MONDAY 11TH MARCH 2019

Buhari Mourns as Two Nigerians Die in Ethiopian Airlines Crash 155 others perish

Chinedu Eze with agency report

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sympathised with the government and people of Ethiopia over the crash of

an Ethiopian Airliner, which killed 149 passengers and eight crew members.

There were no survivors in the crashed Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, operated

by Boeing B737-800MAX, Group

Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said.

Two Nigerians, Professor Pius Adesanmi and Ambassador Abiodun Bashua, were among the victims of the ill-fated plane

which crashed yesterday morning on its way from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.

The two Nigerians, however, did not travel with their Nigerian passports as Adesanmi travelled with his Canadian

passport, while Abiodun travelled with United Nations passport.

Reacting to the news of the incident in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday, the president expressed shock, saying that

the high casualty figure was worrying indeed.

Besides greeting the immediate families of the victims, Buhari sent condolences Continued on page 8

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Yahaya

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Umahi

Makinde

Emmanuel

Global Concerns Mount over Army Interference in Elections UK: INEC should be allowed to work without intimidation Commission suspends electoral processes in Rivers APC wins Lagos, Gombe, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Jigawa, Ogun, Katsina PDP takes Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Oyo, Akwa Ibom Our Correspondents Following massive and unprecedented deployment of troops and Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance (ISR) aircraft across the country by military authorities during the general election, especially in the South-south states of Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom, there were global concerns yesterday

that Nigeria’s democracy was being militarised.

Leading the global watchers was the United Kingdom, which expressed concerns over reported military interference in the elections, particularly in Rivers State.

But the Defence Headquarters insisted last night that Continued on page 8

NO TO INTERFERENCE...

Demonstrators protest alleged attempt by soldiers to seize results sheets in Eleme, Port Harcourt...weekend

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PAGE EIGHT GLOBAL CONCERNS MOUNT OVER ARMY INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS deployment of troops during the elections was constitutional even as it denied knowledge of any judgment of the Court of Appeal to the contrary.

The Nigerian Army, however, accused politicians of kitting political thugs in military uniform during the governorship and state assemblies elections held at the weekend.The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction to the development described alleged confiscation of the Rivers State governorship election results by soldiers as treasonable and demanded their immediate release to avert serious crisis in the state.

On its part, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room condemned the conduct of the military in the elections and called for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the elections in order to unearth the anomalies that affected its credibility and those responsible for the malpractices recorded during the poll.

The UK Government, speaking through its twitter handle, @UKinnigeria, decried what it described as "military interference in the election process in Rivers State" following reports of UK election observers in Nigeria.

It said staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be allowed to do their job without intimidation.

"Extremely concerned by reports, including from @ UKinnigeria observers, of military interference in the election process in Rivers State.

Monitoring the situation closely; @inecng staff must be allowed to do their job in safety, without intimidation," it tweeted.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, Defence spokesman, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, reiterated its earlier position that the role of the military was not under speculation but

constitutional.

He said: "The Armed Forces does not act on its own.

Whatever role the Armed Forces of Nigeria is playing in the electoral process is as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. I have made reference several times to Section 217-220 of the Constitution. Those roles are vested in the armed forces as enshrined in the Constitution.

"The military does not act on its own. If you look at those sections, you will understand the role of the military and why it is deployed. The military does not just wake up and deploy itself."

On the Appeal Court judgment barring deployment of military personnel during elections, he said the military had not been availed of such judgment.

"Appeal Court judgment; nobody has availed me of that judgment. We are not aware of it. Where is it? If there was any appeal court judgment, was it to the military, armed forces or the government of the day?" he queried.

On the clash between police, military and the barring of party agents from a collation centre in Port Harcourt, Nwachukwu said military personnel were not deployed to collation centres but were part of three concentric circles in the security architecture of the election.

He explained: "The military is not deployed to collation centres. What happens is that there are three concentric circles in the security architecture of the election. In the inner cordon is where you have the intelligence community, the DSS and NIA. The other cordon is where you have the police and others and we (military) are in the external or outer cordon.

"We are protecting even other security agencies, which are involved in the electoral

process, the INEC officials, the observers, we are the ones protecting them from the outer cordon, ensuring that political hoodlums do not infiltrate to cause mayhem in the collation centre.�

He explained further: "For instance, if somebody wants to infiltrate a collation centre, we are the first line of defence that they are going to meet and in the cause of interaction, maybe an official does not come with his ID card and he wants to force his way in, there will be issues and in the process people will begin to insinuate.

"The role of the Armed Forces is not under speculation, it is constitutional. Our role is also complementary and supportive. The lead security agency in this election is the Nigerian Police; we are taking the back seat."

He restated the position of the Defence Headquarters that the military remained apolitical and would not want to be dragged into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, while noting that the military code of conduct remained the guide against unprofessional conduct as it concerns military personnel.

Meanwhile the Nigerian Army at the weekend accused politicians of arming and kitting political thugs to impersonate soldiers, who are used to cause electoral infractions.

In a statement entitled: "Arming of Thugs by Politicians to Impersonate Military Personnel,� it said the situation has led to an erroneous impression that real soldiers were involved in their nefarious activities.

It said: "Credible intelligence available to the Nigerian Army (NA) has confirmed the kitting of political thugs with military uniforms and arming of same, to impersonate soldiers and perpetrate various crimes in the furtherance of the activities of their political bosses.

"Sadly, these thugs have severally been wrongly viewed and addressed as real military personnel on various social and mainstream media channels including blogs, chat rooms and messaging platforms thereby bringing the reputation of the NA on several occasions to disrepute."

The statement signed by Army spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said: "The Nigerian Army understands that most civilians caught in the callous onslaught of these murderous thugs might not be able to distinguish between a genuine soldier from an impersonator, especially when they are armed with military-type weapons.

"However, several of such arrested impostors have given useful information that has led to unraveling the level of criminal involvement of some politicians in arming thugs for their depraved selfish gains. Consequently, the NA would continue with the line of investigations being pursued to bring to successful prosecution, both the arrested impostors and their sponsors."

While advising the public not to be misled by the development, it said the army would remain non-partisan and called for information on such acts of impersonation.

Main Opposition Party Kicks

The PDP in its reaction described alleged confiscation of the Rivers State governorship election results by soldiers as treasonable and demanded their immediate release to avert serious crisis in the state The party, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the use of soldiers to ambush the electoral process and confiscate results was an extreme scheme by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Muhammadu Buhari presidency to enmesh

the Rivers State governorship election in controversy, seeing that there was no way they could take away victory from the PDP. According to him, "The PDP completely revile this subversive act by soldiers, who seized and diverted the results to an army barracks in Port Harcourt and calls on all lovers of democracy, to unite against this brazen attack on our democracy by the Buhari presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC). Such barefaced assault is only akin to a coup d’Êtat and should not be allowed to stand."

Ologbondiyan stressed that what the APC and its compromised soldiers fail to note is that the PDP already has valid documents of all the results as delivered from all the polling units where elections held across the state and that the figures are with all the stakeholders.

He, therefore, added that deploying soldiers to confiscate the results would not change the victory already recorded by the party in Rivers State.

Situation Room Condemns Conduct of Military, Demands Probe

In a similar development, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has asked for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the general election in order to unearth the anomalies that affected its credibility and those responsible for the malpractices recorded during the poll.

The observer group said that there must be individual accountability for the violence and manipulating of the election process.

Situation Room had earlier said out of the eight criteria and threshold spelt out for the measurement of the credibility of the elections, five of them show significant non-compliance.

In a statement read to journalists at a press conference held yesterday in Abuja, the Executive Director, Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre and Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, said an independent inquiry is needed to address among other issues; procurement, logistics management, role of the military and abuse of process by INEC officials.

"In the light of the serious shortcomings with the elections, Situation Room calls for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 Nigeria general elections.

This independent inquiry should address amongst other issues; procurement, logistics management, role of the military and abuse of process by INEC officials," it said.

According to Situation Room, a non-partisan probe is urgently needed to identify challenges and recommendations towards repairing the damaged credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

On the alleged malfeasance committed by security agents, especially the military during the elections, Situation Room said the probe panel must ensure that individuals found capable are made to account for the violence and manipulation of the election process.

Situation Room said the militarisation of the country’s electoral process is a troubling one, adding that it was not just the presence of military officials, but the actions of the intelligence agencies, the use of the military by the political class and the partisanship and non-recourse to rules of engagement of the armed forces.

It cited examples of reports of excessive military involvement in the elections, particularly in the South-south and South-east – Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo. Continued on page 12

BUHARI MOURNS AS TWO NIGERIANS DIE IN ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CRASH to the leaders and people of all the countries whose nationals were involved in the accident. “On behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, the president extends his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, the people of Ethiopia, Kenya, Canada, China and all other nations who lost citizens in the air disaster. “The president also commiserates with the families of the victims and prays to God Almighty to grant the gentle souls of the departed eternal rest�, a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, quoted Buhari as saying in Daura.

He added: “Such large scale loss of human lives in a single incident is shocking beyond words. “I am profoundly touched by this devastating report of air accident involving one of the world’s most successful and efficient airlines. “Given its remarkable safety record, this couldn’t have come at a worse time for Ethiopian Airlines.�

The president further praised the airline, saying: “Like every other African leader, I am proud of the fact that Ethiopian Airlines represents one of Africa’s success stories.�

Flight ET302 crashed near the town of Bishoftu, 62 kilometres south-east of the capital Addis Ababa, the airline said, confirming the plane was

a Boeing 737-800 MAX. The flight left Bole Airport in Addis Ababa at 8.38a.m.

(12.38p.m. Thailand time), before losing contact with the Control Tower just a few minutes later at 8.44a.m.

State-owned Ethiopian Airline is one of the biggest carriers on the continent by fleet size.

It said previously that it expected to carry 10.6 million passengers last year.

Its last major crash was in January 2010, when a flight from Beirut went down shortly after takeoff.

The airline said it regretted that its flight with number ET 302, which took off from its Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa on March 10, 2019 to Nairobi was involved in an accident around Bishoftu (Debre Zeit).

GebreMariam, who arrived the site of the crash few hours after the accident at Bishoftu, confirmed that there was no survivor and expressed his profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of passengers and crew who lost lives in this tragic incident.

The flight’s passengers have been traced to about 35 countries.

GebreMariam said pilots reported difficulties and asked for permission to turn back to Addis Ababa, but indications show that the flight crew could not make the air return, hence the crash.

Nationalities onboard include Kenyans, 32; Canadians, 18; Ethiopians, nine; USA, eight; Chinese, 8; Nigerians, two; seven British citizens, seven French, six Egyptians, five Netherlands, four passengers carrying UN passports and four Indians.

Other passengers are from Russia, Morocco, Israel, Uganda, Yemen, Sudan, Togo, Mozambique, and Norway.

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed in his official tweeter handle said: "I would like to express our deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones on Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 on regular scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya this morning."

In a press conference held at Ethiopian Airlines Headquarters yesterday afternoon regarding the crash, GebreMariam, remarked: “It is too early to speculate the cause of the accident and further investigation will be carried out to find out the cause of the accident in collaboration with all stakeholders, including the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and other international entities to maintain the international standard and information will be provided once the cause is identified.

Ethiopian Airlines will provide all the necessary support to the families of the victims.�

It was disclosed at the

conference that a senior captain named Yared Getachew with a cumulative flight hour of more than 8,000 and with a commendable performance was commanding the flight along with first officer Ahmed Nur Mohammod Nur who had a flight hour of 200.

The crashed B-737-800MAX airplane flew back to Addis Ababa from Johannesburg early Sunday morning.

This is the second fatal accident involving Boeing 737MAX in less than five months.

About six months ago, A Lion Air Flight 610 operated

by Boeing 737 MAX passenger plane with 189 people on board crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta on October 29, 2018.

Speaking yesterday to Al Jazeera from Malaga, Spain, aviation analyst, Alex Macheras explained that the B737 MAX is the brand new updated version of the Boeing 737.

"The MAX is in service all around the world. Airlines such as the Ethiopian Airlines are using this aircraft, as it is the latest, the most fuel-efficient, short-range Boeing aircraft on the market.

"The aircraft that has been involved in the accident today is less than four months old.

It was delivered to Ethiopia in mid-November, when it flew from the US, made a fuel stop in Ireland, and was delivered

to Addis Ababa, which is the hub of Ethiopian Airlines," he added.

Macheras said: “New aircraft do have their hiccups" but that is not to say they are unsafe or more prone to being involved in accidents.

"There are certain advisories for lots of new aircrafts and that's perfectly normal as they enter the market place."

The Boeing 737 MAX was initiated in response to Airbus's A320 Neo. Both planes feature modifications to make the aircraft more fuel-efficient.

"It's a very safe aircraft," Macheras said, adding: "But of course this accident will send jitters across the industry.�

Bashua was the former UN and AU Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, Sudan.

The literary and social community in Nigeria is shocked about the death of Adesanmi.

Adesanmi is a Nigerian-born Canadian professor, writer and literary critic, satirist, and columnist. He is the author of Naija No Dey Carry Last, a collection of satirical essays.

Adesanmi was born in Isanlu, in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He had a BA (first class honours) from the University of Ilorin in 1992, a Masters in French from the University of Ibadan in 1998, and a PhD in French Studies from the University of British Columbia in 2002.

From 2002 to 2005, he

was Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at the Pennsylvania State University, USA. In 2006, he joined Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada as a Professor of literature and African studies.

He has also been a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) from 1993 to 1997, as well as of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in 1998 and 2000.

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MONDAY, ͚͚˜ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Big Banks Adopt Cautious Lending on Sluggish Economy Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe Two of Nigeria’s biggest banks gave out smaller amount of loans in 2018, compared to the previous year as financial institutions remained cautious in creating risk assets, considering the sluggish economic activities in the country.

Specifically, two of the tier 1 banks - Zenith Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) - that have so far released their full year 2018 results, recorded lower loan growth last year, compared with 2017.

For instance, while Zenith Bank Plc saw its loans and advancements fell from N1.823

trillion in 2018, as against the N2.1 trillion posted in 2017, GTBank’s loan book dipped by 12.9 per cent, from N1.449 trillion in 2017, to N1.262 trillion in 2018.

The Nigerian economy which has been performing sub-optimally recorded slim Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 1.93 per cent in 2018, with businesses facing a myriad of domestic challenges. Some of the major constraints businesses faced include insecurity, high interest rate, unstable power and poor infrastructure.

To the Head of Research and Strategy at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Ayodele Akinwunmi, credit creation would remain low in a fragile economy.

He explained: “Banks lend to

CBN Governor, Godwin EmeďŹ ele businesses with the view that the money would be repaid to enable the banks pay their depositors and reward their shareholders. So,

if the economy is not expanding, banks would not be encouraged to lend. “If economic activities are not expanding, the way we have seen in the last few months, there would not be activities to lend money to. “Most of the international oil companies don’t borrow from Nigeria for long-term projects because we don’t have the capacity. “For me, we expect that in 2019, loan would grow, because our projection for GDP growth rate in 2019 is higher than what we had last year. Our forecast for GDP growth for this year is 2.5 per cent. “Our economy is not growing

at the level that it should be growing. So, the banks are being careful, because in a fragile economy, credit creation would remain low.�

Also, the President, Risk Management Association of Nigeria, Mr. Magnus Nnoka, pointed out that banks were set up to facilitate intermediation, hence they need to lend in order to make returns to investors.

He said: “I think the challenge most banks face in lending is signing on quality credit or borrowers’ ability in meeting the risk acceptance criteria for accessing loans. “This is not also to rule out the challenges borrowers face in meeting certain lending conditions and of course relative

cost of financing, which can still be considered high particularly when you look at some economic sectors. “I, therefore, think that some of the measures to enhance lending will require improving quality of the obligors. Among issues to be addressed are encouraging strong corporate governance, transparent financial reporting on the part of borrowers as well as strengthening regulatory and judicial system for loan disputes settlement. “A culture of credit discipline, information asymmetry and self-disclosure are critical elements of any environment that seek to enhance credit creation activities.�

GLOBAL CONCERNS MOUNT OVER ARMY INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS It said: "This is a collective duty for all law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. We cannot as a country afford to permit this level of impunity and disruption of the election process. INEC should lead on this and transparently inform Nigerians where it encounters challenges.

"The number of fatalities around these elections is unacceptable. Voters, INEC officials and security agencies have lost their lives. We call for reasonably packaged compensation to families who have lost lives in these elections. “INEC officials and security agents, who have suffered physical and psychological injuries, must be supported and rehabilitated."

Situation Room also urged INEC to take the lead in pushing for reforms in the electoral process, adding that of immediate importance is the need for INEC to call out publicly, institutions, individuals and events that may have undermined its ability to carry out its mandate.

The election observer group said it is also important that INEC is honest in admitting its own failures.

INEC Suspends Electoral Processes in Rivers

Meanwhile, INEC has suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State after widespread disruption of last Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

The governorship election held in 29 states and Houses of Assembly poll in 36 states were characterised by complaint of violence and military interference in the process, particularly in the South-south states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom.

However, results of the elections began to trickle in yesterday morning with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) announcing the winners in their respective states.

At press time, 11 states had concluded the collation of results with the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking the lead with victory in five states, including Gombe, Kwara, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger and Jigawa.

The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi States.

The South-south states had been restive since the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 23 as the federal government deployed large number of troops in them. But the most

restless has been Rivers which had its electoral processes suspended yesterday by the electoral body citing widespread disruption of the elections in the state.

Unconfirmed reports had it that soldiers had taken over the collation centre in the state, ordering the staff of the commission to hand over the election results from the field to them.

But a statement yesterday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, said initial reports suggested that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres and that INEC staff had been taken hostage and materials including result sheets either seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons.

He added that the safety of the staff of the commission appeared to be in jeopardy all over the state and the commission was concerned about the credibility of the process.

Okoye stated: “Based on reports from our officials in the field, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has determined that there has been widespread disruption of elections conducted on the 9th day of March 2019 in Rivers State. “Consequently, at a meeting held today, March 10, 2019, the commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in the state until further notice.

This is in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47(e) of the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission. “The commission has also established a Fact-Finding Committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.� “We appeal to the people of Rivers State, particularly the voters, for their understanding as we look into the circumstances of these disruptions and what further action needs to be taken.�

PDP Rejects Suspension of Electoral Process

In a swift reaction, the PDP rejected INEC’s decision to suspend all electoral processes in Rivers State after results had been collated.

The main opposition party in a statement last night by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, called on the electoral body to end its manipulative schemes and immediately declare the result of the elections in the state.

The party also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call the security agencies, which it said had been annexed as departments of the APC, to end their siege on the electoral process, noting that any further delay was a recipe for escalation of crisis in the country.

Ologbondiyan stated: “The PDP alerts that this is a premeditated plan by the APC-led federal government to use the instrument of INEC and security agencies to truncate the wishes of the Rivers people as already delivered at the polling units. “Our party contends that elections have been concluded in Rivers State; results of the governorship and House of Assembly polls have been declared at the various polling units, wards and local government collation centers and all returning officers and political parties on the ballot conclusively have the figures. “It is, therefore, directly incumbent on INEC to declare the final results instead of deliberately creating openings for the subversion of the final process; a development, which exposes the commission’s complicity with the Buhari presidency and the APC to enmesh the election into unnecessary crisis.�

The party also cautioned INEC to note that a lot of innocent Nigerians have allegedly been killed by the APC in its desperation to forcefully take over the state.

It stressed that the commission should therefore save the state from more bloodletting by immediately declaring the results.

INEC OfďŹ cials: We Fled our Headquarters Because of Army Siege

Earlier in the day, INEC officials in Rivers State had fled the state headquarters of the commission in Port Harcourt.

The Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Edwin Enabor, told reporters that the staff had to leave because of siege to the office by men in military uniform.

Senior officers of the commission surreptitiously left the commission at noon when the military took over security, rendering the police to remain as bye standers.

Addressing journalists before leaving the state headquarters yesterday, Enabor said: "In fact, throughout the elections we had many reports of insecurity, molestation, harassment and assault on our staff and ad-hoc

staff and the disruption of the electoral process throughout the state; in all the local government areas with the consequence that yesterday evening we were unable to see the results.

"Now, it is about 1p.m., the office is under siege by men in military uniform, Army uniform and uniform of the Air Force and the police, who have taken over the INEC office.

"They are stopping and screening people and clearing results before they enter the office to the extent that up till now, no collation had been done. So, that is the situation now."

On the identity of the men, he said: "We don't understand where the people are deployed from. We are not accusing the Nigerian Army or Air Force but what we say is that the people in the office right now are wearing the uniforms of the Army and Air Force.

"So, if they are not from them, we are, therefore, calling on them to come and rectify the situation and allow our officers to enter with their results without molestation, intimidation and harassment."

Sanwo-Olu Wins Lagos

The APC governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, was declared the winner of the governorship election in Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu polled 739,445 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the PDP who had 206,141 votes.

Declaring the results yesterday, the Chief Collation Officer, Prof.

Eyitope Ogunmodede, said the total votes cast was 996,715, 977,476 while 21,239 votes were declared as void.

AbdulRazaq is Governorelect in Kwara

Kwara State governorship was won by APC’s AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The Returning Officer for the governorship election, Prof.

Mohammed Sanusi Liman, declared AbdulRazaq winner after the collation of results from the 16 local government of the state.

Lima, who is the Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lafia, said AbdulRazaq scored 331,546 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Razak Atunwa of the PDP who polled 114,754 votes.

Sani Bello Wins Second Term in Niger In Niger State, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC was returned to office, overcoming the PDP candidate,

Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko.

The returning officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Angela Miri, announced that Bello polled 526,412 votes to defeat Nasko who had 298,065 votes.

Badaru Re-elected in Jigawa

The Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru was also returned to office for a second term. The Returning Officer, Prof. Azubike Nwankwo, Provost, Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna, declared the result in Dutse yesterday, saying Badaru, who contested on the platform of APC got 810, 933 votes to beat his closest rival, Alhaji Aminu Ringim of the PDP, who scored 288, 356 votes, followed by Alhaji Bashir Adamu of Social Democratic Party (SDP), who got 32,894 votes.

He explained that the total number of registered voters are 2,109,477, accredited voters, 1,169,924, total votes cast, 1,163,206, while valid votes stood at 1,139,054, and rejected votes, 24,152.

Atiku Bagudu Re-elected Governor of Kebbi

Another incumbent APC governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, won the election in Kebbi State.

The results announced at the State Collation Centre in Birnin Kebbi by Prof. Hamisu Bichi showed that Bagudu scored 673,717 votes, while Senator Isah Galaudu of the PDP polled 106,633 votes.

Yahaya Wins in Gombe

The APC candidate, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, also won the Gombe State governorship election. The INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof.

Saminu Abdulrahaman, who declared the result in Gombe yesterday, said Yahaya scored 364,179 votes to defeat his closest rival of the PDP, Senator Usman Nafada, who polled 222,868 votes and was returned elected.

He said that there were 1,394,386 registered voters, 627,457 accredited voters, 608,846 valid votes, 14,384 rejected votes and 623,230 total votes cast.

Makinde is New Gov in Oyo

The PDP reclaimed Oyo State yesterday as its candidate, Mr. Seyi Makinde, was declared the winner of the gubernatorial contest in the state.

The Returning Officer, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who is the Vice Chancellor, University

of Lagos, said Makinde polled 551,621 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Adebayo Adelabu of the ruling APC, who polled 357, 982 votes.

Makinde Won in 28 Local Government Areas while Adelabu won in ďŹ ve councils.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, congratulated him as the first PDP candidate to reclaim a lost state, saying the party was proud of him. “We congratulate Mr. Seyi Makinde for his victory. We also salute the doggedness and resilience of the people of Oyo State in standing up to the APC rigging machine, including its army of occupation.�

Umahi Returns in Ebonyi

The PDP’s Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has been declared winner of the state’s contest.

Prof. Frank Chukwuemeka, INEC State Collation Officer announced Umahi as winner yesterday in Abakaliki.

Chukwuemeka disclosed that Umahi polled 393,043 votes to defeat his distant rival, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji of the APC, who polled 81,703 votes, to emerge the winner.

Ugwuanyi Too in Enugu

Also in Enugu, the PDP’s Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi got a second tenure. The state Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, who announced the result in Enugu yesterday, said that Ugwuanyi won in the 17 local government areas.

Ahaneku said the governor polled 449,935 votes against his closest rival, Senator Ayogu Eze of the APC, who polled 10,423 votes.

Ikpeazu Wins in Abia

In Abia State, another PDP first termer, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, won the governorship contest.

The INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof. Benjamin Ozurumba, said Ikpeazu scored 261,127 votes to win the poll.

The governor defeated Mr. Uchechukwu Ogah of the APC, who polled 99,574 votes. He also announced that Alex Otti, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 64,366 votes.

Emmanuel Re-elected in Akwa Ibom In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel, was declared the winner.

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COMMENT

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

TIME FOR THE PEOPLE’S CONSTITUTION Nigeria needs a constitution empowered by the people, writes Ayo Oyoze Baje

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he amendment of a nation’s constitution is never a tea party.

Especially given our peculiar challenges of long-drawn ethnic disharmony, political marginalization of some sections of the country, bloated bureaucracy, over concentration of political and economic powers at the centre and a legislature considered as one of the most expensive on planet Earth.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the 2019 general election has brought to the fore, once again a greed-propelled polity; a hypocritical heist characterized by carpet bagging, highly monetized and obviously skewed in favour of the rich. The onerous task should therefore, neither be the exclusive preserve of our recycled politicians nor be carried out in a blistering hurry. For instance, it took the United States 67 good years to tinker with theirs, all with the aim of satisfying the wishes of the people.

Simply put, it must be thorough, painstaking and all-inclusive with the outcome not seen to have been tinkered by some vested interests.

Unfortunately, the exercise that was carried out by the National Assembly in 2013 was viewed by some concerned Nigerians such as members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), some seasoned politicians and the Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) as both a “wild goose chase� lacking in depth to align with the wishes of the average Nigerian.

While there is a consensus that the military-imposed 1999 Constitution handed down by Decree No.24 of 1999,with the anomalous refrain alleging that it emanated from “we the people� has its defects, the position of the NBA is that only a referendum could validate the constitutional proposals. The laughable one-day gathering of lawmakers in the 360 Federal Constituencies in 2013 could not amount to a referendum. It is worrisome too that the National Assembly, in its suspicious hurry could not even wait for the Justice Belgore Committee set up by the erstwhile Presidency to submit its report before swinging into action.

On its part, PRONACO, speaking through Mr. Olawale Okunniyi, though agreeing that the National Assembly is empowered by Sections 8 and 9 of the current constitution to amend it, it should not mix up the members’ interests with that of the entire people of Nigeria. So, who is afraid of what and who? That is the million- naira question.

Lending his voice to the raging debate, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN),the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos argued and convincingly too, that Nigeria was “yoked by an uneven and defective federal structure and cannot be fixed by mere constitution amendment�. One shares his feelings on this. More so, the legislators that have not adequately enjoyed the trust and faith of the generality of Nigerians.

Defending the lawmakers, the then Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor asked, “What type of referendum are they seeking? That Nigerians should reject the constitution or accept it?� The fear of such lawmakers is that they would not want to be held responsible for the disintegration of Nigeria as the referendum may be a catalyst for agitations for those wanting self-determination.

NIGERIA WAS YOKED BY AN UNEVEN AND DEFECTIVE FEDERAL STRUCTURE AND CANNOT BE FIXED BY MERE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

There lies the crux of the matter of our fragile unity. Should we act as the ostrich and bury our heads in self-delusion that we are united while we are not? Or, should we for once, summon the courage to look at ourselves in the face and identify, as well as iron out the grey areas that have held us together so far? For how long are we going to look at the symptoms of our institutional dysfunction instead of tackling them at the roots?

For now, the main areas of the constitution crying for urgent amendment include ensuring true, fiscal federalism; devolution of enormous and corruption-infested economic powers from the centre to the federating units, settling the insidious indigene/settler dichotomy once and for all and equality of all Nigerians before the law, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political differences. We want autonomy for all local government councils to stop being tied to the apron strings of overbearing state governments. Creation of states, though desirable should rather be based on economic viability rather than on sentiments.

Other critical areas deserving urgent attention include instituting long-lasting judicial reforms that would do away with the insulting culture of impunity. It should be such as to bring offenders of financial crimes to justice within six months. There should also be drastic reduction in the emolument of public office holders so that law making is on part time basis. But would our current legislators muster the required patriotic courage to do this? I have my doubts.

Any constitution that would tolerate the widening gap between the rich and the poor, as apparent in massive number of unemployed youth while their state governors fly above them in private jets is not for us.

In fact, there should be social security buffers to cater for the needs of the vulnerable members of the society including pregnant women, children, the jobless, the aged and the sick. Politicians should not deliberately underfund public educational institutions only to send their children to the most expensive, choicest schools outside our shores. Any legal document that would encourage corruption in high places through spurious plea bargaining for the rich while the less favoured citizens are sent to jail for stealing fowls is not for us.

The next constitution must not be viewed as a contraption by the incoming National Assembly with the hidden motive of a political vendetta. It must be all-embracing. The views of all Nigerians; of variegated social strata and professional callings must be aggregated.

The notion should not be given that the lawmakers already have their answers to our multifarious questions and have only taken some of us on a donkey ride.

Above all, what would matter most is having in place politicians that emerge as the people’s true choice to implement the dictates of the constitution. The time to enthrone a bottom-up approach to governance for the socio-economic pyramid, founded on the people’s wishes is now!

NINTH ASSEMBLY: A CASE FOR SOUTH-EAST Alade James urges President Buhari to run an inclusive government

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or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the storm gathers once again.

Just as the party savours its victory in a bitterly-fought presidential election that President Muhammadu Buhari won, clouds of crisis hover over it as the jockeying for the principal positions in the National Assembly begins.

By virtue of Section 64(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the 8th National Assembly expires by effusion of time on June 8. Barring any last minute development, Buhari, going by precedent, is expected to proclaim the nineth National Assembly into being on June 9, 2019.

However, barely have winners emerged in the National Assembly elections than newly-elected lawmakers, comprising returning members and first termers with enough heft to swing things their ways, have started positioning themselves for the leadership positions of the National Assembly.

At stake are the following positions: Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, among others.

But while the lawmakers are lining up themselves for the various leadership positions in the legislature, the APC, which this time around is expected to play a crucial role on who gets what, unlike in the 2015 race, is playing it close to its chest.

In 2015, the APC, then a rainbow of political forces determined to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), badly managed the process and this led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki, a powerful politician from Kwara, as the Senate President. He won despite efforts by the party to stop him. The APC officials were determined to work for the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan from the North-East. Their inability to assert any authority to rally party members behind Lawan was aided by Buhari’s now famous quotation in his presidential inaugural address in which he spoke about being for nobody and being for everybody.

The party lethargy, arguably due to its inexperience in managing the complexity of national politics, as the key decision makers in the party were hitherto little emperors in their tribal political hegemonies whose words were laws to other party members, provided the leeway for Saraki to outfox the APC. Saraki, a two-term governor of Kwara State under PDP and former Chairman, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, tapped into his PDP root to beat APC leaders at their own game of intrigues. As part of the bargaining chips, he traded off the deputy Senate Presidency for the support of opposition senators, whose numerical strength was crucial in picking a Senate President.

While 51 out of about 66 APC senators were at the International Conference Centre, Abuja for a controversial meeting whose convener(s) remain(s) unknown to the public till date, the 57 senators at the maiden sitting unanimously elected Saraki as the Senate president.

The absentee senators barely made it back to the National Assembly for the inaugural sitting only to witness PDP Ike Ekweremadu who expectedly defeated APC’s Ali Ndume, in a contest that gave a legal veneer to the horse-trading between Saraki and PDP. That is why it cannot fritter away a second chance to manage the process better this time around.

Before the 2015 election were won and loss, the expectation was that the APC would back a South-East lawmaker as Senate President or House Speaker. With the president from the North and the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, from the South-West, conceding either of the two positions to the SouthEast seemed the logical step in conformity with Nigeria’s power rotation system that aims to quell fears of marginalisation among the federating units by ensuring equitable distribution of power and its appurtenances among the six geopolitical zones.

However, the poor performance of APC in the

South-East, a traditional stronghold of PDP, derailed that expectation. All the federal lawmakers from the five states in the geopolitical zone were PDP members. Even the five Igbo who won election to the House in Lagos State, dominated by the APC, did so on the platform of PDP. But for the Saraki deal with PDP that birthed the Ekweremadu Senate deputy presidency, the South-East would have been out of the power loop in a nation were strong ethnic sentiments drive relationship between constituent states and the federal government.

And now that the first stanza of the 2019 general election is over with APC even improving on its 2015 records, the party is on the cusp of another crisis. The performance of the APC in the South-East in the recent election has thrown up a spectre of the marginalisation of the geopolitical zone in the power equation. However, unlike in 2015, the zone has produced two APC senators and could get another one should Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu wins his re-election bid for the Imo North Senatorial District. INEC declared the contest inconclusive on February23 and rescheduled the conclusion for March 9.

In the presidential election, the five states in the geopolitical zone also gave Buhari 403,242 votes, up from the 198,248 votes in 2015.

The incoming senators, former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the outgoing Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and should he win, Uwajumogu, present an opportunity for the APC not to tread the 2015 path.

Like Okorocha in Imo State, Kalu was instrumental to the impressive showing APC put up in the National Assembly election in his Abia State. Apart from winning his senatorial seat, he played a key role in the election of two APC members, Benjamin Kalu of Bende Federal Constituency and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha of the Isikwuuato/Umunneochi, into the House of

Representatives. He also delivered his Bende Local Government to Buhari who beat PDP’s Atiku Abubakar by 9,233 votes to 6,649.

However, unlike Okorocha, Kalu, by virtue of his election on the platform of the now defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) into the 593-member House of Representatives in the July 4, 1992 to herald the aborted Third Republic, could be considered a ranking senator.

The ranking rules confer on former House members same privileges as former senators.

Should Kalu choose to bid for the post, it certainly will not be a picnic but he is eminently qualified.

Although many may argue that power distribution should be seen as a reward for electoral performance, the danger in that narrative is that it foists on the polity a winner-take-all mentality that negates the principles of fairness and equity enunciated by the nation’s founding fathers.

In addition, we should start shifting away from the divisive policy of punishing voters for their choices. The moment the election is over, winners such as president and governors should forget about who voted for them or against them by ensuring an equitable distribution of political power.

The APC would gain more from running an inclusive government that gives the South-East a better sense of belonging in the federation than the 2015 attempts that seek to punish the geopolitical zone for voting against the party. If the tokenism of the Buhari first term could pave the way for the improvement in the party’s performance in 2019 in the South-East, giving the zone a greater chance in running the nation’s affair will enhance the incremental progress APC is making in the geopolitical zone.

Perhaps this is the time for the president to give life to his promise while collecting his certificate of return - to run an inclusive government.

James wrote from Kaduna

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EDITORIAL The Risky Venture Of Ibom Air It’s in the state’s interest to sell off the airline

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t a lavish ceremony that speaks to misplaced priorities, the Akwa Ibom State government recently unveiled Ibom Air, the first-state managed airline in the country. Currently made up of three aircraft - two Bombardier and one other, the airline would offer immense opportunities for growth, job opportunities and business mobility, according to Governor Udom Emmanuel. “We want to run the Ibom airline as one of the most efficient, economically viable and profitable that others will come to copy our business modules,” said Emmanuel who added, “our wholly owned airline will lessen the problems currently being encountered by our numerous air travellers.”

It is noteworthy that in the same address the governor recognised that the airline business is only “for those who are tested.” The question therefore is: Has Akwa Ibom GOVERNMENT SHOULD been tested? The BE SCEPTICAL IN answer for us is an INVESTING IN THE HIGH unequivocal No! Given the operating RISK BUSINESS AS environment, we EXPECTATIONS ARE feel that ‘Ibom Air’ OFTEN UNREALISTIC would ultimately lead to another waste of enormous public resources. The airline business worldwide is a risky one embarked upon by a very knowledgeable few and even the best have been known to fail. Besides, in Nigeria, the aviation industry is littered with carcasses of more than 40 private airlines, among them Okada, Chanchangi, Harka, Bellview, Sosoliso and ADC. At their peak, some of them could boast of more than 20 aircraft in their fleet, and many appeared seemingly wellmanaged. But they still failed!

To compound the problem, the nation’s aviation industry is currently going through financial stress and many of the airlines are highly indebted.

Nigeria’s weak currency, the naira, has helped to

complicate their woes as many of their needs - from aircraft to spares and other inputs- are imported and denominated in dollars. In the last few years, two of the nation’s promising airlines, Arik and Aero, were more or less on life support until the government came to their rescue and placed under the cover of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCOM).

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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

ven so, many of the private airlines were exceedingly better managed than the stateowned national carrier, the Nigeria Airways, jocularly renamed, “Nigeria Airwaste” at the height of its problems. It was one airline many would better forget, no matter their patriotism because of the shame and ruin it brought to the country, due to mismanagement. Thus, despite the fanfare that attended the unveiling the name and logo of Nigeria Air at the Farnborough Air Show last July in United Kingdom, many remained sceptical that anything good could come out of a new national carrier. With the suspension in October 2018, many were vindicated, even when the ill-advised decision had cost the tax payers hundreds of millions of naira.

Right from the outset, many were not convinced by the argument from some industry experts that the national carrier could become a pivot for the rejuvenation of the industry and in the process help in manpower development. The real lesson from the country’s aviation sector is that government should be sceptical in investing in the high risk business as the expectations are often unrealistic.

From newspaper reports, the Akwa Ibom government has committed more than N200 billion in the business, most of it used in acquiring the three aircraft. It is an investment made in error because all hopes look increasingly forlorn. The routes the airline intends to fly are already adequately serviced by some private airlines in the country. But it is not too late for the government to retrace its steps. It should find some private investors with rigour and dispose it off.

The money could find better use in providing health and educational facilities for the people of the state.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ATIKU ABUBAKAR?

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he 2019 presidential election was Atiku Abubakar’s best outing in his over 26-year quest to be president of Nigeria. Atiku fought the 2019 battle with everything at his disposal. From the onset, Atiku had been on the offensive knowing fully well this would be his last shot at the presidency. In another eight years, he will be 80 years old.

Muhammadu Buhari defeated Atiku Abubakar with over four million votes, a result rejected outright by Atiku. The Peoples Democratic Party’s standard bearer is citing perceived electoral discrepancies.

Atiku’s refusal to concede defeat is a wrong move. The Waziri Adamawa ought to have conceded defeat and make ‘the famous phone call’ to congratulate Buhari. Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s phone call to congratulate Buhari is a major fulcrum on which Jonathan still enjoys world recognition and respect till date.

Atiku could have seized the opportunity of that rare moment to retire himself from the politics of the presidency in style. Instead, he chose the path of self-gratifying stalemate that will bring unending legal tussles. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana said Atiku will face “insurmountable legal obstacles” at the Presidential Election Petition’s Tribunal. Apart from the legal obstacle, Atiku is already receiving knocks. The fiery ones are from his immediate constituency– the North. Most northern talakawas are not happy with Atiku.

Had Atiku accepted defeat in good faith and congratulated Buhari,

he would have earned himself international recognition and a new role in the politics of northern Nigeria. Most of Buhari’s cult-like supporters would have developed admiration for him and given him special respect.

Atiku does not have a robust cult-like followership. Many that supported him during the 2019 election did so based on three reasons - some because they opposed the Buhari government; some did it because they are members or sympathizers of the PDP; while others had no option than Atiku.

Nevertheless, Atiku’s decision to seek legal redress is a good one and very significant for Nigeria’s democracy; strengthening democracy goes beyond winning and losing an election. It also involves all forms of power play, which must be kept within the ambit of the rule of law. Politically aggrieved persons seeking legal redress are part of the processes of enshrining democratic tenets in a complex country like Nigeria. Equally, Atiku has history of legal successes on political matters. Those successes and array of lawyers at his disposal have definitely gingered him to go to court.

Losing the 2019 presidential election has finally closed Atiku’s doors for contesting an elective office. However, as a former vice president of Nigerian, an astute politician, successful businessman and a high profile traditional title holder, Atiku cannot run away from national and local politics. Thus, Atiku’s has reached a new chapter in his political life; he has no option but to redefine his political

participation.

In the local politics of his home state -Adamawa, Atiku is always in the equation- he is either pulling the strings or a threat. The current politicians in Adamawa State can be categorized into three - they are either in Atiku’s team, have left the team, or about to join the team.

In recent times, Atiku has relaxed his interest in Adamawa politics.

The Atiku political team at home needs to be re-energized and young talents infused into it. Atiku’s biological sons are gradually becoming politically active, this is a development his team can build on to sustain the continued relevance of the Atiku political brand. His children’s involvement in local politics can serve as a training ground for national participation. This will be a new ground being broken by Atiku because most political elites in the north have been very weak in training their biological children in the art of politicking. This a major reason northern political dynasty crumbles with the death or aging of their progenitors. Atiku should not make that mistake.

Atiku has witnessed moments of successes, failures and disappointments. The 1999 and 2019 presidential elections were his best moments in his over 26-year quest to be president. In 1999 he became vice president while in 2019 he came close to being the president. But oftentimes, Atiku makes costly political blunders - he failed to utilize a rare moment to get global recognition and local respect.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Jimeta, Adamawa State

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

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

Vote, But It’s Free-for-all

Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Ojo Maduekwe write that the progress made by Nigeria during the 2015 national elections has been erased with the chaotic conduct of the 2019 national elections

Military rolled out for duty

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ar from the free, fair and credible election promised Nigerians by President Muhammadu Buhari, the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial and state assembly elections was a free-for-all, characterised by massive rigging, violence, ballot box snatching, vote buying and killings; the same malaise that have characterised Nigerian elections in the past.

With many Nigerians feeling shortchanged during the presidential and national assembly elections a fortnight ago, there was voter apa -

thy across the country, with some observers predicting that it might be worse than that witnessed two weeks ago on February 23. However in many polling units in Akwa Ibom State, the voters presence was very impressive.

In different parts of the country, election was said to have started at a slow pace, with no presence of INEC staff or voting materials way past 10am. As at that time, some news report said there were no voters nor police personnel at some polling units that were visited.

Also, graduates observing the Na-

tional Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and contracted by INEC as adhoc staff, on the morning of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections, protested the non-payment of their allowance for the presidential and national elections.

Now, let us rephrase some of the gruelling news that made headline before and during the elections, so as to put the introductory paragraph in context. Notable among the states where violence was witnessed are Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Katsina, Delta and Benue.

A member of the House of Repre-

sentatives, Hon. Temitope Olatoye was reportedly killed by suspected political thugs of a rival politician in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. Also, in the same Ibadan, a PDP supporter was killed by a police officer while celebrating his party’s victory.

In President Buhari’s home state it was chaos. Gunmen numbering 50 were said to have stormed polling units in Danmusa and “carted away many residents.� Twenty INEC staff were said to have been kidnapped as well, with 10 later regaining freedom.

A Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officer was killed

PDP Decries Killings,Violence, Militarization of Polls Kola Ologbodiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party says the electoral process has been reduced to bloodletting, violence and oďŹƒcial high handedness The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns the heavy militarization, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians by the desperate All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 9, 2019 Governorship and state assembly elections.

The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorize opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians.

This resort to bloodletting, violence and official high handedness by the APC in our electoral process has further confirmed that this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

The PDP notes that never in the history of our nation had a general election

recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections by the Buhari Presidency and the APC. In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results. The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party do not have any foothold in the state.

In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments of Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area.

In many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected area.

We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation, but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history. The PDP commends the courage

Ologbodiyan

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MONDAY DISCOURSE

Yakubu

Adamu

during the attack.

THISDAY reported the upland areas of Delta as largely peaceful, but in the riverine communities in Bomadi, Burutu and Warri South West local government areas of the state, there were pockets of violence.

From report, it would appear most of the violence occurred in Akwa Ibom and Rivers. For better context as to why there were more violence in these states, local politicians from Akwa Ibom and Rivers, belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are said to be interested in them because of their status as oilproducing states.

In summarising the situation, while APC thugs were said to have set INEC office ablaze in Akwa Ibom, officers of the Nigerian army literally turned Rivers into an occupied territory, commandeering everyone and dictating to officials of INEC on how to conduct the election.

At Ikono Ward 10, Unit 9 in Ikono local government area of Akwa Ibom state, armed APC thugs were said to shot four people while attempting to hijack electoral materials. While trying to escape, one of the thugs was captured by some voters at the scene and set ablaze.

In Adanta Isiokpo, polling unit 003 in Kelga Ward 1, Ikwerre local government area of Rivers state, soldiers and police officers were seen carting away the ballot boxes and result sheets. When voters stood up to them, the security agents shot at them with real bullets.

In Rivers state, officials of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were said to have shot and killed the immediate past chairman of the Kenule Wiwa polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, in front of the INEC office in Bori, Khana. In retaliation, youths gunned down two soldiers.

Having seen the chaos the enveloped the elections, there are questions regarding the 2019 national elections, particularly on whether INEC has built on the progress made during the 2015 elections. For many, rather than making progress, elec tions in Nigeria has retrogressed.

As Nigerians would say, “The party that rigged the most won the election�. This is an assertion that applies across board, among the contesting political parties, except in this case, it was obvious that members of the APC at the

state level, had the backing of the APC federal government controlled security agencies.

In Ijumu local government area of Kogi state, the local government administrator, a certain Alhaji Taofeeq, was said to have led security officers attached to his office to snatch ballot boxes and arrest PDP agents. He was said to have done these unhindered, and, in the full glare of a deputy police commissioner deployed to the state.

Across the country and before the elections, security agents went about arresting members of the opposition PDP. In Akwa Ibom, a police superintendent, Idorenyin Akpabio, was said to have led hoodlums to invade some polling units in Essien Udim area of the state, carting away voting materials. No less than seven members of the PDP who attempted to stop them were allegedly arrested

by Akpabio.

The use of security agents by APC members to intimidate voters and the opposition PDP was allegedly evident in Kogi state as well. There were reports of arbitrary arrests, with members of the PDP abandoning their homes before the election “for fear of being killed�.

Violence in Benue was such that INEC had to reschedule the election in Gwer, Gboko and Tarka local government areas of the state, with no fixed date as to when the next election would hold.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that “electoral materials meant for Mbalom council ward were razed by suspected hoodlums in the early hours of Saturday, while in Tarka there were reports of violence in most polling units.�

Just like it did for the presidential and national assembly elections, INEC would want to grade itself as having delivered a credible state assembly and governorship election. But, judging by the chaos that marred the electoral process, the 2019 elections can be said to be one of the worst outing by the electoral umpire since 1999.

It appears Nigeria has gone back to the days when elections were marred by massive rigging, violence, ballot box snatching, vote buying and killings. For the many observers who were hopeful that INEC would build on the achievements made in 2015, the chaotic nature of the just concluded 2019 election, would leave them doubtful.

Situation Room Demands Independent Enquiry into Election Malfeasance Onyebuchi Ezigbo The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has asked for an independent inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 Nigeria general elections in order unearth the anomalies that affected its credibility and those responsible for the malpractices recorded during the poll.

The observer group said that there must be individual accountability for violence and manipulating of the election process.

Situation Room had earlier said out of the eight criteria and threshold spelt out for the measurement of the credibility of UIF /JHFSJB FMFDUJPOT Ă WF PG UIFN TIPX TJHOJĂ DBOU OPO DPNQMJBODF In a statement read to journalists at a press conference held on Sunday in Abuja, the Executive Director, Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre and Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwankwo said an independent inquiry is needed to address amongst other issues; procurement, logistics management, role of the military and BCVTF PG QSPDFTT CZ */&$ PGĂ DJBMT

QUICK FACTS: r (VCFSOBUPSJBM BOE TUBUF BTTFNCMZ elections were held on March 9 in 29 states, excluding Edo, Bayelsa, Ondo Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Anambra that have off season elections at different times r5IFSF XBT WPUFS BQBUIZ BDSPTT UIF country. However in many polling units in Akwa Ibom State, the voters presence was very impressive r *O EJGGFSFOU QBSUT PG UIF DPVOUSZ election was said to have started at a slow

“In the light of the serious shortcomings with the elections, Situation Room calls for an independent Inquiry into the conduct of the 2019 Nigeria General Elections.

This independent inquiry should address amongst other issues; procurement, logistics management, role of the military BOE BCVTF PG QSPDFTT CZ */&$ PGĂ DJBMT u JU said.

According to the Situation Room, a nonpartisan probe is urgently needed to identify challenges and recommendations towards repairing the damaged credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

On the alleged malfeasance committed by security agents, especially the military men during the elections, Situation Room said the probe panel must ensure that individuals found capable are made to account for violence and manipulating of the election process.

The Situation Room said the militarisation of the country’s electoral process is a troubling one, adding that it was not just UIF QSFTFODF PG NJMJUBSZ PGà DJBMT CVU UIF actions of our intelligence agencies, the use of the military by the political class and the

partisanship and non-recourse to rules of engagement of our armed forces.

It cited examples of reports of excessive military involvement in the elections, particularly in the South-South and SouthEast – Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo. “This is a collective duty for all law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. We cannot as country afford to permit this level of impunity and disruption of the election process. INEC should lead on this and transparently inform Nigerians where it encounters challenges. “The number of fatalities around these elections is unacceptable. Voters, INEC PGĂ DJBMT BOE TFDVSJUZ BHFODJFT IBWF MPTU their lives. We call for reasonably packaged compensation to families who have lost lives in these elections. i/&$ PGĂ DJBMT BOE TFDVSJUZ BHFOUT XIP have suffered physical and psychological injuries must be supported and rehabilitated,â€? it said.

The Situation Room also urged INEC to take the lead in pushing for reforms in the electoral process, adding that of immediate importance is the need for INEC to call

out publicly institutions, individuals and events that may have undermined its ability to carry out its mandate.

The election observer group said it is also important that INEC is honest in admitting its own failures.

pace, with no presence of INEC staff or voting materials way past 10am r(BEVBUFT PCTFSWJOH UIF /BUJPOBM Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and contracted by INEC as adhoc staff, on the morning of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections, protested the non-payment of their allowance for the previously held presidential and national elections r/PUBCMF BNPOH UIF TUBUFT XIFSF violence was witnessed are Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Katsina, Delta and Benue r5)*4%": SFQPSUFE UIF VQMBOE BSFBT of Delta as largely peaceful, but in the

riverine communities in Bomadi, Burutu and Warri South West local government areas of the state, there were pockets of violence r *O 3JWFST TUBUF PGĂ DJBMT PG UIF OPUPSJous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) were said to have shot and killed the immediate past chairman of the Kenule Wiwa polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, in front of the INEC PGĂ DF JO #PSJ ,IBOB *O SFUBMJBUJPO ZPVUIT gunned down two soldiers r"DSPTT UIF DPVOUSZ BOE CFGPSF UIF FMFD-

tions, security agents went about arresting members of the opposition PDP r5IF VTF PG TFDVSJUZ BHFOUT CZ "1$ members to intimidate voters and the opposition PDP was allegedly evident in Kogi state as well. There were reports of arbitrary arrests, with members of the PDP abandoning their homes before the election “for fear of being killedâ€? r7JPMFODF JO #FOVF XBT TVDI UIBU */&$ had to reschedule the election in Gwer, Gboko and Tarka local government areas PG UIF TUBUF XJUI OP Ă YFE EBUF BT UP XIFO the next election would hold

Nwankwo

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FEATURES

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

Raising the Bar in Polio Eradication Initiatives To help Nigeria attain a polio-free status, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with six Northern states including Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe. The MoU, which was extended in 2018, has greatly enhanced the partner states' efforts to improve routine immunisation and possibly ensure eradication of polio in 2019. Peter Uzoho writes

Immunisation process at Bolori Lawanti community in Mala Kachalla PHC in Maiduguri Borno State

T

ucked away behind guinea corn fields in a rural area of Kura Local Government in Kano State, Rakauna settlement boasts of less than 500 inhabitants. However, for 25-year-old Hajara Hamisu, one of the rural dwellers, it was a happy day when a Health Worker, Balaraba Sanni came to immunise her three-month-old son, Muhammed against polio, yellow fever and other diseases.

At Rakauna settlement, a rural area under Dalili Ward in Kura LGA, 32 kilometres from Kano the state capital, Sanni, who works for Kura LG, held court for more than six hours, carrying out routine immunisation (RI) on children of rural dwellers from nearby settlements including Rakauna, Azore, Gidan Zango, Tsauni and Gidan Liman.

Both Sanni and Hajara Hamisu were full of appreciation; the former for her regular employment in a vocation she loves, and Hajara for her good luck in benefitting from free RI provided by the Kano State Government, in partnership with the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Hajara, who has five other children, including Hafsat Hamisu who got immunised at the nearby Azore health facility, commended the Kano State government and its MoU partners for the provision of the vaccines and promised to bring back her son Muhammed in four weeks’ time, for another round of RI. In the same vein, Balaraba Sanni, who works with the Ward Focal person, Yahaya Salisu, to immunise children at the Azore HF or on outreach to settlements under Dalili Ward, acknowledged the support of the ADF and the BMGF in the provision of vaccines and other logistics equipment and funding for RI and polio eradication in Kura LG and Kano State in general.

Historical Context To enhance RI and eradicate polio in Nigeria,

the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kano State government in 2012. The tripartite accord was meant to lapse in 2015 but was extended by one year. Kaduna state government also signed a similar agreement with both Foundations in 2015.

On January 20, 2016, six Northern States signed MoUs with the Foundations as well as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to promote RI to eliminate the polio virus completely by the year 2017. The governors

If this positive trajectory continues, then it is very likely that certiďŹ cation institutions will review the progress that Nigeria has made and the lack of wild polio virus transmission.Very likely, in the next few months, we will be certiďŹ ed a polio-free nation. It will be an unprecedented declaration in the life of Nigerians; a situation where no single child is paralysed due to wild polio virus

of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe States signed for their states, while Bill Gates, Aliko Dangote and US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle signed for their organisations.

The MoU, which focuses on PHC delivery, contributed to improvements in immunisation financing, community engagement and vaccine availability; to enable the six states to immunise 80 per cent of their target population with RI. On March 22, 2018, the six State governments signed extensions of the existing MoU with ADF and BMGF in Sokoto in a bid to improve on current efforts to get Nigeria certified polio free.

The MoU extension, which is to run from 2018 through 2022, aims at providing RI to prevent common childhood diseases and ensure a polio-free environment. It also represents the states’ broader ambitions to improve primary health care (PHC).

Polio Facts Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours.

The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine.

Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs. 1 in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralysed, five per cent to 10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilised.

Polio (poliomyelitis) mainly affects children under five years of age.

As long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting polio. Cases due to wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99 per cent since 1988, from an estimated 350,000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries then, to 22 reported cases

in 2017.

As a result of the global effort to eradicate the disease, more than 16 million people have been saved from paralysis. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life. In most countries, the global effort has expanded capacities to tackle other infectious diseases by building effective surveillance and immunisation systems.

Crucial CertiďŹ cation Nigeria, according to reports, is one of only three countries in the world with ongoing wild poliovirus transmission, alongside Afghanistan and Pakistan. The country is also affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. This is coupled with dwindling resources on the part of stakeholders to tackle the resurgence of polio.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has stated that Nigeria may be certified polio-free in 2019, if access to insecure areas in Borno State and some parts of the North-East, improves.

According to reports, the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Mr. Faisal Shuaib, said this in Abuja during the 36th meeting of the Expert Review Committee on Polio and RI in Nigeria on October 29, 2018.

The executive director said Nigeria was very close to obtaining a polio eradication certificate, adding that the country had gone over 24 months with very strong surveillance without a case of wild polio virus. Shuaib said the surveillance showed clearly that government was not missing any wild polio case in the country. “If this positive trajectory continues, then it is very likely that certification institutions will review the progress that Nigeria has made and the lack of wild polio virus transmission. Very likely, in the next few months, we will be certified a polio-free nation. It will be an unprecedented

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FEATURES declaration in the life of Nigerians; a situation where no single child is paralysed due to wild polio virus,’’ he said.

In view of the above, ADF, which is the private philanthropic organisation of Aliko Dangote, seeks to continuously contribute to increasing uptake of RI; contribute to eradicating polio – Nigeria being the last endemic country on the African continent; and strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) in order for the vaccines to be effectively delivered to the needy.

Vital Feedback On a recent spotlight trip by ADF to the six partner states of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Yobe, the remarkable progress made to eradicate polio in Northern Nigeria in particular and the country in general was showcased in the sharp increase in number of children presenting for RI (especially under-1 year olds) with a corresponding decline in the number of vaccine-preventable mortalities.

Other signs of progress noted in the ADF trip report, include the political will and counterpart funding by the state governments; capacity building of health workers, service providers and even traditional leaders in the gathering of quality data concerning newborns and eligible children, especially in hard-to-reach communities and settlements. Some states are now recording increase in RI coverage from less than 10 per cent to nearly 70 per cent.

Through the partnership agreements, technical support has been provided to the states in terms of cold chain stores for vaccines; storage and distribution by vans to Solar Direct Drives (SDDs) in each ward in the states; stipends for community leaders and Volunteer Community Mobilisers, in order to create awareness and sensitise caregivers and their wards; training and retraining on record keeping and financial accountability, among others.

One of the key impacts of the MoU was the greater involvement of traditional and religious rulers to help persuade resistant populations and encourage them to embrace RI to help protect their children and eradicate polio. The buy-in of the leaders has improved line-listing in the six states and increased response to immunisation exercises from state level all the way down to the settlement level; with better access to nomadic children and those in hard-to-reach communities.

In all the six states, there has been no new report of confirmed cases of wild polio virus for more than two years, which enhances Nigeria's quest to obtain polio-free status as planned nationally. However, there were few isolated cases of Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus (cVDPV) in Bauchi and Yobe States.

Also, the issue of inaccessible communities in Borno State (Abadam and Marte LGAs) and the island communities in Lake Chad area, are inhibiting complete eradication of polio in the Northern States, and by extension Nigeria.

Kano State has evolved from being the hub of polio virus in Nigeria and Africa to becoming a best practice state in the fight against polio, and has moved from being dependent on financial support from ADF and BMGF to full ownership of the RI process. Yobe, which was formerly largely inaccessible for RI, has benefitted from the MoU and has moved rapidly to tackle the polio threat. That state has now emerged as a best practice state. Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna

The new MoU, which runs from 2018 to 2022, has the potential to help ensure that Nigeria successfully eradicates the wild polio virus in the country and obtains polio-free certiďŹ cation in the nearest future as planned. The agreement, which enhances both state and national efforts, has added great value to the united efforts to eliminate the virus across the six states in particular and Nigeria in general

Health worker Balaraba Sanni counselling HajaraHamisu on RI in Rakauna

Baby Muhammed recieving immunisation from Balaraba Sanni at Rakauna settlement in Kano State as his mother Hajara Hamisu and sister Hafsat Hamisu look on and Yobe are also fighting against the scourge, according to the report.

The Emergency Operations Centres in each of the six partnership states, which are the coordinating centres on polio eradication activities, are also playing crucial roles to complement the states’ efforts and leverage on the MoU basket funds to help end polio in Nigeria.

The construction of 11 PHCs in seven LGAs in Kano State and two PHCs in two LGAs in Yobe State by the ADF also showcases hands-on involvement in infrastructure aside the financial and logistics support for RI in the states.

The foundation collated the feedback from the spotlight visit to the six MoU partner states and published the report in a book format titled, ‘Conquering Polio'. The full title of the book is 'Measuring the impact of the tripartite Agreement on Routine Immunisation and Polio Eradication between Aliko Dangote Foundation,

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Yobe States in Northern Nigeria’.

Next Steps The six Northern States, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Yobe, have greatly benefitted from the MoU partnership. The tripartite agreements have helped to strengthen routine immunisation and also provided technical, material and financial support to the partner state governments and their relevant agencies and stakeholders; with resultant rise in RI coverage for eligible children, including those in the hard-to-reach and inaccessible communities.

The new MoU, which runs from 2018 to 2022, has the potential to help ensure that Nigeria successfully eradicates the wild polio virus in the country and obtains polio-free certification in the nearest future as planned. The agreement,

which enhances both state and national efforts, has added great value to the united efforts to eliminate the virus across the six states in particular and Nigeria in general.

It is widely believed by stakeholders that sustained population immunity through RI remains key for polio eradication in Nigeria and Africa. Nigeria is on the cusp of being certified polio-free, with the support of ADF and BMGF. This has been achieved with the support of the six Northern MoU states, the National Emergency Response initiated in January 2018 by the NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Given the current physical, political and financial commitment of all stakeholders at various levels in the polio eradication, RI and PHC processes, Nigeria has the potential to finally eliminate the polio scourge in the nearest future, sooner than expected. This is in a step in the right direction.

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

A S

A T

REPO 10.08 % 9.17%

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

10.50% 12.38 % 12.63%

M A R C H S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

8 , 383.22% 0.08% 0.32%

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

2 0 1 9 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

7.35% 7.35%

EXCHANGE RATE N306.90/1US DOLLAR* ĚŠ

Quick Takes ZOLA Electric Appoints MD

INFRASTRUCTURE BOND

L-R: Chairman, North South Power Company, Mallam Ibrahim Aliyu; Vice Chairman, Olubunmi Peters; Team Lead, Capital Markets, United Capital Investment Banking, Solape Oguntayo and Group Executive Director, Sunny Anene, at the bond signing ceremony of North South Power Company’s N8.5 billion 15-year guaranteed Fixed-Rate Senior Green Infrastructure Bonds in Abuja‌ recently

FG Must Address ‘Pressure Points’in Economy, FSDH Says Obinna Chima Following the conclusion of the presidential election, analysts at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited believe there are pressure points in the economy that the federal government must quickly address to stimulate broad-based and inclusive growth.

According to the Lagos-based financial institution, the Nigerian economy has not been expanding enough to lift its citizens out of poverty.

Owing to this, the bank in a report stressed the need for the economy to expand faster than it is at the moment.

Providing insights on the report, the Head of Research and Strategy at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Ayodele Akinwunmi, listed the economic pressure points to include weak disposable income in the country; high unemployment rate; weak infrastructure development in the economy that may not support the growth ambition of the federal government; economic depression in the real estate sector; fragile foreign exchange market and weak revenue generation for

ECONOMY the federal government, which has led to large fiscal deficits.

Akinwunmi listed policy option to address the economic challenges to include the removal of all administrative delays in obtaining licences and approvals.

This, he stated includes titles to landed properties for building and agricultural purposes.

He urged the federal government to support the provision of long-term mortgage loans at concessionary terms for workers, in order to activate economic activities in the real estate sector in Nigeria Furthermore, he recommended investment in data generation in the solid mineral sector. “Government can sell the data to potential investors interested in the sector. This will reduce the risk inherent in this untapped sector of the Nigerian economy “Urgent restructuring, deliberate and consistent investments in the nation’s educational system to enable it provide relevant trainings that are needed in the modern digital age. “We observed critical skill gap in the nation’s educational

system, particularly in the public schools at all levels. The sector can create more jobs for teachers and administrators and can also attract foreign investments and save foreign exchange earnings. “There is the need for human capacity building in business management and leadership.

This must not be left to business schools, which are only affordable to a few people “Establishment of well-funded technical training centres in all local government areas in the country in conjunction with private sector operators,� he added.

In addition, Akinwunmi called for investment in infrastructure (through partnership with the private sector) that would reduce risks involved in agriculture and agro-allied industries.

He also advised the government to reduce import duties on imported manufactured cars.

This, according to Akinwunmi, would help avoid high cost associated with brand new cars in the country so that Nigerians are not pushed to buy fairly used vehicles with their associated negative environmental impacts. “While we understand the

need for the government to use the import duties to encourage investments in the local auto industry, a graduated import duty policy for a few years, say five years, will be appropriate “Investments in affordable public healthcare system to increase productivity of workers, reduce brain-drain and reduce foreign medical tourism with its associated drain on foreign exchange earnings “Adjustment of the electricity tariff to reflect current costs in the economy and to enable the sector attracts investments and guarantee efficient metering system “The removal of the ‘subsidy’ on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to free up more resources to critical sectors of the Nigerian economy and to drive competition among the operators and attract investment in the sector,� he added.

According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) needs to maintain its tight monetary policy stance to ensure price stability.

In addition, he said the CBN Continued on page 24

FX Market Gets Fresh $269.92m, CNY 31.34m Injection In continuation of its periodic intervention in the interbank segment of the foreign exchange market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last Friday, injected the sum of $269.92 million and CNY 31.34 million in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) of the foreign exchange market.

The dollar interventions were for customers in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors, while the CNY 31.34 million component was for payment of Renminbi-denominated

ECONOMY Letters of Credit for agriculture as well as raw materials .

Confirming the figures, the Bank’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said the level of stability in the market was commendable and would be sustained by the Bank.

Friday’s transaction was in addition to the $210 million injected into the Wholesale, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Invisibles segments of the

market on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

The naira exchanged at N357/$1 on Friday in the Bureau De Change segment of the market, while the Chinese Yuan, closed at N47/CNY1.

Citing the whopping $4 billion spent annually on importation of textile materials into the country, the CBN last week added all forms of textile materials to the list of items that are not eligible for foreign exchange from the official windows with immediate effect.

The apex bank has, however,

promised a financial intervention to textile manufacturers with the provision of funds at single digits rate, to refit, retool and upgrade their factories to enable them produce high quality textile materials for the local and export market.

Speaking at a meeting with stakeholders in the textile industry in Abuja, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the decision was critical towards reviving the moribund sector and creating jobs for Nigerians.

The board of ZOLA Electric, (formerly O Grid Electric), one of the leading distributor of renewable energy brand in Africa, have announced the appointment of Abdallah H. Khamis to the position of Managing Director (Nigeria).

Khamis, whose appointment takes immediate eect, would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of ZOLA’s smart storage and solar business in Nigeria, as well as driving the acceleration of the company’s growth in the continent.

He is the ďŹ rst African to be appointed to ZOLA Electric’s Global Leadership Team.

According to the Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, ZOLA Electric, Bill Lenihan, “Abdallah brings to the company his wide knowledge and wealth of experience having worked across Africa in senior leadership positions for blue-chip companies including the Coca – Cola Company, Royal Philips of Netherlands and Bharti Communication – Airtel Kenya. We’re thrilled to have him join ZOLA and leverage this experience to help deliver clean, aordable, reliable 24 hour power to Nigeria.â€?

Khamis is an international Senior Executive with multi-industry and cross-country experience in leading blue-chip organizations across 39 countries in Sub- Saharan Africa.

Khamis holds an MBA from the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US and is a Legatum Fellow of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, MIT. In addition, he holds a CertiďŹ cate in Negotiation from Harvard Law School, US and Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

Rwanda to Sell Stake in Cement Firm

Rwanda’s government aims to put its 49 per cent stake in the country’s biggest cement maker, Cimerwa, up for sale this month, the prime minister said on Saturday. The company, which is 51 per cent owned by South Africa’s PPC Limited, has an installed annual production capacity of 600,000 tonnes.

Reuters quoted him to have said: “We have asked our partners if they are interested and the timeline is one month,â€? Edouard Ngirente told a meeting of senior oďŹƒcials broadcast on national television. “By the end of this month we will auction (the stake).â€?

He said PPC had yet to specify if it was interested in the stake, which he gave no valuation for, adding that other buyers would be sought if necessary. A construction boom in Rwanda has driven up demand for cement as the government builds roads, power plants and a new international airport. Private developers have also been building new houses and oďŹƒce blocks. The head of Cimerwa told Reuters in July that demand for cement was growing at 7-8 percent annually as new building projects come up. Rwanda also imports cement from neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

Botswana Sees Lower Mineral Revenues

Diamond rich Botswana expects mineral revenues in the 2019/20 ďŹ scal year to drop by four per cent to 13.6 billion pula ($1.26 billion), due to a decline in royalties and dividends, a minerals ministry budget document showed onThursday. Mineral Resources Minister Eric Molale, said in the document that global diamond demand was showing signs of slowing down. Retail jewellery sales fell during the last quarter of 2018, he said, while polished prices continued to decline into the beginning of 2019, albeit at a slower rate. “Trading and prices of diamonds are expected to remain subdued during the ďŹ rst quarter of 2019 due to signiďŹ cant overstocking of small polished diamonds,â€? Reuters quoted Molale to have said in the document presented to parliament. Debswana, a joint venture between Anglo American’s De Beers and Botswana, produced 24.1 million carats of diamonds in 2018, a 6 percent jump from the previous year.

The company is the largest contributor to Botswana’s government revenues. Debswana, a joint venture between Anglo American’s De Beers and Botswana, produced 24.1 million carats of diamonds in 2018, a 6 percent jump from the previous year.

The company is the largest contributor to Botswana’s government revenues. LotďŹ Senhaji said the Nigerian plant would cost $1.5 billion and would have a total capacity of 1 million tonnes of ammonia.

OCPsignedaprotocolagreementinJunetobuildtheindustrialplatform with Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority.

“In 2018, our focus on staying nimble, strengthening customer relationships and driving our digital-first strategy paid off. We successfully navigated the pressures of our challenging and radically changing business environment, recorded growth across key financial indices and reaffirmed our position as one of the best performing and well managed financial institutions in Africa�

MD/CEO, GTBank Plc, Mr,

Continued on page 24

Segun Agbaje

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BUSINESSWORLD FG MUST ADDRESS ‘PRESSURE POINTS’ IN ECONOMY, FSDH SAYS

may also consider the removal of its multiple exchange rate system.

Continuing, the FSDH report projected that February 2019 inflation rate would drop marginally to 11.31 per cent, from 11.37 per cent in January, even as it anticipated that inflation to remain in double digits. “The external reserve dropped consistently in the month of February. However, we observed that the external reserves have been rising since the beginning of March largely driven by portfolio investment.

The current position of external reserves continues to provide short-term stability for the value of the naira. “Capital importation via Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) in the Investors’ and Exporters’ Foreign Exchange Window (I&E window) increased for the second consecutive month in February 2019. This provided support for the foreign exchange rate “The medium-term stability in the foreign exchange market will depend on the country’s foreign exchange receipts from both crude oil and non-oil products.

FX MARKET GETS FRESH $269.92M, CNY 31.34M INJECTION

He warned all FX dealers in the country to desist from granting any importer of textile material access to foreign currency in the Nigerian foreign exchange market.

He said going forward, the apex bank would adopt a range of other strategies that will make it difficult for recalcitrant smugglers to operate banking business in Nigeria, adding that details of the proposed strategies would be unfolded in due course. “Effective immediately, the CBN hereby places the access to FX for all forms of textile materials on the FX restriction list,� Emefiele announced.

However, he noted that the apex bank would initially support the importation of cotton lint for use in textile factories, with a caveat that such importers will begin to source all their cotton needs locally beginning from 2020.

NEWS

AMCON, CBN, Transcorp, Others Preach Gender Equality Chinedu Eze, Emma Okonji, Nume Ekeghe

balance.

Fidelity Bank Plc stated that gender balance drives positive growth, adding that the bank has 60 per cent of women on its executive board.

Also, in commemoration of the IWD 2019, Dana Air disclosed that it will be supporting the Women in Media Development initiative 2019 and Women Entrepreneur Fair, scheduled to hold on March 29 and 30, 2019 at the Justice Idris Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna Niger State.

Dana Air in a statement said the Women Entrepreneur Fair (WEF), an initiative of the Airmingle Media Ltd was aimed at training, empowering and showcasing female entrepreneurs, women in business and encouraging them to come together and share their experiences in order to shape the thought of young women in business. The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Overland Airways Limited, Mrs. Aanu Benson, called for increased women participation in the aviation industry. Benson noted that the industry was fast expanding and over the next decade there would be critical need for pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers and other skilled professionals and women must play a significant role in ensuring that these needs are effectively met.

NestlĂŠ disclosed that it has launched an ambitious Gender Balance Acceleration Plan ‘From Aspiration to Action,’as part

of its activities to highlight the IWD 2019. The world’s largest food and beverage company believes that a gender balanced workforce makes business sense as it helps to boost innovation and performance, which as a result, better serves the needs of its consumers. NestlÊ’s Global CEO Mark Schneider announced the company’s acceleration plan to make gender balance a priority, based on three pillars: bold leadership, an empowering culture and a set of enabling practices. Similarly, WorldRemit and Access Bank celebrated the contribution Nigerian women living and working abroad make to their home country, with new data revealing that the gender gap for sending digital remittances to Nigeria is rapidly closing. As remittances continue to grow, women are making an increasing contribution to the country’s development, the report disclosed. A new WorldRemit research revealed that the the proportion of females sending digital money transfers to Nigeria via WorldRemit had grown by 10 per cent within the last five years, with 37 per cent of WorldRemit’s customers that sent money to Nigeria being female, compared to 27 per cent in 2014. Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Victor Etuokwu said: “At Access Bank, we are very passionate about women. Hence, we have products and services that are

tailor-made for women because we recognize the importance of their role in the family and the society at large. We have now taken this a step further by partnering with WorldRemit, to ensure that women outside Nigeria can seamlessly remit money to their families or for their businesses back in Nigeria. “As industry leaders in the use of technology to provide financial services, we are delighted that sending and receiving money from anywhere across the world can now be done on our platforms without any glitches, within the shortest possible time.�

On its part, Heritage Bank Plc stated that making female empowerment central to organisation’s business strategies is not only critical to growth, but to building a sustainable and flourishing global economy.

The MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, who said the commemoration was a call to action for driving gender balance globally, stressed that presently gender bias remains a significant obstacle to global progress, and it is particularly acute in the workplace.

He said that organisations with greater gender equality are more innovative, generous, and profitable. Also, Spectranet 4GLTE joined the rest of the world in celebrating the 2019 IWD, where it pledged to offer more support for the women folk to enable

them do more with technology.

Worried about the few number of women on Spectranet network in Nigeria, which is currently put at seven per cent of the total number of Spectranet’s customers in Nigeria, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ajay Awasthi, said with the launch of its sleek and trendy ACE MiFi device, which has a feminine appeal, the company was sure of increasing the percentage of women on its network to 25 per cent by the end of the year.

Crafted with women at heart, ACE MiFi empowers them by connecting to the world with seamless internet access and realise their true potential. Other top-of-the-line features of the ACE MiFi are; parental control, sharing of data amongst users, more than 10 connected users, unmatched working battery life of up to 10 hours and memory card slot expandable up to 64GB. Speaking at the event, Awasthi said: “Spectranet recognises the role played by the women in bringing about deep societal changes and the sacrifices they make to ensure quality of life for each one of us. It is with this acute sense of reverence that we are commemorating the International Women’s Day. Being a technology company, it is an honour and privilege to help create more opportunities for the enterprising women of Nigeria by ensuring faster, affordable and reliable access to internet.�

While suggesting ways to revive the nation’s textile industry beyond the ban on sale of forex to textile importers and the proposed single digit credit, the NECA boss argued that, “efforts should not be spared in policing our borders.� “The porous nature of the borders has made smuggling a lucrative enterprise and this could derail the laudable effort of the CBN in supporting the textile industry,� he added. “A coordinated effort by Customs, Immigration and

other related Agencies involved in keeping the borders secure will go a long way in protecting not only the textile industry but the manufacturing industry as a whole,� he said.

Olawale, said organised businesses are urging the federal government not to relent in its efforts at creating a favourable environment for businesses to thrive.

He noted that an Executive Order in this regard would not be out of place.

In commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD), the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other organisations have called for gender equality.

They made this call in separate statement made available to THISDAY. The other organisations included Spectranet, Fidelity Bank, Heritage Bank, Transcorp Hotels, Dana Air, Access Bank, WorldRemit, Nestle and Overland.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AMCON, Mr. Ahmed Kuru, called on parents to educate the girl child to enable them stand the opportunity to compete with their male counterparts in the financial services industry and other fields of employment hitherto dominated by men.

Addressing the staff at the brief ceremony to mark the day at the corporate head office of the Corporation in Abuja at the weekend, Kuru who was represented by Mr. Aminu Ismail, AMCON’s Executive Director, Operations, noted that the financial services industry was fast expanding just as the population is growing meaning that over the next decade there would be critical need for skilled professionals in the sector, and that women must play a significant role in ensuring that these needs are effectively met.

On his part, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele, lauded the contributions of women at the Bank, saying closing gender gap was part of the CBN’s corporate strategy. Emefiele, who noted that achieving gender equality must go beyond voicing the slogan, urged all and sundry to take deliberate steps towards closing the gender gap, something he said the Bank had taken seriously by integrating it into its corporate strategy.

He described this year’s theme, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change� as apt, given the global wave of change towards finding more smart and innovative technological methods of achieving positive change.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Transcorp Hotels Plc, Mrs. Owen Omogiafo, also stressed the need for more women at managerial levels in organisations. She advised women L-R: Vice-President, Moven, Andrew Clark; Executive Director, Inlaks, Olufemi Muraino; International Business, Moven, Anil Uttamsingh; to be focused, hardworking and Managing Director, Inlaks, Femi Adeoti and Global Revenue Officer, Moven, Kesh Talwar, during courtesy visit to Inlaks Head Office by always work towards work-life Moven, in Lagos‌ recently ETOP UKUTT

COURTESY VISIT

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

NECA Backs Ban of FX for Textile

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Chris Uba

Comms/e-Business Editor

The Director-General of the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Timothy Olawale, has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for banning the sale of forex to importers of textile materials.

Olawale, who made this commendation, when he addressed the media in Lagos, at the weekend, said, “the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop the sale of forex to importers

Goddy Egene Jonathan Eze Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Linda Eroke (Labour) Eromosele Abiodun (Cap Mkt) Ejiofor Alike (Energy) James Emejo (Nation’s Capital) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (Maritime)

of textile materials is a welcome development. “This decision has the potential of breathing life to the textile industry in Nigeria. The over US$4 billion expended on the importation of textile materials only serves to deprive other critical sectors the much needed foreign exchange.�

Reflecting on the impact of the textile industry in the past years, Olawale noted that, “the first modern textile mill in Nigeria, Kaduna Textile Mill, was started

in 1956 in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria and between then and 1987, there were 37 textile firms in the country, operating about 716,000 spindles and 17,541 looms.�

This period, he said, was “indeed, the glorious era of the textile industry. With an annual growth rate of 65 per cent between 1985 and 1991, while employing about 25 per cent of workers in the manufacturing sector, the textile industry, then, could be called the pride of Nigeria.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARKET REPORT

NSE All-Share Index Appreciates 0.31% as Stock Market Recovers Goddy Egene

were Zenith Bank (34.8 million shares), Access Bank Plc (29.2 million shares) and FBN Holdings (29 million) while top traded by value were Zenith Bank (N859.7 million), GTBank (N850.1 million) and FBN Holding (N235.9 million).

In line with the trend, performance across sectors was bearish as all sectors closed in the red. The NSE Insurance Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index with 1.0 per cent apiece. The NSE Industrial Goods Index shed 0.4 per cent, while the NSE Consumer Goods Index lost 0.2 per cent. Also, the NSE Banking Index closed the day 0.1 per cent lower.

The announcement of corporate earnings and declaration of dividends by more companies as well as the abating political risks combined to lift the Nigerian stock market last week compared with a decline the previous week.

The equities market measured by the benchmark indicator, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (NSE ASI) appreciated by 0.31 per cent last week, compared with a decline of 2.12 per cent the preceding week. In the same vein, market capitalisation rose by same margin to close higher at N11.905 trillion. However, while other indices finished higher the NSE Insurance, NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Oil/Gas, NSE Lotus II and NSE Industrial Goods indices depreciated by 1.30 per cent, 1.02 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 1.09 per cent and 1.72 per cent respectively.

In their comments on the market performance, analyst at Cordros Capital Plc said: “We reiterate our view that the blend of a compelling valuation story, together with positive macroeconomic picture leaves scope for a market recovery in the medium term. However, we guide investors to tread the cautious trading path in the short term.�

Daily Performance The market had opened on Monday, which was also the first trading month of March on a positive note as bellwether stocks lifted the NSE ASI by 0.95 per cent to close higher at 32,129.94, while market capitalisation added N112.9 billion to close at N12.98 trillion yesterday.

In all, 25 stocks appreciated compared with 10 others that depreciated.

McNichols Plc led the price gainers’ table with 9.8 per cent, followed by Cutix Plc with 9.7 per cent, while NPF Microfinance Bank Plc garnered 9.7 per cent. Wema Bank Plc and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc chalked up 9.0 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively.

Zenith Bank Plc and Dangote Cement Plc, which have declared dividends for 2018 financial year, were also among the price gainers. Equally, Access Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc, whose shareholders wet to endorse the merger of the two financial institutions appreciated in price.

Conversely, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc led the price losers with 9.6 per cent, trailed by Livestock Feeds Plc with 8.9 per cent. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc shed 7.1 per cent, just as Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc, United Capital Plc and UAC of Nigeria Plc went down by 5.4 per cent, 2.9 per cent and 2/.9 per cent respectively.

However, activity level reduced as volume and value traded dipped 33.0 per cent and 30.3 per cent to 227.8 million shares and N2.6 billion respectively. The most traded stocks by volume were Diamond Bank (33.0 million shares), UBA (31.1 million shares) and Zenith Bank Plc (28.9 million shares) while the top traded stocks by value were Zenith Bank (N703.1 million), Dangote Cement (N510.8 million) and GTBank (N391.0 million).

In terms of sectoral performance, three of five sectors tracked closed in the green.

The NSE Banking Index rose 2.7 per cent, while the NSE Consumer Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index advanced 0.4 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively. The market sustained the positive performance on Tuesday, gaining 0.14 per cent to close at 32,173.66, just as market capitalisation added N16.3 billion to close higher at N12 trillion. Gains in GTBank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank Plc drove the market northwards.

Similarly, activity level strengthened

as value and volume traded advanced by 32.5 per cent and 75.8 per cent to N3.5 billion and 400.5 million shares respectively.

The most active stocks on Tuesday in value terms were GTBank (N1.2 billion, Zenith Bank Plc (N65.0 million), FBN Holdings (N359 million) while Diamond Bank (119.8 million shares), FBN Holding Plc (44.3 million units) and UBA (40.8 million units) led by volume.

In terms of sector performance only two of five indices tracked closed in the green. The NSE Banking Index rose 0.92 per cent due to buying interest in GTBank, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc

and Zenith Bank Plc. Also, the NSE Consumer Goods Index advanced 0.3 per cent higher following gains in Dangote Flour MillsPlc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. On the negative side, the NSE Insurance Index shed 0.3 per cent while the NSE Industrial Goods Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index went down by 0.3 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

The market fell on Wednesday as profit taking set in after three days of bullish performance. Consequently, the NSE ASI lost 0.16 per cent to close at 32,121.74, while market capitalisation shed N19.4 billion to close at N12 tril-

lion. In the same vein, trading volume and value fell by 48 per cent and 19.6 per cent to 208.3 million shares and N2.8 billion.

The losses were extended into the second day on Thursday with the NSE ASI declining by 0.2 as a result of depreciation by Dangote Cement Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and GTBank Plc. Market capitalisation shed N26.9bn to N11.9 trillion, thereby moderating the year-to-date growth to 2.0 per cent.

But activity level was mixed as volume traded advanced by 4.9 per cent to 218.5 million shares while value traded fell 1.7 per cent to N2.7 billion. The top traded stocks by volume

Market Turnover A look at the market turnover, investors traded of 1.290 billion shares worth N13.873 billion in 17,307 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the exchange in contrast to a total of 1.752 billion shares valued at N19.681 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 22,319 deals.

But the Financial Services Industry remained the most traded with 1.084 billion shares valued at N11.612 billion traded in 11,169 deals. Hence, the sector contributed 84.06 per cent and 83.7 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 57.699 million shares worth N93.347 million in 810 deals, while the third place was Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 56.938 million shares worth N938.881 million in 2,627 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely, Zenith Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc accounted for 460.632 million shares worth N5.754 billion in 4,087 deals, contributing 35.70 per cent and 41.47 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 2,971 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N766,883.30 executed in seven deals compared with a total of 101,254 units valued at N577,835.06 that was transacted the preceding week in 19 deals.

Similarly, a total of 15,496 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N15.750 million were traded last week in 12 deals compared with a total of 25,740 units valued at N26, 597 million transacted two weeks ago in 22 deals Price Gainers and Losers Meanwhile, 24 equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 26 in the previous week, while 37 equities depreciated in price, lower than 38 equities of the previous week. Wema Bank Plc led the price gainers with 9.7 per cent followed by Cutix Plc with 9.7 per cent, just as Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc chalked up 8.7 per cent.

International Breweries Plc and NPF Microfinance Bank Plc garnered 8.0 per cent and 7.6 per cent, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Dangote Flour Mills Plc appreciated by 5.7 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.

Other top price gainers included: GTBank Plc (5.1 per cent); WAPIC Insurance Plc (5.0 per cent) and Transcorp Plc (4.8 per cent).

Conversely, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc led the price losers with 14.8 per cent, trailed by PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc with 13.3 per cent. Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc shed 12.5 per cent, just as Livestock Feeds Plc and Academy Press Plc went down by 11.9 per cent and 10 per cent in that order.

Other top price losers were: Etranzact Plc (9.9 per cent); University Press Plc (9.7 per cent); Red Star Express Plc (9.0 per cent); Japaul Oil & Gas Plc (8.7 per cent); and United Capital Plc (8.3 per cent).

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African Airlines Report 5.1 TrafďŹ c Rise Chinedu Eze African airlines saw January traffic rise 5.1 per cent, up from 3.8 per cent in December.

However, concerns have continued about the region’s largest economies, South Africa and Nigeria.

This was disclosed in the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s global passenger traffic results for January 2019, showing traffic (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 6.5 per cent compared to January 2018.

IATA, noted that this was the fastest growth in six months. January capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) rose 6.4 per cent, and load factor inched up 0.1 percentage point to 79.6 per cent. “2019 has started on a

positive note, with healthy passenger demand in line with the 10-year trend line.

However, market signals are mixed, with indications of weakening business confidence in developed economies and a more nuanced picture across the developing world,�

IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac said.

International passenger demand rose 6.0 per cent in January compared to the same month last year, which was up from a 5.3 per cent rise in December year-overyear. All regions recorded growth, led by Europe for a fourth consecutive month.

Capacity increased 5.8 per cent and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage point to 79.8 per cent.

European carriers’ international traffic climbed

7.7 per cent in January compared to the year-ago period, down from an 8.6 per cent annual increase in December. This moderation reflected uncertainty over the region’s economic situation, including lack of clarity over Brexit. Capacity rose 8.8 per cent and load factor fell 0.9 percentage point to 80.3 per cent.

Asia-Pacific carriers recorded a demand increase of 7.1 per cent compared to January 2018, solidly above the 5.0 per cent growth in December.

Capacity also rose by 5.1 per cent, and load factor surged 1.5 percentage points to 81.7 per cent, second highest among the regions.

Healthy regional growth is being underpinned by rising incomes and an increase in the number of airport pairs.

Stanbic IBTC Bank Introduces Savings Product Nume Ekeghe Stanbic IBTC Bank has urged customers to take advantage of its Max Yield Savings Account (MYSA).

In a statement made available, the bank, said MYSA is a high interest paying account that pays interest at fixed deposit rate (currently up to 6.2% per annum) on savings balances of N100,000 and above.

This, it stated increases the interest returns enjoyed on the account in excess of the regular savings account rate.

The product is one of the bank’s bouquet of products aimed at providing medium savers who may not have the large amount required to open fixed deposit accounts the benefit of both fixed and

savings accounts in one account, the bank added.

Head, Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nkolika Okoli, said the product was introduced to help customers achieve their savings and investment objectives. According to her, in line with the retail banking drive of the Stanbic IBTC Group and the financial inclusion policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the bank would continuously explore ways to develop financial solutions that are relevant to the financial and economic aspirations of Nigerians. “Max Yield was developed to ensure customers get better returns on their savings, which we believe will help them achieve their savings and investment objectives in a disciplined and profitable

way. Although one of the set objectives of Max Yield is maximizing returns on savings/investments, funds invested or saved in this account are left readily available and accessible to the account holders.� “With the rich experience and expertise the bank has as a member of the Stanbic IBTC Group, we are determined to churn out innovative products and services that are not only relevant to the economic aspirations of Nigerians but also that will help them achieve those aspirations much faster,� she added.

Max Yield is an investment account that enables customers to save in a regular and disciplined way for future need or for specific purposes and projects.

SPAR Wins Brand Award Peter Uzoho SPAR, has emerged winner of the Best Retail and Superstore Brand award for 2019.

The award presented to SPAR at the third edition of the West Africa Brands Excellence Awards held in Lagos recently, was in recognition of its service to Nigerian consumers and the great value addition the brand has brought to West African sub-region over the years.

The annual award organised by the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN), was aimed at identifying, recognising, and rewarding companies that are renowned for introducing best branding management practices across West African.

Speaking at the event, the Registrar/Chief Executive of IBMN, Mr. Desmond Esorougwe, described the selection of SPAR as the

outcome of a study which placed the brand ahead in the retail industry in Nigeria. “SPAR Nigeria is renowned for its positive impacts on the lives of consumers, its philanthropic gestures and the provision of innovative products and services,�

Esorougwe said.

Commenting on the award, the Marketing Head, SPAR Nigeria, Mr. John Goldsmith said: “SPAR is glad to receive Best Retail and Superstore Brand 2019 award. SPAR is grateful to the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria, the organisers of the Awards for putting together a noble platform for Brands to be recognised across the West African sub-region. We are excited by this award and we see it as an incentive to continually improve the brand by giving the utmost satisfaction to our customers across Nigeria.�

He described the award as “an honor, especially to

the members of staff, who are relentlessly building the brand in Nigeria. We promise to continually provide topnotch products and service for Nigerians and we will equally support the economy of Nigeria by employing her teeming youthful population.�

He added that other awards won by the company previous years included the 2018 Outstanding Retail Brand of the Year Awards by Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards; African Quality Achievement Awards and the Brand of the Year 2016-2017; and Supermarket Nigeria by World Branding Awards, London, among others.

SPAR is guided by its philosophy, ‘My Nigeria, My SPAR’, which is a reflection of its total belief in Nigeria, and has aligned its business practices to the larger objective of being a premier catalyst in Nigeria’s growth story.

INSIDE BROAD STREET

InvestorsPosition forN89bn TreasuryBillsAuction

Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will this week auction treasury bills worth N89.50 billion.

A breakdown of the debt instrument to be sold by the regulator includes 91-day bills worth N5 billion; 182-day bills worth N14 billion and 364-day bills worth N70.50 billion.

Analysts at Cowry Assets Management Limited anticipated that the stop rates of the instruments would moderate in accordance with recent trend which had seen the short term papers being highly sought for by investors especially as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflows was being anticipated.

Also, maturing bills worth N215.86 billion, expected to hit the market this week, was expected to drive down interbank rates.

The CBN has maintained the pace of open market operations (OMOs) in recent times, as it held three auctions last week, for instruments worth a total sum of N645.8 billion across tenors between 91-days to 192-days at marginal rates between 11.9 per cent (on the shorter tenor instruments), to 13.48 per cent (on the longer tenor instruments).

Given the overriding aim of the CBN to keep price levels moderate, analysts anticipated that OMOs would continue apace with recent trends to limit the possibility of speculative attacks on the naira, as system liquidity was expected to be buoyed by OMO maturities worth N88.4 billion.

In the secondary treasury bills market, the average yield increased significantly by 0.8 per cent to settle at 13.9 per cent, as investors sold off instruments in the week to partake in the OMO auctions given the more attractive discount rates on instruments auctioned.

Consequent on the improved system liquidity during the week, money market rates - open buy back (OBB) and overnight (OVN) rates –pared to 9.2 per cent and 10.1 per cent respectively, from 16.3 per cent and 17.4 per cent recorded in the prior week.

Forex Market The naira traded within tight bands (N360.00 – N361.00/US) last week as the CBN sustained its weekly intervention to ensure liquidity and stability of the exchange rate across all segments of the market. Although the central bank’s intervention put pressure on the reserves pre- presidential election, a marginal uptick in the foreign reserves to US$42.5 billion, which has largely been driven by foreign portfolio inflows into the fixed income market, was recorded last week.

Analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited, which disclosed this in a separate report, noted that based on capital inflows and sustained CBN interventions, the naira traded flat at the parallel market and appreciated on the I&E window by N1.22, to close the week at N360.46/US$1, from the N360.80/US$1 it was the previous week. On the other hand, the CBN spot rate depreciated

15kobo to close at N306.90/US$1. “In the near term, we expect the naira to remain at current bands and any pressures muted as the CBN continues its weekly interventions. “We also anticipate the pace of capital inflows to be sustained in the short term provided polity risk subsides and rate hikes in systemically important central banks remain on hold,�

Afrinvest stated.

Bond Market After weeks of rally in the bond market, sentiment turned bearish as the market appeared to have settled, Afrinvest disclosed.

The average yield on sovereign bonds settled at 14.3 per cent at the end of the week, up 23 basis points, from the preceding week, as most bonds recoded relatively higher yields week-on-week. “We expect yields to further moderate in the coming months in line with long term expectations that investors would return to the market post-elections, while the performance of the equities market should remain pressured till the polity risk subsides,� it added.

The buying activities in the Sub-Saharan African sovereign Eurobonds market picked up in the week, as the average yield on the instruments pared by 13 basis points, to 8.24 per cent. Similarly, the yields on the Nigeria Sovereign Eurobonds declined, paring by seven basis points to settle the average yield to 8.22 per cent.

The largest increase in yields was recorded on the Tanzania Eurobond, which recorded an increase of 1.5 per cent to settle at 5.3 per cent, while the largest decline was recorded on the Mozambique Eurobond which pared by 1.7 per cent to settle at 12.7 per cent.

Also, Nigeria Sovereign Eurobonds recorded a moderate increase in Ask-yield, which settled two basis points, higher than the previous week at 6.9 per cent. “We expect activities in the SSA Eurobonds market to remain in line with the current trend in the coming week. “The direction of activities in the corporate Eurobonds market mirrored the SSA market, as the average yield pared by two basis points to settle at 7.4 per cent. “The yield on the Diamond Bank 2019 bond continued to pare, declining by 45 basis points to settle at an Ask-yield of 13.7 per cent, as the bond approaches its maturity on the 21st of May 2019. “On the other hand, the largest increase in yield was witnessed on the 9.25 Access 2021 bond, which is similarly approaching it’s Call date on the 24th of June 2019. “We expect activities to mirror this trend in the coming weeks as polity risk subsides, and investors focus on growth prospects for the country and companies,� it explained.

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27

Nnoka: Businesses Facing Increased Risks The President of the Risk Management Association of Nigeria, Mr. Magnus Nnoka, in his maiden interview since his election, expresses optimism that after the general elections, the economy will witness increased economic activities. Nume Ekeghe presents the excerpts: There are reports that the level of nonperforming loans (NPLs) in the banking sector is still high, how best do you think banks can address this challenge?

It may appear too hasty to make this conclusion at this point, in the new year. However, we saw that the NPL ratio in the banking industry was on the upward trend for most part of last year-2018, even on the back of timid growth in the aggregate lending portfolio to the private sector. The question however is around what we should expect to see NPL this year. My view is that we would likely see lower NPL ratio based on some expectations around some macroeconomic indices.

But before we guess into the future, let us take a step back. Part of the reasons for huge NPL in the past few years could be traced to the challenges witnessed in major sectors namely- construction industry and energy sector and more specifically the downstream oil and gas sector and the impact of that loan portfolio in the books of banks. However, some reprieve was seen when substantial stock of this portfolio was settled by the government via issuance of promissory note late last year.

So, banks with impaired loans in these sectors in their books began this year with lower figure of NPL. Another favorable factor is optimism on further recovery of the economy. Although the national election has taken center stage since the beginning of the year, I have the believe that in spite of any hiccups that may arise in the electoral process, the outcome will provide direction and some measure of predictability for investment decisions.

Therefore, the second part of the year would witness high tempo of economic activities including increased demand for credit facilities by the businesses and consumers. Banks will certainly respond positively to the demand in order to post profit, given my projection that it would become more attractive than fixed income trading. On overall, I expect lower NPL volume in the banking industry this year.

But generally, what is your outlook for Nnoka the banking sector?

The business environment in Nigeria in the response that addresses specific challenges. first six months would be dominated by the political environment with its inherent apLending in the sector appears to be on prehension, uncertainty and short-term mindset the decline, how can this be enhanced? in business considerations. Thus, the banking Lending by the banking sector should be sector will face two halves of the year with different operating business environments.

The first half would be marked by cautious business decisions; safety of investment will be the primary consideration. We have seen this in the portfolio of most banks which proportionately skewed towards risk free fixed income instruments. The second half of the year is expected to witness increased risk-taking activities by banks. This period would also see policy shifts no matter the political party that is in government and this would bear on key macroeconomic parameters that would present new risks and opportunities to the banking sector.

What challenges do you envisage this election year and what strategies would you suggest tackling same?

Nigeria has always gone through national elections, and it has always been preceded by tensions of all sorts. However, more remarkably, given the structure of our economy where heavy reliance is placed on capital inflows and portfolio investors, we have seen that these inflows are being delayed until the conclusion of the elections. Businesses are also facing increased risks due to insecurity in some locations and inability to reach timely decisions particularly with public sector counter parties. I am not sure silo-approach can effectively tackle these challenges rather most institutions are expected to take specific risk

Today ďŹ scal and monetary policies as well as other aspects of public governance are prone to sub-optimisation because of our silo approach in planning and execution.

Some of the policies and actions of government agencies work are at cross purposes. An enterprise risk management approach under the proposed body should enable us manage effectively the various risks we face as a country from a helicopter view point

seen from two perspectives. Most times people tend to see the lending activities of banks from what goes to the private sector only, and recently this has led to a perception of thanks not doing enough lending. However, when we consider the huge funding the public sector has raised in the last few years, the narration should change. The argument rather in some circles is the negative impact of huge public sector borrowing in terms of crowding out the private sector. Having said this, we should appreciate that banks are set up to facilitate financial intermediation hence they need to lend in order to make returns to investors. I think the challenge most banks face in lending is signing on quality credit or borrower’s ability in meeting the risk acceptance criteria for accessing loans. This is not also to rule out the challenges borrowers face in meeting certain lending conditions and of course relative cost of financing which can still be considered high particularly when you look at some economic sectors. I, therefore think that some of the measures to enhance lending will require improving quality of the obligors. Among issues to be addressed are encouraging strong corporate governance, transparent financial reporting on the part of borrowers as well as strengthening regulatory and judicial system for loan disputes settlement.

A culture of credit discipline, information asymmetry and self-disclosure are critical elements of any environment that seek to enhance credit creation activities Now that CBN has announced plans to introduce stiffer measures for banks, what will be the function of risk managers in

various banks to ensure that this does not impact negatively on the bottom-line of their respective ďŹ nancial institutions?

First, I do not see the measures that CBN are introducing as stiffer measures, rather they are more or responses to emerging risks in the business environment. Let us not forget that globally, the banking industry is probably the most regulated economic sector. The risk management environment is very dynamic.

The products and services as well as the channels the banks are deploying today to reach their customers have witnessed very significant transformation in Nigeria in the last one decade. These changes obviously introduce new risks which must be effectively managed hence the intervention of CBN through various regulations and policies. Risk managers at the banks have a responsibility to complement the efforts of the CBN in minimising impact of the various emerging risks. Thus, from strategic view point, whilst the CBN is focusing on minimising the impact of systemic risk issues that could adversely impact the economy, Risk managers in their respective institutions are expected within the risk universe to take similar measures to optimise alternatives in order to increase value of the institution.

As the country is experiencing macroeconomic challenges, which areas should risk managers focus on to forestall banks’ failure?

Bank’s failure can be precipitated from two principal sources - from outside - this CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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NNOKA: THE SECOND PART OF THE YEAR WOULD WITNESS HIGH TEMPO OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES management agency in the public sector.

Today fiscal and monetary policies as well as other aspects of public governance are prone to sub-optimisation because of our silo approach in planning and execution.

Some of the policies and actions of government agencies work are at cross purposes.

An enterprise risk management approach under the proposed body should enable us manage effectively the various risks we face as a country from a helicopter view point.

The association is also working on few other initiatives which I would not want to share at this point in time, but one thing is certain, we are determined as a body to create the awareness and environment that either in our corporate or private lives should help us manage proactively on day-to day bases the various risks that challenge our existence and the achievement of set objectives.

reflects a bank’s failure or inability to respond effectively to a contagion effect of macroeconomic challenges or financial meltdown.

We witnessed this across the globe during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The second source is from within, and this often emanate from issues around poor decision-making, which could be borne out of capacity deficiency across board, lack of best practice, lack of risk management, absence of corporate governance and inordinate ambition to out-compete, amongst others.

Now, notwithstanding the source, banks must first see their role as going beyond financial intermediation. Once this is done, the two key areas risk managers should focus on to forestall bank failure are enthroning strong corporate governance and enabling appropriate risk culture. Corporate governance defines a bank’s resolve to protect the interest of all stakeholders. As hard as this may seem, the process ensures that the institution is standing on structures that can withstand different conditions including down times. Related to corporate governance is the bank’s risk culture. Just as culture defines an ethnic group, a bank’s risk culture ensures all stakeholders are clear on the values, norms and artefacts that drive the institution. Sadly, some big corporates, not just banks in Nigeria today cannot clearly say what artefacts represent their risk culture. In this sense, I am not speaking of existence of well packaged and documented frameworks that no one has bothered to read, rather, I am talking of the day to day reality that is expressed in decision-making process, risk appetite, risk interpretation, authority, consequence management etc. Show me a bank that pay lip service to corporate governance and risk culture, and I will point to you a bank that is on a road to failure.

What are the challenges risk managers face in discharging their duties and what is the way forward?

The challenges risk managers face on their duties significantly derive from the way key stakeholders, namely the board and executive management see the role of risk management in the organisation. I joined risk management role over two decades ago when it was seen as where you keep staff you want to ‘punish’ for any reason. Although this perception has significantly changed, however some institutions still see the role as purely a control function and in extreme cases business stoppers. Where this judgement exits, it makes the job of a risk manager more challenging than where they are seen as strategic partners or where strong risk management practices exit.

Overall, most risk managers contend with the challenge of being ahead of the business team in proactively identifying emerging risk issues and convincing decision makers to see the flip side of their actions, thus creating that risk-return balance in decision and achieving buy-in of relevant stakeholders who have other valid dominating drives could be a tough task for any risk manager. My approach and advice is for risk managers to work from the point of demonstrating the benefits of risk management, and the easiest way to do this is to buttress these with facts and figures. Almost all benefits of effective risk management today can be quantified either from internal or external experience; in this way challenges on the job can be

As a new president what changes are you bringing to the association?

The focus of the association is very clear, so it may be difficult or inappropriate for me as the new president to claim or desire to bring certain changes for the sake of change, or as we understand it in our environment, when a new leadership takes over, be it in public or private Institution. Having said this, let me quickly point out that I have been part of the leadership structure of the association in the last one decade on different capacities, and played key roles in the strategic growth aspirations of the association. For us, we are still on a journey. My tenure as the president, working with my executive council would focus on achieving and strengthening most of the initiatives my predecessors started given that they are well thought-out programs.

Maybe when we have achieved most of the earmarked programs, we can begin to talk about new one or changes. This is however not to say that where certain changes become immediately imperative, we would not respond accordingly.

Nnoka better managed.

Going forward, what should we expect from your association?

As I said earlier, RIMAN as a professional association shall continue to focus on three major areas namely - up-skilling risk management capacity to support the various economic sectors, risk management advocacy and creating a risk-aware society.

In the area of capacity building, today we are running a certification and educational program with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the University of Lagos respectively. We are currently discussing with other partners to widen the opportunities

across the country. We want to build a crop of young risk management professionals right from higher institutions and this would be a departure from what we have been used to seeing, where people only become aware of the discipline in the course of their career.

Going forward, we are making concerted efforts to increase the appreciation of risk management practices beyond the financial services. Currently corporate and individual membership of the association cuts across all economic sectors.

However, we would want to see a strong entrenchment of risk management practices in public institutions and agencies. We are strong on the establishment of a national risk

What has been the association’s contribution towards the growth of the economy?

RIMAN has been in existence formally for the last two decades. Within this period, it has championed and remained steadfast with its primary goals of risk management advocacy and capacity building. We led the advocacy and created platform for the establishment of private credit bureaus as we have them today.

Such agencies are very vital to support sound credit judgement to enable credit creation activities in any economy. We have been at the forefront in building strong risk management environment beyond the financial services sector where we started through formal training programs and public workshop/seminars. In the last couple of years, we have extended our risk awareness and capacity building through separate certification and academic collaboration programs with the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

We are currently holding discussions with other potential partners to reach most parts of the country. The association has also been working closely with the various regulatory institutions in some policy formulation that support economic activities. In doing all these, we are clear that an economy can only grow where decision makers take risk informed decisions.

Fidelity Bank CEO Makes Case for Reading Culture Oluchi Chibuzor In line with Fidelity Bank Plc’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), the bank’s Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, joined the rest the world in celebrating the 2019 World Book’s Day, with pupils drawn from public schools in Lagos state.

The event was also in celebration of authors, illustrators, books and reading in Nigeria.

The CEO who was at an

event with the theme: “Share a Story,� noted that it was time to do more towards encouraging kids in learning and reading.

He said the bank was committed in participating in any initiative or project that would advance the course of education in the country. “I am very excited indeed to interact with those kids, was touched as the sheer number of pupils in that room I felt like I should spend all whole day with them. “While do I say this,

the education in our country today can be a lot better if we do more in our little corners.

So anything we need to do or any support will need to give for our kid to get proper education is worth the time,� he said.

He said as part of effort to promote literacy in the country, the bank encourages people to read and maximise every avenue to remain abreast with information around them. “If you do not read, you remain ignorant. No matter

what school you went to, even after you graduate, if you stop reading, you start dying because you keep getting more and more ignorant. “So teaching the kid to read from this early age take us back to how it used to be, now that kids spend more time on the internet,� he stated. Reacting to insinuation that corporate organisations were not supporting the education sector enough, he emphasised that “corporates are not set up to drive education,� while adding that is the

responsibility of government to make sure that education sector is up and doing. “Corporate of course do come in from time to time to help by way of CSR, for instance to today am here at the instance of the organisers, who invited me to join and read to this kids. That is how corporates do theirs. “They are not going to run the local government, state government or even federal education. “At Fidelity Bank, CSR is actually hinged on education,

environment, health and social welfare. We have a program called Fidelity Helping Hand, where we encourage our staff to identify laudable projects in their various regions and the staff makes voluntary contribution and whatever they contribute, the bank matches it up and we keep renovating class rooms all across the country. “We have donated books, build and repaired schools.

So in education, our CSR is very strong,� the Fidelity Bank boss added.

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So, Nigeria is Now the Highest Rice Producer in Africa?

Promise Ating I’m not sure anyone saw it coming. Yes, we all know there’s a rice revolution going on in the country in the last three years.

We heard plenty of that on the campaign trail before the February 23 presidential election. But many have thought, like me, that it was all campaign stunts.

But it became real when Dr Harold Roy-Macauley, the Director-General, Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, was quoted as saying Nigeria is now the largest rice producer in Africa, overtaking Egypt which had held the title, in the last one year.

We now know that Nigeria is the largest rice producer in Africa because it produces four million tonnes out of the Africa average of 14.6 million tonnes of rice annually.

Egypt, which Nigeria has edged out of the lead, used to produce 4.3 tonnes annually but suffered a decline of almost 40 per cent in the last one year. The reduction in production was attributed to the Egyptian government decision to limit cultivation to preserve water resources.

But while Egypt’s production is on decline, Nigeria’s has been on the rise in the last three years to reach the current level. The good news in the rice sector may not be surprising to stakeholders already familiar with developments in the nation’s agricultural sector. But for others, it will encourage interest in what’s going on and how to be part of it.

The success in rice production would lead to renewed interest in the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN since 2015.

It is a fact that attempts have been made by past governments to recreate agriculture through various schemes such as ‘’Operation Feed the Nation� and the ‘’Green Revolution� initiative of the Shehu Shagari administration during the second republic, among others. But none of the previous efforts created the desired impact largely due to inadequate financing.

This is a gap which has now been closed by the CBN under Godwin Emefiele.

In keeping with his promise to run a central bank that would serve the growth and development needs of the country, Emefiele has ensured the CBN becomes a strategic driver of economic growth of the country. The CBN under him has introduced various initiatives for concessionary funding of agriculture, which is widely recognised as the sector that has the potential to drive economic growth.

These initiatives and intervention schemes can broadly be classified under sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, micro, small

EmeďŹ ele and medium scale enterprises, power and energy and banking. But nowhere have these interventions yielded more so quickly as in the agriculture sector where rice production has received the most focus.

CBN development finance initiatives like the Agricultural Credit Guaranty Scheme, Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme and Anchor Burrowers programme (ABP), among others have tremendously helped to reposition the agriculture sector in the country.

The ABP, one of the initiatives of the CBN which has made very positive impact, was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015 to create a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and small holder farmers of the required key agricultural commodities. The programme has focused primarily on rice production.

The thrust of the ABP is the provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm

Ecobank Nigeria Unveils Initiative for Female Entrepreneurs Nume Ekeghe Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled an initiative for female entrepreneurs.

The initiative was designed to recognise women as special and unique customers who require tailor-made service offerings. The concept is designed to provide women with the necessary support to help them excel in their endeavours, promote and grow their businesses and generally position them for increased participation, validation and contribution within the society.

Unveiling the initiative at the bank’s head office in Lagos, Managing Director, Patrick Akinwuntan, was quoted in a statement to have said: “increasingly, we are seeing the change in the attitudes of women, and their economic viability as individuals and leaders in their fields. Their banking and financial services as a whole, therefore present

vast opportunities, if properly understood and managed.�

According to him, the launch is a charge to the society in line with the theme of the International Women’s Day 2019, to challenge the status quo and strive for a balance by empowering females in their immediate environments and subsequently, on a macro level. “Our female customers will become our flagship ambassadors and we have created this platform for them in line with the sustainability requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). These women will be provided with free health checks, training and empowerment sessions and other support tools from Ecobank. The Ecobank Female Entrepreneurs Initiative aims at empowering women by helping them build capacity to grow their businesses.�

Some of the benefits include access to credit facilities with little or no collateral, network

opportunities across Africa, financial advisory services, wealth management resources and loyalty schemes.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Mrs. Carol Oyedeji, stated that Ecobank as a Group, was proud to join the rest of the world to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2019.

For her, this year’s theme leaves no one in doubt as to the dire need to raise more awareness that gender balance is not a women’s issue but a human issue that must be tackled for us to have a better society and that it should not be mistaken for a battle between the sexes.

She called on all in the corporate world to join hands to ensure that “our women attain their full potential in all areas of society, including the workplace, which is vital for our communities and economies to thrive. A balanced world is a better world.�

labour) to small holder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilise inputs supply to agro processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food. The objective is to boost agricultural production and non-oil exports in the face of unpredictable crude oil prices and its resultant effect on the revenue profile of Nigeria.

The programme empowered rice farmers and processors in the country and resulted in a significant boost in rice production in the country. Statistics from the CBN indicate that the ABP has added two million metric tons to rice supply in the country and created 500,000 jobs. This is clearly a revolution in rice production in the country which succinctly confirms that agriculture financing is key to a faster growth of the economy.

There is no other sector of the economy that had employed similar number of people within the same period. But that is not to say we are where we should be; it is just an

acknowledgement of the mileage covered.

But the road to self-sufficiency in food production still stretches further.

Reports show that Nigeria is still an importer of rice, despite the laudable progress made. The volume of rice importation into Nigeria has declined drastically, but we’re still insufficient in rice production. export figures obtained from India and Thailand, which are dominant rice exporters to Nigeria, indicate that as at September, the latter had so far exported about 5,161 metric tonnes of rice to Nigeria, while the former sold only a paltry 426 tonnes as at July 2018.It is a long walk away from the over 400,000 metric tons of rice previously imported into the country.

As Roy- Macauley said, the African rice value chain needs to be better integrated and be capable of competing with imported rice in terms of quality. He stressed that the goal to achieving rice self- sufficiency is not just about on farm assistance but also involves introducing rice varieties that fit the diverse African agro-ecologies, improve irrigation facilities and disseminate rice growing techniques to farmers.

The CBN and the Ministry of Agriculture must continue this partnership and sustain the various initiatives to reposition the entire agric sector. The efforts that created the rice revolution must be extended to other agriculture commodities if Nigeria is to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

These targeted schemes and programmes for the real sector development also have potentials for employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction.

It has been noted that a nation can hardly sustain its economic growth without a strong agricultural base and the reasons are obvious. Agriculture provides food, raw materials and employment and it is bandied that agriculture is the largest provider of employment, and it is estimated that more than 65 per cent of industries and business activities are supported by agriculture at primary and secondary levels.

Agriculture is also important in international trade; it helps to reduce balance of trade, reduce import, increase export, generate foreign exchange, impacts transportation, help to improve standard of living of the people. Many advanced economies developed on the back of agriculture.

Emefiele must remain focused on his mission at the CBN. Although his tenure, which is renewable, expires June this year, what he started must not be allowed to fizzle out. It is critical that we sustain the momentum.

Ating wrote in from Abuja

Group Plans Chemical Plants, Fertiliser Blenders in Morocco Morocco’s OCP Group, expects to reach a deal this year to build a Nigerian ammonia plant and to start production at a $3.7 billion chemical plant in Ethiopia by 2023/2024, the chief executive of its OCP Africa subsidiary told Reuters.

The world’s largest phosphate exporter, which is 95 percent state-owned, is also considering a factory in Ghana in 2020 as it seeks to bring customised fertilisers closer to key African markets, Karim Lotfi Senhaji told Reuters.

Like many other Moroccan firms, including banks and insurers, OCP has been expanding its investments in Sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, boosting the kingdom’s economic clout.

Senhaji said the Nigerian plant would cost $1.5 billion and would have a total capacity of 1 million tonnes of ammonia.

OCP signed a protocol agreement in June to build the industrial platform with Nigeria’s

Sovereign Investment Authority.

In Ethiopia, the Moroccan firm expects its chemical plant to be operational by 2023 or 2024, with an initial capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of fertilisers, he said.

These investments are part of a strategy to boost phosphatebased fertiliser use and production in Africa where there is potential to boost consumption five-fold from about 5 million tonnes currently, he said. “We encourage having this customisation done as close as possible to the farmers or the area of consumption. We don’t aim to produce everything in Morocco,� he said.

The group plans a blending facility in Rwanda, three in Nigeria, one in Ivory Coast, five in Ethiopia and one in Ghana, with each costing between $8 million and $12 million. “These will be launched in 2019 and we expect to have them ready in 2020,� he said.

In Ethiopia, OCP sold a

customised fertiliser combining phosphates, nitrogen and sulphur which helped increase maize yield by 37 per cent, he said.

The group, which controls 75 per cent of the world’s phosphate reserves, has a 65 percent market share of phosphates-based fertilisers in Africa. “In 2018, sales dropped because the market went down mainly due to a rise in international prices,� Lotfi Senhaji said.

OCP has twelve subsidiaries in Africa, but Lotfi Senhaji said the group will focus on Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

However, OCP faces legal hurdles in Kenya where authorities allege it exported fertilizers which were non-compliant with regulatory standards.

OCP stopped shipments to Kenya last summer and asked authorities for a re-testing of its fertilisers, he said.

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MTN Launches New Smart Phone Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria has joined the league of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of mobile phones, to introduce its own smart phone.

Although it is a feature phone, but it comes with the features of an android smartphone, hence it is tagged smart feature phone.

With the MTN smart feature phone, users can browse the internet, send both text and voice messages in any language, do WhatsApp calls with other android smartphones, take selfies, connect to App Store, Facebook, Google Map, among other smartphone features, and it comes with free 500MB monthly data for the first six months.

Speaking on the value of the MTN smart feature phone, the General Manager, Data and Services at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Ajayi, said it took MTN over one year to come up with the smart phone device, which he said, had been tested and certified good for use in all MTN operating countries. “This first of its kind 3G KaiOS smart feature phone, allows customers to upgrade from a typical feature phone with only voice and text capabilities, to a fully connected device with a fast 3G internet connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, dual SIM 3G capabilities. “It has an App Store and

comes pre-loaded with the most popular Apps available in the market today, including but not limited to WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google Maps,� Ajayi said.

Commenting on the innovation, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Rahul De said: “Despite rising mobile phone penetration and increased data consumption, device affordability remains a significant disincentive for most Nigerians. “The MTN Smart feature phone is a great, affordable and tailor-made solution aimed at bridging this device gap and ensuring that every Nigerian is able to benefit from the modern, connected life.�

The phone which boasts of two cameras, a 2-day battery life with 2000mAh battery, is powered by the SC7731EF processor, has a 2.4-inch screen, 256MB RAM and 512MB of storage and runs on the increasingly popular KaiOS operating system In his remark, the Chief Operating Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Mazen Mroue, said the affordable MTN smart feature phone would connect more Nigerians and boost connectivity through data growth. “The phones are available in all MTN stores nationwide and Nigerians should take the opportunity to have more access to internet connectivity,� Mroue said.

Zimbabwe to Allow Foreign Platinum Miners Control Local Operations Zimbabwe will scrap a law that denies foreign platinum mining companies control of their operations in the country, the mines minister has said.

Foreign platinum and diamond miners have been restricted to only 49 per cent ownership of their Zimbabwe operations by the black economic empowerment law introduced during Robert Mugabe’s rule.

The law, according to Reuters, was aimed at increasing black Zimbabweans’ stake in the mining sector, but foreign investors said its implementation was often murky and open to abuse.

Zimbabwe holds the world’s second-largest known platinum reserves behind South Africa.

Asked to confirm a Bloomberg report that Zimbabwe would scrap the black empowerment rules for platinum, Winston Chitando told Reuters in a WhatsApp message: “Confirmed. It’s part of continued review of (the) Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.�

On when the amendments will be brought to parliament, Chitando said that dates would be announced soon.

Chitando, who is in Washington with Finance Minister

Mthuli Ncube scouting for investment in Zimbabwe, did not respond when asked whether the changes will be extended to the diamond sector.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is keen to revive the mining sector after years of reticence from foreign investors during Mugabe’s rule.

Investor interest in Zimbabwe’s underexplored resources has improved more recently, however. Australia’s Arcadia Resources is setting up a lithium mine while privately owned Karo Resources signed a $4.2 billion deal to set up a platinum mine and refinery and revived a Russian joint venture for a big platinum project near Harare.

Among existing operations, Impala Platinum and Anglo American Platinum have assets in Zimbabwe while SibanyeStillwater has a joint venture mine with Implats.

Although no foreign platinum company had been forced to cede control, investors said the empowerment law added to the country’s political risk profile. The finance minister has said that Zimbabwe attracted $8 billion into mining last year alone and that projects are expected to take off in the next three years.

Aero Contractors Expands Operations Chinedu Eze Nigeria’s oldest commercial airliner, Aero Contractors, has expanded its operations by re-opening its old routes and introducing new ones with the acquisition of new fleet.

The airline also spots new-look cabin crew as it introduced uniform accessories to re-connect with its customers.

Speaking during the unveiling of the uniform accessories at Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal 2, Lagos (MMA2) at the weekend, Aero Contractors Cabin Crew Executive, Kudirat Bello, said the event was to promote and elevate Aero brand for a better service and seamless service delivery

to its passengers. “We are using this medium to tell the public that we are back and we are back for good.

We are in business. We changed the uniform accessories such as the tie and scarf just to enhance the beauty of our uniform. We are telling our passengers to expect us in a big way. “We have increased in fleet.

Our service delivery will be impeccable this time around; we have significantly improved our service,� Bello said.

Also speaking during the event, the CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi said the airline is starting new routes and reinstating those routes that it suspended. “When I joined we were doing eight flights a day, we

were servicing only Abuja and Port Harcourt. In the past 24 months, we have increased to more than 30 flights daily. We were carrying close to 8,000 passengers a month then; now we are doing almost 33,000 passengers every month. “We have included Kano to our routes. We introduced more frequencies into Abuja.

We now operate Abuja-Asaba, Warri, Uyo and we are in the process of introducing Yola. “We will operate Lagos-Yola, Abuja-Yola, Yola-Abuja and Yola-Lagos. This will open more routes for our passengers.

Sokoto bound passengers going to Yola can come and join our Yola flight and those from Asaba can join our Yola flight. “We are opening up Nigeria

for our esteemed passengers.

We believe that by the end of first half of this year, we should have opened new routes in the Eastern part of the country.

We are looking at Owerri and Enugu and it will come very soon. Uyo was there before, so we are reinstating it.�

Speaking on its fleet expansion, Sanusi recalled that the airline started with one aircraft in the beginning of 2017 but has increased to four, adding that it intends to bring more airplanes. “Our aim is to have a 15-aircraft airline. What we have done today is to tell passengers that we are back and we pride in safety and reliability, which is the best way to fly in Aero,� he said.

ECONOMIC FORUM

L-R: President, RIMAN / CRO Coronation Merchant Bank, Mr. Magnus Nnoka; Associate Executive Director Corporate Development FMDQ, Ms. Kaodi Ugoji; Managing Director/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Dreadnought Capital Mr. Allan Ralph Thompson and Vice President, Market Architecture, FMDQ, Ms. Jumoke Olaniyan, at Risk Management Association of Nigeria’s (RIMAN) ďŹ rst quarter 2019 risk round table held in Lagos‌recently

Bi-Courtney: We are JustiďŹ ed on 36 Years Concession Chinedu Eze Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, has said it is justified in its claim of 36 years validity on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession model of the airport terminal.

BASL was reacting to statement made by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which refuted the report that it wanted to take over the terminal in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation after 12 years of operation.

Spokesperson for Bi-Courtney,

Eniola Ade-Solanke, said in a statement at the weekend: “We will like to set the records straight by stating that Bi-Courtney Limited entered into a concession agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the Build, Operate and Transfer of the MMA2 for 36 years.�

According to Bi-Courtney, FAAN offered it a 36-year lease in a letter dated October 12, 2006, and an agreement was duly signed on the February 2, 2007 by the then Minister of Aviation. She added that the agreement was further confirmed at a meeting held on July 7, 2009,

chaired by a former President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua. “The clear provisions of the concession agreement between Bi-Courtney and the government uphold the operation of the MMA2 terminal for an undisputed period of 36 years,� the statement read in part. “The erroneous claims against the chairman of Bi-Courtney that he is making frantic efforts in the Presidency to frustrate a takeover of the terminal is not unconnected to purported attempts to stir up a false sense of alarm and acrimony against the concession,� it added.

She said despite the constant

deliberate misinterpretation of the concession agreement by unscrupulous elements aimed at stirring controversies leading to falsehood and fueling animosity between FAAN and BASL, MMA2 remains the most modern, functional and well run privately funded domestic airport terminal in sub- Saharan Africa adjudged the best in Nigeria.

She noted that BASL would continue to fulfill its obligations for the full 36year term and would remain a pace setter in the aviation industry and in the promotion of private sector investment critical for economic growth in Nigeria.

UPMFB Disburses N1.1bn Loans to Customers The Umuchinemere Pro-credit Micro Finance Bank Enugu (UPMFB) disbursed a total of N1.1billion as loans to its customers Economy in 2018.

The credit facilities where to micro small and medium scale enterprises, as well as to farmers and low income workers within its operational area that included 10 of the 17 local government areas in Enugu State, most of them in the rural areas, in 2018.

Umuchinemere Pro-credit

Micro Finance Bank Enugu gave the Credit facilities to boost or sustain businesses and agricultural activities, or to start fresh businesses and enhance the quality of life of its salary loans beneficiaries and their families.

A statement by the bank and signed by its head of Public/ Media Relations Unit, Mr. Abuchi Anueyiagu, showed that the bank made a total disbursement of N1,113,582,504 credit

facilities to 5,201 customers in 2018 financial year ended.

This, was an improvement

by N126,605,869, above the total amount of N986,976,635 it granted to its customers in 2017.

The gender distribution of the beneficiaries of the N1.1billion indicated that there were more male beneficiaries than women, with a figure of N653,838,754 granted to 3,170 males and N459,743,750 to 2,031females,

comparatively above the amount of N407,599,000 granted to 2,618 males the previous year 2017.

According to the statement, the bank which had projected a total disbursement of N1.1billion for 2018, granted N87 million loans to farmers for different agricultural purposes, which meant a lot in the agriculture sector.

The bank’s head of Credit, Mr. Charles Udeani, explained that “the multiplier effect of

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Insurers Record 13.9% Growth in Oil Business in 10Years Ebere Nwoji The insurance sector in the past ten years (2008-2017), recorded the highest cumulative average growth rate of 13.9 per cent in oil and gas business.

But between 2015 and 2017, the sector recorded the highest growth of 40.9 per cent in engineering business.

In the past ten years, though oil and gas remained the main stay of Nigerian economy, growth in oil and gas insurance has been fluctuating, the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) disclosed in the latest edition of its insurance digest.

This perhaps was not far from the fact that large chunk of premium from this class of business goes abroad due to capacity problem.

Looking at comparison of yearto-year premium growth from this class of business according to the report, it showed that the sector in 2013, which saw the beginning of implementation of the sector’s ‘no premium no cover,’ realised N66.813 billion.

This was followed by 2017, when the sector recorded N63.917 billion premium in oil and gas.

The sector recorded the least premium figure in oil and gas business in 2008 when its premium stood at N17.403 billion.

In 2010, it recorded mere N26.096 billion while in 2009, the premium jumped to N31.578 billion.

In 2011, it climbed to N34.121billion, while in 2014, the figure moved up to N52.870billion.

However, in 2015, it went down to N51.120 billion, while in 2016, it moved up again to N54.130billion.

Among the companies that played in the oil and gas business, in the past five years, Leadway Assurance took the lead in terms of premium generation.

It was followed by Custodian &Allied Insurance Plc, which polled N13.212billion premium.

Coronation Merchant Bank Posts N5.3bn Profit Coronation Merchant Bank Limited’s full year results for 2018 has revealed that the bank recorded profit before tax of N5.3 billion, higher than the N5.1 billion recorded same period last year.

But its profit after tax stood at N4.6 billion in the result under review, as against the N4.7 billion it achieved last year.

The group however maximised opportunities in its core business to deliver stable and sustainable revenue as its topline revenue grew by 10 per cent, compared to 2017, while total assets grew by 63 per cent from N136 billion in 2017, to N223 billion.

Earning assets grew significantly by 70 per cent year-on-year to cushion the huge gap from reduced market-driven decline in yield. This, according to a statement from the bank, resulted to a slight decline in net interest income by five per cent to achieve N7.6 billion, down from N8 billion in 2017. There was increase in foreign exchange and fixed income trading volumes, loan disbursement, e-channel transactions, which saw the bank’s non-interest income increase by 46 per cent year-on-year, to achieve

N4.1 billion, compared with the N2.8 billion it achieved in 2017.

The impact of the adoption of IFRS 9 increased the bank’s cost of risk marginally from zero per cent to 0.03 per cent, with all its risk assets in the stage 1 classification according to IFRS 9 classification.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Coronation Merchant Bank Limited, Abu Jimoh, said: “Despite a difficult operating environment, our company stayed the course, recording modest growth across most financial indices. “The growth we recorded in our profitability and capital position is a testament to the strength of our business model and the commitment of our people. “When we look at where we stand today, our company is stronger, simpler, and better positioned to deliver long-term value to our stakeholders, thanks to the straightforward way in which we serve our customers and clients. “As a platform for improving lives, our aim is to assist our customers to identify growth opportunities, harness these opportunities and in the process,

enable businesses thrive, economies grow, and ultimately, help organisations fulfil their hopes and realise their ambitions.

Commenting further, Jimoh stated “As a Group, we have continued to expand our sector reach and meet our customers’ financing needs by offering products tailor made to their varied needs. “In 2018, we deliberately increased our exposures to high quality obligors in agriculture, manufacturing and oil and gas sectors who fall within our risk acceptance criteria. “The quality and efficacy of our growth strategy is evidenced by our zero NPL ratios which we have maintained for the third year running. In addition to this, our dollar asset base grew by over 100 per cent, driven largely by self-liquidating trade finance transactions that are well managed, in line with our risk management framework.�

Furthermore, the statement disclosed that the bank’s commercial paper product which was launched in the year under review, helped to provide a relatively stable funding base to support our growth.

FCMB Women Empower Widows First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Women have disclosed that they have trained and empowered some underprivileged widows in the production of various household items.

The skills acquisition, entrepreneurial and economic empowerment gesture was part of the bank’s activities to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day last Friday.

It was also in line with the financial institution’s commitment to continually impact lives through the goodwill and support of its female employees who have over the years, sponsored several initiatives for women nationwide.

The FCMB Women intervention was in collaboration with Jakin N.G.O, a renowned organisation that works with vulnerable groups in Africa to overcome economic, educational and health challenges.

The bank explained in a statement that the beneficiaries, 50 widows in all, underwent series of intensive trainings with Jakin N.G.O in making of liquid detergent, air fresheners, insecticides, the use of beads to make various accessories, and headgear tying, among other household items.

In addition, FCMB Women

made donations to buy the materials to start the businesses for the 50 widow graduants.

The training was expected to go a long way to provide a platform for the beneficiaries to become entrepreneurs, create employment, generate income while also enhancing their standard of living.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the beneficiaries, FCMB’s Divisional Head, Corporate Services, Felicia Obozuwa, said the gesture was in line with the bank’s corporate social responsibility and the commitment of FCMB women to recognise and support the well-being of the underprivileged in the society.

She added, “beyond celebrating the International Women’s Day, we believe that as a corporate organisation, made up of mothers, wives and sisters, it is necessary to extend the hand of fellowship and love to the underprivileged through empowerment programmes which will help them generate income in a sustainable manner. “FCMB Women decided to come to the aid of these widows, following the discovery of the difficulties they faced. We were further inspired to support them

because despite the difficult situations they experience, they have been resilient and determined to overcome the odds to contribute to economic growth.�

She added that as an institution which recognises that equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to success, FCMB would continue to create opportunities and support initiatives that add value to individuals, businesses and the society.

In her comment, the Founder of Jakin NGO, Mrs. Olubukola Adebiyi, expressed gratitude to FCMB Women for their noble role in alleviating the challenges encountered by the underprivileged in the society. “We are proud of the various interventions of FCMB Women to make life better for Nigerians.

By sponsoring the training of widows and going the extra mile to provide the items they require to start businesses, you have again demonstrated true love and care for the need,� she said.

A beneficiary of the programme, Mrs. Bukky Idowu, who underwent training in soap making expressed gratitude to FCMB Women and Jakin N.G.O for providing her with the opportunity to acquire the skill.

L-R: Head, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, FirstBank, Mr.Ismail Omamegbe; Principal, St Joseph Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Omolara Oshokoya; District Governor, District 9110, Rotary Club Mr. Kolawole Sodipo; President, Rotary club of Gbagada, Dr. Basirat Giwa and Wale Alegbite, a Rotarian, during the presentation of a renovated classroom block, supported by FirstBank, to St Joseph Senior Secondary School in Lagos‌ recently

MARKET INDICATORS 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

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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

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY,7 MARCH 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $65.57 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $65.04 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

35

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

Stanbic IBTC Grows Profit AfterTax by 54% to N74 Billion Goddy Egene Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, a member of Standard Bank Group, has announced gross earnings of N222.4 billion, for the financial year ended December 31, 2018, up from N212.4 billion it achieved in 2017. A breakdown of the figures showed that net interest income rose to N102.604 billion from N89.182 billion. Net fee and commission income also

improved from N59.1 billion to N69.845 billion. Operating expenses increased from N86.02 billion to N95.60 billion, while staff cost rose from N36.283 billion to N43.0 billion. Profit before tax rose from N61.166 billion in 2017 to N88.152 billion in 2018, while profit after tax appreciated by 54 per cent to N74.4 billion compared with the N48.4 billion recorded in 2017.

The group’s total assets grew by 20 per cent to N1,663.7 billion

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

compared with the N1,386.4 billion in December 2017.

Customer deposit grew by seven to N807.7 billion from N753.6 billion in the corresponding year.

The bank was able to reduce its toxic assets appreciably, as gross non-performing loans decreased by 50 per cent to N17.7 billion compared with N35.3 billion in 2017. The nonperforming loans figure is even more impressive when viewed against the 14 per cent (N458.9

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

billion in 2018 - N403.9 billion in 2017) increase in gross loans and advances achieved in the financial year.

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Yinka Sanni, said the balance sheet size was impacted by “growth in risk assets and financial investment portfolio,� a reflection of investment expertise and quality management, which saw its non-interest revenue rose by 15% to N102.6 billion

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

from N89.2 billion in 2017.

According to Sanni, “Strong growth in fees and commission income as well as write-backs, which resulted from recoveries made on previously written off loans and reversals on some non-performing loan, contributed to the strong showing.�

Stanbic IBTC said performances across its three divisions, Corporate and Investment Banking, Wealth Management businesses, and Personal &

O F

Business Banking, were strong and contributed to the turnover. “As a financial institution we will continue to leverage on our universal financial services capability, unrelenting focus on cost control, digitization and client centricity to ensure that we continue to grow our capacity to provide incomparable high quality end-to-end financial solutions to our customers in a sustainable manner,� he assured.

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˾ MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019

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37

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Vitafoam Shareholders Approve Dividend, Commends Performance Judith Obaze

Speaking at the AGM, the According to him, following the Chairman of Vitafoam Nigeria economic downturn of recent years, Shareholders of leading Plc, Dr. Bamidele Makanjuola the firm took strategic decision manufacturer of foams and allied explained that the company’s to re-engineer entire business products, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc turnover increased from N15.92 with special focus on products have approved the dividend of billion in 2017 to N17.61 billion quality and innovation, market N260.51 million recommended in 2018 while profit after tax also differentiation, customer service for the year ended September grew from N190.54 million to and consumer education.

“We made great strides in cost 30, 2018. The dividend, which N486.10 million.

Hence, the recommendation of containment and sustained positive translated to 25 kobo per share, was endorsed at the annual general N260.5 million dividend and a trends to expand the frontiers meeting (AGM) of the company bonus of one new share for every of growth in the coming years, five shares already held. the dividend payout and bonus held in Lagos.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the 07-March-2019, unless otherwise stated.

shares are proposed to reward We are pleased with the dividend our esteemed shareholders for and bonus shares. Vitafoam’s their unwavering support and management has proved once commitment to the cause of the again that the company is company,” he said. genuinely interested in the welfare The shareholders commended of the shareholders,” one of the Vitafoam’s management for the shareholders said. good performance despite the Responding to some harsh operating environment. shareholders’ clamour that “The performance is far better Vitafoam should raise additional than the previous one. This fund through a rights issue to is commendable because the expand operation, Makanjuola operating environment is tough. explained that rights issue would 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.

always carry its cost elements.

According to him, the company is enjoying facilities through the Bank of Industry ( BOI) at moderate interest and this option is preferable at the moment.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi disclosed that three of the seven subsidiaries had begun to generate profit while others would soon follow the same trend.

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 161.82 162.35 2.33% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 280.74 281.42 2.88% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.85 0.87 1.98% ACAP Income Funds 0.62 0.62 12.01% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.28% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.28 2.31 2.67% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 103.63 104.36 2.41% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.60% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.70% Paramount Equity Fund 12.15 12.26 2.91% Women's Investment Fund 106.13 106.69 2.44% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.36% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.76% 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 1,228.00 1,228.78 3.59% FBN Heritage Fund 146.05 147.32 1.84% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.28% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 115.99 116.55 1.84% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 115.92 116.48 2.03% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 151.47 153.73 0.98% 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 1.23 1.25 1.04% Legacy Debt Fund 3.31 3.31 2.15% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 0.86% 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 3,025.80 3,058.07 1.42% Coral Income Fund 2,822.56 2,822.56 3.05% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.30% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 108.87 109.47 2.23% 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 13.45% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.18 2.21 1.79% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 14.22% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.20 124.46 -0.55%

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 1.19 1.78% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,095.88 1,095.88 2.44% 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 7.94% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.33 12.40 1.06% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.01% 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 126.01 126.66 4.40% 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 1.03 1.03 2.65% 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 2,382.79 2,397.34 2.98% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 195.15 195.15 2.63% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.98 0.99 3.68% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 252.16 252.19 2.02% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 168.81 168.72 2.87% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.26% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,675.58 8,782.54 2.21% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.12 1.12 1.12% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 11.35 11.50 6.92% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.48 12.62 4.03% Zenith Income Fund 21.07 21.07 9.43% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.30%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.95 119.16 51.94

-39.35% 0.00% 0.00%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.69 115.30 91.14

10.79 117.77 92.84

1.28% -1.70% 2.79%

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

4.25 7.30 15.05 12.45 152.45

4.29 7.38 15.15 12.65 154.45

6.27% -4.13% 0.66% 0.74% 6.17%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.24

17.42%

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.

38

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻË&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CITYSTRINGS

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2013; Ă?Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x2014;Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?äĂ?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;ĚśĂ&#x17E;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x2039;ĂŁĂ&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă Ă?Ë&#x203A;Ă?Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ë&#x153; Í&#x2018;Í&#x2122;Í&#x2019;Í&#x2013;Í&#x201C;Í&#x201C;Í&#x2013;Í&#x201C;Í&#x201D;Í&#x201C;Í&#x2013;

Okada Ban and Obianoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UnfulďŹ lled Promises Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State had in 2018 abolished the use of motorcycles in parts of the state, but to mitigate the suffering this would cause, he promised to distribute shuttle buses and tricycles. Has he kept his promise yet? David-Chyddy Eleke asks

Commercial motorcyclists

I

n May last year, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State announced that from July 1, 2018, there would be total ban on the use of motorcycles, both for commercial and private purposes in parts of the state. The areas affected by the ban included Awka and all the surrounding towns in it; also Onitsha and all surrounding towns.

The announcement was criticised by many, who believed that it will bring untold hardship upon citizens of the state, but to cushion the effect of the hardship the ban will bring upon residents, Obiano announced that Anambra State government has set aside N765m for commercial motorcyclists, better known as Okada riders, in the state to enable them purchase shuttle buses.

The governor said the funds would be accessed through the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA). He said existing commercial motorcyclists will take delivery of the buses once they deposit N100,000 with ASBA, and an undertaking to make payments every two weeks. Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Don Adinuba, who disclosed this in a press statement, said the interest-free loan can be repaid within a year and a half.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The shuttle buses will cost between N700,000 and N800,000 each. The first set of 200 units of the 1,000 buses in the scheme will arrive in the state anytime from now, from Japan.â&#x20AC;?

Obiano had earlier given reasons for the ban to include his decision to economically empower the operators and quicken the process of turning the state into a modern place like Dubai.

Adinuba who also expatiated on it said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A situation where some members of the public have been made to believe that they cannot rise beyond the level of Okada riders is unfair and offends good conscience. Governor Obiano wants commercial motorcyclists to get to the next level by becoming bus owners. Bus ownership will generate far more revenues for the present Okada riders because whereas a motorcyclist is not allowed to have more than one passenger at a time, a shuttle bus can carry as much as seven passengers.â&#x20AC;?

Other reasons adduced for the ban on the operations of Okada riders include; rise in Okada related accidents and rise in activities of criminal elements, believed to be operating with motorcycles.

Adunuba said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Up to 70 per cent of accident

cases in Orthopedic and other hospitals in Anambra State and beyond involve commercial motorcycle crashes, and it is not right for any government which cares for the welfare and future of its citizens not to do anything about this phenomenon considering that the safety of every individual is the primary constitutional responsibility of the state. Many robberies and other violent crimes throughout Nigeria have been traced to people using commercial motorcycles. We do not want anything which can compromise our hard earned reputation as Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safest state.â&#x20AC;?

Some groups who had protested that over 30,000 people may lose their means of livelihood as a result of the ban, had been pacified by the promise of the state governor.

In what was seen as a move to keep to his words, Obiano had shortly before the date of the enforcement of the ban traveled to the United States of America, and many believed that upon his return, or shortly after, some shuttle buses would be delivered to him, for onward transmission to displaced Okada riders for usage, to ease movement in the state.

Close to one year after the ban, most Anambra residents have continued to wonder what is stopping the governor from fulfilling his promise, just as displaced okada riders are languishing in hunger, reason why so many others have left the state for other places that hold prospects for them, while others who sold out their motorcycles in the home of receiving tricycles or shuttle buses

Close to one year after the ban, most Anambra residents have continued to wonder what is stopping the governor from fulďŹ lling his promise, just as displaced okada riders are languishing in hunger

soon have remained trapped.

Beyond this, transportation in parts of the state where the motorcycles were has also posed a greater challenge to residents of the affected areas as the few available tricycles and shuttle buses only ply designated routes. THISDAY spoke to keke riders, who also affirmed that they were still waiting for Obiano to fulfill his promise of providing the shuttle buses to them.

A keke rider, Mr Fidelis Ngwu, who hails from Enugu State told our correspondent that, "I was among the first people that went to register at ASBA for the shuttle buses, but when they told me to provide N100,000, I could not. Not as if I cannot look for somewhere to borrow, but we went to the place and did not see any buses or keke, and I am sure if I had paid, the bus would still not have been delivered to me until now.

"This keke I am using now is better for me, instead of staying idle. The keke was given to me at N700,000. The real cost is about N450,000 or so, but we even heard that the shuttle buses that government wants to give to us will be above N1million. So instead of them to buy and sell to us at a lower rate, they want to make gain from it. Shuttle buses in Awka here is not up to N1million, so why will government sell to us at such a high price,â&#x20AC;? he queried.

When THISDAY spoke to the leader of tricycle operators at Aroma Junction who refused to disclose his name for fear of victimisation, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;That promise the governor gave to us was deceit. As I speak to you this moment, not even one person has been given a keke or shuttle bus by the governor, except if it will still happen.

We are not even hoping on them, we are doing our hustle by ourselves. Let them only help us by curtailing the tax they collect from us. As for the promise of shuttle buses, we have already forgotten it.â&#x20AC;?

Our correspondent gathered from tricycles and shuttle bus drivers in Awka that they spend between N450 and N600 on different levies per day. In Onitsha, the story is different as the operators cry of high tax, saying that beyond the tickets and levies they have to contain with daily, they were subjected to all manner of extortion by indigenes of the town who send jobless youths after them for settlement before they can carry passengers at designated bus stops.

Chukwuka Umeozor, a 24-year-old school leaver who supports his parents with monies made from driving a shuttle bus said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why do you think I told you to move down a little before I can carry you? Every bus stop in this town(Onitsha) is owned by one big man or the other, who hires thugs to stand there and collect returns for ever passenger picked in the bus stop. We are suffering in this job, but we have no option than this.â&#x20AC;?

He told our correspondent of the beating and fight they usually receive or engage in everyday with the thugs hired by the pit(bus stop) owners. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this our line, you must be tough and ready to fight. If not, after collecting your money, those boys will even beat you up. But there is a way they will look at you, and they will know they cannot cheat you anyhow, and they will leave you.â&#x20AC;?

Asked to react to the promise of shuttle buses promised them by the governor, Umeazor said that within three months of the ban on Okada, he suffered greatly because his uncle had gone to Awka to register with ASBA for a shuttle bus for him, but close to a year after, the governor seems to have forgotten his promise to the people.

Attempts to reach the duo of the Commissioner for Transport, Hon Uchenna Okafor and the Managing Director of ASBA, Dr Clement Chukwuka failed. Several calls and text message to Okafor, who is most popularly called Wiper yielded no fruit, but Chukwuka who was reached declined comments on the failure of his agency to provide alternative source of transportation to Anambra people as the governor had already said that millions had been mapped out to the agency for the job.

Chukwuka who spoke with our correspondent on phone said he does not speak to people he does not know. Attempt to schedule an appointment with him was also not possible as he declined to speak further, despite being told the reason for the call.

But a staff of the agency who refused to disclose his name said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maybe you should go and talk to the governor and his people. If they had given us over N700million as they said, maybe something would have been done, let it be that we did not finish supply or disbursement, but in this case, I am afraid there is nothing here to disburse, and am not sure my boss knows nothing of any such money.â&#x20AC;?

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͯË&#x153; Ͱͮͯͷ

CRIME&SECURITY

Staï¬&#x20AC; Assault: Ikeja Electric Goes Tough on Oï¬&#x20AC;enders rThree persons remanded in prison

CRIME SITUATION REPORTS

SECURITY TIPS (PART 51) r%POhU BMMPX ZPVS DIJMESFO XIP DBOhU SFDPHOJTF WPJDF UP PQFO EPPST GPS TUSBOHFST WJTJUPST r3FDPHOJTF UIF WPJDF PG UIF WJTJUPST TUSBOHFST CFGPSF ZPV PQFO ZPVS EPPST r-PDL VQ BMM ZPVS EPPST XIFO ZPV BSF JOEPPST FTQFDJBMMZ FWFOJOH UJNF r4XJUDI PGG BMM ZPVS FMFDUSJD HBEHFUT CFGPSF HPJOH PVU FWFO XIFO UIFSF JT OP QPXFS TVQQMZ GSPN 1)$/ r $IFDL BMM ZPVS DPPLJOH NBUFSJBMT CFGPSF ZPV HP PVU r4UBZ BXBZ GSPN BOZ TUSBOHF NBO XIP MPPLT MJLF B QSFHOBOU XPNBO IF NBZ CF DBSSZJOH IBSNGVM QSPEVDUT r -PDL VQ ZPVS DBST FWFO XIFO ZPV QBDLFE UIFN JO ZPVS DPNQPVOE r1SPUFDU ZPVS DBST BOE NPUPSDZDMFT LFZT GSPN CFJOH EVQMJDBUFE CZ TVTQFDUFE DSJNJOBMT r1SPUFDU ZPVS TJN DBSET GSPN CFJOH TUPMFO CZ TVTQFDUFE DSJNJOBMT FMTF UIFZ DBO VTF JU GPS SBOTPN OFHPUJBUJPO r#VZ 'JSF FYUJOHVJTIFST GPS ZPVS DBST BOE IPVTFT r5FMM UIF UFBDIFST PG ZPVS DIJMESFO OPU UP SFMFBTF UIFN UP BOZCPEZ FYDFQU PO ZPVS SFRVFTU XJUI FWJEFODF GSPN ZPV r%POhU BMMPX TUSBOHF QFPQMF UP TMFFQ JO ZPVS IPVTF EJSFDU UIFN UP UIF OFBSFTU 1PMJDF TUBUJPO /JHFSJB 4FDVSJUZ BOE $JWJM %FGFODF $PSQT /4$%$ %44 r%POhU TFOE ZPVS "5. #7/ QJO UP BOZCPEZ PO BOZ BDDPVOU r%POhU QBZ GPS BOZ DBS PS (PPET POMJOF JG ZPV BSF OPU TVSF PG UIF TPVSDF r%POhU BMMPX MJUUMF DIJMESFO UP HP UP TDIPPM NPTRVF PS $IVSDI BMPOF r%POhU USBWFM XJUIPVU JOGPSNJOH BOZCPEZ r3FQPSU BMM TVTQFDUFE DSJNJOBMT UP UIF 1PMJDF "SNFE 'PSDFT /JHFSJB 4FDVSJUZ BOE $JWJM %FGFODF $PSQT /4$%$ %44 r -PDL :PVS %PPST XIFO ZPV BSF XBUDIJOH NPWJF PS ZPVS GBWPSJUF 57 4IPXT r8IJMF XBUDIJOH ZPVS GBWPSJUF 57 TIPX VTJOH B HFOFSBUPS BOE JU TVEEFOMZ HPFT PGG EPOhU SVTI PVU JNNFEJBUFMZ UP PQFO ZPVS EPPS *U NBZ CF BSNFE SPCCFST

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40

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MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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INTERNA TIONAL Theresa May Faces Heavy Brexit Defeat in Parliament, Eurosceptics Warn British Prime Minster, Theresa May’s Brexit deal faces a heavy defeat in parliament on Tuesday, the leaders of two major eurosceptic factions in parliament said on Sunday.

According to parliament May has so far secured no major changes from the European Union.

Just 19 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29, May’s is scrambling, so far unsuccessfully, to secure last-minute changes to an EU exit agreement before a vote on Tuesday on whether to approve the deal.

If she fails, lawmakers are expected to force May to seek a delay to Brexit that some fear could see the 2016 decision to leave the bloc reversed.

Others argued that without a delay Britain faces chaos if it leaves without a deal on March 29. Nigel Dodds, the deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May’s minority government, and Steve Baker, a leading figure in the large eurosceptic faction of her Conservative party, warned “the political situation is grim’’.

“An unchanged withdrawal agreement will be defeated firmly by a size able proportion of Conservatives and the DUP if it is again presented to the Commons,” they wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

The Sunday Times said May was battling to save her job as aides were considering persuading her to offer to

resign in a bid to get the deal approved.

The newspaper also said cabinet ministers have spoken about whether to insist she goes as early as this week.

Parliament rejected May’s deal by a record margin in January, prompting the British leader to return to Brussels in search of changes to address the so-called Irish backstop, an insurance policy designed to prevent the return of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Many British lawmakers object to the policy on the grounds that it could leave Britain subject to EU rules indefinitely and cleave Northern Ireland away from the rest of the country.

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Hamas Targets in Gaza in Response to Rocket Israeli warplanes struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, in response to a projectile launched from the coastal enclave, the Israeli army said on Sunday.

Israeli fighter jets and other aircraft hit several military targets in addition to two Hamas vessels in northern Gaza, an army statement said.

Earlier in the night, the army also struck several military targets in a Hamas compound in the southern Gaza Strip and underground structures in the northern Gaza Strip.

The strikes caused damage but no injuries were reported, according to Palestinian medical

and security sources.

No group claimed responsibility for the rocket attack from Gaza, which caused no injuries or damage.

The army said the airstrikes were also in response to “continued violence emanating from the Gaza Strip, which has included the launching of balloons carrying explosive devices and attempts to damage security infrastructure over the last number of days.’’

In recent days the Israeli army has conducted regular airstrikes on Hamas militant targets in response to these launches.

Israel holds Hamas

accountable for all events emanating from Gaza.

Hamas is classified as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States and the European Union.

A 23-year-old Palestinian was killed, 42 wounded on Friday during clashes between 12 Palestinian demonstrators.

Similarly Israeli soldiers were stationed on the border between Gaza and Israel, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

Among other things, the weekly Friday protests are calling for an end to a more than 10-year-long blockade

by Israel, which cites security concerns in justifying it.

US Citizens will Need Visas to Travel to Europe Beginning in 2021 United States citizens will be required to have a visa if they travel to Europe, beginning from 2021, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) announced on yesterday “The visa will be valid for three years, and will allow a holder to enter the country “as many times as necessary,’’

ETIAS added.

U.S. citizens may travel to Europe for up to 90 days without a visa.

“Like many other countries, the decision to require a visa comes in an effort to improve security and avoid any further problems with illegal immigration and terrorism.

“The requirement includes

the European Schengen-zone, a group of 26 countries, 22 of which are members of the European Union,’’ it said.

When enrolling in ETIAS, a person’s passport must be valid for three months after the intended stay. Passports over 10 years old may not be accepted as valid forms of documentation for travel.

Turkey: Over Half a Million People Detained Since Failed 2016 Coup Turkish authorities detained over 500,000 people since an abortive 2016 putsch over their alleged links to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Sunday.

Soylu, using a government acronym for Gulen’s network IS said that a total of 511,000 FETO members were detained

since July 15, 2016.

“The number of those under arrest is 30,821,’’ Soylu added.

Turkey blames Gulen, who’s based in the U.S. and his movement for the failed coup by a faction in the military.

The government considers Gulen’s movement a terrorist organisation and has arrested thousands of people with alleged

connections to the movement and Gulen himself.

The self-exiled cleric, an allyturned-foe of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, denied the allegations.

The authorities continue to target those with suspected links to Gulen, in the military and elsewhere, almost on a daily basis.

Egypt’s al-Sissi to Appoint Army Officer as New Transport Minister Egypt’s President, Abdel al-Sissi, on Sunday said a senior military officer would be appointed as Transport Minister to replace a predecessor, who resigned after a deadly train crash in Cairo.

Speaking at an Armed Forces seminar, al-Sissi said Kamel alWazir, the head of the army’s engineering authority, would be officially named transport

minister after the parliament’s approval.

In February, a speeding locomotive crashed into the concrete buffers of the platform at Cairo’s main train station, causing a powerful explosion and a fire that left 25 people dead and 12 others wounded.

Transport Minister, Hisham Arafat, resigned following the

accident. Al-Sissi praised al-Wazir as “one of the best army officers.’’

“You will have all the support, not only from me, but from the people, army and police,’’ he told him.

Al-Sissi promised Egyptians that he would build a new rail facility “by June 30, 2020.’’

Egypt has seen several railway tragedies in recent years.

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MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Nine Persons Killed in Bayelsa , Kogi, Ondo Elections’ Violence Boat mishap claims six lives in Ondo, Delta

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa, Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja, Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and James Sowole in Akure Nine persons, including a naval rating were killed in the violence that erupted in Ondo, Kogi, and Bayelsa States during the Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

This is coming as a youth corps member, another adhoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and four other persons died in a boat mishap in Ondo and Delta States The boat mishap involving the corps member and INEC adhoc staff occurred at Agadagba Obon in Ede Ondo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, while the four other persons were killed on Saturday when the boat conveying them from an offshore polling centre to Koko in Warri North LGA of Delta State capsized.

However, the Police have clarified that no corps member or INEC adhoc staff was involved in the Delta incident.

In Ondo State, four persons were feared killed at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area late last

Saturday during a protest by some youths in the community.

The four were aside the two persons who were killed at Oba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area when some thugs were said to have attacked constituency collation centre last Saturday.

While the police confirmed the killings of the two persons at Oba Akoko, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said only one person was killed in Ore. A source said the Ore killing was caused by the protest embarked upon by youths in the area against alleged rigging of election at the collation centre to favour a particular candidate.

According to the source, a notable politician was said to have called security men, who engaged the youths during which the victims were shot.

In another development, a youth corps member and another adhoc staff of INEC, died in a boat mishap that occurred at Agadagba Obon in Ede Ondo Local Government area of the state.

Seven other persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment

at the Trauma Centre, Ondo State.

The corps member Ibrahim Okanlawon served along with the others at the riverine Arogbo Community but got drowned when the speed boat conveying him and others capsized.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, had condoled with the family of the victims and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) over the accident.

Ajayi was also said to have visited the injured in the hospital and had directed the hospital management to treat the injured.

In Kogi State, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Busari, has said four persons lost their lives during the election

in the state.

He made the confirmation over the weekend while speaking on the situation of elections in the state.

According to him, his men were able to put things in control during and after the elections.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State boycotted yesterday’s rescheduled House of Assembly election.

The State Houses of Assembly elections were held across the country last Saturday, but that of Mopamuro constituency was slated for yesterday because the ballot papers of Ankpa LGA were wrongly sent to the constituency.

Confirming the boycott, the former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, said the leadership of Mopamuro LGA PDP, having consulted with the zonal, and state leadership of the party hierarchy, has withdrawn from House of Assembly election.

The withdrawal, according to Awoniyi, was to essentially save lives and property.

According to him, “ With the brazen ballot box snatching that was experienced in the adjoining local government areas in the Saturday’s elections, the shooting of party agents in a very senseless manner, harassment of PDP candidates in adjoining local government areas, particularly that of Yagba West to be specific,

the influx of hoodlums from outside Mopamuro and the incessant gunshots for the last three days as well as the thuggery unleashed on the people, the party feels our victory is not worth the blood of any citizen of this local government area.

“The party is therefore inviting their party agents to steer clear of the election as we’re boycotting the election.”

In Bayelsa State, a yet-tobe named naval rating has reportedly been attacked and killed by rampaging youths in Brass Island, Brass LGA while on election duty in the state.

It was learnt that the naval

Continued on page. 52

Again, Suspected Bandits Kill 16, Injure Many in Zamfara Hamid Ayodeji Suspected armed bandits at the weekend killed 16 people and injured 18 others at Dumama community in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

The lawmaker representing Zurmi/Shinkafi in the House of Representatives, Husseini Moroki, confirmed the report to journalists.

“Just yesterday (Friday) by the time election materials were being distributed, I was at Zurmi INEC office where I got a report that there is an incident of banditry attack at Dumama community.

“Sixteen people were killed while 18 sustained high degrees of injuries; four among them have been referred to Federal Medical Centre Gusau,” Moroki said.

He said the attack caused panic among residents and it was resolved among the political parties and the electoral commission to move the polling units in the area to secure places within the Zurmi LGA. The attack in Zurmi is coming less than a week after over 30 local businessmen returning from a market in Shinkafi LGA were ambushed and killed by suspected armed bandits.

The lawmaker said despite the attack on the eve of the election, the turnout was impressive in the area.

“I went round to over 90 per cent of the polling unit. I saw how people are conducting themselves in an orderly manner in obedience to the officials conducting the election.

“The process is satisfactory,

I noticed something very imperative which is the voters’ turnout, it increased significantly above the presidential and parliamentary elections,” Moriki said.

The attacks in Zamfara have continued despite the reinforcement of many security units by the federal government.

Whiling commenting on the issues of insecurity in Zamfara, the defenCe minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, on Saturday, shortly after casting his vote at his hometown in Birnin Magaji, said the federal government was looking forward to establishing a helicopter landing base at either Birnin Magaji or Shinkafi LGA so that any time there are security concerns, the helicopters can be used for surveillance.

“You can’t have all what you want at a time. There’s no nation that is 100 per cent secured.

“We’re facing the insecurities challenges in the country adequately and squarely with the innovation of President Muhammadu Buhari because he has the political will and he intends to see that everywhere in this country is well secured,” Dan-Ali said.

He also called on people to play their own part in securing their lives and property, saying security is everybody business.

“We don’t expect the soldiers or the police to come and guard your own home, in those days where we have local guard securing our communities notifying suspicious movement of people and reporting to the traditional rulers, we need to revive that pattern for our home security,” he said.

CONGRATULATIONS…

L-R: Deputy Governor-elect, Lagos State, Kadir Obafemi Hamzat;Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Governor-elect, Mr. Babajide Olusola SanwoOlu; National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, after the declaration of Sanwo-Olu as governor- elect in Lagos......yesterday

INEC Office Gutted by Fire in Imo The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) office in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State has been set on fire by suspected hoodlums.

THISDAY gathered that the collation was being finalised when the angry supporters of a political party set the structure on fire.

The electoral officers were promptly guarded by security operatives as they moved the materials to the INEC office

in the state capital.

There was also a bomb scare at Mbaitoli LGA’s INEC office earlier yesterday but security operatives quickly put the situation under control.

The collation continued at the centre amidst tight security.

The INEC spokesperson in the state, Emanuella Opara, said she could not confirm the developments because she had been deployed to a local government to function as an electoral officer.

She said: “If I were to be in the headquarters now I would have confirmed the report to you but I am here on the field working.”

The police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeonkwu, said he would find out what happened and get back to our reporter.

But as at the time of filing this report, he was yet to call back and did not pick a call to his mobile line.

However, a party agent at

the local government, who asked not to be named, said no damage was done to the official result already collated.

Armed thugs had on Saturday invaded many polling units in Ngor Okpala LGA and carted away voting materials including ballot papers, ballot boxes and result sheets.

Many INEC ad-hoc staff were also beaten up with their valuables, including mobile phones, wallets and bags lost in the process.

I Announced Results under Duress, INEC Officer Cries out Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Collation Officer of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area in Bauchi State, Mrs. Dominion Anosike, has said that she announced the results of the election under duress to save her life from the hands of political thugs who invaded the collation centre on Saturday night.

The confusion started when the State Returning Officer of the Governorship election, Prof.

Kyari Mohammed, called her to step forward and announce the results with her and immediately, an agent of the APC, Col. Umar Tilde, raised an observation that

there was no collation of results in the Local Government Area, adding that it should not be accepted.

The Returning Officer then asked the Collation Officer who is of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, to explain what happened and she shocked the gathering when she said that she announced the results at the collation centre on Saturday under duress.

According to her, there was violence at the collation center and the election materials particularly the result sheets were carted away adding that “Police and other security

personnel around had to rescue us because our lives were in danger at that moment.”

According to her, : “ We started collation of the results at about 11 p.m. on Saturday and after collating results of six wards, some hoodlums stormed the area around 6.a.m. and insisted that we must announced the candidate of a particular party as the winner of the gubernatorial election.”

Anosike who was still looking petrified added that, “I had to announce the results under duress because they insisted that we must announce it. Since the results were carted away, I had

to announce the result we had in a laptop after comparing it with the results of the agents there at the center.”

She further explained that with the kind of violence and threat to her life, she had to announce it like that but insisted though that the final results she wanted to announce was genuine and this further threw the collation center into an uproar with the insistence that she did everything under duress.

Tilde, again stood up and insisted that the result she announced there was given to her from a laptop. We will not accept it.”

MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS XTRA

Babangida Returns from Three-month Medical Vacation Lauds peaceful elections Dipo Laleye in Minna Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) has returned from a three-month medical vacation to Switzerland.

Babangida who returned on Saturday night was received at the Minna International Airport by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), his son Muhammad Babangida and

In Air, Land Attacks, MNJTF Kills 56 Terrorists

other family members along with his friends and staff.

A statement by the media office of General Babangida said the former military president arrived fully invigorated.

Though the nature of Babangida’s aliment was not disclosed, THISDAY gathered that in 1987, nearly two years after assuming power as military leader, he spent weeks

in the American Hospital in Paris, France, under going treatment for a condition known as radiculopathy.

Radiculopathy, according to medical experts is characterised by pain which seems to radiate from the spine to extend outward to cause symptoms away from the source of the spinal nerve root irritation.

Meanwhile, Babangida

has commended Nigerians for their orderliness and peaceful conducts during the 2019 general election.

In a statement by Malam Zubairu Abdulra’uf, his media aide, and made available to journalists in Minna, he urged all Nigerians to be the vanguards of peace for the development of the country through democratic processes.

According to the statement,

Babangida appreciated Nigerians for their prayers urging them to always be advocates of peace in the country.

“I commend all Nigerians for their orderliness and peaceful conducts during elections. I urge all Nigerians to always be the vanguards of peace for the development of the country through democratic processes,” he said.

Destroys six gun trucks, recover arms, ammunition Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja With air strikes and attacks from ground troops, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) weekend decimated 56 terrorists in different operations in continuation of Operation Yancin Tafki, which was launched last month.

Chief Military Public Information Officer, MNJTF, Colonel Timothy Antigha said in a statement yesterday that troops comprising air and land components from Chad, Cameroon, Niger Republic and Nigeria engaged terrorists operating along the Kamadougou River, between Niger and Nigeria, who attacked troops location in Gueskerou, about 30 kilometres from Diffa in Niger Republic.

He said in the first attack, troops killed 27 terrorists, destroyed six gun trucks and captured several equipment, arms and ammunition.

According to him, a few terrorists, who escaped the firefight, ran towards Gashigar in Nigerian territory while troops followed in hot pursuit.

Antigha added that in the second confrontation with terrorist group, Boko Haram, around Abadam, in the general area of Mallam Fatori, the troops killed 23 insurgents and recovered several arms and ammunition.

The captured arms and

ammunition include three gun trucks, having destroyed another four gun trucks.

The multinational task force also recovered 47 AK 47 rifles, three General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), five motocycles, three hand genades among others while one terrorist was captured alive.

“It would be recalled that about ten days ago, MNJTF troops also struck Boko Haram terrorists in Dorou in Niger Republic, neutralising many of them in the process. The MNJTF is therefore determined to intensify subsidiary operations such as raids, ambushes and fighting patrols among others until the last strong hold of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin is neutralised”, a statement issued in N’jamena, Chad,”Antigha, said.

In a related development, troops of the 122 Task Force Battalion located in Ngwom Community in Borno State, weekend, killed six terrorists when the military base was attacked by terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The insurgents attacked the troops in four gun trucks mounted on anti-aircraft guns, prompting a fire-fight that lasted for hours.

Similarly, troops deployed in Gulak engaged another set of terrorists in Kubu Village while responding to a distress call.

PDP Raises the Alarm over Alleged Manipulation of Election Results in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has raised the alarm over alleged manipulation of the governorship and House of Assembly election results in the state.

Addressing a news conference yesterday in Kaduna, the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Hassan Hyet alleged that the results were being doctored at the Government House Kaduna.

Of the governorship result announced in 11 out of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, the APC won in seven with a total of 359,757 votes while the PDP won in four Local Government Areas, with a total of 309, 330 votes.

Results in 12 council areas were yet to be announced at the time of this report.

Hyet alleged that the elections in Kaduna were marred by intimidation by security agencies, vote buying, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing and laying of siege on Kagarko and Sanga LGAs by security agencies to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hyet said: “There was public vote buying in Zaria LGA by

government officials, snatching of ballot boxes in Chikun LGA. “The worst case was in Birnin Gwari where there was no voting. Ballot boxes were snatched and returned the next day, stuffed with results.

Kagarko and Sanga LGAs are currently under siege by security agencies in an effort to change the results in favour of the ruling party.

“Results were forcibly changed in Rigasa, Igabi LGA. The EO (Electoral Officers) are summoned to Government House to present the results to the governor for him to see and approve before authorising it. We have our results with our agents.

“Based on all these irregularities, we would not accept any doctored results that are announced by INEC because we have the original results from our agents on ground.

“INEC should be the umpire that everybody expects them to be. The will of the people have been pushed to the background by the activities of security agencies.

“Our people should remain calm; we would not accept any adulterated result from INEC.

SEEKING DIVINE FAVOURS…

L-R: Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki ; and Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, praying during Jummat at the Ilorin Central Mosque ...weekend

Scores Killed as Gunmen Launch Fresh Attack on Kajuru Community John Shiklam in Kaduna A number of people have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack by gunmen on Angwan Barde village, Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.

Several houses were also said to have been burnt in the attack, which a source said started yesterday morning.

The attack came less than two weeks after gunmen invaded Karamai village, also in Kajuru LGA, killing 40 people while several houses

were burnt.

The source who pleaded not to be named, said the attacks started on Saturday when people who went to their farms after voting in the governorship election were first attacked.

He said: “The gunmen are presently killing and burning of housing in Angwan Barde They are done attacking Ungwan Barde, they are now advancing towards the next village which is Sabon Gida. ”They started isolated attacks on Saturday. Someone

voted and went to his farm and he was killed. Five people went to search for him and they were also attacked one of them was killed and four came back alive. I am not in a position to give you casualty figures until the situation is calm, I don’t want to give wrong figures”.

This is the second time the community is coming under attack in less than one month.

On February 11 suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the village at about midnight and

killed 11 people.

The attack, allegedly led to reprisals on Fulani settlements in the area where many people were said to have been killed.

The state governor, Nasir el-Rufai had announced that 66 Fulanis were killed. He later said the death toll in the Fulani community was 130.

All efforts to contact the spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, Yakubu Sabo, yielded no result as he did not respond to telephone calls and a text message sent to his mobile phone.

Kwara Gov, PDP Guber Candidate, Congratulate Governor-elect Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Saturday’s poll in the state, Hon. Razak Atunwa, yesterday in Ilorin congratulated the winner of the election, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued last night by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, Ahmed stated that

“Abdulrasak’s emergence is a manifestation of Kwarans’ resolve to give democracy a chance and allow another leadership to serve them”.

Governor Ahmed also congratulated the APC on the new mandate and advised the party to justify the confidence reposed in it by the electorate.

The governor, who urged the people of the state to cooperate with the in-coming administration, promised to ensure a seamless transition to enhance smooth take-off of the new government to fast

track deliverance of democratic dividends to the people.

Ahmed thanked the people of the state and the PDP members for their hard work during the elections and the opportunity given to him to serve his fatherland as governor.

Atunwa, in a statement issued last night in Ilorin also thanked God for His blessings as well as PDP’s leadership and supporters who stood by him during the just-concluded elections in the state.

“Your commitment and

dedication is heart-warming.

You all gave your best. We are all winners in the process of democracy.

“While the party considers its next line of action, and without prejudice to any legal process, I offer my congratulations to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“I pray that Kwara will continue to be a state of harmony and witness further development in the next administration. My utmost gratitude goes to Almighty God for His blessings.”

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Ogun APM Guber Candidate Rejects Election Results Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, yesterday rejected the on-going election results being

announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

According to the APM Governorship Campaign Director-General (DG), Chief Sarafa Isola, who spoke

NCC Cautions Subscribers against Use of Counterfeit Handsets Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again cautioned telecom consumers to desist from the patronage and usage of counterfeit handsets and other substandard mobile devices in the country.

Worried about the continuous proliferation of substandard mobile phones and devices in the country, NCC in a statement yesterday, said such substandard mobile devices impact negatively on telecoms network across boards.

The warning is sequel to a recent one-day event organised

by NCC in Paiko, Niger State, tagged: “Sensitisation programme on hazardous effect of non-type approved handsets and impact on quality of service and e-waste.”

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, while addressing the audience at the event, said the sensitisation programme was part of the commission’s deliberate move to educate and create awareness on the hazardous health effects and negative economic implications of the patronage of fake handsets and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices in the country.

According to Danbatta who was represented by Director, Zonal Operations Department at NCC, Mrs. Amina Shehu, “It is a programme designed by the commission to educate and enlighten the masses on

the need to use type-approved handsets and the benefits of using such equipment which includes better quality of service (QoS), network integrity and safety of the end-users.”

Shehu, who frowned at the proliferation of counterfeit handsets in the country, said the menace of counterfeit and substandard handsets has assumed a global dimension, which requires a lot of education on the part of the consumers and the collaboration with other government agencies to address it.

She also enjoined telecoms consumers to check the commission’s official website to find the list of type-approved phones from which they can make their choices of handsets to purchase.

“Cases of influx and patronage of counterfeit handsets are more rampant in developing countries, such as Nigerians, where importers bring in substandard phones without recourse to regulatory type-approval process aimed at certifying such devices as fit for the market,” she noted.

According to her, the commission is empowered by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, section 132 to establish and enforce standards for all telecommunications equipment in operation in Nigeria to ensure that they operate seamlessly and safely within the Nigerian telecommunications environment.

Again, PDP, APC Bicker over Nembe Election Results in Bayelsa Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday sharply disagreed over whether elections took place in Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

There had been tension arising from reports of shootings and killing of a young man in Nembe during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the area, where the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), hails from.

Speaking on the matter, the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, insisted that in Bassambiri, PDP leaders and followers were pushed out by force and are now in IDP camps in Ogbolomabiri, Yenagoa and other communities.

“This is because the APC knows that they are not on ground in this state so they want to win by force,” he said, contending that there can be no results where elections did not hold.

But during a visit to the troubled riverine community, some leaders in the area, who spoke with our correspondent, said elections were peaceful there.

The youth leader in Bassambiri, Theo Iruo, noted that nobody was chased out of the community, insisting that it was possible that those who killed the young man a day before the presidential polls were on the run.

Iruo explained that as a youth leader, who is apolitical, having been duly elected by members of both parties in the community, he could not take side with any of the contending sides.

He said: Everybody voted for their preferred candidates.

There was no report of violence.

Most of the things you hear in Yenagoa are mere rumours.

“As a community man, I represent everybody. Anybody who left the community is scared of their deeds. You recall the killing of Kenneth Adebo because they are afraid the law would catch up with them.”

Also in an interview, a chief in the community, Daniel Fawarinengigha, and another local chief, Agent Belele, noted that security was on ground to stem any violence.

They added that contrary to reports that there was violence during the polls, everybody, irrespective of their political leanings, exercised their franchise without fear of molestation.

alongside Akinlade at the party’s secretariat at Leme in Abeokuta, he rejected the results of the governorship and state House of Assembly) elections.

Ishola in a statement alleged that the gubernatorial election which began peacefully last Saturday was allegedly hijacked by hoodlums and “unidentified uniform men” during the collation stage, and further manipulated the results in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said the APM had petitioned the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Abdulganiyu Raji, to urgently investigate the “infractions” and stop the ongoing announcement of results forthwith.

The DG, however, expressed concerns that despite the complaints, the INEC has started announcing the results.

Isola described the outcome of the election as a “miscarriage of justice,” saying the results

did not reflect the wishes of the electorate as freely expressed last Saturday.

“I hereby, on behalf of APM, formally reject the collation process that was hijacked and compromised because it did not reflect the wishes of the people of Ogun State as freely expressed on March 9 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“The APM wishes to put INEC on notice that we shall explore every means within the

provisions of the constitution and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to challenge this miscarriage of justice.

“We shall also ensure that the wishes of the people of the state as freely expressed at the polls are protected,” said Isola.

Akinlade, on his own, said: “The people of Ogun State have been raped,” urging them to maintain peace while the leadership of APM explores all legal means to undo the alleged injustice.”

CONGRATULATORY VISIT…

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (left), and Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, during a congratulatory visit to the governor over his declaration as winner of the state gubernatorial election, in Government House, Enugu… yesterday

Aiteo Repairs Leak, Restarts 150,000 bpd Nembe Creek Oil Export Pipeline The Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) resumed normal operations on March 7 following the plugging of a leak which necessitated the shutdown of the facility on February 28.

A spokesperson for Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production the operator of the 97 km NCTL, Mr. Masade Odianosen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the facility “is up and running’’.

The development has allayed fears of a major disruption of oil export on the export pipeline that evacuates up to 150,000 barrels of crude daily to the Bonny Oil Export Terminal.

The Aiteo spokesperson said the NCTL was restarted while the joint investigation of the March 1 explosion from Oil

Well No.7 within Nembe Creek oilfields, a totally unrelated incident to the NCTL was in progress.

The official explained that the NCTL was not in operation when the explosion from an oil well within the OML 29 oil block occurred. The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) had said on Friday that it had commenced investigations into the explosion located within OML 29 operated

by Aiteo Eastern Exploration.

The blast ignited a fire, which Aiteo officials said was put off on March 2.

It had already discharged crude oil and gas into the environment with no loss of lives recorded, according to the company.

The volume of crude oil

and gas discharged into the surrounding environment arising from the explosion is yet to be ascertained.

The Director-General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Dr. Peter Idabor, also confirmed to NAN that a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) had been convened by the operator.

The DG explained that the JIV, a statutory probe of leak incidents in the oil and gas sector would determine the cause of the explosion, the volume of oil leakage as well as assess damage to the environment.

He said a JIV report signed by the representatives of the community, NOSDRA, Bayelsa Government and the oil firm who participated in the investigation was expected at

the end of the probe.

The Aiteo official said that the JIV team was yet to arrive at a conclusion on the cause of the blast.

“The JIV is still ongoing; it was not rounded up as we progressed with physical inspections without arriving at the probable cause from physical examinations.

“There appears the need for a more detailed and technical assessment to understand the primary cause of the incident prior to explosion that is more visible at moment on the riser.

“The investigation therefore requires further details and is still open,” Odianosen said.

However, a statement from Odianosen on March 2, confirmed that there was no human casualty.

APC Clears 25 of 26 State Assembly Seats in Ekiti The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has cleared 25 out of the 26 seats in the state House of Assembly.

In 2015, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being propelled by the then Governor, Ayodele Fayose, won all the seats.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer in the state, Alhaji Taiwo Gbadegesin, yesterday said the election is yet to be concluded in Ekiti East constituency 1 due to disruptions that engulfed four of the polling

units of the constituency while the exercise was going on.

The polling units, according the statement, are Aya Alaafe street, Teledalase PU 003; Late Oloda’s frontage PU 006; Baba Egbe’s house PU 008 and Beside Baba Egbe’s house PU 009.

The INEC image maker, while appreciating the cooperation of all stakeholders in ensuring peaceful conduct of the election, also commended the people of the state for their peaceful conduct during the election.

The list of the elected members as declared by the respective

Returning Officers are Lucas Oluwatoyin Felix(Ado I), Balogun Adekemi Adebambi (Ado II) , Olajide Adegoke Ayobami( Efon), Ayokunle Yemisi( Ekiti southwest I), olatunji Joseph (Ekiti southWest II) Akingbolu Tajudeen(Ekiti West I) Olubumi Rachael Adelugba(Emure), Okuyiga Eyitayo Adeyemi(Gbonyin), Fawekun Abiodun Babatunde( Ido/Osi I), Akinnoso Emman(Ido/OsI II Others are Ijero state constituency, Ojo Martins Ademola, After Funminiyi

Ebenezer(Ikere I), Babatunde Lawrence Idowu(Ikere II) Olugboyega Aribisogan Mathew(Ikole I), Adeoye Stephen Aribasoye(Ikole II), Ogunleye Olutope( Ikole II), Akindele Femi Olanrewaju(Irepodun/ Ifelodun I), Ayodeji Hakeem Jamiu(Irepodun/Ifelodun II) , Ajayi Ayodeji Moses(Ise/Orun) , Adeyemi Raphael Ajibade(Moba I), Arubu Michael Kola(Moba II), while Awoyemi Oluwaseun Reuben and Ogunyemi Olatunji Abraham were elected for Oye constituency I and II respectively.

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NBA Denies Querying Prosecution Lawyer in Onnoghen’s Trial at CCT The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted media reports that it issued a query to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aliyu Umar, the lead prosecution lawyer in the trial of suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Kunle Edun, said in a statement yesterday that Umar was only required to respond to a petition written against him by another member of the NBA. The statement read: “The attention of the Nigerian Bar Association has been drawn to misleading headlines published by some bloggers and national newspapers

giving the erroneous impression to members of the public that the Nigerian Bar Association has issued a query against the person of Aliyu Umar (SAN) for appearing as a prosecuting counsel in the case against Justice Onnoghen at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Please, be informed that the said publication is false and misleading. A proper perusal of the content of the letter of the General Secretary of the NBA, Jonathan Gunu Taidi, will bear this out.

“Any member of the NBA is entitled to send petitions to the association against any member who he perceives to have committed any infraction of our Rules of Professional Conduct.

“When such a petition

is received, NBA forwards same to the colleague against whom it is written for his response. That is what the NBA has just done. It is a long standing standard procedure.

“The NBA in adhering to these laid down procedures is impervious to emotions or sentiments.

Therefore, it is misleading to say that NBA has issued a query against the learned silk. The NBA urges members to desist from spreading false news over a process that is at its preliminary stage.

“We should be properly advised and disregard any motive ascribed to the letter, particularly sensational headlines that are contrary to established facts.”

Intervene in South-south, Others to Avert War, PDP Tells INEC Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, to quickly intervene in what it described as military meddlesomeness in the election process in the South-south region and other parts of the country before it snowballs into full-blown war.

The Election Monitoring unit of the party, in a statement yesterday, alleged that the military had hijacked all electoral functions from the statutory workers and taken over collation of results and now relocated to barracks

which is even inaccessible to the police.

It said after reviewing the activities of the military in the region and the blatant use of force on election officials and party agents, it was left with no other choice than to call on the INEC boss to quickly save the situation and avert a degeneration into war.

The group said the brigandage was a clear demonstration of the desperation and lack of conscience of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that if not checked, it could have far-reaching consequences.

The statement added that the ugly story in the

South-south was the same in other parts of the country, particularly in Oyo and Kano States, where PDP is in comfortable lead.

It stressed: “In Rivers State, the military has been so brutal and heartless as they harass and intimidate harmless electoral officers and party agents.

“No matter what it takes, the will of the people must be restored otherwise we can bid bye to democracy and peace in this country.”

The group therefore called on the international community to note the illegal use of force with the military operatives where civil security like the police are totally edged out.

Ajimobi Expresses Sadness over Election Violence, Killings Assures perpetrators will be brought to justice Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has condemned the pockets of violence that characterised Saturday’s election, which led to the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Temitope Olatoye, and others, describing it as highly depressing and regrettable.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, the governor said he was saddened by the turn of events, which he said was antithetical to the pervading peace in the state.

He said that the desperation and do-or-die that attended the election was uncalled for since the candidates in the governorship and assembly election were in the race to serve the people and not themselves.

Commiserating with the families of Olatoye and others who reportedly lost their lives in the election, the governor assured the citizens that the perpetrators

would be brought to justice, irrespective of their political affiliation and status.

The governor warned that the state government would not allow any individual or group to truncate the hadfought peace and security that the state had enjoyed in the last eight years.

Ajimobi said, “I am greatly saddened by the pockets of violence that attended yesterday’s (Saturday) election; although the circumstances surrounding the violence and loss of lives are still hazy. It is heartrending that Hon Olatoye and others had to die because of election.

“Nobody’s ambition should be worth the blood or life of any citizen. I am, therefore, appalled that some unscrupulous politicians and their followers have turned this contest into a do-or-die affair, which is alien to democratic norms in saner climes.

“We struggled hard for this democracy, and for it to be entrenched we

must eschew every act of bitterness, desperation and foul play during elections. In life, you win some contests and you lose some. If we imbibe this philosophy, we will take every victory and defeat with equal measure of equanimity.

“I have been in regular touch with all the security agencies since yesterday and they have assured me that the situation had been brought under control. May I use this opportunity to implore them to redouble their efforts and ensure the safety of lives and property going forward.”

The governor condoled with the families of Olatoye and others that lost their lives to Saturday’s skirmishes and prayed for the repose of their soul.

Ajimobi enjoined citizens of the state to be law-abiding and to go about their lawful activities without fear of molestation, warning those spreading rumours of renewed violence within the city to desist from such unpatriotic act.

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Oyo APC Petitions INEC, Wants Governor-elect Arrested Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday submitted a petition against the governorelect and Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) candidate, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party in the petition accused Makinde of what it described as “breach of electoral laws”, and called for his immediate arrest and prosecution.

The petition addressed to the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and entitled “Petition Against Seyi Makinde on Electoral offences committed in breach of electoral laws,” was submitted to the Agodi office of the commission yesterday.

But, the PDP dismissed the petition, saying the 45- second video had never led to any form of violence as been claimed by the ruling party.

In the petition, Makinde was accused of releasing a video in the early hours of yesterday where he “pointedly

Ambode Congratulates Sanwo-Olu as Governor-elect Dedicates Victory to Lagos

proclaimed himself winner of the governorship election in Oyo State when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results.”

The petition signed by the APC state secretary, Mr Mojeed Olaoya, said Makinde by the action clearly incited the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections.

The petition reads in part, “We wish to bring to your attention the release of a video by the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde in the early hours of Sunday, March 10, 2019.

“In the video, Seyi Makinde

proclaimed himself winner of the governorship elections in Oyo State when INEC, the authorised umpire has not concluded same nor declared any such results.

“In the said video broadcast to the citizenry of Oyo state and the whole world, Mr. Makinde proclaimed and declared himself as the winner of the yet to be concluded elections, thus already inciting the populace against the popular will of the people, as may be eventually declared by INEC when the final results are released.

“This is a most unconscionable act and an attempt to blackmail INEC and lawful authorities

against the popular will that may be expressed in the final INEC results. Makinde by his illegal broadcast has by this proclamation rendered himself liable to being prosecuted by your office for this electoral offence tantamount to a flagrant abuse of the electoral laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and INEC guidelines for elections and possibly for treason against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“By the unconscionable broadcast by Seyi Makinde, he is clearly inciting the citizenry against an eventual credible outcome of the elections who h may be contrary to his selfishly proclaimed victory, when he

lacks the lawful authority and vires to do so.

“We are by this petition formally demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Seyi Makinde for this grave offence. We trust you will act urgently and timeously to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state.”

However when contacted, the Director General, Omi Tuntun Campaign Organisation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said Makinde only did what any peaceloving, law- abiding candidate would do to ward off violence in his domain, challenging the APC to look for another allegation.

Agbaje concedes defeat Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as well as the 40 House of Assembly candidates of the party for their resounding victory at the polls on Saturday.

This is coming as the governor-elect yesterday dedicated his victory as Governor of Lagos state to the people even as his closest opponent in the race, Mr. Jimi Agbaje yesterday called him to wish him well, having accepted defeat.

Sanwo-Olu who was full of praises to the APC party leadership including President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of he party, Bola Tinubu, the party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and the party faithful, promised a greater Lagos even as he told hundreds of members of the party who throng the party Secretariat at Acme Road, Ikeja where he made his acceptance speech that working for a better Lagos starts immediately.

Speaking earlier, the APC state chairman, Chief Tunde Balogun thanked Lagosians for making Sanwo-Olu the 16th governor of the state Meanwhile, Ambode yesterday congratulated SanwoOlu and Hamzat as well as the 40 House of Assembly candidates of the party for their resounding victory at the polls on Saturday.

Sanwo-Olu was declared winner of the election and Governor-elect of Lagos by

the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, having polled a total of 739,445votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje who got 206,141votes.

Ambode, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the feat was a reward for the vigorous campaign embarked upon by the APC candidate and his running mate across the length and breadth of the State.

“Lagosians have spoken loud and clear with their votes and have overwhelmingly voted for a government they believe will continue the trajectory of growth that we have experienced in the last 20 years under the APC. “It is therefore with great pleasure that I congratulate our great party for a resounding victory yesterday. Again, the people of Lagos have decided to stay on the path of infrastructural drive, economic growth and all round development.

“While I congratulate the Governor-Elect, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat on their well-deserved victory, let me also thank all Lagosians for keeping faith with the APC,” Governor Ambode said.

Ambode also congratulated all the 40 candidates of the APC in the State Assembly elections for emerging victorious, adding that it would ensure a seamless relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government.

Police Arrest 105 in Imo for Electoral Offences The Imo State Police Command has arrested 105 persons for various electoral offences during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly Elections in the state.

This was disclosed by the Imo state Commissioner of Police Dasuki Galadanchi, who said at a press conference in Oweeri that the suspects were arrested at different areas in the state on issues relating to electoral offenses.

“Technically we have arrested over 105 suspects who are in our custody for various electoral

offences and investigations are ongoing”, he said.

He also confirmed the arrest of fake military officials in Ideato South Local Government Area of the state.

“We have arrested fake personnel in camouflage, they claim to be navy marine and appeared in camouflage. All the suspects arrested are currently under investigations and the outcome will be communicated in due course”, he stated.

According to him, the election in Imo was peaceful.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE…

L-R: Wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Wife of Head Pastor, Omega Fire Ministry International Church, Benin Branch 1, Mrs. Precious Azemhe Azena; and her husband, Dr. Azemhe Azena, during a thanksgiving service to mark a violencefree House of Assembly election…yesterday

Oyetola Hails Victory of APC in Osun Assembly Polls Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has hailed the people for voting candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

Having absolute majority in the legislature will enable the government to move at the pace that will fast-track

the development agenda of his administration, the governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Adeniyi Adesina.

The APC won 22 out of 25 Assembly seats whose results were declared yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party is leading

comfortably in Oriade State Constituency, the only State Constituency whose result was declared inconclusive by the electoral agency.

“The outcome of the House of Assembly election is further proof of the popularity of our party in this state. It shows that nobody can describe our

victory in previous elections as a fluke,” the governor added in his reaction to the overwhelming victory.

Oyetola said with a steady support from the House of Assembly, there will be no inhibition for the government to deliver the democracy dividends that it promised its people during the campaigns.

NINE PERSONS KILLED IN ONDO, KOGI, BAYELSA ELECTIONS’ VIOLENCE officer attached to NNS FORMOSO was escorting electoral materials from Egwuama to Brass when he and his colleagues came under attack from some thugs loyal to a politician in the area.

Naval authorities in the state did not immediately react to the incident, however, during the shootout, the military officer was said to have died instantly.

Condemning the murder, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the death of the naval personnel followed in the same line of violence against the security agencies in the area by opposition party.

The state Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, said in a statement yesterday that the situation was unfortunate, noting that the navy in the state had exhibited a high level of professionalism in the election so far. He maintained that the navy may have come under the unprovoked attack for resisting attempts by the opposition thugs to hijack the materials in the area

to non-designated location for thumb-printing in Brass.

The PDP said it was worried that a group of desperate politicians had been allowed to take the laws of the land into their hands and emboldened to commit acts of criminality for the purpose of undeserved electoral victory.

He called on the authorities of the Nigerian Navy to go after the hoodlums and their leaders behind the unfortunate death of the naval rating with a view to bringing them to book.

The party recalled that a Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal SARS, Kola Okunola, was abducted and stripped by the same set of people during the presidential and National Assembly polls.

He said it was cheering to note that a state lawmaker who allegedly led the widely condemned assault on the DCP was arrested and would soon face prosecution alongside his cohorts.

Keku called on the Commander of NNS FORMOSO

to take a cue from the leadership of the police by going public with the murder of the innocent security operative in the line of duty.

Meanwhile, four persons were killed on Saturday when the boat conveying them from an offshore polling centre to Koko in Warri North LGA of Delta State capsized.

The boat was said to have been carrying 22 persons, including three policemen and 19 locals, when the mishap occurred at about 1.20 p.m during the governorship and state legislative election. The Acting Delta State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Chuks Orisewezie, who confirmed the report to journalists yesterday, said that two of the 18 persons subsequently rescued were receiving treatment at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSU), Oghara near Sapele.

THISDAY gathered that efforts were still on to locate and rescue four of the passengers in the ill-fated boat, who were yet to be

found by yesterday afternoon, more than 27 hours after the unfortunate incident, the police explained.

Orisewezie however said that the victims of the boat accident did not include any NYSC members or INEC ad-hoc staff.

The statement by the Delta State police spokesman confirmed that, ‘’a boat conveying 22 passengers, three Policemen and 19 members of the community returning from ward 3 Ebrohimi to Koko Jetty after the elections, at about 0120 hours capsized along the waterway at Ureju community. ‘’Eighteen passengers, including three Policemen and 15 natives have been successfully rescued, while four passengers are still missing. Two of the rescued passengers have been rushed to the Oghara General Hospital. ‘’However, no INEC official or NYSC member was involved in the boat mishap as earlier rumoured. The search for the missing passengers is still in progress.’’

5 ) * 4 % ": t MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019

MONDAYSPORTS

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

Victor Moses Has Not Reversed Retirement Decision, Says Rohr Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has confirmed that Victor Moses has not reversed his decision to quit the national team ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chelsea loanee is enjoying a new lease of life at Turkish side Fenerbahce, for whom he has scored two goals in the last six matches in the Super Lig, and there was speculation he was to be recalled for this month’s games against Seychelles and Egypt, which has not happened.

Having represented the Super Eagles at the World Cup, Moses called time on his international career in August 2018, citing family and career concerns.

Speaking to the official website of Confederation of African Football, Rohr said : ‘’I was against his international retirement and, if he changed his mind, he must tell me but I have no information about it. We’ll see,” observed Rohr

at the weekend.

On the situation of his captain, John Mikel Obi who was omitted from the latest Super Eagles roster released last week, Rohr said : ‘’He (Mikel) has arrived in Middlesbrough recently. He told me he was not ready and needs to work after his knee injury in China. ‘’He did not play all winter either. He is not ruled out for the AFCON but could not make that match in Asaba. We will see for the future,” stressed Rohr.

A former England U-17 international, Moses appeared in 37 matches for the Super Eagles and won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Rohr also defended his decision to hand maiden call-ups to striker Paul Onuachu and defender Valentine Ozornwafor for the upcoming games against Seychelles and Egypt.

The invitation of the FC Midtjylland star was a good

NTTF Names Sports Festival Gold Medalist for World Championship For emerging champion at the 2018 National Sports Festival, Ajoke Ojomu has been rewarded for her feat with a place in the seven-man team named by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for the 2019 World Championship holding in Budapest, Hungary.

The 20-year-old Abuja-based star will be making her debut at the senior level in Budapest and she will join experienced stars - Olufunke Oshonaike and Spain-based Edem Offiong to compete in the women’s singles event of the tournament.

According to the Secretary General of NTTF, James Eakyns, the selection of Ajoke Ojomu was based on her performance at the 2018 National Sports Festival held in Abuja. The scribe said that she was unbeaten in all her matches to emerge as the new Nigeria national champion.

“We are excited that we are now having players that are coming through. Olajide Omotayo who made his debut at the 2018 ITTF African Championship in Mauritius and

made it to the semifinal stage and this has given us hope that our players are capable of playing at big stage. We are also hopeful that the inclusion of Ajoke Ojomu will afford her the necessary experience to rub shoulders with the best in the world. We hope she can also learn from experienced players in the team,” the NTTF scribe said.

23-year-old Olajide Omotayo will be making his second appearance at the global tournament after he worked his way to the knockout stage at the 2017 edition in Dusseldorf.

The 2018 African Championship semifinalist is hoping for another good outing in Budapest.

Other members of the men’s team for Nigeria include African Champion – Aruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun and seven-time Olympian Segun Toriola.

The tournament would help the players to amass individual points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games while it will help the team to get good seeding for the 2019 African Games in Morocco.

Ubani Calls on Corporate Nigeria to Support Media Marathon The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Lagos Media Marathon Tony Ubani at the weekend has said that Nigeria will be first country in Africa to organise a media marathon and the fifth in the world after Japan, Spain, Australia and Brazil if corporate and wellmeaning Nigerians support the Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ) to make the marathon a reality in May 2019.

Ubani, therefore, urged the private, public sector to assist the Nigerian media to achieve an African first and a global fifth by supporting the Lagos Media Marathon financially and otherwise.

Said Ubani: “We contacted

the IAAF Road Races Department and they made us understand that Nigeria media organising a road race is great development and that ours will be the first in Africa. We also know that in Japan some of the most traditional and largest races are organised by media, same in Australia and Spain.

One of the best examples comes from Sao Paulo, Brazil where one of the world’s largest and oldest road races is organised by a daily newspaper.”

Ubani revealed that the race in Brazil was started by Cásper Líbero in December 31, 1925 and has not been interrupted or suspended even once during its history, not even for the duration of World War II.

public relations move as several Super Eagles fans wanted him in the team thanks to his rich vein of scoring form in Denmark, while the Enyimba defender was one of the players who shone for the Flying Eagles as they qualified for the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup last month.

On Onuachu, Rohr said: ‘’He has the experience of Europe at the height of his 24 years. ‘’His size is obviously his strength with his 2m01 and the beautiful goals scored in the Danish championship. This is another profile for us in attack,” observed Rohr with pride.

Explaining the choice of Ozornwafor, the German tactician stated : ‘’I expect this player to bring his freshness, his physical strength (1m97) and technical quality lefthanded. ‘’It also offers us an additional option since we have a lot of

right-handed advocates. I saw him in Niger at the CAN and I like his aerial game.’’

Onuachu is the only Scandinavian-based player named to the Super Eagles latest roster while Ozornwafor is the only home-based outfield player selected.

SENDFORTH FOR SPECIAL ATHLETES…

Special Olympics Nigeria’s 84-man delegation was given a befitting send-forth last Thursday in Lagos ahead of their participation at the World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. They are to join the rest of the world at the Games scheduled to hold in from March 14th to March 21

CAF Match Commissioner Dies in Ethiopian Air Crash Confederation of African Football (CAF) has lost one of its Match Commissioners as Hussein Swaleh, a Kenyan was one of the victims of the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines that crashed on Sunday morning on its way from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.

Swaleh, who was a former Kenya Football Federation (KFF) Secretary General was returning from CAF Champions League match pitting Egyptian side Ismailia and DRC’s TP Mazembe played on Friday in Cairo. He was the match commissioner of the encounter.

He was among the 157 aboard

of the aircraft which had Kenya as the most affected of the 33 countries that lost citizens in the ill-fated flight.

In all, there were 32 Kenyans aboard the flight which was reportedly piloted by an experienced Ethiopian-born Kenyan, Captain Yared Mulugeta.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam remarked that Mulugeta was a senior pilot, who had been flying the same plane since November 2007. His first officer had several flight hours under his belt too.

The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained. It happened

Serena Backs USA Women’s Soccer Team on Equal Pay Serena Williams has voiced her support for the US women’s football team in their legal battle for equal pay.

All 28 members of the national squad have joined a class action law suit against the US Soccer Federation.

It says they should not be paid less than members of the US men’s team.

“I do know that the pay discrepancy is ludicrous,” said Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion. “So what they are doing right now is hopefully for the future of women’s soccer.”

Williams highlighted the campaign for equality in tennis in the 1970s by the likes of multiple Grand Slam winner Billie Jean King. “I’m playing because someone else

stood up,” she said.

She told reporters: “We have had some incredible pioneers in our sport that stood up in the ‘70s and said...

‘We’re going to get paid what the men get paid’.

“I think at some point, in every sport, you have to have those pioneers, and maybe it’s the time for soccer.”

The US players’ union - the United States National Soccer Team Players Association said it supported the women’s team and “the efforts to achieve equal pay”. The USSF is yet to comment on the legal action.

The US finished second to England in the SheBelieves Cup and will be looking to retain the World Cup, which takes place between 7 June and 7 July in France.

at 08.44 local time, six minutes after the flight took-off from the Ethiopian capital.

“It is believed that there were 149 passengers and eight crew on board but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight,” it said.

It added that search and rescue operations had been launched and that its officials were also checking for information on survivors and casualties.

“Staff will be sent to the accident scene and will do everything possible to assist the emergency services,” the

statement said.

The airline also said it would set up an information centre and provide a phone number for family and friends.

Ethiopian Airlines identified the flight number as ET 302/10 and said the crash took place around Bishoftu, formerly known as Debre-Zeit.

The plane’s other identification details were given as B-737800MAX, registration ET-AVJ. The aircraft left Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital at 8.38am local time and lost contact six minutes later.

Countdown to National Institute for Sports Summit Begins As preparations for the National Institute for Sports’ Silver Jubilee celebrations gather momentum, individuals, brands, companies and sportsmen and women are strategically positioning for active involvement in the all-important event.

Among other things, the Institute will be recognizing different companies, brands, individuals and sportsmen and women who have contributed to the adevelopment of sports over the years in Nigeria.

To flag off the two-day event, a public lecture with the theme, “Activating Sports Potentials: Quality, Economy and Lifestyle” under the chairmanship of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, will hold in the morning of Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos while an

Awards/Gala Night holds in the evening of the same day at the same I venue.

This will be followed, next day, by a combined convocation ceremony holding at the NIS Arena inside National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Director/CEO, National Institute for Sports, Dr. Eke Kingdom, disclosed that for some time now, some rebranding efforts had been on-going t the institute all of which would be sustained even after the celebrations.

In his words: “We are also rebranding and marketing NIS. We are going into our Silver Jubilee celebration and convocation which was last held about 12 years ago. We are doing this in partnership with Marcoms agency. We are rebranding the institute by doing these things that we have not been doing in the past”

FA CUP 55

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019

MONDAYSPORTS PREMIERSHIP…PREMIERSHIP…PREMIERSHIP

Arsenal Hands Solskjaer First League Defeat as Man Utd Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer suffered his first Premier League defeat since being appointed Manchester United’s interim manager as Arsenal leapfrogged their opponents to move into the top four.

Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka beat David de Gea with a swerving shot from outside the penalty area, which the United keeper was expected to stop.

Romelu Lukaku hit the bar while the game was goalless, when it appeared easier to score, and Brazilian midfielder Fred struck a post for United.

Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno also produced two crucial saves to keep out Lukaku, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang doubled the hosts’ lead from the penalty spot after Fred’s foul on Alexandre Lacazette.

Soon after Arsenal’s second goal, a fan ran on to the pitch and shoved United defender Chris Smalling before being removed by stewards.

The Gunners have won seven out of 10 top-flight games in 2019 and are one point behind north London rivals Tottenham, who sit third in the table, with eight games remaining.

United, who started the weekend in fourth, drop to fifth in the race for a Champions League spot next season.

“Tottenham Hotspur, we’re coming for you” chants filled Emirates Stadium at the final whistle as Arsenal fans celebrated a crucial win.

Last weekend, Aubameyang left Wembley dejected after his last-minute penalty was saved

by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris to deny Arsenal victory in the

North London derby.

Against United, he stepped forward and beat De Gea from the spot to seal a first victory over United in six league and cup meetings.

It was awarded after Fred’s forearm nudged into Lacazette, sending the French forward tumbling inside the box.

Lacazette inspired one of Arsenal’s finest days under Unai Emery’s command.

The Gunners were sharp, lively and industrious as they made amends after United eliminated them from the FA Cup six weeks ago.

Emery named six players who started Thursday’s Europa League defeat by Rennes in his starting line-up, but there was little sign of fatigue as the hosts came flying out of traps.

They opened the scoring with their only shot on target in the first half, Xhaka deceiving De Gea with a shot that left the United keeper rooted to his line.

Leno was also key for Gunners.

The German did well to frustrate Lukaku as the Belgium forward threatened to go around and equalise, before denying the same player with an outstretched leg after half-time.

Arsenal have now played all their Champions League chasing rivals - a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition next season is very much in their own hands.

United have got used to winning under Solskjaer and it will be interesting to see how they respond to a first domestic setback under the Norwegian.

After their incredible midweek exploits against Paris St-Germain,

Liverpool Keeps Pressure on Man City with Win against Burnley Liverpool maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City by coming from behind to beat Burnley in tricky conditions at Anfield.

The Clarets took a shock sixth-minute lead when Ashley Westwood scored direct from a corner, although it appeared Reds’ goalkeeper Alisson had been impeded by James Tarkowski.

But the hosts were only behind for 13 minutes before Roberto Firmino tapped in after Tom Heaton had fumbled Mohamed Salah’s cross.

In a first half played in strong wind and hailstorms, Liverpool took the lead when Sadio Mane curled a shot past Heaton.

Firmino scored his second following Heaton’s poor clearance and Burnley pulled one back late on through Johann Berg Gudmundsson from six yards out.

But there was no fightback as Mane then went around the Clarets’ keeper in injury time for his second and Liverpool’s fourth to seal the win, which leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side one point behind City with eight league games of the season remaining.

Liverpool, aiming to become English champions for the first time since 1990, had faced questions over their character after a run of four draws in six league matches had seen them lose their lead at the top of the table.

Raheem Sterling’s hat-trick for

Manchester City on Saturday gave Pep Guardiola’s side a 3-1 win over Watford and left the defending champions with a four-point advantage.

Guardiola said it would be “almost impossible” to win every remaining league match and all Liverpool can do is win their own games and hope for a slip-up from City.

The hosts made the worst possible start, trailing early on, but Klopp’s team responded in fine fashion and showed their character to dig deep and overcome a hard-working and determined Burnley outfit.

Firmino’s shot was deflected over after 13 minutes, but six minutes later he had his 10th league goal of the season, scoring from close range after a mistake from Heaton following fine play from Salah, who had played a one-two with Georginio Wijnaldum.

The inclusion of Adam Lallana, making only his fifth start of the season, was met with doubt by many on social media - but he played a huge part in Liverpool’s second, sliding in to block a clearance, with Ben Mee’s subsequent challenge falling to Mane to curl past Heaton.

A second error from Heaton, who gifted the ball to Salah, led to the Reds’ third, with Firmino finishing after Charlie Taylor’s challenge on the Egyptian fell straight to the Brazilian.

they started slowly - although Lukaku will wonder how he did not score from United’s first serious attack.

The visitors paid the price when they conceded their earliest

league goal under Solskjaer and, despite creating chances, were not clinical enough in the final third.

Paul Pogba was disappointing on his return to the side but he

was by no means United’s only player who struggled to reach their recent heights.

This was only United’s second defeat in 18 league and cup games under Solskjaer.

A place in the top four remains in their sight, although they will need to produce an immediate reaction when they return to league action after the international break.

Manchester United players tasted defeat for the first time in the domestic league since the exit of Jose Mourinho as Arsenal secured maximum points with the 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium… yesterday

Ramos Set to Dump Madrid if Mourinho Steps in Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid will shatter an already splintered squad with several senior players saying privately they will leave in the summer if he arrives.

Captain Sergio Ramos fought with Mourinho when he coached the club between 2010-2013 and has already taken on President Florentino Perez over plans to bring him back.

Ramos will push for a move this summer when he will be one year from the end of his

contract.

Despite the fact that Mourinho courted Gareth Bale in 2017 when he was at Manchester United the Welshman is another believed not to welcome the managerial change.

And two other veterans from Mourinho’s last spell in charge, Marcelo and Karim Benzema have also opposed the idea.

However, Perez has told the players they will have

no voice in the appointment.

He is expected to meet with his club directors on Monday to take a final decision on putting Mourinho in charge of the team with immediate effect.

The 56-year-old coach, and his staff, was paid £19.6m when he was sacked by Manchester United in December.

His new Madrid contract would be a three-year deal worth £17m making him the second-highest paid coach in Spain behind Diego Simeone

who earns £20m.

As well as the animosity towards his appointment Mourinho would also be walking into an ugly battle between Spain captain Isco and Real Madrid.

The club have opened a disciplinary procedure against the midfielder for refusing to attend a team meeting before the embarrassing Champions League defeat by Ajax last week and refusing to take the team bus to the stadium.

CONFED CUP

10-man Rangers Hold Salitas in Ouagadougou Femi Solaja with reports Enugu Rangers’ quest for a place in the Confederation cup still hangs in the balance as they failed to secure a useful away win against Salitas FC of Burkina Faso yesterday.

The encounter ended 1-1 apiece with both teams desperate to win and enhance qualification into the next stage after poor show so far in the second tier continental club competition.

According to reports, Rangers saw less of the ball than their hosts but looked more fluid in attack, having more shots through the course of the first half.

And the Nigerian side was rewarded with the opening goal in the 33rd minute, as

Ifeanyi George got the better of goalkeeper Diakite Daouda to make it 1-0.

Rangers’ goal arrived despite being down to 10 men, with Semiu Liadi sent off for a second bookable offence inside the opening half hour.

Salitas needed just five minutes of the second half to hit back and level the game, with Ilasse Sawadogo netting to make it 1-1. That proved to be the last goal of the match, as the teams settled for a draw.

The pool is topped by CS Sfaxien (who have secured quarterfinal qualification) on nine points, fellow Tunisians Etoile du Sahel are second with seven, and the remaining two places are taken up by Rangers

(five points) and Salitas (four).

The teams will wrap up their group stage campaigns next weekend, with Salitas away to Etoile du Sahel and Ranger at home to Sfaxien.

In another development, Lobi Stars coach, Solomon Ogbeide has attributed 0-3 defeat to host, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa to the early goal they conceded in the match played of Saturday.

The South African team thrashed the Nigeria representative with goals from Thapelo Morena in the 2nd minute, Thambo Zwane 38th minute and Lebohang Maboe who wrapped it up in the 39th minute in the match day 5 if 2018/19 CAF Champions League.

According to him, “We conceded very early which changed the dynamics of the lost concentration and committed silly errors leading to 1st and 3rd goals.

“We’re proud of how far we’ve come and we will take lessons from this game,”he stated The pride of Benue will host ASEC Mimosa in the matchday 6 of the tournament.

The loss left Nigeria’s sole representative at the bottom of the group A table with 4 points from 5 games. South African giant, Mamelodi Sundowns top the group with 10 points, while Wydad Casablanca were second on goal difference (+1) ahead of ASEC Mimosa (-2) with 7 points

Teams Jostle for Maiden MGI Scrabble Premier League Tourney No fewer that 12 teams are set jostle for the N3million cash prize on offer at the inaugural edition of the MGI Scrabble Premier League scheduled to hold across the country from March to September this year.

The MGI Scrabble Premier League will be the first ever

of its kind to be orgnised in Nigeria where teams made of up seven players each will face off in what many enthusiasts have described as an unprecedented development in the annals of the sports in the country.

Organisers, Mindgames Incorporated, who are the

brains behind the highly successful Mindgames Premier Championship says the MSPL 2019 is designed to raise professional standard of scrabble to an international level.

Teams like Air Poppers, Olowoyeye Predators, Brainaics, Phoenix, The

Bulldozers, Hurricanes, Lekki Bombers, Blazers, FRSC Roadies, Team Supreme, Tekana Drones and Gracious Pickers will be up against one another across four weekends where a total of 55 games will be played in a round robin format.

Monday March 11, 2019

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Price: N250

MISSILE Wike to Army “There is no way that the PDP will lose Rivers State and they tell the world that the elections are free and fair. Even if we want to play politics, how would they explain it to the international community that PDP lost to an unknown party that did not campaign?” – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declaring that no amount of harassment and intimidation will make the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lose the governorship and state Houses Assembly elections in the state.

FEMIFALANA GUEST COLUMNIST

For Politics of Inclusion in Lagos State

O

n January 26, 2018 the Federal government deported 47 Cameroonian refugees and asylum seekers from Nigeria in utter breach of the obligation of the federal government under international law. As a sequel to the instructions of the deportees, our law firm challenged their deportation from Nigeria at the Abuja judicial division of the Federal High Court.

In a judgment delivered a fortnight ago, the trial judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere declared the deportation illegal, awarded damages in favour of the deportees and ordered the Federal government to bring them back from Cameroon. While trying to contact a colleague in Cameroon to break the news to our clients who are held in a military camp in Yaoundé my attention was drawn to the empty threat of some Yoruba irredentists to expel the Igbo community from Lagos over political differences. I was, however, delighted that the threat was dismissed by the Igbo community on the grounds that “Lagos belongs to all Nigerians.”

The needless controversy reminded me of the politicisation of the 2013 expulsion of beggars and destitute from Lagos by the Babatunde Fashola administration. At the material time, the regime had decided to carry out an urban renewal programme of the Lagos state. It was a project whose execution culminated in the removal and expulsion of beggars and destitute from all streets in the state.

Incidentally, the first group of victims of the deportation are indigenes of Oyo state. They were removed from Lagos vi et armis by the Lagos State Task Force and dumped at Molete in Ibadan.

Hundreds of beggars and destitute from other western and northern states were subjected to degrading ejection from state.

In criticising the urban renewal policy.

I accused the Lagos state government of violating the Welfare Law which required the local governments to rehabilitate beggars and destitute in the state instead of relocating them by force to their states of origin. As I did predict at the material time the number of beggars and destitute in Lagos state has continued to increase phenomenally due to ignorance and poverty in the country.

However, the anti- poor policy acquired an ethnic coloration when 47 beggars and destitute of Anambra state origin were expelled from Lagos. The Igbo and Yoruba Internet warriors embarked on a reckless campaign of calumny. On behalf of the Igbo nation the then governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi reported his Lagos state counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to former President Goodluck Jonathan for executing an “anti- Igbo agenda”. Even though I had condemned the Lagos state government for violating the constitutional right of the beggars and destitute to live peacefully in Lagos state and not to be subjected to discriminatory treatment I could not fathom the hypocrisy of Governor Obi. Hence, I was compelled to point out that Governor Fashola was following the

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode

bad example of Governor Obi who had expelled beggars and destitute of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi origin from the streets of Awka, Anambra state in 2009.

Apart from expelling beggars and destitute from urban centres in Nigeria the authorities of the federal capital territory and the 36 states of the federation have continued to demolish the so-called illegal structures inhabited by the poor. On a few occasions state governments have extended the discriminatory treatment meted out to poor people to civil servants. In 2014, the administration of former Governor Theodore Orji of Abia removed all non- indigenes from the civil service of the state. Even though the victims are all of origin the Abia state government vigorously defended the “To Thy Tent, O Israel” policy. However, to prevent other state governments from adopting the dangerous policy the Nigeria Labour Congress had already briefed my law firm to sue the Abia state government at the National Industrial Court. But the planned legal action was shelved when the policy was reversed by the Abia state government due to pressure from men and women of goodwill.

Regrettably, the criminal action of some thugs in Lagos was once again politicised during the just concluded presidential and national elections. According to reports, a gang of armed thugs who invaded some voting centres at Okota, in Lagos state snatched ballot boxes and destroyed ballot papers. A member of the criminal gang who was reported to have been apprehended was beaten up and in a brutal manner by the angry voters. Other members of

the gang were promptly arrested by the police. Instead of demanding that justice be done in the circumstance, a section of the Igbo elite decided to hold all Yoruba people vicariously liable for the action of the few thugs. Unfortunately, instead of distancing the Yoruba people from the shameful attack on the voters at Okota not a few irredentists of southwest origin have insisted that Lagos state belongs exclusively to the Yoruba people.

It is unfortunate that the reactionary forces that usually whip up ethnic sentiments among the Yoruba and Igbo people have failed to realise that the descendants of the original settlers in Lagos, otherwise known as “Lagos indigenes” do not share the view that Lagos state is part of Yoruba land or the south west region. Hence, Yoruba people from other southwest states are constantly reminded by Lagos indigenes that “gedegbe l’Eko wa” (Lagos is independent)! In distorting the history of Lagos state it is often forgotten that Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Apapa, Mushin, Agege, Surulere, Ajegunle etc. were part of the old western region up to 1967 when the Yakubu Gowon regime created the Lagos State. This was why the Lagos government did not join the Oodua investment until a couple of years ago.

As far as Lagos indigenes are concerned, other Yoruba people living in Lagos are “awon atounrinwa” (aliens) or “ara ilu oke” (people from the hinterland). In the politics of exclusion played conveniently by the elite, the aliens from the other states in the southwest are no longer qualified to hold political posts in Lagos state.

It was account of such exclusionary policy that Lagos indigenes strenuously opposed the decision of Governor Akin Ambode to appoint Professor Wole Soyinka as the chairman of the Lagos at 50th Anniversary celebration planning committee three years ago. The fact that the Nobel Laureate grew up in his family house at Ebute Meta in Lagos was of no moment to the Lagos indigenes. Before then, Lagos indigenes had kicked against the appointment of Mr. Segun Aganga as a Minister representing Lagos state in the Jonathan administration despite the fact that his grand-parents hailed Edo state which was part of the old western region.

In his intervention in the on-going debate on the status of Lagos State, the respected 84- year old nationalist, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, a former federal commissioner, has recalled that the Aworis were the original inhabitants in Lagos Island. Others who later joined them and became indigenes of Lagos came from Tapa land in Niger state and Benin

Since the dominant politics is devoid of ideology or principle, the members of the elite usually resort to the campaign of hate and prejudice to perpetuate their political and economic power

in Edo state. Others were freed slaves from Sierra Leone and Brazil. While the contention of Alhaji Okunnu is correct that Lagos was never a no man’s land at any point in time it has to be realised that Lagos has since become a home for other people from other states in Nigeria.

The dynamics of the development of the state in the context of the evolution of the Nigerian nation makes this trend an inexorable march of integration.

As a cosmopolitan state, Lagos cannot afford to subject any Nigerian citizen to discriminatory treatment.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Lagos indigenes do not believe that Lagos State belongs to the Yoruba people.

To that extent, Nigerians from other states including southwest states are subjected to equal discriminatory treatment by Lagos indigenes.

This is not unusual as the politics of exclusion is played by the elite of all ethnic groups in the country.

The reactionary and opportunistic political class in the country is to blame for the dangerous trend; they invoke ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments to divide the people of Nigeria. Since the dominant politics is devoid of ideology or principle, the members of the elite usually resort to the campaign of hate and prejudice to perpetuate their political and economic power. It is an old game of manipulation, which has impaired national integration a great deal.

Instead of politics of exclusion, progressive politicians should defend abandoned welfare programmes and policies that could benefit the people; they should embrace the politics of inclusion in the interest of national integration and unity. It is time that genuine progressive politicians stepped forward to organise and unite the masses of our people to defend their interests.

In the second republic the Lateef Kayode Jakande administration implemented the popular programmes of the former Unity Party of Nigeria such as mass housing, free and compulsory education, free health care, mass transit (including water transportation and metro line project which was illegally cancelled in 1984 by the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta).

However, to some elements of the APC the execution of welfare programmes has become political anathema while the neo-liberal policies of privatisation, commercialisation and multiple taxation have alienated the masses of our people drawn from all ethnic groups in Nigeria from the government of the Lagos state.

To worsen matters, the unemployed young people are subjected to daily harassment by the Lagos State Task Force aided by the Nigeria Police Force.

The cosmopolitan character of Lagos makes it wise and mandatory for any government in the state to play the politics of inclusion in a very sophisticated way by implementing policies that would improve the quality of the lives of the people regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

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