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IMF Salutes Emefiele on Reappointment as CBN Gov Ebere Nwoji The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has congratulated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on his reappointment for a second term of five years by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Fund’s Managing Director, Ms. Christine

Lagarde, in a letter dated June 18, 2019 and made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the re-appointment came at a key moment when Nigeria has the opportunity to take important steps to strengthen the economy and improve living standards for all of its citizens. “We look forward to continuing our close

collaboration with you and your colleagues and supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria in dealing with the key challenges of ensuring macroeconomic stability and safeguarding the development of a sound financial sector,” she said, adding: “I wish you every success in your endeavors.” Emefiele, who was a former Managing Director of Zenith

Bank, was first appointed as the apex bank governor in 2014. Buhari had on May 8 submitted Emefiele's name to the Senate for confirmation. The upper chamber eventually obliged the president on May 16, saying the CBN governor had performed exceptionally well in his first term of five years.

Emeﬁele and Lagarde

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Buhari’s Assets: SANs Nudge SERAP to Sue CCB Davidson Iriekpen, Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja

PARLEY WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS... Business mogul, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie (1st left) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (4th left) with professors from Harvard Business School, United States during an interactive session with 36 Harvard professors at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos... Monday photo: novo isioro

Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday advised a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to challenge in court, the refusal of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to disclose the details of President Muhammadu Buhari’s assets. Sequel to the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, SERAP had sought from the CCB the disclosure of assets declarations Continued on page 6

Afenifere, Others Demand Rejig of National Security Architecture Say Buratai's revelation on soldiers’ indiscipline on the frontlines worrisome Shola Oyeyipo, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBL), yesterday called for reorganisation of the nation’s security system to reverse the worsening security situation in the country.

Leaders of the group, in separate interviews with THISDAY, expressed concerns over the spate of bombings, kidnappings and banditry and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to step up efforts to protect lives and property. They spoke against the backdrop of the statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, that lack of willingness of military officers and men at

the frontlines was responsible for the setback experienced by the Nigerian Army in recent anti-insurgency operations. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also weighed in on the growing insecurity in the country as it expressed concern about recent escalation in attacks and bombings in Borno, Zamfara and Katsina States. Buratai, at a workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, had said

insufficient commitment of frontlines soldiers was the reason for the reverses the army had suffered in its anti-terrorism war. “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigerian Army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks: or simply insufficient commitment to a common

national/military course by those at the frontlines,” he had told middle level officers at the workshop organised to retool them for the task ahead. However, a leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; a founding ACF member, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; as well as leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBL), Mr. Yinka Odumakin and Dr. Kayode Ajulo, said

Buratai’s indictment of the military showed that Nigeria was not about ending the security siege criminals had foisted on the nation. They also described Buratai’s comment as selfindictment, saying that it has further created fear among Nigerians and the international community. Adebanjo said: “Why did he Continued on page 8

How Presidential Veto Frustrated Electronic Transfer of 2019 Polls Results... Page 6

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Lawan: Senate Committed to Constructive Engagement with Executive Deji Elumoye and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, yesterday in Abuja assuaged the minds of Nigerians of the belief that the Senate under his leadership would be a rubber stamp, saying he will not preside over a rubberstamped parliament. Since his emergence, there have been assumptions that the Senate under his leadership would be a stooge of the executive in view of his notable opposition to some motions or resolutions of the eight Senate criticising the Muhammadu Buhari presidency. The assumptions have only been rifer after his election on June 11, following his regular refrain that his ultimate goal is to lead the Senate to support the president. The assumptions were further strengthened when a photograph showing the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, kneeling for the president in the State House, was circulated on social media. But Lawan was swift to dismiss such insinuations while answering questions from journalists in the State House yesterday, after holding a meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, arguing that the Senate is not a primary or secondary school where the school head dictates to students what to do.

He acknowledged that the legislature is rather a body of people of equal status, while he is only privileged to be first among equals and hence, has no right to dictate to his colleagues because he is not their boss. Lawan who further said there had been no assembly of the National Assembly that has been rubber-stamped since 1999, promised that the Senate under his leadership will hold the executive accountable by effectively carrying out its oversight functions. Reiterating that the ninth National Assembly will cooperate with the executive to deliver good governance, the Senate president said Nigerians would witness a complementary executive-legislative relations that will deliver good governance to them in the end. His words: "A parliament is not a primary school or a secondary school where you have a headmaster or principal that will dictate to his students. Parliament is an aggregate or an assemblage of people that have equal status. "Being elected as Senate President does not mean that I'm the boss of the other senators. I'm simply to coordinate and aggregate views and lead debates. Whoever is in the majority, that will be the decision of the Senate appropriately and accordingly. "So, there will be

nothing like rubber stamp. So far, I have never seen a National Assembly that had a rubber stamp leadership and I have been around for 20 years to know that. But one thing I must tell you is that while there is desire to remain sufficiently on track, we will ensure that oversight function is properly carried out but we will cooperate fully and give total support to the administration to ensure that there is good governance. "There is no need for any fear that we will be a rubber-stamped National Assembly. Perhaps and probably with time, Nigeria will come to see that what we desire and what will happen by the grace of God, will be a working relationship that endears the entire administration and government to the people of Nigeria. So, there is no cause for alarm." Lawan disclosed that he was in the State House to thank the vice-president for his support during the race for the office of the Senate president and simultaneously discuss the nature and composition of the ninth National Assembly with him. According to him, having received the support of members of the National Assembly across party lines during the leadership elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus believes that it is only necessary to

maximise such support to secure a united legislature. According to him, such unity and focus are necessary for the delivery of good governance to the people through cooperation and collaboration with the executive. "As the new National Assembly, we have received a bi-partisan mandate from across the parties. The PDP, the YPP voted for us and we believe that this is the time and opportunity for us to consolidate on the kind of support that we received across the political parties that we received in the National Assembly. "We believe that we must remain united in the National Assembly. We must remain focused for us to be able to deliver those legislative interventions that will be necessary for good governance in the country. We also believe that we must have a relationship with the executive arm of government that is based on cooperation and collaboration," he added. Speaking earlier to journalists in his office, Lawan has hinted of a better working relationship between the executive and the legislature, saying the National Assembly has no basis to compete with the executive. According to him, the legislative arm is not and will not be in contention with the executive arm of government

"as we are meant to serve the same people. "We are meant to ensure that Nigeria get the services that they required and vote us to deliver and that is exactly what we would do. In the process of governance, we are expected to work with the executive, in complementary type of relationship that is based on cooperation, collaboration, synergy, and partnership," he explained. Lawan further emphasised, "We are not going to have unnecessary rancour, or go to the market place with stones. We are going to be absolutely focused, absolutely determined to ensure that Nigerians are taken to the next level of development " The Senate president was however quick to stress the need for the Senate to oversight the executive better than it did in the previous Senate. "As a legislature we also have that enviable role of over sighting the executive. We would even try to stretch out our oversight process not as we did before but we want to see an oversight that is structured from conception to the presentation of reports by our committees to the plenary of the senate at all times. "We want to ensure that whoever is given a responsibility on the side of the executive discharges that responsibility. When the president appoints

a minister he is expected to help the President perform those duties assigned to him to ensure that those who are to work with us should do it in such a manner that we are to work together to deliver the services". Meanwhile, the Senate president yesterday retained five political aides of his predecessor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to help in the discharge of his duties. The appointment of the aides, which was contained in a one-page letter titled: 'Appointment of Political Aides to the President of the Senate' issued by Chief of Staff, Alhaji Babagana Aji, was addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori "to direct that their letters of appointment be issued accordingly. The re-appointed aides are Special Assistant on Administration to the President of the Senate, Dr. Betty Okoroh; Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Mohammed Isa; Special Assistant on New Media, Mr. Olu Onemola; Senior Legislative Aide on Publicity (Photography), Mr. Tope Brown Olowoyeye; and Senior Legislative Aide on Schedules & Events, Mr. Ogechukwu Nwankwoh. The Senate president had on Tuesday appointed Aji as his chief of staff and Dr. Festus Adedayo as his media adviser.

How Presidential Veto Frustrated Electronic Transfer of 2019 Polls Results INEC: 20% of Nigeria not covered by mobile communications

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC) had made all arrangements to transmit results of the 2019 general election electronically but was frustrated by the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2018, a top official of the commission told THISDAY. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, challenging the outcome of the poll in which INEC declared the All Progressives Congressâ€™ (APC) Buhari as the winner. Both the PDP and Atiku are claiming that results it gleaned from INECâ€™s server showed that

they won the contest. The commissionâ€™s lawyers have, however, submitted that INEC did not transmit the pollâ€™s results electronically, therefore, there was no basis for the main opposition partyâ€™s claim. A top official of the commission who did not want to be mentioned because issues are already joined at the tribunal, however, explained to THISDAY that the electoral body was ready to deploy electronic transmission of results until the president refused to sign the amendment bill, which would have given the exercise legal backing. Among others, the rejected Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2018), gave a legal backing for the electronic transmission of results from the polling units, the serialisation of ballot papers for each polling unit and the

announcements of results in the presence of the agents of the parties. It also legalised the use of Smart Card Reader and outlawed the use of Incident Forms. However, Buhari vetoed the bill, saying some of its provisions would cause confusion for INEC since the elections were too close for their implementation. The source said while it was ready to transmit the results electronically, there were fears that the court could nullify them, if asked to, for violating the subsisting Electoral Act (2010), as amended. However, he said he did not want to say much on the matter since it was part of the issues to be determined by the Presidential Election Tribunal. The source said: â€œYes, we have a server or website. We have a

website for the registration of voters. We have a server for political partiesâ€™ registration where all data are stored. We also operated a pilot transmission of results in the Ondo and Osun State governorship elections. â€œBut all our efforts came to nothing with the president not signing the Electoral Act (Amendment Bill) in the twilight of our preparations for the elections. So, we consulted on what to do and we were advised to stick to the subsisting laws on the elections. This is because to insist on going ahead with the electronic transmission of election results could put the elections in great danger. "Someone could go to court and say that we operated outside of the constitutionally-recognised rules of the elections. Someone could go to court and the

elections would be declared null and void." He cited the Supreme Court judgment in a suit challenging the election of Mr. Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State in 2015, in which the apex court declared that the use of smart card readers during the poll was illegal, as it was not covered by the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. The source said besides the presidential veto, it discovered that about 20 per cent of the countryâ€™s landmass was not covered by mobile telephone technology. He said: "Another point is the non-coverage of the country by the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM). We discovered that over 20 percent of the country is out of the coverage of the major GSM providers.

to him, is saddled with the responsibility of interpreting the law. While the senior lawyer agreed that the Freedom of Information Act allows members of the public to access information on public officers, he added that there are some exceptions under the Act, which only the court can best determine. "SERAP is advised to contest the refusal in court. While it is true the Freedom of Information Act is there, there is the need to ascertain whether the class of documents falls into one of the few exceptions under the Act. Let us be guided by the courts," he said. Another SAN, Prof. Akinseye George, however, said there was no constitutional or statutory obligation on the bureau to publish the assets declaration forms of the president, vice-

president and others. â€œBut under the Freedom of Information Act, the bureau is obliged to release the information,â€? he said, adding: â€œAlso, in line with the anti-graft policy of the administration, the asset declaration forms ought to be made public.â€? According to him, both the president and the vice-president made their declarations public at the beginning of the first term. â€œIt is even more important that after they have spent four years, they should make their assets public. Thatâ€™s the practice in other serious democracies,â€? he added. Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), condemned the CCB for refusing to grant the FoI request by SERAP because assets declaration form is private

This is what we called the blind spot. â€œWe consulted the National Communication Commission and the Computer and Satellites Communication Association and we were advised to avoid this controversy. So, the main problem was how we transmit the election results electronically to this 20 per cent we refer as blind spot. â€œAnother challenge is the fear of people hacking into the electronic results that it is being transmitted." On what happened to the N2.27 billion appropriated for Information Communication Technology, the INEC official said: â€œI told you that we were ready for the electronic transmission, but for the non-signing of the Electoral Amendment Bill."

BUHARIâ€™S ASSETS: SANS NUDGE SERAP TO SUE CCB submitted by successive president and governors from 1999 till date. But in a letter by Musa Usman, on behalf of CCB chairman, the bureau said the request â€œfalls short of the requirement of the law,â€? adding that the information requested cannot be provided because of â€œinvasion of privacy.â€? However, a SAN and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, described the refusal of the CCB to disclose the details of Buhariâ€™s assets as double standard. Agbakoba said the action of the CCB amounted to double standard considering what happened to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. Onnoghen was recently convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on

an alleged six-count charge of failure to declare all his assets as required by the law for public office holders. The charges were preferred against him by the federal government following a petition filed at the CCB by one Mr. Dennis Aghanya, a director of the Anti-corruption and Research Database Initiative. Aghanya did not state how he got to know that the former CJN did not update his asset declaration forms since he assumed office. â€œItâ€™s double standards given what happened to Justice Onnoghen,â€? Agbakoba said. On the next step SERAP should take, the former NBA chair advised SERAP to challenge the refusal in court. Another senior lawyer, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), urged SERAP to go to court to challenge

CCB, adding that it would be interesting to see how the court would decide the issue. Ngige said as a democratic nation, issues such as these should be resolved by the courts, stressing that not only would it be a test case, it would also be an opportunity to find out if the forms lodged with agencies like CCB can be accessed by non-governmental and civil society organisations. â€œLet them go to court and challenge CCB. We are in a democracy. It would be a test case. It is an opportunity to determine whether the forms lodged with CCB can be accessed by NGOs. The case can even go beyond the High Court up to as far as the Supreme Court,â€? he said. Also reacting, another SAN, Mr. Ahmed Raji, advised SERAP to go to court, which according

Continued on page 8

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % FORTEOIL 3.15 34.65 10 NEM 0.22 2.45 9.8 THOMWYAT 0.03 0.34 9.6 DANGSUGAR 1.00 12.00 9.0 ETI 0.80 11.00 7.8 TOP LOSERS NGN % CHIPLC 0.02 0.20 9.0 PRESCO 5.00 50.00 9.0 PRESTIGE 0.05 0.50 9.0 AXAMANSARD 0.12 1.79 6.2 CONOIL 1.35 21.65 5.8 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,420.00 Volume: 1.233 billion shares Value: N67.891 billion Deals: 3,441 As at yesterday 19/6/19 See details on Page 39

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NEWS

Otedola Divests from Forte Oil

Goddy Egene

Billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, has fully divested from Forte Oil Plc. The petroleum marketing firm had last December announced plans by Otedola, who has been the chairman of the company, to divest its stake to Prudent Energy team, which uses Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited, as vehicle. Forte Oil had said Otedolaâ€™s divestment from the downstream business was pursuant to his decision to explore and maximise business opportunities in refining and petrochemicals, noting that the transaction was expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 subject to the satisfaction of various conditions and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

However, on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, 973.252 million divested shares of the company were crossed for about N64 billion. In other words, the divested shares were traded on the floor of the NSE yesterday. After the divested shares were traded, Otedola posted in his verified Instagram page, that he had divested from the business and would now concentrate on his power generation business. â€œIn line with my principle of business focus, we have divested from our marketing and upstream businesses and shall from now on focus and consolidate on the gains of our power generation business, Geregu Power Plc,â€? he said. He explained that from a moribund business, his team successfully built the company

Otedola into one of the most profitable in the downstream petroleum marketing sub-sector. â€œA few years ago,â€? he wrote, â€œmy team and I embarked on an arduous task of transforming a moribund petroleum marketing business, African Petroleum Plc (formerly British Petroleum) into Forte Oil Plc; a leading integrated solutions provider with solid footprints

in downstream petroleum marketing, Upstream Services and Power Generation and one in which we built intrinsic value to the benefits of our shareholders.â€? â€œWe wish our successors the very best and urge them to build on our legacies, which have been established since 1964,â€? he added. Formerly known as African Petroleum Plc, Forte Oil operates mostly in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Prior to Otedolaâ€™s planned divestment, Forte Oil had gotten shareholdersâ€™ endorsement to restructure the company via a divestment of its upstream services business - Forte Upstream Services Limited, its power generating business, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, and its downstream business in Ghana,

AP Oil and Gas Ghana Limited. Forte Oil had explained that its decision to focus on downstream operations would boost distributable earnings for the benefit of shareholders. According to the company, its operations is in the downstream oil and gas segment, and the group has established itself as a foremost indigenous petroleum marketing company with a rich history and strong operational platforms. It explained that although power business is profitable, it has huge receivables and a significant portion of its distributed earnings is also utilised in servicing the acquisition debt finance. Regarding the upstream services business, Forte Oil said despite the significant resources deployed, including management time, the upstream services business

has consistently contributed less than seven per cent to the groupâ€™s earnings in the last three financial years. Similarly, the company said the downstream subsidiary in Ghana has consistently declared losses after tax in the last three years and has substantial bad and uncollectable trade debts in the business as a result of negative economic conditions and currency devaluation in prior years. â€œThe proceeds of the divestment initiative will also enable your company to compete more favourably and achieve the planned expansion of the business for increased market share. The group foresees immense prospects in the downstream oil and gas sector, and is positioning proactively to harness these opportunities,â€? Forte Oil had said.

NNPC Awaits Security Clearance to Resume Oil Search in Chad Basin Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is to resume oil search in the Chad Basin as soon as it receives security clearance, according to the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru. Baru, while hosting the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, who visited him in Abuja, said the corporation had not

foreclosed a further search for oil in the area. â€œWe will go back there as soon as we receive security clearance. There seems to be some prospects there because Niger Republic drilled over 600 wells and now they are producing while we have only drilled 23,â€? Baru said. He commended the people of Bauchi and Gombe States, especially communities in the exploration area, for their support and hospitality, while assuring them of NNPCâ€™s

support in the provision of infrastructure and amenities. On the proposed Institute of Petroleum Studies to be established in Bauchi State University, Baru pledged the support of NNPC and assured the governor of synergy between the institution and the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, for exchange programmes and manpower development. Earlier, Mohammed had said his visit was to seek collaboration with the

corporation on how to develop the state. â€œWe are happy that we have some hydrocarbon not only in Bauchi but also in Gombe both in the Gongola Basin, and we are totally committed to the exploration activities of the NNPC in the area,â€? the governor added. Oil search in the Chad Basin was suspended after a team of NNPC Frontier Exploration Services and their consultants from the University of Maiduguri, were attacked

and some of them abducted on July 25, 2017. Before the suspension of the exploration, the corporation had planned to drill four oil wells each in Chad and Gongola Basins. The four wells would be drilled in the areas the corporation had acquired 1,961 square kilometres of 3D seismic data out of the planned 3,550 square kilometres. NNPC also planned to go deeper into the Maiduguri sub-basin to acquire more

3D seismic data as soon as normalcy returns to the Chad Basin. But while waiting for normalcy to return to the Chad Basin, the state-run oil firm has stepped up efforts in the lower Benue Trough, with the acquisition of 20 kilometres of 2D data out of the planned 455 km 2D seismic data. On the Gongola Basin, four wells are to be drilled to further test the prospects identified around the Kolmani River-1, Nasara-1 and Kuzari-1 in 2018.

â€œPromotion has become stagnated within the military; and it is expected that by now they would have become wary,â€? he said, adding: â€œI think that is why some people have been asking for the introduction of new security architecture for the country â€“ that the Nigerian security leadership should be rejigged. It needs to be rejigged because people are getting warier. People are getting disenchanted.â€? SMBL spokesman, Odumakin, called for Burataiâ€™s sacking. According to him, â€œWhy are his men, who signed up to defend Nigeria, who have put their lives on the line, no longer committed? â€œFor us, the chief of army staff being in office could be one of the reasons. All the Nigerian service chiefs should have been long retired. Their continuous stay in the office has truncated the careers of many officers. His stay in office and other service chiefsâ€™ cannot be a morale booster within the armed forces.â€? In addition, the Head of Transparency International in Nigeria, Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the outburst of Buratai as disheartening and demoralising. He said it was a worrisome

development to hear the chief of army staff making such an allegation against his soldiersâ€™ inability to fight insurgents. He blamed the situation on lack of motivation and lack of equipment for soldiers fighting Boko Haram. He said: "If you look at the alleged corruption in the military procurement, look at the recruitment process, we will not be able to deal with all these problems. Sincerely speaking, it is very disheartening and very demoralising. "There is no way you can have a patriotic, committed security outlet who will give their lives, while others are siphoning their resources that is meant for their allowances and their wellbeing, as well as their promotions."

Meanwhile, NLC has expressed concern about the escalation in the spate of attacks and bombings in Borno, Zamfara and Katsina States. It said the activities of the insurgents had assumed a frightening dimension in both frequency and casualty figures. In a statement yesterday

by its Acting President, Mr. Najeem Yasin, NLC urged the federal government to do more to protect lives and property. It said no responsible government should condone these attacks, adding that the recent bomb attacks and killings call for stronger actions against all terror gangs. "The recent massive suicide bomb attack at a viewing centre in Mandarari community in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State and other wanton killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits in Shiroro community in Niger State as well as communities in Zamfara and Katsina states, are clear indications that the battle against terrorism in Nigeria has assumed a frightening dimension both in frequency and casualty figures,â€? NLC said It described it as shocking that at a period security forces claimed to be routing terrorists, there is an upsurge in criminalities. According to NLC, terrorism and banditry are increasing nationwide and require urgent security agencies' review with increased surveillance and prompt apprehension of suspects to forestall their heinous plans.

and transparent governance which Buhari committed to before he became president. Odinkalu, who was one of the forces behind the agitation and passage of the FoI Act in the country, noted that the constitution made release of asset information contingent on the adoption of legislative instrument to govern such release. He said: â€œIn negotiating the

FoI Bill through parliament between 2008 and 2011, the need to ensure and govern disclosure of asset information under the control of the CCB was given and taken as an explicit rationale for the bill that later became the FoI Act. â€œNow, the CCB chooses to dance to the tune of a disclosed masquerade. On December 9, 2015, the CCB disclosed that it had sought and received legal

advice from then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, instructing it not to disclose the asset forms of the president and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. What I can't understand is how the CCB chooses to elevate the opinion of a self-interested lawyer over and above the explicit provisions of our laws, including our constitution.â€?

AFENIFERE, OTHERS DEMAND RE JIG OF NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE (Buratai) say so? If that is what he said, then the Commanderin-Chief should change them. They have not performed; if the chief of army staff said his men were no longer committed, it behoves on the Commanderin-Chief to change them and put committed people there. The Commander-in-Chief has been slacking not to have sacked them. When they say they are not committed, then you should sack them and replace them. â€œIf he doesnâ€™t do it, it shows that he is incompetent. That is why I said some time ago that he himself should have left the post because he is no longer capable of protecting lives and property in the country. â€œI said that long before now. Is the president saying he does not have the courage to change the incompetent officers? Are we going to leave those who are not committed to defend us? They have shown that they are not competent; he should have sacked them before now.â€? The Afenifere leader added that if the president employed people to carry out certain responsibilities for him and they failed or refused to perform, the best thing to do is to sack them. Yakasai said he became more concerned about the insecurity crisis in the country after reading

Burataiâ€™s statement. He added that many Nigerians are now jittery about the situation in the country, particularly as it affects the security of lives and property. He said: â€œIf you remember, the main reason why many Nigerians voted for Buhari in 2015 was because of the expectation that as a retired military general, he would be able to deal with the problem of Boko Haram and bring it to an end; and Buhari did made such a promise. â€œNow, after four years in power, and with what the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Buratai said, Boko Haram is not degraded. What Boko Haram has done is to change tactics. Instead of targeting civilians, they are now attacking military formations.â€? Expressing concern over the security situation in the country, Yakasai said before Buhari came to power, the country had one major national security challenge: Boko Haram. But four years after, Nigeria is facing several serious security challenges, he added. He said: â€œApart from Boko Haram, we are having problem of banditry and it is localised. It is taking place all over the country. We have the problem

of armed robbery. We had it before; but not in the same proportion as it is happening today. It is all over the country. â€œWe have the problem of kidnapping and ransom taking. This too is all over the country. We have the problem of cattle rustling. Cattle rustling has a dimension in the sense that the Fulani herders, when they lose their livestock, they are losing not only their life savings, they are losing the life savings of their parents and grandparents. So, we have multiple national security challenges.â€? He urged the president and his team to go back to the drawing board, stating that the previous strategies that they had are not working. â€œThey need to devise new strategies. I think part of that is for the president to find a new team that will come with fresh ideas as to how you can tackle these problems to the satisfaction of all and sundry. I think this is the only way we can find solutions that can put the country at rest,â€? Yakasai stated. Also, Ajulo said service chiefs ought to have been changed every four years, wondering why the president is still having the same people for over four years.

NLC Raises the Alarm over Rising Terrorism

BUHARIâ€™S ASSETS: SANS NUDGE SERAP TO SUE CCB information. He described the grounds as â€œillogical,â€? saying that by not disclosing the assets of the president, the federal government has failed to show commitment to the fight against corruption by encouraging secrecy with respect to asset declaration by public officers. He said: â€œWith respect, it is illogical to claim that the asset

declaration forms submitted by the erstwhile public officers are private documents. Accordingly, the rejection of the request by SERAP is a contravention of section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. â€œIt is hoped that the CCB will review its position and allow citizens to access the

information in the declaration forms submitted to it by all public officers in view of the new policy of the Buhari administration to enforce effective asset declaration by public office holders.â€? Also, the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, said the CCB was deliberately obstructing the implementation of the FoI Act

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS APC Crisis Deepens as NWC Calls Shuaibu PDP’s Mole Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Says Oyegun attacking Oshiomhole over his rejection party committee’s report Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja There seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has described its Deputy National Chairman, North, Lawan Shuaibu, as a mole of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP). The party leadership also accused him of leaking the party’s sensitive decisions to the opposition. This is coming as a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has described a report submitted by a five-man committee of APC, alleging

anti-party activities against him as baseless, contemptuous and embarrassing. The APC’s National Vice Chairman, North-central, Ahmad Suleiman Wambi, said that considering the separate attacks Shuaibu and the immediate past National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, hauled at the incumbent party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Oyegun’s attack was understandably from a man nursing grievances over his rejection. He said that even without pre-empting the awaited decision of the disciplinary committee set up to try Shuaibu, what is sacrosanct is that the

How Boko Haram Killed 28 Soldiers, Abducted Others in Borno Michael Olugbode inMaiduguri The battle against insurgency suffered yet another setback after Boko Haram invaded a military base in Borno State on Monday. At least 28 soldiers were reportedly killed while the insurgents ransacked the military base in Gajiram, Nganzai Local Government Area of the state. A military source, who confirmed the attack to TheCable, described it as one of the deadliest in 2019. He said the attack was believed to have been coordinated by the faction of Boko Haram being controlled by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). He said the insurgents carted away ammunition, seized military trucks and abducted some of his colleagues. “It looks as if ISIS has taken a new interest in our country. The way these people have been taking us on is surprising,” the source said. “This Monday attack was

very serious. We fought for more than three hours before we ran out of ammunition. They used that opening to kill our men and seize many weapons. “Many of our soldiers were taken hostage by the terrorists who did not touch anybody in the community because we were their target. They only looted foodstuff.” Another source said the corpses of 15 soldiers were recovered on the spot while the rest were found after the insurgents had left. He said some of the deceased officers died while fleeing the attack. The source added that at 9p.m. on Monday, a reinforcement team came from Monguno, still in Borno, to evacuate the remains of the soldiers. Army spokesman, Col. Musa Sagir, is yet to respond to TheCable’s inquiries on the attack which could have prompted Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, to blame soldiers for Boko Haram attacks.

NAFDAC Bans Sale of Sniper in Open Markets, Supermarkets In view of the alarming use of popular agricultural pesticide, Sniper, in suicide cases in the country, the National Agency for Food Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has ordered agro-dealers to withdraw the product from open markets and supermarkets. The Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products Directorate of NAFDAC, Dr. Bukar Usman, disclosed this yesterday at the premises of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State. Usman, speaking during the launch of a new herbicide for cassava farmers, Lifeline, by UPL, Sprinfield Agro and IITA, said that the agency has asked agro-dealers to stop the sale of

the product in open markets and supermakets. According to him, sniper is an agro-cultural product meant to be used only in the farms and not for households. He urged manufacturers and dealers to cooperate with NAFDAC to mop up the 100ml size of the product, which are cheap and easily acquired. He maintained that the directive was not an outright ban of the product but a restriction of its use and availability to farms alone. He said all agrochemicals meant for farms should not be used in households. “There are appropriate products for the control of mosquitoes and other household pests,” he added.

party would certainly come down very hard on him. “I don’t think there is any crisis. As far as I am concerned, all of us belong to the same political party called the APC. We were all elected and given the same mandate to strategise and strengthen the party. “Maybe we can call it ideological and personal differences; but as for the party, we don’t see it as crisis. Shuaibu expressed his personal opinion enshrined in his fundamental rights, but he got it wrong blanketing the entire NWC and the party in general with such allegations. If he has any score to settle with the national chairman, it should have been personal. “Without pre-empting the report of the disciplinary committee we set up to try him, irrespective of whether he appeared or not, decision will be taken against him. He even said that we don’t have the mandate to try him, forgetting that anybody could be investigated if the need arises. “He refused to exhaust all the party’s internal resolution mechanism before taking our

party to the market. To add salt to injury, he decided to release that bombshell on the day of inauguration of our president. That alone was enough to attract punishment,” Wambi explained. Wambi said there might not be anything wrong with his action, but added that the timing, the mischief in the content and his refusal to exploit the internal resolution mechanisms, would force the party to come very hard on him. He added, “I tell you what, Shuaibu caused most of our problems. Outsiders blame Oshiomhole but they did not know that Shuaibu was our biggest problem. Before we could finish our meetings, the PDP will be in the custody of our discussion. “Before we finish our meetings, everybody is aware of our decision. How can you build a united party with a mole like Shuaibu in the house? But God has already exposed him and all his misdeeds will be further exposed in the disciplinary committee’s report.” Commenting on Oyegun’s allegation, the APC chieftain stressed: “Again, the

Yari rejects

allegations Oyegun raised against Oshiomhole are also his personal opinion. Oyegun is still feeling aggrieved because he was rejected. Oshiomhole is a much more prepared person than him. He is just nursing grudges against Oshiomhole and no matter what happened, he will not like Oshiomhole. “As far as we are concerned, the party is in good hands. Oshiomhole is focused, vibrant and committed to the well-being of this party. People may not like his style, but if not for his dynamic leadership style and calibre, the PDP would have crushed the APC during the 2019 presidential election. He has the interest of the party at heart.” In his reaction to the allegation that he is PDP mole, Shuaibu, described it as baseless, threatening to head to court to prove his innocence. He queried, “Who do l know in PDP that l can leak information to and leak information for PDP to do what? What did l do for PDP? I took a separate campaign for President Buhari, criss-crossing all the states by roads. So, how

can anybody say l worked for PDP? “When l see the publication, l will go to court because l need to know what l did for PDP. He will come to court to let me know what l did for PDP. He is an Oshiomhole’s man and one of the cabals,” he noted. Also, in a swift reaction however, Oyegun, said that the APC should bury their heads in shame for the party’s failure in many states, noting that instead of the party’s national leadership wearing sackcloths and begging members, they are busy looking for who to cast aspersions on. Oyegun who spoke through his Adviser on Public Affairs, Chief Ray Murphy, said that he did not want to join issues with those struggling to remain afloat after collecting bribe and creating confusion after the party primaries. According to him, “Chief Oyegun certainly left the party in a state that he is proud of. As a grandfather, he won’t join issues with people that are still confused over the bribe they collected and confusion they created during the party primaries.

STRATEGISING FOR KOGI POLL …

President Muhammadu Buhari (left), and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, during a courtesy visit by the Kogi State Traditional Rulers Council at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja...yesterday

Governors Resolve to Focus on Issues of Security, IGR Chuks Okocha in Abuja After a meeting that lasted for four hours, the 36 governors in the country last night resolved to set up a security committee at the National Economic Council (NEC) level and retain security as a reoccurring item on its agenda for the foreseeable future. The meeting also agreed to host an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) retreat with the

Joint Tax Board and chairmen of the Internal Revenue Services of the states. According to the communique signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, “members pledged to support the new leadership led by their chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi to drive the mandate of the forum to promote collaboration and consensus among Governors

on public policy. “Members also resolved to relaunch its State Peer Renew Mechanism programme designed to enable states foster good governance and accelerate the rate of development through periodic reviews of progress made by state governments. “The forum agreed to hold a one-day interactive session with the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on ongoing development engagements across States on

June 26, 2019. “Finally, the forum received a presentation on Sub-national Investment Promotion from Ms. Yewande Sadiku, the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). Governors pledged to work with the commission to strengthen investors’ engagements and reached a consensus to promote strategic competition and advantages”.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

End Taraba Violence Now, Buhari Orders Security Forces NAF kills scores of bandits in Zamfara Olonisakin seeks joint operation against terrorism in W’Africa Omololu Ogunmade and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja condemned the current attacks on the people of Kona in Taraba State, and ordered security forces to end the violence not only immediately but also decisively. This is coming as fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday recorded major breakthrough as they bombed locations of armed bandits in Dangote Village in Zamfara State, killing scores of bandits. The president, according to a statement by presidential spokesman, also threatened that attacks on innocent people in the

name of revenge or whatever motives would not be tolerated by the government. According to the statement, Buhari said “no group of people has the right to surround innocent people and unleash murderous violence on the people,” warning that resorting to self-help is an invitation to anarchy which in turn will make everyone unsafe. According to the statement, Buhari said in a cycle of violence characterised by revenge and counter-revenge, there are no winners adding that in a state of permanent hostilities, people undermine not only law and order, but also their own ability to conduct their everyday businesses in peace.

ECOWAS, EU Move to Develop Certification in Five Priority Products Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja In furtherance of the objectives of the West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP) designed towards the implementation of the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) have moved towards the certification of five priority products in the sub-region. The products selected by the member-states of ECOWAS are drinking water, cashew nuts, vegetable oils, cement and fish. Product certification in the region is designed to help consumers in the ECOWAS region to recognise safe and secure products and services that meet established standards. The certification programme, funded by the EU is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) under the West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP). Speaking in Abuja yesterday during the third meeting of

the ECOWAS Community Committee for Conformity Assessment (ECOCONFA,the ECOWAS Representative for Industry and Private Sector Promotion, Yaya Niato said the standards would assist buyers, sellers and other stakeholders to agree on the procedures for conformity assessment. This, according to him, would help to avoid delays and the multiplication of inspection operations in terms of testing or product certification. According to him, the need to boost the level of intraAfrican trade which stands at about 12 per cent and product competitiveness informed the move. He said: “Under this policy, we are working to ensure that companies respect quality because this will be beneficial not only for the companies by making them competitive in the market but also to protect the consumers and the environment. “Intra-regional trade is very low at about 12 per cent in Africa. So we are working hard to make it better.”

“I always wonder how people can conduct their businesses in the absence of peace and tranquillity because violence ruins everything and leaves the people worse off... “It is difficult to build a virile nation where hate and intolerance dominate the people’s minds. It’s easier to destroy than to build. People should count the economic costs of this violence to their own lives,” Buhari reportedly said. The statement also said the president warned against a situation where community leaders abandon their responsibilities and allow thugs to set the agenda, saying it is dangerous for peace and security in the country. It also said he criticised leaders who publicly preach virtues of peace, but privately promote hate and intolerance which ultimately culminate in violent destruction of life and property. Meanwhile, fighter jets of the NAF yesterday bombed locations of armed bandits in Dangote Village in Zamfara State, killing scores of bandits. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, has also called for joint operations against terrorist groups by member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The NAF strikes neutralised scores of armed bandits who

gathered for an overnight meeting preceeding planned attacks in Zamfara villages. NAF said successive bombardments in huts around forests set the huts on fire as some of the bandits scampered to safety. “The operation, which took place at dawn was executed based on credible human intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that some armed bandit leaders had assembled for an overnight meeting in a cluster of huts at the location to plan for attacks against nearby communities. “Consequently, after confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), the Air Component dispatched two Alpha Jets and an attack helicopter to strike the location”, a NAF statement said. The statement issued by NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the bandits fired at the air aircraft as they struck huts where key leaders of the bandits were located. “Overhead the target area, some armed bandits were seen near the huts, while others were spotted in the surrounding bushes. “The Alpha Jet attacked the location in successive passes, neutralising the bandits in the surrounding bushes in the first few passes

and destroying two of the huts housing the key leaders, which were seen engulfed in flames, in the fourth pass. “Some surviving bandits, who were firing at the attack platforms while attempting to flee the location, were moppedup in follow-on attacks by the helicopter”, he said. Meanwhile, Olonisakin, who was elected the new Chairman of the West African Chiefs of Defence Staff said joint and combined operations were needed to confront security threats to the sub-region. The CDS who assumed leadership of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff on at the ongoing 39th ordinary meeting in Abuja, said collective efforts by each member state as well as collaboration with other stakeholders and partners in the pursuit of collective security and economic development will ensure peace and stability in the region through the platform provided by ECOWAS. Listing the threats ranging from insurgency, terrorism to piracy, human and drugs trafficking, oil theft and other vices at sea, he said these security threats have been exacerbated by the proliferation of small arms, and light weapons occasioned by the numerous porous borders

within the sub-region. Olonisakin disclosed that the acquisition of these weapons has emboldened the criminal elements in their nefarious activities. “The growing trend of local terrorist organisations affiliated with and receiving support from well known international terrorist organizations has also become very worrisome. “This trend portends grave danger to our collective security. It is a matter of concern that terrorism and violent extremism have continued to threaten the peace and security of our sub-region”, he said. He maintained that “these security threats have been exacerbated by the proliferation of small arms, and light weapons occasioned by the numerous porous borders within the sub-region. “This threat calls for collective action on the path of each member state as well as collaboration with other stakeholders and partners. “In this regard we need to intensify intelligence gathering, joint and combined operations to combat this menace. It is hoped that through this frequent interaction of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff and our political leaders, our collective efforts at ensuring peace and stability in our region will be fruitful,” he added.

No Ebola in Nigeria, Says FG Chinedu Eze The federal government has called on Nigerians to disregard rumours of a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, saying effort had been heightened at the various ports of entry into the country to ensure that people with illness coming into Nigeria are properly screened. In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Boade Akinola, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Abdullaziz Abdullahi, stated that in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, a recent risk assessment conducted by the Nigeria Ebola Preparedness Team indicated that the overall risk of importation of Ebola virus to Nigeria from Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was low. He also described as false, an alleged message circulating

on the social media purporting a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country. The permanent secretary also called on members of the public to discourage the circulation of any unverified information, which he said could cause harm to innocent people and unnecessary panic among the citizens. Abdullahi said: “The federal government has assured its citizens that since the reports of outbreak of EVD in the Democratic Republic of Congo, heightened surveillance had been on-going at the various points of entry by officials of the Port Health Services division of the ministry to prevent importation into Nigeria. “To this effect, every passenger with illness has been properly screened and I can say categorically that none of the patients screened has tested positive for Ebola or any other deadly disease.

Pr EXPERIENCE CENTRE…

R-L: Country Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria, Mr. Uyi Akpata; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; representative of the Vice President and Director General, Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze; and Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Holdings, Mr. Urum Eke; during the launching of PwC Experience Centre at Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday

Ex-minister Adewole’s Son Regains Freedom Dayo, the son of the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has been released. It could, however, not be confirmed if a ransom was paid or not. Dayo was released barely 24 hours after he was kidnapped at his farm located at Iroko near Fiditi in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State on Tuesday. An aide to the minister, however, confirmed that the

victim was released yesterday evening. He said, “the minister’s son regained freedom just this evening and he is with his family in Ibadan. Details are still sketchy but we will issue a press release soon.” The kidnappers reportedly wore facial masks to hide their identity and took away Dayo, escaping through the neighbouring village. One of Dayo’s workers then raised the alarm and alerted the

villagers who quickly sent local hunters after the kidnappers. The hunters found the car used by the kidnappers but neither Dayo nor any of the abductors were found. The village head, Oniroko of Iroko made a phone call on a radio programme and alerted the public. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone XI, Mr. Leye Oyebade, yesterday stormed the farm of Dayo, in company of

the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr. Shina Olukolu, other senior officers of the police and the Nigerian Army, for investigations. Dayo was abducted by four unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening on the farm at Iroko, near Fiditi in Afijio LGA of Oyo State. The AIG maintained that the kidnappers have nowhere to hide. He also assured the people of the area of adequate security of their lives and properties.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

COMMENT

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

RETURN TO SIMPLICITY FOR BUILDING A NATION

A return to simplicity would fire collective imagination, promote economic self-reliance and self-dignity, argues Okello Oculi

eaders of the Congress Party of India smuggled 18-year old Victor Anant to England to save him from being arrested and tortured by British colonial security officials. He had carried out daring sabotage acts, including derailing railway carriages. In England he rose to become Deputy Editor of Manchester Guardian newspaper. On realising that as a non-Briton he would never be appointed editor, he joined UNESCO and subsequently entered the United Nations, in New York, as a contract staff. At the UN he reconnected with Indiaâ€™s nationalism through her diplomats. When he criticised their clothes they shot him down by asserting that the clothes were manufactured by Indians. Three decades of living in Britain had dimmed in him flames of self-reliance, pride and defence of sovereignty. Mahatma Gandhiâ€™s simple â€˜â€™Trek for Saltâ€™â€™ had mobilised minds of Indians to harvest their own salt and buy British salt. His simple call to Indians to burn in bonfires their British clothes had fired Indians to wear only clothes woven and manufactured with looms manufactured by Indian engineers and metal workers. It is to the trajectory of that spirit of self-reliance that President Buhari saluted in his first â€˜â€™June 12 Democracy Dayâ€™â€™ address. During the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime of 1984/85, Ms Debrah Ogazuma as Commissioner for Industry in Group Captain Latinwoâ€™s cabinet, initiated a policy of integrating cloth woven in Okene Town into furniture-making in Ilorin Town. The factory in Ilorin was financed by funds from Germany. German officials vigorously opposed the initiative, demanding that the cloth be imported from Germany. Ms Debrah Ogazuma was transferred out to the Ministry of Health. Simplicity demands courage against opposition by vested interests. Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sardauna Ahmadu Bello used non-British public dress to affirm their regional cultural pride. They, however, turned to importing textile machinery for mass weaving cloth. These measures took markets, working capital, and vital income away from local rural and urban weavers. Local weavers could not lobby for shares of annual budgets. Orders for official uniforms, curtains in government offices and official residences, were denied to them. Dye-pits in Kano continued to lack simple official support; and a vast community market. An industry which historically fed textile commerce across the Sahara Desert cannot today compete with textile imports from Europe and China. For local weavers, it has truly been â€˜â€™Not Yet Uhuruâ€™â€™ since 1960. Local inventors and fabricators of footwear machinery were also left out from annual budgets of Western and Northern regional governments. This policy was similar in effect with British measures (documented in PhD theses by Ahmed Modibbo and Monday Mangwat), which made local copper smelting a crime and overtaxed local textiles brought to markets. A return to simplicity must confront the enormous appetite for luxury dressing by â€˜â€™high societyâ€™â€™ elites anchored on covering what

A RETURN TO SIMPLICITY MUST CONFRONT THE ENORMOUS APPETITE FOR LUXURY DRESSING BY â€™HIGH SOCIETYâ€™ ELITES ANCHORED ON COVERING WHAT CHARLES Oâ€™TUDOR CALLS THEIR DEEP â€˜SELF-CONTEMPTâ€™

Charles Oâ€™Tudor calls their deep â€˜â€™self contemptâ€™â€™. At a commemoration of Dr Tajudeen Abdul- Raheem and Professor Abubakar Momoh (at Yarâ€™Adua Centre on 11th June, 2019), Hafsat Abiola drew attention to declines of moral values and societyâ€™s simple constitutional tools for protecting vital principles of accountability, public welfare and punishment of offending rulers. The Jukun and Yoruba penalty of â€˜â€™regicideâ€™â€™ (through drinking poison served by community leaders), ensured good governance. She demanded a return to this polity. She met a tall silence. That silence indicated lack of awareness of this constitutional system by a predominantly youthful audience exposed only to debates about â€˜â€™parliamentaryâ€™â€™ and â€˜â€™presidentialâ€™â€™ forms of government. Both forms are betrayals of the classical form which Hafsat Abiola had called forth from the darkness of intellectual silence by elites. These alien forms have seized Nigeriaâ€™s academic scholarship and symbols of intellectual and cultural achievement. The parliamentary model comes from a long British tradition of class struggle between the monarchy, business classes, and workers. From the monarchy it inherited uses of awe endowed by grand apparel; the Speakerâ€™s golden Mace, and rituals. From the business class it cherishes â€˜â€™Question Timeâ€™â€™ by which they can protect commercial interests by demanding written and oral answers from the Prime Minister and cabinet about specific demands. These forms share mechanisms of electing representatives from â€˜â€™constituenciesâ€™â€™ as local spaces in which communities cast their choices. Experience has shown that classical African tools for ensuring accountability to the welfare of communities are lacking from their operations. Military dictatorships, and intrusion by foreign multinational corporations, have aroused corruption; not accountability to the welfare of communities. Current demands in Nigeria for â€˜â€™restructuringâ€™â€™ to correct maladies in â€˜â€™presidentialâ€™â€™ politics must retreat from feelings of â€˜â€™I am not good enoughâ€™â€™ which fuelled the intellectual laziness which avoided simple road to traditional constitutional forms. Mental injuries inflicted by colonial propaganda have fed scandalous groping for self-respect by high consumption of cultural and consumer goods â€“ including Bokasaâ€™s golden throne and a golden bed in Ghana. Intensive foreign invasion with KodaKâ€™s coloured images erode Black self-pride. Fela named as â€˜â€™Yellow Feverâ€™â€™ a pandemic of craving for skin pigmentation. South African Broadcasting Corporation and Nigeriaâ€™s television networks have exclusive preference for â€˜â€™Yellowâ€™â€™ news casters and brand advertisers. Brazil entrenches Yellow Fever (â€˜â€™Mestizoâ€™â€™) as a political weapon for dividing Afro-Brazilians. A return to simplicity would fire collective imagination; promote economic self-reliance; value self-dignity, and a united community that is not engaged in permanent psychological warfare within itself.

A WINNING RECIPE Peter Ishaka writes that JAMB needs all the support in its crusade for quality education

igeriaâ€™s premier institution of higher learning, the University of Ibadan, last Tuesday held an orientation programme for 4,000 newly admitted students filtered out of the over 20,000 who sat for its Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university, Prof Kayode Adebowale said at the ceremony: â€œThe number of candidates for the university was more than 20,000. We donâ€™t go below 200 as the cut-off mark for JAMB score, although JAMB stated this year that universities can take 160 as the cut-off mark, but 200 is our benchmarkâ€?, adding: â€œWe want to ensure that students that are coming in are qualified.â€? The Ibadan ceremony came shortly after heads of Nigerian tertiary institutions or their representatives, regulators of the education sector and others, sat in the expansive Bola Babalakin Auditorium in the ancient town of Gbongan, Osun State in a policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The preoccupation of the meeting, at the instance of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was indeed the furtherance of quality education in the countryâ€™s tertiary institution. Even though many private institutions, particularly the polytechnics and colleges of education, would have preferred the watering down of the admission criteria evidently because of their bottom lines, JAMB

was able to rally many of the stakeholders behind it for more acceptable minimum standards. Be it public or private institution, is often better to admit those who are not likely to struggle to pass their examinations. Students should meet some tolerable standards before letting them in. Indeed, JAMB is intensifying and broadening this fight. From the modalities for the 2019 admission exercise to the need to adhere to admission guidelines and timelines on to the need for national spread in admission, particularly for the public universities and indeed, to giving out merit awards evidently to stimulate competition among the institutions, the Ishaq Oloyedeâ€™s JAMB is out to ensure that quality is not a hit- or- miss thing. If anyone must don the cap and gown, he or she has to do it on merit. Nothing exemplifies this determination better than his heavy investment in technology, simply to ensure that crooks who are looking for places in the countryâ€™s institutions of higher learning are denied access. As Oloyede demonstrated with pictures, graphs and statistics at Gbongan with so much passion and zeal, writing JAMBâ€™s qualifying examinations for others has become a big gamble as it comes with steep risks: some 200 candidates reportedly involved in one form of malpractice or the other had been arrested and they had all confessed to the crime. Indeed some had been tried and convicted. With the aid of biometrics and other relevant technol-

ogy, JAMB has turned the heat on many other criminals as it has turned in their names and images to the security agencies who are already in hot pursuit. Sooner or later, they will likely be in the net. JAMBâ€™s insistence is that only those who are suitably qualified should be given places in the countryâ€™s institutions of higher learning. JAMB and indeed all the stakeholders who are helping in this crusade should be commended. Examination malpractices and corruption are monsters that have eaten deep into the countryâ€™s education system. Quite unfortunately, this menace begins much earlier for some of the children, even before they are admitted into Junior Secondary Schools. Supported by both teachers and many parents, examination malpractices have become a challenging factor for the countryâ€™s education. Wealthy parents negotiate for their wards and pay huge amount of money to make sure their children pass with flying colours. And once inside the universities, lectures negotiate with students and collect bribes from them to pass assignments and examinations. At the end the student, in the words of Professor Oculi Okello â€œcannot defend his certificate and hence relegate such schools as a mere paper qualification issuing institutions.â€? It is therefore little wonder that Nigerian universities often perform badly in World University ranking. In 2019, only three Nigerian universities â€“ the countryâ€™s premier

institution of higher learning, University of Ibadan, Covenant University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka were ranked by the reputable The Higher Education, among the more than 1000 worldâ€™s institutions assessed. Incidentally, this was among the best performance for years. In some years past none of the countryâ€™s 170 public and private universities was ranked. Last year, for instance, no Nigerian university came up for mention among the worldâ€™s 1000 in Webometrics rankings. Which is a shame. But the reasons for the deplorable rankings are not farfetched. They ranged from inadequate funding, scarcity of qualified teachers, inadequate training, lack of modern teaching and research facilities to proliferation of universities â€“both private and public, outdated curriculum and relevance of subjects, inconsistent government policies to corruption and exam malpractices. The system is such that many Nigerian parents even take pride in enrolling their wards in neigbouring universities in Ghana, Benin Republic and Ghana! That is why all should support the efforts of JAMB to sanitise the examination process into our tertiary institutions. It is just the beginning of a very tortuous process. But JAMB has started doing its bit. The other stakeholders in the education value chain should also stand up to be counted: we need to do the best to achieve self-respect and indeed attract positive global recognition.

T H I S D AY THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

EDITORIAL Fuel Subsidy And The Wasted Trillions Fuel is subsidised at a huge cost to the people and the economy

hile submitting the report of its committee on petroleum downstream on the promissory note programme and a bond issuance for oil marketers outstanding claims last month, Senator Kabir Marafa disclosed that Nigeria spent over N11 trillion as payment for outstanding subsidy claims in the last six years. We agree with senate committee that there is no justification for the retention of the subsidy regime that has proved to be nothing but a byproduct for waste and monumental corruption. The issue here, as we have argued several times in the past, is not to the existence of subsidy, but to the fact that it is not getting to those for whom it is meant. That is why the money should be deployed into more productive areas of our national life. Currently, the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has come up with a nebulous “cost under PETROLEUM SUBSIDY recovery” to spend SHOULD BE REMOVED unbudgeted funds BECAUSE IT IS to subsidise fuel INEFFICIENT, IT IS OILING imports, and has been struggling to explain CORRUPTION, AND IT IS its position in the ROBBING SOCIETY OF alleged N1.4 trillion VITAL RESOURCES THAT annual import bills as COULD BE INVESTED IN well as allegations of HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS illegal deductions from AND ROADS Nigeria’s dividends from profits posted by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited. The state oil company has cashed in on the seeming helpless situation caused by the continuing importation of fuel to overreach itself by spending unappropriated funds, including NLNG dividends accruing to the federal government. According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the federal government subsidised the importation of petrol by N2.95 trillion in 2018 alone, up by nearly 50 per cent of the previous year. We cannot forget

Letters to the Editor

in a hurry, the emergency billionaires thrown up by fuel import racketeers under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, in obvious connivance with some unscrupulous ofﬁcials, swindling a hapless nation of hundreds of billions of naira for non-existent imports. But unlike before when subsidy expenditures were budgeted and approved by the National Assembly, we are concerned that this time around, NNPC simply appropriates at will, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in the process.

I T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, 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

n response to the huge amount of money being illegally deducted by the NNPC as a first-line charge from the federation account, the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising the 36 state governors, last year proposed taking over the responsibility for subsidising petroleum products in their states. Following several aborted Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings, the governors had held a meeting with NNPC over what they described as a consistent short-change of what should accrue to them from the federation account. That lingering issue is yet to be resolved. Addressing the legal, institutional and regulatory framework weighing down the NNPC has always been a huge challenge. “Information about Africa’s biggest oil industry is an opaque myriad of numbers. No one knows which ones are accurate; no one knows how much oil Nigeria actually produces. If there were an authoritative figure, the truly horrifying scope of corruption would be exposed,” a report in the Economist once stated. Unfortunately, no government has been able to summon the courage to address this nagging challenge. Given that most of the states are so broke that they cannot even pay the salaries of workers, their focus has in recent times shifted to the subsidy regime. But as we have also argued several times on this page, it will be very unhelpful to bundle the removal of petroleum subsidy with the payment of salaries to workers. Petroleum subsidy, we believe, should be removed because it is inefficient, it is oiling corruption, and it is robbing society of vital resources that could be invested in hospitals, schools, roads and other critical areas that directly stimulate economic activities.

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.

LEADERSHIP, DEMOCRACY AND RESTRUCTURING

he recently performed ritual tagged Democracy Day offered me the ample opportunity to ruminate over the marriage of two unwilling brides who had no say in their forceful and ill-fated union- an amalgamation of the northern and the southern protectorates by Sir Lord Luggard, on the 14th February 1914, a day set aside to celebrate love all over the world. The British colonial overlords probably intended the protectorates to operate in a symmetrical manner with no part of the amalgam claiming superiority over the other. And at independence in 1960, Nigeria became a federation, resting firmly on a trivet of three federating regions-Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. Then, each of the regions was economically and politically viable to steer its own ship. But today, it would require sufficient courage and willingness to defeat the mutual suspicion that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the federating units. In fact, regional loyalty currently surpasses nationalistic fervor. Under this condition, can we really say in both concrete and moral terms that we are amalgamated in all aspect of our nationhood? If not, what is holding us back as a nation? Have we made an effort or paid a price as an individual or a group to make this oneness a healthy one? What steps are we taking today to really revamp the nation that has fractured into ‘ethnosyncrasies’ and idiosyncrasies? Is our celebration of democracy day real in the face of the above facts? Indeed, looking at the pre and post-independence political structure of Nigeria, it is understandable that Luggard, in trying to cure one old disease gave rise to a hundred new

ones- with the nation now a vast country with vast problems. However, besides the ills that flow from Luggard’s extraordinary inabilities, several other factors now contribute to the rise of the nations’ current, political and socioeconomic challenges. From the political analyst’s points of view, it’s not amalgamation but leadership that is Nigeria’s problem. The reasons are not far-fetched. First and most fundamental, next to the awareness that advancing the course of the common good of the people highly depend on the leadership of the state, a responsibility that has since been replaced with sustained economic stagnation, is the widespread corruption and view of public office not as an avenue for public good but as an opportunity for private gain. A troubling reality it is, particularly when one remembers that dysfunctional democracy and demand for restructuring by the masses have its origin in bad leadership. Further supporting the inglorious role bad leadership plays to bring a society to anguish is the frightening revelation that while several societies were well-governed in spite of poor systems of government, because good and strong leaders were in charge, over 80 constitutions drafted by Britain and France for their former colonies came to grief, not because of flaws in the constitutions but because of the preconditions for democratic systems did not exist’. The challenge is made worse here in the country by our none possession of a tradition that accepts and supports the public office based on merit but tribal and other mundane consideration. Regardless of what others may say, leadership knowledge is gained by probing the past and using the knowledge derived

to tackle the present. Or, analyzing the present and using the information gained to predict the future. But now that the information coming from our past and present leaders are faulty and defective, the system is not achieving the goals and objectives it is supposed to achieve. How do we as a people tackle the future? It is obvious that some of the provisions of the nation’s constitution are not achieving its goals and objectives. This urgently calls for examination to identify the non-performing aspect of the constitution in order to engineer a redesign or overhaul. Our ability to providing answers to section such chapter two, sections 13, 14, 15 to 24, of the 1999 Constitution as amended will settle restructuring questions that currently threatens our nationhood. Thankfully, the template to solve these problems is already there: the Report of 2014 National Conference. The holistic implementation of that report is germane to the survival of Nigeria. To my understanding, what the pro- restructuring advocates are saying is that the padding of the second schedule of the exclusive legislative list, of our 1999 constitution with about 68 items have made Abuja suffer ‘political obesity’ and needs to shed some weight via devolution of power. In like manner, this over blotted exclusive list has made our nation currently stand in an inverted pyramid shape with more power concentrated at the top, with the base not formidable enough- making collapse inevitable if urgent and fundamental steps are not taken. Jerome-Mario Utomi, Lagos

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019

POLITICS

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

‘Many Nigerians are Perceived in Positive Light in Germany’ Alex Enumah dialogues with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on how Nigerians are perceived in Germany and the expansion in bilateral agreements that would soon see the return of Nigeria’s stolen artworks

ow long have you been Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany? One year, eight months.

What has been your experience? Well, it’s been a learning experience and for me, it afforded me the opportunity to put into practice classroom theories because I am a student of International Relations. Now, I’m seeing it being acted out. Germany being the power house of Europe and also a regional and global leader, it’s a very significant post. It affords me the opportunity to accomplish our diplomatic aspirations on a wider scale because here, you are dealing with two power houses (Germany and Nigeria) on their continents. They are shapers and influencers of globalization and my duty is to bring them closer so as to unleash their full potentials, not just for the two countries but for the whole world. What improvements have been made in Nigeria’s trade relations with Germany in the last one and half years? It has been giant strides because there have been significant visits and interactions between leaders of both countries. There was a visit by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel with a business delegation to Nigeria in August 2018. In the wake of that visit, there have been a lot of interests, a lot of linkage between Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in both countries. In fact during the visit, three, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs), were signed including the one between Volkswagen and the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council. There was another one signed between the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and a German medium sized company called Petcos Technology that specializes in seeds and grains technology which is a very important segment of the agricultural value chain. You have to have the right seeds to improve your yields. There was a third agreement between the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines andAgriculture (NACCIMA) and the African German Business Association which comprises all the major businesses in Germany; the global players that are doing business in Africa are part of that association. We are talking about companies like Siemens, Julius Berger, Bayer, Bosch, Volkswagen and the rest of them. So, we facilitated the signing of an agreement between them and NACCIMA and that is also a very important agreement because it provides room for collaboration. There was a fourth agreement signed outside of the visit because it took place a day or two before the German Chancellor arrived and it was between Voide Hydro, one of the oldest players in the electricity sector in the world and a Nigerian company called Genesis Energy. On the other side, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo visited Berlin in December 9-11, 2018. During the visit, we had a Business Dialogue in collaboration with the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft or African German Business Association. It was a very successful one; it turned out to be a huge forum not just for members of the private sector but for the leaders of the German society. There were several bilateral meetings that took place with the likes of GFW, the German Development Bank, and Siemens in terms of what they are trying to achieve specifically on the distribution side of the power sector in Nigeria. It’s been so huge and I wouldn’t event want for now to give you a specific number in terms of figures and the size of our trade volume because the process is still ongoing and we are still tracking it to see how much it would amount to at the end of the day. However, the last assessment we did in respect of our trade volume, it was pegged at about $3.5 billion.

Tuggar How are Nigerians in Germany viewed? Is there racism or xenophobic attacks against them as foreigners? There are two sides to that issue. Nigerians are perceived very positively for those who consider that Okwy Enweozor and Emeka Ogwu are Nigerians. They are among the foremost curators in the world of arts and they are highly regarded and highly respected. There are a lot of successful Nigerians in Germany. Some are doctors, engineers and other professionals living and working in Germany. So, there’s that respect. Sadly, you also have a lot of young Nigerians that leave these shores, and end up in Germany with little or no qualification or valid travel documents and they end up relying on the social welfare system for sustenance. Such people are perceived very negatively because Germans are very protective of what they consider to be their commonwealth. It’s good enough for them that a German commits an offence against another German but anybody who takes from the commonwealth is seen to be cheating the generality of the people. So when you go there and you’re on the Social Welfare System, you’re being paid this money that is meant for citizens, they take exception to it and sometimes, there are those that are driven by even racist sentiments and sadly, it doesn’t reflect well. This is a problem. But the issue of migration is not all together a negative thing because they have an ageing population; they have a need for qualified workers. For instance, there is a demand for computer engineers. If a country like Nigeria can provide computer engineers that know where they are going to work, they’re going to work for some companies, the companies are going to pay them to be able to sustain themselves there; live comfortably and their kids are able to go to school, the parents are able to pay their school fees without taking from that commonwealth or that Social Welfare System, Germans will not have a problem with that kind of a migrant. This is something that we’ve been dealing with and trying to address as much as possible. What else are we expecting on the economic and business relations between the two countries? In the coming weeks, we shall be receiving about three business delegations from Germany. One of the delegations is into start ups and they are looking for investment opportunities with start up businesses in Information Technology. We are looking forward to linking them up with

business counterparts here in Nigeria. They are looking towards investing in agriculture. They’ve come up with templates to manage agricultural projects using cooperatives. They will provide the funds and all of it is done electronically via their online template. There is another delegation consisting of individuals interested in tourism so we are going to take them to Lagos and possibly, Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. Of course, they are going to be in Abuja to explore business opportunities in tourism. The third delegation consists of journalists who are also coming to learn and report about Nigeria. I will be here in Nigeria to receive and host them. What is the Nigerian Embassy in Germany doing about educational cooperation between both countries? Certainly, we have quite a lot of programmes. Our second work plan had to do with engaging the German states. There are 16 states and we are approaching each state individually and engaging their ministers, presidents, which is the equivalent of a governor in Nigeria. We are also engaging the secretaries of these states to see areas of cooperation both at the sub-state and state levels. A lot of them have institutions of higher learning namely colleges of science and technology, universities and research institutes that we have identified and are pairing with some of Nigeria’s centres of learning. Apart from that, we have an ongoing partnership between the University of Abuja and the University of Munster with regards to the study of Grid Optimization and Diaspora Studies. I actually witnessed the signing of the agreement in Munster sometime last year. Do we have cultural exchange programmes with Germany? There is. As a matter of fact, the embassy is planning an event on the 20th of July. It will feature Arts, Literature, Music and Culture as a whole. We want to use that opportunity to further promote çultural collaboration. You know the German Embassy in Nigeria has the Goethe Institute which supports a lot of cultural activities. We have come a long way with Germany in terms of social and cultural interactions. The first European to cross from North Africa all the way down to the Atlantic Ocean and ended up in Lagos was a German. Later we had a lot of them who came as explorers, researchers and

traders in the 19th century. But what we are pushing hard for at the moment is the idea of returning our stolen art works and artifacts back to the country. When you go to a lot of public museums in Germany, you will encounter Benin bronzes, Ife artworks and a number of other cultural identities that were taken away illicitly. Those that are in private collections, we cannot see them so we cannot agitate for their return but those that are in public collection, we must continue to demand that they be returned because this is at the centre of the identity crisis that we sometimes face as Africans. It was European enlightenment scholars in the 19th century that came up with concept of the truth being what is created or invented When you produce Benin bronze mask or figurine or Nok Terrakota, you are establishing something that is there and that can be verified. It also confirms the existence of your achievements as a creative person, a thinking person and as a dignified human being. But when that is taken away and a finger is pointed at you and you are said to be backward or somehow less advanced, there is no way of proving that you are not backward. This is why it is very important for us to have these invaluable artworks returned. This is the same thing we are having with the study of History in our classrooms in Nigeria where children are growing up and they don’t know anything about their history. If we have these things on ground and we can show our children that this artwork was created by a Nigerian or somebody who lived within the territory of Nigeria 2,500 years ago, in the case of Nok Terrakota it will help us. If you’re able to show them some Ife figurine or mask showing what our ancestors did, it revalidates our advancement as a culture and a society. We can use these things to defend ourselves with regards to the purported supremacy of other cultures and civilisations. It can also help in fostering our historical authenticity When the Europeans tell you about their legends, they have some artworks to show what their people were doing thousands of years ago. They can use carbon dating to authenticate them but then ours were stolen and taken away and we have nothing to showcase. Sometimes, when we challenge this sort of thing, those in custody of some of these stolen artworks come up with downright insulting excuses. It’s very insulting when you tell a Nigerian, ‘Sorry, we don’t think we should give you back these artworks that were stolen when the Benin Empire was sacked in 1897 because you don’t have the proper museums to preserve them.’ So, who was keeping it up to that 1897 when it was stolen? Who was protecting, preserving and keeping it in that condition that you saw it and even liked it? It’s an insult to come up with that sort of response. Give it back to us; we’ll know how to preserve it when we get there. What exactly is the mission doing about the retrieval of these artworks and what successes have you recorded? It’s a very complex issue but so far, we’ve recorded some breakthroughs. What we have been doing is trying to understand where these things are? Who will be receptive to this type of dialogue? These questions are very important because you have to approach it in a manner where the discussion will yield results. It is not to start making noise without a proper understanding of what is where and what can be done. In certain situations, these museums are in states that had passed laws that have made these artworks a part of their own heritage or state assets. Because of such legal hurdles, it is going to be even much more difficult to retrieve these items. Some are very receptive. Those of them who have visited Nigeria are quite receptive to the idea of returning these artworks. These are potential allies in addressing some of these issues.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019

POLITICS

‘No Government With Questionable Characters Can Beat Corruption’ Nseobong Okon-Ekong holds a conversation with Dr. Adetokunbo Ade-Banjo, a UK-based Development Economist, on issues around sustainable development in Nigeria

he economic and social problems confronting the nation continues to mount in spite of efforts by various governments. What is responsible for this? Presently our economic and social problems have reached an unimaginable crescendo, which emanated from economic inequalities and the inability of successive governments to formulate remedial strategies to reduce or alleviate the economic slide. Apparently, the rot did not start in the last four years; it has been degenerating since the oil price shock of 1973. This has affected our economic development, as the country is heavily reliant on oil exportation. Nigeria has evolved into a peculiar capital economy. Our political style has helped to erode the middle class in the country, and it is either one has or one languishes in abject poverty. I don’t think successive governments have done enough to ameliorate the problems. For example, we cannot have the interest rate at between 18-25%, yet expect economic growth. We cannot refuse to improve on our infrastructure, the power, security etc. yet expect foreign investors in the country. Our educational system is undesirable. The curriculum is not in tandem with the world standard. Its fragmented. What is taught in the south is different from the North. We have allowed religion to dig deep into our existence; hence the mind of the people are programmed and they cannot think out of the box. These resulting failures lead to break down of law and order, kidnapping, ‘yahoo-yahoo’, terrorism, rape, extortion and all other social vices one can think of in a collapsing state. Our political architecture is a fraud, hence we have failed and are still failing on all fronts. As a result of the rigid nature of our political structure, we tend to sideline the vibrant minds of the nation and employ the ‘agberos’ (illiterates, thugs etc.) to run the strategic sectors of our economy. The government needs to be all-inclusive and honestly search for Nigeria’s that can help redesign and revamp the country irrespective of political affiliation. I would suggest an assembly of Nigerian technocrats across the world to brainstorm on industrialising Nigeria. What are the solution to the nation’s problems? Our problems are multi-faceted. Where do I start? There is poverty in the land, the consequences of which is mass suicidal missions by the youths. The statistics don’t lie. Forty-five percent of our youth are unemployed and many are also unemployable. It is looking like a wasted generation. Most people do not have access to the basic amenities, essential for survival. Businesses are collapsing; most foreign investors are leaving the country due to insecurity and collapse of law and order. In some states, there is perpetual anarchy. Chika Okeke, a small shop owner in Abuja said: ‘For Nigeria to prosper, the state could harness the vim of her 200millions plus citizens. Instead, she ignores them, except when politicians need votes. People expect nothing from the government.” In my opinion, the government knows how to tackle these problems but decides to turn the other way. The Trader Money is a charade. They promised to create so much employment for the youths, instead, they operate a secret employment system for their children, friends and family. The government has to first of all change the consciousness of the citizens. We have to be conscientious about the country. ‘Nigeria First’ should probably be the slogan and not religion. It may sound absurd to the feeble-minded but religion needs to be relegated to the background and should be an individual ideology but not the state. Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that Nigeria is a secular state. ‘The government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as a state religion.’ Most successful countries in the world are secular and are economically driven, not by religion. We need to reduce the power at the centre, make it softer, and give more power to the states. The system whereby the state governors take a bowl to Aso Rock on a monthly basis is a disgrace to

Ade-Banjo Nigeria and a bad way of running the economy. I will suggest the states rely on their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and subsidized by the Federal Government should the need arise. Another important and immediate remedy is the rejigging of the federation. True federalism is the way to go. Let the local governments be independent of states and they should be responsible for all the grassroots development. Why is the Federal Government responsible for some infrastructure within the states? It is a wrong action. Do you think the programmes of the President Buhari administration is positively impacting on the suffering masses? I am aware of two to three programmes the government takes pride in and they are the Npower, the TraderMoneyandtheSchoolFeedingprogrammes. I am not here to condemn their efforts. However, it is a wrong approach to eradicating poverty and assessing the needs of the masses. As you know, there is a harrowing cry of hunger in the land and the youths have taken to different heinous ways to survive. Some will say at least the government is doing something. Yes, they are, but what is worth doing is worth doing well. Let me start on the Npower project. The last time I heard the youths accessing the N-power in the website was in 2016/ early 2017. Who were the beneficiaries of the programme? What is the percentage of the masses they say the programme has impacted? I remember they offered N40, 000 a month to each of the successful candidates to teach a rural school without basic amenities. Regarding the Trader-Money, this programme is surrounded by so many controversies, yet the government went ahead with it close to the election period. Why were recipient’s PVC numbers required to access this money? In modern-day Nigeria, the N10,000 cannot be meaningfully invested. The government did not also spell out the term and the frequency the money will go out to the people in the market. Instead of these programmes, I would have thought, a mega neighbourhood renewal scheme in the 774 local government of the federation. Organise training for the masses on entrepreneurship, cooperatives, technology and small scale farming. Make available pots of money that can be accessed to organisations and a group of people for meaningful sustainable developmental schemes in the community. The ﬁght against corruption is said to be the cornerstone of President Buhari’s government, Do you think the policy is yielding any positive result? The country is basically built on corruption in my assessment, hence it has dug deep into our existence and no government plagued with colourful and questionable characters can boastfully say they can beat corruption hands

down in our land. It is not worth going into the history of corruption as everyone in the country has been affected by it one way or the other. I heard a commentator on Nigerian affairs say that a child born during the Second Republic or after, does not know how to survive without engaging in corruption. To fight corruption, we need to strengthen our institutions, take proper audit and introduce stringent bureaucracy in all government agencies. Eradicate nepotism; give roles to a deserving person irrespective of his/her religion, creed or tribe. I may even suggest we contract employment into our ministries to international organisations that will do a proper assessment and recruitment into public service positions. In my opinion, what the government is doing is not fighting corruption but recouping stolen funds from people against their style of governance. I remember an opposition governor was picked up immediately after his tenure. As you may see now, many governors have petitions against them but no organisation has deemed it fit to swing into action to investigate and prosecute. Again, I have not read publicly the policy of the government on corruption; all I see as the headlines are houses that had been crossed by the EFCC and money that had been recovered. What do we do with the money and where is the money? Some said they are kept somewhere as there may be a court action in the future. From experience when properties acquired illegally are recouped, the agency will keep them for a specific period of time, after which they approach the court for disposal. In the last four years, nothing has been done regarding the property/money recouped. Can corruption be adequately tackled in Nigeria? Yes, it can. It can be adequately tackled with proper orientation and change of our mind-set. Firstly, we must change the curriculum to teach young ones about nationhood and conscientiousness. We need the right people to direct the affairs of the government. What we have now are politicians with money to burn or someone that has a godfather who is ready to roll-in the Naira to get a preferred candidate to power. Corruption will be tackled when the people are conscious of their rights and question the status-quo to account for their stewardship. Otherwise, the deceit would continue. We need to change the way we do business in Nigeria, how we elect our leaders and our electioneering processes. Corruption begins in the classroom! Let us say no to it from the nursery school level. Whistleblowers rewarded and not victimised, put the right people in the right post rather than nepotistic appointments. I will call it a national corruption sweep, a top/down approach.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) government that prides itself as a progressive party has been in power for four years and is on the second lap of another four years, can Nigerians continue to trust its ability to pilot the affairs of this nation? I campaigned for APC, most importantly, mobilised electorates for the party in 2014, even though I did not practise partisan politics. I still do not as I am not a card-carrying member of any political party in Nigeria. However, that does not mean I am not leaning towards a political ideology. Going back to 2014, APC was received with high hopes and an alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that had bastardized the reason for our existence, the hope of a one Nigeria. I remember, the country was divided across tribal lines, and we witnessed unparalleled corruption and impunity in the wayward running of the country’s economy. As a progressive, one would expect an improvement in the three fundamentals for sustainable development, viz. environment, society and the economy. On the environment, the South-south region is still plagued with degradation, oil pollution in the water; this has destroyed most lives and reduces job opportunities in the region. In 2017, I recall billions of Naira was earmarked for the clean-up, that was the last we heard of the project. There is still no improvement in the environment. Evidently, we now operate in an impoverished society; the average family cannot eat two meals a day. Almost 65% of the population survive on less than one Dollar a day. Our communities are riddled with hate, religious bigotry, high-level crime, terrorisms, kidnapping to mention a few. Apparently, there is looming anarchy in the land. On the economy, the government is not doing enough to create jobs, yet the standard of living spirals beyond economic projections. According to IMF data mapper 2019, Nigeria’s inflation rate is at 11.7% (hyper-inflation) growth rate pegged at 3.2%, however, projected to reduce to 2.40% in 2020. Our exchange rate keeps fluctuating as the Naira was devalued through the back door. Probably,APC won for the second term because the citizens have confidence in the way the three economic growth indicators were managed. I am not sure they will be able to fool the populace the second time, should they run the affairs of the country the way they did in the first term. The security situation in the country continues to pose a problem for the citizenry, what do you think is responsible for this. The security in the country is abysmal, from kidnapping to terrorism, not to mention daily car jerking and ritual-killings. Statistics show that more people have lost their lives in the last four years, in comparison to the 10 years preceding the emergence of the APC government. It is not too difficult to notice the collapse of security in the country at the moment. We have had a retired Air Force chief murdered in cold blood and nothing has been done about it till date. Our security apparatus do not get their priorities right. Heard a retired Police officer on the television on the 5th of June 2019, saying we should not expect any magical performance from the Police as they are not adequately equipped. The government has allowed for duplication of duties. The soldiers are now carrying out duties designated for the Police and the Civil Defence is now policing certain areas without basic training. Another reason for security breakdown under this government without talking from one side of the mouth is the fact that that there are lopsided appointments, nepotism, and politicising of security appointments. In a sane country, it should never be the duty of the President to appoint an IGP, Army Chief etc. They should rise through the ranks and be recommended by their governing body. Their appointment only needs to be ratified by the President and the legislators. In a voice note that recently went viral, a herdsman explicitly said APC means ‘Always Protect our Cows’. The man stated that the government cares more about the cows than an average citizen of Nigeria. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY JUNE 20 , 2019

FEATURES

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

Cross section of corps members at the event

Reward for Dedicated Corps Members Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that for showing dedication to their jobs during the just concluded elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently rewarded some diligent members of the National Youth Service Corps with jobs, just as the European Union doled out IT equipment to 75 of them

uring the last elections, some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) distinguished themselves at the different locations they were deployed to. Months after the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decided to reward them with jobs. At the event to reward them, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said that there can be no successful election in Nigeria without the contribution of the NYSC members. Yakubu made the declaration at a programme held in Abuja on June 17, where the European Union (EU) presented Information Technology (IT) equipment to corps members that worked hard”and showed dedication during the 2019 general elections. In recognition of the corps members’ laudable contributions to the conduct of elections in the country, Yakubu also disclosed that the commission would offer those who performed well in the 2019 general elections and those who displayed the same traits in the forthcoming Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections, scheduled for November 16, automatic employment. The EU, one of INEC’s development partners had identified 75 outstanding corps members who participated in the last general elections and decided to reward them with laptops and phones at the event. The Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, said the gesture was in recognition of the immense contributions made by youth corps members to the success of the general elections. Karlsen noted that over 290,000 corps members participated in the elections, during which the EU observed their dedication and commitment to the process. He regretted that the EU could not reach out to all participating corps members but explained that the gifts were the equipment used by the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) that observed the recently concluded elections. The envoy implored the corps members to continue to be good ambassadors of the scheme and their country. The INEC Chairman, while underscoring the role of the NYSC in successful conduct of elections said: “There can’t be any elections in Nigeria without the NYSC. It is simply impossible. I have said this before, I want to say it again and I will not be tired of saying it, that the youth corps members are the most dedicated, educated, patriotic, willing, able, readily available and the most committed election duty staff in Nigeria. “It’s not just about the election. It’s about what we call the electoral process. You (corps members) are available for voter education. You are available for voter registration. You are available when we display the voters’ register and also available on election day. As presiding officers, you count the votes, you record them and take the results to the collation centres. You travel to various locations by land and by sea. You go through challenging experiences”.

The INEC Chairman recalled some of the challenging experiences corps members have been exposed to in the course of serving as election day officials. He said: I recall that in 2015 when we conducted the governorship election in Bayelsa State, when I saw the boat carrying election duty staff and materials to Oproma in Southern Ijaw and to Ekeremo and Brass, and also saw the way the youth corps members were transported, I doff my hat for the NYSC. “In Ondo, when we conducted the governorship election in 2017, I will never forget the experience for the rest of my life, of youth corps members who were bringing back results from Ilaje and had a boat accident at night. Thankfully, there was the Navy in the background that came to the rescue. We did not lose a single life on that occasion, but on other occasions, we were not so lucky. “For the rest of my life, I will continue to remember the memory of the late Okonta Samuel, one of our youth corps members, who was killed on his way home after he submitted the result from his polling unit in Ondo state. We will continue to remember the memories of those who died”. Prof. Yakubu explained that in appreciation of the commitment of the corps members to the electoral process, and in order to encourage them to continue to do their best as ad-hoc staff during elections, the commission would identify and offer automatic employment to outstanding corps members on election duty. He said: “the commission has embarked on a review of the 2019 general elections. There are many of you here, and many that are not in this hall, who did well in these elections. We will identify you and we will reward those who have done excellently well in the elections with automatic employment with INEC. “By doing so, we hope that those of you who have done very well will form the core of conscientious election duty staff going into the next general elections. We will extend this beyond the general elections to the two major elections we are going to conduct in November – the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections. All those who are going to man the polling units will be NYSC members 100 percent and we will eyes open. Those who do very well in the elections will also be rewarded with automatic employment by INEC”. In his remarks, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General S. Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the EU-EOM for the kind gesture and expressed the organisation’s commitment to further exploring areas of collaboration with the EU. He observed that the INEC/NYSC collaboration on election duty has greatly enhanced the scheme’s visibility, just as he pledged the NYSC’s commitment to strengthening the partnership. The event was witnessed by one of Nigeria’s foremost music icons, Innocent Tuface Idibia (aka Tubaba) and entertainer, Uti Nwachukwu both of whom are also INEC Ambassadors. They urged the corps members to continue to serve with dedication and commitment.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu presents IT equipment donated by the European Union to Corps Members at the event

Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and West Africa, Ketil Karlsen presents a gift to a corps member

Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General S. Ibrahim presents a gift to a corps member

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019

#THISISNIGERIA Feyi Fawehinmi

Some bags of rice

How Banning Things Makes Nigerians Poorer

he way you ask a question goes a long way in determining the kind of solutions you come up with. According to the World Bank, in 2017, Nigeria had a GDP per capita of $1,968. In the same year, Bangladesh had a GDP per capita of $1,516 - that is, the average Bengali was around 30% poorer than the average Nigerian. Bangladesh has a population of roughly 164 million people so not too far from Nigeria’s estimated 180 million, depending on who you believe. But when you check the World Poverty Clock data, it tells quite a different story. In 2017, Nigeria was estimated to have 85 million people living in extreme poverty while Bangladesh had 22 million people in extreme poverty. When we look at these 2 things, we can easily see that what makes people poor is not just their income but their costs. What the 2 sets of data are telling us is that $1 in Bangladesh goes a lot further than $1 in Nigeria because things are much more expensive in Nigeria. If we view the problem in this way, then we are led to ask very different questions than if we were simply looking at the problem as Nigerians being poor because they are not rich enough. When you look at data from the USDA measuring what percentage of income households in countries around the world spend on food, we quickly identify a culprit. They found that Nigerians spent an astonishing 56% of their income on food, the highest in the world. Interestingly, Nigeria’s Philips Consulting did their own survey and found the figure to be 59%. In Bangladesh, this figure is less than 40%. It then becomes obvious why Nigeria, with a higher GDP per capita, has 4 times the number of people

Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Agriculture

living in extreme poverty than Bangladesh. We are now faced with a very different solution to the question of how to reduce poverty in Nigeria. Yes, we definitely need more jobs and for Nigerians to earn more money but there is clearly a bigger problem of costs because it is possible that with more income, prices will simply go up thereby weakening the effect. In this scenario, we cannot afford to do anything that increases the cost of food for Nigerians, no matter what the policy goal is. We must find ways to bring food prices down, by whatever means we can. Why? Because if food consumption goes down from 56% to say 36%, that extra 20% of income is released as demand for other things in the economy. All of a sudden, this will make other industries viable, leading them to create more jobs and so on. That extra 20% might go towards housing which will then make it viable to build more low

cost housing creating many more jobs in the construction industry. By understanding the problem in this way, there is no way that banning imports is a solution to the problem. Imagine that a bag of imported rice sells for N10,000. If you decide to ban foreign rice to support the local rice industry, what you are saying is that the price of a bag must be higher than N10,000 for the local rice industry to compete. By banning, you want to take away the option of cheaper rice so that Nigerians will pay more for local rice. Once you do that, you have definitely increased the number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty as rice consumers are way more in number than rice farmers. If local rice was N9,000 per bag, there will be no need to ban foreign rice as it will effectively ban itself. By using the force of Customs and the power of tariffs, the government is effectively forcing the price of food up and

making Nigerians poorer. When the figures are published showing Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world, the government should not get angry. In fact it should celebrate it as evidence of its policies working. From rice to palm oil to cement - the story is the same. In the name of some policy goal, the government increases the costs of goods for Nigerians by banning the import of one thing or the other under the guise of ‘creating jobs’. If there are cheaper imports, access to those goods will make Nigerians richer thereby freeing up income for them to spend on other things. This is why a country like the United Kingdom has not fed itself for around 100 years running, relying on food imports instead, and has gotten a lot richer in that time. The same is true of America - the country has gotten richer the more it has imported from China even though President Trump currently has other ideas. This is one of the most frustrating things about Nigeria. You cannot even change this policy by voting for a different party as they all believe in it with the only difference being the degree. You will merely move along the same spectrum from PDP socialists to APC communists. These days from President Buhari to Vice President Osinbajo to Governor Emefiele to Minister Ogbeh - you will find all of them as believers in this policy of making Nigerians poorer. It is akin to a long running article of faith in Nigerian governance that has been around since the 1970s. The belief that Nigeria can ban its way to glory is unshakeable. But the biggest tragedy of all is that having heard this message relentlessly from the government, many Nigerians have come to believe that they can make themselves richer by making themselves poorer. - Feyi Fawehinmi is an accountant and social commentator.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

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EUROBOND LISTING

L-R: Managing Director, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mrs. Hamda Ambah; Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Mr. Bola Onadele; Director-General, Debt Management OďŹƒce, Ms. Patience Oniha, and Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr. Kobby Bentsi-Enchill, at the listing of the triple-tranche Eurobond at the FMDQ OTC Exchange in Lagosâ€Śrecently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Libra Set to Offer Global Digital Financial Services to 1.7bn Unbanked Stories by Emma Okonji Worried about the huge number of unbanked adults globally, which is put at 1.7 billion by the World Bank 2017 Global Index Report, the Libra Association, on Tuesday, unveiled plans to offer digital financial access to billions of people that are currently excluded from the global financial inclusion drive. The global association further unveiled plans to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of African countries like Nigeria and Kenya, through the services of Libra, a simple global currency and financial infrastructure that

TELECOM is built on a demystified blockchain technology that is secure, scalable, and reliable, designed to empower billions of people. Libra association, in its white paper released on Tuesday and made available to THISDAY, explained that it would be backed by a reserve of assets designed to give it intrinsic value, and would be governed by the independent Libra Association, which was formed to manage and evolve the new ecosystem that is scheduled for global launch next month. Analysing the opportunities

created by the internet and mobile broadband, the white paper further explained that although billions of people now have access to the worldâ€™s knowledge and information, with highfidelity communications and connectivity that have driven economic empowerment by enabling more people to access the financial ecosystem, a large swaths of the worldâ€™s population are still left behind. Head of Policy and Communications, Libra Association, Dante Disparte, who spoke through a video conference call, said: â€œOver 1.7 billion adults globally remain outside of the finan-

cial system with no access to a traditional bank, even though one billion have a mobile phone. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have a number of unique properties, as they are decentralised, globally accessible, with low cost, and safe, but the existing blockchain systems are yet to reach mainstream adoption. â€œMass-market usage of existing blockchains and cryptocurrencies has been hindered by their volatility and lack of scalability. Some projects have also aimed to disrupt the existing system and bypass regulation as Continued on page 24

Nigeria Advises Ethiopia against Telecom Libralisation Pitfalls The Non-Executive Chair of the Commonwealth International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Group (CIG) and a former Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Bashir Gwandu, has advised Ethiopia to learn from Nigeria as it moves ahead to liberalise its telecommunications industry for private sector investment. Gwandu stated this recently while delivering his lead keynote speech at the opening of the Innovation Africa Digital Summit (IAD) 2019 in Addis Ababa, attended by telecoms executives and governments from Africa and around the world.

TELECOM The period of the conference coincided with the time a proclamation is being tabled before the Ethiopian Parliament for debate and consideration to liberalise the countryâ€™s telecom sector. Gwandu discussed the telecoms market privatisation and liberalisation processes, breaking the issues logically from the point of producing succinct legal frameworks for both the privatisation and that of the telecoms regulation. He stated the need for strong and good regulatory framework, encompassing sensible set of

rules that encourages investment and protects the consumer and requiring,effective, professionally competent and sufficiently empowered as well as sufficiently financed regulatory institution. â€œGood enable laws are not just sufficient but government support must be total and not half-hearted, coupled with adequate funding that would attract good manpower to the regulator,â€? he said. Gwandu suggested that governmentâ€™s role should be restricted to policy formulation whilst a strong, independent regulatory authority should provide stable, transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory

access to telecommunications resources in a timely manner. He said the legal framework apart from guaranteeing independence of the regulator, must enable flexibility of the regulator while remaining predictable, efficient, effective and accountable. â€œIt should be the role of the regulator to ensure the existence of competition in all segments of the market devoid of market abuse or the exercise of significant market power by the participantsâ€? he said. Gwandu added: â€œLiberalisation of telecom market is essential for rapid network Continued on page 24

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă‹Ëœ Ă–Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ě‹ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂšĂ–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ëœ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÍŻÍ˛ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ™ ĂŽĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ Ă?Ě‹Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă—Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă? ĂšĂ?Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă’Ă“Ă? ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËŞĂ? Ă™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’ Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ëœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ™ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ™ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ™ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‹Ă“Ă—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ăž ĂŒĂœĂ“ĂŽĂ‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă™ĂŁĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‘Ă‹Ăš Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ’ Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËœ Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? ĂšĂ“Ă–Ă™Ăž ĂšĂ’Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă–Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă’Ă?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă? Ă—Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ëœ Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă‹ Ă˘ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂŒĂ‹Ëœ Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ™ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă˘Ă?Ă?Ă&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă?Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă‹ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă&#x;Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă’Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽË› Ă’Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ—Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă“Ă‘Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă—ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁĂŽĂ‹ĂŁ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ë› ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă–Ă&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁĂ‹Ëœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă–Ă– ĂžĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?ĂĄĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă—Ă™ĂŒĂ™Ă‹Ă˜Ă–Ă? Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹ Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă–Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ă‘Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂœĂŒ Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă‹ĂžĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂžĂĄĂ™ Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ ËŤĂ?Ă˘Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂĄĂ™Ă—Ă?Ă˜ Ă–Ă™Ă™Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ™ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă˘ĂžĂœĂ‹ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă? ĂžĂ™ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂž ĂžĂ’Ă?Ă“Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂžĂ“Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ă™Ă˜ Ă&#x;Ă—Ă“Ă‹Ë›ËŹ

TD Wins Philips Partner Award

Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂŒĚ‹ Ă‹Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ‹Ă˜ Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă‹ËŞĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă“Ă‹Ă˜ĂžËœ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂĄĂ™Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś Ă‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ě™ Ă“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ™ĂœĚš ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ĂžĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă Ă?Ăœ ÍŻÍŽÍŽ ĂšĂ?Ăœ Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‘ĂœĂ™ĂĄĂžĂ’ Ă“Ă˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’ Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂšĂ? ĂŒĂ?ĂžĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍľ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍśË› ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă“Ă™Ăœ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– Ă?Ă‹Ă–ĂžĂ’Ëœ ĂœË› Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă? Ă‹ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă?ĂŽ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ–Ă?Ă˘ Ă?Ă˜Ă Ă“ĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžË› Ă? Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂšĂ™ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă‹Ă– ĂžĂ™ ĂžĂ‹Ă•Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš ĂŒĂ?ĂžĂĄĂ?Ă?Ă˜ Ă’Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂšĂ? ĂžĂ™ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžË› Ă’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă–Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă’Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?ËšĂ‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă™Ă?ĂžËœ Ëœ Ëœ Ě‹ Ă“Ă˜Ă• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂœËœ Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂœËœ ĂœĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă¤Ă™ĂŒĂ‹ Ă¤Ă“Ă•Ă?Ëœ Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ĂžĂ™ Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂšĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ Ă‹ĂŽĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? Ă‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ ĂžĂ™ ĂŽĂ™ Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?ĂžË› Ă¤Ă“Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË? ËŤ Ă‹Ă— Ă Ă?ĂœĂŁ Ă’Ă‹ĂšĂšĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă˘Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ë› Ă?ĂžĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ĂĄĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? ĂžĂ™ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš ĂžĂ™ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ&#x;Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– ĂĄĂ“Ă˜ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă—Ă? Ă˜Ă?Ă˘Ăž ĂŁĂ?Ă‹ĂœË› Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă‹ ĂĄĂ’Ă™Ă–Ă? Ă–Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă&#x;Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ™ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž Ă‘Ă™Ă‹Ă–Ë› ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă‘Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă&#x;Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ĂĄĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă? Ă‘Ă–Ă™ĂŒĂ‹Ă– Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă“ĂšĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă–Ă– Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžË› Ăž Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă™ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ăž ĂžĂ’Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă™Ăž Ă™Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂžĂ™ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă? ĂžĂ’Ă? ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂžĂ™ Ă‹ Ă‘ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’ĂžË›ËŹ

â€œOur focus is to enhance Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups by providing talent, building capacity, helping them to connect to the right partners that will enable them have market access and capital as neededâ€? Managing Partner, Verraki Business Solutions,

Mr. Niyi Yusuf

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

LIBRA SET TO OFFER GLOBAL DIGITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES TO 1.7BN UNBANKED

opposed to innovating on compliance and regulatory fronts to improve the effectiveness of anti-money laundering.â€? Facebook team played a key role in the creation of the Libra Association and the Libra Blockchain, working with the other founding members. While final decision-making authority rests with the association, Facebook is expected to maintain a leadership role through 2019. Facebook created Calibra, a regulated subsidiary, to ensure separation between social and financial data and to build and operate services on its behalf on top of the Libra network. NIGERIA ADVISES ETHIOPIA AGAINST TELECOM LIBRALISATION PITFALLS

growth as experienced by other countries and private sector participation is essential for attracting investment. Innovation and new technologies in the telecoms sector is fast moving, it cannot wait for slow government bureaucracy to be approving investment funding and yet compete effectively.â€? He stated that in looking holistically at the telecoms market, international segment should be examined where the complimentary options of international optical fibre and satellite links can be made available in a competitive manner. According to him, international gateway liberalisation and national backbone planning should ensure ubiquitous availability, open access, and finally on the last mile the spectrum remains key in view of the lack of sufficient last-mile fixed infrastructure. He further stated that â€œMobile is the largest technology platform in human history and mobile broadband is the most dynamic segment of the last mile market. Spectrum is a critical resource for mobile broadband but is only valuable if it is effectively deployed to enable appropriate networks and services for socio-economic benefits to citizens.â€?

State Gaming Regulators Call for UniďŹ ed Processes, Licensing Stories by Emma Okonji

to regulate gaming activities clearly under the residual list in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), adding that such activities are tantamount to eroding the very essence of true federalism. Fagbohun further said: While some of its members have regulated the industry under gaming laws promulgated as far back as 1981 and 1991, the NLRC only came into existence in 2005.

ASGRN is operating from the constitutional realm, and for NLRC to assume the roles it is playing now, the Commission must first seek for an amendment of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because as it is today, gaming regulatory power lies in the states.â€? While recounting some of their latest issues with NLRC, Ogara said: â€œWhen we noticed the obvious infraction on the provisions of our statute, the

states were taken aback and surprised by this act, since the NLRC itself had reached out to the states to explore a joint approach to regulations, a development that was warmly embraced and supported by a few states. However, following concerted efforts of some of the states, a lot of progress had been made, until this unfortunate act by the NLRC.â€? Ogara explained that the authors of the constitution in

their wisdom, gave the regulatory role to states because of the peculiar nature of the industry, the states and their religious inclinations. â€œNigeria is a federation where the three tiers of government are expected to act independently together. We are also aware that there are cases in supreme court seeking for clarification over who has rights to regulate gaming in the country,â€? he said.

Disturbed by the undue interference on the activities of State Gaming Regulators by agents of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), the Association of State Gaming Regulators in Nigeria (ASGRN) has called on the federal government to checkmate the overlapping activities of NLRC, in order to avert the recent threat on the activities of state gaming/lotto regulators by the federal agency. They have equally come out with a position statement on the constant frictions between the state and federal government regulators. Rising from its recent emergency meeting, the body, which comprises representatives from states, currently regulating all gaming activities, has come up with a position statement, condemning, in strong terms, the lingering issues of rights to regulate the gaming industry between states and the federal government agency and other sundry issues. Jointly speaking after the meeting of state regulators, the Chairman of Enugu State Gaming/Lotto Commission, Mr. Harrison Ogara and the Head, Pools and Betting Division of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), Mr. Felix Fagbohun, flayed the activities of the officials of NLRC who they said, were going from state to state to shut down gaming operators legally licensed by the state government. The body noted that it was R-L: President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uche Olowu; High Commissioner of illegal for a national agency Namibia to Nigeria, Ambassador Humphrey Geiseb, and Registrar/CEO, CIBN, Mr. Seye Awojobi, during the presentation of the like the NLRC to claim rights CIBN corporate crest to Geiseb in Lagosâ€Śrecently

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Google Encourages Blood Donation to Save Lives Going by the global statistics, which explains that Nigeria has some of the lowest blood donation rates in the world, with just 10 per cent of the population donating freely, Google, is supporting LifeBank in ensuring that blood arrives safely and timely where and whenever itâ€™s needed, through the Google Map. Underlining the need for blood donations is the fact that Nigeria has the fourthhighest maternal mortality rate in the world, accounting for 19 per cent of all maternal

deaths globally. According to experts views, postpartum hemorrhaging, which is the loss of blood through child birth, is the leading cause of deaths during child birth. The lack of infrastructure to get crucial blood supplies in Nigeria compounds this challenge. To address the challenge, LifeBank, which is an intermediary between registered blood banks and the hospitals, is not only working to get more Nigerians to donate blood, but also to get blood safely

to the patients who need it most urgently, while depending on Google Map for quicker road navigation. LifeBank achieves this by using a digital platform, which sorts orders based on urgency, location, and price. Dispatch riders move blood in boxes that are padlocked and can only be opened by the recipient using a Bluetooth connection or key. By designing a system to connect blood banks to hospitals via Google Maps Platform, LifeBank has been able to decrease delivery time

from 24 hours to less than 45 minutes. LifeBank Founder, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, at a demo session in Lagos recently, said: â€œIn the race to get blood to patients, every second counts. Donated blood has a shelf life of just six weeks. Often, it expires before it is ever used because doctors are unable to locate the type of blood that they need. The doctors who need the blood and the blood banks who are discarding blood needed to somehow find a way to communicate with

each other.â€? â€œHowever, using the Google Map platform to create an interface for these once-disconnected entities by mapping each location involved in blood distribution across Lagos, from hospitals to blood banks to the delivery drivers, has given us a solution,â€? Giwa-Tubosun added. According to her, to date, LifeBank has signed up over 5,800 new donors, moved over 13,800 pints, served 300-plus hospitals, and saved more than 4,000 lives.

Visa to Boost Cross-border B2B Payments Network Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Ă™ĂŽĂŽĂŁ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă? AgriBusiness/Industry Editor

Ă™Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă¤Ă? Comms/e-Business Editor

Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Senior Correspondent

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

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; Ă¤Ă? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? Ă—Ă?Ă”Ă™ (Finance) ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ™Ă”Ă“ (Insurance) Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă‹Ă?Ă™ (Energy) Reporters

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Visa has announced the commercial launch of the Visa B2B Connect network, giving financial institutions an ability to quickly and securely process high-value corporate cross-border payments globally. Visa B2B Connect launch will cover 30 global trade corridors, with to the aim to expand to as many as 90 markets by end of 2019. Announcing the initiative, Global Head of Visa Business Solutions, Kevin Phalen, said: â€œLaunching Visa B2B Connect marks an important industry milestone which will accelerate the evolution of how commercial payments move around

the world. â€œBy creating a solution that facilitates direct, bank to bank transactions, we are eliminating friction associated with key industry pain points. With Visa B2B Connect, we are making payments quicker and simpler, while enhancing transparency and consistency of data.â€? Visa B2B Connect removes friction and time spent on crossborder corporate transactions by facilitating transactions from the bank of origin directly to the beneficiary bank. The networkâ€™s unique digital identity feature tokenises an organisationâ€™s sensitive business information, such as banking details and

account numbers, giving them a unique identifier that can be used to facilitate transactions on the network. Visa B2B Connectâ€™s digital identity feature will transform the way information is exchanged in business-to-business cross-border transactions. Executive Vice President CornĂ¨r Bank, Alessandro Seralvo, said: â€œWe are excited to be a pilot partner for Visa B2B Connect. This modern way of carrying out cross-border B2B payments creates a substantial added value for our corporate clients. Velocity, security and control of transactions as well as a lower counterparty risks

are essential for a successful business with international partners.â€? Partners, including Bottomline, FIS and IBM are integral parts of the future scale of Visa B2B Connect. Bottomline and FIS are bringing Visa B2B Connect platform access to its participating bank clients. Along with Visaâ€™s core assets, Visa B2B Connect utilizes open source Hyperledger Fabric framework from the Linux Foundation, in partnership with IBM. This helps provide an improved process to facilitate financial transactions on a scalable, permissioned network. President and CEO, Bot-

tomline, Rob Eberle, said: â€œBottomline is delighted to be working with Visa to accelerate the adoption of innovative ways for businesses to make faster cross-border payments.â€? General Manager, IBM Blockchain, Marie Wieck, said: â€œWorking together on Visa B2B Connect, we are combining the strengths of the worldâ€™s leader in electronic payments with IBMâ€™s recognised expertise in helping scale distributed ledger technology. This is a unique example of how blockchain-based architecture can help transform B2B value chains by facilitating secure, trusted transactions globally.â€?

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Impact of 9mobile on Nigeriaâ€™s Digital Ecosystem Collaboration points the way to Nigeriaâ€™s quest for a big cut of the limitless opportunities offered by digitalisation. Emma Okonji reviews how 9mobile is impacting Nigeriaâ€™s digital ecosystem

lectronic payment, cashless economy and financial inclusion are among new socio-economic development triggers that can result from digitalisation. Digitalisation itself is being fueled by the growth of information and communication technology (ICT). As digitalisation continues to gain wider global impetus across societies, Nigeria is not left out of the evolving trend. Across multiple fronts, the federal government through the National Communications Commission (NCC), for example, launched the five-year National Broadband Plan (2013- 2018) to achieve 30 per cent internet penetration by the end of 2018. Thankfully, the target was achieved even a month before the expiration of the set timeline. On another front, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with other key sectors such as banks and telecom firms, is at the forefront of driving the governmentâ€™s financial inclusion strategy with the objective of ensuring that more Nigerians have access to financial services. Digital transformation Nigeriaâ€™s innovative and customerfocused telecommunications company, 9mobile, is among the leading service providers that have imprinted their feet in the digital ecosystem. In demonstration of its commitment to continuously leverage technology to deliver more value-adding services to customers, 9mobile has been investing in technology and development of innovative products, services and solutions for customers in its over 10 years of operation in the country. Although it is acknowledged as the telco with the best quality of service in voice and data, 9mobile is always seeking ways to empower its customers so they can do more. With 174 million active mobile telephone users and 113.8 million active internet users, according to January 2019 industry data from the NCC, Nigeria has been globally acknowledged as a strategic market with massive potential. In line with the projection, 9mobile has expanded the frontiers of value-added services from voice, data and SMS to enabling businesses with a bouquet of digitalised products, services and solutions. It has also gone a notch higher with the launch of digital-based utility services through partnerships with service providers in key sectors including retail, healthcare, media, entertainment, transportation, banking and insurance amongst others. Financial inclusion Amongst the mobile financial services helping to drive financial inclusion and access is Kwikmoney, an instant loan service on the 9mobile network. By just dialing *561#, a customer gets an immediate loan of up to N500,000 direct to his/ her bank account without collateral or documentation. The availability of instant money for individuals and SMEs for business operations, emergencies and other needs has facilitated effective cashflow management and access. Moresavers, a no-frills account launched in partnership with Wema Bank and GTBank respectively, is another innovative platform targeted at ensuring financial inclusion for more customers by enabling them to open bank accounts with ease, directly from their mobile devices. Also, 9mobileâ€™s â€˜9posâ€™, launched in 2016 offers retail businesses a secure mobile technology that upgrades a mobile phone into a cash management tool and POS machine. Thereâ€™s also the popular payment platform, 9pay in partnership with UBA. The

electronic funds issuing solution enables seamless payments for applications on the Google play store with customers being

In demonstration of its commitment to continuously leverage technology to deliver more value-adding services to customers, 9mobile has been investing in technology and development of innovative products, services and solutions for customers in its over 10 years of operation in the country

able to purchase apps from the play store using 9pay. The platform currently has over 200,000 active subscribers. 9pay has also introduced a mobile app to give customers a more personalized payment experience. Another innovative product, â€˜Borrow Me Powerâ€™, allows customers to borrow electric power units and pay back later by just dialing a USSD; *946#. This service is the first-of-its-kind in Nigeria. Digital products Apart from the mobile financial services, 9mobile also has a number of innovative digital products, services and solutions such as DCB, SuperTV IPTV and Cloud 9that millions of Nigerians have benefitted from. Indeed, Cloud 9 has contributed its quota to the entertainment industry by helping artistes monetise their content and generate substantial revenue. It has created a level playing ground for upcoming artists to get the needed attention for growth and revenue generation as against traditional top stars getting all the visibility. SuperTV, on the other hand, grants subscribers full access to a selection of premium video content on their mobile devices. It offers IPTV with a range of services that include live television, time shift television and Video-On-Demand. 9mobile subscribers can also watch TV with no internet data and have delightful experiences comparable to Netflix and Amazon Prime. Another innovative digital product is

the Rich Communication Service (RCS) in partnership with Google. The RCS is a messaging app which enables Android users to send rich messages in the form of images, videos, stickers etc. to other Android users. RCS can also be used for advertising, customer engagement and service activation by brands. Customersâ€™ view Assessing the telcoâ€™s innovative and empowering offerings, an SME owner, Edward Inyang, who is also a 9mobile customer, commended the telecommunications company for its unique digital services, noting that, itâ€™s not only empowering individuals but also driving financial inclusion. He said: â€œI can confirm the authenticity of 9mobileâ€™s digital and financial services, especially Kwikmoney. I had doubts initially, but when I needed money urgently to keep my business afloat a while back, I just tried it with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to access the instant loan to save my business. I hope more telcos will follow 9mobileâ€™s footsteps in empowering Nigerians and boosting financial inclusion.â€? 9mobile, for over a decade, has been consistently committed to driving digital and mobile financial services for the comfort of subscribers while also facilitating the evolution of the digital age in Nigeria. With the telecoms company not resting on its oars, more innovative offerings are sure to be on the way.

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Ikpe: Credit Facilities Will Enhance Access to Used Cars

The Chief Executive Officer, Cars45.com, Mr. Etop Ikpe, in this interview talked about the invention of Cars45 and the challenges facing Nigeria automobile industry. Nosa Alekhuogie brings the excerpts:

a challenge but we also have a fragmented data base. We donâ€™t have a central data base and we also donâ€™t have digital transfer of ownership. We donâ€™t have a centralised system where all authorities can go. There is a lot of work that we can do in terms of connecting these data bases. So, imagine if someone just brought anybodyâ€™s car to the location because they have the documentation, a person might as well stop a car on the road with the documentation and present it to be sold. So typically, even if we have done the inspection, the owner of the car needs to be present to consolidate that transaction. Unfortunately, we would like it to be done remotely, but, there is a lot of technology that needs to go into how it is done. We would rather ensure that the transaction is done right and ensure that people are not taken advantage of. So, it might be a bit inconvenient, but at the end of the day, it is for the customerâ€™s protection.

hat necessitated the establishment of Cars45. Has it been able to meet its set goal since inception? We created Cars45 basically to fill a gap we found in the automobile industry particularly around how people buy and sell used cars. So if you think about it, when people talk about the automobile policy, it is focused on the one per cent because everything is focused on brand new cars. However, 99 per cent of cars that people drive are used cars. There are lot of problems around pricing and how people verify cars, including various things around it. I have had issues trying to buy or sell cars. So I figured that itâ€™s a big industry. It affects a lot of people and it definitely needs some level of transparency and efficiency. We also saw that it was something that affects a lot of people, with lots of challenges but very important industry. Only two to three per cent of Nigerians would ever buy a home, so itâ€™s the most expensive purchase a lot of people would ever make, and that was why we figured that it was very important to go into the business to fix the identified challenges. How long have you been doing the business in Nigeria and what are your greatest challenges? We got into Nigeria in 2016, about three years now, and we started the business with some reliable partners. Itâ€™s a broad base, so we have investments. Itâ€™s a mix of individuals and institutions and we have investors. There is a huge opportunity for us and I think we have grown very quickly. We have been lucky that the market has been very receptive to the services that we provide. For us, quality service is very important. I think that sometimes, failing to deliver that quality service can be very painful when customers are dissatisfied. So, I think really that those are some of the challenges. Also, being able to consistently deliver a hundred per cent quality service all the time for a fast growing organisation, but it comes with training and a lot of development. As a business that is a hundred per cent focused on customersâ€™ service, every time there is an issue or we donâ€™t deliver a hundred per cent customer service, it is very hurtful to the organisation. On the other end as well, the market is very fragmented and so there is very little structure around the market so as you develop, the ecosystem that is needed to support the business might not necessarily be there. It simply means we have to build a lot of partnerships and relationships and a lot of other parties. To be honest, not everybody is ready to move in the direction we are proposing, some people are comfortable just operating small but I think itâ€™s a gradual process. If you are innovating around something, then part of the skill set that you need is patience and you need to develop a market over time. The economy hasnâ€™t been at its best, but that is kind of over flogged and I donâ€™t really want to focus on that but I think one other area is financing; being able to provide affordable credit to people. Credit and the automobile industry go hand in hand. We found out that it is not just available when it comes to used car space whereas this is something that is very available in anywhere across the world. Financing is required to spur automotive growth because of the size and value in place. We have brought a lot of things that help finance houses to be able to finance these cars by our reports and evaluations, these are things that didnâ€™t exist before. So we have taken this and put it into consideration but I think getting some of the financial institutions to take that first step to begin to look at the opportunities is also a big challenge in the industry. We need to look at this not from a perspective that its

What is your target audience and are you looking at branching into other modes of transportation like tricycles? Our target audience is anybody who owns a car. Our usual age range is about 25 to 45 years. It is what we would call mid to upper middle class. Thatâ€™s the age range of people that own vehicles so typically thatâ€™s our target audience. Also, our platform is built to enable anything but our focus for now is just cars. I think when we get to a point in terms of market share, we would open up to more. The focus for now is to build our expertise around cars.

Ikpe

innovation per say, but about standardisation. It is something that exists anywhere in the world. So the key thing is how do we make this work in Nigeria because we canâ€™t have a strong automotive environment without available finance for people as well. Where do you see the automobile industry in Nigeria in the next ďŹ ve to 10 years? Globally, the automobile industry is going places. I think it is going to take a lot of different directions. There are several things that have come up like the drive around the automotive policy. If there is a consistent focus on vehicle manufacturing, I expect that on brand new cars, there should be a lot more manufacturing going on over a ten year period and skill sets should be better. At that point in time, finance should be more accessible and affordable because financing is improving generally in Nigeria. On the used car side, I think there would be a lot more synergy between the new car industry and the used car industry. The automotive industry in Nigeria is one that is not just of interest for Nigerians but globally it is an interesting market because of the size of our market, our projected growth and the fact that we have a very low motorisation rate. Motorisation rate is basically your population against how many cars are available and we have a particularly low motorisation rate with very little public transport infrastructure. So, if you think about what can happen quicker, extensive public infrastructure or more cars for people? Obviously it is more cars for people that can happen quicker. So I think as things develop and as young people move to working class individuals, we are going to see a demand and the demand would continue to grow for cars. The key thing here is what direction are we going? It is really a policy thing. Also, the vibrancy of the industry is driven by the finance and credit available for people to access cars. If that isnâ€™t fixed, something that should happen in five years might end up taking fifteen years. So for acceleration, it really depends on what kind of structures that we put in place for financing for the automotive industry to be more accessible

to people. How do you think the industry could be stimulated to address some of the challenges? In terms of stimulating the industry, we will need to look at things like the minor spare parts being produced locally as well. Things like batteries, tyres, and things that can boost and improve skill sets among people. That is also important as well. If you are going to have a vibrant automotive industry, there are some key components of the cars that need to be produced in the country. Funny enough, Nigeria used to produce batteries and tyres; these are functions of power. Nothing exists without the other. We canâ€™t go there if certain things are not in place like power. I donâ€™t want to believe that in ten years from now, we would still be talking about power. How do you create value across the Eco System? Basically, we can start from what we call the supply side. When someone wants to sell a car, we start by enabling the transaction between what we call the wholesale buyers of cars who are called the car dealers. We typically connect someone who wants to sell a car to a car dealer and we do that by providing information to the car dealer that can help them make a buying decision without physically being present. This solves the problem for a customer. So, what a customer would do is go to any of one of our inspection centres, inspect the car and put the car into an auction. That auction usually lasts for 30 minutes. The inspection report is uploaded into our auction data base and the dealers on our platform have access to that inspection report, so they can bill on that count. So it is very simple, straight forward and increases productivity as well. The dealer doesnâ€™t have to move around, they can stay in one place and focus. They have access to cars outside their state or where they are and can get as many cars as possible. Why is a second party not allowed to make transactions on behalf of a customer? It is part of our verification process and that is what we call the proxy. We know it is

Do you mind sharing your vision about Cars45? Our vision is enabling and enhancing trade within the automotive sector and we are already doing that. The fact is that when people come to sell, we provide a platform for our car dealers to be able to sell the cars to the consumers. The dealersâ€™ cars are actually displayed there, they have the inspection report, someone who comes to sell has experience, someone who wants to buy can look at that car and remotely check our inspection report which we have done. We ensure that the car is fairly priced, people are not cheated and the consumer is protected. I think, if you look at all we are doing on both ends, we are trying to make the trading process and a lot of thing around the cars itself easy. Gradually, we would continue to work on our trading processes and improve our services as we go on. On the average, how many cars do you sell in a month and where is your biggest market among all states of the federation? Information in sales is still quite confidential, but the volume of sales is enough to keep the light bulbs on. Of course, if you look at it, Lagos has the biggest market for any business, and it is the same for our kind of business. Lagos has the highest number of cars registered in the country. Our business is in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. We are launching in Onitsha and Ibadan soon. We are going to keep rolling into other cities over the next few months. Can you tell us how much Cars45 is worth? For me it is priceless. I think what we are bringing to the industry cannot be measured, compared with the amount of people and the amount of lives we touch. We have over 60 inspection locations, and each of them would do at least two or three inspections daily. We are providing value. So really, if we place the value today, the value would change tomorrow because of the quality of service we provide. It is something we focus a lot on. You canâ€™t satisfy everyone but a lot of people tend to appreciate our service.

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EFG Hermes Named â€˜Top Frontier Markets Brokerage Firmâ€™ Hamid Ayodeji The EFG Hermes, a financial services corporation in frontier emerging markets (FEM) has for the second year running been ranked the number one frontier market brokerage firm in the Extel Survey 2019 and remains the second highest ranked brokerage firm in the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to the accolade, EFG Hermes was also named, for the second time in as many years, the leading Africa (ExSouth Africa) Equities House by the Financial Mail, attesting to the success of its expansion into African markets. â€œHolding our ground in the Extel rankings is proof positive that we, as a firm and as a partner to our clients the world over, are committed to delivering the highest quality research in the industry,â€? said Ahmed Shams El Din, EFG Hermesâ€™ Head of Research. â€œThe leading rankings attest to the capabilities of EFG Hermes Research as a true leader in the provision of frontier and emerging market research and its ability to provide key insights in some of the worldâ€™s most compelling markets.â€? The recognition comes three short years after the firm expanded into frontier markets, adding to its already deep, on-the-ground presence in the MENA region, to cover some of the fastest-growing markets in Africa and Asia. According to a statement, in 2018, the firm initiated on equities in Georgia, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Uganda, Rwanda, and Botswana, while deepening coverage within existing MENA and FEM markets and expanding its overall coverage universe to over 260 stocks. â€œThis recognition by the worldâ€™s leading research survey reaffirms EFG Hermesâ€™

commitment to producing innovative research, be it macro strategy or equity coverage, of the highest quality. â€œAs we have expanded into a number of new markets, the recognition of our analysts reaffirms our commitment to investing in talent of the highest caliber to provide clients with leading insight and investment solutions across our coverage footprint,â€? he added. EFG Hermes Research also dominated the MENA and frontier regional analyst rankings, with six of EFG Hermesâ€™ top analysts ranking in the top 10, including Kato Mukuru and Ronak Gadhia in Frontier and Mohamed Abu Basha, Hatem Alaa, Nada Amin and Elena Sanchez-Cabezudo achieving top ten spots for MENA. The EFG Hermes sales team was also well represented in the frontier survey with Sruti Patel and Muathi Kilonzo both placing in the top 10. â€œComing on the heels of our ranking as the top Africa (Ex-South Africa) Equities House at the Financial Mail Top Analyst Awards 2019, this industry recognition highlights the core strength of EFG Hermes Research and its ability to respond rapidly to the increasing demand for new investment ideas and strategies amid ever-changing markets,â€? said Ali Khalpey, CEO of EFG Hermes Frontier. â€œOur strategy is to match our growing execution capabilities with world-class research that meets the needs of our clients. Beyond EFG Hermesâ€™ strength as a research house in Asia, Africa and the MENA region, this is proof that our calculated investments into our frontier expansion have paid off and underscores our unmatched strength in new geographies we have entered within the past three years.â€?

Ecobank MD AfďŹ rms Support for Movie Industry Nume Ekeghe The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Patrick Akinwuntan, has said the bank is set to support the Nigerian movie industry to project everything good about Nigeria. Akinwuntan, who spoke at the premiere of the movie â€˜The Bling Lagosiansâ€™ in Lagos recently, said Ecobank was determined to support the creative industry as they are most suited in the task of reinventing the Nigeria of our dreams. He also added that the support was in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vision to support the creative industry through a financing initiative Akinwuntan, said Ecobank is passionate about Africa and its cultural renaissance, and its partnership with Bolanle AustenPeters, a renowned African culture promoter, sits perfectly with the Pan African brand. Further he stated that the bank would continue to leverage its digital offerings to facilitate a more seamlessly connected Africa. According to the bank Managing Director, through its flagship products EcobankPay and the Ecobank Xpress ecosystem the

bank will remain in the forefront as key enablers of digital payments across the continent. As part of the partnership, Ecobank handed over the sum of N.5 million to the best dressed person at the premiere, being the climax of the â€˜Eko for Showâ€™ dress code for the event. Guests were encouraged to dress spectacularly to win cash prizes sponsored by EcobankPay. EcobankPay, is the lifestyle digital payment and collections service of Ecobank Nigeria, had been designated the payment solution for the premiere of the much anticipated movie. EcobankPay is a convenient digital QR code that enables payments using the mobile phone, without the need for a plastic card. The uniqueness of the platform is that it has MasterPass, MVisa and Mcash embedded in the merchant identity QR Code. This enables each customer to transact across the three platforms not minding the bank cards they are holding. â€˜The Bling Lagosiansâ€™ is a story that centres on the lifestyle of a Lagos family that is presently living in their past glory. Although, they are not as wealthy as they once were, they still want to live that lifestyle they once used to.

Firm to Launch Mobile Advertising App Ugo Aliogo A FlinkBox is set to introduce a new incentive-based mobile advertising App designed to enhance engagement between brands and target consumers with the aim of boosting return on investment. A statement by the company said Revv, was not only conceived to provide solution brands and marketers, but also the opportunity to connect with consumers directly, â€œon their mobile phones and also generate analytics for brands; as a measure to strengthen brand insights, drive marketing, drive sales, and increase long-term profitability.â€? The Country Manager of FlinkBox, George Ugbegua, said the solution goes beyond just creating awareness, but provides brands the opportunity to create consideration and conversion through their ad campaign.

He explained that with Revv, brands have access to lead generation and consumer insight analysis report, which gives detailed analytics on individuals interested in the brand, â€œproduct or services. Revv generates leads for products or services through ads and targets audience based on preferred language.â€? Ugbegua added: â€œRevv brands can place video based ads on the platform, carry out product survey and Retarget consumers who showed interest in their product or services through their ad campaign.â€? The statement maintained that the App was also equipped with the capacity to deepen direct engagement between brands and consumers through feedback mechanism; trend surveys or video-based advertising, which allows brands the opportunity to get the attention of their target consumers and capture their

interest on the go. According to the statement: â€œThe App, developed in Germany, was designed to reward subscribers with monetary values through ad views, game participation, and brand or trend surveys participation. â€œThese subscribers, also known as â€œBrand Assessorsâ€? are constantly incentivized monetarily as a pay-out for assessing brand campaigns. They also recruit friends through referral links to expand the base of our assessors. â€œMore than ever, brands now have the opportunity to communicate product and services to their target audience through mobile gadgets, while at the same time creating interest, fun and excitement for the consumers through financial incentives. â€œRevv is well on course in

redefining the face of mobile advertising in Nigeria and Africa at large with a system that enables brands to track and convert loyal customers through its retargeting mechanism based on interest, location, age, profession, language, time and gender. â€œA unique thing with the Revv App when compared to other video ad distribution networks is that, despite the various values and benefits it comes with, it is affordable and guarantees definite view on ads; simply a win-win. â€œDesigned to make mobile advertising convenient and rewarding to brands, two forms of reports are provided to brands that place adverts on the Revv platform. These are; â€˜The Basic Report,â€™ which shows result summary of the ad campaign such as impressions, definite views, reach, demographics, location, and others.â€?

BUSINESS EXPANSION

L-R: Representative of the Oba of Elegushi/a former Commissioner for Transport, Lagos State, Mr Olanrewaju Elegushi; President, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Cooperative, Mr Zakari Kyari; former General Counsel/Company Secretary, NLNG, Mrs Edith Unuigbe; former General Manager, Finance, NLNG, Mr Victor Eromosele; pioneer President, NLNG Cooperative, Chief Babatunde Fasanmi, and Managing Director, Alia Engineering Company Limited, Mr Adel Nassereddine, during the inauguration of Cowrie Creek Estate by NLNG in Lagosâ€Ś recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Travelstart Partners HarbourVest for Business Expansion in Africa Peter Uzoho Travelstart, Africaâ€™s largest online travel company, has announced a new partnership with global private market investment firm, HarbourVest, with $58 billion under asset management. Under the partnership, HarbourVest wouls support Travelstartâ€™s further expansion in geographies and growth new verticals in the continentâ€™s $194 billion tourism and travel market. The investment comes on the back of MTNâ€™s Asset Realisation Programme, which meant that MTN and Travelstart would continue their commercial relationship. â€œThe partnership with HarbourVest is a confirmation of the future opportunity in online travel in Africa, our business and our team, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Travelstart Group, Stephan Ekbergh, said in a statement.

However, on the heels of this deal, Travelstart continues its growth trajectory in Africa as it is set to wholly acquire the Club Travel Group, a South African travel company. â€œThe acquisition will boost Travelstartâ€™s offering by adding Club Travelâ€™s established complementary corporate and franchise divisions, creating a formidable full-service African travel group,â€? Country Manager, Travelstart Nigeria, Philip Akesson, said. â€œThe investment, coupled with the Club Travel acquisition, strengthens our overall group and will as a result help us continue to accelerate our growth in Nigeria,â€? Akesson added. With the acquisition, Travelstart and Club Travel enter a co-operation which will enable the former to expand its business and reach new customers, and the latter to gain the expertise to deliver digital product innovation and remain competitive. Club

Travel will continue as a standalone company within the Travelstart portfolio. Thebe Tourism Holdings (Thebe), the majority shareholder of the Club Travel Group since 2009, will sell its stake in the Club Travel Group to Travelstart. Thebe and Travelstart will jointly invest in and own Club Travel Corporate. The closing of the deal was subject to the approval of the Competition Commission of South Africa. Notably, Travelstart is an online travel company founded on two basic principles; simplicity and best price. The company was founded in 1999 and operates in several countries around the world with offices in Nigeria, Egypt, UAE and South Africa. The Nigerian office which is in Lagos, opened in 2012 and focuses on making travel simple by providing an easier way to book online. The firm has seen double-

digit growth and profitability since inception and is backed by Amadeus Capital Partners and HarbourVest. HarbourVest on its part, is an independent, global private markets investment specialist with 36 years of experience and more than $58 billion in assets under management, as of 31 December 2018. The firmâ€™s powerful global platform offers clients investment opportunities through primary fund investments, secondary investments, and direct co-investments in commingled funds or separately managed accounts. HarbourVest has more than 500 employees, including more than 125 investment professionals across Asia, Europe and the Americas. This global team has committed more than $35 billion to newly formed funds, completed over $19 billion in secondary purchases, and invested over $9 billion directly in operating companies.

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BUSINESSWORLD

E-BUSINESS

Ericsson Warns Europe of Imminent Dangers in Delay of 5G Rollout Stories by Emma Okonji Europe needs urgent and decisive action if it is to benefit from the competitive and innovative capabilities of 5G or it will lose out to the United States (US), China, and other regions, Ericsson President and CEO, BĂśrje Ekholm, has warned. Ekholm, who gave the warning in his keynote address titled: â€˜Europe and 5G- The Need for Speedâ€™, while addressing an audience

of international political and business leaders, start-ups, and innovators at the Viva Technology Conference in Paris recently, called on European governments and regulators to act fast to remove barriers hindering speedy 5G roll out in the country. Ekholm highlighted Ericssonâ€™s ability to roll out 5G now for customers anywhere in the world by pointing to live commercial 5G networks with lead customers in the

U.S., Korea, and Swisscom in Switzerland. He said commercial 5G launches were also close in other regions. But unlike the US and Asia, he said Europe as a whole lacks a concerted regulatory effort to facilitate the speedy realisation of 5G digitalisation. Failure to quickly address this means the region will be at a competitive disadvantage, he warned.

â€œItâ€™s time to speed up 5G in Europe,â€? he said. â€œWe canâ€™t afford to have our European entrepreneurs and enterprises innovate on an old and aging infrastructure. 5G must be seen as a critical national infrastructure, just as vital as trains or ports or airports.â€? Ekholm said this mindset already exists in the US, Asia, and elsewhere. â€œThe US and China sees

5G as a critical national infrastructure and the backbone of digitalising society,â€? he said. He said Europe had the same approach when 4G was launched, failing to act on the technology, while the US and Asia pressed ahead, resulting in Europe falling three-to-four years behind. It was no coincidence, he said, that big 4G winners such as Alibaba, Netflix,

and Tencent emerged from the US and China, and not Europe. He said: â€œItâ€™s up to countries to decide if they want to be part of the revolution that 5G is going to bring,â€? he said, adding that 5G spectrum must be made available in a coordinated fashion and at reasonable prices to catalyze the roll-out of digital infrastructure.

NIMC Joins Secure Identity Alliance for Global Digital Services The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has joined the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), as an Advisory Observer. The membership agreement was executed in Paris France in April 2019. SIA is the global identity and secure digital services advisory body, which promotes legal, trusted identity for all. Announcing the development at the 5th ID4Africa opening ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa recently, the organisation, named the Director General/ CEO of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz as the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Open Standards Identity API (OSIA) initiative, in his capacity as an advisory observer and the representative of NIMC. The meeting is SIAâ€™s groundbreaking global programme that set the standards guarding against vendor lock-in for technologies and solutions used by government agencies worldwide in the implementation of their respective identity programmes. The organisation explained that by allowing governments

to exert full control over their national identity programmes, the OSIA initiative provides the standardized data formats and open interfaces that eliminate the interoperability challenges which all too frequently hamper the evolution of national Identity systems. Supported by the worldâ€™s largest identity providers, the Open Standards Identity API (OSIA) would expectedly enable governments and it agencies like the NIMC to eliminate todayâ€™s identity silos and extend coverage to provide universal legal identity for all its citizens and residents. â€œInjecting new levels of flexibility and openness, the Open Standards Identity API will enable seamless connectivity between all components of the identity management ecosystem â€“ independent of technology, solution architecture or vendor â€“ to assure the seamless interaction of services. With these open standards in place, governments can plan and evolve their systems in complete confidence,â€? the organisation said in a statement.

Millionaires Emerge in Tecno Light Up Your Dream 3 Competition The recently concluded Tecno Light Up Your Dream 3 Competition has produced seven millionaires from a well-contested grand finale and raffle draw, as each of the seven winners went home with one million naira each. The competition, which started in April and is part of the Tecno Spark 3 launch activities, had many young Nigerian entrepreneurs with various business interests ranging from agriculture to technology, sharing their business dreams with the hope of winning the one million naira prize money. It was a tough contest involving rigorous reviews and assessments and at the end of the month-long activity, 10 entrepreneurs were shortlisted, from among 16,0000 applicants from across different regions of the country. Among the selected

ten, nine showed up for the grand finale contest, which held in Lagos. The selected nine people pitched their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges that included the CEO of 360 Group, Noble Igwe and Nollywood actress, Juliana Olayode, popularly known as Toyo Baby. Speaking at the event, PR and Strategic Partnership Manager, Tecno Nigeria, Jesse Oguntimehin, stated that although the initiative was an experiment that the brand decided to carry out over the years, it has been a huge success. He also said that the initiative was conceived with the intention of â€˜making a positive impact on the different local communities in Nigeria by empowering budding entrepreneurs to achieve their lifelong dreams because Tecno really is for Nigerians.

4GLTE ADVANCE NETWORK ROLLOUT

L-R: Head, Finance and Account, VDT Communications, Adewale Akinade; Deputy Managing Director/COO, Bimbo Ikumariegbe; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Abiodun Omoniyi and Chief Technology Officer, Victor Omoyemi, during the media launch of VDT Communicationsâ€™ 4GLTE Advance Network, in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

Kaiglo Launches Online Marketplace to Boost Local Brands Kaiglo Stores Limited, a marketplace that seeks to bring consumerâ€™s favourite market closer to them through online trading and help entrepreneurs build brand recognition, has launched operations in Lagos. Speaking at the launch recently, co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Victor Chukwuebuka Eze, said Kaiglo remained an online marketplace with a unique proposition for fashion entrepreneurs and market traders, designed to grow local brands and bring peopleâ€™s favorite market closer to them no matter the location. According to Eze, â€œAs you may have observed from our site which went live today, we have a market section and a section for promoting local brands. â€œOur mission is to connect traders with credible portfolio and gifted entrepreneurs alike to our online marketplace and help them win a wider and loyal customer following from the comfort of their workplace.â€? The CEO further disclosed that Kaiglo would strive to become the most reputable and credible platform to provide its users with affordable and authentic goods online, while giving its sellers the avenue to be transparent in their trade. â€œThere are some painpoints that buyers have complained about overtime. We are here

to address these challenges to the best of our capabilities. For instance, Kaiglo wants to create an online market hub were several individuals can trade and engage in business activities. â€œWe also have the objective to develop a wide range of delivery network system across Nigeria that is built on efficiency, speed and customer values. You are aware that logistics is one of the issues that e-Commerce platforms face in Nigeria. We are going to be different,â€? Eze said. Sharing idea on how they want to achieve efficient delivery network, the co-founder said: â€œKaiglo only sees through the purchasing process between sellers and buyers, but orders gets delivered to the buyer without Kaiglo actually handling the physical product as we have several registered delivery service agents all networked into a single system to see through an effective and convenient means of order delivery. This business model helps reduces the risk that might be encountered during shipping of an order, it quickens delivery time, and it is cost effective.â€? He explained that the platform would allow its sellers share their unique hyperlink or the URL generated when their store was created on various media advertisement channels.

NCC to Boost Public Safety with Emergency Centres In line with global practices, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has concluded plans to launch a number of Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) across the country, to boost public safety of Nigerians. According to NCC, the initiative would promote and enhance public safety through the use of a particular number which shall be designated as the Universal Safety and Emergency Assistance Number for telephone services generally. The centres will be launched in various states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With the initiative, Nigerians can now access help from any response agency such as the Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire and Ambulance Services by simply dialing a toll free number 112 from any network. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the establishment of the National Emergency Communications Agency (NECA) to set up an Emergency Communications System for Nigeria. Members were drawn from the Ministry of Communication, NCC, Telecom Network Operators, Security Agencies, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant agencies for the adoption of a three-digit

emergency number, 112. In the absence of an Act for NECA, the FEC approved that NCC should push for the establishment of one model Emergency Communications Centre in each of the states in the federation and the FCT. According to a statement from NCC, each state was requested to allocate a suitable piece of land, as its contribution for the establishment of the ECC in the state, while NCC would build, equip and operate the centres for some years before handing over to the states. NCC, has taken practical steps ever since to ensure that the centres are established in various parts of the country. These centres are specially designed to answer all 112 emergency calls and to direct each call to the appropriate response agency closest to the caller, thereby serving as a communication link between public response agencies and members of the public. The 112 number is a toll-free line and can be called from any network. This three-digit number will help to provide timely information to relevant agencies for the prevention of crime, rescue distressed persons, mitigate and possibly prevent disasters. Some of the states with operational ECCs are: Anambra, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Edo, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Plateau.

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Imuzeze: Weak Regulation Killing Marketing Communications Industry Managing Director, Permutation Media Concept, Charles Imuzeze, in this interview speaks about the place of digital and specialisation in todayâ€™s marketing communications industry. Raheem Akingbolu provides the excerpts:

edia buying, advertising and public relations used to be in one basket until specialisation crept in. As a player in the media buying arm of the industry, what value has it added? Itâ€™s a two-way thing. At that time of unbundling, it was a blessing because if I donâ€™t want to use your creative agency, I can use media buying. After some time, you should have observed that everything seems to be going back to where it was. Everybody is going 360 degrees. So invariably, it appears nothing was professionally done that time. I think those that drove the idea had a good intention but our market interpreted how the intentions will be beneficial to the individual agencies. As a practitioner, who has traversed a few agencies over the years, how has the experience been? It has been a challenge and a blessing. Those in our business see the best side and the worst side. I would say it has made me a better person. I believe thereâ€™s so much you can do with a client with your integrity, and strength. And if you are not a â€˜show manâ€™, you can do much for a client with very little. Generally speaking, whatâ€™s your view about the growth of marketing communications industry in Nigeria? I think itâ€™s growing but I think the regulation is weak. Where there seems to be regulations, itâ€™s not done in such a way that will benefit those that are truly willing to be regulated. For instance, if I play and align with the laid down rules of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) or Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), are there benefits as a member agency that others donâ€™t get? Unfortunately, while we are growing, we are not being regulated. Thereâ€™s no barrier as anybody can enter the industry. The only thing is for you to get registered with APCON and start running campaign. No scrutiny! What do you think government can do to this, bearing in mind that for the past four years, President Muhammadu Buhari has not appointed Chairman for APCON? If we are regulated, we wonâ€™t be asking for a chairman. How do fake products enter the Nigerian market despite the regulatory bodies? The regulating bodies are there, but are they doing what they are supposed to do? I think the role of the government is to build a structure, make it effective and efficient. Then to move it forward, we will be thinking of the empowerment. No mater how powerful APCON is; itâ€™s not a police officer. There were days APCON tried to enforce regulations; visiting agencies and all. How long would you keep doing that? With the way things are going, very soon, agencies will run without an office. What are those things you want to do differently at Permutation Media Concept? We want to be a touch point connection agency. What I mean is that anything that brings the consumer and advertiser together is a touch point -that is our focus. Whether digital or mainstream, we want to pride our self as touch point. If the sky is the touch point, we want to make sure we are recognised for that. Thatâ€™s our drive. Agencies collapse because they want to start big and remain big. But what people are interested in is your ability to do the job and add value. We are not going to carry unnecessary overhead. I pride myself that thereâ€™s nothing I cannot do as far as

Imuzeze

media buying is concerned. So why bring in ten people for that? I have a five-year plan of where I want to be. And within six months, weâ€™ve achieved 80 per cent of that. Many believe the advent of digital media has weakened creativity, while some believe it has enhanced it. Whatâ€™s your position? Straight and clear, my position is that it has enhanced it. What about the criticism of copy and paste? Even in our creative agency, is there

The ďŹ rst way to approach this is to look at the foundation that has been laid. Until we start using professionals in key designated areas, those things will never change. Until those people holding strategic positions are professionals, we will ďŹ nd it tough to get it right. I say this because it is from them that things will permeate down, and people begin to take professionalism serious

anything that is not cut and paste? One thing is that if you cut and paste in digital world, in the next five minute, someone will tell you that youâ€™ve done plagiarism. Now, when your creativity is not strong enough, people will know. So digital is playing a supportive role to how good you are. It means you are to do more in order to be ahead. What advice can you give to government on the use of quacks in communication industry? The first way to approach this is to look at the foundation that has been laid. Until we start using professionals in key designated areas, those things will never change. Until those people holding strategic positions are professionals, we will find it tough to get it right. I say this because it is from them that things will permeate down, and people begin to take professionalism serious. Can you think of one major campaign you done that you are proud of? I think it is the Emirate Airline campaign, which was executed during my days at Verdant Zeal. Not that we created the campaign, but we recommended the platforms to use and it resonated with the target audience, and we got recommendation for it. Beyond that, there are campaigns we handled in the past and at times when I look at some things happening now, I say with pride that we were the first to do it. What was the message of the Emirate campaign you spoke about? It was just about holiday and movie was an upcoming platform. We felt that the way people come to watch movies, itâ€™s important they see something that connects to them. So we positioned it to movie places. Looking back, how did you ďŹ nd your way to Media buying industry? I finished at the University of Benin with

second class upper in computer science and later did my Master in Business Administration at the Lagos State University. I also acquired some training in Lagos business school in between my days at places where I worked. I started my media buying career with MediaCom and later joined People Media shop. From there I left for LTC JWT before joining Verdant Zeal where I worked for ten years during which we were able to make the media buying business profitable as it were. That led to the establishment of Great Measure Media Network which became the media buying agency of Verdant Zeal. At that time, we had technical relationship with Advent Media which did not materialise into full relationship. Sometime in December 2018, I decided to leave Verdant Zeal group to float my own agency; Permutation Media Concept Limited. Why was the attraction to marketing communications industry, given your background as a computer science graduate? Back then, it was more of how can you make computer science relevant in any industry you find yourself. That was the attraction of taking the job as media executive at Media Comm. That time I was dealing with numbers and felt I needed to do more in data analysis given my background in data and numeric. I discovered it paid off in the end. How has Permutation Media Concept fared? Communications Media Concept is six months old, and we are glad for the calibre of clients that we are working with. What we are doing is to make sure that the client feels we are adding value with the very little they give to us. Weâ€™ve had the privilege of working with top brands in the market. Beyond media buying, we are also into other services, like recommendation of idea tools or approach to clients if what they need is not advertising alone.

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BUSINESSWORLD

FCCPC Condemns Alleged Discosâ€™ Insensitivity

rNERC puts metering gap at 57% deficit Raheem Akingbolu The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, has told players in the electricity generation and distribution value chain that what Nigerian consumers need from them is value added services and not complaints. He also called on the top management of various Discos to look inwards and fish out saboteurs among technical staffers who extort consumers from time to time on issues related to poles and transformers. Irukera spoke in Lagos, at the Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Commission, in collaboration with the MAC Arthur Foundation on facilitating dialogue and proffering solutions to difficult consumer issues in the electricity sector. While educating consumers on the fact that issues related to electricity doesnâ€™t starts and ends with the distribution companies, Irukera said the onus is on the distribution companies to educate and address the problems facing electricity consumers. â€œThough the discos are the ones interfacing with us consumers but electricity supply doesnâ€™t start and end with them. It starts with power generation companies before it goes to transmission companies. After this, it goes to distribution companies, which is the last on the value chain. â€œBut as the gate keeper in the entire process, it is the responsibility of the Discos to address issues, feel consumers pulse as well as proffer solutions. Let me tell our Discos that as consumers, we are willing to understand what the problems are but not willing to excuse the problems,â€? he said. While admitting that sometimes Discos get lesser than what the consumers need from generation and transmission companies, the DG called for fair and equal distribution to consumers. He also described as abnormal the idea of disconnecting electricity of those that have paid because of some that are indebted. Speaking on maintenance, Irukera frowned at the idea of consumers buying equipment like transformer, poles and others, stating that it is nothing but rip-off for Discos officials to task members of the public to buy equipment. â€œThere must be responsibility and dignity that will enhance trust from consumers. There must be fairness and justice on the part of Disco officials. Besides, it is absurd for Discos to assume that they are doing consumers favour because it is the other way round. For instance, I donâ€™t see anything bad in bill estimation but it is bad if itâ€™s â€˜cracyâ€™ as consumers often say. â€œAlso, there is no justification for Discos to disconnect electricity of those that do not owe because of those that are indebted. It is also illegal for technical staff of Discos to mount pressure on community to buy transformer when they have it in their offices. This is one area

the management should look into very well,â€? he added. Also speaking at the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh, lamented over the low level of metering in the country, stressing that the present metering gap is 57 per cent deficit in the industry. He pointed out that the present metering gap in the industry is about 5,046,906 when compared to the total customer size of 8,840,801 representing 57 per cent deficit in metering. His revelation is coming barely a month after when NERC began mass metering on May 1 across the country. He, however, assured Nigerians that the present metering gap would be closed within the next three years with the effective implementation of the Disco meter roll out plan under the Meter Asset Providers, MAP scheme. He said: â€œThe commencement of the Meter Asset Providers scheme, developed in line with the MAP Regulation 2018 will go a long way to assuage the long pressing issue of metering in line with the regulatory requirement.â€? â€œThe distribution companies have also done extensive work on their customer enumeration to determine the actual metering gap as well as perform adequate â€œKnow Your Customerâ€? to reduce electricity theft and improve service delivery to their esteem customers.â€? The NERC boss further appealed to electricity consumers to be patience in dealing with the Discos on meter installation while assuring that the commission would not sit back and watch Nigerian electricity consumers continue to be exorbitantly charged or estimated for energy consumed or not consumed at all. â€œMetering is the responsibility of the service provider. And as such, no consumer should be charged for meter.â€? Prof. Momoh stressed. Reacting to the issues raised, the Managing Director, Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, Anthony Youdeowei, noted that he was glad that the town hall meeting was organised to address pertinent issues in the industry. Youdeowei, added that the company recognised the position of the commission in protecting customer right stressing that Ikeja Electric Distribution Company was ready to collaborate with the commission on how to serve the customers better. â€œWe have witnessed several hostilities from the customers and we have witnessed cases where we had to resolve such issues at the police station. You canâ€™t believe that most of the electricity consumers who are complaining about meter, when we go and install such meters; we also have challenges with them as customersâ€? he said. Among other issues, participants at the forum asked questions on estimated or crazy billing, load shielding, inappropriate disconnection and consumers hostility to Ikeja Electric Staff.

NEWS

Expert Highlights Rights of Nigerian Workers, Retirees in CPS Ebere Nwoji The Director, Centre for Pension Right Advocacy, Ivor Takor, has called for the implementation and recognition of various rights accorded to Nigerian workers and retirees in the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) Takor, one of the lawyers that contributed in the drafting of the Pension Reform Act (PRA), that gave birth to the CPS, stated this in a paper he delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the Centre in Lagos. He noted that most workers and pensioners were ignorant of their rights in the scheme. â€œEach of these rights, carry regimes of sanctions ranging from letters of advice, caution, warning, monetary sanctions, naming and shaming and litigation for violations and non-compliance by either the employer or the Pension Fund Administrator since the rights are derived from a duty imposed on them by provisions in the Act,â€? he explained. Outlining these rights Takor recalled that on July 1, 2014 the Pension Reform Act 2014 or â€œthe Actâ€? was enacted into law. According to him, the first right, is the right to pension.

Quoting Section 3 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, Takor said this established CPS for all employees of Public Services of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory, states, local government and the private sector. He enumerated the rights of the Nigerian workers in the Act, saying â€œthe worker also has a right to the employerâ€™s contribution towards his/her pension. â€œSection 4(1) of the Act provides that the rate of contribution to the Scheme shall be a minimum of ten percent of monthly total emolument of the employee by the employer, while the employee shall contribute a minimum of eight per cent. â€œThe next right is the right to life insurance. Section 4(5) provides that in addition to the rates of contributions, every employer shall maintain a Group Life Insurance Policy in Favour of each employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee and that premium shall be paid not later than the date of commencement of the cover. â€œFor the enforcement of this right, the Act in Section

4(6) provides that where the employer failed, refused or omitted to make payment as and when due, the employer shall make arrangement to effect the payment of claims arising from the death of any staff in its employment during such period.â€? He identified the next right of workers as right to determine how to access retirement benefits under the Act. He noted that Section 7(1) provides that a holder of a retirement savings account shall, upon retirement or attaining the age of 50 years, whichever is later, utilise the amount credited to his retirement savings account for the following benefits: withdraw a lump sum from the total amount credited to his retirement savings account provided that the amount left after the lump sum withdrawals shall be sufficient to procure a programmed monthly or quarterly withdrawals calculated on the basis of an expected life span or annuity for life purchased from a Life Insurance Company licensed by the National Insurance Commission with monthly or quarterly payment. The decision to access benefits either through programmed

withdrawal or annuity is the sole right of the employee. He said another right of Nigerian workers is the right to contributions to the Scheme forming part of tax deductible expenses in computation of tax payment as well as retirement benefits being exempted from taxation. He quoted section 10 of the Act, adding that it provides that notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, contributions to the Scheme under the Act shall form part of tax deductible expenses in the computation of tax payable by an employer and employee under the relevant Income Tax Law. According to him, all interests, dividends, profits, investment and other income accruable to pension funds and assets under the Act, as well as any amount payable as a retirement benefit under this Act shall not be taxable. â€œThe other right, is the right to choose a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). Section 11(2) provides that an employee to whom the Act applies shall notify his employer of the Pension Fund Administrator chosen by him. â€œThis means that the worker, has the sole right to choose a PFA, with no interference by the employer.â€?

THIS IS OUR SCORECARD

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Adefisayo Awogbade; Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi; Vice President, Gladys Simplce, and President, Dr. Cyril Ikemefuno Ede, at the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in Lagosâ€Śrecently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

Hollandia to Address Malnutrition with New Offering In its efforts to reduce the menace of child hunger and malnutrition, Hollandia, a brand from the stables of CHI Limited, recently launched the Hollandia No Kid Hungry initiative. As part of activities marking the launch, the company visited and donated dairy products to more than 500 children at the Bogije Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State. CHI Ltd Managing Director, Deepanjan Roy, represented by the Head of Administration, Ebere Osunkwo, said: â€œAs a socially responsible company, we are naturally passionate about child nutrition. And in

cognisance of the unsatisfactory situation with child nutrition globally and nationally, we initiated the Hollandia No Kid Hungry Foundation as a vehicle for contributing, in our own way, to slow down the spiralling number of cases of hunger and malnutrition among children.â€? He said the Bogije IDPs camp visit marked a notable milestone in the Hollandia No Kid Hungry Foundationâ€™s drive towards alleviating child hunger and malnutrition. â€œMany children have found themselves in certain adverse conditions due to no fault of theirs. When you think of these children in the IDPs camps, you can imagine how

many go to bed hungry every night. Even when they get to eat, how nutritious is the food they consume? So, we thought to ourselves, what better way to identify with them than on their day. This is why we chose to put smiles on their faces,â€? he said. In his response, on behalf of the community, Tajudeen Oniwolu, the Baale of the Bogije Oniwolu Estate, said: â€œI am very grateful to the management of CHI Ltd for this special visit and the donation of their products to the children today. It is obvious for all to see that the children are very happy and as the Baale of this community, this really gladdens my heart. I call on

other companies to emulate this kind gesture. I also beckon on CHI Ltd to continue with this very laudable initiative.â€? Project Coordinator, Web of Hearts Foundation, Mrs. Regina Ayomanor, said: â€œAs seen on the faces of the children, we are indeed happy and grateful to Hollandia for this act of kindness to the IDPs children in this community. It is true children ought to live up to their dreams, but some of these children have no food, not to talk of a future. We say a big thank you to Hollandia No Kid Hungry Foundation for the huge impact they have made today and look forward to more partnerships with them in the future.â€?

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Now That FMBN Has Challenged Itself Auwal Muhammed

he housing deficit in Nigeria is estimated at between 17 to 20 million housing units, and to meet the shortfall, the country will require a minimum of an additional two million housing units per annum for 10 years. That would require an estimated potential cost of about N6 trillion The challenge for successive governments in the country has been how to bridge this huge gap in housing. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) which was established to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians had not lived up to expectations until recently, after Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, an architect, became it managing director. Dangiwa brought with him professional integrity and a sense of commitment which have turned the FMBN into a more proactive mortgage institution. The Dangiwa-led management has reformed the operations of the bank and created a list of innovative housing products tailored to tackle the housing affordability challenge for Nigerians, especially contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF). Former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing in the 8th Senate, Barnabas Gemade, had publicly commended the foresight of the management of the bank under Dangiwa. He told journalists after an oversight visit to the bank late last year that in the two years his committee worked with the bank, they had been impressed by â€œa strong sense of direction and accountability by the managementâ€? of the bank. It was a testimonial for the focus, professionalism and commitment of the management to the core mandates of the bank. The main goal of the FMBN under Dangiwa has been to advance homeownership among every Nigerian by creating innovative mortgage products and markets with a sustainable financing system. This is why the bank made amendments to the FMBN Act a priority. After 12 years of failed attempts at institutional restructuring, the Dangiwa-led managementâ€™ deepened engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure critical reforms come through. This proactive engagement has resulted in the successful passage of key amendments to the laws establishing the FMBN and the National Housing Fund (NHF) by both chambers of the National Assembly. The amended laws, when assented to by the President, would birth a new, more

Dangiwa

independent and financially stronger FMBN with a robust capital base of N500 billion. The additional liquidity and operational flexibility will greatly enhance FMBNâ€™s capacity to more effectively deliver on its mandate to provide access to affordable mortgage finance for home ownership by Nigerian workers. Since he was appointed Managing Director of the FMBN, Dangiwa has focused on expanding the capital base of the bank so it could help to fast-track the bridging of the housing deficit said to exist in the country. The current capital base of the bank is a miserable N5 billion described by Dangiwa himself as â€œgrossly inadequateâ€?. The bank under Dangiwa has also strengthened its collaboration with key stakeholders, especially the labour unions, whose members constitute the bulk of contributors to the National Housing Fund Scheme. This has culminated in the commencement of a need-targeted housing delivery program across the country â€“ the National Affordable Housing Delivery Programme (NAHDEP) for Nigerian workers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Employersâ€™ Consultative Association (NECA). The program has a unique in the way its implementation was conceptualized. The housing designs and bill of quantities are commissioned directly by the bank to ensure the profit motive is greatly minimized. This template would ensure that the selling prices

for the housing units are affordable and range between N3.1million and N8.3million for one, two- and three-bedroom flats. Construction work has commenced in five states, spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country. Others are said to be in the pipeline as all states would be covered. But more importantly, as Dangiwa himself stated during the bankâ€™s 2018 management retreat in Kano, part of the central focus is to establish a template for affordable housing delivery in Nigeria. Other innovative housing products tailored to tackle the housing affordability challenge for contributors to the NHF include the rent-to-own scheme, where contributors can own a home and pay by monthly or yearly rents over a 30-year period, and the NHF Individual Housing Construction loans that are payable over a 15-year period at interest rates of seven per cent. One of his achievements also include the reduction of equity contribution requirements for accessing NHF loans from ten to zero per cent for sums of up to N5million and 20, 30 per cent to ten per cent for loans of up to N15million. All of these have no doubt made housing loan more accessible to contributors to the NHF. Since he came on board, the FMBN has disbursed housing loans totaling N40.9 billion to 1,843 NHF contributors. The bank has also provided home renovation loans totaling N14.072billion to 16,031

Nigerian workers, and processed N12.4billion refunds to contributors and registered 224,752 to the fund. One of the major challenges of the FMBN over the years, like most lending institutions, has been loan repayments. Many institutions are struggling with bad debt which, if not tamed, can make a bank collapse. This is why debt collection as a way of mitigating risks is critical for any lending institution. But the management of the FMBN, through the services of recovery agents, was able to recover debts totaling N5.4 billion within two years. The loans â€“ N2.4billion and N3billion were recovered in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Also, while some debtorsâ€™ loans were restructured, recalcitrant ones have been reported to the security agencies for necessary action. But the management of the FMBN is not resting on its oars. It is constantly challenging itself and it has set out to ensure its operations are fully automated as soon as possible. Dangiwa recently stated that this is part of the ongoing efforts to fully automate its business operations to improve efficiency and timeliness in the delivery of its services to Nigerian workers. This strategic policy is aimed at achieving end-to-end automation of all its operations ranging from NHF collection, loan processing, issuance of statement of accounts, NHF refunds amongst others. But while the FMBN has no doubt performed creditably in recent times, especially under the current management, there is still some mileage to be covered considering the mandate it has. The mandate of the FMBN include provision of long-term credit services to mortgage banks in Nigeria and other mortgage institutions at rates that will allow the mortgage banks and institution grant loans to individuals who want to acquire their own houses, and encourage and promote the establishment and development of mortgage institutions at federal, state, local, and even rural levels. As the monitor and regulator of the activities of mortgage institutions in Nigeria, it has a lot to do ensure these institutions are well regulated and encouraged to meet the housing needs of Nigerians who are not in public service. Now that the FMBN has challenged itself, it is the time for all stakeholders, including the Federal Government to support the FMBN in its effort to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians. -Muhammed writes from Jalingo

Air Peaceâ€™s Soaring Growth Ugonna Orji

hat is surprising many Nigerians is how Air Peace grew within a space of five years to become Nigeriaâ€™s largest carrier with over 25 aircraft in its fleet and set international operations. The airline, which started operation in 2014 with seven aircraft has not only increased its fleet but has also made firm order for Boeing and Embraer latest jets in accordance with its strategic growth plan, this investment complements the economic development efforts of the government. Air Peace records a total of 90 flights a day and it is the airline that has the most connections to domestic destinations. Two years after the airline started operations, it increased its fleet from seven to 13 and recently acquired six short-haul aircraft; Embraer ERJ 145 and four Boeing B777 for long haul destinations. Today Air Peace has over 3,000 direct employees and has created over 6,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians. The chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said he was motivated to establish an airline because he wanted to create jobs and help in national development. â€œI went into aviation to create jobs. I love touching lives,â€? Onyema said. The airline has provided jobs to Nigerians from different parts of the country as pilots, engineers, members of cabin crew,

Onyema

ground staff, administrative personnel and many others As the airline expands its operations, it continues to create jobs and as it adds another aircraft in its fleet, it creates more jobs. The airline maintains a robust financial status and has over time, built integrity in international aviation circles because it always pays its bills whether to suppliers, insurers, aircraft maintenance companies

and others. The airline in April this year set a continental record with a firm order for 10 brand new Embraer 195-E2 aircraft. This made Air Peace the first to order the brand of jets in the whole of Africa, thereby becoming the official launch customer of the brand of aircraft in the continent. In order to ensure that the airline operates well-maintained aircraft, Air Peace engaged a maintenance company

in the UK, BCT Aviation, which has been maintaining the aircraft in the airlineâ€™s fleet. â€œAnother thing I did was to outsource my maintenance to a British company so that I can assure the safety of my fleet. It is very expensive, it comes at a very high cost but I needed to do it. Another thing I decided to do was ensure our pilots must be very top notch; they must not be just any pilot. We must pay well to get the best, so that was what we did,â€? Onyema said. So the airlineâ€™s fleet is well maintained that it has gained the confidence of air travelers who patronise it because of its efficient service. Within this short period, the airline has grown in the number of fleets. As the airline has built integrity, banks are willing to partner with it and this has helped in the acquisition of a new fleet. â€œThe banks are there to support us. We want to reduce the cost of Nigerians flying abroad; Air Peace will give them what those legacy airlines are giving them and even better service at a very, very affordable cost. This is because Nigerians have been shortchanged for years now. Nigerians should look forward to Air Peace starting international operations. But we need government to support us. I am not asking government to give us money, we need government to make it easy for us to get to where we want to be,â€? Onyema said. Airpeace deserves much kudos.

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Minimum Wage and Matters Arising Despite having signed the new minimum wage into law since April, neither the federal or state governments have implemented it, as they continue to bicker, writes Solomon Elusoji

ast April, President Muhammadu Buhari signed a new national minimum wage into law. Even though there was jubilation among labour unions and across the country, but there were also valid fears that governments, especially those at the state level, would not (or be unable to) comply with the new baseline of N30,000. However, on May 1, Workers Day, President Buhari said his administration placed high priority on the nationâ€™s workers and their welfare. â€œOn assumption of office in 2015, in spite of the daunting economic challenges, which confronted us at the time, we ensured that no worker was retrenched across the country,â€? he said. On more, in his recent June 12 speech, the President reinforced his â€˜socialistâ€™ stand when he thanked â€œthe labour unions . . for their support and cooperation with our government these last four yearsâ€? and promised not to focus on helping â€œthe privileged few but to ensure that Nigeria works for Nigerians of all persuasions.â€? But responding to the sincerity (not ability) of government to implement the law earlier this month, President-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bobboi Kaigama, put his faith in the values of this current administration. â€œWe donâ€™t believe government can scam the workers because I believe in the welfarism of everybody and I donâ€™tâ€? believe â€œPresident Muhammadu Buhariâ€™s administrationâ€? will â€œscamâ€? workers, Kaigama said. Meanwhile, several state governments have also signified their willingness to comply with the law. â€œWe are very eager to pay the N30,000 new minimum wage to alleviate the plight of workers,â€? Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson, said, speaking for a coalition of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors earlier this month. Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, has appointed a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee Chairman. Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to tackle the issue and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Cross River state is already boasting that the state Governor will likely be the first to honour the new N30,000 minimum pay, based on the Governorâ€™s â€œbody languageâ€?. However, a coterie of southwest states have signified they will be unable to pay if the payments they receive from the

the government (at the federal or state level) will be unable to pay. The corrupt looting of funds and blatant disregard for the average Nigerian worker are the reasons often cited by labour unions for governmentâ€™s inability to pay salaries. In 2015, labour union leaders even advocated capital punishment for corrupt officials. â€œNon-payment of salary . . . is due to the massive corruption in the country,â€? Kaigama, the TUC chief, had said at the time. An economist and former consultant to the World Bank, Dr. Samson Olalere, recently acknowledged this state of affairs, while advising states on how to meet the demands of the new minimum wage. â€œWhat is required of the governors is to cut down the cost of governance, by blocking leakages and minimising wastes,â€? he said. â€œFor instance, why will the vehicles on governorsâ€™ convoys be between 15 and 20? Why should they have bloated political appointments? Why should idle hands be kept in government service? You see six to 10 personnel employed to do the job one or two people can efficiently handle. â€œAll these are areas of wastage that should be blocked. The government must encourage partnership with private sector for development of infrastructures and encourage self-employment through the development of its human capacity.â€?

Buhari

government and their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) does not increase. Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, also, has said that his administration will only implement the N30,000 minimum wage after it has cleared salaries and pensions backlog. â€œThe problems are a lot,â€? he said recently, â€œWe canâ€™t resolve them in one, two, three, four months, but we need to start resolving them.â€? But even he also observed: â€œthe intention is to pay.â€? Can Government Actually Pay? There is little or no evidence that governments across the country are unwilling to pay the minimum wage. The real question is: can they? Nigeria, both at the federal and state level, receives the bulk of its budgetary revenues from the oil sector. (some sources put it at 80 per cent). The money goes into the federal governmentâ€™s account, which then disburses funds, through the Federation Accounts

Allocation Committee (FAAC), to the three tiers of government every month. Last year, several state governors were unable to pay salaries, citing lower FAAC receipts and inadequate IGR. So, it follows that the global price of oil will continue to play a huge part in whether government will be able to meet its new minimum wage obligations. Last week, THISDAY reported that the â€œfundamentals of the 2019 budgetâ€? were â€œunder threat as crude oil price slumpedâ€? to flatten at $60 per barrel, the same benchmark on which the countryâ€™s 2019 budget is predicated. But oil prices have a perennial reputation for being unstable; hours after the report, the prices rose by two per cent after attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. Still, regardless of the price of crude oil, labour unions will continue to aggressively demand the implementation of the new N30,000 minimum wage because they believe revenue management, rather than increase, is the only reason why

The present state Despite having signed the new minimum wage into law since April, neither the federal or state governments have implemented it, as they continue to bicker with stakeholders. A negotiation committee, inaugurated on May 14, has rejected the federal governmentâ€™s implementation offer. â€œWhat is happening now is that the government is dilly-dallying over the â€˜tableâ€™ that will be used to implement,â€? General Secretary of the United Labour Congress, Didi Adodo, told THISDAY. â€œThey are unnecessarily wasting time. The â€˜tableâ€™ that was recently done was not favourable to anybody. So we rejected it. The truth is that no administration will implement anything for the workers without a fight; so they want another fight. â€œWhen we come out of Geneva, (the International Labour Conference is currently ongoing in Switzerland) we will convene and fight this thing once and for all.â€?

Foundation Organises Empowerment Programme

JR Farms Partners ZANACA on Cassava Production in Zambia

Ugo Aliogo

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Jandor Foundation has organised an empowerment programme for artisans and traders in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State. Speaking at the presentation of empowerment aid and tools to beneficiaries in Lagos, the founder, Janor Foundation, Mr. Azeez Adediran, said the event was a continuation of what was done in Alimosho Local Government Area. He also noted that the event was to also extend kindness to traders and Artisans, and people who need the support of the foundation in their daily life. â€œWhat we are doing

in Ikorodu today is a continuation of what we did in Alimosho LGA. The people we are empowering today cut across several trades such as tailoring association, mechanics, traders, and vulcanizers. We know that government cannot do everything, but we did the little we can to support what government is doing,â€? he noted. Adediran, explained that the foundation remains committed to support the less privilege in the society, adding that â€œfor you to give, you must have received some sort of blessings in life. When you receive some kind of blessing, there is need to give. I got from supporting people. I fund the foun-

dation through proceeds from my business. There is no support from any organisation therefore I am not under any pressure.â€? Speaking further, he remarked that the foundation has yearly programmes such as scholarship schemes which he noted is everyone. Adediran added: â€œThere is also empowerment that we organise from time to time; we also have support for a person who wants to attend pilgrimage. For the scholarship scheme, we have 40 indigene students we are paying their school fees in different institutions across the country and this is the second year of that we intend to do that through their University programme.â€?

Nigerian firm, JR Farms has entered into partnership with Zambia National Cassava Association (ZANACA) on commercial cassava cultivation in Zambia. The project targets food security in Zambia and Southern African region. It will also reduce post-harvest loss in the cassava value chain and empower local farmers/ women in Zambia. The agreement was signed recently in Lusaka by the CEO of JR Farms Limited, Rotimi Olawale and the Chairman of ZANACA, Mr Brighton Mulonga. Zambia has triggered interest in the consumption and production of â€œGarriâ€? one of Nigeriaâ€™s major staple foods

and has introduced it into its school feeding project. Garri is derived from processed cassava, which is grown in almost all parts of Nigeria and in some West African countries. Besides producing garri in commercial quantity, the partnership will explore other opportunities in the cassava value chain which may include High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), starch, ethanol among others. Olawale, expressed excitement about the partnership and opportunity to work in the cassava value chain in Zambia. He also stressed that ZANACA has agreed to participate with JR Farms in providing farmers with tailored training, coaching, access to inputs and aggrega-

tion among others. The Nigerian firm, which is also into coffee processing in Rwanda, exports the product to eight countries. ZANACA is obliged to monitor the farmers to ensure adherence to prescribed processing requirements and standards. It would also create the avenues for JR farms to promote the garri produced in Zambia. ZANACA has contacts with about 3,000 small holder cassava farmers in their respective cooperatives and sites. It would provide land equity where the cassava project will be sited. It would also facilitate easy approval of food production and other certifications in Zambia.

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Asafa: Nigeriaâ€™s Leather Industry Has Untapped Potential Oba Couture is a Nigerian luxury brand founded in 2011. In this interview, the Chief Executive Officer, Olubukola Asafa, speaks about the potential of Nigeriaâ€™s leather industry and her business. Ugo Aliogo brings the excerpts:

hat is the Oba Couture all about? Oba Couture is a Nigerian luxury brand founded in 2011, we manufacture luxury leather goods such as handbags, footwear, belts, other leather goods and just recently ready to wear clothing. OBA prides itself in its fine craftsmanship by creating beautiful, unique, and long lasting pieces.

In terms of consumption, why is there higher preference for foreign made shoes, bags and other leathers products instead for locally made ones? There is a higher preference for foreign made goods than local ones because they are sometimes cheaper than the locally made ones. Secondly because many of our products are handmade we are not able to produce in large quantities unlike the foreign brands that do mass productions. Lastly, because they are handmade they may not be as nicely finished as the foreign ones which use more manpower, sophisticated finishing tools and machines that we do not have.

I understand that you are engaged in production of leather bags, shoes, and sandals. What inspired you to go into the leather business? I used to make linen tops to sell not too long after I graduated from University, but after my NYSC I went into paid employment and then studied for an MBA. After I finished my MBA I knew that I no longer wanted to go back to a 9am to 5pm job. At that time, I used to sell ready-made shoes and bags, but I wanted to do something more unique, and God gave me the answer, â€˜manufacturing the shoes and bagsâ€™. I started my research as to how I can start manufacturing handbags and footwear that can compete globally, with a passion for bringing made in Nigeria back. I travelled to Italy and London for a course in shoe making and handbag making respectively.

Can you tell me about your workforce and how they have helped you achieve success in the business? I am blessed with a very hardworking, dependable and committed workforce who has job satisfaction which leads to improved performance and reduced turnover. They are valued and are important to the organisation. What are the potential for growth for the leather industry in the Nigeria? The leather industry in Nigeria is the second major earner of foreign exchange after oil. It contributes about 25 per cent of the total agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry generates about $600 million to $800 million through exports annually. There is a huge potential for growth of the industry if the proper measures are put in place by the government. Also, recently, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), in its recent report projects that the Nigerian leather industry can generate over $1 billion by 2025.

In the area of raw materials sourcing, how you do source your leather materials? I source my leather materials from Kano, and I also source them from Mushin here in Lagos. Regarding the issues of loans and grants, how much have they played in expanding your business? When I just started my firm in 2011, I won a grant from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. it was called the YouWin grant where I won a sum of N8.2 million. That was very instrumental in the growth of my business. Unfortunately, I have not accessed any loans since then. In terms of sales, where is the market for the sale of your shoes, bags, and sandals and have you been

Asafa

able to scale? The market for my products has mostly been online many of our customers have found us online via social media and also from word of mouth. We have been able to scale, as we have been able to expand our product line to clothing and we are still pushing harder to achieve more

What have you done to make your products stand out in the midst of competing brands? To make our products stand out we take quality very seriously, we only use the best raw materials, hardware and leathers in all our production.

How can government make leather production attractive for investment? The leather industry has massive potential for providing more employment, growth and to grow exports. The government should aim to double productivity of the leather industry in next 10 years, by launching a developmental plan for the leather sector.

Wâ€™Bank Projects Weaker Global Growth in 2019

Inequality in Access to Safe Water Worry UNICEF, WHO

Ugo Aliogo with agency report

Global economic growth is forecast to ease to a weakerthan-expected 2.6 per cent in 2019 before inching up to 2.7 per cent in 2020. According to a statement on the World Bank website, growth in emerging market and developing economies was expected to stabilise next year as some countries move past periods of financial strain, but economic momentum remains weak. The statement also stated that emerging and developing economy growth was constrained by sluggish investment, and risks are tilted to the downside. It further explained that the risks include rising trade barriers, renewed financial stress, and sharper-than-expected slowdowns in several major economies.

The World Bank Group President, David Malpass, said: â€œStronger economic growth is essential to reducing poverty and improving living standards. Current economic momentum remains weak, while heightened debt levels and subdued investment growth in developing economies are holding countries back from achieving their potential. â€œItâ€™s urgent that countries make significant structural reforms that improve the business climate and attract investment. They also need to make debt management and transparency a high priority so that new debt adds to growth and investment.â€? The Bank added: â€œGrowth among advanced economies as a group is anticipated to slow in 2019, especially in the Euro Area, due to weaker exports and investment. US

growth is forecast to ease to 2.5 per cent this year and decelerate to 1.7 per cent in 2020. â€œEuro Area growth is projected to hover around 1.4 per cent in 2020-21, with softness in trade and domestic demand weighing on activity despite continued support from monetary policy. â€œGrowth among emerging market and developing economies is projected to fall to a four-year low of four per cent in 2019 before recovering to 4.6 per cent in 2020. A number of economies are coping with the impact of financial stress and political uncertainty. â€œThose drags are anticipated to wane and global trade growth â€“ which is projected to be the weakest in 2019 since the financial crisis a decade ago -- is expected to recover somewhat.â€?

A new report on inequalities in access to water, sanitation and hygiene by released by United Nation Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that more than half of the world donâ€™t have access to safe sanitation services. According to a statement on the WHO website, the billions of people in the world are continuing to suffer from poor access to water, sanitation and hygiene. The report also noted that some 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services, â€œ4.2 billion people do not have safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion lack basic handwashing facilities.â€? The report known as the

Joint Monitoring Programme report, â€œProgress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2000-2017: Special focus on inequalities,â€? revealed that while significant progress had been made toward achieving universal access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene, there are huge gaps in the quality of services provided. The Associate Director of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEF, Kelly Ann Naylor, said mere access is not enough, adding that if the water isnâ€™t clean, safe to drink or is far away, â€œand if toilet access is unsafe or limited, then weâ€™re not delivering for the worldâ€™s children.â€? He also explained that children and their families in poor and rural communities are most at risk of being left behind, while calling on governments must invest in

their communities, â€œif we are going to bridge these economic and geographic divides and deliver this essential human right.â€? The report further remarked that 1.8 billion people have gained access to basic drinking water services since 2000, adding that there are vast inequalities in the accessibility, availability and quality of these services. â€œIt is estimated that 1 in 10 people (785 million) still lack basic services, including the 144 million who drink untreated surface water. The data shows that 8 in 10 people living in rural areas lacked access to these services and in one in four countries with estimates for different wealth groups, coverage of basic services among the richest was at least twice as high as among the poorest,â€? he noted.

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Saved by a Stranger Martins Iﬁjeh chronicles the life of Irene Olumese, an ex UN envoy, who battled lung disease for years until it was almost ‘time’. But for providence and sheer luck, a stranger donated his only lungs to save her life. She is now championing causes to save other Nigerians, especially those without arms or legs

f astronauts were to describe Irene Olumese during her hey days as a youth, they would call her the sun. She was like the solar system’s star, the one that radiates densities high enough to sustain nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. She was the orbit other planets revolved around. In 1986, she was a 19-year-old second year student and one of the brightest in the University of Ibadan. All she dreamt of was to remain that sun; the one everyone orbits around. But life happened. It served her lemons, and all the fairytales started to fall apart. Life had served her a chronic respiratory disease and she started finding it difficult to breathe once in a while. By the time she was done with her first degree and was doing her compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Bida, Niger State, her health deteriorated until she moved out of Bida and finished her service at the Federal Ministry of Health office in Lagos as the challenge was having a toll on her health. “That was how I managed through the service year and by early 1990, a test was done on me where I realised there were cysts in my lungs. At this point I had started coughing continuously. It was a terrifying stage of my life. I was told what I had was beyond asthma and it was serious,” said Olumese while sharing her story with THISDAY recently. But despite the emerging chronic health condition and the damage it was causing to her respiratory organ, Olumese’s beauty didn’t deem. Her anatomical body and physic found grace. She was every man’s dream wife. She didn’t only stand out as the sun, or the star of the solar system. She was also a Deneb. The Deneb is the brightest star in Cygnus and the 19th brightest star in the night sky. Astronauts say it is 100,000 times brighter than the sun. Deneb is for fact the sun’s star. She was the Deneb her then fiancé, Peter Olumese saw and couldn’t let go. By 1992, she got married to him and continued to forge on with life. The ambitious Olumese didn’t allow the health challenge deter her from fulfilling her life’s dreams. She made lemonades from the lemons life served her. In the heat of managing the lung disease, she acquired a masters and doctorate degrees in nutrition science, had her two lovely sons, Osemudimen and Ehimenmen, proceeded to work with the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, and then worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as a nutrition specialist, where she soon became a key face for the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria. But after suffering this health challenges for over 20 years, amidst the marital and career progresses she had against the tide, it was almost ‘time’ for the lungs to finally fail. She began to lose manpower, strength, and the fear of losing her own life began to set in. “Doctors told me my lungs were increasingly failing and that the only way I would live past this would be to have them replaced by another person’s own. It was a terrifying moment for me and the family. “As typical with lung replacement, once a donor gives his or her lungs out, such a person would not live beyond that point. We knew this would be a hard nut to crack, but I of course didn’t have a choice. I hoped on God that we would find someone willing to donate to cure my health challenge,” Olumese said. The three and a half years wait for a willing and compactible donor was the longest wait of her life. She was seeing life almost ebb out on her. Each passing day was a living hell for the Olumeses. She sought for donors across the globe. Afterall, Nigeria is not an organ donor country, as the society and culture frowns at it. So, she knew she was moving against the tide. But her desire to live soon paid off as her doctor eventually found a willing and compactible donor. It is one thing to find a donor, it is another thing to ensure the lung is compactible with the

Olumese

patient’s body. “After my doctor reached me with the good news, I immediately moved to Geneva in Switzerland where the donor was found and the transplant was done,” she said. While the transplant marked a major victory in her quest to stay alive, it also signaled the beginning of fresh problems as Sbs stayed in coma for more than four weeks. And by then there was issue of whether the transplanted organ was 100 per cent compactible with her body. It obviously wasn’t, as some part of her antibodies recognised it as a foreign body, and soon reacted. By the time she was out of bed for the over four weeks post-surgery, there was no more sensation to her legs and arms. That again brewed another trouble; whether to amputate both limbs and arms or watch her live with the complications until she is no longer able to carry it. “As a result of that, I was in a coma for four weeks. By the time I finally came out of it, I was told that things had really gone bad. There wasn’t enough blood circulation to my hands and legs, and as a result, they would have to amputate my limbs. I mean, after over 20 years of living with this problem to now be told that you have new lungs but have to lose both hands and legs, was quite tough for me. “Miraculously, my hands recovered, I learnt to write again with my hand but my legs did not recover, they had to be amputated.” Despite losing her lower limbs following the fitting of new lungs in her body, Olumese remained in a critical condition. For the next 119 days that followed that surgery, she remained confined to the hospital bed, not knowing if she would survive or eventually be consumed by the health crisis. Emotionally and psychologically, her ‘boys’ – Peter, Ose and Ehi - were broken. It was the worst experience they ever could have wished for. “Apart from spending 119 days in the hospital after the lung transplant, for the seven years that followed, I was constantly on oxygen. I had to remain in Switzerland because there was no way I could be on oxygen for that long in Nigeria and still be alive.

“There were several times during that period when I saw death and thought that it was going to happen. My situation was so bad that I could not leave my bedroom. I was on oxygen 24 hours of the day. For the last three years, I had to be on ventilator for my lungs to breathe. “My husband had to keep working because my medical bills had to be paid, including the children’s school fees. His work involved a lot of travelling, so the children had to step up to take care of themselves and me. “But after we did that for a couple of years and saw that it was going to affect their education because they couldn’t concentrate, we had to allow other friends to help us with some house work. That was how we managed during that period. “Sadly, the situation literally wiped us out financially. It took a heavy toll on us and wiped out our savings. It was a challenging period, especially because we were in Europe where there were so many bills to pay, including medical. We were practically left with nothing by the time God brought me out of that very critical condition,” she said. By the time Olumese was finally out of it, she had spent at least $30, 000 to procure prosthetics with which she now walks. To her, she has every reason to be grateful for new limbs. She is on her feet because of grace, a statement she repeatedly made. She walked against the tide and is now back on her feet, which influenced her to establish ‘Feet of Grace Foundation’ with which other persons with prosthetic problems are now getting prosthetics so they can walk again and lead normal lives. Olumese, who is the author of a bestseller, Grace In The Storms’ – a chronicle of her ordeal, has now dedicated her life to giving back to the society, especially in giving hope to amputees. She said the rest of her life will now be dedicated to this cause. Through her foundation, Feet of Grace, the 52-year-old who has been able to provide artificial limbs to 34 Nigerians in the five years of championing this cause, added that it is a way of appreciating her maker. She said: “It was in the process of trying to regain my life, a process that took almost a year,

that the idea of setting up a foundation came to me. It is a foundation that would benefit all the people who have lost their limbs and are unable to procure prosthetic limbs. “Mine cost almost $30,000; not everybody in this situation can afford it. So, I felt we could do something to support people. We have been able to provide prosthesis for 34 amputees in Nigeria in the five years that we have run the foundation. But we still need money to be able to provide for others waiting in line. “Seeing smiles on the faces of those that have benefitted from our intervention gives me new life. It makes every day of the 20 years of pain I experienced worth it. Those 20 years, 119 days in hospital, four weeks in a coma, have taught me never to give up about anything in life. I can never forget that period,” she added. “Our environment is not disability friendly,” she noted. “Many of us can’t go into buildings. We can’t go to toilets because almost everywhere is not disability friendly. It’s difficult for persons living with disabilities to move around. Government must act fast. “There is a significant number of disabled persons who can be productive in this country if the environment is sensitive to their situations. They can add value to this country if things are put in place. All that persons living with disabilities are asking for is support, we don’t need pity,” she added quickly. Asked how she feels today living with the lungs of a total stranger, Olumese said: “Sometimes, I feel like I am harbouring someone else inside my body but because I have become used to it now, I quickly get over that thought. For the fact that I chose to live, fought to live, God gave me the grace to witness His goodness in the land of the living. “My life is indeed proof that there is no situation He cannot change for good,” she said. The beautiful fighter has been the sun among her peers and a Deneb to her family even before her ill health. Beyond that, she is more than just a stratum of the planet to the 34 beneficiaries of her free prosthetics. She is the universe to them. God willing, she will mean the world to other amputees still praying for prosthetics.

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

NEWS

‘Regular Blood Donation Improves Body Fitness, Lowers Calories’ Martins Iﬁjeh The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) has stated that regular blood donation improves body fitness, lowers calories and helps in the production and maintenance of the required level of iron in the human body. Speaking during the commemoration of World Blood Donor Day in Abuja recently, and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria, the Blood

Safety Programme Manager, IHVN, Mr Abdullahi Abubakar said donating one pint of blood could remove 650 calories from the donor’s body. Presenting on the theme of this year’s commemoration, ‘Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Donation: Safe Blood for All’ Abubakar said donating blood could put a smile on the faces of blood receivers. He said: “Blood donation can help patients suffering

from life-threatening health conditions live longer with a higher quality of life. “Blood donation has an essential life-saving role in maternal and child care, and during emergency response to man-made and natural disasters. “Blood donation could also enhance the production of new blood cells. When blood is withdrawn, the donor’s body immediately begins to replenish the lost blood within 24 hours

of donation. “All of the red blood cells the donor loses during donation are completely replaced within one month to two months,” he said. He explained that the best way to ensure safe blood supply was through regular donation by voluntary and unpaid blood donors. Sharing her thoughts, the representative of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Abuja, Mrs Oluyemi Ehigie

said it was important to donate blood voluntarily, saying blood in storage is often in short supply. Ehigie, who called on Nigerians to routinely donate blood to save lives, said only about four people out of 1000 in low-income countries donate blood. An official of IHVN, Christopher Erhabo, while explaining that it is unpainful donating blood, noted that he has been donating blood for three years

now and that he doesn’t regret the decision. A physician, Dr Tongdiyen Jasper called on Nigerians to use the opportunity to donate blood as no one knew whose life the blood would save. Jasper said that he had peace each time he donated blood, adding that blood was sacred and priceless. “I will do this over and over because the purpose is to help someone who is dying,” she said.

FNSB to Commercialise Production, Sale of Arts and Crafts Martins Iﬁjeh

L-R: Director Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Belinda Aderonke Odeneye; Safety Health and Environment Manager, Unilever Ghana & Nigeria, Rachael Ezembakwe and Former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Ajibade Shekoni, at the Lagos State Green Award 2019 to Unilever Nigeria...recently

Polio Outbreak: Lagos Starts Second Round of Vaccination Campaign Ayodeji Ake Following seven cases of polio virus disease in Makoko, Itire and Maracana Canals of Lagos State, its ministry of health said it has started the second round of vaccination camapgin across the state as part of efforts to prevent it. Speaking at a media stakeholders sensitisation training on Second Round of 2019 Polio Vaccination Campaign in Lagos State recently, organised by its ministry of health in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the Incident Manager, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Usman Adamu noted that polio can be totally eradicated by advocacy, education and campaign across all levels. Adamu said the incidences of polio can be related to parents not aware of polio, gated communities denying immunisation teams entry access and schools refusing the teams entry as requested by parents. He said: “Polio virus can easily spread to children less than five years in low immunity population due to low vaccination update. There is need to respond to avoid risk of cross

border transmission and the need to avoid risk of further spread during high transmission season (rainy season). “Advocacy, stakeholders’ engagement, media engagement, community engagement, capacity building, message development, information and crisis management, are the basic tools to ensure the message of polio get to everyone across all level. “Why we need to collaborate with the media is that it’s the trustworthy source of information that the people of Lagos rely on. So, we need the media for possible support in terms of dissemination of correct facts and messages through various media outlets. “Evidence from date from last polio campaign revealed that some children are not vaccinated because of estate and gated communities refusing entry of immunisation teams. “As a matter of fact, from information gathered, many parents claimed not to have heard about immunisation campaign. Some schools also refused entry of immunisation teams which is usually at the request of the parents.” Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare, Lagos State, Dr. Tayo lawal, said the Lagos State

Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has prioritised health and environment, thus, ensuring residents access quality healthcare, especially child healthcare. On polio, he emphasised that the only way to prevent it was through oral vaccination as he urged caregivers, parents, community leaders and stakeholders to ensure their children are vaccinated, immunised and abstain from unhygienic environment. “It is very important to know that one of the primary focuses of this present administration is health and environment. Polio is a viral disease that is yet to be eradicated in Nigeria. “ It’s important we kick polio out of Nigeria. It’s highly contagious through poor environment hygiene. An infected child can develop; pain in the lips, fever, weakness and other sicknesses. “The only way of preventing polio is through oral vaccination. We need to engage in community dialogues, town announcement and other various ways of creating awareness about polio at all levels. “The polio campaign will also involve house-to-house, market places, churches, mosques, social events, will be targeted.

“Oral polio vaccination will be given to children from ages 0 to 59 months regardless of their immunisation status. And also, encourage households to take their children for immunisation. “My appeal goes to caregivers to ensure that child from five years and below be given the polio vaccination, the service is free. The responsibility is not on caregivers alone but on everybody. It’s a way of preventing our children from vaccine preventable disease” he said. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Titilayo Goncalves lauded the efforts of private partners and supporters of Lagos State Ministry of health and harped on prevention of polio virus. “Prevention is better than cure and we cannot overemphasise the effort of our partners. I appreciate every one of them. There is no gainsaying that child health is very important. The governor of Lagos state is working tirelessly to ensure every child access quality healthcare” she said. Meanwhile, during the training, Rotary club international presented 2000 crested aprons to the Lagos State Ministry of Health as a way of partnership in the campaign against polio.

The management of Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) has said it would henceforth commercialise production and sale of arts and craft as well as ensure sustainability of the funding of the society and its vocational training centre. The Chairman, Executive Council of FNSB, Folasade Adefisayo stated this at the 61st Annual General Meeting of the society held recently in Lagos. According to Adefisayo, a committee was put in place towards achieving the new goal by preparing a business plan which will be presented to council for discussion and ratification. She said: “We are developing a five-year budget that would guide council’s operations and ensure short- and long-term focus and financial sustainability. “A committee was set up to suggest various strategies for building up the advocacy function of the society in line with the vision to make life comfortable for every blind person,” she said. While speaking on the vo-

cational training centre, which is a flagship programme of the society, Adefisayo said the centre board was focusing on making significant improvements on the management of the centre. According to her, a review of the curriculum and improvement in teaching and learning was undertaken, adding that the board was working on the entrepreneurship curriculum in collaboration with a nongovernmental organisation, Fate Foundation. “They have also started engaging with the British Council in the modernisation of the curriculum and recently, two members of staff attended the British Council training programme on integrating essential 21st century skills into the curriculum,” said Folasade. Furthermore, Folasade said Kehinde Danmole Foundation in collaboration with Australian Embassy donated a Resource Room equipped with 20 typewriters, 10 Braille Machines and 10 laptops and 10 earpieces for computer training in the centre. Similarly, the Lagos State Scholarship Board donated N4.9million for 2018 as school fees subvention/support to FNSB.

Family Sets up Foundation for Women’s Health, Brain Tumor, Others

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

In memory of their only child and daughter, Barr. Chika Okwuosah, who died as a result of complications arising from brain tumor, Dr. and Mrs. Dozie Okwuosah have set up the Chika Rita Okwuosah Foundation (CROF) to to immortalise her. The foundation which was launched in Abuja and named after the deceased, aims to advance the health and well-being of women and girls, as well as increase knowledge about their reproductive health, modes of early detection, access to treatment and patients’ rights. Others include the promotion of the rights of girls and women to quality education towards attainment of social and economic development, as well as institute an annual award of excellence for best graduating female student from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation and

father of the deceased, Okwuosah, in his speech, said the setting up of the foundation, which has become imperative, was one thing the family can do to keep memories of their daughter alive. After describing the deceased as an easy-going person who had a passion for fashion and had begun to develop creative and entrepreneurial skills, he said there are unquantifiable potentials in Nigeria which the youths should tap from, rather than depend on the government for jobs which are not forth coming. He said: “When we lost Chika, I questioned my faith in God continually until solace came. She died of brain tumor and starting a foundation to assist all brain tumor patients has become necessary so that we can increasingly spread the awareness. “She was also in line with fashion despite being a trained lawyer. I remember her telling me, ‘Dad, I am done with what you want from me. Now I will face what I want’.

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

INTERVIEW

Adesola: 54 Years with Sickle Cell, and Still Standing 54 years Toyin Adesola is the Executive Director of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative. In this interview with Sunday Ehigiator, she talks about living with the sickle cell disorder and how she has managed it over the years. Excerpts:

educate a child about it, it is better. Tell them if you do this, this is what will happen. Don’t rather sit down and shout over their head. Putting laws will not even help, because there are situations where people with AA are now stigmatising people with SS and even AS, which is even a misconception. So, I think it should be a balance. Educate people and let them make informed choices; the right choice themselves. Especially in rural areas because I always say that unless you have financial, emotional and family support don’t enter into a relationship because all three are needed it if you are going to have a child with sickle cell.

ow was growing up like? Growing up was very challenging. I used to joke that the hospital was like my second home because I was always in the hospital. I didn’t understand what it was initially but I just found myself in the hospital being injected, and all that. It was a regular thing to the point that my education was disrupted. I was always the second or last in class not because I didn’t know anything but I was not able to keep up education, I was always in the hospital. By form one I entered secondary school but something major happened to me. My health was mismanaged. The mismanagement of my health caused my hips to get dislocated. How old were you then? I was about 14 years old. I was just entering form two then and I remembered they had to put me in POP, my trousers were just POP, and I was in bed for about six months I couldn’t move. I was just lying there. So, when I got out of it, I started using clutches but of course by then my educational life was deducted, and my parents told me to just stay at home that they were going to manage me. For a long time, I was in the house and we moved to Ilorin where my father was posted. I tried to manage staying at home but it was really frustrating. I kept telling them I want to go back to school, I want to do this and finally, they succumbed and they did by getting a teacher to teach what I should have learnt from form one to form six. I did it all in two years; JAMB and WAEC in one year and I entered Lagos State University where I studied Economics while still using clutches and you know in Nigeria; we are not disability friendly. My class was on the third floor, so I had to climb stairs every time to get to my lectures and I was coming from Surulere going to LASU. I was really stressed up because of all these issues and eventually had an extra year because I was always falling sick. I will miss examinations and everything, so I had an extra year. When I finally graduated, I started a baking business because I didn’t want to work for anybody. I didn’t want anybody to say ‘you didn’t come to work today’. I wanted to be my own boss. So, I ran that for 15 years. In this era when people living with sickle cell disorder keep to themselves, you have a published biography; what inspired you? When my late grandmother who had being telling me to write a book said ‘I am waiting for your book’, I just thought maybe she wants me to write because she always knew I used to write. I thought she wants me to write a fictional book or some story or novel or something. When I asked further, she said ‘not this, I am waiting for a story; a story about your life’. I felt at that point, that I had not achieved anything. I had gone through struggles, why should I be writing a book? Unfortunately, she passed on and that was when I realised this book I was supposed to have written but never did it before her demise. I finally got the courage to write it and it just blew up. The story just blew up. I was on television, radio and newspaper. That was 2005. I was about 40 years. Afterwards, I got a call from somebody who now said oh my parents don’t want to enroll me in school blah blah blah, so I said what? You mean this is happening? That was when I took up the boldness and I went on Funmi Iyanda’s show; and one person was like why don’t you be an advocate for people with sickle cell? So, after much thinking, that was when I decided to quit my baking job and start the NGO and it has been a long 10 years because it wasn’t initially easy because people did not understand what I was doing. They feel what is the big deal? So funding was based on personal savings and my friends and I thing. But we have gradually been able to let people know what we are doing and gradually we are getting more funding. That’s basically it. What was your ﬁrst reaction when you ﬁrst realised you had the disorder; and how did your parents react too, compared to what

Adesola

Our aim is to provide support for people with sickle cell, as well as advocate and create awareness about sickle cell. That is why we go into outreaches to do genotype testing and we have a full outreach, which we run every third Saturday of the month where we help people with sickle cell. We have doctors. We give medicine free of charge, we don’t take a dime we have today? Then I just wondered why I had the syndrome. I wondered why I was in the hospital? Why am I this? Am I the only one? You know that kind of thing. Especially the period when I was in bed for a long time. It got to a point of depression. At one point, I almost took my life. Apart from the legs, some people said I had this issue of leg ulcers that don’t heal or they can take three to 10 years to heal, you know, and so I had to deal with all these issues. No school and all that. It took a while before I gradually began to accept who I am. Then I found it easier. My parents, though were medical minded, it was 1965 and they were in the United States. They were working in US and they were coming to Nigeria and they didn’t know anything about sickle cell. They gave birth to me and it was one doctor in the whole of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) who figured out what was wrong with me back then and that’s how they

knew that okay this is it. To me they were more protective, sometimes I use to tell them they were over protective, because they were always worried and you know that ignorance is bliss. When you don’t know you are not knocking your eggshell. They were educated about these things they were more careful, don’t do this, don’t do that and I always make a joke that my own sickle cell was very royal because I had every complication you can think of that you will find in sickle cell but they really supported me all the way even though they were protective. Sometimes I was stubborn as a girl; I want to do this and they said ‘okay, if you want to do it, I will allow you to do it’. How old are you? This would be my 54th year on earth. How many are you in your family? Just two of us. My sister and I. My parents didn’t have another child. I am sure they just said let’s stop here. But you know that’s the reality, some people will still be going on wishing that the next turns out differently. Compared to then, what will you say is the level of awareness of sickle cell anaemia among Nigerians? It’s better now. I mean, then people didn’t even know anything about their genotype issues. People just marry. Although, there are still villages and people who still do that. Yeah, but at least in cities now, people are more conscious even though they get married, they know that it is a choice that they personally made, it’s not that oh they didn’t know. It’s definitely better, it could be better but it’s better than before way back. Being a sickle cell advocate, are you for avoidance or management? Basically, I am a bit of both. Let me say why I have always said something that it is everybody’s right for association. You can’t force anybody because people have this rule that, ‘oh no, we must put a law to ban them if not in Africa and other Mediterranean region and everywhere’. There are other genetic disorders that, when two people get married, may have unhealthy child. I am for ‘educate them’. Let them know this is the issue after that it is up to them to decide what they want to do but let them know. Tell them the intricacies and don’t educate them as if; you know when you tell a child, ‘oh! Don’t touch fire’, that is when he will go and touch fire. But when you

Tell us about your foundation and book? I started Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) when I wrote the book. The book was titled ‘Still Standing’. And it was the autobiography of how I overcame sickle cell and that pushed me to start the NGO because people started reading the book and they were inspired, including people who don’t live with sickle cell. They tell me ‘oh! I gave your book to somebody else because it inspired people to see that yes you have challenges but you can overcome it regardless of whatever challenges you are faced with’. So that started the NGO. Our aim is to provide support for people with sickle cell, advocate and create awareness about sickle cell. That is why we go into outreaches to do genotype testing and we have a full outreach, which we run every third Saturday of the month where we help people with sickle cell. We have doctors. We give medicine free of charge, we don’t take a dime and they come every Saturday to receive that healthcare and we also run a radio programme on Eko FM where we educate people about sickle cell. The foundation was 10 years last year, it will be 11 years this year. And the radio programme is ‘Touch a Cell with Toyin and the Gang’ and it’s aired every Thursday by 4:30pm on Eko FM. What are some of the challenges you faced in the society due to the disorder while growing up? First as I mentioned earlier, disability issues in this country is huge. People you expect to have a better understanding of disability don’t. From churches to banks, to NGOs themselves. Disability access is poor; that’s one thing I think some people just thought oh she is small, she doesn’t have that energy, abeg let her just sit in the car you know. Those of us living with disabilities have a tendency to believe that we cannot amount to anything. But I think every person dealing with sickle cell should be given a chance. What will you tell parents managing children with disability? I will tell them that they shouldn’t give up on that child. They should try and attach themselves to an organisation that can help them, help the child and help them understand the child. I hear some people say, ‘my child with sickle cell is terrible’; is it the name of the sickle cell? Everybody’s experience with sickle cell is different and the thing about sickle cell is, if you start early from the minute the child is born, educating that child on how to manage his/her health and you managing that child’s health; they are likely to have less issues than somebody who didn’t have that kind of foundation. My message is that people with sickle cell are like any other person. Yes, they have a genetic disorder but there are so many other genetic disorders, invisible illnesses as I like to call them that exist but it doesn’t stop them from being somebody and they need to be supported to be able to achieve their own dreams like any other person. It’s not a death sentence. Yes, some people; mostly due to mismanagement, die before they are 50. But if they are managed well, and if they are well informed, supported and loved they can live beyond 100 years. You will find that because of the stigma, there tend to be emotional issues faced by careers, because of the stigma they are depressed. The mind is a delicate thing. You have to first heal the mind before the body. So, it is very important that we support them and not stigmatise them.

T H I S D AY t THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019

NEWS

Psychologists Urge Buhari to Sign Bill Establishing Council Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill for an ACT to establish the Nigerian Council for Psychologists (NCfP) already passed by National Assembly for the good of Nigerians. President of NPA, Prof Michael Ezenwa who made the call in Abuja, stressed that when the NCfP bill is sighted into law, it would provide the needed regulation for high standard psychologists that Nigerians deserve. Ezenwa described psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour with a view to predicting and controlling same.

He added that it was a highly specialised scientific field that spans into all areas of human endeavour. According to him, psychology has different branches that addressed different areas of human needs which include clinical psychology, military psychology, forensic psychology, school psychologists, Industrial and organisational psychologists, as well as and social psychologists. He pointed out that many of the developmental challenges facing the country had to do with negative attitudes which he said required professionally planned behavioural changes which psychologists could offer Nigeria. ‘’The Nigerian Council for Psychologists bill when

signed into law, will provide the needed regulation for high standard psychologists that Nigerians deserve. ‘’It is my belief that many of our issues as a country may have stemmed from absence of psychologists in the main frame of the public and private sectors in Nigeria,” he said. Ezenwa said, if Nigeria was to have had functional psychological service centres across the country, many persons that committed suicide may have had a space to vent their concerns that lead to the regrettable act. ‘’If Nigeria had integrated psychologists in all hospitals, both public and private, ministries and agencies of government, if individuals

and communities have had the space to discuss their challenges with trained psychologists, there would have been many opportunities for the citizens to seek and receive help and this may have arrested many mental and social issues from escalation. ‘’Indeed, many issues of suicide are related to mental health challenge of depression and even in severe depression when medication may become important, psychological treatment is still an integral component of intervention for better outcome. “In the absence of these services therefore, proper management of the condition will become a challenge,” he added.

100% Fruit Juice Good for Recovering Lost Energy, Says Nutrition Expert Martins Iﬁjeh The Publicity Secretary of the Nutritional Society of Nigeria, Olusola Malomo, has urged Nigerians and especially religious adherents to explore the nutritional and health benefits of 100 per cent fruit juice to recover lost nutrients to a long period of fasting. Malomo gave the advice in the first series of his engagement on the health and nutritional benefits of 100 per cent fruit juice, a monthly educative programme sponsored by Chi Limited, the parent company of Chivita, as part of its ‘no-added sugar’ campaign. According to the sponsor, the engagement, which kicked off last year, was aimed at sharing unbiased information on the benefits of 100 per cent fruit juice and support independent efforts by experts such as scientist, nutritionist, and dieticians to show how 100 per cent fruit juice contributes to the health

and well-being of consumers. In the series titled 100 per cent Fruit Juice: A Healthy Way to Revitalise after Fasting, Malomo said fasting helps to relieve human system, adjusts fat level, strengthen the digestive system and increase its efficiency. He, however, regretted that many people lose the health benefits of the spiritual exercise when they take to junk food shortly after. “They break fasting with lavish, sweet and oily feasts. This increases cholesterol level and, perhaps, triggers diabetes. A few individuals, on the other hand, overstrain their systems, leading to deficiency of vital nutrients. These two contradictories challenge make post-fasting (in the case of extended rite) a crucial moment,” he noted. Malomo, a renowned dietician, said fruits and vegetables consumption remain the healthiest way to recover lost nutrients without compromising the benefits that associate with fasting.

La Casera Calls for Collaboration against Air Pollution Martins Iﬁjeh

WAR AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

L-R: Actor and Musician, David Jones David; Project Director, 2019 Monster Hit Story Contest, Ororo Pattaya; Enugu Entertainers, Twin Parrots; and Production Manager, 2019 Monster Hit Story Contest, Hamed Molik, during the presentation of award to winner of the 2019 Monster Hit Story Contest in Enugu recentlyP

SYNLAB Nigeria Launches Genetic Test Facility to Curb Deaths among Athletes

Rebecca Ejifoma

SYNLAB Nigeria has opened an ultra-modern facility for advanced genetic testing and promotion of preventive healthcare and wellness of Nigerian athletes to reduce death from inappropriate exercise routines. The organisation said the new facility, sited at Victoria Island, Lagos, spearheads three advanced genetic tests: MyPGx, SportGen and NutriHealth. It said the facility, however, is designed to improve precision in the practice of personalised medicine and enhance the quality

of life in Nigeria. Apart from offering advanced diagnostics services, for which SYNLAB has earned a reputation of accuracy and reliability over the years, Chief Medical Officer, SYNLAB Nigeria, Dr. Tolulope Adewole, expressed the organisation’s commitment. She said: “Our organisation is committed to introducing the most innovative and comprehensive advances in diagnostics services to Nigeria. We ensure the latest technological advancements are launched here as launched in Europe”. “For SYNLAB, this means that

Nigerians can have the same opportunity people in more medically advanced countries have. “Hence, MyPGx, a pharmacogenetic test, is designed to assist doctors streamline the treatment of patients by personalising the choice and dosage of medication that is being prescribed,” Tolulope added. Noting that MyPGx results effectively eliminates “trial and error”, she told newsmen that it had been proven to significantly decrease adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Adewole continued further

that these tests, concurrently being launched in Europe, were pillars in personalised medicine. “They have been brought to Nigeria in line with SYNLAB’s commitment to make cutting-edge laboratory testing accessible”. Meanwhile, two lifestyle genetic tests were also unveiled. While SportGen is geared to professional athletes and individuals who partake or want to partake in physical exercise, NutriHealth recommends the appropriate diet and food intake to perform optimally at work or other aspects of life.

Drug Abuse: Winner Emerges in 2019 Monster Hit Story Contest Martins Iﬁjeh An Enugu based pastor; Gabriel Obiano has emerged winner of the 2019 Monster Hit Story Contest. The competition is an initiative of Ororo Pattaya 20km and David Jones, who is known for his anti-drug advocacy among Nigerian Youth. The contest, which ran on Instagram and Facebook between April and May, was according to Jones designed for Nigerian youths on social media to share true-life story that borders on any life changing experiences on drug

and substance abuse. Report of a survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealed that the rate of drug abuse in Nigeria in 2018 was more than twice the global average of 5.3 per cent. According to the report, 14.3 million Nigerians are involved in abuse of drugs such as marijuana, opioids and cough syrup, adding that those who are involved in abuse of such drugs were mainly between age 15 and 64 years, while one in every four of them

is a woman. Obiano’s story titled “How I Lost My Girlfriend To Drug Abuse” was a revelation on the disturbing trend of drug abuse and addiction among Nigerian women. The Port Harcourt based pastor narrated how he met Esther and later proposed to her, only to discover she was a drug addict who had gone as far as using cocaine. “I met Esther in a ministry (name withheld), in Port Harcourt. As a young preacher who was willing to settle down as of that moment after my Bible School,

I picked interest in her. “We started dating and finally I proposed to her. She accepted the proposal. Meanwhile she told me how the father abandoned her and her mother at her early stage of life. She told me she can’t give account of where the dad is now. Due to hard life; she (Esther) left her mom too and moved to Port Harcourt. “I felt her pain and advised her to make out time to visit her mom and know how she was doing and find out if she is aware of her dad’s whereabouts. She turned the advice down.

Following ill health and other adverse effects associated with environmental hazards, the management of The La Casera Company (TLCC) has called for more collaboration against air pollution. Speaking during a clean-up exercise recently, as part of plans to commemorating the 2019 World Environmental Day (WED), the Managing Director, TLCC, Mr. Chinedum Okereke said one of the ways to address air pollution in the country is through planting of trees, as this would aid in protecting the ozone layer. He said the environment should be seen as a trust given to mankind to protect for future generations. He said: “At TLCC, issues of the environment are not regarded as compliance issues but rather as a responsibility

we owe to posterity. “TLCC used its tree planting exercise to further draw attention to the fight to reduce air pollution while urging all stakeholders to come together and explore sustainable alternatives to urgently reduce pollution that threatens human health.” Imploring participants at the event to adopt an attitudinal approach in the fight against air pollution, he urged Nigerians to be mindful of the environment while making choices on the type and quality of products they purchase. Corroborating his view, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, LAWMA, Mr Ola Oresanya, who was represented by the Assistant Chief Scientific Officer of the agency, Mrs Aderonke Adesoye, commended TLCC for championing causes against environmental hazards in the state.

SLNI: 100,000 Persons in 14 States Benefit from OVC Programme Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A nongovernmental organisation, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI) has revealed that 100,000 persons in the rural communities in over 14 states have benefited from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programme, including those living with HIV/AIDS in the past 10 years of its establishment. Its Founder, Hauwa Hassan, disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja recently to kick start activities commemorating 10 years anniversary of the organisation. She added that the organisation believed that living above health, economic, social and psychological limitations was the right of everyone regardless of where they live, where they were born or who their parents are. Hassan stated: “it is a rewarding feeling to see SNLI mature to 10 years. There is still much to do, so many communities to reach and so many lives to touch. Partnership has been crucial to our survival.

“Founded in 2009 with presence in over 14 states in Nigeria, headquartered in Abuja with a state office in Dutse, Jigawa State, SLNI has been involved in projects focused on social development, healthcare and women empowerment. “In the past decade, SLNI has touched the lives of over 100,000 persons, especially the OVCs including those living with HIV/AIDS. Through its campaign, empowerment, advocacy and research approaches, SLNI has demonstrated and recorded unprecedented success in the delivery of its projects and objectives.” Hassan noted that in collaboration with various stakeholders and partners including the Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Institute of Human Virology Nigeria among others, SNLI has provided impactful solutions to its focus communities in all projects they have implemented.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

IFC Partners Firm on Solar Off-grid Power Generation Nume Ekeghe The International Finance Corporation (IFC) through its â€˜Lighting Africa programâ€™ has gone into partnership with one of the leading solar energy firms to enhance off-grid electricity supply in the country. The partnership aims to reduce the electricity deficit in Nigeria. Speaking at the Shenzen LEMI solar energy solution exhibition and conference in Lagos recently, the Program Lead, Lighting Africa of the IFC, Mr. Allwell Nwankwo, said the partnership would help increase energy access to on and off-grid consumers. He said: â€œThe growth in electricity access is happening, but the population growth is outstripping the growth in energy access. That is a big problem, but for business people, it is an opportunity. â€œSo for us, the real challenge

is how to make sure we bring down the number of people without electricity access.â€? He added: â€œEssentially, that is the reason IFC has a program called â€˜lighting Africa program and our program are the platform of the world bank group to begin to address this challenge of energy access among the over 1 billion people that have no connection to electricity.â€? Further speaking on the partnership between IFC and LEMI, he said it was important for them to promote quality products had gone through all the quality standards necessary. He added: â€œWhat we did when our program was established was to put in place a quality assurance mechanism such that only products that have passed a very stringent test protocols would be supported by any of the World Bank programs and the good thing is that LEMI has passed those standards.

The further added: â€œWe are assuming that there are at least 182 million people in Nigeria and if we are looking at electricity access, according to National Bureau of statistics, almost 50 per cent have electricity which can be challenged by some but at least we still have about 40 per cent not connected to the grid which is a huge number. â€œThe program which started in 2015 and is to end in June 2020 and three years later, we have done over 800,000 of quality verified products and our target is to reach 1.2 million products and I believe we are going to hit that by June next year.â€? On her part, the founder and Chairlady of LEMI, Mrs. Joyce Chen said: â€œLEMI has won many projects in other countries that were funded by the World Bank and United nations and LEMI has gained widespread praise from project owners and users.

MARKET INDICATORS

Ex-minister Harps on Gender Inclusion Nume Ekeghe A former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has listed some factors that can help women to reach the top of their careers in any field of endeavour. The former minister who spoke on the theme of â€˜Winning through Inclusionâ€™ at the third edition of the Sterling Leadership Series (SLS) in Lagos recently, said women can get to the top through mentorship, role modelling, assertiveness, confidence building and networking, among others. While urging women to quickly adopt the tactics she outlined for better representation, Johnson said men are not likely to concede leadership positions to women in a friendly manner because of a lot of discriminatory practices exist in the corporate world so women would have to fight, kick and, if necessary, bite to get to the top. According to her, available statistics show that the number of women in leadership positions in the political and corporate world was dwindling. She noted that while she was

in government, women had about 30 percent representation but the percentage has dropped to about 10 percent now while there are still fewer women at the board level in companies. Johnson, who is the Cofounder of Women in Business (WIMBIZ), commended Sterling Bank for its high level of gender inclusion. She said available statistics showed that when women were involved in leadership positions there is improved performance because there is better representation in decision-making. She also advocated for policies that would support maternal and childbirth responsibilities among women because, besides women having responsibilities outside the workplace, it is important to have a workplace that represents the larger society. In his opening remarks, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, explained that the leadership series has the objective of inspiring the bank to do things that are memorable and in order to do so, it is necessary to sit with people who have done memorable things.

Suleiman, said the maiden leadership series was headlined by Professor Wole Soyinka while the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, was the guest speaker at the second edition. Johnson, who also doubles as the Chairman of Custodian Investment Plc enjoined the federal government not to regulate technology companies such as the fintechs like other companies in order not to kill them because they can scale very fast. She urged the government to listen and engage with citizens because technology is helping citizens to keep governments on their toes across the world, citing instances like the recent protest in Cameroon and the need to learn from what happened in Ukraine, Italy and the US where the electorates voted against the established order. She observed that no developing country could talk about development without mobile phones, remarking that before the advent of mobile phones, banking services contributed about 46 percent while the introduction of mobile phones has enhanced financial inclusion to about 70 per cent.

Viathanâ€™s N10bn InfraCreditGuaranteed Bond Wins Awards InfraCreditâ€™s maiden guaranteed bond, the Viathan N10 billion Series 1 Senior Guaranteed Fixed Rate Bond Due 2027, was recently announced winner in the Debt Capital Markets Category of the EMEA Finance Achievement Awards as the Most Innovative Bond 2018. Viathan Group develops and operates captive and embedded power solutions for governmental, commercial and residential offtakers across Nigeria, using natural gas as fuel with a combined generation capacity of over 50MW. According to a statement, with InfraCreditâ€™s guarantee, Viathan successfully accessed the local debt capital markets for the first time

by issuing a N10 billion 16.0% Series 1 Senior Guaranteed Fixed Rate Bond Due 2027. InfraCredit is a â€˜AAAâ€™-rated infrastructure credit enhancement facility backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, GuarantCo (a Private Infrastructure Development Group company), KfW Development Bank and Africa Finance Corporation to provide local currency guarantees to enhance the creditworthiness of debt issued by infrastructure entities in Nigeria that conform with its eligibility criteria. Its guarantees act as a catalyst to mobilise private investments from pension funds, insurance firms and other long-term investors

into infrastructure bonds, thereby deepening the domestic debt capital markets. â€œOver the past two years of its initial operations InfraCredit has facilitated first-time access to local currency finance of up to 15- year tenor from the domestic bond market for two infrastructure companies totalling N18.5 billion which were oversubscribed by up to 60 per cent from local pension fund investors, with participation by 14 of a total 28 pension fund administrators subscribing to the InfraCredit-guaranteed corporate infrastructure bonds.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

NOVEMBER 2018 Money Supply (M3)

31,794,803.44

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

6,333,064.28

Money Supply (M2)

25,461,739.17

-- Quasi Money

14,773,076.98

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,688,662.18

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,711,763.59

---- Demand Deposits

8,976,898.59

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

18,990,400.78

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

12,804,402.66

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,062,986.22

---- Credit to Government (Net)

2,980,229.66

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

7,093,619.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-4,144,571.43

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

23,082,756.56

--Other Assets Net

13,258,583.57

Reserve Money (Base Money

6,811,192.37

--Currency in Circulation

2,100,129.91

--Banks Reserves

4,366,259.05

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă™Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍą Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $61.51 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $61.01 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

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍˇ

MARKET NEWS

Ellah Lakes Diversifies forValue Delivery to Stakeholders Goddy Egene Ellah Lakes Plc is diversifying into palm oil cultivation and production so as to deliver returns to shareholders. To this end, Ellah Lakes recently acquired Telluria Farms, which led to listing of additional of 1,880 billion shares of the company on the main board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). According to the company, listing of these shares on the

NSE would create options for investors in the agri-business segment of the NSE and it is expected to provide increased liquidity to existing shareholders. Speaking on the listing, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Ellah Lakes Plc, Frank Ellah, said the listing was a historical moment considering the turbulence nature of the area of operation, saying this would help give a new dimension to their shareholders.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

â€œToday marks a milestone in the history of our company. After a number of years of challenging operational performance and trading illiquidity, with our new management in place, I am pleased to see the new trajectory of our growth as a business. We welcome existing and new shareholders to participate in our growth story,â€? he said. Also speaking, the new Chief Executive Officer, Chuka Mordi, said the primary focus of the

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

company is on the palm oil industry, as Nigeria imports double of what it produces with local consumption depending on importation, despite the comparative advantage of the value chain. The company, which is diversifying from fish farming into high margin oil palm cultivation and processing business, he said, is making this strategic shift through the acquisition of Telluria Farms. The new management has

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

set a audacious three year target to take the advantage of opportunities in the Nigerian oil palm, with cultivation land mass of 30,000 hectares( Ha), 20 metric tonnages per hour(MT/hr) Palm Oil Milling and 20 metric tonnage per hour(MT/hr) palm refining. â€œWe are pleased to be embarking on this new phase in the journey of Ellah Lakes Plc. With the business combination of the assets of Telluria, Ellah Lakes is in

O F

a great position to deliver value to all shareholders. â€œWe believe and expect to partake in Nigeriaâ€™s growth story as we continue to support the communities we operate in, and all our stakeholders,â€? Mordi said. According to him, the enlarged Ellah Lakes is built on a foundation of growth to meet the needs of Nigerians for agricultural products, both as retail consumers and as industrial partners.

1 9 / 0 6 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Uduk: Derivatives will Enhance Capital Market Liquidity Goddy Egene The Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk has said derivatives has been identified as one of the investable products that would enhance the liquidity of the Nigerian capital market. Uduk stated this yesterday at

the final reporting workshop of the Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP) in Lagos. The KSP, which is centred on “Capacity building on operation and development of financial derivatives markets in Nigeria,” is aimed at tapping from the Korea’s expertise and excellence towards developing the derivatives market in Nigeria. According

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

to Uduk, there is no doubt that the KSP has presented a good opportunity for addressing some of the market’s challenges in setting up a strong and functioning derivatives market, especially in terms of having the required market infrastructure, regulatory framework and surveillance system for the derivatives market in Nigeria which are the target

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 18Jun-2019, unless otherwise stated.

areas of research. She said: “I am optimistic about our chances of creating a derivative market place that will be useful for our economy and the sub Saharan region. With the profiles of speakers lined up for today’s event, I believe that justice will be done to the topics and all of us will leave this venue more informed than we came”

“The partnership between the Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria is the first bi-lateral policy consultation between the two countries. The program has exposed my colleagues to the rich system and diversity of the Korean financial system, which enabled Korea’s advancement and

contemporary status among the comity of industrialised nations in the world.” The acting DG stated that the final workshop will articulate recommendations for the course of actions needed for the development of the Nigerian financial derivatives market and the management of market volatility.

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: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 144.87 147.00 -7.86% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 8.11% Nigeria International Debt Fund 277.34 277.34 1.51% 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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 13.18% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.32 2.34 4.41% 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 15.23 15.69 -8.19% ARM Discovery Fund 341.34 351.63 -4.29% ARM Ethical Fund 28.74 29.60 1.76% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.19% 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 96.10 96.77 -5.03% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.59% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.83 1.83 13.14% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.96% Paramount Equity Fund 11.87 11.98 0.55% Women's Investment Fund 105.59 106.32 2.00% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.69% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 98.91 99.37 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.87 99.18 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A 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 1,194.95 1,195.80 7.01% FBN Heritage Fund 143.08 144.02 0.21% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.85% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 116.44 116.86 5.42% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 116.39 116.82 5.63% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 136.36 138.26 -9.09% 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 11.09% Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Growth Fund Coral Income Fund GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund Nigeria Entertainment Fund

3.43 1.12 1.05

3.43 5.71% 1.14 -8.31% 1.05 2.20% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

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 11.25% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.15 2.18 0.28% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.90% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 131.62 131.71 5.31% 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 1.20 1.22 4.96% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,111.16 1,111.16 6.39% 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 10.65 10.74 -7.42% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.20% 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 3.67% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.56 11.64 3.87% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.65% 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 121.88 122.48 0.97% 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 1.00 1.00 3.99% 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 2,351.33 2,364.31 1.59% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 202.34 202.34 6.42% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.90 0.91 -4.74% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 257.13 257.23 4.05% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 153.17 154.90 -6.10% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.86% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,980.65 8,079.03 -5.97% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 0.57% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.21 1.19 0.07% United Capital Bond Fund 1.66 1.66 4.32% United Capital Equity Fund 0.68 0.69 -4.38% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.26% United Capital Eurobond Fund 109.82 109.82 2.39% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.11 1.54% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.52 10.69 -0.25% Zenith Ethical Fund Zenith Income Fund Zenith Money Market Fund

-6.02% 14.41% 12.22%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

N/A 119.90 52.21

N/A 1.84% 0.91%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.73 97.26 81.34

9.83 99.29 82.80

-7.71% -17.10% -8.29%

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

Bid Price 100.00 108.38

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

Yield / T-Rtn 14.99% 0.66%

11.36 22.06 1.00

REITS

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Offer Price 100.00 108.90

11.21 22.07 1.00

Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.57 6.04 12.97 10.40 142.46

3.61 6.12 13.07 10.60 144.46

-10.77% -20.65% -11.38% -15.76% 8.25%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

111.37

17.40%

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.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNA TIONAL

ICC Presses for Prosecution, Handover of al-Bashir The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday pressed for the prosecution of former Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, over alleged genocide and crimes against humanity. ICC’s Chief Prosecutor, Ms Fatou Bensouda, renewed the call while addressing members of the United Nations Security Council at the organisation’s

headquarters in New York. Bensouda urged Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) to either hand over alBashir to the ICC or prosecute him genuinely at home. The former president, who is wanted by the ICC on alleged crimes against humanity and genocide, was deposed in a military coup on April 11, after 30 years in office.

High-level Saudi Officials Responsible for Khashoggi’s Killing, Says UN Investigator A UN-appointed independent investigator yesterday said responsibility for the killing of dissident Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, lies with “high-level officials” of the monarchy. Ms Agnès Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, stated this in a report to be presented to the Human Rights Council next week. Callamardsuggested that the killing was a “premeditated extrajudicial execution”, and renewed the call for full state accountability for the crime. In the 100-page report, she discussed the circumstances leading up to Khashoggi’s death, and considers steps that might have prevented his murder. The prominent United States-based writer was last seen alive entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2, 2018. “The evidence suggests that the murder was premeditated and that the direction from superiors was to kill Khashoggi, at the very least if he would not agree to return. “Such an operation was the result of elaborate planning involving extensive coordination and significant human and financial resources,” she said. In the days leading up to his execution, the journalist and other dissidents were “being sought” by Saudi authorities, according to her. She said when the opportunity arose, Saudi highlevel officials planned, oversaw and/or endorsed the mission. While there have been “numerous theories and allegations” about the killing, “none alters the responsibility of the Saudi Arabia State,” the Special Rapporteur maintained. She added that 15 Saudi state agents “acted under cover of their official status and

used state means to execute Khashoggi”. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has denied responsibility for the killing. Suspects in the killing, including key officials of the government were arrested and are currently on trial in that country. However, Callamard said there was credible evidence “that warrants further investigation of high-level Saudi officials’ liability, including that of the Crown Prince. She said in the years preceding Khashoggi’s “execution”, the Crown Prince “at a bare minimum” condoned the arbitrary detention of a large number of journalists and human rights defenders, but also princes and businessmen. “Mohammed bin Salman took no action to prevent or punish those responsible… and willingly took the risk that other crimes, such as the killing of Khashoggi, would be committed, whether or not he directly ordered the specific crime.” Turning to the trial in Saudi Arabia of those suspected of involvement in the killing, the Special Rapporteur questioned the “lack of transparency surrounding even the names of the accused”. In November, the Saudi Deputy Public Prosecutor said of 21 individuals held in relation to the killing, 11 were indicted and five of them faced the death penalty. These included the “Deputy President of the General Intelligence Presidency,” who had issued “an order to bring back the victim by means of persuasion, and if persuasion fails, to do so by force”, the prosecutor’s office reportedly said.

Iran Rules Out War with US Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday there will be no war with the U.S,. The state news agency IRNA, quoted Ali Shamkhani as saying: ” there will not be a military confrontation between Iran and America since there is no reason for a war. ”Accusing other countries has turned into a common practice among U.S. officials as they try to pressure other counties.” Worries about a military confrontation between Iran and the U.S. have mounted since attacks on June 13, on two oil tankers near the Gulf.

Washington blamed longtime foe, Iran for the attacks but Tehran denied any responsibility. Nonetheless, NAN reported that diplomats warned commercial airliners flying over the Persian Gulf that they faced a risk of being “misidentified” amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. has ordered bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Gulf over an unexplained perceived threat, raising tensions a year after Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal between world powers and the Islamic Republic.

al-Bashir denies the charges for which the Hague-based tribunal issued warrants for his arrest in 2009 and 2010. Bensouda said with the overthrow and arrest of alBashir, “now is the time for the time for the people of Sudan to choose law over impunity” and sure that he faced justice in a law court. She also called for the transfer or prosecution of four other suspects wanted over the Darfur atrocities.

They include Ahmad Harun, a former state interior minister, and Abdel Raheem Hussein, an ex-Darfur envoy, who have also reportedly been detained in Khartoum. “Sudan remains under legal obligations to transfer these suspects to the ICC to stand trial unless it can demonstrate to the judges of the ICC that it is willing and able to genuinely prosecute them for these same case,” she said. The prosecutor said two

other suspects, Ali Kushayb and Abdallah Banda, who both led militia groups during the Darfur atrocities – were still “at large”. She said they should also be arrested and handed over to the ICC soonest. Acknowledging the “complexity and fluidity of the events unfolding in Sudan”, she called on officials there to help her visit Sudan and the Darfur region “in the very near future to resolve these

issues”. Bensouda flayed the June 3 crackdown on protesters in capital that led to the death of dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators. “It is imperative that allegations of violence against civilians, including sexual and gender-based violence, are promptly and effectively investigated by the Sudanese authorities, and that those responsible are brought to justice,” Bensouda said.

L-R: Representative of Executive Director National Films and Video Censors Board, Mrs. Olayemi Alonge; Director, Administration, NFVCB, Mr. Fredinard Abua; Chief Executive Officer StarTimes, Mr. David Zhang; and Cultural Counselor Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr. Li Xuda, during the 2019 Chinese film festival in Abuja...yesterday KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

Three Russians, One Ukrainian Accused of 2014 Downing of Flight MH17 Three Russians and a Ukrainian will face murder charges for the July 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. The aircraft, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine, had all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board killed. The trial is expected to start in the Netherlands next March, an investigation team said on Wednesday. Peter Crozier, one of the international investigators,

presented the latest findings in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, nearly five years after the crash that killed all passengers and crew. The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia, however, as the Netherlands has said Russia has not cooperated with the investigation and is not expected to hand anyone over. The Dutch-led international team tasked with assigning criminal responsibility for the

plane’s destruction named the four suspects as Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko. It said international arrest warrants for the four suspects have been issued. MH17 was shot out of the sky on July 17, 2014, over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as it was flying from Amsterdam to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

Everyone on board was killed. Most of those on board were Dutch. The joint investigation team formed by Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine found that the plane was shot down by a Russian missile. In 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin called MH17’s downing a “terrible tragedy”, but said that Moscow was not to blame and that there are other explanations for what happened.

Sarkozy Loses Bid to Stop Corruption Trial Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday lost his final bid to avoid standing trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling, his lawyer said. Sarkozy is accused of offering to help a judge win a promotion in Monaco in return for leaked information. The case arose after investigators tapped the phones of Sarkozy

and his lawyer, Thierry Herzog, to examine allegations that late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, funded Sarkozy’s successful campaign for the presidency in 2007. As they eavesdropped on his calls, investigators began to suspect the ex-president had offered judge Gilbert Azibert a promotion in return for

information on developments in a parallel investigation into allegations Sarkozy accepted illicit payments from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt for the same campaign. Sarkozy was cleared over the Bettencourt allegations. His lawyers have previously argued that magistrates looking into the alleged secret Libyan funding exceeded their powers

and went on a “fishing expedition” by tapping his conversations with Herzog between September 2013 and March 2014, breaching lawyerclient privilege. On Wednesday, Sarkozy’s defense team said the use of wiretapped remarks gleaned for an investigation into illicit campaign financing to prosecute unrelated charges of corruption contravened

UK: Rory Stewart Drops out from Prime Ministerial Race Four men are left in the race to be next prime minister after Rory Stewart was knocked out. The international development secretary was eliminated after coming last with 27 votes, 10 fewer than last time. He said his warnings about a no-deal Brexit “probably proved to be truths people weren’t quite ready to hear”. Boris Johnson topped the vote again with 143 votes, 17 more than last time. Jeremy Hunt came second with 54, Michael Gove got 51 and Sajid Javid 38. A fourth round of voting will take place on Thursday.

Mr Stewart started as a rank outsider in the race but gained support on the back of an unusual campaign strategy. Touring the country for pop-up meetings, which were promoted and recorded on social media, he drew large crowds and won the backing of several senior cabinet ministers. He had accused other candidates, including Johnson, of lacking realism over Brexit and making undeliverable promises. After his elimination, he tweeted that he had been “inspired” by the support he received which had rekindled

his faith and belief in politics. Stewart’s vote tally fell from Tuesday - following a live BBC TV debate in which he summed up his own performance as “lacklustre”. There have also been suggestions of tactical voting “dark arts” as he called them - with candidates lending votes to others in order to help eliminate certain rivals. One MP supporting Mr Stewart claimed he had been “let down” by “thieving, mendacious, lying” colleagues who had switched. Following his exit, Stewart - MP for Penrith and The

Border - told the BBC he was “disappointed” and believed his party “didn’t seem ready to hear his message” about Brexit and the need to seek out the centre ground. He said his arguments during the campaign that an alternative Brexit deal was not on offer from the EU, and a no deal would be catastrophic, were “probably truths people were not quite ready to hear, but I still think they are truths”. He defended his attacks on Johnson, saying the gravity of the situation meant it was right to warn that the frontrunner risked

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Buhari: National Interest will Determine Nigeria’s Decision on AfCFTA Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria would be guided by ‘‘national

interest’’ in its decision on the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Presidential spokesman, Mr.

You Can’t Screen, Issue Licence to Preachers, Court Tells Kaduna Govt John Shiklam in Kaduna A Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Hajaratu Gwadah yesterday declared that the state government has no power to screen or issue licences to religious preachers in the state. Delivering the judgment in a suit by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) challenging the constitutionality of the bill on the regulation of religious preaching in the state, the judge maintained that although government has the right to regulate religious activities in the state, screening and issuing of licence to religious preachers is unconstitutional. The PFN had in 2016 challenged the constitutionality of the bill, describing it is an infringement on fundamental human right. The Christian body had among other prayers, asked the court for a declaration that setting up a committee for the screening and licencing preachers as provided in the bill is a violation of their rights. The judge, however, said the bill does not seek to abolish the rights of applicants as fundamental human rights is not absolute. She noted however that sections 6 and 9 of the bill which seek to screen and

licence preachers, violate the constitutional rights of the applicant. Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the PFN, Sunny Akanni, said he was satisfied with the judgment, adding: “Our argument is that you cannot licence pastors because they are already licence. “In Christianity, not only ordained pastors preach. Every Christian is commanded ‘to go ye unto the world and preach the gospel.” According to him, “Section 38 subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution allows everybody to propagate his religion in teaching, in observance and in action. “So when you now say pastors should be licensed, you have infringed on their right. That is why the court agreed with us that section 6 of the bill is against the constitutional right of PFN. “Even though the court said the government can regulate religion, screening and issuing licence to pastors offend the constitutional rights of pastors (preachers).” Counsel to the state governor, who is one of the respondents in the case, Sanusi Usman, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment.

Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari made the promise while receiving the National Council of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) led by its president, Mr. Mansur Ahmed. According to Adesina, Buhari said he was prepared to receive the report of the committee set up to assess the potential costs and impact of signing the agreement establishing the AfCFTA on Nigeria. According to him, the president recalled that the Presidential Steering Committee on AfCFTA Impact and Readiness Assessment Committee was inaugurated on October 22, 2018, with the mandate to assess the extent to which Nigeria was ready to join the agreement, and what the

impact of doing so would be. The statement said the committee was initially given 12 weeks to conclude its assignment, after holding wide consultations with industry groups and stakeholders, including MAN, adding that Buhari told the leadership of MAN that AfCFTA is on the agenda for the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit in Niamey, Niger Republic, in July. ‘‘I don’t think Nigeria has the capacity to effectively supervise and to ensure that our colleagues in AU don’t allow their countries to be used to dump goods on us to the detriment of our young industries and our capacity to utilise foreign exchange for imported goods,’’ Buhari said. The statement added that Buhari promised to look into

MAN’s presentation, highlighting issues of concern to the manufacturing sector, including the AfCFTA, Export Expansion Grant and other incentives as well as challenges with the 2019 fiscal policy measures, recent increase in NAFDAC charges, the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Act, 2019, among others. ‘‘I assure you that I know the enormity of our problems in terms of population growth rate and teeming young people. ‘‘We need to move very fast, and the government will try and encourage you as very much as possible so that the problem of unemployment and the provision of other services relative to our population and state of development can be tolerated,’’ Buhari was further

quoted as saying. According to the statement, earlier in his remarks, MAN’s president outlined some credible policies that have driven the economy forward in the first term of Buhari, commending the administration for what he described as consistent efforts to sustain the growth trajectory anchored on improving the business environment. It also said Ahmed recognised government’s efforts at improving the Ease of Doing Business Project, fight against corruption, focus on poverty reduction, job creation, inclusive growth as well as the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, adding that despite the significant progress recorded in the last four years, ‘‘it is clear that our economy is still fragile.’’

Ekiti APC Berates Opposition over Allegation of N1.2bn TACKLING REGULATORY ISSUES… L R: Administrator of National Judicial Institute (NJ I), Hon. Justice Rosaline Patricia Bozimo; Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders’ Management, Nigerian Communications commission (NCC), Mr. Sunday Dare; Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Odili; Fraud against Fayemi Director, Legal Regulatory Services, NCC, Mrs. Yetunde Akinloye, during the workshop for judges on legal issues in telecommunications

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described the accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has budgeted the sum of N1.2billion for his travelling expenses as the height of imbecility. APC added that the opposition has finally dragged itself into a level of shamelessness that will finally consume it and drive a wedge between it and the few members who still maintain any form of association with it. In a statement issued yesterday by the APC Director of Media and Publicity, Sam Oluwalana, the party wondered why PDP “would descend so low to attack an individual who is trying hard to clean up the gargantuan mess it left behind after four years of looting and mis-rule.” On the allegation of the N1.2 billion travelling expenses, the APC spokesman explained that it was a wicked attempt to lay the blame for an offence committed by the former governor on the present administration. He added that it was actually the former governor who was widely reported to have stormed

the state House of Assembly, seized the gavel from the former Speaker and single-handedly passed the 2018 budget. The statement read: “According to Punch Newspaper story of June 17, 2019, Ayodele Fayose’s budget was N98.6 billion with a paltry 718 million going to the agriculture sector, while he awarded a whopping N1.2billion for his travelling expenses. “They have failed at everything, including governance, now they have failed in simple propaganda. “For them, mudslinging and misinformation is a fair game, an act which the present APC administration finds repulsive and will not involve itself in. “This was a party that was in the saddle for years in the state during which the people were pauperised to the extent of celebrating each time a ‘cup of rice’ was served to them.” The statement also noted that in its four years of misrule in the state, the PDP, through Governor Fayose, “turned the state and the people to beggars that picked crumbs from the table of selfstyled master, whose profligate and corrupt practices were of constant embarrassment to the people of the state and Nigerians who are familiar with his moral

in Enugu…yesterday

Police Parade 38 Kidnappers Kidnapper admits collecting N200m ransom payments from expatriates Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Nigerian Police yesterday paraded 38 kidnappers and bandits nabbed for kidnapping and armed banditry. A suspect and member of one of the kidnap gangs, Abubakar Umar, said he collected N200 million from kidnapped expatriates within Kaduna-Kebbi axis in six months. The police also paraded the mastermind of the kidnap of the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), Mohammed Mahmood and his daughter, along Abuja-Kaduna Road. One of the suspects, Abubakar Umar, said the UBEC chairman paid N5 million ransom to secure his release. Force Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, disclosed that the leader of the gang that kidnapped

the UBEC chairman, Samaila Sule aka Shaho was killed in a gun battle with Operation Puff Adder operatives. “Consequent to the death of the gang leader, a massive manhunt was launched to arrest his remaining gang members. Eventually, between June 2nd and July 13th 2019, four more gang members were arrested by police operatives in both Kaduna and Nasarawa states”, he said. The suspects arrested are Abubakar Ahmadu aka Dabo, 27 year old from Zamfara State living in Rijiana village along Abuja-Kaduna expressway and second in command, who is famed for shooting and killing innocent citizens along the expressway. Other suspects are Musa Hassan aka Anaruwa 26 years old from Kano State who supplies arms and ammunition and coordinates the evacuation and selling of rustled cows, Umar Musa 22

years from Kaduna state, a close confidant of gang leader, Shaho and Mallam Saidu Musa, 57 years from Tudun Wada, Kaduna State who lives in Rijiana village along Abuja-Kaduna expressway. The kidnappers said their 7-man gang with five AK 47 rifles killed the driver of the UBEC chairman because his stubborness, adding that they successfully negotiated and collected the ransom which they shared before releasing the victims. In a similar vein, Abubakar Umar aka Dogo, leader of the gang that specialised in kidnapping foreigners confessed that their spiritual leader, Malam Salisu Abubakar who had earlier been arrested by the Police was the pillar of the gang because he gave spiritual clearance before they embark on any operation. Disclosing that the Police would not have arrested them if not for the earlier arrest of

the spiritual father, he said his gang made between N20million to N25million for every foreigner they kidnap pointing out that in the last six months, they made over N200million from kidnapped expatriates. Other members of the gang paraded we’re Saleh Idris 67 year old Fulani from Koro village, Kaduna State, Bello Abdullahi 35 years old from Kaduna state, Abdullahi Musa 40 years old from Kaduna state, Ya’u Abdullahi 45 years old from Kaduna state, Nuhu Yakubu 20 years old from Kaduna state and Ismail Yakubu 30 years old from Bassa-Iga, Plateau State. Also paraded were Aliyu Mohammed 35, Tilde Fulani from Bauchi State, Ibrahim Yakubu 30, from Plateau State, Ibrahim Zubairu 25, from Kaduna State, Abdullahi Ahmed 32, from Kaduna State, and Hamze Jibrin Bayero from Jos North, Plateau State

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APC Silent as Edo Assembly Crisis Deepens State chapter backs new speaker

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin As the crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC)dominated Edo State House of Assembly deepens, the national leadership of the ruling party yesterday said that it would not intervene in the crisis, accusing the media of blowing it out of proportion. Reacting to THISDAY enquiry on why the national leadership of the party has not intervened on the matter, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said that the party has structure, adding that the state chapter of the party was in the best position to intervene on the issue. According to him, “It is not every issue that the national leadership responds to. That is why we have structure; you can relate to the APC in the state. I can’t respond to that; we have structure. It has not gotten to what the media was trying to make it look like.” However, the Edo State Chapter of the party yesterday

threw its weight behind the newly-elecetd speaker, Hon. Frank Okiye, saying his emergency was in line with the constitution, and condemned the actions of some memberselect whom the party accused of throwing tantrums over the emergence of the leadership of the newly-inaugurated seventh assembly. In a statement which was made available to THISDAY, the state chairman of the party, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, said the actions of the members-elect were a betrayal of the trust reposed in them by the people of the state when they elected an APC-controlled assembly. He called on the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to call the members-elect to order, in the interest of the party in the state. “The behaviour will not be tolerated. We are calling on the national chairman who must have heard about their ignoble acts, to call them to order. What they have done is condemnable and will be handled with a firm hand. That is what we are going to do.”

Finally, FG to Enlist Federal Varsities on IPPIS Scheme James Emejo in Abuja The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris yesterday said the federal government has finally concluded arrangements to enroll all federal universities on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). He said the move had become necessary in order to promote probity, transparency and accountability in government expenditure and to achieve the desired objectives of governance in centralising payroll system. But the government’s decision appeared to be against the wishes of the universities, which had long asked for exemption from the system due to the peculiarity of the university administration. According to the staff unions of universities which earlier opposed the move, they argued that universities engage the services of professionals and other needed hands from time to time, adding that embracing IPPIS will slow down that ability and freedom to hire at will as situation demanded. However, speaking during a meeting of vice chancellors, registrars and bursars of federal universities in Abuja, Idris said the IPPIS scheme is one of the federal government’s reform initiatives, which is designed to achieve among other things,

a centralised payroll system of the federal government to facilitate easy storage, updating and retrieval of personal record for administrative and pensions processing to aid manpower planning and budgeting, as well as to comply with the global best practice. He noted that prior to 2015, the total number of Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) on IPPIS was 288 with total staff count of 235,858, adding that as at today the total MDAs on IPPIS platform is 561 with a total staff count of over 755,422. The AGFor added that the cumulative savings achieved on IPPIS platform between 2017 and 2018 was N273.80 billion, stressing that these savings, which would have been lost but was now available for government spending. He argued that the universities should comply with the presidential directive on IPPIS platform enrolment, adding that the system will accommodate all peculiarities identified by them, including sabbatical, visitation, honorarium and earned allowances. He said universities should be the best ground for entrenching reforms towards transparency and good governance, urging them to embrace the scheme as government will not change its position on IPPIS enrolment.

Phillips,

Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai. This followed the proclamation letter issued by the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The lawmakers have justified their actions, saying they only required eight members to form a quorum and elect a new speaker. The letter of proclamation was titled “A proclamation under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.” “Whereas, it is provided in Sub-section (3) of Section 105 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 that the person elected as governor shall have power to issue proclamation for the holding of the first session of the state assembly immediately after his swearing in: “Now, therefore, I, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, Governor, Edo State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Sub-section (3) of Section 105 aforesaid, and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the seventh assembly of the Edo State House of Assembly shall hold at the Edo State House of Assembly on Monday, the 17th day of June

2019 in the House of Assembly, Benin City. “Given under my hand and the public seal of Edo State, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at Benin City, this 14th day of June, 2019,” the letter of proclamation read. However, 16 out of the 19 lawmakers-elect have declared the inauguration illegal, null and void, saying they were not invited to the inauguration ceremony of the assembly by the clerk. Addressing journalists, the spokesman of the 16 lawmakerselect, Mr. Washinton Osifo (Uhunmwode), said they would have attended the inauguration if they were invited. Osifo said the Clerk called them at about 5. 30 p.m; to inform him of the inauguration. He said the clerk told them he will call back 30 minutes later but they didn’t hear from him again, nothing that some of their brothers who were supposed to be at a meeting with them were absent and when they were called could not pick their calls. He said: “At 9:30pm, photographs began to filter into our phones suggesting that a kangaroo Assembly

was being inaugurated. We were disappointed. One of us was spotted with a short and slippers taking oath of office. That was an offence in the hallowed chamber. They humiliated him”. According to him, “Two of them were also kidnapped to make up the nine members. That was what they needed but they lack understanding of what a quorum could mean there can be no quorum until the House is properly inaugurated. “What the law requires is inauguration of the entire members. They got four and said they have a quorum. It was for the Clerk to announce or cause invitation to be sent to us. That was missing. They gave information of the inauguration only to those they wanted to be there. We would have been there. “We have done the needful. We want to encourage Edo people to defend democracy and stand up for the right of men. We have 16 members present here. Others not here are still in shock after they were kidnapped. Two of them are still in shock. They are receiving treatment because their blood pressure went up.”

SAFETY ISSUES RESOLVED…

L-R: Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt. Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu; FAAN Director of Engineering Services, Mr. Salisu Daura; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Director of Human Resources and Administration, FAAN, Mr. Morris Anozie; and the Chief Executive Oﬃcer, ENPOWER Free Trade Zone, Mr. Emeka Eneh, during the inspection tour of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and its environs, in Enugu …yesterday.

Suspended Kwara LG Chairmen File Contempt Charges against Gov, State Assembly Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Phillips is Dead The family of Chief Edward Olasehinde Phillips, Ba’mole of Lagos, has announced his death. He died on June 10, 2019 in Lagos, at the age of 79 years, after a brief illness . Phillips who retired as Principal Insurance Manager at the defunct NEPA, was a past President of Yoruba Tennis Club and past President of Catholic Friendly Society. Funeral arrangement will be announced later by the family.

“The behaviour of some of these members-elect is a cause for concern for the leadership of the state chapter of the APC. We are disappointed with their conduct and the way and manner they have carried themselves in the last couple of days. It is unbecoming of worthy representatives of the people. “We condemn their conduct in its totality and their tantrum betrays party supremacy. This is why we are exploring sanctions against those found wanting in no distant time. In fact, their punishment is in fixed deposit.” He said the members-elect ought to conduct themselves as honourable gentlemen and act as people with knowledge of the law when they have grievances. “The process leading to the emergence of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye and his Deputy, Hon. Yekini Idiaye, was in line with the constitution. One will expect that people who ran for legislative office should know better to go to the court if they feel otherwise,” he added. On Monday night, nine lawmakers-elect out of 24 members elected the new speaker after being sworn in by the Clerk of the House,

The suspended 16 local government council chairmen under the aegis of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kwara State have filed a contempt of court against the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, and state House of Assembly over their purported suspension from office for six months. The state governor, Abdulrasaq, had last Tuesday suspended the council chairmen and their councillors from office

for six months based on the recommendation of the state assembly. The development, however, led the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to kick against the suspension of the affected local government council chairmen. The party described the action as unconstitutional in view of the ruling of the Supreme Court that barred any dissolution or suspension of any democratically elected council chairman in the country. However, speaking with journalists in Ilorin yesterday,

Chairman of the state ALGON, who is also the suspended Chairman of the Oyun LGA, Mr. Joshua Omokanye, said their suspension was reportedly occasioned by a petition, and violated their fundamental human rights. Omokanye, who was flanked by 15 other chairmen at the press conference, said they would “remain resolute and assert their constitutional and legal right to remain in office as well as continue to function as the duly and democratically elected local government council chairmen in the state.”

He also said: “There is a subsisting and final judgement of the state high court in Ilorin delivered on June 13, 2019, between Hajia Risikat Opakunle and 15 others versus the governor of Kwara State and two others “that determined that the governor and the state House of Assembly cannot dissolve the local government councils in the state or suspend the 16 local government council chairmen in the state during the tenure of their respective offices which will expire on November 27, 2020.

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DMO: FG Has Not Foreclosed Foreign Loans, Eurobond Issuance Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday stated that the federal government has not foreclosed the possibility of issuing Eurobonds as part of its external borrowing plan

for 2019. The 2019 budget with a deficit of N1.92 trillion is to be financed mainly by borrowing N1.6 trillion, comprising N802.82 billion domestic and N802.82 billion foreign loans respectively. The DMO said in a statement,

Again, Lagos Court Restrains LADOL from Interference in Samsung’s Operations Akinwale Akintunde Justice Abdul-Fata Lawal of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere has once again delivered a judgment in favour of Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited (SHI) and its subsidiary SHI-MCI FZE against Global Resources Management Limited and Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL). The court gave this judgment on June 14, 2019 while ruling in Suit No: LD/493CMW/2018 filed by LADOL, seeking to stay execution of an earlier judgment of the court of January 31, 2019, which was also in favour of SHI. In the earlier judgment, Justice Lawal had restrained LADOL from unlawful interference with Samsung’s use of its fabrication and integration yard in the LADOL Zone or interfering with Samsung’s proprietary rights. Not satisfied with the January 31, 2019 judgment of the court, LADOL applied for a stay of execution of the court’s verdict. Justice Lawal however in his judgment of June 14, 2019, dismissed LADOL’s application for stay of execution and still upheld Samsung’s rights under the sub-lease of its fabrication yard at the LADOL free zone. The court in this latest judgment still upheld Samsung’s right to continue to move in and out of its yard freely with its employees, agents and service providers free from further unlawful interference by LADOL. According to SHI, the judgment will allow Samsung to continue to provide services vital to the Egina project and Nigerian oil production. The Nigerian treasury will receive substantial revenue from the production and storage of 200,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the Egina oilfield. “The judgment also signals that Nigeria is a safe place for foreign businesses to invest money and resource safe in the knowledge that their rights will be protected. It is binding on LADOL and prevents it from unlawfully evicting Samsung from the fabrication yard or interfering with Samsung’s proprietary rights under its sub-lease,” the company said. The Chief Operating Officer of SHIN, Mr. Frank Eijzu, stated that the shipbuilding giant was pleased with the judgment. “Samsung is pleased that the High Court has once again ruled in its favour and against LADOL. The Judgment prevents LADOL from evicting Samsung from the yard meaning that it shall comply with its legal obligations to provide services to the yard

and its Nigerian employees. “We have always maintained that there were no lawful grounds to terminate the sublease agreement. This was part of a co-ordinated campaign by LADOL to unlawfully convert, appropriate and take control of the yard to the detriment of the Nigerian economy. The judgment by the High Court of Lagos grants Samsung possession of its fabrication and integration yard while the validity of the termination of the Sub-lease Agreement is being determined at the London Court of International Arbitration”, Ejizu explained. SHI dragged LADOL to court for allegedly abusing its monopolistic position and regulatory powers as a free zone manager in clear conflict of interest with its personal business interest. It was also accused of spreading deliberate and malicious falsehoods designed to unlawfully appropriate and take over Samsung’s fabrication yard. This culminated in LADOL’s attempt to unlawfully terminate the sub-lease agreement granted in Samsung’s favour and refusing Samsung access to its yard from September 3, 2018 until September 26, 2018. Samsung originally won the tender for the construction of the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platform for the exploration of the Egina oilfield 130 kilometres off Nigeria’s coastline. When fully operational, the platform will boost Nigeria’s oil production capability by 200,000 barrels per day and will make a significant contribution to the Nigerian economy. The joint venture (SHIMCI) entered a sub-lease agreement with Global Resources Management Limited (LADOL’s affiliate) in order for SHI-MCI FZE to construct and develop a world class Fabrication and Integration yard and quay wall for the execution of the local content elements of the Egina FPSO Project. Since its arrival in Nigeria in 2011, SHIN has created more than 6,000 jobs for Nigerians and has offered promotion to managerial positions for its Nigerian employees. It has trained some of Nigeria’s most skilled welders and has established a Technology training Centre. As part of its corporate social responsibility endeavours, it has also worked with Vision Care to provide free-cataract surgery to over 350 patients over the last 3-years. This decision is the right decision for Nigeria.

issued in Abuja that it was refuting media reports to the effect that the federal government has no plans to issue Eurobonds as part of its external borrowing window in 2019. According to the DMO, “The misrepresentation appears to have arisen during the Islamic Finance News Nigeria forum which held in Lagos on June 18, 2019, where the Director-General responded to a question on whether the federal government will issue a US Dollar-denominated Sukuk in 2019 which she stated was unlikely given the processes involved in the Sukuk issuance.”

The debt management agency noted that for the records, the 2019 Appropriation Act provides for New External Borrowing of N824.82 billion, equivalent of 2.7 billion at N305 per dollar The DMO stated that the federal government plans to go for cheaper foreign loans to help it part -fund the 2019 Budget while exploring the issuance of Eurobonds, if necessary, to cover any shortfall. “Consistent with the Debt Management Strategy of reducing debt service cost, the plan for raising the new external borrowing is to first access cheaper funding from multilateral and bilateral lenders

as may be available. “Thereafter, any balance will be raised from commercial sources which may include securities issuance such as Eurobonds in the international capital market,” the DMO said. It reaffirmed its determination to continue focusing on its objective of reducing debt service costs by emphasising borrowing from concessional sources while considering Eurobonds and other commercial sources as secondary options. The country, which emerged from recession last year, has borrowed abroad and at home over the past three years to help finance its budgets and to fund infrastructure projects, but debt

servicing cost is also rising. The government has said it wanted to tap concessionary long-term loans to finance its 2019 budget in addition to borrowing at home. It sold $3 billion in eurobonds in 2017, part of which it used to fund its budget that year. The government then followed with a $2.5 billion eurobond sale last year to refinance local currency bonds at lower cost. On Tuesday, the head of DMO, Mrs. Patience Oniha was quoted as saying at a conference in Lagos that there were no plans to issue Eurobonds this year

FOOD SCIENCE DEBATE…

L-R: Past President, Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology ( NIFST), Mr. Sola Olawale; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Gloria Elemo; Chairman, NIFST, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Sunday Bamgbose; and Ex- Officio, NIFST, Mr. Razaq Oke, at the 2019 NIFST day/Victoria PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Ojo Memorial Food Science and Technology Schools’ Affirmative debate in Lagos… yesterday

Amnesty Programme: Ijaw Congress Backs Dokubo Amnesty Ofﬁce explains delay in payment of stipends Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Esther Oluku in Lagos The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella body of Izon ethnic nationality has expressed full support to measures taken by the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, in repositioning the interventionist programme to its original mandate. The group stated this in a letter of solidarity and commendation sent to Dokubo

in appreciation of his efforts and achievements within a period of one year in office. A statement by Dokubo’s Special Assistant (Media), Murphy Ganagana, said the INC noted in the letter signed by Prof. Joseph Ajienka and DIG Mike Zuokumor (rtd), chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Steering Committee, that Dokubo deserved the support of all well-meaning Ijaws and other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta in view of his commitment to transforming

the region. “We wish to commend you on all the good works you are doing since you assumed leadership position of the Presidential Amnesty Office. We stand by you always and pray that the Almighty God always lead you aright,” the letter read in part. While delivering the letter of commendation to Dokubo in his office in Abuja on behalf of the leadership of the INC, Zuokumor explained that the foremost Ijaw organisation resolved to throw its weight

behind the Amnesty boss in consideration of his efforts in training and empowerment of beneficiaries of the PAP as well as prompt payment of monthly stipends. Meanwhile, the Presidential Amnesty Office has explained the delay in payment of stipends to beneficiaries of the programme for the month of May. It said unforeseen procedural bureaucracy in the chain of disbursement of monthly allocation by the Federal Government caused the delay.

Nigeria is France’s Biggest Trading Partner with €4bn, Says Ambassador

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Nigerian Ambassador to France, Ambassador Modupe Irele, has revealed that Nigeria is France’s biggest trading partner in the Sub-saharan Africa with over €4 billion trade volume in 2018. Irele disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on the ongoing Nigerian-France Business and Investment Forum, which she said was an initiative that began in Paris, France to promote business between the

two countries. She stressed that Nigeria established diplomatic relations with France on October 1, 1960 and already over 120 active businesses in Nigeria like Air France, CFAO, and Peugeot, among others. According to her, “already we have businesses over €4 billion in bilateral trades between Nigeria and France in 2018 and Nigeria is France’s leading business partner in sub Saharan Africa. So, there is already a good relationship in terms of economy and trade

between the two countries, but this needs to be taken further” “What we had noted in France was that there are a lot of interest in Nigeria but it remained at interest, we wanted to bring them to Nigeria, to bring a few of the companies who had shown interest in Nigeria so that they can move from talk to action.” Irele explained that the investment forum was made up of various sectors because all companies in all sectors must at some point or the other interact with various regulatory bodies,

policy bodies and they also need to have good partners in the country She said some of the French companies that are participating in the business forum were drawn from sectors like; petroleum sector, pharmaceutical sector, mechanical sector, electronics, ICT, agriculture, and medical, among others. Irele emphasised that some of the French companies had been invited in order for to explore the opportunities in Nigeria and not exploit.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Presidency: We Invited Obasanjo to Buhari’s Inauguration Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency last night described as untrue the claim by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he did not receive any invitation to the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29 and June 12, respectively. In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mr. Malam Garba Shehu, said the former president’s claim has the tendency to polarise the country as some individuals have exploited the allegation to launch attacks on the presidency. He said the letters that were dispatched to Obasanjo were received by his personal secretary as evident in the acknowledgment of the receipt of the letter. The statement reads: “The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, owes an answer to Nigerians on his absence from the 2019

Presidential Inauguration and Democracy Day celebration because the claim that he was not invited or he did not receive an invitation cannot be sustained. “Since the claim was first made, elements in the polity that have deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward polarisation have cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the Buhari Presidency. “The fact remains that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, wrote on May 16, 2019 to: ‘His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road, Ibara, P.O.Box 2286, Abeokuta, Ogun State.’ “The invitation was sent to Chief Obasanjo’s known forwarding address, detailing out all the major events, and the invitation cards were delivered by a reputable courier company

as confirmed. “The receipt of the letter and invitation cards as delivered by the courier company was confirmed by Mr. Taiwo Ojo, the

long standing Personal Secretary to the former President. “If, in the circumstance, Chief Obasanjo did not see or receive the letter and invitation cards

as published by Vanguard newspaper (Page 16, June 16, 2019) and several other news platforms, then the former president needs to find out

what is happening with his own secretariat. The government office did its job diligently and should not be blemished for no reason.”

INEC Withdraws over 70 Certificates of Return Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it has so far withdrawn about 70 certificates of return issued to candidates in the 2019 general election. The National Commissioner in charge of Information, Publicity and Voter Education at INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye who revealed this yesterday at the Election Reform Roundtable organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Kofi Annan Foundation in Abuja, said that the commission is still reviewing other cases of electoral malfeasance. Speaking on some of the challenges facing the commission, Okoye said that as at yesterday, INEC had about 809 pre-election cases to contend with as against 800 post-election

cases. “The implication is that the commission has more pre-election matters than postelection cases. As at yesterday, the INEC has withdrawn and reissued over 70 certificates of return issued to those who were previously elected into various state and national elective offices and there are more to be voided and reissued in the days ahead,” he said. Okoye blamed the high incidence of voiding of certificates of return to the not-too-transparent party primaries conducted by the various political parties. Okoye said the commission is planning to engage the political parties in a dialogue on how to correct the abnormalities in their internal operations as well to seek ways of pruning the number of parties in the country.

CBN Faults Report on Bank’s Finances James Emejo in Abuja The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has faulted a report which allegedly misrepresented its financial position. The said report published in a national daily, was captioned: “CBN’s life support to FG rises 780% to N8.12trn in 4yrs”. But the apex bank in a statement issued yesterday said the story was replete with mischief and falsehood. The statement read: “We wish to state categorically that the story is not only false, but an attempt, through sheer mischief, to distort and misrepresent CBN’s financial operations and also to misinform the investing public on the financial health of our country. “In order to arrive at their plot, the authors of the Business Day story had conveniently restricted their report only to CBN’s claims on the federal government

while ignoring other numerous deposits of the federal government, including those of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), with the CBN. “As can be clearly deduced by any unbiased and informed analyst, when the claims of the FG on CBN are netted against the claims of the CBN on the FG, the resulting net positions indicate that the FG was actually the net creditor to CBN in 2014, 2015 and 2017 to the tune of N2.14 trillion, N1.65 trillion and N0.36 trillion, respectively. “On the other hand, CBN was the net creditor to the FG in 2016 and 2018 to the tune of N0.11 trillion and N0.34 trillion, respectively.” The statement added: “From the foregoing and the detailed database, it is clearly inappropriate to compare the position as at end-2018 with the position as at end-2014, ignoring the movements within the period.

IN MEMORY OF LOVED ONES…

L-R: Chairman, Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa; Managing Director, Eleganza Industries, Mrs. Folashade Okoya; and Hajia Abbah Folawiyo during the remembrance anniversary of the late Pa Tiamiyu Ayinde and wife, Alhaja Idiat Abeke Okoya, held at Olorunishola Estate in Lagos ...recently

North-east Crisis: FAO Appeals to FG to Lift Ban on Fertilizer Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has appealed to the Nigerian Government to lift the ban of fertilizer in the North-east region. The federal government, in order to check the use of fertilizer for making bombs, banned it sales and distribution in some parts of the Northeast. Speaking at the launch of the rainy season programme

for 2019 in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the FAO representative in Nigeria, Suffyan Koroma, lamented that the ban of fertilizer has affected food production in the troubled region and subsequently the income of the people. Koroma appealed that NPK 15-15-15 should be allowed to be distributed by the FAO to improve food production and increase income of the people of the region. He lamented that the ban

on the transport of fertilizer is affecting FAO’s distribution of this essential fertilizer. The FAO representative revealed that since 2016, FAO has supported farmers in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states with crop inputs in a bid to boost food security and household nutrition in the region. Koroma disclosed that in 2019, FAO is targeting nearly 100,000 farmers for crop support during the rainy season, enabling food availability for at least six to

eight months. He lamented that “however, our expectation on yields has been dampened by the ban on fertilizer movement and distribution in the three Northeast states. “The rainy season is the most important period for farmers and would have the greatest impact on their food security and nutrition. For the fourth year, FAO is proud to provide direct support to the production and income in the region.”

FIRS Unions Restate Dedication to N8.8tn Target The two labour unions at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have reassured Nigerians, the Federal Government and FIRS management that they will ensure that the N8.8 trillion revenue target for 2019 is realised. Okere Samson, Chairman, FIRS chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), and Comrade Idris Hassan of the Nigerian Civil Service Union, NCSU (FIRS chapter), gave the assurance during the week after their meetings with FIRS Chairman,

Tunde Fowler. According to public notices circulated by the unions to FIRS staff, the FIRS Chairman has raised the level of staff welfare and unfolded a slew of pro-staff decisions that will enable staff to realise their individual and organizational goals. Fowler jerked up subsistence allowance from 20 per cent to 30 per cent, (it was 10 per cent before the Chairman’s appointment in 2015), pegged payment of Key Performance Indicators at 70 per cent instead of 80 per cent for

non-oil tax receipts, directed expedited payment of first 28 Days Movement Allowances to staff on transfer, approved meal, children education and maintenance grants –once staff meet target and attain some consensus on the vacancies for 2018 and 2019 promotion exercises. Apart from increase of subsistence allowance, staff have also been paid wardrobe allowances, while quarterly bonus on met or exceeded target in revenue collection, 13th month

salary and payment of equity contribution to benefiting staff of the FIRS Mass Housing Scheme have also been approved. An amount has been provided in the 2019 budget for to this effect. In the two documents circulated to all staff titled “Update on Staff Matters, signed by Comrade Samson, and another co- signed by Comrades Hassan and Jimoh Idowu, the two unions rededicated their commitment and that of their members to the realisation of the N8. 8 trillion target of the Service.

Derivatives will Boost Capital Market Liquidity, Says SEC

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms. Mary Uduk has identified derivatives as some of the investable products capable of boosting liquidity in the Nigerian capital market. Uduk made the observation at the final reporting workshop of the Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP) in Lagos, yesterday,

according to a statement by SEC. The KSP is centred on “Capacity Building on Operation and Development of Financial Derivatives Markets in Nigeria,” aimed at tapping from Korea’s expertise and excellence towards developing the derivatives market in Nigeria. According to Uduk, KSP has undoubtedly presented a good opportunity for addressing some of the market’s challenges

in setting up a strong and functioning derivatives market, especially in terms of having the required market infrastructure, regulatory framework and surveillance system for the derivatives market in Nigeria which are the target areas of research. “I am optimistic about our chances of creating a derivative market place that will be useful for our economy and the sub

Saharan region. With the profiles of speakers lined up for today’s event, I believe that justice will be done to the topics and all of us will leave this venue more informed than we came” “The partnership between the Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria is the first bi-lateral policy consultation between the two countries.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Buhari Makes First Appointment, Renews AGF’s Tenure Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the tenure of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris. The appointment, which was made yesterday, was the first by the president since his inauguration for a second term three weeks ago. The president was re-

elected in February. A statement made available last night by the Director, Communications, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Wunmi Ogunmosunle, confirmed the appointment. According to the statement, the president approved the renewal of the tenure of the AGF for a second and final term of four years in line with Section 171 of the 1999

Constitution as amended. Ogunmosunle added that the letter of appointment, signed by the Secretary to the Government of

the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, stated that Idris appointment will take effect from June 25, 2019. Idris was formerly the

Director of Finance and Account at the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. He had also served as

Director of Finance and Accounts at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) headquarters, Abuja.

300-level Uniben Student Commits Suicide Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The corpse of a 300-level student of University of Benin, Miss Christabell Buoro, was on Tuesday evening discovered in her hostel flat. The body of the 21-year old who was of the department of Medical Laboratory Science found in her residence, at Plot 4, Yehudi Lane, situated off Newton Street, Ekosodin, a community behind the university. It was gathered from a source close to the premises where her dead body was discovered that she drank deadly substance to end her life. The undergraduate, it was learnt, took her life after breaking up with her boyfriend, according to the suicide note said to have been found by her neighbours. The source further disclosed that an empty sachet of Klin detergent was found on the

spot where she took her life. He said people got to know it was suicide from the note she left which the police read out to the crowd that thronged the area. However, police officers at the Ugbowo Police Division were said to have invited two persons for questioning over the content of the letter. The late Buoru allegedly mixed some deadly insecticide, popularly called Sniper with Sprite drink, and reportedly left a suicide note where she stated that she was about taking her life because the guy she loved didn’t love her in return after her boyfriend broke up with her. In his reaction, he university’s spokesman, Michael Osasuyi, who confirmed the incident, said the school was waiting for a detailed briefing concerning what really happened since the incident did not take place within the university compound

Delta Indigenes in Diaspora Lobby Okowa for Appointments Alex Enumah in Abuja A Delta socio-cultural group in Diaspora, Egbudu-Akah Progressive Front, has called on the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to appoint one of their illustrious sons and Australia-based lawyer, Prince Daniels Obiokolie, to his Cabinet. The group which made the appeal to the governor in an online interview, said the appointment of Prince Daniels Obiokolie into his cabinet would ensure that the kingdom is represented in his administration. Founder and President of the group, Nath Obiokolie and the co-founder; Moses Okonkwo, who is also the CEO of ND Mozel Engineering Lagos, in the interview noted that EgbuduAkah Kingdom houses one of the largest state-owned rubber plantation that generates recurrent revenue for the state. They argued that none of their qualified sons or daughters has ever been appointed to any position in the state since its creation, adding that the Kingdom was yet to benefit from any infrastructural development, except the rural electrification project, which packed up few months after installation. Speaking further, the president posited that modern politics should focus on even distribution of appointments based on interest, merit, qualification and suitability,

noting that the Australiabased lawyer has the mental sagacity, social exposure and leadership acumen to serve in Okowa’s administration, having demonstrated his interest in Anioma politics through his grass root empowerment foundation and as founding President, Anioma Association, Australia. The group stressed that apart from being a member of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Obiokolie has a Diploma in Legal Practice from Australia National University, Bachelor of Laws from Charles Darwin University before further acquiring a Master of Laws (International Law) from Australia National University. He added that Obiokolie was admitted to the Supreme Court of the New South Wales as a Solicitor member of the law Society of New South Wales. “Aside his professional career as a lawyer, Prince Obiokolie blazed the trail as the first Nigerian to be appointed into two highly exalted offices in Australia; first is by the Government of New South Wales as a Youth Conference Convenor under the Young Offenders Act, 1997 and second by the Western Sydney University as the Lawyer member of Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), positions he holds up to date”, the president of the group disclosed.

WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, House of Tara International, Tara Fela-Durotoye; official of Fidelity Bank Plc, Chukwudi Okoroafor; Managing Partner/CEO Brandzone Consulting LLC, Chizor Malize; Group Executive Director, Rainoil Ltd, Godrey Ogbechie, at the Tea Time with Chizor (TTWC) Personal Branding Workshop organised by Brandzone Consulting LLC in Lagos… recently

Senator Seeks Free Treatment of Sickle Cell Patients

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

As Nigeria joined other nations yesterday to mark the World Sickle Cell Day, a member of the National Assembly, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has advocated for full and free serodiagnosis and identification of all sickle cell patients and carriers of sickle cell gene in all government hospitals. Nnamani, a medical doctor by profession , made the call in a statement issued in Abuja where he advocated for “free counselling for all sickle cell

patients and treatment in all government health facilities, including out-patient services, specifically emergency room attention and sickle cell clinics. “Free in-patient service in all government health facilities and free drugs and other modalities for therapy at all government hospitals,” he said. According to him, appropriate data collection and documentation at birth, and reflection of data and relevant forms, including death certificates, as well as free family and marriage

counselling at all government health facilities and tertiary institutions should be ensured . The senator added that increased public enlightenment and awareness/funding and support of sickle cell societies and like organisations, should also be carried out by relevant organisations . “Today, as we draw attention towards Sickle Cell Day, a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/63/L/63 of December 22, 2008, we salute all “sicklers” including sickle cell patients,

their mothers, fathers, siblings and all dependants. When a sickle cell patient suffers, the entire family and defendants also suffer. “As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child; so also it takes a village to take care of a sickle cell patient. To all sickle cell patients, I say to them we are all in it together. As we await full commencement of the ninth Assembly of the Nigeria Senate, our agenda is very clear as far as quality health care delivery system is concerned”, Nnamani added.

Enugu Airport Safety: FAAN Lauds Ugwuanyi’s Prompt Interventions Partners state govt to tackle encroachment Oluchi Chibuzor The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has expressed its “profound appreciation and gratitude” to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for fulfilling his promise to address the identified challenges that hitherto posed a threat to the safety of air travelers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. This is coming as the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, has stated that the agency is collaborating with the Enugu State Government to address the encroachment menace at

the airport. Speaking during the inspection tour of the airport and its environs to ascertain the level of compliance by the Enugu State Government and other relevant institutions to the request made by FAAN, Yadudu told Ugwuanyi, who was present at the exercise, that they were satisfied with the interventions made so far by his administration, such as the relocation of the Orie Emene market, abattoir, and the dismantling of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Radio/TV Mast, which the Managing Director, Mr. Chukwuma Ogbonna, promised during the

inspection, will be completed in the next one month. Yadudu disclosed that the issue of relocating the ENPOWER Free Trade Zone, adjacent to the runway of the airport, has been resolved with the management of the establishment, which was confirmed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Emeka Eneh, during the inspection. He said that after a negotiation by both parties “the required land that FAAN wants to protect is secured” for safety and security, adding: “We are happy with that and ENPOWER Free Trade Zone are also happy that with the

remaining land, they can still go ahead with their initiative and develop the land”. On the airport runway, the MD further disclosed that the engineering team of FAAN and its consultant from the Federal Ministry of Aviation will “very soon commence a comprehensive exercise to make sure that our passengers are safe”. The FAAN boss, who maintained that “the entire matter has been resolved”, added that the federal government’s agency is working with two solution providers to solve the issue of water scarcity, and equally fence the airport.

Workers Need Thriving Environment to Realise Potential, Says Lagos Archbishop Oluchi Chibuzor The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, has challenged the government and employers of labour to ensure their workers have the right and opportunity to develop their qualities in their professions in

a conducive condition befitting human being. This he stated was timely considering the poor welfare of most workers especially in the country. The Catholic priest stated this at the 2019 International Worker’s Day celebration with the theme: ‘Uplifting the

Worker’ held recently in Lagos and organised by the Young Christian Worker Movement (YCWM) arm of the church. According to him, “If the government and all employers of labour really intend to uplift workers, they should ensure that all the workers have the right to work, the

chance to develop their qualities and personalities in exercising their professions with equitable remuneration which would enable them and their families to lead a worthy life materially, socially, culturally and spiritually as well as to offer assistance to others.’’

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 08111813083

Top NPFL Teams Crash out of AITEO Cup in Round of 32 Duro Ikhazuagbe The ongoing 2019 AITEO Cup lived up to expectation yesterday as several top Nigeria Professional Football League teams crashed out of the competition. Enyimba FC, Rangers International FC, Sunshine Stars, Nasarawa United, Akwa United, Katsina United, Gombe United and Wikki Tourists all crashed out at the Round of 32 stage yesterday. Smart City FC of Lagos defeated Enyimba 3-2 while Nasarawa State’s Aklosendi defeated fellow team from same state Nasarawa United 1-0. EFCC FC dimmed Sunshine Stars also by the same 1-0 score line. The beauty of minnows ending the campaigns of topflight clubs continued with Calabar Rovers defeating Wikki 4-2 in penalty shoot out after regulation time deadlocked one all. Abia Warriors defeated Gateway FC 2-0 to end the run of the Ogun State team At the UNIBEN Sports Ground in Benin City, what was predicted to be an easy fixture Enyimba turned out a nightmare as the non-league team ended the run of the People’s Elephant from Aba. Kareem handed Smart City the lead in the 17th minute before an own goal by Tunde Adejoku drew Enyimba level after the half hour. But it took the hard fighting Lagos side only three minutes to retake the lead with a ferocious

effort from John Mawe Gini. Usman Abd’Allah sent on Bashir Abdulrahaman and Bright Emmanuel at the restart and the switches paid off twenty minutes later when Abdulrahaman picked Stanley Okorom’s long ball to blast past the keeper and restore parity for the second time in the explosive encounter. The underdogs, however, claimed a historic winner with 15 minutes left when Abduljabar Umar tapped in a loose ball after a free kick from the right. Thereafter, coach Lukman Oshun’s side defended obstinately to produce one of the biggest upsets in Nigeria’s Cup Competition. In Enugu, Rivers United FC handed out a 3-0 spanking to Akwa United to romp into the Last 16 stage. The Pride of Rivers State started in barn storming fashion and could have scored in the opening 60 seconds when Martins got on the end of a teasing Peter Ubakanma delivery off a corner only for Etboy Akpan to clear his goal bound header off the line. Akwa responded in the seventh minute with the Rivers United goalkeeper, Abiodun Akande forced into making a smart save to deny Dennis Nya who struck with purpose from the edge of the box. Rivers United scored with their next goal attempt with Adedipe’s effort off an Ubakanma delivery from a free kick, crossing the line despite the best attempts by the

FIFA to Appoint Samoura to Help Resolve Crisis in CAF Football’s world governing body and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are considering appointing FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura as a ‘High Commissioner for Africa’ in light of recent governance issues on the continent. If the proposal is approved, Samoura would take charge for at least six months from 1 August. African football’s ruling body has been in the spotlight recently, with CAF President Ahmad questioned by French authorities earlier this month as “part of a probe into corruption, breach of trust and forgery”. Confederation of African Football: President Ahmad not facing charges ‘a... The President of the Confederation of African Football Ahmad is released with out charges ‘at this stage in France. Ahmad was interviewed about the mysterious involvement of a French company, Tactical Steel, in the negotiating of a lucrative new sportswear contract ahead of the African Nations finals. The deal was among a number of complaints reported to the FIFA’s Ethics Committee by the then CAF General Secretary Amr Fahmy. Days later he was sacked by Ahmad. Other issues concerned alleged sexual harassment of staff, overspending on new cars and selective ‘personal allowance’ payments to a number of African FA presidents. The 59-year-old who is also being investigated by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, was released

without charge following the talks in Paris and has dismissed all allegations against him as “false”. Why African football boss Ahmad was called in by French investigators BBC Sport Africa and Josimar magazine reveal some of the background behind Caf President Ahmad’s questioning las... Other recent issues include the decision to replay CAF’s flagship club match after this month’s African Champions League final between Esperance of Egypt and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco was marred by a boycott following the failure of the VAR system. African Champions League: Esperance to fight replay as Wydad will consid... Esperance vow to fight order for Champions League replay while Wydad Casablanca will consider the ruling fully. There was also controversy with regard to rescheduling the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Egypt named as the hosts of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations The Confederation of African Football names Egypt as the hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations to replace Came... “The rule of the temporary FIFA High Commissioner for Africa would be to conduct a root and brand (sic) review of governance of the confederation, oversee operational management of the organisation and recommend where needed a series of reform efforts,” a leaked memo stated.

Akwa defence to prevent the ball from hitting the back of the net. Akwa predictably pushed forward in an attempt to get back on level terms and hurl themselves back into the contest. They almost got the equalizer on 19 minutes when Olisema shot but saw his effort saved, again by Akande. Spaces were now opening up for Rivers United as the Akwa United players charged up field in numbers in search of the equalizer. They almost got caught out in the 23rd minute following an electrifying Rivers United counter attack which ended with Bakary

Bamba heading agonizingly wide from eight yards after he was set up brilliantly by the impressive Onyedikachi. Moments later, Ubakanma fired an indirect free kick inches wide as the Port Harcourt side began to tighten the screw. Seven minutes before the break, Akwa had and missed their best chance of the half when an unmarked Ocheme Edoh placed a header from six yards wide when it seemed easier to score. The Uyo club, buoyed by that action, made one last push in an attempt to get back on level terms before the game got to the half way stage.

Temple Emekayi needlessly gave away a free kick at the edge of the Rivers United ROUND OF 16 QUALIFIERS 1. Warri Wolves 2. Aklosendi United 3. El-Kanemi Warriors 4. Lobi Stars 5. Abia Warriors 6. Bendel Insurance 7. Rivers United 8. Cynosure FC 9. Niger Tornadoes 10. Shooting Stars 11. EFCC FC (FCT) 12. Smart City FC 13. Kwara United 14. Calabar Rovers To be determined today 1. Kogi United /Plateau United 2. ABS FC /Kano Pillars

penalty area on the stroke of half time and set piece expert, Ndifreke Effiong stepped forward to take.

RESULTS Today

SmartCity FC

3-2

Enyimba

Ambassador FC 0-1

WarriWolves

Gateway FC

0-2

AbiaWarriors

Crown FC

1-1

KwaraUnited

Calabar Rovers 1-1

WikkiTourists

(Calabar Rovers 4-2

penalties)

Ekiti United

2-4

Insurance

Delta Force

0-0

CynosureFC

Cynosure FC

11-10 penalties)

WELCOME TO HOTSPORTS…

President/CEO, HotSports Group, Taye Ige (left), presenting a Super Eagles jersey to the Director/General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Yakubu Ibn Mohammed during Mohammed’s visit to HotSports headquarters in Oregun, Ikeja…yesterday

AHEAD OF AFCON 2019

William Ekong Launches Campaign against Tropical Diseases Super Eagles central defender, William Troost-Ekong, has started a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 120 million Nigerians. In partnership with the END Fund and Common Goal, William appears in a 48 seconds public service announcement where he calls on affected Nigerians to seek free treatment. Neglected tropical diseases are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases that affects more than 1.5 billion of the world’s most impoverished people, including 869 million children. They include intestinal worms, schistosomiasis (bilharzia), river blindness, trachoma, and lymphatic filariasis.

Preparing to represent the Super Eagles at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, William is hoping that every Nigerian will participate in the free treatment campaigns from several END Fund partners across the country. “Like the rest of the team, I joined Common Goal because I wanted to use football as a tool to make a difference. I’m proud that we’re partnering with the END Fund to challenge every Nigerian to tackle neglected tropical diseases or NTDs,” said William. “600 million people in Africa need treatment for these diseases with over 120 million living in Nigeria alone. “Football is a powerful force in Nigeria and as a footballer

and parent, I believe we should do everything we can to end these preventable and treatable diseases that stand between you and your goals. ‘So the next time a health worker comes to your school, community or place of worship make sure you take the free medicine that they are giving out. Keep the ball rolling – spread the word to your family and friends and let’s be the generation to beat NTDs,” he concluded. Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, Director and National Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, described the campaign as an important opportunity to bring attention

to NTDs in the country. “We are very delighted to have William join the Federal Ministry of Health and our partners in Nigeria’s fight against neglected tropical diseases, we hope that this campaign helps to highlight the importance of the fight against NTDs in Nigeria and across the continent,” Dr. Anyaike said. The campaign will run on local radio and television stations during the months of June and July across the following states: Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. It will also feature on digital platforms nationwide as well and include targeted SMS messaging.

Lagos to Open Viewing Centres for 2019 AFCON In fulfilment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to engender community engagement, Lagos for-all and unity among Lagosians regardless of ethnic and religion background, Lagos State Government has concluded plans to beam live matches of the 32nd edition of the 2019

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at designated viewing centres across the city of Lagos through ‘LAGOS IS A GOAL’ initiative. Put together by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Sports Commission in partnership with Slimburg Ltd (the official partner/ agent), Egypt 2019 Live in

Lagos underscore the influence of sports in community engagement and nation building. The governor has continued to thank and appreciate Lagosians for their overwhelming support and unwavering steadfastness during the last general elections. Sanwo-Olu pledged to uplift the

fortune and impact on sports “For a Greater Lagos.” With 24 Africa nations and best of African players on parade, 2019 AFCON Live in the city of Lagos promises to be 29 days of unforgettable football experience, full of maximum fun, comradeship and entertainment.

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Falcons Count on Providence as Group Stage Matches Are Concluded Today Duro Ikhazuagbe Maria Bonsegundo’s equalizing goal for Argentina in last night’s 3-3 draw with Scotland has brighten Nigeria’s Super Falcons prospects of making it to the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. With that draw, the Super Falcons remain in third spot in the standings for third placed teams, ahead of this evening’s matches in Group E and F. The draw also knocked out either Argentina or Scotland from dreaming of picking any of the four slots reserved for best third place finishers. England and Japan qualify from this group as winners and runners-up respectively. And so, as the France 2019 group stage goes out with a bang today with two matches, Nigerians will be praying that in Group E, neither Cameroon nor

New Zealand who are meeting in the last match should get any win more than 1-0. Although they both having no point yet but any win for either team in excess of 1-0 will likely spell doom for Nigeria as their minus 3 goal difference respectively may drop to either same with Falcons or superior count. In Group F, Thailand is out of the equation for qualifying having no point and standing on minus 17 goals. But should Chile currently on no point get a win of 4-0 over the Asians, that will reduce their goal-deficit to minus one, a superior aggregate over Nigeria. Apart from the battles for the last two slots of the Third place finishers, Netherlands and Canada will battle for the top spot of Group E while USA and Sweden also on same six points as the teams in the earlier group

have so much to fight for. Top spot in Groups E and F are on the line as holders USA face bogey team Sweden in Le Havre, while Canada takes on European champions the Netherlands in Reims. With a ticket to the Round of 16 already booked, Sarina Wiegman’s The Netherlands want to turn on the style. Wiegman has been satisfied with their results but says the

Oranjeleeuwinnen “can do so much better” when it comes to the quality of their performances. A Canada side also assured of their place in the next round might prove the perfect opponents for the Dutch Lionesses to rediscover the spark that brought them the European title. Canada have reached the last 16 but sit second in Group E with the Netherlands ahead on

goals scored. The Canadians are keen to win this match and top the table with captain Christine Sinclair having warned about the dangers of speculating on knockout phase opponents. A slight change in the line-up is expected to increase momentum, add some freshness and possibly catch the Dutch off guard. While USA and Sweden are both safely through to the last 16, the rich history between

the teams makes this a mouthwatering fixture. Sweden inflicted the US’s first and – to date – only group-stage loss at a Women’s World Cup back in 2011. More recently, at the 2016 Olympics, the Swedes were responsible for the Americans failing to reach the last four of a major tournament for the first time in their history. The holders know they’ll need to be at their best to avoid a repeat in Le Havre.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Table Group A Team France Norway Nigeria Korea Rep

Pl 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 1 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 1 2 3

GD 6 3 -2 -7

Pts 9 6 3 0

Group B Team Germany Spain China S’Africa

Pl 3 3 3 3

W 3 1 1 0

D L 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 3

GD 6 1 0 -7

Pts 9 4 4 0

France’s Wendie Renard (right) celebrating after she scored the second VAR induced penalty against Nigeria Monday night

Pl 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 2 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 1 1 1 3

GD 5 3 3 -11

Pts 6 6 6 0

GOtv Boxing 19: New Opponent for Baby Face as Lartey Pulls out

Pl 3 3 3 3

W 3 1 0 0

D 0 1 2 1

L 0 1 1 2

GD 4 -1 -1 -2

Pts 9 4 2 1

Pl 2 2 2 2

W 2 2 0 0

D L 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2

GD 3 3 -3 -3

Pts 6 6 0 0

Pl 2 2 2 2

W 2 2 0 0

D 0 0 0 0

GD 16 6 -5 -17

Pts 6 6 0 0

Group C Team Italy Australia Brazil Jamaica Group D Team England Japan Argentina Scotland GroupE Team Netherlands Canada Cameroon N’Zealand Group F Team USA Sweden Chile Thailand

L 0 0 2 2

Transfer: Mata Seals New Man Utd Contract Midfielder Juan Mata has signed a new two-year contract at Manchester United. Mata’s deal was set to expire on 30 June but he has agreed to stay on until 2021 - with an option to remain for another year. The Spain international joined United from Chelsea for a then club record £37.1m in January 2014 and has scored 45 goals in 218 appearances. “I have been at Manchester United for five years and I am proud to call Old Trafford my home,” Mata said. Mata, who scored in the 2016 FA Cup final win against Crystal

Palace and has also won the Europa League and EFL Cup with the club, said manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a “truly exciting” vision for club. “I am so happy that I will be a part of that,” he added. Solskjaer said: “Juan is the ultimate professional and one of the most intelligent players I have worked with. “As well as everything he brings on the pitch, we have some fantastic young players here and I know that Juan’s vast experience will help them to reach their potential over the coming seasons.”

Daniel Lartey, the Ghanaian billed to face reigning West African Boxing Union (WABU) champion, Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde of Nigeria, in an international welterweight challenge at GOtv Boxing Night 19 has pulled out of the fight. Babatunde will now face another Ghanaian, Eden Biki, at the event’s headline fight, which holds on Sunday, 14 July, at the National Stadium, Lagos. The news of Lartey’s withdrawal was announced on Monday by

Flykite Promotions, the event organisers. Biki is reputed to be a tough boxer, with nine wins in as many fights. He is expected to provide a formidable challenge for Baby Face, who has the same fight record. Biki also has an impressive knockout record, ending 78 per cent of his bouts within the distance. Six other bouts are scheduled for GOtv Boxing Night 19, with Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph, current African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight champion,

squaring up against Tope “Berinja” Agboola; and Hammed “Ese Hammed” Ganiyu challenging the incumbent WABU lightweight champion, Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu in the national lightweight challenge division. Taiwo “Esepo” Agbaje will take on former ABU featherweight champion, Waidi “Skoro” Usman; and Kazeem “The Light” Oliwo will go head-to-head against Tope “TP Rock” Musa in the featherweight category. The event will also feature

GETTYIMAGES

national light welterweight challenge bouts between Akeem “Sugar Boy” Olaiwola and Waheed “Showmax” Shogbamu; and Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla and “I Star” Chukwudi respectively. The best boxer at the event will go home with a cash prize of N1 million alongside the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy. GOtv Boxing Night 19 will be beamed live on Africa’s biggest sport channel, SuperSport, in 47 African countries.

Cowbell Chocolate Commences Get Up N Goal Promo Promasidor Nigeria Limited has partnered Supa Strikas to reward consumers in its Cowbell Chocolate Get Up N Goal promo, with fabulous prizes to be won during this football season. The Get Up N Goal promo which commenced on Monday, June 10 and will run till Friday, September 13, 2019, was launched by Cowbell Chocolate which has proprietary blend of Vitarich plus iron that enables active lifestyle suitable for children and young adults. Supa Strikas is a football themed comic and cartoon television (TV) series that enjoys large following among kids and young adults across the country. Speaking at the launch,

the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson said the combination of an active lifestyle driven by Cowbell Chocolate and a football loving culture of kids and young adults has impacted positively on the brand since 2017 when the partnership with Supa Strikas started. He said that this gives the brand exclusive rights to the Supa Strikas franchise, which is the comic book and cartoon TV series, and its assets in various packaging designs. Einarsson stated that the promo is themed Get Up N Goal because kids and young adults need the required energy to go about their activities like Supa Strikas in football, hence

the collaboration to reward the target groups through a nutritional brand that has the vitamins and minerals they need.To participate in the promo, consumers are to collect nine 20g sachets of the Cowbell Chocolate Supa Strikas themed packaging, each having a unique character, submit them at any of the 190 redemption centres across the country and stand a chance of winning any of the amazing prizes on offer. According to Einarsson, prizes to be won include the latest Sony Play Station 4 Console System along with a Virtual Reality Headset, Supa Strikas Jerseys, Soccer Boots, Footballs and many other consolation items. Also, participants who are

not able to submit nine unique characters can redeem as many empty sachets of Supa Strikas themed Cowbell Chocolate 20g packs to get free products. Promasidor, the maker of top quality products such as Cowbell Milk, Cowbell Chocolate, Cowbell Coffee, Loya Milk, Miksi Milk, Top Tea, Onga Seasoning, Sunvita Cereals and others, has been at the forefront of promoting youth development through various initiatives. These initiatives include Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show, Promasidor Harness Your Dream, a career guidance workshop for students in secondary schools and Loya Swim Meet aimed at nurturing swimming talents

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2019 â€¢ T H I S D AY

Thursday, June 20, 2019

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

MISSILE Judge to Kogi Gov “To allow only the House of Assembly and the governor of a state to remove a Chief Judge of a state or any judicial oﬃcer for that matter, without the input of the NJC, will be monstrous and outrageous as it is capable of destroying the very substratum of justice and introducing a system of servitude, utterly inconsistent with the constitutional independence of judges” – Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye of the Kogi State High Court ruling that the executive and legislature, cannot jointly or unilaterally remove the state Chief Judge without recourse to the NJC.

ENIOLABELLO ENI-B

eniola.bello@thisdaylive.com

0805 500 1956

So Painful the Goodbye T

hey seem to have a queer sense of humour, the hospital authorities that is. “Person to visit…” is the first item on the form the mortuary secretary, who met us at the door of her office, handed me to fill. And I had a momentary flicker of hope that perhaps, just perhaps, I had been dreaming all the while, that she might not have died after all. Formalities completed and we were ushered into what appeared like an anteroom to an average executive office, bare, save for the chairs neatly arranged. The lady led the way to yet another room, looked back at us, perhaps to be sure we were ready, before opening the door. And there she was, barely half her normal size, stretched out on a trolley bed, covered up from her feet to her chest, eyes closed, lips slightly open in a painful smile. I moved towards the still figure of my Helen, the lively and bubbling lady I had befriended for 30 years, 23 of which we had been married, placed my palm on her forehead with the intention of running my hand through her hair as I was wont to do through those hours of incessant pain and endless agony and sleepless nights and uncontrollable tears. I quickly removed my hand as the ice coldness of the forehead burnt through my palm to my shoulder and my head. After a second unsuccessful attempt, I stumbled out of the room, afraid my legs would give way under my weight, right in front of our children, whose cries I could hear behind me, particularly Bukola, our third child, who had mostly been attending to her mum in the last month of her life, and who had started crying long before we arrived the mortuary door. I sat in the anteroom, numb, confused, lost in thought, cutting off the tear flow and unable to muster the courage to rejoin our children and family members holding and comforting one another in that damned room. A flurry of thoughts ran through my mind, particularly our last moment together. I remembered the Sunday morning I flew in from Lagos, she was not there at the airport to pick me up as was her practice; and arriving home, she was not at the door to welcome me with a hug and a kiss of longing and relief, that is whenever she could not make the airport. Entering her room, there she was on the bed … her feet cold, and her breathing labored. She had difficulty lifting herself up from the bed ... As I helped her up, tears running down my eyes, she pleaded I stop if I didn’t want her to also break down in tears. I made her breakfast – bread and tea - so she could take her medication; I had to insert the bread inside the tea to feed her as chewing was even a problem. Even at that, she couldn’t finish a slice of bread. At bedtime, I left her in the

Mrs Helen Olufunke Eniola-Olaitan (August 4, 1969 - June 4, 2019)

bedroom and retired to the couch in the living room, both doors open so I could monitor her breathing. Between bouts of sleep and wakefulness, I would repeatedly sneak into the room to check on her and each time she would, wide awake, ask I go back to bed, that she wouldn’t want to see my eyes turn red for lack of sleep. I remembered her restlessness the following day as I joined her in an ambulance to the hospital, where she found every position she was placed uncomfortable. Lying down on her back, she insisted I turn her on her side, then lift her up, then make her lie down again amid repeated cries of pain. A tablet of tramadol she had taken before the ambulance arrived could not ease her pain; the medics had to inject her with morphine. Yet she was rolling hither and thither, grunting, crying, restless. In the midst of her pains, she was still concerned about me, checking the time, reminding me I needed to leave for London so as not to miss my flight to Geneva. She wouldn’t countenance my missing a long scheduled conference. I remembered the problem began following a routine invitation for breast screening, the detection of a tiny lump said to be cancerous, the ensuing surgery to remove the lump, the search for alternative treatment, the six-cycle chemotherapy, and the radiation therapy. Simultaneously ongoing were herbal medications, prayers and fasting. Then there were the complications – fluid retention in her lungs, swollen arm and legs, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, and partial stroke for a few days. Throughout, Helen fought with strength and courage and faith, crisscrossing the UK, her base, to USA, Ghana and Nigeria, looking for solution, undergoing various

types of therapy, searching for healing, and all the time worried about how our children would cope without her. My wife lived a life of total devotion to our kids. Shortly after our marriage, I made her resign her banking job partly because I believed that a nursing mother shouldn’t be saddled with some office work so as to have control of her time; and partly because the nature of my work made me an absentee father, mostly. And when the opportunity arose for the kids to live and study in the UK, it became inevitable that she would have to relocate to keep an eye on them. And she did a fantastic job of mothering, and partly fathering, the children. She brought the kids up in her own image – respectful, warm, friendly, homely, accommodating and independent. Her neighbours and colleagues at work who had been trooping to the house on condolence visit always had one or two things to say on how well behaved and disciplined the kids are. Helen was the spark and glow and sunshine of our household. Her tireless energy, her selflessness, her natural humility, her playful friendliness, her easy laughter, her material and emotional generosity, and her motherly disposition to all made her central to anything concerning me. She threw herself into every activity, every venture, every ceremony, every plan body, soul and spirit. She was the mother hen warding off danger I’m too blind to see, preparing the ground ahead, and always protective of her family. In my larger family, she knew how to kneel for everybody irrespective of age, how not to call any of my relatives, however young, by name; she had different kinds of cognomen for my family members – Big Daddy, Big Mummy, Iya oko mi, Baba oko mi, Iyale mi, Auntie, Uncle, Kabiyesi, etc – depending on age, sex, status and closeness. She instinctively knew whom to call, who to send a gift, who to invite for holiday, how to apologise, on my behalf, for any real or imagined infraction. She greeted every of my friend and colleague with a courteous smile, ending every salutation with “Sir” or “Ma”. Obirin bi okunrin, Helen was someone I am incapable of becoming in several lifetimes. With her at home either in Wolverhampton, or Lagos or Ayetoro Gbede, ours was always a bubbling beehive of activities with visitors coming and going, eating, drinking and having some gift to take away. Where I’m reserved and enjoyed the privacy of my company; she was gregarious and reveled in having people around her. Where I’m carefree and couldn’t be bothered about some insults; she was boisterous and wouldn’t accept any indignity. Where I’m quietly uncommunicative; she was openly lively. Where I’m inhibited; she was spontaneous. Indeed, she seemed

to have been specially created to fill the gaps in my life and make up for my weaknesses. She was my angel. I remembered her dreams: her hopes of us growing together into very old age; her plans to finally return home to Nigeria when our baby of the house, 15-year-old Olaoluwa, begins his university education at age 18; her impatience to have our first child Wuraola complete her Master’s programme and marry so she could be a grandmother; and her expectations that she would soon begin to live her life after all the years of sacrifices for the children. I remembered the phone call that Tuesday morning from our second son Ololade, who having closed for summer vacation, I had summoned from Bournemouth to stay with his mum. I quickly checked out of the hotel and headed for Geneva Airport praying that by the time I arrived her bedside at Holy Cross Hospital Wolverhampton, I would be able to make the doctors’ prediction she wouldn’t survive 24 hours hang in the air. I was still trying to change my flight schedule when I received a second call that my wife had passed on. As I dawdled my way through check-in, immigration and boarding, I was in shock, confused, lost. Throughout the flight to London, tears intermittently rolled down my eyes. Why, darling wife, after all that suffering? How will I cope with the children without you? What happened…? Iye Maro (Queen Mother Maro) Osuwa maro maje, monogba (Princess of the Royal Household) Omo egungun irun (Offspring of 300 masqueraders) Asipe igba lat’Ape bo Modarosa (Ape masqueraders armed with 200 canes at River Modarosa) Egungun eje mi koja (The masqueraders who denied me entry to Ape community) Omo asugba ori mobere edidi (The strange one who cooks 200 wraps of maize pudding without wrapping leaves) Omo agbameji wole ikon ra (The powerful one who vapourizes anybody that dares to wrestle her) Omo wo bani aru abara e aru (The princess who scares others, and scares herself) Iye Maro monogba (Queen Mother Maro of the Royal Household.) A gentle touch on my arm broke my reverie. I looked up as Ololade wrapped one arm around me, the others filing out of the damned room. I stood up gingerly and led the way towards the exit. Well, Helen will now rest. No more medication. No more pains. No more agony. No more tears. No more sleepless nights. Peace!

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