FRIDAY 19TH APRIL 2018

N30,000 Now Minimum Wage as Buhari Signs Bill NLC urges immediate implementation Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Henceforth, workers in Nigeria will smile home with N30,000 as minimum wage with assent yesterday in Abuja

by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Minimum Wage (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2019 passed by the National Assembly.

The president's assent to the bill laid to rest several months

of agitations and controversies over a new national minimum wage.

With the president's assent to the bill, henceforth, workers in both the private and public sectors will not earn below

N30,000 as minimum wage.

Briefing journalists in the State House after the president assented to the bill, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita

Enang, said with yesterday's presidential assent, the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Repeal and Enactment) Act 2019 would take immediate effect.

Enang, who said with the

assent, no employer of labour must pay any of its employees below the stipulated N30,000 minimum wage, added that only employers whose workers Continued on page 10

Report: Fuel Subsidy Removal will Reduce Fiscal Burden by 8%... Page 10 Friday 19 April, 2019 Vol 24. No 8775. Price: N250

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Onnoghen Heads to C’Appeal, Says CCT Conviction Unconstitutional Files 16 grounds of appeal, asks appellate court to quash conviction Alex Enumah in Abuja The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, came out smoking yesterday after the Code of Conduct Tribunal convicted him for false assets declaration.

The tribunal came down heavily on the embattled judicial chief. It relieved him of his top judicial position, barred him from holding public office for 10 years and stripped him of all the funds in the five accounts he was

found to have concealed.

“We shall avail ourselves of all the processes and the hierarchy of the judiciary,” Onnoghen’s lead counsel, Mr. Okon Efut SAN, said angrily in reaction to the judgment of the tribunal read by its

Chairman, Mr. Danladi Umar.

Onnoghen wasted no moment as he approached the Court of Appeal yesterday with a 16-ground appeal, asking the appellate court to quash his conviction.

Describing the judgment as

unconstitutional, the CJN’s lawyer added that it was in breach of his client’s right to fair hearing.

According to him, “The conviction is unconstitutional.

It is a breach of fair hearing.

“Before this day, on January

23, 2019, the same judgment had been passed, removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria without fair hearing.

“So, it was fait accompli, it was premeditated. Judgment Continued on page 8

Arise Fashion Week Begins Today at 3pm Naomi Campbell moves to promote African fashion Vanessa Obioha For the next two days, the cream of the fashion world will converge at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island for this year's edition of Arise Fashion Week (AFW).

Described as ‘the most beautiful runway in Africa' the fashion festival which was berthed over a decade ago is adjudged the most prestigious platform to showcase Africa's creative talents through fashion and music. International models like Naomi Campbell, who is here to promote African fashion, Grace Bol, Georgie Badiel, Millen Magese, and Oluchi Orlandi, have walked the AFW runway over the years, showcasing the best of African designs.

Since its return last year,

AFW has continued in its commitment to push the African narrative, positioning the black continent as a hub of creative talents.

Last year's edition recorded an impressive attendance and a dazzling runway that once again, placed the continent on the global stage. 45 designers from between 12 and 14 countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Germany, Canada, France, Morocco, the United Kingdom, United States, the Caribbean and Nigeria walked the runway at the 2018 edition.

As part of its commitment to groom fashion designers that will distinguish themselves globally, Arise Media, which organises the yearly fashion fete, introduced a life-changing Continued on page 8

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President Laments Killings, Promises to Crush Bandits Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja lamented that Nigeria was filled with gloom following the protracted killings of innocent Nigerians as well as the menace of kidnap and other forms of violence in the country.

The president who made this remark in his Easter message as Christians across the globe celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this weekend, however, encouraged citizens to promote the bond of brotherhood and good neighbourliness expected from fellow citizens.

He charged Nigerians to resist attempts by those he described as bad elements in the society to break the existing chord of unity in communities, disclosing that from his interactions with security chiefs, governors and communities affected by violence, Nigerians remain united against the few who

perpetrate evil.

According to the president, the federal government would deploy the powers within its reach to equip and mobilise security agencies to combat the menace of violence and stop the nation from being overrun by evil, assuring that the country would triumph in the end.

He said: "This should not be.

We must reinforce the bond of brotherhood and good neighbourliness that citizens of a cohesive country must share.

We must not allow the few bad elements in our communities to put asunder our communal tendencies and chords of unity.

"I know from my regular interactions with security chiefs, state governors, victims and members of communities caught up in the unfortunate cycle of violence, that Nigerians are united against the evil minority.

"This administration will do all it takes to adequately equip and motivate our armed forces and other law

enforcement agencies to enable them successfully confront these security challenges. We will not allow merchants of evil and death to overwhelm the nation.

Under my watch, the nation will triumph over them – terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and the like."

The president said he felicitated with all Nigerians especially Christians on what he described as the glorious occasion of the celebration of Easter, which he also described as the most important event in Christian calendar.

According to the president, Easter commemorates God's redemptive mission to humanity, the triumph of light over darkness as well as good over evil, pointing out that Easter period provides the opportunity to imbibe the virtues of Christ which he said was encapsulated in His love, sacrifice, humility, forgiveness and endurance in His earthly ministry.

He therefore appealed to

all to use the opportunity of the celebration to show love and meet the needs of the less privileged in the society.

The president said: "I rejoice with all Nigerians, especially our Christian brethren on the glorious occasion of the celebration of Easter 2019. Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar and represents God’s redemptive mission over humanity, the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair and good over evil.

"The Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ is also a time to emulate the virtues of love, sacrifice, forgiveness, humility, courage and endurance, which Christ embodied and remarkably demonstrated during His earthly ministry.

"Let us use this auspicious season to show love to our neighbours, and cater to the needs of the less-privileged in our midst," the president added.

The president further appealed to Nigerians to use the platform of Easter celebration to pray for the restoration of peace and security in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, encouraging them to keep alive the hope for a brighter and greater future if they do things right.

Furthermore, the president who cited a portion of the scriptures which state that "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning," promised that he would not trivialise his re-election by upholding the tripod of his campaign promise.

He advocated the need for dedication, honest and accountable leadership in a secure atmosphere where criminals are brought to justice as he wished all Christians a happy Easter celebrations.

His words: "On this holy occasion, I enjoin all Nigerians to intensify prayers for peace and security to return to all parts of

the country. I also urge you not to lose hope of a brighter and greater future for the country when we do the right things in love. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

"I do not take the import of my re-election for granted, especially the expectations of majority of Nigerians towards providing adequate security, fixing the economy and fighting corruption. The obligation of this administration as we prepare to take governance to the Next Level, is to continue to provide dedicated and honest leadership, where every citizen irrespective of religion or ethnic origin, feels secure to live, invest and prosper; where public office holders are accountable; and law breakers are brought to justice.

"Once more, I wish all our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and around the world celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a Happy Easter."

form CCB001 amounts to a partial confession that the defendant has breached the provision of the CCB/CCT Act as it amounts to refusal to declare assets.

“In the present case, hard facts have been adduced by the prosecution to establish that the defendant is in crystal clear of breach of the CCB provisions and the prosecution has therefore discharged the burden placed on it by law.

“Having examined the case of the prosecution against the defendant, this tribunal has come to a conclusion that the defendant falsely declared his assets and is hereby found guilty of contravention of Section 23 of the CCB/CCT Act. “It is hereby ordered that the defendant be removed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and as chairman of the National Judicial Council.

“He is also barred for 10 years from holding public office while the money in the five undeclared bank accounts is hereby seized, confiscated and forfeited to the federal government, having been illegally acquired, since the defendant did not disclose their sources.”

The amounts to be forfeited are, N26.8m; $137,700 and E13,730.

Earlier, the CCT had overruled Onnoghen on his claim that he lacked jurisdiction to hear the charge.

Onnoghen in challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him being a serving judicial officer and the CJN cited the judgment of an Appeal Court, which held that no serving

judicial officer can be tried in any court of law without first passing through the National Judicial Council (NJC) the body responsible for the discipline of judicial officers.

Onnoghen further reminded the tribunal that it had earlier observed the appeal court's judgment when it dismissed the case of a Supreme Court judge, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, for lack of jurisdiction.

However, in his ruling, Umar held that Onnoghen was arraigned before him as a public officer and not as a judicial officer and as such, the tribunal was not under the obligation of the NJC. Umar went further to overrule itself on its earlier decision on Justice Ngwuta, adding that the tribunal had right to reverse earlier decision made in error.

Umar in reversing itself held that the Constitution cannot be subject to any law or rule of the NJC. Umar also overruled Onnoghen on the claim that the chairman of the CCT was bound to be biased in the trial owing to the fact that he is being prosecuted by the EFCC on bribery allegations and that the CCT being under the supervision of the presidency was bound to do the biddings of the prosecution.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019 suspended Onnoghen as CJN based on an exparte order of the CCT and sworn in Justice Tanko Muhammad to serve in acting capacity.

While the NJC was said to have recommended the compulsory retirement of

Onnoghen at its emergency meeting of April 3, 2019 in Abuja, Onnoghen was said to have turned in his notice of retirement to the president the following day.

be moderated by the CEO of National Export Promotion Council, Segun Awolowo.

There will also be talks with the Editor-in-Chief of international fashion magazine, Vogue UK, Edward Enninful.

Tomorrow, the talks continue with Executive Fashion News Editor of Vogue U.S.A., Olivier Singer, who will be analysing 'The Essence of Design and Textiles’ with international model and activist, Liya Kebede; Designer, Post Imperial, Niyi Okuboyejo; Costume Designer, Eniola Dawodu; and Managing Director of

Garment Care, Adeola Bali.

Conversation will also be held with enigmatic Andre Leon Talley of Vogue Magazine as well as a film screening.

The festival will culminate in Easter Sunday, April 21 with exciting shows on the runway.

Designers that will grace the runway today include Turfah, Torlowei, Mai Atafo, Tokyo James, 3.Paradis, Tzar, Clan, Papa Oppong, Nkwo, and Selam Fessahaye.

Other designers to watch on the runway include Style Temple, Andrea Iyamah, Lanre Da Silva, Tiffany Amber among others.

ONNOGHEN HEADS TO C’APPEAL, SAYS CCT CONVICTION UNCONSTITUTIONAL has been passed before today.

Today’s judgment is just a formality.

“We hold the view that the tribunal has not only breached the Constitution of Nigeria, it has breached the fundamental principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“It has not only been able to pass judgment, it has convicted on an offence that was never charged.

“This is an erosion of the fundamental principles of our Constitution and until some questions are answered, for instance, why is it that the due course of justice was not allowed to flow?”

He asked: “Why was judgment passed on January 23 before today, removing the CJN? Why is it that today, even after he has tendered his notice of retirement voluntarily and NJC has taken position, why is it that the tribunal has gone ahead to pass judgment in total disregard to the independence of the NJC and in total disregard to the power of the Senate in this matter?"

Efut stressed that the tribunal, having reversed itself in the case of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, has breached the principles that hold the judicial precedence together.

Onnoghen’s lawyer stressed: “It is a sad day in our nation's democracy, and we know that all is not over with this matter.

The wheel of justice grinds slowly but surely, this is not the matter that will end here, we shall avail ourselves of all the process and hierarchy of the judiciary and we know that the judiciary will redeem

itself, even though seriously battered and bruised.

“The judiciary will do justice.

Justice has not been done today but surely, it would be done tomorrow, if not by our court, justice would be done by God. That is our position in this matter.”

While convicting Onnoghen on all six-count charge of failure to declare his assets in line with the provisions of the law for public officers, the three-man panel of the tribunal in a judgment delivered by the chairman, Umar, held that from the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses and the statement of Onnoghen, admitting that he made a mistake of not declaring his five accounts with the Standard Chartered Bank, the tribunal came to the conclusion that Onnoghen was guilty as charged.

The CJN was arraigned by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for allegedly failing to declare some of his assets as judicial officer. The CCB acting on a petition filed by a nongovernmental organisation, the Anti-Corruption and Research-Based Data Initiative (ARDI) had slammed a sixcount charge of non-asset declaration against Onnoghen at CCT. Though he was initially scheduled for arraignment on January 14, 2019, he was, however, not arraigned until February 15, 2019, in response to a bench warrant issued for his arrest by the CCT boss on February 13, 2019.

Onnoghen in the charge was accused of maintaining five domiciliary accounts with the

bank, which he did not declare in his asset declaration forms to the CCB, saying three of the accounts are in dollar, euro and pound sterling while the remaining two are in naira.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge following which the prosecution called three witnesses to support its case against Onnoghen.

Onnoghen, however, called only one witness who testified how he obtained and submitted his assets declaration form in 2010.

Delivering judgment on Thursday in the matter, the tribunal held that the admission by Onnoghen that he forgot to declare the bank accounts in the form CCB001 was a clear contravention of Section 23 of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act. The CCT having convicted Onnoghen of the charges went ahead to remove him as Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Umar also ordered that in line with the Section 23 of the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act, the former CJN is barred from holding any public office for the next 10 years.

Umar also held that since Onnoghen could not adduce any evidence as to how he got the monies in the undeclared accounts in the Standard Chartered Bank, the monies are thereby confiscated, seized and are to be forfeited to the federal government.

The tribunal stated: ‘’The admission by the defendant in his own handwriting that he forgot to declare the five bank accounts in his asset declaration

ARISE FASHION WEEK BEGINS TODAY AT 3PM

novelty known as the ARISE Fashion Management and Mentoring Programme (AFMMP).

The AFMMP was designed for start-ups in the fashion business that can be nurtured to international brands.

Apart from shining the light on the continent through fashion, AFW also contributed to the arts and tourism sector of Lagos State such that the state recognised it as one of the key events to attend this year in the state's arts and culture calendar.

Now in its sixth edition, AFW will be welcoming both local and international

fashion professionals to a robust conversation on the evolving fashion industry in Africa both on and off the runway. 37 local and international designers are set to showcase their creativity on the runway this Easter weekend.

There will be Arise Talks where major heads behind notable fashion brands as well as media personalities will plumb the issues revolving around the business of fashion and how it is changing the African narrative.

Kicking off today's discourse are Campbell; Reni Folawiyo of Alara; Executive Director

of FSDH, Funsho Olusanya; and CEO Henshaw Capital Partners, Barbara James.

The team will be discussing the ‘Business of Fashion: Exploring All the Facets of the Emerging Markets in Africa’ in a panel that will be moderated by Lola Ogunnaike of People Magazine.

Another session will see the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah; Managing Director of Imara Africa Consulting, Barbara Barungi; and Ituen Bassey sharing ideas on the topic 'From Retail to Export: Building a Sustainable Market’. The session will

Files 16 Grounds of Appeal, Asks Appellate Court to Quash Conviction Onnoghen yesterday asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to quash the CCT conviction In his appeal filed yesterday, he also prayed the appellate court to set aside the order of forfeiture of his assets to the federal government made by the CCT. Filed on his behalf by his lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, he challenged the decision of the tribunal on the grounds that the tribunal erred in law when it convicted him of all the six-count charge.

According to Awomolo, the CCT erred in law when it dismissed Onnoghen's application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter and thus occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice.

Awomolo argued that as at the time the charge was filed against him on January 11, Continued on page 10

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CBN’s Forex Policy Working, FG Insists Obinna Chima with agency report The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) current foreign exchange (forex) policy is working well and is unlikely to be changed anytime soon, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said yesterday.

He also commended efforts of the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, in ensuring exchange rate stability as well as sustained reduction in inflation in the country.

Nigeria has maintained multiple exchange rates since it was confronted with a severe forex crisis in 2015, as part of efforts to counter the impact of falling prices for crude oil, which provides 90 per cent of the country’s forex.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently advised the country to scrap its multiple exchange rate policy.

But Reuters quoted

Mohammed as saying that the current forex system was working well.

“Right now, the currency is converging naturally at about N360 to the dollar. Three years ago, the same was about N525 to a dollar. I don’t think the central bank is in a hurry to change this,” Mohammed said in an interview with Reuters.

“Inflation is down and the reserves are up. We are in a better position to defend the naira,” he added.

Buhari won a second term in office in a February election that was fought on the economy, which is recovering from a 2016 recession largely caused by low oil prices.

The tenure of the CBN governor is due to end in June.

A decision on his future is likely to be among the first major announcements in Buhari’s second term.

Mohammed said Emefiele had done a good job,

Emefiele particularly with loans to support sectors such as agriculture.

He declined to comment when asked about the president’s intentions.

Emefiele recently said the CBN was improving access to credit for underserved Nigerians through the National Collateral Registry and the passage of the Credit Bureau Act. He said: “And under this

initiative, small and medium businesses are able to provide valuable assets such as equipment and livestock as collateral in other to access capital from institutions which play an emphasis on assets. And as a result of these initiatives in addition to other reforms by government, Nigeria moved up 24 points in 2017.

“Close to 70 per cent of Nigerians do not have access to financial services, hence the CBN introduced a series of steps to have a financially inclusive society, which includes the agent banking guidance and shared network facility, both of which are meant to deal deepen penetration of agent method in underserved locations across Nigeria.

“The recent launch on the Payment Service Bank in October 2018, was an additional step in leveraging on the agent networks of non-entities such as fast moving consumer goods,

mobile network operators, etc. to underserved communities.

“We are happy because I remember about 18 months ago, Bill Gates mentioned that the level of financial inclusion in Nigeria was 48 per cent and they were concerned that Nigeria was not making progress. We went to work to ensure we meet 2020 target of 80 per cent. As a result of the actions we have taken, our level of financial inclusion as at last week has improved from 48 per cent to 64 per cent in the space of 18 months.

“I feel more confident that by 2020, we should certainly hit 80 per cent mark we had set for ourselves. In doing this, it is important to look at how we faired as a country during the period of this crisis relative to some other emerging markets.”

Emefiele spoke while briefing journalists at the recently concluded World Bank/IMF

Spring Meetings in Washington DC. Nigeria has managed to keep real GDP growth positive and has managed doubledigit recession in contrast to other economies with similar challenges.

Following the conduct of elections in February, the country has seen close to $5 billion foreign portfolio inflows.

He said: “What we are saying is that a lot of work has been done, a lot of work still needs to be done but in the midst of this, we are saying Nigeria is open to business and investors. We will continue to work tirelessly to boost the economy of the country.

“Investors are assured that their investments in Nigeria will be duly protected by the authorities as they also have various advantages they can provide for our economy, human capital and technological know-how.”

Report: Fuel Subsidy Removal will Reduce Fiscal Burden by 8% Obinna Chima As the debate over fuel subsidy removal rages on, the latest economic bulletin of Financial Derivatives Limited has revealed that the country’s fiscal burden will reduce by eight per cent if it stops subsidising petrol.

The federal government had yesterday said it was yet to devise a workable formula for the removal of fuel subsidy.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who said this, added that the removal of subsidy would have negative effect on vulnerable Nigerians.

She said this few days after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had advised Nigeria to remove fuel subsidy and channel the funds spent on subsidy to the health and education sectors.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu,

recently disclosed that the landing cost of petrol was N180 per litre and the amount spent on subsidy daily was put at N1.86 billion.

But the Lagos-based financial advisory and investment firm in the report stressed that although subsidy removal was not without its costs, the potential benefit far outweighs its cost.

It stated that subsidy savings could be utilised in the provision of essential social needs such as access to free education and quality healthcare services.

These services, according to the report, are crucial to the improvement of living standard and the quality of life of the average Nigerian.

It stated: “More importantly is the reduction in the fiscal burden by at least eight per cent. Economic prudence,

which emphasises the need to be discerning and forwardlooking, has been the clamour for pro-subsidy advocates like the IMF. “The fund is now sounding like a broken record on the call for the removal of subsidies. In the last three decades, it has become a vicious cycle – IMF recommendation on subsidy removal, followed by fuel queues, adjustment and in some cases the IMF is ignored and then intended and unintended consequences that follow.”

Nevertheless, while it reiterated that subsidy was not disdained in itself, it noted that its abuse and inefficient administration of the incentive, “has made it a fraud that must be checked.”

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had disclosed that

Nigeria’s daily consumption increased by two million litres to 56 million litres in 2019.

This was a 22 per cent surge over 2017 daily consumption of 46 million litres.

This increase, according to the report, was largely not in line with “our consumption pattern during the time.”

“There has been a drastic decline in the importation of new cars over the period due to high import duties and levies.

“Similarly, the increased traction of diesel engine vehicles and other modes of transportation such as air, water and rail, also do not support the supposed rapid growth in daily fuel consumption.

“Another bane of fuel subsidy is the arbitrage and smuggling opportunities across national borders. This means the Nigerian government

is indirectly subsidising the petrol consumption of some neighbouring countries and it could justify the increase in consumption over the last three years,” it added.

Furthermore, the report noted that the impending expenditure cut from the removal of fuel subsidies would free up resources to embark on other social safety nets. But, it pointed out that the fact that there are no guarantees that these savings would be used to improve the quality of life of the economically vulnerable affects the case for subsidy removal.

“Reduction of other subsidies will aid fiscal consolidation. Fuel subsidy is not the only item that needs to be priced efficiently.

“The government also needs to allow for efficient resource allocation in the power sector and foreign exchange market.

“Resource allocation through the interplay of market forces (demand and supply) limits market distortions. The adoption of cost reflective electricity tariffs will help address the power sector’s liquidity issues, improve the capacity of players across the power value chain and eventually output.

“Similarly, the gradual convergence of exchange rates will also ease pressure on external reserves, improve transparency and bolster confidence in the forex market.

“The reality is that petrol subsidies are being abused and ripping off the people who are the victims of inefficiency and fraud.

“Therefore, it is necessary to change the template and tie it to parameters – mainly the price of crude oil, the exchange rate and other costs metrics,” it added

last N18,000 minimum wage ought to officially lapse.

Extant laws have provided that the national minimum wage should be reviewed upward every five years.

Hence, as the last minimum wage of N18,000 contained in the National Minimum Wage Act 2010 lapsed in 2015, and consequently, the organised labour began the agitation for the evolvement of a new national minimum wage.

Consequently, following Buhari's recovery from his ill health and eventual return to the country in September 2017 from London, the president constituted the National Minimum Wage Committee, a tripartite body, which comprised the organised labour, the organised private sector and the government, made up of both the federal and state governments.

Whereas the labour had initially proposed N63,000 minimum wage, it later

reviewed its proposal down to N30,000 while the organised private sector, which had earlier proposed N25,000 was compelled to raise its figure to N30,000 following labour's insistence that it would not go below N30,000.

But both the federal and state governments were adamant as the state governments, citing paucity of funds, insisted on N20,000 while the federal government settled for N24,000.

However, both were forced to raise the figure to N27,000 as contained in the National Minimum Wage Bill sent to the National Assembly on January 22, with the federal government promising that though N27,000 minimum wage had been proposed in the bill, it would eventually pay its workers N30,000.

However, when the National Assembly legislated on the bill, it ended up jacking the figure up to N30,000 as contained in the bill, which was signed

yesterday.

N30,000 NOW MINIMUM WAGE AS BUHARI SIGNS BILL are below 25 in number were exempted.

The presidential liaison officer also added that the Minimum Wage Act empowers any employee who is paid below N30,000 approved minimum wage to drag his employer to court, adding that the law also authorises the Minister of Labour and Employment or his nominee to take up such a case on behalf of the affected employee and recover his/her balance.

He also said the Act mandates the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission as well as the Minister of Labour and Employment to serve as the chief and principal enforcers of the provisions of the law, adding that the law is applicable throughout the country.

He said: "You can see me smiling on behalf of Nigerian workers. President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Minimum Wage Repeal and Enactment Act 2019.

"This makes it compulsory for all employers of labour in Nigeria to pay to their workers the sum of N30,000.

And this excludes persons who are employing less than 25 workers, persons who work in a ship which sails out of jurisdiction and other persons who are in other kinds of regulated employment which are accepted by the Act. "It also gives the workers the right if you are compelled by any circumstance to accept

salary that is less than N30,000 to sue your employer to recover the balance and authorises the Minister of Labour and any person nominated by the Minister of Labour, or any person designated by the Ministry of Labour in any ministry, department or agency to on your behalf take action in your name against such employer to recover the balance of your wages.

"It also ensures and mandates National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and the Minister of Labour, to be the chief and principal enforcers of the provisions of this law.

And this law applies to all agencies, persons and bodies throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"The effective date is 18th of April, 2019, as Mr. President has assented to it. It has been assented to today and it takes effect today, except such other provisions as contained in the Act. But the enforcement and the right to start the implementation of the provisions commences today (yesterday), including such steps that are to be taken gradually under the provisions of the Act." Enang said in appreciation of the president's good gesture, workers should celebrate Buhari and support his administration, including its policies, arguing that the president had shown his love for Nigerian workers.

He pledged that government officials would also join the organised labour during March

past events at special occasions.

He said: "I want Nigerian workers to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari, to support this administration, support his policies and of course, we will as a government, go out and march together along with Nigerian workers on workers day.

“Mr. President will celebrate with workers and the federal government will celebrate.

This is Mr. President showing workers the love he has for them and we are marching as we will march with the Nigerian workers.”

Asked if the new minimum wage covers the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Enang said: “It covers all persons covered by the Act.” The president's assent to the bill yesterday marked the end of several months of struggle for actualisation of a new minimum wage, which began in 2015 by members of the organised labour when the

NLC Urges Immediate Implementation Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended Buhari for assenting to the new minimum wage bill.

In an interview with THISDAY yesterday, the Head of Information and Publicity, Mr. Benson, Ukpah, said labour expects the implementation of the new minimum wage to commence immediately.

He said: "We are delighted by the signing of the new minimum wage Act by the president. We commend him for it and urge for the immediate implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage considering that the matter has been pending for so long.

"We urge various governments and employers of labour to commence immediate implementation with arreas."

ONNOGHEN HEADS TO C’APPEAL, SAYS CCT CONVICTION UNCONSTITUTIONAL 2019, he was not subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunal.

He further argued that the tribunal erred in law when it assumed jurisdiction having on January 9, 2018 in the case of Justice Sylvester Ngwuta affirmed the position of the Court of Appeal in the case of Ngajiwa and dismissed and acquitted Ngwuta of the charge.

Awomolo said the tribunal erred in law and acted out of

jurisdiction when it ordered that the assets of the appellant be confiscated and therefore occasioned grave miscarriage of justice.

Part of the 16 grounds the appeal was predicated upon include the claim that the tribunal erred when it held that Onnoghen confessed to the charge framed by admission and use that as a basis to hold that Onnoghen did not declare his assets from 2005 when he

was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court.

He wondered that the evidence of the defense witness did not create any reasonable doubt on the evidence of the prosecution witness that Onnoghen did not make declaration of his assets since 2005.

The appellant further wondered how the tribunal could convict him on charge of false assets declaration when

the five accounts in Standard Chartered Bank were declared in 2016.

Part of the reliefs sought in the appeal, however, include an order setting aside the judgment of the tribunal on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the charge; an order holding that the tribunal ought to have recuse itself from the matter based on the allegations of bias, and an order discharging and acquitting Onnoghen from the charge.

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COMMENT

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

TOWARDS A READING REPUBLIC

Idowu Omisore writes that reading enlightens and expands capacity for creativity and innovation

I

t is this writer’s desire that Nigeria, the world’s most populous black nation, becomes a reading republic where the wonders of books are appreciated. Growing up, I have read many books that have nourished my mind with knowledge, stretched my imagination, instilled moral values and inspired me to pursue my dreams.

On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, the World Book Day will be celebrated across the world. The World Book Day, also referred to World Book and Copyright Day, is a yearly event put in place by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to “promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the magical power of books - a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures.

On this occasion, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry - publishers, booksellers and libraries, select a city as the World Book Capital to maintain, through its own initiatives, the impetus of the Day’s celebrations until 23 April of the following year”.

Expectedly, we are reminded of our attitude towards reading, particularly among the young ones. It is needless to say that the culture of reading is fast disappearing probably because this generation is facing with a different wave of distractions emanating from the television, mobile phones, the social media and the internet. These devices and platforms are not unwholesome in themselves but many are hardly disciplined in the way they use them.

While it is great to be tech-savvy, it is important to be self-controlled.

Interestingly, we are in the days of eBooks and there is a whole lot of information, knowledge and ideas online. This means there is no room for excuses. It’s either you read online or offline, although, some people prefer to have a physical bookshelf, read books they can hold in their hands and highlight lines that strike them.

Reading enlightens and expands capacity for creativity and innovation.

By all means, we should encourage young ones to read by rewarding their effort until reading becomes a habit, something they enjoy doing. The idea is to “catch them young”. Going and growing through school from elementary school, this writer still recollects with delight how he read books like “The Sugar Girl” by Kola Onadipe, “Eze Goes to School” by Onuora Nzekwu, “Chike and The River” by Chinua Achebe, “The Concubine” by Elechi Amadi, “The Bottled Leopard” by Chukwuemeka Ike and so many books I cannot mention, ranging from academic to motivational. I was reading a book during my national youth service in Anambra State, when I got an inspiration to write my first book which I entitled “Invest Your Youthful Years” to challenge young people to maximize their youth to discover, develop and unleash their potential.

Reading is connected to thinking, writing, researching, public speaking and leading change. It is not only academic texts should be read. We need

READING ENLIGHTENS AND EXPANDS CAPACITY FOR CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.

BY ALL MEANS, WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOUNG ONES TO READ BY REWARDING THEIR EFFORT UNTIL READING BECOMES A HABIT, SOMETHING THEY ENJOY DOING

to encourage people to read wide, of course, on issues that interest them and affect them. Many young people read only their textbooks, not to seek understanding, but to pass their examinations. At the end of the day, they graduate with certificates but they lack intellectual stamina and rich vocabulary to confidently discuss issues. Nigeria needs young people who are intellectually sound, creative and innovative enough to come up with solutions to our myriad of problems. This writer keeps wondering how Chinua Achebe was able to write a book like Things Fall Apart at the age of 21, being his first novel. What kind of education did he get back then?

How did he cultivate such a rich imagination?

With a reasonable investment in the education sector, the rate of literacy will increase and the annoying narrative of us being the country with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world will change significantly. The saying that “readers are leaders” holds true even if there is more to leadership than reading. Reading transforms the thinking pattern, the beliefs, the mindset essentially. It has been said that the youths are tomorrow’s leaders but in what way are we preparing these young ones to lead? If these young ones are encouraged to read, they will become leaders who are intellectually sound, informed and ready to make a difference.

While NLNG’s Nigeria Prize for Literature and Fidelity Bank Creative Writing Workshop easily come to mind, the private sector needs to invest more in competitions and initiatives that can make reading and research exciting and rewarding. We need ultramodern libraries that will be attractive, comfortable and with up-to-date books, e-books, audio books and all materials that can enhance growth. The saying that “If you want to hide something from an Africa, hide it in a book” is insulting but is it not a reflection of our society? Together, we can change the negative narratives about us. “We” here include parents, teachers, religious leaders, celebrities, the government, the media and opinion leaders.

Politically speaking, we became a republic in 1963. Intellectually speaking, I am not sure we are yet a “republic”, not because we do not have what it takes. In terms of ideas, inventions and innovation, how much have we contributed to the world? How many quality “Made-in-Nigeria” products have we blessed the world with? Is our level of performance traceable to how much we value education, books and reading? How many per cent of our budget goes to education compared to neighbouring countries?

If we are going to move to the next level, so many things have to be put in place. It all starts in the strategic direction of the country itself and the willpower of the leadership to invest in its human capital. Apart from any other extraneous factors, the socio-economic progress of any nation- in this information age - rests powerfully on the quality and relevance of education received by its citizens coupled with their attitude to reading.

Omisore, a youth development advocate, wrote from Lagos

NIGERIA: THE MISTAKE OF 1914 All is not well with Nigeria, writes Tola Adeniyi

T

he myriad of problems confronting the geopolitical space called Nigeria today could be traced to one single cause. It was a marriage that was not canvassed, not negotiated, not consented to that was the root, the father and mother of all the diseases that had plagued Nigeria since 1914.

The diseases include consistently rigged population census, the basic fraudulent allocation of seats in the old federation, the fraudulent foundation of the country’s military and the police, and the inbuilt ingredients of sectional domination.

The listed diseases and their by-products gave birth to the military incursion in the country’s politics, coups and counter coups, avoidable tortuous and calamitous brutal war, the self-serving dubious balkanization of the political space into unending states that have become a huge albatross on the financial resources of the country, the bigger fraud of 774 local governments, the collapse of the country’s infrastructure nationwide, the plunder of the country’s huge assets including corporations like the Nigeria Airways, and the grinding poverty that has virtually consumed all the citizens of the land.

‘Since 1914 the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any signs of willingness to unite…Nigerian unity is only a British invention.’ That was the comment of our unforgettable Prime Minister Sir Tafawa Balewa in 1948. ‘‘Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English’ ‘Welsh’ or ‘French’. The word ‘Nigerian’ is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not.’ That was the voice of immortal Obafemi Awolowo in 1947.

‘It is better for us and many admirers abroad that we should disintegrate in peace and not in pieces.

Should the politicians fail to heed this warning, then I will venture the prediction that the experience of

the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be a child’s play if ever it comes to our turn to play such a tragic role.’ That was the prophetic verdict of the great Zik in 1964.

In expanding this thought, global citizen and world acclaimed scholar, Professor Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe queried: Whatever happened to Sweden-Norway, Czarist Russia, Austro-Hungarian empire, the Ottoman empire, the British empire, British India, French Indo-China, Portuguese empire, Spanish empire and, more latterly, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Malaysian Federation, West Indian Federation, Central African Federation, British Cameroons, United Arab Republic, Senegambia Confederation, the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Treaty states, Czechoslovakia, Josip Broz Tito’s Yugoslavia, etc.?

Each and every one of these no longer exists. Gone!

Each of them collapsed, somewhere, along their march in history…

What happened to the constituent peoples in these states that no longer exist? The constituent peoples exist in innumerable new states with names beginning with and from “A” to “Z”.

As everyone knows, the states that Europe created in Africa, in the aftermath of its 1884-1885 Berlin conqueror-conference, cannot provide the fundamental needs of Africans. This “Berlin-state”, with its bumbling ahistorical name (Nigeria, Niger, Guinea, the Sudan, Chad, whatever!), cannot lead Africans to the reconstructive changes they deeply yearn for after the tragic history of centuries of occupation.’’

Nigeria is not working. It has never worked. It will never work. There is no need living in denial and pretending that all is well or may be well in the future when all the indicators point to the contrary.

No section of the contraption called Nigeria is happy with the unbearable nastiness that has enveloped the geographical space.

Nigeria is finished. The country is in the throes of death. The only people who want the continuation of this beastly jungle are the less than 2000 career politicians and some military collaborators who are

benefitting from this horrendous madness. And most of these roguish politicians have no stake whatsoever in the dying country as most if not all of their families are living big abroad.

We should have the courage and the honesty to heed Zik’s call: Disintegrate in peace and not in pieces. A posting on David Kennena’s wall went viral a few years back in the social media arguing convincingly the huge benefits derivable from a restructured Nigeria. That was at the time restructuring was considered an option for Nigeria. Of course restructuring is no longer tenable because however much you tinker with the architectural structure of a building about to collapse, that building cannot be saved. Just collapse the damned thing and move on!

However Kennena’s well researched paper is still useful in encouraging each of the current geopolitical zones that they can survive as independent countries.

All those who have been hesitant or reluctant to embrace the wind of change which is ferociously blowing across the land called Nigeria would now, hopefully see the need to do a rethink and come to terms with reality of history and expediency. No group of people can hold another group hostage forever. As horrible and traumatic and most times hopeless the Roman, Portuguese, Spanish, Belgian and Belgian stranglehold of their colonies was, these imperialistic tyrannies collapsed and their victims won their freedom. The Jews survived the Holocaust the same way the African slaves survived the brutal inhumanity of the slave masters.

Internal colonialism has no place in modern civilization.

The six or so countries that will emerge from the nation states that were senselessly yoked together

by Lugard would bury the ashes of the contraption called Nigeria and restore the much needed peace, stability, security and prosperity to the suffering occupiers of this geographical space. With new countries that would emerge it would be difficult for citizens of say Delta Republic to carry out kidnapping spree in the Caliphate Emirates just the same

way it would checkmate people from the Caliphate Emirate to engage in ruthless assault on the people of Middle Belt Republic. As close as Benin Republic is, people from the United Yoruba Kingdoms dare not invade that sovereign country to commit horrendous crimes. The North West and the North East have a lot to gain if Nigeria returned to regionalism and the healthy competition that propelled heroic Ahmadu Bello to establish the largest University in West Africa. It will happen again and the North West particularly Sokoto, Katsina and Kano will soon start exporting agric produce including cattle/ beef to the rest of the world.

The North West will easily realize that they do not need quota system, JAMB, Federal Character, etc., to catch up with the rest of the country. Great brains like Dr Tahir and Dr Dikko who made First Class honours degrees in the 50s and 60s still abound in the North and the region has all the economic and human capital resources to make it excel economically and industrially given necessary impetus currently impeded by undue pampering and undue advantage.

The first nationality to experience economic explosion as a new independent country would obviously be the Yorubaland. The Oduduwa Master plan will be revealed. There would be trans-regional 4g internet fiber connection/rail/ subways/highways/power grids, etc. English will become the second official language after Yoruba language... They are relatively united. They have oil.

They own academia. They have mega corporations.

The United Yoruba Kingdoms [UYK] would be the first to have stable 24/7 power supply! Foreign money by way of investments and returns from the Diaspora will flood the new country. More Forbes recognized billionaires will arise. Some of them will be internet billionaires. Lagos will be relieved a little from overpopulation as railway lines from other states will make living elsewhere and working in Lagos a breeze.

Chief Adeniyi is a former Managing Director of Daily Times

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

EDITORIAL The Controversy Over Project Mine The disagreement over special economic zones is unnecessary

T

he war of words between the Senate Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment and the Ministry it oversights over the establishment of some Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is needless. Ordinarily, SEZs is a broad term used to refer to free trade zones, industrial parks, export processing zones, and the various other arrangements involving the provision of infrastructure and services for industries and companies within a designated geographic area. But they also go with the additional benefits of incentives and various exemptions. Instead of muckraking over inanities, that is the issue that should concern the senate and other critical stakeholders.

Nigeria is in a desperate economic situation today essentially because our legitimate revenues have for decades either been brazenly stolen or frittered away through dubious subsidies and waivers. A 2015 report by ActionAid and Tax Justice Network Africa revealed that governments in four member-countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) IN A COUNTRY lose an average of $9.6 NOTED FOR POLICY billion revenue every year through corporate REVERSALS, THERE IS tax incentives and waivTHE NEED FOR SOME ers. The report, which ASSURANCE THAT MINE examined the incentives WILL NOT INHERIT THE granted over the years UNDERPERFORMANCE by Nigeria, Ghana, Côte OF MANY EXISTING d’Ivoire and Senegal noted that despite the SPECIAL ECONOMIC huge revenue losses ZONES involved, there was little evidence that the policy actually increased investments in the region.

We understand that Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports) is a presidential initiative under the supervision of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to develop SEZs across Nigeria with the aim of boosting the manufacturing of ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods for export. Among other objectives, the project is to create jobs and generate foreign exchange earnings by 2025. Although its major attraction is

Letters to the Editor

the design to pool private sector capital and expertise into the development and operation of SEZs in a PPP arrangement, in a country noted for policy reversals, there is the need for some assurance that MINE will not inherit the underperformance of many existing SEZs. The first SEZ in the country was designated in 1982.

However, due to various challenges, including poor quality of infrastructure, insufficient budgetary allocations and capacity to implement the projects, the idea did not quite succeed.

Modelling NSEZCO after PPPs like Nigeria LNG, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Limited and Development Bank of Nigeria Limited provide some comfort but it is also not enough immunity against failure, especially given the political consideration of being spread across the country. But the idea is laudable.

T 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

he Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has explained that the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), holds 25% of the shares in NSEZCO, incorporated on 12th June 2018 as a limited liability company under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (CAMA).

The remaining 75% shareholding is for Strategic Investment Partners - African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Bank of Industry Limited (BOI), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and African Development Bank (AFDB). The names of some officials, the ministry added, were for the purpose of registration only while the partners work to perfect internal processes.

By global standards NSEZCO would not have been registered as a limited liability company without the names of at least two directors. But the controversy must have received additional flares from the push-back from NEPZA, which had in various forms, including a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation, resisted NSEZCO. Yet the response of the Attorney General of the Federation should have put the matter to rest but not surprisingly, it rages. That the development of SEZs should generate controversy that could affect investor confidence is one of the problems associated with the current administration where in-fighting between and among critical agencies of government is a fad.

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DIPLOMACY AS ALTERNATIVE TO WAR

T

he preamble to the Constitution of United Nations Economic Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” Therefore it is not futile saying that physical military warfare is not a solution to guerrilla war in Zamfara; this is evident in the over 16 years of Boko Haram war without a complete result of success recorded.

Similarly during the recent World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated the fact that lack of social and economic inclusion is the main reason why Nigeria as a country and Africa as a continent arrived at this level of economic and social quagmire. The case of Nigeria is no doubt peculiar as the nation continues to battle ways to solve its internal and external conflicts. The Zamfara State situation of what the media has described as banditry even though what is being experienced is beyond the word, has become a nightmare.

Despite the over 19 years of democracy in Nigeria, it is very clear that the presence of governance is minimal or absent from citizens at all level. This has led to distrust, increase in violent extremism which has destroyed Nigeria’s social fabric. Worthy of note is the reoccurrence of civil criminal activities in resource area. The NigerDelta region was not void of kidnappings and killings in the last 14 years as it is prevalent in Zamfara today. The absence of synergy between security agencies as well as the drive for supremacy is a leading factor to several failures of the security interventions on

bandits.

Another major loophole was also captured by the president when he said that, “in this digital age where physical borders no longer exist to protect even the most secured nations, the only way to overcome predatory and divisionary forces is for all well-meaning nations to work together for the greater good of mankind”. This perhaps explains the aforementioned statement on security synergy.

Cooperation amongst security agencies is no longer a choice, it is an absolute necessity.

Therefore, it is imperative for the newly elected government to be very visible in every part of Zamfara delivering dividends of democracy to citizens so as to eradicate poverty in a land flowing with milk and honey. The assets and endowments in Zamfara should lead to high level of economic growth rather than becoming a resource curse. Full military engagement is usually not void of violations of fundamental human rights, collateral damage on innocent citizens mostly on women and children; intelligence gathering should be carefully done by security agencies before any usage of military attacks.

Building trust in citizens by ensuring their voices are heard by providing basic amenities such as good water, accessible health system, power amongst others will help eradicate negative belief system that the government does not put them to heart. Civil engagement to provide a win-win approach is very important in other to have a sustainable solution on the issues of bandits in Zamfara State.

Moses Oluwaseyi, Programme Officer, YIAGA Africa

TIME FOR A COFFEE

T

he US Air Force Secretary Wilson has reported that the military has spent over $300,000 (about £250,000) on 391 cups since 2016 and people think the cost of coffee at a cafe is expensive!

The cups aren’t even biodegradable.

There are alternatives to these cups - recyclable paper cups. There is also alternative technology that keeps coffee warm - a thermos. There should be an alternative to wasting that amount of money - maybe going to the nearest convenience store for cups and perhaps the coffee as well.

The military does a great job of protecting the country but not the economy. There are so many other vital projects that need financing - the great Mexican wall - well actually no, that will be another great waste of money or maybe creating a decent medical system - well actually no, that’s an Obama idea. Maybe a drop in the bucket of national debt would help.

Maybe it’s time to double check prices against standard prices, if a coffee costs more than 10 times what it costs at Starbucks then don’t buy it.

Anyway, it’s time for me to get a cheap, $5 coffee from a local cafe but its exact location is a carefully guarded military secret.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

The Road Less Travelled

Yakubu

Obo Effanga

A

fter a long drawn out process, the 2019 general election in Rivers State finally came to an end last Saturday, April 13. Like many of the recent elections in this state, it came with lots of drama, tension and violence much of which was totally unnecessary.

We thank God Almighty for guiding us through it all to the end. We also celebrate the men and women of goodwill in Rivers State, especially the electorate who committed to exercising their civic duties and defending their votes in the face of unwarranted intimidation by persons whose interests were far from deepening democracy. At this point, I wish to pay tribute to one of our ad-hoc staff, Ms Ibisaki Daperi Amachree, who was killed via gunshot in the line of election duty during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on February 23.

For us in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State, we stayed focused on conducting a transparent, free, fair and credible election. As I kept promising, on behalf of my team, we were bound by the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, other laws and the guidelines for the election. We were further bound by the pronouncements and decisions of courts.

Wike

Yes, we know that not everyone was happy with our commitment to maintaining the rules. But we were undaunted and we showed true valour in upholding the standards of equity. We refused to break the rules to please anyone.

The present INEC team has by its conduct, helped to break

The present INEC team has by its conduct, helped to break away from the negative narrative of violencetainted victories or elections and results that have limited input and participation of the voters. We can say, and confidently too, that many voters in the state had access to polling units and indeed exercised their rights to vote in peace

away from the negative narrative of violence-tainted victories or elections and results that have limited input and participation of the voters. We can say, and confidently too, that many voters in the state had access to polling units and indeed exercised their rights to vote in peace in this election than in previous elections. If we sustain this momentum and proceed on this new narrative we have established with the 2019 election, Rivers State would no longer remain a flashpoint of violence at elections and would no longer risk being left behind by the rest of the country when it comes to the electoral calendar.

After 20 straight years of practicing constitutional democracy, Nigeria can no longer hide under the lame excuse of referring to its experience as ‘nascent’ democracy and doing all that is wrong in the name of election and claiming to be undergoing a learning process. In fact, having organised five successive and unbroken general elections during this period, before 2019, one would have thought that this year ’s election would be a walk in the park. But unfortunately, if not in any other area of our lives as Nigerians, in politics, many of our people have long since carved a niche for our country as a people capable of circumventing the rules and doing just anything, to achieve a political goal.

The duty of the election management body in such situation is to ensure that participants in the electoral process do not benefit from their bad behaviours aimed at undermining the rights of the electorate to freely choose their leaders. This is what INEC has done in 2019. If the same opportunity presents itself again, we shall not hesitate to act similarly, with the hope that politicians would learn to adhere to rules governing elections. For that to happen, the election umpire is required to be strong and courageous. This we exhibited in the 2019 election.

It is interesting to note that election umpires often find themselves in the middle of contesting politicians who throw darts, dirt and murk at each other. We therefore risk being hit by stray missiles of the so-called political gladiators and sometimes guided and targeted missiles by the politicians. In the course of this election, some of us had such missiles unfairly hurled at us.

For me, I was guided by the fact that when you have an important task to carry out, just like a journey, you do not have the luxury of time to pick a stone and throw at every dog that barks. More so, some of those complaints and accusations were so grandiose that they deserved no response.

-Effanga is the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rivers State

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019

19

PERSPECTIVE

Election Hypes Galore in Abia Central

Abaribe

Eddie Onuzuruike

T

here is an old saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Another commentator Edgar AIlan Poe affirms that ‘to vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.’ Negative as this may appear, I saw it live during and before the 2019 elections nationwide. The experience in Abia Central Senatorial District shocked the senses out of many sane people revealing a spate of structural vulnerability. From the blues, people of different hues, big and small, high and low in society suddenly acquire the liberty to voice their warped opinions about a candidate. You may be lucky to have your adherents who are more likely to defend you. If you don’t as it may be an enemy camp, you may need more time and money to undo the damage.

From the foregoing mark of greatness cannot always be gratifying and rosy.

There are negative attributes though not the fault of the great man.

Many of such take prominence when the person is late and cannot exonerate himself. A certain political upstart while trying to boost his ego as was his style, claimed in a public daily to have helped Awo fix his broken down Rolls Royce in a Lagos street.

One Awoist saw this as odd and consulted Odia Ofeimun instantly. Odia, a known insider of the Awo dynasty swore that Awo never owned a Rolls but constantly used Mercedes which was maintained by Leventis Motors and traded in with the slightest indication of frailty and so his cars never broke down.

Trust Pa Awo’s legendary frugality.

Hitler had a good dose of these as so many stories took the air before and during the Second World War. Idi Amin Dada of Uganda was branded a cannibal as portrayed in the film, ‘The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin.’

Nnamdi Azikiwe during the fifties and sixties had so many including the power of disappearance during his confrontation of the colonial fathers in the independence struggle. We were even told that he had to trap the mermaid of the River Niger in a bottle to allow the construction of The Niger Bridge. These were pleasant hypes unlike today’s that are more lethargic, characterised by sheer blackmail and character assassination.

The 2019 elections witnessed more daredevil and horrendous stories directed more on the elected and those who sought re-election. The highest victims are people who were already enjoying incumbency so those who waited to counter the advantage of incumbency

Orji

not being able to grab convincing points engaged in blackmail. As one author said, people engage in blackmail when they have nothing good to say about themselves.

This was made more factual when an upstart, Chidi Ajaegbu who contested on the stable of APGA surprised many of his admirers and kinsmen with his rudeness and brazenness on a revered candidate. As it happened, people who wouldn’t have challenged you anywhere use the election as a good subterfuge. In a gathering, he addressed Senator T. A. Orji as outgoing Senator.

Can you imagine that? Senator Nkechi Nwaogu of APC who had spent 12 years in the National Assembly resorted to name calling and continued allegations of non-performance to which many watchers asked her to publish her score card for those years in Abuja. We are still waiting.

Then the huge rumour mills. It may not be the first time anyway. In 2011, re-election bid of Gov T A Orji, many of such were rampant. It was constantly repeated of a soldier who battered Engr Chinedum Orji in a beer parlour. The one who relayed the story claimed to be an eye witness. Engr Orji to the best of my knowledge has never been sited in such a place, if he ever did, it wouldn’t have been a habit. We are yet to know where all these emanated from. Could

My ward, Ndume Ward made up of over 20 voting units got into turmoil on February 23, the election day for Presidential and National Assembly elections. There was a mix-up where one of the documents was misplaced and our opponents refused to be part of the elections. Even when a replacement was made, they still refused and claimed to be waiting for the original

it be from the opposing parties, their candidates or both?

Despite the ubiquity, rumours don’t just start, it is like the gun, somebody pulls the trigger. Some of these sources you may not doubt as they have been previously credible. A close friend approached me with visible sympathy for me and sincerity, warning me to be careful. He told me to watch out for security men of all hues ranging from FSARS, Presidential Task Force and SSS men. He claimed to have privileged information where 30 names who worked with Ochendo were on the watch list. I didn’t need anybody to tell me that my name should be there. The day came like any other day and being human, I moved with great trepidation, reducing my night outings to 9pm.

A new lesson was learnt. I was shocked by the antics of the opposition party where many you thought were your friends turned out to be arch enemies who can turn against you with the smallest mess of pottage. A high number were PDP decampees who made fortunes in the party.

My ward, Ndume Ward made up of over 20 voting units got into turmoil on February 23, the election day for Presidential and National Assembly elections. There was a mix-up where one of the documents was misplaced and our opponents refused to be part of the elections. Even when a replacement was made, they still refused and claimed to be waiting for the original. The so-called original was returned by 2pm and our brothers refused that the election will commence, calling the shots as if they were Jega and Mahmood put together.

The REC’s intervention for the election to take place didn’t help matters and it was generally agreed for the next day, Sunday, February 24, of all odds, my birthday.

When we arrived in the morning to aid the collection of the materials, the same people who were part of the agreement the previous night initiated another argument for a shift to Tuesday the 26th of Feb, 2019.

Why would a candidate who had waited for months for the elections argue vehemently for a shift outside the electoral time table if they were actually ready? This was a grand ploy knowing that Ndume ward is Senator T. A. Orji’s solid stronghold.

Somehow, the police were involved and they assisted in loading the officers and materials to different areas of the ward where elections commenced but not without thuggery and other forms of distractions.

The governorship poll was easier and smoother but not without the scare of security men targeted at some people.

Instead of the real security men, rumour had its way again. Some news hounds started calling me immediately after I had voted that security men sealed the Senator Orji’s residence, alleging that he was on house arrest after sensitive materials were discovered in his house.

It wasn’t a laughing matter as these calls multiplied from many groups including Abuja based observers. I had to screech to his residence where I was interviewed by so many including NTA. To my relief all these were to no avail as the Senator voted and was in his residence, fit as a fiddle.

Two days after the governorship polls, I got a funny phone call where somebody I am sure, wanted to amuse himself. As I tried to know who was on the other end, the bold caller slammed that it didn’t matter, that all I should do was to listen. To amuse him and save me the tension, I said speak for thy servant heareth. ‘You can tell your Oga if you like but know it that Chief Orji Uzor Kalu is now in the Senate to discipline his deputy and Chief of Staff who deserted him. I replied that the Senate is not a secondary school where you hand out orders to juniors or moreover that the situation in the National Assembly is that of equality where all had their say. And moreover, Sen Abaribe is a ranking Senator having been in the senate for three terms. How can OUK, a rookie discipline his predecessors in the senate? So much of the hypes!

Senator Orji soundly got re-elected with superior votes in all the LGAs of the Abia Central, even winning challengers in their polling units. In his words when he was interviewed he promised, ‘to expand my scholarship scheme to include Masters and Doctoral students. To expand my eye hospital to cater for patients with hypertension and HIV aids. Concentrate on the youths of my constituency on capacity building and empowerment. To construct two police barracks in my constituency to improve security in security-weak areas.

To sponsor bills and motions that will enhance the overall growth of Nigeria.’

That is Senator T A Orji marching on from strength to strength. We witnessed these positive changes- Chief of Staff for eight years, governor for eight years and to the glory of God, now re-elected for another term. Best of it all, he had not failed in any election but returned with superior votes winning opponents in their units despite the distraction and wild rumours. To take Robert Nester Marley seriously, ‘the greatness of man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity, and ability to affect those around him positively.’

-Onuzuruike writes from Umuahia

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 20.29 % 12.57 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

23.50 % 18.25 % 18.88 %

A P R I L S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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

1 2 , 2 0 1 9 383.11 % -0.19 % -0.90 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE -0.90 % YEAR TO DATE 7.32 %

EXCHANGE RATE N307/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes NigerStar 7 Acquires Vessel

AshippingcompanyinNigeria,NigerStar7,hasannounceditsacquisition of the pipelay vessel Seven Antares.

The Sales & Marketing Director of NigerStar 7, Derek Izedonmwen, in a statement said the vessel would provide both NigerStar 7 and Nigeria a fully owned versatile pipelay vessel ideal for conventional, heavy-lifting and hook-up projects.

“TheSevenAntareswasbuiltin2009,hasa300tmaincranecapacity and is a 120t S-lay vessel with capacity to lay pipe of up to 60-inch diameter; with an accommodation area in excess of 330 berths and a deck area of over 1300m².

“The acquisition of the Seven Antares adds up to other recent investments made by NigerStar 7 to strengthen its local fleet and itscommitmenttothedevelopmentofNigerianoffshoreoilandgas industry, this reinforces the company’s leading role in the ownership of Nigerian flagged vessels and reflects its strategy of domiciling its fleetwiththeobjectiveofmeetingclients’needsandtherequirements of the Nigerian Local Content Act,” Izedonmwen said.

Headded:“TheSevenAntaresacquisitionisaveryimportantmilestone forus.I’mdeeplyproudofthisinvestment,asitreinforcesNigerStar7 commitmenttoinvestinNigeriathroughtheacquisitionofstrategic local assets and to continue to invest and to develop our people.The SevenAntaresiscurrentlylayingpipeforoneofourclientsandI’msure shewillbekeptbusysupportingthegrowthofNigeria’senergyindustry.”

Caverton Partners Ramco Aviation

PROMOTING SDGS

L-R(Sitting): Executive Director, Sahara Group, Temitope Shonubi and Regional Director for Africa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, signing the memorandum of understanding to promote Sustainable energy and the SDGs in Africa in the presence of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tijani Muhammad-Bandé (left) and Administrator, UNDP, Achim Steiner in New York, USA…recently

Usman: Adherence to Regulations Sustained Air Safety in Nigeria Chinedu Eze The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, has said Nigeria’s airspace has remained safe in the last six years without any accident or major incident because the regulator has maintained strict adherence to safety regulations.

Muhtar, who spoke to THISDAY in an exclusive interview in Lagos, said after many accidents in Nigeria, especially between 2005 as 2006, where many lives were lost, the government took actions to prevent such tragic accidents.

Investigations after the ac-

AVIATION cidents showed that some of the tragic crashes were weather related and government made provision to prevent such by providing wind shear alert system, Doppler weather radar at some airports and also directed airlines to have install wind shear detection facility in the aircraft to alert the pilot.

He noted that this was the outcome of recommendations after the investigations of the accidents by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), which were implemented by the federal government through the NCAA. He noted that progressively,

the few accidents that happened after that were not weather related and since he took over as the Director General of NCAA, he has ensured that airlines abide strictly to the rules of engagement as enshrined in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He said the NCAA ensures that critical elements of safety operation are strictly adhered to and that there is good relationship between the regulator, which is NCAA and the airlines.

“The secret is about being able to implement all the critical elements as contained in the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety oversight

organisation structures. This also includes educating and carrying the stakeholders along on the importance of maintaining very safe and high standards of safety,” he said.

Usman said cost of an accident was so huge that any cost expended to prevent it was justified.

“We all know that the cost of safety as against the cost of accidents are not comparable.

We have this slogan in safety, which says, if you think safety is expensive you should try accident.

“So, we ensure adherence to Continued on page 22

Operators to Jostle for NCDMB $3.5bn Investment in Ship Acquisition Eromosele Abiodun The newly elected President, Ship owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung, has called on ship owners in the country to be ready to take advantage of the planned investment of $3.5 billion (N1.26 trillion) in ship acquisition by the Nigerian Contents Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Also, he said the net spend in the industry in Nigeria in the months ahead would reach $15 billion calling on ship owners to use the opportunity to revive their business and take the industry to new heights.

Onyung stated this during the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executives

MARITIME of the association in Lagos.

He said: “Last week, we went to NCDMB, they had a conference and I had an opportunity to speak there and just two day ago, I was also opportune to speak at the NIMASA mini conference that was held in Lagos. I have not had an opportunity to interact with NAPPIMS yet but I will still do that and I want to say that I am a lucky brand new president in the sense that I have been elected at a time when our industry is hurting but all the people that need to help us have woken up and have risen to the occasion and they stand very ready to help us in this business.

“At the just concluded NOGOF training NCDMB showed us $15 billion industry spread that is coming on in the next five years. In maritime alone, they showed us $3.5 billion that will come in marine spread. That is also not small money and this is not money that is coming from the budget.

This is money that must be spent and this money must be domiciled with Nigerians and they are ready to show us the way to this money.

“So, you have elected me at a time when I have to take this opportunity and I want to say to SOAN members that what I intend to do is to ensure that all SOAN members enjoy this money. So, SOAN members get ready, it is time for us to

get this money.”

Onyung therefore, called for synergy among members in ensuring that problems facing ship owners are resolved through team efforts.

“I am going to ensure that we form teams in SOAN so that we can together create a focus based group specific on issues, it could be cabotage, it could be Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), it could be any kind of problem or differentials in the Dollar and Naira rates, we sit down and get a good depth of what we want to do, understand the problem very well and engage the various stakeholders collectively, continuously with robust Continued on page 22

RamcoSystemshasannouncedthatithassecuredanordertodigitise maintenance,engineeringoperationsofCavertonHelicoptersLimited, aleadingaviationandmarinelogisticsplayerinNigeria.PartofCaverton OffshoreSupportGroupPlc,CavertonHelicoptershandlesEmergency MedicalEvacuationandSearchandRescueoperationsaswellasprovides logistics services to support Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas sector.

To this end, Ramco would deploy its advanced modules for flight operations,safetycomplianceandreporting,inventorymanagement, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) Sales for Caverton which operates a fleet of 30 helicopters out of Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos, Port Harcourt Air Force Base, Warri and Douala, Cameroon.

Ramco,saiditwouldimplementitsAviationM&EMROSolutionV5.8.

Withadvancedapplications,Caverton’soperationsteamwouldnowbe abletoviewmultipleindicatorsandprocessesonasingledashboard.

Apart from reducing manpower and human error, the partnership would also improve maintenance schedules, fleet forecasting and planning and management of logistics, thereby improving overall safety and efficiency.

Speakingonthedevelopment,theChiefOperatingOfficer,Caverton Offshore Support Group, Rotimi Makanjuola, said, “We have been looking for a solution provider to pave the way for the company’s digital transformation.With its strong track record, Ramco Aviation Software will be able to cater to our end-to-end operational needs.

We look forward to advancing our digital strategy with Ramco.”

Dubai Airport Close Runway for Maintenance

The long-planned temporary closure of one of Dubai Airport’s two runways will take place this week, with some airlines operating a reduced schedule.

Airwise.comreportedthattheextensiverefurbishmentofthesouthern runwayatDXBwasduetobecompletedbytheendofMay,inanexercise that includes the temporary relocation of some of the airlines to the emirate’s second airport, DubaiWorld Central (DWC).

“Planningandpreparationshavebeenunderwayforalmosttwoyears inclosecoordinationwithDubaiAviationEngineeringProjects,airlines, dnata,theregulatorandahostofotherservicepartnerstomakesure this massive project goes off without a hitch,” Dubai Airports’ chief executive Paul Griffiths said.

Theairport’sflightoperationshavebeentweaked,withsomeairlines using larger aircraft, resulting in only a 29 percent reduction in the number of seats available. With the additional capacity provided

by DWC, the number of flights across the two Dubai airports will be reducedbyjust19percent,withanoverallseatreductionof20percent.

DubaiWorldCentralwouldhandleanaverageof145passengerflights eachdayduringDubaiInternational’srunwayclosure,withflydubai,Wizz Air,Aeroflot,Indigo,SpiceJet,GulfAir,UkraineInternationalAirlines, Ural Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Kuwait Airways and flynas based there during the renovation work.

“Going into 2019, we knew that it would be a challenging year, but our strategy and unwavering focus on delivering value for our customers and shareholders continues to underpin our ability to consistently deliver solid results despite changing market variables” MD/CEO, GTBank Plc,

Mr Segun Agbaje

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BUSINESSWORLD USMAN: ADHERENCE TO REGULATIONS SUSTAINED AIR SAFETY IN NIGERIA

safety regulations and security regulations. As I mentioned earlier, we encourage education, collaboration and good safety record is the result of that effort. “So, it is all stakeholders, we carry them along and make them understand that everybody has a responsibility to maintain that level of safety. And that is why we call it-shared responsibility,� Usman said.

He said airlines go through due process and comprehensive documentation, inspection and demonstration before they are issues certificates in accordance to the rules. “In a situation where we issue licenses, permits and other approvals, the person or the organisation that has been given that permit, approval or license has met the requirement. “And our expectation is that for somebody or the organisation to continue to exercise the privileges assigned to those certificate or licenses, permit or approvals, it is dependent on the ability to continue to maintain that same requirement for the permit in the first place. “Because any time a license, certificate, permit or approval is given, privileges are assigned to those certificate, licenses and so on,� he said.

He said air safety would be further improved when Nigerian airlines begin to conduct their major checks in Nigeria because it meant that the NCAA would monitor them closely and it would also cost the airlines less and safe Nigeria huge foreign exchange.

OPERATORS TO JOSTLE FOR NCDMB $3.5BN INVESTMENT IN SHIP ACQUISITION

and focused engagement to ensure that we negotiate with them, we dialogue with them in a very non-confrontational manner, to be able to get the benefit for our members. “In SOAN, we are going to ensure a cross-sectorial and inter-association dialogue where we will be able to talk to because you have Master Mariners, you have engineers, you have stevedoring, you have manning companies, all of us are affected when we get into the waters,� he said.

NEWS

NPA Restates Commitment to Tackling Apapa Gridlock Stories by Eromosele Abiodun Members of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have added their voice to the perennial traffic gridlock on the road leading to ports in Apapa and Tin-Can Island, Lagos.

While assuring that the board would continue to identify with all efforts to find lasting solution to the problem, the members stated that they were aware of the problem being experienced by the terminal operators, port users and the general public as a result of the traffic gridlock.

The Chairman of the board, Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye, spoke on behalf of other members of the board, at the end of their tour of the terminals within the western axis, consisting of Lagos Port Complex (LPC) and Tin-can Island Port.

According to him, the NPA board was very much aware of the challenges faced by terminal operators and port users in accessing the ports due to the gridlock and assured that the NPA was assiduously working in synergy with other government agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Power, Work and Housing (FMWH) in cushioning the pressure on the roads leading to the port, with the rejuvenation of rail lines, the call- up system as well as expanding the port access roads.

“The board is conscious that badges are currently being used to transfer cargoes from Tincan and Apapa Ports to Ikorodu and Kirikiri Lighter Terminals. This has drastically reduced the clog on the wheel of progress on the lane to greater service delivery at the Nation’s seaports,� he said.

Adesoye, stated that on

completion, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which is a product of private public partnership (PPP) and great collaboration would help in the efficient movement of cargo and expressed the strong hope that the port would be a reference point within the Gulf of Guinea.

Earlier, the Port Manager Tincan Island Port Complex

(TCIP), Emmanuel Akporherhe, while welcoming the board members solicited for the renewal of the infrastructure around the port in other to facilitate greater customer satisfaction, saying that some of the existing infrastructure in the port are over 40 years old.

He disclosed that within the first quarter of 2019

the port berthed a total of 213 ships with a tonnage of 6,778,397 with a Cargo throughput of 4, 790, 282 which was an improvement of 2018.

The Port Manager, LPC Aishat Ibrahim, in her brief to the board members informed them of the activities of the port and the feats it has attained.

CAPACITY BUILDING

L-R: Head of Energising Education Programme Rural ElectriďŹ cation Agency (REA), Anita Otubu; Head, Mini Grids, REA, Lolade Abiola; Deputy Managing Director, Lumos Nigeria, Stella Abimbola Shopeju and Head, Solar Home Systems REA, Ifunanya NwaduDozie, at the REA-World Bank workshop on the Nigerian ElectriďŹ cation Project (NEP), in Abuja...recently

STOAN: All Concessioned Port Terminals in Nigeria are ISPS Code Compliant The Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has stated that all concessioned port terminals in the country are in full compliance with the provisions of the International Ships & Ports Facility Security Code (ISPS) Code.

The ISPS Code, which is being implemented under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), is an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies.

The ISPS Code, which came into force in 2004, prescribes responsibilities to governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and

port/facility personnel to detect security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade.

In a statement STOAN said private terminal operators under the auspices of the association have made significant investment in ensuring adequate security measures in their operational areas in full compliance with the ISPS Code. “The ISPS Code is an essential maritime regulation for the safety and security of ships, ports, cargo and crew.

For this reason, all private terminal operators at the six major port complexes across the country do not take the responsibilities of ensuring

adequate compliance to the provisions of the Code lightly. “We have made, and will continue to make, significant financial investments towards ensuring that every operational area assigned to us in the ports are well secured. Terminal operators have invested significantly in technology, patrol vehicles, perimeter fencing and adequate security personnel in ensuring that only authorized persons gain access to concessioned terminals,� the group said.

STOAN noted that all the concessioned port terminals across the country have adequate Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) coverage to monitor activities, even as they maintain strict ac-

cess control to human and vehicular movements.

The STOAN commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria for working with the terminal operators in ensuring that Nigerian ports remain complaint to the international port security measures.

The association appealed to the federal government to strengthen the Marine Police to effectively patrol the port waterfronts to keep intruders at bay.

While commending NPA and the Nigerian Navy for

working to ease the gridlock on the port access roads in Lagos, STOAN appealed to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to hasten repair works on the ApapaOshodi Expressway and the Ijora-Wharf Road to ease the pains of port workers, port users and truck drivers who daily ply the routes. “The gridlock persists and there is need for a more drastic action on the part of the Federal Government to address the problem. We must reiterate the imperatives of good access roads, functional rail network and truck parks as necessary long term solutions to the present gridlock being experienced in and around the port area,�

STOAN said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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DuďŹ l Commences Payment to Edo Farmers for Land Acquisition Following its acquisition of 17,954 hectares of land from the Edo State government for palm oil cultivation, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Noodles, has embarked on a crop compensation payment for 1,628 farmers across 14 communities in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state.

The payment exercise, which is being overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture in the state, commenced on Monday 8th April and was expected to continue for three weeks.

The move, which crystalises Dufil’s backward integration drive, particularly with respect to oil palm cultivation, was also in line with the federal government’s drive for increased activities and revenue from agriculture.

The Chief Operating Officer, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Madhukar Khetan, explained that the project marked another significant milestone in Dufil’s commitment to attaining a further backward integrated and self-sustaining system that supports the Nigerian

economy by creating employment opportunities, reducing importation and doing so in a sustainable manner.

He added that crop compensation exercise marked another achievement in the oil palm plantation project which would include installation of an integrated palm oil mill. “This laudable project being undertaken by Dufil will see massive investment being introduced into the region. The project will not only help create job opportunities for indigenes of Edo state but also serves

to cut the importation of oil palm; a development which is in sync with the Federal government’s efforts to reduce importation. In addition to this crop compensation to farmers, Dufil’s commitment to the project is worth billions of Naira,� Khetan said.

He added that the next step after the compensation exercise was Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) mandatory assessments and development of nursery.

He also commended Edo state’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable venture.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele recently urged states to take advantage of opportunities in the palm oil value chain.

He noted that loans would be granted through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) and Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) at no more than nine per cent per annum to identified core investors.

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NEWS

Congo DRC Seals Aircraft Maintenance Deal with Aero Contractors Stories by Chinedu Eze The Civil Aviation Authority of the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently undergoing the process for Aero Contractors Maintenance Organisation (AMO) to conduct major checks on their Boeing B737 Classics, Bombardier and other aircraft types registered in the central African nation.

Also, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced the process of renewing its certification of the MRO after the expiration of the one-year approval granted Aero to maintain Ghana’s registered aircraft or foreign registered aircraft, which operate within or into Ghana.

THISDAY met with the teams representing the two countries while they conducted audit and documentation at the head office of Aero Contractors at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos earlier this week.

The Manager Airworthiness

for GCAA, Eric Ewusie told THISDAY that Ghana was conducting an audit to be sure that the Aero MRO still maintained the standards the authority met last year when it first approved the facility, before it would renew its certification to authorize the Nigerian company to continue to conduct checks on Ghana registered aircraft.

The certification is normally renewed every year.

Ewusie, however, expressed satisfaction with Aero Contractors, saying that he was impressed with what he had seen so far.

“In our continuation process, we are looking through the books which we call documentation.

Then we move to implementation, to indicate to us that yes, what they say they have done, they can do it.

“Aero has written down what they are going to do; it is being implemented the same way, according to the standards we approved,” he added.

Also, Alain Mulembwi of the

Congo Civil Aviation Authority, said the country, having seen the vision of Aero Contractors MRO decided to take advantage of its access to affordable maintenance services, which would in turn assist African carriers, which have limited access to finances.

The representatives of the two countries noted that Nigeria is shorter than any other country that has the capability to conduct major checks for their aircraft.

While it would take Congo DRC about four hours to fly an aircraft to South Africa, it would take it only two hours to Nigeria. Also, while it would take Ghana about five hours to fly an aircraft to Ethiopia for maintenance, it would take it only 30 minutes or 45 minutes for small body aircraft to bring them to Lagos.

So the West and Central African countries have taken advantage of the proximity of Aero MRO to access high quality and more cost-effective maintenance service.

Arik Plans to Resume New York Flights Arik Air said it is considering reopening its Lagos-New York flights, which was stopped in 2017.

Speaking during the visit of the 54th President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), Razak Adeleke Jaiyeola, to his office in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Roy Ilegbodu, explained that to commence the process of re-opening New-York route was quite complex, especially having to settle debts left behind by the past management.

“The past management left a lot of debts internationally and those are part of the issues we have to address before going to other routes abroad,” Ilegbodu added.

He said, “We plan to recommence modalities for our New York and other international operations sooner or later.

Sometime next year we will commence the process, we will look at the critically because the process is complex. This process is not easy, it would

take at least a year or 18 months to get back to that stage.

“It will happen, but it will not happen soon as the past management left a lot of debt and they need to be addressed before we fly to other routes internationally.”

Ilegbodu, however, said the current management was on the threshold of taking the airline to greater glory as it has stabilised the organisation.

“We’ve had our ups and downs but we have stabilized and are consolidating. In the near future, you will see an airline that is better than before.”

He expressed hope that the relationship it shares with ICAN would wax stronger adding that Arik as an airline has employed over five chartered accountants and is not hesitant to employ such top notch professionals into its service.

Speaking earlier, the 54th ICAN President, Jaiyeola expressed appreciation for

the great strides in Arik and the renewed vigour that has championed the airline’s turn around.

“We appreciate the great strides of Arik, the renewed vigour and the consolidation in the airline that has kept it.

We also want to thank you for engaging our members of the institute and tell you it is a good development and also enjoin you to employ many more.”

The ICAN President said the body would leverage technology at its conference coming up 29th and 30th of April, appealing to the airline to give its members rebate.

Jaiyeola said the conference was about creating awareness and keeping its members abreast with the latest and most convenient technology in Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet and other technology that can be deployed to make their works smoother and so they don’t become irrelevant.

FG threatens Sanction on Airline Operators Colluding with Drug Barons Oluchi Chibuzor The federal government, through the Presidential Advisory Committee on Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) has threaten to sanction airlines found culpable of exchanging passengers’ luggage with another loaded with illicit drug in partnership with dealers during cargo handling process at the airports.

The Chairman, PACEDA, Retired Brigadier- General Buba Marwa, disclosed this during an interactive session with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport/ Lagos

State Command in Lagos recently.

He stated that recent investigation had shown that innocent passengers were victims of drug-related offences at the airport through cargo handling errors by different airlines, who miss-tag luggage, especially for people who do not have idea of the contents.

Marwa, who expressed sadness over the issues, regretted the acrimony among security operatives had resulted to unnecessary rivalry, thereby allowing unchecked entry and exist of drugs traffickers through the nation’s terminals.

On the recent wave of consumption of illicit drug in

the country, he emphasised the political will of the president in solving the problem, adding that it was a huge challenge.

According to him, the challenge was surmountable through the renewed drive of government in providing needed equipment to combat the menace and bring it to a hurt.

According to him: “As a young officer back then I remember that this Airport was pride of Africa but things has changed significantly as Preliminary reports has shown that innocent passengers have Luggage that do not belong them tag to them

by Airlines, only to be arrested at their destination point.

As Namibia Woos Nigerian Businesses, Tourists

L-R: Organiser, Akwaaba AfTM, Ikechi Uko; SKAL President, Rita Obidike; Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Humphaey Geiseb; Commissioner, Tourism, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde; PRO, Home Affairs and Immigration, Namibia, Salome Kambala; Honourary Consul to Namibia, Justin Anosike; representative of APG Nigeria, Mr. Chike and Manager, Sales and Marketing, Air Namibia, Gbenga Onotilo, at the unveiling of visa processing desk in Lagos… recently

Chinedu Eze Nigeria and South Africa are two top economies in Africa and since the later gained independence in 1994, there have been growing business partnership between the two countries.

For example, South Africa Airways launched operation to Nigeria on December 4, 1998, that was four years after it became free from apartheid.

But recently Nigerians have been piqued by the seemingly unceasing xenophobia, which seemed to have defied government’s control, as many blacks from other African nations including Nigeria are killed in brutal and animistic manner.

However, considering the level of hostility South Africans have shown to Nigerians in their country, Namibia seems set to woo Nigerian businesses and tourists.

Specifically, Namibia came to Nigeria to showcase its tourism, investment and other potential and beckoned to Nigerians to visit the country as tourists, businessmen and as students.

In population Namibia is about 2.4 million people but it has land near as big as Nigeria. Namibia said it has a lot of tourism sites, especially game reserves and other natural endowments.

But it can in no way be compared to South Africa, which has almost fully blossomed in population and in development with multi-business opportunities and countless tourism destinations. But in Namibia, blacks will be safe to visit.

To encourage Nigerians to visit, Namibia last year connected flight to Lagos from its capital, Windhoek.

The national carrier, Air Namibia now operates three times a week between Nigeria and the South African country and to further encourage Nigerians to travel, Namibia opened visa office in Lagos, Nigeria’s business hub.

Currently about 4000 Nigerians live in Namibia and last year over 700 Nigerians travelled to Namibia.

It was to encourage more Nigerians to travel that on Monday the Namibian High Commission in Nigeria, commissioned a visa processing office in Lagos, with a view to reducing to the barest minimum, the inconveniences being experienced while trying to get visa from its office in Abuja.

Speaking at an event to showcase the tourism potential of Namibia and the strength of its airline, Air Namibia, Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Humphaey Geiseb, said based on enquiries and research, the country decided to open a visa processing office in Lagos in

partnership with Air Namibia since over 60 percent of people travelling to Namibia reside in Lagos.

He said Namibia enjoys one of the most stable, peaceful political environments in Africa.

“Namibia is a major tourists’ attraction in Africa with tourism accounting for over $500 million, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (DGP) of the country. Our decision, therefore to open a visa processing centre in Lagos in partnership with Air Namibia is a strategic move aimed at easing the burden of having to travel to Abuja before getting a visa; thereby further boosting diplomatic ties and trade between Nigeria and Namibia and offering choices and easy access to our highly esteemed visitors and would-be visitors”, he said.

Earlier, the acting General Manager, Commercial Services, Air Namibia, Mr. Wimpie Van Vuuren, said the airline began flight operations into Nigeria in 2018 but has been in existence for 70 years.

Van Vuuren added that Air Namibia employs only Nigerians for its Nigerian operations, adding, “We are confident that Nigerians are capable of doing the job, we are also marketing Nigeria, we want to establish a good mutual relationship with Nigeria, we are here to work with Nigerians, Namibia is a big attraction for tourists, we want to promote tourism and establish connections with other worlds”, he said.

Speaking on why Namibia is the best place for tourists, Geiseb, the High Commissioner, who disclosed that 700 visas were issued to Nigerians in 2018, added that primary infrastructure in Namibia are well developed, saying that the World Economic Forum ranks Namibia as the country with highest quality roads in Africa.

“Tourism is one of the country’s fastest growing industries and provides significant employment opportunities, Namibia is a nature based tourism destination with spectacular scenery, including a wide variety of wild life, the world’s oldest desert, the world’s tallest sand dunes and community based nature conservations,” he said.

Also speaking, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, represented

by Commissioner for Tourism, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, hailed the move by the High Commission to unveil visa processing desk in Lagos, adding that many African countries have faced the challenge of the inability to issue visas seamlessly, noting that it is the way to go to encourage people of other countries to visit.

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Making Nigeria Aircraft Maintenance Hub Chinedu Eze urges the federal government to consider indigenous operators in its quest to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Nigeria

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he federal government recently notified members of the public in an advertorial that it intends to establish maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Nigeria.

The government in the advertorial stated that it had identified the need for the establishment of such maintenance facility. “The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the Federal Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) has identified the need for the establishment of Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) Facility in Nigeria, as currently there is none in the West and Central African regions. “The availability of this facility would help to achieve the following objectives: establish the first MRO facility in West and Central Africa that will address the demand in the region; optimize foreign exchange expenses for major aircraft maintenance; generate more employment opportunities for Nigerians and Nigerian companies; enhance knowledge and technology transfer and support aviation value chain contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth,� the government stated.

The ministry noted that due to the sizeable investment and technical expertise required in setting up the MRO facility, the FGN was exploring the possibility of entering into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) via a BuildOperate-Transfer (BOT) model, whereby a private sector partner will develop and operate the MRO Centre while the government provides the required support to facilitate its establishment.

The proposed MRO will have the capacity to serve both Narrow Body (Jet and Turbo Prop) and Wide Body aircraft maintenance requirements and may be located at either the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja or Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos,� the notice also said.

Forex Revenue Nigeria could save more than N2 billion annually if the country has well equipped MRO, according to industry experts.

Presently all scheduled commercial airlines conduct their major maintenance checks overseas and spend huge amount of money on foreign exchange but substantial amount of this money could be saved, jobs created and foreign exchange saved if Nigeria has a major maintenance facility the industry experts said.

Overseas aircraft maintenance, purchase of spares, aircraft leasing, simulator training and others contribute significantly to the demand pressure on the value of the naira.

So government would save billions of naira if it established a comprehensive maintenance facility in Nigeria.

One of the operators recently told THISDAY that it costs his airline between $500, 000 to $800, 000 to maintain one engine of a Boeing B737 aircraft, noting that this could cost less if it were done locally and would also fetch about 30 per cent discount. “If we do the maintenance here about 30 per cent of the cost would be slashed and that gives you 30 per cent discount. This is for a comprehensive MRO that has complement of good workshop and this would also save the country foreign exchange. “But such project needs heavy capital outlay to set up and it takes some time before it will begin to yield profits. So most MROs require some grants to take off. They provide long term profit but they require heavy investment to start off,� he said.

So with government behind such plan the project would weather such financial challenges; although government made it clear that the MRO project would be fully private sector driven.

At the inception of Senator Hadi Sirika as the Minister of State, Aviation, he had said that the Buhari-led administration was going to transform the aviation industry and pointed out that MRO was critical to achieve such feat. “The present administration is focusing on issues that will rapidly develop the aviation industry within the shortest possible time.

These issues include aviation safety and

Max Air aircraft undergoing checks at Aero Maintenance Facility

security, infrastructural development, the establishment of a national carrier, lack of a world-class aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, (MRO) facility in the country,� he had said.

Scepticism But many Nigerians who witnessed the efforts made last year for the establishment of a national carrier which was later suspended indefinitely, are of the view that if government travelled the same lane with this MRO project it would end up as stillborn.

The major problem with the national carrier project, they posited, was that government spearheaded it without carrying the potential investors along; it provided the funds and carried on as if it was its own project, so they alleged that such method was putting the cart before the horse.

According to those that spoke with THISDAY, government should have involved the investors from the beginning; especially as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) made it known that its support for the project was because it would be private sector driven.

THISDAY learnt that industry analysts and insiders are still astounded that the Minister, Senator Sirika did not incorporate Aero Contractors and Arik Air which are substantially owned by government through Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in its plan for a national carrier, saying that their business ideology was different from the new airline his government wanted to set up. Until the planned airline was suspended it did not have office, personnel or facilities that would indicate that a national airline was to be established.

Industry experts were also of the view that by side-lining the two airlines where government has significant stakes to form a background for the establishment of a national airline, the project lacked foundation and that was one of the reasons it failed because even investors interested in the project could not locate any facility identified with the planned carrier.

Aero Contractors Today, Aero Contractors has established an aircraft maintenance facility and industry experts are of the view that if government intends to establish a national maintenance facility it ought to incorporate Aero Maintenance facility, which

would form the fulcrum for the establishment of a new company by government.

Aero has technical personnel that would form the nucleus of the new MRO, it also has engineers who are now training to take over from the current staff that would retire in the near future. So the airline has made strong plan in its MRO division, looking at the future.

The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, had told THISDAY that countries in West and Central Africa were partnering with the airline for the maintenance of aircraft registered in their countries.

Aero conducts maintenance checks on Boeing 737 Classic, Bombardier Q300 and Q400 and other aircraft types.

Ghana, which has certified Aero Maintenance to conduct checks on aircraft registered in the country last year is about to renew the certification this April. Also Democratic Republic of Congo is also auditing the maintenance facility so that it would certify it to maintain aircraft in the Central African country. Nigerian airlines have already started patronising the facility and it is conducting major checks for two of the indigenous operators.

Strategy Review Former Managing Director of Capital Airline and currently the lead consultant of ETIMFRI Group, Amos Akpan said Nigerian aviation sector needs a functional MRO that aircraft operators would patronize. “Currently Aero contractors facilities is the most patronized AMO in West Africa.

Airlines in Nigeria, Coted’Ivoire, and Ghana maintain their aircraft in Aero facility. Arik Air has facilities that should be developed.

What government should do is to provide support and enabling environment to grow these facilities to world-class standards. We need to review our strategy. The investors that set up businesses in the industry would like to grow their businesses as the industry grows.

Therefore, we should move from proposals into the stage of execution of workable ideas using what we have as launching pads. “We need to invest in the training infrastructure for maintenance personnel at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. The maintenance organizations will need continuously trained technicians. The maintenance organizations will need access to

foreign currency to work with manufacturers and distributors of aircraft spare parts. By their initiatives or inputs, investors have made clear what government should do. Government should partner with the private sector to set up and sustain world class maintenance facilities,� Akpan said.

Commending on Aero’s success, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman said that the maintenance facility was an offshoot of the President Muhammadu Buhari’ administration’s vision in the aviation sector, noting that no one would have dreamt of such a feat few years ago. “Well, I am happy, this is one of the focal programmes of this administration, the establishment of an MRO. And the obvious advantages are one: saving foreign exchange, two: ability to get foreign exchange into the country because others will come and do their maintenance here. Three: it will give employment for Nigerians, four: it will encourage skills acquisition and also technology; five, it gives us the ability to monitor closely the airworthiness status of our aircraft. And it saves the operator the cost of having to fly his aircraft out, even the cost of positioning the aircraft back, the cost of maintaining his staff while the aircraft under maintenance out there. All these will be saved by the operator, so it is a very, very positive development in this direction,� Usman said.

On the establishment of MRO by the federal government, the Director General said that it would be good and noted that even if it was established independent of Aero it would give vent to competition. “I am sure government believes in healthy competition. The more you have the more you have healthy choices and also when you talk of unit cost it drops based on competition availability. So, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that government will adopt because it is not within me to whether the government will adopt whatever Aero has. Consistently the government has said they will assist in setting up a major MRO and foe the reasons I mentioned earlier. However the government said it is going to be transparent and it is going to be private sector driving,� he said.

For federal government will succeed in its MRO if it incorporates indigenous efforts; unlike the failed experiment of national carrier.

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NIMASA’s Move to End Cabotage Waivers Eromosele Abiodun posits that plan by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to end Cabotage waivers for foreign ship owners will put an end to the low level of indigenous shipping companies’ participation in carriage of Nigerian-generated cargo through the nation’s coastal waters

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hen the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act was enacted in 2003, the purpose was to ensure that only indigenous ship owners have the mandate to carry out coastal trade and inland shipping.

However, the purpose was never achieved as most indigenous players in the industry were crowded out by foreigners.

According to numbers released by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian owned vessels accounts for only 12 per cent of annual oil trade market.

Rather than allow the letters and spirit of the Cabotage Act to work, a particular clause in the Act has continued to constrain operators.

This is the waiver clause.

This clause has over the years been exploited by multinational companies with the excuse that Nigerian players do not have the facility, capacity and competency to play in critical areas. That came to an end last week when the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) set out plans to end Cabotage waivers for foreign ship owners within the next two to five years.

The move was in a bid to put an end to the near inability of indigenous shipping companies to carry Nigerian-generated cargo through the nation’s coastal waters.

The stoppage of the waivers which would be implemented in phases would allow indigenous ship owners take charge.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting for cessation of Cabotage waivers in Lagos, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the agency was determined to bring to an end the waivers regime, so as to allow cabotage flourish in Nigeria. “Today is a very special day, for a very long time indigenous operators that have been very concerned about cabotage waivers, their concerns coming from the fact that it appears that waivers is now a norm instead of exception and since they have been wondering when are we going to come to the end of this cabotage waivers regime. “I want to say to them NIMASA has ended your cry. NIMASA is on the same page with you, we have determined to bring to an end the waivers regime so that cabotage will flourish in Nigeria and Nigerians will benefit from coastal trade,� he said.

Peterside, further disclosed that the agency had taken preliminary steps to give Nigerian operators a strong footing in the Cabotage regime. “We have taken a number of preliminary steps to give the Nigerian operators a strong footing in the cabotage regime. Sometimes in 2017, we published marine notice of the new cabotage compliance strategy and in that marine notice, we informed operators that we shall no longer entertain any form of application for manning waivers save for captains and chief engineers. “At the time, it was for six months. It was a trial run and we noticed that on six months we literally double the numbers of Nigerians onboard vessels by simply publishing and enforcing the new cabotage compliance strategy. “Also in 2018, we decided to extend it.

After then, we have series of engagement with stakeholders to stop the waivers regime in the cabotage trade, today is an important step in that direction. “As you know, it is the desire of every operator that we end the regime of waivers in the cabotage trade. And a lot of our people are concerned that we have not been able to build vessels in this country. But at NIMASA, we have taking strategic steps in the area of ship building, the country is looking at Ajaokuta steel mill again and I believe that once Ajaokuta come on stream, it will remarkably improve our fold in ship building,� he said.

Ongoing Engagements He added: “Those engagements are going on. It is even going on at the highest level of

government. We are engaging the office of the Vice President to look at the possibility of creating a number of incentives for those who can build vessels in this country and we believe if that is done, a number of persons and entrepreneurs will invest in building vessels in this country. We are even working in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), to that extent, we have commissioned a survey and audit of all building yards in this country with a huge to identify a level of support we can give to enable them come back on stream fully. “A bigger picture is that in the next five years, we want certain category of vessels to be built in the country so that we will put an end to bring literally all vessels we need from outside the country and create jobs outside the country, whereas we are creating unemployment by patronising foreign built vessels. That is strategic steps we have taken in the area of owning vessels. We have also taking a number of steps to support local players so that they can own more vessels.

We have engaged the Ministry of Finance and Customs to create a special tax regime to Nigerians who will bring in vessels in to the country.�

First Move NIMASA had earlier this year set its face against violators of the coastal and inland shipping law when it seized MT Navigator Capricorn, a Liberian-registered Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel. MT Navigator Capricorn, which is on lease to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and supplies cooking gas to Nigeria’s domestic market, was detained. It was later released. But the decisive statement on the enforcement of the revised guidelines on the implementation of the Cabotage Act was not lost on stakeholders.

Announcing the commencement of the crackdown, Peterside made it clear that the agency would no longer encourage the application of any form of waivers under the Cabotage Act, particularly for oil firm operations. He said such waivers hurt the growth of the maritime sector and the economy, generally. “Our laws forbid foreign vessels operating in our territorial waters save for compliance with the Cabotage Act. There shall be no

sacred cow when we commence clampdown on erring vessels. We want to increase the number of Nigerians who participate in the marine aspect of your business and we are working closely with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to have a joint categorisation of vessels operating under the Cabotage Act in order to ensure the full implementation of the Act,� he said.

Understanding Cabotage Act The Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, which came into force in 2004, aims to “primarily to reserve the commercial transportation of goods and services within Nigerian coastal and inland waters to vessels flying the Nigerian flag, owned and crewed

by Nigerian citizens, and built in Nigeria.�

The Act sets out the limitations on foreign operations of cabotage shipping and the tight conditions under which exceptions can be allowed. These provisions are set out in sections 3 to 6 of the Act, which prohibit coastal carriage of cargoes and passengers, except by wholly Nigerian-owned, manned, built, and registered vessels.

It also restricts towage by tugs or vessels to those wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, just as it limits carriage of petroleum products and related oil and gas shipping services to vessels of Nigerian ownership. Furthermore, the Act prohibits domestic trading in the inland waters of Nigeria, except by vessels wholly owned by Nigerians. To facilitate compliance with the provisions of the Act, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in 2004, issued a set of guidelines to relevant stakeholders. The guidelines proved to be a useful tool for the operation and implementation of the Cabotage Act. But it was not without some hiccups, as NIMASA, had understandable challenges in the application of the Act. Following interfaces with stakeholders, the revised Guidelines on Implementation of Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003, was produced to provide further clarification and streamline the Act’s enforcement and monitoring processes.

NIMASA followed up the revised guidelines with the introduction of the Cabotage Compliance Strategy in August last year to facilitate full implementation of the Cabotage Act. But the agency continued to talk with the vessel operators in the new spirit of camaraderie that has prevailed between the regulator and

the operators since the administration of the Peterside.

Stakeholders Applaud NIMASA Lending their voice to the move, some stakeholders in maritime last week hailed the federal government’s plan and advised the government to abolish cabotage waivers to foreign vessels without further delay. They pleaded that the government incentives that would encourage indigenous ship ownership in the spirit and letter of the Cabotage Act. They said that it was possible to end waivers to foreign vessels and give room for Nigerians to own ships. Speaking to journalists on the matter, Director-General of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Obigali Obi said that efforts should be geared toward resuscitating the Ajaokuta Steel Company because the country could build ship with a functional steel company, which would in turn encourage springing up of cottage industries.

According to her, “There is nothing wrong in the administration of the Cabotage Act, as that will help to create the much needed jobs for Nigerians. But we need to tread with caution while trying to implement that, knowing that we are dealing with an international trade variant of our economy.

The infrastructure that we need to anchor this on, are not yet available; the manpower to manage the platform and provide services onboard are still not there.�

On her part, maritime expert, Mrs Magret Orakwusi, appealed to the federal government to ensure that the banks would grant loans to Nigerian shippers at a single-digit rate to boost ship ownership and development.

She said: “I thank God that people in government are thinking in this direction that we, the operators, have been longing for. If we get it right now, the economy will be shielded from negative international economic reflex.

Cabotage is good; it will resonate in the sector and foster expansion in all ramifications while engaging the cadets in the system. “The whole idea is to have a succession plan that will midwife a full blown cabotage regime that will be of benefit to Nigerians instead of the foreigners trading on our waters.

It has been observed that the Cabotage Act, since inception in 2003, has, to a large extent, favoured foreign ship owners while killing indigenous ones.�

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Williams: We Intend to Change Face of Shopping The Chief Executive Officer of PricePointe Wholesale Club, a new entrant in the Nigerian retail space, Tayo Williams, in this interview speaks on the challenges and opportunities in the retail segment of the market. Omolabake Fasogbon presents the excerpts:

T

gold which is for businesses and the VIP black card holder. The elites and the gold member pays an annual due of N25,000 and VIP member pays N50,000 annually.

For each class of membership, there are additional benefits which definitely offers more value than the payment.

he Nigerian economy has been projected to grow at about two per cent in 2019, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). What do you think will become of the retail sector during the year?

Nigerian retail holds a huge opportunity and that is why we have more investors coming to explore the space.

With a population of about 200 million of which, arguably, 10 per cent or 20 million of those people are middle class and above, as well as the increasing purchasing power of the middle class, the industry no doubt is driving a huge part of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Therefore, I see it growing beyond IMF’s projected growth level. Recently, we have seen some level of stability in the naira and if this trend continues, this would translate to an increased spending for Nigerians and ultimately, more growth in retail. However, the business can do pretty much more than its present 16.4 per cent contributions to the GDP if government and other stakeholders can see some of the mitigating factors in the sector.

Can you identify some of these challenges?

Some of these barriers are what we are already familiar with. For example, there is the problem with power, infrastructure, multiple taxation supply chain and access to fund. More importantly, we notice that there is also the problem where retailers are forced to buy quantities they don’t necessarily need from wholesale stores in order to get the price that they required.

For instance, there are situations whereby retailers will go to Ojuwoye or Oke-Arin wholesale market to buy items in bulk because they want to get carton price when ordinarily, they need few of those items to sell in a day or two and make their profit. Another thing is the need to formalise the sector where consumers can be comfortable and confident about their purchases, while government can equally harness more gains in the sector.

A lot of abnormalities exist in the conventional market, such as counterfeiting, date changing on expired products and abuse of products. This can actually be surmounted with sector formalisation like what is done in South Africa and other developed economies.

Do you think formalising retail is possible in this clime and how do you think government can go about this?

Absolutely! It is possible. This is exactly what PricePointe intends to achieve with its model. PricePointe modus operandi is similar to that of Costco in the US. Costco is the second largest retailer in the world with a turnover of $160 billion annually and a membership base of about 66 million. Ours is a formal wholesale store, it’s like taking the Oke Arin wholesale market in Lagos and putting it in a formal setting. Our goal is to solve problems for the retailers and to get the best deal for our members. If you look at the chain, the retailers are the ones doing most of the work and the real problem solvers, yet, they are underserved, while the distributors and wholesalers, (middle men) are the ones reaping the fortune of the business. Report states that about five million retailers are doing around N50,000 turnover on the average per day. If you do the math, you will realise that they are the ones that are actually driving the GDP, they are the ones breaking the bulks, selling piece by piece, the Mallam on the road, the neighbourhood store, kiosk and the market women, they are the people that are the real volume drivers in the sector. Our solution is such that allows a retailer buy less than a carton and still get it at a carton price, even much lower

Williams

than Oke Arin or Ojuwoye prices. As we are selling to retailers, we are equally selling to individual and families at the same wholesale price so far as they are registered member of the club. Our first store is opening at Ilupeju, Lagos on 20th of April, However, we plan having six locations in Lagos by the middle of next year, namely: Lekki, Festac, Ikorodu,Ikeja and Surulere. Thereafter, we would move to other states in Nigeria and major cities across East and West Africa. With six locations targeted at centre points within Lagos, we become a drop point for the manufacturers. When we replicate this model across Nigeria, we begin to see goods move directly from manufacturers straight to the drop point. On our own part, we are getting to formalise the industry. We shall be providing jobs for over 200 Nigerians in every location and by the middle of next year, we would have employed almost 2,000. We are able to boast of this achievement because of the innovations we are bringing to the

When we replicate this model across Nigeria, we begin to see goods move directly from manufacturers straight to the drop point. On our own part, we are getting to formalise the industry. We shall be providing jobs for over 200 Nigerians in every location and by the middle of next year, we would have employed almost 2,000

space. The Lagos State Government is also working in the direction of formalising the Mile 12 market but this has been pushed back by traders who feel they will be losing their jobs, but it’s actually an opportunity to create more jobs.

Do you mean customers have to register on your platform before shopping?

Like I said, we are determined to change the landscape of retail in Nigeria. As a wholesale market, we have entered into partnership with the big manufacturers, for most of whom we are a distributor and for those we are not, we partner with the distributors to get the same thing that distributors are getting from manufacturers. We eventually sell to the retailers the same price we are getting from the manufacturers. We are not in the business to make a margin from sales, rather, we are negotiating to make the best price. Hence, for customers to enjoy this benefits of cheap pricing, they have to register to become our members. It is from this membership fee that both retailers, individuals or families that are buying in bulk that we make our money.

So, rather than a customer saying that I am paying to shop, he should say that I paying to join a lifestyle club where there are people whose primary role is to find me the best deal that they can find on what I love. In addition to the price attraction, the market is equally convenient and accessible. Just like the usual open market, the market boasts of all items ranging from grocery, consumables, bakery, butchery, electronics, fabrics, frozen foods e.t.c. We are also promoting our own entrepreneurs whereby 60 per cent of our products are simply local while we intend to push more of Nigerian products as soon as we find quality substitute. It’s a fully air-conditioned space, standing on 8000 square meter, and that is just the warehouse. We are open as early as 6am for the retailers, so they can quickly buy what they will sell for the day while for family members who buy in bulk, we are opened from 10 am.

Can you explain the modalities of becoming a member?

We have three classes of membership the silver member which is for family, the

Do you see this model working in Nigeria?

We believe very strongly that it will work here, although we don’t expect everyone to buy the idea so easily, not until they are convinced. Like I have been saying, we are in the business for our members to get them the best possible price that they can get. The model is such that is 25 percent cheaper than any other formal chain store for family shoppers. We are more of a cooperative, but a cooperative for the cooperatives.

For one to be a member of a cooperative, you have to pay an annual due, where the cooperative in turn negotiate the best deal for members based on their membership base. We are targeting to represent easily 150,000 people for the families, then, when we represent the retailers combined with families, then we are a force to reckon with for manufacturers or distributors. We fought a lot of battles and negotiations with manufacturers to get good prices, as manufacturers will say that modern retail account for five per cent of their turnover, and as such cannot give us what are asking for. But we are about to change the game, because we are not modern retail, but a modern wholesale company. If modern wholesale at Oke Arin market is doing like N400 million to N1 billion every day, then, we are intending to play a serious ball there because we are company, with the advantage of having everything under our roof. If you come to our store and you can’t get a choice product, be rest assured that it is not that we didn’t try to get it but because we couldn’t give you price advantage.

Don’t you think this model would threaten the conventional market style and displace the middle men?

Change is the only constant thing in life. A few years ago, shopping was done prominently in the traditional market but today, everyone is going to the supermarket to buy stuff. I mean, this can also be the same for the wholesale market. As a matter of fact, we have also discovered that market women leave the open market and run to the supermarket when there is a good price at the supermarket. So, we are here to change the face of shopping, to get it more western and developed.

Like I have reiterated earlier, our goal is to make retailers who are actually doing the work get rewarded for their efforts.

What are some of the challenges you envisage in the future?

One of the problems we foresee and presently experiencing is how to find a location of the right size. The property at Ilupeju is over three to four acres. Finding such in major cities is a challenge as we have to compete with religious institutions and others. Another drawback we saw is how to get to convince people to buy the model whereby they need to pay to shop. This will require us to embark on heavy education and enlightenment of the people so as to convince them to become a member. Another is consistency of manufacturers. We expect to be pushing a lot of volume and so we hope manufacturers will consider us as priority customers so we will never have to run out of stock.

Finance is also a major setback to setting up a business of this size. Surprisingly, we couldn’t get support from any banks because they don’t want to go down the route of start-ups even though that’s what government want them to do.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

This Easter, Spiritual Rejuvenation Beckons at Miango Rest Home

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COVER THIS EASTER, SPIRITUAL REJUVENATION BECKONS AT MIANGO REST HOME

If you are looking for somewhere serene and peaceful; rustic yet modern; pocket-friendly yet rich in history; fun yet a place to seek spiritual renewal, the Miango Rest Home, which showcases the wild beauty of Plateau State, readily comes to mind. With over 10 decades in its kitty, the home thrives on providing accommodation, food and recreational services for the physical and spiritual renewal of missionaries, and the wider Christian community. SUNDAY EHIGIATOR, who recently spent five days at the rest home, writes that it’s a perfect Easter getaway for spiritual rejuvenation For every soldier, rejuvenation beckons at intervals, a call that must be obeyed else one becomes fatigued and worn out. It’s not different for people of Faith, who also needs spiritual rejuvenation once in a while. And where better to seek solace than a rest home set up for such purposes.

For Christian faithfuls, the Easter celebration presents an avenue for such spiritual rejuvenation. Easter, also known as Pascha in either Greek or Latin languages, is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. So for most, the period is used to identify with the suffering and resurrection of Jesus. While some observe Easter by fasting and praying, others do penance, while yet others withdraw to rejuvenate to prevent burning out.

Heritage Worldwide, there are structures that are revered for the wealth of history it holds, as well as for sentimental reasons.

While some of these structures are heritage and historic or even religious sites, others are the wonders of the world. For religious sites, the popular Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris that was recently affected by fire, stands out.

While the groundbreaking commenced on 1163, it was completed in 1345, a whopping 185 years later. This puts its existence at 856years.

In Nigeria on the other hand, although no popular religious site may boast of staying afloat for such number of years, there are some who have lasted for 100 years. In this category, the Miango Rest Home (MRH) readily comes to mind.

Situated in Miango in Irigwe Land, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, a 20-minute drive from Jos, the capital city, is the MRH, where is greeted with popping bright colours and the melodious sound of the humming birds.

Not to be outdone, the serene ambiance envelops you in a warm hug.

As you soak in the ambience, one can literarily feel the stress drain out as you take in the clean air from the surrounding mountains, the neatly orchestrated beautiful flowers and green gardens.

Meanwhile, in between the spiritual retreat, recreational activities like standard football pitch, basketball, beach volley ball, lawn tennis and table tennis.”

Indeed, my five days spent in the home was one I wished never ended but then; duty called. For an adventure and sport loving guy like me, it was from mountain climbing, to swimming at the foot of the water falls. Then from playing football to volleyball, table tennis and basketball among other sports I tried for the first time.

History For this reporter, all these aroused his curiosity, prompting him to engage the manager of the home in a conversation.

Having been employed since 2009, the manager, Mr. Emmanuel Benedict, took this reporter down memory lane of how the home came to be.

He said: “In 1893, three young men: Walter Gowans aged 27; Thomas Kent aged 24, and Roland Bingham aged 26; with a burden for the people of ‘the Sudan’ (South of the Saraha), set off to carry the gospel to the remote interior of Nigeria.

“Gowans and Kent died of malaria and dysentery respectively within the first year. Bingham persisted and by 1910 there was a Sudan Interior Missionary (SIM) workforce of about

The chapel at Miango Rest Home

L-R: Walter Gowans, Thomas Kent and Roland Bingham, founders of MRH

local and intercontinental; as it may also interest you to know that over 80 per cent of everything guests consume in this home are grown here. Little or nothing is left to waste in the home.

Left over foods for instance, are feed to our very healthy animals which we rear here, while some other including animal wastes are reinvested in the soil as manures. All guests pay fixed and very affordable rates and are treated equally with love. Meals are served at fixed times in the dining hall for all guests to promote unity. Generally, MRH is a selfsustainable ministry with a hospitable host community”, he added.

Tourist Attraction Highlighting some tourist attraction of Miango, he said, “Here, we have Zumgbu water falls, Yembe water falls, NESCO Hydro Power Plant established 1926, MRH Mount Sanderson Gazebo, Huru scenery, Twin hills e.t.c.”

Mountain view

Manager of MRH, Mr. Emmanuel Benedict

20 missionaries in Nigeria. Bingham was convinced that the work of the mission would be enhanced if only the missionaries had a place; somewhere in the Sudan where they could refresh themselves; most of them were in places like Patigi, Egbe, Wushishi.

“British government officials travelled home often; SIM could not afford that.

Bingham’s idea of rest and refreshment in Africa was a bold and visionary concept. In 1910, Bingham asked Dr. Andrew Stirett to look for a suitable place in the ‘Highlands’ to build a Sanitarium (the term used in 1910 for a health resort). No SIM missionary had ever been to the Plateau. It took Stirett three weeks to trek from Wushishi to the Plateau. He visited Vom, Bukuru, Naraguta and Miango. He chose Miango as the site for the Sanitarium; which was the future ‘Miango Rest Home.’

“In December 1911, Bingham received a large gift from a widow in England named Evelyn Webb Peploe designated for the Sanitarium.

It was to be a memorial to her departed husband. The amount was L450 ($1,946). It was with this money the first main building was built. So In 1916, the main building, ‘Webb-Peploe Hall’ opened for visitors for its first time.

“I was first employed in 1999 as an office assistant. I grew through the ranks to become the General Manager in 2009. Prior to becoming MRH GM, I had the privilege to be mentored by nine expatriate managers over 10 years period. MRH celebrated her centenary in 2013, exactly 100 years from the time the first building started in 1913. Today MRH is 106 years old. The very first building made of mud blocks is still standing till today.

“Today, Miango Rest Home has increasingly become a popular place for Christian groups to meet for retreats, workshops, seminars, honeymooners, family holidaying and conferences.

There is still room for missionaries and other individuals to come for a time of rest.”

joyfully providing accommodation, food and recreational services for the physical and spiritual renewal of Christian missionaries, the wider Christian community, and for the need of organisations that share our beliefs,” he revealed. Benedict continued: ““The vision to establish MRH was envisaged by Roland Bingham as I earlier mentioned. By 1910 there were about 20 missionaries on the several stations where living conditions were extremely difficult. The primary objective in view was the finding of a high and healthy situation for a sanatorium proposed to be built for workers stationed in the low-lying regions. Stirrett came from Wushishi to Plateau with a view of selecting a suitable place to start a rest home for missionaries.

“The need to establish a facility on the Plateau was articulated in the early days of SIM. The reasons were three; first is climate; most SIM missionaries endured hot days and sultry nights.

On the Plateau, the temperatures were more pleasant; nights were cool. Second is diet; most SIM missionaries laboured in places where nutritious foods were not available.

But vegetables grow well at the higher altitudes; fresh milk, butter, and eggs were also available in abundance.

“This was a treat to those who saw little of them for most of the year.

Then the third is isolation; most SIM missionaries served on isolated stations and would often go for months without seeing a single expatriate visitor. All this informed the idea of how MRH came to be.”

Purpose According to Benedict, the home is a leading quality service-oriented Christian guest facility where opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal is accorded in comfort.

“Our mission is to glorify God by

Fresh Produce One of the thing the home boats of is the fresh produce used in cooking.

This Benedict said means that the fresh vegetables used in the kitchen are produced on MRH farms. “We offer good, nutritious and healthy diets both

Plus On the qualities of MRH, he said, “MRH is known for its good, friendly and welcoming staff, as well as the beautiful, serene and secured environment that separates MRH from other guest houses.

We have 24 hours electricity from a private hydro power company called NESCO and the weather here is very conducive particularly for expatriates.”

Recreational Activities To ensure a well rounded rest, the home also made provisions for some recreational activities like hiking, as well as equipped sports facilities such as standard football pitch, basketball, beach and volley ball, lawn and table tennis.

Breaking New Frontiers On his achievements since taking over the facility he said, “By the special grace of God, since I became the manager, there has been a lot of improvements in the home. We acquired additional 34 hectares of land space where we built three blocks of six rooms each named Shimkus, Navigators and, Vermeer lodges; we built one block of eight rooms; Truxton lodge, built Sarah Baker Hall which with 150 seats capacity. Then the dining hall new extension to 150 seats at a time.

“The conference hall expansion grew from 150 to 300 capacity. We carried out landscaping of the entire new area. We have over-hauled the entire water system, drilled additional three boreholes,upgraded electricity lines, planted over 3000 trees, assorted flowers and grasses and initiated consistent training of staff so they can keep improving on their customers relations skills.

“We also upgraded our old structures and facilities. We initiated the very first strategic plan document which covers from 2009 to 2014. We have acquired several maintenance equipment such as, motorised lawn mover, industrial gas oven, carpentry equipment and tools etc. And likewise acquired three pickup vehicles;Toyota Highlander, Toyota Corolla and pickup Truck among others.

“We invite you to visit MRH if you have not been here and you will have a unique experience you will never forget. We at MRH know and specialise in one thing; hospitality. For the past 100 years, we make refreshment happen for our guests. Our environment, food and accommodation are conducive for guests who need rest, a place for honeymooners, recreation, conferences, family holidaying and retreats.

“Our minimum standard facilities and accommodation meets the need of the different categories of guests worldwide. MRH has 80 rooms total (different types of accommodation) and can accommodate up to 80 couples at a time and 250 people made up of families.“ Indeed, for this reporter, the five days spent in the home was one to be cherished as it was an avenue to have fun, but at the same time, rejuvenate.

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Sigma Pensions Holds ‘A Walk to Live’ Campaign in Enugu Nume Ekeghe Sigma Pensions Limited recently took its ‘Walk to Live Campaign’ to major streets of Enugu with a view to encourage healthy living amongst staff, customers and members of the larger society, especially for pensioners.

The event which held early hours of last Saturday saw participants including pensioners march from Okpara Square, through Bisalla Road, down to New Haven Junction and back to the starting point.

The Managing Director of the Pensions Fund Administrator (PFA), Mr Dave Uduanu, said the walk was aimed at promoting health among staff and their customers, as well as promote the brand in the state.

The managing director said that similar exercise had been conducted in Abuja and Lagos, adding that the hinterlands were not left out.

“We are trying to connect with our customers across the country and to encourage them to be healthy to enjoy their pensions.

“We have done it in Abuja as well as in Lagos and now connecting with those in the hinterlands. You have to live to enjoy your pension,” he said.

Uduanu said the PFA was signing new customers in the state and that the response was massive.

On the launch of a pension plan for the informal sector by National Pensions Commission (PenCom), the managing

R-L: Managing Director UBA Pensions, Mr. Bayo Yusuf; Head Strategy Sigma Pensions, Mrs. Adaora Ude; Chief Executive Officer Sigma Pensions, Mr. Dave Uduanu; Corporate Strategy Analyst Sigma Pensions, Ms. Ada Akonobi and Head Business Development East, Mr. Chukuma Amaonwu at the Sigma Walk to live Health walk in Enugu

director said that Sigma Pensions was well positioned to queue into it.

“We are operationally ready to go into the informal sector. We have the funds and the manpower,” Uduanu said A retiree and customer of the organisation, Mr. Adesina Odunmbaku, said he was excited at such exercise organised by Sigma Pensions.

Odunmbaku urged other PFAs to take a

European- American University Honours Jerry with Doctorate Degree Okpuzor Ezekiel The European-American University Commonwealth of Dominica African Regional Operations, after observing the impressive works and achievements of Dr Jerry Nwakobi, recently awarded him with a doctorate degree.

Speaking at the press briefing last week in Lagos to recognise the doctorate degree, the Real Estate developer said one of his greatest challenge in his profession was unstable power supply and lack of good roads.v“My greatest challenge in life was as a poor boy, but my greatest challenge

in the industry is that there are no helping hands. Also, access roads to the estate should be provided by the government,” he noted.

He stated that corruption has been the key factor why Nigeria still remains undeveloped nation for edges, adding that “the saint will be corrupt after getting elected because when the good ones try to change the system, they end up corrupted by the system.”

On improvement of buildings in the country, the expert urged the government to punish the builders responsible for any collapsed buildings in the country to help others learn their lesson.

cue from the event with a view to ensuring healthy living among their members of staff and customers.

“This is a novel idea which should be emulated by others. Sigma Pensions has good services and they give customers personal attention,” he said.

Odunmbaku said that the organisation was one of the best in pension funds

administration.

Another customer and staff of Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Mrs Ruth Kalu, said she felt good to be part of the exercise.

“I am impressed with what they are doing. They are simply the best,” Kalu said.

Highlight of the exercise was an aerobic exercise involving the participants.

GEP Studios Bags Another Nomination For Children Of Mud Mary Nnah Award winning feature film, Children of Mud, a production of Grand Explorer Productions (GEP) Studio, a world class entertainment and project management company located in Ireland and Nigeria, has received yet another nomination at the Eko International Film Festival, Lagos.

The nomination follows the movie’s outstanding run at the 6th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), which held last year, where 11-yearold Mariam Kayode was nominated Best Actress

in a Drama category, thus making her the youngest person to be nominated in such category in the history of the award.n Reacting to the nomination, the Chief Executive Officer of GEP Studios, Charles Ikenna Mojekwu said: “We feel very honoured for our movie to be nominated by the Eko International Film Festival. We put in our best to ensure that Children of Mud achieves world-class production standards, and we are very happy and proud that this hard work is paying off “Children of Mud raises awareness on the societal ills relating to child abuse,

homelessness and child witchcraft accusations. We are happy to be a voice to the young voiceless.”

The movie, which has the imprint of Imoh Umoren, arguably the leader of new school cinematographers in Nigeria, follows the story of two homeless kids, Emem and Miracle, who were accused of witchcraft by their aunty and thrown out of their home.

According to Mojekwu, Children of Mud has been recognised locally and internationally. He added that the movie was nominated and screened at the American Black Film Festival Awards in 2018.

He further explained that

the movie also received a nomination at the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) in the same year.

Written and directed by Imoh Umoren, the movie received six nominations at the just concluded AMVCA for different awards including Best Movie West Africa and Best Actress of the Year.

Eko International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals to take place in Africa. It is a key part of Africa’s cultural infrastructure: as they inspire audiences, artists, filmmakers and professionals from other parts of the world.

FCMB Partners Activate Success Int’l to Empower NYSC Members The 2019 edition of the ‘Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme’ (YEEP) organised for the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) held successfully across three NYSC orientation camps auditoriums in Lagos, Abuja and Benue on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

An initiative of Activate Success International Foundation and sponsored by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the notion of the programme is to mentor youth corps members on practical steps to become successful entrepreneurs in their chosen fields and to also provide career guidance.

In line with the commitment of the bank towards the empowerment of youths in entrepreneurship by sponsoring capacity building programmes, the bank constantly seeks for avenues to provide multiple opportunities that would inspire, empower youths with the requisite resources to start successful businesses and enable them to be actively engaged to become successful business owners. Speakers at this year’s event include the founder of Activate Success International Foundation, Ms. Love Idoko who delivered her lecture in Abuja alongside Mr. Seyi Adekunle of Vodi Tailors and popular actor cum broadcaster, Uti Nwachukwu.

Cerebral actor and author, Femi Jacobs and Mr. Apeh Iwodi, an architect-cum-entrepreneur took charge in Lagos, while Pst Abel Uloko, a socioprenuer, thought leader and life coach mentored the corps members efficiently in Benue State. The event held simultaneously at the three centers.

One of the speakers, Love Idoko while delivering her lecture on ‘Six Things I Wish

L-R: CEO Vodi Tailor, Mr. Seyi Adekunle; Founder of Activate Success Int’l Foundation, Ms. Love Idoko and popular actor cum broadcaster, Mr. Uti Nwachukwu, all speakers at the FCMB sponsored Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme’ (YEEP) for NYSC members in Abuja

Every Youth Knew’ said they must endeavor to make the right decisions, have a plan, be their own greatest fan, detoxify their lives, read books and be a good finisher.

She said: “Success as an entrepreneur starts with the right decision. You must never underestimate the impact a single decision can have as one wrong move can ruin a career, business or one’s entire life.

“To be successful, you need to have a plan.

No matter where you are in life, you can be successful if you have a plan for action. You

also need to look at your life and evaluate the relationships you keep. Some relationships are energy draining and toxic.

“If you are serious about your dream, you have to detoxify your life. You must also read books to update your knowledge and remain relevant in your field. Then, how you finish will be remembered longer than how you start.

Success is not just about starting something; we need to be consistent to finish what we have started.”

As demonstrated in the 2018 edition of the

event, the bank will also be giving grants to lucky young entrepreneurs to support their business idea. At the 2018 edition of the event, a total sum of N2.7m was given to the corps members as grants in Lagos, Imo, Benue and Abuja NYSC camps where the event held.

Over the years, FCMB has developed various engagement programmes focused on empowering young Nigerians and has given young entrepreneurs including students access to training, funding, mentorship, networking opportunities and jobs.

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MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

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In ‘Daughters of Chibok’, a Mother’s Pain Runs Deep VANESSA OBIOHA writes that for the second time, documentary filmmaker Joel Benson focuses his virtual reality camera lens on the plight of the victims of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the North-east

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he lens of documentary filmmaker Joel Benson, has recently captured the plight of the victims of the Boko Haram terrorist group in the North-east. The notorious insurgents have been terrorising the region for almost a decade, riving families and leaving a pool of undried tears.

His first ‘In Bakassi’ which was produced last year revolved around a young orphan Mustapha and his struggles to provide for his family in the populated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, Bakassi.

His latest effort, ‘Daughters of Chibok’ however centers on Yana Galang, the woman leader of the Bring Back Our Girls’ (BBOG) movement. The over 11-minute long film opens with Galang, inviting the viewer into her modest home which was once filled with laughter. Galang has lovely memories of Chibok as the camera pans over the sahelian landscape.

She recalled that the remote town in Borno state was once peaceful, where Christians and Muslims coexist happily.

The main vocation in the village is farming, but that comes with numerous challenges according to the filmmaker.

“They can’t afford fertilisers, tractors and pesticides, so how do they survive in poverty? In a year, they can only produce seven bags of their farm produce.”

Galang noted in the film that one of the conundrums that had often befallen Chibok was water. She however stated that the issue has been resolved through the intervention of some non-governmental organisations. A farmer too, Galang and her family depend on their produce for subsistence.

Galang’s family is her pride. She has eight children: three girls and five boys.

Each of her daughters she ensured had access to quality education. Her home was once filled with laughter and joy, until Boko Haram reared their ugly head.

On April 14, 2014 the insurgents stormed the Government Secondary School in Chibok and kidnapped 276 school girls.

The political blame game played at the moment slowed the release of the girls.

The administration of Goodluck Jonathan believed that the kidnap was a ploy by his detractors to dent his political ambition, thus delaying relevant action to rescue the girls.

Out of the 276 girls abducted, the government so far was only able to release 107 girls. 57 escaped while 112 are still

Chibok mothers waiting for their children

missing. Galang’s daughter is among those missing. Her name is Rifkatu.

“When they told me that my daughter Rifkatu was kidnapped from the school, I didn’t believe it. What did I do? Who did I offend?” she said in an emotional laden voice, wiping her tears with the tail of her wrapper. She held a picture of Rifkatu on one hand as she tried to gain composure.

“We were all confused,” she continued, “before this time, nobody knew we existed.”

For five years, Galang waited patiently for the return of her daughter. In the documentary, Galang is seen folding her daughter’s clothes, as if she is expecting her to walk through the door at any moment.

At first, it felt like a nightmare that would soon be over. But then, days turned to months, months to years, yet no sign of Rifkatu. “It seems as if the world has moved on. Nobody remembers our daughters.”

The pain became almost unbearable each time news of freed schoolgirls reached her ears. More often, Galang hoped that her daughter was among them. This doesn’t mean that she is not delighted over the return of the girls. Rather, she urged the girls to pray for their sisters to come back safely.

Though statistics from the documentary revealed that 33 parents died waiting for their children to be rescued, Galang and

her fellow women are still clinging to hope.

“Rifkatu my daughter,” she pleaded, “for five years, we wept and waited, praying for you to return. I will not stop praying for you Rifkatu. I will never stop and I know that one day, my prayers will be answered,” she said confidently as the camera captured her in different settings.

Sometimes, she is sitting under a tree, other times, she is seen with a young girl, of her daughter’s age, braiding her hair. Beyond the woman’s tale, viewers are further immersed in the aftermath of Chibok. The roads are deserted, so also is the GSS school.

Watching the docu-film elicited a gamut of emotions from the viewers at Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Falomo Garden in Ikoyi, and Johnson Jakande and Tinubu Park in Alausa where the film was publicly screened. The screening which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Chibok abductions was in collaboration with Imisi 3D and Lagos State Park and Garden Agency (LASPARK).

The reactions were particularly tense at Falomo Garden, which is like a memorial park for the abducted girls. Their pictures are painted on the pillars of the Falomo Bridge. One of the viewers, Victoria Daniel couldn’t hide her rage.

“To think that some of these girls have been without their parents for five years,

it’s very heart-breaking.”

‘Daughters of Chibok’, marked the first ever VR film on Chibok abductions. For the filmmaker, bringing this story to life goes beyond the travails of the waiting parents.

“The Chibok story is a global story, a story that a lot of people have heard about, but there is still no closure. It was an interesting subject to explore. I was making another documentary in the north-east and that documentary took me to Chibok. While I was there, I spoke to the people and engaged them. After speaking with a particular woman, I realised that I needed to bring people here to see what is happening.”

Using virtual reality to tell the story for the filmmaker was to bring the story closer to home.

“There is so much that we take for granted here (Lagos), Chibok is like another country. It doesn’t feel like a part of Nigeria.”

Through this docu-film, Benson is hoping that he can generate a cause and support for the women. He is quite keen on helping the impoverished state of most of the families.

“It is one thing to lose your child and waiting for her return, and it is another to still be living in abject poverty. Remember some of them have more than one child, so they have to take care of others. When you don’t have a means of taking care of them, that is extra pain. At least, if we can’t bring back their girls now, we should be able to lift them out of poverty,” he said.

The filmmaker also hinted at plans to take the film round the country.

Arcadia Eyes a Wider Audience with Premium TV Launch Vanessa Obioha After testing the online space for over a year, Arcadia, a privately owned technology company that creates and distributes content for entertainment and advertising purposes is ready to spread its tentacles. At a recent event, Founder and Chief Operating Office, Akintunde Marinho and co-founder Olamide Yousuph announced their plans to launch Arcadia Premium Television on Startimes Channel 176.

“Arcadia TV stands to differentiate itself with the series and the type of content it decides to produce to re-orientate Nigerians on why they should be proud of their heritage,” said Marinho. In its four years of operating on the mobile platform, Marinho disclosed that they have been able to find their cutting edge in one of their shows ‘Serious Banta’ which pooled a larger audience who wanted it on a bigger platform.

“The reason why we moved to TV was that we understand the limitations of online in Nigeria. We want to provide content that will really speak to our target audience. The drive for us is to provide an inventory of original content from Africa, not just Nigeria.We have international content partners like Sony, Universal,

Akintunde Marinho and Olamide Yousuph of Arcadia

HBO that we are in contact with to help with international content.”

“When it comes to collaborations, we are always open to it. There’s always going to be consistency in the quality of shows we air. Although we had to change the names of some of the shows we were airing on our web portal

because they didn’t really fit television style, but the theme and quality remains,” added Yousuph.

For Marinho, it’s all about changing the TV experience by creating engaging content, telling powerful stories that cuts across music, sports, movies, comedy, fashion and lifestyle.

Already, the company has produced 19 original titles. Some of the varied shows that audience can watch when it officially launches in June include Serious Banta, Kitchen Dash, My Hustle, Arcadia Live on The Red Carpet, Life, Sex and relationship, a dating show ‘I’m available’, and the DIY Slab.

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Who Will Be the Next MTV Shuga Star?

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

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housands of young talents thronged the Classique Events Centre Oregun, Ikeja recently for the MTV Shuga new series auditions.

Known for birthing new stars like Dorcas Shola-Fapson and Timini Egbuson, who were discovered in 2013 when the series’ first premiered in Nigeria, many travelled from far and near to take a shot at fame.

One of the hopefuls Adesewa abandoned her engineering job and travelled six hours from Edo State to get a chance at the auditions.

By the time the casting doors finally opened, Adesewa and many like her had formed queues that stretched for nearly two kilometres.

Their eccentric fashion choices, catchy hair statements and colorful costumes proved their determination to land a role in the upcoming season scheduled for September 2019.

However, their anxiety cannot be disguised. Nervous chatter flowed as they sized one another while rehearsing their monologue, hoping to impress the panel of judges which included Nigerian Television and Film Director, Tope Oshin; Head Writer, MTV Shuga Nigeria, Kemi Adesoye; Nigerian TV Producer and Filmmaker, Tolulope Ajayi; and Senior

Producer, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Wyn Baptiste.

On hand to give encouragement to the auditionees were people who were in their shoes not too long ago – Shuga stars and MTV talents like Timini Egbuson, Jemima Osunde, Bukola Oladipupo, VJs Ehiz, Sammy Walsh and Nenny B. Selected talents would have the golden opportunity to star with returning cast members of MTV Shuga, and launch a high profile career on the back of the TV drama which has launched several stars, including Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o.

The new season would mark the fourth time Shuga is returning to Naija. The first two seasons were shot in Kenya before it

premiered on Nigeria. Tagged MTV Shuga Naija, the drama series that tackle issues on sex and other teen-related matters is a multi-sectorial partnership involving the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and is supported by MTV Base Africa, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

This year’s MTV Shuga Naija TV and radio campaign welcomes award-winning director Tope Oshin as producer. Known for setting the pace for female directors in the Nigerian movie industry, she has earned accolades for her amazing portfolio, featuring movies including, ‘Fifty,’ ‘Wedding Party 2’ and most recently, ‘Up North.’

Femi Kuti Speaks on the Business of Music at Midem African Forum

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uring a media parley at the recently held Midem African Forum, Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti spoke on the importance for artistes to be involved in the business of music today.

Drawing from personal instances which included a contract signed with American record label Motown Records, Kuti advised that artistes should be wary of the people they surround themselves with.

“Growing up around my father, I saw the conflicts around the music business. I never wanted to be involved in the business of music. It’s so frustrating. I was on tour and things didn’t go as planned. I was in a mess.

I couldn’t pay for my hotel bills and Motown presented a contract to me.

“My sister was very angry with me but I was more concerned about how I was going to pay the hotel bills. So I signed it. The album became a hit in Nigeria, that was the album with ‘Wonder Wonder.’ But as God will have it, Motown crashed and owed me USD20,000.

Femi Kuti

If that contract had succeeded, I would have been in big trouble today.”

He continued, “the thing is that most artistes today just want to play their music.

They don’t want to be concerned about the business. That is why it is very important to find the right manager around you who knows where the money goes and where the

LIJF to Address Social Menace of Illegal Migration

money comes from, who can sign you to the right record label, who knows the right PR management for you and who can help you harness your musical talents.

“At a point, you need these people because the business side of music can be very consuming. The artiste needs to surround himself with people who share the same vision with him, that will protect him from signing the wrong contracts. It is very important that the artiste has these things in place before he takes off because he won’t really have that time.

“You also need a lawyer to go through your contracts, protect you and guide you.

The music business is a very complex one and which needs attention. The artiste needs to surround himself with the right people unless he will quickly be overwhelmed and frustrated. Most importantly, to know when to break away from those not contributing to your success.”

Midem Director Alexandre Denoit also echoed similar sentiments. “Artistes should be concerned about their rights, about their

business because at the end of the day, it’s a business. As a professional musician, you should know that music is an art and a profession. So you have to take it seriously, you must have the right talent manager, you need to know where you are going, need to find out the right record label and approach it as a profession.”

Returning for its second edition in Nigeria, Midem, a global music community, which aims at assisting music professionals, encouraging business development and discovering new talent around the world, held discussions with industry professionals which culminated to a live music performances at the New Afrika Shrine.

The focus for this year’s edition was on how to move the Nigerian music forward and as Denoit argued that the digital space will make Nigerian music easily accessible around the world.The initiative aims to strengthen the exchange between national and international executives and sectors in order to facilitate the structuring of highpotential markets.

Ferrycee Releases New Single, “Big Brother Egwueji” Mary Nnah

L-R: LIFJ Festival Director, Ayoola Sadare; Lagos Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, and Tope Adeyemi of Loud Beach Festival

The traumatic tales of illegal immigrants will take centre stage at this year’s edition of the Lagos International Jazz Festival (LIJF). Riding on the theme ‘Music and the Creative Arts as Tools for Addressing the Dangers and Perils Of Illegal/Irregular Mass Migration’, the festival’s colloquium will plumb the critical role music and the creative arts play in addressing this issue.

“After the 10th anniversary of the Lagos International Jazz Festival in 2018, a close friend embarked on the journey to Europe through the Sahara despite advice and evidence of what transpires during the journey. This shocked me and I realised more how hopeless people must feel and desperate they were to escape their situation and embark on this journey. This phenomenon is serious!” explained Ayoola Sadare, the festival founder on the theme of this year’s festival.

“It’s only right that such a platform as ours,” he continued “in cooperation with others should be able to do more than just promote Jazz and get musicians to perform. It should be a voice, a give back to society and help raise awareness for certain causes. The creative arts working closely with the media have the power to do this and effect change. The response of people to music, Jazz inclusive and

the creative arts is a positive one and must be used as a medium to strongly communicate the anomalies in society in an easily understood manner”.

Billed to speak at the colloquium which will take place on the UNESCO recognised International Jazz Day, April 30 at Freedom Park, Lagos, are Lagos state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde; the president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Pretty Okafor, among others.

In its usual tradition, LIJF will culminate the month long celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month(JAM) with a twoday festival that will run from April 29 to 30. This year’s edition will feature both homebased and international acts like David Friesen (USA), Christine Kamau (Kenya), Bright Gain, Orliam, Sam Ayunke(SA), Wole Oni, DJ Humility, Temmie Ovwasa to mention a few.

Like in past editions, there will be performances taking place simultaneously on the three stages at Freedom Park which has been the home of the festival in recent times.

The 2019 edition is organised by Inspiro Productions and Sloweganzi International; and supported by the Lagos State Ministry Of Tourism Arts and Culture, PMAN, and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc.

Former beauty Queen Cynthia Ngozi Adinmah aka Ferrycee has released a new single ‘Big Brother Egwueji”, in praise of Multichoice hit reality television show, Big Brother Naija.

With this release, she joined the league of Nigerian musicians as she makes her second debut this week to thrill yearning fans, lovers and supporters after her entry into the music industry.

She is determined to bring into the industry new innovations and dynamics that will change the process of time and entrench integrity to restore confidence in the growing industry in Nigeria.

Following a quiet 2018 musical outing, burgeoning songstress, Ferrycee, is set to have an active 2019 musical campaign and to kick-start the loop, she’s taking on a bold step to create an offering which could be well received by fans and music pundits alike as a theme song to the Nigerian reality competition television series, Big Brother Naija.

The programme formerly called Big Brother Nigeria, with a fourth season about to hit the screens, the “Obim” and “Bae” crooner decides to tease her fans with her new single titled “Big Brother Egwueji,” a song which sees her shower praises on the popular television series which is based on the Big

Ferrycee

Brother franchise .

Big Brother Nigeria Season 1’s winner, Katung Aduwak, alongside Big Brother Naija Season 2 & 3 winners, Efe Ejeba and Miracle Igbokwe, have been the lucky ones to fully reap the benefits of the show and the contestants for the fourth season would share in Ferrycee’s lyrical content which tells on how the show has made an impact on Nigerians and Africans at large, most especially the youths.

“Big Brother Egwueji” is just a number to whet fan’s appetite as Ferrycee would be churning out another single in weeks to come.

Kids Funderland Plans Big This Easter Leading event company, Bavent Street Live has announced Kids Funderland; a three-day festival of fun for kids of all ages scheduled to take place at Lekki Special Events Centre, Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, this Easter Season from April 19 to April 21.

The event, which is designed to bring all kids together to have fun and also learn, has been packed with a lot of exciting activities that will ensure kids find a convenient spot to relax and enjoy maximum fun during this festive season.

Kids Funderland will focus on themed activities like Easter egg hunts, electric dance floor, art and crafts, cartoon characters and a special performance by Dream Catchers Dance Academy. These

activities are planned not just to keep the kids entertained but also expose them to educational activities created to ignite interests in a wide range of topics such as coding, graphic design, robotics and web design.

While speaking about the event, Founder, Bavent Street Live, Hakeem Condotti said that “Kids Funderland is an event you do not want to miss out on.

Aside from the amazing activities, other highlights at the event are the giveaways.

Families stand a chance to win special prizes; such as shopping vouchers, a weekend stay in a luxurious hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos and an all-expense paid trip to Disneyland in Paris for a family of four.”

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F R I DAY ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

NEWS

EasterCelebration:ClericTasksChristiansonTrueWorship

Stories by Mary Nnah

As Nigerians celebrate Easter this weekend, Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Anglican Communion, His Lordship, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, has tasked Christians on the essence of true worship.

The essence which he said is the way to live a life of worship, the need for revelation and renewal of the spirit and also the essence of worshipping the father in pure understanding.

Olumakaiye spoke on the topic, “Renewal of the Spirit and Re-born Worship in Nigeria: Life in the Spirit, Life of Worship”, as guest speaker at the Annual Lenten Talk, Choral Renditions and Breaking of Fast, organised by The Island Club, held on Monday at the club premises in Lagos Island.

He said, “We must know that God is a spirit and must be worshipped through spirit, which means all worship must proceed from the spirit.

“Every gesture of worship, every extemporal

L-R: Social Secretary, Island Club, Otunba Stephen Ogundipe; Diocesan & Missioner Bishop of Lagos Diocese(Anglican Communion)/ Guest Speaker, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Humphery Olumakaiye and Chairman, Island Club, Mr. Olabanji Oladapo during the event

and spontaneous prayer must come from the heart, from our spirit under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

We must recite from the heart in the true spirit of what we are saying.”

He said however that this kind of worship is impossible without renewal of the spirit, which simply is the revitalisation of one’s spirit by the spirit of God

through the baptism of the spirit.

Describing Easter season, especially Good Friday as, “the day we remember the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, he said, “It is a day of sober reflection”.

“It is called Good Friday not because the events of the day are good but because of what Jesus did

FountainofLifeChurchImpacts withWordExplosion

L-R: Pastor Tola Odutola, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, Apostle Bobby Hogan, Pastor Tolu Odukoya-Ijogun, at the ongoing Fountain of Life Church 2019 Word Explosion Conference

The annual faith-based teaching forum, “The Word Explosion Conference”, hosted

by The Fountain of Life Church, started last Sunday with several ministers gracing the event.

The vision of the convener of the annual event, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, is to reach believers across denominational divides with the Word of God in a way that is simple, practical and ultimately transformative.

Since its inception, the Word Explosion Conference has featured dynamic and gifted preachers and teachers of the Word and the 2019 edition will play host to national and international seasoned ministers of God. Among which are, Bishop David Abioye, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, Dr. Cindy Trimm, Pastor Tola Odutola, Bishop Bobby Hogan, Pastor Chris Ugoh and the hosts, Pastors Taiwo, and Nomthi Odukoya.

This year’s edition, ongoing at the Fountain of Life Church Main Auditorium located at Ilupeju Industrial Estate Road, Ilupeju, Lagos, which will last till April 21 was themed, “New Creation Realities”.

Addressing the press on

the ongoing programme, an assistant pastor in the church, Pastor Alfred Ohiani, said this year’s edition promises to be a remarkable time of Bible teachings, prophetic declarations and supernatural insights.

He said: “The annual programme usually comes in as a means of celebrating our anniversary. The church had its first service in April 16, 1992. So with the anniversary week every year, we always have what we call Word Explosion Conference.

“One, the word God gave to the senior pastor when the church started was, ‘For wherever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.’ The interpretation is that, where the word of God is, the people will be there because they would be strengthened.”

He said therefore that the “Word Explosion Conference is a time to bring ministers from different parts of the world just for them to come and give whatever the Lord has given to them, which in most cases is to support what we are being fed with by the senior pastor and other minsters in the church.”

“It has been quite great and this week promises to be a won-

der week for every member and we should strive to be present during the remaining days for the conference. It is a weeklong event, which started last Sunday and would be rounded off on Sunday, April 21st.”

“I have been with the church right from inception and God has been faithful to us. This year will mark our 27th anniversary”, he noted further.

Ohiani who said the church has done quite a lot in its bid to impact positively on the society, noted, “One of the things the ministry is very much into is affecting communities. We have a lot of communityrelated programmes like supporting children in schools, medical outreaches and many more, which the Pastor Taiwo Odukoya got the vision years back and we are doing everything that would continue to uplift the lives of people in our community.”

He stressed that the ministry is focused on ensuring that homes are established on a solid and godly foundation so as to affect the society at large and to ensure that minsters that would continue to affect the society positively are raised.

for us when He died on the cross.

“Good Friday was an awful day for Jesus. He was tried, declared innocent but condemned anyway.

He was whipped almost to death and then led to his crucifixion”, the cleric explained further.

Expatiating further on the significance of the death of the Lord Jesus,

Olumakaiye said; “Jesus’ sacrifice, suffering and death for sin of all generations teach us the virtue of selfless living, giving, loving, caring and serving.”

On his advice to the nation, he said: “My advice is to go back to God and to be more prayerful. The truth is that we cannot pray enough. A praying nation is a great nation and must work in the path of righteousness, dignity of labour, honesty, sincerity, and we should imbibe the spirit of Christ, which is total love and sacrifice. We should all be our brothers’ keepers and live in righteousness.”

Speaking further, he said, “Beloved Nigerians, it is no longer news that there have been several attacks on innocent Nigerians and several ups and downs in our nation. These developments are disturbing.”

He said however that, “as we are celebrating Easter, our leaders, security agencies and all of us should remember that we have a duty to perform in order to have a peaceful nation.”

The cleric encouraged

leaders in Nigeria to live a life of sacrifice and love for others, adding that they “ should be committed to governance in such a way that will make life better for the masses”.

He encouraged further that “as a nation, let us remain resolute in our prayers for Nigeria. We shall continually overcome both internal and external forces competing with the glory of this country “As we celebrate Easter, let us determine in our hearts to be committed to God in every way as individuals, families and as a nation.

Let us have living faith in God to move our country forward”, he said as he declared that , “Nigeria will know peace, unprecedented progress and transformation”.

Commending members of the Island Club for imbibing religious activities in their social activities, he advised them to remain united and focused, while thanking God for their contributions to the society by making life worth living for other people.

Didi Museum Kicks off 50th Anniversary with Journey to Mastery Exhibition DIDI museum on Thursday, April 18, kick-started a 10-day exhibition tagged ‘Journey to Mastery’, which aims to bring together under one roof art lovers in Nigeria and other part of the world.

Speaking at the press conference organised to officially announce the 10-day exhibition, which is ongoing at the moment and would last till April 27 at the Didi Museum, the Curator, Mrs. Ifeoma Dozie, daughter of Chief Newton Jibunoh, Chairman DIDI museum, said the exhibition will be featuring two artistes; Ayoola Gbolahan and Uche Edochie, who will be exhibiting together 22 artworks.

“Journey to Mastery” exhibition featuring Ayoola and Uche Edochie is a celebration of the journeys of DIDI museum and

the two artists. It is a celebration of the DIDI museum in the collection and preservation of African art that spans over six decades and a celebration of the journey of self-expression, engagement, discovery and poetic narration the two artists have embarked on over the years”, she said.

“It’s natural that Newton Jibunoh’s children are curating this show, as we were born and raised surrounded by art. Paintings and sculptures were our tapestry, visual stimuli. Growing up, DIDI museum was our home, artists were our friends and artist’s studios were our playground. Art has been part of our lives since our birth, it is our DNA”, Dozie added.

Chairman DIDI Museum, Chief Newton Jibunoh, said

the event is a celebration of DIDI museum’s excellence in the world of Art in that last five decades, adding that the exhibition will feature not only the two artistes but banks and institutions that they loan their works to. Recalling how it all started, Jibunoh, said, “I began collecting works 60 years ago but decided to set up the Museum 50 years ago. I was faced with the question of how I was going to ensure that the museum outlives me.

“It was a huge one considering the kind of system we operate in. Even collecting works was not easy but I had good understanding with artists like Bruce Onabrakpeya. I think today, with what you’re seeing here, that question is being answered.”

Terra, New Seasoning Cubes Hits Nigerian Market TGI Distri Limited has launched Terra Seasoning Cubes, the latest on its stables.

Available in all markets across Nigeria, Terra Cubes is produced by West African Cubes (WACUB) Limited at its ultra-modern plant in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Addressing the press during the official launch of Terra Cubes in Lagos on Monday, TGI Group Executive Director and Managing Director of TGI Distri, Mr. Sunil Sawhney noted, “Terra Seasoning Cubes are a true cooking sensation allowing everybody to enjoy great taste.

He said the cubes which come in two variants; beef and chicken, both come in single cubes of 4gram, adding that Terra Cubes have particularly been designed to meet the palate requirements of all Nigerians, especially in terms of aroma and flavour.

Responding to a question on why he believes the new brand will be accepted by the market, Sawhney said: “We believe in studying the needs of our consumers and acquiring genuine insights into their requirements and demands.

“We respond to these require-

L-R: Managing Director TGI Distri Limited, Mr Sunil Sawhney; Business Development & Strategy Manager, TGI Distri Limited, Tanvi Savara and Executive Director – Commercial, TGI Distri Limited Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu, displaying packs of Terra Seasoning Cubes

ments with better products and services that enhance the quality of life. We support our product offerings with strategic marketing and sales initiatives”.

“Terra Seasoning Cube is an outcome of painstaking research; it is many steps ahead of other brands in the market in terms of taste and aroma. I enjoin everyone to try it”, he added.

Also speaking at the product unveiling, Executive Director – Commercial of TGI Distri, Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu, said Terra seasoning is launching with two SKUs to address different pocket power: 50-cube pack and a 25-

cube pack.

“We are also launching with five free cubes in the 50-cube pack and two free cubes in the 25-cube pack as a consumer promo”, he added.

Giving reasons for the choice of the brand’s pay-off line “Locks the aroma in; Gets the taste out”, Onubogu said Terra Seasoning Cube has been formulated and manufactured to preserve the aroma of meals during and after cooking.

TGI Distri Limited is a member of the TGI Group, former owners of Chi Limited, producers of Chivita and Hollandia.

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F R I DAY ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Koko Kalango’s Easter Gift of Books The Founder, Rainbow Book Club, Koko Kalango shares her Easter gift, a collection of some soul-stirring stories in her faithbased book, “See What the Lord Has Done” which is the first in this literary series. YINKA OLATUNBOSUN reports Koko Kalango is a household name within the literary circle in Nigeria as an avid reader and promoter of the reading culture. Best known for founding the Rainbow Book Club in Port Harcourt and contributing largely to the city being named UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014, little did many know about her life in Christian ministry. Apart from a first degree in French, a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies, she holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology, from The Redeemed Christian Bible College as one of the pioneer set of graduates.

For three decades, she had been actively involved in various Christian ministries, pioneered evangelical outreaches to multinational communities in Nigeria and for over five years, she was a columnist at THISDAY for the pull-out section of the Sunday paper, Glitterati under the title, “Colours of Life”, formerly, “Footprints”.

The author, with Nigerian and Jamaican parentage, has recently moved to Lagos from Port Harcourt with her family; setting up her office in Ikoyi, to advance her ministry and literary initiatives. Whilst settling down at the new office space, she presented two books to her reporter-guest, one of which is titled, “Colours of Life”, released two years ago when she turned 50 and now her latest literary effort, “See What the Lord Has Done (Vol. 1)” which documents extraordinary stories of men and women who have first-hand experience of a supernatural intervention in their personal lives.

“In the course of my work with God, I was hit by some of these stories and there is paucity of written record. Since I gave my life to Christ on May 1, 1986, I have been reading a lot about people who have worked with God and I love the stories of people’s lives. I’m the sort of person who would go for a biography or memoir.

Whether it is Billy Graham, Mary Slessor, Benson Idahosa, Pastor Adeboye, I pick lessons better from true stories. So, more of the people mentioned in the book are either known to me personally or to a trusted person,” she said.

Some of the deeply touching accounts

Book Cover

Koko Kalango

in the book include Ada Igonoh’s “Victory Over Ebola”; Obii Pax Harry’s “Saved from A Plane Crash”; Eme Akenzua’s “A Miraculous Childbirth”; Kenny’s “Deliverance from Drug Addiction”; Victor Sunday’s “Freedom from Occult” and Arinola Fadahunsi’s “Succor From Grief” amongst others.

“There’s a touching story of a lady whose son died in a fire incident somewhere in Eastern Europe. He was a medical student.

He escaped the fire but went back to try and rescue others and he died. By the time the story came to me, I reached his mum who was suffering cancer. She was in and out of cancer treatment. When I asked her how she would like to be described at the end of the story, she said, “Tell them that in my 60 years of life, God has been faithful to me.”

Why would someone who should be bitter, frustrated or angry at God say that?

At77,RolandOgiamienReturnswithNewSculptures

Just before the book was published, she passed on. This is why I felt I needed to write these stories.

“People are in need of hope and sometimes, people look beautiful, they seem to have it all. But there is a lot of despair all over the world and particularly in Nigeria, the suicide rates are increasing.

There is so much violence. People need faith and I will give what I have which is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that has given me hope; not that there are no difficult times. I pray that this book give others courage, hope and encouragement,” she said.

Some real names were used in the collage of testimonies and for the sake of confidentiality, in some cases, only first names were used. This 93-page book is an easy read in the author’s use of language and word limit.

“We live in a society where people are

‘The Edge’ Movie Laced with Intrigues

Yinka Olatunbosun

Yinka Olatunbosun

Roland Ogiahiemen, a Benin-based artist is back in Lagos with new sculptures. This time, he has in his collection works made of bronze and plastics, alluding to his evolving techniques.

But, he has good reasons to work more with other media asides wood.

One day, he was passing by the University of Benin when he noticed that some large trees were being felled. He was alarmed. Wood is his work tool since 1962. He loves working with Ebony because of its resilience. But he has to go to Ondo to purchase them. They have become really scarce that even his suppliers are short of them.

With the shortage of good trees, the deforestation happening before him was quite disturbing so he entered the campus and made enquiries.

He was told the log movers had been paid yet they refused to cut into pieces and clear the felled trees. Ogiamien volunteered to take them away.

Hence, he got enough wood that would last him several years, at no cost except transportation.

At a recent briefing to usher in his show titled, “Journey Through Time,” at the Resource Place, Ikeja, Ogiamien expressed his passion for sculpting even with age-related challenges.

“I don’t work like I used to. I work two or three times in a week, two or three hours in a day. I just relax in between, take some refreshment. At the Harmattan workshop, people are surprised at how I still handle my classes,” he said.

That same surprise will likely be expressed by his audience when the show opens on April 27 with his 30 eclectic pieces.

“I work with treated wood. Some have been treated for 15years so that termites can’t touch

The longing for the United States of America is real. For many Nigerians who face underemployment, security challenges and other socio-economic barriers to daily survival, the opportunity to travel to and gain permanent residency outside the Nigerian shores is a cultural necessity.

This is where desperation sets in.

It is against this background that the character of Segun, in the lead role of the new movie, titled ‘The Edge’, by Joseph Jaiyeola, is created. An undocumented immigrant, Segun is determined to stay in the US. Soon, he falls in love with the wife of a man who goes the extra mile to help him.

The intrigues that characterise ‘The Edge’ give the viewers more insight into the lives of undocumented immigrants.

Produced by Jaiyeoba and directed by Bayo Alawiye, ‘The Edge’ will be released today, on Apata TV on Youtube.

Set in the US and Nigeria, the strength of the movie is the plot which, however incongruous it may be, reflects reality in the final resolution of the conflict. Imagine this scenario: A Nigerian man temporarily shares his wife with a stranded cousin (male) to facilitate the processing of the latter’s document.

While ‘The Edge’ features Jaiyeoba himself as Segun, it also parades Nigerian screen stars like Rachael Oniga, Yemi Solade and Bayo Alawiye.

Others include Shabazza Ahmed, Ayo Made, Adebusola Adewunmi, Nadia X, Dele Olanipekun, Yewande Ogunsanya,

A sculpture by Ogiamien

them. Some wood have natural repellant,” he revealed.

Ogiamien, a protégé of renowned sculptor, Erhabor Emokpaehas roots in Igun Street the home of Bronze in Benin City. With over 40 years of active studio practice, his commissioned works include the carved doors at the St Leo Catholic Church in Ikeja, palace of the Ewujale of One by amongst others.

Some of his pieces at this show are “Night Romance”, “Bini Queen Head”, “Couples At Night”, “Dancing Princess” and more.

Pa T.A. Fasuyi, another foremost art educator joins in as guest artist at this show with 10 sculptures. The show runs till May 4.

impatient. People don’t read long books.

They don’t have the time and patience for that. I put that in mind in restricting the number of words for each story,” she explained. However, her earlier work, “Colours of Life” is bigger in size because it covers daily bible reading which she aptly described as “An Everyday Devotional for Everyday People.” It was a product of her daily bible reading habit which she hopes that others can imbibe.

“For the past seven years, I start reading the bible from the beginning to the end so that by December 31, I’m through. When you read the bible chronologically, you will understand some things better,” she explained.

It was her way of preaching “pew to pew”, keeping it simple. Asides writing, Kalango is a prayerful person who communicates with God on issues, whether frivolous or serious.

Jaiyeoba

Yomi Samson, Bosun Hassan, Orlando Oguntoyinbo Tunde Omiyewo, Yomi Samson, Breana Kelly and Hector Flores.

Fans of the late Henrietta Kosoko will also have her memory relived in ‘The Edge’ as she is Segun’s mother.Henrietta died three years ago shortly after she celebrated her 53rd birthday. Jaiyeoba explains that he feels fulfilled that ‘The Edge’ shows a remarkable improvement on his earlier movies such as ‘Poison’ and ‘Adia’.

“Many have, for instance, appreciated our picture quality and other aspects of the technicals,” he said. “So, a completely exciting experience awaits film lovers.”

34

F R I DAY ˾ APRIL 19, 2019

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; ÏÌÝÓÞÏ˝ lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

SICKLE CELL AND INFERTILITY (Part 1)

I

In humans there are various genotypes ranging from AA, AS, AC, SS, SC, and so on and basically four blood groups (A, B, AB and O).

The gene for normal blood type is the “A” gene while the sickle cell gene is indicated by “S”. Those that are born with sickle cell disease (SCD) carry two “S” genes and are classified as SS. This occurs when a child inherits one “S” gene from each parent.

In SCD, the red blood cells that would ordinarily be disc shaped are changed to a crescent or ‘sickle’ shape. This affects their flexibility and ability to pass through narrow blood vessels and supply oxygen to other cells and tissues.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of deficiency in the red blood cell often seen in patients with sickle cell disease. This disorder results from the inherited abnormal hemoglobin (the oxygen- carrying protein within the red, blood cells) the abnormal hemoglobin causes distorted (sickle appearing under a microscope) red blood cells.

Sickle cell disease represents one of the most common monogenic blood disorders worldwide.

There are five possible scenarios of sickle cell gene inheritance: ˾ ÒÏØ ÌÙÞÒ ÚËÜÏØÞÝ ÒËàÏ ÝÓÍÕÖÏ ÍÏÖÖ disease, then each child will have the disease as well. ˾ ÒÏØ ÙØÖã ÙØÏ ÚËÜÏØÞ ÒËÝ ÝÓÍÕÖÏ ÍÏÖÖ disease, then each child will have sickle cell trait. ˾ ÒÏØ ÌÙÞÒ ÚËÜÏØÞÝ ÒËàÏ ÝÓÍÕÖÏ ÍÏÖÖ ÞÜËÓÞ˜ then each child has a: o 50% chance to have sickle cell trait o 25% chance to have sickle cell disease o 25% chance to have normal hemoglobin. ̊˾ ÒÏØ ÙØÖã ÙØÏ ÚËÜÏØÞ ÒËÝ ÝÓÍÕÖÏ ÍÏÖÖ ÞÜËÓÞ˜ then each child has a: o 50% chance to have normal hemoglobin o 50% chance to have sickle cell trait. ̊ ÒÏØ ÙØÏ ÚËÜÏØÞ ÒËÝ ÝÓÍÕÖÏ ÍÏÖÖ ÞÜËÓÞ ËØÎ the other has sickle cell disease, then each child has a: o 50% chance to have sickle cell trait o 50% chance to have sickle cell disease

There are prenatal tests to check whether a baby inherited a gene for sickle cell disease (SS) or just the trait (AS). ÒÓÖÏ ÎÏÝÓÜÓØÑ Ë ÑÏØÏÞÓÍ ÎÓÝÙÜÎÏÜ ÐÜÏÏ world, this week’s publication aims at viewing how the sickle cell disease can affect fertility and the management of sickle cell disease in pregnancy and childbirth.

Fertility is the natural capability to produce offspring. The measure of fertility rate is the number of off spring born per mating pair in a population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction.

Sickle Cell Disease and Fertility Sickle cell disease effects fertility in both males and females, but more often in males

than in females.

Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on Female Fertility SCD is associated with delay in puberty (sexual maturation), so women with SCD have unique risk factors that may impact their ability to conceive. This is because sickling affects so many organs and body systems. It also increases the likelihood of complications during pregnancy. Increased risks may include infection in the urinary tract, kidneys and lungs.

Most women with sickle cell disease can get pregnant especially when young, but the condition can potentially affect a woman’s fertility due to: ˾ àËÜÓËØ ÎãÝÐßØÍÞÓÙØ ÜÏÝßÖÞÓØÑ ÐÜÙ×

diminished blood and oxygen supply to vital organs which might disturb the production of key reproductive hormones. This, in turn, can deregulate menstrual cycle and increase the chances of infertility. ˾ ÜËØÝÐßÝÓÙØ̋ÓØÎßÍÏÎ ÓÜÙØ ÙàÏÜÖÙËÎ ÞÒÓÝ can lead to an imbalance in FSH and LH levels and hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, resulting in infertility. · Premature ovarian failure, which brings about early menopause and leads to infertility, might occur after bone marrow transplant in some sickle cell women.

Effects of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on the Mother and Baby During pregnancy, the episodes of sickle cell disease pain - called sickle cell crises tend to increase in frequency and severity.

The mothers are put at an increased risk of stroke, pulmonary hypertension, anemia, infections, and multi-organ dysfunction.

SCD might also affect the developing baby due to an insufficient oxygen supply, resulting in severe anemia, poor fetal growth, or low birth-weight.

Impact of Sickle Cell Disease on Male fertility Men with Sickle cell disease often experience relative primary gonadal failure (hypogonadism), delayed or impaired sexual development.

Several recent researches have proven that seminal fluid examination of men with sickle cell anemia showed abnormalities with their sperm density, motility, and also their morphology was in the sub fertile / infertile range as compared to normal men.

Primary testicular failure is marked by low levels of testosterone and infertility which results mainly from diseases or conditions that affect and destroy the testis. This low levels of testosterone leads to fertility reduction, which is aggravated by impotence, secondary to frequent priapism (prolonged erection of the penis, usually without sexual arousal), and premature ejaculation which would further reduce their fertility potentials to be continued next week

XTRA

I Feel Blessed, Says Senate Newbie Akon Eyakenyi Newbie,AkonEyakenyi,isoneofsevenwomennewlyelectedintothe109-memberSenate.Thisisasignthatwomencanbreakbarriers and enter into high offices in politics. UGO ALIOGO reports

W

ith a paltry four per cent representation of women, the 9th National Assembly is off to a start as the orientation activities for newly elected members draw to a close. In the Nigerian senate women make up seven out of 109 senators. In the House of Representatives only 11 women secured electoral seats out of 360 seats across the country.

Speaking during the orientation exercise in Abuja today, Senate newbie Akon Eyakenyi, representing Akwa Ibom South, said that her election into 9th assembly indicates that women have the capacity to overcome existing barriers. She added that the elections outcome gives her hope that more women will be encouraged to stand for political office in Nigeria.

“I feel truly blessed and I am grateful to my constituency who put their faith in me and elected me to this honourable position. I believe that the only way to show this gratitude is by remaining focused on delivering on their expectations of me as I serve as their representative at the federal level. I hope that many women will see this and take courage to enter into politics.”

Eyakenyi

Eyakenyi, who is married with children and grandchildren, holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Calabar. She was a Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development under the Goodluck Jonathan

government. Prior to this she served as a Commissioner for Industry, Commerce and Tourism in her home state, Akwa Ibom. Eyakenyi says that she hopes to bring her experience and

lessons learnt from working within the executive arm of government into the senate, where she will be starting out her first legislative assignment.

“Being a new comer to the legislature is good. Especially because I am coming with the executive experience at the state and federal levels. It means that I understand what kinds of limitations exist at the executive level, which I have to fill as a member of the legislative arm. I am very excited about this.”

She said that her first obligation is to the members of the 12 local government areas of her constituency in the oil-rich Akwa Ibom. She added that deliverables from her end will cover the pursuit of huge capital projects that can create jobs on a large scale for her people but also smaller, community-level projects targeting individuals in her community and small and medium scale businesses.

“I have conducted my research. I know the needs of my people and I will do everything within the limits of my office to deliver on my promises and the expectations of my constituency. In the course of the next four years, I plan to ensure that my people’s voices are heard.

My phone line has always been open and it will always remain open. Together with Governor Udom Emmanuel, we will continue to work for the progress of our great state.”

--

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F R I DAY ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

COLLAGE EVENTS

Professionals to Explore Manufacturing Technologies as Nigeria PHARMA EXPO 2019 Holds Mary Nnah

L-R: Groom’s father, Mr. Kunle Alli; bride’s mother, Mrs. Kofo Adegboye; newly wedded couple, Adedoyin Titilayo & Adetunji Oluwaseun Alli; groom’s mother, Mrs. Sola Alli and bride’s father, Mr. Toye Adegboye, during the wedding engagement of their children, at Classique Hall, Oregun, Lagos...recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

L-R: Chief Ezecutive Officer, CNG Communications, Chris Adetayo; CEO, Libraprime Communication, Petra Akinti Onyegbule; Managing Director/Editor in Chief, TheEconomy, Kelechi Anyanwu; Client Sector Manager, Craneburg Construction Company, Olufunmilayo Odunaike; MD/CEO, Daffodils Corp Image Ltd, Abimbola Olujide; and CEO, Style Savvy, Kikelomo Akin Davies, during the candlelight organised for late Prof. Pius Adesanmi by his friends in Lagos... recently

In a bid to afford opportunity for stakeholders to exhibit and explore the untapped business potential of Central and West African Pharma Markets, plans have been concluded on the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo 2019 (NPME 2019) billed to hold from August 28-29, 2019 at New Haven, Oba Akinjobi Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

NPME, which is the biggest International Pharma Manufacturing Exhibition in Central and West Africa is the definitive Pharma event and is known to attract close to 200 exhibiting companies from six countries and nearly 10,000 pharma and related sectors’ trade professionals from across the region.

The theme of this year’s edition is ‘Strategic Collaboration for Medicine Security, Affordability and National Sufficiency’.

The major objective of the Pharma Expo is to create a platform for pharma machinery and equipment, raw and packaging materials, laboratory equipment, chemicals, and reagents manufacturers to meet and engage with the local pharma manufacturers and other stakeholders at this West and Central African Expo.

The event is also aimed at encouraging further development of local manufacturing and production of high quality, safe and affordable medicines.

NPME traditionally showcases a wide range of equipment and inputs which cover the entire pharma manufacturing industry, including allied industries such as Biotech, Nutraceuticals, cosmetics, beverages, food and distilleries.

This year, delegates are expected from across the continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Benin.

According to Dr Fidelis Ayebae; Chairman, NPME 2019 Expo Committee; the exhibition will be a more matured event to businesses not only within Nigeria but also across the entire West African pharma markets. NPME 2019 would be an event to update and upgrade the pharma manufacturing technologies on bases of ATTEND – EXPLORE – EVOLVE. He stressed further that during the two-days exhibition, NPME will be offering an unparalleled business networking with Nigeria and the West African pharma markets.

NPME 2019 is jointly organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) together with their partners - GPE EXPO PVT Limited.

Online registration for trade visitors has commenced and can be completed instantly at www.NigeriaPharmaExpo.com .Pharmacists and other Healthcare and Allied Professionals from Nigeria and neighbouring countries have already begun registration as visitors for the exhibition.

Eventstracer to Host Event Planners’ Summit Sunday Ehigiator

L-R: Chairman, Mosque Management Committee, Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Tajudeen Abiodun Afolabi; Head of Service, Lagos State Civil Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwon Akiolu; Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan; and wife, at the Ju’mat service held to celebrate the 125th anniversary of First Bank in Lagos... recently

L-R: CEO Cars45, Etop Ikpe being presented with a plaque by at the third Annual L&D Leaders’ Conference which took place recently in Lagos

Eventstracer.com; a Nigeria’s leading events experience experts and foremost online business events hub, is set to host the 2019 Small and Medium Sized Event Planners’ summit, themed ‘Growing my Event’.

The summit will take place at Best Western Star Fire Hotel, G.R.A, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday, May 4, 2019 by 10am prompt.

At a pre-summit media briefing, the General Manager, Maxwell Nzekwe explained that the summit will provide participants with transformational knowledge about events management and business skills.

According to him, “the speakers at the summit had been carefully selected based on their broad experience, achievements and expertise across all aspects of the event management industry. The program will conclude with a post-summit networking session at the summit venue.”

Nzekwe noted that, “despite the growth in Nigeria’s event industry, research carried out by eventstracer showed that gaps still exist in the provision of value to stakeholders in the event industry.

“The stakeholders include sponsors, event owners, exhibitors, event venue owners and event visitors. The event value chain which consists of event naming, event design, venue choice and event execution still requires plenty of development for the event industry to keep growing and this is one of the reasons eventstracer is organising this summit.

“Speakers include the Convener of the Nigeria International Film Summit (NIFS) which is held annually in Lagos, Paris and Los Angeles, Ijeoma Onah; Executive Director of Balmoral Events Limited, Adegoke Obembe; one of Nigeria’s largest event and event venue managers, and Folasade Odunaiya, a certified Business Coach.”

Also present at the media briefing were Eventstracers Head of Business Development, Mrs. Uloma Okonkwo, and Head of Products, Mr. Victor Okechukwu.

L-r: Head of Products, Eventstracer, Mr. Victor Okechukwu; General Manager, Maxwell Nzekwe and Head of Business Development, Mrs. Uloma Okonkwo at the event

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F R I DAY ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

POTPOURRI

Ajetunmobi Bags Leadership Award, to Unveil Online Financial Product From Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja A former aviator turned beauty consultant, Mrs. Kemisola Ajetunmobi, has bagged leadership award for her sterling contributions to promoting selffinancial reliance among women.

The honour was bestowed on her by the Institute of Leadership Development (ILD) based in the FCT in recognition of her contributions to

women empowerment and financial independence through network marketing.

At a public unveiling of the recipient, the Chief Executive Officer of ILD, Kachi Okezie, said the institute recognised her sterling qualities and achievements in personal development, team building and digital marketing training to women and girls.

Okezie also stressed that the award was in line with the institute’s vision of

recognising and rewarding success in leadership and leadership development by individuals and corporate organisations.

“The recipient is a multitalented entrepreneur, who over the years built a vast network marketing industry, enabling her to rise to the top echelon of Oriflame, the Swedish global cosmetics group, when she has just become first executive director for Nigeria, the first in SubSahara Africa and the 67th in the world,” Okezie said.

He described her as an inspiration for young women throughout Nigeria, many of whom she mentors through her online seminars and conferences, noting she is helping women to discover the power of financial selfsufficiency in their quest for peace and stability in their various families.

In her response, Ajetunmobi, appreciated the institute for the honour, while calling on women to be self-reliant to bridge the gender gap in the society.

She used the occasion to reveal that she had created an online TV show called Boss Like a Mommymillionaire to be officially launched in May 29, 2019 with the main objective of focusing on network marketing education to encourage women and young girls to use the platform to be financially free without being scared of scamming.

Fielding questions from reporters on her journey so far, she said: “It was a simple decision to sell

cosmetics, lipsticks and fragrance to supplement my salary in the aviation industry as I was searching for something I could do from home that could give me time for my family.

“Today, it has fully blown into several impact full experience for so many people across Nigeria, including mothers and young ladies. Down the line, I have achieved so much more than I thought I could achieve in five years.”

OANDO Foundation Boss Canvasses Strategic Partnerships for Women Funmi Ogundare The Head of Oando Foundation, Adekanla Adegoke has called on mentees to think global, act local; and cultivate strategic and sustainable partnerships in the interest of their core beneficiaries.

She made the call during her masterclass session at the 2019 Women in Development Summit, a network of women working in the social sector, held recently. in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 2019 edition which was themed, “Women-led Business as a Tool for Social Change and Nation building’, had a faculty of women speaking on various topics such as ‘Are Women Entrepreneurs Ready to Drive Social Change in Nigeria?

What would it Take?’, ‘New Media: Platforms for Entrepreneurial Opportunity’.

Hosted by Ideation Hub Africa, the summit is a high-octane networking conference for women working across Africa on development and socialchange in NGOs, social enterprise, public sector, as well as corporate organisations; providing a rallying

L-R: Executive Director, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Hansatu Adegbite; Head, Oando Foundation, Adekanla Adegoke and Executive Director, Ideation Hub Africa, Debola Deji-Kurunmi at the event

point for change-makers working actively for social good.

Speaking during her masterclass session on the topic ‘Strategic Alliances: Activating Partnerships Between Nonprofits and Businesses’, Adegoke encouraged mentees present at the summit to have a global outlook to their social work without losing focus of local programming implementation approaches

and their operating environment.

She emphasised on the power of association through volunteering activities and the need to be passionate about the cause they choose to support.

Speaking further on the foundation’s investment on basic education, she said when Oando Foundation - an independent charity established by Oando Plc began operations in 2011,

it learnt from international development agencies already working in the Nigerian education space that public schools needed at least eight years of holistic intervention to see significant results.

“This formed the premise upon which the foundation’s school adoption model was designed.

Research has shown that it takes eight years to move a school from zero to 80 per

Coy Fetes, Rewards Distributors in Lagos Adedayo Adejobi Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Finecoat and Shield Paints, recently held its Customers’ Forum 2019, as well as CPIN Customers’ Forum 2019 (a subsidiary of Chemstar Groups), which took place at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

At the event, the Group Managing Director, Mr. Aderemi Awode, lamented that the paint industry, like other sectors of the economy, been affected by the harsh economic situation in the country.

Awode, who said the paints sector was not immune from the nation’s economic reality, blamed the lull in the construction sector and in property development business on the low performance of the paints industry in the last few years.

“Construction sector has been at the lowest pace; property development is also at the lowest pace; while the construction sector is not growing at the pace it had been growing in the past four or five years and there is lull in the property business that has also affected the paints business,” he stressed.

On his expectations for paints industry in 2019 busi-

cent. You cannot achieve 100 per cent if the teachers themselves do not have the requisite skills competencies to promote quality teaching and learning experiences.

“So we get into a school, improve the infrastructure, train the teachers, empower the school based management committee, and keep improving the school and the education management support system at the state and local levels,” she said.

Apart from the funding that the foundation provides for its adopted schools, Adegoke said the foundation also leverages strategic partnerships with various local/ international organisations to bring in more resources to the schools.

“For instance, the foundation’s partnership with Sumitomo Chemical, one of Japan’s leading chemical companies, has resulted in the provision of ICT centres in three of its adopted schools annually since 2017, impacting over 7,000 beneficiaries to date,” she added.

Adegoke said the foundation is also utilising its proof of concept to advocate for

Traditional Rulers Harp on Culture Preservation Through ICT Oluchi Chibuzor

CPIN Dr. Tunde Olaniya; one of the best distributors for 2018, Mr. Chima; Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Adedayo Paseda; the most outstanding distributor, Mr. James Chinedu Egwu of CJ Jammy King Nigeria Limited, Abuja; Mr. Awode; second runner-up winner, Mr. Chidi Ejiofor and AGM Sales & Marketing, Mr. Fola Laguga, after the presentation of the SUVs to the winners at the event

ness year, Awode, who noted that the Federal Government had not done badly by looking at corruption and providing infrastructure, said “we also expect them to do more, especially by looking into those areas that will have significant impact on the real sector”.

No fewer than three best customers/distributors in the Finecoat and Shield paints category were presented with Honda Pilot SUV and a 4x4 Runner Toyota SUV; and under CPIN, five distributors/ customers went home with two Toyota Camry cars, two Honda Pilot SUV and a 4x4 Runner Toyota SUV; while

several other distributors were presented with different electronic items and cash in the two categories.

Awode, who noted that the essence of the yearly customers’ forum was to celebrate and reward the companies’ distributors who had over the year put extra efforts into ensuring that they pushed the products to end users having particularly realised that it is not easy to sell paints unlike food items, said the company had been doing this in the last 23 years.

“So, we felt it would be worthwhile if we have a forum to appreciate and celebrate our customers,

particularly those that have been buying our products for the past few years. The forum has gone beyond just business relationship as the distributors have been growing their businesses every year,” he added.

But, due to the lull and slow economic activities in the country, as well as the need to meet customers and consumers’ demands, Awode said the company had in the last few years put more efforts by looking at new areas of innovation and come up with attractive products that will be relevant to the customers and also the industry generally.

project replication with various state governments.

To run effective non- profits, structure, networking and providing evidence are all important, she encouraged the participants who were mostly young women in the development sector to operate a wellstructured, non-profit organisation in order to attract productive and sustainable partnership in the interest of their core beneficiaries.

The keynote speaker at the summit, Mrs. Hansatu Adegbite, said effective communication was key to NGOs getting the kind of funding they needed to run.

She reiterated that there was an abundance of financial resources in the private sector that could be spent on developmental issues if the right message got to them.

She said it was important to think of adopting a sustainable funding model that would work for them.

Founder of Ideation Hub, Mrs. Debola Deji-Kurunmi said the programme was organised to expose entrepreneurs and those in the development sector to build their capacity to deliver impact.

Traditional rulers under the auspices of Heritage Forum have stated that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is critical in preserving cultural values and heritage.

The remark was made at the Ogun State organised

by Heritage Forum in collaboration with Igbein Descendant Forum on Digital Empower Schemes for Africa Traditional Institution with the theme: ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State, Heritage Forum, Mr. Basorun Oladipo, said the founders have realised the need to provide another arm to address some specific issues among traditional rulers and also give opportunities for a more robust participation through regular networking and interaction.

He noted that the infusion of technology has helped in promoting rich values of local contents using social media tools in the areas of lifestyle,

mode of dressing, historical values, language, culture, food, and religion.

According to him: “We have successfully tapped into these local contents to actualise unity, peace, knowledge sharing, cultural empowerment which was made possible through technology and help in tourism through the online platforms where the Diasporas can learn everything about the culture here in the country.

“The essence of the programme is to bring together all the Yoruba’s through the Obas which are over 2000 in numbers and there is sense in unity and when you are united there will be development.”

While commenting on his recent appointment as the President-General, Chairman Lagos Chapter Heritage Forum, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja said having been installed as a traditional ruler 15 years ago, he has never visited the community before. He said: “Heritage Forum made us to know each other and it’s this forum that makes most of the Obas to unite together.”

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ENTREPRENEUR

Moses Oruaze: Passion to Alleviate Poverty Through Entrpreneurship Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ&#x;ËäĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ à ÙÓĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă‘Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă˜ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ åÓÞÒ REBECCA EJIFOMA, TĂ’Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÙÖÓĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÙÖÎĂ?ÙËĂ?Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă– Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă’Ă“Ă? ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÚÙà Ă?ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ ĂŒĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ?ĂšĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?×ÚÙåĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĚ‹ Ă?ÖÞË ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?ĂŁĂ™Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? ÙÖÎ Ă?ÙËĂ?Ăž Ă?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă– Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ ͺ͸͚ͺ˛ âĂ?Ă?ĂœĂšĂžĂ?Ë?

T

ell us about TRIAX Solicitors, your law firm that is creating a name for itself, especially in handling major commercial cases in the Niger-Delta TRIAX Solicitors was founded with the vision to become one of the leading law firms in the country that is focused on niche practice, particularly in commercial law. So far, we have been able to successfully complete high profile projects worth over $100 million for a couple of clients. This we have achieved within our short existence of three years.

Also, we have been able to expand our operations from Bayelsa State to Abuja and about to open a new office in Lagos state. We have a network of about 20 staff members for now and still growing.

As a law firm, we are committed to supporting the communities where we do business by widening access to justice, education and finance. We collaborate with clients, NGOs and charities to deliver these community outreaches and pro bono services, with partner-led, client-focused teams.

Our community outreach and pro bono strategy focus on providing the best possible support to our NGO and charity clients, whilst at the same time expanding the capabilities of our people and strengthening relationships, partnership and collaboration. Our initiatives provide all of our people, at all levels, with opportunities to practice and enhance the skills that are key to their development, making them more effective and well-rounded.

One way we measure the impact of this commitment is by setting ourselves an annual target of helping 5,000 people a year. We have a varied programme of community and pro bono activities, which focus on access to justice, access to education and access to finance.

What social responsibility projects have your firm executed or plan to execute?

Over the years, we have partnered nonprofit organisation like the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation to support disadvantaged individuals through our pro-bono services. We also partnered the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); Bayelsa state chapter to fight violence against the girl child through the #ProtectTheGirlChild challenge. This campaign was in response to the increasing cases of sexual violence on young girls across the country, which we feel that something must be done to address it. We plan to formally launch the #ProtectTheGirldChild campaign, providing legal services as well as financial support

Oruaze

to ensure that victims of such violence are protected and given adequate access to justice.

Our initiatives provide all of our people, at all levels, with opportunities to practice and enhance the skills that are key to their development, making them more effective and well-rounded. One way we measure the impact of this commitment is by setting ourselves an annual target of helping 5,000 people a year. We have a varied programme of community and pro bono activities, which focus on access to justice, access to education and access to ďŹ nance

In one of your statements, you mentioned that “when God blesses you financially, do not raise your standard of living, rather raise your standard of giving� what’s your motivation for committing to philanthropy?

Having stared at the face of poverty and refusing to bow throughout my upbringing, I have always felt a deep responsibility to give back to my community. I credit my parents, particularly my Late mother Mrs Goldcoast Dickson for instilling the ethos of philanthropy, particularly my responsibility as a Christian to give and care for the less fortunate in our society. I believe, our role as citizens of this world is to truly support the betterment of our society so that future generations and their offspring grow up to live even better lives and strive for even more than they think is possible today.

Philanthropy is the “new green� in the continent, yet, it seems to be an exclusive preserve of the rich; how do you think more people can be encouraged to commit to philanthropy in order to reduce the rate of poverty?

I truly believe that charity and phi-

lanthropy don’t necessarily mean you have to spend money. There are several avenues available to almost everyone in society, on how to give back. I often tell people, consider donating your time, talents and belongings for the greater good. I think once people are aware that these non-financial avenues are equally as important and impactful as donating money –there can be greater collective efforts to helping the less fortunate.

How do you spend your leisure time?

When I am not working or traveling, I spend my time with my family and listening to local Ijaw music. Because my work takes me out of town severally, I ensure I maximise every moment I have with my kids. I also spend most of my time either volunteering with the Goldcoast Developmental Foundation or the Federal Road Safety Marshall, of which I am a member.

You have been very active recently on social media, how did it happen?

Well, over the years, I have acquired a lot of experience as an entrepreneur; having built a successful law practice, I feel obligated to share my knowledge and experience with other people, especially young people like me, who otherwise will not have the opportunity to learn from a mentor or someone who has experienced business first hand. People reach out to me privately asking for business advice and I have tried to respond to as many as I can, however, with social media, I can reach a lot of people at once. With social media, I can mentor a lot of people at once, while still having time to run my business. I believe social media is a blessing to our generation and any business or career individual who wants to get their message out there must learn to leverage on this tool to reach their target audience.

Based on your experience and past mistakes, what is your advice for young entrepreneurs?

I have learned a lot from my mistakes as an entrepreneur and if I am to advise other young entrepreneurs, I would actually have more than five to give. But for the purpose of your questions, the five most critical bits of advice I would like to give are: There is no silver bullet ever and if someone tells you there is, be very cautious. Have unwavering confidence in yourself and your business. Ensure your product answers people’s core problems or frustration points, the more niche the harder for user penetration. If you cannot explain it in fewer than 20 words, your product is too complicated and asking for help is not wrong or a crime! Go get help and never be scared to find people to help you.

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F R I DAY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

METRO

‌Your city life in print

RoLAC Partners EU on Plea Bargaining SUNDAY EHIGIATOR ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă?ËÞÓà Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă’ Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă– Ă&#x;Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹ĂĄ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ě‹ Ă™ĂœĂœĂ&#x;ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ě‹ ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă?ÒÙÚ Ă™Ă˜ ÚÖĂ?Ă‹ ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?

Participating journalists from dierent media organisations in a group picture with seated from left to right: RoLAC Consultant, Anthony Oluborode; Special Assistant to the Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Olubunmi Olugasa; Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State Judiciary; RoLAC Consultant, Dr Akeem Bello, and RoLAC State Coordinator, Ajibola Ijimakinwa

A

s a follow up to its successful security and justice interventions in Nigeria, the European Union’s National Indicative Programme (NIP), recently partnered British Council Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) to organise a one-day media workshop on plea bargaining in Lagos.

The workshop which is the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme aligns with the Nigerian government’s commitment to fighting corruption and reforming the criminal justice system.

In her welcome address, State Project Coordinator, British Council Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, Mrs. Ajibola Ijimakinwa said, in collaboration with key Nigerian institutions and partners, RoLAC will “contribute to measures to improve economic governance, consolidate rule of law and enhance security in Nigeria�.

According to her, “the global objective of the project is to enhance good governance in Nigeria by contributing to strengthening of the rule of law and curbing corruption. “We aim at achieving four key results with this. First is to ensure that the dispensation of criminal justice at the federal and state level is more timely,

effective, and transparent. Second, is to ensure that access to justice is improved at the federal level and in selected focal states for women, children, and persons with disabilities. “Thirdly, is to enhance the ability to address corruption in the criminal justice sector, public procurement and the extractive industries, including through improved performance and coordination among target Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs). “And lastly to ensure that civil society, public and private sectors are empowered to constructively engage on criminal justice reforms and the fight against corruption.�

Defining plea bargaining, a special adviser on legal matters, Dr. Anthony Oluborode said, it is “an alternative means of disposing a criminal matter other than a trial and/or other than the original charges(s) filed or contemplated.

It is a negotiated arrangement or agreement between the defense and the prosecution. It may result in the defendant entering a plea of guilty to a lesser offence and/or receiving a lesser sentence, but must reflect offending�.

Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice (CJN) Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who was represented

by Mrs. Iyabo Olugasa; who likewise represented the office of Director of Public Prosecution, Lagos State,

lamented the drought in taking the plea bargain option by lawyers, and why lawyers don’t advice their clients to do so till the last minute, since its existence in Lagos in 2007.

According to her, “plea bargaining started from the United States of America (USA) in 1810. The provision of plea bargaining has also being in Lagos state for a while. It came into being in Lagos in 2007 and since then, we have received at DPP over 230 applications for a plea bargain contract, from which only about 80 has been adopted in court. “Plea bargaining is opened to every case and everybody is entitled to apply, though not everyone will get it. It is much more easier to be adopted for cases not involving murder or defilement. The more serious offenders can be in prison while the minor offenders may be plea bargained. “But, it still surprise me why lawyers don’t settle for this option of plea bargaining. Some don’t even reveal it to their clients at all, until when the whole court processes is about to be concluded and perhaps the case is just awaiting verdict from the Judge, and they feel it may not go in their favour, and then they quickly apply for it. That most times contributes to why court processes are everlasting and sometimes, the application for the plea is always turned down if unnecessarily delayed. “It is simple, the earlier you apply for

it, the better chances for it to be adopted.

And note, even if a plea bargained is accepted at DPP, the final say still rest on the court’s discretion. If the Judge is not convinced with the agreement contained in the plea bargain, he/she rejects it and the case is handed over to another Judge. All this contributes to why court processes delay’s as some lawyers could be using the late application as a delay tactics intentionally. And note, the earlier the culprit takes the plea bargain option, the better chances he stands for his punishment to be reduced by at most a 1/3 of the maximum punishment.�

In a concluding remark, a member of the Lagos State Judiciary, Hon.Justice Yetunde Adesanya expressed her support for the plea bargaining options for criminals with fewer offenses. According to her, “this will help us de-congest our prisons. If everyone that commits an offence be reminded in prison, all our prisons would be congested and this is a dent on the nation. We must learn to exploit other convenient, yet effective way to resolve matters. “Note that in criminal cases involving properties, the major reason of bringing the case to court is to try and recover all what was illegally collected back for the victims. And if the culprits can restitute what he/she had acquired illegally, then it is fine to plea bargain that he is fined as a lesson not to do such again, instead of sending them to prison�.

39

F R I DAY Ëž ÍŻÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY

PRAWA, FCTChief Judge Calls for Decriminalisation of Petty Offenders ČŠÇŻ ÂŠÂžÂ—ÂŒÂ‘ÂŽÂœČąÂ‹ÂŠÂœÂŽÂ•Â’Â—ÂŽČąÂ›ÂŽÂ™Â˜Â›Â?Čą

PRAWA at the launch of the baseline report

The Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Actions (PRAWA) has called for a review of the criminal laws in the country to stop the treatment of minor abc petty offences as crime.

The Executive Director of PRAWA, Mrs. Uju Agomoh, said this at a dissemination workshop organised by the Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative of West Africa (OSIWA) in Abuja.

Agomoh explained that petty offences like prostitution, hawking, loitering, being a vagabond and constituting public nuisance should not be treated as criminal offences.

She stressed that the actions of the law enforcement agencies towards petty crimes are not proportional to the kind of offences committed, and sometimes not within the law.

According to her, using the criminal process to deal with these crimes not only incures more cost on the Federal Government in terms of prison welfare for detained offenders, but also clogs the criminal justice system and further congests the already congested prisons, with an increased number of awaiting trial. “The country is really at a loss, the country is suffering more by the way we are dealing with and processing these petty offenders�, she said.

Speaking further, Agomoh advised that there should be a different and better way of dealing with petty of-

fenders, adding that “there should be a human face in terms of how we deal with these offences.�

The Executive Director of PRAWA, further noted that most of the petty offences are committed out of poverty.

She said the baseline report revealed that most petty offenders are

This is an issue, so let us have a human face in terms of how we deal with these offences, people who are poor, should not be criminalised because they are poor, people who are going through social and economic needs and challenges, we should ďŹ nd better ways of dealing with them, rather than using criminal process

poor people and urged that a more constructive approach be applied by finding ways to tackle the economic conditions of the offenders.

She said: “Sometimes you see people who are hawking, yes as a they are hawking, you find our that they are making the environment not to look good, but a lot of these people don’t have jobs, they are not able to pay for shops, so you pick them up and maybe you give them fine which rather are not able to pay and they are detained. “The detention causes a lot of problem to them to their family and even the government that is spending money in terms of feeding them when they get to prison. “This is an issue, so let us have a human face in terms of how we deal with these offences, people who are poor, should not be criminalised because they are poor, people who are going through social and economic needs and challenges, we should find better ways of dealing with them, rather than using criminal process.�

To this end, Agomoh informed that PRAWA is set to train the law enforcement agencies, and engage with support services to provide and strengthen their programme in terms of skills acquisition, of counselling in terms of providing funding.

In the same vein, the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice ishaq Bello, called for support of government and revant stakeeholders to implement the de-

criminalisation and declassification of petty offences.

Justice Bello stressed that the enforcement of such laws that criminalise petty offences shows that the laws are enforced in a discriminatory manner and its continued enforcement is disproportionately experienced by the poor and marginalised populations, including persons with disabilities.

He said: “As such, this is the right time to seek the support of stakeholder institutions; government and nongovernmental alike to rally round for the implementation of this project. “Together we have a responsibility to assist the poor and those in vulnerable situations by using the instrument of law to lessen their exposure and vulnerability to legal, economic and social challenges. “We must and should work together to end poverty in all dimensions and also decriminalise and declassify the classes of offences that seems to target the poor and the vulnerable.�

Also, the Inspector General of the Police, Mohammed Adamu assured that the police will work assiduously with PRAWA and OSIWA towards the declassification and decriminalisation project.

Adamu who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Training Development, David Folawiyo, said such move will “help in the development of policing�.

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F R I DAY ˾ ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

LIFE

T. B Joshua: Honoured Abroad, Persecuted at Home KAYODE FASUA writes that for Prophet T.B Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, its truly been more of honour from abroad than home. Despite all these notwithstanding, the world-acclaimed televangelist and miracle doer soldiers on in his quest for soul winning

O

n April 1, this year, worldrenowned Christian clairvoyant and miracle executor, Prophet T.B Joshua, had written on his twitter handle, “Anytime you encounter trials, take them as an opportunity for you to honour God before men.” Wittingly or unwittingly, that expression, coming from the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN)-a Christian body that has variously come under knocks or praises, might have indicated that there is yet, some fire on the mountain.

Joshua, a one-time rural dwelling cleric on the Lagos outskirts, is now a man being sought after, all over the world. No fewer than 20 heads of state and prominent world leaders had come visiting at his SCOAN headquarters in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, as they are either there to pay him obeisance, seek miraculous healing, or hanker for some foretell.

However, despite T.B Joshua’s soaring popularity and the several cocktail of affection from adherents of his genre of Christian religious worship, there is a pesky worry he may be silently brooding at the home-front; which to many who love him, translates to the biblical saying that “a prophet has no honour in his homeland.”

It is an open secret in Nigeria’s Christendom that Joshua’s formula of worship, with emphasis on the swift, seemingly dramatic ways his needy worshippers obtain their miracles, has met with an abiding rebuff and grinding resentment from many Pentecostal church leaders, who see that modality as hogwash and by implication, fetish.

Like a plague, therefore, the Pentecostal church leaders have kept their distance from Joshua, with a strict instruction to their members not to have any dealing with him and his team.

Only last December, at the Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), arguably Nigeria’s largest church, T.B. Joshua was sarcastically cited in furtherance to the hostility to his dimension to Christianity.

There, the RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, remarked that the church ushers stumbled on key holders that were put up for sale bearing his (Adeboye’s) picture.

Adeboye said the production of the key holders with his picture “is an attempt to equate me with God.” However, Adeboye was more displeased that apart from the sacrilegious dimension to putting his picture on a key-holder, on the flipside of the key-holder was also the picture of T.B Joshua! Looking worried, he then told the congregation, “And you know what that means.”

But objecting to Adeboye’s remarks at the period, the National President of the Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS), Prof Olakunle Macaulay, said the onus was to first prove if the key-holder emanated from TB Joshua, “before passing comments against his personality”.

“First, you have to find out the source of the key-holder before passing comments against Joshua’s personality. We must realise that because of the harsh economic situation in the country, people resort to various things to survive; including even kidnapping.

“People could decide to use the picture of T.B Joshua on their own, maybe because of the miracles in his church, and decide to place it with that of Adeboye, for market value. So Pastor Adeboye should have investigated the source of the key-holder before coming out to pass comments that tend to denigrate T.B. Joshua.”

Macaulay added: “Even, if the key-holder had been traced to T.B Joshua, you have to find out his purpose for manufacturing it.

Did he say it should be used for magical purpose? The scriptures told us to investigate thoroughly and hold on to the truth; not to pass judgment on feelings or hearsay.

“After all, people pray in the name of God of Oyedepo, God of Adeboye. Are these people not also idolising these men of God? That is, if that is the angle with which Adeboye wanted to view the key-holder controversy.”

In his inimitable character, however, Joshua has refused to react to the caustic remark from the RCCG leader, as he goes about his duties; attending to the hordes of visitors at his SCOAN headquarters, mostly foreigners. When this correspondent accosted him and wanted to hear his side of the story, a calm Joshua simply smiled, waving his hands to suggest, “Let’s forget about it.”

T.B Joshua.

Defending Joshua still, another Bible scholar, Mr. Seyi Ologunaye, said, “The Pentecostal churches cannot decide for God on how He intends to carry out his miracles, and so, they should go and seek for forgiveness in criticising T.B Joshua.”

According to him, when Namaan, the leprous Syrian army general, came to Elijah, the prophet, in the Bible, the latter told him to go bathe seven times in River Jordan to get his healing, noting that if it’s by strutting fanny fingers and slapping heads that people get their miracles at the SCOAN, it’s nobody’s business.

“After all, I’ve listened to the man preach on many occasions and have not heard a single heresy from his words,” he stressed.

Plan to Relocate to Israel Two years ago, T.B Joshua had hinted of his resolve to relocate to the State of Israel, in what he himself tacitly linked to his ordeals in the Nigerian environment.

Though he said the move was not connected to the “persecution” he had been witnessing in Nigeria, he also said the move would help people to “appreciate” what his ministry had been contributing to the local economy and Nigeria’s international image.

He said of Israel: “This is where my Father in Heaven came from; it’s non-negotiable. It’s the best place for you to meet Prophet T.B. Joshua.

After your healing, blessing and deliverance, you can move around all the spiritual monuments, which will establish your faith.”

Joshua added a clincher though: “This (his SCOAN) is the most persecuted ministry in the world. Who are the people persecuting the ministry? My people, Africans.

“That is why I choose to live a lonely life.

If you want to see me, come to this church. I don’t go out. It has not been easy-because I don’t know who is a friend or who is an enemy.

“If you learn T.B. Joshua is not around, I am in

a revival. I live in the church here. I don’t have a house outside. Anytime you pray, remember Africa in prayer. Many heroes and great people have been chased out of Africa. There are many geniuses in the Western world who are originally from Africa.”

Not a few Nigerians were alarmed by his decision to relocate from Nigeria, thus eliciting a flurry of appeals to the Man of God, to reconsider his decision in the interest of Nigerians who derive spiritual benefit from him, and indeed, the Nigerian nation whose economy was benefitting from the influx of foreign worshippers to his SCOAN, in Lagos.

Reacting, a Lagos economist, Mr. Segun Oyeyemi said, “What people don’t realise is that, if the Man of God decides to leave the country, most of these foreign visitors who, while here, change their foreign currencies and storm our markets purchasing various items, will no longer be around. And that means loss of money.”

He also pointed the public attention to the fact that Joshua is a philanthropist, who has for many years, been helping the less-privileged who include widows, the motherless children, the maimed, and even, Nigerians stranded in the Libyan serfdom. “So, if you frustrate him out of the country, you can imagine what Nigeria is going to lose,” he cautioned.

Building Collapse Incident What has indubitably become a sobering moment in the chequered history of the SCOAN is the church’s high-rising hotel building that collapsed on September 12, 2014, in which 115 persons, mostly South Africans, lost their lives.

While that particular incident is still under government probe, the SCOAN television station, Emmanuel TV, had shortly after the collapse, shown a CCTV footage depicting a “mystery plane” that flew very low, over the building three times before it finally went down.

This revelation, at the period, sent tongues wagging that an explosive might have been deposited on the building, causing it to come tumbling down.

The SCOAN has ever since canonised the departed souls, remembering them as martyrs of faith. Besides, the church is reported to be providing some succour to their respective families without wanting any publicity given to the effort.

About T.B Joshua Born on June 12, 1965 at Arigidi, a little community in the current-day Akoko NorthEast Local Government area of Ondo State, Temitope Balogun Joshua came to the world as a mystery child. As against the usual nine months, Joshua was said to be in his mother’s womb for 15 months, and that while growing up, he encountered so many life-threatening problems that he ended up overcoming.

Owing to financial difficulties, he couldn’t proceed to the secondary school, as he ended his educational pursuit at St Stephen’s Anglican Primary School, Arigidi. His parents could not afford his school fees.

Re-collectors say young Joshua was known among his peers as ‘small pastor’ because of his love for the Bible and the things of God. His several sorties to pursue a career in the secular world, it was learnt, crashed each time he attempted it.

Joshua had also striven to join the Nigerian army in his youthful days but the vehicle conveying him to Kaduna for the recruitment interview broke down on the way. And he missed the opportunity. As he waddled through the circumstances of life, the compass of destiny kept directing him in the direction of the vineyard.

And on March 8, 2007, Joshua began the SCOAN in a jungle at Ikotun-Egbe, which is today, a beehive of activities for Christian pilgrims from across the world.

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T H I S D AY ˾

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

As Gwarzo is Vindicated Wola Solomon

I had predicted in an opinion piece last year that the case against Munir Gwarzo, the suspended Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by the ICPC would not stand court scrutiny and that he would be vindicated.

I had based my conclusion on the No Case submission of Gwarzo after all the prosecution witnesses had testified and ICPC had closed its case.

Gwarzo was accused of paying himself severance allowance as executive commissioner after he was appointed at SEC after he was appointed Director General. But the prosecution witnesses had all disputed the charge claiming that a person could not occupy the offices of executive commissioner and D-G at the same time, adding that Gwarzo was an executive commissioner before May 2015 when he was appointed SEC DG. They had told the court that the office of executive commissioner was for a fixed period, adding that when the first defendant left the office of executive commissioner that tenure came to an end.

What that means is that the severance pay for which Gwarzo was docked, was not illegal after all because the payment was after he completed his tenure as executive commissioner.

Nearly a year after, Gwarzo’s vindication finally on Tuesday when a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja discharged and acquitted the suspended Director-General of SEC and his co-defendant, Zakwanu Garba, who was the Executive Commissioner of the commission, of the charge of fraud filed against them.

The Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigated and charged him to court over N104 million severance package he got in June 2015. Apart from the severance package, the ICPC also flagged another N10m that he allegedly took as excess car grant paid to him.

In a judgment, the judge, Mr. Baba-Yusuf, held that the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused persons committed the offence for which they were charged.

The judge said by its own admission, the prosecution through its witnesses and evidence confirmed that the action of the defendant was by a decision of the governing board of SEC, which is the highest decision-making body of the commission.

Gwarzo

What the court did not say, since the prayer was not before it, is that the suspension of Gwarzo as SEC DG was trumped up and is a classic case of executive temerity. It also highlights the desperation of those who suspended him; that they were determined to get him out of the way at all cost.

Although the minister of finance has the power to suspend the SEC DG to allow for unfettered investigation if there are charges against him. But the charges the ex-minister brought against him were deliberately sourced to provide an excuse for a pre-determined action.

But the reasons for such executive audacity displayed by the former minister are also well known.

Gwarzo himself had revealed this when he appeared before House of Representatives Committee on the Capiital Market headed by Hon. Tajuddeen Yusuf. Gwarzo stated at the public hearing that the former minister of finance suspended him because of his refusal to comply with her directive to stop the forensic audit of Oando.

He had revealed that SEC received a petition from Ansbury Investment Incorporated, an indirect shareholder of Oando and another petition from another shareholder of Oando Plc, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, all dated 2 May and 4

May 2017 accusing the management of Oando of financial fraud and corporate governance breaches.

SEC reviewed the petitions and constituted a technical committee to examine the conflicts which reveals many infractions that includes Insider dealings on the sale of 1.21b shares amounting to N21.5b and Related party transaction in which Oando paid over N200b.

Although it was an allegation the former minister, who also appeared before the committee, denied, but offered no more than a denial. It was such a weighty allegation that required detail rejoinder from the ex-minister, but which never came, proving that the Oando matter was a delicate one for her.

Gwarzo had minced no word throughout the house hearing about the real reason he was suspended.

He had claimed that the ex-minister had vested interest in the Oando matter and was desperate to stop the investigation of the oil giant.

He even mentioned names of people connected to the company that had personal relationships with the ex-minister. But Gwarzo’s whistle blowing was drowned in the media frensy generated by the allegations against him.

The suspended DG, it now appeared, was unfairly maligned by the ex-minister and exposed to

months of horrendous public odium due to the media attention given to the matter. But after months of investigations by the ICPC and a court prosecution which has now established no guilt on the part of Gwarzo, it is time for the Presidency to intervene.

Gwarzo should be restored to his position as DG of SEC. an institution he had undoubtedly led to greater heights. Recalling him from suspension and returning him to office will help convince public servants that integrity and tenacity pays; that government and country are worth serving.

If the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is fighting corruption in public service, those found to have integrity must be encouraged so that others can emulate their example. If one man against who state institutions were arrayed could triumph in a case bordering on alleged corruption, it goes without saying that he was doing the right things while at work.

The allegation that he used his office to enrich himself by using the monies paid to him as car grant as the DG of SEC was rubbished by the court.

Mr. Baba-Yusuf held that: “The burden of proof was on the prosecution but through its own exhibit, which includes a board resolution which approved the car benefit for an executive director who had spent more than two years in office, the charge against Mister Gwarzo has not been established,” he said.

He held that that the prosecution witnesses confirmed the board resolution as lawful and that the car grant was non-refundable, thereby showing that Gwarzo had no role in deciding what he was entitled to and as such could not have used his office to enrich himself.

It is noteworthy also to know that the Judge concluded the judgment by affirming that the entire body of evidence presented against Gwarzo by the prosecution could not be used by any court or tribunal to convict him.

There is no doubt that forces against Gwarzo would not want him back at SEC and would do anything and pull any string to ensure he doesn’t come back. But this must be resisted by the government in the interest of public service morality diligence. It would undoubtedly send the message to all public servants that no matter how hard, diligent and transparent he do your job, when someone wants you out, you’re out!

-Solomon, a public affairs commentator writes from Abuja

EFAB Unveils Ultra-modern Homes The premium property market in the nation’s capital, Abuja, got a boost recently with the successful completion of the elegant EFAB Crystal located in Gwarimpa.

EFAB Crystal is the newest addition to the string of residential housing estates from the staple of EFAB properties Limited, a firm known for adopting innovative approaches to property development.

The 26-unit housing estate, built on two hectares of land, is located off third avenue, 36 road by Mike Okonkwo close, Gwarinpa.

The exquisite estate has 20 standalone and 6 semi-detached 5-bedroom duplexes complete with pent houses and boys’ quarters.

Considering the cost of production and the relative utilities of the properties,

many would consider the prices of the units cheap.

A unit in the estate goes for a price range of N85-N90 million and buyers would get their keys three weeks after confirmation of payment.

The site engineer, Mr. Justice Dike, who shed some light on the cost of the properties said the houses were affordable and moderately charged in view of location in the high-brow area of Gwarimpa.

He said in order to encourage ownership by different class of people, potential buyers would have the opportunity to make outright purchase by making full cash payment or pay by instalment.

“Instalmental payment can be made within a minimum of three months and maximum of six months.

“Everything is done except the fit-

tings. That will be done when payments are made, so when you pay, you give us a minimum of three weeks and a maximum one month to complete the fittings,” he added.

EFAB Crystal estate is one of the numerous projects undertaken by EFAB developers, which had previously completed estates such as EFAB Metropolis Along Kubwa Express, EFAB Lokogoma, EFAB Mbora 1,2, 3, And 4, EFAB Queens, EFAB City Estate Dakwa and many more all in Abuja.

All the estates have made remarkable progress in terms of infrastructure development, such as roads, drainage channels which are continuously adding to the development of Abuja.

Being a major player in real estate sector in Nigeria, EFAB limited have

supported the federal government severally. They built 1000 units of houses and handed over to Police Corporation in 2014 while in 2015, EFAB donated a three-bedroom flat in Dakwa area of Dei Dei, Abuja to father of quintuplets Mr. Imudia Uduehi as a social responsibility project.

Focussed on helping People own their own houses irrespective of their social strata, Chief Fabian Nworah, the Chairman of Efab Properties Limited, established a mortgage bank, which is a first generation mortgage bank, to give mortgage to people that want to buy houses.

Nworah is an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist whose life of service for humanity follows the pattern of highly successful businessmen the world over.

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ÍŻÍˇËœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Insurers Seek Improved Economic Activities Ebere Nwoji Insurance sector operators have advised the federal government to introduce policies that would stimulate economic growth in the country. Specifically, they called on the federal government to pay greater attention to the promotion of local firms and reduce overdependence on foreign goods and services.

The President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers(NCRIB), Mr Shola Tinubu, who stated this at the quarterly media briefing organised by the council in Lagos recently, said less dependence on foreign goods and services would reduce the strain on the nation’s currency. “As actors in the financial ecosystem, the NCRIB, is using this platform to advise the government to inject fresh ideas

into the running of the nation’s economy while at the same time sustaining the tempo of existing positive economic policies already put in place by the government. “Government must create an improved enabling environment for business and professional growth through initiation and tenacious pursuit of laws and regulatory prescriptions that would enhance economic growth. “In specific terms, urgent attention must be paid to reducing poverty, which has as its bye product, unemployment and poor standard of living. “While Nigerians are awaiting government to give more teeth to the implementation of oil and gas reforms, power sector reforms and human capital development and redouble efforts in promoting agriculture, more attention should also be given to the state of security in the country,� Tinubu

said.

As it affects the insurance sector, the NCRIB boss, said since insurance thrives more when the economy is on a growth path, operators believe the industry would also grow when the economy is on sound footing.

Speaking in the light of recent building collapses in Lagos and Oyo State as well as other similar disasters, the NCRIB boss expressed belief that the unfortunate incidences were actually accentuated greatly by the lack of regulatory enforcement in the construction environment.

He said to combat the unfortunate trend, the government needs to be more proactive in implementing building laws. “They have to continually engage stakeholders in the construction built environment and related institutions to elicit their input for a long lasting solution to the malaise.

L-R: Director of Social Impact, MPOWER, Maureen Klovers; CEO/Managing Director, Xpress Payment Solutions Limited, Oluwadare Owolabi; Managing Director, FINCA Ventures and Vice President, FINCA International, Ami Dalal; Chief Operating OďŹƒcer and Co-founder, Crowdforce, Oluwadamilola Ayorinde, during the second edition of the African Fintech Summit in Washington DC‌recently

FCMB Organises FreeTraining for SMEs First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has urged small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) to take the lead in driving the diversification and growth of the Nigerian economy.

This, according to the bank was due to the catalytic role they play in the lives of people and the society.

SMEs over the years, have stimulated national and economic development in the areas of production, employment and income generation.

This was while making contribution to exports as well as facilitating equitable distribution of income, among other significant impacts.

To this end, FCMB has reiterated its commitment to sustain

the level of its support to SMEs through increased lending, capacity building, advisory and value-added offerings that would boost their performance.

The bank gave the assurance during the fifth in its series of free capacity building programmes, tagged ‘’Business Enterprises and Sustainability Training (BEST),’’ organised for existing and startup SMEs in Lagos recently.

This followed the success of the previous editions of the training last year across the country.

The initiative, led by FCMB Training Academy, the bank’s Business Banking Group and seasoned facilitators, focused on business and skills development, marketing, finance and account-

ing for SMEs. It covered various topical areas such as identifying business opportunities, surviving in a harsh business environment, improving productivity, raising capital, optimising sales, cost and revenue management, among others.

Speaking on the BEST initiative, the Executive Director, Business Development of FCMB, Mrs. Bukola Smith, said the bank recognises the increasing role and impact of SMEs. According to her, “the BEST initiative is one of the innovative ways we support the growth of our SME customers because without effective training and exposure, resounding success could be quite difficult to achieve.�

GLOW Health Debuts in Lagos Peter Uzoho The GLOW Health, a public health and nutrition consulting firm has been launched in Lagos, to offer complete, personalised nutrition and health consulting services.

The first which is situated at Ikoyi, Lagos, aims to provide guidance based on science, evidence-based best practice and nutrition education, using accountable and transparent methods. This, is expected to help clients adopt healthier, sustainable lifestyle.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony recently, the founder/ Chief Executive Officer, GLOW Health, Ms Adanna Monde, who is also an American- based

nurse and certified nutritionist, said the outfit was driven by her passion to impact qualitative values to the public in Nigeria.

Monde said at the firm, they thoroughly understand the disease processes, science and dietary treatment required to manage all diseases of lifestyle including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, gout, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, cirrhosis, obesity and much more.

She said: “At GLOW Health, we assess each individual holistically and practice lifestyle medicine as a tool for preventative care. This allows us to focus on systems, not just symptoms. “Our competent workforce

also comprises registered dietician, nutritionists, certified nutritionists, registered nurses and public health professionals. “Our areas of focus include management of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, gout, kidney disease and other chronic diseases; weight loss, gain or maintenance plan specifically tailored to your health history, dietary preferences and goals, among others,� she explained.

She added: “Our team of qualified registered nurses provide the highest quality preventative screenings designed to identify risk factors that can lead to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

Winners Emerge in Renmoney’s Hackathon Renmoney recently just concluded a hackathon to improve customer experience.

The competition which began on Friday, April 12, ended with demos and final pitches on Sunday, April 14.

Six teams led by experienced mentors were tasked with leveraging business intelligence, data science and information technology to improve the customer experience across all touch points.

CEO of Renmoney, Oluwatobi Boshoro, was excited about the level of innovative thinking on display.

She said: “We understand that

the next big thing for our business will come from all the great minds we have in here. We’re always excited to get fresh ideas that improve our service delivery and create more convenient solutions for our customers.�

According to a statement from the company, the Managing Director of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Sam Okojie, opened the event and urged participants to think innovatively to create world class solutions.

After 48 hours of ideating and building solutions, team Ren Excalibur, who came up with fantastic solutions to improve the

Fixed Deposit customer experience, were declared winners of <ren:novate/> 2019.

Members of team Ren Excalibur included Femi Ogunyiola, Olawale Dosunmu, Folashade Olufe, Tosin Lawani, Obinna Ukpabi and Olumuyiwa Abolaji, with Dumebi Okwechime, Renmoneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chief Decision Scientist, as their mentor.

Team Ren Excalibur went home with prizes as well as a place on a Digital Transformation course at the University of Virginia, USA. The hackathon was a collaborative effort between Renmoney and its partners including; SwipeMAX, Visa, Paystack and TeamApt.

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

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ë&#x153; ÍŻÍľ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $70.81 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $70.11 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

T H I S D AY ˾

ͯͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

MARKET NEWS

ETI Succeeds with $450m Eurobond to Refinance Existing Obligations Goddy Egene Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc has succeeded with its debut $450 million Eurobond, saying the offer was oversubscribed. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, ETI said the global offering is a 5-year unsecured noted listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). It was issued with a coupon of 9.5 per cent and will mature

in April 2024. The firm said the proceeds will be used for ETI’s general corporate purposes and refinance existing Holdco obligations.

Commenting on the bond, Group Chief Executive Officer of ETI, Ade Ayeyemi said: “This is another first for Ecobank and I am very excited at the prospects for the group as we continue the second phase of our five-year ‘Roadmap to leadership’ strategy.

Our efforts towards greater

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

operational and capital efficiency are paying off and this offer is another example of the measures we are taking to strengthen our institution and deliver value for all our stakeholders.”

Also speaking, the Group Chief Financial Officer, ETI, Mr. Greg Davis said: “The success of the Eurobond reflects appetite from high quality and real money institutional investor globally and the trust that continues to be conferred on our institution

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

and markets we have chosen to participate in.”

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc (ETI) has started read the benefits of new strategies put in place to reposition the pan African financial institution as it posted highly improved results for the 2018 financial year.

ETI recently reported recorded a 53 per cent growth in profit before tax (PBT) for the year ended December 31, 2018.

PBT rose from N88.309 billion

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

to N136.35 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) grew by 46 per cent from N69.701 billion to N101.919 billion in 2018. Loans and advances rose to N3.339 trillion from N2.836 trillion, while customers’ deposit appreciated from N4.652 trillion to N5.803 trillion. Total assets stood at N8.224 trillion in 2018, up 20 per cent from N6.864 trillion in 2017.

Ayeyemi had said the financial performance in 2018 was remarkable in many ways and reflected

O F

the meaningful and significant progress that we have made against the priorities that ETI set in its ‘Roadmap to Leadership’ strategy.“We delivered a 51 per cent growth in PBT and generated a return on tangible equity of 21 per cent. Our cost-of-risk of 2.4 per cent was an improvement on 2017 and demonstrated the progress that we have made addressing credit quality issues and enhancing internal control processes.

1 8 / 0 4 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

44

Friday, April 19, 2019 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Rose 52bps

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index inched higher by ϱϮďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϰϰϭ͘ϰϲ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ GUARANTY ;нϬ͘ϭйͿ͕ DANGCEM ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ NIGERIAN

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

BREWERIES ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϯϯ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

dŚĞ >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ ůŽƐĞƐ ŽŶ Ă WŽƐŝƟǀĞ EŽƚĞ ŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ Easter͙ ASI up 39bps dŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ŐĂŝŶƐ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ; ^/Ϳ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϯϬ͕Ϭϴϲ͘ϵϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ĂŚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƐƚĞƌ ŚŽůŝĚĂLJƐ͘ DANGECM ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͕ ACCESS ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ and UBA ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌ ŵŽǀĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ Eϰϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ Eϭϭ͘ϯƚŶ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ϱ͘ϭй ƚŽ ϮϮϳ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ϰϲ͘ϭй ƚŽ Eϭ͘ϳďŶ͘ ACCESS ;ϱϴ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ZENITH ;Ϯϳ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ UBA ;ϭϲ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ďĂŶŬŝŶŐ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ - ZENITH ;Eϱϳϰ͘ϲŵͿ͕ ACCESS ;EϰϬϯ͘ϰŵͿ ĂŶĚ UBA ;EϭϬϰ͘ϳŵͿ - ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

Bullish Sector Performance dŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƐ Ăůů ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

1,441.46

0.52%

-1.8%

44.1%

19.6%

7.2%

5.2x

0.7x

5.6%

34.80

0.1%

19.6%

1.0%

0.9%

33.1%

5.3%

5.2x

1.7x

8.0%

19.3%

2 Zenith Bank PLC

20.90

0.0%

11.4%

-9.3%

0.8%

24.7%

3.2%

3.5x

0.8x

13.4%

28.5% 12.1%

3 Dangote Cement PLC 4 Nestle Nigeria PLC

189.00

0.5%

9.1%

-0.4%

1.6%

44.6%

23.2%

8.3x

3.3x

8.4%

0.0%

8.8%

6.4%

7.1%

90.4%

27.8%

29.1x

24.9x

3.7%

3.4%

65.00

0.2%

4.7%

-24.0%

-15.0%

11.3%

5.0%

26.4x

3.1x

3.7%

3.8%

7.65

1.3%

5.1%

-3.8%

-4.4%

9.9%

1.1%

4.6x

0.5x

3.4%

21.5%

17.00

4.3%

4.0%

-12.4%

-12.4%

3.3%

3.1%

4.2x

0.7x

2.4%

23.7%

3.0x

0.5x

13.0%

33.1%

0.6x

3.2%

16.1%

7.3%

5 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

7 Cement Co Northern Nigeria PLC 8 United Bank for Africa PLC

6.65

2.3%

3.8%

-13.6%

-14.7%

15.2%

1.7%

9 International Brew eries PLC

23.00

0.0%

2.7%

-24.6%

-27.0%

-23.8%

-3.2%

570.00

0.0%

3.2%

-10.9%

-8.2%

9.4%

5.7%

10 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 11 Access Bank PLC 12 Ecobank Transnational Inc

5.6x 6.2x

6.85

3.0%

3.5%

0.7%

5.4%

22.2%

2.1%

1.7x

0.4x

10.75

2.4%

2.2%

-23.2%

-24.8%

15.3%

1.2%

2.8x

0.5x

46.20

0.0%

2.6%

-3.6%

-0.5%

34.5%

4.7%

6.5x

2.0x

3.2%

34.00

1.5%

2.3%

-8.1%

-8.1%

14.7%

9.0%

16.7x

2.3x

4.4%

6.0%

15 Lafarge Africa PLC

11.50

-4.2%

1.6%

-7.6%

-4.2%

-53.7%

-7.9%

0.8x

12.8%

-54.8%

16 Guinness Nigeria PLC

60.00

0.0%

1.1%

-16.7%

-16.7%

8.5%

4.5%

16.8x

1.5x

3.4%

5.9%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

0.0%

1.4%

5.0%

5.0%

39.3%

29.7%

9.0x

2.6x

3.8%

11.1% 12.0%

196.00

0.0%

1.3%

-3.4%

-3.4%

27.0%

6.6%

8.4x

2.2x

8.7%

19 11 PLC

175.00

-1.6%

1.2%

-5.7%

-5.7%

38.0%

16.8%

5.8x

2.0x

4.7%

17.1%

16.40

0.0%

0.9%

-29.0%

-26.1%

6.6%

2.0%

7.6x

0.5x

6.1%

13.2%

21 Oando PLC

4.80

-2.0%

1.1%

-4.0%

0.0%

2.4x

0.3x

22 Fidelity Bank PLC

1.94

3.2%

1.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

11.6%

1.5%

2.5x

0.3x

5.7%

40.8%

20 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

23 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.19

0.8%

0.9%

-9.8%

-5.6%

19.3%

4.3%

3.9x

0.7x

2.5%

25.8%

14.25

1.8%

0.9%

-6.6%

-3.7%

32.6%

16.4%

7.7x

1.6x

7.7%

13.0%

2.5x

0.2x

7.4%

39.4%

0.3x

9.2%

-29.3%

40.4%

25 Diamond Bank PLC

2.42

0.0%

0.9%

12.6%

-5.8%

-0.7%

26 FCMB Group Plc

1.90

-0.5%

0.6%

0.5%

5.6%

8.0%

1.1%

27 UAC of Nigeria PLC

6.95

0.7%

0.4%

-28.7%

-27.2%

-9.6%

-4.0%

28 Sterling Bank PLC

0.3x

2.74

0.0%

0.7%

44.2%

44.2%

9.2%

0.8%

8.4x

0.8x

62.75

0.0%

0.4%

-2.0%

-2.0%

37.0%

24.8%

2.5x

0.8x

3.2% 5.2%

0.4%

6.9%

6.9%

47.0%

17.5%

11.5x

4.5x

0.0%

0.3%

-6.1%

-3.8%

52.2%

5.8%

98.6x

2.1x

ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϱй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ /Ŷ OANDO (-

32 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.80

0.0%

0.4%

21.4%

21.4%

6.0%

1.1%

11.9x

0.9x

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

25.00

-9.1%

0.3%

24.4%

13.1%

31.5%

3.6%

3.9x

1.0x

34 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘Ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϵdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϲ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϭϯ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘

8.7% 1.0% 8.4%

8.0%

25.4%

9.45

0.0%

0.2%

-21.9%

-23.2%

0.9x

1.6%

0.7%

0.2%

-2.4%

-2.4%

80.4%

35.8%

11.7x

8.5x

7.4%

8.5%

36 Wema Bank PLC

0.69

1.5%

0.2%

9.5%

9.5%

6.6%

0.8%

8.0x

0.5x

4.3%

12.5%

37 Beta Glass PLC

56.00

-4.0%

0.1%

-18.0%

-18.0%

21.1%

14.7%

5.2x

1.0x

2.3%

19.3%

38 Dangote Flour Mills Plc

10.70

2.9%

0.2%

56.2%

62.1%

-3.2%

-0.9%

1.5x

1.9%

-2.1%

39 Transcorp Hotels Plc

5.40

0.0%

0.1%

-11.5%

-9.2%

11.0x

0.7x

2.8%

9.1%

40 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.00

5.3%

0.1%

9.3%

9.3%

9.5x

1.0x

3.0%

10.6%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϭ͘ϯй

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

11.8%

34.00

35 Chemical and Allied Products P

UNILEVER ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ DANGCEM ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͘

-29.0%

29 Presco PLC

0.0%

ĂƉŝĞĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ DANGSUGAR ;нϭ͘ϴйͿ͕

40.9%

24 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

26.95

ACCESS ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ UBA ;нϮ͘ϯйͿ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ

15.3%

18 Total Nigeria PLC

19.25

ŝŶĚĞdž ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ Ϭ͘ϴй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ

57.4% 35.3%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

30 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

MANSARD ;нϱ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ AIICO ;нϮ͘ϳͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ

-1.5%

14 Unilever Nigeria PLC

31 Forte Oil PLC

ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϲй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ

13.7%

1,580.00

ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƐĂǀĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ'ĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž

Ϯ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ MOBIL (-ϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

1 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

6 FBN Holdings Plc

ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĞŶ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ϯϵďƉƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

T ic k er

10.7%

3.1%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

R OYA LEX

0.22

10.0%

CHA M S

0.36

9.1%

LIVEST OC K

0.60

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

A C C ESS

58.4

3.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

27.4

0.0%

9.1%

UB A

16.0

2.3%

F IR ST A LUM

0.41

7.9%

CHA M S

13.8

9.1%

M A N SA R D

2.00

5.3%

UC A P

13.0

-9.8%

1.75

4.8%

T R A N SC OR P

12.3

0.8%

17.00

4.3%

C ILEA SIN G

10.9

-9.9%

IKEJ A H OT EL CCNN C UT IX

1.60

3.2%

ST ER LN B A N K

8.1

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

1.94

3.2%

M A N SA R D

8.0

5.3%

A C C ESS

6.85

3.0%

M B EN EF IT

6.7

0.0%

Leading the gainers chart, ROYALEX ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ LIVESTOCK

T o p 10 L o s e r s

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

;нϵ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ FIRSTALUM ;нϳ͘ϵйͿ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ T ic k er

ǁŚŝůĞ CILEASING (-ϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ UCAP (-ϵ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ BERGER (ϵ͘ϮйͿ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͘ dŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͛Ɛ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ Yϭ͗ϮϬϭϵ ƌĞƐƵůƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĮůƚĞƌ ŝŶ͘ tĞ ŽƉŝŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝůů ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ŝŶ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂŚĞĂĚ

of ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶƐ͘

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

C ILEA SIN G

7.20

-9.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

574.6

0.0%

UC A P

2.48

-9.8%

A C C ESS

403.4

3.0%

B ER GER

8.40

-9.2%

UB A

104.7

2.3%

VIT A F OA M

3.50

-9.1%

NB

78.7

0.2% -9.9%

25.00

-9.1%

C ILEA SIN G

78.5

VER IT A SKA P

J B ER GER

0.21

-8.7%

GUA R A N T Y

55.5

0.1%

R EGA LIN S

0.24

-7.7%

D A N GC EM

55.2

0.5%

WA P C O B ET A GLA S OA N D O

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

11.50

-4.2%

FB NH

43.8

1.3%

56.00

-4.0%

WA P C O

38.2

-4.2%

4.80

-2.0%

UC A P

33.0

-9.8%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Oluwarotimi Ashimi | oashimi@afrinvest.com

Jolomi Odonghanro | jodonghanro@afrinvest.com

45

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Mouka Limited Gets Recognition from London Stock Exchange Goddy Egene Mouka Limited, Nigeria’s indigenous mattress and foam products manufacturer, has become one among a few African companies to be recognised twice by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), in the group’s Companies to inspire Africa report.

The company was listed in the - LSEG’scompanies to Inspire

Africa2019 report after it made the 2017 inaugural edition.

Mouka said in a statement that its recognition was alongside 360 companies from 32 countries across the continent represented in this year’s report, boasting an incredibly impressive average compound annual growth rate of 46 per cent, up from 16 percent in 2017.

Companies to Inspire Africa is a pioneering report, compiled by the

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

LSEG, identifying the continent’s most inspirational and dynamic private high growth companies to a global market.

Companies to Inspire Africa 2019 was produced in partnership with African Development Bank Group, CDC Group, PWC and Asoko Insight who contributed their insight and expertise to select the featured companies.

To be included in the list,

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17Apr-2019, unless otherwise stated.

companies need to be privately held, and show an excellent rate of growth and potential to power African development.

According to the company, the double honours from LSEG has set the bedding industry giant apart from not just its competitors within its Nigerian operation base, but among other companies on the continent that have only made one appearance in the Companies

to Inspire Africa report since its inaugural edition.

Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Mouka Limited, Raymond Murphy said: “One of the biggest opportunities over the past year has been to use the challenging operating environment to demonstrate the strength of our operations, by ensuring product availability in a marketplace where

our competitors are struggling to do the same… As a result, we have been able to gain market share.”

The company said that after its mention in the inaugural edition of the report, it made remarkable progress by consolidating its previous achievement, by earning the enviable recognition for a second time in 2019, by the world’s leading financial centre’s stock exchange group.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.88 0.89 5.14% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 12.23% 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 13.39% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.29 2.31 3.02% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 16.53 17.03 -0.35% ARM Discovery Fund 358.84 369.66 0.62% ARM Ethical Fund 29.53 30.42 4.56% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.26% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 100.74 101.45 -0.44% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.70% 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 13.78% Paramount Equity Fund 12.04 12.14 1.94% Women's Investment Fund 106.33 106.87 2.62% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.62% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.79 99.23 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.70 100.38 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.90% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.83 0.84 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 5.11% 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 12.16% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.25% invest@fbnquest.com FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,245.89 1,246.75 5.09% FBN Heritage Fund 145.57 146.61 1.51% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.45% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 118.67 119.10 4.20% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 118.57 119.01 4.37% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 146.31 148.41 -2.46% 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 1.17 1.19 -3.88% Legacy Debt Fund 3.36 3.36 3.55% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 1.38% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,988.96 3,020.49 0.18% Coral Income Fund 2,860.42 2,860.42 4.42% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.96% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 107.96 108.36 -0.26% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.53% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 -0.43% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.23% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 125.44 125.67 0.43%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.17 1.19 2.11% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,084.89 1,084.89 4.00% 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 1.27 1.29 3.32% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.47 11.52 3.05% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.37% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 120.88 121.43 0.12% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 4.27% 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 N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.21 1.19 0.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 4.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.68 0.69 -4.38% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.26% United Capital Eurobond Fund 109.82 109.82 2.39% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.11 1.54% 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 11.09 11.26 4.17% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.29 12.37 2.15% Zenith Income Fund 21.56 21.56 11.86% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.56%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 120.02 52.21

-44.85% 1.95% 0.91%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.30 106.78 85.76

10.40 109.06 87.34

-2.33% -8.97% -3.29%

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

3.81 6.85 14.07 11.44 153.59

3.85 6.93 14.17 11.64 155.59

-4.73% -10.05% -5.87% -7.38% 6.96%

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.

46

FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

47

48

FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL London Climate Change Protesters Plan to Shut down Heathrow Airport Climate activists in Britain plan to take their protest to Heathrow Airport today after days of demonstrations in central London brought widespread traffic disruption to the capital.

Organisers of the Extinction Rebellion protests said they aim to “shut down” the airport – the busiest in Europe – on Good Friday, a busy travel day over the Easter holiday weekend.

London’s Metropolitan Police urged the group to “strongly reconsider” the protest and said it had plans in place to prevent the airport’s operations from being affected by motorway demonstrations.

Friday would be Extinction Rebellion’s fifth day of protest.

The group began demonstrating on Monday at central locations including Parliament Square, Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus, often laying down on roads and bridges.

Incidents have also been reported of protesters glueing themselves to trains.

They also chained themselves to opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s garden fence.

Metropolitan Police said about 460 protesters had been arrested over the course of the week.

Interior Minister, Sajid Javid said more than 1,000 police officers were

dealing with protesters every day.

British Actress Emma Thompson joined the crowds on Thursday.

Extinction Rebellion is demanding the government declare a “climate and ecological emergency,” take action to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emission to net zero by 2025.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned in a report in October that the world can still manage to stay within the Paris Agreement limit of 1.5 degrees of additional global warming, but only with “unprecedented” and rapid action.

Mueller Finds ‘Numerous’ Links Between Trump Campaign, Russia Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report found “numerous” links between President Donald Trump’s election campaign team and the Russian government but did not establish any coordination between Trump officials and Russia.

Those links included a meeting between Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, his campaign manager Paul Manafort, his son Donald Trump Jr and a Russian lawyer promising ‘dirt’ on then candidate Hillary Clinton in June 2016.

“The Russian contacts consisted of business connections, offers

of assistance to the campaign, invitations for candidate Trump and Putin to meet in person.

“Also invitations for campaign officials and representatives of the Russian government to meet, and policy positions seeking improved U.S.-Russian relations,” the report stated.

After the election, the Russian government “immediately” attempted to “make inroads into the new administration.”

The Russian government believed it would “benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that

outcome,” and the Trump campaign expected to benefit from Russian election meddling efforts, Mueller’s report said.

But “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”

“Among other things, the evidence was not sufficient to charge any campaign official as an unregistered agent of the Russian government or other Russian principal,” the reported stated.

Zimbabwean President Says Land Reform Programme Irreversible as Compensation Set to Begin Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday reassured the country that the government would not reverse the land reform programme implemented two decades ago.

The president said this in an address to mark the nation’s 39th independence anniversary in Harare.

However, he said the government would compensate the former white commercial farmers for improvements on the land in line with the country’s constitution.

He spoke as his government recently announced that it will soon start compensating the former white commercial farmers only for improvements on the land.

This move has reportedly not been well received by some members of the ruling ZANU-PF party, who feel the government is broke and should not make such payments at a time when the economy is struggling.

Mnangagwa said the country would never regret taking back its land.

“Our constitution bids us to compensation in respect to improvements done on land before acquisition. This will be done as and when resources are available,” he said.

The government set aside 53 million RTGS dollars in the 2019 budget to compensate the farmers and only those in financial distress will receive the interim advance payments.

Representatives of the affected farmers, the Commercial Framers Union and the Compensation Steering Committee are currently

in the process of identifying and registering former farm owners, who want to participate in the interim advance payments scheme.

He said the government would also address issues related to the land reform that include multiple farm ownership, disregard for maximum farm size and underutilisation of acquired land.

He said his government would focus more on unlocking the value of land and ensuring maximum productivity to quicken modernisation and industrialisation of the economy.

Mnangagwa also slammed businesses that were wantonly hiking prices of basic commodities and described such conduct

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as DADA ADERONKE ADEDAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as BAJULAIYE DADA ADERONKE ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ASIEGBU KELECHI MARCILINA, now wish to be known and addressed as ASIEGBU KELECHI NANCY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OSUNFOWORA ROFIAT OMOTOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OSUNFOWORA-LAWAL ROFIAT OMOTOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

as “inhumane, unethical and unpatriotic.”

The president said the government was implementing measures to stabilise the economy, including the recent introduction of the market-based exchange rate system.

“However, the government is alarmed by the recent wanton and indiscriminate increase in prices, which has brought about untold suffering to the people.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as STEVEN KEHINDE ADENIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as IKUESAN KENNY STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CHRISTY JOSEPH ATUL, now wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTY SAIBO MUSA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as FOLAWIYO TAIWO ADIGUN, now wish to be known and addressed as FOLAWIYO TAIWO KOLEOSO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EGESIONU SANDRA CHINONSO, now wish to be known and addressed as ANYANWU SANDRA CHINONSO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

An Anatomy of Murder Spahic Omer/IslamiCity The dignity and honor of man are undisputed. That is because Almighty Allah, the Creator, explicitly affirms that He has honored the children of Adam, and has conferred on them special favors, over a great part of creation (al-Isra’, 70).

Everything, especially on earth has been created in order to serve man as Allah’s vicegerent, and to facilitate the execution of his noble terrestrial mission and purpose. Similarly, everything that man himself creates, as part of his continuous cultural and civilizational functioning, is to resonate the same meaning and aid the same objective.

In other words, man stands at the center of creation with all other dimensions and aspects of life existing primarily to validate, constantly uplift, and sustain the nobility and excellence of man.

The foremost criteria for evaluating a civilization revolves around what type of human beings it produces, and to what extent it is disposed to the preservation of human life, dignity, and the inherent distinction of man.

It is on account of this that the Qur’an warns that whoever killed an innocent soul or a human being, it would be in the sight of Allah as if he killed all mankind. But whoever saved one, it would be as if he saved all mankind (al-Ma’idah, 32).

Moreover, about killing intentionally an innocent believer, the Qur’an categorically states that “his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment” (al-Nisa’, 93).

Indeed, there is nothing that can sanction and justify taking an innocent human life. No clause in a legal framework can accommodate such an inhumane act, nor can a sound mind have any capacity to dwell on such a matter, let alone agree to it.

Murder is heartless, merciless, barbaric, and most disgraceful. It is an anomalous act, incompatible with any rationality, morality, and the intended cultural as well as civilizational well-being of people. That is why when a murder occurs, the best form of justice is that a murderer publicly pay with his own life as a form of general deterrence, so as to prevent others who may have identical intentions from committing identical crimes in the future.

And that means protecting and cherishing the true meaning of life: “And there is for you in legal retribution or qisas (saving of) life, O you (people) of understanding, that you may become righteous (restrain yourselves)” (al-Baqarah, 179).

Indeed, being firm and unyielding towards murder and murderers means respecting life and those who want to live it responsibly and nobly.

All human initiatives and rules must reflect that and be totally in support of the truth, justice, righteousness, and peace.

According to Maududi: “It is essential for the preservation of human life that everyone should regard the life of the other as sacred and help to protect it. The one who takes the life of another without right, does not commit injustice to that one alone, but also proves that he has no feeling for the sanctity of human life and of mercy for others. Hence he is most surely the enemy of the whole human race, for if every individual suffered from the same kind of hard-heartedness, the whole human race would come to an end.

On the contrary, if one helps to preserve a single human life, he is indeed a helper of all mankind for he possesses those qualities upon which depends the survival of the whole human race.”

Qabil (Cain) versus Habil (Abel) All these principles have been clearly displayed in the course of the incident of the first murder on earth, when Qabil (Cain) killed Habil (Abel) (al-Ma’idah, 27-31). Both were the sons of Prophet Adam.

Prior to the incident, the two men had presented their sacrifices to Allah. However, the sacrifice of Habil was accepted, while the one of Qabil wasn’t.

That alone in no way could be a reason for Qabil to take the life of his younger and blameless brother. But then, he was older and filled with pride, egotism and envy, which eventually blinded him and his cognitive abilities. He was no longer in a position to make sound judgement.

With his rationality impaired, and recognizing no outside source of moral authority, Qabil was left to the mercy of his raging nafs (selfish soul that only urges evil, desire, and passion). Being thus in control of his entire being, the monstrous spiritual, along with emotional state of Qabil’s personality, prompted and facilitated him the slaying of his brother.

“And his (selfish) soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers” (al-Ma’idah, 30).

Facing his vicious and hard-hearted brother, Habil tried to bring him to his senses by evoking

the supreme authority of the heavenly regulatory moral program – which had been revealed by Allah to their father, Prophet Adam. Habil told Qabil: “Indeed, Allah only accepts (sacrifices and other meritorious deeds) from the righteous (who fear Him)” (al-Ma’idah, 27).

But Qabil did not listen, as he did not recognize such an authority.

Habil then tried to appeal to common sense and his brother’s intelligence, making clear how dire the consequences of the intended evil action would be, saying: “If you should raise your hand against me to kill me – I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds. Indeed I want you to obtain (thereby) my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire.

And that is the recompense of wrongdoers” (al-Ma’idah, 28-29).

But again, Qabil did not listen, nor did he heed the warnings. The voices of his selfish and wicked soul were deafening. He could not hear, nor discern, anything else, as a result of which he capitulated to the pressure of his desires and passionate determination.

Thus, Qabil’s killing of his brother Habil was not due to his sacrifice having been rejected, but rather due to the intensity and insatiability of his malevolent spiritual and emotional state.

Qabil thus became the father and progenitor of murder as a concept and life’s reality. Whoever unjustly kills, follows in his footsteps. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) accordingly once said that “no human being is killed unjustly but a part of responsibility for the crime is laid on the first son of Adam who invented the tradition of killing (murdering) on the earth” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Habil’s “crime”, on the other hand, was that he stirred and agitated his brother’s madness by his righteousness and purity, resisting it afterwards with his sanity, sound judgment and determination.

His “crime” furthermore was simply his status which Qabil did not like, that is, being of those who are righteous and pious and so, better than him, as well as his being an obstacle for Qabil’s immoral inner self to freely express itself and thrive.

That means, Habil’s “crime” was his sheer existence, which could significantly get in the way of Qabil’s. Therefore, he had to go.

For Qabil to be, Habil needed to be no more.

Muslims and the legacy of Habil This can explain the nature of all murders, be they individual, mass, state-sponsored or state murders. They are all the results of what could be called premeditated insanity or, to quote Prof.

Michael Huemer, “rational irrationality”.

According to Yusuf Ali, among the Christians, Cain (Qabil) was the type of the Jew as against Abel (Habil) the Christian. The Jew tried to kill Jesus and exterminate the Christian.

In the same way, as against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the younger brother of the Semitic family, Cain (Qabil) was the type of the Old Testament and New Testament people, who tried to resist and kill Muhammad (pbuh) and put down his people (Yusuf Ali).

And the narrative goes on. Muslims continue to epitomize the example and legacy of Habil, while their older Jewish and Christian brethren in the family of Abrahamic religions – in particular their extremist segments - continue to epitomize the example and legacy of Qabil.

The bloody pages of history continue to be inscribed at the expense of Muslims and their cultures in Palestine, Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya and several other post-Soviet states, just as they were inscribed during the Crusades, the fall of Andalus (Islamic Spain) and Western colonization.

The same trend, unfortunately, continues unabated today in the era of globalization. It is becoming yet more serious and more disastrous. It generated the notions and phenomena of Islamophobia, Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism, making them some of the most widespread and most feared, as well as distorted and abused, concepts.

Consequently, Muslims suffer today more than ever before, both in their own lands and beyond.

Many followers of other leading non-Abrahamic religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, became also emboldened and took a leaf out of the Jews’ (specifically Zionists’) and Christians’ book. Some of the greatest recent genocide drives against Muslims have been committed and orchestrated by the followers of those two religions and their offshoots. The governments of India, Myanmar, and China are most culpable.

In all cases, Muslims’ “crime” is that they are Muslims and practice Islam, that they belong to “them” or “others” and not “us”, and that they are turning somewhat into a hindrance for governments to achieve and implement extreme nationalism, certain nativist ideologies and authoritarian tendencies.

FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

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

Senate Presidency: Lawan Woos PDP Caucus I have Buhari’s backing to run, Ndume insists North-east stakeholders back Goje, write Oshiomhole Deji Elumoye in Abuja Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, has continued his engagement with all stakeholders, including his colleagues in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his bid to become the Senate president of the 9th National Assembly.

This is coming as a former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that he has the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari to run for Senate president when the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated in June.

Also, the North East Consultative Forum (NECF) and five other groups have endorsed the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, as a candidate for the coveted office.

THISDAY gathered that the latest of Lawan’s consultations with his colleagues was his recent engagement with members of the PDP Senate caucus over his ambition.

A ranking PDP Senator told THISDAY yesterday that Lawan has intimated the caucus about

his intention to vie for the office of the Senate president when the 9th Senate is inaugurated in June.

The Senator further confirmed that Lawan also had one-on-one interaction with the lawmakers.

“The Senate Leader has actually spoken with some of us in PDP about his ambition to lead the 9th Senate and we listened to him as colleagues. I can confirm to you that he has had very robust discussions with the PDP caucus.

He also keeps reminding us at every given opportunity about his ambition and he continues to talk to both PDP and APC colleagues too,” the Senator explained.

Lawan had in the last few weeks stepped up his consultations with different interest groups and Senators-elect over his ambition.

For two weeks, he engaged the 9th National Assembly Senatorselect who were in Abuja for the orientation programme organised

by National Assembly for the legislators-elect ahead of their inauguration in June.

Lawan was said to have used the forum to interact with the Senators-elect across party lines on why he is the best candidate

Violent Extremists Killed 466 People in Three Months, Says WANEP

for the position.

He also visited some states like Kano, Niger and Borno where he met with some Senators-elect and solicited their support in his bid to become the nation’s number three citizen.

Despite the endorsement of Lawan as the anointed candidate of the ruling party, a former Senate Leader, Ndume, yesterday insisted that he also has the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari to run for office of the Senate president.

Ndume who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishments, in a statement personally signed by him, said President Buhari was the first person he told about his ambition long before his re-election during the February 23 parliamentary poll.

“I believe that Mr. President has nothing against my aspiration for the office of the Senate President because I sought his permission long before the general election and he gave me the go-ahead. I have not heard anything otherwise from him.

“I believe he will not go against my aspiration, because as he said he belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody. And he sticks to that. I am sure that the

least he can do is to allow the constitution, which he strongly believes in, and the rule of law to prevail in the emergence of the senate leadership. So, I want to use this opportunity to clear the air as to those that are trying to cause disaffection.”

According to him, the insinuation that he was working against the Presidency’s interest was incorrect, adding that “I think it is a spin from well-known quarters”.

Ndume assured the APC leadership of his commitment to party ideals and doing what is right, in line with party’s constitution and the Constitution of Nigeria.

“What I am doing now is to strengthen democracy – to, in fact, improve on or deepen democracy and to stand by what APC believes in. Mr. President stood for election.

It was open.

“During his second term, the President subjected himself to the process of democracy that led to his emergence. During the gubernatorial elections he came out clearly to say people should be allowed to elect persons of their choice even in his own case. So, I will be surprised if anything otherwise comes from him”, he further said.

Ndume also dismissed insinuations that he turned down

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s call on him to drop his senate presidency ambition, saying nothing can be farther than the truth.

He said his recent visit to Osinbajo centred on his routine briefing of the Vice President on the humanitarian issues in the North-east, “specifically, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) issues and situation report on the orphanage, which according to him, is dear to the vice president.

“It was a misinformation.

The truth is, it is usual for me to meet with the vice president to discuss issues of common interest, especially the humanitarian crisis in the northeast, of which the vice president has shown exceptional interest in helping out,” Ndume explained.

Meanwhile, the North East Consultative Forum (NECF) and five other groups have endorsed the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje as a candidate for the coveted office.

In a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting held in Bauchi, the groups including North East Elders Mobilisation Forum, APC National Youth Caucus, Borno Discussion Circle, Gombe Political Associations and

North East Youth Awareness for Good Governance, urged Goje to without further delay declare for the coveted position.

The groups have therefore written the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, about their endorsement of Goje.

In the letter, dated April 17, titled: “North East Stakeholders Endorse Goje,” the conveners, Mustapha Saidu and Alhaji Bello Ambo, commended APC for zoning the Senate Presidency to the North East.

According to the groups, the zoning of the position to the geopolitical zone was a confirmation of the party’s commitment to reward hard work, following the zone’s contribution to the party’s victory in the just concluded general election.

“Following very wide consultations among stakeholders, party members and North East Consultative Forum and after careful assessment of his contribution to the party and Buhari - led administration, we hereby present to you, Senator Danjuma Goje as the choice of the people of the North East for the Senate President of the 9th Assembly,” they told Oshiomhole.

172 abductions recorded Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja Between January and March this year, violent extremists carried out 280 armed attacks, killed 466 people, injured 267 others, and also carried out 172 abductions in various countries in the West African sub-region, according to the West African Peace and Security Report released by the West African Network for Peace-building (WANEP).

This is coming as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) yesterday killed 39 insurgents in the ongoing Operation Yacin Tafki in the Lake Chad fringes.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has again denied killing civilians in its bombing campaign in Zamfara State, stating that it has not used bombs since Operation Sharan Daji started. It announced the setting up of a high-powered panel headed by an Air Vice Marshal to look into the allegations by Zamfara State traditional rulers that NAF bombings killed eleven civilians.

In its quarterly report covering organised crime and violent extremism obtained by THISDAY, WANEP said there had been a spike in organised crimes, violent extremism, terrorism, inter communal and sectarian violence across the West African region.

“The current spate of attacks by AL Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al-Mourabitoun in Burkina Faso and Mali, Boko Haram and the West African Province of ISIS in Nigeria, and across the border with Niger, have far- reaching consequences on regional security.

“The mode of operation of these extremist groups in the region ranges from suicide bombing, cross border raids, destruction of security installations and worship places, kidnapping, abduction and banditry. This situation is further

compounded by incidents of transnational organised crimes, notably, armed robbery, drug and human trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering and other economic and financial crimes.

“In Nigeria, between January and March 2019, 41 incidents of violent extremist attacks were recorded with a total death of 130 and 56 injuries, while 161 people were abducted, especially in the North-east and across other geo-political regions. Armed attacks at this period were 128 with 387 deaths and 60 injuries.

“Continued Boko Haram crossborder attacks in the Diffa region has taken its toll on human lives leading to forced displacements in Niger. Within this quarter, there has been 18 incidents of terrorist attacks, resulting to 93 deaths and 119 injuries”, the report said.

WANEP noted that “besides, kidnapping of foreign nationals for ransom, especially in Agadez and along the borders with Mali and Libya remains a major security concern in the area. Between January and March 2019, 25 people were kidnapped, while security installations, mining sites, schools and other properties were destroyed.

“Also, heightened insecurity led to state of emergency declared in Tillabéri and Tahoua regions”.

On the frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in Nigeria and Ghana, the report disclosed that 117 people were killed, including 13 women and 22 children.

“Incidents of farmer-herder conflicts were also recorded in Nigeria and Ghana in this period.

In Nigeria, attacks and reprisals by suspected Fulani herders’ and militia in Kajuru and Kachia in Kaduna State resulted in the deaths of 117 people, including 13 women and 22 children, with several houses and livestock destroyed.

FOCUSING ON HIGHER RETURNS…

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje; Chairman, Mr. Osaretin Demuren; and Company Secretary, Erhi Obebeduo, during the bank’s 29th Annual General Meeting in Lagos … yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Make Sacrifice in National Interest, Saraki Tells Nigerians Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged all Nigerians to imbibe the value of sacrificing in the interest of the country as demonstrated by Jesus Christ whose selfless service to humanity is being commemorated across the world at this Easter period.

Saraki in an Easter message released yesterday by his Media Adviser, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, congratulated Christian faithful in Nigeria and across the world as they celebrate the Easter festivities.

The Senate president said the Easter period was again a reminder that Nigerians have

to imbibe the spirit of making sacrifices in the interest of Nigerians as exemplified by Jesus Christ whose birth, life, passion, death and resurrection brought salvation to mankind.

“I believe that our country will become better if we all commit ourselves to selfless service and making sacrifices, both at the individual and collective level.

I also believe that Christians, like their counterparts in other faiths, have spent the Lenten Season to stand in the gap for Nigeria in particular and humanity in general. The prayers and fasting of Nigerians have been the bulwark against all the centrifugal and

centripetal forces threatening to pull our nation down. We must not relent but only need to add discipline, obedience to law and more intense patriotism to our attitude,” he explained.

He expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their steadfastness and prayers, which have had immense impact on the peace, unity and continued survival of the country.

According to him, the successful conduct of the 2019 general election was a direct testament to the sincere efforts and prayers of all Nigerians.

“I congratulate Christians and all Nigerians for the demonstration

of faith in our common heritage through fasting, prayer, sober reflection and sacrifices in the interest of the country for which we now commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ,” he added.

While acknowledging that the country is still confronted by developmental, economic and social challenges, Saraki insisted that all the obstacles are surmountable if Nigerians play their roles patriotically and commit to being their brother’s keeper.

He urged Christians not to relent in their prayers for God’s positive intervention in the affairs of the country at all times.

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NEWSEXTRA

US Envoy Urges Christians, Muslims to Work for Peace Ejiofor Alike The Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Abuja, Mr. David Young, has called on Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to work for peace and love of all Nigerians.

The seasoned diplomat with about 30 years’ experience, has worked on conflict resolution in many countries and has been actively involved in restoring peace in some parts of Nigeria, where he has served for nearly three years.

In a presentation as the guest speaker on “Christian Witness in

Diplomacy and Public Service” at an event organised by the Apostles in the Market Place (AiMP) Network in Abuja, Young, who is also a pastor, said international consensus in diplomacy these days is tending towards work for human dignity.

Admitting that his work as a diplomat has given him the opportunity to practice values of his faith, he urged people of all faith to focus on the shared commitment of love and human dignity.

“The great thing about faith is human dignity: love for God and love for others,” he emphasised.

Young who disclosed that he has been to Plateau State a number of times and participated in a peace-building summit there, recalled a good example of love and care for human dignity in the case of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, an 83-year-old Imam in Plateau State.

He said the Imam risked his life by bravely standing in front of his mosque and home to plead with a rampaging mob to spare the lives of more than 300 persons—mostly Christian farmers—who had taken refuge there.

“His heroic actions saved these

lives, and my colleagues and I from our Embassy met with many of these persons, displaced from their homes by horrific violence, but alive nonetheless because this Imam risked his life to save them.”

Speaking at the event, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, expressed appreciation for the subject of love and respect for human dignity raised by the diplomat.

The minister, who like Young, is pastor in public service, said it would be better for the society if more people wearing double hats practice scriptural values

in the public space.

He listed some benefits of the diplomat’s presentation as commitment to the higher principle of love, integrity and responsibility for governance.

“There is a desperate need for good example but many people are too involved in personal issues,” he noted.

He agreed with Young that respect for human dignity is a fundamental example of love, but advised that in sharing love, one has to be mindful of integrity.

The AiMP, established in 2003, is a network of Christian professionals and leaders in the marketplace who

are committed to making a lasting impact on society.

The vision of the network is to be a strategic vehicle for nation-building across the African Continent through the transformation of the marketplace.

AiMP is committed to the empowerment of change agents and nation builders, who will act as change agents in their marketplace.

Last Tuesday, the network graduated young professionals who had undergone training in the Change Agents Academy.

The academy serves as a catalyst to identify, recruit, equip and deploy change agents into every sphere of society.

Labour Threatens Showdown over Replacement of Kokori on NSITF Board Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja There was commotion at the Ministry of Labour and Employment yesterday morning as members of the orgamised labour stormed the place to put pressure on the minister to inaugurate the new board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITFF).

The protest by the workers led to the cancellation of inauguration ceremony by the ministry.

THISDAY gathered that the minister, Dr. Chris Ngige, had sensed danger following the resolve by NLC to disrupt the inauguration and decided to shelve the event.

NSITF is a social insurance welfare facility meant to assist workers in times of difficulty or work-related hazards, but the agency had in the last one year operated without a board in place.

In a statement issued yesterday by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Press, Rhoda Iliya, the ministry said the postponement was to avoid the degeneration of the situation, where thugs were already manhandling some officers of the ministry and policemen attached to the office of the minister.

Kokori’s name was replaced

by Mr. Austin Enajemo-Isire who was moved from the Michael Immoudu Memorial Institute, Ilorin in Kwara State.

The ministry had earlier issued a one-paragraph statement, saying, “due to circumstances beyond our control, the inauguration of the board of the NSITF billed for today (Thursday) has been cancelled. The inconveniences caused by this cancellation are most painfully regretted.’’

The press statement said that Kokori had been removed and

replaced by Enajemo-Isire.

According to the statement, “President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of members of the board of the NSITF a parastatal under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.’’

It said the board is headed

by Enajemo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant, professional insurance executive and banker.

Other board members include, Olawale Osuolale Timothy; Dr. Mohammed; J.Yinusa; Comrade Waheed Adewale Adeyanju, Ibrahim Khaleel, Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, Umma Aminu(Mrs.), Jasper Azutalam, Tijani Suleiman, and Mrs. Kemi Nelson, Others are Ade Bayo Somefun (Member/Managing Director and Chief Executive) and Mrs. Ijeoma Orji Okoronkwo (Board Secretary) The statement also said that President Buhari has approved the appointment of Kokori as the new Chairman of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to the statement both appointments are with immediate effect.

The statement further said the replacement of Kokori with Enajemo-Isere and his transfer to the Board of MINLS) Ilorin, a diploma awarding institution in Labour Relations as chairman, followed due process and has the necessary presidential approval.

“The approval for this exercise was given by the appropriate approving authority, which is the President and duly communicated to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

This is also in line with the Act establishing the NSITF, which confers such powers on the President on the recommendation of the minister.

Two Die in Ibadan Tanker Accident A fuel-laden truck yesterday spilled its content on the road in an accident that resulted in the death of two persons who were burnt beyond recognition in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Six vehicles and 10 motorbikes were also burnt in the fire incident.

Oyo State Police Command’s spokesman, Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the accident, said, “Preliminary reports say

two people were burnt beyond recognition, with four vehicle and two motorbikes also affected.”

The accident occurred in Onipepeye area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The inferno, which started around 2:05pm, occurred while the fuel tanker driver coming from Lagos lane tried to manoeuvre a commercial Nissan Micra taxi and, in the process, lost control and fell.

GUARD OF HONOUR...

The new Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria , Mr. Humphrey Desmond Geisebat, inspecting Guard of Honour mounted for him, during the presentation of letters of credence at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Court Grants Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia N10m Bail, Seizes Passport Davidson Iriekpen A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday granted a judge of the court, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, bail in the sum N10 million.

The court also ordered her to submit her passport to the deputy chief registrar of the court at or before 6 p.m. yesterday.

Ofili-Ajumogobia was arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, where she pleaded not guilty to 18 counts bordering on unlawful enrichment, taking property unlawfully, corruption, forgery and giving false information.

In a ruling granting her bail, Justice Aikawa said: “I take judicial notice of the Easter holiday and grant bail in the sum of N10

million, with one surety in like sum who must have landed property In Lagos.

“The surety must not be below Grade Level 16 in the federal or state civil service.

“The defendant must deposit her passport with the deputy chief registrar of the court at or before 6p.m. today (yesterday).

“The defendant shall endeavour to fulfill the conditions within 10 days or the bail will be revoked.

“She shall be released to her lead counsel, Wale Akoni (SAN), pending the fulfillment of the other conditions or the expiration of 10 days, whichever comes first.”

Aikawa also issued summons to compel Godwin Obla (SAN), a co-defendant with Justice OfiliAjumogobia, to appear before the

court.

“For the second defendant, an order is hereby made for issuance of summons compelling Godwin Obla to appear before the court on the May 15, for the purpose of trial.”

Earlier, lead EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, had informed the court of a pending charge against the defendants, and called the attention of the judge to Obla’s absence.

He told the court that every attempt made to inform Obla of the pending charge proved abortive.

Oyedepo, however, urged the court to take the plea of the former judge and give an order to compel Obla to appear before the court on the next adjourned date.

Ofili-Ajumogobia’s counsel,

Akoni, had made an oral application for her bail.

He asked the court to take judicial notice of the fact that she was a judicial officer, and admit her to bail on self-recognisance.

Objecting to Akoni’s request for bail, Oyedepo told the court to take further judicial notice that there was a decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which recommended her dismissal.

He said that considering the nature of the case, it would not be in the interest of justice for her to be granted bail on self-recognisance.

He, therefore, urged the court to deny her bail or attach conditions, which would compel her to be available for trial.

Aikawa adjourned the case until May 15 for trial.

Again,THISDAY Journalist Wins Nordica Media Merit Award For the second year running, THISDAY journalist, Martins Ifijeh, emerged the winner of the 2019 Nordica Media Merit Award (NMMA print category) for excellence in fertility reporting.

Ifijeh, who won with his entry ‘Heavy Metals and the Pain of Infertility’, was announced as one of the three winners of the highly competitive annual awards at the presentation ceremony in Lagos yesterday.

Other winners are Olasumbo Modupe of Lagos Television and

Anthonia Obokor of Business Day Newspapers. They won in the electronic and online categories respectively.

Ifijeh’s winning piece highlighted how heavy metals and industrial chemicals from oil exploration in Nigeria has increased the risk of infertility and deprived couples exposed to them from having babies.

The fellow of the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) in Washington DC, United States, and an Alumnus of Columbia

University, New York and Rhodes University, South Africa, has won a number of international and local awards, including the 2017 Early Childhood Development Reporting Awards in Washington DC; 2016 Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Award ‘print category’, the 2018 Nordica Media Merit Award and a host of others.

The Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, described the award as part of the organisation’s efforts to reward excellence in fertility reportage

in Nigeria, adding that such quality stories will help raise more awareness on reproductive health issues in the country.

The winners of each of the categories were given plaques and N250, 000 cash prize each.

Members of the jury board included the Editor-in-Chief/ General Manager Publications of Vanguard Newspapers, Gbenga Adefaye; the Group Editor, The Nation Newspapers, Gbenga Omotoso, among others.

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Ibori Appeals Conviction, Drags UK to European Court of Human Rights Esther Oluku A former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has dragged the United Kingdom to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, in a bid to quash his conviction by a London court.

The attestation papers, filed in this respect, were received by the European court on April 16, 2019.

The foundation of Ibori’s appeal, according to the papers filed by his counsel, rests on his claim that Britain disobeyed its own laws all in a rush to get him convicted.

Nigeria’s Economy Growing Under Buhari, Adesina Insists Segun James The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, yesterday stated that the Nigeria’s economy has been growing robustly since 2016 but only the opposition elements have refused to acknowledge this growth.

Adesina who made the declaration at the 2nd Annual Lecture of Freedom Online held in Lagos, said that “in 2017, agriculture grew in export and before we export, it means that we have enough to satisfy local consumption. The opposition tends not to see the growing economic trend and impact in the country.”

He disclosed that “we have abundant rice production in Nasarawa, Kebbi and neighbouring Ogun states, adding that millions of dollars are saved daily on rice importation. In 2017 raw material export rose by 164.2 per cent; in the same year export of manufactured goods grew by 26.8 per cent. But when we talk about manufacturing, people choose to be blind to the development. The thing is that if you choose to be willfully blind, if they put something right in front of you will not see.

“In 2017, Nigeria stock market emerged as one of the best performing market in the world. How about tax payment, five million new tax payers were added to the tax base in 2016. This was part of the effort to diversify the economy through tax payers.

“In infrastructure, N2.7 trillion was spent on infrastructure in 2016 and 2017 fiscal year. And you know what that does? The economy was boosted; fertilizer of 2.80 million metric tonnes was made available for agriculture at N600 per bag, which cost us

His counsel argued that “this application concerns an unusual provision of United Kingdom law: s17 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (‘RIPA’).

According to the former governor’s counsel, “it prohibits any reference, in any proceedings, to an intercepted communication or its contents- e.g. an intercepted phone call - in circumstances in which its origin as an intercepted communication is disclosed or could be inferred. The United Kingdom is virtually unique in having such a provision: intercepted communications are used routinely as evidence in court proceedings throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

Ibori’s counsel alleged that the

“operation of Section 17 of RIPA, as applied in the highly unusual circumstances of his case, resulted in a violation of Ibori’s rights pursuant to Article 6 of ECHR”.

He further argued that this actually is the crux of the matter, because Britain’s failure to obey its own laws has rendered every other thing that followed, including his guilty plea later, defective.

Ibori went on appeal after pleading guilty. But his counsel said, in the appeal papers filed at the European Court of Human Rights, that Ibori had pleaded guilty to criminal offences but subsequently applied for permission to appeal his convictions in light of the disclosure of new material.

According to his counsel, it is this “new material” which surfaced later that Ibori is predicating this appeal on.

Ibori’s counsels said in the case filed at the EU Court of Human Rights that at one of the court’s sittings, “Ms Sasha WASS QC (‘SWQC’), who had previously been instructed to prosecute the applicant (Ibori), sent a note to the Court of Appeal (‘the Wass Note’).

The counsels argued that, “it was a highly unusual note because it provided information, which could easily identify the source of the new material on which the Applicant’s appeal was based. However, in a reverse twist, such disclosure is prohibited in all court

proceedings by Section 17 of RIPA”.

In an effort to attempt to comply with Section 17 of RIPA for the remainder of the hearing, the Court of Appeal imposed ‘Ground Rules’ on the parties, which limited what the applicant’s counsel could refer to in his submissions.

The applicant submitted to the Court of Appeal - and submits in this application - that Section 17 of RIPA, combined with the ‘Ground Rules’, prevented him from properly developing his submissions before the Court of Appeal, adding that “as a result his appeal hearing was unfair.”

This development, it was learnt, is the major plank on which Ibori’s case rests.

N5,500. They play politics with the laudable achievement of government, but can that change the reality? No.” However, one of the Keynote speakers, Prof. Akin Onigbinde, disagreed with Adesina, insisting that the government needed to double its effort to make the people feel its impact.

“I have patronised the open market and live in Bodija, Oyo State. I cannot see this rice in the open market. Femi is my brother; he has a duty to direct our gaze to what we cannot see. Even in my own imagination, I have not seen the rice in Abeokuta in the last four years.”

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, also backed Onigbinde’s position, saying that “s an activist, I spent nothing less than N13,000 to fill my generator every day. I want you to pass this message to Mr. President because I remember what former President Goodluck Jonathan said when they are in the Villa that they don’t know what happen to the people in the society.

You can help us tell the President that Nigerians are suffering; the people are hungry and there is need for urgent change.

Earlier, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, speaking on the topic of the lecture titled: “Fixing the Economy: Less Politics, More Substance,” said Nigeria has the potentials to L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina; Keynote Speaker, Prof. Akin Onigbinde; Chairman of the be among the most prosperous occasion, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Special Guest of Honour, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; and representative of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Akin Oyebode, nations in the world, but added during the Freedom Online 2nd Annual Lecture in Lagos…yesterday.

ETOP UKUTT that certain things needed to be done.

The governor, who was represented by Akin Oyebode, said there should Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja yesterday said that the two part of ecological intervention culvert and road improvement be a roadmap to determine projects: the Flood and Erosion projects whose contracts were works at Abacha road, was development, giving instances President Muhammadu Buhari Control Along Abacha Road, awarded by the Ecological Fund awarded to capture scopes that of what Ekiti State is doing has inaugurated flood and erosion Old Karu, FCT, Abuja, and the Office Tenders Board (EFOTB) on could not be accommodated in presently to boost the control project in Nasarawa construction of Three-cell box May 28, 2018 and November 11, the first contract. economy of the state.

“The age-long problem of State in order to put an end to culvert and road improvement 2018, respectively.

Buhari stated: “The flood and gully erosion and flooding the age-long problem of gully work at Abacha Road, Karu, erosion and flooding within Nasarawa State, were executed erosion control along Abacha road, within this community cannot the Karu community in the state. by the federal government through old Karu, FCT, Abuja, was first be overemphasised. And I have The President who was the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) awarded to check flooding, erosion no doubts in my mind that these interventions represented by the Minister of in the Office of the Secretary to and improve access within the government’s would bring a huge relief to Sports and Youth Development, the Government of the Federation community and its environs.

“The second contract, which is the communities around this Solomon Dalong, while handing (SGF).

He added that the projects were the construction of three-cell box environ. private sector in infrastructure over the projects in Abuja, financing essential to Nigeria’s economic resilience.

This intervention will promote local currency infrastructure who have serious health challenges financing and further NYSC, Afolayan James, who which is also trending online.

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The coordinator, who said the are also relocated instantly to any development of the domestic made the confirmation and capital market, according to the The management of the National clarification in a media statement welfare and general well-being place where they can receive adequate arrangement.

Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in made available to journalists in of corps members are given top medical care since their condition InfraCredit is a specialised Bauchi State has confirmed the Bauchi yesterday was reacting most priority and consideration would not allow them to stay in infrastructure credit guarantee death of the 28-year-old corps to reports in the media that the by the management of the scheme, camp.”

According to James, “Corps company established to member, Magdalene Yohanna, scheme deliberately covered the pointed out that “this informed management’s decision that member, Yohanna, reported to camp enhance local currency debt who died during the batch A death of the corps member. instruments-mainly bonds to James said the NYSC prospective corps members must full of enthusiasm and zeal to serve orientation exercise, just as it finance eligible infrastructure debunked media reports that it management was constrained come to the orientation camp with her fatherland in Bauchi State. projects in Nigeria. to respond to the story reported a duly signed medical report by a Therefore, the corps member did covered up the incident.

According to the bank, this Also, NYSC has explained that in one of the national dailies in registered medical practitioner from not indicate any health challenge is intended to uplift the credit the deceased lied in the medical Bauchi (not THISDAY) on April a recognised government healthcare in the registration documents she rating of such bonds, allowing report she submitted to the scheme 17, 2019, with the caption: ‘How stating the true health condition of completed and neither did she institutional investors to include NYSC concealed the death of every prospective corps member.” complain of Asthma on arrival during her registration.

“Also, prospective corps members in the camp. them in their portfolios.

The state Coordinator of the Corps member in Bauchi camp’

TWO HEARTY CHEERS…

Buhari Inaugurates Erosion Control Project in Nasarawa

AfDB Approves $15m for Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company in Nigeria Chris Uba The Board of the African Development Bank (AfDB) yesterday approved a $15 million investment package to Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company to support infrastructure financing through the domestic debt capital markets in Nigeria, according to a statement by the bank.

The investment package to InfraCredit is comprised of a subordinated loan of $10 million and a risk sharing facility of up to $5 million even as InfraCredit aims to support up to $1.25 billion in infrastructure financing over the next few years, by involving the

NYSC Accuses Dead Corps Member of Lying About Her Health Status

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Adoke: I Can’t Be Held Liable for Executing Jonathan’s Order Davidson Iriekpen A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), has said he cannot be held responsible for carrying out presidential directives while he was office.

On Wednesday, an Abuja High Court had ordered the arrested of Adoke; former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dan Etete, and others, over the controversial OPL 245 deal executed by the federal government in 2011.

The six are named in the charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in relation to the Malabu Oil scam.

Speaking through his lawyer, Femi Oboro, the former AGF said as an aide, he merely carried out the directives of President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed him.

He described the warrant of arrest issued by the court as unlawful.

The former AGF said a court had earlier ruled that he could not answer for carrying out directives of Jonathan.

“The order came as a surprise to our client considering the fact that the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice B.F.M Nyako had in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/446/2017, given a reasoned judgment granting to our client the following declaratory reliefs: “The involvement of the plaintiff in the negotiations leading to the

implementation of a settlement agreement dated November 30, 2006 between Malabu Oil and Gas Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria and the eventual execution of Block 245 Malabu Resolution Agreement dated April 29, 2011 between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited was in furtherance of the lawful directives/approval of the president in the exercise of his executive powers.

“The involvement of the plaintiff in the negotiation and eventual execution of the Block 245 Resolution Agreement dated April 29, 2011 between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Shell Nigerian Ultra Deep Limited; and Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited; and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, was in furtherance of the lawful directives/approval of the President in the exercise of his executive powers.

“Any correspondence/ instruction to JP Morgan or any other entity and ancillary actions and processes taken by the plaintiff in furtherance of the implementation of the settlement agreement dated November 30, 2006; Block 245 Malabu agreement dated April 29, 2011; Block 245 SNUD Resolution Agreement dated April 29, 2011and Block 245 resolution dated April 29, 2011were in furtherance of the lawful directives/approvals of the President in the exercise of his executive powers.

Wike Suspends 12 LG Chairmen Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State yesterday announced the suspension of 12 local government chairmen in the state.

Their suspension was announced in a terse statement in Port Harcourt, by b Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu.

According to the statement,

the suspended Council Chairmen are those of Okrika; Emohua; Abua/Odual; Degema; Khana and Gokana LGAs. Others are Ahoada East; Ikwerre; Eleme; Andoni; Omuma; and Ogu/Bolo LGAs. Nwakaudu added that the affected council chairmen were suspended for failure to participate in an official function.

Jonathan Urges Nigerians Not to be Discouraged by Violence Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians not to give up on the nation in the face of unabating violence and misery, stressing that Nigeria has all it takes to overcome its challenges.

The Ex-President who stated this in his Easter goodwill message also enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, unity, sacrifice and hardwork as necessary instruments for the fixing of what has gone wrong in our society.

He said: “Through our faith and collective actions, we will overcome the tempests of violence, misery and insecurity that threaten our nation.”

Below is the full text of the message: “Easter is a time Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who offered Himself as a sacrifice for the remission of the sins of the world. Christ’s resurrection as a

testimony of the new covenant is the justification for Christians’ commemoration of the triumph of life over death, freedom over bondage and hope over despair, at this time.

“I, therefore, urge us not to give up on our ourselves and our nation no matter the challenges that confront us today. At all times we must remain resolute on our love for God and our nation and work towards building a country that we can all be proud of.

“Through our faith and collective actions, we will overcome the tempests of violence, misery and insecurity that threaten our nation. We are more than conquerors and the future of our nation is bright, if we work as one.

“May God fill our homes with peace, love and joy even as we enjoy the abundance of Grace that Easter brings. Happy Easter!”

“The plaintiff cannot be held personally liable for carrying out the lawful /approvals of the president while he served as a minister of the government of the federation.”

Oboro accused the EFCC of concealing the existence of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, exonerating his client from all criminal allegations concerning the OPL 245.

“Since the criminal charges

filed by the EFCC before the Federal Capital Territory High Court of Justice, Abuja, are based on the same facts before the Federal High Court, Abuja, our client expected that in line with the time tested traditions of prosecutorial agencies all over the world, the EFCC and or, the AGF who was a party to the suit before the Federal High Court Abuja, would take immediate steps after the judgment of the

Federal High Court to withdraw the criminal charges or apply to court to strike out the name of our client from the charges,” the lawyer said.

“It is even more worrisome that the EFCC concealed this vital information of the existence of the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja exonerating our client from all the criminal allegations made in respect of the OPL 245 Settlement Agreement

of 2011 from the court in their application for the warrant of arrest especially the declaration that our client ‘bears no liability for obeying the lawful directives/ approvals of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

Adoke had earlier said he would fight the order in court because he had already been cleared of any wrong doing by a “competent court of law.”

CONGRATULATIONS…

L-R: Group Head, Retail Marketing and Analytics, Access Bank Plc. Chioma Efe; winner of One Million Naira Diamond Xtra Season 11 Scheme, Mrs. Aderayo Kuburat Adeniyi; and Executive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank Plc. Mr. Victor Etuokwu, at the presentation of Cheque to the winner DiamondEtra Season Eleven in Lagos… yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

We are Empowered by Law to Make Arrest, LASTMA Clarifies Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) yesterday reiterated its powers under the relevant provisions of the Lagos State Traffic Laws of 2012 (as amended) to impound any vehicle and apprehend recalcitrant motorists who contravene any section of the law.

Speaking while receiving the executive and members of Humanitarian Voluntary Association for Community Development who came to express solidarity and sympathy over the death of 18 traffic officials of the agency that died on line of duty in 2018, LASTMA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chris Olakpe, said contrary to misinformation in some sections of the media, the agency was fully empowered by law to make arrest

where and when necessary.

Olakpe who is a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), said the traffic laws of the state equipped officials of the agency with powers to arrest where appropriate and allow the alleged offender to pay the fine stipulated for the offence under the law.

In addition, the LASTMA boss said the law allows for penalties for neglect of traffic directions, while disobeying traffic control personnel also attracts fines and impounding of vehicles.

According to him, “one thing the people must know is that the purpose of laws in any state is to regulate human conduct and punish violators, to ensure safety and sanity on the roads and at the same time regulate the function and authority

of traffic personnel.”

He said from the findings of the agency, many of the gridlocks are due to the unusual driving behaviour of some motorists, saying it was important for the public to always cooperate with traffic officers while on the road.

He added that instead of taking laws into their hands, motorists should feel free to take advantage of the open-door policy of LASTMA by reporting any erring officer.

“Just from January 2019 till date, over 30 traffic officials have been brutalized by ill-tempered motorists and as an Agency, we owe it to our officials and their families the responsibility of ensuring their security and safety while performing their duties,” Olakpe said.

He assured that the agency was

reaching out to sister agencies and spirited members of the public in order to deepen collaboration and cooperation with a view to protecting state traffic officials in their domain.

He warned that any motorist that proved to be an agent provocateur will have his vehicle impounded and taken to LASTMA Yard to face appropriate sanctions, in accordance with the relevant section of the law.

He further disclosed that the state traffic officials will soon commence another round of training on civility, politeness and protocol of arrest that would lay emphasis on respect for members of the public, just as he assured that adequate traffic measures have been firmed up to achieve seamless traffic during the Easter period and beyond.

AMCON Takes over Micmerah International Ugo Aliogo A Federal High Court in Awka, the Anambra State capital, in suits number FHC/AWK/ CS/101/2018 and number FHC/AWK/CS/102/2018 has ordered the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to take over the business and assets of Micmerah International Agency Limited.

AMCON had appointed Chief Tagbo Anieto as Receiver/ Manager over the assets of Micmerah International Agency Limited, which owes it over N1billion.

The company is located in Onitsha, the commercial hub

of the state.

A statement issued yesterday explained that in compliance with the court order, AMCON yesterday through the Receiver/ Manager took over the business and assets of Micmerah International Agency Limited.

Justice I.B. Gafai, who presided over the matter, granted AMCON the full possession and power of sale of the assets of Micmerah, which is now in the custody of AMCON. AMCON had taken over the Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) of Micmerah from various banks in line with its mandate under the AMCON Act. All efforts to peacefully resolve the loan

were allegedly frustrated by Chief Mike Emerah, the prime promoter of the company, which left AMCON with no other choice than to seek justice in the court of competent jurisdiction.

Confirming that AMCON had already taken over the assets/properties of Micmerah as directed by the court, the Head, Corporate Communications of AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, in the statement, explained: “We saw it coming because the said debt is long overdue. As a responsible corporation, before we get to this stage with any of our obligors, we must have patiently tried to resolve the matter without going to court. Anytime we end up

taking over assets by the order of the court such as in the case of Micmerah, it means all efforts

by AMCON to get the obligor to amicably repay the indebtedness have proved abortive.

“When you have exhausted all avenues of peaceful resolution, there is no other option available to AMCON than what has eventually happened, which is the commencement of enforcement action against Micmerah as mandated by the court as provided under Section 49-52 of the AMCON Act. If not, it would be difficult to take over those assets because the owner is very influential in Anambra State.”

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Illegal Firearms: Navy Hands over Three Greeks, American, Five Nigerians to Interpol Chiemelie Ezeobi The Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday handed over nine suspected pirates, comprising three Greeks, an American and five Nigerians to the Interpol unit of the Nigeria Police for allegedly possessing firearms and suspected crude oil within the Nigerian maritime domain.

The Officer in Tactical Command (OTC), Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor, handed over the suspects at the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT parade ground in Apapa, Lagos.

The suspects and their vessel, Sea Angel 3, were arrested within the western waters during a joint operation codenamed Junction Rain, which was undertaken by the NN and the United States Navy.

The vessel was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and suspected crude oil theft

by NNS CENTENARY. The Greeks were identified as Angelopolous Spyridon, 54; Kappis Christos, 57, and Petropoulos Stylianos, 34, while the American was identified as Zanski MichaelAnderson, 50.

Also recovered were four Bernelli MI-1 rifles, over 1,000 ammunition and other military gadgets.

Meanwhile, a discharge document was also recovered onboard the boat having the name, signature and details of Michael-Anderson but with another photograph.

Addressing journalists at the handing over ceremony, the OTC said the objective of the operation was to carry out maritime law enforcement operations at sea.

According to him, “Before now, we go out there to make arrest and we hand them over to relevant agencies, but the activities of these criminals have continued unabated.

“So this time, we made a detailed search and interrogation of ships at sea. Within the period of the operation, we interrogated over 100 ships; we boarded over 40 of them, and in the process of boarding these vessels, one was suspected to be carrying out illegal activities on our waters.

“When we interrogated the captain and crew members of the ship, they made us believe that there were only five Nigerians on board. The boat was painted in navy colour which aroused our suspicions more.

“They did not switch on their electronic gadget at sea, which would indicate their position as stipulated by the International Maritime Organisation, so this attracted our attention.

Call Herdsmen to Order, Okowa’s Aide Tells Buhari, IG Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba An appeal has gone to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Abubakar Adamu, and the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleke Adeleke, to use their good offices to urgently stop the criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen and killing of innocent Deltans in their farmlands.

The Executive Assistant (Communications) to the Delta State governor, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, made the call in a statement condemning the alleged killings of about 12 people in Ethiope East and Ukwuani Local Government Areas of the state recently.

He noted that the impunity of Fulani nomads in the state could lead to a breach of peace, law and order in the state if the relevant authorities, including the president and the police “fail to order the direct combing of the affected communities, arrest and prosecute the murderers who have caused pains, sorrow and agony to the deceased families.”

The legal practitioner particularly chided the IG and the state Police Commissioner “for folding their arms and doing nothing about criminal activities of the herdsmen,” saying the fact that there had been “no arrest and prosecution” of the criminal herders amounted to “obvious negligence of duty” on the part of the police authorities.

Oghenesivbe, who likened the criminal activities of the suspected Fulani herdsmen in the state to the mindless killings

by Boko Haram insurgents, said: “Herdsmen do not rape women,

young girls and kill people in farmlands; such criminal activities rest in the domain of terrorists such as Boko Haram, who are parading themselves as Fulani herdsmen in Delta State and across the country.

“The Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has limit as to his control of security operatives in the state due to the exclusive constitutional right of the federal government in the control of the police and other security agencies.

“As it is today, the state Commissioner of Police takes instructions directly from the IG while the IG is answerable to the president, which shows that the governor merely interacts with the commissioner of police and other heads of security agencies on how to better secure the state; assist security agencies financially, provide vehicles and equipment without corresponding powers to absolutely control their official activities, actions and inactions.

“It follows that as Chief Security Officer of Delta State, Okowa cannot issue orders that may bind or direct the heads of security agencies when it comes to complex and politically motivated criminal activities of some blood thirsty Fulani herdsmen in some communities in the state.

“Our people are running out of patient and it is morally and constitutional expedient for the president, the IG and police commissioner to confront these criminals parading themselves as Fulani herdsmen before our people lose their cool and resort to self-help and jungle justice.”

“We boarded the ship and discovered that there were more than five persons on board. There were five Nigerians, three Greeks and an American.

“Further search on the boat reviewed that they had four MI riffles that can be used to do anything at sea, and over 1,000

rounds of ammunition with them and various military kits.

“We don’t know what they were doing on our waters. We are handing over the suspects, exhibits and the boats to the Nigerian Police. They will further investigation and prosecute the suspects.”

After receiving the suspects, vessel and weapons, Interpol Lagos boss, Tunji Akingbola, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said investigation would commence immediately.

Also on ground were personnel from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), whose duty was

to verify the immigration status of the four foreigners.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian crew alleged that they were merely hired to provide necessities to their vessel, and as such, had no idea that the foreigners had illegal weapons.

DOUBLE HONOURS…

L-R: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; his wife, Olufunso; Otun Iyaloja of Egbaland, Mrs. Kemi Oloyede; and the Gbegba-Aje of Egbaland, Mrs. Tejumade Bakare, during the conferment of Award of Excellence on the governor, and Grand Matron of the Market Women and Men Association, Egba zone, on his wife, in Abeokuta...yesterday

Infrastructure: Bello’s Administration a Waste, Says Kogi PDP Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as four years of waste, insisting that it cannot point to a one single completed project built by the administration.

The main opposition party in the state, however, said Director General Media and Publicity to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, lied on National Television.

The position of the opposition party was contained in a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretariat of the party, Bode Ogunmola, and made available to journalists in Lokoja.

The party, which was apparently reacting to the position of Fanwo who appeared on Politics Today on a Channels Television, to say the administration of Bello has

several completed projects to its credit, described it as “white lies,” saying there is no project for President Muhammadu Buhari to commission.

The PDP called on the Director General Media to seek forgiveness from God as well as apologise to the people of the state for his “woeful performance in turning logic on its head and peddling lies to deceive members of the public.

Ogunmola insisted that no single project, aside hunger, poverty and the many suicide committed by the people, can be attributed as infrastructure development of Bello’s administration.

It described as false the allegation that the administration of Governor Idris Wada accessed a N20 billion Bond, saying for the records, “the administration was only able to access N8 billion from the money while it is on record that the balance of N12 billion has been accessed by

the present administration.

According to the PDP, out of the N8 billion the PDP administration got, it began work on the dualisation of the Welcome to Lokoja to the New Market road, which is now abandoned by the present administration.

The statement also added that with the bond financing, the PDP administration completed the multi million naira motor park, began work on the bye pass road from Ganaja to the Secretariat Junction, began work on the 14 storey Kogi House in Abuja, the Shoreline protection and embankment along Kabawa, the construction of 500 housing units in Ganaja and crusher and 58 water projects across the state.

Other projects executed by the Wada administration with the bond money, according to Ogunmola, included the Kogi Hotels which he said the present

administration is finding difficult to paint and put to use in four years among several others captured under the bond project.

The party noted with disappointment that the uncompleted Omi rice project, a private initiative, is a conduit pipe to defraud Kogi people, asking where is the confluence rice? But assured the people that every stolen money of the state would be recovered, saying the APC administration is a deceit.

PDP said it is shameful that in four years, Bello could not invite President Buhari for inauguration of any project nor any of the governor’s colleague to inaugurate projects initiated and completed by his administration, asking Bello to forget a second term after his monumental and woeful performance.

Ugwuanyi Holds Town Hall Meeting on Water Supply Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor-elect, yesterday held a town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders aimed at finding lasting solutions to the problems hindering the regular supply of water to the homes and establishments in the state.

The meeting, which was summoned at the instance of the governor, in keeping with his administration’s renewed vigor to enhance the wellbeing of the people of the state through the sustenance of peace and good governance, extracted firm commitment from the players in the industry on better ways to

improve adequate water supply in the state.

Addressing the participants at the meeting, held at Ajali Water Scheme, Ezeagu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Ugwuanyi stated that “the water sector in the state has over the years encountered and is still being hampered by a number of factors, especially, the fragile conditions of some of the existing water projects and installations as well as daunting environmental and human factors”, in spite of several attempts his administration has made to revamp the sector.

He added that his administration recently invested in the upgrade of existing infrastructure for enhanced water production and distribution across the state, stressing that the state government was desirous of finding immediate stop-gap solutions to the challenges the sector is facing currently for residents to enjoy adequate and satisfactory water supply.

Ugwuanyi disclosed that the stop-gap solutions will provide water service to the state until the fifty million US Dollars loan the state government signed up with French Development Agency

(AFD) for 3rd National Urban Water Sector Reform Project for total transformation of the state’s water infrastructure is accessed.

The governor, who further disclosed that his administration is currently on the threshold of the first draw-down of the loan for an end-to-end transformation of the water infrastructure to begin, pointed out that the project which has “a long gestation period” will involve water production, transmission, distribution, metering, revenue collection and revenue recycling.

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Court Sacks Ebonyi Senator, Ogbuoji Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, has sacked the Senator representing Ebonyi South senatorial district, Sonni Ogbuoji, from his position and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election with immediate effect.

The presiding judge, Justice Akintola Aluko, ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the Senator in 2015 immediately and to conduct a fresh election to fill the seat.

The court held that Ogbuoji by defecting from the party under whose platform he was elected to another party, flouted section 68(1)g of the 1999 constitution.

The judge also ordered the lawmaker to refund all monies in the form of salaries, allowances or any order form of payment he may have received as benefits from the position of senator from the date of his defection to the coffers of government.

He said: “section 68(1)g says that a member of Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the house if being a person whose election to the house was sponsored by another political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that house was elected.

Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

“In other words, any lawmaker who defects to another political party when the party under whose platform he was elected was not undergoing any form of crisis or was not part of a merger with

two or more political parties shall vacate his seat.”

Justice Aluko in the 71 page judgment held that Ogbuoji who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2018 flouted the above section of the constitution.

The judgment was in respect of suit number FHC/AI/CS/44/2018 filed by Evo Ogbonnaya Anegu, Oti Ama Ude, Uche Richard Ajali, Una Sunday Okoro and Simon Ajali Ogbadu, for themselves and on behalf of the teaming members of the PDP in Ebonyi South senatorial district.

The petitioners sued Ogbuoji and the INEC (2nd Defendant) asking the court to declare Ogbuoji’s seat vacant for defecting to the APC when there was no crisis or division in the PDP. They also prayed the court to order the 1st defendant (Ogbuoji) to refund all monies he may have been paid since January 2018 when he defected from the PDP to the APC. The plaintiffs in their postulations through their counsel, Roy Umahi, expressed worry that Ogbuoji’s conduct if not condemned and upturned would encourage political prostitution and legislative rascality and destroy the reasons for the laws made to regulate defections of National Assembly members by the constitution.

But Ogbuoji in his defence claimed that he resigned his membership of the PDP and defected to the APC on January 27, 2017, and not January 2018 as claimed by the applicants.

He noted that the crisis in the party was finally resolved in July 2017 by the Supreme Court but that before then, he had resigned his membership of the party via a letter of resignation he submitted to the PDP Secretary of his Ebunwana ward, one Ukpo Regina Agwu, in January 27, 2017.

FG Begins Rehabilitation of Nigeria - Cameroon Road Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The federal government has commenced rehabilitation of the road linking the North-east of the country to neighbouring Cameroon.

The road, Maiduguri-Dikwa road, according to the acting Director-General of National Boundary Commission (NBC), Adamu Adaji, would be rehabilitated under the watch of the military to prevent attack from Boko Haram, which has made it impassable for about a decade.

The road, according to him, would be supervised by the Presidential Resettlement Committee.

The 85-kilometre would open access to many communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno.

The road which link Maiduguri, the epicenter of Boko Haram with three local governments, Mafa, Dikwa and Marte, in the heart of Borno State, has become the den of Boko Haram largely because of its bad state.

It was on this road that a convoy of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, on February 21, 2019, was attacked by Boko Haram.

Flagging off the project at Mafa, Adaji said that the Presidency has

approved funds to construct and repair the dilapidated road from Maiduguri to Dikwa.

He said: “Work on this road has commenced with the support of Nigerian Army. The Acting General Officer Commanding of 7 Division; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Biu, will provide security for the commission to complete the project.”

Adaji said the road, which is expected to be completed in 41 days, will link Cameroon and other border communities in the state.

He said the road was in compliance with 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on border communities with Chad and Cameroon.

He noted that the road is important as it allows for the movement of 200 to 300 trucks daily loaded with industrial and household products to Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Niger and Central African Republic.

Shettima revealed that earth dams are also to be constructed between Dikwa and Mafa for farming and livestock production.

He also told Adaji that an asphalt plant is to be established in Dikwa to expedite the completion of road projects in that axis of the state.

But the plaintiffs countered by providing evidence that the said Regina Ukpo was not the secretary of the ward at the time the said letter was allegedly given to her as she had already been expelled by the party on January 23, 2017.

They also argued with incontrovertible evidence that Ogbuoji who claimed to have

defected from the PDP to APC in January 2017 took active participation in the non- elective and elective congresses of the PDP which held on August and December 2017 as a delegate.

The court, in its findings, said there were discrepancies in the evidences provided by Ogbuoji which rendered them unreliable

and doubtful.

“There is no basis to attach any probative or evidential value to the said exhibits. What that means is that the defendant’s claim of resignation on January 2017 is shrouded in inconsistency, contradiction and suspicion” the Judge said.

The court concluded that it has been tremendously and sufficiently

established by credible evidence that Ogbuoji defected to the APC in January 2018 and not January 2017 as he claimed in his defence.

It also said that at the time of his defection there was no division or faction in the PDP to warrant such defection as permitted by section 68 (1)g of the constitution.

COURTESY VISIT...

L-R: 2nd Deputy Vice President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), Mrs.Comfort Olujumoke Eyitayo; President, ICAN, Alhaji Razak Adeleke Jaiyeola, presenting a book to Managing Director, Arik Air, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu; and Chairman, Ikeja District Society of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (IDSICAN), Mr. Oni Olalere, during the ICAN’s visit to Arik Air at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday KOLAWOLE ALLI

Easter Celebration: Ikeja Electric Assures Customers of Efficient Service Delivery Esther Oluku In a demonstration of its readiness to deliver efficient services to customers, Ikeja Electric Plc (IE), has assured customers across its network of its commitment to ensure hitch-free services during the Easter holiday.

While wishing all its customers a safe and enjoyable holiday season, on behalf of the company, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Felix

Ofulue, also urged customers to take advantage of its numerous channels for payment of electricity bills to avoid disconnection during the holiday period.

Ofulue explained that measures have been put in place to ensure network stability and smooth operations during the Easter holidays.

“In anticipation of customers’ expectations during the holiday, we have provided a maintenance process to monitor and patrol

the network to ensure faults are cleared as and when due and also mitigate the effect of any threat to supply,” he said.

He also cautioned against harassment of the company’s employees on duty, noting that the company has provided multiple channels and customer care touch points through which customers may seek redress. He confirmed that customer service has expanded its teams dedicated to handling customer complaints.

Ofulue further reiterated IE’s commitment towards improving its service delivery, stressing that the company has been replacing defective utility poles and transformers to ensure safe and efficient distribution of supply.

He also advised customers not to resort to using those unqualified electricians to clear fault in their areas, adding that such activities were usually responsible for most of the technical problems on the network.

Osun Moves against Infiltration of Bandit-miners, Criminals Worried about the likely infiltration of illegal miners and bandits displaced from Zamfara State, the Osun State Government yesterday urged security stakeholders and traditional rulers to be at alert to prevent all forms of criminality.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said: “It has become imperative to put measures in place to checkmate the influx of displaced illegal miners to prevent the reverberation effect of the Zamfara State crisis in Osun.”

He spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday at a security

sensitasation programme attended by traditional rulers, security operatives, civil society organisations, politicians, market women, community leaders and top government functionaries.

The governor spoke on the need for security powered by intelligence gathering, vigilance by traditional rulers in their domain and the need to alert security agents on their observation to prevent crime and criminality.

Some of the security chiefs at the meeting raised the alarm on the infiltration of mining sites in the

state by some bandits and urged the rulers to assist the operatives so that the invaders do not have a foot hold.

The top security chiefs cautioned landlords against renting out houses to people without knowing their background or profiling them.

“If you rent out your house to a person who turns out to be a bandit, you will bear the consequence with him,” Governor Oyetola warned landlords.

He urged traditional rulers to work hard in the villages because illegal

miners “are gathering in remote areas of our state.”

The federal government banned all forms of mining in Zamfara State following sustained killings by bandits propelled by those believed to be illegal miners.

The governor said: “The purpose of the stakeholders’ meeting is to sensitize the security stakeholders on the need to forestall possible influx of illegal miners and the attendant risks of kidnapping, killings, drug dealings, arms peddling and rape.

Nobody is Above the Law in Edo, State Govt Insists Following allegations that the Edo State Government was intimidating a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, the state government has flayed the insinuations, insisting that nobody was above the law in the state and that the interest of the common would always supersede that of a privileged few.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr.

Crusoe Osagie, the state government reiterated the supremacy of the rule of law and order in the state, noting that the allegation of victimisation on the grounds of defection was baseless.

According to him, “We have read with surprise that the opposition party said a chieftain of their party, Mr. Osamede Adun (also known as Bob Izua) is being victimised by the state government. But what they failed to state is whether the said member’s actions violated rules and regulations on physical

planning and development in the state, for which he is being sanctioned.

“In the list put out by the PDP, they mentioned the demolition of one of the buildings belonging to Adun, which took place in mid-2017. At the time, Adun was a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. His building, which violated regulations, was pulled down regardless of his being a member of the party. So, when

you violate regulations, you will be sanctioned, regardless of political affiliation,” he said.

The governor’s aide stressed that the state government would continue to uphold the rule of law in the state, stating, “For the umpteenth time, the rule of law and interest of the common man would always supersede the interest of a few, no matter their social, political or economic standing in society.”

55

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2019

ÜÙßÚ ÚÙÜÞÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Duro Ikhazuagbe

FRIDAYSPORTS

×ËÓÖ˝ duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 08111813083

LMC’sHammerFallsonFCIfeanyiUbah,Rangers over Fans Misconduct In a bid to further instill discipline into domestic football scene, the League Management Company (LMC), yesterday slams FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Rangers International of Enugu for gross misconduct in the on going football season.

FC IfeanyiUbah was charged for failing to provide adequate security during their week 13 home game against Plateau United and the LMC also gave the club FC 48 hours to communicate in writing, in acceptance of the decision or otherwise before the panel.

In a statement from the LMC on their official Twitter handle which reads; “FC Ifeanyi Ubah has been charged by the LMC for breach of Rule B8.21 on MatchDay 13 in their home fixture against Plateau United.

“FC Ifeanyi Ubah was charged for failing to provide adequate security for match officials who were threatened on their way to the dressing room at half time by the club’s supporters wielding dangerous objects.

“FC Ifeanyiubah has 48 hours to communicate in writing, acceptance of the decision or elect to appear before a panel.

THISDAY Sports recalled that Plateau United were banished

to Ilorin and fined N3m after their fans encroached the pitch and lynched the centre referee in their Matchday 1 fixture against FC Ifeanyi Ubah which ended goalless.

Aside FC IfeanyiUbah, former league champions, Enugu Rangers were on the wrong side of the rules and regulations of LMC and as such received a fine of N2.5 million for breaching league rules during their Matchday 14 which was the match against Katsina United in Enugu.

The Flying Antelope failed to provide adequate security to prevent fans gained access to the pitch and almost broke into the dressing room thereby breached Rule B13.52.1, B13.52.2 and B8.21 of the League.

Rangers International of Enugu won the said match by a lone goal. Moments after the match, their fans encroached the pitch and gained access to restricted area. The reason for the sanction came into public domain from the league body via its official Twitter handle which reads; “Rangers International has been fined a total of N2.5m for breaches of Rule B13.52.1, B13.52.2 and B8.21 during their MatchDay 14 fixture against Katsina United.

L-R: Governor-elect of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu receiving an autographed football from former Spanish national football team captain and Heineken UEFA Champions League Tour Ambassador, Carles Puyol at the VVIP event of the Heineken UEFA Champions League Tour in Lagos on Wednesday.

“The LMC in a Summary Jurisdiction notice charged the club for failure to ensure adequate and effective crowd

control as spectators gained access to restricted area such as the running tracks in breach of Rule B13.52.1.

Rohr Raises Concern over Kalu’s Fitness for AFCON 2019 Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr is worried over one of the players, Samuel Kalu who is battling to be fit for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after suffering a relapse from an injury which he has nursed for two months and half.

According to Owngoalnigeria.com, Kalu is yet to play for Bordeaux the past three weeks and he is not close to returning for the team due to the injury set

back, which according to Rohr became worse after he tried to force his return back to action in a league game against Monaco on the 9th of March, a game he ended up playing just 29 minutes.

The Franco-German coach revealed that Kalu’s family issues particularly when his mother was kidnapped for ransom also aggravated the injury as the 21 year old didn’t sleep for nights in his bid to secure the release of his

mother from her abductors.

He rounded up by saying he is however hopeful that the forward will play for Bordeaux once again this season and also prove his fitness on time for the Africa Cup of Nations because he is a very important player to the senior national team of Nigeria. ” It’s an elongation at the limit of a small tear. He wanted to resume a little too fast, so he forced it and with

the fatigue accumulated by the anxiety for his mother who was kidnapped, he had sleepless nights which further aggravated the injury “, Rohr said. ” Bordeaux has shown lot of understanding and have been helpful to him. The injury halted his progress but I am sure he will bring something more when he returns because he is also key to our plans for the Africa Cup of Nations “.

Lawrence-Ogidan Vows to Transform Baseball and Softball in Nigeria The Lagos State Baseball and SoftBall Association has affirmed it readiness to develop the game in the State through Grassroots development .

The Chairman of the State Baseball and Softball Association, Mr Abiodun Lawrence Ogidan said the aim is to spread the game across the schools in the State and provide the necessary equipments and to train the schools games’ teachers the technical aspect of the game.

Mr Lawrence-Ogidan further said that some reputable citizens have indicated interest to consult for the association and help raise

the standard of the sport to the level that would be rated as one of the best in the world.

“We are ready to take this game to all schools in Lagos state and provide necessary training kits for the schools because we believe in Grassroots Development. We will also train the schools games teachers on the technical aspects of the game.

“We have access to kits don’t let us worry ourselves about that, whether locally or internationally, already I can tell you what is on the way, there are three separate clubs in the United states that are willing to partner with Lagos State

Baseball and Softball association.

“Personally I have two people who have told me and expressed their wish to be an international consultants to us in terms of having a sister club abroad. I know in Atlanta, I know in Dallas and in Maryland they are ready to work with us and this will help us in terms of kits”.

Mr Lawrence –Ogidan further emphasized that his Board is organising a well structured League in order to get attention from well meaning Nigerians who are staunched lover of Baseball and Softball in the country adding that their aim is to have long, medium

and short term plans which is to build a Lagos state Baseball Park. “ Our plan is to have a land for a baseball Park which has been discussed with the incoming Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu and having a Baseball Park will solved many problems in developing the game which is our long term plan which will definitely attract sponsors to invest into the game and have a well structured league in the state”.

Lagos state Baseball and Softball league kicks off on the 27th of April with six clubs.

The league will last duration of six weeks.

FIFA Confirms North and South Korea Bid to Stage 2023 Women’s W’Cup North and South Korea – who are still technically at war – remain in the running to host the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup. South Korea’s Football Association has registered to bid for the tournament, expressing an interest in doing so with the North Korean FA. Any joint bid would be the latest in a number of displays of sporting unity between the

nations, at war since 1950.

North and South Korean athletes took part in a joint march at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, also fielding a combined women’s ice hockey team.

Alongside the World Cup bid, the two countries are hoping to hold the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games together.

The Olympic Committees from

both nations met the International Olympic Committee in February to discuss the idea.

FIFA received nine registrations from member associations to bid to host the 2023 World Cup, the largest number to have done so for a FIFA tournament.

Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa have also registered.

None of the nine countries have staged the tournament in its 28-year history.

The associations have until October 4 to submit bids, with bid books set to be published in full on FIFA’s website to ensure a fair and transparent process.

The FIFA Council will then make the decision in March 2020, in a vote which will again be made public.

“A third charge against Rangers International was breach of Rule B8.21 in that the club failed to provide adequate security for

match officials who were prevented from gaining access to the dressing room and forced to remain on the pitch at half time.”

Howzat National Junior Crickets Super League Kickoff Today The Howzat Foundation for Cricket has scheduled Friday April 19 to Sunday April 21, for the 23rd Howzat National Junior Cricket Super League for Chief Philip Asiodu Trophy.

According to the organisers, eight schools have been invited for this year tournament.

The schools are, Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Isolo, Lagos, Ansar-UdDeen Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos, Federal Government College, Warri, Delta and Government College, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Others are Ogun State representative Lisabi High School, Abeokuta, Obele Community

High School, Surulere, Lagos, Scholar imperial school, Benin City, Edo and Kaduna College, Kaduna.

The venue for this year tournament will hold at Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

As part of efforts by the foundation to re-establish cricket in tradition cricket playing schools and breaking new ground, it is opening new cricket grounds for school boy cricket and seniors.

The foundation is partnering with the Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School to hosting this year tournament.

How Solskjaer’s Match Plans Fell into Barca’s Hand in UCL Elimination Footage has emerged of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signalling a tactical change in formation during Manchester United’s defeat

by Barcelona by handing striker Marcus Rashford a paper note.

Rashford, after reading it, dropped it onto the turf - only for Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to pick it up and discover Solskjaer’s tactical secrets. He didn’t appear too impressed, however, chucking it back onto the pitch.

The contents of that note can also be revealed, with Solskjaer writing down the new team formation - 4-4-2.

Even that tactical switch by Solskjaer could not prevent Manchester Unitedcrashing out of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Lionel Messi’s early brace had forced the United boss to change tact and move Anthony Martial up front alongside Rashford.

It didn’t work out as Philippe Coutinho added a stunning third in the second half to send Barca through to the semi-finals 4-0 on aggregate.

In the video, Rashford jogs onto the pitch and examines the note that was handed to him on the bench.

He then drops the piece of paper to the turf after a collision with Gerard Pique near the edge of the Barcelona penalty area.

Ter Stegen then proceeds to read the hand-written note before disposing of it himself.

The note showed names of players in the new formation.

It showed Martial and Rashford up front with Jesse Lingard on the right and Paul Pogba on the left. Scott McTominay and Fred are the two central midfielders.

The defence remained the same - Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Ashley Young.

Friday, April 19, 2019

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MISSILE Wike to Opposition “We want everybody to take advantage of the olive branch if they love the state. We are not afraid to fight, but we want everyone to join us to work for the development of the state. The state is uppermost on our mind” – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, calling on all politicians in the state to maintain peace for the sake of the state.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Unpacking the 2019 Elections A

s a concerned citizen and student of Nigerian politics, I was relived at the emergence of former Vice Atiku Abubakar as the main contender with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential elections. The relief is on account of the immunity of their shared Northern (Fulani) Moslem identity against the potential of presidential elections in Nigeria to assume violent ethno regional fractiousness. The big elephant in the room of Nigerian politics is its vulnerability to negative identity politics-the tendency of political mobilisation to approximate the cleavages of ethnicity, religion and regionalism. This development was of course not an accident. It was derived directly from the zoning principle that preemptively alternates the Nigerian Presidency between the North and South-thereby precluding a fraught situation in which the North is arrayed in opposition to the South in political contest and conflict. It also serves as political insurance against inadvertent political marginalisation that may result from the coincidence of the majoritarian rule advantage with regional dominance and monopoly of power. It meant that the loss of either candidate in the election will not culminate in the winner-takes-all syndrome for the region of the loser. And to that extent will be less prone to a precipitate situation for violence-fuelled by regional sense of loss and deprivation. And again, to this extent, it has worked just as the doctors prescribed. Then it all began to go funny and awry-as illustrated in the under-listed subtitles

Hypocrisy of the International Community Prior to the election, the indication was that the international community (championed by the United States) was going to hold the Nigerian government to account in a similar manner to the vigilante role it played in the 2015 elections. Perturbed by this projection, Governor Nasir el-Rufai had literally raised hell in warning the emissaries of the international community to put emphasis on their personal safety rather than any sense of fidelity to their mission. While the results of the elections were being progressively transmitted and it seemed as if the PDP candidate was going to carry the day, the Political Adviser to the President issued a panic mode statement targeting the international community.

“Our attention has been drawn to the trend of international foreign missions and observer groups buying into the false propaganda and fake results being tweeted and put out by the opposition party and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. We note that the EU Mission, United States Embassy in Nigeria particularly and even for a brief moment the President of France, has been involved in this unfortunate activity despite the call of well-meaning countries like China and

for 2023, I was momentarily nonplussed.

Whatever happened to the observance of the stabilising instrument of zoning? And then I took another look at the spreadsheet of the INEC sanctified result of the 2019 election and got the message. In further perfection of the original thesis of Kwankwaso, the capacity attributed to the North to make and unmake in any national election has spiked beyond imagination.

Entered Dr Junaid Mohammed

Buhari

Russia, that Nigeria’s elections should not be interfered with. Foreign missions are hereby warned to desist from further interference and engaging elements that seek to destabilise the peace of Nigeria.”

In the end, both the hopes of the Nigerian opposition and the fears of the Nigerian government were equally dashed by the preemptive, see no evil, speak no evil manner in which the international community rushed to endorse the results without entertaining any doubt on the improbability of the votes returned from the Buhari sanctuary states of Kano, Borno, Yobe; acknowledgement of revelation of underage voting displayed on Channels Television and the bullion vans making the rounds in the homes of APC warlords.

It was a teachable moment for me. And I was tutored that-if looking the other way, while the APC run rampant on the elections, was the price for the short term political stability of Nigeria, it was a price they were more than willing to pay.

Rediscovery of Unrestrained Northern Hegemony Commenting on the shellacking that President Goodluck Jonathan received in the 2015 presidential election especially in the kingmaker states of the far North, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso taunted the rest of us that the results had passed on the intended message on the fate that awaits any presidential candidate who had failed to learn the lesson that the fear of the North is the beginning of wisdom in presidential elections. But those who sow the winds have a manner of reaping the whirlwind. In 2019, it was the turn of Kwankwaso to learn the lesson that he needed to upgrade his thesis to ‘the fear of an incumbent Northern President is the beginning of wisdom for Northerners who want to remain as kingmakers’-with specific regards to the humbling of Kwankwansiya in Kano State.

When the birds whispered to me that, regardless, Kwankwaso was getting set

A few years ago when it seemed the health crisis of the President may follow the precedent of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and prematurely revert the almighty Nigerian Presidency to the South (in the Goodluck Jonathan model), Dr Junaid Mohammed went out there, front and centre, warning speculators of such fantasy to perish the thought. He would countenance nothing short of the zoning entitlement of two full terms for the North. I once got carried away and swore that honesty and fidelity was second nature to the medical doctor. It turned out I knew little of him afterall. The man was even boasting of connections to the CIA and KGB. Now that Buhari is reasonably set on spending his two terms, Junaid Mohammed has slightly but significantly shifted the goal post on zoning.

“I don’t want to hear about this equity and justice, that is sheer nonsense. You can say it is time for my people. We will not vote for you and let’s see what happens.

I said it in one of my statements, look at the way the people of the South-east voted during the last election; they have a humongous collection of votes and they all voted for Atiku, and they expect somebody to come from his own area to vote for them. Look at Ohanaeze, how they are duping people; they collected millions from Atiku. Let us see 2023, by the grace of God, which candidate they want to produce. Look at what the Afenifere said that next time it would be a Yoruba person. Their understanding of rotation is between the North and the South-west, or North-west and the South- -west. That cannot be. Now the contradiction, which they invented about zoning and rotation, has now collapsed, and now they are looking for lies to tell to deceive us.”

De-Legitimation of the Southwest APC “The 2019 election is our own. We are not looking at 2019 but 2023,… If we get it in 2019, Yoruba will get it in 2023. Because if we don’t get it in 2019, we may not get it in 2023 and it may take a very long time to get it. We need to look at tomorrow and not because of today. What we are doing now is for tomorrow and not for today. What I know about Buhari is that he is an honest man. What he says he will do, he will do it.” –Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Within the context of national unity and integration, it is illogical and contradictory to deny priority to the South-east zone in the race for the Nigerian Presidency in 2023. And I personally deem it immoral (to the extent that emphasis on morality is consistent with politics) for the South-west to actively pursue any such ambition at the expense of the zone. Now you can see how Junaid Mohammed has cynically exploited the expression of such ambition by the South-west APC to discredit zoning altogether and to demonize them as liars and selfish lot. Beyond the open and express ambition of Osinbajo, no secret is more glaring than the ambition of Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the same position. This runs against the historical current that it is mostly easier for the camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for kingmakers to become king. If the views of Junaid Mohammed are consistent with the prevalent subterranean power politics opinion in the North, then the Yoruba presidential aspiration has become still born and set up the hopefuls for maximum ridicule. As you can see from the excerpts above, the promise of this expectation was the peg on which the campaign for the APC presidential ticket was hoisted in the last elections.

Competitive Sycophancy God sparing Buhari’s life, he is going to experience a countrywide phenomenon of competitive sycophancy, the likes of which this country has never before witnessed.

There is going to be such a fierce competition for his attention that he may probably rue the day he decided to seek second term in office. As the economy gets worse and 2023 looms so will he come under severe pressure from economic mendicants and rent seekers; and political jobbers and warlords of various descriptions. In the race to be seen as catholic than the Pope for instance, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership has bested the Sultan and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to genuflect and pay obeisance before his throne. I might have missed many in this category on account of protecting my sanity-by being carefully selective in what I read but I stopped short when I chanced on Paul Unongo. According to the 84 years old Middle Belt politician, “I think in the whole history of Nigeria, we have paid lip service to anti-corruption except the man called Buhari. It is only during Buhari’s time that I saw hundreds of thousands of naira seized and displayed on television and people touched them with their hands”.

“And the man told us that he was going to concentrate on three areas, security, economy and corruption. He said he will beat Boko Haram and he will regain all Nigerian territory back and he will drive them out of existence, he did.” I searched in vain for any reference to the lamentable security situation in the Middle Belt.

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