari.

The man his supporters claim has integrity has four times vetoed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that was meant to make the 2019 elections more transparent and credible, the last being on the flimsy grounds that its implementation was too close to the elections. Consequently, INEC has just said they would use the controversial Incidence Form in the conduct of the elections. Yet, Jonathan assented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the 26th of March 2015, a few days to the election. It is a shame that even his supporters want him to rig the elections.

They applaud his refusal to sign the bill as “superior politics”. The truth is he wants to benefit from the magical numbers that come out of Kano and other northern states.

Indeed, Buhari has become the nemesis of a progressive Nigeria. To those campaigning for him to continue in office, history will be less forgiving of what they have done to our country.

Happy New Year to All.

20

FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Poor Liquidity May Threaten Aviation Sector, Analysts Say Chinedu Eze Industry analysts have predicted that the aviation industry may experience bankruptcy among many operators due to lack of

operating funds, failure to obtain loans and lacklustre investment opportunities.

The analysts noted that while there could be increase in outbound international travel

Agbaje Faults Appointment of Muri-Okunola as Lagos HoS Segun James The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has faulted the appointment of Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola as the new Head of Service in the state, saying the action sacrificed career progression and was ‘politics taken too far.’

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had on Monday sworn in Muri-Okunola as the 21st HoS in the state to replace Mrs. Folashade Adesoye who retired in December 2018.

At the age of 46 years, Muri-Okunola is said to be the youngest ever HoS in the history of Lagos State.

Agbaje, in a statement by his campaign organisation’s Directorate of Media and Publicity, yesterday described the appointment as “insensitive, unjust and disruptive of the civil service hierarchy.”

He said, “indications are that, to pave way for the assisted meteoric rise of the new HoS, the Lagos State Government had, between January and November 2018, forcefully retired no fewer than 21 permanent secretaries considered as superiors and more experienced to the new man.

“There is a sense of shock and injustice in all this. It is bound to create bad blood and injustice within the system.

“These are seasoned personnel capable of fitting perfectly and

effectively in that office. But in this era of impunity, they have been offloaded prematurely.”

The PDP candidate dismissed the new HoS as “part of the oligarchy controlling and monopolising all the levers of power in the state,” citing his position as the Personal Assistant to former Governor Bola Tinubu, which, according to Agbaje, imbued Muri-Okunola with “very abnormal privileges.”

“Muri-Okunola lacks broadbased exposure. Whoever becomes HoS is usually a civil servant with widespread exposure, as he must be abreast of all issues related to the bureaucracy and governance.

“But all these rules and traditions have been bent for this appointment,” Agbaje added.

He stated that the development portends “grave danger” to the state’s bureaucracy, established on the foundations of merit-nurtured progression through the career ladder.

He said, “It is befuddling to imagine how officers, who are 15 years older than the new HoS, will take orders and directives from him.

“From all indications, this might be too far-fetched and difficult and it has a way of impacting negatively on governance, taking into cognizance that the civil service is the engine room of not just government but of the society also.”

due to many Nigerians who are escaping to better economic environment (migration), load factor on inbound passenger movement and domestic travel may contract due to poor liquidity of indigenous operating airlines.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed that while more Nigerians are leaving the country, according their records, more investors are coming to Nigeria due to Ease of Doing Business policy of the federal government, which facilitated the visa on arrival policy.

A senior official of NIS who wouldn’t want to be named, told THISDAY that, “there is massive exodus of Nigerians, in the last three years and this will get worse this year. It is unfortunate that many of those leaving are professionals, including bankers, accountants, medical doctors and lawyers who have enrolled in legal institutions to qualify to practice in the countries they have emigrated to.”

The CEO of Aglow Limited, aviation support services company, Tayo Ojuri, in his projection of the aviation industry in 2019, said there was massive unemployment in the third

quarter (Q3) of 2018, which rose up to 23.1per cent from 18 per cent, noting that this has affected air travel, as aviation is a function of disposable income.

Ojuri said the obvious lacklustre holiday spending in the Q4 2018 would also affect liquidity in the early 2019.

He, however, projected that viable domestic airlines would attract particular attention for equity investment and strategic technical partnership with global players.

He said, “Newly commissioned airports will improve passenger facilitation and propensity to increase non-aeronautical revenue if concession space is properly planned and implemented.

“Passenger traffic will marginally increase in first quarter due to electioneering activities with potential dip in second and third quarters.

Realistic passenger movement will be evident in last quarter of 2019.”

Ojuri also said African open skies agreement would boost trade, but currency depreciation would increase ticket fares, which would be an area of concern in 2019.

He said that government

should concession the airports in 2019, adding that there would be need for the establishment of maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Nigeria.

Other major factors that would affect air travel in 2019, Ojuri noted, would include oil prices, as Nigeria’s economy is highly vulnerable to oil revenue shocks, disclosing that the country recorded about 80.1 per cent of total exports and current import cover of external reserves in less than 11 months “Balance of trade will fall - $25 billion which will affect volume of cargo inflow; Nigeria’s output quota now down 7.22 per cent to 1.67 million barrels per day (mbpd); this would increase in cost of Jet A1. Due to decrease in oil revenue, passenger traffic will possibly reduce due to government spending, which would prompt increase in ticket fares,” he said.

Ojuri also noted that the behaviour of forex would significantly affect airline operations in Nigeria.

“Strong dollar will weigh on airline’s operations and availability of funds for training, purchasing spares and maintenance of aircraft. These might affect the outflow of

repatriation of funds for ticket sold in Nigeria by foreign airlines,” the CEO of Aglow Limited said.

Also Executive Director, Zenith Travels Limited, Mr. Olu Ohunayo, told THISDAY that fares would rise with attendant manipulation of Global Distribution system (GDS), which makes seats unavailable “with the perennial terminal touts smiling to the bank with the aid of check-in staff.”

Ohunayo said that for Nigerian airlines to operate profitably government must extend operating hours at the airports by providing night landing facilities and should consider it critical the establishment of MRO facility in the country.

He also noted that the industry has lost a lot of jobs, which adversely affected the operational department of airlines.

“Revenue accrued to agencies and regulator are depleted in line with the maxim: ‘the higher the frequencies the higher the revenue generated’. The situation may also encourage new investors to look at opportunities that are bound by either buying dormant AOCs or investing in existing carriers,” he said.

Businessman Donates Three-storey Building for Ekere’s Campaign Segun James The campaign of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere, received a major boost on Wednesday with the donation of a state-of-the-art three-storey campaign office in Eket Local Government Area by a business mogul and political financier, Otuekong Emmanuel Assam (Emmaco).

Inaugurating the office located along the busy Eket - Oron Road, Ekere thanked the donor for his sacrifice towards the victory of the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

He pointed out that the office, the second such donation in Eket after the first one by a former APC governorship aspirant, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, would serve as a veritable place to strategise for the success of the party in the local government area.

Lamenting the present level of poverty and hunger in the state, Ekere vowed to vigorously pursue the banishment of poverty, if elected governor.

The donor, Assam, explained that he was driven by his passion, determination and love for

the Ekere project, expressing the belief that the incoming Ekere government will bring development and progress to Eket.

The Chairman of the APC Campaign Council, Group Captain Ewang Sam Ewang (rtd.), described the huge turnout as a wonder and a demonstration of the love of Eket people for the APC. A former representative of Akwa Ibom South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Eme Ekaette, stated that Ekere had garnered the requisite experience to turn things around for good in the state as Governor.

A former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Bassey Essien, lamented that Eket was full of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) because of the destruction of the popular Urua Nka market without a replacement by the state government.

A former representative of Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/ONNA Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, criticised the failure of the state government to complete its projects in Eket, arguing that it had left the infrastructure in the area in poor state.

WELL DESERVED AWARD… …

L-R: Daughter of the Karis awardee, first Principal of Kings College, Lagos, late Dr. Reginald Akpofure, Miss Imoni Akpofure; a relative, David Ajarho; daughter of the recipient, Mrs. Omesiri Akpofure-Idris; guest of honour, governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and the host, Rev. Chris Okotie, presenting a cheque of N2 million to the family of the late awardee, in Lagos…yesterday

I’m Not a Member of Any Political Party, Says Emir of Ilorin Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Chairman of Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday said he has never been a member of any political party in the country.

Sulu-Gambari disclosed this Ilorin when the members of the state executive council of All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Hon.Bashr Bolarinwa paid a courtesy call on him at his Oja-Oba palace in the state capital.

He said he has remained a father to all politicians

irrespective of their political affiliations since he assumed the throne of his forefathers.

The monarch added that, “I am not a member of any political party in Nigeria and even I and my family have never voted for any party in the country.

“All politicians have been coming to my palace to seek for support and prayers and which I have been giving to them without any interest.

“I want all progress for my town and Kwara State in general and whoever among the politicians visited me for my royal blessings, I always

gave it to them.

“I also prayed for their success in all their political ambitions as this is only way that peace and progress can come to my domain and entire Kwara “.

While calling the members of the state executive council committee of the APC to see the home of Alimi as their home anytime, the monarch said that, “ I am ready to give you royal blessings and support that will make you excel in all your political endeavours”.

He therefore prayed for the state executive committee of APC to excel in their political

campaigns as the election in the country is almost around the corner.

Earlier, the chairman of the APC in the state, Hon. Bolarinwa said the leadership of the party was in the palace to inform the Emir of the kicking off of its party campaigns as the election is drawing nearer so as to seek his royal blessing.

He said the development would also show that the APC has recognition for the royal stool of Ilorin Emirate and Emir of Ilorin who happens to be a father of all political stakeholders in the state.

21

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͳ, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD

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

Í° Íś Ë&#x153; Í° ÍŽ ÍŻ Íś MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 17.17 % 18.42 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

15% 12.75% 12.63%

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

355.69 % 0.39% 1.78%

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 2.41% YEAR TO DATE 7.96%

EXCHANGE RATE ͹͎;˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes Qatar Acquires 5% of Chinese Airlines

Qatar Airways Group has announced that as part of its strategy to invest in the strongest airlines around the world and continue enhancing operations and network connectivity it has completed an on-market purchase of certain A shares and H shares of China Southern Airlines Company Limited. The deal was completed on 28 December 2018. Qatar Airways said the acquisition gave rise to its aggregate holding of approximately ďŹ ve per cent of the total issued share capital of China Southern Airlines.

Qatar Airwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chairman His Excellency Mr Ali Shareef Al Emadi said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Qatar Airways regards our shareholding in China Southern Airlines as an important part of our strategic investment in the largest airline in one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing aviation markets.â&#x20AC;?

Qatar Airwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr Akbar Al Baker added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;China Southern Airlines is one of the most prestigious airlines in the Chinese domestic market and an important market player in the world, with massive potential for cooperation in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given the complementary strengths and resources of each of China Southern Airlines and Qatar Airways, there are opportunities for us to work together and build a long term relationship in ways that would bring beneďŹ ts to customers of both airlines.â&#x20AC;?

AIB Foresees Improved Infrastructure

NSE LISTING

L-R: CEO, GDL, Kolawole Ayeye; Executive Director, Regulations, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Tinuade Awe; Chairman, GDL, Dr Nadu Denloye; Director, Christiana Bamidele George; Legal Counsel, Bayo Omole, during the listing of GDL Money Market Fund on the NSEâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

Concerns over Shrinking Number of Domestic Aircraft Chinedu Eze Industry experts have noted that while the number of domestic air travel in the country is growing, the number of operating aircraft owned by the airlines has reduced.

This, according to them might hamper the growth of domestic airlines in the country as well as negatively affect air travelers.

Industry experts are of the view that the number of aircraft may not meet travel demand in the New Year and beyond, noting that this would drive up airfares, limit the number of people who travel on domestic routes, adding that the market would shrink instead of growing.

AVIATION In the last three years, passengersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movement on domestic routes hovered around 12 million, while that of international travel was over four million.

With impending shrink of the domestic market, industry observers said this would affect the capital base of the airlines and the contribution of the sector to the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, attributed this to poor investment in the aviation industry, lack of incentives by the federal government and the inability of airlines to

secure long-term loans on single digit interest as obtains in other parts of the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the industry needs a kind of re-organisation. It needs a kind of jolt because if you look at it this year (2018) a lot of airlines have gone under. Medview has gone to one aircraft operation and a lot of other airlines have gone to one aircraft operation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite the fact that the passenger growth has increased, but the amount of aircraft operating in the country has reduced. Now what does that tell you? It tells you that the aviation industry is not growing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The aviation industry actually is shrinking. Despite the

fact that the passenger demand is high but the growth in the airlines are going down,â&#x20AC;? Sanusi said.

He said the major reason for the shrinking of the market was lack of investment in the sector and urged government to introduce policies that would enhance financial empowerment to the airlines and also protect them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reason the industry is shrinking is basically no investment is coming in. Of course the only airline that is bringing in more airplanes is Air Peace.

Continued on page 22

Expert Urges NPA to Redesign Apapa Port to Attract Investment Eromosele Abiodun Former Minister of the Interior and Chairman, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Limited and Capt.

Emmanuel Ihenacho has called on the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) to redesign the Lagos Apapa Port Area to provide for truck holding bays so as to end the gridlock on the port access roads and function optimally.

Ihenacho, who stated this in Lagos, also tasked the NPA to do an aerial survey around Apapa and redesign the entire area to create more stacking areas at the ports. Doing so, Ihenacho, said would effectively reduce and contain the perennial gridlock on ports access roads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;NPA should look at the property along Creek Road that are not in good use, meet their owners and pay them a commensurate compensation to take

ECONOMY over the property. NPA should knock the property down and convert them to infrastructure such as stacking areas, holding bays and truck parks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the NPA considers this suggestion of taking over some abandoned property around the ports area, I strongly believe that constant gridlock will disappear in Apapa ports,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He noted that if the Ibom Deep Sea Port is properly funded and administered when it comes fully on stream, it would adequately accommodate goods going to the Eastern parts of the country.

He advised the NPA management to take advantage of infrastructure currently existing in Port-Harcourt and renew berthing facilities, so as to significantly reduce the

berthing pressure in Lagos ports.

Ihenacho, posited that the Lagos ports were presently over-utilised because the berth spaces were not increasing and the infrastructure were developed more than 40 years ago.

He stressed that but for Dangote and Flour Mills of Nigeria intervention through the current road repair, the ports access roads story would have been more frightening.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, recently assured stakeholders in the maritime industry of its renewed vigour and determination at improving on its operational efficiency and accomplishments recorded in 2018 in the new-year.

Also, she promised terminal operators and port users that it would further open its doors for all players to surmount

various bottlenecks with a view to providing a healthy and smooth environment for all Stakeholders.

Bala-Usman, who stated this in a statement assured port users of NPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s renewed efforts towards the swift evacuation of cargoes from the Nigerian ports to the hinterlands and Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land locked neighbours.

While recalling the Ease of Doing Business introduced by the federal government, she disclosed that the NPA has partnered notable organisations and the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing for the reconstruction of dilapidated roads within the Ports axis for efficient Port Services across board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Management would sustain and step up the culture of Continued on page 22

TheCommissionerofAccidentInvestigationBureau(AIB),AkinOlateru, hassaidtheagencywouldworkonimprovingitsinfrastructure,ensure constant review of its systems, processes and procedure, and invest more on human capital development this new year.

Olateru, stated that all these would make AIB a world-class institution and an enviable place to work but urged staďŹ&#x20AC; to roll up their sleeves, tighten their seat belts and be prepared for greater work deliveries.

In his New Year Message to the workers Olateru said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall be better than before. We will do more in upgrading our infrastructure, equipment and invest more on human capital development. All these I believe will make AIB a world-class institution and make it an enviable place to work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I therefore call on us all to roll up our sleeves, tighten our seat belts and be prepared f or greater work deliveries.This we shall do in most cordial manner fostering an even better working relationship with dynamism.â&#x20AC;?

He thanked the entire AIB team for the unalloyed support and cooperation he had enjoyed working with each and every one of them through 2018.

He further stated that no doubt, year 2018 came with its highs and lows, the sense of community was unparalleled in the way each one contributed to the call to duty.

NAAPE Seeks Training Policy Review

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) has called on the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to review its policy on pilot simulator training, stating that the status quo is inimical to the holder and currently subjects them to slave-like conditions.

The body also called on government to set up a high-powered monitoring committee to ensure that the Executive Order O5, which deals with expatriate quota and local content act is implemented in the aviation sub-sector.

These were issues raised from NAAPEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s communique signed by its General Secretary Comrade Ocheme Abba, after a retreat held in AbujafromDecember4-7withthemeEnhancingLeadershipCapacity for a Greater NAAPE. The body, explaining why it called for a review of the pilot simulator training among other reasons stated that the situation created currently is chaotic and does not allow pilots who may have been relieved of employment for one reason or another to secure another employment with the training certiďŹ cate.

NAAPE further stated that what obtains presently contravenes the periodic renewal policy and helps neither the pilots, airlines nor the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TheDirectorGeneralNCAAisurgedtotakeurgentstepstoreviewthe NCAAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy on pilots simulator training whereby a pilots simulator certiďŹ cate is vested in the airline. This policy smacks of skate labor and denies the pilot the right to their intellectual property.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Besides,thissituationhascreatedachaoticat,Ispherebecausepilots whohavebeenrelievedofemploymentthroughredundancyandother means by various airlines are unable to secure other employment opportunities with the simulator training certiďŹ cate (sim) even as such â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;simâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are current.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The financial sector is really key to developing the country in general.

Giving access to the poorest at the bottom of the pyramid and financial support to companies small and bigger companies in order to really grow the economy are also importantâ&#x20AC;?

Chairman, Baobab MFB,

Mr. Bernardus Zwinkels

22

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͳ, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD CONCERNS OVER SHRINKING NUMBER OF DOMESTIC AIRCRAFT â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I think in 2019, the government must affect deliberate policy in the industry not only on infrastructure development but also in the airlines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This means that the federal government should look at the airports, runways and also look at the health of the airlines and try and see how it can encourage mergers, encourage new entrants and encourage bringing back to life those that have gone under. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, my look at 2019 is for the federal government not only to invest in infrastructure but also to look at the airline. This is because you can have a very good infrastructure but if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have airlines, there is no aviation.â&#x20AC;?

Sanusi, said the existing government policies and attitude towards Nigerian airlines suffocates the domestic operators, saying such policies donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow the airline to grow.

According to him, government does not provide the impetus for the airlines to grow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best thing that government can do to the airlines is to facilitate it for them to access loads at affordable rates. And they can do that with the Bank of Industry (BOI), they can do that with even the pension funds. â&#x20AC;&#x153; EXPERT URGES NPA TO REDESIGN APAPA PORT TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT

efficiency and transparency.

It reiterates that it has put in place structures to drive this dream through the launch of the Revenue Income Management System (RIMS), which is a web based billing and revenue collection application fully automated for the entire billing circle of the NPA amongst others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The authority wishes to inform all of its desire at improved collaboration with sister agencies towards a more seamless operation in the ports environments with intent to reduce human contact. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this regard, it is partnering with the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) for the quick facilitation of the Single Window platform aimed at simplifying and harmonising formalities, procedures and the related exchange of information which will be a major priority in the coming year.â&#x20AC;?

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; äĂ?

Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C; Capital Market Editor

NEWS

FG Deploys NNS Thunder to Combat Piracy, Sea Crimes Eromosele Abiodun One of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foremost warships, the NNS Thunder, has arrived Onne seaport in Rivers and set to begin a patrol of Nigerian waters, after being grounded since 2016 due to failure of its critical components and machinery.

The warship, equipped with modern navigational technology and arsenal, according to the Commanding Officer, NNS Thunder, Capt. Shuaib Ahmed, it took the navy about two years to repair the warship, mainly due to unavailability of spare parts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, due to this factor, the vessel had remained parked at Onne seaport because its system is a new addition in our inventory. We sourced the spare parts abroad and when they finally arrived, the defects in the machineries and auxiliaries were fixed. After the repairs, we took the warship to machinery trial to attest to repairs done, and thereafter, proceeded to sail for about a week at sea,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Ahmed said the warship sailed to Agbami oil field, Okore fields, Okono fields and Bonny channels before making its return to Onne seaport.

The commanding officer added that efforts are ongoing to improve the navyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to produce the vesselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spare parts locally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bringing back this ship to sea is a great achievement for the Nigerian Navy. There is nobody within the maritime domain that does not know proficiency and capability of

the NNS Thunder at sea.

So, NNS Thunder is a big asset that when deployed to sea, sends shivers down the spines of criminal elements.

The ship has capabilities to track criminals anywhere at sea,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He noted that the vesselâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resumption of its normal patrol of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s territorial waters would significantly checkmate activities of sea pirates, sea robbers and oil thieves, among

others.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to emulate the Nigerian Navy, by embarking on an in-house rehabilitation and reactivation of its Mi-35P and EC-135 combat helicopters in Port Harcourt.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola indicated this in Abuja, saying the reactiva-

tion was in furtherance of its commitment to ensure availability of more serviceable platforms for the prosecution of the ongoing war against insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country.

He said the Chief of the Air Staff(CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar during an operational visit to 115 Special Operations Group (115 SOG) Port Harcourt, inspected the ongoing in-house reactivation

works on the Mi-35P and EC-135 helicopters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Upon completion in the first quarter of 2019, the reactivated aircraft will be available for deployment to enhance NAF operational efficiency in the discharge of its constitutional roles,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Daramola explained that the operational visit to 115 SOG was one of series of visits by Abubakar to NAF units across the country.

REWARDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY

L-R: Shop Manager, Gloworld Shop, Aminu Kano Crescent, Abuja, Mr. Adebayo Daniyan; Gloin60seconds batch one winner, Amarachi Oguh and Globacomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regional Manager, Primary Sales, North Central Region, Mr. Kemi Kaka, during the presentation of prize to the winner by the telco in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

Court Restraints ANLCA Executives from Implementing NEC Resolution Eromosele Abiodun The crisis ravaging the Association of Nigerian License Customs Agents (ANLCA) assumed a different dimension this week as the Integrated Coastal Services Limited and its chief promoter, Thomas Edeigba obtained an ex-parte injunction against ANLCA, its National President, Tony Iju and 13 others from implementing any aspects of the resolutions arrived at its National Executive Council (NEC) December 17, 2018 in Abuja.

The plaintiffs also sought and obtained Justice M.S Hassan of the Lagos Federal High Courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nod, restraining the defendants from interfering or disturbing the day- to-day running of the activities of the ANLCA, pending the determination of the interlocutory application in the suit.

The 13 others comprised

Mac-Tonnel Nigeria Limited, Wealthy Honey Investment Limited, Dr. Kayode Farinto, Mickey Excellency Nigeria Limited, and Mikhaila Babatunde.

The others are: Sweet Apple Services Limited, Dennis Okwu, Bomarah Investment Limited, Hajia Bola Muse, Tesco Systems Limited, Uche Martins, Vitalaid Nigeria Limited and Joshua Ahuama.

In the Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/2155/2018 dated the 19th day of December, 2018 filed on 21st day of December and which prayers were answered on the 27th, the Plaintiffs sought several reliefs which included the following: â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the Respondents/Defendants by themselves, their agents, privies, or whosever howsoever from taking further actions on the resolutions reached at the purported National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the

ANLCA which was held at the Barcelona Hotels Abuja on the 17th December 2018 and as contained in the Communique dated 17th day of December 2018 pending the determination of the interlocutory application in this suit. â&#x20AC;&#x153; An Order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the Respondents/Defendants by themselves, their agents, privies, or whosoever from making any press statement or publication of any information, communique or anything whatsoever arising from the purported NEC meeting of ANLCA which was held at the Barcelona Hotels Abuja on the 17th December 2018 pending the determination of the interlocutory application in this suit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Order of Interim Injunction of this honourable Court restraining the Respondents/ Defendants from interfering

and disturbing the day to day running of the activities of ANLCA pending the determination of the interlocutory application in this suit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining all members appointed to executive positions of ANLCA in the purported NEC meeting of ANLCA which was held at the Barcelona Hotels Abuja on 17th December 2018 from parading themselves as such to any government agencies or any person whatsoever pending the determination of this suit.

AND for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstancesâ&#x20AC;?, the prayers showed further.

Subsequently, and upon reading the affidavit in support of the Motion Ex Parte sworn to by Thomas Edeigbe, Male, Adult, Christian, Freight Forwarder, the 2nd Plaintiff/

Applicant, and a Director in the 1st Plaintiff/Applicant in this suit of 24 Burma Road, Apapa filed at the Federal High Court Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos; and after hearing Yakubu Oladimeji Counsel, for the Plaintiffs move in terms of the application; Justice Hassan gave his assent and granted the reliefs sought, and adjourned further hearing to January 9th, 2019. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have read the Applicantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; application Ex Parte dated 19th December, 2018, the reliefs sought, the grounds of the application, the affidavit in support, including the Exhibits attached and the written address of Learned Counsel.

The prayers sought in the instant application are hereby substituted with an Order of status quo ante bellium to be maintained in this suit pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. This Order of status quo ante shall be binding on all parties in this suit.â&#x20AC;?

Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x17D;ĂŁ Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?

Senior Correspondent

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Labour) Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; (Cap Mkt) Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2022;Ă? (Energy) Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x201D;Ă&#x2122; (Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă? (Money Market) Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă? (Maritime)

Two Passengers Missing in Boat Mishap in Rivers Two persons were believed to have drowned after a passenger boat with 12 people on board capsized on Sunday night at Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. The boat was said to be ferrying passengers to

Idama community from Abonnema when the incident occurred.

According to first responders at the scene of the accident, 10 persons, as well as some cargo on board the sunken boat, were rescued.

The Spokesman, Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirming the boat mishap, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A passenger boat loaded from Abonemma going to Idama in Akuku-Toru local government area capsized.

Two persons were drowned and their bodies yet to be recovered as we speak.

Rescuers are still battling to recover bodies of two drowned passengers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is supposed to be a period of sober reflection but

people indulge themselves in excessive consumption of alcohol and misbehave.â&#x20AC;?

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has outlawed water travel on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterways after 7.00 p.m

23

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͳ, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

New Airline, Green Africa, Orders 100 B737 MAX Stories by Chinedu Eze Start-up Nigerian airline, Green Africa Airways has announced order from Boeing up to 100 737 MAX 8 aircraft, evenly split into 50 firm aircraft and 50 options, as the airline gears up to begin commercial operations.

According to reports, the total deal carries a list-price of $11.7 billion, the largest aircraft agreement from Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today is a historic day for the Nigerian and African aviation industry. This landmark deal takes us much closer to our long-held dream of building a world-class airline that will unlock a new realm of positive possibilities for millions of customers. Broadly speaking, this deal is a bold symbol of the dynamism, resilience and soaring entrepreneurial drive of the next generation of Nigerians and Africans,â&#x20AC;? said Founder and

CEO, Green Africa Airways, Babawande Afolabi.

Green Africa Airways, a value airline based in Lagos, Nigeria said it aims to offer safe, quality and affordable air travel and be a significant contributor to the economic development of Nigeria and the African continent.

The new airline has received its Air Transport License from the Nigerian government and is anchored by a group of senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton, former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, William Shaw, Founder and former CEO of VivaColombia and Virasb Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria is uniquely positioned to be the home of the next major value airline. The strategic partnership with Boeing positions Green Africa Airways to expand and improve air travel for customers in Nigeria, and

further strengthens the relationship between the United States, Nigeria and Africa,â&#x20AC;? Vahidi said.

The airline initially plans to develop the Nigerian market and then build a strong Pan African network. According to Boeingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20-year Commercial Market Outlook, airlines in Africa will require 1,190 new airplanes as the continent boosts both intracontinental and intercontinental connectivity over the next couple of decades. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The growth potential for air travel across Nigeria and Africa is extraordinary with the airplane fleet expected to more than double over the next 20 years. We are delighted that Green Africa Airways has selected the 737 MAX to serve this expanding market,â&#x20AC;? said Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, The Boeing Company, Ihssane Mounir.

Air Peace Begins Flight Operations at MMA 2 Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major airline, Air Peace on Wednesday commenced flight services at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos and assured its customers that the extension of its operations to the terminal would afford it the right atmosphere to provide exceptional flight experience.

The carrier, which operates its domestic flights from its hub at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, had promised to move its Lagos-Kaduna, LagosAsaba, Lagos-Akure, Lagos-Port Harcourt NAF Base and other flights under its subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper to MMA2.

The airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Embraer 145 jet with registration number 5N-BUV took off from the MMA2 enroute to Kaduna Airport at about 7.20 a.m. shortly after a brief launch ceremony witnessed by excited staff, managers of the facility, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) and air travellers.

Speaking during the inaugural flight from MMA2, Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the airline was excited to deliver

on its promise to move part of its operations to the facility.

He described the MMA2 as one of the best terminals in the country and disclosed that Air Peace would eventually move all flights under its subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper to the facility as part of its strategy to position itself for better service to its customers and deepen its no-city-left-behind project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are quite hopeful that the expansion of our Lagos base to MMA2 will afford us the space and convenience to deliver first-class flight experience to our loyal customers.

As a customer-oriented carrier, it is only strategic that we seek a better operational atmosphere for seamless passenger facilitation and exceptional customer service experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This exactly is what MMA2 offers with its state-of-the-art facilities and we are indeed proud of our decision to annex it to our Lagos hub,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Also, the Group Executive Director of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operator of MMA2, Mr. Rodger Whittle

assured of excellent passenger facilitation and experience at the facility. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is very exciting for us that Air Peace has come to MMA2 and we can now happily say that all the airlines in Nigeria operate from the MMA2. It is a fantastic thing for the operator; it is a fantastic thing for the MMA2. It brings the destinations of MMA2 to 24. Air Peace is bringing Kaduna, Akure, Asaba as well as Port Harcourt NAF Base,â&#x20AC;? Whittle said.

Also speaking, Head of Corporate Communications, MMA2, Mrs. Eniola Ade-Solanke said the terminal had the capacity even for regional operations and was attracting major airlines through the provision of excellent passenger experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have the capacity, we have the resources and we have the facilities for their safety, security and comfort. The MMA2 is more than just a terminal because of the services we provide to users.

We have a multi-storey car park, we have restaurants, we have banks and other businesses here that improve their traveling experience,â&#x20AC;? she said

IATA launches Turbulence Aware for Airlines The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has rolled out a new programme called Turbulence to assist airlines in detecting and avoiding turbulent areas when planning flights.

The new program is a data resource that helps airlines to forecast and avoid turbulence in real time by pooling and sharing turbulence data generated by participating airlines.

IATA observed that prior to the launch of this new program, airlines only relied on pilot reports and weather advisories to mitigate the impact of turbulence on their operations.

According to Alexandre de Juniac, IATAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director General and CEO, pilot reports and weather advisories have limitations due to the fragmentation of the data

sources, inconsistencies in the level and quality of information available, and the locational imprecision and the subjectivity of the observations.

He said there is no standardized scale for the severity of turbulence that a pilot may report other than a light, moderate or severe scale, which becomes very subjective among different-sized aircraft and pilot experience.

To improve the situation, Turbulence Aware, on the other hand, expands on the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capabilities by collecting data from multiple contributing airlines, followed by a rigorous quality control.

Then the data is consolidated into a single, anonymized, objective source database, which is accessible to participants.

Also, Turbulence Aware

data is turned into actionable information when fed into an airlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dispatch or airborne alerting systems. The result is the first global, realtime, detailed and objective information for pilots and operations professionals to manage turbulence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Turbulence Aware is a great example of the potential for digital transformation in the airline industry. The airline industry has always cooperated on safetyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;its number one priority. Big data is now turbocharging what we can achieve. In the case of Turbulence Aware, the more precise forecasting of turbulence will provide a real improvement for passengers, whose journeys will be even safer and more comfortable,â&#x20AC;? said IATA Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Adebunle

Chinedu Eze

The aviation industry was elated last week when it was announced

by Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest airline, Aero Contractors that it had appointed Captain Imoleayo Adebunle its Chief Pilot.

Adebunle, is a female pilot who has over 10 years of experience, flying for Aero Contractors. This was the first time a female was appointed Chief Pilot in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a v i a t i o n h i s t o r y.

The job of Chief pilot is to oversee the scheduling, training, certification, welfare and general activities of pilots that work for the airline. It is a very critical appointment, which needs not only certification and experience but a l s o t h e a p p ro v a l o f t h e re g u l a tory authority, the Nigeria Civil Av i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y ( N C A A ) .

Chief Pilot Officer of any airline i s t h e f u l c ru m o f s a f e t y o f t h a t airline because the pilots, who are the most critical personnel in the safety matrix of any airline, determine the safety and standard of that airline.

THISDAY stopped Captain Adebunle in her stride when she was about to fly passengers to Port Harcourt from Lagos on Monday in Aeroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic Boeing B737 and she spoke about her experience as a Captain and Chief Pilot.

Adebunle said she has been flying for Aero for over 10 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been flying now for 10 years and I have been with Aero all through on commercial carrier basically. It has been a lovely and wonderful experience with Aero ever since, its more like a home.

We are like a family in here. It is been amazing, and educating for me. I have learnt a whole lot,â&#x20AC;?

Adebunle said.

S h e g a v e b a c k g ro u n d t o h o w she started as a pilot and how m a n y a i rc r a f t s h e h a s f l o w n . â&#x20AC;&#x153;I trained in Zaira, Nigerian C o l l e g e o f Av i a t i o n Te c h n o l o g y ( N C AT ) a n d f ro m t h e re I c a m e into Aero and I have been in Aero since then. Now I am flying a Boeing 737. When I came in at first I flew the Bombardier Dash 8, the Q100, Q300 series and I moved over to the Boeing 737 back then as a co-plot for about two, three years and then I went b a c k t o t h e B o m b a rd i e r, Q 4 0 0 , w h i c h i s m u c h m o re a d v a n c e d than the Q300 I flew earlier; so I went back on that as a Captain and now I am back on the B737 as a Captain as well.

On Aero Contractors as a major a i r l i n e i n t h e c o u n t r y, s h e s a i d ,

â&#x20AC;&#x153; I t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s re a l l y l o v e l y, i t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s n i c e , i t i s actually a place or it is like a good soil that is fertile where you could grow. And it has been in existence for as long as Nigeria.â&#x20AC;?

Commenting on the reorganisat i o n g o i n g o n i n A e ro , s h e s a i d , â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I can say right now is that we are under a new management and it has been practically one of our best times under the leadership of Captain Ado Sanusi as the CEO. â&#x20AC;&#x153; T h i n g s h a v e t u r n e d a ro u n d , l i k e t h e re w a s s o m e t i m e w h e n there was a bit of issues, like when there was economic crunch in the company. We admire his (Sanusiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) ability and consistency and endurance that made him to turn things a ro u n d f o r t h e b e t t e r. â&#x20AC;&#x153; A t l e a s t f ro m t h e s t o r y o f o u r having one Boeing B737, we can beat our chest to say that we now have three serviceable B737 including one Dash 8 and helicopters. So it has been an amazing time and 2018 has been a great year for us.â&#x20AC;?

Reacting to the appointment, the A e ro C E O , S a n u s i n o t e d t h a t f o r the first time Nigeria is having a female chief pilot in a mainstream airline. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But the appointment is not because she is female but because she h a s e a r n e d i t a s a h a rd w o r k i n g pilot and has shown good leadership in managing the pilots. So A e ro C o n t r a c t o r s h a s g i v e n h e r this position because of her comp e t e n c e , a b i l i t y a n d e ff i c i e n c y. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is the first female chief p i l o t f o r A e ro C o n t r a c t o r s f o r fixed wing. This is history for Aero Contractors and Nigeria as it is the first of its kind,â&#x20AC;? Sanusi said.

Reacting to Adebunleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app o i n t m e n t , t h e P re s i d e n t o f t h e Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Mrs. Felicia Agubata, said she was elated about the elevation of the female pilot.

Agubata, who is also an engineer in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is commendable. This is what we want. We want more women to be elevated to such high positions o f re s p o n s i b i l i t y b e c a u s e w e a re better than our male counterparts in such high positions, without sounding immodest. This is the c u l m i n a t i o n o f g e n d e r e q u i t y, gender balancing. â&#x20AC;&#x153; I w i s h t o c o m m e n d A e ro t o o because the airline is known to spearhead and encourage women and it is on record that it was the first Nigerian airline that operated all female flight some years ago b e f o re o t h e r s f o l l o w e d . We n e e d such women as Adebunle. It makes u s p ro u d . â&#x20AC;?

24

T H I S D AY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Mekonnen: Ethiopian Willing to Partner with Nigerian Airlines The General Manager of Ethiopia Airlines in Nigeria, Firiehiwot Mekonnen, in this interview, said the airline is willing to partner with Nigerian carriers to increase market share for African operators.

According to Mekonnen, international airlines have taken over the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air travel market.

Mekonnen spoke to Chinedu Eze in Los Angeles. Excerpts: Ethiopia Airlines should be commended because we are making air travel convenient to the passengers. For example, a passenger that wants to travel from Enugu to destinations overseas is forced to come to Lagos first to catch international flight. There are inconveniences and costs attached to that. He would spend money to travel t Lagos. He may have to spend money to lodge in a hotel and if the flight is delayed or cancelled he would have to spend longer time in Lagos. All these inconveniences have been eliminated by Ethiopia Airlines operating from Enugu despite the difficulties we encounter in doing so, which I know, another foreign airline may not agree to do.

I can guarantee that most of the Nigerian destinations are not that profitable because of the competition. The price that used to be charged two years ago is still the price that we are charging. So it is not because we are making profit but because we are creating convenience that has never been there before.

So this should have come as a compliment instead of the criticism.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s start with your operations in Lagos, what is your evaluation of the Nigerian market?

The operation in general is okay, things are getting better and the economy is getting better. The competition is also getting stiffer and stronger since more foreign airlines are coming in. But it is good that the market is growing and Ethiopia, as you know, the Ethiopian airport has taken over from Dubai as the biggest gateway for Africa, and the Lagos market contributes to that.

With your new aircraft and travellers realising that Ethiopia can give good service as any other, what impact do you think your new service and your new fleet have made in getting more passengers?

Yes, they have made great impact in a positive way because the new aircraft that we have is modern and more comfortable and more cost effective and also in terms of flight distance as well. So comfortable wise and every other thing it has impacted positively.

Do you think that there is something Ethiopia Airlines has done to make people realise since the last three years that it offers as much as good service as any other highbrow airline operating into Nigeria?

One thing that has made a difference for Ethiopia Airlines and has made people to realise that Ethiopia Airlines is as good as the big giant carriers is the fleet that we have, the destinations that we have and more importantly the connections, our hub, the connections that we have to most of the Middle East and Asia even to the US, the connections that we have is very short (time it takes to connect to the next flight). And then we are also building another terminal, which gives more comfort and more convenience for the passengers who are on transit. So the impact that we have has been our aircraft, the connectivity, the products that we have, we have more frequencies now to most of the destinations. So it has impacted a lot in being one of the biggest carriers.

Ethiopian is known as Africentric, it builds its market around Africa, do you at any time feel threatened that such market could be eroded by other carriers from other parts of the world?

As it is known today, foreign carriers already dominate the African air travel market. Right now African carriers have only 20 per cent of the market. So the challenge is, how can African airlines increase their market share of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market? This can only be achieved if the regional carriers work together by supporting one other. As Ethiopia Airlines, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel threatened but it is not only Ethiopian Airlines that is involved. Ethiopia Airlines by itself cannot defend Africa and no other African country can defend Africa alone. The only way is when all African countries come together and defend the continent and then I believe that there will be no threat on the market any more.

What is your partnership structure with Los Angeles tourism authority in your operations to the city?

The thing is Los Angeles has been one of our US routes for more than three years. But we have done a route change. We used to operate to Los Angeles via Dublin, Ireland, but now we operate through Lome in Togo and this is the maiden flight on the new Lome-Los Angeles route on the December 17, 2018, so we changed the route to via Lome, Togo so that we can give more convenience, more comfort and more short connectivity to all our West Africa passengers. As you know we have a code share agreement with Asky Airlines, so all West Africa passengers can come to Lome with an hour or less and enjoy their flight.

When it was via Dublin it used to be a very

Mekonnen

long distance, now that they are departing from Lome, which is from West Africa the flight is now shorter. So the operation has been there already the only thing is the route change which will make it more convenient, shorter and more comfortable for the customer.

For your ďŹ rst ďŹ&#x201A;ight on the route change, where you impressed by the passenger trafďŹ c you had?

Yes, the passenger traffic, you know that it is Christmas season and New Year holiday so most passengers are coming into their country for holiday, so the traffic is heavier on the incoming flight from the US, which is to West Africa, Ghana, Nigeria. So outbound flight is not that much because of the holiday. It is not because there is no market but it is because of the holiday season that the outbound flights are a little but lighter. So the flight that we are going in is fully booked for both economy

We are looking at any other kind of partnership with a Nigerian carrier because that is how we can, as I mentioned earlier, that is how we can defend Africa, by being together.

So the partnership can be in aircraft maintenance or in other kind of technical service.

So we are looking to see a partnership coming up between a Nigerian carrier and Ethiopia Airlines

and business class. So it is a really promising sector in terms of traffic.

What are the things you will tell a passenger from Nigeria that will convince him or her not to take another airline to US but to choose Ethiopia Airline?

The first thing that will convince you to take Ethiopian Airline flight to Los Angeles is the short distance. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go via Europe or via Middle East to come to US. You are just going to fly only half an hour flight from Nigeria to Lome and then direct to Los Angeles. There is even no technical stopover.

The other thing is that the aircraft that we are using is a very new and modern aircraft and most importantly, we are giving an African flavoured service. We are also giving a five-star service but we are charging a fair price. Just because we have a fair price doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that our service is not that rich, we are giving the best service but we are charging a fair price.

There is always this criticism that Ethiopia Airlines is taking over everywhere. The question now is, why is it that you build you West African hub in Lome when majority of your passengers are coming from Nigeria?

We would love to have a hub in Nigeria; we have already made a proposal to the federal government of Nigeria that we are willing to partner with them to build a national carrier.

Nigeria is a giant of Africa be it in economy or in population, so we will be happy to partner with Nigeria and establish a strong national carrier, which can defend Africa as a continent.

I believe that if Nigeria has a strong national carrier, the number that we see can be changed in a great way. So why we have a second hub in Lome is because the Togolese allowed us and they are willing to partner with us. So as long as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s federal government or Nigeria is willing to partner with us we will be happy to have another hub in Nigeria.

There is also another criticism that you are operating to many airports in Nigeria and how proďŹ table are your Nigerian operations?

Will you be willing partner with any Nigerian ďŹ&#x201A;ag carrier?

Of course, in fact we are looking at any other kind of partnership with a Nigerian carrier because that is how we can, as I mentioned earlier, that is how we can defend Africa, by being together. So the partnership can be in aircraft maintenance or in other kind of technical service. So we are looking to see a partnership coming up between a Nigerian carrier and Ethiopia Airlines. We are willing to support in anyway as long as it is going to help the Nigerian carrier grow and become stronger. So we are willing to partner with any Nigerian carrier.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s look at competition among African airlines, when you built the Lome hub, South Africa went to Ghana to build a kind of hub and they are now partnering with Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AWA, to ďŹ&#x201A;y to the US. How does that affect your market in West Africa?

It is not affecting our market actually; as I mentioned earlier, Africa is big enough for everybody as long as we work together. But we have to work together so that we can regain our market share. Sometimes what you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is that you can even create a market that was not there before. So the best thing is to create awareness. I believe that there is money in the continent, people can spend it, most of the time what people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know is how to spend their money by travelling. Africa is big enough for everybody and as you know, we are also in partnership with Ghana to establish a national carrier.

On Single Africa Air Travel Market (SAATM), I found out that some countries feel that Ethiopian would erode their market if they join SAATM, so is Ethiopian ďŹ nding it difďŹ cult to convince these countries that this is better for Africa?

I think it is our responsibility for everybody to convince each other that this will help us, that it will help Africa to grow and strengthen the market and the economy. That is going to help everybody. When that is applicable everybody is going to benefit from it. Of course, it is a little difficult right now to convince them but once they get to know how beneficial it will be for Africa, and the country; I am sure they will understand it. That is the only way that we can get back our market share as African carriers from international carriers.

In the area of maintenance, you used to maintain many Nigerian aircraft; do you still maintain some of them?

Yes, we are still giving technical support to some Nigerian carriers right now. We are still giving support to Arik.

T H I S D AY ˞ Ͳ, 2019

25

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Ensuring Dock Workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Welfare The Collective Bargaining Agreement signed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA alongside other associations in the maritime sector will improve the welfare of dock workers in line with global best practices, writes Eromosele Abiodun Shipping is an industry that contributes over 90 per cent to the world economy. There are about 51,400 merchant ships plying all over the world, transferring goods between places, keeping the economy running. Whether it is oil from the Gulf or iPhones in containers being delivered from one part of the world to another â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everything is running round the clock, with precision and diligence.

It is a known fact that more than 90 per cent of the world trade is carried by ships and these ships are manned and operated by seafarers.

At the tail end of it are the dockworkers that offload the ships. Hence, it can be safely said that 90 per cent of mankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs are being served by directly or indirectly by seafarers.

However, as critical as dock workers and seafarers are to the nation, they are often treated shabbily by ship owners and terminal operators. This has resulted in industrial action leading to shutdown of activity at the ports.

For instance, maritime workers early last year grounded port operations across the country as they staged protests against the repeal of the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) Act. The industrial action by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transportation and Corporation, which lasted for six and half hours, saw the terminal operators, seafarers, dockworkers and thousands of indirect workers at the Apapa, Tin Can, Onne and other port formations downing their tools.

President of NWUN Adewale Adeyanju had alleged that the presentation of a new bill to repeal the NPA Act, 2004 was not done in good fate as none of the stakeholders in the sectors, especially the two unions, were invited to make input before passing the bill in the Senate.

According to him, the new bill sponsored in the House of Representatives by Nicholas Ossai, which aims to establish the Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority, is a threat to the survival of the ports and job security of workers.

He recalled that the concession of the seaports in 2006 had led to the loss of 12,000 jobs when the operations of the NPA were ceded to private terminal operators. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot pinpoint any major deficiency in the present NPA Act that warranted this bill except that the promoters of the bill want to corner for themselves harbour operations, which are the major foreign exchange earner for the NPA and by extension the Federal Government, without thinking about the security implications to the nation and the negative effect on the workforce as it was previously done during the concession exercise, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adeyanju said.

While addressing journalists at the Apapa Port, the President, Senior Staff Association of Transportation and Corporation (SSATAC), Benson Adegbeyeni, said:â&#x20AC;&#x153;The message has been passed to the whole world. We are just telling them that this is wrong. The action that will follow this protest will be discussed at a roundtable. We are expecting a response from the government. We are not against privatisation but we want them to carry stakeholders along.â&#x20AC;?

That was not all, early 2016, dockworkers at ENL Consortium, operator of Terminals C and D of the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa embarked on a strike to protest ill treatment by the management of the company.

While the company argued that it was ready to pay off dockworkers who have elected to quit their jobs, the dockworkers insisted it was not so.

Legal Adviser of ENL Consortium, Uzamot Boye had said that contrary to claims in certain quarters, workers were issued with valid employment letters when they joined the company.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It must be on record that these set of dockworkers elected to leave the terminals by themselves. Those of them who want to continue working with us, and who are in the majority, are at their job posts as we speak but the few that want to leave are free to do

so. We have been meeting with the union and officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to work out modalities for their payments, which we are ready to pay in full in consonance with the NJIC agreement.â&#x20AC;?

NIMASA Signs CBA However, in a bid to ensure a better living standard for dock workers in the Nigeria maritime industry, the alongside other associations in the sector under the aegis of the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) towards the end of last year, signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which is intended to improve the welfare of dock workers in line with global best practices.

The agreement, which was documented involves increases in their wages and allowances and certain emoluments and benefits, which include: payment of redundancy and retirement benefits by terminal operators to aged dockworkers, payment of specified allowances to a deceased dock workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next of kin and pension contribution scheme for dock workers amongst other items listed in the agreement.

Speaking during the signing ceremony of CBA in Lagos, the Chairman of the NJIC, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, who is also the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of NIMASA and equally represented the Director General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, at the occasion, noted that dock labour is an integral part of the maritime industry, hence the need to place priority on their welfare.

He urged operators to bear in mind that the welfare of the dock workers will impact a lot on ports operations and in turn the entire economy, hence the need to ensure that they are properly catered for. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the welfare of the dockworkersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are put into proper perspective, we will have a healthy maritime sector, thereby leading to the actualization of a robust economy,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

The Chairman of the Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) Dr. (Mrs.) Vicky Haastrup stated that without the dock workers, there will be no ports, because the workers play a major role in economy of the ports, hence their welfare is paramount.

While commending NIMASA for its efforts in coordinating the NJIC, she observed that the initiative has brought about understanding among stakeholders in the ports and also given room for the peace and orderliness the maritime sector is enjoying.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must all work together to ensure that the interest of the common dock worker is protected,â&#x20AC;? she said.

On his part, the President of MWUN, Adeyanju applauded the initiative and pleaded that all parties involved should endeavour to fulfill their obligations as contained in the agreement.

Accordingly, he stated that it has never been this good in the industry, but for the supervision of NIMASA through the NJIC initiative, the industry is witnessing a new dawn with this CBA that is being signed. He also used the opportunity to pledge that the leaders of the Union will continue to ensure the sustenance of peace and harmony in the maritime sector in the interest of the sector and the Nigeria economy as a whole.

On his part, the Chairman, Ports Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin and the President of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola also joined in commending the efforts to maintain peace at the ports and called for continuous engagement, as it remains a panacea to a robust maritime sector.

Director, Maritime Labour Services of NIMASA, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril noted that NIMASA believes that all parties will ensure full implementation of the agreement and that this will help the Ease of Doing Business initiative of the Federal Government as well as improved turnaround time in all activities in the ports.

The NJIC is the body responsible for negotiating and reviewing of minimum standards for dock labour industry. It was constituted in 2008 following the need to establish minimum standards for the Dock Labour Industry after the ports were concessioned in 2006.

The agency is statutorily empowered under section 27(1) (b) of NIMASA Act 2007 to facilitate the NJIC meetings and circulate signed Agreements to all concerned parties. Further to this, the Agency is also to ensure strict compliance on implementation of the CBA.

Improved Welfare Before the CBA was signed, NIMASA had early 2017 restated its commitment to the welfare of dock workers in the industry.

Ahmed had during a meeting with employers and labour unions in Lagos noted that the initiative was with a view to use the tool of constant engagement to ensure that the dock workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; get better living conditions in line with International Labour laws.

Gambo urged the operators to bear in mind that the welfare of the dock workers will

impact a lot on the ports industry and also in turn the entire economy, hence the need to ensure that they are properly catered for. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the welfare of the dockworkersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are put into proper perspective, we have a healthy maritime sector, thereby leading to the actualisation of a robust economyâ&#x20AC;?, the chairman stated.

On his part, Jibril said that the new agreement will demonstrate the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment, which is in line with the theme of the 107th International Conference held in Geneva viz: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A future with Decent Work and also building a future for the Dock Labour Industryâ&#x20AC;?.

He also assured them that the agency has also put in place all necessary machineries towards ensuring a successful exercise in line with the provisions of the existing agreement and the demand for its review.

MWUN Appreciates STOAN Following improved welfare for dock workers, Adeyanju had said private terminal operators under the aegis of STOAN have substantially increased the wages earned by dockworkers from an average of N10,000 before the 2006 port concession to about N150,000.

Adeyanju said dockworkers now enjoy much better working condition compared to what was obtained in the pre-concession era. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before concession, they were just using us as slaves in our fatherland. Nobody can talk about what his take home pay was.

Sometimes, some people get between N10, 000 and N20, 000 per month but today, it has improved tremendously to between N100, 000 and N150, 000. It has increased tremendously,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Adeyanju, who lauded terminal operators for increasing the wages of dockworkers in spite of the low volume of import in the country, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently fix the dilapidated port access roads, which he said is adversely affecting port operation and the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The roads to the seaports have contributed to most of these problems and it has had adverse effect on our members.

Because of the bad roads, some of the vessels that are supposed to come to the port are sometimes diverted to neighbouring countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of the dockworkers are on payment by tonnage; some are on permanent employment while some are on unit payment. For those on payment by tonnage, it is the higher the tonnage, the better payment for them so the bad road is affecting our members.â&#x20AC;?

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Kyte: There is Need to Upgrade Current Energy Systems The Chief Executive Officer of Sustainable Energy for All, and Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral for Sustainable Energy for All, Ms. Kyte was the World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, leading the Bank Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to campaign for the Paris Agreement. In this interview speaks on the need to upgrade current energy systems in some countries. Excerpts: and where do you see the greatest impact of green energy solutions?

The scientific evidence presented in the IPCC report means that all governments, through meeting their fundamental responsibilities in providing a duty of care to their citizens, need to ensure that aggressive and comprehensive policies are in place to speed energy transitions towards clean, affordable and reliable energy for all.

For business, being able to be on the leading edge of this transition means being positioned for profitability, success in attracting and retaining talent, and ensuring that inevitable regulation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and in some cases litigation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is a risk that is understood and well managed. All businesses must regard carbon as a toxin which needs to be avoided, mitigated and managed to not only support climate action, but help ensure their business is resilient to the ever-growing impacts of climate change.

The cost of renewable energy is low, and at times, less than fossil fuels. What are the barriers to switching to renewables?

Where current energy systems exist, they will need to be upgraded to be able to draw power from modern renewables and to exploit storage solutions that they require. The institutions and mind-sets of current systems are still comfortable with the systems of the past, those that prioritized fossil fuels in centralized grid systems.

The revolution of renewable energy is not just that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clean, but that it can be delivered both through the grid as well as decentralized solutions, allowing it to reach those who have never enjoyed access to reliable and affordable energy before. Yet this change requires political leadership and policy certainty for the levels of investment needed, and we need that renewable investment now.

The recent Cooling for All report highlighted an issue many people didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak of until recently. How does it relate to climate?

As the world warms and populations rapidly grow, particularly in the cities of the developing world, we risk creating â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;heat islandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that could substantially increase energy demands as people seek cooling access for their own health and safety, as well as the safety of medical supplies, fresh food and safe work environments. At the same time, if we rely on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cooling technologies that use high hydro-flourocarbons (HFCs) in air conditioning, we will exasperate climate impacts from a growing use of short-lived climate pollutants.

In policy terms, providing everyone with access to the sustainable cooling they need, is the opportunity at the

Kyte

intersections of the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment. In human terms, finding a way to provide hyper efficient pollutant free cooling for people, their vaccines and food is about making sure we leave no one behind. While the Paris Agreement reached almost universal ratification in record time, we now need member states to move with the same swiftness and determination to ratify the Montreal Protocolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kigali Amendment.

Can governments, businesses and communities that embrace clean energy solutions survive economically,

Can we realistically meet the needs of the just under 1 billion people who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have regular access to electricity through renewable energy?

Yes. As an immediate step, we all have to be much more efficient in our use of energy. We can provide for many more needs with much less energy through technological innovation and business models. Renewable energy gives us a cost-effective way to meet the needs of those who have never had energy before to help them become economically productive.

By putting the needs of the last mile first, we can build decentralized, digitalized and decarbonized energy systems that meet everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. This is not beyond human ingenuity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the cost is estimated at just over US$50 billion a

year. Yet it requires political will and determination. When we consider that US$50 billion leaves the African continent through illegal financial flows, money laundering and tax evasion each year, we must work harder to ensure that the energy needs of these vulnerable populations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; women, children, remote rural populations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can be met.

How can we support low-income countries when it comes to innovation and strengthening infrastructure that allow for modern technology approaches?

First, we need to support countries put in place robust policy frameworks and investment climates that will spur both domestic investment as well as attract international investment. Secondly, development finance, in partnership with these countries, has to be directed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

Our recent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Energising Financeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; report clearly shows that finance is still not reaching the top 20 countries with the largest electricity and clean cooking access gaps â&#x20AC;&#x201C; dramatically slowing down progress to meet global energy goals and our promise to these populations.

Thirdly, we need specific initiatives that provide energy to the growing number of displaced people around the world.

Finally, the three billion that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have access to clean cooking deserve an urgent response from the international community at scale that connects industries around different fuel sources with new financial innovation that means the billions of women living on low incomes have a range of clean fuel choices, as opposed to the dangerous choice to cook a family meal while putting their health and the health of their children at risk.

Hoesung: Politicians Should Target Sustainable, Low-carbon Society Lee Hoesung was appointed the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2015. He is also the Endowed Chair Professor of economics of climate change, energy and sustainable development in the Republic of Korea. In this interview he calls for greater energy efficiency. Excerpts: The latest IPCC report says limiting climate change to 1.5 C is not impossible. What needs to be done for that to happen?

When governments set a target in December 2015 of limiting global warming to well below 2ÂşC above pre-industrial levels while pursuing efforts to hold it at 1.5ÂşC, they invited the IPCC to prepare a report to provide information on this Goal. They asked the IPCC to assess the impacts of warming of 1.5ÂşC, the related emissions pathways of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that would result in warming of that amount, and the differences between warming of 1.5 and 2ÂşC or higher.

The new IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ÂşC shows that it is not impossible to limit warming to 1.5ÂşC but that doing so will require unprecedented transformations in all aspects of society. The report shows that this is a worthwhile goal as the impacts of warming of 2ÂşC on lives, livelihoods and natural ecosystems are much more severe than from warming of 1.5ÂşC. The global temperature has already risen about 1ÂşC from pre-industrial levels. The report shows that because of past emissions up to the present it will continue to warm. But these emissions alone are not enough to

compensated by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through measures such as afforestation or other techniques and technologies.

This will be achieved by reducing energy demand, for instance through greater energy efficiency, and changes in energy use, construction, transport, cities and food and diets. Limiting warming to 1.5ÂşC is possible in terms of physics; the technology and techniques are there; the question is whether people and societies will support politicians in taking these measures.

Hoesung

take the temperature to 1.5ÂşC: it is still possible to hold it at that level.

This requires very strong cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases by 2030, for instance by decarbonization of electricity production, and further cuts after that so that emissions fall to net zero by 2050. Net zero means that any continuing emissions of greenhouse gases, for instance in transport, are

What do world leaders need to know about the climate science that will affect the prosperity and well-being of their citizens?

World leaders need to know that the climate is already changing because of emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from human activities such as energy production and use, transport, and agriculture and other forms of land use.

These changes pose threats to people from increases in extreme weather events such as heatwaves, forest fires, drought, heavy precipitation and floods. The warming climate is causing the sea level to rise. It is affecting biodiversity and making it harder for species to survive or forcing them to move. These are already affecting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and

livelihoods.

If we carry on emitting greenhouse gases the climate will continue to warm and these threats will get worse. The new IPCC report shows there is even a big difference in risks between warming of 1.5ÂşC and 2ÂşC: every bit of warming matters.

The report also shows that it is pursuing policies to address climate change, by reducing emissions and adapting to the changes already underway, can creates a more prosperous and sustainable society by fostering innovation and the green economy and building more resilient communities. Economic development and climate action go hand in hand as sustainable development.

How optimistic are you about our ability to limit global warming to 1.5 C? The new IPCC report shows it is not impossible, in terms of physics or technology, to limit global warming to 1.5ÂşC. But the unprecedented transformations in society will require continuing technical innovation and changes in behaviour and lifestyle. The question is whether individuals and companies are ready to make those changes and encourage politicians to put the conditions in place to create a prosperous and sustainable low-carbon society.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

The Stars, their Expectations, Aspirations for 2019

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COVER

THE STARS, THEIR EXPECTATIONS, ASPIRATIONS FOR 2019

The NewYear is always ushered in with resolutions, aspirations and expectations across board.This year, our stars were not left out. While the clamour by majority is for a better 2019, others simply want to take life as it comes. MARY NNAH, AYODEJI AKE and SUNDAY EHIGATOR, who spoke with few celebrities and socialites, chronicle their expectations, as well as aspirations for the NewYear PRINCESS MODUPE OZOLUA (PHILANTROPIST) My aspiration for 2019 will be putting me first! Time to ease off exhausting trips, deadlines and pressures; after all, even â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super heroesâ&#x20AC;? care for self in order to care for others.

EMDEE DAVID: FOUNDER/ PRESIDENT AFRICA ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK Personally, my expectations in 2019 are very high. I feel I have worked so hard to build my brand in the past years and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for such effort to yield better results. I know I have to work more, but more importantly working smarter should get me the desired result. I aspire to tap more into the digital business world, synergise with successful people and make Africa Entertainment Network a global brand. I hope to travel more in 2019, connecting with business and entertainment people and tour important places, especially to see how one can improve showbiz and tourism in Nigeria.

For Nigeria, hmmmmm, well, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope the general elections go well. I hope it would. Whoever wins as the president, I expect a greater Nigeria in 2019. I expect greater results among entrepreneurs and local content productions. I expect electricity supply to improve drastically. Hopefully, most of the works of this present government, if truly they are working, should show.

Road construction and agriculture should improve, other mineral resources should be explored and exported.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I expect from a reasonable government. And I hope the local governments would be given more autonomy and security generally should improve. Yes, there will be prosperity for genuine businesses in 2019.

CHINONSO YOUNG: NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS My aspirations for 2019 would be to read more, expand my knowledge, also focus on saving up and investing.

JAIYE KUTI: ACTRESS My expectations for 2019 are not much because I look forward to something that definitely when you sow, you reap.

I can see the seed germinating already.

My expectation is to work harder so that I can be more successful. In Nigeria, hard work is needed to be successful.

For my job, I am improving and I wish to improve more to produce more reasonable appealing movies to the world and not only in Nigeria, because I want to go global as far as my job is concerned.

My expectation for my home is to stay home more because I have been up and down. I want to be closer to the family and closer to God. I wish to bring smile to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces more than I did. The upcoming that are very creative, this year, my expectation is to bring them closer to work so that they can showcase their talents too because we are growing older and we need to start grooming the younger ones. May God help me. Happy new year!

MC ABBEY: COMEDIAN For 2019, I have a whole lot of things in mind and I am expecting that God pours His favour on me. There are a lot of projects coming up for me and I truly hope to see a positive change in the government system or structure we have in Nigeria. Not necessarily change of party or whoever is going to be there, but I hope to see a change of administrative structure in Nigeria government. For me, my project is number one. There are other things that will spring up as a surprise and I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to share them now but when it happens, it will be very glaring. Happy New Year to Nigerians.

ADA EHI: GOSPEL ARTISTE 2019!!! My expectations for myself is always to be more and impact much more.... having much more is undeniable, impact always preludes that.

For Nigeria, I pray and hope that the people will experience true and lasting change, and we can be hopeful again... to dream and to have the necessary platforms to pursue our dreams without needing to put our integrity and conscience on the line each time.

CATERINA BORTOLUSSI: FASHION DESIGNER I dream of an effortless 2019 where everything becomes easy, where it is indeed mind over matter and we all realise our full potential. I dream of kindness and impact and a lot of time spend outdoors doing beautiful things in company of amazing people.

RICO SWAVEY: BIG BROTHER NAIJA CONTESTANT 2018 My expectations for 2019 comes wIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m expecting a free and fair election for the country as a whole and also hoping for a better government administration to stabilise the economic crises that we are facing as a nation as well. Expecting to complete five major musical projects, to be more relevant in the area of helping YUSUF ABIOLA, AKA MICHIGAN: kids with disabilities and autism, to MUSIC ARTISTE establish a food business, travel the I believe 2019 will be a year of world if I can with my team, and breakthrough and a new chapter not basically build and establish my entire for only me but everyone. Well, 2019 I brand in the music and film industry. except to put out one song though and Happy New Year to Nigerians. record a lot of songs so people can hear my kind of song. I addi intend to put up some musical tour, and invest. I expect the music industry to improve in terms of making our songs go places around the word and quality of production developed. Election is around the corner, I want to use this medium to preach peace. Happy new to all my fans. I love you!

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Church Feeds 50 Million People Nationwide Ugo Aliogo The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 40, has embarked on feeding of 50 million souls as part of the churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in charge of prayers, Pastor Peter Olawale, said today is part of the process of reaching out to 50 million people nationwide, who cannot afford what to eat during the Christmas season.

He also stated that the aim of the church is to win souls for the Lord and expand Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kingdom in wining souls for the kingdom, which he noted is the purpose of the initiative.

Pastor Adeboye

Olawale explained that as a church, they believe that they should impact the present generation by definitely helping others,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;that is part of the initiative; wherever we go, and wherever Jesus goes He helps people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many are out there

COSFAN Holds AGM, Swears in New Officers From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association, Nigeria (COSFAN) recently swore in new executive committee to pilot its affairs from 2019-2022 at its annual general meeting in Abuja.

While Dr. Ruth Abiola Adimula, a lawyer and peace scholar, emerged as the president, Dr Cyril Akagwu was picked as the vice president, Cyril Ezegwu as general sectetary, Aminu Ado as treasurer/financial secretary, Taiwo Obe as publicity secretary, Samuel Oyegunle as Coordinator, (North Central) and Helen Akinwande-Fidelis, Regional Coordinator (South West).

Adimula reiterated the advancement of education in order to create an aware and informed Nigerian society as the main objective of COSFAN. She similarly noted that the body aids in the provision of scholarships by institutions of award to deserving Nigerians, while also acting as the think-tank in different need- based development issues in the country and between Nigeria, UK and the Commonwealth nations.

Till date, over 2000 Nigerians have benefited from 1969, when the British government started

to offer scholarships and fellowships to Nigerians among other nations.

While delivering the keynote address at the end of the year workshop, with the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Galvanising Strategic Partnerships for Attainment of the SDGsâ&#x20AC;?, the Head ofDepartment for International Development (DFID), Nigeria Office, Ms Debbie Palmer, said Nigeria needs champions like the scholars and fellows in all walks of life, to raise their voices and actively invest in their society and to transform their communities.

She said Nigeria is an incredibly important partner to the UK, adding that the programme is the second largest globally.

Palmer further stated that DFID is investing hugely in its partnership with Nigeria across a whole range of activities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You are a fantastic group, a talented, skilled, educated people. You are living and working in Nigeria and together you have a strong voice and I encourage you to make your voices heard. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My encouragement to you is to raise your voices. As a body, COSFAN can make a difference to the lives of citizens in Nigeria. Partnership counts and it is up to us to leave no one behind.

Nigeria needs you to raise your voicesâ&#x20AC;?, she remarked.

THE STARS, THEIR EXPECTATIONS, ASPIRATIONS FOR 2019 MANISH ROHTAGI: BUSINESS HEAD, TVS SIMBA GROUP 2019 certainly comes with great challenges and opportunities. With the elections coming up, I believe Nigerians will make the right choices so that the country would avoid impediment.

For me, it poses as a year of improvement and development in all sectors of the Nigerian economy and I hope this advancement, will create a suitable business environment for all to thrive in.

I hope the Nigerian youths would rise up to the challenges ahead and set ground-breaking records to make the country a better place.

TOYIN ALAUSA: ACTRESS My expectations for 2019 comes with a lot of high hopes. I have done quite a number of movies in 2018 and I am hoping to do bigger jobs in 2019, blockbuster jobs. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also looking forward to getting endorsements, which is the pinnacle of every entertainer. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also looking at shooting my own movies by the grace of God. My expectations for 2019 are quite high and I believe that with God, all things are possible. I want to say Happy New Year to family, friends and my distinguished fans.

dying, those who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any hope, so we are actually extending our hands to feed and treat them through our medical outreach and through this initiative, this will help will increase their love for Christ and serve him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This outreach is happening nationwide and every Nigerian is entitled to receive our love. This initiative is organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). â&#x20AC;&#x153;This initiative has been there for over 30 years, we do it twice in a year, in April during Easter period and December during Christmas period. We believe that is when people will come together to celebrate with their families and they come home, so this is the time to win them for Christ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are highly discouraged, we are here to

tell them that there is still hope for tomorrow and when they fill the impact of what the Lord has done because many are actually looking for solution, but by the time you tell them there is still hope in Christ, they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel abandoned and rejected, rather they will cling to the Lord Jesus Christ.â&#x20AC;?

In his remarks, the Assistant Provincial Pastor, Lagos Province 40, in charge of CSR Pastor Tony Agah, noted that the Church is committed in initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people, through building schools, equipping laboratories, skills acquisition, sanitation of neighbouhood and other CSR activities.

He also stated that through the CSR activity, the church wants people to see and read the gospel through

their actions in the society.

Agah added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government has not been supporting and we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solicit, we only complement government, if we solicit, taking from government to impact the people, it will defeat out purpose. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to support government by rehabilitating schools, roads, organise medical checkups, and other things needed. This will help build a better nation and economy. The government alone cannot do all these things, so the church has to come in to complement the government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have renovated three schools so far that were dilapidated. We bring down old structures and build new ones for students to feel comfortable and learn because they are the future leaders of our great nation.â&#x20AC;?

Group UrgesWomen to be Submissive in Marriage Ugo Aliogo Founder, Keeping Marriage Alive Initiative, Mrs. Ngozi Okonkwo, has called on women to be submissive in the marriage, noting that according to research, what men value most from their partners is respect.

Okonkwo, who disclosed this recently at the maiden edition of Face to Face with Shine, organised by Keeping Marriage Alive Initiative in partnership with Shine on Radio, noted that that wives who are wise enough to submit and respect their spouses are making themselves indispensable to their men.

The maiden edition which is

tagged: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Couples and Singles forumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was dedicated to addressing common marital challenges had in attendance young and old couples, as well as singles.

Okonkwo lamented that the unfortunate rate at which marriages are collapsing presently among the couples who were supposed to love themselves with an everlasting love, has become a threat to their partners to the extent of murdering each other in cold blood.

She further stated that to preserve marriages and save the society from embarrassment of incessant divorces, with attendant consequences including breeding miscreants

from broken homes, it was high time couples got their visions right and treat their unions as sacred.

In her address, the host Mrs. Gift Chukwu also known as Shine on Radio, explained that her motive for taking the phonein programme to the next level was to contribute her quota to addressing societal problems for the good of the country.

The Assistant Director Programmes in Lagos Operations of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), Mrs. Funke Treasure-Durudola, described Chukwu as a proactive presenter, adding that this was why she approved, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Face to Face with Shineâ&#x20AC;?.

Professor Secures $120,000 from German Government for OAU Lab Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye of the Department of Crop Production and Protection, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has secured equipment grant of 120,000 dollars from the German Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation for the development of the Plant Physiology in the university.

The Consul-General of the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr. Stefan Traumann and the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede commissioned the laboratory on November 5, 2018. Also present at the commissioning ceremony were Emeritus Prof Amos Akingbohungbe, Professor Duro Oyedele, Yemisi Akinyemiju, AdeagboAmusan, Isreal Obisesan and Prof Simeon Bamire.

Ogunbodede commended Adebooye for building the good reputation that enhanced the award of the grant by the Humboldt Foundation.

He also thanked the Consul General for making his first official trip in Nigeria to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He also commended Germany for providing funding for the academic development of the Fellows of the Humboldt Foundation. He stressed that the lab facilities will create an

ample opportunity for excellent research output and that students will have the opportunity to learn modern science.

He enjoined the academic community to reach out to the operators of the lab for collaboration and partnership.

The Consul General, Dr Stefan Traumann, who was accompanied by his wife, while responding also commended Adebooye for doing good science and for using his network, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to benefit the university.

Traumann remarked that his first official duty outside Lagos was the commissioning visit to the university just as he expressed his delight to see such a standard laboratory located at Obafemi Awolowo University. He stated that science holds the key to a better future for mankind and that excellent scientific training and cooperation are key to building studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge.

Adebooye while taking the consul general and the vice-chancellor through the tour of the facilities remarked that the equipment in the lab compared with those in any other advanced Plant Physiology worldwide.

He also took extra time to explain the operations and uses of the over 20 digital equipment in the lab. Among the equipment in the lab are the SEAL Auto Analyser which performs solvent extraction, distillation,

gas diffusion, on-line filtration and in-line UV digestion in a continuously flowing stream with application to analyses of water and waste water, soil and plant extracts, seawater, tobacco, feeds and fertilisers.

Other major equipment in the lab are UV-VIS Spectrophotometer for determination of bioactive components of plants, Pulse Amplitude Flourometer for automated analyses of the cellular mechanism involved in plant response to oxidative stress, ovens for drying plant samples, muffle furnace for ashing plant samples, digital soxhlet apparatus, autoclave for sterilising samples, centrifuge, different balances for weight measurement, digital refractometer and many other automatic plant physiology equipment. Adebooye is the Ambassador Scientist for German Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Nigeria and presently serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo.

He is the Regional Project Coordinator (West Africa) for the Canadian Government IDRC-GAC Project 107983 being implemented in Benin Republic and Nigeria and the SecretaryGeneral of the African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) which is an appendage of the German Government Humboldt Foundation as a tool for international cooperation and funding of research in sub-sahara Africa.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

â&#x20AC;ŚYour weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

The New Norms of the Creative Industry VANESSA OBIOHA writes that as the Nigerian creative industry continues to attract top financial institutions and stakeholders, old norms will be eroded

S

treaming Into the Future: Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laudable deal with online streaming giant Netflix last year was a good pointer that digital distribution is the way to go. Once frowned upon, filmmakers are now embracing the opportunities such streaming platforms provide. However, the downside of films released on Netflix is that they are easily pirated. For instance, some online platforms already have Nnajiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lionheartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; film for free download before itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official release on Netflix.

Apart from piracy, the high cost of data in Nigeria is another conundrum. With a majority of the citizens paying large sums for data consumption, the expected growth will not be in leaps.

Nevertheless, the helmsmen at Filmhouse Cinemas and FilmOne Distribution and Production are still putting final touches to their view-on-demand platform â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Myfilmhouse.ngâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which they hope will be a better platform for Nollywood filmmakers whose films didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it to the big screens to reach their audience.

Album Decline: The last few years have seen a decline in album sales. Currently in the US, album sales have drastically plummeted due to streaming platforms such as iTunes music, Spotify and TIDAL that avail consumers contents to stream as many times as they please. Although stream numbers count towards sales on the conversion table set known as the Album-equivalent unit. What this means is that for every time any song from the album is streamed to culminate into 1500 streams, one album sale is recorded. With this measure, album giants like Taylor Swift, The Carters (JAY-Z and BeyoncĂŠ) have had their taste of new lows. The negative implication suggests that artiste get paid a particular agreed percentage as opposed to

Genevieve Nnaji.

them selling and getting the money directly from music lovers. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel the same as the traditional album or singles sales albeit placing well on the music charts. Think of it as more money to the streaming service, more fanfare, less pay for the artiste.

The same is replicated in Nigeria, although not all artistes can afford to be on platforms such as Spotify. What is largely obtainable is that musicians now vie for attention on social media platforms. As such, the demand to release music is very high. Instead of having a two year break to release a full body of work, artistes are confronted with the challenge to release singles or Extended Play (EP) almost on a quarterly basis. The downside of this is that music produced

within such time frame enjoy a shorter life span, thus putting much pressure on the artistes.

Virtual Reality: As technology continues to make inroads into filmmaking, filmmakers are encouraged to embrace new ways to tell their stories. One of such is the virtual reality.

Last year, young documentary filmmaker Joel Benson produced a documentary in virtual reality titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;In Bakassiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a first of its kind in Nigeria.

The film plunges the audience into a simulated 3-D Bakassi IDP camp in the north-east conflict zone, Maiduguri.

Though the 360 camera is not an easy gadget to work with due to the directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s off presence, its closeness to reality however is

WoliAroleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sTheCallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HitsCinemasToday

its hat-trick.

Another technological intervention that may storm the film industry is the interactive reality. Netflix is already sampling it with the latest â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Black Mirrorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; series. This form gives the audience the power to choose the outcome of the narrative. It is a bit cumbersome but a brilliant way to bring the story closer to the audience.

Rise of Local Cinemas: A recurring issue in the film industry last year was the rejection of films by multiplex theatres such as FilmOne and Silverbird. Sometimes, the films are rejected for failure to meet with necessary requirements or lack commercial appeal. A typical example is Ema EdosioDeelenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kasala, which was later accepted after gaining positive reviews from local and international festivals.

While multiplex theatres enjoy more patronage, local cinemas are beginning to spring up in communities. Filmmakers can leverage on this instead of waiting for their films to screen on bigger screens.

Female Stars Breaking the Norms: Since the afro-pop era in the 2000s, female musicians in Nigeria have struggled to meet up with their male counterparts.

While some succeeded in creating popular music, others were unlucky in creating sounds that are uniquely theirs. But in recent times, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a shift. The likes of Asa who created niche sounds that penetrated the mainstream now have other female artistes following their path.

Take for instance, the adjudged breakout star of 2018, Teni the Entertainer, and Simi.

These ladies are not primarily producing songs for commercial appeal, but their artistry have beamed the spotlight on them. They have found their own voice, used their talents to create sounds that are uniquely theirs and resonate with music denizens. Falana, another alternative singer who has been in the industry for a while garnered much attention last year as well. 2019 may see the birth of more female artistes.

A Spectacular Explosion of Music and Flavours at JJW

Iyke Bede The journey of a thousand mile starts with a step. For Oluwatoyin Bayegun popularly known as Woli Arole, his journey into filmmaking started two years ago with him venturing into the entertainment scene as a sketch comedian promoting his art across various social media platforms.

So far, he has advanced to the status of producer with his debut film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Callâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which premiered recently at the Filmhouse cinemas, Lekki, Lagos. The James Abinibi directed comedic offeringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plot revolves around themes as purpose, dream, and vision. Reprising his role as Woli Arole, he and his league of wealth thirsty friends embarked on a journey to pawn an antique clock which unfortunately spelled doom for the group and ultimately led to the manifestation of Aroleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clairvoyance.

The premiereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambience was one of warmth.

Receiving the support of close friends and family, it turned into a momentous evening when his parent took to the red carpet to support their sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

This support even goes

beyond the poses on the platform as his mother also played a minor role in the movie. Also present to show support was fellow sketch comedian Frank Donga.

With a cast line-up that comprised Segun Arinze, Afeez Oyetoro, Kelvin Ikeduba, Yinka Quadri, Samuel Ajibola and Etinosa Idemudia, the peculiar idiosyncrasies that characterise the suburbs of Ibadan city was well represented in the movie; ranging from its multicultural diversities to the simple everyday life of its residence.

Confident that the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essence will capture the interest of comedy lovers around the country, Arole believes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Callâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; would

attain a good level of success at the cinemas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a call for me. I just felt I should something more than sketch. It is good when you start from something, but when you progress and evolve, so that is just me showing another part of me that people should enjoy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have had the dream of shooting the movie ever since, but the whole process from Pre-production.

Post-production and production have taken close to two years for me.

I just wanted something different, something that people would not imagine Arole would do, and something that would have a message,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Callâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will be available to the general public today

Asa

Vanessa Obioha Premium Scottish whisky brand Johnnie Walker gave a breathtaking spectacular show with its Johnnie Jazz Whisky recently. The jaw scintillating fusion of music and flavours event was headlined by afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti and musical songstress Asa. The event began with cameras clicking away at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;black carpetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as live instrumentals ushered guests into the cocktail area where mixologists delighted with a full array of whisky cocktails.

Guest mixologist, Berg, unravelled the mysteries

Femi Kuti

of Johnnie Walker Black Label, showcasing ways that guests may more fully enjoy the smoky, creamy, tropical and fruity flavours of this unique blended whisky. The musical performances lit up the ambience beginning with performances by Efezino, Yimika and Chike. Then the eureka moment came when award-winning Asa took the stage, performing her sweet melodies which include â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moving Onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dead Againâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and fan favourite â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jailerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for 45 minutes in a lead up to the high energy afro-magical performance of Femi Kuti.

The son of the Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti came on stage ready to play

some of his recent tunes but the crowd wanted him to play â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bang Bangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. He indulged the crowd to calm their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sexual anxietyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; before launching into a medley of his latest work.

It was an emotional moment when Femiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Made joined his father on stage, and the duo embarked on an eightminute â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;take-your-breathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; saxophone rendition that sprung a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; audience into a prolonged standing ovation. On that note, the evening of glitz and glamour, style and flavours came to a climactic end, giving the audience a memorable experience.

31

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E-TRENDS

Pasuma, OritseFemi, Teni Thrill at Trophy Lager 40th Anniversary

Aity Dennis Lights up Akwa Ibom State Carol Festival

Dennis

Multiple award winning gospel crooner, Aity Dennis, was among a galaxy of stars who graced the 2018 edition of award winning Akwa Ibom State Carols Festival which held Friday, December 21.

Performing after new gospel music sensation, Mercy Chinwo, and before American import, Nicole Mullen, Aity set the roof on fire at the Uyo Township Stadium as she performed her prophetic song, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You Will Get Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to the delight of the audience, which included Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom

Oritsefemi

Vanessa Obioha Fuji star, Pasuma alongside the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Double Wahalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crooner, Oritsefemi and Teni the Entertainer gave spectacular performances at the 40th anniversary of Trophy Lager in Ibadan recently.

Held at The Palms Shopping Mall, Ibadan, the entertainers got the lovers of the International Breweries brand that is widely accepted as the Honourable beer, dancing all through the night.

The Honourable concert kicked off with the superlative performance of OritseFemi who stepped on the stage with the audience screaming out his name.

The artiste returned the compliment by greeting them and asking after their wellbeing before embarking on the business of the night.

He started his performance with his hit song â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Igbeyawoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with the reoccurring lyrics â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gudu gudu mejeâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a song composed to enlighten the public on how serious the marriage institution should be taken right from the wedding ceremony.

He then performed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Betterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a song which calls for a better society while also showcasing some of the ills and struggles the average Nigerian passes through on a daily basis.

He moved on to the very

The Fine Girl after White Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heart

Pasuma

Teni

popular collaboration he had with Black Magic titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pass you byâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. As he delivered the chorus of the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Baba God blessing nor go pass you by He go bless you sotay them go ask you whyâ&#x20AC;?, you could see the audience in their numbers raising one hand up to the sky while putting the other on their chest in an act of acceptance as they believed that it was a prayer being said for them.

The climax of his performance was when he delivered his most popular song yet â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Double wahalaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The moment he shouted â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okpolo eye no be open eyeâ&#x20AC;?, the crowd went wild with excitement as if they had been starved of the song for a long time.

They sang along with him and were very satisfied with his performance giving him a rapturous ovation when he took his leave from the stage.

Speaking after his performance, Oritse Femi said he understood the significance of the celebration of the Trophy brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any brand that has spent 40 years in Nigeria has stood the test of time. Not every brand can withstand the rigor of the business environment in Nigeria. For Trophy to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary It was only natural for me to put in my best for my fans and of course for the consumers of this fantastic brandâ&#x20AC;?.

Next up was one half of the duo Artquake who took

the audience through songs such as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Abulelawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Asikoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Farabaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the highpoint of his performance was the rendition of the hit single, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Alantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which got the crowd dancing the unique dance steps that was introduced to go along with the song.

Pasuma showed his dexterity at making songs as he performed songs off the cuff using the occasion and the audience to entertain everyone on stage. He performed with a live band to show once again why he is one of the most sought after musician in the fuji genre.

The highpoint of his performance was when he presented cheques of cash prizes to winners of the ongoing National Consumer Promotion by Trophy Lager tagged Honourable Millionaires Promo.

Four winners emerged as winners of N1million while four others won consolation cash prize of N40,000 each.

The rave-of-the-moment and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Askamayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; crooner, Teni the entertainer stepped on stage as the first A-list female artiste of the evening. She immediately caught the attention of the female folks who danced raising their hands to the air.

She lived up to her billing as a captivating artiste as she delivered her rave making singles â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Farginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Askamayaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Caseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The 40th anniversary concert train will be

Emmanuel.

Among others, Aity Dennis sang, danced and prophesied a glorious future for the state and the Nigerian nation.

Speaking after the event Aity said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a big pleasure everytime I have a performance in my home state. I am also glad I had the opportunity to perform the theme songâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Let the People Say Amenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

I congratulate my governor and the coordinator of the carol on a successful event.

This year â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition of Akwa Ibom State Carols Festival was the bomb!â&#x20AC;?

heading to Ilesa in the next few days. Trophy Lager is popularly referred to as the pride of the South-West that is deeply rooted in the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s socio-cultural values and loved by consumers because of its distinctive taste and quality has remained a market leader in its category.

According to Godwin Oche, National Sales Director, International Breweries, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the concert is our way of appreciating our long standing consumers who have helped the brand by their continuous patronage. We wanted them to have this sense of belonging, have fun with the brand and make them know that they are the reason we are able to celebrate this milestone,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Tolulope Adedeji, Marketing Director, International Breweries said that the Honourable Millionaires Promo was initiated with the mindset of rewarding the loyal consumers of Trophy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our way of saying thank you for staying true to our brand all these years. They are the reason we are in business via their unflinching patronage. On our part, we promise to continue to avail our consumers the best quality of brands in their categories in the market,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Vanessa Obioha Fast rising AfroBeat artist, Steven Chibuike Igbokwe otherwise known as White Lion recently released a new single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Fine Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The song is coming in the heels of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Obiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the heartwarming hit that enjoyed massive rotation on the airwaves.

Describing the concept behind the new single, White Lion disclosed that the new song is coming at the time when body shaming has taken over the social media space and â&#x20AC;&#x153;as such with my new song, I try as much as possible to encourage ladies that irrespective of your size and shape; you still remain the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fine Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that you are.â&#x20AC;?

Inspired by the musical sound of Duncan Mighty

White Lion

and Burna Boy, White Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim is to further contribute his own quota to the growing entertainment industry through good sound and content at large.

Speaking further, White Lion sighted the shooting of the video of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Obiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as one of his biggest achievement as he look forward to working with Tubaba, Wizkid, Wande Coal, Timaya, Duncan Mighty and Tiwa Savage. The song is produced by Mdhazz. an eight-minute â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;takeyour-breathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; saxophone rendition that sprung a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; audience into a prolonged standing ovation.

On that note, the evening of glitz and glamour, style and flavours came to a climactic end, giving the audience a memorable experience.

32

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

NEWS

PFNPresidentCallsforUnityofMindAmongNigerians Stories by Mary Nnah The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called for unity of minds and purpose among Nigerians, so that they can jointly lift the nation to greater heights.

In a message issued on behalf of the Pentecostal family in Nigeria during the yuletide, PFN National President, Rev. Felix Omobude called on Nigerians to rally as one and embrace each other in love, as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Sending glad tidings of hope, peace and prosperity to all Nigerians, Omobude prayed for peace and tranquility in the land as the nation prepares for the 2019 General elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we stand at the cusp of another election year, we must be mindful of our responsibility to the nation and God. The times we live in call for concerted efforts on the part of all Nigerians, irrespective of creed or ethnicity, to steer the country away from danger. â&#x20AC;&#x153; We must shun bigotry and discrimination against one another, in all forms. As responsible Nigerians, we must endeavour to elect men and women of sterling virtue and proven integrity, with records of devotion to public service, at all levels of governmentâ&#x20AC;?, he noted.

Ahead of the 2019 elections, he appealed to all politicians to be more circumspect in their utterances, ensuring that

RCCG Renovates, Equips Kirikiri Prison Reference Hospital

RCCG, City of Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pastor Trevor Akindele(left); Representative of General Overseer Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Joseph Obayemi presenting key of Kirikiri Maximum Reference Hospital to the Deputy Controller In Charge, Maximum Prison, Oluwaniyi Emmanuel Oluwayomi after the dedication of the Hospital in Lagos recently

PFN National President, Omobude

Nigeria comes first in all their considerations and conduct.

He said there can be no compromising of the secular framework that governs Nigeria, under any guise, adding that a mutual co-existence of all religion is guaranteed under the constitution, thus political parties and politicians should focus more on solutions to the

issues that confront the nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The political class must not let ambition blind their sense of judgement or be seen to be pursuing any sectional agenda.

PFN cautions political leaders to restrain themselves from fanning the embers of hatred and shift their focus beyond the narrow confines of winning elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They must learn to accept

defeat gracefully, devote themselves to other forms of service, in the understanding that all power comes from Godâ&#x20AC;?, Omobude noted.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adequately clean up the electioneering process to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

Fidson Wins HR Future Workplace Award

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) recently dedicated the renovated and equipped reference hospital, as well as the Liberty Chapel for the inmates of Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos.

The church also held a thanksgiving service at the Liberty Chapel in the prison.

The two properties were dedicated by the National Overseer of the RCCG and a member of the Governing Council, Joseph Obayemi who represented the general overseer.

Controller Prison, Lagos Command, Mr. Tunde Ladipo, described the newly dedicated hospital as the best hospital in any prison in the country.

He added that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;you have made our work easy by what you are doing in the prisons such as improving the infrastructure and also feeding inmates in all Lagos prisons.â&#x20AC;?

During his welcome address at the Holy Ghost Visitation and Thanksgiving Service, Pastor Tunwashe Kabiru, the host Pastor of Liberty Chapel appreciated what God has been using the general overseer and RCCG to do for in the lives of the residents of the prison. He itemised the initiatives carried out by RCCG over the years to include: renovation and equipping of the National Open University (NOUN) Special Study Centre (2010); renovation of Liberty Chapel (2010); provision of scholarships to students until NOUN recently gave them 100 per cent free education; and renovation and equipping of the computer centre (2012).

Others are increase in the number of â&#x20AC;&#x153;A CAN can make a differenceâ&#x20AC;? Sunday breakfast; payment of medical bill for Ighalo Joel who fractured his leg; lightening of the Ijere to Navy town gate road (2016) with 40 solar powered street lights; extension of â&#x20AC;&#x153;A CAN can make a differenceâ&#x20AC;? Sunday breakfast to Badagry Prison; donation of Redeemed Dove TV and refurbishment/renovation of the Liberty Chapel (2018).

RCCG through its charity arm - His Love Foundation, has also been a long-time supporter of prisons in Nigeria.

Radio Sapeintia Celebrates 7th Anniversary

Fidson Healthcare Plc.

In recognition of its drive for excellence in the Nigerian Pharmaceutical industry, Fidson Healthcare Plc was recently rewarded for its outstanding performance in Human Resource Management with the award for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Best Employee Engagement Programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The award was given at the last edition of the HR Future Workplace Awards during the HR Summit and Expo for West Africa, 2018, which took place at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island Lagos.

This award came less than a week after the company bagged the PEARL award for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sectoral Leadership in Healthcare-Pharmaceuticalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

based on its performance in the Nigerian capital market.

The Future Workplace Awards (2018), themed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Celebrating the Human Side of Businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, sought to recognise outstanding achievements of individuals, departments, teams and organisations that have contributed to the growth and development of the West African HR Industry.

The events showcased the best HR talents in West Africa and also recognised HR professionals in government and private sector for their contributions towards creating a high performing workforce for the future.

Fidson was shortlisted for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Best Employee

Engagement Programmeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; award category along-side top organisations and eventually emerged winner, based on the quality and impact of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s several employee engagement initiatives.

Upon receiving the award, Head, Human Resource, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mrs. Adejoke Alli, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the event for recognising Fidsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment towards building a workplace for the future.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited about this award because it shows that the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment and the efforts of our HR team in ensuring Fidson is a great place

to work, are not in vain.

The team worked hard to pull this off and I believe God has rewarded our efforts with success. We are extremely thankful. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In line with the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value proposition, we recognise that the way we do things determines our outcomes. We support each other to greatness. We not only inspire our people to achieve, we celebrate their achievements with them.â&#x20AC;? The event was organised by Informa Africa and Dubai, a well-known multinational events and publishing company that has been organising world-class HR engagements in Nigeria, Dubai and other countries for many years.

Radio Sapeintia 95.3FM recently held a cultural concert to mark its seventh anniversary at the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium, Awka Road, Onitsha, amid pomp and pageantry.

Commenting, Mac Davis Ngwa, a staff of the radio station said that Radio Sapeintia can be assessed in 18 states in Nigeria and also. it has a web based global live stream platform. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our programmes have captured fans from every age group such that everybody has something to hold on to.

From news to programmes, from old school music to the present day beat, Sapeintia has continued to put in her best to make sure fans are always happyâ&#x20AC;?, Ngwa said.

Activities began at midday with a funfair and by 2:30pm, the grand cultural fiesta kicked-off with an opening prayer by the Most Reverend Valerian Okekethe, Archbishop of Onitsha. Among others, the venue was lit up by performances of cultural troupes from Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Delta and Akwa-Ibom States.

Anchored by MC for God, other acts that performed included Theresa Onuorah, Fanzy Papaya and Ikem Mazelli, highlife maestro and governor of PMAN, Anambra State.

The event was sponsored by Life Beer.

33

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

ART WEEKEND

â&#x20AC;ŚFor pure art enthusiasts

2019: A Year of Art Transformers Yinka Olatunbosun writes that some revolutionary trends will stir the Nigerian art scene in this new year

A: Founder, Art X Lagos, Tokini Peterside

A view of an art exhibition of digital art using virtual reality headsets

2

ciation.

If the management of National Museums in Nigeria consider new branding strategies aided by technology; tourism, arts and culture in Nigeria will get a boost. At the moment, there is no social media account for the Nigerian Museum.

In music, the trends in global scene is a reflection of how popular music is dominating the cultural space in almost every country. The 2019 Grammy nominations were predominantly earned by hip-hop artists including the coveted categories such Record of the Year and Album of the year. In Nigeria, hip-hop is also a leading music genre

018 produced some effervescence in Nigerian art scene, no doubt. It was evident in the changing dynamics for visual art.

Digital art offerings such as interactive media art in form of art installations and virtual reality content divided the art audience along the lines of conservatives and avant-gardists. Even age-long collectors arch their brows- pondering over the durability and relevance of this period art forms.

As the Founder of African Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Foundation and the LagosPhoto festival, Azu Nwagbogu once remarked during a

talk session in Lagos last December, there should be a synergy between the private and the public sectors in curating permanent collections for contemporary museums in Nigeria.

Nwagbogu who had recently earned the position of Chief Curator at Cape Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seitz Museum of Contemporary African Art spoke from a place of sound curatorial judgment as he evaluated the curatorial approach in publicly funded museums against the backdrop of a growing number of private collectors, some of whom upon their demise, risk having their works put in custody of relatives who may lack art appre-

with bankable artists such as Olamide, Reminisce, and Phyno dominating album sales and brand endorsements.

Of course, the emergence of Slimcase in the scene disrupted the game as many established artists took a bite of the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forbidden fruit- that is, his spoken words short of rhyme and reason-in collaborations. To be sure, his â&#x20AC;&#x153;codeine dietâ&#x20AC;? provoked some outrage because it was initially seen as a promotion of anti-social behaviour such as drug addiction. Slimcaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs made many DJsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; playlist in 2018 but may not be listed in 2019 as classic tunes.

If the Lagos state owned

community theatres are launched in 2019 as projected, cultural life will never be the same in the city. Some Lagosians see cultural life as a critical need not as a pastime.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consider how the theatre productions impact on the economy of each host community.

A case in point is Tiamiyu Savage Street in Victoria Island where almost every security man is sure to make some cool cash whenever plays are performed at Terra Arena.

It means business for taxi drivers, commercial tricyclists and theatre workers.

This year, Art X talk sessions will require a careful thoughtconsidering the

How Wizkid Settled ARISE TV/THISDAY End of the Year Squabble

Yinka Olatunbosun

It was an unwitting attempt by the foremost Starboy, Wizkid to end the squabble between the staff of THISDAY Newspapers and Arise Television Networks who were battling for the party supremacy when he repeated â&#x20AC;&#x153;THISDAYâ&#x20AC;? continuously during his performance at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The end of the year party was a surprise package from the Chairman of the two media organisations, Nduka Obaigbena, to celebrate the staff â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collective commitment to great service delivery inspite of the challenges of practice.

It turned out to be a gathering of THISDAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading advertisers as well as former editors and staff.

With Reuben Abati, a seasoned journalist and the face of Arise Morning Show, Mercy Ajisafe as comperes, the stage was set for music to serenade the audience in the hall which was not full until late into the night.

Wizkid

Of course, there was an air of disbelief as many didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to see Wizkid at that incredibly busy time of the year. But a quick reminder

from Abati made it believable: THISDAY was the first media organisation to bring Beyonce, Jay-Z, Buster Rhymes and Ciara and to

the African continent for performance in 2006.

But the Arise TV staff were bent on dominating the argument that it was their party.

Anyway, although the party was dominated by Arise TV staff, THISDAY staff were quietly watching.

The sexy frontline international model, Naomi Campbell gave some brief remarks during her goodwill message, eulogising Obaigbena for his great projects, one of which is Arise fashion show where she was the guest model.

While the Founder, Zenith Bank Jim Oviaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playful plea to introduce Wizkid was denied by the comperes since a sound check was in full swing, Wizkid was gearing up to come on stage.

Wizkid was his own hype man. He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have his music partner, Tiwa Savage with him. Just the man, the band and the crowd. He shook hands with some fans while some struggled to collect one of his â&#x20AC;&#x153;blingsâ&#x20AC;? . Wizkid savoured the solo show, not allowing photojournalists to share the spotlight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;THISDAY, let me hear you ...â&#x20AC;? was his hype phrase as he performed the anthem, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ojuelegbaâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Socoâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holler at your Boyâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Feverâ&#x20AC;? e.t.c

crowd it has commanded from its inception in 2016.

What happened last year is an indication that this international art fair is due for satellite venues.

When Yinka Shonibare MBE came to Nigeria as the lead artist for the art talks last year, the extension room which was equipped with a projector and sound equipment failed to keep the audience inthis auxilliary room on the same page with the ones inside the main hall, a couple of times. Possibly, more group exhibitions, fairs, workshops and artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; talks will emerge this year to replicate this tradition but it will take an heroic intervention to achieve it.

SpokenWordTradition KicksoffTomorrow Yinka Olatunbosun

The spoken word tradition in Lagos kicks off tomorrow with Reveal Nation Network in Victoria Island. The show features fresh voices in spoken word in an atmosphere of free WiFi, snacks, drinks and literary conversations.

The one-day event signals a start of amazing year for this artistry as this literary genre has gained recognition in the advertising industry in Nigeria as an alternative to music-based content.

FromScribblingto Bestseller Yinka Olatunbosun

From February 15 to 16, a free online writing seminar will commence with the title, â&#x20AC;&#x153;From Scribbling to Bestseller 2.0.â&#x20AC;?

This writing workshop is the second of its kind by its Nigerian organisers for intending storytellers.

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

34

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Ă?Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ë? lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

RESOLUTION TO HEALTHY FERTILITY

W

Human life moves on counted flowing number of years, A New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution is a tradition, in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.

Here is wishing us a hearty welcome to 2019!

Trust me a lot of us have long list of resolutions already made.

Making resolutions is vital as a study found that 46% of participants who made common New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolutions (e.g. weight loss, exercise programs, quitting smoking) were likely to succeed, over ten times as among those deciding to make life changes at other times of the year.

We often make resolutions over various areas of life but seldom make resolution towards our Fertility/Reproductive life.

Most couple trying for conception may have said to themselvesâ&#x20AC;&#x153;this year is my year to achieve conceptionâ&#x20AC;? and perhaps have prayed so hard towards it.

Having an action plan towards fertility to back our faith and prayer is crucial to success. Most medical cause of infertility may need to be resolved to achieve our dream babies Younger people though not desirous of babies at the moment are encouraged to start planning towards healthy fertility as much as possible. We have always known that prevention is better than cure. Some causes of infertility may be irreversible but can be prevented.

It is our fundamental Reproductive Right to easily have children when we desire to, therefore prevention of future infertility is key. Here are some resolu-

tions towards healthy fertility; r 5BLF DIBSHF PG ZPVS SFQSPEVDUJWF health by educating yourself about your fertility r "CTUJOFODF SFNBJOT UIF CFTU NFBOT of preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) r "WPJE VOQSPUFDUFE TFY BOE BMM JUT attendant risk r 4UJDL UP POF TFYVBM QBSUOFS r 5SFBU QSPQFSMZ FWFSZ 45* T BOE ensure Post Abortion Care (PAC) and proper management of the complications of abortions, if you have recently had an abortion.

r &OTVSF IFBMUIZ EJFU GPS GFSUJMJUZ r $IBOHF PG MJGFTUZMF UIBU DPNQSPNJTFT your fertility which includes: quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumptionand caffeine intake. r .BJOUBJOJOH B IFBMUIZ XFJHIU r 3FEVDJOH TUSFTT r 'FSUJMJUZ QSPGJMJOH LOPX ZPVS GFSUJMity status which is usually aimed at: r &TUBCMJTIJOH POFT GFSUJMJUZ QPUFOUJBM r*EFOUJGZJOH SJTL GBDUPST UIBU NBZ predispose to infertility in the future r %JBHOPTJOH BCOPSNBMJUJFT UIBU NBZ need prompt management to avoid compromising oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fertility Our fertility potentials varies from one person to the other and we usually may not have control over it, some genetic DPOEJUJPOT MJLF &OEPNFUSJPTJT 1PMZcystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), may adversely affect fertility. Some women may sufferfrom early shut down of their ovaries called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Premature Ovarian Insufficiencyâ&#x20AC;? (POI).

Knowledge is power. Resolve to get fertility empowerment this year.

Make plan to take advantage of the peak of your fertility for having babies.

Certain things in life are time bound and reproduction is one of them. Planning to have babies earlier in life can save us the headache of infertility in the future.

Resolution to healthy fertility for couple trying for baby: Oh! How often we relinquish the matters of fertility to chance and trust that it may soon happen. Most couple continues until they are over 40years, which is the age of fertility decline.

Some couples have been on the waiting list of conception for a long time but until they take certain bold steps they may never achieve it. Here are some of the list of resolutions we can make this year regarding fertility. r *EFOUJGZ XIBU UIF DBVTFT PG ZPVS

with LEKAN FATODU

Overscenes Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a New Year. Big thanks to God for making it possible for us to witness this brand new year. %FTQJUF BMM UIF DPMPVSGVM FWFOUT BOE gloomy predictions that preceded the New Year, many of us have come out stronger and ready to soar higher like the mythical Phoenix in 2019.

As such, not a few Nigerians are charged with a renewed assurance that better days are ahead particularly about the governance of their country that has tremendous impact on the well-being and daily activities of all and sundry.

Notably, this sense of assurance amongst many people of Lagos, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial nerve centre, is on a higher level and almost contagious. And the reason is not far-fetched.

The emergence of the two of their illustrious and tested brains, Mr. Babajide 4BOXP 0MV BOE %S 0CBGFNJ )BN[BU BT candidates for the office of governor and deputy in the state has become a potent harbinger of this palpable optimism.

Indeed, that assurance, or hope as popularly used by Nigerians, is the only magic word that keeps fueling our strength, resolve and trust that sooner than later Nigeria will enthrone, across its regions and states, leaders that are genuinely concerned about public service.

Interestingly, for Nigerians as a whole, the year 2019 will commence with the general elections, a once-in-four-years exercise for the people to choose the leaders that will manage their affairs in all the constitutionally established elective positions across the country.

This is indeed another defining moment for all. A moment to choose between

lekantodu@yahoo.com 08060140882

Hamzatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s London Undertaking

Hamzat

public-service devotees and self-serving characters. An opportunity to pick between protectors of public patrimony and pilferers of public assets and between committed individuals that will help uplift the living standards of the people and the insensitive lot that will overlook the appalling living conditions of the masses.

Lagos has continued to serve as the model in good governance amongst other states in Nigeria because of the quality of leadership that the state has had all along to manage its affairs. However, as once posited by yours truly, the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aspiration for a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mega and Smartâ&#x20AC;? city means that its advancement will no longer be measured alongside other sub-national governments in Nigeria but within the international space and along with cities in advanced countries of the world with similar or greater development

infertility are; most Fertility Centers offers fertility counseling for free. The couple attempting pregnancy should be seen together, this facilitates unity and cooperation as they both have same understanding of the fertility options available r $PVQMF TIPVME UBLF EFDJTJPO UP undergo fertility investigations; which may come in form of blood test, semen analysis test, pelvic ultrasound, Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) or Hysterosonogram (HSN) which should often reveal the cause of the fertility challenge and likely treatment the couples could benefit from. r 'JOBODJBM QMBOT UPXBSET GFSUJMJUZ JT very important, most fertility treatment are not covered by insurance. They are majorly â&#x20AC;&#x153;pay out of pocketâ&#x20AC;?. They may be expensive and financially draining.

Long term savings may be required for most low income earners to be able to assess fertility treatment My advice will be for us to stop crying over spilled milk! Move on with the recommended treatment option! Some couple sits down for years refusing to do nothing after they have been diagnosed and counseled toward appropriate fertility options. They keep living in denial of the real scenario and hoping that results would change with time or fertility improve with age, such attitude have resulted in couple eventually presenting later to fertility clinic to accept their fate and having children at a very late age, after retirement from active service. The best recommendation for couples saddled with fertility challenge is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;make hay while the sun shinesâ&#x20AC;?

Wishing you success as you go through series of steps trying for your dream babies and surely this year they will come!

aspirations.

Right now, it seems to all eyes that victory at the coming governorship election in Lagos State for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his SVOOJOH NBUF %S 0CBGFNJ )BN[BU JT absolutely a given.

This is because, from all indications, the major opposition in the state and other contestants for the governorship have so far remained on curious hibernation.

Interestingly, the evident lethargy on the part of their competitors have not made 4BOXP 0MV BOE )BN[BU BU BOZ NPNFOU cease to drive their campaigns to get more voters behind them at the poll for an overwhelming upset.

So, crucial on the agenda of this pair, in their preparation to take over the leadership of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial city, is the need to BUUSBDU TVGĂ DJFOU 'PSFJHO %JSFDU *OWFTUNFOU '%* BOE PUIFS FTTFOUJBM PGGTIPSF CFOFĂ UT UP Lagos in order to significantly increase the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenue base and effectively drive Sanwo-Oluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision for a greater Lagos. %VSJOH UIFJS FOHBHFNFOUT XJUI WBSJous critical stakeholders in the affairs of -BHPT 4UBUF 4BOXP 0MV BOE )BN[BU have expressed profound commitment towards finding solutions to the distressing regular traffic gridlocks on Lagos roads, the condition of the health care system, state of infrastructure and standard of education in the State amongst other necessities. )BN[BU T SFDFOU WJTJU UP UIF $JUZ PG London in United Kingdom (UK) was part of the efforts to achieve the foregoing and embark on the serious activities of governance after election.

Being a running mate and prospective deputy governor who is competent to undertake official duties for his principal XIFOFWFS UIF OFFE BSJTFT )BN[BU DPOducted and delivered his London assignments with the passion and believability that visionary leaders are noted for.

Aside the vigorous projection of their DBNQBJHO T Ă WF 1JMMBST PG %FWFMPQNFOU namely, Traffic Management & TransporUBUJPO )FBMUI &OWJSPONFOU &EVDBUJPO & Technology, Making Lagos a 21st DFOUVSZ FDPOPNZ &OUFSUBJONFOU 5PVSJTN XIJDI BSF DBMMFE 5)&.& GPS FBTF of retention, to an assemblage of foreign investors including Nigerians who are SFTJEJOH JO UIF 6, )BN[BU FNQIBTJTFE the peril of brain drain to Nigeria and the determination of their government, when elected, to help prevent the dangerous exodus of experts from Nigeria and attract more Nigerians with relevant expertise from abroad to join hands to build a better and greater. &YQFDUFEMZ BT B GPSXBSE UIJOLJOH administrator with records of great achievements during his term as a DPNNJTTJPOFS JO -BHPT 4UBUF )BN[BU couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t conceal his admiration for the effective transportation system in London and professionally-run public health services in the UK. )BN[BU HJWJOH 4BOXP 0MV BMM UIF necessary support, has enormous confidence that they will make tremendous contribution to governance and improve the standards of public institutions to a level that perfectly fits global benchmarks of excellence in public service.

So, for Lagosians, good days are indeed around the corner.

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

35

COLLAGE EVENTS

Jim Beam Classic Mix oďŹ&#x20AC; Rewards Contestants at Maiden Edition Adedayo Adejobi

L-R: Mrs Funmilayo Odukoya: the celebant, Mercy and Mr, Gbenga Odukoya, with Samuel and Emmanuel (back roll) , at Mercyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday in Lagos ...recently

L-R: Mrs. Nancy Adubi, Mrs. Remi Ogidan, Mrs. Stella Ukana, Mrs. Veronica Ayim, Mrs. Kehinde Saiki, and Mrs. Patience Akande, all of members of the Oshomoshofu Progresive Union Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State (Lagos Branch), during their end ofNew Year in Lagos

Jim Beam, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number one bourbon has crowned its winner at her maiden edition competition titledâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jim Beam classic Mix offâ&#x20AC;?.

The competition, which kicked off with buzz online for mixologists and bartenders to register, had over 120 people who registered.

The competition was organised to reward the real MVPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of the party.

The event gave the bartenders and mixologists the opportunity to showcase their unique skills in the art of mixing alcoholic beverages.

Jim Beam, the first bourbon has been making history since 1795 and has used the same proportion of corn, rye, and barley in its mash bill for more than 220 years.

Along with the mash bill consistency, the distillery has used the same yeast colony for 75 years. It is a global product and is marketed in Nigeria by Ekulo International Limited, who put together this competition.

At the event, qualified contestants came together to display talent at its best. Tasks on cocktails were given and each contestant had a number of minutes to whip up their best based on some criteria.

At the screening stage, 20 people qualified to make it into the competition, which happened in four stages. At each of the stages different contestants came up with different recipes for a unique cocktail and renowned mixologists who came in as judges tasted the Jim Beam classic cocktails.

At the finals, more energy were exhumed from the last five who were tasked in different bouts to showcase product knowledge, ability to sell the brand to bars, signature cocktails with sustainability and community in view and a remake of a Jim Beam classic cocktail.

After hours of drilling from the judges, the first Jim Beam Classic Mix off cocktail produced its second runner up as Ayegbajeje Olayinka with the cheque of N100, 000, the first runner up as Njoku Ruth with N150, 000 and respectively with a full bartenders kit and the star prize winner, Aduratade Promise won the sum of N250, 000 only.

While the last two evicted contestants were not left out as they got a gift of Jim Beam bartender four bourbon starter kit.

Presenting cheque to the winners, the General Manager of Ekulo International Limited, and exclusive importers of Jim Beam product,Mr. Charles Okonkwo, congratulated the winner and briefly shared how Ekulo as part of its corporate social responsibility offered this competition to bartenders and mixologists.

He added that the competition was in a bid to better skill the contestants in the art so that they can stand among their counterparts from other parts of the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jim Beam is a very good mix. It can mix with a lot of things. You can make a lot of cocktails out of it. Jim beam mix-off is an opportunity created for bartenders to display their talent and creativity,â&#x20AC;? said Okonkwo.

Jim Beam

Flavour, TIS Foundation Partner to Defend IDPs in Africa L-R: Vice Principal, General Duty, Ife City High School, Ile-Ife, Mr. Olumayowa Adeyefa; Senior Tutor, Mrs Modupe Olorunfemi; Principal, Mr. Oladapo Olanrewaju; Vice Principal, Academics, Mrs Taye Akinyele; and Vice Principal, Administrative, Mrs Funmilayo Awosemo, during the celebration of their retirement at the college premises, Ile-Ife, Osun Stateâ&#x20AC;Ś recently

Former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce & lndustry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and wife Kemi ( middle ) ďŹ&#x201A;anked by his children, Rolake (left) and Bimbo jnr (right) at the wedding anniversary/birthday celebration of Bimbo in Lagos...recently

Afro highlife star, Chinedu Okolie, popularly known as Flavour, is switching on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; part of his life as he has volunteered to work with TIS Foundation, to draw attention to the plight of displaced children in Africa.

This came to the fore during a signing session that took place at Amber Suites, Eko Hotel, Lagos, recently.

An enthusiastic Flavour said he got involved in the project out of his passion for uplifting the less-privileged in the society and vowed never to relent in his efforts towards this goal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about giving and being involved in charity. Anywhere I go for tours, I make it a point of duty to visit such places with my team. I have this urge to put smiles on the faces of these people, because this brings a lot of hope to them. So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pretty excited to be part of thisâ&#x20AC;?.

With this partnership, Flavour

will work with the TIS Foundation team on a series of projects to draw attention to the plight of displaced children around the continent of Africa.

Explaining, the President of TIS Foundation, Ogay Irono, said TIS Foundation is doing remarkably well in spite of the challenge of funding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TIS Foundation, which stands for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;To Inspire Strong Families and Communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, is a non-profit organisation that has helped train and nurture young people in the U.S. and Africa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;TIS has trained at least 12,000 Nigerians in 24 years. In Nigeria, we have the African Community Bridge Foundation (ACBF) as the implementing arm of TIS. We have been working in DRC, Rwanda and Ghana. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We recently trained a good many of the IDPs, empowering 50 of them with capital to start up their businesses. Also we have food centres that feed over 3,000

36

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

POTPOURRI

RCCGLagosProvince44ReiteratesCommitmenttoYouthDevelopment Mary Nnah The leadership of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 44, has reiterated its readiness to continue adding value to the youths through its numerous christian social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

It also restated its desire to make the youths rediscover themselves and be useful to the society through skills development, thereby contributing immensely to efforts by the government to tackle unemployment.

One of such activities, according to the Pastor in Charge, Amos Emovon, is the annual Pastor Amos Cup, the final of which took place in Lagos at the weekend.

He noted that the event, which was in alignment with the evangelical and youth empowerment drive of the mission, â&#x20AC;&#x153;is one of our social investments to harness the innate talents of the youths around our 150 parishes in Lagos and an enabling environment for the fulfilment of their passion and potentialâ&#x20AC;?.

The finals of the tournament attracted dignitaries and special guests including the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (SATGO) on Missions and the Pastor in Charge of Region 19, Pastor Brown Oyitso, who commended the effort of Emovon, and his able team for blazing the trail in the region in sports, by identifying this great need, and for the effort geared towards satisfying it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We strongly believe that through this effort, hope is gradually being restored to

Mary Nnah

L-R: Pastor in Charge of Lagos Province 23, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Sola Agunbiade; Emovon; Captain of Strong Tower FC, David kufre and Oyitso, during the event

the desperate, despairing, despondent, disheartened, and depressed youths within the neighborhood of our province, who would rather engage themselves in drugs and other nefarious and reprehensible activities that has ruined most lives, too numerous to mentionâ&#x20AC;?, he said.

Also, Emovon, in appreciating all the dignitaries, commended the teams for displaying exciting football skills, while hoping that this CSR initiative will help the youths to fulfill their potentials.

Quoting from Mark Twain, he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make it a point to do something everyday that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For us at Lagos Province 44, we are wired to be intentional, deliberate in investing in the social good within our communities without pain and we thank God for the modest achievements thus far.â&#x20AC;? He listed previous mega CSR interventions of the province to include supply of medical equipment to Randle

Children Hospital, equipping and commissioning of an ICT Laboratory for Aguda Junior Grammar School, renovation and donation of security equipment to four divisional police stations in Surulere, renovation of the dinning hall, kitchen and boys hostel of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, provision of exercise books, science text books to Epetedo High School, skills acquisition and empowerment of over 350 unemployed /underemployed people and donation of neo-natal equipment to

Excitement as Adron Homes Holds Lemon Party

One of the leading Real Estate Management Company, ADRON Homes and properties limited rented the air with fanfare last week Sunday when it hosted staff members, customers alongside entertainers to an elaborate end of the year party tagged â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Adron Lemon Partyâ&#x20AC;?.

The Balmoral Hall of Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos was filled to its brim like a concert of sought. The 7th edition of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual party is to also mark its seven years of existence.

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest music acts and comedians such as; Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;banj, Davido, Slimcase, CDQ, DJ Switch, Frank Edwards, Asa, young Vanessa Jones, Gordon and Kenny Blaq were featured to thrill guests to a fulfilled evening.

To crown the evening, some members of staff were rewarded for their hard work and loyalty.

While men and women whom have impacted the company positively were also honoured in different categories.

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ADRON Group, Dr. Adetola EmmanuelKing said the essence of the party is to appreciate an individual who has in one way or the other contributed to the

Nigerian music act, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;banj, GMD/CEO of ADRON Homes and Properties Limited, Dr. Adetola EmmanuelKing and wife, Aderonke

growth of the company since its seven years of doing business.

It is also a way of bonding together in love and unity as to largely celebrate the season and our dear country at large in unique colours.

He however announced after Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;banjâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressive performance that the company has deemed him fit to be their 2019 brand Ambassador. They added that Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;banj and one of its young female ambassadors, Vanessa Jones would be paired as face of the property brand on media billboards, fliers, banners, newspapers and other social platforms across states of

the federation.

EmmanuelKing recalled that the company picked up Jones at tender age when they discovered that the young lad was full of talents, adding that since then, the company has been sponsoring her academics, made her a young landlord and made her its brand ambassador.

One of the award recipients, Barrister Kemi Osude, a consultant at Adron commended the company for the recognition.

She said the award meant so much to her and it shows that her no hold-back contributions are being acknowledged and appreciated.

She added that she is so pleased with how the company is taking care of its staff members by training and retraining through seminars, workshops and other educative platforms.

Especially by appreciating and sponsoring their trip to any countries of their choice.

Also by learning individuals strength and helping them to better build on it.

Osude, however admonished the company to always take staff welfare and wellbeing seriously as they have been doing given that the company remains an household name and still go places in property management.

Massey Street Children Hospital, Lagos.

Others include widows empowerment, bursary awards to indigent students, back to school kits impacting over 10,000 pupils, eye testing, provision of glasses and surgery

for the elderly around Lagos Island, provision of boreholes to several communities, provision of street lights, monthly feeding within the province communities, various medical/health awareness interventions, etc.

ThreeCrownsMomoftheYear WinnersJetofftoDubai Mary Nnah The 2018 Three Crowns Mom of the Year winners recently departed Lagos for a four day all-expense paid trip to Dubai. The three winners are Mrs. Jennifer Menakaya Ikono, Mrs. Pauline Pambolo Daniel and Adaobi Okonkwo.

The trip to Dubai is the grand prize of the annual Three Crowns Mom of the Year campaign. And this year, three, instead of just one, grand prize winners emerged to commemorate Three Crowns 30th anniversary in Nigeria.

The lucky winners were joined on the Dubai trip by three members of their families, in line with the core idea of the campaign which is to provide opportunities for Nigeria mothers to enjoy a deserved get-away with their families.

Speaking about her expectations before departing for the trip, Ikono, a trader, said she was excited about the chance to experience new culture and make new friends.

She also thanked Three Crowns for offering her the rare chance to spend quality time with her family away from work.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a busy woman, so I cherish an opportunity like this because for once I will have the opportunity to get sounds rest as well as enjoy intimate moments with my family. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a privilege I will cherish for a long time and I appreciate Three Crowns for it.â&#x20AC;?

Mrs. Daniel said the Three Crowns Mom of The Year campaign changed peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perception about her for good, adding that many of

her colleagues have now come to appreciate Three Crowns milk as a heart-friendly dairy brand.

Mrs. Daniels who is a baker and a civil servant noted that the all-expense-paid trip to Dubai was a dream come true for her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look forward to having great fun with my family members and also hope to get some well-deserved rest because I work round the clock just to make sure that everyone is fine. All I can say is a big thank you to Three Crowns for this opportunity.â&#x20AC;?

Okonkwo, who has her two daughters on her entourage, said the Three Crowns Mom of The Year contest made her feel loved beyond her expectations by her friends, colleagues and family members.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know am going to relax away from work. Spend more time with my children and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be fun I know.â&#x20AC;?

Aside the all expense paid trip to Dubai, the three winners will also won a $1000 shopping voucher, as well as one year supply of Three Crowns Milk.

Speaking about the campaign, Senior Brand Manager of Three Crowns Milk, Omolara Banjoko, said the initiative was birthed from the insight that moms donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take care of themselves.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We as a brand created a platform to reward moms, because they are important and need to be healthy and well taken care of.â&#x20AC;?

She added that a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice to eat right and keep fit is very important to keep healthy, which in turn reduces the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases for the family and society.

37

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

ENTREPRENEUR

NnennaUkachukwu:BrimmingwithPassionforYoungPeople Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă?Ă&#x2014;ĂŁË&#x153; Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2022;ĂĄĂ&#x;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x2019;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; ĂŁĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x161;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2122;ĂĄĂ&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2018;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17D;Ă? Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă&#x153; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ë&#x203A; Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂĄ ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; AyodejiAkeË&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2022;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ë&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2013;ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ĂŁĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ë&#x203A; âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x17E;Ă?Ë?

C

an you tell us a bit about your organisation?

The British Nigerian Academy (BNA), was founded in September 2008, which makes us 10years this year. The job has been challenging but very fulfilling, having raised kids from age 10 and see them graduate at 16, some of them 17. It gives me utmost joy and satisfaction raising these kids. The feedbacks we get as they progress in their academics give us great pleasure.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a mother of five boys, three of them successfully passed through British Nigerian Academy, and my fourth son is currently a Junior Secondary School (JSS) 2 student here. We offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and we give students the option of running their University Foundation Programme as well as for those who want to do a one year programme before progressing to the university. My background is law; I read law in the university before I delved into education. Education is my passion and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m passionate about young people and also contributing my little quota here at BNA. How easy has it been with the students?

The truth of the matter is that I have always loved children, like I said I have five children of mine own and I love to be around young people particularly teenagers. I love to talk to them, get feedback from them, hear them out, find out what they are going through, their strength, their weaknesses, and the challenges they face as teenager and I love to work with them, advise them and see them develop over time, and be a part of their growth and development. So I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say it something I delved into it, it is something I have always loved to do even as a teenager.

If you were not an educationist, what will you be doing?

I would probably be running a nongovernmental organisation that will focus on youth development. I believe strongly and passionately that we must as nation develop our youths.

There is no shortcut to it because we must develop our nation and the more we develop the young people, the more young people would be making great strides around the world. Imagine someone who is 39 years old as the president of France, the lady in New Zealand, J. center who is 37 years old, she recently became a mother, and she is the prime minister of New Zealand.

These are young people doing great things, running big multi-national companies, making strides in every sector that you can think of. So, I believe that here in Nigeria, we can replicate the same. Nigeria kids are very intelligent, learn very quickly if given the right tools to work with, if they can be provided with enabling environment, I believe that they can achieve great things. So we as a nation, our leaders must understand that we are not going to get there without our young people.

So they need to give way for the young people to contribute because they have a lot to contribute particularly in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT), they have ideas with ideas but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the right platform to contribute. Imagine, So, our leaders have to pay some attention to the youth of this nation and that is why education is the primary focus, if Nigeria children are well educated, given the right environment, they will succeed.

How was growing up like?

I enjoyed my childhood and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the truth, I came from a family of six children, three boys and three girls. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the second child of my parent and the first

Ukachukwu

daughter. I grew up in a family where my dad was very loving and my mother was very strict, a disciplinarian in the real sense of the world. Even though my father was very comfortable, we could afford the nice things of life and for every nice thing you got, you earned it, as opposed to what I see these days where children are rewarded, even for bad behaviour. We could not afford to misbehave in school. We were very well brought up and that has made me who I am today. I went to boarding school Federal Government Girls College, Calabar, went to university abroad.

Life was good but we were taught hard work. My mother will always say that

The truth of the matter is that I have always loved children..I love to work with them, advise and see them develop over time, and be a part of their growth and development...I believe strongly and passionately that we must as nation develop our youths.

There is no shortcut to it because we must develop our nation

success comes before work. So, from our early age we learnt to work hard and to whom much is given, much is expected so we knew that we could not afford to fail in values, characters, morals and academics.

Can you now say you are fulfilled?

Yes I am. In my family as a mother, as a wife, I am fulfilled. I am not yet there yet but I have a child who just graduated from university, he is doing his masters at the moment and then I can beat my chest and say that I have done well by the grace of God. I am not there yet as I still have many light years ahead of me. But by what I have set out for myself I can say that I am fulfilled because I still have many to take off from check list by the grace of God. Your husband is a politician and a business man. And the popular saying that behind every successful man is a woman. How have you been of support to your husband?

As a wife, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left for him judge if I have been very supportive or partially supportive. Let me put it this way, I support him in every area of his life and that is the way I can summarily put it.

He is a businessman, he is a politician, he is a pastor, he is a philanthropist, he is many things rolled into one and he succeeded in most things that he set out to achieve. I would not say I would take all the credit, I would give all Glory to God almighty because has made everything possible. However, he is someone who has confidence with himself and has absolute confidence

in me and so he seeks my advice in most things he set out to do because he knows that I will contribute meaningfully, my time, energy, ideas. Most importantly, in whatever he wants to do I always tell people that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a man who has confidence in himself that will let a woman be, he has allowed me to do my own thing, chart course of myself and then that has bought out the best in me because in most things he set out to do, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s either I am at the forefront or champion it behind the scenes.

What are your words of encouragement to women?

I tell women whenever I have the opportunity that you cannot just sit down at home and expect to get all the good things of life. I was brought up to understand that you as a person must live a life of impact, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not your bank balance that validates you, but its living a life of impact and then so as for women, we must make an impact.

Even if you are not making that in the society, we must make an impact in our families, our homes, work place, in the relationship you have with friends, colleagues, you must make an impact and you must make a positive impact.

When you change jobs, your previous colleagues should miss you, I cannot afford to walk through this life without making an impact. So, as women we must make positive impact in the society, in your own little space. We are all leaders in our own right, you must not be a president or a legislature, minister, governor to make an impact. In your own little space, make an impact.

38

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

METRO

â&#x20AC;ŚYour city life in print

Culture Renaissance as Ekiti Community Showcases Hidden Treasures In a move to promote African culture for global attention, Aramoko Ekiti, one of the ancient towns in Yorubaland recently organised the second edition of its Cultural Heritage Festival, where tourists from within and outside Nigeria enjoyed various phases of modern and traditional carnival parades. Raheem Akingbolu, who witnessed the carnival reports

F

or five days in Ekiti State, Nigerians and tourism enthusiasts, across the world were treated to the best of African culture, foods and games. It was the 2018 edition of Aramoko Cultural Heritage Festival (ARAHFEST), where contemporary and traditional carnival mixed with music fiesta and other side attractions like beauty pageantry and traditional wrestling, were savoured.

Trip Down Memory Lane As promised during the media briefing that heralded the festival that it would offer more than the maiden edition held last year, the 2018 ARAHFEST, lived up to expectations, starting with a lecture delivered by foremost Nigerian Professor of History, Ishola Olomola, who spoke on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Place of Aramoko in the History of Yoruba race. The University don corroborated the declaration of the Ooni of Ife, Oba AdeyeyeOgunwusi, that Aramokoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place in Yoruba history can never be overlooked.

Early last year, Oba Ogunwusi, oversaw a colourful reunion ceremony that brought together Ajero of Ijero, Orangun of Ila and Alara of Aramoko. At the event, which was held at Alaraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace, Oba Adegoke OluAdeyemi, the Ooni reiterated the fact that Alara, Ajero and Orangunof Ila were brothers from Ooniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace, who left Ile Ife many centuries ago to settle where they are today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alara, Ajero and Orangun are brothers, who shared same parents. As I speak, they still have their rooms in Ife palace.

Immediately I was installed and I saw the record in the palace, I resolved in my mind to visit them and charge them not to allow modern civilisation to shy them away from their traditional commitment to Ooniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace. Many youths of today, who hear Ifa priests and those who play traditional roles in Yoruba home videos, evoke power in the name of Alara, Ajero and Orangun, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where it all started because of little or no effort to consolidate the relationshipâ&#x20AC;?.

At the ARAHFEST lecture, Prof. Olomola didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only confirm this but told Alara to keep the tempo as a foremost Yoruba Oba. He described Aramoko Ekiti as a unique town in Yoruba land that needed to be heard than it is currently.

To this end, the erudite scholar commended Aramoko Development Association for instituting the carnival, adding that it would further boost the relationship among the Yorubas and help Aramoko to maintain its status among the comity of towns and cities that made up the Yoruba Nation.

While calling on Aramoko indigenes home and abroad to key into the event, the university don pointed out that any community that loses its culture, has lost its identity.

Some of the local delicacies prepared by various quarters are; Iyan, Abari, Eegbo, Ojoojo, EpipaUkoko, Otili and Feregede.

Others are; OgedeSisun and Igba_yinrin, Ogede Ititi, Ila Alasepo and Ewuro, Egunsi and Ewuro, Efo Riro, Emu InuAkeregbe.

Olabode Ayodele from Isasa quarters and OlabisiAjayi from Isao, who participated in the wrestling and cooking competitions respectively, spoke glowingly on their takeaway from the two competitions.

Ayodele said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the idea was first mooted, it sounded unusual to me because we are used to watching modern wrestling on television. Therefore, I thought the local version was dead but as the competition gathered momentum, my mind went to my days in primary and secondary schools and my skill in wrestling resurfaced. I told our quarterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trainer of my intention to participate. Today, as I did Isasa Quarters proud, I can only thank ADA for coming up with this and appeal Aramoko people home and abroad to join hand with the development association,â&#x20AC;?

For Olabisi Ajayi, who said her involvement in the cooking competition had further opened her eyes to some ancient foods, the cooking aspect was a good training platform for Aramoko ladies and visitors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though born and bred in Aramoko, there are many of the foods cooked here today that I have not seen in my life. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure if any woman goes home to prepare any of the ancient food for her hubby, their marriage will be more solidified. What we see here has defeated the argument that Yorubas have no varieties like our Igbo brothers and sisters,â&#x20AC;?

Ajayi said.

Modern carnival

Other Jamborees Though Saturday turned out to be the peak of the event, traditional and modern carnivals of Thursday and Friday were beautiful jamborees that opened up the entire town. It was a celebration of colours, costumes and dances.

The two days witnessed contemporary carnival, Miss Aramoko beauty pageant, Indigenous Heritage Carnival, Music Concert and acrobatic displays that took contingents round the major streets of the town.

A leading light of Yoruba Theater industry, 80 year-old Ayo Ogunshina, popularly known as Papalolo of the old Jesters International, which comprised Jacob, Papalolo, and Aderupoko, who spoke to journalists after the carnival described it as a reawakening event for lovers of Yoruba culture.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have not seen it this good in any town in Yoruba nation. Successfully, Aramoko people have set the pace by taking modern and traditional carnival a notch higher. Here, culture and tradition have simply mixed with glamour.â&#x20AC;?

Another juror, Pa Peter Fatomilola, also a household name in Nollywood, while appreciating the organisers, called on government and corporate bodies to support Aramoko, so that the carnival can be sustained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aramoko is lucky to have someone like Prof. Rasaki Ojo-Bakare, the former Artistic Director of Abuja carnival as ARAHFEST Technical Director. In the last three days, I have witnessed what I have not seen anywhere in Nigeria. As a stakeholder in the Arts and Culture industry, I know it is capital intensive and that is why Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m calling on Federal and State Ministry of Information to partner the community and use ARAHFEST to showcase Nigeria. It is also my belief that the carnival can serve as a good platform for top players in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector of the economy to reposition their products,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Cultural display

Traditional Games In the afternoon of the first day of the one-week carnival, representatives of various quarters in Aramoko took part in traditional games of Ayo Olopon, Aarin and Okoto.

The four quarters are; Oke Oja, Isasa, Anaye and Isao. At the end, Isasa came first in Arin game, followed by Isao, Oke Oja and Anaye accordingly. The table however turned in favour of Isao during the Ayo Olopon game as it came first, while Oke Oja, Anaye and Isasa took second, third and fourth positions respectively. The event was held at Aramoko Civic Center.

Food, Wrestling Festival Two events; traditional foods and drinks, as well as traditional wrestling were held at Saint Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Primary School, Ijero Road, Aramoko Ekiti, on the second day. The four quarters prepared varieties of local and traditional foods and displayed them inside

Contemporary carnival parade

the stand of each of the quarters.

For tourists and natives, it was a moment of excitement as the array of foods paraded sent strong signals to all that Nigerians were fast moving away from their origin.

The jurors, who were saddled with the responsibility to inspect and award marks during the cooking competition, admitted that the community had what Nigeria could market to the international community.

Unity in Diversity Aside the carnivals, which involved all the quarters as contingents, various communities like the Igedes, the Igbos and the Hausas, who are resident in Aramoko

39

F R I DAY Ëž ͲË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY

AU Commissions Study on Peace And Security In Africa

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

SECURITY TIPS (PART 40)

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Source: Unknown

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KNOW YOUR POLICE OFFICERS (10)

--The Deputy Inspector General of Police,Finance andAdministration %*( .BJHBSJ "CCBUJ %JLLP GED JT UIF %FQVUZ *OTQFDUPS (FOFSBM PG 1PMJDF %FQBSUNFOU PG 'JOBODF BOE "ENJOJTUSBUJPO XIJDI JT UIF IJHIFTU BENJOJTUSBUJWF PSHBO PG UIF /JHFSJB 1PMJDF SFTQPOTJCMF GPS UIF Ă OBODF BOE BENJOJTUSBUJPO of the force.

5IF EFQBSUNFOU IBT UIF GPMMPXJOH TFDUJPOT UP BDUVBMJTF JUT GVODUJPO $FOUSBM "ENJOJTUSBUJPO 'PSDF 1SPWPTU .BSTIBM 1PMJDF 1VCMJD 3FMBUJPOT 0GĂ DF 1130

#VEHFU BOE 'JOBODF /1' *OTVSBODF /JHFSJB 1PMJDF .FEJDBM 4FSWJDFT 7. Police Printing Press.

1PMJDF #BOE "JSQPSU 1PMJDF $PNNBOE 4QPSUT 6OJU 11. Railway Police Command. soldiers the most.â&#x20AC;?

5IF UIJT FOE .VTB DIBSHFE UIF 1PSU "VUIPSJUZ 1PMJDF $PNNBOE USPPQT UP SFEPVCMF UIFJS FGGPSUT Source: Police Force Headquarters, ABUJA i.Z FYQFDUBUJPOT JT UIBU UIFZ continue to redouble their efforts POF PG UIF QSJNBSZ SFTQPOTJCJMJUZ PG UIF VOJUT JT UIF QSPUFDUJPO PG .S 1SFTJEFOU IJT JNNFEJBUF GBNJMZ BOE UIF '$5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having done our own I FYQFDU UIFN UP SFEPVCMF UIFJS FGGPSUT TP UIBU MJGF BOE QSPQFSUZ JO (XBHXBMBEB BSFB IFSF JT safeguarded,â&#x20AC;? he said.

"MTP TQFBLJOH UIF $PNNBOEJOH 0GGJDFS (VBSET #BUUBMJPO Lt-Col. Hussaini Rabiu Toro, said the aim was to boost the welfare PG UIF TPMEJFST UISPVHI JNQSPWFE living conditions. u * BN IBQQZ UP CF BCMF UP contribute to the welfare of my USPPQT BOE * XJMM EP NZ CFTU UP continue adding value in the lives of my soldiers and the Dikko

Army Guards Brigade Boosts Troops Welfare 5IF (VBSET #BUUBMJPO /JHFSJBO "SNZ SFDFOUMZ DPNNJTTJPOFE TFWFO OFX BOE VQHSBEFE QSPKFDUT JO "CVKB JO BO FGGPSU UP JNQSPWF UIF XFMGBSF PG UIF /JHFSJBO USPPQT The commissioning was led CZ $PNNBOEBOU PG (VBSET #SJHBEF #SJH (FO 6NBSV .VTB BU UIF (FO " 0 "[B[J #BSSBDLT JO (XBHXBMBEB "SFB $PVODJL "CVKB .VTB DPNNJTTJPOFE B TDBOning machine and the first DIJMESFO T XBSE BU UIF .FEJDBM 3FDFQUJPO 4UBUJPO .34 B USBJOJOH IBMM BOE EFQBSUNFOU BOE UIF SFNPEFMMFE (VBSET #BUUMJPO )FBERVBSUFST UIF (VBSET #BUUBMJPO TJHOQPTU B QPEJVN BOE a walk way.

4QFBLJOH BU UIF DPNNJTTJPOJOH .VTB XIJMF DPNNFOEJOH the efforts of the guards brigade, OPUFE UIBU UIF QSPKFDUT DPNNJT-

(a) Police Control Room Nos: 08034773600 or 08098880197 (b) Commissioner of Police: 07065679050 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 0GĂ DFS *NP 4UBUF Source: Imo State Police Command

EME

40

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019

41

42

F R I DAY Ëž JANUARY 4, 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

IATA Projects Global Industry Profit of $35.5bn in 2019 Chinedu Eze The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has projected that the global airline industry net profit will hit $35.5 billion in 2019, slightly above the $32.3 billion expected net profit in 2018.

This was revised down from $33.8 billion that was forecast in June last year.

The factors expected to drive the projection of the global body includes the return on invested capital, which was expected to be 8.6 per cent, unchanged from 2018; the margin on net post-tax profits expected to be four per cent, also unchanged from 3.9 per cent recorded in 2018.

Another factor was the overall industry revenues which was expected to reach $885 billion (+7.7% on $821 billion in 2018) Passenger numbers was expected to reach 4.59 billion, up from 4.34 billion in 2018; cargo

tonnes carried expected to reach 65.9 million, up from 63.7 million in 2018 and that there would be slower demand growth for both passenger traffic (+6.0% in 2019, +6.5% in 2018) and cargo (+3.7% in 2019, +4.1% in 2018) and there also be average net profit per departing passenger of $7.75 ($7.45 in 2018),â&#x20AC;? the global body said. It noted that the lower oil prices and solid, albeit slower, economic growth (+3.1%), were extending the run of profits for the global airline industry, after profitability was squeezed by rising costs in 2018.

It is expected that 2019 would be the tenth year of profit and the fifth consecutive year where airlines deliver a return on capital that exceeds the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cost of capital, creating value for its investors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had expected that rising costs would weaken profitability in 2019. But the sharp fall in oil

prices and solid GDP growth projections have provided a buffer.

So we are cautiously optimistic that the run of solid value creation for investors will continue for at least another year. But there are downside risks as the economic and political environments remain volatile,â&#x20AC;? said IATAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.

The global body said Passenger traffic (RPKs) was expected to grow by six per cent in 2019, which would outpace the forecast capacity (ASKs) increase of 5.8 per cent and remains above the 20-year trend growth rate.

This in turn would increase load factors and support a 1.4 per cent increase in yields (partially clawing back the 0.9% fall experienced in 2018).

Passenger revenues, excluding ancillaries, were expected to reach $606 billion (up from $564 billion in 2018).

L-R: Former Port Manager, Tincan Island Port Complex, N.B.C Akani; Priest, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Apapa, Rev. Father Osbert Egbe; Director of Administration, Ibru Organisation/Ibafon Port Complex, Henry Mougho and Commodore T.N.K. Okoro (Rtd.), during a Christmas party hosted by the Moughos in Lagos... recently

Insurgents Unfair to Children in Nigeria, Says UN Kayode Fasua ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E; The United Nations Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund (UNICEF) has accused the Boko Haram terroristsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; factions of carrying out grave atrocities against children in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin regions in 2018.

The UN agency, in a report â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;How the world failed children in conflict in 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, also said the world failed to protect children in conflict in Nigeria and 14 other countries in 2018.

UNICEF said the future of millions of children living in Nigeria and other countries affected by armed conflict were at risk, as warring parties continued to commit grave violations against children, and world leaders failed to hold perpetrators accountable.

The other countries are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Myanmar, Palestine, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.

UNICEF added that children living in countries at war had come under direct attack, had been used as human shields, killed, maimed or recruited to fight.

The UN children agency said rape, forced marriage and abduc-

tion had become standard tactics employed by the mainstream Boko Haram terrorists and the factional Islamic State West Africa Province.

UNICEF said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In northeast Nigeria, armed groups, including Boko Haram factions, continue to target girls, who are raped, forced to become wives of fighters or used as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;human bombsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In February, the group abducted 110 girls and one boy from a technical college in Dapchi, Yobe State. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While most of the children have since been released, five girls died and one is still being held captive as a slaveâ&#x20AC;?.

In the Lake Chad basin, ongoing conflict, displacement and attacks on schools, teachers and other education facilities have put the education of 3.5 million children at risk, UNICEF said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today in north-east Nigeria, the Lake region of Chad, extreme north of Cameroon and Diffa region of Niger, at least 1,041 schools are closed or nonfunctional due to violence, fear of attacks, or unrest, affecting nearly 445,000 children.â&#x20AC;?

Across all these countries, UNICEF said it worked with partners to provide the most vulnerable children with health, nutrition, education and child protection services.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For example, in October, UNICEF helped to secure the release of 833 children recruited into armed forces in northeast Nigeria, and is working with partners to reintegrate them into their communities,â&#x20AC;? it said.

UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes, Mr Manuel Fontaine, said children suffering atrocities and the number of countries in conflict hit new peak in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children living in conflict zones around the world have continued to suffer through extreme levels of violence over the past 12 months, and the world has continued to fail them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For too long, parties to conflict have been committing atrocities with near-total impunity, and it is only getting worse. Much more can and must be done to protect and assist children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, yet today, more countries are embroiled in internal or international conflict than at any other time in the past three decades. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children living through conflict are among the least likely to be guaranteed their rights. Attacks on children must end,â&#x20AC;? Fontaine said.

Lifebuoy Promotes Hygiene in IDP Camp In a bid to further spread the message of hygiene and disease prevention through hand-washing, Lifebuoy has visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Dauda Camp, Makurdi, Benue State.

With over 80 per cent of IDPs in the camp exposed to menacing diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia - which are preventable by regular hand-washing with soap - the representatives of the Lifebuoy brand brought the behavioural change message of hand-washing to the camp with the hope of reducing these health risks by two-thirds come 2020.

According to Lifebuoy Brand Manager, Lanre Odupe: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria has one of the largest

child mortality rates in the world. We were the country with the 3rd highest number of new-born deaths in 2016 and is projected to overtake India by 2021. Such unpleasant statistics are a reminder that the local corporates have a role to play in raising awareness for interventions such as hand washing to reduce child mortality, and generally improve the health of as many families as possible.â&#x20AC;?

Benue State First Lady, Eunice Ortom, who was present at the visit further added that although the state government was doing a lot in responding to the needs of the IDPs by providing relief materials and facilities at the camps, there has also been a need

for private organisations to play active roles in furthering their wellbeing through health education and the provision of materials as demonstrated

by Lifebuoy and Unilever. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The influx of persons into the camps owing to unfortunate circumstances increased the number of IDP camps and the population of these camps have continued to grow. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state government is doing all within its power to see that there is no lack in the camps. Hence, it is great to see corporates like Unilever step up and not only educate the internally displaced persons on proper hygiene practices, provide items that will go a long way in improving the standard of living in the camps,â&#x20AC;? she said.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

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

5,433,209.43

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

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

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

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $53.92 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $55.13 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 ˾ JANUARY 4, 2019

MARKET NEWS

All-Share Index Sheds 0.96% as Market Extends Losses Goddy Egene Price losses by 24 stocks extended the bearish trend at the Nigerian equities for the second day. Having opened 2019 on a negative note on Wednesday, the market recorded another decline yesterday following losses by bellwethers.

Specifically, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)All-Share Index (ASI) shed 0.96 per cent to close lower at 30,771.32, while

market capitalisation went down to N11.47 trillion.

Although the market recorded 24 price losers, depreciation by banking stocks such as Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and GTBank Access Bank Plc led to the negative close for the day.

However, Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc led the price losers with 10 per cent, trailed by University Press Plc

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

with 9.6 per cent. MCNichols shed 8.5 per ent, just as First Alumium and FCMB Group Plc dipped by 8.3 per cent apiece.

Diamond Bank Plc closed 6.9 per cent lower as profit taking set after a major price rally.

Transcorp Plc, Access Bank Plc and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc shed 6.2 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 4.9 per cent in that order.

Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, GTBank Plc and Lafarge

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Africa Plc were also among the price losers, going down by 4.7 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 4.1 per cent respectively.

Market analysts said the loss by Lafarge Africa Plc has depressed its price to N11.50, which is below its Rights Issue price of N12.00 per share. Lafarge Africa Plc had last month applied to raise N89.21 billion from existing shareholders through a rights issue “Following the resolution

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

of our shareholders passed at the extra- ordinary general meeting(EGM) held on the 25thSeptember 2018, the board of directors has approved the terms of the Rights Issue. Lafarge Africa Plc will raise N89.21billion by way of a rights issue at N12.00 per share, by issuing six new shares for every seven shares held by shareholders at the qualification date, which will be announced,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Forte Oil Plc led the 13 stocks that appreciated in price yesterday, chalking up 9.6 per cent. Union Bank of Nigeria Plc trailed with 8.0 per cent, just as Transnationwide Express Plc chalked up 7.6 per cent. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc garnered 5.2 per cent, while Jaiz Bank Plc, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and Sterling Bank Plc went up by 3.8 per cent, 3.5 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively.

O F 0 3 / 0 1 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019

44

Friday, January 4, 2019

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45

MARKET NEWS

Continental Reinsurance Incorporates Subsidiary for CIMA Region Goddy Egene

Insurance Markets Conference region which requires a reinsurance (CIMA) region and their valued company based in a member state to be established as a limited Continental Reinsurance Plc has partners.

CIMA countries are: Benin, liability company and further completed the incorporation of a subsidiary office in Douala, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central permits a reinsurance company Cameroon, saying this status is African Republic, Comoros, Chad, with its head office in a member a key milestone in its strategy Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, state to install a branch in another of operating through a network Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Niger, member state.

The company started its of well-capitalised subsidiaries Senegal, and Togo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We already have a strong local operations in Douala in 2004 as across Africa.

According to the Group team on the ground, and our goal a branch office and later opened its Managing Director (GMD) of is to utilize our new status to Abidjan office in 2012 to diversify Continental Reinsurance Plc, maximize value,â&#x20AC;? Oyetunji said. its activities in the CIMA region.

The company explained that â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the same time, we are Dr. Olufemi Oyetunji, this development reinforces the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the move is in line with the new delighted to announce that we commitment to the Inter-African CIMA Code in the Francophone have appointed Mr. Oumar BA A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 02shares. Investors can buy these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sharesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on the 12-2018, unless otherwise stated.

as the Chief Executive Officer of â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anglophone). Prior to that, the newly established subsidiary, he held roles as Senior Client effective immediately. Given our Manager (Swiss Re Africa / Swiss new status, we believe he will be Re Zurich), Property Underwriter able to leverage on his expertise (Swiss Re Africa / Johannesburg) and track record to capitalise on and also worked with Salama the current demand for localized Assurances (Senegal). service and we look forward to Commenting on his Oumar helping us develop that appointment, BA said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am further in the CIMA region,â&#x20AC;? the pleased to be joining Continental GMD said.

Re as CEO for the CIMA region.

He said BA brings over two I take up the role with great decades of experience to the enthusiasm for the industry company.

Most previously, and look forward to driving he served at Swiss Re as the operational execution of our Regional Manager (West Africa strategy and deepen our influence 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.

over time.â&#x20AC;?

Continental Reinsurance Plc handles Anglophone business through a branch office in its head office in Lagos. Its Tunis office caters for its Northern African/Maghreb clients, while the subsidiary based in Gaborone, Botswana handles its Southern African operations. In Nairobi, the Kenya subsidiary handles the Eastern operations.

Continental Re has been established on the continent for over 30 years, having started its operations in 1987.

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 157.35 158.91 -1.13% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 278.08 279.93 1.58% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.85 0.11% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 10.36% 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 13.13% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.22 2.24 -3.34% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 100.98 101.69 -0.21% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.17% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.90% Paramount Equity Fund 11.59 11.89 4.54% Women's Investment Fund 100.66 103.24 0.03% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Heritage Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.21 1.23 -6.14% Legacy Debt Fund 3.25 3.25 12.53% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.98% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.79%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.15 2.17 1.73% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.45% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.92 125.11 8.53% 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 1.21 1.23 -0.21% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,099.63 1,099.63 0.08% 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 11.33 11.43 7.22% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.51% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 4.81% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.21 12.26 0.01% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.43% 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 121.77 122.35 -6.05% 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 1.71 1.71 15.24% 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 2,319.71 2,333.93 2.41% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 189.78 189.78 1.13% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.95 0.96 0.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 247.26 247.30 2.06% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 163.17 165.02 0.03% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.58% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,495.70 8,598.71 1.84% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 2.74% 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 N/A N/A N/A Zenith Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Zenith Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A

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

10.47 117.71 88.39

10.57 120.22 90.04

-0.87% 0.35% -0.31%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.97 7.28 14.60 12.13 142.91

4.01 7.36 14.70 12.33 144.91

-16.18% -23.83% -16.34% -38.14% 6.24%

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 managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website and FMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

46

INTERNA TIONAL

Trump US Govt Shutdown is Because of 2020 Presidential Election Warns Iran against space launches, ballistic missiles

United States President, Donald Trump, has said that the current government shutdown in the country is as a result of Democrats’ desperation to oust him in the 2020 presidential election.

In a tweet this afternoon, Trump said Democrats were playing politics with the country’s security as they have their eyes on the 2020 elections.

According to him, “the Democrats know they can’t win based on all of the achievements of “Trump,” so they are going all out on the desperately needed Wall and Border Security – and Presidential Harassment.”

The US government shutdown

has now lasted 13 days following Democrats’ refusal to support funding for Trump’s border wall at the Mexican border.

Shutdowns occur when Congress fails to approve a budget for government operations, or the president refuses to sign it, by a certain deadline.

Republican lawmakers had passed a budget bill including $5billion funding for the wall in December, when they still had a majority in the House but they could not get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate.

Democratic lawmakers have refused to support the bill.

In his first cabinet meeting of the new year, the president said the shutdown would last as long as it took to get his funding, adding “could be a long time or could be quickly.”

Meanwhile, the US issued a pre-emptive warning to Iran on Thursday against pursuing three planned space rocket launches that it said would violate a UN Security Council resolution because it used ballistic missile technology.

Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said Iran had announced plans to launch in the coming months three rockets called Space Launch Vehicles (SLV).

He said that incorporate technology “is virtually identical” to that used in intercontinental ballistic missiles. “The US will not stand by and watch the Iranian regime’s destructive policies place international stability and security at risk. “We advise the regime to reconsider these provocative launches and cease all activities related to ballistic missiles in order to avoid deeper economic and diplomatic isolation,” Pompeo said in a statement.

Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Gen. Qassem Taqizadeh in late November was quoted

by Iranian media as saying that

UN Envoy Says Al-Shabaab Saudi Demands Death Sentence against Five Suspects Remains Biggest Threat in Somalia The top UN envoy in Somalia, explosive devices and targeted Nicholas Haysom, on Thursday assassinations.” in Khashoggi’s Case said that al-Shabaab remains the Al-Shabaab is a Somalia-based Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecutors on Thursday demanded capital punishment against five out of 11 suspects over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi attorney general highlighted in a statement that the demand was made during the first hearing of the case at the criminal court held in Riyadh.

He said that the Public Prosecutors requested death sentence of the five over the involvement in the murder, adding that all the 11 suspects

attended the hearing with their lawyers. The attorney general also revealed that the Public Prosecutors had waited until now to get information about the case from its Turkish counterpart.

Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2, 2018 and a number of top Saudi officials were arrested in connection with the case.The Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered to restructure the intelligence authority.

Nancy Pelosi Elected US House Speaker for the Second Time Veteran Democratic lawmaker Nancy Pelosi was elected speaker of the House Thursday for the second time in her political career, a striking comeback for the only woman ever to hold the post.

The convening of the new Congress ushers in an era

of divided government in Washington, with Pelosi and her Democrats eager to confront Republican President Donald Trump and help their party mount a successful challenge for the White House in 2020.

biggest source of insecurity in Somalia.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia said this in his briefing to the UN Security Council.

“In spite of the ongoing operations to degrade the terrorist group, it still has the capacity to conduct indiscriminate attacks on Somali citizens, and target electoral delegates, the Somali security forces and AU Mission to Somalia (AMISOM),” the official said.

Two UN staff members and a contractor were injured on Tuesday after seven mortars landed inside the UN compound in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the responsibility for this attack was claimed by al-Shabaab.

“In no country are attacks against the UN acceptable,” said Haysom.

AMISOM and Somali security forces operations have succeeded in denying al-Shabaab the possibility of launching conventional attacks, the UN envoy said.

“It now relies on improvised

Islamist group, which has split into two groups, with one still pledging allegiance to Al-Qaeda, the other to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Haysom also warned that pro-ISIL elements have targeted business owners using extortion to extract revenue and conducting assassinations in Mogadishu and Puntland.

“It appears that the cause of conflict between the two extremist groups is now primarily driven by financial interests,” said Haysom, adding that their focus is now on “extortion of so called taxes.”

Just hours after Tuesday’s fire attack on the main UN compound in Mogadishu, the Somali government ordered Haysom to leave the country, alleging that he interfered in its sovereign affairs.

The drastic move by Somalia came after the UN envoy asked clarification from the government on whether UN-supported forces were involved in the shooting of demonstrators in the Southern city of Baidoa in December.

Iran was planning to launch three satellites into space soon.

“The satellites have been made by domestic experts and will be put on various orbits,” Taqizadeh said. Pompeo said such rocket launches would violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. It however called upon Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such technology.

It stopped short of explicitly barring such activity.

U.S. President Donald Trump decided in May to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Pompeo said Iran had launched ballistic missiles numerous times since the UN resolution was adopted.

He said that it test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads on Dec. 1. “The United States has continuously cautioned that ballistic missile and SLV launches by the Iranian regime have a destabilising effect on the region and beyond.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as HADIZA YUSUF, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS HADIZA MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKWARAGIEGO CHIKE JUDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEBUCHI UGOCHUKWU PRINCEWILL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AMARACHUKWU JOY BIOSE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMARACHUKWU JOY UTOMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS GRACE EJEH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EGHOSA GRACE UHUNOMA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Macron’s Top Media Adviser Resigns Emmanuel Macron’s main speechwriter and top media adviser is to leave the French president’s team at the end of the month, he told AFP, citing family reasons.

Sylvain Fort, an expert in opera music who once ran his own PR agency, was a key member of Macron’s campaign

team from 2016 who helped the 41-year-old plot his unexpected rise to power.

After Macron’s election in May 2017, Fort joined the presidential staff as a speechwriter but took on more responsibility as a media advisor in July after what was widely seen as a bungled response to a scandal involving

an ex-bodyguard.

“After two and half years of non-stop work for the candidate and then our president, I want to pursue other professional and personal projects, and above all give more time to my family,” the 46-year-old said.

“Emmanuel Macron’s understanding of the state and

his complete commitment to France are what the country needs in these moments of doubt on our collective destiny,” Fort added.

“I am proud to have served him and I assured him of my complete loyalty when I informed him of my decision several weeks ago.”

Dangerous Powder from Lost Cargo Found A bag containing dangerous powder washed up on a small Dutch island on Thursday, a day after some 270 containers tumbled from one of the world’s biggest cargo ships in rough weather, as authorities scramble to clean debris-strewn beaches.

Frisian Island authorities, which said the bag was found closed, identified the powder as “organic peroxide”, a highly flammable substance used in making plastics.

“A bag containing 25 kilogrammes (55 pounds) of powder was found on the beach of Schiermonnikoog,” Jan-Willem Zwart, spokesman for the security services in the

region, told AFP. The Panama-registered MSC Zoe, which was mostly carrying toys, furniture and auto parts, lost the containers late on Tuesday while battling a storm off the Frisian Islands, an archipelago off the northwestern Dutch coast also known as the Wadden Islands.

Coastguards said three containers that had been transporting organic peroxide on the MSC Zoe have not been located and are thought to have sunk.

So far, around 20 containers have been located near the shores of these islands while another six were found in

German waters.

Following appeals from officials in the affected islands, the Dutch ministry of defence announced soldiers would arrive Friday to help the clean-up operation on coastlines strewn with rubbish, notably polystyrene.

Volunteers have been helping collect items washed up on the beaches, which “look like a mess”, Zwart said.

Authorities have warned volunteers and locals not to touch any bags but to call police or the fire brigade.

“We strongly advise residents and people who have come to clean the beaches to…

immediately seek medical attention if they come into contact with the bags (containing organic peroxide),” Zwart said, warning that the chemical substance “can cause burns”.

On the tiny island of Ameland “130,000 kg of debris has already been collected from eight km (5 miles) of beach”, the authorities said in a tweet.

In a statement shipping firm MSC Mediterranean Shipping said it took the incident “very seriously, both in terms of the impact of such accidents on the natural environment and in terms of any damage to customers’ cargo”.

Trump “France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and many nations from around the world have also expressed deep concern,” Pompeo said.

However, Trump claimed Mattis was ‘essentially’ fired.

In July 2017, Iran launched a rocket it said could deliver a satellite into space, an act the U.S. State Department called provocative.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS BOSE MARY MUSA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BOSE MARY OLADELE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly known and addressed as AKPORHERHE PATIENCE OGHENETEJIRI, now wish to be known and addressed as ALAILEDOYE PATIENCE OGHENETEJIRI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

This is to notify the general public that YAKASSAI AMINU BALA and MUSTAPHA AMINU YAKASSAI BALA is the same person and one person.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as MR OLUWABUSAYO OLUFUNSO ABEGUNDE now wish to be known as MR OLUWABUSAYO OLUFUNSO ABOLUWADE, all former documents remain valid and governmental bodies, embassies, Nigerian Immigration Services, and general public should please

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AMARACHUKWU JOY BIOSE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AMARACHUKWU JOY UTOMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKWARAGIEGO CHIKE JUDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEBUCHI UGOCHUKWU PRINCEWILL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL EMEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as EZEAGU EMEKA IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.The general public should please take note.

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47

ÍźË&#x153; ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Pinnick: Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Perceived as Criminals over World Cup Budget R U S S I A 2 0 1 8 FA L LO U T Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has lamented that the leadership of the federation was harassed like bunch of criminals following accusation that it failed to account for the N1. 6 billion 2018 World Cup budget.

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, a week ago, threatened that government would not release more funds to the Pinnick-led NFF until it duly accounts for the money granted it for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

But in what appeared to be a riposte to the ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s threat,

Pinnick, who spoke yesterday on Channel TV, said himself, the NFF Vice President Shehu Dikko, General Secretary Dr Sanusi Mohammed and Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) Dr Mohammed Salihu, were portrayed as bunch of criminals over the money.

A document released by NFF during the Yuletide puts the summary of the World Cup expenses at about N1. 5 billion.

But some of the retired items were not related to the FIFA World Cup campaign.

NFF said it â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;borrowedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; about $448,000 from the money for the U-20 women team, to prosecute

Uncertainty Engulfs Super 8â&#x20AC;&#x2122;sTomorrow Kickoff Date were in Aba for the initial date, Femi Solaja There are strong indications that the rescheduled kick off date planned for the Super 8 Tournament in Aba may not be feasible after all despite plans by the Nigerian Professional Football League to kick off its season on January 13.The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had on Monday accepted the request of the Nigerian National League (NNL) to move the kick off of the Super 8 forward from January 3 to January 5 to enable all the eight teams enough time to get to Aba for the play off to determine the four teams to be promoted to the topflight.

As at Wednesday night, all seem to be going on well following the acceptance of the formal letter written by NNLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Lawrence Katken by the NFF leadership. However, THISDAY checks yesterday revealed that most of the clubs, especially the five teams that aborted the initial date of the play off have no travel plans for the event,The five â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stay away clubsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; namely; Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Bendel Insurance of Benin, Remo Stars of Sagamu, Kada FC of Kaduna and Kogi United of Lokoja have no plans to be in Aba for tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kick off of the Super 8.

Even the three teams that

Delta Force, Real Stars and Gombe United are yet to get the N2million reimbursement promised them by the NFF to take care of their travel costs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As this afternoon (Thursday) there is no plan that our team will travel out of our base but I am aware of high level consultation between NFF, NNL and all the participating clubs and whatever comes out of the meeting, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think the Saturday date can work considering the fact that the event is not a friendly or pre-season tournament but a promotion tournament which is the reason for our reward for a whole season,â&#x20AC;? a top official of one of the clubs said on telephone with THISDAY last night.

Another official of one of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aggrievedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Five Clubs even explained further that during normal league season, the players are programmed with their diet and social live monitored but all that is absent now as teams are just returning to camp from the long recess. â&#x20AC;&#x153; What that means is that it will take some time before our players attain match fitness level. So how do you expect us to just rush into Aba and get involved in a competition for the promotion to the topflight,â&#x20AC;? stressed the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Super Eagles versus Seychelles Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Victoria in September last year and for the U-17 male team continental campaign in Niger Republic. It said the money would be returned.

Pinnick described the allegation of misapplication of the World Cup money as unfortunate, saying that the Sports Minister was listening to too many people. ´â&#x20AC;?I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where this is coming from, but I pray to God to open our eyes for us to know who are our friends and enemies.

I pray every day to God not to destroy our enemies but to let change them,â&#x20AC;? Pinnick said.

The NFF president, who is also the CAF Vice President,

skills,â&#x20AC;? observed the former Super Eagles player.

He listed some of the ex internationals who are now coaches to be involved in the coaching clinic to include former Super Eagles Head Coach Samson Siasia and 29 others. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Samson (Siasia) is leading other top coaches in the country to the coaching clinic where the basic knowledge of football will be taught. It is one of the Programmes that we have lined up ahead of the African Legends versus Nigeria All Stars to take place in March,â&#x20AC;? Akanni further stressed yesterday.

To get involved in the

campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But looking beyond that, the situation was not about the World Cup. For the first time, our World Cup preparation was faultless. Nobody talked about the money $2.8 million that was given to the Super Eagles as bonuses.

Nobody talked scandal, nobody talked about retirement. And the friendly matches before the World Cup. Where did the fund come from? Admit we got $1.5m from FIFA to ensure that we did not just participate but have a decent and flawless preparation,â&#x20AC;?

Pinnick said.

He also revealed that the national team travelled aboard the same charter flight that took Liverpool to the final of the UEFA Champions League. The flight

lifted the national team from Lagos-London-Austria- Russia. The NFF president said the federation would not join words with Dalung but were particular about their integrity and the bond with their sponsors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing anyone can do, to our sponsors that will discourage them from sponsoring us. They conducted their own security and integrity test on the principals and management of NFF before doing business with us. If detractors think they are trying to discourage our sponsors by this innuendoes, falsehood â&#x20AC;&#x201C;it is unfortunate because there is nothing you will tell FIFA about Pinnick or Dikko on our integrity,â&#x20AC;? Pinnick restated.

Ahmed Musa Opens 2019 Goal Chart with a Brace

Ahmed Musa (right) celebrating his brace for Al Nassrâ&#x20AC;Ś yesterday

Ahmed Musa scored twice as Al Nassr spanked hosts Al Jandal 6-0 in the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup yesterday in Saudi Arabia.

The 26-year-old Super Eagles star last scored in the Saudi topflight league in November.

He has now netted five goals in 14 league appearances

Siasia, 29 Others for Ambode Soccer Clinic for School Kids Over 1,000 school boys and girls aged between 13 and 17 years old are to benefit from the three-day soccer clinic put together by organizers of The Match, aimed at celebrating the achievements of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in sports.

According to a member of the organizing committee, Waidi Akanni, the soccer clinic scheduled to take place at the Campos Mini Stadium on Lagos Island will hold between January 28 and February 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153; The idea behind the soccer clinic is to impact basic knowledge of football to the teenagers in other to help them develop the right

admitted that many of the Russia 2018 World Cup activities were funded outside the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approved budget.

He disclosed that the federation used money it sourced from its sponsors to organise all World Cup warm up matches for the Super Eagles. These high profile friendly matches were against Argentina, Serbia, Poland and Congo Democratic Republic.

He also claimed that they sourced about $800,000 from Coca Cola and some other corporate sponsors. Pinnick said they used the realised money to reimburse the former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh, the players and other coaches that participated in the World Cup qualifying

football clinic, Akanni said interested kids or parents only need to visit The Match for Ambode website at: www. matchforambode.com to register for the event.

He listed some of the sponsors and partners of the event to include; Access Bank, Sifax, LIRS, amongst others.

Former World Footballer of the Year (1995) and now Liberian President, George Opong Weah, former Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend, Didier Drogba and several others will file out against their Nigerian counterparts including Nwankwo Kanu, Julius Aghahowa, Osaze Odemwingie, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Odion Ighalo, etc.

and his club is second on the table with 33 points from 15 matches, three points behind leaders Al Hilal.

The former Leicester City man last found the net against Shabab 41 days ago prior yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting.

Musa doubled Al Nassrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

advantage with a shot from outside the area a minute after the restart and closed the scoring in the 88th minute.

Morocco striker Abderrazzak Hamedallah was the star of the show after scoring three goals while Brazilian midfielder Giuliano also got on the

scorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sheet.

Musa has now tallied seven goals in all competitions since joining Al Nassr in August 2018, including five strikes in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Nassrâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next game comes up against Al Faisaly next Thursday.

Mayweather Flaunts $9m Earning fromTokyo Exhibition Floyd Mayweatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love for money is hardly a secret and he has now shown off his latest earnings on social media. The American shared videos of his huge bundles of Japanese Yen after earning $9million dollars for his win over kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition match in Tokyo.

Mayweather followed up his $100m pay-day against Conor McGregor in August 2017 with another money-spinning victory in just over two minutes against Nasukawa on Monday.

Naturally, there was to be no kicking allowed and after three knockdowns around 120 seconds from the first bell, the 20-year-old saw the contest

ended. He was in tears and Mayweather was left grinning at his latest money-spinning exhibition.

Never one to hide his wealth and success, Mayweather filmed himself walking around one of his many Rolls Royce vehicles before stopping at the driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; side where there was bundles of cash.

The 41-year-old was not in prime shape but he still proved far too strong for Nasukawa, 21 years his junior, in the nine-minute scrap at the Saitama Super Arena just outside Tokyo.

He wore a big smile for much of the first minute as the two fighters felt each other out amid a raucous atmosphere

inside the 37,000-seater arena.

But there was little friendliness in his work thereafter as, left and right hooks sent the younger, smaller and lighter man down and across the canvas.

Nasukawa is a kick-boxer by trade but against Mayweather on the outskirts of Tokyo he was banned from using his feet over the three rounds of exhibition action.

And when it came down to a battle of fists, there was little by way of a contest. First, a left hand sent Nasukawa to the floor before a right hand to the body was followed by one to the head, and the Japanese fighter was left in a heap in the corner.

Friday, January 4, 2019

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Price: N250

MISSILE PDP to INEC

“We urge Prof. Yakubu to note that Nigerians are already aware of the pressure being placed on him by the Buhari Presidency and APC seeking to force the commission to drop the display of results at the polling units as well as the electronic transmission of polled figures to INEC server from its guidelines.”

– PDP cautioning the INEC against fresh plot by the APC and the presidency to compromise the electoral guidelines

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

0811 266 1654

The Elevation of Incompetence T

here is a struggle going on in Nigeria.

It is a struggle between two evils – one, less so with a touch of human face and the other, extremely so - aloof, insensitive, unfeeling, deeply hypocritical and incompetent on a level never before seen in our country.

My dilemma is not so much with choosing between the two, but about some people’s warm embrace of the latter. Ordinarily, one would think that the less dangerous of the two would be more attractive to many people.

But I have been shocked by some people’s blind craving for danger masked in superlative adjectives of integrity, character, honesty, etc.

I must confess that I have been struggling to understand the rationale and motive of some of these people for their willful blind support for a man whose legendary lack of competence and capacity for the job of president of a diverse country as Nigeria has been established beyond a shadow of a doubt, not by murmurs of ill-feeling or whispers of rumours born out of partisan jealousy, but by loud evidence, albeit with the tragic consequences that have come through the massive decline in all facets of our national life. We are in strange times, an era where failure is hailed as excellence by a vocal group of revisionists hell-bent on continuing the path of destruction.

This government has been laying the blame for its poor performance on others. President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters have remained in lockstep with him, creating excuses and celebrating his stunning incompetence as excellence. All policy decisions made by the previous government are bad in the eyes of this government which unfortunately has shown no intellectual depth, vision, rigour of character or creative ingenuity, to create superior alternative solutions. Sometimes I get amused when I read the president’s complaints and lamentations in the newspapers. I ask myself, how can someone whose government is totally bereft of ideas and energy condemn the work of others. A man who brazenly claims other people’s achievements the result of thoughtfulness has the temerity to condemn the same people for lacking imagination.

Let us even set all that aside and restrict our assessment to three key areas, viz., economic reforms, restoring security and intensifying the fight against corruption - the tripod upon which then-candidate Muhammadu Buhari anchored his vision to transform Nigeria. He received thunderous support from who’s who on this tripod, pushed through on the strength of the Buhari triangle of personal integrity, character, and ascetic lifestyle.

But as things stand today, can Buhari’s supporters really tell us from the bottom of their heart that he has delivered on his promise in the area of security? Some of us will not be surprised at the ”yes” chorus from the self-deluding Buharists. Buhari’s strongest selling point was that as a retired general, he was best equipped to deal ruthlessly with the anarchist Boko Haram. Of course that belief was somewhat not misplaced given his advertised track record. Well, it has proved to be misplaced after all - an exaggerated regard for a man who has repeatedly demonstrated contempt for values of national cohesion. In the mad hysteria of 2015, our nation was lured with sweet nothings into the hangman’s noose. Now in 2019, those same characters that lured the people are not done yet; they want to finally kick the stool off our nation’s feet. What is

Buhari wrong with the black man of the Nigerian specie?

A report of the US-based International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) released last week spoke volumes about the state of the war against Boko Haram. Extracts from the report indicated that the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government had tactical, theatre, strategic or information dominance of any aspects of the conflict. According to the report, as the insurgent groups grow stronger by the day, the government forces grow weaker and more beset by morale collapse.

It said: “It is fair to say that the Nigerian intelligence community itself is no longer sure what groups even comprise ‘Boko Haram’, nor has it addressed the international logistical, ideological, and support aspects contributing to the ongoing viability of the groups. The conduct of the war in the North is tied to the corruption in the military and Buhari — ring-fenced by his own team — is unable to tackle the issue.”

The report stated further that the leadership of the military, including the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), rather than concentrate on how to defeat the insurgents is preoccupied with how to stop the leakage of information about the massive corruption running into the equivalent of many billions of dollars that has taken place on the pretext of fighting Boko Haram. All these happened on the watch of “Mr Integrity” and a “no-nonsense anti-corruption czar”.

When Buhari took office in 2015, we were dealing with a largely decimated Boko Haram.

Four years down the line, our country is dealing with at least four major security threats, a strengthened and highly equipped Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa Province (ISWAP), terrorist herdsmen, and heavily armed bandits that have turned Zamfara State into a killing field.

Recall that when 39 people were slaughtered in Zamfara in February last year, the state Governor Abdulaziz Yari lamented how he supported and campaigned for Buhari on the

strength of Buhari’s advertised capacity to end insecurity in the country. Yari, a staunch Buhari ally, spoke the truth many in Buhari’s orbit would never admit when he thought he had seen the worst.

That is the tragedy of Nigeria. Needless to remind every concerned Nigeria that the Zamfara situation as in other parts of the country has progressively gone worse, and yet the government’s response has been lacklustre, aloof and totally irresponsible. Because of the worsening security situation in Zamfara State, Yari is now begging for a state of emergency to be declared. Unsurprisingly, Buhari insensitively launched his reelection campaign in Akwa Ibom on the back of the most recent killings in Zamfara. His campaign saw nothing wrong with that. They want to win the election by all means. Talk to those in his campaign team and all you hear is the pompous rhetoric of how they “will win in February”.

In the president’s home state of Katsina, Governor Aminu Masari has joined in crying out about the state of insecurity at an extraordinary security meeting in Katsina. This was how he put it: “Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims. The people of Katsina, in the 34 local governments, now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened.”

Despite the poor situation in Katsina, Masari is still campaigning for Buhari, for whom he has vowed to deliver millions of votes for his reelection. Does this make sense? Is this not a classic case of suffering and smiling?

For these people, Buhari must continue not because he is performing, but because of their “conscientious stupidity”. What a shame! While we embrace incompetence, it is Nigeria that suffers and human lives that are lost. Have you not also heard? Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has raised the alarm that the security situation is getting worse, but said he would not criticise Buhari because the president has given him (the governor) “unfettered access to him”. So because of that unfettered access, he cannot criticise the president, even when it is obvious the situation is getting out of hand? Another classic case of “conscientious stupidity”.

Who would forget in hurry how under former President Jonathan, the Borno Elders regularly held meetings and issued statements that undermined the fight against Boko Haram?

They have not issued one state statement since Buhari became president (please correct me if I am wrong). There is more to this than meets the eye in this Boko Haram tragedy. Let me ask Buhari’s supporters; are Masari and Shittima PDP members? Or are they now moles who want Buhari to fail?

Now, is anyone surprised that the killer herdsmen have suddenly paused their bloody takeover of farmlands in the middle belt and across the country? You see, they are very wise; they wouldn’t do anything that negates the reelection bid of their patron saint, and President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.

Their umbrella association, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders, has already endorsed Buhari who has been protecting and shielding herdsmen from prosecution for all the unspeakable crimes committed against our country. Is it not curious that all the marauding herdsmen from Libya, Mali and Senegal (as the president wanted us

to believe), have suddenly ceased to find their way to Nigeria as the elections approach? What we are witnessing now is merely a pause to ease the path for Buhari’s reelection.

But it is a testament to foolishness for some people to celebrate Buhari for that. I bet you, if he wins (God forbid), herdsmen will resume their slaughter of innocent people and the burning down of communities with even more ferocity and vehemence. Mark my words: those who are allowing themselves to be deceived by the appearance of peace and praising Buhari for restoring order should continue in their “conscientious stupidity”. Are you surprised that all the talk of establishing “cattle colonies” across the country has suddenly been put in abeyance as the elections approach? These guys are wise!

Now let’s look at the reality on the ground.

What is the state of the economy under Buhari?

The economy by his own admission is in bad shape. For the president to admit the obvious is even putting it mildly. The economy is actually in terrible shape owing principally to the president’s poor handling of it. But his supporters are having none of that. The economy, they say, is in excellent shape. Every king, the saying goes, needs a jester. Buhari does have them in abundance.

The labour report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has shown that the country’s unemployment rate worsened in the third quarter of 2018, rising from 18.8 per cent in the third quarter of 2017 to 23.1 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2018. In effect, over 20.9 million people were out of jobs.

Inflation is on a steady rise once again. Since this government came to power, there has been an unprecedented decline in economic activities in the country while GDP growth has stagnated. An alarming 85 million people are living in extreme poverty culminating in the country being crowned the poverty capital of the world. This was a telling indictment of his government; a government that inherited an economy that was on a growth trajectory but watched it plunge into recession in less than a year cannot be trusted with anything. Please I want to know where Buhari has performed well in the last four years.

I once asked a diehard supporter of the president if he would recruit someone like him to run his business. His response froze me to the ground. “No,” he said. “Why,” I asked. He just rambled incoherently. Then I asked him if Buhari was not good for his small business, why should he be good for Nigeria.

His response was more coherent this time.

“Oh he has recovered some money, besides, he has integrity.” Recovered money? Well folks, that is the tragic mindset of many a Buhari supporter.

Buhari’s reign has left Nigeria in near-mortal ruins and imperiled the future of generations living or unborn. But despite his fumbling with power and the danger he now poses to Nigeria’s national security, economic, political reforms and ultimately survival, Buhari’s supporters have arrogantly hoisted him on a petard as the moral arc of integrity, character and exemplary conduct even though he has so far failed miserably the test of these attributes in his second chance to right the wrongs of his past.

Continued on page 19

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