FRIDAY 10TH MAY 2019

Adeleke, PDP Head to S’Court as Oyetola Wins Appeal PDP asks Bulkachuwa to recuse self over alleged bias Alex Enumah and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday set aside the majority decision of the Osun

State Election Petition Tribunal, which nullified the election of Osun State Governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, and returned candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola

Adeleke, as lawful winner of the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State.

But Adeleke and the PDP yesterday said they would test the appellate court’s verdict at

the Supreme Court, assuring their supporters that victory would be retrieved at the apex court.

The appellate court in a majority judgment of four to one, nullified the majority

judgment of the tribunal delivered by Justice Peter Obiorah on the grounds that he (Obiorah) in his judgment relied on the evidence of two witnesses, which he did not observe.

The appellate court in the majority judgment delivered by the presiding judge, Justice Jummai Sankey, declared the decision of the tribunal, which Continued on page 7

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Analysts Foresee Stability as Buhari Reappoints Emefiele President seeks Senate confirmation in his first second term appointment which goes to the Niger Delta Bondholders, investors see comfort in his reappointment Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Obinna Chima in Lagos The reappointment of Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for a final term of five years

by President Muhammadu Buhari, would bring stability to the nation’s financial system, analysts told THISDAY last

night, saying it is a positive development for the economy and good politics.

By choosing a South-South/ Niger Delta person in his first action, Buhari had sent a signal of inclusiveness, political leaders tell THISDAY. The markets responded Continued on page 8

The Men before Emefiele ROY PENTELOW FENTON (24/7/1958 – 24/7/1963)

ALHAJI ABDULKADIR AHMED (28/6/1982 – 30/9/1993

DR. PAUL OGWUMA ALHAJI ALIYU MAI-BORNU (25/7/1963 – 22/6/1967) (1/10/1993 – 29/5/1999) DR. CLEMENT NYONG ISONG (15/8/1967 – 22/9/1975)

CHIEF JOSEPH SANUSI (29/5/1999 – 29/5/2004)

MALLAM ADAMU CIROMA (24/9/1975 – 28/6/1977)

PROF. CHUKWUMA SOLUDO (29/5/2004 – 29/5/2009)

MR. OLA VINCENT (28/6/1977 – 28/6/1982)

MALLAM SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI (3/6/2009 - 2/6/2014)

HISTORY BECKONS… Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, reappointed for a record second term by President Muhammadu Buhari… yesterday

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Sit up, Buhari Tells Security Chiefs Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja instructed the security chiefs to be alive to their responsibilities and allow Nigerians sleep with their two eyes closed.

Buhari gave the directive during a meeting with service chiefs, including the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), and the National Security Adviser, Major-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), in the State House.

The president's meeting with the service chiefs yesterday was the second in the last 48 hours.

Answering questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, said Buhari directed them to ensure that Nigerians go to bed without any fear and wake up being confident that their security is guaranteed.

According to him, they met with the president to brief him on security situation at home while he was away on private vacation in London particularly

on issues bordering on proliferation of arms.

He said: "It was just basically to apprise Mr. President of the security situation generally after his short vacation abroad.

"The security agencies briefed him on what has been happening with particular emphasis on the proliferation of small arms and what the various agencies are doing to curtail the consequences of this proliferation.

"He has also given directives that the agencies should do much more to ensure that Nigerians go to bed and

wake up feeling healthy and confident that their security is guaranteed."

Ibas claimed that security situation in the country had improved especially on issues of kidnapping.

The Naval boss also claimed that the reduction in the rate of kidnapping was the fallout of the directive earlier given by the president to the IGP, and the consequent launch of Operation Puff Adder.

He said: "You will recall during the last meeting, the IG was directed to ensure action and consequently various operations were set

up. Puff Adder was one of the strategies. With the set up of that operation, there has been a remarkable drop in the number of kidnappings.

"What normally would attract attention is when a key person in government perhaps is kidnapped. On the whole, the number of kidnappings has dropped and generally, I think the security situation is improving."

On the kidnap of the District Head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar, the naval chief disclosed that key suspects in the kidnap had been arrested and would be charged to court soon.

"Serious efforts are being made, key suspects have been arrested and it is hoped that in a short while, those behind the heinous crime will be brought to book," he added.

The victim, who was kidnapped in front of his house on May 1, is however yet to be freed.

Others at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique, was represented by one of his subordinates.

candidate, Atiku Abubakar, against the outcome of the 2019 presidential election.

The PDP's protest against the involvement of Justice Bulkachuwa, who doubles as the President of the Court of Appeal, is coming barely 24 hours after the panel led

by Justice bulkachuwa, held its inuagural session on Wednesday.

The party in a letter to the Court of Appeal President dated May 9 and signed by the National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, and the party's National Secretary, Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, said going by the utterances of Justice Bulkachuwa at the inaugural session on Wednesday, the party is certain that justice would not be served at the end of the day, if Justice Bulkachuwa remains a member of the panel.

According to the PDP, Justice Bulkachuwa in her opening speech had said that no matter how well an election was conducted, there are bound to be complaints, a statement the main opposition party was a signal that Justice Bulkachuwa had already formed her opinion of the trial even before it commenced.

"My Lord, in your address at the opening of the prehearing today (Wednesday), you made some remarks that are both frightening and heartwarming. For instance in your opening paragraph you said: Elections are held in Nigeria every four years into elective positions. No matter how well the election is conducted there are bound to be complaints.

"This remark rocked our confidence in a panel led by Your Lordship to determine our fate in an election, which could be one of the ones that were very well “conducted’ in Your Lordship's opinion.

"The question then is how can three petitioners convince Your Lordship otherwise over an election, which in Your Lordship’s opinion, was very well conducted?�

The party further submitted that Justice Bulkachuwa ought not to have been a member of the panel at all knowing fully well that members of her family, including her husband are all member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in the petition.

"On March 7, 2019, when our ex parte application in suite No. CA/A/P/ EPT/1/2019, seeking the leave and the order of this Honorable Court for us to

inspect polling materials in the custody of the lst Respondent (INEC) used for the election of March 23, 2019, came up, it was heard by a panel of this Honorable Court led by His Lordship, Hon Justice Abdul Aboki. We did not complain as there was no reason for us to do so.

"However, we were totally nonplussed, jolted and extremely surprised today, May 8, 2019, when Your Lordship sat and presided over the five-man panel of the court, which conducted the opening of the pre-hearing session in our petition. We were surprised that Your Lordship, could choose to be part of the panel talk less of presiding over the petition, which is between our party, the PDP and the APC, a party which members of your family, especially, your dear husband, are very active members,� the letter read.

According to the PDP, it is a known fact that Justice Bulkachuwa's husband, Hon. Adamu Mohammed Bulkachuwa, contested the February 23, 2019 election for the position of a Senator in Bauchi North senatorial district and won same on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party said the information was not just in the public domain but has dominated both the public and private discussions to the extent that it has become a sore source of worry not just to members of the PDP but to the generality of Nigerians.

The party said the worry arose from the very unique and critical position of the office of the President of the Court of Appeal, which is saddled with the sacred responsibility of hearing petition arising from the presidential election.

"This fear was palpable enough just with you as the President of the Court of Appeal but has now been worsened and compounded by the discovery that you have decided to appoint yourself as the Chairman of the Panel to hear the petition,� the PDP added.

The PDP however, reminded Justice Bulkachuwa to be guided by her own words when she said, “Justice demands that judges who will sit in the panel of a tribunal be divested from all forms of bias,� and accordingly do the needful.

"We are reasoning that armed with this golden rule of justice and fair hearing and

given your direct intimacy through your dear husband, with the APC, one of the parties in this election petition, Your Lordship would have exercised your constitutional right and powers guardedly, judiciously and judicially, by excluding yourself from the panel of this Honourable Court sitting over this particular petition.

"This is the only way you could have divested yourself from all forms of bias and be seen to be fair, both to yourself, our party that is contesting against your husband's party in this petition, and indeed, all Nigerians, who are keenly interested in the just, transparently impartial and unbiased determination of this petition over an election, which outcome obviously did not respect their wishes as expressed through their votes.

"It is based on the above premises, therefore, that we are constrained to respectfully request Your Lordship to recuse yourself from presiding over and/or sitting as a member of the panel hearing the instant petition as it would be impossible for Your Lordship to convince any reasonable man that your dear husband never discussed this petition, which he is patently interested in its outcome with you, throughout the trial.

"This is so because Justice must not only be done but it must be manifestly seen to be done,� PDP added.

ADELEKE, PDP HEAD TO S’COURT AS OYETOLA WINS APPEAL sacked Oyetola as governor, a nullity and consequently set aside the entire proceedings of the tribunal.

The tribunal upheld the submission of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that the petition was incompetent from the beginning and that it was the tribunal itself that amended it and granted the reliefs not sought by Adeleke.

Justice Sankey noted that the Court of Appeal ordinarily having set aside the entire proceedings of the tribunal ought to order a retrial of the case, however, the appellate court could not order a retrial because the 180 days provided by the law for election petition has elapsed.

However, the 5th member of the panel, Justice George Mbaba, in a dissenting judgment dismissed the appeal and upheld the decision of the tribunal.

Justice Mbaba, held that the submission of the appellant that Justice Obiorah did not participate in the proceedings of February 6, 2019 remains speculative, contentious and one that can only be resolved by means of an affidavit and calling of witnesses.

He argued that if the records of the proceedings of February 6, opened with the statement that the full panel sat, the fact that he did not sign the proceedings cannot be enough to conclude that he did not participate in the day's proceedings.

Mbaba further noted that the issue of sabotage cannot be ruled out as the records were transmitted by court's registrar.

He consequently, dismissed the appeal and upheld the majority decision of the tribunal, which sacked Oyetola and returned Adeleke as governor. Mbaba further awarded cost of N200, 000 against Oyetola.

In another appeal filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which was upheld by a majority of four to one, Justice Mbaba, who delivered the dissenting judgment came down heavily on the electoral umpire for its failure to leave up to expectations in the conduct of the election.

Mbaba held that INEC, which did not call witness at the tribunal or tendered any document surprisingly came to the Appeal Court to file an appeal and even went ahead to claim that Adeleke and PDP cannot challenge the September 27, rerun election on the grounds

that they have waived their rights by participating in the said election.

According to him no serious party would boycott any rerun election, when a final declaration had not been made, adding that INEC acted dubiously in the rerun election.

He said: "INEC acted dubiously in the way it handled the rerun election.

INEC should not have been put in the dock if it has done the right thing at the rerun election and when INEC was in the dock it shied away without filing any argument.

On the cancellation of results in 17 polling units, Justice Mbaba held that the cancellation was deliberate because INEC returning Officer has no power to do the cancellation. "It is the presiding Officer that has the power to cancel results if need be."

Other members of the panel include justices Abubakar Yahaya, Isaiah Akeju and Bitrus Sanga.

Meanwhile, counsel to Adeleke and the PDP, Chief Nathaniel Oke (SAN) said his clients would appeal the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Oke, who spoke to journalists outside the court, said the judgment of the Court of Appeal is not final and that they will definitely go to the highest court in the country to get justice.

The Court of Appeal had on April 24 reserved judgment in the four appeals filed against the judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal.

The five-man panel of justices of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Jummai Sankey, had reserved judgment shortly after counsel to the parties adopted and argued their briefs of argument in the various suits.

The first suit with number CA/A/EPT/246/2019, which was filed by Osun State Governor, Oyetola, has candidate of the PDP in the Osun governorship election, Senator Adeleke, the PDP, the INEC and the APC as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

The second with number CA/A/EPT/256/2019, filed by the APC has Adeleke, PDP, INEC and Oyetola as 1st to 4th respondents.

While the third appeal filed by INEC and marked: CA/A/EPT/259/2019, has Adeleke, PDP, Oyetola and APC as respondents, the

fourth marked: CA/A/ EPT/295/2019, filed by Adeleke has Oyetola, APC and INEC as respondents.

The first three appeals challenged the majority judgment of the tribunal, while the fourth which is a cross appeal sought to upturn the dissenting and minority judgment of the tribunal.

Meanwhile, the PDP has assured its candidate in the Osun state governorship election, Adeleke, that it will retrieve the stolen governorship mandate at the Supreme court.

The party insisted that there is no way the will of the people, which they openly expressed in voting for Adeleke would be allowed to be lost.

The party in a statement Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the fact that the Court of Appeal had a split judgment indicates that justice was not fully served at the appellate court.

He stated: “The party says it is not in any way shaken by the judgment of the Court of Appeal, but stands with Nigerians in the confidence that justice and respect for the will of the people of Osun State will definitely prevail at the Supreme Court. “It is instructive to state that the Court of Appeal did not contest or invalidate the fact that Senator Adeleke won the election but only cited technicalities and speculations to arrive at its decision.�

The party also noted that the Court of Appeal failed to act on the full and substantial import of the failure of the INEC to produce the ballot papers and record of accreditation to disprove the party’s position that INEC altered results and subverted the will of the people of Osun State. “Our party and candidate are, therefore, confident that the Supreme Court will look at the merit of the matter and ensure that justice is served by recognising Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor,� he added.

PDP Asks Bulkachuwa to Recuse Self over Alleged Bias Meanwhile the PDP yesterday asked the Chairman of the five-member Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to recuse herself from hearing its petition and that of its presidential

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NEWS ANALYSTS FORESEE STABILITY AS BUHARI REAPPOINTS EMEFIELE positively to the news of Emefiele's appointment.

First in London, at a Standard Chartered Conference where the governor was addressing investors as well as in the Foreign Exchange I&E Window which saw increase inflows and a Naira gain yesterday afternoon after the announcement.

The I&E Window began trading yesterday at N362 to a dollar and ended N360.7 to a dollar at the close of business last night.

Bringing the I&E Window in parity with the parallel market.

First appointed in 2014 by President Goodluck Jonathan, Emefiele got a historic second term yesterday when Buhari forwarded his name to the Senate for confirmation.

He would be the first governor of the apex bank to be so reappointed in 20 years.

The president, in a letter dated May 8, 2019 and titled 'Renewal of the appointment of Godwin I. Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,' read at plenary yesterday by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, requested the upper chamber of the National Assembly to confirm the re-appointment for another term of five years.

The letter read: "In view of his expiration of the first tenure of the current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on June 2, 2019, and in pursuant to the provisions of Section 81 (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, I hereby present for confirmation by the Senate, Mr. Godwin I Emefiele for re-appointment as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a final term of five years.

"It is my hope that this distinguished Senate will consider and confirm the nominee in the usual expeditious manner.

"Please accept, Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration."

With the reading of the letter at yesterday's plenary, the Senate at its next legislative sitting on Tuesday may fix a particular date to screen and possibly confirm Emefiele.

Speaking in a chat with THISDAY, an analyst at Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ezun, said the reappointment will be positive for the financial system.

According to him, “For the naira, I do not expect a major shift. The possibility of devaluation is nil as I don’t think there will be devaluation in his second term if approved by the Senate. “But what I see that the central bank will continue to do is to be intervening in the market to keep the naira around N360/$ and hopefully there would be the capacity to have a single exchange rate, instead of the multiple exchange rate regime we have presently. “On interest rate, I don’t think there will be any major shift in the monetary policy direction. In the last Monetary Policy Committee, we saw a 50 basis cut. Do I expect a further cut? Yes, but how soon? I can’t say so soon, but we expect that

there would be a gradual drop in interest rate, which would be further tied to the fiscal outlook. “Also, we expect to see more of Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and intervention to the real sector.�

Also, the Chairman, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Abuja Chapter, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, described the re-nomination of Emefiele as a good omen for the capital market.

Uwaleke, who is the Head of Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University, added: “It is one development that speaks to policy consistency and will further consolidate macroeconomic stability especially with respect to exchange rate and inflation. “Investors, both domestic and foreign can have some degree of confidence in the direction of monetary policy, which is positive for the capital market.

One thing is now certain: that the interventions by the CBN in critical sectors of the economy especially agriculture and non-agricbased SMEs will continue. “These will rub off positively on economic recovery efforts especially now that the CBN under Emefiele has signaled an accommodative monetary policy stance. It is equally positive for financial systems stability. “So, I expect a positive reaction going forward, I would like to see an intensification and effective monitoring of the interventions in particular the Anchor Borrower programme. “Emefiele should also focus on ensuring increased access to credit by SMEs and generally fostering a low interest rate environment with the support of fiscal authorities.�

To analysts at Lagos-based CSL Stockbrokers Limited, one of the successes of Emefiele’s first term as governor of the CBN was the opening of the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window and the defence of the currency.

They said: “We believe that the risk of an entirely new approach is quite low following his re-nomination. “The naira’s strength over the past year confers a degree of credibility that the governor of the CBN may wish to maintain the preservation of the currency as his top priority as such we believe his re-nomination in the face of relatively enough reserves reduces the risk of a devaluation significantly. “Despite reduced foreign investor participation in the Nigerian economy, the foreign reserves have been resilient. This has supported a relatively stable naira exchange rate against the dollar at both the parallel market and the I & E window.�

They noted that despite a 50 basis points cut in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at the last MPC meeting, the CBN may not be too aggressive with loosening as concerns over portfolio flows should remain high on the CBN’s priority list.

They stated: “Despite a positive outlook for 2019, the price of oil, a major source

of foreign exchange to the country, remains extremely volatile. “Oil trading at lower levels poses a threat to economic stability as it could stall the accretion of reserves and threaten exchange rate stability. “Therefore, portfolio flows are still a go-to buffer in order to maintain a stable exchange rate and the MPR must remain attractive enough to sustain them,� the investment and research firm added. “For the equities market, we expect a neutral reaction.

Though Emefiele’s reelection possibly points to no devaluation, which is positive news for the market, we believe the market currently needs more than news of the CBN governor to show a positive reaction,� they added.

Indeed, in the last five years, the CBN under Emefiele has played a vital role in supporting the fiscal authorities.

For instance, when the economy slipped into a recession, the central bank had to intensify its intervention in critical sectors of the economy, in line with its development finance mandate, which played a significant role in supporting economic growth. This saw the regulator developing home-grown policies to surmount challenges that confronted the economy.

In the continued recognition of its role as an agent of development and aimed at ensuring self-sufficiency to reduce Nigeria’s excessive dependence on imports, the CBN in the last five years, invigorated its development finance activities and has maintained a particular focus on supporting farmers, entrepreneurs as well as small and medium scale businesses, through various intervention programmes.

Some of these initiatives include the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the National Collateral Registry.

Also, the CBN reintroduced the Real Sector Support fund; a facility meant to provide cheap funding at no more than nine per cent to new projects in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, aimed at boosting output and creating jobs.

In the agriculture sector, ABP has ensured that Nigeria emerged from being a net

importer of rice to becoming a major producer of rice. In fact, presently, over 900,000 farmers cultivating about 835,239 hectares, across 16 different commodities, have so far benefited from the ABP, which has generated over 2.7 million jobs across the country.

Emefiele had explained that efforts at supporting small scale farmers and SMEs was based on awareness of the critical role they can play in supporting our economic recovery and growth, as well as in creating job opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

According to him, “So far, the CBN has through its MSME fund disbursed over N100 billion to the MSME sector, but we still feel a lot can be done. Under the auspices of the Bankers Committee, the sum of over N60 billion has so far been set aside under the AgriBusiness/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMIES) fund to fund micro, small and medium scale enterprise businesses in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors of our economy. “The CBN recognises that the greatest challenge confronting MSME’s and local farmers is access to credit, and that to unlock the growth potentials in our country; these groups must access funding seamlessly. “In response to this challenge, the CBN will in due course take action that will directly bring banking services to the rural communities through the licensing of a national microfinance bank, which will have a presence in all local governments in Nigeria, thereby supporting the channeling of credit to our rural communities. “We will continue to explore ways, in partnering with the fiscal authorities, on how we can best provide farmers and SMES with the support they need to expand their operations,� he had explained.

If the reappointment of Emefiele is approved by the lawmakers, the 57-year old policymaker will be the first Governor of the Bank since 1999 to have a second term.

But Abdulkadir Ahmed remains the longest serving CBN Governor in the history of the country as he was on the position for 11 years.

Ahmed, was appointed governor of the bank in June 1982 and retired on September 30, 1993. He was in office during the

Shehu Shagari regime, the interim government of Ernest Shonekan as well as the military regimes of General Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida.

Section 8 of the CBN Act 2007 states that the Governor and Deputy Governors of CBN shall be persons of recognised financial experience and shall be appointed by the president subject to confirmation by the Senate on such terms and conditions as may be set out in their respective letters of appointment.

Sub-section 8(2) also states that the Governor and Deputy Governors shall be appointed in the first instance for a term of five years and shall each be eligible for reappointment for another term not exceeding five years.

Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated Emefiele on his reappointment for another term in office.

He commended the president for finding the CBN governor worthy to be reappointed.

In a congratulatory message issued in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Okowa extolled the leadership qualities and astute contributions of Emefiele to the economic development of Nigeria since he was appointed in 2014.

He described the CBN governor as an illustrious son of Delta State, whose remarkable contributions to the banking industry in Nigeria is legendary and worthy of emulation.

He said: “Emefiele is an illustrious son of Delta State in whom we are well pleased.

His astute contributions to the development of the banking industry and the Nigerian economy is legendary and worthy of emulation."

International Reactions According to Reuters According to Reuters, Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele has been nominated for a second five-year term, a move that could comfort bondholders keen to see the bank’s policy of a stable and strong currency continue.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who has backed Emefiele’s monetary policy, nominated him for another term, according to a letter read on the floor of the senate on Thursday. The upper house of parliament

"The idea of continuity might give some comfort to foreign investors who will expect a policy of naira stability to continue. This lessens the risk of any near-term proďŹ t-taking." – Razia Khan, Head of Research for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank in London.

is expected to confirm the nomination.

Emefiele has overseen an interventionist currency policy at the behest of the presidency, propping up the local naira by pumping billions of dollars into the foreign exchange market.

He also introduced a multiple exchange rate regime to try to mask pressure on the naira and avoid a series of devaluations, a step that has kept liquidity tight in Africa’s biggest economy.

The bank cut rates to 13.4 percent in March, its first rate cut since November 2015.

The rate has been held at 14 percent since July 2016 to support the naira and curb inflation.

Buhari, who starts his second four-year term on May 29, has pledged to rejuvenate the Nigerian economy, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest energy producer. Emefiele has offered affordable credit to boost some industries to offset curbs on access to foreign exchange for those sectors imposed to protect local producers.

A central bank spokesman said Emefiele’s nomination was in recognition of his “patriotism and irrepressible commitment to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy�.

Emefiele, whose first term was due to end this month, will be the first central bank governor to have his tenure extended into a second term since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. “The idea of continuity might give some comfort to foreign investors who will expect a policy of naira stability to continue,� said Razia Khan, head of research for Africa at Standard Chartered Bank in London. “This lessens the risk of any near-term profit-taking.�

No Shift in Policy Emefiele’s return could be supportive for bonds as investors hunt for yields on the debt market while equity players worry about slow growth, expecting sentiment to remain weak for stocks, analysts say.

More than $6 billion has flowed into the local bond market since February’s presidential election as foreign investors piled into debt to lock in yields as high as 14 percent, helping to keep the currency stable. “Governor Emefiele’s nomination means that we will likely not see a major change in the conduct of monetary policy or a muchneeded shift in Nigeria’s diversification strategy,� said Cobus de Hart, senior economist at South Africa’s NKC African Economics.

Nigeria entered and exited its first recession in a quarter of a century under Emefiele’s tenure as global oil prices plummeted and then gradually began to rebound.

Some economists have argued that his strong currency policy exacerbated the downturn.

Anthony Simond at Standard Aberdeen Asset Management in London said he expected a continuation of current monetary policy. “Whether it will be good for the country in the long run is a different question. But for now, high carry and stable FX will continue,� he said.

Emefiele has said the bank would continue its tight monetary stance in the near term and sees inflation of 11.3 percent in February rising to 12 percent this year before moderating."

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NEWS

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

Power Sector Loses N2.016tn in Four Years Gencos file force majeure notices to BPE

Chineme Okafor in Abuja Nigeria’s power sector lost a total of N2,016,695,000,000, in the last four years as a result of distribution and transmission constraints, as well as shortage of gas to the generating plants, the operational records of the sector obtained from the Office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, have shown.

According to the records from the Advisory Power Team in the vice president’s office, over N2.016 trillion could not be earned by the sector from May 29, 2015 to May 4, 2019, just about 25 days to the May 29 take-off of the second term of the present administration.

This is coming as the power generation companies (gencos) under the aegis of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), have revealed that some gencos have been forced by the chronic financial challenges of the sector to file force majeure to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

In the power sector, a force majeure is filed by companies or operators to free themselves of any legal actions when they are not able to meet their contractual obligations as a result of some natural and unnatural circumstances beyond their control.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, last Monday declared that the power sector had fared well since May 29, 2015.

But delivering the presidential speech at this year’s Workers’ Day

last Wednesday, the Vice President had acknowledged that despite years of its privatisation, the power sector had remained handicapped in the delivery of required services to various homes and businesses.

Though power generation was 4,500 megawatts on April 3, 2015, it crashed to an all-time low of 1,327 megawatts on May 22, 2015, exactly a week before the take-off of this present administration, due to the shutdown of key gas plants as a result of the strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG).

With the resolution of the labour issues, power generation hit an all-time high of 5,074MW on February 2, 2016 and a new high of 5,375MW on February 7, 2019.

But the records from Osinbajo’s office showed that within the period under consideration, average power generated and distributed daily to Nigerians was 3,611 megawatts (MW), while the volume of power that could not be generated and supplied daily due to these constraints was 2,930MW. The records showed that the peak generation, that Nigeria ever attained was 5,375MW which was achieved on February 7, 2019.

The records further stated for instance that between May 29 and December 31 2015, the sector supplied an average of 3,790MW daily but could not supply 2,413MW, resulted to the

loss of N246,662,000,000 (N247 billion).

Similarly, between January and December 2016, an average of 3,211MW was supplied daily while 3,546MW was lost, resulting to a loss of N622, 926,000,000.

Also from January to December 2017, the records showed that 3,559MW was supplied daily, while 2,420MW was lost, translating to a loss of N425, 193,000,000.

The records also showed that from January to December 2018, the daily supply averaged 3,807MW while 3,039MW was lost, translating to a loss of N532,426,000,000.

Between January 1 and May 4, 2019, average generation was 4,066MW, 3,183MW could not be generated, representing a loss of N189, 478,000,000, by the sector.

Meanwhile, a document

obtained from the gencos revealed that the financial losses by the sector forced them to file force majeure notices to the BPE. “Every month Gencos are being owed an average 71.28 per cent of their invoice. In the absence of Power Assurance Guarantee (PAG), Gencos cannot survive with this. Most Gencos find it difficult to meet their performance agreement obligations with BPE and have applied for force majeure,” said the document from APGC,” the gencos said, according to the document.

It further stated: “Due to high market liquidity squeeze, Gencos (thermal and hydros) lack the necessary funding for their operations, acquiring spare parts and equipment and meeting other obligations for the power generation stations.”

“Unless the challenges in the

power chain are tackled, power output will continue to be poor.

The generation companies are ready and willing to generate power that will sustain the country on a daily basis but they are being constrained by factors beyond their control,” the document added.

To address these challenges, APGC also called for strict regulation of activities of the transmission and distribution segments of the market, saying this could be the best way to record stable improvements.

The association alleged that the power sector is being operated against the principles of standard electricity markets.

It explained: “The reason for this liquidity squeeze we feel in the sector is that the sector is working against the established principles of electricity supply value chain.

“The first principle being that

energy flows from the left to the right - via the fuel (gas or water) supplier to the fuel transporter (NGPTC), to the power generator (Gencos), to the power transmitter (TCN), to the power distributer (Discos) or distribution companies and then to our homes or industry/commercial enterprises.

“The payment/money for the energy is expected to move from right to the left. That is, from consumers to the distribution companies statutorily empowered to collect and account for customer payments, on behalf of the value chain. This unfortunately is not happening as the Gencos are having a current market invoice shortfall of over 75 per cent. The question is which business can survive on a 25 per cent monthly invoice payment?” the gencos queried.

ASUU Urges Pro-Chancellors of Universities to Respect Extant Laws The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on Pro Chancellors of universities to seek and strengthen cordial working relationship with other organs of the institutions in order to maintain lasting peace and stability in the system.

The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, made the call yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lagos.

Ogunyemi was speaking against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute between the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Wale Babalakin, and the principal officers of the institution.

According to him, there is the need for respect for each other, as well as respect for extant laws and rules guiding the operations of persons as appointed by laws in the universities.

This, he said, was for the purpose of attaining a common goal.

The UNILAG dispute allegedly started when Babalakin was accused of directing the university Registrar, Mr Oladejo Azeez, to issue queries to over eight principal officers of the institution, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe.

Other principal staff who received similar queries were two Deputy Vice Chancellors - Prof.

Folasade Ogunsola, and Prof.

Oluwole Familoni.

Others were the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahamon Bello

and Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, who was the immediate past registrar of the institution, among others.

The separate queries were said to be related to financial misappropriation and traveling without permission, among other issues.

According to Ogunyemi, there must be a sense of orderliness in institutions of higher learning, especially the universities, in order to maintain peace and stability.

“We are currently studying the situation on ground and at the appropriate time, we will make our own pronouncement.

“We have asked for a comprehensive report from our UNILAG branch of the union, which we have received, accordingly, and we are studying it carefully.

“Union is also aware that the branch has written to the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“And so, we are aware of all these and we are trying to study the report carefully. So, we want to take our time to study the reports and then make our stand known to the general public,’’ the unionist said.

Efforts to get the views of the affected principal officers on the issue proved abortive as they were not taking their calls.

However, one of the affected principal officers of the institution who eventually spoke with NAN under anonymity, said that the entire scenario was the handiwork of detractors.

SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS...

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Minister of Defence, Brig. Gen. Mansur Dan Ali (rtd.), Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, during a security meeting at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

MOSOPVows to Resist Oil Drilling in Ogoniland Martins Ifijeh The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has said it has uncovered plans by the federal government to commence oil drilling in Ogoniland using security agencies and criminally minded non-state actors as shield, and vowed that it would resist such attempts.

It alleged that oil operations, with military cover, is billed to commence in the coming months, as parties involved have been instructed on their respective roles, especially the security agencies who have been asked to tackle voices of dissent in the Ogoni community.

In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, and signed by the Acting Publicity Secretary, MOSOP, Sunny Zorvah, the group said it was particularly disturbed about the development and actions of government, considering the possible negative implications and crisis this might cause among the people and the oil company involved.

“It is unfortunate and disappointing that rather than going through the proper and legitimate means and process, the government chose to ignore the people of Ogoni and prefers to engage and impose an oil prospecting company on them, even with an intent to intimidate, suppress and kill the people more with the use of heavily armed security forces.

“As part of this plan, we are aware that some companies have also commenced some clandestine discussions with agents in and outside Ogoni on how to facilitate the success of such operation. We appeal to all those involved to discontinue the unholy and selfish alliance and allow the people decide on this matter and make their choice, without being forced to do so,” Zorvah explained.

“We have consistently stressed that while we are not opposed to discussions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoniland, the federal government and its

agents must engage in a broadbased discussion with the Ogoni people that addresses the issues of benefits-sharing, community participation and the proper environmental management of the Ogoni ecosystem, including legacy issues arising from the over four decades of reckless oil operations in the land,” he said.

According to him, this was not about the deceit enveloped as corporate social responsibility activities, but about sustainable outcomes that can take the Ogoni people into the forseable future, adding that “this is the only way the government can gain the confidence and acceptance of the Ogoni people that we are not going back to the same inglorious past of reckless oil exploration and zero benefit to the people and their land,” he explained.

He said MOSOP was ready and would continue to engage and cooperate with any process that respects and recognises the rights of the people and the community, but that it would

vehemently oppose any form of injustice and intimidation of its people.

He said: “MOSOP stands ready to support any genuine economic activity that will benefit and is in the overall interest of our people, but we will not allow a process that undermines our natural existence and subdues our rights as a people.

“We, therefore, reiterate our avowed position to resist any attempt by the government and any company or their agents to re-enter any Ogoni community for the purpose of carrying out oil exploration activities by force without due consultation and broad-based discussion and agreement with genuine and competent representatives of the people and key stakeholders in Ogoniland.

We are prepared to resist them with the last drop of our blood,” he added.

Zorvah called on Ogoni people to remain resolute and resilient in the days ahead as well as be prepared.

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

SAIL ON, QUINTESSENTIAL ANCIENT MARINER Charles Majoroh pays tribute to David Ejoor, former governor of Midwest region

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ajor General David Ejoor was one of the young, brilliant 25 students that got admission into the prestigious Government College Ughelli (GCU) in January 1948 when the school was still known as Warri College. He spent five years to acquire western education at GCU when most of the lecturers were British Colonial Education Officers and graduated from the college after passing Cambridge School Certificate examinations in December 1952 in Grade two. While in the college, due to his amiable character, interpersonal relations skills and inherent leadership qualities, he was appointed a school prefect and the school athletics captain. Under his captainship, the school team won many laurels in athletics.

David Ejoor was a great achiever, an accomplished leader who was very much respected by the school authorities, his classmates and his juniors. As expected, he totally imbibed the school’s culture of excellence.

On leaving the great school, David Ejoor became the first alumnus, in the annals of the college, to enlist in the Nigerian Army. In 1953, he was admitted into the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom and commissioned as a Lieutenant by the Queen of England in July, 1956. Captain David Ejoor thereafter commanded the Army of Guards at the midnight flag raising ceremony at Nigeria’s independence in 1960. He also performed excellently as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Contingent in Congo and was promoted to the rank of Major.

In January, 1966, Lt. Col. David Ejoor became the first Military Governor of Midwest region. His patriotic and heroic roles in the face of adversity contributed immensely to the survival and unity of Nigeria as a country in the troubled military years of the mid 60s and the unfortunate civil war that followed. As a Major General, David Ejoor later became the first Nigerian Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Major General Ejoor retired from the army as Chief of Army Staff in 1975 at the age of 43 years as a fall-out of a military putsch.

In recognition of his status as an old boy, Major

HIS PATRIOTIC AND HEROIC ROLES IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE SURVIVAL AND UNITY OF NIGERIA AS A COUNTRY IN THE TROUBLED MILITARY YEARS

General David Ejoor was admitted into the revered ranks of the “Ancient Mariners “ and later bestowed with GCUOBA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 in an impressive ceremony in Abuja. His contributions to Government College Ughelli are permanently etched in the sands of time. One example that The College will forever remember was when a regional commissioner of Education unilaterally changed the names of traditional students hostels (Houses) to his own name and the names of other colleagues. Major General Ejoor (then Lt. Col.) reversed the unacceptable nomenclature on assumption of office as the Military Governor of Midwest region.

General Ejoor was not a tribalist and that came from the training in Government College, where you could not even speak your native language. We could not speak our local languages, only English, so we no one knew or cared where anyone was from. We did not know and did not care to know! There were people from different ethnic groups, and so it was a melting pot of people and that was what we went out with, a drive for excellence without tribal connotations, and so we produced several firsts and high achievers. The first Nigerian commercial pilot, Captain Bob Hayes is an old boy; one of the greatest poets, Professor JP Clark also an old boy; Gamaliel Onosode, great boardroom guru, was an old boy. General Ejoor lived with fellow Ancient Mariners and colossi like Ambassador BA Clark, GTS Adokpaye and Uncle Sam Amuka, and many others. General David Ejoor was a product of the best school and the best training in Nigeria and he was a great ambassador of our values and that is why we will continue to rever him.

GCUOBA will certainly miss his contributions to the growth and development of GCU and towering presence in our functions. We shall miss the sense of pride we had when referring to you as one of “OUR OLD BOYS�.

Adieu, Uloho of Olomu kingdom, the General of Generals. May your gentle soul keep sailing in calm waters till we meet again.

Arc Majoroh is President General Worldwide, Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association

NIGERIAN CEOS AND THEIR EARNINGS There should be more transparency in the remuneration packages of ceos, writes James Fajemirokun

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ne of the leading business publications in Nigeria recently ran a piece on the highest paid CEOs of quoted Nigerian companies and it left me wanting. I read the article and the only thing I got out of it was how much the CEOs earned and a summary of their CVs; I wonder if that was the intention?

I had a few conversations that turned into the earning power of some of these CEOs, and how some pay packages didn’t ring true – we questioned whether any Nigerian bank CEO really earns a meagre N85 million.

Conversations around whether CEO remunerations are too high are dated. The international narrative has consistently been that CEOs earn too much. As recently as 2018 there was an article in The Guardian UK which highlighted that CEOs of the top 350 US firms made an average of $18.9m in 2017. The US numbers have shock value and I believe that was the same kind of shock value that was expected with the article. The question is what is too much? Is it fair to compare a CEOs salary to that of a shop floor worker? I strongly believe pay comparison is misleading, CEOs and workers operate in very different markets, so there is no reason for their pay to be linked.

A CEO’s actions are scalable. For example, if the CEO improves corporate culture, it can be rolled out company-wide, and thus has a much larger effect on the company, its people and customers. A 1% increase is N2 billion in a N200 billion

company. In contrast, most employees’ actions are less scalable. An engineer who has the capacity to service 10 machines creates, say, N500,000 of value regardless of whether the firm has 100 or 1,000 machines. In short, CEOs and employees compete in very different markets, one that scales with company size and one that scales less.

But I digress. If the aim of the article was to create shock value it certainly did in some circles. Prepare to be even more shocked. According to Seplat’s 2018 annual report, the CEO Augustine Avuru actually takes home on an annual basis just over N1.7 billion, that’s over US$5 million annually. Of all the companies mentioned, Seplat was the only company that specifically disclosed its CEO remuneration and then broke down in detail as follows - (US$1.09 million), taxable benefits (US$512,000), bonus (US$1.13 million), LTIP (US$1.99 million) and pension (US$187,000).

And that’s where it ends. Why this opaqueness around CEOs remuneration?

I decided to do some investigating and went to look at the financial rules surrounding disclosure in Nigeria and what obtains internationally in countries such as the UK, USA and even South Africa.

Internationally and in summary they stipulate that publicly traded companies listed on a national stock exchange must disclose executive compensation in their annual reports. The disclosure regime requires the disclosure of salary, fees, bonus benefits, pension and long term incentives of individual directors and

senior officers.

Unfortunately IFRS, FRCN, CAMA and SEC are not as demanding. IFRS is the most detailed in terms of requirements, under IFRS Standards (specifically IAS 24: Related Party Disclosures), an entity is required to disclose key management personnel compensation in total and for each of the major categories of employee benefits as defined by IAS 19 and sharebased payment (IAS 24.17). Key Management Personnel typically includes Board of Directors, Chief Executive Office, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Vice Presidents.

Employee benefits include salaries, medical and housing allowances, post-employment benefits such as pension, other benefits such as bonuses, profit sharing and termination benefits to name a few. It is on this basis that I have assumed that on the surface all the companies appear to be in compliance with these standards but truth is they aren’t.

It’s also for this reason I speak to not making comparisons in salaries or questioning if CEO salaries are too high. If executive management teams understand that it’s perfectly acceptable for a CEO to earn more, significantly more, and are able to effectively justify the remuneration to their stakeholders then they wouldn’t be concerned with being more transparent.

Increased transparency makes our CEOs - I say ‘OUR’ because any company in which you are a shareholder in, the CEO ultimately reports to you - more responsible.

If a publicly listed company is required

to share in detail its financials and explain poor results then the same level of transparency is required in terms of CEO remuneration.

If the Nigerian private sector is so bold as to claim to be operating to global standards then let it permeate all areas of our operations including how and what we report. If the regulator is light years behind the rest of the world then who else but industry players / the private sector to lift our game to international standards.

As a shareholder it’s disturbing when I am told the MD of one of the most successful banks in Nigeria earns less than some senior managers in Oil and Gas companies.

My expectation from the said article was to question the accuracy of some of the remuneration packages and a clarion call for greater transparency amongst public companies.

The level of disclosure required in the UK is not prevalent in the rest of the world but it has been cited as “best practice� for listed companies and true to form countries are slowly following suit.

Let’s move away from less transparency, presenting smoke screens to a pie-enlarging mindset of value creation.

Rather than pretending to earn less because your assumption is that’s what the market wants to see, let’s move to greater transparency to show how a CEOs high earnings is translating to a stronger balance sheet creating a bigger pie for us all - shareholders and workers alike to share / eat from.

Fajemirokun wrote from Lagos

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EDITORIAL State Of Healthcare In Nigeria The stakeholders must come out with a solution to the country’s health problems

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he revelation at the annual general conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) that no fewer than 2,000 medical workers leave the country annually for developed countries is a trend that should concern all stakeholders. What that suggests clearly is that we have an emergency situation in a critical sector and the authorities must find a solution to the challenge in the interest of our country. But it is also our hope that medical practitioners will examine all the issues impinging on healthcare delivery in the country, including the increasing rate of medical tourism on which the nation is losing hundreds of billions of naira annually. What drives the compulsion to go abroad to seek medical help for those who can afford it has to do with excellence. People troop to places where the standard of healthcare delivery reflects the general way of doing things.

There is a psychological aspect to seeking cures. For the many Nigerians THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT who travel abroad to BEING SPENT BY RICH seek medical soluNIGERIANS ON MEDICAL tions to whatever ails BILLS ABROAD IS SO them, they already STAGGERING AS TO MAKE have a basic belief that Saudi, German, DOMESTIC INVESTMENT IN HEALTHCARE A SOUND English, American or BUSINESS PROPOSITION even Indian doctors will, in their care, reflect the values that make those nations great. Even in terminal cases, the dignity of going to die in these good places is satisfying enough for the “colonial” mindset of affluent Nigerians. That perhaps explains why it has become fashionable for some colourful obituaries to announce that the deceased passed away in an American or German hospital!

The implication of such a state of affairs is that it does not matter how many health institutions we build especially in the public sector. For as long as the standard of practice in those facilities reflects our

Letters to the Editor

general Nigerian way of “anything goes”, we might just be wasting resources. In our public health sector some fancy equipment is acquired and allowed to break down a few months after commissioning.

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

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

THE IMPORTANCE OFVOCATIONAL EDUCATION

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sound education is the right of every person.

Without education, ignorance reigns. The goal of education is not just to increase the amount of knowledge, but also to help people become useful members of society. A successful education should also foster in children the joy of living and help them to take their place in society as well-balanced individuals.

Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree, it is also about equipping one to meet successfully the challenges that life will bring.

However, the educational system in Nigeria seems to focus more attention on the need for students merely to acquire academic qualifications. Academic-based schooling seems to be striving in most educational institutions. Necessary career skills that are required in the business world are rarely taught to students.

In addition, the rate of unemployment amongst the youth has increased dramatically in the last decade. And, according to a recent statement by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, this trend will continue, and even get worse in the coming years.

Most young people from the university lack the needed skills and competencies that would enable them function in today’s emerging society. Vocational education needs to be integrated into the school curriculum as this will equip students with the practical skills needed for lifelong learning. Vocational training can also be taught to children from an early age. That way, they can imbibe and nurture the expertise as they grow. Thus, early childhood institutions also should look into vocational training into their curriculum.

When people hear “vocational education”, they believe it is for those who cannot afford a quality education. However, this is a

ut we cannot gloss over the fact that medical tourism is a serious issue in our country today.

The aggregate amount being spent by rich Nigerians on medical bills abroad is so staggering as to make domestic investment in healthcare a sound business proposition. Our public policy should then be driven from the perspective of canvassing this sector as one worthy of increased private investment and government support with the assurance that such ventures would be profitable. The same thing has happened in the education sector where Nigerians have risen to the occasion with world class high schools and even universities. There needs to be a commitment to supporting investors especially in the tertiary healthcare delivery sector through more attractive credit windows by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Health is no less important than agriculture, power, aviation, etc., that have been granted massive financial concessions.

However, we probably need to de-link expert tertiary healthcare delivery from the tourism part.

Let us encourage the establishment of good health facilities preferably as collaborative business venture with experts from nations whose professionals have excelled in this area. The point here about medical tourism is that most people would not make Nigeria their first choice as things currently stand. We simply do not have a hospitality industry nor have we done anything significant to make our country attractive to sensible visitors. Tourism thrives on tolerable decency, security, basic essential services and infrastructure that encourage free movement of persons and backpacks.

Like in most other sectors, the challenge of healthcare delivery in Nigeria also comes with tremendous opportunities. But it would require the coming together of all the stakeholders to chart a way forward.

wrong assumption; the truth is everyone needs to learn valuable hands-on skills. In the long run, these skills can act as a means through which income is generated.

Bridging the vocational skills gap remains a major challenge faced by many, especially young adults in Nigeria. Vocational education and training is designed to educate youths and adults with the right skills needed to survive in the ever changing labour market. The narrative of the basic academic education is gradually changing from basic paper credentials to skill-based qualifications which can be applied to specific skills required in the workplace.

The state of vocational education in Nigeria calls for urgent attention. The Nigerian educational system requires urgent, innovative and practical reform to bring it in line with international best practices, and importantly, better equip the young people of this country to handle the never-ending demands of the 21st century.

Vocational, entrepreneurship, or skill acquisition programmes, as they are usually called, include training in skills/courses such as: cooking and baking; photography; video editing; barbing; hair styling & making; musical instruments training; cobbling; make-up and gele tying; carpentry; painting; plumbing, and so on.

The society understands the importance of education for personal and collective development and as a tool for the reduction of poverty, and improvement in the living standards of people living in Nigeria.

For vocational education to survive in Nigeria, teaching and learning must take place in an environment where all the necessary tools, machines, equipment and facilities are in place and resemble a real work environment.

Daniel Ighakpe, FESTAC Town, Lagos

WORDS FOR THE NINTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

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n few days from now, the ninth National Assembly will convene and proceed to elect their leaders. In this article that is not the major focus. In a football team, the position nine is referred to as a striker and therefore responsible for scoring goals with his advanced position.

The ninth national assembly is similar to a striker who must be brilliant at receiving and controlling the ball to slot home a goal. The head coach is akin to the role of a president who ensures that the team does not lose.

I congratulate our distinguished Senators and members of the House of Representatives who have fought unceasingly to become the lawmakers of the federal republic of Nigeria.

A variety of new candidates will be welcomed into the fold while some were reelected into the exalted office.

As painted above, the significance of the lawmaking organ cannot be over-stressed, they are the legislative branch of our national government.

As the baton is about to be passed to the lawmakers, the citizens are yearning for new laws that will shape the destiny of our dear country They are longing for the dividends of democracy. They are hungering for a lawmaker who will hold the views of his voters at home sacrosanct.

As per insecurity in the land, it has its root and the root should be uprooted to avoid constant bloodbath we have witnessed in some parts of the country for some time. But this is only possible by genuine peace and reconciliation.

We all have a role to play to ensure peace returned in our land.

A woman who expresses hostility by cluttering the house is fuelling the fire of marital strife. The citizen expects all the organs of government to move our great country forward, only then can we attain progress easily and move this country to its Eldorado.

Olusanya Anjorin, Olusanyaanjorin@gmail.com

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POLITICS

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

Re: There’s Political Axe to Grind in Rivers

Effanga

Obo Effanga

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refer to an analysis in the THISDAY Newspaper of Wednesday, April 24 with the title, ‘There’s political Axe to Grind in Rivers’, written

by Nseobong Okon-Ekong. While I recognise the right of the writer to air his opinions on public issues, I expected him to be bound by the high ethical standards of journalism that “comments are free but facts are sacred”. If he did, he would not have made some categorical statements and repeated some of the false statements that politicians and others with partisan interests have expressed recklessly in the last few weeks.

Without even taking steps to inquire from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the writer states that Effanga (the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State) “did not at all touch on the allegation that he went against the provision of the electoral act by recruiting card carrying members of the PDP as collation officers and even after he announced they will be changed, he still accepted the results from their assigned LGAs.” If only Mr Okon-Ekong had done his professional duty as a journalist to hear from the Commission, he would not have made the above uninformed and false statement. The fact remains that collation officers for the election were selected from a long list of academics drawn up nationally by INEC Headquarters in collaboration with authorities of federal universities and other federal tertiary educational institutions and sent to each state office.

INEC in Rivers State selected collation officers based on the approved guidelines. However, on the morning of the date for the governorship and state house of assembly elections (March 9), we received a petition alleging that four of the officials listed as collation officers in Rivers State had partisan interests or

affiliations. Without any investigation as to the veracity of the claims, INEC in Rivers State immediately replaced the four officials with other persons from the pool of academics. It is pertinent to note that at the time the changes were effected, the four officials complained of had not yet been mobilised and deployed to the field. This is because local government collation officers typically have no work to do until voting has ended and the votes counted at the polling units

INEC in Rivers State selected collation officers based on the approved guidelines. However, on the morning of the date for the governorship and state house of assembly elections (March 9), we received a petition alleging that four of the officials listed as collation officers in Rivers State had partisan interests or affiliations. Without any investigation as to the veracity of the claims, INEC in Rivers State immediately replaced the four officials with other persons from the pool of academics

and collated at the ward levels.

It is apparent that a section of the public bent on disparaging the work of the Commission had already woven a false narrative of the involvement of the so-called ‘card-carrying’ members of a political party in the process and couldn’t reverse themselves on that narrative, even when the Commission had taken steps to avoid the situation. It is this same worn out and false narrative that Mr Okon-Ekong unfortunately held on to in his recent analysis.

It is curious that the writer put so much value on an allegation by the so-called “Coalition of Governorship Candidates and Party Chairmen” that they were denied certified true copies (CTC) of the election results. We thought that the writer could have at least inquired from INEC, the procedure for the issuance of the CTC of documents.

For the avoidance of doubts, the CTC is usually issued after an application made by individual candidates and political parties and this process has been ongoing. This leads to the production of copies and signing off on them on the payment of appropriate fees.

The writer further exhibited his prejudice when he claimed, without any facts that “INEC removed the APC candidate’s names from their list even before they were required to do so. They obeyed orders they were not party to and ignored the ones they were party to in anticipation of a Supreme Court order that would finally nail APC.” It is obvious that the writer needs a bit of education on the Nigerian legal system, particularly the hierarchy of courts and the effects of court orders and judgments directed at any person and institution. To be sure, at no point did INEC act whimsically but always within the provisions of the constitution, extant laws, regulations and orders of courts.

A further misinformed statement of Mr. Okon-Ekong in his apparently

hatchet-job editorial commentary is the claim that the certificates of return issued to the winners of the elections in Rivers State were dated March 14. Journalists worth their salt should learn how not to believe every statement thrown up by politicians and pushed to them. They should learn to independently verify what they put out with their names.

The fact remains that the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections were held on Saturday March 9. Certificates of return for each of the positions contested for were only written, signed and dated after a declaration of a winner has been made. These certificates are produced by the Commission’s Headquarters. In no circumstance was any certificate of return dated earlier than the declaration of winner.

For instance, while the certificates issued to the governor and deputy governor elect was dated April 4, 2019, the date the declaration was made, those of some state house of assembly members-elect were dated March 14, the declaration having been made soon after the election on March 9. For the same reason, the certificates of return for the four state constituencies where election was not concluded until after the supplementary election on March 13 were dated April 15.

For us in INEC Rivers State, we see no axe to grind based on our conduct in the recent elections. We believe other stakeholders, such as the media which Okon-Ekong represents; being objective will not create imaginary axes for grinding.

-Effanga is the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We have provided Mr. Effanga his ‘right of reply’. However, his response does not provide new insight into the subject, therefore, we stand by our story.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

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PERSPECTIVE

The South East Option Reps Speakership Amby Uneze

W

hen the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated by June 6, 2019, Nigerians would feel the pulse of the nation coming together as one by recognizing equitable inclusion of federating units of the country in line with the provisions of the constitution of the country, even as it affects sharing of political offices. And that is, when the South East geo-political zone must have been fully reintegrated into the main stream of political equation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the quest of a few of those federal legislators from the South-east zone expressing interest in the Speakership of the 9th Assembly can therefore be welcome by well-meaning Nigerians who want the country to remain one united and indivisible nation where equity, fairness and justice prevail.

Granted that the people of the South-east are predominately lean on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but there are those who have worked assiduously to stamp the name of APC permanently in the zone, and those people are still very much around in the 9th Assembly. Persons like Chike Okafor, a two-term APC member representing Okigwe South Federal Constituency; comprising Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma and Obowo in Imo State, Nkiru Onyejeocha, a four-term member representing Umunneoche/Isiukwuato Federal Constituency of Abia state. These federal lawmakers have significantly stamped the name of the APC in their various constituencies in the South-east.

As an effective lawmaker, Okafor has shown that even as a first-term legislator (2015), he exhibited impressive legislative knowledge that won the heart of his colleagues. He was made the Chairman, House Committee on Health. Within this short period, Okafor presented a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Counterfeit and

Okafor

Fake Drugs And Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C34, Laws of the Federal of Nigeria, 2004 and to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Control of Counterfeit and Products, 2012 (Still in the House).

He also proposed an Act to Establish the Institute of Customer and Commercial Accountants of Nigeria and for other Related Matters Connected Therewith.

Among other proposal to his credit are; An Act to Amend the Dangerous Drugs Act Cap DI Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to give Powers to the Minister of Health to Regulate Certain Classes of Drugs, Allow Arrests to be affected by the Members of the Public and Review the Prescribed Penalty

provided under the Act; And for Related Matters. (This has been passed, waiting to be signed into law by Mr. President).

Okafor has since 2015 embarked on Annual Free Medical Outreach in Okigwe South Federal Constituency; with the aim to empower his constituents and entrench his commitment to improving the lives and wellbeing of the communities in his constituency and Nigeria at large. This outreach programmes have the supports of relevant stakeholders (including UNICEF, NPHCDA, Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, NCDC, FMOH, NACA, NAFDAC and the NHIS) for expanding the scope of the outreach programmes, incorporating community based health insurance, nutrition programmes and many more.

In a letter to the National Chairman of his party APC, Adams Oshiomhole where he appealed the national leadership for support to be elected the Speaker of the 9th House, he said, “We have willing men and women in the Southeast who passionately desire to change the perception that APC is unpopular in the South-east, but we need encouragement; we need to be able to show our people that this party truly means well for our region.

“And be able to point to tangible gestures of goodwill from the centre. At a time like this, such gestures as zoning the Speakership of the House of Representatives to the South-East will indeed suffice. I believe in APC so strongly that I am confident that the APC can rule Nigeria for the next 40 years. But we must assume and sustain the disposition for winning. Such disposition that accommodates all stakeholders; that opens up the space for wider participation at the centre, growing the party across every geopolitical zone and allowing every tribe and tongue the opportunity to have a voice in the party, and a sense of belonging”, he stated.

On Public hearing, Okafor has conducted among others Public Hearing on Financing Healthcare and Revitalization of Primary Health Care System in Nigeria; Public Hearing on the Need to Investigate the Compliance Rate of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) to the NHIS Contributions and Utilization of Funds by the Healthcare Providers And Inhumane Treatment of Enrolees; The Investigative Hearing on the Illegal Withdrawal of the Sum of N10 billion “Insured Persons” Funds from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); Investigative Public Hearing Against NAFDAC and Alleged Conspiracy with Tomato Paste Companies By Erisco Foods Limited; Investigative Public Hearing on Importation of Fake, Substandard and Cancer causing Tomato Paste into Nigeria; and Public hearing on a bill to amend NAFDAC Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria

Understanding the Politics of Feminism Adedayo Showemimo

U

ntil a generally, globally acceptable definition of feminism is reached, these current crop of extremist ‘feminists’ will continue to confuse women worldwide.

The first thing you ask an average feminist is to define the word and most times they never do.

So it’s a situation of everyone projecting their individual fears, thoughts and perspective on the term and we are all dancing round in circles.

Personally, I’ve had cause to have this ‘feminism’ conversation with some of the leading feminists in the world including Chimamanda Adichie, MI Abaga and on both occasions, I asked both of them to define feminism, they refused and rather threw the question back at me.

Of course, an average intelligent human understands what feminism is or rather (should be), but until we are able to simply define feminism the way we define ‘democracy’, the way we define ‘Economics’, the way we define ‘Politics’, the way we

define ‘racism’, we are going nowhere.

Go round and ask women, university girls and secondary school girls what feminism is, they don’t know! And when you try to explain to the ‘few’ who are enlightened (but are sadly extremists), they compound the problem by throwing around phrases like ‘generational patriarchy’, ‘toxic masculinity’; these are phrases that an average Unilag ‘slay mama’ doesn’t even understand, let alone the little girl child in secondary school or the average illiterate woman going through years of domestic violence.

To make matters worse, most of the leading feminists in the world today have some sort of perceived ‘societal defects’. They are either divorced, not married at a ‘certain age’, ‘baby mamas’, or have insecurity issues with their bodies and the extreme manner with which they sell this ‘feminism’ story makes other women believe they are simply projecting their fears, failures and insecurities on them all in the name of feminism.

Truth be told, women are breaking barriers globally, women are becoming presidents, women are becoming billionaires and leading industries. Let’s not act like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf didn’t become a female president in Africa, or didn’t Kylie Jenner just become the youngest billionaire in history, or have we forgotten how Linda Ikeji came into a male dominated media industry to emerge the smartest and richest? Lagos State has had female deputy governors for how long?

Nigeria once had Patricia Etteh as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The current Prime Minister of New Zealand is female and what an amazing job she did handling the recent terror attack.

It can only get better from here with tact, poise, realistic agendas and goals.

The way it is at the moment is like going to ‘war ’ without a battle plan, no meeting with your ‘generals’, no strategy, no reconnaissance, you just jump into the battle field and expect to win an ancestral war?

Let’s look at it from this angle,

you don’t have to believe in God to agree that men and women are not created to be equals, it’s simple Biology. If men are created with nine-ribs and women with seven, how’s that a fair fight?

Why should some people be walking around with breasts and front bottom while others walk with a manhood between their legs, how’s that fair?

If women and men were truly designed to be equals, maybe we would have been created as hermaphrodites; we would all have breasts, phallus and lady parts as well as the same amount of ribs.

On a final note, let’s get a working, realistic and globally acceptable definition of feminism, preach it, teach it and tone down the extremism, then maybe we can start to make real progress.

Hint: ‘Feminism should be an advocacy campaign that tells the girl child she’s capable of greatness and can become whatever she desires to be in life without pitching her in a competition with the male child’ - The Legendary Hustler (2018)

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

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Quick Takes Bala-Usman Seeks Work-Life Balance

THIS IS OUR SCORECARD

L-R: Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Ademola Adebise; Non-Executive Director, Tina Vukor-Quarshie; Non-Executive Director, Abubakar Lawal; Deputy Managing Director, Moruf Oseni and Non-Executive Director, Adebode Adefioye, at the bank’s Annual General Meeting held in Lagos‌recently

FG Deploys Critical Landing Aides to Enhance Air Safety Chinedu Eze To sustain the safety of flight operations and the record of zero accident involving commercial airlines since 2014, the federal government has deployed modern landing aids and other critical equipment in the Nigeria’s airspace.

The government is also currently installing Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Nigeria’s busiest airports in Lagos and Abuja, so that pilots can land their flights safely.

This was disclosed to THISDAY by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who noted that since three years ago, significant milestones have been achieved to ensure that the nation’s airspace is safe.

Akinkuotu, said the federal government has supported the

AVIATION agency to replace obsolete ILS and install new ones with accompanying Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) to aid precision for pilots in landing.

He said the agency had in the last one year installed ILS at Benin airport and currently installing second ILS at the airport so that the two ends of the runway could be used for approach.

In other words, pilots can land at the airport from the two ends of the runway.

NAMA, he said, has also replaced the ILS at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, which was damaged when an aircraft overshot the runway last year.

Another ILS is being installed

at Minna airport in Niger state, which lost the earlier one earmarked for it to Kaduna airport to prepare the later to take in flights as alternative airport when the Abuja airport runway was under rehabilitation in 2017.

In addition to that, Akinkuotu said NAMA has created a platform to have direct interface with pilots so that if a pilot has any issues while flying in the airspace he can contact NAMA and table the problem immediately and the agency would tackle it.

This he said would eliminate the delay in passing such message through airline offices before it would get to the agency, adding that the chat room would also bring the agency and the pilots closer. “Our airspace is very safe because we have made tremendous progress in the area of deployment. We are

currently installing Category 3 ILS at the Lagos and Abuja airports to enable pilots to land at zero visibility. “This means flights can land during the Harmattan haze, so there will be no more flight delays due to Harmattan dust and low visibility between the two airports,� he said.

The NAMA managing director also said the agency has installed Doppler VOR (very high ominidirectional radio range) in Kano to improve communications at the Kano Area Control Centre, which caters for the whole airspace in the northern part of the country and beyond.

Akinkuotu, said under his management NAMA was carrying out the sectorisation of the Lagos Area Control Centres, while that of Kano Area Control Continued on page 26

FG Woos Investors with Tax Incentives for Maritime Sector Eromosele Abiodun The federal government has assured the international oil and gas community that the Nigerian maritime sector is safe for investment, disclosing that special tax regime was under consideration to grow capacity for the industry.

Addressing journalists at a technical workshop on deep sea exploration on the sidelines of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston Texas, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transportation Alhaji Sabiu Zakari, noted that Nigeria was aware of the drift towards deep sea exploration, saying policies to enhance effective maritime transport were be-

MARITIME ing considered by the federal government.

Zakari, said the report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that piracy has declined in Nigerian waters in the first quarter of 2019, was an attestation that efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration in safety and security in the maritime sector has started yielding fruits. “Nigerian waters are safeNIMASA deep blue project in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, and all other security agencies in Nigeria is already in motion and will use the latest technology to track all

vessels in Nigerian waters and reduce criminality to the barest minimum. Foreigners with genuine business interest are welcome to invest in Nigeria. So many have come and are enjoying benefits of their investment,� he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the Nigerian maritime Administration and safety agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside said the agency had commenced regulatory reforms to ensure a business friendly maritime environment to spur economic growth hinged on both foreign and indigenous investors.

He assured the international community that NIMASA was committed to growing in-country capacity so that

collaboration between Nigerian and foreigners can take place without fear of compromising standards.

He said: “We are building up capacity, and creating the right regulatory framework for the Nigerian maritime sector. We believe that our three dimensional approach of creating the right regulatory environment, providing easy asses to capital, build capacity, and facilitate access to business opportunities will hasten the indigenous capacity development. “Regulation ought not to stifle businesses; regulation ought to support business, spur economic growth without Continued on page 26

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman has advised her female folks to balance work with family life, saying, “a woman needs to know when to draw a line and learn to devote quality time with the family, devoid of the interference from oďŹƒce activities.â€?

She, however, cautioned women not to nurse fears of starting small as such venture shall always blossom to their advantages; if they remain focused on the core issues.

Hadiza, who was speaking at a roundtable organised by Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), implored career women to leave their comfort zones and face their fears, because according to her such fears may be real as experienced by everyone, but that it’s important to face them in order to overcome them.

Speaking on the topic: “Freeing Yourself from Fear,� Bala-Usman also enjoined women to be ready to take risk and push back every boundary that tend to limit them from success in every desires of their heart.

The NPA boss also added that those women in paid employment, who cannot ďŹ nd fulďŹ lment, should leave such jobs to pursue their dreams as that’s the only place they can ďŹ nd joy.

In response to a question by a participant, Bala-Usman advised women not to force people to follow their steps,adding that “your integrity and credibility will stand you out that such will automatically generate followers for you�.

Mortein Partners FG

In continuation of its ďŹ ght against Malaria and as part of activities marking this year’s World Malaria Day with the theme, “Zero malaria starts with me,â€? Reckitt Benckiser (RB) has joined forces with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Lagos and Abia State Governments, to scale up action on the elimination of malaria in Nigeria. Speaking at the press brieďŹ ng in Abuja, Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Leferink Aliza, said the collaborations are part of numerous activities by the company to end the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

She said the partnership with the state and federal government which has been on-going for years, further demonstrated the company’s eorts and commitment at dierent levels in the ďŹ ght to ensure a malaria free country.

BrandManager,WestAfrica,ReckittBenckiser,PhoebeLarry-Izamoje explained that, through its grassroots community engagement, RB educates communities on the importance of hygiene and how the simple habit of maintaining clean surroundings and drainages can signiďŹ cantly help to reduce malaria exposure.

Paga Hosts Security Workshop

Paga, one of the leading mobile money companies recently hosted its ďŹ rst annual workshop on process ow in the mobile money ecosystems security agencies from across Nigeria.

The event held in Lagos. The conference created an opportunity for security agencies in attendance to present three oďŹƒcers who were trained in the ďŹ rst series of the security summit in the Nigerian mobile money space. “The security forum put together by Pagatech is a major step in the right direction. Paga as a responsible company has taken the lead in sensitising security operatives and other stakeholders on how the payment systems works in Nigeria. “More encouraging for us as an association is that the measures taken will go a long way in correcting the many instances of harassment, intimidation and detaining of agents across the country over irregular payment issues beyond our control,â€? President National President at Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMAN), Victor Olojo said.

Speakingattheevent,theAssistantsuperintendentPoliceAkinwande Ogundana said, “This workshop is expository, informative and educative. It makes me understand more about the importance of mobile money operators’ in moving forward the economy of a nation like ours. “The mobile money operators also enhanced the ease of doing business in the country and it made me to realise that there must be a good synergy between the operators and security agencies to

“ Travel agents contribute about N500 billion to nation’s GDP annually,�

President of the National Association of NigerianTravel Agencies (NANTA)

Bankole Bernad.

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BUSINESSWORLD FG DEPLOYS CRITICAL LANDING AIDES TO ENHANCE AIR SAFETY Centre had been completed.

He explained that the exercise was aimed at having easy traffic control and to reduce the job done by one person, which could be stressful in the sensitive management of traffic control. “In addition to the installation of ILS, we are currently sectorising the Lagos Area Control Centre and when we complete the project we will have Lagos East and West. We have completed that of Kano, so we now have Kano East and West. “This is meant to ease traffic management and also reduce the job done by one person, which can now be shared by the others,� he said.

On revenue from over fliers which earlier report indicated has diminished, THISDAY learnt that instead of diminishing, revenues from over fliers has increased by 20 per cent because there is increase in traffic in Nigeria’s airspace.

FG WOOS INVESTORS WITH TAX INCENTIVES FOR MARITIME SECTOR endangering the environment and the people.�

Speaking further on Cabotage implementation in Nigeria, Peterside said the agency was in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on the need to create a special tariff regime for those importing vessels and vessel parts into the country. “At the moment, a temporary import permit mainly granted foreigners attract just oner per cent but importing vessel by Nigerian attract 13 per cent, so it is difficult to compete. “We are engaging the NSC on the need to review this regime. We have also made appreciable progress in our discussions with the Central bank of Nigeria to see Nigerians in the maritime sector have access to single digit facilities so they can compete favourably with their international peers,� he said.

NEWS

LSETF, USADF Sign $10m Deal to Support Young Entrepreneurs Peter Uzoho In line with its mandate to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States African Development Fund (USADF) to support 15,000 youths in the state.

Through this MoU, both parties would provide equal sum of $2 million annually for five years ($10m in total), to provide skill development and internship opportunities to youths between the ages of 18-35, yearly, with women representing at least 50 per cent of the beneficiaries.

According to a statement, the signing ceremony took place in Washington DC, United States of America in the presence of top executives of both agencies, members of the U.S Congress, partners and international media.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Chairman, LSETF’s Board of Trustees, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru was quoted to have expressed her optimism on the impact of the partnership. “This USADF-LSETF collaboration will enable the expansion of world-class vocational training centers available in the state; the development of 15, 000 skilled youth for employment into targeted sectors; the provision of internship cost subsidies to employers and; track real time placement of unemployed youth

into jobs,� she said.

Also in her remarks, according to the release, the Acting Executive Secretary, LSETF, Teju Abisoye, said: “With the recent Labor Force Report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing a 6.7 per cent drop in unemployment rate as well as Lagos state providing the

largest number of 740,146 jobs in the third quarter of 2018, it is obvious that the deliberate employment intervention policies of the Lagos State Government are finally impacting on job creation. “I am pleased to have USADF join us to create more jobs for our youth, whilst sustainably decreasing our alarming unemployment rate�.

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Jonathan Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

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 Okafor ((Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT)

ing in high impact initiatives hinged on generating income, providing financial solutions and causing a change in the African economy,� he added.

The initiative includes training of participants and provision of internship opportunities over a period of six months and was expected to result in sustainable job and entrepreneurship opportunities.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

R-L: Chairperson, Women in Management Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman and Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman at a round table/luncheon organised by WIMBIZ in Lagos‌ recentlye

Stakeholders Commend APM Terminals on Safety Stories by Eromosele Abiodun Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry have commended APM Terminals for maintaining an excellent safety record in its operation at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

The commendation was given at the commemoration of the 2019 Global Safety Day with the theme ‘Safety Differently

– Learning from the way we work’. The stakeholders, who include representatives of the truckers’ union, shipping lines and licensed Customs agents, noted that APM Terminals has recorded zero fatality in its operation in more than four years.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob, appreciated the employees of

the company for living up to their safety responsibilities and upholding their commitment to safety as their license to operate.

He also commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for its commitment to a safe port environment especially at APM Terminals Apapa, with the recent acquisition of modern of fire fighting equipment made available for safety and fire drills, which has contributed

Amaechi Inaugurates Modern Facilities at MAN Oron Group Business Editor

Also commenting on the partnership, the President and Chief Executive Officer of USADF, C. D Glin, said he was proud to be in partnership with the LSETF, whose programmes have been independently verified to be making impact on the lives of young Nigerians. “This USADF-LSETF partnership further expands our existing commitment to invest-

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has given a vote of confidence on the management of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron for its sustained efforts at restructuring the school in the last 18 months.

He stated this when he inspected and inaugurated the school’s newly built ultra modern training facilities at the school complex in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

Amaechi, said the management of the academy had been able to resuscitate the institution which had before now suffered gross negligence, mismanagement and poor application of resources in the hands of previous administrators.

According to him, “The academic environment has improved in terms of infrastructure, in terms of buildings but it takes much more than

buildings. You need teachers‌ You must develop. You must purchase equipment for training the students to make them more competitive and your certificate recognised with foreign institutions training seafarers.�

Addressing guests, staff and cadets at the event, the minister described the state of the institution upon his resumption as its supervising minister as deplorable and one that elicited worries from concerned critical stakeholders.

He explained that those concerns and fears of stakeholders prompted the setting up of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) on the Academy whose task it was to audit the institution and come up with recommendations for the repositioning of the school.

Amaechi applauded the Rector of MAN, Commodore

Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) for his focus on the implementation of the report but charged him to extend focus to the development of an internationally competitive and holistic curriculum to boost the academy’s credibility.

He urged current lecturers to improve on their quality by returning to school for their PhDs and called on the management to support them in this feat even while attracting world class lecturers-foreigners and locals- for a train the trainer pact and for full time training the students. “The Academy can introduce good allowances to encourage very competent teachers to come and live here and teach the cadets. Besides, staff members should be trained even for PhDs so that there are more teachers to teach, �Amaechi stated.

to improving safety records of APM Terminals Apapa.

Jacob said this year’s Global Safety Day theme was about continuous listening to and learning from the workforce when it comes to safety to contribute to safe and successful work outcomes.

He said APM Terminals Apapa’s continuous effort at improving safety at the workplace is yielding the desired results, stating that the company is committed to ensuring

not just the safety of its assets but the safety of its employees, customers, contractors and visitors at the facility daily.

The Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, also commended APM Terminals for maintaining a high level of safety over the years and for recognising the role of truck drivers in promoting safety at the port.

NIMASA Donates Relief Materials to Cross River FloodVictims The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has stated that the internally displaced persons spread across Nigeria constitute an integral part of our society and the nation at large and therefore have to be catered for. Peterside, stated this while presenting some relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) in Cross River State, as part of its nation-wide donation of relief materials to people displaced as a result of the 2018 flood disaster that submerged some parts of the State and some other states across the country, in continuation of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Presenting the materials to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Peterside, who was represented

by the Director, Planning, Research and Data Services Department (PRDMS), Mrs. Moronke Thomas, told the beneficiaries that the agency would always support the federal government’s drive in advancing gestures that impact lives positively and meaningfully in the country. “NIMASA is a socially responsible citizen. Though our core mandates are principally to regulate and promote shipping as well as other associated maritime ventures in Nigeria, we are acutely aware, and also conscious of the plights of natural disaster victims like you. We are with you and we share your sufferings. We are here in realisation of the fact that an injury to you is an injury to us, and by extension, an injury to Nigeria.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NANTA Harps on Manpower Development Chinedu Eze The President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bankole Bernard, has called for improved manpower development in the aviation sector.

He noted that considering the country’s population and the role aviation plays in the economy, there should be more skilled manpower in the sector.

Bernard who made this known in Lagos during the celebration of Mrs. Adeola Alade, who broke record as International Air Transport Association (IATA) best performer in March last year examination taken across 200 countries, said Nigeria needs to have more IATA certified training centres so that the country to enhance manpower development.

He commended Alade who attended IATA certified training centre, Lagos Aviation Academy

(LAA) and said her success was as a result of hard work and dedication.

According to him, the Academy, which he is the Managing Director, was poised to bring out the best in anyone who showed dedication in his or her studies. “I am happy that the best IATA performer came from this school. The school was a vision that came from pressure mounted by the global air transport body, which frowned at the fewer number of IATA certified training schools in Nigeria despite our huge population and urged us to establish more schools. “We have only 10 of such schools and out of that 10, only three renews its certification regularly. “This was what prompted me to establish this IATA training centre, but you know that to run a school is not cheap and if there is any gain that would

accrue it comes in the long-term, but it gives me joy that I have provided a platform to shape the destiny of others,� he explained.

Bernard also lamented that travel agents are not given the respect due them.

According to him, travel agency is a professional job whose personnel provide critical service in the air transport sector. He said travel agencies contribute over N500 billion to the nation’s GDP. “I happen to be the biggest travel agency in Nigeria but I contribute less than 10 per cent of the entire sales, which means that there are so many opportunities out there we can benefit from,� he said. The IATA best performer, Mrs. Alade was rewarded with monetary gift and automatic employment by the NANTA President.

SAA Launches Service to Guangzhou, China South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will launch direct flights between Johannesburg and Guangzhou, China, on September 18, 2019, giving customers access to the heart of China’s export led manufacturing industries.

The airline said the move was another strategy aimed at enhancing its network. “The decision to launch this direct service between Johannesburg and Guangzhou means we remain on track in executing our strategy to transform SAA into a fit for the future airline that will operate both efficiently and competitively,� said SAA CEO, Vuyani Jarana.

The Guangzhou route would cater for a spectrum of travellers between Johan-

nesburg and China including business and corporate travellers and will be of special interest to traders.

Cargo operations would complement the viability of this route considering that high value cargo is sourced from Guangzhou.

The airline said it would be the only carrier operating a direct service between Johannesburg and Guangzhou, with flight time of approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes, providing the shortest travel time on a nonstop basis between the two points. “There will be three new flights per week to Guangzhou, in South China, and these will complement SAA’s current operations to Hong Kong. This means, SAA

will fly four times a week to Hong Kong. Airbus A340-300 aircraft will operate both the Guangzhou and Hong Kong routes,� the airline said.

Guangzhou is the largest city in the Guangdong province in South China and the third largest Chinese city after Beijing and Shanghai. It is an important transportation hub and trading port, located on the Pearl River about 120km Northwest of Hong Kong. “Adding a direct service to Mainland China, combined with our current popular flights to Hong Kong provides SAA with immense growth opportunities to and from mainland China.

It also gives our traders access to the centre of Chinese manufacturing,� said Jarana.

NAMA Tasks Unions on Dialogue The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has called on industrial unions and professional associations to sustain the prevailing industrial harmony in the system through peaceful and meaningful engagement with management.

Managing Director of NAMA Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who gave this charge during an interactive forum with aviation unions and representatives of professional bodies at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos said the call became imperative as, “no organisation can thrive in an atmosphere of rancour and disharmony, hence the need for us to embrace peace both as management staff and representatives of unions.�

Akinkuotu, also appreciated the unions for the cooperation so far enjoyed by his administration, even as he enjoined them to feel free to use both formal and informal channels to communicate with management on

any issues requiring attention. “There are many instances where the boat could have been rocked but the unions or associations come together and we are able to resolve the issue or reach some kind of consensus and it has worked well for us,� he said.

The NAMA boss used the opportunity of the forum to caution staff over unnecessary and frivolous expenditure such as “incurring duty tour allowances (DTA) for flimsy reasons,� saying that the time had come for staff to apply moderation and minimise wastages to enable the agency channel its resources towards more meaningful ventures.

Akinkuotu also decried the indebtedness of states’ aerodromes to the agency, noting that effort was being intensified to prevail on defaulting state governments to pay.

On the issue of condition of service (COS) among other entitlements to staff,

AIR WATCH

the NAMA helmsman said NAMA management was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that approval is given by government. He revealed that a meeting had been slated between NAMA management and relevant government agencies to hold before the end of May 2019 targeted at a final resolution of the issue.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Maira Bashir, said the interactive forum was in furtherance to the agency’s objective of resolving mutual concerns towards creating and fostering a workforce that is friendly and commensurate with the productivity target of the agency. “Over the past two years, we have coexisted in harmony and it is our prayer that this relationship anchored on friendship, mutual respect and maturity shall continue to blossom,� Bashir said.

Chinedu Eze One major challenge faced by Nigerian airports is their inability to generate enough revenue to operate without funding from the government.

It is expected that airports should be able to generate enough revenue and also make profit, but in Nigeria only few airports operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) generate high percentage of revenue.

These include the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Port Harcourt international Airport, Omagwa and the Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano. It is the revenues generated by these airports that FAAN uses to maintain others. This explains why aviation labour unions are resisting the planned concession of these major airports by the federal government.

Desperate to generate money from the airports, in 2016 the federal government directed that airports must be made viable and 25 per cent of their earnings should be paid into government coffers.

It therefore instructed FAAN to make all its airports generate revenues in order to meet financial targets and also sustain their operations.

With this development, FAAN was put under obligation to find ways to make the docile airports generate revenue and in response to the directive, the agency set up a committee to visit those airports to look at the possibility of developing non-aeronautical revenue sources to attract people to them. These included the four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano and then Enugu, which was also designated as an international airport in 2013.

But it is not only the airports under the management of FAAN that are not viable.

About a year ago the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) withdrew services from privately owned airports like Osubi in Warri over the inability of the airport management to pay navigational charges. Recently FAAN also withdrew services from airports in Gombe and Kebbi over the failure of these airports to pay security and fire cover charges that run into millions of naira.

These are evident that the airports are not viable. Some industry experts have posited that there was no need building such airports because there are low flight movements to these airports so they cannot generate enough revenues to sustain their operations.

Industry consultant and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, had told THISDAY that the major reason why many Nigerian airports

are not viable was because they rely more on aeronautical revenues. He noted that 70 per cent of the revenues earned by most airports in the country come from aeronautical revenue sources, adding that if well exploited, non-aeronautical sources could generate more revenues for these airports.

Conversely, he noted that in some airports in Europe, the US and other parts of the world, non-aeronautical revenues have surpassed that of aeronautical, which are largely levied on airlines and passengers, but non-aeronautical including revenues earned from other activities like sales outlets, hospitality facilities and other services provided by entrepreneurs who use the airports as business rendezvous.

Industry experts have argued that state owned airports should bring in the private sector to develop businesses at the airports, the same thing with airports built and managed by FAAN. Aligbe noted that airports should be made friendly and charges should not be stifling so that more people, including those who are not travelling should be attracted to come and use the airports.

For example, it has been confirmed that the domestic terminal in Lagos built by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), known as MMA2, is the most viable airport facility in Nigeria.

THISDAY gathered that the terminal earns more revenue from non-aeronautical sources than aeronautical sources because it remains the best airport facility in the last 12 years and it offers many services to airport and non-airport users.

MMA2 has eateries, super market, body fitness facility, car park for about 2000 cars, business shopping centres, banks and others.

It is believed that state owned airports like the Uyo airport; the Asaba airport, the Kebbi airport and the Gombe could establish nonaeronautical businesses that could attract non-air travellers to patronize businesses at the airports. For example, many airports have budget hotels and sports facilities.

Maybe taking a cue from BASL, FAAN has automated its car park at the General Aviation Terminal in Lagos (known as MMA1) and inside agency sources said that its revenues from the car park has more than doubled because in the past, motorists could just pay N300 and park their cars from morning till night, but with automation, after the first one hour, which is about N400, the motorist pay N100 every extra hour.

If FAAN and state governments that run own airports could provide incentives to private entrepreneurs, these airports could be made to become business emporia in addition to their aeronautical services.

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Airport Security: Managing Insider Threat The greatest threat to airport security is the conspiracy of insiders who always breach security for personal reasons. Chinedu Eze writes that with revelations in the Kano airport drug trafficking ring, Nigeria may not be insulated from this dangerous threat Investigations into the crash of Metrojet Flight 9268, which exploded shortly after take-off from Sham El Sheik International Airport in Egypt on October 31, 2015, had shown that bomb was planted in the cargo hold of the aircraft by aviation handling personnel at the airport.

The flight was operated by an Airbus A321, which was destroyed by the bomb, killing all the 224 persons onboard.

Writing about the crash a year later in Newsweek magazine, an aviation analyst had said the bomb was “tucked between two suitcases in the (cargo) hold. Russian investigators believe it was placed there during loading by a baggage handler who was loyal to an Egyptian offshoot of the Syria-based Islamic State militant group (ISIS).�

In other words, an aviation worker sympathising with the ISIS cause planted the bomb in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

The magazine further noted, “The Metrojet attack raises questions about not only Egyptian security but about a key vulnerability of all airports: the risk not from passengers but from airport staff. If investigators are right and militants did use sympathetic ground staff to smuggle the bomb on board Metrojet Flight 9268, then that might not be just a Egyptian or Sharm el-Sheikh problem; it could be a global problem.�

Newsweek quoted Philip Baum, author of Violence in the Skies: A History of Aircraft Hijacking and Bombing, who said, “We are not screening people who work in restricted areas properly—that is definitely one of [aviation’s] Achilles’ heels. All recent terror attacks have bypassed conventional passenger screening entirely.�

The above revelation throws light on the danger of air travel when the security system at the airports is perforated by insider threat.

The report of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the activities of drug trafficking syndicate at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, reflects the insider threat incident in the Metrojet bombing.

Similarities The bomb was planted by a staff of a handling company, just as the Kano airport drug syndicate is made up of airport workers who implicated Zainab with prohibited drug that would have cost her life in Saudi Arabia if not for Nigeria’s diplomatic intervention.

NDLEA revealed that Idris Umar Shehu, Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sanni Hamisu. The cartel had allegedly planted the tramadol-bearing luggage on Zainab’s tag. All these were aviation workers. One is a staff of an airline handling company, three were clearing agents, and two others were staff of Security Company, so they all work at the airport.

NDLEA also disclosed, “In May, 2017, some officials of airline handling company colluded with a passenger to ferry narcotic drugs ephedrine and used their official pass to take the drug to the tarmac where it was loaded to the airplane.

Implication Since these airport workers obviously aid drug traffickers, any of them could be tempted to aid terrorist group that may be willing to pay or they believe in their cause. In whichever way, the security of the airport is going to be breached.

Industry stakeholder and CEO of Centurion Securities, Group Captain John Ojikutu, noted that there is high level of insider threat in the nation’s airports and such could have tragic consequences for Nigeria. “What has happened in Kano has shown that there is high level of insiders’ threat and not only in Kano but at most of our airports.

They are among the airport staff, airlines staff, ground services and allied staff. Note that there were seven arrests were made in the case of the cartel in Kano, but only six names were

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano

mentioned and only Rhoda has employer: the employers of the others are not known. So long there is a cover up on the others employers, there are rooms for insiders’ threats. “It is generally not known if background checks are sufficiently done on the airport staff: what I often hear that is done on them after their recruitment are security checks by the police which are not adequate as background checks. “So if we have high number of Nigerians arrested outside the country on outbound journey, it is either our security defense layers for outbound passengers are faulty or they are compromised by the insiders’ threats. Check this out; the NDLEA seems to be more active on inbound arrests than outbound, why? “In other words, why do we hear more of inbound arrest than outbound arrest or why do airports outside country arrest more outbound Nigerians than we do? There is compromise among staff of all airport agencies including the airlines,� Ojikutu said.

“We have improved the screening of the airport. Cameras have been put all over the place to monitor every human activity. We are also fixing X-ray machines both at the entrance and at the exit before the passenger goes to board his flight,� she said.

The General Manager also disclosed that FAAN and the federal government have adopted a new security system, called security without borders, whereby every security operative from the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs, NDLEA, State Security Service and Aviation Security would have the power to arrest any passenger suspected to have contravened the rules of engagement or is seen to be with prohibited items, including drugs.

Securing Luggage Yakubu advised travelers to monitor their luggage until it is taken into the conveyor belt for check-in. She said passengers should take picture of the tag on their bags, record the weight so that if there were any bag added to it, the picture would show the actual luggage Reinforced Security The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal the passenger checked in.

She also advised travelers to go to the airport Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, told THISDAY that since and check in by themselves instead of using the report of the Zainab incident at the Kano proxies so that unscrupulous people would not airport, the agency has carried out strategic take advantage of any loophole such may cause. “Take the picture of the weight of your bag security reinforcement at the airport and other airports under its management in order to forestall and your tag. Many Nigerians travelling usually have lower baggage weight because people travel similar incident from happening. “Our Managing Director, Mr. Saleh Dunoma with empty bags to buy things and bring back, has visited the Mallam Aminu Kano International but henceforth Nigerian should be more careful.

Airport about three times to preside over security Buy your tickets, check in your luggage so that you will be sure of what is in your bag�, she reinforcement at the place. advised.

Take the picture of the weight of your bag and your tag. Many Nigerians travelling usually have lower baggage weight because people travel with empty bags to buy things and bring back, but henceforth Nigerian should be more careful.

Buy your tickets, check in your luggage so that you will be sure of what is in your bag

Background Check Yakubu said FAAN has started conducting background checks on all the personnel that work at the airports to ensure that they are clean and that anyone suspected to be compromised would be thrown out of the airport. She added that a Presidential Committee on security at the airports has blocked all the loopholes that previously existed.

Great Challenge To a former Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Richard Aisuebeogun, insider threat remains a great challenge to airport security because terrorists could use money to secure insider collaborator or through religious or political belief.

THISDAY investigations showed that some security operatives pay to be posted to the major airports and allegedly settle their superiors that they would be retained to continue to work at such

airports. It is the same with other organisations that work at the airports, including handling companies, clearing agents and others. “This is because there is always something to be done that can earn you money at the major airports and when some security operatives personnel are transferred out of the airport, they found their way back,� said some airport workers that spoke to THISDAY. Handling Companies When security breaches happen at the airports, handling companies are rarely the focus but their personnel play significant roles in passenger and cargo facilitation at the airports.

They also have not highly skilled manpower that could be used to penetrate the critical and restricted areas of the airport. A handling company official told THISDAY that some of the baggage handlers could easily be wooed to compromise security with financial inducement because of their young age and the level of education of most of them. “So we pay so much attention on them to ensure they don’t breach security. We don’t hesitate to sack anyone that breaches our rules.

That is why new workers are regularly engaged and it is not easy getting them On Duty Cards (ODC), the official said.

However, the Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO), Mr. Basil Agboarumi, advised airline and aviation handling companies should monitor their employees and ensure that they do the right things and if any one’s behavior casts doubt on the sincerity of his duties, the person should be shown the door out. “Everybody employed in a company knows the rules, but a staff can sabotage the rules for his own benefits. For example, we put our staff that we employ and post to various airports to the same processes and procedures. “We profile them and before they will be given On Duty Card (ODC) that allows them to go to the restricted areas of the airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), they are further scrutinized by the agency,�

Agnoarumi said.

He said workers at the airport, from airline staff, security agencies, handling companies and airport management personnel need to cooperate to fight against crimes at the airports. “In our company if we suspect you, we investigate you and if you are found wanting we boot you out. You cannot be too sure of anybody, but if we suspect you, we send you out. So I advise that there should be cooperation among the companies and workers at the airport,� he said.

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Ending Exploitation of Nigerian Seafarers Eromosele Abiodun urges the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to properly implement the cabotage policy and put an end to the exploitation of Nigerian seafarers About 90 per cent of world trade is carried out by the shipping industry today. The world fleet of over 50,000 merchant ships is registered in over 150 nations and manned by over a million seafarers of virtually every nationality.

It is a known fact that more than 90 per cent of the world trade is carried by ships and these ships are manned and operated by seafarers.

Hence, it can be safely said that 90 per cent of mankind’s needs are being served by directly or indirectly by seafarers.

Experts believe that with the recent advancement in technology wherein ships are gradually moving towards being unmanned, this could be deemed as a threat to the seafaring profession.

While it might affect the profession in some way, leading practitioners are optimistic that the years of theoretical knowledge, practical applications, and experience at sea can never be replaced by a machine or a controller sitting in an air conditioned office a few kilometres from home.

The sea and winds, they argued, do not always follow the predicted patterns, adding that the human angle to shipping will always be invaluable. They added that the expertise gained over the years trumps any new challenges to the profession making the seafarer is indispensable.

Nigeria is a country that is richly endowed with a lot of maritime potential, yet, while seaborne trade continues to expand, and the shipping industry is considered a highly efficient mode of transport, corruption has become one of the industry’s biggest challenges in Nigeria. Concession to foreigners in employment, waivers, bribery, Social extortion by officials, even of small amounts, is powerful because small delays have very high costs.

In Nigeria, the shipping industry provides jobs for thousands of foreigners while little could be said for Nigerian nationals. However, as critical as seafarers are to the nation, the practitioners are often treated shabbily by ship owners who mostly the employers of seafarers.

Cabotage Act to the Rescue?

Nigeria made attempt to salvage the situation when in 2003, it enacted the Cabotage Act, which came into operation in 2004. The major objectives that were intended to be achieved with the implementation of the Act include restriction of the use of foreign vessels in domestic coastal trade and the promotion of the development of indigenous tonnage with the aim to protecting and empowering Nigerians, especially the entrepreneurs who are engaged in the maritime enterprises to become masters in the trade. The Cabotage Act 2003, defines cabotage as “the carriage of goods or passengers by vessels from one place in Nigeria or above Nigerian waters to any other place in Nigeria or above Nigerian waters, either directly or via a place outside Nigeria and that includes the carriage of goods in relation to the exploration, exploitation or transportation of mineral or non-living natural resources of Nigeria in or under Nigerian waters.�

The purport of the Act is that all economic activities including carriage (whether of passengers or cargo) within Nigeria’s coastal waters should be indigenised and reserved for Nigerians. Also, since most of the activities carried out in the sector relate to shipping services, it is implied that for Nigerians to participate in the coastal trade, they must own vessels which apart from being Nigerian built, must be registered and crewed by Nigerians.

Though the past three years has seen a high implementation of the cabotage law in the area of ships staff being Nigerians there is still a lot to be done as only few ships are complying, in spite of the government rhetoric that waivers are being denied for junior officers. “There are still a high number of ships and companies not complying, they go as far as bringing in crew through Lome in any sister ship and once they get to Lagos they are dispatched to the vessels they are assigned by speed boat and when these vessels get to port they officials of bribes to NIMASA officials to

overlook the law. Sadly enough, high ranking officials of NIMASA, are aware of such deals that makes the companies untouchable. The Nigerian government has not been successful in its bid to assure the needed development of indigenous participation in the sector,� said a seafarer who does not want his name in print.

Job Scarcity for Seafarers According to him, “Why spend billions of naira on training youths and keeping them unemployed, why give out waivers when most Nigerian seafarers are out of job. The waiver principle is based on either of three reasons i.e. non-availability, reciprocity or bilateral agreements reached between two states. And only applicable (waivers) for the top senior positions of captain, chief officer, chief engineer and second engineer and which will be in time phased out totally. The conditions for the grant of waivers are expressly stated and provided for in the Act to prevent situations whereby grant of waivers will be used to circumvent the noble objectives of the Act. “Before granting any waiver application, the Minister must be satisfied that the requirement requested to be waived is not available locally .NIMASA spent billions in the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) training young Nigerians in the fields of marine engineering and nautical science in other to be productive and relevant in the industry, yet most of the positions are occupied by foreigners. After some months of implementing the law the country is gradually going back to status quo bribing for waivers for the junior officers though. This creates bottlenecks and unemployment for Nigerians. How are the waivers still being issued for junior rank positions, in the maritime industry, whereas we have thousands of Nigerians, qualified and looking for the same job? “Except for captains and chief engineers, Nigeria has enough manpower to handle the maritime sector. And the trainee positions are reserved specially for foreigners. I am of the belief that the provision of the waiver system is the one which hinders the effective implementation of the cabotage policy. The discretionary power granted to the minister in the Act is one that can be subjected to abuse.�

He added that cargo clearing process in Nigeria’s sea ports which includes the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), numerous stakeholders across several jurisdictions fuels corruption. “This creates huge opportunities for corrup-

tion such as facilitation payments, one of the biggest problems by shipping companies in Nigeria. All the agencies, including NIMASA, Immigration and Custom are more interested in bribes being given by ship captains,� he stated.

Pay Discrepancy “The pay discrepancy is another area NIMASA as an organisation has failed to protect the citizen’s right. As a sailor, I work averagely 10 hours a day, a very high risk job, and can be called at any time for emergency. I am away from my family for months. I don’t have access to phones, internet but the only thing the NIMASA officials consider is that you are earning more than they are in the office.

Foreign companies bring payment structure they want to implement but because of the gifts they receive they don’t ask questions of the companies payment structure. I have seen where an Oiler (an Indian national) collecting $1800 monthly salary, and “a Nigerian national same job, same position, same licence, with more experience with a monthly take home of $361. In fact, the Indian was collecting $300 more than my salary where as I am his boss.

A foreigner of the same rank with me gets a salary of $2700, same job, same hours, and I am more experienced than he is. I once showed a NIMASA official our contracts, but he was more interested in munching on the snacks they were served and bribes they were hoping to collect than on my plight. Although that goes to all the agencies in the port who are more interested in their pockets than jobs,�he added.

Way Out On what should be done to ensure seafarers welfare, he said the provision of the Cabotage Act is clear as regards its intention is to promote indigenous participation in domestic coastal trade and also promote the development of indigenous tonnage. “The challenges which are preventing the Act from achieving this intention have been highlighted. It is therefore the writer’s intention to make recommendations which will go a long way in aiding the development of the local maritime industry. On the issue of grant of waivers, the criteria listed for its grant are elastic and can be easily abused by corrupt officials. “To this end, it is important that the minister, in exercising this discretionary power, exercise

extreme care and ensure that all applications brought before him are screened carefully by checking available registers so as to be sure that Nigerian vessels or seafarers are actually not available to fill the required vacancies for which waiver has been applied. It is necessary that this is done so as not to render the cabotage policy ineffective,� he said.

NIMASA, he said, should begin to live up to its responsibilities of being a regulatory and enforcement agency. “The agency should be fully resourced with competent staff who are properly trained.

Also, comprehensive and transparent monitoring systems should be put into place so as to achieve an effective compliance with the Cabotage Act. Urgent steps should be taken to further develop the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, by injecting funds into it so that it can live up to its duties of training Nigerians, in all cadres of maritime manpower so that they would be effective in manning the operating vessels used in the cabotage regime. Also, a situation whereby foreign vessels would continue to dominate the local market should be discouraged. “Finally, the criminal liability provided for in the Act should be reversed as that stiffer penalties will be meted out to offenders.

It is felt that only where the punishment is stiffer, that the companies will see the necessity of complying with the provisions of the law. Setting up a hotline line where seafarer will report directly to NIMASA anonymously of vessels not complying with the law,� he said.

He added: “There is no doubt that the Cabotage policy if properly implemented will on the long run be a boost to the Nigerian shipping industry and economy in general. To this end therefore, the success of the law depends on everyone i.e. the government and the private sector inclusive. The private sector should look into avenues where it can adequately and effectively participate without assistance from the government. “The government should also ensure that an enabling environment where investments will thrive is assured. Also the public should continue to act as a watchdog so as to prevent a situation where unscrupulous elements will prevent the law from achieving its objective of improving the maritime industry.�

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Deepening Pension Contribution The National Pension Commission’s recently released the Retirement Savings Accounts’ remittance data for the fourth quarter of 2018 showed that N7.42 billion was remitted within the period. Beyond the remittances, PenCom has for years taken major steps to deepen the pension industry and protect contributors’ investments, writes Oluchi Chibuzor The National Pension Commission (PenCom’s) Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) N7.42 billion remittances for the fourth quarter of last year raises lots of hope for pension contributors and the industry. It also shows the private sector still ahead of public sector in terms of RSA remittances.

The PenCom exists for the effective regulation and supervision of the Nigerian pension industry to ensure that retirement benefits are paid as and when due.

According to the report, PenCom received a total of 3,046 applications for the issuance of Pension Compliance Certificates, out of which 2,044 were approved and issued. Also, 1,002 applications were rejected for failing to meet appropriate requirements. The report shows that the cumulative number of applications received during the year was 16,536 out, of which 16,100 were approved and issued certificates while 436 were rejected. PenCom reiterated that it continued to apply various strategies to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2014.

The pension industry had achieved a 1.63 per cent growth in the scheme membership during the fourth quarter of 2018, moving from 8.34 million contributors at the end of the preceding quarter to 8.47 million.

The report showed that the growth recorded in the industry membership was driven by the RSA Scheme, which had an increase of 138,236 contributors representing 1.64 per cent.

The RSA registrations also grew by 0.82 per cent (29,455) in RSA membership from the public sector to stand at 3.6 million. The figure represents 42.92 per cent of the total RSA registrations.

Also, the private sector membership rose by 2.32 per cent (108,781) in the quarter under review, which brought total registrations from this sector to 4.8 representing 57.08 per cent of total RSA membership. This growth could be attributed to the increased level of compliance by the private sector.

Further analysis of the report showed that the commission received 1,282 applications for transfer of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) applications totaling N56.78 million.

PenCom stated that stated that all applications received were processed and transferred to the RSAs of the NSITF members. From inception to December 2018, N19.64 billion had been transferred to the RSAs of 272,463 NSITF contributors.

PenCom under its Director-General, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar maintained that the services of Recovery Agents (RAs) for the recovery of outstanding pension contributions and penalty from defaulting employers.

The RAs were mandated to review the pension records of the employers assigned by the Commission with a view to recovering outstanding pension contributions with the penalty.

Therefore, for the period under review, the sum of N365.56 million was recovered by the RAs. This brings the total recoveries made by the Agents from the inception of the exercise in 2012 to date to N15.36 billion, representing the principal contribution of N7.87 billion and penalty of N7.49 billion.

Increased Enrolment The PenCom said it has enrolled no fewer than 8.5 million people into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) since its inception 15 years ago.

Head of Communication Department of PenCom, Peter Aghahowa, made the disclosure at the just concluded 30th Enugu International Trade Fair.

The scheme introduced in 2004 by the federal government was a process where certain percentage of enrolees’ salaries was saved on monthly basis in a pool with the employers also contributing.

The scheme had PenCom as the regulatory body with Pension Fund Administrators (PFA) working in their behest.

Aghahowa, said the scheme had made the life of retirees much easier, unlike the defined benefits

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 selfemployed 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.

Dahir-Umar

scheme which it replaced.

He, however, said it was sad that in spite of the enormous advantages inherent in the scheme, some state governments had yet to embrace it to make life better for retirees in their respective states. “The federal government went into the contributory scheme as the old scheme became unsustainable due to huge debt deposits. “This new scheme is funded ab initio and it reduces the financial load on government,� he said.

Aghahowa said it had become imperative for every state of the federation to queue into the scheme for easy pension administration.

The PenCom spokesperson, however, said in spite of current challenges facing certain pensioners under the old scheme, more funds were being released for pensioners that started under the defined benefits scheme.

Protecting Contributors PenCom recently barred pension fund administrators from investing in the bonds of nine states that have yet to amend their state pension laws and join the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). This restriction might be extended to 15 other states that had joined the CPS, but were not showing full commitment to funding the Retirement Savings Accounts of their workers.

The CPS was established under the Pension Reform Act to replace the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).

This was because the DBS had huge liabilities, which were not being funded, leading to situations where retirees endured long waits to get their entitlements, while many of them died without being paid. Unfortunately, the same scenario, which was prevalent in states operating the DBS, is now happening in the states operating the CPS due to poor funding of the scheme.

Aghahowa, said the commission could not impose the CPS on the states, but could only use moral suasion. He said, “The states have to enact the laws to do the CPS because they are going to operate based on the provisions of the laws. We can only encourage them because of the benefits in the scheme.�

According to him, if any state plans to raise funds through pension bonds, it must have met the CPS criteria before it could have access to such. For now, he said, those that had not enacted the laws were being encouraged to do so.

He said “We don’t invest in bonds of states that have not enacted their laws. We have some that are not complying properly, some are complying partially. I believe we will review some of those things again. But for now, if you have not even

enacted any law, don’t think we will start investing in your bonds.�

Micro Pension PenCom recently 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 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 micro-pension scheme. Dahir-Umar said that self-employed 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

Other Milestones PenCom has also deployed the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) Multi-Fund Structure conceived by the commission to align with contributors’ risk appetite with their investment horizon, at each stage of their life cycle.

The RSA Multi-Fund Structure are to achieve optimum returns for contributors by aligning their pension savings with their individual risk/return profiles, provide investment portfolio choices to contributors, and enhance safety of pension assets through adequate portfolio diversification, through increased investment in equities and alternative assets, such as infrastructure and private equity.

We have recorded some successes so far.

As at December 31, 2018, the RSA Fund had been successfully split into four funds, while the sensitisation of RSA contributors is still ongoing to create awareness on the features of the RSA Multi-Fund Structure.

The commission, in line with the provision of the PRA 2014, has developed a Framework for Recovery of Outstanding Pension Contributions with penalty for defaulting employers.

Based on the framework, the commission has engaged recovery agents for continuous enrolment into the CPS and recovery of un-remitted pension contributions plus penalty from defaulting employers.

The recovery, which has been largely successful, has boosted the confidence of contributors and by extension encouraged non-participating employees and employers to embrace the scheme.

Through the initiative of recovery agent, N15.31 billion representing a principal contribution of N7.85 billion and penalty of N7.46 billion have been recovered from defaulting employers.

Both the principal contributions and penalty have been credited into the workers’ RSA accounts.

The penalty is meant to compensate for the income that would have been earned if the contributions were remitted as and when due.

The commission is also prosecuting recalcitrant employers who fail to remit their employees’ pension contributions into their RSAs. As at today, the commission has instituted legal actions against 167 recalcitrant employers. Of that number, 78 have opted to settle out of court, 34 judgments have been obtained and 23 are at different stages in the courts.

Besides, the commission has a fully functional Complaints Monitoring and Resolution Team, which attends to complaints on non/late/ under-remittance of pension contributions into employees RSAs.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

Nkeiruka Onyejeocha: It’s Time to Prove Gender Equality in Race for Speakership

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COVER NKEIRUKA ONYEJEOCHA: IT’S TIME TO PROVE GENDER EQUALITY IN RACE FOR SPEAKERSHIP

The only woman vying to be Speaker of the House of Representatives in the ninth Assembly, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, representing Umunneochi/Isiukwuato Federal Constituency,Abia State, insists she has all it takes to oversee the Green Chamber. In this interview with CHARLES AJUNWA and AHAMEFULA OGBU, while pointing out that electing a woman as Speaker will put to practice the section of the constitution that outlaws discrimination, she added that her hailing from the South-east makes it a double barrel of inclusion What attracted you to go into politics?

There was no attraction at all, I was just sitting down one day and someone called me that we have to host the governor of Abia State, so after a long deliberation, we did and he said he would like to appoint me as commissioner.

Has being a woman impacted negatively on you as a politician?

How can? The things people call challenge or negativity of woman being in politics are my strengths, so there is nothing negative about it, how? Has anybody said being a woman has impacted negatively on her? If you are running an election the men also run, if you are campaigning, they also campaign, if they are doing anything we do, I mean, politics does not have any correlation to being a woman or not, that is why when I talk about my background, I went to the same primary school with the boys, went to the same secondary school with the boys apart from when I had to change school because the school I was in had their result seized due to malpractices and at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, boys and girls took the same course and at Imo State University for my Masters we took same course; at every point and every school you go, boys and girls take same course, there is no time they will keep you somewhere for a tougher course because you are a boy. I have children, girls who are studying Engineering, so there is nothing that gender would bring to any human being that would be negative. You have pluses.

Do you think that the House of Representatives is ripe to have a female Speaker?

That’s the point, now is the time because I do not know whether the people who came before me apart from her Excellency, Hon. Patricia Ette, whether there were other people who had gotten up to this ranking up to fourth term. When we came they said we were not ranking and that we were not going to be chairman and the second term they said we were not ranking enough. Now because I am a ranking member, I think that qualifies me and then you know the men, every time we are on the floor of the House, when we bring issue of gender and other related issues, they will quote the constitution where there should not be any discrimination based on gender issue or discrimination against persons based on sex, ethnicity, religion and so on. Now is the time to prove that there is no discrimination against anybody based on the constitution.

What experiences are you bringing to the table assuming you are elected Speaker?

Of course, I have learnt from three previous Speakers, even the current one.

Those experiences will come to play. Apart from that, I would like the ninth Assembly to have more robust collaboration with the executive on issue of budget. I will push that the executive should partner the process in budgetary processes, not just they go and do their thing and dump it on us and want us to just pass it that way, it is one agenda as Speaker that I will like to push. The executive should understand that we are all Nigerians, I am coming from one constituency and we have 360 constituencies and 109 senators and all of us are representatives of the people. In knowing what they have in their budget, we should be able to work on the same page to know for instance that this year; we are focusing on agriculture and should be able to say in Umudike University, this is what we need to do. In Bayero University of Agriculture, XYZ, this is what we have to do. You have that engagement from day one and then we must be able to implement our MTEL,

Gbajabiamila factor and the decision of the party?

He was Minority Leader before and as I speak, he is the Leader of the House. The way to handle him is just to advise him that as a leader of the eight Assembly that he should advise the party properly based on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he swore to uphold.

Onyejeocha

Medium Term Expenditure Framework which says if you have a three year programme, that if you have N100 million, this year you give N40 million, you are left with N60 million, in the second year you bring N30 million in the third year you bring N30 million and so if the executive partners the parliament there would not be the issue of you padded or removed something from the budget and because we can’t be rubber stamped. Why you see, issue of the term padding is because like I chair Aviation, I know some projects that have been completed and then a new minister will just bring that project maybe because people who worked on it either they did not go to oversight, you know we oversight and we always go to those sites and we see what is ground and someone going to bring all those projects again then we will not allow it.

Sometimes you even see projects we promised Nigerians that we have seen the level of completion, that once we come maybe since 25 per cent was left, we will support the executive to complete it in the coming budget; then the executive will bring the budget and they will not put such in the budget. Do you want us to just sit down and just watch them even when we know that most of them will not even have gone to their states or even have been abreast of such projects that we are talking about, knowing fully well that we represent the 360 constituencies including the senators that we are collaborating with because in every senatorial district you must have member of the House of Representatives and the projects you are talking about in the budget are the ones domiciled in Nigeria.

The other is that oversight of projects must be seriously enforced to get them you must have deliverables, timelines that must be attached to anything we are doing, even beams, everything we must we must tag it with time frame. Once we have these two things, Nigeria will see a better parliament. Of course, I will engage in robust discussions about the parliament like informing Nigerians on the working of the parliament which I am sorry to say that many Nigerians do not understand.

They rate us like executives, that is why in your constituency if you don’t attract projects they will say you are not doing anything and that is why as we speak, from over 20 women, we are only 11 that are coming back in the ninth Assembly, apparently people of their constituencies wanted them to build roads and other

projects but they couldn’t and some of them may not come back due to zoning.

How can you zone parliament? All over the world, you don’t zone parliament, you continue to come back as long as your people want you to be reelected. When people keep pushing that it is our turn, it pushes down the level of competency of the parliament and the people that complain because even if you are reelected what I do today I couldn’t have been able to do them at the sixth or seventh Assembly. Federal government spend a lot of money in training parliamentarians in bill making, drafts, motions and even how to track funds on oversight. All those knowledge would just get wasted on issue of zoning. Nigerians if they know would know who to send to parliament and those to send to the executive. Thank God, now the federal government is saying that local government funds will go directly to the local government and there would be a lot of funds there and people will go there instead of coming to the parliament, so most people will go back and want to be their local government chairmen because that is where they would be able to do those things their constituents want them to do, build roads, schools, infrastructure and a lot of social intervention.

But if you want to make the parliament less attractive, you have to reduce the jumbo pay of members‌? (cuts in) I have not seen anything that is jumbo in our pay, I can tell you that.

The road to the ofďŹ ce of Speaker is said to be lined with banana peels, how are going to navigate through that?

Experience counts. I am Chairman of Committee on Aviation, so what do you even call banana peels? I do not know and have not seen any banana anywhere, so I don’t think there will be any peel. If there is no banana, there won’t be any peel.

Have you tried to rally women to your side as there is this insinuation that women rarely support their ilk?

I am a woman and I have been supporting women all my life from widows to lessprivileged, underage girls and those with different challenges and I am a woman and have not seen myself go against any woman so how do I believe that women are not supporting themselves and any woman will go against me? I don’t believe that.

How are you handling the Hon. Femi

Declaring interest on the Speakership seems to go against the general perception that the party has some preferred candidates?

The party has right to a preferred candidate and that is why I am still talking with the party, to everyone and even you to say we need to go back to the drawing board and look at this issue critically because there is no way anybody would think that South-east would not reckon because we are part of Nigeria and the president said he would include all the zones and that he is going to run an allinclusive government. I am not saying anything new from what the president has said and peradventure the party did not hear him, I am reminding the party that this is what the president said and so you have to help the president to move the country to the next level with APC (All Progressives Congress) which is what my own party is preaching and becoming the Speaker is part of moving the country to the next level. That is about including all geopolitical zones and including women.

Our party also said that when they were campaigning.

How will you strike a balance between opposition parties in the House and your party?

In the National Assembly, once you are elected you are representing 360 constituencies and these people are Nigerians and there is no balance to strike, people are treated on who they are, that is why once you form the ninth Assembly, you set up a committee on Rules and Business where you also have selection committee where every member that is elected will go and submit their preferences because you will see people who are coming from different professions. Somebody may want to be in Information Committee, another person may want to be in the Judiciary Committee and another person, Agriculture. That Selection Committee must be represented by at least one person from each state.

There are rules and if you check chapter 2, section 14(3) of the 1999 Constituency you will see where it said that even in sharing offices, including National Assembly, that you will not share it in such a way that one ethnic group would be predominant against the others. That is the constitution, justice according to law.

What is your understanding of the independence of the legislature from the standpoint of you being a Speaker?

What I understand is that you have three arms of government that should be independent of each other to ensure checks and balances but they should have Nigeria as their focal point so that everything they do should be in the interest of Nigeria.

That means there must be collaboration.

Parliament cannot work in isolation.

As Speaker, what would be your contribution in stabilising the polity?

We have 360 members and constituencies, everyone will bring his expertise to the table to ensure that there is no fear or favour in issues of policy of government.

What is your message to fellow House members?

I am putting myself forward, they should vote me and voting me means we believe in one Nigeria inclusive of all sections.

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NEWS

ClericsTasksFGonSpateofKillingsintheNorth Stories by Mary Nnah Following the torrent of killings currently taking in the Northern part of Nigeria, the Archbishop of Lagos Province of the African Church, His Grace, The Most Rev Julius Oludotun Ogunseye has passionately appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action.

He tasked the government to curb what he described as “spate of senseless and needless killings� that is currently ravaging several parts of Northern Nigeria.

Speaking on the state of the nation during a press briefing that heralded the opening of the second Bi-annual Congress of Lagos Province of the African Church Bethlehem last Friday, Ogunseye said it was mindful to note that there cannot be any meaningful development in any nation bedevilled with security challenges.

He said therefore that the Federal Government should live above politics to decisively deal with

L-R: Mrs. Olatokunbo Ige; Pastor Brown Oyitso and wife Helen; Youth Pastor, Yemi Temowo; Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye and Pastor Osato Noah, during the event

the current escalation of insurgency, kidnapping, killing of innocent citizens, and terrorism in some parts of the country.

Speaking on the theme of the congress tagged, “In Him We Have Our

Redemption�, the cleric said that the human race had once been guilty and convicted of sin through the first parents on earth – Adam and Eve, and by implication were meant to serve the punishment

for the sin of disobedience by experiencing hardship, affliction and death.

He noted further that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, redemption came, adding that God does not want

PeakMilkDeepensSupportforAYLiveShow FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak Milk further deepened support for the AY Live Comedy Show when it recently thrilled its numerous consumers to a night of laughter, fun, and good vibes as they were entertained at the comedy show held at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The show lived up to its billing as Nigeria’s biggest comedy show with a line-up of A-list performers such as I Go Dye, Helen Paul, Funny Bone, Gordons, Akpororo, Kenny Blaq, Eboh Bomb, and others dishing out jokes from their repertoire.

From an exquisite blue carpet experience which featured 2018 Big Brother Africa Finalist, Tobi Bakre and Tinsel Actress, Linda Ejiofor, the Peak experience had guests voting for their favourite ‘breakfast parties’ while treated to milk-fruit smoothies and premium gift packs.

any human being to experience hardship and affliction and that was why He provided a saviour, His own dear son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins man had committed.

He stressed therefore

WorldRemitPartnersPaga, LaunchesInternationalMobile Money Transfers Ayodeji Ake

L-R Brand manager Peak, Olabimpe Orimoloye; Marketing Manager Friesland Campina WAMCO, Maureen Ifada; BBA 2018 ďŹ nalist Tobi Bakre; Tinsel Actress, Linda Ejiofor, and Senior Brand Manager Peak, Afolarin Ojo at the recently concluded Peak AY Live 2019

Speaking at the event, Marketing Manager for Peak, Maureen Ifada stressed on Peak’s long- standing support for the event saying: “our brand is committed to nourishing Nigerians to be unstoppable and AY Live, a concert that is sought after both within and outside

Nigeria, demonstrates this by showcasing our greatest local talents�.

Themed “Next Level of comedy�, this edition of AY Live Show featured comedic expressions from several up and coming comedy artists and live skits on trending issues, within and outside

of Nigeria.

For three years, Peak has headlined the AY Live comedy show, consistently witnessing exponential offline and online participation, while driving unique brand affinity and goodwill for the brand. “AY Live continues Peak’s tradition of connecting stand-

that the entire human race in existence is as a result of the favour of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

Ogunseye also called on all state governments to ensure that the payment of the recently Federal Government proposed minimum wage of N30,000 was made operative immediately and paid as at when due.

Also speaking was the Provincial Vice Lay President of the Province, Dr. Segun Adenekan, who reminded the government that the wage is not a realist living salary for workers, but was arrived at after series of negotiations.

He therefore urged governments to ensure the payment cuts across boards, noting that there would always be paucity of funds; hence they should cut reckless spending and manage monies more judiciously.

He also advised state governments to be circumspect and become more knowledgeable on increasing internally generated revenue (IGR).

Leading digital money transfer company, WorldRemit is considerably expanding its presence in Nigeria by joining forces with Paga, Nigeria’s first and leading mobile money company, for international digital money transfers.

Using the WorldRemit app or website, the Nigerian Diaspora living in over 50 countries will soon be able to send money quickly and securely to over 11 million Paga users.

Chief Commercial Officer, WorldRemit, Tamer El-Emary, said, “Paga and WorldRemit share a commitment to making life easier for Nigerians, sending and receiving money.� “With WorldRemit, custom-

ers living in over 50 countries can send money home 24 hours with a few taps from their phones. Our partnership with Paga supports financial inclusion initiatives in Nigeria by introducing a new and convenient way for people to receive money from abroad and directly into their mobile money accounts�, he said.

Founder, Paga, Tayo Oviosu, said: “At Paga, we are committed to making money transfers seamless and convenient. Our partnership with WorldRemit is a further example of our commitment to making it easy to send and receive money digitally. “Many Nigerians in the diaspora support members of their family living in Nigeria, and often times these family members may be depending on that stipend to survive.�

Muoka Harps on Repentance as Solution to Insecurity in the Nation International crusader and General Overseer of The Lords Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, has said that the only solution to the myriads of challenges and insecurity facing the country at the moment is when the citizens truly turn away from their evil deeds and turn completely to Jesus Christ for direction and ultimately embrace His teachings.

Speaking at a recent crusade tagged, “God’s Covenant of Peace and Blessing� which held at the church’s International Headquarters, Ijesha, Lagos, Muoka said there were lots of problems in Nigeria today due to evils perpetuated by the citizens, most especially those in leadership positions.

He noted however that it is only in Christ that the nation can have freedom and solution to the killings, kidnapping and other vices going on at the moment.

He said therefore that all the evildoers should give their lives to Christ, amend their ways and begin to live their lives according to the will of God so as to obtain mercy and direction from God. He said, “Jesus Christ has taken away our sins, sorrows and sufferings. Christ came over 2000 years ago and paid the price for our sins, suffered for us, died and on the third day rose for our justification. “Christ rose for our salvation, so we must embrace Him for us to have peace in our minds and in our nation. This crusade was designed to let the brethren know that Christ’s death earned humanity victory over all problems. “No matter the problem Nigeria is facing now, in Him it is over, because Christ has carried away our sorrow, He has taken away our sins, so whoever gives his life to Christ, arise with Christ and that person has eternal solution to his problems, freedom over sin, afflictions of the devil,

Lord Chosen GO, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, ministering to a mammoth crowd during the crusade

and through Him we have all things. “All that I want to point out is that solution to man’s problems is through Jesus Christ.

You must be born again, so that everybody lives with the fear of God and nobody will turn to vices, robbery, killings and all the wickedness.

“So if the whole people will repent every problem will be solved. But if we are trying to bank on human security, human solution has limitations,

it fails if Christ is not there.

What we are preaching is the truth, if anybody can abide in it, that person will rejoice in the presence of God.�

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

‌Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Mr. P Wants You to Know That He Is Not Managing Recently, Mr. P has been in the news for one thing or the other and the public opinion often held about him is that he is struggling with his solo career. But the artiste who is the other half of the defunct P-Square group is really enjoying his freedom, VANESSA OBIOHA exclusively reports

“I

don’t think I’m ‘managing’, I think I’m enjoying every bit of it,� Mr. P, the other half of the defunct P-Square group said in an exclusive chat with THISDAY. “There is nothing like freedom. There is nothing like you being happy with yourself. You don’t want to get to a point and say ‘if I had known’. For instance, maybe when I get to 56, I will start living a life of regrets. I don’t want that. Now I’m enjoying my freedom. I can still travel and say I’m in charge of myself. I decide what I want to do; there is nothing bigger than freedom.

For example, when Mandela was in jail, all he needed or all he wanted was freedom; freedom is a key, and peace of mind. Today everyone sees me and say ‘Peter you are looking fresher than before.’ Even some of our band members who used to play for us as a group then make similar comments. Now I am enjoying every bit, I’m in charge, I want to do things; I want to do it my own way,� he enthused. As a member of P-Square back then, Peter was usually seen as a dancer, while his younger half was credited as the main voice of the group. But since their messy breakup, Mr. P has changed that notion about him, releasing singles such as ‘For My Head’, Cool It Down’, ‘Look into My Eyes’, and more recently ‘One More Night’ featuring Niniola.

He has also bagged awards and sold out shows across the continent. Recently, he launched a lifestyle brand Zoom Lifestyle Lottery, a digital mobile authorised lottery that is a follow-up to his reality TV show ‘Dance with Peter’.

This new found freedom is why Mr. P prefers to work alone under the management of One Management. He is very confident that it is the best thing that has happened to him. “Nowadays, I’m amazed at what I can do on

Mr.P

stage. I can play longer on stage and trust me there are very few of us in the world that can

dance and sing very well on stage. Sometimes I will be like wow! In the earlier stage, I

couldn’t stay that long, but now? Trust me, 100 per cent,� he concluded.

Get Ready to Forget Wahala Vanessa Obioha Since its return two years ago, Big Brother Naija has developed a thing for ‘wahala’ themes. In 2017, it teased audience with ‘See GoBBe’ where audience revelled in the dramatic affair between housemates Bisola Aiyeola who emerged runner-up in that season and Thin Tall Tony (Anthony Offiong).

The 2018 edition which featured interesting characters like Cee-C, Tobi Bakre, Lolu proved indeed to be ‘Double Wahala’ with the intriguing twists and turns.

For its fourth season, the organisers MultiChoice Nigeria is teasing audience with another enticing theme ‘Forget Wahala’.

The season was announced earlier in the year with the surprise details that the Big Brother House will be situated in Nigeria. The particular location bis yet unknown but there are speculations that the mysterious house will be located in Lagos.

For a long while, MultiChoice Nigeria was pilloried for hosting the Big Brother Naija outside the shores of Nigeria. The wave of criticism started after the leading entertainment company in Nigeria held the 2017 and 2018 editions of the reality show in South Africa.

Its first edition in 2006 however took place in a location in Ikeja area of Lagos State.

To most Nigerians, the organisers actions were unpatriotic even if the company

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and BB Naija Housemates

had in several press briefings argued that the cost of having the Big Brother Naija House, a luxury apartment where the housemates (contestants) are accommodated for the duration of the programme is very expensive in Nigeria coupled with other logistics. Fans of the show felt that the company was robbing them of their national pride.

There were few attempts to boycott the show but none was successful as the show always

provided undiluted entertainment to viewers, owing to the different personalities that spend a lengthy period of time in one house together, totally cut off from the outside world, except on elimination nights. “I think what has not really reached us in Nigeria is the fact that we have actually been running other Big Brother shows in other territories. It makes sense to share the house in South Africa, from a cost perspective. One house that

is purpose built in such a way that Mozambique, Angola, can deploy the property for their versions. We were not in the position then to invest here in a Big Brother House. “We do allude to the costs involved in having a proper state of the art facility to deliver a show that will be enjoyed and in top quality that is expected throughout the world. We are now in the position and the construction is underway,� the company’s General Manager,

Sales and Marketing, Martin Mabutho said at a press briefing in January. Auditions kicked off in February and the season will officially kicked off in June.

Prior to the announcement, MultiChoice Nigeria treated fans to an exclusive reunion show and special pop-up channel on DStv and GOtv. The BBNaija pop-up featured highlights from the previous two seasons – ‘See GoBBe’ and ‘Double Wahala’ and a special reunion show which featured the stars of the BBNaija ‘Double Wahala’ season.

A typical Big Brother House comes with all the perks of luxury life: a lavishly furnished apartment with different rooms for different activities; a beautiful garden for games, gossips and of course love. There are cameras all over the house for the mysterious Big Brother to monitor the activities of the housemates. The organisers are promising audience a very entertaining season as Ebuka ObiUchendu is getting ready to host the show again.

Already, his co-produced film ‘Comatose’ which he starred in alongside South African, Nigerian and Black French speaking African talents premiered at this year’s PanAfrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) to great ovation. The film is centred in the global debate of euthanasia.

Through this initiative, Lojede aims to tell original African stories that can travel. Other projects he is working include a documentary ‘Omo Egun’ and a short film ‘Eje’.

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E-TRENDS

Jacob’s CrossActortoDevelopFeature onThomasSankara

Sankara’s village homestead with relatives.

Fabian Adeoye Lojede

Vanessa Obioha Fabian Adeoye Lojede who played the enigmatic character Bola Abayomi in the Pan-African TV series ‘Jacob’s Cross’ is set to produce a feature on the Burkina Faso’s Pan-African leader Thomas Sankara.

The actor revealed recently in an interview that he paid a visit to the family and received their blessings to go ahead with a feature on the former president of the country. “I visited his family house and his village and it was an amazing and humbling experience. It left me with hope

that if we could produce one of him, we can produce more.�

Sankara is renowned as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution. Through him, the West African country fought imperialism and corruption. He was seen as a man of the people who pushed for a united front of African nations.

Lojede’s project on the iconic leader is part of his Pan-African creative network that will see collaborations from African creatives. “Collaborations is the only way to go.

In as much as Africa is not a country, it is a continent, but somehow we have shared

experiences. And we have far more in common than we actually realize. And I believe the more we’re able to distribute our content in a more structured manner across Africa, obviously, the more marketable commercial it becomes, the bigger the market. “And at the same time, what that does is it allows more African creatives to be able to monetise their work so it’s really important that we reach out and recognise that we have to trade with each other both creatively and otherwise. We used to trade before white people came to Africa so I don’t see any reason why we can’t continue

to do that and look at Africa as one holistic market,�he said.

Already, his co-produced film ‘Comatose’ which he starred in alongside South African, Nigerian and Black French speaking African talents premiered at this year’s Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) to great ovation. The film is centred in the global debate of euthanasia.

Through this initiative, Lojede aims to tell original African stories that can travel.

Other projects he is working include a documentary ‘Omo Egun’ and a short film ‘Eje’.

The Brands Drumming the African Heritage Vanessa Obioha Leading ICT company MTN Nigeria and International Breweries via one of its brand, Trophy Lager were among the major brands that threw their weight behind the just concluded fourth edition of the African Drum Festival.

An initiative of the Government of Ogun State, the festival held its inaugural edition in the state in 2016. Originally dubbed as the Nigerian Drum Festival, it has quickly metamorphosed to African Drum Festival because of the reception and participation it received from other African Countries like Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Uganda, DR Congo and a host of others.

The festival is designed to bring together participants from across the world to showcase the rich cultures of the different ethnic groups through dance, exhibitions, music and Drums. Tapping into the theme of the festival ‘Drumming the Future’ which focused on the potential socio-economic contribution of Drumming to the future of Africa, MTN Nigeria sponsored the festival as part of its continued effort and contribution towards preserving the rich African culture. “MTN as a brand is wholly African, and it is committed to ensuring that the African story is shared with the rest of the world.

Drums are symbolic in the African tradition. They project our strength, tell our story, protect the people and promote our legacies. “For us, this festival is a worthy opportunity to tell the African Drum story to the rest of the world and that is why we have consistently supported the various editions of the festival,� said Feb General Manager, Brand and Communications, MTN Nigeria,

Enugu State Troupe

Richard Iweanoge.

On its part, Trophy Lager which is popularly referred to as the pride of the South-west and widely accepted as the Honourable beer that is deeply rooted in the region’s socio-cultural values aligns with the vision of the festival.

The Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, International Breweries, Otunba Michael Daramola remarked that “the

African Drum Festival is a cultural showpiece which demonstrates our uniqueness, attributes, our rich culture and tradition of the black people. “ Trophy is a beer that is closely linked with culture and a brand that believes in celebrating life and always rising to the occasion to make connections and bring people together.�

The three-day festival which ran from April 25 to 27, featured

over 20 states, 14 foreign countries and 70 private troupes. Notable highlights from the event include performances by the Egbere Band who gave a powerful rendition of Teni the Entertainer smashing hit ‘Case’; Ivory Coast’s Moyo Black Troupe who dazzled the crowd with their superb knowledge of Nigerian music with their powerful rendition of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s

evergreen hit ‘Lady’; and of course the Anambra State Troupe that got Sally Mbanefo, a former Director General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation dancing.

As part its sponsorship, Trophy organised a music concert which was headlined by two music greats, Pasuma and 9ice whose genres resonate with the culture of the Ogun people. They performed to resounding applause of acceptance

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POTPOURRI

“GlossingoverEconomicIssuesaDisservicetoNigeria�-Cleric Oluchi Chibuzor The lead pastor of the Evangelical Pentecostal Church (EPC), Iheanyi Ejiogu has called on Christian leaders across the country not to gloss over economic issues to their members, but rather make them see church as a medium and not a solution

ground.

This he said will help them balance spirituality with reality of economic situation in the country. He stated this at the church’s second edition of Dogood Friday Initiative, held recently in two locations in Lagos to give hope to the less privilege in the society.

The Dogood initiative is programme organise by

the church to give members of the community free gift item ranging from food, clothing, free medical consultation and legal advice.

Ejiogu noted that rather than turning the church to a praying ground, churches should become more socially responsible towards teaching members on economic issues on how

to make wealth through entrepreneurial activities. “Glossing over the issue of economy is the greatest disservice we can do to our economy, churches should go beyond revival meetings, crusade, outreaches, but must begin to do economic empowerment programmes and teaching members on how to turn money around and come

Oba of Lagos Lauds Terra Cubes, Commends Quality

up with small industries that will pay more people on the long run. “Sometimes Christians get so carried away with spiritual dimension and forget there is a social responsibility clues inside spirituality. As a spiritual minded person you should be aware of the needs of other persons around you, sensitive that other people

have struggles. “They are sensitive to sin, but are not sensitive to poverty; we are selectively sensitive and are not allowing our full ability to manifest, we are in a time where beyond preaching to heart and ear of people, let us preach to people strategy, capacity to earn work ethics, dignity in labour,� he said.

RotaryClubHoldsTraining for400NewOfficers

Ayodeji Ake

Rotary Club international recently held a two-day district training assembly for its 400 newly elected club officers.

Speaking at event which held on April 12 and 13, at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos, the District 9110, Governor Nominee, Rotarian Jide Akeredolu, noted that the training was designed as a developmental contribution of the club to the entire society and a strategic gathering on polio eradication.

He emphasised that one of the agenda for Rotary New Year calendar was to put polio toll on Nigerians to an end.

While charging the new officers on cooperation and service to humanity as the symbol of Rotary Club, Former district governor of Rotary 9110, Rotarian Yomi Adewunmi, urged government across the tiers to have attitudinal change in order to be effective in their leadership style.

Adewunmi urged the governments to be more responsible and accountable in their dealings, especially with the current security threat facing the country. “No progress is achieved when a local government chairman cannot provide useful information that can lead to the security of life of his people. They must imbibe the culture of learning, discipline and focus on set objectives as a nation, and ensure they make progress in every sphere as well as focus on their role, then, the country would surmount all its challenges,� he said.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band, Topside, performing at the event L-R: Managing Director, TGI Distri Limited, Mr. Sunil Sawhney, Oba Akiolu, and Executive Director-Commercial, TGI Distri Limited, Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu, during the visit

Mary Nnah The traditional ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale AremuAkiolu has given his royal blessings and commendations to Terra Seasoning Cube, a brand from the stable of TGI Distri Limited, which was formally unveiled to the media last week in Lagos.

Akiolu also disclosed that reports from his household revealed that Terra Cubes are of

first-rate quality and possesses all it takes to dominate the market in a very short period of time. “I am sure that you will catch the whole market in a short period of time. Since you brought some of the products to me, many people in my household have tried it and informed me that the cubes are of excellent quality�, the Oba said.

The monarch gave his blessings when a delegation from TGI Group visited him at his palace as part of the activities

to launch the seasoning brand into the market.

While introducing the delegation to the Oba, the Managing Director TGI Distri & WACUB, Mr. Sunil Sawhney said: “We are here to seek your blessings for our new product, Terra Seasoning Cubes, a product designed with the Nigerian consumer in mind and undoubtedly one of the best in the market�.

He further informed the monarch that Terra Seasoning Cubes are made up of very wholesome

ingredients, locally sourced and especially designed to meet the palate requirements of Nigerians in terms of aroma and flavour.

On his part, Executive Director – Commercial, Dr. Onyekachi Onubogu said: “We want to launch our new product across Nigeria and we thought it right to seek your blessings before we go in with all the fanfare.�

Terra Seasoning Cubes is being rolled out nationwide in two variants of Beef and Chicken flavours.

FMN Launches Golden Penny Jollof Noodles In order to sustain its market share and continuously satisfy consumers quest for tasty foods, Flour Mills Nigeria, has introduced Golden Penny Jollof Noodles.

The Category Manager, Golden Penny noodles, Chiaka Eluchie, expressed confidence that the new product would excite its numerous customers.

She made the remark in Lagos, at the Golden Penny Wholesalers forum organised to unveil Golden Penny Jollof noodles.

She said: ‘‘we want the

federal government to give us some concessions, protect local manufacturers with favourable policies to compete favourably at the global market. “We have expertise in making most of the products coming into the country. These policies would grow local businesses if implemented and you know that Nigerian economy heavily relies on the manufacturing industry, so if we do well, Nigeria economy will also do well.’’ Eluchie further revealed that Golden Penny has recreated the

noodles with a unique blend of spices that is designed to meet consumers ever changing needs.

She said: ‘’We are known for quality products, we don’t just launch into the market. We have done our market survey and consumer research knowing that Nigerians have a nostalgic feeling for Jollof rice so we decided to produce the Jollof noodles flavour. ‘‘For us, Golden Penny noodles is one of the top three brands in this category for over 10 years, so we are using this

launch to excite our consumers by giving them another flavour . “We have done so much research on wheat flavours and their appeal to consumers, so we decided to come out with Jollof noodles flavour. This brand is one of its kind, made from a unique blend of spices that gives the intriguing jollof taste.’’ According to her, Golden Penny which currently holds 10 per cent of the N109bn noodles market share has the intention of increasing the market share even further.

Our Lady of Apostles Alumni Members’ Call for Continuation of Governing Board Ugo Aliogo The alumni members’ of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Maryway, Odo Ona, Apata, Ibadan has called for the continuation of the school’s governing board which is put in place to run the affairs of the public secondary schools in Oyo State by the Abiola Ajimobi administration. The National President of the old girls of the school, Mrs. Valentina Solarin, stated this recently in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital during the presentation of NECO fees to

support some indigent students in the registration of SS 3 class.

Solarin, who was represented by the second National Vice President of the body, Mrs. Modupeola Sodeinde; the National Financial Secretary, Ms Mary Woods and the National publicity secretary, Mrs. Bose Oyewole and Christy Akinniyi noted that as mothers, they are touched about the plight of the education system today.

According to her: “I, Modupeola Sodeinde; Joyce Woods and a few others were in this school together 60years ago. I left 51years ago, she left 53years ago.

We just felt that we should come

back to sow back into our school, because to the glory of God, God has given us so much that we believe that we have to be grateful. In order to show gratitude to God, we have to sow into the lives of these children. “We have been here since last year September. God has been able to help us and is using us as old students to make impacts on this school. You can see the beauty, the painting of the school, the gates, the fence and the entrance of the school.

That’s what God has been able to use us for. “And we just felt that exam is

one of the yardsticks to measure the success of the children. So, that’s why we are here to present a token to the school, because at the request of the principal, she said 20 students. “So, that’s why it is limited, because if she had given us a longer list, possibly we could have accommodated all of them. But because she said there are some outstanding 20 students that needed to be helped. That is why we are here to give a token, at least to pay for their NECO exams, so this is what we have come here to do this morning.

NigerInsurancePropertiesCommissions HomesatRedemptionCity Rebecca Ejifoma The Niger Insurance Company (NIC) Properties, a subsidiary of the Niger Insurance Plc, has commissioned 18 units of block A of Niger Suites at Redemption City for worshippers to be closer to God and worship comfortably at the RCCG camp in Ogun State.

The General Manager and CEO of NIC Properties Limited, Mr. Offiong Ukpong, while commissioning and inspecting block A, said blocks B and C comprising 84 units each, are in progress. “The ground breaking was done on April 29, 2014 with the hope that the project shall be completed in 12 months according to the work schedule of the contractors,� Ukpong said while bemoaning the sourcing of finance as responsible for delay of the project execution. The chairman continued that scarcity of funds and unfriendly economic environment frightened the work progress, adding, “it became more frightening whether our novel idea of building a place for our people to be closer to God would become a mirage�. According to the NIC properties boss, part of the challenges that rocked the project was the categories of subscribers they had – those who pulled out and those who stayed.

He said, “those who weathered the storm with us have received the keys to their suites today.�

While he congratulated the subscribers, he assured them that the sale of blocks B and C were ongoing and called for more subscribers.

Reagan Exposes Students to Electoral Processes Ayodeji Ake Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls School held its student general election recently as a way of exposing children to electioneering processes and prepare them for the future.

Speaking during the election held within the school compound in Sabo, Lagos, the Principal, Mrs. Shola Adeyinka, said the students had just witnessed the last 2019 election, thus, it was a way of enlightening the children to election processes, structure and operations. “The children went home on compulsory midterm break because of the recent general election. We felt we need to expose them to the electoral processes. The Senior Secondary class three (SS3) students are rounding up and the Senior Secondary class two (SS2) students are preparing to take over the mandate as prefects. “Even though their ages are not of electoral age but as government students, we want them to be exposed to the electoral system so that when they graduate, they will have an insight of what election looks like, which is why we came with the idea of voting to select their prefects. “Two days before the Election Day, they already formed their parties with their names and funny enough, they have party agents among themselves. The junior students were busy campaigning all over the compound with cardboards for their next prefects. “In the future they may become a political leader or be

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ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

Preserving History with Kuti Heritage Museum The grand opening of the Kuti Heritage Museum in Abeokuta, Ogun State opens another chapter in a government’s effort to celebrate the heroes and heroines of history and popular culture, says YINKA OLATUNBOSUN

View of Kuti Heritage Museum

“That was where Fela’s parents were buried,’’ Pelu Awofeso, an awardwinning travel and culture journalist who volunteered to drive the Lagosbased journalists from the hotel to the old Ransome Kuti family house in Isabo, Abeokuta said. As the Land Rover galloped along the speed bump right before the white-coloured Anglican church where the tombs of Late Reverend Isreal Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and Mrs. FunmilayoRansome-Kuti were laid, a passer-by with an urge to be an unsolicited tour guide repeated Awofeso’s words in Yoruba. We thanked him.

We would later encounter more persons like him. Clearly, the Isabo residents are proud to be associated with an important part of history. That day, the once-abandoned Ransome Kuti family house became Kuti Heritage Museum. Most of the residents abandoned their activities to stand along

View of the museum

corridors and rooftops to witness this historic event. Renovated by the architect and grandmaster of urban art spaces, Theo Lawson, the building has become a tourist attraction, housing a restaurant, a lush garden, and was thoughtfully rebuilt with wheel-chair friendly entrances.

In the past few years, some journalists have put the house in spotlight, lamenting over the decaying infrastructure while appealing for government’s intervention. Fortunately, the plea fell on listening eyes. The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun acknowledged the role of journalists as societal watchdogs during the unveiling ceremony which was part of the 2019 African Drum Festival in Abeokuta. “Indeed, our heroes will never die. We need to preserve their legacies in order to keep historical matters evergreen in people’s memories,’’ Amosun said. In the same vein, a senior consultant to the Governor on Culture,

May Shua Set to Rock Edo State in Debut Concert Yinka Olatunbosun A fast-rising hip-hip artist, May Shua is set for a debut concert appearance on May 29 in Auchi, Edo State. Born Maryam Shuaibu, the multi-talented artist will share the stage with comedians such as Klint Da Drunk, MC Abbey amongst others. Tagged, “May Shua Live in Concert’’, the show is in collaboration with NTA and Uzairue & Cozmedia Productions.

May Shua, a graduate of Lead City University, B.Sc in Accounting is a pianist who experiments with other music genres such as Dancehall and R&B, to reach a wider spectrum of music fans. She veered into music. “This concert is beyond special to myself and my team as it is my debut concert. It is targeted at creating a more endearing and direct relationship between myself as a creative and my audience or fans. The concert will be replicated in various locations around the country and beyond,’’ she revealed.

May Shua has recorded several songs including “Yeghe’’ featuring Oritsefemi.

She performed a cover of Tupac Shakur ’s “Hit Me Up’’ and one of her trending music videos online is the dancehall track titled, “Bad Gyal’’ directed by Matt Maxx.

This fresh kid on the mic is very optimistic about the music scene in Nigeria and its place on world music map. “I truly believe the best is yet to come as we keep reaching new peaks as different levels in different generations as trends change. It enhances our national economy, creates a lot of employment opportunities and increases

worldwide unity between our culture and other ’s. Like they say music is a universal language,’’ she said.

May Shua

Mrs. Yetunde Amusan called the event “a fulfillment of a promise’’ made by the state government to celebrate iconic sons and daughters of Ogun. The matriarch of the Ransome-kuti family, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti who sang the classic song “Ise Oluwa’’ before making her remarks, observed that the museum stands for the values of integrity which the family is known for. The Ransome-Kutis’ home was where Dolu, Olikoye, Fela and Beko were raised. A huge influencer in today’s pop culture, Fela’s music and philosophy had been traced to the activism embodied in his mother, Funmilayo -the heroine of universal suffrage for Nigerian women and the first woman known to drive a car in Nigeria. She was also the first African woman to visit China, the USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia and East Germany during the cold war.

Fela’s father, Rev. Ransome-Kuti was the principal of Abeokuta Grammar

School with a reputation of a strict disciplinarian who didn’t spare anyone deserving of the rod as the Nobel Laurate, Professor Wole Soyinka recalled. “I was able to escape to Government College, Ibadan which was called a school for the “aje butters’’ where there was no-beating rule,’’ he said.

In hindsight, Prof Soyinka thought the discipline was essential to his character formation adding that “when a cane is necessary, use it.’’ A special wing of the one-storey building is most likely to be a literary hub as it was the part of the house where Mrs. Ransome-Kuti held adult education classes for the Egba women. Pictures of Fela, Femi, Seun Anikulapo kuti were among the prominent ones on a permanent window display. Fela’s music which was projected from the surround sound system set the mood for the event that Isabo residents will live to remember.

Moremi the Musical Season Two: Economics of Showmanship Yinka Olatunbosun The second season of Moremi the Musical during the last Easter holidays started with an opening night for family and friends. It was a season that many theatre goers realised that they had to pay a little more than expected for the regular tickets and presumably other premium tickets. BAP tickets are usually the fastest selling in Nigerian contemporary theatre.

From Saro to Wakaa the Musical, many had explored the online platform to buy tickets instead of waiting till the day of performance and be told that the shows are sold out.

No doubt, Moremi the Musical is a heavy spectacle theatre production, as characteristic of Bola Austen-Peters’ productions. For its second season, the show lived up to the script that narrates the story of Moremi, a brave warrior who saved the Yoruba race from the vicious hands of terror from a rival tribe. It is a story of courage with a feminist slant which is supported by the House of Oduduwa and the wife of the Governor, Ogun state, Mrs. Ibikunle Amosun.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi had recently demonstrated his support for

this production because of its celebration of cultural narratives. The amiable monarch and culture custodian had been a frequent visitor to the theatre at Terra Kulture in Victoria Island Lagos during festive seasons, thus showing to the world the importance of theatre in the cultural landscape of the people.

With Moremi the Musical, the African storytelling tradition had been upscaled what with the use of psychedelic lighting techniques, electronic backdrops, custom-built costumes and props, amongst others. Therefore, it is no

Moremi

surprise that the premium entertainment brand is really on high demand.

In a bid to understand the rationale for increasing the ticket prices in the face of growing theatre competitions in the city of Lagos, THISDAY probed into the circumstances that led to the second season of Moremi the Musical.

THISDAY investigation revealed that Moremi the musical has added value to the cast and crew’s personal brands thus their managers had to renegotiate their contract with the theatre company.

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with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND INFERTILITY (Part 3)

L

ast week we talked about managing fertility challenges in patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)and treatment options to achieve pregnancy, this week our focus will be on sickle cell disease and care during pregnancy and after

delivery.

Women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) should be seen before conception (pre conception consultation)by a sickle cell specialist care giver to receive information about how this condition aects pregnancy and eect of pregnancy on the patient with this disease,and also how to improve overall outcome for mother and the baby.

Primary care physicians do play a key role in preconception screening, and also the provision of contraceptive advice. This consultation should include optimization of management and screening for end organ damage The assessment for chronic disease complication should include: Ëž ÖÙÙÎ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‹Ă–ĂŁĂ?Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? performed to identify women with hypertension and/or proteinuria Ëž Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? retinopathy is common in patient with sickle cell disease Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ–Ă™Ă‹ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜ åÙ×Ă?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ have had multiple transfusion in the past or who have a high ferritin level. Cardiacmagnetic resonance imaging may be helpful to assess body iron. Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂšĂ&#x;Ă–Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂœĂŁ Ă’ĂŁĂšĂ?ĂœĂžĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ echocardiography Ëž Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂžĂ“ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ indicate an increased risk of hemolytic (destruction of red blood cell) disease of the new born Sickle Cell Disease is a chronic, lifelong condition and there are recommendations for clinical care which apply to all patients, including women planning to become or those already

pregnant.

Women with SCD should receive not only the general preconception care which is given to all women but also additional advice about vaccinations, medications and crisis avoidance. Those with low pain threshold are advised to seek medical help for management of pain crisis.

Medical review at least once yearly by a sickle cell physician for the monitoring of chronic disease complications while getting information on the treatment process is recommended.

Information that is particularly relevant for women planning to conceive includes: Ëž ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă’ĂŁĂŽĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă™Ă–ĂŽËœ Ă’ĂŁĂšĂ™Ă˘Ă“Ă‹Ě™Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ 􉋄Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÞÓĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ™ĂŽĂ“Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĚšËœ Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?âĂ?ĂœĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ stress in the frequency of sickle cell crises, and how to avoid them Ëž ÒÙå Ă˜Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă‹ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă Ă™Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă‘Ă˜Ă‹Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ result in dehydration and the precipitation of crises and pain ˞ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă“Ă‹Ě™ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ the healthy red cells in blood) the increased risk of crises and acute chest syndrome (ACS)

Ëž ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ě™Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ urinary tract infection) during pregnancy Ëž ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă• Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’Ě‹ restricted baby, which increases the likelihood of fetaldistress, induction of labor and caesarean section Ëž ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ĂŒĂ‹ĂŒĂŁ ĂŒĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ĘĽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Sickle Cell Disease Ëž Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ú̋ÞÙ̋ÎËÞĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă’ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă“Ă? disease complications that may be related to pregnancy and child birth. Ëž Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?ÞËÞĂ&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ and updated before pregnancy. Ëž Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ’ĂŁĂ–Ă‹Ă˘Ă“Ă? Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă›Ă&#x;Ă“Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽË› Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă–Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ’ĂŁĂ–Ă‹Ă˘Ă“Ă? and vaccinations are usually monitored and administered in primary care, but should be reviewed by the physician haematologist/ obstetrician during pregnancy.

Patients with Sickle Cell disease have reduced spleen function (hyposplenic) which makes them at a high risk of infection, in particular from encapsulated bacteria such as Neisseria meningitides, Streptococcus pneumonia and Haemophilus inuenza. Ă?ÚËÞÓÞÓĂ? Ă Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ù××Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ

and the woman’s immune status should be determinedpreconception.

Those with this disease should be advised to receive the inuenza and ‘swine u’ vaccine annually.

What vitamin supplements should be given to SCD patients?

Folic acid is recommended in all pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects.

Folic acid at a dosage of at least 1 mg daily is recommended for women with SCD outside pregnancy in view of their haemolytic anaemia, which puts them at increased risk of folic deďŹ ciency.

Folic acid 5 mg daily should be prescribed before, during and throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defect and to compensate for the increased demand for folate during pregnancy.

What medications should be reviewed before preconception?

It is important that a patient with SCD visits the doctor to identify the medications you are presently using to know if they should be stopped before attempting pregnancy. ĂŁĂŽĂœĂ™Ă˘ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂŒĂ‹Ă—Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ě™Ă’ĂŁĂŽĂœĂ™Ă˘ĂŁĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĚšË? Ă’Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă? the medication used to increase red blood cells), should be stopped at least 3 months before conception. ĂŁĂŽĂœĂ™Ă˘ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœĂŒĂ‹Ă—Ă“ĂŽĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă˜ ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜strated to decrease the incidence of acute painful crises in individuals with severe clinical manifestations of SCD, however studieshave proven that they are not safe for the development of fetus.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ̙×Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă?Ă–Ăš ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ÖËâ ĂŒĂ–Ă™Ă™ĂŽ Ă Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă–Ěš and angiotensin receptor blockers (medication which helps to enlarge blood vessel) should be stopped before conception to be continued next week

CAS Hosts AFSS Alumnus for Best Overall Result The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, recently hosted an alumnus of the Air Force Secondary School (AFSS), Ikeja, Lagos, Master Peter Seunara Arotiba, who stunned the academic world.

Arotiba emerged the best overall candidate in the 2018 May/June West African Examination Council (WAEC) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in the whole of West Africa, with 9 A-1s in 9 Subjects, beating over 1.9 Million candidates that sat for the examination.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the courtesy visit, which held in the CAS’ Office, came on the heels of the Award of Excellence presented to him during the NAF 55th Anniversary Dinner/Gala Night held on April 29, 2019.

Speaking during the visit, the CAS congratulated the young lad and assured him that the entire Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Family was excited about his outstanding performance.

He noted that Peter, by his various academic feats, had carved a niche for himself and placed the name of AFSS Ikeja, and indeed all NAF Secondary Schools, on the global map.

Abubakar therefore urged him to keep the flag flying and continue to make the NAF and Nigeria proud as a worthy ambassador of NAF Secondary Schools.

He also stressed that excellence was not a function of where one comes from but a product of hard work, discipline and determination. The CAS noted that the NAF, on its part, would continue to support Arotiba in his future endeavours.

Master Peter Arotiba, who was born on 5 November 2001 to Barrister and Mrs Olu Arotiba, hails from Mopa-Moro Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The Chief of the Air Sta (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, anked by Master Peter Arotiba and mother

He has won many laurels and awards, which include first position in the 2017 Naija English Championship organized by Dragnet Solutions Limited, First Position in the 2018 Naija Mathematics Championship and Overall best result in 2017 Joint Promotion Examination of NAF Secondary Schools.

He was also part of the AFSS Team that came second in the second edition of the CAS Inter-NAF Secondary Schools’ Quiz Competition. His Team also came first in the 2017 Young Engineering Project Quiz Competition.

Arotiba also recorded consistently outstanding academic performances

throughout his time at AFSS Ikeja, emerging overall Best Student in JSS2, JSS3, SS1,SS2 and best graduating Student in SS3. He recently gained admission into the Prestigious University of Ibadan, where he is studying Medicine and Surgery.

Arotiba was accompanied on the visit by his mother.

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COLLAGE EVENTS

NigeriaBabyFairtoCommenceinLagos Adedayo Adejobi

L-R: Director of Missions Pastor Femi Koya; General Secretary, Pastor Niyi Onayemi; General Overseer Pastor Odun Orioke; Mother of Multitudes, Pastor(Mrs) Dunni Orioke; Director of Youth Works, Pastor Jide Gbadegesin; and Deputy General Overseer, Pastor Omolayo Ajayi (Rtd.), during the 26th Annual Abundant Life Convention of Christ Way Ministries International, Ile-Ife, Osun State... recently ... recently AKINYELE ABAYOMI

It is no longer news that the Nigerian economic situation has heightened the need to be creative and think out of the box. This lacuna was what gave birth to the Nigerian Baby Fair.

The Nigerian Baby Fair, the first of its kind will hold in Lagos, in August 2 to 4. The three-day event, which will bring together various stakeholders in the baby and child care industry, will involve exhibitions, competitions and awards.

According to Tolulope Olorundero, the project director, the idea was birthed following the increase in mortality rate in Nigeria and the needs this increased rate has created. The main objective of the fair is to bring together all the stakeholders in the child and childcare industry.

Speaking at a press conference, recently to announce the event, Tolulope Olorundero, noted that the Baby Fair intends to bring together players in the value chain of the infant and early-child space.

The fair will feature crèches, kindergarten and daycare centres, makers and sellers of kiddies’ clothes, accessories and apparel, children focused NGOs and orphanages, maternity and paediatric centres, play centres and much more.

Olorundero said: “The fair will also feature side attractions like crawling competition, music and poetry by children under age five, walking competition among infants, multi-tasking mums, diaper changing competition for dads, amongst other initiatives. From all these, you can tell that is a family-focused initiative.�

She added that the fair seeks to achieve a number of objectives, which includes to provide an organised single meeting point for young parents and sellers of kiddies items as well as service providers to meet current and potential clients. “We particularly want to encourage SMEs that have grown their businesses using social media. We also intend for it to expand the scope of the event industry in Nigeria. “A key part of the baby fair is the social impact and philanthropy initia-

L-R: Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 11, Mr Monday Kuryas; state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mr Leye Oyebade, during the visit of the AIG to the governor, in Ibadan...recently

Nigeria Baby Fair

Hope for the Barren Holds from May 11

L-R: Former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke; the over all winner in Automobile Icreate Finest Skill Competition, Micheal Emeka Obi and MD/CEO, PAN Nigeria Limited, Ibrahim Boyi, at the grand ďŹ nale of the ďŹ nest skill in the North held in Kaduna... recently

L-R: Executive Vice Chairman, XL AFRICA Group Ltd, Mr. Charles Nwodo Jnr; Founder/ Vice Chairman, C&I Leasing Plc, Mr. Emeka Ndu; CEO/ Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Nigeria, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; Managing Director/CEO, Aquila Capital Ltd, Mr. Chuka Onwuchekwa and Chairman, Kohinoor Lagos, Mr. Collins Chikeluba during a thank you party hosted in honour of Onwuchekwa’s friends in Elegushi, Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

The Lord Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries’ long awaited power-packed international programme titled, “Hope for the Barren�, has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 at the Chosen Revival Ground along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, by Ijesha, Bus Stop, Lagos from 8am daily.

According to the press release signed by the Public Relations Officer for the ministries, Pastor Louis Chidi, the forthcoming programme, an interdenominational Holy Ghost inspired programme, is expected to address all the facets of barrenness in man which includes that of the womb, financial, material and academic, and make them laugh again as in the case of Sarah. “We all can acknowledge that the multiplicity of barrenness prevailing over our generation has defied all known technological solution and the wisdom of man thereby occasioning hopelessness among the people. “ God seeing this situation of man, has decided to inspire a programme through which He will intervene in the affairs of men and give hope to the barren. The program will bring to an end all forms of barrenness in life. “It does not matter the circumstances surrounding your barrenness or how long you have been in that depressive situation or who is behind your predicaments, our assurance is that God has set aside the two days to give hope to the barren as He did in the bible days. “He has heard the cry of the barren and has decided to come down in His Majesty to not only expunge all forms of barrenness in the life of men but also make them fruitful so that they will realise the purpose of God for their creation. And this will by extension bring transformation particularly to the people of Nigeria.

Founder, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka

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LIFE

Bamidele Olurin’s Painful, But Glorious Exit Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ËÞÒ Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă‹Ă—Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă–Ă? Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă’ĂœĂ“Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă™Ă? ÙÎ Ă’Ă“Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă™Ă? ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă•Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă’Ă“Ă— Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă‹ ÞÒĂ&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂŒĂ™Ă–ĂžËœ Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂžĂœĂ“Ă&#x;×ÚÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ù×ÚÖÓĂ?Ă’Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÙ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ÙÖĂ? ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ëœ ĂĄĂœĂ“ĂžĂ?Ă? DAVIDSONIRIEKPEN The death of Pastor Bamidele Olurin, no doubt, hit many members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), far and near, like a thunderbolt. How? Where? When? What happened?

These were some of the questions those who recovered from the shocking news asked. For those who were not aware that Pastor Bams, as he was fondly called by his friends and congregants, was briefly ill, they were simply inconsolable and devastated? Well, God knows best.

Such was the life Pastor Bams led. To many, he was just too nice and good.

For those who knew him in their days in school, there was no form of arrogance, pride, very simple and down-to-earth.

These characteristics followed him till he became a pastor. For those who knew him intimately, he was truly a Man of God (MoG) who was committed to God’s work till his last breath. In all the three parishes of the RCCG he had the opportunity to pastor in about 20 years, he was the peoples’ pastor. He not only touched so many lives, but affected them positively.

He equally provided listening ears to many who approached him with one problem or the other.

Olurin did not only officiate many weddings in the course of his sojourn as a pastor, he equally mended broken marriages through prayer sessions and counselling and constant visits to homes.

He addressed peoples’ needs spiritually and materially, constantly providing money, clothes and food items for those in need.

Pastor Bams encouraged many, especially the youth and indigents to go to school. He also created ingenious ways to support the payment of their fees. In all the parishes he oversaw, he introduced various entrepreneurial and skills acquisition programmes to ensure members of the church were independent and selfreliant.

It was therefore not a surprise that during the Service of Songs and funeral service held in his honour, a crowd of people poured in not to wish him farewell, but to eulogise him and testify to how good he was to them and members of their families.

Like the biblical Dorcas, for who people wept and wailed when she died, because she spent her life doing good and providing for peoples’ needs, similar sentiments found expression during Pastor Bams’ funeral rites.

At the Service of Songs, but for time, the event which was supposed to be for three hours, could have extended to the next day but for the intervention of the officiating ministers, as uncountable number of persons wanted to testify to how the late pastor had impacted their lives in many ways. Even his funeral service programme of over 17 pages, were dedicated to tributes from far and wide, and these to some, were not even enough.

Virtually everybody who spoke about or wrote tribute for the late pastor, attested to the fact that he led an exemplary of service to God and humanity.

Perhaps relief came to many when at the funeral service, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade admonished those who were still in tears and in mourning to begin to reflect on their own lives, because nobody knows when the trumpet of death would sound.

He equally advised them to give thanks in everything. He noted that the same God who brought Olurin to the world, took him after he had accomplished all that he was sent to execute on earth.

Iluyomade enjoined Christians who are procrastinating on their day of salvation, or in helping others in need the same way Pastor Bams did, to begin to have a change of heart.

Intermittently quoting from the bible to back up his preaching, Iluyomade said instead of mourning the departed pastor, they should celebrate his life and his triumph that merits remembrance. He noted that as children of God, the how, where and when they die is really in the hands of God, enjoining everybody to know their assignments on earth and how to fulfill them. He advised those who think the pastor was dead to know that he has gone to be with God, after executing what he was brought into the world to fulfill.

He concluded by encouraging the immediate family, particularly Pastor Bams’ wife, Oreoluwa, to be of good cheer and courage, promising that the Apapa Family

Olurin

of the RCCG will not abandon her and her children.

Bamidele Olurin was born in Enugu on July 31, 1964, the first of five children.

He was born to the family of Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Oyedola Olurin and Grace Olufunmilayo Apinke Olurin (Nee Taiwo).

He lost his father in October 1968 during the Nigerian Civil War and his young widowed mother thought it wise for him to live with family members and military friends of his late father and as such, gave him the privilege of experiencing different family styles. This knowledge contributed in no small measure towards helping him develop an excellent model to run his own home, which made him an excellent husband and father.

From 1970 to 1975, his education began at Lara Day Nursery and Primary School and also Command Children both in Ikeja, Lagos. In search of an excellent secondary school, he went on to St. John’s Grammar School, Ile Ife, between 1975 and 1981.

In his usual manner of always keeping busy and also not wanting to depend on his widowed mother financially, while preparing to further his education, he taught briefly at Oludoko High School, Omi Adio, Ibadan between 1981 and 1983. Also in 1983, he attended the two year A-levels programme at Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), during which time he held on to his long standing dream to study law at the university.

As a result of which, he wrote the then Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Wande Abimbola, intimating him of his interest to study law at that university and his inability to do so despite his excellent grades in his O’Level.

The Vice Chancellor reviewed his case and he was offered an admission to study at that university between 1986 and 1991. While at the university, he gave his life to Christ and joined the drama group of the Christian Union. He attended the then Headquarters Parish of the RCCG at Ebute Metta, when-

ever he was on holidays.

After graduation from the university, he attended the Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island in 1991 and was called to bar in 1992.

For his National Youth Service, he was deployed to his birthplace of Enugu to serve in ONWA Chambers, where he was to paraphrase his words, ‘treated as a native son’.

At the end of his youth service year, he returned to Lagos and worked as a lawyer in the Chambers of Kola Awodein SAN. While there, with the deep leading of the Holy Spirit, he took a pay cut and went to work at the chambers of the now retired Hon. Justice Gbaja-Biamila on Adelabu, Surulere, with the assignment of making sure that his principal gave his life to Christ. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he was able to accomplish the task and today, ‘His Honourable’ is a full pastor in the RCCG. Olurin joined Freedom Hall of the RCCG, a year after the Apapa Family was established, following a word he received after reading a flyer he picked up from the street. As he would fondly tell the story, he heard the Holy spirit clearly telling him, “this is where I will use you.�

He soon joined the prayer ministry and rose to become a prayer group leader, a position he held until he was posted out as an assistant to Pastor Jibola Fola Bolumole at the RCCG Morning Star Parish, Anthony, not longer after he was trained as a Government Worker in Freedom Hall.

Olurin also had the privilege of being one of the first set of graduates from the Apapa Family Bible college (now called the RILA Institute), where he was the liaison officer and shared the class with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Dele Ikotun, and Gbenga Benson to mention a few.

At the RCCG Morning Star Parish, besides being the Assistant Parish Pastor, Bamidele Olurin was also the Parish Administrator and he worked closely with his assistant Oreoluwa Ajai, whom he had met previous-

ly in Freedom Hall as a member of the prayer ministry and as a younger sister of one of his prayer group members in Freedom Hall. Oreoluwa and Bamidele developed a deep friendship, which led to a proposal on February 10, 1996, during a workers’ outing at the beach, subsequently leading to their wedding on December 12, 1996.

In Olurin’s usual way of taking God’s work as priority, he left his legal position to take up the full time leadership of the Morning Star Parish, as the pastor-in-charge had resigned and the dwindling church congregation and structure needed to be rebuilt; such was his commitment to ministry. In 1999, he returned to legal practice and went to work in the Chambers of his friend, Kayode Enitan and Associates in Ilupeju. A few years later, still operating out of the Ilupeju office, he set up Bamidele Olurin and Associates, which was later changed to BOSSALEGAL. In time, his practice grew in clientele and it was moved to Anthony Village, from where it currently operates.

Bamidele Olurin was ordained an Assistant Pastor in 1999, an Area Pastor in 2002 and a full Pastor in 2004. In September 2006, he was transferred to Pastor The RCCG Tree of Life Parish in Apapa, where he was for four years before being posted to The RCCG Life Spring Parish in 2010, where he pastored till his passing.

In 2014, he was promoted by the mission to the office of Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province to handle administration under his long time friend and mentor, President Yemi Osinbajo in the Lagos Province 48. There, he served in an acting capacity for his Provincial Pastor, who is currently on National Assignment.

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POLSCOPE

F

åÓÞÒ ĂŽĂŽĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ Ă?ĂŽĂŽĂŁË›Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͸ͽ ͝͸͞ Π͝ͽ͞

Gov Ambode: Four Years of Great Strides, But‌

or the second time, I drove through the ten-lane, 3.6km airport road last Saturday on my way to the Guild of Editors’ Biennial Conference in Ikeja.

It was such a great delight driving through the road.

It had all the trappings of modernity and global standard: the sheer breath of the road, the smoothness, the cedar palms and flowers in the narrow median corridor, the over-head bridges (though unfinished), the clear demarcation of the service lane from the express lane, plus the street lights that blaze brightly at night, all combine to give a soothing relief from the jaga-jaga road network that dots most parts of Lagos, especially the inner roads.

At least, the re-done airport road will transmit positive impression to the hearts and feelings of first-time visitors to Lagos from the MurtalaMohammed International Airport (MMIA). Never mind what they will find out later in Bariga, Okokomaiko, Ajegunle, Alimosho etc.

I got to the conference to find some documented literature of what the governor has accomplished in his four years. Many of them appeared strange to me. Very strange.

I however must connect with the extension work done at the Ayinke House. The governor did not only increase the bed-space but that he also equipped the facility with modern gadgets and medical equipment. It is about the biggest children hospital in the country. Laudable!

Last year, something took me to Epe, Ambode’s hometown. I was dazed to see how a rather rural, sleepy community was given such a stupendous lift in infrastructural rejig. It looked anything like Lagos, nay Nigeria. The transformation was radical, seeming to appear like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief, as Shakespeare would say (in Macbeth). Good and laudable as it seemed, the question is must a community produce a governor before it can experience such transformation?

When last did the governor visit or taste the suffering of Lagosians in the Okoko-Badagry axis? Those people literally die and wake up everyday commuting to and fro work. Despicable!

I have seen the bus interchange at Oshodi. I am aware of what Ambode’s predecessor, BabatundeFashola did with and to Oshodi. Ambode took it to the next level. Yes, the structure looks grand and modern. But I am yet to understand how it would work, especially as drivers have not been trained on its use. Yes, Ambode may have grown the business niche of Lagos to become the fifth largest economy in Africa, the concern is how his projects connect with ordinary Lagosians. Question is: Has Lagos gotten better under Ambode? The

Electricity Supply: Are we Jinxed?

Ambode

answer will not exactly be a straight one.

Apart from the queer and non-inclusive politics and governance style he ran, I am not impressed with the amount of discipline his governance could exert on Lagosians. There are too many examples of the city literally going to seed under Ambode. The worsening traffic snarl is largely caused by the indiscipline of many Lagos drivers. LASTMA and other traffic agencies in the city have gone rather pliant and sucked in. The result is that anybody can do as he or she likes, including driving against traffic, at any time and at anywhere. Almost.

Perhaps the one that troubles me most is the platoon of Okada riders that have literally seized the soul of the city. This is not just in the inner communities. Right from the top of Mile 2 bridge down to CMS, third Mainland bridge, all through to Ketu, Orile, Ikeja, Iyana-Oba axis, the menace of the Okada riders swarming on the rest of us is befuddling and frightening.

It is just as if there was never a law banning them from these highways in this same Lagos, few years ago. The law has not been repealed. Is it for political reasons that government has literally turned a blind eye on these menacing people? And we are all worse for it.

Lagosians are lucky that the state is yet safe and somewhat secured, against the army of idle and under-employed youths milling around town.

I cannot ignore how dirty Lagos has become under Ambode. No, I cannot! I hear it is one of the issues that cost him a second term. By banning the inherited PSP scheme and introducing his ineffective Visionscape, the environmental health of the city simply collapsed. With the so-called Visionscape, Lagos city was simply reduced to an oozing miasma.

Ambode had come to governance with a certain feeling of Deux ex machina powered by some omniscient

complex. And so he carried on with a solo mindset. Even many in his government have been grumbling about being left in the cold. He was simply an OOO (Only Operating Officer), not a CEO, as he ought to be. Little wonder that in his time of trial—struggling to have the APC ticket for a second term, he was more or less left alone to bear his cross. Even his deputy, Dr (Mrs) IdiatAdebule denied and disowned him. It is not so much about the hold Senator Bola Tinubu has on the nerves of Lagos politics, it is more about the team-work disposition of Governor Ambode. Many of his commissioners secretly wish he leaves earlier than May 29.

No doubt, he is visionary, having great developmental dreams about Lagos. But he was not a good politician.

I hope he has learnt his lesson. And in a hard way too. And for a densely populated city, massing about 22 million persons, not to have common source of water, speaks volume about the premium placed on life and good living.

As we pray in the Anglican liturgy, Ambode has left undone those things he ought to have done and done those things he ought not to have done‌ and there is no health in his politics.

Mr Akinwumi Ambode, in 18 days will cease to be the governor of Lagos State. But he is yet a young man, in his mid 50’s. The field of life yet lies wide and spread ahead of him. In the last four years, he has gone, he has seen, he has conquered (and been conquered too). He must have learnt good lessons touching on humility and team work. He must know that as he cannot do everything, he too does not know everything.

His postscript will surely say he was a good governor, but there will be a “but� and a “coma�, and he will realise that it is all more than the lingo of Itesiwaju ipinle eko l’ojewa l’ogun.

Nation’s Insecurity: It Needs More than Weight Loss

C

Canticles‌.

ontrary to the belief of some naysayers, President Muhammadu Buhari returned last Sunday after a controversial 10-day private visit to the UK. While he was away, the scale of insecurity simply rose to a disturbing height, so much that even his hometown Daura hosted some gunmen who ended up kidnapping the inlaw of his ADC and a traditional chieftain in Daura. This was as dozens of persons were either being kidnapped or killed on daily basis across board.

Then the president returns and in answering reporters’ question on security mildens the seriousness of the issue by saying the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is losing weight which is a sign that he is working very hard at combating the menace of insecurity. It was somewhat an anti-climax for those who thought having heard all thathas happened in his absence, Mr President would marshal out strategies aimed at curbing the onslaught. Pray, what was the weight of the IGP when he was appointed last January? And what is his weight now? His office announced that in 90 days, over 1,071 persons were killed.

That is rather shameful! Nigerians don’t care if the IG becomes a featherweight. All we need is

safety of lives and property. If he cannot take the heat, he should

leave the kitchen. Surely, we need more than weight loss.

Fashola

D

id you see how charismatic the Vice President was last Tuesday when some youths in Abuja blocked his convoy to the airport? How he briskly sauntered out of his car, addressed the youths, and pronto, they removed the barricade on the highway?

Oh, pity, we had no light to watch anything. I am tired of buying petrol for the old generator. We have been sleeping in darkness for two weeks now, back-to-back in this new level heat.

Why do you have to drag in“new level�into the issue of heat? Is there an old level heat?

You know we are in the era of New Level, in this second coming of President Buhari. Didn’t you notice how the unfriendly heat burns us even at night, as if the ozone layer is leaking?

Who knows if it is part of the agenda of this government to increase the heat level for Nigerians.

Please spare us your ignorance.

You mean in all your learning, you have not heard of Climate Change?

Or you think it is a joke? It is a global phenomenon. So don’t drag our president into a natural occurrence.

You speak as if the president and the rest of us are helpless. What happened to the tool of electricity which can enable us fight the heat a little?

Yes, there is electricity supply.

What part of town are you? Are you not connected to the grid?

Grid indeed! Why are you talking as if you just arrived from Germany yesterday. Are you not in this country?

Is our epileptic electricity supply not a global shame? Only in this country does government spend such huge amount of money, and still darkness remains our host.

But the minister of Power, Works and Housing says electricity supply has very well improved so much that some states have 24-hour light supply. And that‌ (cuts in) It is a black lie from the pit of hell. Why did he not name those states? It is vexatious propaganda.

Mohammed Adamu

Are you saying Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)former 8-year action governor of Lagos State is a liar?

You said so! All I ask is for him to name the states that have 24-hour electricity supply.

Do you know that the Buhari administration has paid the operators of DISCOs and GENCOs over a trillion naira in the last four years to make electricity stable?And that they are even now asking for that same amount to increase the distribution?

Rubbish! Over a trillion naira and yet the only thingstable is darkness! I thought Mr President was both a hard and prudent man. Did the operators ‘jazz’ him? Why is he spending government money on private operators?Are the operators not collecting electricity bill? Pray was NEPA not unbundled?

Is this another back-door subsidy by the government? Yet, we cannot see the benefit?Can’t government break the sabotage, revoke their licences or are they partners in this perfidy? Even with a learned man like Fashola there?

Are we jinxed? OMG! Calm down! We are generating about 7,000 MW now only that the DISCOs can only distribute 5,000 MW. As soon as they increase their distribution capacity, the light situation will improve. Trust me!

Me? Trust you? On this matter?

Never!

Look, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002, had said his willingness to seek re-election in 2003 was dependent on how well he fixes the electricity supply challenge. That was after his then minister of Power, late Bola Ige, also a learned man, a SAN, had promised stable electricity in one year max. He later found he spoke too soon. And then Late President UmaruYar’Adua came, he tried to review all the Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and set us backward in the progress in that effort. We got worse off. And then came former President Jonathan. And six years after, we neither moved forward nor backward.

President Buhari inherited 3000MW and for four years has managed to inch it up allegedly to 7000MW but cannot distribute more than 5000MW despite secretly spending over N1 trillion. It’s all so much motion, no movement, my brother and that is why I am asking if we are jinxed on this electricity issue.

If the duo of Buhari and Fasholacan fail, who then will succeed? We are simply tired of all the grammar and technical exegesis. Let there be light! ‌And there was darkness!

42

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŽËœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NEXIM Bank Disburses N22bn in OneYear Obinna Chima The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) has disclosed that it has disbursed about N22 billion to exporters in the non-oil sector in the last one year.

The bank revealed that through its intervention, it has facilitated the creation and sustenance of about 2,039 direct jobs, in addition to many indirect jobs and foreign exchange earnings of about US$267million annually.

A statement yesterday disclosed that the beneficiaries included exporters of agricultural commodities and value-added products distributed across the country with nation-wide impact, cutting across various sectors/ industries, including cocoa, cashew, sesame seed, gum Arabic and leather products.

Aside its funding intervention, the Bank also said it has recorded a quantum leap in its financial indices, with a profit of about N2.09 billion recorded in 2018, from a loss position in 2017.

NEXIM Bank stated that its balance sheet size also doubled from about N61 billion in 2016 to about N117 billion in 2018 and was projected to increase to N190 billion by December, 2019.

Following the appointment

of a new management in April, 2017, led by Abba Bello, and inauguration of the Board in March, 2018, under the chairmanship of CBN Deputy Governor, Joseph Nnanna, NEXIM Bank has taken significant steps to retool its operations. Besides collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria in the management of intervention funds to the tune of N550 billion, its export support programme was predicated on the PAVE philosophy, that is, Produce, Add Value and Export. NEXIM’s efforts to develop the non-oil export sector is currently structured along six initiatives, which include support for critical agricultural commodities, particularly in products where the country has high comparative advantage. This is to minimise informal trade and boost the country’s export footprint. The Bank has been supporting services export in the areas of the creative economy, business process outsourcing, professional services as well as medical tourism towards saving about US$1 billion lost annually to foreign trips by Nigerians. “As part of efforts to improve the packaging and quality standards of Nigeria’s exports, the Bank is also providing funding/ investment guarantees to facilitate private sector investments and

partnerships in internationally acceptable laboratories and assaying facilities/related infrastructure. “This is in addition to providing funding support towards establishing of conditioning, irradiation and sterilisation facilities to enhance shelf life of perishable goods, as well as production of jute bags, corrugated cartons and flexible packaging materials. “Given Nigeria’s huge solid minerals potentials and the logistics challenges that have prevented the realisation of such benefits, the Bank is supporting the promotion of inland waterways operations and bulk export terminal upgrade though its Sealink project. “This is expected to facilitate annual shipment of over 30million tonnes of solid minerals valued at US$1.8 billion,� the statement added.

It noted that having realised the important contributions of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector and the need to integrate many of the small traders into the formal sector, the Bank has been partnering with other stakeholders, under the auspices of FSS 2020 to develop the regulatory and legal framework for Factoring business in Nigeria.

Group Set to Organise Construction Exhibition The Big 5 Construct Nigeria is set to organise an exhibition for operators in the construction sector.

The Nigerian Institute of Architects, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, the African Association of Interior Designers, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association), and the African Sustainable Energy Association (AFSEA) are among other organisations that have already announced their support to the event. “The extremely positive feedback we are receiving from industry stakeholders proves just how important it is for Nigeria to host an international construction event like The Big 5 Construct Nigeria today,� Portfolio Event Director at dmg events,

Muhammed Kazi was quoted in a statement to have said. “At a time when the country is pursuing an unprecedented infrastructure development, the event will finally bring together influential decision-makers, innovators and suppliers from around the globe for three days of business and networking opportunities in Lagos. “The Big 5 Construct Nigeria is going to be a turning point in the advancement of the West African construction sector,� he added.

Part of The Big 5 portfolio of events, the largest in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, The Big 5 Construct Nigeria would run from 9 to 11 September 2019 in Lagos.

According to the statement, over 200 exhibiting companies and more than 5,000 industry

professionals are expected to attend the launch edition of the show.

It stated that confirmed brands include regional and global leaders like KELM, ABB, Philips, Crane, Eurotray, Tata, Hilti, and Magna Tyres, organisers dmg events reveal. “We are extremely proud to announce that next to Nigerian exhibitors, renowned companies from France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE, among other countries, will take part in the event, making it a truly international show,�

Kazi said.

Beyond showcasing hundreds of solutions for the built environment, The Big 5 Construct Nigeria will also bring a wealth of free education to the Nigerian construction community.

MD NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2018 Money Supply (M3)

31,794,803.44

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

6,333,064.28

Money Supply (M2)

25,461,739.17

-- Quasi Money

14,773,076.98

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,688,662.18

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,711,763.59

---- Demand Deposits

8,976,898.59

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

18,990,400.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,804,402.66

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,062,986.22

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,980,229.66

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,093,619.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-4,144,571.43

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

23,082,756.56

--Other Assets Net

13,258,583.57

Reserve Money (Base Money

6,811,192.37

--Currency in Circulation

2,100,129.91

--Banks Reserves

4,366,259.05

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Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

Institute Launches Monthly Club Hamid Ayodeji The Eloquence Club has held its monthly meeting for the month of April, 2019. The club which is owned by the School of eloquence, a school specifically for training people on public speaking, holds its meeting every month and all alumni of the institute come together, to practice and perfect the art and skill of public speaking as well as also get feedback from other members.

Speaking at the event, a statement revealed that Aisha Askira, a librarian with NIMASA and a graduate of the school, made a presentation on the power of knowledge, where she stated that the only gift one can give himself or herself is the ability to seek for knowledge as knowledge is acquired by learning, discovering who we

are and also self-opportunities. “We learn to create awareness on what the world is going through so as to know how to adapt. We learn, unlearn and relearn in other to acquire knowledge,� Aisha added.

Also, Denis Isong, a real estate personnel and an alumnus of the school, made his presentation and enlightened other members on the dangers of buying a property close to a refinery, telling everyone clearly to know the landmark close to the property before making payments as those properties close to refineries do not appreciate as propagated.

Similarly, Mr Kolawole Aseph, a politician, accountant and an alumnus of the school said in his presentation that, “As a politician, you are more or less a servant and not a leader because you serve the people and give them what they want by attending to

their needs as a society thereby making the society a better place for all.�

He added that people see politics and politicians as a dirty game and dirty people respectively because of the wrong things people do. “We all cannot actually be politicians but if you have the mind and good plans for the people, I urge you to come out and let’s move our nation forward�, Kolawole added.

The Dean of the School of Eloquence, Ubong Essien, who is also West Africa’s certified speaking professional commented on the performance of each presenter and emphasised that the opening of a speech remains what would determine if the audience would remain glued to the speaker till the end of the presentation or just get distracted somewhere along the line.

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT MONDAY, 6 MAY 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $69.88 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $70.45 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

FMDQ, NSE List North South Power Company N8.50bn Bond Goddy Egene The FMDQ OTC Securities and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have listed the North South Power Company Limited (NSP-SPV PowerCorp Plc) N8.50 billion 15.60 per cent 15-year Fixed Rate Senior Green Infrastructure Bond under its N50 billion bond issuance programme.

Speaking on the listing, the Associate Executive Director, Capital

Markets, FMDQ, Ms. Tumi Sekoni, expressed pleasure at the listing of a green infrastructure bond on its platform, stating that it was exemplary and a positive step towards addressing some of the infrastructural and environmental challenges in the nation. “FMDQ, being an exchange with a passion for infrastructure and sustainable development in Nigeria, has again demonstrated its unflinching commitment in this regard by providing due

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

diligence and availing its credible and efficient platform for the listing and trading of the NSP-SPV PowerCorp Bond,� he said. In his comments, the Chief Executive Officer, of North South Power Company Limited, Dr. Olubunmi Peters said the issuance of the first corporate green infrastructure bond in Nigeria was a significant milestone in the company’s long-term corporate strategy, demonstrating its market leadership, innovation and com-

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

mitment to the highest standards of environmental, social and corporate governance. “The success of the transaction further highlights the growing appetite for socially responsible investment in the Nigerian debt capital markets. This Series 1 N8.5 billion 15 Year 15.60 per cent Guaranteed Fixed Rate Senior Green Infrastructure Bond provides a new vista of opportunity not just for companies in the financial sector, but for

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

other corporate companies in Nigeria,� he added.

Also speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Plc, sponsor of the issue and the Registration Member (Listings) of FMDQ, Mr. Peter Ashade said to cater for sustainable environmental development in Nigeria, the need for financing cannot be understated. “ United Capital Plc is delighted to have played the financial advisory and lead issuing house role

O F

in North South Power’s longterm strategy in issuing the first corporate green infrastructure bond in Nigeria. We remain committed to making significant contributions to the exchange and to the success of our esteemed clients through our expertise and innovation in the Nigerian DCM. We believe that listing this instrument will pave the way for other environmentally friendly instruments thereby establishing a robust domestic capital markets,� Ashade said.

0 6 / 0 5 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

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44

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

45

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Cadbury Records N9.3bn Earnings, Profit of N1.2bn in First Quarter Goddy Egene Cadbury Nigeria Plc has announced a revenue of N9.283 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019, representing an increase of 12.7 per cent over N8.235 billion revenue realised in the corresponding period of 2018. The company also

recorded gross profit of N2.375 billion, representing an increase of 32 per cent compared with N1.799billion, which was reported for the same period in 2018.

However, Cadbury Nigeria’s profit for the period stood at N506million, which translates to 2200 per cent growth, when compared to N22 million

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

realised in the first quarter of last year.

Cadbury Nigeria’s first quarter result reflects a sustained positive trend in the company’s performance. The company had recorded profit before tax of N1.2 billion for the 2018 financial year, showing a jump of 242.9 per cent from N350million in 2017. The Company also

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 8-May-2019, unless otherwise stated.

reported an increase of 174 percent in its profit after tax from N299.9million to N823million.

Cadbury Nigeria recently appointed Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye as Managing Director, effective April 1, 2019. Adeboye took over from Mr. Amir Shamsi, who moved on to a new role within Mondelz International, the parent company of Cadbury

Nigeria.

Adeboye is the first woman to be appointed MD since the establishment of the company over five decades ago. Mrs. Adeboye, a chartered accountant, joined the Board of the Company in November 2008, as Finance and Strategy Director, West Africa.

Prior to joining Cadbury

Nigeria, Mrs. Adeboye was the Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. She previously worked for the erstwhile Accounting and Tax Practice of Arthur Andersen & Co as well as the United Kingdom Accounting practice of Midgley Snelling & Co., Chartered Accountants.

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 4.74% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 12.82% 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 13.19% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.29 2.31 2.97% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 16.00 16.48 -3.57% ARM Discovery Fund 351.16 361.75 -1.54% ARM Ethical Fund 29.02 29.89 2.76% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.12% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 98.38 99.07 -2.77% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.68% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.02% Paramount Equity Fund 12.02 12.11 1.73% Women's Investment Fund 105.97 106.51 2.27% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.89% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.84 0.85 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 5.72% 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 12.43% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 12.36% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,178.63 1,179.46 5.64% FBN Heritage Fund 143.90 144.89 0.34% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.18% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.50 119.88 4.93% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.39 119.77 5.09% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 144.41 146.48 -3.73% 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 4.27% Legacy Equity Fund 1.15 1.17 -5.67% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 1.66% 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 12.50% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 109.41 109.72 1.67% 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 12.72% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.15 2.18 0.28% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.08% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 129.74 129.84 3.82%

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 1.41% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,092.90 1,092.90 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 11.00 11.09 -4.43% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.74% 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 2,356.17 2,368.89 1.80% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 199.63 199.63 4.99% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.93 0.94 -1.58% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 253.39 253.42 4.54% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 159.29 161.01 -2.38% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.72% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,177.98 8,270.45 -3.70% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 2.25% 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 10.42 10.59 0.96% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.94 12.08 1.05% Zenith Income Fund 21.72 21.72 12.63% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.03%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 120.54 52.31

-44.85% 2.39% 1.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.80 104.03 83.99

9.90 106.24 85.53

-7.04% -11.32% -5.29%

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

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.71 6.65 13.62 10.87 153.74

3.75 6.73 13.72 11.07 155.74

-7.14% -12.68% -8.88% -11.98% 7.06%

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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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Congratulations To Our Chairman!!

On this special day, we celebrate a great entrepreneur and a visionary leader,

Sir Emeka Offor as he is conferred with Doctor of Entrepreneurship (Honoris Causa)

by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

Congratulations!!

The Board of Directors:

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019

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ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS ATTENDANCE

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ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Europe Must Renew Itself or Fall, Says, Macron The European Union must focus on climate, security, and growth after continent-wide elections in two weeks, or fall, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.

Micron said this as the

leaders met in Romania to chart the way forward following Brexit.

The leaders of all members except Britain meet on Europe Day in the town of Sibiu, which has German and Hungarian

ECOWAS Parliamentarians Propose Regional Defence Force, Electoral Commission ECOWAS parliamentarians have proposed a regional defence force that would assist in the enforcement of security in member states.

The parliamentarians, at the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the parliament in Abuja on Thursday, also recommended a common ECOWAS electoral commission to govern elections in member states.

Reacting to presentations of country reports from Mali, Niger and Guinea Conakry, the members exclaimed at the level of insecurity in Mali.

The Malian Government has reportedly been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012.

This includes a military coup d’état, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, representing Ghana, suggested the parliament moves a motion to propose to the Authority of Heads of State to consider the establishment of an ECOWAS defence force.

Ayariga explained that establishment of a defence force would promote security and promote the region’s common market.

“If we have a common market where insecurity makes it difficult for our citizens to access our various markets, then the very objective of

ECOWAS will be defeated.

“In that regard, I suggest that this parliament considers a motion to propose to the Heads of State to consider the establishment an ECOWAS common defence force.

“The force that can go beyond national sovereign boundaries and assist to enforce basic security in our various countries.”

Mr Ibrahim Sadiq, representing Nigeria advised that the parliament get the Heads of State to critically analyse the situation in Mali as it affected countries in other regions.

“We have to look at Mali very critically because what affects the country affects Niger, Nigeria and our sister countries in Cameroon and Chad.

“There is a need for us in this parliament to make our heads of state sit down and do a very critical analysis of these issues and how we can as a group tackle the situation.”

He also suggested that Mali decentralise and create an upper chamber so that its other citizens would feel represented to mitigate the crisis.

Also, Mr Kofi Humado, representing Ghana suggested an ECOWAS institution to promote security in the region.

“Anytime we are presented with the (community) budget a lot of money is allocated for security issues and it seems we are not having value for money so far.

roots, 15 years after the EU’s expansion east finally consigned to history the Iron Curtain that had divided Europe since World War Two. With European Parliament elections set for May 23-26, they will hammer home their goal of staying united in spite of the Brexit damage, as well as having a first go at assigning the bloc’s most powerful jobs later this year.

“In 15 days, some 400 million Europeans will choose between a project…to build Europe further or a project to destroy, deconstruct Europe and return to nationalism,” Macron said on arriving to the informal talks among the 27 leaders.

“We need to move faster now and with more determination on European renaissance,” he said.

“Climate, protection of borders and a model of growth, a social model…is what I really want for the coming years.”

France and seven other EU

countries proposed getting to “net-zero greenhouse gas emissions” by 2050 for the Sibiu discussion, which is rich in symbolism but expected to produce no concrete decisions.

That partly reflects how troubled the times are for the EU. Divided over issues ranging from migration to democratic standards, the EU is grappling with Brexit and a wave of populism, and faces external challenges from China to Russia to the U.S. It is also lagging behind on issues from climate change to cyber security.

But the 27 leaders signed off on a declaration promising to “defend one Europe”, “stay united, through thick and thin” and “always look for joint solutions” in the next political cycle until 2024.

More immediate consequences could come from informal discussions on appointing new people to the EU’s most powerful roles

at the helm of the European Council.

This will brings together national leaders, the executive European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Central Bank and the joint diplomatic service.

All five posts are up for grabs later this year and the outgoing European Parliament has already named its picks for the Commission job including a conservative German, Manfred Weber, and a Dutch socialist, Frans Timmermans.

The national leaders, however, want to keep firm control of the process where party politics, geographies, policy priorities as well as the candidates’ personal profiles all play a role.

Agreeing the choice took three summits and three summer months of horsetrading the last time round and the Sibiu summit chairman Donald Tusk will propose finishing it in two goes now.

Hungary’s eurosceptic Prime

Minister Viktor Orban as well as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras were among those speaking against Weber.

The leaders of Luxembourg and Lithuania opposed the idea of following the parliament’s picks.

While desirable for smooth future cooperation, no formal unanimity is required.

Orban and Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron opposed the nomination of the current head of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, in 2014.

Other names in the hat include Brexit negotiator Frenchman Michel Barnier, or Margrethe Vestager, Denmark’s current commissioner who imposed hefty fines on global tech giants Google and Apple.

Tusk wants to convene another summit in Brussels on May 28, two days after the European Parliament vote to let the national leaders discuss the results and agree on their next steps.

Facebook Co-founder Threatens to Break-up Company CELEBRATING EU DAY...

The company did not L-R: Wife of the Senate President, Mrs.Toyin Saraki: Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; and the European Union Ambassador Facebook Inc co-founder and former Mark Zuckerberg roommate, Chris Hughes, has called for the break-up of the social network in an opinion piece in the New York Times.

“We are a nation with a tradition of reining in monopolies, no matter how well intentioned the leaders of these companies may be.

“Mark’s power is unprecedented and un-American,” Hughes wrote on Thursday.

Facebook owns the largest social network with more than two billion users across the world.

It also owns WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram, each used by more than one billion people.

Hughes co-founded Facebook in 2004 at Harvard with the company’s Chief Executive Officer Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz.

He quit Facebook in 2007 and later said in a LinkedIn post that he made half a billion dollars for his three years of work.

“It’s been 15 years since I cofounded Facebook at Harvard, and I haven’t worked at the company in a decade.

But I feel a sense of anger and responsibility,” said Hughes, who later was an online strategist for Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

immediately respond to requests for comment.

In one of a number of security and privacy scandals to hit the company, Facebook is accused of inappropriately sharing information belonging to 87 million users with the now-defunct British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.

Hughes said he last met with Zuckerberg in the summer of 2017, several months before the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke.

“Mark is a good, kind person.

But I’m angry that his focus on growth led him to sacrifice security and civility for clicks,” Hughes said.

“And I’m worried that Mark has surrounded himself with a team that reinforces his beliefs instead of challenging them.”

Hughes is not alone in asking for break-up of Facebook.

Some lawmakers have called for federal privacy regulation and anti-trust action to break up big tech companies.

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren in March vowed to break up Facebook, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google if elected U.S. president to promote competition in the tech sector.

to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen, during the EU Day celebration in Abuja ...yesterday

Pope Announces Rule Holding Bishops Accountable for Sex Abuse, Cover ups Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, on Thursday, announced that henceforth, bishops would be accountable for sexual abuses or cover ups in their jurisdictions.

The pronouncement, which signalled a change in Catholic Church law makes reporting of sexual cases obligatory for clerics and allows anyone to complain directly to the Vatican if necessary.

The papal decree, which covers abuse of children

and adults, also obliges every Catholic diocese in the world to set up simple and accessible reporting systems and encourages local churches to involve lay experts in investigations.

The decree, whose preparation was reported first by Reuters in April, is the second such papal provision since a summit on abuse by senior Church bishops at the Vatican in February.

It sets time limits for local

investigations and the Vatican’s response to them and allows for retroactive reporting.

It also says bishops with conflicts of interest should recuse themselves from investigations and that they can also be held accountable for abuse of power in sexual relations with adults.

The 19-article decree called “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (You Are the Light of the World), raises 16 to 18, the age of adulthood

in cases of sexual abuse.

It also covers possession of child pornography.

The decree says local Church officials cannot order those, who report abuse to remain silent and that senior bishops should make provisions to prevent documents from being destroyed by subordinates if needed.

It directed that clerics should follow local law on whether they are obliged to report alleged sexual abuse to civil authorities.

China Says It’s Ready to Defend Interests in Trade War China is fully prepared to defend its interests in its trade war with the United States but hopes the US can resolve problems through dialogue instead of unilateral steps, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday.

The comments came as a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He was set to hold

talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

The meeting was aimed at salvaging a deal that appeared to be unraveling after US officials accused China of backtracking on earlier commitments and President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday.

Speaking in Beijing, the commerce ministry’s spokesman, Gao Feng, said China had the determination and capacity to defend its interests, but hopes the US can meet it halfway.

“China’s attitude has been consistent, and China will not succumb to any pressure,” Gao said.

“China has made preparations to respond to all kinds of possible outcomes.”

He did not elaborate.

The US Trade Representative’s office said tariffs on 200 billion dollars of Chinese goods would rise to 25 per cent from 10 per cent at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Friday.

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL South Africa CountsVotes as Ramaphosa’s ANC Looks Set to Retain Power South African elections officials counted ballot papers early on Thursday, a day after a vote seen as the toughest test yet for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), 25 years after it swept to power at the end of white minority rule.

The elections for a new parliament and nine provincial legislatures are the first barometer of national sentiment since President Cyril Ramaphosa replaced scandalplagued Jacob Zuma as head of state in February 2018.

Ramaphosa is trying to arrest a slide in support for the ANC, which has won every parliamentary vote since the end of apartheid in 1994, but whose image has been tarnished by corruption scandals and a weak economy in the past decade.

Opinion polls suggest the ANC will again win a majority of the parliament’s 400 seats, but analysts say its margin of victory may fall from the 62 per cent of the vote it secured in the last election in 2014 because of frustration with slow progress addressing racial disparities in income and wealth.

The ANC’s biggest challengers at these elections are the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

The DA won 22 per cent of the parliamentary votes in 2014 and the EFF six per cent.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as SIMON DACHUNG, now wish to be known and addressed as ESTHER BARNABAS AULLEH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EDHEMOKO UZEZI PATRICIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NDUKA UZEZI PATRICIA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UNIGWE AMARA EVANGELINE, now wish to be known and addressed as KANEME AMARA EVANGELINE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ODUSANYA ADENIKE ASABI, now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI ADENIKE ASABI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, NKECHI formerly known and addressed as MISS EZEALA HARRIET NKECHI to MRS OKAFOR HARRIET NKECHI. After divorce, I was known and addressed as MISS EZEALA HARRIET NKECHI and now remarried, after new marriage, I now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NDUKA HARRIET NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UGERA JEMILAT MERCY, now wish to be known and addressed as ODUMOSU JEMILAT MERCY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, DAVID OZIOMA FESTUS and DAVID FESTUS is the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as DAVID OZIOMA FESTUS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Most polling stations closed around 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

Results from some smaller voting districts started to trickle in on Thursday morning. As of 0330 GMT, more than 1.3 million votes had been processed out of around 26.8 million registered voters.

In the parliamentary vote, the ANC got about 53 per cent, DA 28 per cent and the EFF seven per cent, with a turnout of 64 per cent.

Given that less than five per cent of the potential number of votes had been processed, it was too early to make an accurate prediction about the final result.

A full tally may not be known until Saturday.

Elections officials said voting in general progressed smoothly but that there had been isolated incidents where bad weather, unscheduled power outages or community protests caused disruptions.

The electoral commission said it was investigating two potential instances of double-voting.

“The Electoral Commission will not allow the potential misconduct of one or two individuals to taint the overall outcome of these elections,” the commission said in a statement.

The ANC achieved its best parliamentary election result in 2004, under former president Thabo Mbeki, when it won 69 per cent of the vote.

But its support fell under Zuma, and it lost control of big cities like the commercial capital Johannesburg in local government elections in 2016.

The ANC currently controls eight of the country’s nine provinces, with the DAin power in the Western Cape.

Analysts predict the provincial races for Gauteng, where Johannesburg and the administrative capital Pretoria are located, and the Western Cape, home to Cape Town, will be close.

Ramaphosa, who became ANC leader in December 2017 after narrowly defeating a faction allied with Zuma, has promised to improve poor public services, create jobs and fight corruption.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as NWOGA KELECHI NKEM, now wish to be known and addressed as IGWEBUIKE KELECHI NKEM. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NNEKA ALEX ONYEAGWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNEKA ATIMA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MARIA KADIKU wish to be known and addressed as JAMILA YAHAYA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKPE IFUNANYA JULIANA wish to be known and addressed as OKPE-AGADA IFUNANYA JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AFOLABI AYOMIDE OYINDAMOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ALALADE AYOMIDE OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as FEDEKE COMFORT ABIBA, now wish to be known and addressed as FEDEKE COMFORT ABIBA AKPOBARHO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ONATUGA OLUWAPELUMI FUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as KOREDE-FAKOREDE OUWAPELUMI FUNMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AJAYI RAYMOND LUTHER KINGS, now wish to be known and addressed as AJAYI OLAOLUWA RAYMOND. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, Providus Bank and the general public should take note.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

What Not To Do In Ramadan Dr. Zaher Sahloul/SoundVision

R

amadan is the month of mandatory fasting for all able adults without valid exemptions.

Simply stated, fasting in Ramadan is the act of complete abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and intimate spousal relationships from dawn to sunset everyday for the whole ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

It is culminated in the Night of Power, when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and when all-night worship is equal to that of a lifetime. Ramadan is concluded in the celebration of Eid, when families and the community meet to congratulate each other of a new beginning after a month of soul-searching, worship and reflection. It is a powerful platform for rebirth of individuals, families, and communities.

However, many observant Muslims forget that beneath the simple definition of fasting lies more complex behavioral expectations. Why would God ask the believers to abstain from life-sustaining necessities and pleasures for a whole month? Is it only to make them hungry and thirsty for His sake so they can prove that they are good believers?

Or are there other achievable and beneficial goals?

The Quran says clearly speaking about fasting in Ramadan, “God does not want to make it difficult for you but He wants to make it easy”. As in all rituals and acts of worship, there are deeper purposes, or Makased in Arabic. Abstaining from food and drink is only the minimum requirement.

Fasting believers are also expected to reflect on the mercy of the month in their daily interactions, behaviors, and relationships.

By changing their daily regimen for a whole month, they are expected to change themselves by breaking bad and harmful habits and quitting any addictions that have crept into their lives in the other 11 months of the year.

Breaking bad habits is not easy, but Ramadan gives us a whole month to do so. God invites us in Ramadan to exert our effort to change ourselves, our families, and our community by embracing a simple paradigm: If you are able to abstain from what is lawful and life-sustaining, i.e. food and water, shouldn’t you be able to abstain from what is harmful and unnecessary?

Early believers probably understood the deep purposes of fasting intuitively, as they wholeheartedly embraced their faith. With time, and not unlike other religions, Islam and its rituals became more cultural practices than a fully embraced and understood way of life. Muslims, or the majority of them, focused on the acts of worship, not on the substance, and on the “how”, not on the “why”. When it comes to Ramadan, we tend to trivialize our fasting by indulging in acts and practices that run counter to the very essence of the month.

Here is a short list of trends and practices that are counterproductive to the essence and purpose of fasting.

You have the whole month to cleanse yourself from them: 1. Arguing over the Hilal or moonsighting The Islamic, or Hijri year, like the Jewish year, is based on the lunar calendar. The lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, and that is why Ramadan keeps moving earlier and spans all seasons.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year. The lunar month starts by the birth of a new moon. The birth of a new moon can be determined by moonsighting by naked eye, telescopes, or by scientific calculations. The beginning of the month may be different from country to country based on geography. The majority of Muslim scholars are with the opinion that Muslims, living in one country or throughout the world, should start and end the month together.

Leave it to the experts. Instead, focus on starting your month on a strong footing. Set certain achievable goals for you and your family. Learn something that may benefit yourself and your community and avoid the unnecessary knowledge.

2. Overeating and indulging in food, drinks, and sweets Fasting should teach us self-control and discipline over our bodies and over what we consume. We should eat in moderation after breaking the fast and try to lose some weight. Focus on nutritious, not junk, fatty, or high calorie food. Eat local, seasonal, Halal, wholesome and green.

The Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, taught us moderation and self-control in all aspects of life, and forbade us to harm ourselves, others, or nature.

3. Doing what is harmful The concept of sin, or Haram, in Islam includes all what can harm self, family, community, or nature. In general, actions are permissible unless there is credible and corroborated evidence of otherwise. Intentional eating and drinking will definitely nullify the physical part of fasting, but there are other deeds and behaviors that will undermine the essence of fasting rendering the physical part meaningless.

Ramadan is your chance to avoid harm to your body, mind, faith, family, wealth, community, and Earth. How about quitting smoking and other addictions? How about mending the relationships with your close and extended family members?

4. Cheating, lying, backbiting, gossiping, slandering, false accusations, or spreading rumors Social media has made it easy to spread all kind of rumors and falsehoods. Quitting the pleasure of tasting food and water is the minimum of fasting, but what is more important is quitting what may ruin relationships and weaken ties within your family and the community.

Those who lie and hurt other people while fasting gain nothing but thirst and hunger. Backstabbing, gossiping,

and spreading falsehood is likened to the eating of flesh of a cadaver in the Quran.

5. Increased consumption, waste, and overspending Fasting is not an excuse for wasting too much food or overspending. If anything, it is a time for saving on your meals and spending on others’ meals. Feed the poor and the refugees, invite relatives and friends, but do not show off or compete in overspending. As it turns out, we waste an incredible amount of food - an estimated 27 percent of food available for consumption - and it happens at the supermarket, in restaurants, in cafeterias, and in our very own kitchens. If we can cut down our calories, why not cut down our carbon production? Calculate your footprint in the beginning of the month and set realistic goals to shrink it by the end of the month?

6. Laziness and oversleeping Fasting is not meant to disrupt work or change your circadian rhythm. Some people use fasting for not working, and they don’t feel motivated to perform their daily routines.

Some countries slow down significantly during Ramadan.

That is not consistent with the tradition of the Prophet.

Don’t change your work schedule. Pray Taraweeh after Iftar, and sleep for six to seven hours at night. Beware of sleep deprivation or oversleeping. Both are harmful. A power nap in the afternoon is a good idea, but don’t nap more than 30 minutes unless you are sleep deprived. The five calls for ritualistic prayer remind Muslims to get up early in the day and succeed in work, so get busy working even if you are fasting.

Wasting time by watching TV, playing video games and browsing social media. Social media has become the new addiction. We spend an average of four-and-a-half hours every day watching TV. Adults devote about 10 hours and 39 minutes each day to consume media, including our tablets, smartphones, personal computers, multimedia devices, video games, radios, DVDs, DVRs and TVs. 7. Forgetting the poor Ramadan is not an excuse for inviting the wealthy while ignoring the poor. One of the main purposes of fasting is to identify with those who don’t have the means to have three meals or even one meal daily. One billion people on earth suffer from hunger. When you plan Iftars, remember to invite those who are usually forgotten. Invite the less privileged among your family members, neighbors, and the refugees. Volunteer to feed the homeless in your city’s soup kitchens. Make a plan to visit a few refugee families in Ramadan.

8. Getting angry, insulting others and losing control Self-control is one of the main goals of fasting. It is probably a very effective method to sharpen our tools and increase our resilience. By improving our resilience, we are better equipped to deal with stress.

That is why fasting was prescribed and practiced in many faith traditions. Fasting should make us humble, down to earth, kind, and compassionate. Ramadan should teach us patience and tolerance when we are insulted or provoked. It is not an excuse for venting or violence. If you have a problem with anger, fasting might be one of the tools to manage it. Like other communities, Muslims are not immune from domestic violence. If you have a problem with domestic violence, Ramadan may be the best time to address this disease and seek professional help. There are many resources in the community. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said “Whoever dignified women, he is dignified and whoever insulted them, he is not”.

9. Reading of the Quran without understanding Ramadan is called the month of the Quran, the Divine Book that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, over 23 years. The Quran was rehearsed in totality by the Prophet in the month of Ramadan in the last year before he died. Muslims dedicate time every day for reading the Quran. They listen to it in the Taraweeh nightly prayers after breaking the fast. They are instructed to reflect on and ponder about its verses.

Like other Divine texts, it has to be comprehended before it can be implemented. Recent trends in Masjids and Islamic schools are to focus on recitation and memorization of the Quran at the expense of proper knowledge. Proper understanding requires mastery of the Arabic language, its grammar and metaphors, the reasons and purposes of certain verses, their historical context and order, how the Prophet and his Companions reacted to the revelation, and how they applied it in their lives. It is also important to know what is abrogated and what is not, what is general and what is specific, or what is termed the sciences of Quran.

The abhorrent interpretation of certain verses of the Quran

by ISIS, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda and other violent groups, stem from the disconnection between the understanding of the text and its context. These groups, not unlike the Kharijites hundreds of years before them, apply certain texts in situations that do not meet the scholarly understanding of the text. Their extremist ideology, targeting the youth, the new converts, and the vulnerable, is very harmful to Islam and to humanity. It masquerades itself as credible Islamic ideology, but it is not.

Spend time in Ramadan with your children and discuss with them some of these difficult issues. Listen to them carefully and don’t disregard their concerns. Young Muslims are increasingly bullied in schools and are under intense pressure by their peers and the media. They have to feel comfortable to speak freely to their families. Ask local scholars if you are faced with difficult questions.

We must raise the bar this Ramadan and make it a month of positive behavioral and communal change. Quitting eating and drinking from dawn to dusk is only the first step, but what follows is even more significant.

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No One Can Influence Supreme Court’s Judgment, Acting CJN Vows Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, yesterday said that no human being — living or dead — could influence the judgments of the Supreme Court.

The Director, Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, quoted the acting CJN as saying this in a statement issued yesterday.

Akande quoted the acting CJN as re-stating the independence of the Supreme Court and its justices while addressing the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) who came to his office on a courtesy visit.

The AMCON team was led by the corporation’s chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN).

Justices of the Supreme Court, comprising, Olukayode Ariwoola, Kekere-Ekun, Musa Dattijo, Ejembi

Eko, and Uwani Abba-Aji, were said to have joined the acting CJN in receiving the AMCON team.

According to Akande, Justice Muhammad told his visitors that the Supreme Court Justices were independent-minded and were only answerable to their conscience and God while writing and delivering judgments.

The acting CJN was quoted as saying, “we take our time in taking notes and writing judgments to avoid making mistakes.

“We subject every case before us to intense debates and arguments during our conferences in order to be as dispassionate and objective as possible.

“Let me state clearly that we are not answerable to anybody and can never be intimidated by anybody whatsoever in taking our decisions.

“But for certain, we are only answerable to God Almighty because he is the owner of our

lives. No human being, living or dead, can influence the reasoning or judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“We are very independent in Supreme Court because of the enormity of the trust and responsibility reposed in us by the almighty God, the constitution and our dear nation.”

Earlier in his address, the

AMCON Chairman, Banire, said the corporation, since its establishment in 2010, had acquired over 120,000 loans from 23 banks totaling N3.8 trillion.

He added that additional N2.2 trillion was paid as financial accommodation for the then ailing banks.

“The total current exposure, as of April 30, 2019, is N4.19

trillion, with an excess of 7,000 outstanding obligors,” he said.

Banire, however, said that “top 350 obligors” account for 82 per cent of the outstanding loans of N4.19 trillion.

He said only the top 100 made up 67 per cent of the outstanding loan.

He was also quoted as saying that top 20 accounts with total

current exposure of N1.71 trillion made 41 per cent of the N4.19 trillion total current exposure.

He lamented that a major challenge the corporation was contending with was the delay tactics often employed by the defaulters to frustrate the cases currently pending in various courts across the country.

Appeal Court Delivers Judgments on Onnoghen’s Pre-conviction Appeals Today Alex Enumah in Abuja The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has fixed today for judgments in the four appeals filed by the ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, in relation to the validity his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The judgments are coming about three weeks after the CCT had convicted Onnoghen and ordered his removal as CJN, and about two months and 10 days after the Court of Appeal heard the appeals and reserved its judgments.

There is another pending appeals challenging the April 18, 2019 judgment of the tribunal convicting him, and another challenging an earlier ruling of the CCT, which dismissed his no-case submission.

The Court of Appeal has yet to fix any date for the hearing for the two pending appeals.

The press officer of the Court of Appeal, Sa’adatu Musa-Kachalla, announced today as the date for the judgments on the four appeals earlier heard by the court in a statement issued yesterday.

A three-man bench of the

court led by Justice Steven Adah, had heard the four appeals and reserved judgments, on February 27, 2019.

Justice Adah led Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson and Justice Peter Ige, on the panel that heard the appeals.

Onnoghen, who was then on suspension following an ex parte order of the CCT, had subsequently after instituting the appeals, resigned from office and also got convicted by the CCT on charges of failure and non-declaration of assets.

He had by one of its appeals challenged the jurisdiction of the CCT to hear the charges.

Another of the appeals challenged the ex-parte order on which President Muhammadu Buhari relied on to suspend him and appointed Justice Tanko Muhammad as the acting CJN. The third appeal challenged the CCT’s refusals to be bound by the orders made by the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court directing the tribunal to halt the CJN’s trial.

The last one asked the court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against him by the CCT on February 13.

Boat Mishap Claims Three Lives in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Police Command yesterday disclosed that a boat mishap that occurred last weekend at Fankanoki village of Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano claimed three lives.

The spokesperson of the police in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna, said the victims were Ashiru Hamish, 27, Ibrahim Tasiu 45, and Buhari Basiru 23, all of Fankanoki village.

Haruna said “a canoe containing eight people capsized, and as a result five people were rescued, and three others drown” According to him, the tragic incident occurred around 3:00pm

last Sunday in unnamed local river.

The police spokesman said the police were alerted around 5:00pm, and it quickly mobilised to the scene where five persons were rescued.

He disclosed that investigation had since commenced to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Haruna further revealed that the police have handed over the remains of the victims to their respective relations shortly after they were pronounced dead by a medical doctor at Tudun Wada General hospital.

AUGUST VISITOR…

L-R: Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.); Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and his deputy, Hon. Philip Shaibu, during the courtesy visit by the former head of state to the governor, at the Government House in Benin City…yesterday

Judge Adjourns TheCable’s FOI Case against Malami Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court, FCT, yesterday adjourned proceedings in the case between Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, over his failure to respond to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request on the engagement of lawyers for the recovery of Abacha loot.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Programme Officer of CNJF, Abiose Adelaja Adams, the case, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/27/2018, was filed by Kusamotu & Kusamotu law chambers at a Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 10, 2018 to compel the AGF through an order of mandamus to release

details of the agreement that led to the recovery and repatriation of $321 million Abacha loot from Luxembourg.

The case has suffered a series of adjournment during which the lawyers newly engaged for the recovery have reportedly been paid another $15 million in legal fees, even though the Swiss lawyer who did the recovery, Mr. Enrico Monfrini, said he had completed the job and had been paid as far back as 2014 and that there was no need to engage any lawyer to repatriate the loot from Switzerland, where it was domiciled.

After the series of adjournments, Justice Ekwo had on April 21, 2019 agreed that the motions filed by both sides would be deemed adopted

at the next hearing on May 8 after which he would give his judgment even if the counsel to the sides failed to appear in court.

On May 8, counsel to the Cable Foundation, Mr. Ayo Kusamotu, along with Ms Racheal Obong who came all the way from Lagos, were in court but there was no legal representation for the AGF. The applicant’s counsel reminded the judge of the order he made on April 21 to deem the respondent’s processes adopted but the judge declined and instead made an order summoning the Solicitor-General of the Federation to appear in court on May 9 (yesterday) to conduct defence on behalf of the AGF. However, the applicant’s counsel were in court while

the AGF was also represented by a counsel who was ready for the hearing of the case but the judge insisted that no counsel other than the Solicitor-General of the Federation in person would handle the defence for the respondent.

After being reminded that the AGF was already represented and no law made it mandatory for the Solicitor-General to represent the AGF in order for the matter to be heard, Justice Ekwo refused to entertain the applicant’s counsel and angrily rose without adjourning the matter to any date.

The FoI request was sent on December 7, 2017 and the AGF’s office acknowledged receipt on December 8, 2017.

IG Cautions SARS, Anti-Kidnapping Squad Commanders against Extra-judicial Killings Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has warned the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad Commanders against extra-judicial killings and abuse of office.

Adamu gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with zonal commanders and state commands across the country.

He warned that the police would not hesitate to dismiss and prosecute any officer involved in

extra-judicial killing and abuse of office in the course of carrying out his duty.

Adamu said that the supervising officers of erring officers would also be held responsible for the actions of their subordinates.

“Furthermore, you as the line supervisors of such erring officers shall be held vicariously liable for supervisory negligence by being similarly sanctioned.

“Let me re-emphasise here that our primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the citizens we were engaged to

serve.

“This is a sacred duty and no level of justification should underscore our being engaged in any act that negates this responsibility.

“It is our sole responsibility as the lead internal security agency to make the country safe for all citizens,” he said.

The IG said that the unprofessional actions of some policemen had led to lack of confidence and trust in the police and had impacted crime prevention capacity of the force.

He said that the meeting was

aimed at reviewing the existing security strategies and to evolve new architecture towards addressing the challenges.

Adamu added that the meeting would review the security challenges and engage the officers on challenges that may be inhibiting their performances on the field.

“Your performance, sense of commitment to duty, and professional competence in this instance remain critical to the ability of the police to prevent or optimally respond to these crimes.’’

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Senate Presidency: I Have No Ill Feelings Towards Ndume, Goje, Says Lawan Rule on secret ballot remains, says Gaya Deji Elumoye inAbuja Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, has said he has no ill feelings towards Senator Ali Ndume or Senator Danjuma Goje over their ambition to contest for the position of the next Senate president in the ninth assembly.

This is coming as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya, yesterday foreclosed the possibility of adopting the open ballot system to elect presiding and other principal officers of the ninth Senate Also yesterday, hundreds of youth under the platform of the North-west wing of Coalition of Northern Youth Organisations staged a peaceful rally at the gate of the National Assembly in Abuja, calling on Goje, a former governor of Gombe State, who is currently representing Gombe Central senatorial district, to declare for the position of the Senate president.

Lawan, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, representing Yobe North senatorial zone,, made the remark when he was a guest at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.

NAN reported that the APC had zoned the Senate president’s slot to the north east where the trio of Lawan, Ndume and Goje hailed from.

However, the ruling party endorsed the candidacy of Lawan for the position.

But Ndume (APC- Borno), and Goje, had stood their grounds on vying for the number one seat of

the Senate.

“I want to thank my party and my leaders for having confidence in me. I want to assure everyone very seriously because it is a burden that my party feels I can carry.

“By the grace of God and with the support of my colleagues in the APC, PDP and YPP in the Senate, we should be able to deliver that burden very well.

“I have no hard feelings against my brothers from the North-east contesting. What the party and the leaders did was to say I have been recommended or I have been endorsed. That is a preference; that the party has a preference is not to say that others cannot do the job.

But definitely, the party, our leaders have some reasons why they think we are most suitable for this job,” Lawan said.

The lawmaker, however, said the decision of his colleagues to contest the position with him was constitutional.

“But this is democracy; you cannot shut out somebody if that person feels he has the right to run and of course, the constitution allows for that.

“But definitely, the party and the leaders have spoken and we are not resting on our oars.

“We are going from door to door; we are talking to all the senators-elect. We talk to the APC senators, PDP senators and YPP senator, believing that we are going to work with them.

“Therefore, we need to bridge the gap and we need to know ourselves even before we get there,’’ he said.

According to him, the effort is yielding fruits because “majority of the senators feel that really we have something to offer and that by the grace of God when we are able to make it, we can, together, work out that desirous legislative interventions of the time for the executive to have something to work on.

“So, we are glad that we are working with majority of our colleagues across party lines.

“In fact, APC senators, almost everyone is on this project and we have sat and spoken and talked one-on-one.

“So, many PDP senators are in support of this project. In fact, YPP

is fully onboard, Sen. Ifeanyi Uba from Anambra. And we believe that this is the way to go,’’ he explained.

Lawan said if elected, the senate would ensure that public funds were judiciously utilised through its oversight function.

Meanwhile, Senator Gaya has foreclosed the possibility of adopting the open ballot system to elect presiding and other principal officers of the ninth Senate.

According to him, the secret ballot used to elect the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and other officers of the 8th Senate on June 9, 2015, will be used when the ninth National Assembly is inaugurated in June.

Gaya who is representing Kano

South, and also a deputy Senate presidential aspirant, told reporters after Senate plenary yesterday that there was no way the ninth Senate will elect its principal officers with 2011 rules, which provided for open ballot system.

According to him, the current and subsisting Senate Standing Rules is that of 2015, which provided for the election of Senate presiding and principal officers through secret ballot.

Answering a question as to which of the Senate rules he would prefer for the election of officers of the ninth Senate, the former governor of Kano State queried: “Between 2011 and 2015, which one comes

last - because the second one supercedes the first one.”

He ruled out the possibility of changing the Senate rules with about one month to the end of the 8th National Assembly.

“We were able to do these rules together. We cannot change it now unless a member of the Senate moves for that change and somebody seconds it. It is going to be debated and the same thing also in the House of Representatives. It will be debated.

If there is discrepancy between the Senate and the House, we will set up a Conference Committee. And they will bring it to us to find a date to sit down and pass it. Can you do that in one month?” he queried.

Speakership: Gbajabiamila’s HEART...

Endorsements Can’t Stop My TAKE L-R: Senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and father Senator Melaye, Mr. Jonah Melaye, during Dogara’s condolence visit to Senator Melaye over the death of his mother, Comfort Melaye, Ambition, Says Onyejeocha ofin Abuja...yesterday Shola Oyeyipo in Abuja A female lawmaker seeking to contest for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, yesterday insisted that the endorsements of the Majority Leader of her party, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, posed no threat to her ambition.

Onyejeocha,who spoke with journalists in Abuja, said since the endorsements were not cast in iron, they posed no threat whatsoever to her ambition to succeed the outgoing Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

According to her, “endorsement or no endorsement; anybody can be endorsed, and there is still time.

Change is constant. Somebody who endorses today may change his mind tomorrow; so, I am not overwhelmed because I am not going to be part of that because I know that life is about change and people change their minds every time.

“Somebody can change his mind, even on the day of election.

I don’t think anybody who is serious will be overwhelmed by the level of endorsements or level of things that people put up to the public.

“I am not worried about it because I know I am a politician.

I can get endorsement and go to the press and people will just be giving me endorsement but does that translate to real votes?’’ she queried.

“There are some people who said they would win in 2019; even people that contested with me.

What happened? So, there is difference between what you do or what you say, between you and the ballot paper.”

Reacting to the insinuation that she was only using the ambition to negotiate for juicy position in the 9th National Assembly, Onyejeocha, said “Why would I want to bargain for something less than the position of Speaker?

Do people go to bargain with running from speakership? This is my first time of hearing that.

“If you know me very well I am very serious-minded person, I don’t give in to frivolities. Would I be playing anybody’s game or would I be a stooge for anybody?

The answer is capital no! I am very much in the race as much as you can think of.

“From next week, I am going to engage the members that I have not engaged, including everybody. I don’t know those insinuations and I believe that at this level people should just be cautious of what kind of insinuations they are putting forward to the press,” she added.

TCN Confirms Boko Haram’s Attack on Maiduguri Substation Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that the Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday attacked its 330/132kV transmission substation at Molai in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, at about 5.30 p.m., destroying two Hilux vans and one vehicle belonging to a staff of TCN, while insurgents made away with the third Hilux Van. Other items destroyed by the terror group, include Hiab truck,

computer, monitor and printer in the control room; the windows of the Control Room and staff house.

TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement said that during the attack, two Post Isolators Porcelain units were affected, adding however, that the cracks were not too deep to affect power supply to the substation.

“The 330/132/33kV Molai Transmission Substation was completed and energised October 25th, 2018 and was also formally commissioned Wednesday, 13th

February, 2019. The substation comprises 150MVA and 60MVA power transformers which feed Yola Disco customers in Maiduguri and environs.

“The operator on duty did exceptionally well by opening the transmission lines from the substation and shutting down the station before quickly leaving the substation just before the insurgents reached the substation.

After the incident, TCN engineers did a thorough check of the substation equipment before restoration on Wednesday

May 8, 2019 at 9.31hours,” she explained.

The TCN, however, commended the efforts of security operatives who have continued to make it possible for its operators to run the substation and appealed that more of them should be deployed to the area, to further boost the morale of workers who have been unrelenting inensuring that electricity supply is sustained in Maiduguri and environs despite the risks.

AfDB to Spend $29.54m on Water, Sanitation in Gombe Segun Awofadeji in Gombe The African Development Bank (AfDB) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources is investing $29.54million to improve rural water supply, sanitation and hygiene in Gombe State under the federal government Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Programme in the Northeast.

National Coordinator of the Programme, John

Mamza, stated this during the sensitisation, advocacy and mobilisation workshop for critical stakeholders in the state at Custodian Hotel Gombe yesterday.

He said the programme was basically aimed at recovering and rebuilding a better state; water supply, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures that were destroyed by activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

According to him, the programme is specifically to improve the quality of

life by increasing access of the poor and vulnerable to basic social services-water, sanitation, hygiene, health and education as well as livelihood opportunities for food security and strengthened safety net systems in affected states in the North-east region.

He explained that the programme has three components that include service delivery, economic delivery and institutional strengthening and project management.

Mamza said the programme

would see to the rehabilitation and construction of infrastructures in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) that include schools and health facilities. Other infrastructures to be created include mini dams (earth dams/dug outs) for irrigation and rural electrification.

Also, the development infrastructures include creation of sanitation facilities in public places such as markets and motor parks as well as other environmental infrastructures.

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NLC Declares National Protest on Monday, Demands Sack of Ngige Minister, neighbour mull legal action against labour

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it would hold a national protest on Monday in Abuja to express displeasure over the alleged use of thugs to attack its members who were on peaceful demonstration at the residence of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.

This is coming as the minister yesterday disclosed that he and his neighbour were considering taking legal action against the NLC over the invasion of their houses by the union.

But the labour movement said that it has demanded for an unconditional apology from Ngige and by extension, the federal government for treatment meted out to the workers during their peaceful protest.

The union said the federal government must come clear on the issues, adding that its continued silence is not helping the situation.

NLC had mobilised its members to picket the private residence of the minister in Asokoro, Abuja on Wednesday, over the continued delay in the inauguration of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

However, the protest turned bloody when some youths

attacked them.

Some of the protesters sustained injuries in the process and were taken to the National Hospital in Abuja for treatment by the NLC. Addressing journalists yesterday after an emergency meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the NLC, its President, Ayuba Wabba, said the labour movement is demanding the sack of Ngige for antagonising the workers that he is supposed to act as mediator in their disputes.

Wabba said that the meeting has resolved to mobilise workers across the country to assemble in Abuja on Monday for a massive show of solidarity for those wounded during the picketing exercise and to demand for an immediate inauguration of the NSITF board with Frank Kokori as chairman.

He said that about nine workers sustained injuries during the attack on the protesters and were treated at the hospital, while several vehicles were damaged.

“The CWC decided to embark on a national protest on Monday, May 13, in Abuja against the brutalisation of its members during the peaceful protest,” he said.

While defending the action of the NLC to embark on the picketing of the private residence of the minister, rather than his

Group Raises Concern over Increased Insecurity in Zamfara Martins Ifijeh A pressure group, the Zamfara Advocate, has raised concern over increased insecurity in Zamfara State, saying efforts by the federal government to address the scourge has not yielded much results.

In a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday and signed by 10 members of the group, it said recent efforts by the government through the latest security operation ‘Operation Harbin Kunama III,’ have only brought temporary relief, but that some parts of the state still suffer insecurity, including abductions and killings.

The body said: “Scores of lives continue to be lost and more are daily still being abducted by the armed bandits operating in the state. The media recently reported that 41 people were killed and five kidnapped between April 28 and May 4, 2019 in areas such as Bungudu, Birnin Magaji and Kunkulai in Zamfara State.

“Just last week, armed bandits invaded Government Girls Secondary School, Moriki, abducting staff members and their families in the process. As if the situation in Zamfara is not bad enough, there are now daily reports of these nefarious activities spreading to the neighboring Katsina State, forcing communities to relocate to Niger Republic.

“Existing insecurity in Kaduna State seems to have also intensified with the key Abuja-Kaduna expressway becoming impossible to ply for regular folks. Overall, insecurity is at all-time high in the North-west in particular and the North in general,” the group said.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had recently, stated that Zamfara tops the

country’s crime prevalence rate while Kaduna takes the second position and Benue, the third in the first quarter of 2019.

According to the IG, the majority of these killings and murders are linked to banditry, cattle rustling and communal violence.

Zamfara Advocate said: “We are clear that the North is now on a precipice and unless something is done urgently, we will tumble down into the chaos, the likes of which there is no coming back from easily. We look fearfully at places like Somalia who for over decades are wrestling to bring back a semblance of order to no avail, despite the hegemony of tribe, language and religion which they enjoy.

“Northern Nigeria with its deep fault lines, of ethnic and religious bigotry, which over the years have been exploited by unscrupulous Nigerians, will stand no chance if things are allowed to deteriorate any further. There are also immediate, dire consequences if greater part of our people in the North is not able to farm this season as a result of insecurity.”

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the issue of insecurity and immediately focus his mind on tackling it once and for all, adding that bad eggs should immediately be wielded out of the state.

Members of the group who signed the statement are Mallam Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, Mrs Fatima Nahuche, Mrs Asia Mohammed Ahmed, Mohammed Babangida Umar, Mallam Ghazali Ahmed Shehu, Prof.Yahaya Zakari, Prof.

Yusuf Adamu Tsafe, Mallam Samaila Mudi Tsafe, Mallam Usman Balarabe, and Kadaria Ahmed.

office, Wabba said that the country’s labour laws permit such an act.

“As minister of labour, he knows that there is a clear provision of the law on picketing, lockouts and even strike action and therefore for him to have instead of addressing the issues, descended so low to the extent of using thugs to attack workers who were on a peaceful conduct of the protest, is something that is less than desirable and is anti-workers.

“We were certainly taken aback that a minister who is supposed to uphold our labour laws, has decided to descend so low to violate workers’ right and therefore, we feel he is a square peg in a round hole and is not fit to be in the office,” he added.

The NLC president accused the minister of sponsoring the thugs that attacked the workers during the picketing, adding that “such has never happened in the history of the country, not even during the military era”.

He also accused the security agents that were at the scene of standing aloof and doing nothing to stop the attack by the thugs.

Wabba said the NLC has directed all workers at the various airports, including foreign airports, to embarrass and humiliate the minister and members of his family when they are travelling to serve as a lesson for undermining workers’ right.

Also in a communiqué issued at the end of the CWC meeting,

the workers insisted that they conducted themselves peacefully and responsibly and bore nothing other than placards in line with the fine traditions of picketing.

They alleged that in spite of having conducted themselves reasonably well, responsibly and peacefully, Ngige mobilised thugs and hoodlums to attack them using all manner of weapons.

“The CWC further observed that in the course of unleashing this mindless violence, the thugs caused maximum damage to the vehicles of workers, affiliate unions and congress. Congress noted that workers suffered varying degrees of personal losses. CWC also observed that at least nine suffered serious injuries with three admitted at various hospitals.

“The CWC, accordingly, condemned in the strongest terms the use of thugs to break up a peaceful picket guaranteed by the law, adding that it is anti-democratic, repressive and anti-workers. It is also a violation of ILO Conventions and the fundamental right of workers to protest,” said the communique.

The communiqué noted that one of the reasons the minister gave for not inaugurating the board was that he was carrying out an administrative probe of corruption in the organisation.

“The truth however, remains that it was an unnecessary excuse for him to micro-manage the place as well as carry on as the sole administrator of the place for

obvious reasons. The CWC wants to put on record that the EFCC has since carried out investigation, taken to court those with cases to answer and secured convictions.

Among those convicted is a former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour who was a statutory member of NSITF board.

No member of organised Labour on the board was found wanting,” the workers explained.

They further restated their demanded that the board of the NSITF be inaugurated with Chief Frank Kokori as chairman.

The workers also demanded for an unconditional and unqualified apology from the government both for what they described as the primitive behaviour of “its minister and its suspicious silence, explaining that whereas the vice president found it necessary to step out of his car to address indigenous communities which were protesting against the forceful acquisition of their land by the military, the minister resorted to recruiting thugs to engage workers”.

The workers also resolved to hold Ngige and members of his family personally responsible for the violence visited on the workers and injuries that they suffered, stressing that Ngige and his family have sown a seed of violence.

“The CWC resolved that in consideration of Ngige’s past records of trading off his conscience for power as evidenced

by Okija, his reputation for using

thugs against the citizenry, and his questionable acts around NSITF, he is not fit to hold public office,” the communiqué added.

But speaking to the State House correspondents yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ngige insisted that blocking his house was an infringement on his fundamental human rights and that of his household, adding that they were all traumatised.

He denied the allegations of hiring thugs to attack the workers, saying that the reports he read in the dailies were unfortunate and misleading.

He said that NLC members arrived at his resident at 4.30 a.m. in the morning.

The minister said that when the security personnel accosted them, they discovered that it was the president of NLC himself that came physically with two tankers - one laden with petrol and one half-full.

He said he immediately contacted the FCT Commissioner of Police and the Director of DSS as well the FRSC (Federal Road Safety Commission) to see if the tankers could be removed.

Ngige said that his findings showed that the NLC members were attacked by the thugs they hired over some disagreements.

“They put one at the gate of my house and put the other one at the gate of the other house, which happens to be that of my neighbour.

ALUTA CONTINUA...

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ekiti State Chapter, Comrade Kolapo Olatunde; and Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC); Ekiti State Council; Comrade Sola Adigun, when the labour leaders paid a courtesy visit to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday

Anti-graft Agency Grills Sanusi’s Ex-aide over Alleged Financial Misappropriation Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Isa Bayero, the former aide to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, yesterday honoured the invitation by the Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, over allegations of financial misappropriation of the Kano Emirate’s funds.

Bayero who also served as

chief aide to the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, told reporters that, when he appeared before the investigating panel, he was presented, with some documents, which he went through and requested for more time to study and return the documents. ‘’ I was not given any specific time to report but if I am able to go through the documents

(today), May 9, I will call back the following day to face the panel for further interrogation.’’

Isa also said he was quizzed, and also mandated to report today (Friday) with some documents, which he did not disclose to reporters.

He expressed satisfaction, with the probe, adding that the truth will prevail.

During yesterday’s interrogation,

only Bayero appeared before the panel of investigators, while the other three invitees failed to honour the invitation.

When asked, why the other invitees, failed to show up, Bayero simply, said he was not their mouthpiece, adding that he was at the anti-graft agency to represent himself.

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Make Agric Attractive to Nigerian Youths, Adeniyi Urges Stakeholders Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Chairman, Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspapers, Olusegun Adeniyi, has called on professional marketers in Nigeria to package agriculture as “sexy” in order to make it attractive to Nigerian youths.

He said such move would pull the youths into participation just like the creative industry like Nollywood.

Adeyini, a former presidential spokesman, stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt at the Annual Marketing Conference and Dinner of the Nigerian Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).

He noted that agriculture remains the biggest non-oil sector window to advance the country’s economy, saying it was imperative to get the youths

involved by making the sector attractive to young people.

In his keynote address on ‘Marketing Nigeria’s non-oil sector for sustainable growth and development’, Adeniyi noted that although Nollywood has been reputed as the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria currently, its growth potential cannot match that of agriculture.

On how NIMN could help change the hearts and minds of the majority unwilling youths to embrace agriculture, he said: “The challenge is two-fold. One is how can you as professionals make agriculture ‘sexy’ to attract our young people?

“Secondly, how do you help to sell their products both at home and abroad? From all available figures, the main non-oil exports are dominated by agricultural commodities with a modest

resurgence in minerals.

“For instance, between 2017 and 2018 the value of exports in the cocoa sector increased by 33 per cent to US$317.5 million annually, while within the same period, the value of exports of oil seeds (sesame) increased by 52 per cent to US$274.5 million.

“Figures from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) first quarter of 2018 revealed earnings of N26.65billion

from sesame seeds; N6.03billion from cocoa beans; N23.93billion from fermented cocoa beans; N5.03billion from cashew nuts and N3.45billion from soya beans.

Fish, prawns and shrimps also fetched modest money as did plants, flower buds and cotton among others.”

Earlier, the President of NIMN, Tony Agenmonmen, lamented that Nigerian stakeholders always

express concern for development of the non-oil sector only when crude oil prices are down.

NIMN boss said: “As soon as oil prices start rising again, we go back to our old ways of dependence on the single product called crude oil. Just like how that Stone Age ended not because there were no more stones, oil age will also end pretty soon and it won’t be

because there is no more oil.

“Today, the world is going to non-oil energy sources. The future is here. Continuing to depend on oil is like being on a slippery slope. Therefore, the theme of this conference is very germane. In the end, we would have some actionable recommendations that are timebound. We shall present same to the government.”

Police Rescue Five Chinese, 22 Others from Kidnappers’ Den Chiemelie Ezeobi Police operatives drawn from ‘Operation Puff Adder,’ have rescued 27 kidnapped victims, including five Chinese Nationals from a forest in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

This is just as the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday rolled out new counter-kidnapping operational strategies to speedily bring to an end the current internal security challenges being experienced in some parts of the country.

In a statement by the Police Spokesman, Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police, the police said the Chinese citizens were earlier kidnapped on April 15 in Bobi, Niger State.

Stating that their rescue was painstakingly executed after both air and ground surveillance, he said the kidnappers died from injuries sustained during exchange of gun fire with the police.

For the 22 other victims who were abducted, he said they they were rescued from Zamfara State and other parts of the country.

Mba added that between January 2019 and the first week of May 2019, a total of 270 suspected kidnappers were arrested, 275 suspected armed robbers arrested, and 105 assorted weapons plus a large cache of

ammunition recovered.

On the new strategies he said: “They are purposeful and intelligence-driven and are targeted at identifying, locating and dismantling kidnapping gangs across the nation and bringing the kidnappers and their collaborators to justice.

“It is designed to complement and strengthen the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ currently going on in several states of the federation.

“The operation will involve the deployment of undercover operatives, decoy operations and high-level tactical missions with active participation of operatives drawn from the conventional police units, the Force Intelligence Unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS), the Special Anti-kidnapping Squads and the Police Tactical Units comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and the Special Forces.

“The IG, while commending the general public for their understanding and supports so far, reassures the nation that the end to violent crimes and other sundry criminal activities is in sight.

“He promises that the police under his leadership will continue to work with other relevant stakeholders in the task of making Nigeria safer and better.”

Imo House of Assembly Suspends 27 LG Chairmen Amby UnezeinOwerri The Imo State House of Assembly yesterday suspended the chairmen of the 27 local government areas (LGAs) of the state for reasons that not unconnected with their failure to honour the assembly’s invitation.

THISDAY gathered that motion for the immediate suspension of the chairmen was moved by Mr. Chika Madumere representing Nkwerre State Constituency, and was unanimously supported by all the lawmakers at the plenary.

Madumere who was the sponsor of the motion, accused the chairmen of failing to appear before the legislature to give explanation

on how they have been running their LGAs financially.

The lawmaker who failed to win a re-election, maintained that the suspended chairmen undermined the legislature by failing to properly honour invitations sent to them on several occasions.

It was also learnt that at yesterday’s sitting, the assembly hosted the State Accountant General as well as the Commissioner of Finance who were invited to explain the state-of-the-finances of the state, considering the pendency of handover to a new administration

by May 29.

PROMOTING HEALTHCARE DELIVERY…

L-R: Chief Medical Director, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Prof. Hyacinth Onah; wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi; and state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, during the inauguration of cervical cancer screening centre renovated, furnished and equipped by Mrs. Ugwuanyi’s pet project, Ugo Touch of Life Foundation (U-TOLF), at the hospital… yesterday.

Abdulsalami Commends Obaseki on Infrastructural Devt Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has commended the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on his ‘sterling developmental strides’ in the state, calling on the Edo people to continue to support the governor and his policies.

Abdulsalami disclosed this yesterday while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the governor at the Government House in Benin-city, the state capital.

The former Head of State who said he was in the state to attend the 20th anniversary

of the Igbinedion University, Okada, urged residents of the state to support the state government in order to sustain its developmental strides by paying their taxes and protecting public facilities against vandalism.

He said: “I served in Benin-city long time ago and I cannot believe the level of the development made so far.

I commend the governor for the successes he has achieved.

The development I have seen in the city is quite commendable.”

The former army general lauded the governor for his vision and doggedness in improving living standards, noting that “the state government is doing what it can to provide

a good life for the people. It is the duty of the citizens to protect these facilities and pay their taxes.”

He expressed satisfaction that the decision taken 20 years ago to grant operational licences to private universities has created opportunities for more graduates to be trained in the country, adding: “When you go down the memory lane, you will see a large number of people who have gone through private universities. It is very fulfilling and that is why I came to celebrate with Igbinedion University.”

Abdusalami urged the Federal Ministry of Education to improve on supervision of

curriculum, facilities and ensure adequate monitoring of Nigerian universities in order to secure top spots in world universities’ rankings.

Obaseki, in his remark, described the visit as an honour, and commended the former Head of State for embarking on policies that are still yielding positive results in the country.

He expressed appreciation to the former Nigeria leader for being part of the team that provided the enabling environment for setting up of private universities in the country, which he said enhanced access to quality education to many Nigerians.

Secured Oil Introduces Technology for De-sulphurisation of Petroleum Products Secured Oil and Gas Limited has said it has introduced a nano additive technology for cold de-sulphurisation of petroleum products, in compliance with requirements by the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The technology is useful for upgrading the quality of gasoline, converting naptha to gasoline and cracking crude and heavy fuel oil in an easy, low cost and effective way without heating or hazardous pollution.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Operations Officers

(COO) of the company, Adamu Abu, said the company was introducing “nano additive technology used for cold desulphurisation of petroleum products such as AGO and fuel oil in compliance with DPR requirement.”

He said the technology which cannot be reverse-engineered or copied can be “used to boost research octane number of gasoline (PMS) by between 12 to 15 points thereby upgrading low quality gasoline to high grade gasoline.

“It might be interesting to note that the nano additive converts naphtha into gasoline through a simple cold blending process with net gain in volume.”

According to Abu, “the additive can also completely crack heavy crude or fuel oil without the need for heat, pressure, vacuum, expensive catalyst and machinery. The process can eliminate Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) in a petroleum refinery.”

He noted that “the use of nano additive is to rethink the

refining process - something that has not changed for more than 50-60 years.”

The COO explained that when used to crack crude and heavy fuel oil, the process becomes an easy, low cost and effective way to upgrade heavy hydrocarbons.

The additive also can be useful for converting heavy residual fuel oil to marine gas oil, heavy crude oil into lighter crude oil, without waste or toxic, radioactive, environmentally hazardous by-products.

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Falana Berates Navy for Denying Knowledge of 15 Detainees’ Whereabouts Akinwale Akintunde A human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has berated the Nigerian Navy for feigning ignorance as to the whereabouts of 15 persons that have been in detention for eight months.

The navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, had said on Monday that the detainees were not in navy’s custody.

But Falana, who supported his position with court processes,

berated the Navy for denying knowing the whereabouts of the detainees who are in its custody.

“My attention has been drawn to the sadistic denial of the whereabouts of the 15 military and civilian personnel who have been held incommunicado by the Nigerian Navy since September 2018.

“As their whereabouts are unknown why did the navy apply to the Chief Magistrate Court in Apapa, Lagos, for an order to detain them? Why did the navy not deny the whereabouts of the

Udoma Inaugurates NBS Board, Cautions against Undue Interference James Emejo in Abuja The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma yesterday inaugurated the governing board of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The 15-member governing board, which comprises six political appointees and nine institutional members, is chaired

by Dr. Kabiru Nakaura.

The Statistician General of the Federation/Chief Executive, NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, will serve as secretary.

The minister charged members to see their appointments as a call to national service, stressing that the statistical agency remained critical to the implementation

of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration economic agenda.

He also cautioned members of the board against interfering in the day-to-day operations of the respective agencies, maintaining that the task should be left to the chief executive of the NBS alone.

He further challenged board members to come up with innovative policies that would support the mandate of the NBS to aid the diversification of the economy.

Udoma said the board should work in harmony with the management of the bureau to achieve its goals, especially considering the important role the NBS plays in nation building.

detainees when the magistrate ordered their immediate and unconditional release from custody on January 7, 2019?

“Since the whereabouts of the detainees are not known, why did the Navy file counter-affidavits in opposition to the application for the release of Captain Dada Labinjo and Lt. Commander Bola Labinjo from further detention?

“Why has the Navy filed a motion for stay of execution of the order of the Federal High Court for the immediate release of Lt. Commander Bola Banjo? Why did the navy apply for an adjournment

to react to the application for the enforcement of the fundamental right of Mr. Benjamin Gold? For goodness sake, at what stage did the detainees disappear from the custody of the Navy?”

The Navy had arrested 15 Nigerians, including Captain Dada Labinjo, Lt. Commander Sherifat Ibe Lambert (also known as Mrs. Bola Labinjo), and Benjamin Gold, for an undisclosed offence.

Others in custody include: Peter Pulle, Pius Paul, Onoja Reuben, Adeleke Adewale, Labinjo Kehinde, Ogunmoyero

Oluwasehun, Emmanuel Oputa, Innocent Sunday, Iejoro Friday, Hamza Yakubu, and Segun Yusuf.

The detainees were held in a military detention facility at Apapa in Lagos.

But in order to legalise the arrest and detention of the detainees the naval authorities obtained a remand warrant from a Magistrate Court sitting at Apapa.

However, following the failure of the navy to charge them for any offence, the Magistrate Court reviewed their case on January 7, 2019, and ordered the naval authorities to release them from

illegal custody.

But in contempt of the valid order of the court, the Navy transferred the detainees to another military detention facility in Abuja.

Following the application by Lt. Commander Labinjo filed for the enforcement of her fundamental right to personal liberty the Federal High Court directed the Navy to release her from illegal custody.

Falana alleged that the order of the Federal High Court has equally been ignored by the Navy.

Six South-south APC State Chairmen Endorse Omo-Agege Deputy Senate President Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja As the race for the leadership of the ninth assembly becomes fierce, six state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South-south zone have endorsed Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of the Deputy Senate President.

Their endorsement was contained in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.

The letter was jointly signed

by Jones Erue, Chairman, Delta State; Hon. Jothan Lalabunafa, Chairman,

Bayelsa State; Sir John Ochala, Chairman, Cross River State; Hon. Ini Okopido, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State; Hon. Ojukaye Amachree, Chairman, Rivers State, and Anslem Ojezua, Chairman, Edo State.

They said their decision to support the senator was influenced by his loyalty to the country, Buhari and his proven capacity to support the president’s programmes in the senate.

They noted “that after a careful look at the political dynamics in our geo-political zone and the zoning formulae that your emergence has bestowed on us a people.

We have taken cognisance of the senators who will represent the South-South zone in the 9th senate, both

THIS REPUBLIC

their antecedents, background and suitability for the position sought.

“With a sense of responsibility, we do hereby convey to you our agreement to endorse Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President of the 9th Assembly.

“Our choice has been majorly influenced (but not limited) by his loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Your Excellency the President and Commander in Chief, his proven capacity to support the president in the senate in executing your far reaching programs for the benefit of the Nigerian Citizens.

“Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege had in recent past made sacrifices in

the course of his very robust defense of Executive Bills and positions.

“The South-South region, which we represent is not unmindful of her role in the emerging political dynamics of our dear country and the need for our great party to consolidate her presence thereto.

“In conclusion, your excellency we wish to thank you immensely for all the support and encouragement you have offered the SouthSouth since the beginning of this administration.”

They chairmen also hailed Buhari and the party for supporting the region to produce the next deputy senate president in the ninth assembly.

SHAKAMOMODU

SOYINKA’S TITANIC UNTRUTHS of corruption. The party made no pretence whatsoever when it declared as a cardinal rule that if you joined its fold, your sins would be forgiven.

If Soyinka doesn’t understand the meaning of “your sins would be forgiven”, he should ask the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

What did the Buhari administration do to the then Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris accused of corruption? Nothing, instead it charged Senator Isah Misau who blew the whistle on the police chief to court. What has he done to members of his inner circle accused of corruption?

Nothing! Was Soyinka not aware of the Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2018 released in March by the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, which stated inter alia: “Massive, widespread, and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security services?” What did Soyinka mean by “it is no longer business as usual in Nigeria” That refrain he generously used to award a pass mark to Buhari was actually introduced into our political lexicon by Obasanjo and he refused to acknowledge that.

The World Bank report released recently also alluded to massive corruption in the fuel subsidy scheme on Buhari’s watch, stating: “The calculations for the fuel subsidy are based on heavily inflated

fuel consumption estimates, with the fiscally severely constrained Nigerian government effectively subsidising neighbouring countries’ petrol consumption as some of the fuel is informally re-exported through the porous borders.”

Was Soyinka not aware of videos of Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje accepting bribes, or like Buhari, would he rather cast doubt on the authenticity of the numerous despicable acts captured on the videos? The Buhari he awarded a pass mark to, went to Kano to endorse Ganduje for a second term in office. That to some of us was sacrilege. What is Soyinka’s personal view on this? The man who attacked Jonathan for saying stealing was not corruption couldn’t find his voice to condemn Buhari for endorsing a man caught red-handed on videos collecting bribes. The irony here is telling!

Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) was dismissed by the Jonathan-led PDP government for massive fraud in pension administration.

He was immediately declared wanted by the EFCC. Was Soyinka not aware of how the Buhari administration in 2017 secretly reinstated the fugitive from justice into the civil service and even “rewarded” him with double promotion?

All his entitlements during the period of dismissal were fully

paid to him.

What of Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation who was enmeshed in a grasscutting scandal? The president even wrote a letter to the Senate defending Lawal. He only sacked him after a prolonged period after the scandal broke as a result of public pressure. His arraignment? The EFCC only charged him to court the week of the presidential election to win some votes for Buhari.

Has Soyinka lost his conscience? What is the value of truth to him? He should know that, “Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. The voice driven underground will roar with the passage of time to reaffirm the beauty of truth as a reference point in the governance of men.”

The Rivers State government wrote a petition against former governor of the state and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, an ally of the laureate, bordering on large scale mismanagement of taxpayers’ money to the EFCC. There is a petition against Alpha Beta also bordering on large-scale corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, etc, with the EFCC. Both are gathering dust on the shelves of the agency because the people involved are “free of sin”.

As the presidential election drew near, I had cause to alert Nigerians in an article titled, ‘Soyinka on a Suspicious Path,’ about his coded support for

Buhari. That article was provoked by Soyinka’s commentary on national issues that obliquely excused Buhari of blame while heaping all culpability on Obasanjo, with indirect attacks on the PDP presidential standard-bearer.

There was a pattern to it that worried me. A few weeks to the election, I watched with bated breath to see whether Soyinka would openly endorse Buhari as he did in 2015 despite the clear evidence of underperformance.

He didn’t. Instead, he dodged the bullet but cunningly endorsed Kingsley Moghalu of Young Progressives Party (YPP). I wasn’t fooled by that move because I knew his heart was with Buhari. Who knows, he may have even worked behind the scenes for Buhari’s re-election. But is it not curious that Soyinka did not comment on the several cases of electoral malpractices and malfeasance, from Kano to Rivers? His ally, Ameachi succeeded to the position of garrison commander in faraway Rivers, a position that became vacant after the death of Ibadan’s Lamidi Adedibu who was a punching bag for his (Soyinka’s) scalding abuses.

Amaechi used the military to attempt to rig Rivers election, Soyinka had no problem with that. True to form, he was silent on the electoral malpractices that occurred in Osun State at the last governorship polls.

Ditto, the ongoing shenanigans

which are being orchestrated by his friends to suppress the actualisation of the people’s will.

Soyinka said he despises those who trivialise corruption in Nigeria simply because they don’t like the face of the man who is behind the war against it … Really? Was the laureate kidding! Who in this country is more guilty of this than Soyinka?

Frankly speaking, no one trivialises corruption more than Soyinka and Buhari whenever their associates are involved.

Soyinka has blatantly refused to acknowledge anything good in Obasanjo’s government and all other PDP-led administrations because he does not like the faces of those helmsmen. Instead he awarded a pass mark to a man who has failed all tests of leadership. He gave the credit that should have gone to the PDP-led administrations to Buhari to cover up APC’s failures. He is so soft on Buhari that he accommodates human rights abuses by his government.

The rising impunity and abuses under this government is acceptable to Soyinka. Imagine it was under the PDP government the abuses were taking place, Soyinka would have been addressing press conferences on Mars and on Earth.

You see, Soyinka may pretend as he likes, speak all the grammar in the world with razzmatazz to deflect attention from Buhari’s failure, spin the evidence as he may, sermonise on the “reality we don’t see”,

but the truth will always endure.

In the land of my fathers, there is a saying that truth flows, lies, you have to remember. In Soyinka’s hurry to deny the truth that Buhari has failed, he seems to be stammering and grasping at straws. Desperation they say, corrupts all morals and our partisan laureate is desperate to point to success where there is none from a man he helped to power. Ever since Buhari assumed office, Nigeria has been more troubled and haunted by restless spirits. In the midst of all this, our laureate is busy churning out gossip and hatefilled books/ interviews about Obasanjo. If I may ask, how many copies of such books have been sold? At least that should give him an inkling of how the majority of Nigerians view his activities these days.

As Buhari is sleeping on the job, the country is descending into complete and total chaos, where life has become “brutish, nasty and short”, with no one to take responsibility and provide leadership to save the situation.

Herdsmen, blood-thirsty armed militias, kidnappers and bandits are on the rampage and have seized control of Nigeria.

As things stand today, if care is not taken, we may soon not have a country to call home.

In case he is still in the dark, we are more concerned about holding the present government and its associates to account on economy and security of lives and properties.

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NCC Plans Second Phase of SIM Registration Verification, Compliance Audit Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), yesterday, declared its intention to commence the second phase of its ongoing audit of SIM registration data and registration processes across all Mobile Network Operator (MNO) platforms.

According to a statement from NCC, the exercise, which would commence shortly, was necessary to provide further assurance on the integrity of its Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration database.

The statement added that the audit is specifically to monitor operators’ strict adherence to the technical and other specifications for the subscriber registration as prescribed by the NCC’s Telephone Subscribers

Registration Regulations of 2011 and the Technical Standards and Specifications issued by the commission in 2011 and subsequently thereafter.

The commission however, stated that the audit would be without prejudice to the ongoing “backend verification and scrubbing” of SIM registration data already submitted to the commission

by MNOs such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9mobile and ntel.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta, “the NCC is very sensitive to the fact that the subscriber registration database is a veritable tool being used by security and law enforcement agencies in the detection and apprehension of criminal elements involved in heinous crimes like kidnapping, financial crimes,

armed robberies, banditry, cattle rustling and other crimes, which leverage on easy access to the national telecoms network. As such, we are determined to continue to ensure that all SIM cards are traceable to their real owners with the least effort”.

He also noted that the verification exercise was a continuation of the NCC’s consistent regulatory interventions to ensure a clean and credible SIM registration database.

The effort started with the

enactment of the Subscriber Registration Regulations and registration specifications in 2011. It was significantly ramped up in August 2015 when the MNOs were given a deadline to disconnect SIMs found not to be fully compliant with registration requirements, with the attendant consequences. It continued with the setting up of a SIM Registration Task Force in 2017 to further harmonise registration practices across all networks, and it culminated in the recent

establishment of a joint Industry Working Group comprising of senior representatives of the NCC, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and MNOs. The Working Group was set up with the singular mandate of harmonising the subscriber registration process with the National Identity Card Registration project.

“Currently, verification and scrubbing of SIM Registration data is ongoing. This is to ensure the integrity of data submitted to the

Commission by the MNOs, before we feed the cleaned-up data to the central database warehoused

by NIMC. The audit is a natural next step to ensure that not only is the data already submitted fully compliant, but that operators maintain the highest standards of registration practices across all their touch-points so that the subscriber data they are collecting continues to serve the national security and other interests for which subscriber registration was mandated,” Danbatta said.

MTN Releases Q1 Results as Subscribers Hit 60.3m Emma Okonji MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, yesterday, released its unaudited results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, showing impressive revenues in service delivery, voice, data, fintech, including earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

The results also contributed to an increase in its subscriber number by 2.1 million, thus bringing the total number of subscribers on its network to 60.3 million as at March 31, 2019.

In a statement signed by its Senior Manager, Investor Relations, Chima Nwaokoma, and its Senior Manager, External Relations, Funso Aina, the telecoms company attributed the increase in revenues to the IFRS 16 accounting standards it adopted in 2019, in line with global best practice and adjustments.

The telecoms company however said it had a shortfall in its digital revenue, which decreased by 68 per cent.

According to the statement, the unaudited Q1 results showed that service revenue increased by 13.4 per cent; voice revenue increased by 12.7 per cent; data revenue increased by 32.4 per cent; digital revenue decreased by 68.0 per cent; frevenue increased by 22.9 per cent; EBITDA margin increased by 11.5pp to 53.3 per

cent; while Mobile subscribers increased by 2.1 million to 60.3 million.

Commenting on the results, CEO, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ferdi Moolman, said: “Our first quarter performance was in line with expectations, as service revenue remained resilient with double digit growth on the back of improvements in voice and data revenues. We connected a further 2.1 million people to our network, providing them access to worldwide communication services, while additional 1.7 million people are able to access the possibilities that the internet provides.

“This growth is built on our focus on customer centric delivery and in particular on improved customer retention, our continuous focus on value for money propositions and further network roll-out and enhancement.”

According to Moolman, Q1 2019 saw a significant increase in the telecom company’s capital expenditure programme, with focus on Long Term Evolution (LTE) services, where the company rolled out 1,188 sites across its key focus cities. In addition, the successful transfer of our 800MHz spectrum from Visafone to MTN Nigeria will further enable improvements to network coverage and service quality.

LEARNED GENTLEMEN...

L-R: Governor-elect of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde; President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN); Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondo State; Justice Kayode Ariwoola; and Chairman, NBA Section on Law Practice (NBA SLP), Miannanya Essien (SAN), during the 2019 Annual NBA SLP Conference held in Akure, Ondo State... recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

UNGA Presidency: Nigeria Remains Unopposed, Says Espinosa Nigeria remains unopposed in its bid for the presidency of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Ms Monica Gravley, spokesperson to the President of the outgoing 73rd UNGA, Ms Maria Espinosa, has said.

Gravley disclosed this to UN correspondents in New York yesterday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the country is represented in the race by its Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijani Mohammed-

Bande.

Mohammed-Bande, a Professor of Political Science and former Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), formally announced his bid in New York on Saturday.

Election for the 74th UNGA president, which is zoned to Africa, will take place at the UN headquarters in New York on June 4.

An informal interactive session with candidates for the position is scheduled for Monday also

in New York, and would be webcast through UN WebTV According to Gravley, the session will be led by Espinosa, an Ecuadorian, whose one-year tenure as President of the 73th UNGA ends in September.

Earlier in a letter to memberstates of the Assembly, Espinosa explained that the informal dialogues were aimed at “contributing to the transparency and inclusivity of the process’’.

This, she said, is in line with Resolution 71/323 of the General Assembly, and gives candidates

the opportunity to present their vision statements and plans for the future presidency.

UNGA is one of the six principal organs of the UN, the only one in which member nations have equal representation.

All 193 members of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly, with the addition of Holy See and Palestine as observer states It is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the UN.

Okowa Congratulates Egbemode Sokoto APC Wants Election Tribunal to Quash Order Delta State Governor, Senator over the helm of the NGE, Granting PDP to Use Forensic Experts Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday but had also taken the guild congratulated Mrs. Funke Egbemode on her re-election as the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) during the guild’s 13th annual conference in Lagos.

Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, in Asaba also congratulated Vanguard Newspapers Editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, and other members of the newly-elected executive council of the NGE. He noted that Egbemode had not only exceeded expectations since she took

to greater heights.

Okowa said, “I have never doubted your ability to effectively lead the guild to the enviable heights you have taken it to, and i must thank your colleagues for rewarding your excellent performance in the last two years by unanimously returning you and some of your executive members unopposed.

The governor also called on the NGE “to join hands with other relevant stakeholders to ensure editorial independence and objectivity of the press at all times”

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, and the party have filed an application before the 2019 Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Sokoto, seeking to quash some parts of the order it had earlier granted to Governor Aminu Tambuwal and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to inspect electoral materials, especially the use of forensic experts.

The tribunal had earlier granted an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission

(INEC) to allow Tambuwal and PDP to inspect the electoral materials used for the March 9 governorship election and the March 23 rerun poll.

In the order, INEC was directed to allow counsel to Tambuwal and PDP to undertake the inspection, especially the use forensic experts in doing so.

However, counsel to Aliyu Sokoto and APC led by Chief Jacob Ochidi, had at yesterday sitting of the tribunal filed a motion praying the court to quash some parts of the order, especially the use of forensic experts.

However, Ochidi had prayed

the court to adjourn the hearing of the application, saying: “We will not be able to proceed with the hearing of the application as we were only served with the third respondent’s counter affidavit and written address late yesterday.

“As petitioners/applicants, we intend to file a counter affidavit and written address on the third respondent’s counter affidavit and written address and constitutionally, we have three days to do so from the date of the service of the counter affidavit of the third respondent.

The counsel to first, second and third respondents, D. G.

Dung, Jibril Osa Uwadiae and Bunyamba Lawan respectively, said they have no objection and they have aligned themselves with the submissions of Ochidi.

Elaborating further, Abdulhamid Zubair, said they want parts of the order granted to Tambuwal and PDP quashed “because it is sundry and too wide.

“The tribunal has no powers to grant such an order, especially allowing the use of forensic experts.

“The tribunal has exceeded its powers and we want the court to grant us the order, hence quash that part of the order.”

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe

FRIDAYSPORTS

Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 08111813083

Chukwueze Confirmed for AFCON 2019 Duro Ikhazuagbe

Villarreal exciting winger, Samuel Chukwueze, has had his wish to play at the AFCON 2019 on track following confirmation yesterday that he is not going to be part of the Flying Eagles for the Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

Chukwueze is among the overseas-based players listed for the competition by Flying Eagles Head Coach Paul Aigbogun , but the player appeared not too keen to feature in Poland.

The 19-year old who made his senior debut for Nigeria in the friendly clash with the Cranes of Uganda late last year has been tipped to add verve to Eagles attacking midfield with his quality play.

His Spanish club, Villarreal, who value the lad with relish had made it known to Nigerian authorities that they will not allow their jewel to burn out playing in both the AFCON 2019 and the U-20 World Cup. This perhaps may have informed the decision of Super Eagles Head Coach Gernot Rohr to opt for Chukwueze joining the party to Egypt rather than going to Poland for the cadet World Cup starting later this month.

Media Officer of the Flying Eagles, Andrew Randa, further put the matter to rest yesterday when in a reply to tweet on his official

Twitter handle dispelled any chance of Chukwueze going to Poland with the team.

“Point of correction. Chukwueze specifically requested to be invited for the U20’s. He wasn’t in the mix originally.

I can also confirm to you that he won’t be in Poland.

Cheers,” Randa stated in response to a follower on his Twitter handle.

Chukwueze has enjoyed an impressive debut season with Villarreal since breaking into the club’s first team.

He has scored eight goals in 37 appearances across all competitions.

The Villarreal player valued at €35million was recently named Africa’s Most Valuable Under-20 Player. He has vowed to continue to work hard on his game.

“It’s always a pleasure for me to see my name being mentioned among the best at what I do. For me it’s a privilege and I want to continue doing my best to ensure I even keep getting better.

“It’s been a good first season for me as a professional and I want to ensure I keep giving my best on the pitch to ensure I finish the season on a good note,” Chukwueze concluded.

Chukwueze remains a target of top European clubs this summer with the Yellow Submarines stating that only a club record transfer fee will tempt them into parting ways with the young Nigerian.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (centre) scored hat-trick in Arsenal’s 4-2 (aggregate 7-2) second leg semi final defeat of Valencia to book Europa League final ticket for the London Gunner...yesterday

Europa: It’s Another All-English Final of Arsenal v Chelsea Eden Hazard scored the winning penalty last night as Chelsea edged past Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 on penalties to set up an all-English Europa League final against Arsenal.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tottenham defeated Ajax 3-2 to book an all-English UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool scheduled for June 1 in Madrid.

Hazard, who could be playing his final game for the Blues at

Stamford Bridge, converted after Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had saved from both Martin Hinteregger and Goncalo Paciencia.

Before the shoot out, both teams had tied 1-1 (2-2 aggregate).

In Valencia, Spain, a PierreEmerick Aubameyang hat-trick helped Arsenal into the final of the Europa League as they won a 7-3 aggregate victory.

The Gunners are now just one

NPFL: Lobi Compound Insurance’s Woes in Makurdi Lobi Stars returned to the fourth spot of the Group A of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a Match-day18 lone goal defeat of visiting Bendel Insurance yesterday afternoon.

The defending champions are just one point away from the Super Six range of the standing while Insurance are stuck in the bottom four with drop becoming imminent for the Edo Arsenal.

Elsewhere, Abia Warriors

earned their biggest win of the season with a 3-0 thrashing of FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Umuahia to boost their fight against relegation.

Atitola Salami Tunde headed the home side in front 25 minutes into the high tempo clash.

Ibrahim Olawoyi added a second goal six minutes into the second stanza, while Shedrack Asiegbu completed the rout with a thunder strike 20 minutes to end of game.

The win proved enough to help the home side complete an Oriental Derby double over the Capital Oil and Gas side and set the tone for a possible league safety Abia Warriors are now 10th on the log with four matches remaining in the fixtures.

Thursday’s win was the first time Abia Warriors would score three unreplied goals this season.

Despite the defeat, FC Ifeanyi

Ubah remain second on the log.

Kano Pillars who drew goalless with Nasarawa United in Lafia has narrowed the gap in the Top Three to two points.

RESULTS Abia 3-0 IfeanyiUbah Nasarawa 0-0 K’ Pillars Remo Stars 1-0 Sunshine Lobi 1-0 Insurance

Q’finalists Emerge in 2019 BOA Lawyers’FootballTournament Olisa Agbakoba Legal didn’t have any stress cruising into the last eight of the ongoing 2019 BOA Lawyers Football Tournament.

It consolidated on the 4-0 victory of the first leg with another 2-0 spanking of Aluko & Oyebode to hit the quarterfinal stage this Sunday at the AstroTurf 2000 facility in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Similarly, SOOB/ACAS also defeated George Etomi/FRA Williams 2-0 to consolidate on

the 3-1 result from the first leg.

ALP/SPA Ajibade that drew 0-0 with Pinheiro moved into the quarter final with a slim 1-0 scoreline from the second leg fixture while Lagos State Ministry of Justice (LSMJ) also rode on the back of BA Law/ Probitas to the next stage with 1-0 result.

Templars defeated AELEX 2-0 to also book a place in the quarter-finals while Punuka will have to wait for next edition after crashing 1-2 to Advocaat.

Former champions Falana & Falana also sneaked into the last eight with 1-0 defeat of DOA Law/ Grey Chapel Legal. Both teams drew the first leg goalless.

Despite losing the reverse fixture 2-3 to Banwo Ighodalo last Sunday, Udoma Udoma & Belo Osagie (UUBO)/ ACAS scrapped through to the quarter-final stage 5-4 aggregate. However, that result is on hold for the organisers to decide on an outstanding

protest.

In the fixtures for the quarter final stage released by the organisers of the tournament, Templars was paired to clash with Falana & Falana while Olisa Agbakoba Legal have a date with Advocaat. ALP/SPA Ajibade is to take on SOOB/ NICCOM. The last quarter-final fixture involves the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the winner of the protest between UUBO/ACAS Law and Banwo Ighodalo.

Zenith Bank Hails Standard of Ikoyi Club Swimming Meet The sponsor of the just concluded Ikoyi Club Swimming competition for primary and secondary school students, Zenith Bank, has showered praises on the participants because of the standard exhibited at the one-day competition.

Zenith Bank’s Executive Director, Dennis Olisa, noted that the outfit was proud of the competition.

“We are happy with the standard exhibited by the students, they were all talented and the competition witnessed keen contest in all categories.

“Our aim is in this competition is to encourage and groom swimming talents in Nigeria for future world-class performance in line with the Zenith bank focus of catching them young across all sporting activities

Let me also state that we will continue to help in the development of sports and exposure of talents in our unique way.”

Grange School Ikeja emerged overall champions out of the 13 schools that took part in the 4th edition of the swimming competition.

The Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938 Swimming competition, Oloyede Obatoyinbo, com-

mended the sponsors for putting smiles on the faces of the young ones.

“We are excited that the competition is getting bigger every year. This is good for the partnership of the club with Zenith Bank. We expect that next year we are going to have a bigger and better tournament,” Obatoyinbo said.

win away from Champions League qualification, while manager Unai Emery can make history by winning a record fourth Europa League crown.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in London, Kevin Gameiro’s close-range effort had given the hosts the early impetus.

However, Aubameyang’s right-foot volley from 20 yards levelled matters before Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead

with a placed effort into the right corner.

Gameiro, a four-time winner of the competition at Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, tapped in Valencia’s second of the night before Aubameyang rounded off the scoring.

The Gabon forward slid in from Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross and then blasted emphatically into the top corner late on to complete his hat-trick and a 4-2 win.

Delta School Sports Festival Now Annual Event, Says Okowa Nosiere School lifts Headmasters’ Cup Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that the Delta State School Sports Festival would become an annual affair and an avenue to discover budding talents for local, national and international sports competition.

Okowa stated this in his closing remarks at the grand finale of the maiden Delta State Schools Sports Festival at the Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, on Wednesday evening.

While thanking God for eventual institution of the state’s sports fiesta, the governor assured indigenes of the state that boys and girls discovered at the festival would be nurtured for various future sports tournaments.

In the final of the football match, Nosiere Primary School I, Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area defeated Destiny Primary School, Ughelli by a lone goal to lift the Headmaster’s Cup. Governor Okowa appealed to other states of the federation to organise similar schools sports festivals not only to boost sport development in Nigeria generally, but to promote the physical and mental fitness of our youths as well.

Going down memory lane, he noted that Delta State has long been a breeding ground for sports talents in the country, saying his administration has been invest-

ing much in sports, in terms of infrastructure and human capital, including educational, to sustain the tempo in sport development.

Okowa said, “It is well known that Delta State is a sports-loving state and its athletes did very well in feeding the teams of Mid-West and later Bendel State, before Edo and Delta states were created. What we are doing today is to replicate what we were doing in the past, in the days of old Bendel; and, we are excited to witness and participate in this sports festival.

“We are aware that three editions of the Principal’s Cup have been held; today we are witnessing the finals of the Headmaster’s Cup, because our desire is to catch them young, nurture them to be professionals at the national and international stages.’’

The governor thanked the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie and members of the organizing committee for the successful package of the event, expressing the hope that the festival, ‘’which is a fertile ground to catch budding talents’’, would be sustained as an annual sports festival by his successor from 2023.

He also commended the head teachers and principals of the participating schools, noting that the young athletes displayed great features of good future sports men and women.

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MISSILE Saraki to EFCC “To single out one individual for persistent investigation can only be logically and plausibly interpreted to be a witch-hunt. This is definitely no fight against corruption. It is a battle waged against a political enemy’. It is a ‘label to damage’ plot.” – Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, describing the investigations commenced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the various institutions where he had served or presently serving as a witch-hunt.

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Soyinka’s Titanic Untruths N

“A lie’s greatest defence is to tell the lie and hope that no one will counter it with the truth.” obel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has struck again! Far from using his prodigious intellectual prowess to document for posterity the reigning anomalies in governance, or dramatise in vivid details this calamitous moment of our national history, a time that is almost certain to reign in infamy for a long time to come, he is massaging the facts. Well, a friend lamented recently that the good old days when the crescendo of political/judicial activism was alive and well in this country only now exist in the nostalgic recollection of our memories. Soyinka is sure not attempting to inspire a new renaissance or a new generation of thinkers. It seems his best days are behind him. A diminished Soyinka has become a flatterer of incompetence, an accomplice in a carefully choreographed historical revisionism and a willing conspirator of silence in the face of breathtaking tyranny.

What happened to the Oracle? The man, it seems has finally died in Soyinka. And I am bereaved and grief-stricken. Our Nobel laureate is hiding behind a finger to cherry-pick issues to comment on. Even at that, his views or judgments are so coloured by his links to the powers that be that it appears he is on a mission to rewrite history or reinvent the wheel. My pain is that like the famous ostrich which folklore tells us buries its head in the sand in the face of danger, Soyinka thinks we can’t see his hideous mission and grand hypocrisy. What is my grouse this time about my once-upon-a-time hero who used to take umbrage at any form of injustice against anyone, irrespective of tongue or tribe or political affiliation? What happened to this man who fought General Sani Abacha with every fibre of his being? A man whose incisive comments on national issues created a crescendo of inspiration for so many, myself inclusive, a burst of energy and adoration for his genius and reverence for the courage to speak truth to power without fear. Soyinka, the oracle has become a shadow of himself; a partisan laureate who sees things through coloured lenses.

Soyinka in a recent interview on the BBC programme, HARDtalk, said President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in his fight against corruption. Permit me to bring in a long quote from that interview for the benefit of those who might have missed it: “It’s no longer business as usual in Nigeria because we have bankers who are on trial; we have legislators who are on trial and we have former governors who are on trial.

“The moment they stepped out of office, they were grabbed by the anti-corruption agencies.

On corruption, as far as I’m concerned, he scored a pass. We have this issue of corruption, and I frankly despise those who try to trivialise it in Nigeria simply because they don’t like the face of the man who is behind it or he has failed in other certain aspects. The issue of Boko Haram, if action had been taken at the beginning, and we are not talking about the time of the reign of Jonathan, when the first governor decided to make his state a theocratic state, that was when action should have been taken.

“The president of that time compromised because he was ambitious and he needed the support of that governor. And when you start operating a theocracy, a movement will get up and say you are not holy enough and they begin by killing, first of all those who don’t believe in their faith and then turn on even the co-believers.

Soyinka “Well, he (Buhari) certainly has made progress in that aspect but then, another menace (herders/ farmers clash) came up and Buhari made the same mistake of slow response. Buhari has failed in that aspect. He behaved exactly like Jonathan.

He was apathetic.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I am bothering at all to call Soyinka out because he still pretends to be the once fiery writer-cumactivist and the fact that a significant section of the international community still takes his views on issues seriously. In that BBC interview, Soyinka generously created the impression that Buhari was fighting corruption unlike his predecessors and awarded him a pass mark for his efforts.

But nothing could be further from the truth and no claim is more fraudulently disingenuous.

Except for subsidiary motivation and contempt for the truth, it is difficult to see the rationale behind the pass mark Soyinka gave Buhari on the corruption fight. The examples cited by him reinforced a dishonest and repugnant propensity to mislead or give weight to a false narrative by peddlers of half-truths and “true lies”. It is unfortunate that in his conceited desire to further a false narrative of Buhari’s achievements, Soyinka was ready to contrive successes for Buhari to justify awarding him a pass mark.

Before Buhari assumed power, former governors and managing directors of banks were already being “grabbed” by the anti-corruption agencies and charged to court with some convicted, contrary to the impression Soyinka created in that interview that it was no longer business as usual under Buhari, and that the anti-graft agencies were grabbing ex-governors and bank managing directors and charging them with corrupt enrichment. It is crystal clear that this nation cannot rely on Soyinka’s convenient “truth” to move forward. And for some of us who had become fearful and doubtful and cynical about Soyinka’s ability to objectively record history for prosperity, that interview magnified those fears.

Let’s see how Soyinka’s preposterous claims fare vis-à-vis the evidence. It needs to be stated here that the anti-corruption agencies, viz. the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) were created by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government that recognised early on the dangers of graft to our national development and indeed took steps to tame it. It is noteworthy that the Olusegun Obasanjo government was in such a hurry to grab the thieving governors that

it orchestrated kangaroo impeachments of some of them before the courts stopped it.

I will give a few examples to refresh Soyinka’s memory. After all, according to him, “History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future.” The EFCC first arraigned Jolly Nyame in 2007 for alleged fraud to the tune of N1.64 billion which it said he committed while serving as the governor of Taraba State. The EFCC put Saminu Turaki, the two-term governor of Jigawa State, in the dock on a 32-count charge at the FCT High Court, Maitama for allegedly stealing N36 billion while in office. After a brief detention, he was granted bail in 2007.

Ayo Fayose, the former Ekiti State governor was first arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos, on 51-count charge of embezzling N1.2 billion. The case was initiated on December 17, 2006. Orji Uzor Kalu Kalu, who ruled Abia State for eight years, faced a 107-count N5 billion graft charge at the FCT High Court, Maitama.

Former EFCC chairperson, Farida Waziri inherited the case file in 2007. The case is still winding its way through the judiciary. Boni Haruna, a former governor of Adamawa was picked up by the EFFC in 2008 for not accounting for state funds running into N250 million.

Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the former Governor of Edo State, paid back money into state coffers after a plea bargain. A Federal High Court, Enugu found him guilty and he refunded N4.3 billion.

The case was determined on January 23, 2008.

James Ibori Ibori, a former governor of Delta State was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Asaba on a170-count charge for embezzling N9.2 billion. He was granted bail in 2008. Mrs Waziri inherited the case file and filed fresh charges in August 2009. The EFCC accused him of illegally disposing of 528 million shares belonging to Delta State in Oceanic Bank valued at about N44billion.

Chimaroke Nnamani, he governed Enugu State for eight years, after which the EFCC accused him of embezzling N5.3 billion and arraigned him at the Federal High Court, Lagos on a 105-count charge. Again, Waziri inherited the case file on December 11, 2007. Michael Botmang Botmang, who rose to power as Plateau governor following the impeachment of Joshua Dariye in October 2006, was alleged to have stolen N1.5 billion in the seven months he was in office before the 2007 elections. The anti-graft agency arraigned him on a 31-count charge at the Federal High Court, Maitama. He was granted bail in 2008.

Attahiru Bafarawa, a former Sokoto State helmsman faced a N15 billion corruption suit at the Sokoto State High Court. EFCC commenced the suit on December 16, 2009.

Adamu Abdullahi, now senator, governed Nasarawa State for eight years. He was arraigned by the EFCC on March 3, 2010 at the Federal High Court, Lafia on a 149-count charge for allegedly stealing N15 billion while in power. He is now in the APC chorusing Buhari for life. Rasheed Ladoja, the former Oyo State governor faced a 33-count fraud charge for allegedly stealing N6 billion at the Federal High Court, Lagos. His case was initiated by the Waziri-led EFCC. He was recently cleared of all charges.

Dariye, the former Plateau State governor, was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Guda on a 13-count charge for stealing N700 million in 2007. He is currently serving jail time. Timipre Sylva, the former governor of Bayelsa State, has retrieved 48 houses acquired in just four years as governor which the EFCC seized during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. He was charged in 2012 before a Federal High Court for

allegedly laundering over N2.45 billion Bayelsa State fund. While the case was ongoing, Buhari appointed him co-chairman of his transition committee. It was Buhari’s first appointment that indicated the direction his anti-corruption war would go.

The late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha was impeached by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over allegations of corruption and money laundering following his arrest in London. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the EFCC with money laundering and corruption offences.

On July 30, 2007, he was sentenced to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

In 2009, Bode George, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), a former Vice Chairman of the PDP, and in 2007 was the Director General of the Yar’Adua/Goodluck presidential campaign, was sentenced to two years in prison for contract splitting before his conviction was upturned by the Supreme Court.

We were all living witnesses to how a former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, was in November 2005 convicted of corruption, and associated crimes. When the news of the National Identity Card fraud broke in 2003, then-President Olusegun Obasanjo sacked all those implicated that were serving in his cabinet.

The late Internal Affairs Minister in that regime who was Obasanjo’s schoolmate, Chief Sunday Afolabi, and others faced a 16-count charge in December 2003 when they were arraigned before a court over the alleged $214 million National Identity Card scam. The other ministers were Dr. Mohammed Shata, Alhaji Hussain Akwanga and a former National Secretary of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo. Fellow Nigerians, there are far more too many to list here. And nearly all of them were PDP members put on trial by PDP administrations.

On bank managing directors, the evidence recorded by history contradicts Soyinka’s assertion.

The travails of Dr. Erastus Akingbola started sometime in August 2009 when the then-governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi sacked the chief executives and directors of some banks in the wake of the banking reforms. The shocking part of it was the calibre of the people who lost their plum jobs such as the former managing director and chief executive officers of the following defunct banks with the exception of Union Bank which is still in operation. Oceanic Bank’s Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, Intercontinental Bank’s, Akingbola, Finbank Plc’s Okey Nwosu, Afribank’s, Sebastine Adigwe, Spring Bank’s, Charles Ojo, Bank PHB’s Francis Atuche, Union Bank’s and Barth Ebong, among others. They were all replaced by appointees of the CBN. Not long after their removal, the EFCC arraigned the seven former bank chiefs in court on various allegations including fraud, corruption, theft and mismanagement. In October 2010, Mrs. Cecilia Ibru was convicted of fraud and forfeited over N150 billion in assets and cash. So what did Soyinka imply when he said that under Buhari, governors and bank chiefs were being grabbed by the anti-corruption agencies? What has Buhari done that indicated that?

Despite the imperfections in the campaign to deal with corruption and corrupt elements, the PDP administrations demonstrated some seriousness by charging its members suspected of corruption to court. The Buhari-led APC administration has instead of deepening the war against corruption engaged in brazen cover-ups of its own suspected Continued on page 61

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