FRIDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2019 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Nigeria Now on Growth Trajectory, Says Jim Ovia Joseph Ushigiale The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, has lauded the federal government’s economic team for pulling the economy out of economic recession, acknowledging

that the country’s economic outlook shows that it is now on a growth trajectory. Ovia, while appraising the performance of the economy in 2018 in a goodwill message he delivered at the Deloitte in Dialogue Nigeria Economic

Outlook 2019 event in Lagos yesterday, noted, “We are no longer in recession and we have been able to manage the rate of inflation. The outlook for the nation shows that we are “now on a growth trajectory”.

The Zenith Bank chairman who focused on two key points in his message - the ease of doing business, and the nation’s inflation rate, commended the present economic team including Ministers of Budget and

National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma; Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele “on the nation’s

remarkable improvement on the ease of doing business index.” On the way forward, Ovia charged them with the responsibility of further Continued on page 8

FG Targets $2bn Annual FX Earnings from New Aviation Initiative… Page 8 Friday 1 February, 2019 Vol 24. No 8689. Price: N250

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Obasanjo Vows to Do Everything to Save Nigeria’s Democracy … Page 10

Despite NJC’s Pendency, CCT Insists on Onnoghen’s Trial February 4 Buhari has been vindicated, says APC Alex Enumah in Abuja Despite the ongoing investigation of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has insisted on

proceeding with his trial on February 4. This is coming as the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the ruling of the Court of Appeal upholding the trial of the CJN by the CCT had vindicated President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NJC had on Tuesday after its emergency meeting in Abuja given Onnoghen, and the acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, seven days to respond to petitions written against them. While the petition against Onnoghen was written by

Zikhrillahi Ibrahim of Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civil Education, the petitions against Justice Muhammad were written by the Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN). But while the petitions are still pending, the CCT in a

statement yesterday, insisted that come February 4, it would resume the trial of the CJN over alleged non-declaration of his assets. The Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, had at the last sitting adjourned the trial indefinitely on the orders of

the Court of Appeal, Abuja division. The court had ordered the tribunal to stay further proceedings in the trial of Onnoghen till January 30, for the appellate court to deliver Continued on page 10

INEC Maintains APC Has No Candidates in Rivers, Zamfara Kashamu makes final list Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday released the final list of gubernatorial candidates and House of Assembly candidates for the March 2 election with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in both Rivers and Zamfara States conspicuously

missing. But Senator Buruji Kashamu again floored the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), making the final list of the commission as the Ogun State gubernatorial candidate of the party. The electoral body had in a statement on Wednesday Continued on page 8

ON THE FUTURE… Soyinka: APC, PDP Don’t DIALOGUE L-R: Chief Executive Oﬃcer, West Africa, Deliotte, Mr. Fatai Folarin; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udo Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia; and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, at Deliotte’s dialogue on Deserve Our Votes … Page 10 Udoma; Nigeria’s 2019 economic outlook in Lagos…yesterday ETOP UKU

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FG Targets $2bn FX Earnings Yearly from New Aviation Initiative Considers tough reforms to mobilise higher revenue Obinna Chima and Chinedu Eze The federal government has disclosed that it has taken steps to designate strong, viable indigenous carriers to operate international destinations in order to grow the country's foreign exchange (FX) earnings by $2 billion yearly through ticket sales. Also, given the country's low revenue generation level, the government is considering what it described as tough measures to achieve higher revenue. It said it has also certified local aircraft maintenance organisations to stop Nigerian airlines from taking their aircraft overseas for major maintenance checks. Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, told THISDAY that in all the recent Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) Nigeria entered into, the government also made it clear that foreign airlines must have to partner domestic operators. He said the government also designated Nigerian carriers to operate long haul destinations, just as he projected that in the next four years, Nigeria would save over $2 billion annually through the initiative when the policy is fully implemented. This he said would enable the Nigerian carriers benefit from skills acquisition, fleet renewal and revenue generation. “Nigeria needs very strong viable airlines to operate those routes. The government has done what it needs to do, designate the operators to operate those routes. I know airlines have been designated along the routes you mentioned such the United

States, United Kingdom and some other countries both in the Middle and Far East. It is for the operators to explore it and operate because we have other international airlines coming from those countries. "The caveat is always for that operator to meet the requirements for both countries they want to operate into. So nobody who has been qualified has been denied the opportunity to go. It is in the interest of Nigeria; that is why we have been promoting our operators to operate along those routes because we will be able to attract foreign exchange or at least conserve what we have instead of repatriating them through foreign airlines,” the Director General said. He added that with viable and strong airlines, more jobs would be created in the sector, adding that it would promote competition, “which may help in stabilising the market and also bringing down the cost of air fares and also improvement of service.” Usman said most of the BASA Nigeria had signed has partnership clause with indigenous carriers. “Most of the bilateral air service agreements signed by Nigeria have those provisions in place, code sharing and so on. But the airline has to meet the requirement of the other airlines. "So, it is meeting the requirements of both airlines to harmonise and operate. Provisions are always there for Nigerian operators to explore and indigenous carriers that were designated participated in most of the bilateral air service agreements Nigeria signed with these countries," he added. Usman stressed that the objective of government

Mulls 'Tough Reforms' to Mobilise Higher Revenue Meanwhile, given the country's low revenue generation level, the federal government is also considering what it described as tough measures to achieve higher revenue. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, disclosed this while speaking on the topic ‘Revenue growth & Economic development: Expectations for 2019,’ at the Deloitte Nigeria 2019 Economic Outlook held in Lagos yesterday. The minister reiterated that

the government was planning higher Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise duties for carbonated drinks produced in Nigeria, "for which companies do not pay excise." According to her, "We still need to do more to achieve higher revenue outturn. Peer comparison on our ability to convert Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to revenue for capital and social investmentkey drivers of sustainable economic growth -show that we have a lot to do to catch up. Nigeria must mobilise significant resources to invest in human capital development and critical infrastructure. "Indeed, some reforms will be tough, but it must be done if we will look at the facts and be frank to ourselves. Given the low revenue to GDP ratio (currently at about seven per cent), we must pursue optimal revenue generation," she added. Speaking further, Ahmed said the federal government's recently launched Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives (SRGI) aims to boost revenue generation in order to meet "our targeted revenue to GDP ratio of 15 per cent as set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).” The minister noted that in 2018, the federal government recorded revenue of N6.9 trillion, which according to her was unsatisfactory. She listed some of the key achievements of the federal government to include the Treasury Single Account (TSA) implementation, IPPIS implemented across several MDAs to improve public service productivity and increase government revenue and the establishment of Efficiency Unit to cut costs and block leakages. "We will continue to

a private operator to take over the reconstruction of the roads to Apapa Ports. We apologise for the hardship Nigerians have passed through these past three years plying the road and we are committed to ending all these hardships soon,” he added. Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister

of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, explained that her ministry was working with other stakeholders, including the state governments to remove duplicitous taxes from the system, assuring that complaints by owners of businesses and ordinary Nigerians about double taxation would soon be a thing of the past.

the governorship and state assembly elections in Zamfara State. Commission noted that there are two court judgments on the matter – one from a State High Court in Gusau and the other from a Federal High Court in Abuja. “The former judgment clearly said that the APC conducted primaries in Zamfara State, contrary to the position of the commission. On the other hand, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the party did not conduct

valid primaries and therefore is ineligible to field candidates for the elections. "Consequently, the commission has decided to maintain its original position that the party in question did not conduct primaries and, therefore, in line with Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), is not eligible to field candidates for the National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections in Zamfara State," Okoye added.

Ahmed to approve and certify indigenous aircraft maintenance organisations was to encourage them to conduct major aircraft maintenance locally and in doing so save the country of over $1.7 billion annually, which is near the amount Nigerian carriers spend in maintaining their aircraft overseas. Recently Aero Contractors and Seven Star Global received Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (ATO) certification from NCAA to conduct maintenance on Boeing and other aircraft types up to C-check. Aero has since been conducting checks on Boeing B737 classics. Usman said the objective of granting them licence was to stop Nigerian airlines from taking their aircraft overseas for maintenance. “Well, that is the essence; in fact we will hope that they can even go beyond C-check and up to D-check if necessary. At least the maintenance facilities will be able to do C-check so that we can conserve

that foreign exchange taken overseas. "This will also create employment and also grow experienced manpower in our country and within the region. Yes, we will continue to encourage and ensure that they meet and they continue to meet the certification that we have given them,” the NCAA boss added.

NIGERIA NOW ON GROWTH TRAJECTORY, SAYS JIM OVIA improving on the nation’s current global ranking on the ease of doing business index to free up some economic bottlenecks still inhibiting business growth. In his words, “The target for the ease of doing business for Nigeria in 2019 in terms of global ranking, should be single digit.” In his presentation, the

Minister of Budget and National Planning, assured his listeners that “Nigeria was indeed bouncing back,” explaining that the outlook for 2019 was brighter as the federal government was seeking more private sector participation in infrastructure development through Private Public Partnerships. According to him, “We are

exploring diversified means of building and closing the existing infrastructure gap. One of the ways is the involvement of private partners in the new Public Private Partnership policy which seeks to give private operators more opportunities to develop infrastructure. “At the moment, we have just sealed an agreement with

INEC MAINTAINS APC HAS NO CANDIDATES IN RIVERS, ZAMFARA revealed that having reviewed the two court judgments delivered last week by a Federal High Court in Abuja and Zamfara State High Court in Gusau, the ruling APC did not conduct party primaries in the state. The statement signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, also revealed that a meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) would take place

next week to further review the state of preparedness of each state. He stated: "INEC met today, 30th January 2019 and, among other things, approved the final list of candidates for the governorship, state assembly and FCT Area Council elections scheduled to hold on 2nd of March 2019. On the whole, there are 1,066 candidates for the governorship elections, 14,583 for the state assembly elections and 806 for the

FCT Area Council elections broken down into 105 chairmanship candidates and 701 councillorship candidates. "The commission would like to reaffirm its commitment to obeying all court judgments, even when it disagrees with them. However, these are clearly two contradictory judgments delivered by two courts of coordinate jurisdiction on the same day. "The commission reviewed the situation concerning the APC fielding candidates for

ensure fiscal discipline and optimise some revenue improvement initiatives that have been achieved thus far. By prioritising revenue generation, the federal government intends to continue significant investments in human capital and critical infrastructure to sustain the growth trajectory. "Our social investment programme has moved from 0 to 13.5 million in three years, which is the fastest in the world. On debt management, our debt level is sustainable but debt service is high compared to revenue collections, indicating the need to prioritise revenue generation. We have the capacity to service our debt," Ahmed added. She pointed out that global trends revealed slowdown in global economic growth that was exacerbated by global risks, which were discussion highlights at the recently concluded 2019 World Economic Forum in Switzerland. In his presentation, the Minister of Budget and National planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, confirmed that the government was considering the privatisation of some power plants, adding that the government does not want to increase its borrowing. Owing to its decision not to raise the level of borrowing, Udoma said, "Capital expenditure has been reviewed downwtrillion he 2019 Budget.” In his contribution, a senior lecturer at the Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami, pointed out that the direction of global interest rates is pretty much established presently, saying "they are headed up." "Nigeria cannot afford a situation where industrial capacity is as low as it is. Our industry must contribute a quarter or three quarters of GDP for us to grow," Salami added.

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Soyinka: APC, PDP Don’t Deserve Our Votes

Segun James and Vanessa Obioha

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has stated that the two leading political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – do not deserve to return to power. Soyinka said this yesterday at an interactive session at Freedom Park in Lagos titled, ‘Citizen Forum 2019’. The playwright had last month supported the presidential candidate of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari

when he faulted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. But speaking yesterday, Soyinka said, “It is time for a totally new direction, and when an alternative emerges, we will give the candidate our backing,” he said. “For the avoidance of doubt, let me make my position quite clear because I don’t want any ambiguity; I, Wole Soyinka, will not be voting for either the two so-called contesting parties. I find both of them worthy of absolute rejection.

“For a number of reasons which I will not go into here, I’m not interested in a comparative assessment. My position is simply that it is time for a totally new direction. And obviously, I’m not the only one, as I’m speaking, there is a coalition having its meeting in Lagos from which they hope to produce a consensus candidate. “There is another group meeting in Abuja, also at the end would send us their consensus candidate. Things have been going on quietly in the background to try and change the direction of

this nation in a very positive way and to make the public understand that they do not have to be enslaved permanently to the old discredited order. It is my sole business in this election. “I don’t believe in what is called negative vote which means, for me, throwing your vote in a wastebasket, I believe instead in a creative vote, not a protest vote, not a negative vote but a creative vote. “And a creative vote means that the will to at least sow a seed through your vote that will germinate eventually. The

pace of germination is beyond the control of everyone, but it is never too early to make a beginning. It has happened before in other societies. When a dark horse emerges from nowhere and trumps all the political juggernauts caterpillars and so on with their performers, worthless, their capacity for violence and treachery.” He added that the reason they are yet to arrive at a consensus candidate was because the supposed genuine third force was hijacked. Soyinka is believed to be one

of the persons who prevailed on a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to step down as the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria. Ezekwesili, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party, Mr. Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN); and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress are all believed to be working on a partnership ahead of next month’s elections.

Obasanjo Vows to Do Everything to Save Nigeria’s Democracy Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday vowed to do “everything humanly possible” to save Nigeria’s democracy. The former president has also denied the claim that he threatened to fight and divide the country if President Muhammadu Buhari wins his re-election through rigging in the forthcoming February 16 presidential election. Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the public presentation of ‘Politics as Dashed Hopes in Nigeria,’ written by a former Solicitor-General of the Federation, and Obasanjo’s former special assistant on Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Auwalu Anwar, the former president said the world is watching how Nigeria will handle upcoming elections. He also called on Nigerians to guard the country’s democracy ahead of the general election.

“If we cherish democracy, we will all guard and protect our democracy. And that I believe is the main purpose of the book,” he said. According to the former president, “I am in despair; our hope lies in democracy and good governance as one of the hallmarks of free fair and credible election. “As for me, I will do everything humanly possible to safeguard democracy, with good governance for Nigeria and for all Nigerians.” He added that he is happy most Nigerians are “rising up to their duties and responsibilities in guidance of our democracy.” “Remember that if you stand aloof when evil is being perpetrated, you become an accomplice in the perpetuation of the evil,” he said. Obasanjo said, “The quality of politicians in Nigeria is deteriorating. “I also agree that money has become an unnecessary important aspect of our politics.

And that the elites are not putting their act together.” He noted, “But I believe we have one thing that joins us together which is Nigeria’s nationality. I believe strongly that Nigeria should not be divided.” Obasanjo used the occasion to deny the claim that he threatened to fight and divide the country, if President Buhari wins his re-election through rigging in the forthcoming February 16 presidential election. He maintained that as a Nigerian who fought for the unity of Nigeria and "shed part of my blood in the warfront. I am a strong believer in nondivisibility of Nigeria...” He, however, noted that he could understand "the frustration and feeling of despondency by Nigerians who watch seemingly and helplessly as Nigeria is being destructively and divisively administered." The former president added that, while, "melancholic

despondency is no option for us at any time. I believe Nigerians will fight back not to divide the country but rather to unite it in democracy and good governance and God, the Creator of Nigeria, will be on the side of such valiant Nigerians to get us out as He has got us out in the past." According to him, "I read a couple of days ago in the social media, a statement ascribed to me that if Buhari rigs the election, I will fight to divide Nigeria. Those who know me will know that such a statement will never come from me. "I fought for the unity of Nigeria and I spit part of my blood in the warfront. I am a strong believer in nondivisibility of Nigeria, as Nigeria divided diminishes each of us who proudly call ourselves Nigerians," Obasanjo added. The former president disclosed that he is optimistic "and full of hope for a continued democratic Nigeria which will surely be attended with

good governance leading to a great, happy, equitable, united, prosperous, secure and wholesome nation." On the book title, Obasanjo said that he could "understand where Anwar is coming from to get the title of this book. But we must replace despair with optimism. "Only last November, at the launching of Africa Progress Group (APG), which I have the honour of chairing, I raised five pillars of Africa’s development, growth and progress as politics, population, protection, prosperity and partnerships. And politics, which essentially is governance, has overarching implications for other four Ps. "But I am not in despair and I will ask Dr. Anwar and the rest of us not to be in despair. Our hope lies in democracy with good governance as one of the hallmarks of which is free, fair, transparent and credible election. "Between now and next year, there are four significant countries where elections are

taking place in West Africa– Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The incumbent in the three cases were in opposition and took over from ruling parties. It was good for democracy. "The world is looking at these four countries with the incoming elections to see what will be their contribution to cumulatively strengthen, deepen and stabilise democracy in each of these countries. Anwar, the author, said the book gives an insight into the activities of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which President Muhammadu Buhari co-founded. “When the CPC went into crisis, there were committees set up … we created a code of conduct because we believed the principal problem of the CPC was indiscipline. “It was not a normal political party. There were various segments including the owners, labourers and workers, and the slaves,” he said.

itself to flaying the action of the executive branch of government, mouthing hackneyed phrases about rule of law, due process, independence of the judiciary, separation of powers and adherence to constitutional principles, without paying equal attention to ethical demands in a legal profession that prides itself as honorable, and giving necessary attention to the issue of integrity and credibility in the judiciary and how to effectively combat cases of corrupt practices in the legal profession, Bar and Bench. “By this lopsided disposition, the NBA Leadership has helped in portraying Nigerian lawyers as supporters of infamous conduct in the Judiciary, before the Nigerian people, especially non-members of the legal profession.” The group, however, commended the Court of Appeal for striking out the request for stay of proceedings of the CCT, made by Mr Onnoghen. It said the court’s ruling was “in affirmation of the inviolability of Section 306 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, which prohibits stay of criminal proceedings; and in obedience to and fidelity with the decision of the Supreme Court in Olisa Metuh v. FRN, 2017, 11 NWLR, Pt. 1575, 157.” NADL called on political power holders and interest groups to stop politicising the crisis. I said the “clash

of power” is between the executive and the head of the judiciary. “It is not a clash of power with the entire Nigerian judiciary. Even if it was assumed that it was a clash of power between the executive and the judiciary, the legislature is not, at this stage, involved in the dispute to warrant the rumored bid of the Senate or National Assembly to trigger the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Section 232 of the Constitution, by filing an action in the Supreme Court of Nigeria. “The statements being made ‘from the throne’ by the Senate leadership cannot be a substitute for sittings and resolutions, as the power to confirm the appointment of a CJN or to remove him from office resides in the collectivity of the Senate, and not in the Senate leadership alone. “In the same vein, it is very doubtful whether the Senate leadership can institute an action in the Supreme Court under the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court without a formal authorising resolution to that effect. “If such an action is ever permitted by the Supreme Court, the Court may render itself open to individual senators or groups of senators bringing applications to challenge the competence of such an action, which being an action akin to a representative action must have the concurrence of all the unnamed represented parties.”

DESPITE NJC’S PENDENCY, CCT INSISTS ON ONNOGHEN’S TRIAL FEB 4 its ruling on the CJN's motion filed at the court. However, following the dismissal of Onnoghen's motion at the Court of Appeal and the expiration of the appellate court's order, which temporarily halted the trial, the CCT said it would now resume the trial on February 4. According to a statement by the CCT's Head of Press and Public Relations, Ibraheem AlHassan, the tribunal’s decision was sequel to a request by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for the resumption of the trial. The request which is titled: ‘Application for resumption of trial of the case of FRN V. Hon. Justice Onnoghen Nkanu Walter Samuel case No: CCT/ ABJ/01/19,’ and addressed to the Chairman of CCT, read in part, "The above subject refers. This case came up for hearing of preliminary objection to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal on January 28, 2019 but the tribunal could not proceed due to the pendency of the case at the Court of Appeal. "However, in the wake of this afternoon, January 30, 2019 the Court of Appeal has thrown out the appeal. "Consequently on the above, we urge the honourable tribunal to give us a date for resumption of the trial subject to the convenience of the tribunal; Most obliged my lord.’’ The CCB application dated January 30, 2019, was jointly signed by Musa Ibrahim Usman and Fatima Danjuma

Ali. The suspended CJN is expected to respond to a six-count charge of false asset declaration against him upon his arraignment. Onnoghen is specifically accused of failing to declare some funds in his domiciliary accounts with the Standard Chartered Bank, Wuse 2 branch, Abuja as at when due.

believer in the rule of law, due process and justice, adding that contrary to claims by the opposition and a section of the Nigerian Bar Association that the suspended CJN is a victim of persecution, the law is being followed in his arraignment.

Buhari Has Been Vindicated, Says APC

Meanwhile, lawyers under the aegis of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADL) have berated the NJC for alleged lack of urgency in the consideration and resolution of crises in the judiciary. The group expressed its displeasure with the council in a statement yesterday in reaction to the ongoing crisis in the Nigerian judiciary. The statement signed on behalf of the group by Jiti Ogunye, a Lagos-based lawyer, also decried the role of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the crisis. Speaking on the ongoing crisis, the NADL condemned the investigation of both the suspended CJN and acting CJN by the NJC. It said the council should have acted earlier and decisively at its Tuesday meeting to avert a constitutional crisis. “The NJC and its members would not have sacrificed too much for Nigeria and the judiciary, if it had elongated its sitting, accelerated its

Apparently celebrating the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the APC has said that the ruling of the court to uphold the trial of the suspended CJN by the CCT has vindicated President Buhari. In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party said that the court ruling has also proved that some opposition parties, which accused the president of illegal action and viewed the CCT as lacking jurisdiction were wrong. "The Appeal Court has now confirmed that Onnoghen's trial at the CCT is indeed within the confines of the law. His suspension is therefore not prejudice as being painted in some quarters since it was based on an order lawfully issued by the CCT," it said. He said the Appeal Court ruling has further advertised the credentials of President Buhari as an unrepentant

Lawyers Berate NJC for Slow Response to Crisis

proceedings and conducted an expedited hearing and fast track determination of the petitions.s “The petitions could have been reacted to in one day, the focal issues being whether the suspended CJN fully and faithfully declared his assets, and if not why; and whether the Acting CJN offered himself for appointment, and if so why? “Thus, a verdict in the form of recommendations to the executive arm of government (the president) could have been rendered in three days. “By extending the petitions resolution period, the NJC, wittingly or unwittingly, is elongating the nightmare of the legal profession community in Nigeria and the people of Nigeria. “The adjournment of the NJC meeting to 11th February 2019, four (4) days to the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections, will further generate an avoidable state of paralysis, uncertainty and acrimony in the Judiciary, in the legal profession and in the polity.” The group also criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its “lopsided disposition” to the controversy surrounding the CJN. “NADL condemns the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association for its handling of the CJN Onnoghen charge and suspension issue.“In its statements, pronouncements and resolutions, the NBA leadership has restricted

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COMMENT

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

ENDING POVERTY IS POSSIBLE

But doing so means facing up to inequality – within and between countries, writes Liu Zhenmin

orld leaders have committed to ending poverty everywhere for all people by 2030. Achieving this aim means facing up to the need for dramatic declines in inequalities – in income, in opportunity, in exposure to risk, across gender, between countries and within countries – over the next decade. Inequality is a well-recognized barrier to poverty eradication, as well as many other development challenges. It features in multiple dimensions across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development— the universally adopted plan to promote prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment. According to many metrics, income inequality among countries has declined somewhat in recent decades, driven primarily by strong growth in East Asian and South Asian economies. But there are many countries—particularly in parts of Africa, Western Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean— where income levels have continued to fall further behind, exacerbating income inequalities between countries. The latest United Nation’s analysis in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 indicates that per capita income levels essentially stagnated or declined in a total of 47 developing and transition economies last year. Most of these countries have been consistently falling behind for several decades. This poses an enormous challenge as countries strive to reduce poverty, develop essential infrastructure, create jobs and support economic diversification. Most of the lagging countries are highly dependent on commodities, stressing the importance of both diversification and effective management of natural resource wealth to tap into their development potential. Several countries have also suffered long-standing armed conflict or civil unrest and political instability. If this trend continues, eradicating poverty and creating decent jobs for all will become increasingly out of reach. Weak economic performance is also linked to insufficient investment in quality education, health services, social protection, programmes for marginalized groups and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Faster GDP growth alone will not necessarily lead to broad-based improvements in living standards. Deep inequalities also persist in the distribution of income within countries, acting as a major barrier to development progress. High inequality within countries is associated with social exclusion

MOST OF THE LAGGING COUNTRIES ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON COMMODITIES, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF BOTH DIVERSIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCE WEALTH TO TAP INTO THEIR DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

and fragmentation; weaker institution-building and governance; and increased risk of violence and internal conflict. Fundamental transformations are needed going forward, to narrow the income gaps between and within countries. According to UN estimates, without significant changes in behaviour, more than seven per cent of the global population may remain in poverty by the year 2030, including about 30 per cent of the populations in Africa and the least developed countries (LDCs). In Africa, where the population is expanding at a rate of more than two per cent per year, reducing the level of extreme poverty to below five per cent by 2030 will require a combination of double digit GDP growth and dramatic declines in inequality; well-outside the realms of historical precedence. Integrated and cross-cutting policy measures that both raise prospects for economic growth and reduce income inequalities are essential to shift the world towards a more sustainable and inclusive path. This includes investing in education, health care, resilience to climate change, and financial and digital inclusion, to support economic growth and job creation in the short-term, while promoting sustainable development in the long term. Macroeconomic stability and a strong developmentoriented policy framework, including a well-functioning and robust financial system, are key elements for successfully tackling inequality. Well-designed fiscal policies can help smooth the business cycle, provide public goods, correct market failures and directly influence the income distribution. Broadening access to quality education is also crucial, coupled with employment policies, such as raising minimum wages and expanding social protection. Prioritizing rural infrastructure development, through public investment in transport, agriculture and energy, can also support poverty alleviation and narrow inequalities within countries. While there is no one-size-fits-all policy prescription that guarantees delivery of a more equal and prosperous society, one overarching message is clear: calls to eradicate poverty are meaningless without concerted and committed policy action to reduce inequality. Zhenmin is Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations

BUHARI KNOWS WHAT’S GOOD FOR US Onyema Omenuwa satirises the government and its cheerleaders

hese are interesting times in Nigeria. I have heard and read some folks argue against the rule of law, in canvassing support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption. For those who do not know, the flipside of the rule of law in any country is rule by whims and caprices; that is a situation where the president arrogates to himself the status of faultless and absolute wisdom in administering the affairs of the nation. Yet such a president only emerges and is sustained, invariably, with the backing of a coterie of cheerleaders, whose very business is to stoke his sense of indispensability. When he is elevated on such a pedestal, the president does no wrong anymore. In fact, he actually ranks next to the Messiah himself! “The country is lucky to have him” will be the constant reminder by those cheerleaders who, of course, will be gloating over how they discovered the president to sanitise the country. After all, he is the only one that can do it. And they are damn right. We present Buhari, the indispensable President of Nigeria! Truth be told, Buhari’s cheerleaders need be appreciated for their foresightedness. Truth be told again, we must thank God that we have Buhari as president this time. Even when we are not worthy of having him. Indeed, divine providence has a role in the affairs of Nigeria. That would explain why Buhari’s emergence as president only came to be in 2015, after three failed attempts. All the while, God was preparing him for the onerous task of ultimately overhauling this country of ingrates and the corrupt. So, immediately he was sworn in, Buhari set to work. Don’t mind that it took him six months to constitute his cabinet. That was because, being the

meticulous man that he is, he was laying a solid foundation on which his achievements would stand. As a man given to details, he also must be sure that it was personalities of premium quality that he assembled. Earlier he had ensured, as characteristic of him too, that the country’s security agencies must be headed by the very best and the most qualified. Fortunately for the president, a particular section of Nigeria, the north, is uniquely endowed with such personnel. Economists would call it comparative advantage; hence only the northern part of the country, where our dear president hails from, has a prodigious supply of men to superintend these agencies. And the country has been working well. The Police and other security agencies are on top of their game, making sure that Nigerians move freely in their country, without let or hindrance. When farmers in the middle belt constituted security threat to the nation, by denying Fulani herdsmen access to their farm produce, which are delicacies for cows, the president showed himself as the no-nonsense army general that he is. The middle belt people were taught a lesson of their lives by the sophisticated arms-bearing herdsmen, even when the laws forbid the bearing of such weapons by private citizens. But Fulani herdsmen are not your usual private citizens. They are from the north. Trust the president to abhor injustice or discrimination: why should the middle belt communities disturb Fulani herdsmen? And now that the country is reaping the fruits of those many months of preparation, can you see any serious person complaining? Only bad people complain when a good old man comes out of retirement and is risking his life for the benefit of all; to repair age-long

damage, done to the country by bad people. The bad people are the corrupt people who have plundered the resources of this great nation. The president alone knows them. He is endowed with the rare acumen to spot, nay smell a corrupt person, but only from a distance. That is why he strives to bring them close to himself. You see, the President’s integrity is legendary, such that a corrupt person mystically transforms into an embodiment of integrity upon encountering the president. So, as many corrupt people as have joined the president’s political party have become cleansed of that affliction. But some Nigerians are an ungrateful lot. In fact it’s only a few because Buhari is well liked by generality of the citizenry. Is it ignorance or pure mischief that makes those insignificant few to continue to complain about the president and condemn him for almost every action he takes – for their own good? Anyway, they constitute just a minute percentage of the population. If you know you know. We have reached a stage in our national life to know that for us to really march progressively, we must unreservedly appreciate President Buhari. What better way than to allow him assume absolute rulership of this country. This country must be great and President Muhammadu Buhari is the only divinely appointed one to make it happen. The man is simply doing the country a great favour by sacrificing the serene time he should be spending amongst his 150 cows, just so that Nigeria does not slide deeper into ruins. The prompt and unilateral removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria was all for the good of the nation. Forget the controversies that have attended that action. Don’t also forget

that the president’s role in the affairs of this nation is not ordinary. He knew the calamity that would befall us if Justice Walter Onnoghen had continued to occupy the seat of CJN. Yet some ignoramuses will be chanting “rule of law” and “abuse of due process”. But to show how grateful and utterly appreciative to the president well-meaning citizens of this great country are, they have become united in the modest proposal that the constitution and indeed all laws be scrapped forthwith, so that the president can “manage” this country well. For sure, it has been demonstrated that Buhari can rule without laws and everybody will be happy. Except the corrupt people, of course. Buhari also knows the commensurate punishment to dish out for every infraction. That way, no one will be unjustly or excessively punished because it is all propelled by divine guidance. Nigeria has never had it so good. Having succeeded in removing the CJN, and we’re all the better for it, what is of utmost urgency now is for Buhari to advance on the National Assembly. We’re not happy that he has not done it yet. All corrupt people must go. And we are all corrupt, except Buhari. We, the people, are solidly behind him. If we, mere mortals, can identify ourselves as corrupt people, is it Buhari, who is Allah’s anointed that cannot? The forthcoming elections should not hold. It will amount to sheer waste of time for everybody, and waste of funds that he needs to fight corruption to a standstill. What purposes will elections serve, when Buhari knows that his position as the ultimate ruler is guaranteed? And he equally knows that we the people know that he is our saviour. Omenuwa is a lawyer and commentator on national issues

T H I S D AY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

EDITORIAL Time To Secure Our Environment There should be deliberate policies to ensure balance in harvesting and replacement of plants

he report, last week, from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) that our country has four per cent of forest cover left sums up the fears of conservationists. Nigerian forests, according to conservationists, are being cleared on a massive scale, and this results in the dwindling quality of land which is beginning to present a frightening dimension. With our country losing about 400,000 hectares of land to deforestation annually, the highest rate in the world, we should all be worried. Without trees, the moist forest soils become dry from sun rays which penetrate easily. This explains why the rate at which Nigerians fall trees disrupts their role of recycling water vapour to the atmosphere. Scientists say removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, which blocks the sun’s rays during the day, and holds in heat at night. This disruption leads to more extreme temperatures that can be harmful to humans, plants and animals. Beyond these THE GOVERNMENT is the loss of habitat SHOULD ASSESS THE for plant and animal species which live in IMPACT OF ITS GREAT GREEN WALL PROJECT the nation’s forests and may become INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO which extinct on account of CHECK THE ADVANCING the intrusion of man SAHARA DESERT TO and nature. ENABLE IT ADDRESS The loss of habitat has resulted in THE PROBLEM mindless desperation by wild animals to forage in the farms and homes of Nigerians in some cities and towns, resulting in avoidable conﬂicts. For instance, last year, families of the mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona), whose natural habitat had been invaded by housing developers in the Gbagada area of Lagos, went in search of food in this community, causing residents to seek help from government agencies. Lagos is home to the mona monkey that is commonly found in West Africa between Ghana and Cameroon. There are several cases of this confrontation between man and beast in forest communities.

Letters to the Editor

Shortly before this incident, a hunter shot and killed a rare species of forest elephant at Janiyi Camp, Idanre, Ondo State, delivering a devastating blow to the efforts of Nigeria and that of the global conservation community. More disturbing was that the hunter killed the elephant in its natural habitat, ostensibly because of claims that it destroyed their farms. The NCF said the population of the Forest Elephant is only 200 in the wild and that they are in dire need of protection. These elephants are found in ﬁve sites in southern Nigeria - the Omo Forests in Ogun State, the Okomu National Park in Edo State, the Cross River National Park in Cross River State, the Osse River Park in Ondo State and the Andoni Island in Rivers State.

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

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WHERE IS LEAH SHARIBU?

OJUKWU WEEPS FOR NDIGBO

n the time of the pharaohs of Egypt, when African civilisation was at its apogee, dreams were considered an elemental means of communication from the divine. The story of Joseph and an Egyptian king in the Bible assents this. In Igbo cosmology, dreams, “nlo”, are often not weighed with levity. They are studied through priestly oneirology and interpreted. And even in Pentecostalism dreams have a place. Lately, I have been thinking pensively about the political future of the Igbo in Nigeria. And as it is, there appears to be no forecast of sunshine, but of dark clouds. The late Emeka Ojukwu envisioned APGA to be a melting-pot for all Igbo interests and a political bargaining-asset for the south-east. But today, the party is sequestered to an insignificant corner in the region. Since 2017, APGA has galloped from one scandal to another. The primary elections conducted by the party in 2018 soaked up lots of acrimony, accusations of fraud, extortion, intimidation, imposition and other dirt. And it keeps floundering. Recently, the party endorsed the candidature of President Buhari. Inasmuch as I think the party is well within its rights do so, but I wonder, to what end? Is there a guarantee that there will be support for Igbo presidency in 2023? And is there a pledge to restructuring Nigeria, which the Igbo earnestly demand, by the endorsed

nterestingly, deforestation can be slowed and eventually halted through deliberate policies and actions that would ensure balance in harvesting and replacement of plant and animal species. For instance, the federal government is partnering some agencies of the United Nations in forest conservation efforts across the nation. But these initiatives should be sustained through adequate and regular funding, monitoring and evaluation. Besides, the federal government should assess the impact of its Great Green Wall project initiative designed to check the advancing Sahara Desert to enable it address the problem. There are other government initiatives that are supported by agencies of the United Nations and these include the sustainable fuel wood management project, launched in Kaduna in 2017 with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the federal government, represented by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN). Other initiatives, capable of regenerating the nation’s forests and need to be sustained are the Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Project (NDBP). The communities where the demonstration projects are located obviously understand their beneﬁts and are mainstreaming them into their existence and livelihoods. The foregoing represents a valuable opportunity for Nigeria in the efforts for forest conservation, while simultaneously contributing to climate change mitigation and enhancing community development.

candidate? Or is the endorsement a “personal arrangee”? I would really like to know what informed the party’s decision, though I am not a member of the party or any political party. But Ojukwu came to me in my dream last night. He looked mournful, with tears like Kaduna railway tracks lining his face and soiling his heavy beard. And with a belaboured cadence, he uttered, “APGA!” ...I woke up.... I am not a dream interpreter. But I think the message is clear. Or could it be a function of my mind; worries? In all, I would advise young and progressive Igbo sons and daughters to identify with a political party; a fledgling party, not the APC and the PDP, which have been tainted. They should make the desired party their own and forge it into a strong force by reaching out to their siblings in the south-west, south-south, north, and middle-belt. The elders have failed us. But we cannot fail ourselves. These elders fan the flames of ethnicity and religion when they want to extract political profit. But the real ethnicity of the political class is power and their true religion is money. We cannot have a forecast of political sunshine, if we work in isolation of other stakeholders in this entity. The elders know this, but they only enter into negotiations for themselves, their families and side chicks. We cannot fail ourselves. Fredrick Nwabufo,fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

uckily I do not have to attend any preaching sermon by Pastor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice-President, because I will surely heckle him and question his Christianity; to profess Christianity is to carry a burden of cross on your shoulder, as it were, to do good to others as you would have them do unto you, to love those who hate you. What ought to have been obvious to our vice-president, and I am sure they have been obvious to him, is the fact that Miss Leah Sharibu is being held in abject servitude because of her Christian faith, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame are in jail because of their Christian faith, Alex Badeh was murdered because of his Christian faith, Justice Walter Onnoghen has been pilloried and knocked-in because of his assumed Christian faith, ditto Dino Melaye et al., and we have even heard that for allowing his daughter to marry an “unbeliever-Christian” Bukola Saraki would know no peace. Do all these sound absurd? The apparent absurdity in all of them is the fact that national and security policies are decided on a black-and-white Christian/Muslim divide by this APC government of Muhammadu Buhari. Surely, now, Pastor Osinbajo must be feeling ill at ease that his critical contributions to the

government of the day by way of the signing-on of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria when Buhari refused assent and was away on medical leave, and of Matthew Seiyefa as the head of Nigeria’s secret police when Buhari was once again away on medical leave have been rubbished by the finality of the decisions that Buhari took to annul these appointments and replacing this duo with core Northern Muslims. Doing the bidding of the cabal to go into market spaces and distribute pitiable tokens of N10,000 is infra-dig to the office and the person of the vicepresident, moreover that opinions are in unison that this act is “sophisticated vote-buying,” to quote Bukola Saraki. If Leah is not released before the general elections, since Buharai has assured Nigerians she would be duly released to her family, then Osinbajo should quit before the first formal series of voting actually begins: this would prove his Christianity and really go a long way to tell all that sticking to the tenets of Christianity requires courage to embrace deprivations; it would then be my pleasure to attend his sermons and not heckle him. Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

PERSPECTIVE Abandoned by the Federal Government, Niger Delta States Resort to Self-help Segun James writes that governors of Niger Delta States, like Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State are making big developmental moves to change the narrative of the region

Buhari

Usani

n the bad old days, occurrences in the Niger Delta Region were replete with tales of the ugly. One of these three things happened frequently: A kidnap, hostage taking or disruption of production activities of the many oil companies by irate youths or militants operating along the creeks. Surprisingly, it has all been quiet in the Niger Delta, the restive area of the country whose land produces the black gold, crude oil that is the mainstay of the nation’s economy. The youths have gone silent and the oil companies operations have resumed unhindered. When there was a stirring in the region about one year ago, President Muhammadu Buhari decided to bare his teeth following the blow-up of the oil lift facilities at the Forcados Terminal in Delta state. The action of the perpetrators had significant implications on the economy of the nation. With the lifting facility not available, the country could not export almost 500,000 barrel of oil per day. This was at a time oil prices hovered around less than $40 and the nation’s economy had gone into recession, the federal government decided to draft men of the Nigerian Armed Forces into the creeks and waterways of the delta in search of the perpetrators. However, the initial plan for an onslaught against the offenders was cancelled at the behest of the oil companies who feared that severe military action could lead to a long-drawn battle. The timely intervention of the government of the United States of America and the pleadings of the international oil companies operating in the region stopped the federal government from taking that course of action. It has been nearly a year since there was reported stir of restiveness in the Niger Delta. While other parts of the country, especially, the North-east and the Middle-belt states have had rumbles in recent times; the Niger Delta

has been unusually quiet. This calm may be compared to the silence of the graveyard, with a of foreboding in the air. This has not always been so. The Niger Delta region, the part of the country whose land produces the black gold that is today the mainstay of the nation’s economy has acquired a bad reputation for restiveness. Since oil was first discovered in commercial quantity at Oloibiri in Bayelsa state in 1956, the oil has continued to be what sustains the nation. While other parts of the country have grown, the region has been neglected. Given its contribution to the nation, today, it is a sad commentary that the Niger Delta remains the least developed part of the country. For example, Bayelsa was only connected to the national power grid in 2006! Yet state is the third highest producer of oil in the country. It is widely believed that over 70 percent of the state does not have access to pipe borne water, electricity, roads, hospitals or schools. So what has region gained from the oil that is being taken from the bowel of its land? However, forward-looking governors like Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State have embarked on a deliberate effort to change the developmental narrative of the state, by taking it in a direction that it would not depend solely on oil. The aggressive industrialisation agenda of the Emmanuel administration is a novelty in the entire Niger Delta region. Again, Akwa Ibom is the show piece of the region for floating an airline and pursuing the Ibaka Deep Seaport, which will positively change the economy of the state, forever. States like Akwa Ibom have resorted to because the federal government has abandoned it to its fate. On the flipside of the arguement are those who insist that woes of the Niger Delta region are self conflicted by its irate youths and irresponsible, self-serving elders.

Emmanuel

the commission was rendered ineffective by lack of adequate funding. Even with that, the NDDC under the APC has been more inclined towards politicking with its former Managing Director and chairman actively involved in politicking to the detriment of their jobs. Incensed by the political activities that the managing director of the commission who is now the APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state in the March election was engaging in to the detriment of his duty to develop the region, Akwa Ibom state government officials have repeatedly challenged him to bring forward what he has done for the people besides the enthronement of political lackeys. When Justice Walter Onnoghen was appointed the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the first southerner to hold that position in a long while, the people of the region were happy, but the scandalous way he was recently removed has left a bad taste in the mouth. To them, this is another example where a South-south person is being pushed out of office by the president. Also, not too long ago, Mr. Seiyefa, a seasoned intelligence officer was appointed as the acting director-general of the Department of State Security (DSS), but no sooner was this done than he was removed after acting for few months. When President Buhari was in Akwa Ibom state to flag off of his campaign for a second term in office, the state government lamented that he could not mention one particular thing he has done for the state, the highest oil producing state in the country. In Rivers state, the second highest oil producing state, the state government and the people of Ogoni are still crying that many months after the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the Ogoni Oil Spill Cleanup activities, the exercise has been bogged down with politics and bureaucracy!

The region has taken the federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari to task following the relentless efforts of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forcibly take over political power in some states in the region. The APC federal government is not masking its attempts to take the reins of power in Akwa Ibom, for instance, by hook or crook. The struggle for the soul of Akwa Ibom may be heading to gruesome stages. The question on many lips is, ‘What has the region gained since the present administration came to power? Appointments When President Buhari came to power, he insisted that that sharing of government patronages by his government would be determined by the number of votes he got from the state and region. Unfortunately, the Niger Delta where the president’s opponent in the 2015 presidential election comes from voted massively against him. The President not mindful of the fact that the oil that sustained the economy of the nation comes from the region, and without care for the federal character policy enshrined in the constitution, made good his threat. Beyond statutory appointments, the APC government has not in any way brought benefits to the Niger Delta. He appointed Dr. Ibe Kachikwu the Minister of State for Petroleum, but appointed a northerner as the Managing Director of the NNPC who reports directly to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, a position held by the President himself. With this, he effectively rendered Kachikwu useless. Realising that statutory appointments like the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) could not have been taken away from the region, he ensured that

OSUN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL UPDATE

APC Witnesses Authenticate Results Alteration By Our Reporter The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal continued sitting Thursday with the All Progressives Congress (APC) trying rationalise alterations of election results as reflected in the forms EC8As, submitted as exhibits by the Petitioner, Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke. APC counsels led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) at-

tempted to shift the legality of the alterations to the INEC ward collation agents and the provisions of the guidelines issued for the conduct of the election. While the court admitted the INEC guidelines for the election despite PDP’s counsel’s Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu’s objection, the witnesses produced by APC failed to toe the line marked out by the APC legal team. The witnesses all admitted that any alteration of the result should have reflected on the pink copy, and signed by all party agents at the

polling centers, thus confirming that in most cases, the alterations did not reflect on the pink copies, party agents’ names/signatures were either not written at all or were forged. The petitioner’s counsel were able to extract these facts from APC witnesses thereby buttressing PDP’s allegations and submissions that several election results were doctored to reduce the margin of PDP victory on September 22. Another APC witness equally proceeded to confirm that the disparity between the pink and the purportedly certified true copies

violated the INEC election guidelines. The guidelines had stated that in case of any alteration of results at collation centres, such must be reflected on the carbonated pink copies. In several cases, it was not the case as confirmed by APC’s witnesses. After taking three witnesses, lawyers to the APC abruptly stopped calling more witnesses when It was evident that the witnesses were inadvertently strengthening PDP’s case instead of theirs. The tribunal continues sitting today.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019

PERSPECTIVE

Travails of Titi Abubakar Across Southwest States Femi Salako

residential campaigns since the return of Nigeria to democracy in 1999 have never been taken to such a high height as Hadjia Titi Abubakar, the wife of PDP presidential candidate is doing. It is no doubt that the campaign for the February 16 presidential election is already intense and wife of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Titi Abubakar has taken the South west zone of the country by storm. She had embarked on an aggressive sensitization campaign for women and youth in the states making up the South west region of the nation. Mrs Abubakar had commenced the tour in Abeokuta where she and her entourage paid Chief Olusegun Obasanjo a courtesy visit at his presidential library. Message of Hadjia Titi Abubakar in Abeokuta was clear and direct. She advised all women and youth in the country to put an end to the government of APC because the party had failed the nation. She lamented the glaring incompetence of President Buhari and the sorry state of the nation’s economy which are of glaring adverse effects on the lives of Nigerians. Meanwhile, the remark of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was not any different from that of Mrs Abubakar. The former president remained unbending in his harsh criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari. He urged all Nigerians, particularly women and youth to salvage their destinies by voting out President Buhari. Obasanjo particularly implored people of the South west not to make the mistake of giving their votes to President Buhari since the president had openly confessed that he could not trust people from other regions with certain sensitive positions. She again took her campaign tour to her place of birth in Ijesha land where she was received by the Paramount ruler of Ijeshaland, Oba Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran. Mrs Atiku Abubakar encouraged women and youths in Osun State to roundly reject APC and President Buhari during the February 16 presidential election. The train of the wife of former vice president once again stopped at Ede and Oshogbo where she solicited supports of Timi of Ede and Ataoja of Oshogbo respectively in her quest to canvass support

Titi and Atiku Abubakar

for her husband. Mrs Abubakar had again taken her sensitization campaign to Oyo town and Iseyin. She solicited the support and blessings of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. She vigorously sensitized the people of Oyo and Iseyin on the reasons they have to vote for her husband in the forthcoming presidential election. Mrs Abubakar also had a meeting with Otunba Alao Akala in Ibadan and afterwards addressed and encouraged a crowd of supporters to vote Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the February presidential election. The train of campaign sensitization of Mrs Titi Abubakar had also moved from Osun State on Wednesday January 23 to Akure, the Ondo State capital. She addressed women and youth of Ondo State at the PDP party secretariat. She did not mince words in telling the gathering to reject Buhari and APC at the polls on February 16. She began her address by reeling out the failures of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mrs Abubakar was quite categorical that Nigerians must reject President Buhari at the polls because he had failed to deliver on his electoral promises. Mrs Abubakar had taken advantage of the sensitization tour to visit Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti in his Akure home. The Afenifere leader assured Mrs Abubakar of the support of the socio-cultural group for her husband because of his disposition to restructure the country. However, Mrs Titi

Abubakar appealed to market women and youth in Ondo state to resist the temptation of selling their Permanent Voter Cards for monetary gains in the interest of their wellbeing and future. Mrs Titi Abubakar reiterated the good plans and commitment of her husband towards developing and making Nigeria work again. She was emphatic at the meeting with Chief Fasoranti that her husband had developed good plans that would make life a lot better and more abundant for women and youth in the country. In the words of Mrs Abubakar, “I want to appeal to our women and youths to vote for Atiku, he has plans for you in his cabinet if he is elected as the president of this country. Our youths have turned to beggars and miscreants on the streets as a result of joblessness”. “All the things they (APC) promised were not fulfilled. There is serious hunger in the land, and they have no solution to it, their government has failed. “Anybody that performed well in the office will be returned, but in the case of APC, they have performed woefully and they cannot return. Despite their failure, they are still desperate to return. We should reject them with our votes and I know God will not allow them to return”. Titi Abubakar also assured residents of Ondo State that Atiku would provide jobs for the youth. She added that her husband had

promised to concede 40 percent representation in his cabinet to youth and women. She sounded overly optimistic at the meeting that Atiku Abubakar would fulfil all his electoral promises if elected. Titi Abubakar likewise informed Ondo residents that she would gladly use her influence as first lady to fight child trafficking and child labour which according to her had become a national menace. She equally paid a visit to Chief Olu Falae, a chieftain of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and former Secretary to the Federal Government. Chief Falae openly canvassed support for Atiku Abubakar at the meeting by urging Nigerians to overwhelmingly support his candidature. He described Atiku as the solution to the plethora of Nigerian problems at the moment. The sensitization train of Mrs Titi Abubakar equally landed at the ancient town of Owo where she paid a courtesy visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Falagbade Olateru-Olagbegi. The monarch gave his royal blessings for the candidature of Atiku Abubakar. The train of Titi Abubakar was also in Ondo town where she visited the paramount ruler of Ondo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo, the Osemawe of Ondo. She equally received royal blessings on behalf of her husband and later addressed youth and women of Ondo town. She also visited and solicited the support of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade. Also, wife of the former vice president met with the Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) the Ondo State governorship candidate of PDP in the 2017 election. She also held strategic meetings with all the leaders of PDP in Ondo State. The leaders assured that Ondo State would be massively delivered for Atiku and PDP during the presidential polls. Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman of PDP in the Southwest, Eddy Olafeso had assured Mrs Atiku that Ondo State would not only be delivered for Atiku in the presidential elections, but in other elections to be held in the state. Olafeso however urged all party members in Ondo State to remain steadfast and focused in ensuring that Atiku Abubakar becomes the next president of Nigeria. -Salako writes from Akure and can be reached at trianglemagazine8@gmail.com

Atiku, Udom and the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally Amos Etuk

here is renewed hope as expectations have become reality of the overwhelming determination of the people to get things right with the 2019 general elections at the doorsteps and the choice of new leadership to steer the country back to greatness. The renewed hope of this renaissance stems from the utmost belief that as a nation, the polity today is at crossroads with the glaring emergence of a dictatorship rule by President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling All Progressive Congress who have stealthily set a machinery to plunge the nation into a constitutional crisis through selfish drive for power. Except some form of divine intervention takes place, Nigeria is drifting down the lane of Venezuela and the unfolding events within the next few weeks will surely unveil the ‘’Road to Damascus’’. The current folding constitutional breaches on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen has further exposed the machinations of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to plunge the nation back to the dark days of the military junta as Nigerians rise to reject the impending political uncertainty. For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is a new hope for Nigeria especially with its presidential campaign slogan of ‘Let’s Get Nigeria Working Again’ and the suspension of its campaign for 72 hours to protest the unconstitutional removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria was a clear directive for Nigerians to know that the time has come as a people to chart a course that will protect and guarantee the polity against the tyranny of the present admin-

istration. As such, the resumption of the Presidential Campaigns of the PDP could not have taken place at a better time and location than , Akwa Ibom State, a stronghold of the party and the best time to once again assert the strength of the party as the dominant choice for the people of the state. It was meant to be a clarion call for the people of Akwa Ibom State, party faithful of the PDP to receive their Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar whose campaign train hit the South-south region in consolidation of the massive and sustained support the party has enjoyed since the return to democracy in 1999. Upon arrival in Uyo, the serene capital of Akwa Ibom State, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in company of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel commissioned the Green House Project along the Airport Road, a milestone futuristic concept initiated by the present administration in enhancing and sustaining food sufficiency. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar further showed respect to the traditional institution in the state through a courtesy call and was honoured with a traditional title of Obong Emem (King Of Peace) by the Council of Chiefs presided by the Chairman and Paramount Ruler of Ini Local Government Area, HRH, Edidem Effiong Udo Akpan. It is noteworthy that no presidential candidate ever loses an election after being crowned a chief by the Akwa Ibom State royal fathers. The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the venue for the historic Presidential Campaign Rally was a beehive of activities with the gathering of political leaders, stakeholders and party faithful as

a clear message was being sent to Nigeria that His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State sits firmly on a Divine to steer the course of his party, the PDP towards a second successive tenure during the general election. The records can never be twisted that Akwa Ibom State has been governed by leaders of the PDP since the return of democracy in 1999 and the laudable achievements recorded that have taken the state to international recognition has been achieved on the platform of the party. The party has never lost any election at the state level from the presidential to the state legislature and the coming of the Atiku/Obi ticket to Akwa Ibom has been described as a home coming and a re-assurance that the Divine Mandate structure led by Governor Udom Emmanuel is clearly on ground ahead of the expected victory of the party. The arrival of the presidential campaign team at the venue at about 3.47pm was heralded with a thunderous welcome by the thousands of supporters who filled the 30,000 capacity stadium as Alhaji Abubakar, Mr. Obi, Governor Udom Emmanuel and other leaders of the party acknowledged the massive support from party faithful as the overwhelming show of support for the party further confirmed that other political parties in the state may have lost pace in the catch-up race to the Hilltop Mansion. The State Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo set the tone for the campaign rally with assurances that the gathering was another historic outing to once again affirm the dominance and broad based support for the party across the state and Nigeria.

‘’Today, we witness a confirmation that our great party remains united with a stronghold that can never be penetrated and we wish to assure Nigerians that the PDP is coming back to get Nigeria working again. We will never be intimidated by the so called ‘’federal might’’ of the APC, we have the people and we will defend our votes accordingly,’’ Ekpo Obong who also doubles as the Chairman of all Chapters of the PDP in the country boldly stated. For Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District who spoke on behalf of the National Assembly Caucus, the battle to save Nigeria must be executed with all humane resistance as the plot of the APC must be resisted. He decried the rise of tyranny in the country and assured Governor Emmanuel and Alhaji Abubakar that Akwa Ibom State will surely deliver on the path of history with the PDP. ‘’The people of Uyo Senatorial District and Akwa Ibom State are resolute and we remain behind Governor Emmanuel till 2023. No man can come and determine and change the destiny of the state. The APC is a gathering of vultures and we will resist the machinations of tyrannic leaders. Akwa Ibom State belongs to the PDP and we believe that Governor Udom will win his second term, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will emerge as Nigeria’s next President as well as victory for all other candidates of the party. The people you have seen today are from Akwa Ibom State. They remain steadfast with our party.’’ NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Buhari: Reforming Nigeria My Lifetime Ambition Keep to your promise of credible polls, CAN tells president Warns INEC against being used for rigging No 5m votes for Buhari in Kano, PDP insists Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Kano State declared that he had always nursed the ambition to reform the country, adding that he had performed creditably in all the areas he promised Nigerians during his first term. This is coming as the umbrella body of Christian groups in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), yesterday advised President Buhari to keep to his promises to conduct free, fair and credible general election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also asked President Buhari to stop fixating over the non-existent five million votes that was promised him by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as such was completely illusionary. President Buhari yesterday expressed appreciation to the

people of the state for their confidence in his ability and assured them that he is in the race to secure the country. “I consider Kano as my political base and the mammoth crowd that had attended this rally had convinced me that the APC is on the road to winning the forthcoming elections at all levels.” The President also reminded Nigerians that his administration has restored peace in the North-east and all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been restored to their respective homes. According to President Buhari, his leadership qualities in the past three and a half years were enough for Nigerian voters to decide his fate during the forthcoming presidential election. “I am proud to tell people that I was able to fulfill my ambition in life. I was a minister and a governor. The positions I held at the peak of my youthful life.

I became Head of State in my capacity as a military officer. I was elected as a civilian President in 2015, after a rigorous and painstaking struggle. I have nothing to tell Nigerians than to say thank you”. “It was our expectation that this time around, the APC is poised to winning the elections at all levels without any headache”.

In his remarks, Governor Ganduje, enumerated President Buhari’s achievements over the past four years and stressed the need to re-elect him to continue with the good job. Speaking also, the Director General of President Buhari campaign team, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, dismissed the claim by the PDP vice presidential

candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that former administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had paid the contractors for Abuja to Kano railway. Amaechi said “It is not true. The statement by Mr. Obi is false. I expect him as former governor and also a running mate to cross check facts before saying it.” Meanwhile, CAN yesterday

advised President Buhari to keep to his promises to conduct free, fair and credible general election. This was contained in a fivepoint communiqué issued by the body at the end of its first quarter meeting of 2019 held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. The communiqué signed by CAN President, Rev. Samson

Continued on page 50

Atiku Promises to Complete Abandoned Ports in Delta, Second Niger Bridge Adedayo Akinwale inAbuja, David-Chyddy Eleke inAwkaand Omon-Julius Onabu inAsaba The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised to complete the abandoned sea ports in Delta State, as well as the second Niger Bridge. The presidential candidate of the PDP has also promised that he would work for the people of the South-east geo political zone if elected president of Nigeria. The former vice president made the commitments yesterday in Asaba, Delta State capital, and Onitsha, Anambra State yesterday, at the party’s presidential campaign rallies. “Now my brothers and sisters in Delta State, I am proud to be here today. I want to thank you very much for being loyal to PDP. Now, let me tell you, my commitment to Delta State is unwavering; if you elect me as your president, your sea ports that have been abandoned, will be reactivated. I will make sure that those ports are working and create jobs for Deltans. I promised you this. “Secondly, all the infrastructural facilities that have been abandoned by the federal government, because you are PDP, will be completed. You have been loyal to PDP and we will repay your loyalty. I will complete the second Niger Bridge, whether I like it or not. You know why? My wife here is from Onitsha; so I have to complete it. They deceived you,’ we will complete it for you. So, I appeal to you to vote PDP all through.” Also, the Director General of the campaign and Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that in 15 days’

time, Nigerians would re-write history of this country and change its direction. He noted that the APC-led federal government has failed, adding that it is time for Nigerians to vote them out and bring in the man that knows the job. “They promised us that they will make the economy better, is the economy better now? They told us that they will make security better, are you safer now? They told the youths and the future generations of this country that they will provide jobs, is there job? So my people of Delta State, there is option; when person fail you, send them out,” Saraki said. On his part, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, urged Nigerians to vote out President Buhari, who he said has allowed cabal to hijack his government. “He went to Germany and said Western Germany; you can imagine that. He came to Delta and handed over his mandate to Great Ogboru. It is finished now; which mandate and which campaign is he campaigning for? Then he went to Onitsha and called Anambra State - East Central. Haba! Buhari is analogue; we need digital president and Atiku is that digital President we are looking for.” Atiku who was also in Onitsha, reminded the people of Onitsha that they were his in-laws, adding that he cannot afford to abandon the people of the zone, who gave him a wife. “I am not here to campaign but to inform you that your son, Peter Obi and your daughter are the real contestants. I am in the minority.

MINISTERIAL BRIEFING…

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Dr. Abubakar Kannike; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Permanent Secretary, Works and Housing, Mr. Mohammed Bukar; and Chairman, Committee on Housing, House of Representatives, Hon. Mahmud Mohammed, shortly after the minister’s press briefing on the National Public Building Maintenance Policy, recently approved by the Federal Executive Council in Abuja…yesterday

EFCC Accuses Top Politician of Planning to Smuggle Money into Nigeria The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday alleged that a top politician was planning to repatriate funds into the country ahead of next month’s general election. Magu said the politician had earlier denied ownership of a property when attempts were made to confiscate it, but the unnamed person has sold it and is planning on repatriating it to Nigeria.

The EFCC boss said this at a meeting with the Association of Chief Conduct and Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria yesterday. He, therefore, urged compliance officers to assist the Commission in curbing the inflow of illicit funds by reporting suspicious transactions to the EFCC. Magu said, “foreign properties bought with proceeds of crime are sold and the proceeds transferred to Nigeria through international banks as legitimate funds that

can be used to finance several activities, including elections. “Recently, we have received intelligence report from a sister agency in another country informing us of a top Nigerian politician who has sold his property in that country and intends to repatriate the proceeds of the sale of the property to Nigeria. This same individual had earlier denied ownership of the said property. “Goods bought with proceeds of crime abroad are sent to

Nigeria to support empowerment programmes during election periods. The goods are mostly cleared with deficient trade documents processed through the international banks.” Explaining how money laundering is done, Magu said corrupt persons move the proceeds of crime earlier taken across border to neighbouring countries back to Nigeria by depositing such funds in banks with corresponding banking relationship with local banks in Nigeria.

Buhari Signs Laws against Degradation of Public Facilities, Abuse of Disabled Persons Chineme Okafor in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed two laws to ensure the mandatory maintenance of public buildings and facilities in Nigeria, as well as to protect and advance the rights of the physicallychallenged, using such public buildings. The Minister of Power, Works an Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who made the disclosure in Abuja at a press briefing, said that the two laws on national maintenance framework for

public buildings, and another, to prohibit discrimination against persons living with disabilities at public buildings were recently approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). According to him, while the implementation of the law on maintenance of public facilities will first start with public buildings and subsequently extend to roads, bridges and airports among others, the one on the protection of people with disabilities provides for specific actions that must be taken within a period of five years to provide opportunities for such persons to

live as normal a life as possible. He explained that the government considered the economic impacts of instituting a law on the maintenance of public buildings, including the jobs it would create for Nigerians and decided to enact it. This, he noted, would ensure that on an annual basis, public buildings would be maintained and then stopped from dilapidating, adding that it would empower Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid who are artisans, and those at the middle of the pyramid who own small shops for maintenance

materials. “This only applies to public buildings but will ultimately extend to other public assets like roads, bridges, rail, power installations and other infrastructure of a public nature. “What the FEC approval means is that after decades of agonising about lack of maintenance, the Buhari-led government has chosen to act. This is policy decision of enormous profundity because the records do not indicate that any such policy decision has previously been taken at the federal level,” Fashola said.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 12.08 % 13 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

15.50 % 15.25 % 15.38 %

J A N U A R Y S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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

2 5 , 2 0 1 9

363.10 % 0.20 % 1.72 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 1.72 % YEAR TO DATE 1.72 %

EXCHANGE RATE N306.80/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Ethiopian to Restructure US Network

TOUCHING LIVES

L-R: Director IT, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Seun Solanke; Director Legal and Regulatory Aﬀairs, Mr. Shola Adeyemi; MD/CEO, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya; Customer Service Director, Mrs. Veronica Onoja; Director, Corporate Communication & CSR, Mr. Emeka Oparah and Director, Human Resources, Mr. Gbemiga Owolabi, at the Airtel Touching Lives Season Five media brieﬁng held in Lagos…recently

FG Reinforces Security at International Airports Chinedu Eze The federal government has started the reinforcement of security at the nation’s major airports in order to fortify the facilities against terror attacks and other breaches. This was disclosed by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, in an interview with THISDAY. He said government through the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has put to an end the alleged pilfering and thefts on aircraft at the taxiways and holding points of the Murtala Muhammed

AVIATION International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. The director general who just as a three-man team from the US Transport Security Administration (TSA) to audit the Lagos airport visited the country, said the federal government was ready for the audit because it has made extra effort to secure the nation’s airports. “TSA goes on inspection once or twice a year to countries that has direct air link with the United States of America. Nigeria is one because Nigeria has been adjudged as meeting the requirements of the US

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category One Safety Status. The team came to assess airport security at our airport. This is to consolidate on whatever achievements that has been made in securing the airports,” Usman said. He noted that government has conquered the challenges with airside security of the major airports and now it wants to concentrate on landside security, adding that if the landside is secured, the airside would become more secured. Reacting to the reports that there was inadequate security personnel at the major airports, Usman said government through FAAN has been proactive in

securing the airports and disclosed that there is programme of recruitment going on to secure the services of those that would be trained so that they would be able to efficiently manage the security of the airports. “The objective is to employ an efficient manpower and in sufficient number. NCAA has been working as a regulatory agency on this while FAAN is working as implementation agency to ensure that there is no gap whatsoever,” he said. Usman, noted that recently FAAN Aviation Training Centre was accredited by the InternaContinued on page 22

Bello: Poor Policy Framework Obstacle to Nigeria’s Fleet Development Eromosele Abiodun The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr Hassan Bello has blamed poor policy framework and inconsistency, paucity of funds, lack of technical and human capacity and imbalance in trade terms as obstacles to the development of an indigenous fleet. Bello who stated this at the 20th anniversary lecture, award and investiture of patrons organised by maritime journalists in Lagos, expressed regrets that the inability of many of the promoters of indigenous shipping companies to acquire the needed technical capacity to own and manage ocean going vessels has helped to worsen the situation. More than 5,000 vessels call at Nigeria’s seaports annually, all

ECONOMY of which are foreign-owned due to the absence of a vessel on the nation’s fleet. This development has given rise to huge capital flight and contributing to the growing youth unemployment rate with the attendant rise in crime rates. According to him, “In 2015 alone, Nigeria spent over $9.1billion on the payment of freight charges for dry and wet cargo to foreign ship owners due to the absence indigenously owned vessels that ply the international trade routes.” Bello, who is a member of the Nigeria Fleet Expansion Committee put in place by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, also decried the imbalance trade policy where Nigeria’s crude oil and other non-oil exports are carried on

Free On Board (FOB), while her imports are carried on Cost, Insurance and Freight CIF, both of which exclude Nigerians from determining the vessels for the shipments. Reacting to some of the federal government’s policies, he said: “Customs import duty/ tariff on vessel, which currently stands at 14 per cent of the ship value has been described as prohibitive. This accounts for why vessel owners, including Nigerians prefer foreign registry, thus they bring in their vessels under Temporary Importation Permit TIP, which attracts only one per cent tariff of the total cost of acquiring the ship, which is renewable annually. “Similarly, for Nigeria to reap the benefits of the huge maritime potential available to her as a littoral state, she has to urgently address the trade

imbalance under which Nigeria’s exports are shipped on the basis of FOB, while her imports are lifted on CIF basis.” He regretted that given these and many other policies, the oil rigs used on Nigeria’s waters as well as other vessels that service them are owned and controlled by foreigners. According to him, the situation is even made worse by the fact vessels used under the Coastal trade and Inland Shipping Cabotage regime, which are supposed to be exclusive preserve for Nigerians under the Cabotage Act 2003 are also mostly owned and managed by foreigners. He however noted that all hopes are not lost, proposing a well-thought out indigenous fleet development programme Continued on page 22

EthiopianAirlinessaiditwillrestructureitsUnitedStatesofAmerica(USA) networkwithnewdestinations,morefrequenciesandshiftinggateways asofthesummerof2019.TheairlinesaidthenewUSnetworkisaimedat givingpassengerstravellingbetweentheUSandalloverAfricathebest possibleconnectivityandshortestroutes,whethertheyaretravelingfor leisure,businessorgovernmentwork. Accordingly, Washington D.C. flights would be increased from current dailytotenweeklyflights. The new additional three flights would pass through Abidjan departing from Addis Ababa in the morning and arriving in Washington D.C. in the evening.ThecurrentthreeweeklyflightstoChicagowouldbeincreased tofiveweeklyflights.FromtheplanneddailyflightstoNewYork,fourwill beservedviaLométoNewarkandthreewillbeviaAbidjantoJFKairport. Lastly,therewillbeanewgateway,Houston,whichwillreplaceLosAngeles, andwouldbeservedthreetimesperweekviaWestAfrica. Ethiopia said the new Houston flights would be the only connection between Houston and Africa and would facilitate the travel of the huge AfricancommunityintheHoustonarea,andoilandothercompaniesdoing business in the continent. Flights will be served with latest technology aircraft,theBoeing787,whichoffersunparalleledon-boardcomfort. Regarding the route restructuring, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. TewoldeGebreMariam,remarked,“TheU.S.isamongourmostimportant marketsowingtothepresenceofalargeAfricancommunityandgrowing businessandtourismtieswithAfrica.”

ANA Orders 38 Jets

Japan’sANAHoldingsannouncedplanstoorder38aircraftfromBoeingand Airbus,andtakea9.5percentstakeinPhilippineAirlines’parentcompany. Theaircraftorderissplitbetween20Boeing737MAX8sand18Airbus A320neos.IntotaltheorderswouldbeworthUSD$4.33billionatlistprices. The 737 MAX 8s are destined for the main ANA airline and will be used mainly on domestic routes. They will gradually replace the airline’s 737 NGsastheyaredeliveredfrom2021. The A320neos would go to Peach Aviation, ANA’s budget airline that operates mostly domestic routes plus a limited number of regional services. Deliveries also start in 2021. ANA said the 737 order, the first MAX8sforanyJapaneseairline,includesoptionsonafurther10aircraft. Inadditiontotheaircraftorders,ANAalsoannouncedthatitwillbuya9.5 percent stake in PAL Holdings, parent of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, in a USD$95 million investment.The shares will be acquired from Lucio Tan’sTrustmarkHoldings. Accordingtoairwise.com,ANAsaidinastatementthatthecompanywas expandingitsinternationalgroupnetwork,andstrengtheningpartnerships withforeignairlines. Itsaidthepurchase“underscoresANA’sbeliefinthedynamismoftheAsian regionandthegreatpotentialofthePhilippines’multi-awardedflagcarrier and its confidence that the Philippine air travel market will continue to serveasaneconomicleaderfortheASEANregion.”

Boeing’s Flying Taxi Completes Test

Boeinghassuccessfullycompletedthefirsttestflightofitsautonomous passengerairvehicle,aspartofthecompany’sdevelopmentofflyingcar urbantransport. Theflightlastedlessthanaminute,comprisingacontrolledtake-off,hover and landing, during which it tested the vehicle’s autonomous functions andgroundcontrolsystems. “This is what revolution looks like, and it’s because of autonomy,” Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences chief executive John Langford said. “Certifiable autonomy is going to make quiet, clean and safe urban air mobilitypossible.” Future flights of the 30 feet (9.14 metre) long, 28 feet (8.53 metre) wide passengerairvehicle(PAV)wouldtestforward,wing-borneflight,andthe transitionphasefromverticaltoforward-flight. Thetransitionphaseistypicallythemostsignificantengineeringchallenge foranyhigh-speedverticaltakeoffandlandingaircraft. BoeingChiefTechnologyOfficerGregHyslop,saidtheprojecthadprogressed fromaconceptualdesigntoaflyingprototypeinoneyear. Boeing“willcontinuetoleadwithasafe,innovativeandresponsibleapproach tonewmobilitysolutions,”headded. Poweredbyanelectricpropulsionsystem,theprototypeisdesignedfor fullyautonomousflightfromtakeofftolanding,withadesignrangeofup to50miles(80km). InadditiontothePAVprototype,Boeingisworkingonanunmannedelectric cargo air vehicle (CAV) designed to transport up to 500 pounds (226 kg) TheCAVhascompleteditsfirstindoorflightandwillstartoutdoorflight testinglaterthisyear.

“Nigeria needs strong, viable airlines for international operation to earn foreign exchange for the country and cut back capital flight” Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),

Captain Murtar Usman

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

BUSINESSWORLD FG REINFORCES SECURITY AT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS tional Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as regional training centre of excellence for aviation security to cover West and Central Africa, which showed how developed the centre was before its accreditation. He said FAAN has well trained security personnel and as the airports expand, the agency would continue to employ and train more personnel. There are indications that since the middle of last year the reports about possible stealing on taxing aircraft came to an end because, according to FAAN, it intensified the monitoring of the airside of the Lagos airport and also increased the patrol of the airside and the fences of the airport. To prevent inside threat and ensure that aviation security officials do not compromise their responsibility, FAAN started profiling of its security officials. After the report of theft incidents, FAAN increased its security personnel and reinforced security at the targeted areas of the airport. THISDAY gathered that since then there has not been any report of theft incidents at the airside of the airport. BELLO: POOR POLICY FRAMEWORK OBSTACLE TO NIGERIAâ€™S FLEET DEVELOPMENT

by the government, which will not involve government ownership and funding of vessel acquisition rather creating the necessary atmosphere that would encourage local and private investors to invest in vessel acquisition with the assistance and cooperation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, had while unveiling Nigeriaâ€™s Maritime Industry Forecast 2019-2020, said non-oil tanker fleet size is estimated to increase by 14.3 per cent in 2019 and 10.2 per cent in 2020, while Oil Rig count is projected to increase by 6.98 per cent and 6.5 per cent for 2019 and 2020 respectively.

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NEWS

NPA Commences Onne Port Water Channel Clean-Up Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has commenced the Onne Port Channel Oil spill clean-up operations at the Federal Oceans Terminal (FOT) Onne. The project of water channel clean-up is the first of such project being executed by the Personnel of Environment Department of the authority from both the Corporate Headquarters and the FOT. Speaking on the sidelines of the kick off of the clean-up project at the Engineering Department premises at Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) Onne, venue of the take-off of the operation, the Acting Port Manager Mrs Barbara Ejemeh Nchey-Achukwu who represented the Port Manager Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, commended the wisdom of the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman for the approval for the commencement of the water channel clean-up at the Port. She said the port manager was aware of various complains from terminal operators relating to oil pollution within the waters and was therefore excited with the new development in commencement of the water channel clean up. She said by this effort the NPA was showing a duty of care. She said that vessel owners had been complaining over oil spill stains on their vessels hauls calling at Onne Port, noting that after the exercise such complaints will be a thing of the past. â€œI know after this exercise, terminal operators will no longer complain to Onne Port Manage-

ment of stains on their anchored vesselsâ€?, Nchey-Achukwu stated. In a brief tool box meeting at the premises of the Engineering Department FLT, Onne, General Manager HSE, Suleman Abdulbaki, said he and his team have come to Onne Port to clean up the water channels. He said they could not ascertain the actual cause of the oil spills at the Port, but suspected the activities of oil bunkers and waste from communities that empty into the water channels. He said part of the activities

they are doing is to remove debris from the waters and use chemicals to clean the water to achieve improved water. He said they will also embark on awareness campaign to raise the consciousness of the people on the need for clean waters, to sustain aquaticlife and navigation. Also speaking, the Assistant General Manager, Environment Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi said that NPA has decided to carry out this oil- spill clean up to improve the quality of the Port water channels, â€œAs an Authority, we

are proud to show commitment to improving the navigational water channels within Onne Portâ€?, the AGM Environments Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi stated. On his part, Principal Manager, and Coordinator on scene, and the Commander of Onne Port channel clean-up operations, Uchenna Chukwuemeka said materials to be deployed for the exercise includes Bio-degradable materials (PRP), Remediation Products (PRP) and Pressure washers for removal of oil stains on the quay walls and

the fenders. He said that the team will also be using scooping nets within the Onne water channels to remove floating debris, cans and seloteen bags within the Onne water channels. Also, the manager in charge of pollution, Onne Port Mr. James Edetdescribed the team as passionate and professional to deliverclean and safe water within the Port channel. â€œWe are set to achieve green Port status at Onne Port water Channelâ€?, Mr James stated.

PRODUCT LAUNCH

L-R: Media Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Toheeb Azeez; Portfolio Manager, National Premium Brand, Sarah Agha; Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Kolawole Akintimehin and Brand Manager Support, Gulder, Freya Dossel at the unveiling of a new Gulder brand held in Lagosâ€Śrecently PHOTO SUNDAY ADIGUN

Truckers Move to Harness BeneďŹ ts of Reconstructed Wharf Road Following the recent reopening of the reconstructed Wharf Road, road haulage operators in the maritime sector are taking actions to boost the benefits of the vital link to and fro the port city of Apapa, easing the nagging Lagos ports access roads gridlock considerably. Truckers, under the aegis of the Containerised Truck Owners, coupled by the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (COTOAN), said they were determined to provide efficacious antidote to eliminate the gridlock totally, not just to help their businesses recover from the devastation of the gridlock at its zenith, but to also check driver fatigue and other threats to the health and lives of road users, and residents of Apapa and other locations that had been worst hit by the traffic anomaly.

The AMATO and COTOAN barred their mind in a statement after a meeting of its leadership at the weekend in Apapa, Lagos State, South-West Nigeria. The Containerised Truck Ownersâ€™ statement signed by the duo of Chief Remi Ogungbemi and Alhaji Wasiu Oloruntoyin, on behalf of AMATO and COTOAN, respectively, stated: â€œIn view of the serious challenges that are militating against the stability and survival of our business as containerised truck operators in ports, we have, therefore, carefully studied and identified the root causes of the challenges, which are as follows: Lack of automation system to regulate/ control movement of trucks that are going into the ports either to pick imported cargoes, or taking exports into the ports or returning empty containers into the ports, which informed the reason why almost all the trucks thronged

along access roads into the ports at the same time. â€œThe condemnable whopping sums of money that are exchanging hands days and nights between truckers as bribe givers on the one hand and security operatives or their collecting agents as the receivers of the bribes at various points along the access roads into the ports, either through voluntary offers of these bribes by the truckers in order to gain undeserved advantageous positions on the truck queues lining the roads and bridges, or the bribes the trucks offer the security operatives or their agents under either duress as a result of intimidation through verbal or/and physical abuses; and absence of modern and befitting public terminals, which has seen a large number of truckers without garages parking on the roads and bridges.â€? It added, â€œHowever, believing

that every problem has solution or expiry date, we have, therefore, resolved to hold the bull by the horn to politely, gently, peacefully, and lawfully relate with relevant authorities to achieve peaceful and enabling working environment.â€? The document noted that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), as the technical regulator of the ports, had informed operators that it has approved the manual call-up of trucks as not just a condition for trucks to access the ports, but also as a method to regulate/ control movement of trucks into the ports. â€œWe have, therefore, resolved to imbibe and test-run the system,â€? the AMATO-COTOAN initiative stated. Appealing to all other truckers to give the call-up system a trial, the amalgam stated: â€œAll trucks should leave the roads and wait in their garages until they collect call-up before coming to the roads.

â€œLetâ€™s endeavour to submit all required information/documents to facilitate issuance of the call-up. Enough is enough for all the anomalies on the ports access roads.â€? Harping on the matter of extortionists invading the roads, purportedly collecting membership dues from truckers on behalf of trade unions or/and associations, the statement went on: â€œOn extortion, as a matter of fact, it is we truckers that started and encouraged extortion by bribing our way to make a truck could be number 50 on a queue to shunt to number one position on the line, or to make our trucks to make illegal runs against oncoming traffic and displacing those who have the right of way. We know ourselves in the trucking business, and we know those that initiated the twin evils of extortion and bribery in the system. Those people also know themselves.â€?

SIFAX Assures of Improved Service Delivery at Warri Port The SIFAX Group-led consortium, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, has assured the federal government and other stakeholders that it would turn around the fortunes of the Terminal B, Warri Old Port before long. This assurance was given by the consortiumâ€™s Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi at the formal signing ceremony and handing over of Terminal B, Warri Old Port to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Abuja.

Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited won the concession with a competitive bid of $100.78 million and would run the terminal for twenty five years. In April 2018, the company was announced the preferred bidder of the Warri Old Port, out of the seven other companies whose bids were evaluated. The company also recently signed a contract with the Gambian government to operate an inland container depot in Banjul, the countryâ€™s state capital. Afolabi said the combined industry and business experience and pedigree of all the members

of the consortium gave him the confidence that the project would be another resounding success. He further expressed his appreciation to the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Nigerian Ports Authority for the transparent manner that the process was conducted, right from the beginning. â€œThis is a great news for us as a company to have led this consortium to win the concessioning of the terminal. While we are glad that we have emerged the concessionaire of the Warri Terminal, we are not unaware of the enormous responsibility

this success has conferred on us. â€œHowever, it is a familiar territory for us having operated the Terminal C at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, successfully in the last 12 years. We will fall back on the experience and expertise we have developed running the terminal to make a difference at the Warri Port. We have already begun mobilizing our team to hit the ground running as soon as possible. I want to assure that in no time, the fortunes of the Warri Port will change for the best, â€? he said. On his part, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, pledged

that the company, noted for its adherence to international best practices and compliance with agreed convenants, will set new standards with the management of the new terminal. He said: â€œBPE, NPA and other relevant government agencies should look forward to an efficient port management system when we formally take over the control of the terminal while the clients are in for an unparalleled customer-focused service delivery that will put them at the heart of our operations. We will also adhere strictly to the terms of the concession agreement too.â€?

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NCAA to Issue Circular on Drones Usage Stories by Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it has concluded plan to issue advisory circulation on the use of drones in Nigeria in order to ensure it does not interfere with civil aviation. This was disclosed by the Director General of the agency, Captain Muhtar Usman, who told THISDAY that there was need to prevent the menace or abuse of the use of drones in order not to jeopardise flight operations. Usman, noted that there many good use of drones, including the distribution of medical supplies in remote areas and the coordination of emergency during disasters, but noted that recently the equipment was being abused. He

cited the incidents at the Gatwick Airport London where drones nearly disrupted flight operations. The director general who disclosed that NCAA is working with the National Security Adviser (NSA) to ensure the implementation of the advisory circular and eventual regulations would be enacted on the use of drones in the country. “Drones can be used very, very positively, especially in areas where man may not be able to access remote areas and with recent incidents in the UK and US where they nearly disrupted flight operations, drones are now being caste in bad light. “Here in Nigeria we have developed the advisory circular in the use of drones. We are working

with the National Security Adviser of Nigeria to ensure that the drones that are in the country are being operated according to the rules as contained in the circular,” he said. Usman said NCAA has advanced with the making of the circular and would soon invite stakeholders to brainstorm on the use of drones in the country. “We are getting to advanced stage. We are about to invite the stakeholders for their comments before analysing the circular and also we want to protect the civil aviation from the menace or misuse of those drones. “Provisions are being made in the advisory circular and provisions are also being made in the regulation. We are working with NSA to ensure that those regulations are enforced,” he added.

Choosing the Right Aircraft for Nigerian Market

Air Peace B737

SAA Partners AWA to Extend Flights to Washington South African Airways (SAA) has signed an interline e-ticket agreement with Africa World Airlines (AWA) to offer Nigeria travellers seamless connection to Washington DC, United States of America via Accra. The South African Airways and Africa World Airlines partnership would result in one flight ticket issue to intending passengers flying to Washington from either Lagos or Abuja in Nigeria. SAA said with 37 frequencies weekly flights from Lagos and Abuja to Accra, Africa World Airlines provides veritable connection service to feed the four times weekly South African Airways Accra Washington flight. According to SAA Regional Manager, North, West and Central Africa, Ohis Ehimiaghe, “The

South African Airways and Africa World Airlines partnership is the shortest gateway to travel to Washington providing about 11 hours trip from West Africa to Washington. And with the core values of reliability and exceptional service, both airlines are poised to give passengers wonderful flying experience.” SAA through the interline agreement with AWA is permitted to issue the direct ticket from either Lagos or Abuja to Washington via Accra. The airline also said the South African Airways’ Accra -Washington flight is serviced with stateof-the-art Airbus A330 aircraft fitted with high quality on-demand inflight system. The business class seats have a flat-bed design that is almost

two metres long when fully extended alongside exquisite dining while the slim-line economy seats have generous leg-room for travelling comfort. “This interline agreement is the beginning of a stronger relationship with Africa World Airlines as South African Airways is in continuous discussion with the airline for a full codeshare agreement soon,”South African Airways National Sales Manager Nigeria, Kemi Leke-Bamtefa said. Also, Africa World Airlines’ Country Manager, Nigeria, Kingsley Chima, described the interline agreement as a win-win development for both airlines, noting that most importantly, the passengers now have a seamless connection from West Africa to Washington, USA.”

Ethiopian Airlines Incentivises International Passengers Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it has extended free transit tour to global passengers from February 1, 2019. The new complimentary city tour package organised by ET Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian Airlines, takes transiting passengers with six to eight hours’ time in the running capital, Addis Ababa, on a journey through one of the landmarks of the city, The National Museum, accompanied with a taste of Ethiopian coffee and souvenir shopping at affordable prices. Thereafter, it makes the passengers experience the unique flavours of the political capital of Africa

during their brief stay. Regarding the initiative, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked, “As travel has gone digital with our innovative technology solutions including Ethiopia Mobile App and online platforms, the huge influx of transit passengers in Addis Ababa, the world’s gateway to Africa, can enjoy personalised and endto- end travel experience. “Ethiopian Mobile App enables passengers secure their visa electronically within four hours from any part of the world, as well as book their flights, pay online using credit or debit cards, mobile money,

e- Wallet and bank transfer, check-in and issue boarding pass seamlessly. “As we continue to discover and deliver the best for our customers, we are pleased to come up with complimentary offerings to our global transiting passengers and make them savor every moment and feel the real taste of Addis Ababa during their brief stay. While promoting Ethiopia, Land of Origins, and its beautiful capital Addis Ababa alike, as tourist destinations, we will keep promoting initiatives tailored to provide our ever growing customer with a unique and unforgettable travel experience.”

Chinedu Eze

At different aviation fora, industry experts have stated that one of the things that could determine the success or failure of an airline is its choice of aircraft. Bigger aircraft like Boeing B737, which carries from 120 passengers, is meant for mid-range distance of three to six hours. But in Nigeria where it is the favourite of most of the airlines, it is used for domestic destinations which are largely one hour flights. Some industry experts posit that this is a wrong choice of aircraft because while such size of aircraft needs to be operated for about 16 hours a day, the Nigerian operational environment can only allow maximum of nine hours flight in a 6am to 6 pm fight schedule because most airports in the country don’t allow night flights. With turnaround time and delays, aircraft rarely operate for nine hours in Nigeria. Industry insiders argued that it is more economical to operate smaller aircraft in terms of fuel efficiency and the fact that besides the major cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, other cities in the country do not have high passenger demand, so the small body aircraft would suffice. In addition to the above, engine depreciation is calculated on the number of landings, which means at certain number of landing an engine could be due for checks. Although, according to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, major maintenance, which is C-check is stipulated for 18 months. Some airlines that started with mainly Boeing B737 in their fleet were forced by reality to bring in smaller body aircraft like the turbo-props. For example, when Arik Air started with Boeing B737 fleet, it opened the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) base in Port Harcourt where the runway cannot take in bigger aircraft. So it secured on wet lease Bombardier Q300 (Dash 8) aircraft, which it used to operate Lagos-Warri (Osubi) and Lagos-Port Harcourt (NAF) base. Later the airline acquired four Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft, which is small body aircraft with capacity of about 75 passengers. Overland Airways, which largely operate what is called secondary airports, use ATR, which is small body aircraft for short distance travel. Also, the largest Nigerian carrier, Air Peace recently delivered six Embraer 145 aircraft, which is 50-passenger capacity aircraft for short hauls and for low passenger

destinations. THISDAY spoke to industry experts who noted that in as much there is need for small body aircraft, passenger demand must be taken into consideration. The Chief Flight Officer of Air Peace, Captain Victor Egonu, a seasoned pilot of many years, who said the choice of aircraft is mainly determined by the route and passenger traffic. “The choice of aircraft type depends on the market. When you consider the Lagos-Abuja route you know that you need a bigger aircraft. You could say that small body aircraft consume less fuel, but bigger aircraft consume less fuel per seat. “So choice of aircraft type depends on the demand of the route. For example, Embraer 145 will not be the right aircraft for Lagos-Abuja, but it will be the right aircraft for Lagos-Sokoto or Abuja-Sokoto. It depends on the number of seat you have on that route,” he said. Egonu, explained that Air Peace started operating Lagos-Asaba with Embraer 145, which is 50 passenger capacity but when the route started doing well, it increased operation to two times daily and noted that if the runway of the airport could take bigger aircraft, it would be economical for Air Peace to put a 130-capacity Boeing B737 on the route and operate once a day. This is because more fuel is consumed by two Embraer 145 flights to the route per day. Also, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) who is also a seasoned pilot, the former CEO of Aero Contractors and also the former Director General, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, urged airlines to also look at passengers’ choice, saying that Nigerian passengers prefer bigger aircraft, which fly above the clouds. “The choice also depends on the market. For those criticising the use of Boeing B737 for one-hour flights, in the US which aircraft type do they use? They also use B737. “So the aircraft to use is determined by popular choice of the passengers. So what customers prefer should count. Nigerian travellers prefer flying above the clouds. “Even when you look at the preferred aircraft between LondonParis, which is about one hour or less, they still use Boeing B737 or Airbus A319 or A320 aircraft. Operating cost should be determined by the airline, but the customer should be given his choice,” he explained.

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

Revamping Airport Facilities After several years of lamentation by passengers about the decay of facilities, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has started taking steps to rejuvenate airport infrastructure. With the opening of new terminals in Abuja and Port Harcourt, the agency is poised to modernise airports in the country, writes Chinedu Eze

n January 6, 2019, the new terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was officially opened for the procession of travellers. The use of the facility was kicked off by the West Africa major operator, Asky Airlines. After many years of travelling through the limited space offered to international passengers at the existing terminal, which was divided to also offer space to domestic travellers, passengers were elated when the new terminal was opened. The new terminal boasts of state-of-the-art facilities with large flight information display system, conveniences, large passenger waiting lobby with seats and electric pots for those who wish to charge their phones. It is different from the old terminal where hitherto passengers on international trips were literally squeezed to their aircraft. FAAN has taken bold steps to revamp even the existing terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and currently the agency is rebuilding the obsolete avio bridges to transform them to new. At the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, foreign carriers, Air France, Lufthansa and Cronos Airlines moved to the new international terminal unveiled last October by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Abuja Airport The President also unveiled the new Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport terminal last December and Asky Airlines successfully operated inaugural flight from the new facility. Thereafter, Ethiopia Airlines commenced its daily flight operations from the terminal last month. The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the new facility occupies approximately 56,000sqm and it is built for 14 million passengers per annum with 66 check-in counters, five baggage collection carousels, 16 Immigration desk at arrival and 28 immigration desk at departure. The new terminal also has eight security screening points, eight passenger boarding bridges plus remote boarding and arrival but presently there are only two avio bridges and two food courts. It also has four premium lounges, 22 guest rooms and spa in addition to 16 airline ticketing offices. There is Visa-on-Arrival and port health facility as well as praying area; more than 3,000sqm of duty free space and more than 5,000sqm of lettable utility space.

Port Harcourt new Terminal

the West African country and she refused to disembark from the aircraft, saying this was not Nigeria; that they landed at a wrong airport; not until she was prevailed upon by the crew, that this was Port Harcourt, Nigeria that she was convinced. Such is the beautiful ambience this terminal creates that passengers mistook it as a foreign country,â€? Yakubu told THISDAY. THISDAY gathered that the new terminal at the Port Harcourt airport is approximately 27,000sqm and it was built for five million passengers per annum capacity with 24 check-in counters, 12 currently installed, three baggage collection carousels, one currently installed, 16 Immigration desk at arrival, eight passport control desk at departure, four passenger boarding bridges, plus remote boarding and arrival; however, only one is currently installed and two food courts. There are also four premium lounges and spa; airline ticketing offices and duty free space and also lettable utility space.

The Chinese Terminals Port Harcourt Airport Port Harcourt International Airport became operational in 1979. The old terminal has been servicing the oil rich Niger Delta region that comprises Rivers State, Bayelsa state, Delta state, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom. Other South East states, like Abia, Imo are also benefiting from the services of this airport. Yakubu said few years ago the passenger traffic had outgrown the old terminal, which comprised both international and local operations, hence the need for expansion. â€œThe federal government of Nigeria gave approval to FAAN for the construction of a brand new terminal, the foundation for the new terminal was laid on March 1, 2014, it was constructed over a period of four years by the Chinese Construction Company. â€œThe brand new terminal was commissioned on 25th of October 2018, by His Excellency the Executive President of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari. The terminal became fully operational on Friday 25th of January 2018,â€? she said. According to the FAAN spokesman, movement of agencies and installation of technical facilities and other sundry issues were concluded and the first flight operation took off on Friday January 24, 2019, at about 1:00 PM Nigerian time with the arrival of Cronos airline from Accra Ghana. This was followed by Lufthansa from Frankfurt Germany and Air France from Paris France, at about 7:00 pm. â€œA passenger from Accra, Ghana created a funny scenario when Cronos arrived from

In 2012 the federal government signed deal with Chinese Exim bank to provide credit facility of $500 million for the construction of the international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, while FAAN directly funded the building of international terminal at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu. The Nigerian government paid counterpart fund of $100 million. But with delay in the completion of the projects and the fact that more facilities would be added to the

The new terminal also has eight security screening points, eight passenger boarding bridges plus remote boarding and arrival but presently there are only two avio bridges and two food courts

terminals, the projects are expected to cost more. In addition to the new facilities that would be added to the Abuja new terminal, the Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma also explained that the present tower at the Lagos airport cannot see the new terminal, so there was need for another tower, but the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) had provided mobile tower so that controllers would be able to capture every part of the airport. â€œBecause of the massive construction going on at the Lagos airport, the present tower cannot see one side of the terminal building. To solve this problem, NAMA has provided another mobile tower to look at the other side of the building,â€? he said.

Abuja Runway As part of the effort to provide and improve on critical infrastructure at the nationâ€™s airports, FAAN has embarked on the construction of the second runway at the Abuja airport. Growing aircraft traffic and increasing flight destinations in the federal capital territory has made this imperative and FAAN said it was poised to provide the facility. It also plans to build new tower and fire service at the Abuja airport. â€œIn the new infrastructural development that is coming; there will be additional runway for Abuja airport and other infrastructure, which will include a new fire station and a new control tower that will be strategically located to cover the airport, as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). â€œThis means that the control tower that would be built should be able to see all the terminal buildings and see the four ends of the runways. Each runway has two ends, the control tower should be able to see as the aircraft will land and take off on both sides of the runway. It should be able to see what is happening on the aprons of the terminal buildings. So we need to choose another location to strategically provide that. â€œThe fire stationâ€™s major requirement is that they should be strategically located. If there is any incident anywhere in the airport, in the shortest distance they can reach there. The existing control tower was built for one runway. The next one that would be built would cover the two runways and all sides of the airport. So we are incorporating it in the design of the new runway so that these two facilities will be strategically located,â€? Dunoma said. The FAAN Managing Director said the new runway would be built as quickly as possible because of the urgency to have another runway at the airport.

â€œWe want to do it as quickly as possible but we donâ€™t have time line because right now we are doing consultancy. It is when the consultants finish their design and give us the entire working drawings and all the details and then the consultant now will come up with time line. They can tell that this project can be completed either in 24 months or less. But it is our belief that it will not exceed 24 months,â€? Dunoma also said. He said that these projects are necessary because there is growing passenger traffic, which makes it imperative that airport facilities should be expanded and modernised to meet the needs of the passengers for easy facilitation. Also the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had projected massive passenger growth in Africa and expressed the fear that African states might not be able to urgently build new airports and runways to meet the needs of the projected passenger increase in the region. Taking a cue from IATA warning and working in partnership with the Air Port Council International (ACI) Africa, FAAN had engaged in massive airport infrastructure renewal and it is projected that in the in few years all major airports in the country would have expanded airport facilities. Dunoma noted, â€œPassenger movement will continue to increase and this is even buttressed by ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organisation) and IATA projections. â€œIt is predicted that in developing countries passenger movement would double by 2030. In Africa we believe that it will more than double for the simple reason that we have not developed other infrastructure like the train and the road infrastructure is not there. So a lot of people are going to depend on air travel because it is easier and faster. â€œSo we believe that in Africa passenger movement will be more than double by 2030. So that is why we are strategically developing the airport infrastructure in order to meet up with the demand that is coming. I know the industry is very sensitive, some time there is a drop but within a short period of time you will see that it will go up again. But if you look at the overall trend, passenger movement and aircraft movement are on the increase always.â€? FAAN has provided succour to air travellers with the completion of the new airport terminals. This has made passenger facilitation easy and has also given Nigerians hope that airport development is not only taking place in other parts of Africa; that FAAN is determined to meet the need of air travellers. Industry observers have variously noted that so much positive changes have taken place under Dunoma.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Dilemma of Nigerian Exporters Eromosele Abiodun examines the importance of non-oil export to the economy and the damage the deplorable state of Apapa road has done to exporters

ome of the very important roles export plays in an economy include increase productivity, provision of employment, improvement in trade balance and expansion of a nation’s economy. At this time when the country is still recovering from economic recession, the diversification of the economy from oil to non-oil export is imperative. This is currently the focus of the federal government. The government wants the development of non-oil export process that is expected to play significant role in revamping the ailing economy. But to make exports to be one of the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, the ports will play a vital role. This is because the sea is the medium through which goods originating from and destined for different parts of the world are transported. Seaports in relation to trade are major gateways to the economy of Nigeria hence, play an important role in the development of the country. Freight types are mainly containerised cargoes, general cargoes, roll-on-roll-off cargoes and petroleum products. General cargo was handled mostly by Tin Can island port, dry cargo by Apapa port and liquid cargo by Okrika port. Apapa port accounts for 30 per cent of cargo throughput in the Nigerian seaports. This form of port specialisation has implications for the provision of facilities at the ports. Between 1990 and 2005, there was an increase in the cargo throughput, container traffic, net registered and gross registered tonnage of vessels at the ports and crude oil terminals. Major problems affecting freight traffic include inadequate cargo handling plants and equipment, long turnaround time, cargo pilferage and excessive charges. Overtime, the maritime industry has substantially changed from an industry that was always international in its character to a truly global entity with routes that spans across hemispheres, transporting raw materials, parts and finished goods. Maritime transportation plays a major role in the national and international trade and economic growth. The seaborne trade represents 90 per cent of the international trade in the world. Seaports in relation to trade are major gateways to the economy of a country. They represent a complex structure in a country’s transportation system providing ship harbour interface services such as pilotage, dredging, provision of berths, maintenance of navigational channels, etc., ship-port interface in terms of loading and unloading cargoes and port-land interface in delivering cargo to and from the hinterland. In general seaports have five principal roles. They include: Cargoes and passengers handling, providing services for ships such as bunkering and repair, shelter for ships in case of heavy sea and storm conditions, bases for industrial development and terminals forming part of a transport chain. Seaports, expert believe, are complex dynamic systems consisting of numerous interacting elements, influenced by random factors.

been exported. And when these goods stay too long in the warehouses, they lose their original value. This is impacting negatively on our earnings,” he said. He suggested that alternative ports should be used for the exportation of goods instead of Apapa. On his part, the National President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tola Faseru, suggested that the government should establish a base outside the port where goods coming in should be taken for the owners to pick them up and a place where empty containers should be deposited, so as to ease the traffic situation at the ports. The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN), Mrs. Ify Haastrup, had expressed fears that there might be congestion at the port due to the ongoing palliative work being done on the Apapa Ijora/Wharf road. She explained that it was difficult for containers to enter the ports because empty containers that had been offloaded were unable to get out due to the traffic situation.

Obstacles to Export In a letter to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero named factors such as: lengthy

Exporters’ Dilemma Export process from Nigerian ports is plagued with factors in cross border trade, which greatly affects Nigeria’s product competiveness that result to rejects in the international trading environment. However, a worse situation now bedevils exporters. That monster is port access roads. The deplorable state of the roads has resulted in losses for exporters with thousands of jobs lost. A visit to the ports revealed that goods worth billions of naira are rotting away as export process becomes impossible. Non-oil exporters have lamented the negative impact of the Apapa gridlock and port congestion on their earnings. In a chat with THISDAY, an exporter, Sotonye Anga said the situation was causing a delay in shipment, adding that shipment that should ordinarily take one day was beginning to take five days. He said because of this, exporters were unable to meet up with their contractual obligations and even as they had their capital tied up in banks. “When we should have shipped more, we are shipping less. There are so many warehouses filled with goods that should have

Maritime transportation plays a major role in the national and international trade and economic growth. The seaborne trade represents 90 per cent of the international trade in the world. Seaports in relation to trade are major gateways to the economy of a country

and cumbersome documentation process on export, multiplicity of regulatory/security agencies, high and duplicated terminal/ shipping company charges and process and lack of export infrastructures as the bane of export. The inspection of containers, he stated, is conducted by the following agencies on product quality: The appointed pre-shipment inspection of export agents, the Federal Department of Forestry, the Federal Produces Inspection Service and the Plant Quarantine Service. According to him, “The Pre-Shipment of Export Company who issues Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI) is expected to carry out in pursuant to Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act of 1996 section 4-(c) clearly states, the inspection agents is provided with necessary facilities to enable the inspection agents to carry out quality and quantity inspections, price comparison and other process as may be required in the circumstance. “The pre-shipment inspection of export agents appointed by the federal government is responsible for three major functions: rice comparison (Value), quantity and quality (product Standard). The contract covers the international requirements with regards to the quality of the product, which is the standard of the product, that should have eliminated other agency involved in terms of process and cost, so as to reduce the level of international product reject that is rampant, and in effect enhance our export capacity.” He added: “The following federal government agencies duplicates the process of quality inspection with that of the appointed federal government pre-shipment inspection on export: The Federal Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Environment is involved in quality of product, with documentation, operational process and cost. “The Federal Produce Inspection Service are involved in quality of product inspection, with documentation, operation and cost. Plant Quarantine Service, is involved in quality product inspection, documentation, operation and cost.”

Duplication of Product Quality Amiwero added that the duplication of product quality (standard) inspection by the four agencies constitute serious bottleneck due to lengthy and cumbersome process, procedure and cost. This, he stated, resulted to associated delays and high cost that necessitated to the movement of our product to our neighbouring West African Ports. He pointed out that another major factor affecting export is shipping companies’ duplicated charges and charges not tied to service on export. He said: “The Nigerian shipping companies

in line with the contract of carriage, handle import container that are loaded back to the country of origin as empty container without any charge due to the level of export activities that is still very low in the country. The shipping lines Terminal Delivery Charges (TDC) is a charge that is not tied to service, as such charge is duplicated in the charges of terminal operators.” “The excessive terminal charge coupled with various other charges are not tied to services in line with WTO Articles VIII –(1)-(a), which stipulates, that all fees and charges of whatever character imposed by contracting parties in connection with importation and exportation shall be limited in amount to the approximate cost of service renders. “The terminal charges are charges component that are not tied to service and it’s duplicated by the shipping companies who do not perform any service in the terminal. The operational procedure of terminal/shipping activities contributes to the associated delay due to short shipment of consignment that result to late Loading and reloading of exported containers.” On the provision of weighing and application of verified gross mass (VGM) by exporters, he said: “The verification of gross mass shall be verified by shipper either by weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment as contained in the provision of SOLAS Chapter VI Part A Section 4 paragraph 1&2, which clearly states, the shipper of a container shall ensure the verified gross mass is stated in the shipping document and shall be signed by the shipper. “The responsibility of verified gross mass is clearly the responsibility of the exporter and not that of the terminal operator, who exploit the system to Charge as much as N20, 000 per container even when the container has already being weighed by the exporter in compliance to the VGM convention. Terminal operators go ahead to enforce unconventional operational practice in contravention of the SOLAS Chapter VI convention by charging N20, 000 per container with other operational complexities.” As a way out he said: “We as organisation that has served in close to 167 federal government Committee some attached, which include: Presidential Committees on Destination Inspection, Port problem, 48 hour Clearance of cargo, Customs Reform etc,, request that trade procedure committee (TPC) be set up with expert, to address the obstacle and the shortfalls inherent in our system as it relate to Export and Import Trade. This would in turn, properly position Nigeria for the desired change in other to focus on export drive that will rescue the country from the dependant oil.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ede: Customers to Beneﬁt Immensely from Diamond, Access Merger The Head, Consumer Liability Products, Diamond Bank, Mr. Osita Ede, in this interview says the bank’s ongoing business combination deal with Access Bank Plc will bring about a stronger institution that will be beneficial to customers. Peter Uzoho provides the excerpts:

iamond Bank has a lot of retail products and the Diamondxtra is one of them. With the business combination deal with Access Bank, will the Diamondxtra product continue? We have looked at all that and it is going to be a bigger Diamondxtra. Diamondxtra stays the way it is. Some of the concerns have been coming up with regards to customers who won prizes like ‘Salary for Life.’ We see some of those questions in the social media asking what happens to them. So, the message we want to go out there is that nothing changes. Those that have won, your prizes will still keep coming, the Diamondxtra remains Diamondxtra. In fact, we are not even changing the name. So as we merge, it is going to become a bigger bank, we are stronger together. So, the idea is to push out the product for all the customers. Just imagine Diamondxtra having more customers with all the customers in Access Bank also getting on board. It is going to be a much bigger reward scheme. In this era of low purchasing power how will you say that the scheme has impacted standard of living of your customers so far? In fact, it has been fantastic. I would say one of the reasons why we are bent on keeping Diamondxtra is that if you listen to testimonies of some winners we have had, it is actually so touching. For instance, if you were at the launch of season 10 where some of them gave testimonies of how their lives were touched and changed, you will find out that for a whole lot of people this has been a life changer for them. And for that reason, we want to continue with that experience. It is our way of connecting with the average Nigerian and we want to continue that. For instance, if you go to the website, you will see a video of a welder who won ‘Salary for Life’ and the young man never knew that he could win. And every month he gets his payment, he gets his N100,000 paid into his account and he is going to get that for 20 years. I think he has done for just 2 years now and his still has 18 years to go. You have done Season 10 and we are going to Season 11. What is the uniqueness of the forthcoming edition? The great thing there is that Season 10 ended by the end of January and the we will launch a bigger season, that will be a bigger and better season. But I will just hold onto some of the features till the launch. We have a whole lot of things; we will never disappoint our customers when it comes to rewarding them. So, there will be some big stuffs coming up. Since you don’t want to comment about the details of Season 11, how will you describe the experience from Season 10? In Season 10 we have actually had more winners than we had in Season 9. In fact, the total number of winners for season 10 was 4,957, and that was about five per cent more than what we had in Season 9. We made 130 millionaires, we gave out three new cars and we introduced a special prize category called education grant. And in that education allowance, the winner gets N100,000 every month for five years. Just imagine you are getting into school or your son or ward is getting into school, and for the next 5 years the individual gets N100,000 every month

Ede

for five years. So it is a very wonderful reward scheme and we didn’t just throw out that reward, we engaged a whole lot of our customers and asked them, what are the additional things you will want to see in Diamondxtra. We included education and rent for a year. So, the individual who wins rent for a year gets N1 million immediately. So Season 10 was exciting. And I am sure you have seen some of the winners on social media and their comments and how excited they are. And we made sure that the reward goes round the country, so it is not just a Lagos affair, it covers Nigeria. If you are in the north you are going to be hearing our radio jingle talking about Diamondxtra, so it cuts across. We have

So as we merge, it is going to become a bigger bank, we are stronger together. So, the idea is to push out the product for all the customers. Just imagine Diamondxtra having more customers with all the customers in Access Bank also getting on board. It is going to be a much bigger reward scheme

adverts, we have people talking about it in hausa and different languages, so it is a Nigerian thing. Will Access bank customer have the opportunity of participating in the scheme? Absolutely, it will be opened to customers from both Diamond and Access Bank. But of course, before the integration if as as Access Bank customers, if you want to participate you can open a Diamondxtra account and get on board. So, basically Diamondxtra is going to become bigger and of course we are going to throw in some additional sweeteners. What are the benefit for the bank? Like I said earlier, for us it is a great thing to know that we are touching lives and also helping the Nigerian economy in terms of being able to encourage people to save. There are a lot of funds outside the financial system and being able to encourage people to take it away under their pillows and bring it into the bank, that is also a way of stabilising the Nigerian economy. So, for us as a bank we see it as a very significant way of connecting with our customers and also touching lives and of course rewarding our loyal customers. For instance, I get so excited when I see a customer who has banked for a number of years emerging a winner. So it is exciting and when you look at it you find out that such people never leave you, they stay with you because every day you are touching their lives. Speaking of regulatory agencies What has been the relationship with the lottery commission? For regulators, the main thing is to ensure the rules are there, so you just

follow the rules. You make sure you follow the rules and guidelines. For them usually what they try to find is that whether the process of selecting the winners is transparent. And then regarding to payment of the winners, whether it is being done in a transparent manner and make sure you are not leaving anybody out. So, for us we invite them for every draw that we do, we make sure that we don’t keep them in the dark, provide information, put as much as possible all the information on your website so they can access it. And then once you are transparent there are no issues. Again for our draws they are validated by KPMG, we don’t just run the draws, KPMG comes in first, they ensure that every customer who should be in the draw is selected and is put in the draw before the selection process, so they monitor everything. For instance, the way it runs is that every N5,000 in your account gives you access to one ticket. So if you have N10,000 it gives you two tickets into the draw. If you have N20,000 it gives you four, so they check that. So, the national lottery, KPMG, Consumer Protection Council, all of them make sure that things work and there has never being any problem for the 10 years we have run this campaign. We are looking at the prizes, Season 11 is in the works and it is coming out much bigger and better. You can trust me. We are going to invite you for the season 11 but we want to make sure that all the processes that we should go through before we launch the new season are all done properly and in line with regulatory requirement and then we launch. We are looking at February, so we are not trying to have any break; Season 10 ends January and then we launch Season 11 immediately.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

Wilson Ighodalo: Passionate about Riding the Society of Drug Abuse

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COVER WILSON IGHODALO: PASSIONATE ABOUT RIDING THE SOCIETY OF DRUG ABUSE If there is one thing Wilson Ighodalo, the Founder, Drug Salvation Foundation, is passionate about, it is riding the society of drug abuse. Ighodalo who also doubles as the National Coordinator, NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club Nigeria, is a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Master Trainer on Sensitisation on Drug and Drug Prevention,Treatment and Care. In this interview with CHIEMELIE EZEOBI, amongst other sundry issues, he strongly advocated for public health approach to substance abuse in Nigeria in a bid to address societal stigmatisation and discrimination against drug users. Excerpts: What is your foundation about? The Drug Salvation Foundation is a nongovernment and Non-Profit Organisation aimed at promoting the quality of Public Health in the society by leading efforts in the prevention, education, advocacy and care of Substance Use Disorders etc. The organisation is based in Lagos and have driven drug abuse interventions across the country, organising trainings and prevention campaigns on substance abuse. It has organised various activities in a bid to raise awareness on drug abuse in the society. We have driven drug abuse interventions across the country, through quiz, debates, organising trainings, conferences, charity walk, courtesy visits, workshops, annual lectures and prevention campaigns on substance abuse. We have reputable personality as board of trustees and founding fathers of this prestigious organisation in the person of Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, who is the Chairman of The Drug Salvation Foundation. He is the Managing Partner at SIAO (a firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants) and Senior Pastor Trinity House Church. We also have Otunba O.A. Lawal (Honorary Consul). He is at present the honorary Consul of Malta in Nigeria and the President of the Nigerian-Maltese Business Council. Putting it in context, we are reaching out through advocacy campaign that seeks to address the current negative perception about people with drug related issues, by promoting evidence based approach which considers drug use as a public health, human rights and development agenda. It rest on the fact that existing (criminalisation and discrimination) response has failed to effectively address the drug challenge in our society. What we adopted in The Drug Salvation Foundation as best practice, we do in-house training for our personnel and clients. As part of the efforts to build capacities of staff and associates for optimum performance. All humans are born geniuses. The onus is on all of us to discover, nurture and develop it for the betterment of the society. The need therefore for training and retraining for an enhanced performance cannot be over emphasised. What drives you in pushing issues against drug abuse in Nigeria? Drug abuse in Nigeria is a major cause for concern, especially since children as young as eleven years old, are abusing drugs. That informed part of my passion to champion the cause and children are the future of tomorrow, focusing on prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle against substance abuse now became my ways of touching lives. I found The Drug Salvation Foundation served as a platform to share information and ideas about the problem of substance abuse. This included sharing ideas on how to communicate the message of zero tolerance to drug use. It also highlighted the fact that substance abuse interventions are aimed at saving lives, preserving families and building stronger communities. A number of investigations show that Nigeria is experiencing a sharp increase in young people abusing substances like drugs and alcohol. Many of the patients admitted to rehabilitation and treatment centres for substance abuse are children as young as 11 to 16 years old. Drug and alcohol abuse at a young age is often the result of peer pressure, which starts at school. In addition, during the school holidays, children are often at home alone because their parents have to work. Children, especially teenagers, get bored and start hanging around with the wrong

Ighodalo

group of people, bad influencers. They are then pressurised into trying new drugs, smoking or drinking alcohol, because they want to fit in. Once children start using substances, they often become problematic drug users. To feed their addictions they become involved in criminal activities as they try to get money

Putting it in context, we are reaching out through advocacy campaign that seeks to address the current negative perception about people with drug related issues, by promoting evidence based approach which considers drug use as a public health agenda. It rest on the fact that existing (criminalisation and discrimination) response has failed to effectively address the drug challenge in our society

to buy drugs. This can become a continuous cycle of conflict with the law. As part of our integrated approach towards promoting a drug free society, our NGO also looked at ways to target schools and the inner city youths.

knowledge on drugs. However, I still have other online diploma in substance abuse.

How many years have you championed this cause? My sojourn started as a media consultant to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA in 2004. I am a member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria(APCON), I am an advertising practitioner.

The training targeted at learning more about providing care to patients with alcohol, tobacco, and opioid substance use disorders. The course was able to do justice to appreciating the complexity of substance use disorders, diversity of care, and providing informed referrals to evidence-based support services. And also promoting recovery, safety, wellness, and harm reduction to improve patient care and support for those with substance use disorders.

You are a UNODC Master Trainer on Sensitisation on Drug and Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care and Drug Education for school children, how did that journey start for you? UNODC training is an unbelievable experience that money can’t buy. As one of my areas of interest is substance use, I have been looking for a comprehensive online course to better understand the best practices and sciences in this area. I was so excited when I heard UNODC was training NGOs working on drugs, and after vetting I was qualified to take part in UNODC training supported by European Union funding and it has been on going for the past three years. The training in addiction medicine, Substance Use, Prevention, Therapy, Intervention, drug policy, treatment, counseling and Drug Education for School Children. Sincerely, is a global evidence based research training and

What are your expectations about the present prevalence of drug abuse bedeviling the society, especially among the youths? It is fast becoming a major public health issue in Nigeria. The rate at which young people get involved in illicit drug use and OTC drugs is scary. We have identified drugs as a major factor that tears families apart, the problem of drugs has led to the breakdown of families yet the situation appears endless. The Drug Salvation Foundation is focus on what I consider the most important aspect of the war against drugs which is drug abuse prevention. We commend the NDLEA, Customs, Police for seizing drugs and prosecuting traffickers but my expectations, stopping new drug users from taking drugs is the best way to a drug-free society. The anti-drug campaign in schools and I

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COVER WILSON IGHODALO: PASSIONATE ABOUT RIDING THE SOCIETY OF DRUG ABUSE am also suggesting the use of other activities and sports as a way of positively engaging young people to shun drug abuse. Drug abuse is a local problem that must be tackled by an aggressive campaign in schools. Students must be provided with basic and factual information about the nature and effects of drugs for them to make informed decisions because of this understanding, The Drug Salvation Foundation authored a book “Student Handbook On Drug Abuse Awareness and Prevention” was launched at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs NIIA Victoria Island 2016, this is one of our strategic prevention and interventions in our collaboration with the NDLEA. We got support from some individuals and organisation, we printed and distributed to schools, we are still in need of support from the public and governments to publish and distribute to schools. We also produced a TV Commercial the cast are Celebrities, we tagged “BE SMART DON’T START” AntiDrug Abuse Awareness Campaign project, with partner Nigezie Entertainment TV Channels to produced it. How does your foundation go about rehabilitating drug addicts who are willing to reform? First and foremost, we call them problematic drug users or people who use drugs, because we have to look at them as people first who have rights and we have to treat them as human beings because “addict” is too victimising. The person must determined to be drugfree, because we cannot force any body into treatment center and scare tactics cannot solved the problem associated with drugs. Drug detox cleanses the body of toxic substances and prepares the way for a new beginning, but counseling is where the real work of rehab takes place. Although there’s no magical “cure” for substance abuse, the benefits of counseling can help them overcome the destructive habits and thoughts that brought them to rehab in the first place. Over time, they will use the coping skills that any one acquire in one-on-one sessions or group therapy to maintain their sobriety and lead a healthy, positive life. We offer services that include: Substance abuse counseling, Therapy, Detox, Individual and Group psychotherapy, and Group recovery meetings. If in the case of Medication-assisted treatment after necessary assessment, we do a referral because we are into strategic partnership with some great rehab centre. Do you empower them after rehabilitation? Yes, when the need be, but don’t forget there are also drug users in the work place who are already empowered. We trained them on life skills. There is possibilities of relapse, but how confident do they feel coping with cravings (urges)? Willpower is the opposite of addiction and is the greatest empowerment Willpower is the capacity to act on one ’s long-term goals despite short-term distractions. You have to say to yourself, I am building a life of meaning and purpose. If so, I am building up reasons why I definitely would NOT want to return to drug use, because I would miss out on what has become so meaningful to me, it may be , family, career, sports etc. Ultimately meaningful activity is my reason for living, family, and drug use becomes unthinkable. In a meaningful life I act from my values, pursuing goals important to me. I sum it up like this, managing your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and living a balanced life. People who use drugs, have been so stigmatised for so long, that’s why we still have hidden users in the offices, families, schools etc, let’s show them love, we want people to come out and seek for help as sick person, that is one of the ways we can start addressing drug use prevalent in the society, just like the way HIV AIDS was tackled. We have to address drug use as public health centred approach, to remove societal stigmatisation and discrimination against drug users. Any partnership with government and

Support, Don’t Punish is a campaign to raise awareness about the physical and psychological consequences of stigmatising people facing substance use disorders. The campaign aims to emphasise that drug addiction is not a personal choice but a public health issue that needs to be addressed as such

Ighodalo

private institutions in this ﬁght? Yes, some are on discussion table. We partner NDLEA, state governments, other agencies of government, corporate bodies, religion organisations, entertainment industry, embassies, media, NGOs and few other organisations. We partner Smart International, Sweden. It’s school intervention project on drugs and substance use prevention education. The students will be taken on the guidelines and rules of the project and they are expected to under go an intensive training on Drugs and Substance Abuse Prevention and life Skills and other related activities within 14weeks before completion and graduation. We are affiliated to some international organisations, like Europe Against Drug Abuse, World Federation Against Drug Abuse, Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, New York NGO Committee on Drugs (NYNGOC). I am the Focal Person, South West Zone Community Intervention Network on Drugs (CIND) Nigeria. CIND is a coalition of CSOs, CBOs, NGOs and FBOs working drugs in Nigeria. I also belong to the West Africa Drug Policy Network and International Society of Substance Use Professionals(ISSUP).

Free Club are passionate advocate for Drug Demand Reduction especially among young people in Nigeria. We have carried out so many programs that touched lives and some of them are doing awareness on their own. They are A-celebrities who are determined to use their public status, voice for good, and an outspoken advocate against drug abuse. As drug abuse problem simply can’t be ignored any longer in Nigeria. NDLEA has sole prerogative to withdraw membership who does not meet up the rules and regulations of the Club objectives. Some of the primary objectives of NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club included serving as role model to colleagues and youth in the society, increasing understanding of the dangers posed by drugs and substance abuse with their platform, encouraging young people to resist any form of drug use and any one with substance abuse issues to break the silence and seek for help, support /promote youth oriented activities that promote healthy lifestyle in the society, advocacy campaign and Public Orientation stigmatisation against drug users, promoting positive youth oriented programs that provide alternative activities to drug involvement.

What is the NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free and it’s advocacy against drug abuse about? Celebrity Drug Free Club, is an advocacy arm of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The prestigious club was inaugurated May 22, 2014 by NDLEA former Chairman/Chief Executive, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, the members are carefully selected public figure, vetted and approved by NDLEA leadership. I initiated the idea and I approached the leadership of NDLEA they bought into the idea, we then named it “NDLEA Celebrity Drug Free Club” and I was made the National Coordinator of the Club. I saw the importance of celebrities in the society as critical stakeholders, the power of their influence on young people because they looked up to them as role models and inspiration, we understood we cannot do this awareness alone and even the road was too lonely. Every member of NDLEA Celebrity Drug

What are the major challenges you have battled in the course of your journey in ﬁghting drug abuse? Funding and society approach to drug users. Funding from Corporate organisations and High-net-worth individuals (HNWI). We are still hoping corporate bodies and individuals should fund drug abuse awareness campaign and funds improving thecapacity of civil society organisations, so that we can properly take the awareness campaign to schools, inner cities youth, communities and parents, so that parents and communities leaders can properly educate their walls and youths who are more vulnerable to drug abuse. There are so many benefits for corporate sponsorship, but the major one is a “Cause Related Marketing” for their brand, society will see the organisation as worthy company that contribute positively to the society, sincerely, it will raise their profit. Also it is time now, organisations see drug abuse

as public health issues. Substance abuse constitutes socioeconomic and cultural threat in our society today. The time has come for corporate organisations to fund drug abuse awareness campaign, as there corporate social responsibility to the society. We can not all fold our hands and allow the society to decay. Public Health-Based Approach: The society should start seeing drug abuse problems as public health issues and it need public health centred approach. Stressing that drug abuse is not a personal choice rather a public health issue, substance abuse is a call for a public health-based approach to addressing and discussing the importance of building awareness of substance abuse as a public health problem. Public health is the science of preventing disease and injury and promoting and protecting the health of populations and communities. Punitive drug laws in Nigeria, As part of ongoing advocacy against abuse and stigimatisation, as CSOs working on drugs, we are also championing dialogue with stakeholders that brings together key state institutions in charge of the enforcement of the drug legislation, civil society activist, public health workers, human rights activist, media, lawyers and more importantly the most affected population to change the narrative about drug policy in Nigeria. What is the Support, Don’t Punish Initiative about? Support, Don’t Punish is a campaign to raise awareness about the physical and psychological consequences of stigmatising people facing substance use disorders. The campaign aims to emphasise that drug addiction is not a personal choice but a public health issue that needs to be addressed as such. Nevertheless many people with substance-related disorders experience social isolation, face stigma and discrimination. Stigma can have multiple impacts: as discrimination and stigimatisation cause more harm than one can imagine. It is just a public health approach at the interest of drug users and curbing harm from the use of drugs, also provides practical ways to end war on drugs, promoting humane rehabilitation, which rules out heavycrankdown approach on drug users. “Drug use stigma can affect people in the workplace, it can affect their social relations and mental and physical health. Stigma can result in people delaying their decision to enter treatment, and can hinder access to regular or specific healthcare. Stigma can trigger dangerous behaviours and it can further compound social disadvantages associated with substance abuse and it can trigger further use of drugs and other dangerous substance. Any last words? I am saying schools, parents and corporate organisations should be actively involved in the awareness campaign against drugs. The campaign against illicit drugs will be very effective and also get down to the grass root when stakeholders are involved. I will not relent in creating awareness until people see substance use as a disease that needs early diagnosis and treatment. I am diligent and committed to this cause. Stay off drugs “BE SMART, DON’T START”.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Black Panther Keeps the Trail Blazing VANESSA OBIOHA writes that political parties are struggling for the support of the creative industry in the upcoming elections Vanessa Obioha

ust last week, ‘Black Panther’ achieved a historic feat as the first superhero movie to be nominated in the Best Picture category of the Academy Awards. The Academy is known for its strict selection that hardly favours commercially acclaimed movies. Having a blockbuster superhero movie on that spot was welcoming and well-deserved. This week, the film scored another high point at the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards that took place on Sunday. The Ryan Coogler directed movie took home two awards: the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture. During the acceptance speech, Chadwick Boseman who played the titular character told the audience what it meant to be young, gifted and black in Hollywood which means less opportunities. “That is what we went to work with everyday not because we knew we will be around during the awards season or make a billion dollars. We knew we had something special… to be full human beings in the roles that we were playing, that we could create a world that exemplifies the world we wanted to see. We knew we had something that we wanted to give. So to go to work everyday and solve problems with these group of people (cast members and director), that is something I wish all actors would get the opportunities to experience. If you get to experience that, you will be a fulfilled artist,” Boseman said to a loud applause. Released in 2018, ‘Black Panther’ was largely celebrated for having a diverse crew and portraying an Africa that is not impoverished, rather technologically advanced as seen in its fictional setting, Wakanda. The chances of the Marvel Comics

The cast of Black Panther at SAG Awards

flick being selected in the major awards this season were slim but somehow, that permutation keeps tilting to a positive side for the superhero movie. At the Golden Globes, the movie failed to win any award after being nominated in the Best Original Song, Best Original Score and Best Picture categories. However, at the Critics Choice Awards, ‘Black Panther’ picked three awards (Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects) out of its 12 nominations.

With its win on Sunday, critics are weighing in on the chances that the blockbuster movie will clinch a Best Picture award at the Oscars. Usually, the SAG Awards is the most accurate precursor to the outcomes of the Oscars and with ‘Black Panther’ winning the top honour, there are doubts that it will replicate such at the Oscars this month. One of the reasons argued was that the director Ryan Coogler did not fetch a nod in the Best Director category. Notwithstanding, as the Oscars race kicks into full gear this month, Disney

Burna Boy Starts the Year on a Brighter Note By Iyke Bede Nigerian Breweries Plc recently unveiled afro-pop singer Damini Ogulo popularly known as Burna Boy as its firstever ambassador for its Star Lager brand. With an almost 70-year presence in the Nigerian market as an indigenous brew that has maintained a prominent status among lager beer lover, the ambassadorial endorsement is aimed at bringing the brand closer to the consumers. The brand, out of interest to support the local entertainment industry, handpicked Burna Boy to help properly project their values through connecting with the average consumer who identifies with his artistry. “Burna Boy exemplifies a lot of our values,” Corporate Affairs Director Sade Morgan said. She continues. “He has continued to be constant with his music, he gets bigger and bigger, but at the same time he has remained authentic. He is very much in touch with the common man; and for

Burna Boy is the ﬁrst ever Star Lager Ambassador

us, we aim to cut across all the strata of society and ensure that we are reaching every single consumer. Every single consumer is so important to Nigeria Breweries. For us, Burna Boy exemplifies that passion for the consumer – that authentic support for the consumer.” To mark the momentous occasion, a select number of guests and members of the press witnessed the signing of the contract at the Circa Restaurant in Lekki, Lagos. Hosted by soul singer Dare Art Alade, Burna Boy took to the blue carpet to enthral

the crowd to his Fela-esque dance moves dancing to his song ‘Gbona’. He addressed the crowd on his close ties with the brand as a touring act for Star Trek during his greenhorn days in the music industry. He further highlighted on the importance of the deal to his career and how it places him on the world’s music map. “Star is one of the most reputable brands in the country, and I am thrilled to be able to join the Star family. I often try to entertain and inspire with my music and this is

a brand value I feel I can communicate with this new association with Star. I have always been a huge fan of the brand and I believe together we can inspire Nigerians to shine on to the brighter side of life,” he said. At an earlier stage of the event, five persons were selected from the crowd. These five people were personally served a glass of Star or any of its subbrands (Star Radler or Star Lite) by Burna Boy, thus bringing consumers of the brands and its brand ambassadors closer to create a picture that mirrors the essence of the union between Nigeria Breweries, its consumers and brand ambassador. The Star Lager brand has supported local talents in the past through its music platforms like Star Trek, Star Quest and Star Mega Jam. The ambassadorial endorsement is another initiative from the brand to project confidence within the creative industry by promoting local artistry, and by extension, strengthening bonds with its consumers through the brand ambassador.

announced that it will be returning the movie to theatres. Starting today, February 1-7, fans can watch the movie for free at 250 participating AMC theaters as part of its celebration of Black History Month. According to the Associated Press, Disney would also be giving $1.5 Falz million grant to support the United Negro College Fund. It is the second time ‘Black Panther ’ has been re-released since it opened in February 2018. For a day in November, it played for free in all art house theaters in the USA.

Hilda Dokubo Advocates For Special Film Classiﬁcation for Gender-Related Movies

Hilda Dokubo and Adedayo Thomas

Vanessa Obioha Nollywood veteran actress Hilda Dokubo at a recent workshop organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in Port Harcourt clamour for a special film classification for films that reflect the good virtues of Nigeria and protect the female gender. Speaking to participants of the two-day workshop tagged ‘Media Literacy Capacity Building On Film Classification & Empowerment For Youth’ facilitated by Hon. Boma Goodhead in the Asari Toru/Akuku Toru Federal Constituency, the actress frowned at stereotype contents in Nollywood movies. She pointed out that as a way of changing the narrative, producers must desist from

stories that portray the police as bribe collectors, soldier as civilian beaters, the girlchild doing the home chores while the boy-child plays football, as well as movies that portray career woman as endangering their home and marriage, while the full-time housewife is seen as the ideal women. While presenting her paper on Film Classification, Dokubo enumerated some of the categories of classification, calling for the need to adhere strictly to the rules. “If there is a breach of classification rule, there is a problem. The problem is however not for the filmmaker but for the person that allowed the breach, because classification plays the role of informing, plays the role of healing and places responsibility on everyone, including the producer and adults.”

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

E-TRENDS

How Danny Young Made YouTube Delete Tiwa Savage’s “One” Video

Mixed Feelings for Omotola over Non Inclusion of African Movies in 2019 Oscars

Sunday Ehigiator In November 2018, singer Ajibola Danladi, a.k.a. Danny Young, called out Tiwa Savage for allegedly lifting vital parts of his song ‘Oju Ti Ti Won’ and used it in her single; ‘One’ which was released towards the tail end of 2018.As it were, the case became controversial as music enthusiasts on social media dragged Danny Young for claiming that the lyrics ‘Ododun la ro rorogbo, ododun la ra osa, odd dun la ro awusa’ were his, when in fact the were words from a common Yoruba proverb. Danny Young insisted

Tiwa Vs Danny Young

the lyrics were his since he added a few more words and rhythm to the adage, and that he was ready to file a copyright case against Tiwa Savage. Few days ago, it was discovered that the song had been removed from Tiwa

Savage’s YouTube page. The message displayed read thus: “Tiwa Savage ‘One’ is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party”, leading fans to believe Danny Young had made good his threat.

Adesua Clears Air on BankyWAllegedly Receiving N57m from Buhari

Omotola-Jalade-Ekeinde

Sunday Ehigiator It was mixed feelings for Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, a voting member of the Oscars, over the noninclusion of any African movie in the 2019 Oscars nomination list. Omotola, who was enlisted into the voting

membership of the Oscar Awards in 2018, made the disclosure in an Instagram post where she conveyed her thoughts on the nominated movies. Although, she expressed her happiness on the fact that a great deal of the movies she voted were picked, the actor was more concerned

that no African movie made it to the list. According to Omotola, “the Nominations are out! So glad most of the movies I nominated made it. “Next, voting to determine the winners! I wasn’t so excited. No African movie made it. Someday soon we will be doing this for Africans”

Linda Ikeji Narrates How Her Family was Embarrassed over N70 Sunday Ehigiator

Banky W and Adesua

Sunday Ehigiator Wife of popular singercum-politician, Bankole Wellington, otherwise known as Banky W, Adesua Etomi, has reacted to the report that her husband allegedly collected the sum of N57million from the Muhammdu Buhari’s campaign team. Last weekend, a woman identified as Miriam Shehu, who made the allegation

on Twitter, also claimed the singer didn’t execute the project. Banky W while reacting on Twitter described the allegations as false and threatened to sue the woman. Adesua, who was also accused alongside her husband, has also come out to deny the allegation. In a series of tweets, Adesua explained why she and Banky W were in Abuja last December. In her reactions, Adesua

revealed that, they were in Abuja in December for an event with EU and did no such contract as claimed by Shehu Miriam. According to her, “My husband has never collected a dime to support Buhari. There is nothing to substantiate what you have written and I’m racking my brain about why you would write this. I’m saddened too. More because it is a huge lie but life has taught me that time reveals all things”.

Davido Sells Out O2 Arena in London Sunday Ehigiator DMW boss, David Adeleke, a.k.a. Davido, has joined the league of artists that has sold out the 20,000 seater-capacity of the O2 Arena in London, just a day to his highly publicised concert. The highly excited FIA singer, who recorded his first major milestone of 2019, shared the news on Instagram. In the comment section, he mentioned that it

would be hard for his haters to swallow this one. According to Davido “I am screaming! It’s going to be a long day for haters tomorrow. Thanks to all that made this possible . The boy called David sold out the O2. @theo2london. See everyone tomorrow”. He went further to share pictorial evidence that he had sold out The O2. After the show, which was successful, he was seen shedding tears of joy.

Davido sells out 02 Arena

Popular Blogger, Linda Ikeji, has challenged the hustling spirit of youths to come to life while narrating how her parents were once embarrassed because of N70. Noting that the incident triggered her hustling spirit, the single mother of one said: “I was 16. I was standing there watching the insult being hurled and a little assault over N70. I saw the sadness and embarrassment. As

they saw I was witnessing it, they told me to leave but I refused and stood there and watched. “After it was over, I told myself as I walked home in tears; in this life, except there’s no God, nobody will ever insult them again over money. I don’t care how long it will take, but I will fight poverty with everything in me. The following year at 17 after I finished secondary school, I started my hustle. “This smile is gratitude for how far I’ve come. For

all the dreams that came through. For all the things I am grateful for and for all the amazing things that’s about to happen (which will be announced soon). “This smile is to encourage you not to give up on yourself no matter how hard it gets and to encourage you to fight poverty with everything you are. “The view from where I am standing is amazing and I’d like for you to experience it. May your legit hustle pay off and soon. Amen!”

DJ Kaywise Shines at Joor Concert Vanessa Obioha DJ Kaywise gave a memorable experience to music fans and consumers of premium beer Star Lager recently at his anticipated Joor concert. The event which held at Abesan Mini Stadium, Abesan Estate, Ipaja saw attendees treated to nonstop entertainment from top notch musicians, dancers and comedians. Mr Real, Slimcase, Small Doctor, brought their street flavour on stage while the sensational Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Mayorkun and others left the crowd asking for more as they rolled out popular hits to the enthusiastic crowd. Their electrifying performances thrilled the audience who went on an unending

DJ Kaywise

sing-along of their favourite songs and at a point, took to the stage to display some dance moves. Kaywise further heightened the frenzy with his wild mixes. Since December, Star Lager has been on an exciting musical journey,

bringing undiluted entertainment to music fans across the nation through its partnerships. From One Lagos Fiesta, Wizkid VIP Experience, Olamide Live In Concert, Burna Boy Live, Warri Again to Uli Music Festival.

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

NEWS

Sanwo-Olu to Build Lagos on Five Pillars Stories by Mary Nnah In an envisioned plan to take Lagos to greater heights, the governorship aspirant for All Progressives Congress (APC), Babajide Sanwolu recently unveiled his development strategy, which he said is based on five pillars. The five pillars comprise of Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21stCentury Economy and Entertainment and Tourism, which makes up the acronym, T.H.E.M.E. Speaking during the launch of the five pillars for greater Lagos at an event tagged, “The Unveiling: Vision for a Greater Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State, as the commercial heartbeat of the nation contributing over 30 per cent of Nigeria‘s GDP and 65 per cent of her manufacturing activity, is the land of opportunity for Nigerians driven by the sheer size of its business community. “Having been an integral part of the policy thrust and programmes spanning all the previous governments of Lagos State to date, combined with a significant private sector experience, I can promise that under my leadership,

Lagos will be truly ready for business”, he noted further. The governorship aspirant, who went further to expatiate on what the Five Pillars for a Greater Lagos entailed, said that an efficient transportation system was of vital importance for the development of Lagos. He said therefore that there was a need to properly regulate and optimise the efficiency of the transport system to constantly meet the needs of the nation’s growing population. “To address this, the policy thrust of our administration will be to prioritise the attainment of a reliable multimodal transportation system with the following objectives, which include reduce delays, reduce travel-related stress and improve journey time reliability, particularly for business travel and the movement of goods, by improving access to and within activity centres. “Improve safety whilst enabling all sectors of society to travel to the destinations they need to reach. Give priority to those means of travel that are less damaging to our natural and built sustainable environment”, he noted. He said his team is determined to integrate road, rail and water transportations in

Lagos while ensuring that all bad roads are fixed and road infrastructure is generally expanded. Traffic management, he said, is of high priority hence his robust plan in relieving Lagosian of traffic woes by getting trailers off Lagos bridges and ensuring that Lagosians stopped wasting their precious time in traffic. The healthcare system, he said would be anchored on a comprehensive health insurance scheme that would be easily accessible and affordable to all Lagosians while on education and technology, he added that his strategy would be on increase access to public education in Lagos State, especially in primary and secondary schools levels. On Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is projected to be the third largest in Africa, noting, “we see the private sector and the growth engineer of this economy. He said therefore that his team is dedicated to boosting the private sector by providing an enabling environment where businesses would effectively thrive. Lagos is certainly the African’s centre of entertainments and the melting point of cultures, hence for Entertainment

Sanwo-Olu

& Tourism, the Sanwo-Olu leadership is committed to creating a viable and vibrant through entertainment and tourism by developing all the

Distributors, Others Get Darling Rewards Darling Nigeria, leading manufacturers of hair extensions, recently rewarded several distributors and other stakeholders as part of its loyalty sales scheme at the Darling distributors reward event held recently in Owerri, Imo State. Recognising their hardwork over the past year, three lucky winners, Rainbow Hair Onitsha, Sunny Peace Hair Onitsha and Amcally Global Link Aba were awarded brand new JAC SUV’S while other distributors received fridges, generators, solar inverters, washing machines, air conditioners and televisions. The reward was as a result a three-month loyalty sales scheme that ran from September through November 2018; winners were selected based on an average three months individual sales target. A representative of Rainbow Hair Onitsha expressed his excitement saying, “Working with Darling Nigeria has been a great experience for me, they always find a way to encourage us, I am glad I was to be part of the winners of the SUV and I feel very motivated to continue to meet and surpass

L-R:: Chukwuemeka Okeke (Head of Sales, Godrej Nigeria) and a representative of Amcally Global Link Aba at the Darling Distributors December reward

our sales target every month.” Marketing Manager, Godrej Nigeria, Ayodele Ojuntirin said: “At Darling, we pride ourselves in creating an enabling atmosphere for our team and partners, which includes incentivizing them

to achieve their targets. We believe we have the best team working for us and it is important they feel valued” Darling is a product of Lorna Nigeria which after partnering Godrej Nigeria in 2011, re-launched in the

Nigerian market August, 2018. Darling has revamped with new innovations, better product texture and richer colors and is known to stand for beauty and transformation of the African woman through quality hair extensions.

tourism access and potentials in Lagos State as well as invest in grassroots sports development with plans to showcase potentials at the national and

Behold Sade Morgan, New Face of Nigerian Breweries Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced the recent appointment of Mrs. Sade Morgan as its Corporate Affairs Director and member of the Nigerian Breweries Executive Committee (EXCO). She is to report in this capacity to the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel. In her role as Corporate Affairs Director, Morgan will strengthen the company’s non-crisis stakeholder relations and drive a strategy led relationship with government, regulatory organisations, host communities, the media and non-governmental organisations to reinforce the company’s philosophy of winning with Nigeria. Morgan started her career in 1993 in legal practice and subsequently worked across several industries and markets in Africa, Middle East, the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe. Joining British American Tobacco (BAT) in 2003, she worked over a period of 11 years in various management roles and jurisdictions with the multinational organisation. She was seconded to BAT Middle East and North Africa in 2006 sharing EXCO responsibil-

Okunoren Unveils its New Linen Collection

The Okunoren brand has infused hints of old-world charm into essential pieces created for the discerning modern man into its new linen collection. The collection is composed of transitional pieces which are all crafted in linen, a cloth known to add a fresh and relaxed twist to formal tailoring. This cloth is worn predominantly in tropical climes; from Sao Paolo to Lagos, Havana to Miami; where the average temperature is 28-30 degrees centigrade. “While maintaining our signature sartorial elegance, we have created a collection

that celebrates the distinctive nature of Lagos, it invokes our nostalgic yearnings for simpler times, sandy beaches, calm lazy waves and carefree days,” said Creative Director, Taiwo Okunoren. A nod to the uniquely Nigerian inspiration of the brand, Okunoren repurposes traditional Yoruba instruments as exciting accents to the collection— on brown linen shirts, cowries feature as buttons fused with Sanyan aso- oke trimmings; Opele beads gleam off-white shirts, big patch pockets feature on oversized long-sleeved shirts paired with the military patch pockets on

vibrant blue trousers. Nestled within the collection are iconic Okunoren pieces, which have been reissued in this collection. “We have reintroduced our signature raffia drawstrings on the trousers and shorts, also the bishop-collars are back,” said Jackie Nwadison, Okunoren’s Head of Footwear. “These pieces are beautifully complimented with our footwear collection which includes the Malo sandals, Rabat half-shoes, the bestselling Ilase thong slippers and brown Egungun slippers,” she added. “The relaxed nature of the collection is a nice juxtaposi-

tion with the bustle of our vibrant city and we are pleased to be able to offer a body of work that captures the essence of Lagos and showcases it to the world,” said Okunoren. The Linen Collection is impressively versatile and can be worn on a number of occasions all year round. The design house has utilized its usual hand-sewn, bespoke techniques on these items in line with the extraordinary standard of craftsmanship inherent with the brand. Each piece is made solely by hand in Ota, Ogun State and the linens are sourced mainly from Italy and India.

international stages, all these in a bid to create a 21st century Lagos accessible to all, driven by a thriving economy and powered by technology.

Sade Morgan

ity for the strategic management of the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) business unit. In 2008 she was appointed Legal Director to the BAT Nigeria leadership team in which capacity she drove the regulatory and legal risk management agenda for the business unit’s 26 West Africa area markets. Following her diverse operating company experiences, Morgan was assigned in 2013 to the BAT company headquarters in the United Kingdom with Regulatory and Marketing counselling and engagement oversight of the BAT group’s 86 Eastern Europe, Middle East & African (EEMEA) Region country markets. She moved in 2014 to the Nigerian Bottling Company, a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company group where she held the role of Public Affairs and Communications Director and successfully drove a broad stakeholder management, business sustainability and CSR agenda. Morgan is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, a Prince II certified project manager with a certificate in executive management from the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland.

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Conversations with Dr. Bukar Usman Two visiting Chinese Ph.D Research Students from the Institute of African Studies, Zhenjiang Normal University in Jinhua, China namely Mr. Chen Jialei and Ms. Wang Yubo recently engaged the scholar and famed folklorist, Dr. Bukar Usman in a lengthy conversation on traditional culture and education. Here are some excerpts:

now is to see that some of these tales we collected are utilised to produce cartoons and animations instead of tales of foreign countries.

e have read your book on folklore and history, ‘Folklore and History’ (Usman, 2013). There are some folktale books you wrote in Hausa, but we don’t understand Hausa. It is true. I started writing or taking interest in folklore or folktales around 2006. I am presently the President, Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS). I held this post about four years ago. I am still its current President. NFS was established since 1980. When I started to collect tales, I wrote about 14 books in Hausa. Then I wrote some in English. But now, I have collected over 3,000 tales from all over Nigeria, and they would be published maybe by the end of this year. How did you collect the folktales and how did you choose which one to write? I sent people to the countryside. I gave them guidelines. Some were professors in the university. They sent their students to collect some of these tales. Some, like my staff, I commissioned them to go and organise the collection of tales. Some submitted about 50 while some submitted 100 tales; they wrote them down whether in Hausa or in another language like Fulfulde which is Fulani or Tera, then they translated them into English. But the 3,000 which we collected will be published in two volumes because of the quantity, almost over 1,000 pages per volume. These folk stories such as in Hausa land, do the different parts of Hausa land have different folk stories or the stories are the same? It is not necessarily the same but you can find some which are the same

How can folklore be put into modern education system nowadays? But our problem is to get the orthography, like your own is Mandarin, so that everybody can read. Nigeria has more than 250 languages, so how to get tales written in those languages for people to read is our problem. The only thing we can do is maybe to write in English, yes is for everybody. Hausa is also widely read. But if you want to translate it in a smaller language, you must have the orthography and is not available now, and even if it is available, you cannot get it on computer to type.

L-R: Dr Bukar Usman, Ms. Wang Yubo and Mr. Chen Jialei

in different languages but the meanings are the same. Among the Hausa, you will find that if they talk about hyena, they know that it is strong but foolish; if they talk about tortoise, they know that it is small but brainy. How do you see the role of folk stories in traditional education? That is the one we know to be the first school of a child before Western education came. We had no light, we

had moonlight. When our parents came back from the farm in the evening, there was nothing else but storytelling. That was the time for lessons for children. But these days, I will go to work by 7 o’clock, I will not come back till 9pm, by that time children have already slept. That is why we are producing these books so that people who cannot have the time to talk to their children, the children will read the tales in books. Our challenge

City Chronicles Opens at AAF

Does Nigeria have some laws to protect folklore? I am not sure about the law. But organisations like ours, that is the Nigerian Folklore Society are the ones trying to promote the tales. They collect them before they are forgotten.

LASG,SNAUniteforaWeekExhibition Yinka Olatunbosun

The Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture in partnership with the Lagos Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) will later today declare open a week exhibition titled, “Bridging the Cultural Divide.’’ Set to hold at the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture Hall, along Awolowo Way, Ikeja, this exhibition is set to be a celebration of works of revered artists such as Bruce Onabrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo, Abayomi Barber amongst others. The show provides a platform to promote emerging artists whose contemporary statements in art generate new thinking. It is also a clear indicator of the

Yinka Olatunbosun Nestled in the serene side of Victoria Island, the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) has thrown its doors open to welcome art lovers to its first exhibition of the year, titled, “City Chronicles,” which is a photography and video exhibition executed by two emerging artists, Kadara Enyeasi and Logor Oluwamuyiwa. Whether in still or motion pictures, the images at the joint exhibition reveal the vignettes of daily life in varying temperaments. As each artist invites the viewer to take a deep breath and soak in every image and cinematic textured video, the city’s unnoticed vestiges are painstakingly documented. Arriving at the AAF building, it was easy to recognize Logor’s artistic works especially his signature monochrome series in miniatures. Logor’s images capture some salient cultural aspects of city life such as urbanisation. The details dictate the volume of the message embedded in each work as they raise socio-economic issues from the trifling to the substantial: empty billboard, old dilapidated building amidst modern structures-skyscrapers; relics of iconic buildings; a passerby reading a newspaper by

We know Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups and each group has its own folk stories. How could the folk stories be turned into nation building? If we exchange, like what we have done now, is to collect tales, not only from the North-west, from North-east, South-south, South-east, Northcentral but also from South-west, these will be put together. People will read and know the stories of other people. At the end of it, all of them are trying to convey the same message to the children.

One of the images at City Chronicles Exhibition

the roadside and the back view of a young man’s head. At the top floor of the building, Logor’s larger works come to the view of every visitor. One of the attention-grabbing works is a close-up shot at two hands of a man placed atop each other with smoke wafting from a lit cigarette between two fingers. Another picture shows a beach with poles enmeshed in the white sandy soil. Of course, many Lagosians who were in Nigeria during the military rule

will likely remember that the beach was the slaughter slab for criminals. To catch up on contemporary narrative, Logor shoots the image of commuters in Lagos inside popular mass transit, BRT in traffic. Then a picture showing two tyres, that symbolise the agony of a Lagos driver in securing a parking space in the metropolis, bear the untold story of broad-day light extortion in the city. Kadara’s video artworks have

the luxury of a secluded viewing area, two large projector screens as well as two portable monochrome television sets. Made from hundreds of footages, the video art takes the viewer on a sheer voyeurism with focus on the animated human life in busy city centres. Kadara is a multi-disciplinary artist who studied architecture prior to his sojourn into the arts. His images show the relation between the body and the urban environment.

One of the works of Bruce Onobrapeya

Lagos State government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for established and fresh creative minds to attract patronage from collectors and other art investors. In a statement issued by the Chief Public Affairs Officer, Ganiu Lawal, the exhibition is “expected to encourage the growth of micro and small-scale enterprises across the tourism, arts and culture value chain.’’ This show runs till February 8.

IREPDocumentaryFilmFestivalSetforMarch… Yinka Olatunbosun

From March 21 till 29, the annual documentary film feast will be served at the cultural hub, Freedom Park, Lagos and the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ikoyi as movie buffs binge on movies made to enlighten and inform. With the theme, “Storylines’’, this edition hinges of the ability to construct and

reconstruct stories. No doubt, the interference of social media has changed the dynamics of storytelling tradition, posing a serious challenge to the traditional story form. Alongside deep conversations, IREP film festival will rouse discourse on how people have attempted to tell their stories without compromising the truth.

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

with LEKAN FATODU

Overscenes

lekantodu@yahoo.com 08060140882

Between Czech Government and its Nigerian Migrants

pparently burdened by rising and straining immigration, the government of Czech Republic, a country in Central Europe, has offered €4,000 to migrants of different nationalities in the country, including Nigerians, to help their voluntary return to their respective countries. The monetary incentive is to enable them comfortably settle upon their return home. It is often said that there is no country in the world where Nigerians cannot be found. Someone even once dropped a wisecrack that there were Nigerians who were looking for places to live amidst the ravaging war in Syria even while Syrians were desperately looking for how to escape from their country. Even though that couldn’t entirely be validated, such was a valid illustration of the desperation most Nigerians put up in their search for the proverbial greener pastures. Consistently, stories are out there on the troubles faced by Nigerians who attempted to escape difficulties in their country but later ended in circumstances far worse than what they were running from in Nigeria. Just last year, details of the unfortunate situation of migrants in Libya dominated major discussions across the world with global news channels like CNN and Aljazeera churning out compelling narratives to bring the disturbing development to the

attention of the world for a speedy solution. Featured in the Libya migrant saga were Nigerian young women who were forced into slavery and prostitution. There were also accounts of men making a living through some of the most horrible jobs for survival. The narration also included the stories of those who perished in the Mediterranean in their attempt to cross the sea from Libya to Italy and the victims included mothers and babies. Expectedly, it was the heavy spotlight beamed on the disturbing issue by influential figures around the world and the global news media that triggered the

response of the Nigerian government that swiftly set up an evacuation process which made it possible for many young Nigerians to be saved from the jaws of death in Libya. In the process over 10,500 Nigerians were reportedly evacuated from Syria, 3, 500 rescued by the Nigerian government and 7,000 saved by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This is why the IOM, the global organisation reputable for its proactive measures in dealing with immigration challenges and saving troubled immigrants across the world, made greater effort than Nigeria

in the evacuation of Nigerians who were trapped in Libya . Apart from the tested interventions by the IOM in ensuring that many irregular migrants, mostly of Africa descent, don’t fall into devastating predicament, the organisation, just like the current plan of the Czech government, has incentives that cover safe return of migrants and smooth re-settlement in their home country. And this has proven to be effective given the testimonies by many of the returnees from Libya. Presently, with the strains being put by migrants from Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam on the social services being provided by the Czech government for its citizens, the government has launched an appeal to the migrants in the country, regardless of their immigration status which includes legal and irregular immigrants and asylum seekers, to come forward for the monetary incentive towards voluntary return to their country of origin. Usually, potential immigration crisis begins when this kind of gentle and considerate gesture is disregarded. It then moves to agitation by the citizens, and from that point to organised hostility and violent xenophobia. Hence, it is advisable that, at the early stage of this proposition by the Czech government for its migrant population, the Nigerian government, through its mission in the country, develop a scheme that will effectively address the situations of Nigerians in Czech so as to avoid a situation similar to that of Libya.

Of President Buhari’s Enugu Visit And Gov. Ugwuanyi’s Airport Reception Dr. Mathias Ugwuadah

t is another election year in Nigeria. Expectedly, politicians, including heavyweight, paperweight and their followers are grandstanding and pontificating, claiming what they are and what they are not. This is even when it is known that many of them are of little value or strong political base. This is just in a bid to remain relevant and position themselves for lucre of pre and post 2019 elections. So, in this case, they always try to politicise everything or situation to their own advantage. This is what has been playing out in Enugu State since the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Enugu and Anambra states for commissioning of Zik’s Mausoleum and 2019 campaign,where he was received at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu by Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in line with the government’s established protocol. Since then, some remnants of the APC faction in the state loyal to a former PDP senator and embattled factional guber candidate, have been alleging that Gov. Ugwuanyi, by receiving President Buhari at the airport, has shown that he is in support and working for the President’s reelection. They even alleged that the governor is doing this because he is afraid of losing his reelection to the factionalised APC in the state. What a hypocritical, gullible and puerile conclusion by these uninformed APC foot soldiers without foot or common knowledge of how governments operate. It is known that the established protocol in government demands that the governor of the state receives President of the country, whenever the latter visits the former’s state. This is irrespective of political party affiliations. The governor can delegate such responsibility if it is not convenient for him. But in most cases, the governor is always handy to carry out the task as it amounts to according tremendous respect to the office of the President and its occupant. This was exactly what Gov. Ugwuanyi did as incumbent governor of the state during President Buhari’s visit. That does not in any way mean that Gov. Ugwuanyi has abandoned his party’s presidential candidate to be supporting Buhari’s reelection as being insinuated by mischief makers and blackmailers, who are mere undertakers in a faction of APC in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari (right) with Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) and the bouquet bearer, Princess Daluchukwu Nnaji, during the airport reception for the president by the state government, when he visited the state for his presidential campaign recently

This, their display of ignorance is in line with the actions and inactions of their principal and factional APC guber candidate in the state, whenever the President or his Vice visits the state. So, no one is surprised with their unfounded allegation against Gov. Ugwuanyi in this direction, especially when their principal, former PDP senator and factional APC guber candidate with all his exposure cannot respectfully observe the established protocols whenever the President or his Vice visits Enugu for functions. So, theirs is a case of birds of the same feather that always flock together. But they forgot that is not Gov. Ugwuanyi’s style and nature of leadership. Even before getting into public office, Gov. Ugwuanyi was known for his maturity, patience, humility, hardwork and respect for all irrespective of status, religion or tribe. It is not a thing of yesterday or today. Itis not pretension. It is in Gov Ugwuanyi from birth. And he has not changed even as a governor. These outstanding and rare attributes have remained his greatest weapons in public office.Since, he assumed office in 2015 as governor of Enugu State, Gov. Ugwuanyi has shown tremendous respect for the office

of the President and its occupant, the way he has done to other public office holders and individuals, not minding difference in their political leanings. Nobody has ever heard or read him attacking or fighting the office of the President or its occupant, no matter the situation or circumstance. Ugwuanyi is not loquacious or controversial. He is taciturn, but his is not that of weakness. Governor Ugwuanyi is a loyal PDP member and has shown absolute faith and confidence in the PDP, being the party that brought him to political limelight. The PDP presidential campaign rally is taking place in the state today with Gov. Ugwuanyi as chief host. He does not need to desert or abandon his party and work for Buhari’s reelectionfor him to win his second term as being peddled by some mischief makers. Having performed well in office, Ugwuanyi has since won the hearts of majority voters in the state. Saying that Ugwuanyi is the most popular governor in the country today is not an exaggeration, putting all the indices, parameters and circumstances into considerations. In Enugu State today, it is as if Gov. Ugwuanyi will not be contesting the election with anybody,

because the opposition candidates, including a former PDP senator and APC factional candidate from his senatorial zone cannot withstand Gov. Ugwuanyi’s popularity and acceptance in the state. As a man of absolute peace, Gov. Ugwuanyi has always opted for jaw-jaw, instead of war-war. Even as the campaigns for the 2019 elections reached its peak in the state, it is on record that neither Gov. Ugwuanyi nor his aides and supporters have attacked or are attacking political opponents. They have concentrated their campaigns on issues, verifiable and remarkable achievements of Ugwuanyi’s administration. The governor’s political opponents, who are without strong political presence or achievements to showcase, appeared to have ran out of campaign ideas as they have nothing to campaign for or campaign with against Ugwuanyi’s government, other than to beraising petty and unfounded allegation against the governor in the name of bitter and envious politics. It is not out of place that their latest antics of trying to pitch Gov. Ugwuanyi and the stategovernment against the Presidency ahead of the elections is to see if they can disrupt the enduring peace in the state and make political gains out of it. It is clear that these people are real enemies of the state, who are desperate for power without being ready to subject themselves to the rigours of free and fair elections. These are the same people, who will not spare Gov. Ugwuanyi had it been he failed to receive President Buhari at the airport during his visit to the state. Why didn’t they criticized or condemned Gov. Ugwuanyi for graciously and quickly approved the use of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu for the APC presidential campaign rally? This is unlike in some other states, where the issue of campaign venue has pitched the governors against the Presidency and APC national leadership. It is of utmost importance to remind these overnight converts in the APC faction in Enugu, who are behind this latest allegation against Gov. Ugwuanyi that they lack morals to pontificate on party loyalty, having hijacked APC from its foundation members close to the party primaries. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

F R I DAY ˾ FEBRUARY 1, 2019

XTRA

Youth Group Set to Proﬀer Election Tips As the elections draws closer, the desire to ensure a peaceful, free and fair election where the citizens would exercise their franchise by voting in capable and intellectually proven representatives that would propel the socioeconomic wheel of Lagos State to promising heights has been top on the mind of the Youth Organising Secretary, Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) and Convener of a socio-political group ‘Our Lagos, Your Lagos, Idris Aregbe. Therefore the Office of the Youth Organising Secretary is not relenting in its efforts in sensitising the youths to take a leap now and take the lead tomorrow, so as to promote youth empowerment and political participation. In order to reach the nook and crannies of the state, the office has over the last few months embarked on series of activities to ensure that the youths are educated and empowered to express their rights and also to take the right initiatives in all their dealings. Right now, the youth group is set to hold a programme on “Election Tips”, a massive event coming up on February 7 in Lagos. The admission-free event tagged,” Election Tips: Mobilising and Educating Youths To Achieve Peaceful Election,” holds on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at APC Secretariat, plot 11, Acme

Youth Organising Secretary, Lagos APC, Idris Aregbe

road, Ogba, Industrial Estate, Ikeja, Lagos at 10 a.m. prompt. The programme would feature party stalwarts, party faithful, youth ambassadors, A-list actors, actresses, artistes, comedians, youth

influencers and other important personalities – all of whom would be on ground to impart positively on the youths ahead of the general elections. Speaking on the forthcom-

ing event Aregbe said: “We are very close to elections right now, which is scheduled for February 16 and March 2, so we are trying to do a lot of reach outs telling the people that they need to be part of the

process. “So we would be educating them on elections principles and for them to shun violence and also on the need for our party to win the elections. “It is an election year and we know that we need to do a lot to mobilise our people and educate them for a peaceful election and that is what my office has been doing to ensure that the youth are carried along and to bring them together for progress.” Aregbe who said the February 7 event is designed to be the last phase of election campaign, noted, “Basically we are going to addresses the issue of election and not just campaign. “We are addressing some vital issues, so it is an event that is going to have a lot of stakeholders discussing the elections. “So it specifically designed for the elections – how to vote, what and what to do, expectations as a young person on the Election Day and the principle of the elections, because we know that every election year, whether we like it or not, INEC comes up with additional structures. Like now we are going to be voting with index finger and so we would push out such message to our people.” He therefore urged all and sundry to keep the belief of an effective electoral system alive by coming out en-masse to exercise their franchise in order to hold in high-hopes the dreams of a better Nigeria.

For Better, Not Worse: Access/Diamond Merger Last year, the Boards of Access Bank Plc. and Diamond Bank Plc. announced that they had received a notice of “No Objection” regarding a potential merger from Nigeria’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria (“CBN”) and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) - a merger which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019. From all indications, it appears that the merger deal will be ratified sooner than later. However, there has been a bit of misconception in several quarters over the details of the proposed merger – especially regarding if this was an outright acquisition by Access Bank. While the terms ‘merger ’ and ‘acquisition’ are used in reference to the joining of two companies, these terms can be misunderstood. It is important to note that the key differences in the definitions are noted in order to avoid confusion in understanding the terms of the banks’ merger. In an Acquisition, which is also sometimes referred to as a ‘takeover ’, the smaller company is often consumed and ceases to exist with its assets becoming part of the larger company. On the other hand, a Merger occurs when two separate entities combine forces to create an expanded entity with the aim to reach more customers, gain market share, and create shareholder value. Once the transaction is completed, with Access Bank

and Diamond Bank obtaining shareholder and regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal High Court and the National Pension Commission, the merger will form a leading Tier 1 Nigerian bank and the largest bank in Africa by number of customers, spanning three continents, 12 countries and 31 million clients. It brings together treasury, risk management and corporate banking expertise with strong retail and digital banking capabilities to create a financial institution operating across the full suite of products for all customer segments, especially with Diamond Bank’s leadership in digital and mobile-led retail banking that could accelerate Access Bank’s strategy as a significant corporate and retail bank in Nigeria and a Pan-African financial services champion. Access Bank’s value chain approach, which incorporates trade finance, treasury and corporate finance, including its massive credit assessment and risk management capabilities could generate significant new growth opportunities for Diamond Bank’s existing 17 million customers. In 2018, Access Bank unveiled a five-year strategy to accelerate growth, position Access Bank as the number one Nigerian bank by 2022 and create a universal pay-

ments gateway to dominate international trade and interAfrican payments. The plan is built on six strategic levers, which are digitally-led, retail banking growth and consolidation in wholesale markets, customer-focused, analyticsdriven, with robust risk management, strong global collaboration in key gateway markets, and the creation of a universal payments gateway. To implement this, Access Bank indicated its intention to adopt a new organisational structure with the retail bank having a customer segment focus, driven by digital and payments. If the new brand successfully builds on Diamond Bank’s leadership in retail and digital bank, then the five-year plan will be achieved in no time, with customers, staff and investors enjoying the value from being a part of the leading bank with excellent service and products in one of Africa’s largest markets. Both banks have a clear focus on innovation, financial inclusion and sustainable banking and the combination of Access Bank’s broad offering, with its historic strengths in corporate banking, and Diamond Bank’s clear leadership in retail and digital banking would create a significant player. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement and announcement of headline terms, which valued Diamond Bank at approximately NGN72.5 billion (~$200m)

and will see Diamond Bank shareholders receive NGN3.13 per share in cash and shares. Cost synergies conservatively estimated at NGN30 billion per annum, pre-tax, to be fully realised within three years’ post-completion. Speaking on the proposed merger, Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank, said: “The combination of our two businesses will create the largest retail bank in Africa by customer base and a very significant player in the Nigerian market. This is a huge step towards the delivery of our goal to bring the power of banking to millions of people across Nigeria and an exciting transaction for Access Bank and Diamond Bank’s customers, staff and shareholders.” He explained that the merger would create significant potential for sustainable long-term growth which stands to benefit customers, employees, and shareholders alike. “The overall outcome will be a stable institution with an extremely strong capital adequacy ratio of more than 20% following completion of the merger, which will be a leading competitor in all the markets in which it operates,” he added. Uzoma Dozie, CEO of Diamond Bank, said: “The merger is positive for all of Diamond Bank stakeholders, including customers, employees and shareholders. In particular, customers will benefit significantly through the unrivalled

combination of the best of Diamond Bank’s retail and digital leadership with the size of Access Bank’s balance sheet, corporate names and geographical reach. “In reaching this decision, the shared passion for leveraging Nigeria’s youthful and entrepreneurial talent, and a commitment to better outcomes through financial inclusion have convinced us that this is the right combination.” Diamond Bank currently has 19 million customers, including 10 million mobile users. The combined operation will have relationships with both MTN and Airtel, ensuring that customers of the merged bank will continue to access a strong mobile banking proposition. Access Bank and Diamond Bank also operate from the same technology platform, which the Boards believe will enable them to complete the integration with minimal disruption or impact on customers, in addition to generating significant synergies. With the successful absorption of six institutions in the past 15 years, Access Bank has a strong track record in Nigerian banking and demonstrated its integration capabilities. The combined bank, which will retain the Access Bank name, will be led by Access Bank’s current CEO, Herbert Wigwe, even though all Diamond Bank’s products will remain unchanged retaining their names, the brand

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

POTPOURRI

CentenaryCitytoEmpowerNigerianYouths Stories by Ayodeji Ake As part of it centenary celebration, the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria, has unveiled the Centenary City, which it said would empower Nigerian youths, rehabilitate the depressed and drug addicts, as well as serve as a vocation centre. At the unveiling of the Centenary Logo and City, which was recently held in Lagos, the Diocesan, Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye, noted the centenary city is part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of giving back to the society. He said: “The centenary city is our own way of giving back to the society. We are taking the gospel beyond the four walls of the church, we are doing something that I call beyond the gospel by having this centenary city. “Inside the centenary city, we will have entrepreneurship center for the teeming youths that are roaming around without job, we want to use that opportunity to empower them. It’s just like having a vocational centre for them. “We also are going to have a rehabilitation center for the depressed, the drug addicts and to have personalised counselling for those who need it. “It’s not just for them to come to church, we want to go outside and bring those people that are dejected, we want to go to prisons, people that have served their sentences in the prisons, we want to find a way of rehabilitating them back to the society.” Speaking on the logo, Olumakaiye said it was to

Sanwo-Olu

Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye

kickstart the line-up activities for the 100 years celebration. “You know that our fame is stronger, deeper and higher and God has been so faithful to this Diocese for over 100years. “He has been our helper,

He has been our strength. He has been everything to us, so we are kickstarting the activities, lining up for celebration of 100years of the existence of this Diocese and also the unveiling the centenary city, which the whole world have

heard about,” he added. According him, line-up activities of the celebration includes; rally around the city of Lagos, cultural day, lecture, and digging deep into the scripture throughout the lenty period of 40days.

Group Feeds 1000 Children in Rural Community

Stephen Akintayo Consulting crew at the feeding exercise in Lagos community

Demonstrating love for the poor and needy, Stephen Akintayo Consulting (STC), recently stormed Ajeromi Local Government, Ajegunle, Lagos, where over a thousand children were fed. Founder STC, Mr. Stephen Akintayo noted that the feeding exercise is an annual activity to feed malnourished children and give scholarship to some of the kids in the community. “Every year we try to run charity project round through the year. Six years ago, I came here because somebody told us about this place. “I was moved to tears. In fact when I came here, people

Foundation Stages Victory Walk For Sanwo-Olu

were living on dustbin. We call it Dustbin Estate; the children are malnourished, they defecate in public. “So every year, we try to do something for them, giving scholarship for some of the kids here and feeding,” he added. He further explained that the feeding exercise is part of line-up programs in commemoration of his birthday on January 28. “This particular event is put together for my birthday, so today we are here at the Dustbin Estate to feed one thousand kids, then next Sunday, we will be at the Gbagada General Hospital.

“The upper Saturday we will be at Abeokuta (Gideon Orphanage home), then on my birthday, January 28, we will be in Kirikiri Prison. “So for me, giving is living and we need to also build awareness around the need to give. It is unfortunate that the normal culture in Africa is that giving has to be done by rich people and I think it is wrong” he added. Urging Nigerians to cultivate the heart of giving, Akintayo narrated how a charitable heart transformed him into an entrepreneur when he started giving as a student relying on his parents for money.

“I remember I will gather friends on campus to an orphanage home; we use to do what we even called ‘mentor an orphan’. We will bring kids to Silverbird Cinemas to watch movies from orphanage homes. “So giving is not what you do because you are rich, giving is what you do because you believe that out of the little God has given you, you want to reach out. “ I can tell you that giving brought me here because little did I know on campus that doing this, my journey into entrepreneurship will be as a result of that.”

As part of its support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Okepopo Foundation, staged a victory walk by taking violence free election gospel to communities. The walk that lasted for about about seven hours, through Jakande palace to Tinubu to Tom Jones, to Idunganran, to Adeniji Adele, to Sanwoolu Family House at Omididun, to Ajanaku Family house, finally paid homage to the Oba of Lagos, HRH, Rilwan Akiolu, in his palace. Speaking on the victory walk, Mr. Adebayo Sanwo-Olu, who is the elder brother of the APC candidate, noted that the walk was staged to prove Okepopo community’s support for his brother. “You know Sanwo-Olu was born in Lagos Island and the people around Okepopo area and our family house is at 65, Omididu Lagos island, so the people in this area decided to rally for him and they name it Okepopo foundation and that’s the reason why I’m here with them to do a rally for my younger brother as incoming governor of Lagos state,” he said Urging Lagosians to pray for his brother he said: “He needs prayer because when you get to the post of a governor, its another level entirely. I know Jide is always performing in every department or ministry he has been in Lagos State, so I have no doubt that he is going to perform.” The Secretary General of Okepopo Foundation, Mr. Oyeshina Ajanaku noted that the foundation is not a political foundation. He further explained that the purpose of the victory walk is to show backbone support for Babjide Sanwo-Olu in regard of the forthcoming election.

Alumni of Auchi Polytechnic Calls for Unity The Auchi Polytechnic Alumni Association Lagos Chapter has called on all its members residing in Lagos to align with the association’s effort in networking and upgrading themselves, as well as the institution. They made this clarion call at their first meeting of the year in January at Hocal Suite Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba Lagos. The President of the Lagos Chapter, Mr. Eboigbe Olaye, said the alumni needed to unite. “We want other alumni of the poly to be a part of this union. We want to strengthen the already established relationship and create even more. “Part of the association’s penchant is to ensure they propagate the aim and objective of the institution, which is to produce good products that will continue with the legacy of the school. “To assist the institution in upgrading and meeting their needs, fighting for them both nationally and international. To socialise among graduates so we can help and link ourselves.” The president, however, mentioned that the Lagos Chapter in collaboration with the national body has developed a workshop for engineering activities, library and mass communications, adding that they also renovated the school old buildings. For this year, Olaye said they are building a block of classrooms in the institution for the benefit of the students given that the institution is currently being upgraded into a university, which is to be named City University. According to him, the alumni is working. “The national president of the association has been to the senate to address the National Assembly on the new name, City University. It has been approved, we are just waiting for the assent of the president”.

Alumni of Auchi Polytechnic, Lagos Chapter

F R I DAY Ëž ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

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KelechiOghene:Empowering 500WomeninFashionFoundation Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ě‹ĂžĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă?Ă–ĂžĂ‹ Ă?Ă™Ă‹Ăš Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă“ Ă‘Ă’Ă?Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ–Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă?Ă Ă?Ăœ ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă Ă?ĂŽĚ‹ Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽË› ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂžĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ™Ăš Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? ĂŒĂ™ĂžĂ’ Ă’Ă™Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽËœ ĂžĂ™ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă– Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă˜ ĂšĂ™ĂšĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ?Ëœ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁËœ ËŠ Ă’Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ËŞË› Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹ĂŒĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ™Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă’Ëœ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ăž Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˘Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂšĂ–Ă?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ Ă‹ Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă˘Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ SUNDAY EHIGIATORËœ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂžĂŁ Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ëœ Ă—Ă™ĂŽĂ?Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ĂŒĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;ĂšËœ ĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ™ Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ăœ Í˝Í¸Í¸ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœË› Ă˘Ă?Ă?ĂœĂšĂžĂ?Ë?

ow did it all start, and how does this make you feel? Well, I have been in this business for 13 years. It makes me fulfilled. I want to leave a legacy. I am already seeing the benefits. We are not loud; we donâ€™t print flyers and all that. You will only see a lot of our alumni referring people to us, so it is basically word of mouth and you canâ€™t beat that. Itâ€™s more of experience. I started from a boutique. I did this business for nine years. I started small, and I did very well. A friend of mine once said I have flair for marketing. So, itâ€™s all business for me. I donâ€™t have much friends, and if you are in my circle and donâ€™t have anything to offer, you wonâ€™t even see me. I was marketing brands; I was traveling and doing business. I was doing so well. But at some point I said if I can do well marketing peopleâ€™s brand, then I would do better marketing mine. And that was the best decision I ever made. This is also a lot of hard work and favor from God. I had a team, so I said people should come learn for free in beading and the rest. Surprisingly people insisted that they pay for the service, they donâ€™t want to be in the foundation aspect. And this was how the academy started. The academy started from the foundation, but now the academy is the parent company. Even if I give everything I have today, God gives me back; itâ€™s been working for me. I donâ€™t give money, but I will teach you how to fish. I will give you whatâ€™s sustainable. I may give you millions of naira and you might not utilise it properly. But if you start from scratch and make all your mistakes, nothing beats that. I get a lot of goodwill from alumni. My birthday last year, cakes were coming from everywhere. During Christmas and New Year, people were calling to know how I was fairing; money canâ€™t buy that. It makes me fulfilled and wants to do more. Just like my mum; although she is late now, she was a seamstress; of course, thatâ€™s where it all came from. But I wanted the easy way out, which is why I ventured into boutique. If I had known, I would have started out earlier. Regardless, I got a lot of experience and nobody can beat my finishing. You can call that my USP if you like. We also customise our fabrics, you canâ€™t find our fabrics anywhere, and we play with beads and stones on it. And build our fabrics from the scratch. All these make GMYT a unique brand. Quite a lot your academy/foundation is doing; how do you get funding? People come into the academy for training because they can afford it, while the others go to the foundation because they cannot afford the fees. So what we do is to take money from the academy to augment the foundation. Anybody that clicks into this vision and wants to be part of it is welcome for partnership. But regardless, we will continue to thrive. Sometime last year, you revealed plans to train 500 women in fashion under your foundation, how has it been? So far we have trained 200. My mission is to help as much women as I can to become independent through fashion, because that is my strength. Helping them to have a little money of their own; I think it makes them secure. They also become support system to their spouse if they have any. We try to take many of them off the streets. It also makes them responsible. Because of this empowerment, some of our students have their own academy, some others are into designing. The most important thing is that they are independent. We are training 500 women, because we have the capacity and the structure. We have achieved 500 for both the academy and the

Oghene

foundation. We achieved 200 in the foundation last year. But this year, our target for the foundation is 500. If you follow our social media page @gmytfoundation you will see that we have started already; because of our structure and flexible curriculum. We have ensured that people learn at their own pace, you donâ€™t have to come to class every day. Some of our students are on part-time. It all depends on how they want to use their time

gmytcademy.com. There is a form to be filled there.

What category of women is your foundation focused on? Not just women, we also have guys; and support any kind of woman, young girls, women, housewives. If youâ€™re busy, your spouse will be proud of you.

How did you manage modeling with fashion? It was a nice experience. It didnâ€™t affect my business. It lasted for nine years. All I did was to go to the studio and take shots.

How does one come onboard? You have to go online and apply www.

We are training 500 women, because we have the capacity and the structure. We have achieved 500 for both the academy and the foundation. We achieved 200 in the foundation last year. But this year, our target for the foundation is 500

Whatâ€™s the meaning of GMYT? The meaning is Godâ€™s Might and thatâ€™s my name. How long do the beneďŹ ciaries of the program have? I am giving them 12 months.

What would you say is your driving force? I think what is driving me is the fear of being average, and my zeal for being independent and also development. I look forward to coming to work every day and also seeing that people are busy keeps me sane. I donâ€™t know how I will feel if I was at home doing nothing. Itâ€™s the same thing I want for the girls. I just want them to be busy, and to know that if they believe and put some efforts by acting, God will bless it. They have to have passion first. Our government doesnâ€™t have enough jobs for the students they are churning out and that is why we are here as the private sector to help out. I wish we have enough support; it will help fill in this space. Your growth plan? We have students from all over the place; from India, Brazil, Kenya, Ghana etc. Some come and stay in the hostel while some

gets apartments. For now, itâ€™s not about expanding; we are still building a structure. I have to be around, and the place needs my presence, so that the workers remain sane. I would rather they all come from wherever. Maybe later, we can branch out. What is the place of education in all these, I mean looking at your proďŹ le youâ€™re still learning. Is this something you want the girls to emulate? We hold entrepreneurship session every month aside from the master class that we hold. And I am going to be having a session with them this month, on passion and entrepreneurship.I have another program, that I am giving out a N100,000 every month to entrepreneurs that have started in a little way and are struggling. I wish I can give out more. All they need to do is to do a minute video clip and you tell me about your passion. I want to know how well you understand your business, and be sure that you didnâ€™t go into the business because of someone else. Tell me your vision and your mission and then what you can do with that N100,000. The winner goes with an award and might get a scholarship to be a GMYT student. Compared to you, young girls these days want to go with young guys driving Benz instead of acquiring skills, your take? Thatâ€™s what I want to change. To make girls and women independent, so they can focus their vision on things that are more important, and so they donâ€™t become liabilities to their man. I donâ€™t think any man wants a liability.

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

METRO Drumming Local Support for Street Voices Initiative …Your city life in print

Daniel Nzube writes on the recent move by Street Voices Initiative to target communities in drumming support for their candidate

ittle drops of water they say makes a mighty ocean. As cliche as this might sound, it has been proven nonetheless, especially with the forthcoming elections in view. Thus, as the race for who gets to be the successor to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State heats up, many groups have since sprouted up to push for the candidacy of their respective candidates. However, one group stands out- the Street Voices Initiatve, a platform that is solely focused on giving a voice to the voiceless in all communities across the state. Championing the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Your Street, with the hashtag #BOSYourStreet, initiative is tailored towards appearing on virtually all streets preaching the gospel of Sanwo-Olu, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State. The group’s philosophy is driven by the desire to sustain the enviable development trajectory that the state has enjoyed since 1999, which they opined would continue given SanwoOlu’s experience in public service as an invaluable prerequisite for handling the intrigues of governing a cosmopolitan mega city like Lagos. Armed with campaign materials, the train has been seen in visually all parts educating people on the objectives and core derivatives of Sanwo-Olu and the reason why he is the best man for the job. Their target is not just the artisans, residents of local communities, the traders, the business person, conductors, commercial motorcyclists and in general, the common man, but also well-meaning, upwardly mobile, working class people, and students, who run away from campaign grounds on the premise that there is normally violence. Thus, the #BOSYourStreet is a youth support initiative of Street Voices Nigeria, a platform for the community’s voiceless in order to encourage youth participation into the all inclusive government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu in realisation of a 2019 electorial victory. At most, it can best be described as a movement- from Lekki to Gbagada, FESTAC Town, Mile 2, Lagos Island, Somolu, Ajegunle, to Surulere; the initiative is already gathering momentum and the train seems not to be letting go anytime soon. Just last week Sunday, the train stopped at Masha, Kilo and some

The deﬁnition of BOSYOURSTREET is actually self-campaign. So if you wish to do a self-campaign or selﬁe campaign, all you need to do is retweet the post on BOSYOURSTREET, share it, and you will be provided with brand items to campaign on your street

The Street Voices Initiative at work

other parts of Surulere. For the group, the beautiful thing about their campaign is that they decided to blow the trumpet of Sanwo-Olu having seen his capabilities and set objectives for the state. That Sunday, the streets were agog in several locations simultaneously as Street Voices, an initiative of communications strategist, Razaq Ivori, stepped out to campaign and share branded items in support of Sanwo-Olu, to voters who do not ordinarily participate in campaigns for several reasons. Street Voices, which has a concept reminiscent of a voicebank that collects voices of concerned individuals to loan out to fastbreaking public issues made quite the spectacle in locations like Surulere, Ikeja, Somolu, Lekki, and diverse locations. THISDAY gathered that Ivori, with this initiative simply tries to attract those voters who never come out to campaign grounds; who see campaign grounds as a violent place where people fight and shoot guns. “A lot of well-meaning, upwardly mobile people, working class people, and students run away from campaign grounds where there is normally violence. Most of these people are indoors and undecided in their voting decisions until the final hour. So I designed BOSYOURSTREET to cater for such people.” On how the initiative works, Ivori explained, “It is on social media. BOSYOURSTREET starts with the advertisement on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. We tell people that if you wish to campaign for Sanwo-Olu on your own street, your own personal campaign, then we will come to you. “The definition of BOSYOURSTREET is actually selfcampaign. So if you wish to do a self-campaign or selfie campaign, all you need to do is retweet the post on BOSYOURSTREET, share it, and you will be provided with brand items to campaign on your street. “Presently, we have received over 7000 retweets and request for brand items. Some came from Surulere, some came from Ikeja, some from Somolu and other areas of Lagos. “So the team splits ourselves, calling these people who provided their numbers after we made contact and started dividing Tshirts and other campaign materials to them. It has actually become a street slang where you have young people asking each other, ‘have you BOSed your street?’ The idea is that Sanwo-Olu is coming with a beneficial package once he gets in.” Diabusing every nation that he was in this for political gain, Ivori said: “I am just the founder of Street Voices, which is like a voicebank where people loan their voices for different kinds of causes. Babajide Sanwo-Olu campaign is just one of those causes. Street voices initiative has been on for about eight months now, and in that time, we have done some successful campaigns. The Sanwo-Olu one started about a month ago.” As expected, most people the train met on the streets had one or two advice for Sanwo-Olu. While some urged him to bring the same energy and zeal used in campaigning to enhance governance, others charged him to stay available if he enters after elections.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

F R I DAY ˾ ͯ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

LIFE

Celebrating Nigerian US-based Cinematographer Nigerian-born cinematographer and Creative Director of Malekfotos USA, Abiola Matesun, has clinched four titles in USA to his name – two Emmy and two TELLY awards. He shares the secrets of his success and concepts to amplify the Nigerian movie industry. REBECCA EJIFOMA writes

Matesun

biola Matesun, popularly known as Abi, is just your next door neighbour – simple, nimble yet very adroit and industrious. It is hard to come to terms with the weight of his portfolio in a cursory glance. But truly he is a two-time Emmy award winner – a prestigious and admirable title for excellence in television in the USA, and a two-time TELLY award winner. Truly, Abi is a filmmaker, cinematographist and Creative Director of Malekfoto Films and weddings in the United States. He was all smiles as displayed his glorious golden trophy- a yellow and black box set on a square glass centre table in the studio in Lagos. How He Started “I started off as a photographer in year 2000. I got a camera as a gift from a friend. I soon realised that I was gifted in being able to frame, capture lights and all those kind of things,” he narrated. Abi was drooling over photography with enthusiasm when his calling bloomed. “I was in college studying management information systems but the passion for visuals and the act of communicating through visuals just kept getting stronger and stronger. “ Switch to Film Because photography was not enough to reel the kind of stories he wanted, the filmmaker took his first baby steps in 2004 when he visited Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria for his project on poverty, HIV and children. “I was still very into photography then. But I came against the frustration of the stories that I saw, photography wasn’t adequate enough to tell the stories the way I wanted it told.” Thus, he switched to film productions Indeed, Abi gave no room to procrastination. He zoomed off from what started as a mere photography then swiftly metamorphosed it into a movie firm. And in five years, Abi clinched the four laudable awards now to his credit. “I am a dream, I started as a dreamer. The thing about dreaming is that it costs you nothing. You can dream as big as you want. That dream is a little spark that can cause a huge fire. All you have to do is dream. That’s it.

Matesun with a friend

“Before that, I was doing a research on the kind of cameras, light and the equipment we needed. What I realised was that video was pretty expensive. If you have to do it well, and you buy the right equipment it’s really pricey which is the reason video is not cheap if you’re doing it rightly. “I didn’t get here by myself. It took a village to get me here; I have a team that helps with shooting and lightening and more. I have another team – my wife and my kids. They are the first people that see what we produce and critique it; you need all that input. “We started shooting small projects here and there. This year has been phenomenal for us. We started this year with the Canon Africa Project, which we shot, directed and edited. I came up with the script with TyBello and did the photography as well because that was my background before I got into film. “Then we shot this piece that took us all the way to Iceland. From that beautiful piece birth the Tele awards which is an important international awards for video production and advertisement. It is very big in the art world,” he enthused. Consequently, fortune smiled on Abi and his team after sleepless nights. The Nigerianborn US based filmmaker said his secret to success is grace. “We had a lot of no sleep or little sleep, I mean working round the clock to make it happen? We decided to do it and we did. That was not the reason we won afterall your competitors did the exact thing. I think it is grace. You do your work and leave the rest to God.” On if he deserved the four awards now to his credit, Abi bluntly declined. “I am not even close to deserving. It was just grace. We worked hard. We could even be one of the hardest working teams in the industry because we have a pretty fast turn around; the kind of commercial we spend three days on, we spend over a 1,900 hours for a 30-seconds commercial. Yes, we worked pretty hard but deserve, no. This is purely grace”.

everybody else. Clients that you know want to pay little or nothing for your ideas and efforts, team members that are not really team-oriented and always looking out for self or sabotaging from behind”.

Challenges Like every other person, Abi went through the paths of acrid challenges but he was unperturbed. “I had regular challenges like

Malekfotos in Nigeria Abi has a chronological fashion for Malekfotos. “I don’t have any office in Nigeria yet. I am not interested in coming in again as a one-man

Award Winning Movie About the award winning movie – Inner Conflict, he shared with THISDAY what the movie entails. According to Abi, Inner Conflict is about a professional boxer that had one of the biggest fight of his life. He had that fight and had to battle the needs of his mother on cancer. In the process, she gives up the ghost while she is expecting a baby. “He won that fight. But in all that is he happy? What kind of emotions is he feeling because when your biggest fan is not there to cheer you, it’s a lot of conflict which is the reason we need the peace in the conflict. When I heard of it, said I needed this project because my mother passed on of cancer when I was 17; hence, I could relate to the kind of things that he was going through.” For Abi and a lot of filmmakers, their most passionate projects are the ones that they could connect with. Plans for Partnership with Nollywood Abi has not only got plans for his company but also for the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood. He said although bringing a change is not something one man could do, “we will have a meeting to know where we are trying to go, the goal – to make money or an impact because they’re two different things. What a lot of people don’t understand is that when you make impact, you make money”. Abi humbly announced his interest in partnership to move the film industry to a unique spot. “I’m a Nigerian. I’m a black man. We just have to focus on the kind of content we are creating. I am interested in partnering as well. you know charity begins at home; it is not handout. It is love, dedication, the desire to elevate and make better”.

show. I am collaborating with existing outfit and figuring out what we can do to make it better, more global. I want to see our movies win Oscar awards. I believe it is possible”. Meanwhile, Abi has rolled up his sleeves. “We are working on some things. I want to be able to at least work on few major projects in Nigeria; really nice quality stuff that is of international standard. The music industry has got to that point, it’s a little harder for film but we can. For the film industry let’s collaborate let’s do something; Auntie Mo, let’s do something”. On his 25 years relationship with his wife, unbelievable but true, Abi has been with just one woman for 25 years. “I have been with this amazing rock up woman for 25 years. She is honestly the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is Sumbo Matesu, nee Soya before we grabbed her and changed the name. We have two kids – Zion and Judah. According to the movie producer and father of two, he met Sumbo in high school. “We got married in 1997; went to court same year then went to church in 2004. Our children are aged 12 and seven.” He expressed with such nostalgia. “We have sleepless nights in this job. So, when you fall you have to pick yourself up but when you have people that help you with the process of being picked up, it is way better. So, my wife has been amazingly supportive. Yes, I love her and my kids very dearly.” And because Abi believes in spending quality time with his family, he makes astute use of his time “It should be one or the other. It is work life balance really. There is no project you are working on continually; you get burnt out so you have to space yourself. I believe in spending quality time with my family”. In the same vein, Abi urged the youths and everyone to dream, adding that it cost nothing and no one charges anyone for dreaming. “Dream, believe and work towards it. This principle has worked for me. “If you are trying to get into film, go under someone; you don’t have to start your company. That’s the issue; everybody cannot be the head. It is only God that promotes. When your time for promotion comes, it will come but don’t back stab or try to kill someone else’s dream for yours.”

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

F R I DAY Ëž FEBRUARY 1, 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Nigeriaâ€™s Manufacturing Index Rises for 22nd Consecutive Month Obinna Chima The Manufacturing Purchasing Managersâ€™ Index (PM) stood at 58.5 index points in January. This indicated an expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 22nd consecutive month. According to the PMI report for January released yesterday, the index grew at a slower rate when compared to the index in the previous month. In all, 14 sub-sectors surveyed reported growth in the review month in the following order: petroleum & coal products; chemical & pharmaceutical products; primary metal; paper products; cement; furniture & related products; printing & related support activities; fabricated metal products; electrical equipment; food, beverage & tobacco products; nonmetallic mineral

products; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; plastics & rubber products; and transportation equipment. On the other hand, at 59.3 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the 23rd consecutive month in January 2019. The index indicated a slower growth in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month. Twelve of the 14 manufacturing sub-sectors recorded increased production level, while 2 remained unchanged. Also, at 58.9 points, the new orders index grew for the 22nd consecutive month, indicating increase in new orders in January 2019. Eleven sub-sectors reported growth, two remained unchanged, while on contracted in the review month. â€œThe manufacturing supplier

delivery time index stood at 58.3 points in January 2019, indicating slower supplier delivery time. The employment level index in January 2019 stood at 56.4 points, indicating growth in employment level for the twentyfirst consecutive month. Of the 14 subsectors, eight reported increased employment level, 5 reported unchanged employment level while 1 reported decreased employment in the review month. â€œThe manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the twenty-second consecutive month in January 2019. At 59.9 points, the index grew at a slower rate when compared to its level in December 2018. Twelve of the 14 sub-sectors recorded growth, 1 recorded unchanged, while one reported declined raw material inventories in the review month,â€? it stated.

Lawmakers Laud CBNâ€™s CSR Initiatives Nume Ekeghe Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency yesterday commended the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ€™s (CBN) for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects known â€˜Centre of Excellence.â€™ The lawmakers made the remark during the inspection of one of the on-going project at the University of Lagos. The Post Graduate School projects, cited at the University of Lagos comprises a faculty building, a 150-room hostel, auditoriums, restaurants, lounges, lecture halls and more to create a conducive learning environment. The central bank also has same projects in other univer-

sities nationwide, such as the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Speaking at the end of the inspection, the Chairman House Committee on Banking & Currency, Hon. Jones Onyerer,i said the philosophy behind the central bankâ€™s CSR initiative was laudable and called for a speedy conclusion of the projects. He said: â€œWe had a lot of challenges with the CBN with respect to the interventions of this project but as God would have it, immediately we started undergoing this oversight visit and seeing in reality what is on ground, most of us changed our mind, if not everybody. That is because it is obvious that the

projects are laudable and its been done in an excellent form. â€œYes in all things like in life, you could still have challenges here and there and part of it is what we have experienced here and itâ€™s our duty to help them with the challenge.â€? He further assured the CBN of their support to ensure that it completes the projects it had embarked upon which he said would benefit the citizens On his part, the Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said: â€œIt is in the interest of this country and our nation that this project should be completed.â€?

Guinness Nigeria Posts N3.8bn HalfYear Profit Guinness Nigeria Plc, one of the leading beverage and alcohol companies in Nigeria and a subsidiary of Diageo Plc, yesterday announced its unaudited results for its first half year period ended 31st December 2018. The results which were released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed that profit before tax increased to N3.8 billion, driven by lower finance charges, as a result of the rights issue, which more than offset operating profit decline in a challenging operating environment. The results showed that Guinness Nigeriaâ€™s net sales declined four per cent in the period under review. This, according to the brewer was primarily driven by the ongoing pressure in the lager segment as a result of the continued challenging operating environment.

It revealed that double digit growth in spirits and continued growth in Guinness mitigated some of the decline in the period. Also, the companyâ€™s gross profit declined 15 per cent as a result of net sales decline, as well as continued inflationary pressure on our raw material costs and lower fixed cost absorption. Its marketing spend decreased 10 per cent as it continued to focus our investment behind the biggest growth opportunities, while its operating profit declined N2 billion as the productivity initiatives around marketing spend, distribution expenses and administrative expenses mitigated some of its inflationary cost of sales pressure. Commenting on the results, Managing Director/ CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Baker Magunda said: â€œIn the half year ended 31st December 2018, Guinness Nigeria delivered results that reflected the continued challenges

in the operating environment. While lager remains a challenged sector, Guinness and spirits recorded strong growth, and our non-alcoholic malt drinks grew in the face of intense competitive pressure. â€œThis re-affirms our total beverage alcohol portfolio strategy as a key driver of sustainable growth in the market. Looking forward, we will continue to focus on our strategy which is now based on four strategic pillars of growing our premium core faster, delivering our target cost absorption, continue innovating to meet consumer needs and driving productivity harder to improve performance in the business. â€œWhilst we are conscious of the continued challenging operating environment with double digits inflation and pressured consumer spending, we remain optimistic about the execution of our strategy for the remainder of the 2019 financial yearâ€?.

UBA Expands to Mali The United Bank for Africa (UBA) will open a new branch in Mali next Monday as it expands in a region where it already operates in a dozen countries. â€œMali is a large market with a low (bank) account penetration rate,â€? Maimouna El Oumarany, spokeswoman for UBAâ€™s Malian subsidiary, told Reuters by telephone. â€œWeâ€™re hoping to do better than the 13 banks already established in the country.â€? El Oumarany said UBAâ€™s strategy in Mali, a landlocked

country on the edge of the Sahara, was focused on digital products that clients could access from their smartphones. Shareholders of UBA are expecting the announcement of a final dividend for the 2018 financial year. This followed the approval of the bankâ€™s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UBA said its Board of Directors last Monday ap-

proved its financial statements and payment of dividend to shareholders, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). â€œWe shall provide the details of the results and dividend payments as well as related corporate actions to the Exchange upon the approval of the accounts by the CBN,â€? the bank said in the notification signed by Group Company Secretary, Mr. Bili Odum.

L-R: Company Secretary/General Counsel, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Funmi Adedibu; Divisional Head, Corporate Services, Ms. Felicia Obozuwa; Divisional Head, Transaction Banking, Mrs. Rolayo Akhigbe; Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Adam Nuru; Partner, Passion Incubator Limited, Mr. Olufunbi Falayi; Executive Director, Business Development of FCMB, Mrs. Bukola Smith and Team Lead, Techspace Ecosystem Business, Mr. Babajide Asegbeloyin, during the launch of FCMB Hub One (a tech-themed coworking space), located in Yaba, Lagosâ€Śyesterday

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™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă™Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY, 30 JANUARY 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $60.93 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $59.71 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), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

F R I DAY ˾ FEBRUARY 1, 2019

MARKET NEWS

Flour Mills of Nigeria Posts N9bn Profit in Nine Months Goddy Egene Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc has reported a profit after tax of N7.895 billion for the nine months ended December 31, 2018, down from N13.247 billion recorded in corresponding period of the previous year. The profit was recorded from a revenue of N400.6 billion compared with N427.508 billion in 2017. According to the company, The drop in revenue is disappointedly

related to the logistic upheavals posed by the traffic challenges in Apapa. An analysis of the results showed that selling and distribution expenses rose from N4.037 billion to N5.933 billion as the company continued to suffer from the negative impact of the traffic gridlock on the Apapa roads, the operating base of the company. Also, administrative expenses increased from N13.311 billion to N14.937 billion. However, company’s finance

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

cost of reduced by 34 per cent to N16.5 billion, from N25.2 billion of the same period last year. The company said the reduction is due to settlement of overdraft facilities and replacement of high interest yielding loans with more favorable loans. FMN had last year raised Rights Issue of N40 billion to strengthen its capital base by deleveraging its balance sheet, supporting its working capital needs and positioning its to exploit value-accretive

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opportunities. Commenting on the result, the Group Managing Director, FMN, Paul Gbededo, said:“The results are largely a reflection of our focus on driving volume growth while improving operational efficiency and ramping up strategic marketing and promotional activities to win over new market segments in our food business. Despite the devastating effect of the traffic congestions in Apapa on our operations, we are quite positive that we will

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

see improvements across major business segmentAs before the close of the financial year as we continue to focus on delivering on our promise of quality to our consumers.” The company noted that continued strong sales and brand building focus has ensured a further growth in market share and strengthened the group’s market leader position within the flour market. The Group has announced its intent to carve out its fertilizer

O F

business from Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and registered same as an independent company to hold its Agro-allied businesses. This is expected to position this business segment for further growth and ensure optimal financial structures for the related businesses. The holding company will be fully owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc. The arrangement is however subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2 9 / 0 1 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

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˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

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˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

MARKET NEWS

United Capital Boss Harps on More Investor Education in Equities Market Goddy Egene The Group Managing Director/ CEO of United Capital Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade has harped on the need for more education in order to increase the domestic investor participation in the Nigerian stock market. Speaking in an interview with THISDAY in Lagos, Ashade said: “The Nigerian equity market clearly needs more domestic demand. Increased domestic participation, buoyed by better

education, would greatly mitigate the volatility driven by inflow and outflow of foreign participants who currently account for half (or more) of total market turnover. So, I believe investor education is very critical to this. There must be market awareness and people also need to see the value proposition of the capital market.” According to him, as one of the leading operators, United Capital Plc is making its own contribution towards attracting more investors to the market.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

“All our activities are centred around helping prospective and existing investors deepen their access to the capital markets. We will scale up on this by ensuring that we continuously improve on our product offerings to ensure that our clients consistently get the best deals from the market. Also, to improve the depth and integrity of our market, we will increasingly engage with regulators and trade groups in our areas of business on appropriate policy changes,” he said.

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 29Jan-2019, unless otherwise stated.

Ashade said one of the ways the company has been contributing to the market is through products development, which he said made the firms to launch two mutual funds in 2017. “We launched two mutual funds in 2017; the Eurobond Fund and the Wealth for Women Fund. Both funds have been very successful and well received by the market. The Wealth for Women Fund promotes the financial inclusion of the female gender by increasing their access to

financial investment products and addressing the current imbalance of most investment products being skewed towards the male gender. The Eurobond Fund is invested in Dollar denominated Eurobonds, floated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as top-tier corporates. Subscribers receive competitive short to medium term capital appreciation on their dollar holdings invested in the Fund better than they would receive on domiciliary deposits. The Eurobond Fund

has grown significantly since it was launched. In fact, in 2018, the size of the Fund more than doubled from about $3.6 million to over $8 million. We plan to launch more funds this year in sectors and segments where we see opportunities,” he said. Speaking on the market outlook for 2019, the United Capital Plc boss said even though we expect the market to pick up this year, investors should be ready to take advantage of volatility.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.85 0.86 0.85% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 11.17% 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 13.15% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.24 2.26 0.68% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 16.44 16.93 -0.93% ARM Discovery Fund 355.36 366.08 -0.36% ARM Ethical Fund 28.58 29.44 1.21% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.12% 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 101.41 102.12 0.22% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.40% 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 14.33% Paramount Equity Fund 11.52 11.81 -1.64% Women's Investment Fund 100.73 103.31 -1.79% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.63% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 96.68 96.97 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.27 99.73 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.01% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.83 0.84 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 1.37% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.81% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.92% 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 NA NA N/A FBN Heritage Fund 143.32 144.53 -0.06% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.81% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional NA NA N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail NA NA N/A FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund NA NA 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 1.19 1.21 -2.48% Legacy Debt Fund 3.28 3.28 0.96% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 0.38% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,959.70 2,988.81 -0.83% Coral Income Fund 2,788.93 2,788.93 1.83% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.83% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 107.14 107.55 7.00% 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 12.16%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.15 2.17 -0.10% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.99% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 120.65 120.83 -3.43% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ﬁncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.15 1.18 0.96% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,081.14 1,081.14 1.10% 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 11.22 11.31 -2.45% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.36% 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 N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 120.35 120.97 -0.29% 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 1.01 1.01 0.98% 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 2,319.81 2,333.91 2.41% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 191.06 191.06 1.80% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.94 0.95 -0.53% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 249.42 249.46 2.94% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 162.29 164.05 -0.54% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.79% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,364.91 8,466.20 0.30% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 3.21% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.20 1.20 -0.46% United Capital Bond Fund 1.61 1.61 0.87% United Capital Equity Fund 0.69 0.70 -3.62% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 14.32% United Capital Eurobond Fund 107.79 107.79 0.49% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.09 -0.46% ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.06 11.21 4.63% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.33 12.45 2.84% Zenith Income Fund 20.81 20.81 8.08% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.82%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.95 118.12 51.84

-39.35% 0.06% 0.05%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.54 112.78 87.41

10.64 115.22 89.03

-0.12% -3.84% -1.42%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNA TIONAL

US Airstrike Kills 24 al-Shabab Militants in Somalia The United States military on Thursday said that its forces conducted an airstrike near a terrorist encampment in Central Somalia on Wednesday, killing 24 al-Shabab terrorists, Gregg Olson, Africom’s director of operations, said. The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) said the precision airstrike at the vicinity of Shebeeley, Hiran region is part of a larger effort to support the Somali forces as it increases pressure on the terrorist

network and its’ recruiting efforts in the region. “Precision strikes are part of our strategy. Strikes continue to help our partners make progress in their fight against the transnational terrorists, who oppose peace in Somalia and in the region,” Olson stated. Olson said the Somali National Army (SNA) and its partners would continue to effectively target terrorist training camps and assessed safe havens in order to deny

al-Shabab the ability to build capacity and attack the people of Somalia. “At this time, it was assessed no civilians were injured or killed in this airstrike,” said Africom which oversees American troops on the African continent. The U.S. strikes have largely targeted al-Shabab figureheads based in Southern and Central Somalia where the group still maintains a strong grip. The extremists have recently

increased their attacks against AU and Somali forces especially in Mogadishu, targeting their bases, hotels and other public places. Similarly, the AU top envoy in Somalia called on AU Mission in Somalia New Force Commander, Tigabu Wondimhunegn from Ethiopia to sustain onslaught against al-Shabab militants in the country. Francisco Madeira, Special Representative of

the Chairperson of the AU Commission for Somalia, said there was still enormous work to be done before completion of the mission’s mandate. “There is work to be done. We have not yet finished our mandate. The task ahead is enormous but I am very confident that you can do it,” Madeira told the new force commander according to a statement issued after the handover ceremony in Mogadishu.

Wondimhunegn took office from outgoing force commander, Jim Owoyesigire, who has served in that capacity since January 2018. The AU mission’s peacekeepers have stepped up onslaught against insurgents, who want to topple the government of Somalia. Wondimhunegn has 34 years’ experience in the military and has served the Ethiopia National Defence Force in several capacities.

Khashoggi Killing: UN Investigator White House Names Deputy Press Secretary to Handle Congress Inquiries Meets Victim’s Fiancee A UN expert investigating the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has met his fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, in Turkey. Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, had already met Istanbul’s chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan on Tuesday. Khashoggi’s fiancée, Cengiz, was waiting outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2,

2018 for her partner to collect some documents needed for them to marry, but he never reappeared. It later emerged that he had been killed in the building. His body has never been found. Cengiz and Callamard spoke in a hotel in the Sisli district of the city, according to state news agency Anadolu. Callamard is expected to stay in Turkey until Feb. 3, but will not give any media interviews, her

spokesman said. The murder of Khashoggi, a sharp critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, triggered global condemnation. Riyadh insists that his death was a “rogue operation” and has put 11 defendants on trial for the crime. However, Turkish President Recep Erdogan had insisted that the order to kill Khashoggi came from the highest levels of the Saudi government

UK MPs Scrap February Holiday to Allow Brexit Debates British MPs are cancelling a planned holiday next month to allow time to pass key legislation ahead of the scheduled date for Brexit on March 29,

Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Thursday. “The fact that recess won’t be taking place and MPs will

be sitting shows you that we are taking all available steps to make sure that March 29 is our exit date,” the spokesman said.

With Democrats promising to open investigations into President Donald Trump’s administration, the White House has picked a legal expert as deputy press secretary to handle inquiries related to congressional oversight, a White House official said on Thursday. Democrats who took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November elections have said they plan to launch probes into a variety of areas related to the Republican president and his administration. They want to obtain access to his tax returns and look into his immigration policies, for example. In addition, U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller

Cameroon Opposition Leader, Maurice Kamto Arrested Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who claims to have been cheated out of the presidency in elections last year, was arrested in the country’s economic capital Douala on Monday, a senior party member said. The arrest is the latest political turbulence to hit the West African country and comes after several recent eruptions of violence over the October vote, which saw Kamto come second behind Paul Biya, who has ruled for more than three decades. “Mr Kamto was arrested at the home of (supporter) Albert Dzongang,” said Emmanuel Simh, vice-president of the opposition Movement for the

Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), confirming information from a source in Douala. Following Kamto’s arrest, around 300 people gathered outside Dzongang’s house, according to an AFP reporter, flanked by about 50 police officers. Shots were fired into the air to disperse the crowd. The authorities did not respond to an AFP request for information. Veteran leader Biya won a seventh consecutive term in the October election, which was blasted by the MRC as an “electoral hold-up”. Kamto, who has continued to claim he was the rightful winner, won 14.23 percent of the vote to place second,

according to the official figures, but his party has held sporadic protests since then to dispute the result. On Saturday 117 people were arrested during protest marches in several towns. The MRC was holding a crisis meeting late Monday in response to the arrests, Simh told AFP, adding that Dzongang and Christian Penda Ekoka, an economist, were also arrested in Monday’s police raid. Kamto’s former election campaign head Paul-Eric Kingue and rapper Valsero were among those detained over the weekend. The Cameroon government has looked to dissuade

Kamto’s party from demonstrating, claiming that the opposition leader was an “outlaw” for not accepting the election results. In France dozens of protesters broke into Cameroon’s Paris embassy on Sunday, vandalising portraits of Biya, according to witnesses. Police forced them out of the building two hours later and onto the street, where they continued their protest outside the embassy. Biya has ruled the West African country since 1982 with support from the army, government administrations and the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) that he created in 1985

Ethiopia Repatriates 154 Nationals from Yemen The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said that it had repatriated 154 nationals from Yemen. In a statement, the ministry said the 154 Ethiopians were repatriated on Wednesday in collaboration with the UN

Migration Agency, International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The ministry further said another 168 Ethiopians were repatriated on Tuesday in collaboration with IOM, as part of ongoing efforts to safely return Ethiopian migrants stranded in

Yemen. The Ethiopian nationals were using Yemen as a transit point to their final destination, Saudi Arabia. Ethiopian migrants in Yemen reportedly face constant abuses by smugglers and other criminals,

including arbitrary detention. Every year, thousands of Ethiopians looking for better economic opportunities abroad are estimated to be trafficked through Somalia, Djibouti and the Red Sea to reach the Arabian Peninsula.

Tunisian PM Promises Free, Transparent, Trustworthy Elections Tunisian Prime Minister, Youssef Chahed, on Thursday said that the country was making steady progress on the path to free, transparent and trustworthy elections. Chahed made the remarks on his Facebook page after Nabil Baffoun was elected by the parliament as the new president of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE). “The next legislative and presidential elections, scheduled for the end of the year, will offer

the decision to the people, who really have the power to choose their representatives,” he said. Earlier in the day, Baffoun confirmed that the ISIE would work diligently to ensure the smooth performance of the upcoming elections, which would be held in the standards of credibility between October and November. “ISIE will launch a major campaign to raise public awareness about the vote registration starting in March,” he said.

On Jan. 2, Tunisia’s President described 2019 elections as “a decisive and electoral year par excellence,” Beji Caid Essebsi added that 2018 had been “tough”. Nevertheless, said Essebsi, “We will enter 2019 with a higher sense of responsibility and optimism because it is a decisive and electoral year par excellence. It is the year of the parliamentary and presidential elections which will be held in respect of freedom, impartiality and transparency standards.

“We want the coming elections to be dedicated to the democratic process we are going through.” Tunisia is perceived as the only relatively successful democratic model among the Arab states that have experienced popular revolutions since late 2010. “Democracy cannot be imposed,” the Tunisian leader stressed, “it is, rather, practiced. It is necessary to provide the appropriate climate for elections to take place in convenient conditions.’’

was described by acting Attorney-General Matthew Whitaker last week as close to finishing his investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia to help him win the election. Steven Groves, the White House assistant special counsel and a former aide to former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, will become deputy press secretary to handle questions related to congressional oversight and the Justice Department, the White House official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report by CBS News on the development. In other moves, Hogan Gidley was officially promoted as the principal deputy to press secretary Sarah Sanders. The position had been filled by Raj Shah, who left the White House late last year. The White House’s director of regional communications, Judd Deere, will join Lindsay Walters as a deputy press

secretary. Deere will handle topics including energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), while Walters will continue handling trade and economic issues.

I, formerly known and addressed as DR. NWILENE NUKA JULIET, now wish to be known and addressed as DR NWIGANALE NUKA JULIET. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEKUNLE MAYOWA, BABATUNDE PRINCESS MAYOWA, now wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE MAYOWA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

This is to confirm that I Rabiu Aisha is one and the same person as Aisha Mohammed Rabiu. The discrepancy was as a result of my name appearing as Rabiu Aisha on my NYSC Access Bank Account while on my BVN my name appeared as Aisha Mohammed Rabiu. Also my correct date of birth is February 12, 1995 as against July 4th 1995. The general public please take note.

COMFIRMATION OF NAME I, AGBOOLA AKANBI FOWLER is also the same person as AGBOOLA SAMUEL FOWLER. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AGBOOLA AKANBI FOWLER. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UGOCHI OBIA, now wish to be known and addressed as UGOCHI ANIEKAN UDOH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ANATURUCHIUKA NGOZICHIKA OPARA now wish to be known and addressed as ANATURUCHIUKA NGOZI ENWEREAllformerdocumentsremain valid.The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OYAPIDAN TEMITOPE RUTH, now wish to be known and addressed as EGUNJOBI TEMITOPE RUTH . All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ZANNAH ABDU KACHALLAH, WHILE now wish to be known and addressed as ZANNAH ABDU KACHALLA All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AYODEJI OLU OMOTAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AYO CHRISTOPHER OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OGHUVWUN AV W E R O S U O G H E N E EMMANUEL now wish

I, formerly known and addressed as MUHTAR NURA, now wish to be known and addressed as MUHTAR NURA IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

known

and

addressed

ONAJOMO OGHUVWUN EMMANUEL All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OGWA CHIOMA PRECIOUS now wish to be known and addressed as NWAFOR CHIOMA PRECIOUS All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ABBEY BALOGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN ABIODUN OWOYEMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Niger Republic Govs Arrive Nigeria to Campaign for APC, Buhari Hamid Adedeji Two governors from neighbouring Niger Republic yesterday arrived Kano State to campaign for the All

Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari. Issa Moussa of Zinder Region and Zakiri Umar of Maradi arrived Kano

Shettima Deploys 500 Local Hunters to Fight Boko Haram Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has administered oath of allegiance on 500 local hunters newly recruited to work hand-in-hand with the soldiers to fight Boko Haram. The governor made the hunters swear to an oath to elicit trust and build confidence among the combatants in the task to return the state to orderliness. At a ceremony at the Government House, the governor presided over the administration of oaths of allegiance, using the Quran and Bible based on the faith of the hunters. After taking the oath, the governor allocated operational vehicles to the hunters and assured them of timely payment of their monthly allowances. He equally donated hundreds of bags of food items to support their families. Leader of the traditional hunters, Mai Durma, said: “May anyone who reveals our strategy to Boko Haram or betrays allegiance to the military and government in anyway be consumed by this oath.” He warned the hunters to be mindful of what they swore to and commit themselves to efforts to regain peace in the state. The hunters, versatile in traditional fighting skills, were made to undergo thorough background screening for months. Governor Shettima told the

hunters that they were deployed due to the renewed attacks by insurgents in some parts of the state. He added that even though there was no doubt concerning the sincerity of the traditional hunters selected, the oath was to eliminate any doubt which could arise especially since unlike the Civilian JTF who have worked longer with soldiers, engagement of the traditional hunters was comparatively new. Earlier, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawal, who is a member of the state’s security council and whose ministry coordinates counter insurgency volunteers through a department of civil rights protection, recalled that “couple of months back in one of the councils meetings attended by heads of military, police, DSS and other para-military formations in the state, the council resolved to engage 500 gallant traditional hunters to complement efforts of our security forces” and in furtherance, selection and screening was also done through the leadership of the traditional hunters. “It is in view of the security council’s resolution that we present to you these set of gallant hunters for inauguration” Shehu told Shettima. The leader of the hunters assured of his members’ combat readiness and allegiance to the Nigerian Army and Government as they offer to fight in defense of Borno people and Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Clark Challenges INEC to Control Security Agents on Election Day Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take charge of the deployment of security personnel during the February and March elections. Clark in a statement entitled ‘INEC should take responsibility for management and control of 2019 electoral security in Nigeria,’ noted that the electoral body should be in charge of police personnel posted for election duties. He said INEC should sit down with the police authority to work out the number of police personnel needed to cover the elections. The Ijaw leader insisted that if INEC takes charge of police posting, it will avert a system of direct posting by the police authorities on the eve of the election. Clark said, “As we approach the general elections, there is need to lend one’s voice to ensuring that a peaceful, free, fair and credible election is conducted by INEC. “Shortly before the former

Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris left office, I watched a programme where there was an argument on who should be in control of Police personnel posted to work with INEC, during elections. “Whilst the former IG was of the opinion that the police should be in charge, the INEC Chairman thought otherwise, stating that INEC ought to be in charge. “Recently, there has been an overbearing attitude of state actors, especially officials of the Nigeria Police Force in political affairs. “As a free citizen of this country, I think we have had enough of Police interference in electoral affairs. “Therefore, as we approach the 2019 general election, there is a need to put up measures to check the activities of some politicians and officials of the Police Force, who will collude with them. “Therefore, I want to align myself with the INEC Chairman that INEC should be in charge of police personnel posted to it during elections.”

to campaign for Buhari’s reelection. They dressed in ‘babanriga,’ a traditional attire, designed with APC campaign ornaments. Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a spokesperson for Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano, shared pictures his principal took with the two foreign governors as

they prepared to receive Buhari in Kano earlier yesterday. Buhari had since concluded the Kano campaign for himself and other APC candidates in the general election next month. No sooner had TankoYakasai shared the pictures on Twitter than a flurry of critical

comments began to trickle in, with many reactions pointing to people’s befuddlement. The development comes barely days after both the presidency and the APC issued separate statements attacking Western diplomatic missions for expressing outrage over Buhari’s suspension of

Onnoghen, an action widely deemed unconstitutional. Buhari himself did not say he followed the guidelines enumerated in the Constitution for the removal of a chief justice but said he acted on an order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, an auxiliary judicial panel under the presidency.

CONGRATULATIONS...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Foreign Investment Network, Michael Dragoyevich, presenting the African Icon award to Benedict Peters to the Executive Director, Aiteo Group, Mrs SPB Jigo who represented Peters at the award ceremony in Abuja...recently

Zamfara: APC Accuses INEC of Double Standard Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of not treating it fairly on the issue of fielding of candidates for the 2019 elections in Zamfara State. The party also reacted to statements made on Wednesday by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar and his running-mate, Peter Obi at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja, describing it as mere falsehood and a show of unrepentant attitude over past misdeeds. Addressing a press conference at the National headquarters of the APC, the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, said contrary to insinuations by the PDP that INEC is biased in favour of the APC, the

commission has done more harm to the interest of the ruling party than that of the opposition. Onilu who was reacting to INEC’s insistence on noninclusion of APC’s candidates for the election in Zamfara State over failure to conduct proper party primaries, said the commission did not take the same stand on the PDP’s candidates in Kano State. “It also shows for people who are discerning to ask that question, this is supposed to be the APC that INEC is or ought to be working for? And this is what we are going through in the hands of INEC that PDP has repeatedly claimed is put in place to rig elections for APC. “But let me add that in Kano State, PDP did not do primaries. PDP did not take any of these options and yet today, INEC is not saying anything regarding PDP and

all the candidates submitted for PDP in Kano were accepted,” he said. He said that INEC has relied on the fact that courts of equal jurisdiction have given conflicting judgments and still insisted on holding to its position regarding noninclusion of APC’s candidates in the elections. “We can understand that. What it thus means is that it is not over and then we will continue to take steps. We are very certain, we did the right thing. The primaries held; INEC was not satisfied with that but it is our right to field candidates and we would follow up all the legal means to ensure that our candidates stand for elections in this 2019 general elections in Zamfara. Same situation for Rivers,” he said. When asked to compare Atiku’s outing at the Town Hall

session as against President Buhari’s performance, Onilu said that the president came across as one with a clean mind and determination to fix Nigeria, while Atiku has only been able to restate his “penchant for unquenchable interest for manipulating the system for personal gains and one who is bold to ask Nigerians to return him to power to continue to do same.’’ The APC spokesman said Atiku and Obi made a shocking confession that their administration will grant amnesty to looters. He also accused the PDP presidential candidate of making spirited attempt “to get foreign validation for his floundering presidential bid which is not to serve Nigerians but to pander to the wishes of his friends, and some shadowy foreign concerns and interests.

Kaduna Electric, Labour Sign Conditions of Service, Procedural Agreements Kaduna Electric has reiterated its commitment not to leave any stone unturned in building a highly motivated and result driven workforce through provision of comprehensive welfare package and other necessary incentives to attract the best talents in the industry. The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Garba Haruna, stated this in Kaduna yesterday evening during the formal signing ceremony of its Conditions of Service and Procedural Agreement with the two trade unions operating in the company.

Garba who described himself as a member of the labour unions, called on especially the leadership of the labour movements, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), as well as the generality of the workers to focus their attention and energy in addressing the wide revenue deficit currently existing in the company. He disclosed that the investors have the interest of the workers at heart and demanded more commitment and dedication from the workers

to enable the company meet its obligations to the electricity market and improve on the current staff welfare package. “We wish we could offer more than what is contained in these two documents, but I assure you that once we are able to attain 100 per cent efficiency in billing and collections, we shall not hesitate to reward the workers accordingly,” he stated. The leadership of the labour unions, Nasiru Dembo of SSAEAC and Joe Ajero of NUEE commended the Management for staying the course and patiently ensuring the success of the exercise.

Dembo who described the exercise as “painstaking that lasted for about two and half years and appealed to the management of Kaduna Electric to respect the spirit and the letters of the documents and pledged the unflinching loyalty of the workers to the company. The highpoint of the event was the signing of both the Conditions of Service and Procedural Agreements by the MD/CEO of Kaduna Electric representing the management and Joe Ajero representing NUEE and Nasir Dembo representing SSAEAC.

FRIDAYFEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

N100bn Campaign Funds Pitted Lagos Assembly against Ambode, CSOs Allege Agbaje warns against plunging Lagos into crisis Gboyega Akinsanmi A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) yesterday alleged that the Lagos State House of Assembly moved to remove the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, because the governor refused to release the sum of N100 billion the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the state demanded for electioneering. Also lending his voice against the governor’s plan, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, urged the lawmakers not to plunge the state into chaos with the plan to remove Ambode.

The Convener of the coalition, Mr. Mark Adebayo, made the allegation at a world press conference held at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, noting that with the removal, it was obvious that the assembly was becoming a political abattoir for the murder of democracy in Nigeria. Coming together under the aegis of Lagos Liberation Movement (LLM), the CSOs that formed the coalition are the Campaign for Democracy (CD), United Action for Democracy (UAD), Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC)(Reformed) and Lagos People’s Assembly (LPA) with a mandate to stop the assembly from witch-hunting Ambode. Speaking at the conference

yesterday, the convener alleged that the assembly threatened to remove Ambode because he refused “to release the sum of N100 billion tax payer’s money to the party to fund political campaigns. “It has been alleged that Ambode’s refusal to hand over the state’s treasury key to the Lagos slave master-in-chief is the current cause of his travails. His non-compliance with the directive to make available N100 billion by an insatiable political godfather provoked the current backlash against the governor. “We have already put together a comprehensive petition to the anti-graft agencies and multilateral organisations on the

reckless and irresponsible waste of the state’s resources by the legislative arm of government in the state.” He noted that the coalition was interested in knowing how the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, “has been administering N800 million “running costs” allocated to the assembly monthly. But speaking with THISDAY on phone yesterday, the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, debunked the allegation that the lawmakers and party leaders demanded N100 billion, noting that it was fake news, which according to him, should not be taken seriously for any reason.

Igbokwe said the allegation “is propaganda from the opposition camp. It is not true that the party leaders demanded such money for the purpose of funding our campaign. It is fake news, which no person should believe.” He, therefore, said the allegation should be dismissed, claiming that it “is not true. I cannot react to fake news. At times, all sorts of fake news are being circulated all over the country. It is propaganda against our party.” Meanwhile, in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Publicity yesterday, Agbaje asked the assembly and the APC not to plunge the state into chaos

over moves to remove Ambode, saying the move was capable of jeopardising the smooth running of the state. According to him of course, the way Lagos politics has been structured over the last two decades, government actions are often dictated by open and covert objectives. “That the legislators are hinging their action on the purported delay of the budget is simply a smokescreen for a very shameful undertone that the assembly members will not want to make open. They are yet to tell us their actual motivation for this superfluous move to shame the governor.

Kaduna CAN Chairman Berates el-Rufai over Comments on Christians John Shiklam in Kaduna The newly elected Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, has berated the state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, over claims that Christians did not vote for him in 2015. El-Rufai, while defending his Muslim-Muslim ticket for the governorship election, had said even if he had nominated the Pope as his running mate, 67 per cent of Christian in Southern Kaduna will not vote for him. However, speaking yesterday at the inauguration of newly elected state executives of CAN at its secretariat in Kaduna, Hayab, who described the governor as “an ingrate,” said Christians voted for el-Rufai to become governor. The governor was represented at the occasion by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan. The CAN state leader said: “We voted for them, and if the man tells you that we did

not vote for him, he is a liar. “He is a liar! Christians even made him governor, but because he is an ingrate, because he has no fear of God, he comes out and told Christians that we never voted for him.” Speaking further, Hayab noted that “I have always used simple example, in Jama’a Local Government Area of the state, where the total votes in the 2015 was 86,000. The party in power (APC), got 39,000 votes, the party that failed (PDP) got 46,000. If the person feels that 39,000 is not votes, then he is an ingrate. “We know the truth and we cannot compromise truth when people begin to twist facts.” The CAN chairman also warned that Christians will no longer tolerate those who have made it their business to say bad things about Christians. “I want to tell those who have found it a new business to say bad things about Christians, that we will not tolerate it.

Group Commends Buhari for Asking Imo Electorate to Vote Across Party Lines Udora Orizu in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended for advising the Imo State electorate to vote across party lines in the general election. The commendation was made in a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman of the New Imo Movement (NIM) and former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Anselm Odom. Odom who is also a Chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said that President Buhari made it clear that the candidates of other political parties could be voted for by APC supporters in Imo State irrespective of their political affiliation during his rally in Owerri recently. Odom said APGA had

shown a lot of support to the President and deserved to be supported in Imo State, saying that the APGA governorship candidate for Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, was at the Imo Airport in Owerri with his supporters to receive Buhari on his arrival in Owerri. He also pointed out that the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, also received the President when he came to Owerri, adding that “these were clear demonstrations of the partnership between APGA and the President.” He enjoined Imo people to consider the President’s advice and vote for Senator Araraume, who he said, was an experienced politician from the private sector who would develop every sector of the Imo economy.

PROMOTING QUALITY…

L-R: Nestoil Executive Director, Operations, Nestoil, Mr. Obinna Ufudo; Group Managing Director, Mr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi; and Country Manager, DQS Limited, Mr. Lawrence Ogudu, at the presentation of ISO Certification on Quality Management Systems to Nestoil and its affiliates in Lagos…recently

CUPP Wants Court to Declare Buhari Unfit for Re-election Udora Orizu in Abuja The opposition political parties under the auspices of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking that President Muhammadu Buhari be declared medically unfit to seek re-election in the February 16 presidential poll. The CUPP spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, said the coalition also

sought an order directing Buhari to make public the result of his medical examination. The CUPP described the step as a patriotic decision, saying re-electing the president would only empower members of a purported cabal who have hijacked the presidency to rule for another four years as earlier alleged by the wife of the president. He said: “We have come to the conclusion that re-electing Buhari will only empower members of the cabal that his wife admitted

has hijacked his presidency to rule us for another four years from the dark. “In order to save this great country from the disaster that will follow if President Buhari is in a rare happenstance re-elected, we the opposition political parties have therefore filed a litigation in court seeking to declare him unfit to contest for 2019 election because of his mental instability.” Ugochinyere further said the parties were also seeking from the court an order disqualifying

President Buhari from contesting the election to the office he presently occupies and an injunction restraining INEC from recognising his candidacy. “Nigerians will also be glad to know that to prove that we are on the right path, we are also asking the court to grant an order directing President Buhari to make public the results of the medical examination which we ask that he be subjected to so that no citizen will be in doubt that we are saving the country from calamity by taking these steps.”

StopUsingPublicFundforCampaign,HURIWATellsBuhari,Govs Peter Uzoho A non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop President Muhammadu Buhari, governors and ministers from illegally deploying public fund to run their election campaigns. HURIWA also threatened to take a legal action against INEC to compel it to act if it fails to within 72 hours, take verifiable and transparent step to stop the alleged abuse of the extant Electoral Act by the political office holders mentioned.

HURIWA in a statement issued issued yesterday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and its National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, stated that the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended) seeks to provide for a fair playing ground for all political parties and their candidates. It said the Act also discourages and proscribes such circumstance that gives “peculiar advantage” to one political party or candidate over another. It argued that right from the outset, section 82 forbids the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from

registering symbols which portray the Coat of Arms of the Federation, the Coat of Arms of any other country or a device or emblem which in the opinion of the INEC is normally associated with the official acts of Government, any of the Armed Forces of the Federation of Nigeria or the Nigeria Police Force or other uniformed service, the regalia of a chief, any tribe or ethnic group, any religion or cult. The rights group further contended that the Electoral Act as stipulated in section 90, limits the amount of spending for candidates of political parties vying for various elective positions,

saying the Act states that “masquerade funds” (or anonymous donations) are not acceptable as donations likewise foreign. HURIWA said: “The guiding provision of the Electoral Act as regards use of public resources is Section 100. Section 100(1) makes an omnibus provision for campaign to be within the rules and regulation provided by the INEC. More specifically and directly however, section 100(2) of the Electoral Act clearly states that State apparatus including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Court Orders LADOL to Grant Samsung Unrestricted Access to Fabrication Yard Akinwale Akintunde

Justice Abdulfattah Molawale Lawal of the Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere has ordered Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) to grant Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited (SHIN) and its subsidiary SHI-MCI FZE, unrestricted access to the Fabrication and Integration Yard in the LADOL Zone. The judge gave this order yesterday, while delivering judgment in Suit No: LD/493CM/2018 between LADOL and SHIN. Justice Lawal in his judgment also restrained LADOL from further unlawful interfering with Samsung’s proprietary rights in the LADOL Zone. The court further granted Samsung, a global shipbuilding giant, “the right to freely move in and out of its yard with its employees, agents and service providers. Furthermore, LADOL shall continue to provide all services such as water and power supply to Samsung”. According to the court’s decision, which is in favour of Samsung and Nigeria at a critical time, Samsung should continue its operations unhindered. Commenting on the judgment, the Chief Operating Officer of SHI-MCI, Mr. Frank Eijzu, said: “Samsung is pleased that the High Court has ruled in its favour and against LADOL. The Judgment prevents LADOL from evicting Samsung from the yard meaning that it shall comply with its legal obligations to provide services to the yard and its Nigerian employees. “The judgment will allow Samsung to continue to provide services vital to the completion

of the 200,000 barrels per day Egina deep water project, future projects in Nigeria, Nigerian oil production and the Nigerian economy. “We have always maintained that there were no lawful grounds to terminate the sublease agreement. This is part of a co-ordinated campaign by LADOL to unlawfully convert, appropriate and take control of the yard to the detriment of the Nigerian economy. The Judgment by the High Court of Lagos grants Samsung possession of its fabrication and integration yard while the validity of the termination of the Sub-lease Agreement is being determined at the London Court of International Arbitration” Samsung originally won the tender for the construction of the floating production, storage and offloading platform for the exploration of the Egina oil-field 130km off Nigeria’s coastline. When fully operational, the platform will boost Nigeria’s oil production capability by 200,000 barrels a day and will make a significant contribution to the Nigerian economy. The joint venture – SHI-MCIFZE, which is owned 70 per cent by Samsung and 30 per cent by LADOL’s affiliate, entered a sub-lease agreement with Global Resources Management Limited (LADOL’s affiliate) in order for SHI-MCI FZE to construct and develop a world class Fabrication and Integration yard and quay wall for the execution of the local content elements of the Egina FPSO Project. The global shipbuilding giant has accused LADOL of abusing its monopolistic position and regulatory powers as a zone

Ganduje Enjoys Immunity from Prosecution, Says Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, enjoys immunity from prosecution as a sitting governor. He also noted that under Nigerian laws, an accused remained innocent until proven guilty by the courts. Besides, the president added that the alleged dollar bribes Ganduje was seen stuffing in his pockets in a video widely circulated on social media, had become a matter already in a law court. Buhari was reacting to criticisms in some quarters that he shielded his political associates like Ganduje among others, from prosecution in the face of glaring evidence. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday, the President dismissed criticisms suggesting that his association with Ganduje was a smear on his anti-corruption stance. The statement said some high-profile persons, including a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a former state governor,

were being prosecuted for corruption. The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, was also cited as another government official serving administrative leave to pave the way for investigation into corruption allegations levelled against him. “Despite some of the suspects being close to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation, administrative suspensions and prosecution”, the statement added. Specifically, on Ganduje, the Presidency said, “as a sitting governor, (he) enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right. “Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. “In the circumstances, the matter is in court and the President has no power to dictate to the court or the Kano State House of Assembly, which is already investigating the matter, about what to do with the allegations against Ganduje.

manager in clear conflict of interest with its personal business interest. “LADOL has also been spreading deliberate and malicious falsehoods in the Nigerian media designed to unlawfully appropriate and

take over Samsung’s fabrication yard and to convert same to its own use. This has culminated in LADOL attempting to unlawfully terminate the sub-lease agreement granted in Samsung’s favour and refusing Samsung access to its yard from September 3, 2018

until September 26, 2018,” the company said. Since its arrival in Nigeria in 2011, SHIN has created more than 6000 jobs for Nigerians and has offered promotion to managerial positions for its Nigerian employees. It has trained some of

Nigeria’s most skilled welders and has established a Technology training Centre. As part of its corporate social responsibility endeavours, it has also worked with Vision Care to provide free-cataract surgery to over 350 patients over the last three years.

PROUD PARENTS…

L-R: Wife of the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG); Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji- Bello; her son, Mr. Ayodeji Olatunji-Bello who recently bagged a Masters degree in Renewable Energy and Power Systems Management at City, University of London; (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello; and daughter, Dr. Temitope Akinjogbin, at the graduation ceremony of Ayodeji in London, United Kingdom...recently

Former EFCC Acting Chairman, Lamorde, 17 Others Promoted to the Rank of AIG Alex Enumah in Abuja A former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde and 17 other Commissioners of Police (CPs) have been elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG). Also elevated to the rank of CPs were 33 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs). According to a statement by the spokesman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Ikechukwu Ani, their promotion was recently approved by the commission at its 4th Plenary Meeting in Abuja on January

28 and 29, 2019 and presided over by its Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police. “The Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of eighteen Commissioners of Police, CPs, to the next rank of Assistant Inspector- General of Police, AIG, and thirty three Deputy Commissioners of Police to the substantive rank of Commissioner of Police”, the statement read. The other new AIGs are; Maurice A. yusuf; Murtala Usman Mani, Wilson A. Inalegwu, a former CP, FCT; Dibal Paul Yakadi; Haruna Huzi, Mshelia; Mohammad

A. Mustafa; Hyelashinda Kimo Musa, former CP, FCT, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom Commands; Adeleye Olusola Oyebade, a former Oyo State Command CP; Olusola Kamar Subair; Basen Dapiya Gwana; David Oyebanji Folawiyo; Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim; Nkpa N. Inakwu; Chris Okey Ezike, until now CP, Abia State; Moses Ambakina Jitoboh; D.M Obembe and Wilson O. Akhiwu. Those prompted to the new rank of CP are ; Uche J. Anozia; Nwamhi Felix Yame; Mohammed Abdulmumini Gimba; Musa Adze; Philip Sule Maku; Umaru Haruna Miringa; Usman Sule Gomna; Adamu Usman; Daniel Sokari-

Pedro; Ahmed Mohammed Azare; Adamu Saleh Jajeri; Maigana Alahi Sani; Audu Adamu Madaki and Dajuma Mohammed Lawal. Others are; Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje; John Ogbonnaya Amadi; Ede Ayuba Ekpeji; Mohammed Bagega; Bello Makwashi; Buba Sanusi; Suleiman Balarabe; Rabiu Ladodo; Ndatsu Aliyu Mohammed; Yunusa Edwin Ogwuche; Cyril I. Okoro; Awosola Awotunde; Ayodele Andrew Olatunji; Garuba Danjuma; Bello Sani Dalijan; Imaikop Asuquo Okpongkpong and Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya; Jerome E. Bentem; Idris Nagoyo; Ibrahim A. Gora and Edna Obiageri Ugbebor.

BUHARI: REFORMING NIGERIA MY LIFETIME AMBITION Ayokunle, warned that the resurgence of insecurity in the North-east has the capacity to threaten the forthcoming general election if efforts at curtailing it are not stepped up. “The association however, observes that the present efforts of the government in providing security are not yielding the needed results as wanton killings have continued, especially in some states in the northern part of the country. “Boko Haram appeared to have resurrected again, decimating communities in Borno and Yobe States in particular, and not sparing soldiers. This resurgence of insecurity in the Northeast portends danger for the forthcoming general elections if efforts at curtailing it are not increased. Many voters might be disenfranchised from voting’’,

the body stated. CAN, however, commended the President for the continuous reassurance that all will be done by the government to make the forthcoming general election free, fair and credible, imploring him to make sure that all these promises are transformed into reality through concrete efforts that would prevent violence and other electoral malpractices. “We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other security agents not to make themselves available to be used for rigging or any form of electoral malpractice by the politicians. “No voter or election observer must be intimidated or harassed throughout the period of the election. We equally urge politicians to run away from vote

buying while the electorates should not allow anybody to buy their votes. If you sell your vote, you sell your future. “We urge all Nigerians to continue pray fervently for peaceful and credible elections in our country and to walk circumspectly.” On the fight against corruption, the Christian body cautioned President Buhari against pursuing his anti-corruption agenda in disregard of due process. In a related development, the PDP has asked President Buhari to stop fixating over the non-existent five million votes that was promised him by the Governor Ganduje, describing it as completely illusionary. The PDP in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola

Ologbondiyan, said that Buhari must have received a shock of his life when he realised that his party, APC, had to rent a crowd from neighbouring Niger Republic to populate his rally in Kano after the planners could not mobilise enough supporters from Kano to attend. Ologbondiyan added, “Nigerians watched in amusement as two state governors and a traditional ruler from Niger Republic, who were contracted to hire and ferry in the aliens, struggled for space with APC leaders at the rally. “They saw how the crowd, with strange and conflicting colours, could not connect to calls and speeches by APC leaders, but remained uncoordinated and had to be instructed and prodded to respond at the rally”.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NSA Plans to Shutdown Internet Service to Aid Rigging, Wike Alleges Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to work with internet service providers to shutdown internet access during the forthcoming elections. Wike said shutting down internet access by the NSA and INEC is aimed at facilitating the rigging of the 2019 general elections. He spoke yesterday during a courtesy visit by Savannah Centre Council on Peaceful and Violence Free Election in Nigeria at the Government House, Port Harcourt. He said: “The National Security Adviser has met with INEC to ensure that internet service providers shut down the internet, so that foreign bodies won’t see what’s happening in the country during the elections. “They will jam all the frequencies and internet services to stop real time communication during t,he elections. “This plot to rig the forthcoming elections is a

recipe for violence. They will not succeed in whatever they are planning. The world will be informed about their criminal activities.” The governor said the negative actions of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration indicate that they would not accept defeat when they lose the forthcoming elections. He advised Buhari to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who placed Nigeria above personal consideration. “I don’t think this administration will willingly accept defeat. They should emulate Former President Goodluck Jonathan who lost elections and accepted the outcome. “There was no litigation. He went back home and did not generate crisis, “ he said. The governor said Rivers people would not fold their hands and allow the APC Federal Government unleash violence and rig the 2019 elections. He regretted that the APC Federal Government has caged the Judiciary, making it difficult to determine electoral disputes in court. He argued that the conduct

of credible elections rest squarely with security agencies and INEC, adding that once the two agencies act within the law, the polls would be credible. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Founder of Savannah

Centre Council on Peaceful and Violence Free Election in Nigeria, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, called on all stakeholders to work towards peaceful and credible polls. He said the group is

involved in extensive research and consultation to promote peace. He noted that peace and development are intertwined, hence they must be encouraged. Gambari urged the governor to use his national contacts to

enhance the culture of peace. Former Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Prof Oshita Oshita, urged the governor to continue to work in the interest of peaceful polls.

Women’s Group Preaches Violent-free Campaigns Worried by the increasing spate of politically-motivated violence in parts of the country in the build up to the forthcoming general election, the Grassroots Women for Atiku/Obi, (GW4AO), has called on political actors to eschew violence and embrace peace in their campaigns. Presenting its position when the Group, along with the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki, met with UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, the Grassroots Women for Atiku/Obi said it rose from a PDP National Women’s Conference held in Abuja “with a new hope for women’s political and democratic engagement.” It added: “We feel compelled to raise awareness of the urgent need to stem the apparently rising rate of politically-motivated violence. In the last couple of weeks alone, we have seen reports of campaign violence occurring in Lagos State,

Imo State, Kogi State, and Kwara State, with many cases of grievous injuries and deaths.” UN Women was established by the United Nations as the global champion for women and girls to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. Its cardinal areas of focus include women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women, the pursuit of peace and security as well as promoting and supporting youth leadership, among others. On the backdrop of those goals, the Grassroots Women for Atiku/Obi in a statement by its Director-General, Ms Amina Jambo, raised concern over what it described as “the growing level of violence during and at campaigns venue,” and warned that unless politicians preach peace and encourage their followers to focus on issuebased campaigns, such growing spate of violence was capable of impacting the outcome of the

elections negatively.” “This gives us great concern for the safety and security, and indeed the human right to democratic suffrage of civilian citizens,” it stated, adding that such acts “of wilful impunity” are capable of affecting voterturnout “particularly for women and youth.” The GW4AO stated further: “As Nigeria prepares to choose its next leaders, gender-based violence and election violence should be firmly condemned by all, citizens and observers alike. “We have thus encouraged members of the Grassroots Women Campaign, which we support and advise, to immediately adopt an ‘End Election Violence Advocacy,’ as a prerequisite to free and fair elections, and to guarantee citizens’ rights to live and choose their leaders, in dignity, safety and security without fear of intimidation, suppression or retribution from desperate

power-seekers.” The Grassroots Women for Atiku/Obi’s mission is “to empower individual citizens to take a more active role” in the governance and the political processes. “These individuals are commonly referred to as ‘the grassroots’ made up of largely women and young people living in the rural and semi-urban areas, and they represent 65-70 per cent of the electorate,” GW4AO explained, adding “We know that there is a critical need to activate this group of voters in order to obtain success.” But while mobilisation of voters at the grassroots is its primary focus, GW4AO said it is disturbed that as the days roll by for the general elections “there has been an unusual increase in the violence happening on campaign venues, around politicians and political actors in a growing number of areas across the country.

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Ex-govs, PDP Leaders Accuse Kogi Govt of Raising Private Army SDP demands probe of political killings Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Kassim Sumaina and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Former governors of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, Ibrahim Idris; former acting governor, Clarence Olufemi; Senator Dino Melaye and other leaders of the Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised the alarm that the Kogi State government is stockpiling weapons and training 3,000 private army in the guise of vigilantes ahead of next month’s

elections. Similarly, worried by the upsurge in recent political assassinations and incessant harassment of its party loyalists, the state branch of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Acting Inspector General of Police, Idris Adamu, to as a matter of urgency, probe spate of political killings in the state. Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday on behalf of the PDP leaders, the Kogi State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Sam Uhuotu, called on the security

FG to Support Expansion of 60 Indigenous Energy Firms Chineme Okafor in Abuja The federal government has expressed its preparedness to support 100 indigenous oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria to overcome their existing market challenges and grow to become big energy conglomerates. It said this was part of its effort to improve indigenous participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through a programme tagged: ‘Project 100’ that would see 100 wholly-owned and operated Nigerian companies receive capacity and financial support from the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed that the programme would among other things, seek to also develop next generation large-scale Nigerian oil and gas service companies through structured capacity building and policy intervention. Kachikwu, at the unveiling of the programme and the first 60 benefiting companies, acknowledged that indigenous companies operating in Nigeria’s oil industry

always contend with serious difficulties. He explained that the logic behind the programme was to create opportunities for local companies by boosting their capacity and giving them access to existing markets. The minister urged the selected firms to focus on growing their businesses, adding that the government would expect them to meet the objectives of the programme. Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, explained at the event that the board would enhance the capacity of companies selected in the programme and help them financially through the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF). According to Wabote, the programme will also “help them find opportunities in the industry in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiary NAPIMS.” He said it was “in our interest as a country to support companies operating in the oil and gas industry so that they can create jobs for our teeming population.”

agencies to take urgent actions to avert the looming political upheaval and widespread destruction of lives and property in the state. He urged the military high command to investigate the ease and frequency with which officers and men are dragged into issues in which the state governor has special interest. According to him, “We call on the National Peace Committee under the eminent leadership of Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar (rtd), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector General of Police, the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs, the Civil Society Organisations and the international community to pay special attention to the veritable flash point, which Kogi has become in the forthcoming elections and prevail on the

State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to desist from promoting state-sponsored violence in order to spare the innocent people of the state from inexorable catastrophe that is now unfolding like a Greek tragedy.” Uhuotu also expressed concern about the increasing brazenness and ferocity with which violence is being unmeshed by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) thugs. He added, “There is an indication of active connivance or tacit endorsement by state functionaries, especially the local government administrators, who now function like commanders. “There have also been more recent revelations of arms build-up in the state as well as arming and training of 3,000 strong military disguised as vigilantes at the Kogi Confluence

Stadium, Lokoja. We believe these militias are being prepared for full-scale deployment to unleash violence and disruption during the forthcoming elections.” Also speaking yesterday, the Acting Chairman, Kogi State, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Muktar Atimah, deplored the level of insecurity in the state, alleging that the APCadministration had deployed thugs to attack and maim political opponents. In his speech, the senatorial candidate of the SDP for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti, asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to call the state governor to order. Akpoti said that the governor was breeding thugs and using them to intimidate perceived opponents ahead of the general elections, saying that he has not

SIGNED AND SEALED...

Managing Director, Kaduna Electric, Garba Haruna (middle), flanked by the Vice President, Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), Nasir Dembo (right), and General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero (left), at the signing of staff Conditions of Service and Procedural Agreement between Kaduna Electric and the two unions in Kaduna ... yesterday

Nestoil Seeks Collaboration to Grow Local Oil Firms

Ekiti PDP Lawmaker Defects to APC

Jonathan Eze

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Olayanju, has defected to the All Progressives Congress(APC), citing cases of division and lack of decorum in his former party to justify his action. Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Olanrewaju stated that he took the action because the PDP is no longer a

Nestoil Limited has said that only collaboration of local oil companies in the country would transform it into a regional giants capable of developing the economies of the West African. Group Managing Director of the company, Ernest AzudialuObiejesi, said collaboration among the oil companies will open them up to a lot of opportunities springing up across the new frontiers in the industry. He disclosed this at the West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (WAIPEC), where he was a member of the panel to discuss how Indigenous contractors can be transformed into regional powerhouses. Obiejesi said collaboration which can be through a ‘Central hub model, Multiple hub models or that of Pure Organic model’ when adopted will reduce rivalry among local firms which will save cost, increase expertise and shared

values to the partners. He mentioned the benefits accruable to other oil companies through their 59-hectare base in Abuloma, Rivers State, deep into the ocean where a lot of fabrication activities go on with dockyard availability, and how other firms can come in, do their contracts using the facility therein and move the products when done instead of thinking to expend extra costs due to non-availability of the facility to them. He said there is a huge opportunity inherent in the West African market yet to be tapped as if there was no market there would be no opportunity, but the availability of market is why transformation is being touted. Represented by Nnamdi Ihekweazu, Head of business development, he said solutions to human capital development issues can be gotten from local expertise which has been their core message since inception as 95 percent of their workforce are Nigerians.

hidden his disdain for opponents whom he has vowed to crush. She expressed confidence that President Buhari would not want be party to the shedding of anyone’s blood in an attempt to deliver Kogi to him in the forthcoming Presidential election. Atimah who specifically drew the attention of Inspector General of Police to murder of the state party Youth Leader, alleged that “On Saturday, January 12, 2019, SDP Youth leader in Obeiba Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, Mr. Ojo Enesi was murdered by a gang of Kogi APC thugs.” According to him, “On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, SDP Youth Mobiliser, Friday Ovoro, was abducted in his residence at Ohueta, Okehi Local government area, whose whereabouts is still unknown.

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

vehicle under which the dream of making his constituents better can be realised. He was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Adeniran Alagbada; the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Paul Omotoso, and his Deputy, Hon Sola Elesin. He described the suspension slammed on seven members of the assembly, including himself by the PDP State Working Committee as exercise in

futility, saying only the National Working Committee (NWC) can exercise such power. The Gboyega Oguntuase-led SWC had last week suspended the lawmakers for alleged anti -activities. Olanrewaju, who is the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Environment, said : “I was not coerced by anybody to join APC. I joined on my own. “When I wanted to start politics, I began with PDP and now that the party had

shattered, I have to move to a better party.” He said he did not join APC because of fight over return ticket, declaring that he was no longer interested in representing a party that has been personalised by an individual. “I have reflected deep on the whole situation and I have informed my constituency that my interest and the interest of my people can no longer be achieved in the PDP.

Boko Haram: Elections’ll Be Restricted to Three Centres in Madagali, Says INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to restrict voting to only three centres in Madagali Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State in the forthcoming general election. The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam, who disclosed this,

said the decision was informed by security report. He added that election will hold at all polling centres in neighbouring Michika LGA and the rest of the state. Election did not hold in both Madagali and Michika LGAs in 2015 due to the violent activities of Boko Haram which

had seized both LGAs earlier in 2014. Even after the LGAs were liberated in January 2015, the effects and fear of Boko Haram remained dominant up to the period of the 2015 elections and fleeing residents were availed opportunity to vote at special centres in the state

capital, Yola. Gaidam spoke at a ‘Prevention of Election Violence and Education for Inclusion in Nigeria (PEV-EDI) programme, a programme of the European Union Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) at internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Malkohi and Fufore.

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Atiku’s Endorsement: Ohanaeze Sacks Secretary-General Christopher Isiguzo and Gideon Arinze in Enugu The controversy trailing the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by

the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has claimed its first casualty as the organisation, last night suspended its Secretary General, Mr. Uche Okwukwu. The suspension was contained in a statement signed by the

Marafa Asks Buhari to Shelve Zamfara Campaign, Hails INEC The senator representing Zamfara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Kabir Marafa, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for maintaining its earlier position on the rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates from Zamfara State. Marafa, who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend his proposed campaign slated for Gusau, the state capital, on Sunday. The senator, who addressed journalists in Abuja yesterday, said he would personally submit a letter to President Buhari urging him to stay away from the presidential campaign. “I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend his proposed campaign to Zamfara State on Sunday. I will personally hand over a letter on the matter to him. “However, if the President insists on going for the rally in Zamfara on Sunday, there is no problem. Let (Governor) Yari hold his rally on Sunday, we will organise our own later and people will see who the people are supporting. “We don’t care if the President attends our own rally later or not. We will organise a mega rally that will be given live

coverage so that the whole World will see that we are very popular among our people.” Marafa, who is also a governorship aspirant of the APC in the state, said INEC has done the right thing by maintaining its position on the issue of APC primaries in Zamfara State. A Zamfara State High Court presided over by Justice Muhammad Shinkafi had last week in Gusau, delivered a judgment directing INEC to allow the APC candidates to participate in the election. But the same day, a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in Abuja held that the electoral body acted within its powers to reject the list of candidates presented to it by the party However, INEC in a statement by its National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, on Wednesday, after studying the two judgments, decided to maintain its earlier position on the matter. Specifically, the commission said, “the commission has decided to maintain its original position that the party in question did not conduct primaries, therefore, in line with Section 87 of the Electoral Act of 2010 ( as amended), not eligible to field candidates.”

Oyetola’s Wife Empowers Women Farmers with Loans No fewer than 1,000 women farmers drawn from the 30 local government areas benefitted from a revolving loan initiated by the wife of the Osun State Governor, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola. Mrs. Oyetola launched the process in Osogbo yesterday in conjunction with Access Bank; at a ceremony presided over by Governor Gboyega Oyetola. The programme is under her organisation, the Ilerioluwa Development Initiative (IDC). Mrs. Oyetola said the focus of the initiative was to ensure that women in the state are fully engaged in vegetable plantation to support local consumption She said the vegetable scheme had been designed in three modules which include; the training module, the distribution of improved seeds that are expected to give good yields within a very short period to the women as well as the giving out of loans to the women to kick start the vegetable plantations. “I am happy at the enthusiastic embrace of this scheme by our women who engage in agriculture as your response here today is a clear

indication that collectively we are ready to bring tangible and fundamental change to the living standard of our people in this state. “The agriculture sector has always been the main pillar for the sustenance of humanity in history. There used to be a time when our country took the front position in this. It is commendable that we are beginning to witness an upsurge again. It is particularly gladdening that more and more women are embracing farming both as vocation and profession. “This is one of the reasons our Foundation, the Ilerioluwa Development Initiative (IODInitiative) has come up with a programme of empowerment in agriculture in our state However, Governor Oyetola said his administration had resolved to bring out the best in every sector particularly in agriculture to ensure that the state has adequate foods to feed its people. Describing vegetable farming as one of the productive areas of agriculture, Governor Oyetola called on the people of the state to start developing interest in it.

National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Mr. Uche AchiOkpaga, and made available to journalists at the end of its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Enugu yesterday. The statement said that Okwukwu was suspended both as Secretary General and member of all organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The body accused the

suspended scribe of engaging in false representations of decisions of the meetings of the NEC and the Imeobi of Ohanaeze at different fora in the last three days. “These actions having taken place in the public domain and reported copiously in the mass media, NEC in an overwhelming majority decision after confronting Okwukwu has resolved as follows.

“That Uche Okwukwu is from this day, Thursday, January 31, 2019, suspended from his office as Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and membership of all organs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,” the statement said. The Ohanaeze NEC gave Okwukwu seven days to publicly retract the alleged misrepresentations and publish same in the mass media, adding that the failure to do that would

be referred to a disciplinary committee for further inquiries and appropriate action and subsequent referral to the Imeobi for final decision. “In the prevailing circumstance, every member of Ohanaeze, branches and affiliate bodies are advised, in the mean-time, to take note and desist from dealing with Uche Okwukwu as the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo”.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING...

A cross-section of Master of Oil and Gas Laws (LL.M) students from the Strathmore University Law School, Nairobi, Kenya, with the Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Adewale Tinubu (middle), during a two-day knowledge sharing /academia visit to the company’s corporate head office, Lagos...recently

Osinbajo Launches School Feeding Programme in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday launched the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in Edo State to provide free meals for children in public schools in the state. During the launch of the programme at Eyaen Primary School in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state, Osinbajo said the NHGSFP feeds 9.3 million children in 49,937 public primary schools in 27 states, including Edo. Earlier, state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, who received Osinbajo at Western Boys High School in Benin-city, thanked

the vice president for the visit, and commended him for the Social Investment Programme, which he said has added value to the lives of Nigerians. In his speech, Osinbajo noted that the programme employs 94,422 cooks while over 100,000 small-holder farmers are also linked to the programme. The vice president said in feeding the children across the country, 594 cows are slaughtered, 138,000 chickens killed, and 83 million tonnes of fish used in preparing the meals. He said the NHGSFP is part of the federal government’s Social Investment Programme which is one of the largest

safety net programmes in Nigeria. According to him, “N-Power employs over 500,000 graduates and 200,000 non-graduates across the country. Two million people benefit from our Micro Credit Scheme which includes Tradermoni and Marketmoni. This will be expanded to the next level to enable more Nigerians benefit from it. We will be able to reach five to 10 million Nigerians.” The vice president said the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration has been able to achieve these because it has fought corruption to secure the country’s resources and develop it.

Speaking on the impact of the Social Investment Programme, Obaseki said the programme has provided an opportunity for vulnerable families to feed and send their children to school. He explained that the NHGSFP would be linked to the Edo basic education sector transformation programme to bring out the best in school children, and thanked President Buhari and Osinbajo for the initiative to feed children in schools. “This is a new dawn in Edo State that is ensuring that our children in schools across the state are not malnourished,” he added.

Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize Excites Me, Says Afe Babalola Legal luminary and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has expressed his excitement for winning the 2018 Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize award. The frontline lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was named the winner of the prize by the chairman of the selection committee and former Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, at the unveiling of the new look Tribune, held in Lagos, on Tuesday. His emergence as the latest winner of the prestigious award came four years

after former South-African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, won the award in 2014. Earlier in 2012, Nobel Prize winner, Professor Wole Soyinka, had won the award, with Chief Afe Babalola emerging as the third distinguished personality to win the award in 2018. Speaking on Wednesday on this feat, Babalola said “when I heard the news, I was very happy. It was a minister who called my attention to the announcement. “I am happy that my contributions in the field of education are being rewarded by the reputable Obafemi Awolowo Foundation. That

I am found worthy to be equated with the sterling leadership qualities of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, especially in the area of education excites me and I am encouraged,” he said. Anyaoku, while announcing the legal icon as the winner of the award, had said “Afe Babalola had distinguished himself in the provision of quality education just like the sage, advocacy for the masses through legal intervention and other means. Therefore, he deserves the award.” Speaking on the uniqueness of the award, Babalola said “it was in 2016 that the London University awarded

LLD (Honoris Causa) for my landmark achievements. I was the third African, apart from President Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu to be given such award. “I understand that the Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize has only been won by two persons, Professor Wole Soyinka and former South African President, Dr. Thabo Mbeki, since inception. This speaks to the profundity of the award.” The ABUAD founder asked well-spirited individuals to join him in the task of building the nation, especially in giving back to the society, in order to make it better than it was.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019

F R I DAY ˾ FEBRUARY 1, 2019

FRIDAY SPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Transfer: FC Barcelona Grabs Falcons’Star, Asisat Oshoala Femi Solaja with Agency report Former African Footballer of the Years and Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, yesterday moved to another level in her professional career after moving to Barcelona FC Ladies on loan. According to reports monitored Barcelona’s official website, the loan contract will last till June this year from Chinese club, Dalian Quanjian. The 24-year-old Nigerian, who was part of Super Falcons wining team at the African Women Nations Football tournament in Ghana late last year arrived in Barcelona yesterday morning for the

routine medical checks and then signed her contract in the President’s Office at the Camp Nou. The Director responsible for the women section at Camp Nou, Maria Teixidor, and Sports Manager, Markel Zubizarreta, witnessed the brief ceremony. Oshoala was African Footballer of the Year on three occasions (2017, 2016 & 2014) and won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the Under-20 World Cup in 2014 and was top goal-scorer in the Chinese Super League in 2017. She’s quick and powerful (1.73 m and 70 kg) and has previous experience in

European football at Arsenal (2016) and Liverpool (2015). “This is obviously one of the best clubs in the world. The team has a great history and wonderful football mentality,” she said after she completed her switch. “I am excited about playing with Vicky Losada again. She’s a great midfielder, with a lot of energy and skill. I also met Fabiana in China and she helped me to make this decision. “My goal is to strengthen the team and help them to win and make history. This is a fantastic opportunity because I’m sure something big will happen here,” concludes the Falcons player.

L-R: Barcelona’s Sports Manager, Markel Zubizarreta; Asisat Oshoala and Director of Women Football at Camp Nou, Maria Teixidor during the unveiling of Oshoala in Barcelona, Spain…yesterday

Top Stars Arrive, Set for 2019 Access Lagos City Marathon Showdown Duro Ikhazuagbe Tomorrow morning, the city of Lagos will be at standstill again as some of the best road runners from across the world converge on the former federal capital for the 2019 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Already, the organisers of the race that has now put Lagos on the global map of cities with great marathons like London, New York, Chigaco, Boston, Berlin e.t.c, announced yesterday that most of the expected gladiators have arrived Lagos and waiting for the flag off. Predictably, most of the top

runners who will be gunning for the star prize of $50,000 are from Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Uganda, Australia, USA and Poland among many other countries that would be running on Saturday. This morning at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, most of the top runners in town like 29-year old Kenyan runner, Patrick Kipyegon Terer, Moses Kigen Kipkosgei, Agnes Jeruto Kiptocich, Herpa Almenesh Guta and others will be unveiled to track & field reporters. Olukayode Thomas, Head of Communications and Media for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon told THISDAY during

EFCC Grills Ajayi over Corruption Allegations against NFF Board Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) has quizzed the Chairman of Ondo State Football Federation, Dele Ajayi and several high ranking officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over allegations of stealing of funds at the Glass House. Ajayi, a former member of the NFF board, had last week alleged that the football federation lacked financial transparency as a consequence of mismanagement of the board led by Amaju Pinnick. He also alleged that $3million of the money, which FIFA paid Nigeria for participating in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, was not remitted into the federation bank account. It was on the strength of the allegation of the systemic ills in the football house by Ajayi, coupled with a petition in May last year, by former Technical Director of NFF, James Peters, raising dust about monumental stealing in NFF, that prompted EFCC to invite the officers to its headquarters in Abuja. They were called to substantiate on the allegations of mismanagement of funds against Pinnick; the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi; the First Vice President, Seyi Akinwumi; the Second Vice

President, Shehu Dikko and a member of the Executive Committee, Ahmed “Fresh” Yusuf. NFF had earlier attempted to discredit Ajayi’s allegation as ranting of a disgruntled person spreading “Beer Parlour” rumours. Some of those questioned by the anti-graft agency were the suspended Head of Marketing of NFF, Idris Adama, Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and Head, Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode. The EFFC has also invited Ibrahim Gusau, Sharif Inuwa, Babagana Kalli, Felix Agwu, Suleiman Kwande, Musa Duhu, Mohammed Alkali and Chidi Okenwa. Pinnick and Dikko, both presently in London with the Minister of Sport Solomon Dalung, negotiating a new deal with Nike, are also scheduled to visit EFFC at a latter day. The searchlight has been beamed on the NFF after Dalung accused the board failing to render proper statement for how it expended the N1.5 billion it was granted by government for the World Cup campaign. A Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) headed Okoi Obono Obla is also said to be carrying out a probe into the finances of the NFF.

the week that the strong cast of runners for this year’s marathon is a big plus. “The elites athletes have arrived, it is a big plus that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is commanding this number of quality athletes. This we believe should help in our quest to improve the classification of the race to a silver label very soon,” observed Thomas who for many years reported track & field for The Guardian. All eyes will be on Terer who has won races across the world from Prague to Turin in Italy and has equally fared well in other international races in Israel, France, China and Canada

among many other places. Also in town is Kipkosgei who finished in third place at the 2010 New York Marathon. Also, Kiptocich, the runner-up at the 2017 Paris Marathon will be hoping to dethrone Herpa Almenesh Guta who won the women’s race at the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon edition. Nigeria’s elite road runners are not going to be left out of the party as some of them are hoping for a slip from the East Africans for them to get the chance of walking away from the Eko Atlantic City, the finish point with cool dollars in their pockets. Nigeria’s Long Distance

Races Coach, Nuhu Stephen, insists that despite the huge gap between the top runners from abroad and his Nigerians wards, “with time, this Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will help my athletes close that gap. Before we had no opportunities of competing with these stars from East Africa however things are changing now. “We just hope more corporate bodies will look in the direction of the marathon runners in the country and help us with sponsorships. Our athletes can match the Kenyans and Ethiopians with the right training and facilities,” observed the Plateau-born coach. Meanwhile, while many are

already aware that the duo of D’Banj and Teni will be performing at the finish point of Saturday’s race, another energetic performer based in the United States, Brite Benson a.k.a Local Boy, has been added to the list of artists that would thrill the fans. Benson who is returning to Nigeria after almost 17 years in America said he is in town majorly for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon and he is eager to unleash what he has for the Lagos fans. “Yes, I am in Nigeria just for this, I paid my way here to support the Lagos Marathon and to also showcase by talent to Nigerians,” he said.

Para-Powerlifting: Peak CongratulatesThe Unstoppables Peak Milk, the number one diary brand in Nigeria and major sponsor of the Nigerian para-powerlifting team - The Unstoppables, has congratulated the team for clinching all the 20 gold medals at stake at the 2019 Lagos International Parapowerlifting Competition which ended on Wednesday night. Nigeria topped the medals table at the end of the competition, with 20 gold, 15 silver and 7 bronze medals. According to Chris WulffCaesar, Marketing Director,

Friesland Campina Wamco Nigeria plc, producers of Peak milk: “We are very delighted that the Unstoppables were able to clinch all the gold medals. “It is not just a matter of Corporate Social Responsibility but the brand purpose of Peak milk, is to enable all Nigerians reach their peak everyday. To achieve this goal, the Peak brand provides quality nourishment for stronger bodies and sharper minds,” stressed the Peak official. Wulff-Caesar said: “Peak recognizes a remarkable set of

people who achieved ground breaking success against all odds, that’s why we call them ‘The Unstoppables’. Our decision to partner the team is in line with the brand’s promise to enable and empower its teeming consumers to reach their Peak, regardless of any limitations. “The Unstoppables have always demonstrated their determination to make the country and the continent proud in all competitions”. The World Para-powerlifting Competition, the first of its kind

in Nigeria, featured six visiting African countries with 15 International Para-powerlifting Committee (IPC) officials from 10 countries. It would be recalled that Peak milk, in 2016, launched ‘The Unstoppables’ campaign to recognize the world acclaimed accomplishments of Nigeria’s special sports athletes who have done the country proud in several continental and global meets such as the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Peak of it all - the Olympics.

Zenith/Delta Principals Cup: It’s Obule,Boys Sec.School Final! Obule Integrated School from Sapele yesterday qualified for the final of the 2019 Zenith Bank/Delta State Principals’ Cup football competition. The team defeated Ekpan Secondary School 8-7 after penalty shootout in the keenly contested semifinal match decided at the Agbor Township Stadium. Fulltime score

stood at 1-1. Incidentally, it was Ekpan Secondary School that led 1-0 at half time while Obule managed to level score in the second stanza of the highly thrilling encounter. Earlier on Wednesday in the first semifinal, Boys Secondary School defeated Comprehensive Secondary School 4-3 after penalty shoot-out. Full time

score was 1-1. The developmental football competition which was revived three years ago courtesy of a partnership between Zenith Bank and the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration of Delta State, is in its third edition. Already, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo, has expressed his

happiness with the progress made by the tournament. “We are proud of the event because it is getting bigger and better every year. We expect a good final match and our target is to have some of these players come up in future to represent Nigeria at various levels of football,” Amangbo said.

Vega Challenges Infantino for FIFA Presidency Former Swiss international Ramon Vega has emerged as a possible challenger to Gianni Infantino for the FIFA Presidency at this year’s election in Paris. The election holds at the 69th FIFA Congress in Paris, France

on June 5 this year. Vega, 47-year-old footballer turned financier, who won 23 caps for Switzerland, is reportedly weighing up a bid for the top job at world football’s governing body and is assessing the likelihood

of securing the required five nominations before the February 5 deadline. Infantino, elected in 2016 to serve the remainder of Sepp Blatter’s term after his Swiss counterpart resigned amid the corruption scandal,

was widely expected to run unopposed. But reports suggested this week that a former player with extensive experience in the finance sector was considering challenging Infantino.

F R I DAY ˾ FEBRUARY 1, 2019

FRIDAYSPORTS

Dalung,Pinnick,Dikko in UK for Meetings with NIKE

WINTER TRANSFER…

Akpeyi Joins Kaizer Chiefs Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi yesterday switched from Chippa United to Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa’s top league. Chiefs Football Manager, Bobby Motaung, announced the signing of the Nigerian shotstopper at a press conference in Cape Town. Akpeyi is expected to step into the role vacated by injured Itumeleng Khune that incumbent keeper, Virgil Vries has been unable to match up to. Head coach Ernst Middendorp lashed out at Vries after his howler in the 78th minute against Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City on Wednesday night.

Vries, who has been operating in goal for the Amakhosi after Itumeleng Khune’s seasonending injury, came out to field a free kick, but proceeded to lose the ball in the air inside the box. Edmilson Dove got the vital touch to secure victory for Cape side. Akpeyi, who has signed a contract of 17 months with Chiefs was part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. His arrival means that Chiefs reached their foreign player quota limit, so left back Godfrey Walusimbi has been released and gone back to Uganda.

AC Milan’s 12m Euros Bid for Osimhen Rejected

Victor Osimhen (left) has been blocked from moving to San Siro Chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), led by Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, have arrived in London, United Kingdom for series of meetings with sportswear behemoth, NIKE. The meetings have to do with optimizing the performance of the new, robust contract signed by NFF and NIKE last November. According to the NFF’s Director of Communication, Ademola Olajire, the meetings would also dwell on merchandizing, as well as previewing and authorization of a new kit design for the national teams to be launched in the summer

of Year 2020. Dalung, with President of the Nigeria Football Federation and 1stVice President of CAF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick and NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman and Member of FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee Shehu Dikko attended the first of the meetings yesterday evening at the NIKE UK office in London. NIKE officials confirmed yesterday morning that Super Eagles’ stars Alex Iwobi, of Arsenal FC of England, and Leicester City FC’s Wilfred Ndidi, have also been invited to attend the previewing of the design to give player options

and suggestions. NIKE and the Nigeria delegation will also firm up strategy to set up outlets (and online platforms) across Nigeria to ensure NIKE kits and other merchandise are more available to fans across the country and the world. It is best practice for the world’s leading kit manufacturers to invite top officials of their clients to preview and authorize a new design before the said piece is produced and launched for use. NIKE’s special design for Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which sold out on the streets of London hours after it was released onto the

market on the first day of June last year, was previewed and authorized by the NFF bigwigs in Year 2016. The current designs would remain until the 2020 Olympics when the new designs would be launched. Production would only begin on the new design after the previewing and authorization, and would be launched in July 2020, on the margin of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. It would serve the various national teams between 2020 and the early months of 2022, before a new design would be released for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the Super Eagles must have qualified.

LET: Oboh Misses Cut in South Africa by One Stroke Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË Georgia Oboh has missed the cut in her first tournament on the Ladies European Tour (LET) in South Africa. The Nigerian teenager playing the Canon Sunshine Ladies Open Tour, missed the opportunity of playing weekend golf at Irene Country Club in Johannesburg by one stroke. After opening with a 77 on

Wednesday, Oboh ebbed with a round of 80 last night to exit the tournament. She, however, gave a good account of herself by placing 37 in the field of 65 players. Oboh, Nigeria’s only member of LET will now be shifting her focus to the Serengeti Team Championship holding at Kempton Park from February 5 in South Africa. South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai

shot a flawless four under 68, an improvement on her opening 67 to lead the pack, going into the third round by three shots. Another South African, Symone Henriques and Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann, who both carded tidy opening rounds of two-under 70 stayed three shots out of the lead. A further stroke adrift in solo fourth was France’s Emie Peronnin, while six South

Africans shared fifth spot on level par, including former Sunshine Ladies Tour winners Lee-Anne Pace and Bertine Faber, rookie Casandra Hall, amateur Kajal Mistry, 2018 Investec Property Fund Order of Merit winner Stacy Bregman and Ivana Samu, making a welcome return to competitive golf after undergoing back surgery last year.

Newcastle Utd Signs Playmaker for Club-record Fee of £20m Newcastle has broken the club’s transfer record to sign Paraguay playmaker Miguel Almiron from MLS side Atlanta United for around £20m. It beats the £16m fee paid for Michael Owen from Real Madrid in 2005 and also breaks the MLS transfer record. The 24-year-old has featured in the MLS team of the year for the past two seasons and scored 13 goals last term as Atlanta won their first MLS Cup. “I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new

team-mates,” he said. “The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now. “I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me.” Capped 13 times by his country, Almiron is highly regarded in his homeland for his football intelligence, pace and left foot. Almiron started his career

at Cerro Porteno in Paraguay before moving to Argentina’s Lanus. And he was one of only six players to record double figures for both goals and assists (11) in Major League Soccer in 2018. Unlike the signing of Owen, Almiron was not greeted by 15,000 supporters at St James’ Park, but the fee does represent a shift from the club’s relatively modest outlay in recent times. Martin Dubravka, Ki Sungyueng, Fabian Schar, Yoshinori Mutu and Federico Fernandez

all joined in the summer for a total of around £22m. Newcastle has also signed defender Antonio Barreca on loan from Monaco until the end of the season with the option of a permanent deal. The 23-year-old former Italy Under-21 international joined the French club last summer from Torino. “I know that Newcastle is a big and historic club,” he said. “I know that the people here really love football and that the fans are really behind the team.”

According to media reports in Italy, Sporting Charleroi has refused to let Victor Osimhen go for 12 million Euros to Italian giants AC Milan. Osimhen, 20, is on a seasonlong loan at Charleroi from Wolfsburg and ‘The Zebras’ have the option to buy him permanently by season’s end. He cost the Bundesliga club

about four million Euros in 2016. According to Sudinfo, Charleroi has now turned down the many millions Milan have put on the table for the striker, who has netted nine league goals this season thus far. The centre-forward has been capped by Nigeria at U17, U20 and full international levels.

Integral Begins Sale of Hospitality Packages for FIFA Women’s World Cup Integral, Nigeria’s leading sports event and hospitality company has begun the sale of hospitality packages for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. After running a very successful hospitality package sale for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, MATCH Hospitality has once again appointed Integral as its exclusive sales agent for Nigeria. MATCH Hospitality is the industry leader in the management and sale of commercial hospitality programme for major sports events and is the exclusive rights holder of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 Official Hospitality Programme. It is the only company worldwide authorized by FIFA to offer and guarantee exclusive ticketinclusive hospitality packages for all matches directly or through its appointed sales agents. MATCH Hospitality has years of experience in delivering world-class hospitality for FIFA and at other international sports events. The Company has successfully operated the FIFA Commercial Hospitality Programmes for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and more recently the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. MATCH Hospitality has also delivered the FIFA Hospitality Programme for the last two FIFA Women’s World Cup events which were hosted in Germany and Canada. Given the tremendous growth in interest and development of women’s football worldwide, MATCH Hospitality is gearing up to deliver an unforgettable

FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ experience to its ever-growing clientele via its global network of sales agents. The Chief Operating Officer of MATCH Hospitality, Pascal Portes said: “We feel a tremendous sense of pride in the product range offered by MATCH Hospitality as FIFA’s official hospitality rights holder for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. “Nigeria is an established and very passionate market, and we are extremely optimistic about the sales potential for our hospitality programme in 2019. We know that Integral are our best partners to open the door to a thriving Nigerian market ready for the extraordinary experiences promised by this exceptional FIFA Women’s World Cup environment.” The Managing Director of Integral Abimbola Ilo, added: “We are delighted to act as the Exclusive Sales Agent of MATCH Hospitality in Nigeria for the sale of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 Official Hospitality Programme. Having successfully operated the recently concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official Hospitality Programme as the exclusive sales agent in Nigeria catering to satisfied clients, this deal clearly confirms Integral’s pedigree to have been selected yet again, and on an exclusive basis in Nigeria. This basically means that we have the entire inventory to deliver unforgettable experience to all our clients during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, right from the moment they think about attending the event to support their team.“

Friday, February 1, 2019

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

MISSILE ASUU to VCs “For vice-chancellors who pretend to be with us and are not with us, we will take them through our process at the appropriate time because every organisation has its own disciplinary mechanism.” – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatening to sanction some university Vice-Chancellors who are uncooperative in the ongoing strike by the lecturers.

SHAKAMOMODU THIS REPUBLIC

shaka.momodu@thisdaylive.com

0811 266 1654

Rahman’s ‘True Lies’

am always reluctant to join issues with my professional colleagues on the pages of newspapers, more so, when that person was my former senior colleague. In my 20 years on this job, I have only had cause to publicly join issues with a senior colleague once. That person was Waziri Adio, for whom I have enormous professional respect. He wrote an article following the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2014 with the headline, ‘Is This, Finally, The Buhari Moment?’ I disputed some aspects of that article with a response titled, ‘Buhari: When Facts Become Contrived.’ I took that unusual step because I realised his article left out some historical facts which I felt were important to situate the then-Candidate Buhari in proper context. Four years after, I find myself challenged by a direct and frontal assault on my motivation for regularly calling out a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, for his overbearing transgressions against the taxpayers of Lagos of which I am one. I find my integrity impugned by a former senior colleague who left THISDAY as an editor to set up his own newspaper which unfortunately has disappeared from the streets. My first reaction was to deny that Mr. Tunde Rahman penned that nonsense that carried his photograph as a right of reply to my article three days earlier. “No, it can’t be him,” I told myself. But there it was, bearing his photo and name. I am restrained by professional courtesies in the language of my response to his regrettable allegation in the very first paragraph of his defence of his paymaster. Let me state here, I will still accord Rahman, now Tinubu’s media aide, as much as possible the courtesies due a former senior editor, because I know he must be under immense pressure to justify his pay. But there is a saying in the land of my fathers that goes, “When you spit in the wind, it will come back and land in your face.” I did not fail to notice the subtle inference of sponsorship of my articles on Tinubu by my “paymaster”. This to me is even more upsetting coming from a former editor who once ran a column himself. I still remember how he always complained about the lazy retort by some people to any article they don’t like as sponsored. Now the same Rahman has turned 360 degrees playing the same hand. This life sef! Tinubu is now his hero and I now a “counterfeit democrat”. Laugh wan kill me here oo! I would have dismissed the piece as one of those responses that keep media hirelings relevant to their masters. Other than that, what exactly do they really do? Apart from issuing silly press statements defending the indefensible, they more often than not do not write and pen lustrous tributes on their master’s birthday. But unfortunately, it was from Rahman. The fact that the entire piece was predicated on a very nebulous, highly provocative and egregious allegation, a deliberate falsehood designed to smear me makes a response to some aspects of the article, inevitable. I cannot allow my former editor to do that and get away just because he is now on the other side and has learnt some dirty APC propaganda tricks, and hence decided to test-fire his arrows at me. Being my former editor does not give him the licence to impugn and assail my integrity. Frankly, I was taken aback when I first learnt that Rahman had taken up the job of a media spokesman to Tinubu about two years ago.

Tinubu I thought that was beneath a titled Editor of THISDAY. I was even more surprised knowing Rahman’s take on Tinubu’s brand of politics when he was in the newsroom. I asked myself, what could have made a former titled Editor of THISDAY take up a job (someone described it as one of the worst jobs for a titled editor of a major newspaper) as Tinubu’s spokesman? Now let’s go to the issues at hand. Rahman opened his appalling reply to my article with the following: “He seems possessed of some irrational phobia concerning Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Judging from Momodu’s latest article, the old animus he holds against Tinubu for not inviting him to be part of his team should have ebbed by now. Instead, Momodu keeps the fire of hatred burning. He seeks revenge for an insult that never happened. A man has a right to choose the team of his liking. Momodu cannot deprive Tinubu or anyone else of that right. Momodu should get on with life and do something constructive instead of brimming with anger over what might have been.” Animus against Tinubu for not inviting me to be part of his team? Did I ask to be invited? What team was he talking about? Did he write that under the influence? Who did I approach to get me on board Tinubu’s team? I hardly knew what to make of this strange charge. If it was intended to blackmail me, then it was a thoughtless and ill-advised move. First, I was not aware that Tinubu was recruiting people into his team, let alone, wanting to be part of it. Even if I was aware, I would never have joined Tinubu’s team because I don’t deal in a mess of pottage. I can’t be part of a team working for a political godfather, let alone one whose brand of politics is mercantile and breathtakingly hypocritical. I am self-aware enough to know that I will never do that. I feel personally insulted by that irresponsible claim and Rahman himself knew that it was a lie but stated it all the same just to impugn my integrity and in his estimation, cause some damage. The imputation of motive other than a firm commitment to holding leaders of Tinubu’s stature to account is not only asinine, it is a weedy strategy by weak and ineffectual spokesmen to retain their jobs; an old trick with a short lifespan. Let me refer Rahman to an old saying, “When you stand for nothing, you fall for everything.” Whispering gossip is the stock in trade to remain relevant around godfathers like Tinubu. I will never do that. For the avoidance of doubt, I don’t hate Tinubu, as Rahman and other Jagaban

lackeys would want their paymaster to believe. Going by the logic of Rahman’s dense and fraudulent claim, maybe it’s because President Muhammadu Buhari did not invite me to join his team that is why I have been relentlessly critical of him. Same goes for Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola, Professor Wole Soyinka, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Rochas Okorocha, and so many others. You see, media aides to career politicians have a way of turning logic on its head when making baseless claims. Rahman would want the Jagaban before whom all must bow to know Akinwunmi Ambode is sponsoring me. Really? Poor Ambode! I can imagine him (Rahman) running to his boss like someone who just received an important scoop, breathing heavily, panting and whispering tales by moonlight in Jagaban’s ear, and then expecting a pat on the back afterwards. Rahman’s inference to Governor Ambode is laughable. So in his warped thinking, Ambode told me to write against Tinubu? C’mon Rahman! Does Ambode give me directions on what to write? This is beneath the Rahman I used to know at THISDAY before he joined the mob of progressive pretenders. Or is he saying this based on his own experience as a columnist? For his information, I have been critical of Tinubu for a long time, this stretches to as far back as March 5, 2014 when I wrote an article titled, ‘Tinubu: The Flawed Progressive.’ That was well before Ambode even emerged on the scene. The truth is I was once an ardent admirer of Tinubu for his June 12 heroics, for how he set out as Lagos governor: his push for fiscal federalism and advocacy for progressive reforms, etc., until I started to sense there was little in terms of service and personal sacrifice for the good of the collective from him. He was the only candidate I voted for in the 1999 general election. That was because of the faith I had in him. I stayed glued to the television watching him deliver his inaugural speech as the Lagos governor. To me, he once represented a promise. What motivates me is that cause I believe in strongly enough that I am willing to lose for it. People like Rahman can’t stand such resolve on principle. I decided long ago to take the lonely road to challenge Tinubu and others alike at every turn, not because of hatred for them but to register my disappointment with their brand of politics driven by “what is in it for them”. On the Lagos governorship primary, was Rahman hallucinating when he said over one million people voted in that perverse election conducted on a working day? Who did this to Rahman? The transition from the newsroom to being a spokesman to Tinubu has surely affected him such that he now sees things from the prism of “us versus them”. Well, in a way, he is right. I am different from him. I can differentiate good from evil. He can’t. Rahman has become a willing enabler of injustice and profiteering in our system and has forgotten that there will be a day of reckoning. Even Clement Ebri, the head of the NWC panel sent to Lagos by the national leadership of the APC told the whole world to disregard the charade that took place as primary before he was forced to eat his own words. I have often said that journalists who become media spokesmen to politicians are far more dangerous than the politicians they serve. “Any man who claims to have caught a frog by its tail is being economical with the truth.” Tunde Rahman is a good example. It is more than a tragedy that his journalist career

built on a reputation of many years of upholding the truth has painfully morphed into spinning falsehoods and “true lies” to the consternation of his former professional colleagues. Rahman has been sucked into the big propaganda machine of his paymaster; from a THISDAY Editor to a spin doctor! Nigerians should ask him who sold the lie to the newsrooms in September last year at the height of the intrigues to deny Ambode a second term ticket, that the respected General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye had begged Tinubu on the telephone to let Ambode run for a second term and that Tinubu had declined, insisting that “every man should head to the field to test his popularity.” As it turned out, the respected man of God didn’t even call Tinubu on the phone, how much more intercede for Ambode. It was all a big fat lie put out by Tinubu’s team headed by Rahman. Adeboye had to issue a public statement refuting the false claim by Tinubu’s team. That rebuttal was followed by a deafening silence from Rahman. Is this the kind of stuff these people think I deal in? Is this the kind of team Rahman claimed I was angry I was not invited to join? Something must be wrong with this guy. He and others alike deserve more to be pitied than criticised. On his claim that Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, has doubled power generation, the recent revelation by the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) put the lie to that hollow claim. The Executive Director for Research and Advocacy of the association, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, disputed the government’s claims that power generation had peaked to 7,000MW since President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in May 2015, explaining that as of January 2015, Nigeria already had close to that generation figure. He also described as false, the government’s repeated claim that excess generation of 2,000MW was idle. He said: “A review of NERC’s “Daily Energy Watch” for January 28, 2015 would indicate a generation availability of 6,421MW – divided into a peak of 4,230MW and constrained energy of 2,191MW. In other words, it is misleading to state that available generation had grown from 4,000MW in 2015, as a measure of progress, given that the volume of generation was slightly under 7,000MW already or previously existed prior to the beginning of this administration. “Furthermore, there is no stranded 2,000MW. While there is an available capacity of 7,000MW, the best that can be generated at this time is 5,000MW. This is because there is insufficient gas to power the thermal plants due to gas line limitations – for instance, the non-completion of the Oben pipeline, and the absence of a commercial framework that would encourage gas exploration.” According to him, generation that is constrained by gas amounts to an average of 1,500MW daily, adding that 25 out of 28 generation plants are fuelled by gas. He explained further that the transmission grid frequency, line limitation and water management made up the difference of the balance 500MW of constrained generation. “In simple terms, the often-advertised and pronounced Disco limitation to take on 2,000MW of additional generation is not consistent with the facts or reality. This therefore shows that very little has actually changed, contrary to the minister’s constant pronouncements,” Oduntan added. I will not even break a sweat responding to other foolish claims peppered with a string of falsehoods in that appalling piece and in others like it that have appeared elsewhere. Lies have a short lifespan.

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