THURSDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2019

Buhari Disbands Odubu-led NDDC Board Asks interim management to stay until after forensic audit Deji Elumoye and Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ordered the reconstitution of the

Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), effectively sacking the new board led by Pius Odubu, which has since been cleared by the Senate.

The president also ordered a forensic audit of the organisation and subsequent inauguration of the reconstituted board after the forensic examination.

Buhari’s position countered the Senate, which had rejected the NDDC interim management board and insisted on the inauguration of the board appointed by

Buhari and cleared by the lawmakers.

But a member of the Senate committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Kabiru Gaya, defended the president's

action, saying he has done nothing wrong in keeping in abeyance the composition of the board of the NDDC. Continued on page 10

FG to Begin Implementation of 2020 Budget on Jan 1... Page 5 Friday 20 December, 2019 Vol 24. No 9020. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

TODAY'S WEATHER

ABUJA 25°C-33°C

MAIDUGURI 31°C-31°C

UT H

& RE A S O

ENUGU 25°C-28°C

N

KANO 27°C-33°C

LAGOS 24C-27°C

PORT HARCOURT 20°C-30°C

Adoke Deported from Dubai, Arrested by EFCC Ex-AGF denies any wrongdoing Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), shortly after his arrival in Nigeria from Dubai, the United Arabs Emirates (UAE).

Although his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said in a statement yesterday that his client came on his own volition to Nigeria, THISDAY learnt from sources that he was deported.

Until yesterday when he left Dubai, Adoke had been in the custody of the Interpol in the UAE since his arrest on Continued on page 10

FG’s $29.96bn Loan Bid Doesn’t Involve States, Say Govs Insist minimum wage adjustment must be based on capacity to pay Chuks Okocha in Abuja The 36 states of the federation yesterday distanced themselves from the request by the federal government to the National Assembly to borrow $29.96 billion.

The governors of the 36 states under the auspices of

the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said in Abuja that since it was the federal government, and not the federation that wanted to borrow the fund, the repayment would not affect their shares of revenue from the Federation Account.

Continued on page 10

WELCOME TO KANO, MR. PRESIDENT...

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the convocation and passing-out parade of the 2nd Regular Cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy, in Kano … yesterday

Boundary Commission to Appeal Court Ruling on Rivers, Bayelsa Oilfield Row... Page 8

2

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

3

4

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

5

FRIDAY, ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

FG to Begin Implementation of 2020 Budget on Jan 1 Sets aside N1.6bn for national grazing reserve devt Allays fears on TIN enforcement Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The federal government yesterday signified its intention to start the implementation of the 2020 Budget, which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law on Tuesday, from January 1.

With the decision, the 2019 Budget, which was signed into law on May 27 of the same year, would not run its full course.

It also forecloses further capital releases in the 2019 capital vote, of which Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, told State House reporters on Wednesday that N1.2 trillion had been released as at last week.

Ahmed, while giving a breakdown of the 2020 Budget yesterday in Abuja, said to drive a seamless and effective budget delivery, the government, this time, would also issue guidelines for the implementation of the budget in order to ensure timely capital releases.

She also allayed fears over the reports that bank customers without Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) will not be allowed to operate accounts from January 2, 2020, saying that the enforcement would be a gradual process after wide consultations with various stakeholders, including banks.

Ahmed said with the timely preparation and passage of the budget, which would restore the normal budgetary cycle, implementation would commence on January 1.

According to her, the N10.594 trillion budget with N4.493 trillion recurrent and N2.465 trillion for capital expenditure has a revenue projection of N8.42 trillion.

Of the amount from the revenue projection, N2.64 trillion is from oil revenue,

N1.81 trillion from non-oil and N3.97 trillion from other sources.

Ahmed noted that the projected N8.42 trillion revenue for 2020 is 3.2 per cent or N263.94 billion higher than the proposal sent by the executive, and 10.9 per cent more than the 2019 Budget of N7.59 trillion .

A further breakdown of the budget indicates that for recurrent, the Ministry of Defence received the lion's share of N784.59 billion; Ministry of Education, N501.48 billion; Police Affairs--N394,57 billion; Health-N359.33 billion; Interior-N219.46 billion; Youth and Sports-N168.33 billion; Office of the National Security Adviser-N116.91 billion; Petroleum Resources-N75.96 billion; Foreign Affairs-N67.81 billion; Office of the Secretary to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation- N59.60 billion; Agriculture and Rural Development-N58.69 billion and Presidency, N46,56 billion.

For capital expenditure, Ministry of Works and Housing topped the chart with N315.56 billion followed

by Education-N185.34 billion; Agricultureand Rural Development-N124.40 billion and Transportation--N121.37 billion, among others.

The budget also has N560 billion provisioned for Statutory Transfer, N2.453 trillion for debt service and N273 billion sinking fund to retire maturing bonds to local contractors.

Line items under Statutory Transfer include N128 billion for the National Assembly, N111.79 billion for the Universal Basic Education, N111.79 billion for National Judicial Council (NJC), N80.88 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and N40 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Others are N47.7 billion for the Public Complaints Commission, N38.1 billion for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and N44.5 billion for Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

To promote fiscal transparency, accountability and comprehensiveness, the minister stressed that the budget of 10 major government-owned enterprises (GOEs) had been integrated in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) budget with effect from 2020.

According to the minister, in aggregate, 44 per cent of projected revenues is to come from oil-related sources while 56 per cent is to be earned from non-oil sources, adding that overall, the size of the budget has been constrained

by relatively low revenues.

The fiscal plan, which also has a deficit of N2.175 trillion, will be financed from new domestic borrowings of N744.99 billion and N850 billion foreign borrowings with privatisation proceeds expected to account for N252 billion.

On some of the projects listed for the fiscal year, the minister said N210 billion was being provisioned for some road projects across the six-geopolitical zones.

Some of the roads include the construction and rehabilitation of MakurdiEnugu road, counterpart funding for the dualisation of Akwanga–Jos-Bauchi-Gombe road, reconstruction of the outstanding sections of BeninOfosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Sagamu

Expressway, and construction of Bodo-Bonny road, among others.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has over N9 billion provisioned for the promotion and development of value chains in more than 30 different commodities.

These include N1.6 billion for National Grazing Reserve Development, N3 billion for veterinary and pest control services, N7.64 billion for rural roads and water sanitation, and N1.02 billion FGN support for women and youth in agribusiness, among others.

On reports that bank customers without TIN will not be allowed to operate accounts from January 2, 2020, the minister said enforcement

would be a gradual process after wide consultations by various stakeholders, including banks.

The minister added that series of engagements between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and commercial banks, among others, will precede the implementation of TIN. She noted that although the target is to begin to the implementation of the Finance Bill by January if signed into law by Buhari, not all the provisions of the bill would take effect from January as suggested in some quarters.

Ahmed said reforms such as the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI) would be implemented with increased vigour to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.

NATIONAL MATTERS...

L-R: Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja‌ yesterday godwin omoigui

NEC:SecurityChallenges,ArmsProliferationHaveReduced Asks govs to set up Security Trust Fund Moves to draw 20% of pension fund for infrastructure Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday adopted the report of its security committee with the resolution that the security situation in all the six geo-political zones of the country has improved.

The council also adopted the committee's recommendation that there has also been a reduction in the proliferation of small arms in the country with a charge to state governors to be alive to security situations in their states and manage them effectively.

Briefing State House reporters at the end of the monthly NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the security committee was headed by his Ekiti State counterpart

and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

He listed others members of the committee to include: Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), among others.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the council resolved that governors should pull resources together to set up Security Trust Fund to improve security situation in the country.

He said the committee's report also emphasised the importance of community policing in the quest for national security.

Sanwo-Olu said another committee set up by the council and also headed by Fayemi on mining, in its report to NEC,

said the Ministry of Mines and Steel should do more by ensuring advocacy and collaboration among various zones on mining activities.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the committee recommended the need for the ministry to set up offices in all the cadastral zones of the country while any state willing to carry out any action on mining must secure the consent of the committee.

He said states must also be aware of any mining activities in their domains.

In his briefing, the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said a committee was constituted to come up with recommendations on how 20 per cent of pension funds could be deployed to fund infrastructure as provided in the Pension Reform Act. Bagudu who said the council

was excited by the performance of the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), stated that the committee was constituted to leverage on such performance and see how pension funds could be used to upgrade the country's infrastructure on power, roads and rail as obtainable in some countries such as Saudi Arabia.

He also said the council received a report on ownership structure in the power sector, recalling the discussion at the last NEC meeting on how federal and state governments' 40 per cent stake in the sector since its privatisation has not been enjoyed.

Against this backdrop, Bagudu said NEC received an interim report from a committee chaired by Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, to review the status

and ownership of the shares in the sector that had not been distributed.

The governor also said a presentation was made to the council by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) that was set up 10 years ago by the federal, state and local governments with 10 completed power generating plants and two other plants still under construction. He said the plants had the capacity to generate 4,500 megawatts.

"Today, the options were discussed and members of the NEC advised to study the presentation so that at more opportune time, NEC can review the presentation and take whatever necessary steps henceforth," he explained.

According to him, NEC is studying the presentation to know the steps to take on the

company.

In her own briefing, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said she presented balances in the Federation Accounts to the council.

According to her, the balance in the Excess Crude Account on November 19, 2019, was $324,967,933.72, adding that the balance in Stabilisation Account, as at December 17, 2019 was N30,479,704,808 while the Natural Resources' Fund account had a balance of N88,283,218,114.40 as at December 17, 2019.

Ahmed also said she presented an update on repayment of loan facilities by states, saying "the current situation is that deductions are ongoing and remittances on these facilities are being made to the central bank."

6

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

7

8

FRIDAY, ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Boundary Commission to Appeal Court Ruling on Rivers, Bayelsa Oilfield Row S’Court did not award Soku oilfield to Rivers, Bayelsa Insists Alex Enumah and James Emejo in Abuja The National Boundary Commission (NBC) yesterday expressed its readiness to appeal a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered the return of Soku oilfield from Bayelsa State to its rightful owner, Rivers State.

NBC acting Director General, Mr. Adamu Adaji, also told THISDAY in an exclusive interview in Abuja that the commission was not the producer of the Administrative Map of Nigeria as erroneously insinuated in some quarters.

Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Andrew Seweniowor, also clarified that contrary to claims at the Federal High Court, the Supreme Court never awarded the disputed oilfields to Rivers State.

Adaji and Seweniowor were reacting to Monday's judgment

by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who had declared Rivers State as the rightful owner of the oil well located in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The judge held that all the documents from relevant government agencies and facts before the court, proved that the Soku Oil Wells belong to Rivers State.

He accordingly ordered the transfer of ownership of the oil wells from Bayelsa State to Rivers State.

But Adaji faulted the court judgment, adding that it was the duty of the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation to produce the administrative map.

He said though the surveyor general had produced the provisional copy of the muchawaited 12th edition of the map, "because of certain discrepancies, they decided to withhold the final publication."

"So, we don't know when they are ready to publish that," he told THISDAY. Adaji also accused the court of usurping the functions of the boundary commission by defining the boundary in its ruling- when it had not been finalised by the commission.

He said such a function was an exclusive mandate of the commission.

"The high court ruled and we are going to study the ruling and react appropriately because the impression given by the ruling

is something that we are not comfortable with and we want to appeal that," he stated.

He also accused both states of complicating the resolution of the border dispute.

He said: "Because the impression is that the court seems to have defined the boundary and to the best of our own knowledge, we are yet to conclude work on the boundaryand it was because one of the states, particularly Rivers State, had declined to cooperate for us to make further progress since 2012 when the Supreme Court directed that they should await the conclusion of work by the National Boundary Commission before any further case on the matter.

"But the Supreme Court had decided on the boundary matter as far back as 2012 when it said they could not make any ruling on the matter until the boundary was decided by the NBC. "So, we are yet to conclude that because Rivers State declined to cooperate with us to make further progress ever since. So, we are surprised that the high court delved into something that the Supreme Court had ruled on previously."

He craved the indulgence of states to cooperate in order to fast-track the quick and final resolution of the boundary dispute.

However, commenting on controversial Soku oil wells, the acting DG said it was not a boundary matter.

"What the NBC is concerned about is showing the boundaries; once it shows the boundaries, the issues of where the oil wells belong to will be established," he added.

According to him, an independent committee had based on their findings, previously made recommendations to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on the matter, which was why the oil wells were credited to Bayelsa all these while.

"So, if the high court rules in favour of Rivers State, well as far as we are concerned, it is not... but when the same court was defining the boundaries, usurping the functions of the boundary commission is what we feel we need to set the records straight.

"Except that some of the boundaries shown on these maps are not quite exact and accurate and the surveyor general,

in producing that map, always puts a caveat that the boundaries shown are not exact except the ones that have been finalised.

"And we know that the boundary between Bayelsa and Rivers had not been finalised and so, we expect that the lines shown are not exact perhaps that's why it was thought that it was the boundary commission that may be responsible," he added.

S’Court Did Not Award Soku OilďŹ elds to Rivers, Bayelsa Insists Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Andrew Seweniowor, yesterday stated that the Supreme Court never awarded the said oilfields to Rivers State.

He said contrary to the claim of Rivers State, the Supreme Court refused to grant the reliefs it sought in suit number: CS 106/2009.

"From Monday December 16, 2019, the media had been awash with reports that the Federal High Court, sitting at Abuja had delivered a judgment awarding the ownership of the said Oluasiri Oilfield/Oil wells to Rivers State purportedly pursuant

to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Suit No. CS/106/2009 between Attorney General, Rivers State v. Attorney General, Bayelsa State & Anor.

"It was also reported that the judgment of the Federal High Court was made to give effect to the decision of the Supreme Court, and purporting to direct the NBC to fix the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa State at Santa Barbara River.

"It is worthy of note that the Supreme Court in Suit No. CS/106/2009 struck out the action on the ground that it was futile and premature to determine the boundaries of the two states insofar as the NBC had not delineated the boundary between Rivers State and Bayelsa State. The Supreme Court never made a specific order directing the NBC to delineate the disputed boundaries", the Bayelsa AG said in a statement.

Seweniowor added that the apex in the said judgment delivered by Galadima JSC held that because of the technical nature of the dispute and the claims of the parties, the NBC as an authority vested with authorities and expertise know-how in dealing with such matter should once and for all conduct an exhaustive exercise

of delineating the disputed boundary.

"In the light of the observations I have clearly expressed above, I do not feel comfortable to grant the declarations sought until the NBC concludes its exercise of delineation of disputed boundary to finality.

"It will be futile and premature to determine the boundary of the two states in the present circumstances.

"However, the appropriate order to be made in the prevailing circumstance is that of striking out the plaintiff's suit, and I so order accordingly. Each party to bear its costs", the apex court was reported to have decided.

The Bayelsa AG said after the decision of the Supreme Court, the NBC in exercise of its statutory functions commenced the efforts to finally resolve the boundary dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa State with the constitution of Joint Technical Committee on the Bayelsa/Rivers Interstate Boundary, the Deputy Governors of both States leading their respective State’s delegation.

He said after meetings of the committee, the Rivers State delegation led by the then Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, had on January 30, 2013, formally announced the withdrawal of

the state’s delegation from further deliberation and participation in the joint delimitation and demarcation until certain conditions he articulated are met.

One of the conditions is the payment of all revenue from the disputed oil wells into an Escrow Account under the AccountantGeneral of the Federation.

"Given the background and the state of affairs necessitated by the voluntary withdrawal of Rivers State from further deliberation and participation in the joint delimitation and demarcation exercise in respect of the disputed boundary, it is therefore surprising that Rivers State could resort to instituting the action at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the NBC and without the knowledge and participation of Bayelsa State, and proceeded to obtain a judgment to the effect that the Oluasiri Oilfield/Oil wells, belong to Rivers State on the same unchanged facts and issues as was the case before the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/106/2009.

"This to say the least, is highly unusual, curious, and clearly untenable and cannot be allowed to stand despite the media frenzy orchestrated and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State", the AG added.

HONOURS FOR WORTHY DELTA SONS...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; his wife, Edith; Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro and a former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, at a reception and conferment of Award of Excellence on the governor, his deputy and Ibori by the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers in Asaba‌ yesterday

Analysts: Senate’s Quest for Stipends for Unemployed Graduates Unrealistic Dike Onwuamaeze Economic analysts and members of the organised private sector (OPS) have cautioned the federal government not to yield to the quest of the Senate to set up a fund for payment of living stipends to jobless Nigerians until such persons secure employment.

The analysts who spoke in different interviews with THISDAY, argued that considering the fiscal challenge the country is facing currently, such an initiative would place additional burden on the country.

The Senate last week had asked the federal government to initiate a sustainable unemployment fund for the payment of living stipends to unemployed Nigerians until

such persons secure employment.

The bill was sponsored by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu, had in a point of order, warned that the large number of graduates that Nigeria’s higher institutions were turning out yearly but who cannot be absorbed by the labour market, is a time bomb waiting to explode.

But in his reaction, a Professor of Finance at the University of Lagos, Dr. Wilifred Iyiegbuniwe, described the proposed payment of living stipends to unemployed Nigerians as a utopian agenda that would plunge the economy into a disaster.

According to Iyiegbuniwe, the proponents of the welfare agenda

might have underestimated the number of the unemployed Nigerians, “otherwise they would have known that the project is not feasible because there is no way the country will afford to finance it.�

He stated that Nigerians are not welfare-orientated people but capitalists that needed to be empowered to be able to fend for themselves. “This resolution, if implemented, will create more indolent citizens. Nigerians are hard working. What they need is the appropriate environment through sound fiscal and monetary policies to unleash their potentials. “This can be done with the creation of skill acquisition and

manpower development centre and match it with enterprise grants that are guaranteed by the government to enable them to start their own enterprises.

But care must be exercised to ensure that it is not riddled with corruption. “Our problem is that we copy things from other countries without studying there long term implications on the economy.

We should see the trouble the United States is having with its social welfare scheme like the health insurance and also note that the pressure from welfare programmes is one of the forces propelling the Brexit movement in Great Britain. “Social welfare scheme will mean more burden on the

taxpayers. It can neither be sustained nor yield any economic benefit. It will be another avenue of corruption for politicians to steal more from the public purse only that this time they will be pretending to be helping the common man,� Iyiegbuniwe said.

Similarly, a Professor of Economics at the University of Lagos, Dr. Ndubisi Nwokoma, noted that the federal government is presently faced with serious fiscal challenges, adding that “this proposal will just increase the cost of governance disproportionately and sink the country deeper into debt." “The federal government cannot even meet its obligations and sustain it bureaucracy efficiently.

Presently, the

government’s debt servicing ratio to its revenue is quite high.

It is struggling and borrowing to carry on. “So, if it does not have the money to maintain its bureaucracy, how can it afford the stipends for unemployed Nigerians? Do they know the population of unemployed Nigerians? Do they know how many tertiary and secondary schools graduates that are unemployed, including those that cannot go to school? “I think that they just want to arouse the emotions of the people by feeding them with false hope just to make them happy,� stated.

Continued on page 52

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

9

10

FRIDAY, ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

PAGE TEN ADOKE DEPORTED FROM DUBAI, ARRESTED BY EFCC November 11 when he arrived in the country for his medicals.

The former minister arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 3.45 p.m. yesterday.

THISDAY gathered that he was picked up at the foot of the aircraft by security agents who refused anyone access to him.

However, EFCC, last night, said Adoke was with the commission.

It said the former AGF who fled the country in 2015, had pending criminal charge brought against him by the commission for alleged abuse of office and money laundering in respect of the granting of the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 to Shell and ENI. But an earlier text message by his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had said Adoke “was picked up at the foot of the aircraft by Interpol, refusing anyone access to him.

He is believed to be on his way to the Interpol office at Area 10, Garki, Abuja.�

Adoke was arrested by Interpol on arrival in Dubai on November 11 when he went for his medicals.

His arrest followed a red alert issued by the federal government as part of the

ongoing probe of the Malabu oil scam deal.

Interpol was executing a warrant of arrest issued against him even though it had been quashed.

Although the Federal Capital Territory High Court issued the warrant on April 17, 2019, based an application by the EFCC, the court vacated the order on October 25, 2019.

While the warrant was sent to Interpol by Nigeria, the vacating order was not transmitted to the global body.

The Interpol had requested Adoke’s lawyers to get the Nigerian authorities to attest to the vacating order but the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), declined to endorse the documents, effectively leaving his predecessor in limbo.

THISDAY gathered that frantic efforts made by the EFCC to get Adoke extradited to Nigeria failed because the request did not meet the legal threshold.

To sidestep the vacated warrant of arrest, the EFCC also looked at the option of activating the judicial agreements signed in October 2018 between Nigeria and UAE. When asked yesterday whether or not Interpol had

released Adoke, Malami declined comment.

He said he could not comment on the issue, particularly when he had not been briefed.

He noted that there are several pending cases against Adoke and that it would be unfair for him to be commenting on whether the ex-AGF has been released or was on his way back to the country and what the government plans for him.

However, Ozekhome said in a statement yesterday that the former AGF was released in Dubai and allowed to return home when the Interpol found that there was nothing against him.

Ozekhome said his client was wrongly detained but was let off upon his undertaking to return to Nigeria to have the issues against him resolved.

The statement reads in part: “We are solicitors to Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice (“our client�).

We issue this statement on his clear instructions and mandate. “On the morning of Tuesday, 11th of November, 2019, our client arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), for a scheduled medical check-up. “While he was undergoing

immigration checks, he was informed that Interpol had a warrant to arrest him. He was shocked to his bones and marrow. “This is because although a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had issued a warrant of arrest against our client on the 17th of April, 2019, following an ex-parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the same court had duly vacated the said arrest warrant order on the 25th of October, 2019, following our challenge of the ex-parte order, and after robust court argument between EFCC (government) counsel and my humble self. "There was therefore no existing arrest warrant on which the Interpol’s arrest was made. This was well reported by the media. “Our client duly showed Interpol officials copies of the certified court order by Hon. Justice Danlami Z. Senchi. He also showed them the 17th of April, 2018, judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by the Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, to the effect that our client could not be held liable for obeying lawful presidential directives on the OPL 245 transaction.

“The Interpol officials, however, said only the warrant of arrest was communicated to them by the federal government, and not any of these overriding court processes. “The vacation and setting aside of the warrant of arrest order made by Justice D. Z. Senchi was curiously not communicated to the Interpol or the UAE authorities. “But they insisted that they could only deal with the Nigerian government, which must first communicate to them, the said order setting aside the warrant of arrest. “Our client told them that he was ready to return to Nigeria on his own accord after his medicals; yet, they still kept him in illegal custody for over one month, after running into a legal logjam. It was very clear to them that the Government of Nigeria did not have any legal basis or grounds to extradite Adoke back to Nigeria. “Adoke, based on our legal advice, has therefore decided to break this unnecessary logjam and simulated stalemate that are already causing Nigeria international embarrassment by buying his own ticket to return to Nigeria voluntarily and peaceably, instead of going

to another country of his choice. “It must be pointed out that Adoke had been out of Nigeria voluntarily since May, 2015, upon the expiration of his tenure as honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. In his undertaking before the Dubai authorities, Adoke signed as follows: ‘I would go to Nigeria authorities to solve my problem, and without any stress or pressure from Dubai Police or anyone.’ “He was not then under any investigation, nor charged before any court of law by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agency howsoever. “It was only on 21st December, 2016, nearly one-and-a-half years after he went to the Netherlands to pursue his masters (LL.M) degree programmee in Public International Law, with specialisation in International Criminal Law, at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands, that the EFCC charged him before the FCT High Court on his alleged role in the OPL 245 transaction. “Our client verily believes he has done no wrong in merely carrying out his statutory duties."

Adoke denied any wrongdoing over his perceived role in the OPL 245 transaction.

and resolved as follows: “The forum received an update from the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) and the World Bank team on the State Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Independent Verification Assessment (IVA) exercise conducted across states. “The Independent Verification Assessment (IVA) team highlighted among others, activities of the FY2018 Annual Appraisal Assessment to be concluded in January 2020 while the transfer of 2018 grants to States will take place in March 2020. “As a SFTAS implementing partner, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat will carry out regional sensitisation workshops in March 2020 and kick-start the provision of technical assistance to states through customised just-in-time advisory and training, exchange visits and peer learning events. “The forum received an update on the health priorities of the forum, especially Universal Healthcare, Nutrition and on the Polio Eradication Initiative, including the Seattle Declaration. “Governors reiterated their commitment to an effective implementation and tracking of the Seattle commitment

“The forum received a briefing on the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020 from the UK Foreign Office led by Harriet Thompson, the UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. “The summit will be hosted by the UK Prime Minister and will bring together businesses, governments and international institutions to showcase investment opportunities in Africa. “Members expressed optimism for deeper opportunities in various sectors of the economy including agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, health, education and financial services; and committed to strengthening the forum’s partnership with the UK’s CDC Group and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) to help bridge relations between Nigerian and UK companies. “The forum received a delegation of the Conference of Speakers of the State House of Assembly and had fruitful discussions on some constitutional matters. “The forum received a presentation from the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, on the Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic

Data for Development (GRID3) programme in Nigeria – a programme designed to strengthen the application of geospatial data for evidencebased decision making in the country. “The National Coordinator of GRID3, Inuwa Yau, also highlighted several applications of the programme in priority areas of government including food security, health coverage, financial inclusion, survey and demographics and education. “Finally, state governors commended the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning for coordinating the GRID3 programme which will be central to developmentplanning going forward. “Members pledged to work with the ministry by providing the institutional arrangements in all states to ensure that each state supports the generation and management of geospatial data. “This will ensure that state governments have the right information in identifying where people live and how critical services can be most equitably and effectively allocated.�

to recognise Akpabio’s interim management team. �With the completion of this process now (confirmation), I am sure that any other structure that exists now (in NDDC) is vitiated. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about because this is one thing that is clearly established by law," Lawan had said while commenting on the confirmation of the nominees to the board of the NDDC. On November 28, the upper legislative chamber had barred members of the interim management from defending the 2020 budget of the commission.

It insisted that it would only deal with members of the board it approved.

Gaya, has said the president had done nothing wrong in keeping in abeyance the composition of the board of the NDDC. Gaya, who was reacting to Buhari's decision to reconstitute the board, added that the president's latest move might have been based on latest information at his disposal.

"What the president has done is in order because he may want to get to the root of some issues that may have cropped up which we do not know and we don’t have to know, it is only when he brings up the names, we will screen them but it is between him and the leadership of the Senate.

"I am sure he will explain the reason to the leadership of the Senate and we trust our leader the Senate president and all the other leaders.

"We are here to assist the president to do a good job. In the event where he decided to make some changes and we found out those changes are important we will uphold it," he stated.

FG’S $29.96BN LOAN BID DOESN’T INVOLVE STATES, SAY GOVS Already, the total public debt of the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as of March 31, 2019, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO), was at $17.219 billion.

A breakdown of this showed that while total external debt for the states and FCT in the period under review stood at $4.275 billion, their total domestic debt was $12.944 billion.

The governors have also clarified that there would be no controversy over the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage, but the payment of the consequential adjustment would depend the capacity of each state to pay.

Briefing journalists at the end of their meeting on Wednesday night, the Chairman of NGF and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the $29.96 billion borrowing plan the federal government submitted to the National Assembly had nothing to do with the states. “You know the borrowing plan is a federal government borrowing plan. It is not the federation’s borrowing plan. The federal government’s borrowing plan to the National Assembly is really a matter between the federal government and the National Assembly. “It is not something that

we want to put ourselves in between. We don’t want to comment on that,� he stated.

He also refused to comment on the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly, saying that the governors would not be involved because the issue was internal to the state. “On the question around the meeting with the speakers, the meeting with our speakers was not about individual states. It was on general constitutional matters and we had very fruitful deliberations on that. “So, we cannot comment on the issue you have raised about a specific state. I am sure that information will be available to you if you go to Edo State,� he added.

Speaking on the minimum wage, Fayemi said the governors were committed to the N30,000 minimum wage and were not going back on it. “Minimum wage was not on our agenda because minimum wage is a settled matter. And governors have all indicated, without any equivocation, that we subscribe to the Act of Parliament that has been passed on the national minimum wage of N30,000. “There is no debate, we have accepted that. The negotiation team that you are talking about

(the negotiation team set up by each state with labour representatives) is not so much about the minimum wage. “It is about the consequential impact of the minimum wage on the higher level and each state has started that process. If the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is not fully aware of the status of the negotiation in the various states, we will be happy to share the information available to us with them. “But, as far as we are concerned, there is no opportunity of decision in the Governors’ Forum to backtract.

We are not backtracking from the minimum wage. “However, fingers are not equal. States have to negotiate in terms of the consequential implication. “There may be states that are in a position to pay N50,000.

What we can tell you is that not state will pay less than N30,000 when we finally get to that point,� he said.

Fayemi also read the communiquĂŠ issued after the meeting.

The communiquĂŠ reads: “We, members of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today(Wednesday) at the NGF Secretariat Abuja, deliberated on several issues

BUHARI DISBANDS ODUBU-LED NDDC BOARD The Senate had distanced itself from the Interim Management Committee constituted by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also quoted the president as saying that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC will continue to run the affairs of the organisation till the completion of the forensic examination.

The president said the supervision of the NDDC would remain under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

The statement read: "President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be recomposed and inaugurated after the forensic audit of the organisation.

"The president has also directed that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the forensic is completed, and that the

supervision of the commission shall remain under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs."

There has been a fierce battle over the running of the commission in recent times, particularly following the choice of Odubu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, as the head of the organisation.

The contest has stalled the swearing-in of Odubu and his team weeks after their confirmation by the Senate.

There has also been an agitation for independence of the commission from the control of the Ministry of Niger Delta with Akpabio, insisting on the supervision of NDDC by the ministry.

Members of NDDC governing board recognised by the Senate are Odubu as Chairman; Bernard Okumagba as Managing Director; Otobong Ndem as Executive Director, Projects, and Maxwell Oko as Executive Director, Finance and Admin.

Other board members are Prophet Jones Erue, Victor Ekhator, Nwogu Nwogu,

Theodore Allison, Victor Antai and Maurice Effiwatt.

Others board members are Olugbenga Edema, Uchegbu Kyrian, Aisha Murtala Muhammed, Shuaibu Zubairu and Abdullahi Bage.

The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, had also declared the Akpabio-backed interim management of the commission void after the confirmation of the appointment of members of the agency’s board.

He had asked the president to inaugurate the board immediately.

An interim committee set up by Akpabio currently manages the commission.

The management comprises Joi Nunieh, acting managing director; Ibanga Bassey, acting executive director, finance and administration, and Cairo Ojougboh, acting executive director, projects.

The minister had said the committee would run the NDDC for six months and oversee the forensic audit of the agency.

But the Senate had refused

President is Right to Keep Commission’s Board in Abeyance, Says Gaya Meanwhile, a member of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Kabiru

TOP GAINERS GSK AGLEVENTIS WEMABANK WAPIC FIDELITYBANK TOP LOSERS CORNERSTONE UPDECREIT UPDC

NGN NGN 0.50 5.75 0.04 0.50 0.05 0.75 0.02 0.36 0.12 2.20 NGN 0.05 0.46 0.35 3.30 0.06 0.84 MTN 2.43 112.50 HONEYWELL 0.02 1.00 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,300.00 Volume: 304.214 million shares Value: N3.148 billion Deals: 2,690 As at yesterday 19/12/19 See details on Page 45

% 9.5 8.7 7.1 5.8 5.2 % 9.8 9.5 6.6 2.8 1.9

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

11

12

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COMMENT

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

NIGERIA AND THE DEBT BURDEN Endless borrowing will lead to endless sorrowing, writes Atiku Abubakar

J

ohn Quincy Adams once said “there are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.�

He may have very well been referring to Nigeria of the last three years.

Barely two weeks ago, I warned during my Founder’s Day lecture at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, that Nigeria had taken almost as much foreign debt in the last three years, as she had taken in the 30 years before 2015 combined. Now that is frightening. And very true.

Frightening, not just because of the amount, but because after such unprecedented borrowing, we have emerged as the world headquarters for extreme poverty and the global capital for out of school children. It begs the question: what were the funds used for?

I have said it time and again. The business of government is too serious to be left in the hands of politicians. We must all ask questions because if they throw away the future, it is not going to be their future they are throwing away, it will be all our futures.

The fact that Nigeria currently budgets more money for debt servicing (2.7 trillion), than we do on capital expenditure (2.4 trillion) is already an indicator that we have borrowed more money than we can afford to borrow. And the thing is that debt servicing is not debt repayment. Debt servicing just means that we are paying the barest minimum allowable by our creditors.

And while spending 50% of our current revenue on debt servicing, this administration wants to take further loans of $29.96 billion! To say that this is irresponsible is itself an understatement.

As a businessman, one of the very first things I learnt is that you do not take loans except you are expanding your business. Even as an individual, when your income cannot fund your lifestyle, you are challenged to grow your income, not your borrowings.

Even if this administration borrows $1 trillion, it will never be enough because their challenge is one of capacity. They are not using the funds they already have wisely. They do not need more debt. They need more intellectual capacity.

The money the Muhammadu Buhari administration wants to borrow to fund its Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) could be acquired without sinking the nation into further debt. All it requires is visionary leadership and business acumen.

In my economic blueprint, I said that rather than turn in regular losses (which it has consistently been doing), the best thing to do with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is to reform it. Of course, the administration’s paid propagandists went into overdrive, accusing me of planning to sell the NNPC to my friends. But just last week, Saudi Arabia’s ARAMCO, the most profitable company in the world, took that route and almost broke the global stock market with the most successful initial IPOs in world history, bar none. Ironically, Saudi Aramco raised $29.4 billion via this IPO. Just the amount this administration wants to borrow.

That could have been Nigeria’s story, but for our failure of leadership.

By reforming the NNPC, Nigeria can raise the $29.96 billion the Buhari regime wants to borrow, and we will raise the money without going into debt. If we had taken that route, not only would we have attracted Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria, but even better than investment, we would have attracted confidence in our economy, because it would have shown that we have a thinking leadership.

Take the example of the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas company.

This is a joint venture between the Nigeria government and the private sector. Yet, while the NLNG declares very handsome profits, in billions of dollars every year, the NNPC declares loses! This is proof that the NLNG model works, and the NNPC model does not.

Moody’s, the world’s preeminent rating agency, has just downgraded Nigeria. Ghana, a nation with only 15% of our population, now attracts more Foreign Direct Investment than Nigeria, and Rwanda, a country with less than 15% of our mineral endowment, has an economy that is

EVEN AS AN INDIVIDUAL, WHEN YOUR INCOME CANNOT FUND YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOU ARE CHALLENGED TO GROW YOUR INCOME, NOT YOUR BORROWINGS

growing at twice the rate of our economy. The problem is not revenue.

The challenge is not Nigerians. The issue is leadership.

While there is scant information in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for what the loan would be used for, I could not help but read a communication from the Presidency to the effect that one of such projects would be the digitalisation of the Nigerian Television Authority and other similar projects.

Spending revenue on such projects would be foolish, but spending loans in such a manner is nothing short of foolhardy. The Nigerian government does not have a good record of running businesses, and a public television network is unlikely to yield the type of income that would justify taking out loans to digitalise it. Besides, is that a priority, when we have 12 million children out of school? Like I said, capacity, not revenue, is the problem.

And in proof of this, I offer the example of how this administration took delivery of $322 million Abacha loot in 2018 and claimed it shared it out to poor Nigerians, only to obtain a $328 million loan from China, allegedly for ICT development the very next month. How do you share out $322 million and then borrow $328 million? Who does that? At the risk of repeating myself, it is clear that no amount of money, whether from revenue or borrowings, will be enough for an administration that lacks capacity.

So, what must Nigeria do now? Rather than profligate borrowing, what Nigeria needs to do is restore investor confidence in our economy. Key to that is respecting the independence of key institutions, such as the Judiciary and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Both of these institutions are now the captives of Buhari and his cabal, and though they are loathe to admit it, they cannot take one step without watching their backs.

Why are foreign investors leaving Nigeria for Ghana? The answer is that Ghana, unlike Nigeria, has learnt how to divorce key institutions from politics. The Ghanaian central bank enjoys a degree of independence that our own CBN can only dream of under the prevailing atmosphere. You will not hear Ghana’s leaders give flippant interviews overseas about their plans for the cedi, as Buhari has done in Europe about the Naira. It rang alarm bells because it is not the job of the executive to interfere in the role of the reserve bank.

Neither will you find Ghana’s leaders blatantly intimidating the judiciary by obviously setting up judges and invading courtrooms.

Why would any investor come to Nigeria under such prevailing circumstances? Their thought would be that if they had industrial disputes, our courts, under this administration, could not be counted on to deliver impartial justice.

I was part of a team that paid off Nigeria’s entire foreign debt.

I, therefore, cannot sit and watch an administration without vision squander our children’s future by taking and wasting loans that they do not even have the capacity to utilise properly.

Thank God for leaked memos that have exposed the lies this regime has told Nigerians about unprecedented revenues in the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Now, we know that Nigeria is not poor because she is not making enough money. The truth is that Nigeria is poor because she is not making the right leadership decisions.

Thomas Jefferson said, “to preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.� Dear citizens of our beloved nation, this is a call to heed. President Olusegun Obasanjo and I paid off this nation’s debt, and I will not stand idly by and watch while Nigeria is plunged into second slavery by those who only know how to reap where they have not sown.

Our youth must have something better to inherit from us than unsustainable debt fuelled by insatiable greed. That is why I call on the Senate of the National Assembly to show loyalty to Nigeria and reconsider its decision with regards to approving Buhari’s $29.96 billion loan request.

Abubakar is a former Vice President of Nigeria

DONALD TRUMP’S IMPEACHMENT: MATTERS ARISING Tony Ademiluyi writes that the impeachment is a double-edged sword

A

fter the United States of America obtained independence from Great Britain in 1789 through a war which saw the then 13 colonies take up arms against and defeated the great army of King George III, she pursued a policy of isolationism from world affairs. Her foreign policy was only concerned with issues of direct interest to her and she conquered lots of territory from her Mexican neighbours which included Texas, California, Alaska, among many others.

She became dominant in world affairs after the victory of the allied forces in the Second World War which ended in 1945. Her entry into the war in 1941 changed the dynamics of the rapid expansion of the Axis forces which were threatening to overrun the world and she has maintained global dominance as the policeman of the world ever since. What affects her is of profound interest to the rest of the globe and so the world watched with great interest as its 45th President, Donald John Trump was impeached in the Lower House of Congress – The House of Representatives which has the historical power to perform that function. It wasn’t surprising

given that the Democratic Party is the one with the majority in the house. By a 230 to 197 vote, Donald Trump became the third American President to be impeached after Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.

He was impeached for obstruction of justice in his alleged interference in the case where he was said to have largely piled pressure on the President of Ukraine to sanction former Vice-President Joe Biden.

Trump, a huge fan of the micro blogging site, twitter tweeted furiously on Wednesday morning while still in the White House. His die-hard supporters held a rally in Michigan where they rallied support in his favour and denounced the action of the lower house of Congress led by Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.

In the words of the world’s most powerful man: “The Democrats are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American voter,� Trump said to boos and cheers. “They’ve been trying to impeach me from day one. They’ve been trying to impeach me from before I ran,� he said. “Four more years, four more years,� the crowd chanted back.

Trump is expected to be saved by the Republican

controlled Senate as were Johnson and Clinton who were also saved by the upper house of Congress which prevented them from leaving office unceremoniously after their respective impeachments.

The president’s traditional base which consists of the baby boomer White Americans are still largely supportive of him as they hold him in high esteem as they greatly resonate with his message of ‘Make America Great Again’ which won him the elections in 2016 despite his loss of the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. There are concerns from Trump’s critics that the Republican majority controlled Senate may not grant a fair hearing which may make his exoneration by the upper legislative house a walkover. As gleaned from a report by AFP “The question is now whether Senator McConnell will allow a fair trial in the Senate, whether the majority leader will allow a trial that involves witnesses and testimony and documents,� said Schiff.

Pelosi hinted that the House leaders could hold off sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate to pressure McConnell on the witness issue. “So far, we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us,� she told reporters. “We’ll decide what that

dynamic is.� “But right now, the president is impeached.�

The world is awaiting what Senator Mitch McConnell will do in a fortnight when he presides over the proceedings which will see Trump either go the way of Johnson or Clinton or make history by being the first President of the United States not to be saved by the Senate.

If the outspoken Trump, 73, is exonerated by the Senate, it will greatly boost his re-election chances in November next year and may be a walkover for him if the Democrats decide to field Joe Biden as their flag bearer. It will shore up his popularity ratings and will put paid the hope of a re-enactment of the 1992 electoral victory by Bill Clinton of the Democratic Party where he roundly defeated George Walker Bush with the former’s catch phrase, ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ We wait with bated breath the outcome by the McConnell- led Senate to see if justice will truly be done. Will Trump go the way of Johnson and Clinton? Will Mike Pence soon take over the reins of office?

Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos

15

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

EDITORIAL MUCH ADO ABOUT CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS Constituency projects are not decidedly bad if managed transparently

T

he recent declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that there was nothing to show for the over N1trillion budgeted for constituency projects by National Assembly members since 2009 has generated a lot of controversy between the executive and the legislative arms of government. While the Presidency has continued to blame the federal lawmakers for mismanaging the funds budgeted for these projects, the lawmakers are also not keeping silent. The president, they argue, was misled because constituency projects were usually funded and executed by the executive and that what was released was less than 50 per cent of the total amount voted for these projects.

It was under the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo, especially during his second term, beginning from 2003, that the constituency projects identified by lawmakers were incorporated into the annual budget.

They were fashioned THE REAL PROBLEM IS after similar projects THAT OUR LAWMAKERS, IN being executed in no MOST CASES, HAVE ALSO fewer than 23 counBECOME CONTRACTORS tries across the globe through acts of parliaOF ‘CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS,’ EFFECTIVELY ment. The essence of the inclusion of these ANOTHER BYWORD FOR constituency projects, CORRUPTION as the National Assembly has consistently argued, is part of moves to complement efforts of the executive in developing the 109 senatorial districts as well as the 360 federal constituencies across the nation. Ordinarily the idea is good but the real challenge is with the implementation.

While the power of the legislature to initiate projects through appropriation has over the years been challenged by the executive, we believe the lawmakers indeed can. What the legislature cannot do is to be executing projects. But the real problem is that our lawmakers, in most cases, have also become contractors of “constituency projects,” effectively another

Letters to the Editor

byword for corruption. Indeed, the misconduct of many past and present legislators has tended to justify public resentment of their role in the budget process.

Therefore, whilst there might have been nothing wrong with the appropriation of money for projects in their constituencies, the way and manner several of them harass the executive to award the contracts for such projects to their proxy companies is unethical.

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

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

n a moment of chest-beating, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said last week that with just about six months in session, the ninth senate has passed six bills into law, four of them private members’ bills. “The first of these bills is the Deep Off-shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act CAP D3 LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill) 2019. The two executive bills that we passed are the appropriation bill, 2020 and the finance bill 2019,” said Lawal adding: “We passed the Finance bill, 2019 on 21 November, 2019. The bill amended seven existing tax and fiscal policy laws (Companies Income Tax Act, 2004; Value Added Tax Act, 2007; Customs and Excise Tariff (Consolidation) Act, 2004; Personal Income Tax Act, 2007; Capital Gains Tax Act, 2007; Stamp Duties Act, 2007; and Petroleum Profit Tax Act, 2004) to reform Nigeria’s tax system for enhanced implementation and effectiveness.”

Despite these achievements, many Nigerians still view the lawmakers with disdain, particularly because of constituency projects. Going forward, therefore, we believe the appropriation committees of the National Assembly should be armed with budget and economic experts who can make forecasts on key factors likely to influence spending in any fiscal year. Part of the budget defence by revenue agencies should also include revision of their revenue targets, following which the appropriation committees could sit with the budget office to negotiate and arrive at estimates acceptable to both arms of government. Right now, what the legislature does is ad hoc and is tied to allocating more funds to constituency projects. But it can be streamlined and justified if the legislature knows what it is doing.

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

BUHARI AND N37BN LARGESSE TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo is one person who has felt the sting of the avarice of the National Assembly. At different points, he described the institution in blackened terms. Though the former president may hold a provincial grudge against the legislature for “obvious reasons’’ – the botched third-term agenda -- the institution is just as he has daubed it.

On November 26, 2014, at the book launch of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi in Abuja, Obasanjo evoked pejoratives on the national assembly. He said it was an “assembly of thieves and looters’’.

He airbrushed the iniquities of the legislature with a mural of disgust thus: “Apart from shrouding the remunerations of the national assembly in opaqueness and without transparency, they indulge in extorting money from departments, contractors and ministries in two ways.’’

“They do so during visits to their projects and programmes and in the process of budget approval when they build up budgets for ministries and departments, who agree to give it, back to them in contracts that they do not execute. They do similar things during their inquiries.”

The senate president at the time Ebora Owu spat fire was David Mark. The budget of the national assembly – a single-line item -- was N104 billion under Mark. In fact, when Mark became senate president and invariably the head of the legislature in 2007, the budget of the assembly ballooned from

N66.4 billion to N104 billion in 2008. And by 2014, it peaked at over N150 billion.

On August 18, 2017, at the public presentation of a book written by Professor Mark Nwagwu in Ibadan, Obasanjo caught the “bud’’ again. This time he described the national assembly as a “bunch of armed robbers’’.

“It is even worse for the national assembly. They will abuse me again but I will never stop talking about them. They are a bunch of unarmed robbers,’’ he said.

“They are one of the highest paid in the world where we have 75 per cent of our people living in abject poverty. They will abuse me tomorrow and if they don’t, maybe they are sleeping. The behaviour and character of the national assembly should be condemned and roundly condemned.”

Bukola Saraki was the senate president in 2017 when Obasanjo “verbally assaulted’’ the national assembly. The annual budget of the legislature was about N115 billion at the time, and was a single-line item as well, until a few months after the 2019 election when a breakdown was published.

From 2007, the budget of the national assembly was kept in wraps like Pandora’s Box. No transparency, no accountability.

In her book, ‘Fighting corruption is dangerous: The story behind the headlines’, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, revealed the intrigues, blackmail and backhand deals that denote budget passage by the national assembly.

She said the national assembly exceptionally added N17

billion to its budget of N150 billion before it agreed to pass the 2015 appropriation bill.

On Tuesday, a report by Premium Times asked President Muhammadu Buhari to beware that the 2020 budget passed by the national assembly contains N264 billion fraudulent projects.

The national assembly under the leadership of Ahmad Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila is yet to publish details of its budget of N128 billion for 2020. We are back to the days of “sour yore’’.

Nothing really changes here.

One thing is clear; the national assembly is an institution which orbits around pecuniary concupiscence and gluttony.

“Always hungry and always eating’’. \Besides the N128 billion budget of the legislature, the president approved an extra N37 billion for the “renovation’’ of the national assembly complex. \It is really puzzling. Is the extra “N37 billion’’ a backhand package to the national assembly for being a good lapdog of the executive? Is it a token for compulsively being a rubber stamp legislature? Or is it as Okonjo-Iweala described in her book?

On Tuesday, Gbajabiamila asked a question to which he is the answer. “Are we rubber stamp legislators?’’ Mr Speaker should look in the mirror.

As a matter of fact, this national assembly which is in bed with the executive as a consort is a great threat to our democracy.

Fredrick Nwabufo, fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

16

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

17

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019

18

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

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

Subterfuge as Trademark of Edo State Governor Mike Igaga Jr. warns of the dangers of closing the civic and political space by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State

I

n a recent review of the Edo State governorship election for 2020, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election will be characterised by backstabbing, betrayals and violence.

The validity of this assertion draws from the negative political expression that has dotted the state in recent times. The undercurrent for this perception is expressed in the hostile attitude of the state government to even members of its own party who dare to hold dissenting opinions, an attitude which has severely polarised the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last Thursday and Friday the people of Edo State experienced yet another dimension of state brutality as the government evolved crude resistance to the return of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to the APC. The government issued all forms of threats to the citizenry who would dare attend the rally put together by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s supporters to honour his movement to the APC. The government closed all private schools in the state. Citizens were threatened with losing their Certificate of Occupancy if they allowed any rally in their premises. The governor summoned an emergency security meeting and a false alarm on security breakdown in Edo State was raised. This indulgence in subterfuge was intended to ensure that social life in Benin City was officially restricted on Friday December 13, 2023. The governor, for whatever reason, succeeded. The rally at Garrick Memorial School was stopped by the order of the Inspector General of Police.

On the morning of the rally, policemen had taken over the premises.

To give credence to this abuse of power by the government of Edo State, thugs were hired to burn tyres at the airport road in Benin and other feeder roads in the state. Soon, the situation was hijacked by criminals who vandalised vehicles and robbed commuters.

At least, one person had his vehicle burnt while many had their windscreen broken.

At the Adesuwa junction of the Ugbor area, hired thugs wielding guns attacked one of the vehicles going to Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s compound.

To further confuse the country, heat up the polity and give a false narrative to the security agencies, videos of the burnfires orchestrated by the government and its agents were made and circulated through the social media network.

The management of the political space in this negative dimension calls for serious national concern. It is also a serious problem for the leadership of the APC. The APC is a party that evolved from the tenets of progressive ideology anchored on equality, freedom, liberty and fraternity. To that effect, the present expression of the party in Edo State is antithetical to its ontological base as a platform for progressive ideas.

It is now a risk of life for any persons or group to organise a political meeting to discuss the state of affairs either in the APC or to discuss the running of governance in Edo State. A number of times, such meetings are raided by gun wielding thugs and attendees macheted.

The crudest dimension of this buccaneer indulgence manifested when members of the House of Assembly who were alienated from the induction of the house were attacked by gun shots at the Golden Tulip Hotel while they were meeting to consider their travail. Since the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly, 14 members of the Assembly have been put on flight by the tirade of violence which is brazenly displayed by government related persons and interest. These members were never inducted even if they were legitimately elected by their constituencies to represent them.

All these are indicative of the state of anomy in Edo State. The bother is: what could have been the cause of this bellicose indulgence by the governor and his allies?

No doubt, the governor wants to come back

for another four years. It could be assumed that he intends to seize control of his party to serve that purpose. The justification of this view find root in the hostile air which drives the governor in his relationship with Adams Oshiomhole. No doubt, both the governor and his deputy cannot deny the role that Oshiomhole played in bringing them to political limelight. The attempt to bleed Oshiomhole which began with the alienation of his foot soldiers soon assumed a dimension of threat to life as claimed by the National Chairman of APC. There are claims that his Benin residence was attacked by thugs and during the inaugural convocation ceremony

the enforcers, dogs.

Quite interesting times we are in.

We all need to be reminded, that every adult Nigerian “enjoyed” this same great leadership style of our “messiah” between 1984 and 1985. He couldn’t have changed overnight.

He has always been the same good old “messiah”, with the same world view over the years. His religious, cultural, regional values could not have suddenly changed. He is here for good for all of us to enjoy his unequalled leadership traits.

Two hundred million Nigerians are thoroughly enjoying his great leadership skills.

We are all very grateful to those who brought and enthroned him four and half years ago.

Which brings us to the sickening hypocrisy and two faced culture of our senior lawyers and so called human rights and democracy warriors.

As far as they are concerned, it was alright to march around singing boys and girls in a school compound in Aba and slaughter them. That was cool, as we didn’t hear a whimper from our loquacious human rights lawyers. Protesters have been mowed down in Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Awka, Asaba and Umuahia to mention a few, including inside a church at Nkpor.

Everybody kept mute, thereby approving and institutionalising extra judicial killings.

had plans to impeach him when the house is inducted. The worry for thinking minds is: how could Adams have been planning to impeach you when the house has not been inducted? Here lies the absurdity of the governor’s claim.

Furthermore, the question of Adams trying to corrupt the governor runs into its own contradictions as well. Adams might not be a saint. But his antecedents in the labour movement in juxtaposition with his empirical records on governance delivery does not reflect the content of a person who will share money corruptively.

The question remains why is Obaseki fighting Adams? Why is he resisting the coming of Osagie Ize-Iyamu into the APC? The truth is that Edo State is in serious lack of governance delivery currently. It is a fact that Edo State is sunk in a dangerous debt profile.

The governor has borrowed about N38.150b ($109m) in the last three years thereby moving the external debts of the state from $168m to $277m. The domestic debt record of the state has jumped from N45b to N84b in the last three years. The worry is that nothing in physical infrastructure justifies these added loans taken by the government.

Government is not about what is available to be spent. Good governance delivers on the capacity to generate resources that is used to provide physical infrastructure for the state and fiscal capacity that guarantee the welfare of the people. Perhaps, Obaseki, in the face of apparent incapacity, is afraid of the wrath of Oshiomhole who danced everywhere to make him governor. To pre-empt that reaction, he took the critical initiative by attacking first Obaseki is skilled in subterfuge. He had placed Oshiomhole in bad light before the Binis already. The only saving grace that came for Adams is his performance record as governor of Edo state. This include the construction and rehabilitation of supposed federal roads that have been neglected and served to deface Benin City over the years.

Also of significance is the improvement of the educational sector among others. It is this that saved Oshiomhole from the governor’s antics of blackmail and arm twisting.

The measure of this positive spirit of the Binis was practically expressed when thugs alleged to have been sponsored by allies of the governor came to attack the house of Adams Oshiomhole. Bini youths mobilised themselves to dislodge the attackers. The point at issue among the Binis is that Obaseki has not been able to replicate the achievements of Oshiomhole in the turnaround of Benin city not to talk of transcending it. Many of the natives appreciate Adams Oshiomhole and cannot be ungrateful to him.

Presently, the Edo State House of Assembly runs with 10 members and the remaining 14 members are exiled by the iron hands of the Tsar. It is painful that this infraction underpins the content of our present democracy as it bears on Edo State.

The closing of all private schools in Benin as well as the threat to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of any person who allows the reception rally of Osagie Ize-Iyamu to hold in his compound begs for clarification. It has become the norm in Edo Sate that government arm twists any person who stands on its path as it patronises the alter of perfidy. People are being threatened with the demolition of their houses for holding opinions that are contrary to what the government is doing or intends to do. Without any gainsaying, the people of Edo State have been held captive and now live in fear of the nihilistic dimension of the government they elected to protect them and guarantee their welfare. Edo State is, definitely, under siege.

-Ugochukwu-Uko is the President of Igbo Youth Movement

- Igaga Jr. writes from 9A Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi Lagos

at Edo State University Iyamoh, hired thugs who were supposed to disrupt the ceremony and rough handle Comrade Adams were repelled by the community youths.

In an attempt to justify the hostility towards Adams, statements from government house in Benin has informed that Adams is pressurising the government to disburse state funds to party loyalists and individuals.

Adams has been accused of Godfatherism among others. These themes of blackmail had worked effectively for the governor until recent times.

On the wrongful induction of the House of Assembly, the governor alleged that Adams

We Don’t Yet Have a Country Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko challenges the tip-toeing attitudes of many Nigerian elites on sensitive national discourse

T

he unfortunate mistake consistently made by leaders of Nigeria and their friends, is the quite infantile assumption that the younger generation do not note their hypocrisy, nepotism, parochial regional agendas and their sickening paranoia and fear of the truth. They need to be told in very clear terms that the younger generation are conscious of these avoidable flaws and that they are deeply disappointed.

Half a century after the very internecine, fratricidal bloodbath that threw up a very corrupt and inept political class, the world has noted with disappointment the total absence of any positive outlook from any indices or parameters that could point to hope of any sort in the near future.

Today, the leadership certain folks enthroned out of anger, envy and other self-serving reasons, have emerged both uncontrollable and insensitive, marching ferociously with a never before seen, single mindedness to only God knows where.

Today, their southern partner and ally is deliberately being publicly humiliated in a manner to suggest someone wants to provoke a fight.

Today, a large chunk of the community of the humiliated zone have met secretly (as they usually do) and vowed: Enoughis-Enough. They are suddenly speaking up against the continued detention of their son over his demand for a revolution. One newspaper suddenly woke up to the fact that our leader is a General, and should be addressed so. Even our respected Nobel Laureate called

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019

19

PERSPECTIVE

The Superfluous Pursuit in the Ministry of Justice Kayode Ajulo cautiously examines the issues around calls for separation of the office of the Attorney General from Minister of Justice

T

here is no doubting that there is a pending bill before the House of Representative for the bifurcation of the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

The call for separation is premised on the ‘perceived’ influence that the executive arm of government bears on the Attorney General/ Minister of Justice. It has been argued in some quarters that the Attorney General as the Minister of Justice does the bidding of the executive at the expense of the citizenry. The occupier of the office is seen as the Chief Law Officer of the Federal Government as against his true office as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

While it is apposite to recall that this bill for the bifurcation of the two offices was in 2017 before the Senate of the National Assembly, these developments have generated hues and cries from different quarters and strata.

The Senate said the amendment will create an independent office of the Attorney-General by insulating it from partisanship. The office of the Commissioner for Justice will also be separated from that of an Attorney-General in the states.

This move by the Senate was backed by the House of Representatives which also voted in its favour. It, however, failed as it did not get the support of two-thirds (24) of the state Houses of Assembly as required by section 9 (2) and (3) of the Constitution which provides that before the National Assembly can pass an Act to amend the Constitution after the two-thirds majority of all the members of each chamber voted in support, at least 24 Houses of Assembly must give approval by a simple majority.

The renewed call for the separation of the office of the Attorney by the House of Representative which has gotten to the second reading has called for an alteration of Section 150 of the 1999 Constitution.

In order not to throw out the baby with the bath water, it is important to pensively consider the issues at hand viz-a-viz constitutional provisions.

Origin of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation In the Supreme Court decision in the case of Ezomo v AG Bendel State, the Apex Court enunciated the origin of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation as follows: The office of the Attorney General was created in England, and the incumbent first called the Attorney General was created in England, and in the incumbent first called the Attorney General, the in year 1461 while the post of the Solicitor General dated from 1515.

The Solicitor General is a subordinate of the Attorney General and in England he deputizes for the Attorney-General if the office becomes vacant or if the Attorney General is absent or is ill or is authorized by him to do so. (See: 6th Edition of Hood Phillip’s Constitutional and Administrative Law pp. 334-336).

Similarly, in the celebrated case of AG. Federation v. ANPP (2003) LPELR-630(SC), the Apex Court held inter alia per Lt. Justice Niki Tobi as follows: “There shall be an Attorney General of the Federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation.”

It would appear that the Attorney General is the only Minister specifically created in the Constitution. Section 147(1) of the Constitution ominously creates the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation.

In view of the fact that the office is created in the Constitution, and unless or until the office is abrogated, it will continue in perpetuity. And any suit by or against the Attorney General will in law be absorbed by the office, which never dies unless the Constitution abrogates it.

Section 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: There shall be an Attorney General of the federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the federation and a Minister of the Government of the federation.

The exact wordings of Section 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution leaves no in doubt that whosoever is appointed under the Section would occupy two offices – he would serve

as the Attorney General as well as the Minister of the Government of the Federation.

As a minister in the government of the federation, he would be a member of the cabinet and consequently head a ministry, in this instance, the Ministry of Justice. In his capacity as the Attorney General of the Federation, he would represent the government in all actions against the state.

Arguments in Support of the Bifurcation of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Proponents of the school of thoughts that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice should be bifurcated have advocated as follows: i. The Attorney General when acting as Attorney-General, he is answerable to no one

Honouring the Memory of an Excellent Medical Doctor, Humanitarian Chuks Madueke extols the virtues of the renowned medical doctor and past president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife

H

e was born on August 24th 1932 in Nnewi to the family of Ikedife Ugochukwu (Dunu Ifeneti). He attended Nnewi Central School before proceeding to Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha (1946 to 1950). He later attended City College Norwich, England (1952 to 1953) for Higher School. He studied Medicine and Surgery in University of Glasgow, Scotland (1954 to 1959). As a medical student, he was enrolled in the University of London as an external candidate and was awarded a degree in Anthropology in 1958. He obtained a Diploma in Obstetrics (1960) from the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and became a Fellow of same college (1963).

He also obtained Diplomas in Family Planning from USA (1977) and Health Systems Management from Galilee College, Israel (2003) He was awarded doctorate degree in Public Administration from University of Tucson Arizona and honorary Fellow of International Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons based in Japan Dr. Dozie Ikedife worked as a Senior House Officer, Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Stobhlll Hospital Glasgow (1960 to 1963). In the same year, he became a Fellow of Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologist of British Commonwealth.

On his return in 1964, he joined the Ministry of Health in Lagos as a Medical Officer Special Grade and worked in the Island Maternity Hospital Lagos (1964 to 1966).

He was called to serve in the Eastern Region as a Medical Officer Special Grade in Enugu (1966 to 1967). Later in that year 1967, Dr. Dozie Ikedife founded the City Hospital Aba and was the Specialist-in-Charge till the Nigerian Civil War started. During the Nigerian Civil War, Dr. Ikedife demonstrated his courage and love for his people by staying back in the war ravaged area

to assist victims of the war. He spent the 30-month duration of the civil war, rendering medical services to wounded Biafran soldiers and poor citizens in Biafran communities. Towards the end of the civil war, he relocated to his hometown of Nnewi with his family.

While in Nnewi, he built a Specialist Medical Center, “Ikedife Hospital” where he worked till his death.

As a Gynaecologist, he was very passionate about medicine and documented cases he treated. In his scientific observations, he came up with a widely published and accepted theory which he called “First Father Syndrome” in the etiology of PreEclampsia and Eclampsia in pregnancy.

Because of his desire to help train young doctors, in 1981, Dr. Ikedife accepted to be an External Examiner in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, which he did till 1992. Because Dr. Ikedife was one of those that attracted the College of Health Sciences to Nnewi town, (in 1995), he became a Reader in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the college.

While exploring ways to mentor and encourage young medical students in the University of Nigeria, in 1988, he established the Dr. Dozie Ikedife Annual Prize for the Best Medical Student in Community Medicine. The annual awards encouraged medical doctors to consider medical practice in rural communities where they are needed the most. Furthermore, in 1995, Dr. Ikedife established the Dozie Ikedife Medal and Prize. An annual award in College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi, for the Best Graduating Medical Doctor.

-Madueke can be reached at chuksmadueke@yahoo.com NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

but his conscience and the interest of justice, but while in his capacity as minister, he must take directives from the president and do the President’s bidding who appointed him.

Flowing from the above it would be difficult for the Attorney General to be non-partisan. ii. The AGF routinely advises the president and the government on all matters connected with the interpretation of the constitution, legislative enactment and all matters of laws referred to him. He also advises heads of ministries and agencies of government often, these issues require the delicate balance of government actions with the dictates of the rule of law. The AGF is obliged to ensure that the rule of law is not compromised in any form. This is often a great task, given that government actions sometimes conflict with the interest of the citizenry. iii. That in Advanced democracies such as the UK, and some African countries like Kenya and South Africa have since recognized the potential conflict of interest that could arise from one and the same person performing both functions and have since come to the reasoned decision to separate the offices. In the United Kingdom, the office of the AGF is separated from that of the justice minister. While the ministry of justice is headed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice who is a member of the cabinet, the AGF is a non-cabinet minister who leads the AGF office.

Arguments Against the Separation of the Offices Having stated that the focal point of the arguments in support of the bifurcation of the office of the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice is hinged on the need for the Attorney General not to be partisan, it is important to consider the arguments against such bifurcation with its succeeding difficulties. i. Meanwhile, those against the separation of the offices argued that such would amount to jurisdictional questions. It would stall cases in court in seeking interpretations of whom between the Minister of Justice and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation has “jurisdiction to either institute an action or carry out one function or the other”. ii. Further argued that true justice can only be achieved if both offices are combined. While there is no doubt that the Ministry of Justice, being one of the ministries of the government does the bidding of the government, the role of the prospective Attorney General after amendment has yet to be determined.

Inhibiting factors Having considered the issue of bifurcation of the duties and powers of the Attorney General and Minister of justice, the likely issues that will arise will include the insurmountable hurdle of how the Attorney General is to be appointed.

Is he to be appointed by the government, the populace via popular election or by the Nigerian Bar Association?

If the Attorney General were to be appointed by the President, he is likely to suffer from the same likelihood of bias and deference to the executive arm of government that the present occupier is accused of. The idea of the Chief Law Officer, being popularly elected, strips the exalted office from its impartial stance in the muddled waters of politics. Leaving the occupier of the exalted office to be appointed or elected by the Nigerian Bar Association violates the concepts of popular representation.

The duplication of the office might also result in jurisdictional questions stalling up cases at the court seeking interpretations of whom between the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation is the proper party to either institute an action or carry out one function or the other. The consequential duplication of functions which is likely to be the aftermath of its division leaves much to be desired.

-Ajulo is the Managing Partner, Castle of Law, Abuja.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

20

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

21

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 2.21 % 2.71 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1.50 % 6.00 % 7.75 %

D E C E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

476.35 % 0.51 % 4.57 %

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

1 3 , 2 0 1 9 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 15.53 % YEAR TO DATE 33.44 %

EXCHANGE RATE N306.90/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Arik, Dana, Nahco Win Awards

ArikAirsaiditgottriplerecognitionrecently,therebycartingawaymost oftheawardsintheindustryintheairlinecategory.

TheairlinebaggedtheawardsforA ‘ irlineoftheyear2019’and‘BestCabin Crew (Domestic)’ at the 10th edition of the Nigeria Aviation (NIGAV) AwardswhichheldinLagos,recently.

AlsoatthemaideneditionofAirTransportQuarterlyMagazineawards heldinLagosrecently,ArikAirwasawardedthe‘MostPunctualAirline oftheYear2019.‘ Congratulating Arik Air, Managing Director and Chairman of NIGAV Awards, Mr. Fortune Idu, said: “The NIGAV Awards are a fantastic opportunitytocelebratetheairline.ArikAirhasgoneaboveandbeyond and accomplished great things over the years. I cannot congratulate themenoughfortheircontributionstotheaviationindustry;theyshould beveryproudoftheirsuccess.”

Similarly,DanaAirwonanawardasthe‘BestAirlineinPassengerFacilitation’ attheNigerianAviationAwards.Theairline’sMediaandCommunications Manager,KingsleyEzenwa,whilespeakingtonewsmenafterreceiving theawardonbehalfofDanaAirsaid,weareexcitedaboutthis.Wegot similarawardlast2yearsasbestairline,lastalsoandthisyear,wejust gotthis.Thisonlydemonstratesourcommitmenttoprovidingseamless travelforourcustomershingedoncomfortandsafety.’

In the same vein, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance)overalsoscoopedtwoofaviationindustry’smostprestigious awards.

NAHCOwasdeclaredtheAirTransportAwards’GroundHandlingCompany oftheYear2019onFriday,December13,2019andthefollowingday,the companywasalsoannouncedthewinneroftheNIGAVAwardsGround HandlingoftheYearAward,2019.

COURTESY VISIT

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman (left), presenting a plaque to the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, who paid her a courtesy call at the NPA headquarters in Lagos...recently

Minister Rejects Poor Quality Landing Aid for Enugu Airport Chinedu Eze The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has rejected the instrument landing system (ILS), which was acquired for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

THISDAY learnt that the minister rejected the equipment when he was informed by the officials in charge of installation that the ILS was not of good quality, insisting that it must be replaced.

Instrument landing system is a guidance type of navigation that provides an instrumentbased technique for guiding an aircraft to approach and land on a runway.

AVIATION It uses a combination of radio signals to enable safe landing even during challenging conditions such as low visibility.

Category 2 of the ILS was earmarked for the Enugu airport and it was expected that before the ongoing reconstruction of the runway is completed, a new system must have been acquired and installed so that the airport would be reopened early next year.

Reliable industry sources who disclosed this to THISDAY did not explain whether heads may roll over the acquisition of the poor equipment, but said the

contractor that supplied it has been directed to replace it with the one that meets international standard.

“We wanted to use the opportunity of the reconstruction of Enugu airport runway to install the ILS but the Minister rejected the equipment when he was informed by the Director in charge that the equipment did not meet the standard quality and he said that the equipment should be replaced.

“He also insisted that any facility that would be installed at the airport must be of standard quality. He said he wanted to give the Enugu airport the same standard he gave to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International

Airport, Abuja. We just hope that the replacement will not further delay the reopening of the airport, but we appreciate the Minister’s directive that the right thing must be done,” the source told THISDAY. The Enugu airport was closed in August this year for a reconstruction of its runway, described as death trap. It was expected that by the end of March 2020, the airport would have reopened. But THISDAY learnt that Sirika is concerned more with the quality of work being done than when it would be reopened.

Continued on page 22

FG Urged to Harness Opportunities in Maritime Sector Eromosele Abiodun The Chairman of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, has described the global maritime industry as holding vast untapped potential for growth and wealth creation.

Jadesimi, stressed that the sector also holds the key to the sustainable economic development of Nigeria when its potential is adequately harnessed and nurtured. He stated this while speaking at the 2019 Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Annual Stakeholders’ Appreciation Night held in Lagos.

He stated that having the longest coastline in West Africa gave the Nigerian maritime sec-

MARITIME tor vast untapped opportunities and that the maritime sector could develop sustainable businesses that would dwarf the revenues we get from exporting commodities.

The LADOL’s chairman pointed out that across the world crude oil is increasingly being marginalised and huge pressures continue to mount to move to cleaner alternatives, and renewable.

He said: “At the same time the maritime sector is offering a wide range of new business opportunities from clean energy to new modes of transportation, logistics and agriculture – maritime sector cuts across almost

all other sectors. The maritime industry holds the key to the sustainable economic development of Nigeria by developing the full the potential within the sector across a range of industries. Whatever we do must be underpinned with strong local content – in today’s world that starts with Nigerians owning, engineering and building the ships we use.

“It is, however, demonstrably the case that we have quite a large financial and capacity gap to fill for Nigerians to be in a position to own most of the vessels ploughing through our waters. Of course, we are all aware of the particular challenges militating against expansion of vessel ownership

by Nigerians, the number one

hurdle being access to long term finance at a reasonable price.

Nonetheless, the opportunities here are considerable and more than sufficient to support the needed investment.”

He added: “Nigeria is ideally placed and suited to become the ship building, repairs and maintenance hub for Africa.

This will go hand in hand with ship building. Our local market alone can justify the investments and new facilities needed. This is also an industry that has a significant multiplier effect on long-term job creation. We can just imagine the enormous positive socio-economic impact of developing vibrant wide spread ship building capacity in Nigeria Continued on page 22

BATN Wins Top Employer Award

TheBritishAmericanTobaccoNigeria(BATN)hasbeenrecognisedasa TopEmployerinNigeriabytheTopEmployersInstitutefortheyear2020.

This recognition was given to the tobacco company at a certification dinnerheldinJohannesburg,SouthAfrica.

TheChiefExecutiveOfficerofTopEmployersInstitute,DavidPlink,while congratulatingthecompanyontheaward,said:“Tobecomerecognisedas aTopEmployer,anorganisationwillhavetoprovethattheimplementation oftheirpeoplestrategiesenrichestheworldofworkoftheiremployees.

Thecertifiedparticipantsareashiningexampleofadedicationtopeople practicesastheycontinuouslycommittoempoweringtheiremployees forabetterworldofwork.”

TheinstitutealsonotedthatorganisationscertifiedasTopEmployers dedicatethemselvestoprovidingtheverybestworkingenvironment foremployeesthroughtheirprogressive‘people-first’HRpractices.

Whileacknowledgingtherecognition,HumanResourcesDirector,West AfricaArea,BritishAmericanTobacco,TemitopeAkinsanya,said:“Itis a real privilege to be selected among the top three countries in Africa forsuchaprestigiousaward.Itdemonstratesthepridewehaveinour heritage,thedrivetooutperformanddeliverdespiteuncertainties,and theabilitytostrikeabalancebetweenworkandlife.”

Akinsanya noted further that, “This award clearly demonstrates our adherence to international best practices and excellence. It is also a reflectionofourresilienceandcommitmenttothewelfareandoverall developmentofouremployees,whichmakesBATAGreatPlacetoWork.”

‘Airport Cleaning Service Challenging’

Airportcleaningservicesprovider,LakewoodDevelopmentCompany Limitedhassaiditischallengingcleaningairportsthatrecordstreams ofthousandsofpeopleeveryday.

TheGeneralManager,ServicesofLakewood,Mrs.BelindaIrafor,saidthe companyhastakenupthechallengeofkeepingtheMurtalaMuhammed InternationalAirport(MMIA),whichrecordsbetween5000-10000users dailywithsignificantimprovementintheoverallcleanlinessofthefacility.

Iraformadethisknownrecentlywhenhercompanyclinchedthisyear’s NigeriaAviation(NIGAV)Awards.

ExplainingtheservicesLakewoodoffers,Mrs.Iraforsaid,“Wearevery gratefulforthisawardandweareintojanitorialcleaning,industrialcleaning andwearealsoinestatemanagement.Wearetheonescleaningthefour internationalairportsinNigeria.PortHarcourt,Calabar,LagosandAbuja.

“Cleaningisaveryinterestingjobbecausecleanlinessisnexttogodliness.

Youhavetomakeyourenvironmentcleanandairportisaveryimportant placeandaverysensitiveenvironmentwherebyyouhavetomakethe convenience and the entire environment hygienic and also make the passengerscomfortable”.

“The issue of pricing of aviation fuel and its availability depends on how fast we can get back some of our refineries into operation and the refining of the product” Director of Consumer Protection, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),

Adamu Abduallhi

22

T H I S D AY Ëž DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD MINISTER REJECTS POOR QUALITY LANDING AID FOR ENUGU AIRPORT However, THISDAY also gathered that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would lose over N400 million to the closure of the airport this Christmas season.

Before reconstruction work started at the airport runway, few weeks ago, the facility was in a deplorable state.

The Minister had said he would have closed the Enugu airport immediately work was completed at the Abuja runway in 2018 and moved to rehabilitate the runway of the Eastern gateway.

But the state government was supposed to move host communities from the airport land where the runway was to be extended, relocate the market and remove masts from flight path. This was not done by the state government until the Minister threatened to close the airport middle of this year before the market was relocated.

FG URGED TO HARNESS OPPORTUNITIES IN MARITIME SECTOR along with manpower training and leading to the gainful employment in the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians. “We should borrow a leaf from the Philippines, in many ways comparable to Nigeria in socio-economic terms. As a matter of public policy, over the years they have developed a very robust world class merchant seamen training programme. Today there are tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of Pilipino merchant seamen deployed all over the world who remit millions of dollars back to the Philippines year in year out.� “Water transportation is yet one more area where our water resources can be harnessed to power industrial development.

Agricultural products rot due to poor logistics and transportation options. With no means to move them to the market efficiently the agricultural sector cannot compete globally. Roads are expensive to build and maintain.

Thanks to the present Government, the railways are rising again but will take time. We can make use of the water ways today; with a fraction of the investment we would need to make into roads, � he said.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

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

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

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

NEWS

Apapa Gridlock: Freight Forwarders Want NPA Overhaul Call-up System Stories by Eromosele Abiodun Freight forwarders operating in the Lagos ports have called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to re-arrange its call-up system, stressing that the current system has failed.

The NPA introduced the callup system mid this year for the orderly movement of trucks in and out of the Lagos ports as part of the measures to tackle Apapa gridlock.

The freight forwarders observed that the collapse of the system introduced to sanitise and streamline truck access to the port, has thrown up huge operational challenges that are threatening to muzzle them out of business.

The Vice-President, Western Zone of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF), Tanko Ibrahim in a statement said terminals operators, shipping companies and the presidential task team on Apapa traffic gridlock have all cashed in on the chaos that results from the failed call-up system to subject freight forwarders to unwarranted extortion and harassment.

Ibrahim disclosed that as a result of these challenges, the concerned freight forwarders have written to the NPA authority to convene a meeting of relevant stakeholders to address the problems. “The NPA call-up system is not working due to the failure of the shipping companies to adhere to the NPA directive to have holding bays. Also, the terminal operators, especially the APMT which takes in the highest numbers of trucks, lack adequate cargo handling equipment which made trucks cleared to access the terminal get stranded at the gate, thereby causing long queues on the access roads� Ibrahim declared.

He said this development has now created traffic nightmare on the port access roads which has thrown up lots of challenges. “As results of this, the Presidential task team has cashed in on the situation to subject truckers to mindless extortion. They now demand the sum of N200,000 per truck before they are given access into the port. They humiliate, molest and harass truck drivers in the course of perpetrating this illegality. Consequently, these truckers build in these unreceipted charges to the cost of evacuating our containers out of the ports. For instance, to transport a 40 ft container from Apapa to ASPANDA on Badagry road, they charge N700,000 instead of initial N50,000-N80,000 cost,�he said.

convened a meeting where we invited all the relevant stakeholders including the NPA, Shippers’ Council, Shipping Companies, Terminal operators, NARTO, AMATO, Maritime Police and all the freight forwarding associations of ANLCA, AREFF, Council of Managing Directors and others. “But to our greatest surprise and annoyance, while others stakeholders honoured the invitation, the shipping companies and terminal operators, who are the major culprits of these illegalities, stayed away. “So we resolved to ask the NPA management to convene another meeting where all the stakeholders, including the recalcitrant shipping companies and terminal operators, would be compelled to attend.This

He further disclosed that as a result of the gridlock, the shipping companies slam on them huge and unwarranted demurrage charges, while their containers deposits are usually mutilated or returned.

In addition, the freight forwarders complained that their Terminal Delivery Order (TDO) issued by the shipping companies usually get expired as truck drivers are perpetually entangled in the traffic mayhem. “But the shipping companies would insist on revalidation of the TDO at a cost. These operational challenges thrown up by the gridlock have placed additional financial burden on the freight forwarders and their principals due to no fault of theirs. So last week, the concerned freight forwarders

is because the NPA, as the regulatory agency, will have enough clout to compel them to attend, “Ibrahim declared.

Ibrahim on behalf of concerned freight forwarders therefore begged the NPA to, as a matter of urgency, convene an urgent summit of all the stakeholders in the industry to address the identified operational challenges.

The group warned that the NPA should convene this meeting, “to forestall further restiveness before it snow balls into an unmanageable crisis.� “We are therefore giving the NPA a 21-day ultimatum from the day they received the letter, to convene this crucial summit or be prepared to face massive strike action by the freight forwarders,�Ibrahim declared.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING SESSION

L-R: Principal, Commercial Finance, Shell Nigeria, Remi Soyannwo; Deputy CEO & Head IBD, RMB Nigeria, Dalu Ajene, and President, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, during the bonds, loans and Sukuk Conference Nigeria 2019 sponsored by RMB, that took place in Lagos‌recently

STOAN: Manual Customs Processes, Overtime Goods Impede Port Efficiency The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup has stated that the efficiency of Nigerian seaports is being hampered by poor port access roads, manual cargo examination by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the preponderance of overtime goods at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking at the 2019 Annual Stakeholders’ Appreciation Night organised by Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the STOAN chairman said bad roads have become, “the largest single obstacle working against the efficiency

of our ports.�

She said: “Port operators and port users are groaning under the weight of severe stress posed by severely dilapidated port access roads. While terminal operations at all the ports have attained varying degrees of efficiency, the severely dilapidated roads leading into and out of the ports are fast eroding the gains of the port reforms we all worked hard to achieve.�

She said port workers, government officials and other stakeholders daily endure avoidable stress to resume work and return to their homes.

“Recently, I read the newspaper account of a Customs Controller who said that officers serving at his command frequently fall ill because of the Apapa gridlock and the attendant stress induced by commuting daily to and from work on motorbikes, which many have resorted to because the roads are no longer passable.

There is only so much the body can endure,� she said.

Haastrup, also identified manual clearing processes as another major issue hindering the efficiency of the ports.

She said: “The scanners at

the port are not working, while almost all the cargoes landed at our ports are subjected to 100 percent physical examination.

This certainly slows down the cargo delivery process and increases the cost of doing business. We urge the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, work on automating Customs processes at our ports and installing functional scanners to reduce manual clearing processes. “Automation and scanning will reduce human contacts at the port and cut down on the use of discretionary powers by

government officials. This will in turn reduce the cost of doing business at the port and boost government revenue.�

On the preponderance of overtime cargoes at the port, the STOAN Chairman appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service to expedite action in auctioning the goods as provided in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).

Space, she said, is vital at every port and “a situation where overtime cargoes are allowed to take up substantial space at the port is not healthy enough.�

WACT Handles Largest Container Ship to Berth at Eastern Port Efforts to increase ship traffic at the Eastern ports has received a boost with the successful handling of a containership measuring 265 metres in length overall by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) at the Onne Port Complex, Rivers State.

The ship, named JPO Volans, is the first gearless vessel and the largest containership ever to visit a seaport outside the Lagos area. The Managing Director

of WACT, Mr. Aamir Mirza in a statement said the German vessel brought containers to the Onne Port from the Far East. He said it took only 2.75 days to turnaround the vessel.

According to Mirza, “this is another major achievement for Onne Port and another testament to our commitment to set new standards and serve our customers better.�

He said WACT was able to handle this gearless vessel by deploying its newly

commissioned Mobile Harbor Cranes. “The key achievement here is our ability to handle larger, gearless, mainline vessels that were considered only suitable for terminals in Lagos. By handling these vessels, we have not only proven to the world that East Nigerian ports are equally capable of handling these large ships but have also improved the profile of Onne port globally. I would like to particularly thank NPA,

under the leadership of Madam Hadiza, Port Manager Onne, OnneHarbour Master and Pilots for their support in making this happen. “With our major investment plans in the pipeline, this will go a long way in improving our capabilities and highlighting same to all our shipping line and landside customers, �the WACT boss said.

In September this year, WACT acquired two Mobile Harbor Cranes worth $10

million (N3.6 billion) to boost operation at the terminal. The terminal operator also acquired 10 specialised terminal trucks and two new reach stackers to complement existing cargo handling equipment, to increase the turnaround time of vessels at the port.

The new cranes and other investments effectively brought WACT at par with its peers in Lagos ports in terms of equipment availability and operational efficiency.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

FG Abandons Passenger Transit Facility at MMIA Stories by Chinedu Eze

The federal government has abandoned the transit facility, which was aimed at hosting transit passengers connecting flights to West and Central African countries on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The transit facility was one of the requirements for the Lagos airport, which is the busiest in the country, to become a hub, but the project was abandoned with the exit of the former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah who started the project.

The government intended to build the transit hotel, which was to be situated on the third floor of the terminal so that transit passengers travelling to long haul destinations from the West Coast through Nigeria, could rest before boarding their flight or those returning to their final destinations could rest before connecting flight to their home countries.

Every major airport that operates as hub has passenger transit facilities. That is the advantage airports in Accra and Dakar have over the Lagos airport.

During the foundation laying ceremony of the hotel, Oduah had said the government would earn more revenue from the initiative, while it would make Nigerian airports to favourably compete with its counterparts in the world.

She had lamented that most passengers with connecting flight had to either sit on the floor at the airport or drive outside the terminal to rest before the arrival of their flights.

In late 2015, during the maiden tour of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Minister of Transportation) and Sen. Hadi Sirika (then Minister of State for Aviation), had promised to continue with the project, agreeing that it would improve the revenue generation for the government.

But, seven years after

the commencement of the construction and four years after the tour of the facility by this government, the project has remained abandoned.

THISDAY learnt that some workers at the airport now use the abandoned facility as their rest place.

Further investigation indicated that the construction, which was at the demarcation and fitting stages since 2014 when Oduah was removed, still remained same till date.

A source who is a staff of one of the agencies at the airport said the project was very important for the profile of the airport and it would also be a source of revenue to the country when completed.

“The fact remains that the project has been abandoned by the government.

If you can remember, the project started in 2012 uptill 2014 when Stella was removed, but at that stage, we thought succeeding ministers will continue, but we are actually wrong,” the source said.

Arik Embarks on CSR Initiative Arik Air has marked the end of 2019 with donations of food items, clothes and other materials to young Nigerians in need in different part of the country.

Last Tuesday, it was the turn of the ‘Save Our Soul’ (SOS) Children’s Village in Isolo area of Lagos.

Presenting the items on behalf of the airline, the Airline’s Head of Marketing, Central West Africa, Mr Andrew Odion, said the donation was to enable children of the village to enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Odion said the donation was the airline’s corporate social responsibility (CSR)

to give back to the less privileged in the society.

“As a socially responsible organisation, we want to touch the lives of children and the less privileged in our society.

We identify with the significance of this season, which is a day of giving love, attention, affection to children all over the world, and helping in charting a greater path to their development.

“This is why we are here to donate some items to children of this village for Christmas and New Year festival. This is not the first time the airline will be donating these

items to the orphanage home and also the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country,” he said.

Odion noted that the airline had on Sunday donated some relief materials to the Yola IDPs. The airline official said it would also be at the Love Home Orphanage in Magodo, Lagos, on Wednesday to donate same items to the children.

He said the company would be in Benin on Thursday and Jos by next week to celebrate the festive period in the orphanage home and donate some items to them.

TAAG Angola Launches Direct Flight to Lagos TAAG Angola Airlines has marked its inaugural flight to Lagos, Nigeria, beginning from December 16, 2019.

The flight departs from Luanda to Lagos on Mondays and Fridays at 11:330am and is scheduled to arrive in Lagos at 14:30.

The return flights on the same weekdays will depart from Lagos at 15:30 and are scheduled to arrive in Luanda at 18:30.

The service, which would kick-off with two weekly flights to Lagos, would be operated by a Boeing 737-700 NG, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 108 seats in Economy Class, totaling 120 available seats per flight. The weekly flights would increase from two to three by early next year,

said the airline.

TAAG Angola Airlines CEO, Dr. Rui Teles Carreira said: “We are very excited to be announcing our new service to Lagos - the latest destination added to our network that will further connect African countries and beyond and by which we expect positive results.

This route will allow easy connections to and from Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, Lisbon and Porto.

“The new route to the coastal city of Lagos will not only further solidify links between Angola and Nigeria with direct flights between both countries while also fostering connectivity between West and Southern Africa.

TAAG Angola Airlines is committed to increasing its presence as well as

offering good connections, inside and outside of Africa, looking forward to increasing the number of destinations we already offer our passengers.”

Currently, TAAG Angola Airlines operates a modern fleet with 13 aircraft through its hub in Luanda International Airport, to dozens of domestic and international destinations. Lagos route will strengthen TAAG’s Luanda hub with seamless connection between Lagos and Johannesburg and soon to Cape Town, in the airlines regional route network, while also providing connectivity between Lagos and Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Porto as well as to European codeshare routes, through Luanda.

Travel Agencies Battle to Stay on Top Chinedu Eze Competition is rise among major travel agencies in Nigeria. But as operators in the downstream of the aviation sector, not many know about the critical role travel agencies play in connecting people to flights and hospitalities.

Statistics indicate that travel and tourism sector in Nigeria contributed about 2.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria in 2018 and this is projected to rise by 4.3 per cent per annum, from 20182028. By 2028, it is expected that the industry would be worth N3, 605.

7 billion.

THISDAY spoke to the Managing Director of Finchglow Travels, Bankole Bernard who is currently the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA).

Bernard, said the downstream sub-sector of the aviation industry is not given the recognition that it deserves, considering the role it plays in air travel and tourism in Nigeria, adding that it is a multibillion naira sub-sector.

He spoke about his company, Finchglow Travels, which is currently number one travel agency in Nigeria in terms of sales and service.

Bernard explained how hard work and efficient service brought the company to the tops; that it was recently recognised by UK based Virgin Atlantic Airways as the travel agency with the best revenue growth and best overall revenue achiever, 2019.

“We came into the business 13 years and in those 13 years; we have been able to make our relevance known within the market place where we found ourselves. We have grown from the staff strength of five to 165. We have multiple offices around the country. We have five in Lagos, two in Abuja and one in Port Harcourt.

Basically, we are in the business of distribution and in the business of distribution, it means the more locations you have, the better your opportunity of reaching your clients.

This has really helped our growth,” he said.

To give travel agencies the prime place it deserves in the aviation industry, the Finchglow Boss said that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) need to engage the downstream by regulating it effectively and ensuring that interlopers who don’t have the requisite certification are not allowed to practice in the sub-sector.

“NCAA over the years has not really engaged the downstream sector like

NCAA over the years has not really engaged the downstream sector like they should but DATR has taken a new initiative by ensuring that the downstream sector is regulated

Kwara Hajj

Bernard

they should but the Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR) has taken a new initiative by ensuring that the downstream sector is regulated as it should because on our own, we have pushed for sensitising and sanitising the industry on what we stand for.

“Now that NCAA is beginning to see the impact of what we are making, they are beginning to see the need to regulate it. That was why we called for a fresh registration of all travel agencies in Nigeria and they have given a deadline that everyone should meet. Our organisation has done that.

We see better downstream sector in the near future,” Bernard said.

He said in response to the projections of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that in the near future there would be dearth of aviation personnel, from pilots, engineers and others, if there is no significant effort made to train more people now, by establishing aviation training schools, where young men and women are trained.

Bernard, said with that effort by Finchglow, many youths have gained employment by operating their own travel agencies, or opened other related businesses in the sub-sector and future manpower for the industry is being created.

“I have had the opportunity to speak with the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika on why there should be a focus on the downstream sector of the aviation industry. A lot of our youths are not aware of the industry in which we play. Every time they talk about aviation, they refer largely to cabin crew and the pilots, forgetting that there are other areas youths could focus on. A youth can be a travel consultant. So, I had to set up a school to help them acquire the necessary skills for them to function. I can say that 80 per cent of our workforce is youths and they are happy.

“They are spreading the business idea to their friends, colleagues and families, telling them that there are other professions aside having to be a doctor or engineers. Travel agency business is for professionals, not for dropouts and there is a certificate that is recognised globally for the profession. They are travel consultants and you know what it means to be a consultant; he is a specialist in that field. With this, I think Finchgow as an organisation has contributed to youth empowerment and for creating relevance for the youths within the economy,” the Managing Director of Finchglow said.

24

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Sustaining Domestic Flight Operations Chinedu Eze writes on the need for the federal government to support domestic airlines in the acquisition of more aircraft, to boost air travel.

O

perating aircraft in Nigeria went down since the last five years, from over 90 to about 50 as of December 2019. This also gave rise to higher airfares, as more passengers chase fewer aircraft seats.

The major challenge faced by airlines is that it is particularly difficult to acquire aircraft in Nigeria because lessors are extremely unwilling to lease aircraft to Nigerian operators because of the abuse of the Cape Town Convention by airlines that failed to return their aircraft at the negation of leasing contract conditions.

Nigeria was signatory to Cape Town Convention in 2008, which enhances airlines in member countries to lease aircraft but abide by the conditions agreed between the lessor and the airline.

Besides leasing, another option is outright purchase. Many Nigerian operators do not have the funds to purchase aircraft because indigenous banks are not willing to extend huge credit facility to airlines due to past failure of Nigerian carriers to repay their loans. So it has become difficult for Nigerian airlines to replenish their equipment. This is why it is becoming more difficult to travel by air.

During peak seasons the flights are fully booked and there are more delays and flight cancellations because fewer aircraft are made to operate the rounds from one airport to another, encumbered by obsolete and limited airport infrastructure.

Airfares have risen from the lowest bottom of N14, 000 in 2015 to N25, 000 in 2019 with exchange rate remaining stable in the parallel market of N36 per $1, from the undulating N40 per $1 in 2015/2016. So the present high fares are triggered by inadequate equipment.

Depleting Aircraft The CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi acknowledged recently that Nigerian airlines are facing serious challenge acquiring new fleet. He said the situation would have been worse without the new acquisitions by Air Peace. “If you look at the number of operating aircraft in the entire system, including all the airlines in the past 12 months or starting from January 1, 2019, till date, you will see that there is remarkable decrease in the inflow of aircraft into the country, there is definitely a significant decrease. If you also look at the inflow of leased and acquired aircraft, you will also notice that there is a decrease. “The only airline that is bringing aircraft to operate in the country is Air Peace. So capacity of the airlines has not grown because Nigerian airlines are not able to lease aircraft that will operate in the country. Passenger demand has increased because after the election there was stability, which triggered the demand. “More people travel since after the election and this is natural. But unfortunately we are not meeting the demand by making sure that we have a certain number of aircraft that are operating in the system to feed the market. It is quite unfortunate that Nigeria that is well blessed with a lot of natural resources and well respected in Africa, we still cannot boast of buying aircraft and bringing them into the country for operations,� Sanusi said.

The Aero CEO agreed that there is a big hitch in aircraft acquisition because a lot of leasing companies do not want to do business with Nigeria. “So when Nigerian airlines make enquiries to lease aircraft the response they get from the leasing companies is that they are only willing to sell; that they are not in the position to lease. What is the reason to that? They said country risk. What is country risk? They don’t think that if there is default and they want to reposes their airplane they will have smooth repossession or at least, a hitch free repossession. “They don’t also feel that at the time of returning the aircraft it would be returned based on the leasing conditions. They feel that the safety oversight is not strong enough to make sure that the aircraft are effectively maintained

Air Peace cabin crew on ight audit

and when they are to be returned, they will be returned in good condition,� Sanusi said.

Air Peace Strives An operator who is into charter services recently told THISDAY that the luck the aviation industry has is that whenever the sector seems to be going down, “somebody will come from nowhere and invest in the industry and be a rescuer. It happened when Arik Air joined the market. It is also happening now with Air Peace.�

Industry analysts believe that without Air Peace intervention airfares would be too high for travelers, adding that there would be far fewer number of seats available for domestic air passengers and that will obviously triple the fares.

Currently Air Peace has 26 aircraft: one Dornier, eight Embraer 145, three Boeing B777 and 14 B737 with a firm order of 23 new aircraft. According to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Air Peace has about one-third of the domestic market, which is about 33 per cent of the market.

The airline provides the highest number of seats on domestic flights, it is the biggest

One, timely entrance.

As Arik and Aero were constricting on number of routes, available capacity, and manpower utilisation, Air Peace came in to cushion the impact. Two, it contributed to the aviation industry by employment, training, and infrastructure provision

employer of labour in the industry with over 3000 workers and it is the only airline that has kept Nigeria on the long haul international destination.

Aviation consultant, Amos Akpan identified three major contributions of Air Peace in air travel in Nigeria. He said the airline entered the market in the nick of time and provided the equipment when the overall aircraft fleet was depleting. “One, timely entrance. As Arik and Aero were constricting on number of routes, available capacity, and manpower utilisation, Air Peace came in to cushion the impact. Two, it contributed to the aviation industry by employment, training, and infrastructure provision. “The multiplier effect of Air Peace employing over 3000 Nigerians is huge as it spreads into education, health, shelter and food. Trade and integration is enhanced as people can now fly between Kano and Owerri, Lagos and Banjul etc.�

He said industry observers and other Nigerians are anxious to see Air Peace and other Nigerian carriers grow to take back substantial market share from international carriers on long haul destinations. “There is a sense of pride in travelling on a Nigerian airline on the international route; especially when the service is comparable with renowned carriers worldwide. However, there is fear from historical experience. We do not wish our hopes raised and dashed again. “Nigerian carriers have to find a way to remain in sustainable operations. Jobs are lost, skills are redundant, infrastructures decay, and industry image is battered when thriving airline suddenly crumbles. All stakeholders must work together to stop this trend. “My personal opinion is that the industry operates like the proverbial crab colony in a bucket. Throw the crabs in a bucket; don’t cover the bucket, none of the crab can climb out because they’ll keep pulling each other down,� Akpan said.

However, an industry operator told THISDAY that there is a prevailing sadism in the industry, “whereby stakeholders will be calling for investment in the industry and when somebody ventures to invest the sector, the same stakeholders will begin to undermine him and his business. It seems that some people want to continue to have a stultified industry that serves their narrow purpose.�

Expanding Destinations Air Peace open new domestic routes, revived old ones that were abandoned and it is now pioneering new local destinations.

The airline will soon connect Ibadan to some destinations in northern part of the country. It has already connected Kano and Owerri and when Enugu is reopened, it would connect it to some other northern destinations. With this air connectivity, businesses are enhanced, according to industry stakeholders. “We will like to develop new routes to enhance the nation’s economy. We will like to connect Owerri to Kano, Benin to Port Harcourt, Ibadan to some destinations in the northern part of the country. We will also like to connect Sokoto to Maiduguri, Lagos to Gombe. We would connect these cities without stops in Lagos or Abuja. “We will use our 50-seater Embraer ERJ 145 jets, which we acquired for this purpose.

We have just added two of the brand to our existing six, making it eight aircraft. We are utilising the 50-seater jets to connect every city in the country,� Chief Operating Officer of Air Peace, Mrs. Toyin Olajide said.

Stakeholders’ Support For Air Peace to succeed it needs the support of government and industry stakeholders.

Industry operators have reiterated that government through the relevant ministries and agencies allegedly hinder the growth of domestic airlines that actually create jobs. They said these agencies promote policies that tend to encourage foreign carriers that operate into the country.

They noted that despite the fact that government knows that domestic airlines will not grow if foreign airlines are encouraged to operate unhindered into the country, government has not taken any concrete step to show support to local carriers, like insisting that foreign airlines code-share with them if they want to operate to more one airports in the country.

The President of Sabre Network, Africa and also the President of industry think-tank body, Aviation Round Table (ART), Dr Gbenga Olowo, recently told THISDAY that Nigeria needs the foreign airlines but efforts should be made by the country to balance the trade by empowering local carriers to compete with the international airlines.

He said that it is easy for government to insist that international airlines must code-share with domestic airlines for designation into more airports in the country.

25

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Mohammed: Why Nigeria Needs Aircraft Leasing Companies The Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed, in this interview calls for the establishment of aircraft leasing companies in the country. He also speaks on other issues. Chinedu Eze brings the excerpts:

W

hat is the current situation with the plan of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, to acquire additional 20 Diamond aircraft to uplift its operations?

The supply is for 20 aircraft. That was DA42, which has two engines and 15 DA40, which is single engine aircraft. Because of budgetary constraint, we could not order for the entire aircraft at once. So, we ordered for the aircraft in batches. When I assumed duty in 2017, the college took delivery of only one DA42 AIRCARFT. This was because when the initial orders were placed, the aircraft were manufactured, but due to the failure of the college then to make payment, the manufacturer decided to sell the aircraft. So, they couldn’t get the aircraft any longer. So, we said we were not going to place any other until we have money. So, last year, I placed orders for six DA40 aircraft, we made all the payments that is required to guarantee the payment of the aircraft. We are going to perform factory acceptance check on these aircraft in the third week of January 2020 and thereafter, by two weeks after that, sometime in the mid-February or so, the six aircraft would be delivered to Zaria. This will greatly enhance our training capacity. With the delivery of these aircraft, we intend to place order for the batch of another aircraft.

So, we will be ordering them in batches until we take delivery of the 20 aircraft.

How do you conduct on-the-job training for the staff so that they would continue to be aware of latest advancement in the industry?

We have three types of training at NCAT. There is the training that we provide at the college. When we are conducting training, we involve our staff. When we identify training needs in certain departments or units like record keeping, computer appreciation, these are courses we conduct at the college, rather than sending them to conduct it outside the college. We also have training, which we send our staff to do either in Kaduna or Abuja. Then, we have foreign training, which involved technical ones that are licenses. These training are required of them to maintain the currency of their licenses. In 2018 alone within the college, we trained 104 staff and in 2019, we trained 181 of our staff within the college. In addition to that, we have sent over 80 people in batches to public services institutes in Abuja annually for training and these trainings cut across the ranks.

That is from security men, cleaners up to the chief inspector. We didn’t differentiate.

We recognise the need for these kinds of trainings for being civil servants; for civil service rules and procedures by the public service institute, which is ongoing and we carry this on annually. I keep trying to explain to people to stop looking at training as their welfare. Training is not a welfare, but for capacity building. Foreign training is for licensed staff like pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, aircraft maintenance engineers and instructors. All these ones are NCAA (Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority) requirements for recurrent training. In addition, we also send the staff to do attachment on the industry. For ATC, they go to the facilities of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). For the pilots, ground instructors, we send them to the airlines and for the engineers also go to the airlines and the maintenance organisations. So, all these are parts of the local trainings.

How far have you gone with the Postgraduate diploma programme you commenced few weeks ago?

The Postgraduate Diploma (PDG) we are running in Lagos has been a success. This

Mohammed is the second course that we are running outside Zaria. The first one is our license preparatory course for the engineering school, which we are going to complete this month.

Already, we have had request for another one. We have realised that there is a huge demand for NCAT to conduct site courses.

So, in the next few years, we are going to be conducting more courses especially in Lagos where there is huge concentration of aviation personnel in the country.

Is it possible for NCAT to expand its runways and make it commercially viable in order to increase its internally generated revenue (IGR)?

Our runway is only 1.6km long; it is certified to carry an aircraft in the passenger capacity of 10-seater private jet. It’s not a commercial airfield. It was built specifically for flight training. The college some years back was looking at the possibility of extending the runway and making it a commercial airport, but with the change of government in 2015 that project was set aside because we had

The IATA figures will continue to show that there is a demand for more pilots because this is based on aircraft orders. People are always ordering new aircraft and we have people who are retiring. So, there will continue to be need for more pilots

other priorities. But now, we have realised the need to extend the runway even if we are not going to have commercial flight. For instance, in May this year when the minister of aviation went around to commission some projects, he wanted to go to Zaria, but he couldn’t land. He and his team had to land in Kaduna Airport and had to go to Zaria by helicopter. A few months later, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was going to Zaria on official visit, so, he too had to land in Kaduna and go by helicopter. So, with these experiences, we have now revisited the idea of increasing the length of the runway, but we need additional land. The current land the college has is not enough to accommodate the extension. So, we are looking at the possibility of acquiring additional land. The problem as you know is the issue of land encroachment.

Some of the settlers in the neighborhood of the college have encroached into our land and the case is in the court. Unfortunately, the judge that was handling the case before died and it was reassigned to another judge. So, we can’t touch anything there until the case is determined in the court. I don’t know if we commence, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will give us any money.

FAAN is in control of all the airports and they keep all the revenues they make. They claimed that what they generate out of Zaria doesn’t even cover the overhead cost, but we are exploring other avenues of increasing our IGR. What is NCAT doing about type rating of young pilots who graduated from the college without a job?

As you know, when a pilot graduates from school, he comes out with a Basic Commercial Pilot License and then with the type on the aircraft that he used for training. So, when he comes out and gets a job anywhere, if they are operating that kind of an aircraft he trained on, he doesn’t need additional training, but if it is in any other aircraft that is different, he must undergo type-rating training regardless of the size of the aircraft.

So, you can imagine the number of training facility that you will need. For the bigger commercial aircraft, most of the training is done in simulator for cost effectiveness. We call them complex aircraft. When you fly

complex aircraft, some of the manoeuvres and the emergencies that you have to be trained on cannot be carried out on actual aircraft.

You can only do them on simulators. That is why you have to go to where they have simulators. For each aircraft type, there is a simulator that is providing this training. At NCAT, we recognised this gap and that was why we embarked on the acquisition of the B737NG simulator. That is the type that Arik Air operates. We envisaged that the B737 Classics are on their way out. That is why we decided to go for the New Generation (NG). This project would have been completed a long time ago. The initial process was to site the simulator in Lagos, but when this administration came into power in 2015, the decision was changed to site it in Zaria and there was no provision for the building that will accommodate this simulator. We looked at the possibility of using existing structures, but they are not suitable. So, we now had to start afresh by getting consultants that will design the building, we had to go through full procurement process, selecting contractors.

We awarded that contract last year and the building as we speak is about 60 per cent completed. The structure is completed. We are only doing internal wiring, painting and stuff like that. That simulator we hope would be delivered to the college within the first quarter of 2020.

When we have that simulator installed, we will be able to offer type-rating courses on that B737NG. Now, as part of our plans for the future, we also made provision for a second simulator. So, if you go to the building, you will see that we have two simulator bases. We intend to install a second simulator. We are watching the industry to see if the national carrier comes; the type of equipment they are going to use will now guide us on the type of simulator to install. Once we have the national carrier, NCAT will play a big role in training a lot of the personnel.

What is your say on the number of pilots the International Air Transport Association (IATA) projected would be needed in the next few years?

The IATA figures will continue to show that there is a demand for more pilots because this is based on aircraft orders. People are always ordering new aircraft and we have people who are retiring. So, there will continue to be need for more pilots.

In Nigeria, we don’t order a lot of aircraft; the biggest orders IATA is quoting are taken from Middle East and Asia. This is where most of the big orders are. In Europe and America, most of the aircraft are owed by leasing companies. These leasing companies are the actual owners of these aeroplanes and then they give them to airlines. If you can recall, one of the projects the Ministry of Aviation is pursuing is the establishment of leasing company. You know one of the challenges facing our domestic airlines is their inability to lease aircraft. Because of the past behaviour of airlines in Nigeria, the leasing companies are not willing to lease aircraft to Nigerian operators. That is why we identified the need to have our own leasing company that will now make it possible for Nigerian operators to have access to some of these new-state-of-the-art aircraft under comfortable and profitable terms. There will continue to be this gap for some time in Nigeria because we have quite a lot of unemployed people.

So, it will take time before they are all fully employed and we as a training organisation will continue to train more personnel for the industry. Like I told you, we intend to increase our training capacity, but hopefully, the industry is growing, Africa is growing and there is a huge demand for air travel because people realise it is the safest and the most convenient form of transportation.

26

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 20, 2019

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Investing in Port Efficiency Eromosele Abiodun writes that the acquisition of N8.2 billion equipment by Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited will help to optimize operations, promote a port efficiency and reduce logistics cost

B

efore the port concessioning policy of the federal government in 2006, Nigerian ports were a mess with almost everything going very bad.

In a bid to arrest the situation, the federal government came up with the idea of concessioning the ports to qualified private operators.

Dutch firm Royal Haskoning BV was commissioned to study Nigerian ports preparatory to the reform. The resulting report, called Haskoning Study was submitted to the federal government and was accepted as a cogent x-ray of the Nigerian seaport system. The report criticised the over-centralisation of administration that saw Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) function as both regulator and operator, the overlap of authority in the system and the duplication of efforts. It recommended a “Landlord” port administration model where government’s role would be restricted to policy formulation while private operators undertake the day to day running of terminal operations, stevedoring, warehousing; and investments in port equipment and infrastructure, among other activities. The report called for NPA to be unbundled into three zones and for concessions by open bidding.

After examining the report, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), endorsed the “Landlord” model, and under a new transport policy NPA was given the role technical regulator to manage the ports for which there were no bids. The National Transport Commission (NTC) was to become commercial regulator while National Ports Commission would become overall coordinating agency for the ports sector. Five landlord port authorities were slated for Lagos; the Niger Delta; Port Harcourt; Calabar; and the Inland Ports. A total of 25 concessions were identified in 11 ports and there were bids from 110 companies to manage eight ports: Bonny, Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Apapa, Tin Can & RORO. With bids submitted by March 2005, concession commenced in 2006 and 20 concessions were concluded. In March 2006 the concessionaires commenced operations.

The flagship concession, Apapa Container Terminal was signed in March 2006 with APM Terminals, which had taken over P&O Nedlloyd earlier in the year. The Danish shipping firm, A.P. Moller (APM Terminals’ parent company beat 25 other bidders to the 25-year concession.

Prior to the concessioning of ports to private operators in 2006, doing business in the nation’s ports was a hellish experience laced with a myriad of problems.

Some of which were, turnaround time for ships, leading to ports users waiting endless before their cargo could be loaded or discharged.

“Most of the few cargo-handling facilities

owned by the NPA were moribund, so shipping companies had to hire such facilities from private sector sources, leading to extra costs.

Dwell time for goods in port was so long that overtime cargo filled the most active seaports and led to massive port congestion.

Labour for ship work was controlled by a mafia that controlled dockworker unions and had no scruples supplying less than the manpower paid for. Many port premises that could have been put to good use were abandoned, giving maritime businesses less options, “a leading operator told THISDAY. Need for New Equipment However, as the years went by, the need for new investment in port equipment to boost efficiency became obvious. This is because ports provide variety of service activities for vessels, cargo and inland transport. The degree of satisfaction obtained by the shippers will indicate the level of port performance achieved. Therefore, the ports have to offer very satisfactory services to vessel operators and at the same time managed to provide optimal infrastructure based on the expected vessel type and cargo to be handled. The port performance thus requires a set of measures related to vessels stay at port, rate of loading/ unloading the cargo and quality storage/ inland transport. There exists a strong interrelationship between these set of measures and various port performance indicators.

Also, as global trade has increased, vessel sizes and cargo volumes have surged upwards, placing additional pressure on ship berths and yards. Ports are therefore becoming increasingly interested in smart solutions that will help optimise operations, promote efficiency and reduce logistics costs.

Ports & Cargo’s Investment In recorgnition of this and in order to position itself as a first-choice terminal for importers, exporters and shippers in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, the flagship company of SIFAX Group, acquired some new equipment worth over 20 million Euros.

The new equipment acquired are: Five shore cranes, nine Reach Stackers, 10 terminal tractors, five Nissan pickup vehicles, four trailer backs and other machineries.

At the inuaguration of the new equipment in Lagos, Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye hinted that the acquisition was part of the company’s strategic investment to deliver quality service to its clientele and to further attract more patronage.

“With our new internal restucturing project code named Quantuam Leap, SIFAX Group is respositioning itself to become the first choice terminal not just in Nigeria but in West Africa. We have also set a target that will increase our revenue with over 300

per cent in five years. One of the ways, we can achieve our set targets is to first begin with investment in equipment which will complement our excellent personnel asset.

These new equipment are the best and latest in town, they will catapult us into the next level growth we are working towards,” he noted.

Managing Director, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, Mr. John Jenkins, said there was a need to acquire the latest equipment in order to meet the architecture requirements of modern ship calling the terminal.

He noted further the company was already engaging several shipping lines in order to boost the company’s clientele base.

In her remarks, Assistant General Manager, Operations, Aisha Ali Ibrahim, who represented the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman expressed delight at the new acquisition, adding that it was a thing of joy that an indigenous company, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, is competing favourably with foreign multinationals in the maritime sector in terms of investment, manpower and quality of service delivery Also, the Managing Director, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Nigeria, one of the world’s foremost shipping lines, Mr Andrew Lynch, also congratulated Ports & Cargo on the acquisition of these equipment. Lynch explained that the partnership between Ports & Cargo and MSC will be better forged with the acquisition of these equipment.

He said: “Ports & Cargo and MSC have both forged an alliance which has been one of the best partnerships in the maritime sector.

We are excited that these new equipment will enhance the discharge of more cargo volumes at the terminal.”

For Norman Herzberg, Sales Manager, Africa, for Lierherr Group, his company is delighted to be the partner in the supply of some of these equipment.

He noted that the newly-acquired mobile shore cranes LHM 500 are the latest technologies with wider reach into the vessels and can discharge faster effectively and efficiently.

Five-year plan The new investment did not come by accident as the company’s long-term vision is to remain the number one player in the industry. The company had recently reeled out its five years strategic plan, a plan that involves continues investment to ensure port efficiency. Oyinloye had while reeling out the company’s five-year Strategic Growth Plan in a chat with newsmen in Lagos, said the company would continue to invest in the country to ensure Nigeria regains its status as the hub of port operations in West Africa.

He also announced that the company has floated another subsidiary, Sky Capital and Allied Company Limited, primarily to finance its various businesses.

The new company, he added, would carry out financial services such as Bureau De Change, business financing, assets management and a whole lot of others.

Oyinloye also announced that Sifax Group has increased its number of bonded terminals with a recent partnership with Mid Maritime Bonded Terminal in Apapa and another expansion at the Okota Bonded Terminal.

The Sifax boss also announced that Sifax Group would soon be receiving big ocean liners at Warri terminals, Ocean and Cargo Terminal in Warri Delta State.

He said the group has brought new hands onboard its management and restructured to position itself ahead of what will happen in the maritime industry for the next five years.

He decried the poor state of port access roads, adding that it affected its performance in the first quarter of the year.

To remedy the situation, Oyinloye advised the federal government to link the Tin Can Island Port to the rail network for easy evacuation of cargoes.

He said: “Our major challenge remains lack of access roads to and from the port, we wish the roads can be speedily restored because that was the pride of our port at one point. A number of our consignment that spend some extra days at the port have no reason to be there if the roads were good, delivery would have been smoother, transfer would have been smoother. We wish the government would also think beyond the road and link Tin Can Port by rail. This again would make evacuation a bit easier. On our part, we are ready to play any role that the government wants us to play to make all these happen.

“It is quite a shame that some ports in the coast of West Africa are now taking shine off the Nigerian port, if you go to Lome port now in Togo, it is a hub, I wish that Nigeria as big in size and economy that we are, should be the hub for West and Central Africa.”

In terms of containers handled at the terminal in TEUS, he said Sifax Group recorded a slower number of volumes of container, saying that this is because other ports around us, Cotonou, Cameroon are getting smarter.

“For the second half of the year, we believe access in and out of the port might improve for the rest of the year and turn around would be better and increase business volume. We are paying in taxes to the federal government, to State and Local Government in millions of Naira, we are happy paying it as a responsible organization, but we want government to see this as our own contribution towards the growth of the economy as well, we are one of the biggest tax payers around here and we would be more proud if we see the impact of this tax on the streets, schools, hospitals and every socio infrastructure that touches life of Nigerians,” he said

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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

NOWA’s Festival of Christmas Carols and Nine Lessons

28

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

29

30

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COVER

NOWA’S FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND NINE LESSONS CHIEMELIE EZEOBI writes that to mark the festive season, the Naval Officers Wives Association under the leadership of Mrs. Theresa Ibas, recently held a festival of Christmas Carols and Nine Lessons

T

he Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) might not be dressed in the white uniform of the Nigerian Navy (NN) personnel, but they are every bit as important as their men, because they are the engine room that drives the service. From a small tea group that began in 1965, these women have become stronger and much more formidable as 52 years later, they have grown to become pillars of their communities through various empowerment schemes and outreach to the naval widows.

While traditions are sacrosanct for the military, the same holds true for their wives’ associations. Thus, in keeping faith with its annual tradition, NOWA recently organised a festival of Christmas Carols and Nine Lessons. Themed ‘O Little Child of Bethlehem’ the carol was held at the Admiralty Conference Center, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos and invited guests were thrilled by the harmonic Xmas renditions presented

by NOWA Primary and Secondary School Choir, NNSS Steel Band, NARAWA Choir, Navy Band, and The Voices Choir.

Hosted by NOWA National President, Barrister Mrs. Theresa Ibas, the event started with praise and worship session by the NOWA Choir and then the processional hymn of the First Noel. Then the National Anthem before the opening prayer was said.

This led to the invitatory carol by the choir.

Afterwards, the NOWA anthem was sung, followed by the opening remarks by the NOWA national president.

Down the line, the first lesson was take from Genesis 3:1-9, which was about the fall of man. This was followed by a congregational hymn on ‘O little two of Bethlehem’.

Then the second lesson was read from Genesis 22:12-24 on God’s promise to Abraham.

To spice up the occasion, carols were sung

by NOWA Primary and Secondary School and then the third lesson was taken from Isaiah 9:2-7 about the prophecy of the Prince of Peace. This was closely followed by the congregational hymn ‘Joy to the world’ before the fourth lesson on Annunciation taken from Isaiah 40:1-5, after which the NNSS Steel Band and NARAWA Choir sang.

The fifth lesson was on Assurance given to Joseph in Luke 1:28-33 and a carol ‘O Holy Night’ by the church choir was sung. Then the sixth lesson on the Birth of Jesus was taken from Luke 2:1-7 before the carol by navy band and The Voices were taken.

This led to the seventh lesson on the Shepherds visit taken from Luke 2:8-20.

Another congregational hymn ‘While shepherd watched their flocks’ was sung and then the eight lesson of The Adoration of the Magi was taken from Mathew 2:1-12 before the candle light procession was done with “O come all ye faithful’ singing in the background.

Carols were taken by the NOWA choir and the church choir thus preceding the ninth lesson taken from John 1:1-5, 14 and then exhortation and intercession. The special guest of honour took the stage, followed by cutting of the cake with a hallelujah chorus and then closing prayer and benediction that ended the carol service.

Officiating ministers were Director, Naval Chaplain Services (Protestants) and Chief Chaplain, NN, Rev. Cdr BME Ajayi; acting Director Religious Affairs, Very Rev Fr Cdr RE Oparaji; Rev Cdr. H Musa and Slt Rev Fr AI Onojah.

In his speech, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, said,

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and wife, Barrister Theresa, flanked by others

NOWA school performing during the carol

Ibas and wife flanked by principal staff officers and wives

L-R: Oguntade Ismaila of Leadership Newspaper; Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleiman Dahun; Precious Igbonwelundu of The Nation Newspaper; FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Adimiral Oladele Daji (behind); The CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Mary Fatile of FRCN (behind); Chiemelie Ezeobi of THISDAY Newspapers; Naval Chief of Accounts and Budget, Commodore KM Bushi (behind); Odita Sunday of The Guardian and Eugene Agha of Daily Trust

“The occasion was indeed special as we appreciate the mercy of Almighty God for granting us the unique gift of witnessing yet another carol night. This Yuletide presents a unique season that reminds us once again of the peace and blessings of giving and sharing the unmerited mercy favor of God.�

Ibas added that the Christmas carol night is a song fiesta which defines the gaiety of the season and spirit of Christmas. “It provides an opportunity for the Christian faithfuls to sing carols song and create the perfect celebratory atmosphere to kick start the series of activities making the

birth of Jesus Christ.�

He said that the NOWA annual Christmas carols “therefore epitomises our expression of gratitude for the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and serves as a strong reminder that we are part of God’s orchestrated plan for the salvation of mankind�.

While commending the association for their support and holding the home front, he reiterated the unshakeable commitment of the NN to support the activities of NOWA. In her remarks, NOWA President said regardless of the situation one faces in life, this season urges all to keep faith and believe

in brighter tomorrow.

She said: “We must have experienced different situation which combined to make us better and strong as individuals families and as an organisation. It is our strong belief that things can get better as we move with renewed optimism into the new year. “The theme of our celebration ‘O Little Child of Bethlehem’ is symbolic of hope we should have irrespective of the situation we find ourselves. “Bethlehem was a town believed to have nothing good to offer, it represented a hopeless situation, yet out of the dark streets, a bright light had shown.�

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

͹ͯ

Osinbajo Cautions on Violence against Girls, Women

Osinbajo (seated middle) flaked by facilitators, concerned mothers from TWHHI and graduating students at the event

Stories by Mary Nnah Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo, has described any form of gender-based violence in communities as “unacceptable source of pain and anguish�.

She therefore implored all forms of violence against women and girls must stop, saying that abuse of any form was wrong and against collective humanity.

She said this during the graduation ceremony for Out-of -School Girls Empowerment Programme organised by the Women’s Helping Hands Initiative with support from the United Nations, European Union and Spotlight Initiative held in Lagos recently. “I am so happy to see very many happy faces today here

as our young ladies graduate from the Spotlight Step Up Training and Empowerment Course. I commend the United Nations’ Spotlight initiative and this intervention towards ending gender-based violence in our community�, Osinbajo noted.

Describing every girl as special and precious, she congratulated the graduating students while applauding their hard work and dedication. “I kept a close watch on the girls during the training and was impressed by their attendance at the classes and their keen participation throughout the courses. So, it gives me great joy to be present to witness their graduation.�

She saluted the teachers, instructors and of course the cook that fed the girls each day during the training programme. “It is important for me to

use every opportunity to remind us that abuse of every form - molestation, domestic violence, exploitation, slavery and such alike are all wrong and are offences against our humanity.�

While urging Nigerians to work as advocates on violence against the girl-child and women to enable them function at their optimal level, she noted, “whenever you see or hear, whenever you know of abuse, please stand up and speak up. Stand up to help the victims, let’s all be our brother’s keeper.�

Osinbajo implored further that beyond speaking up against abuse and standing up to resist and reject abuse in our communities, we ought to be advocates, persuading many people as possible to take the take the high road, the path of good, right, justice, fairness and equity.

She urged the out-of-school girls to live responsibly to be good role models to other girls around. “I advise you to be hard working and know that you are to live responsibly to be good role models to other girls out there�, she said.

The beneficiaries received certificates and starter packs to enable them establish businesses based on the skills acquired.

The 370 empowered girls were from Ikorodu and Yaba Local Government Areas of Lagos and were trained on beading on fabrics, gele tieing, and party supporting services, decoration and make-up.

The empowerment programme was sponsored by the United Nations, European Union, and Spotlight Initiative in collaboration with The Women’s Helping Hands Initiative.

At140,MethodistOldGirlsImploreStudentstoSustainLegacy

One of the major desires in the minds of members of Methodist Girls High School Old Student Association (MGHSOGA) as their alma mater marked 140thanniversary recently, was for the present set of students to keep up with the legacy that generations past had laid down.

Speaking during one of the activities to mark the anniversary, Chairman of the Organising Committee for activities marking the school’s 140th anniversary and the Old Student Association’s 2019 reunion, Retired Major General Tilewa Amusu, implored the present set of students in the school, as well as the young generation in general, not to discard the moral values that the older generations have laid on ground.

She said, “I think we should look more at how generations can improve, such that the older people pass down the moral values to the young ones rather than just leave young ones to their own devices.�

Amusu said the 140th anniversary took weeklong activities between the school and the association, revealing further that activities kicked off majorly on the Sunday of that week with a play titled “Itan� (the Story) powered by the old girls association and acted by the students of Methodist Girls High School, which held at National Theatre Iganmu, Lagos State.

This was followed by a community service the next day. On another day was the prize giving day, followed by

Methodist Old Girls at one of the activities marking the 140th anniversary of Methodist Girls’HighSchool,Yaba, Lagos

the cultural day on the next day and on Thursday was the inter-house sports and on Friday of the week was what the old girls tagged, “A day back at school�, during which the old girls went back to the school in their school uniforms and school bags, attended the assembly and went into classes afterwards.

On Saturday was two novelty matches involving the old girls and the female parents of the school as well as male parents and male staff of the school while the grand finale of the anniversary held on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the Methodist Church Lagos, and finally with fund raising luncheon.

Speaking further on the need to preserve the legacies of the past generations, Amusu said, “140 years is a long time and

the school is still standing. One of the lessons I think, the present students learned during the stage play on Sunday, was that generations are linked and so they should never throw away what happened in the past. “They have to cherish the past and look forwards to the future, knowing that each generation needs the other one. So, when you say this person is old fashioned and does not know anything, it won’t help and even when the parents say the present generations are children, and cannot have a say, it still won’t help matters. “I think that is part of the things that is affecting the fabric of our society now and it’s causing a breakage in the linkages that we need. “My advice to younger ones based on the drama is that

they should not write off their parents, parents should try to understand their wards, stop complaining, create time to really mentor them. We need to look inwards to mend these gaps so that we can have better families, communities and Nigeria�, she noted further. ‘Itan’ according to the director of the drama, Ayo Jaiyesinmi, talks about unity using the issue of generational diversity to drive it home. It was the story of an old man rigid in his old ways and his son who belongs to the new school. “You find out that there is a lot of struggles right now, we don’t understand them, they are too fast, too young and to the young ones also their parents are old fashioned, but I believe that God has created us in such a way that we need each other. Whatever the generation is we have our strength and weaknesses, but together we downplay the weaknesses and our strength prevail.�

President, MGHSOGA, Mrs. Yomi Afolabi who was overwhelmed with excitement said, “We need to celebrate with the school and also raise funds, because we have a project on our hands. We are building a new block of classrooms for the school, the old structure was pulled down in April this year because it was structurally defective and we need to rebuild this as part of our give back to the society. So, whatever funds we raise during the weeklong activities would be used for the building project�.

WARIF Embarks on Sexual Violence ‘No Tolerance’ March The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a non-profit organisation leading the charge against gender based violence in Nigeria, held an advocacy march to raise awareness against Genderbased Violence in Nigeria. This was in commemoration of the UN 16 Days of Activism for Gender Based Violence.

The march, tagged the “No Tolerance� was organised, following the on-going success of the “No Tolerance� advocacy campaign launched earlier in the year.

The campaign saw celebrities like RMD, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Funke Akindele and many more joined WARIF to say No Tolerance to sexual abuse and violence by posting short videos and pictures on their social media platforms.

The march held on December 7, took off from Lekki Phase 1 across the Lekki/Ikoyi link bridge. It was kicked off by the United States Consular General to Lagos, Madam Claire Pierangelo who stated that “Gender-based violence is not a women’s issue. It is a human rights issue that needs both men and women to contribute to its end. “For this problem to end men must play a significant role and we are pleased to see that men are increasingly recognising their responsibility to help end this scourge.�

The First Lady of Lagos State was also ably represented by the Wife of the Attorney General of Lagos, Mrs. Olabisi Onigbanjo who commended WARIF for their efforts and reiterated the need for more awareness on rape and sexual violence.

The Founder of the organisation, Dr. Kemi DaSilva noted that “At WARIF, we believe that no single individual, organisation, foundation, or government can stop the epidemic of sexual violence; but by responding to the responsibility of tackling the problem as a collective, we each bring together our unique piece of the solution. “We believe that participation in these collaborative efforts is critical in making our voices heard and to bringing an end to sexual violence in our society. “Sexual violence affects all of our lives and the “No Tolerance�

March is a chance for all men, women and children to say NO! to sexual violence in our communities.�

JAKINEmpowers200Youths Ayodeji Ake JAKIN, a nonprofit organisation through its annual Fresh Foundation Project has again empowered 200 Nigerian out of school youths. Through this it will reduce the burden of unemployment and promote economic independence.

Addressing newsmen during the graduation ceremony at the end of the three months empowerment programme, the President JAKIN NGO, Mrs. Olubukola Adeniyi, noted that the organisation has since 2016 been empowering indigent youths to solve unemployment issues.

Speaking on the importance of the empowerment, Adeniyi said the programme basically provides participants with trainings on life building skills, vocational skills, basic business management principles, ankara accessories, bead making and makeup, gele tying, nail fixing, manicure and pedicure. “The programme is actually targeted on indigents out of school youth from age 16 to 24 so they are expected to have finished secondary school. Although we give a special consideration to a very few, that have also finished junior secondary school and are above 16 years based on challenges shared by community stakeholders so we gave a few of them that special consideration�, she added. “It’s basically for those that cannot afford to further their education. They must have finished from a government school and not a private school and they are definitely from indigent background and those residing in rural communities�, Adeniyi said while adding that the project came through with the support of Access Bank.�

The Wife of Commissioner for Budgeting and Planning, Lagos State, Mrs. Edith Bukola Egube, commended JAKIN for it laudable

Yuletide:FRSC,Honeywell TaskMotoristsonSafety The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc have enjoined motorists to apply all safety rules during this festive season to ensure accident-free Christmas and New Year celebrations.

This joint safety campaign was taken to notable motor parks in Lagos by both organisations where drivers were enlightened on safe driving culture. Tagged “Obey the rules of the road: stay alert, stay alive�, the initiative, according to Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, is to create awareness among motorists on the need to ensure safety on the road, by observing all safety rules while driving. The two-day campaign started at Owena Motor Parks Ojota and ended at Mazamaza Parks in Mile 2.

Jaiyeola, represented by Trade Marketing Manager, Mr. Adedayo Adeniyi said “For us at Honeywell Flour Mills, we consider safety very critical. Therefore, it is important that we not only encourage all drivers to be careful when they drive on the roads but also to extend it to Lagosians and Nigerians to be safety conscious as they drive especially at these time of the year when there is every tendency for people to be in a hurry�.

According to him, the partnership with FRSC “is part of the fulfillment of Honeywell’s social responsibility to the public who are also a major part of our consumers. “We are using this medium to tell Honeywell consumers that we love you and want you to stay alive. Therefore, when you drink, do not drive, and when you drive, do not drink�.

Speaking at Ojota motor park, Lagos where the road show kicked off, Assistant Corp Commander, Unit Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Ojota, Olu Olumotanmi admonished the drivers to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations.

He also cautioned them to avoid alcohol while driving, saying “many people take alcohol and drive during this period, we should desist from that. We have just one life to live�.

32

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

‌Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

BAFEST Returns With More Magic

Stories by Vanessa Obioha

ast year, Access Bank introduced its unique lifestyle and entertainment experience to celebrate the African heritage called ‘Born in Africa Festival’. The festival was a potpourri of arts, ďŹ lms, fashion and music. That ďŹ rst edition was greatly lauded by many for the magic that Livespot 360 Creative Agency delivered at the one-day festival.

This year, the agency brought more magic and colour to Eko Atlantic, Lagos where the event held over the weekend, leaving attendees spellbound with the series of innovative and immersive African experiences dipped in the world of quality entertainment like never seen before.

Still retaining its unique elements, attendees had the opportunity to revel in the different experiences available that appealed to them most. For instance, movie lovers cozied up in a mini cinema where Accelerate TV, the media arm of the bank screened a variety of ďŹ lms.

From long feature ďŹ lms to documentaries to short creative ďŹ lms that gave viewers stitches. For example, ‘Blast’, a short comic ďŹ lm about a customer care agent crushing on his colleague, written and directed by Tosin Ajiboye elicited cheers and laughter from the menagerie of movie buffs.

Fashion enthusiasts were not left out in the experience. Last year, attendees had the opportunity to feast their eyes on the creative pieces of David Tlale, Tiffany Amber, and Torlowei and basked in the bodily glory of international model Oluchi who was among the models that walked the runway.

For its second edition, fashion designers like Tokyo James, Weizdhurm Franklyn, Odio Mimon, Iconic Invanity

L

Naira Marley performing at BAFEST

pushed the envelope more with their unorthodox and innovation pieces, leaving attendees gawking at their ingenuity.

The Stars Head to Onitsha This Weekend

After a competitive show of talents to clinch a spot at the upcoming Access the Stars Music reality show in Calabar, Cross River, only two contestants advanced to the next round from the top ďŹ ve selected contestants.

The ďŹ ve contestants in a bid to impress the judges sang their hearts out. However, the Calabar music concert was not only graced by the contestants. Music lovers also had the time of their lives with Seyi Shay and Darey who put up a show-stopping performance on stage. At the Old Parade ground in Calabar where the concert was held, the duo held music fans spellbound, delivering some memorable performances.

The train now moves to Onitsha this weekend where another round of stars will be selected for the reality show.

Auditions started yesterday, Thursday, December 19 at Dolly Hills Hotel and will continue today, Friday, December 20.The main concert will take place at Shoprite Onitsha Mall on Sunday,

Seyi Shay performing in Calabar

December 22, 2019.

Shay who has been enjoying her time as a judge on the show, expressed her expectation for the show’s next outing in Onitsha “Every city we’ve visited has produced lots of aweinspiring moments. I know Onitsha will not disappoint and I can’t wait to meet some amazing singers in the city.�

The show will air on major entertainment channels such as Hip Tv, Africa Magic and Views Channel.

If the fashion designers left the attendees in awe, then they were more dazed by the works of art that adorned the walls of the art dome. They were col-

orful, provoking and more importantly, celebrated the African heritage. Not a few art lovers had the privilege to have their portraits drawn by talented artists just like Tiger Beer did in the previous edition.

In its usual tradition, the festivities culminated in a concert that had Niniola, Flavour, Becca, Ice Prince, Joe Boy, Seyi Shay, Teni the Entertainer, Naira Marley, 9ice among others. Though each of the artistes brought their A-game to the stage, what however got members of the frenzied crowd mesmerised is the trapeze artists.

The trapeze artists have gradually become a signature of Livespot 360 events. The stunts they perform whether mid-air or on the stage always leave a lasting impression on the crowd. For this year, it returned with another impressive display of drummers suspended mid air by a crane in brightly lit boxes, playing an orchestral beat while a trapeze artist perform stunts.

The Group Head, Communications and External Affairs, Access Bank, Amaechi Okobi, revealed that BAFEST is one way the ďŹ nancial institution is recognising the abundant talents in the continent. “It has become impossible to ignore the energy and talent coming out of Africa and this is giving rise to a greater awareness of a strong and proud African identity. These talents are challenging African stereotypes. Taking charge of the African narrative is one of the core reasons for Access Bank’s Born in Africa Festival fusing all of Access Bank’s activities in music, art, ďŹ lm and fashion with an aim to draw the attention of the world to Africa’s true culture and lifestyleâ€?.

Indeed, through this platform, the bank is demonstrating the impact the ďŹ nancial institutions can have on the economy if they empower the creative

Bakefest Offers Nigerians Loads of Sweetness This year’s edition of the annual baking festival came with loads of sweetness. From fun games to baking competitions, the Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Lagos, where the event held recently buzzed with activities. Sponsored by Baileys Delight, the park was transformed creatively to accommodate a variety of games, vendor stalls and of course a stage where the bakers showed their baking talents.

Guests had fun riding the mechanical bull, playing mega jenga, snakes and ladders, and tic tac toe.

Those who came to explore their taste buds had the finest treat from masters who infused the creamy delight in cocktails, pastries and absolutely anything that delights the palate.

The highly anticipated bake-off between four teams of upcoming bakers paired with celebrities lived up to expectations.

The three-round contest had participants in their

Competitors at Bakefest

separate booths whipping up tasty pies and tarts, delicious cocktails and the yummiest baked desserts within a given time limit.

The delicious scent of baked goodies wafted through the park long before the final call was made. The winning team,

Team TimiKoks made up of actor Timini Egbuson and a baker, Chef Kok dazzled the guests and judges with creatively lavish Baileys Delight-infused presentations that won hearts and taste buds. Over two million Naira was awarded to contestants in cash prizes

with the winning team carting away one million Naira.Other celebrities who participated in the third edition of the baking festival include Bimbo Ademoye, Bolanle Ninalowo and Big Brother Naija ‘Pepper Dem’ season contestant Venita Akpofure.

33

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

E-TRENDS

Kpali Heads to Cinemas Friday

Filmmaker Ike Nnebue Rounds up Smartphone FilmmakingTraining in Port Harcourt For the past three months, award-winning ďŹ lmmaker Ike Nnebue has been touring Nigerian cities training talents whose interests lie in ďŹ lmmaking on the creative process. The training put together by Treasure Wells Film Academy in collaboration with Pafex, Ur’s Konnect Ltd and Google is a one-of-a-kind package that trains individuals on ďŹ lmmaking workshop and voiceover master class training for OAPs and MCs. For the Port Harcourt edition, the ďŹ lmmaker trained participants on smartphone ďŹ lmmaking whole Google delivered lectures on digital marketing. Attendees were also refunded their fees as part of the ways the organisers is empowering the young talents.

The training which started in Enugu and Owerri is“geared towards creating a platform for the less privileged youths to discover and harness their hidden talents without being limited or affected by their present situation or environment,�according to Obi Faruk, Head of Operations for PafexYouth Development Initiative.

The Port Harcourt session rounds up the session in Nigeria as the train takes the Pan-African initiative to Kigali and Accra next.

HowYoungGraduateWorkedwith CelebritiesThroughSocialMedia

A scene from Kpali

The much anticipated ďŹ lm by creative entrepreneur Emem Ema, ‘Kpali’ will be available in cinemas today. ‘Kpali’ marks the ďŹ lm debut of Ema, who is fondly called Emem. At a private screening, she revealed that the idea of the ďŹ lm was inspired by the notable trend of intellect ight during a dinner conversation with friends.“We talked about that and why the inux of

Nigerians to some certain parts as well as the marital pressure on ladies who have reached a certain age.�Shot in England and Nigeria, ‘Kpali’ follows the life of a young woman Amaka who has spent most of her life in London until she was at the brink of losing her job but more importantly, losing her visa. In order to get back the things that matter most to her, she has to clinch a deal in Nigeria for her

in love with two men.

The romantic comedy is multilayered with themes that address issues faced by young women in the society. From marital pressure to career decisions.

Emem hopes that the ďŹ lm will get Nigerians to think about the realities of where we call home. “We want people to know that no matter where they call home, there is no place like home like Nigeria.â€?

white bosses in 30 days.

Coming back home is not a journey that Amaka played by Ini Dima-Okojie is looking forward to. She has a very bad impression of her home country despite pleas by her parents played by Nkem Owoh and Gloria Anozie-Young, to return home for the sole purpose to settle down.

The trip back home acts as an adventure and a self-discovery for Amaka as she ďŹ nds herself falling

TraceGospelChannelisNowonDStv At the MultiChoice Media Showcase held last month in South Africa, it was announced that the music channel Trace on DStv will be launching a gospel channel this month. It ďŹ nally did on Wednesday, December 18. The new channel which is on DStv channel 332 offers the best of local and international gospel with music videos from various sub-genres that include Contemporary Gospel, Urban Gospel, Worship Gospel and Traditional Gospel.

By launching the new channel,Trace which is home to urban and afro-urban - celebrity news, music, lifestyle, entertainment and culture, is cementing its relationship with MultiChoice Nigeria and reiterating the company’s commitment to offer the continent the best of entertainment. “We are a brand that is dedicated to showcasing the very best of Urban music from all genres from across the globe.Trace has built our audience by focusing on the best music and videos within

the Afro Urban landscape.

So, we are excited to extend our partnership with MultiChoice and launch Trace Gospel as it gives an international platform for the amazing talent within the strong faith community in the region,� says Managing Director of Trace Anglophone West Africa, Sam Onyemelukwe.

On the other hand, MultiChoice Nigeria, CEO John Ugbe stated that “Having Trace Gospel on DStv platform is part of our ongoing commitment to bringing a

wide variety of the best in local and international content that touches the lives of our viewers. The addition of this channel onto our platform will ensure that our customers are exposedtoevenmoreentertainment options for their families, giving more value this festive season.�

Some of the dedicated programmesonthe24hourchannel includeSoundsofSouthAfrica, UrbanVibes,Hits30,PraiseVibes andUSHits10.Thechannelwill be available on DStv Confam, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium packages.

TokeMakinwa,DenolaGreyGraceGoSloLaunch Media personality Toke Makinwa, fashion inuencer Denola Grey, and actor Timini Egbuson were among the celebrities who graced the ofďŹ cial launch of Go Slo, a premium range of ice cream from the stables of FanMilk (a subsidiary of multinational food-products corporation, Danone).

Made available in four varieties, each product samples a blend of carefully sourced ingredients calibrated to suit the taste and lifestyle of ice cream lovers in Nigeria. The four variants include Cookies and Cream, Peanut Butter, Salted Caramel, and Chocolate and Almond avours.

In a private tasting session held in Lagos, the celebrities sampled various avours, relishing the sweetness while giving notes on their impressions.

Revealing the thought process behind its branding, and the immediate impact it hopes to attain through positively shaping the lives of consumers, especially from a mental health perspective, Marketing Manager, Kolawole Adeniyi said: “Go Slo is a premium ice cream brand made with Nigerians in mind, and expertly crafted to provide a relaxing, and indulgent experience. It is more about a way of life. What we are telling our consum-

ers through this brand, is to establish a purpose of advising, informing, and inviting Nigerians to take things slow, and that’s why we have the message, ‘taste life slo.’ There are a lot of Nigerians today coming down with mental illnesses, this can be attributed to the pursuit of ‘fast’ success.

What we are here to do as a brand is to tell people that they can succeed, but in reality, it takes time to produce masterpieces.�

While it aims to purvey its icy offerings to consumers across the different economic spectrum, it also put into consideration their health status by ďŹ ne-tuning dietary values to be within

the optimal ranges of daily recommended amounts of each food group. “Now, compared with other brands, where we stand different is in sugar content,� Adeniyi noted. “This is a very conscious effort because our vision is to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Inherently, that makes it healthier for you than when you consume other ice cream brands.�

The brand plans on expanding on the range of Go Slo avours in order to offer a more eclectic range to consumers. Adeniyi also hinted on plans for nondairy alternatives suitable for lactose intolerant persons.

Social media means a lot of things to many people but for Akinwunmi Michael, it is the source of his living.The OAU graduate of Materials Engineering stated that social media has brought him close to relevant people in the society and he takes pride in the positive usage of it.“I started my career in Dockthor Media, which is a self-owned business. And the effective usage of social media alongside my public relations prowess, have earned me the opportunity to work with some notable personalities in the society,�he said. Michael who hails from Ekiti, added that since he debuted his career, he has so far worked closely with personalities like Chioma Okere, DJ Baddo, LAX, amongst others.The 24-year-old, however, challenged other Nigerian youths to expose themselves to the opportunities social media present and the internet at large.“It saddens me when my agemates tell me they don’t have jobs. We run a digital economy already that presents to you opportunities from almost every part of the world.

How come you still say you don’t have a job as a graduate?

People are always surprised when I tell them the many things I do. Aside from freelancing for notable platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, I also do product photography and photo editing. All you need to do is just to expose yourself into these opportunities and key into it,�hel added. Michael is also a public relations consultant.

TiwaSavageThrillsGuestsatRareDahliaUnveiling King Akan in Abuja

It was a day of celebration at the unveiling of luxury perfume shop, Rare Dahlia, recently at Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartment, Abuja.

The unveiling which was part of the one year anniversary of the popular hotel brand, Wells Carlton, witnessed the gathering of celebrities, business icons and fashion gurus who were treated to the world class hospitality which the hotel boasts. Popular Nigerian music export,Tiwa Savage, was on ground to thrill guests with her large chest of hit songs to the excitement of the audience.

The wife of billionaire and business mogul, Captain Hosa Okunbor, Mrs Nosa Okunbor, founder of Rare Dahlia said it has been her passion in creating lasting quality experience for both men and women of class. “What we want to achieve with the Rare Dahlia brand is create value and provide a unique shopping experience designed to meet the needs of luxury fragrance lovers. “Today, we are delighted to unveil our campaign, our brand has come to stay. We aim to position it as a premiere brand perfumery in Africa.To give our customers the Dahlia luxury experience,�she explained.

L-R: Founder, Rare Dahlia, Mrs Nosa Okunbo; Luxury Strategist, Gbemi Abudu and MD, Luxury Network of Nigeria, Cas Ojo during the unveiling of Rare Dahlia recently

E

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

34

ECCG Marks Second Anniversary, Celebrates Love Feast Ayodeji Ake The Excellence Church of Christ Glory (ECCG) recently celebrated it’s second annual convention in a grand style with the theme, ‘Running With the vision’.

The celebration, which was in commemoration of the second year anniversary of the Lagos-based church, lasted for four days, featured great men of God. In a conversation with THISDAY, the General Overseer of ECCG, Pastor Nnamdi Christopher Anammah, who revealed that the significance of the annual convention was a vision ordained by God two years ago to ensure the love of Christ, is celebrated annually.

He said: “There are 14 guidelines that the Lord gave us over two years ago and that’s what we have been running with.

As you come into the church it has been hung on the wall and obvious to see. From onset, we intend to keep it and God has been so gracious in trying to guide us towards this particular vision. “God has been gracing us with and through the Daily Meal prayer book. Wehave encountered over 50,000 testimonies and we are still trusting God for more through our ministry. “We reach out every day through our social media platforms and we have able to reach to over 650,000 people across the country and beyond. “By December, we are expecting getting close to a million. Building on that God has helped us to translate our Daily Meal prayer book into 12 different languages; Chinese, Portuguese, Indians Swahili,

General Overseer Excellent Church of Christ Glory (ECCG), Pastor Nnamdi Anammah, with elders and patrons of the church

and also Nigerian languages like Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. “If you also see what is written there, the point has also been made that the daily meal is not only for the consumption of the church alone but also something that helps to build the body of Christ all over the world so everyone can relate to topics that bother them and with that everybody gets wiser every day.�

Speaking on the theme of the event ‘Running with the vision’, Anammah said the theme was a divine direction to preach the word of God on how Christians can see the pathway to the kingdom of God. “It was just based on the direction of the Holy Spirit to make sure and to confirm that we are on the right path.

For example, we would have been focusing on Lagos alone

and foresee what’s happening.

What the mandate God gave us is a global one; all we think about is actually on a global scheme. The next time we will be addressing people, we will be translating in other major languages because we want everyone to benefit from the word of God� he said.

While charging Christians to be good ambassador for Christ, the cleric also urged Christians to be steadfast in prayers for development of the country.

He noted it was important that pastors pray in unity so as seek for divine intervention on the country’s unstable economy and progress. “To Nigerians I think we have to pray very seriously because the destiny of this nation is in the hands of the children of God. The Bible says clearly that if people who are called by my

name humble themselves and pray and forsake their evil ways I will hear them from heaven and I will heal their land.� “Nigeria is a blessed country and I hope soon we get things right. With what we are seeing now we might be talking about the failed generation but God forbid and I know the fathers of this country; the late Awolowo, Azikiwe and Tafawa Balewa, will be displeased to know the current state of the struggles Nigeria is going through. Above all, we need to stand for the truth� he said.

Meanwhile, one of the guests at the convention, Mrs. Blessing Okeke, testified that the convention was overwhelming. She attested the ministry has in one way the other impacted the lives of its members and community.

Wren Regent Displays Nigeria’s Real Estate in Canada Ayodeji Ake Wren Regent Properties Limited in partnership with Nigerian Canadian Association, Ottawa, hosted a Business Consultation Breakfast themed, ‘Wealth Creation through Real Estate Investment in Nigerian and Canada’.

The event, which was held recently at the Holiday Inn,

Ottawa was specifically designed to educate Nigerians in the Diaspora about the dynamic real estate sector in Lagos. As entailed in a press release, the keynote speaker, Chief Operating Officer of Wren Regent Properties Limited, Amara Musa, made a detailed presentation on the opportunities available for diaspora members, and investors who had a keen interest in wealth

creation and sustainability in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre. In her presentation, Musa addressed the issues faced by diaspora members of which, a lack of reliable representation in Nigeria, was the most popular reason behind the lack of confidence for international investors.

She highlighted the solutions provided by Wren Regent Properties Limited for curing this

the problem, which included, a consistent reporting system, a dedicated representative per transaction, and a transparent management system to boost investor confidence in the real estate sector. Further focus was placed on development within Lagos that provided the most value for international investors and in effect provided avenue for wealth creation and high returns on investment.

Nigeria Silent Heroes Awards to Celebrate Excellence on December 29 The Silent Heroes Awards themed ‘Celebrating Heroes of our Democracy’ is set to celebrate excellence come December 29, 2019.

A creation of Razor Media Company, the award is billed to hold on Sunday, December 29, 2019 by 5pm at Western Elomaz Hotels, GRA, Asaba in Delta State.

According to the founder, Mr. Sunday Odita “All is set for the awards. One awarded is going home with a well crafted trophy imported from Manila, Philippines; a Hall of Fame Crystal Plaque and a framed certificate in an imported leather box.�

On what the silent heroes is all about he said: “The award Silent Heroes is all about celebrating excellence and achievements. We love

all our deserving awardees. “A lot of people are

over celebrated, while hundreds of Nigerians do-

ing very heroic things are under-celebrated. This is the reason I founded THE SILENT HEROES AWARDS INNITIATIVE, an NGO set up to celebrate unsung heroes.�

Some of the categories include Silent heroes in policing and intelligence, SME Industry, Hero of Maritime Business, Prison Reforms and Inmates Transformation, ICT Development, Telecommunication, Transparent Banking Culture, Hero of Faith, Social Justice and worker ’s welfare.

Others are Silent heroes in philanthropy, oil and gas sector development, food security and agric development, hero in broadcasting, hero of Nollywood, school quality advocacy, amongst several others.

Pastor Okeke Brings Succour to Widows Mary Nnah For widows around Lawani Street, off Ishaga Road in Surulere, Lagos and its environs, the months of March, June, September and December are always times of relief and comfort as they were showered with different kind of gifts and there is always more than enough to take home as far as food and drinks are concerned.

The widows’ programme which is an initiative of Pastor Ebele Chuks Okeke of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, of no 18 Lawani Street, Surulere, started three years ago and it has brought a lot of relief to widows across religious affiliation in the area. “It is a vision from God. It was God that asked me to be taking care of the widows and I heard His voice clearly and that is what I’m holding on,� the Branch Pastor of MFM, Okeke said.

The pastor, who lost his mother while still in his mother ’s womb, said he knew what widows passed through from his mother ’s experience. “I knew what my father went through trying to ensure her children had a good life all alone without support from family members. They were really tough times for her,� he recalled.

Asked how he has been able to raise funds to take care of these widows that besieged the church in their large numbers each time the programme is held, Okeke said: “God has always been faithful each time we have the widows’ programme. Since it is God’s own vision that we should bless the widows He will not let us down�.

He however said the church would appreciate support from spirited individuals that are keen into keying into the initiative. “The vision is to empower widows within Lawani Street and its environs not minding their religious affiliation. For now we host the widows four times in a year, with the December programme being a thanksgiving service, which is always the biggest of the four programmes. We however hope to make it bigger and more often in the nearest future by God’s grace,� the pastor noted.

NOA, CEPEJ to Collaborate to Sustain NationalValues Sylvester Idowu in Warri The National Orientation Agency (NOA) is set to collaborate with Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and other Civil Society organisations to promote and sustain national values.

Director General of NOA, Dr Abari Garba, made this disclosure while playing host to a team of CEPEJ officials led by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sheriff Mulade during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

While commending the CEPEJ for its peace building initiatives in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, he noted that the activities of the NGO were not new to his agency, especially its peacebuilding efforts across the nation.

Garba expressed the agency’s concern about the challenges of cattle rustling and armed banditry, the incidences of which he said had reduced though with still flashpoints here and there that will require his collaboration with NGOs to overcome them permanently.

While stressing the need to de-radicalise and reintegrate insurgents into the larger society, Garba promised that the NOA would deepen its partnership with organisations such as CEPEJ to reach out to Nigerians in the following areas advocacy, sensitisation and capacity building, environmental sustainability and protection of human rights and promotion of good governance.

National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Mulade Sheriff who thanked the DG and his directors for hosting the NGO in spite of their tight schedules, said the purpose of the visit was to cement the NGO’s relationship with the agency and identify areas of partnership ahead of 2020, as well as strengthen bonds particularly in areas of peacebuilding and good governance.

A presentation on CEPEJ’s activities was done

by CEPEJ’s Programmes Manager, Abuja Office, Mrs Nafisat Amadu Abdulmalik who highlighted possible areas of engagement.

She identified some key components of CEPEJ’’s programmes such as peacebuilding, capacity building and other empowerment programmes, peace and unity quiz and essay competitions, the nonviolence philosophy, educational approach, advocacy for environmental sustainability, peace and unity football tournament, also known as Comrade Sheriff Mulade Peace and Unity Football Cup which is building bonds between Ijaw and Itsekiri in Delta State.

35

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

Diary of a Desperate Mother

YINKA OLATUNBOSUN writes that the pulsating crime movie produced by Ego Boyo and directed by Akin Omotosho, titled“The Ghost and the House of Truth�is all shades of motherhood and a cry for justice Indeed, it is a very painful and torturous experience for any mother to return home and discover that her only child is missing.

This is the story told in the movie, “The Ghost and the House of Truth�, which features Nollywood’s screen goddess, Kate Henshaw in the lead role of Inspector FolasadeAdetola otherwise known as Stainless.

The pregnant police officer is on the quest of finding the lost child, Nike who usually returns home from school without trouble. Uncle Joe (Toyin Oshinaike) is a level-headed commercial bus driver who has been contracted to drop off Nike(ImoleAyo Olusanya) and two other children every day of the week.

Nike’s mother, Bola Ogun (brit actress, Susan Wokoma) is a social worker and counsellor at a non-governmental organisation who usually returns home quite late which is understandably normal for a working-class mother in a big city like Lagos where the movie is set. Usually, Nike waits at her friend’s house where her mother stops by on the way to their house.

Then the tragedy strikes. Nike is missing.

Her mother embarks on a frantic search and then promptly reports to the police. In her desperation, she offers the self-respecting Stainless a large tip just to ensure the search is seriously executed. Stainless rejected the offer with a promise to find Nike. Finally, Nike is found dead and the autopsy report shows that she had been sexually assaulted and murdered. This sent some chills in the audience at the cinema who travelled through the fast-paced, suspense-filled drama to uncover the identity of the culprit.

A scene from the movie

The suspects all seemed culpable. Uncle Joe has a history of being a child offender; the last man seen with Nike claimed he offered her a ride with no evil intention

Epic Drama, Emotan Rocks the Stage at MUSON Yinka Olatunbosun Beyond struggling for the right of way on the perpetually busy roads, Lagos Theatre audience are rushing for the tickets to see the epic drama, Emotan, a brain-child of the fast-rising theatre producer, Joseph Edgar. First performed at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2019, Emotan is an emotional drama based on the historical account of a legendary market woman in the 15thcentury Benin Kingdom. According to oral history, Emotan is instrumental to helping Oba Ewuarere claim his throne as the Oba of Benin after several years in exile.

A Duke of Shomolu Productions, Emotan is an ensemble of popular Nollywood greats starring Elvina Ibru. For Edgar, bringing Emotan to Lagos is a strong economic decision. “Lagos is the theatre capital of the country and the excitement that Emotan elicited in Benin must also be shared in Lagos,� he said. “It was a highly successful outing that was meant to test the grounds in the culture capital of the country before bringing it to the commercial capital�.

With the seasoned actor, Yemi Shodimu and Chantal Edgar, a child acting prodigy, the play kicks off from December 22 to 25 in Lagos at the Agip Recital Hall, Onikan.

Scores of traditional Benin songs as well as graceful dance steps will thrill the audience. This production becomes a part of the Duke

but his countenance contrasted his claim and his lies about his whereabouts that fateful evening of Nike’s disappearance cast some doubts on his alibi.

The movie, which had its world premiere in New York at the Urban World Film Festival won the Jury award for Best Narrative Feature World Cinema. It was the closing flick at the 2019 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) won three awards at the AFRIFF Globe Awards. Best Actress (Kate Henshaw) Best Director (Akin Omotoso) and Best Nigerian Film.

Call it a whistle-blower on the Nigerian criminal justice system where a DNA test result can take as much as three months to be obtained, it’s a movie that speaks the truth about the reality of raising the girlchild in a city as a single mother. A moral question is also raised in the resolution of the conflict which presents the viewer with the dilemma of choosing between waiting patiently for state justice that may never come or taking justice into one’s hand.

This one hour 15minutes movie domesticates action scenes using atypical African setting with a conscious effort to highlight the strength of a woman through a pregnant policewoman. Shot at Makoko, a less-privileged community, Stainless locates the culprit with the assistant of a young canoe paddler who helped to pursue the culprit. The chase itself underlines the role of community involvement in crime fighting. A Temple Productions movie, “The Ghost and the House of Truth� is a powerful cinematic statement on social realities such as child endangerment, sexual violence and the search for justice. It is a succession to the earlier collaborative movie, an experimental one titled “A Hotel Called Memory.�

VivianOnyekachiIbeEmergesasWinner QuramoWritersPrize2019

L-R: Mrs. Ibironke Sanwo-Olu,Lagos State ďŹ rst lady presents the cheque of N1m to Vivian Onyekachi Ibe,winner of the Quramo Writers’s Prize 2019; as Mrs. Gbemi Shasore, executive publisher, Quaramo Publishing and Toni Kan (head judge) watches

Yinka Olatunbosun

Elvina Ibru and Chantal Edgar in the stage play, Emotan

of Shomolu’srich collection of stage plays that draw upon the history of pre-independence Nigeria to build a story with contemporary relevance.

These include IsaleEko and Oba Esugbayi, both set in Lagos.

Edgar promised that the play, written and directed

by William Benson, will also bring fresh faces to the stage to

perform with the Nollywood Stars. “Emotan will be introducing to the audiences the massively talented duo of Aisha Shittu and Queeneth,� he added.

The co-Executive producers for Emotan include the veteran broadcasters, Soni Irabor and Olisa Adibuaas well as Mofoluwake Edgar.

Following a three-day activities-packed literary experience curated by the Quramo Publishing called Quramo Festival of Words, (QFest2019) which featured literary masterclasses, panel discussions and exciting film screenings, it all came to a wrap with the announcement of the winner of the Quramo Writers’Prize which is awarded to an unpublished fiction manuscript.

The winning entry was Vivian OnyekachiIbe’s ‘What Dreams Are Made Of’, which made the author the first female winner of the prize since 2017 that the prize was instituted.

Samuel Monye, QWP2017 and Emmanuel Michael QWP2018

made the second and third positions respectively. After the ‘Q-Conversations’ with Molara Wood interviewing Kadaria Ahmed and Toni Kan interviewing Bankole Olayebi, the three judges A. Igoni Barrett, Molara Wood and Head Judge, Toni Kan mounted the stage to announce the Top five and the Top three after a short interlude.

The third place entry went to Jaiyeola Temitayo Tomiwafor his entry, ‘You will be Fine’ with Joan WawiraThatiah in second place for her manuscript ‘Guilty.’ In the judge’s citation, the winning entry was described “as an assured and astute work of fiction from a writer whose sensibility is popular without veering into the superficial‌ Our winning entry is a fastpaced, action-packed thriller

with great characterisation, and dollops of wit and humour.

It will find legions of readers and spark urgent conversations especially among the millennials and so ultimately expand the universe of the prize.�

The winning writer expressed her excitement at winning, adding that it was unexpected. “I am honestly overwhelmed by the outcome because I really didn’t expect it. My intention was to just come around and congratulate the winner.�

She received a cash prize of one million naira and a Quramo book publishing deal.

Onyekachi Ibe who works in the administrative section of a Lagos law firm revealed that it took her two weeks to complete the winning entry of 50,000 words.

36

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

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

ASHERMAN’S SYNDROME AND INFERTILITY (Part 2) terosonogram to re-check the uterus to see if restoration of size and shape has occurred and no excessive scar formation/ growth that can prevent pregnancy.

This week we shall be concluding the diagnosis,possible complications, treatment, post op management, prevention and effect of Asherman’s syndrome on fertility.

The Diagnosis of Asherman’s Syndrome: This can be done by various methods such as Hysteroscopy: for direct inspection of the uterine cavity to confirm the presence, extent, degree of adhesion and the quality of the endometrium is done using a hysteroscope. It is the most accurate method for the diagnosis of adhesions in the uterus.

Laparoscopy: A minimal invasive procedure which is used to examine the organs and tissues in the abdomen can also be done as an additional procedure.

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): This is a unique test done via x-ray by checking a woman’s fallopian tube and uterus using medical dye.

Sonohysterography: Hysterosonogram (SHG /HSN) i.e. saline infusion .This is a type of test that is used to examine a woman’s uterus. It is a painless test that uses sound wave and an ultrasound scanner machine to create images to check the lining of the uterus in case of any scar or tissue growth.

Treatment of Asherman’s Syndrome Asherman syndrome can be treated using a surgical procedure called an operative hysteroscopy. Small surgical instruments are attached to the end of the hysteroscope and used to remove adhesions. The procedure is always carried out under general anaesthesia. After the procedure antibiotics is given to prevent infection and estrogen tablets to improve the quality of the uterine lining. A repeat hysteroscopy will then be performed at a later date to check that the operation was successful and the uterus is free from adhesions/scars. It is possible for adhesions to reoccur following treatment, so doctors recommend waiting a year before trying to conceive to ensure that this has not occurred.

Treatment may not be required if a woman is not planning on conceiving and the condition is not causing any pain.

Results of Treatment Surgical treatment of intrauterine adhesions is mostly favourable. Most women do not need more than two surgical procedures, very few patients require more than two procedures and normal menstrual flow could be restored.

Some patients may be able to conceive after surgical treatment and some may not be able to conceive due to other infertility factors they have, so it is always advisable that thorough fertility investigation is carried out on patients including their partners.

Experienced surgeons that treat severe Asherman’s Syndrome recommend the removal of scars tissues with scissors rather than with energy-generating instruments such as resect scopes or lasers because adhesions have a tendency to reform, especially in more severe cases after their use.

There are certain ways to prevent re-scarring after scar tissue/adhesions removal surgery. A splint or balloon to prevent the coming together (juxtaposition) of the walls during the immediate post-operative healing stage is inserted.

Possible Complications after treatment of Asherman’s Syndrome Bleeding, blood clots, damage to surrounding organs (e.g. bladder, urethra, and blood vessels), infection, and complications from fluid or gas that was used to enlarge the uterus, perforation of the uterus during removal of adhesions and

Post-operative scar may occur if not done by skilled surgeon.

Post-Operative Management Some doctors suggest that women who have undergone any type of uterine surgery or injuries should go through hormone therapy which consist of high dosage of estrogen for about 30-60 days depending on the severity of the adhesion or have in place a mechanical uterine wall separating device to avoid intrauterine adhesions i.e. to place a stent/an extender e.g. Intrauterine devices (IUD), intrauterine balloon,paediatric Foley catheters and adhesion barriers.

The use of antibiotics after the procedure is important,the most suitable for a patient will be determined by the managing physician.

Before such a women gets pregnant again, they are advised to do a scan and repeat Hys-

Prevention The best way to prevent Asherman syndrome is to avoid the D and C procedure. In most cases, it should be possible to choose medical evacuation following a missed or incomplete miscarriage, retained placenta, or post birth bleeding. If a D and C is required, the surgeon can use an ultrasound to guide them and reduce the risk of damage to the uterus.

Asherman syndrome can make it difficult and sometimes impossible for a woman to conceive. It can also increase the risk for serious complications during pregnancy. The condition is often preventable and treatable.

If you have Asherman syndrome and your fertility cannot be restored, consider reaching out to your Gynaecologists/fertility specialist for management. It is also important for women who want children but are unable to conceive to know there are other options which include surrogacy and in some cases adoption.

References http://www.tupbebekmerkezi. net/eng/what-is-ashermans-syndrome http://myclevelandclinic.org/health/ disease/16561-ashermans-syndrome‌‌

Raving Fans and the New Approach in Engaging Audiences As individuals, we relate better with people we understand, and are naturally averse to those who approach us with ulterior motives. We sometimes go as far as calling them ‘fake’ or ‘not genuine’.

Brands are not any different, and consumers generally will not have a problem being loyal to a brand they perceive cares for them genuinely.

Largely, a brand is similar to a living organism and in the long run, how people feel about your brand will be determined by the core messaging, vision and approach. So just imagine this: you’re streaming a video on the internet and adverts of a particular product keep popping up and interrupting your experience. No doubt, you’ll remember the product being advertised, but not in the way the brand would like you to. Because you’re upset, your brain will most likely associate the brand with discomfort, so building allegiance or loyalty towards such a brand will be difficult.

As a business owner, what you really need is for people to have a fond memory of it. Invariably, it takes a lot more effort to mitigate or improve on a bad brand impression than it takes to create a good one. So, the sooner you can acknowledge the importance of becoming a human brand, and you can truly inspire and connect with your audiences, the sooner you’ll see results as you integrate this into your campaigns and into the fabric of your organisation.

To reach more consumers, care about things that are important to other human beings – like happiness, enjoyment, community, progress and more. In addition, make your audience the hero of your storytelling narrative and communicate with them in language they can understand.

A viral, successful, and really compelling story among Nigerians is the Maltina brand, which has successfully created a campaign that connects with a nation-wide

audience, sharing happiness and inspiring Nigerians to share their moments of happiness with loved ones. In recent

communications, emphasis has been on the premise that happiness doesn’t have to be shared only when the big things in

life happens. For Maltina, it is the “little things� that brings happiness.

Is there anyone who does not identify with that? What a brilliant campaign idea!

Anyone who has listened to radio in Nigeria recently, read the newspapers or watched any other media platform, would have heard the Maltina brand talking about ‘Sharing Happiness’.

This campaign birthed another ongoing campaign of Maltina – the ‘1000 Smiles’ campaign, which is an exciting initiative by the Maltina brand aimed at sharing happiness and capturing smiles of people across diverse backgrounds in Nigeria. The brand partnered with celebrity photographer, Noble Igwe to curate smiley moments from different faces around Nigeria, and is based on the fact that there are always reasons to smile.

So far, the Maltina 1000 smiles tour has run across various cities and the happiness team at Maltina has documented photos, videos and also engaged in other fun activities with the members of the communities including handing out free cans of Maltina drinks.

The brand has done an exceptional job at providing relatable experiences for its audiences across the country, and has so easily become a part of a cultural conversation that is relevant to the brand. They have leveraged on existing cultural moments and proven that they are in touch with what is happening with Nigerians at the moment.

Some other brands have also been able to achieve this in the past, turning their customers into raving fans. But this has become more difficult to witness in recent years, and it is about time brands moved away from impersonal marketing messaging, and evolved into one with which consumers would feel a personal connection.

37

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

COLLAGE EVENTS

Yuletide: UPBEAT Oers Unusual Fun for Families Stories by Mary Nnah

L-R: Patrons, Boys Brigade, St Bernadette Catholic Church, Mrs Uloma Agu; husband, Kelechi: Associate Priest of the church, Reverend Father George Erumetse; National President, Boys Brigade of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu; Chairman, Odi-Olowo Battalion Council, Elder Adeshina Adekunle; Patron, Mrs Anthonia Adegbami and the brigade children during the Christmas Carol organised by the Boys’ Brigade of Nigeria, St Bernadette Catholic Church branch, lpaja, Lagos...recently ABIODUN AJALA

L-R : Groom’s parent, Prince Adedire Arimoro, wife, Bunmi: couple, Tomiwa Arimoro, wife, Mosun, and bride’s parent,Mr Olufemi Eda and wife during thhe wedding in Lagos..recently

The UPBEAT Recreation Centre, the ďŹ rst ever West Africa trampoline park with a multi-purpose recreational facility that serves as a ďŹ tness and fun centre, is oering families unusual fun this festive period.

So, what better way to spend quality time with family and friends at Christmas and New Year than have activity the whole family can enjoy outside the conďŹ ne of your home? Therefore, UPBEAT Recreation Centre is a place to be this season to enjoy an active experience with the kids while making some lasting festive memories.

Being the ďŹ rst Trampoline Park in West Africa, Upbeat is on the lookout for fun and ďŹ tness by providing a safe space to exercise while having fun, be it through trampoline, ďŹ tness classes or any of sporting activities like football, basketball, virtual reality, Santa experience, skating, volleyball and many more.

Announcing activities for this season during the Centre’s second year anniversary last weekend, the Operations Manager, Ms Siamanta Van-Labeke said, “We are so excited that we have made it to two years and so we welcome everybody to have a fun time with us�.

She noted that the two years have been absolutely phenomenal, adding, “we have had wonderful team that work here and all the wonderful guests that have come to support us from time to time�.

Aside the festive period where families can enjoy all the activities at Upbeat at a price that comes in a special package, prices are ďŹ xed for each activity at the centre at other times. “We also have the Kids Camp holding from December 16 to 20, where kids can come from morning to 12pm and do dierent activities for a whole week.

While on Christmas Day we would be unveiling of the Tree with Nickelodeon.

And we would have a Santa Room as well where children can come and have a Santa Experience�, Van-Labeke said.

She stressed further that, “At UPBEAT, basically, we stand for a healthy lifestyle. So, we up your fun, up your life and up your ďŹ tness. We want people to embrace healthy lifestyle because with a healthy lifestyle, everything else is more productive. Basically, it is for people to enjoy life at an outdoor space.â€?

The Upbeat recreation centre is the brainchild of Architect and visionary, Moyo Ogunseinde ED, Uraga Real Estate, an initiative of Uraga Real Estate Limited, a subsidiary of Honeywell group of companies. Established in December 2017 in Nigeria, UPBEAT was born to ďŹ ll a gap in the market, establishing a world class and fun sports and ďŹ tness recreation centre in Africa for the beneďŹ t for all in the community.

The UPBEAT Recreation Centre, Lekki L- R: Zonal Secretary NUJ , Mr Bamigbola Gbolagunte; newly elected Oyo State NUJ Chairman, Ademola Babalola and National Assist ant Secretary, Gbenga Bamidele during the Oyo State NUJ elections in Ibadan...recently FELIX ADEMOLAi

L-R: Chief (Mrs.)Tessy A. Ikimi; Erelu Keji Okunowo; President St. Louis Grammar School Old Girls, Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello and Chief Sena Anthony at the St. Louis Grammar School Ibadan, Old Girls Re-Union 1961-2019 held in Lagos...recently MUBO PETERS

APDAtoHonourPrinceAgba An Edo state socio-cultural group, the Afenmai Patriotic Development Association APDA, has announced plans to honour the Minister of state for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba over his appointment as well his performance since he assumed oďŹƒce.

APDA said the grand reception, which will take place in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo on December 23, has been put together to celebrate Agba who has become a shining star for the Afenmai people of the state.

A statement made available to journalists in Lagos, Acting President of APDA, Senior High Chief Kennedy Izuagbe said the Minister deserves the honour for his sterling performance in oďŹƒce for over a decade right from when he became a Commissioner in Edo state during the administration of Comrade Adam Oshiomhole as Governor of the state.

He said “We consider it worthwhile to honour Prince Agba for his seless service to the state and Nigeria. The indelible mark he has left on the sands of time and his contributions to nation-building and humanity are evident of a seless public servant.â€?

According to him, the president rightly found a Nigerian as minister who has the experience to deliver on set goals and objectives of the administration having garnered experience and expertise from the oil and gas industry that has zero tolerance for failure and underachievement.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

38

LIFE

Night of Honour for Dangote Staff Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that it was a night of honour for staff of Dangote Industries Limited as they were rewarded for loyalty and long service to the company

I

n the current era of the New Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution, longevity in service is a rarity among the Millennials all over the world. However, when Dangote Industries Limited, Nigeria’s top manufacturing conglomerate recently hosted some of its deserving staff for their loyalty, dedication and long service, there were vital lessons for the present workforce, emerging class and for all.

It was a night of mixed emotions at The Podium in Lekki, Lagos, venue of the Dangote Industries Limited(DIL)’s long service award ceremony for 172 deserving staff; out of which 12 individuals were honoured post-humously.

For the lower cadre staff among the awardees, it was a golden opportunity for the management of the organisation to openly acknowledge their long years of hard work, determination in service and loyalty.

To the middle level management awardees, the event evoked a deep sense of belonging and achievement in seeing their long years of commitment and service to DIL showcased in the geometric rise of the company from a trading concern in 1981 to become a huge conglomerate in less than four decades.

However, regarding the top management awardees, the recognition triggered a sense of pride at the successful outcome of their years of policies, processes and positive decisions targeted at transforming the company to an organisation, which has become Nigeria’s most admired brand for the past consecutive years (2018 - 2019) and Africa’s most admired brand for the same period.

Meanwhile, to the families, friends and colleagues of the awardees, and all the employees group-wide, the ceremony generated a mutual sense of belonging and collective joy in being part of a success story which Dangote has become.

Lastly, to the man who sits at the top of the pyramid, Aliko Dangote, his calm mien could barely conceal the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth while he delivered his keynote address, and his feeling of paternal pride and personal satisfaction was obvious to the discerning. Here was a man worth celebrating; a man who has translated his vision into actions which brought those gathered at the award ceremony together in a closeknit family, united by focus, a sense of purpose and a successful brand.

Setting the tone for the night of pomp and gaiety on the red carpet, the Group Chief Human Resources Officer, DIL, Mr. Usen Udoh, said, “It has been five years of tremendous growth, five years of adventure and probably one of the happiest days in Dangote. I am just five years in the organisation. I am not an awardee but I am part of the organising committee. “My goodwill message to the awardees is that, first of all we are very lucky to be led by somebody whose vision has not only transformed the landscape, but has placed our company on the global map.

He has also provided the light that has given direction, guidance and motivation to a large number of people. “The awardees today are very lucky because they belong to probably the fastest growing conglomerate in the world.

R-L: President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, presenting a Long Service Award to the Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Olakunle Alake for 29 years of dedicated service at the Dangote Industries Limited 2019 Long Service Award held in Lagos recently

President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote (middle) presenting Long Service Awards to Nzeako Onyembo Alexander (left); Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Olakunle Alake (2nd right); and Taiye Ajiyen (right) for their 29 years of dedicated service, at the Dangote Industries Limited 2019 Long Service Award held in Lagos recently

Congratulations to all the awardees, congratulations to their families, and a special thank you to our President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON and to the leadership that has made this happen. “The employees and not just the awardees would be extremely pleased at what has happened. I also thank my organising committee which has worked relentlessly in the last three months. This is probably going to be the most glamorous Dangote celebration this year and I am very proud of it.�

At the gala dinner and awards ceremony, elated staff ranging from the Group Managing Director, Mr. Olakunle Alake, to drivers and security personnel were feted like royalty for their loyalty to an organisation, which was recently ranked as the best indigenous company to work in Nigeria according to the Jobberman 2019 Report.

The celebrated staff, who had dedicated their time, energy, loyalty and skills to one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous companies, were each given a certificate of

recognition, an award plaque, a financial re reward, and a thunderous round applause re from the staff, family members and friends fr of the awardees.

The 172 awardees were placed in five categories; 29 staff were celebrated for ca between 10 and 14 years of service; 85 be were rewarded for between 15 and 19 w years of service; another 29 were feted for ye between 20 and 24 years of loyal service; be 13 were applauded for dedicated service of between 25 and 29 years; while four staff st were also honoured for their service from 30 years and above. Remarkably, 12 fr staff who had passed on while on active st duty, du were eulogised and post-humous awards were given to their spouses for aw their dedicated service ranging from 10 th to 39 years. Both the Group Executive Director, Logistics and Distribution, DIL, D Alhaji Abdu Dantata, who emerged the A highest living awardee for his 36 years of hi diligent service, and the Group Managing di Director, Mr. Olakunle Alake, who has D put pu in 29 years of service to the organisation tio and who gave the welcome remarks,

were given outstanding ovation for their exemplary commitment and loyalty.

In his keynote address, the President/ CE of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote GCON, commended all the awardees for their loyalty, commitment and dedicated service over the years; all of which had contributed to elevate the company from a trading concern founded in 1981 to one of the largest manufacturing conglomerates in Africa today, with a household name in Nigeria and a global brand to boot.

The elated President, who wore a look of calm satisfaction at the incredible growth of the organisation to a multi-billion-dollar status, noted that the staff, especially the awardees, were crucial part of the global success story which Dangote Industries has become today.

According to him, “I want to say a very big thank you to all of us here tonight. Indeed, loyalty is royalty and the successful growth of our company is a direct result of your excellent service.

Your loyalty upholds our core principles and our continuous growth is based on a culture of resilience and loyalty. “Today, we celebrate your individual and collective successes and our breakthrough was due to your investment of many years of loyal service. I encourage you to remain dedicated and committed.

We deeply appreciate you and your efforts.

Thank you very much.�

The billionaire businessman, who personally presented the awards to all the awardees that have served DIL for 25 years and more and to the families of all the post-humous awardees, was given a surprise gift as a token of appreciation at the event anchored by the GCHRO, Mr. Udoh and an organising committee.

Dangote, flanked by his three daughters, Halima, Fatima, and Mariya; Alhaji Dantata and the GMD, Mr. Alake, was given a framed picture of himself with the names of all the 172 awardees embedded; to rapturous applause and standing ovation by all the attendees at the event in appreciation of a man who has consistently broken boundaries in entrepreneurship, philanthropy and staff welfare in Nigeria and beyond.

In response, the awardees, some of who spoke in short video clips, were full of praise and prayers for Aliko Dangote and proud to have served the organisation for so long.

Their overall gratitude at the award, gift and honour was aptly captured by a staff in the security department, Mr. Samanja Umaru, who was rewarded for his 20 years of service to the company. Samanja, who effusively narrated how Dangote has transformed his life and family, pledged his undying loyalty to the organisation which has given him so much.

According to Samanja, “Dangote is a blessed man and Dangote (DIL) is a good company. I began working with Dangote way back in 1981 at the warehouse where we were paid N10 daily. God bless Alhaji Dangote. He carries everybody along, whether Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, anyone.

Alhaji Dangote changed my life. He is a blessed man�.

One notable lesson which emerged from the Dangote long service awards event was that loyalty and hard work pays, even in a rapidly changing world. And to the happy awardees and rollicking staff across all levels, DIL remains an ideal place to work, and a beacon of hope and comfort for the staff, their families and their dependents.

͹͡

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY

Navy Tasks Personnel to Remain Dedicated to Duty Chiemelie Ezeobi Personnel of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) has been tasked to remain dedicated to duty and also uphold the integrity of defending, protecting and building the Nigerian nation.

Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, made this call at the Naval Training Command Regimental dinner held in Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA in Apapa, Lagos.

Urging personnel not to betray the trust reposed on them by the command as they have been selected to perform a duty, he said they “must realise that you have been carefully selected as competent workmen and women to mould the finest blocks with which to build a navy to be proud of�.

The special guest of honour, Rear Admiral Peter Adeniyi (Rtd), in his speech urged the officers to be conscious and responsive to their responsibilities and should rededicate themselves to the service.

He reiterated that the regimental dinner was an age old military tradition that was significant in promoting the core values of the service.

He said: “This is in conformity to the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff.

The regimental dinner is one of the military ceremonies that demonstrate the virtues of the army as an enviable institution. “This is because in the military there are discipline, team spirit and team work, cooperation, articulation and precision.�

Adeniyi described the command as the foundation where human resources of the Nigerian Navy are prepared to build the organisation, adding that “although there are challenges and limitations but I also know that the Chief of Naval Staff is unrelenting in providing the infrastructure and enabling environment for the youths to work�.

He further added that with commitment, dedication and determination, any of such challenges would be surmounted.

Regimental dinner, which is an agelong military tradition is an opportunity to enforce regimentation and foster comradeship among senior and junior officers.

The process for a regimental dinner begins with the arrival of junior officers arrive before the senior officers. Then the FOC and the special guest of honour (SGOH) for the night arrives before the predinner drinks are served.

The next agenda is then the announcement of dinner and people go in and stand by their seat till the SGOH comes in and sits down. The dinner is served by

L-R: Chief Sta OďŹƒcer, Naval Training Command Rear Admiral Idowu Yusuf and wife; FOC Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji; Special Guest of Honour, Rear Admiral PS Adeniyi (RTD); FOC Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch and wife; Rear Admiral GSA Ombo (RTD), and Rear Admiral Ayaga (RTD)

OďŹƒcers at the regimental dinner

well dressed up butlers.

The butlers serve the first course and everyone eats until the SGOH has eaten his full and drops his cutlery, which means everyone must follow suit. The butlers clear the dishes and brings in the main course, clear it after eating and then serve desert, clear the table afterwards and then pour the wine that would be used for the loyal toast.

A loyal toast is a salute given to the

head of state of the country in which a formal gathering is being given. It is usually a matter of protocol at state and military occasions. This year, the toast was given to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

The SGOH is then introduced, preceding the presentation of awards, and then followed by the special guest’s speech.

After the speech, a gift is presented to him, before the vote of thanks. This wraps up the evening, although the SGOH and the VIPs conduct the band before leading others to the post dinner drinks. This year was no different as the command did all the above listed. However, it was an opportunity to reward a diligent retired personnel who held to revamp the courses carried out in NAVTRAC schools.

NAVTRAC Holds Route March, Charges Personnel to Keep Fit Mary Ovie The Nigerian Navy (NN) has charged its operatives to endeavour to go for periodic checkups and exercise regularly to keep fit as they discharge their constitutional responsibilities.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Stanfford Enoch, gave the charge after the quarterly 10km route march designed to test the physical and mental fitness of officers and ratings of the NN. The walk which began around 6am, kicked off from NAVTRAC down to Costain roundabout and back to the command, had all members of the naval units under the command in attendance.

The FOC who was represented by the Commanding Ashore Sea Training Officer, Naval Training Command, Commodore Adesola Adesope, said the charge was necessary given the recent high rate of death casualties due to failure to go for check ups.

He also charged them on the need to be psychologically, physically and mentally alert at all times.

On the route march, the FOC said the exercise, which brings all units and formations under the command together once a quarter, was in line with directives

OďŹƒcers exercising after the route march

from the Naval Headquarters.

He said the aim was to assess their physical fitness, mental alertness, stamina and psychological disposition, applauding the about 1,000 personnel who partook in it for exhibiting combat readiness.

After the route March, personnel returned back to the parade ground of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) QUORRA for bouts of exercises.

Given the signal from the exercise commander, the representative of the FOC addressed the troops and civilians at the parade ground.

After appraising the performance of all participants, he said reiterated that the route march is one of her annual program and in this case, the very last for the year 2019, adding that the route march is first to check the fitness of personnel, secondly, to show the civilian populace that the military is always there for them in times of any security challenge, especially now that the yuletide approaches.

He said: “Also, it is very important for us as military men to take part to ensure we are fit. Thus, I employ all to keep fit.

Recently, there’s been high rate of death

casualties due to failure to go for check ups. “Everyone should at least go for blood pressure check up at least thrice a week, both as civilians and military men.

Although this has nothing to do with age, but anyone from 40 and above should always check their BP.�

On the other hand, given the season, he also gave some security tips and safety advices. He said the festive period is approaching and if anyone is to travel, they should ensure that the vehicle is well worked on and in perfect shape, ensure they check their extra tyres.

40

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

POLSCOPE

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

Labake Yembra: A Gracious and Gallant Bow Out

B

ut these leaders of ours, especially those with military background, do not bother to review their public image. They are so ensconced in the comfort of the presidential villa that they are deaf to the ruckus noise about how dim their images are.

I will give four examples: two military leaders and two democratic leaders (with military background) The former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida brought a lot of mud on his image when he kept tweaking and tinkering with the political programme of the country, aside other vexatious vices. It came to a head with the annulment of the famous itself from the pangs of military grip, twenty years after. It is an angry throwb December 15, but instead of a victory copy, here I am cobbling together, an obituary copy in honour of Mrs Labake Yembra nee Lateef.

For her, it’s been a long drive through life. She got into this last lane of her life unannounced, and for 65 months (five years, and five months) she struggled courageously to get back to the lane of life. But sadly, the wheels of life steered her into eternity last Sunday.

I cannot now clearly remember how I got invited to Emel Hospital, Festac Town that morning of August 14, 2014. Labake had been admitted there two days earlier, for what I thought was just medical check up or some bed rest. But that morning, Precious Yembra, her husband had told me that there was supposed to be some surgery on her tommy, but that the surgeon had recommended that another surgery be done on her goiter before the one on the tommy. Somebody had suggested the surgery be done at the Navy Town Hospital, Satellite town. But Labake was strongly opposed to being taken to Navy Town. Thereupon, we settled for the surgery in Emel Hospital.

But for the pain she said she had inside her stomach, there was no sign that Labake was sick. I discussed with her and encouraged her.

I left for work. The surgery was supposed to take place at about 2.pm.

By 10.pm, I got a distressed call from Precious, lamenting that eight hours after, Labake was yet to wake up after the surgery. I was still at work. Was it a case of over doze of anesthesia? Nobody could confirm. The surgeon had long gone, promising Precious and co that she (Labake) would soon be up.

I got back to the hospital at midnight, at which time all the panic buttons had been activated. Precious and a few of Labake’s brothers around were already teary, fearing that the worst had happened. But she was yet breathing. But unconscious. The doctors were at their wit’s end, all looking very confused.

We discussed briefly and decided to rush her either to LUTH or to Lagoon Hospital. We feared that the nonchalant attitude of LUTH personnel could make matters worse. We settled for Lagoon Hospital, in Apapa.

Given her weight, getting Labake from the second floor of the hospital into the ambulance that night only foretold how rough the ride was going to be. The oxygen cylinder almost refused to work. Everything was looking tough and rough. At about 1.00am, we set out for Apapa, driving through Tin Can, with Precious in the ambulance and I driving behind.

We had just passed Tin Can gate when the only corridor left on the road was blocked.

A trailer had broken down. The siren of the ambulance was wailing endlessly. We were

U

Labake

stuck. Every second counted. The driver of the trailer was no where to be found. The battery of the trailer had gone dead. When Precious came out and broke down crying, it was the conductors and other drivers that came to our rescue. “Ahhhhh, somebody is about dying o�, they screamed. One brought his own battery fixed it into the broken down truck and in no time, they got the bad truck off the way. We soon got to Lagoon Hospital at about 3.00am.

Another drama ensued. They needed deposit.

That she was a staff of THISDAY NEWSPAPERS at the time did not stop them from asking for deposit. It was an ungodly time for offices to be contacted. I managed to transfer N300,000 there and then, before she could be admitted.

At dawn, they had transferred her to the Intensive Care Unit, still supported by Oxygen.

For the next three months plus, Labake was unconscious. All the doctors tried all they could, daily raised our hopes, but nothing significantly changed. Lagoon Hospital almost became a second home for some of us.

When on the fourth month, she regained consciousness, and was off the gas machine, two terrible developments had occurred: she had suffered memory loss and also suffered stroke. And so another battle began. For another two months or more, the battle to recover her memory became the issue. She barely could recognize anybody, not even her husband. All kinds of gadgets were fixed all over her body.

Gash, I can’t forget the wailing sound of those machines.

Gradually and steadily, the memory returned.

But she could neither talk nor walk. She could hear you, nod in approval or disapproval. There was another complication. She had had terrible bed sore.

After what looked like eternity, and with the mountainous medical bill, Labake was brought back home, with the plan of bringing doctors to the house to treat her. We had to deposit the original documents of a property Labake and I jointly owned, before Lagoon could release her. The documents are still there. But Labake is now gone.

And that was how the second phase of the battle began. Doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and care minders were severally hired to attend to Labake. That was when I ever knew of air bed. That had to be changed pretty often.

Precious was undoubtedly cumbered. But he stood by his dear wife, all through, so were the two children: Ejiro and Ese. For years, she became confined to wheel chair.

The option of flying her abroad for better treatment got hitched because of financial constraints. The airlines had demanded flying her only on Business or First Class , given her condition. The family had gone damn broke, with everything gone or sold to pay the bills.

Some contraption was created around her throat that enabled her to talk, albeit hushly.

Often, the ring-like plastic device had to be properly plugged into her throat to connect the wind pipe, so she can talk. At times, the device gets blocked and had to be cleaned and cleared, fixed again and then she can resume her conversations.

But despite the difficulty and frustration she experienced trying to communicate, it never dampened her spirit. Labake was ever in high spirit.

In her new low-cut hair, her natural beauty was yet very evident. Ebullient , fun-filled and boisterous Labake remained true to her nature all through.

That we were very chummy friends is an understatement. We were so close that many people even thought or imagined that there was something else between us. We just chimed.

Our spirits bonded in faithful affinity.

And that was why each time I went visiting her, the gists never ended. It always started with the dreams she had. They were always quite telling dreams.

Even in her state, she would tease and “yab�me. She told stories that got you laughing and rolling on the floor, as she also manages to laugh. Yes, she had a tough spirit. Ah Labaks, a tree has fallen!

She was a lady with a good soul, imbued with high philanthropic virtues.

Robust, intelligent and with her gait and glam, Labake was a show-stopper any day.

On Tuesday November 19, a mutual friend, Mrs Ezinne Azunna had insisted that we visited her as she (Ezinne) hadn’t seen her for a long time. We did. We had planned to spend not more than 30 minutes. But not with Labake.

Her rounds of endless gists and social reviews and updates kept us well over an hour. She was still very informed of all that was going on. She was a radio lady. Her radio was always beside her. Talking about radio, Labake and I had planned to set up a radio station, we had agreed on the name of the station and what our niche would be. She had done the preliminaries, being a former broadcaster. All that have stymied now.

On that last visit, she was still very hopeful of full recovery, so she can regain her bounce. I promised many things I would do when she recovers fully. I had even told her I would soon come and get her into the car and drive her round FESTAC town so she could see the town again, having been sequestered for over five years. And she smiled. I had insisted she lifted her legs and arms as a proof that she was getting better. She did.

And the little envelope I brought for her, I demanded that she stretched forth her hand to receive it. Again, she did amidst smiles. I didn’t know that would be our last meeting.

And so when Dr Solomon Deji Ekundayo, our mutual family doctor called me very early that Sunday morning, as I was out of Lagos, I was worried that my doctor could be calling so early. I thought there was an emergency in my home. But when he spoke, it was more than an emergency: “Sister Labake is gone sir�, he announced. She had suffered respiratory seizure. It was a sad Sunday.

It would be tough adjusting to the memory of her death. Perhaps worse for the children— Ejiro and Ese. The latter had just turned 15 on the day the mother died. . The son, Ejiro, three days ago, had momentarily forgotten her mum had passed. Soon as he got back from lesson, he still went to Labake’s room downstairs to greet her, as the practice was. It was the empty bed that reminded him that his mum was gone. Eternally.

She’s had a long drive and struggle. She deserves a restful rest. We will sorely miss Labaks. May the good Lord rest the soul of my friend, sister, colleague, confidant and ally.

The Growing Rumble in CBAAC

nless there is an urgent intervention by the relevant authorities, the growing rumble in Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) may soon explode in a manner that could cause a breach of public peace. CBAAC, a rather quiet parastatal in the Ministry of Information and Culture seems to be experiencing some upheavals. Already, the top management staff of the parastatal have unsheated their sword against the acting Director General, Mrs Ndidi Aimienwauu whom they have accused of many “transgressions’. Perhaps, more irksome to the Directors is the fact that Mrs Aimienwauu who ought to have retired early this month is not only still in office, claiming her appointment is political, she is indeed ramming down the throat of the Directors with illegal directives and operations, all in clear breach of civil service rules. Worse

still is the seeming connivance between the acting DG and the Permanent Secretary in charge of the ministry, Mrs Isu Gekpe as well as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the parastatal, Obon Abom Toni Esu. The duo have been accused by the management of conspiracy of silence in saying nothing about the expired service term of the acting DG. The management are not only peeved that for over a year, the DG has not held any management meeting, she has indeed carried on as if she is a Sole Administrator in the parastatal as she organizes programmes and projects without carrying management staff along. “we are merely invited to programmes through text messages 48 hours to the programmes�, they lamented in a protest letter sent to the Chairman of the governing board.

Most of the programmes on which huge monies are expended do not have the “input� of the management staff, as Mrs Aimienwauu allegedly does everything unilaterally to the pain and

chagrin of the staff. The over N482 million 2018 budget of the parastatal spent on frivolities of seminars, symposia, conferences, workshops and public lectures, are now being called out for investigation by anti-graft agencies, as many of them are considered phoney.

But Mrs Aimienwauu will neither deny nor confirm the accusations preferring that a “proper meeting� be fixed to discuss the issues, insisting that “at this level, I cannot be discussing such matters on the phone�.

In the same vein, the Director of Human Resources, Mr Sunday Ewan, aldo directed all enquiries n the matter to the Honourable Minister of Information, stressing that “ please send the brief on this matter to the Honourable minister�. Not even the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Deaconess Isu Gekpe is disposed to discussing the matter. A female voice who said she is the PA to the PS declared that “there is no crisis at all in CBAAC, as far as I know�, and hung up abruptly.

Aimienwauu

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

41

42

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

43

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

US Senators Set Combative Tone for Trump’s Impeachment Trial Putin predicts decision won’t be upheld by Senate The Republican leader of the US Senate yesterday said that the impeachment of President Donald Trump is based on “partisan rage” and the thinnest of evidence.

The House of Representatives had Wednesday impeached Trump for alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he was investigated by the Judicial Committee of the House, which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Party.

The party-line vote saw Republicans uniformly opposing impeachment, while the vast majority of Democrats voted in favour.

In spite of the decision of the House, a president can only be removed from office on conviction by the Senate, acting on the impeachment, for `treason, bribery or other acts of gross misconduct.

The battle will now shift to the Senate where a two-thirds vote is required to remove the president, a something that has never happened in the country.

Trump is unlikely to be convicted and removed by the Senate, which is controlled by his party whose members in the upper chamber are in support of the president.

Signs of what is to play out in the Senate emanated yesterday when Senator Mitch McConnell dismissed the impeachment process, saying that Democrats had been talking about impeaching Trump since before he became the Republican candidate for president in 2016.

McConnell called the vote a “pre-determined end to a partisan crusade.”

The two articles move to the Senate for a trial expected to take place in 2020.

Trump maintains he did nothing wrong and said again on Wednesday that impeachment is an effort to overturn his election win.

He is accused of abusing his office by soliciting Ukraine to dig up dirt on former vice president Joe Biden, a leading candidate among Democrats bidding to run against Trump next year.

The president was accused of allegedly useing a 400-million-dollar military aid approved by Congress to Ukraine, and a White House meeting for Ukraine’s president, as bargaining chips.

Democrats argue that Trump’s actions amount to abuse of presidential power for his personal political gain at the expense of national security.

The president is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to co-operate with the congressional inquiry, according to the BBC. Trump has denied the allegations, dismissing the impeachment move as a “witch hunt” by Democrats and a section of the U.S. of the media.

Senator Chuck Schumer said in rebuttal to McConnell that Republicans showed “cravenness and blind fealty” to Trump in their vote.

The minority leader said he would meet with McConnell soon to discuss the rules of the

Senate trial.

“The nation turns its eyes to the Senate,” he said, adding that it is up to the chamber to exercise its check on his power.

“I have little doubt that if we tell the president he can escape scrutiny in this instance he will do it again and again,” Schumer said.

However, Russian President

Vladimir Putin, has predicted that the impeachment of Trump would not be upheld by the US Senate.

Putin told a nationally televised news conference that Trump’s Republican Party has the majority in the Senate.

“It’s unlikely that they would want to remove their party’s representative from power for what are in my opinion absolutely

fabricated reasons,” Putin said.

He said that the Democratic Party was seeking revenge for losing the presidential election to Trump.

“One party that lost the election, the Democratic Party, is achieving results with other methods, accusing Trump of collusion with Russia, then it turns out there was no such

collusion,” Putin said.

The Democrat-controlled lower house of the U.S. Congress, the House of Representatives, voted in favour of impeaching Trump on Wednesday.

Trump is accused of abusing his office by soliciting Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political rival, Joe Biden, and withholding aid as leverage.

WORKING FOR HUMANITY...

L-R: Global Ambassador, Mrs. Regina Daniel-Nwoko; Chairman/Initiator Eradication of Malaria Africa Project, Prince Ned Nwoko; and Project Coordinator, Mr. Chukwuebuka Anyaduba, during the inauguration of mosquito eradication and anti-malaria vaccine research programme in Abuja... recently

Queen Elizabeth Presents Johnson’s Plans for Post-Brexit Britain Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday presented Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans to deliver Brexit and make the most of the opportunities therein.

The queen opened a new session of parliament following Johnson’s victory in the snap election.

The 93-year-old monarch said in her 68th speech outlining Johnson’s legislative agenda that leaving the EU on Jan. 31, remained the government’s top priority.

She said that plans were underway to negotiate bilateral trade deals with leading global economies after Brexit.

“My government will embark on an ambitious programme of domestic reform that delivers on the people’s priorities.

“For the first time, the National Health Service’s multi-year funding settlement, agreed earlier, will be enshrined in law,” she said.

However, her speech showed a commitment to an extra 33.9 billion pounds (or 44.4 billion dollars) annually by 2024 for the National Health Service.

“Johnson wants to develop a modern, fair, points-based immigration system that will welcome skilled workers from

across the world to contribute to the UK’s economy, communities and public services,” the queen said.

Meanwhile, Johnson was scheduled to elaborate on his plans in a speech to the Commons, the parliament’s major elected house, in due course.

He was also expected to insist that Britain must negotiate new trade and other relations with the EU by the end of 2020.

Johnson promised to cut taxes while funding improvements to health, education, police, and rail services ahead of the snap election, in which the

Conservatives won an 80-seat majority in the Commons.

He also pledged to negotiate liberal post-Brexit trade deals with the U.S. and other non-EU nations, and impose tougher sentences on convicted terrorists and other violent criminals.

Johnson vowed that his government would launch “the biggest review of Britain’s defense, security and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. A vote on a bill paving the way for Brexit is expected on Friday.

Algeria’s New President,Tebboune Pledges Massive Reforms Following Protest Wave Algeria’s new President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday pledged massive reforms during his five-year term in an attempt to assuage months-long protests in the energy-rich country.

Speaking in an inaugural address following his swearing-in on Thursday, Tebboune promised to work soon on amending the country’s constitution to curtail presidential powers and enshrine human rights.

Tebboune, 74, succeeds long-time ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was forced to step down in April amid mass protests and pressure from the military.

“The new constitution will

curb powers of the president, protect the country from a oneman rule, guarantee separation between different authorities, toughen combat of corruption, and safeguard basic freedoms,” Tebboune said.

“From now on, we will not allow tampering with public money and will not give immunity to the corrupt,” the ex-prime minister said.

Opponents consider Tebboune part of Bouteflika’s authoritarian rule, in spite of the fact that he was sacked three months into his time as prime minister.

Bouteflika, now aged 82, ruled energy-rich Algeria for

two decades, an era that was marked by cronyism and mismanagement.

On Thursday, Tebboune also promised to diversify Algeria’s economy, reform the tax system and overhaul health, housing and education policies.

He reached out to opponents.

“We all have to close the page of differences, discord, and fragmentation,” Tebboune said.

He added that his election was an outcome of street protests that have roiled Algeria for months.

Since Bouteflika’s ouster, protesters have called for key officials from the era of

his rule to depart and for a radical change of the political system before an election is held.

In a gesture of modesty, Tebboune asked in his inaugural speech to be addressed merely as “Mr President”, instead of the usual “Your Excellency.”

As he repeated the text of the oath at a ceremony held in the presidential palace in the capital Algiers, Tebboune put his hand on a copy of the Koran, the holy book of Islam.

The country’s military has already pledged support for the new president, hoping his election will end Algeria’s long-running political crisis.

44

T H I S D AY ˞ ˜ Ͱ͎ ˜ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

DPR Launches New Guidelines for Upstream Sector Peter Uzoho Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Oluchi Chibuzor The Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR) has launched its new guidelines of operations for the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The regulatory document is part of efforts geared towards limiting the cost of oil production in the country by five per cent, as demanded by the federal government and to make companies focus more on exploration.

The new guidelines include: Work programme and Budget Automation, Rig and Vessel Work Automation, Drilling/ Completion/Re-entry Work Process Automation and; Nigerian Oil and Gas Contract Advertising Portal (NOGCAP).

The Director of DPR, Mr.

Sarki Auwalu, stated this at a workshop organised by the agency for stakeholders in the industry, held in Lagos.

He said the government target of three million barrels per day (mbpd) of oil production and crude condense classification was yet to be achieved as the country still produces 2.2 million barrels per day, due to technical issues, vandalism, process offset and crude theft. Highlighting the significance of the new guidelines, Auwalu explained that, “the new document would improve efficiency in the industry, increase transparency, and bring in new initiative that would change the dynamics of the industry, in terms of automation and digitalization.�

Also speaking at the workshop, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and regulation (Upstream), DPR,

Mr. Enorense Amadasu, said the essence of the meeting was to engage operators and sensitise them on the various projects embarked upon by the regulatory body in the past one year.

According to him, “there is need for us to work together as a team to get the desired level of production where the government wants us to be in 2020, as there is need to do what is expected from the industry and we would not spear any company that fails to pay their dues.�

He added: “There is need for us to amend the Deep Offshore Act, because since the commencement of oil exploration in the deep waters there is no dedicated guidelines to help regulate the sector and we are launching the integrated development project

by December 2020.�

AbdulRazaq Presents 2020 Appropriation Bill to Lawmakers Hammed Shittu in Ă“Ă˜ Ă–Ă™ĂœĂ“Ă˜ Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has presented a 2020 Appropriation Bill with estimate of N162 billion to the State House of Assembly, with provisions for critical infrastructure and human capital development taking the larger chunk of the budget.

The fiscal plan according to Abdulrasaq, comprises 53 per cent capital expenditure covering road construction and rehabilitation, rehabilitation and re-equipment of schools and hospitals, rehabilitation of court rooms, and completion of a 500-seater hall building at the House of Assembly.

Presenting the budget at the State House of Assembly yesterday, Abdulrasaq said, “Basically, we are presenting a

budget estimate of N162billion for 2020, up from N157 billion budget of the outgoing year. We propose 47 per cent recurrent expenditure and 53 per cent capital expenditure in a deliberate attempt to invest in the future and grow the economy through critical infrastructure and human capital development. “One unique thing is that this budget is having an opening balance of N7 billion, or 4.3 per cent of the budget proposal, that we have saved in the past seven months.�

He added: “ The key highlights of the budget include construction of Kwara State innovation hub for information technology, large scale garment production factories, resuscitation of moribund industries, construction of new (urban and rural) roads, rehabilitation of public schools,

capacity building for teachers for efficient service delivery, payment of UBEC contribution, rehabilitation of hospitals and health centres with provision of modern medical and laboratory equipment, payment of counterpart funds, and implementation of health insurance. “We are also proposing construction of Ilorin Civic Centre (Ilorin Visual Art Centre), purchase of biometric finger prints and reader machines for e-auditing, commencement of e-Government, introduction of creative intervention fund for youth and graduate empowerment, provision of statewide irrigation scheme, agricultural mechanisation, commencement of the livestock transformation plan programme, and implementation of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme.�

Minister of Power Inaugurates SpecialTask Force The Minister of Power, Alhaji Saleh Mamman, yesterday inaugurated a Special Task Force Committee on Electric Power Sector to address the country’s power challenges.

The inauguration of the team took place in Abuja.

Speaking during the event, Mamman said the committee would serve as advisory members on policies and innovative technologies in the power sector.

The minister noted that the taskforce was part of the federal government’s plan to accelerate the pace of ongoing reforms and improve power output as well as availability in the short/long term in the sector. “It is in line with this that I have designed the concept of setting up this committee so as to achieve short term service

delivery gains while maintaining policy consistency of the federal government. “Therefore, the Ministerial Taskforce on Power, within its tenure of two years is to help with developing, planning and driving forward, the reform plan for the Nigerian Power Sector,� the minister said.

In his remarks, the newly elected Chairman of the committee, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, said the Nigeria power sector was moving in a right direction in the electricity supply industry.

According to him, “The task force is going to take time to study the sector thoroughly and look at the specific aspects that have not changed over the years. “But those aspects are the ones preventing electricity supply in regular manner that all Nigerians

require and we would attend to things that have not been changed over the years,� he said.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman of the Taskforce Committee, Olabamiji Ogunleye, said the committee would ensure that electricity sector was stable for Nigerians.

He said achieving stable electricity supply would promote rapid industrialisation and sustainable economic development.

Members of the committee are Sunusi Muktar Bichi, Sam Uche Okoro, Goodluck Enimakpokpo, Chidi Adabanya, Musa Usman Yola, and Abubakar Atiku Tambuwal.

Some others are Shehu Inuwa, Tunji Ariyomo, Prof.

S.S. Adamu, Faruk Yusuf, Ivy Joyce Adi-Elekwa, Abba Aliyu, Isa Ado Maidoya, Mahmud Tukur.

Access Bank Showcases Art, Fashion The second edition of the Born in Africa Festival (BAFEST), an initiative of Access Bank Plc, recently held in Lagos.

Following a successful maiden edition last year, this year’s edition was also a success, according to a statement.

Themed, “More for the Culture,� the 2019 BAFEST was a dynamic fusion of

African art, film, fashion and music, attracting thousands of fun lovers from across Africa. “The day-long festival commenced in the morning with the fashion, art and film park, where various artists, fashion designers and filmmakers showcased their works. “Short films, feature-length films and accelerate filmmaker project films were screened in

the film section; films such as ‘Black Monday’ by Adetola Films, ‘Blast’ by Tosin Ibitoye, ‘Last’

by Olabisi Akinbinu, ‘Scars’ by Miriam Dera among others were featured. “Eye-catching and fascinating artworks and clothing were also on display as artists and designers were on ground to engage guests,� the statement added.

L-R: Head, Channels Management, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Muyideen Apena; Chairman, Ondo East LocalGovernment,OlawaleAkinkuotu;RegionalHead,South-West,FCMB,Mr.AdelajaAdeleye;Commissionerfor Finance, Ondo State, Mr.Wale Akinterinwa; Manager, Ondo City Branch, FCMB, Mr. Emmanuel Adeyemi and Group Head, Branch Services, Mr. Ademola Idowu, during the inauguration of the new branch of FCMB in Ondo City, Ondo State...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™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

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™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2019

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $67.77 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $67.48 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

45

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŽ Ëœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

Forte Oil Plc Shareholders Approve Name Change to Ardova Plc Goddy Egene Shareholders of Forte Oil Plc has authorised the board of directors to change the name of the company to Ardova Plc. The approval was given at the an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Lagos on Tuesday.

At the EGM, the directors had requested that “The shareholders hereby approve that the name of the company be changed from Forte Oil Plc to Ardova Plc.�

In notification to the Nige-

rian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company said the shareholders approved the resolution for the name change.

Femi Otedola, who was the largest shareholder of Forte Oil, had last June sold its 75 per cent to Prudent Energy team, investing through Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited.

After the sale was completed, Olumide Adeosun, was appointed the new chief executive officer, who announced the

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

company would undergo name change to reflect the new ownership and structure.

Forte Oil Plc reported a revenue of N123.55 billion in 2019 up by 30 per cent from N94.81 billion in 2018. Other income rose from N1.427 billion to N3.76 billion, helped by gain on sale of its subsidiaries.

Operating profit stood at N4.18 billion, compared with N2.83 billion in 2018.

Finance income soared from N774 million to N4.18 billion,

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

leading to a net financing income of N2.36 billion in 2019, as against net financing cost of N2.18 billion in 2018. Profit before tax jumped from N650 million to N6.53 billion, while profit after tax (PAT) soared from N349 million to N5.26 billion.

Adeosun had assured shareholders and other stakeholders of better value. According to him, the company would focus on increasing volumes, diversifying business operations, widening distribution

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

networks and extracting potential synergies to boost revenue. He added that the company would also invest massively in the downstream sector to achieve desired growth. He said that despite the regulated price of petrol product in the country, Forte Oil would still break even in other petroleum products in the downstream sub-sector.

And in order to implement its growth strategies, the company has already received the

O F

approval of its shareholders to allow it enter into discussions with Prudent Energy & Services Limited and or any company or individual(s) representing it in connection with the acquisition of identified downstream assets including but not limited to plant and machinery, trucks, stations and subject to independent valuations on fair value, enter into subsequent binding agreements on comparable arm’s length/ commercial terms in relation to the assets to be acquired.

1 8 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

46

˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

Friday, December 20, 2019 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Gained 0.4% Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index rose 38bps to print at

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ϭ͕ϮϱϮ͘ϭϯ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ GUARANTY (+1.7%), FBN (+0.8%) and STANBIC (+0.5%). These stocks cumuůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ Ϯϳ͘ϰй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Local Bourse Posts Bearish Performance͙ ASI down 0.3% Sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ MTNN (-2.4%), ACCESS (-1.0%) and UBA (-0.7%)

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

-14.7%

25.2%

16.8%

6.0%

5.7x

0.7x

6.7%

-12.9%

-13.0%

32.9%

5.4%

4.5x

1.4x

9.2%

22.1%

2 Zenith Bank PLC

18.50

0.0%

11.8%

-19.7%

-19.7%

24.3%

3.4%

2.9x

0.7x

15.1%

34.5% 16.2%

6 FBN Holdings Plc

Ϭ͘ϱй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĂƐ Ă ƌĞƐƵůƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬƐ ŝŶ GUARAN-

16.1%

140.00

0.0%

7.9%

-26.2%

-24.7%

47.8%

23.1%

6.2x

2.8x

11.4%

1,300.00

0.0%

8.5%

-12.5%

-11.9%

82.9%

26.3%

22.1x

18.2x

4.9%

4.5%

52.70

0.0%

4.4%

-38.4%

-32.7%

10.2%

4.6%

24.6x

2.6x

4.4%

4.1%

5 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

7 Cement Co Northern Nigeria PLC

1 ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ indices gained 0.6% and

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

19.8%

mixed as volume traded rose 30.7% to 304.2m units while value

Sector Performance was mixed as 3 sectors gained, 2 lost and

P/BV

1.7%

ƚŽ EϭϮ͘ϴƚŶ ĂŶĚ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƐĞƩůĞĚ Ăƚ -ϭϱ͘ϰй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂƐ

Mixed Sector Performance

P/E

0.38%

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ůŽƐƚ Eϱϯ͘ϬďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ declined

ZENITH (N506.3m) led the value traded chart.

ROA

30.00

3 Dangote Cement PLC

ed chart while ACCESS (N1.4bn), GUARANTY (N639.9m) and

ROE

1,252.13

4 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ITH (27.4m units) and FCMB (23.1m units) led the volume trad-

Price Change Index to Date

1 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

dragged the All-Share Index 30bps lower to close at 26,584.45

traded fell 1.2% to N3.1bn. ACCESS (147.7m units), ZEN-

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

8 United Bank for Africa PLC 9 International Brew eries PLC

6.45

0.8%

5.1%

-18.9%

-19.4%

10.2%

1.2%

4.0x

0.4x

4.0%

24.8%

18.80

0.0%

5.2%

-3.1%

-3.1%

5.9%

5.4%

12.5x

0.7x

2.2%

8.0%

7.00

-0.7%

4.7%

-9.1%

-10.3%

0.5x

12.1%

9.40

-1.1%

1.4%

-66.4%

-67.5%

-48.8%

-4.0%

549.70

0.0%

3.6%

-14.1%

-14.1%

14.4%

9.5%

3.6x

0.5x

6.6%

11 Access Bank PLC

9.80

-1.0%

5.8%

44.1%

50.8%

22.7%

2.2%

2.5x

0.6x

5.1%

12 Ecobank Transnational Inc

6.95

0.0%

1.7%

-50.4%

-51.4%

13.8%

1.0%

2.2x

0.3x

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

37.20

0.5%

2.5%

-22.4%

-22.4%

27.0%

4.0%

5.7x

1.4x

5.4%

14 Unilever Nigeria PLC

18.45

0.0%

1.4%

-50.1%

-50.1%

3.4%

2.2%

40.1x

1.4x

8.1%

15 Lafarge Africa PLC

13.90

0.0%

2.2%

11.6%

15.8%

50.3%

23.4%

14.0x

0.6x

16 Guinness Nigeria PLC

35.60

0.0%

0.8%

-50.6%

-50.6%

4.8%

2.6%

18.2x

0.9x

4.5%

5.5%

17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

55.00

0.0%

1.1%

-27.8%

-27.8%

18.3%

13.2%

9.8x

1.8x

3.6%

10.3%

10 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

4.7x

-14.9% 28.1% 40.6% 44.7% 17.6% 2.5% 7.2%

18 Total Nigeria PLC

110.90

0.0%

0.8%

-45.4%

-45.4%

1.0%

0.2%

138.7x

1.5x

16.0%

0.7%

19 11 PLC

147.90

0.0%

1.2%

-20.3%

-20.3%

22.5%

10.6%

6.8x

1.4x

5.9%

14.6%

6.2%

20 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 21 Oando PLC

19.30

0.0%

1.2%

-16.5%

-13.1%

3.6%

1.3%

15.0x

0.5x

3.76

1.6%

1.0%

-24.8%

-21.7%

14.5%

2.6%

1.6x

0.2x

6.7% 61.8%

22 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.20

5.8%

TY (+1.7%), FIDELITY (+5.8%), WAPIC (+5.9%) and LA-

1.4%

8.4%

8.4%

12.5%

1.4%

2.5x

0.3x

5.1%

40.3%

23 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

0.98

2.1%

0.9%

-25.8%

-24.0%

11.7%

2.6%

5.0x

0.6x

3.1%

19.9%

SACO (+3.9%). The Oil & Gas index trailed, up 0.2% due to price

24 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

16.55

0.0%

1.2%

8.5%

11.8%

19.6%

11.6%

9.8x

2.0x

7.1%

10.2%

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ OANDO (+1.0%). Conversely, the AFR-ICT

26 FCMB Group Plc

1.80

0.0%

0.7%

-4.8%

0.0%

7.8%

1.0%

2.5x

0.2x

7.8%

40.1%

and Consumer Goods indices lost ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ϱďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŽŶ

27 UAC of Nigeria PLC

8.60

-1.7%

0.6%

-11.8%

-9.9%

-24.5%

-11.3%

9.5x

0.5x

7.4%

10.5%

28 Sterling Bank PLC

1.95

-1.5%

0.6%

2.6%

2.6%

8.0%

0.8%

6.5x

0.5x

25 Diamond Bank PLC

15.5%

the back of losses in MTNN (-2.4%), INTBREW (-1.1%) and

29 Presco PLC

47.50

0.0%

0.3%

-25.8%

-25.8%

5.2%

3.0%

17.6x

1.8x

4.3%

5.7%

HONEYFLOUR (-Ϯ͘ϬйͿ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘

30 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

13.25

0.0%

0.3%

-26.4%

-26.4%

23.4%

8.6%

13.2x

3.1x

7.5%

7.6%

31 Forte Oil PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

18.10

0.0%

0.2%

-34.1%

-35.4%

7.6%

1.3%

32 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

6.80

0.0%

0.5%

21.4%

21.4%

7.0%

1.1%

10.9x

0.8x

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

19.00

0.0%

0.3%

-5.5%

-14.0%

25.0%

3.0%

2.8x

0.6x

100.6%

37.1%

34 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 35 Chemical and Allied Products P

6.00

0.0%

0.1%

-50.4%

-51.2%

24.00

0.0%

0.2%

-31.1%

-31.1%

1.4x

-1.5% 9.2% 10.5%

35.5%

104.7x

0.5x

2.5%

1.0%

8.3x

8.4x

12.1%

12.1%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

36 Wema Bank PLC

0.75

7.1%

0.3%

19.0%

19.0%

9.0%

0.9%

6.1x

0.5x

4.0%

16.5%

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϯdž from the 0.9x recorded previous-

37 Beta Glass PLC

53.80

0.0%

0.2%

-21.2%

-21.2%

17.8%

12.5%

5.0x

0.8x

2.5%

20.2%

3.1%

5.0%

ly as 14 stocks advanced against 11 that declined. GLAXOSMITH (+9.5%), AGLEVENT (+8.7%) and WEMABANK (+7.1%)

38 Dangote Flour Mills Plc 39 Transcorp Hotels Plc

5.40

0.0%

0.1%

-11.5%

-11.5%

3.6%

1.8%

20.0x

0.7x

40 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.80

0.0%

0.1%

-1.6%

-1.6%

7.7%

2.2%

11.0x

0.8x

were the best performing stocks while CORNERSTONE (-9.8%), UPDCREIT (-9.6%) and UAC-PROP (-6.7%) led laggards. We ex-

week as investors maintain a risk-Žī ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͘

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

P ric e

ƉĞĐƚ Ă ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ŽƵƟŶŐ in the ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ ĐůŽƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ GLA XOSM IT H

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg % -1.0%

5.75

9.5%

A C C ESS

147.7

A GLEVEN T

0.50

8.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

27.4

0.0%

WEM A B A N K

0.75

7.1%

FCM B

23.1

0.0%

WA P IC

0.36

5.9%

GUA R A N T Y

21.6

1.7%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.20

5.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

13.9

5.8%

LA SA C O

0.27

3.8%

FB NH

13.0

0.8%

UC A P

2.37

3.0%

T R A N SC OR P

12.4

2.1%

T R A N SC OR P

0.98

2.1%

M A N SA R D

6.3

0.0%

30.00

1.7%

UB A

5.7

-0.7%

3.76

1.6%

WA P IC

4.3

5.9%

GUA R A N T Y OA N D O

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

C OR N ER ST

0.46

-9.8%

A C C ESS

1433.1

-1.0%

UP D C R EIT

3.30

-9.6%

GUA R A N T Y

639.9

1.7%

T ic k er

0.84

-6.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

506.3

0.0%

112.50

-2.4%

M TNN

145.4

-2.4%

H ON YF LOUR

1.00

-2.0%

FB NH

83.8

0.8%

UA C N

8.60

-1.7%

D A N GC EM

65.7

0.0%

NA HCO

2.35

-1.7%

FCM B

41.5

0.0%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.95

-1.5%

UB A

39.9

-0.7%

UA C -P R OP M TNN

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

9.1%

IN T B R EW

9.40

-1.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

30.3

5.8%

A C C ESS

9.80

-1.0%

UA C N

23.1

-1.7%

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

47

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Agusto & Co Gets New CEO as Shobo Retires after 20 Years Goddy Egene Agusto & Co, Nigeria’s foremost Credit Rating Agency, has announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer - Vivien Shobo, effective 31 December 2019.

The company said in a statement that Shobo is retiring after over two decades with the organization and

she with an outstanding record of achievements further strengthening Agusto & Co’s formidable market position. She also led Agusto & Co’s African expansion initiatives by obtaining Credit Rating Agency licences from the Capital Market Authorities of Kenya and Rwanda.

According to the statement under her leadership, Agusto & Co

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

successfully rated most of Nigeria’s leading banks and pioneered domestic credit ratings for notable corporate such as Dangote Cement Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Julius Berger amongst others.

“Shobo’s management at Agusto & Co also played major roles in

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 18Dec-2019, unless otherwise stated.

facilitating landmark multibillion transactions including the:largest Municipal Bond programme and single largest tranche issuance Lagos State Government’s N500 billion Bond programme and N87.5 billion Bond issuance. First bond issued by a deposit money bank in Nigeria in 2006(the Access Bank N13.5 billion-naira redeemable

bond); First bond issued by an insurance company in 2008( Crusader Nigeria Plc N4 billion Unsecured Convertible Debenture); First 15-year corporate green bond fully guaranteed by infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited (Infracredit) - NSP-SPV PowerCorp Plc’s N8.5 Billion 15-year 15.60% Series 1 Guaranteed Fixed Rate

Senior Green Infrastructure Bond Due 2034; First commercial paper issuance under the new guidelines of FMDQ(UPDC’s N24 billion commercial paper programme);First hospitality corporate bond issuance in the Nigerian debt capital market (Transcorp Hotels Plc’s N19.7 billion Series I & II bonds Due 2020) among others.”

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 N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.90 0.91 6.79% ACAP Income Funds 0.77 0.77 35.13% 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 11.37% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.43 2.48 9.92% 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 15.16 15.62 -8.60% ARM Discovery Fund 344.59 354.98 -3.38% ARM Ethical Fund 29.14 30.02 3.20% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.32% 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 N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.92 1.92 15.13% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.71% Paramount Equity Fund 12.54 12.66 6.24% Women's Investment Fund 110.09 110.99 6.41% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 9.95% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 9.25% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,203.85 1,210.07 20.60% 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 1,278.43 1,279.53 19.54% FBN Balanced Fund 145.24 146.29 1.72% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.44% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 119.14 119.48 9.47% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.70 120.05 10.24% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 128.33 130.00 -14.45% 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 10.67% Legacy Debt Fund 3.64 3.64 12.31% Legacy Equity Fund 1.10 1.12 -9.72% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.08 1.08 4.96% 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 3,052.80 3,086.36 2.34% Coral Income Fund 3,088.01 3,088.01 12.66% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 12.17% 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 N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 10.18% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.19 2.21 1.42% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.18% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.81 142.95 14.29% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.17 1.19 6.58% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,122.33 1,122.33 12.56% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.31 1.34 6.68% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.36 12.44 10.43% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.87% PACAM Equity Fund 1.02 1.03 PACAM EuroBond Fund 105.28 107.09 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 132.45 133.75 10.00% 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 1.03 1.03 13.29% 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 8.28% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 13.00% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -7.89% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 12.87% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -4.94% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.42% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -9.91% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 6.83% 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 1.18 1.20 1.63% United Capital Bond Fund 1.69 1.69 15.58% United Capital Equity Fund 0.69 0.70 -3.63% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.06% United Capital Eurobond Fund 111.58 111.58 8.05% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.08 6.79% 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 10.34 10.50 -8.33% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.72 11.87 -6.48% Zenith Income Fund 22.85 22.85 12.99% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.45%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 118.66 52.21

-44.85% 6.74% 4.29%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.43 90.94 71.76

8.53 92.90 73.11

-15.29% -19.70% -16.42%

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

3.57 5.47 12.04 10.46 168.33

3.61 5.55 12.14 10.66 170.33

-10.69% -28.02% -17.58% -15.25% 26.15%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.40

17.40%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

48

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Establishes Central Database for Recovered Stolen Assets 22 ex-govs under probe, on trial, says Malami Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday disclosed that a central database has been created for the management of recovered stolen assets from the country.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who made the disclosure to journalists in Abuja, however, said that the war against corruption in

the country by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is devoid of any political or ethnic sentiments.

Speaking when he hosted members of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC), who were on a courtesy visit to his office, Malami disclosed that 22 ex-governors are either under probe or on trial.

“The present administration has

Borno Gov Expresses Concern over Fresh Boko Haram Attacks Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, yesterday directed the local government authorities in the state to collaborate with security operatives in their domain to ward off pockets of Boko Haram attacks.

The governor also expressed serious concern over recent attacks by the terrorist group in some towns and villages of Askira-Uba Local Government Area of the state.

Chul was attacked by Boko Haram within the week, after Rumirgo, Lassa, Mussa, Kufa and Gwandam, were earlier attacked.

A statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to the governor, Isa Gusau, said Zulum raised concerns that, whereas the insurgents appeared confined to the shores of Lake Chad in northern Borno, they have been able to reach other parts of the state.

Gusau said, “Governor Zulum is worried about the recent attacks

by Boko Haram in Chul, Rumirgo, Lassa, Mussa, Kufa and Gwandam

towns and villages in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

“The governor shares the pains with victims of these attacks and assured them of his administration’s continued effort in trying to address the security problem.

“The governor intends to visit Askira-Uba when he goes to southern part of the state in the coming days.

“The governor assures the affected people of government support and more importantly, his commitment to sustaining support for the military and other security agencies; to continuously mobilize and aggressively equip volunteers under the civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes in all communities.

“The governor has directed all local government authorities to regularly work with all security stakeholders in their respective councils for consistency review of security challenges and deployment of necessary but lawful measures to safeguard lives and property, being the most important duty of government.”

Oloyede: JAMB Generated N20bn in ThreeYears The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has said the board has generated N20 billion from University and Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) between 2016 and 2019.

He made the disclosure yesterday during a two-day meeting with Computer Based Test (CBT) Centre Operators, State Coordinators of the Board, Financial Institutions and Internet Service Providers yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the meeting, which was held at Kongo Conference Hotel, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), aimed at deliberating on issues affecting the board and way forward.

Oloyede urged CBT centre operators not to worry about their investments while transacting business with the board as long as they were doing their work in accordance with the agreed registration and examination guidelines.

“You have nothing to fear and you should know that, if you

put your investments together, it can’t be up to N20bn and we have accrued N20bn in three years as an agency.

“As an aency of government, we have to ensure that small and medium scale businesses thrive and if you multiply 11 staff by 700, you will know better.

“We are also adding value to the economy and job creation out of your employment market and we will continue to support you once you are doing your work well,” he assured.

Oloyede said the board also announced its readiness to deploy drone cameras to all the identified 700 examination centres to check any activity that could jeopardise the efforts of the board from being a transparent agency of government it was known for.

The Registrar directed that: “All CCTV must be wired, all cameras must cover verification areas, coding areas, walk ways, examination hall, server room and entrance and exit in all centres.

“We will use drones to monitor the centres to check registration and examination scandals.”

been fighting corruption in all its ramified manifestations including legislative framework, institutional infrastructure and the adoption of effective preventive measures against corruption and putting in place mechanisms for management of recovered stolen assets.

“To this end, we have created a central database for recovered stolen assets which is under the supervision of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice”, Malami said.

The AGF, while noting that corruption undermines the security of any nation, generate huge economic damage and violates human development, said the failure to address corruption

inhibits sustainable long growth which undermines national development.

Malami, like President Buhari, remarked that if Nigerians failed to kill corruption, corruption would kill them, because when corrupt monies found haven, it would begin to fight back.

According to him, Nigeria and Africa at large could only move forward when the people resist corruption in all forms.

He said, “The government is not relenting in the pursuit of Nigeria’s stolen wealth. The recovery efforts are ongoing and work is in progress. Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of President

Muhammadu Buhari will leave no stone unturned to recover wealth stolen from Nigeria either by individuals or corporate entities.

“Our fight against corruption is total, comprehensive and dispassionate devoid of any political or ethnic sentiments or inclination”, he said.

Malami commended the efforts of the current administration in the fight against corruption, disclosing that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alone from 2015 to September 2019 was able to secure the conviction of 1, 636 persons involved in corruption related offences.

“It might interest you to note

that former state Governors and even serving senators are not spared. Currently, high profile personalities including judicial officers and former governors indicted for corruption have been prosecuted and many sentenced to jail. We have three former governors convicted and serving various jail terms for corruption related crimes while in office.

Equally, 22 ex-governors are either under probe or on trial”, he added.

He commended Judiciary Correspondents for contributing tremendously through their reportage of the activities of the ministry and its parastals.

57 HEARTY CHEERS...

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saaraki (left), and former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu during Saraki’s 57th birthday in Abuja...yesterday

NJC Recommends Appointment of 33 Judges Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday recommended for the appointment of six Heads of Court and 26 Judicial Officers for state High Courts and one Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal.

Their recommendations were a fall out of the decision made by the NJC at its meetings of December 17 and 18, 2019.

A statement by the NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, disclosed that the recommendation was made to governors of Anambra, Kebbi, Cross River, Zamfara, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, Imo, Sokoto, Ekiti

and Niger States.

According to Oye, “The NJC under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, at its meeting of December 17 and 18, 2019, considered the list of candidates presented by its Interview Committee and resolved to recommend to the governors of Anambra, Kebbi, Cross River, Zamfara, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, Imo, Sokoto, Ekiti and Niger States 33 successful candidates for the appointment as Heads of Courts and other Judicial Officers in Nigeria.”

Those recommended as Chief

Judge included Justice Onochie Manasseh Anyachebelu for Anambra State; Justice Mohammed Suleiman Ambursa for Kebbi State, and Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme for Cross River State.

Others recommended for appointment as Heads of Court are Hon. Kadi Umaru Muhammad Gusau as Grand Kadi, Zamfara State Sharia Court of Appeal; Justice Mobolaji Ayodele Ojo as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ogun State, and Justice Foluke Eunice Awolalu, Customary Court of Appeal, Osun State.

The body, however, recommended Stephens

Dirialakeibama Jumbo, Chuku Mark Onyema, Ngbor-Abina Lemea and Fibresima Florence Atili as Judges of the High Court of Rivers State.

Also recommended as Judges into the High Court of Ogun State are Olufunmilayo O. Stanley and Olukemi Olusola Yetunde Oresanya.

For Imo State High Court Onyeka Vincent Ifeanyichukwu, Leweanya Kechinyere, Victoria Chinyere Isiguzo, Vivian O. B. Ekezie, Eze Nonye Eke, Ihuoma Grace Chukwunyere and Ibeawuchi Edith Chinyere were appointed as Judges.

Bandits Abduct Three Brothers,Two Others in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna Five people, including three brothers, have been abducted by gunmen in Chikun and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

In Chikun, the bandits were said to have invaded the resident of a businessman, Mr. Christian Obi, located at Tanko Kokwein Street, Sabon Tasha GRA, about 2:00a.m.

His three children with the ages of 31, 28 and 21 were abducted by the hoodlums.

A resident in the area said the

bandits were about 20 in number and were shooting sporadically during the operation which he said lasted for over one hour.

According to him, “The gunmen were about 20 in number, and went straight to Mr. Obi’s house.

“They entered the house through the fence and broke the door to the kitchen. They tried to break the front door but couldn’t, so they went through the kitchen door.

“They operated for over an hour, because it was difficult for them to open the door. Even when the police came, the bandits were

still operating in the house.

“The police stayed at a distance without making any effort to confront them.

“All residents were scared and nobody could do anything since we weren’t armed.”

The incident in Birnin Gwari was said to have occurred last Wednesday at about 2:30 p.m., when the gunmen, wearing military uniform, intercepted a commercial vehicle along the Birnin Gwari road by Unguwan Yako and consequently abducted two of the passengers in the vehicle.

The spokesman of the Kaduna

State Police Command, Mr. Yakubu Sabo, confirmed the incidents in a statement yesterday in Kaduna.

Sabo said: “On December 19, 2019, the Kaduna State Police Command received information of two separate unfortunate incidents of kidnapping through DPO Buruku and Sabon Tasha respectively to the effect that on December 18, 2019, at about 1430hours, unknown gunmen in military uniform intercepted a commuting vehicle on Birnin Gwari Road by Unguwan Yako and consequently kidnapped two occupants to unknown destination.

49

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

12 Persons Feared Killed as Communal Clashes Erupt in Cross River Bassey Inyang in Calabar No fewer than 12 people were feared killed in the central district of Cross River State following fresh outbreak of violent clashes between communities in the Bahumunu axis of Abi Local Government Area

(LGA), particularly Usumutong, Ebijakara and Ebom.

Though the communities in the area have been engaging in frequent violent clashes in the last 13 years, the latest incident, according to sources in the area, and the police, started at about

Lawan Leads Senate’s Delegation on Condolence Visit to Uwajumogu’s Wife, Family Chuks Okocha and Deji Elumoye in Abuja President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday led a delegation of the Senate to the Abuja home of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, who died on Wednesday.

The delegation, which included the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and some other principal officers of the Senate, condoled with the wife of the late Senator, Helen Uwajumogu, and other family members.

Speaking at the occasion, Lawan said the Senate would protect the ideals of late Senator which he stood for during his stint as lawmaker, representing Imo North Senatorial district at the National Assembly.

“We represent Nigerians. The responsibility of ensuring that our people are protected, supported and promoted will continue to be our guiding light and ideal, because this is something that he worked very hard for and believed in.

“This delegation is a delegation from the Senate, and I want to assure this family that we will be in this grief with you, and when you arrange for the funeral, please let us be informed of the arrangements,” Lawan said.

The Senate President added that all through Uwajumogu’s sojourn in the Senate, he remained committed to serving Nigerians and its citizens.

Lawan informed the family that the Senate would appoint one of its own to liaise with the family in making arrangements for the funeral of the deceased lawmaker.

The Senate President, while signing the condolence register at the family’s residence, wrote: “Our Distinguished Colleague

and brother, you believed that, as Senators we should always protect our people.”

“We, your colleagues, will certainly remain focused on this ideal. We shall be alive to the task of protecting Nigerians wherever they are.

“Adieu, the quintessential legislator per excellence,” Lawan added.

Other members of the Senate leadership on the delegation include Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; and Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u.

Senators on the delegation are: Chairman, Senate Committee on Tourism, Rochas Okorocha; Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, Jibrin Barau; Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Opeyemi Bamidele; Senator Aishatu Ahmed; and Abdulfatai Buhari.

Earlier, the Senate President, while speaking to correspondents at the National Assembly, moments after the upper chamber adjourned, described the death of the lawmaker on Wednesday as a huge loss to the National Assembly and Nigeria.

Lawan said Uwajumogu’s disposition as a resourceful and patriotic legislator would remain a guiding principle for all members of the upper chamber.

“This is a huge loss not only to the ninth Senate but to the entire country.

“The late Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu was a one-time Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly. He was a returning Senator. This was his second tenure in the Senate, very resourceful, very patriotic, very deep.

Appeal Court Affirms Senior Lawyer, Nwobike’s Conviction The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, yesterday dismissed an appeal by a former Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike.

Nwobike had approached the appellate court in a suit challenging his conviction by the Lagos State High Court.

Nwobike was convicted in April 2018 of attempting to pervert the course of justice by inducing court registrars to ensure that his cases were assigned to his preferred judges so he could obtain favourable judgments.

Justice Raliat Adebiyi convicted the senior lawyer of 12 counts

and sentenced him to one-month imprisonment.

Nwobike was later stripped of his SAN rank by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, following his conviction for corruption.

Displeased with the lower court’s verdict, the senior lawyer had proceeded on appeal.

However, the Court of Appeal, in its judgment on Thursday (today), dismissed Nwobike’s appeal, holding that it lacked merit.

The appellate court affirmed his conviction on counts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17.

4.a.m on Wednesday in what was described as a revenge attack by Ebijakara community against their Ebom neighborsu.

The attack led to loss of lives and property, as many houses and business outfits were set ablaze.

The state Commissioner of police Nkereuwem Akpan confirmed the renewed clashes, but said normalcy had returned as the police have dispatched men to the affected communities to maintain the peace.

The Paramount Ruler of Abi Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Solomon Osim Edward also confirmed the incident, which occurred as he returned from a meeting of Traditional Rulers in Abuja to his village in Usumutong on Wednesday night.

The royal father told THISDAY that the magnitude of the attacks was frightening.

To nip such incident in the bud, he suggested that the state government should endeavour to ensure the return of Ebijakara people to their ancestral home where they were sacked by the people of Ebom community in 2005.

He explained that he was away from the community for over a week for a meeting of National Council of Paramount Rulers in Abuja.

According to him, the crux of the matter was the urge by the people of Ebijakara to return to their ancestral home.

“Since they were sacked from their ancestral home 13 years

ago, they have been staying in neigbouring communities but the majority are staying in Usumutong.

The people of Ebom who had issues with them have not been comfortable with them and had attacked Usumutong community last year when my house was completely razed down. Now the people of Ebijakara want to go back to their home and I believe the government should do something in that direction to bring the crisis to an end.”

Asked if he has been able to meet with the state governor on the issues since he was personally affected last year, the traditional ruler answered in the affirmative saying, “during the pre-2019 elections campaign, the governor promised to

address the situation and even build a new palace for me but nothing has been done since then.”

However, the state Commissioner for Police, Akpan said the Police have reinforced security in the area to abate the crisis and equally regretted the increasing incidences of communal clashes in the state.

He, however, said he did not have the casualty figure or the number of houses razed.

He also explained that policemen have been deployed to the affected areas.

He called on the elites in the affected communities to arise and foster peace in their communities.

WORTHY HONOUR…

L-R: Former Women Affairs Secretary of Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria (NAFSAT), Hajia Omolara Mumini; Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT), Wale Olasupo; and former President, Yomi Bolarinwa at a dinner held in Lagos…recently

Missing Child: Ondo Pastor Drags DSS to Court over Arrest The Founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Akure, Ondo State, Alfa Babatunde, has sued the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, over his arrest and detention.

Babatunde’s church was razed down by some angry youths on Wednesday.

This followed a widespread rumour that the remains of a one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, who was abducted during the church’s Sunday service in November, were found at the

Church’s altar.

Three people, including a Police officer, were killed, while properties worth millions of naira belonging to the church were destroyed, during the mob action .

In a suit filed by his counsel, Mr. Yemi Omoware, the pastor, who was being detained by the DSS, sought the order of the court to release him from the custody of the security agency.

The applicant said his arrest and detention by the DSS was an abuse of the legal process and a violation of his fundamental right.

The respondents in the suit are: the Department of State Services, Director-General of the DSS, and Messrs Emmanuel Anaobi, Isaac Babalola and Remi Oluwalogbon.

In the suit, an order was being sought “directing/compelling the release of the applicant unconditionally from the custody of the respondents.”

The suit sought an order “enforcing the fundamental rights of the applicant to liberty and dignity of human person, which rights were violated by the respondents.”

The applicant also sought an order “restraining the respondents, their agents, servants, subordinates and or any person(s) taking instructions from them whatsoever/whosoever from engaging in any further acts of arrest, detention and violation” of his right to liberty and or dignity of human person.”

According to the suit, “A N100m as aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant,” was soug

House to Begin Work on 2020 Appropriation Act on Jan 16 Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja House of Representatives has revealed that it would commence work on the implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Act from January 16, 2020.

The 2020 budget was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

The Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.

He said the committee would

be receiving weekly/monthly reports on revenue generation and remittances to monitor the revenue projections in the 2020 budget.

The lawmaker noted that the committee would also use the new federal government transparency initiative on expenditure disclosure by MDAs to ensure extra budgetary expenditures are curtailed to enhance revenue remittances to the treasury.

Faleke urged all MDAs, collecting banks, corporate bodies

of government to cooperate fully with the committee in carrying out these functions.

He stated: “With the passage and signing of the 2020 Appropriation Act, the House Commit Finance wishes to commend all members of the House for the time spent to work on all documents towards the passage of the Appropriation Act. “The Appropriation Act remains a plan on paper and can only become reality if funds

are available for the execution of the projects as contained in the Act. “The plan will not come to fruition if the appropriated revenue are not generated and remitted to the appropriate government accounts.”

Faleke stated that the committee whose key area of oversight is revenue generation and remittances has the job of ensuring these revenues are achieved and remitted accordingly.

50

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Buhari Urges Nigeria Police to Maintain Professionalism Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday at the graduation ceremony of 628 cadets of the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, said the Nigeria Police remain a critical institution in the country’s domestic security, therefore, much emphasis was accorded to the Force to ensure the security of the nation.

Buhari urged the Nigeria Police Force to uphold the trust reposed in them by Nigerians by maintaining professionalism in their operations.

Also, the president reiterated his administration commitments in fulfilling his campaign promises, especially on security, fight against corruption and improving the economy of the country.

According to him, Nigeria Police Force remains the critical pillar of the domestic security agenda, and it is important to have ‘‘orderly, disciplined and

modern police officers.’’

“As you attain this milestone, I implore you to operate professionally, gallantly and courageously as we continue to make Nigeria a safe and secure country for all law-abiding individuals. ‘‘You will soon commence your operational duties. Therefore, you must always remember that Nigeria and indeed, Nigerians have entrusted to you the assignment to protect their lives and property. ‘‘This trust must be taken very seriously while upholding the principle of civil policing leveraging on national and international best practices.

“On our part, we will continue to fund and support the Nigeria Police Force and its institutions to ensure you deliver on your mandate. This is why we created the dedicated Ministry of Police Affairs.’’

Buhari, who congratulated the

cadets for successfully passing through the rigorous academic and professional training in the institution, said the Academy was established to produce superior police officers equipped with the knowledge and skills to police Nigeria with its unique complexities.

Speaking earlier, the Commandant of the Academy,

Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, appealed to the president to provide more financial support to the Academy to enable it cope with modern law enforcement strategies.

Zanna also sought the support of the president for the Police Academy Bill currently before the National Assembly, noting that the proposed legislation would

assist the Academy to fulfill the objectives of its establishment.

He announced that the Academy would soon introduce courses on cybercrime, gender issues, criminal justice and administration, public security, intelligence as well as peace and conflict resolution.

He said the introduction of these courses would justify the

upgrade of the Academy to a university and ‘‘also contribute meaningfully to the minimisation, if not, the eradication of the security challenges facing the country.’’

The president commissioned all the 628 cadet officers to Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) in the Nigeria Police Force.

FG Declares Dec 25, 26, January 1, Public Holidays Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The federal government has declared December 25 and 26, 2019, as well as January 1, 2020, as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the federal government, felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

He enjoined all Christians to live within the virtues and teachings of Jesus Christ, which he said hinge on compassion, patience, peace, humility, righteousness and love for one another, adding that doing so would guarantee an atmosphere of peace and security in the country.

In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ms. Georgina Ehuriah, Aregbesola stated that the determination of the government towards ensuring

an atmosphere of peace and security would engender Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), thereby revitalising the economy and improving employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the country.

The statement noted that “the minister expressed confidence that 2020 would be a breakthrough year for all Nigerians, and assured Nigerians that the gederal government under the visionary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari would make life more meaningful for all Nigerians.

“The minister urged Christians to use this period to pray for Nigeria and admonished all citizens to remain focused and determined as well as to continue to persist in displaying love for one another. With patience and perseverance, the current security challenges will be overcome.

“With love for one another, hard work, selfless service, patience and patriotism Nigeria will sooner than later join the league of developed nations.”

DEEPENING BILATERAL TRADE…

L-R: President, Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Onyeche Tifase; Head of Delegation of German Industry and Commerce, Ms. Katharina Felgenhauer; German Consul-General, Dr. Stefan Traumann; Director-General of Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce (NGCC), Mr. Gbenga Adebija; Managing Director, Festo Automation Limited, Mr. Peter Sengpiel at the official launch of the NGCC at the German Consulate…recently

US, Germany, Norway Provide Assistance for 35,000 Families in North-east Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri United States, Germany and Norway have assisted 35,000 farming households with implements to boost farm production during the dry season farming in North-east region.

The three nations, in association with the European Union, through the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)

are providing the assistance to boost dry season farming in the troubled North-east region.

Speaking at the launching of the dry season farming support in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday, the Country Representative of FAO, Mr. Suffyan Koroma, said the programme is targeting around 35 000 vulnerable farming households in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

Koroma, who was represented by the Head of the Maiduguri field office of the UN agency, Alhassan Cisse, said: “The dry season is an important season for farmers in the region. The harvest from dry season cultivation provides income for farmers with which they address food and other household needs during the season.”

He added: “A post-harvest

survey of our 2018 dry season support indicated that farmers earned average of N24, 500 from okra sales; N40,000 from onion sales; N43,200 from tomato sales, and N78,400 from rice. The income generated was useful in addressing household needs.

“Noteworthy also is the report of a beneficiary in Monguno who built a house from his earnings.”

Insurgency War to End Soon, Says Defence Minister Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), yesterday gave assurance that the war against insurgency would soon come to an end.

He said normalcy had returned to the North-east following government’s determination to bring the war to a conclusion.

This is coming as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said President Muhammadu Buhari had

directed the military to take adequate care of personnel deployed in the North-east.

Speaking while commissioning a block of flats for Air Force personnel at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Abuja, the defence minister said the war against insurgency would soon become history.

“May I use this medium to assure Nigerians that the fight against insurgency in the North-east will soon become history as normalcy has since been returned to almost all parts

of the North-east and the peace and tranquillity hitherto enjoyed restored.

“My ministry will consolidate on this laudable gesture by supporting the Nigerian Air Force in carrying out its operations especially in the fight against terrorism and insurgency”, he said.

He said the ministry would support the Air Force in ensuring that all welfare challenges are given the right priority and speedily addressed.

Magashi said the bold effort by President Buhari in addressing the welfare challenges of the Armed Forces “is highly appreciated, as it is part of the fulfilment of Mr President’s promise to ensure personnel and their families are well taken care of”.

In his remarks, Air Marshal Abubakar said President Buhari had given the military directives to prioritise the welfare of personnel deployed in the North-east.

Parliamentary Workers Decry Inadequate Budgetary Appropriation Adedayo Akinwale ín Abuja Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has decried the inadequate budgetary appropriation for Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in the 2020 Appropriation Act. To this end, the union called on President Muhammadu

Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly, to as a matter of urgency, intervene to help ordinary Nigerians get justice for free and help the fight against administrative corruption, which directly breeds other forms of corruption.

PASAN National President, Mr. Mohammed Usman, and Zonal

Vice President, Mr. Labi Josiah, and the union Chairman, chapter, Ibeku Chijioke, stated this while addressing a joint press conference yesterday in Abuja.

“At this juncture, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria is calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the leadership of the National

Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the plight of the commission thereby giving ordinary Nigerians succour to their quest for justice. We wish to remind Mr. President of his manifesto in year 2015 wherein he promised Nigerians to strengthen the Nigerian Ombudsman Institution,” the union said.

51

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

PDP, Atiku, Okowa Eulogise Saraki for Defending Democracy, National Unity Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party felicitated with former President of the Senate, Senator Olubukola Saraki, as he marks his 57th birthday.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, felicitated with the former Senate president as he celebrates his 57th birthday.

The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the party is exceedingly proud of Saraki for his innumerable sacrifices towards the unity, stability and development of Nigeria as well as his outstanding roles in the struggle for the restoration of democratic tenets in the country.

According to PDP, “Senator Saraki remains an exceptional

patriot whose track record of performance as a medical doctor, state governor, president of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly and later Director-General of PDP 2019 Presidential Campaign Organisation, stands him out as one of the contemporary leading lights of our country.”

The party said Saraki’s tenure as the governor of Kwara State was marked by resounding legacies that repositioned the state for greater productivity in critical sectors, for which he remains one of the best governors the state ever produced.

The party said as the Chairman of the National Assembly, Saraki courageously asserted the independence of the legislative arm in defending the interest and wellbeing of Nigerians as well as protecting their democracy and national cohesion from collapse during the country’s most trying moments in recent history.

It said it is also proud of the resilience, skill and proficiency with which the former Senate president led the most popular presidential campaign which, in an unprecedented manner, galvanised Nigerians in their collective quest under our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to rescue the country from misrule.

“Our party, therefore, salutes this icon of democracy, a detribalised

Nigerian and quintessential leader as he attain 57 years of age, and prays God to bless him with more years in good health to continue in his selfless service to our dear country,” the party said.

Also Atiku joined that party to salute Saraki as he marks his 57th birthday.

In a Twitter post he personally signed, Atiku prayed that God should grant Saraki many years

in good health.

He wrote: “On behalf of my family, I wish @bukolasaraki a very happy birthday. May Allah grant you many more years in good health and continued service to Nigeria.

Similarly, Okowa has commended the former Senate president for his remarkable contributions to the development of Nigeria and the legislature when

he served as the Chairman of the eigtht National Assembly.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, the governor said Saraki’s role as the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council for the 2019 general election was very remarkable in spite of the party losing the presidential election.

Ekiti PDP Threatens Legal Action against Fayose over Sale of Party’s Secretariat Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the former governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, of allegedly arm-twisted the party over the sale of the new secretariat built by the party.

Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, PDP State Chairman, Barr Gboyega Oguntuase, said it sounded malicious, condemnable and libellous for Fayose to have claimed that the State Working Committee was carried along before the property was sold.

Oguntuase also added that the former governor had the privilege to convene a meeting of party members as a leader, insisting that what made such action inimical was sidetracking the party in dealing with such issue, particularly the State Working Committee.

Fayose had last week convened a meeting of party members in Afao-Ekiti, where he said the new Secretariat built along Ajilosun area of the capital city was sold with the consent of the State Working Committee.

Responding to the statement, Oguntuase said: “At the meeting, Fayose said or alleged that the secretariat of the party has been sold with the knowledge of the party chairman and members of the State Working Committee.

With due respect to his person, we considered the statement as misleading, malicious, and condemnable.”

“We would have called it outright falsehood, but for the sake of modesty and for the future peace of this party, we will not use this language. What he said that we sold the property in collaboration with him, is cruel, untrue and slanderous.

“I believe that by that statement he has committed libel on a high scale. To the best of my knowledge as chairman of the party, and to the knowledge of many State Working Committee

members, we have not sold the secretariat. I want to tell you that any document that says it has been sold is absolute falsehood.

It is true he approached me to sign a document, but I told him, it was going to be a disservice to the party.

“I still stand by that. Those who are claiming to be Fayose’s can’t be more Fayose than us. But we know where to draw the line of respect for party leaders, and the truth and godliness.

“I told him I can’t sign and I did not sign. God of heaven knows that that was exactly what transpired in his house. He even asked me what I want to take and I told him I can’t take such a sacrilegious offering.

“Our property if it has been sold via fraud shall be recovered via thorough legal action that will be taken by this party. We have received assurances from loyal party leaders that they are with us. If they have put somebody’s signature, it must have been signature got through another transaction to have an appearance of legality.

“It is trite in law that the expression of your mind is germane to the making of any document.

My mind never signed, the action of signing was not done by me.

And I can’t sign a document that I don’t know the buyer. I never met the buyer,” he alleged.

On the claim by Fayose that the property was sold at a foundation level, Oguntuase said “but we monitored the construction up to the second and third floor.”

“So, it is untrue that we have sold the property and if the governor has done it, he should retrace his step and surrender the document to the party. Up till now, all the documents are with Fayose. If we have sold the property, the document will be in our custody,” he added.

Fayose, in his response through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, said: “We are not going to join issues with anybody on that matter or any other matter concerning the party.”

CHANGE OF BATON…

Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Abiodun Aina (right), and new Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Mamman Nami, at Revenue House, Abuja… yesterday

Agbakoba Insists on Federalism as Most Effective Political System Akinwale Akintunde A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, (SAN) has said for a country like Nigeria with so many ethnic nationalities and looking for a framework that would harmonise the often conflicting interests of these nationalities, the most effective political system would be federalism.

Agbakoba said federalism would enable the country to have diverse ways of organising itself despite of its large population and territory, The Senior Advocate had recently proposed a new development model, called Cooperative Federalism, while presenting a document titled, “Legal and Institutional Restructuring for Next Nigeria” at a press conference in

his Ikoyi, Lagos office.

He had said political federalism or by its more popular name “restructuring” may be the way to go, but it has not been understood and generally accepted.

He said the agitation for restructuring by sub-national groups was causing harm to the country “because President Muhammadu Buhari does not believe in it.”

He called for the suspension of the agitation for the political restructuring of the country, and proposed the new model of Cooperative Federalism.

However, some ethnic sub-nationalities like Afenifere, Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum have rejected Agbakoba’s proposal, insisting that restructuring was the only

way to move the country out of its current crisis.

As a follow-up to his earlier proposal for Cooperative Federalism, in a statement he issued yesterday, titled: ‘Can Cooperative Federalism Work?’

Agbakoba said the purpose of a federation was for different power centres - federal and states to cooperate.

According to him, Cooperative Federalism simply means states and the federal government could work together for economic development.

“Nigeria is a country of so many ethnic nationalities and so has been striving to evolve a workable framework that harmonises the often conflicting interests of these nationalities. As a result of our

large population and territory, the most effective political system is federalism because it enables us to have diverse ways of organising ourselves.

“Many people say the 1963 Republican Constitution was the best ever because it allowed the different regions to express themselves. The South produced cocoa, the North groundnut and the East palm oil. There was space for each region. But today people criticise strong unitary federalism because it forces the component units under a strong centre and so most people feel returning to the 1963 Constitution is better and therefore restructuring has become a big issue. But restructuring has challenges because it has to be nationally accepted but has not.

NIPOST Workers Protest against Planned Ceding of Stamp Duty Collection to FIRS Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Scores of protesting workers of the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) yesterday stormed the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in Abuja demanding the abolition of the plan to cede the collection of stamp duty to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The workers, who barricaded the ministry’s main gate at the Central Area of Abuja, staged their protest while the breakdown of the 2020 budget was going at the Main Auditorium of the ministry.

Led by Ayo Olorunfemi under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations of Government Owned Companies, the protesting workers, who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, demanded to have audience with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Some participants, including top government officials who had attended the public presentation/ breakdown of the 2020 budget, could not leave the premises of the ministry as the protesters insisted that they wanted the minister to

address their concerns.

According to them, the current amendment of the Stamp Duty Act by the National Assembly was done to allow the FIRS to collect stamp duty on electronic transactions, adding that the standard global practice puts such responsibility on agencies like NIPOST. The minister, who promptly responded to the workers’ insistence to address them in company of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, asked their leader to express their grievances.

Olorunfemi, who spoke on

behalf of others, said their demand was for the minister to take their protest to the federal government so that the collection of stamp duty will remain the duty of NIPOST, adding that the workers had already projected N500 billion revenue for the government from that source.

Responding, the minister asked the workers to document their claims and forward them to her, adding that the concern of the government was revenue generation.

She noted that the government was targeting N400 billion from stamp duty in 2020.

52

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Alaafin Berates Senate over Anti-hate Speech Bill Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, yesterday came hard on the National Assembly, berating the Senate over the introduction of the anti-hate speech bill.

Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi had sponsored the anti-hate speech bill, which seeks to regulate and punish those who make unguarded statements with death penalty.

The monarch, however, while speaking at a book presentation and platinum recognition as parts of activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Nigerian Tribune titles, insisted that anyone who didn’t want to be criticised has no business in government.

Present at the event include former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), foremost Afenifere leader, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, foremost legal luminary, Aare

Afe Babalola, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Michael Koleosho, and Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji.

Others are: the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Prof. Olu Akinkugbe, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, daughters of the Premier of defunct Western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo:

Rev. (Mrs.) Tola Oyediran and Dr. (Mrs.) Adetokunbo AwolowoDosumu; the Managing Director of Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Edward Dickson, among many others.

Oba Adeyemi challenged lawyers and other professionals not to allow the bill to sail through, warning that death penalty should not be the punishment for abuse.

According to him, “Gradually, we are moving to a stage where an offence of hate speech attracts penalty of death. If I have not

killed anyone and I give an opinion that is contrary to the government’s, would it be a sufficient reason for me to be charged for death penalty?

Where are the lawyers in Nigeria?

Constitutional lawyers in Nigeria, where are they? Can’t they speak up? Chief Olowu, you are here.

“Nobody is speaking up. If you don’t want to be criticised, then you don’t have to be in government. My friend, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe has a

peculiar character. I wish he could continue to learn about the constitutional lesson from Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his reply to Dr. Azikiwe. We have a lot of quotations from the late sage. I have read almost all his published books.

They are in my library. I can go on and on citing instances. During the constitutional conferences held in the 1950s at Lancaster House, three giants from the country postulated different approaches to the Nigerian Independence.

One Person Killed, PDP Youth Leader, Others Injured in Ibadan Accident Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan Tragedy yesterday occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) identified as Yemi Adeniran, who was returning from Abuja, after observing the judgment of the Supreme Court on the governorship election in the state died in a ghastly accident.

THISDAY learnt last night that Adeniran, a former NANS leader who left Abuja on a commercial vehicle, was already in Adegbayi, a suburb of Ibadan, when the accident occurred.

Also in the vehicle were the youth leader of the PDP, in Oyo State, Adekola Adeoye and three others who were in intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital.

It was gathered that the driver of the commercial vehicle complained that he was week when he got to Akure and that he wanted to take a short sleep,

but the deceased said he could drive and took over the steering.

The incident happened when the tyre of the vehicle busted on the top speed.

A friend of the deceased who simply identified himself as Comrade Mayor said, “ the deceased was a NANS’ National stakeholder and hailed from Fiditi, Oyo. His death is a huge loss to the family of activists” While confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mrs. Uche Chukura , said there was no causality at the time of rescuing the victims, assuring that the command would brief the press today after an investigation.

“It is true there was accident at Adegbayi today and our men rescued the victims. As at the time of the incident, there was no causality but I’ll get back to you on Friday when we do our follow up,” she said.

Ethiopian Airlines Launches Direct Flight to Houston Funke OlaodeinHouston,Texas In its efforts to spread its services across major cities of the world, Ethiopian Airlines, a foremost airline in Africa, has launched its direct flight from Africa to Houston, United States.

The management of the airline stated that the historic flight would not only improve connectivity between Africa and Houston, but would, according to the Executive Director, Houston Airport, Mario Daiz, contribute about $100 million into the US economy yearly.

“Houston is now officially reconnected to the African continent through the efforts of Ethiopian Airlines to make business seamless for international travelers and others in the corporate world. Through the flight to Houston, Ethiopian Airlines is creating unity among people of diverse groups, promoting culture and strengthening values,” he stated.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural flight held at the George Bush International Airport, Houston, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde Gabrielmariam, said the airline would operate three frequencies weekly from Lome, Togo, to Houston using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

He said with direct flight services to Houston from Lome, Ethiopian Airlines has been able to connect Houston to the entire continent of Africa, Middle East

and Asia, adding that the launch makes the airlines 127th destination in the world.

He explained that the connections have been designed in such a way that it will be one of the most direct and fastest routes for Africa, Middle East and Asia, saying Houston is the fifth gateway in North America and the fourth in US next to Washington, New York and Chicago.

Speaking further, Gabrielmariam said the airline has been working very hard for a long period of time to fly to Houston, “but thanked God that the dream finally became a reality on December 16, 2019, with the inauguration of the direct flight into Houston. This is also a very important connection for East Africa, South Africa and Central Africa, and also a very important connection to West Africa. This is the only direct connection to West Africa because we are using our second half in Lome for West Africa to connect passengers to the entire West and Central Africa.”

He added that Ethiopian Airlines is now the largest airline on the continent with a fleet of 130 aircraft. “It is by far the airline with the most extensive network in the world connecting Africa to the rest of the world and within the continent.”

Gabrielmariam commended his management team and the over 16,000 workers across the globe for working day and night to ensure that the airline ‘shines in the sky’.

FAMILIARISATION VISIT...

L-R: General Manager, Yobe State Television (YTV), Mallam Musa Galadima; Yobe State Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Bego; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs and Culture Mallam Abdullahi Jawa, during the visit of the commissioner to the television station in Damaturu ...yesterday

ANALYSTS: SENATE’S QUEST FOR STIPENDS FOR UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES UNREALISTIC On his part, the Director General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Dr. Timothy Olawale, urged the government not to “further burden the already overtaxed private businesses” to fund the social welfare scheme for the teeming unemployed Nigerians.”

Olawale, in a statement that conveyed the NECA’s reaction on the Senate’s resolution, noted that “so far, all the social intervention programmes has been cosmetics and short-term in nature without potential to solve the real issues of unemployment. “Government at all levels must take a more than cursory look at the private sector.

“More deliberate effort should be put in place to support the organised private sector to grow and create employment by ensuring a favourable operating environment. Businesses are currently overburdened with different forms of taxes and levies, inadequate infrastructure and unfriendly regulatory environment.

The solution to the teething unemployment scourge of our nation lies in resolving these challenges.”

In his reaction on the matter, a financial consultant and Chief Executive Officer of BIC Consultancy Services Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, said inasmuch as it was good to contemplate payment of stipends to the unemployed, the situation in the country today would not encourage such initiative.

He state: “What the country should do for now is to prioritise and jumpstart growth for increased productivity, job opportunities, reduce inflationary spiral and the misery index in the land.”

Chizea also described the Senate’s resolution requesting the fiscal authorities to commence the payment of stipends to the unemployed until they are able to find jobs as “a very humane proposition and is a practice which is common with developed, matured and stable economies of the world, for instance Great Britain. But for such economies, things are a lot more organised and they are able to be intentional as they take such decisions.”

However, he advised the government to, “first take time to do some calculations to find out if

it is able to complete it, otherwise you start only to discover that you are not able to and then you become the taunt; laughing stock of bystanders even though no one can argue about how laudable this proposal is.

“We are at a situation where the employed are not getting their salaries regularly, particularly at the sub national tier of government, and resort has been to seek for bailouts.

The fiscal authorities would also seem to have won the argument that the problem confronting the nation is not really the rising debt stock but inadequate revenue flow to meet due obligations hence the introduction of the Finance Bill, which was meant to boost revenue flows.”

He, nevertheless, demanded that “this country must rise up to the challenge of rising unemployment, which has accounted for rising social crimes and largely accounted for Nigeria being tagged the poverty capital of the world displacing India that hitherto held the baton.”

However, the immediate past Head, Department of Economics and Management Studies, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Prof.

Samuel Igbatayo, welcomed the initiative, saying it was a step in the right direction.

Igbatayo suggested that the issue may be developed as a Social Protection Programme, aimed at mediating poverty and vulnerability, particularly among the youth.

“Often tied to a form of labour in return for monthly stipends, the social protection initiative can transform unemployed youth to become productive members of society. The scheme may embrace skills acquisition and entrepreneurship to nurture future leaders.

“The scheme, in a pilot phase, may support unemployed tertiary education graduates for up to five years, during which they are engaged in a labour activity as well as skills acquisition/entrepreneurship initiative,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, an Associate Professor, Department of Banking and Finance, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbarim Campus, Anambra State, Dr. Jackson Ikeora, viewed the Senate’s resolution as a worthy proposal from the perspective of poverty alleviation scheme.

500 Inmates in Kuje Correctional Centre Receive Legal Aid Alex Enumah in Abuja Over 500 pretrial detainees at the Kuje Correctional Centre have benefited from the services of the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions Nigeria (NULAI).

Senior Programme Director of NULAI, Mrs. Odinakaonye Lagi, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said the

gesture was part of efforts to decongest prisons in the country.

She was speaking during an event held in Abuja in honour of the group’s pro-bono lawyers who were part of the ‘Reforming Pretrial Detention in Kuje Prison Project’.

Lagi said NULAI Nigeria in collaboration with a consortium of partners and support from

United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) launched the project.

According to her, the project was to support the Nigerian Government’s implementation of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and achieve a significant reduction in the size of the pre-trial detention

population in Kuje Custodial Centre.

She said is a two-year project which commenced in 2018.

“Reform Kuje is a two-year project that commenced in 2018 to support the institutionalisation and operationalisation of a new Nigerian Correctional Information Management System (NCIMS) and Case Management Module (CMM).

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

53

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Senate Tells DSS, AGF, Others to Submit Memo on Alleged Court Invasion Proceeds on recess today Deji Elumoyeand Chuks Okocha inAbujai The Senate yesterday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS); the Attorney General of

the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to the detained #Revolutionnow Convener, Omoyele Sowore, to submit their memoranda to its

Yobe Seeks Effective Collaboration between Herders, Farmers Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri Yobe State Government has called for effective collaboration between both farmers and herders.

The government yesterday said the only way to boost agriculture in the state was the two groups to come together and work in collaboration by sheathing their swords.

This was communicated to farmers and herders by the Permanent Secretary, Yobe State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Mangarima Lawan, while chairing a meeting organised by his ministry with the representatives of the two groups in Damaturu.

Lawan, who disclosed that the aim of the meeting was to know all the existing farmers/ herders groups and establish good relationship with them to boost agriculture in the state, called on

the leadership of the groups to organise themselves and submit comprehensive list of their affiliates for easy identification.

On their parts, the leaders of the farmer and herder groups raised some issues to be addressed.

The farmer group called for support with farming inputs such as fertiliser, pesticides among others, while the herder group sought for reactivation of cattle routes and grazing reserves.

The groups expressed their readiness to give the state government and all the constituted authorities full support and cooperation for effective progress.

The meeting featured questions and answers session, which gave other participants a chance to get clarification on fresh issues.

committee’s secretariat within 24 hours over the alleged invasion of the courtroom of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by DSS operatives earlier this month.

Others expected to submit memoranda to the Senate panel before the close of work today are: the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu; Office of the Chief Judge of Federal High Court and Justice Ojukwu.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, while giving the directive, said the panel was unable to proceed with the scheduled investigative hearing after the Senate had suspended

all activities in honour of Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu who died in Abuja on Wednesday.

“We are not able to proceed with the hearing because we lost one of our colleagues yesterday. He was on the floor of the Senate two days ago.

We need to show concern for the departed soul. Therefore, you are to avail us with memoranda within 24 hours. We have contacted the Office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to give us perspective of what happened including the presiding judge. We’ll like to have the memoranda before the close of work on Friday.”

Present at the botched investigative hearing were the the Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi; Solicitor-General of the Federation,

Dayo Apata and a representative from Falana Chambers.

The Senate had last week directed its Committee on Judiciary to investigate the alleged invasion of the courtroom in a bid to re-arrest Sowore, few hours after he was released.

The Senate also yesterday suspended Order 13 of its Standing Rules to enable it to sit today to carry out legislative duties before going on Christmas break.

Order 12 of the Senate Standing Rules stipulates that the upper chamber will hold plenary thrice a week namely Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Senate had to suspend the order to based on the point of order raised at plenary by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi,

to formally announce the death of Uwajumogu.

Coming under Order 43, which gives room for personal explanation, Abdullahi said: “Mr President, with your kind permission, I rise to announced the death of Senator Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu who passed on to the great beyond yesterday (Wednesday) the 18th day of December, 2019. It is a very sad day for the entire Senate.

“He was 51 years old which means that I am 17 years older than him. So you can see the kind of loss Nigeria suffered. He was one time speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, a senator per excellence in whom we share and went through a lot in the Eighth Senate. He made all contributions you people are all aware of. But here we are today.”

Bello Sacks Cabinet Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has dissolved his cabinet as part the program to wind up of his first term in office.

This was disclosed by Bello when he addressed a press briefing in the Government House, Lokoja on Wednesday night.

He explained that the dissolution takes immediate effect as he has directed his former cabinet members to handover to the most senior officers in their ministries.

The governor expressed his gratitude to them for serving in his cabinet.

However, the dissolution did not affect the Office the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Ayoade Arike, who would be holding her position until the inauguration of new

administration on January 27, 2020.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Kingsly Fanwo, has been appointed the Special Adviser on Information and Communication while the former Commissioner for Finance, Aaiwaju Idris Ashiru, has been appointed as Special Adviser on Budget and Planning.

Bello also retained the State Accountant General, Momoh Jibril; the State Auditor General, Yakubu Okala and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammed Onogu.

It would be recalled that the governor had sacked all his special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants and some board members in November shortly after winning his second term election.

Fayemi Restates Commitment to Workers’ Welfare Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has reiterated his commitment to the welfare of workers in the state, particularly, in offsetting arrears of salaries and wages as soon as there is the wherewithal to do so.

Speaking at an interactive session/dinner with labour leaders across board in the state, Fayemi expressed optimism that salaries arrears and other allowances, including the 2015-2017 promotion arrears will be cleared with time, noting that they were not bad debts.

The governor emphasised his commitment to regular

payment of salaries in spite of the dwindling federal allocations as he assured that other incentives, including more conducive working environment will continue to form his priorities in line with his electoral promises.

Fayemi promised to look into the issues ranging from allowances for Technical College teachers, rendition of 10 per cent of the internally generated revenue (IGR) to the local governments, and gratuities.

He promised to always engage the labour leaders through constant dialogue to engender a robust government-labour relationship.

HOME IS THE BEST…

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (right), being transported by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja after arrival from Dubai...yesterday

Igbo Group Condemns IG’s Order on Multiple Roadblocks Ugo Aliogo and Oluchi Chibuzor A coalition of notable Igbo think tanks, namely Otu Oka Iwu Ndigbo Lagos Foundation, Aka Ikenga and Nzuko Ununna, have condemned in strong terms the statement made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, on the continuous roadblocks on the South West to South East and South-south regions of the country.

The coalition, which addressed

the press in Lagos yesterday, said the numerous roadblocks were causing untold suffering, humiliation and hardship to travelers.

The Igbo think tanks claimed that there were 60 police roadblocks from Lagos to Onitsha.

They gave a breakdown of the roadblocks to consist of 24 checkpoints between Lagos and Ore; 23 checkpoints between Ore and Benin and 13 checkpoints from Benin to Onitsha.

They described the

multiplicity of roadblocks as insensitive, provocative and unacceptable, especially in light of unconstitutional breeches occasioned by the roadblocks stretching from Sagamu through Benin to Onitsha.

According to the Igbo think tanks, “it is noteworthy that several inspector generals of police before him, from Suleiman Abba to Mohammed Abubakar, had issued similar directives to dismantle roadblocks. That is why we found the position

of Mr. Adamu untenable and unacceptable. The checkpoints escalate confrontation which leads to fatal shootings by security agencies. The roadblocks have amounted to extortion centers for frisking innocent citizens of their hard earned money.”

Speaking during the briefing, the President of Otu Oka Iwu, Emmanuel Ikokwu, said the motive of the statement credited to the IGP was biased, adding that insecurity was synonymous in every part of the country.

Bauchi Gov to Receive Nigerian Sustainable, Good Governance Award Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has been nominated among those to receive the 2019/2020 Nigerian Sustainable and Good Governance Presidential Awards.

The Director-General of Bauchi State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

Maryam Garba Bagel, who led members of the Project Management Committee for SDGs ‘ASOKO ROCK declaration 2020’ to an advocacy visit to the governor at the Government House in Bauchi yesterday, attributed the emergence of the governor as a recipient of the award to the achievements recorded in the implementation

of the SDGs projects in the state.

“The award of the 2019/2020 to be received by our governor was in recognition of his outstanding commitments to noble ideals of SDGs,” she stated.

According to her, with the inception of the present administration in the state, the state SDGs’ office has recently officially handed over the

completed 2018 SDGs’ projects executed in selected communities in the 16 local government areas of the state.

Bagel, who was appointed as the North East zonal coordinator of the Project Management Committee of the SDGs projects, expressed gratitude to the governor for his support to her office.

54

Ëœ ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

F M YS D / N E S G PA RT N E R S H I P

Sports Minister, Dare Rules Out Jamboree to Olympic Games Ugo Aliogo As part of preparation for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has stated that Nigerian athletes will compete in sporting events that they have competitive edge.

He also noted that presently there are 18 athletes who are Olympic bound and qualified, adding that the basketball team has already qualified.

Dare disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

He said the ministry has rolled out some of its plans which involves focusing on 11 sporting activities that might come down to nine sports because the ministry is waiting for the final qualifiers, “we are not going to be entering for 22 events.�

The Minister stated that as part of the preparation for the Olympics, the ministry developed a blueprint which involved competing at the All Africa Games in Morocco, and the World Athletics Championship in Doha Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), “as part of the preparation, the basketball team won the ticket in China after playing some very tough games and that is why the tigress has played three games successfully.�

In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of the NESG, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, said the establishment of a Sports Industry Working Group (SIWG) between the FMYSD and NESG/ EFG was a major outcome of several engagements between the FMYSD and the NESG between October 9th and November 22nd 2019.

He also noted that the SIWG

would be tasked with the main responsibility of coordinating the engagement between the various ministries identified at the interministerial technical session, He also noted that SIWG would deliver a robust national sports industry policy and the attendant incentives package that would enable the private sector commit to the massive investment required

to propel the industry to greater heights.

According to Yusuf, “Some of the milestones preceding today’s event include. There would establishment of a Sports Industry Thematic Group (SITG) at NESG to drive the technical work required to develop a road map for the reform and repositioning of the sports sector in Nigeria

as a viable business industry.

There would be establishment of the Eminent Focal Group (EFG) as the Resource arm to drive the work of the Thematic Group in the development of sports industry - being NESG’s PILOT/PIONEEER EFG to drive the development of an economic sector through engagement with the private sector.�

Nigeria Retain 31st Position in FIFA Ranking Nigeria’s Super Eagles retained their spot as the world’s 31st team in the World Football Ranking for the month of December.

In the ranking table on the website of world football governing body FIFA yesterday, Nigeria have garnered 1,493 points, same as they had in the November ranking.

The ranking still helped the team retained the third spot on the continent, behind Senegal and Tunisia.

On the global scene, Belgium are the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking’s Team of the Year for the second successive time after a record-breaking year on the global ladder.

The Red Devils have held on to top spot in a December table barely impacted by just 19 friendlies towards the end of the year.

It was a year in which 1,082 international “A� matches have been played, and that is an alltime high since the ranking’s inception in 1993.

World champions France remain in second place ahead of Brazil in third, the positions they held in December 2018.

However, the make-up of the year-end top five has changed.

England have climbed one place in 2019 to end the year in fourth, with Uruguay moving up to fifth on the back of a two-spot rise.

Argentina (9th) and Colombia (10th) are also in the top 10 at the expense of Switzerland (12th) and Denmark (16th).

Both have slipped four and six places respectively over the course of the year.

The ranking’s Mover of the Year, meanwhile, are Qatar who gained an impressive 138 points over the course of the year.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts won the AFC Asian Cup and made a strong start to the Asian Zone World Cup qualifiers.

Besides accumulating the biggest points haul, Qatar have also jumped a year-high 38 places, followed closely by fellow climbers Algeria (up 32 ranks) and Japan (up 22 ranks).

Given the teams who have made the most progress in 2019, it is no surprise to find that the regional composition of the top 50 has changed over the year.

NPA Wins 2019 FEPSGA Games The Nigerian Ports Authority contingents to the 38th edition of the Federation Of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) Lafia2019, has emerged the overall winner of the games, carting away the prestigious overall golden trophy with a total of 10 gold 11 silver and 8 bronze medals out of a total 110 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) across the country.

The closing ceremony and medals presentation which took place yesterday at the LafiaTownship Stadium, Lafia, Nasarawastate saw only 47 MDA’s making the medals table.

In his congratulatory message to the team,the Chairman of Central NIPOSA, Yahaya Bukar, congratulated the entire members of the contingents assuring that their exceptional feat would be brought to the attention of the

Managing Director and her management team, whom he assured will reward the team appropriately, concluding that the success at Lafia was an eloquent testimony to the dividends of the yearly NIPOSA games.

At the second position on the medal table was Federal Ministry Of Works and Housing with 9 gold 6 silver and 5 bronze medals while the third position was clinched by the Federal Ministry Of Industry, Trade and Investment with 5 gold 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr.

AbdullahiSulehad expressed joy for the state clinching the hosting right of the 38 edition of the FEPSGA games, adding that the state is peaceful, sports loving and welcoming to visitors.

L-R: Deputy Director, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Maria Wophill, Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr John Ugbe, during the courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja yesterday.

Coaches Lament on Impact of AFN Conflict Some athletics coaches have expressed worry that conflict in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), if not resolved fast, might affect Nigeria’s preparation for and participation in the Tokyo 2020.

Some of the coaches, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that parties involved in the conflict should consider the interests of the nation and the athletes.

Coach Osagie Ikhaobomeh appealed that the conflict rocking the federation should be resolved

fast to ensure Nigeria would do its best at the Olympics.

Ikhaobomeh urged those involved in the conflict to dialogue and resolve issues in the best interest of the nation.

The coach said that quick resolution of the conflict would encourage athletes to put in their best in preparation and participation.

According to him, concflicts will not encourage sports development. “The crisis in AFN can affect Nigeria’s preparation for Tokyo

2020 Olympics. “If truly money was released but not given to athletes, it will affect the psyche of the athletes and their preparation for the Olympics,� he said. “What some of our athletes experienced at the All African Games hosted by Nigeria in 2003, killed their passion for running for the nation “The issue has always been the welfare of the athletes,�

Ikhaobomeh said.

He, however, commended the

AFN Board for good performance. “The current board, for me, scores 55 per cent performance in 2019, though lack of funds affected Nigeria’s performance in major international events. “There is need for the board to put its house in order to do more,� the coach said.

Coach Tunde Suleiman told NAN that AFN experiencing a conflict few months to Olympics would do harm for the nation’s participation in the Olympics.

Maiyegun Lights up Lagos Again Nigeria’s first Olympics medallist and a proud son of Lagos, Nojeem Maiyegun was the centre of attention again on Sunday, as he was recognised and rewarded by the Household of God Church at the annual Karis Awards Ceremony, for the feat that put the searchlight of the world on Lagos and Nigeria.

In 1964, the then 23-year old Light-Middleweight boxer had broken the glass ceiling, and won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The feat marked the beginning of exploits for Nigerian boxers at that stage, and opened the floodgates for future Nigerian Olympians to dream of standing on the podium at the biggest sporting event in the world.

And last Sunday, the glamorous Karis Awards showcased not only the excellence of the ‘golden’ Bronze Medal that ‘Omo Oloja’, as Maiyegun was known in his boxing days, brought home, but also highlighted the values embedded in the thought process that birthed the awards.

The 24th Karis Award glittered like the Christmas trees that

welcomed guests to the event. The list includes the representatives of the Oba of Lagos, the Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, the President Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Dr Rauf Ladipo, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, Femi Adetula, the captain of the Nigeria

Olympic Team to the London Olympics in 2012, Olumide Oyedeji, gold medalist in Men’s 400 Metres Relay at the Athens Olympics in 2004, Ene Udo-Obong, Chairman Brila Group, Dr Larry Izamoje, the President of AIPS Africa, Mitchell Obi, members of the Maiyegun family, and Supersport presenter

Mozez Praiz .

The event opened with the red carpet, where the gorgeously dressed guests expressed their appreciation to the Household of God for the initiative that has blessed deserving Nigerians, regardless of tribe and religious affiliations.

The Family members of legendary Nojeem Maiyegun with the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and Pastor Chris Okotie at the annual Household of God Church Karis Awards Ceremony in Lagos.

Ëœ ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

54

FRIDAYSPORTS

Madrid Cries Daylight Robbery after Goalless El Clasico at Nou Camp Real Madrid have aired their Clasico grievances about the referee and VAR on the club’s official website.

The Spanish side took the surprising step to criticise Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez in the ‘news’ section of the site unpicking mistakes they thought the official made.

The main focus of Real’s complaint was that Rafael Varane suffered two fouls that in their opinion should have been given as penalties.

A statement on the club’s website read: ‘Rafael Varane was stood on by Lenglet and two minutes later had his shirt pulled by Ivan Rakitic. “Varane was involved in two controversial moments in El ClĂĄsico at the Camp Nou. The Frenchman could have had two penalties in the first half but Hernandez Hernandez did not give either of them. “On minute 17, the madridista went to head a corner before Lenglet stood on his thigh muscle in the area, but neither the referee nor VAR (where De Burgos Bengoetxea was in charge) deemed it a penalty. “Two minutes later and following another corner, the central defender had his shirt pulled by Ivan Rakitic, which saw him end up on the ground in the penalty area. However, once again, neither the referee or the VAR system decided to award the penalty,â€? the website expressed.

Despite the unusual decision to post such a public critique of the refereeing performance, pictures of both incidents suggest that

Real might have grounds for their dismay.

Lenglet clearly made contact with Varane’s thigh and the Real centre-back had stud marks up his leg from the challenge.

And above the article on the website is a screen grab of Rakitic holding onto Varane’s shirt as they jostle for a corner.

Madrid based newspaper AS ran the headline: ‘White Tsunami but no goals and no VAR’, alongside a picture of the Lenglet incident.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has insisted that his side deserved to win Wednesday’s ClĂĄsico with Barcelona after the sides drew 0-0 at Camp Nou. Speaking after the game (via Marca), Zidane was adamant that his side deserved more than just a point from the match, praising his players for turning up to Camp Nou and performing like the better team. “I’m happy with the game, but we didn’t score,â€? he said. “When you have chances you have to put them in. You have to congratulate the players because they did very well. We played in the opposition stadium. “Sometimes you get two or three (goals) and sometimes not.

That’s football. I’m not happy for the players, because they deserved more. “The referee and the VAR have not given [the penalties] and I cannot do anything. The game is already over.�

Zidane was not the only person to have been left frustrated by the VAR decisions. Captain Sergio Ramos also admitted he

Lukaku Set to Lead Inter to Stay with Juve Inter Milan will have to rely on Romelu Lukaku for their goal threat tomorrow as the Serie A title challengers aim to move level with Juventus without striking revelation Lautaro Martinez.

The pair have struck 18 of Inter’s 32 league goals this season as Antonio Conte has led them into their first serious title in nearly a decade, but Belgian Lukaku could be partnered by teenage rookie Sebastiano Esposito, who is set for his first Serie A start following a series of promising appearances from the bench in recent weeks.

Two draws in a row have put the breaks on Inter, with Dusan Vlahovic’s last gasp equaliser for Fiorentina last weekend allowing Juve to stay level on points before moving three ahead on Wednesday.

A late booking in that draw for Argentine Martinez, who is reportedly a target for both Barcelona and Manchester City, looks to have given Esposito his big chance for an Inter side missing key players like midfielders Stefano Sensi and Nicolo Barella.

An incredible Ronaldo leap gave Maurio Sarri’s side a 2-1 win at Sampdoria earlier in the week as they prepare for this weekend’s Italian Super Cup clash with Lazio, who made it a three-way title race on Monday with two added-time goals to beat Cagliari by the same score.

Third-placed Lazio play their week 17 match against Hellas Verona in early February due to their trip to Riyadh to face Juve, leaving Inter with a chance to move six points away from the Rome club.

On Friday, Lazio’s local rivals Roma can also put some pressure on Simone Inzaghi’s side and steal a march in the race for the Champions League when they travel to struggling Fiorentina, whose draw with Inter was their first point in five matches.

The Tuscan outfit haven’t won in Serie A since the end of October while Paulo Fonseca’s Roma have lost just once in the league since late September and can move to within a point of Lazio with a win in Florence.

They welcome Chris Smalling back from a knee injury, who along with Lukaku was the subject of the now infamous “Black Friday� Corriere Dello Sport front page as Italian football continues to grapple with racism in the stands and boardrooms.

Serie A attracted widespread condemnation and ridicule after launching an anti-racism campaign that featured monkeys, with the league seemingly unable to beat back a tide of racist incidents.

Inter Milan striker, Romelu Lukaku

was annoyed, although he did accept that VAR works in both ways and could soon benefit Real instead. “We have seen them at the

break and they look pretty clear, they are both penalties, but it can’t be changed anymore,� he said, as quoted by Marca. “The VAR is here to help, it’s bad luck.

Another day it will be our turn to win a penalty and not have it checked.�

Ultimately Hernandez Hernandez waved away

protests and the Clasico finished 0-0 for the first time in 17 years. Barcelona remain top of LaLiga but only on goal difference.

One of the controversial moments of the El Clasico as Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet stamped Raphael Varane but the referee failed to make a penalty decision on Wednesday night in Camp Nou

President Putin Blasts WADA over Ban on Russian Athletes Russian President Vladimir Putin says the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to remove Russia from international sports is inconsistent with common sense or law and bearing a political connotation.

Putin, speaking at an annual press conference on Thursday, said any punishment should be individual and that all Russian athletes should not be punished for the wrongdoings of some. “As for the WADA decision, it does not correspond to common sense and law, and as for doping,

the decision was made regarding the participation of our athletes under the neutral flag at the last Olympics, now for the same thing again.’’ He explained that the ban was “unfair to various Russian athletes who were not involved in the doping scandal’’, including those who competed in the Winter 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang under a neutral flag. “If someone is caught doing something, then it is normal and fair to punish them. But if most of our athletes are clean, how can

WADA sanction them for others’ actions?.’’ The president added that WADA’s ban went against the Olympic charter. “A country’s team should not compete under a neutral flag if there are no factual claims against the current Olympic committee.’’ On Dec. 9, WADA unanimously voted to ban Russia from participating in and hosting any major sporting events.

It said it was a punishment for what it said were serious manipulations and deletions of

data in athlete test results under WADA investigation.

WADA also ruled that only clean Russian athletes would be allowed to compete under a neutral status, without the Russian flag or anthem.

It added that Russian government officials and representatives would be banned from attending any major international sports events.

Additionally, WADA declared RUSADA non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.

GOtv Boxing Night 20: Fight against Anan Will Be Easy, Boast Real One Reigning West African Boxing Union (WABU) lightweight champion, Rilwan “Real One�

Oladosu, has declared that his title defence against Ghana’s Ezekiel Anan will require minimal effort.

The encounter is one of the four title bouts at the nine-fight GOtv Boxing Night 20, which holds at Lagos’ Tafawa Balewa Square on 28 December.

Speaking after a sparring session yesterday Real One claimed that Anan stands no chance of causing an upset. “This is my first title defence and I’m sure, very sure, it will be easy. Anan is deceiving himself

if he is nursing the ambition of returning with the title. He should just come and enjoy the hospitality Nigerians are known to provide.

But that hospitality will not extend to the ring, where I’m the master,� said the champion.

He claimed to have defeated the best Ghanaian boxers, a level to which he believes is way above Anan’s.

GOtv Boxing Night 20 will be headlined by the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental Heavyweight title fight between Onoriode “Godzilla� Ehwariemi of Nigeria and Ariel “Chiquito�

Baracamonte of Argentina.

Also at the show, WABU welterweight champion, Nigeria’s Nigeria’s Rilwan “Baby Face�

Babatunde, will defend his title against another Ghanaian, Sanitor Agbenyo. There will also be the national super bantamweight title bout between Sadiq “Happy Boy�

Adeleke and Opeyemi “Sense�

Adeyemi.

Also in action is Taiwo “Esepo�

Agbaje, the national featherweight champion, who takes on Olusegun Moses in a challenge bout. Another big name on the card is Ridwan “Scorpion� Oyekola, who will fight Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja� Shogbesan in a national super featherweight

contest. Incumbent national light heavyweight champion, Adewale “Masevex� Masebinu, will face Olanrewaju Segun in a challenge clash, while Alaba “Eylbow�

Omotola and Bolaji “Fight to Finish�

Abdullahi will go head-to-head in a national lightweight challenge.

There is also an all-female super featherweight clash between Cynthia “Omo Bobby� Ogunsemilore and Aminat Yekini.

The event will also feature live musical performances from “Bolanle� crooner, Zlatan; “Up to Something� singer, Mayorkun, and “Mercy of the Lord� performer, Oritsefemi.

AFN Mourns Veteran Athletics Coach,Tobias Igwe The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has expressed deep shock at the death of veteran athletics coach,Tobias Igwe fondly called Toblow in track and field circle.

Coach Toblow,according to his son,Daniel Igwe died after suffering from high blood pressure and partial stroke. ‘’Sad to announce the passing on of great coach Igwe also known as Toblow.He died after suffering from high blood pressure and partial stroke,’read a statement signed by his son,Daniel Igwe.

AFN acting president, Olamide George expressed shock at the passing of a man who many have credited with the geometrical successes recorded by Nigeria

in the 1980s and 1990s. ‘’This is devastating. We have lost a true transformer of talent.

Coach Igwe was linked with many of the athletes who brought honour to Nigeria in the 1980s and 1990s.It is on record he led the first Nigerian team to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Athens,Greece in 1986 to ninth position on the medals table with Nigeria emerging world champions in the women’s 100m (Tina Iheagwan) and 200m (Falilat Ogunkoya),’said George.

The AFN acting president revealed the federation has contacted the family of late coach Toblow. ‘�Our heartfelt condolences

to the family of late coach Igwe during this time of sorrow. You’re in our thoughts and prayers and we are here for whatever you need.�

George revealed the board of the federation will meet in the new year to discus the best way to honour the late coach. ‘It is the least we can do as a federation.We were discussing about how to honour him for his selfless service to Nigeria about a forthnight ago not knowing death was lurking around to take the great Toblow away from us.’’ In her reaction,former Nigeria queen of the track,Mary Onyali says she is heartbroken and described Toblow as a super

great coach. ‘’Today marks yet another sad day in my life as I lost yet another dear person to my heart. Coach Tobias Igwe alias TOBLOW This is the man who made me what I am today in sports and life in general. My heart is Sooo heavy as I write, but only God knows why you have to go now and we can’t question Him. You’ve ran a great race on earth as an athlete, a SUPER GREAT COACH, and a Sports Administrator. My Love, sleep well in the bosom of the Lord until we meet again to finish what we started,’Onyali,a senior adviser on sports to the Youth and Sports Development Minister wrote on her facebook wall.

Friday December 20, 2019

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE

NBA to Buhari “A regime that glorifies the nation’s sad history of military rule, encourages disobedience of court orders and subjects the rule of law to the dictates of what the government may capriciously consider as national security, is a drawback for modern democracy and makes the country a mockery in the comity of nations” – NBA berating the President Muhammadu Buhari for his comment that democracy was too slow for his liking.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Culture Shocks Foretold I

have always dreaded the prospect of being compelled to live abroad. If you have noticed a certain strindency in the manner I write to criticise those mismanaging Nigeria (thereby increasing the odds of rendering this recourse inevitable) this personal dread is a big part of the motivation. The immediate overriding problem is the social life and how it is severely constrained by terrible weather conditions.

Right now in Oxford, darkness falls as early as 3p.m. in the afternoon. This disorientation is then reinforced by a winter freeze of the proportions of being locked up in a deep freezer and have the keys thrown away.

The result is alienation and a heightened consciousness of being an African- who should very well accept whatever is dished out- as due penance for the self-inflicted failures of his own society. I’m quite sensitive about my dignity. Strip a man bare of dignity and he is left with nothing is my philosophy.

I went to take a passport photograph the other day at Boots self-serve facility. The cubicle is partitioned into four applicable sit ins of equal light effect. Somehow the ambience of the snaps I took came back dark and blurry. I sighted the outcome of the other user next to me and it came out appropriately bright. What then was the matter with my own end product? The guy suggested it might have to do with the colour of my skin!

As a student in the United Kingdom, Chief Obafemi Awolowo narrated the experience of his first and last visit to a nightclub. At the instance of Chief Toye Coker, they went nightclubbing. After a few minutes settling in, he courtesied and said hello to the guy next to him. He was studiously ignored.

To confirm how much of this behaviour is nightclub culture, he extended similar courtesies to two other nightclubbers lolling nearby and was equally snubbed.

He concluded that anywhere you go and people are habitually discourteous and nasty cannot be a good place.

It is hyperbolic to say so but I see a potential racist in all white people, more so the male and the fans of Donald Trump.

According to all opinion polls, the majority of white American male are of one accord with Trump (the President who would rather all potential American immigrants come from Norway). The argument is eloquently marshalled by Charles Blow in the New York Times under the caption ‘White Male Victimisation Anxiety’... ‘ ‘an outright and increasing amplification of a reactionary white male victimisation syndrome that has consumed modern American conservatism... the unleashing of white male backlash....

Trump’s entire obsession with Barack Obama springs from this... Obama, the candidate that a coalition of America’s diversity elevated, must be brought low by the candidate that the right homogeneity has ordained.

White scion outperforms black striver. This is America, after all. Basic legends must be buttressed.....

I said earlier, I cannot be persuaded by

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika

any American supporter of Trump that he is not a real or potential racist- regardless of political correctness induced protestations to the contrary. Increasingly though, I’m less judgemental about racism and allied degeneration. There is however a difference between abstract intellectual tolerance and physically living the reality on a day to day basis. The history of the white world is afterall replete with the exhibition of horrendous capacity for beastly intra racial cruelty that beggars belief. If they can treat one another with animal hatred, maybe I shouldn’t expect a higher standard of behaviour from them in other circumstances. In contemporary history, recall the oceans of pure Aryan caste blood that wetted the killing fields of Europe in the second world war. Yet this was Adolf Hitler’s beloved rarefied racial community on whose account he thinks nothing of sending the luftwaffe to pulverise the unpersuaded millions among the same pure bred who live across the channels.

The widespread iconic status of Trump amongst tens of millions of Americans shows how little has changed since Hitler.

Did Governor Rick Perry not call Donald Trump the chosen one a few weeks ago?

How about the holocaust? For that matter, recall the supreme irony of the American civil war-where multitudes of whites slaughtered one another over the emancipation of the Blacks- a standing rebuke against any tendency to view America as Donald Trump writ large. According to that American gift to mankind, Abraham Lincoln, “if God wills

I’m quite sensitive about my dignity.

Strip a man bare of dignity and he is left with nothing is my philosophy

that the war should continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

Haven been nurtured on such noble Lincolnial diet for months at the Michaelmas term at Oxford university, it was time to return to Nigeria for the Xmas break. And therein ensued another psychological crisis with the contemplation of the transportation mode of getting to Nigeria. By the way, (in the relentless morbidity of phobia for flying) I’m in the non flattering company of the former life President of Cote d’Ivoire, Houphouet-Boigny. If it became absolutely necessary for him to travel to Europe, he goes by sea, three weeks of seasickness notwithstanding. In diabolical humour, he left us with the most concise justification of life Presidency I have ever heard- a Baole chief does not see his successor.

Two weeks to my return flight to Nigeria, the alarm bell jarred my drinking lobes (apologies to Wole Soyinka). Until about a month ago, I cannot recall any report of ‘incident’ on British Airways flights to Nigeria yet here was I, booked to travel the same flight in another fortnight-confronted with a media report that ‘Abuja-bound, British Airways flight BA083, yesterday, made an air return to London Heathrow Airport, after its aircraft lost an engine en route. The aircraft took off from Heathrow Airport late Tuesday, and was airborne when pilot announced that the aircraft would be returning to its port of departure. According to British airways “For your information, the aircraft experienced a minor technical issue, and our pilots elected to return to Heathrow.

In terms of the emergency services meeting the aircraft, this is standard practice.

In furtherance of what looks like a choreographed effort to totally unnerve me, right at the departure hall of Heathrow airport a week ago, few hours to take off was the news flash “A military plane with 38 people on board has disappeared en route to Antarctica, Chile’s air force says. The C-130 Hercules transport aircraft took off from Punta Arenas at 16:55 local time (19:55 GMT), and operators lost contact at 18:13”.

To forestall a creeping panic I recalled the law of averages theory propounded by my gone AWOL brother, Wole Omoboriowo, on the probability of plane crash around the world. According to Wole’s law of averages and probabilistic theory of air accident, if there occurs a plane crash disaster today, it is quite unlikely that it will be immediately followed by another one. I remember him comforting me years ago.

These are moments my mind strays towards the contemplation of the subject of witchcraft- specifically in respect of the possibility of developing spiritual wings to levitate from London to Nigeria, solo and steady all the way and in a fraction

of seconds. Beyond witchcraft, there is also the similar metaphysics of egbé (spiritual/ physical disappearance enabler)-very popular with Yoruba warlords in the Kiriji war and the African magic cable channels, the science of disappearing and materialising at a desired destination. I have not seen the communique of the recent Witches conference at the university of Nsukka but the conference should have been preoccupied with the potential revolutionary impact of doing away with aircraft in mass air travel.

The unusual delay in taking off didn’t help matters. Finally, the dice was cast and we bade goodbye to the terra firma at Heathrow, I strained to hear what the captain had to say about weather enroute Lagos.

Rather disappointingly, the announcement was muffle. In the event, it turned out a smooth pleasant journey until we arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagoswhere the gain in the rehabilitation of the air-conditioning was completely blown away by the prison standard stench of fresh and decomposing urine.

Before I left UK, I had a realistic expectations of the country I was returning to, I could literarily plot and predict how minor and big challenges would pan out. Yet after making generous allowance for all that could go wrong, disappointment still managed to squeeze itself in. As expected and against the background of ten weeks of sparkling airports, weird experience of uninterrupted power supply, clean water, sanitary environment, the near superfluity of owning a car.., all standard of living measures in Nigeria were uniformly bleak.

The shakedown began, commensurately with the most notorious. On electricity, I thought I had all the angles covered. Though exorbitant-with inverter and power generator plant, I had the capacity to generate light independent of PHCN-but not indefinitely.

I got home and was informed that the neighbourhood transformer chose that morning to implode. Still I was left with the inverter and generator but they are connected in a manner that one cannot work without the other. The generator cable passes through the inverter (as modulation and conduit) and the batteries of the latter are charged in return by the current passing through it.

Unused for months, the inverter batteries had gone kaput and unable to transmit the currents supplied by the generator.

Recall I was coming from a temperate weather zone of sub zero temperatures to the suffocating humidity of Lagos and needed to sleep. The only way out was to get the generator disentangled from the inverter and run it directly to the house.

This was going on 9pm and you needed the handyman’s expertise to perform the magic. My providential Sagittarius luck has a way of kicking in hazardous situations.

And so it did and we got the handyman.

All is well that ends well? Not so fast. As it was with electricity, so it became with water and so it became with bills left, right and centre.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com