FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2020

Discos: We Will Stop Takeover by Siemens Cite legal agreement with FG Ejiofor Alike Electricity distribution companies (Discos) have vowed to resist any attempt to hand over their distribution

assets to German engineering conglomerate, Siemens.

Reacting to Wednesday's threat by the federal government to cede the electricity value chain to

the German company, the Discos, under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), told THISDAY yesterday that they would

resist any attempt to hand over their assets to Siemens.

The federal government had said on Wednesday that it was considering a proposal to take over power supply

from the Discos and hand it over to Siemens.

Briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, the Minister of

Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, had said the proposal was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Continued on page 10

DMO Urges States to Imbibe Debt Management Strategies ...

Page 5

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FG: Buhari Won’t Resign over Security Challenges Poverty alleviation central to protecting families, says president Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The federal government yesterday launched a pushback against clamour for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because of the security challenges facing the country.

It said there was no reason for the president to step down

because the security challenges were being tackled headlong by his administration.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at an interactive meeting with editors in Abuja, urged those calling for the resignation of the president Continued on page 10

APC Approaches Supreme Court to Review Bayelsa Judgment Gov, PDP, Falana, condemn attack on Justice Odili Oshiomhole, Sylva deny involvement Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos, Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah, Udora Orizu in Abuja and Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday approached the Supreme Court with a fresh application asking the apex court to reverse its judgment that voided the victory of its candidate, Mr. David Lyon, in

the last governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The APC, in the application filed on its behalf by its team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), is praying the apex court to set aside the "wrong" interpretation given to its judgment of February 13, 2020 and the subsequent Continued on page 11

FOR BETTER SERVICE DELIVERY...

L-R: Chief Financial Officer, 9Mobile, Mr. Phillips Oki; Ag. Managing Director, Stephane Beuvelet and Ag. Director, Marketing, Layi Onafowokan, at the launch of 9Mobile's 4G LTE roll-out in 16 cities in Lagos...yesterday

Maryam Sanda Asks Appeal Court to Quash Her Death Sentence... Page 8

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NEWS

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

DMO Urges States to Imbibe Debt Management Strategies

Nume Ekeghe The Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Ms. Patience Oniha, has urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to prioritise debt management strategies to enable them better manage, access debt and service debt.

She also stressed the need for state governments to always get the appropriate support from their legislative arm and institutions in order to be able to access debt easily.

She said this yesterday at a debt management workshop on borrowing guidelines for sub-nationals in Lagos, which had in attendance Commissioners of Finance, Accountant Generals and some legislative members from different states in the country.

She also argued that the federal government has been reducing its external borrowing in the past four years and was committed to sustaining the momentum.

Oniha said: “This calls for state governments and the FCT to prioritise the introduction and adoption of debt management strategies supported by appropriate legislations

and institutions and the regular conduct of Debt Sustainability Analysis exercises.

“The DMO implores state governments and the FCT to take advantage of the support being provided by the DMO on debt management.”

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines, she added that it was important for states to properly generate revenue to service their debts.

“Also, it is not always about just borrowing, you need to manage your debt to ensure that you can service it and so that,” she added.

On what prompted the workshop, she said: “The importance of the workshop is that debt is an important fiscal instrument in a country’s economic health and we need to manage it to ensure that we achieve the benefit.

“At the federal level, we have a debt management office that manages public debts. The state governments and the FCT are also allowed to borrow, but to borrow under certain conditions.

“Our experience working with them is that there is a significant need to improve their understanding,” she added.

House Seeks More Justices for Supreme Court Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court.

The House made the call at plenary yesterday following the adoption of a motion moved by the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Mr. Onofiok Luke.

Adopting the motion, the House “urges the federal government to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court in order to accelerate the determination of cases and dispensation of justice.”

The appointment of Supreme Court justices is an exclusive preserve of the president, who makes the appointment based on the recommendation by the NJC and subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Although the Supreme Court is supposed to comprise not more than 21 justices, there are only 13 justices on the bench, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Muhammad.

Moving the motion, Luke stated that the Supreme

Court needed more justices for efficient and timely disposal of cases. He said: “The House notes that the Supreme Court of Nigeria is the apex and final court of the land with original and appellate jurisdiction over the entire country to adjudicate on disputes and controversies arising from any subject matter.

As a result of its original and appellate jurisdiction over the entire country, the Supreme Court is faced with the huge responsibility of handling a high volume of cases with a minimal number of justices.

“The House is aware that the number of justices of the Supreme Court has been reduced to 13 with the recent retirement of Justice Amiru Sanusi from the court and the situation will become worse, owing to the impending retirement of another justice of the court in a few months from now.”

Luke cited Section 230(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as prescribing the maximum number of the justices of the Supreme Court to be 21 while the court in its history has not had a full complement of the prescribed 21 number of justices.

On the nation’s debt profile which she said has been on the decline in the past four years, she explained: “The level of new borrowing is not going up. If you start from 2016 to now, you would see that the level of new borrowing in the budget has been reducing.

“During the recession in 2016, the borrowing in that budget was about N2.3 trillion and if you look at last year and this year it is about N1.6 trillion and

the other year was N1.7 trillion. We are conscious of that and I think we should continue to focus on generating revenue.”

Speaking responding to a question on the proposed Eurobond she said: “The 2020 budget has a provision and part of that borrowing need N850 billion and it says that would external.

Domestic is N744 billion.

“So, the budget already has room for external borrowing of N850 billion and that translates to about

$2.8 billion which we need to raise to finance the 2020 budget. Included in that is that we have a Eurobond that would mature in January 2021.

“So, we want to handle the two together, so we are looking at $3.3 billion. In terms of where we are, the Executive has approved and so it would go to the National Assembly.”

On his part, the Chairman, Forum of Commissioners of Finance, Mr. David Olofu, said states

were improving their debt management strategies so as to readily access fund to finance infrastructure in their respective states.

Olofu said: “On the state level, we have a huge funding gap and because of the rightly impatience of our citizens for development, there is need for government to begin to look at sources of funding that are sustainable and that would not bring burden to government in terms of payment.”

PROMOTING FAMILY VALUES...

L – R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan; President Muhammadu Buhari; First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, at the National Conference on Repositioning the Muslim Family for National Development, in Abuja ,,,,yesterday godwin omoigui

Nigeria will Win Anti-terror War, Says Sultan The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will win the fight against insurgency despite the current situation.

Abubakar, who expressed displeasure over the killings and bloodshed in the country, lamented that it has gotten to a stage where the rich is avoiding the poor.

He condemned the act, urging everyone to live in peace and be their brother’s keeper.

Sultan Abubakar is also the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam, JNI), and President-General of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

He gave the assurance in Abuja at the 5th International Conference on Love and Tolerance: “countering violent extremism for peaceful coexistence” held at the African First Ladies Peace Mission Conference Hall (IPCR Hall).

The Sultan, who was

represented by the Emir of Jiwa, Dr. Idris Musa, said it has also been observed that most Nigerians do not love each other.

He called for prayers for Muslims and Christian faithful for God to show mercy and restore peace and progress.

“We can win the fight against insurgence.

Everyone is afraid of each other. I am sure we are going to win the war.

Today, it has reached where a senior citizen is running away from the common man, because, he is thinking that he would lose his life, why?

“The security challenges is our problem. The holy Quran is a message to mankind. The Hoy bible is a message to mankind.

If we cannot listen to what the bible and Koran have thought us and we continue in our bad ways, what do we expect. It is part of the punishment we are receiving based on our sins.

If we can stop committing sin and abide by God’s

words, things will change.

“I thank the UFUK Foundation for trying to unite the world to become one and love each other.

Today, we are in a situation that most of us do not love each other. This is wrong, we are created in the same way and we are brothers, no matter the situation and religion.

“We are appealing to everyone to live together and be our brother’s keeper and live in harmony. We should not create problems for each other”.

President of UFUK Dialogue, Mr. Kamil Kemanci, said the UFUK Dialogue serves to stand by societal peace, love, respect and compassion in support of human dignity and the greater good by striving to preserve the common values of humanity: values such as respect, tolerance, peace and mutual understanding.

He urged government to fight violence and terrorists recruitment with communities by working with local communities

to set up the necessary framework for identifying involved youths and prevent them from seeking self-destructive paths, assist families with counseling and other support service.

Kamanci advised that youth should be taught ways of expressing support and dissent within democratic means.

Government, he said, should incorporate democratic values into school curricula.

Kamanci also called on religious leaders to critically review understanding and practice of faith in light of the conditions.

The Executive Director, Cardinal Onaiyakan Foundation for Peace (COFP), Rev Sister, Agatha Chikelue, said there is need to emphasise on peaceful coexistence right from primary school level.

She said tolerance and love among Nigerians will boost security, promote peace and enhance development across the nation.

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NEWS

Maryam Sanda Asks Appeal Court to Quash Her Death Sentence

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Convicted husband killer, Mrs. Maryam Sanda, has filed an application before the Court of Appeal to void the death sentence passed on her for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of an Abuja High Court had last month condemned her to death by hanging having found her guilty of the death of her husband.

But she rejected the death sentence, saying the trial

judge denied her right to fair hearing.

She claimed that the judgment was biased and prejudicial because it was based on circumstantial evidence despite the reasonable doubt that was created by evidence of witnesses, lack of confessional statement, absence of murder weapon, lack of corroboration of evidence by two or more witnesses and lack of autopsy report to determine the true cause of her husband’s death.

In the notice of appeal

Gunmen Kill Two Policemen in Ondo

James Sowole in Akure

The Ondo State Police Command yesterday confirmed two policemen were killed by some unknown gunmen, who also injured another one in the state.

It was gathered that the policemen were killed by gunmen at a checkpoint along Ode Irele -Ajagba Road, in Irele Local Government Area of the state, on Monday morning.

The injured cop was said to have been immediately rushed to a hospital in the area where he was receiving treatment. However the identities of the deceased policemen were not revealed by the command.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the command had been on the search of the gunmen.

He said, "We lost two of

our men on duty on Monday, but we don't know who the killers are yet - whether they are armed robbers or militants or some thugs, it is when we arrest them that they tell us who they are.

"But it is very sad and unfortunately for the command, losing our men just like that. While the investigation has commenced, we will do everything to get the perpetrators arrested and face the wrath of the law."

On the other hand, a source in the area said the alleged killers were the militants who had been terrorising the riverine area in the recent time.

He said the bandits and the policemen at the checkpoint argued over N50 bribe, leading to the shootout between them .

Another source said, the killers were armed robbers, who shot the policemen, while escaping from a robbery operation.

predicated on 20 grounds and filed by her legal team led by Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), the appellant said the judgment of the trial court was completely “a miscarriage of justice.”

The appellant contended that the trial judge erred and misdirected himself by usurping the role of the police when he assumed the duty of an Investigating Police Officer (IPO) as contained in Page 76 of his judgment.

In the said page, Justice Halilu had said “I wish to state that I have a duty thrust upon me to investigate and discover what will satisfy the interest and demands of justice.”

The appellant submitted that the wrongful assumption

of the role of an IPO made “the trial judge fail to restrict himself to the evidence adduced before the court” and instead went fishing for evidence outside those that were brought before the court.

She said while “the duty of investigation is the constitutional preserve of the police, the constitutional duty of a trial court is to assess the credible evidence before it and reach a decision based on its assessment.”

She argued that “The trial court's usurpation of the duty of the police by taking it upon itself to investigate and discover negatively coloured its assessment of the available evidence and resulted in it reaching an unjust decision contrary to

the evidence before it.”

The appellant also argued that “the trial judge erred in law and misdirected himself on the facts when he applied the doctrine of last seen and held at pages 82 – 83 of his judgment that the appellant was the person last seen with the deceased and thus bears the full responsibility for the death of the deceased, and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

“There is no evidence before the trial judge that the defendant was the last person who saw the deceased alive” since “PW2 (Prosecution Witness 2), in his evidence, before the trial judge stated that he was called by the deceased, he saw the deceased and asked the deceased what was the

problem.”

She added that Exhibit F, the statement of Sadiya Aminu, tendered before the trial court (who was initially charged as 4th defendant in the amended charge), also confirmed that the deceased was alive though injured when she saw him.

It was submitted that “the circumstantial evidence which the trial court relied upon in its application of the last seen doctrine does not lead to the conclusion that the defendant is responsible for the death of the deceased.”

Consequently, she prayed the appellate court to allow her appeal, set aside her conviction and sentence imposed by Justice Halilu and acquit her.

EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES...

UNILAG Lecturer Bags 21 Years’ Jail Term for Raping Senate Seeks Agency for Integration of Repentant Boko Haram Suspects Admission Seeker L-R: Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Muhammed Bello Abubakar; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Olusola Idowu, when Abubakar paid a courtesy visit on the minister in office in Abuja…yesterday

Akinwale Akintunde An Ikeja High Court yesterday sentenced a parttime lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos, Mr. Afeez Baruwa, to 21 years imprisonment for raping an 18-year-old girl, who was seeking admission into the university.

Justice Josephine Oyefeso convicted Baruwa on a one-count charge of rape brought against him.

While sentencing the convict, the judge described his action as heinous.

She held that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others.

Justice Oyefeso noted that the prosecution has proven his case beyond a reasonable doubt, adding that she cannot begin to imagine the emotional trauma the girl went through.

The judge held that the convict offended his family, the victim, the society and God for which he must be

punished.

She said: “The offence committed against this young lady was a violation of her chastity, which would have left huge emotional scars from which I pray and hope she will recover.

“I cannot begin to imagine the physical and mental trauma she has had to endure from the man whom she considered her father’s friend, a community leader who should have known better. This is a shame.

“This is a crime that not only offends the survivor; it offends her family, it offends the society at large, it also offends God. “I find you Baruwa Afeez Akin guilty of a one-count of rape contrary to Section 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, and I hereby convict you accordingly.

“In line with Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011, Baruwa Afeez Akin is hereby sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.”

Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Senate yesterday began the consideration of a bill to create an agency to oversee the rehabilitation and integration of repentant Boko Haram members.

The Senate, at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, passed for the first reading, the bill entitled, "National agency for the education, rehabilitation, deradicalisation and integration of repentant insurgents in Nigeria," sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe East).

The bill was one of the five bills that passed through first reading after being read by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, upon the instruction of Omo-Agege after the adoption of the votes and proceedings of Wednesday.

The four other bills that passed through first reading

included the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2020 (SB 321) sponsored

by Omo-Agege; Federal Polytechnic Maiduguri (Est, etc) Bill 2020 (SB 338) sponsored by Senator Kashim Shettima; 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2020 (SB 274) and Metallurgy Training Institute Orumba (Est, etc) Bill 2020.

The five bills will now be scheduled for second reading by the Senate Committee on Rules and Business headed

by Senator Umar Farouk.

The main aim of the sixpage National agency for the education, rehabilitation, deradicalisation and integration of repentant insurgents in Nigeria bill, is to provide avenue for rehabilitating, de-radicalising, educating and reintegrating the defectors, repentant and detained members of Boko Haram group to make them useful members of the society.

Other objectives of the bill include: “To provide avenue for reconciliation and promote national security, and provide an-open-door and encouragement for other members of the group who are still engaged in the insurgency to abandon the group especially in the face of the military pressure; "Giving the government an opportunity to derive insider-information about the insurgence group for greater understanding of the group and its inner workings; "Gaining greater understanding of the insurgents will enable government to address the immediate concerns of violence and study the needs of de-radicalisation effort to improve the process of de-radicalisation; "Help disintegrate the violent and poisonous ideology that the group spreads as the programme will enable some convicted or suspected terrorists to

express remorse over their actions, repent and recant their violent ideology and re-enter mainstream politics, religion and society."

The Defence Headquarters had in 2017 set up a rehabilitation centre for repentant Boko Haram terrorists in Gombe State.

The centre has trained and rehabilitated over 1,000 insurgents since its inception.

Though the programme for the rehabilitation of the insurgents began in 2016, it was not until 2018 that the release of the suspects began.

The Defence Headquarters had also recently said it had rehabilitated former Boko Haram fighters as a shift from the use of arms and weapons to a soft approach to the war against insurgency in the North-east.

About 1,400 ‘repentant’ Boko Haram suspects, who were in detention, were released and resettled back into the society by the Nigerian military.

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Obonganwan Nsidung Barbara Etim James Obonganwan of Henshaw Town, Calabar

Joins the Modie family and people of Ogwashi Ukwu to Celebrate the Life of their Mother, Grand Mother, Aunt and Matriarch.

Lady Mrs. Gladys Ada Modie.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AS ANNOUNCED BY THE FAMILY

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PAGE TEN FG: BUHARI WON’T RESIGN OVER SECURITY CHALLENGES or the sack of security chiefs to be careful at this time so as not to aggravate the security situation with “incendiary comments” that cash in on religious, ethnic and political fault lines to further divide the country.

The president, on his part, at another occasion yesterday in Abuja, said he was conscious of the grave effects of poverty on the family as the fundamental unit of the society, adding that poverty alleviation is key to upholding family values.

The whispering clamour for the president to quit reached a crescendo on January 29, 2020 when Senate Minority Leader, while decrying the high level of insecurity in the country, called on the president to step down immediately for failing to secure the lives of Nigerians since his election in 2015.

Abaribe, who was contributing to a motion entitled ‘Nigerian security challenges: Urgent need to restructure, review and reorganise the current security architecture’, moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, and 105 other senators, said Buhari had failed to protect lives and property, which was one of the president’s electoral promises in 2015 and 2019.

Abaribe’s resignation call got backing from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other Nigerians.

But Mohammed dismissed the calls yesterday, saying the president will serve out his tenure.

He said: “To those asking Mr. President to resign, I wish to say this: Mr. President will not resign. He has the overwhelming mandate of Nigerians to preside over the affairs of the country till the expiration of his tenure in May 2023,” The minister also raised the alarm over what he described as a spike in the dissemination of fake news and the use of disinformation in recent times, saying, this is not accidental.

According to him, fake news, disinformation and hate speech have become the weapons of choice to create tension in

the polity and destabilise the country.

“And those behind it, the naysayers, are not about to relent. For some people, the 2019 elections are not over.

They are stuck in the preelection mode. And they must continue to use these weapons to put Nigeria on edge,” he stated.

On efforts to tackle insecurity, the minister said the Buhari-led government had been providing the military and the security agencies with all the resources needed to fight insecurity and also believed in their ability to restore order.

“These challenges will be successfully tackled. I will, however, advise all commentators, especially political and religious leaders, to be very careful at this time not to aggravate the situation with incendiary comments, comments that cash in on our religious, ethnic and political fault lines to further divide us.

“The kind of comments that have been attributed to some leaders, especially religious leaders, are incendiary and reckless. Leaders should be part of solutions to problems, rather than aggravating situations,” he added.

Expressing concern over how fake news could worsen the security challenges, Mohammed stated that the challenges were being aggravated because those behind the fake news and disinformation had also deployed new tactics, top of which is the recycling of old news items and videos.

“A good example is the video of the over 400 young men suspected to be Boko Haram members who were intercepted in Abia State in 2014. About two weeks ago, the video came back into circulation, creating panic in the polity. Their intention is simple: to create tension and panic in the country.

“Other recent instances of fake news: that President Muhammadu Buhari will be travelling to the UK for 20 days before proceeding to Saudi Arabia and Austria; that the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was attacked at the Rigasa train station in

Kaduna.

“That the Nigerian Air Force killed 250 Boko Haram insurgents and that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is planning to unveil some new 'communication regulations' aimed at recording all calls, monitoring WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, etc. Even private individuals have also been victims of this scourge,’’ the minister said.

While appealing to Nigerians to be circumspect in believing or circulating fake news, the minister said the federal government was pushing ahead with its plan to sanitise the social media by working with stakeholders.

He said the federal government would inaugurate the stakeholders’ committee on March 2 to deliberate and recommend the way forward.

According to the minister, the government is also planning a major international conference that will bring together the tech companies, journalists, policy makers and others as part of efforts to tackle fake news.

“Last week, I met with representatives of Google and Facebook for the same purpose. The situation is dire, and no nation that values its peace, security and stability will allow an irresponsible use of the social media,” he stated.

On the disruption of international flights to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in recent times, leading to the diversion of the flights to other airports within and outside the country due to adverse weather conditions at the airport, Mohammed apologised to Nigerians and other travellers who have had to endure inconveniences.

Explaining the cause of the problem, the minister said in its commitment to passenger safety and security, the federal government recently decided to upgrade the navigational facilities at some major airports across the country.

Consequently, he said the navigational aids at airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Asaba, were all marked for an upgrade from Category II Instrument Landing

System (CAT II ILS) to CAT III ILS. “In the first phase, the CAT III ILS was procured and installed in Lagos and Abuja.

In addition, the government procured a calibration aircraft instead of renting one each time for $500,000. Both Abuja and Lagos airports were calibrated.

The CAT III ILS is working perfectly here in Abuja.

“But after calibration, some incorrect readings were noticed in the CAT III ILS at the MMA. Just as it was about to be re-calibrated, the weather situation in Lagos changed for the worse, hence the disruption of international flights into Lagos.

“Some airlines opted to divert their flights to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, which, by the way, does not even have a CAT III ILS but where the weather was not as adverse as that in Lagos. Many travellers bound for Nigeria became stranded,” Mohammed explained.

He stated that the weather condition that reduced visibility at the Lagos airport was not unique to Nigeria; as some flights were being diverted from the Lagos airport, over 200 flights were either being diverted or cancelled at Heathrow in London ‘’I am happy to announce that the two runways at the airport in Lagos have now been calibrated for CAT III ILS and NOTAM sent out’’, he added.

Also speaking on the $500 million loan being sought from China by his ministry, the minister said it was wrong to suggest that the loan was only for the upgrading of NTA equipment alone.

According to him, the loan, among others, is for the construction of a headquarters complex and transmission network for Integrated Television Services (ITS) and to build an ultra-modern Media City in Ikorodu.

Meanwhile, the president yesterday in Abuja said

that given the grave havoc that poverty wreaks on the family, his administration will continue to work towards an improvement in economic empowerment of the people.

He pledged the federal government's interest in fostering economic support for families and also to empower family members with a view to enhancing family economic status and stability.

The president made this pledge in Abuja while declaring open the Joint National Conference of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Future Assured Initiative on Repositioning the Muslim Family for National Development.

Buhari described the family as the bedrock of any society and canvassed the necessity to give it the deserved attention in the country.

The president said his administration had embarked on a range of empowerment programmes, noting that such programmes could have both direct and indirect impacts on the families.

“We have been conscious of the havoc poverty is wreaking on the family. We therefore believe that poverty alleviation is central to safeguarding the integrity of our families.

“Our administration introduced a number of economic empowerment and poverty alleviation schemes.

Some of these directly impact on families while others have indirect effect on families through their multiplier effects,” he stated.

According to a statement by the president's media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari said many homes had benefitted from the federal government's Conditional Cash Transfer, adding that trader-moni and market-moni schemes initiated by the government had also been impactful.

“The school feeding programme has assisted immensely in supporting poor Nigerian families in getting their children enrolled and sustained in school,’’ he said.

He appealed to religious leaders to devote more

attention to issues aimed at strengthening the family and as well build the society.

While commending organisers of the event for the initiative, Buhari appealed to other religious bodies, notably the Christianity and Islam, to borrow a leaf from the initiative, describing religious leaders and organisations as embodiments of values.

The president tasked the religious leaders and organisations to channel their messages towards addressing family values with a view to reawakening people's consciousness to these values.

Buhari commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar II, who was present at the event as well as the Future Assured Initiative, led by his wife, Aisha, for spearheading projects on marriage and family.

According to the statement, the first lady, in her remarks, said the project would identify critical marriage challenges and come up with relevant platforms for resolving them.

Mrs. Buhari who said she had assembled Islamic scholars to address the issues, identified sensitisation of relevant stakeholders with their responsibilities as one of the platforms.

“We have succeeded in assembling an array of Islamic scholars to further deliberate on these matters, with the belief that they will do justice to the issues,’’ she added.

On his part, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, advocated the implementation of the Universal Basic Education with the intention of compelling parents to send their children to school, promising that the National Assembly would work with the executive to ensure compliance.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, also advised men to accept full responsibilities for their marriages by taking cognizance of fundamental importance of economic interests in marriage.

He advised men to marry responsibly and have only the number of children they can cater for.

Tifase, proved abortive as she could not be reached through her mobile phone.

Siemens, the new bride of the federal government, had reportedly agreed in 2008 to pay $1.3 billion in penalties to United States and German authorities, which had accused the firm and its three subsidiaries of paying thousands of dollars in bribes to government officials in many countries, including Nigeria, from 2001 to 2007.

A German court in Munich had named some past Nigerian Ministers of Communications as well as a senator as having received bribes of about 10 million Euros from the German engineering conglomerate.

The court, in an October 4, 2007 ruling, listed three former Nigerian ministers and a senator among the alleged bribe recipients.

The court also indicted Siemens for offering bribes to ministers in Nigeria, Libya and Russia to win lucrative contracts.

The massive corruption was uncovered when the police raided the company's headquarters in Munich as well as other subsidiaries on November 15, 2006.

The company had initially claimed innocence and blamed the developments on what it

described as a small “criminal gang,” it later paid more than $1.3 billion in fines, penalties and disgorgement of profits, including $800 million to US authorities, following the US and German prosecutions.

The fines were said to be the largest monetary sanction ever imposed under America’s Foreign Corruption Practice Act (FCPA) since it was passed in 1977.

Following the development, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua had ordered security agencies to investigate and prosecute all those found guilty.

“Anybody found culpable in the scandal would face the full wrath of the law,” the then president said in a statement by his Special Adviser (Communications), Mr. Segun Adeniyi.

Also in 2009, the federal government cancelled a contract for the supply of electrical systems with the German firm and also suspended dealings with the company, pending the investigation into allegations that it gave bribes to government officials.

The then Communications Minister, Mr. John Odey, had argued that it would be improper for the federal government to give new contracts to Siemens while corruption allegations were

being investigated by the Nigeria authorities.

However, the company has since resumed full operations in Nigeria with deep involvement in the power sector.

Poverty Alleviation Central to Protecting Families, Says Buhari

DISCOS: WE WILL STOP TAKEOVER BY SIEMENS he submitted to FEC. “What I want to say is that most of the problems we are facing in this country is that we cannot get electricity supplied adequately and efficiently and this is because we have a problem in distribution. On generation, there is no more problem. We can generate up to 13,006 megawatts but the transmission, those who are taking the electricity supply, can only take 7,000 megawatts. Even at that, they are not taking the whole 7,000 megawatts but only 4,500 megawatts and then send for distribution. The distribution (Discos) in turn receives only 3,000 megawatts. Because of technical and commercial reasons, they cannot contain the whole power that has been generated.

“So, we cannot continue like that. If they are ready to continue, fine; but if they are not ready to continue, maybe they should give way to whoever that is ready to come and invest. So, we are asking the government to review and see if they are capable, fine; but if they are not capable, they should give way,” he had added.

But ANED’s Executive Director in charge of Research and Advocacy, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, said the minister was wrong and the proposal

ill-advised.

Oduntan stated that the power investors would not allow anybody to take over their $2.4 billion assets and wondered why the minister would contemplate such an action when the investors have a legal agreement with the federal government.

“If truly the minister said that, it is very unfortunate for Nigeria. He was wrong and ill-advised. This kind of statement from a minister will not encourage foreign investors to come to Nigeria. We have a legal agreement with the federal government and nobody will close his eyes and allow his $2.4 billion investments taken away. Let us wait and see how he (minister) plans to do it.

“And for the present administration to take Siemens to the bank is very unfortunate for Nigeria – the same Siemens that was involved in bribery scandal in Nigeria. We all know the antecedents of Siemens in Nigeria. Siemens was accused of corruption and was indicted,” he said.

Under the associated Performance Agreements signed by the private investors and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in August 2013 before they were handed over the power assets in November 1, 2013, the investors, among other

performance indices, covenanted to achieve agreed reduction targets of aggregate technical, commercial and collection losses within a period of five years.

The agreement stipulates that if the Discos failed to achieve the targets, the federal government would take over the assets and pay each of the buyers of the 11 distribution assets only $1.

For the Discos to achieve the targets in the first five years, the agreement also set certain targets for the federal government.

However, due to what the investors and the BPE later identified as lack of adequate technical information relating to the state of the power infrastructure at the time of concluding the sale of the assets, the approved loss level in the Performance Agreements, which shall form the basis of determining the performance of the core investors, was not accurate but based on provisional estimates.

Following this development, the BPE extended the five-year tenure during which the core investors were required to fully achieve far-reaching efficiency improvement targets in power supply.

Efforts to get the reactions of the Managing Director of Siemens Nigeria, Mrs. Onyeche

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Sanusi Calls for Arrest of Fathers of Almajiris The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has said fathers who send out their children to beg for alms should be arrested.

Sanusi spoke yesterday at a conference organised by the Future Assured Initiative, the non-governmental organisation of the the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari.

It was organised in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

The emir said no law provides that a man should marry, have children and abandon them without living up to his responsibility to them.

He said any man who is too poor to take care of his family

Four NSCDC Officers Abducted in Kogi At least four officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been kidnapped in Kogi State.

The spokesman of the state police command, William Aya, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the officers were kidnapped at a spot in Alo-Offoke community on the Itobe-Ayingba road.

The officials were said to be travelling to Makurdi for promotion examination when their vehicles were stopped by some gunmen.

“Information gathered reveals that four civil defence personnel were among the kidnapped victims,” Aya said, indicating that those kidnapped may be more than four.

He said three other persons that sustained injuries during the attack were currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Aya said the police responded immediately it received distress calls that some armed men were operating between Alo- Offoke and

Ayingba.

“The Divisional Police Officer in charge immediately mobilised his personnel to the scene where they met two abandoned vehicles, one Volkswagen Sharon bus with registration number Kogi KNA 220 LG and a Volkswagen Gulf car with registration number Lagos EZ 376 SMK,” he said.

“Both vehicles were riddled with bullets and occupants suspected to have been abducted while 20 expended AK47 ammunition and civil defence kits were recovered from the scene.”

Aya said the command had flagged off aerial surveillance patrol of Obajana axis and other black spots.

He said the operation also involved ground troops consisting of police and military personnel who are now combing the bush to rescue victims.

He said the new operation was being led by the state Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Ekpeji.

should go out and beg himself, and not send his children.

“Every day, wives are complaining about their husbands who claim their rights but abandon their responsibilities of marriage, women being divorced with their husbands not taking care of the children and those children ending up on the streets, drugs, political thuggery, violent extremism,” he said.

“No law that talks about consent in marriage, the rights of wives and husbands, domestic violence, rights of women divorced , the

responsibilities of husbands under divorce situations, if a child is found on the streets, is the father that is responsible and can the state hold him accountable?

“Do you just marry and have children without any responsibilities? The reason Allah send His Prophets is that there should be justice in this world - ustice in our relationship with our maker and in our relationship with our fellow human beings.

“Justice means that everyone is given his rights. If a man takes the privilege of being the head of the family, he takes

the responsibilities of being the provider of the family. You cannot take that privilege and a band the responsibilities.

“Is it a fact that a father has the right to force his daughter into a loveless marriage? that you have the rights to batter you wife? You have the right to have children and push them to the streets to beg?

That when you divorce your wife, you ask her and her children to pack and go back to her father’s house and that is the end?

“I can spend 100 years saying that it is wrong and unIslamic for a man to beat his

wife, but it is the governor and the state house of assembly that should pass the law, it is the courts and the police that will make sure that the woman gets justice. The scholars and emirs cannot do that.

“So, the problem is these groups of human beings are those who will stand to answer to Allah if there is no justice.

“The traditional and religious leaders have an obligation to ask for justice, but those with the political powers have an obligation to put in place the processes that will make sure that these justices are complied with.”

MOMENTS WITH MR. PRESIDENT...

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; President Muhammadu Buhari and and former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, during a visit to the president in Abuja… yesterday.

APC APPROACHES SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW BAYELSA JUDGMENT execution of the judgment

by INEC, which led to the inauguration of Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor.

The APC’s application came as more condemnations trailed the attack on the Abuja home of Justice Mary Odili, who headed the Supreme Court panel that deliberated on the Bayelsa appeal.

Among those who flayed the attack were PDP, Diri, human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and the Deputy Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu.

However, Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, who was accused of being among the sponsors of the attack, denied any involvement in the protest.

Last week, the Supreme Court had voided the candidacy of Lyon and his deputy, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, on account of Degi-Eremienyo’s presentation of false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to aid his qualification in the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The APC, in its application for the review of the judgment, said the apex court misinterpreted the November 12, 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which it (the Supreme Court) affirmed.

The party averred that the Supreme Court acted without jurisdiction and denied it fair hearing when the court proceeded to disqualify its

governorship candidate even though the trial court in the judgment ,which the apex court affirmed, refused the plaintiffs’ prayer to disqualify Lyon.

The party also faulted the interpretation given to the Supreme Court judgment by INEC in issuing certificate of return to Diri.

“In this honourable court’s judgment of February 13, 2020, the court erroneously and inadvertently stated that the trial high court consequentially disqualified the applicant‘s governorship candidate even though the trial court made no such order and when the trial court indeed refused to grant the express orders sought by the plaintiffs therein for his disqualification.”

The APC, asked the court to set aside portions of its judgment where it held that the Federal High Court, in disqualifying its deputy governorship candidate, disqualified its governorship candidate; and where it held that joint ticket of its candidates was vitiated by the disqualification of the deputy governorship candidate and that both candidates are deemed not to be candidates in the election.

It prayed the court to set aside the portion of the judgment where it ordered INEC to declare as winner of the governorship election, the candidates with the highest number of lawful votes; and where it ordered INEC to withdrew the certificate of return issued to its governorship candidate

and issue a fresh one to the candidate with the highest number of lawful votes.

The APC argued that it was wrong for the apex court to have voided its candidates’ participation in the election, when the judgment by the Federal High Court, disqualifying its deputy governorship candidate, was stayed as at when the election was conducted.

“Applicant and its governorship and deputy governorship candidates timeously appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal, and also applied for a stay of execution of the said judgment pending appeal.

“As at the time the governorship election in Bayelsa State was conducted on November 16, 2019 the order for stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal was subsisting and there was no appeal against it.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered on December 23, 2019 whereby the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the trial High Court delivered on November 12, 2019.

“There was no cross-appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the trial high court refusing to make an order disqualifying the governorship candidate of the applicant.

(Lyon Dovid Pereworimin).

“In the judgment of this honourable court delivered on February 13, 2019 this honourable court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and restored the decision of

the trial high court.

“In the enrolled order of the judgment of the trial high court, no disqualification order was made against the applicant’s candidate (Lyon David Pereworimin), whether consequentially or otherwise.”

Bayelsa Gov, PDP, Falana, Condemn Attack on Justice Odili Meanwhile, Diri, Falana and Okechukwu have condemned the attack on the residence of Justice Odili by political hoodlums over the verdict of the apex court on the Bayelsa governorship election.

Diri, in a statewide broadcast yesterday, described the attack as sponsored and a desecration of a national institution.

The governor saluted the courage of the justices of the Supreme Court in their quest to uphold democratic principles.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for not yielding to pressure to interfere with the legal process as well as his legal team for putting up a sterling performance.

The governor contended that victory in a political contest should not be seen as an end in itself but as a means to foster peace, stability and development in all spheres.

A statement by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as stressing the need to make life more meaningful by creating an enabling environment that would engender economic activities and provide employment opportunities for the youth.

Okechukwu also decried

the continued dwindling of the nation’s democratic credentials and fortunes, describing the incident as an ominous development for the nation’s democracy.

The lawmaker said judicial officers must be free to dispense justice without fear or favour.

He stated that the judiciary has come under attacks in recent years, saying that this is dangerous for our democracy.

On his part, Falana called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to probe the invasion.

He said the invasion was an infringement on Justice Odili’s fundamental right to privacy guaranteed by Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

Falana, in a statement yesterday, described the right of Nigerian judges to decide cases without fear or favour as an integral part of judicial independence guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the constitution.

He added that never in the history of Nigeria has a justice of the Supreme Court been subjected to such embarrassment over his or her decision.

He added that since both APC and PDP have accused each other of sponsoring the protest, the Inspector General of Police should investigate the incident.

He noted that upon the conclusion of the investigation, the report should be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation with a view to charging the demonstrators with criminal trespass contrary to Section 349 of the Penal

Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory.

He also urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take up the invasion of Justice Odili’s official residence with Buhari.

He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to follow up the investigation and prosecution of the invaders.

Also reacting, the PDP condemned the federal government’s delay in arresting APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly inciting the attack on Justice Odili.

The PDP said it was clear that the attack on Justice Odili was part of APC’s alleged plot to intimidate, harass and cow the judiciary and judges to do only its bidding in delivering judgments on cases involving the PDP and its members.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said the APC should know that Nigerians were not deceived by effort by its leadership to politicise the attack on Justice Odili by making flimsy and baseless allegations against the PDP, in a failed bid to divert public attention from their culpability in the attack.

The PDP described as distressing the Inspector General of Police’s alleged failure to arrest Oshiomhole for allegedly instigating the attack on Justice Odili.

Cont’d on page 52

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NEWS

CBN Returns over N60bn Excess Bank Charges to Customers Dike Onwuamaeze The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it had so far recovered over N60 billion from erring banks as excessive charges imposed on customers.

The bank also said it had equally returned same amount to the affected customers.

This is coming as the apex bank has announced that it had commenced the processes for creation of 10 million jobs in the next five

NIMASA: Nigeria Among Top 20 Polluters of Oceans, Seas Eromosele Abiodun The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has cautioned against the dangers of plastic waste revealing that Nigeria is among top 20 countries that contribute 83 per cent of total volume of land based plastic waste that end up in the oceans and seas.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside stated this yesterday during the launch of Maritime Action Plan for Marine Litter and Plastic (MAP-ML+P) Management in Nigeria.

According to him, “it is estimated that over 200,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste from land-based sources in Nigeria, is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean each year.

“A recent report in September 2019 by the Voice of America

(VOA), also shows that Nigeria generates an estimated 32 million tonnes of solid waste per year, one of the highest amounts in Africa. Of that figure, plastic constitutes 2.5 million tonnes. This poses a great danger to the environment and particularly our marine ecosystem.

“An immeasurable number of coastal communities in Nigeria have no official waste collection service, meaning that there is nowhere for litter to go. Regrettably, most of the waste generated in these communities ends up in the seas and oceans.”

The overall implications for the Nigerian economy, he warned, are enormous adding that the presence of Marine Litter and Plastics in our waters is impacting negatively on the drive to make Nigeria a greener, safer and healthier nation.

years through investment support in agriculture, using 10 commodity models.

Speaking yesterday during a two-day customers sensitisation forum in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the CBN Director of Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said the recovery of the excess bank charges was made possible through the bank’s Consumer Protection Department.

According to him, the amount was recovered following complaints by 13,000 customers over excess and illegal charges on their accounts by banks.

Okoroafor, who also

disclosed that the erring banks were meted with various penalties by the CBN, stated that the Apex Bank was determined to ensure that no bank customer was cheated with excessive charges from their banks.

He added that the CBN adopted intermediation strategy to monitor the banks and ensure they did not misuse customers’ deposits.

He used the opportunity to advise bank customers to report all cases of suspected illegal or excessive charges they feel their banks might have imposed on them.

Speaking on the CBN’s

development function, Okoroafor said, “We want to stop inflation in the economy by ensuring that prices of food items don’t keep rising at every turn. That’s why we made loans available with single digits interest rate.”

In the light or this, the CBN spokesman disclosed that more than 10 million jobs would be created in Nigeria in the next five years through the apex bank’s activities.

The jobs, he added, would be created through 10 commodity models such as cotton, cassava, palm oil, cocoa, maize, tomatoes poultry, fishery, cattle and dairy.

“We will also provide high yielding seedlings as well as extension services to the farmers. “We’ll equally provide them with the processors or off takers who will buy off their farm products immediately after harvest. This will create the best value chain for everyone.

“If we face cassava for instance in the South-east alone, we will create at least one million jobs here.

“Our intention is to bring back farm settlements across the country as it used to be in the past. That’s the easiest way of building our economy,” he said.

SCHOOL CHILDREN ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R: Kwara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Aisha Ahman-Pategi; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Vocal Person, NHGSFP, Hajia Basirat AbdulRazaq; Deputy Chief of Staff, Mrs. Olubukola Babalola; and Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Adenike Afolabi-Oshatimehin; at the opening session of a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on the NHGSFP in Ilorin, the state capital...yesterday

EU Announces N32m Humanitarian Aid to Fight Lassa Fever Outbreak Leah Sharibu’s Mother, Others Embark on Protest in UK The European Union (EU), has announced the allocation of €80,000 (N32 million) in humanitarian funding to assist in the fight to eradicate Lassa fever in Nigeria.

This is coming as the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ketil Karlsen, has urged politicians to show restraints in their quest for power.

Besides, the fund is expected to assist families affected by the current Lassa Fever outbreak in Nigeria. The EU funds will go towards supporting the Nigerian Red Cross in promoting hygienic practices and disease transmission control, contributing to the

identification of suspected cases, supporting contact tracing, and providing psychosocial support.

The humanitarian gesture which was announced through a press statement issued by the Press Officer, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, will directly benefit communities in areas most affected by the outbreak.

The fund, the statement further stated forms part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Lagos, Ogun Want to Take over Critical FG Roads The Lagos and Ogun State Governments are seeking the transfer of some key federal roads to them for development so as to enhance their local economies.

The roads include the EpeIjebu-Ode; Sagamu-Ikorodu and Lagos-Abeokuta.

The states want to develop the roads and commercialise them for major economic gains.

Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, and a former governor of the state, Chief Segun Osoba, yesterday met with the President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja where they raised the issue on behalf of the two states.

Osoba, while speaking with State House Correspondents, said the meeting with Buhari was to seek support for the plans of the two states and particularly, the agricultural programme of Abiodun’s administration.

“If the road (Epe-Ijebu-Ode) is rebuilt, it will also enhance the export free zone and the takeoff of the Deep Sea Port Ogun has envisaged”, Osoba stated. On his part, Abiodun said, “We have appealed to Mr President to transfer the roads to Lagos and Ogun states.

“We want to rebuild and commercialise them. The funding has been sourced through contractual discussions.”

As part of the international campaign to put pressure on the federal government to negotiate the release of Leah Sharibu, a group of Nigerians, include Leah Sharibu’s mother have staged a protest at the premises of the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom, calling on the British government to intensify pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to secure the release of the remaining Dapchi school girl.

A petition with 12,132 signatures was also submitted to a member of the UK Parliament, Baroness Caroline Cox, by Leah’s mother, Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, calling on the federal government to secure her daughter’s freedom.

The spokesperson for the Sharibu family and senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University

of Jos, Dr. Gloria Samdi Puldu, who released the details of the protest, said the protesters were led by the Executive Director of International Organisations for Peace and Social Justice, Pastor Ayo Adedoyin.

According to her, the protesters carried placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Two years in captivity, negotiate her release now’, ‘held because of her faith, Free Leah’, and ‘Still here, still waiting for action’.

She said the protest was part of the activities to commemorate the two years of the abduction of Leah Sharibu by Boko Haram insurgents.

Puldu, who is the Executive Director of Leah Foundation, said Rebecca Sharibu pleaded with the UK authorities to “put pressure on President Buhari who was visiting their country to fulfill

the promise he made to her to bring home Leah and all others in captivity.”

Puldu said: “February 19 marks two years of the abduction of Dapchi girls and Leah Sharibu the only remaining girl in captivity turns two years in captivity.

Rebecca Sharibu is with me at present in the United Kingdom to appeal to the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to put pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil the various promises that he had made to secure Leah’s release on several occasions.

“Rebecca met with Baroness Caroline Cox on February 18 who assured her that she will take her message to UK Parliament. Cox explained that she had been on the Nigerian case for quite some time.

“Rebecca Sharibu attended a number of activities including a

prayer vigil organised by Pastor Adedoyin with Leah Foundation, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and Open Doors both in the UK on February 19, marking two years of her daughter’s abduction.

“At the prayer vigil in front of the premises of the Nigerian High Commission UK, she was with a petition with 12, 132 signatures calling on the Nigerian government to take action to secure Leah’s release.

“The signatures gathered by the CSW U.K. were delivered by Rebecca Sharibu and accompanied by myself, CSW Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, and Pastor Adedoyin with other protesters in attendance. Rebecca, in tears, continued her appeal that Leah has spent two years in captivity and the family does not know her situation or condition.”

Senate Berates Customs CG over Non-submission of Audited Reports Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Senate yesterday chided the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), for failing to make available the agency’s audited accounts since 2015.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Matthew Urhogide, expressed concern that the comptroller-general did not deem it fit to forward the agency’s audited accounts to the committee in the past

five years.

The senator, who spoke when the comptroller-general appeared before the committee after failing to honour two earlier invitations, noted that the action of the omptrollergeneral was against the anti- corruption mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

His words: “We are concerned that for over five years, your agency and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) haven’t produced their audited

accounts. How can we say we are fighting corruption under this situation?

“The Customs Act says you must send in your audited accounts, six months into another financial year. We must clear the outstanding unaudited accounts. What the President does with this will tell us how we are fighting corruption. A lot of us are very concerned and this isn’t the way to go.

So many weighty allegations against the customs and for three days we haven’t seen you. The query given to you

by the Auditor General of the Federation in 2015 is there and you are yet to vacate them, almost five years after.”

In his response, Ali claimed that “these findings are strange to me as our mode of payment and remittances are purely automated.”

The comptroller-general also disagreed with the Accountant- General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, over the differentials of N28 billion allegedly under remitted into the Federation Account in 2015.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Prepare to Pay Cost-reflective Tariffs, TCN Tells Nigerians Dike Onwuamaeze The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, yesterday called on Nigerians to be prepared for the

Oyo Plans Cards for Commercial Motorcyclists The Oyo State Government said it would introduce an identification system for commercial motorcyclists, better known as okada riders in the state to check crimes.

The state Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde has also ordered the immediate reduction of the daily levy being paid by commercial cyclists from N200 to N100.

The Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport in the state, Mr. Raphael Afonja, said in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital that the governor would not want to add to the burden of the people of the state.

“The rider cards will enable the government to differentiate registered commercial motorcyclists from criminal elements, using motorcycles to operate. We have concluded that, due to what happened in Lagos State, which has led to an influx of people moving from Lagos into Oyo State, there is a need to have okada riders’ card to identify people coming into the state.

“Also, from the information that was passed down to us by the Ministry of Finance, we were told that it was agreed upon that N200 will be collected daily from these commercial riders.”

Minimum Wage: C’River Labour Gives Ayade Seven-day Ultimatum The organised labour in Cross River State yesterday gave the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, a seven-day ultimatum to pay the minimum wage or face indefinite industrial action.

A statement that was jointly signed by the Chairman of the State Public Service Negotiating Council (SPSNC), Mr. Julius Nkoji, and Secretary, Mr. John Odey, read in part, “Your Excellency, sequel to the breakdown of minimum wage negotiations in the state

BA Apologises to Customers over Flight Delays Chinedu Eze United Kingdom-based carrier, British Airways, has apologised to its passengers for diverting its flights destined to Lagos to Accra, Ghana and for cancelling some of its flights from Lagos due to inclement weather, driven by harmattan haze.

The airline, in a statement by its General Manager, West Africa, Mr. Kola Olayinka, said: “We would like to use this opportunity to tender an unreserved apology to our esteemed customers for the inconveniences of varying degrees, experienced these past few days. The situation has been a result of recent delays and diversions of flights occasioned by the inclement weather causing very poor visibility at the Lagos Airport, coupled with a number of factors outside of our immediate control.

“In these unique cases, the decisions to delay or divert flights were made carefully by our pilots who are well trained to handle situations like this, especially in consideration of the safety and security of our passengers and crew.”

and government’s refusal to implement promotions of civil/public servants and also restore the names of civil/public servants deactivated from the payroll from September 2019, the organised labour at its meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2020 resolved to issue to government a seven-day ultimatum effective Friday, February 21, 2020, to Thursday, February 27, 2020 to address the aforementioned issues.”

payment of cost-reflective tariffs on electricity.

Mohammed stated this during the ground breaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Ikeja West-Alimosho-Ogba-Alausa and Ogba-Ota Tee-off 132kv Double Circuit Transmission Line with gap conductor at Ikeja West Transmission Sub Station in Lagos.

Mohammed identified the payment of cost-reflective electricity tariffs as the answer to the problem of power supply in Nigeria.

He said: “We will not move forward if we cannot pay the

right tariffs for consumption of electricity. I want to assure Nigerians that there is no relationship between poverty and payment of electricity. So, let us stop deceiving ourselves that we can refuse to pay for electricity and still enjoy constant power supply. That is why I said that Nigerians should prepare to pay cost-reflective tariffs so that these contracts can be effective. Also service will significantly improve once tariffs become effective.

“We have to be prepared to remove government from the middle. This issue of government guarantees (subsidy) has not

worked and will not work. Look at a place like Burkina Faso that is sitting on one of the poorest part of West Africa is having a collection efficiency of 98 percent.

If that country will get electricity from Ivory Coast and pay for it I cannot see any reason someone will say that Nigerians cannot pay.

I want to tell you that Nigeria has the cheapest tariff in West Africa.”

He added: “If we are not careful we will continue to sink money in the power sector and still remain on 4000mgwts power generation in the next three years.”

He noted that Nigerians must

be prepared to pay for electricity in order to improve power supply.

Mohammed said no private investor would invest in the power sector without the assurance of favourable returns.

“Nigeria has done the power sector reform and handed over the distribution sector to the private sector six years ago. Within these years the federal government has sunk N1.5 trillion in the power sector because contracts were not effective and the revenue flow is not there. So the government was guaranteeing the generation companies to continue to do business.

Akpabio Asks NDDC Board to Cooperate with Forensic Auditors Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has charged the enlarged Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cooperate with forensic auditors to scrutinise the operations of the commission as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

President Buhari had last Wednesday approved the enlargement of the IMC of the NDDC from three to five.

The five-member committee includes Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei (acting Managing Director) replacing Joi Nunieh; Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang, acting Executive Director (Finance and Administration); Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, acting

Executive Director (Projects); Mrs. Caroline Nagbo (member) and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide (member).

Inaugurating the new acting managing director and other IMC members in Abuja, Akpabio said President Buhari enlarged the committee to inject new blood into the commission for better service delivery.

According to a statement issued by Patricia Deworitshe on behalf of the Niger Delta

Ministry, Akpabio said change was inevitable in a commission like the NDDC, adding that the NDDC was passing through a phase that would soon be over, and thanked President Buhari for giving the ministry the responsibility of supervising the NDDC. He said: “The story of NDDC in the last 19 years has not been so rosy. The NDDC, we believe, could have achieved more. You have a stunted child who could

have been a six-footer. We need to find out the reason why the child could not grow.

Is it that the child was not given enough nourishment?

“And then the country is looking at the fact that a lot of money has gone into the NDDC but we could not see a commensurate result. I am not saying this to deride or bring down anybody. I am not saying this to make a political point, I am saying this from the point of truism.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COMMENT

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

THE FUTILITY OF SUICIDE

Tayo Ogunbiyi canvasses the need to be observant of certain odd behaviours from friends and neigbours

R

ecently, 22-year-old Daibo Toju Davies, reportedly jumped into the Lagoon on the 3rd Mainland Bridge. The victim, a resident of Gbagada Soluyi, Lagos, allegedly engaged the services of Uber Taxi, with number plate KSF 426 GB, from Mercy Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos.

He purportedly stopped the driver on the excuse of having stomach upset, only to abruptly jump off the 3rd Mainland Bridge into the lagoon.

Two luggage, containing his personal effects, and a sworn affidavit with the Lagos High Court, were later found in the car.

The young man, who apparently committed suicide, might have had issues with depression.

Recent research reveals that about 480 million people across the world experience depression during their lifetime. According to a WHO data, by 2020, major depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children. The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 150 billion dollars each year in the United States. Thus, if not properly addressed, depression could as well turn out to be a time bomb waiting to explode in an already troubled world.

The Medilexicon’s medical dictionary depicts depression as medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, depression is a medical condition that often results in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Depression is more than just a feeling of being sad or moody for a few days. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad or empty, loss of interest in favourite activities, over eating, or not wanting to eat at all, not being able to sleep or sleeping too much, fatigue, feeling of hopelessness, irritation, anxiety, guilt, aches, pains, thought of death or suicide, erratic or changed behaviour, loneliness, desperation, among others.

Medically, depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things that the victim is ordinarily usually passionate about. It is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression and it affects how the victim feels, thinks and behaves. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems which include finding it difficult to embark on daily activities. It can also lead to marital troubles as depression victims find it very hard adjusting to family values and ethics. Indeed, coping with the stress of family life causes more difficulties for victims of depression.

Causes of depression are complex and vary, depending on the particular disorder and individuals. Genetics, drugs, loss, disease or injury, neurocognitive and psychological mechanisms, and life experiences, society and culture, can all contribute to depression in people. The most common, view, however, is that depression tends to result from genetic vulnerabilities and environmental stressors that combine to

DEPRESSION IS A MOOD DISORDER THAT CAUSES A PERSISTENT FEELING OF SADNESS AND LOSS OF INTEREST IN THINGS THAT THE VICTIM IS ORDINARILY USUALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT

trigger disorder.

Cases of pronounced mental health condition have also unsurprisingly increased. Along major cities in the country, you are likely to come across clean and beautifully dressed compatriots who talk and walk alone, actually without any destination in mind. This, to medical workers is a vital sign of depression induced insanity, which if not quickly attended to could lead to serious psychiatric condition.

Universally, tough economic challenges often lead to depression. Latest indications have revealed that many people now run the risk of clinical depression in our country. According to reports, the rate of marital break ups has increased while matrimonial violence occasioned by emotional and psychological woes have equally multiplied significantly. There have been reports of men absconding from home in order to escape growing domestic responsibilities.

If not properly addressed, depression could culminate in suicide, as in the unfortunate case of Toju Davies. Ironically, suicide is almost a strange occurrence in our clime as Nigerians are, perhaps, the most optimistic set of people on earth.

The resilience of a typical Nigerian as well as his dynamic spiritual fortitude makes suicide the least of his contemplations. Recent events have, however, altered this entire hypothesis, as current happenings have shown that Nigerians are not, after all, immune from suicide.

It is, however, important to stress that no matter the enormity of the challenge anyone faces, suicide is not always a logical option. Instead of ending it all in such tragic fashion, it is often better to share whatever hassles one is facing with trusted folks. As it is commonly said, a problem shared is a problem solved. Emotional healing occurs whenever a problem is shared.

We need to be more observant concerning certain odd behaviours from friends, colleagues, associates, relatives and neigbours. In as much as it is true that many people with seemingly harsh life challenges might want to keep to themselves, believing that their situation is somehow hopeless, genuine show of love and care could, however, draw them out of their shell.

In our society, we must go back to the communal style of living that once made everyone his brother’s keeper. I once heard the story of a man that stayed indoors, all alone, for days without the neighbors bothering to check on him.

Sadly, by the time they decided to do, it was too late. His decomposed corpse was found in the house. It was a needless death that could have been averted if people around him had been a little bit caring.

Meanwhile, all tiers of government, faith-based organisations, NGOs, the media and relevant government agencies should step up the campaign on the futility of suicide. At family level, more channels of communication should be opened for members to freely talk on critical emotional issues.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

RESURGING PUBLIC DEBT CHALLENGES

Foreign loans must be channelled to increase the productive and debt servicing capacity of the economy, writes Mike Idi Obadan

F

rom the 1980s to the mid-2000s, many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries suffered the consequences of very heavy external debt burdens. SSA could be described then as a debt-distressed region with only six countries having been described as less indebted in the year 2000. The debt crisis had a severe impact on their economies.

Not only did the debt overhang depress incomes, investment and living standards, it also seriously constrained the scope of macroeconomic policymaking. It was the Heavily Indebted Countries Debt Relief Initiative (HIPC) of the World Bank and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) of the G8 countries in the 2000s that provided significant relief to the countries through debt write-offs. Consequently, SSA countries’ average public debt level trended downwards until 2012. Specifically, median public debt levels in SSA decreased from a peak of more than 90 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the early 2000s to a median of 24 per cent of GDP in 2012. But since 2013, debt has been accumulating at a worrisome pace in a number of sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria included, pushing up debt close to unsustainable levels in some countries. According to the World Bank (2018), the number of sub-Saharan African countries at high risk of debt distress more than doubled between 2013 and 2018. Under the circumstance, there

have been fears that SSA sub-region could slip into another debt crisis similar to the pre-HIPCs era unless the countries, Nigeria included, implement fiscal reforms and adopt better debt management principles and practices. This article seeks to draw attention to established debt management principles/ best practices that can help African countries borrow wisely and avoid debilitating debt crisis.

No doubt, foreign borrowing allows a country to invest and consume beyond the limits of current domestic production. Where a country borrows externally, it is able to invest more now with less of a sacrifice of current consumption. This is so because foreign borrowing increases a country’s resources available for investment by supplementing domestic savings. It also augments foreign exchange resources to supplement export earnings. Viable investments that could not otherwise be financed domestically are made possible by foreign resources. If properly used, borrowed external resources can greatly benefit a developing country and contribute to its growth. This is where the challenge is: how to ensure that countries use borrowed funds efficiently and generate funds to service the loans as and when due. In practice, most African countries have used borrowed funds inefficiently; some countries borrowed for consumption rather than investment and then became engulfed in debt crises.

Sub-Saharan African countries must bear two things in mind in the course of foreign borrowing: net borrowing creates debt that can be repaid if exports exceed imports; and foreign loans (principal and interest) must be repaid in foreign currency and not local currency. Therefore, external borrowing must lead to increase in productivity and export earnings must grow rapidly to provide foreign exchange for debt servicing. Thus, a country that relies on foreign borrowing should be able to generate sufficient increase in output and, in particular, export earnings, to be able to meet its debt service obligations.

Also, to avoid debt problems, the investments financed must have a real economic rate of return that is at least equal to the real rate of interest. However, foreign funds could go into investments in the non-traded sectors to the extent that they too have important indirect earnings, savings, etc.

In as much as foreign loans are desirable, a country must be guided by the following principles/best practices to avoid debt problems including distress and crisis.

Avoid indiscriminate and uncontrolled borrowing from abroad; Avoid mismanagement of external loans because the cost of adjustment for the debtor country can be enormous; Rapid growth of export earnings is imperative so as to have the foreign exchange to service the loan;

Financing of domestic investment with foreign loans will not create much problems if: the investment financed has a real economic rate of return that equals the rate of interest; external loans are used to finance export-increasing projects or importdecreasing investments; and debt repayments are scheduled so as not to run ahead of the benefits; The optimal level of borrowing would be up to the point where the marginal product of capital equals the cost of borrowing (interest rate); and Relying more on concessional finance/ cheapest forms of financing such as Official Development Assistance and bilateral and multilateral loans.

What is clear then is that if foreign loans are found desirable and necessary to accelerate economic development, they must be channelled in such a way as to increase the productive and debt servicing capacity of the economy in order to enhance easy repayment and promote economic growth. Debt problems can sap a debtor country’s international credit worthiness, lead to a reduction of access to international capital markets, and result in lower investment and growth.

Obadan is Professor of Economics and Chairman, Goldmark Education Academy, Benin City. He was formerly Director-General, National Centre for Economic Management and Administration, Ibadan

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020

EDITORIAL THE PLIGHT OF PENSIONERS PENCOM should enforce the pension reforms act

A

recent report by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) that many states in the country are yet to fully implement the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is very disturbing. Only six states (Kaduna, Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta) and the FCT, according to PENCOM, have fully implemented the scheme with regular and up-to-date remittance of pension contributions, the establishment of a pension bureau and enactment of pension law. “With the information provided, workers can hold their states to do the needful in terms of paying their pension up-to-date to guarantee and protect their retirement,” said PENCOM spokesman, Peter Aghahowa.

One major attraction in public service, despite its poor remuneration package, is the benefit of receiving pension after retirement. But over the years, such prospect has become problematic and uncertain in Nigeria. And this has worsened the woes of retired civil servants. The failure of government to meet the pension expectation COMPLICATIONS IN of retirees ends up MEETING UP WITH THE shattering the plans PENSION OBLIGATIONS of many as well as HAD ARISEN inducing economic FUNDAMENTALLY BY THE trauma, which in some cases have led FAILURE TO LINK THOSE IN THE OLD SCHEME (DBS) to fatalities. Indeed, WITH THOSE IN THE NEW many senior citizens who had no other SCHEME (CPS) source of earning a living after service had collapsed and died while on queues waiting for their pensions.

It was in a bid to move beyond this tragic situation that the Pension Reforms Act of 2004 was enacted. It was, as the name suggests, designed to address the failures of the old scheme—the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). In its place, the CPS was introduced wherein both the government and the workers themselves are

to save up a given amount of their earnings towards building up an accumulated funds reserve which the worker can fall back on after retirement. Meanwhile, the PENCOM law does not empower the commission to enforce the implementation on the states.

W

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

hile it is noteworthy that PENCOM has not only helped to grow the funds but has been very prudent in its management, there are still issues that are yet to be resolved by the government regarding many retired civil servants. For instance, complications in meeting up with the pension obligations had arisen fundamentally by the failure to link those in the old scheme (DBS) with those in the new scheme (CPS). But even after it seems to have been done, the federal and many state governments had failed severally in remitting deducted sums from workers’ salaries to the PFAs. The result is that neither government contribution nor workers’ deducted sums are credited to the accounts of the workers with the PFAs. This malaise is even more prevalent in the private sector where many companies do not remit their counterpart deductions to the PFAs as required by the Pension Act. The provisions of the act had demanded that the government issues bonds in favour of retired workers, which will be redeemed to the PFAs which will credit same to the accounts of the individual staff. Therefore, the non-remittance of the deductions of staff is a clear breach of the provisions of the pension reforms act and that perhaps explains why pension liabilities in the country today run into hundreds of billions of naira.

While we urge the federal and state governments to keep faith with their obligations to pensioners, we also call on PENCOM to apply stricter measures in enforcing compliance with the provisions of the pension reforms act by the PFAs. It is only fair and just to allow pension to sooth the nerves of retired persons, especially after the workers had been faithful in making appropriate contributions to the scheme while in active service.

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DEREGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES

O

n February 16, 2020, THISDAY Newspaper, in its editorial, made several arguments in favor of INEC’s deregistration of 74 political parties for not adhering to the required standards laid down in the electoral act. It is worth noting, however, that while the constitution empowers INEC to deregister political parties, it also stipulates the conditions upon which such powers can be exercised.

Section 225 of the 1999 Constitution, much of which was quoted in the editorial, states the following as grounds upon which INEC can deregister a political party: failure to win at least 25% of votes cast in one state of the federation in a presidential election or 25% of the votes cast in one local government area in a governorship election, and failure to win at least one ward in a chairmanship election, one seat in the National or State Assembly election or one seat in a local government councillorship election.

While it may be true that some of the 74 political parties that were deregistered failed to meet the aforementioned requirements, it is however unfair to also deregister political parties that have not been allowed to participate in a full election cycle. A full election cycle, as expressly stated in the constitution, means participating in the presidential election, governorship election across the 36 states of the federation and local government elections across the 774 local governments in the federation.

In the case of the Youth Party, INEC reluctantly registered the party only two days to the deadline for the conclusion of primaries in 2018 (after three years of unnecessary and avoidable litigation in court). Understandably, this put the party in a difficult position to compete effectively in the 2019 general elections.

Notwithstanding, the Youth Party went ahead to field candidates for State and National Assembly seats across several states of the federation. It was, therefore, shocking to us that while we were preparing for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo States, INEC went ahead to announce the deregistration of our party. The premise upon which such a hasty decision was made is both faulty and malicious, especially given the fact that the Youth Party has not participated in at least three governorship elections and local government elections in 12 states.

In supporting its argument, the editorial went on to state that “these new parties (like the old ones) are not built around any ideology and are unlikely to exert any remarkable influence good enough to win elections.” We are curious as to why any national daily will be comfortable with the fact that political parties that have existed for 20 years still lack a sound ideology. In any case, the ideology and governing philosophy of the Youth Party can easily be found at the click of a button. The same goes for the constitution of the party, its membership portal, and its policy direction on every major aspect of governance – something that is impos-

sible to find in any of the so-called “big” political parties.

Unfortunately, while This Day queries all that is wrong with the new and emerging political parties, it fails to query the reason such political parties have become babies of necessities. First, the major political parties have not only failed to solve a single socio-economic problem in their 20-year hold on power, but they have also ensured that only rich and rent-seeking political elites can control the party’s machinery at all levels.

Also, when a political party pegs a single nomination form at NGN45m and refuses to adopt open and transparent primary elections, it continuously determines the political choices for Nigerians which often is a case of the lesser of two evils. Political parties like the Youth Party, on the other hand, are creating an open and transparent system where the people (as is the case in advanced democracies) are empowered to determine their candidates.

Of course, we agree with THISDAY that INEC can adopt a more restrictive set of criteria for party registration as long as such criteria do not give the major political parties an undue monopoly. But as long as the criteria for registering a political party have been met and grounds upon which those political parties can be de-registered have not been met, as is the case with the Youth Party, INEC must rescind its decision to deregister our political party.

Francis Akinlotan, National Legal Adviser, Youth Party

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020

18

POLITICS

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

Oshiomhole, APC and Bayelsa Verdict: Time to Act is Now Osaigbovo Ehanire warns that the temperament of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress may result in damaging consequences to the party

T

he announcement by the Supreme Court of the removal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governor-elect, David Lyon, is now etched in annals of Nigeria’s political history. It is going to remain a reference point for years to come on how a party should never conduct its affairs in an election.

What makes the colossal loss very unfortunate is the fact that it could not only have been avoided easily, but there have been recent experiences that could have guided the leadership of the party on what to and not do.

There was a similar case in Taraba State, where a candidate’s cost the party dearly. In Zamfara State, the party’s apparatus is in shambles due to the highhandedness of the party leadership under the guidance of the ‘suspended’ National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The Rivers episode is even more heartbreaking as the party could not even present a candidate during the elections. Some of these issues played out in Oyo State, while other instances can be sited in Ogun State.

If the person heading the party has the requisite leadership quotient, he would have learnt a few lessons from these experiences.

Now, we are heading for elections in Edo and Ondo states. What would happen in Edo State is already in fixed deposit. Comrade Oshiomhole has continuously and intentionally been promoting disaffection in the party.

Even though the Edo State Governor is performing so well, because he wants to be the only one to call the shorts, Oshiomhole is fueling crisis to destabilise the party and the state government.

One of the frontrunners of Comrade Oshiomhole’s campaign to unseat Governor Obaseki is the former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who has a running corruption case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency filed charges against Ize-Iyamu and four others bordering on illegal receipt of public funds for the purpose of the 2015 general election, contrary to the provisions of the EFCC Act and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. Others being arraigned with IzeIyamu include the Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, a former deputy governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen; a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tony Azegbemi; and one Efe Anthony.

The EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence in March, 2015.

It alleged that they took possession and control of the funds without any contract award.

The next court date for this matter is March 2, 2020.

Other aspirants being projected by Oshiomhole are people Oshiomhole has had to say damning things about in the past. Oshiomhole, for instance, has said uncomplimentary things about his erstwhile deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu. The same

trend of accusations can be traced to other aspirants he is now fronting.

In Ondo, something of similar proportion is happening with rumours

that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is likely going to be ambushed.

Many who know Oshiomhole have emphatically stated that he lacks

Time Limitation in Election Matters and The Question of Justice Anthony Ogwugwua Agadah makes a case for the review of the time allowed for election petition

S

ection 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, (‘The Constitution’), provides for the right to fair hearing and stipulates that judges shall hear and determine matters before them ‘within a reasonable time” . A component of this legal norm as established in the famous English case of R V. Sussex Justices, ex parte McCarthy ( 1924) 1KB,254. is the principle that judges owe an obligation to ensure that not only must justice be done, but must be seen to have been done in all cases.

The case of Senator Adeleke V. Gov Oyetola, (2019) is a typical example of the negative effect of the current legal regime on timeline for election cases in Nigeria.

While affirming the majority decision of the Court of Appeal which had set aside the judgment of the tribunal, the Supreme Court observed that since the tribunal’s judgment was nullified on the ground that Justice Obiora who read the lead judgment did not sit on a particular day when some witnesses testified, the case ought to have been remitted for re-trial . But the Court would not order a re-trial of the matter as it was bound by S. 285(6) and (7) of the Constitution as amended by S. 29 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( First Alteration Act, No 1) of 2010 and S. 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ( Second Alteration Act. No 2, of 2010), which limit the period of election cases at tribunals to 180 days and at the Appeal Court to 60 days. This same provision is reproduced ipsissima verba by S. 134(2) of the Electoral Act 2010 ( as Amended). The issue also played out before the Court of Appeal in Mr. Bayo Adelabu Vs. Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, (2019). See also APC Vs. Umar & Ors

( 2019)8NWLR (PT 1675), 564.).

The scenario created by the Supreme Court judgment which sacked Hon Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State and installed Mr. Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of Imo State has raised yet another dust as to the desirability of the election time limit rule in the present democratic dispensation.

The question which has arisen relate to whether the Supreme Court will ignore the time limit rule to entertain the application of Hon. Ihedioha to review its judgment or stick to status quo which invariably means retaining a judgment that has been discovered by legal pundits as a miscarriage of justice.

Legal Regime on Time Limitations in Election Petitions Section 285(5) of the Constitution stipulates that every election petition shall be filed within 21 days after the date of the declaration of result of the election.

By subsection (6) of S. 285, the tribunal is bound to deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition, while by subsection (7) of same section, an appeal arising therefrom shall be concluded within 60 days of the delivery of the judgment of the tribunal or court of appeal. Similar provisions on time limit for pre –election cases are enshrined under S. 285(8), (11), (12), (14) of the 1999 Constitution as amended by the 4th Alteration Act, 2017.

-Agadah is a legal practitioner with Ladi Ajose-Adeogun and Co at Victoria Island, Lagos NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

the aptitude and temperament to occupy the office of the National Chairman. He does not have the disposition and attitude. If nothing is done urgently, the ruling party will pay the ultimate price.

Members of the party are already losing faith because they see it as essentially a one-man-show. The approach of operating like a bull in a China shop has not gotten us anywhere, at best it has set the party further on the path of perdition.

What led to the downfall of the PDP is playing out actively in the APC with the way Oshiomhole is handling the affairs of the party.

Once members lose confidence in the leadership of the party, they either be inert or go elsewhere. Our party promised change, now it can not even manage its own affairs because of the actions and inactions of one man.

On the unfortunate episode in Bayelsa State, it must be pointed out that it is unforgivable to adopt an individual who presented five certificates with different names and when it was spotted, the party hierarchy failed to take advantage of the window to substitute the candidate.

All these flaws flow from the dysfunctional leadership which exalts might over right and has absolute disregard for due process and the law, which is the hallmark of Oshiomhole’s leadership style.

The damage done by Comrade Oshiomhole to the APC is incalculable.

It happened in Taraba, in Zamfara and in Rivers because of the same recourse to subverting established norms for personal interest.

Comrade Oshiomhole is hiding under the shadow of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to carry out these heinous infractions against the party. He has been conducting the party’s affairs from his castle in Aso Drive in Abuja, alienating all else and leaving the National Secretariat desolate.

Although after the loss in the governorship election in Taraba State on the basis of age falsification by the party’s candidate, Oshiomhole said he would constitute committees to screen candidates so the party would guide against fielding candidates with questionable dates of birth, educational qualifications and various errors which the opposition party could latch on to snatch victory after losing at the polls.

However, the ‘suspended’ National Chairman’s actions have betrayed this charge as the party still lost out because of inconsistencies in a candidate’s certificates in the Bayelsa election. With this, it has been established that what Oshiomhole says is different from what he does.

Comrade Oshiomhole suffers from a terrible challenge of selfrighteousness; he suffers from ego-induced delusions. He cannot be trusted to lead. The time to act is now to save the APC from imminent decomposition.

Failure to act now will result in the rapid disintegration of our party. It will be like atomic fission, an endless reaction which no one would be able to stop.

-Ehanire writes from Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020

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PERSPECTIVE

Departure of A Humanist Gbenga Omotosohighlights thelegacyofChiefGuyGargiulo,an educationist responsible for shapingthefuture ofmanynotable Nigerians

of ANTHONY KILA

Challenging Opportunity for our Trade Minister

F

irst, a confession: The subject of this article is well known to this reporter. So, dear reader, take it easy, if you feel that there is more than a tinge of subjectivity here.

But, I promise to be as conscientious as I have always been.

Our first meeting was in September, 1974.

The sun was getting set to set, its recession a bit slow. Behind the hills that ring the town, the sun was showing its face, bright but weak. And there he was, just after a long row of palm trees that lined the red-earth, dusty road that led to the school premises, mowing a field of green grass that had grown wild.

He had on only a pair of white shorts, his trademark, as I discovered later. No top.

As he looked up from what I later found out to be a routine for him when students were on holiday, he wiped the sweat off his brow and continued his business. I announced my presence.

“Good evening sir.”

“Pele o (hello). How’re you?”

“I’m Gbenga Omotoso, the table tennis player you discussed with Mr Babajide in Ibadan.”

His face brightened up. He burst into laughter and grabbed my hand as he screamed: “Ping pong!”

And so began my relationship with the man who paid my – and many others’ – way through secondary school, a teachers’ teacher, father of many children –none of them his, biologically – worthy chief, consummate farmer, confident trainer and frontline humanist.

Chief Guy Gargiulo, an Italian naturalised Briton, was the Principal (Headmaster) at Ajuwa Grammar School, Okeagbe – Akoko, Ondo State, from 1963 to 1978. He had had a stint as a Physics teacher at Igbobi College, Lagos before moving to Okeagbe to help give the new school a push.

He reached age 85 on August 13 2017, but all was quiet as he was away in England. He has since returned to Nigeria and a reception was held in his honour last Saturday on the very premises where he helped shape the future of many students who are today prominent citizens Among them: Otunba Solomon Oladunni, former Vice Chair, Mobil; Tuyi Ehindero, ex-Managing Director, Unilever, Zambia; Dr Tunji Abayomi, rights activist-lawyer and politician; Akinwunmi Bada, ex-CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria; Oba Oladunjoye Fajana, ex-African Development Bank/World Bank chief and now Ajana of Afa, Okeagbe; The Right Rev. Jacob Ajetunmobi, Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Ibadan Diocese; Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Hon Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs; Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, Commandant of the National War College; Mike Igbokwe, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a legion of others in banking, sports, industry and government.

There are not many people of whom one can say: “O…he had a great influence on my life.” Many there are who can proudly say this of GG, as we excitedly call him. All his efforts were geared towards implanting in us all the virtues to which he subscribed – hard work, courage, loyalty, endurance, honesty and more.

He feared nothing. The only fear he ever had was being bitten by snakes, he told us.

But the day he held one and was bitten, the fear ended. Then he started reading about snakes. We were taught how to catch and keep them. But GG warned us never to go near the cobra, saying there was no remedy to its poison. The last time I visited, he had at home two snakes, one of which he nicknamed Angelina.

Gargiulo’s idea of education is not the mere acquisition of a certificate as a visa to some perceived Eldorado; not a theoretical exploration of some esoteric facts and figures, but a total package to prepare the youth for any challenge that life may hurl on their way.

Every student was encouraged to learn a trade – bricklaying, auto mechanic and others. The Ajuwa Printing Press, which was run

EPISTLES Anthony Kila

by students, was central to the programme.

It printed our exercise books, report cards, inspirational poems, such as Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling’s “If” , and the ubiquitous poster, “Speak English, remember your WASCE” that adorned our classrooms.

Gargiulo persuaded us all to love farming – we all had copies of a poem he wrote on then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo’s “Operation feed the nation” (everything in that military era was an “operation”) as he led the way every evening.

The maize farm was a beauty to behold, the sheer greenery and the glittering golden, thread-like strands sprouting from the cobs.

The vast row of teak, shedding their rustling leaves in the harmattan. The short palm trees and their scarlet fruits. The gmelina.

Our yam came from the school farm. The eggs we had once a week came from the school poultry. It was fun caring for the rabbits and watching the cows graze. Our farm produce were sold and the proceeds invested in shares in the name of the school.

Sport was for GG a priority. The yearly marathon was compulsory for all. So was swimming. The community and the students built a dam to facilitate this. From the dark brown pool and the pontoon that were carved out of the dam, boys and girls were moulded into national champions. No fewer than two former students are now coaches.

This reporter was a table tennis star, the very reason he won GG’s heart.

GG believed that no student was so bad that there was no redeeming feature. He once told of a student who led the mechanics club.

He was poor, academically, but Gargiulo predicted his greatness. The man rose to become a top Leventis Motors manager, admired by all for his deep understanding of Mercedes cars, just like the Germans who built them.

It was not all fun at Ajuwa, however. I recall a riot. GG had gone to Ibadan to buy books. The day he was to return, students stormed the Okeagbe-Ikare road, wielding cudgels and clubs and chanting war songs.

Some sympathisers advised GG to stay away to save his life. He refused.

He parked the van a few metres away from the school and walked. His face creased by a big frown, he asked the unruly students:”What’s going on here?” “You want to kill me? Go ahead now!” He was booming like a lion and swearing–he always did when seized by anger.”Bloody hell!”. His hair sprang up and his hands betrayed red hot blood coursing through his veins. His face was red – it was always so whenever he got angry. Oh, how we used to panic on such occasions. *This article, first published in 2013, was rerun on August 13, 2018 with some changes as a tribute to this exemplary man on his 85th birthday. His remains will be buried tomorrow in Okeagbe-Akoko, Ondo State.

-Omotoso is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Dear Otunba Adebayo I think you should know that just last week, during an event organised by an international organisation for Trade and African Development, we naturally had reasons to discourse Nigeria and my take was that you and your colleague at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Geoffrey Onyeama not only share the same birth month but you are also two people dealt with bad cards and a narrow table to play on. We are still in February so happy birthday to you and your colleague.

The bad card and narrow table: For over two decades, Nigeria has demonstrated two peculiar features that are uncharacteristic of a country that on paper professes to practice liberal democracy: her ministries of trade and investment and that of international affairs have not played major roles in her trajectory, secondly trade organisations and experts of international affairs are not palpably leading voices and influential factors in the affairs of the country.

It is important that we underline these peculiarities as it will help greatly in separating theory from practice, proclamations from actions and desires from reality.

A key feature of modern liberal democracies is the substitution of war for trade and diplomacy in the quest for peace and prosperity.

Another key feature of modern liberal democracies is position of the state and private sectors in the matters of country. In these countries, the private sector configured as trade organisations lead the conversation based on their experience and expertise, and they speak through the voice of experts.

In such scenario, the state, represented by the government, uses its authority and influence to promote

Dear Otunba Adebayo, you did not create this situation and it is challenge for you but you have a chance, a golden opportunity to turn things around and by so doing become the Minister that gave the productive sector of Nigeria its place of honour.

What a legacy it would be for you if you can turn this unsavoury and unproductive situation into a challenging opportunity by reviewing how your ministry works and what it aims to achieve. The legacy ministry will be there to facilitate trade within and beyond Nigeria and it will strive to promote Nigerian enterprises inside and outside the shores of Nigeria

and protect interests defined by the private sector as worthy. That is why it might seem to many that the embassies of the Netherlands and indeed her whole government seems to be working for Shell and Heineken and sometimes you hear the British and USA Prime Minister and President talk about their businesses abroad and read scripts that seem to be written by CEOs of these businesses.

The two first point of contact for trade organisations and professionals in a modern democracy are the ministries of trade and that of foreign affairs. They are the ones that from their privileged positions of being a call away from the private sector then go on to shape the position of government using inputs and insights they get from practitioners mixed with their own personal political philosophy.

Alas, things are far from such in Nigeria, here it appears that it is the private sector and professionals that have conform to the whims of government and in the society elected and nominated officials command more respect and have more influence than those who conceive productive ideas, risk their savings, take on debts to create jobs and wealth for all. This is an unsavoury and unproductive situation that has being going for decades.

Dear Otunba Adebayo, you did not create this situation and it is a challenge for you but you have a chance, a golden opportunity to turn things around and by so doing become the Minister that gave the productive sector of Nigeria its place of honour. What a legacy it would be for you if you can turn this unsavoury and unproductive situation into a challenging opportunity by reviewing how your ministry works and what it aims to achieve.

The legacy ministry will be there to facilitate trade within and beyond Nigeria and it will strive to promote Nigerian enterprises inside and outside the shores of Nigeria. For that reason, your ministry should as from today be talking to the World Bank and all the agencies involved in managing the just approved $2.2bn project fund for Nigeria to make sure that Nigerian companies and professionals are used in the project. This will be done not by using diktat on anyone but by understanding what it takes to get Nigerian companies and professionals involved in the designated projects and making sure the most suitable are equipped to participate.

Here is another thing Otunba, communication is crucial for trade and investment, you need to be clear when you talk and swift when you are spoken to. In 2020, the most efficient way to see what we have to offer and require as well liaise with you is your website, as at the time of writing this missive, your website is less than average.

Please take these challenging opportunities and create legacy ministry.

-Professor Kila, Centre Director at CIAPS Lagos can reached @ anthonykila

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

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

ͯ Ͳ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͮ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO 2.50 % 3.25 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3% 6.50 % 7.63 %

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

501.80 % 0.27 % 0.73 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE Ͳ˛Ͱͷ ϱ YEAR TO DATE Ͳ˛Ͱͷ ϱ

EXCHANGE RATE N306.95/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes Nuhu Confirmed As NCAA DG

TheSenatehasconfirmedthenominationofCaptainMusaShuaibuNuhu forappointmentastheDirectorGeneraloftheNigerianCivilAviation Authority(NCAA).PresidentMuhammaduBuhari,hadonOctober23rd 2019,forwardedthenominee’snametotheupperlegislativechamberfor confirmation.Theconfirmationfollowedtheconsiderationofthereport oftheSenateCommitteeonAviation,whichscreenedNuhu.Presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West)saidthenomineehastheprerequisiteknowledgeandtherewas nopetitionagainsthisnomination.NuhuasthenewDirectorGeneralof theNigerianCivilAviationauthority(NCAA)replacedCaptainMuthar Usman,theerstwhileDirectorGeneraloftheOrganisation.

Untilhisappointment,hewasNigeria’sPermanentRepresentativeto theInternationalCivilAviationorganisation(ICAO).HeisanAirlinePilot, aSafetyexpert,aqualityassuranceLeadAuditoraswellasanArtificial Intelligence expert. He holds an MSc Degree in Aviation business and wasatthePresidentialAirFleetasaCaptainandasafetyofficer.Healso workedatvarioustimesatthedefunctNigeriaAirways,AeroContractors andPetrowest,amongotherorganisations.

The new Director General was also the Chairperson Comprehensive RegionalAviationSafetyPlanforAfricaandIndianOcean(AFIPlan)at theICAOheadquartersinMontreal,responsibleforsafety,airnavigation, airportsandAviationInfrastructuredevelopment,anexperiencethatis expectedtobeofgreatvaluetohisnewroleasaregulatorofthenation’s aviationindustry.

BANKERS’ COMMITTEE

L-R: Director, Corporate Communications Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Isaac Okorafor; Managing Director, Jaiz Bank, Mallam Hassan Usman; Managing Director, FSDH Merchant Bank, Mrs. Hamda Ambah; Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Mr. Hassan Bello; MD/CEO, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, and Acting Managing Director, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar Kure after addressing the press following a meeting of the Bankers’ Committee in Lagos…Tuesday

Stakeholders Insist Extortion, Soliciting for Cash Compromise Airport Security Chinedu Eze Industry stakeholders and many airport users have condemned what has now become a tradition at the airports, where security operatives and other workers solicit or extort money from travellers.

The stakeholders said it is a damage to the image of the country, noting that it casts Nigeria as a poverty-stricken nation. They stressed that when going through the airports of poor countries in Africa, one is rarely confronted by beggars in whatever guise.

To make matters worse, aviation security experts insisted that soliciting for money from travellers compromise security

AVIATION because it encourages insider threat, such that airport officials are engaged by criminals and terrorists to gain access to the airport premises and may cause maximum damage to attract the highest level of publicity and attention.

Aviation security expert and CEO of Centurion Security Services, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) said it was dangerous for security operatives at the airports to be involved in soliciting or engaged in extortion of money from passengers.

Ojikutu warned that if there was no regular and proper profiling of security operatives, the

airports would be exposed to insider threat and this would lead to gravy consequences.

“Who could be doing the begging or extortion at the airport? It is many of the airport workers, but it is more dangerous if the airport security officers are involved.

“Contract workers, mostly airports cleaners and aircraft loaders are known to engage in it. If there are no critical background checks on them before deployment to critical security controlled areas and their emolument are lower than others, they serve as the available hands that could be used by terrorist groups and therefore potential insider threats to whatever security systems that

may be in place at the airport,” he said.

Regular travellers to international destinations know that security operatives at the nation’s airport solicit and sometimes extort money through threat from passengers.

A passenger who travelled out of the country on February 3, 2020, told THISDAY that soliciting for money starts from the entrance to the screening area, from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) aviation security (AVSEC) officials that check boarding pass and passport to the Immigration and mufti-wearing security Continued on page 22

Nigeria, Others Lose $2.3bn to Maritime Crime in Two Years Eromosele Abiodun The littoral states in the Gulf of Guinea Region, that is West Africa and its trading partners lost about $2.3billion to Maritime Crimes between 2016 and 2018, the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Mohammed Tawfiq Ladan has said.

Ladan, stated this while speaking at the ninth Strategic Admiralty Law Seminar for Judges organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in collaboration with the NIALS. He said the countries lost about $777 million between

MARITIME 2015 and 2018 annually, in addition to human cost as the Gulf of Guinea experienced an escalation of privacy, kidnapping and armed robbery at sea incidents in 2018 and 2019.

According to him, “The choice of this year’s theme was necessitated by the obvious fact of the coming into force of the 1st stand-alone Anti-sea Piracy and maritime crimes law in the Gulf of Guinea aimed at stemming the waves/tides of acts of sea piracy and armed robbery and other challenges of maritime safety and security that hamper sustainable economic growth and development of all the

littoral states in the Gulf of Guinea Region.

“A 2018 Maritime Crime report released as at May 2019, shows that Nigeria, with a coastline of about 853km, has been tagged as a privacy hotspot, by the International Maritime Bureau because in the first Quarter of 2018, Nigeria alone accounts for 22 out of 66 piracy and armed robbery at sea incidents and 8 of l 1 vessels fired upon globally.

“In 2019, IMF (Q3) report revealed that Lagos sea port recorded 11 of such incidents making it the highest globally.

The Gulf of Guinea is home to Nigeria, the largest economy and the most populous nation in Africa, whose economy

generates more than 70 per cent of the seaborne trade in West Africa and Gulf of Guinea because about 90 per cent of global trade is carried out by the international shipping industry for import/export of goods.”

In his opening remark, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, lamented the deficit in legislation put in place to address and combat the challenges of maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).

He said, “With the world’s waters accounting over 80 per Continued on page 22

Firm Launches Investment App

Rise,agrowingNigerianfintechstartuphasrolledoutitsdollarinvestment appdesignedtomakedollarinvestmentspossibleforNigeriansfrom aslowas$10.FormerlyknownasCashEstate,theRiseappmakesdollar investmentsinUSrealestate,stocks,Eurobondspossible.

According to a statement, Rise started from a free investment club that allowed its members to invest in US stocks and US real estate fromNigeria.Indoingso,thecompanycameupwiththeideatobuilda holistic wealth management app along with a community that offers financialguidanceandlong-terminvestingtohelpthousandsofpeople stabilizetheirfinancialfuture.

“Today, Rise is pleased to share its app, known as Rise Vest, with the world.TheapphasopenedupaccesstoUSrealestate,USstocksand Eurobonds among other dollar investment options for Nigerians,” the companysaid.

RiseisfoundedbyEleanyaEke,formerco-founderofcryptoexchange, Buycoins,andBosunOlanrewaju,ex-Andelafellow.

“Ourgoalistochangethewaypeopleinvest,inNigeriafirstthenhopefully, intherestofthecontinent,”Ekesaid.

“Our product allows you to start building a portfolio of US stocks, US realestateorEurobondsrightherefromNigeriaanditautomatesyour fundingsothatyoucanconsistentlyinvestandwatchyourreturnsgrow overtime,”headded.

AccordingtoOlanrewaju,“wealreadyliveinaglobalvillage,withideas, information, and culture being transmitted across the world through socialmediaandtheInternet.”

Paga Partners Wealth.ng

Paga and Wealth.ng have entered into a partnership to create one of Nigeria’sleadinginvestmentplatforms.Paga,Nigeria’smobilemoney company,andWealth.ngagrowinginvestmentmarketplace,announced thepartnershiptofosteraccesstoinvestmentopportunitiesbyleveraging Wealth.ng’s simplified investment platform. This partnership would combine Paga’s innovative payments platform and Wealth.ng’s team ofexpertstoofferPagacustomersasustainableserviceformanaging theirinvestmentportfolios. Throughthis,Pagauserswouldbeableto buildalternativeinvestmentsinfixedincome,stocks,savings,agriculture, realestate,funds,amongothers.Theportfoliosareavailabletoinvestors andintendingviatheWealth.nginvestmentmarketplaceonPaga.

Speakingonthebenefitsofthiscollaboration;GeneralManager,Online andMobile,Paga,FolakemiFalodunsaid:“Pagawasfoundedonthesimple beliefthatdigitaltechnologycanbeleveragedinbuildinganecosystem thatenablespeopletodigitallysendandreceivemoneyandoffersimple financialaccessforeveryone.

“Weaimtoaccomplishourpurposebylaunchingourservicesinvarious emerging markets and partnering with relevant financial institutions todeliverourservices”.

“Maintaining Nigerian aircraft locally will save airlines huge amount of resources, which could be deployed to boost their fleet and on manpower development” CEO, Air Contractors,

Capt Ado Sanusi

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

BUSINESSWORLD STAKEHOLDERS INSIST EXTORTION, SOLICITING FOR CASH COMPROMISE AIRPORT SECURITY operatives who examine and document travellersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; identities along with Immigration officials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you are travelling the two AVSEC officials that sit together before you enter the D or E wings of the central search area will first smile at you and subtly request what you have for them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then you go to the real screening of your passport and submission of the form you filled, those in civilian clothes, who I understand are members of the secret service, will seriously look at your papers; then when you are set to go, they will ask you what you have for them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then after passing through the x-ray machine, the AVSEC personnel frisking you is at the same time asking you for money.

Sometimes he will purposely touch your pockets and ask you what is inside, you will tell him it is money; then he will ask you pointedly to give him some money.

NIGERIA, OTHERS LOSE $2.3BN TO MARITIME CRIME IN TWO YEARS cent of transportation requirements in the global trading supply chain network across established international routes and trade lanes, the threats of piracy, armed robbery at sea and other maritime crimes have been an issue of global concern. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Gulf of Guinea sadly, had been at the epi-centre of maritime security discussions globally, given the incidents recorded in the region. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The challenge of maritime insecurity in the region had been further compounded by a deficit of legislation to address the challenge. With the signing into law by Mr. President on the 24th of June, 20l9, the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, facilitated by NIMASA, there is now a robust and detailed framework in place for the criminalisation and punishment of piracy and other maritime crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.â&#x20AC;?

He said the seminar was instituted by NIMASA in 2009 for judges in line with the Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broad mandate to promote the development of shipping and capacity building in the maritime sector.

NEWS

MAN Partners Organisation to End Marine Pollution Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, has entered into partnership with the Marine and Environment Care, to drive a campaign against marine plastic pollution, as a step to save the seas and oceans.

Marine and Environment Care is an advocacy group that creates awareness through campaigns and community engagements to ensure people take responsibility to care and use environmental resource sustainably.

At the maiden public engagement held in Akwa Ibom, cadets, members of staff and other invited guests were exposed to the main campaign messages of action to end plastic pollution.

In his welcome address, Rector of the academy, Commodore Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd), expressed his commitment to the campaign to end marine plastic debris.

Effedua, told the gathering that the academy considered it a worthy course of support, considering that marine plastic pollution is a global concern adding that institutions around the world were making recognisable efforts at ensuring the oceans become healthy again.

He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The MAN is glad to identify with this programme that is educating the community on the dangers of polluting the seas and oceans, as well as actionable steps that should be taken to end the pollution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an institution connected with the marine environment, it is our responsibility and honour to guard the marine

environment, so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of the ocean resources. The talk about the Blue Economy, which comes from the ocean resources, cannot be complete without taking responsibility of the well-being of the oceans.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the Decade of Ocean Science For Sustainable Development, as declared by the UNESCO, and the essence of decade to for the UN member states to work on mapped out strategies toward achieving the ocean we want today and for the future generation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have simply set sail showing our step to action

to ending marine pollution, particularly with plastic. We shall leave here with the message, not just for our consumption alone, but to be shared among everyone around us, â&#x20AC;?he stated.

In her presentation, the resource person, Mrs. Hope Afoke Orivri, a specialist in communication for human and environmental development, said the core of the engagement was to enable participants at the lecture get exposed to the dangers of marine environment pollution and be able to take action based on the message they have been engaged with.

She urged participants to

be worthy ambassadors of the oceans by staying true to the pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic wares than engaging in indiscriminate disposal of waste.

She told the gathering that people must begin to understand now that marine debris, particularly plastic pollutant come from human activities, as people fail to manage their municipal waste properly.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;People need to understand that it is the activities that human involve in on land that starts the pollution to the seas. When used items including plastic

packaging for food and drinks and even cutlery are dumped carelessly after use, such items are swept into the seas by running water or wind.

She said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The good thing is that we can all agree to take responsibility and begin to save our seas now by cutting out single-use plastics, and recycling the ones we must throw away. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pollution of the seas is very worrisome, because the pollutants end up in our food chain, beginning with the seafood we eat. Of course, the fishes and marine mammals ingest the plastic thinking it is food.â&#x20AC;?

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Research, Renaissance Capital, Yvonne Mhango; Equity Sales, Uwana Ekpat; Senior Vice President, IHS Nigeria CEO and Co-Founder, Mohamad Darwish; Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer, Renaissance Capital, Temitope Popoola; Chief Executive OďŹ&#x192;cer, Susman & Associates, Shamsuddeen Usman, and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, during a visit by Renaissance Capital to the Presidential Villa in Abujaâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

NCS, FOU Intercept Contrabands in Gas Cylinders Barely two weeks after the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hameed Ali (rtd) showcased various seizures made by Federal Operations Umit (FOU), Zone â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Ikeja, worth over N10 billion, the unit has again intercepted 1,393 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, 187jerrycans, 66 drums of foreign vegetable oil, 625 Cartons of poultry

products and 50 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil from unapproved routes within Ogun State.

The Acting Controller of the command, Usman Yahaya, disclosed this in a statement, saying surveillance and routine patrol had aided its war against smugglers.

The rice, vegetable oil and poultry products, he stated, were conveyed in 12 different motor vehicles

and also concealed in gas cylinders with a cumulative duty paid value of N40.144 million.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This desperate act by these dare devil smugglers concealing edible items in a gas cylinder further justifies the hard chase by operatives of Customs. Duty Paid Value (DPV) break down of the seized items is as follows: Rice N27,860,000.00, Veg. Oil

N6,284,250.00 and frozen Poultry N6,000,000.00).â&#x20AC;?

Yahaya warned that unless the economic saboteurs repent from their unscrupulous activities, they will continue to count their losses.

He also advised legitimate traders to be compliant in their declarations as the unit is ever ready to facilitate their trade in line with world best practices.

While thanking the

Comptroller General of Customs and the entire management team of the Nigeria Customs Service for providing necessary logistics and motivation that led to this feat, Yahaya called on all meaningful Nigerians to support the Serviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight against smuggling activities by providing intelligence that could assist the unit achieve more monumental seizures.

Japanese Companies Endorse Lagos Free Zone Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x2019;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2014; Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) Ă&#x153;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2014;Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă?Ă&#x2013;Ă? Ă&#x152;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2DC; (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă&#x2014;Ă? Ă&#x2022;Ă?Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x2019;Ă? (Money Market) Ă&#x2122;Ă?Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2013;Ă?Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x2019;Ă&#x;Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2018;Ă&#x201C;Ă? (ICT)

A group of Japanese companies were hosted to a tour of the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), Ibeju Lekki, which is home to several reputable brands such as Kelloggâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Colgate, Dano Milk, Indomie and BASF. The tour was organised by the Japan-Nigeria Business Facilitation Council (JNBFC) in collaboration with the Lagos Secretariat of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

LFZ also houses Lekki Deep Sea Port which is poised to contribute about three per cent to the national gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025. This makes the Zone

well connected to regional and international routes, while offering investors access to an enormous consumer market across Nigeria. The deep seaport will be operational by the second quarter of 2022.

Trade Commissioner and Managing Director of JETRO, Mr. Shigeyo Nishizawa said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since the last time I held a meeting with Japanese companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; managing directors (MDs) in December, I found that the MDs were interested in the LFZ Zone, hence I decided to hold a site visit. Over 40 officials visited the site. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The participants were not

only food manufacturers, but also home appliances, vehicle manufacturers, medical equipment manufacturers, overseas traders and government agencies. We were pleased to have been received by Mr. Haresh Aswani, MD of Tolaram Group and Mr. Dinesh Rathi, CEO of LFZ. We checked the site and Lekki deep sea port construction progress and understood that the LFZ will be a real game changer of Nigerian economy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing Is Believingâ&#x20AC;?. I recommend many businesspersons to come and see what is happening in the vibrant future of Nigeria.â&#x20AC;?

Once fully developed Lagos Free Zone would house over 150 industries in different sectors from fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) to engineering and pharmaceuticals, bringing in billions of dollars in foreign direct investment to Nigeria.

The zone will also serve as a logistics hub for West Africa and have a real estate cluster, creating a complete live -work- play environment.

LFZ, is promoted by Singapore-based, Tolaram Group. With the presence of a one-stop-shop clearance, Lagos Free Zone is changing the narrative around the ease

of doing business in Nigeria.

The facilities on ground include an operational truck pack, emergency response medical facility, and a central processing center which hosts agencies like the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In line with its commitment to the Ease of Doing Business, LFZ provides and maintains internal infrastructure in the industrial complex including streetlights, warehouses, access roads, drainage, amongst others for all investors.

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

SAHCO Strategises to Boost Operations

Stories by Chinedu Eze

The Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has mapped out strategies to boost its operation as prime handling company in Nigeria.

The company in a recent appreciation dinner held in Lagos made this known, just as the parent company, SIFAX Group expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded by SAHCO. SIFAX pledged to support its subsidiary so that it would continue on the trajectory of success with a resolve to achieve its dreams of impacting the economy positively by creating employment opportunities in Nigeria and in Africa.

The occasion was also used to unveil SIFAX SAHCO Travels, a Travel Management Company (TMC) that offers flight booking, corporate travels, protocol services,

holiday packages, ticket reservation, cruises, among others.

TMC, which has already kicked off its service, has spread its network from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

SAHCO management, represented by the Vice chairman, SAHCO Plc, Mr. Chike Ogeah, also used the occasion to praise the company’s clients, saying that without them the company would not have made such tremendous progress.

He urged Nigerians to invest in the company by buying its shares quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

“Everything we are doing is transparent, we are a growing company, what we do is unique but we pray for a stable aviation climate and we call on authorities to start doing things properly,” he said.

The Group Managing Director of SIFAX Group,

Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, who spoke extensively on plans of the conglomerate in the next five years, said, “We are delighted that SAHCO is doing excellently well as a child of SAIFAX, SIFAX itself started about 32 years ago, we are happy that we are doing so well, we are an African conglomerate based in Nigeria but it is very important for us to re-strategise and move the company forward.

“We have about 1,500 employees in SAHCO, we have about 1,000 at the Seaport, we are helping the government to create about 4, 000 direct employment, we are taking a quantum leapwe want to be an African conglomerate that creates value for our services, we are building an African brand, we want to present in five African countries in the five years, both at the seaports and airports,” he said.

Qatar, Bulgaria Air Sign Codeshare Agreement Qatar Airways has announced that it has signed a codeshare agreement with Bulgaria Air, saying sales will start with the first codeshare flights to operate from March 2, 2020.

The agreement would provide Bulgaria Air passengers with a seamless connection to destinations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Qatar Airways’ passengers would benefit from access to two new destinations in Bulgaria: Varna and Burgas.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “This

agreement with Bulgaria Air follows other recent partnership announcements we have made with airlines across the world, demonstrating our commitment to working with our peers to provide passengers seamless connectivity and unrivalled service.”

Also, Bulgaria Air Chief Executive Officer, Hristo Todorov, said, “It is a great pleasure for Bulgaria Air to add Qatar Airways to its partnership network, which is undoubtedly one of the most respected and prestigious airlines in the world.

“We are delighted that

they have chosen us as a partner enabling our passengers to travel quickly and conveniently to over 170 destinations with Qatar Airways. This cooperation is only a part of our long-term development strategy and we are happy to welcome the passengers of Qatar Airways onboard our aircraft.”

Qatar Airways first launched services to Sofia, Bulgaria on 22 September 2011 beginning with a four-times weekly service.

In the years since, due to the strong demand by travellers, the service has grown to 14 weekly flights.

Turkish Launches New Commercial Turkish Airlines has launched a new commercial. Titled, ‘Step on Earth,’ the commercial brings back the sense of wonder and adventure felt as 600 million people around the world watched the humanity land on the moon. The 30-second commercial was viewed at the third quarter of the Super Bowl LIV held this year in Miami, and resulted in the victory of Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 31-20, defeating San Francisco 49ers.

The airlines, which said it flies to more countries than any other airline, challenges the statistic that said over a billion people globally have never travelled outside of their country.

The Star Alliance member airline gave the opportunity to three people, who had never travelled abroad, to discover the world be-

yond the borders of their home country for the first time. The new commercial features Russ, Mariha and Karlos exploring countries they had never visited and discovering for themselves the adventure of stepping foot in a new country.

The commercial captures the power and emotion of the journeys to novel landscapes and horizons around the globe and encourages us to explore our own planet. The adventure starts with one small step on Earth.

In the commercial itself, the viewer is shown archive footage from a 1969 newspaper heading and preparations leading up to the Apollo 11 countdown and take off.

Meanwhile in 2019, Russ, Mariha and Karlos prepare for the flight, approaching a Turkish Airlines plane waiting for them on the apron. Each first time

traveller is destined for a different landscape for an unforgettable experience: exploring deep caves and waterfalls amongst lush tropical forest, trekking through deep snow and riding a group of wild horses in the desert.

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. lker Aycı, said: “This film celebrates the spirit of discovery and adventure that permeates all of us, from first time travelers to lifelong adventurers.

“We look up at the sky for every new adventure as our planet has countless wonders and moments waiting to be discovered.

As Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other, we are delighted to keep you encouraged to ‘Widen Your World’ to discover the rich variety of cultures and landscapes here on Earth.”

Promoting Aviation in Africa Chinedu Eze The journey started in 1990 when African Aviation Services Limited was born. The objective was to promote aviation development in the continent. The infant had grown to full adult and since then, African Aviation has been setting agenda for air travel in the continent.\ The African Aviation organises the successful series of annual African Aviation Conferences & Exhibitions, including MRO Africa, African Aviation Training, African Aviation Law, Air Finance for Africa, African Business Aviation, and African Aviation Defence and Aircraft Maintenance (MRO).

These annual African Aviation Conferences and Exhibitions, provide a unique platform for valuable networking and information sharing between leading African and international aviation, regulatory, finance, aircraft maintenance, training, military aviation and business and general aviation organisations and government officials, which help to foster closer co-operation and business partnerships. In addition, training courses are provided by the African Aviation Training School.

The founder and CEO of African Aviation Services Limited, Nick Fadugba, who is a Nigerian, said the organisation was founded in 1990 with the raison d’être of promoting aviation development in Africa.

It is involved in aviation consultancy, conferences, seminars, publishing and ancillary services.

“Given Africa’s vast size and limited means of surface transportation by road, rail or river, African Aviation believed from the outset that a safe, efficient and affordable air transport industry in Africa would be a vital catalyst for the economic and social transformation of the continent.

“African Aviation Services provides strong leadership, a clear vision and unstinting commitment to the African aviation industry.

African Aviation provides a wide range of aviation consultancy and advisory services to international and African organisations, and to African governments, spanning commercial, business, general and military aviation.

“Clients are able to achieve their goals more quickly and cost-effectively by leveraging the knowledge, experience and expertise of African Aviation in the African aviation industry, and its extensive business relationships and partnerships across the continent and globally,” he said.

Fadugba is a renowned aviation consultant recognised globally and has contributed immensely in the development of air transport in Africa. He is a former Secretary General of African Airlines Association (AFRAAA) and currently the Chairman of African Business Aviation Association (AFBAA). Fadugba has been the shining light for the growth of aviation in the continent.

“Our goal is to help build a more efficient and vibrant African aviation industry by promoting air safety and security, aviation training, air transport connectivity and win-win relationships,” he said.

Our goal is to help build a more efficient and vibrant African aviation industry

Nick Fadugba

Marking the 30 years of African Aviation Services Limited recently in Addis Ababa, during the 29th edition of MRO Africa Conference, Fadugba said that when African Aviation Services was launched, “We believed then, as we do today that air transport holds the key to unlock the potential of the African continent. Other people had the idea before us like Ethiopia Airlines, which provided us with great inspiration. Ethiopia Airlines connects Africa from east to west; north to south.

“We must give credit to the management and staff of Ethiopia Airlines because it is an inspiration to the African continent. At the African aviation, we believe in training, maintenance, leasing and financing. If African airlines could not buy new aircraft, we must be able to maintain the old ones that we have. Things have progressed since then.”

Fadugba over the years has provided global platform for deliberations on African aviation, which has made invaluable contribution to the development of the industry in the region.

African Aviation has provided African airlines the opportunity to meet suppliers, lessors, consultants, insurance firms, engineers and partnership firms that helped to consolidate and strengthen their operations.

Speaking about African Aviation and Fadugba’s contribution in the development of aviation industry in the continent, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said, “First let me thank Nick for all the good work that he has been doing for the continent and that he continues to do. And it is a great work and we are with you and I take this opportunity to thank you. It takes passion and determination and commitment to work the talk for the last 30 years. So he deserves congratulation and appreciation.”

Many industry experts in Africa gave kudos to Fadugba for providing the opportunity for entrepreneurs, airline operators, engineers, pilots, service providers and others to meet at least every year to brainstorm on the industry, network and open new businesses opportunities.

The Managing Director and Accountable Manager of 7 Star Global Hangar Limited, Chief Isaac Balami, commended African Aviation for organising the MRO Conference which brings together experts from all over the world to Africa every year to deliberate on aircraft maintenance.

“This is the first time I have exhibited at Africa MRO Conference and met so many peoples and companies that are willing to support my organisation in what we do,” Balami said.

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

As Inclement Weather Threatened Air Safety Chinedu Eze writes that sudden harmattan haze paralysed flight operations in Nigeria as airlines, aviation agencies and passengers counted their losses

L

ast week could go down in the history of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aviation industry as one of the most challenging, only second to air disaster. This was as a result of the sudden eruption of harmattan haze defied prediction and unleashed anger on human manipulation. It disrupted flight operations at the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos as well as at Abuja, forcing airlines to cancel, delay or divert flights.

Airlines, passengers and aviation agencies incurred huge losses, prompting the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, to issue a statement apologising to all over the disruptions.

The first sign of the disruption was noticed on Sunday, February 9, 2020, and it peaked last Friday, but by Saturday, February 15, the furious harmattan had begun to ebb, as dusty wind cleared, opening the airspace to long distance visibility over 800 meters.

But the unexpected inclement weather was not peculiar to Nigeria, it was a global phenomenon, which disrupted flights in most parts of the world, especially in Europe, where Storm Ciara unleashed its fangs and led to the cancellation of flights and games around the same period.

Global Inclement Weather CNN reported that Storm Ciara caused hundreds of flights across Europe to be canceled last week Sunday -- the same day that its winds helped a British Airways plane to make the fastest-ever subsonic flight from New York to London.

CNN said two of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busiest airports -- one in Frankfurt, Germany, the other in Amsterdam, Netherlands -- each grounded more than 100 flights due to the storm.

According to the medium, at least 135 flights were also canceled at Frankfurt main airport.

But what exacerbated the incidents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, was that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), was transiting from Category 2 Instrument Landing System (ILS) to Category 3 and was yet to complete the calibration of the instruments before the sudden harmattan haze hit again, foreign airlines abiding by the Standard of Operation Procedures (SOP) diverted their flights largely to Accra, Ghana when visibility became lower than their standard.

So, while the passengers destined to Lagos could not be taken to state, the ones waiting to depart from Lagos to international destinations could not be airlifted by the international carriers. This gave rise to massive disruption and discomfort.

But as airlines, aviation agencies and travellers were embroiled in the confusion, the weather improved and put an end to that anxiety. Normal flights resumed on Saturday, February 16 and all the hoopla came to an end.

Calibration THISDAY learnt that NAMA would complete the calibration by this weekend.

Contrary to the belief that the last calibration was conducted by ASECNA, the aeronautical agency for French speaking West African nation, the calibration was actually done by the aircraft recently bought by the federal government for that purpose and informed source told THISDAY that it resumed the calibration exercise on Tuesday.

NAMA has been excoriated by industry insiders for removing existing Category 2 ILS at the airport when the category 3 was not completely installed and certified.

THISDAY learnt that the agency, feeling the worst inclement weather was over after January at the Lagos area, as it happens every year before now, dithered in the exercise because it was getting the aircraft ready for the calibration.

Instrument Landing System (ILS) It was at this period that the unexpected harmattan haze returned with a vengeance and wreaked havoc on the image of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aviation industry.

NAMA sources confirmed that it was the new aircraft acquired by the federal government for $8.5 million that conducted the calibration exercise.

The source told THISDAY, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have calibration aircraft. So we have to use our aircraft. It was not ASECNA that conducted the initial exercise. We used our aircraft. It was the aircraft that was used to calibrate landing aids in Abuja, the crew went back to their country; but has returned to Nigeria. â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the first exercise they did eight sessions. The aircraft calibrated the DVOR (Doppler Very High Omnidirectional Radio Range) in Lagos, Abuja and Asaba (state owned airport.) DVOR is an upgrade of VOR and we have it in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. The crew will this time calibrate both the 18R and 18L of the Lagos runways,â&#x20AC;? the NAMA official told THISDAY. Category 3 ILS The Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, explained to THISDAY recently that the reason why the agency wanted to migrate to Category 3 ILS was to overcome disruptions caused by harmattan haze when dust cover the atmosphere during the dry season and hamper visibility and during the raining season when dark clouds conspire to reduce visibility below the accepted minima because with Category 3 ILS, flights can land at zero visibility. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Category 3 ILS will give you greater latitude to be able to operate in the airport even when there is significant weather challenge. It will improve visibility during the harmattan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When an airplane is near an ILS approach, an ILS approach provides guidance to an airplane in three dimensions, it provides a lateral, which determines whether you are on straight line or not and in the vertical. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So if the airplane is coming in on an ILS, it is guided onto the centre of the runway in such a manner that it can land comfortably when the field is in sight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, depending on the category, the difference in category is that they will provide you with the centre line or lateral line; it is about the same. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But in the vertical, it brings you to a height. Category one will bring you to a height. If you see the runway at that point, when you get to that height if you see the runway you land. A cat 2 says, I am much more accurate, so it brings you to a lower height. In technical terms it is called

decision height. Now Cat 3 brings you to a farther lower level. Some Cat 3 can land the aircraft without the pilot seeing anything due to zero visibility,â&#x20AC;? Akinkuotu had explained.

Airlinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Explanation As a result of this, airlines sent statements to their customers, explaining that they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t operate to Lagos due to bad weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We would like to sincerely apologise for the disruption to your journey to Lagos. Due to adverse weather at the airport we were unable to safely land into Lagos airport.

We regret to inform that due to operational constraints, we have had to cancel this flight,â&#x20AC;? BA had said in the notice it sent to its passengers on February 11.

Domestic carriers, including Arik Air, Dana Air and Azman Air also wrote to their customers, explaining flight constrains occasioned by the weather.

Part of Arik Air notice had explained, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is to inform all our esteemed customers who have had the difficulty in reaching their various destinations through our flights that the current challenge is due to inclement weather. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This poor and persistent weather condition has mostly affected our Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Warri, Asaba, Yola and Sokoto routes.â&#x20AC;?

Domestic airlines incurred huge revenue losses because they could not operate to any of the destinations during the critical days; the passengers were left stranded.

Weather So the major culprit is weather, which affected domestic flight operations, but according to a NAMA official, industry observers and others tend to concentrate on the inability of foreign airlines to land at the Lagos airport without appraising the effect of the weather in domestic operations.

Many airports like Kaduna, Abuja, Kano, Asaba, Benin and even Port Harcourt was affected by the weather, which forced domestic carriers to delay or cancel their flights. The unfavaourable weather literally sneaked in like a thief in the night because it was unexpected.

However, the Ministry of Aviation in a statement explained why foreign airlines diverted their flights to Accra and other airports and the efforts made by NAMA to remedy the situation.

The Ministry said the standard navigational equipment at the MMIA is a CAT 2 ILS. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what most airports, including those in advanced countries, have.

It noted that the federal government, due to its commitment to passenger security and safety, decided to upgrade key airports in the country to CAT 3 ILS, which allows flights even in zero visibility, unlike CAT 2 ILS where pilots can only land with minimum of 800m visibility.

The ministry also explained that CAT 3 ILS has been installed in Lagos and Abuja, in the first phase. Both were also calibrated. Pending are CAT 3 ILS for Kano, Port Harcourt, Asaba, etc â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nigeria, for the first time in a long time, acquired a calibration plane to facilitate easy calibration of the navigational equipment and also stop the practice whereby a calibration plane is hired for $500,000 each time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CAT III ILS in Abuja is working perfectly. But after caliberation, some inaccurate readings were noticed in the CAT III ILS AT runway 18R (for international flights) at the MMIA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately, it was in the process of re-calibrating that the weather situation in Lagos changed for the worse, hence the disruption of international flights into Lagos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some airlines opted to divert their flights to Kotoka airport (CAT II ILS) in Ghana, leaving innocent travellers stranded, when they could have easily diverted to Abuja (CAT III ILS), where flights to Lagos are regular,â&#x20AC;? the ministry disclosed.

The ministry also recalled that some international airlines diverted their flights to Abuja, remarking that insinuation that perhaps the CAT 3 ILS equipment was never bought or never installed was akin to calling the dog a bad name just to hang it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The equipment was not only bought, it was installed,â&#x20AC;? the ministry insisted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The weather phenomenon that reduced visibility at the International wing of the MMA is not unique to Nigeria. As this was happening in Nigeria, over 100 flights were being cancelled within the span of one week at Heathrow in London. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The situation at the runway 18R at the MMA is being rectified and normal flights will resume shortly,â&#x20AC;? the ministry also said.

Solution THISDAY learnt that since last week NAMA engineers have been working ceaselessly to ensure that the ILS is put to perfect working condition to permanently put an end to natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embarrassment.

Spokesman of the agency, Khalid Emele told THISDAY that the worst situation had passed; that Nigeria would not be caught in such quagmire again, as the Lagos airport ILS would be put to use after the calibration and certification.

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BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Reign of Pirates EromoseleAbiodun writes that the attack on a container vessel last week by pirates barely two months after a bulk carrier, Vinalines Mighty was attacked 40 nautical miles off Bonny last December makes mockery of Nigeria

I

n a move ostensibly planned to rubbish recent announcement by the federal government through the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi that the government is planning to deploy specialised equipment to halt the piracy and criminality in the Niger Delta, pirates recently attacked a container vessel off Nigerian coast last week.

The vessel, operated by Hamburg-based Bernhard Schulte Ship management, was attacked by two speedboats in the Gulf of Guinea last Friday. The Maersk Tema was attacked by two speedboats off the Nigerian coast, a spokesman for the company said.

The spokesman, who said the crew followed emergency procedures, however, did not say whether the pirates had boarded the ship.

Maersk Tema was at 200 nautical miles South West Bonny and was underway from Point Noir to Lagos when it was attacked.

Two unknown men are believed to have boarded the vessel and two skiffs were seen in the vicinity of the attack.

This incident is coming barely two months after a bulk carrier, Vinalines Mighty, was attacked and boarded by three pirates 40 nautical miles off Bonny on December 31, 2019.

Last week’s attack was the fifth incident to occur within the Nigeria – Sao Tome JDZ since November 2019.

A major player in the industry told THISDAY that pirates operating within this area are assessed to be seeking to exploit the relative lack of established security presence in the waters beyond the Nigerian EEZ. “Pirates have shown a capability and intent to attack large vessels underway, indicating a high degree of confidence and capability.

It is assessed as highly likely that pirates operating within this area have originated from within Nigeria and are likely to do so with support from a larger vessel. The conduct of deep offshore pirate operations beyond the Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zone was a significant feature of West African piracy throughout 2019,”he said.

According to the International Maritime Bureau, nine out of 10 maritime incidents of piracy and kidnappings for ransom are reported in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, which stretches 5,700 kilometres (3,500 miles) from Senegal to Angola.

“As the number of crew members kidnapped by pirates worldwide decreased, the number reported in the Gulf of Guinea increased from 78 in 2018 to 121 in 2019,” the IMB stated.

$195 million Security Contract Last year, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), approved a $195 million maritime security contract with an Israeli firm, HLS International Limited. The contract, the government said, was in line with efforts to curb increasing criminal activities such as piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping, oil theft, illegal bunkering, smuggling and illegal trafficking in drugs and persons within the Gulf of Guinea, especially Nigeria.

As the government pussyfoot about security, the incidents of piracy and criminality reached an all time high driving international oil companies (IOCs) to seek urgent intervention.

Following the deteriorating security situation, the government a little over two weeks ago, announced that it has commenced effort to solve the problem with commencement of training of the special forces that will be involved in the operation.

Amaechi, who disclosed this in Lagos after a meeting with IOCs and other stakeholders in the maritime sector, stated that the meeting was conveyed to assure the IOCs and the international community that the government is on top of the situation and is well able to solve it.

Amaechi also stated that the Israeli firm would only provide training and equipment while members of the armed forces, who

in advanced countries.

“Piracy attacks on our waters do not portray the country well in terms of security, because of the insurance premium and the tendency for people to abandon our shores,” he said.

Commenting on the issue, the President, Nigeria Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain TajudeenAlao said the situation makes Nigeria look bad in the eye of the global community.

He recommended war ship, aircraft and patrol boats on the waters, saying that Nigeria was not doing enough to protect its maritime domain.

“Forty years ago, it was never like this.

Things have deteriorated.We should position boats where the criminals come out and go in. The Navy, Customs, civil defence must be at sea,” he said.

Rotimi Amaechi are specially trained, will man the waters.

He added that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was working with the armed forces to man Nigeria’s territorial waters revealing that assets acquired by the federal government in that respect has started arriving the country.

Giving an update on the assets that had arrived Nigeria, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside said: “In terms of assets, six interceptor boats are in the country, the first special mission vessel came into the country December last year and the second mission vessel will be in the country in February. The first special mission aircraft will be in the country before the end of the first quarter of this year. Six armoured vehicles are in the country already, apart from that, the first unmanned aerial vehicle will come in between now and the end of February.

“We expect the first helicopters in the first quarter of this year. Apart from the sixarmoured vehicle fitted with communication equipment, almost all the communication equipments are in the country already. The personal gear to kit the dedicated forces are also here. Our intelligent system is fully operational in Kirikiri. However, between

The first special mission aircraft will be in the country before the end of the first quarter of this year. Six armoured vehicles are in the country already, apart from that, the first unmanned aerial vehicle will come in between now and the end of February

now and June this year, 80 per cent of the assets will be in Nigeria to be manned by the Nigerian military.”

He added: “Training are in phases, the first set of training for sea fire operators have been concluded, the intelligence officers course has also been concluded, basic infantry training for soldiers who will fight on land around the littoral areas and the soldiers are waiting to be deployed.

“What is holding them from being deployed is that we were waiting for the armoured personnel carriers and the intervention personnel gear, both are now in the country, then the ammunition and arms are also in the country. Part from that the first set of persons have been trained for maritime security unit, the second set will commence any moment from now, which is the advance maritime security training which take place in a Naval facility in Onne in Rivers State.”

Amaechi called on Nigerians and the people of the Niger delta not to misconstrue heavy military presence as an invasion adding that he is afraid that when the operation fully commence some mischievous elements will try to frustrate the effort by painting the operation as the North invading the South.

In addition to the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy, he said other members of the Sea Force, which will jointly man the vessels, include: the Nigerian Army, Directorate of State Security Service (DSS), the Nigeria Police and operatives of NIMASA. The federal government, he stated, would stamp out all forms of insecurity such as piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping for ransom and oil theft, among others within the nation’s maritime domain as it begins a phased implementation of its new maritime security architecture.

Stakeholders react Reacting to the ugly trend, the National Council of Managing Directors of Customs Licensed Agents (NCMDCLA), called on the federal government to set up a special committee made up of professionals to offer advice on maritime security.

The National President, NCMDCLA, Mr Lucky Amiwero insisted that maritime security was not a matter for senators to handle but professionals in the security field needed to be brought in to advise the government on security measures to be deployed.

The NCMDLCA president said with a professional advisory team, the government would then know if there was a need to set up special security anchorage for the Niger Delta or deploy Coast Guards like it is done

Deadly waters Late 2017, Peterside confirmed the U.S maritime administration report that Nigeria water is deadly and unsafe.

The NIMASA DG stated this against the backdrop of Nigeria’s Loss of a seat in Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Peterside said Nigeria insecure and unsafe water contributed immensely to the nation’s woes at IMO election.

Speaking to journalists at the end of a meeting of the ‘G7 Friends of Gulf of Guinea Group’ in Lagos, he explained that G7 Friends of the Gulf of the Guinea Group is one of the international initiatives Nigeria is leveraging on to strengthen fight against piracy and other criminal activities on the sea.

The NIMASA boss said the impression of the international community is that Nigeria was not doing enough to tackle the challenge adding that it contributed immensely to Nigeria losing the election.

“I cannot deny the fact that the issue of piracy may have had some impact on the elections. Our colleagues did not have much information about what we were doing to tackle piracy and there was a general impression that Nigeria was not doing enough to tackle the issue of piracy, ”he said Also, speaking on the amount spent on the lost election, the DG said a whopping N100 million was expended on Nigeria failed election bid.

“NIMASA spent less than N100 million for the IMO campaign and it was only three delegates that attended the conference from NIMASA, “he said.

He explained that countries like Singapore, China, and United Arab Emirates attended the IMO with highest number of delegates.

Speaking further on why Nigeria lost out of the IMO election, Peterside identified late preparations, delay from the Federal Executive Council and recession as another reason why the country lost.

“Also, late preparations and the fact that we did not go round other countries like others did, it would have cost plenty of money but we are not willing to spend such money. We had considered economic factors in context of our political aspirations.

“It is Nigeria that ran for IMO category C, and for you to use the name Nigeria, you must get the approval of the man who is managing all the country, the president just got elected, so it would have gone through a process, we have lost some time but the approval eventually came, after we got the approval, there are also budgetary processes to go through, even if the approval was given two years ago, we also need to do the background work to get budgetary provision for it before we begin the campaign, all of these things affected our early preparations.

“But now that we know better, we are starting the next preparations immediately, because we deserve a place in the council of the IMO, these are what we meant by late preparations, “he explained.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Changing Narratives on Seeking Saraki Calls for Synergy to Tackle Insecurity in Gulf of Guinea Greener Pastures Abroad Niyi Ogundipe

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

It is in human nature to believe that the grass is greener on the other side.

This belief is what has fuelled the mad rush by some uninformed young men and women to look for any means to leave the country in the hope that they can find a better life elsewhere.

The quick growth of the population and economic issues in recent years has produced stubbornly high youth unemployment in many places, leaving many youths doubting that they could ever have a decent life within the country.

As a result, a category of Nigerians believe it could be better abroad.

Reports of harrowing experiences of people who go through tortuous journeys in the desert, crossing the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats and ending up in European cities as slaves or asylum seekers, including those who never make it to their destination, reflect the desperation of many of the country’s youths, seeking the proverbial greener pastures abroad.

You hear stories of Nigerians who fall off overloaded trucks and become food for wild animals in the desert or end up in slave camps in Libya, a location which has become the typical first point of call after leaving the country.

Some are among those that regularly get drowned in the Mediterranean, all in search of the means of livelihood they could not find in their country.

Experience shows that in most cases, they end up not finding the greener pastures they seek outside the shores of the country. That is because the grass is not always greener on the other side. This essentially is the narrative that the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is trying to promote in the country, especially to young girls who leave the country with high hopes of a better life but end up in forced labour or sex slavery.

Some of these girls are attracted by the fairy tales they hear about their compatriots who are succeeding abroad but arrive in Europe to find a completely different picture from what had been painted to them. They end up working for prostitution rings without pay, become domestic slaves or find themselves in forced marriages.

NAPTIP is trying to enlighten young girls who are often the most vulnerable in what is globally acknowledged as modern slavery that they can make their pastures green wherever they are in the country.

Last year, NAPTIP launched the Not for Sale campaign to make many young Nigerian girls understand that what they are going to Sokoto to look for is right inside their Sokoto. In other words, they don’t need to risk their lives to travel abroad, especially under the traumatic conditions some of them go through, to find success.

They have at their fingertips and within the country, the means to attain great success. What could be considered the pilot phase of Not For Sale is targeted at girls from Edo and Delta states because statistics show that they form the bulk of victims of human trafficking in Nigeria, a problem which is evidently not peculiar to just those two states, but a national problem.

The campaign involves sensitisation exercises in every segment of society to drive the message that girls are Not for Sale.

NAPTIP launched a movement which aims to inspire, empower and enable young women in Edo and Delta states to build a successful future at home in Nigeria.

Approximately 80 per cent of

The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, has called on security agencies and other stakeholders to continue to collaborate with the ministry to provide the needed impetus and synergy to tackle the rate of violent crimes in the Gulf of Guinea.

The minister made the call in Abuja, when participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 13 of the National Institute for Security Studies, Lower Usman Dam, paid her a courtesy visit.

While highlighting a threepronged approach already adopted by the ministry to arrest and persecute offenders, she noted that the ministry had resolved the root cause of the problem and thereby assure ship owners that the Gulf of Guinea is safe for trade.

Saraki in a statement by

DG, NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli Nigerian women who take the dangerous journey overseas end up being trafficked and forced into prostitution.

Edo and Delta states are where most victims come from. We want to help women in those states to find success on their own terms, and not pay the terrible price paid by so many who looked for success abroad. The campaign shares the stories of young women who have found success at home, promoting these across TV, cinema, radio, outdoor, Facebook, digital, events and PR. Young girls are made to understand that they can achieve their dreams without having to sell their bodies and that they should not allow themselves to be influenced by those who have chosen the wrong path to success.

Parents who encourage their daughters to travel abroad for prostitution in order to become family breadwinners are persuaded to guide their innocent daughters into more dignifying vocations that would earn for the girls and the families, the respect of society.

NAPTIP is using the campaign to pass across the message to families and relevant community actors that life is not a competition in which any means for winning is acceptable. Instead, young girls should be encouraged to seek success through legitimate and dignifying paths.

The Not for Sale campaign is not just about discouraging young girls from taking to prostitution or other indecent and degrading vocations for survival. It is also about helping them identify different forms of empowerment opportunities available within the country to enable them to have decent means of livelihood.

There is something each state of the federation can emulate from the Not for Sale campaign. The economic situation in the country has rendered many young girls vulnerable and exposed to all manner of temptations, especially if those temptations offer a means of escape from the biting hardship that is being felt virtually everywhere.

As such, state and local governments do not have to wait for girls to become victims of trafficking before they think of rehabilitation programmes to give them better means of survival.

There is virtually no human being that does not have any idea of how to turn one naira into two, all they need is some encouragement on whatever ideas they have and supported with the initial one naira. The growing trend among youths today is entrepreneurship.

Governments can stem the tide of human trafficking by introducing skills acquisition programmes for young girls and providing means of take-off to help them find their feet.

-Ogundipe, a businessman, lives in Lagos

the Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Mr. Eric Ojiekwe, made available to journalist in Abuja, pointed out that Nigeria was the only country in the region to have a legal framework to deal with piracy, and called on countries in the region and urged participants at the Global Maritime Security Conference organised by the Ministry and its agencies in 2019 to implement decisions reached at the summit.

The minister, who observed that hitherto, there had been no collaboration with the institute, directed that relevant officers from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority and non-pool staff in Maritime Departments in the Ministry be drafted to be trained in the institute to provide the manpower needed to combat violent crimes at sea.

She, however, advocated the support of relevant agen-

cies to make the approaches work.

Earlier, the Commandant of the Institute, Mr. Adeboye Adeleke, said the Institute which started in 2008, has the mandate to train management staff of security agencies.

Responding to questions by participants, on issues of sustainability of the achievements in the rail sector, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. S. Zakari, stressed that outside the contract given to China Civil Engineering Construction Company, the ministry insisted that China trains about 150 young people in China on railway engineering to man the railways after they deliver the project.

On the issue of tackling insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, the Permanent Secretary, said equipment needed to secure the region has been acquired and the personnel to man them have been trained.

Lagos Scores ‘Goal Project’ High Nwabuike Onyinyechi Officials of some ministries in Lagos State have described the ‘GOAL Project’ of the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), as a strategy to help adolescent girls acquire relevant life skills and be self-reliant.

They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, at a stakeholders’ meeting to commemorate the Goal Project’s 10th Year Anniversary in Nigeria.

The GOAL Project aims at improving the economic power of young people, empower girls, the most vulnerable and hard-toreach communities with skills to break the cycle of poverty, liberation from exploitation and abuse.

Commenting, on the initiative, an Assistant Director of Education, Ministry of education, District IV, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos, Agboola Olaide, said: “This GOAL Programme by YEF is very laudable project.

“Though, it is basically for girls, we have also added girls to it. The programmes has trained these children to face any challenge in life, especially when they are sexually abuse in any form of abuse.”

“It also equips them with basic life skills need to push and establish them in life,’’ Olaide told NAN. Also, an Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMoH), Mrs Sarah Olanrewaju, told NAN that the GOAL was highly recommended.

According to her, LSMoH is ready to partner further with the organisation because its objectives are also in sync with the vision of the ministry.

Also, Commenting, the Director, School Sports

Directorate, Dr. Oluyomi Oluwasanmi, said the benefits of engaging youths in sports were enormous, hence, the GOAL project should not only be sustained, but be expanded.

According to Oluwasanmi, sports helps in building people up, not just physically, but also mentally and in the case of martial arts, help in self-defense.

She commended the efforts of YEF and partner organisations, including the Standard Chartered Bank.

In her remarks, the Executive Secretary, YEF, Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, told NAN that the package of the GOAL project resonates around and will help in achievement of some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“One of the SDG Goals is to ensure that we reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy, ensure adolescents have access to nutrition and the live healthier lives.

“Another goal also aims that people have access to quality education.

“All of these will lead to empowerment that will make for better physical, social, mental and economic lives.

“And so, the GOAL project in particular, which is a project implementation targeting adolescent girls, ensures that we build capacity of girls in such a way that they are able to negotiate for better relationships,’’ Akin-Jimoh said.

According to her, there are sessions to enhance literacy skills, whereby girls in secondary schools are taught about academic excellence, communication and time management.

“These are key deliverables for them to know the skills they need to enhance their academic performances in school.

“There are also sessions focussed on health, their bodies, menstruation, cleanliness and reproduction.

“All of these, including sporting skills and vocational skills will make the adolescents well built, groomed and prepared to be self-reliant.

“When a female is selfsufficient, she will be less dependent and better equipped to address and tackle challenges stereotypically associated with the female gender,’’ she said.

Akin-Jimoh said it was an annual responsibility to meet with stakeholders and officials from the Ministries of Education, Health, Youth, Sports and Development as well as the Sports Commission.

“They are to give an overview of the work being done on adolescent girls and boys in Lagos State.

“These programmes empower the adolescents; GOAL is a life skill sports for development programme to build the capacity of adolescents to ensure that they have the necessary life skills.

“These skills include vocational skills, self-esteem, self-confidence, being able to communicate, being able to have interpersonal relationships in such a way that they are healthier individuals and sports.

“We use these sports to train them on areas which they can use to enhance their physical fitness and also their social development.

“The stakeholders’ meeting ensures that everyone is carried along to know the impact of the programme,’’ she said.

According to Akin-Jimoh, the project targets about 12,000 adolescents across Lagos State, Ibadan and Abuja.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08038901925

Zynnell Zuh: Eyes on Nollywood

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Zynnell Zuh: Eyes on Nollywood In this exclusive interview with Sunday Ehigiator, popular award winning Ghanaian actress, producer and socialite, Zynnell Zuh, speaks on how she started acting, and her plans to spend more time in Nigeria and explore the Nollywood movie industry

W

ho is Zynnell?

Zynnell is an actress, film producer and fashion entrepreneur. I am originally from the Volta Region of Ghana, but I grew up in the Greater Accra Region.

Tell us about your growing up and educational background?

I was privileged to attend some of the best schools in Ghana because my parents didn’t joke when it came to our education. For my Junior High School, I went to Star Avenue School; I did my Secondary at Wesley Girls High School and studied Law at the Mount-Crest University College in Accra for my second degree. I did a double major in Geography and Information Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Being this learned, did your parents support your choice of career?

No, not at the beginning because acting was considered an informal low paying job that exposes women to all sorts of social vices. My parents love me without condition but it was hard convincing them acting could be a career, but they have never abandoned me.

How did you come about acting and how has the journey been so far?

I started acting in high school after I auditioned for my first movie role and got the lead role. I have been acting since then. The journey has been interesting and challenging with many breaks in between.

I took a long break to concentrate on finishing my first degree. After which I worked in advertising for two years then came back to produce my first movie ‘When love comes around’ which was on Netflix for two years.

Why did you decide to go into film production?

I decided to produce my first movie when I started getting frustrated from not getting good productions and roles to be featured in. It was a tough decision for me and I spent double the amount I initially budgeted for it.

The movie came together beautifully and did so well at the cinemas that Netflix contacted me to acquire it for two years.

I would have made a lot more profit if I hadn’t invested twice the amount that I did but I decided to chalk it up to experience. I produced two movies after that and they did very well.

How many movies have you produced so far and which of them would you consider an expression of your real-life philosophy?

I have produced three movies so far, I would say the three movies, ‘When love comes around’, ‘Love Regardless’

Zynnell

and ‘Anniversary’ respectively, all bring out some of my core values and beliefs.

You also have won several awards as an actor and producer, which of them would you say have been your most rewarding?

My favorites, I would say, are ‘The Golden Movie Award’ as ‘Best Actress’, for my performance in Anniversary and the ‘Spice Lifestyle Award’ in 2018 for being the best actress in West Africa.

You bring a particular fashion style to all your movies, is there any reason for that?

No, not at all, I would say that my style in movies is very much dependent on the roles that I play. I’ve been

cast as a boss, side chick, wife, and sister, you name it.

All I do is being sure that I bring the ‘Zy-factor ’ which is a touch of my personal style, but I am naturally a fashion enthusiast and a very passionate one at that, so I guess a leopard can’t hide its skin.

What project are you currently working on, and what more should we be expecting from you in time to come?

I’m working on a television series, a fashion program for TV and starting my own fashion line and styling company. I also plan on spending more time in Nigeria and exploring Nollywood and fashion industry here.

I believe that Nigeria is the enter-

tainment hub of Africa with Nollywood being the third largest film industry in the world. As a producer, I have always collaborated with Nigerians for all my movies. I enjoy working with Nigerians a lot. My first breakthrough role in Nollywood was in the movie ‘Just Married’, and my most memorable has been ‘Hire a Man’, ‘Crazy Lovely Cool’ and ‘Backward’.

I am really looking forward to more collaboration, and definitely open to more roles. I believe in one Africa and working together with my colleagues in Nollywood to push the envelope and continue to tell our African stories.

How do you unwind?

I love taking vacations and spending time with my special someone.

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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IFest Launches New Platform to Harness Talents

#NoGoFallMaga Releases Free E-book Snippet to Mark 2020 Safer Internet Day

Stories by Mary Nnah Innovation Festival, (IFest), a pan-African platform, has been launched in Nigeria as an empowerment platform curated to harness talents that will advance the course of humanity and address the societal problems and challenges facing Africa in some critical sectors.

IFest, launched recently in Lagos during an inaugural edition themed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exploring the possibilities of innovationâ&#x20AC;? and powered by Maxxconnection, an experience marketing company, the chairman of IFest , Prince Dapo Adelegan said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;IFest is an empowerment platform created to showcase and incubate African talents/ ideas and to harness those talents to full potential while solving our societal issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Africans are talented and it is evident in the way and manner African youths have been able to advance the course in other western countries. Young talented Africans and Nigerians are all over without necessary support, exposure and capacity building to unbundle their hidden talentâ&#x20AC;?.

According to him, IFest as a platform would encourage and collate great innovative works from young Africans, especially in key areas that would assist to drive the continent out of poverty, and create jobs opportunities for millions of Nigerians/Africans through the convergence of all stakeholders- govern-

L-R: Chairman, Creativexone Limited Dapo Oluwaseyi Adelegan; Assistant Director, Public AďŹ&#x20AC;airs, Lagos State Ministry of Information, Aruya Temilade; Managing Director, Creativexone Limited, Doyin Adewumi; Executive Director, Ifest, Owolabi Mustapha and Managing Director, Mind Innovations, Jahswill Osondu, at the launch of iFEST in Lagos recently

ment, venture capitalists, businesses and innovators and implementing some of the great ideas discovered.

At IFest, the Executive Director of the Innovation Festival Mr. Owolabi Mustapha stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we recognise that the possibilities of the human imagination are infinite and the only way to get our desired utopia is to unleash the latest innovative potential innate in all of us,â&#x20AC;? adding that â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are creating a platform that brings together all stakeholders to explore the possibilities of innovation.â&#x20AC;?

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, represented by Aruya Temilade, assistant director, public affairs, Lagos

State Ministry of Information said the state is excited to be part of the project.

According to her, â&#x20AC;&#x153;IFest could not have come at the right time as Lagos is moving in the same direction of innovation. The mega city project requires innovative ideas to achieve it, therefore we are very excited to be part of this project.â&#x20AC;?

Some of the key take away at the IFest will be that to educate and showcase to all stakeholders what innovation really is, harness the potential of the innovation to address important societal issues such as unemployment, insecurity and power and to open doors of opportunity by giving innovators a platform to showcase their innovation

to different investors who will help bring crafts to life.

Apart from providing opportunities for budding innovators in most areas of business and trade, IFest also has potential to throw up fun memory and entertaining collaterals such as networking opportunity, sales and exhibition opportunity and entertainment.

The IFest experience encompasses an innovation pitch, a showcase of innovative products (product launch), innovative features, upcoming technology, and discussions on the effect of present and future innovations in the business community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The festival isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t complete without IFest Night Market.

Russel Smith Chairman, Leslie Oghomienor, Visits Tunnel of God Hope One of the primary principle and traits of legendary leadership is the individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involved honest commitment and devotion, and above all, the resilient engagement of the help of the Supreme Being through a well as thought out spiritual retreat.

This is done mostly at the beginning of a new year by individuals and corporate organisations in order to the chart a visionary course for the year.

Aligning with this leadership principle, Chairman, Russel Smith Group Nigeria, Leslie Oghomienor, during the week, decided to embark on a one day special personal retreat at the Tunnel of Good Hope, in the heart of the premises of Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos.

The organisation was founded in 1990, by a very committed Jesuit priest, Fr. Francis Cusimano, SJ as a non-profit co-educational body, sponsored and run by North-West African Province of the Society of Jesus (a Roman Catholic Religious Order).

The six-acre land span with the facility was donated to the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos by the Olorunfunmi Royal Muslim family of

Russel Smith Chairman, Leslie Oghomienor with Rev. Fr. Maduabuchi Leo Mouneme

Idimu, which though practice a different faith, has a very high regard for Catholic education and formation.

This discovery inspired and motivated Leslie Oghomienorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice of his retreat venue, after seeing a documentary of the institution on TV. The overwhelmed Oghomienor was received on arrival by Rev. Fr. Maduabuchi Leo Mouneme, S.J

the Sole Administrator of the facility, who was highly elated to have such a respectable leader come all the way from a very high brow urban area VGC, with the stress of a very unfriendly Lagos traffic to be with them.

After a few hours deep reflection from the over 1200 - capacity modern chapel facility, Oghomienor went on a tour of the facility guided by the chief host, Rev.

Fr. Mouneme .

The places visited include, the Fountain of Faith, Fountain of the Last Supper, Jesuit Leadership Amphitheater, Arts Galary, the Salon, the Multi-purpose bakery, the Solar Energy Station and lastly the Tunnel of Good Hope.

Every relic or written words, found anywhere in the tunnel gives the individual participant undoubted hope of greatness and a good future if not best.

Oghomienor, a stickler for excellence, character and quality humanitarian service was so impressed that his visit was truly experiential.

On this discovery, Oghomienor, believes that if other informative institutions are selflessly committed in moulding and bringing up children from very young age to know that, that he or she has a personal responsibility to contribute to the building of a better, loving and peaceful society driven by one vision and unity, with high respect for the sanctity of life, the world will be happier for it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every child has the potential to not only soar but very high like the eagle. Thus, in whatever capacity we can help a child, we should help,â&#x20AC;? he said.

#NoGoFallMaga, The Handbook

To commemorate the 2020 Safer Internet Day, Cybersafe Foundation recently released for free downloads, a snippet of Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first storified cybersecurity awareness publication, #NoGoFallMaga: The Handbook.

The handbook, which is a first, uses a storytelling approach to demystify technical industry terms and create awareness in the simplest forms through text and visual aids that are easy for the public to understand and relate to.

The handbook is published by Cybersafe Foundation in partnership with Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Lime Media to provide a useful resource, through an easy-to-understand series of actions, and at the same time promote cybersecurity awareness as citizens often find it difficult to understand what is required of them to stay safe online.

With the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Together for a better internetâ&#x20AC;?, the 2020 Safer Internet Day advocates a call to action for all stakeholders to play key roles in creating a better internet for everyone, especially younger users. The relationship between FinTech and internet safety cannot be overemphasised and today provides a good opportunity to promote increased awareness about cybersecurity.

Available for free download, the snippet is divided into two sections featuring five stories and a do-it-yourself activity section to deepen the message of the #NoGoFallMaga Campaign. #NoGoFallMaga is a national movement of young people working to combat preventable financial fraud through consumer-centered sensitization and education targeted at Nigerians with access to financial services and technology.

Cybersecurity awareness campaigns have been identified as one of the most effective methods to tackle cybersecurity-related challenges as cybercriminals continue to improve their methods daily, using the art of deception known as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Social Engineeringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to exploit unsuspecting people on various platforms.

In response, this initiative has been designed to further chronicle the voice of Cybersafe Foundation in her bid to eradicate the menace of cybercriminals. This is why the #NoGoFallMaga campaign is purpose-built and the handbook published to engage various audiences on prevailing cybersecurity threats and their corresponding preventive measures.

Access Bank, Others Sensitise Thousands at Lagos Marathon As part of its continued effort to create awareness on the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS) in Nigeria and Africa, Access Bank carried out sensitisation and testing exercises through the week of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon 2020.

During the Marathon Expo which held from February 3-7, free HIV tests were carried out on 2,192 people, with an additional 989 people tested on the race day. The scheme encompassed both marathoners and the general public.

The Group Managing Director ofAccess Bank and co-Chairman of the Nigeria Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA), Herbert Wigwe stressed the need for continued education on the diseases, urging the public to be aware of their HIV status and pay closer attention to the causative factors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Throughout the week, we have carried out free testing, because it is only when we are armed with requisite information that we can lead better lives.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Access Bank remains committed to continually impacting communities we serve through the elimination of environmental and economic issues and by investing in activities that have a strong impact on the social structure of these communities,â&#x20AC;?

Wigwe said.

Participants at the marathon were also educated on parasitic and infections, including River Blindness, Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis), Trachoma, Intestinal worms and Schistosomiasis (Snail Fever).

The Head of Sustainability, Access Bank, Omobolanle VictorLaniyan, went further to laud the efforts of the corporate sector in increasing HIV sensitisation saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The effect of the private sector and collaborative bodies such as NiBUCAA has been felt across the continent as the quest for HIV eradication intensifies.â&#x20AC;?.

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MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Cruising in the Love Pad Vanessa Obioha touches the heart of the matter in the love nest created for the new reality show Ultimate Love

T

he instruction was clear: we are to pack everything we need to spend a night in the Love Pad. But on the scheduled day for the tour, not a few had a packed bag that suggested they were going on a vacation, instead of a sleepover. For these journalists and social media influencers, the opportunity to tour the facility that will house contestants of the new reality TV show by MultiChoice Nigeria was one not to be missed. It was one that availed them the chance to feel like contestants in the game and get first-hand experience of the show.

As we converged at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, waiting for the tour to kick-off, quite a few shared their opinions about the show.

Some compared it to the popular Big Brother Naija reality TV show and wondered if it will have some of the dramatic elements that have given the latter prominence. Will there be an Ultimate Love mania?

Last year when the leading video entertainment company announced the show, it emphasized that the programme would focus on love. Ultimate Love involves singles living together in a house with the intention to find love that will possibly lead to marriage. For this first season, 16 singletons, eight males and eight females initially entered the house but four contestants were later added, raising the total number of contestants on the show to 20.

As the camaraderie grew more infectious, others were more interested in the house.

Will it be beautifully furnished to reflect the theme of the show or not? They only had a few minutes to feed their curiosity as the bus whisked them away to the isolated residence.

The team was ready to receive us the moment we arrived. After the introductions were made, the team took us through the Master Control Room where a group of professionals were assembled to monitor the activities in the house. Following the Big Brother Naija format, the contestants would be monitored 24 hours and cameras were situated in strategic parts of the house to ensure no action was missed, except the conveniences.The head of the team is known as the Content Director who listens to every conversation in the house from her console and directs her camera monitoring team on whose story to follow.There was also another

Stepping into the Love Pad

team who log in every activity that goes on in the house. In the audio section, another team ensures that the audio syncs seamlessly with the video. Each of the audio tools come in twos to avoid mishaps.

The moment everyone was waiting for finally arrived. A mix of anticipation and excitement rent the air as we gradually approached the doors to the mystery Love Pad. Unlike the contestants who entered from the main exit door, we walked in through the auditorium, an open space with white walls adorned with artwork that portrayed the diverse cultures of the country. But the gasps and screams came when we finally walked into the living quarters, which was quite a sight for our sore eyes. Like little children, we ran in different directions, some to the kitchen to check out the fridge and refrigerator already stocked with assorted food and drinks. Others explored the bedrooms, carefully distinguished by the colours of the walls. The male bedrooms were painted in white and lemon colour with grey blankets covering the beds, while the females had their walls dipped in pink and white with matching

pink blankets. Not a few took wefies on the beds. A unique trait of the house was that each decor spoke volumes of partnership.

From the beautiful artwork of lovers to the pair of pigeons, every other art decor came in twos.To fully portray the love theme, little pots of flowers were lined up on the lower part of the walls of the hallway. The part of the house that took some breath away was the courtyard. With the blue sparkling water of the jacuzzi beckoning on us, and the neatly combed lawn with the love seats, we felt we were on an island.To give the courtyard that feel of being surrounded by water, a part of it had sand for the lovers to dip their feet.

The loveseats soon became a perfect spot for pictures. So did the jacuzzi. We all gathered and posed for the cameras. It was the only moment we had with our phones before they were taken from us. Without our phones, we only had each other to communicate with and did we make the most of it?

While some moved to the kitchen to make dinner, others shared drinks and chatted in the garden while sharing their impression of the house. One of the social media influencers

loudly remarked that he was already feeling like a contestant. But a few hours later when nomophobia kicked in, he declared that he wouldn’t stay in the house for long without his phone. Others imagined what it would be like to compete in the game, to meet a stranger in the house and fall in love with them. One of us played with possible matches but quickly jilted the thoughts.

After dinner, it was game time. We once again introduced ourselves to one another and argued on which game to play. From Truth or Dare to Concentration Game, we played, teased and shared jokes that gave us stitches till midnight when we gently slipped into Morpheus arms.

By morning, it was time to go home, but we still had cold feet. Quite a few wished they could stay longer. Unfortunately, the cruise was over.

Saving the best for the last, we were all presented a box of customised gifts with our names printed boldly on the package. It was indeed an ingenious idea to allow the love in the air follow us all the way back to our different homes.

AMVCA 2020: Who Will Win Best Actress Trophy?

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

In the past two editions of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, veteran actresses had clinched the Best Actress in a Drama trophy. Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde won the award in 2018 for the movie ‘Alter Ego’ while Rita Dominic took the award home in 2017 for her role in the military thriller ‘76. For the seventh edition, this category is keenly contested by both veterans and not so new faces. Sola Sobowale, Kate Henshaw, Toyin Abraham and Zainab Balogun are the nominees vying for the coveted spot. All actresses are peerless in their performances but going by the history of the AMVCAs, the winner in this category is one who has displayed not only exceptional acting but also the movie which she is nominated in is mostly a psychological thriller. Take for instance Omotola as she is fondly called won in this category for the movie ‘Alter Ego’.

Sola Sobowale

In that movie, the veteran actress switched between a human and child rights activist and a nymphomaniac. Also, in ‘76, Dominic played an emotional role as the wife of a soldier who is accused of plotting a coup

that led to the assassination of the Head of State. With these precedents, it is likely that the winner in this category may go to any of the actresses featured in a thriller, and probably a newcomer. But it won’t be as easy as peas as almost all the movies the actresses are nominated for are thrillers.

Sobowale leads in ‘King of Boys’ as an ambitious political leader caught in a web of lies and betrayal. Henshaw is the fearless police officer in ‘Ghost and the House of Truth’ while Abraham plays the semiilliterate pregnant woman in‘Elevator Baby’.

Of the five nominees, Balogun fetched two nods for her roles in the movies ‘Sylvia and ‘God Calling’. Both movies are linked to the supernatural world. While she played a vengeful paranormal character in ‘Sylvia’, her character in ‘God Calling’ was that of a young lady on a journey of redemption.

Balogun was particularly praised for her interpretation of the character in the latter.

At the end of the day, this category will be mostly between Sobowale and Balogun.

Sobowale is a fan’s favourite. Her comedic and villainous roles have made her a Nollywood sweetheart and clinching this award will be a well deserved reward for the actress who had entertained fans on the silver screen for years.

On the other hand, Balogun stands a higher chance of winning the award. Over the years, the young actress has proved her mettle and perhaps gave us her all in both movies, exploring emotional depths to render interpretations of her characters.

And since the organisers have a panache for recognising and rewarding new talents, it is likely that she will be the preferred choice. Nevertheless, this category is open to the public to vote. Therefore, it is the campaigning power of the nominees that will determine who will eventually take the crown.

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ETRENDS

Stage’s Set for New Y’ello Star

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mazen Mroue; Actress and Producer, Nse Ikpe Etim; Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Rahul De and Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo at the announcement of MTN Y’ello Star, a new music talent hunt platform by MTN Nigeria on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at MTN Plaza, Ikoyi, Lagos

Over the weekend, leading ICT company, MTN Nigeria announced the start of a new musical reality television show, ‘Y’ello Star’.

The show is coming on the heels of the ‘Turn it Up’ campaign that encourages the spirit of entrepreneurship and passion.

Unlike its flagship music reality show ‘Project Fame’, ‘Y’ello Star’ will be social media driven. It will involve participants applying for a spot in the competition through the telecom’s mobile app and is open to everyone.

Currently, regional auditions are holding in Abuja, Enugu and Lagos. Finalists from the auditions will proceed to the ‘incubation hub’ in Lagos, where they will be coached by experts in the music industry in several areas as they aim for the top prize.

Also, the company will be rewarding the winner of the competition with an apartment with which a room would be specifically furnished with state-of-theart musical and recording equipment to

enhance his or her career.

According to the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Richard Iweanoge, the focus of the show is not to give away cash prizes but help the talents to excel in their musical pursuits.

Iweanoge expressed optimism that the show will be a success. He revealed that barely 24 hours to the official announcement, that they have received over 45 applications online.This he said is a testament to Nigeria’s growing interest in music.

“10 years ago when we carried out a survey, we found out that Nigerians love music,”he says,“The findings we got then are still the same with the one we got from our research recently.”

He went on to list how MTN has been a major player in the music industry through various platforms such as the MTN Foundation and MUSON Scholarship Programme, which has trained hundreds of young Nigerians in the art and business of music.Y’ello Star takes this

further by bringing the process of creating the ultimate superstar to every Nigerian television screen.The show generally seeks to groom musical talent by providing a lifetime opportunity to turn their dreams and aspirations into reality. There are also entertainment platforms created by the company such as Music+, MTNY’elloTop 10 and the recently launched music-streaming platform, Music Time.

Also speaking at the event that was attended by celebrities and MTN ambassadors like actress Nse Ikpe-Etim, comedian Emmanuel ‘Nedu’ Ani and Chidinma Ekile, was the Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Rahul De who stated that “We know that there are a lot of talented people in Nigeria who need to turn up their musical careers. This platform will help launch them to musical heights. We have a wealth of experience in supporting Nigerian talent and are confident we can improve on our past successes.”

‘Y’ello Star’ will run until June 2020.

Red Caravan Movie Audition Holds Weekend King Akan in Abuja

Audition for the movie ‘Red Caravan’ is set to hold at Et Cetera City, Kachia Road, Kaduna State on Saturday, February 22, 2020. The audition is open to male and female actors of all ages for major and minor roles.

The N61 million budget movie is an impactful love story that aims to throw

more light on the chronic disorder known as epilepsy. It also touches on slave trade and is set around 140 years ago. The movie is a production of Evolution Studio 66 and House of Enchanter.

Speaking with the media at a press conference which held in Abuja recently, popular Movie Director; Toka Mcbaror, who is the Co-producer of the movie, disclosed that the movie has a total of

600 cast with 100 of those being major roles.

He further revealed that “there is ongoing work on the product design and set of the movie in Kaduna State where the movie will be filmed.

“We chose Kaduna State because we know the terrain, the state has most of the props we need such as horses and that will help to reduce our production costs.”

James Bond is Coming to Nigeria International premium brand from Nigerian Breweries Plc, Heineken recently announced that it will be premiering the latest James Bond flick ‘No Time to Die’ in Nigeria next month. It has been the tradition of the brand to hold extravagant premiere for James Bond films in Nigeria as part of its partnership with the film franchise.

‘No Time to Die’ is rumoured to be the last appearance of British actor Daniel Craig in the film. Since 2006 when he

took the reins from Pierce Brosnan as the iconic character, Craig has starred in four Bond series: ‘Casino Royale (2006), ‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008), ‘Skyfall’ (2012) and ‘Spectre’ (2015).

Portfolio Manager, International Premium Brands for the company Sarah Agha revealed that the film will also be premiered in other parts of the country such as Owerri.

The announcement was

part of the brand’s plans for 2020. It recently upgraded its Heineken House in Ikoyi with exciting features and revealed that it will become the epic centre of every planned event in their calendar. The members only club avail members to host their social occasions at the venue.

Apart from the James Bond movie premiere, Heineken which for the first time last year launched a fashion real-

ity show known as Design Fashion Africa disclosed that the show will be returning for a second season this year.

Another first for the brand is its plan to hold its sponsored fashion show Lagos Fashion and Design Week in other cities such as Abuja this year.

Agha further revealed that the fashion calendar will officially kick off in April with pop-up shops at the Heineken House.

ULTIMATE LOVE UPDATES WITH VANESSA

The Heat is On No one anticipated the drama that took place on last Sunday’s live show.

It was supposed to be about the love guests coupling with their preferred partners. But things went awry when David chose Presh Talker, one of the new contestants that joined the game over Rosie whom he was already friendly with.

The shock of being dumped by David was overwhelming for the Ogun state contestant but somehow she managed to keep a straight face and took a chance with Kachi.

The aftermath of David’s decision that Sunday led to emotional outbursts and a sudden check out. Obichukwu didn’t hesitate to voice his concerns about David’s actions. He clearly admonished him for playing with Rosie’s heart. But when confronted, David denied that he didn’t pick Rosie. He claimed that he chose her, that perhaps, it was the organisers that randomly paired them.

The news travelled fast to Aunty’s ears who came in to clear the air. She told them that they were paired based on their selections. In a video that was later released on the show’s website, it was revealed that David picked Rosie, Presh Talker and Nkechi. Of all,he showed more confidence in Presh Talker.

However, Uche who was among the six contestants left with no partner on the show and was later paired with Chris, made a shocking announcement. He told Aunty that he would like to voluntarily check out. Aunty was visibly not expecting that news as the look of surprise fleetingly displayed on her face. Trying to manage the situation, she told him that since he had five minutes on the live show to leave the game but didn’t, he would have to wait a while to get feedback.

Tried as much as they could to convince Uche to stay, he was resolute in leaving the game, saying that the environment was toxic for him. He eventually checked out on Monday night, leaving Chris with no partner.

If Chris is hurt by his decision, she managed to keep her emotions intact until the ugly incident with Iyke and Theresa on Wednesday morning. She had come in between the two lovers, wondering why they are always stuck to each other. Her statement didn’t settle well with Theresa who lashed at her.

They would later hug it out.

After days of avoiding one another paths, Rosie finally cleared the air with Presh Talker and David. They decided to sweep everything under the rug and move on with their lives.

With the Rosie, David and Presh Talker love triangle closed, another drama is ensuing in the Jerry and Sylvia’s camp.

Apparently, the duo had a past that is threatening to rock their ship. Sylvia’s attempt to get Jerry to show her more love hit a brick wall as he bluntly told her that he had no intention to fake love. His candid response to her request became a trending topic on Twitter with users pitching their tents on different sides of the argument. While some praised Jerry for being honest, others viewed his actions as arrogant and rude.

However, not all ships are facing storms. Michael and Cherry together known as Micherry are having a good time, so also are Iyke and Theresa, Obichukwu and Ebi, Jenny Koko and Louis, and Jay and Nkechi.

One wonders what other surprises will spring up at the live show this Sunday.

Will there be a swap or a check-out?

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Forever Nigeria 2020 Kicks off Success Showcase

12 Baskets CEO, Lara, Joins the Ruby Jubilee Club

Mary Nnah Forever Living Products Nigeria is 20 years this year, a milestone that speaks of its acceptability, desirability, business viability, and above all, an immense public acknowledgement that the company and its business have come to stay.

A business model, faithfully described by Forever Executive Chairman and Founder, Mr. Rex Maughan, thus: “An opportunity based on a beautiful, pure concept of sharing products you love, with others around you. Anyone with a passion for sharing health and wellness with others and watching their lives improve, can build the business”.

Truly, the business has touched the sensitive nerves of the Nigerian population, as it has done all over the world.

The company created some magic at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, as they flagged off the first Success Showcase for 2020, one in the yearly events series in which the company recognises and decorates its independent Forever Business Owners (FBOs) who have attained varying levels of achievements in their businesses, also showing how grateful and proud they are for the patronage over the years.

The atmosphere was electric as FBOs across the geopolitical zones of the country emptied themselves into the bowels of the centrepiece of arts and culture in Nigeria.

The Forever Nigeria family laid a grandeur exposition in epic celebration as only they know how. The event was awe-inspiring. As the elegant Mrs. Oma Attah, wife of MD Nigeria LNG, Mr Tony

12 Baskets CEO, Afolaranmi

Rebecca Ejifoma L-R : VP Forever Living Products Africa, Mr Jean-Baptiste Amichia; Dr Clement Idigo, Mrs Susan Oyemde and the Country Manager Forever Living Products Nigeria Mr Daniel Ikechukwu

Attah, declared at the event, her earlier vow to conduct her Forever business so successfully that her children and grand-children would benefit.

“I want to create a dynasty of Omas. There will be Oma I, Oma II, Oma III, in this business. My grandchildren will testify that this business was founded for us by our grandma, the original Oma (Attah)”, she said, and the audience cheered.

It was an afternoon of love and fun. Take the Port Harcourt crowd, you can’t miss them, happy people from the Garden City with designer wears that could set a fashion statement in Nigeria for 2020.

They came alive when their own, the delectable Ukamaka Nsugbe, came on stage and urged Nigerians to be cautious of what they take into their system.

She said Coronavirus, the Wahun, China, epidemic that had claimed over 700 lives, with an American and a Japa-

nese in tow, was a pointer that decisions we make in life affect more than just us.

Naturally, everyone in Forever has a story to tell.

Nsugbe said when she joined Forever in 2007, she had three challenges and all were effectively resolved a few months later. She said it was unacceptable conduct to market Forever products as medicine, rather than as supplements.

“They are products that provide strongholds against toxins and other infections in the body”, advising FBOs to use the products for their own health and well-being too, and advising ulcer patients to use Forever Aloe Gel. “Ulcer is wound in the stomach, with Forever Gel, the wound start to close up”, she said.

Also there were talks. Take the case of Mrs. Yewande Adekoya, who left her banking career in November 2017. She said she came to Forever to make money, but ended up

being pregnant and having a baby, enhanced by the use of Forever Living products, and the Abuja-based Mrs. Serah Idemudia, who relocated from Abuja to Ikorodu with her husband and refused to work. She was later invited to a Forever event where she listened and joined.

“I became an FLP Manager in three months, earning a monthly bonus of over N200,000 at that time,” she stressed.

“As we celebrate 20 years, it is right that we say a big `Thank You’ of feeling fine.

It is from Nigeria that it all started going to the rest of Africa. Our 20 years anniversary is a year-long event and theme is Health and Beauty of the Nation with Forever”, he said.

At the end, with the audience coming from around the country, blaring vuvuzela flutes, the atmosphere at the National Theatre was carnival-like. Many said they would want a repeat, soon.

Three Crowns Milk Sponsors MOTYWinners, Families to Dubai

It was brain meet beauty at the 40th birthday bash of the Queen of Chops in Nigeria, Mrs. Omolara Afolaranmi, popularly called Lara, as she danced her way to the warm embrace of friends and well-wishers welcoming her to the ruby jubilee club.

The birthday bash, which held in Ikeja Lagos, was in appreciation of her effort not only as the Chief Operating Officer of the company but also as a supportive wife.

The Ogun State indigene and mother of five said passion and consistency kept the wheel of her business rolling.

“12 Baskets is a 17-year-old food catering company conceived from the scriptures when there was a left over from the five loaves of bread and two fish, there were 12 baskets left,” she expressed. The quadragenerian reminisced about November 3, 2004, when the business came to life. “At that time, small chops and finger foods were new to the Nigerian market. It was something only the rich could afford”.

As seen then, she narrated that many people believed in staples and swallow. “But we had a mindset that it would work despite the initial challenges of finance and workers”.

Noting that the journey of 12 Basket Chops has not always been rosy, she highlighted some challenges.

“We often have challenges with power supply. We store a lot of perishable foods. When we don’t have power supply, the food gets spoilt easily. We spend so much on diesel and petrol, which reduces the profit margin,” she bemoaned.

Although she admitted there was a time she almost threw in the towel, but she made up her mind that it was either better or worse. “But there was no turning back”.

With such expressive smiles clouding her face, Lara said 12 Basket is a joint business with her husband, Mr. Michael Afolaranmi, whom she eulogised. “He trusts me with everything.

Some husbands don’t trust their wives. Trust is essential”.

For Lara, passion over money wins the race. “When that is involved, you will work it out against all odds. Just focus on your focus. Have a positive mindset”.

Association of Event Planners Hold Soirée in Lagos Rebecca Ejifoma

Three Crowns Milk MOTY winners andfamilies having fun time in Dubai

For the fifth consecutive time, Three Crowns Milk, Nigeria’s number one low cholesterol dairy brand from the stable of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Plc has sponsored winners of the 2019 edition of its annual Mum of the Year (MOTY) campaign on an all-expense paid trip to Dubai. This reward is a fulfilment of the brand’s promise to Mrs. Chinwe Okoroafor , Mrs. Abigeal Oluwasegun and Mrs. Kafayat Salami who emerged as the top three winners at the competition - to enjoy a holiday in Dubai with three members of their families and receive a year’s supply

of Three Crowns Milk.

The three lucky winners visited some of the most attractive sites such as Ferrari World, Dubai Mall Tour, Dubai Dancing Fountain, Global Village, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, Heritage Village, Gold Souk and Desert Safari, and had their free style shopping of USD1000 each all in the globally-acclaimed foremost tourist destination.

Since its debut, five years ago, the campaign has come to be recognised as the leading campaign dedicated to celebrating Nigerian mothers.

While flagging off the cam-

paign in October, 2019, the Marketing Manager, Three Crowns, Omolara Banjoko said Three Crowns Mum of the Year campaign was the brand’s leading campaign dedicated to rewarding Nigerian mothers for always putting their families first, adding that Three Crowns Milk cares for mothers’ hearts so that they can in turn care for their families.

Speaking during their appearance on TV Continental, Mrs. Chinwe Okoroafor, one of the top three winners, praised Three Crowns Milk for paying special attention to health and particularly the role of mothers.

“With the records this

brand holds, no one can be surprised at its increasing acceptance and patronage by people across all ages, all over Nigeria. My family and I are for Three Crowns any time, any day”, said Okoroafor.

Since 1988, Three Crowns Milk has nourished consumers in ways that promote healthy eating habits and active lifestyles so that mothers and their families remain healthy. As heart-friendly milk, Three Crowns Milk is the only Nigerian dairy brand endorsed by the Nigerian Heart Foundation as it continues to celebrate every mum as the heart of the home.

AssociationofProfessionalPartyOrganisersandEvents’Managers in Nigeria (APPOEMN) had a swell time in a grand style at the Lekki Coliseum in Lagos for its end of the year party after planning events across the country last year to the delight of their clients.

Theparty,tagged“Owanbe2020”wasaone-daybreakinappreciation of the association members for their immense contributions that saw to the giant strides achieved last year with hopes for a better 2020.

The President of APPOEMN and MD of Omega Events, Mrs. Gbemisola Ope expressed that they needed a break having worked throughout last year.

Herwords:“Wewerecelebratingpeopleandcreatingspecialevents.

We decided to take a day out of this new year; let go of everything, celebrate ourselves and have a good time.”

While counting their many blessings, Ope enthused that from 120 membership, APPOEMN now boasts of 210.

Otherstridesare:itsmajorconferencesliketheTICandorganisation of seminars with experts on upgrading their skills and had three international speakers.

Despite these milestones, there were major challenges. “Our major challenge was getting the government to support us. We need to set a standard in the industry and have consequences for actions”.

According to the president, it is not enough for them to say a photographer is not up to standard or duping people. “We need the government to back us in correcting the vendors. We need the judiciary to help us stop delay in hearing”.

WhileAPPOEMN keeps working towards overcoming its challenges, they hope 2020 would be better.

Although the event was to celebrate themselves, they also used it to invite their colleagues who are yet to be part of APPOEMN to come join them.

Speaking further, one of its patrons, Mrs. Gbemi Shasore, said her job is to ensure that the association met with all of its goals and ideas. “And I ensure I help as much as I can in every step of the way”.

Accordingly, some of the plans Shasore has put in place are: “to hear the name, “APPOEMN”, in every corner of Nigeria and hope they would be able to actualise it.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

Mabel Segun’s 90 Years of Wit

One of the few surviving matriarchs of African literature, poet, playwright, teacher, broadcaster and sportswoman, Mabel Segun was surrounded on her 90th birthday in her home by journalists who were absorbed in her reminiscences laced with humour. Yinka Olatunbosun reports “I thought I was going to die,” Mabel Segun began. Her full grey hair, neatly combed, was blowing gentlywith the wind from a nearby standing-fan. She graciously endured all the camera flashes as she told the journalists about her near-death experience some days earlier when she had diarrhoea. Still recovering, she fussed about her lack of energy till it was agreed that she should change her clothes into one that was more comfortable. “Let me go and wear my bikini,” she said, as some of us swallowed the chuckles.

She returned to the couch again to take more pictures, savouring the selfie moment. “This is not bad,” she remarked, glancing briefly at the group photograph with her at the centre.

In her younger years, she was the centre of attraction as one of the few women writers of Nigerian descent that shaped the landscape of African literature with her varied writings spanning short stories, children literature, cookery book, poetry and plays. Born in Ondo State, she graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1953 with a BA in English, Latin and History. Her first book, ‘My Father’s Daughter’ (1965) has been translated in German, Danish, Norwegian and Greek. In 2007, Segun was awarded the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature.

Her conversation was punctuated by a call from Prof Wole Soyinka whom she teased about old age. “I don’t travel much these days. You shouldn’t stress yourself so much that you will accept all invites. That’s my attitude. I have a lot of unfinished work to do. I like to revise my works to be as near perfect as possible.

My cultural cookery book took me 18 years to prepare. Right now, someone is doing her a PhD thesis on my early poetry in UK,” she said.

For her, writing Children’s Literature is one difficult writing experience.

“When you write Children’s Literature, you write for different ages. You have to know

Mabel Segun

children and study their psychology. I can’t write for teenagers. I don’t know them. The reason why Cyprian Ekwensi could write for children was that he could talk to children. Well, my honourable Wole (Soyinka) tell him to go and talk to a child,” she said in good-spirits.

The author also remarked that teachers play a part in the creativity of a child. She recounted

Guiness Night of Artistry and Football

Salatiel in performance

Yinka Olatunbosun Legend Hotel was awake all night when the English football Legend Rio Ferdinand walked into the football arena created inside the hotel’s private jet hanger whichturned out to be a maze of creatively buzzing activities. From body arts to short film screenings, the evening was overloaded with fun fair as music greats such as crowd-pleasing Davido (Nigeria), melodious masters, Sauti Sol (Kenya) , reggae-ragga maestro Bebe Cool(Uganda), and electro pop singer Salatiel (Cameroon)showed their pitch skills outside the studio environment on January 31 in Lagos.

The much-trumpeted event threw the football and music

fans into a frenzy as Rio blended with his African friends on the pitch even with the swagger of acentral referee.

The friendly rivalry was spurned into shared excitement for supporters of both Team Bold UTD and Team Gold Harps who defined the evening. The friendly face-off featured all the guest artists with Davido securing the loudest cheer for his otherwise moderate football skills. The Pan African tournament finale climaxed in rousing, energetic performance from Davido with incredible turntable tricks from DJ Neptune on the wheels of steel sending fans of Guinness Night Football off with cheery moments with the ice-cold beer and finger foods.

how her literature teacher, Ms. Ore Cole had deepened her poetry appreciation with the vivid imagery in “Sea Fever” by John Masefield. “The poetry influenced me so much that I wanted to be a sailor. I requested for a sailor uniform and that was how I became a sailor in the house.

I will never forget the teacher,” Segun, who later became the Head of the Department of

English and Social Studies and Vice-Principal at the National Technical Teachers’ College, Yaba, said.

Asides the quality of formal education, the poet argued that the lack of basic infrastructure such as good power supply has affected the reading and writing culture.

“We are living in the most unnatural condition.

In the olden days, we wrote with oil lamps.

But we have gone back to it now. I told my daughter that I wished we had not given away our oil lamps. We had about six of them in the kitchen, taking up space. It’s a pity. Why are we not progressing? Why can’t we have proper electric power supply? The authorities don’t know that this affects the attitude of young people to reading,” she remarked.

She also expressed concern on the spate of self-publishing and how the burden of book production and distribution had been borne by many contemporary authors instead of the publishers.

Largely influenced by her father and popular writer,Isaiah Aigbovbiose Imoukhuede from Sabongira Ora, Edo State, the poet detests paying lip service to feminism. Instead, she demonstrated in her youthful years that women have the ability to do what their male counterparts can with her antecedents in tennis.

As this reporter stared questioningly at a family picture that showed Yeni AnikulapoKuti and her daughter, Rolari and grandson, the nonagenarian figured out that some stories were yet to be told.

“Yeni is my late son’s former wife. She turned out to be a very good person,” she said as she recalled how many people tried to pressure her to stop her son, Femi Segun from marrying Fela’s first daughter. Despite the short-lived marriage, Yeni had maintained a close tie with her mother-in-law.

Freedom Park Reloads for 10th Anniversary Yinka Olatunbosun Freedom Park, the oasis of cultural events in Lagos, is celebrating its 10th year anniversary with a year-long programmeof events. For the first time since its establishment in 2010, the management will increase the daytime traffic at the park with day time shows, more varieties of food and drinks and a better-furnished children’s spot.

The cultural activist, Jahman Anikulapo, at the recent press briefing to announce this development in Lagos, spoke about the colonial history of the park and how it has metamorphosed into a rallying point for the arts community.

Iyabo Abowaba, the Chief Operating Officer, Freedom Park promised wonders with the freshly released 2020 calendar. “We started out not knowing what Lagosians would want. We tried all kinds of things, plays, music, book readings and poetry. Over the years, we figured out what the people liked the most which is music. The most developed part of our programmes was Afropolitan Vibes. Also, we have the festivals such iREP, LABAF, LTF, Felabration, Jazz Fest, Lagos International Poetry Festival e.t.c. Art is a hard sell but with your support we can be sure of more support from the government as well as the corporate organisations,” she declared. The park hosts no fewer than 12 festivals every

Performing artists at Freedom Park

year.

The Chief Visioner, Theo Lawson, fondly referred to as theChief Warder recalled the journey towards constructing the cultural hub on the site of the first colonial prison in Nigeriawhich was established in 1872 and shut down in 1972.

“Part of the reason why the Freedom Park exists today is the story of our forefathers and mothers who were incarcerated here for different reasons under the colonial rule.

“We just thought we could have a space carved out of the congested Lagos where people can breathe, enjoy some sanity away from the traffic. To make it thrive, we invited the art community. When we started off, we had no chairs. But we have achieved a reputation. We have built a name for Freedom Park.

We are in the top ten of places to visit in Lagos,” he said.

Freedom Park, bound by Isale-Eko and Epetedo communitieswas a refuse dump in 1998. It was not until 2009 before

the idea was made a reality by the government of Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. “We have the food court which was previously the space for the prison kitchen and the open space was the hospital space. The main stage was where the gallows used to be.

We always advise all our artists going on that stage to put up their best performance or their career may die.

“We didn’t want it to be an event place for weddings, birthdays and stuff. We wanted it strictly for the Arts,” he said whilst acknowledging the influence of Prof. Wole Soyinka in securing grants to finance some of Freedom Park’s projects.

At the moment, there is a pressure from government to commercialise Freedom Park by bringing in premium music stars against the real fledging talents that are currently promoted.

Alternatively, it is being eyed by authorities to be converted into a hotel. This necessitated creating more parking spaces along

Campbell street, a proposed gym, and accommodation for artists in residence.

The monthly events at Freedom Park include Friday Night Concert Night, SPAN music concerts, Old School Music Night, Comedy Shows, Park Theatre, IndieView, SNA Exhibitions and lectures and weekly film club. Asides the Lagos Theatre Festival which is scheduled for next week, March will be a month to remember with the 10th anniversary edition of iREP International Documentary Film Festival; April will be packed with Easter celebrations as well as the International Jazz Festival.

As for May, there will be Children’s Day celebrations, Bob Marley Day and Irie Vibes. With Democracy Day talks in June, July will be alive with Prof Wole Soyinka week.

In August, a week-long stage presentations called Eko Theatre Festival alongside Afro-centric Concert, Children’s Summer Camp and Kayefi in concert will add colour to the cultural calendar. Arts exhibitions dominate September just as Felabration and Lagos Poetry Festival mark October celebrations.

Meanwhile, the finale of Freedom Park’s 10thanniversary comes up in October which will be followed by the famous literary picnic, Lagos Art and Book Festival, Alkebulan Festival and Lagos Fringe Festival in November.

The last month of the year is replete with music concerts and comedy shows.

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

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (Part 2)

Last week we talked about possible causes, signs and symptoms of POI, this week we will be talking about complications and management.

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UFTU 5IJT JT UIFIPSNPOF SFMFBTFE CZ UIF QJUVJUBSZ HMBOE UIBU TUJNVMBUFT UIF HSPXUI PG GPMMJDMFT JO ZPVS PWBSJFT 8PNFO XJUI QSFNBUVSF PWBSJBO GBJMVSF PGUFO IBWF BCOPSNBMMZ IJHI MFWFMT PG '4) JO UIFJS blood. r &TUSBEJPM UFTU 5IF CMPPE MFWFM PG FTUSBEJPM B UZQF PG FTUSPHFO UIBU DPNFT GSPN UIF PWBSJFT JT VTVBMMZ MPX JO XPNFO XJUI QSFNBUVSF PWBSJBO GBJMVSF

IS POI TREATABLE? 4UVEJFT IBWF TIPXO UIBU PG XPNFO BGGFDUFE CZ 1SFNBUVSF 0WBSJBO *OTVGGJDJFODZ HFU QSFHOBOU OBUVSBMMZ 0OHPJOH DMJOJDBM SFTFBSDI VTJOH B NJME IPSNPOF %)&" %JIZESPFQJBOESPTUFSPOF

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emotional health. Many become confused, FYUSFNFMZ TUSFTTFE BOE BOYJPVT PO MFBSOJOH BCPVU UIF TIVUEPXO PG UIFJS CPEZ T

GFSUJMJUZ XJOEPX 'BJMVSF UP DPODFJWF DBO DSFBUF HSBWF QTZDIPMPHJDBM EZTGVODUJPO UP B GBNJMZ SFMBUJPOTIJQ FTQFDJBMMZ JO UIJT QBSU PG UIF XPSME XIFSF UIF CJSUI PG B DIJME PS IFJS JT B SFRVJSFNFOU UP NBJOUBJOJOH UIF SFMBUJPOTIJQ &NPUJPOBM TUSFTT BOYJFUZ FWFO EFQSFTTJPO JT DPNNPO JO NBOZ DBTFT PG 1SFNBUVSF 0WBSJBO *OTVGGJDJFODZ ,FFQ B EJBSZ PG ZPVS QFSJPET 5BLF QBSUJDVMBS BUUFOUJPO UP UIF IPSNPOF UIFSBQZ HJWFO GPMMPX UIF JOTUSVDUJPOT DBSFGVMMZ 3FQPSU BOZ NJTTFE EPTFT Coping with POI: Why me? :PV NBZ GJOE ZPVSTFMG BTLJOH UIJT RVFTUJPO XIBU ZPV DPVME * QPTTJCMZ IBWF EPOF UP EFTFSWF UIJT %FBMJOH XJUI UIF FNPUJPOBM SFBMJUJFT PG QSFNBUVSF menopause can be difficult, but this JTO U ZPVS GBVMU :PV EFTFSWF DPNQBTTJPO BOE VOEFSTUBOEJOH GSPN PUIFST BOE GSPN ZPVSTFMG 4FFL DPVOTFMJOH BOE MFBSO NPSF PO IPX to cope and enjoy a beautiful life with HSFBU QPTTJCJMJUZ PG GVMGJMMJOH ZPVS ESFBN PG FYQBOEJOH ZPVS GBNJMZ 8IFO ZPV MFBSO ZPV IBWF 10* ZPV TVEEFOMZ GFFM PMEFS EJGGFSFOU GSPN ZPVS QFFST :PV GFFM ZPV IBWF CFFO DIFBUFE PVU PG UIF OPSNBM QPTTJCJMJUJFT PG MJGF *O ZPVS T PS T ZPV BSF VOBCMF UP GVMGJMM UIF iOPSNBMu SFQSPEVDUJWF DBQBDJUZ XPNFO IBWF :PV CFDPNF QMVOHFE JOUP B DPNQMFUFMZ EJGGFSFOU NJOE TFU UIBO UIF POF ZPV IBE CFGPSF ZPV XFSF EJBHOPTFE :PVS CPEZ JT PVU PG DPOUSPM BOE ZPV BSF IFMQMFTT UP DIBOHF XIBU JT IBQQFOJOH :PV SF BOHSZ VQTFU BOE OVNC #VU TPNFIPX ZPV IBWF UP LFFQ HPJOHwTUPQ NPBOJOH NPWF PO "DDFQUBODF DPQJOH BOE NPWJOH GPSXBSE JT UIF XBZ PVU 5IF GBTUFS ZPV SFDPWFS GSPN UIF EFQSFTTJWF TUBUF UIF CFUUFS GPS ZPV :PV DBO MJWF XJUI 1SFNBUVSF 0WBSJBO *OTVGGJDJFODZ BOE TUJMM CF CFBVUJGVM TFYZ IBWF EFTJSFE OVNCFS PG DIJMESFO BOE MJWF a fulfilled life..

Aje’sinda: Reviving the Gbagyi Art of Weaving Olawale Ajimotokan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of the Gbagyi people.

5IF JOJUJBUJWF JT B DPMMBCPSBUJPO CFUXFFO )FMQMJOF 'PVOEBUJPO GPS UIF /FFEZ BOE &QIPE -FBEFSTIJQ *OOPWBUJPO *OJUJBUJWF 5IF EVSBUJPO PG UIF QSPKFDU JT GPVS XFFLT BOE JUT BJN JT UP FOIBODF UIF RVBMJUZ PG MJGF PG XPNFO BOE ZPVUI UISPVHI JODSFBTFE knowledge and skills.

5IF QSPKFDU JOJUJBUPST BSF BMTP IPQJOH UP DPNNFSDJBMJTF UIF "KF TJOEB GBCSJD BOE PUIFS DVMUVSBM QSPEVDUT *O BEEJUJPO UIFZ BSF IPQJOH UP CVJME BOE DPNNJTTJPO BO FRVJQQFE FNQPXFSNFOU UIBU XJMM BMTP TFSWF BT BO FOUFSQSJTF USBJOJOH DFOUSF 5IF GPVOEFS PG )FMQMJOF 'PVOEBUJPO %S +VNBJ "INBEV TBJE PG UIF QBSUJDJQBOUT XJMM CF USBJOFE GPS UIF WPDBUJPOBM QSPHSBNNF BEEJOH UIFZ XJMM DPOUBDU PUIFS DPNNVOJUJFT UP JEFOUJGZ UIFJS OFFET 5IF '$5 .JOJTUFS PG TUBUF %S 3BNBUV "MJZV PGGJDJBMMZ GMBHHFE PGG UIF QSPKFDU

5IF NJOJTUFS XIP XBT SFQSFTFOUFE CZ IFS 4QFDJBM "TTJTUBOU PO 4PDJBM %FWFMPQNFOU 4JNJTPMB "ZPBEF BTTVSFE UIBU UIF WBMVFT PG UIF WPDBUJPOBM USBJOJOH XJMM CF SFQMJDBUFE JO BMM QBSUT PG UIF '$5 UP SFGMFDU UIF GFEFSBM HPWFSONFOU T WJTJPO PO KPC DSFBUJPO "MJZV BMTP SFJUFSBUFE UIF DPNNJUNFOU PG UIF '$5 "ENJOJTUSBUJPO UP USBOTGPSN BMM DVMUVSBM TJUFT JO UIF '$5 JOUP UPVSJTU destinations. /FMTPO 0HPIJ PG &QIPE -FBEFSTIJQ *OJUJBUJWF FYQSFTTFE EFMJHIU UIBU UIF QSPKFDU saw the light of the day.

Ogohi noted that the Gbagyi people of 6TIBGB XFSF LFFO UP QSFTFSWF UIFJS DVMUVSF BOE FOUFSQSJTF JOTQJUF PG UIF QSFTTVSF PG VSCBOJTBUJPO BOE FODSPBDINFOU JOUP UIFJS communal lands. i8F SFTPMWFE UP UBLF UIJT VQ BOE SFWJWF UIF EZJOH BSU 0OF PG UIF UIJOHT XF JOUFOE UP EP GPS MFHBDZ JT DSFBUF BO JOTUJUVUF XIFSF (CBHZJ QFPQMF DBO DMBJN UP CF PXOFST * BN BCTPMVUFMZ FYDJUFE BCPVU UIJT BT JU XJMM FNQPXFS UIFN BOE MFBE UP XFBMUI DSFBUJPO u 0HPIJ EFDMBSFE " OBUJWF PG 6TIBGB 5IFPIJMVT 5BOLP $IJHVEV EFTDSJCFE UIF MBVODI PG "KF TJOEB BT BO IPOPVS UP UIF QFPQMF PG 6TIBGB CFBSJOH JO NJOE UIBU UIF (CBHZJ DVMUVSF JT QSPKFDUFE UP HP JOUP FYUJODUJPO JO GJWF ZFBST )F TBJE UIF (CBHZJ GBCSJD JT BT PME BT IJTUPSZ PG UIF DPNNVOJUZ BOE QSFTFSWJOH JUT DVMUVSF XJMM QSPKFDU UIF WJMMBHF UP UIF HSFBUFS XPSME

L-R: SA Media to the FCT Minister of State on Social Development, Simisola Ayoade and the Founder Helpline Foundation, Dr Jumai Ahmadu with some participants at Aje’sinda indigenous enterprise and some Ushafa Village elders

35

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

COLLAGE EVENTS

Celebrating a Life of Impart, Excellence Ayo Somorin and Wole Somorin

L-R:Chairman,AssessmentCommitteeonSaboMarketfire,ChiefFolarinSolarin;Mrs.IdayatAkopo;MemberrepresentingRemoFederalConstituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga; Chief Abibu Oyenuga; and Mrs. Idowu Haruna, during a condolence visit to the victims of the burnt market by the lawmakers in Sagamu, Ogun State... recently

L-R: Special Adviser Technical to the Minister of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Princess Jummai Edoniji; Project Coordination Search for Common Ground, Edeh Virginia; Commissioner Ministry of Woman Affairs and Social Development Borno State, Zuwaira Gambo and Special Adviser National Human Right Commission, Mr. Benedict Agu, during the National Forum on Preventing Violent Extremism in Abuja...recently KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

Engineer, first President of Senior Staff Association of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and first Baale of Agbowa, Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, Chief Timothy Adekoya Somorin died recently. He was 81.

Chief Timothy Adekoya Somorin was born on March 4, 1938 in Sagamu, Remo, Ogun State to the family of Late Pa Daniel Somorin and Madam Alice. E. Somorin. His mother was blessed with two children and he was the first. Late Timothy Somorin Armed with basic education, wit and immense energy, Somorin walked wet grounds along the rough roads to success. He attended St. Paul Primary School, Makun, Sagamu where he and his childhood friend Alhaji K. Odujoko were among those that scored 99 per cent in their first school leaving certificate in 1956. He then moved to his cousin’s (Lawyer Olu Adenowo) place in Lagos at Moleye street, Ebutte Metta, to start his apprenticeship in plumbing works at 1, Lagos Street in 1959.

After few years of successfully learning his craft, he left for Hamburg, West Germany in 1962 to further his education in mechanical and electrical plumbing at Hamburg Technical Institute. On the completion of his education in Hamburg, he served in various capacities in West Germany and some other parts of Europe.

Upon his return to Nigeria, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and he later joined the construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and worked with them for a period of 12years. Whilst at Julius Berger Plc, he was the first president of the senior staff association from 1975 until his retirement in 1980. Having worked meritoriously with Julius Berger for 12years and with his outstanding high level of professional experience, he established and incorporated his own company, Timmy Engineering Company Ltd, where he did supplies and contract works for numerous companies. After experiencing successful business growth many years later, he went into the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry where he had a filling station franchise with the then National Oil company. At home, Somorin adored his wife and children.

He groomed his children to fit into the tradition of hard work by guilding them to resolve issues and provide solutions to simple task. As a responsible family man, he held both his immediate and extended family members very dear to his heart at all times. Chief Somorin’s life was one of dedication, inspiration and selflessness with very firm but loving hands, he instilled in all of us enduring values of integrity, hardwork, honesty and respect that continue to guide our lives and propel our career. He had a towering figure with a serious countenance no nonsense. But underneath that strict mien was another personality entirely, a man full of love, life, fun and a heart of gold. Many naturally failed to understand his rigid stand on principles. His social life was equally remarkable and eventful with good deeds and honest services to humanity and he was the first president of Ayegbami Community Development Association, in ketu, Lagos.

On March23, 2013, he was installed by the Ewusi of Makun Sagamu Remo, HRH Oba Timothy Oyesola Akinsaya as the first Baale of Agbowa Makun in

Deaconess Christiana Ojuolape George for burial Mary Nnah

L-R: Chief Financial Officer West Africa, Upfield, Eric Epee; General Manager West Africa, Upfield, Bamidele Amao; Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Jan Van Weijen; Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication Africa, Upfield, Motola Oyebanjo; Head of Operations Africa, Asia & Australia Upfield, Gianluca Mormile and Head of Supply Chain West Africa, Upfield, Aneto Okeke during a courtesy visit to the Netherlands Consulate General, Lagos....recently

L - R: Vice President, Association of Edo Indigenes in Abuja, Pince Nathaniel Momoh; President of the association, Chief Odiase Osagie and Director General of Edo State Liason Office during the inauguration of the executive of the body in Abuja...recently GODWIN OMOIGUI

Funeral rites for Deaconess Christiana Ojuolape George popularly called “Iya Ondo”, a renowned businesswoman who passed on January 24, 2020 at a ripe age of 93, have commenced.

The late Deaconess George died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Horton (LASUTH) in Ikeja, Lagos, after a brief illness.

Dr Adetomiwa George of Geo Medical Centre, Lagos, Late Mama George who announced Mama’s demise on behalf of the family, paid glowing to her life and times, particularly the later years devoted to selfless service to humanity and worship of her Creator.

Funeral arrangements for George, born in 1927 as Oladurun Abimbola Akinfolarin (Nee IGBEKOYI) at Iyemoja Street in Ondo City, Ondo State, according to the family, commenced with the Service of Songs on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Tajudeen Olanrewaju Estate, Off Edmund Crescent, opposite Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos.

Funeral Service holds today, Friday February 21, at 10.00 am at the Yaba Baptist Church, Yaba, Lagos. Interment follows immediately at Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos. Reception holds at Tajudeen Olanrewaju Estate, Off Edmund Crescent, opposite Presbyterian Church, Yaba, Lagos from 2.00pm.

The late Deaconess George, who was of highly distinguished parentage and heritage, was a scion of the late Pa Alfred Akinfolarin, a renowned cocoa farmer in Owena Village in Ondo State, who was the first man to introduce mechanised farming in the early sixties.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

LIFE

Full Honours for Late Vice Admiral Koshoni Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that full military honours were given to late Vice Admiral Patrick Koshoni, the former Chief of Naval Staff, as he was laid to rest in Lagos

T

he death of former Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Patrick Seubo Koshoni (rtd), on January 25, 2020, was announced by the Naval Headquarters by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleiman Dahun. He was the eighth CNS, a position he attained on October 7, 1986. He has since been buried but not without the navy giving him full military honours.

Lying in State At the lying-in-state, serving and retired service chiefs, including ratings and civilian staff, joined the bereaved family to converge on the parade ground of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Apapa to pay their last respects.

The solemn event which lasted about 45 minutes, commenced with a parade and procession that ushered in the white hearse conveying the deceased senior officer.

As the body was lowered on the parade ground, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, his predecessors, Admirals Usman Jibrin, Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Ishaya Ibrahim and Jubril Ayinla and all other officers present at the gathering all saluted as a mark of respect to the deceased.

A short hymn and prayer for the repose of his soul were sang as the deceased, clad in his Nigerian Navy ceremonial uniform and housed in a white casket was carried into a tent decorated with wreaths where he was laid-in-state.

Although the event was devoid of speeches, Rear Admiral Kehinde Komolafe (Rtd), who was Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to Koshoni said the deceased was a peaceful man, a professional, and committed to his job.

Funeral Rites At the funeral mass held at Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island, the officiating priests were Rev Fr. Marcellinus Teko, Administrator and Rev. Fr. Raymond Emedo, Associate Priest.

It started off with the entrance hymn, then the rites before the prayer and entrance procession. The Requiem also came before the first reading by Leonardo Koshoni and Responsorial Psalm by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas.

Then came the Alleluia Chorus and Gospel Acclamation, before the Gospel Reading and Homily. Prayer of the faithful took place and then the Offertory hymns and prayer over the gifts.

Also, Santus, Pater noster, Agnus Dei and Communion hymns happened before the prayer after communion and announcements.

This dovetailed to thanksgiving and Libera Me, then the final commendation, funeral oration by the CNS, condolence message by rep of former CNS, condolence message from the representative of the President, Commander in Chief Of the Armed Forces, Festus Keyamo, a serving minister.

With the songs of farewell, invocations, recessional hymns and prayers at the grave side, the rites of passage of the late Admiral ended. He was buried at a

pr private vault in Ebony Gardens in Ikoyi.

L-R: Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Lawal Alao; Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; the widow, Mrs. Koshoni and Rear Admiral Kehinde Komolafe(Rtd), at the lying-in-state of the former Chief of Naval Staff, late Vice Admiral Patrick Suebo Koshoni (Rtd), in Apapa, Lagos

The 21 gun salute

The Koshoni family and NOWA President, Mrs. Theresa Ibas (far right)

The naval pall bearers

Oration by CNS In his oration at the funeral, the CNS, Vi Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, said the late A Admiral was a thoroughbred naval officer, ad adding that the former CNS raised the to tone of the Nigerian Navy brand.

He said: “He particularly made outst standing contributions to the maritime de defence of Nigeria through the articulatio tion of the nation’s foremost maritime st strategy, the Trident Strategy. His te tenure as the CNS therefore gave the N NN a renewed sense of direction as he le led a vibrant team of maritime thinkers th that introduced many innovations and tr transformational initiatives.

“For over 25 years, the Trident Strateg egy remained the guiding doctrine for N Nigeria’s maritime defence and helped to streamline the acquisition of platforms fo for an appropriate size and shape of the N NN until 2012 when it was reviewed an and replaced with the Total Spectrum M Maritime Strategy.

“His other remarkable achievements as C CNS include the institutionalisation of th the Presidential Fleet Review, Manpower Ra Rationalisation for the service as well as several logistic reforms and morale bo boosting welfare schemes.

“Above all, Admiral Koshoni bequ queathed to the NN an enduring legacy of professionalism, personal and organis isational integrity, teamwork, and robust br brainstorming sessions through the Chief of Naval Staff ’s Annual Conference (C (CONSAC), which he initiated.

“On retirement from service, the inde defatigable Admiral was again called to se serve as the Chairman National Internal Se Security Organisation (defunct National G Guard). Thereafter, Admiral Koshoni re remained a depository of knowledge an and continued to serve the nation and th the NN in capacity.

“His military and public service have ea earned him several notable awards, am among which are the Commander of th the Order of the Federal Republic, Distin tinguished Service Star, Meritorious Se Service 2 Star and the Forces Service St Star in recognition of his unblemished se service to the NN and the nation in ge general. He is also a proud recipient of th the prestigious appellation of member na national institute of Nigeria.”

Biography Born in Lagos on April 11, 1943, Kosh shoni joined the NN on the June 11, 1962 af after his secondary school education at St Finbarr ’s College, Akoka, Lagos. That sa same year he started the naval cadetship tr training at the National Defence Training A Academy in India and was commissioned Su Sub-Lieutenant on July 13, 1964.

He attended many naval, management an and leadership courses and headed many na naval and military appointments, comm mittees and task forces. He served the na nation meritoriously as the Flag Officer C Commanding, Western Naval Command an and as Ministers of Health, Transport and Av Aviation as well as Labour and Productivity ity. He was a member of the Supreme M Military and Federal Executive Councils fr from January 1984 – August 1985.

He is survived by wife, Mrs Margaret A Aderoju Koshoni, children and several gr grandchildren.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

ENTREPRENEUR

The Quintessential Lady Cobbler Ugo Aliogo writes about an exceptional lady cobbler who is making remarkable breakthrough in producing beautifully handmade footwears, bags and belt

Zaynab

I

first heard of Zeinny Crafts from a friend who is a lover of quality footwears. He didn’t talk much about the brand, but advised me to check it up online, through the brand’s Instagram handle.

Zeinny Crafts is one of the bespoke shoe brands with core focus in making quality male and female shoes, bags, belt and leather products.

The brand was setup by a young lady named Zainab Alayande in 2016 to help meet the demand for quality footwears for the working class and students alike at an affordable price. Before proceeding to Yaba College of Technology, to study Polymer Technology, Alayande had started learning shoe making business, though not giving it much attention because of other pressing engagements.

Therefore in a bid to understand the business better she decided to enroll for a training course at a vocational school.

At the vocational school, she was exposed to the nitty-gritty of the business, and the training she received there helped in understanding some complexities in producing quality designs and good finishing.

Some of her handmade shoes and slippers

“Zeinny Crafts is a bespoke shoe brand that derives joy in creativity, standard and quality. One thing you will when you see the brand Zeinny Crafts is Customers Interest. So, I like I said earlier, I have always got my hands on foot wears subconsciously since I was young. I could remember at between the ages of seven, and eight, my older brother and myself did produce a paper slippers that we wore and it would last for two, or three days,” she noted.

The training gained at the vocational has helped Alayande to understand the market, and the business properly.

Moreover, through increased interactions with different clients, she has got a deep understanding of brand positioning and how to apply it into her brand.

According to her, Nigerians have made remark efforts in embracing home-made foot wears compared with years back. She said some people prefer getting made in Nigeria footwear for various reasons, such as affordability, brand loyalty, scarcity of size and some wants to bring their imagination into reality. She added that local made shoes have increased brand competitiveness than foreign made.

“We are moving and by God’s grace we are going to move fast, better than we have ever envisaged for the brand.

With over our three years of existence we have been able to record thousands of sales of our products not just our foot wears because we deal in leather products generally which includes belts, bags, purse and others. We also have a school were we train people who want learn shoe making it is Zeinny Crafts Shoe School,” she noted.

Regarding the financing of the business, she hinted that the business has not benefited from any form of loan, or grant, stating that aside from the loan and cash gift that comes from her mother which is the only financial support. The target markets for the brand are fashionistas, individuals in the corporate world and others. The focus of the brand is to drive the made in Nigeria initiative and ensure that people have access to quality footwears at affordable prices compared to foreign made which is usually expensive.

According to her, “One of the challenges we have faced is accessibility of funds which has a huge impact in the brand growth and development. Also, man power, electricity, and combining my education and work together have been a great challenge for me.

“We have participated in several exhibitions and one of the things we learnt from the exhibition is the need

to know your audience and how best to reach them. I learnt the need to be positive and apply the right mindset in doing my business.

“Moreover, I was also taught to maintain constant communication with my clients especially those I come in contact with at exhibitions and event. This will help me build improved customer relationships and better business opportunities. I have put all these information together to drive the successful running of the brand.

“Shoemaking is the Nigerian new economic mainstay for the country because the huge availability of leather in the country especially in Kano State but sadly enough is not been done in harnessing the leather produced, instead we focus on importation of treated leathers from China, Italy and other countries. We need to have leather industries in the country for the production of quality and well-treated leather for shoe production and reduce our dependency foreign leathers. “ The year 2019 has been a good year for us. We have achieved so much in the year and we did more than break even in the year. We are grateful to God for everything, to our friends and family, to our loyal customers that patronise us and also refer us.”

38

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻË&#x153; Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

METRO

â&#x20AC;ŚYour city life in print

A Hero in Critical Condition: Who Will Save Her Life?

Zik Zulu Okafor

I

have chosen to call her a hero. Not because of her heroics. It is because of a decision she made.

Pearl Imabong Ansa took a bold step to donate her kidney to a desperate ailing man she didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know. But now, she is in a fierce battle to save her own life.

Ansaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to her current gloomy condition is almost a brainwister.

A Facebook enthusiast, she had requested and accepted many friends randomly on the global social media .

One of the people she accepted their friendship without any attention is a man called Femi (surname withheld). The 38 year old English Literature graduate of Lagos State University, LASU, however received a text on a certain day from this Femi that jolted her. It was in January 2019.

Femiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message to Ansa was a passionate appeal for help. He had been diagnosed with an end-stage kidney disease. He needs kidney transplantation desperately . He has raised the money for the expected bill. But the problem is a donor, the messiah God would send to donate the kidney. He wants Ansa to be this messiah.

But life is an endless twister. And so today, Ansa who set out to be a messiah is looking more like a would-be martyr unless help comes, urgently.

Indeed, Ansa on seeing Femiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request gave it only a scant attention. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is crazy.

How could you ask someone you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know, just a friend on Facebook to donate her kidney to youâ&#x20AC;?, she had said.

But more than two weeks after, Femi was still intruding into her daily life and living. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everytime I go through my Facebook, I see something about himâ&#x20AC;?.

From initially dismissing the message, Ansa gradually began to get worried. If she could help save a life, why would she shirk such a timeless call of hope, she thought.

There was however a red flag that Femiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request raises immediately on her mind that impedes her leaning towards this greatest demonstration of love. In her words, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve

read stories of women whose organs have been tampered with in situations like this, women killed by dangerous men using this as a camouflage. Some of them could just be a set-up, a scam.â&#x20AC;?

But all her fears could neither blur nor blot the picture of a distressed Femi on her mind. She soon transited from being worried to feeling guilty. Then, almost defiant of any creepy feelings, she picked her phone and called the man. Sadly the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t passed away. She seemed destined to drink of it.

Femiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice was an omen of death. So, she called him for a meeting, â&#x20AC;&#x153;at least to see him physically and be sure I was not speaking with an apparitionâ&#x20AC;?, she said with a subdued chuckle.

A mother of three boys, Ansa met with Femi in her house. She listened as the man told her tales of his struggle. How much he had spent on getting donors but the kidneys failing to match. He had run out of money and running out of breath. Ansa became convinced that this was Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call on her to save one life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told him there and then that I will do itâ&#x20AC;?, she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153; free of chargeâ&#x20AC;?.

As Femi left, she became a bit scared.

Then she went on knees. For every major decision she will always first and foremost take it to God. This time was not different.

She got a silent assurance that her cause was saintly.

On February 25, 2019, Ansa landed at Saint Nicholas Hospital, Lagos with Femi.

And the procedure began in ernest. For three weeks she kept going to the hospital for various screenings to ensure that she was capable of donating her kidney and importantly that her kidney is suitable for the ailing Femi. Alas, just when everything looked positive, the doctors unearthed a shocker. And the verdict was emphatic.

Ansa canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t donate her kidney. Even she is a walking ailment. She is suffering from congenital heart disease, commonly known as Hole in the Heart. And she has carried this from birth, 38 years! It is called Atrial Septal Defect, ASD. Indeed, it is a condition that is often present at birth. The hole increases the amount of blood that flows through the lungs and a long-standing

Ansa

atrial defect can damage both the lungs and the heart.

This marked a turning point in Ansaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. From going to save a life, she now battles to save her own life. The doctors say surgery is necessary to repair the atrial septal defects to prevent complications. Pearl Imabong Ansa needs N8million for this surgery and treatment. And she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it.

Now, almost a year since the diagnosis, her condition demands a desperate action.

Doctors say she doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much time left on this side unless a messiah arrives.

Money, N8million is the poser here. And Ansa does not have the answer. But she has a big heart. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why she offered to make that sacrifice. She is a hero. She needs you.

Desperately.

Ansa can be reached on 2348066991353 or this writer on 2348023063539. t 0LBGPS TFOU JO UIF QBTTJPOBUF BQQFBM

Catholic Youth Group Organises Free Medical Outreach in Ikorodu Chiamaka Ozulumba

T

he Young Christian Workers (YCW) of Saint Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic Church, Ajaguro, Ikorodu in collaboration with Pink Cruise recently held a free medical program for residents of Ajaguro Community Agric, Ikorodu.

The program witnessed the largest turnout ever since its inception five years ago with over 1,000 people excluding children as people came from far and near to partake in the exercise, with about 20 medical personnels ranging from general doctors, Optometrists, dentists, Oncologists, Cardiologists and nurses.

The event kicked-off with a pep talk on personal hygiene with the people urged to cultivate routine visits to hospitals and health centres for overall body examination, they were enlightened on the various risks cancer and eye diseases pose on the body.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening were carried out on women and girls with Prostate Cancer screening done for men present as well as Dental Care, General Health, Cardiac Screening, Eye Care, Child Care, Consultation, Health Education and Counselling.

The Parish Priest of ST. Michael Ajaguro, Rev. Fr. Godwin Eduku, applauded the efforts of the group as this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event notably outshined previous years.

According to him â&#x20AC;&#x153;Health is Wealth, so I am glad with the YCW on this profound initiative, as it helps make people conscious of their health and also makes them sensitive to choices they make regarding their health and well-being.â&#x20AC;?

Some of the beneďŹ ciaries at the outreach

He pledged to continuously support the group in their endeavours and strive to take the yearly free outreach program to greater heights by bringing in more parties to help spread the word on healthy living.

One of the organisers, Mr Solomon Ezeanah told THISDAY, â&#x20AC;&#x153;we have been doing this free medical outreach for five years but this is the first time we are partnering the medical outfit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pink Cruiseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and they rose to the challenge and handled

the event well, from the cancer screening to the dental and eye care and even the health talkâ&#x20AC;?.

Mr. Chinedu Duru, a beneficiary was ecstatic with the organisers of the event, as it availed him the opportunity to get himself checked for prostrate cancer and carry out eye tests.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;i have attended this program since it started, but this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own is the biggest in terms of medical personnel

present, this is the first time YCW is partnering the Pink Cruise. I am impressed with the wide array of opportunities at our disposal from the free cancer tests, to the eye screening, dental care.â&#x20AC;?

Organisers craved for sponsorship and partnership from relevant corporate bodies, NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and well-meaning Nigerians in order to make the medical outreach program a frequent one for the benefit of everyone.

39

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

CRIME&SECURITY

When Police Prayed, Worshipped The police are best known for internal warfare, combating crime and maintaining law and order, but certainly not for prayers. Shattering that illusion, the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, Lagos Annex, recently gathered to pray and worship in a chapel they built, which was ably christenedAble God. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

Commander, Lagos Annex of IGP IRT, CSP Philip Rieninwa and DCP Abba Kyari, Commander, IGP IRT at the launch of Able God Chapel

Officers and men of the IRT at the chapel

Rieninwa and Kyari with pastors dedicating the chapel

Kyari inaugurating the chapel

G

lobally, maintaining law and order, of which combating crime is key, is the major responsibility of the Nigeria Police. For the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Lagos Annex, it is no different. However, they have come to realise where the sustenance comes from; God. In acknowledgment of God’s faithful works in their job and lives, given that they have not lost any life in the course of carrying out one of the most dangerous jobs on earthridding the society of crime and criminals, the unit recently built and dedicated an altar and an over 30-seater chapel in their base in Ikeja, Lagos.

Aptly christened Able God, the chapel was built by the Coordinator IGP/IRT Southwest, Rieninwa Philip, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

The day it was dedicated, policemen danced and worshipped irrespective of their faith. At the dedication, one of the beauties witnessed was the presence of IRT Commander, Abba Kyari, a

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who is a devout Muslim.

Notwithstanding his faith, he fellowshipped with his men, which is one of the many reasons they adore him and would probably lay their life for him.

It was Kyari who performed the commissioning and while cutting the tape, he said it is good to have the worship centre in addition to the one commissioned last year for those of the other religion.

He said, “If there is a Mosque inside the compound and without a church, it is not complete, because all the personnel of IRT are either Muslims or Christians.”

Thanking the police officers present, the commander expressed his appreciation to those who have worked hard in actualising this dream.

While dedicating the chapel, Command Chaplain Lagos State, Ven SP Ezekiel Ugbotor said: “Today the 14th of February, by coincidence is Valentine’s Day, a day of love, at the same time we are opening our House of God, on behalf of the IGP, DCP Abba Kyari, we are unveiling the plaque of this chapel built by CSP Philip

Rieninwa Coordinator IGP-IRT Lagos Annex.

Afterwards in an interview with Rieninwa he said: “Able God chapel was created by God Almighty because in this annex, IGP IRT , Lagos Annex, God Almighty has been doing exceedingly well here. Our main office is in Abuja, where the Commander, DCP Abba Kyari based. I can stand without fear to state that Lagos State annex has contributed a lot to what IRT is today. The commander himself can confirm it. “There has been no loss of life since the creation of this annex since a decade of its establishment.

We have scaled through in terms of pursing crime: the arrest of Evans in Lagos, the Turkish School students, arrest of Americana, the killing of Owan in Festac, kidnap of Oba of Iba in Lagos, how many can we mention?

“This God is so marvelous in protecting, guiding us as we go out and come in. And this also leads to special recognition and special promotion for the work we are doing. So, we have nothing else to do than to build a place of worship for this wonderful God , for what He has one and what he would yet do. So we decided

The altar

that church and mosque should be erected here. “ Every morning, we will enter the church and before we

go on any operation, such as tracking, or anything, we will hand it to able God. Hence, the name ‘Able God’.”

40

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

Power Tussle at our Collective Expense

Canticles….

Too Much Blood on the Landscape

L

ast week, on this same page, I had expressed surprise that for eleven years the entire Nigerian military formation has been battling, unsuccessfully, to combat and quell the insurgency orchestrated by Boko Haram. I was wondering why it had been so difficult over-running those who were once described as “rag-tag” insurgents.

I had gone further to adduce some reasons why the war against Boko Haram had dragged on, whilst also saying that unless a few things were done, we’d yet be in the war situation, for a little longer time.

What I did not know was that there was an in-house war raging in the seat of power. The Holy Book says a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.

So how have we been expecting to stand, as one country, against the common enemy called Boko Haram, when the very brain box of the battle is counter-firing?

The leaked memo of the National Security Adviser, Maj Gen Babagana Mungono (retd) which accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari of “meddlesomeness” and usurping both his functions and that of the President, bespeaks of the rumble in the rock.

And it explains, in a way, why we have not made appreciable progress in the task of crushing the insurgents.

In Drama and other literary works, it is called Denoument. It explains what had appeared foggy and complex in the past. By the leaked memo, we can reasonably argue and understand why the Nigerian military has seemed to be nibbling at the war simply because the engine room of the war has not been speaking with one voice, nor acting in unison. One officer seems to be sabotaging the effort of the other. So what we have is take one step forward, and two steps backward.

The memo, without doubt, clearly shows that things are falling apart and the centre is not holding. And if the centre is not holding, how do we expect the needed cohesion to tackle the problem facing the country? It clearly shows that the President’s men are working at cross-purposes.

We can never get the desired result from such contra-clicks.

It is even worse that in all of these, either Mr President will not act at all, or will leisurely take his time to act, at a time when so much water would have passed under the bridge and the bridge might have broken.

Some uncharitable persons had said some of those around the president apply some metaphysical powers on him in a way that makes him lose his guard with them and grants them unchecked powers.

But according to the wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, the seat of power has been hijacked by a cabal which runs independent of President

Buratai

Mungono

Buhari. Many believe her.

That cabal, it seems, that determines almost everything about the administration. The cabal has a strong hold on Mr President, who very often pander and defer to their views and preferences on almost all matters pertaining to the nation’s governance.

The tussle for supremacy among the cabal members had been in existence, long before and even after the fall of the former DG of Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Lawal Daura. The tussle has always been on who holds the longer end of the ace; and part of the ace is who controls the ears and heart of Mr President. The reasoning seems to be that when you have Mr President’s ears and heart, you have everything.

That seems to be the propelling force behind the unbridled reach of Mr Abba Kyari, who has now been accused of ramming his authority down the throat of everybody, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj Gen Mungono (retd) and even the other cabinet members like the ministers.

In the instant controversy between the NSA and CoS, it was reported that Mr President had actually shunned the NSA when he dismissed his (Mungono’s) complaint that CoS was usurping his roles and functions by convening and presiding over meetings with Security Chiefs. Mr President was said to have quipped at Mungono, asking him to mind his business and leave Kyari alone. So, what else is the NSA’s business if we take away security concerns from his job description?

The response from Mr President also shows that he has not been getting quality advice from the NSA who has been accused of frequent foreign trips.

The question is how come a Chief of Staff is this important, wielding even more

political influence and powers more than the Vice President? How did he secure such level of trust from his principal?

Or is his principal a victim of some kind of manipulation?

However, some scholars argue that the office of the Chief of Staff means superintending and co-ordinating all the appointees of the President. Yes, all the appointees except elected persons.

At the inauguration of the last cabinet, Mr President had instructed all cabinet members and indeed, all appointees to route their memos and requests to see him through the CoS. That had reaffirmed the numero uno position of the office of the Chief of Staff.

But this does not necessarily mean that the CoS is an alternate President.

He cannot also be seen as eroding the roles and functions of other appointees.

He can and should co-ordinate and allow appointees with technical expertise and superior competence to handle and drive special areas of need of government like security. This is even more so because to argue that co-ordination means taking over the job of other appointees, then the President may not need to appoint other persons into other offices after appointing a CoS who automatically becomes a Deus ex machina.

What has been manifestly betrayed between the NSA and CoS is mutual suspicion and distrust. Perhaps the question of who controls the budget is also at the root of this quarrel.

All said, Mr President must rise to the occasion by putting his house in order. Job descriptions must be clearly defined. And perhaps more importantly, all hands must not only be on deck in rescuing the nation, everybody must work as a team having a common goal of making Nigeria safer and better for all.

Good Night Tony

H

ow do we say good night at noon day and expect to sleep well?

But we have been forced by death, to say a hasty goodnight to Tony Iwelu, the Chief Security Officer to Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the minister of Transportation, who was electrocuted in the bathroom of Stone Edge Hotel, Kaduna. Who would have known that death was lurking in the wings of that beautiful and clean environment? Who would have known that death wasp was wrapped in those beautiful beddings, waiting to sting the dutiful and loyal Tony? As a DSS operative, Tony had always displayed great sense of professionalism, while not losing his humanity. He was often

humble, eagle-eyed, and friendly. You cannot miss his smile. You cannot miss his neatness. He it was that always made you feel loved, feel wanted, feel welcomed. With Tony, your visit to see the Honourable minister, would always be a delight. So good he was that he had to be retained after Amaechi’s governorship years in Rivers State.

It is curious that in all his travels, it is in Kaduna, a hotel prized enough to accommodate a minister, that death had to trap the Ogwashi-uku (Delta State)-born Tony. Tony’s sudden death shocks even our nerves. And we all collectively appear so helpless, so hapless, so speechless. Tony, we are forced to say Good night.

Iwelu

H

ave you n o ticed t h a t w e have b e come benumbed by the occurrences of our time? Are you sure the end is not really near?

Are you a Doomsday prophet? Who told you we are benumbed? All my senses are working perfectly?

If your senses are working, what about your conscience? Is it alive or has it been smeared?

Conscience? Conscience?

Who smeared it? What are you really driving at?

Are you not worried about the amount of blood flowing on the Nigerian landscape?

Blood? Where did you see blood?

Are you blind? Even if you are blind, are you also deaf? Are you not in the country? Do you not hear of killings everyday? If it is not killer herdsmen, it would be kidnappers or Boko Haram, or bandits, or even road accidents.

Not even armed robbers are such a threat anymore.

Are you not in this country?

How can you ask where I saw blood?

Hmmmm, killings and death didn’t just start today.

They are part of humanity.

Or are you trying to blame it on the sitting government?

Come on, don’t be callous and cheeky! Are we talking of natural deaths? If it is not the sitting government who do you want us to blame for the insecurity in the land? Did you not hear of the massacre of nine persons in Agadama, Uwheru kingdom in Delta State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, allegedly aided by Nigerian soldiers? Did you not hear of the gruesome killing of that Assistant Director in the presidential Villa, Ms Laetitia Dagan, right inside Abuja? Did you not hear of the bestial beheading of the Adamawa State CAN chairman, Rev Lawan An-

dimi? Did you not hear of the killing of the 19-year old seminarian, Michael Nnadi? Did you not hear of the killing of the wife of Dr Ataga, a Kaduna-based medical doctor? Did you not hear of the murder of 33 stranded travellers at Auno village near Maiduguri?

Did you not hear of the accidents in Abuja road and many other highways that claimed various number of lives? How can all these blood be flowing and some people whose responsibility it is to protect us, feel cool and sleep normal?

How much blood do you want to see before it will be red enough for you to recognize it?

Em, em, well, they are circumstantial tragedies. It is all at the heart of all the battle of the government to decisively rein in the criminals and insurgents who have been troubling the country. Mr President has assured that he will not only defeat Boko Haram but will also ensure that all captives of Boko Haram regain freedom.

That looks like a promise on a campaign podium. It is not a promise Nigerians want to place a premium on, two years after Leah Sharibu has been captured, impregnated and made a mother. It’s almost six years since the Chibok girls have been abducted.

Some have even died.

It’s all been promise and promise and no fulfillment.

And I fear that nothing will change as the government refuses to sack the tired and clueless Service Chiefs.

Nothing will change as long as Mr President even tries to criminalise self defence. A government is unable to defend the citizens and the citizens gird up their loins to defend themselves and Mr President says self help is not allowed…. Haba! Who wants more blood on the landscape?

Nobody wants more blood.

We cannot resort to self help. If it starts it cannot be controlled.

The law enforcement officers are doubling their efforts to protect the people. We cannot reduce the country to a lawless Banana Republic.

41

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NCC, NIPOST to Sign Kwara Customs Seizes Items MOU on e-Services Worth N448m The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on an e-fulfillment centre for e-services, e-commerce, e-governance and e-agriculture.

The two organisations agreed on this during a courtesy visit by the NIPOST management to the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja, recently.

The Post Master General (PMG) Mr. Ismail Adewuyi, said the reason for the visit was for NIPOST to seek partnership, interventions and to also tap from the synergies that existed between the two agencies.

Adewuyi, appealed for collaborative efforts in the area of expanding broadband penetration, particularly in the rural communities, where the NIPOST had existing presence in order to improve and ease their duties.

He explained that the vision for the federal government to NIPOST was to ensure that the agency continued to play universal service obligation, which was a mandate of the universal postal union.

He said NIPOST was looking at setting up a transport and logistics company that would serve the purpose of moving mails, parcels and to leverage on its properties within the country in order to add value and to ensure that the agency contributed to the nation.

The PMG further said one of the major areas NIPOST wanted to optimise was the post office bank, which he said was a big business, adding that it was an active government financial inclusion strategy that would boost the economy of the country.

“In Nigeria we are still largely under banked especially in the rural communities where we have post office reach. We want to take many out of poverty.

“We want to contract the excess capacity we have and service the people at large in the country.

“In the world at large we now have many postal services not only sending mails but auxiliary

services around the globe.

“We want to find a way to tap into the symbiotic relationship that we all have in common as a parastatal agency under the ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

“For us, our agency is going through a lot of transformation at this point so there cannot be any better time to seek for this kind of partnership than now,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quoted him to have said.

In his response, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof.

Umar Danbatta, mentioned an area of common interest between the two agencies, which had to do with the issue of the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD).

He said that the commission was making efforts to reach amicable resolution between the banks and the telecommunications operating companies.

He noted that the commission signed an MOU with the CBN in order to reduce the number of Nigerians excluded from joint financial services to only 20 per cent.

Danbatta, called for more awareness of campaign to educate Nigerians about the new NIPOST and also called for continuous collaboration among agencies under communications.

He expressed concern about the difficulties that NIPOST went through and commended the PMG and the management board for bringing innovations to the agency.

“We hope we can raise the financial inclusion penetration to 80 per cent. It is about 60 per cent at the moment.

“On the USSD issue, we need to get permission from the Minister who issued that important pronouncement on behalf of the government that the USSD service should be suspended.

“We have written to the Minister making a very strong and convincing statement to revisit so that financial inclusion penetration is not retarded through the sanction,” he said.

Restaurant Owner Wins Food Competition Olukayode Christopher Omowa, owner of Cripsy and Grill by Grubs Republic, has emerged winner of this year’s edition of the King of Street Foodz Naija, organised

by Devon King’s, a Brand of PZ Wilmar Foods Limited, in partnership with Foodbaytv.

Omowa, representing the city of Lagos, beat five other contestants to the crown, at the maiden edition of the competition, after his meal “Stuffed Sweet Potato Balls with shredded chicken and vegetable sauce” was adjudged the most ‘Creative Dish’ of the night.

With the feat, Omowa has won for himself the grand prize of N1 million, a renovated outlet and a year’s supply of Devon King’s products.

Also rewarded were the First and Second runners up, Anifowose Segun Johnson and Oghenefego Samuel Daniels,

who also got renovated outlets as well as the sum N500, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

Congratulating the winners and others that participated at the maiden edition of the event, the Category Development and Activation Manager, PZ Wilmar, Toyin PopoolaDiana, expressed delight at the huge turn-out, noting that the platform had enhanced the contestants’ visibility.

“The platform has given opportunity for the contestants to be noticed around their neighbourhoods and the entire country at large and they now serve as inspirations to others aspiring to venture into the food business,” she stated.

She explained that the overall goal of the project was to create awareness and celebrate street ‘food- preneurs’ as thereby elevating a sector of the food industry, which she said is often overlooked.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has disclosed said that it seized 40 weight sacks of 3,593kg of Cannabis Saliva popularly called Marijuana worth N448 million along Bukuru town in Baruten local government council area of Kwara state.

The State Controller of the NCS, Mr. Hussain Ahmed, disclosed this to journalists in Ilorin, recently, while speaking on the activities of the command in the past four months.

He said the seizure was

achieved following an intelligence information from the good people of the country.

Ahmed stated that, the men of the command have been on the trail of the arrest of the substance until the command achieved the result few days ago in the state.

The controller added that, “the substance was conceived in a mutilated rags of clothes so as to prevent the men of the command feels the substance until the men of the command stopped them and

discovered the substance inside the lorry used for the smuggling.

“The cat was let out of bag, as the suspects involved in the act flew into the bush and ran away from being arrested by men of the command on during the operation”.

Ahmed, who called on well-meaning Nigerians to continue to give useful information that could be of assistance to the command in the discharge of its duties, said the gesture would go a long way in ridding out the society of

the activities of smugglers in the country.

The customs boss, who said the hard drugs could ruin a society, added that users of the drugs are Nigerians and children of some people who in turn engage in such criminality as rape, robbery, etc.

He, therefore, assured the members of the public that, the command would continue to work harder so as to boost revenue generation of the government and also waged war against anti- smuggling activities in the border areas of the state.

GRADUATION CEREMONY

L-R: Director, Monitoring & Evaluation, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr.Tunde Adelana; graduate trainee of the Amazon-NCDMB Flaredown project, Mr. Ogbomo Endurance; Group, Chief Executive Officer, Amazon Energy, Mr. Olayinka Oluwatimehin; graduate trainee, Miss. Blessing Amakeme, and General Manager, Capacity Building, NCDMB, Dr. Ama Ikuru, during a graduation ceremony of the trainees under the NOAC Kwale Gas Flaredown project, held in Lagos ...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

Swarovski Jewellery Opens First Office in Nigeria Stories by Raheem Akingbolu One of the leading producer of jewellery brands, Swarovski, has expanded its operations to the Nigerian market with the recent opening of a store in Lagos, at the Ikeja City Mall.

Speaking at a media briefing to announce the opening of the store, the Regional Manager, Swarovski Africa, Mr John Burns, stated that, the new store in Nigeria aims at offering our discerning customers in the region a delightful experience as obtained in our other stores across the world.

It also marks our foray into the Nigerian market economy which we recognised with tremendous growth potentials.

“However, this is the perfect avenue for us to share our commitment to excellence, a sense of creativity, surprise and delight.”

The addition of the Ikeja store to approximately 4,000 Swarovski stores in over 100 countries which creates employment avenue for Nigerians to join the 29,000 global workforce of the Swarovski Crystal Business, he added.

The Executive Director

of Polo Limited, Jennifer Obayuwana, the official retail partner for Swarovski in Nigeria also noted that, “the same assurance of quality that Polo has been known for since inception has been brought to bear in our partnership with Swarovski.

“Therefore, jewellery lovers have a guarantee of authenticity and excellence’. John’s presence in Africa is a seal of originality that Swarovski Nigeria is a part of the global Swarovski family.”

Speaking further, the Head of Marketing and Commu-

nications Esosa Osagiede said, “we are delighted to be able to make the dreams of Nigerian jewellery lovers a reality by offering bestin-class jewellery.

“The Swarovski store parades choice pieces to excite those who know and prefer the best.”

Swarovski Nigeria is a mono-brand store managed

by POLO Limited; the premier luxury retailer in Nigeria reputed for parading the choicest brands of watches, writing instruments, leather goods at Polo Luxury and high fashion pieces at the fashion Mecca- Polo Avenue.

NIMN Makes Gbajabiamila Fellow The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has been inducted as an Honorary Fellow of National Institute of Marketing Nigeria (NIMN) NIMN President, Mr. Tony Agenmonmen during a courtesy visit to the

Speaker, conferred on him with the position of Honorary Fellowship Award of the institute.

During the visit, president of the institute, said NIMN sought to partner the National Assembly to bring about legislations that would strengthen the sector.

He said the institute had introduced mentorship programme for youths, stressing that if properly harnessed, the sector has the potential to contribute hugely to addressing the economic challenges in the country.

He said the National

Institute of Marketing of Nigeria is a professional Institute that is saddled with the responsibility of promoting the practice of marketing in Nigeria. The Institute is to regulate who is to practice marketing in Nigeria by the Act No 23 of 2003.

42

T H I S D AY Ëž Ë&#x153; Í°ÍŻË&#x153; 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

SECCIMA Urges FG to Create Enabling Business Environment Chris Uba The South East Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA) has urged the federal government to create an enabling environment to promote the growth of businesses and economic development across the country.

The former President of the body, Ide Udeagbala, who made the call recently, at Nnewi, Anambra State, at the investiture ceremony of the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new president, Mr. Humphry Ngonadi, said SECCIMA is a voice of business community of the South Eastern Nigeria.

Udeagbala, who is also the first National Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), stressed that SECCIMA is the voice and the eyes of the business communities in the five south eastern states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chambers of Commerce the world over is unapologetically out to champion the cause of the business communities they represent.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We therefore have no apology criticising government actions or in-actions affecting our businesses.

I encourage the new leadership to speak the feelings and the pains of SECCIMA to the powers that be without fear,â&#x20AC;? he advised.

He pleaded with the new leadership to partner with the south-east governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; forum for the overall economic development of the region and the economic prosperity of the people.

The former SECCIMA boss disclosed that the association recently held the south-east forum with the five governors of the region to champion the course of community policing and the protection of lives and properties in the states.

He noted: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We recently partnered with the five south-east governors to fashion out way to stop heads men from terrorising our region. We shall do whatever within our power to protect our people and our properties from unnecessary attacks.â&#x20AC;?

The top business man appealed to the federal government to provide Independent Power Projects (IPP) to power the business clusters in the

region as she has done in Ariaria Market in Aba, Abia State, adding that similar gesture should be extended to other main markets and business clusters in other states of the region. He appealed to the government to ensure the south-east benefits from the on-going rail projects from Port Harcourt to the northern region.

The former SECCIMA boss called for partnership among the five governors of the region, to develop ports in the region, adding that such initiative would boost economic development of the region.

He also urged the federal government to develop the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex like it did in Lagos and Kaduna respectively.

In his response, Ngonadi promised to continue with the good legacies left behind by the former leadership of the association to bringing all the city chambers of commerce in the south east zone of Nigeria together and establish a strong Organised Private Sector (OPS).

CSLStockbrokers Appointed FGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stockbroker CSL Stockbrokers Limited, a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, said it has emerged as the new stockbroker to the federal government.

According to a statement, the appointment of the firm, was announced by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on Tuesday, following an open competitive bidding process with other stockbrokers.

With the appointment, CSL Stockbrokers now has the mandate to execute all transactions of the federal government on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

This includes, posting bid and offer prices of government securities, supporting the DMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objective of promoting trading of federal government securities on the Exchange and attracting more retail investors to the domestic capital market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;CSL Stockbrokers, rated as one of the top five stockbroking firms in Nigeria, provides institutional and corporate brokerage services to investors

and select issuers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the heart of the firm is a robust research platform which supports local and international investors who desire in-depth coverage of the Nigerian capital market and the economy,â&#x20AC;? the statement added.

It further explained that with the appointment, CSL Stockbrokers is now mandated to build upon the achievements already recorded by increasing the participation of retail investors in all federal government securities, such as bonds, sukuk, savings bond and green bonds listed and trading on the NSE. The statement quoted the DMO to have stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the appointment of CSL as the Government Stockbroker is a further demonstration of the commitment of the DMO to the development of the domestic market, in particular, promoting liquidity, as well as, growing and diversifying the investor base.â&#x20AC;?

Commenting on the appointment, the Chief Executive Officer of CSL Stockbrokers, Mr. Abiodun Fagbulu, described the development as another milestone in the commitment of the firm to be the investment management services provider of choice in subSaharan Africa, driven by deep market knowledge and global standard investment management expertise.

According to him, â&#x20AC;&#x153;CSL Stockbrokers consider this appointment as an opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the domestic capital market in a way that is sustainable and profitable to investors.â&#x20AC;?

CSL Stockbrokers which has over 30 years operating history in the capital market is expected to support the DMO in meeting the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financing needs in a prudent manner that supports economic development while proactively managing the associated risks.

SystemSpecs to Host Industry Stakeholders SystemSpecs, a leading provider of financial technology and human capital management solutions and services, will be hosting an insightful session during the 2020 edition of the Social Media Week (SMW) in Lagos.

The session with the theme, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Human-Focused Lending in a Digital World: Impact of Fintech Collaborations,â&#x20AC;? would hold next Thursday in Lagos.

According to a statement, bringing together customers, providers, facilitators and regulators of digital lending in Nigeria including banks, other financial technology players, and policymakers, panelists at the session would discuss the potentials that abound in retail lending as well as the innovations and extensive opportunities that can be created through increased collaboration among fintechs, banks, alternate lenders, credit bureaus and other

data providers.

Speakers at the session would include the Chief Executive Officer of Arvo Finance, Ayotunde Bally; Business Head, Digital Banking Group, Access Bank, Esther Obiekwe; Co-Founder, Lidya, Tunde Kehinde; and Divisional Head, Payment Applications and Vertical Markets, SystemSpecs, David Okeme. The session will be moderated by Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, Co-founder, CFAmedia SystemSpecs, developers of Remita, the innovative payment and collection solution for corporates, SMEs and individuals, is known for powering the services of most of Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top lenders.

Since the inception of its data referencing service in 2017, SystemSpecs has become well-known as a key enabler in the ecosystem by providing insight on credit, streamlining

lenderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk decisions and facilitating the lending of over N35 billion to individuals and SMEs. Patrick Ikpelue, Divisional Business Development Lead at SystemSpecs, said a major hindrance to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is the lack of access to funds as a result of stringent measures such as lengthy, torturous approval processes as well as convoluted requests for collaterals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A virile finance and credit system is a key enabler to the realisation of a number of sustainable development goals, particularly in reducing poverty and raising peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; social status. At SystemSpecs, we are committed to empowering the delivery of digital lending to individuals, SMEs and larger organisations to enable them meet their financial needs,â&#x20AC;? Ikpelue added.

L-R: Group Head, Creative Industry, Bank of industry (BoI), Mrs Cynthia Nwuka; Excutive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya; Group Head, SME Credit, BoI, MrTaiwo oyenola; MD/CEO Crown Nature Nigeria Plc, Omolara Aromolaran; Regional General Manager, Lagos/South-west MTN Nigeria, Josephine Sarouk, and Minuel Designs, Emmanuel Faleti, at the business Pitch competition of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme organized by the MTN Foundation in Partnership with BoI, held in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x;Ă&#x153;Ă?Ă? Ě&#x2039;

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2DC;Ă?Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x153;ĂŁ Ă&#x2122;Ă&#x2013;Ă&#x201C;Ă?ĂŁ Ă&#x2039;Ă&#x17E;Ă? Ě&#x2039; ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2020

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $56.68 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $57.24 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela) SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

MARKET NEWS

NSE All-Share Rises 0.17% as Market Rebounds after Days of Bear Run Goddy Egene The Nigerian stock market yesterday recorded the first gain this week, after declining for three days as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index appreciated by 0.17 per cent to close at 27,568.91.

Similarly, market capitalisation added N23.9 billion to close at N14.4 trillion as investors embarked on bargain hunting.

A total of 19 stocks appreciated while 10 depreciated.

However, activity level was mixed as volume traded rose 37.2 per cent to 485 million shares, while value traded fell 28.6 per cent to N3.6 billion. The most active stocks by volume were Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc (200 million shares), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (56.3 million shares) and Zenith Bank Plc (36.7 million shares) while GTBank (N1.6 billion), Zenith Bank Plc (N713.9 million) and United Bank for Africa Plc (N247.5

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

million) led by value.

In terms of price gainers, AIICO Insurance Plc and Ikeja Hotel Plc led table with 10 per cent apiece.

United Capital Plc, which announced a dividend of 50 kobo on Wednesday closdd as the third highest price gainer, chalking up 9.9 per cent. The stock had led the price gainers’ table the previous day as investors reacted positively to the improved results for the 2019 financial year.

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Meanwhile, United Capital Plc, posted a revenue of N8.598 billion in 2019, compared with N9.26 billion in 2018. Profit after tax (PAT) rose by 15 per cent from N4.34 billion to N4.97 billion in 2019. Shareholders’ funds grew to N19.59 billion, from N15.83 billion in 2018. Based on the performance, the board of directors recommended a dividend of N3 billion, that translates into 50 kobo per share.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer of United Capital, Mr. Peter Ashade said: “In spite of the challenging operating environment that was experienced in 2019, United Capital Plc group have been able to consistently improve in its performance recording a 15 per cent increase in PAT and earnings per share. This increase was driven majorly by the growth in our net interest margin, fees and commission

O F

as well as an efficient tax management strategy. We expect an appreciable growth in our revenue as we roll out our various strategic initiatives for the year 2020.”

In a related development, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc led the price losers with 10 per cent, trailed by Champion Breweries Plc with 9.2 per cent. Jaiz Bank Plc and Oando Plc shed 7.3 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively among others.

2 0 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

44

˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020

Friday, February 21, 2020

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Down 17bps Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index fell 0.2% to ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϭϳϳ͘ϭϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƐ ŝŶ GUARANTY

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

(-ϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ ZENITH (-Ϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ STERLING (-Ϭ͘ϱйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϳ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Local Bourse Posts Gains... ASI up 0.2% zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

-19.8%

17.7%

17.7%

5.5%

4.7x

0.7x

6.7%

18.4%

29.9%

10.5%

6.4%

137.7%

13.8%

13.8x

23.3x

2.5%

7.3%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

298.90

0.0%

14.2%

0.0%

0.0%

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

28.00

-1.4%

10.4%

-5.7%

-4.1%

32.9%

5.4%

4.2x

1.3x

9.7%

23.6%

19.40

-0.5%

6.8%

4.3%

3.7%

24.3%

3.4%

3.0x

0.7x

14.4%

32.9%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC

1,242.00

0.0%

4.2%

-15.5%

-15.5%

82.9%

26.3%

21.1x

17.4x

5.5%

4.7%

170.00

0.0%

5.4%

19.7%

19.7%

47.8%

23.1%

7.5x

3.4x

10.4%

13.3%

0.0%

4.2%

-3.0%

-4.0%

22.7%

2.2%

2.4x

0.6x

5.2%

41.0%

0.7%

3.1%

7.0%

6.3%

18.7%

2.0%

2.7x

0.5x

11.1%

36.6%

9.70

ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϳй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ േϮϯ͘ϵďŶ ƚŽ േϭϰ͘ϰƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ϯϳ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ϰϴϱ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů Ϯϴ͘ϲй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϲďŶ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ SOVRENINS ;ϮϬϬ͘Ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ GUARANTY ;ϱϲ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ĂŶĚ ZENITH ;ϯϲ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ GUARANTY

;േϭ͘ϲďŶͿ͕

ZENITH

;േϳϭϯ͘ϵŵͿ

ĂŶĚ

UBA ;േϮϰϳ͘ϱŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

9 FBN Holdings Plc

5.75

0.0%

2.6%

-6.5%

-11.5%

10.3%

1.0%

4.0x

0.3x

4.5%

25.1%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

51.50

0.0%

2.4%

-12.7%

-12.7%

9.6%

4.2%

25.6x

2.5x

4.5%

3.9%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

15.70

0.0%

2.9%

2.6%

13.8%

50.3%

23.4%

15.8x

0.7x

605.00

0.0%

2.3%

-8.0%

2.2%

14.4%

9.5%

3.9x

0.5x

6.6%

25.7% 18.2%

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

38.50

0.0%

1.9%

-6.1%

-3.8%

27.3%

4.1%

5.5x

1.4x

5.2%

23.00

0.0%

1.2%

16.8%

16.8%

3.6%

1.3%

17.9x

0.7x

5.2%

7.05

0.0%

0.7%

-25.8%

-25.8%

-114.4%

-7.5%

15 International Brew eries PLC

ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƚƌĞŶĚĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚǁĂƌĚ͘ The Oil & Gas ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ Ϭ͘ϵй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ in OANDO (-ϲ͘ϲйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ

of losses in GUARANTY

(-ϭ͘ϰйͿ͕ ZENITH

(-Ϭ͘ϱйͿ

6.40

0.0%

0.9%

-1.5%

-2.3%

13.8%

1.0%

2.1x

0.3x

2.13

0.5%

0.8%

3.9%

5.4%

13.4%

1.5%

2.1x

0.3x

5.2%

46.6% 18.4%

18 11 PLC

133.20

0.0%

0.6%

-9.9%

-9.9%

24.1%

10.9%

5.4x

1.2x

6.2%

68.00

0.0%

0.8%

22.3%

22.3%

19.1%

13.5%

11.8x

2.2x

4.6%

8.5%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

12.10

0.0%

0.5%

-11.0%

-13.6%

19.6%

11.6%

7.2x

1.4x

9.1%

13.9%

1.2x

10.1%

0.95

0.0%

0.5%

-4.0%

-11.2%

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

15.00

0.0%

0.4%

-31.8%

-27.5%

-5.6%

-3.5%

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

25.20

0.0%

0.3%

-16.1%

-16.1%

4.9%

2.6%

13.1x

0.6x

6.0%

7.6%

1.90

1.6%

0.4%

2.7%

4.4%

9.2%

1.1%

2.1x

0.2x

7.4%

46.8%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.50

-3.8%

0.3%

-24.6%

-21.1%

10.0%

0.9%

4.0x

0.4x

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

9.00

0.0%

0.3%

4.7%

1.1%

-9.6%

-4.1%

2.5x

0.6x

7.2%

39.6% 22.4%

0.0%

0.2%

-9.2%

-9.2%

17.5%

7.0%

4.5x

0.7x

8.0%

0.0%

0.3%

4.9%

4.9%

15.9%

6.4%

12.5x

1.9x

4.3%

7.10

1.4%

0.2%

18.3%

17.4%

7.0%

1.1%

11.3x

0.9x

107.00

0.0%

0.2%

-3.5%

-3.5%

8.8%

2.0%

13.9x

1.3x

3.26

-6.6%

0.1%

-18.3%

-18.3%

14.5%

2.6%

1.4x

0.2x

31 Oando PLC

13.00

0.0%

0.2%

0.4%

0.4%

16.5%

5.8%

18.1x

3.1x

7.7%

5.5%

0.0%

0.2%

13.1%

13.1%

26.7%

3.4%

2.8x

0.7x

9.0%

35.8%

0.66

1.5%

0.1%

-10.8%

-2.9%

9.0%

0.9%

5.3x

0.5x

4.5%

18.7%

16.70

0.0%

0.1%

-7.7%

-7.2%

7.6%

1.3%

17.1%

11.2%

35 Forte Oil PLC 36 Continental Reinsurance PLC

0.0%

0.1%

30.1%

30.1%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϳй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.80

0.0%

0.1%

-9.1%

-9.1%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.05

0.0%

0.0%

-17.3%

-17.3%

in BUACEMENT ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ƚƌĂŝůĞĚ͕

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

P ric e

;нϵ͘ϳйͿ͘ Finally, the AFR-ICT index ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ

A IIC O

0.99

10.0%

1.21

10.0%

3.54

IKEJ A H OT EL UC A P

1.2x

2.0%

10.3%

2.8%

7.8x

0.8x

12.8%

38.2x

3.8%

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

P ric e C hg %

SOVR EN IN S

200.0

0.0%

GUA R A N T Y

56.3

-1.4%

9.9%

Z EN IT H B A N K

36.7

-0.5% 0.7%

0.34

9.7%

UB A

32.4

9.4%

FB NH

31.2

0.0%

C ILEA SIN G

6.85

7.9%

UC A P

24.0

9.9%

NP FM CRFB K

1.24

7.8%

A F R IP R UD

20.1

2.5%

CHA M S

0.30

7.1%

FCM B

11.5

1.6%

C OUR T VILLE

0.22

4.8%

J A P A ULOIL

8.8

0.0%

36.05

3.0%

A C C ESS

7.1

0.0%

T o p 10 L o s e r s T ic k er

P ric e

C H A M P ION

2.6%

Vo lum e

0.35

B UA C EM EN T

15.7%

1.5x

A B CTRA NS

;нϵ͘ϵйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ LAWUNION (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ CHAMPION (-ϵ͘ϯйͿ LA WUN ION

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

6.4x

WA P IC

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ϵ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĞƌƐ

ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĚ͘

-1.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ϭ͘ϯй ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ AIICO ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ WAPIC

ƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ the

1.3x

0.0% 0.0%

and JAIZBANK (-ϳ͘ϰйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŽƉͲ

7.2% 71.2%

22.50

70.00

ǁĞƌĞ AIICO ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ IKEJAHOTEL ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ UCAP

13.1%

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

62.50

Ϭ͘ϴdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ϭϵ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

8.0% 8.8%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

37 Beta Glass PLC

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϯ͘ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ

-4.9%

25.2%

5.45

29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 30 Total Nigeria PLC

3.2%

49.85

28 Presco PLC

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

48.8%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

and CHAMPION (-ϵ͘ϯйͿ͘ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ

5.6% -39.9%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

34 Wema Bank PLC

'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů Ϭ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϰďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ

6.3x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ

6.3%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

24 FCMB Group Plc

Mixed Sector Performance

3.6%

4 Zenith Bank PLC

7.65

in BUACEMENT ;нϯ͘ϬйͿ͕ UBN ;нϭ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ UCAP ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͘

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.0%

7 Access Bank PLC

interest

P/BV

-0.17%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

ďƵLJŝŶŐ

P/E

116.00

Ϯϳ͕ϱϲϴ͘ϵϭ

ƚŽ

ROA

1,177.14

6 Dangote Cement PLC

ĚƵĞ

ROE

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

ĮƌƐƚ ŐĂŝŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ as the All-Share Index rose ϭϳďƉƐ ƚŽ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ

Price Change Index to Date

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e P ric e C hg %

0.81

-10.0%

0.88

-9.3%

T ic k er

Value

GUA R A N T Y

1571.5

P ric e C hg % -1.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

713.9

-0.5% 0.7%

J A IZ B A N K

0.63

-7.4%

UB A

247.5

OA N D O

3.26

-6.6%

FB NH

179.4

0.0%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.43

-6.5%

D A N GC EM

109.5

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.50

-3.8%

A F R IP R UD

105.0

2.5%

LIVEST OC K

0.62

-1.6%

UC A P

84.8

9.9%

GUA R A N T Y

28.00

-1.4%

ST A N B IC

83.3

0.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

19.40

-0.5%

A C C ESS

68.9

0.0%

WA P C O

43.0

0.0%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Oluwarotimi Ashimi | oashimi@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

45

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

NSE Launches Comic Book to Promote Financial Literacy Goddy Egene As part of efforts to promote financial literacy, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has launched a comic book known as StockTown.

The book makes use of illustrated characters story to educate readers of all ages about the importance of

savings and investment.

In its first issue, readers are introduced to Mora Johnson and her middle-class family who are experiencing financial hardship that pushes Mora to want to learn more about investment and financial independence.

Commenting on the comic book,

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

Chief Executive Officer, NSE, , Oscar Onyema, said: “StockTown is the product of a passionate idea long held by the exchange to empower individuals across all levels to make good financial decisions and better their lives now and in the future.

In a drastically evolving financial landscape, the NSE continues to

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 19Feb-2020, unless otherwise stated.

find new ways to communicate the ideas of saving and investment using products available on its platform. We hope this comic, which demonstrates the idea of buying and selling securities in simple terms, can crowd-in the financially excluded, millennials and all lovers of comics.”

According to him, the launch of

StockTown builds on the exchange’s strong commitment to promoting financial literacy in Nigeria.

The exchange explained that consistently, it hosts secondary schools, undergraduates and young upwardly mobile professionals to X-Tours, a financial literacy workshop that culminates in a tour of the trading

floor and meeting with Stockbrokers.

“Through these channels, NSE is making significant contributions towards reducing the level of financial exclusion in Nigeria to 20 per cent in line with its mandate as a member of the National Finance Inclusion Steering Committee led by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” it said.

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 152.31 155.85 3.51% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 2.95% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.79 319.79 2.23% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.90 0.91 6.94% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 33.98% 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 7.01% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.47 2.52 0.37% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.22% Anchoria Equity Fund 101.93 103.25 1.28% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 4.20% 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 15.54 16.01 1.46% ARM Discovery Fund 350.93 361.51 1.59% ARM Ethical Fund 30.20 31.12 3.85% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.79% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 100.17 100.87 4.26% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.98% 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 1.97 1.97 17.21% 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 0.08 0.06 7.86% Paramount Equity Fund 12.31 12.53 -1.66% Women's Investment Fund 111.72 112.55 1.11% 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 7.00% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 104.04 104.60 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 113.49 114.16 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.94 0.95 1.25% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.39 1.39 4.29% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 6.07% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 5.40% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,164.00 1,165.02 0.12% 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 1,324.61 1,325.72 2.60% FBN Balanced Fund 148.57 149.72 1.19% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.67% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.43 120.80 1.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.10 121.46 1.06% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.95 128.57 -2.44% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.88% Legacy Debt Fund 3.69 3.69 1.02% Legacy Equity Fund 1.14 1.16 0.37% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.58% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.32% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 118.59 119.14 10.22%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 6.33% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.25 2.28 4.51% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.42% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.72 141.24 12.76% 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 1.19 1.22 2.42% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,116.28 1,116.28 1.63% 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 9.68 9.77 -1.25% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.10% 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 1.62 1.64 30.63% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 13.68 13.78 20.23% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.06% PACAM Equity Fund 1.14 1.15 PACAM EuroBond Fund 103.64 105.51 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 135.07 137.87 8.26% 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 1.02 1.02 1.52% 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 2,521.35 2,532.80 3.07% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.91% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.81% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.31% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.85% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.04% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 2.53% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.84% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.20 1.22 -0.22% United Capital Bond Fund 1.76 1.76 1.52% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -1.34% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.92% United Capital Eurobond Fund 112.93 112.93 0.95% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.31% 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 10.38 10.53 1.13% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.65 11.80 0.41% Zenith Income Fund 23.04 23.04 3.67% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.46%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.45 120.09 52.41

-64.35% 0.83% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.22 95.08 74.16

9.32 97.11 75.56

5.87% 2.82% 0.60%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.56 5.00 12.82 11.66 177.11

3.60 5.08 12.92 11.86 179.11

0.35% -15.36% 5.50% 12.15% -5.63%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

46

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

China Announces Biggest Drop in Coronavirus Cases China on Thursday announced the biggest drop in new cases from the coronavirus outbreak in nearly a month.

The National Health Commission said that more

than 74,500 people have now been infected nationwide by the virus, which first emerged in central Hubei province in December.

The death toll jumped to

Court Sentences Trump’s Ally to 40 Months in Prison Donald Trump’s longtime ally Roger Stone was sentenced Thursday to 40 months in prison for impeding a congressional investigation, in a case that ignited a firestorm over the US president’s political interference in the justice system.

Stone, a veteran Republican operative and one of the president’s oldest confidants, was convicted in November of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to cheat in the 2016 election.

“The truth still matters,” said US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson as she handed down the sentence to Stone, who will remain free while his request for a new trial is considered.

“Roger Stone’s insistence that it doesn’t, his belligerence, his pride in his own lies are a threat to our most fundamental institutions, to the very foundation of our democracy.”

Trump said soon after he believed Stone had a “very good chance” of being cleared in the long run, accusing the jury without evidence of being “tainted.”

The president controversially commuted the sentences this week of nearly a dozen criminals with links to his friends and political allies — including a corrupt politician and a tax fraud police chief.

But he ruled out immediately issuing a Stone the pardon many had been expecting.

“I’m going to let this process play out,” he said at an event in Las Vegas. “At some point, I’ll make a determination…

We’re waiting.”

Trump sparked outrage by decrying a “miscarriage of justice” after prosecutors he smeared as corrupt recommended Stone be jailed for up to nine years, in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.

The president has attacked the jury previously, as well as Jackson, who last year jailed former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for unlawful lobbying and witness tampering.

Attorney General Bill Barr, who has been blasted for being too close to Trump, personally intervened to have the “extreme and excessive” recommendation withdrawn, prompting all four prosecutors to quit the case.

At Thursday’s hearing,

Jackson hit out at the “extraneous commentary” surrounding the case and “the unprecedented actions of the Department of Justice within the past week.”

But she added that she chose a lower sentence because she was moved by letters from Stone’s relatives and friends, casting the 67-year-old grandfather as a caring family man who had helped NFL players with brain injuries, rescued dogs and supported criminal justice reform.

Stone is the sixth aide of Trump — who was impeached last year for abusing his power but acquitted by the Senate — to be convicted of charges arising from special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian election interference.

Barr said the president’s comments had had no impact on his the decision but has found himself vilified by Democrats who accuse him and the president of undermining the rule of law.

In addition, more than 2,000 former Justice Department officials have signed a statement calling for Barr to resign.

In a rare public rebuke, the attorney general said Trump’s Twitter pronouncements in ongoing cases were making his job “impossible.”

His attempt to distance himself from the president was met with scepticism however by critics who accuse Barr of having repeatedly acted more like Trump’s personal lawyer than a public servant.

And Trump has continued in any case to be outspoken in his support for Stone, who appeared in court in a striped suit and a polka-dot tie.

The self-avowed “dirty trickster” was convicted of lying in testimony to Congress about acting as an intermediary between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, which released documents hacked by Russia that embarrassed rival Hillary Clinton during the 2016 White House race.

The seven-count indictment also accused Stone of threatening an associate and his dog to stop him cooperating with investigators.

Stone accused jury members of being biased against him and appealed to overturn their verdict.

Jackson had previously forbidden Stone from posting on social media about his trial after he shared a picture of her on Instagram with what appeared to be the crosshairs of a gun sight.

2,118 on Thursday after 114 new deaths were reported — most in Hubei province, the hard-hit epicentre of the outbreak.

Most of the new cases were in the provincial capital Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.

Hubei health officials said Thursday there had been 615 new cases in Wuhan and 13 more elsewhere in the

province.

However, the Hubei health commission said it was reducing the number of previously reported cases in a number of cities in the province by 279.

Even without the adjustment, the number of new cases was sharply lower than the province’s daily updates of recent weeks. On Wednesday, there were 1,693

new cases reported in Hubei.

National health officials said the over-reporting in Hubei was after nucleic acid tests were carried out on patients previously confirmed using lung imaging.

After the adjustment, the number of new cases confirmed nationwide was 394, the National Health Commission said.

The number of new cases

spiked last week after Hubei health officials said they were changing the way they counted cases to include those diagnosed clinically using lung imaging tests, rather than just using lab tests to confirm cases.

Outside of Hubei, the number of cases has been steadily falling, with only 45 more cases reported on Thursday.

DIPLOMATIC VISIT…

L-R: Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammed Bulkachuwa; Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Mr. Jyrki Pulkkinen; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan; and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, during a courtesy visit by the Finland Ambassador to the Senate President ...yesterday

UN Accuses Warring South Sudan Parties of Deliberately Starving Citizens South Sudan’s government forces and other armed groups have “deliberately starved” civilians by denying aid access and displacing communities, a report from a United Nations rights probe said Thursday.

“Today in South Sudan,

civilians are deliberately starved, systematically surveilled and silenced, arbitrarily arrested and detained and denied meaningful access to justice,” it said.

The three-member commission looked into abuses between the signing of a peace deal in

September 2018 and December 2019. The panel delivered a damning indictment of “predatory and unaccountable elites” and the suffering of civilians after six years of conflict.

The report comes two days before the latest deadline to

At Least Nine Killed in Germany Shisha Bars Shootings At least nine people were killed in two shootings late on Wednesday near the German city of Frankfurt, with an unknown number of attackers still at large, police said.

The shootings targeted shisha bars in Hanau, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Frankfurt, according to local media, and police launched

a huge manhunt in the town of around 90,000 people.

The first attack occurred at a bar in the centre of the city around 10:00 pm (2100 GMT), police and reports said. Witnesses reported hearing a dozen shots, local media said.

The attacker, or attackers, then fled the scene by car, according to police. There

was then a second shooting.

According to local media reports, three people were killed in front of the first bar and five in front of the second.

Germany has been targeted in recent years by several extremist attacks, one of which killed 12 people in the heart of Berlin in December 2016.

Thousands of Women Rally Against Abortion Law in Argentina Thousands of women, many sporting the green scarves that have become the symbol of Argentina’s abortion rights movement, rallied in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to campaign for a new bill to legalise abortion.

Two years after a similar bill was narrowly defeated by lawmakers in the conservative

South American country, activists have been buoyed by recent pledges by leftist President Alberto Fernandez to prioritize a new bill.

“We are here to fight for this law to come out this year,” psychologist Antonella D’Alessio told AFP. “An unwanted pregnancy is synonymous with

torture.”

The rally called by feminist groups was held in front of the Congress where in June 2018 a bill to legalize abortion was approved by the lower house, only to be defeated by conservatives in the Senate amid pressure from the Roman Catholic Church.

form a unity government — a process beset with delays and bickering, and “lack of political will”, according to the commission.

“Political elites remained oblivious to the intense suffering of millions of civilians for whom they were ostensibly fighting,” it said.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGOMA CHUKA OKAFOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGOMA TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MRS. PATIENCE NDIDI NWANGWA, henceforth, wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PATIENCE NDIDI ADINDU ORIH. All former documents remain valid.

The general public to take note.

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˾ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Your Purpose in Life - 2

Ayoob Khan/IslamiCity from last week)

(Continued

Allah Addresses Our Problems When one’s problems increase with time; one wonders whether solutions can ever be found to save one from overwhelming miseries. In desperation, many seek remedy to their troubles in avenues that specialize in the destruction of the body and mind e.g. alcohol and drugs. The intention is to paralyze the mind so that the miseries are temporarily suspended or forgotten. The problems inevitably return to haunt their victims as soon as they revive from their self-inflicted daze.

Others seek peace for their misery by joining a cult with radical beliefs. Living without a clear purpose in life, the intention here is to occupy oneself with anything that distracts one’s attention away from mounting personal anxiety. Sadly, when hoping to lessen the burden of a meaningless life, one falls deeper into problems of greater proportion.

Who is then responsible for man’s helplessness?

When the Creator has provided mankind with detailed guidance for their assured success, man can only blame himself for disregarding such guidance. After choosing to stray from the divine teachings that are designed for our benefit, the consequence of resorting to one’s boundless whims leads to a meaningless life of discontent.

Our Creator is knowledgeable of our problems and has addressed them for our awareness. We must therefore embrace the guidance of the holy Quran: Allah’s eternal Word of wisdom.

The Quran mentions all aspects of human life. Each aspect of man’s existence (whether it is social, political or spiritual) is explained in many parts of this holy Book. Individually, the explanations clarify the core of the topic being defined for man’s benefit. Collectively, the teachings provide essential guidance for mankind to lead a contented life that enjoys real purpose. The holy Quran addresses the varying needs of people.

Thus, to benefit from the wisdom of these divine revelations, the individual must seek the guidance

that refers to his/her particular needs.

We can pick a few references in the Quran in which Allah addresses our problems. For a fuller understanding of the Creator’s guidance, the holy Quran must be consulted to acquire benefit from the many references available on these and other topics.

The problem of racism is a very serious one that causes discomfort and oppression to its victims.

Allah instructs (Surah 49:13): O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (one who is) the most righteous of you. Certainly, Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

Alcoholism and gambling are common addictions in many communities. Islam teaches us that if a larger quantity of a thing is evil and harmful to society, then it must not be taken even in smaller portions. The Quran reads (Surah 5:91): Satan’s plan is to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer: will you not then abstain? Adultery has grave implications on society. One of the verses warns (Surah 17:32): Nor come near to adultery: for it is an indecent (deed) and an evil way.

When distressed with the burdens of misfortune or a purposeless life, many people resort to suicide, believing that ending one’s life is the only way out of one’s misery. This act of self-destruction is considered as a major sin in Islam. Allah comforts (Surah 4:29): O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual good-will; nor kill (or destroy) yourselves, for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful! Furthermore, prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) teaches us (Surah 15:56): “And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord, but such as go astray?” Allah kindly guides (Surah 2:195): And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good, for Allah loves those who do good.

Arrogance is a vice that evolves from various sources such as racism, the wealthy looking down on the poor, the strong feeling superior to the weak, etc. The Quran provides valuable advice for the righteous (Surah 31:18): And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men. Nor walk in insolence on the earth: for Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the donkey.

Only few of society’s ailments have been considered here from many that are addressed in the holy Quran. Yet, for the mentioned problems, other divine revelations are also available in this Book of Guidance to help man overcome his worldly troubles. Allah has availed man complete guidance to enable him take up the special form (or role) that is blessed upon him. However, if man ungratefully chooses to disregard the teachings of the Creator and to settle for a lesser role (by disowning the responsibilities that were assigned to him), he has only himself to blame for the unfortunate consequences. Allah explains (Surah 95:4 to 6): We have indeed created man in the best of forms, then do we abase him (to be) the lowest of the low, except such as believe and do righteous deeds: for they shall have a reward unfailing.

May Allah guide us towards righteousness and help us to benefit from His wisdom.

Islam’s View of Death and the Hereafter Scientists today agree with the statement revealed in the Quran that the universe took its present shape over many significant stages, the earliest of which was the formation of gases. Water, plantation, and creatures appeared at later points in time. Allah explains in the holy Quran (Surat 41:11 & 12): Then He turned to the sky, and it had been (as) smoke; He said to it and to the earth: “Come you together, willingly or unwilling.” They said, “We do come (together) in willing obedience.” So, He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each

heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard.

Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, full of knowledge.

The concept of death in Islam is consistent with the rest of creation, where the journey from plan to destiny undergoes specific events. Once the soul is created by Allah, it experiences several distinct stages. The soul takes up residence in the fetus several months before delivering the child into the world. The human body is designed to be a temporary abode that will cease its purpose of existence once the time is ordained for the soul to abandon it. This stage of the soul’s departure from the body is termed as Death. In Islam, this final phase of the worldly life is also regarded as the return of the soul to its Creator. The body served as a temporary container for the soul and has now perished. The soul, however, was not designed to die and continues to live.

The soul now enters the next stage, a transitory world, where it lies in wait for the Day of Judgement.

Here, the soul awaits the time when the righteous will flock into Paradise and the wicked will crowd into Hell. The Quran defines this stage as a ‘Partition’, awaiting the Day when all will be raised for recompensation (Surah 23:99 & 100): Until, when death comes to one of them, he says “O my Lord! Send me back (to life) in order that I may work righteousness in the things that I neglected”. By no means! It is but a word he says. Before them is a Partition till the Day they are raised up.

The Day of Judgement is a time of tremendous anxiety. Every soul will appear before the Creator to account for its performance on Earth. Based upon its actions and intentions, the soul will be justly recompensed. This is the platform where the truth will manifest itself to the terror of those who doubted the existence and teaching of their Creator. The unfortunate on this Day shall not plead innocence for sheer ignorance when prophets of Allah were purposefully sent for guidance to all nations of the world.

To Be Continued

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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ASUU Asks AGF to Resign over Unremitted Deductions Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan There is no end to the crisis between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as the union yesterday called on the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, to resign for alleged gross incompetence.

The union said the failure of the AGF to release remit deductions of university workers’ salaries for the month

of January three weeks after payment of their salaries is a deliberate plan to make university staff suffer.

The union, in a statement jointly signed by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Dr. Ade Adejumo, and the University of Ibadan Chairman, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, said salaries are not paid when deductions on cooperative societies, and other schemes are not paid.

They allegedly described the AGF as not only wicked and

fraudulent but engaging in a calculated attempt to unduly punish devoted university staff and make them vulnerable in a country that anything under the present government barely works.

While demanding for the immediate release of the withheld deductions, the union said the welfare of its members would not be mortgaged for

anything.

It added that the office of AGF needed refocusing and overhauling following several unanswered queries over IPPIS fund to the office by the National Assembly.

“The AGF should resign with immediate effect for gross incompetence and abuse of office for his failure to release all the deductions from

university workers’ salaries for the month of January.

All deductions including cooperatives, levies, bank loans and check off are still being withheld three weeks after the payment of January salaries.

“This wicked action by the office of the AGF has created an undue hardship on the workers who are involved in

the cooperative societies and other schemes through direct deductions from their salaries.

We demand immediate release of the seized fund with interests and the resignation of the AGF. There is urgent need to overhaul and refocus the Office of the Accountant General to be able to serve the nation better than it is currently doing,” the statement alleged.

Lagos Assembly Backs Amotekun The Lagos State House of Assembly has finally backed the South-west security outfit, Amotekun, and has fixed a public hearing on the outfit for February 24, 2020.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, subsequently committed the bill to the Assembly Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy for public hearing during plenary yesterday.

The committee, headed by Hon. Tunde Braimoh, was directed to report back to the Assembly as soon as possible.

The Assembly Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni, had informed the Assembly that he received a letter from the state Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Moyosore Onigbanjo, last Wednesday on the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

Sanni was subsequently ordered to read the bill entitled: ‘House of Assembly Bill No. 5 Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Amendment Bill 2020 and for Connected Purposes’ for the first and second times.

The Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), said the bill is an executive one, but that it is predicated on the private member bill that established LNSC, which he said has been working well.

Agunbiade added that the bill is incorporating the concept of a more dynamic and more strengthened security platform than what they had.

“It is meant to energise and strengthen the security that we have in Lagos State based on the challenges in the state and in the entire South-west region.

Pandemonium as Police Shoot Two Pepper Sellers in Abeokuta Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Ogun State Police Command yesterday confirmed that its men shot at two male pepper sellers at the Olomore market in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, but said that it was stray bullets that hit the victims.

There was pandemonium in the state capital yesterday, as residents of the Olomore area poured into the streets to protest what they described as “unwarranted police brutality.”

Initial reports indicated that the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) operatives from the police command chased some suspected internet fraudsters, otherwise known as Yahoo Boys, to a hideout in the area, and started shooting indiscriminately in the process.

A source in the market told THISDAY that two men were hit by the police bullets; one of them on the head, and that he was feared dead.

The victims, said to be Hausa traders, could not be identified at press time.

But reacting while speaking with journalists yesterday, the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Police Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy

Superintendent of Police, said it was not true that SARS men came to the market, hunting for Yahoo Boys.

“What happened is that we got a report that there was fracas at the Olomore area and the Police Commissioner, who was far away in Sagamu, promptly directed the Area Commander to take charge and the Divisional Police Officer of the Lafemwa Divison in charge of the area promptly sent men of the Anti-Cultism Team to the location.

“It was not also true that it was the SARS men that went to the area, as people often mistake any uniformed man in black as SARS policeman.

“When they got there and put the situation under control, some suspects were arrested but some hoodlums tried to prevent the police from taking the suspects away.

“It was in the process that the police shot into the air to scare the people away, but a stray bullet injured two people and those affected have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Also, the two policemen involved in the shooting have been arrested while investigations into the matter continue,” Oyeyemi clarified.

GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION…

L-R: Senator representing Enugu North senatorial district, Senator Chukwuka Utazi; Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; and his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, during the flag-off of local government chairmanship campaign at Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA…yesterday

NSCDC Threatens to File Forfeiture Order against 43 Cows Arrested in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has threatened to approach the court to file an application to forfeit 43 cows arrested by its operatives in Orin Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area about a month ago.

The NSCDC said the action became its last resort following the inability of the owners to claim them and due to enormous cost of their upkeep.

The cows were arrested inside a farm at Orin Ekiti, and since

then, nobody had come to claim them from the custody of the NSCDC in Ado Ekiti metropolis.

The Corps in a statement by its Public Relations Officer in Ado Ekiti yesterday said the Command can’t continue to keep the cows at its expense.

According to the statement, “We will approach a court of competent jurisdiction to seek an order of forfeiture and sale to partly compensate the farmers whose farms and products were destroyed.”

It appealed to the public as well as Cattle Breeders Association in

the state to inform their members that 43 cows have been in the custody of Command for over one month.

“The cows were arrested in Orin Ekiti where they were found destroying farms and bans of some farmers which led to serious damage, and the action later led to serious outcry from the farmers in the town who were ready to kill all the cows in retaliation, necessitating the keeping of the cows in Civil Defence custody to avoid unnecessary vendetta.

“The cows have remained in the custody of the Command ever

since, but all efforts to identify their owners have proved abortive, even as their upkeep continues to cost the Command a lot in feeding and veterinary services.

“The Command had earlier informed stakeholders in the state of the arrest, while the antigrazing agency in the state was also briefed on the development to assist in announcing to herders in the state who might be searching for lost cows to visit the state headquarters to identify them, but up till now, no one has showed up,” it said.

Ex-Kogi Gov’s Son, Muhammed Arrested for Alleged Fraud The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested Muhammed Audu, son of the late Governor of Kogi State,

Abubakar Audu, on alleged involvement in fraud.

The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, for allegedly diverting several millions of Dollars and billions

of Naira donated to the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, to personal use.

Investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly used two of his companies, the

Mediterranean Hotels Limited and the Mediterranean Sports, to divert the funds.

The suspect will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Nigeria Lobbies Foreign Investors in Germany Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja In a bid to woo foreign investors to grow the energy sector, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has kick-started an investment drive in the sector by assuring foreign investors that Nigeria is the number one business destination in Africa.

He also urged them to come and invest in the production of methanol fuel in the country.

The Head of Press and Public

Relations, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), Mr. Abdulganiyu Aminu, quoted the minister as advising investors who are ready investors to partner Nigeria.

Speaking at ‘Africa’s employment Perspective Towards 2040’ at a German Development Institute last Tuesday in Bonn, Germany, the minister said Nigeria wanted both local and foreign entrepreneurs and investors in the private sector to invest

in methanol production in Nigeria.

Onu said: “Nigeria is the new destination for investments in Africa with the new investment-friendly visa policy and significant improvement in the ease of doing business.

“Nigerian businessmen and women are showing keen interest in investing in this project, therefore, all prospective investors coming into the country will have willing partners to do business with.

“The methanol fuel production technology was a strategy employed by the Nigerian Government to diversify its economy based on natural gas reserves which will reduce the country’s reliance on crude oil reserves.”

The minister added that since the world has reduced its reliance on crude oil, and emphases are now being made on cleaner and renewable energy, this policy is important for Nigeria to remain relevant in exporting natural gas.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Coronavirus: No Nigerian among 29 Infected Foreigners, Says China The Chinese government yesterday said that 29 foreign citizens in China were infected with Coronavirus with two of them dead and nine

quarantined.

China added that 18 persons had recovered and discharged from the hospital, noting that there was no Nigerian among

NAF Chief Warns Commanders against Financial Malpractice Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, yesterday warned Air Force commanders against involvement in financial malpractice.

Speaking at the beginning of a two-day retreat for commanders themed: “Enhancing Efficiency and

Effectiveness of NAF Unit Commanders in Contemporary Security Environment,” warned commanders to stick to financial regulations in utilising resources available to the force.

Abubakar further charged the commanders to be prudent managers of resources who are abreast of the financial regulations as regards the use of public funds.

the 29 foreigners infected.

The Chinese in a daily update on coronavirus stated these yesterday through its embassy in Abuja.

It added that 12 out of 31 provinces on the Chinese mainland are seeing no new

daily confirmed cases of the virus.

The Chinese government said, “As of February 19, the National Health Commission had received 74,576 reports of confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland, including 2,118 deaths

and 16,155 patients cured and discharged from hospital. There still remained 4,922 suspected cases.

“So far, 126,363 are now under medical observation who have been identified as having had close contact

with infected patients. Also, 29 foreign citizens in China have been infected. Among them, 18 had recovered and were discharged from hospital, two died and nine are still under quarantine. No Nigerians are infected.”

AU Restates Support for AFRIMA The African Union (AU) commission has reinstated its support and commitment to its partnership with All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA), because of the awards socio-economic impact on the continent and its young people.

The AU reaffirmed

its support for AFRIMA during a strategic meeting held at the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia last week, after the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

In attendance at the strategic

Meeting for the advancement of creative industry in Africa and preparation for AFRIMA 2020 were the Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC), Her Excellency, Amira Mohammed Elfadil; Minister of Information and Culture, Nigeria, Mr. Lai Muhammed; Director,

Department of Social Affairs, AUC, Mme Cisse Mariama Mohamed and Head of Culture, AUC, Angela Martins.

Others were President/ Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada and Country Director-Designate, AFRIMAEthiopia, Eyob Alemayehu among others.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NIRSAL Partners Banks to Provide N102bn Credit for Agriculture Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja The Managing Director/CEO of the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL),

Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed, has said the company has facilitated over N102 billion as loans from commercial banks since its inception across the various agricultural value chains in

Supreme Court Stained My Integrity, Says Senator Degi-Eremienyo The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last November governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senator Biobarakuma Degi, yesterday said that the Supreme Court judgment that nullified their joint ticket stained his integrity.

Justice Ejembi Ekwo who read the judgment of the five-man panel of the Supreme Court had declared Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who was running mate to the APC candidate, Mr. David Lyon to have presented forged certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Degi-Eremienyo who spoke for the first time to journalists in Abuja on his travails, said that the allegations against him were not proven.

He said the petitioner in the case which terminated at the apex court, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) used the judicial process to grab what did not belong to it.

He said: “The aim of this press conference is to defend my reputation which the Justices of the Supreme Court, whether consciously or unconsciously, subjected to scurrilous scandal, assault and unfair imputation.

“The judgment of the Supreme

the country.

NIRSAL Plc, a wholly-owned corporation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is a $500million non-bank financial institution specifically designed to redefine, measure, re-price and share agribusiness-related credit risk.

By its mandate, NIRSAL is not a lending institution but was created to stimulate the flow of affordable finance and investments into fixed agricultural value chains.

This, it does through fixing of agricultural value chains, building long-term capacity, and institutionalising incentives for agricultural lending as well

as leveraging its five strategic pillars namely: risk sharing, innovative insurance technical assistance, incentive mechanism and rating.

Chatting with editors in Abuja, Abdulhameed said NIRSAL serves as a catalyst that enables providers of finance and investment lend and invest in agribusinesses leveraging on its credit risk guarantees and risk management products, tools, techniques, methodologies and strategic partnerships.

In line with its strategic and innovative approach to delivering its mandate, the CEO added that NIRSAL had within a short period of

time achieved, among others, the development of area yield index insurance for the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme; development of Hybrid Index Product with Royal Exchange Plc and submitted to NAICOM for approval, and signed agreement with PETKUS Technologies GMBH on new technologies for seed and grain processing in Nigeria.

He said NIRSAL had also implemented plan for the NIRSAL Student Knowledge Enterprise and Practice Programme (NSKEP), as he explained that the ongoing programme would provide exposure for 400-500 level

students in agribusiness disciplines to gain field experience and pursue entrepreneurship in agribusiness, and operationalise the financing framework for the acquisition and rehabilitation of tractors and other machines for redeployment into the field for productive use.

According to him, “N717million was given as CRG cover to Mass International and Equipment Nigerian Limited and Machine and Equipment Consortium for Africa (MECA) for the purchase of tractors.

NIRSAL action research-based Windmill for Irrigation was set up and the pilot project is at completion phase.

Court that I was not qualified to contest as the deputy governorship candidate of APC and my attendant disqualification adversely affected the governorship candidate of the APC with the result that our hard-earned victory, not just for ourselves, but our party and the majority of the good people of Bayless state who have entrusted us with the mandate to democratically govern them is threatened.

“The event of my disqualification is distressing and traumatising to me personally and of course a greater trauma, inflicted on my party, the governorship candidate and the good people of Bayelsa State who signified their choice of who should be their governor and deputy governor.

“It is this unsolicited assault on my personality and reputation by the judgment in question that has constrained me to chart this course.

“Unless unfair imputation to character is quickly corrected, it assumes the toga of truth. It was clearly a desperate and calculated L-R: Vice President, ANDRiTZ Hydro GMBH of Austria, Mr. Anton Schindele; Group Managing Director, Mascot Associates, Mr. Chucks attempt not just to grab power through the judicial process but Ndukwe; and Regional Sales Manager, ANDRiTZ, Mr. Markus Kainberger, after signing a contract for rehabilitation of Jebba Hydro Power ENOCK REUBEN equally to tarnish my good image Station in Abuja… recently and bring same to disrepute on completely false and unproven PPROACHES UPREME OURT TO EVIEW AYELSA UDGMENT allegations.”

Oshiomhole, Sylva Deny Sylva said Wike’s allegations to me to malign the person Oshiomhole has tremendous Involvement in Attack amounted to adding salt to an and image of people I hold respect as a friend of many However, Oshiomhole injury because he had been so up as role models.” years, despite political and Sylva have denied any numbed since the judgment On his part, Oshiomhole, differences,” the statement said. involvement in the protest at was passed that the only thing in a statement issued by his Oshiomhole said he Odili’s residence. he could think about was to Chief Press Secretary, Mr. condemned any harassment Responding to PDP’s approach the court for a review. Simon Egbulem, described the on Justice Mary Odili, adding to pay pensions and salary allegation that he is one of Sylva, in the statement he allegation by the Rivers State that as a one-time beneficiary arrears. the sponsors of the attack personally signed, said: “I Commissioner for Information of judicial redress of injustice “I came to discuss this with on Justice Odili, Sylva said returned February 19th, 2020, and Communication, Mr. always, he also holds the president on some critical yesterday he had nothing to from an official engagement Paulinus Nsirim, linking judiciary in the highest esteem. areas. Imo State, you know, do with the incident. abroad to read Governor him (Oshiomhole) with the The statement added that is not solvent. Imo State is He also berated Rivers Nyesom Wike’s statement attacks on Odili’s residence, the APC under Oshiomhole’s financially distressed. The State Governor, Mr. Nyesom to the effect that Comrade as a reckless defamation of leadership has returned to the roads are so bad; security Wike, for alleging that he and Adams Oshiomhole and I are character.

Supreme Court seeking the situation is rough; education is Oshiomhole were behind the responsible for protests in front He also said the allegation review of the judgment, adding backward and a lot of things protests. of Governor Peter and Justice was unbecoming of a state that the step is the democratic to do and we don’t have the Describing the claims of Mary Odili’s house. government that is supposed culture to which Oshiomhole money.

Wike as outright falsehood, “There is no truth in that to operate under the rule of subscribes.

“So, I have come to request Sylva said the governor could strange claim. Governor Wike law including fairness and The statement argued that it the kind intervention of Mr. have organised the protests to should know in what high justice to all. is the police that should give President to at least refund blackmail the APC leadership esteem I hold Governor Peter “For clarity, Oshiomhole account of what happened at some monies spent on some before the Supreme Court and Justice Odili whom I have was not in any way involved the residence of Odili based of the federal roads in Imo knowing that the APC was known and worked with long in the action that took place on investigation and not the State before my arrival so that prepared to approach the court before Governor Wike came at the residence of Dr. Odili, Rivers State government in we can address some pressing for a review. into the picture. It will not occur a gentleman for whom Port Harcourt. issues like pension arrears, salary arrears so that we can get back the people, recover the people first before we begin to talk of infrastructure. Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja to support the governor’s by the Special Adviser to your government in delivering “The consultants are still development agenda. the President on Media and on its mandate,’’ he said. The working, but so far, we have President Muhammadu Buhari ‘‘Plateau is strategic to Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, statement said the president computed the monies in the yesterday in Abuja pledged Nigeria. It is geographically Buhari told the delegation also assured the delegation neighbourhood of N32 billion the federal government’s unique with its diverse that he was very pleased that the federal government and in my first application support towards Plateau State environmental and huge with the progress made on would consider the requests to Mr. President, I articulated government’s efforts to achieve economic potential. This security, provision of social of the delegation including the those ones that will have prior a peaceful, prosperous and clearly shows the state’s services and infrastructure dualisation and construction approval before construction tolerant society. incredible potential in tourism, development by the of some federal roads in and a total sum of N12 billion Plateau State, upgrade of The president who made agriculture and mining. ‘‘It is, government of Lalong. has been recorded and I have the pledge in the State House therefore, our collective duty ‘‘These are the critical the Potato Research Centre submitted the request and while receiving a group of to ensure these potentials are pillars of having a prosperous to a full-fledged institute, a in his magnanimity, he has stakeholders from Plateau fully harnessed by providing and inclusive society. I will, special grant for reconstruction assured me that he will look State led by Governor Simon the right policy support,’’ the therefore, take this opportunity and rehabilitation of victims into it very considerably,” he Lalong, appealed to residents President said. to urge all citizens of Plateau of attacks and crises, among said.

According to a statement to encourage and support others. and indigenes of the state

LET THERE BE LIGHT…...

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Uzodinma Seeks Refund of N32bn Spent on FG Roads Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, yesterday in Abuja visited President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, requesting for a refund of N32 billion spent by the past administrations on the repair of federal roads, saying the state is broke.

Uzodinma who ascended the seat of power on January 15, this year, following the controversial judgment of the Supreme Court of January 14, which sacked Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared him winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election from the fourth position, said infrastructure in the state especially roads were in bad shape.

He told State House correspondents after the meeting that the state was in dire financial strait and only an intervention from the federal government could give it a relief from its financial distress.

The governor ,who said education was also backward in the state, said there were also security challenges confronting the state while monies were also needed

Buhari Pledges Support for Peaceful, Prosperous Plateau

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

FCT Court Frees Pinnick, Sanusi from $8.4m Corruption Charges Justice Peter O. Affen, presiding at the FCT High Court, yesterday declined to add the names of President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi to a case of financial misappropriation brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. In his judgment, Justice Affen refused the amendment sought by the EFCC to include Pinnick and Sanusi to a trial involving three members of staff of the NFF (two of whom are no longer with the federation) with regards to the utilisation of $8.4million grant from world football –governing body, FIFA, and which began in 2018.

It is the second time in few months that a court of law would trash allegations of financial misappropriation against the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, vindicating their claims that such charges were as a result of envy, malice,

victimisation and vendetta.

On 5th November 2019, Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja dismissed in its entirety a 16 –count charge of financial misdeeds (misappropriation of FIFA grant of $84.m in 2014; moving the sum of N4billion from NFF account in November 2018), conflict of interest and non-declaration of assets brought against Pinnick, Sanusi, Seyi Akinwunmi (NFF First Vice President), Shehu Dikko (NFF Second Vice President) and NFF Executive Committee member Yusuf Ahmed Fresh by the now-defunct Special Presidential Investigation Panel, saying the case should not have been brought before her in the first place. It was made clear that the proof of evidence exculpated the NFF officials, and in addition, the certified true copies of NFF accounts supplied by the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that on the said date (3rd November 2018),

no transaction whatsoever took place on the account. It was also established that inflow into the NFF account for the entire year 2018 was less than N700million.

Prior to Thursday’s judgment, precisely on 26th September 2019, the Federal High Court declared that the trial of the NFF officials was political and that the court had no time for politics.

Also in September 2019, the

same case at the FCT High Court was put on hold as the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation submitted that it was taking over the case with a view to ascertaining its validity, seeing that same persons were being charged spuriously in different courts and/or investigated by several agencies over the same allegations hewed out of petitions by the same

individuals.

At the court sitting of 20th January 2020, the Office of the Attorney General declared that it had no further interest in the case at the FCT High Court, as the one brought before the Federal High Court by the SPIP had been thrown out, and the substance of both cases are similar.

Yesterday, the NFF lawyers

argued and prayed through a motion duly served on the Office of the AGF that based on law and constitutional provisions, the NFF officials could not be joined in the matter, having been discharged and acquitted by the Federal High Court on practically the same charges, with the same witnesses and proof of evidence for both cases.

Super Eagles Retain 31st Spot on FIFA Ranking Still Africa’s third best team With few matches having been played on the international front so far this year, there is little movement in the first FIFA/ Coca-Cola World Rankingof 2020.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were among the non movers, retaining their 31st spot globally and third in the African continent.

Indeed, with just 15 friendlies taking place since the last Ranking update in December– including two games in late 2019 – the top 20 remain unchanged, with Belgium, France and Brazil still making up the top three globally in the latest ranking released by FIFA yesterday.

England and Uruguay are fourth

and fifth in the global order.

The Teranga Lions of Senegal are Africa’s numero uno team and 20th in the world. Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles also retained their 27th global standing as well as Africa’s second best team status.

Interestingly, Nigeria’s AFCON 2021 Group L opponents Sierra Leone, Lesotho and Benin Republic were all non movers like the Super Eagles.

Benin remained at number 88, Lesotho are still at number 139 and Sierra Leone occupy 118.

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on April 9, 2020.

TOKYO 2020

Halogen Adopts Adekuoroye, Signs MoU with FMYS The chances of Nigeria performing well at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has been boost with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Ministry for the adoption of world number One 53 kg freestyle female wrestler, Odunayo Adekuoroye by Halogen Company.

Speaking at the brief event, the Minister said he was impressed with the level of Adekuoroye’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympics and expressed optimism that she would win gold at the world’s biggest sports event.

To aid her preparations, he also donated kits to the wrestler even as Halogen company has credited her personal account with her training grant.

Adekuoroye promised to work hard to make Nigeria proud at the Tokyo Olympics, even as she also expressed

gratitude to the Minister and Halogen Company.

“The Minister is more like a father to me. He is doing what a father should do for a daughter and I have nothing to give to him but I promise to make him proud. No competition is easy. We train to wrestle and we will do just that when we get to Tokyo.

“I also want to thank Halogen Company. Three entities wanted to adopt me at first but the spirit of the Lord led the Minister to take me to Halogen. I promise to make my coach, the Minister and all Nigerians proud,” she pledged.

The Adopt an Athlete Initiative, a brainchild of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development was created to get Team Nigeria top athletes adopted by charitable individuals and corporate organizations with a view to providing support for their training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

L-R Permanent Secretary (FMYSD), Mr Gabriel Aduda; CEO, Halogen Group, Wale Olaotan; World No1 ranked 53kg Freestyle Wrestler, Odunayo Adekuoroye; Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, at the adoption of the wrestler by Halogen Group in Abuja...recently

LMC Bans Heartland from Transfers over Unlawful Termination, Indebtedness Ordered to pay N10.4m and N6.25m to two former players Heartland FC has been banned from signing new players for the next two registration periods and until they comply with a ruling by the League Management Company (LMC) in separate complaints of unlawful termination of contract and indebtedness filed by two former players of the club, Maduabuchi Okereke and Fatuwase Alfred Olusegun.

Maduabuchi and Fatuwase had in separate petitions to the LMC dated November 5, 2019, bordering on claims of overdue payables, wrongful termination

of contract and compensation.

While Maduabuchi laid claims for a total of N10.400, 000, Fatuwase asked for a total of N6, 250,000.

In its ruling communicated to Heartland FC during the week, LMC noted that the club failed to respond to the claims of the players despite having been invited by the LMC to state its case through a letter dated January 28, 2020.

The LMC said the players and the club did execute separate employment contracts (in the form of the NPFL Standard

Player Contract), the duration of which was 10th November 2018 to 9th November 2021.

The LMC rejected a letter of clearance purportedly issued the players by Heartland FC on August 28, 2019 and which was simply addressed “to whom it may concern”.

It further noted that the clearance letter purported that, it was issued at the request of the players following which they were released with no further financial obligations from the club towards them.

In rejecting the clearance

letter issued the players, the LMC stated that a “contract or agreement must be signed or executed by each party to the said agreement. The fact that the clearance letter was signed only by the Club through its General Manager indicates that it cannot be deemed to be an agreement that binds the Player”.

It further found that the players send separate default notice to the club on 30th September 2019, giving a deadline of 14 days for payment of the claims.

12th Biennial Police Games Scheduled to Begin Feb. 29 in Awka The 12th Biennial Nigeria Police Games has been scheduled to begin on February 29, 2020 at different locations in Anambra State.

Expectedly, competitors from all the 12 zones of the Nigeria Police will participate in different indoor and outdoor games including, weightlifting, boxing, swimming, shooting, football, volleyball, basket ball, table tennis, lawn tennis, among others.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, said that the police that gave Nigeria her first ever individual Olympic gold medal through Chioma Ajunwa at the Atlanta Games in 1996, “is on the search again

for potential medalists to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians once more.”

Mba, a serving Deputy Commissioner of police said that through the Games, Nigeria police is trying to re-engineer sport renaissance.

“We want to use Awka 2020 to make a statement. We want to tell Nigerians that our police is not all about chasing armed robbers alone but can also contribute to the social development of the country through sports. We have done it in the past through the Chioma Ajunwa, Sunday Bada, Samuel Peters and several others.”

While thanking Anambra State Government for spearheading

to host and be the title sponsor of the Games which last held in Abuja in 2016, the Force PRO urged all personnel going to Akwa 2020 to put in their best efforts to ensure that the quality of competition matches expectations.

“Competitors are going to battle for medals in 31 sports.

We expect national federations to be on the look out for some talents that will be good enough to represent our country in global competitions in future as we have been doing in the past.”

Mba was particularly happy that as part of the benefits of hosting the Games, the next set of National Youth Service Corps members are going to be the first beneficiary of the refurbished

hostels and new beddings to be left behind after Awka 2020.

Also speaking at the event, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said he was looking forward to Zone 2 made up of Lagos and Ogun States to retain the overall title it won four years ago in Abuja.

Odumosu said the Games was a good venue for networking as well as meeting colleagues not seen for several years.

“Apart from the health benefit of sports, it is a good avenue to meet colleagues and friends not seen for long time. It is an opportunity to recreate those moments normal office hours will not allow us,” observed the Lagos CP.

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UEFA Apologies to Fans over Ticket Cancellations UEFA has apologised for a technical error over Euro 2020 tickets that has left fans hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

A new batch of tickets for this summer’s tournament was made available on Wednesday for fans unsuccessful in the

initial ballots.

Fans who thought they had secured tickets then also bought flights and accommodation - but received an email hours later from European football’s governing body to say the transactions had been cancelled.

Trump Confirms US Govt Support for Los Angeles 2028 Bid Donald Trump has promised that the United States Government will provide “tremendous support” to the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The American President confirmed that assistance would be given in key areas including security.

Trump was briefed by organisers during a trip to Los Angeles and described the Games as a “big deal”.

An agreement was signed at the Montage Beverly Hills, with the Government also pledging to help with transportation, communications and environmental contributions.

Los Angeles 2028 is due to be a privately-funded Games with a proposed $6.9 billion (£5.3 billion/€6.2 billion) balanced budget, with revenues coming from sponsorship, television deals and ticket sales.

However, the US Government was still expected to contribute several million dollars which has now been agreed.

The Games have been designated as a “National Special Security Event” which prompts political involvement.

“We’re going to give them tremendous support,” Trump said. “You need the support of the Federal Government to make it really work.”

A formal commitment to the Games by the Federal Government is a requirement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The White House had previously promised to back the Olympics when Los Angeles was bidding for 2024, but had not yet officially agreed to support them now the Californian city is hosting in

2028.

It followed a unique deal confirmed at the IOC Session in Lima in September 2017 that saw Paris awarded the 2024 Olympic Games and Los Angeles the 2028 edition.

Organising Committee chairman Casey Wasserman was among those to meet with Trump, alongside the chief executive of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sarah Hirshland.

“Our goal is to create a safe, successful and secure Olympic Games,” Wasserman said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“And that’s not possible without the support you and the Federal Government have provided us.”

Trump is hoping to win a second four years in office in November’s elections.

This would see him reach his term limit, meaning he would not be in power when Los Angeles plays host.

“It is a great pleasure to meet with the leaders of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Committee,” he said.

“They have done a fantastic job in bringing the Olympics here.

“They called me when I was President elect, that was quite a call.

“They asked me if I could get involved because the other administration refused to call the Olympic Committee, which is the people who make the decision.

“It was a little hard for them to make the decision.

“I did make the call, and it was a very long call, they were starving for love and we gave them the love.

Federer Out of French Open with Knee Surgery Roger Federer will miss his fourth French Open in the last five years after having knee surgery on Wednesday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee which had been “bothering him for a little while” - in Switzerland.

Federer, who won his only Roland Garros title in 2009, said doctors were “very confident of a full recovery”.

“After the procedure, the doctors confirmed it was the right thing to have done,” the 38-year-old said.

In addition to the French Open, which takes place from

24 May-7 June, Federer will also miss the tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota and Miami.

Federer reached the semifinals last year in his first appearance on the Paris clay since 2015.

“See you on the grass!” added the eight-time Wimbledon champion, who was knocked out of last month’s Australian Open in the semi-finals by Novak Djokovic.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal will be looking to win his 13th French Open title, which would see him draw level with Federer on 20 Grand Slams.

“Tickets became available due to the failure of supporters to pay on time for tickets they had previously ordered. These tickets were subsequently sold,” said a statement.

“However, due to a technical error, for a short period of time a small number of tickets which were not for sale were made available for purchase.

“Fans who purchased those tickets received a cancellation email and no charge was made to their credit cards,” added Uefa, which says ‘a

couple of hundred’ fans in England were affected.

James Lofthouse from Torquay thought he had four tickets for England’s match with the Czech Republic on Tuesday, 23 June and two for the game with one of the playoff winners - which could be Scotland - on Friday, 19 June.

He spent 90 minutes in an online queue on the UEFA website before spending £700 on six tickets.

“I then got together with my friends to book hotels for London,” he told BBC Sport.

“I went for a non-refundable deal because I didn’t think there was any reason the tickets would be cancelled.

That was £200 that left my account that I won’t get back.

“There was no apology in the email and that is very, very poor.”

Tom Lowman thought he had tickets for him and his son to watch the attractive Group F fixture between Germany and Portugal in Munich on Saturday, 20 June.

He then bought nonrefundable return flights from

Manchester for £510, before receiving an email hours later to say the match tickets had been cancelled.

“I was incredibly fed up last night,” he said.

“But the real frustration is that there is no real comeback.

You go on UEFA’s website and there is no way of getting in contact with anybody.

“It is a terrible way to treat your customers. They’re hiding. Let’s see if they come back and offer to refund my flights but my guess is nothing will happen.”

Asisat Oshoala, celebrating one of her goals with Femini Barcelona players in the on going football season

Oshoala, Other Top Women Players Demand for Pay Rise in Spain Super Falcon captain and Femini Barcelona forward, yesterday joined other top football stars in Spain’s top women’s division to signed a collective agreement on pay and conditions that guarantees them a minimum salary of 16,000 euros (£13,386).

Like it happened in tennis

some years back, the players are kicking against the disparity compared to what their male counterparts collect in the profession.

The players had earlier embarked on warning strike late November last year that necessitated the Primera Division fixtures postponed.

The new agreement also secures benefits for the players that include paid holiday and maternity leave.

“This is an historic day,” said Spain’s sports minister Irene Lozano.

“This collective agreement is very important for players who were worried about their

future.

“It’s also important for all Spanish women because when one group of people makes advances then so does everyone else.”

Ruben Alcaine, president of the Association of Women’s Football Clubs, added: “This is a moment to celebrate.”

PSG Boss, Al-Khelaifi, Faces Charges over FIFA Media Right Paris St-Germain President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has been charged by Swiss prosecutors following an investigation into the awarding of media rights for FIFA tournaments.

Al-Khelaifi is accused of inciting criminal mismanagement in connection with allegations Jerome Valcke “exploited his position” as FIFA general secretary.

Valcke is charged with accepting bribes, criminal mismanagement and falsification of documents.

It is alleged he accepted “undue advantages” in exchange for TV rights.

On Thursday, Al-Khelaifi said he expected the charge

against him would be “proven completely groundless and without any substance whatsoever”.

Switzerland’s attorney general announced yesterday that charges had been brought against Valcke, Al-Khelaifi and a third businessman over rights for various World Cup and Confederations Cup tournaments between 2018 and 2030.

Valcke is accused of accepting rent-free accommodation in an Italian villa bought by Al-Khelaifi, who is chairman of the BeIN media group.

The charges relate to Valcke’s time as FIFA general

secretary between 2013 and 2015 when he is accused of influencing the award of media rights for Italy and Greece.

A further bribery complaint against Al-Khelaifi has been dropped after FIFA reached an “amicable agreement” with the Qatari businessman at the end of January, the statement added.

Those allegations were in connection with the award of media rights for the World Cup tournaments in 2026 and 2030.

“I am pleased that all charges of bribery in connection with the 2026 and 2030 World Cups have been

dropped,” said Al-Khelaifi.

“As I have said vehemently and repeatedly for three years, the charges have not - and have never had - any basis whatsoever, either in fact or law.

“It is now - finally indisputable fact that the 2026 and 2030 agreements were negotiated at arm’s length and without any improper influence in any form.

“After the most forensic public, private, lawful and unlawful scrutiny of all my dealings, I have been cleared of all suspicions of bribery and the case has been dismissed definitively and conclusively.”

Ogunbote, Danbani Emerge LBA January Winners The duo of Lobi Stars coach, Gbenga Ogunbote and Kwara United player, Alao Danbani, have emerged winners of the independent League Bloggers Awards, in January.

Ogunbote and Danbani edged their closest rivals to claim the prestigious Coach and Player of

the Month awards, sponsored by delivery company, OverXpress Logistics.

A road trip win at Adamawa United boosted Ogunbote’s quest for the gong as he accumulated 13 points, the highest in the month under review.

Danbani was clinical with

three goals on the road (at Akwa United and Adamawa United), in January, to move ahead of other contestants for the Player Of The Month award.

He scored a brace as Kwara United claimed a surprise win at Akwa.

The independent LBA is

Nigeria’s foremost league awards which recognizes outstanding players and coaches in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Instituted in 2009, the LBA has grown over the years to become the most-sought-after awards in the country.

Friday February 21, 2020

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MISSILE

Lumumba to Lawmakers

“Now that you have been given the honour and privilege of serving Nigeria, now that Nigerians and Africans refer to you as honourable members, the question is: are you honourable members or horrible members? The question as to whether you are honourable members is determined by the service that you render to the people” – A former Director of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Commission, Prof. Plo Lumumba, urging members of the National Assembly to follow the footsteps of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

OKEYIKECHUKWU Ihedioha and the Demand of History EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

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day, the Supreme Court stands on what may well be the precipice of a probably unprecedented judicial challenge. This is with reference to the planned review of its own judgment regarding the last governorship elections in Imo State. So we must urge their Lordships to remember the words of Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, who said: “To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents.

What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.” The type of special moment Churchill had in mind stands before the Nigerian judiciary and judicial system today. To make this their finest hour is the demand of history.

All hell broke loose when, a few weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, be stripped of the Certificate of Return given to him as the duly elected governor and that Chief Hope Uzodinma, the person who came fourth in the said election, be given the Certificate of Return and summarily sworn in as the duly elected governor.

Eminent lawyers, political party faithful, sundry commentators and even freelance grumblers joined issues – even if repetitively so. Protest marches decorated the national landscape. Then, quite unexpectedly, the apex court indicated its willingness to review the judgment. This commendable move remains a decent, dignified and mature stepping forth to take a second look at a case on which it had already made what would ordinarily pass for a final pronouncement.

The Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the learned justices of the apex court should be understood here to be saying to Nigerians that infallibility resides with Divinity alone, as an inherent and inalienable attribute. It does not inhere in human beings, does not reside with men and cannot be successfully simulated by men. Thus their Lordships must, first, be seen to have moved up the ladder of judicial propriety. By so doing, they have also given many people a much-needed emotional respite. The decision to review the case has also tempered the distemper of many whose strident criticism of the apex court verges on the hysterical.

Regarding the criticisms, and this is a slight diversion from our main concern today, it must be said that some of the criticisms have become so tiresome, threadbare and coarsely inelegant that one is sometimes not patient enough to wade through the vituperations to find the substance. Matters have not been helped by the plethora of political cases all over the place. We may recall, for instance, that the PDP cried until it ran out of tears, when its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, lost at the Supreme Court. The court was (rightly or wrongly) accused of bias and of being a stooge of the ruling party. But the same PDP had celebrated when the APC lost its

CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad struggle to field candidates in Zamfara State, all the way to the Supreme Court. The court was not denigrated at all as beholden to the PDP. The story was the same when the APC and Rotimi Amaechi, a politician who is largely responsible for over 105% of his political and personal problems, were worsted by the courts. It was inauspicious then to speak of partisanship.

Coming back to the matter at hand, there are currently diverse views on what the Supreme Court should do, or not do. My hope and prayer is that the court comes out with a decision their Lordships can proudly recommend to their children, their grandchildren, to students of law and to posterity. This is a critical case; and for a nation in critical times, standing on slippery slopes of morality in leadership and facing very critical challenges on all fronts. The hunger and anger in the land have fuelled comprehensive distrust of all institutions of state. Ours has become a nation wherein citizens live silently with the quiet certainty and conviction that the average (not every) public office holder is either an outright looter, or at least a person of dishonest means who has escaped the long arms of the law. We live in such trying times, wherein misconduct is made to look very attractive by those who ought to take the lead in guiding society unto the path of

moral rectitude. It is against the background of the foregoing considerations that the Supreme Court must exercise the greatest circumspection in the matter at hand. This is the demand of our history today.

I am not from Imo State, but I have said enough about that state on these pages for any observer to note my interests and concerns for good governance in that endowed state. Yes, I confess to having had a healthy contempt for the immediate past government of the state before Ihedioha.

Yes, I saw and still see, the great gains of the short, and interrupted, tenure of Emeka as the first real attempt to bring Imo people together, with genuine, peoplebased, Ikwu-na-ibe notions of leadership and development. I make no apologies about my perception of Ihedioha as having begun to dispel the odour of unsanctity surrounding leadership, governance and service delivery in Imo State before the court judgment. I suggest, and insist, that he brought something that had been largely missing since the days of the late Sam Mbakwe and the likes of Peter Obi as governors in the South-east.

Part of what Emeka brought, and which is in danger of being blown away by Ndi Omekome, is the idea of leadership as service to the people. Not the award of contracts to the elite for kickbacks, in addition to the promotion of never-do-wells into prominence, no. It was service, “for the good of the people, according to their known and accepted norms, and in the promotion of their short, medium and long term interests.”

In those few months, Ndi Imo had the heartwarming experience of seeing a governor who went about conducting government business with calm clearheadedness and unaffected diligence. They beheld someone who came to lead and to offer succour by placing all the cards on the table and asking them to join him so that they could collectively regain and restore their pride as a people. By inviting, deploying and making the best of the state’s rich human capital he was already creating a new reference for the teeming youths, before the Supreme Court judgment.

The contrast between his short stint and the eight years of tomfoolery that preceded him explains why everyone was ready to work with him. The people simply heaved

“Those who argue a constitutional restraint on the apex court against reviewing its own case overlook one simple and straightforward fact. That fact is that it is the judiciary that is charged with interpreting the constitution, interpreting all made laws and determining whether any made law, or pretense at law making, can pass muster.

a sigh of relief. This includes the repentant, and perhaps not so repentant, participants in the eight-year leadership dance of shame that preceded his assumption of office. But one thing stood out: he removed the debauchery that had taken violent possession of that endowed state. It is true that the conduct of some Members of the Imo State House of Assembly after the court judgment leaves a big smear on the celebrated rebirth. Yes indeed, it does. But that only shows that some people are still what they were. To take that too hard, or make it a basis for the permanent stigmatisation of the political turncoats, is to overlook the fact that not all are initially guided by deep conviction in all that they do.

But no one must lose sight of the fact that the virtues, and even performance of Ihedioha in office are not matters to tender in a court of law, especially the Supreme Court. They are, at best, subject declarations of preferred values and a cheerful display of ones loyalties with regard to what one would like to see in Imo State. So one does not expect that the Supreme Court that withdrew his certificate on technical grounds will re-award same on the bases of some beautiful prose on his leadership qualities.

No. Not at all! It is now a matter of law.

But not banal law. It must be law taken new levels of jurisprudential excellence, to the much higher calling that beckons on the ultimate spirit of the law (all rational law) to deliver the type of justice that will resonate with our true humanity. Which is why the Ihedioha appeal that was called up and then adjourned to the second day of March imposes some great demands, based on our recent judicial history. It is the demands ancient jurists would say are imposed on every juror of repute, who does not wish to do anything that is “repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.”

Whichever way the matter goes subsequently, and I hope it goes in favour of those who have argued, stridently, that it beats logic to have a man declared winner in an election wherein the total votes cast exceeds the number of those accredited to vote on the election day, the leadership of the judiciary deserves commendation for reopening this vexatious matter. Those who argue a constitutional restraint on the apex court against reviewing its own case overlook one simple and straightforward fact. That fact is that it is the judiciary that is charged with interpreting the constitution, interpreting all made laws and determining whether any made law, or pretense at law making, can pass muster.

In showing a preference for a return to the status quo ante, one has nothing whatsoever against the gentleman who inherited for the time being the title of governor of Imo State, conferred on him by the Supreme Court judgment. I have known him for as long as I have known Ihedioha, but my position on who I would rather see in the Imo State Government House is personal; and borne of personal certainties about what the state – and Ndigbo- will gain with Ihedioha as governor of Imo State.

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