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Electioneering Creates Huge Passenger Traffic for Domestic Airlines Chinedu Eze Despite the losses domestic airlines incurred during the cancellation of flights on February 16, when the presidential and National Assembly elections were to hold before the postponement,

Nigerian operators may have recovered the losses as the elections have spurred huge increase in passenger movement during otherwise low season after Christmas.

THISDAY investigations revealed that there has been significant increase in

passenger movement because of the coming elections.

With this development, both schedule commercial service providers and charter service providers have recorded tremendous increase in patronage.

Investigations also revealed

that undeterred by the election postponement, voters have since Wednesday thronged the airports to travel to different parts of the country where they would cast their votes.

Former Director of Engineering, Medview Airlines and a seasoned aviator, Mr.

Lukeman Animaseun, said the elections have encouraged people to travel, thus leading to huge passenger traffic on domestic routes.

“Yes, from what I saw last week Friday more people are travelling because of the election. I came back from Uyo

to Lagos and I noticed that there were a lot of passengers.

Some of the passengers were not even travelling directly to their destinations; they wanted to come to Lagos and connect their final destinations.

Continued on page 8

FG’s N701bn Bailout in Jeopardy as Discos Remit 25.5%... Page 10 Friday 22 February, 2019 Vol 24. No 8720. Price: N250

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With 72.7m PVCs in their Hands, Nigerians Decide Fate of Buhari, Atiku Tomorrow

President, PDP candidate urge mass turnout Refuse to be intimidated, Secondus tells Nigerians INEC completes deployment of electoral materials I'm not contemplating resignation, says Yakubu Police reassure of adequate security Omololu Ogunmade, Adedayo Akinwale and Alex Enumah in Abuja Over 72 million Nigerians that collected their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) will tomorrow determine the fate of the two leading candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the presidential election expected to start at 8a.m. nationwide.

The presidential poll, which along with the National Assembly election, was postponed last Saturday, promises to be a close affair as both candidates rounded off their campaigns as required by law yesterday.

Keeping with his promise to give Nigerians daily updates in the run up to the elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told a press conference that the

commission had distributed a total of 72,775,502 PVCs, adding that 11,228,582 representing 13.14 per cent PVCs were yet to be collected.

He stated: “At yesterday’s briefing, we promised to make public detail information of collection of PVCs nationwide.

The commission as a matter of policy has said that no citizen can vote without PVC issued by the commission and read by the card reader.

“Having announced the total number of registered voters and the distribution by age, gender and occupation, the citizens deserve the right to know how many PVCs have been collected across the country.

“The last day for the collection of PVCs was Monday, February 11, 2019.

Out of the 84,004,084 registered voters, the total number of registered voters who have collected their PVCs stands at 72,775,502 which represent Continued on page 8

MAN OF THE MOMENT...

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a press conference to update stakeholders on preparations for the presidential and National Assembly elections holding tomorrow… yesterday Julius Atoi

Zamfara APC Becomes Beneficiary of Postponed Elections... Page 8

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Zamfara APC Becomes Beneficiary of Postponed Elections Appeal Court paves the way for party to field candidates Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal in Abuja yesterday set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which affirmed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to bar the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from fielding candidates in the general election in Zamfara State.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had in a judgment delivered on January 25, 2019, held that INEC was right to have delisted the names of candidates APC presented for the elections.

She stated that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period

scheduled by the electoral body.

But three-man panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to have entertained the suit, adding that it was an abuse of court process.

He stressed that the suit at the Federal High Court was filed out of time and that the Electoral Act provides for 14 days to institute a suit after the cause of action had arisen, the suit was filed 15 days after, and therefore rendered the action incompetent.

After listening to the arguments of M. A. Maagaji SAN, who lead other senior lawyers, the court held: “The cross-appeal partly succeeds

on the issue of jurisdiction.

The suit of the 1st crossrespondent in suit No FHC/ ABJ/CS/1279/2018 between the All Progressives Congress vs Independent National Electoral Commission and Others is hereby struck out for lack or want of jurisdiction on the part of the lower court.

“The judgment of the lower court is hereby set aside. There shall be no order as to costs.”

On many occasions INEC had insisted that the APC Zamfara State would not field candidates for the 2019 general election.

In a leaked memo, the commission informed the ruling APC that it would not be allowed to field candidates for elective positions in Zamfara in the 2019 elections.

Its acting Secretary, Mr. Okechukwe Ndeche, in a letter to the APC said that the party was barred from fielding candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

The commission said this was because APC failed to comply with Sections 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act of 2010.

Parties, according to the Act, were expected to comply with the timetable and schedule of INEC, which says that the conduct of primaries must be held between August 18 and October 7.

INEC said it received reports from its Zamfara office indicating that no primaries were conducted in the state, “notwithstanding that our officials were fully mobilised

and deployed.”

The APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, later responded to INEC in a statement and said that the party had already arrived at a consensus before the deadline.

Oshiomhole said that following the high level of friction, disagreements and threats of violence by various political camps before the primaries, all the aspirants met at City King Hotel, Gusau, to find a truce.

He said: “After hours of intense horse-trading, a consensus was reached within the spirit and context of the Electoral Act and the constitution of our party.

“This was done in strict compliance with Section 87

(6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).”

He said that the claim

by INEC that no primaries were conducted could only be referring to its officials’ observation that actual voting did not take place.

The APC chairman said that conduct of primaries was not the only mode prescribed for producing candidates in the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

“We, therefore, affirm that indeed, primaries took place in Zamfara State,” Oshiomhole said.

The party chairman also noted that PDP had similar issues in Kano State and wondered why INEC did not bar the opposition party from fielding candidates.

WITH 72.7M PVCS IN THEIR HANDS, NIGERIANS DECIDE FATE OF BUHARI, ATIKU TOMORROW 86.83 per cent of the PVCs.’ “Out of this figure 7,817,905 PVCs were carried over from the 2014 to 2016 registration exercise, while 3,410,677 are from the last CVR held between April 2017 and August 2018. All uncollected cards have been deposited with the CBN for custody.’’

The breakdown of the PVCs collected as at February 11, 2019 revealed that Lagos has the highest number of collection of 5,531389, which is 84.19 per cent of collection; while Kano comes second with 4,696,747 collected PVCs which is 86 per cent. While Ekiti State has the lowest number of PVCs collected, which is 666,591 and 73.25 per cent.

However, the breakdown also revealed that three northern states ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents, Borno (2,000,228), Yobe (1,261,924) and Adamawa (1,788,708), had their PVCs collected.

The chairman also revealed that 19 states have completed deployment of electoral materials, including the nonsensitive materials to the Local Government Areas, except for Bayelsa State, where materials would be deployed directly from the state INEC office.

He stated: “There is no states that have not commenced deployment to local government areas.

In fact 19 states have fully deployed. By the end of the day, all states and the FCT would have deployed, expect Bayelsa State, which is moving direct from our state office in Yenagoa to Registration Areas Centres (RACs) tomorrow.

“Tomorrow (today) activities at the ward level will commence with the activation of the RACs at 9 am, while the movement of personnel and materials will commence at the mid day.

“This is the last scheduled course to the last deployment in 119,973 polling units leading to the opening of polls at 8a.m. in the morning on Saturday.”

The chairman stressed that the commission was working with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) to extend the date for international observers who are on short term entry visa, as well as ease their re-entry if they want to go and return to observe states elections scheduled for March 9.

He said: “In order to make the process easier, the NIS working with the commission is granting extension of visa to all international observers that required such facility.

“Similarly, the immigration service is also granting reentry visa to all who may wish to travel out of the country and return for the

second part of the election.

“In this regard the service has requested me to convene the decision to wave the visa fees and grant such request expeditiously. The extension of stay or re-entry into the country will be granted gratis.”

Yakubu said all affected international observers could approach the INEC headquarters to get their visa renewed or extended gratis.

On the welfare of the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) participating in the election, Yakubu noted that the commission was not happy about images on social media where NYSC members were seeing sleeping on the floor.

He said that the commission would provide water, electricity and other facilities needed as well as security for the NYSC members.

Yakubu while fielding questions from journalists, said that he sees no reason whatsoever to resign as INEC chairman, saying the focus as a commission is on conducting the election.

Asked if he feels the commission is been sabotaged, Yakubu said: “I have no feeling that the commission has been sabotaged and I want to assure and reassure you that the election will hold on Saturday. Don’t just rely on my assurance; look

at the activities going on in the states.”

He insisted that the position of the commission on Zamfara and Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) has not changed.

The chairman also said that the Nigerian Police Force remains the lead agency in election security, and INEC would work with Nigeria police as the lead agency, but stressed that depending on the security threat, the electoral body can now call on other security agencies.

Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow's elections, as well as March 9 governorship and Houses of Assembly polls, Nigerian youth across the six geopolitical zones have signed a peace accord in Abuja.

The youth disclosed this at an event organised by Guard Nigeria Image and Values Initiative, in conjunction with Nigeria Youth in Diaspora Engagement Forum, New York in Abuja, adding that the peace accord is a declaration that they would resist any attempt to use them for thuggery during the exercise.

Speaking at the event, the Convener and Executive Director of the group, Mr. Promise Amahah, said youths have taken a "firm stand as one indivisible family to sign the first ever Nigerian Youth Peace Accord."

He stated: “The political

peace accord signed by political leaders hasn’t stopped anything. We are trying to change the narrative, we are trying to illustrate this process, we are trying to convey this message that we are no longer tool for political violence. We have chosen to only guard Nigeria.”

They warned that any politician who flouts the accord and engages children and youth in carrying out election violence, would be called out and shamed.

Police Reassures of Adequate Security The Nigerian Police Force has once again assured Nigerians and the international community of the preparedness of the police to provide adequate security for the safe and peaceful conduct of the elections tomorrow.

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, who made this known, also called on the electorate to come out en masse and vote candidate of their choice without fear of molestation and intimidation.

"In line with his avowed determination towards ensuring peaceful, credible and hitch-free presidential/ National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2019, the

Inspector General of Police, M.A Adamu, has assured Nigerians that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure a safe, secure and conducive environment towards a peaceful and credible election.

"The IG, therefore, calls on the citizens to come out en-masse on the day of the election to cast their votes without any fear or apprehension," a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba said.

According to the IGP, security personnel deployed in the elections have been adequately trained and are under strict instruction to abide by the standard operational procedures of the police and international best practices in the conduct of an election.

Adamu noted that the police would remain patriotic, steadfast, professional, neutral and civil, but firm, in their conducts and actions throughout the period of the election and beyond.

"The general public are therefore implored not to feel intimidated, but rather should be emboldened, by the presence of security personnel deployed to their areas, to go out and exercise their franchise", the statement said.

Continued on page 10

ELECTIONEERING CREATES HUGE PASSENGER TRAFFIC FOR DOMESTIC AIRLINES Election has made more people to fly. That is very correct,” Animaseun said.

This development might have prompted Aero Contractors and Arik Air to introduce a promo based on the election and slashed about 50 per cent on the fares for the electorate to encourage them to go and vote for their preferred candidates during the presidential and governorship elections on February 23 and March 9, 2019.

Aero Contractors described its promo as part of its corporate social responsibility in a statement, stressing that it introduced promo fares to help Nigerians to travel and vote during the elections.

Aero said effective Monday, February 18, 2019, it would commence the sale of tickets from N16,000 for travels between February 21-25, 2019 on all her routes to encourage

Nigerians to travel to their various destinations in order to cast their votes.

Arik Air also said similar thing in its statement, which it tagged fly to vote promo.

Head of Corporate Communications, Dana Air, Mr. Kingsley Ezenwa, told THISDAY that in the previous years there was usually a drop in passenger movement after the Christmas season, which would only pick up during the Easter.

He added that because of elections, the usual passenger drop did not happen; rather, airlines have continued to record relatively high load factor due to movement for rallies and campaigns.

According to him, as the elections drew nearer the electorate are travelling to where they would cast their votes.

“There is usually a drop in passenger movement this

time, which picks up during the Easter but because of election, there is movement for campaign trail and voters’ movement. This has always prompted us to introduce a promo; election promo and we are offering return ticket of N27,000,” Ezenwa said.

But Head of Corporate Affairs of Air Peace, Mr. Chris Iwarah, said that passenger movement during electioneering period might have contributed very little to the airline’s passenger traffic, noting that more people fly Air Peace because they trust the airline and not because of movements occasioned by the elections.

He also noted that compared to Christmas period there was obvious drop but the airlines still maintained average of 70 per cent to 80 per cent load factor.

“I wouldn’t say that election has boosted our

traffic because there is no significant change but I believe that more people fly us because they trust our airline. The number of passengers we have keeps increasing because people trust us. Election may contribute but it is not very significant,” Iwarah said.

Comparing 2015 to 2019, spokesman of Arik Air, Mr. Adebanji Ola, said that there might be increase in passenger movement due to the elections but it is low when compared to the same period in 2015, noting that at that time there was significant passenger surge.

However, industry analyst and CEO of Aglow Limited, Tayo Ojuri, told THISDAY that without the elections there would have been more significant drop in passenger movement at this period when compared to previous years but the election has

made it possible for the airlines to record higher traffic.

He noted that passenger movement in the first quarter is not very low due to movement occasioned by the elections on the domestic routes, adding that the major destinations: Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja are very busy and even secondary airports too.

“The elections have enhanced higher traffic for domestic airlines, but in the second quarter there will be drop in passenger traffic after the election. What drive traffic are government activities and when there is lull in government, it reflects on passenger traffic. So we look at growth in the third quarter because by that time a new government would have been inaugurated and the budget would have been passed,” Ojuri said.

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % IKEJHOTEL 0.18 1.99 9.9 ABCTRANS 0.04 0.52 8.3 UPDC 0.14 1.82 8.3 FIRSTALUM 0.02 0.31 6.9 MCNICHOLS 0.03 0.47 6.8 TOP LOSERS NGN % LINKAGE ASSURE 0.07 0.63 10 INTERBREW 2.75 26.25 9.8 NEIMETH 0.06 0.64 8.5 MUTUALBENEFITS 0.02 0.25 7.4 LASACO 0.02 0.31 6.0 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,580.00 Volume: 220.609 million shares Value: N2.241 billion Deals: 4,327 As at yesterday 21/2/19 See details on Page 43

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FG’s N701bn Bailout in Jeopardy as Discos Remit 25.5% Chineme Okafor in Abuja The poor remittance levels of the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s privatised power market may have defeated the aim of the N701 billion bailout by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the power generation companies and gas suppliers, THISDAY has learnt.

Following the declaration last week by the federal government through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Louis Edozein, that the government might soon discontinue its payment of financial shortfalls to the Gencos, THISDAY gathered from the market records from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) that the intentions of the bailout scheme may not be met after all.

From the analysis of the market records obtained yesterday in Abuja, the original intentions of the

bailout funds was to support the Gencos to continue to produce electricity for at least two years when the Discos would be able to pay substantially for power sold to them.

However, there are strong indications that this objective may not be achieved because the Discos remit an average of 25.5 per cent monthly to the NBET for power sold to them as against 80 per cent remittance target by the end of 2018.

The development, it was learnt, means that the 80 per cent Discos remittance level the NBET anticipated at the end of the disbursement of the N701 billion in December 2018 would not be feasible.

The inability of the Discos to hit the 80 per cent remittance target in 2018 will also potentially weaken the capacity of NBET to repay the N701 billion in 10 years.

The NBET obtained the N701 billion facility from the CBN in 2017 to guarantee

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola payments for electricity generated and supplied by power generation companies (Gencos).

The bailout was intended to bridge the payment shortfalls to Gencos and gas suppliers, and ultimately sustain electricity supply to Nigerians.

It was expected that at the end of the disbursement of the bailout between January 2017 and December 2018, the monthly remittances of the Discos for power supplied to them would have come

up to 80 per cent.

But the market remittances indicated that on the average the Discos paid 25.5 per cent monthly, thus jeopardising the intention of the bailout.

At the time the NBET obtained the bailout for disbursement, it agreed to pay it back to the CBN within 10 years.

By the terms of the bailout, Discos would continue to remit an average of 25 per cent of its invoice to NBET throughout 2017, and thereafter gradually increase it over the course of 2018 to possibly 80 per cent.

But a data from NBET showed that in October 2018, the average energy received

by Discos was 3,004.31 megawatts (MW), amounting to N47.609 billion but which the Discos paid NBET N11.575 billion, representing 24.31 per cent of the invoice for the month.

It also indicated that an average of 2,819.27MW was sold to the Discos in

September and they paid NBET N12.51 billion for an invoice worth N43.32 billion which represents 28.88 per cent. In August, it was an average of 2,954.54MW for which the Discos paid NBET N10.287 billion for their invoice worth N46.28 billion which represents 22.23 per cent.

Further the average energy received by Discos in July was 2,892.08MW, for which the NBET received N13.47 billion for an invoices of N48.16 billion it sent to them and which represented 28 per cent remittance.

Again, in June, it was N12.52 billion paid for an average of 2,820.42MW of power sold to the Discos and which was worth N44.04 billion, thus representing a remittance level of 28.45 per cent.

For the months of May; April; March; February and January 2018, the market record stated that the average power supplied to the Discos

was 2,986.84MW; 3,258.09MW; 3275.13MW; 3225.22MW; and 2,445.06MW, worth N45.94 billion; N47 billion; N48.03 billion; N44.44 billion; and 44.85 billion respectively, out of which they paid to NBET N14 billion or 26.44 per cent; N12.37 billion or 26.31 per cent; N12.21 billion or 25.43 per cent; N11.38 billion or 25.62 per cent; and N6.08 billion or 13.58 per cent.

Gencos through their association - the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), told THISDAY that irrespective of the situation, they would still demand full payment from the NBET for power supplied to it.

The APGC Executive Secretary, Dr. Joy Ogaji, stated in this regards that the Gencos have existing power purchase agreements with the NBET, which entitle them to full payment for power sold to it, and in which case, they would always make requests for full payments.

WITH 72.7M PVCS IN THEIR HANDS, NIGERIANS DECIDE FATE OF BUHARI, ATIKU TOMORROW While calling on the public to cooperate with the security operatives, the IG, however, warned those who may want to undermine the electoral process by engaging in snatching of ballot boxes, hate speeches and vote trading to desist from such acts or face the full consequences of the law.

President, PDP Candidate Urge Mass Turnout President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on Nigerians to put the disappointment of last week’s postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections behind them and troop out tomorrow to cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice.

While Buhari spoke in a nationwide broadcast to the nation this morning, Atiku appeared in a video post in his Facebook page yesterday.

The president, who is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), praised Nigerians over their patience and peaceful conduct so far as the nation goes to the polls tomorrow, saying with the presidential election holding despite initial postponement, Nigeria has survived the worst.

He said when the elections were postponed last weekend by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), many were worried and thought the worst might happen.

However, he said cynics were proved wrong through citizens' collective expression of love for the country and its democracy.

Submitting that tomorrow's elections provide another platform for Nigerians to affirm their collective faith in democracy, the president added that even though democracy is the most beneficial way of choosing leaders, it is not so easy to run.

He also said as noble as democracy might be, nurturing it requires what

he described as a combination of patience, tolerance, compassion, diligence, wisdom and hope.

Buhari also said since INEC had assured the nation of the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, it only behoves on all citizens to cooperate with the electoral commission to enable it live up to its responsibilities.

According to the president, voting remains the most effective platform for citizens' expressions of their sovereign power and hence appealed to Nigerians to file out tomorrow to exercise their civic rights.

The president who advised Nigerians to freely vote for any government they want to be in place as from May 29, also encouraged them not to allow anyone to discourage them from the exercise of their rights at the polls.

Buhari also assured Nigerians of their safety during the elections, explaining that the security operatives would be available to provide security just as he said the international observers should also be assured of their security at the polls.

He thanked local observers for their roles in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

“I ask that you embrace and hold on to the importance of the moment soon to be upon us,” the president said, adding: “Honour your civic duty as voters by going to the polls tomorrow to vote for the government of your choice, for the government that will lead Nigeria toward its finest destiny.”

According to Buhari, "As citizens there is no greater duty than this and no greater honour. Tomorrow, I know you will once again make Nigeria proud of its people.

May God bless our democracy and forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

In his Facebook video, Atiku urged the electorate to use their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) to remove the ‘’incompetent’’ APC government led by President Buhari tomorrow.

On its part, the Abia State government said yesterday that it had uncovered plans by

APC in the state to shutdown the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) of the INEC during the elections in the state on February 23 and March 9, 2019.

Atiku made the call in a live broadcast on his Facebook page yesterday, where he said the February 23 presidential election is another opportunity to repeat history.

He stated, “On March 28, 2015, we the people of Nigeria went to our polling units armed only with our PVCs and yet we were able to remove an incumbent president from office.

“That made me very proud to be a Nigerian and a democrat. This Saturday, we’ll have the opportunity to do so again.

“My message to you is simple: Please come out to vote as this election is about your future and the future of our great nation.

“The reasons we have elections is to allow us to have our voices heard on how we have been governed for the last four years and who will govern us for the next four years.

“On election day, we are all equal, as no single vote is more important than any other but if you do not vote, you will be accepting that the next four years will be like the last.’’

Atiku added that the power to get Nigeria working again is in the permanent voter card, adding that he will be voting with his tomorrow and called on Nigerians to please join him irrespective of who they will be voting for.

He warned that if Nigerians failed to come out and vote they would be accepting that the next four years would be like the last.

In a related development, Abia state government has said it has uncovered plans by the ruling APC in the state to shut down SCRs of the INEC during the elections slated.

The state government added that it had it on good authority that the APC chieftains in the state behind this plot, which was only put at bay by the postponement of the February 16 polls, are

still meeting to perfect their plans.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. John Kalu, disclosed this yesterday while addressing a press conference in Abuja, where he placed security agencies in the country, international observers and INEC on notice about the ongoing plots and intrigues.

He stressed that PDP in the state was ready to ensure that only the will of the people, expressed through the ballot box in a transparently free, fair and credible elections would be acceptable in Abia State.

Kalu explained: “We observed that in the night of February 15, 2019, telecommunications base stations around the locations where key plotters and executors of the APC rigging plan were shut down locally and simultaneously between 8pm to 6a.m.

“We believe that the uninstall occurrence had to do with the plan to ensure that INEC card readers are unable to upload on real time basis the data on voters accreditation thereby allowing room for the already thumb-printed ballots to be stuffed into the boxes with incident forms used to account for non-accredited voters while the already financially induced ad hoc collation and returning officers deposit the already prepared result sheets as authentic election results.’’

The commissioner demanded that security agents investigate, retrieve and destroy all illegal electoral materials, fake military uniforms and arms in the custody of key Abia APC leaders before the conduct of the rescheduled elections.

Refuse to Be Intimidated, Secondus Tells Voters The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has urged Nigerians and supporters of the party not to be intimidated ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and

National Assembly elections.

Secondus made the call yesterday while addressing a press conference in Abuja, to round up the party’s campaign.

He stated: “We concluded this campaign last week Thursday hoping to have picked our deserved victory last Saturday but you all know what happened, the INEC failed to have the election as APC hawks that hijacked the operations of the commission failed and chose to sabotage them to arm twist the commission into having their planned staggered election.

“Having failed to achieve that, they have turned the heat on the commission.

Both President Buhari and the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, have been attacking and intimidating the commission because they did not have their way.

“As a result, the election was rescheduled to this Saturday February 23 and had to conclude our national campaign today with this press briefing. I want to urge everybody to remain steadfast and focused refusing to be intimidated.

“When the President ordered soldiers to shoot voters at sight, the motive was to scare you out of the polling booth to enable them manipulate the result but with God on your side they will fail.”

Secondus insisted that when the president threatened the commission with probe after election, the intention was to frighten and cow the commission into playing along in the APC agenda.

He added, “When they harass, arrest and block bank accounts of the opposition stakeholders what they want is to win at all cost.

“When they drag military institutions into politics, the aim is obvious to destroy that institution the way it's doing to the legislature and the judiciary.

“But I urge you Nigerians to refuse to be intimidated or provoked but remain focused and fix your eyes on the ball, which is victory, which is

coming on Sunday.”

Also speaking yesterday, the party's Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, dismissed the endorsement of Buhari by a forum of 12 presidential candidates, describing them as political jobbers that want to swindle Buhari.

He said: "Forum of Presidential Candidates is not known to us, we are not aware of such group. They are political jobbers, who want to swindle President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Ologbondiyan urged party members to come to the polling booths armed with their food packs, water bottles and sleeping mats so that they can vote and ensure their votes are counted.

Also speaking, Chairman PDP Strategy Committee for the campaign, Chief Osita Chidoka, called upon Nigerians to be patient, peaceful and tolerant, and also show Africa and the world of Nigerians’ fierce commitment to democracy, to transparency and to the rule of law. The main opposition party said it has taken lessons from the “Osun Playbook,” and has focused its efforts on giving the Nigerian people, the confidence that their votes, as expressed at the ballot box, would count.

Chidoka said that the party was fully prepared to resist intimidation, extra judicial procedures and partisanship on the part of security agencies by reporting acts to the PDP national hotline 097 000 551 for onward broadcast to Nigerians and the world.

According to him, “We remind security agencies that it is only an election and not a war against Nigerians.

The choice of language of the government and security chiefs leaves us with the impression that the peaceful election of 2015 is not the model for 2019 election.”

He called on the military, the police, and all other security agents to do their patriotic duty to the citizens of this great country, hold true to their legal mandate, display their commitment to the rule of law, act with restraint and in accordance to the law.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

Bandits Sack 10 Katsina Communities, Displace 2,000 Residents Francis Sardauna in Katsina Barely 48 hours to the Saturday’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections, bandits have sacked 10 communities, forcing over 2,000 residents to relocate from their ancestral homes in Batsari Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

The affected communities are Tudun Garin-Yara, Kwandatso, Garin Labo, Shigi, Sabon-Garin Dunburan, Garin Dodo, Inwala, Madattai, Sabon-Garin Shigi and Kasai.

Our correspondent who visited Batsari Modern Primary School where the victims, mostly women and children, were relocated, gathered that the crisis started last Sunday in Kasai community but later spread to other nine villages between Monday and Wednesday, rendering thousands of residents homeless.

The attack, which claimed seven lives, including an army captain, also led to the abduction of many women and children who were declared missing after the invasion.

One of the victims, Inatu Labo

who could not control her tears while speaking to THISDAY at the camp, said: “We were asleep when the well-armed bandits numbering about hundreds attacked us. They killed some of our villagers and went away with our animals.”

Conducting THISDAY round the 12 classrooms occupied by the displaced persons, the Council Director of Education and Social Services, Kabir Abba Umar, said government had provided some palliatives in form of food items and sleeping materials to the displaced people.

“We have activated the temporary camps with profiling of the affected persons, and health personnel have been deployed to the camp. The local government has provided water tank, mats, blankets and buckets.

“As of yesterday, we registered more than 2,000 Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) in this temporary camp and more are trooping in today. The displaced persons trek from their ancestral homes, which are about 10 to 15 kilometres away from Batsari.

“The local government area has also directed that provision

of other requirements for camp operation should be giving to the displaced persons immediately”, he explained.

The last invasion by the bandits was coming barely one week after Governor Aminu Bello Masari’s visit to Kasai, a community where the attack was prominent, and called for harmonious co-existence among the residents.

Meanwhile, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa, has also confirmed that the issue of insecurity in some parts of the state has escalated as a result of “spill-over” of the crisis in neighbouring Kaduna and Zamfara States.

“In all, we have concerns in nine LGAs namely, Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, Safana, Kankara, Faskari, Dandume, Danmusa, and Sabuwa. The predominant problems are kidnapping, cattle rustling and robbery.

“The wards and number of polling units affected have been identified. Elections require peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

A concrete approach has therefore, become necessary in order to ensure peaceful and hitch-free election, and we believe that the security agencies are on top of the situation”, Zarewa said.

Briefing journalists yesterday ahead of the Saturday’s polls, the state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, said the command

has made adequate security provision to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens in the nine frontline LGAs of the state.

“There will be total restriction of movement of persons and vehicles from 6.00 a.m – 6 a.m on Saturday, February 16, 2019.

No movement will be allowed until the elections are over,” he added.

The state police chief, said the police and other security personnel will be conducting robust patrols to ensure compliance of the orders.

He said: “This is to checkmate the menace of those who may use that day to move around with dangerous weapons or carry thugs from one place to another.

We have arranged adequately to handle this kind of situation with decisive professional skills.

“As a matter of fact, we have been having series of activities by night Marauders and cattle rustlers around that Batsari axis.

In fact, I directed that armoured personnel vehicles should be redeployed to Batsari and Safana so that the activities of these hoodlums who are frightening people in the areas would be checkmated.

He added that the command was not aware of the setting up of any IDPs camp in the state but confirmed that there have being series of activities by “night marauders” and cattle rustlers around that Batsari axis.

Nigeria, Others Launch Offensive against ISWAP, Boko Haram Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The member-countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, notably Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic yesterday launched a grand military offensive against terrorists’ groups, Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) and Boko Haram in a final push to flush out the insurgents from North-east.

This is coming as military authorities said 150 de-radicalised ex-Boko Haram members would not be released due to the resurgence of attacks by group.

The Multinational Joint Military Task Force (MNJTF) said the offensive followed renewed attacks on innocent civilians and military bases by terrorists in the North-east.

It said the offensive tagged “Operation Yancin Tafki,” which is underway was boosted by earlier preparations designed to deny attackers room to operate, including blocking defensive gaps in Arege, Metele, Baga, and other settlements in the Lake Chad fringes.

Spokesman of MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha, said the grand offensive was the outcome of the summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission held some months ago in N’Djamena, Chad.

“Recently Boko Haram terrorists operating from the northern fringes of the Lake Chad Basin exploited gaps within defensive positions, which have since been blocked, to attack positions in Arege, Metele, Baga and other settlements within the locality.

“As a logical follow up to the atrocious and cowardly attack on defenseless civilians and their property, the Multinational Joint

Task Force (MNJTF), comprising of troops from Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic and Nigeria, have commenced a military operation code - named Operation Yancin Tafki”, he said.

Antigha stated that “the aim of the operation is to take the battle to the remaining last hideout of Boko Haram terrorists within the designated area of responsibility of the MNJTF and subsequently rout the terrorists.

“This operation is therefore expected to give concrete and far-reaching expressions to the resolutions of that summit”.

Meanwhile, the Commandant of Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC) Camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State, Col. Beyidi Martins, said that 150 de-radicalised ex-Boko Haram members would not be discharged any time soon because of the resurgent attacks in the North-east.

Martins said 260 former insurgents were treated comprising the pilot set of six associated and long-detained persons.

He said another batch of 95 who graduated in February 2018 were handed over to their state governments notably Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno and Yobe whom he said were reintegrated and resettled.

Martins said the last set of 150 that graduated last November were still in the camp because of the recent attacks in the North-east zone.

The graduands, he said, would be released to their states who have expressed willingness to accept and re-integrate them as the situation improves.

He said that those released were under close watch.

SEEKING ROYAL BLESSING...

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left), and Ohoro of Shao, Alhaji Bamidele Alabi Adegbite, during a courtesy visit on the monarch in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State...yesterday.

I Didn’t Resign, Says Osinbajo Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has denied the purported news of his resignation which was widely circulated on social media.

In a press statement issued yesterday, the vice president’s media aide, Laolu Akande, said his principal denied the rumour at a meeting with young Christian leaders in Lagos on Wednesday night.

According to the statement, Osinbajo debunked the purported resignation claim, describing it as false information and deliberate

propaganda.

According to the statement, the vice president said those peddling the rumour predicated their propaganda on his absence at the security council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House on Wednesday.

Wondering if he must attend every meeting, the vice president who queried assumptions that he must attend every meeting, explained that he was busy in his office during the Security Council meeting on that day.

Akande quoted his boss as saying, “They are deliberate

propaganda. Today (Wednesday), they’ve been spreading some information around that I’ve resigned. They said I didn’t attend a security meeting yesterday. I was too busy in my office. The same security people were meeting with me that same evening. Must I attend every meeting?

“Can’t the President hold a meeting with the security chiefs without me? They said I was so angry that they didn’t bring me to that meeting, that I was excluded; then I resigned! I have not resigned.”

On the other hand, the statement added that in continuation of

the ‘’Next Level’’ engagements, the vice president visited Ikeja, Lagos State, where he met with the Hausa community.

The statement added, “He then proceeded to Yola, in Adamawa State, where he met a group of Christian leaders. On his return to Lagos yesterday night, the vice president held an interactive session with young Christian leaders at Muson Center, Onikan, where he spoke on the fake news.

“Prof. Osinbajo continues the Next Level engagements and is expected in Kwara and Abia states later today”, the statement added.

Polls: US Embassy Declares Tomorrow Work-free Day Alex Enumah in Abuja The Embassy of the United States of America, Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos have announced a closure of their offices on Friday, February 22, in observance of the public holiday declared by the federal government.

The embassy in a statement said the closure

was to encourage its Nigerian employees go and exercise their right to vote in the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections, on Saturday.

The statement, while noting that consular services would not be available during the closure, added that all those on appointment

would be contacted on a rescheduled date.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Friday, February 22, 2019 as a work-free day to enable Nigerians to prepare for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

“In recognition of this declaration and to

encourage all our Nigerian employees to exercise their right to vote, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will be closed.

“No consular services will be available. If you already have a regular visa or ACS appointment for that date, you will be contacted for rescheduling”, the statement added.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

FIRS Generates N23bn from Unpaid Taxes on Corporate Accounts Jonathan Eze The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has generated over N23 billion in unpaid taxes from the recently suspended substitution exercise on corporate bank accounts, which was marked by the imposition of restriction on the accounts of tax-defaulting organisations. This was disclosed in Lagos yesterday by the FIRS Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Fowler.

The FIRS boss made the disclosure at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Interactive Forum on Tax Matters.

Fowler, who was the guest speaker at the event, which held at the MAN House in Ikeja, explained that the focus of exercise were 3,000 companies deducting Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax (WHT) on behalf of the federal government without remitting the funds.

The companies, he said,

had no tax identification and therefore, could not remit the deducted taxes to the federal government, stressing that this has prompted them to treat such deductions as part of their cash flow.

Fowler stated that the suspension of the exercise for 30 days, announced last weekend, was occasioned by the deluge of corporate tax payers visiting FIRS offices to regularise their tax affairs and make payments, adding that this situation has stretched the agency administratively, thus making it unable to lift the lien on their accounts as quickly as it wished.

He said the FIRS has directed banks to lift restrictions on such accounts to allow affected tax companies regularise their tax status within 30 days and begin to make arrangements for the liquidation of their tax liabilities.

According to the Fowler, the agency’s decision to place

lien on accounts of businesses, corporate organisations and partnerships with an annual banking turnover in excess of N1billion, but without tax identification, was announced at a stakeholders’ meeting last September.

“Our position was that if you charge VAT, which is not your money; or deduct

Withholding Tax from vendors and you have no tax identification, you cannot even pay tax to the FIRS because you can’t pay without tax identification. So, these operators were defrauding the society and the nation by charging consumers VAT, by deducting Withholding Tax and not remitting on behalf of

other taxpayers. We had over 3,000 of such and we said if they do not come forward, we’d follow the law and do what they call substitution.

Now, what the Act actually says is that the banks should deduct the amount of taxes from accounts. We, however, told the banks not to deduct the amounts, but put a lien

on those accounts and let the taxpayers come forward. And till date, over N23billion has been paid on those accounts,” he said.

Fowler added that the FIRS has also noted that operators that had banking turnover of between N100 million and N1billion were equally guilty.

Many Sustain Injuries as APC, PDP Clash in Osinbajo’s Convoy Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Two people were reportedly injured yesterday during an alleged attack on the convoy of Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo in Ilorin, Kwara State capital Osinbajo was in Ilorin on door-to-door consultations with the leaders of All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state ahead of Saturday’s polls in the country.

Though the details of the incident were yet to be ascertained officially last night , security sources confirmed that the development occurred around Isale Aluko area of the metropolis where Osinbajo had gone on his door -to- door campaign in the state capital.

A police source who pleaded anonymity told journalists last night that the incident actually occurred after the vice president’s convoy had left the vicinity.

Meanwhile, the two major political parties in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have blamed each other for the attack which came barely 24 hours after a clash between the two parties at Ojoku, Oyun Local Government Area of the state left two people dead and several others injured.

While the APC claimed the attack on Osinbajo was masterminded by PDP elements, the main opposition party in the country insisted that the attack stemmed from disagreement on how to share money allegedly given to political thugs working for the APC. A statement issued last night by the media aide to the APC governorship candidate in the state, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahaman, Mr. Rafiu

Ajakaiye, claimed that “the vice president was at Isale Aluko suburb of Ilorin on a door-todoor campaign when some dare-devil gunmen opened fire at his convoy, which included thousands of APC members and supporters.”

The statement called for immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the incident as well as investigations to reveal those who gave the orders for the attacks.

But in its own statement, the PDP denied involvement in the attack saying Osinbajo had even visited the Agbajit family home of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki without any untoward incident.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, PDP said “Osinbajo was in Ilorin for the door-to-door campaign rally of his party, APC and other activities of the party, when his convoy was attacked.

“The incident was an intra party affair involving members of the APC, arising from the endless crisis confronting the party.”

He added that crisis broke out when Osinbajo got to Alanamu ward of Isale-Aluko, which is the base of two former governorship aspirants of the APC, Lukman Mustapha and Moshood Mustapha, which has been engulfed in superiority war.

The statement noted that, “It was also gathered that the money released to be shared among party supporters triggered the violence. Our party has no time for violence as we have been busy preparing for the presidential and National Assembly elections coming up on Saturday as well as the governorship and State Assembly elections.”

ENGAGING THE YOUTHS…

L-R: Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola; and deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos State, Dr. Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, during the BRF GABFEST Youths Engagement Forum, with Theme: “Where is the Job?” at Lagos City Hall, Lagos Island…yesterday KOLA OLASUPO

Kajuru Killings: I Advised el-Rufai against Quoting Figures of Casualities, Says CP SOKAPU blames Kaduna gov for crisis John Shiklam in Kaduna and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Ahmad Abdulrahman, has stated that he advised Governor Nasir elRufai against quoting figures arising from the killings in communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state until investigations are completed.

This is coming as the National President of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU), Solomon Musa, has blamed the governor for the killings in the entire southern part of Kaduna, accusing him of acting out a script.

Addressing journalists in Kaduna yesterday, the police commissioner added that the state police command cannot confirm the death figures until investigations are completed.

The death toll had been a subject of controversy in some quarters.

“I told the governor that figures in a crisis of this magnitude should be left (unquoted) until all investigations have been concluded and all the areas where we are getting information from are covered.

“You cannot come up with a figure otherwise you will quote a particular figure now

and quote another later.

“This is what is happening now. As far as police is concerned, we are investigating and the investigation is still in the embryonic stage, until the time we covered all the areas, we cannot quote any figure,” the police commissioner said.

He said further that “as we speak my men are still in the bush with humanitarian workers trying to actually find out the true position of things.”

“The crisis occurred in a terrain that was full of hamlets, which were difficult to assess with our vehicles. We are still uncovering areas where nobody had visited. We are now at the stage of crisis management, which is very delicate.

“That is why nobody should stampede our investigation.

If the governor tells you that the casualty figure is 200, he is just quoting figures. “ It could be more than that or less than that. For example, the place where 36 people were said to have been buried, was not at the purview of the security agencies at the commencement of the investigation.

“We didn’t even know that something happened until when the Fulani themselves came out to tell us after we have secured the place in conjunction with the military, that they approached

to accompany them to their hamlet in order to bury their dead relation.

“There was a mix-up in the assertion by the Fulani that the policemen took pictures of the corpses they buried one after another.

“That very hamlet where they talked about burying 37 corpses was discovered by the military.

“The terrain was very terrible and we could not even identify areas affected by the crisis between February 10 and 11 when it started. So, no policemen went ahead of the military. “ It was the military that went there first to assist the native Fulani that were affected and helped them bury their dead relatives.

Meanwhile, SOKAPU has called for the exhumation of the corpses said to have been killed and buried in order to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of el-Rufai’s claims.

El-Rufai had within one week claimed that over 66 persons of Fulani extraction were killed, a figure which he said, increased to 130 within four days.

However, eyewitness accounts from the Adara and Fulani affected communities agreed that although there were killings, the number of casualties did not tally with those of the state governor who had revealed the

purported killings on the eve of the postponed February 16, 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Mallam Lawal Adamu, a 39-year-old Fulani who led a team of journalists, alongside his sibling, Ibrahim Lawal to the graveside where he claimed to have buried single-handed, 37 Fulanis as well as others in batches of 18, three, two, four, and seven persons, narrated how a group of unknown gunmen, whom he said are the Adara- speaking ethnic group had invaded the community to carry out the killings.

In his reaction, the National President of SOKAPU blamed the governor for the killings in the entire Southern Kaduna, accusing of acting a script.

He recalled the colossal loss of lives in a neighbouring community towards the end of 2018 in which he said the governor never deemed it fit to announce.

While calling on the federal government to take decisive action against the state governor whose tenure has become known for killings, bloodshed and the destruction of properties, Musa said what is happening was simply an act of terrorism and genocide which has been given various colourations.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

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COMMENT

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

THE SUPER-RICH AND THE SUPER-POOR

Odilim Enwegbara writes that Buharinomics has undermined government revenues

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othing unites citizens like a prosperous commonwealth. A country without prosperity is a country at war with itself.

History is a guide. The Greek Empire was progressively united when the commonwealth was prosperous for all. When the Roman Empire became more prosperous for all citizens, it replaced the Greek; imperial Greece was no longer prosperous for all its citizens.

Nigeria is at a crossroads because rather than being prosperous for all its citizens, it exists more for the tiny privileged political and business classes.

President Muhammadu Buhari has paid more attention to reducing prosperity at all levels, to the extent that the once-booming middle class has finally disappeared. As a result of Buhari’s economic socialisation, the country is today dangerously divided into two extreme classes — the tiny super-rich class and the sprawling super-poor.

But how did we get here? How did our smooth-running economic journey get halted, and unbelievably taken to such a level where most everyone is struggling? Imagine Nigeria experimenting with such a socialist economic ideology as the one Deng Xiaoping had to dismantle in China starting from 1978, and Mikhail Gorbachev had to discard in an effort to end the crushing classless socialist economic experimentation in the Soviet Union!

Today, Nigeria has as many as 91 million out of its 200 million citizens stuck in excruciating poverty to the extent that the country has become the world’s poverty capital. All but about one per cent of the country’s citizens fight for their survival every day, a situation that has thrown the country into difficult-to-deal-with ethnic and religious rivalries. The nation is in such an economic danger that if nothing is done — that is, if Buharinomics is not stopped – it will be so socially and economically threatened and devastated that millions of Nigerians might be forced to head elsewhere in search of economic and social survival.

The question remains: how did we get to this economic desert, this social tipping point? How did we get to spending as high as 66% of our revenue on just debt service? How has the country’s debt profile skyrocketed from N12.06 trillion accumulated over 16 years (from Obasanjo in 1999 to Jonathan in 2015) to N24 trillion in only four years of Buhari? Why is it that it now costs Nigerians double the amount they used to spend four years ago in order to put food on the table? How come Nigeria’s social security has become worse than what is obtainable even in warring nations?

By growing big government, recurrent expenditure, and consumption spending without any efforts made to ensure a corresponding productive government, Buharinomics has undermined government revenues.

Consequently, fiscal deficits have grown in a way that skyrocketed domestic debts with expensive high cost of debt service.

With this, the country is today approaching a national debt crisis. Just imagine that Nigeria’s debt service which stood at N943 billion in 2015 is today N2.04 trillion without corresponding capital expenditure, particularly in infrastructure that is critical to reducing the cost of doing business and

FISCAL DEFICITS HAVE GROWN IN A WAY THAT SKYROCKETED DOMESTIC DEBTS WITH EXPENSIVE HIGH COST OF DEBT SERVICE

improving the country’s competitiveness. Not even the social welfare of the millions of Nigerians increasingly being pushed down the poverty line is being taken care of.

So, what is Buharinomics all about? If it is an ideology, how can we really explain it? The worst debt service to revenue ratio in Nigeria’s history and in whole world. With recurrent from N2.59 trillion in 2015 jumping unbelievably to N4.04 trillion in 2019, one is forced to wonder the kind of economic ideology that has almost doubled the country’s debt service to revenue ratio from about 45% in 2015 to 70% today!

What we are contending with is not perceptible economic growth benefits but high debt service to revenue as a result of high government spending, that is, over 80% consumption.

In the meantime, inflation is increasingly difficult to combat without liquidity tightening, which by reducing money in circulation goes further to reduce the overall purchasing power of the already impoverished Nigerians as well as reduce private sector investments. Mopping liquidity along with spending over $15 billion annually to artificially strengthen the naira is unbelievably subsidising forex for importers while putting local producers out of business along with more job export and poverty import.

We have to stop Buhari from continuing with this senseless dismemberment of the country’s economy. And there is no other way to stop him than by voting him out on February 23; unless we do so, the country would, by December 2020, become bankrupt. At that point, the country would be forced to borrow to add to its revenue if it wanted to continue to meet its debt service obligations.

Perhaps it will be difficult to stop Buhari, given that those benefiting from this shambolic arrangement are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that he is re-elected to continue with this destruction of our commonwealth. No, we must take our economy out of Buhari’s incompetent hands because if we get to the point of bankruptcy, it will automatically mean lenders stopping to lend to us, even if we increased the policy rate to as high as 30%. At that point, lenders will resort to demanding that we hand them our strategic oil reserves and other important national assets. And should government refuse, then, they could go ahead to confiscate our offshore assets including oil cargoes leaving the shores of our country.

We all know that if this happens, it is all over for Nigeria. At this point, all our crude oil buyers will avoid our oil, while the cost of insuring oil cargoes will skyrocket. Also at this point, the country’s foreign reserves would become zero, since creditors could be given the right to take over such foreign reserve accounts.

We need to reverse this dangerous trend.

We need to set in motion a set of pro-growth, pro-investment and projob policies – policies geared toward stopping the looming bankruptcy by discontinuing the country’s expensive domestic borrowings. We need someone whose prioritisation of cheap and concessionary external loans will bring to an end the present crowding out of the real sector firms from the debt markets and government social spending.

PERSPECTIVES ON BUHARI’S ECONOMICS Buharinomics yielded better results with less resource, writes Nicholas Mkpagbu

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t’s barely two days to another historic Election Day; the din of electioneering is of course loud and deafening. It’s sure not the best of times to discuss the arcana of economics. This is the hour of high wire propaganda, brick-batting and boisterous one-upmanship. Who cares about the numbers and the indices now? Much too late in the day you might say for any word on ways and means and the wheretofores of the variant baskets of our GDP in the past near four years.

But perspectives are never out of line or time; they are the compasses that would always guide us no matter the time or the route we might choose.

This concise overview of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term economics will serve many purposes. First, for those seeking last minute understanding of this era in practical and workable terms, this provides the best insight to be found.

Two, for those who have been away from the fray most of these four years who have been suffused with a barrage of half-truths and propaganda, this will help mightily.

PMB’s era and his economics have been defined by three major factors: his deep-seated personal idiosyncrasies; the oil price movement and lastly, a few team members who turned up with high performance and turned out to be the chief economic drivers. Let us attempt to work through this maze. First we plod through the downside and then walk up to the bright side.

President Buhari is everything but an economist.

In fact he may be described as a nationalist of the revolutionary kind. To the extent that modern economics and nationalism are akin to oil and water so it is that Buhari’s nationalism almost marred his economics as he ascended to power on May 29, 2015. Thus was it that though international crude oil price had dropped to about half by May, 2015 and foreign exchange inflow had dwindled considerably, yet the president out of nationalistic instincts, would

not allow the naira to float beyond its old band for many months. Of course this brought a harsh toll to bear on the economy in terms of the reaction of foreign investors and crash of naira to about N525/ US$ by first quarter of 2017.

Naturally by this period, recession had set in as inflation had hit a high of almost 19% from sub-10 in 2015.

This singular factor of upheaval in the oil market; the president’s genuine though outmoded intentions for the economy and the delay in forming a cabinet hurt the economy at the outset of this administration. And when the cabinet swung to action, there was not much of a strong economic driver in the mould of the erstwhile finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Thus the economy lapsed into a recession and was wind-tossed for about six quarters more as a result of persistent uncertainties than any other combination of factors.

However, since the last quarter of 2017, the Buhari economics began to take a life of its own and the president got more sure-footed and some critical members of his cabinet began to come to their own.

Fight against graft, one of the cardinal policies of the administration was revved up. Though some quarrel with the methods, there is no doubt that a lot of impact was made. The monster of impunity was defanged so to speak as public servants feared to walk their old ways of infamy.

Coupled with other strictures on government treasury like the treasury single account (TSA), there seemed to be more funds to be deployed to the economy regardless of the dwindled revenues from oil. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria report, one pointer to this fact is that by (December) 4th quarter of 2017, foreign reserve stood at $39.35 billion while a barrel of oil was selling at $62.38.

Compare this to September 2014 when price of crude was $103.40 and Nigeria’s reserve stood at $38.28.

Another notable indicator is dollar inflow and outflow through the CBN then and now. Whilst there was oil boom as price was above the $100 threshold, inflow of dollars through the CBN was low while out flow was higher resulting in negative net flows for most of 2014. On the contrary, though oil price is lower now, inflows through the CBN are higher, outflows lower and there has just been one negative outflow since September, 2017.

It may be said that the rampaging terrorists and the ethno-religious and herders-farmers crises jeopardized the Buhari economy much. Steady gains being made were buried under the gore and anguish of the northeast and north central upheavals and killings. Some of the major strides of the administration were likewise subsumed in this muck.

Notwithstanding, the CBN seemed to have grown into the role of the driving force of the economy, churning out measures to manage the recession and the forex crisis that ensued. The partial floating of the naira, the restricted access to foreign exchange for about 41 products and an unprecedented support for agricultural production all add up to buoy the economy.

The economy also rebounded on the wings of strong infrastructural overhaul by a few key ministries and agencies. For instance, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing after an initial tiff with the legislature, picked up steam and embarked on massive civil constructions across all the zones of the country. So many abandoned crucial road projects were completed or even upgraded. Apart from giving some lease of life to the citizenry, the massive spending helped to create jobs and re-inflate the economy.

Power supply increased marginally as transmission and generation were ramped up considerably.

A couple of power plants started by previous governments were completed and connected to the grid. The Power Ministry in conjunction with the

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) achieved a few major projects that allowed notable improvements in the power matrix.

But distribution remained an Achilles heel as the companies missed their five-year review targets.

Metering was a big issue. But surely, power supply improved in the last four years.

The Transport Ministry also turned in a modest performance though save for the aviation leg of it which showed little sparks. The KadunaAbuja line, the Abuja metro, the Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail lines were completed or at near-completion over this period. The modern terminal buildings at the Lagos and Port Harcourt Airports were completed and put to use. These are notable landmarks not to be discounted.

Also sterling are such agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) which has been putting out glittering performances over about three years; the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council and its adjunct Ease of Doing Business as well as the National Bureau of Statistics have also shown a taste of what governance ought to be.

Final analysis: Buhari’s economics rallied late in his term because the president didn’t set up his team early in the day to pursue his programmes; so it was not until last quarter of 2017 that results started trickling in. This explains why much more was accomplished in 2018, a few months to the election.

There was no driver of the economy until the CBN moved in to take control, churning out remarkable policy interventions that steadied the ship and brought back confidence in the polity.

Redundant cabinet members were not replaced in order to reinvigorate the team, thus the engine did not fire on all cylinders. While the politics of appointments seemed to have kept the very best at bay, on a scale, the Buhari economics yielded better results with less resource.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

EDITORIAL Finally, Nigerians Go To Polls…

INEC must learn from its mistakes and conduct free and credible elections

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) put Nigeria on the spotlight by postponing the elections scheduled for last Saturday, 16th February, few hours before the commencement of polls. The rescheduled Presidential and the National Assembly elections will now hold tomorrow, 23rd February 2019 while the governorship and the state Houses of Assembly elections will be held on March 9.

The embattled chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu assured the nation during the week that the administrative and logistical inefficiencies that led to the postponed poll and which cost the nation a fortune had been overcome. He said both sensitive and nonsensitive electoral materials had been distributed across the nation while smart card readers had been reconfigured with the new time-lines. “We have been making good progress on logistics,” said Professor Yakubu. “Similarly, all other arrangements for the movement of personnel from the local government WE EXPECT THE areas to the ward are SECURITY AGENCIES on course.”

Indeed, there have TO BE APOLITICAL AND been steps forward and DISPLAY HIGH SENSE is gradually OF PROFESSIONALISM confidence seeping back into the DURING AND AFTER THE electoral system, thus ELECTIONS boosting the perilously low morale after the shocking postponement. The INEC daily interactions with the public of its plans and renewed pledge have helped greatly. The slash in the cost of petrol and air fares by some airlines and the public holiday a day before the election will also likely make some difference among voters. The resumption of political campaigns has also helped in lifting the prevailing gloom as it gave room for politicians to interact more with the voters ahead of the elections.

However, this little window for electioneering has also been abused by many politicians especially by those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main

opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They have still no regards for the extant laws guiding political campaigns or indeed the peace accord they all agreed to abide by. The amount of abusive and inciting messages in the political space is exasperating while security issues are being increasingly politicised.

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

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

erhaps the most alarming came from President Muhammadu Buhari who is also the presidential candidate of the ruling APC. Buhari had on Monday during the national caucus meeting of his party in Abuja said ballot box snatchers would pay with their lives as security agencies had been given the green light to be ruthless with them. It was one worrying directive that heightened tension, coming as it did, from the commander-in-chief. It hurts as the order is dismissive of the law, and encourages scare tactics and brute force.

Not surprisingly, the opposition and members of the civil society were outraged and rightly described the remark as a declaration of war on Nigerians. There are sufficient laws to deal with election violence and related matters.

As we have stated repeatedly, we expect the security agencies to be apolitical and display high sense of professionalism during and after the elections, a duty the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has pledged to perform. It is heartening too that the electoral body itself has said that the conduct of the elections will be guided by our laws. The INEC, assigned the crucial role of conducting a free, fair and transparent election, must do well to disabuse the minds of many Nigerians. For this second chance, there is no room for mistakes. Nothing should be unattended to. The election must be free and seen as transparent.

And for Nigerians, we urge them to come out tomorrow and vote the candidate of their choice. As the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Commission rightly enjoined, “do not relent, go out and fulfill your duty to your family and country on Election Day. We will soon turn the corner in hope. Rather than despair, rise up to defend our democracy.”

May the best candidates win.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

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

AVALENTINE’S MISSIVE FOR MY MUM

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ear Mother, how are you? I pray that you’re in a fine fettle. I’ve chosen to write a billet-doux to you as we are in the season of love. Although letter-writing has gone out of vogue following the advent of cellphone and social media platforms, I still cherish and relish reading epistolary love novels and practising how to write one.

Mum, you are very dear to me as you have always wanted the best things for me. And you made great sacrifices to help me find a place in our volatile and wicked world. That is a demonstration of the profound and genuine affection you’ve for me. So you’ll remain unforgettable and evergreen in my mind provided that the breath of life remains in me.

Thank you for showing me love, Mum. But what is love? The Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines love as a ‘strong feeling of affection for somebody or something, especially a member of your family or a friend.’ And love can be defined as doing a good deed for somebody without expecting or demanding reciprocity from him or her. And Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for our sins and redemption was borne out of His love for mankind. He accepted to be a ransom for our sins. That was a perfect exemplification of love.

But, sadly, today, love is non-existent among us. We are filled with hate and spite for other people. Daily, in Nigeria, we’re regaled with gory tales about how some persons murdered other people for money- making rituals. Here, full-grown men commit statutory rape with wild abandon.

Only people destitute of charity can perpetrate the afore-mentioned atrocious, bloodcurdling deeds.

And members of the Boko Haram, who are with the chimerical vision that they each would inherit 70 virgins upon their demise, have gone berserk killing innocent people. Those insurgents who are with homicidal

proclivities had been brainwashed to believe that killing infidels is a justified act that will guarantee them blissful place in the celestial abode.

But are those Boko Hram insurgents filled with the virtue of love?

It is saddening to note that this current class of political leaders has failed to rein in the murderous deeds of the Boko Haram group. What are the reasons for that? Here, politicians perceive their occupation of exalted political positions as an open sesame to acquiring money through fair or foul means, instead of providing good leadership to the people.

Past successive political leaders had looted our treasury and threw our economy into a tailspin. But are those politicians endued with the virtue of love?

Not surprisingly, corruption has been deeply entrenched in our country with people perceiving bad as good; and good as bad. And as we live in an atmosphere devoid of love and devilry, impressionable young people are being initiated into the culture of corruption and cultism. Youngsters, who ought to be frightened by the issue and spectre of death, take sadistic delight in snuffing life out of other people. Is their obsession with morbidity not bordering on lunacy?

But our Christian priests and Islamic Mullahs, who ought to use the pulpit and mosque to instill the virtue of love into our impressionable youths, have failed on that front. Some Muslim clerics distort the teachings of Islam and incite their followers to perpetrate acts of violence. And we have ecclesiastical mountebanks, who deceive disoriented, frustrated and desperate people and fleece them of their hard-earned money.

Our religious leaders, who are actuated by acquisitive propensity, have failed to realize that youthfulness, which is a time of creativity, could be likened to a yam’s tendril, which should be guided carefully while it is twining on a stake.

Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

NNPC AS REPOSITORY FOR RICH KIDS

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ver here in my school, the Federal University of Technology, Minna, a repressed indignant din just reluctantly subsided after the non-academic staff unions were paid their long-overdue hazard allowances. It was “long overdue” because members of these unions knew that the principal negotiator with the federal government, who is a technical staff over here but is the national president of the key non-academic union benefiting from payment of hazard allowances, was duly “settled” by the Presidency to scuttle agitations by members from embarking on strike for all of last year so as not to colour the government bad. This “settlement” was an assured employment for his daughter at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), that non-efficient and lumbering government “fat cow” parastatal; that young lady was your typical Nigerian graduate of biochemistry who would have slugged it out with others through the NYSC process and the job-search process. Thus, now, the NNPC is the repository for rich kids and those who can count on their familial privilege to get connected for plush job openings. The NNPC that should be competing with Mobil, Total, Shell, Agip-ENI, is a haven for nepotism and cronyism. What, now, to do with it? Privatisation of the NNPC in the best way to go.

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

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5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019

POLITICS

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

PERSPECTIVE

Setting a Development Agenda for the Prospective President Popular Lagos-based clergy, Isaiah Wealth urges the would-be president to take the golden opportunity presented to him to be remembered in the annals as Nigeria’s hero

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ajority of Nigerians have demonstrated their trust in you and in your ability to change the nation for the better by electing you into the office of the President for this term 2019 – 2023, which are four determining years for our nation. They are years that will determine our fate; whether we will experience the development and rapid growth that we all envisage and anticipate or remain in this deplorable state or even deteriorate.

In prayers about eight years ago, the Lord promised me that when Nigeria is 60, it would begin to enjoy rapid development, just like Isaiah 60.

Jerusalem, stand up! Shine! Your new day is dawning. The glory of the LORD shines brightly on you.

The earth and its people are covered with darkness, but the glory of the Lord is shining upon you. Nations and kings will come to the light of your dawning day.

Open your eyes! Look around! Crowds are coming. Your sons are on their way from distant lands; your daughters are being carried like little children. When you see this, your faces will glow; your hearts will pound and swell with pride.

Treasures from across the sea and the wealth of nations will be brought to you.’

(Isaiah 60: 1-5 (CEV) Nigeria would be 60 next year, and I believe you have been brought into power for such a time as this. The question therefore is, will you yield yourself to the will of God to bring us into this glory?

Will you be that hero that Nigerians will live to remember? We cannot afford

Wealth

another four years of setbacks, corruption and under development. If we would ever get it right, this is the time and you have been uniquely positioned to lead the charge and steer this ship called Nigeria into the future!

I woke up three weeks ago from a vision, with the voice of the Lord speaking to me. Take note that I am not an Economist, neither am I a politician. But as a prophet of God, I only speak what I have heard and seen. And what the Lord spoke to me is a simple summary that brings to the fingertips what we need to focus on as a nation.

He said to me, demand and supply affect price. When demand is excess

of supply, prices go up. Although this sounds like a simple economic theory, yet pay attention to what He said next. Then He said to me, when demand is in excess of supply, it leads to shortage. Shortage leads to desperation, and desperation in turn leads to corruption and inflation. The final result is poverty.

The reason for poverty in your country, the Lord said to me, is because the demand for everything is always more than the supply. The demand for housing is more than the availability of houses.

The demand for education is more than the supply of schools. The demand for transportation is more than its supply.

The demand for jobs is more than the availability of jobs. Therefore, to develop your nation, he further said to me, build infrastructures that make supply in excess of demand and focus on these seven areas.

Then he highlighted to me the seven infrastructures that our nation must develop. Please note that I have added scriptures and a little research to enhance these points.

Learning Infrastructure: “Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge;” – Hosea 4:6 (CEV) With an estimated 13.2 million children out of school, over 35 million illiterate adult population, prevalent infrastructural deficit and decay at our schools, underpaid teachers, and less than 10% budgetary allocation to education, the education sector in Nigeria continues to suffer neglect and requires urgent attention.

In 2017 alone, only about 550,000 out of

over 1.8 Million candidates who sat for the University Matriculation Examination were offered admission into tertiary institutions, reducing the prospect of our nation’s workforce by 1.3Million Nigerian youths in that particular year alone. Something drastic has to be done to save this abysmal situation. This is why providing and improving access to qualitative education for all Nigerians should not just be a campaign promise, but must be the foremost empowerment pursuit of our government. An increase in the number and quality of our learning infrastructure will ultimately increase Human Capital Development and help us to produce the caliber of minds we need to develop our nation.

In addition to this, there should be specialized schools for every trade to cater for multi-disciplinary pursuits in human capital development of our nation. We therefore need to revisit our educational system and revise our curriculum from primary to tertiary level, basing its content on the necessary information and training set that can fit into the 21st century market place, thereby producing the human capital necessary and sufficient to build the nation we desire. There is also the need to build sufficient schools at all levels and fields, and adequately fund their operations, granting autonomy where necessary, while also financing citizens to school through sponsored education programmes and scholarships.

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

Jonathan’s Sermons of Peace Wealth Dickson Ominabo

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own the Southern part of Nigeria is a humble man with a temperament of peace.

With a political philosophy of humanism, he goes about preaching peace to the world and urging his friends, brothers and of humanity to see peace as their kinsmen and harmony as their in- law.

He is a fellow who lives out the attributes of the beatitude daily. He scores the reproach of defeat and vilification just to maintain the climate of peace in his environment. He is a sermonist. He speaks in the manner of John Donne, Martin Luther King Jnr and Desmond Tutu. Although not a fulltime member of the ecclesiastics, his messages are always refreshing and didactic.

Recently in Abuja and Yenagoa, I listened to him speak. His messages tonics for national peace. At a time when the most popular messages by politicians have been sermons of ‘body bags’ and ‘shoot at sight.’

He continues to give sermons of peace and love. Even when friends and associates go to him with itching ears, wanting to make remarks that will send a strong signal to his political detractors who have taken upon themselves the iniquity of insulting him at every opportunity and assassinate his character, his utterances are always seasoned with the salt and savour of love.

In Abuja, about a fortnight ago in a conference organised by the Goodluck

Jonathan Foundation (GJF), he spoke alongside Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Gen.Abdulsalami Abububakar, Dr. Amos Sawyer, Dr. Fidele Sarassoro and Prof AlHassan Conteh on peaceful elections and national development. He spoke on the link between peace and national prosperity as well as the reproach of conflict and wars. The minutes that he spoke, were seconds of attention, penitence and orientation in the hearts of the pew. It was like listening to Charles Spurgeon preach his sermon of grace or watching Billy Graham on one of his evangelical outreaches.

Like a revivalist he spoke, on the need for peace and good governance which are the issues of his heart and his foundation.

According to him, “The search for solutions to Africa’s seemingly intractable challenges is at the centre of the foundation’s interest on the question of leadership and good governance. It is a known fact that Africa’s relatively slow growth and poor performing economies are linked to the preponderance of conflicts. What many patriotic Africans will also not deny is the fact that at the root of most of the conflicts ravaging the continent is the desperation that often characterise the struggle for power.

“No doubt, there is a strong nexus between the struggle for power and national development. There is a vicious cycle in Africa where the struggle for political power leads to conflicts that bring up poor governance and creates hardship which fuels the struggle for change of leadership;

thus, creating further conflicts and poor leadership. “ Like an Apostle on a great commission Dr. Goodluck Jonathan called Africans to repentance. “ It is my considered view that as African leaders, we must change our approach and disposition towards stewardship. We must get to the stage where we should be more interested in developing our people, rather than ruling or just governing them.

“The 10 most developed nations on this earth are those countries that experience the least conflicts while the 10 least developed countries, many of them here in Africa, are the once wallowing in the worst form of conflicts. The lesson in this existential reality is that any leader who is committed to the development of his country will do everything to save it from turmoil and conflicts. “ The most interesting part of the sermon to many was when Dr. Jonathan, perhaps a good student of the Pauline Epistle, spoke in the epistolary form. Just like Paul writing to Timothy of the expectations of church leaders (bishop), he said, “ a development-minded leader is visionary and selfless. He does not seek power at all cost and will not wield it for its own sake... There is no gainsaying that when politicians resort to desperate measures in the bid to occupy important political positions, they run the risk of plunging their countries into serious crises that often lead to loss of lives, degradation of values as well as destruction of private and public

assets.

“These breeds of politicians often ignore the fact that to be patriotic is to love your country and be prepared to live and die for her honour, reputation, freedom, progress and the ascendancy of the common good. You can restore destroyed infrastructure almost to its former state or even better, but you cannot easily repair people’s psyche, reconcile aggrieved persons and restore hope in a nation, once they are damaged in destructive leadership struggles. “ On Monday this week, when youths of the Niger Delta region led by the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Barr. Pereotubo Oweilaemi paid him a courtesy call. Dr. Jonathan restated his message of peace; charging the youths to prioritise peace always especially during the elections. His message was a call for democratic humanism.

“Anytime someone dies extra-judicially it reduces the integrity of the country. So, if our security personnel are interested in peace, especially during this electioneering, then they must do everything to suppress extra-judicial killings; because when one person is killed unlawfully, it affects everyone.”

As we go for elections beginning from this weekend, leaders and followers alike should take to heart the sermons of Jonathan and when he said no ambition is worth his blood.

-Ominabo is an Abuja-based journalist

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019

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PERSPECTIVE

Different Faces of Terror in Ogun State Tunde Oladunjoye

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gun State was not just nicknamed as the ‘Gateway State’ of Nigeria, it is an appellation well-earned, going by the historic place occupied by the state in the the economic, political, social, and cultural history of Nigeria.

From music to medicine, accountancy, civil service bureaucracy, arts, films and culture, music, politics, journalism and activism, Ogun State has played pathfinding roles that have made it the envy of other states in Nigeria.

However, recently, the egocentric drive for political expansion, entrenchment and domineering tendencies of the present but transient occupier of the office of the Governor of Ogun State, is not only holding the state back in its strides, but is also, like ripe mangoes, attracting stones and other injurious objects to the sprouting tree.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, whose ego is seemingly taller than his over-sized sky-bound signature cap, is bent on pulling the state down along the route of infamy as recent political events in the State have sent tongues wagging, locally and internationally.

It was a shocked world that watched with total disbelief as live pictures and videos were streamed to local and international audience on Monday, February 11, 2019 when the President, Commander-in-Chief of the most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, was pelted with stones and sachets of pure/ poor water at a ‘Presidential Rally’ held in an unpresidential manner in the ancient city of Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Buhari’s ‘sin’ was that he dared to raise the hand of the gubernatorial candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun, at the rally, which was supposed to be APC’s rally but was hijacked by hoodlums who paraded themselves as members of the budding rival party, the Allied People’s Movement (APM), sponsored by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

That incident in Abeokuta turned out to be the first of such in recent history of Nigeria, where such huge quality collection of political personalities, comprising of a sitting President, the Vice President, National

Amosun

Chairman and leaders of a ruling party, present and serving governors, senators, members and officers of the top echelons of a ruling party at the national level would be stoned in the public and in the full glare of television cameras.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State may, after all, be operating from another planet, devoid of present realities.

Before the arrival of the President at the rally, the Governor was shown in live video streams, personally supervising the removal of the bill boards, banners, flexes, effigies and other campaign materials of Prince Dapo Abiodun from within and around the MKO Abiola Stadium, venue of the rally.

What Governor Amosun lacked in eloquence, logic and political statesmanship and sportsmanship, he actually made up for in political indiscretion, manipulation, compromise and brigandage. He unleashed his attack dogs on anyone and everyone seen wearing the yellow colour caps and T-shirts that are symbols of the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and chased them out of the stadium, just as President Buhari’s helicopter was a few kilometers away from the venue. It was a story of sorrows, tears and blood as defenseless APC members scattered and scampered in different directions.

Amosun has told the world that over his

dead body will Dapo Abiodun, hitherto his bosom friend and confidant, become Governor of Ogun State. It is an open secret that Amosun already has a lackey that he single-handedly picked and wants to force down the throats of Ogun electorates as his successor. He was even indulged by the President who received his puffed puppet, contesting for governorship on the platform of APM, inside the villa, purportedly on endorsement mission, even when the APM has its own presidential candidate that hasn’t met or stepped down for President Buhari; an audience for which the President was not only criticised but also got ‘served-himright’ reactions when he was subsequently stoned by APM members in Abeokuta.

But for huge compromise from the gate to the inner recess of the Villa, what could have granted the Governor, as he openly lamented, 28 times access to a busy Executive President, to push for the selection of his political miniature as the winner of the October 3, 2019 Governorship primaries of the APC in Ogun State, conducted by the National Working Committee of the party, a contest that the whole world knew, he never participated in.

The compromise came to the full glare during the preidential campaign when all the security top brass at the event stood with their hands akimbo, as the President and his entourage were booed, stoned, stunned and had to be ferried away under the body shield of their security aides! Not a single arrest was made or has been made by the combined security intelligence operating at the state and national levels.

That won’t be the first time anyway.

When exchanges of guns boomed for several minutes at the venue of pre-congress meeting of the APC on October 1, 2018 held at MTROS Hall Abeokuta, a stone-throw from the residence of the governor, no one was, or has been arrested in connection with the incident. Many members of the ruling APC in Ogun State, including governorship aspirants, have petitioned the police authorities over threats to their lives. Their petitions have not even been acknowledged, let alone being investigated.

Furthermore, when a serving member of the House of Representatives led hoodlums to attack the campaign train of Prince Dapo Abiodun during his ward-to-ward tour

of Abeokuta North Local Government on January 31, 2019 and scores of his supporters were severely injured, no one was, or has been arrested in connection with the incident. But the security agencies, especially the police, unbelievably, continue to claim neutrality and professionalism in the handling of these obviously one-sided political attacks being suffered by APC members in Ogun, backed with “executive order”!

On the night of the inglorious attack on Mr. President and APC leaders, a lavish party was thrown at the multi-billion naira private residence of the governor, now tagged “White House”, in Abeokuta.

The video of the event, led by the APM governorship candidate in Ogun State, has since gone viral. The governor himself drove round the town the following day to thank the people for a ‘befitting reception’ given to Mr. President. He, as usual, dolled out huge sums of money to different categories of people for a job “well done”!

He went further to place “thank you” adverts in major newspapers to thank Mr. President for coming to Ogun State. He was also at the Presidential Rally in the Katsina home-state of President Buhari, perhaps the only governor that attended the rally barely few days to the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. The pictures from the Katsina rally have been bandied over the social media by Amosun’s supporters to show that the President was not angry with his ‘untouchable son’ even with the stoning in Abeokuta.

It did not, therefore, come as a “rude shock”, when Governor Ibikunle Amosun sent hoodlums numbering about 50, led by a Council Chief, to disrupt the distribution of the Federal Government’s financial empowerment scheme, tagged “TraderMoni”, to petty traders and artisans at Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta on February 19, 2019.

The media reported that the organisers of ‘‘TraderMoni’’ had arrived at the market and were documenting the traders’ bio-data with their identities already captured when the hoodlums stormed the venue to disrupt the programme.

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

Another Look at Nigeria’s Economic Challenge Odilim Enwegbara

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othing unites citizens like a prosperous commonwealth. A country without prosperity is a country at war with itself.

History is a guide: The Greek Empire was progressively united when the commonwealth was prosperous for all. When the Roman Empire became more prosperous for all citizens, it replaced the Greek; imperial Greece was no longer prosperous for all its citizens.

Nigeria is at a crossroads because rather than being prosperous for all its citizens, it exists more for the tiny privileged political and business classes. President Muhammadu Buhari has paid more attention to reducing prosperity at all levels, to the extent that the once-booming middle class has finally disappeared. As a result of Buhari’s economic socialisation, the country is today dangerously divided into two extreme classes — the tiny super-rich class and the sprawling super-poor.

But how did we get this backward? How did our smoothly running economic journey not only get halted, but unbelievably taken to such an economically egalitarian society where everyone is being made economically poor? Imagine Nigeria experimenting with such a socialist economic ideology as the one Deng Xiaoping had to dismantle in China starting from 1978, and Mikhail Gorbachev had to discard in an effort to end the crushing classless socialist economic experimentation in the Soviet Union!

Today, Nigeria has as many as 91 million out of its 200 million citizens stuck in excruciating poverty to the extent that the country

has become the world’s poverty capital. All but about 1% of the country’s citizens fight for their survival every day, a situation that has thrown the country into difficult-to-deal-with ethnic and religious rivalries. The nation is in such an economic danger that if nothing is done — that is, if Buharinomics is not stopped – it will be so socially and economically threatened and devastated that millions of Nigerians might be forced to head for other African countries in search of economic and social survival.

The question remains: how did we get to this economic desert, this social tipping point? How did we get to spending as high as 66% of our revenue on just debt service? How has the country’s debt profile skyrocketed from N12.06 trillion accumulated over 16 years (from Obasanjo 1999 to Jonathan 2015) to N24 trillion in only four years of Buhari?

Why is it that it now costs Nigerians double the amount they used to spend four years ago in order to put food on the table? How come Nigeria’s social security has become worse than what is obtainable even in warring nations?

By growing big government, recurrent expenditure, and consumption spending without any efforts made to ensure a corresponding productive government, Buharinomics has undermined government revenues. Consequently, fiscal deficits have grown in a way that skyrocketed domestic debts with expensive high cost of debt service.

With this, the country is today approaching a national debt crisis. Just imagine that Nigeria’s debt service which stood at N943 billion in 2015 is today N2.04 trillion without corresponding capital expenditure,

particularly in infrastructure that is critical to reducing the cost of doing business and improving the country’s competitiveness.

Not even the social welfare of the millions of Nigerians increasingly being pushed down the poverty line is being taken care of.

So, what is Buharinomics all about? If it is an ideology, how can we really explain this kind of ideology? The worst debt service to revenue ratio in Nigeria’s history and in whole world. With recurrent from N2.59 trillion in 2015 jumping unbelievably to N4.04 trillion in 2019, one is forced to wonder what kind of economic ideology is this that has almost doubled the country’s debt service to revenue ratio from about 45% in 2015 to 70% today! What we are contending with is not perceptible economic growth benefits but high debt service to revenue as a result of high government spending, that is, over 80% consumption.

In the meantime, inflation is increasingly difficult to combat without liquidity tightening, which by reducing money in circulation goes further to reduce the overall purchasing power of the already impoverished Nigerians as well as reduce private sector investments.

Mopping liquidity along with spending over $15 billion annually to artificially strengthen the naira is unbelievably subsidising forex for importers while putting local producers out of business along with more job export and poverty import.

We have to stop this senseless dismemberment of the country’s economy. Unless we do so, the country would, by December 2020, become bankrupt. At that point, the country would be forced to borrow to add to its revenue if it wanted to continue to meet its debt service obligations.

Those benefiting from this shambolic arrangement are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that destruction of our commonwealth continues. To get to the point of bankruptcy will automatically mean lenders stopping to lend to us, even if we increased the policy rate to as high as 30%. At that point, lenders will resort to demanding that we hand them our strategic oil reserves and other important national assets. And should government refuse, then, they could go ahead to confiscate our offshore assets including oil cargoes leaving the shores of our country.

We all know that if this happens, it is all over for Nigeria. At this point, all our crude oil buyers will avoid our oil, while the cost of insuring oil cargoes will skyrocket. Also at this point, the country’s foreign reserves would become zero, since creditors could be given the right to take over such foreign reserve accounts.

We require someone to reverse this dangerous trend.

This person must set in motion a set of progrowth, pro-investment and pro-job policies – policies geared toward stopping the looming bankruptcy by discontinuing the country’s expensive domestic borrowings. We need a person whose prioritisation of cheap and concessionary external loans will bring to an end the present crowding out of the real sector firms from the debt markets and government social spending. And to prevent the looming bankruptcy, besides replacing domestic loans with external loans along with buying back of government’s debts using quantitative easing. We can get some of the cheap external loans for the repayment of the country’s expensive-to-service domestic loans.

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

20

1,*(5,$16 5,6( 83 $1' 2%(< 7+( 1$7,21 6 &$// 67$7(0(17 %< 7+( 1$7,21$/ 3($&( &200,77(( ϭ͗ tĞ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ƐĂLJŝŶŐ ŝŶ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ 'ŽĚΖƐ ƟŵĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŝŶ ƌĞĂů ůŝĨĞ͕ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ŽŌĞŶ ƚĞŵƉƚ ƵƐ ƚŽ ƉĂƵƐĞ ĂŶĚ ĂƐŬ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞĚŝƚĞĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƐƵĐŚ ŵŽŵĞŶƚƐ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŚŽƉĞĨƵů ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ 'ŽĚ ŝƐ ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ŬŶŽǁŝŶŐ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŚƵŵĂŶƐ͕ ,Ğ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ 'ŽĚ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ Ăůů ƉŽǁĞƌ ďĞůŽŶŐƐ ƚŽ ,ŝŵ ĂůŽŶĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁŝůů ŐŝǀĞ ƚŽ ǁŚŽŵ ,Ğ ǁŝƐŚĞƐ͕ ŚŽǁ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĞŶ ,Ğ ǁŝƐŚĞƐ͘ tĞ ĂƌĞ ŵĞƌĞůLJ ŝŶƐƚƌƵŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ,ŝƐ ƉůĂŶƐ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚŝƐ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ǁŝƐŚ ƚŽ ĂƉƉĞĂů ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĨĞůůŽǁ ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͘ Ϯ͗ ^ŝŐŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ WĞĂĐĞ ĐĐŽƌĚ tĞ ƌĞĐĂůů ƚŚĂƚ ƚǁŽ ĚĂLJƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ ŽŶ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϯƚŚ͕ ϮϬϭϵ͕ ƚŚĞ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ͕ ůŚĂũŝ DƵŚĂŵŵĂĚƵ ƵŚĂƌŝ͕ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂƌƟĞƐ ŐĂƚŚĞƌĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĞŶƚƌĞ͕ ďƵũĂ͕ ƚŽ ƐŝŐŶ Ă ƐĞĐŽŶĚ WĞĂĐĞ ĐĐŽƌĚ͘ ŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŵŵŽŶǁĞĂůƚŚ ^ĞĐƌĞƚĂƌLJ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů͕ Zƚ͘ ,ŽŶŽƵƌĂďůĞ WĂƚƌŝĐŝĂ ^ĐŽƚůĂŶĚ͕ Y ͕ ĨŽƵƌ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ,ĞĂĚƐ ŽĨ ^ƚĂƚĞ Ͳ &ĞƐƚƵƐ DŽŐĂĞ ; ŽƚƐǁĂŶĂͿ͕ ůůĞŶ ^ŝƌůĞĂĨ :ŽŚŶƐŽŶ͕ WƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ ŵŽƐ ^ĂǁLJĞƌ͕ ;>ŝďĞƌŝĂͿ͕ :ĂŬĂLJĂ <ŝŬǁĞƚĞ ;dĂŶnjĂŶŝĂͿ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ŽǁŶ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ĐŝƟnjĞŶƐ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů zĂŬƵďƵ 'ŽǁŽŶ͕ ŽƵƌ ĨŽƌŵĞƌ ,ĞĂĚ ŽĨ ^ƚĂƚĞ͕ ĚŝƐƟŶŐƵŝƐŚĞĚ ZĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ dƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƌƵůĞƌƐ͕ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƵďůŝĐ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ǁĂůŬƐ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ ǁŝƚŶĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ũŽLJ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƉĞ͘ ϯ͗ dŚĞ ĐĂŶĐĞůůĞĚ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶ KŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ϭϱƚŚ͕ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ͕ ǁĞ Ăůů ǁĞŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞĚ ũŽLJĨƵůůLJ ĂŶĚ ĂŶdžŝŽƵƐůLJ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌǁĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĐĂƐƟŶŐ ŽƵƌ ǀŽƚĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ĂŶLJŽŶĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽĐŬ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůĞĐƚŽƌĂů ŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ͕ /E ͕ ďĂƌĞůLJ Ɛŝdž ŚŽƵƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƌŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϲƚŚ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŝƌŵĂŶ ŽĨ /E ͕ WƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ DĂŚŵŽŽĚ zĂŬƵďƵ ŚĂƐ ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĞ WŽůŝƟĐĂů WĂƌƟĞƐ͕ ǀĞƌLJ ůŝƩůĞ ŚĂƐ ŚĂƉƉĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĂƐƐƵĂŐĞ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĞƉ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĞŵďĂƌƌĂƐƐŵĞŶƚ͕ ƉĂŝŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŶĚ͘ dŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ ŚĂƐ ƉĞƌŵĞĂƚĞĚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƐƚƌĂƚƵŵ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ůŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ƚŽ ĚĂŵƉĞŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͘ /ƚ ŚĂƐ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĚĞĞƉĞŶĞĚ ĂŶdžŝĞƟĞƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂďŽƵƚ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ ϰ͗ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĞŶŽƵŐŚ ďůĂŵĞ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ dŚĞ ƌĞĂů ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ŶŽǁ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ ĂƐ Ă ŶĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĞƉĞƐƚ ŝŶƐƟŶĐƚƐ ŽĨ ĨĂŝƚŚ ŝŶ 'ŽĚ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ tĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƉƵƚ ĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ ĂƐŝĚĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐ Ă ďĂƩůĞ ƚŚĂƚ Ăůů ŽĨ ƵƐ ŵƵƐƚ ǁŝŶ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ǁŚŽ ƚŽ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞ͕ ďƵƚ ǁŚĂƚ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ͘ tĞ ƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĂƉƉĞĂů ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͗ ϱ͗ dŽ Ăůů EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ tĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ LJŽƵƌ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĨĞĞů ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ ďLJ /E ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĂƉƉĞĂů ƚŽ LJŽƵ Ăůů ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐ Ă ǁĂƚĞƌƐŚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ŇĞĚŐůŝŶŐ ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ͘ dŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ǁĂLJ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ Ă ƐƚĞĂĚLJ ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ ŝƐ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ƚŚĞ ůĞƐƐŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐĂĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ǁĞ ĂƉƉĞĂů ƚŽ LJŽƵ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ĐŽƵŶƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƐƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƚ ďĂĐŬ͕ ďƵƚ ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůů ƚŽ ƉĂƚƌŝŽƟƐŵ͘ Ž ŶŽƚ ƌĞůĞŶƚ͕ ŐŽ

ŽƵƚ ĂŶĚ ĨƵůĮůů LJŽƵƌ ĚƵƚLJ ƚŽ LJŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůLJ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ŽŶ ůĞĐƟŽŶ ĂLJ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ƐŽŽŶ ƚƵƌŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌŶĞƌ ŝŶ ŚŽƉĞ͘ ZĂƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ĚĞƐƉĂŝƌ͕ ƌŝƐĞ ƵƉ ƚŽ ĚĞĨĞŶĚ ŽƵƌ ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ͘ ϲ͗ dŽ ƚŚĞ WŽůŝƟĐĂů ůĂƐƐ tŚĂƚ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƵƐ ŝƐ ǁĞůů ďĞLJŽŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ĨŽƌ ƉŽǁĞƌ͘ KƵƌ ƉƌĞĚŝĐĂŵĞŶƚ ĐĂůůƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŐƌĂĐĞ͘ dŚĞ WŽůŝƟĐŝĂŶƐ ŵƵƐƚ ŽǁŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ďLJ ƐŚŽǁŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞĂĚŝŶĞƐƐ ƚŽ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ /E ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ŶĞǁ ŚĞŝŐŚƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞ ďĞĨŽƌĞ LJŽƵ ŐŽ ďĞLJŽŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƌƌŽǁŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚĞ ďůĂŵĞƐ Žƌ ƚŽ ŝŶĐŝƚĞ LJŽƵƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞƌƐ͘ Ğ ƚĞŵƉĞƌĂƚĞ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ƐŽ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ŝŶĂĚǀĞƌƚĞŶƚůLJ ƐĞƚ ƵƉ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨŽƌ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ͘ ^ĂĚůLJ͕ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ͕ ƉŽůŝƟĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĨĞǁ LJĞĂƌƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƉŽůĂƌŝnjĞĚ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂůŽŶŐ ĚĂŶŐĞƌŽƵƐ ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐ͕ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů͕ ĞƚŚŶŝĐ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƚLJ ůŝŶĞƐ͘ tĞ ŵƵƐƚ Ăŝŵ Ăƚ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂǀĞƌƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌĞĐŝƉŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚƌLJ ƚŽ ŚĞĂů ŽƵƌ ŶĂƟŽŶ͘ ϳ͗ dŽ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ EĂƟŽŶĂů ůĞĐƚŽƌĂů ŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ŌĞƌ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŶŽǁ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ŚŽǁ ďĞƐƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĐůĂŝŵ LJŽƵƌ ĐƌĞĚŝďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJ͘ WĂƟĞŶƚůLJ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ĂƩĂŝŶŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂů ĐŽŚĞƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƟŽŶ͘ Ž ŶŽƚ ŐŝǀĞ ƌŽŽŵ ƚŽ ĞdžƚĞƌŶĂů ĞŶĞŵŝĞƐ ƚŽ ŝŶĮůƚƌĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐƚƌŽLJ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚƌƵƐƚ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵƌ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŚĂƐ ĞĂƌŶĞĚ͘ ǀŽŝĚ ƉĂŶŝĐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ͕ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚĞ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ǁŝƚŚ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůĚ ƵƉ LJŽƵƌ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ͘ >ŝƐƚĞŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟĐŝĂŶƐ ďƵƚ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ĚŝƐƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ͘ WĞƌŚĂƉƐ͕ ũƵƐƚ ƉĞƌŚĂƉƐ͕ LJŽƵƌ ďĞŝŶŐ ĂĐĐƵƐĞĚ ďLJ ďŽƚŚ ƐŝĚĞƐ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ LJŽƵƌ ǀŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ͘ zŽƵ ŵŝŐŚƚ ƐƟůů ďĞ ǀŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͘ &ŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞ͘ ϴ͗ dŽ ŽƵƌ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů sŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ KďƐĞƌǀĞƌƐ tĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ ƚŽ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ƚŽ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌ ŽƵƌ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶƐ͘ tĞ ƐĞĞ LJŽƵƌ ĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƵƐ ŶŽƚ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂĐƚ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďƵƚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŶĚ ŽĨ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐŚŝƉ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͘ tŝƚŚ LJŽƵƌ ĐŽͲŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͕ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ĚĞĞƉĞŶ ŽƵƌ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƚƵƌŶ ĞŵŽĐƌĂĐLJ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ƚŽŽů ĨŽƌ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŐƌĞƐƐ ĨŽƌ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ tĞ ŬŶŽǁ ŝƚ ŝƐ Ă ůŽŶŐ ƌŽĂĚ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ǁĂůŬ ŝƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͘ tĞ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞŵŽƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂů ƐƚƌĂŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĂƐ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ŽŶ LJŽƵ͘ tĞ ĂƉƉĞĂů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ŬŝŶĚůLJ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ǀŝƐĂ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ Ăƚ ŶŽ ĐŽƐƚ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůĞĂƐƚ ŝŶĐŽŶǀĞŶŝĞŶĐĞƐ͘ ϵ͗ WƌĂLJĞƌ ĨŽƌ EŝŐĞƌŝĂ tĞ ƚŚĂŶŬ 'ŽĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŐŝŌ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ŐƌĞĂƚ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ͘ tĞ ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƵƌ ƐĞůĮƐŚŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌĞĞĚ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞůĂLJĞĚ ŽƵƌ ŵĂƌĐŚ ƚŽ ŐƌĞĂƚŶĞƐƐ͘ tĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƚ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ƚŽ LJŽƵ Ăƚ ƚŚŝƐ ǀĞƌLJ ĚĞůŝĐĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƟŵĞ͘ dĂŬĞ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ĞůĞĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ůĞƚ LJŽƵƌ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚŽŶĞ͘ tĞ ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ Ă ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚ 'ŽĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ͕ ŵĂLJ LJŽƵƌ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĚŽŶĞ͘ tĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƚ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŝŶƚŽ LJŽƵƌ ŚĂŶĚƐ͘ ^ĂǀĞ ƵƐ ĨƌŽŵ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ǀŝŽůĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ďůŽŽĚƐŚĞĚ͘ &ŽƌŐŝǀĞ ŽƵƌ ŵĂŶLJ ƐŝŶƐ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵƌ ƟŵĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĨŽƌ ƵƐ͘

'ĞŶĞƌĂů ďĚƵƐĂůĂŵŝ ͘ ďƵďĂŬĂƌ͕ ' &Z͕ ŚĂŝƌŵĂŶ͕ EW ŝƐŚŽƉ DĂƩŚĞǁ ,ĂƐƐĂŶ <ƵŬĂŚ ŽŶǀĞŶĞƌ͕ EW KEd d͗ &Z͘ dd Z</E K͕ , K& ^ Z d Z/ d͕ E d/KE > W KDD/dd ͕ EW ͕ ϬϵϬϯϭϭϰϵϴϭϲ dd ͘</E KϲΛ'D />͘ KD

21

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 15.83 % 17.50 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

17.50 % 15.88 % 16.08 %

F E B R U A R Y S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

372.31 % -0.07 % 2.09 %

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

1 5 , 2 0 1 9 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 4.30 % YEAR TO DATE 4.300 %

EXCHANGE RATE N306.75/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Landover Produces IATA’s Best Student

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Chairman Award Committee, Sir Ahmadu Bello Youth Council of Nigeria (ABYCN), Sagir Adam; Group Head, Corporate Services, Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mrs. Iyatum Adode-Kobiti and Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Jude Nwauzor, during the presentation of an award to the corporation’s chief executive in Abuja…recently

Shipowners Urge FG to Commence Disbursement of $124m CVFF Eromosele Abiodun Stakeholders in the maritime and shipping sector of the nation’s economy have called on the federal government to commence the disbursement of the $124 million (N45.26 billion) Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), in line with its promise last year.

This, they stated, would help revitalise the industry and ensure that a larger percentage of Nigerians play in the industry and create employment for Nigerians.

Some ship-owners who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity said the decision by the government not to disburse

ECONOMY the fund domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) defeats the purpose for which the fund was set up.

Following relentless agitation by the Nigerian ship owners that the federal government disburse the CVFF in line with set down regulations, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside had last year said the agency would commence the disbursement in 2019.

Peterside, who stated this in a chat with journalists in Lagos

State, said the fund, which has increased to $124 million would be disbursed as soon as the Ministry of Transportation concludes the review of the guidelines for disbursement.

Speaking at the unveiling of the 2019-2020 forecast in Lagos recently, the NIMASA boss stated that contrary to what is been peddled, the CVFF is not enough to drive the industry in the country because shipping is a capital intensive venture.

According to him, “The maritime sector has the potential of contributing at least 10 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic products (GDP) in no distant future as Nigeria has the biggest market in African and generates

about 65-7- per cent of cargo throughput in West Africa, and 65 per cent of all cargo heading for these regions will most likely end up in the Nigerian market.

“To enable Nigerians play major roles in the maritime and shipping sector, two things are critical. The first is asset building/ acquisition and the second is human capacity development. It is a known fact that shipping is capital intensive, the CVFF is not adequate to address the huge demand for maritime asset, so in addition, NIMASA is looking at other ship financing models.”

Continued on page 22

Low Season Hits Domestic Airlines Chinedu Eze Domestic carriers are now recording low patronage after the huge Christmas passenger demand, THISDAY has learnt.

Although it is expected that airlines should envisage low passenger traffic from late January to the second quarter, but indications show that Nigerian airlines face similar challenge every year because of high cost of maintenance, high cost of fuel and low revenue generation, which is earned in local currency while cost of checks and training are defrayed in dollars.

Currently only Azman, Max Air, Overland Airways, Arik Air, Air Peace, Dana Air and Aero Contractors are in full operation but THISDAY learnt that some of the airlines cannot bring back their aircraft that had gone for major maintenance because of lack of funds, so they now engage in very lean flight operations.

AVIATION Head of Corporate Communications of Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, told THISDAY that there could be an ebb in passenger traffic, but it is not significant for his airline, but noted that in the West Coast service, passenger movement is yet to pick up and attributed it to the fact that business is yet to fully kick off after Christmas holiday, a situation that is observed every year.

“Now I can see a mix. I can confirm that there are low figures in some destinations, but there is no significant drop in traffic for us. But there is discernible drop in passenger movement on West Coast routes.

“This may be because business is yet to pick up. Most travellers on regional routes are doing business so this is still early in the year. But hopefully, it will gradually pick up with

time,” Iwarah said.

He said Air Peace has neither reduced nor increased fares, noting that the airline has maintained the fares it was charging since early last year.

“We didn’t increase fares during the Christmas season and our fares remain the same,” he said.

In Arik Air, inside sources told THISDAY that the airline still maintains relatively high load factor, but not as high as during the Christmas season, adding that there is relative slump in passenger traffic on some routes, but the airline records almost 100 per cent load factor from Abuja, Lagos to Port Harcourt.

“Our Abuja-Lagos is relatively full, but there is low traffic in other destinations, but our Port Harcourt flights are always full,” the insider told THISDAY. THISDAY investigation also gathered that operating aircraft on the domestic routes

have reduced since after the Christmas season.

Some airlines have ferried their aircraft overseas for major maintenance, while those that had already gone for checks are yet to return, but reports indicate that Arik Air may return all its aircraft taken out to maintenance facilities overseas and when they return they would be deployed for operation.

“Because of the reduction in the number of aircraft, the reduction in passenger traffic may not be noticed because the aircraft available seem to be meeting the passenger demand, but there is reduction in the number of passengers every airline lifts in the domestic market,” an industry observer told THISDAY. However, industry consultant and the CEO of Aglow Limited, Tayo Ojuri, told THISDAY that passenger movement in the first Continued on page 22

Landover Aviation Business School (LABS) has announced that it produced the student with the best performance in Nigeria in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Amadeus course in December 2018 diet. The winner, Ms. Adeola Alade, a graduate of LABS made a distinction in the course and became IATA Overall Best Performer in Nigeria, the company said.

LABS said it had produced IATA Best Performer in Nigeria in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In addition, LABS was awarded IATA Top Authorized Training Center in Nigeria in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Head, Global Partnerships and Innovations, IATA Training, Mr. Ivica Kovacic, applauded Ms. Alade on the achievement.

He said, “On behalf of IATATraining, I congratulate you on successfully completingtheFoundationinTravelandTourismwithAmadeuscourse and acknowledge you as the student with the Best Performance in your country for the December 2018 exam session.

“As our Best Performer, feel free to use this recognition as a reference in any future job application. IATA Training will gladly act as a referrer in your career journey.We wish you great success in your professional development.”

Executive Director of Landover Company Limited, Mrs. Aduke Atiba, whilepresentingtheAwardofRecognitiontoMs.AladeattheSchool’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos recently, commended her for the outstanding performance.

Shesaid,“AtLandoverAviationBusinessSchool,werecognizeexcellence and that is why we are celebrating you today.We are very proud of you.”

FAAN Seeks Improved Security at Airports

TheFederalAirportsAuthorityofNigeria(FAAN)hasembarkedonthe automationofrestrictedareasoftheMurtalaMuhammedInternational Airport (MMIA), Lagos and other airports in the country.

The move was to fortify security, especially at the airside. This was also aimed at preventing unauthorised access to the sensitive areas in order sustain the measures already taken to prevent pilfering of aircraftatthetaxiways,whichtheagencysuccessfullytackledinrecent times and to permanently put to an end the access to the airport by stowaways, as none has been recorded in the last two years.

This was disclosed by the Director, Security Services, FAAN, Capt.

Usman Sadiq, who said the automation has helped to reduce touts and touting activities at the nation’s airports, noting that the aim of the management was to eradicate touting within the industry.

Hesaidagencywouldcontinuetotaketrainingofitspersonnel,especially the Aviation Security (AVSEC), seriously and would continue to give priority to security.

Accordingtohim,continuoustrainingofAVSECpersonnelwouldensure their compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

Sadiq reiterated that training and retraining of security personnel was key to forestalling unwarranted attacks in the industry, stressing that thiswouldalsoimprovetheirknowledgeonthecurrentterrorismthreats around the world, disclosing that the training of AVSEC, which had alreadycommenced,wasbeingcarriedoutinphasesacrossthecountry.

NLDEA Lament Killing of Staff in Ondo

WorkersoftheNationalDrugLawEnforcementAgency(NDLEA)have cried out about the killing of its members while on duty and said that many of the officers had been killed on duty.

In a statement signed by one of the concerned officers, Musa Ahmed Yusuf, the workers called for the immediate probe of the NDLEA Chairman, “as four officers were gruesomely murdered on Sunday February 17, 2019 in Ondo State.”

“ThisisyetanotherappealtoMr.Presidenttoactspeedilyinprotecting lives and ensuring the welfare of officers. We have been denied of three promotions with huge burden of pain on our hearts. Enough of maladministration and impunity in the agency, there is no better time to act,” the statement said.

At about 1820 hours, some yet to be identified gunmen armed with AK 47 raffles were said to have reportedly opened fire on the officers murdering four at lfon checking point along lkaro Sabo road.They also burnt theirToyota Hilux to ashes and made away with their firearms.

The workers recalled that this was not the first time such dastardly act would take place under what they described as Abdallah’s misrule.

“This new Bayelsa airport will create jobs for our people and open door to investments in our state” Governor of Bayelsa state,

Seriake Dickson

22

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

BUSINESSWORLD SHIPOWNERS URGE FG TO COMMENCE DISBURSEMENT OF $124M CVFF

That, he said, was why the agency had been engaging with government at the highest level to push for special intervention fund, special interest rate and other incentives that will drive optimal performance in the sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall not relent in our drive to put the right framework together to help beneficiaries and investors have good return on investment. The country is also making huge investments in human capacity development in the sector which means that more Nigerians will get involved in shipping especially in shipping operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There has been consistent effort by the government to drive changes in the maritime and shipping sector through regulatory and infrastructural developments,â&#x20AC;? he said.

He added that the main public bodies regulating the maritime and shipping sector have all keyed into the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategies to reform the operating environment and improve on her ease of doing business index, which has the potential of attracting more businesses to the maritime industry.

LOW SEASON HITS DOMESTIC AIRLINES

quarter is not very low due to movement occasioned by the elections on the domestic routes, adding that the major destinations: Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja are very busy and even secondary airports too.

But he said that the traffic will drop further in the second quarter because there would not be money available as the budget would not be passed yet; so government activity would be very low, but the situation would pick up in the third quarter because by then the budget would have been passed and a new government would have been sworn in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What drives traffic is government activities and when there is lull in government, it reflects on passenger traffic.

So we look at growth in the third quarter because by that time a new government would have been inaugurated and the budget would have been passed,â&#x20AC;? Ojuri said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

NEWS

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inter-Agency Collaboration Prerequisite for Effective Transport Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Stories by Eromosele Abiodun

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that collaboration among relevant agencies and professional bodies remains the sin qua non for the development of an effective transportation sector in Nigeria, stressing that this is a basic condition for economic development.

Peterside spoke in Lagos, in a goodwill message at the investiture ceremony for Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the newly elected President of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration in Nigeria (CIoTA), and the inauguration of CIoTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Executive Council and Governing Council. He said NIMASA was committed to the actualisation of a robust transportation sector in the country.

The NIMASA boss, who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, said the agency would continue to work with professionals in the transportation industry to make the sector more viable and globally competitive.

He applauded the election of Jamoh, who is also NIMASAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, as President of CIoTA. Peterside expressed the readiness of the agency to work with the institute and other relevant bodies to realise a viable transportation sector, which will in-turn aid economic growth and development. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In NIMASA, we have adopted collaboration as a means to

achieving our mandates, because we know we cannot do it alone.

The transport sector is too large, hence the need for concerted efforts, through partnerships, cannot be overstated, as this is the only way we can compete favourably with other nations in the globe,â&#x20AC;? the DG said.

Professor Pat Utomi, who delivered the keynote address with the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ensuring Competitiveness and Attractiveness in the Nigerian Transportation Sector â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Role of Professional Bodies, â&#x20AC;? said infrastructure and solid institutions were key to

resolution of the challenges facing the transportation sector, saying the solution lies with professionals in the sector.

He noted that the economy depended solely on the transportation sector for growth and survival and charged the newly elected executives to come up with globally acceptable positions, which they should present to those in authority to move the transportation sector forward.

While bemoaning the gridlock in the Apapa area of Lagos, Utomi called on the

professionals to work with the government in ensuring that intermodal transportation was achieved, as it will also help the economy to develop.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President of CIoTA stated that there was a symbiotic relationship between transportation and life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter where you come from, you must use one means of transportation or anotherâ&#x20AC;?, he said.

Jamoh, said the institute was created to augment governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts by proffering

possible solutions to the challenges facing the transportation sector in Nigeria.

He promised that CIoTA would work with relevant bodies and associations to ensure the realisation of an efficient transportation sector.

He also said the institute will in the next few months come up with some programmes and also create a platform where all transport-related bodies would come together to brainstorm and share ideas with the relevant authorities for the development of the sector.

BOOST FOR SMES

L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Idiat Adebule; Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN), Mr. Dikko Radda;One of the beneďŹ ciaries of the Conditional Grant Scheme for Lagos, Mrs. Ebe Faith and All Progressives Congress Gubernatorial candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the presentation of the conditional grant scheme for micro enterprises by SMEDAN in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śrecently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

Ocean & Cargo Formally Takes Over Warri Terminal The concessionaire of the Warri Port Terminal B, Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, has taken possession of the terminal after the formal handing over by both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The handing over was done by the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, who was represented by the Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte Davies, and Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh.

Bala-Usman while pledging the support of her agency to the concessionaire, urged the host

communities to cooperate with the company in order for it to operate successfully at the port.

According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is our duty as NPA to achieve an efficient and profitable port management in the country. We are delighted that another milestone is recorded today with this hand over to Ocean and Cargo Terminal Services Limited, the winner of the competitive bidding process for the terminal. Be rest assured that NPA will provide the necessary support to help you settle down and operate successfully. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to the host communities to support this company

because the presence and smooth operations of this new business will greatly impact the local economy around here.â&#x20AC;?

In his speech, Okoh described the bidding process that led to the concession as being very transparent, adding that the best bidder eventually emerged as the winner.

He further urged the concessionaire to abide by the terms of the contract agreement while reiterating the stance of BPE to monitor the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations for strict agreement compliance.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Port constitutes a strategic gateway to the country and the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic prosperity de-

pends to a large extent on how efficient the maritime industry fares. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the major reason the industry has received a great attention from this administration. We also recognise that port efficiency can best be achieved with the private sector involvement. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we are delighted that this terminal will soon enjoy the level of efficiency that other concessioned terminals across the country have been exposed to over the years.â&#x20AC;?

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, the concessionaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead partner, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, promised that the company would deliver on the mandate of running

an efficient port that will be a pride of all Nigerians.

He anchored his confidence on the pedigree of the partners that has spanned over three decades in the maritime industry.

He pledged that areas like customer service, investment in human capital and equipment as well as partnership with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders will receive deserving attention by the company.

The Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi said the new business would not only stimulate economic activities in the local communities, but also contribute greatly to the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic prosperity.

APM Terminals Apapa Gets Approval for Female Staff to Work Night Shift The federal government has issued an order allowing APM Terminals Apapa to hire female employees to work the night shift, thereby furthering the terminal managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion within the organisation.

The company in a statement said Director, Akpan O.U. of the Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity signed the grant of permit order on

21 January 2019, citing sufficient physical provisions and the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s robust maternity policy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The ministry order also requires APM Terminals Apapa to comply with the provisions of Convention 171 or the Night Work Convention of the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations specialised agency aimed at promoting rights at work, encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related

issues. Nigeria is a member State of ILO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;APM Terminals is deeply committed to advance diversity and inclusion across the organisation and we are delighted to have the support of the government in cultivating this culture. Securing this permit is an important first step in building an inclusive workplace where all talents have the same opportunity to grow and achieve their full potential,â&#x20AC;?said Aniemeka Umeonyido, APM Termi-

nals Apapa Head of Human Resources.

APM Terminals Apapa said it filed the permit application in April 2018, expressing that many qualified female employees over the years have indicated interest and willingness to work the graveyard shift.

However, a provision in the Labour Act in Nigeria prohibits night work for women in industrial setting.

With the permit, Umeonyido said they anticipate an increase in the number

of female candidates for posted vacancies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, a female candidate has been considered as the top choice in a pool of applicants for the role of Reach Stacker and Empty Handler Operator, who operates yard handling equipment for moving containers between vessels and yard operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our immediate focus is clear: to tap into a broader and more diverse pool of talents and create a globally competitive organisation, â&#x20AC;? Umeonyido added.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Save Lives by Exposing Drug Traffickers, NDLEA Urges Air Peace Stories by Chinedu Eze The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has urged Air Peace crew to consider their role in exposing drug couriers as a commitment to save lives.

Speaking during an eight-day training for Air Peace cabin crew members, which opened at the weekend in Lagos, the agency warned that those involved in drug peddling risked killing themselves or being executed if caught in some countries of the world with harsh anti-drug laws.

The training was part of the sensitisation programme for the carrier ’s crew in preparation for the airline’s international flight operations billed to launch soon.

Air Peace plans to fly to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Johannesburg, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai, among other international destinations.

Air Peace recently oper-

ated demonstration flights to Port Harcourt, Kano, Freetown, Dakar, Johannesburg and Sharjah as part of the requirements for induction of the Boeing 777 aircraft it plans to deploy for its long-haul services.

Air Peace Cabin Services Manager, Florence Opia, Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah and Chief Security Officer, Mr. Monsuru Akinbola had recently paid a visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the NDLEA to share ideas on proactive options to prevent drug couriers from attempting to peddle drugs using the airline’s international flights.

Speaking at the training, NDLEA’s three-man team which included Principal Staff Officer (Administration and Logistics), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Mr. Abbas Abdullahi, Target and Intelligence Analyst, Mr. Akan Francis Inam and

Staff Officer (Evidence Collection/Exhibit Keeping), Mr. Okwunjor Edache, said drug couriers are daily devising new means of beating the system.

The team, however, said the anti-drug agency was always a step ahead of the drug peddlers, who were frequently being exposed

by NDLEA operatives.

They urged Air Peace crew to be calm and cautious in observing passengers, saying drug couriers always left a trail. The NDLEA operatives warned the airline’s crew not to trust anyone and desist from making assumptions, saying drug peddlers could put up deceptive appearance to escape being exposed.

The NDLEA team urged Air Peace crew to assist the agency in checking drug peddling to protect Nigeria’s image and save its citizens from being executed in some countries with tough anti-drug laws.

Unabating Drug Trafficking at Airports

NDLEA officials examining illicit drugs

Chinedu Eze

IATA: Financial Markets Uncertain in January 2019 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that in January, 2019 financial markets continued to be uncertain about the prospects for airline earnings, following the fall in oil prices, with swings of airline share prices both up and down in recent months.

IATA said in January, airline share prices moved up in line with the market.

“Financial performance started to show signs of improvement in first releases of 2018 Fourth Quarter data.

The US airlines experienced a much slower decline in operating margins, with a fall of 0.8 per cent in the year to Q4, compared to falls of almost three per cent in Q2 and Q3,” IATA said.

The world body noted

that crude oil and jet fuel prices have been volatile recently; while the former hovers currently around $66/bbl (per barrel), about 24 per cent higher than in the beginning of the year, the latter is $82/bbl.

IATA noted that current prices are still well below their peak seen in early October ($85/bbl and $99/ bbl for crude oil and jet fuel, respectively), but investors are not sure whether that is good or bad for airline earnings, adding that the coming year would be an important test for the sustainability of airline profitability.

“There was a modest rise in base fare yields in January, but the trend has been downwards. That is not true for premium segment yields,

through which airlines did recover some of the earlier rise in fuel and other costs.

Ancillaries have been another mechanism for cost recovery, but these revenues are not in our data. Guidance on yields for Q1 was positive, at least in the US, IATA said.

It also observed that one development adding to investor uncertainty about earnings sustainability is the peaking of load factors in early 2018.

“Load factors and aircraft utilisation have improved substantially and made a major contribution to the improvement in profitability.

As demand and traffic slowed last year, both passenger and freight load factors started to fall,” the world airline organisation added.

Emirates Introduces Daily Flight to Abuja Emirates has announced adjustments to its operational schedules in 2019, to minimise the impact of the closure of Dubai International Airport’s Southern Runway in April and May 2019, and to respond to global travel demand trends.

The airline said it also outlined its fleet plans for the year and would step up services to Abuja with a three additional flights, beginning from June 1, 2019, thus increasing the frequency to the Nigerian capital to a daily service, which would be operated on Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The new service flight EK786 would depart Dubai every day at 10:40hrs and arrive Abuja at 14:55hrs. The return flight EK785 would

leave Abuja same day at 18:10hrs.

President of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark said, “At Emirates, we pride ourselves on being a customer-focused airline with a commerciallydriven business model. We invest in a modern and efficient aircraft fleet so we can offer industry-leading comforts to our customers, and we are agile in deploying our aircraft to destinations where it best serves customer demand.

“The changes we are implementing to our network schedules in 2019 are in line with this approach, taking into consideration global market dynamics and operational limitations including the maintenance work on Dubai Airport’s Southern Runway.

“Through the year, we will

continue to keep a close watch on global markets and will maintain our flexibility to optimise the usage of our aircraft assets.”

Emirates said a significant number of its scheduled flights would be impacted by the closure of Dubai International Airport’s Southern Runway for maintenance work between April 16 and May 30, 2019.

“Given the limitations around operating flights using a single runway at its hub, many Emirates flights will be cancelled, re-timed or have the operating aircraft changed in order to reduce impact on customers. This will result in up to 48 Emirates aircraft not being utilised during the 45-day period,” the global airline said.

For decades the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has been battling drug trafficking in Nigeria, but instead of abating the illicit and obnoxious act seems to be on the rise.

In fact, NDLEA records show that drug trafficking is on the rise; so also is the local consumption of hard drugs.

Some of those who monitor the activities of drug users and their behaviour, say drug usage could be seen as an escape from hardship, seeking for euphoria and finding elixir for a mind that is troubled.

Despite the punitive measures introduced by government at different times to discourage drug trafficking, indications show that movement of drugs through the airports is on the rise.

In its latest disclosure, NDLEA said drug trafficking at international airports has increased but the Lagos airport leads the pack, being the busiest airport in the country.

The agency said it recorded a total of 5,377.125 kilogramms of drugs impounded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos in 2018, representing over 400percent increase.

Compared to 2017, the agency impounded drugs worth 1,266.400kilogramms from the same airport; however, the number quadrupled in 2018 as a result of the significant increase in the number of tramadol seized at the Lagos airport.

According to the NDLEA, majority of the drugs were destined to Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Congo DRC, India, Mozambique, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, amongst others.

The MMIA Commandant, Ahmadu Garba, disclosed that the agency was able to record such tremendous increase as a result of the trainings acquired by the officials of NDLEA to identify suspects, corporation of airlines and significant increase in the number of tramadol seized at the airport “30.14percent of the suspected drug couriers arrested during the year were coming into Nigeria and the remaining 69.89percent were destined to different countries of the world with 13.70percent of them going to South Africa, which has the highest numbers,” Garba said.

He explained that out of the total number of 5,377.125kilogramms seized by the agency, 5002.900 were tramadol, representing 93.04 per cent.

He said other drugs seized include cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa, methamphetamine, ephedrine, psychotropic substance and dummy, adding that 25 people were convicted.

He further explained that during the period under review, seventy-nine males and one female, making a total of 80 Nigerians were deported for drug-related offences as against 139 deported in 2017,

showing a decrease of 42.45per cent.

“Most of the drug deportees came from South Africa 30.00percent, Thailand 23.75percent, United States of America (USA) 12.50 per cent and Ethiopia 10 per cent,” Garba said.

However, he noted that drug couriers have continued to deploy new tactics in packaging the drugs to avoid suspicion by officials at the airport.

THISDAY spoke with NDLEA senior official and former spokesman of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju who acknowledged the increase in drug peddling through the airports and local consumption of hard drugs.

Ofoyeju, said NDLEA has fortified its efforts to check movement of drugs but the intensity of trafficking has remained unabated and attributed it to greed and the fact that courts sometimes give suspects lenient sentences, which might not be enough deterrence to stop the illicit business.

He said NDLEA needs funding for prolonged investigation, which helps to uncover not only the traffickers but also the movement, distribution and circulation of drugs before and after it leaves the airport.

“We do proactive investigation now, which is a new measure in our fight against drug trafficking, but what we do is short term because we don’t have the resources to carry out prolonged surveillance, which we know can unearth so much and help in the fight against drugs,” Ofoyeju said.

He said every drug that is discovered at the airport comes from the city, with intelligence and funding, NDLEA officials could trace movement of such drugs from the city and even when a drug trafficking is identified at the airport, NDLEA can follow him up, instead of arresting him and in the next six months monitor his movement and activities, bug his phone, monitor his bank transactions, his lodgments and investments, so that he will provide a link to other potential traffickers before he is arrested and the evidence before him would not allow him to escape prosecution.

“We need a lot of funding for us to effectively fight this drug war. We have trained personnel but we need funding. We have laboratory; we also have rehabilitation facility but it is not big enough to take in so many people who suffer from drug addiction.

“Parents come to us every day requesting that we take in their sons and daughters who are now addicted.

Most of them are those who returned from overseas where they were sent to study and they took to drugs. Sometimes you see a husband bringing his wife for rehabilitation and a wife bringing her husband for rehabilitation. Drug usage has really increased in Nigeria,” Ofoyeju said.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

As New Airport Berths in Bayelsa The people of Bayelsa were delighted last week when the first aircraft landed and took off from the new airport built by the state government. Chinedu Eze writes that the establishment of Bayelsa International Airport, Yenagoa is a milestone for the government and people of the state

I

t was the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopia Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, who said that what you need to transform a city or a country is 3.5 kilometre runway and you link the place to the rest of the world. GebreMariam noted that Africa lacks road and rail infrastructure, so the quickest way to get around is to build an airport, which will even cost less; yet, it will connect you to the world.

Those words came alive last week Thursday at the Bayelsa International Airport, when the governor of the state, Seriake Dickson made history, as the aircraft conveying him from Abuja made a first landing at the airport and shortly after a chartered Air Peace flight also landed to the excitement of the people of the state.

Dream Realised It was a dream come true for Senator Ben Bruce and his brother, Guy who were aboard the Air Peace flight and instead of landing at the usual Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the flight took them home to their state, along with other excited passengers from the state, who could not contain their happiness but clapped and shouted as the aircraft touched down and taxied through the 3.5 kilometer runway of the new facility.

People from all walks of life, dance groups, government officials and stakeholders from the state attended the commemoration of the first flight operations at the new airport.

Addressing the people at the airport premises and amidst the celebration, Dickson said the airport was built to improve the economy of the state, and would soon be fully inaugurated for both local and international flights.

He noted that despite so many distractions, security and other challenges bedevilling the state, the state government was still able to build such a laudable project, which has met international standards.

He said the airport has one of the longest runways in Nigeria with 3.5 kilometres long and 4.5 meters wide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bayelsa is a state where security and stability is important, not just for the Ijaw nation but for the entire Niger Delta region.

And it is in spite of all of these distractions; economic recession that we are able to build life changing projects, like this airport. This is a project that will outlive all of us. We are also doing a lot in education, healthcare, in critical infrastructure like this and in peace building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish our people well and I want to thank the fathers of our land, all are here. We thank you all for your understanding, especially the paramount rulers and the kings of the neighbouring areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because this project was started from the scratch by our government, meaning that we had to conceive this project, meaning that we had to first acquire this land, taken from communities and families but we thank the families and communities for their understanding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are still in the process of paying compensation, we have not finished, but by the time all of that is done, I think the total cost of the airport will be about N65 billion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, we still owe some part of the contract, we also owe some of our communities.

And I am told we need to do more dredging which is very expensive. I want to thank you all for coming today and I feel gratified, I feel happy, I feel proud as a Bayelsan. The best is yet to come for Bayelsa,â&#x20AC;? the Governor said.

Business Investment Fielding questions from journalists during the commemoration of the airport, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworisoma, said the airport would create over 2000 direct and indirect jobs for indigenes of the state. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am so privileged to be part of this government. Let me make it very clear, this airport was built strictly for business. What that simply means is that we should forget

Bayelsans welcome ďŹ rst commercial ďŹ&#x201A;ight to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new airport

politics; because politicians will always play politics and you know the bad belle Nigerian politics, but this airport is strictly built for business, and what that simply means is that it will create more jobs for our young people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We project that it will create 2000 jobs, both direct and indirect employments for our young people. So this means more businesses, more investments, which also means more prosperity. So when people play politics with something as important as this, they forget that Bayelsa is bigger than every one of them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the state of the Ijaw nation, this is the heartland and we must put politics aside and celebrate what is good. Is it not shocking and a very shameful thing that after 23 years since the creation of this state, this is the first time that we will have an airport of this nature in Bayelsa? And let me add that this is not just an ordinary airport; this is the biggest airport in this region. What that simply means is that with the 3.5 kilometers runway the biggest cargo planes can land here. That is why I said it was built strictly for business,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The commissioner said the Bayelsa state government is looking beyond oil to other

Because this project was started from the scratch by our government, meaning that we had to conceive this project, meaning that we had to ďŹ rst acquire this land, taken from communities and families but we thank the families and communities for their understanding

businesses that would create jobs for the people, including tourism, hospitality businesses and others, adding that if other businesses are encouraged to grow in the state, they would enhance the airport generating revenues for the state and at the same time, more jobs would be created. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to go away from oil and gas and begin to look at other ways where we can diversify and create opportunities for our state. This airport will generate revenue for our state. From here you can fly to Europe in less than six hours. From here you can go to any part of the world. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And so, for us really as Bayelsans, as proud as we are today, in fact we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be prouder than our governor and the government of Bayelsa state for taking the bull by the horns.

Because it is not enough to have the vision or the passion, but you must be a man with a lion heart to be able to deliver a project like this. For the records, this airport was single handedly built by the state government. This is not a joint venture project with the federal government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And so people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand when we say we are excited and our excitement knows no bounds. We are delivering to Bayelsa something that will last for a lifetime. This is a legacy project; it is a project that Bayelsans, generations after generation will celebrate,â&#x20AC;? the Commissioner said.

Ready for Operations The Airport Manager, Mrs. Elizabeth Daitere, said the airport would provide daytime flight service for now, adding that all safety infrastructures were in place for commercial and cargo flight operations.

The enthusiastic airport manager said every critical facility needed was in place at the new airport and that was why the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) gave its approval for flight operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The inaugural flight has started, as you can see. If we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet all the conditions, we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be given the license to operate.

For now, the airport will operate daylight service. You know we are starting, when you have a baby, the baby will first walk, and then he starts running before the baby will be firm on the ground.

She said that for now all the infrastructure needed for the airport to do daylight service were in place but noted that the state government would embark on the installation of

airfield lighting so that night operations can take place at the airport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All the safety infrastructure that will make the airport functional are all in place for day time operation. Because for now it is day time; even the cargo handling, we will go into it later but for now it is commercial flight service basically. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will have more than enough passengers because Bayelsans have suffered going from here to Port Harcourt to board flight going to Abuja, Lagos or any other destination.

It has been difficult for us especially in the mornings and even when you are coming back late, you land maybe 7:00 pm, it would be already late.â&#x20AC;?

The airport manager said the state government has reached a partnership agreement with Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major carrier, Air Peace, which for now would operate, Lagos-Bayelsa, Bayelsa-Lagos and Abuja-Bayelsa, Bayelsa-Abuja flights, adding that before the end of February, commercial flight service would start in full. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just want to give ourselves a little break because of the elections. For now, we have Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Air Peace and we believe that when we start other airlines will join with time,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Daitere, recalled that the airport project was started by the Dickson administration in 2012. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a land that was even allocated to this project. There were five host communities involved in this land. They offered the land to the state government to establish the airport,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Governor Dickson said that the airport project cost as much as it did because the contractor of the airport, Dantata and Sawoe had to sand fill the whole airport to about four meters, adding that additional costs on the airport would be incurred in the compensation of the host communities that gave land for the project.

He dismissed the report that said that N150 billion was spent on the project and noted that after all expenses the airport might cost about N65 billion to N68 billion.

The governor said the state government handled the entire project without input from the federal government or the Niger Delta Development Commission.

With a functional airport, the Bayelsa state government has opened a vista of opportunities for the people and created a lift for new business enterprise in the state.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Harnessing Maritime Sector for Economic Growth Eromosele Abiodun writes that the Nigeria Maritime Industry Forecast 2019–2020, recently released

by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency shows that the agency‘s drive to improve operating conditions and position the country‘s maritime sector for greater efficiency is on course

W

ith a vast and extensive natural maritime endowment base comprising a coastline of over 800 kilometres, an exclusive economic zone of over 200 nautical miles, the Nigerian maritime sector has the potential to accelerate Nigeria’s economic development beyond its crude oil revenue earnings.

Nigeria is also blessed with a vast inland waterways resource estimated at nearly 3,000kms, and comprising over 50 rivers, big and small, that can support a vibrant intra-regional trade.

The country is location on the coastline corridors of the Gulf of Guinea and the Bight of Benin, with eight of her 36 states having littoral status, coupled with a vast and growing population and market that confers ability to generate huge indigenous tonnage and capacity.

To this end, experts believe the maritime industry in Nigeria can become a veritable engine of growth of national economic development and its transformation agenda.

Industry stakeholders believe the nation’s maritime sector is a sector that, more than most, can be a notable contributor to efforts at poverty reduction, creation of wealth, promotion of skills acquisition and encouragement of entrepreneurship.

They believe that the sector can, if seriously harnessed and exploited, can contribute very significantly to the growth of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and eliminate the nation’s unsustainable over-reliance on petroleum as Nigeria’s major revenue earner.

Many industry watchers are, however, baffled that despite these intimidating factsheets, there’s still a major disconnect. With its population, market and economy, Nigeria, since independence, has remained unchallenged as the biggest importer and exporter in the sub-region. Her cargo throughput, inclusive of oil and gas, far outstrips those of other seaports in the sub-region put together.

However, is it baffling that the ports in smaller neighbouring countries pose such a serious challenge to the emergence of Nigerian seaports as the leading ports in the sub-region, a preferred choice of destination for cargoes bound for the sub-region.

The question that comes to mind then is how the Nigerian maritime industry can be made a stronger catalyst of growth of the nation’s economy.

Some suggest that lack of planning and consistent economic policies have set the industry back, a problem the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) seek to solve with its maritime industry forecast.

Launched in 2018, the aim of the forecast is to improve operating conditions and position the country‘s maritime sector for greater efficiency and performance in line with international best practices. Tagged, “Harnessing the Maritime and Shipping Sector for Sustainable Growth, “the 2019 – 2020 forecast focused on how and what will be done to ensure sustainable growth. Essentially, the forecast addressed: how emerging trends in the global maritime industry affect the maritime sector in Nigeria; and what domestic factors will influence the maritime sector in Nigeria.

Contribution to GDP Speaking at the unveiling of the 2019-2020 forecast, the Director General of NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside noted that the maritime sector has the potential of contributing at least 10 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP in no distant future as Nigeria has the biggest market in African; and generates about 65-7-per cent of cargo throughput in West Africa, and 65 per cent of all cargo heading for these regions will most likely end up in the Nigerian market.

According to him, “To enable Nigerians play major roles in the Maritime and Shipping Sector, two things are critical. The first is asset building/ acquisition and the second is human capacity development. It is a known fact that Shipping is capital intensive, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is not adequate to address the huge demand for maritime asset, so in addition, NIMASA is looking at other Ship Financing Models.

“That is why we have been engaging with government at the highest level to push for special intervention fund, special interest rate and other incentives that will drive optimal performance in the Sector. We shall not relent in our drive to put the right framework together to help beneficiaries

and investors have good return on investment.

The country is also making huge investments in human capacity development in the Sector which means that more Nigerians will get involved in shipping especially in shipping operations.”

He added: “There has been consistent effort by the government to drive changes in the maritime and shipping sector through regulatory and infrastructural developments.

“The main public bodies regulating the maritime and shipping sector have all keyed into the government’s strategies to reform the operating environment and improve on her ease of doing business index which has the potential of attracting more businesses to the maritime industry.

“The year 2018 offered government opportunities for strategic changes in policies so as to restore growth in the economy invest in our people and build a globally competitive economy. The regulators and the stakeholders will continue to push for these reforms as our interest remains to develop indigenous capacity in the shipping and maritime sector to ensure a high-level playing field for operators to tap into the vast economic benefits inherent in shipping and we are happy to project a 2019 – 2020 period full of hope for investors and sustainable growth.”

Alternate Scenario He said the forecasts of maritime sector indicators rely on baseline and alternate scenario forecast estimates of macroeconomic indicators underpinned by current realities, which required adjustments to projections made in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), in order to give them a credible bearing in 2019.

“This includes adjustments to the ERGP’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves estimate which has been adjusted to reflect the actual size of reserves in 2018, Foreign Trade estimate for 2018 (in the absence of Q4–2018 foreign trade figures), Crude Oil price and production based on the 2019 FG Draft Budget oil price (reasonably in line with international oil price expectations) and production assumptions,” he said.

He added that the empirical Forecast model employed relies on data running from 1981 to 2018 covering domestic macroeconomic indicators, Nigeria’s merchandise goods trade with the rest of the world, maritime industry characteristics, and demand for use of maritime industry facilities.

“It further elaborates on the opportunities and challenges within the maritime industry and its position as an enabler and facilitator of economic growth and prosperity. Setting the context is the Review of Economic Conditions, which reports an acceleration of growth in 2018 to a cumulative rate of 1.76 per cent based on data from the first three quarters of the year, with the economy relying on the Transport and ICT

sectors to compensate for significant deceleration in the primary sectors responsible for catalysing its recovery –Agriculture and Oil & Gas. International trade continued to recover in 2018, expanding by 33 per cent year-on-year, driven by a 45 per cent and 18 per cent increase in exports and imports respectively,”he said.

“This culminated in a merchandise goods trade surplus average of 5.7 per cent of GDP across the first three quarters of 2018. The outlook for the economy’s performance in 2019 reflects, on the global side, concerns about a substantial global economic growth slowdown, likely higher US interest rates, a stronger dollar and volatile oil prices (possibly averaging below $60pb), and the impact of sentiment surrounding the 2019 general elections and post-electoral transition on the domestic side.

“Against this backdrop, the empirical analysis projects the growth of the total fleet size in 2019 over 2018 to be 10.33 per cent, easing to 8.75 per cent for 2020. Oil tanker fleet size is projected to decrease by 11.2 per cent for both 2019 and recover to a positive growth of 0.11 per cent by 2020. The projections for nonoil 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, “he added.

Robust Outlook Despite the impact the likely outcome of the 2019 general elections and global economic headwinds will have on the Nigerian economy in general and the maritime sector in particular, NIMASA projected a positive outlook for the maritime sector, predicting the growth of the total fleet size in 2019 over 2018 to be 10.33 per cent, easing to 8.75 per cent for 2020.

However, the agency predicted that oil tanker fleet size will decrease by 11.2 per cent for both 2019 and recover to a positive growth of 0.11 per cent by 2020.

Peterside 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.

According to him, “The major drivers of Total Fleets calling at Nigeria Ports are Foreign Reserves and Total Trade from our Empirical Estimates. The Baseline forecast is based on the 2018 outcome and 2019 Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) forecast for total trade and foreign reserve. The pessimistic forecast is based on the assumption that total trade declines to N25.42 trillion in 2019 and N26.8 trillion in 2020, while foreign reserves is $43billion in 2019 and $59.3billion in 2020. The Optimistic forecast is based on the assumption that total trade will increase to N28.55trillion in 2019

and N30.11trillion in 2020, while foreign reserves is $44.7billion in 2019 and $61.7billion in 2020.

“The major drivers of Oil Tanker Fleets from our empirical estimates are Oil price and Foreign Reserves. The baseline forecast is based on the 2018 outcome and 2019 expected for oil price and ERGP forecast for foreign reserve. The pessimistic forecast was centred on the assumption that oil price is $69.6 per barrel in 2019 and $72.6 per barrel in 2020, while foreign reserves is $40.57billion and $55.94billion in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Optimistic forecast assumes an oil price of $76.67 per barrel in 2019 and $80.02 per barrel in 2020, with Foreign Reserves of $50.11billion in 2019 and $69.36billion in 2020.”

He added: “Also, the major drivers of Non-oil tanker fleets are total trade and foreign reserves.

The baseline forecast is based on the 2018 outcome and 2019 ERGP forecast for total trade and foreign reserve. Pessimistic assumes that total trade declined by to N25.42 trillion in 2019 and N26.81trillion in 2020 whilst we anticipate a foreign reserve of $43 billion in 2019 and $59.3billion in 2020.

“Optimistic forecast assumes that total trade increases to N28.55trillion in 2019 and N30.11trn in 2020 with a foreign reserve of $44.69billion in 2019 and $61.74billion in 2020.

“Oil price and oil production is assumed to be the major drivers of oil rigs (Land and Offshore) in Nigeria. The baseline forecast assumes that 2.3mbd (million barrel per day) and 2.4mbd of oil will be produced in 2019 and 2020 whereas oil price will be $71.9 per barrel in 2019 and $75 per barrel in 2020.

“On the other hand, the pessimistic forecast assumes oil production of 2.25mbd for 2019 and 2.35mbd 2020 and Oil Price of $67.44/brl and $70.3/brl in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

“Our optimistic scenario assumes 2.40mbd 2019 and 2.51mbd 2020 with an Oil price of $81.75/ brl in 2019 and $85.37/brl in 2020.”

He added the forecast predicted an 8.15 per cent to 8.72 per cent growth in demand for non-oil tankers and an upward increase in demand for container vessels simultaneously. Nigeria, he stated, is going to export more non-oil-and-gas-based cargoes over the next three years and with the expected completion of NLNG Train 7, which will be done in country by mostly Nigerian companies.

“It will also export more liquefied gas within the period in context. The maritime sector holds a lot of promise for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he stated.

The maritime sector, he added, has the potential of contributing at least 10 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP in no distant future, “as Nigeria has the biggest market in African; and generates about 65-7 per cent of cargo throughput in West Africa, and 65 per cent of all cargo heading for these regions will most likely end up in the Nigerian market.”

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

TVC News Unveils New Studio, Promises Improved Services Raheem Akingbolu TVC News, a member of TVC Communications, has unveiled a brand-new high definition news studio at its headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.

Following substantial investment in studio operations and mobile digital satellite technology, TVC News said it had been positioned to become the home of breaking news for Nigeria, ensuring the fast and reliable reporting of news stories whenever, and wherever those stories break around the country.

Addressing the media at a ceremony in Lagos recently, the Chief Executive Officer, TVC Communications, Andrew Hanlon, said its improved news service formed part of a substantial ongoing investment plan aimed at growing the TVC Group of Companies into one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading media organisations.

Hanlon added â&#x20AC;&#x153;Behind this state-of-the art studio in Lagos lies the real engine of our news operation: a substantial team of journalists, producers and the latest mobile satellite technology, spread throughout Nigeria, providing us with the ability to broadcast live anywhere, anytime. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This will be put to the test this election weekend

as over 80 million Nigerians go to the polls to cast their votes. â&#x20AC;&#x153; He added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We must be capable of mobilising correspondentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and technical teams anywhere, anytime in this vast country, to cover stories within a very short space of time to get the story on air first â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what separates TVC News from other news networks and allows us to be first with breaking news. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, is a powerful new suite of motion graphics and visual elements which provide a contemporary look and feel to the TVC News channel, produced by the most talented Nigerian professionals.â&#x20AC;?

Also speaking at the event, Director of News, TVC News, Stella DinJacob, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are incredibly fortunate to have some of the best people and broadcast facilities in continental Africa which will enable us to bring the highest quality news service to our viewers right across Nigeria, Africa and Europe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Having recently been awarded the coveted NBC Prize for the Best Television Station of the Year at the 26th Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), we particularly hope that viewers will enjoy our primetime news broadcasts.â&#x20AC;?

Halogen Security Launches New Identity Hamid Ayodeji and Bakare Oyindamola As part of its transformation efforts as well as its drive to provide effective security service, Halogen Security Company Limited, a security risk management solution company has officially announced Avant Halogen as its new identity management and outsourcing solution company.

Disclosing this at a media briefing in Lagos, the Group Managing Director of the company, Mr. Wale Olaoye, said as a key subsidiary of the Halogen Group, the new firm would operate with a distinct corporate identity while functioning in synergy with other Halogen operating companies.

Olaoye said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new company is empowered to deliver world class services in the area of identity management and talent risk solution for the Nigerian and the West African economic landscape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision will be driven by professionals with track records in the industry, in line with our avowed cardinal principles of professional-

ism, integrity, passion and excellence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avant Halogen is positioned to excel as a market leader in Nigeria and globally in enterprise risk reduction in employment and identity management.â&#x20AC;?

He further explained that with the rising identity management theft and cyber security related challenges in Nigerian market, Avant Halogen was positioned to tackle identity, talent, risk, verification and outsourcing issues affecting multinational.

On his part, the Head of Business, Avant Halogen, Chigbo Okeke, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avant Halogen promises to bring innovative and digital talent risk management solutions with cutting-edge offerings aimed at improving business,â&#x20AC;? adding that it will continuously provide clients with optimum services to enhance their profitability through highly trained and dedicated workforce. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very soon, Avant Halogen will officially announce its flagship HR application screened workers.com towards making recruitment of workers of all cadres a huge success and fun.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Total Nigeria Supports Entrepreneurs Raheem Akingbolu Total Nigeria has announced winners in its Total Challenge for 2018/2019 and presented them their awards, at a ceremony held in Lagos recently.

This followed the submission of jury of local experts, who selected the winners.

The winners were: Ogunbanjo Olumide of AgroData Network.

AgroData Network promotes organic farming via

community-based beekeeping providing farmers with free beehives. The company deploys natural techniques to keep the bees within the ecosystem Also, Obaoye Justus, Carido Automobiles Service Technology, was among the winners.

Carido is an on demand automobile service technology which aggregates automobile maintenance demands through mobile devices and thereafter facilitates their fulfilment through select

offline services performed by competent and vetted mechanics.

In addition, Ijir Aondosoo, My Waste My Energy also won.

My Waste, My Energy converts rice husk waste to energy source and provides a sustainable form of domestic energy, reduces environmental degradation and deaths associated with respiratory diseases as Nigeria records 93000 deaths annually due to smoke from firewood.

These young entrepreneurs receive financial support of up to N6 million for the first prize to develop their project.

They will also receive personalised support and coaching from Passion Incubator and a communications campaign to publicize their project.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Top Female Entrepreneur award, which was a new addition to the 2018, 2019 Challenge to support women in business was Omotosho Oghenekevwe.

BREAKFAST MEETING

L-R: Director, Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS), Mr. Ariyo Olushekun; Managing Director National Association of Securities Dealer (NASD)/Board Chairman, Mr. Bola Ajomale; Mr. Olutola Mobolurin; Managing Director Niger Delta Exploration and Production Company (NDEP) Dr. Layi Fatona and Managing Director Afrinvest Securities, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, at a breakfast meeting organised by the NASD in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Ś recently

Ghana Hosts ARC Board Meeting Ghana has signed a programme to work with the African Risk Capacity (ARC). The event would take place at the joint board meeting of the African Risk Capacity Agency and its financial affiliate, the ARC holding in Accra.

According to a state, the programme would help the Government of Ghana to improve responses to extreme weather events and natural disasters as well as prepare the country to possibly take out insurance from ARC Limited.

The Chairperson of the ARC Agency Board, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, commended the government of Ghana for its great efforts towards continuously building its capacity to manage disaster risks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take this opportunity to encourage the government of the Republic of Ghana to join the ARC insurance risk pools, which would not only allow

Ghana to benefit from financial protection against drought for the 2019 agricultural season, but also reinforce the Pan-Africanism and solidarity values which strongly define Ghana today,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Ghana joined the ARC programme on 28th January 2016 by signing the Establishment Agreement followed by the Memorandum of Understanding in June same year. In 2017, the country signed the first Programme Workplan for a duration of two years.

Signing the Programme on behalf of Ghana, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng, welcomed the Board members of ARC, and noted that Ghana was honoured to be the first country to host the joint board of the ARC Agency and the ARC Limited.

Pointing out that the challenges of climate risks posed a

big threat to Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainable development, Kwarteng expressed hope that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our (Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) collaboration with ARC will help the country to improve its responses to extreme weather events and natural disasters which are impeding the achievement of certain components of the SDGs to which His Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo is passionate aboutâ&#x20AC;Ś.â&#x20AC;?

The minister expects that the programme of work would also help prepare the government to purchase sovereign insurance for smallholder farmers.

The Government of Ghana, as part of its commitment to implementing the priority areas of the Sendai Framework, was strengthening disaster risk management and governance system of the country.

Ghanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parliament had passed a National Disaster Management Organisation Act 927, which

established the National Disaster Fund for the country to which the Government has made contribution.

The Director-General of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Eric Nana Agyemang-Prepeh, stated that Ghana has completed a Country Customisation Process and Contingency Plan as well as determining of the Risk Transfer Parameters.

Hence, â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Świth the signing of the Programme of Work, NADMO is optimistic that the Government will soon sign onto the ARC insurance programme to deploy the Africa RiskView (ARV), developed by ARC Agency for monitoring extreme weather events, help build resilience of smallholder farmers against drought, flooding, and other natural disasters towards achieving the relevant Sustainable Development Goals for Ghana.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ivory Coast Dry Spell Could Damage Cocoaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Most of Ivory Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cocoa growing regions saw no rainfall last week, raising fears for the April-to-September mid-crop, farmers said on Monday.

Scarce showers during the dry season, which runs from November to late February, are crucial for cocoa crops to withstand the heat in Ivory Coast, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest cocoa producer.

Although trees are laden with

fruit, farmers said some leaves and cherelles were drying up in the heat, and that a prolonged drought could prevent the crop from reaching its full potential. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The heat is unbearable. There are leaves and cherelles who are beginning to dry up and fall,â&#x20AC;?

Amadou Diallo, who farms on the outskirts of the southern region of Divo told Reuters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need a strong shower soon because trees are starting

to suffer,â&#x20AC;? said Diallo.

In the centre-western region of Daloa, which produces a quarter of national output, farmers said they feared bush fires, which can arise at this time of year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pods are developing well, but we hope abundant rains will come soon to reduce the risk of bush fires,â&#x20AC;? said Albert Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Zue, who farms near Daloa.

In the western region of Soubre, which includes the regions of

Sassandra and San Pedro, farmers said they remained optimistic as the sky became cloudy towards the end of last week. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We think there will be rain soon,â&#x20AC;? said Fousseni Konate, who farms near Soubre. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can see the mid-crop developing on trees.â&#x20AC;?

Farmers in other regions also expected more downpours.

Average temperatures ranged between 28.2 and 30.9 degrees Celsius.

THIS WEEKEND

NEWS METRO THISLIFE

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

Wiebe Boer

Son of Dutch Missionary Parents, Nigerian at Heart

28

F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

COVER WIEBE BOER: SON OF DUTCH MISSIONARY PARENTS, NIGERIAN AT HEART Born in the Northern part of Nigeria to Dutch missionary parents, the C.EO of All On; an off-grid investment company, Wiebe Boer, is as Nigerian as they come. Despite being denied citizenship even after staying 16 years in Nigeria, his love for the country is yet to wane. In this exclusive interview with THISDAY, Boer, who is also an author and historian, sheds light on his Nigerian background, and his recently published book on ‘The History of Football in Nigeria’. SUNDAY EHIGIATOR brings excepts

a very national view and I don’t have any particular agenda other than to tell a positive and unifying story of Nigeria.

I think one positive thing about writing as an outsider is that you can be free to write without biases that one that belongs might otherwise have. Some Nigerians probably cheer for the Super Eagles and have no idea where it all started from.

That is the story this book tells.

Who is Wiebe Boer?

My name is Wiebe Boer. For my day job, I am the CEO of ‘All On’; an off grid energy investment company here in Nigeria funded by Shell. For my ‘side hustle’, I am a historian and author of the book ‘The History of Football in Nigeria’.

How was your upbringing ?

I was born and brought up in the Northern part of Nigeria to Dutch missionary parents. My father and mother came to Taraba State, Nigeria, in 1966 as missionaries to spread the gospel and engage with the Nigerian church and leadership. They consciously taught us Hausa and not Dutch because they wanted us to connect with Nigeria and Nigerians.

Is this a kind of book that promotes the cultural heritage of Nigeria?

This book is focused on football and since football is not traditional to Nigeria, it doesn’t necessarily. It however does draw more insight on the heritage of our heroes in that every one of Nigeria’s founding fathers is mentioned in the book in some way or the other. They all had a role to play and then it does talk about how Nigerians took the game and made it their own. Maybe Nigerians changed the way the British may have wanted them to play in an overly structured way and they learnt how to play it in a more dynamic way. But for the most part, it’s not necessarily about Nigerian traditional heritage.

You authored the book ‘The History of Football in Nigeria’, what inspired you into writing such a historical piece?

I did my PhD in History at Yale University with a dual focus on West African Colonial History and African Religious History. My doctoral dissertation was actually on the topic, which the book is about. It was looking at sports and social life in colonial Nigeria and the social interaction between the colonial state and Nigerians that happened on the margins So it looked at everything; from cricket to polo, to every other sport and social interaction you can imagine – including social clubs and then how eventually football became the most popular sport in Nigeria.

I have also written quite a few articles over time on a variety of topics ranging from conflict resolution, land rights, religious history and more. There is also a book called ‘Football in Africa’ where I wrote a chapter on Nigeria. I have also co-edited a book titled ‘Africans Investing in Africa’. So that’s quite a variety, but this is the full book that I authored myself.

You mentioned having a background in history and particularly doing a PhD in African History at Yale. What fueled your interest in that field?

I was born here; I grew up here and spent my whole upbringing here in Nigeria. Being born in Nigeria does not give a foreigner any rights to citizenship. You have to live in the country for 16 years consecutively before you can apply. When I turned 16, I went to the Immigration Office at the Federal Secretariat in Jos to start the process, but was denied before it really even started.

So it was at that point that I realised I have spent all my life here but I’m not actually considered to be from here. So that led me on the journey to say to myself, “look, I want to study the history and understand Nigeria so well that, even if I’m not given the right to be a Nigerian, I know more about Nigeria than anyone else”. So that was the impetus.

Hope you have gotten the citizenship now?

No I haven’t gotten it. I left Nigeria for a period and have not been back yet for 16 years to restart the process.

Why the focus on sport in Nigeria?

When I was looking for a topic to write my doctoral dissertation on, I asked every Nigerian I met for the first two years of my graduate school, what was one thing about Nigeria that is positive, national, unifying and historical. The only answer that I ever received from anyone regardless of age, gender,

Boer

ethnicity, religion, socio economic class, etc. was always just football.

The only thing we have in common in Nigeria is football. The only thing positive, national and unifying is football.

So I took that as a mandate and decided that’s the story I wanted to tell how something so foreign became so central to Nigeria’s unified national identity.

There is not even a major Nigerian language that has an indigenous word for ball. So football doesn’t connect to something from the pre-colonial times. It is something so foreign but within such a short time, it became so popular and localised to the point where it became something that people would say, this is what brings us together. So I wanted to trace the story of how that happened.

But really, it was a way to tell a story of Nigerian history that is about positivity.

Something we had in common because most history that Nigerians study is about why we are different, how we don’t get along, etc. But football is actually something that we all have in common.

It is a history that we share. That was why I wanted to do that.

Against the backdrop that Nigerians don’t see something the way an outsider would see them, how do you think they would view this book?

I think in terms of the view of the

public on social media there has been a lot of comments that I’ve seen where people say, Oh! They see this book written about Nigerian history of football in Nigeria, but it’s written by an ‘Oyinbo guy’, and ‘why is an Oyinbo guy writing our history?’, ‘why can’t we write it ourselves?’

The questions are kind of a strange because, anyone should be free to write anything about anything they want to, be they foreigners or not. If a Nigerian wrote the history of the Netherlands; the country my parents are from, I don’t think anyone would ask why a Nigerian is writing the history of the Netherlands.

So it was a very strange thing. But what often happens is when people make those comments then others will reply to them and say, do you even know who this person is? He was born in Nigeria; he has lived here longer than you.

It’s an interesting question that people usually asked though, but the reality is, the fact that I’m very familiar with Nigeria and I’ve lived here so long, and still considered an outsider, makes me have a different perspective. I have enough knowledge and familiarity of the country to write a story that was clearly from the perspective of someone who knew the length and breadth of this nation very deeply.

At the same time, as an outsider, I have

Does it capture the under celebrated or uncelebrated football heroes of Nigeria?

Yes, it captures the heroes during the colonial period which ended in 1960.

Many of them were actually national leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe who was a useful footballer; he played football in his secondary school in Lagos. He played for a team in Lagos and won the Lagos league in the 1920s. He then went to become the captain of the Lincoln University football team in the US. He came back eventually, and started something called the Zik’s Athletic Clubs. He wasn’t allowed to be part of the white European clubs. He also wanted to join the Yoruba tennis club but they wouldn’t let him because he was Igbo and he said but I’m a Nigerian so why does it matter? Afterwards, He started a network of clubs across Nigeria called Zik’s Athletics’ Clubs (Z.A.C).

Basically, every major city in Nigeria had them. And in those clubs, there would be football pitches, facilities for people to play a variety of sports, and so on. And it was purposefully set up so that any Nigerian could participate regardless of where they were from and.

During World War II, Zik took the best football players from those clubs and created one team, and then took them all around Nigeria playing matches across the nation. They played matches against local sides in cities all over the country.

And then after the match, he would give a speech about some kind of anticolonial and pro-independence theme.

But because the purpose of the matches was to raise money for the War Fund, the colonial officials would be standing right next to him, even while he was talking against them and they couldn’t do anything about it. It was a brilliant form of anti-colonial protest.

He continued to have a big role in football and when he was inaugurated as Governor General in November, 1960, the Egyptian national team came to play the Nigerians national team. There were also football games all over the nation to celebrate his inauguration.

Others like Awolowo were also involved in football and played the game when they were younger. Tafawa Balewa was the chairman of the Referees Association. Ahmadu Bello was an Eton Fives player, but still promoted football throughout the North, both as Minister of Public Works and then as Premier of the Northern Region.

Give a summary of the major chapters of the book?

29

F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

COVER WIEBE BOER: SON OF DUTCH MISSIONARY PARENTS, NIGERIAN AT HEART The first chapter is about how football started in Calabar. It was first played in Nigeria in Calabar in 1904 after being introduced by Presbyterian missionaries.

Initially, the way Nigeria was structured in colonial times was like this: Lagos was a colony and then there was a separate Southern Protectorate which was headquartered in Calabar, then the Northern Protectorate which was initially headquartered in Lokoja, and then Zungeru and then eventually Kaduna.

In 1906, the capital of Southern Nigeria was moved to Lagos. So what happened then is football had started there and when all the officials and everything moved to Lagos, they also brought it with them to Lagos.

So basically it started in Calabar. Then, it went to Lagos and really took off in Lagos; in the schools, in the companies and in the government agencies like the public works department, the Marine Department, the railway, all of these now had their own football teams. Others included the police and the regiment as well as trading companies. So it was through those institutions that football went from Lagos and Calabar to the rest of Nigeria and became a national phenomenon.

Chapter two is Lagos. Chapter three is about how it went through the whole nation and how it became more organised following the formation of the Nigerian Football Association in 1933. Then there’s a chapter on how football spread through school sports and how school sports also helped to create interaction for Nigerians across the nation.

In those days, people didn’t travel that much. So if you are from what is now called Western Nigeria, you may not have even met people from the East. But through football, Christ the King teams would come to Lagos and play King’s College and so through that you would actually get to know each other.

And then there’s a chapter on the World War II tours that I talked about above. There is also a chapter about what was called The Governor’s Cup. The Governor’s Cup is what is now known as the Aeteo Cup, which is the Federation Cup; the FA Cup for Nigeria. The cup started in 1945. It was donated by the governor of the colonial government, Arthur Richards. At the time he donated the trophy it was basically just a Lagos event. By the end of the 1940s it was teams all over the country. By 1951 a team from Plateau Province actually made the final.

In 1952 a team from Kano won. So quite quickly it actually became national in scope and it has continued to be so every year since 1945. It is the longest surviving tournament in Nigeria.

And what happened with that tournament is very quickly within a decade. If you look at the number of communities that were participating, it showed how interconnected Nigeria was, the kinds of small towns that were having teams in the tournament showed how broadly football had spread by then.

Then there is a chapter on the 1949 UK Tourist team where a selection of 18 players from around Nigeria represented the country for the first time. They had a series of seven matches against amateur clubs in England. Considering it was the best 18 of Nigeria and they were playing amateur clubs in England and only won two games, showed that the quality of Nigeria football was still not that high, though the tour created a lot of excitement.

The team was made up of 18 players; nine of them were graduates of Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, that’s where football was first played in Nigeria. Among the 18, there was only one from the North, his name was John Dankaro. He was from what is now Taraba State but he grew up in Plateau and actually was a star footballer for the Tin Mines. His brother was Sunday Dankaro, who in the 70s and 80s was the chairman of the Nigerian Football

Boer

Association.

Thunder Balogun was also on that team and then Etim Henshaw was the captain..

There was a guy named Titus Okere who in 1952 signed for Swindon Town in England and became Nigeria’s first professional football player overseas.

But he actually wasn’t very good and he couldn’t even make the first team for Swindon Town which was in the Second Division. So it kind of shocked Nigeria to think that their better player was really struggling.

Thunder Balogun then went to England and played for Queens Park Rangers. He was the first Nigerian to score against Arsenal. He actually played quite well, but then he got injured. And then, he eventually became a coach. In the 1950s, you had those guys who were going to Europe.

Then there is a chapter on the last decade of colonialism and how matches against the Gold Coast and other countries helped create a sort of national identity for Nigeria. There is also a chapter on women’s football and how they have been far more successful internationally than their male counterparts.

The final chapter is on football and independence. There was a lot that happened as regards football at independence. There was a tournament that was organized, and they built what is now the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. The initial version of that was built for independence. There was a tournament that involved Mali, Ghana and one other country in Nigeria.

It was a small tournament to celebrate independence and so football had become a big deal.

Nigeria joined FIFA in 1959ctually before the country became independent.

The chapter on women’s football, is it also historical?

Yes, it’s a bit different though because organised women’s football didn’t start until 1989. In colonial times, the British colonial government actually didn’t allow organised women’s football because they said women shouldn’t play football. It was actually illegal to host women’s

football games on football pitches that were recognised by the Nigerian Football Association. And the referees from the Referees Association couldn’t ref games with women.

But in any case, even though for the women, they didn’t officially become a recognised sport until 1989 by 1991, they were in the World Cup. They actually developed and have been more successful than even the men.

Are there other things you would also want us to take cognisance of about the book?

A lot of people, when they look at the book, they see how thoroughly researched it is and most people think that there isn’t a historical record in Nigeria to use to write proper history. But what I found when I was doing my research is that we actually have very good archival material. And so any topic that someone wants to write on Nigerian history, the materials are all there.

We have National Archives. There’s one here in Lagos, there are others in Enugu, Ibadan, and Kaduna, the three former regional capitals and they are all fantastic in terms of the archival materials available. . They have records of everything. So if you wanted to find out how did the royal family of your hometown come to be, and then you’ll find it may be in the provincial report of 1929. There will be something that you can find out about. So everything is there.

I have used it to tell the story of football in Nigeria, but you can actually use the materials there to tell any historical stories about Nigeria and people should try and do that.

I am forced to ask how long it took you to do this research work?

The actual research and writing you know was for my doctorate. So you basically spend a year for research and then a year for writing. Often, the year of research takes that long because it’s so hard to find the materials. But I actually was able to do most of the research in three months. Because first, I was so excited about the topic, and secondly,

there was just so much there. And so I actually had to say, Okay, ‘I have enough materials, I need to stop’.

But yes, it took about two years. I basically finished my PhD, started my career and then waited 15 years before I published the book with the help of my editor Kunle Kas and the publisher of Bookcraft in Ibadan.

Did it in any way take you outside the country to research or is the research locally grounded?

At Yale University where I was studying, they have digital copies of every Nigerian newspaper from 1860.

So I looked at every Nigerian newspaper from 1860 to 1960.

And then, I spent time in Oxford.

Oxford has a great archive of the personal papers of former colonial officials and missionaries in Nigeria. So I used that and then I came to Nigeria and traveled all over Nigeria; for the archives, but then also to meet and learn from the old players like Etim Henshaw and Justin Onwudiwe.

Who and who is the book targeted at?

It is targeted basically to everyone in Nigeria. Not necessarily just football fans.

In fact, you just have to be someone who loves Nigeria and is interested in Nigeria; it’s a story of Nigeria that happens to be about football. So it is targeted to every Nigerian and anyone interested in Nigeria and loves Nigeria.

People could be quick to assume it is focused on people who love football. But someone who doesn’t have that much interest in football but is interested in the story of Nigeria would still find the book appealing.

Any final word?

If you are a Nigerian, love Nigeria, or interested in anything related to Nigeria, it’s a book you must read. Ensure to get a copy from any major bookshop around you. It’s also available online from Roving Heights, Konga, Jumia, and Amazon.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

SXSW Music Festival 2019: Africa to the World The 2019 edition of the South By Southwest Music Festival will positionAfrica as the new frontier of the global music industry, writes Ojo Maduekwe

Simi

T

he world, it appears, has fully warmed up to African music.

It’s no longer unusual watching videos on social media of random white people dancing to afrobeat, or for clubbers in Africa to be thrilled by the club DJ, from midnight till dawn, with catalogue of songs entirely

by African artists.

Afrobeat is fast moving from being an alternative music into the mainstream.

Popular Nigerian artists such as Davido and Wizkid are making inroads into the American pop culture, performing on music festival stages alongside popular artists like Beyonce, Eminem, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd, Meek Mill, SZA, French Montana, DJ Khaled, Miguel, Migos, and many others.

Some of the internationally sought after and sold out music festivals that has seen Africa’s finest grace the stages include Coachella, South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival, Jay-Z’s Made in America, and the One Africa Music Festival Of all these shows, performing at the SXSW has proven rewarding for African artists, with the organisers introducing an African stage of this scale and size for three nights. With there being an explosion of the afrobeat genre globally, it was only a matter of time before international music festivals like SXSW began giving African artists and music more deserving prominence.

About SXSW SXSW Music Festival is an annual showcase of music, film and interactive highlights enjoyed through performances, showcases, talks, and screenings, and is one of the biggest music festivals in the United States.

The festival is a cultural showcase where artists submit their application to be featured, and the organizers review and consider the work before inviting the artist to play on one of the stages. Unlike some other music events, no artist is paid to perform. Each performing artist and band rely on the support of private organisations to sponsor them.

The first SXSW held in March 1987, and by the standards set by the organisers, it was a huge success. An expected 150 attendees increased to 700 on the first day of the event. There were 177 artists performing at over 15 venues. 32 successful years and counting, it is an entirely different story.

Now, over 10,000 artists apply online to showcase on the musical stages of SXSW every year, with less than five per cent getting accepted. For last year, the different events of the SXSW had about 289,000 attendees from 66 countries, with some of the biggest names in the global music industry in attendance.

Cassper Nyovest

Africa to the World Prior to now, when African artists performed at foreign concerts, they did so to an audience of mostly Africans in the Diaspora, but with their own stage at music festivals, their audience will be a creative mix of different nationalities, with the benefit of growing their fan base, and brand recognition.

In an interview with THISDAY, Hakeem Condotti, the CEO of Bavent Street Live, one of the partners organising Africa To The World, said it was time for African artists to “make new fans and network with other industry experts” by taking advantage of the international labels and production teams always attending such festivals like the SXSW. 37 artists that include Falz, Mr Eazi, Simi, Cassper Nyovest, Sauti Sol, Victoria Kimani, and many others from seven African countries will perform for three days of the seven days allotted to the music festival segment of the SXSW. 12 artists will perform daily, culminating with a show stopping performance from the day’s headlining act.

All 37 African artists have in excess of 70 million followers on their different social media accounts, and over 500 million YouTube views collectively.

Bavent Street Live was given the exclusive mandate to handle the African stage being co-produced with Digiwaxx Media USA. The selection process for the artists were done using the SXSW criteria, one of which was that every selected artist must have a good body of work and top-class stage experience to perform to a neutral crowd.

It was Bavent Street Live that organised the ASA Live in Lagos Concert to much critical acclaim by industry experts, the highly successful 2017 Adekunle Gold ‘One Night Stand With Adekunle Gold’ and the Simi Live in Lagos 2018.

Career Goldmine There was a time when it was a puzzle for African artists to meet big record labels, or artists for collaboration. But record deals and collaborations have been struck at SXSW backstages by labels looking for new artists that they can sign and musicians looking to sample new beats for an upcoming album.

Artists have seen their fan base increased exponentially. Audiences attending music festivals like the SXSW don’t go to see already established artists, but to discover new ones that they’ve probably not heard of before. For the listeners and labels, it’s like they’re constantly searching for the next big thing.

Artists looking to breakout into the international music stage or those already known but seeking more collaboration go to the SXSW to showcase their art to other artists and international labels. In essence

Mr Eazi

Falz

a lot of business also gets done there. This event will open up Africa to the world and vice versa.

Successful artists like James Blunt and Katy Perry met their breakthroughs at SXSW. In 2004, at the SXSW, while performing to an almost empty room, Blunt was said to have met the producer of his best-selling debut album, ‘Back to Bedlam’, and Perry, after a failed stint as a Christian singer-songwriter, struck a recording contract at SXSW that made her a household name.

across the continent, to a whole new set of fans”, he said.

The partnership between SXSW and Bavent Street Live is an ongoing one. A lot of African artists wanted to perform at this year’s edition but Adeniji said for logistics reasons for the first edition, including funding, they had to trim them down to 37.

According to Condotti, “We had enough qualified artists to even do a fourth day this year but because we would like to cater to the logistics of flight and accommodation for the first edition of the Africa To The World Stage, we’ve decided to make do with the number of artists we can manage for the three days.

I’m positive that for next year’s edition, we will be able to accommodate all, and even get more days to showcase”.

How it all began Kamal Ajiboye and Deji Adeniji approached Digiwaxx Media about presenting an all African showcase. The project started following a conversation between Kamal and Deji from when both attended last year’s edition. Prior to that time, the team had, for 6 years, been regular attendees of the SXSW music festival. They then brought in Condotti because of his track record and experience working with African artists, and organizing large scale live productions.

Kamal is a professional A&R, writer, talent manager and developer with over a decade of experience managing some of Africa’s biggest music superstars.

He has managed the music careers of artists D’banj, Don Jazzy and Davido, who he managed from the start of his career until 2017. He now manages Seyi Shay, DJ Neptune, Alexx Ekubo, and celebrated media personality, Toke Makinwa. He runs Twenty 20 Media, a talent management company.

Deji has vast knowledge in electronic media, television production, television brand management, content development, acquisition, media sales, event production and solutions. He’s been involved in some industry’s successful endorsements and partnerships such as Flavor & Harp Larger, MI and Burna Boy & Martell, Wizkid and CIROC, including the production of the coca cola world cup theme – ISSA GOAL, GTBank larger than life advert for 737.

On the International scene he’s been a major player in the music and event production management producing and directing some of the top rated events like Africa Music Concert South Africa, ONE Africa Music Fest, and the ONE Africa Comedy Fest. Being a leading live event and experienced producer in Nigeria, in 2018 alone, he was a part of over 40 live events and tours.

The idea according to Kamal was to have proper representation of African music at the SXSW. “We’ve had African artists such as Adekunle Gold, Seyi Shay and a host of others featured before, but never has there been a multi-day all African stage. So we felt it was time to have a proper representation, so as to be able to showcase African music from

Strategic Partnerships The Bavent team, while going all out to ensure the African contingent deliver world class performance, are striking strategic sponsorship deals with companies looking to position their brand to a wider audience.

“Because it is the first time there’s this large an African stage, and since we are trying to encourage every African artist, we feel it is a good opportunity for us to talk to sponsors that would like to get mileage from these artists by covering logistics such as flight and accommodation.”

Smart and PR centric companies can easily key into this offering for the simple reason that the African stage, appropriately tagged ‘Africa To The World’, is estimated to have thousands of revellers coming through, and over 1,000,000 viewers on live streaming and broadcast, according to Adeniji.

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has supported the Bavent team by agreeing to expedite visas for the African contingent. “The SXSW Music Festival is very well known to the US government and so when we reached out to the Embassy here, it was easy to get their buy in. We appreciate the assistance they’re giving us”, said Condotti.

Soundcity Africa and OkayAfrica are media partners, even as more brands are looking to come on board as partners, in exchange for extensive social media campaigns and engagements by the artists across Africa. The organizers of the Africa To The World stage are welcoming strategic partnerships from brands that understand the mileage their business will benefit from this.

There is no doubt that the SXSW Music Festival is an opportunity for the world to experience Africa beyond the sampling of beats and music from African legends like the late Fela Kuti, and, it is evident that this wave of African talent has positioned the continent to be the new music frontier.

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E-TRENDS

The Odds Against Black Panther at the Oscars Vanessa Obioha It is a good thing that the Oscars will be holding a night after the presidential and National Assembly elections. It will be a welcoming distraction from all the happenings that have been going on in the political landscape in the past few days.

The Oscars too has had its own share of hiccups in preparation for its 91st edition holding this Sunday, February 24. Last year when the Academy Awards announced it will introduce a new ‘Popular Film’ category, it received heavy vitriols from the public who questioned the criteria that will be used to qualify a film for the award. Its president John Bailey and his team were forced to discard the category.

Another controversy hit the awards when it announced comedian and actor Kevin Hart as its host. Critics demanded for Hart’s removal citing homophobic remarks he made in the past. Despite interventions from popular American TV host Ellen Degeneres to get Hart back into the Academy roster, the comedian chose to walk away from the whole drama.

The latest rhubarb the Academy Awards got into was its choice of presenting some of the awards during commercial breaks in order to shorten the show’s duration. The affected categories were Cinematography, Film Editing, Live Action Short, and Makeup and Hairstyling.

Again, famous Hollywood celebrities including the Academy members kicked against it, stating that the Academy was in a way denigrating the value of recipients of those awards. Again, the Academy had to retrace their steps.

With no host and a diverse lineup for musical performances, the focus has shifted again to how diverse the Oscars has become.

Since the viral hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in 2015 created by activist April Reign, the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has been steadfast in its diversity and inclusion mission. Last year saw the Academy issuing 928 invitations to more women, people of color and international filmmakers

Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther

including Nigerian documentary filmmaker Femi Odugbemi and actress Omotola JaladeEkeinde.

Much of that diversity was seen in this year’s nominations where Spike Lee earned his first Oscars Best Picture and Best Director nods for his movie ‘BlacKkKlansman’.

MawuliGavor,OsasIghodaroCelebrateWithSweetKiwi Vanessa Obioha Ghanaian actor Mawuli Gavor and TV host and model Osas Ighodaro-Ajibade were among the celebrities who attended Sweet Kiwi’s commemoration of the National Froyo Day recently.

Held at its flagship store on Admiralty Way in Lekki, the brand treated its first hundred customers of the day to some free frozen yogurt. Customers experienced an explosion of flavors including the new flavour, Agbalumo as other celebrities like ex-Big Brother Naija contestant Kemen, Powede Lawrence, Nichole Chikwe, Toyin Onigbanjo, and Steve Chuks served customers from behind the yogurt bar and informed them of the various health benefits of yogurt.

Other side attractions featured include

Mawuli Gavor and Osas Ighodaro-Ajibade

good music and great conversations around the health benefits of yoghurt.

Sweet Kiwi’s CEO, Ehime EigbeAkindele stated that ultimately the brand is committed to bringing a healthy lifestyle to its consumers.

“People don’t have to give up treats and deliciousness all in the name of fit-fam; remember that healthy tastes amazing and that’s Sweet Kiwi. You can eat well.

“You can eat delicious too! Sweet Kiwi is only 20 calories per serving, plus, it’s great for your daily dose of probiotics too.” Ehime said.

She also asserted the interconnectedness of everything and how important it is as Africans to harness the power of good, clean food and cool gatherings such as this to push for a cleaner, greener country

Perhaps, the most celebrated move by the Academy so far was the nomination of the critically-acclaimed superhero movie ‘Black Panther’ in the Best Picture category.

It is the first time a superhero movie will be nominated in that category.

While the nomination is welcoming, there is

a slim chance that ‘Black Panther’ will emerge winner in that category that boasts of movies such as ‘The Favourite’ and ‘Roma’ which are the most nominated films in this year’s awards.

Moreover, these films have had a good run in this year’s award season.’Roma’ took home the Best Picture award at the British version of the Academy Awards, the BAFTA, while ‘The Favourite’ won the award for Outstanding British Film at same award.

Another nominee in that category, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ already carted away the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture, Drama, while ‘BlacKkKlansman’ took home the award for the Satellite Award for Best Picture (Independent). ‘Green Book’, another contender scored some major wins this award season, including a Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.

Similarly, the Bradley Cooper’s ‘A Star is Born’ earned an accolade for Satellite Award for Best Picture, Comedy or Musical.

Out of the eight nominees in the Academy Awards Best Picture category, only ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Vice’ is yet to score a Best Picture win.

With ‘Roma’ obviously this awards season sweetheart, ‘Black Panther’ may as well be content with a win in any of the other five categories it is nominated in, including Best Costume Design and Best Original Music Score. Its snub at other top categories reveal a possible loss.

No doubt, the Wakanda movie was celebrated as the movie of the year for its celebration of black race that resonated with many. Its portrayal of an Africa that is void of poverty or decadence was well lauded.

However, a Best Picture win for the Oscars at this Sunday’s event will no doubt truly show the Academy’s commitment in projecting a diverse film award,not necessarily doing the black race a favour as perceived in some quarters. Since it has started by making its membership open to people of colour, sealing it peradventure with a win for ‘Black Panther’ would be a tremendous celebration, particularly for Reign who will be attending the Oscars for the first time this Sunday.

TimayaThrillsFansatRealDealExperienceValentine’sDayConcert

Timaya

Vanessa Obioha The Coal City came alive on Thursday, February 14, 2019 as Legend’s flagship consumer engagement activity - Real Deal Experience thrilled its consumers with music and giveaways to mark the Valentine’s Day. Popular dancehall and Afro-pop singer, Timaya was on hand to thrill the crowd as he delivered an electrifying performance that left the audience in awe.

The Port Harcourt born entertainer was at his best, switching up the tempo as he delivered many of his hit songs from ‘Ah blem blem’ to ‘Dem Mama’. He also performed songs from his recently released album which kept the fans grooving all night long. The audience reception was a delight to watch, as all in attendance showed their love for the veteran singer, singing along to every word of his songs. Some members of the audience even came on stage to dance with the self-acclaimed Egberi Papa 1 Of Bayelsa.

“It’s one thing to sing and entertain your audience, but when they take you on in a sing-along, picking up the song from the first line and singing it all to the end, you feel proud. Trust me, it’s a unique connection and such a humbling experience.

“I will never take this love for granted.

Thank you to my fans, the beautiful people of Enugu and Legend Extra Stout for making this possible. I can’t wait to be back here for another Real Deal Experience,” said the award-winning artiste.

Valentine’s day was well spent for consumers present at the event as Legend Extra Stout celebrated the season of love with special Valentine themed decorations and cup cakes. One of the major highlights were the interesting and engaging couple games which saw lucky couples go home with amazing prizes like refrigerators, generators and flat screen TVs. The biggest winners of the night were Mr and Mrs Mba Maduabuchi who won an all expense paid dinner for two at the Octopus restaurant in Enugu courtesy of Legend Extra Stout. “We are so excited we won, we did not even believe we we going to win, thank you so much to Legend Extra Stout for making this Valentine’s day a memorable one for me and my wife,” aid Mr Mba. Also for the first time at the Real Deal experience show, there was a Legend taste experience lounge which offered cocktail mixes. Consumers were able to mix their favorite stout brand with other amazing brands. “As a consumer-focused brand, we go the extra mile to ensure our consumers are happy. That’s why we are always keen on creating multiple opportunities to ensure we delight them,” said Portfolio Manager National Premium Brands - Sarah Agha.

The concert has held in cities including Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Umuahia, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki, and Owerri; and has featured some of Nigeria’s biggest entertainers including MI, Timaya, 9ice, Kcee, Oritsefemi, and Small Doctor among others.

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NEWS

Akwa-Cross Drums Support for Sanwo-Olu as Cultural Fiesta Holds

Tourism and the Impact on the Economy

Mary Nnah Recently, members of the Akwa-Cross, an association made up of both Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States indigenes in Lagos State, rolled out drums to show case their rich cultural heritage.

Indeed, it was a colourful event where drumbeats rent the air, with cultural display and various gastronomic delights prepared for the tastebuds of the participants.

The President-General of the association, worldwide, Etubom (Dr) Samson U. Samson, said that the marginalisation of Akwa-Cross people brought about the birth of the association in Nigeria, founded on August 16, 1991 by concerned sons and daughters of the two states.

“The association has grown in leaps and bounds with chapter all over the world, and today we celebrate our culture, our pride, and showcase our different tradition and delicacies.

“However, arts and culture are the roots of our life and existence. And we cannot over emphasise the importance of this event, therefore encapsulates that common belief in our survival and shared existence”, Samson said.

Speaking further, he said the people of Akwa-Cross unanimously endorsed the candidature of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the All Progressive Congress governorship aspirant in Lagos state.

“Our people have confidence

Toursit atttraction in Nigeria, Olumo Rock

Initeme Adukeh

Sanwo-Olu (middle) along with his running mate, Dr. Kadri Hamzat (1st from left), being decorated with the traditional attire /title of “Utuenikang” (Shinning Light) of Akwa-Cross by the National President of Akwa-Cross, Etubom Samson. U. Samson (3rd from left) during event

in him for his humility and courage, and he speaks our language and understands the people very well. I tell you, whatever we are doing today, the government of Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers states are aware and they approved of it through the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs”, Samson added.

Speaking on why the association endorsed the candidature of Sanwo-Olu, Dr. Samson noted that the aspirant looked for the association and became the first governorship candidate in the history of the

association to visit his palace to seek for support.

It is worthy of note that the hopeful governor of Lagos state has worked at the Aluminum Smelta Company of Nigeria (ASCON), Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State some years back and so he invariably, understands the Akwa-Cross people very well.

In his remarks, Sanwo-Olu expressed deep appreciation to the people of Akwa-Cross, noting that culture is one thing that must be reckoned with irrespective of one’s background, stressing that his

government will not forget the people of Akwa-Cross in Lagos State if elected as governor.

Highlight of the fiesta, which took place at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, was the conferment of a title to Mr. Sanwo-Olu, as ” Utuenikang of Akwa-Cross, meaning, Shining light” and awards to distinguished sons of Akwa-Cross indigenes, amongst them are the convener, Impact Mission Initiative, Comrade Victor Cletus Mfon; CEO, CMC gladiators, Amb. Cornelius Udofia, among others.

Mountain of Light Gospel Mission Celebrates Five Years of Divine Grace

L-R: Chief Launcher, Mr. Monday Nnah; General Overseer of Word of Power Ministry Int’l, Prophet Ini Udofia; host, Apostle Ebenezer Felix and wife, Deborah, Guest Minister, Pastor Friday Samuel and Chairman of Occasion, Patrick Udoh at the event

Mary Nnah The Mountain of Light Gospel Mission last Sunday marked its fifth year anniversary at the church premises in Agege, Lagos.

The event, which was basically to celebrate God’s divine grace bestowed on the ministry in the last five years of its existence, had in attendance minsters of God from different churches, who came to show their support to one of their own.

Speaking at the fifth year anniversary and fund raising ceremony, the Presi-

place it started as a fellow- ministry”, the cleric noted.

The guest speaker, Pastor ship to it present site, which Friday Samuel of Alpha is a rented hall but far more Stakeholders and guests during the AIG Media PRO and Canon Gospel Mission, Ikorodu, better, adding however Unveiling Flagship of Cinemathat, EOS C700 Camera in Lagos “This is not our personal site. Lagos, who spoke on the I believe that sooner than topic, “Divine Grace”, said, later, we will move to our “Grace is a sharing in the divine life. It is the infused permanent site.”

He therefore appealed for presence of God, a presence supports from kind-hearted that is supernatural, not minds in order to actualise merely natural.”

Describing Divine Grace the expectations of the ministry. “Although our needs as an act of God performare numerous, but the most ing something wonderful in important is for us to acquire an unmerited situation, he our permanent site. There- added, “Human persons are fore, your contributions not born in a state of grace. towards this fast growing And there is nothing we vison can never be forgotten can do ourselves to earn in the history of this great grace. Rather, divine grace

is favour, and it is freely bestowed on us. “It is grace that renders the human person holy and favourable to God. So the first effect of grace is that it sanctifies. No one can be truly holy unless he is in a state of grace.”

Other highlights of the event were the launch of the church’s almanac and the cutting of the anniversary cake. In attendance at the event were Chairman of Occasion, Patrick Udoh; Chief Launcher, Mr. Monday Nnah and General Overseer of Word of Power Ministry Int’l, Prophet Ini Udofia; among others.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2018 Economic Impact report the Travel and Tourism market generates 10.4 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Profit (GDP).

This makes it one of the largest economic sectors providing seven million jobs, spreading wealth while encouraging export.

The visitor export generated a staggering USD48.7 billion dollars in 2017.

There has been a steady increase in the figures with a 4.6 per cent increase in 2017; and it is expected to raise in the next few years to produce more wins for the industry.

It is estimated the one in five jobs globally is provided by the Tourism sector; Gloria Guevara the president of WTTC commented in their newsletter.

She further stated that 2017 was the best year for Tourism and Travel as tourist were engaging on more travels in North Africa and Europe amidst terrorism threats that had plagued the countries.

This has a knock-on effect with building the assurance of people who depend tourism and travel for their businesses growth and sustainability. She further mentions that it is of paramount importance that we ensure this growth is sustainable though planning, creating partnerships with the public and private sector; as well as communities, to ensure that plans are well maintained and executed flawlessly.

The Nigerian government can capitalise on the huge potential that Tourism could provide for the provision of jobs as the economy rebuilds after the economic crisis it has faced in the past few years.

According to the Yemi

Kale, representing the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics in June 2018 the Tourism market contributed to 34 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP; whilst providing about 20 per cent of employment in the country.

He further spoke on the niche markets which the country holds with its indigenous cultures, vast natural resources and cultural heritage. He further spoke on the vast potential that tourism could directly create through ‘accommodation and food provision, transport, art, entertainment and recreation, and other services” which is estimated to account for 34 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP in 2017 and about 20 per cent of employment”.

These jobs created as well as extra income to families would will be directly linked to Tourism and further linked to related services that work alongside Tourism. Jumia Travels also estimated that Travel are estimated to contribute N3.63 billion to Nigeria’s GDP by the end of 2018 as the number of inbound foreign travelers will increase by 1.5 per cent while employment will rise by 3.4 per cent. These numbers are estimated to be 1.8 million inbound international travelers while creating 3.4 million jobs.

As the industry grows Nigerians are advised to capitalize on the potentials that the industry holds. Nigeria is fortunate to have a vast amount of natural resources and we can capitalize on harnessing them while making some money.

Here is pie that is looking to be eaten, savoured and enjoyed by the nation; all we have to do is raise and take on the opportunity before we miss out on the next big thing. ...Initeme Adukeh is the Founder of Hospitality Groundworks

‘Loving Daniella’ Hits the Cinemas Vanessa Obioha A new family drama movie directed by Ike Nnaebue ‘Loving Daniella’, was officially released in cinemas last Friday. The movie centered on love tells the story of a young man, Efe (Blossom Chukwujekwu) who is in love with a lovely lady named Daniella (Theresa EdemIsemin).

However, Daniella suffers from a rare mental illness that makes her act juvenile.

Her distraught parents had taken all medical suggestions but all to no avail.

Seeing how in love Efe is with their daughter, they found it difficult to break the news of her ailing health to the young man.

The story shows the length one would go to be with a loved one while advocating for mental health. A production of Uddy Udoh, Bassey Essien, and Akin Akolade ‘Loving Daniella’ also stars Jide Kosoko,Rachael Oniga, Joseph Benjamin and Alex Ekubo.

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F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Celebrating Love with Community Art Yinka Olatunbosun reports on the third in the series of Words Meet Images, a community-based art project in JakandeEstate, Isolo led by a female poet-photographer, Evelyn Osagie

Oyebola, another performance poet Evelyn D’Poet in performance

“This kind of initiative is a very powerful tool for national orientation,” said Ben Tomoloju, a renowned cultural advocate and the founding editor of arts in a leading national newspaper. He was the Chairman of Words Meet Images 3.0, a community-based art initiated by culture journalist and performance poet, Evelyn Osagie otherwise known by the stage name, Evelyn D’Poet.

Osagie, who began this art project last year had been using the art form to reach out to community, engaging them on issues of national interest using playlets, poetry and photography. As the third edition coincided with the Valentine’s day, Osagiepreached love and national unity with the street art having the theme, “Vote with Ink Not

Blood.” No doubt, a timely subject, the event drew persons from the community and beyond.

Featuring Love Lines Poetry Concert and outdoor photography art exhibition titled, “Together Series”, the show was a blend of contemporary and traditional motifs. This art-to-the-street project advocates for peace, the environment and other global concerns.

“It wasn’t an easy task,” Osagie said as she was rounding off the show. “ It was challenging especially with getting a space away from area boys. When you organise such event, people think you have got some money from the government or corporate bodies so they ask for their own cut and when you don’t have anything to give, they say all kinds of

things.

“Sometimes, they threaten all kinds of things. In the midst of these, those who have threatened us have become one of our cast,” she revealed.

The drummer in her play was one of those who disrupted her first show in Agege. Osagie explained to him how the project would impact on the future generation and since then, the man has actively volunteered to join the community art. Still, it is daunting to get more people from the community involved.

“It has been difficult getting funding.

Then again, how do you explain poetry to the people in various communities?

“We will be going to the polls tomorrow. Last year, I saw the need to start the campaign early so that people have that

Mystery in New Drama Series, Flat 3B: Stuck(ed)

in their consciousness that they should vote with Ink Not Blood. I decided to add love lines to celebrate Valentine and I’m so grateful that as we talk about peace, we also talk about love,” she declared.

Held at an unconventional space, De Parliament Bar, the show kept to its tradition of using unconventional space for performances. For instance, the second edition of Words Meet Images was held at Akpata Carnal, Shomolu.

Some of the highlights of the show included the vocal performances by versatile artist, singer-songwriter OyinGbade and a 12-year old Chidundu Okorie who ignited the audience with a soulful cover of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All.”

YinkaIlori’sArtatBritAwards

Yinka Olatunbosun

Yinka Olatunbosun

The narrative starts first with admiration before snowballing into apprehension. Nneka (Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor) wakes up in a strange apartment to find an attractive young man Niyi(Mawuli Gavor) making breakfast for her. Nneka cannot remember how she gets to the mysterious flat or how she ditched her party dress for Niyi’s denim shirt.

The conversation centres on Nneka’s effort at remembering the events of the previous night. Her friend Jessica has invited her for a bridal shower and that is all in her memory.

Niyi fills her in on the missing lines, that is their lovemaking and her hang-over.

Torn by the discovery, Nneka wants to leave but finds out that the door had been locked from outside.

In the second episode, she makes a frantic effort to get help by picking up a phone she finds on the rumpled couch. In a near sinister voice, Niyidemands for the phone and subsequently chases her around the apartment.

Eventually, Nneka locks

As part of his collaborative project with Universal Music, Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Ilori created a special print for each Universal Music label nominee at the Brit Awards 2019 such as Drake, Sam Smith and Ariana Grande.

Ilori says: “It’s a real honour to be working with Universal Music at such a pivotal time in my career.

“Love in a line is a celebration of our multiculturalism and reminds us that being different is beautiful which is something I want to celebrate through the artwork.”

Ilori recently won the commission to design this summer ’s Dulwich Pavilion, a temporary outdoor structure which opens at Dulwish Picture Gallery during the London festival of Architecture in June.

He will be transforming the Thessaly Road Railway Bridge, Battersea after seeing off stiff competition in another public commission. Last year, he was named as one of London’s most influential people by the Evening Standard.

Ilori specialises in telling stories through designs inspired by the traditional Nigerian parables and African fabrics that surrounded him as a child.

Bringing Nigerian parables into playful conversation using contemporary designs, Ilori’s work touches on various global themes that resonate with different audiences all over the world.

Linda Ejiofor and Mawuli Gavor

herself in the bedroom, makes afrantic call to her ex-boyfriend before she is interrupted by another strange fellow, a lady with a party cone on her head, easing her weight off the wardrobe content where she had been sleeping for hours.

The lady has a mutual friend with Nneka in Jessica and she forms a cultural bond quickly with Nneka who also speaks Ibo. An ibo-speaking

housekeeper comes to the door and having learnt of the trio’s predicament, promises to return with a key to open the door. This rouses suspicion in Niyi.

He begins to worry about that the duo may have set him up. That suspicion becomes heightened when Niyi stumbles upon a spy camera in the apartment. He is thrown into an episode of schizophrenic attack and becomes violent.

In self-defense, Nneka grabs a knife from the dinning table and continues to talk to Niyi to calm his nerves. Niyi seems calm, opens the door for Nneka to leave but unfortunately, she drops the knife suddenly, sending a wrong and dangerous vibe to Niyi.

With Emmanuel rushing in with police and Jessica consoling Nneka, the story takes a vicious turn, making the drama a pocket-sized horror piece.

Directed by Patrick Nkamiang, this suspense-filled story is created by Victor Sanchez Aghahowa with each episode lasting an average of 16minutes without commercials.

34

F R I DAY Ëž FEBRUARY 22, 2019

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

PREMATURE OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY (Part 1)

W

e always imagine that women within their reproductive age should be able to get pregnant on their own. It is really devastating for young beautiful women to be told by their physician that they cannot achieve pregnancy naturally.

In the traditional African setting where causes of infertility is believed to be as a curse from the gods, repercussion from past sins, possession by evil spirits etc., it would be very difficult to understand why a young normal woman may not be able to reproduce at an age that should be the peak of her fertility. Sad as it were, scientific investigations have the ability to unravel the real cause of compromised fertility in younger women.

Infertility in women is multifactorial and may be due to uterine (womb), tubal and ovarian factor while advanced maternal age remains a major cause of infertility, however a very small percentage of women may experience early diminished ovarian function and menopause which brings us to the topic for discussion today titled PREMATURE OVARIAN INSUFFICIENCY. Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is also known as Premature Ovarian Failure or Early Menopause and describes the unusual medical condition where a female will stop producing either eggs or there may be insufficient hormones to mature the produced eggs. There are over 100,000 cases of POI documented per year in Nigeria with estimated one percent of the female population globally suffering from this condition.

Every woman has two ovaries located on either side of the uterus (womb) with approximately 2 million eggs reserved in the ovaries at birth. Each egg is encapsulated in a fluidfilled sac called follicle. The eggs keep depreciating in quality and quantity as a woman grows older. At puberty the ovarian reserve is about 300,000 and when stimulated by the hormones produced in the pituitary gland the ovarian follicles begins to grow and produce estrogen which makes

r 3FTJTUBOU PWBSZ r *OEVDUJPO PG NVMUJQMF PWVMBUJPO JO infertility r *OGFDUJPOT F H 5VCFSDVMPTJT PG UIF genital organs. r 4NPLJOH Signs and Symptoms of POI r )PU ĂĄVTIFT r *SSFHVMBS BOE NJTTFE QFSJPET r *SSJUBCJMJUZ PS DIBOHF JO NPPE BOE behavior r *OGFSUJMJUZ r &BSMZ .FOPQBVTF B DMBTTJDBM TZNQUPN of POI. Owing to the fact that menopause is characterized by reduced production of estrogen, certain symptoms associated with reduced estrogen may present and these includes: r 3FEVDFE MJCJEP TFYVBM EFTJSF

r *SSJUBCMF NPPET r 7BHJOBM ESZOFTT r /JHIU TXFBUT r 4LJQQFE PS NJTTFE QFSJPET

the adolescence to menstruate. This should normally continue till about an average age of 48-51 years. Premature ovarian insufficiency is a loss of this normal function of a femaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ovaries before age 40. If your ovaries (where the eggs are stored from birth) fails to produce normal amounts of the hormone estrogen or eggs are not released monthly you may likely have developed POI. A frequent complication of POI is Infertility, as fewer and in some cases no eggs are available for fertilization.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency presents in three phases: r "NFOPSSIFB UIBU JT DFBTBUJPO PG NFOstruation. r )ZQPFTUSPHFOJTN NFBOT UIBU UIFSF BSF very low levelsof estrogen circulating. r)JHI MFWFMT PG HPOBEPUSPQJOT UIF

IPSNPOFT '4) BOE -) UIBU TUJNVMBUF UIF maturation of the eggs in the ovaries are extremely higher than normal.

Possible causes of POI include: r (FOFUJD 'BNJMZ IJTUPSZ PG ZPVS QBSFOUT having POI,Turnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Syndrome, Fragile X 4ZOESPNF "VUPJNNVOF (FOFUJD EJTPSders, and Enzyme defects r (FOF NVUBUJPOT .$. PS .$. BT well as chromosomal instability with small or missing ovaries or gene fragmentations such as in BRCA1, can lead to POI. r $IFNJDBM 'BDUPST TVDI BT DIFNPUIFSBpy and radiotherapy used as treatment for certain malignant (cancerous) tumors. r 1FMWJD 4VSHFSZ TVDI BT TVSHFSZ GPS ovarian cysts, fibroids or ovarian failure may result after a hysterectomy r 1SPMPOHFE (O3) (POBEPUSPQJO 3FMFBTJOH )PSNPOF UIFSBQZ

Menopause, in the female, occurs averagely from age 50 and over. Early menopause can happen as early as the 20s to the age of 40, and can be continuous or at alternating months. .

Early onset of menopause can start as early as eleven or exist from birth. Usual signs of menopause include those listed but in premature menopause the symptoms are more severe at an earlier age. If a girl never sees her period, it is called Primary Ovarian Failure. By age 40 nearly 1% of women have POI Premature ovarian failure is sometimes referred to as premature or early menopause, but the two conditions arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the same. Women with premature ovarian failure/insufficiency can have irregular or occasional periods for years and might even become pregnant. Women with premature menopause stop having periods and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become pregnant except using by using Advanced Reproductive Techniquesâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;Ś to be continued

Causes and Perils of Youth Exclusion in the Nigerian Political Landscape Chinedu Onyeizu

N

igeria is the most populated country in the Africa as well as the seventh most populated country in the world. Youths in the country represent over 65 per cent of her entire population.

While most countries plan towards increasing their youth population to tap into their energy, innovativeness, vibrancy, resilience and ambition. Countries that invest in their youths witness economic growth and development.

Unless deliberate efforts are made in Nigeria to harness the potentials in her youth population, young people will continue to be confronted with growing challenges or barriers to their participation in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democracy.

Apart from high levels of corruption in virtually all facets of the democratic institutions, some other notable barriers to youth leadership are economic, institutional, and cultural barriers.

Economic barriers in my view relate to factors that limit or reduce the willingness of the Nigerian youth to participate in politics. Due to the highly monetised nature of democracy in Nigeria, spending huge sums of money to sway support for ones political ambition has become unavoidable.

For most young people in Nigeria, the harsh economic and living conditions in the country coupled with high unemployment rate makes their participation in democracy as candidates of a political party almost impossible.

In addition, youths are deliberately excluded from playing key roles or taking up leadership positions in democratic institutions in the country. Despite creating positions for youth leaders in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political parties, most of the time, individuals that occupy these positions fall outside the age demography of youths.

Youths according to UN are individuals whose ages are between 17 to 35 years. The fact that the national youth leaders of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Democratic Party 1%1 3U )PO 6EF 0LPZF BOE UIBU PG the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji. Ibrahim Dasuki are 41 and 48 years old respectively, underscores a disturbing trend of youth exclusion in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democratic institutions.

Also, cultural barriers have had profound negative impact on the leadership selection process of political parties in the country. The cultural notion that young Nigerians must undergo many years of tutelage by older politicians before they could become qualitative leaders encourages youth exclusion from politics as candidates of political offices. The practice, in my view, is not only archaic but retrogressive.

While the younger generation look up to my generation and those before us for answers or solutions to questions or problems related to the growing barriers to their future participation in our democracy, we seem not to have found one.

Those in leadership positions today have shown little or no concern to the ugly development and the perils are imminent. When youths are not provided with requisite support mechanism that prepares them for leadership roles in the

society they easily derail. Some become willing tools for politicians during elections.

Those that grow into touts and political tugs are given handouts during elections but turn to nuisance in the society immediately elections are over.

It is believed that majority of youths that KPJOFE UIF #PLP )BSBN TFDU JO UIF /PSUI Eastern parts of Nigeria were used and EVNQFE CZ QPMJUJDJBOT )PXFWFS XIFO the elections were over and their patronage ceased, the youths turned over to #PLP )BSBN GPS SFGVHF Similar trend of events has played out in Southern parts of Nigeria too. Kidnapping, armed robbery and militancy for large ransom are popular notorious activities youths in these geopolitical regions of the country Indulge-in.

Conversely, Nigerian youths have demonstrated capacity in different works of life. They can be tenacious during difficult periods and even in areas where young people from other parts of the world will not dare to go.

Their show of resilience is second to none. When I look back at my experience in Aba, I recall growing up with hardworking men and women in their teens, who were constantly innovating and manufacturing products and services in midst of scarce resources.

They would put up small manufacturing units at the back of their homes and produce leather shoes, belts and handbags. These products would later be branded â&#x20AC;&#x153;Made-in-Abaâ&#x20AC;? and shipped out for higher earnings. On a broader scope, if young Nigerians are included in discussions that pertain to nation building, you can produce confident leaders that understand solutions to

problems facing the problem.

Thus, the government can solve some of these problems by establishing youth leadership development centers across the six geopolitical regions of the country, provide merit based scholarship to deserving Nigerians, help young Nigerians understand and enshrine the spirit of patriotism towards an inclusive and better Nigeria, and sponsor an affirmative action plan that will give youths their rightful place in decision making process at local, national and regional levels.

Following the situation of things in the country and the low chances of increasing youth leadership, going forward, I will urge Nigerian youths to shun any attempts to use you for election thuggery. The political parties and other democratic institutions should reserve over 40 per cent of their party executive positions at various levels to youths.

The same affirmation for youth leadership should be used to issue political appointments in the country.

Again, youths exposed to leadership roles early in their career will end up as future and better administrators of our limited resources. Nigerian youths are currently in the fringes of our society and as a result, concerted efforts should be made to draw them into the center of government.

Emphasis on education, leadership trainings and empowerment should be put on the front burner as an action item in the major political parties. If we continue to ignore them, the consequences might be irreversible. ... Onyeizu is the CEO of AfriPERA Limited

35

F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

COLLAGE EVENTS

Luxury Model Search Nigeria Set to Discover the Next Female Leader

L-R; Member of Eko forum Onunitiwa Club of Lagos; Mr oladele Williams, Mr Nurudeen Anibaba, Mr Babatunde Alli-Balogun, Mr Bashir Kaffo, Mr. Rasheed Giwa, Mr Rasheed Pedro, and Mr Lateef Oloto, during their Annual General Meeting/Get-to-gether Party in Lagos...recently

The Luxury Model Search Nigeria (LMSN) competition will begin with auditions across Nigeria, Port Harcourt – June 22, 2019, Abuja June 29, 2019 and Lagos - July 6, 2019. At the end of all the auditions, 20 girls will emerge as finalists and move on to the grand finale which is set to hold on Sunday, August 4, 2019.

The winner of the LMSN will win N1million alongside an international modelling contract with Suzzie D Celebrity Network, while the first and second runner up will win, N500, 000 and N250, 000 respectively. LMSN is a competition that seeks to discover the next female leader. Luxury Model Search Model Nigeria is different from the usual beauty pageant and model search, it stands as a platform where young and intelligent ladies can break into the fashion and entertainment industry. The Luxury Model Search Nigeria would be a model search/ beauty pageant with the end goal of finding that one girl that will be a leader with exemplary qualities asides beauty. The LSMN can be said to be the search for a girl with beauty and brains who can stand on her own and knows what she wants.

The uniqueness of the LMSN competition lies in the fact that it welcomes girls of any size or weight unlike other pageants and modelling competitions that are restricted to a certain size. The other requirements for LMSN asides being beautiful, smart and Nigerian are that the ladies should not be less than five feet must have no tattoos, be between the ages 18 to 25 as well as be unmarried and available to travel internationally. The Luxury Model Search Nigeria is the brainchild of Suzzie D, who is the CEO of Suzzie D Celebrity Network. For more information on how to be a part of the LMSN competition please log on to www. luxurymodelsearchng.com

Access Bank Set to Issue First Corporate Green Bond in Africa

L-R: General Manger Credit Control, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Yewande Sadipe; Deputy General Manager, Mrs. Christabel Eromosele; Comedian /Singer/ Actress, Chioma Omeruah; Director, Finance and Accounts, Mrs. Adenike Abodurin and, Terminal Manager, Mr. Aderibigbe Adekunle during the celebration of Valentine tagged ‘FAANletine’ by FAAN in Lagos...recently

Following approval of its book build by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Africa’s leading financial institution, Access Bank Plc commences issuance of the first corporate green bond in Africa.

The book build commenced on Thursday, February 21, 2019 and will be concluded in exactly one week, after which the funding of commitment will begin on Friday, March 1, 2019.

The bond, a five-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Green Bond of up to N15 Billion is the first ever Climate Bonds Standard Certified Corporate Green Bond to be issued in Africa.

It has been awarded a B2 rating by Moody’s and verified by PwC (UK) following certification by the Climate Bond Initiative as having met the Climate Bond Standards. Management of Access Bank had in anticipation of the approval, launched the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development Programme in June 2018, in partnership with FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange and the Securities Exchange Commission.

While reacting to the approval, the Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe described it as a step in the right direction adding that it lends credence to the process and gives hope of a favourable outcome.

According to Wigwe, the final approval of the Green Bond will mean another feat that is commendable and speaks to the vision of being a key player in the country’s finance sector. In his words, ‘With over a decade’s experience leading sustainability in the Nigerian financial sector, we believe that the issuance of this bond will create a path to financing Nigeria’s climate change objectives and also unlock the country’s economic growth potential’. He continued, citing the bank’s rich experience in the area of sustainability as a factor that will guarantee its success, ‘’With our pacesetting experience in the mainstreaming of sustainability in our business operations, we are confident that this Issue will further help in supporting environmentally friendly investors to meet their investment objectives whilst simultaneously supporting the Bank’s customer towards realising growth opportunities in the fast-developing low carbon economy,” he said.

The issue proceeds will be used to finance eligible green projects that meet the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) standards.

The issue will serve as a turning point for Nigeria, attracting both domestic and international investors and will set the pace for other Nigerian corporates to raise green capital.

WIMBIZ Holds Town Hall Meeting for WIMPOL Sunday Ehigiator

L-R: Action Democratic Party Candidate (ADP) Deputy Governor, Prof Abideen Olaiya; YeyeOtun of the Source, Chief(Mrs) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala and Action Democratc Party (ADP) candidate,Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala during the interractive section of Oyo State Women tagged “E PADE GOMINA” held at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State...recently

L-R: National Vice-Chairman (South-west) of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu; Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the APC, Governor Abiola Ajimobi; CAN Second Vice-Chairman, Bishop Emmanuel Ogundeji; and state governorship candidate of the party, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, when the APC leaders visited the association’s secretariat, in Ibadan... recently

Women in Management, Business and Public service (WIMBIZ) recently held a town hall meeting for Women In Politics (WIMPOL) on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Speaking on the objectives of the meeting, Member, WIMBIZ Executive Council, Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia said the event, tagged, ‘Run! Vote! Get involved!’ was aimed at creating a platform where women from diverse backgrounds can have an interaction with a section of women vying for political office.

According to her, “the Town hall meeting is an avenue for women from diverse backgrounds and with different ideologies, to interact with a cross section of women vying or political office.

“The meeting would be aimed at achieving the following objectives; creating awareness about politics and how women can get involved, fast tracking female involvement in politics, fast tracking the success rate of female politicians through dedicated mentoring and sponsorship initiatives, increase female participation in politics thereby strengthening the quality of policies that lead to strong national development.”

The town hall meeting event comprised a panel of political candidates from diverse backgrounds and political aspirations. Each panelist was given an allocated time to speak about why she is running, where she finds gaps and what she would achieve if elected. Answering questions as fielded by journalists on why the event is coming so close to the Election Day, WIMBIZ Executive Director, Hansatu Adegbite explained that it was for a strategic purpose.

According to Adegbite, “we have at several other times in the year before, organised programs like this, but this particular one is a strategic one. As you know, we are not a political organisation, though we have members who are also aspiring for offices. “Our interest is in the better good of our country and it’s only appropriate that we bring these aspirants to you at this crucial time before the election so you can hear from them what they have for Nigerians.

“We at WIMBIZ are of the firm belief that this will serve as an opportunity for the general public to interact with the women running for office, providing the candidates the chance to express their vision for national growth and development.”

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F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

POTPOURRI

RCCG Unveils 77 Hours Marathon Messiah Praise Ayodeji Ake As one of the planned activities to celebrate the 77th birthday of the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, a nonstop 77 Hours International Marathon Messiah Praise (MMP) season 5 has been unveiled.

The Director of Music RCCG, Pastor Kunle Ajayi while briefing journalists at the RCCG camp recently said 77 hours Marathon Messiah Praise themed “Jesus, the Light of the World” has been scheduled to dedicate 77 hours to God out of 8760 hours in a year.

His words: “ Another glorious year is here; a promising one to be spent in the worship of the Almighty God, the Lord of Hosts and Creator of Heaven and Earth.

“Per the usual practice, every year in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a substantial amount of hours is dedicated to praise Jesus, the Light of the World for His illumination upon our Daddy, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, the General Overseer, RCCG Worldwide.

“Out of the 8760 hours in this year, 77 hours has been set aside to praise our God and to usher people into a new dispensation of timeless worship”.

Ajayi noted that since 2012 the marathon praise vision was revealed to the church by God, to consis-

L-R: Coordinator Marathon Messiah Praise, Femi Oyetunde; Special Personal Assistant to Pastor E. A. Adeboye, Leke Adeboye and RCCG National Music Director, Kunle Ajayi during the 77 hours marathon messiah praise press conference held at the Redemption Camp recently

tently amaze the world, breaking new grounds and setting new records every year.

“Seeing as the world is yet to recover from the awe-inspiring experience of 75 hours and 76 hours, 77 Hours Marathon Messiah’s Praise will continue the mandate of dominion as

it will be holding in about 21 countries across the six habitable continents of the world” he said.

Mr. Leke Adeboye, who is the Special Personal Assistant to Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during the press briefing said the program has been uniquely designed to worship God and also an

avenue for gospel artistes to showcase their talents.

“This program is very unique and it will give opportunity to for young and upcoming gospel artistes to showcase talents. We are not in competition with anybody doing something similar.

“I am very happy to be part of it and we are using

this medium to invite Nigerians to come and experience the wonders of God in this program” he said.

The Coordinator, Marathon Messiah Praise, Femi Oyetunde said the program is going to be an awesome one and God will through the program bless the whole world abundantly.

Participating countries include; Nigeria, United States of America, Canada, England, Australia, Spain, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, Cameroon, Kenya, Netherlands, Sweden, Malaysia, South Africa, Ireland, Ukraine, Brazil, Israel, Zambia, Ghana and New Zealand.

Chude Jideonwo Speaks on Finding Happiness in Social MediaWeek Participants at the 2019 Social Media Week Lagos joined Chude Jideonwo, the founder of Joy Inc. for a session focused on how young Nigerians can truly flourish and find fulfillment in chaos - especially in the age of social media.

Tagged ‘Stop Hustling; Signal in the Midst of the Social Media Storm’, the event which took place in 6 February, 2019 engaged the audience on the fundamentals of achieving happiness and building resilience, while leveraging on latest research and evidence on decision making processes integrated with personal stories and experiences on how humans can truly

experience joy.

Jideonwo shared passages from the bestseller ‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’ by Yuval Noah Harari, a book that explains how social and existential questions can impact humans worldwide.

He also shared principles based on how participants can live a life determined by their own choices, follow their path, and enjoy their journey by leveraging positive emotions, healthier habits, and powerful selfawareness practices.

“You are supposed to find where you thrive the most, how you thrive the most — how you learn, how you love, what you love, who you need, what makes

your heart sing, and to do your best to stay true to that unique mix,” Jideonwo emphasised at the event.

The one-hour class also featured a question-andanswer session where participants engaged the host on best ways to curate one’s experiences for joy, happiness, and positivity.

Joy, Inc. [www.joyinc. xyz] is a benefit company building happier, flourishing Africans by equipping young Africans with positive emotion skills and resources they need to be happy, resilient, transcend adversity, solve problems, find joy and flourish while nudging nations to take emotional/ mental wellbeing serious.

Chude speaking at SMW Lagos

Jide Kosoko, Others Declare Support for Buhari, Sanwo-Olu Vanessa Obioha The veteran actor alongside other Yoruba actors recently came under the League of Lagos Artistes to endorse the All Progressives Congress APC presidential and gubernatorial candidate for Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari and Babajide Sanwo-Olu respectively in the forthcoming elections.

“The lack of discipline in our country in the past has given room for unmitigated corruption, a culture of waste, injustice in every stratum of our society and

chronic lack of patriotism.

These, added together, have been responsible for the country’s slow pace of development.

“Bearing in mind the need to instill discipline in the polity to curb corruption, injustice, wasteful and profligate spending of the nation’s resources and build a sense of patriotism in Nigerians, we have come to the conclusion that only one man, at the moment fit into the bill to help steer the ship of state and continue in the gradual redemption of our national pride and that man is President Muhammadu Buhari,” said veteran actor, Jide Kososko.

His thoughts were reechoed by the Nollywood members, mostly Yoruba who gathered at the Lagos Television premises in Agidingbi, Ikeja to make the announcement despite the heavy rainfall that morning.

The likes of Iyabo Ojo, Adebayo Salami, Yemi Solade, Foluke Daramola were some of the familiar faces at the gathering.

The Nollywood members are confident that their preferred candidates will improve the creative industry, a fact which the actors testified is already seen in the commitment shown by Sanwo-Olu and his running mate Femi Hamzat in dif-

ferent engagements.

Recently, members of the creative industry have come under fire for endorsing candidates in the upcoming elections. Reacting to such statements, the group said that as creative persons, it is their civic responsibility to not only to vote but also “to collectively engage in educating and informing our people through our trade, entertainment.”

The group also stated that it was necessary they intimated the press of their declaration, despite the short notice to show a united front since they had already engaged their fans in different platforms.

Diocese of Lagos Centenary Celebration Earmarked for 2019 As part of the year long Centenary celebration of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion), a list of events has been earmarked for the whole of the year 2019.

The year started with a 14-days fasting and prayer program from January 2 to 15, held daily at the parishes and ended with a Mega Prayer convocation at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos on 15, with the church filled to overflowing. Right after that, the Centenary Logo unveiling dinner was held at the City hall, Catholic Mission street Lagos on January 26, 2019. The next stop on the

Centenary Celebration train is the Mega Rally, planned to bring together every member, both young and old from the length and breadth of the Diocese of Lagos. The rally was earlier slatted for February 23, 2019 but the shift in the election dates has made it necessary for the rally to be shifted to March 2, 2019. The venue remains the Main Bowl of Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. It is expected that every Archdeaconry within the Diocese will come in various floats, radiant dresses and decorations to make the event very colourful. Thousands of people are expected from across the diocese.

37

F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

ENTREPRENEUR

Idris Aregbe: Good Ideas Have Built My Business Empire ÙÜ ÞÒÏ ÙÜÓÑÓØËÞÙÜ ÙÐ ˩ ßÜ ËÑÙݘ ÙßÜ ËÑÙÝ˪ ÍÙØÍÏÚÞ˜ ÎÜÓÝ ÜÏÑÌϘ ÓÎÏËÝ ÜßÖÏ ÞÒÏ áÙÜÖβ Ø ÞÒÓÝ ÓØÞÏÜàÓÏá áÓÞÒ MARYNNAH, ÞÒÏ ÝÏÜÓËÖ ÏØÞÜÏÚÜÏØÏßܘ áÒÙ ËÖÝÙ ÎÙßÌÖÏÝ ËÝ ÞÒÏ ÙßÞÒ ÜÑËØÓÝÓØÑ ÏÍÜÏÞËÜã ÐÙÜ ËÑÙÝ ÞËÞÏ ÖÖ ÜÙÑÜÏÝÝÓàÏÝ ÙØÑÜÏÝݘ ÝÒËÜÏÝ ÒÓÝ ÞÒÙßÑÒÞÝ ÙØ ÒÙá ÒÏ ÒËÝ ÌÏÏØ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÑÏØÏÜËÞÏ ÑÙÙÎ ÌßÝÓØÏÝÝ ÓÎÏËÝ ÞÒËÞ áÏÜÏ ÚÓàÙÞËÖ ÞÙ ÞÒÏ ÝßÍÍÏÝÝ ÙÐ ÒÓÝ Øß×ÏÜÙßÝ ÍÙ×ÚËØÓÏݲ âÍÏÜÚÞÝ˝

Y

ou started out with the concept, “Our Lagos, Your Lagos” while, you also run several other businesses and recently you were made the Youth Organising Secretary for APC. How have you been able to run these ventures successfully at the same time?

The concept, ‘Our Lagos, Your Lagos’, basically is that we own Lagos together and so it is our duty to make sure we protect it and to ensure that Lagos works for everybody. When you love your city and country, you would want to be part of the progress going on in it.

So I am willing and ready to make sure that Lagos works for everybody. That was why I came up with the concept.

So, it is something that is related to the office of the Youth Organising Secretary. But Our Lagos, Your Lagos, as an organisation, runs independently on its own and we have been celebrating Lagos value via various activities.

And as a businessman managing several businesses at the same time, has been possible because there are structures on ground for everything we do. I don’t think there is any business I have ever embarked on that I don’t like.

There is passion and love for all that I do and I have good team around me that crave to deliver. Business is key and whatever you are doing, you must be sure that you can stand and support people. As an entrepreneur, I am into a lot of things. I am into food, printing, entertainment, rebranding, dry cleaning, events and many other things. I love business and my strategy is very simple, I just look at the things that people around me and then provide the service. My dream is that I have not less than 50 companies running and at the moment I have 11 companies running various businesses.

You have been dealing with young people a lot, so what are they not doing right?

The first thing the young people should do is to ensure they are doing the right thing at any given time and they must be passionate about whatever they do. Some people would not have passion about a business but they would barge into it without having a better understanding of the business just because they saw their friends doing it and being successful in it. At the end of the day, they don’t get it right and this leads to frustration and at the end of the day, society rejects them as people who have failed in life. As a result, we have lost many of our youths to the streets due to lack of proper engagement, passion for what they are dong, ability to choose right and most importantly, the inability to come up with ideas that would make things work for them.

Don’t do things because the other person is doing it and succeeding. You must understand what you want in life and you must be ready to push it with determination. If you see anything on the social media look at it critically and be sure that you have all it takes before you move into it so that you don’t get into something that you are not passionate about. I don’t just jump into any business but I try to understand it first before I venture into it. That’s why I have been successful in my businesses.

What exactly does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?

The first thing to being a successful entrepreneur is having good ideas than having huge sum of money. Quite a number of people with good ideas are billionaires today and I have seen people who had access to money and yet they are nothing today. Idea is the key. Once you are able to conceptualise your idea, it goes a long way. We have quite a number of Nigerians today whose millions are lying idle in the bank because of the lack of good

Aregbe

business ideas to invest in but once they see people with good ideas they are ready to support. For example, my 11 businesses today have been successful a result of partnership with people who have good ideas. I aspire to have nothing less than 50 businesses. So my eyes are still very opened to good business ideas.

When exactly did you assume office as the Youth Organising Secretary for APC? As a result of the restructuring of the All Progressive Congress political party, under the leadership of the National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Lagos APC Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, I was appointed Youth Organising Secretary for Lagos APC. My duties, include among other things, bringing youths together and to see how we can work with independent organisations to take the party to the next level and how we can win more people to our party. So it is an opportunity to let the youths to know that they have a lot to do to be part of the progress in Lagos State.

Since you resumed duty in May 2018, your office has been a beehive of activities. Is it that you were waiting for this opportunity?

Of course, that is what you get when you work with the right people in office. I am not doing this for money but because I have passion for it. I’m also doing this because I believe that we

need to bring ourselves together and we need to constantly have a reason to come together. This is what I love to do and I am glad that apart from doing it as an independent person before now, I have been called by the biggest political party in the country to do same. I am so much happy with the results I am getting at the moment. And also when you are doing something and you get a positive result, you would be encouraged to do more.

So far, we have been able to identified different areas that mean so much in terms of social activities, strategic meetings, holding musical concert because we need to look at the kind of message we are passing and how we are passing the message as we deal mostly with the youths. We also use football to communicate our messages.

A lot of young people have different thoughts concerning governance. A lot of them want to come into governance but they feel the old hands are not giving them a chance.

What is your say on that?

First, we all know that the youths represent a larger percent of the Nigeria’s population and if we keep saying that our votes do not count, we deceive ourselves. So don’t let anyone deceive you that your vote does not count and so you stay at home without bothering to go out and vote. We must ensure that we are not just getting what they want but what we want and this can only be achieved when are part of the progress with our votes. Personally I do not feel

that the youth are ripe for presidency.

We need to contribute practically and also come in strategically into the political terrain. Before you can become the president of Nigeria you must be able to control a large size of number from the North and South. And as young people, we need to start from somewhere. We need show Nigerians that we know what we are doing or else we might not be ready for president. So when I see a young person aspiring to be the president of this country, I laugh and say, we are not just ready for it. So what I am saying is that not until we have lots of youths go into the National Assembly and show Nigerians what they are capable of doing, we might not be ready for president. You don’t just come from anywhere and say you want to become president.

The young people may not agree with you on that because some are propagating the concept of ‘Not too young to run’ I agree with the concept, ‘not too young to run’, but the question is: is it too young to contest election or too young to contest for president? Not Too Young to run is a fantastic idea.

There is House of Representatives, chairman of local government, and Senate. We need to look for something that would sell us as youths. Leadership is not about age, so that people will say a particular person is too old to rule but it is about common sense and that is what we need to understand and we need to be sure that we are fully ready for it.

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F R I DAY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

METRO Elections: NOPRIN Sets Agenda for Police â&#x20AC;ŚYour city life in print

Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x161;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2039;Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă? Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? ͺ͸͚ΠĂ&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ë&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă?Ă&#x17E;ĂĄĂ&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2022; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x2039;Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2018;Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC; Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă?Ë&#x153; ĂĄĂ&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x2122;Ă Ă?Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013; Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x152;Ă?Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018; Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153; Ă?Ă&#x203A;Ă&#x;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x17E;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x17D; Ă?Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x153; Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă? Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ë&#x203A; SUNDAY EHIGIATOR Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă&#x161;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x17E;Ă?

F

or the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), the appointment of the new Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, came at a critical juncture in Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political history and with huge, but surmountable, challenges; the 2019 general elections.

In a recent press briefing, the National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the IGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment came at a time when public perception of the police and public trust had gone all time low due to the many unprofessional conducts, incompetence and scandalous allegations of corruption and disreputable conduct trailing the immediate past IGP Abubakar Kpotun Idris.

This he said placed a huge burden on the new IG to steer the police to the right path and restore public trust without which, the work of the police becomes very difficult.

According to Nwanguma, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the new IGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appointment came at a time when Nigerians were getting very close to go to the polls to elect a new president and new members of the Senate and House of Representatives. Election campaigns were in high gear. The political atmosphere was highly charged and contentious, creating a state of uncertainty. The appointment came at a time when insurgency in the Northeast and violent crimes in other parts of the country are on resurgence. It is indeed a moment of great challenge, but also a moment of relevance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also know that usually, every newly appointed IG in Nigeria faces the dilemma of either acting to support democracy or serving regime interest, especially as his confirmation depends on the president who appoints him. Some in the past have opted to succumb to partisan pressure throwing professionalism and public interest overboard. The pressure is not usually easy to resist. But it takes character, conviction and commitment to deal with. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know that the new IG, like others before him, will come under pressure from politicians of all divides to do their varying biddings, which may entail deviating from the path of professionalism, neutrality and integrity. But we also know that the new IG comes with a pedigree. He comes with an impressive credential and enormous goodwill. Expectations are very high on him to return the police to its lost glory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The very first acts by the newly appointed IG portray him as a lscrupulous and principled officer who is committed to professionalism and is determined to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;clean the Augean stableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, erase the damaging dent put on the image and institutional integrity of the NPF by his corrupt and unscrupulous predecessor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His reversal of some politically-

The police are the guardians of the rule of law. They have the greatest responsibility for safety and security which enables all stakeholders to play their various legitimate roles in the electoral process, and enable eligible citizens to exercise their franchise in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere that guarantees the credibility of the elections

Security threat analysis by Security Watch Africa

National Coordinator of NOPRIN, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma

motivated transfers of some command commissioners of police hurriedly carried out by his immediate predecessor just few days to his exit; the appointment of round pegs in round holes in various strategic operational and administrative positions at the Force Headquarters are indicative of a man with sound management orientation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His decentralisation of the command and control of the notorious SARS, disbandment of the numerous other notorious outfits created by his predecessor whose activities led to increase in corruption and human rights abuse, and the initiation of a process of consultation

with stakeholders on how to strategically and comprehensively reorganise the police are other commendable initial steps taken by the new IG.â&#x20AC;?

For the elections, Nwaguma said their expectations from the police involves fair play for all across board. He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we draw close to the elections, the IG and his management team should ensure that Zonal and State Command, and Divisional Officers are vigilant, operate within established rules of engagement and monitor the activities and conducts of political parties, politicians and individuals to ensure that everyone plays by the electoral rules.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The police should provide equal security and work with INEC to ensure that anyone who breaches the electoral law during campaigns or during and after the elections is arrested and brought to justice according to the law. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The police should continue to work with strategic stakeholders including other security agencies providing complimentary elections security services, INEC, civil society especially in the areas of conducting security threat assessment and monitoring the electoral process, and the media. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The police are the guardians of the rule of law. They have the greatest responsibility for safety and security which enables all stakeholders holders to play their various legitimate roles in the electoral process, and enable eligible citizens to exercise their franchise in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere that guarantees the credibility of the elections.â&#x20AC;?

Commenting on the allegation that the recent redeployment of commissioners of police throughout the 36 states of Nigeria by the IG was politically motivated to rig elections, Nwanguma said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like I said earlier, the IG is a well principled man with clean records. He is one with commendable reputation, and I sincerely donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe he can ever be a party to such arrangements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although, I still feel the timing for the redeployment was too close to election; and the new CPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s may not have the accurate time to properly understudy their new areas of operations, but I believe that, the IG is full of experience, and he must have had his reasons for doing so. Hence, I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t subscribe to such allegations. I believe he did so in the interest of the general public, and to achieve a very credible and nonpartisan electioneering; from the police. As you also know, policemen that would be manning polling units on election days, are undergoing special training as we speak.

So, I seriously donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think that there is any cause for alarmâ&#x20AC;?.

39

F R I DAY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY

Female Lawyer Alleges Threat to Life, Petitions Lagos CP A lawyer and the House of Assembly candidate for the Alliance National Party (ANP), Surulere Constituency 2, Lagos, Hon. Chioma Blessing Ferguson, has raised alarm over threat to her life and that of her supporters by a powerful politician in the area.

Already, Ferguson has petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muazu Zubairu, alleging that her life and that of her teeming supporters are no longer safe.

The lawyer at a press briefing in GRA, Ikeja, said her predicament started when she refused to step down for the politician who is vying for the same position with her in another party.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a lawyer but I delved into politics to represent my people in Surulere Federal constituency. I was in the same political party with the man who is planning to eliminate me. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was given a House of Assembly ticket in our former party, but my mandate was stolen and given to another person. I did not want trouble, so I bought form for the House of Representatives, but a member was given my mandate without any reason. I saw the act as injustice, so I decided to leave the party and picked a form from another party. â&#x20AC;&#x153; As I picked form from another party, my popularity swelled as people said they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t vote party but individuals. The masses in my zone decided to support me, so I became a serious threat to the man who is after my life and that of my husband. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He tried to malign my character, telling lies against me that I had stepped down for him, yet the people said they wanted me. He now started going to party leaders, telling them to prevail on me to step down for him, but he was not bold enough to meet me personally. I disregarded all his intimidation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now that he is convinced that I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t step down for him and that I have more support-

Zubairu

ers than him, he is after my life. He has told people that the only thing that is left for him is either I step down in peace or I will die. â&#x20AC;&#x153; He has been trailing me all over the places I visited.

Anywhere I go for consultation or campaign, he and his campaign director would be trailing me. They use unregistered cars to trail my supporters and I. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am calling on Commissioner of Police in charge of the state to urgently intervene and investigate the matter. I want the CP and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on

the politician to know that I have the right to life and to contest election in any political party that I want. I want him to know that he is not my creator and that he has no right to take someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life.

The CP should come to my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rescue from the hands of the man and his supporters who have vowed to kill me before Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a lawyer and a lawabiding citizen who respects the laws of the land and would not take laws into my hands.

That is the reasons why I am crying to the police authority to come to my rescue.â&#x20AC;?

Navy Intercepts Boat Laden with 35,000 Litres of Stolen PMS Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have arrested a wooden boat laden with 3 5 , 0 0 0 l i t re s o f s t o l e n P re mium Motor Spirit (PMS), said to be worth about N5.75million.

The boat had 1,400 25 l i t re s k e g s l a d e n w i t h s u s pected stolen PMS, as well as 27 empty drums and a 5Ă&#x2014;75HP outboard engine.

The navy put the estimated figure for the wooden boat, also known as Cotonou boat, and the outboard engines at about N15million, thereby bringing the total sum of the arrested boat with its contents to

N20.75million.

The boat which was intercepted at Akaraba Island in Atlas Cove, was paraded before reporters by Comm a n d e r N N S B E E C R O F T, Rear Admiral Okon Eyo. Eyo who was represented by the base Executive Officer, Captain Paul Dogara, said the boat had 1,400 25 l i t re s k e g s l a d e n w i t h s u s pected stolen PMS, as well as 27 empty drums and a 5Ă&#x2014;75HP outboard engine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The estimated suspected stolen PMS is 35,000 litres valued at about N5.75million while the Cotonou boat and the outboard engines are valued

at about N15million. The total sum of the arrested boat with its contents is N20.75million. â&#x20AC;&#x153; I t i s t o b e noted that the Atlas Cove is central to reception and distribution of refined petroleum products to other NNPC depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Sagamu areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Consequently, the facility has become very attractive to vandals, petroleum thieves and pirates among others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The latest arrest by the base represents a major achievement of our constitutional mandate a n d a s e t b a c k t o t h e l o g i s t i c s re q u i re m e n t s of the criminals.

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

SECURITY TIPS (PART 48)

...Security Tips for the Election Period t Do not argue about politics in public: *G ZPV CFMPOH UP B QBSUJDVMBS QPMJUJDBM QBSUZ BOE UIFSF JT BO BSHVNFOU BCPVU BOPUIFS QPMJUJDBM QBSUZ UIFO JU JT JNQPSUBOU UIBU ZPV EP OPU KPJO JO 5IJT JT TP UIBU ZPV EPO U EBCCMF JOUP UIF BSHVNFOU UIBU NBZ MFBE UP B mHIU t Always get back home on time: 5IF FMFDUJPO QFSJPE JO WBSJPVT DPVOUSJFT PG UIF XPSME NBZ CF B UJNF GPS WJPMFODF UP EFWFMPQ UIFSFGPSF JU JT BQQSPQSJBUF UIBU ZPV EP OPU TUBZ PVU MBUF "T B NBUUFS PG GBDU ZPV IBWF HPU UP HFU IPNF FBSMZ t Do not criticise any politician especially in public: %P OPU BUUFNQU UP DSJUJDJTF BOZ QPMJUJDJBO PG UIF PQQPTJUJPO QBSUZ JO ZPVS DPNNVOJUZ JO QVCMJD 5IJT JT CFDBVTF JG ZPV EP ZPV NJHIU CF TUFQQJOH PO UIF UPFT PG PQQPTJUJPO TVQQPSUFST XIP NBZ XBOU UP CF IBSNGVM t Do not support or wear political campaign uniforms to polling units: *G ZPV CFMPOH UP BOZ QPMJUJDBM QBSUZ JU NBZ CF CFUUFS UIBU ZPV EP OPU XFBS QPMJUJDBM QBSUZ VOJGPSNT PS JOTJHOJB 5IJT JT TP UIBU ZPV EP OPU BUUSBDU UIF BUUFOUJPO PG PQQPTJUJPO QBSUZ NFNCFST XIP NBZ CF JSSJUBUFE CZ JU .PSF PGUFO UIBO OPU UIFTF QBSUZ NFNCFST NBZ CF BMM PVU UP JOKVSF PUIFST t Always listen to the news: 0OF PG UIF XBZT UP CF TFDVSJUZ DPOTDJPVT EVSJOH FMFDUJPO UJNF JT UP BMXBZT TUBZ BCSFBTU XJUI JTTVFT 0OF PG UIF XBZT UP DPNGPSUBCMZ EP UIJT JT CZ MJTUFOJOH UP UIF OFXT BMXBZT t Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t disclose who you will vote for at the polls: %VSJOH FMFDUJPO QFSJPE QFPQMF IBWF EJGGFSFOU DBOEJEBUFT UIFZ QMFEHF BMMFHJBODF UP 4PNF PG UIFN HP BT GBS BT QJDLJOH VQ B mHIU XJUI UIPTF XIP BSFO U JO UIF TBNF DBNQ XJUI UIFN 5IFSFGPSF JU XPVME EP ZPV XFMM OPU UP EJTDMPTF XIPN ZPV QMBO UP WPUF GPS t Once you cast your vote, go straight home: 0OF PG UIF XBZT UP TUBZ TFDVSF EVSJOH FMFDUJPOT JT CZ SFUVSOJOH IPNF BGUFS DBTUJOH ZPVS WPUF 4UBZJOH CBDL GPS MPJUFSJOH XJUI PUIFS TVQQPSUFST BGUFS DBTUJOH ZPVS WPUF NBZ CF EFUSJNFOUBM "MUIPVHI UIJT JT EJDFZ BT QFPQMF BSF FODPVSBHFE UP QSPUFDU UIFJS WPUFT t Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move about with huge cash/expensive gadgets : *G ZPV IBWF QMBOT UP NPWF BSPVOE XJUI IVHF BNPVOU PG DBTI EVSJOH FMFDUJPO UIFO ZPV XBOU UP DPOTJEFS IBWJOH B SF UIJOL BT UIJT JT OP UJNF UP EP TVDI .JTDSFBOUT UBLF BEWBOUBHF PG UIF QFSJPE UP SPC QFPQMF PG UIFJS WBMVBCMFT "MTP EPO U NPWF BCPVU XJUI FYQFOTJWF HBEHFUT :PV XPVME CF EPJOH ZPVSTFMG B XPSME PG HPPE JG ZPV EP OPU NPWF BSPVOE XJUI FYQFOTJWF HBEHFUT 5IJT JT TP UIBU ZPV EP OPU SVO JOUP TDPVOESFMT XIP NBZ XBOU UP SPC ZPV PGG UIFN t Steer clear of undefined crowd: *U JT WFSZ OFFEGVM UIBU ZPV EP OPU BTTPDJBUF ZPVSTFMG XJUI VOEFmOFE DSPXE PS HSPVQ PG QFPQMF XIP UBLF EFMJHIU JO BOBMZTJOH QPMJUJDBM JTTVFT BOE DBOEJEBUFT JO QVCMJD t Minimise family outings: *U JT JNQPSUBOU UIBU ZPV NJOJNJ[F ZPVS GBNJMZ PVUJOHT 0VUJOHT EVSJOH FMFDUJPOT 5IJT JT CFDBVTF PG UIF QPDLFUT PG USPVCMFT XIJDI NBZ FOTVF BOE XIJDI NBLFT ZPVS GBNJMZ WVMOFSBCMF UP BOZ BUUBDL t Stock up your home with food: 5IF FMFDUJPO QFSJPE JT B QFSJPE UIBU FOGPSDFT UIF TUBZ BU IPNF PSEFS 5IFSFGPSF JU JT WJUBM UP TUPSF VQ UIF IPVTF XJUI BMM UIF GPPE TUVGG BOE JOHSFEJFOUT UIBU BSF OFFEFE * N PSEFS UP BWPJE JODFTTBOU PVUJOHT UP UIF NBSLFUT BOE NBMMT t Have your doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number handy: *G ZPV EP OPU IBWF B NFEJDBM QFSTPO T EFUBJMT IBOEZ UIFO ZPV NBZ XBOU UP LOPX UIBU ZPV OFFE UP EP UIJT TP UIBU ZPV DBO DBMM XIFOFWFS ZPV OFFE NFEJDBM BTTJTUBODF EVSJOH FMFDUJPOT t Cast your vote once: 0OF PG UIF XBZT UIBU ZPV NBZ CF GFSNFOUJOH TFDVSJUZ USPVCMF JT XIFO ZPV EFDJEF UP WPUF UXJDF PS NPSF 5IFSF NBZ CF PUIFS QBSUZ DBOEJEBUFT UIBU NBZ XBOU UP HFU WJPMFOU XJUI ZPV 4P WPUF GPS ZPVS DBOEJEBUF KVTU PODF *O BOZ DBTF UIJT SFOEFST ZPVS WPUF B OVMMJUZ XJUI UIF DBSE SFBEFS

t Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk recklessly at the polls: 5P CF TBGF JU JT GPSCJEEFO UP UBML SFDLMFTTMZ BU UIF QPMMJOH VOJU BCPVU BOZ DBOEJEBUF PS UIF FMFDUJPO QSPDFTT %PJOH UIJT NBZ BUUSBDU TPNF HSBWF DPOTFRVFODFT t Celebrate in a civil manner: *G BGUFS UIF FMFDUJPOT ZPVS DBOEJEBUF XJOT UIFO JU JT JNQPSUBOU UIBU ZPV DFMFCSBUF JO B DJWJM NBOOFS *U JT OP UJNF UP CFHJO UP QBJOU UIF UPXO SFE JO B MBWJTI TUZMF 3FNFNCFS UIBU TPNF GPMLT XIP BSF JO TVQQPSU PG UIF PQQPTJUJPO NBZ OPU CF IBQQZ t Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t partake in election violence: %P OPU QVU ZPVSTFMG VQ UP CF VTFE CZ QPMJUJDJBOT UP QFSQFUSBUF FMFDUJPO WJPMFODF 5IJT JT CFDBVTF TPNF PQQPTJUJPO QFPQMF NJHIU BT XFMM CF MVSLJOH JO UIF EBSL UP IBSN UIPTF XIP EP UIJT Source: Unknown

LAGOS POLICE CONTROL NOS FOR ELECTION 5IF PQFSBUJPOT SPPN XJUI UIF GPMMPXJOH EFEJDBUFE MJOFT UISPVHI XIJDI NFNCFST PG UIF QVCMJD DBO ESBX UIF BUUFOUJPO PG UIF QPMJDF UP EJTUSFTT TJUVBUJPOT PS BOZ VOUPXBSE FWFOU JO UIFJS MPDBMJUZ 5IF OVNCFST BSF $POUSPM BOE $POUSPM BOE $POUSPM BOE

POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION CONTROL NOS 5IF 1PMJDF 4FSWJDF $PNNJTTJPO IBT BMTP QSPDVSFE EFEJDBUFE UFMFQIPOF MJOFT GPS BMM UIF TUBUFT PG UIF GFEFSBUJPO XIFSF UIF FMFDUPSBUFT BOE PUIFS DJUJ[FOT DBO BDDFTT JUT NPOJUPST UP DPNQMBJO PS DPNNFOE UIF DPOEVDU PG UIF QPMJDF UIF MFBE TFDVSJUZ BHFODZ GPS UIF FMFDUJPOT 5IF EFEJDBUFE MJOFT BSF "CJB ,XBSB "EBNBXB -BHPT "OBNCSB /BTBSBXB "LXB *CPN /JHFS #BVDIJ 0HVO #BZFMTB 0OEP #FOVF 0TVO #PSOP 0ZP $SPTT 3JWFST 1MBUFBV %FMUB 3JWFST &CPOZJ 4PLPUP &EP 5BSBCB &LJUJ :PCF &OVHV ;BNGBSB (PNCF '$5 *NP +JHBXB ,BEVOB ,BOP ,BUTJOB ,FCCJ ,PHJ

40

F R I DAY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

LIFE

Celebrating Afonja’s Reincarnation and Lessons Therein RAHEEM AKINGBOLU, who watched a short adaptation from Afonja –The Rise, a book written by Tunde Leye, to chronicle the struggle for supremacy between Alaafin Arogangan and Afonja, writes on its relevance to modern democracy

I

t was an evening of truth, when scholars, historians and culture enthusiasts looked into each other ’s eyes. The debate was hinged on how history and African culture are little by little going into extinction. It was at the launch of Tunde Leye’s historical novel, ‘Afonja: The Rise’, which captures the story of a one time Aare Ona Kakanfofo –Afonja, who was believed to have wrecked the Oyo Empire.

To herald the unveiling, two events; a stage play that recaptured the Afonja days and a roundtable talk on African culture and history were organised. The play, which was an adaptation from the book, reminded audience of years before the white men came to Nigeria. To align with the theme of the evening; ‘Back to Oyo’ the attires, hairstyles, meals and drinks were core traditional.

There was, among others, eko (cold pap) and palm-wine as the gastronomic needs of guests were catered to at the foyer before the main event started inside the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

One after the other, speakers, including ace filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, a former lecturer in the department of history at the Adeniran OgunsanyaCollege of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, Mrs. Elizabeth Ajayi and a former Attorney General of Lagos State, Dapo Sasore SAN, appealed to parents and other stakeholders in Yoruba nation not to allow western culture to undermine African culture in their respective homes.

They also expressed their displeasure over the gradual extinction of African culture in the Nigerian society and the total disregard for the history of the Yorubas before the coming of the white men. The roundtable session was moderated by Oladimeji Ojo, a poet and a lawyer.

Responding to moderator ’s question seeking to know if slavery was part of Yoruba culture before colonialism, Ajayi, who is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Ibadan, said yes but that it was different from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. She explained that: “In an agrarian community, labour was essential, but the household constituted the major source. Men had several wives to have many children to work on the farms. Slaves were part of the labour force, but domestic slavery was different from Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

“The way the Yoruba treated their slaves was different from the Trans-Atlantic Slavery. There’s a consideration that you give to your slave; a slave that has been loyal can become almost part of the household. The Yoruba did not treat slaves like they were during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.”

Asked what made the kingship institution experienced a decline, Kasumu said it was the 1861 annexation of Lagos by the British. “When the British came, they took over the people; they took over our culture. That’s how the British operated.

Once colonialism happened, there was a loss of culture.

“They used Lagos as leverage to take over the surrounding kingdoms. And once that happened, the structures, the culture all went away. The Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade story is not told enough. Nobody talks about Nigeria.

“Only a few people realise that 23 per cent of those taken away were from this part of Africa. Some of these structures still exist, but they are not as powerful as they used to be,” he said.

Contributing, Kelani began by commending Leyefor a job well done. “As a storyteller, it [book] is cinematic already,” he added before referring to the conference on the Alaafin of Oyo at 80 organised by the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBIU) last year.

He recalled how eminent historian, Professor ToyinFalola canvassed for the study of ‘Alaafinology’ and ‘Ifaology’ in universities and other institutions of higher learning as well as Oba LamidiAdeyemi’s address at the occasion.

The Alaafin told them about separation of powers and checks and balances in old Oyo. significant women in work, noting that they remain powers behind the throne in modern times. “In power politics, women have always been behind the scene manipulating the leaders.”

Scenes from the adaptation of the book Afonja-The Rise

Ajayi also confessed her admiration for Leye’streatment of women and offered her take on where Nigeria got it wrong.

To her, the initial removal of history from the curriculum was a grave mistake that would have caused mortal harm had it not been rectified.

She made a passionate defence of the subject, its methodology and noted that learning history is not limited to the classroom. “Even if you don’t study history as a course of study, we are learning now. This is what Leye has done for us,” she said.

On lessons, political leaders can learn from our past, and how to get more Nigerians interested in history, Kasumu said it has to be packaged appropriately.

He suggested having young readers version of historical novels like Leye’s

as well as cinema and stage adaptations.

He further cited the example of Supo Shashore’s‘Possessed: A History of Law and Justice in the Crown Colony of Lagos (1861-1906)’ which has a young readers version entitled ‘The King and the Colony.’

For Kelani, it is heart-breaking that nothing is being done to preserve heritage sites such as Old Oyo, Osogun, Koso and Bara which now lie in ruins. They would have helped to animate the history of Old Oyo, he said.

The filmmaker further noted that parents, guardians and everybody has a role to play in teaching the young history and culture.

“History does not start from the classrooms; it starts from the homes. If you deny your children, the next generation your language and your culture, there won’t be development. No country has developed using a

foreign language.”

The panelists were not the only ones who shared their views on the book. Writer and editor, MolaraWood, who reviewed it, gave illuminating insight into it. She praised its strengths and also drew attention to some infelicities.

While appreciating the position of the various experts, Leye said after years of studying Western Literature and History, he took a break recently to dwell on African literature and history, which informed his decision to research the stories around Afonja, a onetime Aare OnaKakanfo of the Oyo Empire, who clashed with the then Alaafin of Oyo - Aole Arogangan.

With the book, he said he hoped to change the attitude of people of his generation towards Yoruba history, culture and nuances.

41

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Atikuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Economic Policy: Separating Facts from Fiction Tunji Andrews

Increasing the Flow of FDI into NonOil Sector A key component of the planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic drive is on how to drive FDI into the country.

Where it states that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we shall attract and increase the stock of our investment from 15 per cent to 35 per cent of GDP within five years and FDI shall be a key component.â&#x20AC;?

This at current GDP and FX rates is from $56 billion to $131.2 billion yearly. The total capital importation into the country, comprising of both Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI), in 2017, was at $12.2 billion. Ambitious to say the least, as all of this is hinged on the hope that investment will come flooding in, once they provide incentives to attract foreign investment, strengthen credit guarantee initiatives of Infra-Credit, achieve the lowest corporate income tax rate in Africa and achieve lower transactions costs. With little room for the question, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What if it does notâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

O

ne phenomenon that seems to always follow the Nigerian election cycle, is the polarisation it throws the country into. With every single candidate putting fort grand proposals and agendas, in the hope of office. Politicians, especially those aiming to be elected to the office of the president or governor of a state tend to infamously for promise more than can be realistically accomplished.

This common development undoubtedly causes voters to feel betrayed and unrepresented. However, more often than not, they continue to fall prey to similar grand gestures the following election year.

While the economy is on a slow recovery road, after falling into a recession, it is almost a given that the economy would be the key focus of every campaign promise.

With the premise that Nigerians will vote for whoever is able to create dramatic change, or at the very least, promise it.

The Atiku campaign manifesto and its focus on the economy is well documented.

The 186-page document designed to get â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nigeria working againâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is quite an interesting read and pretty much covers all the core issues of the Nigerian economy. However, one central problem with the document is that, it says a lot without really saying much - heavy on rhetoric, but lacking in quality details to the problems.

Economic Development The document goes straight into it by saying he (Atiku) will, â&#x20AC;&#x153;create a sound, stable and globally competitive economy that is diversified with a mix of output from a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;technologically- enabled agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;vibrant and globally competitive manufacturing sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and a modern services sector.â&#x20AC;?

The challenge with this statement, is that it is seeking a solution to a problem that does not exist. The national bureau of statistics has put broadly the number of sectors contributing to the economy at 6, which are further broken down into 45 sub sectors; so the question of diversifying the economy is mute. What needs diversification however, is the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revenue, to which the plan touches upon briefly and vaguely to say â&#x20AC;&#x153;with regards to fiscal resources, we recognise the imperative to broaden Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resource horizon, maintain spending efficiency and reform internal revenue generating machinery.â&#x20AC;?

Atiku

How it plans to do this, was not mentioned.

Policy Priority: Growth Drivers The Atiku team says it plans to more than double the size of the Nigerian economy in six years, taking the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP from $375.8 billion to $900 billion by 2025. The plan then goes on to make a small arithmetic error of assuming that the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population size would remain at 180m by 2025; by saying it expects to â&#x20AC;&#x153;raise Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP per capita from the current levels of approximately US$2,000 to US$5,000â&#x20AC;?. All of this is however predicated on the hope that Nigeria would grow at an average of 10 per cent GDP annually. This all falls apart with one of the three main growth pillars it put up, saying that â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall accelerate investment to double our infrastructure stock to approximately 50 per cent of GDP by 2025 and 70 per cent by 2030.â&#x20AC;? This looks like a plan until you read the next line which expresses the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of this rise, where it says it â&#x20AC;&#x153;will require a commitment to invest a minimum of US$90 billion annually in the next 5 years to finance all the core public infrastructure projects.â&#x20AC;? $90bn annually comes to N32.4 trillion annually (It helps to note that Nigeria currently struggles to finance its current N8 trillion budget).

Promoting the Agricultural Sector The core of the planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agriculture thrust is on increasing agricultural output from the current level of N23.85 trillion to about N40 trillion by 2025. This would imply an annual growth in agricultural sector from 4.11 per cent to 10 per cent between 2019 and 2025. It then goes on to focus on production and land reform with states but does not make mention of how to curb agric produce wastage in the country, talk less of how to fix it. It is estimated that Nigeria Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food waste has hit 80 per cent as against the global average of 33 per cent. The nation, for instance imports over 70 metric tons of tomatoes at an estimated cost of N11 billion annually, despite being one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest producers of tomatoes after Egypt. No amount of production increase will solve the problem without key investment in storage facilities across the country. This will curb excess wastages and allow the nation experience food availability all through the year.

Promoting the Manufacturing Sector The plan hopes to have grown the manufacturing sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s output from nine per cent to 30 per cent of GDP by 2025. While it is laudable that the Atiku team plans to Improve the level of engagement with the private sector and ensure that all major economic and investment policies are formulated after sufficient prior consultation with the organised private sector, it owns up to not having an idea on how to fix the exchange rate and

high lending rate issues. As a matter of fact, a large portion of its manufacturing drive is hinged on the ideas â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to be generatedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after the elections by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), chambers of commerce and other relevant stakeholders.

Promoting the MSME Sector The plan for MSMEs is quite interesting, as though it starts by stating that it will â&#x20AC;&#x153;strengthen the sector by removing all identified impediments to its growth and ensuring that MSMEs have strong linkage with the productive sectors of the economynamely agricultural and manufacturing sectorsâ&#x20AC;?; it then goes on to say it will continue to do what has always been done (or at least mouthed) in the sector. It plans to via NISRAL (Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending), move towards de-risking for MSME lending.

It hopes that NISRAL can mobilise financing for MSMEs by using credit guarantees to address the risk of default. A move that has been attempted by various governmental agencies but which often fails at the point of the Actual Guarantee on default. This plan doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t explain the model or where the finances will come from.

Promoting the Oil And Gas Sector With the world looking to move towards cleaner energy in the coming years, this plan holds nothing new for Nigerians, in terms of revenue focus of the government. In fact the key word for oil and gas in this plan is increase. r *ODSFBTF UIF DPOUSJCVUJPO PG UIF EPXOstream sector to GDP from 0.5 per cent to two per cent (a reality that would easily be met once the Dangote refinery comes online). r *ODSFBTF DSVEF QSPEVDUJPO UP Ă WF NJMMJPO per barrels per day r *ODSFBTF SFHVMBUJPO r *ODSFBTF FYQMPSBUJPO Conclusion The only plausible explanation for having such a wordy policy document which lacks in a real value addition, is the hope that Nigerians would not bother to read the 186 page document or realise that this was probably one of the most outstanding works of fiction to ever come out of Nigeria.

-Andrews is the Lead economist at TTAC Africa, an European Union consultant, under the EU SUFEGOR project, a financial literacy advocate and a renowned media personality

Jostling for Brand Loyalty Raheem Akingbolu writes on consumer behaviour towards hand and dish washing liquid soaps and how various players are jostling for consumerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loyalty

U

ntil few years ago, the bar and block soaps were common items in most rest rooms and kitchens in Nigeria. Even when it was introduced as alternative about 25 years ago, Liquid soap was only popular among the elites. Today, with more awareness about the health benefits of hand washing and easy access to liquid soap, consumer behaviour has fast changed towards liquid soaps.

According to recent findings, about 60 percent of the world population believes so much in hand wash with women being the highest.

The story is also the same with dish washing, as most homes in rural and urban centers in Nigeria now rely strongly on liquid soaps of various brands and variants. Though Morning Fresh is believed to have maintained a market leadership for over two decades, there are other players like Sunlight from the stable of Unilever Africa, Mama Lemon Dishwashing liquid soap, from the stable of Holdent International Ltd and scores of substandard locally produced ones from cottage establishments.

Warding-off counterfeiting Hand and dishwashing liquid soaps are not immune from the wave of counterfeiting troubling the Nigerian market. Over the years, a huge industry has been built around the sales and marketing of inferior goods, especially fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), including everything from household appliances, electrical and electronics equipment, mobile phones, computer hardware and software and other related accessories. In a desperate move to make ends meet, many Nigerians have turned to liquid soap manufacturers.

Unfortunately, most of such products are neither registered with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) or follow any global health requirement. Of course, relevant authorities have warned consumers to be wary of such products because they are considered unhygienic for use.

Besides, another reason experts have given for proliferation of fake products is because of the complicity of some greedy Nigerian importers in saturating the markets with cheap, fake and substandard goods;

the brand across all consumer touch points in an increasingly competitive market, Morning Fresh is now said to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;super-poweredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to provide more value for money through its superior grease-cutting performance. The new packaging also comes in its usual three usual options â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Original, Zesty Lemon, and Antibacterial.

Morning Fresh has been in Nigeria for 25 years and has established itself as the No. 1 bestselling dishwashing liquid in the market, remaining relevant with consistent delivery on superior grease-cutting performance designed to tackle with ease, all food stains and providing squeaky clean results.

At both cities, guests present were treated to a day of brand showcase, entertainment and excitement.

The event was also not short on star-power as it had in attendance some notable personalities in the entertainment industry, such as veteran actress, Mercy Johnson; popular actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande; celebrity chef, Ifeyinwa Mogekwu of Ifyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen and food blogger, YemisiOdunsanya. and the ugly situation is exacerbated by some local manufacturers of products that fall short of international or national set standards. According to recent finding, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has so far arrested more than 80 per cent of individuals who have been involved in the illicit trade of counterfeiting in many sectors. Again, SON, Nigeria Customs Services, and other sister agencies have been at the forefront of campaign to stem the tide of inferior goods in the system.

This is where the promoters of Morning Fresh seem to have gotten it right. Over the years, the company has not only maintained standard and supremacy in the market, they have continued to take pro-active measures to maintain quality and frustrate counterfeiting.

Among other measures, PZ Cussons, manufacturers of Morning Fresh has embarked on awareness campaign, relaunch, rebranding and collaboration with relevant regulatory authority to tackle counterfeiting.

New Transparent Bottle For instance, in an effort to continuously provide

value to its consumers, Morning Fresh, recently relaunched and initiated activation to educate consumers. The dishwashing liquid first presented its new look to stakeholders in Lagos and later in Port Harcourt.

It said it introduced the bottles to increase demand at wholesale, retail, and distributor level. Following the relaunch, the company has been engaging in numerous activities targeted at engaging all stakeholders.

Among these was the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;market stormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which held in Mile 1 and Mile 3 markets in Port Harcourt.

Brand Manager, Morning Fresh, Ahusimere Ejiroghene, expressed delight at the turnout of the events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are delighted to re-introduce Morning Fresh in these markets. We have totally revamped the Morning Fresh brand, emphasising on its premium look and feel, which is in line with our commitment to constantly innovate and evolve to exceed the expectations of the stakeholders in the country.

Now appears in a new transparent bottle and a double-faced, one-sided label which is aimed at increasing the standout appeal and authenticity of

Step against counterfeiting Meanwhile the Managing Director, PZ Cussons Consumer, Mr. Alex Goma stated that the step was taking as the company continue to evolve and improve to meet and satisfy the needs of its consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our brand relaunch further re-establishes our commitment to deliver superior kitchen cleaning performance clearly evident in squeaky clean results that can be seen, smelled, felt, and touched. Every drop of Morning Fresh contains the power to clean more dishes than your regular dishwashing liquids,â&#x20AC;?

He also pointed out that the new packaging would also help tackle the issue of counterfeiting and imitations of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the new packaging, our consumers can easily identify PZ Cussonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; products and what they see is what they get. Morning Fresh continues to raise the bar when it comes to ensuring that our consumers are provided with authentic products. We are indeed excited and we believe our consumers are too, as they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to experience the new Morning Fresh in all its colourful variants,â&#x20AC;? he said.

42

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í°Ë&#x153; 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Aviation Sector Records Growth Chinedu Eze The federal government has disclosed that the aviation industry recorded an average growth of 33 per cent on domestic operations between January 2017 and June 2018.

In the same vein, the sector recorded 13.5 per cent growth on international operations between same period.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika while enumerating the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the sector.

Sirika, who fielded questions from journalists during an interview, said that the construction and commissioning of new terminals, acquisition of navigational aids and the recent payment of gratuities and pensions of the former national carrier, Nigeria Airways remained unprecedented achievements in

the annals of the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As you know, aviation as a globally-regulated industry; any lapses in one state is clearly monitored and exposed by the others. In Nigeria under the present administration headed

by President Muhammadu Buhari, much achievement has been recorded in the sector and these are verifiable. To succinctly put, aviation achievements under President Buhari is unprecedented. They are not hidden,â&#x20AC;? the minister said.

He noted that one of the major achievements of this administration was the sustenance of safety, which he described as phenomenal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is on record that since this administration came onboard, there has not been an accident to commercial airlines, which has further boosted and restored confidence the of the flying public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;However, this achievement would not have

been attained without the strong regulatory function of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Under this present administration, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air travel has enjoyed enviable safety record, which is tremendous,â&#x20AC;? Sirika stated.

He also said that the sector has recorded significant achievements in virtually all aspects, from regulation, airport infrastructure and service provision. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the past three years we have sustaining the domestic aviation industry; re-introduced zero import duties on aircraft, engine and other spares. We made intervention to rescue Arik Air and Aero Contractors from total collapse and that is another milestone, which would have led to the demise of the two airlines and cause huge loss of jobs by professionals in the sector. The two airlines are today still in operation, under receivership, the Minister noted.

Sirika

MARKET INDICATORS

Zenith Bank Foresees Loan Growth as Economy Recovers Zenith Bank Plc expects its loan volumes to return to growth this year after 2018â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decline, and is targeting higher activity in the agricultural sector, the bank said on Thursday.

The top tier lender said it aimed to grow its loan book by 7.5 per cent in 2019, after they declined last year due to early repayments, saying borrowers were replacing overdrafts with term loans. It had guided for loans to grow 2.5 percent in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our expectation is that the economy will continue to strengthen,â&#x20AC;? Reuters quoted the bank to have said during an analystsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; call. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It will throw up opportunities to grow the loan book.â&#x20AC;? Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy expanded in 2018 at its fastest pace

since a recession two years earlier, while inflation fell in January from a seven-month high. The bank said it saw opportunities in the agricultural sector, which receives good support from the government, and that as the economic recovery continues it could also open up opportunities to lend to manufacturers. The bank said its $500 million Eurobond matures in April. It plans to repay the bond from its cash flow, it said, and has no need to tap the market again immediately. Zenith Bank reported a growth of 16. 2 per cent in its profit before tax (PBT) as well as 11.3 per cent growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the year ended December 31, 2018.

According to the audited results made available on Tuesday, the

lender recorded a decline in gross earnings from N745.189 billion in 2017 to N630.344 billion in 2018.

Net interest income improved to N295.594 billion compared with N257.991 billion in 2017.

However, impairment charges were reduced from N98.29 billion to N18.372 billion. Similarly, the bank reduced operating expenses from N144.893 billion to N137.897 billion. Consequently, PBT improved from N199.319 billion in 2017 to N231.685 billion, while PAT rose from N173.791 billion to N193.424 billion in 2018. The directors have proposed a final dividend of N2.50 per share which in addition to the N0.30 per share paid as interim dividend amounts to N2.80 per share, compared to N2.70 in 2017.

BoI Commences Second Phase of Tradermoni Disbursement The Bank of Industry (BoI) has begun the disbursement of N15,000 TraderMoni loans to beneficiaries who have successfully paid back their first N10,000 loans.

According to the bank, the disbursement was in response to the increasing beneficiary repayments recorded under the scheme.

Through a flexible weekly loan repayment plan of N430 per week paid over six months, the bank recorded high repayment of loans.

The BoI explained that the beneficiaries paid back by paying their BOI-GEEP loan on the PayDirect available at commercial bank branches across Nigeria and also through the purchase of repayment scratch cards that can be procured from TraderMoni agents deployed across any one of 2,260 markets/cluster locations, a statement explained.

Indeed, available MSME data showed that even though small businesses employ about 84 per cent of the labour force; contribute 50 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), access to funding that can move their businesses beyond the MSME level to the Small/Medium Enterprise level remains limited.

In 2017, the MSME segment

received a meagre 0.04% of all bank loans originated in Nigeria.

To address the challenges and in recognition of the sheer possibilities that the MSME sector holds for the economy; in 2016, the federal government launched the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Through its signature products â&#x20AC;&#x201D; MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and TraderMoni â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the programme has reached over 1.5 million Nigerians through small loans.

These loans, starting from N10,000 up to N300,000, have helped beneficiaries to transform their businesses. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If these beneficiaries repay their first loan as promised, they immediately qualify for the second level N15,000 loan. After repaying the second loan, these beneficiaries will qualify for a N20,000 loan, then N25,000 loan, and finally they graduate into the MarketMoni loan program where they can get up to N100,000 in interest-free, collateral-free loan.

Through a gradual step by step process, these MSMEs can grow and create jobs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This incentive-based model is working. Despite the fears of traditional lenders on giving loans to MSMEs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in part due to lack of formal identification, limited financial track record, and no col-

lateral â&#x20AC;&#x201D; TraderMoni continues to achieve success with loan repaymentsâ&#x20AC;?, the bank explained.

Mrs Aishetu Adamu - a condiment and medicine seller at Bolori market in Maiduguri, Borno State was one of the beneficiaries of the initial loan of N10,000 that migrated to the next phase.

The statement quoted her to have said the initial loan was really helpful in promoting her business.

Another beneficiary was Mrs Lucky Solomon, who revealed she was happy with the improved profits she made from the first N10,000 loan she received.

With that, she was able to repay the loan without delay and opt for the next loan. Aishetu and Solomon were part of the many beneficiaries in Lagos, Osun, Kano and Borno who have paid back their first, and gotten their second level loan amounts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond providing loans for MSMEs, GEEP is focused on sustainably boosting the MSME sector in an organised and effective manner. By requiring that beneficiaries seeking higher loan amounts provide a bank account (and BVN), the TraderMoniGEEP entrepreneurs will be on- boarded into the formal financial services sector.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2018 Money Supply (M3)

31,794,803.44

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

6,333,064.28

Money Supply (M2)

25,461,739.17

-- Quasi Money

14,773,076.98

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,688,662.18

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,711,763.59

---- Demand Deposits

8,976,898.59

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

18,990,400.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,804,402.66

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,062,986.22

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,980,229.66

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,093,619.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-4,144,571.43

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

23,082,756.56

--Other Assets Net

13,258,583.57

Reserve Money (Base Money

6,811,192.37

--Currency in Circulation

2,100,129.91

--Banks Reserves

4,366,259.05

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY,20 JANUARY 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $65.97 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $65.79 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

43

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͰ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

MARKET NEWS

Access Bank to Raise N15 Billion via Green Bond Goddy Egene Access Bank Plc is set to issue a 5-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Green Bond of up to N15 billion, which will be the first ever climate bonds standard certified corporate green bond to be issued in Africa.

This followed the approval of the bank’ book building by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The book building commenced yesterday

and will be concluded in exactly one week, after which the funding of commitment will begin on Friday, March 1, 2019.

The bond has been awarded a B2 rating by Moody’s and verified by PwC (UK) following certification by the Climate Bond Initiative as having met the climate bond standards.

The management of Access Bank had in anticipation of the approval, launched the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Programme in June 2018, in partnership with FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange and the SEC. Commenting on the approval, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe described it as a step in the right direction, saying it lends credence to the process and gives hope of a favourable outcome. According to Wigwe, the final approval of the Green Bond will mean another feat that is commendable and speaks to

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the vision of being a key player in the country’s finance sector.

He said: “With over a decade’s experience leading Sustainability in the Nigerian financial sector, we believe that the issuance of this bond will create a path to financing Nigeria’s climate change objectives and also unlock the country’s economic growth potential,” he said.

Wigwe cited the bank’s rich experience in the area of sustainability as a factor that

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

will guarantee its success of the bond issuance. ‘ ”With our pace-setting experience in the mainstreaming of sustainability in our business operations, we are confident that this Issue will further help in supporting environmentally friendly investors to meet their investment objectives whilst simultaneously supporting the Bank’s customer towards realizing growth opportunities in the fastdeveloping low carbon economy,”

O F

he said. The issue proceeds will be used to finance eligible green projects that meet CBI standards.

Meanwhile, trading at the stock was bearish following profit taking by investors. As a result, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index fell 0.14 per cent to close at 32,568.66.

Activity level also declined with volume and value falling by 50.6 per cent and 60.3 per cent to 218.8 million shares and N2.2 billion respectively.

0 4 / 0 2 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

44

5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

45

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Pope Advocates Strong Measures to Tackle Sex Abuse Pope Francis opened Thursday a landmark summit at the Vatican on fighting child sex abuse, saying that the world expected “concrete measures” on tackling paedophilia in the Catholic Church.

The pontiff will dedicate the next three and a half days to discussing the Church’s response to child abuse by members of the clergy with bishops from around the world.

“The Holy people of God are watching and waiting not for simple and obvious condemnations but concrete and efficient measures,” he said as the summit opened, the first of its kind.

“Let us listen to the cry of

the young ones who ask us for justice,” he said.

The pope is aiming to tackle the continuing scandal, which again hit the Church in 2018 in countries across the globe, including Chile, Germany and the United States.

The 82-year-old hopes to raise awareness about abuse through prayers, speeches, working groups and testimonies from victims.

“I ask the Holy Spirit to support us in the following days and help us to transform this evil into an opportunity for awareness and purification,” Francis said.

The summit aims to educate 114 top bishops who will then

return home with clear ideas on how to spot and deal with abuse and paedophilia.

The task is made difficult by the fact that some churches, in Asia and Africa in particular, deny the problem exists.

“My hope would be that people see this as a turning point,” said American Cardinal Blase Cupich, one of the pope’s trusted allies in the United States and one of the summit’s four organisers.

The US Catholic Church has been shaken by one of the gravest crises in its history, with the defrocking last week

by Pope Francis of a former cardinal — American Theodore

McCarrick — over accusations he sexually abused a teenager 50 years ago.

“It’s not the end game, no one can ever say that… (but) we’re going to do everything possible so people are held responsible, accountable and that there is going to be transparency,” Cupich told journalists ahead of the meeting.

Three themes — responsibility, accountability and transparency — form the backbone of the summit and will provide its participants with the keys to ensuring child safety, he said.

There are reforms in the

pipeline, such as the “tweaking” of certain canon laws, according to another of the organisers, Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

“Canon law has to be changed: not tweaked, not modified, but fundamentally changed, so that it stops prioritising the priesthood… over the lives of children, and vulnerable adults who are sexually assaulted by them,” she said.

Scicluna insists that summoning Church leaders from all continents to Rome “is in itself a very important message”.

The Maltese spent 10 years

as the Vatican’s top prosecutor on paedophilia cases, and was picked by Francis to travel to Chile last year to hear from victims whose voices had previously been silenced by an internal Church cover-up.

Scicluna has called for an end to the code of silence and culture of denial within the beleaguered centuries-old institution.

“Silence is a no-go, whether you call it omerta or simply a state of denial,” he said this week.

“We have to face facts because only the truth of the matter, and confronting the facts, will make us free,” he added.

WHO, Uganda Boost Ebola Screening at Border Points with DR Congo World Health Organisation (WHO) and Uganda Red Cross Society have signed an agreement to boost Ebola screening at border points with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where there is an outbreak.

WHO in a statement issued on Thursday said there would be screening of travellers at 25 points of entry in eight districts along the border.

WHO will provide about 161, 662 dollars to the Ugandan society to support the identification and the deployment of 115 Village Health Teams to ensure that all the 25 points of entry are fully staffed.

“These teams will undertake regular daily screenings of all travellers entering from the DRC, monitoring for signs of Ebola,” the statement said.

Support will also go towards training 229 frontline health workers and volunteers on infection prevention and control.

According to the WHO, border screening is a major area of concern for health workers in Uganda given the proximity of the epicenter

of the disease.

Thousands of people cross the border daily for trade, family, religious, health and education-related services at both official and nonofficial border crossings, which increases the risk of a sick traveller potentially crossing over, according to the global health body.

The situation is compounded by the influx of refugees to Uganda due to the security situation in provinces affected by the current Ebola outbreak in the neighboring country.

Figures by Uganda and the UN Refugee Agency show that averages of 111 refugees cross into Uganda daily from the DRC. The highly contagious Ebola virus causes a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalised pain or malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding, according to WHO. Mortality rates of Ebola fever, according to the global health body, are extremely high, with the human case fatality rate ranging from 50 per cent to 89 per cent, depending on viral subtype.

Beijing Life Expectancy Hits 82.2Years The average life expectancy of Beijing residents reached 82.2 years in 2018, higher than the 2017 figure of 82.15 years, according to Beijing Municipal Health Commission on Thursday.

The infant mortality rate was 2.01 per 1,000, said the commission, adding that both figures of average life expectancy and infant mortality rate were on par with highincome countries.

The commission cited enhanced efforts on emergency response, smoking control and public health facilities in rural

areas as the reasons for the improved health indicators.

In 2018, Beijing set up 20 new emergency response stations and cut an average of two minutes in emergency response time.

The city also built 194 new clinics in rural areas in 2018, and made efforts to ensure medical services are more accessible to residents in remote areas.

China has seen a rising life expectancy for its people over the years.

The average life expectancy of Chinese people increased to 76.7 years in 2017 from 74.8 years in 2010.

Pope Francis (right), flanked by Italian priest, Federico Lombardi, praying during the opening of a global child protection summit for reflections on the sex abuse crisis within the Catholic Church, at the Vatican…yesterday AFP

Algeria Confirms Death of Two Crew Members in Military Jet Crash The Algerian Defence Ministry on Thursday confirmed the killing of two crew members of an SU24 jet fighter aircraft which crashed.

The jet crashed in a vacant agricultural area in Tiaret province, 220 km south-west of the capital Algiers, Army Chief of Staff and Deputy Defence Minister Ahmed Salah, said in a statement.

The military aircraft, which belongs to “Ain Ouessara Airbase in the 1st Military Region, crashed following a planned night training flight on Wednesday night.

“This incident claimed the lives of two crew members; the pilot and his assistant,’’ Salah said in the statement.

The army chief, who commiserated with the family of the deceased pilots, ordered “the opening of an investigation to determine and reveal the circumstances and causes of the crash.’’

There have been increasing cases of military aircraft crashes in the country in recent years.

The latest and worst air disaster in the history of Algeria dates back to April 2018, when 257 people were

killed in the crash of Ilyushin I-76 military airplane, moments after take-off from Boufarik Military Airport, 30 km southwest of Algiers.

Many of the victims were soldiers and members of their families, according to the Defence Ministry.

In 2017, one army troop and three troops were killed in separate crashes which occurred in the province of Naama, 700 km south-west of Algiers and in the northern province of Tipaza in June and May respectively.

In Feb. 2014, 77 troops were

killed when a C-130 Hercules aircraft belonging to the Algerian Air Force, crashed in Oum El Bouaghi province, 400 km east of Algiers.

In March 2016, 12 troops were killed and two others were injured in the southern locality of Reggane when their helicopter crashed; and the year before, two soldiers were also killed in a helicopter crash.

In Nov. 2014, an Air Force MIG-25 “Foxbat’’ fighter also crashed, but the pilot managed to eject himself out of the plane before the crash.

Sudanese Security Forces Arrest 12 Opposition Leaders Sudanese security forces arrested at least 12 opposition leaders ahead of a planned protest against the regime of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, an opposition member said on Thursday.

Among those arrested were the Deputy Leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), Mariam alMahdi; NUP Secretary-General, Sara Naqdallah; the Political Secretary of the Communist Party, Mohamed al-Khatib and

a senior member of the NUP, Um-Salama al-Mahdi said.

The arrests were made minutes before the start of a planned anti-government demonstration in the capital Khartoum, according to alMahdi.

The 12 opposition leaders were planning to lead a protest march “to the presidential palace to submit a memo’’ demanding President al-Bashir step down when they were arrested, he said.

He said when making the arrests, security forces and riot police fired tear gas at a crowd of hundreds of demonstrators, who had gathered near the Arab Market area in Khartoum.

The East African nation has seen ongoing protests for several weeks, since a sharp hike in bread and fuel prices caused public outcry.

In early January, the Interior Ministry said over 800 demonstrators had been arrested.

While the Sudanese government has confirmed the deaths of 29 protesters, human rights organisations say dozens of people have been killed in clashes with security forces.

The oil-rich country’s economy was badly affected when it split with South Sudan in 2011.

The government is currently facing an economic crisis while also battling several rebel groups.

˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

46

Friday, February 22 2019

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Declined by 0.32%

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Yesterday, Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index declined 32bps to ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭϲϬϱ͘ϰϳ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ZENITH (1.9%), INTBREW (-9.5%) and FLOURMILLS (-0.2%). These

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϲ͘Ϯй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

ŝƚƐ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĚĞĐůŝŶŝŶŐ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϮ͕ϱϲϴ͘ϲϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ INTBREW (-9.5%), ZENITH (-1.9%) and DANGFLOUR (-2.5%). As a result, market ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďLJ Eϭϲ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ EϭϮ͘ϭƚŶ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ŐĂŝŶ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ϯ͘ϲй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĂůƐŽ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ŝŶ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶ ĂƐ volume and ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϱϬ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϲϬ͘ϯй ƚŽ Ϯϭϴ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ EϮ͘ϮďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ were TRANSCORP (24.7m units), FCMB (19.2m units) and GUARANTY (16.5m units) while GUARANTY (N630.2m), ZENITH (N402.2m) and NESTLE (N192.1m) led the top trades by value.

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ Performance across sectors was largely bearish as 3 of the 5 indices under our coverage trended southwards. The Insurance and Consumer Goods indices led laggards down ϭ͘Ϭй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϵй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ LINKASSURE (-10.0%) MBENEFIT (-7.4%), INTBREW (-9.5%) and DANGFLOUR (-2.5%). The Banking index trailed, shedding 0.3% on the back of losses in ZENITH (-1.9%) and FIDELITY (-Ϭ͘ϰйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ 0.5% following buying interest in OANDO (+3.2%) while

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price Weightin YTD Index to g Change Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

1,605.47

-0.32%

4.1%

60.5%

20.4%

7.4%

6.4x

0.8x

4.8%

12.4%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

38.00

0.0%

19.3%

10.3%

10.1%

34.1%

5.6%

5.7x

2.1x

7.0%

17.7%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

25.30

-1.9%

12.4%

9.8%

9.8%

22.6%

3.2%

4.3x

1.0x

10.9%

23.1%

3

Dangote Cement PLC

193.00

0.3%

8.4%

1.7%

3.8%

20.1%

9.8%

20.1x

4.3x

5.4%

5.0%

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,580.00

0.0%

7.9%

6.4%

7.1%

85.8%

26.3%

28.6x

22.3x

3.0%

3.5%

5

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

82.50

0.0%

5.3%

-3.5%

5.4%

11.3%

5.0%

33.5x

4.0x

2.9%

3.0%

6

FBN Holdings Plc

8.30

1.2%

5.0%

4.4%

3.8%

6.6%

0.8%

5.9x

0.4x

3.0%

16.8%

7

Cement Co Northern Nigeria PLC

20.00

0.0%

4.2%

3.1%

3.1%

34.2%

19.6%

4.8x

1.5x

6.3%

20.7%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

8.00

0.6%

4.1%

3.9%

2.6%

15.4%

1.8%

3.6x

0.6x

10.4%

27.6%

9

International Brew eries PLC

26.25

-9.5%

2.8%

-13.9%

-16.7%

-23.8%

-3.2%

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

619.00

0.0%

3.1%

-3.3%

-3.3%

25.9%

15.3%

2.7x

0.6x

3.1%

36.8%

10.2%

WƌŽĮƚ dĂŬŝŶŐ ƌĂŐƐ ĞŶĐŚŵĂƌŬ /ŶĚĞdž ͙ASI down 14ps

In today͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞǀĞƌƐĞĚ

Current Price

11

Access Bank PLC

12

Ecobank Transnational Inc

6.4x

6.40

0.8%

2.9%

-5.9%

-1.5%

14.1%

1.7%

2.7x

0.4x

14.15

1.8%

2.6%

1.1%

-1.0%

12.1%

1.0%

4.5x

0.5x

-1.4%

37.6% 22.5%

13

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

48.50

0.0%

2.5%

1.1%

1.1%

35.7%

4.6%

7.2x

2.3x

2.1%

14

Unilever Nigeria PLC

43.00

0.0%

2.6%

16.2%

16.2%

14.7%

9.0%

21.2x

3.0x

1.2%

4.7%

15

Lafarge Africa PLC

13.00

0.0%

1.6%

4.4%

8.3%

-53.7%

-7.9%

0.9x

11.2%

-48.4%

16

Guinness Nigeria PLC

65.10

0.0%

1.1%

-9.6%

-9.6%

8.5%

4.5%

18.3x

1.7x

2.8%

5.5%

17

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

85.00

0.0%

1.3%

11.5%

11.5%

39.3%

29.7%

8.1x

2.8x

3.5%

12.3%

13.9%

18

Total Nigeria PLC

190.00

0.0%

1.1%

-6.4%

-6.4%

34.6%

7.5%

6.6x

2.1x

8.9%

15.1%

19

11 PLC

170.00

0.0%

1.1%

-8.4%

-8.4%

38.0%

16.8%

5.7x

1.9x

4.7%

17.6%

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

20.70

-0.2%

1.0%

-10.4%

-6.8%

6.6%

2.0%

9.6x

0.6x

4.8%

21

Oando PLC

6.50

3.2%

1.4%

30.0%

35.4%

10.9%

1.7%

5.4x

0.4x

10.4% 18.5%

22

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.46

-0.4%

1.2%

21.2%

21.2%

11.3%

1.5%

3.2x

0.4x

4.5%

31.2%

23

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.50

0.7%

1.0%

13.6%

16.3%

19.3%

4.3%

4.9x

0.9x

2.1%

20.5%

24

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

15.15

0.0%

0.8%

-0.7%

6.0x

1.7x

8.3%

25

Diamond Bank PLC

2.42

0.4%

0.8%

26

FCMB Group Plc

2.28

1.3%

0.7%

27

UAC of Nigeria PLC

8.80

-2.2%

0.4%

28

Sterling Bank PLC

2.50

0.0%

29

Presco PLC

75.00

30

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

18.25

31

Forte Oil PLC

32

2.4%

32.6%

16.4%

12.6%

-5.8%

-0.7%

20.6%

26.7%

8.4%

1.2%

3.0x

0.3x

4.4%

-9.7%

-7.9%

0.4%

0.2%

69.2x

0.4x

7.4%

1.4%

0.6%

31.6%

31.6%

10.6%

1.1%

6.6x

0.7x

0.8%

15.2%

0.0%

0.4%

17.2%

17.2%

37.0%

24.8%

3.0x

0.9x

2.7%

33.8%

0.0%

0.3%

1.4%

1.4%

47.0%

17.5%

9.5x

4.3x

8.1%

10.5%

28.00

0.0%

0.3%

-2.4%

0.0%

84.6%

8.3%

11.5x

2.1x

8.7%

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

7.00

0.0%

0.4%

25.0%

25.0%

5.3%

1.0%

12.7x

0.7x

7.9%

33

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

26.50

0.0%

0.3%

31.8%

19.9%

17.3%

1.8%

7.3x

1.2x

3.8%

34

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

12.35

-2.4%

0.2%

2.1%

0.4%

1.1x

1.3%

35

Chemical and Allied Products P

34.00

0.0%

0.2%

-2.4%

-2.4%

66.2%

30.2%

15.9x

10.6x

6.0%

6.3%

36

Wema Bank PLC

0.89

0.0%

0.2%

41.3%

41.3%

6.6%

0.8%

10.2x

0.7x

37

Beta Glass PLC

79.00

0.0%

0.2%

15.7%

15.7%

17.7%

11.5%

9.6x

1.6x

1.4%

10.4%

14.9%

4.2%

11.6%

38

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

9.70

-2.5%

0.2%

41.6%

47.0%

39

Transcorp Hotels Plc

6.10

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

40

AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.05

1.0%

0.1%

12.0%

12.0%

10.5%

3.3%

0.3x

16.5% -29.0% 33.5%

13.6%

9.8%

8.6x

1.2x

2.1%

12.4x

0.8x

2.4%

8.0%

10.7x

1.1x

2.9%

9.3%

ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ DANGCEM (+0.3%) led to a 0.2% ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

T o p 10 G a ine rs T ic k er

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĞĂŬĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϳdž recorded in the previous trading session as 20 stocks advanced against 15 decliners. The best performing stocks were IKEJAHOTEL (+10.0%), UACPROP ;нϴ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ ABCTRANS ;нϴ͘ϯйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ LINKASSURE (-10.0%), INTBREW

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

IKEJ A H OT EL

1.99

9.9%

UA C -P R OP

1.82

8.3%

A B CTRA NS

0.52

8.3%

F IR ST A LUM

0.31

6.9%

M C N IC H OLS

0.47

6.8%

H ON YF LOUR

1.38

6.2%

C OR N ER ST

13.1

0.0%

F ID SON

4.95

5.3%

UC A P

10.8

-5.8%

A F R IP R UD

4.35

4.3%

UB A

10.3

0.6%

GLA XOSM IT H

12.00

3.9%

FB NH

10.1

1.2%

OA N D O

6.50

3.2%

D IA M ON D B N K

7.7

0.4%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

GUA R A N T Y

630.2

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

402.2

-1.9%

192.1

0.0%

T o p 10 Lo s e rs T ic k er

(-9.5%) and NEIMETH (-ϴ͘ϲйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ͘ /Ŷ ůŝŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƚŽŽŬ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŝŶ today͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ƉƌŽĮƚ taking in tomorrow's trading session - the eve of the ƌĞƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞĚ ƉƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂů ĞůĞĐƟŽŶ - as investors trade

ĐĂƵƟŽƵƐůLJ͘

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

T R A N SC OR P

24.7

0.7%

FCM B

19.2

1.3%

GUA R A N T Y

16.5

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

15.7

-1.9%

A C C ESS

14.3

0.8%

T o p 10 T ra de s by V a lue

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

0.63

-10.0%

IN T B R EW

26.25

-9.5%

N EIM ET H

0.64

-8.6%

M B EN EF IT

0.25

-7.4%

ST A N B IC

95.1

0.0%

LA SA C O

0.31

-6.1%

A C C ESS

91.0

0.8%

UC A P

3.27

-5.8%

FB NH

84.1

1.2%

R EGA LIN S

0.24

-4.0%

UB A

83.4

0.6%

D A N GF LOUR

9.70

-2.5%

WA P C O

68.7

0.0%

WA P IC

0.41

-2.4%

GLA XOSM IT H

66.8

3.9%

12.35

-2.4%

CCNN

65.3

0.0%

LIN KA SSUR E

PZ

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

T o p 10 T ra de s by V o lum e

N EST LE

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde |

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Jolomi Odonghanro | jodonghanro@afrinvest.com

romotunde@afrinvest.com

47

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͺͺ˜ ͺ͸͹ͷ

MARKET NEWS

United Capital, Covenant University Promote Investment Culture Goddy Egene United Capital Plc a financial and investment services group has partnered Covenant University organisers of Edustart Summit 2.0 in its bid to foster an investment culture in youths.

The event, which took place at premises of the university in, Ogun State, yesterday reached out to students and stakeholders

in the educational sphere, to spread the gospel of financial inclusion and investments toward an assured education.

The asset management and trustees businesses of United Capital were on ground and took the advantage of the opportunity to educate students and attendees on the importance of investing and in particular, the relevance of it in education.

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

According to Acting Managing Director/ CEO of United Capital Asset Management, Odiri Oginni, “This partnership is one that we see a lot of potential in, both now and in the future. By championing the conversation about the future of education, we are driving up employability, and therefore contributing to investing culture and financial

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 20Feb-2019, unless otherwise stated.

inclusion at scale.”

United Capital Plc is a leading financial services group in Africa focused on leveraging technology to empower businesses, individuals and governments with excellent financial services, while contributing to economic growth and prosperity across Africa by supporting financial inclusion.

The Group Chief Executive

Officer of United Capital Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade recently said the company has been doing a lot towards attracting more pratronage to the market.

He said: United Capital has been in this space for a very long time. We have at different times, played our roles in supporting the regulator in deepening the market. We have participated

in various investors education that is being orchestrated by the regulator. On our part, we have also centralised our investment platform and offer a wide bouquet of financial and investment solutions to our growing client base. We are also very active on the social media towards providing the public with information on investment education,” Ashade said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.86 0.87 2.24% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 11.56% 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 17.44 17.97 5.12% ARM Discovery Fund 371.22 382.41 4.09% ARM Ethical Fund 29.26 30.14 3.62% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.57% 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 104.40 105.13 3.17% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.47% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.46% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.86 0.86 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 2.34% 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 12.42% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.98% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,211.99 1,212.77 2.24% FBN Heritage Fund 147.44 148.81 2.81% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.19% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 115.50 115.84 1.41% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 115.45 115.79 1.62% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.49 156.76 2.99% 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 1.25 1.27 2.41% Legacy Debt Fund 3.30 3.30 1.68% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.63% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.24% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.20 2.23 2.37% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.94% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 122.94 123.17 -1.57%

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 1.16 1.18 1.66% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,089.33 1,089.33 1.85% 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 N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.38 1.40 7.64% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.34 12.40 1.11% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 14.23% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 121.90 122.45 0.96% 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 1.02 1.02 2.06% 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 2,393.24 2,408.25 5.60% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 192.37 192.37 2.49% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.00 1.01 5.79% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 251.15 251.18 3.64% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 170.69 172.60 4.63% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,820.55 8,927.58 5.67% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.12 1.12 3.57% 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 1.21 0.42% United Capital Bond Fund 1.62 1.62 1.69% United Capital Equity Fund 0.71 0.72 -0.35% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.15% United Capital Eurobond Fund 108.15 108.15 0.83% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.10 1.10 0.53% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.44 11.60 7.53% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.46 12.58 3.85% Zenith Income Fund 20.97 20.97 8.88% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.24%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.95 118.75 51.93

-39.35% 0.00% 0.03%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.93 118.36 93.09

11.03 120.92 94.84

3.54% 0.92% 5.00%

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

4.36 7.62 15.40 12.55 145.34

4.40 7.70 15.50 12.75 147.34

8.86% -0.07% 3.02% 1.50% 1.25%

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.

48

˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

The Case for Allah’s Existence in the Quran and Sunnah - 1 Justin Parrot/Yaqeen Institute/IslamiCity In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful nowledge of God’s existence is often taken for granted by believers.

The authentic religious experience – affirmed again and again in a Muslim’s daily life – makes faith in God feel so natural as to be assumed. But belief in God and the quest for existential truth is not an easy prospect for many people, especially in a social environment in which faith is derided as superstition, wishful thinking, or even as a dangerous fantasy.

In the Islamic tradition, the case for God’s existence is solid in terms of its rational foundations as well as the purpose, meaning, comfort, and guidance that it gives to our lives.

The Quran inspires conviction by appealing to the aspects of the inner life of human beings, namely, to the heart and the mind. Intuition and experience work in tandem with logic and reason to arrive at a state of certainty in faith.

This understanding of conviction is reinforced by modern scientific conceptions.

Cognitive scientist Justin Barrett, for example, demonstrates that belief in God – and beliefs more generally – are formed and attained in two ways: 1) non-reflective, intuitive beliefs that result from experience, and 2) reflective, conscious beliefs that result from thought.[1] The human being naturally forms beliefs from these two sources. Similarly, the case for God’s existence in the Quran and Sunnah involves both sources of beliefs, heart-based appeals based on intuition and mind-based appeals based on rational reflection.

Appealing to the Heart, Intuition, and Experience Natural Instinct – Fitrat Allah Human beings sense the existence of God – or what they perceive as a higher power – by pure instinct, with or without a prophetic revelation to guide them. Expressions of this sensus divinitatis have appeared in cultures and religions all over the world, despite them being widely separated by time, geography, and language. In Islamic spiritual terms, this is because God took a primordial covenant with every person before the world was created that they would recognize their Creator.

Allah said: [Prophet], when your Lord took out the offspring from the loins of the Children of Adam and made them bear witness about themselves, He said, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ and they replied, ‘Yes, we bear witness.’ So you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘We were not aware of this.(Q7:172) Al-Sudd (d. 745) commented on this verse, saying, “For this reason, there is no one on the face of the earth but that he knows his Lord is Allah, and no one associates idols with Him except that he will say ‘I found my forefathers following another religion.’ The primordial covenant results in the innate impulse within people to seek out the higher power that they can sense, as they have done in some form or another throughout all of recorded history, to the point that some scientists today argue that belief in God or a higher power is hardwired into our genes.

All true and revealed religion confirms and conforms to the human nature that the Creator instilled within us. The Quran refers to human religious nature as fitrat Allah, the instinct and inherent disposition with which God created people.

Allah said: So [Prophet Muhammad] as a man of pure faith, stand firm and true in your devotion to the religion. This is the natural disposition God instilled in mankind – there is no altering God’s creation – and this is the right religion, though most people do not realize it. (Q30:30) All people were born to be believers in God, and the revelations of the Prophets simply awaken and reinforce the disposition that is already inside us. Even polytheists, who believe in multiple gods and deities, often believe that there is an even higher power, an even greater God over all of them.

Allah said: If you asked them who created the heavens and earth, they are sure to say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Praise belongs to God,’ but most of them do not understand. (Q31:25) And Allah said: If you [Prophet Muhammad] ask them who created them they are sure to say, ‘God,’ so

K

why are they deluded? (Q41:87) Since all humans can sense the higher power, they will instinctively turn to God in times of danger. Every person, at some point in his or her life, will have an intense experience that causes a natural reaction to turn to prayer. There are many cases of people who experience a sudden brush with death that causes them to become more faithful to their religious tradition.

Allah said: Whenever they go on board a ship they call on God, and dedicate their faith to Him alone, but once He has delivered them safely back to land, see how they ascribe partners to him! (Q29:65) And Allah said: Say [Prophet Muhammad], ‘Who is it that saves you from the dark depths of land and sea when you humbly and secretly call to Him [and say], ‘If He rescues us from this, we should truly be thankful’? Say, ‘God rescues you from this and every distress; yet you still worship others besides him. (Q6:63-64) And Allah said: When something bad happens to people, they cry to their Lord and turn to Him for help, but no sooner does He let them taste His blessing then—lo and behold!—some of them ascribe partners to their Lord, showing no gratitude for what We have given them.

(Q30:33-34) And Allah said: When man suffers some affliction, he prays to his Lord and turns to Him, but once he has been granted a favor from God, he forgets the One he had been praying to and sets up rivals to God, to make others stray from His path. (Q39:8) Al-Gha(d. 1111), in his autobiography, describes the innate religious disposition – that he himself experienced – as an urge for people to “seek knowledge of the reality of things.”[12] He describes this spiritual longing for truth as a “thirst” (ta’aash) that must be quenched.

It is a void and emptiness in the heart, an uneasiness with existence, which must be filled by discovering meaning and purpose to life. And while reason is an important tool to achieve faith in God, it is still merely one step along the spiritual path: “Beyond the level of reason lies another level that opens another eye by which one gains insight into the Unseen and into what will occur in the future, among other things.”

Knowledge of God resides primarily in the heart and is reinforced by reason, but it is not achieved and consolidated by reason alone. There must be an authentic religious experience, the acknowledgment of greater purpose and meaning to the universe, and the taste of spiritual fruits. Hence, the early scholars of Islam defined knowledge of God not as a collection of facts and arguments, but rather as a light within the heart. Imam Malik (d. 795) said, “Knowledge is not knowing many sayings. Verily, knowledge is only a light that Allah places in the hearts.” And Ibn Rajab (d.

1393) said, “Knowledge is not memorizing many narrations or sayings, but rather it is a light that Allah places in the heart by which a servant understands the truth and he distinguishes it from falsehood.”

The early scholars of Islam defined knowledge of God not as a collection of facts and ...

The Experience of Peace and Contentment The “light” of the knowledge of God is found in the guidance, spiritual direction, and the sense of peace that believers attain by practicing Islam. It can fill the spiritual void in all of us. The greatest proof for the existence and Lordship of Allah, then, is discovered in the visceral experiences of the heart through which the believers find comfort, inner-peace, moral education, and meaning in life – the spiritual fruits of true religion.

Allah said: A light has now come to you from God, and a Scripture making things clear, with which God guides to the ways of peace those who follow what pleases Him, bringing them from darkness out into light, by His will, and guiding them to a straight path. (Q5:15-16) And Allah said: Believers, be mindful of God and have faith in His Messenger: He will give you a double share of His mercy; He will provide a light to help you walk; He will forgive you— God is most forgiving, most merciful. (Q57:28).

To Be Continued

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Gowon Tasks INEC on Seamless, Free Elections Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be fully prepared to conduct the rescheduled elections to be adjudged as seamless and efficient.

Gowon made the call yesterday in Abuja at a news conference on the state of the nation with the theme: “The Burden of the Elders at the Dawn of 2109 general election.’’

“Our first counsel to the nation as it approaches this new frontier is that INEC must be fully prepared to conduct the rescheduled elections seamlessly and efficiently.

“It should be done in a manner that its outcome is adjudged by all to be free, fair and credible.

“The political party leaders, the candidates and their followers should conduct themselves with civility, decorum and restraint in both their words and deeds during and the aftermath of the elections.

“INEC can only achieve success if the contending parties regulate their behaviour and conduct in accordance with democratic norms and the law.

“We urge all participants to accept the final results announced

by INEC and where parties feel aggrieved; recourse should be made to dispute resolution mechanisms prescribed by the constitution and the Electoral Act,’’ he said.

On election violence, he said: “It is heart rending for elders to stand by and watch as the nation bleed profusely and pretend that all is as well as it should be.

“The violent turn of

expressions deepened economic hardships and increasing desperation of the national polity has to be reversed to keep hope alive.’’

Gowon also called on the incoming president as a central figure to mobilise the energies of the citizens behind large and ambitious goals that would have transformative effect on society.

He said that the next president would be immediately confronted with a set of daunting challenges and opportunities, adding that under the constitutional democratic system, the “presidency is the vital nerve centre of operations’’.

“The occupant of that office will be the central figure who must engage the vivid imagination and mobilise the energies of the citizens behind large and ambitious goals that will have transformative effect on society.

“Accordingly, it is incumbent upon the president to lead the charge in articulating and implementing a long term vision, which will make Nigeria a very prosperous and globally competitive economy by the year 2040,’’ he said.

Gowon said that mobilisation of the populace was essential, adding that this would be best achieved if broad segments of the population were represented.

He said that if Nigeria must join the ranks of the world’s leading economies by 2040, it must rely on development plans as the primary vehicles for delivering on the lofty goals and aspirations of the national vision.

Gowon said that the character of the incoming president must be seen to transcend party, ethnic, regional or religious affiliations.

“As a father of all, he should

Hoodlums Attack Kwankwaso’s Convoy in Kano, Injure 10 Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday survived a deadly attack on his convoy in Kano.

The attack occurred at Kofar village on his way to Bebeji Local Government Area of state.

Kwankwaso was safe, and 10 person, mostly women, were fatally injured; 10 cars were smashed while six others were burnt beyond recognition.

Confirming the incident to journalists in Kano, The PDP deputy gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, alleged that thugs loyal to a member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Abdulmumin Jibrin, barricaded the road, resulting in bloody clash.

He said the assailants chose soft target in convoy, explaining that a 70-year-old man, Jibrin Dan Aku, and the chairperson of Voice of Divorcees, Altine Abdullahi, were among the victims.

Gwarzo revealed that there was no loss of life during what he described as “premeditated attack.”

The PDP deputy governorship candidate added that the police escort attached to the convoy contained the situation.

“Kwankwaso is safe, hale and hearty, and as I speak to you, he is addressing PDP supporters at Kwanar Dangora. He is expected back in the city tonight,” he stated.

Gwarzo attributed the resurgence of violence to the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Balarebe Sule whose he said his transfer out of Kano was compromised by police high command in readiness for election rigging.

He said the DCP Sule has been giving cover to miscreants from APC to unleashed mayhem, noting however that “here was a man that was sent off and violence receded, but his dramatic return just a day in the command, violence returned.”

Kwankwaso had planned his final rally alongside the PDP governorship candidate, Abba Yusuf, to be held at Kiru and Bebeji yesterday but the long motorcade of the party leader was denied passage through Kofa village.

Spokesman for Kano Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the incident, saying the police had promptly dispatched its men to bring the situation under control.

He said police are yet to ascertain the casualty figures in the clash.

take concrete steps to calm frayed nerves, heal the nation’s wounds, and give credence to our founding principles of unity in diversity.

“Given the enormity of the problems confronting the nation, the next president should seize

the opportunity of the transition period to lay the foundation for establishing a strong competent administration.

“This president can do by hiring talented men and women with experience, dedication, drive and patriotism to serve

the country with distinction in all the key offices across the public sector and our national security establishments,’’ he said.

Gowon said there was an urgent and compelling need to address our national security crisis which was at the risk of

spiraling out of control.

He called for a presidential proclamation of a national security emergency which should result in the establishment of a broad-based coalition of highly skilled and experienced stakeholders.

NEW PRODUCT HITS MARKET…

L-R: DJ Cuppy, Florence Otedola; President of Samsung Central Africa, Mr. John Park; Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. David Suh; and Master of Ceremony, Bolanle Olukanni, at the launch of Samsung Galaxy S10 series into the Nigerian market in, Lagos …recently ABIODUN AJALA

Buhari Alleges Influx of Foreign Currencies EFCC raises the alarm over fake dollars in circulation Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja expressed concern over the alleged influx of foreign currency into the country, allegedly to influence the Saturday’s presidential poll.

This came as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday raised the alarm over the circulation of fake Dollar notes ahead of the Saturday elections.

A statement by presidential media aide, Malam Garba

Shehu, said the president who made the allegation during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday, accused some politicians of flouting money laundering regulations in their desperate bid to capture political power.

According to the statement, Buhari commended the EFCC for successfully tracking the money in “millions of United States dollars.”

The statement added that the president observed that the success of EFCC was spurred

by a presidential directive to investigative agencies to probe a number of high profile cases.

It also said the president reassured the nation of his administration’s determination to wage a relentless war against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The president, the statement added, appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians to place the interest of the country above other things, as they turn out to cast their votes in the coming elections.

Meanehile, a statement personally signed by the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said the warning was based on intelligence gathered in the build up to the elections.

“The intelligence indicates that the Dollar notes have features of genuineness, but forensic analysis by the commission reveals otherwise”, part of the statement read.

Magu, accordingly warned the BDC operators to be cautious in their transactions from now till the end of the elections.

NBS: FG Raked in N1.10tn fromVAT in 2018 James Emejo in Abuja The federal government generated a total of N1.10 trillion as Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2018.

This represented a growth of 13.96 per cent (year-on-year), when compared to the N972.34 billion collected in 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated yesterday.

However, a total sum of N298.01 billion was realised in the fourth quarter (Q4, 2018), representing an increase of 8.96 per cent when compared to the N273.50 billion collected in the preceding quarter.

The Sectoral Distribution of Value Added Tax (Q4 and Full Year 2018) released by the statistical agency, showed that other manufacturing companies generated the highest amount of VAT with N28.82 billion in Q4, closely followed by professional services and commercial and trading which both generated N24.12 billion and N16.02 billion respectively.

Mining activities generated the least VAT followed by pharmaceutical, soaps & toiletries and chemical, paints and allied industries with N35.75 million, N209.33 million and N258.39 million, respectively.

Of the total amounted generated in Q4, N138.42 billion was collected as nonimport VAT locally while N47.89 billion was generated as non-import VAT for foreign.

The balance of N111.71 billion was generated as NCS-import VAT within the quarter in review.

However, in 2018, VAT receipts from agriculture totalled N2.46 billion, automobiles and assemblies N1.55 billion while banks and financial institutions generated N18.49 billion in the review year.

Also, breweries, bottling and beverages generated N35.92 billion, building and construction N10.00 billion as well as chemicals, paints and

allied industries which raked in N1.38 billion Other contributors to the 2018 VAT receipts include federal ministries and parastatals N19.44 billion, gas N5.74 billion, hotel and catering N6.28 billion and Local Government Councils N1.53 billion.

Other were offshore operations N2.56 billion, oil marketing N7.73 billion, oil producing N37.44 billion, other manufacturing N122.89 billion, professional services N86.28 billion and mining N182.54 million.

VAT from properties and investments totaled N4.15 billion, publishing, printing, paper packaging N1.63 billion as well as state ministries and parastatals N42.95 billion.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had recently pointed out that given the country’s low revenue generation level, the government was considering what it described as tough

measures to achieve higher revenue.

In order to achieve this, Proshare, an online financial information service hub, in its latest economic report, had advised that if the country was to reduce unemployment and stimulate economic growth, it should increase VAT. While the report stressed that in times of slow growth, economists would typically not prescribe raising taxes, it stated that since Nigeria currently has the lowest VAT in West Africa at five per cent, the government could be bold to increase the tax by at least 200 basis points, pushing the rate up by two per cent.

It noted that if this is implemented, the government should therefore concentrate the additional revenue in infrastructural developments that helps to drop the cost of doing business and citizen transactions to create headroom for consumption which would spur business growth.

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Fake Ballot Papers in Circulation in Kogi, SDP Candidate Cries out Bayo Akinloye A Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) senatorial candidate for Kogi Central district, Natasha Akpoti, has raised the alarm that supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have in their possession a tranche of ballot papers to be used in the February 23 presidential and parliamentary elections.

In a video released online, the SDP candidate showed a booklet of ballot papers, calling on the federal government to audit all ballot papers in Kogi State, and a probe of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in the state.

“I made a post on some discovery of some ballot papers that were found in the house of one of the APC’s supporters. I actually put up pictures, which generated some reactions. What actually drew my attention was a reaction from INEC itself. Permit

me to read INEC’s response.

INEC wrote at about 11.00 p.m that: ‘INEC’s attention has been drawn to stories that ballot boxes have found their way to the hands of politicians who are thumb-printing same for their favourite parties; specifically reference has been made to Kogi Central district.’

“Now the second tweet says: ‘This allegation is not true as all sensitive materials are in the commission’s custody or in the Central Bank’s vault.

The stamps in the ballot papers do not represent any of the official stamps to be used in the forthcoming elections,” Akpoti claimed in the video.

According to her, she decided to speak out because there are some powerful Nigerians who are bent on scuttling the country’s democratic process.

“As a Nigerian I’m very particular about the principles of democracy being maintained. If we all care about saving Nigeria

then it is everybody’s business.

It’s not about INEC and me.

So, what I had to do was to send for that ballot paper. See here, it is in my hand (shows a booklet of ballot papers). I’m going to show you page by page

before I head to INEC because I intend to submit this alongside the petition I have written and the petition that my lawyer has written as well.

“So, let’s decipher and see whether it’s fake or original.

And if this ballot paper is actually fake, then the question still comes up: how come we have an exact fake replica of the ballot paper? And if INEC is talking about the stamps, how do we know – how do

the polling agents know what stamps are actually official?”

Continuing, she called for an investigation into how exact replicas of the ballot papers to be used in Saturday’s polls are already in circulation.

$55m Crude Oil Shipment: ENGAGEMENT… Court to Determine Agip’s STAKEHOLDERS’ L-R: Chairman of Edo State Chapter, All Progressives Congress (APC), Anselm Ojezua; National Chairman, APC, Adams Oshiomhole; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his deputy, Philip Shuaibu, during a meeting with leaders of the APC from the 18 local government Fate April 30 areas of Edo State, at Government House, Benin City…yesterday Davidson Iriekpen Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday reserved judgment until April 30, in a $55million debt recovery suit filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against Agip Oil Company Ltd. The court reserved its judgment, after counsel representing parties had respectively adopted their final addresses in the court.

The suit, filed since 2016 by federal government counsel, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), is one among other suits by the government, seeking to recover almost $12 billion in missing crude oil revenue from some international oil companies.

The defence had closed its case on November 6, 2018, after which the court adjourned for adoption of addresses.

Mr. Ituah Imahnze yesterday appeared for the plaintiff while Mr Hameed Abdulkareem announced appearances for the defendant.

The defence then informed

the court that he was prepared to proceed, subject to the regularisation of his reply on points of law, and he sought to withdraw an earlier version of the reply, urging the court to strike it out.

Plaintiff’s counsel (Imahnze) did not oppose the application, and the court consequently granted same.

Moving his final address, defence counsel told the court that his final address is dated December 10, 2018, and filed on same day.

He adopted the arguments contained in his final address as well as his reply on points of law, in urging the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s action in its entirety, and award substantial cost.

On his part, plaintiff counsel (Imahnze) informed the court that his final address was dated December 19, 2018 and said: “We adopt the arguments contained therein, and urged the court to grant the reliefs sought,”

Ikeja Electric Decries Rising Spate of Attacks on its Workers Esther Oluku Ikeja Electric has decried what it described as rising spate of attacks on its workers and threatened legal action against any mob attack on its field staffs.

The company disclosed in a statement yesterday that despite the fact that it has provided channels for its customers to air their complaints, members of the public have continued to attack its workers.

“While we understand that issues surrounding electric services can be emotive, we maintain that wanton attacks on our staffs are completely irrational, unnecessary

and unproductive,” the company said.

Ikeja Electric added that it would not allow its workers to suffer intimidation, assault and any other form of bodily harm or threat from the public, adding that it has decided to explore legal actions to safeguard the well-being of its staff which they consider of utmost priority.

“In the interest of the safety of its employees and members of the public, Ikeja Electric would continue to find ways to amicably resolve concerns as it regards customers and the company,” the company added.

Ajulo: Why I’m Seeking Atiku’s Disqualification Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja The Abuja-based lawyer behind the case seeking to disqualify the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the presidential race, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, has said his motivation is to ensure that the provisions of the Nigerian constitution are upheld in the matter of the opposition party’s presidential candidacy.

Ajulo, the coordinator of a pro-President Muhammadu Buhari group, Forward With

Buhari (FWB), in a suit filed by incorporated trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa at the Federal High Court, Abuja, slated to be heard on Monday, February 25

by Justice I E Ekwo, is asking the court to disqualify the opposition candidate on the grounds that he was allegedly not a Nigerian citizen at birth.

Speaking with THISDAY on the motive of the legal action, particularly after the presidential hopeful had served as a vice president of Nigeria, the lawyer said there is no better time to

take up the issue than now being that “this is the time Atiku is running for presidential election,” reiterating that “this is not preelection matter but a constitutional matter.” He added that “I am a lawyer. The law must take its course.

Even if heaven must fall, the law must take its course.”

According to him, “I am not bringing up this case because of partisanship. It is a constitutional matter. That is why the question we are asking the court is for the court to interpret Section 25 (1) and (2) that talked about citizenship of

Nigeria and then Section 131 (a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) that talked about the eligibility of a person to contest presidential election, which must be by birth; not by marriage, naturalisation or proclamation.

“Can this person say he is a Nigerian by birth? So, from his narrative let the court look at it. If the court finds that he is not a Nigerian, he stands disqualified.

Even if he has been sworn-in, he stands disqualified.”

Eko Disco Signs Condition of Service with Workers Peter Uzoho Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has signed condition of service for its employees with leaders of the electricity workers under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

The condition of service contained in a 12-page document, was signed yesterday at the Eko

Disco’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, signaling hope of an improved working condition for the staff of the company.

Speaking at the ground breaking event, the Managing Director of EKEDC, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, who expressed his excitement over the development, said the CoS came out as a result of engagement with the leaders of the industry workers.

Fadeyibi said: “For me, today is a ceremony of a journey of understanding. I want us to thank

not just both organisations, but also our partners of excellence.

We are focused on delivering the direction on which this organisation is going.

“We’re growing from month-tomonth. Now, we have to figure out how to manage the cost side, so that we can have a bottom line; the bottom line is what becomes of the contractual enumeration that we agreed? And the rest comes from the company doing well.

“So I want to thank you for

being partners in this journey of excellence, and for agreeing to ensure that all parties agree that performance is the only thing that we measure. So as a value-driven organisation that has brilliant history as you know, we are glad that we are able to agree to move forward on those standards that are really global standards that we uphold; and, for ensuring that it’s a valueddriven environment where if you add value it becomes mutually beneficial to all parties.”

Telcos Want FG to Repeal Tax Order 2015 Emma Okonji Telecommunications operators under the aegis of the Association of Licenced Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called on the federal government to look into the Tax and Levy Amended Order 2015 that was signed by the former Minister of Finance in the last administration, Mrs. Ngozi Okonji-Iwaela, and repeal it in order to save telecoms business from going under.

Chairman of ALTON, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, who made

the call in a statement yesterday, said since the order was signed in 2015, it has created a lot of confusion in the taxes and levies regime and made the telecoms environment hash for business, not minding the federal government executive rrder on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.’

According to him, “The telecommunications industry has been the best customer centric sector, where issue pertaining to subscribers are taken very seriously by both the operators

and the regulator, and despite all challenges there has not for once been an outage compare to other sectors, where you are put on estimated bills and inconsistence in flight schedules that have made several people missed appointments and valued meetings just to mention few.”

Adebayo who was reacting to media reports making the rounds that there was a face-off between ALTON and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) following the outcome of last week’s meeting held between

both bodies, however denied such face-off.

He said: “There was no face-off between NCAA and ALTON and its members.

Although we need clarification on the charges, this led to the agreement at the meeting to form an advisory committee which comprises NCAA and ALTON representatives. Our members are responsible corporate citizens of the country and natural partners in progress that follow due processes.”

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PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS...

Again, Saraki Faults Buhari’s Order on Ballot Box Snatching Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Senate President and Director General of Atiku/ Obi Campaign Organisation, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday berated President Muhammadu Buhari for directing security agents to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers in the general election.

He said such statement from the president showed that he is not a democrat, rather a dictator.

Speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth rally in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday where about 10,000 defectors were received by the leaders of the party, Saraki said a president who loves his people would not have ordered soldiers to kill them.

This is just as he expressed confidence that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will emerge the new Nigerian president next Saturday, pointing out that Nigerians support for the PDP presidential candidate across the country is overwhelming.

The PDP leader, who said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has no agenda for either Nigeria or its people, enjoined Nigerians, especially the youths, to vote for Atiku in the next presidential elections “to say goodbye to hunger and

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poverty in Nigeria.”

Saraki, who said the government of Atiku had promised 40 per cent appointment for youths when elected, added that votes for PDP would ensure growth and development of Nigeria and Kwara State.

He enjoined the youths to vote for PDP candidates in the coming elections, saying their votes would ensure sustenance of integrity of Kwara State and its people.

The defectors included members of the Mega Party of Nigeria, APC, ACPN, Action Alliance (AA) and Labour Party.

Saraki, had earlier led the campaign train of the PDP to Malete, Shao in Kwara North and Oke-Oyi in Ilorin East( Kwara Central).

At Shao in Moro Local Government Area, the Ohoro Shao, Alhaji Bamidele Alabi Adegbite, declared his support and that of his subjects for the Senate president, ahead of next Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

He assured Saraki that his subjects would cast their votes for all PDP candidates in the election and the subsequent ones.

While asking God to grant Saraki resounding success in the general election, Oba Adegbite added: “You shall retain your position as Senate president. We will support all your candidates. Your enemies shall be brought to shame.”

He thanked the Senate president for the donation of a giant generating set to

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the palace and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for giving the community a motorised borehole.

The monarch also clarified that “Shao is not enemy of Ilorin. The emir is our

paramount ruler. We hold him in high esteem.”

Earlier, Saraki had thanked the monarch for his support for the state government He intimated him on the need for Nigerians,

especially Kwarans, to elect the PDP presidential candidate as the country’s next president.

At the home front, he said the PDP is the only party that has programmes

for every part of the state, assuring them that Razak Atunwa’s administration would consolidate on the gains already recorded by the administration of Governor Ahmed.

GRAND ENDORSEMENT RALLY…

Gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Governor Abubakat Sani Bello, addressing a mammoth crowd of party supporters in Wushishi…recently

Amosun Working against Buhari’s Re-election in Ogun, APC Alleges Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State chapter, has alleged that the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is discreetly working to undermine the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential poll slated for next Saturday.

The party, in a statement issued in Abeokuta yesterday and signed by its Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, he said Amosun was working to reduce the margin of the victory of President Buhari in both Ogun East and Ogun West senatorial districts in a vain-glorious attempt to send a wrong signal of his popularity

in the state and undermine VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo.

The statement read: “We have at our disposal, confirmed intelligence reports that Amosun has been holding clandestine meetings in the last three weeks with a failed governorship aspirant candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose father is a renowned loto betting agent.

“The purpose of the meetings is to work against APC at both the presidential and National Assembly elections. The objective, for which the governor has distributed the sum of N200, 000 per polling booth in the last one week before the postponed elections, was to ensure that President Buhari loses the election

or to drastically reduce the margin of his victory in the two senatorial districts, especially in Ogun East, where Osinbajo hails from.”

The statement further read: “It would be recalled that the failed governorship aspirant recently, without any justification whatsoever, took to the mass media to disparage the vicepresident, blaming him for his woes arising from the loss of the PDP’s governorship ticket, only for the same aspirant to turn around few days after to contradict himself with a boast that INEC would soon name him his party’s candidate.

“It was therefore acting to their planned script when the Chairman of Abeokuta North-West Local Council Development Area

(LCDA), Monsuru Shorunke, led thugs to disrupt the distribution of ‘TraderMoni’ in Abeokuta last Tuesday, an action the chairman was widely quoted in the media as having been ordered by Governor Amosun.”

Also, the statement said: “In the same vein, Governor Amosun is insisting on the posting away of some corps members in Ogun West senatorial district where he is sponsoring an APM candidate against his former Chief of Staff, Chief Olu Odebiyi, who is of the APC family.

“We are using this medium to ask the presidency to tame Amosun before he sets Ogun State on fire over his egoistic and moribund self-preserving ambition.”

Enlist Our Candidates or Risk Repeating Election in Rivers, APC Warns INEC Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has warned that the February 23 National Assembly elections might be repeated in the state if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to relist its candidates on the ballot.

The party also accused the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, of working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and called on INEC headquarters to redeploy him.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, embattled

governorship candidate of APC in the state, Tonye Cole, said the truth about the actual legal position has been made clear at the highest levels of the electoral body.

Cole said: “I want to start by telling our supporters in APC in the state that not only will we participate in the elections, we will win them. It is better to be prepared than for the opportunity to come and we are not prepared.

The opportunity is coming. Be prepared!

“I have been reliably informed that the truth about the actual legal position has now been made clear at the highest levels in INEC.

“We expect that the right thing will be done now to avoid excluding the APC, because failure to do so will mean the election into the National Assembly seats scheduled to hold on Saturday will have to be repeated.

“Two options exist for INEC if it wants to be on the right side of the law. The first is to put our logo on the ballot. Failing, they are left only with one other option. That will be to postpone the elections for National Assembly and hold it at a later date. If either option is not exercised, the appropriate legal actions will be activated.”

Also speaking at the briefing,

the state Publicity Secretary of APC, Chris Finebone, accused INEC of recruiting card-carrying members of the PDP as ad hoc staff for the rescheduled general election.

Finebone alleged: “Card carrying members of PDP have been recruited as ad-hoc staff of INEC for the general election in Rivers State. PDP wants to populate the SPOs and POs for the elections.

“We are therefore demanding the redeployment of the state REC, Obo Effanga. INEC and PDP are collaborating to rig the elections.”

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS...

NAF Surveillance Aircraft to Monitor Flashpoints Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has stated that it would deploy surveillance aircraft to monitor

potential flashpoints.

Also, NAF commanders who condone lapses in their areas of operation during election days would be held responsible.

Speaking at a meeting with Principal Staff Officers

IPC Tasks Journalists, Stakeholders on Safety Peter Uzoho As the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections hold this weekend, the International Press Centre, (IPC) has cautioned journalists and other relevant stakeholders to be safety conscious in

the performance of their institutional roles during the polls.

The Director, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, gave the warning yesterday in a statement signed by the Programme/Safety Alert Officer, IPC, Melody Akinjiyan, in the light of the emerging accusations and counter accusations by political actors and other players in the electoral process.

Arogundade said: “It is very important for journalists covering the general elections to be safety

conscious in the discharge of their duties and to avoid situations that will put them in any harms. Journalists are expected to be non-partisan.

“Being partisan is not only about being a member of a political party, but also includes the use of expressions and/or impressions with statements, tags, symbols and colours that portray or identify with a particular political party or personality.”

He also admonished other stakeholders, especially the security agencies to undertake their tasks in a very professional manner, noting that security agencies have become perpetrators of violence against journalists in recent times.

He said recent incidents as witnessed in the Osun re-run elections had shown flagrant abuse and violations of the rights of journalists.

(PSOs) and Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said as part of the emergency contingency plans, NAF aircraft were deployed for support operations within the election period.

The air force directed “the deployment of NAF aircraft for

support operations during the elections, including surveillance aircraft”.

He said the aircraft would be “deployed to potential flashpoints to provide realtime imagery intelligence that would be streamed live to the HQ NAF Situation Room as well as Command Situation/ Operations Rooms across the

country”.

He directed the commanders to ensure that NAF personnel were professional and remain apolitical, warning that they would be held responsible for any lapses.

The CAS reiterated that personnel must remain apolitical and sternly resist any entreaties by unscrupulous and self- centered individuals who are more concerned about

their personal interests than the nation’s interests.

He implored the PSOs and AOCs to ensure that subordinate commanders remain focused on the discharge of their assigned tasks, whilst encouraging their personnel not on essential duties to exercise their legitimate rights to vote.

Media for Morals Berates Atiku, Supports Army A prominent group, Media for Morals, has expressed what it described as its full support for the Nigerian Army, particularly the Chief of Army Staff, LieutenantGeneral Tukur Buratai, for vowing to ensure the armed forces remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of its duties.

In a statement by Mairo Mudi, its National Coordinator, the group also berates the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for encouraging lawlessness in the armed forces by asking soldiers to disobey orders made by its superiors “It is really deeply saddening, just as the Army leadership has observed, that someone that wants to lead Nigeria and be the Commander-in-Chief of its armed forces is the very

person inciting officers and men of the armed forces to disobey lawful orders made by constituted authorities, Mudi said in the statement.

She added that “the entire hullabaloo about President Buhari’s warning for the military and the police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers is only indicative of the fact that some politicians, obviously of the opposition stock, were reliant on that method to get to power through rigging.”

She added that General Buratai’s directives are well in order when viewed with a dispassionate mind, and within the context of the law, “as the military, not just the army, cannot turn down a directive made by the President, who, constitutionally, is their Commander-in-Chief, and

more so when that order is aimed at ensuring the credible election that Nigerians have been yearning for is entrenched.”

She added: “Buhari’s is not a shoot at sight order, similar to the one issued by then President Obasanjo on OPC. It is a call to caution, to scare away mischief makers who want to truncate our democracy through election rigging. What this means is that once individuals or political parties do not plan to rig, they have no reason to bother about the call. The army is a disciplined institution that knows what is right. It has been protecting us for years now, and will not just turn its guns against innocent civilians. The President ought to be celebrated for this patriotic call. It means neither he nor his party plan to rig the election.

The group concluded by asking Nigerians to appreciate the fact that the Nigerian Army is already overstretched, fighting to protect us in all fronts. “And it cannot sit idly by and watch enemies of the country worsen its case by setting it on fire through their desperation to get to power by all means.”

Mudi said that ballot box snatching is a crime under the law and the security agencies have the power to arrest individuals or groups that engage in it. “If the Nigerian Army would refuse to wipe out a whole community, inspite of its complicity in the recent killing of a major general, it means the institution is so orderly that it cannot just kill innocent, law-abiding citizens on Election Day or any other time.”

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS...

Wike Cautions APC against Plot to Disrupt Elections in Rivers Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to disrupt elections in the state because its candidates are not on the ballot.

In a state broadcast yesterday, Wike said he was aware of plans by the APC to violently disrupt elections in the state on account of their names not being on the ballot.

He alleged that he was aware that some chieftains of the APC had mobilised thugs with N10 million to attack voters and disrupt the voting exercise in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

The governor called on the party to accept the judgment of the Supreme Court as implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and refrain from anything that would disrupt the peace in the state.

Wike said: “Truth be told, the Supreme Court has spoken.

INEC has confirmed. It is the will of God. There is always another day, and as political leaders, we must have the courage to accept the reality, know when to stop fighting for nothing and tell our followers

the simple truth, even if it may sound bitter. I would therefore advise my brothers in the APC to endeavour to put their house in order, allow the prevailing peace to continue and prepare for 2023.

“If you choose to destroy the state or kill and maim everybody because of power or someone else’s ambition to be president, there may be no one left for you to lord over when everyone is dead.

“Remember, the army and the police officers you are relying on to kill your own people may come and go, but Rivers State will always be. Believe it or not, we are all from this state irrespective of party differences, and no other interest can supersede the collective interest of our state.”

The governor also said his office had been inundated with reports of the partisan activities of the key officers of the army and the police in the state “who have signed on to unlawfully deploy military and SARS operatives to actualise the APC plot to destabilise the state and create avoidable crisis in the state.”

He appealed to the chairman of the National Council on Peace, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of

Security Agents Bar Journalists from Bauchi CBN Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Journalists were yesterday denied entry into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bauchi State Branch, venue of the distribution of sensitive materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.

THISDAY checks revealed that there was a heavy presence of security within and outside the premises of the CBN with an armoured tank stationed at the gate.

The journalists, representing different local and national media organisations working in the state from both the broadcast and the print had gone to the CBN to cover the distribution process.

Several pleas by the journalists to the security at the gate of the CBN to allow them entry to cover the distribution proved abortive as they said they were carrying out order from above.

Within the premises, many vehicles combined team of several security comprised of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and the Department of State Services were sighted.

Reacting, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, Ibrahim

Mallam Goje, expressed disappointment with the development.

He wondered why journalists who are supposed to be part of all INEC’s processes preparatory to the general elections would be denied entry into the venue where sensitive materials are being distributed to the LGAs. Goje said he and the Public Relations Officer of INEC met the branch controller of the CBN and asked him to allow the journalists into the venue but he refused.

The NUJ chairman said: “He (CBN Controller) told me that no person, with exception of the security men and INEC officials and political parties are allowed into the CBN. After insisting severally, he told me that it was an order from the top, so I decided not to persist.”

Goje said “Traditionally, every stage of the process including the distribution is supposed to be done in the presence of journalists.”

“I feel disappointed that my members are supposed to be allowed into every place because they are the eyes and ears of the people.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Bauchi State, Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi, has faulted INEC for the distribution of the sensitive materials on Thursday.

Police (IG) to prevail on the two partisan security chiefs to excuse themselves from participating in the elections in the state.

Wike said: “I appeal to the Chairman of the National Council on Peace, General Abdusalam Abubakar; the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the acting Inspector General of

Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, to prevail on Major General Jamil Sarham and Mr. Akin Fakorede to excuse themselves from election duties in the state.”

He said the rescheduled general election presents a golden opportunity for Rivers people to partake with the rest of Nigerians to move the country forward

and shape a brighter future for posterity.

According to him, “No sacrifice is too much to pay to sustain our democracy. God loves us and there can be no better opportunity for us to use the power at our disposal to effect the genuine change that we need.

“We should therefore be profoundly inspired and

motivated by the frustrations of the postponement of the election to come out in numbers to vote for the candidates of our choice.

“God forbid, the next generation will not forgive us if we fail to take full advantage of the political momentum to reposition our state for greatness in the comity of states.”

WORLD PEACE DAY...

L-R: Former Minster of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi; one of the discussants, Mr. Sam Omatseye; District Governor, Rotary Club of International District 9110, Rotarian Kola Sodipo; and President, Rotary Club of Lagos, Rotarian Ehi Braimah, during the 2019 World Peace and Understanding Day organised by Rotary District 9110, Nigeria and Rotary Club of Lagos, at Rotary Centre, Ikeja GRA, Lagos KOLAWOLE ALLI

A’Ibom PDP Elders Condemn Alleged Plot By APC to Disrupt Elections Okon Bassey in Uyo Elders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have raised the alarm of plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to disrupt the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

A spokesman for the elders and a former Military Governor of the State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, at a press conference in Uyo, alleged that the plot to cause mayhem in the state is coordinated by the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The elders alleged that Akpabio has brought in thugs from neighbouring states and has assured them of the protection from Aso Rock, the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and other paramilitary agencies to

cause maximum destruction and violence in the State, in order to postpone the elections in the State to another day, where they hope to deploy Federal might to rig the election in favour of the APC. “We have gathered here, to bring to the attention of Nigeria and the international community, the devious plan of the APC spearheaded by Senator Godswill Akpabio to cause widespread mayhem in the state with the view to disrupting the Presidential and National assembly elections scheduled for this Saturday, February 23, 2019.

“Last night, (Wednesday) Senator Akpabio held a secret meeting with the security agencies where he informed them that he has the permission of the Presidency to kill and maim all opponents and that nothing will happen to any

officer who carries out the instruction.

“Acting in concert with AIG Musa Kimo, who is in charge of Zone six but has relocated to Akwa Ibom State, CSP Brown, the officer in charge of the Political Desk and SP Idorenyin Akpabio, a blood relation of Senator Akpabio, they have been indiscriminately arresting PDP Stakeholders and perceived opponents on trumped-up charges.

“The conduct last Saturday in Obot Akara where INEC buses were burnt with election materials was masterminded by Akpabio.” the elders stated.

They lamented that extortion and arbitrary arrests has assumed disturbing dimensions warning perpetrators of human rights and civil abuses intimidation and sheer banditry to respect the United Nations Charter, the

Nigerian Constitution and all tenets of responsible conduct or leadership.

“The UN, EU and other renowned defenders of peace are enjoined to call to order this reckless display by the Buhari Government, law enforcement agents and notorious politicians from tearing the treasured fabric of peace enjoyed so far by invoking anarchy in our land.

Akpabio, the elders said has openly threatened any security officer who refuses to carry out plot with either outright dismissal or forced retirement.

“As elders and stakeholders of this state, we want to alert the world of this devious plan

by Akpabio and the APC. If there is any loss of lives of Akwa Ibom people during the election, Senator Akpabio should be held responsible.

Ohanaeze, MASSOB, IPOB, Reaffirm Support for Atiku, Obi Arising from a meeting of Igbo stakeholders comprising, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pro-Biafra groups, including proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Alaigbo Development Foundation, in Enugu State yesterday reaffirmed the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi. In a communique read by

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, it called on all Igbo registered voters both at home and outside Igbo homeland to come out en masse to vote for the Atiku and Obi ticket, stressing that Saturday’s election is a collective struggle for freedom and Ndigbo must be part of it.

Part of the communique reads, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide in collaboration with Alaigbo Development Foundation convened an emergency meeting of Igbo Stakeholders

today, February 21, 2019 at Enugu, the aim of which is to exhaustively review recent events in the Nigerian polity as they relate to Ndigbo in particular, especially in the aftermath of the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country; and to express the solidarity and commitment of all Pan-Igbo groups and stakeholders to work together in view of the dire situation facing Nigeria in general and Ndigbo in particular.

“All pan-Igbo organisations

and stakeholders including IPOB and MASSOB commit to work together in the spirit of “onye-aghana-nwanneya” even in the face of existential threat confronting us as a people.

“We agree that the irreducible minimum for Ndigbo that will be acceptable for their continued participation in the Nigerian enterprise will be a renegotiated and restructured Nigeria based on equality, equity and justice, for the component regions and individuals who will live under its authority.”

54

T H I S D AY ˾ FEBRUARY 22, 2019

ÜÙßÚ ÚÙÜÞÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ Duro Ikhazuagbe ×ËÓÖ duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

D’Tigers’Coach, Nwora, ExpectsTough Game against Côte d’Ivoire Olawale Ajimotokan Nigeria’s D’Tigers Coach, Alex Nwora, has warned that today’s 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification game against host country Cote d’Ivoire will not be a walk in the park for his wards.

Despite missing the presence of some of Nigeria’s biggest names in basketball the team to line up against the Ivorians, Nwora believes D’Tigers will come out clean with their unbeaten record intact from nine games.

Portland Trail Blazers guard, Al Farouq Aminu, Stanley Okoye, Obinna Emegano, Ike Nwamu and Christopher Obekpa, will play no part in the final qualifying campaign billed to tip off from today, February 22 to February 24 at the Palaise des Sports Indoor Hall in the Ivorian capital.

While he’s not losing sleep over the absence of the top stars, Nwora said it was another opportunity for him to give playing time to other players in the team.

Gaziantep of Turkey centre, Tonye Jekiri and Gombe Bull’s rising star, Buchi Agu may be in line for their D’Tigers debut when the team files out today.

Speaking yesterday after the team’s last training ahead of

the game with Cote d’Ivoire, Nwora said his coaching philosophy of ensuring that everybody in his team gets a piece of the action has made it tactically and technically difficult for opposing coaches.

“Everybody that has been called to the team will play.

In my system, everybody plays and that is why we are very tough to scout because we don’t have a go to guy.

Everybody in the team is good enough to represent Nigeria,” Nwora emphasized.

The tough talking coach said that as one of the powerhouses in African basketball, all players who have been invited to the team deserve a spot on the court.

“Anybody invited to the national team will play.

Nobody is coming here for vacation; they are coming here to work because it is a business trip.”

Despite expecting a hostile reception from the fans and tough fight from the host who are condemned to either win or forget qualifying for the World Cup, Nwora said his team must stay grounded and show their dominance as the Number 1 team in Africa.

“I know we are going to face a lot of hostilities from the crowd. They have all their players and even brought in

a couple of new players that were not in Nigeria when they played us.

“It doesn’t matter whether they are playing at home or not. We just have to do what we have to do even though we don’t have some of our marquee players, but we just have to show dominance

Africa’s number one in the women’s category, will hope to continue her dominance with another win.

The trio will hope to garner more points as they continue their pursuit of an Olympic appearance in Tokyo, Japan next year.

Speaking earlier this year, Adesokan said that she has to play over 10 senior international competitions this year as she hopes to amass enough points that would take her into the top 70 in the world.

“My ambition is to play at the Olympics and that means I have to work hard and at-

Republic after nine matches while Senegal have 16 points from seven wins.

Meanwhile, Obinna Emegano (Rouen Basket, France) overcame all odds to report to camp on Wednesday night having earlier being ruled out of the last window due to club commitments and travel

logistics.

The arrival of the point guard whose last appearance for the team was in September in Lagos against Senegal which the team won by 81points to 69 has added to the quality at Nwora’s disposal.

D’Tigers have a tough task at hand today as they confront hosts Cote d’Ivoire 2019 FIBA World Cup qualification game at the Palaise des Sports Indoor Hall in Abidjan

Badminton: Nigeria’s Top Players Storm Uganda Open Nigeria’s top badminton players, Anu Opeyori, Godwin Olofua and Dorcas Adesokan will take part in the Uganda International Championship, which begins today in Kampala.

After yesterday’s draw, the Nigerian players will be hoping to have a bite of the $10, 000 purse on offer at the championship that has been labelled international Series by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Opeyori and Olofua who are Nigeria’s top two players will vie for honours in the men’s singles and men’s doubles events, while Adesokan,

here”, Nwora continued He urged Nigerians living in Abidjan to turn out in their numbers to support the team in their quest to maintain their unbeaten run in the qualifying rounds.

Côte d’Ivoire is currently 4th on the log with 13 points alongside Central Africa

tend over 10 international competitions. I will also have to win most of these competitions. I am currently ranked 108 in the world and I have to be among the best 70 to play in Tokyo,” she added.

According to Adesokan, she goes into every tournament to win, noting she works hard to ensure that results always go her way. “As a professional, I work hard and go into tournaments with a strong desire to win. The players will leave Uganda next Tuesday for Kenya to take part in the Kenya international which serves off on Thursday.

86 Athletes to Represent Special Olympics Nigeria at Summer Games in Abu Dhabi Team Nigeria’s contingent to the 2019 Special Olympics’ World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arabs Emirates is bracing up for the start of the sports fiesta on March 14.

To ensure good outing at the games next month, Special Olympics Nigeria is preparing a 86-person delegation for the trip to Abu Dhabi.

The delegation with have 60 athletes and 26 officials, who will grace the Games from March 14th to 21st, with high hopes of returning home with laurels from the competition, which holds

every two years. Nigeria won 12 gold and 10 silver medals at the last 2017 Winter Special Olympic Games in Austria, where the country was represented by 22 athletes.

The country will now hope to do better in Abu Dhabi, where Nigeria will participate in eight sporting events including: athletics, badminton, basketball, football, table-tennis, volleyball, swimming and cycling.

The competition is expected to bring together about 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches, 1,500 officials, 20,000 volunteers, 3,000 invited guests, 6,000

family members and over 500,000 spectators from over 170 countries.

It will be the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Special Olympics, and the beginning of the next 50 years of the inclusion movement.

An official promo for Abu Dhabi 2019 read: “The Games will serve to expand worldwide commitment for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in all areas of life and create a platform for a public education campaign to increase understanding, respect, and tolerance around the world.”

axes: Court Issues BenchWarrant for Man City Fan in Critical Condition T Arrest of Jay Jay Okocha after Assault at Schalke Duel A Manchester City fan is in a critical condition in hospital after he was assaulted following their Champions League win over Schalke in Germany.

German police said the 32-yearold man suffered a serious head injury in a violent confrontation with two Schalke supporters inside the Veltins Arena.

“In the skirmish, he received a blow from a fist which knocked him to the floor,” police said.

“In falling, he suffered a massive trauma to his skull

and brain.”

The police statement said the man was treated at the stadium before being taken to a local hospital.It added: “He remains in acute danger of his life at the present time.”

The man’s family are being supported by Greater Manchester Police, and members of City staff who have stayed in Germany.

GMP said: “We are aware of an assault that occurred following the Schalke v MCFC fixture.

“We are working alongside

the football clubs and German authorities to support their investigation and the man’s family. “We would urge anyone with information to contact us on 101 or via live chat so we can share intelligence with our colleagues in Germany.”

Man City won the first leg of the last-16 tie 3-2.

The Premier League champions took the lead through Sergio Aguero before Schalke went 2-1 up through two Nabil Bentaleb penalties.

A Lagos High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, for failure to appear in court severally to answer questions on why he has allegedly failed to pay his income taxes.

According to Channels Television, the prosecutor, Dr Jide Martins, had on June 6, 2017, filed the charge, adding that the case came up for the first time on Oct. 5, 2017, but the defendant did not appear in court.

The prosecutor had told the court that the defendant had failed to furnish the Lagos State Internal Revenue Services, with a return of income for tax purposes.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 56 (a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No.8, 2006, and Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye, on Jan. 29 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the football star

and adjourned until Feb. 19.

However, the prosecution failed to effect the arrest on that date, leading the court to order that the warrant should be executed on the next adjourned date.

All attempts to reach Okocha for his reaction on the matter failed as calls to his mobile phones were not answered.

Okocha is the first highprofile Nigerian footballer to be dragged before a Nigerian court on allegations of failing to pay income tax.

55

T H I S D AY ˾ FEBRUARY 22, 2019

FRIDAYSPORTS

Europa: Arsenal Eases into Last 16, Victor Moses Sinks with Fenerbahce Alex Iwobi played all 90 minutes as Arsenal booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a comfortable second-leg victory over Bate Borisov at the Emirates.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, they scored inside four minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cross was turned in by Bate defender Zakhar Volkov.

Centre-back Shkodran Mustafi made it 2-0 before the break with a powerful header from Granit Xhaka’s corner.

Substitute Sokratis Papastathopoulos headed in the third goal after an hour.

After a disappointing performance in losing the first leg in Belarus, Arsenal needed to score at least twice to go through.

Bate were denied an equaliser just four minutes after Arsenal had taken the lead when Stephan Lichtsteiner slid in to make a goalline clearance from Stanislav Dragun’s header.

The visitors also came close when Maksim Skavysh hit the side-netting in the first half but Arsenal had the best chances through Iwobi, Xhaka and Aubameyang.

Elsewhere, A brace from Sardar Azmoun and one from Magomed Ozdoev at Gazprom Arena ensured Zenit St Petersburg defeated

Fenerbahce 3-2 aggregate to progress to the last 16 of the Europa League.

Chelsea on loan star Victor Moses was unable to rescue the Turkish giants from losing and crashing out.

Despite losing the reverse fixture by a lone goal in Turkey earlier this month, coach Sergei Semak’s men put up an impressive performance to seal their passage on 3-2 aggregate.

Magomed Ozdoev opened scoring for the hosts in the fourth minute, while Sardar Azmoun doubled his side’s lead with barely seven minutes to the end of the first half.

Mehmet Topal pulled one back for the visitors in the 43 minute to give his side an away goal advantage should the game end that way.

Also yesterday, Celtic’s Europa League campaign came to an end at the last-32

stage for the second successive season as they bowed out to Valencia.

Their task in the second leg always looked formidable, given they had never overturned a two-goal deficit away from home, nor had they won in Spain.

A creditable first-half performance was marred by Jeremy Toljan’s dismissal for twice pulling back Goncalo Guedes.

And Celtic finally conceded

when Kevin Gameiro forced home from close range.

While the Glasgow side were passive last week at Celtic Park, they were far more aggressive at the Mestalla against their La Liga hosts.

Jonny Hayes shot over for the visitors, while Kristoffer Ajer also went close with the game still goalless.

It would be over-stretching it to suggest Toljan’s red card was a pivotal point in the tie,

with Valencia well in command following their 2-0 win at Celtic Park last week.

But Celtic had at least given them food for thought, with a 3-4-3 formation offering a much more solid look and their use of the ball far improved.

Ajer had a goal-bound shot blocked and Jozo Simunovic’s header was comfortably saved as Celtic searched for the opening goal that would bring the tie alive. Ajer would also bullet a glorious header over the bar later in the match with the game still goalless.

The draw for the last 16 takes place today at 12:00 GMT.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE (Round of 32, second leg) Di’ Zagreb 3-0 FC Viktoria (Di’Zagreb 4-2 aggregate) Red Bull 4-0 Club Brugge (Red Bull 5-2 agg.)

Napoli 2-0 FC Zürich (Napoli 5-1 agg.)

Eintracht 4-1 Shakhtar (Eintracht 6-3 agg.)

Valencia 1-0 Celtic (Valencia 3-0 agg.)

Zenit 3-1 Fenerbahçe (Zenit 3-2 agg.)

Villarreal 1-1 Sporting (Villarreal 2-1 agg.)

Arsenal 3-0 FC BATE (Arsenal 3-1 agg.)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) and Shkodran Mustafi celebrating Arsenal’s qualification for the last 16 of the Europa League following the 3-0 defeat of Bate Borisov at the Emirates Stadium in London…last night

CricketTakes a Dive for Nigeria’s Sporting Interest Sam Emehelu While the debate on which sport will queue behind the popular one contesting for hearts of incessantly betrayed sports loyalists (and of course the lion’s share of government’s funding), Cricket, a rather distance alternative, is pulling forward; and strongly too.

On the hot Saturday afternoon of 26th January, 2019, at the most hallowed Cricket ground in the country (the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos), more than 250 kids gathered to receive sets of modified cricket equipment to be taken back to their schools to practice their new-found sport.

The event marked the second phase of NCF/PWC Naija Kids Cricket, a project that the Board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, led by a surgeon at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Professor Yahaya Adam Ukwenya, has put together to rejuvenate grassroots cricket development across the country.

On hand to distribute the plastic wicket, balls and bats was the NCF Vice President, Uyi Akpata, who disclosed that more than 16 states had been served with equipment already during the first phase of the exercise.

“Lagos falls within the league of topmost ranked cricket playing states. We actually started from the least playing states in the various zones, some of which were cricket playing states back in the days and others being the first

Joint photograph of Team Nigeria and visiting Rwandan national female cricket teams during the bi-lateral match in Abuja…recently

time the game was introduced.

Our aim is to cover the entire 36 states in the country including the FCT starting with those with the least awareness of the sport,” Akpata said.

The kids who took part in the Lagos exercise were drawn from public and private schools, which now run cricket activities as part of their routine physical education schedules.

Endurance Ofem, a former senior national male team captain and Players’ Representative on the NCF Board, said: “There has never been this level of commitment in the past and we are working hard to make sure as many kids as possible understand the game of cricket. Our focus is to increase junior involvement along ICC (International Cricket Council) development goals and next is to focus on elite and competitive cricket development which allows us narrow down to age-groups initiative, preparing them for future National teams.

“We have players from Ansarudeen Grammar School, Randle College, Ansarudeen College Isolo, Adebola Baptist School, Onitolo Community High School, Obelle Community High School, Kings College and Ansarudeen Girls High School, among others, and you can see how excited they are on a Saturday to come pick up these equipment that is part of our grassroots cricket sensitization effort of the federation.”

Kofi Sagoe, a former national team player and the current Chairman of the Lagos State Cricket Association along with Charles Omoera who also chairs the most vibrant cricket league in the country; the Club Cricket Committee, Lagos (CCC League), also attended the presentation.

For Sagoe, the federation’s initiative is a big spark to the development initiative that his office as the Lagos Cricket Chairman is planning to undertake.

It is only proper to align make the best of the outcome.

“The federation’s plans to equip schools around the country has been a major boost that states like Lagos would leverage on as dragnet to recruit next generation of players to the sport,” Sagoe said.

Interestingly, while the kids were being excited in Lagos, the national women’s team was also engaged in a bi-lateral encounter with Rwanda in Abuja. The series was set up by the NCF as an early preparation for the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifier at which Nigeria will be making its maiden appearance at some point in May 2019. More to this, the series is expected to raise the awareness of women cricket in Nigeria and beyond and to foster diplomatic relations among member countries.

The home team scraped a narrow 3-2 victory, but Professor Ukwenya, who oversaw the event, said the event had lived up to its objective which included exposing the players to

internationally graded encounter after almost a month camping that ran for most part of January.

“Without mincing words, we are very focused in positioning Nigeria as a top-rated cricket playing nation and our four-year objective, we hope would lead us there especially in regards to women cricket,” the NCF president said.

“The match with Rwanda was to test the impact of the camping and how strong and ready our team is. We are happy we won but all of us here have seen that we have a lot of work to do in key departments.

With that, our technical team has taken notes and will swing into action in getting the team better ahead of the event scheduled for Zimbabwe in May,” he added.

When the board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation took the reins of power eighteen months ago, it had developed a clear agenda that has endeared it to the International Cricket Council as a team to look out for in Africa.

The strategic development document was anchored on a mission: “To position Cricket as a prominent National sport and be recognized as one of Africa’s top countries by attaining ICC Full membership status.”

This objective is further tied to five key strategic imperatives which bordered on; Promoting the game, Facility development, Establishing strategic partners, Players improvement and

Maintaining appropriate Corporate governance and Finance structure.

Patricia Kambarami, ICC Regional Development ManagerAfrica, has particularly been impressed with the passion and professionalism that the NCF board has displayed in their short stint at managing the sport in Nigeria and believes more can be achieved if the members kept their focus on laid down objectives which she said could make them become the toast of Africa in the near future.

As part of efforts by the ICC to provide a working and sustainable structure for Nigeria Cricket, a Commercial Strategy and Development Seminar was organized from February 4 to 6 in Lagos. The Seminar was delivered by the renowned CSM Sports consultants for Middle-East and Africa, where stakeholders, Government officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Sponsors and potential sponsors of the Federation and the Media were engaged on ways to work as a unit to achieve the common goal of the Cricket Federation.

According to Kambarami, “the International Cricket Council has been impressed with the present board and especially their well laid out plan to develop Cricket in Nigeria and we are particularly impressed at the milestone they have set and how they are ticking the right boxes thus far.

Friday, February 22, 2019

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Price: N250

MISSILE Secondu to Buhari “We know that the President Muhammadu Buhari once truncated Nigeria’s democracy and he was not shot. Now he wants to kill Nigerians even when the constitution specifies how offenders of ballot snatching should be treated” – National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, asking Nigerians to hold President Buhari responsible for any killing during the forthcoming elections.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Before Tomorrow Comes I

n the attempt to prepare the ground for the unraveling of the ulterior agenda of the present administration, the cat was appropriately let out of the bag by the Minister of information, Lai Mohammed about a month ago. He surpassed himself in a characteristic belaboured insincerity and infantile affectation. For readers to get a full measure of the mendacious capacity of this government to mislead and deceive the Nigerian public, I have taken the liberty to refresh our memory with excerpts from the minister’s press statement and for authentication. The question then arises, why would any government construct an elaborate make believe conspiracy of armed insurrection-made singularly deficient in logic by its attribution to a demonstrably militarily incapable opposition?

Where would the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), find the wherewithal and the logic to levy a massive guerilla warfare spread over 10 states? Given that the alleged comrade in arms, the Boko Haram terrorist group, is of active interest to the international community (and under its intense monitor and surveillance) why would a thinking opposition thereby foolishly risk becoming the target and enemy of such a powerful vested interest? For anyone whose imagination is not running criminally insane how realistic is the presumption that the opposition is maneuvering for interim government as the end point game? Yet all these imponderables constitute the stuff of the ‘credible intelligence report’ on the activities of the opposition. Here is Lai Mohammed: “As you are aware, Nigeria goes to the polls just 27 days from now. However, the federal government is in possession of credible intelligence to the effect that widespread violence being orchestrated by the opposition is threatening the 2019 general election. Having realised that their fortunes have dwindled badly ahead of the polls, the desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government.

Before you accuse the government of crying wolf, let me tell you, gentlemen, that we have credible intelligence that armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilized to engage in massive attacks and other acts of violence in several states across the country, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara.

“The Benue-based armed criminal group, led by Terwase Akwaza, also known as Gana, has been commissioned to strike soft targets in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. In Kano State, a group of notorious miscreants has been mobilised by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections. There is also an international dimension to the evil plan. Some armed mercenaries from Niger Republic have been contracted to attack top government functionaries, including state governors, across the North-west between now and the elections. He assured them that the federal government would take pre-emptive measures to ensure their safety before, during and after the elections”.

Apparently, the government has proven

Buhari

so exceptional in containing this uncovered subversive agenda-such that the allegation did not survive beyond the dusk of the day in which the earth shaking revelation was regurgitated. And like a confused drunken sailor, the megaphones of the government have been stumbling from one duplicitous allegation to another. Like a bolt from the blues, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el Rufai, suddenly erupted, in contorted outrage, threatening the international community with murder and mayhem should they persist in ‘meddling’ in the internal affairs of Nigeria.

Two days to the scheduled original date of the election, he materialised again in front of television cameras to report the killings of 66 Fulanis (a preferable identification choice for whatever agenda it was intended to serve).

The figure has since been revised to 130.

And then finally, the big masquerade himself capped it all with the vintage Buharispeak to which we have tragically grown accustomed “I really gave the military and police order to be ruthless… Anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch ballot boxes or disturbs the voting system will do so at the expense of

In terms of the capacity to govern, he is arguably the most limited occupant of the high office of Nigerian President.

His violence-bound political personae took firm root at the beginning of the fourth republic

his own life.” Responding to the institutional peace initiative of the Kukah committee earlier on in the campaign, I made the point that the only presidential candidate who needed to be persuaded of the imperative of peace and amity is no other than the APC presidential candidate. He has a record as long as his years in the public domain that speaks to violence in a way that no other Nigerian public figure compares. Yet this was a President who was the unique beneficiary of an unprecedented seamless transition from an incumbent Nigerian President to the opposition candidate.

According to the exegesis of dialectics, where every tendency generates its own contradiction-so has the lofty precedence set by President Goodluck Jonathan being contradicted by the political power obsession of his successor. Were Jonathan to be of similar disposition as the ill-deserved recipient of his statesmanship, Buhari would not have become president in the first place. As a poorly equipped ideologue of the Fulani entitlement philosophy (that was integral to the establishment of the Sokoto caliphate and as received and programmed into Nigeria by the British colonialists and Sir Ahmadu Bello) Buhari has done more harm than good to this cause.

Buhari belongs to the class of the 1966 counter coup inheritors of this entitlement mentality- with the significant caveat that he is bereft of the requisite sophistication and exposure to handle power with enlightened self-interest. Where Ahmadu Bello was sophisticated enough to assimilate Northern Christians and other regional cohabitants of different sub national groups, Buhari would be remembered as the crude Fulani irredentist who went the extra mile to foster and accentuate intra-regional schism. He has a similar legacy of aggravating inter regional cleavages on the larger Nigerian landscape. The story of his Presidency is the perfect illustration of the logic that you cannot give what you do not have. In terms of the capacity to govern, he is arguably the most limited occupant of the high office of Nigerian President.

His violence-bound political personae took firm root at the beginning of the fourth republic. For reasons that had to do with the nationalistic level playing ground politics of President Olusegun Obasanjo and relative decline in hegemonic influence, the far North became fertile ground for angst ridden divisive politics. The latent irredentist rebellion eventually found a lightning rod in the Sharia predicated pseudo religious populist revolt. Buhari seized the moment and rose to fill the leadership vacuum-holding the teeming Northern underclass captive with his simplistic rabble rousing demagoguery.

In the interminable propensity of Nigerian politics for chaos and confusion, his simple and single-minded disposition has served him rather well. It has endowed him with the instinct of easily connecting with the mob especially those whose encounter with civilisation is limited to the back and forth nomadic wandering from North to South in a vicious cycle of poverty. The transition from this demagogic pedestal to the more demanding political and bureaucratic leadership of Nigeria was always going to expose his limited capacity for governance.

There was the supposition that this incapacity could be managed with the cession of governance to a capable subordinate in the mode of his short lived military dictatorship.

The context (of an inherent demand for public accountability) of civil democratic rule rendered the model nugatory and exposed the lack of Buhari’s preparedness for the office he so much coveted. Nigeria had since being paying the exorbitant cost of the resulting interminable crisis of governance. The failure was further deepened by the prioritisation of hegemonic personality cult agenda as the overriding objective of his presidency. This has resulted in the breach of almost all the political norms that had kept Nigeria going.

In sync with the phenomenon of personality cult agenda, the more physically indisposed he gets, the more paranoid and personalised the agenda becomes.

Caught totally unprepared for the examination of re-election, the Buhari camp has logically took recourse in the fabrication of phantom achievements; applauding itself the nemesis of PDP corruption while the whole world saw the exact opposite; commissioning and laying claim to infrastructural projects that were paid down by the preceding government.

For a president at odds with the tedium of contemporary governance, encumbered by short attention span and the cognitive failure specter of rambling incoherence -there is the distinct possibility that he may truly believe all the fictive accomplishments attributed to him.

As age and debilitating health condition take their toll, the crisis of governance plaguing his presidency has trended towards the political psychosis of parsing fiction as fact; of pretending that INEC took the decision to postpone the election (with consequential security implications) without his prior knowledge and consent; of loading the INEC hierarchy with his kith and kin and then turn around to claim the opposition is using the same INEC against him; of the self-indictment implied in the sudden awakening to the escalating and catastrophic import of ballot snatching for Nigerian elections-when in the past three and half years, all elections have been conducted under his watch. Rare is the president whose failure is self-explanatory as that of President Buhari. And in the face of glaring demerit, he has a bloated sense of self-importance that borders on the delusion of grandeur.

In framing the menace that Nigeria presently confronts (in the Buhari Presidency) as a contest between APC and PDP or as Atiku versus Buhari, Nigerians are living in self-denial.

If it ever existed, that limitation had since evaporated. Beyond the publicly stated proposal to draft and direct the military to take no prisoners in enforcing his will, you have to wonder what else he is up to in private-if he can let this much out in the open. ‘There seems to be a Buhari bug that makes intelligent people to sound unintelligent, people of conscience to sound conscienceless, people of justice to sound unjust, honest people to embrace falsehood, people who are not bloodthirsty to become bloodthirsty, the moment they start supporting Buhari’. The earlier the Nigerian public comes to terms with the definition of tomorrow as Buhari versus Nigeria, the better the prospects of overcoming the ordeal and danger lurking around the corner.

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