WEDNESDAY 9H MAY 2019

Eschew Prejudicial Public Analysis, Tribunal Warns Lawyers Fixes Wednesday for pre-hearing session on Atiku’s petition Women protest over PDP candidate Alex Enumah in Abuja The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja yesterday warned lawyers, the media, litigants and members

of the public from analysing its proceedings in the public until it delivers its judgment.

The tribunal has also fixed May 15 for a pre-hearing session on the petition filed by

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Yesterday’s proceedings

were interspersed by protest by some women who thronged the court premises complaining about alleged failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) to obey the order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja allowing the PDP and Atiku to inspect materials used for the presidential election.

The President of the Court

of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, who leads the five-man panel, issued the warning at the inaugural Continued on page 6

NNPC: Nigeria Generates over $180bn from Deepwater Operations... Page 8 Thursday 9 May, 2019 Vol 24. No 8795. Price: N250

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Finally, Ganduje Moves against Sanusi, Breaks Kano Emirate Signs bill caving out four new emirates

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State’s high stake politics entered an unsettling phase yesterday as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje signed into law the state Emir's Appointment and Deposition Amendment Law, 2019, decentralising the powerful

Kano Emirate Council by caving it into five emirates.

The law effectively whittled down the influence of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, who now has his control over the state’s 40 local government areas reduced to Continued on page 6

Micro Pension: PenCom Targets N3tn Assets, 20m Contributors Ebere Nwoji

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has disclosed its resolve to generate additional N3 trillion assets and 20 million contributors from the micro pension scheme.

The Acting Director General of PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahir– Umar, said this in response to THISDAY’s enquiries.

She also disclosed that the commission is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders on how to drive and harness opportunities embedded in the newly launched micro pension scheme.

According to her, the targeted N3 trillion would be in addition to the existing Continued on page 8

See Four-Year Report Card of Team Buhari (2015-2019) – Part 5... Page 18-21

REBUILDING THE NORTH-EAST...

Chairman, North-east Development Commission, Maj-Gen Paul Tarfa (left) (rtd); and MD/CEO, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, at the inauguration of the commission in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

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Senate Slams Govs over LG Funds, Supports Council Autonomy Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday adopted a motion asking relevant stakeholders including state Houses of Assembly and the presidency to expedite action on financial autonomy for all the 774 Local Government Councils in the country, frowning on alleged mismanagement of state/local government joint accounts by state governors.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved

by Senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), over the new financial guidelines issued by Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on Monday.

Abdullahi in the motion tagged: "Guidelines to reduce vulnerabilities created by cash withdrawals from LG funds throughout Nigeria effective 1st June," said issuance of the new guidelines was prompted by threats by international financial watchdogs to sanction Nigeria because of

financial abuse.

According to him, the NFIU guidelines would reinforce the existence of local government as an independent government established by the Constitution at the grassroots level with sovereign and elected officials.

Supporting the moves

by NFIU, the Senate said the guidelines limit cash transactions in the accounts of local governments to a daily maximum of N500,000 and subsequent withdrawal must be approved by approved cheques or electronic payment channels to promote registered transactions by all the local governments.

It called on the 36 state governments and the FCT, to fully support the implementation of the new NFIU guidelines to promote good governance at the local government areas and restore governance at the grassroots levels.

Contributing to the debate on the motion, Deputy Senate

President and Chairman of Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, urged the Senate to liaise with the NFIU to ensure that the guidelines do not contradict with any part of the Constitution.

He appealed to state assemblies to fast-track their work on pending constitutional amendments which would give legal backing to local government autonomy.

Ekweremadu however cautioned that the position of the Senate that financial institutions should support the implementation of the new guidelines, contravenes Section 162(6&7) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Section 162(6&7) states that “Each State shall maintain a special account to be called “State Joint Local Government Account� into which shall be paid all allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation

Account and from the Government of the State; “Each State shall pay to local government councils in its area of jurisdiction such proportion of its total revenue on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly", he said .

Ekweremadu warned that if any section of the constitution is flouted, governors may challenge the move in court.

He said the best option was to amend the various sections of the constitution to grant full autonomy to local governments. “The Senate further agrees that the NFlU guidelines do not serve any purpose other than freeing the Financial System from being flooded with cash which criminals use to escape transparency, accountability, and criminal investigation,� he said.

But former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah Jang (Plateau North), faulted the

motion saying “In some states, the state government takes over the local government funds and abuse it. We have also witnessed local government chairmen signing cheques at the beer parlours.

On his part, Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Bala Ibn Na'alla, said:“If we succeed in executing this, 60% of corruption in Nigeria will be resolved.This will be a major landmark if the Senate decides to follow through its resolutions,�

"Let all financial institutions agree, and all of us agree that we must follow these guidelines and let the local governments be autonomous", he further said.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in his contribution urged the standing committees on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes; State and Local Governments, to follow up and ensure that positions reached by the Senate are adhered to.

He said the local governments as currently constituted, can’t deliver dividends of democracy to the people as long as state governors are in charge of the funds.

NFIU's new guidelines mandates financial institutions to distribute funds accruable to local governments among the local government councils of that state and not for other purposes. “With effect from June 1, any bank that allows any transaction from any local government account without monies first reaching a particular local government account will be sanctioned 100 per cent, locally and internationally.

"In addition, a provision is also made to the effect that there shall be no cash withdrawal from any local government account for a cumulative amount exceeding N500,000 per day,� the new guidelines stated.

deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, following flaws in the motion.

Among others, the tribunal found that the ex parte application filed by Mr. Obed Agu, was not competent in law because it was not signed, and the seal of the counsel was not fixed as required by law.

It also added that there was no affidavit in support of the motion.

Faced with the rejection, the counsel withdrew the application and told the tribunal that a fresh one would be filed in its place.

Atiku, PDP and the others in their various petitions are seeking the nullification of Buhari's victory at the February 23 presidential poll on allegations of widespread rigging, violations of the Electoral Act, suppression of voters, violence amongst other electoral malpractices.

The others include the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its presidential candidate, Chief Ambrose Owuru; Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and its presidential candidate, Pastor Aminchi Habu, and the Coalition for Change (C4C)

and its presidential candidate Jeff Ojinka.

Atiku in his petition specifically asked the tribunal to disqualify Buhari, winner of the February 23 presidential election, on the grounds that he (Buhari) did not possess the requisite academic qualification to contest for the office of President.

However, Buhari, the APC and INEC in their separate replies have urged the tribunal to uphold their victory at the poll and dismiss the various petitions on the grounds that the allegations against the conduct of the election were baseless, unsubstantiated and lacking in merit.

Buhari in his reply specifically urged the tribunal to disregard Atiku's petition on the grounds that he was not qualified to have contested the election in the first place on the grounds of his nationality.

The vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi, attended the inaugural sitting of the tribunal.

Before announcing his

ESCHEW PRE JUDICIAL PUBLIC ANALYSIS, TRIBUNAL WARNS LAWYERS sitting of the tribunal. “Any breach will not be condoned and we will not hesitate in taking necessary action against such offenders,� she threatened.

She assured that litigants in the four pending presidential election petitions filed before the tribunal would be given equal opportunity to present their case.

But she warned that the practice of analysing court proceedings and passing a verdict before the court pronounced its judgment in many high profile cases ongoing in the regular court on the social and electronic media would not be condoned for the proceedings of the tribunal.

She said: “We assure all stakeholders that each litigant will be given equal opportunity to present his case in a mature manner before us. “We are witnesses to what has been happening in high profile cases where such cases are being discussed and publicly decided prematurely in both the social and electronic media before the announcement of the verdict

by the court. “We pray that this time would be an exception for the benefit of the nation. We don’t expect counsel to any of the parties to hype the polity after any sitting by making a public analysis in the media as to what transpired in court. “These proceedings should be treated as would any other low-profile case, where proceedings in court are not discussed publicly until a decision is pronounced by the court. “This admonition is also extended to the parties, their respective counsel and the members of the press. “We, on our own part, will make relevant information available as and when due.�

Bulkachuwa stressed that no matter how an election was conducted, there are bound to be complaints, hence the establishment of the tribunal to give speedy hearing on such complaints.

She disclosed that there are currently 786 petitions against the outcome of the 2019 general election, with Imo State having the highest

number of 76 and six tribunals.

She assured that the panel would be fair to all and would give equal time to all litigants, in its efforts at ensuring that justice is done and done expeditiously in all the cases before it.

Responding, counsel in the matters promised to play by the rules and give maximum cooperation to the panel.

While Mr. Levi Ozoukwu (SAN) is leading the legal team of Atiku and the PDP, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) are leading that of Buhari and APC respectively.

Other members of the tribunal are Justices Abdul Aboki, Samuel Osiji, Joseph Ikyegh and Peter Olabisi-Igeh.

Fixes May 15 for Pre-hearing Session on Atiku’s Petition Meanwhile, the tribunal yesterday at its inaugural sitting, fixed May 15 for a pre-hearing session on the petition filed by the PDP and its presidential candidate,

Atiku.

The tribunal in stating that proceedings would be on a daily basis called the first case, the petition of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and his presidential candidate, Chief Albert Owuru.

At the end of the identification and regularisation of processes filed in the HDP petition, Justice Bulkachuwa fixed May 14 for pre-hearing of the petition.

In that of Atiku and PDP against INEC, Buhari and APC, the tribunal adjourned the matter to May 15.

However, the tribunal declined to give definite date for hearing in the petition of Coalition for Change (C4C) and Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), following the inability of the two petitioners to serve processes on Buhari and other respondents.

In a related development, the tribunal has declined to hear an ex parte application filed by the C4C, praying for substituted service on President Buhari and his

Continued on page 8

FINALLY, GANDUJE MOVES AGAINST SANUSI, BREAKS KANO EMIRATE 10 councils.

With the creation of four new emirates, Sanusi has control over only Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, Nassarawa and Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso, Ungogo, Dawakin Kudu and Minijibir.

The four brand new emirates are Karaye, Rano, Gaya and Bichi.

According to the law, Karaye Emirate consists of Karaye, Rogo, Gwarzo, Kabo, Rimin Gado, Madobi and Garun Malam local government areas.

The law listed Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Takai, Sumaila, Kura, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Kiru and Bebeji LGAs as comprising Rano Emirate.

Gaya Emirate is made up of Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu, Wudil, Garko, Warawa, Gezawa and Gabasawa LGAs. Bichi Emirate comprises

Bichi, Bagwai, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Kunchi, Makoda, Danbatta, Dawaki Tofa and Tofa LGAs The four new emirates are presently being headed by district heads but with the signing of the bill into law, each of them will have emirs as heads.

Ganduje signed the bill at the 136th state council meeting, yesterday before the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and other principal officers of the House. “Traditional institution will now go closer to the people in all nooks and crannies of the state. We are about to make history today, and in the Holy Month of Ramadan," the governor said.

He explained that with the expansion of the Emirate Councils and importance attached to the institution

alongside preserving the cultural heritage, there was a need to bring forth the all-important institution to serve people better.

According to him all the necessary requirements needed for the immediate take-off of the new emirates would be done with dispatch.

With the creation of these new emirates, Kano now has five independent Emirate Councils, including the Kano Emirate Council.

According to Ganduje, "Kingmakers will be known very soon. So also all other process and procedures will be completed for appointing respective Emirs, issuing them with appointment letters up to the coronation stage."

He thanked the state assembly for the "historic work done," adding that Kano would now have sustained

development in all aspects of life in the state.

While acknowledging the role traditional institution plays in the security of the larger society, he also restated that, "in the areas of education, health and environment, traditional institution is indeed a partner in progress. With this development, therefore, all hands will be on deck to take Kano to the next level."

In his remarks, during the official presentation of the Bill to the governor, the Speaker, Hon. Kabiru Rurum, reminded all of the traditional status of the three out of the four newly created Emirate Councils.

He said Gaya, Karaye and Rano new councils were in existence before, for over 100 years, adding that along the line, “many things happened when they all ceased to exist."

"We are now very grateful

that the hitherto existing Emirate Councils are now fully back. This will indeed be another plus to the administration of His Excellency, the governor and our assembly for fulfilling the aspirations of our people," the speaker said.

Rurum said when the bill was presented to the assembly, many people were jubilating, adding that they received many encomiums from the citizens, which, he said added value to the process.

Other bills signed alongside the Emirate Councils Bill into law are Kano State Public Health Bill of 2019; Kano State Water and Sanitation Sector Reform Bill of 2019; Kano State Pension Rights for Speaker, and Deputy Speaker Bill of 2019, and Kano State College of Health, Science and Technology, among others.

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NNPC: Nigeria Generates over $180bn from Deepwater Operations Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Nigeria’s deepwater operations have generated over $180 billion following a capital investment of more than $65billion made by the players in the oil and gas industry, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has said.

Baru has also revealed that despite this huge investment, there are still potentials for growth amidst untapped abundant opportunities in the sector.

He made this disclosure yesterday while delivering a paper entitled: “Deepwater Operations in Nigeria: The journey so far,� at the panel session of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) in the ongoing golden anniversary of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, United States.

Represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Upstream of the NNPC, Mallam Bello Rabiu, Baru was quoted in a

statement by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, as saying that Nigeria remained an active player relative to other regions in terms of deepwater development.

"Out of the 15 Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units in Nigeria, seven have been deployed for deepwater operations. Nigeria ranks only behind Angola within the African deepwater operations in terms of FPSO deployment,�

Baru said.

He disclosed that the country has utilised each deepwater project as an avenue to upscale its unique human capital skills in different areas not limited to engineering design, project management, welding and diving.

He added that the local content contribution or services share in deepwater has continued to grow and improve from the sub one per cent level to an aggregate contribution of over 25 per cent, from engineering man-

Baru hours of less than 20,000 to over 1.1million in recent Egina project executed by Samsung Heavy Industries for Total .

"With the Nigerian content, tonnage has grown by 600 per cent from the first deepwater project till date,� Baru added.

The NNPC helmsman stated that deepwater projects had benefited the wider Nigerian economy by boosting demand for a range of goods and services, including offshore vessels and platforms, materials, floating hotels, helicopters and manpower, as well as creating jobs and providing wide range of training and maintenance

services to the industry, locally.

He added that services in areas such as manpower supply, logistics, and vessel supply, chemical supplies had more or less been domesticated in the deepwater value chain.

Baru who stated that the demonstration of this success was the in-country topside integration on the Egina FPSO project, added that this had achieved the dual goal of both industrialisation and manpower development through job creation and skills acquisition. "The gains enumerated in terms of production and reserve growth, revenue and value creation, manpower and technology development needed to be sustained. I must reiterate that sustaining these gains means all hands must be on deck. We must leverage the expected growth in deepwater for national development. We expect within the next 10 years that production from Nigeria deepwater would double,�

Baru said.

He said the development implied increase in steel

demand, as steel represents 20 per cent to 35 per cent of the overall cost for a new-build structure, dry docking, pipe coating, welding and sundry ancillary services, adding that Nigeria needed the right calibre of technical and engineering skills and manpower.

He urged the players in the deepwater sector to start, beginning from now, to create the linkages to the local economy, saying that the local economy must be able to deliver the growth aspirations or support adequately the demand of tomorrow.

Baru called on PETAN to fill the technology gap, stressing that OTC provided not just a window to the global oil and gas industry but also a gateway for Nigeria and the Nigerian oil industry to access the best of technology and contribute to national development.

He said NNPC would continue to support planned deepwater projects, while ensuring adequate local participation.

The oil industry expert

said Nigeria had experienced phenomenal growth in deep water operations. “At my last count, about 10 deepwater projects are lined up for sanctioning. Also, given the lead time for project maturation, the time to build is now for us to achieve the results we desire, seizing the chance to develop our Oil and Gas Industry and by extension the economy,� he said.

Baru noted that there were 87 deepwater oil blocks in Nigeria, out of which only seven are producing and additional six at different phases of development.

He stated that more than half of the blocks in deepwater Nigeria are open.

He congratulated PETAN for organising the grand event and for bringing together the oil and gas industry stakeholders from Nigeria and other climes to discuss such an enriching theme with the hope that the investors would go the extra mile to develop the industry, its businesses and the Nigerian economy, while giving value for money.

Take Responsibility for Insecurity, Atiku Tells Buhari Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has admonished President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to take responsibility for the increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria.

He also accused Buhari’s administration of fabricating false news through “a faceless international non-governmental organisation,� to explain the insecurity in Nigeria.

Atiku was reacting to a report published on Monday by an organisation, Centre for Diplomacy and Democracy, based in Washington DC, USA,

alleging the former vice president has a hand in the killings across Nigeria.

In a statement signed by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former vice president said such reports could cause further division and instability in the country.

The presidential candidate of the main opposition party said his checks indicate that “no such body called Centre for Diplomacy and Democracy exists,� adding that the “Americans will never write ‘Centre’. They will write ‘Center’ in conformity to American English usage.� “This is the deepest low that Muhammadu Buhari administration has gone in

causing further division and promoting instability in Nigeria,� he said. “Anyone versed enough in the protocol of international NGOs will discern without much ado that the particular report by a faceless, insipid organisation known as ‘Centre for Diplomacy and Democracy’ was contrived with express mobilisation from officials of Buhari’s administration in a shameless and disingenuous attempt to find a jejune explanation for the rising rate of insecurity in Nigeria. “It is so distasteful that the Buhari’s administration, rather than have a self-introspection and admit to the world that its policies and actions are

responsible for the divisions in the country with the manifestation of all manner of crimes such as banditry, kidnapping and wanton killings across the land, chooses to employ the service of a faceless NGO to blame the opposition for its own ineptitude.�

Atiku accused Buhari’s administration of always thriving in propaganda and double-speak.

He urged the president to stop the “infantile style of looking for whom to blame for his failures will not obliterate his abysmal record of performance in the past four years.

He also took a swipe at Buhari’s comment that the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammad Adamu, has lost

weight due to his efforts to keep the country safe. “The Buhari’s administration and the ruling APC are renowned for propaganda stunt and double-speak.

Sadly, it does not matter to them the disturbing number of criminalities happening on a daily basis in Nigeria,� he said. “In their warped thinking, the performance rate of security chiefs during times like this is determined on how much weight the Inspector General of Police has lost. “The question to ask is: how would the APC have reproved a president who makes such careless remarks on national security at a time when insecurity in the country has

assumed epidemic proportions? “President Buhari and the APC have shown without equivocation that the job at hand is overwhelming for them. And because they lack the basic clue of how to tame the bogey that they have created, they now scamper around like school kids who have caused an upset in a highly sensitive science laboratory. “Nigerians don’t pray for a president who passes the buck.

All they want is a president who can hold the bull at the horn and get the job done. After all, President Buhari took an oath to defend the lives and property of the citizens, which is the primary responsibility of every government.�

drive the scheme is massive awareness and sensitisation for those in informal businesses.

The micro pension scheme launch by the commission last month forms one of the two additional funds added to the pension fund investment structure, next to the micro pension is the non-interest funds which now brings the total investment portfolios under the contributory pension scheme to six.

The Executive Director, Finance Pal Pension, Mr. Godwin Onoro, said the micro pension

holds the future of not only the pension sector, but the entire economy.

He said his company was strategising to reap the gains of the scheme and urged other operators to do same.

The micro pension is a pension scheme for the self- employed and persons operating in the informal sector.

The Contributory Pension Scheme established under Section 3(1) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 provides for the inclusion of the informal sector into the scheme.

MICRO PENSION: PENCOM TARGETS N3TN ASSETS, 20M CONTRIBUTORS N8.7 trillion assets already accumulated in the contributory pension scheme.

Dahir-Umar said PenCom and the pension fund operators have developed information technology to support the micro pension distribution plan.

She also said the commission, has engaged the informal sector groups, such as the Nigerian Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, a body consisting of self-employed tailors and garment workers; partner trade associations, non-government organisations and religious bodies, in a bid to persuade them to subscribe to the scheme.

She spoke on other benefits built in by the commission to make the scheme attractive to the target population, saying its implementation would improve the standard of living of the informal sector participants at retirement and reduce dependence on extended family for support.

"The implementation of the micro-pension plan will improve the standard of living of the informal sector participants at retirement and reduce

dependence on extended family for support at retirement,� she explained.

The plan, when operational, would capture the self-employed people, especially, those with irregular income, usually in the informal sector and, “are largely financially uninformed with limited or no access to financial services, especially, pension plan,� she said.

Section 2(3) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 legal framework extends the coverage of the CPS to self-employed persons through the micropension scheme.

Dahir-Umar said that selfemployed people and workers in the informal sector could reap enormous benefits by participating in the plan.

She explained that the initiative, in addition to providing income for people at old age and in developing a savings, would afford them the opportunity to connect to other programmes of the government while helping to finance infrastructure across the country.

"Subscribers could, as well, use the balance in their Retirement

Savings Accounts as equity contribution for residential mortgages and support their businesses,� she added.

According to her, additional benefits to self-employed persons and informal sector workers include the cover being provided under the Pension Protection Fund.

She explained that under the arrangement, the government would bridge shortfalls or financial losses from the investment of their accumulated retirement savings and guarantee them minimum pension in retirement, irrespective of how much they were able to save before retiring.

She also said the plan would be funded by an annual subvention of one per cent of the monthly wage of federal government employees, the annual levy on PenCom and pension operators as well as pension fund investment income. “Micro-pension plan is designed to fit the peculiarities of these informal sector groups.

The product is flexible with respect to contribution amount and the channel of remittance of contributions to the respective

pension accounts. “Access to accumulated contributions is also flexible, seamless and facilitated by technology through varied payments system platform,� she further explained.

The Chairman, Pension Operators Association(PenOp), Mrs. Ronke Adedeji, who is also the Managing Director Leadway Pensure, told THISDAY in an exclusive interview that for now contributors into the micro pension scheme are registering in trickles.

According to her, what would

ESCHEW PREJUDICIAL PUBLIC ANALYSIS, TRIBUNAL WARNS LAWYERS representation on behalf of Atiku, he went round to greet all lawyers involved in the petitions, including PDP and APC lawyers.

Protesting Women Invade Court Premises over Atiku Meanwhile, some women in Abuja yesterday protested alleged failure of INEC to obey the order of the Court of

Appeal in Abuja permitting the PDP and Atiku, to inspect the materials used for the February 23 poll.

The women, numbering up to 50, held their protest on the premises of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The protest continued until sitting ended at 1.20 p.m.

A three-man bench of the Court of Appeal had on March 7, granted Atiku and

PDP the go-ahead to inspect the electoral materials in the custody of INEC. Atiku and his party subsequently filed their petition on March 18.

The placard-bearing protesters claimed that INEC had yet to obey the March 7 order.

The women protesters chanted: “Bring Back Our Democracy.� “People are dying.� “We can no longer go to our farms.� Lawyers, bring back our democracy.�

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

IG Writes Saraki, Lauds Senate for Supporting Police Reforms Senate summons health minister over bad state of teaching hospitals Confirms Lemo, seven others as FERMA chair, others Deji Elumoye in Abuja Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has formally written to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to commend the senate for the unpredicted support he has received from the legislative body since his appointment.

Adamu, in the letter dated April 25, thanked the upper legislative chamber for passing some critical bills to ease the work of the police.

According to him, the legislative support so far received by his office and the police force were commendable and appreciated by the Police generally.

He specifically mentioned the Police Trust Fund bill passed by the Senate and the Police Act (Amendment) bill, which has also been passed by the National Assembly.

Adamu also thanked the Senate for expressly working on the Police Academy Establishment bill, which he said, if passed will help restore the lost primacy of the police.

The letter read in part: “We appreciate in particular your goodwill, trust and support, which led to the passage of the Police Trust Fund Bill, the Police Act (Amendment ) bill and the ongoing speedy consideration of the Police Academy (Establishment ) bill.

“It is noted that the procession of these bills, which are articulated for the administrative and

operational efficacy as well as long term capacity development of the police, have been lingering in the National Assembly.

“It is, therefore, a mark of landmark honour that the Senate facilitated the passage of the bills following our recent meeting and appeal to you and the Senate leadership.

“Furthermore, we are deeply appreciative of the concerns of the Senate for the funding inadequacy of the Nigerian Police and the commitment of the Senate to support our operations and reform agenda with the enhancement of our budgetary appropriation.”

The Acting Inspector General of Police had on Tuesday appeared before the Senate, in a closed-door session, the first of its kind in the last three years to brief the Senate about steps being taken to address the myriad of security problems facing the country.

Adamu’s predecessor, Ibrahim Idris, had maintained a hostile relationship with the National Assembly and refused to appear before the lawmakers each time he was invited.

The former IG at a time, dragged the Senate to court, while the Police as an institution also dragged Saraki, Senators Dino Melaye and Ben Murray Bruce to court over alleged assault on some policemen during a protest rally within the precincts of the Force Headquarters, Abuja last November.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday

Boko Haram Kills Nine in Borno Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Boko Haram terrorists yesterday killed nine people in a renewed push for Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Though they were successfully repelled by the military, the terrorists left in their wake destruction of two villages on the outskirts of the town, the birthplace of Boko Haram insurgency.

It was learnt from sources that nine persons were killed during the push for Maiduguri by the sect in Molai and Bukarti villages.

A resident of Molai, a village about 10 kilometres away from Maiduguri on Damboa/Biu road, Ahmed Balami, told THISDAY on phone that though the attack did not leave heavy number of casualties, there was massive loss of properties for both the residents of Molai and the military stationed in the village.

He lamented that the insurgents “attacked and destroyed power transmission station and took away the military gun truck stationed there.

“They (insurgents) killed two persons in Maibukarti village, not far away from Molai. And then, they killed two others in Molai, one of them was a mad

man. “They burnt the entire Molai market and many houses before they left.”

Another source in Molai, who preferred anonymity, said the attackers, during the siege, attacked the power station and carted away the gun truck that was stationed there.

Confirming the attack to journalists yesterday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Biu, said Maiduguri was never attacked as the insurgents were repelled at the outskirts of the town.

According to him, “Troops neutralised a number of the insurgents and repelled the attack.

“The insurgents came and fired some shots, but troops engaged and repelled them.

Some disgruntled elements are peddling misleading information that Maiduguri is under attack. How can Maiduguri be under attack when we already repelled them?

“They attempted to infiltrate Molai village in the outskirts of Maiduguri but were immediately countered. As I speak to you now, I am standing in Molai village. Troops are combing the area in hot pursuit of the fleeing insurgents.”

summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to brief it on the current state of facilities and healthcare services in the nation’s Teaching hospitals.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled: “Alarming Report on Poor Quality of Services in Nigerian Teaching Hospitals,” moved by Senator David Umaru (Niger East) who expressed concern that most teaching hospitals in the country have been overstretched, “forcing patients to sleep on bare

floors, plastic mats and other unhygienic conditions that put them at the risk of contracting other ailments”.

The Senate, therefore, mandated its committee on health to within one week hold an emergency investigative hearing on the state of healthcare services in the nation’s Teaching Hospitals.

It also urged the federal government to urgently adopt short and long term measures “that will holistically address

the challenges confronting our Teaching Hospitals and retool them for excellent tertiary healthcare services in the country”.

The Senate also yesterday confirmed the nomination of former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, as Chairman of the board of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Nurudeen Rafindadi as Managing Director.

This was sequel to the

adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on FERMA headed by Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) that screened the nominees whose names were forwarded to the Senate last year by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Six executive directors of FERMA whose nominations were also confirmed include Oladapo Kolawole, Buba Abdullahi,Mujaidu Dako, Babagana Aji, Loretta Aniagolu and Shehu Abdullahi

FEC MEETING…

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari ; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami ; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Minister of State for Agriculture , Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri; and Minister of Budget and National Planning , Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Preidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

Renewed Cult War Claims 11 Lives in Edo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city No fewer than 11 persons have been reportedly killed in Benin-city, Edo State capital, in a renewed cult war between last Sunday and Tuesday.

The killings were as a result of the battle of supremacy between rival cult members said to belong to Eiye and black axe.

Three persons were hacked to death at Isibor Junction adjacent to St Saviour Road, Upper Sokponba,

while another one was said to have been killed on Murtala Muhammed Way and one in Idaho Street off Sokponba road.

Another three were said to have been killed last Tuesday evening which led to the state Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar Muhammed, personally leading his team to the area to restore order.

There was free flow of traffic along the frequently congested

Sokponba road by Third Junction yesterday morning as many of the drivers and their conductors stayed off the road apparently to evade arrests as some of them are suspected to be members of the rival cults.

It was also learnt that the renewed killings began last Sunday night when one of the cultists was reportedly killed by Iyobosa street opposite Edo College at a place popularly called Aso Rock by another suspected rival

cult group.

While one was said to have been killed by Second near Etiosa

by Lucky Junction, another was killed along Agbor Road near NNPC depot just as another was killed last Monday by a street opposite the NNPC depot.

At Ekiosa market on Murtala Muhammed Way, two persons were killed last Monday night while one was reportedly killed

by Owoba near Immaculate Conception College (ICC).

Insecurity: JNI Urges Muslims to Pray for Divine Intervention John Shiklam in Kaduna The Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI), headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, has called on Muslims to pray for divine intervention on the deteriorating security situation and increasing poverty in the country.

In a statement issued yesterday in Kaduna, the Islamic body asked Muslims to use the Ramadan period

for fervent prayers for the restoration of security, peace, stability, progress and development of the country.

The statement signed by the Secretary General of the JNI. Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said overtime, the Islamic body has been calling on Muslims to fervently pray for the restoration of security, peace, stability, progress and development in Nigeria.

The JNI called on Muslims

to be more dedicated to the worship of Allah now and beyond as there is no better time than the month of Ramadan.

“We once again reiterate same call as the situation seems to be deteriorating with banditry, kidnappings, theft and abject poverty are in the increase.

“Therefore, governments at all levels as well as individuals who have the

wherewithal are called upon to extend benevolent gestures, such as alms giving and supports to the indigents in severe need as well as millions of IDPs spread across the country,” the statement said.

It further noted that the Ramadan period “is the most appropriate time to show compassion and of course, the needy would want to see such assistance now.

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NLC’s Protest against Ngige Turns Bloody Minister accuses labour leaders of using thugs to invade his house Union convenes emergency meeting Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The protest embarked upon yesterday by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, for his failure to inaugurate the board of National Social Insurance Trust Fund with Frank Kokori as the chairman turned bloody as the workers clashed with suspected thugs at the minister’s house in Asokoro, Abuja.

But the minister has accused the labour movement of mobilising workers, thugs and tanker drivers to barticade his private residence.

Following the protest at the minister’s residence, which

resulted in a fracas that left some persons wounded, the NLC has convened an emergency meeting of its Central Working Committee to deliberate on the matter.

Those who were injured were taken to the National Hospital in Abuja for treatment.

President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, described the scene as barbaric.

‘The act today is barbaric; where maximum force has been used on workers. And live bullets have been used on them. Whereas workers went with bare hands but you have seen what has happened.

“They were carrying weapons and arms. And as I talk to you, we have four people in the hospital apart from those that

Buhari Declines Assent to Two More Bills

were injured by bullets. You can see all of them are here and clearly we are going to invite our largest organ by tomorrow.

“We are also going on a larger scale of action. Instead of protecting us, he is against us. Therefore we have nothing to do with him and under the circumstance, except the president intervenes, workers are going to down tool.

“That is why we are inciting our central working committee.

It has never been so bad where the ministry of Labour will bring thugs to attack workers. That has never been heard.

“It is on record and everybody has seen. Clearly, that is our position and now we are here to demonstrate in his office also that we are not happy and Mr president must act on this

immediately. Workers voted and supported him. Ngige cannot in any circumstance assume the power of the president. That cannot be the case.”

Speaking in a telephone interview with THISDAY, the General Secretary of NLC, Mr. Peter Ezo Esson, said that the union was summoning “an emergency meeting for Thursday (today) to discuss the latest development.”

However, in a statement issued yesterday by the Special Assistant to the minister on Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, Ngige said his private residence was invaded at about 4 a.m. yesterday

by Wabba and his group.

He said the workers, among whom were tanker drivers with ferocious looks, also barricaded the gate to his resident with two

long trucks.

“They chanted war songs and prevented the minister, his wife, children and other aides from either leaving or gaining access to the compound,” he said.

The statement said the presence of these strange faces and their chanting of war songs by the invading NLC members created heavy panic among the family members, especially children and female aides who thought the sudden early morning assemblage were of the underworld.

“Some of these unknown faces and the two tanker lorries blocking the entrance to the house are still there as I send this press statement .

“I, therefore, wish to state that contrary to reports being mischievously circulated in the

media by the NLC President, the minister, family members who are still in great trauma and his staff members did not invite thugs, have no knowledge of it, or have a hand in the alleged manhandling of any worker,” he said.

It was gathered that the protest however came to abrupt end when some young men came to the scene and chased the NLC members away.

This caused pandemonium as the NLC-led protesters tried initially to resist the fierce-looking youths and this resulted in some persons sustaining injuries.

The NLC president had to intervene to stop the protest.

The two tankers in front of the minister’s gate were removed from the minister’s gate at about 4 p.m.

Inaugurates NEDC Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has again declined assent to two more bills transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

This brings to 40 the total number of bills President Buhari declined assent to since the inauguration of the 8th National Asembly on June 9, 2015.

This is coming as the president also inaugurated the North-East Development Commission, chaired by Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd.).

President Buhari conveyed his decision to withdraw assent to the two bills-Nigeria Tourism Development Authority Bill and Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill-in two separate letters sent to Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and read at plenary yesterday.

Giving reasons for declining assent, President Buhari said section 14(d), section 30(2d) of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (Repeal and re-enactment) bill contradicts section 4 (1-3) and paragraph 60 (d) of the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

He stated that“Section 30 of the bill proposing to levy a tourism fee on all in-bound international travellers, a tourism levy on all out-bound travellers and a tourism departure contribution fee of one per cent per hotel room rate.

“Such flat fee has been fixed by the authority and a corporate tourism development levy of 1 per cent to be charged on the revenue of banks, telecommunications and other corporate entities. This will be inimical to the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Nigeria and constitute additional burden on the tourism business,” the letter reads as Mr Buhari’s second reason.

The President said he was rejecting the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill based on the issue of funding and overlap of functions.

According to him, “The comprehensive definition of the Nigeria Inland Waterways covers virtually all rivers, lakes and lagoons irrespective of the location of the body. The bill contradicts provisions of the constitution which limits the power of the National Assembly to make laws in relation to water from sources affecting more than one state of inland waterways which has been declared to be

an international waterway or inter-state waterway.

“The bill as currently drafted subjects the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Nigeria Ports Authority to the supervision of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority.

“The funding provision of the bill which seeks to appropriate 25 per cent of the ports development levy annually, 15 per cent of the ecological fund annually and 1 per cent of the funds accruable to the federal government for oil and gas within the cleared waterways and the right of way and 2.5 per cent fees annually paid by companies operating power plants within waterways are grossly excessive and will negatively affect the revenues of the federal government,” President Buhari further said.

Meanwhile, President Buhari yesterday inaugurated the North-East Development Commission.

The commission, which is to see to the rehabilitation of devastated communities in the North-East, caused by Boko Haram insurgency, has an N10 billion take-off grant.

The inauguration took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shortly before the start of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

In another development, the Senate also yesterday urged the federal government to deploy more coaches to the Abuja-Kaduna rail line so as to ameliorate the plight of passengers who daily besieged railway stations in the two cities.

The Senate’s resolution came barely 24 hours after the acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Muhammad Adamu, briefed the lawmakers on the measures being adopted by the Police to improve security situation on the road and others across the country against the increasing activities of kidnappers, armed bandits and killer herdsmen.

This was sequel to a motion, titled “Urgent need to increase the number of coaches to the Abuja-Kaduna rail line”, moved at plenary by former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, (Borno South).

Moving the motion, Ndume informed his colleagues about the undue pressure on the existing facilities at the AbujaKaduna railway line, noting that “most passengers en-route the road have turned to railway as a safer means of transportation”.

EDO 2020 ON THEIR MINDS…

The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion (left), and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during a courtesy visit by the Esama of Benin to the governor, at the Government House, in Benin City…yesterday

No More Prison Sentences for Petty Crimes, Lagos CJ Declares The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said petty offenders will no longer get prison sentences effective from June 3.

Speaking at the presentation of the two practice directions, the ACJL Practice Direction and Restorative Justice Practice Direction, Oke said there would, henceforth, be a speedy resolution of criminal cases to ensure an effective justice system.

“Today in Nigeria we have

seen countless cases where defendants are arrested for minor offences such as burglary and wandering; they are locked up in our prisons for the flimsiest reasons to join the teeming population awaiting trial inmates,” she said.

“In fact, the awaiting trial inmates account for more than 75 per cent of the inmates in our prisons today.

“They are in our prisons with hardened criminals and by the

time they come out they have been initiated into a life of crime and are ready to spread terror, death, and destruction in their post-prison escapades.”

The CJ said petty offenders will be diverted to the Practice Directions centres where noncustodial sentences, including fines, restitution orders, community service orders would be used as long as they are willing to take responsibility for their actions.

“Lagos State has been at the vanguard in terms of criminal justice reform when it passed the ACJL in 2007, amended it in 2011. Other states followed suit, adopted and improved upon it,” she said.

“Now, Lagos State is going further with these new practice directions to realise the goal of expedited trials, improvement in the case disposal rates and hopefully, this will culminate in the decongestion of our prisons.”

Five Bauchi Prisoners to be Stoned to Death, 10 Face Amputation Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Bauchi State Controller of Prisons, Suleiman T. Suleiman, has lamented that five persons who have been convicted to be stoned to death and 10 others whose legs and hands are to be amputated are languishing in prison.

Suleiman, who was speaking in an interview with journalists in his office last Tuesday on the state of the prison in the state also lamented that these two sets of convicts have been in jail for over 10 years without any action

taken on them.

He said six other inmates have also been condemned to death; five on life sentence and 188 are on long term sentence from two years and above.

According to Suleiman, the prison now has 947 inmates in the 500 capacity Bauchi prison.

He said: “The condemned convicts we have are mostly coming from Sharia courts; this and other related cases like amputation of hand or leg victims have been in jail for over 10 years without knowing their fate. Their hands or legs are not

cut off yet, they don’t know their fate. There are those who are supposed to be stoned to death, so I am worried.

“I feel touched that each time I go to any of the prisons to visit, they would be the first to confront me with questions about their cases. I have written to the state governor and Chief Judge to see that something is done about these people.

“They’re the only category of people that cannot be taken to court because they have already been convicted, but there’s no execution.”

The Prison Controller said if their legs cannot be amputated, they should be given terms of imprisonment and if these cannot also be done, they should be granted pardon and counseled them to be of good behaviour and free them.

He said this has become necessary because “I am really worried, and the officials in charge of them are also worried about their cases. I want the government to execute the law as it is and if they cannot do that, the governor has the power to give clemency to these convicts.”

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Fowler: Taxpayers’ Money Not Missing from FIRS James Emejo in Abuja The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Tunde Fowler, has dismissed reports suggesting that money paid as taxes is

missing from the agency’s coffers.

Fowler made the clarification in an interview in his office in Abuja, yesterday.

The clarification came in the wake of media reports

JAMB UTME: Afe Babalola Backs War against Fraudsters Funmi Ogundare The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, has thrown his support behind the current JAMB’s war against admission fraudsters, saying that the board should be more pragmatic about its approach so as to comply with international best practices.

Afe Babalola who made this known in a statement, expressed concern about the country’s public university’s academic calendar, which most times has been affected by strike actions, thus bringing Nigeria’s education to its knees.

According to him, “For instance, all over the world, the university academic calendar is usually between September and June. But the case is different with public universities in Nigeria where the pandemic strike actions afflicting Nigeria’s educational landscape has almost become a ritual with one strike action taking off no sooner than another one that has just been called off, thereby nearly bringing the nation to its knees, educationally speaking.

“Everywhere all over the world, universities are established for learning and character. This is one of the main reasons why we whole-heartedly support the current JAMB war against admission fraudsters.”

He expressed regret about admission fraud into the

universities saying, “When I was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Lagos between 2000 and 2007, I discovered that each time we wanted to start the semester examinations, some students usually caused trouble to ensure that such examinations did not hold. “We went into action and found that it was those who procured very high JAMB marks from ‘Miracle Centre’, but who could not cope with the space and speed of academic works that were the architects of the chaos to prevent the conduct of examinations.

“It is therefore no surprise to me that JAMB has found a whole professor writing examination for his son including accusations of some fraudsters collaborating with JAMB personnel.”

He noted that in developed countries, every university has the right to screen the candidates it wants to admit.

“It is for this reason that any student applying to study Law in the University of Oxford is mandatorily required to take the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), any student applying for Biomedical Sciences must take Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), any student applying for Chemistry must take Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), while any one applying for Classics must take Classics Admission Test (CAT).

Delta Govt Approves Phase II of Teachers Devt Centre Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Government has approved the construction of the phase two of the proposed Teachers Professional Development Centre (TPDC) in Owa-Oyibu, Ika North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Chief Patrick Ukah, said this was one of the decisions taken at the State Executive Council meeting yesterday at the Government House in Asaba presided over by the state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. ‘’The centre, when completed, will train and retrain teachers at all levels to enhance their proficiency

in the discharge of their duties,” Ukah said, noting that the approval for the construction of the first phase of the project was given in December 2017.

The commissioner further stated, while briefing journalists on other outcomes of the meeting, that “the meeting also approved the upgrade of facilities at Army Day Secondary School, Effurun and Zik Grammar School in Sapele.

“Some streets off Anwai Road in Asaba, the state capital, were equally approved for construction.

They are Paul Ikediashi Street/ Nonye Ugboma Close/Barrister I. M. O. Nwabuoku Crescent/ Chief J. Obi Street.’’

alleging that taxpayers’ money in the custody of the agency is missing.

The FIRS chairman explained that taxes collected by the FIRS are not paid into the coffers of the agency, but directly into the Federation Account, electronically, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The FIRS, he further explained, does not have access to taxpayers’ money, adding that its operations are funded by appropriation of the National Assembly through monthly remittances by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

There were reports of alleged exploitation of the agency’s accounting system on Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) by some staff who collect claims that they are not due for.

This alleged infraction is said to be under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

had declared Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the September 2018 election.

In March, a three-man panel of the election tribunal led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajol, held that Oyetola was not validly returned as the winner of the election and subsequently declared Adeleke winner.

The tribunal ruled that the rerun which finally produced Oyetola as winner was the outcome of the “illegal”

Fowler also stated that the agency has a relationship with the EFCC through which it combats tax evasion.

“We have a relationship with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

We have a partnership through which we combat evasion of taxes. People don’t want to get into trouble with EFCC. So, they pay on time,” he explained.

Fowler added that FIRS acknowledged the statutory rights and responsibilities of anti-corruption agencies and other government agencies such as the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) to inquire into the operations of the agency.

He promised that the FIRS will continue to give access to agencies with statutory rights and all those who

seek information on its operations. He added that invitations of FIRS officials by the EFCC, Police, DSS and ICPC to shed light on financial transactions and operations of the agency are common and are continuous.

Fowler noted that the FIRS is a public trust operated on behalf of Nigerians and affirmed that no officer of the Service is at large.

The FIRS boss thanked all stakeholders, including the media, for their interest in the operations of the agency. However, he enjoined the media to always go the extra mile to ascertain the truth, particularly on sensitive financial issues where taxpayers and public trust are at stake.

He re-assured the general public of FIRS’ commitment to public accountability and transparency in the sacred mandate of tax collection.

Okorocha Alleges Plot to Truncate His Senatorial Election Victory Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State yesterday alleged that there is grand plot to prevent him by all means, from going to the Senate in spite of his victory at the last general election, and accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and his party of conniving with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in spearheading the plot.

He also wondered why Oshiomhole, he helped to the office of the national chairmanship of the ruling party, suddenly turned against him and had consistently worked with some political forces to frustrate him in his bid to represent his people in the Senate.

However, vowing to do everything legitimately to ensure that the right thing is done, he said the gang-up against him will not succeed, just as he asked INEC to right the wrong by giving him the Certificate of Return for his victory.

Okorocha reiterated that the electoral commission has no such power to withhold his Certificate of Return, having announced the results and declared him winner of the senatorial election.

The governor who spoke with Journalists yesterday in Abuja, noted that the evil he feared in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had befallen him “10 times’’ in the APC, and described APC as a party that is bedevilled with crisis.

“I have written to INEC on my Certificate of Return; the

Appeal Court Fixes Today for Judgment on Osun Guber Poll The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has fixed today for judgment in the Osun State governorship election.

In a hearing notice issued yesterday, the court said it would hear the appeal filed by the Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, against candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, by 9a.m.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

However, some media outlets have reported that the probe was into missing taxpayers’ money. But Fowler explained that the issue at stake in this inquiry is related to operational/travel funds within the FIRS’ expenditure budget.

“On the DTA (Duty Tour Allowance), it is claimed that some staff applied for and were granted allowances to travel on official trips. Some are alleged not to have travelled for the number of days for which they were slated. The EFCC is looking into that.

Sometimes, it is good to have a third party investigate matters like this instead of having a staff investigate another staff.

Investigation by a third party is more objective. FIRS has since taken steps to remediate this.

The EFCC will soon complete its investigation. Anybody found guilty will be dealt with through our administrative process,” said the FIRS boss.

cancellation of results in some of the polling units during the main election.

It held that the returning officer lacked the power to cancel the votes in affected polling units.

The panel asked INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to Adeleke and withdraw the one given to Oyetola.

But Oyetola rejected the judgment and headed to the appellate court, saying “justice will prevail at last”.

commission should give me the certificate; it cannot just withhold the certificate based on mere allegations; there was no fair hearing; what INEC did is illegal; INEC has no power to withhold my Certificate of Return.

“INEC chairman, and APC National Chairman are frustrating my coming to the Senate; Oshiomhole and APC are conniving to frustrate me, using INEC; they will surely

fail. The evil I feared in PDP has befallen me ten times in the APC’’, the governor stated.

The governor who denied having personal issues with the national chairman of APC, said the war is simply political and attempts by Oshiomhole to bring him down politically, saying it a high-level conspiracy that will surely fail.

On whether he has reported his ordeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor

Okorocha noted that he did not want to bother the president with such an issue, especially as it concerns INEC. He said that the president he knows will never intervene as he would only call for due process in addressing any political matter, adding that whether President Buhari speaks or not, INEC should do the right thing by giving him his Certificate of Return.

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Magu: Why EFCC Intervened over Voters’ Inducement Group urges Buhari to call anti-graft agency to order over Saraki Senate president not above the law, commission insists Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has explained that the anti-graft agency intervened in the recent general election in Nigeria, in order to checkmate and prevent the moneybags from determining the emergence of leaders arising from the polls.

This is coming as a prodemocracy group, The Advocates for New Nigeria (TANN), has however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Magu, to order over his incessant harassment of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and members of the opposition.

But the anti-graft agency yesterday insisted that the Senate president was not above the law.

The Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Tony Orilade, in a statement issued yesterday quoted Magu as stating this in Kampala, Uganda, during the ongoing 9th Commonwealth Regional Conference for Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa.

In a paper titled “Creative Initiatives in the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria”, Magu who is also the outgoing Chairman of the Commonwealth Regional Conference, noted that the EFCC’s intervention during the presidential and National

Assembly elections on March 9, and the governorship and state assembly elections on March 23 paid off with positive results.

While disclosing that huge cash of different denominations were seized from politicians and their associates, Magu added that arrested perpetrators of the infamous act were already being prosecuted, just as a councillor from Gombe State has been convicted.

“For the first time in the history of electioneering in Nigeria, operatives of the commission were deployed to monitor polling stations and collation centres to discourage vote buying.

“The efforts culminated in some cash seizure and arrests.

Some of those arrested have been prosecuted and convicted. The presence of EFCC operatives, according to some of the election monitors, was a major deterrence to dubious politicians and their associates”, Magu added.

He said that with the general election slated for first quarter of 2019, the focus of the commission’s enforcement activities in 2018 was checking money laundering and illicit financial flows, saying steps were taken to explore the relationships that exist between the EFCC and other ACAs especially in the West African sub-region to tighten the screws and make trans border cash smuggling difficult.

He said: “Strategic deterrence

FG’s Final Forfeiture Suit against Patience Jonathan’s $5.7m, N2.4bn Adjourned Davidson Iriekpen A Lagos Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday further adjourned hearing on a suit by the federal government seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of $5.7 million and N2.421,953, 522.71 linked to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, till May 24.

The court presided over

by Justice Cecilia Mojisola Olatoregun, had on April 26, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the monies, sequel to an ex-parte application by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an order which was affirmed by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

EFCC said the N2.4 billion is in an account belonging to La Wari Furniture and Baths Limited.

Following the temporary forfeiture, Mrs. Jonathan, through her lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), appealed.

The Court of Appeal had on January 12, upheld the temporary forfeiture.

Dissatisfied, Mrs. Jonathan appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on March 15, affirmed the Court of Appeal’s judgment, directing the appellant to return to before Justice Olatoregun to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

The Supreme Court also rejected her prayer to strike down the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which the EFCC relied on in filing the

application.

When the case came up yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, said he received two affidavits from Ozekhome on April 29.

One of them, he said, is a counter-affidavit to the motion on notice for a final forfeiture, and a further affidavit.

He said the EFCC filed and served its reply to the SAN’s motions on Tuesday.

Responding, Ozekhome said: “We got their affidavit at 5.5p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). A plethora of exhibits were attached. Their affidavit is replete with new facts.

“These are facts are weighty; so weighty that they require us to respond. We don’t want any of their facts to be deemed admitted because we did not respond.

“I was served with a bulky document which has things that were not part of the original application.

“I’m only saying that in the interest of justice, we need to react to those issues raised,” he explained.

Adedipe said he had no objections to Ozekhome’s request for adjournment.

Granting the adjournment, Justice Olatoregun said there must be an end to litigation.

“I hope parties realise that there must be an end to backward and forward filing of applications,” she said.

In an affidavit in support of the ex-parte originating summons, an EFCC operative, Musbahu Yahaha Abubakar, said Mrs. Jonathan opened the Skye Bank account on February 7, 2013.

meetings were held with compliance officers and chief executives of deposit money banks and Bureaux De Change to prevail on them not to allow their institutions to be used as platforms for money laundering by politicians.

“International airports and other exit ports in the country were placed under surveillance, leading to huge cash seizures at a few Airports.”

Sharing his experience and the achievements of the EFCC under his watch, Magu revealed that the agency secured 189 convictions in 2017 and recovered more than N437 billion, $98 million €7 million and £294,000.

Magu said: “We have sustained the momentum. Indeed, the Commission’s movement into a new head office complex, which commissioning was witnessed by some of you, energised the workforce, resulting in dramatic improvements in all the mandate areas of the commission.

“In the last one year, the commission almost doubled its conviction return with a record 315 convictions in 2018 and over N236.16 billion worth of assets recovered.

“Assets forfeited in the year include 350 properties, 141 automobiles, 100 real estate, three vessels, 37 plots of land, two hotels, one barge, gas petrol stations and 44 bank accounts.”

Regarding the tackling of corruption, the EFCC boss said there was the need for the

people to own the fight, saying that the way forward remains active participation by the people and other stakeholders.

Magu said: “Tackling corruption in a complex multiethnic society with a population of nearly 200 million people requires a robust prevention strategy. There is so much the anti-corruption agencies can do without a buy-in by the people.

“Public ownership of the fight against corruption is therefore pivotal to any quest for success in the fight against corruption In Nigeria or elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, a pro-democracy group, TANN, has called on President Buhari to call Magu, to order over his incessant harassment of Saraki and members of the opposition.

In a statement by its National President, Abdulrahman Mohammed Abdul-Aziz, TANN specifically questioned EFCC’s rationale for probing Saraki’s salaries, emoluments, estacodes and other payments while he was in office as governor between 2003 and 2011 – eight years after he left office.

It wondered whether Saraki is the only public officer who left office within the period.

The group queried why he should singled out for such investigation.

The group noted that the EFCC has refused to be professional, especially the way and manner it chases perceived enemies, thus becoming his weakest link in the

realisation of the anti-graft war.

“Magu’s obviously bitter chase after Saraki is worthy of concern for everyone, who can see the pattern and where it could lead the nation.”

“An adage in Yoruba says when you chase after a man unsuccessfully, wisdom presupposes that you cease to chase after such a person and instead, retreat tactically for a review of strategy. Unfortunately, the EFCC is not guided by this age-old wisdom.”

Speaking on the latest move against the Senate president, the group said, “The commission is asking to probe into Saraki’s salaries, emoluments, estacodes and other payments while he was in office as governor between 2003 and 2011 – eight years after he’s left office – for what? Is Saraki the only one who finished within the period? Why single out the man for no reason in the name of doing what investigation?

“This is particularly curious when indeed there are governors, who just finished from office a few months ago, with a legion of petitions already in their trail. The EFCC chairman has descended fully into the arena and this is worrisome, because a critical national institution is being subjected to personal use and victimisation of both perceived and real enemies,” the group explained.

Meanwhile, the EFCC yesterday declared that the Senate president was not above the law.

In a statement signed by Acting Spokesman of the agency, Tony Orilade, the commission said the move to investigate Saraki was in tandem with its obligations by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the public space, which it pursued “without ill-will or malice against anyone”.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has taken note of the reactions of the Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki to the commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor as well as on the quality of his financial stewardship in the Senate.

“While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution,” he said.

EFCC said it “finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading, knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.”

SUCCOUR TO NORTH EAST …

L -R: President Muhammadu Buhari, Chairman of North East Developmment Commission, Maj. General Paul Tarfa; and MD/CEO of the commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali , at the inauguration of the agency, at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

NAZAS Expands Its Operations to Northern Nigeria A company registered by the NASFAT Islamic organisation and focused on charity, NASFAT Agency for Zakat & Sadaqat (NAZAS), has expanded its operations to the northern part of Nigeria.

The move, according to the Chairman, Board of Directors Alhaji Niyi Yusuf, was necessitated by the growing awareness of Muslims on the subject of zakat and sadaqa, the

desire for a veritable and trusted platform for disbursement of funds as well as its wide reaching impact on the vulnerable members of the society.

Incorporated in 2014, the aim and objective of the charity organisation is to provide a credible platform for the collection, distribution, administration and management of Zakat and Sadaqat on behalf of Muslims worldwide in fulfillment

of Allah’s commandment in the glorious Quran and Hadith of the Prophet (SAW).

Since inception, NAZAS has collected and distributed over N170m to empower over 650 persons, provide annual scholarship to over 120 indigent students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, provide relief materials to over 26,000 displaced persons in IDP camps in Borno, Yobe and Gombe

States.

The organisation has also sponsored medical outreach programmes to support over 2,300 thousands persons including Muslims and nonMuslims alike in the southern states of the country.

The company also gives up to date guidance and counseling on Zakat calculation as well as collect and manage waqf (endowment) in Islam.

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

SUDAN’S CONVULSIVE MEMORIES

Okello Oculi writes that the prolonged protest in Sudan is rooted in its history

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ablo Neruda, the legendary poet from Chile, might have said that ‘’there are many Sudans’’.

His comrades in Sudan’s Communist Party would claim a proud space in that arithmetic of political memories. Until Umar Al-Bashir banned the party, their activities through the country’s trade unions, including railway transport workers, had fed the growth of nationalist protest against British-Egyptian colonial exploitation.

Historians locate the land as the terrain across which builders of the civilization of Ancient Egypt followed the branches of River Nile from Eastern-Central Africa and Ethiopia. Today’s smaller pyramids in the country recall the Meroe era as architectural models for the grand pyramids that came later along the lower Nile.

Ancient Egyptians had imported immigrants from Greece, Italy, Iraq, Syria, Persia and the Arabian Peninsula as colonial subjects. Drawings of enslaved peoples labouring to build the pyramids as tombs for ruling classes can be seen on walls of inner chambers of pyramids. With the growing decadence of the Black African Pharaohs rulers of Egypt, colonised peoples surged up the Nile. Persians, Greeks, Romans, Turks, Arabs, French and British adventurers splashed imperial ambitions across Sudan and sources of the Nile.

Sudan’s first modern revolution came as mass revolt and military defeat of a brutal exploitation of peasants forced to grow cotton on the fertile Gezira alluvial plain. Led by a Mahdi, that triumphant power of peasants against oppression and economic exploitation continues to fuel political imagination today.

Professor Mahmud Mamdani has shown that British colonial officials launched a social engineering project which used tribalism to destroy the nationalist unity which the war machine of the Mahdist revolution had created. Darfur as its centre became replaced with Khartoum and Omdurman. The location of educational institutions, including the only University College, in Khartoum, would favour three tribes in that region.

By the 198os over 75 per cent of officials in the civil service belonged to these three tribes.

In December 1955, a Southern military brigade rebelled against a spectre of this political domination. British intelligence agents and Christian missionaries and administers fanned this fear; while Arabized politicians in Khartoum dreamt of using military force to silence Southern nationalism.

It was Nimeiry who in 1972 negotiated peace and a politics of federalism and dialogue. When geologists revealed that Southern Sudan had vast deposits of oil, greed blinded the three tribes that dominated his bureaucracy and security services. They urged Nimeiry to declare Sharia Law as the legal umbrella over the whole of Sudan. Religion, they declared, ‘’was not just an individual matter of faith but the cornerstone and basis of all social and political institutions in society as a whole’’.

THE SIEGE ON THE ARMY’S HEADQUARTERS RECALLS AN ALLIANCE BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND REBEL OFFICERS WHICH OVERTHREW FAILED REGIMES IN 1964 AND 1985

Directors of multinational oil companies hoped to grab oil and also sell military weapons to warring Sudanese.

Over four million Southern Sudanese would flee into Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Egypt.

The civil war would bring a political shame that only equalled that suffered by Ethiopia when in 2011 Southern Sudanese won independence on a popular vote of 90 per cent in a referendum.

Before the referendum an alleged conspiracy between Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir led to the assassination of John Garang. The enormous rally of Northern Sudanese who welcomed him to Khartoum from the war for Southern liberation frightened President Bashir in Khartoum – who feared losing power – and Salva Kiir, who preferred a total exit from Arab domination.

The shame of political failure has dug a deep wound in the vision and soul of Sudanese people; and marked Al-Bashir’s rule from 1989 t0 2019. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January 9, 2005 between Al-Bashir as leader of the National Congress Party, and the SPLA/M, exposed the greed for oil money and moral bankruptcy of Khartoum. It emphasised ‘’equal revenue sharing from the South oil fields’’; and the restoration of ‘’dignity and wellbeing, security and equality for all’’.

The political and administrative elite in Khartoum were fearful of military officers from Darfur Province in the country’s army. Among the over 80 ethnic groups, the Fur, Massalit and Zhagawa descended from a Sultanate that had been autonomous from 1300 till defeat by British guns in 1916.

Satellite pictures of rich deposits of vital minerals – including cobalt and uranium – in Darfur evoked familiar greed in Khartoum.

Pre-emptive purges of Darfur officers from security forces, provoked the emergence of Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Vigorous demonstrations by human rights activists in New York City against alleged ‘’genocide’’ by Khartoum against civilian populations in Darfur, suggested that business interests in New York had known of resources in the region. The conflict did not win friends for Al-Bashir in Darfur.

The current massive and prolonged demonstrations which toppled Al-Bashir contain elements of all these memories. The siege on the army’s headquarters recalls an alliance by university students and rebel officers which overthrew failed regimes in 1964 and 1985.

The deposed Muslim Brotherhood, as an ally of Iran, is a threat to capitalistic dictatorships in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Bashir’s adoption of Nimeiry’s promotion of ethnic wars inside South Sudan and oil-rich Nile Province - to get access to oil wealth - entrenched blood-letting greed as national policy. As a military intelligence officer, he threw 30 years of violence, not dialogue, at critics; thereby creating nationwide grief which exploded into ‘freedom flowers’ in bloom, waving: “Aluta Continua’’.

FAST-TRACKING INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT Babatunde Fashola has performed remarkably well, writes Maxwell Okoro

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commonly used metaphor of war is that a general is as good as his lieutenants. It is the lieutenants doing the field battles that make the general who worked out the war plan look good or bad. For Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and retired army general, this saying applies in more ways than one.

By his own confession, he was virtually overwhelmed by the disarray in which the country whose government he took over was. It took him a while to pick the team with which to tackle what he found on the ground. The performance of these lieutenants would provide the assessment Buhari would get at the end of his tenor.

That Nigerians returned him for another term of presidency means that to a large extent, the electorate endorsed the work he did with his team over four years. Within this general endorsement, there were areas of high performance and naturally, areas of not-so-high performance.

One such area of high performance is the provision of physical infrastructure. When President Buhari lumped together the erstwhile ministries of Power, Works and Housing which constitute some 80% of basic infrastructure into one ministry with one minister and three ministers of state, there was some murmuring as to how one man could oversee such.

But as many Nigerians would soon find out, it is all about effective delegation, which in turn depends on the quality of the delegate. If one president could oversee the affairs of the entire country through some two dozen ministerial departments, then so could an effective captain oversee three or more related ministries. Nigeria had such in Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. Fashola’s top-of-the-class performance as

governor of Lagos State in the preceding eight years commended him to that position, and he discharged creditably for his principal, the president.

Fashola demonstrably understood the vision, and was able to give it expansive interpretation.

He needed no hand-holding and ran with it from the moment he was sworn in.

He had sufficient mental elevation to give him the bird’s eye-view to see the nexus connecting the three units of his ministry as the basic infrastructure upon which the economy rests.

He understood that the roads are at present the main artery through which all economic activities are routed; that power is the livewire of industrial activities; and that housing is the second-ranked human need after food.

The classification of Nigeria as a developing nation would ordinarily mean that the nation is work-in-progress in terms of physical development which at the first level would be about primary infrastructure and then secondary infrastructure. What Fashola met on the ground must have stunned him. It turned out that the nation was a classic case of arrested development in the hands of those whose duty it had been to develop it.

Fashola found out that the Federal Ministry of Works which superintends road construction and maintenance had a paltry budget of N18.132billion in 2015 and actually got the sum of N13 billion for the fiscal year. Yet, this is a ministry saddled with the execution of 206 road contracts measuring over 6,000km across the nation, with a contract value in excess of N2trillion!

Indeed, Fashola found out that the nation ceased paying proper attention to physical development as it relates to roads as far back as 2002. That was the last time the Ministry of Works got a meaningful budget in excess of

N200bn for a fiscal year! The disconnect had been very long.

In the power sector, the budgetary gap was there, but not in the same magnitude. The federal government had in 2013 finally implemented the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 – some eight years late. The main kernel of the act was the privatization of the nation’s power assets. These assets that were hitherto managed for the government by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were classified into two – the power generating companies (Gencos) and the power distribution companies (Discos). They were sold to the private sector, with the government retaining some equity interests.

But the nation’s generated power, at a maximum output of 4,000mw, was awfully below demand, leading to power rationing which had defined the nation for decades. In response, the government had embarked on the development of generation assets, which it proposed for future sale. These are mostly under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

Then, the government retained the transmission side of the power business which is a critical part given that over 30% of generated power was lost in the transmission process.

The government entered a contract with a Canadian company, Manitoba, to manage the transmission process.

Total federal government budget for the Power Ministry in 2015 amounted to N9.606 billion, out of which N4.476bn was for recurrent expenditure, covering salaries and overheads, leaving just N5.130bn for capital expenditure. That was gross under-provisioning which couldn’t provide sufficient cover for 22 out of the 142 transmission projects it had at hand, valued at N40bn.

From the very first budget of this regime, seriousness came into the nation’s infrastruc-

tural development. From a budget of N93.66bn for the ministries of Works, Power, Transport, Aviation and FCT in 2015, the budget spiked to N433.4 billion in 2016 for just Works, Power and Housing.

By fiscal 2018, the government had spent some N2.7 trillion on infrastructure. And the results kicked in, expectedly. In fiscal 2017, for instance, 766km of roads were constructed or rehabilitated across the nation. They were mainly strategic arteries with huge socioeconomic benefits connecting states and regions.

For the power sector, generation has hit an unprecedented high of 7,000mw, up from 4,000mw that the government met on inception. It is in the process of sorting out the vexatious estimated power usage issue in a manner that favours both the distribution companies and the consuming public. This is coming with the introduction of the Meter Asset Provider programme.

On the housing front, Fashola undertook a pilot of his National Housing Programme across 34 states that had provided land.

More importantly, he has created a better environment for private sector participation in housing. He slashed equity requirements for those seeking mortgage loans from federal agencies. For those seeking N5m and under, the equity contribution was slashed from 5% to zero, while those seeking over N5m will now contribute 10%, down from 15%.

Overall, the idea of bundling these basic infrastructure ministries has worked for this administration. They now constitute a critical mass that the government focuses on to drive development. But it would have been a colossal failure if it had not been placed under a capable hand that could expansively interpret and run with the vision. More of the same will do the nation a lot of good.

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T H I S D AY THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

EDITORIAL NCC And The Piracy Networks There is need to strengthen the enabling laws on piracy

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he recent disclosure by the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), the body empowered by law to deal with copyright issues in Nigeria, that the country has been losing $3bn annually to the activities of pirates, came as no surprise. From Lagos to Sokoto and from Enugu to Port Harcourt, the story is the same: vendors of pirated audio and video CDs and DVDs publicly display their merchandise with impunity and the law enforcement agents appear helpless. The same goes for books and printed materials.

While the NCC director-general, Mr John Asein, has pledged to develop policies and strategies to facilitate a culture of respect for authorship and copyright works in the country, targeting schools and other institutions of learning may not achieve much and could be counter-productive. The real culprits who invest so much money in feeding fat on the sweat of others are what PEOPLE NEED MORE the NCC should ENLIGHTENMENT ON go after. The NCC WHAT DAMAGE THEY DO should work with TO CREATIVITY WHEN the security agencies THEY PATRONISE PIRATED to dismantle the criminal network.

WORKS That is the right way to go.

For us to develop as a nation, we need to fight the scourge of piracy that has become a serious epidemic in our country today. Authors, publishers, producers and artistes spend a lot of time, money and effort to produce such intellectual works. Yet within a few hours, and with relatively cheap electronic equipment, the pirate, working from the comfort of his house, can make thousands of copies of such painstaking works. These unscrupulous characters thereafter sell the pirated works for a fraction of the price pegged by the authentic producer or author. Apart from the huge financial losses incurred by the owners of these intellectual property, nothing kills creativity as fast as

Letters to the Editor

piracy.

There is no gainsaying the benefits literary and artistic works have brought Nigeria. Our country has produced the late Professor Chinua Achebe (the author of the globally acclaimed ‘Things Fall Apart’), Professor Wole Soyinka, (the first African to win a Nobel prize in Literature as far back as 1986), and award winning writers like Ben Okri and Chimamanda Adichie, among others. These literary giants have helped to put Nigeria on the global map.

Today, Nollywood, said to be the second largest movie industry in the world, has in no small measure helped export Nigeria to the world. Who knows how many Achebes and Soyinkas have been forced to quit writing on account of the activities of pirates? Today, it is not uncommon to find several celebrated writers and artistes living in penury as pirates ride piggy-back on their intellectual works to fortune.

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t the 2019 World Intellectual Property Day last week, there were lamentations about the huge intellectual theft that goes on in our country on a daily basis and in full public

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

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

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

NIGERIA: NOT AN OIL ECONOMY

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t has long been said that oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and often times, the budget of Nigeria is prepared in line with benchmark from the sale of the nation’s crude. But according to a recent study by Afrinvest, a leading investment banking firm, Nigeria is not an oil producing country but a human capital producing country due to diaspora flows exceeding gross oil revenue.

Diaspora remittances in 2018 was $25.1bn while gross oil revenue for 2018 was $18.2bn and the 2019 capital expenditure budget is $6.7bn. Gross oil revenue comprises of crude oil and gas sales, petroleum profit tax and royalties.

According to these figures, Nigeria is a human capital producing country because diaspora flows far exceeds gross oil revenue receipts.

Human capital is a collection of traits – all the knowledge, talents, skills, abilities, experience, intelligence, training, judgment, and wisdom possessed individually and collectively by individuals in a population. These resources are the total capacity of the people that represents a form of wealth which can be directed to accomplish the goals of the nation or state or a portion thereof. In the context of Nigeria, these human capitals are being exported daily due to non-availability of accommodation of such individuals in various respective sectors of the economy.

Doctors, nurses, engineers, ICT professionals, academics, researchers, and a host of others leave the country in search for greener pastures due to unfavorable circumstances in the

glare.

Armed with ever-changing cutting-edge technology, the pirates appear to be one step ahead. The laws have not helped matters. Most of the copyright laws were passed during the analogue era of audio and video tapes. With such technology as MP4 and several computer and mobile telephone applications like Facebook, Youtube, WhatsApp, Instagram, to name a few, sharing pictures, audio and video files is just a click away.

Piracy is an ill-wind that blows no good. To fight this scourge, we need to strengthen the enabling laws and seek more efficient ways to track and punish offenders. Also, the NCC should be better funded to be ahead of the pirates. Above all, the people also need more enlightenment on what damage they do to creativity when they patronise pirated works. Engaging the consumers of pirated works will therefore be a good starting point for the NCC.

Nigerian job market space. Our educational system is one of the cheapest in the world, our medical schools or legal institutions are very affordable compared to universities abroad. We produce brilliant minds who ended up leaving the shores of the country and become key players overseas in their respective industry. We lose the best minds to the international job market every day thereby being one of the leading countries in human capital export.

Human capital is the fundamental source of economic growth. It is a source of both increased productivity and technological advancement. In fact, the major difference between the developed and developing countries is the rate of progress in human capital. The underdeveloped countries need human capital to staff new and expanding government services to introduce new systems of land use and new methods of agriculture to develop new means of communication to carry forward industrialization and to build the education system. How then do we attain sustainable economic growth and development when we continuously lose our human capital assets?

Policymakers should seek modalities in which the need to seek greener pastures overseas will be less attractive through the building of strong institutions which will accommodate merit as a tool for job placement or growth rather than the continuous existence of personal rule paradigm and patrimonialism.

Dr. Folawiyo Kareem Olajoku, Development Practitioner (FKO Investments and Research)

ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AND TUITION FEE

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hen in December 2017, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, announced to a large audience during a convocation ceremony of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba, Akoko (AAUA), his intention to increase the tuition fee of the school, many were baffled while others greeted the news with mixed feelings. He said the tuition fee of the university “was not worthy or capable of purchasing a pair of shoe”. Hence his decision to increase the tuition fee as well to boost the state economy.

Obviously, it was a shocking news to both the students and parents at large. It was an impromptu announcement which led to the convening of a stakeholders’ meeting among parents of the students, the school management, the governor and students themselves. At the forum, the amount to be paid was debated.

Although the meeting was inconclusive, it still came as a bombshell when the new school fee was announced with

an increase of over 70%. How do you explain a fee hike from N35, 000 to N100, 000? Consequently, the students protested against the “unfortunate development.”

They expressed their displeasure against the state government’s decision.

But how is the new fee feasible in a poor state where most parents earn nothing close to N100,000?

While I appreciate the frustration of the students in the face of this ugly event, I urge them to be civil while they register their displeasure. A more strategic approach to reducing the exorbitant fee can be taken as an increase of about 50% will still go a long way in enriching the state economy.

This will, as well be affordable to the parents.

Meanwhile, the government and the school management should intensify efforts on how to bring the tense atmosphere in the institution under control.

Any violent demonstration at this period is surely an ill wind that will blow no good to both the “Sunshine State” and AAUA itself.

Grace Omowumi Semudara, Akungba

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THURSDAY, Î Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

FOUR–YEAR REPORT CARD OF TEAM BUHARI: (2015 – 2019) PART 5

Amaechi: With Huge Financial Commitment, It’s Work in Progress Huge ďŹ nancial allocations by the federal government has helped Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to make substantial progress, Sumaina Kasim reports

Amaechi

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lthough the Rotimi Amaechi-led Ministry of Transportation is one of the key ministries President Muhammadu Buhari is passionate about, and wants to use to bequeath to the nation adequate infrastructure at all front, four years on, it is debatable whether the ministry has lived up to the expectation of the president.

In spite of the huge financial commitments to the sector in the past four years, the minister said recently that the federal government would require additional $45 billion to fix the country's transportation infrastructure, saying that rail infrastructure is a capital intensive sector.

Explaining the amount spent so far on rail infrastructure in the country, the minister revealed that this figure would be needed to solve the country's "problem of transportation to a great extent."

"It is capital intensive. N1trillion is about $2.7 billion and that is just about 200 kilometres of the railway. So, if you plan to do Lagos-Ibadan and you are looking at about $8.7 billion - this will be between N3 trillion and N4 trillion. How much is the budget of the country?

"That is why I said we need about $35 to $45 billion to be able to do Lagos-Kano, Port HarcourtMaiduguri, Lagos-Calabar, and Abuja-Warri. Once you do these four tracks, you have covered the country, and you have solved the problem of transportation to a great extent,’’ the minister added.

Amaechi also gave a breakdown of the expenses incurred so far on rail construction most especially the Lagos-Ibadan railroad.

Even though many said lots have been achieved in the sector in the past four years, other critical

stakeholders believe that Amaechi’s recent request for additional huge fund is a sign of not-tooimpressive achievement.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) traces its history to the year 1898, when the first railroad in Nigeria was constructed by the British colonial government. The nation’s return to democracy in year 1999, has paved way for proper rail modernisation.

Starting in 2006, plans were made to restore the rail lines and add new locomotives with foreign assistance. And the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan made it possible for young Nigerians to feel rail infrastructural facilities. In December 2012, regular scheduled passenger service was restored on the Lagos to Kano line and the Kaduna-Abuja Standard Gauge rail line began full operations.

Given all the necessary support since 2015, many believed Amaechi has been able to redirect the rail sector. With a day-to-day supervision, Amaechi has been able to fix some abandoned rail projects; constructed and commissioned new ones.

To achieve the rail project goal, the ministry had set up a stakeholders’ monthly meeting and inspection tour of all rail projects. The tour is to ensure that projects are not only delivered on the stipulated time, but done in high standard.

Having delivered the Kaduna-Abuja Standard Gauge rail line, the minister was said to have gone ahead with the Lagos-Ibadan rail project, and at the same time, face the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail project.

The ministry has also been able to complete and inaugurate the Kaduna-Abuja Standard Gauge rail line started by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration.

Starting with the overhaul of rail projects across the country, the ministry has revamped the ItakpeAjaokuta-Warri rail project, which is about 80% completed, and recently commenced commercial activities on the route, having initially offered a free ride on the axis.

With plan to link major cities in the country with rail line, the Ministry of Transportation has also completed the Lagos-Abeokuta Section of the LagosIbadan rail project, and efforts are on to complete the project before May 29, 2019.

Worried by the sudden upsurge of passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna train service, due to the notorious activities of kidnappers along the Abuja-Kaduna road, Amaechi recently ordered the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to move two additional coaches from Itakpe-Warri rail lines to reduce the pressure.

He recently embarked on a tour to China, where he disclosed that the ministry was set to take delivery of the first batch of 10 coaches, out of the 64 coaches expected from China in June 2019, to reduce the congestion at the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

Under, Amaechi, the ministry also completed and commissioned the first Inland Dry Port in the country, located in Kakuri community, Kaduna State; and added more coaches and locomotives to the few available ones on the Kaduna-Abuja rail line.

He noted that the Dry Port will greatly provide the needed stimulus for massive economic growth in Kaduna State and the country at large. Today’s event has opened a new vista of commercial opportunities, not only for Northern businessmen, but also neighbouring countries.

The progressive effort of the present administration in rail rehabilitation and construction was aimed at ensuring effective transport connectivity nationwide.

On the average, the ministry is making progress.

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˾ THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

FOUR–YEAR REPORT CARD OF TEAM BUHARI: (2015 – 2019) PART 5

Mohammed: Uncommon Communicator in a Challenging Environment Olawale Ajimotokan x-rays Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s sojourn in the Ministry of Information and Culture and finds that the ebullient lawyer comes across as an uncommon communicator despite the very challenging environment

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hose very close to him said that Alhaji Lai Mohammed effectively played his part as the official spokesman of the federal government in the last four years that he served as the Minister of Information and Culture.

His task was to communicate the federal government achievements to the public, especially in the promise to fight corruption and tackle security challenges retarding the nation.

While some members of the public said that Mohammed employed propaganda in carrying out his official assignments, those working very close with him said he was up to the task.

For example, they argued that under his watch, the federal government also sought to gain public sympathy through the whistle blower policy that exposed corruption in high places.

It was reported that within the first two months of the whistle-blowing policy, the federal government recovered over $178 million stolen from the government. By June 5, 2017, the Ministry of Finance received a total of 2,150 tips from the public, while by the following year, it was reported that government had so far recovered about N9.12billion through its whistle-blowing policy introduced to reward informants.

In 2016 the national reorientation campaign, “Change Begins With Me” was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari. The concept, coined by the minister, aimed to achieve a paradigm shift in the ways Nigerians were doing things.

Also in 2018, Nigeria hosted the 61st edition of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting in Abuja.

The minister led the media on a nationwide tour to showcase some of the major infrastructural projects by government, including the Third Niger Bridge, the LagosIbadan Expressway, the Oyo-OgbomoshoIlorin Expressway, Ilorin- Jebba road reconstruction and the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).

He similarly highlighted the stride of the country in agriculture, in relation to large scale rice cultivation in some northern states, under the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme, that has cut imported rice from Thailand from 644,000 MT to about 22,000 MT from 2015-2017. Also the number of rice growers in the country increased from five million to 12 million.

In the area of social intervention, the minister listed the achievements of the administration to include the feeding of 9.3 million school children everyday, employment of 500,000 unemployed graduates under N-Power, 300,000 families benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer and interest-free loans of between N10,000 and N100,000 under the TraderMoni and the MarketMoni Schemes, respectively, to small business owners.

Under Mohammed’s watch, the federal

Mohammed government also launched a campaign against Fake News, which the minister effectively deployed as a campaign tool against the opposition.

He was always in the frontline raising his voice to the danger the spread of fake news posed to national unity and in the fight against insurgency in the North east.

The minister ascribed the escalation of the farmers/herders bloodletting in the restive north-central to the efforts of religious bigots.

He often likened the effects of fake news to a time bomb waiting to explode.

“In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like ours, fake news is a time bomb. And in recent week, many suspected anarchists have been doing everything possible to detonate the bomb. But for prudence and vigilance of Nigerians, theythe religious and ethnic bigots among uswould have set the nation on fire, especially over the farmers/herders clashes as well as communal clashes, “Mohammed said.

To underscore the way government perceived fake news and how it intended to control it, he disclosed that government planned to partner with Facebook and other social networking platforms to assist Nigeria in tackling the menace.

He also played a prominent role in 2018, when Nigeria hosted the 61st edition of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting, in Abuja.

The hosting afforded Nigeria the unique opportunity to expose her rich culture to the rest of the world, put the nation’s tourism industry in particular, on the world map, attract foreign research experts and promote the necessary network that will form the basis for future cooperation.

The ruling political party also leveraged on his ability and other key stakeholders to mobilise the grassroots support in his home state of Kwara, where his doggedness and political clout led to sweeping of the stakes

by APC candidates during the presidential, national assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.

His fiery disposition against the opposition in the days preceding the polls has not abated in spite of APC emerging victorious in a disputed presidential election.

Mohammed ripped at PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of trying to win by subterfuge after falling short at the polls.

In the same vein, he accused the PDP presidential candidate of desperation and for aiming to replicate the Venezuelan model of two parallel leaders- Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido- in Nigeria, without realizing that Nigeria is not Venezuela, while the situations in both countries are not the same.

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˾ THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

FOUR–YEAR REPORT CARD OF TEAM BUHARI: (2015 – 2019) PART 5

Buratai: It’s All Motion, Little Movement

Chiemelie Ezeobi examines the performance of Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and concludes that it’s been all motion and little movement

Buratai

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hen he was appointed army chief and promoted lieutenant general at the inception of this administration May 2015, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, an infantry officer with degrees in History and Philosophy, had his job well cut out for him. At the time of his appointment, the reputation of the Nigerian Army was at its lowest. Boko Haram terrorists had territorial control of several local governments in Borno State, the insurgents raided military camps with ease, soldiers returned from the theatre of operations in body bags, and scores of Nigerian military men who had found their way to Cameroon in what was then described as “tactical maneuver”, an euphemism for running away from the battlefield, were disarmed by Cameroonian forces.

Buratai’s immediate duty therefore was to restore the morale of the officers and men, transform them into a fighting force, and take the battle to the Boko Haram insurgents with a view to displacing them and recovering every inch of Nigerian territory under their control.

In the first year of Buratai’s appointment as army chief, Nigerian soldiers regained their mojo.

They took the battle to Boko Haram, inflicting on insurgents heavy casualties and recovering the territories they had occupied. By the end of 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari, military chiefs and top government officials had made a song and dance of Boko Haram being degraded or technically defeated. Indeed the insurgents could only hit at soft targets by carrying out suicide bomb attacks on churches, mosques and markets. In no time, however,

the insurgents regrouped, rearmed and returned to battle stronger and deadlier. In one attack on 157 Battalion, Metele, Borno State, late last year, official statements put the casualties among officers and men of the Nigerian Army at 23. However, some top army officers put those killed at more than 200.

Since then, it has been yo-yo between the soldiers and the insurgents, with neither side having a clear advantage.

What is worrisome is how banditry and criminality on other fronts have worsened the state of insecurity in the country, particularly in the north. Bandits involved in illegal gold mining have made Zamfara State a hellhole. Kidnappers have made the lives of people residing in many states in the northwest miserable, with Abuja-Kaduna road particularly unsafe for travellers. Herdsmen have turned the farms across north central states into killing fields. To be fair, Buratai’s Nigerian Army has embarked on specialized military operations to address every security challenge. There is the counter-insurgency Operation Lafia Dole in the northeast and its sister operations in that axis: Operation Crackdown to clear the remnants of Boko Haram insurgents in Sambisa forest; Operation Safe Corridor for the de-radicalization and rehabilitation of repentant terrorists; and Operation Gama Aiki to deal with the insurgents in the northern part of Borno State. There is also Operation Safe Haven to quell ethno-religious conflicts and other criminal activities in the north central states; Operation Sharan Daji to deal with bandits and cattle rustlers in the northwest; Operation Delta Safe to crush the resurgence of Niger Delta militancy, bunkering and oil theft in the south south; Operation Awase to contain criminal operations of kidnappers

and pipeline vandals in Arepo and along Lagos-Ogun axis; and Operation Python Dance to contain the activities of Biafran agitators in the South-east.

Although the Nigerian Army is faced with several challenges including but not limited to inadequate funding, obsolete hardware, politicization of recruitment and posting, injudicious application of military vote by Defence Ministry, and poor welfare package, Buratai has never shy away from extolling his achievements. He had listed among his achievements recovering and keeping Nigeria’s territories from Boko Haram, improving internal security operations, effective civil-military operations, support for democracy and 2019 elections, reorganizing the army towards professionalism, improved training and capacity building, improved welfare packages, and enhanced innovation.

With the worsening security situation in the country, some of Buratai’s claims cannot stand serious scrutiny.

Boko Haram and its allies in the Islamic State of West Africa are still deadly terrorists in the northeast. Across the three zones in the north, bandits, kidnappers and killer herdsmen have killed hundreds of people. Amnesty International has serially accused men of Nigerian Army of human rights abuses; under Buratai, soldiers attacked Shi’a’ cleric Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and killed over 300 of his followers. Those killed in battle barely get decent burial.

In the circumstance of the worsening security situation in the country, the general thinking is that the leadership of the army needs fresh ideas.

Not a few persons think that President Buhari needs to review his decision to retain Buratai despite the fact that he has exceeded his service tenure and due for retirement.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019

22

POLITICS

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

‘Strange Bed Fellows Won the Election in Kwara’ Hammed Shittu holds a conversation with Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, a former Kwara State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the evolving situation in Kwara and the state of the nation

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ow do you see your party winning all the seats including the Kwara State governorship position in the 2019 national elections?

Frankly speaking, I was surprised we could win all. I thought we would make impact, may be by winning one senate seat, two House of Representatives seats and perhaps eight or 10 seats in the state House of Assembly.

I was not thinking it would be total. I believe it is the deed of God that we were able to win all.

But I’m happy. It means God made our own formula for change in Kwara State work. I told my colleagues that we could not beat Saraki to his own game, and that is money for money. I told them we should vary the tactics of election in Kwara State. That was why we embarked on serious sensitization of the people of Kwara State through our radio programmes. We started with Harmony FM, Idofian, Royal FM, later to Sobi FM and later we also went to some other radio (stations) even outside Kwara State.

The people of Kwara State keyed into the whole programme; the agenda of change. We were address them on what could be their areas of need; areas where they feel the pinch of a bad administration. If you are not telling lies to the people, they will move with you.

If we were waiting for when we would have enough resources to fight the Senate President and the structure, we will not be where we are today. Some people were saying that before we could defeat the structure of Saraki in Kwara, we should be looking for about N6billion. Where would we get N6billion? Of course, we can’t get anything near that. So, we designed a programme that made us touch the heart of the people. While the method of giving people money only touched the hand, we were able to penetrate the heart of the people of Kwara State, and it worked wonderfully.

Now that your party has won, how do you intend to manage the success?

Politics to me is management of intrigues. I know very well that we can even be described as ‘Strange Bed Fellows’. Some of us are not actually sharing the vision of emancipation.

Some just want to share public office. Those are some of problems we may have. But we don’t really have a choice in Kwara State than for this party (APC) to do well. To whom much is given, much is certainly expected.

We were given all. We won all including the President. We are also conscious of that fact. Even if we want to fight, we must be very careful that the crisis that can be permitted would not rock the boat so that we would not be chased out of Government House prematurely.

We need to be patient with one another; there must be a high level of tolerance among us. In fact, I must tell you that what carried us thus far is tolerance. You can’t get all that you want in a political party. There would be various schemes. But we still believe that having an Abdulrahman in Government House is by far better than having a nominee of the Senate President, because now we know there has been a change, which is acknowledged nationally.

APC national leadership has chosen Ahmad Lawan as preferred candidate for Senate President while two other candidates have also emerged. Don’t you foresee a repeat of the 2015 scenario?

There would not be anything like that of 2015 in the National Assembly of today. APC is in clear majority in that National Assembly.

What happened in 2015 happened because the PDP and APC were contending forces in the National Assembly, and there was no clear and overwhelming majority. It was just easy for members of the APC to befriend PDP

are there.

In view of the talk about how the governments of Kwara State were run in the last 16 years or so, would you suggest a probe?

I’m not the governor, and I don’t know how his mind operates. To me, there must be accountability. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there would be punishment but you must account for your tenure. The problem of leadership in Nigeria is lack of accountability.

We don’t hold our leaders accountable, that is the major problem we have. Of course, if you were a governor for eight years or 16 years, you must be able to account for your tenure. You must be able to talk specifically on what you left behind. They did a lot of projects and programmes. If the governor believes that there must be a review, so be it?

What I want to caution against is that we should not make review of the past a sort of vendetta. We should not also make it a project that we would say we are probing, so we cannot do anything. I would never go for that. We should not also use it as a means of playing to the gallery so that you make the headlines. There must be a way of reviewing the past without much sentiments.

I think we can be objective so that it would be transparently known to everybody. If they are wrong, people would see. If they are not wrong, tell people that they are not. That does not mean anything.

Oyedepo and betray their party in order to make it. I don’t foresee that now.

Two, we should know one thing that in Nigeria we are not ripe for a National Assembly that can be out rightly democratic in the choice of principal officers. This thing, for some time, will still be dominated by the party’s choice. And this is clear. Because many of these senators have their root in their various constituencies under some leadership there. Some of them are controlled by their governors, and so it would be very easy for them to be instructed by leaders from their various states on where they should go.

I foresee that majority will still toe the party line. Those of them that they may not follow the party line, will be in minority. They are not likely to upturn the decision of the party.

What is your advice for contenders going against the decision of the party?

Leadership may not be given to the best in the National Assembly, but it can be given to whoever has the favour of the party leadership.

One should just urge all of them to toe the party line for now. May be in future, when we are more democratic, you can campaign on the floor of the House and you are made the presiding officer.

And don’t forget that even in the House, if you want to defy party, there must be a sort of power equation that is favourable like we had in 2014. If the situation is as it is now, Saraki would never have his way in a National Assembly dominated overwhelmingly by APC. He was sustained by the PDP throughout.

Let us come down to Kwara. In view of the new political order, how do you think the leadership should emerge?

Something unusual is happening in Kwara State, and many people don’t really understand the content of our victory. I want to be honest that there would not be any particular leader that will dictate who to become presiding officer in the Kwara State House of Assembly under this present dispensation. This is because there is no one leader whose image towers above everybody.

Many of the people elected into the House of Assembly were chosen and elected by their various constituencies. Nobody can just stand up and say this is what the party chairman

says. Before the party chairman or the governor will do that, he has to call specific leaders from the 16 local governments and then we agree on who becomes the leaders of the assembly.

I foresee a collective leadership that will now make possible the emergence of principal officers in Kwara State House of Assembly.

It has not been so in the last 20 years. I was in that assembly in 1999. The party leaders may be represented by just three people. They will just distribute offices and say, ‘go and endorse’. Though I was not part of the 2003 assembly, it is usually the same.

Under Bukola Saraki, some of them will just be made to come from the House of Representatives to become Speaker here.

They have done it on two occasions. They knew that they would become the Speaker even before they contested. Nobody can say that one now. That is the true meaning of our victory.

Can we talk of zoning in this type of arrangement?

We would certainly talk of zoning. Kwara is standing on a tripod; we have the South, the Central and the North. Today, the Governorelect is from the Central, the Deputy is from the South. If you just say let us give Speaker to any other place, unless it is conceded by the North, I foresee problem. I’m sure there would be discussion around zoning.

Even when you consider experience and seniority?

It is a sad thing, sometimes in politics. And in any case, 23 of 24 of them (members of the state House of Assembly elect) are greenhorns.

They are just going there for the first time.

Only one can be said to be part of the last assembly. Ordinarily, when you want to consider experience, you will want to give it to that person. But would the North concede?

Supposing all of them are new, would you go and import somebody, who didn’t make it? We don’t have to be sentimental about it. Presiding officer of the House can easily be trained to take over. When I was in the assembly, Benjamin Issa was the Speaker, and he had no legislative experience. I want tell you that up till today in the present dispensation, I rate him the best of all our Speakers. Not because I served under him, but the records

What if this provides an excuse for the inability of the incoming APC government to perform?

I’m always against excuses. We cannot give excuses that things were bad. We knew those things were bad before we said we wanted to be in government. I don’t believe any Kwaran would take it from us. That is being very honest. What Kwarans expect is for us to hit the ground running. We have had enough time to prepare for alternative government in Kwara. Therefore, there should not be any excuse that we did not meet any money. If we did not meet any money, if there is a way that we can make it known generally and acceptably to people, and a way of trying to wriggle out of lack of money in order to please the people, we have to do it.

Looking at the current perception of the judiciary, referred to as last hope of the common man, what do you think can be done to change the perception in the society?

Judiciary, legislature and the executive, they are populated by Nigerian leaders.

And what is leadership? It is the conspiracy of the elite. If we want to single out the judiciary, what of the executive and the legislature? Legislature as we see in Bukola (Saraki), cannot be said to be good. For the executive, many people blamed (Goodluck) Jonathan for some ills.

So, if we have some dosage of corruption in the judiciary, it is part of the national malaise. The difference, however, is that we see judiciary as last hope of the common man. We have had consistent and durable development in the judiciary, even under the military, they were still there. One would have thought we would have outstanding men of integrity and character in the judiciary. If we don’t have, if there is a purge, I don’t think there is anything bad to flush out those that are guilty.

The Judiciary should help by purging itself of people of questionable character. There is nothing we can do with a corrupt Judiciary.

It will not lead us to any credible end in this country. If the people in legislature are bad, they will say take them to court. Same for people in the executive, they will say take them to court. If there is no hope where you are taking them to, there is no hope for the whole country.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019

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POLITICS

‘It May be More Lucrative to Leave the National Assembly than to Stay’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong discusses the severance package approved by Nigerian legislators for themselves with Rivers State chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Tonye Princewill who concludes that Nigerian politicians know how to use power to generate money for themselves

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hat credible explanation can be advanced for the severance package approved

by Nigerian federal lawmakers for themselves, when they are already enmeshed in a struggle to justify their jumbo pay?

None. And they don’t feel the need to. Is there any consequence for their actions? No. We can’t expect to plant a mango and pluck oranges when it’s time to harvest it. I’m not surprised and neither should you. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can do what they want once they are in charge.

They know how to use power to generate money for themselves. It’s using money to generate power that they have a problem with. But one may argue that the National Assembly is not made up of PDP members only.

That is true. However, we have been witnesses to the crude force that members like Senator Ali Ndume and other who have attempted to raise their voice against the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki have been subjected.

The least punishment slammed on them is that they are not recognised to speak on the floor. Sometimes it gets as bad as suspension. The leadership of the National Assembly, originally populated by PDP members pretending to be members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who have since assumed their true identity as PDP have found willing allies in the APC to make the numbers and constitute a majority that rides rough shod over the views of the other members. That is the situation.

Perhaps, the most alarming of the lot is the case of former governors who already enjoy a similar package from their respective states.

Should they benefit from this bonanza?

If the issue was not so serious, I would have nominated this severance package as the best comedy act by a politician for 2019. But alas it is a serious matter and unfortunately, the resources allocated to it belong to Nigerians. We fail to realize that it’s our scarce resources, not theirs, maybe because we don’t pay taxes. If they continue like this, soon it will be more lucrative to leave the National Assembly than to stay. Maybe, we might just have found a solution to injecting new blood into the legislature. It is beginning to look like the struggle to remain in the National Assembly will ease off, naturally. I mean if I am going to get that kind of money to take my leave, why should I spend more money on an election trying to return. You must understand that for many of these legislators, the motive was not to serve. Many of them are absentee legislators. Have you ever had a situation that a legislative session was attended by all the members? Where do they go? Why are they never in the legislature to do the work they were elected for?

A governor who has already leveraged on his position to feather his nest while in office for four years or eight years and already has the state assembly pass a bill that provides houses for him in choice parts of the country, cars and domestic staff is also given additional monies for coming to rest at the National Assembly. Is that fair?

Is there a reason these legislators

Princewill

don’t attend to matters concerning the populace with the same speed?

It’s no longer a secret that many Nigerians don’t care about corruption.

They don’t care about Nigeria. They don’t really care about our children.

They just go through the motions as if they do, but the fact is, they don’t.

Not really. Some of us would have been the first to go out and condemn the act of granting themselves tens

It is beginning to look like the struggle to remain in the National Assembly will ease off, naturally. I mean if I am going to get that kind of money to take my leave, why should I spend more money on an election trying to return. You must understand that for many of these legislators, the motive was not to serve. Many of them are absentee legislators

of billions in severance and shout it out to the world as an offense on the sensibility of Nigerians. But, for one, will not. The 2019 national elections showed me that too many Nigerians are either not patriotic or not bothered.

They don’t mind a corrupt system so long as that system is benefiting them.

I know this, you know this and the National Assembly knows this too.

So they don’t care what Nigerians think. The funny things is that no public hearings were done. They did seek the views of anybody, they just went ahead and secretly inserted into the budget. Of course, that shot up the 2019 budget. If that item was something that was going to benefit the generality of Nigerians, its passage would have been delayed till thy kingdom come. These are shameless people. It is okay for them speed up approval of an item that services their fancies. Ultimately, Nigerians decide the type of persons who represent them. Perhaps, we do not deserve any better.

Do you think the anticipation for monetary gain encourages the cut-throat contest our politicians engage in?

Yes. I’m surprised they only took N27 billion. They should have taken more. Maybe N54 billion. Nigerians will only shout for a few days and go back to their usual routine of looking for the next payment wherever it’s coming from. I’ve seen it in Rivers.

I hear it is alive and well in Abuja and I expect it to continue. In fact some Nigerians will be heading to the National Assembly to get their own share like they did in Rivers while several unsuspecting patriots like you and I will be shouting and protesting to people who won’t or can’t listen. If you have the means to enter a contest in anticipation for

that kind of big money, minus other pecks, won’t you? Politics in Nigeria is looking more like business. It is cash and carry. The stakeholders at every level, from the voter, to the manager of the electoral process, the judiciary and the contestants know this. It is strictly about the money and whatever gains can accrue to each participant.

Your voice is well respected by the young and old alike. If people like you give up, are you not sending a message that we have failed as a nation?

No way. I admit I am sending a message, but it isn’t that we have failed, but that they, the old and the young alike, are the ones who are failing. By their failure to act on our messages, they have failed. The issue at hand in Nigeria demands a sustained collective push if we must witness the change we desire. Look at what happened in Kwara. The people decided that they could not take it anymore. So, they acted in unison.

If it was about money, there is no individual or group of individuals who could match the Saraki war chest.

What happened was that the people decided they if they were offered money, they would take it, but Saraki and whatever interest he represented had to go. There is karma and there is God and since what goes around comes around, eventually all who have authored this script, will have to pay.

We are almost at the tipping point of the old way of doing things. If it can happen in Kwara, it can happen anywhere. I expect it to happen in Nigeria, sooner than later. When it finally collapses, a lot of what you see going on will disappear. But seriously, the executive has a role to play in correcting what has happened in the legislature. They know what to do.

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

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FEATURES

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

Ekoba during his campaign manifesto

Youngster Puts Nigeria on Global Stage in Dublin Election Sunday Ehigiator writes on the 20-year-old Nigerian, Obi Ekoba, who is currently vying for councillorship seat in the Dublin City Council election as the youngest person ever to contest for the position, thus recreating a positive image for Nigeria on the global stage

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t is no longer news that the economic and social problems in Nigeria have led to mass migration of Nigerians to other parts of the world for better job opportunities and/or education.

South-east Asia, America, Europe etc. has had its fair intake of some of these Nigerians especially in recent times.

However, some unscrupulous Nigerians in their bid to make quick money have XVHG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ DͿRUGHG E\ VRPH of their host nations to commit crimes UDQJLQJ IURP GUXJ WUD΀FNLQJ WR LQWHUQHW fraud.

It’s no gainsaying that the negative activities of these few have had a bad impact on the image of the entire citizenry of Nigeria in the Diaspora and this has led to stereotyping and prejudice at times with dire consequences.

The reactions of host nations to the activities of these few individuals have resulted in a tarnished image for the rest of Nigerians in Diaspora. The consequence of this is that the innocent are lumped together with the guilty because there is no mechanism to differentiate, at a glance, a crook from a gentleman or a responsible woman from ‘a sleazy lot’.

Despite all the hatred and hardship this has brought on the citizenry, a KXJH Ă RZ RI 1LJHULDQV WKRXJK VRIWO\ spoken of, are doing extraordinary and

remarkable things abroad, which others could emulate. And this feats cuts across GLÍżHUHQW DUHDV OLNH WDOHQWV DFDGHPLFV and likewise politics, with the most recent example being Obi Ekoba.

Pedigree Ekoba is an Igbo boy from Orisheze, Ngo-Okpara Local Government Area in Imo State Nigeria. His mother Amaka Umeobi Ekoba moved with him to Ireland when he was two years and he has lived in Drimnagh for most of his life. The award winning third year VWXGHQW RI 7ULQLW\ &ROOHJH 'ULPQDJK D suburb of Dublin, Ireland is now vying to be councilor of Ballyfermort/Drimnagh ward under the platform of the ‘Fine Gael’ party in Ireland.

Known for his exceptional brilliance having graduated with the best overall /HDYLQJ &HUWLÀFDWH UHVXOWV DW œ2XU /DG\ of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh in 2015’, young Ekoba is leaving no stone unturned at balancing his academics with his active participation in politics.

He is also a member of the new Irish community in South Dublin, and recently added another feat after he was elected chairperson of the Young Fine Gael in Trinity College, where he previously served as a treasurer.

Purpose In an exclusive interview with THIS-

Obi Ekoba and friends mounting his posters

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T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

FEATURES DAY, he said the decision to run for the local seat was borne out of passion to make the Ballyfermort/Drimnagh area ‘cleaner, safer and happier for all residents’. According to him, “I've always had interest in politics from a young age. There is much that needs to be changed on how the Dublin City Council is run. In my opinion there LV D ORW EHLQJ UXQ LQH΀FLHQWO\ DQG , believe I can help to change how it's run for the better. So when I was asked to run, I thought of the saying, ‘if not me then who; if not now then when’, and I decided to run. I believe I stand a good chance of winning.�

crime or drugs is just the easiest way to jeopardise the good values and morals Nigeria represents in the actual sense.�

Intricacies of Dublin City Election When asked about the election and if he has intentions to come into Nigerian politics someday, he said, “who knows the future; right now I am fully focused on this coming election, and what happens after then only time will tell. The election to Dublin City Council will take place on May 24, 2019 as part of the Irish local elections. “In the election, 63 councilors will be elected from 11 Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) on the system of proportional Acceptability Level representation by means of the single Asked of the acceptability level given WUDQVIHUDEOH YRWH 35 679 IRU D Ă€YH that he is a Nigerian and the stereotypical \HDU WHUP RI R΀FH ,Q WKHUH ZHUH assumptions it often portends he said, nine LEAs each electing between six to “I don't really think there's a strong nine councilors. Following the recomstereotypical view of Nigerians here in mendations of the Local Area Boundary Ireland. Ireland is a very welcoming Committee Report in June 2018, there and open society, and I have always are now 11 LEAs each electing between felt accepted and felt at home here. I Ă€YH DQG VHYHQ FRXQFLORUV have never felt openly discriminated “What makes me so much in public against, so I would say growing up glare among several other equally young in Ireland has been very good one for candidates for this election is the fact me. As I earlier said, I believe I stand WKDW Ă€UVW , DP WKH \RXQJHVW SHUVRQ a good chance of winning because ever to contest for this sit and I am the country is very open, and I don't still a student; in fact, I just concluded think racism would play any deciding my third year exams.â€? factor in the election, because there is The dynamic young politician also no racism here.â€? promised to upon assumption of ofĂ€FH ZKHQ HOHFWHG KHOS E\ EULQJLQJ Advice to Youths more youths on board as workers to When asked of his advise to other HÍżHFWLYHO\ WDFNOH WKH JURZLQJ PHQDFH youths in diaspora who are involved of youth-gangs terrorising the area. in one form of mischievousness or the As THISDAY wishes Ekoba success in other as a way of survival, he said, “I his forthcoming contest, it’s pertinent would tell them to shun crime, live a to state that the image of Nigeria can drug free life and continue to strive only be repaired and restored to its to do anything legal and meaningful lost glory when those in the Diaspora they want to do. The sky is theirs and shun every acts of crime- drug, fraud they shouldn't waste their lives getting violence and other social vices. involved in drugs as it would be a Instead, the likes of Ekoba, Anthony waste.

Joshua, Chiwetelu Ejiofor, John Gboyega, “They should always remember that Uzo Aduba, and several others who they represent a family, and are the have put Nigeria on the global stage country’s ambassadors. So anything positively, should be emulated, otherwise, WKH\ GR GLUHFWO\ DÍżHFWV WKHLU IDPLO\ DQG innocent Nigerians would keep being the country’s image; hence involving in scorned and denied.

I have always had interest in politics from a young age. There is much that needs to be changed on how the Dublin City Council is run. In my opinion there is a lot being UXQ LQHÍżFLHQWO\ DQG , EHOLHYH , FDQ KHOS WR change how it's run for the better

Ekoba (centre) with members of TCD Young Fine Gael

Obi Ekoba and friends mounting his posters

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Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă™ Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă™ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ• ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙÚ Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă‹Ă– Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;ääÓ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÙÞ Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ ĂŁĂšĂ?Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂœĂŁËœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ËÞÞĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă&#x;Ăš Ă™Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÙÚ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙÚ Ă?âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? Ă‘Ă“Ă‹Ă˜ĂžË› Ă’Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ ĂŁĂšĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂœĂŁËœ ÑÙÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂŽ ĂšĂ&#x;Ă—ĂšĂ?ĂŽ åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ÞÓà Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ě‹Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ‹Ăš ĂŒĂ‹ĂžĂžĂ–Ă?Ă? ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹ĂĄ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă? ÒÙ×Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă™ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ• Íą ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‘Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ù×ÓĂ? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ù×ÓĂ?Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ă¤Ă‹ Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’Ëœ ÙÚÙÙÖË Ă?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă˜Ëœ ÙÚÙ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă’Ă™Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ“Ă–Ă– ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂŽË› Ă’Ă? Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁËœ Ă?ĂœĂ&#x;ääÓ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÙÞ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂŽ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ ÞÙÙÕ ÞÒĂ?Ă— ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă’Ă“Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă? åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŽĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂ• Íą Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ—Ă“Ăž ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ăš Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă—ÍąĂ?Ù×ÚĂ?ĂžĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Íľ ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂœĂ‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă’Ë›

Rudman Emerges President of NiRA

INNOVATION SUMMIT

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Asseco Nigeria, Mr Simon Melchior; Business Group Lead, Intelligent Cloud, Middle East and Africa, Microsoft, Mr Wale Olokodana; Managing Director, Asseco Software Nigeria, Mr Adefolu Majekodunmi; International Sales Manager, South Eastern Europe, Mr Robert Mihaljek and Regional Sales Lead, Mr Obi Mojekwu, during the digital finance innovation summit in Lagos‌ recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Group Warns against Patronising Illegal IT Practitioners Stories by Emma Okonji The Computer Professionals (Registration Council) of Nigeria (CPN) has expressed concern over the implications of the increasing number of unregistered Information Technology (IT) professionals in the country.

The CPN is the government entity charged with the regulation, control and supervision of the computing profession and practice in Nigeria.

Describing such unregistered IT professionals as quacks in the industry, who are only interested in securing government IT related projects without complying with the ethics of the profession, CPN called on the federal government to seek clarification of registered IT

TELECOM professionals from the regulatory body, before awarding IT related contracts.

Speaking at a media roundtable in Lagos, CPN President, Prof. Charles Uwadia, also spoke on the implications of illegal IT professionals in the country, which he said had led to shoddy handling of IT projects in the country and led to several abandoned projects across the country.

Apart from the economic, he noted that the integrity of the country was also at stake, when quacks present themselves as IT professionals and responsibilities are given to them by the federal and state governments.

Vice President/Vice Chairman-

in-Council, Mr. Kole Jagun, said CPN would continue to exercise its mandate in regulating IT professionals in the country. “We will continue to monitor all IT related government projects to ensure their successful completion in record time. “The procedure is that any IT professional who wants to execute government projects through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), must be a registered member of CPN before applying for the contract. “What NITDA currently does is to refer any IT professional that scales through the award of government IT related projects, to first register with CPN before the contract is finally awarded.�

According to him, “The essence is to ensure that the

professionals who understand and comply with the ethics and standards of the profession, gets the contact to avoid shoddy execution of jobs and also to help trace and locate such professional, should there be issues after the execution of the job.�

One of the Council members, and immediate past President of Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), James Emadoye, decried the situation where the IT profession in the country has become all-comers affairs, whereby professionals do not have regard for regulation and control, a situation, he said, must stop.

He said CPN has the obligaContinued on page 28

Fintechs See PSBs as Game Changer The planned Payment Service Banks (PSBs) have the capability to revolutionise financial services in Nigeria, experts have said.

Fintech experts who spoke at the just concluded Lagos Fintech Week, were also of the opinion that the new entities could be a threat to the traditional banks, even as they described them as ‘challenger banks.’ The term challenger bank is used to describe any bank that is looking to challenge the big four in Britain: Barclays; Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Halifax, Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland; HSBC and RBS, which includes NatWest and Ulster Bank.

TELECOM Senior Manager, Management Consulting, KPMG Advisory Services, Olusegun Zaccheaus, said the key questions to be answered remained, “how will the emergence of PSBs impact financial inclusion in Nigeria? What is its market potential and how will this disrupt banking in Nigeria?

What kind of bank will the PSB be? “How can PSB leverage Fintech partnership in order to achieve their objectives and what are the levers for success in this business?�

Zaccheaus argued that PSB, if successful, has the potential to disrupt the banking market from several fronts. These in-

clude, “stealing of the potential sweet spots in the 36.6 million unbanked and under-banked space, through payments and transactions, cannibalising the 39.7 million banked customer non-interest income revenue potential and increasing bargaining power over deposits.�

On how banks should response to the PSBs possible threats, Zaccheaus identified four ways.

He advised the traditional banks to consider accelerating to scale during PSB initial phase. “I expect banks to leverage PSB initiating phase to drive rapid penetration into potential PSB sweet spots in payments and select rural locations.

“Banks that are desirous of sharing in the potential sweet spots should consider entering PSB space via holding companies and affiliates,�

Zaccheaus said.

He, however, warned that direct play in the PSB space by traditional banks required a very strong business case.

In addition, he said the banks could respond to PSB by driving digital adoption.

They can do by leveraging digital platform and ecosystems to scale-up bank’s reach and distribution, he said. “Besides, traditional banks can collaborate with PSBs, using their existing structure to assist Continued on page 28

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TechEconomy.ng Series Gets Support

Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁË›Ă˜Ă‘ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ ÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ě‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă Ă? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ?ËšĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă&#x;Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ™Ăœ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ‹ĂœĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ? åÓÞÒ ĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ĂœĂŽĂ? ÞÙ ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ?ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă˜Ă?âÞÑĂ?Ă˜ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› ĂšĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă“Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ“ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁË› Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă–Ă&#x;Ă•Ă‹Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ĂŒĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă˜Ă™ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă‹ ËŤĂ˜Ă“Ă?Ă?̋ÞÙ̋ÒËà Ă?ËŹ Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?ÓÞÓĂ?Ă? ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽË› ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽĂŒĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŽĂ™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽËœ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;ÓÞã ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ ̙ÞĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĚšËœ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Þã ̙ÖÓÕĂ? Ă?Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂž ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĚšËœ Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă˜Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă–Ă&#x;Ă•Ă‹Ëœ ËŤ Ă‹Ă–Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Íł ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ̙ËÖ×ÙĂ?Ăž Ă’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ěš Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă‘Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Íł Ě™ Ă“Ă?ÞÒ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ěš ĂĄĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Íą Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? ÍŻÍł Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ ÞÒËÞ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂŒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂœĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ͳ Ëš ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁË› ËŤÍł Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă–ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂŽĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŽĂ?ÚÖÙãĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞËÞĂ?Ă?Ëœ Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ

Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŽĂ™Ă—Ëœ Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă‹Ëœ Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› ĂžĂ? Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ‘Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă? ĂŽĂ?ÚÖÙã×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă“Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽË› ËŤ ĂŁ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŻËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă—ĂŒĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Íł Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă‹ Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ?ÞåĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Í°ÍŽ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÍŻÍŽÍŽ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë› Ù×Ă? Ă?Ă?ÞÓ×ËÞĂ?Ă? ĂšĂ&#x;Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ăž Í°ÍŽÍŽ Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ë› ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ Íł Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă‹Ăœ Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ăž ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ăž Ă‹ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ͱ˛͹ ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ë› Ë› ĂŽĂ™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ë› ËŤÍł ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“ĂžĂŁ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă‘Ă?Ă™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹ĂšĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹ĂœĂŽĚ‹Ă?Ă?ĂžĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?˛ˏ

“NCC must rise to stop the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) from carrying out its threat to destroy 7,000 telecoms masts in order to maintain better service quality and for the purpose of national security�

President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON),

Olusola Teniola

28

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

GROUP WARNS AGAINST PATRONISING ILLEGAL IT PRACTITIONERS

tory role to know what each IT professional is doing in the county, hence the need for registration and control. “Data is sensitive and several data are now stored in the cloud with easy access to people, and if we cannot control those that have access to the information in the stored data, it amounts to national security risk that may lead to economic sabotage,�

Emadoye said.

Registrar/Secretary to Council, Mr. Allwell Achumba, said the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had in the last ministerial briefing, encouraged CPN to apply the big stick on all IT professionals who violate the laws setting up CPN as a regulatory agent of government that controls the practice of IT profession in Nigeria. “We are therefore calling on all the quacks in the profession to regularise their registration with CPN with immediate effect, because we are ready to enforce our mandate as a regulator,� Achumba said.

Another Council member, Mr. Rogba Adeoye, said registration with CPN remained sacrosanct and must be adhered to by all IT professionals in the county.

He said CPN would not mind to restrict the practice of all unregistered IT professionals who do not believe in the importance of registration.

FINTECHS SEE PSBS AS GAME CHANGER

with distribution footprint, regulation and compliance, FX servicing, government bonds, ATM operation and cash management,� Zaccheaus said.

The CEO of Innovectives, Emmanuel Agha, said PSBs would deepen financial services but would not change the landscape significantly. “The challenge with current providers is that they underestimate the BoP. Their needs may be simple but they are also varied. Their issues are not p2p transfer which PSB will major in. “To bank the unbanked entail digitalisation of basic transactional services that they are engaged in and the PSBs lack such capacity except they are owned and operated by Fintech,� Agha said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Reporters

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Group Supports Fintech Start-ups Stories by Emma Okonji

post Demo-Day, as well networking opportunities with the extensive AFF partner network. “The start-ups would also receive formal and informal referrals, voluntary quarterly check-ins and invitations to mentor current cohorts in the accelerator programme, and most importantly, continued access to funding,’’ Adeniyi added.

He said the AFF aimed to nurture, fund and accelerate the growth of technology start-ups in Africa through its mentorship and accelerator programmes, adding that the foundry will fast-track the growth and maturity of start-ups to deliver relevant solutions to the market,

providing greater access to financial services to the financial excluded across the continent.

According to him, the growth of technology start-ups in Africa is very instrumental to the survival of the continent on a larger scale. ‘’New ideas translate into new businesses, which inevitably drive employment opportunities and become an enabler of both social and economic development. ‘’In addition, these key players help ensure that the economy is diversified, as there is less concentration on one sector. ‘’Another important benefit is the increase in investments

obtained by these start-ups from both local and international organisations. ‘’All of these have led to more structured economic infrastructure, creation of more jobs and a lift in income for the average earner,’’ he said.

Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations at Access Bank, Adeolu Bajomo, said through the conference the bank would position Nigeria as a melting point for innovation in Africa.

Bajomo, said the conference was to build awareness around AFF and position Access Bank as the most innovative African bank.

He further explained

that the programme would provide platform for strategic partnership and collaboration between Access Bank and investors, experts, regulators, innovators and technology companies to create a new era of technological disruption in the banking industry.

According to him, collaboration between technology start-ups and large corporates was key for fostering innovation in Africa. ‘’This kind of relationship is extremely beneficial to all parties within the ecosystem.

In the long run, this helps corporates enter and create new markets, while start-ups are able to develop feasible and scalable products,’’ he said.

Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF), an initiative of Access Bank Plc, has said it will be supporting the best fintech start-ups in the ongoing AFF Start-up Challenge with the sum of $10,000 (N3,070,000).

The sum is prize for the start-up that has the best financial technology (Fintech) initiative.

The Head of AFF, Segun Adeniyi, who made the disclosure in Lagos, during a news briefing on the ‘Disrupt 2019 Conference,’ in Lagos, explained that 20 start-ups attended the AFF Start-up Challenge that was held on May 3, 2019, and five among the 20 start-ups were shortlisted.

He said the start-ups were shortlisted for demo at the ‘’Disrupt 2019 Conference’’, which would be held on May 16.

According to him, the start-ups would be representing fields in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Robotics and Blockchain Technology.

According to him, ‘’AFF is focused on technology startups in the growth phase of their business lifecycle.

This includes EduTech, HealthTech, InsureTech, FinTech, AgriTech and RegTech. ‘’AFF leverages on its extensive partner networks and relationships to offer start-ups cohorts access to markets, customers, funding, educational and mentorship opportunities. ‘’Successful start-ups are exposed to a plethora of networking opportunities to meet venture capital firms, angel investors, corporates and other qualified investors. ‘’Start-up cohorts from L-R: DMD/COO, VDT Communications, Mrs. Bimbo Ikumariegbe; MD/CEO, Mr. Biodun Omoniyi and Head HR and Administration, Mrs. the AFF continue to Jumoke Oshin, displaying the award on broadband services provision won by the company, during the Beacon of ICT Awards held in receive ongoing support Lagos...recently

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Expert Advocates Public-Private Cybersecurity Partnership The Lead Convener, Naija Cybersecurity Conference, Rotimi Akinyele has called for Public-Private Cybersecurity related partnership in order to prevent the import of cybersecurity experts into the country.

Akindele, made this known to newsmen at this year’s Naija Security Conference held recently in Lagos.

He said the cybersecurity space would be sanitised if

the partnership is established.

According to him, “For us, I think one of the key things government can do is to see how we can have partnership in terms of private and government cybersecurity related partnership in order to build solid local cybersecurity experts.�

Akinyele, also urged governments at all levels to develop and harness talents. “One of the key parts which

I think the government can really leverage on is how to develop and harness talents. “We have a lot of talented people out there and which is one of the key things we are trying to do. For instance, we have a cybersecurity competition, where we bring Cybersecurity students in Nigeria down here. “If we have a Cybersecurity programme by the government or an innovation hub where

we easily have those students and then sponsor them and be able to put them on the right track. “This is because they have the required skill set and if they are not utilized properly, they might just go into fraudulent things� Akinyele said.

The Lead Convener said the rationale behind the conference was to make available quality cybersecurity materials and empower local experts.

“This is a cybersecurity conference for Nigeria and for Nigerians. We realised that for people to get quality cybersecurity material, they have to travel out of the country to look for skilled cybersecurity experts. It therefore gives everyone the platform to network and present if there exists, any cybersecurity research they have been working on,�

Akinyele said.

Ayade Decries Inadequate Information on Consumer Protection Bassey Inyang in Calabar The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has raised concern about the inadequate information on the protection of the rights of consumers of products and services in the telecommunications industry.

Ayade, made the observation while speaking recently in Calabar, during the formal presentation of four books authored by a former member of the Cross River House of

Assembly, Dr. Jake Enyia.

Ayade, who frowned on the situation, said it had lingered for too long, despite the fact that Nigeria was recognised as one of the biggest customers in the telecommunications industry globally.

Ayade, who was represented by a senior state executive, Bassey Eyo Ndem, commended Enyia for his books, saying the subjects he delved into are areas that affect the daily lives of most citizens. “I would therefore like to

commend you for the simple language and presentation of these books. Given your background as a politician, I wish to commend you for showing youths that there are other paths to fame and glory and this is one of them. I also commend you for tackling telecoms. We in Nigerian are one of the biggest customers. “Unfortunately there is very little literature on consumer protection and you are a pioneer and you have decided to enter into this field and you

deserve commendation for that. “I wish to use this opportunity to remind all of us that time erodes all physical acts of mankind. The only achievement that is there forever is the books we write and the ideas contained therein. I commend you for joining the league of the immortals. Those whose ideas will live and be studied foe hundreds of years,� he said.

The governor said this was to ensure that the books would be in all public places and institutions in the state and

nationwide.

Enyia, a former representatives of Boki 1 State Constituency in the Stare House of Assembly, presented four books on law namely; Telecommunications: Law and Practice in Nigeria: Perspectives of Consumer Protection; The Law of Banking in Nigeria: Principles, Guideline, Statutes and Guidelines; The Law of Contractual Obligations in Nigeria; and The Law of Banking in Nigeria: Cases and Commentary.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Tapping ArtiďŹ cial Intelligence for Global Development Emma Okonji who was in Dubai for the Artificial Intelligence Everything 2019 conference, writes on how economies are tapping into that technology to drive national development

L

ast week, over 183 global Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts and influencers from more than 35 countries in the world, gathered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the 2019 AI Everything Summit, organised by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in partnership with the Minister of AI and Dubai Police, under the patronage of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The conference, which was hosted by the UAE’s National Programme for AI and launched by the Minister of State for AI, His Excellency Omar Al Olama, was a culmination of the UAE and the world’s mission to promote initiatives, collaborations and breakthroughs in the field of AI, and to foster its positive impact on governments, businesses, social enterprises and humankind.

In April 2019, the UAE cabinet announced a 10-year national strategy to develop an integrated system that employs AI in vital areas in the country.

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 aims at positioning the UAE as a global leader in AI by 2031.

Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Maktoum, said: “UAE is moving ahead with its vision and aspirations through a well-defined plan for the UAE Centennial 2071. The National AI Strategy 2031 includes eight objectives, along with a number of initiatives aimed at employing artificial intelligence in vital areas such as education, government services and the community well-being. The strategy implementation is overseen by the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions, in coordination with a number of local and federal entities.�

According to UAE authority, a number of vital sectors will witness an immediate positive impact from applying AI technologies, such as the national economy. AI applications are expected to contribute to the national GDP in the coming years, which would create new economic opportunities. According to a 2018 report on AI by PWC Middle East, AI is expected be the game changer in business, contributing $15.7 trillion to the world economy by 2030 and $9.6 billion to the UAE economy, which is nearly 13.

At the AI conference, several issues were raised and centred around the need for developing nations to adopt the application of AI technology, given its potential to double economic growth of nations by 2023.

The prediction, according to the forum, was based on the growth trajectory of nations like UAE and other developed nations that are beginning to adopt the AI strategy.

Different panel sessions at the forum came up with early options in recent survey that 41 per cent of consumers believed that AI would enhance business life someday and that AI technology could actually enhance productivity by 40 per cent. The panelists explained that 84 per cent of global business organisations believed that AI would give them competitive advantage.

The panelists argued that any country that regulates AI technologyis likely to stifle its growth.

One of the panelists, the Chief Technology Officer and Director of IBM-MIT Lab for IBM, David Cox, was of the view that regulatory guideline would help in controlling grey areas of the evolution of AI technology, but warned that over-regulation may likely stifle its growth.

He said public trust on private sector players that would drive AI growth must be maintained to grow AI adoption in every nation. “Countries must develop ethical framework through the private sector operators, about regulation that will drive growth through AI adoption,� Cox said.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Smart Dubai Government, UAE, H. E. Wesam Lootah, said Dubai was able to use the application of AI to coordinate government activities and governance.

According to him, “AI is driven by Machine Learning (ML), and the Dubai government has built its application around ML. Governments therefore have a vital role to play by educating citizens on the ability of AI to scale businesses, and in doing so, must create the right environment.�

The Attorney General, US Government, Sean

Reyes, called for flexible government laws that would promote AI among nations. He, however, frowned at a situation where most policy makers do not have the understanding of innovative technology because they do not own or run a technology company.

Another issue raised, was about the fear of job loss with AI application, but the Director General, Smart Dubai Office, Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr, said application of AI would only eliminate few unnecessary jobs and create new jobs that are digital in nature and in line with today’s technology evolution that is driving AI across globe.

The conference agreed that organisations must begin to build the right competencies among its workers, using AI, which the participants concluded, would help in the collation and analysis of key data.

They, however, said there should be willingness in sharing information through data gathering among competitors, to know more about what works and what doesn’t work. “Sharing of knowledge will help understand how best to make use of the technology. Data Scientists must not work in silos but learn how to share ideas, even among competitors. “Education within organisations about the importance of AI technology is key for rapid organisational growth. Businesses driven by AI from other regions can also be shared and compared among competitors,� the participants said.

AI in autonomous car Another area that was of interest at this year’s conference, was the demonstration of the application of AI in autonomous car. They were of the view that autonomous vehicles also called driverless vehicles, which make use of sensors that are driven by AI technology, could operate effectively on roads and would reduce the rate of road accidents, especially those accidents that occur based on human errors.

In 2018, Dubai Police in UAE recorded over 2,500 road accidents and 90 per cent of the accidents were discovered to be caused by human errors.

The essence of introducing autonomous vehicles on the roads is to reduce the rate of human errors in road accidents. Studies have shown that deployment of autonomous vehicles will reduce road accidents by at least 75 per cent.

According to the Chief Explaining Officer of OBOTEO in Dubai , Mr. Ayman Alashkar, “KPMG recently rated UAE high in its global economy readiness index, ahead of Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, based on UAE government policy and infrastructure readiness, an indication that only few countries are ready to implement autonomous vehicles on their roads. The UAE has put infrastructure and its strategies in place in preparation to deploy the driverless cars on its roads.�

Alashkar, said when the citizens of UAE were engaged to get their public opinion about the impact of autonomous vehicles on the roads, the

survey looked at autonomous taxis, autonomous school buses and autonomous cars. He, however, said majority of the respondents preferred to do trial test of autonomous vehicles with a driver seated on the driver’s seat with a finger placed on the vehicle steering and operated for a period of one year to ascertain that autonomous vehicles are safe for use on the roads.

Although Alashkar said autonomous vehicles would soon be on the streets of Dubai, he, however, added that the survey carried out showed that people were still asking questions whether Dubai city is ready for autonomous vehicles, whether it will be safe for children, and who will be responsible if the autonomous vehicle is involved in an accident.

He said the statistics on the adoption rate of autonomous taxis varies among people surveyed.

While 12 per cent said they would like immediate deployment of autonomous vehicles, 45 per cent said it should be test-run for a period of one year before deployment and 64 per cent said two years test-run before deployment and 89 per cent preferred five year test-run before deployment.

They also wanted to know who takes responsibility in the case of accident. They wanted to know whether it should be the responsibility of the taxi company, the taxi manufacturer, or the licensing authority. Majority, however, said the bulk should stop with the taxi company. Some of those surveyed said autonomous taxi should be held to a higher standard than human drivers.

When asked if they would allow their children commute to school in driverless school bus, several parents refused but few accepted they would allow.

Autonomous vehicles are designed to operate on roads without human drivers, but programmed to be controlled by sensors.

AI in health sector One of the key features of the conference was the application of AI in the health sector to assist medical doctors in reducing time and stress, while carrying out certain diagnosis using AI programmed devices.

Dr. Muhammad Hamed Farooki, an AI expert with a private firm in UAE, spoke to journalists about how his firm is using AI software solution to reduce the time and stress it takes medical doctors to treat diabetes patients.

According to him, diabetes in humans could be detected using AI enhanced devices to check the retina of the eyes. In a normal situation, to access one retina, the doctor needs about seven pictures of the retina and for the two eyeballs in a human being, each person needs 14 captured pictures of the two retina. So, if, for instance, we have one million diabetes patients in the UAE, it means the doctors need 14 million captured pictures of their retina to know whether their eyes are normal or not. But with the AI based technology, which was developed by a company called Artelus, we can actually reduce the time

it takes to treat diabetes patients. “So for a proof of concept, we took a thousand pictures of the retina, which we already know their status, and we ran the pictures through the AI-based technology device and we got 98 per cent concurrence and we are happy with the efficiency of the device, based on the outcome of the results we got. Currently we are in the process of implementing it across the 13 centres of the Dubai Primary Health Care and the Dubai Specialised Diabetes Centres, under the Dubai Health Authority. Although it is a private research study, but it has been validated by the Dubai Health Authority,� Farooki said.

He further explained that in the UAE, statistics showed that one in every five persons living in UAE has diabetes, which can lead to total blindness of the eyes, hence they decided to embark on the research for the cure of diabetes through the AI-based software technology. “The concept of the solution was meant for diabetic patients but the concept can be applied in other areas of human health related diseases. So we are offering technology solution to demystify health care practice,� he said.

Deducing emotions with AI Another area of interest is the application of AI in deducing the emotions and behaviour of people through voice conversation. CEO, Behavioral Signals in Dubai, Rana Gujral, said AI technology could be applied in controlling and determining the behaviour of people through software application and that organisations could use the software solution to understand the emotions of people and determine the likely behaviour of clients in a business deal. “So we can use our solution to measure the emotions of people through their body language, facial expression, we can also use our AI-based solutions to predict emotional state of mind of the people in any given conversation, using voice conversation. With the solution, we can predict over 80 per cent accuracy on whether a client will pay up his/her debt in the course of having a conversation with the client, using the AI technology,� Gujral said. “For example, we can take about 5,000 calls of debt collection engagement and determine through our solution, the number of people that are willing and ready to pay. So the solution will help organisations know how committed their customers are, when it comes to debt payment. If the organisation understands the willingness of a client to pay or not to pay, the organisation could then make alternative arrangement to introduce new method of debt collection,� Gujral said. “We already have a company that uses our solution to manage patients with depression, and also predict the propensity of suicidal behavior in people. The solution can be used to analyse data in the propensity of people who are likely going to committee suicide,� Gujral added.

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Odeyemi: Multiple Taxation Hurting Businesses Managing Director, Vodacom Business, Mr. Wale Odeyemi, in this interview speaks about how his company is using technology solution to boost connectivity and digital transformation in Nigeria.

Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:

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drive to be a beacon and champion for societal transformation. These set of awards actually crystallises the efforts we have been making over the last couple of years. They are recognitions for our contributions to the ICT industry in the last financial year. Beyond that, we believe that Nigeria is a country with enormous growth potential.

We believe that technology plays a significant role in fertilising economic growth both from an inclusion perspective as well as expansion in becoming a country that is globally competitive.

These awards will spur us to continue to give more to the society and do even more to challenge ourselves. You know they say to whom much is given, much is expected; hence the message from us is ‘you haven’t seen the best of us yet.’ There is more to come from us.

hat is Vodacom’s mission in Nigeria?

Vodacom Business drives societal transformation and it is very clear in our vision statement- we want to be a digital company that empowers a connected society. A connected society is a society where no individual is excluded from opportunities.

We believe that everyone has value within the society. Wherever you live, whatever formal/ economic strata that you belong to, you should be empowered to contribute to the society. As an example, we have a solution where we help to turn a subsistence farmer into a commercial farmer. If you have a plot of land in your village for instance, we can map that plot of land using geospatial technology. We can identify the number of square metres. We can identify the kind of crops that will do well on the land and give you access to finance by providing an identity for the business. We can give you access to information and teach you precision farming techniques on the best range of farming approaches that you should use. We can give you access to market using the same solutions to sell your farm produce all over the world using our Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. When you talk about Vodacom, you need to consider that the brand is a digital company that is working towards connecting and transforming the Nigerian society.

What are the contributions and offerings of Vodacom Business Nigeria in the country’s ICT space?

We offer total communication solutions to enterprises - large, medium and small. The driving idea is to help build businesses that shape the growth of the Nigerian society.

Tech experts within and outside the country have raised concerns about the readiness of African tech start-ups to drive the adoption and implementation of IoT. Are you considering training start-ups in Nigeria to drive the initiative?

Supporting small and medium enterprises, who are mainly start-up, is dear to us. From a training point of view, we have been able to adopt digital transformation in the context of Internet of Things. We adopt a 360-degree approach; both vertical and lateral. From the vertical point of view, we start from the bottom to the top.

We believe that we need to catch them young.

When you take a look at secondary schools as an example, we offer some CSR initiatives where we facilitate robotics competition programmes.

We assemble some of the schools in the society including elite and public schools because we believe that to spread these required skills to transform the society, you need to start picking them from the foundation.

We teach them tech skills and robotics design that they become comfortable with these things.

You know when you talk about tech start-ups, you are no longer talking about mature people starting their own companies. Contrastingly, we have young people who are in their teens who are actually doing a lot with technology and winning awards globally at the moment. We believe that the bottom-up approach is effective.

From a top-down approach, we also work with the regulators. When we identify new use cases for technology, specifically in the IoT space. We speak with the regulators and explain to them how new and existing technologies can be re-appropriated to solve society’s challenges using IoT. Vodacom Business is doing well with sustainability as a strategy for business growth. What’s the brand doing to keep the momentum?

When you talk about sustainability, you can examine this from a triple bottom-line approach – the people, the profit and the planet. Vodacom Business ensures that the technology we bring to bear addresses these critical areas. For instance, there would be issues if you are operating in a society and you are degrading the society in the process. That’s not a sustainable environment for you and your business. We strongly believe in creating shared value in the society through social engagement and social innovation. We equally re-appropriate existing core capabilities, existing strengths and we use them to address society’s biggest challenges. We believe businesses that are sustainable financially but aren’t addressing society’s biggest challenges will find themselves in an atmosphere of chaos eventually.

You have different customers across different classiďŹ cations. How do you intend to make SMEs appreciate the brand?

We have three segmented markets when you take a look at our history. We started out actually as a large enterprise focused organisation. At the point of commencing operations, what we were

Odeyemi trying to do was to support the internalisation visions of global multinationals coming into emerging markets like Nigeria. We wanted to ensure that operations from Nigeria didn’t suffer isolation from the resources of these enterprises wherever they are from in Europe, the Americas or Asia. We also ensure that their customers had a consistent brand experience whenever they use their services in the Nigerian market. We perfected that and allowed it to expand as we continued to evolve. We have also realised that SMEs are the growth engines of the economy. In the process, we found that SMEs were incapacitated in terms of spending at the level of the large enterprises.

It doesn’t mean they have fewer ideas. Based on these findings, we have repurposed ourselves in our DNA to address the needs of the SMEs. With our total communication solutions, we have assumed an interesting position as the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) of the SMEs. This means that the SMEs can enjoy the same capabilities as the large enterprises we have invested hugely in. Our portfolio comprising total communications solutions addresses all the journeys that are required for the SMEs to play effectively in their local markets as well as international markets. Vodacom is therefore well positioned to address the growth of SMEs.

Infrastructure deďŹ cit is a major challenge in the ICT industry, how do you intend to step in as an important player to address this situation?

We have picked interest in contributing our quota to the development of the industry. As we speak, we have presence in 29 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We have our eyes focused on ways to expand infrastructure.

It’s informing the choices of technologies that we are investing in. We have done a lot of wireless technology because it helps us to leapfrog into greater reach in the country. Studies on the ecosystem suggest collaborative competition among players will help to attract investment on relevant technology for the future and growth of the industry. No player can go the mile on their own, thus complementing our networks and consuming capacity collectively, will propel the kind of growth that we need in the industry.

Broadband penetration in Nigeria recently moved to 33 per cent. What are you doing to scale up broadband penetration in the country?

The rate at which broadband penetration is increasing demands cooperation from regulators and players. In fact, the last time we spoke with industry players and regulators, the ambition over the next five years is to take broadband penetration to 70 per cent, which is the target of the new national broadband plan. However, we believe that we can exceed this target with the right technologies. At Vodacom, we are investing in the right technology. We actually envision Nigeria becoming a gigabyte society. This is a society where the speed of connection exceeds one gigabyte. What we call broadband today is

actually around 2 megabyte speed; it might interest you to know that we have customers who are already consuming well over a gigabit of data.

The question one would ask is what kind of traffic is generating so much bandwidth hunger.

One of the things that our total communications solutions offering does is it gives Nigerians more reasons to consume data. The idea of growing data in Nigeria actually starts with having the right reasons to consume data. We believe that over time there would be a need to democratise data in Nigeria and then focus on the reasons why data is being consumed. As an example, our IoT offering gives Nigerians reasons to consume more data just as we challenge the country’s ecosystem.

Significant figures of software developers, coders, application developers create more use cases for application and these are the reasons that will cause data to grow. Once data grows, we are offered a challenge as an operator to match the growth in data with the scale of our network.

Some government policies are unfavorable to businesses. What do you think government should do to support businesses in Nigeria?

One of the measures that government should adopt is to collaborate at the state and federal levels. There are issues around multiple taxation that are limiting businesses. There are certain policies that are more of barriers than enablers.

As a major player in the ICT industry we are constantly in dialogue with regulators giving advises, offering collaborations and helping to provide knowledge around what should be done differently. As I have stated earlier, we are moving towards a gigabit society. We believe that it is important to have a listening regulator. It is also important to create an environment for constant collaboration and dialogue to enable business growth in the country.

What’s that key factor that attracts an average customer to the Vodacom brand?

When you think about Vodacom, one word that will come to your mind is customer experience excellence. Personally, I believe that perfection is a moving target to which you aspire through excellence. And excellence is not a chance thing; it’s a sequential set of choices that you make that becomes a lifestyle. At Vodacom what we have done is to strive always to exceed the expectations of the customer which is why we listen to the pulse of the customer. We aren’t perfect but we are always striving to learn from the customer. We have robust feedback mechanisms. We are always getting feedback from what the customers want and making necessary changes especially in this fast moving market. If there is one word that I need to leave you with, it is customer experience excellence when you deal with Vodacom across all our touch points.

The Beacon of ICT awards recently honoured Vodacom Business Nigeria with some special awards for sustained commitment and exploits.

How would you describe the import of these awards to your brand?

To start with, Vodacom is on an upward

Will you want to describe the speciďŹ c awards that your company won?

First, the lead of the pack is the award for the hall of fame for being the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year for the 9th consecutive time, which really is an award that recognises our efforts over the last couple of years. This honour is very big because it gives us presence in the circle of elites in the industry. Also, we got the IoT Solutions Provider of the Year award, which we have also won four times in a row.

This commendation is very key to us. IoT is one of the ways that we have adopted to drive digital transformation as well as impact society from top to bottom. That’s quite significant to us.

The third is the Enterprise Broadband Service Provider of the Year. Broadband is key to fertilising economic growth. When you look at figures from the International Telecoms Union (ITU) for instance, you will find that 10 per cent growth in broadband penetration can directly lead to as much as a 1.35 per cent growth in GDP in developing countries like Nigeria.

You mentioned that the brand received an award for enterprise solutions. How do you address security while providing services to businesses?

That is a very interesting question. Security is deep and critical to how we do business. We understand that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. As we strive to do our best to protect ourselves, we also have a responsibility to educate our customers on avoiding being a weak point in a chain as well. From the network point of view just like I mentioned earlier, we provide broadband services and connectivity solutions using all sorts of media. We ensure that security is inherently built in each of the mediums that we deploy to serve our customers. We offer security in two forms; first we secure the customer as part of offering unified threat management solutions. As an example, we can help them with security consulting services, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments. These services are some of the multiple professional services that we also render over and above just giving you connectivity.

But within our network, the core of our network is actually connected to Vodacom’s Cyber Intelligence Centre, which is the most mature in Africa at the moment. The security landscape changes on a daily basis. It might interest you to know that our Cyber Intelligence Centre actually mitigates well over 400,000 attacks on a daily basis. That shows you the kind of focus that security has and we are well aware of that. This offering differentiates us from some of our competitors.

We obtain security intelligence feeds through collaborations from security agencies; therefore we are able to sense, we are able to anticipate changes in traffic patterns of our customers and advise them accordingly.

With these awards, customers will want to look at you from a different perspective whilst raising their expectations. How would Vodacom address customer expectations going forward?

We exist because of our customers. There is a saying in sports that you’re only as good as your last victory. We understand that customers’ preferences are changing on a daily basis. There are a lot of disruptions in the life of customers.

Responding to these changes and disruptions is firmly positioned in our DNA to improve the fortunes of clients’ businesses and winning in their industries. From an expectation point of view, we have a net promoter score index where we measure the pulse of our customers. We examine their feedbacks carefully across all the touch points where they consume our services and deliver value to the society. Across those touch points, we recognise those changing preferences and we use that to recalibrate and make ourselves relevant for the future. Ultimately, we aren’t going to rest on our laurels. We will continue to listen to our customers and put in their voices so that they can help us become better.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Sharma: Nigeria Can Still Be Largest Palm Oil Producer The Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Goods Business, Tolaram West Africa, the parent company of De United Food Industries Limited, Pawan Sharma, speaks on government support for the manufacturing sector and the group’s continuous effort to boost backward integration.

Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts

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company in the name of Blackwood House Nigeria Limited. That is our logistics arm. We have about 1,200 trucks in that arm that does our logistics business, moving the goods from factory to the markets.

s this administration set to begin a fresh four years, what are your expectations for the manufacturing sector?

Government has been very supportive, especially in the free trade zone and provision of funds from the Bank of Industry (BoI). In this regard, one should commend the fact that it is giving tax free import allowance for those in Lekki Trade free zone. The other thing is the prohibition list of some raw materials that are not locally available, like the crude palm oil. I believe policies as such should be implemented in phases by pushing for plantations before removing access to forex.

The country does not have the plantation size yet. Another area government can support the agriculture sector is in palm oil plantation.

This is in banned list as government does not provide forex for its importation. We should push for the plantation and once the plantation is going, then slowly the product can be banned. But if the banned continues, how will the requirement be fulfilled. The ban can be done in phases. Having stated this, I think on the average, government is doing its best for the manufacturing sector.

Looking back at the years you have operated in Nigeria, can you give insight into the group’s backward integration plan?

This business started in 1996 from Otta, Ogun State. Our first factory was erected in 1996 and since then, we have been involved in a lot of backward integration. As of today, we have more than 15 manufacturing plants all over Nigeria. Out of those plants, only three are producing noodles. We have factories designed to produce packaging materials, refined crude palm oil and flour. We are working with three flour mills. One is in Apapa, another in Aba and Port-Harcourt. In recent time, we are exploring backward integration in terms of palm oil plantation.

As we know, government is giving a lot of push on going into agricultural products and reducing imports. Today, some of us in Nigeria including other players are importing the crude and refining it here and using it.

Government is giving us a lot of support to put up plantation in the country to have our own crude oil rather than importing it. To this, end, we have taken a large piece of land in Edo State to plant palm oil trees and government is helping in that direction in providing low interest loans from Bank of Industry for this purpose. Nigeria can go back to the old glory days of being the largest palm oil producer with the help of government if all industries will come together and work as a team.

What is the present percentage of local raw materials sourcing?

As of today, the only raw materials we are importing is wheat. This is because Nigeria does not produce wheat as against what it consumes.

Nigeria consumes four million tonnes a year in terms of biscuit, bread, noodles and any other thing you can imagine made from wheat flour. But the country produces only 100,000 tonnes of wheat in a year. Can you imagine the gap between demand and supply? In wheat production, there is a challenge because of the certain temperature requirement needed for it to grow. In Nigeria, the cold weather is not there except you go to the Northern side — Jos or Plateau State and that is also for a very short period. So, even if there is an intention to grow wheat in Nigeria, it is very difficult to reach 4million tonnes a year. Government needs to do more to support the industry if they want wheat to grow in Nigeria. Scientists may also come up with new solutions. So, it depends on how you see it. As a manufacturer, I buy my flour from Flour mills of Nigeria, even though Flourmills imports its wheat and mills it locally before selling. If I am buying my flour from Nigeria, that shows that I am

What informed your acquisition of land for palm oil?

We are compelled to go into agriculture sector to aid raw material sourcing. We are a heavy user of palm oil products but the country does not have enough crude palm oil because no one else is doing new plantations because of the tenor. In terms of economic impact, palm oil consumption in Nigeria is about N700 billion or $2 billion a year. Out of the two million tonnes consumed locally, the country can only produce 600,000 tonnes and that brings a shortfall of 1.4million tonnes.

The bulk of that deficit is being smuggled into the country and government is losing revenue on that. If different industries can come with the plantation exercise, then, we don’t have to import anything and government will save foreign exchange on it, even as it becomes raw materials for many industries. We have taken about 18,000 hectares of land and we will be doing plantation in phases.

How many tons will your farm add to the industry?

We have taken 18,000 hectares of land and we will be doing plantation in phases. Firstly, we will cultivate 5,000 hectares, then other hectares.

Sharma

sourcing locally even though the millers are importing it. Directly, I am sourcing locally but indirectly, I am importing my raw materials.

So, I could say we are sourcing all our raw materials locally due to our investment in backward integration. However, if we consider that the major raw material—flour, is imported for milling in Nigeria, I could say that our local sourcing is 30 per cent.

What are the challenges experienced while embarking on backward integration?

We are not facing much challenges because we have already tackled most of the initial

Another area government can support the agriculture sector is in palm oil plantation. This is in banned list as government does not provide forex for its importation. We should push for the plantation and once the plantation is going, then slowly the product can be banned. But if the banned continues, how will the requirement be fulďŹ lled

challenges. That was why we invested in the different value chains like packaging, palm oil refinery and flour milling. Our core business is to produce noodles but these are all raw materials that we need. All these backward integration efforts help us to become cost leader in the market. Attaining cost leadership in the market has helped us, as our product is one of the products that we have taken least consumer price increases in the last 20 years that we have been in operation. Even if you compare with the local food like Garri in the last 20 years, the price of noodles is not as high as that of Garri or any other product. The reason we are able to achieve this is backward integration.

Could you kindly share the investment proďŹ le of your backward integration so far?

We cannot treat this in isolation because different subsidiaries in our group have different profiles. For instance, the ton of palm oil refinery has been expanded from 500 to 1,500 and we have invested more than $40 million (about N5 billion). We also put up the flour mills that was worth N2.5 billion. Our packaging plant where we produce wrappers is another N2 billion investment. In the last 10 years, like I stated, we have put up a palm oil refinery that was expanded from the 500 tonnes a day to 1,500 tonnes. We invested more than $40 million. These are our investments in backward integration.

Movement of goods appears to be challenging for many businesses considering the state of many roads and gridlocks.

How are you dealing with it?

It is very difficult to transport your goods from one place to another, especially if your shipping from Otta factory to a long distance.

The situation with the road network is not that great and the kind of volumes we move; we cannot depend on any third-party transporter.

What we did was to backwardly integrate that aspect of the business by having our own haulage

DuďŹ l is known for its innovation, what should consumers of your products expect in 2019?

Recently we launched Indomie Relish based on consumer demand who want ingredients already in the Indomie. All flavours have their special ingredients and this gives the complete taste and consumers don’t feel like adding something else.

You have successfully held Indomie Heroes Award for 13 years, what impact has this created in the society?

We choose children of certain age who have done something bravery which is a selfless act and we reward them. This will inspire other children and create a community of selfless people. Our objective in this award was to make big impact on children because Indomie is a brand which is all about children. The impact is that as children grow up, they need to think selflessly and understand that it is their duty to contribute to the society. Further in CSR, we play major part in education, health and community development projects.

You acquired Dangote Noodles and May and Baker Noodles, what is your intention on these acquisitions and what have you done with them?

We did not buy Dangote brand, what we bought was Dangote machinery. The arrangement was that the company had machinery for production of its noodles and they want to get out of the business. They also gave us permission to use their brand name for 2 years. For couple of months, we were using the brand name and based on the agreement, we have to get out. Our intention was not to kill the brand. In case of May and Baker, we acquired the brand Finally, if Olam succeeds in acquiring Dangote Flour mill as being speculated, what will that portend in the market considering competition?

I think it will not make much change as it is a consolidation exercise. There are other players in the flour business and I don’t think the move will be a game changer. Olam and Flour Mill are two big players but none of them is utilising full capacity.

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Growing Brand Equity Raheem Akingbolu writes on the place of sponsorship in brand positioning

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usic and Sports are fast becoming the most potent platform for marketing because of the affinity between fans and their preferred teams or music stars, as the case may be.

In today’s market, handlers of top brands always find the two areas tempting because they are the easiest routes to the heart of their teeming consumers.

This explains why brands jostle to associate with World Cup and other sporting global competitions.

In an interview with THISDAY, a former Chief Marketing officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Bola Akingbade, had opined a few years ago that a company that seeks to maintain a strong brand must employ strategies that will elicit top of mind awareness while making the brand relevant beyond its functional benefits in a bid to get maximum loyalty.

In line with this belief, the Heineken brand, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, has consistently used its sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League to promote its brand essence and create a top of mind awareness among its high end consumers.

The brand has also appointed sport personalities and music icons as ambassador to boost its market influence.

Poised to tell a Nigerian story that will resonate through families and cultures across the country the beer brand, had three years ago, teamed up with Nigerian-American singer, Jidenna to bond more with its patrons.

In a TVC that was then airing on television, Jidenna was seen sharing gifts with his family after a trip back home, a perfect representation of the bond that is shared by many Nigerian families.

The signing of the music star as an ambassador for the campaign has since been described by many analysts as a classic move because Jidenna is seeing as someone who believes strongly in the importance of family and has never hesitated to show off his own.

Top Notch For a brand that has been the go-to beer brand in over 192 countries of the world connecting families and friendships, the announcement early this year, that its promoters would facilitate the coming to Nigeria of Spanish legend, Carles Puyol with the iconic UEFA Champions League trophy, was received with a pinch of salt by many Nigerians.

According to the company, the former Captain of FC Barcelona, would be in the country to tour UEFA Champions League trophy and rub minds with stakeholders in beer industry and sports enthusiasts.

At a media briefing in Uyo, where Puyol, a three-time winner of the trophy with FC Barcelona in 2006, 2009 and 2011, was unveiled, Nigeria Breweries Marketing Director, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi had explained that the coming of the Spanish legend, Puyol with the iconic UEFA Champions League trophy to Nigeria was a way of rewarding consumers of Heineken and fans of UEFA Champions League competition.

He said Puyol’s visit would present the fans a unique opportunity not only to have a feel of the trophy but a wonderful photo opportunity with the strong defender, courtesy of Heineken.

According to Oriakhi, “Puyol is often ranked as one of the best center backs of all time and with an average height, he has won most aerial battles against towering footballers, either to defend or score crucial goals for his team. He is one of the legends of the number five jersey. “Such a player fits into what we want to achieve by bringing the world’s best into our country for Nigerians to have

Puyol showcasing the trophy to the crowd

a chance to meet him for the first time and have photo opportunities with him and the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy too. “We are excited to be creating premium experiences for our consumers and this is just part of the package we have in the ongoing season of unmissable moments.�

The tour Two weeks after the announcement, the legend arrived Nigeria as promised and toured Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State and Lagos with the trophy. Although the UEFA Champions League trophy experience is in its third installment, the visit was the first time fans outside Lagos would have the opportunity to come very close to the iconic trophy because consumers in Uyo and surrounding cities enjoyed the viewing experience courtesy of Heineken.

Beside the tour, the former FC Barcelona captain involved in an “Unmissable� football match at the

Over the years, the partnership has been a strong brand supporting platform for the Heineken brand. But beyond that, we are excited to be creating premium experiences for our consumers and this is just part of the package we have in the ongoing season of unmissable moments

Uyo International Stadium, where he played with the ‘Shine-Shine Bobo’ team which, was made up of some of the brand’s most loyal consumers, as well as past and present football players like former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Mutiu ‘Headmaster ’ Adepoju, Daniel Amokachi and Augustine Eguavoen, among others.

Active footballers in the domestic football scene largely from Akwa United, a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, also had the privilege to flex muscles with the former international football star when team Shine Shine Bobo led by former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha and a host of other former national team players, took on the Chairman’s team at the stadium.

The game which lasted an hour saw Puyol leading the ‘Chairman’ team and Okocha the ‘Shine-Shine Bobo’ team, made up of ex-Nigerian internationals, current NPFL wave makers, Akwa United players and select consumers.

With fun moments like directions from coaches, the Finance Director, Nigerian Breweries, Plc, Rob Kleinjan and the Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Plc, Emmanuel Oriakhi, the game saw all the players and 30,000 fans treated to an hour of exciting moments.

After the Match, Puyol also joined football lovers to watch the quarter final of the Champions League between Manchester United and Barcelona at Emirald Event Center Uyo, which was won by Barcelona.

The following day, the train moved to Lagos, where ex-footballer also embarked on a tour across the state, amongst several other encounters planned.

Sustaining brand leadership Though the event provided opportunity for sports lovers to feel the Trophy and interact with the legend, it also provided amiable platform for the Heineken brand to bond more with consumers.

Oriakhi, described the relationship between the brand and the UEFA champions’ league as ‘perfect partnership.

According to him, the status of the brand has continued to be in the rise with the partnership and it gladdens the heart of its promoters.

“From any angle one chooses to look at it, this is simply a marriage between two super brands. Heineken is a premium global brand while UEFA Champions’ League is also a unique brand that any global brand will love to identify with. “Over the years, the partnership has been a strong brand supporting platform for the Heineken brand. “But beyond that, we are excited to be creating premium experiences for our consumers and this is just part of the package we have in the ongoing season of unmissable moments,� remarked. “This window of opportunity provided

by Heineken for consumers and passionate fans is in its 12th year, has reached at least 33 countries across Africa, Asia, North and South America,� he added.

Speaking on his experience at the Uyo Stadium, Ekom Simon, who came from Eket, also in Akwa Ibom State to witness the match, described the sponsorship of the trip by the Heineken team as a great motivation to the locals. “To me, this is the best a brand can do to identify with the masses, I was glad to see our local footballers playing side by side with Puyol and top Nigerian players, including Jay Jay Okocha. “This is not only a motivation for the players but an exposure for Akwa Ibomites. Personally, I feel so great and commend both the visitors and my state government that make Uyo an ideal place for such event,� he said.

So far in the ongoing campaign, the UEFA Champions League Trophy has visited South Africa, Namibia, Indonesia, Mozambique, China and now Nigeria.

As the iconic Trophy begins its journey to USA, from where it would finally touch down in Madrid, Spain for the final match, there is no gainsaying the fact that Heineken, whose partnership with the UEFA Champions League dates back to the 2005/06 edition has redefined the relationship between the brand and consumers.

With the ongoing campaign about sharing ‘Unmissable’ moments which is based on the belief that every match in the competition has unmissable moments of actions for everyone to enjoy, the partnership has been raised a notch higher.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Hidden Treasures in Nigeria’s Informal Sector

Firms Must Leverage Technology to Enhance Productivity The Chief Human Resources Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, Temi Dalley, is a top-level executive of the bank with oversight for organisational development, recruitment and talent management, performance management, employee relations, and compensation and benefits, among others. In this interview, she speaks about what makes a company a Great Place to Work, talent management and her recognition as one of the 101 Most Influential Global HR Leaders.

Ugo Aliogo provides the excerpts:

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Olakanpo

Toyin Olakanpo The Gala Sausage Roll is synonymous with life in Nigeria. It can be said that if you have never heard of the Gala Sausage Roll then you have never been to Nigeria. The first Gala Sausage Roll was produced in 1962 by UAC Foods Limited and for almost 60 years now, it has been sold exclusively on the streets by street hawkers or by street vendors in small kiosks. You cannot find the Gala sausage roll in any grocery store - other than perhaps in small convenience stores attached to a few petrol stations.

The point of my reference to the Gala Sausage Roll is not a PR stunt but to illustrate the fact that a major player in the formal economy, UAC Foods, is reliant on the power of the informal economy to market and sell one of its most profitable products. This, you will find is true of other major players in the FMCG sector, eg. Unilever, Proctor and Gamble, Promasidor. They all have unique products that are exclusively sold through the informal economy and will likely not survive without the informal economy. Similarly, before the age of mobile airtime top -up, MTN and other mobile telecommunication companies in West Africa relied solely on the umbrella stands and street hawkers to sell airtime - 90% of their profits.

The informal economy involves economic activities undertaken by organizations, and individuals which are not subject to full government regulations, i.e have not been formally registered as a business concern with the Corporate Affairs Commission or workers who have no employment benefits and get paid without the usual tax deductions and pension contributions. As such, most of the business activities in this sector are usually cash based and outside of the radar of the tax man. Those engaged in the informal economy making a living include your local suya man, the photographer or DJ you hire for your son’s party; the lady who tailored your outfit for your friend’s wedding, your barber, the private taxi driver, your domestic staff and gate man and all the street hawkers you see peddling wares on the streets of Lagos. Nine times out of ten, the university graduate who cannot find a job in the formal sector will end up in the informal sector “hustling.� Did you hear of the young lady who graduated with a first class degree in Oil & Gas Management from a UK university and could not get a job when she returned back to Nigeria? She is now baking cakes for a living.

Indeed, the informal sector is growing jobs at a rate four times that of the formal economy ( c. Nite Bhan 2018) and is offering more job opportunities and income generating opportunities than the formal economy especially for the skilled and the un-educated, yet this economic activity is not captured by any data.

It is not captured in computing GDP and is not captured in our employment data either.

The irony is that Nigeria’s unemployment rate continues to rise because it is focused on the “job dead� formal economy and ignores the “job rich� informal economy which has been reported by the International Monetary Fund to represent over 60% of the Nigerian economy or just over $240 billion dollars annually.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has given guidelines (Recommendation 204) to its member countries to start the process to transition the informal economy into the formal economy. Nigeria is a member country. This transition is being pushed by the ILO’s core objectives to promote the creation of enterprise, provide decent work for all and to ensure that all workers are legally protected by labour laws. Taxation is seen as a key ingredient of formalisation.

I don’t like reading stories about taxing the informal economy. I am not against taxation but how much is the average street vendor making daily that he should be taxed or your local hairdresser? One could argue that the average man making a living in the informal economy is already been taxed through some levy or the other to the council collectors but we know that this “collection� hardly reaches the formal sector. What incentives can the government offer to see that this “collection� ends up in the formal sector? The truth of the matter is that the current tax environment in Nigeria is not suitable for the informal economy. What is needed is a simplified and unified collection scheme similar to the Monotax in Uruguay which was set up to address small contributors in the informal economy - a transparent and fair system; but before we get to issues of taxation and establishing new tax laws, I think registration is the first step. Although some informal operators have associations and cooperative groups to which they are registered with, the structure in place is too subtle to make a national impact. To this end I support a government initiative where those employed in or via the informal economy can be registered and identified and captured as part of the employment and GDP data. This could be spear headed by the Federal Government and implemented state by state. It is a start and a good place to start. It should be a participatory process involving key stakeholders with an understanding that the formal economy cannot exist without the informal economy.

It should be a process involving the set up of policies and practices that will support the informal economy including access to finance, public space and public services. It should be a process that recognises that more than 60% of the population are working in the informal sector contributing to the economy as a whole and running a sustainable and inclusive government dictates they must be included and not excluded.

-Toyin Olakanpo is a lawyer and international development consultant. She writes from London, UK.

efore now, CEOs are inclined to ask just any business leader to run the human resources department. Now, companies are evicting and replacing these seniors with career CHROs, what has changed?

The past 10 years clearly has produced a wave of ‘’people’’ considerations; from the increased attention on diversity to work-life integration demands of millennials, necessitating corporate actions. This appreciation of people as capital has re-emerged with CEOs now depending on Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) with experience working in HR. These are professionals skilled in partnering with line managers and senior leaders to recruit talent and solve workforce problems. The CHRO’s credibility comes from knowledge and skills that can only be attained in practice. Excellent execution ensures superior returns which all businesses strive for. It has therefore become more important to empower the human resource profession.

In today’s gig economy where the war for talent is real and job hopping is the norm; how are you keeping employees, especially the restless millennials group happy and at home at Sterling?

At Sterling, we take pride in our organisational culture as we are building a workplace that enhances the lives of our employees. The relationship between the employee and the employer (Sterling) is designed to be mutually beneficial where we fit into the life plans of our employees rather than demand that they alter their lives for us. Initiatives from our agile way of working such as flexible working models, accelerated career routes, bespoke reward systems and deliberate investment in capacity building of our workforce, has helped in keeping not just the millennials but our entire workforce mix.

Dally

Can you share the upside and downside of managing talent in Nigeria’s fast paced and ďŹ ercely competitive ďŹ nancial services sector?

There is a never-ending war for talent going on. Financial services used to be the only competitors for talent and maybe higher paying industries but that is changing with people demanding for excellent employee value proposition. It has therefore become imperative to build an enviable employee brand, leverage an employee alumni network and constantly find the best ways to retain talent.

What makes a company a Great Place to Work?

A great place to work is an enabling environment, where employees trust the people they work with, derive a sense of meaning from their work and take pride in the overall success of their organisation. At Sterling, we have nurtured a strong value system aligning our behavioral codes and our organisational purpose to building trust. Communication, dialogue and codetermination are key factors on which we base our human resource approaches and these form the bedrock of our culture. We are constantly creating products and services that clearly add value to the society and enrich the lives of people in our communities and beyond.

Over the past couple of years, technology is changing the way companies work with organisation culture being set and reset every day. What are your thoughts on managing this uidity?

I am a strong advocate when it comes to leveraging technology to improve the workplace and as such, I would rather focus on how to collaborate using these elements, that is using technology to further propagate culture. A typical example is how technology is supporting our flexible working models, our employee engagement channels etc. However, irrespective of our focus on technology, we still want to retain a workplace where our employees are fully integrated,

utilising technology to build networks of connected employees.

Can you tell us about your most recent laureate - 101 Most Inuential Global HR Leaders award from the World Human Resource Development Congress?

A number of Human Resources Professionals are doing a great job every day, from talent acquisition, to building competent, dynamic and agile teams well equipped to meet the rapid changing demands of today’s workplace, with a focus on the future business needs. I believe this is a valid recognition of our ability to unlock the potential of our employees for sustainable growth and our contribution to organizations’ overall success.

How do you or other leaders at Sterling Bank communicate the core values?

At Sterling Bank, we demonstrate our commitment to maintaining an ethical workplace in two important ways. First, right from the leadership – we lead by example, walking our talk and consistently adhering to our code of conduct. Secondly, we continue to implement systems that ensure fair and equitable treatment of all employees across board, driving performance through the right behaviours.

THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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INTERNA TIONAL

Sahel Crisis Reaching Unprecedented Levels, UN Warns Insecurity and armed attacks in the Sahel region have reached unprecedented levels, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

UN spokesperson, Mr Farhan Haq, told newsmen in New York on Wednesday that OCHA gave the warning in a report presented to UN

member states in Geneva.

The office was calling for increased humanitarian aid to millions of people affected by the spread of violence in the region, Haq said.

Haq quoted the resident and humanitarian coordinator for Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as warning that humanitarian needs were surpassing available

Pelosi: Trump Making Impeachment Case by Ignoring Subpoenas US House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, on Wednesday said President Donald Trump was moving closer to impeachment with his effort to thwart congressional subpoenas and obstruct lawmakers’ efforts to oversee his administration.

“Every single day the president is making the case” and “he’s becoming self-impeachable,” Pelosi said in an interview with the Washington Post.

Trump on Wednesday asserted executive privilege over Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign and its underlying investigative materials, escalating the battle with the Democrats on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.

The move came shortly before the House Judiciary Committee was to vote to hold Attorney-General, William Barr, in contempt for defying a congressional subpoena to hand over the full unredacted report.

The Judiciary Committee is one of number of committees in the Democratic-controlled

House that are investigating Trump and his administration on multiple fronts.

The investigations include White House security clearances and Trump’s personal and business dealings.

The House and Senate still are investigating Russian election meddling and possible obstruction of justice by Trump.

Mueller’s report cited extensive contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Moscow but did not find a conspiracy between Moscow and the campaign.

It also described actions that Trump took to try to impede the investigation and congressional Democrats have vowed to continue their own probe into the issue.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight all congressional subpoenas.

Barr faces a contempt citation by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday for failing to comply with lawmakers’ requests, while former White House lawyer Don McGahn faces a similar threat.

Harry, Meghan Name Son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the duchess of Sussex, have named their two-day-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor after showing him to the public for the first time yesterday.

Harry and Meghan announced the names on their official Instagram account but did not say why they chose them or whether the infant will hold any royal titles.

They said they showed Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s 93-year-old grandmother, her eighth greatgrandchild earlier yesterday.

The queen’s husband, Prince Philip, and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, were “also present for this special occasion,” they added, posting a black-and-white photograph of the group smiling at Archie as Meghan held him.

“It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing.

I have the two best guys in the world so I’m really happy,” Meghan told reporters earlier as Harry held Archie inside the royal Windsor Castle, West of London.

“He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm,” Meghan added.

“I wonder who he gets that from?” Harry joked.

Asked how he liked being a parent, Harry replied: “It’s great.

Parenting is amazing.”

“It’s only been two and a half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy,” Harry added.

Archie, who is seventh in line to the British throne, is expected to hold dual citizenship of Britain and the U.S. Congratulations have poured in from well-wishers in Britain and other countries, including many celebrities, since Meghan gave birth early on Monday to a boy weighing 3.26 kilogrammes.

Harry, 34, is the second son of the heir to the throne, Prince Charles.

Harry married former actress Meghan, 37, in a spectacular wedding at the royal Windsor Castle in May 2018.

The queen and Philip now have four children, eight grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.

Prince William, who has three young children with his wife Kate, the duchess of Cambridge, welcomed his younger brother to “the sleep deprivation society”

resources.

“The humanitarian response plans in the three countries appeal for a total of 600 million U.S. dollars to reach 3.7 million people with aid.

“Four months into 2019, the average funding stands at only 19 per cent,” says the report posted on the UCHA website’’.

According to the report, about 1.8 million people are facing critical food scarcity, and severe malnutrition is threatening the lives of around 400,000 children.

It said 5.1 million people

would need assistance in 2019, noting that `concerted, bolstered action is urgently required to bring relief to those most vulnerable and curtail the spread of the crisis’.

“The violence persists and risks spilling over into coastal West African countries, it said.

The number of security incidents in Burkina Faso, Mali and Western Niger has sharply increased in recent months, according to the report.

“Expanding conflict is threatening lives and livelihoods, compounding food insecurity and malnutrition,

and jeopardising peace and social cohesion.

“Armed groups are operating across borders in vast areas that are mostly impoverished and sparsely populated.“Across the region, the number of displaced people has sharply increased, heightening protection risks,” says the report.

According to the office, more than 150 violent incidents have been recorded in April alone, claiming over 300 lives, with extremely vulnerable families affected.

“Needs in the Sahel are chronically high, and

communities are still struggling to recover from the impact of severe drought that hit the region last year.

“Beyond immediate humanitarian aid, concerted action and strong partnership among communities, governments, humanitarian and development actors, and international partners are required.

“Only a coordinated, holistic approach will curb the current trend and lead to meaningful improvement in the lives of millions of people in the Sahel,” it said.

Prince Harry (right), and his wife, Meghan, after showing their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the public for the first time…yesterday

Theresa May Says Govt Working on Brexit Agreement with Labour The British government is working to reach a Brexit agreement with the opposition Labour Party, which can win the support of parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May, said on Wednesday.

Talks between Labour and the government are due to continue on Wednesday, in a bid to break the parliamentary deadlock over the way forward on Brexit.

“We are indeed talking

with the Labour Party. We are working on agreement that can command the majority of this House (of Commons),” May told parliament.

Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday said that he hopes Brexit could be resolved soon “because President Trump is eager to strike a bilateral trade agreement’’ with Britain.

Pompeo told a joint news conference held with British

Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, that the UK-U.S. special relationship was “thriving”.

The U.S. Secretary of State is in London for talks with British officials on the special relationship between the two countries amid heightened tensions with Iran and Brexit uncertainty.

He met with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Hunt during his one-day visit “to discuss shared global priorities.”

Hunt said Iran’s latest announcement that it would pull out of some of its commitments under the international nuclear deal is an “unwelcome step”.

There will be “consequences’’ if Iran ceases its commitments on the nuclear deal, he noted.

Pompeo arrived in London after making an unannounced visit to Iraq. He previously canceled a scheduled trip to Germany.

Niger Begins Three Days of Mourning after Tanker Explosion Kills 60 Niger began three days of mourning on Wednesday after the death toll from a tanker truck explosion rose to 60.

Flags were flying at half-

mast as two further deaths were recorded, up from the initial death toll of 58 people earlier, the government said in a statement.

The explosion near a petrol

station in the capital, Niamey, happened in the early hours of Monday as some residents were trying to siphon fuel from a tanker that had overturned near the airport.

At least 37 people were injured, some seriously, and brought to hospitals.

The cause of the accident remained under investigation on Wednesday.

Tanzania Beefs up Surveillance as Ebola Cases Rise in DR Congo Tanzanian authorities on Wednesday said they were beefing up surveillance in the country’s borders following a surge in cases of the deadly Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“We have trained 350 health officers on surveillance measures against the disease, especially in regions bordering with neighbouring countries,” Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister for Health, said.

Mwalimu was reacting to a marked increase of death toll from the Ebola epidemic in

DRC in recent days.

She said 350 health workers have been dispatched in border regions of Kagera, Katavi, Rukwa, Songwe, Kigoma, Mbeya, Mwanza and Dar es Salaam.

Mwalimu said the ministry had reinforced tests for the deadly disease in the national laboratory, the Southern highlands zone laboratory and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre laboratory.

She added that the government had bought 106 handheld and walk-

through thermal scanners and distributed them to 31 border points in 14 regions and three international airports in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro.

“At the same time, we are raising awareness to members of the public through various means, including the media and posters,” added Mwalimu.

According to the UN, the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the most serious in the country’s history.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a range

of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalised pain or malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding.

Similarly, Tanzania is set to host the 39th summit of the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August, a senior official on Wednesday said.

Palamagamba Kabudi, the nation’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, said this at a news conference in Dar es Salaam.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ Ͱͮͯͷ

35

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

34

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Making Basic Healthcare Provisions Fund a Reality The recent national roll out of the Basic Healthcare Provisions Fund in Osogbo by the federal government has now brought to reality the long awaited implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature health programme, ‘Huwe’. 0DUWLQV ,Ă€MHK reports

J

ust over a year ago, precisely April 12, 2018 during the second THISDAY Healthcare Policy Dialogue, the federal government launched WKH ORJR DQG EHQHĂ€FLDU\ LGHQWLĂ€FDWLRQ FDUG for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja which signalled the beginning of a brand new programme for the Nigerian healthcare sector.

Barely 34 days after, the National Assembly took a step further and earmarked N55.17 billion in the national budget as the one per cent consolidated revenue fund for the funding of BHCPF. 7KDW ZDV WKH ÀUVW WLPH VLQFH WKH SDVVDJH RI the National Health Act in 2014, that the federal government has earmarked funds for the BHCPF. But between that earmarking of the fund and now, the world, including development partners, healthcare stakeholders, the World Health Organisation, and most importantly Nigerians KDG WKHLU ÀQJHUV FURVVHG WR VHH LI JRYHUQPHQW ZRXOG WRH WKH VDPH SDWK RI XQIXOÀOOHG SURPLVHV it was known for in the past.

To them, the scenario that plays out in the couple of months after all the aforementioned processes will determine whether or not the Nigerian government was serious about implementing the programme or not.

But the federal government didn’t go the way the average Nigerian or international watchers ZRXOG WKLQN LW WR JR /DVW )ULGD\ LW GHÀHG WKH odds to start the national roll out of the funds beginning with Osun State.

What BHCPF Means to Nigerians The BHCPF is an additional fund outside the healthcare allocation in the national annual budget to address basic healthcare needs of Nigerians.

In the 2018 budget, it was put at N57.17 billion for primary healthcare strengthening and service delivery, which mobilises additional resources from the government of Nigeria and development partners to improve the delivery of essential basic health services to Nigerians.

According to the Special Technical Adviser to the Minister of Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the %+&3) ZLOO SD\ IRU D PRGHVW EHQHĂ€W SDFNDJH of health services which currently comprises prenatal, delivery, and post-natal care, as well as family planning services for all mothers in rural areas of Nigeria and also cover the cost of high- impact child health interventions.

He said it will also allow such services to be delivered by accredited private and public facilities that will be reimbursed for services delivered. “In recognition that Primary Health Centres (PHCs) hardly ever receive any operational costs to cover their expenses, publicly owned PHCs will be provided with operating budgets,� he said.

According to the mandate in the National Health Act, 50 per cent of the BHCPF is allocated to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) “gatewayâ€?, 45 per cent through the NPHCDA ´JDWHZD\Âľ DQG Ă€YH SHU FHQW LV VHW DVLGH WR GHDO with emergencies under the Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) “gatewayâ€?.

Under the NPHCDA gateway, direct cash transfers are provided to public primary health facilities, while under the NHIS gateway accredited public and private facilities are paid for delivering Basic Minimum Package of Heath Services (BMPHS).

Filani said the design of the BHCPF provides an opportunity for channeling resources directly to public PHCs in the NPHCDA gateway, whilst the NHIS gateway provides an opportunity

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, anked by healthcare workers and residents during his symbolic registration into the BHCPF programme in Osogbo‌ recently to incorporate the private sector through the accreditation of private providers in the NHIS gateway.

Ă€YH \HDUV DQG IUHH IDPLO\ SODQQLQJ VHUYLFHV treatment for malaria, and screening for diabetes and hypertension for all adults.

Adewole said: “From Osun State, we will National Roll-out in Osun be heading to Niger, Katsina and Abia in the 6SHDNLQJ GXULQJ WKH Ă€UVW QDWLRQDO UROO RXW LQ coming weeks and then continue to 17 other Osogbo last weekend, the Minister of Health, states, including the federal capital territory Prof. Isaac Adewole said under the BHCPF, also (FCT) afterwards.â€? known as ‘Huwe’ which in Ebira language means In his remark, Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Âś/LIH¡ WKLV Ă€UVW UROO RXW ZLOO HQVXUH 2VXQ JHWV Oyetola said that his administration will continue fund worth N916 million over the next nine to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of months from the roll out date. his people.

He said the programme, which will be done Oyetola stressed that �a cardinal objective of under the primary healthcare facilities in the my administration is the provision of healthcare, state covers antenatal care, child delivery care which should be adequate, qualitative and eq(including caesarian section) and free immunisa- uitable. In line with this, we have commenced tion for pregnant women; free immunisation, the revitalisation of nine general hospitals and treatment for malaria, measles, pneumonia, 332 healthcare centres, one in each ward.“ dysentery and malnutrition for children below He said part of the state’s drive for equitable health provision was the health insurance scheme whose implementation will start this month. “Under the scheme, government will contribute its counterpart funds while also taking care of the vulnerable in the society. Workers’ Unions are expected to play their own role as stakeholders.

We are positive that the implementation of this holistic approach shall deliver quality and adequate healthcare to our people,� he added.

We have long laid the foundation for what we are launching today.

As a government, we are mindful that our success depends on our ability to transform nonrenewable (and often volatile) natural capital into productive wealth by investing more in human capital

ERG Plan On the approach to be used in the roll out, Adewole said it is consistent with the broader national goals as espoused in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). “We have long laid the foundation for what we are launching today. As a government, we are mindful that our success depends on our ability to transform non-renewable (and often volatile) natural capital into productive wealth by investing more in human capital. “Yet slow progress on poverty reduction, health

outcomes, literacy, and governance challenges threaten our development. As you may know, 70 per cent of total health expenditure in Nigeria is borne out of pocket. This is far higher than the globally acceptable rate of 30-40 per cent and remains a barrier to accessing care. Our administration is committed to reversing this ugly situation and promoting shared prosperity,� he added.

Reversing Poor Health Indices +H VDLG ZLWK WKH à DJ RͿ RI +XZH KH ZDV convinced that the country’s health sector will drastically improve.

He also added, “I am positive that Huwe will help reverse the poor health indices in the country. I am also hopeful that death during childbirth will be a thing of the past; and our children will no longer have to die as a result of vaccine preventable diseases or other common ailments. Also, access to health care will not be limited because of not having money to pay.�

Equity in Disbursement Adewole said to ensure equity in the disbursement of funds, the federal government has allocated resources per state based on the incidence of poverty and also on a per capita basis, adding that this guarantees that the BHCPF will help reduce inequality and improve access to healthcare. “This sum will cover the payment for the management of 270,000 women with normal GHOLYHULHV XQGHU Ă€YH FKLOGKRRG LOOQHVVHV or 572,000 cases of malaria. In addition, 332 public sector facilities will become truly functional as a result of the program,â€? he emphasised.

0HDQZKLOH WKH 2΀FHU LQ &KDUJH RI :RUOG +HDOWK 2UJDQLVDWLRQ 1LJHULD R΀FH 'U &OHPHQW Peter said the fund would help make the state healthier, and ensure improvement in the country’s healthcare narrative.

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

35

NEWS 2 0 1 9 W O R L D M A L A R I A D AY

May & Baker Takes Campaign to Agege Martins IďŹ jeh One of Nigeria’s foremost pharmaceutical companies, May & Baker, has taken malaria campaign drive to Moshalashi Alhaja in Agege area of Lagos as part of its commemoration of the 2019 World Malaria Day. According to the company, the commemoration, tagged ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’ ensured at least 250 residents of the community got free malaria testing and drugs.

Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director, Pharma Sales and Marketing, May & Baker Nigeria, Mr. Chukutem Chukuka, said the medical outreach was designed to sensitise Nigerians on the scourge of malaria and guide them on how best to live a malaria free life.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, with about 300,000 persons losing their lives yearly to the scourge while over 100

million Nigerians are at risk of the disease.

He said: “Globally, World Malaria Day, which takes place on 25 April each year, is an internationally recognised day, KLJKOLJKWLQJ HÍżRUWV WR FRQWURO malaria and celebrate the gains that have been made. “In Nigeria, May & Baker has been at the forefront of the campaign to reduce the burden of malaria through the introduction of several life-saving interventions, the

latest being Malact, one of 1LJHULD¡V PRVW HÍżHFWLYH DQWL malaria drug. “The initiative also involves VWDÍż RI 0D\ %DNHU LQ SDUWnership with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). They carried out an environmental sanitation exercise in the community to promote awareness on how proper environmental management can help reduce the transmission of malaria in line with the theme of this year’s

celebrations.�

He said the organisation was FRPPLWWHG WR WKH ÀJKW SULPDULO\ through several enlightenment campaigns in communities on prevention as well as the provision and distribution of high-quality antimalarial drugs DW DͿRUGDEOH SULFHV One of the residents of Moshalashi Alhaja who could not hide her joy is Yukura Ibrahim, a shop owner in the neighborhood.

She said: “I am indeed

grateful to May & Baker for this medical intervention and awareness in my neighbourKRRG , DP D EHQHÀFLDU\ RI the free malaria testing and I immediately received a pack of Malact to treat the disease after it was discovered that I had malaria.�

Another resident, Mr. Taiwo Adekunle said he did not know he had malaria until he was WHVWHG DQG ZDV FRQĂ€UPHG SRVLtive to it. He was subsequently given Malact to treat the malaria.

Bamaga Tukur Foundation Leads Malaria Campaign in Abuja IDPs

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

DOAM Foundation giving free malaria treatment to Oyo residents

Pharmacists Partner Lagos to End Malaria Scourge

Martins IďŹ jeh

The Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) has partnered the Lagos State Government to end malaria scourge in the state.

Making this known during the commemoration of the 2019 World Malaria Day in Lagos recently, the National Chairman, AHAPN, Dr. Kingsley Amibor said the collaboration was necesVDU\ EHFDXVH 1LJHULD VXͿHUV the world’s greatest malaria burden with approximately 15 million cases and 207,000 deaths reported annually.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me, with sub theme: ‘Continued Relevance of Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) in the treatment of malaria, he said: “Malaria is a huge burden confronting us

as a nation which births the need for us to conduct a free screening test to rapidly end and completely eliminate the plasmodium parasites from patients’ blood.�

He however stressed the need IRU FRQĂ€UPDWRU\ WHVW EHIRUH WKH treatment of malaria.

He said: “The importance of diagnosis testing cannot be overemphasised. Patients with suspected malaria should have SDUDVLWRORJLFDO FRQĂ€UPDWLRQ of diagnosis before starting anti-malaria treatment, which is why AHAPN is organising the free mass screening for malaria today.â€?

In her presentation, the Director of Pharmaceutical Service, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Moyosere Adejumo, LGHQWLĂ€HG PDODULD DV D KXJH public health challenge facing

the nation.

She said: “The theme is apt in time in view of the collective responsibilities of all stakeholders, including the government at all levels, professional bodies, healthcare workers, civil society organisations, communities, corporate organisations and even individuals to reduce the scourge of malaria. “It is pertinent to note that several malaria interventions being implemented have produced some gains in terms of decline in malaria prevalence and mortality. “The war against malaria is one that must be won. The Lagos State Government is very FRPPLWWHG WR WKLV Ă€JKW ZH PXVW DOO FRPH WRJHWKHU WR Ă€JKW PDODULD and this can be achieved when we begin to realize that ‘Zero

Malaria starts with me.’’ Also, the AHAPN Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Mrs Titilayo Onedo, described malaria as a life-threatening scourge that should be eradicated.

She said, “Recent research shows that environmental degradation add to the spread RI PDODULD KHQFH ZH DUH PRbilising the people to ensure a clean environment as well as the use of the preventive anti-malaria measures and appropriate diagnosis cannot be over emphasised.�

Onedo said the screening conducted by the association to commemorate the day cut across kidney disease, sugar level and high blood pressure. “We screened 200 participants for malaria parasites. Over 1000 doses of adult and children anti-malarial were donated,�

$VVRFLDWLRQ 2ÍžHUV )&7 &RPPXQLW\ )UHH 0HGLFDO 6HUYLFHV Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pirate ConIUDWHUQLW\ KDV RÍżHUHG D IUHH medical service to residents of Dakibiyu community, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to reduce illnesses.

The free medical services, NAS said, was part of its quarterly medical mission / NAS Citizen’s Summit, with theme, ‘Rebuilding Nigeria.’ It revealed that the objective

of the town hall meeting was to facilitate a broad-based discourse on the plethora of socioeconomic and political challenges militating against optimising the values of citizenship and patriotism for national development and cohesion.

Speaking to newsmen after WKH à DJ RͿ RI WKH SURJUDPPH NAS First Mate, Chiemeka Ozumba, who represented the association’s National Capone, Mr Kwabhunde Gbahabo, noted that the gesture was part of the

mission of the association to see that citizens’ lives were better.

According to him: “The Pyrates community has a philosophy which says that, wherever you are in the comPXQLW\ \RX PXVW Ă€QG D ZD\ WR PDNH D GLÍżHUHQFH E\ JLYLQJ a helping hand, this is for our society to be better. “It is not about what we expect from the government, but it is about what we can do for ourselves as a country and one of these is the medical

mission of the association.�

He stated that the association has been doing this for the past years with the help of the medical doctors and nurses present in the association. “This association was prompted with the feelings that there was no presence of government in Dakibiyu community and that was why the association chooses the community for the 2019 quarterly medical mission,� he added.

As part of activities to mark the 2019 World Malaria Day, the Bamaga Tukur Foundation RÍżHUHG IUHH PDODULD WHVWLQJ DQG drug administration outreach at the Durumi internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Abuja.

Over 500 of the 3015 IDPs in the camp were tested while 210 of them were diagnosed with malaria fever and administered drugs, according to the Program Manager, Bamaga Tukur Foundation, Oyebisi Bamidele.

He said children and women, regarded as the most vulnerable groups in the society were among those targeted by the outreach.

The foundation is also collaborating with Inamsaj Advocacy Foundation and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) to achieve its objectives.

Oyebisi stressed that the outreach is aimed at helping Nigeria eliminate malaria totally, adding that the foundation was concerned with malaria campaigns, advocacy and data collection.

With the theme “Zero malaria starts with me�, he said the foundation will return to supply mosquitoe net to the IDPs as part of the outreach.

Speaking after the outreach, the secretary of the camp Bala Yusuf commended the foundation for reaching out to the IDPs. He described malaria as one of the commonest diseases among children and women in the camp, adding that they were happy that after testing and provision with drugs, they were also taught on how to protect themselves from malaria.

Foundation Gives Free Anti-Malaria Treatment to Oyo Residents Rebecca Ejifoma As the World Health Organisation continues to call on PDODULD DÍżHFWHG FRXQWULHV partners and donors to boost LQYHVWPHQWV DQG HÍżRUWV WR reduce the disease burden, a non-governmental organisation, DOAM Foundation, continues LQ LWV HÍżRUW WR RÍżHU IUHH DQWL malaria and other health services to Moniya community in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The one-day free medical outreach, which targeted both children and adult at the weekend, sensitised the EHQHĂ€FLDULHV DQG UHVLGHQWV on the prevention, treatment and management of malaria, the need for regular medical check-up.

Marked every April 25 globally, WHO alongside other partners joined in promoting the theme, ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’, a grassroots campaign that aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilise additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.

Hence, it is to get to the grassroots that the NGO leveraged its outreach. “DOAMF joined

organisations all over the world to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day. “According to WHO, this year’s theme “Zero malaria starts with me�, pulls attention to every individual and group to eliminating the world’s oldest disease, we live in a time when the elimination of malaria is no longer a dream, it’s action time,�

VDLG WKH 3URJUDPPH 2΀FHU (Health), Catherine Toye.

He added that the foundation focused primarily on the screening and treatment of Malaria, High blood Pressure, Diabetes, 9LWDPLQ GHÀFLHQFLHV WUHDWPHQW Dispensing of de-worming drugs ZHUH JLYHQ WR EHQHÀFLDULHV According to WHO’s latest world malaria report, no VLJQLÀFDQW JDLQV ZHUH PDGH LQ reducing malaria cases from 2015 to 2017. The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2017 at 435,000 remained virtually unchanged over the previous year.

Toye revealed that Lifeback Pharmacy and Stores, Afrab Chem Ltd, Reals Group, JB Pharmaceutical Ltd, Nalis Pharmaceutical Ltd, Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited and Rite Foods Ltd supported the outreach to achieve this exercise against malaria.

36

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

HEALTH

Drug Authentication and Cost of Counterfeiting to Economy James Emejo writes that allocating funds for the enforcement of the Mobile Authentication Scheme for pharmaceuticals and other products will check widespread counterfeiting which has bedeviled the economy

W

orried by the devastating impact of products counterfeiting, particularly pharmaceutical, on human lives and the Nigerian economy in general, the House of Representatives had in July last year directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC), and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to ensure that Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) is reactivated and applied to all drugs purchased in the country.

The lawmakers further urged NAFDAC to as a matter of urgency, begin a nationwide publicity on MAS for the education and enlightenment of the public as well as mandated its committee on Health Services to ensure compliance with the resolutions.

The resolution of the lower house resulted from a motion sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) on the need to carry out the directive to save lives.

He had expressed concern that drug counterfeiting remained a major cause of death of many citizens.

Benson, while leading the debate said fake drugs undermine every aspect of medical treatment and healthcare delivery and constitute WKH PDMRU FDXVH RI VXÍżHULQJ DQG GHDWK RI many Nigerians.

Worse still, the lawmaker had argued that counterfeiting of drugs contributed negatively to the well being of Nigerians while the illicit trade did also escalated within the country’s health care system in recent times.

Mobile Authentication Service Essentially, MAS allows globally unique codes for each product unit made by genuine drug manufacturers or distributors. The codes can be delivered as labels based on the manufacturer’s preference or drug package. Coded drugs are shipped from the distribution network to the point of sale.

To verify the authenticity of the product, the consumer at the point of sale scratches or SHHOV RÍż WKH WDPSHU HYLGHQW OD\HU WR UHYHDO the unique code.

The consumer sends the code to Sproxil, the solution’s service provider, using one of several options including SMS, Sproxil consumer app, toll free call center or the Sproxil’s website. $ YHULÀFDWLRQ UHVSRQVH LV LPPHGLDWHO\ sent to the consumer informing them of the authenticity of the product.

Role of NAFDAC NAFDAC plays a major role in ensuring that all stakeholders comply with the regulations while the mobile network providers are responsible for ensuring messages are sent and received without any network glitch or errors.

The regulatory agency had in 2010 initiated the MAS by pharmaceuticals companies QDWLRQZLGH LQ LWV HÍżRUWV WR FRPEDW FRXQWHUIHLW drugs circulation.

However, concerns had been expressed that in recent times, there has been a reduced campaign on the authentication process while most over the counter drugs and infant syrups do not have the unique 12 digit PIN authentication.

The house had also accused NAFDAC and SON of negligence on their part, which KDG OHG WR WKH LQĂ X[ RI IDNH DQG FRXQWHUIHLW drugs in Nigerian markets in particular and the health sector general, adding that fake drugs are a major cause of untimely deaths in the country.

Capacity Requirements However, reacting to the directive of the House on MAS enforcement on drugs, the

economy, their activities have gone beyond anti-malaria or anti-biotics to include other drugs that innocent citizens make use of.�

He said: “Knowing that this has gone far EH\RQG WKH FRQĂ€QHV RI WKH DERYH OLVWHG GUXJV NAFDAC has to be ahead and on-top of this.

The regulatory agency and the approved MAS providers have to be 10 steps ahead the counterfeiters and the expansion of the Mobile Authentication Service is one way to get ahead of these fraudsters.�

Adeyeye Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, though applauded the lawmakers over the noble resolution, pointed out that WKH DJHQF\ FXUUHQWO\ ODFNHG WKH VWDÍż FDSDFLW\ and funding requirements to carry out the enforcement.

According to her, the suggestion by the lawmakers to use MAS for all drugs regulated

by NAFDAC was as good as it fell in line with the agency’s ultimate agenda. ´+RZHYHU D ORW RI VWD΀QJ DQG IXQGLQJ ZLOO be needed for full implementation. The limited authentication that is being undertaken currently for the two classes of drugs (antimalarials and antibacterials) by NAFDAC sometimes result in overwhelming calls to the drug information specialists at NAFDAC secretariat. “Considering the fact that NAFDAC has over 11,000 registered drug products, the manpower that will be needed to authenticate all drugs will be enormous. In addition, the information

Counterfeit drugs are a threat to the life of every individual who comes in contact with them...A considerable percentage of the Nigerian pharmaceutical market is saturated with counterfeit drugs denying genuine product manufacturers of the revenue they would otherwise have generated if their products were not being counterfeited

Penalty for Defaulters Chijioke also urged the regulatory agency including relevant stakeholders to go beyond product authentication to cover locating and penalising the counterfeiting culprits to serve as deterrent.

According to him: “With our intelligence gathering mechanism, we discovered for one of the products on our platform that counterfeit activities are prominent in the South-west UHJLRQ ZLWK D UHFRUG RI SHU FHQW RI WKH Ă DJJHG SURGXFWV WUDFHG EDFN WR WKLV UHJLRQ this was followed closely by the South-south DQG 6RXWK HDVW UHJLRQV DW SHU FHQW DQG 17 per cent respectively. The region with the least recorded counterfeit trade activity for this particular product was the North-east with 5 per cent. This report was derived from the Sproxil 2018 Third Party Investigation (TPI) report and covered a period of six months.â€?

He stated that though there had been mixed responses from players in the pharmaceutical industry, most manufacturers and brand owners understood the implications of counterfeit activities on their brand’s reputation and the consumers they serve. +H VDLG Âľ+HQFH ZH DUH FRQĂ€GHQW RI WKHLU technology unit of NAFDAC will also need willingness to cooperate and collaborate in WR QHWZRUN ZLWK 1$)'$& R΀FHV LQ WKH order put an end to this menace. Our clients states in all six geographical zones and Abuja. ZLWKLQ WKLV VHFWRU KDYH H[SHULHQFHG Ă€UVW KDQG Therefore, NAFDAC will need to expand the the impact Mobile Authentication Service has drug information center with higher bandwidths on their business.â€? and computers. I will implore the National Assembly to fund NAFDAC to achieve this Dangers of Counterfeiting Further highlighting the dangers of counterfeitnoble and necessary cause that the honourable ing to the growth of the economy, the Sproxil speaker had suggested. “In addition, all manufacturers will also boss added: “Counterfeit drugs are a threat QHHG WR UHWURĂ€W WKHLU ODEHOLQJ OLQHV LQ RUGHU WR to the life of every individual who comes in accommodate the MAS codes. This is attainable contact with them. So grave is this problem that except that the manufacturers will need a tax LW DÍżHFWV WKH HFRQRP\ DV D ZKROH ,W UHGXFHV break in order to accommodate these changes, the value of genuine products as counterfeit knowing that, in Nigeria, all manufacturing products are for the most part cheaper than their equipment pieces, all raw materials are imported. original counterparts and consumers generally Therefore I will urge the Honourable Speaker tilt towards products that are cheaper as long to facilitate tax break for manufacturers. This as they perceive that the product might give will improve trade and encourage more local them the same or similar value. “A considerable percentage of the Nigerian manufacturing, knowing the importance of pharmaceutical market is saturated with safeguarding the health of the public.â€? counterfeit drugs denying genuine product manufacturers of the revenue they would Growing Threat Nevertheless, the Managing Director, Sproxil otherwise have generated if their products Nigeria, Mr. Chinedum Chijioke told THISDAY were not being counterfeited. Also, consumthat it understood NAFDAC’s predicament ers lose trust in genuine products when they regarding the house directive on MAS, adding purchase a counterfeit product and realize that however, that it represented the right step to WKH SURGXFW LV QRW DV HÍżHFWLYH DV LW FODLPV WR EH ´7KLV LQ WXUQ DÍżHFWV WKH UHYHQXH WKH WDNH DV WKH HQIRUFHPHQW ZLOO VLJQLĂ€FDQWO\ UHGXFH government generates as fake products are the impact of counterfeiting in the country.

Quoting a World Health Organisation (WHO) sold illegally and are tax evasive. In addition, report, he said counterfeit medicine had become counterfeit drugs decrease individual and a growing threat with a high number of cases national productivity and increase death recorded in Africa while a number of deaths rate. Investors are also deterred from making had also been attributed to counterfeit drugs investments in research and further market development because of the fear of not being on a yearly basis.

He said: “This causes a growing concern for able to recoup their investments due to impact not just the individual but also the govern- of counterfeiting.� ment as no one is spared from this crippling The overall argument is for the federal menace. Counterfeiters have become increasingly government to strengthen the enforcement of bold in their activities as they make use of the authentication system for pharmaceuticals sophisticated machineries to imitate genuine and other products to reduce their negative products, creating the exact replica that can impact on consumers and economy at large as fool anyone.

ZHOO DV WKH IDFW WKDW QR Ă€QDQFLDO LQWHUYHQWLRQ “Counterfeiting has also caught a foothold LQ WKLV UHJDUG ZLOO EH WRR PXFK LQ DQ HÍżRUW in virtually every industry within the Nigerian to safeguard the lives of Nigerians.

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

37

HEALTH

(QFRXUDJLQJ )HUWLOLW\ 5HSRUWLQJ LQ 1LJHULD :LWK RQH LQ IRXU 1LJHULDQ FRXSOHV VXÍżHULQJ IURP RQH IRUP RI LQIHUWLOLW\ RU WKH RWKHU DQG DERXW SHU FHQW RI WKRVH DÍżHFWHG QRW NQRZLQJ WKH ULJKW VWHSV WR WDNH LQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKH KHDOWK LVVXH WKH 1RUGLFD Media Merit Awards hopes to change the narrative by encouraging journalists to report informed and educative stories on fertility. 0DUWLQV ,Ă€MHK writes

F

or all it may worth, Nigeria perhaps has the highest number of churches in the world because of the intense religious and spiritual colouration the citizens give to human existence. But within these several thousands of churches, if not already in millions, lies perculiar ones dedicated to certain aspects of life.

For some, their calling is to lead members of their congregation to heaven so they sit at the right hand side of God on judgment day. For others, they want to breed millionaires who will escape poverty and the hardship associated with the country’s economy.

And then there are some who major in invoking spirits of protection against witchcraft, wickedness and all forms of harm to their congregation. Here, WKHUH LV œÀUH¡ DOZD\V UHDG\ WR NLOO SHUFLHYHG spiritual treats.

But there is a new section of churches in town.

These ones are fast booming, and they often operate everyday, even on a Monday morning when people should be about their normal businesses.

Their specialty is to invoke the god of fertility so he can distribute babies to infertile couples.

Here, with a rubbing of the stomach of the female couple with a raw egg dipped into a bowl of ‘holy water’, they tell you why you are barren, who tied the womb and what you must do to free yourself from spiritual bondage.

Be sure among the spiritual exercises for the couples often involve seven days midnight prayers, three days dry fasting, (or in some other cases they fast on your behalf), and sometimes spiritual birth.

It is the fastest growing section of churches in the country. Reason? One in four Nigerian

couples have one form of infertility or the other, amounting to at least 25 per cent of couples LQ WKH FRXQWU\ ZLWK RYHU SHU FHQW RI WKRVH DÍżHFWHG QRW NQRZLQJ ZKDW WR GR WR WDFNOH LW One of such places is a make-shift church in Kpako area of Baruwa-Inside in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State where Prophet John Akpan and his ZLIH ZHOFRPH GLÍżHUHQW FRXSOHV HYHU\GD\ ZLWK same problem of infertility. They charge between 1 WR 1 IRU SUD\HUV GHSHQGLQJ RQ the kind of prayers the couples may require.

For those who do not patronise churches, they perhaps end up in traditional homes where they take all manner of concoctions for D Ă RXULVKLQJ ZRPE RU IRU D ULFK VSHUP IRU the males. These couples do not know how HOVH WR WDFNOH LQIHUWLOLW\ DÍżHFWLQJ WKHLU KRPHV since cultural and religious beliefs often say it is caused by evil spirits and the likes.

But experts said infertility is just like any other health challenge that requires medical attention for diagnosis, treatment, management or even cure.

They said if couples are enlightened on what to do, they would not have issues with the health challenge for a long time as it cn be successfully treated.

According to available reports, fertility rate in Nigeria is estimated to be 5.4, which implies that the average woman can expect to have that many children during her life. Yet many Nigerians experience infertility.

Chelsea Polis of the Guttmacher Institute, DQG KHU FROOHDJXHV HVWLPDWH WKDW SHU FHQW RI Nigerian couples fail to conceive a child after PRQWKV RI XQSURWHFWHG VH[ÂłD UDWH DW OHDVW

as high as in the West. In a country where a ZRPDQ¡V ZRUWK LV GHÀQHG ODUJHO\ LQ WHUPV RI her ability to bear children, there is a growth market for fertility treatments of all kinds.

For the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Abayomi Ajayi, he said while it remains the right of individuals to seek spiritual help for their issues, including ill health, it is important people understand that infertility is a medical condition that can be addressed medically.

But how many Nigerian couples are aware of this?

It is in changing this narrative that Nordica Fertility Centre put up an annual Nordica Media 0HULW $ZDUG 100$ DV SDUW RI HÍżRUWV WR HQFRXUage Nigerian journalists from all segments of the media to report, enlighten and educate the public about fertility and all that needs to be known around tackling infertility in the country.

It is believed that many couples across the country will learn about about management of the condition, where to go and what to do at a point in time if broadcast and pages of the newspapers share fertility stories.

NMMA also believes that one of the ways to bringing awareness on how best to address infertility among couples, is for journalists to develop interest in chunning out quality stories on fertility and the stories around it.

It is in changing the narrative that, for the ÀUVW WLPH LQ WKDW WKH 100$ SODWIRUP ZDV set up which called on Nigerian journalists to submit their published work in a bid for the award committee, led by the Editor-in-Chief and General Manager of Vanguard Newspapers, Gbenga Adefaye, to honour the best reports in the print, television and the online category.

%HQHÀFLDULHV FDUWHG DZD\ 1 HDFK DQG plaques in a celebrated event which also marks end RI 1RUGLFD¡V DQQXDO (QGRPHWULRVLV 0DUFK entries also came with three journalists, including THISDAY health correspondent winning one of the three categories.

Recently, the third edition of the awards was held in Lagos with three journalists winning in the three categories (print, broadcast and online).

7+,6'$< MRXUQDOLVW 0DUWLQV ,Ă&#x20AC;MHK IRU WKH second year running emerged the winner of WKH 100$ SULQW FDWHJRU\ IRU H[FHOOHQFH in fertility reporting. ,Ă&#x20AC;MHK ZKR ZRQ ZLWK KLV HQWU\ Âś+HDY\ 0HWDOV and the Pain of Infertilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, was announced as one of the three winners of the highly competitive annual awards at the presentation ceremony in Lagos recently.

Other winners are Olasumbo Modupe of Lagos Television and Anthonia Obokor of Business Day Newspapers. They won in the electronic and online categories respectively. ,Ă&#x20AC;MHK¡V ZLQQLQJ SLHFH KLJKOLJKWHG KRZ KHDY\ metals and industrial chemicals from oil exploration in Nigeria has increased the risk of infertility and deprived couples exposed to them from having babies.

Ajayi described the award as part of the RUJDQLVDWLRQ¡V HͿRUWV WR UHZDUG H[FHOOHQFH LQ 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 JLYHQ SODTXHV DQG 1 FDVK SUL]H HDFK Members of the jury board included Adefaye, the Group Editor, The Nation Newspapers, Gbenga Omotoso, among others.

1''& WR 'LVWULEXWH 0HGLFDO (TXLSPHQW 9DFFLQHV LQ 1LJHU 'HOWD Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Clinic Manager, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Tola Ajayi; Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Abayomi Ajayi; and Editor-in-Chief/ General Manager, Vanguard Newspaper, Gbenga Adefaye, during the NMMA presentation in Lagos recently

.DQR 6RNRWR 2WKHUV <HW WR 3DVV &KLOG 5LJKWV /DZ 6D\V 81,&() 40% of Nigerian women marry before 15 years

Martins IďŹ jeh $W OHDVW 1RUWKHUQ VWDWHV LQ 1LJHULD LQFOXGing Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa and Kaduna are yet to pass the Child Rights Law despite the REYLRXV EHQHĂ&#x20AC;WV LW SRUWHQGV IRU FKLOGUHQ WKH Child Protection Specialist, United Nations Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Sharon Oladiji has said.

Also, the National Populations Commission 13& GDWD VKRZ WKDW DW OHDVW SHU FHQW of Nigerian women marry before they reach WKHLU WK ELUWKGD\ ZKLOH SHU FHQW PDUU\ EHIRUH WKHLU WK ELUWKGD\ Speaking during a two-day media dialogue on the Convention on the Rights of the Child &5& DW RUJDQLVHG E\ 81,&() LQ /DJRV Oladiji said many of such states due to religion and culture believe some sections of the child

rights law need to be amended as it negates their belief or cultural practice.

Other states yet to pass the Child Rights Law are Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa.

She said governments at all level should put laws in place to protect the rights of Nigerian children, adding that if this is done, it would encourage implementation and children will consequently grow into better adults in future.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;While we try to bring the rights of children to the knowledge of the public, we also encourage these children on the need to know their rights. Adults, teachers and parents need to know why they must adhere to CRL.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children are individual human beings totally dependent on adults. So, as adults, we must be responsible for how they are treated.

Healthy development of a child is crucial to

the future and well being of any nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Children are special, we cannot treat them anyhow. Views of children are rarely heard, EXW ZH VKRXOG FRQWLQXH WR PDNH HÍżRUWV WR change this,â&#x20AC;? she stressed.

On his part, another Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Dennis Onoise said it was not only because of culture that many stakeholders refuse to push for the implementation of the Child Rights Law in various states, but that personal interest also plays its part. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some stakeholders might refuse to push for this because they know if implementation VWDUWV LW PD\ DÍżHFW WKHP DV ZHOO Âľ KH QRWHG +H VDLG LW ZDV DODUPLQJ WKDW DERXW SHU cent of Nigerian women marry before their WK ELUWKGD\ ZKLOH DERXW SHU FHQW PDUU\ EHIRUH WKHLU WK ELUWKGD\ ´$OVR DERXW SHU FHQW RI ZRPHQ LQ 1LJHULD

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it would soon commence distribution of vaccines, medical and waste management equipment to states in the Niger Delta region.

The Acting Director, Finance and Administration, NDDC, Dr. Chris Amadi, made the disclosure when he led some directors on an inspection of the commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warehouses in Port Harcourt.

Amadi, who decried the depreciating state of some of the items in the warehouses, said that the equipment would be put in order for distribution to the appropriate end users.

He stated: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have directed that the waste trucks and medical boats be maintained as soon as possible for subsequent distribution to the various states.â&#x20AC;?

Amadi explained that the locations where the items were to be distributed had already been compiled and sharing exercise would commence within soon.

In one of the warehouses in Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt, the acting executive director inspected solar-powered refrigerators for vaccines which he assured would be distributed to communities in the region as soon as possible.

He said that the Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services (EHSS), had been mandated to kick start the process for the distribution.

Responding to the directive, an Assistant Director, EHSS, Dr George Uzornwanne listed some of the supplies procured by the commission to include, medical waste incinerators, solar-driven refrigerators, vaccines, waste management trucks, agricultural tractors and refuse bins.

He stated that it was the second set of such procurement the commission was distributing in the last two years, noting that those that were procured two years ago were distributed to states ministries of health. He added that they would also be given the new set to help in improving immunisation exercises in communities.

40

T H I S D AY Ëž ͡Ë&#x153; 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Access Bank to Pay Off $200m Bond Issued by Diamond Obinna Chima Access Bank Plc has confirmed that it will repay at maturity, a $200 million bond originally issued by the defunct Diamond Bank after a merger by both institutions. This, according to a report by Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Investors Service yesterday, was a reflection of Access Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stronger governance and liquidity position. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Access Bank is now responsible for all of Diamond Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liabilities and confirmed it will repay at maturity a $200 million bond originally issued by Diamond,â&#x20AC;? Analyst at Moodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Peter Mushangwe revealed in the report. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Access has stronger liquidity than Diamond, sharply reducing the risk of default.â&#x20AC;?

According to the report, former Diamond Bank creditors would

also benefit from Access Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more stable board and higher concentration of independent directors, which enhances the quality of its board oversight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Access Bank also has betterstructured board committees. It will subject management to more thorough scrutiny, and makes it more likely that Access will achieve the majority of its merger objectives, including a reduction of its stock of nonperforming loans within the intended timeframe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diamondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt to become a leading Nigerian retail lender led to a build-up of non-performing loans that ultimately threatened its solvency. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diamondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liquidity management was also poor, leaving it with insufficient foreign currency balances to cover near-term obligations,â&#x20AC;? the report stated.

Diamond Bank, which merged with Access in March 2019 after suffering a sharp rise in nonperforming loans (NPLs), was the latest of several mid-tier Nigerian banks to suffer setback due to weak governance.

The report stated that the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-performing loans (NPLs) (all loans overdue by more than 90 days) reached 42 per cent of gross loans in 2017 (Diamond Bank has not yet reported its 2018 results).

However, the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s provisions against the NPLs were low at only 19 per cent, weakening the quality of its capital, while high credit losses eroded its profits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diamondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problems arose partly because of inadequate governance structures, as evidenced by a relative scarcity of independent directors and high board turnover.

Wema Bank Pledges to Accelerate Growth The Chairman of Wema Bank Plc, Babatunde Kasali has said the financial institution will continue to opportunities for accelerated growth especially around the sectors and industries such as agriculture and manufacturing.

He said this yesterday, in his statement at the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual General Meeting held in Lagos.

According to Kasali, internally, the bank took significant steps in 2018 to ensure that in 2019 it delivers value for shareholders, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and we are prepared to achieve this.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another of our core commitment in 2019 is to continue to use our technology edge to drive disruption to deliver on our goals for the year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wema Bank is well positioned to ride the growth curve and deliver even better

performance in 2019. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a bank, we look forward to 2019 with great confidence as we begin to realise the Wema dream of giving all who interact with us a delightful and memorable service experience,â&#x20AC;? he added.

He said consistently the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim has always been to scale up and improve market share through various initiatives, saying that it was pleasing to know that in 2018, the bank made significant stride in that direction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since 2016, our business has largely focus on four major areas namely innovation and technology, providing excellent customer service, effective risk management and broadening our national footprints to achieve our targets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;ALAT, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first free digital bank, was borne of this renewed focus and in 2018,

the bank continues to record significant growth especially around customer acquisition,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Continuing, the bank chairman said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we effectively refocus and strategise to drive the bank in 2019, there are certain key factors that might negatively impact the domestic and international economies.

These factors include the following: continuing trade tensions between developed and developing economies like the United States and China; the manner of the United Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exit (Brexit) from the European Union will also be a significant drag on global economic growth.â&#x20AC;?

In addition, he noted the slowdown in global economic growth that had been impacting commodities trading

FirstBankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Firstmonieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Records N1trn Transactions First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced that its Firstmonie network has so far processed cumulative transaction value of N1 trillion since its relaunch in January 2018.

The bank also said the network has achieved nationwide coverage in record time, enabling access to financial services for many locations that never had a way for its residents to access financial services. This it said was in line with the Central Bank of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (CBN) objective of bringing banking services close

to all Nigerians, irrespective of where they live.

FirstBankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Firstmonie service provides financial/banking solutions to rural and semi-urban locations across the country, such as account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawals, airtime purchase, bill payments and much more.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Firstmonie scheme is supporting the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment and job creation

agenda as over 22,000 Nigerians, through this scheme, contribute to the increased economic activities of their neighbourhoods. O â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our partner network is growing and we are particularly delighted about the progress we are making in actively driving nationwide financial inclusion, exposing communities to opportunities for growth, jobs, empowerment, and improved live conditions. Yet again, we are delighted to score another first in promoting financial inclusion in the country.â&#x20AC;?

Sterling Bank Advocates Energy Sector Reform Nume Ekeghe Sterling Bank Plc has announced that it recently supported the fourth Nigeria Energy Forum with the theme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Upscaling Clean Energy for Sustainable Development.â&#x20AC;?

The bank explained in a statement that the support was part of its commitment to the HEART of Sterling initiative, to invest in five key sectors of the Nigerian economy namely health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation.

Speaking as a panellist at the event, the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head of Renewable Energy Unit, Adesola Alli, noted that global industry

overview of renewable energy which stood at $1.4 trillion was expected to grow to a projected value of $2.5 trillion by 2025.

She added that about $531 billion investment in energy supply and technology was required yearly between now and 2050.

She listed some of the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major challenges as supply and demand gap, access to finance and inadequate investment as well as trust and product standardisation.

Alli, said there is a need to create conditions for investment through policy and institutional reforms as well as to develop plans and targets for renewable energy while also ensuring that

laws supporting investment in low-carbon energy are enacted.

She also called for the creation of favourable conditions for investment, improvement in project developersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capacity to develop bankable projects, strengthening of the financial sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to invest in the industry and to build technical and engineering capacity.

Alli said international support should focus on identifying and targeting critical sectors such as project bankability, equipment financing, feasibility studies and project assessment, adding that some public goods must be provided through public funding.

Deputy Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mohammed Balarabe (left) and Senior Director, African Development Bank (AfDB), Ebrima Faal (right), during the formal signing ceremony of $50 million credit line between the bank and AfDB in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Ś Tuesday

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; Í´ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $70.23 a barrel on Monday, compared with $70.61 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculation.

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

41

T H I S D AY Ëž ͡Ë&#x153; Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

Bel: Why Nigerian Breweries Pays 100% Profit as Dividend Goddy Egene The Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel has said the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to pay 100 per cent of its profit as dividend to shareholders is supported by its robust balance sheet.

The leading breweries has adopted the 100 per cent pay out of earnings dividend policy for some years now. Some financial experts and capital market

stakeholders have wondered why NB Plc always pay out all its profit as dividend then go and borrow from banks.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s borrowings rose from N8 billion in 2017 to about N41 billion in 2018.

But speaking at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-annual general meeting media briefing in Lagos, Bel said the payment N19.401 billion as dividend, which was the profit recorded for the 2018 financial year would not affect

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

its operations negatively.

According to him, the company has a robust cash flow and strong balance to sustain its performance going forward. Bel disclosed that the company recorded a turnover of N324 billion compared to N345 billion in 2017, showing a decline of 5.8 per cent. Profit after tax fell 41.2 per cent from N33 billion in 2017 to N19.401 billion in 2019.

According to him, the lower profit partially resulted from higher excise duty and a chal-

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

lenging operating environment.

He said the new excise duty rate of N30 per litre introduced by the federal government in June 2018, translated to 43 per cent increase from the average rate of N21 per litre. Looking ahead, the MD said despite the fact that the operating environment in the first quarter of 2019 remained challenging and similar to that of 2018, the company has a clear strategy to deliver good return on investment for all stakeholders.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Speaking on the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategy, Bel said the must win priorities going forward will include expansion of leadership in premium brands, building of scale in mainstream brands and drive growth in malt market.

According to him, the company would drive growth and profitability by leveraging innovation, expand leadership in premium products, build scale in mainstream brands and building high performing team.

O F

Meanwhile, trading at the stock market remained bearish for the third consecutive day as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index fell by 0.45 per cent yesterday.

Similarly, market capitalisation shed N48.9 billion to close lower at N10.9 trillion. However, activity level was mixed as volume traded dipped 24.6 per cent to 324.6 million shares while value traded inched 14.4 per cent higher to N3.2 billion.

0 6 / 0 5 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019

42

Thursday, May 9, 2019 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Sheds 54bps

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index shed 54bps to ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϯϴϬ͘Ϭϳ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ GUARANTY (-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ ZENITH (-Ϭ͘ϱйͿ ĂŶĚ DANGCEM (-ϭ͘ϭйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϬ͘ϭй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

ƋƵŝƟĞƐ DĂƌŬĞƚ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ZƵŶ >ŝŶŐĞƌƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƌĚ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ^ĞƐƐŝŽŶ͙ ^/ ĚŽǁŶ ϰϱďƉƐ dŚĞ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ďŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƚƌĞƚĐŚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝƌĚ ĐŽŶƐĞĐƵƟǀĞ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ EϭϬ͘ϵƚŶ ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϰϴ͘ϵďŶ͘

-6.0%

38.0%

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6.9%

5.0x

0.8x

5.9%

-6.2%

-6.4%

33.1%

5.3%

4.8x

1.5x

8.5%

20.7%

2 Zenith Bank PLC

20.45

-0.5%

11.8%

-11.3%

-1.4%

24.7%

3.2%

3.4x

0.8x

13.6%

29.1%

3 Dangote Cement PLC 4 Nestle Nigeria PLC

179.00

-1.1%

9.1%

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-3.8%

40.1%

21.8%

8.1x

2.9x

8.9%

12.4%

0.0%

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3.1%

81.2%

27.4%

25.5x

19.1x

3.9%

3.9%

65.50

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-23.4%

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30.0x

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7.50

0.7%

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10.0%

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4.5x

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22.2%

15.30

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-21.1%

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6.60

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0.4x

12.7%

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5.6x

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7.0%

9 International Brew eries PLC 10 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 11 Access Bank PLC

ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ DANGCEM (-ϭ͘ϭйͿ͕ GUARANTY (-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŝŶĐŚĞĚ ϭϰ͘ϰй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŽ Eϯ͘ϮďŶ͘ h ;ϱϵ͘ϳŵͿ͕ ACCESS ;ϰϲ͘ϰŵͿ ĂŶĚ ^d Z>/E' ;ϰϬ͘ϯŵͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ͛s top traded ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ZENITH

;Eϲϲϭ͘ϳŵͿ͕ GUARANTY

;Eϰϵϰ͘ϰŵͿ ĂŶĚ h

;EϰϬϵ͘ϬŵͿ͘

14.8%

1,520.00

5 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

12 Ecobank Transnational Inc

ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϯϰ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϯϮϰ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

19.2%

Today͛Ɛ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ

ACCESS (-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ͘ EŽŶĞƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ

P/BV

-2.1%

7 Cement Co Northern Nigeria PLC

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

P/E

-0.54%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕

ROA

32.30

ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ

-ϳ͘ϴй͘

ROE

1,380.07

6 FBN Holdings Plc

ƚŽ

Price Change Index to Date

1 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

; ^/Ϳ ƐŚĞĚ ϰϱďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ Ϯϴ͕ϵϲϲ͘ϰϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ zd ůŽƐƐ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

20.00

0.0%

2.5%

-34.4%

-36.5%

-23.8%

-3.2%

579.90

0.0%

3.4%

-9.4%

-6.6%

10.1%

6.3%

4.9x

7.00

-2.1%

3.7%

2.9%

7.7%

22.2%

2.1%

1.8x

0.4x

10.10

1.0%

2.2%

-27.9%

-29.4%

15.3%

1.2%

2.8x

0.5x

-1.8%

56.1% 35.2%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

43.50

0.0%

2.6%

-9.3%

-6.3%

30.3%

4.6%

6.5x

1.7x

3.4%

14 Unilever Nigeria PLC

31.00

0.0%

2.2%

-16.2%

-16.2%

12.7%

7.7%

17.3x

2.1x

4.8%

5.8%

15 Lafarge Africa PLC

11.00

0.0%

1.6%

-11.6%

-8.3%

-53.7%

-7.9%

0.7x

13.2%

-57.3%

16 Guinness Nigeria PLC

50.00

0.0%

1.0%

-30.6%

-30.6%

6.8%

3.7%

16.8x

1.2x

3.6%

6.0%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

70.00

0.0%

1.3%

-8.1%

-8.1%

32.9%

24.4%

11.1x

2.1x

4.4%

9.0%

18 Total Nigeria PLC

162.00

0.0%

1.1%

-20.2%

-20.2%

19.3%

4.5%

9.5x

1.8x

10.5%

10.6%

19 11 PLC

173.00

-1.1%

1.3%

-6.7%

-6.7%

38.0%

16.8%

5.8x

1.9x

4.8%

17.3%

16.00

-0.6%

0.9%

-30.7%

-27.9%

6.6%

2.0%

7.4x

0.4x

6.3%

13.5%

5.9%

45.2%

20 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 21 Oando PLC

4.65

1.1%

1.2%

-7.0%

-3.1%

14.3%

2.5%

2.1x

0.3x

22 Fidelity Bank PLC

1.85

1.6%

1.1%

-8.9%

-8.9%

12.7%

1.4%

2.2x

0.3x

15.3%

47.4%

23 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

1.22

3.4%

1.0%

-7.6%

-3.2%

19.3%

4.3%

4.6x

0.7x

2.5%

21.9%

24 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

14.00

1.8%

0.9%

-8.2%

-5.4%

22.3%

12.6%

7.0x

1.6x

7.9%

14.2%

26 FCMB Group Plc

1.80

-5.3%

0.6%

-4.8%

0.0%

8.8%

1.2%

2.3x

27 UAC of Nigeria PLC

7.00

1.4%

0.4%

-28.2%

-26.7%

-7.9%

-3.6%

25 Diamond Bank PLC

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ bearish as 4 of 5 ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ůŽƐƐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƵůƟŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌŽĮƚ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ

0.2x

7.6%

44.4%

0.3x

9.1%

-28.0%

43.7%

2.70

1.9%

0.8%

42.1%

42.1%

9.2%

0.8%

8.3x

0.8x

29 Presco PLC

58.00

0.0%

0.4%

-9.4%

-9.4%

37.0%

24.8%

2.3x

0.7x

3.6%

30 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

17.95

0.0%

0.4%

-0.3%

-0.3%

47.0%

17.5%

11.7x

4.2x

5.6%

31 Forte Oil PLC

34.95

0.0%

0.4%

21.8%

24.8%

48.9%

7.4%

28 Sterling Bank PLC

12.0%

2.7x

32 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

7.00

2.2%

GUARANTY (-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ͕ ACCESS (-Ϯ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ ZENITH (-Ϭ͘ϱйͿ

0.4%

25.0%

25.0%

6.0%

1.1%

12.2x

0.9x

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

24.90

0.0%

0.3%

23.9%

12.7%

31.5%

3.6%

4.6x

1.0x

8.3%

ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϰй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ

34 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

>/E< ^^hZ (-ϱ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ SOVRENIN (-ϴ͘ϬйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ Ă ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ DANGCEM (-ϭ͘ϭйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ DK /> (-ϭ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ : W h>K/> (-ϵ͘ϭйͿ ƉƵůůĞĚ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ ŐĂƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽǁĞƌ ďLJ ϮďƉƐ͘

E'&>KhZ ;нϴ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ DANGSUGAR ;нϭ͘ϴйͿ͘

9.00

0.0%

0.2%

-25.6%

-26.8%

0.8x

1.7%

0.0%

0.2%

-2.4%

-2.4%

80.4%

35.8%

11.5x

8.5x

7.9%

8.7%

0.73

1.4%

0.2%

15.9%

15.9%

7.3%

0.7%

7.6x

0.5x

4.1%

13.2%

37 Beta Glass PLC

68.95

10.0%

0.2%

1.0%

1.0%

21.1%

14.7%

6.4x

38 Dangote Flour Mills Plc

16.80

5.0%

0.4%

145.3%

154.5%

-3.2%

-0.9%

39 Transcorp Hotels Plc

5.40

0.0%

0.1%

-11.5%

-9.2%

6.0%

3.2%

40 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.85

0.0%

0.1%

1.1%

1.1%

10.7%

3.1%

36 Wema Bank PLC

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘Ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ d '> ^

ϵ͘ϭйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ZĞůĂƟǀĞ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚ /ŶĚĞdž ;Z^/Ϳ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^/ Ăƚ Ϯϴ͘ϰ – ďĞůŽǁ ƚŚĞ ŽǀĞƌƐŽůĚ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ – ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ƌĞďŽƵŶĚ

15.7% -6.7%

12.0x

0.7x

2.8%

8.1x

0.9x

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

B ET A GLA S

68.95

10.0%

UB A

59.7

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

0.63

6.8%

A C C ESS

46.4

-2.1%

4.10

5.1%

ST ER LN B A N K

40.3

1.9%

16.80

5.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

32.2

-0.5%

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

3.8%

N IGER IN S

0.21

5.0%

C OUR T VILLE

16.4

M B EN EF IT

0.23

4.5%

GUA R A N T Y

15.0

-2.1%

UN ION D A C

0.24

4.3%

UN ILEVER

13.2

0.0%

C OUR T VILLE

0.27

3.8%

LA SA C O

9.5

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

1.22

3.4%

J A P A ULOIL

9.1

-9.1%

C A D B UR Y

11.00

2.8%

FB NH

9.0

0.7%

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

GOLD IN SUR E

0.27

-10.0%

CHA M S

0.48

-9.4%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

661.7

-0.5%

GUA R A N T Y

494.4

-2.1%

J A P A ULOIL

0.30

-9.1%

UB A

409.0

0.0%

SOVR EN IN S

0.23

-8.0%

UN ILEVER

408.9

0.0%

A GLEVEN T

0.26

-7.1%

NB

394.5

-0.8%

ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞĂƌ ƚĞƌŵ͘ EĞǀĞƌƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ǁĞ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ƌƵůĞ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ

UN IT YB N K

0.75

-6.2%

A C C ESS

327.4

-2.1%

ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƐĞůů-ŽīƐ ŝŶ ƐƵďƐĞƋƵĞŶƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ

LIN KA SSUR E

0.48

-5.9%

ST ER LN B A N K

103.7

1.9%

FCM B

1.80

-5.3%

D A N GF LOUR

81.5

5.0%

0.25

-3.8%

N EST LE

80.3

0.0%

32.30

-2.1%

FB NH

67.5

0.7%

ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͘

R EGA LIN S GUA R A N T Y

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

8.3% 12.3%

P ric e C hg %

;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ >/s ^dK < ;нϲ͘ϴйͿ ĂŶĚ ETERNA ;нϱ͘ϭйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ 'K> /E^hZ (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ CHAMS (-ϵ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ : W h>K/> (-

1.9% 1.2%

P ric e

D A N GF LOUR

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

1.2x 2.4x

T ic k er

ET ER N A

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

8.2% 21.7%

34.00

35 Chemical and Allied Products P

KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ŶŽƌƚŚǁĂƌĚƐ͕ ŝŶĐŚŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϭй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ

8.5% -6.0%

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

43

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Investors Urged to Take Advantage of Low Prices of Equities Goddy Egene Investors have been urged to take advantage of low prices of equities in the Nigerian stock market so as to enjoy capital gain when the market rebounds soon. The equities market, which declined by over 17 per cent in 2018, has remained bearish, recording a year-to-date decline

of 7.8 per cent as at yesterday.

This development has led to significant fall in the prices of many stocks, which is an entry opportunity for investors.

Speaking yesterday at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) quarterly forum in Lagos, Professor of Finance & Capital Market, and Head,

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

Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Uche Joe Uwaleke called on investors to leverage the low prices of stocks and increase their stake ahead of the expected market rebound.

According to Uwaleke Nigerian stock market price earnings ratio (PE) ranks lower thnt established PE ratio index of established

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 07May-2019, unless otherwise stated.

global investment firms, therefore establishing greater room for growth.

Uwaleke, who spoke on:‘Stock market in the first quarter 2019 and post-election prospects” said that the Nigerian market which ranked as the world’s third most rewarding in 2017, before declining last year, was poised to enter into

another bullish period.

Highlighting the factors that would drive the market recovery as from the third quarter, he listed the swearing in of the President Muhammadu Buhari and early constitution of cabinet members, lowering Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), increase in minimum wage, increase in oil

price and continued stability in foreign exchange (FX).

Uwaleke also cited continued moderation in inflation, steady growth in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), early signing of 2019 budget and implementation, improved growth in the non-oil sector as other factors that would lead to a rebound in the stock market.

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 4.78% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 12.80% 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 13.17% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.29 2.31 3.03% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 98.50 99.19 -2.66% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.69% 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 13.92% Paramount Equity Fund 12.03 12.13 1.85% Women's Investment Fund 106.14 106.67 2.43% 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 12.79% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 100.46 100.92 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 100.04 100.74 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 11.89% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.85 0.85 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 5.55% 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 12.40% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.36% 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 1,177.55 1,178.37 5.54% FBN Heritage Fund 144.00 144.99 0.41% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.23% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.46 119.89 4.89% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.35 119.77 5.05% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 143.53 145.58 -4.31% 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 Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.28% Legacy Debt Fund 3.38 3.38 4.24% Legacy Equity Fund 1.15 1.17 -5.38% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 1.65% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.63% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 109.48 109.78 1.56% 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 12.54% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.16 2.18 0.47% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.12% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 129.71 129.80 3.79%

LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.16 1.18 1.45% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,092.88 1,092.88 4.72% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.13 11.22 -3.26% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.75% 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 3.43% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.36 11.42 2.18% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.30% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 121.48 121.97 0.59% 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 5.04% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,359.53 2,372.30 1.94% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 199.33 199.33 4.83% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.93 0.94 -1.58% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 253.32 253.35 2.49% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 159.33 161.05 -2.35% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.73% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,207.41 8,300.39 -3.35% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 -0.03% 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 1.18 1.19 -1.34% United Capital Bond Fund 1.68 1.68 5.34% United Capital Equity Fund 0.69 0.70 -2.62% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.00% United Capital Eurobond Fund 110.31 110.31 2.85% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.12 1.12 2.53% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.67 10.83 0.98% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.10 12.24 1.23% Zenith Income Fund 21.71 21.71 12.44% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.03%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A 120.54 52.31

N/A 2.39% 1.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.83 104.05 84.25

9.93 106.26 85.80

-6.77% -11.30% -4.99%

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

3.74 6.64 13.66 10.89 153.51

3.78 6.72 13.76 11.09 155.51

-6.42% -12.78% -8.60% -11.83% 6.90%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

106.90

17.40%

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.

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THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Ortom Urges National Assembly to Pass National Open-grazing Prohibition Law George Okoh in Makurdi The Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has called on the incoming ninth National Assembly to pass a National Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment bills as a way to stop the ongoing

Fulani herdsmen attacks from becoming a national barrier.

Ortom made this call while delivering the Maiden Public Lecture of the Professor Miriam Ikejiani Clark organised by the Political Science Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

CAN Urges FG to Release N30.8bn Outstanding Bailout to Kogi Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja The Kogi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the federal government to release the N30.8 billion balance of bailout fund to the state government to enable it to settle salaries, pensions, and gratuity.

Its chairman, John Ibenu, made the call during his acceptance speech in Lokoja, after his reelection to lead the body again.

“I want to make a special appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the outstanding balance of N30.8 billion bailout fund to enable the government meets its financial obligations to workers and pensioners.

“The payment will help to alleviate the sufferings of workers and pensioners and shore up economic activities in the state,” he said The Bishop, however, dismissed allegations that he was supporting and dining with the state government in spite of her inability to pay workers’ salaries and pensions.

“God is my witness; I have defrauded or oppressed no one.

We have tried our best and our conscience is clear.

“The government can also bear witness that we have conducted ourselves as a very responsible spiritual organisation.

“We do not claim to be perfect, but we try to do our best to keep a good conscience,” Ibenu said.

The Chairman thereafter led CAN members into a prayer session in which they begged God to heal, help and have mercy on Kogi, raising the state’s logo, flag, and emblem as the point of contact.

In his remarks, Governor Yahaya Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Ayoade, said that the government was trying her best to clear arrears of salaries of the state’s genuine workers.

Bello noted that N80 billion was initially applied for, from the bailout fund, but that only 50.8 billion was eventually approved by the federal government.

“Out of the N50.8 billion approved, only N20 billion has been released, leaving an outstanding balance of N30.8 billion. “The N20 billion was judiciously used to pay salaries and pensions of workers; N10 billion for state workers and the other N10 billion for local government workers.

“For the sake of clarity, I want to state that Kogi government owes between four to five months’ salary arrears of genuine workers, and not 30 months, as reported in some sections of the media,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Edward Onoja, had said that the governor had been able to erase inequality in governance by neutralising tribal and religious differences.

MultiChoice Calls for Entry into MTF Academy Esther Oluku MultiChoice has announced the call for entry into the second edition of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Academy.

The programme, which was launched in May 2018 as part of MultiChoice Africa’s corporate shared value (CSV) initiative and aimed at igniting Africa’s creative industry through TV and film-making has yesterday announced the much anticipated entry to all emerging filmmakers from 13 African countries.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, the organisers noted that the programme is open to candidates with industry experience or a relevant post-school qualification in filmmaking to hone their television and film production skills under the guidance and mentorship of industry experts.

According to the organisers, “only 60 students will be selected to be part of the year-long and fully funded programme at three academy hubs located in Southern Africa (Lusaka,

Zambia), East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) and West Africa (Lagos, Nigeria) headed by industry leaders Berry Lwando, NjokiMuhoho and Femi Odugbemi, respectively.

“As part of the programme, young film-makers would be provided with training and hands-on experience in the film industry with a focus on storytelling, production, audio, directing and other key areas. The academy also provide students with an opportunity to learn directly from well-known leading industry experts, work on live sets of local TV productions and create original content that will be aired on various local M-Net channels across the MultiChoice platforms– DStv, GOtv and Showmax.”

The organisers went further to state that beneficiaries of last year’s edition have gained immeasurable exposure into real-life industry practise which includes working on productions such as, Coke Studio, Pambio, Turn-Up and the popular Swahili telenovela, Selina.

The lecture was titled: ‘The challenges of mitigating herdsmen attacks on people of Nigeria: Lessons from Benue State’ According to the governor, the incoming ninth National Assembly must be challenged to pass the National Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment bills, stressing that any recommendation about opening cattle routes of the 1950s would not work because ‘on such routes, there are now built hospitals, airports, university campuses

and government secretariats.”

He also said the nomadic pastoralism is not an activity of this century, adding that courage and wisdom are needed by the National Assembly and political leadership to move Nigeria forward.

The governor also made it known that the problems of Fulani herdsmen attacks is not limited to the state or the Middle-Belt alone.

“Those who think that the problem of herdsmen is only that of the Benue Valley and Middle-Belt states should watch

out. It was first with Plateau State and southern Kaduna and then Taraba, Adamawa, Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, Delta, Cross River, Ekiti Ebonyi, Enugu, Zamfara, Katsina, Rivers, Ogun, Ondo and other states. It is spreading, and soon it will become an obvious national social and economic problem too difficult to contain,” he said.

Blaming the Nigerian police for failing to come to the rescue of the victims of the herdsmen attacks, Ortom hinted that the current police no longer work for Nigeria but for some people

in power.

He said: “I have learnt another lesson! The current Nigeria police are not really Nigeria police but the police of some people in power at the centre. I have had a lot of experience with many police commissioners as well as police officers sent to Benue State for assignments.

“All I can say is that we need state and local police at the local council areas beside the federal police; and not as a ‘police force’ but a ‘police service’.”

PROMOTING HEALTHCARE …

L-R: Immediate past president of Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH), Dr. Faye Iketubosin; President of Association AFRH, Dr. Ibrahim Wada; and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr, .Jide Idris, at the launching of the Guidelines for Assisted Reproductive Technology HandBook, held in Lagos...yesterday DAN UKANA

Ekiti Landlords Drag Benin Disco to Court over Alleged Arbitrary Billing Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State landlords’ association has sued the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for alleged overbilling and illegal disconnection of electricity in the state.

In an originating summon filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the landlords, under the auspices of Ado Ekiti Electricity Consumers’ Association, said the BEDC contravened the Electricity Reform Act of 2005, which recommended that all electricity consumers must be metered before two years of connection.

The suit was filed by the Chairman of the body, Dr. Ibukun

Ogundipe and four others.

Joined in the suit are the BEDC as a 1st defendant and National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as the 2nd defendant.

The plaintiffs through their lawyer, Isaac Omolade, prayed the court for an order of mandamus compelling the NERC to revoke BEDC operational licence for flouting the regulations.

They prayed the court to determine among other things, whether the BEDC going by the provision of sections 32, 80, 81,82 and 96, were empowered to impose arbitrary charge without deferring to NERC. The plaintiffs sought a

perpetual injunction restraining the BEDC from disconnecting or imposing monthly payment more than N3,100 as contained in their prayers and deposition.

They sought an order compelling the BEDC to pay the association a sum of N1million as general damages and another order compelling the distribution company to give prepaid meters to consumers.

They contended that having regards to sections 63 and 76 that NERC was empowered by the electricity Act to determine the amount to pay on electricity and that the BEDC must comply with the law.

They also said the court should nullify the arrears of electricity

owed by landlords in Ekiti as soon as they are metered, saying the charges were arbitrary and not done in tandem with the law.

When the matter came up for mentioning yesterday, the plaintiff’s lawyer, stated that the defendants have been served with all papers and that he expected them to appear in court.

“My Lord, upon filing our suit in court on March 28, we served the defendants all relevant papers.

We even filed counter affidavits to their replies on May 3.

“The constraint we have now is that their own country affidavits are hanging and they have not filed memoranda of appearance and all these will have effects on the proceeding.

Halogen Security Emerges Winner of OSPAs Sunday Okobi and Hamid Ayodeji Halogen Security Company Limited has been announced as the ‘Outstanding Contract Security Company in Nigeria for the year 2019 by Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs), a United Kingdom Independent Award scheme.

The Group Managing Director of Halogen Security Company Limited, Wale Olaoye, during the event which took place in

Lagos recently, stated that the award was a confirmation of Halogen Security Company’s operational model which he said was established on the pedestal of exceptional passion for professionalism, integrity and service excellence.

According to him, the company is very proud and delighted to have emerged the 2019 Outstanding Contract Security Company in the Nigerian market.

According to Olaoye, “This

unique award is another testimony to our commitment to continually redefine security practice and to provide cuttingedge enterprise security risk management solutions.

“We are particularly happy that the award is coming on the heels of our major transformation from being the regular security company to a more compact power house of comprehensive security solutions with six subsidiaries designed to explore new frontiers in security

risk management.

“We are vindicated by this award as it further gives credence to our avowed operational model which is hinged on the pedestal of exceptional passion for professionalism, integrity and service excellence.”

He also explained that the company’s workforce should be praised for being the super powers behind Halogen’s unending innovation, excellence in service and success.

THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSEXTRA

FG Drags IOCs to Appeal Court over Undeclared Crude Oil Shipments Davidson Iriekpen The federal government yesterday filed two appeals against the judgments of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissing the suits it filed against two International Oil Companies (IOCs), Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria, for under-declaring the volume of crude oil it shipped between January 2011 and December 2013.

Justice Olatoregun had earlier yesterday held that the federal government did not back its allegations against the oil companies with sufficient evidence.

But in the appeals, the federal government said the judge erred, saying it provided enough evidence to secure favourable judgment.

Counsel to the federal government, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), had commenced the suits against Agip and

Brasoil, among others, at the Federal High Court claiming that the oil companies had failed to fully declared crude oil shipments from Nigeria to the United States of America amounting to $55,000,000 and $54,890,000, respectively, during the period of 2011 to 2013.

It prayed the court to compel the oil firm to pay the $55 million with an annual interest of 21 per cent, as well as $55 million as exemplary damages.

During trial, the plaintiff called one witness and tendered three exhibits, while the defendant also called one witness and tendered 12 exhibits.

The federal government sued after a forensic analysis linking the decline in crude oil export and government revenue to the alleged under-declaration of volume of crude oil shipped out of the country by the oil companies.

Three United States-based experts – a US citizen and Lead Analyst at Loumos Group LLC, a technology and oil and

gas auditing firm based in the US, Prof. David Olowokere; a counsel in the law firm of Henchy & Hackenberg, Jerome Stanley, and founder and Chief Executive Officer, Trade Data Services Company, State of Arizona, US, Michael Kanko deposed to supporting affidavits to the suit.

According to them, millions of barrels of crude oil were allegedly exported by the defendants and sold to buyers in the US but the companies did not make due remittance to the federal government contrary to the terms of agreement.

Agip and Brasoil denied the allegations and urged the court

to dismiss the suit.

In her verdict yesterday, Justice Olatoregun held that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims. She held that there was no evidence that the crude oil the defendant lifted was more than what was declared.

According to her, it is trite and settled law that he who asserts must prove.

She held that the exhibits before her did not convincingly show a shortfall in the shipment of 949,096 barrels of crude oil lifted by a vessel, MT Cosmos.

“While I do not have any evidence to suggest that it is

impossible for the defendant to carry undeclared crude oil from Nigeria, I have no evidence to show that MT Cosmos carried the excess 500,000 barrels of crude oil with same bill of lading,” she held.

Justice Olatoregun added that the plaintiff failed to prove its case by supplying the requisite evidence, adding that the main purpose of final address is to assist the court.

“It is trite law that whoever asserts must prove that the facts exists. No amount of brilliant address can make up for a lack of evidence.

“The plaintiff failed to make out a case that 500,000 barrels

of crude oil was offloaded in Pennsylvania.

“The case of the plaintiff fails on the lack of proof on the preponderance of evidence.

“At this stage, I do not find it necessary to proceed with the evaluation of the other reliefs.

“I, therefore, proceed to make an order dismissing this suit; it is hereby dismissed,” the court held.

The court also dismissed a similar suit against Brasoil, seeking to recover $4.8million in alleged missing oil revenue.

Similar lawsuits against Total E&P Nigeria Plc and Chevron Nigeria Limited are pending before the court.

My Mission for Ninth Senate is Not Personal, Says Ndume Deji Elumoye in Abuja A former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has said that his ambition to be the Senate president of the ninth Senate is aimed at contributing to the development of the country at a higher level.

Ndume who spoke to journlists in Abuja yesterday declared that “my mission for the ninth Senate is not personal but is part of what we need to do for the progress of the polity of this country”.

According to him, the Senators-elect are supposed to decide who among them is to lead them “and that is taken care of by Section 50(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” He acknowledged that he is not the most qualified candidate for the position of Senate president.

“Let me quickly add that it is not to say that I think I am more qualified to be the Senate president. I am not better than them in any way. Most of them were born with silver spoons; I came from a very poor background. My father was not educated. I am the son of nobody that became somebody.

“I am a human being that has rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which I won’t compromise.

“Even before I threw my hat into the ring for the Senate president’s seat, my people called on me to go for the position.”

He attributed his vying for the coveted position to three reasons, including being eminently qualified and zoning of the position to North-east where he comes from “One, I feel I am qualified.

Two, I feel I should be given the chance. Three, the zoning was made to North-east deliberately because of the precarious situation that we find ourselves,” he explained.

According to him, the Boko

Haram insurgency has inflicted a loss of N9.2 trillion on the North-east and you need somebody who knows where it pinches.

“We in Borno State are in the epicentre of the Boko Haram destruction. So, it is not like what you will get from the Office of the Senate President but what you can do with it,” he added.

He said as Senate president in this country, “you will be able to globetrot around, and tell people how the problem is because you are in the heart of the problem. You know how it is and how it feels.

“So, if this opportunity is given to us, we have three critical issues in Borno State, particularly and the North-east in general.

“One is the issue of recharging of Lake Chad, which should be taken globally by somebody that knows it; somebody that can explain better to the people.

“Two, the issue of insurgency as I said, had inflicted a N9.2trillion damage on us. If we are to go by monthly federal allocation and the budget of the state, it will take us ages to recover.

“Right now, you can rightly say that Borno is a failed state.

And the only way to bring it back is to have a way. And part of it is because I know and my passion for it because it affects me directly.

“Right now as I am speaking to you, I cannot comfortably drive to my local government.

It has no light now because it is not connected. It has no telephone because the insurgents have destroyed the equipment.

The ecosystem is destroyed, our schools are closed.

“Secondly, I have been in this place for quite a while.

The Senate was intended to be a stabilising institution in the polity. When we came in, the senators were not doing much. I was in the House of Representatives then,” he explained.

SIGNED AND SEALED…

Chairman, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF),Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru (left), and President/CEO, US African Development Foundation (USADF), Mr. CD. Glin, at the signing ceremony of a $10 million partnership deal aimed at providing skills training, internship and entrepreneurship opportunities in Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Bandits Kill 82-year-old District Head in Sokoto The district head of Balle, Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Ibrahim Aliyu, has been killed by suspected bandits.

According to a source, the 82-year-old district head who was shot in the head, was met

lying in a pool of blood, reciting Kalmat before he finally died.

The member representing the area at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Faruk Balle, who confirmed the attack, said they were all shocked because Balle used to be the

most peaceful area in the state.

The late district head, who was survived by two wives, eight children and many grand children, had been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

Efforts to contact Sokoto State Command Police Public

Relations Officer, Muhammad Sadiq, was futile as he was not responding to calls.

Balle is the headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which had been peaceful before yesterday attack.

Yoruba Group Cautions el-Rufai over Attacks against Tinubu Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta A pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Omoluwabi Movement, has berated the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent verbal attacks on the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued to journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the state chapter of the group, Miss Idowu Ogundola, it described the recent report credited to Elrufai on ‘ending godfatherism in Lagos’ as a mere “idle talk of a

frustrated political expansionist.”

According to the Southwest group, El-rufai should not be taken seriously as he is a well-known “genuflecting opportunist, who will do anything, especially his renowned genuflecting prowess, to achieve his ulterior motive, and who will abandon his benefactor immediately he achieves his pecuniary aim.

“Our attention has been drawn to the reported remarks of the governor of Kaduna State on ‘ending godfatherism in Lagos’. We therefore urge all well-meaning Omoluwabi to disregard the comment as a “circumstantial idle talk at a

dinner by an evasive governor, who realising his inability to give good account of his crisisridden governance of his state, chose to launch an indirect and uncultured attack on an iconic Omoluwabi and pillar of democracy and progressive politics in Africa. It is a divisive and diversionary attempt to escape from giving account on his turbulent and most controversial administration in the annals of Kaduna State.”

The group added: “It is on record that El-rufai has moved from one god-father to the other; from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and now President Muhammadu

Buhari. As soon as he gets what he wants, he moves on to the next milk-shop. He succeeded in his renowned opportunism because only a stone-hearted man will not want to listen to a genuflecting-midget.”

“We wish to join in warning President Buhari to be wary of the man with a gargantuan ambition and to call him to order. His outburst is understandable as his political expansionist voyage of imposing his bookkeeper on the people of Ogun State was checkmated by the members of the APC in Ogun State at the party governorship primary held last year.”

46

THURSDAY MAY 9, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 08111813083

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Tottenham’s Injury-time Goal Sets up All-English Final Lucas Moura scored a dramatic 96th-minute winner to cap an astonishing Tottenham fight-back against Ajax last night and set up an all-English UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool next month.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Spurs made the worst possible

start in Amsterdam when a towering fifth-minute header by 19-year-old Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt doubled the advantage for Erik ten Hag’s exciting young side.

Tottenham hit the post through Son Heung-min before Hakim Ziyech doubled Ajax’s lead

on the night with a sweeping finish after an assist by former Southampton winger Dusan Tadic.

That left Spurs 3-0 behind on aggregate yet, in another pulsating semi-final, Mauricio

Pochettino’s side scored twice within five minutes in the second half.

Moura reduced the deficit with a composed finish before the Brazilian’s shot on the turn levelled the scores 2-2 on the

night and left Spurs requiring one goal to reach the final in Madrid on 1 June.

In a frantic finish, Vertonghen headed against the bar before Moura completed his hat-trick from 16 yards deep into stoppage

time on a famous night for Spurs to qualify on the away goal rule.

EUROPA (Tonight @8pm ) Chelsea v E’Frankfurt Valencia v Arsenal

PFA to Protest Racist Tweets on Iheanacho Racist abuse towards Kelechi Iheanacho that was allowed to stay on Twitter for more than 12 hours will be included in a dossier the Professional Footballers’ Association is going to present to social media bosses this month.

Leicester striker Iheanacho was subjected to vile abuse following his late miss against his former club Manchester City, whose 1-0 win left them in pole position for the Premier League title.

Several racist messages were posted between 9.45pm and 10pm and they remained online on Tuesday night, with Twitter having not removed them.

One branding the Nigeria international a ‘f***ing n*****’ had attracted more than 150 retweets and likes.

The PFA is aware and will be raising the comments when they sit down with social media companies at a scheduled meeting to discuss online racism.

The players’ union wants to outline the severity of the issue, while they will also present a collection of racist messages that have been sent to Sports Minister Mims Davies.

It was abuse such as that directed to Iheanacho after Monday night’s match which prompted Premier League players to stage a 24-hour

social media boycott last month.

That campaign, led by the PFA and under the hashtag #Enough, aimed to bring players together to demand social media companies such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram do more to tackle the problem.

It was supported throughout football, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Tottenham’s Dele Alli, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Arsenal’s PierreEmerick Aubameyang among those who backed the protest.

A Twitter spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons. Our abusive behaviour policy strictly prohibits any attempts to harass, intimidate or silence another person’s voice and we take strong enforcement action where violations are found.

“The health of the conversation online is our singular priority. To reach this, we’ve introduced more than 30 changes in the last 18 months to achieve a healthier Twitter.

“We are now suspending 3 times more abusive accounts within 24 hours of receiving a report compared to this time last year. We’ll continue building on this progress, improving our action rates and ensuring the health of the conversation is prioritised.”

NDDC Plans Big for Sports, Focuses on Facilities Devt The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is planning big for sports, if the vision of the commission’s acting Chairman Prof. Nelson Braimbraifa is anything to go by.

A competent NDDC source disclosed early this week that Braimbraifa, a lover of sports has identified the need to use sports to woo Niger Delta youths and harness their sports potentials.

According to sources within the commission, the NDDC boss is coming up with a blueprint for sports with special focus on putting in place state of the art sports facilities in most Niger Delta communities.

“The whole idea he (the acting chairman) is coming up with is to lay a solid foundation for sports in the region. He wants to do it by putting in place sports infrastructures in all the nooks and crannies of the region. “Communities and neighborhoods would have recreational sports centres where the youths can go and train.

“That way, the youths can engage in sports rather than idle away. This is a new direction that

would see NDDC using sports to combat youth restiveness,” the source hinted. He stressed that NDDC has over the years been doing a good job in the area of road construction, provision of water and electricity to communities without paying much attention to sports.

“Sports is going to receive good attention moving forward given the new blueprint the NDDC leadership is working on and they intend to get an expert who understands the sports terrain, especially in the area of sports facilities to partner it,” the informed source concluded.

Prof. Nelson Braimbraifa Acting Chairman of NDDC

Lucas Moura (2nd right) and his teammates celebrating the great comeback and the away goal edge to reach the Champions League final

ICPC Denies ‘Chief Legal Officer’ Prosecuting NFF Officials Against a backdrop of allegations of financial misdemeanor leveled against the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the man who described himself as the “Chief Legal Officer” of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and filed the case has been denied as not authorized to do so.

Online newspaper, TheCable, reported last night that Celsus Ukpong who filed the suit no.

FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019 on Tuesday on behalf of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, charging five NFF officials before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court with over 17 allegations bordering on corruption, one of which was “failing to declare assets before the Special Presidential Investigative Panel and Recovery (SPIP)” did not have the mandate of the anti-graft agency to do so.

TheCable contacted ICPC on Wednesday to confirm if Ukpong was acting on behalf of

the anti-graft agency but Rasheedat Okoduwa, the spokesperson, flatly denied it.

“Mr. Ukpong is not prosecuting NFF on behalf of ICPC. The commission has withdrawn him from the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP). The secretary to the government of the federation in a letter dated 14 February 2019 directed the chairman of SPIP to release him immediately,” she told TheCable.

Okoi Obono-Obla is the chairman of the SPIP. On Tuesday, SPIP, acting on behalf of the federal government, alleged that NFF official misappropriated $8.4 million belonging to the federation. The money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The accused persons are Amaju Pinnick (NFF president), Seyi Akinwunmi, 1st vice president, Shehu Dikko, 2nd vice president,

Mohammed Sanusi, general secretary and Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, NFF executive member.

The defendants were also accused of “moving the cash” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the federation. They have all denied the allegations.

Earlier, a statement from the Glass House in Abuja signed by Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the NFF, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, had described the charges filed against its leadership as not emanate from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The orchestrated media blitz about the existence of such charges is nothing but the desperate and malicious efforts of the Chief Okoi Obono-Obla led Special Presidential Investigative Panel (SPIP) to lend itself as an instrument of cheap blackmail in the fight for the political leadership of NFF. “Currently pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja

is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/17/2019 filed by NFF against SPIP and 3 others, including Chief ObonoObla himself. NFF in the suit is challenging the competence of SPIP under the law to purport to investigate or prosecute NFF or its leadership,” observed the NFF statement.

It clarified that when the matter came up for hearing on April 20, 2019, Barrister Celsus Ukpong, the lawyer representing SPIP wrote a letter applying for an adjournment of the matter, as he could not appear in court for official reasons. The suit was accordingly adjourned to May 13, 2019 for definite hearing.

“It is an issue that must befuddle the mind and be of great concern to all Nigerians that the same SPIP should, against the foregoing background then proceed to allegedly file charges in the name of the FGN before the same Federal High Court while the pending suit filed by NFF against it is yet to be determined.

NPFL: Rivers Utd End Enyimba’s 12-match Unbeaten Run Ossy Martins struck early as an impressive Rivers United side snapped Enyimba’s 12-match unbeaten run in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) yesterday with a richly deserved 1-0 victory.

United could have won more handsomely but for some impressive goalkeeping heroics by the Enyimba goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai who produced a stunning double save late on to keep the score respectable.

The win at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt keeps

United in the hunt for a playoff ticket as they now sit just two points behind the third placed MFM FC who have amassed 28 points from 18 matches.

Group A leaders Enugu Rangers ended a run of three games without a win by edging out hard fighting Kwara United 1-0 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe, Enugu.

Felix Ogbuke netted the winner for the Flying Antelopes 10 minutes from time.

In another Matchday-18 encounter, MFM forced their hosts Wikki Tourists to a 1-1

draw in Bauchi.

Wikki Tourists took the lead five minutes before the break through Franklin Anthony, while Joshua Abbah equalised for the visitors 15 minutes from time.

In Minna, Salib Dosso scored the winning goal 11 minutes from time as Niger Tornadoes defeated Katsina United.

Akwa United maintained top spot in Group B courtesy of 1-0 away win against Go Round FC in Omoku, Rivers State.

Godspower Aniefiok netted the winner for the Promise Keepers deep into stoppage time.

Plateau United boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 win against Gombe United in Jos. Sikiru Olatunbosun and Bernard Ovoke were on target for the Jos club in the game.

The encounter between Yobe Desert Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors in Damaturu ended in a goalless draw.

RESULTS Rivers Rangers Tornadoes Go-Round Plateau

1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 2-0

Enyimba Kwara Katsina Akwa Gombe

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MISSILE Emir Usman to Audu Ogbeh “Every day I receive reports of kidnapping and killings from district and village heads. I have not seen this kind of country; how do we live like animals?... Many people have deserted, abandoned their farms in fear of kidnapping and killings and other atrocities” – The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, asking the Minister of Agriculture to inform President Muhammadu Buhari that incessant kidnapping and killings have combined to make Nigeria unsafe.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Of Government and Budget Blues THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

L

ast Sunday in Kano, a city where millions of young people are neither in school nor meaningfully engaged, an official wedding was organised for 1,500 couples at the cost of N300 million by the state government.

“The beneficiaries were selected from each of the 44 LGAs of the state by the committee shouldered with the responsibilities of selecting and screening eligible beneficiaries,” said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who explained that part of the N300 million was spent on providing complete sets of beds, side mirrors, wardrobes and mattresses presented to the couples as gifts.

As depressing as one may find the development, it is symptomatic of what government has been reduced to in Nigeria and it also explains how the culture of entitlement has been institutionalized.

Now, if you help a man to marry, who is going to take care of the family? When children come, how do they go to school?

What about their health and other social needs? How does government justify its tax drive if the hard-earned contributions of some citizens would be given to others to marry wives? As wasteful as some of us find the idea of subsidy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, how can anybody in good conscience now campaign for its removal if these are the kinds of expenditure it would fund?

While so many questions beg for answers, I fail to understand the motivation behind this crazy idea beyond cheap politics that can only appeal to the mob. Sadly, in the same Kano on Tuesday, the State House of Assembly passed the ‘Pensions Rights of Speaker and Deputy Law 2019’ bill which grants life pensions in jumbo sums of money as well as foreign medical trips and new vehicles every four years, to speakers and their deputies after they leave the office.

It is believed to be part of the deal struck with the governor last year to stave off his impeachment, following the dollar-bribe video scandal. Not content with looting public resources while in office, elected public officials in both the executive and legislative arms of government are legislating public money to take care of their future.

Last week in Lagos, Pastor Poju Oyemade of the Covenant Christian Centre and his wife, Toyin hosted the May edition of ‘Platform Nigeria’ with the theme, ‘The drivers, Enablers and obstacles to our Growth’. The tone for the conversation was set by my sister, Ndidi Nwuneli who spoke to the growing hunger in Nigeria amid vast opportunities. I addressed the peril of petrodollars and how we can harness the enormous potentials in the country for the greater good of our people. In illustrating my intervention with an imaginary cow that had created a dependency syndrome and a culture of waste, I argued that if we continue on the current trajectory, there is no way Nigeria would not at some point crash. Now we have come to the point where political office holders are awarding themselves scandalous pensions schemes after spending four years in office, basically serving themselves.

This cynical disposition to public office in

Budget and Planning Minister, Udo Udoma promotion of private interest accounts for the desperation and killings during elections.

But those are issues for another day. What I want to deal with today is the budgeting process which highlights the challenge we face in Nigeria. The senate has passed the 2019 appropriation bill after jerking it up from the N8.83 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to N8.916 trillion, essentially to accommodate the severance benefits of outgoing lawmakers and their aides. We are waiting for the House of Representatives for their own version, may be with other adds-on!

Ordinarily, the national budget is the financial plan of a country with some of the major objectives being to reduce inequalities by mobilising and allocating resources for investment in the public sector.

But when a budget is reduced to sharing money between and among powerful interests, how can a society develop? It is little surprise that the most compelling argument for restructuring is that the current arrangement, which encourages bad behavior at practically all levels, is not sustainable.

That point was also eloquently made by Mr ‘Laolu Samuel-Biyi in his very revealing Twitter thread, https://threadreaderapp. com/thread/1125199032756908032.html, where he wrote, “If you want to keep hope alive in Nigeria, don’t look at the budget”. I canvassed this same point in the past based on personal experience in my column of 28th November, 2013 titled, ‘The Fallacy of Budget Performance’ and I believe it is worth repeating: ================================ It was just about three weeks after I assumed office as spokesman to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007 when I received a memo from the office of the permanent secretary, State House, seeking the input of my department for the 2008 budget that was under preparation.

Because both the deputy director and the assistant director for Information in my office were people I knew way back from my days as correspondent at the villa, I

always deferred to their experience and wise counsel. For that reason, it was easy for me to learn very fast about how government works. The explanation for the memo was that I had the power to initiate project(s) that would be accommodated in the national budget.

At that period, I really had no idea as to what my budgetary input should be and it took two other reminder memos for me to come up with one. Having been in Katsina with the president about two or three times by then, the idea I had was to build a presidential media centre in the state capital so that in the event that we were there and the president needed to broadcast, we would not have to rush back to Abuja. I left the details for the project and subsequent follow up with the State House budget office to my staff and I forgot about it. But several months later in May 2008, I received a visitor in my office who turned out to be a contractor.

His mission was simple: he came to see how he could handle the building of the presidential media centre in Katsina that was already in the 2008 Appropriation Act under my department!

My discussion with the contractor was as interesting as it was sad for it revealed a lot not only about the management of public expenditure but also about what we call budget in our country. By then, it had dawned on me that for some inexplicable reasons, the late president preferred returning back to Abuja same day whenever we went to Katsina. Only on rare occasions did we spend more than a day. Besides, I was dealing with a principal who actually hated making any broadcast. So at the end, I decided that I was no longer going to build the presidential media centre in Katsina even though there was monetary provision for it in the budget. There was no way I was going to build what would amount to a wasteful monument.

Perhaps because of that experience, I paid more attention to the “envelope system” on which our annual national budget revolves and I learnt several lessons as to why it is difficult for our nation to develop based on the culture of waste that we have institutionalized. For instance, if I wanted to be really creative, I could have proposed “the first annual conference of African presidential spokesmen” to be hosted by Nigeria (you find many of such conferences in the budget) and in that case, I would have to buy vehicles and other things. Indeed, our annual budget is a study in purchases that do not advance the cause of the economy.

Or I could actually locate the presidential media centre in my village in Kwara State and say it would be for the training of journalists who cover the State House!

In Nigeria, you can rationalise anything but how can a country develop with such kind of official chicanery?

I have said it before and I will say it again, the current regime of “envelope system” which essentially means that we simply determine spending categories, i.e.

Presidency, Education, Defense, Agriculture, Health etc, rather than spending priorities, cannot serve our nation. As I argued last year (2012), this method, which suits both the executive and the legislature, not only promotes waste but also undermines rigour and strategic thinking. Everybody is made to spend something without accepting responsibility for whether it would make any meaningful impact in the financial year, while projects requiring much higher levels of capital outlay are underfunded.

With a constitution that prescribes that a minister must come from each of the 36 states and Abuja, resource allocation has already been made to resemble a distribution of spoils. That also explains why our annual budget has become a mere aggregation of individual wishes rather than a collective plan for an integrated whole.

On BRI and Road Ahead Tony Ejinkeonye

Dear Segun, thank you for your very revealing piece on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is China’s way of creating an alternative economic bloc from that of the west. Africa and indeed the rest of the world ultimately benefits when there is a choice between two extreme alternatives. The world enjoyed relative peace during the cold war for the fact that two great nations were in conflict with each other. Competition breeds efficiency. I agree with you completely that within the framework of the BRI, a country with purposeful leadership and defined goals have so much to benefit. I have been involved with the BRI since inception through the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) and instrumental to chambers of commerce in Nigeria registration with them.

At all times in my private and public discourse with the Chinese, the emphasis

has always been on doing business on a win - win basis. But like every business or nation, you don’t get what you deserve but rather what you negotiate. There is no free lunch anywhere. Western nations ate our breakfast. Eastern nations are now eating our lunch. Nigeria and Africa need to ensure that they don’t also eat our dinner.

I have made it clear on many fora that Nigeria needs to bring in experts and professionals during negotiations and not just government bureaucrats.

Every country has its own ground rules for business but it seems that when it comes to foreigners, we ‘forget’ to do the needful and instead of blaming our regulators, we turn around to blame the Chinese for every woe, both real and imagined. The lesson: We must up our game in every aspect to match with the best in the world. t &KJOLFPOZF JT #VTJOFTT %FWFMPQNFOU %JSFDUPS "GSJDB &TJMLOFU /FUXPSL BOE /BUJPOBM 7JDF 1SFTJEFOU /"$$*."

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