WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2019

Poor Service Forces 14,375 Telecom Subscribers to Port in One Month Emma Okonji Telecoms operators across networks, witnessed inward porting in September, the highest recorded in the last eight months, according to statistics released by the Nigerian Communications

Commission (NCC).

NCC report showed that a total of 14,375 telecom subscribers switched networks in the month under review.

A breakdown of the figures showed that more subscribers ported from other networks to 9mobile network in search

of better service quality as the telco recorded a total number of 9,823 inward porting of subscribers from other networks, in just one month.

This was followed by MTN, which recorded 2,041 inward porting in the same month, while Airtel recorded 1,720

inward porting, and Globacom recorded only 791 inward porting in the same month.

Inward porting means the number of numbers ported from another service provider's network into a service provider's own network.

Worried about the large

number of inward porting in one month, telecoms operators said subscribers were at liberty to port from one network to any network of choice.

But NCC attributed the huge number of inward porting to poor service quality recorded on most networks, as well

the reliability and speed of data service offered by most networks in the month under review.

The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, who attributed the Continued on page 10

Osun Gets N100m Sign-on Mining Fee from Canadian Company... Page 8 Wednesday 20 November, 2019 Vol 24. No 8990. Price: N250

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PDP Dismisses Alleged Plan to Suspend Jonathan Chieftain says party not happy with Dickson for loss of Bayelsa NWC meets today to review polls Iyobosa Uwugiaren in Abuja and Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed a report that the party planned to suspend former president,

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, over suspected anti-party activities in the last Saturday governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Rather, a member of its National Working Committee (NWC) blamed Governor

Seriake Dickson for the defeat of the party in the governorship election won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. David Lyon.

This is coming as Dickson accused the APC of turning the

visit of some of its stalwarts to the former president to a propaganda message to legitimise the electoral robbery he accused it of perpetrating in the state.

The NWC of the party is, however, expected to meet

today to review its outing in the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections held last Saturday.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed the meeting to THISDAY in

Abuja last night.

However, responding to the insinuation to suspend Jonathan, he said: “We have not even met to discuss what happened in the last Continued on page 10

N1tn Wasted on Constituency Projects in 10 Years, Says Buhari Urges passage of Special Crimes Court Bill ICPC arrests 59 directors for N3.3bn fraud Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday thumbed down constituency projects, for which the federal government has appropriated N1 trillion in the last 10 years without corresponding impact on the lives of the people.

Buhari said at a national summit on ‘‘Diminishing Corruption in the Public Service,’’ organised by

the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), yesterday in Abuja that a report had confirmed the federal government's worst fear that constituency projects had no trickle-down effects on the common man.

Continued on page 10

PROJECTS THE PRESIDENT...

APC Govs, President Meet on Public TAXMAN Chairman, African Tax Administration Forum and Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler (left), and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, during the presentation of Being Buhari, a book on President Muhammadu Buhari, to Service Delivery Monday... Page 5 Museveni at the 4th International Conference on Tax in Africa in Kampala, Uganda…yesterday

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

Kogi PDP’s Internal APC Govs, President Meet on How Crisis, Power Rotation Public Service Delivery Monday Fuelled Support for Bello Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), known as Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on policy synergy next week to strengthen public service delivery.

The Director General of PGF, Mr. Salihu Lukman, in a statement yesterday said the parley would hold in Jos, Plateau State on Monday.

He said the parley with the theme, 'Strengthening Public Service Delivery,' would focus on five key areas: Internal Security, Education, Transport, Health and

Social Investment.

Lukman said the aim of the parley was to facilitate the development of a commonly shared service delivery framework for local governments, effective oversight from states and synergy with the federal governments.

This, he said, would reposition the local governments for excellent public service delivery to achieve the fundamental goals of local governance.

Lukman added that the Ministers of Internal Affairs; Transport; Education; State for Health and Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management will

make presentations at the parley. “President Muhammadu Buhari will be the special guest of honour. Participants expected at the parley include 19 progressive governors, principal officers of National Assembly and APC legislators, Ministers of Internal Affairs, Transport, Education, Humanitarian Affairs and Minister of State for Health,� he added.

Other participants include the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Director, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit; Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission

(UBE); Executive Secretary, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA); and many other government functionaries invited from the 19 APC-controlled states.

The director general noted that at the end of the federal government/PGF parley, some understanding would emerge on required actions needed to institute commonly shared service delivery framework for local governments, which he said would influence programmatic relations between the federal government and APC states in the area of strengthening local governance.

REWARD FOR INTEGRITY...

L-R: An awardee, Mrs. Josephine Ugwu of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; President Muhammadu Buhari and another awardee, Assistant Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Abubakar, during the presentation of Public Service Integrity Awards organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in Abuja‌yesterday

Appeal Court Confirms Ihedioha’s Election as Imo Governor

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday upheld the election of Emeka Ihedioha as Governor of Imo State.

The five member panel in separate judgments dismissed the three appeals filed by the Action Alliance (AA) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Uche Nwosu; All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma; and that of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and its flag bearer, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.

While that of the AA and APGA were dismissed in a unanimous judgment, the one of APC was dismissed in a four-to-one split judgment.

The appellate court held that the appellants failed to establish corrupt malpractices, non compliance with the electoral laws and failure to secure majority lawful votes cast at the election.

The five man panel led by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, held that they had no reason to fault the findings and conclusions of the state Electoral Tribunal, that the governor scored 273,404 votes to emerge victorious in the March 9 governorship election in Imo State.

The panel further held that it has no reason to depart from

the findings of the tribunal that evidence adduced at the tribunal were hearsay and that the court cannot tolerate hearsay evidence in any election petition.

The panel accordingly dismissed the appeals and affirmed the judgments of the tribunal which upheld the declaration of Emeka Ihedioha as winner of the Imo State governorship election.

Nwosu, Uzodinma and Ararume had in their separate appeals asked the appellate court to void the election of Ihedioha on grounds that he did not obtain the constitutional one quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state, in line with Section 179 of the Constitution.

In their various submissions by their counsel, the appellants are asking the court to set aside the decision of the tribunal and declare them winner of the March 9 governorship election or in the alternative order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election into the office of Governor of Imo State.

The three man panel of the tribunal had in a unanimous decison delivered on September 21, held that Ihedioha was lawfully declared winner of the governorship election by INEC. The panel chaired by Justice

Malami Dongondaji, had in the judgment dismissed Ararume, Nwosu and Uzodinma's petitions for lacking in merit on the grounds that they failed to prove allegations made in their petitions.

Apart from their claims that Ihedioha did not obtain the constitutional one quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state, in line with the provisions of the law, the petitioners had also alleged substantial non compliance with the Electoral Act and Guidelines, including other irregularities.

But the tribunal in its judgment held that the case of the petitioners was unmeritorious because they failed to call relevant witnesses and that evidence of witnesses called were based on hearsay.

The tribunal in addition rejected documents tendered by the petitioners in support of their claims on the grounds that those who led evidence in the documents were not the makers of the documents.

In his appeal, Ararume urged the appellate court to upturn the decision of the tribunal on the grounds that the lower court erred in law when it arrived at the decision that his case and that of his party lacked merit and accordingly dismissed it.

The appeal which was

predicated on 22 grounds was argued by his lead lawyer, Awa Kalu, SAN, while that of Nwosu and AA, was argued by Niyi Akintola SAN and that of Uzodinma and APC, argued by Damian Dodo SAN. They all urged the panel to allow the appeal and grant all the reliefs sought by the appellants.

However, lead counsel to Emeka Ihedioha and Peoples Democratic Party, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN and K.C.O. Njemanze SAN respectively urged the court to dismiss the appeals for being incompetent and lacking in merit.

The respondents submitted that the appeal of the AA and Nwosu in particular constitute a waste of the precious time of the court since the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on October 22, had already struck out the name of Uche Nwosu as candidate of the AA in the March 9 governorship election in Imo State.

The respondents also claimed that the appeal of Nwosu lacked merit going by a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the candidacy of Nwosu in the governorship election.

Justice Omoyele after taken submissions of counsel in the matter announced that judgment will be delivered in a date that will be communicated to parties.

Ibrahim Oyewale

Fresh indications have emerged that apart from the violence unleashed on voters and the opposition parties in Kogi State during last Saturday’s gubernatorial election, internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the possibility of power rotating to Kogi West Senatorial zone in 2023 also contributed to the re-election of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello.

This is coming as a PDP Woman Leader for Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, in Ofu Local Government Area, Mrs Acheju Abuh, has been burnt to death in her home by suspected political thugs.

THISDAY gathered that the seed of discord was sowed in the PDP on September 3, after Musa Wada, a younger brother of a former Governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada, emerged the winner of the party’s governorship primaries in the state.

Wada had polled a total of 748 votes to defeat his main opponent, Abubakar Ibrahim, the son of another former Governor of the state, Ibrahim Idris (popularly called Ibro) who polled 710 votes.

Wada’s elder brother, Idris came third with 345 votes while Dino Melaye polled 70 votes to emerge fourth.

The governorship primary election had initially ended abruptly when gunmen invaded the Lokoja Confluence Stadium venue of the election.

Investigation revealed that Ibrahim Idris who was the main financier of PDP in the state felt that his son was cheated out of the governorship ticket.

To worsen the crisis, Abubakar, the second runner up in the PDP primaries, also went to court, asking the court to declare him the winner of the September 3 primaries.

The former governor, it was gathered, was also said to have withdrawn his huge financial support for the main opposition party. “The former governor felt that despite all his contributions to the party, his son was cheated out of the race. Not only that his son went to court, he also withdrew his financial support and PDP went to the main election to face Yahaya Bello with virtually empty pocket,� a source within Kogi PDP told THISDAY. THISDAY gathered that though the former governor delivered his local government area, Omola, to the PDP, he did not deploy his enormous resources and contact to ensure the victory of his party in the other parts of the state.

It was also gathered that the victory of Wada in the PDP primaries did not go down well with his brother, Idris Wada.

Investigation revealed that despite the efforts of other family members to reconcile them before the governorship poll, the former governor did not support the aspiration of his younger brother with enough commitment to guarantee victory at the polls.

Also an aggrieved Melaye showed his disaffection with the outcome of the primaries when he rejected his appointment by the PDP as the Director-General of the Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council. “Let me state categorically that I have turned down the position of Director-General of

the PDP Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council. I wish PDP all the best. When truth is a casualty there is chaos. Senator Dino Melaye,� Melaye had tweeted.

THISDAY gathered that apart from the crisis in the PDP, the hope of Kogi West Senatorial zone to possibly have one of its people emerge as governor in 2023 also fuelled support in favour of Bello who has just won a final term of four years.

Investigation showed that the people of Kogi West believed that supporting Wada means waiting for another eight years before it would get to their turn to produce the governor.

Bello defeated Wada in Kogi West with a margin of 33,578 votes.

In the seven local government areas that make up Kogi West - Kogi LGA; Lokoja LGA; Yagba West LGA; Ijumu LGA; Kabba/ Bunu LGA; Yagba East LGA; and Mopamuro LGA, APC polled 89,699 votes, while PDP scored 56, 121 votes.

A source within the Kogi PDP told THISDAY that the people of the senatorial district did not want to wait for another eight years for it would be their turn. “Kogi West did not want another candidate that will come and rule for another eight years before it will be their turn. If Musa Wada wins, he will stay for eight years but Yahaya Bello has only four years. So, they opted to go with Bello,� he explained.

PDP women Leader Set Ablaze in Kogi Meanwhile, THISDAY learnt that trouble began for the PDP chief when thugs started shooting when they arrived at her house and surrounded it, blocking every escape route.

It was gathered that the suspected hoodlums sprayed the building with petrol and set it ablaze as terriffied villagers watched from far away.

The woman was said to have attempted to escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglar proof while dodging gunshots fired in her direction.

A source in the village said that "the blood thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs Abuh cried from inside the inferno until her voice died out.�

It was gathered that the hoodlums left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been razed down.

The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the incident through a statement by the Public Relations Officer, William Aya, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP).

Aya, in the statement entitled "culpable homicide/mischief by fire," said: “On 18/11/2019 at about 1630hrs, one Musa Ety of Ochadamu, Ofu LGA reported at the station that, at about 1030 of same date, there was a misunderstanding between one Awolu Zekeri aged 35 years member of APC and one Gowon Simeon, a member of PDP both of Ochadamu, in the process Gowon Simeon stabbed Awolu Zekeri with a knife on his lap, he died on his way to the Hospital.

"As a result, angry youths in the area mobilised to the house of one Simeon Abuh of same address who is an uncle to the suspect, set it ablaze, thereby burnt one Salome Abuh, aged 60 years."

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Osun Gets N100m Sign-on Mining Fee from Canadian Company Osinbajo lauds Oyetola on good governance Osun State has received N100 million from Badger Mines, a Canada-based mining company, as sign- on fee for exploration and development of one of the state's mining titles.

The Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Tuesday while delivering his address at the opening ceremony of the three-day Economic and Investment Summit held at Aurora Event Centre in Osogbo.

The governor disclosed that the government had earlier executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the renowned mining company as part of necessary preparation for the commencement of mining operations in the state.

Oyetola, who expressed optimism that the summit would achieve the desired results going by the positive response obtained so far from key players in the private sector, said the

government was fully prepared to give all the support required for investment to thrive, particularly in mining, tourism and culture and agriculture.

He said, "Our mining sector, like agriculture, is an old industry yet to be fully harnessed. The State of Osun has ample reserves of a variety of minerals, notably gold, lead/zinc, quartz, feldspar and several precious metals.

"We occupy a unique place in the mining sector in Nigeria.

We are a mining State that hosts solid minerals. We are also a State that has invested in acquiring the licences for solid minerals under our land from the Federal Government.

"No other state in Nigeria can offer the unique combination of both regulatory and commercial fusion. We are a risk-ready State with an appetite for enterprise and reward for winnings.

"The State acquired 17 mining

licenses for Gold – 10; Quarry - 4; Lead/Zinc - 2; and Quartz and Feldspar -1, from the Nigeria Mining Corporation, and we are willing to partner with interested local and foreign investors to develop these mineral resources.

"Our policy for the mining sector is implemented and overseen by the Osun Solid Mineral Development Programme. This programme commenced in June 2019, and has already achieved some encouraging milestones in its First Quarterly Report in 5 of the 7 intervention project areas of the programme.

"The intervention areas are Osun/Omoluabi Mining Business Restructuring Scheme (OMBRS) to commercialise the state-owned mining company. Osun Revenue Diversification and Maximisation Scheme (ORDMS) is a scheme to register all miners, mines and mining equipment and report

on all mining activities in the State in partnership with private sector technology partners.

"We are happy to report that 9,000 artisanal miners have registered their biometric data on RFID-enabled tags with our technology partners. I am also happy to inform you that Osun recently executed an MoU with the renowned international mining firm – The Badger Mines – for the exploration and development of one of our mining titles with a signature bonus of a Hundred Million Naira (N100m) already paid."

In his remarks while declaring the three-day summit opened, the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, commended the state government for hosting the event, which he described as impressive and organised.

Osinbajo, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant

to the President on Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, also lauded the Governor for providing what he described as focused inspirational and well-meaning leadership in the state.

He said, "I am particularly very delighted visiting Osun, widely acclaimed for its rich cultural heritage, hospitality and the enterprising tradition of her people.

Peaceful, virtuous, resilient and vibrant, Osun is a pride of the nation.

"As a choice tourist destination, Osun is certainly most enriched in terms of its widespread iconic tourists’ sites, globally-acclaimed festivals such as the popular Osun Osogbo festival, Olojo festival, among many others.

"Aside its fertile land which makes agriculture thrive unusually, the array of its mineral-resource blessedness,

Osun is also fortunate to be home to some of the nation’s most highly gifted and accomplished citizens.

Undoubtedly, Osun is a profoundly blessed State."

The Vice President further noted that the objectives of the Summit is in tandem with the Diversification Agenda of the Federal Government' adding that the governor has demonstrated exceptional leadership in building on the achievements of his predecessor and particularly in his aggressive pursuit of economic rejuvenation of the state.

Also speaking on the occasion on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, implored all indigenes of the state to support the government in its frantic bid to make the state the economic hub of the country.

Edo APC Crisis Worsens as Oshiomhole Accuses Shaibu, Others of Betrayal No, you are deviating from principles you thought us, says deputy governor

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State branch showed no sign of subsiding yesterday as the National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, expressed regrets over what he described as his betrayal by the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Philip Shaibu, and other members of the party from his local government area, despite all he had done for them to grow politically.

Shaibu was recently at the centre of altercation between youths of Iyamho and suspected thugs allegedly brought into the community during the convocation of Edo University, Iyamho in Etsako West Local Government Area.

Oshiomhole had accused him of bringing commercial motorcyclists to the venue of the ceremony to embarrass him.

But in a swift reaction, Shaibu said he did not betray Oshiomhole but was only following the path the party chairman taught him politically.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Musa Ebomhiana, Shaibu said he merely stood by Oshiomhole's tenets of "no more godfatherism and let the people lead."

Addressing the youths, who paid him a solidarity visit in his Iyamho house yesterday, Oshiomhole urged them to continue to embrace peace and not allow themselves to be used to disrupt the peace of the state.

He also urged them to continue to support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari who he said stands for truth and justice.

He said: "There is nothing I have done in life that I didn’t have to fight for but as you can see by the special grace of God, there is no fight that I was forced into that I have

not prevailed because I do not go out of my way to look for trouble. I actually do my best to make peace but if it fails, God will give the enablement to stand on our feet and defend the truth.

"The only thing I will say today to anyone who is here, who is an agent of my son, when I talk of my son, I am talking of Philip Shaibu, who now thinks that his own political future requires that he attacks me and import thugs to disgrace me in my village.

"The Hausas have sayings that when people are possessed and they do things like that, just say: ‘God take control.’ Supposing I was dead after 2016 and somebody tells me that my son, Philip, will organise people to attack my house or to attack my village to disrupt the convocation, may be my body will be turning in heaven and I will not believe; but the fact that I am alive to see someone who did not win his own booth because his own people in his own village and his own community of Jattu did not want him because they apparently know him better than me but I stood by him not on false stand and he became deputy governor, will vindicate me. So, if all that transpired now is to use that power to humiliate me, God forbade as you can see.

"Who can fight the battle but God? So, I leave the burden of guilt to them and I will not repay evil with evil. I will stand on the path of peace; I will stand on the path of unity, I will stand on the path of justice because I know that God in heaven will never allow the evil doers prevail. “I am very happy that God has given me good health and that I can see some people who fought me in 2007 and God gave me victory and from victory I made them

commissioners, I gave them jobs; I assisted them whenever they were in need that I am alive to see them because of a small pot of pepper soup singing signatures to say Oshiomhole should not be. “Some of them called me privately and said they were given contracts sum of about N10 million and they say if I don’t sign, they won’t pay my money and I said okay may the N10 million make you a millionaire; some say they were given jobs and told to abuse me otherwise, they will be sacked.

I then asked if it is not God that protects. “I don’t want to be remembered for using my office to harass anybody. I have left government for three years

now but you people are here now on your own. You are not millionaires in your pockets; you are billionaires in your minds.�

No, You Are Deviating from Principles You Thought Us, Says Deputy Gov But Shaibu denied betraying Oshiomhole, saying he was only following the path the party chairman taught him politically.

Ebomhiana said the deputy governor stood by Oshiomhole's tenets of "no more godfatherism and let the people lead."

According to him, as a good son of Oshiomhole's politics, he is following the path of a

good father.

Shaibu stated that Oshiomhole was a respected leader and father he could not have betrayed.

He also denied allegations that the party leaders in Etsako West that signed the vote of no confidence petition against Oshiomhole were threatened to do so.

"The Deputy Governor is a gentleman. He could not have threatened or coerced anybody to sign any letter.

Those people that signed the purported document are matured men and women that do not feed from the table of the DG," Ebomhiana said.

In a separate statement, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media

and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, also stated that Shaibu has not betrayed Oshiomhole in the ongoing challenges facing the ruling APC in Edo State.

Osagie added that what Shaibu is doing in the ongoing face-off is exactly what Oshiomhole taught him through the years, which is to fight for the oppressed and downtrodden in society. “It is the dream of a father for his son to imbibe his principles and surpass his achievements, and that is what he has been doing. Oshiomhole taught us activism, forthrightness, and standing for what you believe in. He is still our father and we are living by the principles he taught us," he said.

GUIDING THE STOCKS...

L-R: Members, Senate Committee on Stock Exchange, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Nnachi Michael and Senator Ibikunle Amosun (chairman) during a meeting with Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning oďŹƒcials in Abuja‌yesterday julius atoi

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PAGE TEN POOR SERVICE FORCES 14,375 TELECOM SUBSCRIBERS TO PORT IN ONE MONTH development to poor service quality, however, said most subscribers equally ported to other networks because they wanted to enjoy cheaper call and data rates on various promos offered by network operators.

Nkemadu, however, said the NCC had given subscribers the opportunity

to port from one network to another if they were not satisfied with the quality of service offered by their network operators. “The essence of Mobile Number Portability, which the NCC introduced some years ago, offers telecoms subscribers the flexibility to move at will from one

network to another, while still retaining their original mobile numbers. They will not be subjected to a particular network if they have reasons to leave the network, and that is the beauty of Mobile Number Portability,� Nkemadu said.

The NCC statistics described the monthly porting trend

in the telecommunications sector per mobile operator and referred to the number of transactions whereby a mobile number is transferred from one service provider to another on the request of a subscriber who wishes to change service provider while keeping the same telephone number.

The NCC data also showed that in August, a total of 11,040 subscribers ported from various networks; in July it was 10,378; in June -10,846; May - 10,781; April - 8,541, while in March it was 10,945, which made the porting figure for September the highest in the last eight months.

The statistics, however, shows that 9mobile has maintained the highest number of inward porting from other networks into its network in the last eight months.

NCC had launched the Mobile Number Portability in 2013 against the wishes of telecoms operators.

purported victory, saying that Jonathan remained a leader of the entire country who shouldn't be drawn into the local politics of the state.

Dickson explained that as a leader of the country, the former president was at liberty to receive any visitors, but warned on the dangers posed by the insinuations being weaved around the visit by the APC. He alleged that the APC had recently begun to romance the ex-president to sell the narrative that the party did not win by rigging elections but by attempting to legitimise what he said was an illegitimate and indefensible electoral outcome.

He stated that no politician had stood by Jonathan more than himself and that in the build-up to the elections, he had visited Jonathan about 16 times to meet with him on the way forward for the PDP. He said: “My reaction is that President Jonathan remains a leader of our country. He is at liberty to receive members of any political party but in the context of all that is going on I know that the insinuations are not misplaced. “APC came to Bayelsa to take his state and people by

force. With the comments they are making about him, Oshiomhole coming to Bayelsa to praise Jonathan, what they were doing is laying the foundation to perpetrate fraud and violence. “No politician has stood

by Jonathan more than me.

They simply used his name and image to legitimise illegitimacy. I can see the strategic content.

"They used Jonathan to expand the notion of disagreement and after the rigging to go to him like Pontius Pilate to wash off their hands and put it at his doorsteps to say he sanctioned it...But let's accord him the right to meet with other dignitaries.�

He also tendered what he said were video evidence in support of the alleged killings and violence that characterised the conduct of last Saturday's governorship election in Nembe Local Government Area and some other parts of the state.

Addressing a press conference in Yenagoa, Dickson described the election as a charade and a carefully orchestrated plan to forcibly take over the state.

One of the videos captured heavy shooting in Koluama

in Southern Ijaw, while the other videos captured thumbprinting of ballot papers by an alleged APC chieftain (name withheld) at Nembe where INEC recorded over 83,000 votes for APC and 837 for PDP. He condemned what he termed the brazen connivance of security agents, particularly the Nigerian Army, with APC thugs to hijack electoral materials in most local government areas.

He said soldiers were deployed in Ogbia Local Government Area and other parts of the state to cart away electoral materials thereby undermining the process in favour of the APC. The governor called on the federal government to take drastic action in safeguarding the country's democratic principles and protecting the fundamental rights of Nigerians in every election.

The governor who was speaking for the first time after the conduct of the election, accused the army of involvement in the killings of some members of the PDP, ballot snatching and hijacking of election materials by APC members and declaration of results by INEC even in the areas where election did not hold.

presentation of Integrity Award to Assistant ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Mr. Bashir Abubakar, and Mrs. Josephine Ugwu of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for their exemplary conduct.

Abubakar rejected $412,000 (N150 million) per container bribe offered to him by drug traffickers to import 40 containers laden with Tramadol.

Ugwu, a former cleaner at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos had on different occasions returned millions of naira found while on duty, including the sum of $12 million forgotten in the toilet by an airport user.

While delivering his keynote speech earlier, Owasanoye said ICPC arrested 59 directors of the Ministry of Water Resources, after they were found to have abused the epayment policy of government by paying N3.3 billion through the accounts of staff, instead to actual beneficiaries.

He also added that ICPC discovered gross abuse of personnel budget, inflation and padding in 300 MDAs to the tune of N18.62 billion.

He said preliminary findings showed that those mainly culpable were federal academic and health institutions.

They included University of Benin Teaching Hospital, N1.1 billion; Federal Medical Centre, Bayelsa, N915 million; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, N907 million; University of Jos, N896 million; University College Hospital, Ibadan, N701 million; Usman Dan

Fodio University, N636 million and University of Ibadan N558 million.

He singled out the Border Communities Development Agency of Nigeria and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as some of the MDAs favoured by politicians to carry out constituency projects irrespective of their capacity to supervise projects.

He said ICPC made a recovery of over 250 assets worth N32 billion in seizures, interim forfeiture orders and final orders in the past 10 months.

PDP DISMISSES ALLEGED PLAN TO SUSPEND JONATHAN governorship election. How can somebody or a newspaper be talking about suspending a former president?"

However, another member of NWC, who also spoke with THISDAY in Abuja, dismissed the report of suspending Jonathan for allegedly being instrumental to PDP's defeat, blaming Dickson for the loss of the state to APC. The chieftain, who spoke anonymously, said the PDP would have escaped the defeat if the governor had listened to the advice of the former president and party leaders in the state to support the governorship aspiration of a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, instead of his preferred candidate, Senator Douye Diri.

He said: ‘’It was Governor Seriake Dickson who defeated PDP and nobody else. You don’t play God. Since he became governor, he has done everything to belittle former President Goodluck Jonathan, the same person who did everything to make him a governor. ‘’In the last general election, he did not even allow Jonathan to produce a member of the state House of Assembly

representing his state constituency; the same thing with House of Representatives and the Senate. And on the basis of that silly action by the governor, the people revolted and voted APC. ‘’And when the governorship primary was also approaching, the leadership of the party, both at the state and national level, prevailed on Governor Dickson to allow the former president’s choice, Chief Timi Alaibe, who was also the choice of the leaders. He refused. And he did everything to skew the primary in his candidate’s favour.’’ The source added that when Dickson was proving tough, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was encouraged to intervene; but the governor was said to have told Obasanjo that the party could win the election with or without the support of Jonathan.

He added: ‘’A few weeks to the election, when it became very clear to him that Jonathan and his wife would not support the PDP’s candidate and considering the implications, Governor Dickson approached PDP governors to help beg Jonathan. They did; but then

it was too late. ‘’Even though Jonathan did not openly campaign against our candidate, his body language sent a clear message to his huge followers in the state, who worked against our candidate. As a matter of fact, it was Governor Seriake Dickson who defeated our candidate and our party in the governorship election."

The source explained that though the election was manipulated in some polling units, especially in the Southern Ijaw areas, the APC capitalised on the people’s sentiments to carry out its electoral fraud.

APC Playing Politics with OfďŹ cials' Visit to Jonathan, Says Dickson However, Dickson yesterday accused the APC of turning the visit of some of its stalwarts to the former president to a propaganda message to legitimise the electoral robbery he accused it of perpetrating in the state.

He also described as balderdash, the notion that it was the alleged disagreement between him and the former president that led to the APC's

N1TN WASTED ON CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS IN 10 YEARS, SAYS BUHARI Constituency projects are initiated by lawmakers in the National Assembly to be sited in their respective constituencies as a way to attract development to their people. Funds to finance the projects, which are to be executed by MDAs and under the supervision of the sponsoring lawmakers, are included in the federal government's budget for the fiscal year that covers the projects.

Also at the event, the ICPC announced the arrest of 59 directors of the Ministry of Water Resources for the abuse of the e- payment policy of government by paying N3.3 billion through the accounts of staff, instead of the actual beneficiaries.

According to the president, the first phase report of tracking of these projects

by ICPC confirmed this administration’s worst fear that the benefits of the constituency projects were not trickling down to the common people at the grassroots despite the huge sums appropriated for constituency projects since inception.

He expressed delight that through the effort of ICPC some contractors were returning to sites to execute projects hitherto abandoned, while project sponsors were also being held to account. ‘‘The ICPC has my full support and the support of this government to hold fully to account contractors, complicit public servants and project sponsors who divert funds meant for constituencies or other people-oriented welfare projects of our government or

who by other means reduce the quality and value of such projects meant for our people,’’ Buhari stated.

He also urged the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Special Crimes Court Bill, noting that the passage is a ‘‘specific priority’’ of this administration’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan 2017-2020.

Similarly, he appealed to the judiciary to support the creation of Special Crimes Court. ‘‘The fight against corruption is of course not only for government and anticorruption agencies alone. All arms and tiers of government must develop and implement the anti-corruption measures. ‘‘I invite the legislative and judicial arms of government to embrace and support the creation of Special Crimes Court that Nigerians have been agitating for to handle corruption cases,� Buhari said.

He directed ICPC to beam its searchlight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and public institutions yet to comply with his recent directive to enroll on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The president said the directive on IPPIS was to halt the padding of personnel budgets and the diversion or misappropriation of capital budgets.

He said over N9 billion was blocked by ICPC from being diverted from the 2019 personnel budget after its recent System Studies and Review into many MDAs to evaluate systems and processes

relating to transparency and accountability in personnel and capital spending.

Buhari also used the occasion, which marked the launch of the Constituency Projects Transparency Group (CPTG) Report Phase One, to reiterate his appeal to Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption. ‘‘The war against corruption cannot be won without prevention, enforcement, public education and enlightenment. ‘‘I encourage the ICPC and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts in public education, enlightenment and engagement with citizens. ‘‘I also urge our development partners, civil society organisations and the media to continue to support our efforts to strengthen ethical values and integrity in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He commended the antigraft agency, headed by Prof.

Bolaji Owasanoye, for major enforcement and preventive initiatives including the System Study Review, tracking of Zonal Intervention Projects, otherwise called Constituency Projects, and collaboration with the National Social Investment Office.

The president reaffirmed that his administration will continue to support anti-corruption agencies to recover all ill-gotten wealth and prosecute offenders, adding that all fully recovered physical assets would be sold and the proceeds remitted to the treasury.

He said: ‘‘Enforcement activities by anti-corruption

agencies continue to reveal that some public officers possess properties and assets way beyond their legitimate sources of income. ‘‘Asset recovery cases in court also reveal that some of these criminally minded public officials are quick to disown these properties during investigation and in court. ‘‘Recovered assets will continue to be deployed in the provision of needed infrastructure and social welfare programmes. ‘‘The National Social Investment Programme is already utilising recovered funds to touch the lives of vulnerable Nigerians. ‘‘I, therefore, commend the partnership between the ICPC and the National Social Investment Office to ensure that beneficiaries of government social intervention programmes are not shortchanged along the line by unpatriotic officials."

Buhari, who described corruption as a catalyst for poverty, insecurity, weak educational system, poor health facilities and services and many other ills of the society, said his government was working hard to overcome the challenges, particularly in public sector, which inhibit the ability of government to deliver infrastructure and basic services to the people. ‘‘Corruption is furthermore, a major threat to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the socio-economic transformation we are all working hard to bring about in Nigeria,’’ he added.

The president made

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG to Hold Oil Licensing Round in Mid-2020 NNPC: IOCs expected amendment of PSC Act Peter Uzoho The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has restated that the federal government would launch a new oil licensing round in mid-2020 for both offshore and onshore blocks in a bid to hit its 3 million barrels per day output target by 2023.

The NNPC boss also said the amendment of the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Act was expected by the oil and gas industry.

Mele Kyari said the bidding round will be launched after the government concludes talkswith foreign oil companies on new fiscal terms for oil exploration following recent amendments to the law.

Reacting yesterday to the reservations and criticisms trailing the just-amended PSC Act, the NNPC boss called for commercial conversation between investors in the nation’s oil and gas industry and the government in order to address perceived lapses in the fiscal terms for the development

of the sector.

He added that Nigeria needs the help of international oil companies to raise exploration activities in the country if it is to meet targets to raise production to 3 million b/d by 2023.

He said the level of anxiety or worries that the passage of the PSC Act amendment had generated were unnecessary, adding that there are rooms for conversation between the government and the investors.

Mele Kyari stated these yesterday in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), with the theme: “Expanding Nigeria’s Petroleum Landscape: Digitalisation, Innovation and Emerging New Technologies.’’

He added that such a conversation was necessary to ensure that all parties come together to produce a clear fiscal term beneficial to all, guarantee increased investment in the oil and gas industry as well as boost exploration activities.

According to him, lack of clarity of fiscal terrain worries the industry, and therefore requires planning and joining the government to make sure that the overall petroleum legislation is harmonised.

Kyari stressed that “despite the amendments, there is room for negotiations and we hope to conclude these negotiations by mid next year.”

The Deputy Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Ahmadu-Kida Musa, also added that “There is no doubt that Nigeria has huge barrels of oil assets yet untapped, the government only needed to create the right investment climate for

operators,” Kyari said: ‘’Of course, I am sure people will expect me to comment on the Deep Offshore Act. In the Deep Offshore Act; you must see NNPC in two perspectives. One, as a company completely owned by government as a national oil company, and then, the second part of it, we are also clear in this terrain. ‘’We may all be aware, the Deep Offshore amendment Act is not unexpected. As a matter of fact, it is a requirement of the law that there should be an amendment to the Deep Offshore Act. We can have issues around what kind of amendment can we do? How far can it go? And what kind of

amendment can we put on the table? But in reality, it expired in 2003. The conditions that are required to make changes to the Deep Offshore Act were met even by 2003, but we didn’t do anything, we can’t blame anyone, it is an opportunity lost, I see that clearly. ‘’But the reality is that this industry expects something will happen. And that something is very needful and useful for the industry, because we all worry about the clarity of fiscal terrain in our industry but we can plan. And what we can do as an industry is to join the government to make sure that the overall petroleum legislation be put on the table so

that when this clarity is brought in our industry, we now know the basis of our investment, how we can cover our costs, and what matters much more, so that people can go back to real work. ‘’But I also know that despite the Deep Offshore Amendment Act, this is a business, there is room for commercial conversation.

I do not believe the level of anxiety or worries that the passage of the Deep Offshore Act amendment has caused. I believe it is unnecessary because there are rooms for conversation. There are rooms for engagement so that this business can continue, and I call on our partners to believe this, let us talk to ourselves.”

House Passes New Bill for Smooth Transition of Power Bill makes president-elect resume before inauguration Adedayo Akinwale ín Abuja The House of Representatives has approved six months jail term and N10 million fine or both for any person who frustrates the smooth transition of power from one civilian government to the other.

The House yesterday passed a bill seeking to make a Presidentelect resume in the Presidential Villa to understudy the outgoing President ahead of inauguration.

The bill proposes that during the waiting period, the incoming president would be empowered to review the financial records and activities of the incumbent.

Refusal by the incumbent to cooperate with or provide requested documents by the incoming officials shall upon conviction attract a fine of N10m or six months’ imprisonment or both.

This was contained in the recommendations adopted at the Committee of the Whole, in the proposed Presidential (Transition) Bill, 2019, sponsored

by Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The bill, seeks to make provision for the smooth and orderly transfer of power from one government to another.

The bill stipulates that the outgoing President to appropriate to the Administrator-General such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Bill not exceeding the sum of N100 million for anyone Presidential transition for the fiscal year in which the transition occurs The Clause 1 of the bill states that: “When at any general election for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the incumbent President is not re-elected, the President shall within 2 weeks of the declaration of the Presidentelect as the winner of the

election provide space for not more than 10 persons designated by the President-elect to begin a review and analysis of budgeted expenditures during the tenure of the current President, review all other necessary documents as may be requested by the Presidentelect’s transition team and to acquire a working knowledge of the various offices, departments, commissions, boards and other agencies of the executive arm of the Federal Government with a view to promote the orderly transition of the executive power in connection with the expiration of the term of office of a President and the inauguration of a new President.”

Also, Clause 2 of the bill also stipulates that: “The President shall also constitute his transition team who must cooperate with the President-elect and the staff he so designated and provide any assistance that may be reasonably requested.

The Clause 3 of the bill provides that the provisions of this section shall apply at all times after each general elections whether or not the power change is within the same party or from one party to another.

While Clause 4 says that for the purpose of this Bill, the President shall include the Vice President and the President-elect shall include the Vice President-elect.

The proposes law further provided that “any employee of any agency or department of government may be drafted to be part of the transition team of either of the President or President-elect and he shall continue to be entitled to such compensation provided by law for his regular employment and shall be entitled to the rights and privileges associated with his regular employment without any interruption.”

OILY AFFAIR…

L-R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kolo Kyari; President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Ajibola Oyebamiji; and General Manager, Exploration, Shell Petroleum Development company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Daniel Agbaire during the opening ceremony of the 37th Annual Conference and Exhibition of NAPE in Lagos…yesterday

Reported Violence Not Enough to Discredit Kogi Election, Yahaya Bello Insists The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, yesterday said the just-concluded governorship election in the state was free and fair despite damning reports to the contrary by election observers.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared Bello the winner of the controversial poll.

Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won election conducted on November 16 with 406,222 votes to defeat Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 189,704 votes.

Natasha Akpoti of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came a distant third with a score of 9,482 votes.

Bello who spoke during an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, yesterday accepted that there was violence during the election but said it was not enough to discredit the poll.

The governor said the election was credible, that a level-playing field was provided and that it was free and fair.

“In every election, there is bound to be one issue or the other and you can’t take a pocket of issues to judge the general conduct of the election,” he said.

“Regarding the comments of the civil society organisations, they are entitled to their own opinions but let us know the parameters

with which they are judging this election.

“How many polling units did they visit out of 2,548 polling units, 239 wards and 21 local governments across the difficult terrains of this state? How many people have they reached out to?

“Have they interviewed all the electorate? So what are their yardsticks?” the governor asked.

Bello’s reactions come after criticisms by many observers and civil society groups, condemning the reported widespread incidents of violence and voter intimidation.

The Diplomatic Watch had on Sunday also expressed alarm at the reports of fatalities and missing people during the Kogi election

and urged stakeholders to call for calm.

“We express our alarm at reports of widespread incidents of violence and intimidation, some of which were witnessed by our teams in Kogi. There are reports of fatalities and people missing, including INEC staff.

Our thoughts are with all victims and their families,” their statement read in part.

The Diplomatic Watch includes teams from Austria, the European Union Delegation, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States who monitored Kogi and Bayelsa state elections on November 16.

Asset Forfeiture: Court Orders FG to Notify Maina’s Father, Mother, Wife, Others A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to notify some members of the family of the former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina about its request for a permanent forfeiture of the 23 landed properties he allegedly acquired illegally.

The court had on October 22

this year granted an ex-parte order of interim forfeiture, allowing the EFCC to temporarily take possession of the assets.

The court equally ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national daily to enable interested parties make claim to the properties, failing which they would be permanently forfeited to the government.

When the EFCC returned to the court yesterday with a motion on notice for an order of permanent forfeiture, Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo noted that although Maina was served with the motion, there was no evidence that the others, in whose names the EFCC claimed the properties were bought, had been served with the fresh motion.

EFCC’s lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar noted that it may be difficult for his agency to serve all those in whose names Maina allegedly acquired the properties.

Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo directed Abubakar to apply for substituted service to enable him publish the new motion in a national daily as he did with the ex-parte interim forfeiture order.

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COMMENT

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

HATE SPEECH BILL LACKS MERIT Sonnie Ekwowusi urges the Senate to dismiss the bill

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he Hate Speech Bill lacks merit. Therefore it should be dismissed by the Senate. To start with, the bill, which was apparently designed to curb hate speech on social media, is generating so much hate speech at the moment on social media. The bill has pitched the people of Nigeria in a complex web of deeper hatred with the Buhari government. The bill stirs up public hatred against the members of the National Assembly. In the last one week or so on the various social media the people have been kicking and cursing the sponsors of the bill. The people cannot understand why a government that cannot impose a death penalty on murderous herdsmen, murderous bandits and murderous kidnappers could suddenly turn round and begin to impose a death penalty on ordinary Nigerians for exercising their civil right to free speech as guaranteed in our 1999 Constitution and the Freedom of Information Act. The people are saying that it is unconscionable that a government which has imposed economic hardship on the people by shutting down the trade borders where the essential food item such as rice are brought into Nigeria can at the same time impose a death penalty on the same people for exercising their God-given right to freedom of expression.

The worrisome aspect of the anti-free speech bill is that the phrase “hate speech� is subject to multiple arbitrary interpretations. For example, whereas Mr. President could travel abroad and tell the whole world that the Nigerian youths are lazy and useless and it would not be construed as a “hate speech�. But when the same youths take to the social media in protest against the comment, they could be arrested and sentenced to death for uttering “hate speech� against Mr. President. Therefore the hate speech bill really lacks merit and should be dismissed.

By his nature, man is not obliged to like everything that he sees, knows or torches. Man is not an animal governed by its instincts.

Man is governed by his will and intelligence. Therefore he is free to like or dislike anything. In other words, you cannot force me to like you or like your policy especially when your policy is useless and counter-productive. The Senate was historically designed to add wisdom and prudence to the public order as well as promote peace. But the Nigerian Senate is now behaving as if it is a harbinger of hatred and rancor no thanks to the hate speech bill currently pending in the Senate. Sincerely speaking, the anti-free speech bill is repugnant to good conscience. It is a public scandal. Weighed against the background of extant laws in Nigeria the bill is otiose and superfluous. The bill is simply dangerous. It is a recipe for unleashing the most pervasive totalitarianism in the land. More importantly, the anti-free speech bill portrays Nigeria before the outside world as a country occupying the lowest lung of human civilization.

Therefore the only reasonable option open to the Senate at the moment is to dismiss the bill. If President Buhari and his handlers are angry that the people are laughing at them on social media then they should start discharging their duties diligently and responsibly. After all public approbation is earned not imposed.

If the Buhari government wants high public rating then it should excel in governance. What the government cannot do is to try to

MAN IS GOVERNED BY HIS WILL AND INTELLIGENCE. THEREFORE HE IS FREE TO LIKE OR DISLIKE ANYTHING

gag or muzzle public speech on social media. In any case, it is even impossible for the government to gag or muzzle the social media.

We now live in an age of supersonic technological communication.

The days of gate-keeping in communication are over. We now live in a whistle blowing age in which nothing happens outside the public purview anymore. Even what you utter in your bedroom today could be broadcast to the whole world tomorrow. The walls have ears. For example, the feud between Aisha Buhari and Aso Villa cabal was already in the public domain even before the Presidency came out to deny it and later admitted it. In the U.S. the information that sparked off President Trump’s impeachment trial came from a certain yet-to-be-identified whistleblower. And till date President Trump and his men have not been able to identify the whistleblower. Neither have they passed a death sentence on the whistleblower. In fact, since President Trump came to power, the leftist media such as The New York Times has been hurling unprintable insults at Trump. Yet Trump has not dispatched his security operatives to shut down or revoke the licence of the New York Times or sentenced the editors to death. This is the beauty of true democracy. You can see that we still have a .long way to go in Nigeria.

Perhaps the foremost and most profound reason why the Hate Speech Bill is unmeritorious is that it fragrantly violates the right to freedom of thought, conscience and right to freedom of expression and right to receive and impart information as guaranteed in sections 38(1) and 39 (1) (2) of the 1999 Constitution. In constitutional democracy, even as we understand it in Nigeria today, the citizens including members of the opposition enjoy certain basic rights.

One of these basic rights is the right of the citizens to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the performance of their political leaders. Going by this right, the people have a right to hold, for instance, the view that President Buhari has failed to live up to popular expectation in the last four and half years. Granted, no right is absolute. That is why section 45(1) of the same 1999 Constitution has explicitly provided that the aforesaid rights guaranteed under sections 38(1) and 39 (1)(2) “shall not invalidate any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health�. Besides the aforesaid provisions, there are copious laws in Nigeria already dealing with hate speech (slander) or hate writings (libel). Therefore there is no need for the National Assembly to enact another “hate speech� law in Nigeria at the moment.

Finally, the purpose of human intellect is to know the truth of things. This truth remains unchanged even in a culture or philosophical atmosphere that is saturated by the denial of the truth.

Must the truth offend? I don’t think so. Therefore we must seek the truth. The most dangerous public crime, in the view of many, is the claim that truth doesn’t exist or cannot be known. Indeed, the truth exists. Truth telling is not a hate speech. In fact, it is a hate speech to brand truth telling as a hate speech. Those branding the speeches of others as hate speech forget that they are reveling in the most hateful speeches.

WHY BUHARI SHOULD ACT FAST ON NDDC The president must straighten the affairs of the NDDC by inaugurating the Senate-confirmed board, writes Steven Nwike

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he NDDC is in a state of limbo.

Since August 27th when President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the Professor Nelson Brambaifa - led interim management and appointed a 16-member board subject to Senate confirmation, no progress has been made to ensure that a proper board/management is constituted for the commission. Rather, the commission has drifted, even at a time the president’s nominees have been screened and confirmed by the Senate. In fact the NDDC has not had a proper board for close to one year. The first interim management committee operated from January 2019 to August 2019, after which it was dissolved when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) announced the names of the new 16-man board members and directed the most senior director in the commission, Dr (Mrs) Anyia Akwagaga, to act as MD pending the senate confirmation of the president’s nominees.

Two months later, yet another ‘interim management committee’ was announced, in the evening of October 29th, five hours after the Senate president read President Buhari’s letter containing the names of 16 persons nominated for the NDDC board.

Akpabio’s action spoke to something unserious, if not fishy, in the way the administration has handled the affairs of the NDDC and the development of the Niger

Delta. Neither President Buhari nor the minister should allow this to continue. The optics is clearly not right, considering that the North East Development Commission is not mired in similar theatrics, and has since gone to focus on its mission.

The NEDC was patterned after the NDDC. In line with the act setting it up, it currently has an 11-member board comprising six members from each of the six constituent states of the north east geopolitical zone and one member each from the five other geopolitical zones. Accordingly, the NEDC has the full complement of its board members in line with the law setting up the commission. This provision as enshrined in the NDDC Act is what was followed in constituting the current board of the commission. It has broad representation in line with the law setting up the commission.

The Senate-confirmed board has the former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, Chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Managing Director; Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director of Projects; Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Jones Erue (Delta); Victor Ekhator (Edo); Nwogu Nwogu (Abia); Theodore Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwat (Cross River); Olugbenga Edema (Ondo); and Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo). The others are: Aisha Muhammed (North West); Shuaibu

Zubairu (North East) and Abdullahu Bage (North Central).

As stakeholders in the Niger Delta the new board is broad, deep and satisfies the yearnings for experienced and focused leadership and constituted in line with the provisions of the NDDC Act. The president must act to straighten the affairs of the NDDC by inaugurating the senate-confirmed board for the commission.

We should not have a return to the state of affairs where the NDDC is run by adhoc committees, especially when the new board nominated by the president, screened and confirmed by the Senate is in place. The proper thing to do is inaugurate the board with clear performance goals for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta.

We are not persuaded by the argument by the minister that the interim management committee has been put in place to supervise the forensic audit of the NDDC as envisioned by the president. It is a task the new Senate-confirmed board should execute as part of its duties as provided for in the NDDC Act. Rather, we believe that it has become an excuse for the minister, and perhaps a few others in the shadows, to hijack the NDDC and continue the trend of management without accountability.

Stakeholders have kicked against the hijack of the audit by the minister given that Akpabio is an interested party in the NDDC probe having nominated board members,

including a chairman and managing director, Bassey Dan-Abia, while he was Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015.

The immediate past substantive managing director Nsima Ekere served as his deputy governor. What can be more expressive of a personal interest that these?

It is without question that the NDDC deserves a fresh start, which includes a forensic probe of its accounts, but for it to be effective and untainted, it must not be supervised by an interested party.

Also, the whole story of the NDDC cannot be about a probe as if there are no immediate problems in the region to tackle. The Niger Delta is in serious need of intervention in several critical areas. Major transport infrastructure, such as the Warri-Benin expressway and the East-West Road, has collapsed. These are areas a properly constituted board, as stakeholders with a mandate, will address without delay. People are worried that the administration is not bothered that the commission is in the news for all the wrong reasons. President Buhari should not cede his powers to people with dubious motives. The president needs to ensure compliance with the NDDC Act in dealing with matters relating to the commission. There is no time to waste. Buhari should inaugurate the new NDDC Board and take the commission from the limbo.

Nwike is of Development and Accountability Watchdogs

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EDITORIAL NIMC AND IDENTITY MANAGEMENT NIMC must show more commitment to get the work done

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n the face of it, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) looks as if it is getting a lot of things right. It gives the impression of some dynamism. However, even the chief executive of the organisation has perhaps rated its overall performance as unimpressive. The director-general, Mr Aliyu Aziz admitted recently that only 38 million Nigerians out of a population of more than 200 million have been enrolled in the National Identity Card scheme after more than a decade of operation.

This is so despite the huge financial investment, calculated in billions. “Our country has been on the journey to provide identification for all Nigerian citizens and legal residents for some years now so as to enable the government and service providers verify individual’s identity on demand and at point of service delivery,” said Aziz.

“Nigeria’s existing foundational identification systems suffer from low coverage across the population, and the government is incurring THE GOAL OF ACCURATELY significant costs due to IDENTIFYING THE fragmented identificaNIGERIAN CITIZEN AND tion landscape.”

ISSUING A RELIABLE The underperforIDENTIFICATION CARD HAS mance by NIMC was BEEN A 45-YEAR JOURNEY perhaps emphasized OF POOR DESIGN, WASTE, in September last year after a Federal ExecuCORRUPTION AND tive Council meeting INCOMPETENT PROJECT presided over by MANAGEMENT President Muhammadu Buhari directed the mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) to take effect from 1 January 2019.

The decision was informed by one of the primary reasons why NIMC came into being in the first instance – the need to harmonise biometric data in Nigeria into the National Identity Database. After more than a decade of operations, the organisation was being reminded to properly deliver on its mandate.

The logic behind establishing NIMC was first to eliminate the duplication which has continued unabated with

Letters to the Editor

every government agency taking the same biometric data of citizens and residents without sharing the information with other agencies. NIMC was meant to warehouse the basic identity infrastructure that would be available on need basis to every agency. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for instance, can obtain from NIMC the details of every person of voting age in Nigeria and then issue a voter’s card and voter identification number on that basis. Indeed, Section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act, 2007, mandates all government and private agencies providing services as captured in the act to make the NIN a prerequisite for service provision to citizens.

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

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UNN, WITCHCRAFT AND INTELLECTUAL LAZINESS

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very day the Nigerian system keeps reminding us of how bankrupt it has become - tales of how institutions set up for excellence have become a bulwark of mediocrity. There seems to be a chronic intellectual insufficiency across board but unfortunately, not many can recognise this ugly trend especially in our educational system and our universities in particular.

Weeks ago, the B.I.C. Ijomah Center for Policy and Research, UNN, announced its plan to organize the first “International and Interdisciplinary International Conference on Witchcraft.” This was of course a commendable feat as for the first time, there is an opportunity to dissect one of the most controversial issues in sub-Saharan African discourse. It was the expectation of many that the university community in Nsukka will take advantage of this program to enrich themselves intellectually.

Unfortunately and contrary to the above expectation, the UNN community has been rife with protests by several groups in the university against the program. Many of the groups which are majorly Christian fundamentals have displayed counter banners like “UNN is for Jesus”, “say no to the meeting of witches and wizards”. These slogans are very unfortunate and are a product of the fact that many of their sponsors are extremely ignorant of the purpose of the conference and what it entails.

It also shows how intellectually vacuous and bankrupt our ivory towers have become. The university is meant to be a seat of research and intellectual inquiries but these lofty objectives have been replaced by religious extremism and chauvinism. In an academic

n line with the government’s directive, some government agencies like the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had directed that candidates without the National Identification Number would not be registered for next year’s examination, a directive which clearly exposed NIMC’s unpreparedness with the task of providing the citizens with national identity cards.

Many NIMC-designated registration centres across the country are at present overwhelmed as parents and their children struggle for days or weeks to obtain the identity form. Their agony is worsened by epileptic power supply. In some registration units, some NIMC officials are reportedly exploiting the situation by charging as much as N5000 to enroll applicants through the back door. Meanwhile, many who registered for the scheme some seven years ago are yet to get their identity cards even as the organisation announced recently that citizens would be required to pay N5000 for renewal of the identity cards.

While biometric identity is a unique feature, we live in a country where data do not speak to themselves. This is why the NIMC was established to address that challenge.

Unfortunately, the agency has been become another avenue for unwholesome practices. The goal of accurately identifying the Nigerian citizen and resident, and issuing a reliable identification card to each one has been a 45-year journey of poor design, waste, corruption and incompetent project management.

To our collective shame, the facts are obvious that we are not about to end the waste.

environment, you had expected even the religious to submit papers on the topic and contribute their own ideas; instead they’ve unfortunately embarked on a mission to denigrate the organizers.

One of the driving forces of the industrial revolution that transformed the developed world was universities that were strictly based on research and academic discourse and where research works are translated into societal policies. This policy has been maintained in the developed world till now. Unfortunately, for us in Africa and Nigeria in particular, our academic institutions have been hijacked and held hostage by religious fundamentalism which has curtailed critical thinking. The protest against the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Witchcraft is one of the many ways our academic systems have been held hostage by religion. Policymaking in our universities now considers religious doctrines as a priority. We can no longer have academic discourse and research without bringing religion through the back door. It has got to the level that when we look to our professors and academics during crisis, we no longer get research works and scientific contributions, rather we get faith admonitions. Religious institutions on our campuses now have more say in policymaking than the research institutes. In many of our private education establishments, people are coerced into religion and particularly the denomination of the founder; in these institutions free thought which is what makes education have been banished for ever.

The Nigerian education system needs overhauling: we need to instill the culture of academic research and intellectual discourse.

Bright Ogundare, brightogundare@gmail.com

MUCH ADO ABOUT N30K

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here has been much angst, if laced with excitement among many public servants especially in those states where their governors have “promised” to pay above the N30,000 minimum wage.

If a state pays above N30,000, every government worker in that state will have more money to take home. Right? Wrong!

Many Nigerian workers forget that what was negotiated was not a pay raise but increase in the minimum wage. In truth government has no obligation to increase the pay of every Nigerian worker.

The raised minimum wage directly affects those in the lower rungs of the ladder. By this I mean those in grades 01 to 06. What benefits those in grades level 07 and above is the consequential adjustments. With the negotiations, from the outset the cards have been stacked against Nigerian workers, leaving them at the mercy of government. Labour as an organization can only snarl, it can’t bite. Nigerian labour law is still nebulous and allows for lacunae.

Government has many places to hide when it comes to negotiations on what Nigerians should be paid. For instance the Labour Act of 2004 uses the word “wages” and that is what labour negotiates. But wages and salaries don’t mean the same. Wages are compensations given to mainly those who do hourly jobs often menial jobs, while salary is compensations given to workers for formal jobs done and usually paid monthly. In Nigeria it should be salary that should be negotiated and not wages until the labour law is amended. Increasing minimum wage is good, but increasing salary is better. That’s when every Nigerian worker will reap the highest rewards.

After everything may our take-home pay take us to our door.

Dr Cosmas Odoemena, Lagos

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

A N A LY S I S

Catalogue of the Bizarre in Bayelsa, Kogi Elections Nseobong Okon-Ekong highlights a couple of weird incidents that cast aspersion on the recently concluded governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states

Dickson

Yakubu

El-Rufai

Bello

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part from the prevalent use of physical force which habitually characterise electoral processes in Bayelsa and Kogi states, other forms of notoriety assumed new dimensions in the governorship elections recently concluded in both states.

Both the electorate and key political actors deployed hitherto unknown behaviours to further the bad political reputation in Bayelsa and Kogi. Here are some instances: Coffin for Opponents During the series of public engagements to enlighten the public on their developmental proposal, the leading political parties in Bayelsa State routinely displayed a mock coffin emblazoned with the name of their opponent.

It was an unambiguous message symbolic of the death of the party so identified. As it would later play out, it was also a clear declaration of intention to inflict maximum damage on their opponent. Little wonder that incidents of carnage were recorded during campaigns and on Election Day.

Down on His Knees The whole country woke up one morning during the campaigns to an image of Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State tendering a passionate plea to the people of Kogi State on behalf of Governor Yahaya Bello, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was seeking reelection.

Nigerians did not knkw whether to laugh at the ridiculous drama or be enraged.

The unexpected scenario happened at the

grand finale of the APC rally in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. As the Chairman of the APC campaign team for the reelection of Yahaya Bello, the Kaduna State Governor went down on his knees, appealing to the people of the state to forgive their governor for his alleged many misdemeanor.

Expectedly, the opposition feasted on it, describing the sordid spectacle as an admission of failure by the incumbent governor.

The APC governorship ticket in Kogi was under so much threat that First Lady, Aisha Buhari also entered a personal plea for Bello.

It was the first time, a candidate was being sold solely on the basis of emotion and not the strength of his achievements.

All Female Protest March in Opolo The fracas in Opolo, Yenogoa on Election Day between youths loyal to the two main political parties, the APC and PDP, led to an abrupt end of the voting in the area.

Thereafter, a group of young women from Ward 5 staged a protest march to the offices of INEC to register their displeasure.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, venting their complaints, they chanted, ‘ we no gree o, no election in Ward 5,’ as they moved along the major road.

This group drew a lot of curiosity because they were all female and were determined to register their protest, not minding the presence of heavily armed security personnel.

Kidnap of INEC Staff Both in Bayelsa and Kogi, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly kidnapped during the November 16 governorship elections. In Kogi, the incident took place at in SUBEB polling unit in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The Bayelsa abduction incident affected four officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Boumodi, Yenagoa and Ologi in Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State. They were later released.

The method of operation of the two incidents were similar: Armed youths suspected to be political thugs stormed polling units and fired gunshots to scare everyone. They absconded with electoral materials, as soon as INEC officials and voters took to their heels.

Flood in Bayelsa Tell tale signs of the heavy rainfall witnessed throughout the country this year could be seen everywhere in Bayelsa which is,q naturally a coastal terrain. In many communities voters and electoral officers needed to be ferried in canoes to reach their Polling Units, in order to take part in the election.

In Governor Seriake Dickson’s hometown of Toru-Orua, the local health centre, a building under construction, which hosted three Polling Units was flooded. Dickson and other voters waded through the flood waters to cast their votes. It was a scandalous situation because a few metres away stood what may be described as a multi-facility complex including a sports stadium, cancer centre, farm, residential buildings and offices of charity organizations dedicated to the governor’s parents. There were reports that

a boat carrying four journalists covering the governorship elections nearly fell into a mishap in River Nun, but for the timely intervention of sympathisers.

N50,000 Bribe Money At the State Collation Centre of the Kogi Governorship Election, many watched in astonishment as a Local Government Collation Officer publicly returned N50000 allegedly used as a bate to comprise one of his officers in the Polling Units. The dutiful INEC official took the money,, refused to do the bidding of the corrupt politicians who approached him and promptly reported the incident to his superior. The bundle of N500_notes was held up for everyone to see.

Fumbling Collation Officer from Dekina The presentation of results from Dekina local government area of Kogi State exposed the fickle mindedness of the Collation Officer.

Making a ridiculous spectacle of himself as he struggled to read the report before him, his stumbling and fumbling threw the gathering into laughter many times. In fact, after a long wait for him to get his act together, the collation was postponed till the following day, to save him from further embarrassment While one is not sure of the difficult circumstance that he experienced, the incident brought to mind a similar occurrence at the collation of the result of the presidential election in 2015 and raises many posers on the quality of the faculty in our institutions of higher learning.

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POLITICS

Bayelsa Guber: The Battle Continues at the Courts On November 16, the people of Bayelsa trooped out in their thousands to choose who will lead them in the next four years. The process leading to the poll was not devoid of mudslinging, accusations and counter-accusations. Writes Emmanuel Addeh

Diri

Lyon

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ike a phoenix, the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa resurrected from its slumber of over four years to give the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had been the only rook tree in the political forest of Bayelsa state a fierce fight.

This newly found confidence of the APC was not too sudden though. Only during the 2019 general election, it had to wrest one senatorial seat, two House of Representatives sits and a House of Assembly position from the PDP. Before now, the PDP had had a field day determining the political direction of the state for the last 20 years, but in a flash, the party has found a match in the APC led by Chief Timipre Sylva.

It appeared old rivalries had suddenly developed. Governor Seriake Dickson and his archetypal political adversary, Sylva, were again up in arms against each other.

To be sure, Dickson’s name and Sylva’s were not on the ballot. But it was about their stooges or protégés if you like.

Like a bolt from the blues, the former governor had almost unilaterally picked David Lyon as the face or the standardbearer of the APC in the election. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who many believe appeared more prepared for the job was left in the lurch.

After waiting for an eternity for the APC leadership to approach him or assuage the bitterness he felt after his alleged unfair treatment, Lokpobiri approached the court to declare him the winner of the September 4 APC primaries in Bayelsa.

He did not get what he said he prayed the court, but the Federal High Court in Yenagoa quashed Lyon’s emergence as the APC candidate, thereby throwing spanners in the works of the party.

On the other hand, Dickson backed Senator Douye Diri, his former Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to pick the PDP ticket. On the face of it, it was Lyon against Diri, but on a deeper look, it was a proxy war between two rivals, Dickson and Sylva.

But the election has come and gone and a winner declared officially by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); while the PDP and the incumbent and his preferred candidate, Diri, in the meantime, continues to lick their wounds, hoping to get a respite from the courts.

Before the APC and its leadership can finally breathe a sigh of relief, they must of necessity cross three main hurdles: the tribunal hearing which would go

through the entire gamut of the courts up to the supreme court.

The APC, the governor-elect of the party and his deputy, Degi Eremienyo must also convince the Appeal court that some of the documents presented

by Eremienyo to INEC, were not forged or fraudulent, according to an Abuja High Court which gave a ruling to that effect last week. The court stated that having presented conflicting documents, the Nembe-born politician was not fit to run for the primary election.

The judiciary will also determine if disqualifying a running mate to a candidate in an election invalidates that of his principal, the party’s standard-bearer.

Secondly, the party and its candidates must tell the Appeal Court, most likely in Port Harcourt, why it should upturn the judgment of a Yenagoa Federal High Court, which summarily declared that the APC never had a candidate in the last election.

The court led by Justice Jane Inyang, based its conclusion on the fact that the rules were breached when the APC national electoral committee chairman, Mai Mala-Buni, Yobe State Governor, failed to announce the result as provided by the party guidelines. Instead, Emmanuel Ocheja, a senator and secretary of the committee made the declaration in a hurriedly put together event in a hotel in Bayelsa.

It also said that instead of an 11-man committee, the APC set up a 7-man body.

A third leg which is still pending in court and rarely talked about is the one instituted by Mr. Preye Aganaba, who also told another court that he believes that the party primaries that threw Lyon up as the winner was largely flawed.

If the APC succeeds in winning all the pre-election battles, it has to again, face the election petition tribunal to be set up soon to look at the validity of Monday morning’s announcement of Lyon as the governor-elect. The case may proceed to the Appeal Court, then to the Supreme Court, Nigeria’s apex court. In all these, nothing is guaranteed for any of the two contending parties.

The PDP, on the other hand, has a sword hanging directly in the middle of its head.

Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, the former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director and a frontline aspirant in the September 3 primaries, who came second, is also in court to quash Diri’s declaration as the winner of the PDP primaries in September.

Alaibe is contending that some of the ad-hoc delegates to the September primary election, including eight local

government chairmen, their deputies and 105 ward chairmen were not qualified to vote in the primaries because the period of their election did not satisfy the statutory length of time before the party went into the internal poll.

If Diri succeeds at the tribunal or by extension in invalidating Lyon’s announcement as governor-elect, he too must be ready to face Alaibe in court.

If he fails to defend his choice in the primary election and the court declares the process unsatisfactory, the implication would also be that the PDP never had a candidate going into the November 16 election. The pendulum could swing anywhere.

But for now, the PDP continues to kick, while the APC revels in its newly found victory. David Lyon, the press-shy governor-elect a day after the election visited President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience and the national leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on what his team described as a “thank you” tour.

In a moment of ecstasy, leader of the party in the state and former governor, Sylva “thanked” governor Dickson for making the job of winning the election easier than expected. He described Dickson as a bad husband to the people of Bayelsa in the almost eight years he has been governor.

Giving an analogue of a bad husband who does not deserve a second one, Sylva contends that because Dickson governed badly, it was easy to convince Bayelsa people to support the APC. “Unfortunately (Dickson) made our job very easy because he married the wife very badly. Of course, this proverb pre-supposes that if you marry a wife badly, you will not get another wife. So he did not marry the state very well, so the state roundly rejected him.

“Like it’s been said earlier, we had a good candidate and when you have a good product; it’s very easy to sell it. So, we went around and sold this good to Bayelsans and the result was an overwhelming success.

“We are happy with this victory because, for us, it is very significant. This gives our party a footprint in the Niger Delta, which is very key to us. It gives us more of a national outlook, we have always been a national party but this gives us even a bigger national outlook’’ he said.

In contrast, Dickson, Diri, PDP and their team have continued to throw aspersions on the election and indeed calling for a declaration of the PDP candidate in

the election as the winner of the poll

by INEC. Indeed Diri has released his own figures to the public how he won six out of the eight local governments in the state during the election.

He argued that he was at a loss as to how the INEC got the figures it announced after the poll, insisting that he polled 98,582 votes to the APC’s 55, 903, according to the ‘Situation Room’ he set up for the purpose of collating the ballot from all the wards and local governments.

In the second leg of his argument, Diri contended that INEC couldn’t show the court ruling setting aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, which the APC claims to have and therefore should not have been seen in the collation room or even on the ballot.

“The subsisting court judgment was two and at the time of conducting the election, APC was not by the law on the ballot. We contested the election not with the APC but with other political parties. With the results that INEC has released which should not comprise the APC candidate in that election, the PDP led in those results.

“We urgently call on the INEC to declare me and the PDP as the winners of that election. I am the winner of that election and I am the governor-elect” he said.

He added that “the rule of law is under threat in this democracy, anarchy is looming in this democracy; democracy is being raped. For us, the election on that day, especially what came out was a charade.

“To stop that process would have been that the PDP would have run into a war with state actors, those who have the instrument of coercion. What we witnessed was not a competition between PDP and APC but one between soldiers and the PDP. “We have not lost our election. The onus is on them. We should be celebrating because victory is ours whether today or tomorrow, INEC will announce us, winners,” he asserted.

But not so fast for either the PDP, which has urged members to clink glasses in readiness for victory or the APC which is already in an ecstatic mood since the party’s declaration in the early hours of Monday.

For many observers, it’s still a long road ahead for both parties with twists and turns whose results could turn out very unpredictable. For these battles, both the APC and PDP must be fully prepared for a tough and tortuous route to victory.

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Magnifying Words and Sounds of Ake Festival The 2019 edition of the Ake Book and Art Festival, sponsored by Sterling Bank, gives essence to the written and unwritten word, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

Goodwill address by Abubakar Suleiman, CEO, Sterling Bank

Cross section of audience

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hen youths massively attend a musical or TV reality show, one can hardly be surprised.

The reason is that such a form of entertainment is the in-thing for many of them. But when you see a similar quantity of young people passionately gracing a book event, there is cause for added joy because it takes more than wit to be able to attract them to literary and academic programmes.

This is a feat that the 2019 edition of the Ake Arts and Book Festival achieved last week, when it held at the Mike Adenuga Centre/ Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi Lagos. The four-day festival, founded by writer and teacher, Lola Shoneyin, and principally sponsored by Sterling Bank, provided stakeholders an opportunity to celebrate the word and engage vital issues in the global space.

There are several pluses for the project. But the youth angle is one factor that seems to define its character. Apart from catching their attention, the Ake Arts and Book Festival is thus planting the seed of continuity for the literary kingdom that, many fear, stands the risk of losing out to other media especially in the highly technologised epoch the world has found itself.

Impressive Opening The opening ceremony was so rich in content that it whetted the appetite for what to experience during the main events. For one, it brought together key players in the industry: hosts, sponsors, partners, writers, other artists, all of whom expressed delight and pledged further commitment to the growth of humanity.

The ceremony anchored by broadcaster and poet, Wana Udobang, featured speeches, poetry and musical performances, with the likes of Efe Paul and D’bi Young Anitafirika gracing the stage.

In her welcome address, Shoneyin, who was widely applauded for her resourcefulness and the fast pace at which the festival has grown, expressed joy that it has blossomed bigger not only in terms of content, but also the larger and diverse participants it now attracts. “This year, we have more creatives from more African countries than we have ever had,� she said.

She thanked sponsors of the festival, especially Sterling Bank, whom she saluted for being an indigenous brand that powers the project.

Shoneyin added, “I am very proud to say that the Ake Arts and Book Festival is now one of the few on the Africa continent that has an indigenous company as its main partner.

Sterling Bank has taken the step of partnering the Ake Festival for the foreseeable future.

This partnership gives me so much hope. I sincerely hope more players in the private sector develop and promote creativity and the arts on the continent. “We are immensely grateful to Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre for sharing their new and stunning premises with us. Working with Charles and Maurice

“People treat art as if it is what we do when we have done everything else or in some way what we do when everything else has failed.

But I disagree with them. I think and I’m truly convinced that everything we know about ourselves and our history is the work of the creative specialists. Everything we understand is understood in context and that context is the work of our creative people. “Take away the context and the story changes completely. Last year, I spoke a little bit about how the greatest storytellers in the world were able to give us the Bible and the Quran because those who told the stories told such compelling stories that, centuries later, our everyday life is being determined by the stories they presented. Stories are still a reason for people to go to war today, the reason for people to give up their wealth. They are still the reason for people to do other important things. So, truly, storytelling is much more than what we do when we have done anything else. “As we sit here tonight, let's understand this: we are not writing stories just to entertain people. We are writing stories that will lead to peace or war, lead to poverty or prosperity. The stories we write today will form the foundation for everything that the rest of us will do. So, I beg you all, even as we hold ourselves accountable, let us create stories that will inspire Africa to the highest height that it can be.�

Book section

Ochai Ogaba, an artist to make Ake Festival 2019 happen here has been an absolute pleasure.�

The Director of the French Cultural Centre noted that the festival was the first major event to hold at the inspiringly built Mike Adenuga Centre, which flaunts facilities that many participants described as fantastic. Apart from normal office spaces, the centre boasts conference halls, theatres and other impressive arenas. Other notable members of the international community in the country – the Canadian High Commission, US Embassy, British Council etc. – all rallied round the organisers.

Then the time came for the sponsors, Sterling Bank, to state the essence of its involvement.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman, felt very much at home among the creatives

and expressed the bank’s readiness to further invest in the development of art and culture.

Suleiman noted that the bank was committed to partnering Shoneyin because it appreciated the roles the sector played, saying such were larger than entertainment.

He said, “It is interesting to see Lola stand here and tell the entire gathering that she is grateful for our support. We did have a commitment with Lola when we started. We said we wanted to have a long-term partnership and we sat with her and listened to what she had done and what she still wanted to do. But the truth is that we might not have known all she thought as far as the project is concerned, but we just know where she wants to go, and we want to be on that journey.

Book Chats, Piercing Engagements, Celebration of the Departed While films such as ‘Tony Morrison’ and ‘Malika’ were screened, art exhibitions, music concerts, poetry readings and performances as well as panel discussions that straddled all areas of arts and life were held during the festival.

There were book chats with many writers – including Jumoke Verissimo (bordering on her new novel, ‘A Small Silence’), Abdourahman Waiberei, Leila Abuolela, Yolande Mukargasana, Wayetu Moore ad Bernadine Evaristo.

Among the issues thrashed at panel discussions are Demystifying Colours, Historical Fiction for Today’s Africa; The Making of a Graphic Novel, the Long of the Short Story and Looking Back on Four Hundred Years of Slavery.

Writer and critic, Molara Wood gave a preview of the ‘Ake Review’, saying the panel received as many as 500 submissions. On the other hand, while Sterling Bank, which created a mini village within the venue, organised a promo for participants, Vlisco announced winners of an award it is powering as part of the festival.

During the special tribute session, media executive and writer, Toni Kan; and seasoned artist, Victor Ehikamenor, saluted some creative souls who recently passed on, including Pius Adesanmi, Oyebade Dosunmu and Binyavanga Wainaina.

No Escape from ‘Things Fall Apart’ The festival, which was also attended by

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FEATURES other industry leaders such as ‘The News’ co-Publisher, Mr Kunle Ajibade, and winner of the 2019 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Jude Idada, found the edition auspicious to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Chinua Achebe’s classic, ‘Things Fall Apart’.

At one of the sessions, award-winning writers, including Helon Habila and Chika Unigwe, interrogated the iconic book especially from the perspective of latter-generation writers. Nnamdi Ehirim was also on the panel moderated by Wale Lawal.

Habila recalled that, being a science student, he did not have the opportunity to study ‘Things Fall Apart’ in secondary school. But when he eventually had the opportunity to read it, he did not miss the classical status it represents.

The programme, indeed, gave Habila an opportunity to reveal a role Achebe played in his evolution as a writer and scholar abroad.

The former journalist with ‘The Vanguard’ noted that shortly after he published his first awardwinning novel, he received an international phone call that surprisingly happened to be Achebe’s. The legendary writer had informed him that he would be the first Achebe Fellow, an offer that he (Habila) could not resist. “He is the reason I’m working in America today. On getting to the US based on his invitation, I hanged out with him. He was a great man with a great soul.�

According to Habila, it is very rare to find a book that defines a whole generation – as ‘Things Fall’ apart does. “The book came at a time we had Pan Africanism and nationalism. Then it became an anthem. It is very hard to find a book that practicalises the politics of that time. ‘Things Fall Apart’ also solves the question of what language to use to write. Achebe did that.

What we have in the publication, is it African English? Is it Igbo English? Achebe demonstrated how you can manage the two traditions in a way that shows they need not be in conflict.

They can co-exist,� he said.

But Habila said he did not want to adopt the Achebe model as a writer, though yet confessed he could not escape it totally.

He added, “I didn’t want to write a book set in a village with people talking in proverbs.

I wanted a non-linear model. But when I was writing my second book, I had to go back to the Achebe model because you cannot escape it. I then chose to be in dialogue with it.�

Ehirim also said he read the book through friends when he was in secondary school. But, according to him, he initially didn’t see how it was incredibly different from works of the likes of Emecheta and, say, Elechi Amadi. “Then I read other things around it,� he added. “That was when it began to unfold better. One thing we should bear in mind is that Achebe, Soyinka, Okigbo etc. are products of a generation’s thinking, not an individual opinion. My generation is not necessarily trying to rewrite ‘Things Fall Apart’ because the time and process of its creation are different. But it is important to note that the novel did a lot in breaking stereotypes. It made all Africans proud.�

Unigwe, author of ‘On Black Sisters Street’ and a winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, recalled that, growing up in a middle-class home, she had access to books that are, however, from the West. But, along the line, she got the opportunity to read ‘Things Fall Apart’, which, she said, made her realise that Africa existed before colonisation.

Her impression is also that the novel has continued to be iconic because it is a good book. She said, “No matter what you write about, if it is not a good book, it will not stand the test to time. ‘Things Fall Apart’ came in 1958 and tore colonisation apart. It was published in the West; so, Achebe was just being radical. For instance, Tutuola did not question the idea of the colony. But Achebe did so when it was critical.�

The Women are Here Another interesting session paraded two women who have succeeded in their careers. These are acclaimed broadcaster and film producer, Mo Abudu, and Kano-based technopreneur, Amal Hassan. Both held the audience spell bound as they relayed their experiences, marching in a forest dominated by men. The session tagged ‘The Changing Face of Corporate Africa’ was moderated by Shoneyin.

Abudu and Hassan urged all present, especially young ladies, to be ready to dare, to stay focused with their dreams but be prepared

Sterling Village Arena

Masai face painting

Lola Shoneyin with guests to make sacrifices without compromising their integrity.

They warned them that entrepreneurship is not a child’s play. As a woman, there are points they have to relate to their employees with motherly tenderness; but when they need to be firm and enforce the rules, they should do so and never look back. Indeed, Abudu conceded that it was a result of such inevitable tendencies that some called her a slave driver.

According to her, she cannot tolerate idleness around her. She said she always took the lead at work, so that no one had any excuse to be lackadaisical.

Hassan, founder of Outsource Global, now have about 800 people working with her. She noted that there were few women leading businesses in northern Nigeria as a result of some added challenges. “We women have to work several times harder�, she added.

Based on her experience in being able to balance the home with work, however, she noted that she always encouraged her female employees to get married and have children.

A question arose over how the women

handle possible antics from men who may demand sex before giving them business. Both of them said the antidote to that was to be diligent and firm.

Abudu said, “You must be culturally aware at all times. If I need to be on my knees to get what I want, I do, but this is not to the point of compromising your womanhood. You get approached for sex. We are in a situation people ask all sorts of things. You have to be strong. Look that person in the face and tell him you are not for that. “Some say ‘she slept her way through’.

Sometimes, other women say that because that is the only thing they know how to do.

If you think I slept my way to get a project that is worth millions of dollars, then I must be really good at it,� she enthused and won bountiful applause from the audience.

With Yoruba, no Language is Supreme Shoneyin and her team also appealed to cultural development by holding a session on the challenges, development and survival of Yoruba language. At the programme anchored

by researcher and writer, Kola Tubosun, who is also a son of veteran Yoruba poet, Latubosun Oladapo, actress and broadcaster, Feyikemi Niyi-Olayinka, joined Yoruba language scholars – Professor Femi Taiwo and Arinpe Adejumo – to examine historical and socio-political factors militating against the development of the language.

The incisive session titled ‘Yoruba: Linguistic Vehicle or Value System?’ permeated the pioneering efforts of Bishop Ajayi Crowther who translated the Bible into Yoruba, the historical roles played by the likes of D.O. Fagunwa, J. F. Odunjo and Adebayo Faleti’s contemporaries such as Akinwumi Isola and Oladejo Okediji as well as what obtains now.

It explored the puzzle that defines the present in terms of the quantity and quality of books being written in Yoruba and the syndrome that has relegated the language in many homes and other places.

While Taiwo, an authority in African philosophy and author of award winning ‘How Colonialism Preempted Modernity in Africa’, believes that the role Ajayi Crowther played in the development of Yoruba has not been given adequate recognition.

Taiwo identified the different levels of Yoruba language obtainable, including the everyday usage, the language of the initiated (Yoruba awo) and the literary/imaginative Yoruba, which he called Yoruba Ero. He recalled the role Samuel Ajayi Crowther played not only in translating the Bible into Yoruba, but also in ensuring, amid colonial pressure, to protect the integrity of some elements of the language and culture even in the Christian book. “We only salute him as a slave who became a bishop. We don’t look at other things he did,� Taiwo noted.

Adejumo, a former Head of the department of Linguistics, University of Ibadan, and author of ‘Afago Keyin Aparo’, a play, assured the gathering that a good number of writers are still pushing out Yoruba books. She, however, noted that the book industry was a tripartite structure in which each pillar should play its own role.

She identified writers, publishers and readers/ buyers as the three pillars. Unfortunately, she said, buyers were not playing their roles, thus forcing publishers, who are businessmen, to look elsewhere.

Adejumo commended the organisers of the Ake Arts and Book Festival for giving Yoruba language the space to breathe on its list of concerns. “It is because they realise that Yoruba is worthy of being discussed and that no language is supreme to others,� she said.

Niyi-Olayinka, who inspiringly played the role of Asake in, ‘O Le Ku’, a film that Tunde Kelani adapted from Akinwumi Ishola’s book with the same title, recalled how ‘Owuro Lawa’, a programme she co-anchors on Lagos Television, started 15 years ago. According to her, the perception of many stakeholders about Yoruba programmes can be so frustrating that the first TV station to which she and her partners took the proposal looked down on it and said it would not work. She, however, expressed the fulfilment that the programme that runs Monday to Friday has continued to wax stronger.

Niyi-Olayinka challenged parents to ensure that they speak Yoruba to their children and expose them to culture and tradition.

While also commending the festival organisers and sponsors, Niyi-Olayinka explained that the crisis facing Yoruba language were reinforced by society, parents, religious bodies and schools, all of which did not give enough encouragement to the study and use of the language especially by children. She thus urged all stakeholders to rise to the challenge of propagating the language.

She said, “Religious organisations are also guilty. What language do we use to preach?

What language do we use to pray at home?

How many of us parents have Bibeli Mimo at home?�

In all, the experts canvassed measures that will strengthen all the aspects of the language.

They want schools to allow the indigenous languages flow alongside English. “They want government and other institutions to strengthen the policy that will ensure its development. And for students, especially those seeking admission into universities, they enjoined them to embrace Yoruba too as, according to them, it is as functional as any other discipline.

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

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Quick Takes Veritas Kapital Appoints New Executives

POWER CONFERENCE

L-R: Regional Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Debmalya Banerjee; Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. AbhayThakur, and Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, at the Future Energy Nigeria conference and exhibition, held in Lagos‌recently ETOPUKUTT

HowNPA’s AmendedSafety RegulationExposedOMSLimited Eromosele Abiodun A committee report has revealed that the amendment of the British Admiralty Chart 1381 by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was instrumental in nailing the Secured Anchorage Area (SAA) being operated on behalf of the Navy by OMS Limited.

This followed a revelation that the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) had published the SAA in its admiralty chart No.1381 of Lagos Ports, indicating that the anchorage being operated by the NPA was ill-equipped, thereby giving an impression that it was not secured. This, then forced the NPA to amend the British Admiralty Chart 1381.

The development was contained in a document in response to a petition presented before the

MARITIME National Assembly by a group named Association of Professionals for Safety in Shipping in Nigeria (APOSSIN) over NPA’s position on the SAA exclusively obtained by THISDAY. The UKHO claims according to the document, was contrary to the assessment of the same facility by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which commended NPA for the standard of facilities and security at the location.

According to the document, “Sequel to investigation conducted, NPA found out that the said SAA was authorised

by NIMASA who published a Marine Notice on the existence of the SAA as an Additional Security Service Facilities for the provision of dedicated 24/7

watch to vessels seeking extra protection while at the anchorage offshore Lagos. Furthermore, the Authority found that the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the UKHO published the SAA in its Admiralty chart No.1381 of Lagos Ports Limits & Approaches dated 10th March 2011. “The authority also observed that some false information in the charts indicated that the Anchorage being operated by the Authority is was ill-equipped, thereby giving an impression that it is not secured. This is contrary to the assessment of the same facility by the IMO, which commended NPA for the standard of facilities and security at the location. “It is pertinent to state that without prejudice to the powers of the Nigeria Navy, delineation of an anchorage area is the responsibility of the NPA. In

addition, publication of Notices to Mariners on vessels calling at the Nigerian Ports as regard the port limits and approaches is the responsibility of NPA and not NIMASA. “It is in the light of the above observations, coupled with high cost for vessels coming to Nigeria arising from the exorbitant charges being collected by the OMSL that the NPA vide its letters reference dated 24th October 2017 and 25th October 2016 respectively sought the intervention of the Honorable Minister of Transportation to dismantle the facility.�

Responding to issues raised

by APOSSIN in its petition, the NPA in the document said it did not in any way interfere with the functions of the Nigerian Navy. “The mandate of the Nigerian Continued on page 24

Investment Advisers Seek Complementary Policies to Support Economic Growth Judith Obaze Investment and portfolio management experts in the country have called on the federal government to always provide complementary policies that will in improve ease of doing business and lead to economic growth.

The President, of the Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers (IAPM), Mr. Abimbola Olashore, stated this recently, at the official signing ceremony of a memorandum

ECONOMY of understanding (MoU), with Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), United Kingdom (UK). “Government policies should be targeted at creating employment and providing complementary policies that would allow businesses to survive. This would reduce the impact of some government hash policies that do not recognise the high cost of doing

business, infrastructural deficit and unemployment rate in the country,� he said.

On the MoU, he said it was part of an effort of the association to further instill and entrench professionalism into the practice within the industry. “By this partnership, IAPM will be able to serve as an Accredited Training Partner (ATP) for all the stages of the CISI in addition to having exclusive ATP for the CISI’s chartered wealth management, the pinnacle wealth management

qualification offered by CISI. It is therefore, a perfect partnership of two institutions from different geographical location and market experiences with similar mission and focus to promote common interest in providing quality professional knowledge/ qualifications of international standard to Nigeria financial market operators,� he explained.

He said the IAMP was committed to protecting investments Continued on page 24

The board of Veritas Kapital Assurance has announced the appointmentofKennethEgbaranandWoleOnasanyaastheManaging Director and Executive Director Finance and Investment of the company, respectively.

The ďŹ rm disclosed that Egbaran is an insurance practitioner with over 30 years’ experiences in reinsurance, underwriting and broking before his appointment as the Managing Director ofVeritas Kapital Assurance.

Veritas, in a statement made available to THISDAY, stated that “he started his career as a Senior Superintendent with Nigeria Reinsurance Company before joining A&G where he rose to the position of Marketing Director. “Egbaran is bringing his wealth of experiences in the various sectors of the insurance industry to bear in Veritas Kapital Assurance as the Managing Director as he has worked with Afribank Insurance Brokers, Crusader Insurance Plc now Custodian Insurance Plc and was the Managing Director of Mainstream Global Insurance Brokers Limited.�

Meanwhile, the statement further explained: “Wole Onasanya is an insurance strategy and ďŹ nance executive with over two decades experienceacquiredinNigeriaandUnitedStatesininsuranceproduct developmentandpricing;corporatetransactionexecution;insurance strategy development and implementation; and strategic planning. “Onasanya joins Veritas Kapital Assurance as Executive Director Finance and Investment. He previously worked as a Director at the New York oďŹƒce of American International Group (AIG) and as an investment banker with Credit Suisse in New York where he closed several corporate transactions.â€?

Afreximbank Lists BeneďŹ ts of ERG

Egypt’sdecisiontoestablishanexportriskguarantee(ERG)company will give a major boost to the country’s role as a critical hub for intraAfrican trade and allow it to be a key driver in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah has said.

Welcoming the announcement that the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) had approved the establishment of an Export Credit Risk Guarantee company with a capital of $600 million, Oramah said the company would make it possible for Egypt to take advantage of the many promising opportunities for trade between it and other African countries.

He said that the company would greatly compliment Afreximbank’s service oerings promoting Egypt-Africa trade by creating more capacity, noting that the Bank had provided an aggregate of about $7.5 billion in support of Egypt-Africa trade and contract ďŹ nancing in the past few years. “Afreximbank will share risks with the Export Credit Risk Guarantee company and will fund projects covered by the company where necessary,â€? stated the President, who went on to congratulate CBE Governor Tarek Amer and the CBE Board for their initiative in setting up the company.

Plaqad Signs Bbnaija’s Omashola

Plaqad.comhassignedex-BBNaijacontestant,OmasholaKolaOburoh toitstalentprogram. Withthisnewdevelopment,Omasholabecomes the ďŹ rst-ever talent signed to the newly-launched Plaqad Talent Programme (PTP). According to the promoters of the platform, this partnership aords Plaqad a non-exclusive agency representation of Omashola. Plaqad will represent Omashola and negotiate brand collaboration opportunities with prospective brands and clients in Nigeria and generally co-ordinate all client bookings on his behalf. The promoters indicated that Plaqad leverages its strong understanding of social media and the social habits of Nigerians to create new opportunities for brands and talent collaborations. “For us, this partnership with Omashola is yet another opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to helping talents grow and succeed while ensuring that our partner brands better connect with their target audience and win in the market,â€? the statement stated.

“Now that we are actually integrating Africa to have a continental free trade area, what kind of banking and financial system do we really need to be able to move this economy, which is the largest in Africa? The question is what should be the next level for the banking sector?�

Former CBN Governor,,

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo

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HOW NPA’S AMENDED SAFETY REGULATION EXPOSED OMS LIMITED Navy according to law is to provide security in Nigeria’s Territorial Waters (including the Economic Exclusive Zone).

The Authority submits that the Anchorage is an integral part of a seaport and that by virtue of its enabling law; the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, it is the responsibility of the Authority to chat, designate, own, operate and manage Ports Anchorage Areas except where such responsibility is entrusted to a third party in accordance with Section 9 of the Ports Act. “It is pertinent to state that the Secure Anchorage Area lies within the Lagos Pilotage District of the NPA as entrenched in the Ports Act and as declared by the Honourable Minister of Transportation.

The authority did not transfer that responsibility to the Nigerian Navy nor to the Private Security Outfit concerned-OMSL, “it stated.

The document read in parts, “The authority reiterates that the Secured Anchorage Area falls within its Lagos Pilotage District. The authority submits further that even if the security of the nation’s maritime domain statutorily vested on the NigeINVESTMENT ADVISERS SEEK COMPLEMENTARY POLICIES TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH by equipping its members and the investment community with requisite knowledge and discipline to provide professional and sound investment advisory to organisation. According to him, upping the ethical standard of IAMP members would prevent unwholesome conducts and practices by other service providers and ensure that services provided by portfolio managers are devoid of conflicts and abuse.

Commenting on the partnership, the representative of the CISI, Mr. Praneet Shivaprasad, said it affords both associations the opportunity to grow the industry in the country. “Today’s signing provides us the opportunity to deepen financial literacy as a fundamental skill set and to aggregate set of professionals in the industry and open the opportunity of advocacy for the role of investment advisers,� he noted.

FoodSecurity:DonUrgesFGtoPrioritiseAgricResearch Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The federal government has been advised to give priority attention to research by providing resources for functional laboratories equipped with modern technologies.

This, is expected to aid advanced research on agricultural production for sustainable food security.

A lecturer with Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Olawale Mashood Aliyu, stated this while delivering the sixth inaugural lecture of the institution.

The title of the inaugural lecture was: “Decoding the Secret of Life: Plant, Sex and Sustainable Food Production.�

Aliyu, a professor of Molecular Genetics and Plant Breeding said the government should upgrade existing genetic facilities in universities around the country to the status of centres of excellence on genomic research.

He also advocated for the strengthening of the capacity of Nigerian scientists to embark on genetic engineering of major food crops in addition to the conventional system being used, by putting in place monitoring mechanisms to prevent the influx of genetically modified crops into the country because of its effects on biodiversity of plants and animal resources.

Aliyu explained: “If this is done, the county will be prepared ahead of the potential increase of the number of human beings from 7.7 to 10 billion by 2050 and to meet the world food demand which is predicted to increase by 80 percent.�

He also canvassed for urgent review of training curriculum in

plant breeding and genetics for the nation’s students in Nigeria universities to reflect current realities.

He noted that, “Ph.D training in genetics and plant breeding should include at least six months mandatory placement and government funded in advance plant genomic laboratories to

build capacity our future breeding practitioners and make them relevant competitive in the global scientific community.�

Aliyu, also said there was urgent need for professors of genetics and practising breeders to develop teaching materials that would facilitate learning and comprehension of the subject.

He, therefore said that government through the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria(CRIN) should establish polyclonal seed gardens as sources of improved planting materials for future cashew establishment and farmers should also embark on rejuvenation of old moribund cashew with improved materials.

TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

L-R: President ULDA, Engr. Olawumi Gasper; Chief Client Engagement Officer, Sterling Bank, Moronfolu Fasinro; Founder/CEO iCreate Africa, Bright Jaja; Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank, Dapo Martins, and Managing Director, Trace Anglophone West Africa, Sam Onyemelukwe, at the iCreate press conference, held in Lagos‌recently

‘Kwara Will Change Narrative on Ease of Doing Business’ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin Piqued by the ranking of the Kwara State in the North central zone of the country as the lowest state in terms of Ease of Doing Business, the state Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has pledged to implement reforms that would change the narrative.

He said the ranking was not unacceptable, stressing that steps were already being taken to make business transactions a lot easier and faster for attract investors.

Abdulrasaq stated this in Ilorin, at the North Central regional engagement on Ease of Doing Business which was organised by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Kwara State Government.

The event was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Secretary to the Kwara State Government,

Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Aminu Adisa Logun; Kwara Commissioner-designates; PEBEC Enabling Business Environment Secretariat Project Manager, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi; representatives of federal government agencies; several small and medium-sized enterprises; and regulatory bodies from across the region.

AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, said that, “various concrete steps are already being taken to make business transactions a lot easier and faster to attract investors.�

The governor expressed dismay at a World Bank report in 2018, which had ranked Kwara 30th out of 37 states, including the FCT — and the lowest in the North Central — in the ease of doing business. “On the national average, according to the report, Kwara ranked the lowest among its peers in the North Central. In

terms of starting a business, Kwara ranked 7th out of the seven states sampled in the zone, including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). “In dealing with construction permit, we ranked fourth out of seven; in registering of properties, Kwara ranked sixth out of seven; and in terms of enforcing contract, Kwara ranked seventh out of the seven states/places,�

AbdulRazaq said.

He stressed that, “This was the stark reality of our state — and it only confirmed our position that this state was practically run aground, notwithstanding the propaganda. “We have decided to put these figures in perspective not necessarily to brood over the past but to challenge ourselves on the need to do things differently as we get set to rewrite the story of our state. “Our officials are to note that this narrative must change going forward. Kwara must reclaim its glory!�

He added, however, that many steps were already being taken by his administration to turn the page, citing the ongoing reforms at the Kwara State Internal Revenue Services (KW-IRS) and the efforts to run e-governance which have begun with the strictly online administration of students’ bursary and upcoming take off of e-learning from the Kwara State Library. “Apart from security and peaceful environment which we enjoy, this administration believes that human capital and infrastructural development constitute important incentives for any investor as they contribute to significantly reducing transactional costs. “To this extent, our first budget in 2020 will focus more on basic education, healthcare, and road network, among other things. We are also irrevocably committed to building strong institutions to drive growth�.

Abdulrasaq stated further

that, “Kwara means business and our target is to make our state one of Nigeria’s friendliest in the ease of doing business.

We are seriously working on e-governance whereby you can be anywhere in the world and transact business with the government or anybody in Kwara State. “As we speak, the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) is in the process of rearranging of our processes such that tax assessment, payment, printing of receipts for tax payment down to processing of tax clearance certificate can be initiated real time and completed online. Another upcoming reform is the harmonisation of bills and structured payment of tax/revenue obligations.�

Also, in her remark, Oduwole said PEBEC had done a lot within the last three years to ease the business environment in Nigeria, with the country moving many inches up the ladder in global ranking.

Access Bank Assures Customers of Support Group Business Editor

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John Shiklam in Kaduna Access Bank Plc has assured its customers of continuous support to grow their businesses.

Speaking while welcoming participants to the Access Business Community Forum which held in Kaduna recently, Mr. Kelechi Opurum, a branch manager of the bank, said there are lots of products by the bank aimed at supporting businesses.

He said following its business combination deal with the defunct Diamond Bank, Access Bank has emerged as the biggest and the most efficient bank in Nigeria. “We support your businesses, we have lots of packages, we

have experts to talk to you on how to grow your businesses. “Access Bank, you know we are the biggest bank in Nigeria in terms of our balance sheet, and more efficient to serve you better,� he said.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the forum, the Regional Sales Manager of the bank, Mrs. Kubirat Amode-Ode, said the idea behind the Business Community Forum was aimed at bringing customers of the bank together to share business experiences and synergise.

According to her, “the forum is open to everybody, but the idea is for our customers to get together and get to know each

and the businesses they do. “It is just a kind of networking arrangements so that you can market, people can get to know products. It is an advertising opportunities to market your products and services. “We have offerings for our Small and Medium Enterprise Costumers (SME), we have a lot of programmes to bring to our customers. Every quota, there is always an event to bring customers together�.

In a presentation at the event, the Executive Officer (CEO), Korporate Karpenters, Kaduna, Mr. Kolawole Adebari, outlined strategies for successful business management and growth.

These according to him, included the ability to manage cash flow, managing people employed to work, setting priorities, managing growth and self-management among others.

He said Nigerian entrepreneurs were faced with many challenges, noting that it could be quiet depressing if one depends on what government was doing or not doing.

He said: “As an entrepreneur, if you focus on what government is doing and what government is not doing, it could be quiet depressing, but that is why you are an entrepreneur. “You must be dogged, you must be able to fight your way

through challenges. “It could be a lot better done to improve the business environment�.

He appealed to those in leadership positions do away with self interest and work for the interest of the generality of Nigerians. “I am sure this country could be a lot better if everybody do away with self interest and think of what will be beneficial to the generality of Nigerians� he said.

Speaking further in an interview, Adebari, called on governments at all levels to carry the private sector along in taking decisions that may have impact on businesses.

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Mining: Adegbite Charges NGSA on Capacity Building Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, has tasked the management of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) to focus on developing capacity in order to attain the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Certification so as to generate revenue for the nation.

The minister said this during his familiarisation tour of the agency in Abuja. He stressed the need to train competent staff and develop gem stone laboratories that would enable the country certify the genuineness of precious stones locally, instead of out-sourcing and

referencing other countries.

The Minister, in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press, noted that the establishment of the certification gemstone laboratories would generate revenue for the country.

According to him, the certification and repair of faulty equipment locally would not only save money for the country, but would also generate revenue.

The minister urged the management and staff of the agency to have the interest of Nigeria at heart in the discharge of their duties.

Adegbite, during the visit unveiled the Geological Map, Commissioned the Museum/

Customer service as well as inspected the Earthquake Monitoring Command and Control Centre.

Similarly, the Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, in his remarks, tasked the leadership of the agency to make Nigeria the mining hub of Africa, noting that the ministry would support and collaborate with the NGSA to achieve its mandate.

Earlier, the Director General of the NGSA, Dr. Abdulrazak Garba, said the agency was delivering on its mandate of wealth creation, saying it had produced geological data of precious metals and maps of the country’s mineral resources to attract foreign investors.

Firm Optimistic about Nigeria’s Economic Growth Peter Uzoho The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Hantec Global Limited, a multinational financial and capital market trading group Mr. Yu Lap Tang, has stated that Nigeria’s economy is currently on the path to positive growth especially with the exchange rate stability.

He described Nigerians as hardworking and people hungry to invest in several productive ventures to increase their earnings, saying that was the right model for any economy eager for growth.

Tang, stated this in Lagos, recently, during a seminar organised by the company to sensitise its existing and intending clients in Nigeria on the importance and principles of currency trading and to also create more awareness about its brand in the country.

He said: “I see the fastest growing economy in Nigeria compared to many of the countries I have been to. Not only the economy, I see people hungry to invest their money and hungry to earn money. “I don’t see Nigerian people

as being lazy or relaxed. I see Nigerians ready to do several other things to grow their income.

So I actually see that as the right model for a growing economy.

Nigeria’s currency is stable now compared to where it was four years ago. So that’s the sign of a growing economy�.

He said the US-China trade war impacted the global economy, noting that in the currency market, the US dollar has been very strong since President Trump broke the issue of trade sanction with China. ‘’I think overall, it is going to be a good thing if the trade pact can be arranged between China and the US, and I believe it will be and it will be good for the global economy’’, he noted.

The founder who also disclosed that the group’s clientele in Nigeria runs in thousands, added: ‘’We regularly hold seminars to educate people, to show them that if you’re going to invest money then you must first learn what the product is, learn how to trade, learn what the risks are, and if you follow set principles of trading you can be very successful.’’

On his part, the Managing Director, Hantec Africa Limited, Mr. Mike Fowope, stressed the need for people to embrace currency trading to boost their income.

He said Hantec empowers people freely through seminars and special training programmes in addition to startup funds to encourage them trade. ‘’We impact the same type of knowledge that has made us successful over the course of the years. If you learn it well, you will make money, and it is something anybody can do regardless of age, educational background to add to your income. “Anywhere we go to teach people, sensitise people, give people information on how to trade, we empower them by giving them startup capital to trade with. ‘’We advise people that regardless of what you’re doing they can trade. I tell people that rather than chatting your life away on your phone, turn your phone to what I call “Dollar Dispensing Device (3D)’’, Fowope said.

FarmHouse,Youth Empowerment TV Show Launched Peter Uzoho FarmHouse, a 90-day youth empowerment reality TV show, aimed at luring teeming unemployed Nigerian youth into agriculture for their economic empowerment, has been launched.

Specifically, the show unveiled in Lagos, recently, by its promoters intends to create employment for over 460,000 youths across the country, contribute N60 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and transform and develop various rural communities in Nigeria.

According to organisers, the programme would also lead to the cultivation of over 300,000 hectares of land across the country involving various crops and livestock, within the next five

years, even as it would promote the wealth creation potential and opportunities amongst Nigerian youths.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Creator/Co-promoter of FarmHouse and Chief Executive Officer of Glomesan World Entertainment Company, Gloria Sambo, explained that the concept was to bring selected unemployed and interested under-employed graduate participants (house mates) from all over the country and camp them in an integrated farm for 90 days.

According to her, “applicants from across the country will register online to participate in the Farmhouse Reality TV Show.

All registered applicants will go through an audition process that will take place across some cities in Nigeria from where successful

applicants will be selected. “Selected applicants will then enter the integrated farm where they will be camped for 90 days for training and exposure in various areas of agriculture including food and cash crops as well as animal husbandry and aquaculture. “Qualified applicants will equally be exposed to the various government incentives and funding programmes for agriculture in Nigeria. “Exposure to modern agricultural techniques and technologies will be carried out by reputable institutions and organisations. “Other areas such as writing business plans and feasibility studies for agriculture investment will be imparted on the participants.

ELEVATING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Marie-Therese Phido

The Way You Make Me Feel I have a sister-in-law who flies by Qatar Airways irrespective of where she is going to in the world despite the fact that its hub is in the Middle East. She has no problem tacking on the additional seven to eight hours to her trip that would normally take six hours on a direct flight to Europe because of how the airline makes her feel.

She says “they treat me like a queen and meet all my needs�.

Maya Angelou said “people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel�.

My sister-in-law feels so good that she is now a walking agency for the airline. She has converted the whole family to traveling on the airline and those of us yet to use them are planning to, same with her friends.

My sister-in-law is well travelled and has used many of the best airlines globally but swears by her preferred airline.

The question is, how do we make our customers and clients feel? Do they want to come back again and again?

Do they tell other people about the great experience they enjoyed using our services or products? I always tell my clients that customer experience is everything, difficult to copy and replicate. It takes you away from the pack and cannot be commoditized.

It is clear that power has moved to the hands of the consumers. Organizations focusing on traditional means of selling and marketing their products are falling short and shooting themselves in the foot. Organisations need to start branding their customer touch points. What makes your customer touch points exceptional?

I went to a bank recently and found the experience from the gate to the Executive’s office I had a meeting with exceptional. It felt like I was in a “five star� hotel.

The ambience was conducive, the receptionist was courteous and treated me with kindness and respect, the security personnel was impeccable and effective. I felt good, like royalty

It is clear that power has moved to the hands of the consumers.

Organizations focusing on traditional means of selling and marketing their products are falling short and shooting themselves in the foot.

Organisations need to start branding their customer touch points

and was compelled to send a mail to the CEO commending the positive and pleasant quality of customer service I experienced. However, I wonder how I will feel if I interact with the other channels of the bank (deposit services, internet, etc). Will it be as pleasant?

The Gartner group says, “89 per cent of businesses expect to compete on customer experience in 2016 and the number 1 challenge to overcome for leaders working on customer experience is to create a customer first culture�. “In the course of my work in professional services, when discussing the need for reviewing customer experience, the above requirement to create a customer first culture was daunting to most executives. This is because, they know that changing their organizations and making it customer experience focused would be very painful in the short term because it will require process changes across the organization, and change is one of the most difficult to achieve.

But, it is clear that customer experience has never been more important to businesses for the following reasons: r 0SHBOJTBUJPOT UIBU EP OPU IBWF a culture of focusing on customers and their changing needs may be left behind. “Only those that develop a customer centric culture will remain relevant�. r $VTUPNFS FYQFSJFODF JT XIBU will show differentiation in this era of commoditization. Service and product organizations are all almost doing the same thing, where the only differentiating factor will be how you make your customers feel. r "DDPSEJOH UP %BWJE 4USPN customer experience will help organizations reduce at-risk revenue by recovering potentially lost customers, engage existing customers as a sustainable engine for growth, reduce the cost of new customer acquisition, engage employees – reduce staff turnover and cost of hiring as well as reduce the cost of customer and employee feedback infrastructure.

To stand out from the pack and competition, organisations need to start challenging and boldly reviewing customer touch points from the gate to the Boardroom and everywhere in between.

To ensure that they either remain at the top or ascend to the top tier headship in their industry. Leadership needs to constantly ask the question “how do we make our customers feel and what changes can we make, if not positive�? Answers to this question, must then be rigorously implemented for continued relevance, because the Customer is King.

Marie-Therese Phido is a Sales & Mareting Strategist and Business Coach Email:mphido@elevato.com.ng Tweeter handle@osat2012 Tel: 08090158156 (text only)

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Taking Advantage of Bear Market Goddy Egene writes that investors should use the opportunity of low stock prices to increase their stakes in the capital market It is less than two months to the end of 2019 and the Nigerian equities market is on its way to recording another yearly decline. The market had last year depreciated by over 17.8 per cent due political risks, oil price volatility and rising global yields among other factors.

Obviously, the market is heading for another decline and has so far declined by 15. 1 per cent as reflected by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) as at last Monday. While the NSE ASI has declined 15.1 per cent, some other sectoral indicators have recorded worse decline.

For instance, the NSE Main Board Index is down by over 24 per cent, the NSE 30 Index has dipped by 21 per cent, while NSE Consumer Goods Index has depreciated by 34.8 per cent. The NSE Oil & Gas Index is also down by about 23.5 per cent. Similarly, the NSE Corporate Government Index and NSE Pension Index have shed 18 and 16.3 per cent respectively. The persistent downtrend in the market is highly discouraging to many investors who have decided to adopt a waitand-see attitude.

However, rather than be discouraged by the bear run, market experts said investors should take advantage of the low prices of stocks occasioned by continuous decline in prices.

They added that instead of exiting the market as a result of the bearish trend, there are strategies to adopt and await its eventual recovery. Also, in the stock market, money can be made or lost during bullish and bearish period.

One of the strategies investors can use in a bear market is called defensive, which entails investing in larger companies with strong balance sheets and good operational history. Investing in stocks of such companies is seen as defensive because it is believed that larger companies are more stable and tend to be less affected by an overall down in the economy.

Such companies include those service the needs of businesses and consumers, such as food businesses because people still eat even when the economy experiencing a downturn.

Also, another strategy is to buy more of the stocks now that their prices are cheaper so to average out your cost of investment. For instance, if you bought a stock at N10 some months back and it declines to N6 per cent, you would be losing 40 per cent if you sell. On the other hand, it is advisable to increase your investment at the new price is as to reduce your investment cost and eventually record some gains when the market bounces back.

Most stocks that reward shareholders with dividend and have posted improved nine months’ results have their prices very low.

For example, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, which reported improved performance and are known for regular dividend payment, are trading at discounts compared to the value at which the opened for the year. Zenith Bank Plc and UBA are trading about 26 per cent below their year’s opening price. FBN Holdings Plc is 33 per cent lower that its opening price, while GTBank Plc is 24 per cent cheaper than year’s opening value.

In the same vein, Nestle Nigeria Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc have declined 17.2 per cent and 41 per cent year-to-date. Dangote Cement Plc and Seplat Petroleum Product Development Company Plc have shed 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

Realising that the depreciation in the prices of stocks is a very good entry opportunity, the Chairman of Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria(ASHON), Chief Patrick Ezeagu, said investors should not miss the entry opportunity provided by the low valuations in the market.

He said despite the fact that some of the companies have strong fundamentals, their prices continued to decline, noting that state of the market mirrors the larger economy of every nation.

He said that trend analysis of corporate

earnings in recent times and the current nine months results indicate that many companies across sectors have posted higher earnings with good returns, noting that these results have not significantly reflected in the upward movement of their share prices. “Very attractive valuations exist in the market right now. What investors need to do is to seek the full advice of securities dealers, the stockbrokers for sound professional advice, and each investor will receive peculiar advice based on the outcome of profiling and take advantage of low prices,� he said.

He explained that most people selling their shares right now are speculators and not real investors. “Every stock market needs speculators for liquidity but they can change investment decision in one second. Our stock market is forward looking. Investors need not be nervous. They should consult professional stockbrokers for sound investment decision.

There is no basis for panic sale of shares.

Many companies have announced strong financial performance with prospects of increased future earnings,� he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of Network Capital Limited, Mr. Oluropo Dada, said the market, more than ever before, presents an overwhelming buy opportunity for all categories of investors in the face of the attractive valuations and CBN’s policy banning local corporates and individuals from participating in its open market operations (OMO) auctions. “The market fundamentals, despite the persistent illiquidity is still very strong and prices of quoted securities can only go up , which will be triggered by both arbitrage income and dividend income. Based on the third quarter results being released by the quoted companies, especially the banks,

the market is where be to now,� Dada said.

Similarly, a market analyst, Mr. Ambrose Omordion of Invest Data Limited,said that discerning investors should latch onto the attractive valuation as a way of averaging down and recouping their investment immediately a recovery stage sets.

According to him, they expect the losing momentum to diminish, as the market reacts to seemingly impressive Q3 numbers released so far and in expectation of more quarterly earnings reports ahead of month-end portfolio alignments, especially as the NSE’s new lows offer investors opportunities to position for short and medium-to-long-term views.

He said: “Given that earnings and economic news can change trend at any time, keep your gaze on fundamentally sound and dividend-paying stocks for possible capital appreciation as Q3 numbers giving insight into companies’ position and future expectations. “Also, traders and investors need to change their trading strategies due to the review of the NSE’s pricing methodology, now that all class of equities need uniform 100,000 units to effect any price changes. This may be part of efforts to mitigate the persistent price decline that has seen many stocks trading at between their five and ten-year lows and even more, in recent times.�

One of the reasons discerning investors should enter the market now is the positive impact the CBN’s policy will have on the market and boost its recovery.

According to Michael Nwakalor of CardinalStone Partners Limited, Michael Nwakalor said: “There is real hope this could be good for equities. We should see a lot of corporate heavyweights gain in coming weeks as pension funds look for high-yielding investment.�

Omordion said hopes are high that the CBN unconventional monetary policy move that seeks to stimulate the economy, by ensuring liquidity is available to the real sector, is expected to result in the cost of funds reduction soon to the nation’s productivity sector. “This would eventually support the stock market, improving the performance of listed companies, driving prices. It would eventually enhance liquidity in the stock market, given the restriction on classes of those who can invest in the CBN’s OMO and Treasury Bills,� he said.

Some market analysts had said the market would continue to witness some level of gains in the short-term. For instance, analysts at Greenwich Trust Limited said: “Despite sell-offs witnessed in the banking space, the positive sentiment on counters in the Consumer, and Industrial goods sector pulled the market to a positive close. Although, we observe investors are locking in positions on fundamentally sound stocks, we do not rule out pockets of profit taking, this we expect would characterise trading activities in the coming week.�

Also speaking, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited said:�In our view, the performance this week is a reaction to a limited outlet for investments given recent policy directives limiting domestic participation in the market.

We expect that the market might continue to benefit over the short-term especially in the face of lower yields in the fixed income market.�

On their part, analysts at Afrinvest West Africa Limited said: “We expect to see gains in fundamentally sound stocks as investors’ sentiment towards the equities market improves.

Nonetheless, we maintain that this might be short-lived as economic buffers are still absent.�

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Egube: Lagos Has Capacity for Higher Revenue Generation The Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Samuel Egube, in this interview, says the state government will deploy technology to ensure that more persons and firms pay tax. He also says the government will support revenue generating ministries, department and agencies in the state to generate more revenue for infrastructure development. Obinna Chima brings the excerpts: What is the state of Lagos State ďŹ nances in terms of debt service to revenue and total debt today, also in terms of infrastructure you plan to spend N115 billion in 2020, do you think the state ďŹ nances can support more borrowing?

Of course, money always is a very important matter, which was why I said that the 2020 budget would be driven by our capacity to generate revenue. So, if you look at your past and you want to use your past to go forward, sometimes it doesn’t just work. If you fail very well in school, and you want a better future, you cannot say I want to draw a trend from my failure in school to determine how my future will be. So, what we decided to do was to say what is the tax collection potential of Lagos?

And there are many ways to do this, and one of the ways is to say okay listen, there is a relationship between your tax revenue and your GDP. So you then look at countries that are like you, because if we say we are one of the largest economies in Africa, then you need to look at that. So, if you take Ghana for example, you will see that they do 15 per cent of their GDP in taxes, if you take Egypt, they do about 15 per cent, South Africa is probably around 20 per cent. But if you take Nigeria, we are at just six per cent and Lagos has only 1.06 per cent tax to GDP ratio. So, what that means conceptually is that Lagos today, should be able to do, if it wants to be like Ghana, 15 times what it is collecting today in taxes. Of course, there are arguments to say, yes, but Lagos is not a national. Corporate income taxes go to the federal government and all of that. How do we adjust for that? Divide it into two, because at the end of the day everything that happens in the corporate ends in the individual and then it goes back with the flow. So divide it into two, and maybe you can do six times what you are doing now. So if you do that, then we probably should be collecting taxes in trillions and I am talking of high trillions. So how do we intend to move that? One of the things I said earlier was that if you want to collect taxes correctly, you cannot mix out in the commanding height of your economy because taxes come from business activities. Even though we say we are over 20 million people in Lagos, the amount of people and organisations actually paying taxes in Lagos is only about 400,000.

So, when people say Lagos has a lot of money, it is true, but when you look at it per capita, that is, compared with the over 20 million we have in Lagos, then there is nothing. We want people to see taxation as their contribution to the development of the state. So, there would be a lot of advocacy around that. We shall build schemes to support taxpayers in the state. When you look at a state or a country, it is the way you are organised that helps you run. The difference between a developing and developed environment is in their organisation and you cannot say you have access the potential of your revenue if you are not controlling the commanding height of that economy in taxation So, if you think a little bit deeply, what taxes do transporters pay? I am talking of formal taxes now, whether as individuals or as businesses.

The entire transport business is largely in the grey market and we have thousands of them.

Fourteen million people are moving every day in Lagos. I was in a forum with David Cameron, the former British Prime Minister, and I asked him, ‘if you were to advise Nigeria, what will you advise Nigeria?’ And he said well, he is not an expert in advising on Nigerian affairs, but one of the things he can say is that governance is about two things. We thought he was going to come out with some profound idea, and he said governance is about the rule of law and taxes. And that means the way we moderate the behaviour of people using taxes. Shortly after that I travelled to the UK and I was angry coming back, because I looked at the roads in UK, they were narrow, patched. And I said why are they ahead of us? Then I remembered what he said - taxes and rule of law. Because I found out that I could not throw a piece of paper out

Egube of the window. I found out that if I beat the traffic light I will be caught somehow, and I will not only be caught, I will be designated as a risky driver, there will be point against my license to make my insurance go up. So it is just the rule of law and taxes.

But there are several unregulated agencies collecting illegal levies in the state and even if you look at the motorbike hailing services companies in the state which was meant to encourage SMEs and innovation, these illegal revenue collection agencies are also frustrating them. What is the state doing to address this?

It is a challenge, but this is something that is deep in our culture. What we need to do again is to organise and put systems in place that prevents such behaviour. We can come out and say no more unregistered people, we didn’t register them in the first place and people have within the system become their own governors or local government operators. We even hear there is a receipt called governor’s receipt, which is unknown to us. How do we want to do it? Like I said, what we will begin to see is more organisation. We will register people that are required, we would digitalise the taxes that will be paid. There are various solutions which we are interrogating, so that when you pay, you have it in your system. When they tell you pay this, you can show them the only taxes that the government says you should pay and that weakens them. But sometimes these people’s strength doesn’t come only from your compliant, it comes from actually criminality.

In addition to that, of course citizens are going

to be empowered also to complain. We have a citizen’s engagement special adviser as well, that is going to focus on citizen’s engagement and we are going to figure out ways of taking out people who break the laws. It is just clear that there is a problem here and they are not acting on behalf of the government, the monies they collect are not going back to any government, whether it is local government and so it is just thuggery. But you also need to be able to empower the people because sometimes the people pay because they really don’t know what they should pay for and what they shouldn’t pay for. And sometimes they also need support from enforcement agencies. Which is why I said some of the decision are going to be tough. So, there are different types of programmes which we are going to introduce in the 2020 budget. Developing human capacity to drive productivity is very important. And the way we see it, human capacity is going to be developed from education, health and environment. No matter how you see it, there are people in the society that are vulnerable, so we need to support them. We also need to connect the education we have to the industry. Typically, when there are gaps in government, what I will call pseudo or unauthorised government tend to arise. So, we are going to be strong and definitive as to all of that. In terms of supporting SMEs, it is about the Ease of Doing business. Yes, we like Opay, we like all of those kind of businesses, we like them in their uniform and the fact that they stop when the traffic light opens. But it is not only the motorbike hailing companies that face that challenge, small businesses face it, transporters face it as well. So it is going to be holistic in the way we really want to engage

it. We will not allow that to thrive, again it will come by way of registration, by way of organisation. I think where we are going, if we do allow some of these things to move on, then they must be registered and the operating standard or the modus of oparandi must be clear. We are working on that and soon there will be more definitive statement.

What are you doing to give infrastructure in the state a facelift and is Apapa still part of Lagos state?

The pressure which Lagos state goes through in infrastructure and the systems, are pressure that come from operations of entities and usage of our system. Now, we just discussed corporate taxes, and the corporate taxes doesn’t come to Lagos. And we say Lagos generate about 70 per cent of the businesses and transactions in the country. We run a federation where what you get sometimes is unconnected with what you produce. And so when that situation arises it creates a challenge and it stretches resources to its limits. So, when you take Apapa for example, you have what I call a three-system-overlapping operation. So you have a local government in Apapa, you have a state government and a federal government. So, when you see a port that was built about 50 years ago and under the federal government. So, when you asked if Apapa in Lagos state, I can firmly answer that Apapa is in Nigeria. What that means is we all need to figure out how to solve the problems that have all of those layers I mentioned earlier.

So, when the people suffer, actually the people that suffers are Nigerians who live in Lagos and in certain local government area.

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Vrolijk: Why Insurance Firms Need Higher Capital Mr. Coenraad Vrolijk, is the Regional Chief Executive Officer, Allianz Africa. In this interview, he speaks he speaks about the performance of the Nigerian subsidiary as well as steps taken to meet the new capital requirement. Ebere Nwoji brings the excerpts: How can you assess the performance of the company and how are you working towards meeting the new capital requirement?

I think we are growing and I am looking at everything in Euro terms and at the end of the day, everything is translated to other currencies.

As a group, we report in Euro.

We will continue to grow in Africa at about 11 per cent which is very good and we are happy with that because it is probably one of the highest growth regions in the world.

We are active in about 13 countries in Africa. We will continue to look for expansion opportunities.

We will continue to expand in countries we are interested in. Nigeria is not very big for us, but definitely one of the biggest potential countries here with 200 million people and the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Nigeria and South Africa are the two biggest economies in the continent.

So it is very important to us as a result we have continued to spend on our investment here.

In our board meeting, we saw that we have employed about 19 staff in the last three months which is reflecting in the growth of the company.

In terms of agents, when we started Allianz in Nigeria, we had about 70 agents. the number that I saw today is 800 to 900 agents. The exact number keeps changing by day because people keep coming and going. We tried to build 1000 sales people selling Allianz insurance products.

So, that will give you a sense of how serious we are. We want to build a franchise here.

Can you tell us how Allianz is going about the industry recapitalisation?

I just want to reiterate and confirm that Allianz will obviously make sure that Allianz in Nigeria conforms to local regulation. We will conform to the regulator’s N18 billion recapitalisation mark for composite companies. The plan is that Allianz will add the money. We don’t want the shareholders. We have 99.6 percent ownership of Allianz in Nigeria. We will add the money I think we will be somewhere over N18 billion.

As you know, these things depend on exchange rate. We will add the money before the account closes for 2019.

It is important to be open everywhere. We have been around for 129 years. We are present in 70 countries. There is no single country that we are not known, that includes Nigeria. I know there is so much noise in the market about increase in capital among insurance companies.

Other insurance companies in the country have their own way of doing their increase in capital. From Allianz perspective, we will just add up the capital. In the SEMA zone which is more of French speaking countries, there has been increase in capital from 1billion CFA France to 3 billion CFA France and I know in two years time, it will go up to 5 billion CFA France. In Ghana, which is your next door neighbour, they are also talking about increase in minimum capital requirement. We will fulfill those minimum capital requirements.

There is similar conversation in Kenya, but wherever we are, we always conform to local regulation including Nigeria. So, I don’t know why anybody will doubt us.

So I wish to reiterate that as Allianz, we are 100 percent committed to Allianz Nigeria and Nigerian market and we are going to put money to ensure we meet the requirement. So from Allianz perspective, capitalisation is not a big story.

Since after the launch of Allianz brand in Nigeria, will you say you are happy investing in Nigeria?

We are not private equity investors, we are not investing to get our money back in three years time. We are investing because we are staying here. Over time, there is economic profit that comes out of this. We are not investing for immediate return but that is not to say that we don’t run our business for profit, we run our businesses very much for profit, recognising that in a country like Nigeria, 100 per cent of their profit will be retained locally and stays in the balance sheet. The growth rate here doesn’t justify repatriating any dividend. Once you start

Vrolijk moving into a risk-based capital environment, then typically your capital increases as the size of the company increase. So obviously when you are in a very high growth market like Nigeria, then you need to keep pumping capital in to stay conformed with the minimum solvency requirement.

People are expecting that big companies like Allianz will consider acquiring other companies that may not be able to make it, are you looking at that strategy?

The answer is no. We are here, we bought a company here and we are very happy with our team here and we will continue to invest in our company. Our purpose is not to consolidate the market in Nigeria, the difference between a developed market like Germany and the Netherlands and a growth market like Nigeria, Brazil or Vietaem, is that in a developed market, yes there is very little

We will continue to look for expansion opportunities. We will continue to expand in countries we are interested in. Nigeria is not very big for us, but deďŹ nitely one of the biggest potential countries here with 200 million people and the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

growth, the growth is one per cent so the only way you can go is to consolidate. But here in Nigeria, we are growing on the net premium basis. We are growing at 30, 40 to 50 per cent.

So, why should we acquire a company? There is no logic to buying when you are growing that fast. So, now our intention is to grow the business to turn around capital requirements, it is not logical to buy into those companies, it is not a strategy in the country like Nigeria for now. Maybe, in 20 years time, it will be a strategy but now? No. We will just grow.

A good example of the strategy in Nigeria is Egypt. In Egypt, 20 years ago, we started with a very small operation and we have grown to be one of the market leaders, we are the top three market players and we do about $200 million of premium per year in the Egyptian market, which is a good size and we are happy with that. Our ambition here with Allianz Nigeria is the same, it is to grow from where we are today to be a market leader. But this doesn’t happen in one year time Maybe it will happen in five or 10 years’ time, but it will be driven by those running the business. Owolabi and his team’s efforts to grow our agents from 70 to 1000 agents selling Allianz products will help to achieve that.

What is your current capital and how much are you expected to add?

I think we are somewhere around N10 billion today and we will grow to N18 billion as a composite company. The question that often pose challenge to many insurance chief executives in lieu of the new capital they are looking for is this, ‘you as a composite company, when you get this N18 billion capital, what will you do with it? I mean are you going to put it in your vault and be looking at it? You are not a bank, so how do you hope to utilise such a huge capital in other words what I am asking is, is there market for this huge capital? The

simple answer is that you have to invest it locally in different ways. Suppose we have 100 assets in Nigeria. Of that 100 assets, between 80 and 90 per cent of it will be sitting in term deposits, government bonds or things like that.

The difference between insurance and banks is, in insurance, unlike banks, people pay you premium upfront, then you hold on to it, and then they make a claim later and then you pay out when they make claims. So insurance companies are always on long term cash, banks are always on short term cash. Banks start with capital, lend out the money and then make a spread on how much they charge people who deposit and if a bank doesn’t have enough deposits, it goes to central bank for external borrowing and then goes out to lend. Insurance companies always go on long term cash. People pay premium upfront and you have to get enough capital, invest it wisely because you don’t know when the claims will come.

In other words, are you saying the new capital requirement is necessary for the industry?

If you are asking the question, why has NAICOM made it N18 billion? I don’t know the exact science behind the N18 billion, N15 billion or N20billion, but there’s a correlation to the risk that you can retain. So, if you have N18 billion on your balance sheet and supposing you are insuring a big building in Aguda and that building is worth N10billion, obviously the sum insured is N10 billion and somebody paid you N100 million premium depending on the rate, this is an illustration. So, all you have on your balance sheet is N100 million and it gets burnt, it means you should pay him N10 billion so that is why you need the capital. You need that capital for that big risk and you need reinsurance for that too as an indication that you will end up retaining a certain percentage of your capital on any risk.

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BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

The Beginning: An Unlikely Vision Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve Napoleon Hill, The Author of Think and Grow Rich) I Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve Napoleon Hill, The Author of Think and Grow Rich) I started the Nestoil story from this quote

by Napoleon Hill, because ours is a story of impossibility made possible by refusing to let go of a vision even when it seemed that the reality, as at the time of birthing the Nestoil vision, did not fit the grand nature of what it is today.

I recall our humble beginning from a oneroom office at Idumagbo, at a time you could count the number of indigenous businesses offering services in the upstream sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry. We had a vision to grow a value chain linkage across the Oil and Gas industry starting with Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning services. We started at a time when the Industry was dominated by international service companies who had experience, technical know-how and access to funds which could not be matched by indigenous startups like us. Ours was indeed an audacious vision without corporate muscle, track record or financial wherewithal, yet we chose to believe in that vision, and not only believe in the vision but to fight for that vision and to bring it to pass!

Celebrating a Milestone Today is a historic day in the life of Nestoil, our flagship brand and the forerunner of the many other brands in what we now know as the Nestoil Group. What you are witnessing today may seem like the unveiling of a mere logo. Ladies and gentlemen, it is much deeper than that. Today carries a lot more significance for me and for the entire Nestoil family. There are a number of celebrations entwined into this singular event.

First it is the celebration of focus, deter- Azudialu-Obiejesi mination and vision over despair. As I sat in the audience and watched video after of performance and raising the bar of local video showcasing the sheer capacity and content in our industry, we cannot forget impact of the companies under the Nestoil our humble beginning. umbrella, I could not help but reminisce on For the bankers, I thank you for believhow it all began 28 years ago when at no. ing in us then and believing in us now.

17 Idumagbo Avenue, I took the audacious For without funding, how far could we step to incorporate Nestoil Limited. In those have travelled with international service days, local content was a mere imagination companies who had the backing of their and indigenous companies who dared to head-offices and the financial institutions? play in the Oil and Gas industry were at the Yet you chose to take a gamble on the then behest of multinational IOCs. This was the small business that chose to swim in a big situation in 1991 when we dared to dream ocean. I am happy that gamble paid off! that one day, Nestoil would be the face of That is why today’s celebration is as much local content in the Oil and Gas industry. yours as it is ours. Thanks for believing in With all sense of humility, I am proud to us; we hasten to state that we shall not let stand before you and proclaim that indeed you down. It is not yet Uhuru. We are not we have fulfilled that dream. Truly we are there yet but with your support, we have the face of local content in the Oil and Gas no doubt that we shall get there. industry. We have footprints in Dredging, We would also like to acknowledge Marine Logistics, Industrial Fabrication, the contribution of the Nigerian governEngineering Design, Civil and Maintenance ment to our success. Enabling legislation Engineering, Dry Docking and Exploration such as the Local Content Act and other and Production. We are active players in related policies have supported a number the downstream, midstream and Upstream. of indigenous players including Nestoil.

Our services span across the entire value chain of the Oil and Gas industry. This is the true reason for today’s celebration. While we celebrate the unmistakable, ‘never say die’ Nestoil spirit, we cannot but acknowledge the role a number of you played in seeing us to this day.

We must thank the Almighty God, without whom we would not even be here, let alone celebrate anything. Our story is that of divine intervention, protection and grace. We remain eternally grateful to God. We specially appreciate the International Oil Companies who gave us an opportunity to work with them and prove our mettle at a time when they were not compelled to work with us as there was no Local Content Law in those days, yet they went beyond the bounds of sentiments and moral suasion to deal with this young local player whose only claim to fame was the proverbial ‘can-do’ spirit. We are glad we did not disappoint you. Even as we today work with the best of the IOCs, hybrid players and other local players in the industry, showing a track-record

The oil and gas industry is one with a number of dynamics. There are different catalysts that orchestrate the disruptions in the industry – some we already know; some we are yet to know.

However, one thing is clear – it is only companies that are well positioned for inevitable change that will continue to survive

Indeed, government institutions, such as the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), NNPC and the DPR, have engendered the spirit of positive consideration for competent local manpower, equipment and expertise.

For our partners, customers and business stakeholders, we appreciate the business you give us and your continued belief in our ability to deliver exceptional value.

Twenty-eight years ago, the Nestoil brand was born, not so much out of necessity but more as a grand vision that saw the need for Africans and indeed Nigerians to play a leading role in the oil and gas ecosystem.

So while a lot of others saw this as a tall vision and a pipe dream, we saw an Africa arising from years of dependence on the rest of the world for Engineering and Technology solutions, to one that is able to harness and prudently manage her God-given resources using proprietary solutions made by Africans for the world. That was the vision that compelled the birth of Nestoil, that is the vision that still leads our way into the future.

The Search for the Next Frontier – The Journey of a Restless Spirit Today, we have a respectable presence in the industry from our 59-hectare industrial park in the Niger-delta with over 3000 staff mostly made up of Nigerians. I make bold to say that it has not been easy. No good thing ever came out of the place of comfort. You always have to fight for what you believe in.

This is one example for our young ones who are daily being serenaded by the destructive ‘get rich quick’ syndrome which pushes them into all forms of shady businesses.

I must say to you today that the only wealth that endures is the one that is painstakingly built. I have been variously accused of being a front to so many persons. The only difference in my case is that I am yet to meet those I am said to be fronting for. Indeed, success has many detractors, but my advice to young men and women here is to please keep your eyes on the ball.

Of course, again, some say that there can be no great feat without a godfather, and that

to make great wealth or business happen, you must be fronting for one big elephant in the form of a politician or even government.

Again, this is another wrong notion. This is not our story. You have seen our story for yourselves today. We remain a responsible brand working in tandem with the government and our host communities. Our vision remains to continue to be a private sector value creator for Nigeria and for posterity.

So, our advice is that it is time we begin to think, not just of today but of tomorrow.

So, after 28 years of evolution, of successes and sometimes failures; after so many years of tentative steps and steady steps; we believe it is time to reposition for the challenges that lie ahead.

The oil and gas industry is one with a number of dynamics. There are different catalysts that orchestrate the disruptions in the industry – some we already know; some we are yet to know. However, one thing is clear – it is only companies that are well positioned for inevitable change that will continue to survive.

What you are about to witness today is the unveil of a new and refreshing brand identity that replicates the dynamism that is inherent in our corporate persona. Today’s exercise is symbolic in many ways. As we unveil a new identity, we are making a fresh commitment to exceed the expectations of stakeholders at all times.

Today’s unveil of a new corporate identity comes with new vigour to continually deliver exceptional value to you, our most revered stakeholders. Without you, there is no Nestoil.

We therefore commit to you today that even as we have delivered value in the past, we shall deliver even more value onwards.

Thank you for staying the course with us. We look forward to an exciting time of mutually beneficial partnership for the good of the Oil and Gas industry and indeed for our great country, Nigeria.

Being excerpts of the speech delivered by Dr. Azudialu-Obiejesi, Group Managing Director of Nestoil Group, at the rebranding dinner of the company held in Lagos last Thursday.

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Securing Your Future through Trusts Nume Ekeghe writes on the benefits of Trust as a means of safeguarding one’s future The concept of Trust dates back to the 11th century during the crusade between Western Asia and Europe. When people went to war, they were not sure of their return, it then became crucial for crusaders to apply necessary measures in ensuring their properties are properly dispensed in the likelihood that they do not return.

The measures involved appointing friends, who will be in charge of the estate and its distribution. In its modern-day form, trusts involve situations whereby individuals control or plan the distribution of their property or estate either in their life time or after their deaths.

A trust is created by an individual when he executes a written Declaration of Trust directing one person or more persons (sometimes this can be a corporate trust company) called a trustee(s) to hold property or assets in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the trust instrument for the benefit or one or more persons or a section of the general public, called the ‘beneficiaries’ or cestui que trust, who are the equitable owners of the property or assets, while the legal interest is vested in the trustee.

Trusts may also be created in favour of those advancing moneys for specific purposes and other varying purposes. These may be in respect of customers’ deposits, loans generally or to insolvent companies or companies in liquidation, money for payment of sub-contractors, moneys advanced to borrowers from which they are to pay third party creditors.

This practice is however common but not limited to insolvency cases. Creating trusts in favour of creditors can take many forms. It is important to note that to create a trust of money requires no formality of writing and there is no need to use the word ‘trust’.

However, it is imperative that specific agreement or memorandum be put in place for this, in order to ensure certainty of intention to create a trust.

In Nigeria, as in most jurisdictions, the law of trusts is governed by statutes and case law.

The trustee is charged with the management of the trust property and holding the same according to the instructions of the settlor in the trust instrument.

It is however possible for a person to be both the trustee and the beneficiary in a trust. The written Declaration of Trust usually names the first trustees while it specifies the position for

the appointment of successive trustees and contains the terms of the trust.

These terms set out the powers and duties of trustees and the benefits accruing to the beneficiaries. Other ways of creating a trust are through the exercise of power of appointment, transfer of trust either during someone’s lifetime or in someone’s Will, by contract and statute.

The Trust Industry in Nigeria although not in its infancy still remains untapped while requiring a lot of restructuring and development.

There are about 26 recognised corporate trustees organisations in Nigeria with products that cover private trust and institutional trust. These organisations - one of which is PAC Trustees Limited, a subsidiary of PanAfrican Capital Holdings Limited and established in 2006 - are built on the back of integrity as required by any individual looking to partner a Trustee.

Their activities are largely regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure adherence to stipulated costing and

execution of Trusts. The capacity in the industry is evolving and the Association of Corporate Trustees has been organising trainings and awareness schemes to build the interest of young people in the industry.

Typically, in Nigeria’s trust industry, there are some major challenges which have been there. In the area of public awareness, many people don’t know what Trust industry is all about and interestingly, this is one of the major areas that can be used to drive the Nigerian economy.

Trust helps in preserving family assets, or increasing them. An individual may wish to ensure that wealth accumulated over a lifetime is not divided up amongst the heirs, but is retained as one fund to accumulate further, with provision for payments to members of the family as the need arises while preserving some assets for later generations. A lot of assets have depreciated over a period of time because people did not plan. Avoiding wealth depreciation

and waste can be achieved through a trust.

Trusts can also be one of the most effective ways of protecting assets. In simple terms, assets transferred to a trust no longer form part of the settler’s property, so the trust assets cannot be seized if a Settler gets into financial difficulties. Except under certain circumstances where the transfer into trust may be set aside and a court may order the trust assets to be transferred back to the settler.

A trust also provides a vehicle by which a person can provide for those who may be unable to manage their own affairs such as infant children, the aged, the disabled or persons suffering from illness. One key advantage of a Trust is that it provides confidentiality and privacy.

Above all, the goal of a Trustee should be, “To preserve and increase the wealth of esteemed clientele through bespoke Trust services,� as clearly stated in the PAC Trustees Mission.

Tackling Flooding in Lagos Peter Uzoho In recent times, flooding has become a major cause for concern to Lagos residents. At every downpour, large number of the state’s over 20 million population are thrown into horrible situations. They either have their houses and business outlets submerged by water or, in extreme cases, people lose their life to drowning. The casualty index is in indeed alarming.

In 2018, over 30 persons were reported to have lost their lives due to flooding which occurred during heavy rains.

Among them was a female chartered accountant living at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, in Alimosho, who was declared missing but was later found dead in a manhole filled with water.

Experts have attributed the rising flood menace in Lagos to the blockage of drainage systems by refuse indiscriminately dropped in the gullies.

Some also say the situation is however not helped by the insufficient number of canals in the state that will help in pushing the water into the ocean.

There have been calls for the Lagos State government and corporate organisations to intervene to save the state from such calamity.

However, in responding to such calls, Mikano International Limited embarked on a research to ascertain the true cause of the flood and came up with a proposal which it believed would help solve the problem in a long term.

According to the research report, water level rose up in many locations in the state.

The report said: ‘’In the past few weeks, we observed a serious raise up in the water level in

the Lagos Lagoon, in many locations the water level has raised up by more than one meter. “We inspected for the past days several spots on the Lagos Lagoon, some spots raised up by 60- 70 cm (in Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikoyi) and some others raised up to 1.5m (in Agaga), Eko Atlantic ‘This matter is putting all lands around the lagoon at risk of flood which can seriously affect the communities especially in the areas where the level of ground is either below or at the sea water level. ‘’Geographical study of the areas has been done where the Lagos Lagoon is passing, and

it was discovered that other canals can be opened to help the Lagoon flowing into the sea and therefore reduce as much as possible its water level.’’ To solve the problem, the company proposed building two canal, one in Ojo and another one near the Snake Island ‘’Proposed Canal in Ojo Area: this proposed spot may be suitable to open a canal of 180m width by 120m length to the ocean. Approximate excavation would be around 130,000 m3 and concrete retaining walls can be built on the boundaries of the canal to create a safe structure. ‘’Proposed Canal near the end of Snake Island.

This proposed spot may be suitable to open a canal of 165m width by 300 m length to the ocean. Approximate excavation would be around 300,000 m3 and concrete retaining walls can be built on the boundaries of the canal to create a safe structure,’’ the report added.

However, throwing more light on the flood situation in Lagos and the need for action, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Mikano, Mr. Mofid Karameh, said: ‘’The water level now is above two metres, next year, it would be four metres and by that time, we cannot do anything about it. ‘’Look at Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, you will see that almost all the houses beside the highway are already submerged and people are dying in the flood. “Last year, 50 people died, the year before 30 people died. This year, 30 people have died so far. You know, most of the victims don’t know how to swim.

They built their houses along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway. “When the water came, it rose to about three metres above the sea level. About 50,000 to 60,000 residents there are now without homes. “It is unfortunate that we have a country, and the country is now sinking. When you wake up and you wake up when the water level is above all Lagos State. Then it would be too late’’.

According to Karameh, channeling the water into the ocean would cost government next to nothing. Just two bulldozers can do it in two days, maybe N400 million to N500 million to drain the swamp and put concrete slabs by the sides and the water level will stop going up. And the flooding will cease, Lagos will get relief.�

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Iraboh: Investors Now More Conscious of their Financial Health The Head of FBNQuest Wealth Management, Debbie Iraboh, in this interview speaks on the need to embrace wealth management initiatives so as to be prepared for unexpected circumstances and to save for rainy days. Hamid Ayodeji brings the excerpts: offer these services to some associations of Nigerian professionals abroad to enable individuals meet their life time investment goals. On a wider level, the bank is very supportive of the CBN in its financial literacy drive across the nation, going to areas that are not our target market as a Merchant Bank to perform financial enlightenment exercises. The market information provided by FBNQuest research team has been positively impactful on both individuals and companies. In addition, there are radio and newspaper financial enlightenment series provided by some FBNQuest entities (for example, the FBNQuest Trustees Legacy Series radio show). We leverage every engagement we have with our clients to add value, and provide a holistic view of happenings in the local and global financial markets.

Can you give us a background to wealth management and why this is an ideal investment solution for high net worth individuals to grow and maximise wealth?

Wealth management is the consultative process of providing advisory financial services and solutions which includes financial planning, to ultra-high net worth and high net worth clients. It is not a one size fits all service, so we have to understand the investment needs and life-time financial goals of our clients to enable us provide the appropriate services and solutions. The primary objective of the Wealth Management division of FBNQuest Merchant Bank is to provide the holistic approach that ultra-high net worth and high net worth clients and their families are increasingly looking for by helping them sustain, grow, manage, and transfer their wealth across generations.

What are some of the wealth management solutions available within FBNQuest Merchant Bank and how long has the Wealth Management division of FBNQuest Merchant Bank been in operations?

FBNQuest Merchant Bank was borne out of the 100 per cent acquisition of Kakawa Discount House Ltd by FBN Holdings Plc, and Kakawa’s subsequent merger with FBN Capital Limited.

As such, the Wealth Management division dates back to over 25 years, from the inception of both institutions whose businesses were merged to become FBNQuest Merchant Bank.

The bank leveraged the combined strengths of both institutions, to offer bespoke Wealth Management financial services and solutions to meet the investment needs and life time financial goals of clients. The experience gained from serving our clients over the years has enriched our understanding of their need for preservation, growth, and transfer of their wealth to future generations. We are client-driven in our approach, so we create the atmosphere and flexibility that makes it easy for our clients to enjoy their wealth anywhere in the world, in an efficient and cost- effective manner.

To enable us achieve this, we work very assiduously with our team of in-house experts to bring our clients Wealth Management financial services & solutions anchored on the pillars of Private Banking, Transactional Banking, Fiduciary Services, and Extended Services. Our Private Banking solution provides clients the opportunity to maximize the yield on their investments through our FBN Premium Deposits which is a fixed term investment at competitive and fixed yield, and tenor. Our FBN Easy Retirement Package was designed to help clients meet their needs for estate planning, and protect their loved ones from unwanted third parties’ access to their wealth upon the client’s demise. We also offer Cash Management services through our Liquidity Management Service account, and provide opportunities for investments in Government Securities (i.e.

Treasury Bills and Bonds).

Through our Transactional Banking services and solutions, we process Domestic and International Payments for invisible trades e.g. Medical & School Fees on behalf of our clients.

We provide opportunities for foreign currency investments in Eurobonds – Sovereign & Corporate, Domiciliary accounts, and Fixed Deposits, and Commercial Papers issued by highly rated companies. Furthermore, we leverage our Corporate Banking business to meet the short-term financing needs of the businesses and corporate entities of our UHNW and HNW clients when required.

We offer our Fiduciary Services and solutions through our Trustee business, which provides the platform for Private Trusts and Estate Planning services to meet the needs of our clients. We leverage the strengths of our subsidiaries, FBNQuest Asset Management and FBNQuest Securities to provide Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Portfolio Management, Mutual Funds, and Equities Brokerage services.

We also provide Extended Services by creating

With the recent restriction of individuals and local private ďŹ rms from participation in open market operations, do you think it may inuence individuals’ wealth management plans?

The decision by any Wealth Management client to invest in any financial instrument is driven by their investment objectives, risk appetite, and life time financial goals.

FBNQuest provides a bouquet of products and services offerings both in local and foreign currencies for Wealth Management clients to invest in, and maximize their earnings. As such, in my opinion, the recent restriction on OMO by the CBN will not influence an individual’s wealth management plans.

Irahoh and providing opportunities like the Wealth Management: Customer Forum, an event where our clients can connect with, and engage experts in the Health & Wellness industry, and also through sponsorships of sporting events. We leverage every engagement we have with our clients to add value, and provide a holistic view of happenings in the local and global financial markets. I believe this was evident from the activities at our Customer Forum today.

Looking at the trend in the ďŹ nancial industry over the years, would you say a lot of people are aware of the different wealth management solutions available and the long and short term beneďŹ ts of managing wealth?

The fact remains that the changing needs of clients and demographics have the greatest impact on the development of the Wealth Management industry over time, in terms of products and service offerings. Let’s take a look at the following factors: Digitalisation has changed the Wealth Management industry, providing various platforms for Wealth Management service providers to disseminate information on their products and services. In addition to that is the fact that we are now in an era of better informed investors. Every Wealth Management or prospective Wealth Management client irrespective of age, has access to financial information through various communication channels and data sources. As such, investors have become more conscious of the state of their financial health and the investment opportunities available to them. This is opening up more people to the concept of investing, and it also makes the future of the Wealth Management industry brighter.

As a wealth management organisation in Nigeria, how are you ensuring customised solutions are provided to help investors achieve their ďŹ nancial goals?

Client Experience will determine their level of loyalty to an organization. Wealth Management clients expect unique, tailor-made services suitable to their individual investment needs and life time financial goals. They care for a trusted and experienced professional who can interpret and explain the impact of the changes in the environment, and propose strategies and solutions to enable them make informed decisions. To enable us help our clients achieve their objectives, we collaborate with our team of in-house experts to bring our clients customised Wealth Management financial services and solutions. It is not just about the products and services offered, but about the overall experience of the customer pre and post sales service. This underscores the role and importance of an individual or one-on-one approach in FBNQuest Wealth Management based on trust and long-term relationship between the Relationship Manager and the client.

What role is FBNQuest playing to ensure more Nigerians are educated on the importance of wealth management and investments?

At FBNQuest Wealth Management, we identify opportunities for, and provide Financial Advisory Services and solutions through our Retirement and Financial planning sessions and solutions to major oil and gas producing and service companies, and other major companies across the different sectors of the economy. We also

The investment banking landscape both locally and internationally is beginning to embrace innovative technologies in the provision of varying ďŹ nancial solutions. How is the wealth management business within FBNQuest maximising technology for internal operations?

The financial industry is one of the pioneers of digital transformation and digitisation. However, if you look back, things remained relatively traditional for some areas of the industry like Wealth Management and Private Banking until a few years ago. FBNQuest Wealth Management has embraced technology especially in terms of automation, digital integration, and data gathering to create personalized and dynamic end-to-end experiences for our clients, and to enhance relationship management and marketing efforts. We continually rethink and reshape our approach to how we can use technology to our advantage especially, to accommodate clients’ needs and the next generation of investors, the millennials. This is critical to providing superior customer experience and consequently, increase customer loyalty.

How do you think the Wealth management forum will help your business in the area of expertise development and value added services for your clients?

The theme of our recent Wealth Management customer forum, ‘Our Customers, Our Strength’, reflects the special place of our customers in the life of our organisation.

Our clients are experienced, knowledgeable, widely travelled and well informed investors who have distinguished themselves in their respective professions and careers, both locally and internationally. They are deeply loyal to the FBNQuest brand, and provide us constant and honest feedback.

We are honoured that they chose FBNQuest, as their Wealth Management financial services and solutions provider. All the feedback received from them at the forum today will be reviewed, analysed, and implemented appropriately for enhanced expertise and service delivery.

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IMAGES

L-R: Co-Chairman, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates; Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and President, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the Roundtable Conference on Primary Healthcare and Human Capital Development, jointly organized by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF), in Seattle, Washington.....recently

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Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ ÔËÖË Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ù×

L-R: Minister for Mines and Steel Development Arch Olamilekan Adegbite; Governor of Kaduna State,Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu, during the visit of the governor to the oďŹƒce of the honourable minister in Abuja...recently

L-R: Secretary, Photojournalists Association of Nigeria (PJAN) Lagos Chapter, Mr. Sylvester Okoruwa; Chairman, PJAN 1st National Conference Planning Committee and Photo Editor, Thisday Newspaper, Mr. Abiodun Ajala; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos Chapter, Dr. Qasim Akinreti and Photo Editor, Sun Newspapers and Chairman, Sun Newspaper NUJ Chapel, Mr. Dele Ojo, during a press brieďŹ ng on the association’s forth coming 1st National Conference held in Lagos...recently

Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite(left) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Fayemi during the 3rd edition of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development held in Ekiti State...recently

L-R Film Maker, Kunle Afolayan; Executive Director, The Initiative for Equal Rights, Xeenarh Mohammed; Executive Producer of the ďŹ lm, Funmi Iyanda, and Co-Producer of the ďŹ lm, Olumide Makanjuola at the premiere of their movie, “Walking With Shadowsâ€?, at the 2019 African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos...recently

L-R; Vice Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Eniola Mayowa; Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Olusegun McMedal; President, Africa Public Relations Association, Yomi Badejo Okusanya; and General Secretary, Lagos NIPR, Thelma Okoh at the press brieďŹ ng to unveil plans for the forthcoming 2019 Lagos PR Industry Gala and Awards (LaPRIGA), themed: PROVATION in Lagos...recently

L-R: Chief Inspector, Zenith Bank Plc, Mogbitse Atsagbede; Executive Director, Dr Temitope Fasoranti; MD/CEO, Ebenezer Onyeagwu and Executive Director, Dennis Olisa dancing, at the 14th Edition of Zenith Bank Christmas Street Lighting in Lagos...recently.

PHOTO: AKINYELE ABAYOMI

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L-R: Founder / Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, SBI Media Ltd Mr. Rotimi Bankole and CEO, Instinct Waves, Mr. Akin Naphtal,during the presentation of Media Personality Award of the Year to Bankole at the 2019 Marketing World awards organised by Instinct Waves in Accra, Ghana ..recently

L-R: Lead Research and Policy, FATE Foundation, Mrs. Amaka Nwaokolo; Managing Director, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, Dr. Olawale Anifowose;and Director, Development and Promotion, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Monday Ewans, at the press conference on the 2019 Global Entrepreneurship Week in Lagos...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps; Boboye Oyeyemi; and Deputy Corp Marshal, Kenneth Nwegbe during a courtesy visit by the FRSC team to the governor in Owerri... recently

L-R: Members, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prayer for Nations, Toronto, Majeed Ghorban; Giso Ataei; Director of Operations to Mayor of Brampton, Canada, Frances Bradshaw; Special Assistant to General Overseer on Missions, Pastor Brown Oyitso; Pastor, RCCG Toronto, Sunday Adebamiro; and Member, Mahboubeh Sabet Shakoori, during a visit to Nigeria on beneďŹ cial exchange of knowledge for Nigerian/ Canadian diaspora, at RCCG, ACME Road, Ogba, Lagos...recently

L-R: Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development , Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah; Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch Olamilekan Adegbite and Director-General, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, (NGSA.), Dr. Abdulrazaq Garba during a working visit of the Honourable minister to the agency in Abuja...recently

L-R: Head, Investment Banking, DLM Advisory Partners, Mr. Emeka Ngene; Head, Capital Markets Directorate, Secutity Exchange Plc, Ms Tumi Sekoni; Managing Director /CEO, Primero Transport Services Limited, Mr. Fola Tinubu; Head, Corporate Development Directorate, FMDQ Security Exchange Plc, Ms. Kaodi Ugoji; Team Lead Legal, DLM Advisory Partners, Mrs. Elisabet Ekpenyong and CEO, DLM Capital Group, Mr. Sonnie Ayere, during the listing ceremony of N16.5billion Series 1 Bond of Primero BRT securitization SPV Plc, organized by DLM Advisory Partners, in Lagos......recently PHOTO: KOLA OLASUPO

L-R; First Military Governor of River State, Chief. Alfred Papapreye; former Edo State Governor, Prof. Osariemen Osumbor; Keynote Speaker/Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Michael O.Bamidele; Representative of Lagos State Governor/Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos State, Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo; Former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb), Prof. Fabian Ajogwu and Member Governing Council/Vice President NICArb, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, during the NICArb 2019 Annual Conference/40th Anniversary, in Victoria Island,Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

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EDUCATION ‘Introduction of Earthquake Engineering in Curriculum will Improve Graduate Employability’ Adepelumi Abraham Adekunle is a Professor of Geophysics and Earthquake Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In this interview with Funmi Ogundare, he explained why Earthquake Engineering should be introduced into the curriculum especially for those studying Civil Engineering, Geology and Geophysics. He said the move will reduce the incessant building collapse in the country, among other benefits. Exerpts:

E

month, so the awareness is just coming up. Its a new and noble area.

arth tremor was felt in some parts of the country this year, do you think Nigeria is prepared for the occurence of earthquake?

As at today, I will say the answer is capital no, but something is in the pipeline.

Last year, there was a minor tremor or earthquake in Abuja, Maitama and Npape area for a period of three months and the federal government set up a ministerial committee which I was a member to look at the remote causes of these earthquake in Abuja environment. We had five ministers, two director generals and l were in the committee. So we were able to come up with a wholistic solution just in case an earthquake should happen in Nigeria, and what should be done. We have submitted our report, it has been accepted and some fundings of N11 billion has been proposed and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to be released for the purchase of equipment and earthquake study in Nigeria if it occurs so they can get to know and alert people. But today, we are not fully prepared because the fund has not been released and nothing has been done.

In terms of research, are you going to partner any agency to mitigate the efffect?

Apart from myself working with OAU, the federal government has eastablished the Centre for Geodesy and Geodynamics in Bauchi state. It is under the ministry of science and technology. They have the mandate for earthquake studies in Nigeria and we also have the Nigerian Geological Survey in Abuja. They also have the mandate to work together with emergency relief agencies. I am a researcher in the university and I provide information to them.

What measures did the federal government take to reduce the effects of the earth tremor recently felt in some parts of Abia State?

Though such observation calls for urgent action and concern by the local, state and federal government, representatives of OAU and agencies of the federal government; Centre for Geodynamics and Geodesy (CGG) Toro, Bauchi State, have gone to the affected areas in September and early October only to discover that it was a landslide and not earth-tremor as reported in the news. Our findings suggests that, the landslide that was erroneously reported as earth tremor, was landslide induced by flooding and excessive rain in the affected area. Unfortunately, the general public do not have proper understanding of what earth tremor really is, and what is all about.

The appropriate authority and all relevant agencies would soon be embarking on a follow up study to ascertain the remote causes and causative factors of the events, and thereafter educate the public.

Earthquake Engineering is a ďŹ eld people are yet to tap into, what do you think the government should do to attract more students?

In Nigeria, earthquake engineering is a completely new area, I didn’t get my masters and PhD in that area, I had to go and retrain in Japan, South Korea and Austria. It was a journey of six years. I found out the things that are happening, but nobody is in that area. It’s a new area

The lecture theatre of Yaba College of Technology recently witnessed vibration, what is your role in ensuring that the building does not collapse?

On October 20, the president of the Nigerian Instititute of Structural Engineers (NISE) called me that they have a problem at Yabatech, that its 500-seater lecture theatre was vibrating. As at today, I am the only one that has the seismometer and vibrometer equipment in Nigeria.

We have two sets of equipment that we brought here to monitor vibration.

One is permanent and the other one is mobile. The two equipment are used to measure the intensity and magnitude of ground vibration that is naturally and/or artificially induced. The mobile equipment is taken round the building to check the level of vibration and agitation and know whether it is stable or not, as well as know what the problem is with the foundation of the building. The other equipment is auto recording what is happening within and outside the premises . They are also used to measure earthquake and/or earth tremor. So basically I use my postgraduate students to do the work. Its part of their training. As it is, we have submitted a report to the engineer in charge of the building for onward transmission to the management of the college.

Adekunle and I am the one pioneering it. I have already written a proposal to the World Bank and UNESCO telling them I am interested in the field and they gave me the equipment. It is not in the curriculum of any Nigerian polytechnic or university.

Earthquake seismology, monitoring and

It is not in the curriculum of any Nigerian polytechnic or university. Earthquake seismology, monitoring and prediction/ forcasting and Earthquake Engineering should be introduced into the school’s curriculum especially for those studying Civil Engineering, Geology and Geophysics which is the norm all over the world. The National Universities Commission should urgently look into that in conjunction with the ministry of education and other relevant agencies

prediction/ forcasting and Earthquake Engineering should be introduced into the school’s curriculum especially for those studying Civil Engineering, Geology and Geophysics which is the norm all over the world. The National Universities Commission (NUC) should urgently look into that in conjunction with the ministry of education, other relevant agencies like Building Collapse Prevention Guide (BCPG), National Institute of Structural Engineers, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). Doing this, the employability and prospect of the Nigerian graduate would improve significantly, so also, safety of the building environment and the incessant building collapse would reduce to the barest minimum.

How equipped are your students in this ďŹ eld?

I have a laboratory jointly funded by UNESCO, World Bank and the federal government of Nigeria. I allow the undergraduate students to record data, while the masters and PhD students all have access to the seismometer and vibrometer equipment in the earthquake and space weather observatory laboratory at OAU, Ile-Ife, on a daily basis. I will be taking one of the PhD students to the US. In the last one year, I have trained five students; two PhD, one masters and two undergraduates.

It is an area that we need more people, but they are not interested. It is not a money generating field so people are looking at areas where they could easily generate money. I can’t blame them because there are only two agencies in Nigeria that are employing. If I train somebody and they cannot get a job, then there is no need going into that area. The awareness was only being created in the last one year.

There will be a national conference at the University of Ibadan on December 5 on earthquake. One was done in Abuja last

Climate change and the degradation of the world’s natural capital assets are the deďŹ ning issues of our time, what effort is your institution making in helping to curb its effects in the country?

We have a centre at OAU; Centre for Environmental and Ecological Studies which is a complete unit, it is a centre where climate change is being studied.

This centre has over 30 faculty members with three professors. For climate change studies, they have a well equipped laboratory. So also my laboratory has the space weather section where clmate change in Nigeria is being monitored. We cannot say the country is not susceptible to climate change, we are feeling it.

Nigeria has been having high measure of rainfall in recent times, but there has been fear of desert encroachment in the north, would you say this has taken care of desert encroachment?

There is an agency, Nigerian Hydrological Agency that the federal government established to look into desertification, efforts is being made to take care of the water level. In some parts of the north, the water level has risen over 10 metres, but as it is, the agency has deployed equipment along the River Benue and River Niger to monitor the water level changes in Nigeria.

How can the country effectively provide clean energy to drive the sustainable use of natural resources, protect the rainforests, and restore degraded ecosystems?

We are not fully prepared as a nation for clean energy and we are not there yet.

We talked about vision 2020, but we keep on shifting it and we have not been able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Efforts are being made, but we are not fully ready

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EDUCATION

Australian Commedian Thrills Greensprings Students with Inter-personal Games Uchechukwu Nnaike As part of his tour of Commonwealth member countries to introduce the Games Boy 18, an Australian Commedian, Sean Murphy was recently in Lagos, Nigeria and visited some schools, including the three campuses of Greensprings School.

During his performance, the students could not conceal their excitement, as he introduced some fun activities that children can engage in without the use of technology.

According to Murphy, also known as Games Boy, he created a show all about the Commonwealth cultures and languages for the Commonwealth Games last year so after the games he decided to take the show to Commonwealth countries. “There are 53 nation’s within the Commonwealth family and I have now been to 49, Nigeria is number 49 and the idea is to share culture, share language and also show kids that they can have fun and play games and they don’t need any screen, any expensive toy or device, just each other and a little bit of knowledge and they will have a great time.�

He said the main objective is to show children that they have the power to have fun without relying on anything except each other. “Kids these days spend so much time on screens and often they think if they don’t have a computer game to play or TV to watch they can’t have fun. But as we saw there, we didn’t need anything except each other and we had a great time.�

Hundreds of Students Jostle for Eroton E&P Scholarship Slots Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Murphy said the games with help to promote peace among countries because it shows that “even though we come from completely different continents, completely different cultures, the games that we play, anyone can understand, anyone can enjoy.

These games have been played across 49 different countries across every continent and it shows kids that these things are universal. But also, hopefully inspires them to learn more about other people’s cultures.�

He said there is so much violence across the world because “we don’t know each other, but if we get together and play games, we can get to see that we are just human beings and we can have a good time without needing a lot of things.�

In a chat with journalists, the Assistant Principal, Enhancement, Mrs. Bosede Agboola said the school believes in inspiring and motivating students through games. “Already they all play a lot of techy games, but we know that there are other games.

So the aim is to motivate them outside technology. They can play games in groups, they can do dance games and I know they will play some of the games they learnt in their classrooms and even outside the classroom. We know that the world is going techy, but at the same time we should not forget our values and the traditional games from different countries.�

Some of the students who spoke with THISDAY said the show exposed them to the cultures and languages of several countries and they had fun while learning them.

Hundreds of students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Rivers and Bayelsa States thronged the ICT Centre in the Rivers State University to compete for slots in the Eroton Exploration and Production Limited scholarship scheme.

Eroton E & P is the operator of joint venture with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the operation of oil mining license 18 which until 2014 belonged to Shell in the Cawthorne Channels and areas around Asari-Toru local council area of Rivers State.

The students were among those who scaled the first hurdle of screening by teachers of the various schools in the host communities on the directives of Eroton.

The scholarship selection exercise, which is the third in the series, caters for brilliant scholars from the communities. Eroton insiders told journalists at

the venue of the exams that the scheme, alongside other donations, was part of the JV’s ‘Give Back’ campaign.

Speaking to journalists on the scheme, a teacher from Comprehensive College in Abalama, Asari-Toru local council area, Bobmanuel David, said he came to present his students for the exams, adding that his school was lucky to be participating in another round. He said the process was good and that the community is happy to be a host to Eroton and advised the oil company to sustain the scheme.

Also, Otelemabo Oribani, an English teacher from Kalabari National College, called for transparency in the selection process so that students that passed through stress do not end up being shuffled out for shadow candidates that may not have participated. “This is Nigeria, you know.�

One of the candidates in the junior secondary section, 11-year-old Florence Israel from Saint Gabriel State

School in Krakrama, said the exam was a bit tough, but she is ready to face challenges in the scheme if selected.

She advised other students to study harder and listen attentively to their handlers.

Others from Community Secondary Schools said the exam was good and that it was better than they expected.

They each promised to work harder next time.

Sandra Gillis-Harry, a 200-level student of English Language and Communication Studies at Federal University in Otueke, Bayelsa State, said the exam was hard because it questioned critical reasoning, numeric and current affairs, all tested on computer.

She said she comes from a home of six with four already in the university. Her hope of smooth schooling would come from Eroton and the scholarship scheme. She called on other students to start taking the study of current affairs seriously. She also appealed to governments to consider

packages to university students because life is difficult on campus especially with tuition and accommodation.

Similarly, a first year medical student of the University of Port Harcourt, Emughedi Goodnews Young from AbualOdual local council area, said the scholarship is truly for the most brilliant, adding that he was determined to win a slot to help his parents.

He said the test is not all about knowledge, but on skills. He said the process seemed transparent so far.

Dorka Brown of the Rivers State University said the scheme would be a huge relief to persons who cannot afford the financial needs of tertiary education. “I have been through a lot. I ought to have finished my tertiary education, but I am still a 200 level Law undergraduate. The major constraint has been funds.

I hope I can pass this exam so that the company can alleviate some of my burdens,� he said.

FGGC Sagamu Alumni Empower Students with Life Skills In line with its commitment to ensuring a brighter future for its current and past students, the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Sagamu Alumni Association recently organised a three-day skills acquisition programme tagged ‘Stimulate Passion, Unleash Resilience’ (SPUR) 2019.

The programme featured eight facilitators who are alumni members, along with six co-facilitators who exposed over 500 students to the techniques of making a variety of products such as coconut oil, coconut candy, bread, pastries, hair accessories (fascinators), wigs, bags, purses, venue decoration and household cleaning liquid. The students also learnt the importance of entrepreneurship and hard work, as well as quality, health and safety in production.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Alumni Association President, Mrs. Titilayomi Soyemi Akinseinde, a member of the 1989 set, stated that SPUR 2019 was organised with the objective of igniting creativity in the students and equipping them with vocational skills that will enable them to be self-sufficient and successful when they graduate from the college. “As one who has been in

the workforce for years, I have come to the conclusion that the place of skills acquisition should and can never be underestimated or undervalued.

This is the reason we put this programme together to enable the girls become contributors to the economy, while sharpening their entrepreneurial skills. “The heart and mind of the alumni is set on making a difference in and impacting the lives of the students and therefore I admonish every student present to grab this opportunity with both hands and learn how to create wealth at your leisure after leaving the college,� she said.

The school Principal, Esther Akamo, expressed delight and thanked the alumni for all the resources deployed to make the programme a huge success.

According to her, “it is very rare to find alumni that still care for the school and its students and I am very grateful to everyone that was a part of this.

The need to acquire skills cannot be overemphasised and I feel so lucky that this is happening during my tenure as principal.�

The three-day training programme ended with the students showcasing their newly acquired skills to their parents and guardians.

Some of the students that wrote the scholarship exam recently

Lagos, Ogun Students Win Cowbellpedia Star Prize Uchechukwu Nnaike A student of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State, Michael Enehizena and Oghenero Ologe of Zionfield Pinnacle School, Ikorodu, Lagos State have emerged the junior and senior champions of this year’s Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz Show.

Also in the junior category, Abdul-Quayum Alli, of Ota Total Academy, Ogun State and David Charles of Graceland International Secondary, School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, came second and third respectively.

Akinyemi Dabira of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State and Hezekiah Olabisi of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State we’re the first and second runners-up in the senior category.

The two champions received N2 million each and an all-expense paid education excursion abroad from the sponsor, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk.

The first and second runners-up in each category received N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teachers of the winners were awarded N500,000. Those of the first and second runnersup received N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.

In a chat with journalists, Enehizena said his winning strategy was that he tried to calm himself down so as to answer more questions and he practiced more.

Ologe on his part said he watched previous episodes of the competition and was motivated to enter and strive to win.

In his remarks at the grand finale of the competition in Lagos, the Managing

Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson reiterated the company’s commitment to education, describing it as the most important investment for the future of Nigerian children.

He maintained that the initiative has met its objectives and promised that the company will continue to support the academic development of Nigerian children.

Also speaking, Mr. Stephen Adebunmi, who represented the acting Registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Mr. Abubakar Gana, explained that since mathematics is central to the development of human and nation’s capacity, the subject deserves all the support from public and private organisations.

He commended Promasidor for providing “an excellent platform� to

showcase young Nigerian Mathematicians and future inventors, adding that the company “has a bundle of transparent engines and modalities that identify and nurture geniuses in the field of Mathematics.�

While congratulating the winners, he also saluted the other finalists for the spirit of participation and sportsmanship. “All the finalists have crossed several hurdles to get to the finals, but the very best will wear the crown. Therefore all of you are winners, but the crown will go to the champions. That is the spirit of every competition.�

On his part, a teacher at The Ambassadors College, Ogun State, Mr. Oladipo Olatunde stated that Mathematics education will soar with more support from individuals and corporate bodies and commended Promasidor for the Cowbellpedia initiative.

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Corona School Rewards Hard Work, Dedication at Speech, Prize-giving Day With the aim of reinforcing personal success stories recorded by staff and students of Corona Secondary School, the management recently held its 2018/2019, Speech and Prize-giving Day ceremony, themed ‘Redefining Success’ at the school premises in Agbara, Ogun State.

Sunday Ehigiator reports Just as it’s often said at Corona, “you will never be able to score a goal until you take a shot�, Bill Copeland also enunciate that “the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.�

Hence, setting goals and working hard to achieve them not only sets one on the path of living a purpose-driven life, but makes you a success when they are achieved.

Thus, Corona Secondary School, Agbara gathered together experts and captains of industry to admonish it’s students on how to embrace success during its annual speech and prize-giving day, held on November 17 at the school premises. This year’s theme was ‘Redefining Success’.

Aside students, parents, and staff, the event was well attended by dignitaries such as the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Chief Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; the guest speaker/ chairman of the occasion and co-founder, Girafit. com, Mr. Rotimi Ashley-Dejo; Mr. Dotun Suleiman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, among others.

In her remarks, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola said though true success comes from hard work and dedication, the school is also keen at other aspects of successes. “This is a time when we as staff and students come together to applaud our achievements and efforts, and for recognising those individuals, teachers and students, and staff who have given a touch of excellence into what they do, who have distinguished themselves by going the extra miles and breaking standing records. “This recognition hinges on behavioral and academic excellence, as well as sports, clubs and so many other areas. It is based on sound psychological principle of reward and reinforcement. “Success is such a misconstrued phenomenal, hence the need to situate what it is in the right perspective. True success is what comes from hard work. There is no such thing as overnight success. “There is a common misconception which equates success with a mere improvement on a previous record. While we concede to the fact that improvement will be part of success, we contend that it does not define it. “Our understanding is that success involves setting a goal and taking the right steps towards accomplishing it, with later life focus and undeterred success and determination. It is combination of those steps. “And like we say to our students regularly, you are never going to be able to score a goal until you take a shot. You cannot sit on the sideline and suddenly begin to score goals, you have to take that shot and that is what success is about.�

In his address titled ‘Not too Early to Start’, Deji-Ashley tasked

L-R: The Chairman, Corona Secondary School Board, Mr. Niyi Yusuf; the Princpal, Corona Secondary School, Mrs. Chinedum Oluwadamilola; Corona School year 11 third overall best student, Ifeoma Osakwe; overall best student, Olumosope Kayode; second overall best student, Gbenuola Olaiya; and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot SalakoOyedele, at the school’s speech and prize-giving day in Agbara, Ogun State... on Sunday PHOTO ETOP UKUTT students on the need to start aspiring to be successes at a tender age.

He made a mark on all in attendance by giving inferences with notable achievers such as Thomas Jefferson, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Copeland, and Ben Carson, who all became achiever cum inventors between eight and 15 years.

According to Deji-Ashley “nobody sees you when you decide to be successful until you attain success. This tells you that success goes beyond that decision. The decision is just the beginning. “And the first key to success is to discover what you are good at, and try your best at it. Our lives are a series of successes and failures. But if you don’t try something, you can never know if you can attain success in it or otherwise.�

He also debunked the notion that poor academic performance is caused by student’s participation in extracurricular activities, “from research, students who engage in extracurricular activities are also the high flyers academically. “However, parents’ job is to help them manage their time effectively and not to stop them from extracurricular activities.

And parents should stop deciding choice of career for their children. Your job is to guide them in choosing what they are best at; that way, they can glow and amount to success.�

He said for those who were not awarded, “it doesn’t mean they are less successful, as everyone is a success at something,� just as he urged them to believe in themselves and devise a new strategy to achieving their set goals.

From junior classes to senior classes, awards were presented to students who excelled in their academics. Those that made the school proud at national and international levels were also rewarded.

Staff were not left out.

From the non-teaching staff to the teaching staff, excellence, outstanding and selfless services among others were rewarded,

even as students sang praises of the efforts of all their teachers.

One of the high points of the occasion was the announcement of the ‘Principal Special Award’ winner, a distinguished year 12 student, Fayobomi OlusolaFalodun, for her outstanding commitments in adding value to her fellow students and her polymathy.

Also the ‘Corona Secondary School Best Teacher of the 2018/2019 Session Award’ was won by Mr. Solomon Owolabi, who also won the ‘Most Dedicated Teaching Staff Award’.

Speaking with journalists Fayobomi expressed delight at the recognition bestowed upon her by the principal, a feat she described as unexpected. “I didn’t see this coming; I am just doing what I am supposed to be doing, without even noticing that I was being observed by the principal. “I am very excited about this award and I want to appreciate the students, staff and everyone at Corona for making this possible. I don’t think I deserve this better than other students who also do some of the things I do, but I must appreciate the principal for so counting me worthy.�

Some of significant feats recorded by the school were the ACCA Foundation Level passed by 10 of the students; last session’s SAT, two studenst scored 1,550, out of the attainable 1,600, making it the second highest SAT score in the world; while many students scored above 300 in the last JAMB UTME and an average score of 272. “In competitions within the country, we just received a plague from the Association of International School Educators of Nigeria (AISEN); won the US Consulate History competition for the ‘Worlds Women History Month’ and capped it with ‘National History Competition for Nigeria.�

In the academic awards category for the 2018/2019, the school showcased the best top three from year 7-11: In year 7, Oluwamurewa Fadare

led with a cumulated 95.61 per cent, followed by Chisom Ike with a cumulated 92.22 per cent while the third position went to Samuel Marquis with 91.28 per cent. Year 8 saw Oyindoubra Akika leading with 93.35 per cent, followed by Ogechukwu Alloh with 88.94 per cent and Iman Ibrahim Imam with 86.88 per cent. Top on the least of year 10 was Tamaramiebi Akika with 92.00 per cent, next was Jay Esemudje with 91.91 per cent and the third position in that category went to Zara Okoli with 85.64 per cent. In year 11, Olumosope Kayode came top with 91.30 per cent, Gbenuola Olaiya came second with 90.80 percent, while the third position went to Ifeoma Osakwe who scored 89.70 per cent.

In a brief chat with journalists, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, who was the guest of honour, Mrs. Salako-Oyedele said: “Today is another opportunity to reward children that are doing well and in this school, I am particularly glad at the academic achievements and other achievements in other sectors such as sports, drama, art, and most importantly the ‘Principal Award’ which is for the most improved student, because this sort of creates the total child. “Education is something that is very important to the government of Ogun State and to this effect, Governor Dapo Abiodun is doing a lot of work.�

Also speaking, the Chairman, Corona Secondary School Board, Mr. Niyi Yusuf said the occasion was to “celebrate and recognise the performances of outstanding students and staff in terms of academics, behavioral, sports, clubs and associations. And the point we are trying to make with the theme is that excellence is in all students, we only need to find it.�

The Head-Boy, Gbenuola Olaiya said the highest point for him was the recognition of teachers. “They do a lot to ensure that we are at our best and they hardly get the glory, we do. Hence I am grateful to them and glad the management also recognised their efforts.�

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

IT’S OK TO FAIL ËŤ Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă‘Ă™Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ÞÙ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ’Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă?ײˏ Ě‹ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ™Ă˜ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ě‹ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ĘľĂ?Ă—ĂšĂžËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă?Ă˘Ă‹Ă—Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?ĂĄ Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă“Ă—Ă“Ă–Ă‹Ăœ Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓʨĂ?ĂœĂ?Ëž Ă‘Ă?ĘľĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ăž ĂĄĂœĂ™Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă?ĂĄĂ?ĂœËœ Ă—Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ™Ă“Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă‹ĂŁ ĂĄĂ?Ă–Ă– Ă”Ă?ʾÓĂ?Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ Ă‹ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ăœ ÚËĂ?Ă?Ă‹Ă‘Ă? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă–Ă?Ă Ă?Ă–Ë› Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? ÑÙÙβ Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? ÚÙĂ?ÓÞÓà Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂĄĂ? Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž ĂŽĂœĂ&#x;Ă— ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ™ ÞÒĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?âÞ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂŒĂ? Ă“Ăž Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ?Ëœ Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă–ĂŽĂœĂ?Ă˜Ëœ ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă™Ăœ Ă?×ÚÖÙãĂ?Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă?Ă˜ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ–ĂŁ Ă&#x;ÞÓÖÓĂ?Ă?ĂŽËœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ě‹Ă?Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?ĘŽĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?ĂŒĂ™Ă™ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ëœ ĂœĂ?ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë› Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă?Ă? Ă“Ăž ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă“Ă˜ ×ËâÓ×Ă&#x;Ă— Ă—Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ‹Ă– Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ?ĂŁĂ?ÒÙÖÙÑÓĂ?Ă‹Ă– Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ˛ Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă’Ă?Ă–ĂšĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;Ă“Ă–ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?ĂœĂ?ËÞÓà ÓÞã˛ Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ù×Ă?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ëœ Ă‹Ăž ÞÓ×Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— Ùà Ă?ĂœĚ‹ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?âÚĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă—Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ë› Ă˜ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă“ĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ Ă“Ăž ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă–Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ÙÞÒĂ?ĂœĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÙ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă• Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă Ă‹Ă–Ă&#x;Ă‹ĂžĂ? ÒÙå ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;ËŞĂŽ Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ËÚÚÖã ʨÞ̋Ă?Ă™ĂœĚ‹ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂšĂ™Ă?Ă? Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ËŠĂ&#x;Ă?Ă?ËŞ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ĂŒĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă˜Ëœ Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂ?Ă’ Ă™Ă&#x;ĂžĂ?Ă“ĂŽĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă• Ă?Ă™Ă–Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ™ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă‹Ăž Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? ĂŽĂ™Ă?Ă? ÙʰĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă–Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÒãÚÙÞÒĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ÞÒÙĂ&#x;ÑÒÞ̋Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ?Ë› Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă?Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă˘Ă‹Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?ÞËÓÖĂ? Ă™Ă? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă?ĂŁ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă–ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÒÙå ÞÒĂ?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ™Ă‹ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë› ÙÚĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă—Ă‹Ă”Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă‹ĂœĂŁ ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ùà Ă?Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽË› Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ÚÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ ÞËÕĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă“Ăž Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă‹ ĂœĂ?ÞËÕĂ? Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă–Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă&#x;Ă—Ă?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ě™Ă?ĚšËœ Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂžĂ“Ă—Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ÓäĂ? Ă‹ Ă˜Ă?ĂĄ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽ Ă’Ă?ËÖÞÒ˛ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ę¨Ă˜Ă‹Ă– ËÞ̋ ĂžĂ?×ÚÞĂ? ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă?Ă’Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?ÚÞĂ?ĂŽ Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽË› Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ÙÞÒĂ?Ăœ Ă’Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽËœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ ĂšĂ&#x;Ă?Ă’ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ÞÙ ĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ?ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜Ă•Ëœ Ă“Ă—Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ? Ă‹Ă–Ă– ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă‘Ă?Ăž Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă?Ă– Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; ĂŽĂ?Ă‹Ă– åÓÞÒ Ă’Ă&#x;ĂœĂŽĂ–Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™ĂŒĂ–Ă?Ă—Ă?Ë› Ă™Ă&#x; Ă—Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹ ÑÙÙÎ Ă—Ă?Ă‹Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ě‹ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ě‹ĂŒĂ?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ?Ăœ ÞÙ Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂž Ă‹Ă‘Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ë› Ă?ÖÙå Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ăž Ă™Ă? ÍŻÍŽ Ă“Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ĂšĂ?ÙÚÖĂ? Ă™Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÞÓ×Ă? ĂĄĂ’Ă™ Ă?Ă‹Ă“Ă–Ă?ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘Ë? Ëž Ă“Ă–Ă– Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ëž ËÞã Ă?ĂœĂœĂŁ Ëž ĂšĂœĂ‹Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŁ Ëž Ë› Ë› Ă™ĂĄĂ–Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ëž ĂžĂ?ÚÒĂ?Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ëž Ă?Ă˜ĂœĂŁ Ă™ĂœĂŽ Ëž Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă– Ă‹Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ? Ëž ÒÙ×ËĂ? ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă™Ă˜ Ëž Ă‹Ă–Ăž Ă“Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ Ëž Ă“Ăœ Ă‹Ă—Ă?Ă? ĂŁĂ?Ă™Ă˜

Mrs Kehinde Omoru writes from the UK

NGGA Advocates Quality Education for Girls to Attain Leadership Positions The Nigerian Girl Guides Association (NGGA) has identified quality education as a critical tool in empowimg and developing the girl-child towards attaining leadership positions that would bring about the much- needed global peace.

The association’s Chief Commissioner, Mrs. Maria-Goretti Sule stated this at the opening of the Nigeria Hub of the 2019 Juliet Low Seminar in Lagos.

The seminar with the theme ‘Lead Out Loud: Tackling Gender Barriers to Leadership’, is an international event usually hosted by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

According to Sule the potential of any girl-child may remain untapped for as long as possible and that only education has the key to unlock it.

She said the development was a challenge to achieving purposeful leadership, national growth and even global development peace and harmony. “That is the essence of this event. You will agree with me that the girl-child is going through many issues which are prevalent in today’s society, such as gender discrimination, rape, poverty, barriers to education, violence and female genital mutilation, among others. “We must not feign ignorance of these issues if we intend to give our girls the much

needed empowerment through education to ensure freedom for them and find the space to develop their potential. “The theme for the 2019 JLS is a very timely one and this is the reason why we must therefore call on concerned stakeholders to join forces with us to break barriers that seem to hinder the girl-child and young women from developing their talents and becoming who God want them to be,� she said.

The commissioner also called for a legislation that would destroy barriers that had worked against females if the country intends to attain accelerated growth and national transformation. “We appeal for appointments for deserving women who have the capacity to lead and make impact rather than being discriminated against because of their gender. “As an association, we are ready to continue equipping our girls and playing our part to ensure that they are mentored and polished to be of great service to the world,�

Sule said.

Also speaking, the Assistant National Project Commissioner of the NGGA, Mrs. Lilian Damie said the programme was basically that of leadership that targetted young girls between the ages of 18 and 25.

She said the purpose was to identify gender barriers to leadership and come up with ways of overcoming them.

37

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

Lagos CBT Centre Owners Disassociate Selves from National Body Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre owners in Lagos State have disassociated themselves from a purported national body, the Computer-Based Test Centres Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (CPAN).

This followed a report by a national daily, which quoted CPAN as stating that the failure of biometric and browsers provided by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was responsible for the inability of some candidates to sit for the examination.

Describing CPAN’s statement as offensive, condemnable and aimed at discrediting JAMB, a CBT owner, Alexander Ogedengbe, who spoke on behalf of CBT centre operators in Lagos, alleged that the professed national body had short-changed the system at some point.

Ogedengbe, who alleged further that through investigations, it has been established that the person who addressed the media on behalf of CBT centre owners in Nigeria, during which he made the above declaration, does not own a CBT centre. “To say that they represent CBT centres in Nigeria whereby they do not have CBT centres is an affront.�

Ogedengbe added: “It’s unfortunate that this same person together with a group of persons whose centres were delisted by JAMB as a result of technical deficiency of their centres or examination malpractices will now stand as arbiters to judge JAMB’s competency visa viz UTME examination conduct. “We hereby state categorically that we the CBT operators in Lagos State are neither part of the group nor aware of the conference where statement was made and hence disassociate ourselves entirely from the publication. “To be very specific on the issues raised, the biometric of

the candidates on the conduct of 2019 UTME examination.

We cannot even remember any candidate that didn’t write the examination because of biometric failure.� “To our knowledge, the rule of biometric was very clear as stipulated by the JAMB examination board.

Any candidate who cannot be captured directly by the biometric scanning machine, JAMB provided alternative for the candidate to write the examination and according to JAMB, such a case, including the details of the candidate should be reported to the board immediately. According to instruction from JAMB, a date will be scheduled for such candidates for the examination,� he said.

He explained: “Moreover, we the CBT operators have no jurisdiction over the biometric of the candidates. The officers charged with these responsibilities to our own knowledge discharge their duties reasonably.�

Revealing that another issues raised has to do with the examination browsers, Ogedengbe said: “According to JAMB, the security of the examination is paramount to the board hence they have the right to decide and deploy the type of browser needed to achieve their objective.� “The board sent information to all the centres to delete the old browsers and download a new browser meant for the 2019 examination. The challenges arose at the centres that didn’t comply with this instruction or where the specifications of the system were not met. “It is true that the time given to us to deploy this browser was short, but the board explained that the decision for the short notice also has to do with the security of the examination. We accepted the explanations because the security of the examination is also paramount to us in Lagos,� he added.

How a Healthy Breakfast Keeps Children Healthy Nelly Agbogu

W

e’ve all heard it before: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.� But, trying to convince your sleepy, grumpy kids, who insist “I’m not hungry.�

In the mad dash of school day mornings when you try to make sure everyone is awake, well-dressed and on the school bus or on the road on time, things can be really challenging, especially when you want to provide a balanced breakfast in such situations. We all know that school day mornings are a race against the clock to get the kids to school on time, and all too often, kids skip breakfast in the rush.

Research suggests that this habit can lead to a number of negative impacts on the child. But while this wisdom is seemingly timeless, passed down from one generation to the next, does it actually have some truth to it?

There has been a lot of research and studies as to the number of reasons why kids shouldn’t skip breakfast and most of these studies have concluded that children who do not eat breakfast are less able to learn. Hunger can lead to lower math scores, attention problems, behavior and emotional deficiencies, low test scores, and less concentration. The reason for this is that our brain requires food for fuel, just as our muscles do. While our muscles can use stored energy from the food we ate yesterday, our brain prefers energy from food we have

eaten recently. It is these issues that have led many schools to participate in school breakfast programmes.

Beyond academics, children who eat breakfast show decreased anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity. Breakfast can improve a child’s overall nutrition by providing her/ him with necessary vitamins and minerals, and can actually reduce the risk of obesity!

Each day our body requires a broad range of essential nutrients, needed for growth, brain development, immunity and overall good health. Children who eat regular meals, including breakfast are more likely to meet these daily nutritional requirements.

Blood sugar balancing is another very important part of eating breakfast.

The imbalance of these blood sugar levels are what contribute to brain fog, irritability and fatigue. When the glucose level in your body is not adequate enough for the brain to use as fuel, we do not concentrate as well or feel as alert as we would like. Eating breakfast ensures that blood sugar levels return to normal after a long time without eating while you were asleep. Keeping blood sugars balanced not only helps with sustained energy and focus, but also helps with healthy weight control and prevention of disease states such as diabetes.

The bottom line is that breakfast breaks the fast, waking up our bodies and brains to let them know it’s time to get going. Even though mornings can be

rushed, set your child up for success by making sure they start the day with a healthy, balanced breakfast.

That said, your healthy breakfast routine cannot be complete without the ‘Mamador Light Fat spread - a cholesterol and trans-fat free spread, best spread over bread, waffles, pancakes or crackers, and a great option for breakfast meals.

The ‘Mamador Light Fat Spread’ contains triple benefits which include its ease of spread i.e. it glides easily, due to its smooth creamy texture; its great buttery taste; and health benefits as it is cholesterol and trans-fat free, with a 30 per cent daily allowance of required vitamins which strengthen your immunity, help you grow physically and mentally, and keep you active.

So how does the nutritional value of the Mamador Light Fat Spread aid your child’s development? It’s simple, it contains the following: Vitamin A: this is a fat-soluble vitamin that is good for healthy vision, skin, bones and other tissues in the body. They’re essential for many processes in your body, including ensuring the normal function of the immune system and organs, and aiding the proper growth and development of babies in the womb.

Vitamin D: having enough vitamin D is important for a number of reasons, including maintaining healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin E: this has antioxidant effects. Vitamin E plays an important

role in the production of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which are responsible for regulating a variety of body processes, such as blood pressure and muscle contraction. Vitamin E also aids in muscle repair.

B vitamins: Are an important class of vitamins that help support the red blood cells and the nervous system. It als0 reduces the risks of birth defects.

Vitamin B6 & B12: vitamin B6 helps keep blood sugar within a normal range, while vitamin B12 protects against anemia.

Folic acid: Helps the body produce and maintain new cells, and also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer. Folic acid is used to treat certain types of anemia (lack of red blood cells) caused by folic acid deficiency.

Niacin: Also known as vitamin B3, is an important nutrient. In fact, every part of your body needs it to function properly. Niacin helps to boost brain function, among other benefits.

It is without a doubt, that the Mamador Light Fat Spread ticks all the boxes of a spread that contributes to a healthy breakfast. From its creamy texture, to its yummy taste, to its composition of all the essential vitamins your kids need, the Mamador Light Fat Spread should be your preferred breakfast option.

-Agbogu is the founder of Nellies Healthy Food and Snacks Company, a company started in a bid to find healthier food options

NUT Berates N-Power Scheme, Seeks Full-term Teachers’ Employment Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has stated that the federal government’s N-Power Scheme is not suitable for the strengthening of the capacity of early child education and does not conform with best practises for a holistic and functional development of the child.

The President of the union, Dr. Nasir Idris said this in Abuja at a four-day workshop on learning through play for early child education teachers, which was organised by the union, in partnership with Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators (BUPL).

Idris, who was represented by the first National Vice- President of the union, Akosile Samuel, stressed the importance of providing the child with an early foundation and formation in life.

“The capacity of teachers to deliver cannot be achieved using contingency approach such as the N-Power Scheme of the federal government, but a full-term employment of qualified, trained, competent and committed personnel in the education sector, most especially as it affects the early child development component.�

The Chairperson of Danish Union of Early Childhood and Youth Educators, Jonna Jul Gudyundsen expressed delight about the sustained interest of NUT in early child development, saying that the workshop was aimed at sharing knowledge and experience between Denmark and Nigerian teachers and that participants will be exposed to new ways to play with children, which must be ongoing activities in schools for children in their early stages of development.

LR: Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, presenting the alumni recognition award to the Chairman, Alumni Golden Jubilee Organising Committee/Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Tope Smart, with his wife, Tonia, during the 50th anniversary distinguished UNILAG alumni awards/dinner in Lagos... recently

Together4ALimb Initiative: IBTC Gives Succour to Limbless Children Funmi Ogundare Stanbic IBTC recently held the fifth annual ‘Together4ALimb’, walk aimed at drawing public attention to the plight and challenges faced by children living without limbs. The staff of the organisation were joined by members of their family and other well-wishers.

This year, a total of 10 children got prosthetic limbs and were also awarded an educational

trust worth N1.5 million to enable them further their education with ease.

The beneficiary of this year’s prosthetic limbs are Miss Zainab Qudus, 5, from Oyo State, Iyanuoluwa Adekoya, 6, from Ogun State, as well as the trio of Aisha Abdulrahman, 10, Fatima Bishir, 10, and Naomi Ezeamaiwe, 10, from Kaduna, Martina and Delta States, respectively.

Others are Umaima Kabiru and Shamsiyya Adamu, 11,

who are both from Kano State, Abdulfatai Abdulazeez 13, from Kwara State, Salamatu Husseini, 13, from Bauchi State and Halimatu Sadiya Musa, 13, from Borno State also got prosthetic limbs under the Together4ALimb initiative.

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr. Yinka Sanni who flagged-off the 2019 edition of the walk, identified the Together4ALimb initiative as one of its key projects to assist

its communities aside education and economic empowerment, adding that raising the number of beneficiaries to 10, was the highest since the inception of the initiative five years ago. “At Stanbic IBTC, we focus on three areas to help our communities. We focus on health, education and economic empowerment. Together4ALimb is one of the most important projects which we organise annually,� he said

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

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CITYSTRINGS

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Scaling up Internal Security Operations Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that in scaling up internal security operations, especially in the North-east and North-central corridors, the Nigerian Air Force has engaged in countless exercises and operations, all tailored towards tackling insecurity

F

rom Exercise NA ZO along KadunaBirnin Gwari Road, to Exercise BABBAN NAUSHI, which loosely translated means ‘Deep Punch or Big Punch’ along the Minna-Zungeru Road, Niger State to Exercise STEEL DOME 2 at Makia Kano, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has underscored the need to scale up internal security operations, all targeted towards a safe and secure nation.

Although they mean different things, the goals of the exercises are the same; tackling insecurity on all fronts across the nation. ‘Exercise NA ZO’ As part of its continued efforts geared towards developing the capacity of its personnel to combat terrorism and secure lives and properties of Nigerians, NAF conducted a Counter Terrorism (CT) Simulation Exercise along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road.

Codenamed “EXERCISE NA ZO�, it was aimed at testing NAF operational doctrine and tactics for effective CT operations as well as evaluating the synergy between air and surface forces in a complex air-ground operational environment.

The CT Exercise (CTEX) involved NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms as well as attack aircraft along with NAF Special Forces (SF) and Canine (K-9) Teams, who were practiced on their individual and group skills in the planning, coordination and execution of CT operations.

Speaking during the Exercise, the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH), Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, highlighted the critical importance of training and exercises to a fighting force, like the NAF, towards ensuring greater success in combat operations.

According to him, the NAF had blazed the trail by ensuring that its personnel are engaged in exercises that evolve lessons, tactics and doctrine in the conduct of CT operations, adding that as a service vested with the enviable role of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria by air, the timing of the exercise was apt, affording the NAF the opportunity to assess the physical alertness and combat readiness of its personnel with a view to making necessary adjustments and changes.

He said: “Even more important is the fact that an event of this nature is being organised at a time the NAF and its sister services are engaged in counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in the Northeastern part of Nigeria as well as anti-banditry in the North-west and North-central.�

The CDS seized the opportunity to express his profound appreciation to the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (C-in-C), President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in general and the NAF in particular. He noted that Nigerians were undoubtedly appreciative of the C-in-C’s commitment to ensuring a secured Nigeria as well as the efforts of the AFN in the fight against terrorism and other societal ills.

While congratulating the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and his team for the well-conceived and timely exercise, the CDS expressed optimism that the underlying lessons of the event would go a long way in resolving the current security challenges in the Country.

In his remarks, the CAS expressed his delight to have the CDS physically present to witness the first ever CTEX conducted by the NAF. He noted that the exercise was deliberately conceptualised to practice NAF air and ground elements in order to engender a better understanding of the nuances of air-ground integration as well as other critical elements of CT operations.

He disclosed that the service would conduct a number of such exercises between October 2019 and January 2020 with a view to identifying and tackling problems associated with air-ground integration as well as highlighting the crucial role of joint planning and coordination to the success of operations.

Furthermore, he said the planned simulation exercises would also enable the service to appraise the effectiveness of its Force Protection in Complex

NAF Special Forces personnel (the Panthers) and NAF K-9 Unit personnel with a Special Operations dog preparing to rappel into the operations area during “Exercise NA ZO�

NAF Special Forces personnel in the Terminal Building of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport during ‘Exercise STEEL DOME 2’

The Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Chief of Air Sta, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and other dignitaries listening to a brief during the Airport Security Simulation Exercise “Exercise Steel Dome 2â€? at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano Air-Ground Environment (FPCAGE) measures in securing its bases and air assets for efficient, unhindered conduct of air operations.

He further noted that similar to EXERCISE NA ZO, the forthcoming exercises would practice NAF Flying Units; Regiment and Special Forces Teams; Air Provost and K-9 Units as well as Intelligence and other elements, such as Medical, to enhance coordination and improve decision-making of commanders in order to ensure mission accomplishment in virtually every encounter. He added that the conduct of such training had become even more crucial given the increasing involvement

of NAF Regiment and SF personnel in Internal Security (IS) operations across the country.

In his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), Air Vice Marshal James Gwani, said the CTEX was in consonance with the CAS’ vision to “reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives�.

The timing for the event, he said, could not have been more apt as the NAF is currently

engaged in COIN, anti-banditry and other IS operations in various operational theatres within the country. He believed that the exercise would go a long way in further developing personnel’s capacity, professionalism and combat readiness as the NAF continues to battle forces of insecurity in the nation.

According to NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle DaramolaC highlights of the occasion included the operational briefing and giving of orders by the Commander 271 NAF Detachment Birnin Gwari, Group Captain Idorenyin Bassey, along with his sub-unit and component commanders, which was held behind closed doors.

This was followed by the seamless execution of the operational plan, which featured live firing of rockets from NAF fixed and rotary wing attack aircraft; insertion, by rappelling, of NAF SF and K-9 elements and movement of teams into the objective area as well as subsequent rescue of hostages, arrest of the suspected armed bandits, extraction of the assault team by road and evacuation of casualties by air, while being provided with close air support by an attack helicopter overhead the objective.

Exercise STEEL DOME 2 In furtherance of its efforts to ensure combat readiness for effective response to security threats to Nigeria’s Airports and other critical national assets, the NAF also conducted a CT Simulation Exercise at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Makia, Kano. The exercise codenamed ‘Exercise STEEL DOME 2’, was organised in collaboration with other security agencies at the airport and entailed insertion and extraction of NAF Special Forces (The Panthers) within the terminal buildings to retake the airport from terrorists.

The exercise, which would be replicated in other major airports across the country, had earlier been conducted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos in 2016.

Speaking during the Airport Security Simulation Exercise (ASEX), the Guest of Honour (GOH), the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed that he was very impressed by the performance, zeal and foresight of the current leadership of the NAF in steering the service towards fulfilling its mandate of protecting the territorial integrity of a united Nigeria. According to him, without any doubt, the NAF had been consistent in demonstrating the capacity to effectively and efficiently bring to bear, its combat capability to decisively deal with terrorism and banditry activities within the country and entire sub-region.

Ganduje noted that Kano State had continued to enjoy immense support from the NAF as well as other security agencies, which had resulted in the emergence of Kano as one of the most peaceful states in the North. The governor particularly appreciated the NAF for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and other air operations conducted over the Falgore Forest to deny armed bandits and other criminal elements the use of the place as a safe haven. He pledged that the Kano State Government would continue to build on the existing synergy with the NAF and other security agencies to sustain the relative peace and tranquility enjoyed in the state.

While congratulating the CAS), and his team for what he described as the “well-planned, wellcoordinated and effectively executed Exercise�, Ganduje lauded the innovativeness of the CAS and enjoined him to continue to build on the gains so far recorded in order to continue discharging NAF’s constitutional responsibilities creditably.

He further disclosed that the state government, on its part, had provided scanners and CCTV cameras to enhance the security of the airport and, with these in place, had also persuaded Emirates Airlines to commence operations from MAKIA in the coming weeks.

In his opening remarks, the CAS stated that Exercise STEEL DOME 2 was aimed at testing the combat readiness of the NAF, as well as its collaboration with other airport security stakeholders, to achieve the synergy required to jointly counter

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

CRIME&SECURITY terrorist attacks at the airports. He disclosed that the exercise was initially planned to hold in Port Harcourt but had to be rescheduled for Kano because of the ongoing renovation work at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

He also revealed that an ASEX was being planned for the Airport at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. According to him, the conduct of Exercise STEEL DOME 2 and other CT exercises was demonstrative of the NAF’s unflinching resolve, as a fighting force, to collaborate with sister services and other security agencies to purge the country of the menace of terrorism and insurgency. “I believe that sustaining the exercises across other major airports and other trouble spots in the country on a regular basis, would constantly put security personnel and other stakeholders in good stead to effectively counter terrorism and other security threats. To this end, the NAF is motivated to conduct more of these operational exercises in other selected parts of the country in the nearest future. This is more so, considering that our dear nation is currently experiencing a myriad of security challenges, which require us, as a fighting force, to be on top of the situation in order to ensure security of our people and our country�, he said.

Speaking further, the CAS disclosed that the NAF was not unmindful of the sacrifices made by personnel in continuously tackling security challenges, some of whom, he noted, had paid the supreme price. He assured that their sacrifices would not be in vain and the NAF would continue to forge ahead until every part of the country was safe and secured. The exercise, he said, would further boost the confidence of passengers and staff working within the airport environment.

Air Marshal Abubakar therefore expressed his profound gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for making tackling insecurity in the Country one of the cardinal points of his agenda as well as for providing the requisite resources for the NAF to effectively conduct its operations.

In his welcome address, the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, noted that Exercise STEEL DOME 2, which was the third ASEX conducted by the NAF, was conceived by the CAS to improve the CT posture of the service to effectively respond to any security threat within the airport environment. He added that the conduct of the exercise was driven by the need to reduce the vulnerabilities of airports in Nigeria and was a culmination of several weeks of training by “The Panthers� and other personnel to showcase the capability of the NAF in dealing with terror threat to the Airport.

Furthermore, the DOPRI said the event also featured the conduct of operational briefing and giving of orders by the Exercise Team Leader, the Commander 013 Quick Response Group (013 QRG) Minna, Group Captain Caleb Olayera, along with his sub-unit and component commanders, which was held behind closed doors. This he said was followed by the execution of the operational plan, which featured airfield defence and force protection measures executed by a combination of ground-based blocking forces and Mobile Air Defence Teams (MADT) as well as an attack helicopter; insertion, by rappelling and tactical drop-off of NAF Panthers and K-9 elements; movement of teams into the terminal building as well as subsequent rescue of hostages, arrest of the suspected terrorists, extraction of the assault teams by road and evacuation of casualties as well as detection and diffusion of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) by NAF K-9 and Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordinance Detonation (EOD) Unit.

Exercise BABBAN NAUSHI To combat terrorism, NAF also conducted Exercise BABBAN NAUSHI along Minna-Zungeru Road. The CT Simulation Exercise, which involved the employment of NAF Special Forces (SF), “THE PANTHERS�, operating in concert with air assets as well as support elements, is another in a series aimed at improving NAF CT posture to effectively respond to any security threat within the country.

In his remarks during the event, the SGOH, the Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Matene, commended the Air Marshal Abubakar, and all personnel of the NAF for executing a well coordinated training exercise. He observed that the current NAF leadership has demonstrated laudable resolve to ensure that its officers and airmen/airwomen have the required capacity for the effective performance of their duties.

He added that the exercise was timely and well thought out as it would have a long-lasting effect towards enhancing the security of Niger State and its environs. Speaking further, he stated that

NAF Special Forces personnel simulating the capture of armed bandits during Counter Terrorism Simulation Exercise “Exercise NA ZO� in Kaduna

Chief of Defence Sta (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, congratulating participants at the end of “Exercise NA ZOâ€?, as the CAS, Air Marshal Abubakar, looks on

Tactical drop-o of logistics supplies (ammunition) from a NAF Bell 412 Helicopter during ‘Exercise BABBAN NAUSHI’ in Niger State

The Chief of the Air Sta (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, making a point to the Guest of Honour, the Niger State Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, during the brieďŹ ng for ‘Exercise BABBAN NAUSHI’ despite its best efforts, Niger State had also had its fair share of security challenges, especially in four Local Government Areas (LGAs). He however noted that in the last few months a number of joint operations, involving the NAF as well as

sister services and other security agencies, had been conducted to dislodge armed bandits from the affected areas, with commendable successes recorded.

He however requested for the deployment

of additional air assets to Niger State to give more potency to the joint operations against the bandits. Abubakar said he was impressed by the effective execution of the exercise as well as the precision of the air strikes by the NAF attack aircraft. “EXERCISE BABBAN NAUSHI could signal the end of armed banditry in Niger State. We have seen the impact of your air operations and we need more�, he said. The SGOH emphasised that the Niger State Government, on its part, would continue to support the NAF, sister services and other security agencies to enable them perform their duties more effectively.

In his remarks, the CAS recalled that since assumption of office his desire has been to bequeath a “highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria's national security imperatives".

He noted that this necessitated having the right organisational structure, the right platforms and equipment as well as the right institutional and human capacity. He observed that much had been done, in the last four years, to restructure the NAF for better service delivery; through the establishment of two new staff branches at Headquarters NAF as well as two new field commands, including the Special Operations Command, the host of EXERCISE BABBAN NAUSHI. As for the right mix of platforms and equipment, the CAS reported that the NAF was extremely fortunate because through the Federal Government’s immense support, the Service had been able to acquire 19 new platforms and reactivate 20 erstwhile unserviceable ones, with another 18 aircraft already ordered awaiting delivery. This, he said, had made it possible for 10 aircraft to be deployed for Exercise BABBAN HAUSHI. Air Marshal Abubakar noted, however, that it was in the area of having the right human capacity that his administration had invested most significantly, with an unprecedented number of personnel trained in different categories of air and ground operations both locally and abroad. He observed that series of simulation/training exercises, like BABBAN NAUSHI, were being conducted to sharpen the skills of NAF SF personnel and flying units to enable them be more effective and efficient in the conduct of their operations.

He said the exercises afford opportunities to interrogate processes and procedures in order to identify gaps with a view to bridging them for enhanced performance in real combat scenarios.

While reiterating the primacy of Air Power as a critical requirement for victory in modern warfare, the CAS remarked that such exercises also provide opportunities to test the efficacy of force protection measures in order to ensure that NAF Bases and air assets are properly secured to enable unhindered Air Power employment for optimal effects.

He said the NAF would therefore continue to carry out such exercises because of the derivable benefits, while highlighting that the next one would be conducted in the Southwest of the country. Air Marshal Abubakar restated the NAF’s unalloyed commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command (AOC SOC), Air Vice Marshal James Gwani, said the exercise, which was the second to be conducted within the last few weeks, was driven by the obvious need to develop tactics and doctrine of the NAF SF. He said the exercise would further enable troops to appreciate the importance of timely logistics for enhanced combat effectiveness as well as perfecting the skills of the NAF SF, “THE PANTHERS�, in responding to any act of unrest within the country. The exercise, according to him, was a culmination of several weeks of training by the elite SF personnel and had been put together to showcase the capability of the NAF, in combating terrorism.

Air Commodore Daramola said the highlight of the occasion included the operational briefing and giving of orders by the Commander 271 NAF Detachment Birnin Gwari, Group Captain Idorenyin Bassey, along with his sub-unit and component commanders, which was held behind closed doors. This was followed by execution of the operational plan which featured live firing of rockets from NAF fixed and rotary wing attack aircraft; insertion, by fast-roping, of NAF SF elements and movement of teams into the objective area as well as subsequent arrest of the suspected armed bandits; extraction of the assault team by road and evacuation of a casualty by air, while being provided with close air support by an attack helicopter overhead the objective. A special feature of the exercise was the logistics re-supply by tactical air drop to replenish the assaulting forces who were simulated to have run out of ammunition during the raid.

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T H I S D AY ˞ Ͱ͎˜ 2019

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Elumelu: Africa’s Devt Agenda Must Prioritise Job Creation, Others Obinna Chima The founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Chairman, United Bank for Africa Group (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, has proposed job creation for the youth, inclusive growth, and gender diversity as priority areas for Africa’s development agenda as well as to achieve peace and stability on the continent.

According to a statement, Elumelu, who is also the founder of Heirs Holdings, made the remark while speaking on a high-level panel with the President of Senegal, Macky Sall and the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Other speakers on the panel included Florence Parly, Defence Minister of France; and Pierre Buyoya former President of Burundi and representative of the African Union. Elumelu, stressed the urgency in tackling poverty, which he described as the root cause of extremism in Africa. “We know, and we say, that poverty anywhere is a threat to mankind everywhere. What manifests itself in what we call security breakdown or terrorism,

or extremism is actually deeply rooted in poverty, in joblessness “So with due respect, we can have 101 seminars like this but unless and until we begin to address these issues of poverty, joblessness amongst our young ones, they will continue to allow themselves to be brainwashed by people who see no future, and they will continue to engage in extremism,� he said.

He emphasised that while it was no doubt important to discuss weaponry, and other means to deal with insurgency, a lasting peace could only be attained in the long run by investing in our young people across Africa.

In his contribution, Sall acquiesced to the need for the public sector to collaborate with the private sector to tackle poverty on the continent. He said: “Addressing the threats cannot be done on a standalone basis due to the fact that the challenges know no borders.�

He called for more collaborative approach to alleviate violence and extremism to boost investments in Africa.

Continuing, Elumelu cited

the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s $100 million Entrepreneurship Programme as one of the practical ways the private sector in Africa can intervene to bring about peace and stability on the continent.

Speaking further, he referenced the partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to empower 100,000 young Africans in 10 years with a focus on the Sahel region for its first year.

Also mentioning TEF partnerships with other international development agencies such as GIZ and ICRC, Elumelu reiterated that, “only activities and interventions like this will help to bring economic hope to people in this part of the world and they will become less involved in extremism. We support these young ones and we are beginning to see how their successes are translated into better and more secure communities.�

He pointed out that businesses cannot flourish where there is extremism and people are afraid for their lives.

Access Bank Appoints Awosika Chairman, Belo-Olusoga Retires Hamid Ayodeji The Board of Directors of Access Bank Plc yesterday announced that its Chairman, Mosun BeloOlusoga will retire in January 2020.

This followed the completion of her 12- year term limit allowed by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s code of corporate governance for banks and discount houses.

Owing to this, the bank, also announced the appointment of Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika, as her successor, effective January 8, 2020.

According to a statement obtained on the Nigerian Stock Exchange website, Bello-Olusoga became the Chairman of the

Board in July 2015.

She confirmed that, “she has no disagreement with the Board as there was no need for issues relating to her retirement to stir up worries by shareholders of the company or the regulatory authorities.�

The statement further explained that, “Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika joined the Board April, 2013 as an independent Non-Executive Director and has been the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board Credit and Finance Committee as well as the Board Audit Committee respectively in addition to membership of other Board Committees.�

She is an accomplished

administrator with over three decade’s experience in public sector governance. At various times, she was the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministries of Internal Affairs, Science and Technology and Power.

Awosika is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacy.

She holds a doctorate degree in Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom.

She is the Chairman of Chams Plc and Josephine Consulting Limited as well as a NonExecutive Director of Capital Express Assurance Limited.

ICRC Partners Afreximbank to Boost Visibility for Bankable Projects James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Director General/Chief Executive, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr. Chidi Izuwah yesterday said arrangements had been finalised to hold the joint Nigeria PPP Network (NPPPN) and PPP Units Consultative Forum (3PUCF) to select bankable PPP projects across the country for funding intervention.

He said the event scheduled for Thursday in Abuja, with the theme: “Accelerating Bankable PPP Project Development in Nigeria- The Afreximbank Project Preparation Facility (APPPF) Meeting�, seeks to support the supply of investment ready projects, thereby bridging the infrastructure deficit in the continent.

Izuwah, said high profile participants including state governors, decision-makers across ministries, departments and agencies of government, members of the National Assembly as well as stakeholders in the Public Private Partnership

(PPP) ecosystem were expected at the gathering.

Speaking at a media briefing on the forthcoming meeting, sponsored by Afreximbank and PAC Capital, he said the outcome of the dialogue session would greatly enrich the understanding of the concept of and approach to PPP in terms of policies, guidelines and operation in the delivery of infrastructure to Nigerians.

According to him, the event seeks to help identify and improve the bankability of selected projects in the country, with a view to accessing project preparation funds from the Afreximbank.

He further explained that the idea of a joint forum of strategic enablers within the PPP ecosystem was to strengthen synergy among key policy drivers across the PPP spectrum in the country with a view to addressing common challenges.

He said this would also become helpful catalyst for growth in the use of PPP as a preferred procurement option across the states of the federation in line with a key aspect of the ICRC mandate to provide support and guidance

for PPP initiatives undertaken by states as enshrined in the ICRC Establishment Act. Also speaking at the briefing, Executive Director, Strategy and Research, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Lateef Shittu, expressed support for the meeting, adding that the bottom line is developing a bankable project so as to attract investors and financiers adding that this could be achieved through robust knowledge development as well as capacity to implement it.

He said the governors’ forum was happy to partner the ICRC towards building adequate capacity of states, adding that it would continue to drive the campaign until all the states of the federation identity with the PPP initiative as solution for infrastructure development.

He said in an era whereby states can barely meet their financial obligations amidst dwindling revenues, they needed to be creative through the utilisation of PPPs model for build, operate and transfer mechanism to improve on infrastructure.

R-L: General Manager, Sales/Marketing, Platview Technologies, Benjamin Okwuokenye; Channel Manager, Starlink West Africa Region, Osita Okoli; Manager, LinkShadow, Kamal Khlefat; Sales Director, LinkShadow, Fadi Sharaf El-dean, and Director of Business Development,Platview Technologies, Dapo Salami, at the partnership agreement signing between Platview Technologies and LinkShadow in Lagos‌ recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ÍŻÍś Ͱ͎ͯ͡

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $63.44 a barrel on Monday, compared with $63.12 the previous Friday, 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

41

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŽËœ Ͱ͎ͯ͡

MARKET NEWS

CSCS Launches Regconnect to Enhance Information Exchange, Market Efficiency Goddy Egene Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has introduced a web-based application into the Nigerian capital market to transform and improve the user experience of Registrars by providing an easy to use platform to exchange information.

Prior to the introduction of this solution, Registrars could only connect with CSCS through a Data Exchange application that did not have the ability to process

the data being submitted.

However, Regconnect provides an efficiency lever for the capital market as it facilitates day-today processes regarding the maintenance of registers, with immediate validation of all data being submitted to ensure the accuracy of records, and in less time. Speaking on this development, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of CSCS Plc, Mr. Haruna JaloWaziri said: “As part of our strategic pillars to automate and improve opera-

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

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DEALS

tional efficiency in the Nigerian capital market, the application will automate our interactions and improve CSCS’ connection with the Registrars’ community.

Usage of the Regconnect platform comes at no cost to all Registrars.

It is an advanced replacement for the Data Exchange platform currently in use. It allows seamless integration with Registrar’s live data by offering end-to-end and system-to-system data exchange between CSCS and Registrars.�

Also speaking, the Chief

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

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Executive Officer, First Registrars and Investor Services Limited, who is also the President & Chairman of Council, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, said the introduction of the solution to the Nigerian capital market is a welcome development, explaining it will reduce processing time, enable swift communication between Registrars and CSCS, as well as enhance seamless data transmission. “Regconnect will give Regis-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

trars total control over their use of the solution by offering an entity-based operational structure where each entity manages their access rights and operations, in addition to the ability to validate data right from their offices.’’ He expressed his joy at this collaborative effort and appreciated the fact that the solution comes at no additional cost to the registrars and issuers.

Similarly, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Africa Prudential, Mr. Obong

O F

Idiong commended CSCS for collaborating with registrars to develop the solution. “We are in the digital era, therefore, it is good to see that there has been an upgrade on the Data Exchange Solution which was in use before now,� he said.

According to the CSCS, the Data Exchange application and Regconnect solution are being run on a parallel deployment until December 2019, when total switch over to Regconnect will be done.

1 5 / 1 1 / 2 0 1 9 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

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42

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Nigerian Stock Exchange Recognised for Promoting CSR Reporting Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has received the “Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative (Promoting Sustainability & Reporting)” and the Capital Market In-House Team of the Year” awards at 2019 Marketing World Awards and

ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards respectively.

NSE emerged the winner of the “Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative award at the 9th edition of the Marketing World Award in Ghana. The award is in recognition of the remarkable initiatives implemented by NSE to

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

advance sustainability reporting in Nigeria. Also, NSE Head of Corporate Communications department, Olumide Orojimi was also named “Corporate Communications Professional of The Year”.

Commenting on the awards, Head, Shared Services Division, NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko, said: “We

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 18Nov-2019, unless otherwise stated.

are most honoured to receive both awards. This achievement is a testament to the efficiency of our service offering and commitment to excellence. It is also a testament of our commitment to creating a sustainable future through our Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR) activities.

These awards serve as recognition

for the assiduous efforts of our employees to achieve our aspiration to provide investors and businesses with a reliable, efficient and adaptable exchange hub in Africa, to save and to access capital”.

Foremost amongst the CSR initiatives the NSE was lauded for was the

launch of the Sustainability Disclosure Guidelines, which articulates the approach to integrating sustainability into an organisation’s activities alongside indicators that should be considered when providing annual disclosure on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.

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 0.89 0.90 5.76% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.19% 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 11.98% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.41 2.45 8.82% 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 14.61 15.05 -11.94% ARM Discovery Fund 336.08 346.22 -5.76% ARM Ethical Fund 28.47 29.33 0.82% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.58% 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 95.22 95.89 -5.90% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.51% 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 1.94 1.94 14.00% 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 N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.90% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 97.93 98.67 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 99.99 100.92 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.96% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.90 0.90 5.12% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.31 1.31 17.38% 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 11.24% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10.82% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,173.93 1,179.36 17.72% 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 1,248.89 1,249.72 17.05% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.76% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 118.60 118.86 9.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 119.15 119.40 9.75% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.42 128.04 -15.72% 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 11.02% Legacy Debt Fund 3.61 3.61 11.34% Legacy Equity Fund 1.07 1.09 -12.46% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.08 1.08 4.48% 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 3,023.92 3,054.93 1.34% Coral Income Fund 3,058.33 3,058.33 11.59% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 12.77% 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 11.04% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.18 2.21 1.22% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 13.40% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.85 140.99 12.72% 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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.35 1.37 9.26% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.25 12.30 9.41% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 13.34% PACAM Equity Fund 1.06 1.06 PACAM EuroBond Fund 102.44 104.46 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 127.72 129.17 6.14% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 12.29% 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 2,449.98 2,461.11 5.81% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 208.77 208.77 12.16% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.84 0.85 -11.05% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 271.53 271.62 11.89% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 144.84 146.21 -11.29% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 11.10% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,453.95 7,532.96 -12.25% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.15 1.15 6.41% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 101.56 101.56 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 1.17 1.19 -0.17% United Capital Bond Fund 1.72 1.72 15.99% United Capital Equity Fund 0.65 0.67 -11.23% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.53% United Capital Eurobond Fund 110.94 110.94 8.26% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.07 5.78% 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 10.03 10.18 -11.13% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.43 11.61 -8.69% Zenith Income Fund 22.67 22.67 12.12% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.40%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

5.40 118.22 53.38

-44.85% 6.36% 3.17%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

7.99 88.75 70.13

8.09 90.67 71.46

-19.43% -21.56% -18.25%

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 4.86 11.80 3.57 4.86

3.61 4.94 11.90 3.61 4.94

-10.59% -36.01% -19.21% -10.59% -36.01%

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.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 • T H I S D AY

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Senate to Probe Gencos, Discos over Unstable Power Supply Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday resolved to probe Nigeria’s electricity generating companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos) over the deteriorating state of power supply in the country.

It has, therefore, mandated its Committee on Power headed by former Governor of Benue State, Senate Gabriel Suswan, to

within four weeks, investigate the activities of the power generating and distribution companies with a view to unravelling the cause of unsteady power supply in Nigeria.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled “Addressing Nigeria’s power problems”, sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who disclosed that Nigeria, with a population of 200 million and an annual growth rate of

FG Unveils Measures to Strengthen NBC, Sanction Hate Broadcasts The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has announced plans that would ensure the amendment of the Act establishing the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in order to reposition the commission and realign it to the current realities in the broadcasting industry.

Mohammed made the announcement in Abuja recently when the received the report of the NBC’s Reforms Implementation Committee (RIC) from its Chairman, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba.

“Some 27 years into the life of the NBC, there is the need to re-evaluate the applicability of some of its laws.

Following the implementation framework presented to me, I will immediately commence the process of forwarding an executive bill for consideration of the Federal Executive Council and further legislative action.

“The bill will address the existing lacuna in the areas of the regulation of the internet, the ongoing Digital Switch Over, Digital Access Fee, and insulation of the regulator from partisan politics,” he said.

The minister said in the meantime, the NBC has been directed to immediately come up with regulations for the broadcast of content on the internet and the web, noting,

however, that the regulations must not in any way gag the press or hinder their universal role of providing valuable information to the citizenry.

He also said that in line with a presidential approval, the commission has been mandated to amend the Broadcasting Code to reflect the upward review of fines from N500,000 to N5,000,000 for breaches relating to hate speeches, inciting comments and indecency while willful repeat of infractions on three occasions, after the initial levying of fine on a station would attract suspension of license.

2.6 per cent, is the seventh most populous nation on earth.

According to him, the power generation or installed capacity of Nigeria in relation to its population and Gross Domestic Product cannot place the country to compete favourably in terms of development with other nations.

He, therefore, called on the federal government to find solutions to the power deficits faced by the country.

Citing Indonesia and Philippines as examples, the senator noted that both countries with a population of 267 million and 107 million, respectively, have installed power capacity of 60,000 megawatts and

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed condolence to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the death of a close aide, Alhaji Umar Pariya.

Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the Buhari’s major opponent in the presidential election held in February of this year.

The condolence was conveyed via a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Mbasogo, at State House, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented that Nigeria would have been earning more revenue from gas than from petroleum, if it had followed its own programme for exploiting its gas reserves.

The President made this confession yesterday when he hosted the Special Envoy of President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema

The Special Envoy, who also doubles as Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima, had brought a message from President Obiang on the forthcoming meeting of Heads of State of gas exporting nations, which Equatorial Guinea would be hosting.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media

Adesina.

In his reaction to the sad event, President Buhari said: “I received the news of the death of your close aide, Alhaji Pariya, with a heavy heart. It is very touching to lose such a personal aide of many years. May Allah grant you the strength to bear the irreparable loss. ‘‘May Allah grant his family the strength to absorb the impact of this death, forgive his shortcomings and reward his good deeds in the hereafter,” Buhari said.

FG Mulls Establishment of Rehab Centres to Tackle Illegal Detention Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it is high time Nigerians rose to the challenge of drugs and other social vices that are fast destroying the youths by helping to formulate strategy, legal framework as well as infrastructure that would help rehabilitate and reintegrate victims of drugs and other social vices in the country.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who lamented the plight of drugs addicts in various illegal detention centres across the country, invited members of the public to come by way of legal framework and policy that would assist the government address the issue.

Similarly, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Ishaq Bello, who described Illegal detention centres for drug addicts as a “Child of necessity”,

disclosed that the FCT has already commence move to establish standard rehabilitation centres that would see to the needs of drug addicts and other social misfits in the FCT. According to him parents were compelled to send their wards with drug issues to such illegal detention centres because of the absence of standard rehabilitation centres in the country.

Malami and Bello spoke yesterday at a press briefing on the proposed workshop on: Effective Implementation of the Correctional Service Act, recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“If there have been states’ institutional arrangement system, parents will not hand over their children to such centres”, he said, parents are compelled to do that because of lack of standard rehabilitation centres”.

Speaking on the achievements of the federal government in the area of prison de-congestion,

mix and renewables, particularly solar energy.

“The northern part of the country with vast expanse of land can tap into large solar farms while the southern parts of the country with significant reserves of natural gas and coal can generate power from same. Both the north and South have large water bodies that can still be dammed for hydro”.

He further posited that Nigeria can improve on its transmission infrastructure by up-scaling its networks from the current 330kv and 132kv to 765kv super grid to enable big power plants to send power through such grid over long distances.

Utazi added that beyond generation and transmission, Distribution Companies (Discos) lack the financial and technical capacities required, thereby resulting in their inability to pay for power which Generation Companies (Gencos) deliver to the grid.

Underscoring the motive behind the privatisation of the power sector in 2013, the senator emphasised that the objective in privatising power distribution assets was not to achieve highest financial bids, but rather to get capable companies that can achieve the lowest Average Technical Commercial and Collection losses within five years.

Nigeria Should Have Earned More from Gas Than Oil, Says Buhari

Buhari Commiserates with Atiku over Aide’s Death Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

generating capacity of 42,465 megawatts as well as installed capacity of 20,055 megawatts and generating capacity of 16,271 megawatts.

While expressing optimism that the nation can set a realisable target of generating capacity of 100,000 megawatts in the next 10 years, Utazi said same can be achieved through a mix of energy sources such as natural gas, hydro, coal, wind and renewable energy.

The Chairman of Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases added that the various zones in the country are naturally positioned to take advantage of the various energy

Malami disclosed that no less than 3, 768 inmates in 34 prisons across 16 states of the federation have been set free.

“The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in October 2017, constituted a Presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion Chaired by the Honourable Chief Judge, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Honourable Justice I.U Bello to fast-track the Decongestion of prisons.

“The Committee has since its inauguration visited and appraised about 34 prisons in sixteen (16) states. A total number of Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Eight (3,768), have been so far released during these visits via payment of fines for convicts for minor offences with the option of fine who are unable to pay the fines, general review of peculiar cases and advocacy overtures to relevant authorities”, he said.

and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president described Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea as a strategic partners.

“We share a lot of things in common with Equatorial Guinea.

These include geographical neighbourliness and neighbourliness in terms of resources. Nigeria is more of a gas producing, rather than oil producing country. That fact had long been established. If we

had followed our own plans, laid out in the 1970s, for the gas sector, we should have had 12 trains by early 1980s, instead of being on just six trains now,” Buhari declared.

The Special Envoy thanked Nigeria for the support she gave Equatorial Guinea to host the first summit of gas exporting countries in the world, taking place on African soil.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Nigeria Still Attractive for Investment Despite PSC Terms, Says ExxonMobil Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Managing Director of ExxonMobil in Nigeria, Mr. Paul McGrath, yesterday, said that the Nigerian oil industry and the economy in general, were still attractive for investment.

McGrath said this was despite the signing into law of the amended Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement from the Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, who is the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, McGrath, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), said this when he visited Sylva.

He reportedly assured that ExxonMobil would continue to deepen its partnership with Nigeria, and expressed optimism that the relationship with the

country would be profitable.

McGrath however, called on the federal government to step up efforts to address two critical needs of the petroleum industry, which included, certainty and business competitiveness.

He also pledged the commitment of his company to sustain the relationship with the government through the petroleum ministry.

“There is nobody who doesn’t want to invest in Nigeria,” McGrath reportedly said.

In his address, Sylva informed the ExxonMobil team that although the aim of the Nigerian government was to attract more investors in the oil and gas sector, it was careful to ensure that was not done at the expense of the long-term relationship that has been built over the years with existing investors.

The minister noted that the recently assented bill that amended the Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act was necessary in the light of the recognition of the current

2019 Budget: House Directs NDDC to Suspend all Payments, Summons Akpabio Adedayo Akinwale ín Abuja The House of Representatives has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to suspend all payments with immediate effect, except for personnel cost for allegedly operating the 2019 fiscal year without a budget approved by the National Assembly.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to investigate the failure and refusal of NDDC to submit its budget estimates for 2019 to the National Assembly for approval brought by Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

The House also summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to explain to the House why the commission has been spending monies which were not appropriated for and approved by the National Assembly.

Kalu, in the motion expressed concern that more than 13 months after the time required by law, the NDDC was yet to submit an estimate of its expenditure and income for the year 2019.

He said by this, the commission grossly failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, as well as the Fiscal Responsibility Act, stressing that the budget estimates should have been presented to the House before September 30, 2018.

Kalu noted that despite the commission’s failure to submit the 2019 budget estimates to the House, it has for a whole year been operating, making expenses and awarding contracts

further to its master plan, with certain awarded contracts worth N10 billion without an approved budget as required by the constitution and the enabling act.

The lawmaker emphasised that commission also violated the provisions of Section 82 of the 1999 Constitution as amended by incurring expenditure far beyond six months as required by law and had spent monies in excess of half the amount approved by the National Assembly in its 2018 budget.

Kalu said, “The delay in the submission and passage of the NDDC budget as well as the continued expenditure of the commission beyond the constitutional threshold amounts to fiscal indiscipline, engenders corruption and provides the platform for arbitrariness by the management of the commission.

Kalu cited section 80 (3) and (4) of the Constitution, which provides that “no money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the consolidated revenue fund of the Federation, unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an act of the National Assembly “No money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

The House therefore mandated the committee on NDDC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the commission in the past three years and report back within four weeks.

realities in the oil sector.

He applauded the partnership between ExxonMobil and

Nigeria, stating that “as partners in progress, frequent collaboration was important.”

He further encouraged ExxonMobil and other oil firms to endeavor to ensure full

representation at state events that will further cement their partnership with the government.

PUBLIC HEARING...

L-R: Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmud Isa Dutse, at the National Assembly Joint Finance Committee meeting on the proposed Finance Bill in Abuja...yesterday

DSS: Sowore InstigatingViolence from Detention Insists only sowore’s sureties can secure his release Falana: DSS still flouting court orders Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday alleged that the detained Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, was mobilising violence against the state from detention.

It said Sowore was making calls to mobilise violent action against the state.

DSS also maintained its line of argument that only Sowore’s sureties would secure his release.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Spokesman of the commission, Peter Afunanya, said the appropriate persons have not come for his release.

Afunanya said so far only protesters have come for his release.

He stated that only when administrative procedures were fulfilled would the commission

effect his release.

Afunanya said Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, had not been to the DSS office or being in touch with them since the issue of the bail started.

But THISDAY ran into the counsel to Sowore, Femi Falana (SAN) at the premises of DSS soon after the press briefing.

He told THISDAY that the DSS has refused to obey several court orders for Sowore’s release.

The human rights activist showed THISDAY a copy of a court order which he said DSS has flouted.

“I am here to see my client.

This is a court order. If they say a car will knock him (Sowore) down, look at my vehicle parked right here (DSS premises),” he said.

However, Afunanya argued “there is nothing that Sowore needs that we do not provide him. He has been using his phone

and making contacts and even using it to mobilise people and call for violence and call for action against the Nigerian state, and call for destruction of the Nigerian entity.

“When you throw a stone in the market place, you sure would not know on whose head it would land. Sowore has family members in Nigeria who go to local markets; he has relatives.

He has uncles and sisters. If you set a fire, of course, you may not know who will get the burnt,” Afunanya said.

Afunanya insisted that those who should come for proper documentation have not come.

“If Sowore was granted bail and was in our custody and we said yes you have been granted bail, now do we bring Sowore at the gate and ask him to go?

“Is it a discharge of responsibility that we do that?

What if Sowore was going on the road and was knocked down by a car. We said people who should take Sowore through proper documentation had not come and up till now they have not come”, he said.

DSS said it was receiving threats against its operatives and denied using live ammunition against protesters seeking the release of Sowore.

“Rather what some experienced persons, people who ordinarily should be respected, came out to say that some people came and did not see us, and we said this and that.

“That is not true. Miscreants, protesters and some people who were not parties, unqualified to stand and document properly and take responsibility that Sowore had been released to them, those were the kinds of person we saw”, he said.

21 Ibadan Kings Lose Crown as Ladoja, Oyo Govt Settle out of Court Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State Government has taken a major step to end the crisis between the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and 21 high chiefs, who were elevated to beaded-crown Obas by the immediate-past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi by withdrawing the crowns conferred on the high chief.

The withdrawal of their crowns was part of the conditions to settle the matter out of the court. The State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who inherited the matter, had opted for an out-of-court

settlement to restore peace between the Olubadan and the high chiefs.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 23 this year referred parties in the controversial coronation the kings back to the State High Court for the retrial of the case.

However, the parties in the suit in an out of court settlement dated 14 November, 2019, with number M/317/2017 and signed

by Michael Lana for High Chief Rasheed Ladoja as claimant and the state Director of Civil Litigation, Mr Laolu Ogunniran, for the defendants, agreed that the right to wear beaded crown

and coronet granted by the state government during the pendency of the suit have been revoked.

The terms of agreement presented before Justice A. Aderemi and made available to THISDAY yesterday read in part: “That all the gazettes affecting the chieftaincy laws of Ibadan land particularly gazette Nos14 Vol.42 of 23rd August 2017; 15 Vol. 42of 24 August 2017 and 3 Vol. 43 of 29th March 2018 and the subsequent elevation of high chiefs and Baale in Ibadan land as Obas during the pendency of this suit be and are hereby set aside.

“That the right to wear beaded crown and coronet granted by the state government during the pendency of the suit are hereby revoked. That the 1st defendant shall take steps to reconcile all parties involved in the chieftaincy matters to foster unity and harmony in the protection of the tradition of Ibadan land as relates to the chieftaincy laws of Ibadan land.”

Meanwhile the family heads in Ibadan land has described the out of court settlement as victory for the ancient city and its sons and daughters.

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PDP to Drag INEC, Police to Court over Kogi, Bayelsa Elections Condemns killing of women leader Chuks Okocha in Abuja A new dimension in election litigations will soon commence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it will file legal actions in court against officials of Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) and police for their various roles in the just concluded governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

According to it, the party said it would also file legitimate actions against identified INEC

House to List Electoral Act Amendment Bill Soon Adedayo Akinwale ín Abuja Following the fall-out of the recently concluded Bayesla and Kogi states governorship elections, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has said that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill would soon be listed for consideration in the House.

The Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the end of plenary yesterday.

The media briefing followed a statement made at the plenary by Hon. Leke Abejide (Kogi, ADC), saying that the whole House was in support of what happened at the last Saturday’s election.

But Elumelu swiftly raised a point of order, saying the minority caucus was not in support of the outcome of the elections.

Speaking on behalf of the minority caucus at the briefing, the minority leader stated categorically that the PDP caucus was not impressed with the mode of election, especially considering the loss of lives.

He said that election is not meant to lose lives because the essence of coming into governance is to represent the people, adding that if those that would be represented are killed, then who are political office holders going to represent.

According to him, “Take for instance, if you look at the videos that are going viral, PDP state woman leader in Kogi State was burnt alive in her house, Senator Dino Melaye in his unit, his nephew was killed and in Bayesla State, the same thing - ballot box snatching.

So, we came here for the purpose of registering that we are not in favour of the outcome of the election.”

“Because we have so many bills that are lined up for presentation, like that of Electoral Act will not go the novel, it will be something that will come under Committee of the Whole. It is already in process and very soon it will be listed.”

Also, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, said that the essence of the briefing was to share their concerns with regard to the trajectory of the democracy.

Buhari Forwards Six Aviation Bills to Senate PDP senator takes oath Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded six aviation sector bills to the Senate for consideration and passage into law.

This was coming as Senator Abdullahi Danbaba was sworn-in yesterday as a lawmaker, representing Sokoto South Senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The President had in a letter written to the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and read yesterday at plenary, stated inter alia: “Pursuant to Section 58 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I formally request that the following six Bills be considered for passage into law by the Senate.”

“The bills are: Civil Aviation Bill, 2019; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Bill, 2019; Nigerian College of Airspace Management Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2019; Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2019; Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2019; and Nigerian

Safety Investigation Bureau (Establishment) Bill, 2019,” the letter stated.

Lawan, after reading the executive letter, directed the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, to ensure that the bills are gazetted and distributed to all Senators.

Also yesterday, Danbaba, was sworn-in by the Clerk of the Senate.

The legislator was sworn-in shortly after the adoption of the upper chamber’s votes and proceedings of November 14.

Speaking after the new Senator was sworn-in, Senate President directed the Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to “give him a befitting seat.”

A Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto had on October 30 returned Danbaba of the PDP as Senator, representing Sokoto South in the National Assembly.

Justice Fredrick Oho set aside the judgment delivered by Sokoto State Election Petitions Tribunal which dismissed the appellant’s petition in favour of the respondent, Abubakar Shehu-Tambuwal of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

and security officials who aided the APC in the violent rigging of the election.

Specifically, PDP said: “Our party has been made aware of the roles played by the Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, as well as the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, in the governorship elections.”

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party also yesterday stated that the alleged violent rigging of the Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections by the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot stand.

The NWC in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, maintained that there was no way the PDP would fold its hands and watch the mandates clearly given to its candidates, Musa Wada in Kogi state and Senator Douye Diri in Bayelsa State, “left in the hands of repressive usurpers, manipulators and murderers.

“Indeed, the country is still in shock over the brazen show of violence, where security forces coordinated the invasion of polling units, shooting and killing of voters and carting away ballot boxes to government facilities where results were altered and

fictitious figures given to INEC to declare the APC candidates winners.

“Nigerians watched with horror as APC thugs and security forces traumatised and held voters hostage, murdered our compatriots, injured and maimed many in violent attacks that involved the deployment of police helicopters.”

According to the statement, PDP urged the INEC chairmanship and the security officials to do some introspections on the ‘anguish they have caused the people with the rigging of the elections,’ promising that NWC will never hesitate to expose such ignoble roles at the

appropriate time.

The party said the irreversible fact remains that though evil may appear to thrive for a while, truth and justice will always prevail in the end.

It said: “The APC and its candidates must bear in mind that what they could not get through the ballot box, they cannot get it by violence, manipulation and killing.”

The PDP said it remained undeterred in its determination to use all legitimate means available and allowed within the democratic practice to confront the ‘usurpers’ and retrieved its mandate in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

MARITIME SECURITY ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Chairman, Harrods Group, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba; representative of the Minister of State for Transport, Mrs Mary Hamman; representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Raji Oladele; Founder, NESH, Mr. Emeka Ugwu- Oju; and Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Obiageli Obi, at the NESH Maritime roundtable session in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

Report Carpets States for Opaque Budgetary Processes James Emejo in Abuja A report has highlighted the failure of most states of the federation to provide meaningful opportunities for the public to participate in the budget process.

The report said governments had not been transparent about how they raised and allocated funds and had not been held accountable for implementing decisions.

According to the 2018 Nigerian States Budget Transparency Survey Results launched yesterday by the Civil Resource Development

and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), only two states: Jigawa and Anambra, out of the 36 states surveyed offered genuine participation opportunities.

The report expressed concerns that without opportunities for citizens’ active participation, particularly citizens from marginalised or vulnerable groups, budget systems may only serve the interests of powerful elites.

It noted that most of the states provided minimal information on the budget, few spaces for public participation, and limited information on the procurement

process.

Speaking at the public presentation of the report, CIRDDOC Lead Researcher/ Project Coordinator, Ralph Ndigwe, said budget debates were often relegated to economists and other experts, limiting the broader public’s input on the sources of public resources, how they should be spent, and who should benefit from public expenditure.

“All citizens have the right to participate in the budget process and to know where public resources come from, how they are spent, and how expenditure is

linked to achieving development goals,” he said.

He added that though the overall score had improved by three points when compared to 2015 survey results with an average score of 29, most states didn’t publish enough budget information, saying states have limited spaces for citizens to be involved in the budget process, or be provided with minimal information.

According to him, 13 states had almost no budget information, nonexistent spaces for public consultation, and opaque procurement processes.

Appeal Court Reserves Judgment on Tambuwal’s Election Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto A Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto yesterday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the All progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, challenging the election of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sokoto, through his lead counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon SAN, pleaded the Appellate Court on 35-ground to upturn the

judgement of lower tribunal which affirmed the election of Tambuwal.

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Abbas Bawale on October 2 upheld the election of Tambuwal and dismissed the petition filed

by APC and its candidate for lack of merits.

Dissatisfied with the decision of tribunal, Sokoto approached the Court of Appeal, praying the court to set aside the tribunal judgement.

When the case came up for hearing before the five-man panel, the appellant urged the court to determine the case based on its merit.

The lead counsel to the second respondent, S. I. Ahamed SAN, together with the counsel to first and third respondents, T. M. Inuwal and Oluwayo Akinbolu, both SANs, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.

In another development the counsel to the second respondent filed a cross-appeal, challenging

the eligibility of the appellant which the counsel to appellant strongly opposed, saying the matter had been resolved by the Supreme Court in the case between President Muhammadu Buhari and former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

Listening to the arguments, the presiding judge, Justice Usaini Mukhtar, said the court has reserved judgment, saying the date would be communicated to both parties.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Fake Policemen Disrupted Polls in Bayelsa, Kogi, Says IG The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has said that the ‘policemen’ alleged to have disrupted

Saturday’s governorship poll in parts of Bayelsa and Kogi States were “fake” and not the personnel officially

deployed for election duties.

Adamu stated that all security personnel, who worked during the poll had

“special identification tags”, adding that anyone without the tags was on illegal duty.

He spoke with State House

Correspondents after President Muhammadu Buhari and security chiefs held a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

However, he said an investigation was ongoing, while 11 arrests had been made.

Aviation Union Threatens to Shut down Ghana’s Ex-president, Mahama Arik Operations over Sack of Workers Appeals to FG to Open Borders Chinedu Eze The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has threatened to shut down Arik Air’s operations nationwide for sacking its staff members in Uyo station without due process.

The union gave Nigeria’s major carrier one-week ultimatum to recall the workers, numbering about 14, or it would ground its domestic and regional operations.

Arik Air in a letter titled “Compulsory Leave of Absence,” obtained by THISDAY and signed by Arik’s Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, Ijeoma Ije-okereke, had directed that the workers should go for six months leave of absence with effect from November 15, 2019 without benefits.

“In view of the suspended operations in Uyo station, you are required to proceed on six months (182 days) leave of

absence without pay with effect from November 15, 2019.

“Please note that during this period, you shall not be entitled to any benefits”.

She urged the affected workers to hand over all company property in their possession to the Station Manager who will forward them to Human Resources.

“Please note that you are not expected to be in the office within this period of absence,” the letter said.

Reacting to the sack, the President of NUATE, Ben Nnabue told THISDAY that the union had written to the airline to rescind its decision and recall the workers.

Nnabue described the sack as inhuman and very harsh and alleged that Arik Air has not been treating its workers well, noting that the airline has not agreed with the union on the condition of service of its workers since the past one and

half years.

“We received this letter from Arik in which they sacked their workers in Uyo station in the most inhuman manner. We have written to them and given them ultimatum to recall the workers within one week or we shut down their operations.

“For one and half years, Arik Air has not agreed with the union on the condition of service of its staff. We hope that they will recall the workers, but if they don’t we shut down all the operations, both local and regional services,” Nnabue said.

Arik Air official, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said the airline has not been operating to Uyo for the past one year, adding that it has been paying the workers.

“So, it was because the indigenous carrier shut down the Uyo Station that it decided to disengage the workers there,” he added.

Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, yesterday appealed to the Nigeria government to open up her border so that economic activities can resume in West Africa.

Mahama made the plea while delivering the seventh anniversary lecture, investiture into The Realnews Hall of Fame and the unveiling of the Book: Pathways to Political and Economic Development of Africa in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the title of the lecture is `Beyond Politics: An Economic Narrative for West Africa’.

He said that the total closure of, especially, the Benin border was having a significant toll on many small and medium businesses especially in Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire that relied on inter-country trade.

“I am sure that businesses in Nigeria that rely on supplies from these countries are also suffering.

“With the signing of the joint border task force agreement between Nigeria and her neighbours, I will like to take this opportunity to appeal to Nigeria to open up her border so that economic activities can resume,” he said.

Mahama said as a former Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States, and Authority of Heads of State and Government, he had an abiding interest in the progress of ECOWAS and its people.

He noted that it was not by accident that Nigeria was home to the headquarters of the ECOWAS and the largest economy in West Africa.

According to him, the import of the following quote from the objective principles

for the establishment of ECOWAS cannot be lost on us.

“ECOWAS was set up to foster the ideal of collective self-sufficiency for its member states.

“As a trading union, it is also meant to create a single, large trading bloc through economic cooperation.

“Integrated economic activities as envisaged in the area revolve around but are not limited to industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial issues, social as well as cultural matters,” he said.

The ex-president expressed optimism that as an economic and regional bloc, a lot of economic opportunities were available to ECOWAS and they must take advantage of them.

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Oil Producers, MAN, ICAN Fault Provisions of Executive Finance Bill House members shun public hearing

Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Oil producers under the aegis of Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI); Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) have opposed some provisions of the 2019 Finance Bill the executive sent last month to the National Assembly for approval.

This is coming just as the members of the House of Representatives committee on Finance yesterday shunned the public hearing on the 2019 Finance Bill organised by the National Assembly joint committee on Finance.

The three organisations in separate presentations yesterday at the public hearing on the Nigeria Tax and Fiscal Law (Amendment) Bill (The Finance Bill) 2019 opposed the introduction of additional taxes as well as other provisions of the bill.

On its part, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), was of the view that additional taxes, such as those proposed in the Bill, “will further increase oil production costs and tax burden, thereby constituting another significant challenge to Nigeria’s attractiveness for new investment.”

The group in a presentation by its Chairman, Paul McGrath, stressed that the additional taxes will further erode Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global oil and gas industry to the advantage of other countries. Nigeria, according to him, is currently struggling to attract investment in the oil & gas sector, having received only three per cent out of the $73 billion of major project

investments in Africa from 2015 to 2019.

OPTS identified some key areas of concern that could significantly erode Nigeria’s competitiveness which include Section 5 & 26, introducing 7.5-10 per cent withholding tax (WHT) on dividends paid out of petroleum profits which would increase the tax liability in addition to the pre-existing 85 per cent PPT rate and erode returns on investment.

“OPTS suggests that this proposal be removed from the Bill, and instead considered within the wider context of a Petroleum Industry Bill, so that its full implications for all stakeholders can be assessed and decided upon.

“In Sections 3(c), and 3(d) the definition of the profits of a foreign company subject to Nigerian corporate income tax with significant economic presence has been expanded in such a way that intra-company transactions are now likely to be subject to WHT of 10 per cent. The determination of what constitutes significant economic presence of a company has been left to the discretion of the Minister.

He further submitted that “it is our view that we should address taxation within a holistic fiscal package consistent with Federal Government of Nigeria’s objectives of sustainable long-term growth”.

MAN, in a presentation by Rasaq Okulaja canvassed for the exemption of companies with less than N20million capital base from company income tax.

He said payment of stamp duty should be for transactions from N100,000 and above.

While backing the introduction of tax on luxury items, MAN, however, called for caution on

Gbajabiamila Swears in Chidoka, Okwu, Ogah Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday sworn in the trio of Samson Okwu, Obinna Chidoka and Chinedu Ogah.

Gbajabiamila, during the plenary, supervised the oath-taking conducted for the three members by the Clerk of the House, Patrick Giwa.

Chidoka was sworn in after a Court ofAppeal in Enugu had sacked Ifeanyi Ibezi, who was the candidate of theAll Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) representing Idemili North and Idemili South federal constituencies of Anambra State.

The court in a unanimous

judgment declared Chidoka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the authentic winner of the election conducted in February 2019.

Also, Okwu, a member of the PDP was equally sworn in after an Appeal Court recently upheld his victory as the winner of the 2019 House of Representatives election for Oju/Obi federal constituency in Benue State, and nullified the election of David Ogewu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ogah of the APC was sworn in after the Court of Appeal in Enugu sacked Hon. Lazarus Ogbee, representing Ikwo/Ezza South federal constituency of Ebonyi State in the House.

Esther Amopelola Adetola for Burial The families Adetola and Odugbose have released the funeral arrangements of their mother and sister, Mrs. Esther Amopelola Adetola.

Mrs. Adetola died recently at the age of 80.

According to the families, on November 22, funeral service would take place at the Apostolic

Church Nigeria, Kojola Assembly, Ibafo District Centre, Olorunda Area, No. 1 Church Street, Kajola Quarters, off Gani Mechanic, Ibafo, Ogun State.

They added that the reception would hold at Hebron Dayspring Private School, Asiwaju, Liberty Estate, Ibafo, Ogun State.

the part of government not to drive away genuine investors.

Also speaking, ICAN President, Nnamdi Okwuadigbo, canvassed for the review of using turnover only as a criteria for exempting a small firm from Company Income Tax (CIT). According to him, there are companies which are

viable with turnover less than N25 million and could be brought to the tax net “while a company may have a high turnover but less viable and the tax rate for companies with turnover of over N100 million should be clearly stated”.

While supporting the proposed linking of Tax Identification

Number (TIN) with the bank account, he however stated that the informal sector of the economy which supports the main sector is usually left out of the tax net “as taxing such class of service providers, will not invalidate the federal government noble gesture of supporting the SMEs”.

Okwuadigbo emphasised

that while ICAN appreciates that Petroleum Profit Tax is a legal fiscal tool of the federal government, “it should also be noted that corporate bodies with shareholders are expected to pay dividends to their shareholders as continuous failure to pay dividends can lead to the eventual reduction of the value of stock holding by shareholders.

CRIMINALS IN TROUBLE…

L-R: General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General John Olubunmi Irefin; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu; and Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi, during the flag off of Exercise of Crocodile Smile IV, by 81 Division of Nigeria Army, at Tarkwa Bay, Lagos...yesterday KOLA OLASUPO

Museveni, Fowler,Tax Experts Speak on Africa’s Revenue Future President Youweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, Mr Tunde Fowler and Logan Wort, Chairman and Executive Secretary, respectively of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), have shared the thoughts on how Africa can increase its revenue yields gain freedom from dependence on foreign aids, loans and handouts.

The trio spoke yesterday in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, during the fourth International Conference of Tax in Africa.

Speaking at the conference, which was attended by over 500 taxation specialists, Museveni called for an end to the taxation of production. The Ugandan leader urged African countries to tax consumption, property pay and greater attention to integrity in recruiting tax agencies’ staff.

On his part, Fowler called on

African countries focus more on how to stem Illicit Foreign Flows (IFF), taxing rights of African consumers of goods produced in different parts of the world as well as tracking such transactions online and paying sustained attention to expanding the capacity of tax authority staff towards curtailing financial haemorrhaging.

Fowler, who is also Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Joint Tax Board (JTB), also called for support from African leaders on how to influence, global discussions through policy formulation, technical inputs and how the continent can navigate new technologies to increase efficiency in tax administration.

Wort, ATAF’s Executive Secretary, noted that Africa will continue to lose huge slices of the revenue if it fails to pay attention

to over 139 million Facebook and 500 million mobile phone users as well as online transactions, which are estimated to contribute $110 billion to the continent’s GDP next year.

The trio and a Professor Anne Ogutu of the African Tax Institute, who spoke on the challenges of taxing the digital economy. They warned that in a world in which the economy is no longer obeying the tax rule of where you reside as a basis for levying tax, one in which consumers and, at times, taxpayers and businessmen are stateless, there has to be a radical review of tax policy and practice in Africa. Otherwise, they said, the continent will miss out on the revenue from the global digital economy.

“We should know what to tax and why. I don’t support taxation of production. The point is that if

production is not taxed, people will have more money in their pockets to spend. I know that if Ugandans have money in their pockets, in the evening or at weekend, they will go and relax. You can then collect tax when they go and take some drinks,” Museveni said.

He disagreed with his Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, that those carrying out electronic transaction or even cryptocurrency cannot be traced.

“It is not difficult to trace electronic transaction. When you do any transaction, you leave some traces. Once you go electronic, it is very easy to trace you. If you don’t want to be traced, you better don’t go electronic,” said the Ugandan President.

He urged tax practitioners to determine how Africa can harness the footprints which exist online for tax purposes.

Dickson inaugurates 41-memberTransition Committee Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson has inaugurated a 41-member Transition Committee, saying that it was in readiness for a smooth takeover of the incoming administration.

The committee has the Secretary to the State Government, Kemela Okara as Chairman, Talford Ongolo, Deputy Chairman and Secretary, Mr. Luka Obiri.

The governor said the committee was the first of its kind in the history of the state.

A statement by his Chief Press secretary, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said

the constitution of the Transition Committee was in line with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dickson said the governorship election ‘purportedly’ won by the APC is a charade, noting that irrespective of the outcome of the several initiatives being taken by the PDP, there was still need for a proper handover process to be initiated.

He said: “knowing that what transpired is not an election, we have to set up a transition committee.

The first time in democratic rule and I thank God for the grace and enablement for making this possible for eight years and with a lot of

achievements”.

He said the purpose of the committee is to articulate, record and document all the policies, programmes, projects and achievements of the restoration administration in all sectors in almost eight years.

He said: “the purpose is to articulate and record all that we have achieved and done in all sectors as a state and that’s why all commissioners are part of this committee to enable you present a scorecard of all our policies and programmes both completed and ongoing projects”.

He said that it is the outcome of

this work that would be handed over in various forms to the incoming government.

He said the achievements of his government would be a testimony and Bayelsans are assured of continually enjoying the dividends of democracy.

He thanked members of the committee for their diligence, sacrifice and manner they served his administration.

In his address,the chairman of the committee, Okara, stated that the purpose of the transition committee, is to prepare ground for smooth takeover of the incoming administration.

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2019 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Court Orders IG to Release Details of 80,115 Ghost Policemen Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to release the details of the 80,115 ghost officers said to have been discovered in the police formations and commands in 2018.

Delivering judgment in a Freedom of Information request suit filed by a civil society

organisation, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), requesting from the IG information on the details of the list of 80,115 ghost officers, Justice Binta Nyako, ordered the IG to release the information which the police authorities had refused to release.

In the judgment which was delivered on October 22, 2019, Justice Nyako ordered the police helmsman to immediately release

Project Positive Image of Nigeria, Fashola Tasks Civil Servants Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has challenged civil servants in Nigeria to project a positive image of the country, saying a lot was required from them due to their privileged position.

The minister’s admonition was conveyed in Abuja yesterday at the 2018 recognition and reward ceremony of his ministry.

Fashola, in his keynote address, which he turned into an interactive session, sought ideas from the audience, predominantly made up of staff of the ministry, who should be referred to as ‘government’.

Satisfied with the feedback, the minister went on to deliver his lecture that transforming the country was a collective effort of all civil/public servants from the least to the highest person.

He told his audience that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of lifting 100 million

Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years could be easily achieved and even surpassed it if everyone diligently carries out his or her own duty at the appropriate time.

According to him, civil servants are better placed to help lift the country out of poverty because of the catalytic role they play in governance.

He described civil servants as the conscious image of Nigeria, urging them to project a positive image of the country through their dressing, conduct, patriotism and dedication to duty.

The minister noted that each time a civil servant fails to treat a document at the right time or appropriately, the country would be losing something, appealing to them to show more commitment as those who were being honoured.

He said it was good to reward excellence, explaining that he was happy that Civil Service Rules recognise reward for outstanding service.

to the group, information, including the names and contact addresses of the “ghost officers” and their ranks.

She also ordered the IG to release the bank account numbers, bank verification numbers, monthly salaries and emoluments and the total money paid to each one of them.

The court also ordered the IG to pay to CSJ, the sum of N500,000 as damages for earlier denying the group access to the information.

The Lead Director of CSJ, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, recalled in a statement yesterday that his

organisation had sent a Freedom of Information request to the IG on April 3, 2018, requesting information on the details of the list of 80,115 ghost officers.

He noted that the then Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had disclosed the information about the existence of the ghost workers in her presentation on the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System(IPPIS) to the Federal Executive Council on March 21, 2018.

The IG was said to have failed to release the information and

give reasons for its inability to grant the request to CSJ. The development forced the organisation to, through its lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Nnajiaka, file the suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/493/2018, praying for an order compelling the IG to release the information to it.

The IG refused to file any defence in the suit.

In her judgment delivered on October 22, 2019, the judge held among others, that, “denying the applicant access to the details of the list of 80,115 ghost officers recently discovered in the police formations and command through

the implementation of the IPPIS without explanation constitutes an infringement of the applicant’s right guaranteed and protected

by Section 1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.”

The judge also made an order of mandamus compelling the IG to “grant access to the list of 80,115 ghost officers recently discovered in the police formations and command through the implementation of the IPPIS”.

It also ordered the respondent to paytotheapplicantthesumofN500,000 as damages for denying the applicant access to information.

WORTHY HONOUR…

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako– Oyedele; Assistant General Manager, Human Asset Management/ Administration, Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, Mr. Anthony Sule; and Head, External Relations, Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant, Pastor Joseph Alabi, during the presentation of award for ‘Best Contributing Employer in Resource Development and Revenue Generation in 2018,’ to Dangote Cement

Violence: 400 CSOs Demand Cancellation of Kogi Election A coalition of over 400 civil rights organisations under the aegis of Transition Monitoring Group yesterday said it would write the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands and other organs of the United Nations to complain about the violence and killings which trailed the recent elections in Kogi State.

The decision may not be unconnected with the killing of a Woman Leader of a political party

in Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, Acheju Abuh who was reportedly burnt alive in her home on Monday.

While calling for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the elections held in Kogi State, the TMG stressed the need for an urgent national conversation and “a public hearing of a sort where Nigerians can voice their minds on the way forward on our elections in Nigeria.”

“There is urgent need for election

offences commission while asking that all fingered in the attacks be brought to book”, TMG said.

The organisation said its overall preliminary assessment shows that several of the old challenges that featured in previous elections were again extant in the governorship and Senatorial Rerun elections held in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

The chairperson of TMG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, in its preliminary statement on the

November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, said the processes were marred by irregularities including unaccredited voters, snatching and destruction of election materials.

She said, “The situation during the elections in Kogi was worrisome, given the attendant frustration and fear unleashed on various citizens who were faced with electoral intimidation, violence and killings as the case may be in the state.

Peterside: NIMASA Contributed N16bn to Consolidated Revenue Fund Adedayo Akinwale ín Abuja The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Peterside Dakuku has revealed that his agency has contributed the sum of N16 billion to the consolidated revenue fund in 2019.

He disclosed this yesterday while giving account of the 2019 budget performance before the House of Representatives’ Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration.

He added that the agency exceeded the initial target of N12 billion.

Dakuku stressed that 133 per cent increment was achieved due to a number of measures put in place by the agency such as

effective monitoring of vessels, enforcement of laws, increased surveillance and debt recoveries.

He stated: “As at October 31, we contributed N16 billion to consolidated revenue fund.

We have since increased our contribution and in that contribution we have exceed our budget target. We have achieved 133 per cent of what is expected of us. Paying to the consolidated revenue fund, Nigeria will have resources to build roads, railways and develop infrastructure.

“We were able to achieve that because of a number of measures we put in place- effective monitoring of vessels, enforcement of laws. We have also automated our pay systems. We have also commenced surveillance system.

We have also commenced effective debt recovery programme”.

The Director General also revealed that the agency was working seriously to ensure the review of existing maritime laws in the country to meet up contemporary demands of the industry, stressing that Executive Bills on Maritime laws amendment would soon be sent to National Assembly.

Dakuku explained that N110.84 billion was budgeted as targeted revenue for 2019 out of which N 83.49 billion representing 74 per cent was realised, while N20 billion was spent out of the N28 billion allocated for the mandatory Maritime Fund.

While giving the breakdown of the expenses for the 2019

budget, the Dakuku said that N20 billion was budgeted for personal emolument and N15.2 billion has been spent, while overhead was allocated N24 billion but only N12 billion have been spent.

He stressed that capital expenditure was pegged at N18 billion with only N1.5 billion spent, noting that many contractors have not commenced work even though contracts have been awarded, adding that the agency also released N2.5 billion to the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Lynda Ikpeazu, commended the agency for exceeding its targeted contribution to the consolidated revenue fund.

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Delta Constitutes Committee on New Minimum Wage Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba As controversy rages over the new National Minimum Wage, particularly as it relates to the consequential variation across different salary cadres, Delta State Government has constituted a high-powered committee to work with organised labour towards implementing a new minimum wage for the state public service.

Delta State Secretary to the Government (SSG), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday in Asaba, noted that the state government was passionate about the wellbeing of its workforce, especially the public servants in the state, adding that the governor had directed

Buhari Launches Clean Nigeria Campaign Udora Orizu in Abuja In a bid to end the menace of open defecation in Nigeria by 2025, President Muhammadu Buhari has launched a national programme tagged: ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the toilet’ campaign.

During the national launch of the campaign in Abuja yesterday, the president noted that the Clean Nigeria campaign is a national transformative programme to mobilise the country towards imbibing the culture of safe and sustainable sanitation.

Buhari, who was represented

by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, stated that the campaign would be backed by an executive order which would give effect to its implementation, adding that citizens must take action to avoid open defecation.

According to him, “There’s no need to debate the point that sanitation is a major public health concern, and that poor sanitation adversely impacts all. The launch of the national action plan for the revitalisation of the sector and the declaration of a state of emergency by the president last year was among the many initiatives of the government in addressing the challenges confronting the sector.

“The national action plan is phased into emergency recovery and revitalisation stages. In this emergency phase of the action plan, it’s our desire to aggressively mobilise the entire country towards ending the practice of open defecation.

“The target 6.2 of SDG goal seeks to achieve by 2030 access to sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open defecation. The Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet campaign is part of our efforts to fast-track our progress to ensure that we can achieve this goal by 2025.”

He lamented that between 2016 and 2019, only 14 local government areas out of 774 have been declared open defecation-free, which according to him, is a far cry from the target of making Nigeria open defecation-free by 2025.

Speaking further, Buhari expressed optimism that the campaign would trigger state and local governments to launch their own mass mobilisation of citizens of their states towards the target goal that has been set.

that discussion with the organised labour should commence without further delay.

The committee would put heads together with the labour unions to fashion out a mutually agreeable scheme based on the new minimum wage that would optimally benefit Delta State workers.

The committee, which has the SSG as chairman, included other members such as the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Olorogun David Edebvie; Delta State Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko; and Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor, Prof. Sylvester Monye.

Others are: the state Commissioner for Finance, Sir Fidelis Tilije; Chairman of Civil Service Commission, Dame Nkem Okwuofu; Chairman, Local

Government Bureau for Pensions, Mr. Ben Igo; and Permanent Secretary Office of the Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr. Jerome Morka; who would serve

as the secretary to the minimum wage committee.

Okowa had, during the May Day (May 1) celebration with workers in Asaba, assured them of his

administration’s readiness to pay the N30,000 announced as new minimum wage by President Muhammadu Buhari in April this year.

The state government has also

assured of the payment of the new minimum wage after the determination of the new scale based on consequential variation.

Entrepreneurs Advocate Support for the Next Titan Show A group of young entrepreneurs, under the auspices of Hype Communications, have called on governments, corporate organisations and nongovernmental agencies to support Nigerian entrepreneurs and programmes that benefit entrepreneurship.

The entrepreneurs also claimed that the Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSME) were the most neglected in the country, with little

or no support. He regretted that programmes designed to incubate business ideas and offer growth support to MSMEs, such as The Next Titan Nigeria Reality TV show, were often neglected.

According to them, past winners of shows such as The Next Titan reality TV show, which is currently in its 6th season, have gone on over the years to become employers of labour who are contributing massively to the

development of the country’s GDP Director of Media, Hype Communications, Catherine Agbo, in a statement, pointed out that available statistics from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria has over 37 million MSMEs who employ over 54 million skilled and unskilled

labour and contribute about 54 per cent of the country’s GDP. She regretted that unlike in other countries where entrepreneurship and business reality TV shows enjoy a lot of attention and popularity among citizens of such countries who leverage on such shows to develop their mindsets, the reverse is the case in Nigeria where such shows enjoy little attention.

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TRIBUTE

Tribute to Goodluck Jonathan at 63 Azibaola Robert Dear Brother, on your 60th birthday, I wrote you an open letter titled, To My Brother, A Man Of Courage, Happy Birthday!. Two years have gone by since then and today you are 62 years. Happy birthday brother again! As I was a witness to your Presidency story, I have promised to tell it in instalments, as much as I know it. On your 62nd birthday, I am minded writing you another piece: 'My Brother And His Civil Society,' as part-fulfilment of my promise. As it is customary in your nature, you may not again find this palatable, but you know I, too, will be 51years in few months and should have the right to my views without deferring to you on this.

Dear brother Goodluck Jonathan, it is my pleasure to once again salute you in honour of your immortal being; peace-lover, nation builder! Lover of all tribes. You tried to make Nigeria work as a unified entity. And in spite of everything, you still love it! This year, I want to tell a story of your Presidency and the civil society. I hope you will agree with me that your government was the government of the civil society, which also helped ‘burnt’ it down. Please let me expatiate.

Needless to remind you that by 1993, the Nigerian civil society, in collaboration with the students' movement and the media, had become the most potent force against military rule in Nigeria. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS); the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO); the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP); the Campaign for Democracy (CD); the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), together with the media houses such as Tell, TheNews magazines, and others had become the tormentors of the military rulers then.

This came to a crescendo in 1995, when Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed. With the relentless mass protests led by the fierce human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Chima Ubani, both of blessed memory, and several others, including yours truly, the Nigerian government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar finally agreed to a transition which eventually led to civil rule in 1999.

The lead-up to the elections saw the civil society divided against itself whether or not to participate and field candidates in the elections. In the end, majority of the civil society actors voted for boycott, for lack of trust in the military and military-supervised elections.

Years later, the civil society was to regret that singular decision. They had a golden opportunity to seize power but let it slip through their hands. Olusegun Obasanjo became an elected President. Without any help from the civil society, he kept them at bay. This was followed by President Umaru Yar’Adua who, himself, had minimal interaction with the civil society.

You, Goodluck Jonathan, came. From your background as an environmentalist, you had a different orientation and attitude to the civil society. You had nothing but respect for the invaluable work they do to help society, keep alive and keep government in check. I can safely say that the civil society was your constituency.

You were at home with people of the civil society background. Oronto Douglas, of blessed memory, a renowned Niger Delta activist and pro-democracy veteran, was your Man Friday. He, Oronto, was a 360-degree mirror of the civil society and their worldview of how Nigeria should be. Oronto brought with him Ima Niboro, a prominent journalist who was in the trenches during the ‘war’ against military rule. He became your spokesman.

I, being your brother and being a member of the civil society myself, also lurked around the corner. Then, Von Kemedi, another of your tribesman also known for his active role in NGO works had substantial access to you.

Very soon the number swelled.

Reuben Abati, a cult-like figure and dogged writer who espoused the ideals of society, later joined to become your SA Media. With these in the fray, your speeches and actions were more pro-people than any other President in the history of Nigeria. When you said: ‘’My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian’’, you spoke from your upbringing and lifestyle. When you said: ‘’No Nigerian will go on exile under my watch’’, you echoed your real being. You lived it. When you signed the freedom of information bill into law, you followed your heart. These were same ideals the civil society craved.

When you set out to plant 10 million trees in the Sahara Desert stretch of northern fringes of Nigeria devastated by desert encroachment, it was because of your nature as an environmentalist. The Great Green Wall, as it was called, was to prevent desertification from encroaching the Nigeria frontline states of Kebbi, Zamfara, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Adamawa, Bauchi, Katsina, Borno, Sokoto and Kano. It was to be a 15km wide, 1,500km long stretch of trees and shrubs cover.

Thank you for planning for generations yet unborn.

At the launch of the Great Green Wall in 2007, you were quoted to have said:�Those who live near desert areas always live in a high degree of poverty. Those who live in riverine areas are so degraded and polluted, always live in poverty.

Those that live in forest areas where the soil is alright can easily plant and harvest forest trees. So, I said, this Great Green Wall must be created. We are just starting, in the next 25 to 30 years when this greenbelt would be matured, you will see that the people living in this corridor will have sustained sources of income.�

Jonathan The then governor of Kebbi State Governor Sa’idu Dakingari is quoted by the The News to have said in his remarks that:“Jonathan had written a book on environmental issues of concern in Nigeria. The launch of the programme was therefore part of the President’s personal environmental activism to address the current global challenges of climate change as it affects Nigeria.�

In June 2010 it was time for you to appoint an INEC chairman. Two prominent members of the civil society, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and Prof Attahiru Jega were the front-runners for the position. Although you chose Jega against Agbakoba, his appointment was a win-win for Nigeria’s civil society. Jega would soon flood the Commission with members of his constituency - the civil society and the academia. He also established a robust relationship with the international funding agencies and election monitors.

It was historic. For the first time in Nigeria, the civil society oversaw the organising of elections in Nigeria: the 2011 and 2015 elections. Thank you, Sir. You made it possible. I am wondering when the civil society will plan and conduct Nigerian elections again!

Your appointments of members of the civil society did not end there. You appointed Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the composition of which included Mrs. Olufunmilayo Falana. You appointed Dr. Sam Amadi as Chairman, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Barr.

Ledum Mitee of MOSOP became the Chairman of Nigeria Transparency Extractive Industry Initiative (NEITI). All front members of the civil society.

Oronto was a magnet of sorts for the civil society, social media advocates, mainstream media gurus and Nollywood gladiators. Names like comrades Nnimmo Bassey, Solomon Asemota, Yinka Odumakin, Samuel Aruwan, Lola Shoniyi, Ankio Briggs, Eno Akpan, Akimbode Oluwafemi, Simon Kolawole, Philip Jakpor, Tony Uranta, Justina Obi, Obasi Akpa, Peter Mozie, Toyosi Akerele, Akin Osintokun, Amara Nwankpa, Bishop Hassan Kukah, Owens Wiwa, Bamidele Aturu (of blessed memory), amongst several others, were his regular callers. All of whom had direct or indirect access to you through him.

Sir, I reflect with nostalgia, during the fuel subsidy protest of 2012. When I saw the preponderance of civil society people disparaging you, it was obvious that they were setting fire on their own house - their Government.

Instead of consolidating on the gains they have made in your Government they set it in motion to destroy it.

Permit me to share this. The week before that infamous protest, you held a personal interactive session with the who-is-who in the civil society in Nigeria. Coordinated

by Oronto, you had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and a host of several other ministers. Explanations were made in detail why fuel subsidy was Nigeria’s nemesis. Although it was the view of some of the attendees that the proposed date be shifted for more consultations, no one was in doubt whether scrapping fuel subsidy was not the right thing to do in the interest of Nigeria. It was your courage to scrap it whether your government was toppled or not. I was thoroughly amused when I saw those who participated in that meeting on the platforms of the Lagos protests raining hailstones at you.

My friend, a front-line activist of same Lagos axis, of whom I shall not name here, holding a private meeting with you is worthy of mention here. I suppose that was the

night of 30th of December 2011 or so. On my prompting, you requested to see him. My friend, I was told by Mitee, who coordinated the meeting, flew in from Ado-Ekiti. He was accompanied by Mitee to that meeting. I remember how tired you were that night but however managed to take the meeting. After that, I dropped him off at the Hilton where I had made arrangement for his accommodation and logistics back to base. A few days later, I saw him on national TV leading a protest of the now infamous N65 or REVOLUTION NOW! Lagos fuel subsidy rally.

Brother, I have been minding asking him if he told the rest of the community with whom he protested that he met you the previous day on this issue.

At the National Conference, you gave the civil society unprecedented delegates of over 30 members spread across Nigeria. Names like Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Mallam Nasir Kura, Jaye Gaskia, Abubakar Saidiqu Ibrahim, Dudu Paloma, Festus Okoye, Mahmood Aminu, Isaac Osuaka and many others held sway at the national confab. It was a lifetime opportunity to change Nigeria to their dream country. More so, you had previously, as a Vice President and under the Niger Delta technical committee, appointed Anyakwee Nsirimovu, Mitee, Nkoyo Toyo, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, Amadi, Uranta and others as members.

Whether this was with your knowledge or not, Oronto, and in some instances, yours truly, made efforts to work with civil society to give you the desired all-inclusive government. He reached out to the non-conformist and the aggrieved. Oronto travelled far and wide for meetings with the civil society explaining to and pleading with comrades, including Omoyele Sowore of the RevolutionNow. His efforts to convince Sowore to change his perception about your government was rebuffed. Names like Tunde Bakare, Agbakoba, Odumakin, Uranta, Kukah and many others were either your regular guests or, at least, had more than one opportunity to visit and meet with you during your Presidency.

In retrospect, Mr. Femi Falana also enjoyed your patronage so much. My personal testimony Sir. You may have forgotten. Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, then acting chairman of EFCC had acted for a while after Mrs. Farida Waziri was removed as EFCC chairman. After a somewhat long wait for confirmation, I assume, he approached Mr. Falana to help reach out to you. Falana in turn reached out to Mitee who in turn reached out to yours truly, to put a word in on Lamorde’s behalf. I did, as requested, mentioning Falana’s and Ledum’s names. This initiated immediate action from you. You told me, the matter was one of your top to-do lists, however because of his anxiousness, you will deal with it in dispatch. You had but the utmost regard for members of the civil society.

Whether they returned that regard is what I still ponder.

Brother, thank you for taking care of the civil society during your Presidency. You gave them opportunities.

You believed that it was the right thing to do. It was your belief they had undiluted love for their nation. A lifetime opportunity for the civil society to consolidate their gains was once again betrayed. Now you are out of office, who will ever help the comrades again?

Happy Birthday brother. Remain blessed. r"[JCBPMB 3PCFSU CSPUIFS PG 1SFTJEFOU (PPEMVDL +POBUIBO B MBXZFS BOE GPSNFS IVNBO SJHIUT BDUJWJTU JT BO FOUSFQSFOFVS BO JOOPWBUPS BOE UIJOLFS BOE NBJOUBJOT QPMJUJDBM OFVUSBMJUZ

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Ëœ ÍşÍ¸Ëœ ͺ͸͚Π˞ T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Former Super Eagles Striker, Ighalo, Warns Osimhen Not to Relent Former Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo, has tasked the rave-of-the-moment, Victor Osimhen, to keep improving himself and not get carried away with accolades he is getting so far in his fledging career at top level football.

Ighalo, who ended his international career in July following Super Eagles’ thirdplace finish at the AFCON 2019 in Egypt where he was awarded the Golden Boot after scoring five goals the in tournament, said the young striker should keep working hard to improve himself.

Following his retirement, Osimhen has taken over the Number 9 shirt and has been in outstanding form to earn the country back-to-back wins in Nigeria’s first two Group L qualifying games for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Lille star helped Nigeria turn around a goal deficit against Benin with his equaliser in their 2-1 victory last Wednesday, before putting up a five-star performance in their 4-2 win

over Lesotho where he bagged two goals and two assists on Sunday.

In reacting to the latest heroics, Ighalo who had a four-year stint with the three-time African champions has urged the Lille talisman to remain focused and to keep learning. “I always told him that he has everything it takes to lead this attack, but it all depends on him,� Ighalo told ESPN. “I told him he has to keep working hard, stay humble and always be ready to learn, and above all not to get carried away with success or hype but just to keep improving.�

Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, is full of praises for Osimhen’s progress despite his limited playing time when Ighalo was active in the national team. “I took him already in my first match, remember.

Everybody was surprised. He was 17 when I selected him in August 2016,� Rohr said. “He was in Germany and

unlucky with injury, and then he fought very well to come back. “And now I have very good information on him from Lille.

He is progressing, and also I saw him progressing for seven weeks before and during the Afcon.

Also, we had Ighalo, so he could not play so much, but

then in the last match he did well and he showed all the progress he did. “He is working well. There is no secret. When you work

well and you have the talent and you stay humble, you can succeed and he can even improve because he is still very young.�

Gov Abdulrasaq Gives Kwara United New Bus ‘FCV Gladiators Football Camp to Unearth Fresh Talents’ Victor Oshimeh, celebrating one of his two goals in Super Eagles 4-2 win against Lesotho last Sunday in Maseru.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Ahead of the new Nigeria National Football League season, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has given a new coaster bus to the Kwara United FC so as to ease their transportation across the length and breadth of the country during the period.

Governor Abdulrasaq has handed over the key of the new bus to the Chairman of the club, Mr. Kumbi Titiloye and also reiterated his supports for the club.

Kwara United on Monday converged at Offa in Offa local government council area of the state where they will be for a five-day close camp before they will face Gombe United in their first game of the season.

Speaking with sportswriter’s in Ilorin on Tuesday, the chairman of the club, Mr.Titiloye lauded the giant stride of the governor towards the development of the club.

According to him, “We want to say thank you to our sports loving Governor who has been there for us even before

we came on board�.

He said, “Governor Abdulrasaq is concerned about our preparation for the coming season and he has promised to support us with all our needs�.

Titiloye however assured that, the management of the club would not relent in its efforts to boost the morale of the players and coach so as to assist them perform welll during the season.

Kwara United FC have engaged in many pre season games since Coach Abdullahi Biffo replaced Abubakar Bala at the Ilorin based club.

The Harmony Boys campaigned and won the maiden edition of the Governor Okowa pre season championship in Asaba.

United were unbeaten at the Governor Dapo Abiodun pre season in Ijebu Ode and also participated at the 2019 Ahlan Cup in Kano.

Kwara United are expected to face Gombe United on Sunday, November 24, in their first tie of the season to begin their quest of returning to the topflight.

Tokyo 2020: Ex-Olympian Pledges Assistance to Athletes Preparation by Team Nigeria ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has received a boost with a former Olympian, Isaac Uche, offering to assist the athletes through the 1st Uche Isaac Sprint/Relay Athletics Championship scheduled for next year in Lagos.

The maiden championship, which would hold on April 11, 2020 at the Yaba College of Technology Mini-Stadium, would see athletes compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, relays and other activities.

According to the sponsor, Uche Isaac, the competition will help to prepare Team Nigeria athletics contingent for both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic games. “I am tired of people blaming

government or the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for failure to prepare athletes for major games.

Having benefitted in the past, l have decided to give my little contribution to put our athletes in good shape,� Isaac said.

A sprinter in his active days and currently member Abia State Athletics Association, Isaac disclosed that the competition would be continuous, following what he described as huge demand across the country.

He however regretted the downward trend in Nigerian sprint events, especially among the male sprinters, and called for swift reversal.

Director of UK-based FCV Academy, Martin Harris, has said that the second edition of the FCV Gladiators Football Camp holding in Port Harcourt next month will help to unearth talents for Nigeria.

Harris, who described Nigeria as a nation with talents said creating connection between sports and education is one of the core values of the camp.

The annual camp is being organised by the Dynaspro Sports Promotion and Advanta Interactive Ltd, in collaboration with the UK-based Football CV Academy and will be hosted by Bloombreed Schools, Port Harcourt. “We want to continue to create

connections for children, parents and schools through football, providing an environment for them to thrive and drive a passion of learning both on and off the football pitch. “Following the success of our camps earlier this year, we expect the same high standards to not only be met but exceeded. The camps will help to discover and develop talent, provide a viable platform for Nigerian children to showcase their ability and open up educational pathways for talented footballers including within our own program in England,� Harris said.

With successful staging of the maiden edition of the camp in Lagos and Abuja, Harris said he is looking

forward to the Port Harcourt leg of the camp. “Alongside supporting the players, our coaches are also FA coach educators and during their time in Port Harcourt will look to mentor a number of Nigerian coaches. “This shared knowledge will enable our Academy to have an even wider reach within the community, as the local coaches can then impart the new skills acquired into their own schools and clubs,� he added.

For Efe Ojigbede of Advanta Advanta Interactive Ltd, the hosting of the camp in Port Harcourt was part of the plans

to expand the exercise. “Port Harcourt will be unique mostly due to the world class standard facilities being provided by the host school Bloombreed Schools as they have gone all out to ensure that their sporting and boarding facilities are in excellent shape in readiness for the camp,� Ojigbede said.

He however, expressed optimism that this year hopes to be exciting. “We expect a lot more in terms of higher levels of management of the camp. We expect higher numbers of registrations of players and visit of families as the camp will be held in the yuletide season,� he added.

51st Asoju Oba Okoya-Thomas Cup to Serve off Nov. 25 As one of the longest running sports tournaments in Africa, the 51st Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup is to serve off on Monday 25 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The tournament which has become the breeding ground for national players continued to attract young players across Lagos State and this year, the family of the initiator, Late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas has promised to keep faith with the bankrolling of the championship.

Speaking at the press briefing to herald this year’s edition,

Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas said this year would be the fifth edition without the initiator who passed on after the 46th edition in 2014. “This of course will be the fifth, after 46 years that is not being addressed by the initiator and sole sponsor of the tournament, Sir Chief (Dr.) Molade OkoyaThomas. One of his greatest wishes while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise. We would therefore like to give thanks to God for giving us the enablement to continue this noble legacy for

the fourth year running since he was called to glory,� he said.

For this year, 24 titles will be at stake in three categories – cadet, junior and senior. “In line with the tradition of the championship, there will be cash and material prizes for the most valuable players in both male and female events.

Acknowledging the unwavering support the tournament has received since its inception in 1968, Okoya-Thomas said: “It is noteworthy to mention that in the past 50 years that this journey has gone on for, you have all stood by our father

and the family, we earnestly appeal therefore that as we move forward in anticipation of many more years of the tournament, we continue to enjoy the same love and support.

He added: “I am most convinced that our sports loving Governor, Mr. Babajide SanwoOlu will ensure that sports under his leadership in Lagos will experience a big growth. This year’s championship, the 51st in the series of uninterrupted sponsorship, is scheduled to hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium from Monday November 25 to 29, 2019.

Zenith/Delta Principal’s Cup: Ugbade Udeze, Agali to Grace Final Three prominent former national football stars have been primed to be at the final of the 2019 edition of the Delta State Principals’ Cup sponsored by Zenith Bank.

The former internationals are Nduka Ugbade, Ifeanyi Udeze and Victor Agali.

According to the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School Education,

Partrick Ukah, the former football stars will be at the final as special guests.

Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba is the venue of the final billed for November 28 between College of Commerce, Warri and Zappa Mixed Secondary School, Asaba.

Ukah explained that the presence of Ugbade, Udeze and Agali would be a boost

to the final ceremony.

Ukah said:’We want the young footballers to see some of their heroes live and we will create opportunity for the former stars to speak to the kids. “It is a tradition to bring former stars for the final which will also be attended by various top dignitaries across all spheres of life. “We are indeed happy the

final is here after such an interesting journey so far. We are going to make it glorious.�

Already, the state government and the sponsors, Zenith Bank are planning exciting time for the finalists and fans of the game.

The bank has concluded arrangements to shower the best three teams with gift items on final day.

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WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Today, I am vacating this page for the ungoing debate about the return or not of the National Sports Commission (NSC). The piece below was contributed by Dr. Patrick Ekeji who retired as Director General of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports. May the LORD bless our country, Nigeria.

-Tayo Balogun

Need for the Return of the NSC Pat Ekeji

Brazilian forward, Couthinho (middle) attempts to beat Korean player in yesterday’s win in Abu Dhabi

NFF Commends Minister over Concern in Poor Runs The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has hailed the move of the Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare to request for a report on the performances of the various National Teams in recent weeks, just as the football governing –body submitted the requested report on Monday. “It was a good move by the Minister to request for the report. As he said, there has to be stock taking and after that, accountability. The NFF is enamoured by the move and we have submitted the requested report.

Amaju Pinnick

“For us, there is nothing to hide. We have detailed all the issues and the forces at play, and explained that in so much as these tournaments are important, they are mainly and strategically developmental. Even at that, we approach every match/ tournament with the intention of winning, but it is practically and absolutely impossible based on indices, records and scientific laws of probability,� President of NFF, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, said yesterday.

In a 15 –page letter signed by Mr. Pinnick, the NFF detailed issues of funding (inadequacy and late release of same) and the toxic and disruptive environment in which it has had to operate for the past 18 months (with the Federation’s leadership and brand falsely and maliciously dragged from one investigative agency to the other and from one court to the other on same baseless allegations) as core reasons for the poor outings of the Super Falcons, CHAN Eagles, Golden

Eaglets and Olympic Eagles in recent international matches/ tournaments.

While acknowledging the importance of the qualifying matches/tournaments in which these teams participated and fell short, the Federation defended the technical crews of the teams and justified why they are the best for the positions as at the time they were hired by highlighting their track records.

Pinnick also stated that the best performance indicator for any country in international football is the A team, in this case Super Eagles, which in recent times drew with five –time world champions Brazil and Ukraine in friendlies, and defeated Benin Republic and Lesotho in 2021 AFCON qualifying matches. These, after finishing third at the first –ever 24 –team AFCON in Egypt this year summer. Moreover, a high number of the players in the present Super Eagles squad passed through the various developmental teams, showing that Nigeria is

moving in the right direction.

The NFF went ahead to map out strategies for better results going forward, including but not limited to a revamp of the NFF Technical Department; improved supervision of the teams by the NFF Technical Committee; open and transparent process to select new head coaches for the teams affected; early preparation and prioritization of tournaments; synergy between the Ministry and the NFF to get approved funds released early enough for adequate preparation of teams participating in major matches and competitions and; to work even harder at securing partners and sponsors to support the programmes of the National Teams.

On the issue of the nominal roll, which has also been submitted, the NFF clarified that there is no person on its payroll whose contract has expired, and that every individual on the nominal roll has specified schedule of duty as prescribed by the Federal Civil Service or in line with his/her contract.

Enrique Set for LaRojas Job Return Luis Enrique, whose daughter died from bone cancer in August, is returning as Spain manager five months after stepping down for personal reasons.

Enrique resigned in June after 11 months in the job and announced in August that his nine-year-old daughter, Xana, had died.

The 49-year-old former Barcelona boss was replaced

by his assistant, Robert Moreno.

Moreno was in charge as Spain beat Romania 5-0 on Monday.

It saw Spain wrap up qualification for Euro 2020 without losing a game.

Moreno, who also worked under Enrique at Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona, said after taking the job he would “step aside� if Enrique ever wanted to return.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales said: “Everyone knew that if Luis Enrique wanted to come back he had the doors open. “Luis Enrique will continue to the Qatar World Cup [in 2022].�

Enrique was appointed national team boss following Spain’s exit from the 2018 World

Cup in the last 16.

He was in charge for the Nations League, where Spain failed to reach the semi-finals, and remained in place for the beginning of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

The Spaniard travelled back home for personal reasons before Spain’s 2-0 victory in Malta in March and Moreno was placed in temporary charge.

Brazil End Winless Streak with Korea Victory Brazil ended their five-game winless run with a comfortable victory over South Korea in Abu Dhabi.

Tite’s side, who lost to Argentina on Friday, had not recorded a win since lifting the Copa America in July.

But Lucas Paqueta’s early header and Philippe Coutinho’s superb free-kick put the five-time World Cup winners in charge at the break.

Juventus full-back Danilo rounded off the scoring with a powerful drive from the edge

of the penalty area.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and his club colleague Fabinho both appeared for the Selecao, with Everton’s Richarlison and Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus also starting.

Tite added to his complement

of Premier League players with the late introductions of Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz and Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, while Real Madrid’s teenage forward Rodrygo also came on in the closing stages.

Spurs Sack Pochettino after FiveYears in Charge Tottenham have sacked manager Mauricio Pochettino after five years in charge of the Premier League club.

The former Southampton boss, 47, was appointed in May 2014 and led the club to the Champions League final last season, where they lost to Liverpool.

But Spurs have made a

disappointing start to the current campaign and are 14th in the Premier League. “We were extremely reluctant to make this change,� said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. “It is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste.

Regrettably domestic results at the

end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing. “It falls on the board to make the difficult decisions - this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff - but we do so in the club’s

best interests.�

Pochettino’s assistant Jesus Perez, and coaches Miguel d’Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have also left the club.

Tottenham said in a statement that they would provide an update on new coaching staff “in due course�.

Sports development in our country has grown from what it was as a negligible oak in 1960, tucked in an omnibus manner and not even named as sports, under the then Ministry of Youth & Social Development with Chief J.M Johnson as the pioneer Honourable Minister, to a very complex undertaken today. For many countries of the world, whether developed, developing or under-developed, sports have acquired a signature undertaken with which countries are launched into the attention stage. Indeed, performances of athletes at major global events such as the Olympic Games and World Championships seem to be major yardsticks for comparative levels in development index and it is for this reason that various governments in the world, in recognition of the ever growing importance and visibility of sports, have created by their Laws, special arms of government that drive this aspect that caters for all categories of citizens. This is the reason it is designated as a major cross-cutting issue at different fora where social and economic discussions are held world-wide. Sadly, in spite of our craving for high and higher performances from all stake-holders in our sports sector, especially athletes, 58 years after our “independence�, we have not yet found the wisdom to give teeth to sports administration by way of legally establishing the instrument of its administration by Law, i.e. the NATIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION. It is still being “discussed� and has been, in the last 12 years or so.

Non-Passage of this Bill, which by the way has been in the works for too long has largely been responsible for inconsistency in Policy implementation.

An NSC established by an ACT of the National Assembly will reverse this behaviour as the execution of dully approved policy contents by its day-to-day administration would no longer be at the change in mood of Mr. President.

In specific terms, some of the policies that would receive assured implementation would include: implementation and consolidation of grassroots sports programmes such as the national sports festival, national youth games, provisionDr. Patrick Ekeji for academic scholarships for outstanding student-athletes discovered from grassroots sports programmes such as the National Sports Festival, development path-ways for prospective Sports Officers for outstanding erstwhile athletes who eventually take to Coaching as well as those who acquire relevant educational and professional competencies as sports administrators, guarantee of professional fulfilment for Sports Officers, guarantee of evolvement of a corporate-sector-friendly approach towards management of sports programme so as to encourage sponsorship of sports programs by corporate Nigeria beyond the attitude of grudgingly “satisfying� the provisions in law under Corporate Social Responsibility as response to overtures made by Sports Federations for sponsorship of programmes. Establishment of the NSC by an ACT would take its perception beyond the realms of various state governments of sport as “just� a sector for public relations into which political “hangers-on� are to be assuaged, establishment of the NSC by an ACT would make it unattractive for any incoming President (Government) to throw the sport sector administration around in any consideration for re-adjustments usually under the excuse of cost-saving exercise. I am confident that Enacting the NSC Bill would fast-track the integration of our sports sector into our national development strategy such that it can be used as a tool for expression of our nationhood.

Furthermore, an NSC would obviously be better positioned to address the never-ending squabbles that follow after elections into Boards of Sports Federations which have become a culture rather than an exception. I can assure that the presence of a National Sports Commission Board that would be constituted with tested Professionals would certainly work out a formula that ensures rancor-free elections and so on, while also assuring the sanctity of the hallowed office of the Hon Minister.

Other reasons for this call include the pursuit of firmly instituting the World Anti-Doping rules and regulations here especially given the fact that Nigeria is a founding Member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), way back in 2002 and we still have not been able to establish firmly and in practical terms, the dreams of the founding Board Members yet we have produced five amongst Africa’s best in this area of drug-free-sport namely: Prof Ken Anugweje, Dr Akin Amao, Dr Abdulkadir Muazu, Pharm Femi Ayorinde and, Ms Fadeke Fadeyibi. And in the field of sports for the physically challenged, the initial trajectory experienced by the creation of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria but now dimmed would be revived.

They are special and this group of sports persons need to be so recognized.

They should not be remembered only when they are needed.

And the Sports Federations? Existence of NSC would better manage the processes of regime change occasioned by elections given the fact of the presence of an NSC Board and the stabilizing role she would play. The rate of growth in our sports sector requires a review of its management structure wherein creation of the following arms-length Agencies have become necessary: (a) Anti-Doping in Sports;(b) Facilities Development and Maintenance;(c) Sports Programs Development and Management, (d) Health and Nutrition in Sport. And finally, a National Sports Commission – Enacted-would certainly bolster the drive for the enactment of National Association for Physical Health Education Recreation Sports & Dance (NAPHERSD) as a regulatory Council for the teaching of Sports Administration just like it is in other professional bodies.

Ghana is handy. The Government of Ghana in January 2009, decided to re-establish their Ministry of Youth & Sports in realization of the emerging trend among countries world-wide. This obviously, is in recognition of the inherent advantages in the natural affinity between Youth and Sports as one instrument for Youth mobilization and engagement. The Ministry as it stands now implements its goals and objectives through the following Agencies and Institutions: The National Sports Authority (NSA), National Youth Authority (NYA), The National Sports College (NSC, Winneba). Our Sports administration keeps rolling and do we not know that “a rolling stone gathers no moss.?� Certainly, we do!

Wednesday November 20, 2019

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MISSILE

Presidency to PDP “Predictably, we have seen the accusation of fabricated results from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP. Yet, the only fabrication is PDP’s conduct” – The presidency asking the PDP to accept the outcome of the governorship polls in Bayelsa and Kogi States with grace.

OKEYIKECHUKWU

EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

Masari’s Appeal to Bandits C

an national security be guaranteed by an agreement with bandits, marauders and sundry predatory forces operating outside the bounds of rationality and preying upon the state?

I think not. It is good governance, an enlightened citizenry and strong institutions of state that could create the right mix of variables to ensure sustainable national security. Wherever these variables are missing, the state is forced to invest more in the instruments of coercion than in real developmental projects. It is in such situations that public office holders are forced to measure their success as leaders by looking at their respective expenditure headings, rather than actual improvement in the things that matter. Once ad-hoc, jaundiced and puerile engagements are celebrated as feats of uncommon achievement, leadership is in grave and conspicuous decline.

It is against the background of the foregoing that the recent appeal of Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State to bandits in his state to keep to the terms of their peace deal or face hostile action falls within actions and pronouncements that embarrass, rather than enhance, the profile of leadership and gives it a bad name in Nigeria. Many still recall the image of the governor and some leaders of various criminal groups, which had been terrorising the state, blazoned across newspapers and the social media. Other governors did the same, celebrating what should really be a scandalous indication of their failure as leaders.

Should a state governor negotiate with bandits and make such negotiation public? Should pictures taken during such negotiations be proudly displayed, to show that the government is “working”? Is law and order, or belief in the supremacy of the state, likely to be strengthened by a public display of armed criminals wielding banned assault rifles and cheerfully posing in a photograph with the supposed chief security officer of a state? How will the bandits who have agreed to suspend operations sustain themselves, other than by scaled down banditry or state ransom? And is this a sustainable template for survival and development?

I take us back, as I have had cause to do on this page sometime in the past, to the achievements of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Dr. Michael Opara, as leaders of the erstwhile three regions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They all performed well infrastructure, human capital development, investments, social security and overall societal development.

The same can be said in good measure for Adekunle Ajasin, Sam Mbakwe, Lateef Jakande and many others of the second republic who were in office for about four years. These former leaders came in with a sense of purpose that was largely focused on the people and the living

Masari environment. They had a certain sense of personal dignity, which is perhaps painfully lacking in most of our leaders of today; who lack the moral backbone, in addition to inner personal maturity, that would have altered the orientation and trajectory of the Nigerian state today.

These ones do not have the stature, focus and capacity for lasting achievements of our leaders of yore. The vision and leadership template they worked with helped. They also had the right indices for measuring the purpose and impact of public expenditure on eh people.

That is why, even with a fraction of the humongous funds now at the disposal of our current leaders, the older generation of leaders managed far bigger administrative units and achieved much more than what we are seeing today. Practically everyone they employed around them had a definite task. There was more or less no replication of responsibilities, or schedules.

But their progenies of today have Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and other interlopers giving them feedback on all MDAs, for which there are substantive chief executives. This new practice and arrangement, which was introduced with brighter flying colours in 1999, has created grand redundancies and also hike government recurrent expenditure for no reason whatsoever. Rather than aid productivity and efficiency, it has become a metaphor for a consumption-driven federation, with a political elite that no longer know the real meaning of “job creation.” Thus, there is a steadily bulging clan of economically dependent, but essentially unproductive, elite; making up a new class of idlers, who mistake titles for responsibilities.

The simple question to ask here, in order to keep things in perspective is this: “How will someone who has a (1) minister or commissioner, (2) adviser, (3)

senior special assistant, (4) consultant, (5) special assistant (and possibly others) all attached to a particular institution of state sift through the swelter of simultaneously reporting chief executives to take a decision on any matter?” More appropriately, we may ask how political leaders who are surrounded by over five hundred aides in close quarters, could be productive.

We may wonder many ears does a leader has, how many hours he has in a day and who will wade through the massive, but also hollow, reports of this plethora of support staff to distil actionable content for him to work with. That is assuming, of course, that there are even any such reports. How can our leaders retain their hoards of presumably useful officials and not develop the art of dodging most of them? How could they continue with the culture of paying salaries to people with who they do not have any contact whatsoever, sometimes for over six months?

With these “government people” receiving regular stipends from the common till for doing nothing, new paradigms are being set about “public service.”

Further still on the inanity of leadership in many states today, once you take away some gestural engagements, a few outing here and there, as well as the photo opportunities associated with them, most of our leaders are on a perpetual, publicly funded trip of debauchery, self-inflation and aggrandisement. That is why state responsibilities are seen as favours whenever, as is not often the case, official duties are carried out at all.

There is a current national budget that will deliver most likely nothing. There is also a current national assembly that will maintain the motions of making laws to save the federal republic of Nigeria when, in real terms, it is probably the most blatantly fraudulent institution of state we have at the moment. The people know and the leaders have become the standard bearers and beacons for all who are on the wrong path. The state has become the naked body of a sleeping man surrounded by excited mosquitoes.

It is a bazaar superintended by the very people who should save the day. That is why there can be no patriotism, proper leadership recruitment, or responsible citizenship in the short term here. That is why lecturers and other staff of the University of Maiduguri could afford to be on the payroll of Boko Haram insurgents.

Yes! They had no idea what you mean by “citizenship”, or “the Nigerian State.”

It is no longer a question of which political party is in power, or whether a road was tarred or not. It is now a question of our collective humanity: the fact that debauchery has become the norm. It is the fact that the growing insecurity and sectionalism is more due to undeveloped human capital, elite ignorance and consumption, and the abiding practice of living of phony money.

Is it not phony wealth for all the banks

in a country to be posting huge profits in billions of Naira while they have no record of investment in the sectors that promote growth, job creation, industry, agriculture, etc.? The problem, or at least part of it, lies in the dominance of a progressively less enlightened elite that has lost every capacity to distinguish between “evidence, or at least records, of government expenditure” and “proof of the impact of government policies, programmes and activities on the welfare of citizens.”

It bears repetition here that “what we are seeing today is what happens when an otherwise promising nation goes ahead to progressively replace National Development Plans with limited regime programmes and propaganda, as it is overrun by the wrong set of leaders.”

It also bears repetition to state that the NEEDS and SEEDS programme of Obasanjo progressively morphed into the Seven Point Agenda of Yar’Adua and, later, into the incoherent Transformation Agenda of Jonathan that transformed nothing in terms of positive national values and morality. I refrain from making any comments about the alleged agenda of the current government, since I cannot call somnambulism, or an unconscious striving after nihilism, an agenda.

This is what you get when limited, and sometime jaundiced regime programmes and propaganda take the place of national development plans. Celebration of unearned income is the new goal of almost every aspiring public office holder, or politician today. Fraud now walks the land as a national philosophy of leadership, relevance and survival; while the nation is under the sway of people who without ideas talk about development. It is all an attempt to push the view that money, stolen or not, can bring transformation, development and refinement of the human person and the environment. Ceremonies and conspicuous consumption are being mistaken for prosperity here, just as many more people now mistake the mere possession of money for happiness, peace of mind, long life, wisdom, a happy home, well brought up children, or even personal dignity.

Wealth unaccompanied by knowledge is the best template for self-destruction.

Desire for leadership unaccompanied by the right ideas and plans leads to missed opportunities and degeneration.

We cannot say what our national values are today, because we cannot point to the positive developmental focus of our national political leadership across all the existing political parties. We are simply expanding avenues for plunder. Thus the Nigerian State stand diminished today; and the people with it. Governor Masari’s call to the bandits around him bespeaks much more than one would like to put into words. But one thing is clear from his call: our problems are more fundamental that democracy and elections.

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